港史文本 - HK In Texts: Daily Information Bulletin - 1970s - 1978 - MAY

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

MONDAY, "<AY.l, 1973 I .

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES AGA I 1ST D I SEASES IN SUMMER ...;.. 1

'T VILLAGE STREET LIGHTING SCHEME ........................ 2

TAX EXEMPTION RATE 0? SAVINGS INTEREST RAISED .......... 3

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN SHA TIM AND K./UN TONG......... 3

a'ATER CUT................................................ 4

Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191

MONDAY, MAY 1, 1978

5 PREVENTIVE MEASURES AGAINST DISEASES IN SUMMER

1 *****

THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT TODAY ADVISED THAT WITH THE APPROACH OF THE SUMMER SEASON THE PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES AGAINST CHOLERA AND OTHER GASTRO-INTESTINAL DISEASES COMMONLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE WARM WEATHER.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE MOST EFFECTIVE PREVENTION METHOD IS THE STRICT OBSERVANCE OF PERSONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE — CLEAN FOOD, CLEAN WATER, WASHING HANDS BEFORE MEALS AND AFTER VISITS TO TOILETS.

HE WARNED THAT ALTHOUGH THERE HAD BEEN NO LOCAL CASES OF CHOLERA SINCE 1969 THE PUBLIC MUST CONTINUE TO TAKE ALL NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS AGAINST THE OUTBREAK OF CHOLERA WHICH IS ALREADY IN EVIDENCE IN SOME NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES.

+PERSONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANLINESS IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL IF HONG KONG IS TO REMAIN FREE FROM CHOLERA THIS YEAR,* HE STRESSED.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID BOTH THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAVE INTENSIFIED VARIOUS PREVENTIVE MEASURES, SUCH AS INSPECTING AIRCRAFT AND VESSELS COMING FROM INFECTED AREAS AND REGULAR CHECKS ON THE HYGIENIC STANDARD OF LOCAL FOOD STALLS AND RESTAURANTS.

IN ADDITION, THE TESTING OF NIGHT SOIL AND STOOL CULTURES OF SAMPLES OF ALL CASES OF DIARRHOEA HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT SO THAT ANY SUSPECTED CASES OF CHOLERA WHICH COME TO LIGHT ARE IMMEDIATELY ISOLATED.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THERE IS SUFFICIENT STOCK OF ANTI-CHOLERA VACCINE FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT IT, AND ISOLATION FACILITIES ARE ADEQUATE TO DEAL WITH EMERGENCY SITUATION.

HE POINTED OUT, HOWEVER, THAT ANTI-CHOLERA VACCINE BY ITSELF WOULD ONLY GIVE PARTIAL PROTECTION TO THE INDIVIDUAL.

+EXPERIENCE AND RESEARCH HAVE SHOWN THAT THE MOST RELIABLE AND EFFECTIVE MEASURES ARE TO ENSURE CLEANLINESS IN THE PREPARATION AND CONSUMPTION OF FOOD AND WATER, AND GOOD PERSONAL HYGIENE,+ HE SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN URGED THE PUBLIC TO EE EXTRA CAUTIOUS IN THEIR CHOICE OF FOOD AND DRINK AS CHOLERA. IS SPREAD THROUGH CONTAMINATED FOOD AND WATER.

+IMPROPERLY COOKED FOOD CAN CAUSE INFECTION, WHILE PROPERLY COOKED FOOD CANNOT. THEREFORE, ALL TYPES OF FOOD MUST BE THOROUGHLY COOKED AND IF IT IS NOT TAKEN IMMEDIATELY IT SHOULD NOT BE LEFT IN THE OPEN AND EXPOSED TO CONTAMINATION,* HE SAID.

TEE ....

MONDAY, MAY 1, 1978

- 2 -

THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THESE PROTECTIVE MEASURES ARE EFFECTIVE NOT ONLY AGAINST CHOLERA BUT OTHER INTESTINAL DISEASE^ SUCH AS TYPHOID AND DYSENTERY.

+PEOPLE GET CHOLERA BY TAKING IN THE VIBRIO CARRIED FROM THE WASTE OF INFECTIOUS PERSONS TO EXPOSED FOOD AND WATER, AND FLIES AID IN THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE,* HE ADDED.

-----o------

NT VILLAGE STREET LIGHTING SCHEME * * K K

THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, WILL ADDRESS A GATHERING AT A SWITCH-ON CEREMONY TOMORROW (TUESDAY) TO MARK THE COMPLETION OF THE FIRST VILLAGE STREET LIGHTING SCHEME IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

THE 376,000 SCHEME IN MU I WO, THE FIRST OF THE SEVEN LIGHTING PROJECTS FOR VARIOUS RURAL AREAS, WAS COMPLETED LAST MARCH TO SERVE THE TWIN VILLAGES OF TAI TEI TONG AND LUK TEI TONG ON LANTAU ISLAND.

THE CEREMONY WILL TAKE PLACE AT 6.30 P.M. AT TAI TEI TONG VILLAGE.

ALSO OFFICIATING WILL BE THE CHAIRMAN OF HEUNG YEE KUK, MR. CHAN YAT-SAN AND VICE-CHAIRMEN MR. CHEUNG YAN-LUNG AND MR. TSANG LIN.

A LION DANCE ORGANISED BY THE LOCAL RURAL COMMITTEE WILL PRECEDE THE SWITCH-ON CEREMONY WHICH WILL BE PERFORMED BY MR. CHAN.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND A REPORTER AND/OR PHOTOGRAPHER TO COVER THE EVENT MARKING THE OPENING OF THE FIRST VILLAGE STREET LIGHTING SCHEME IN THE NEW TERRITORIES TOMORROW. PRESS TRANSPORT WILL BE PROVIDED. A BOAT +CHOP YAT+ WILL LEAVE THE KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER AT 4.30 P.M. TOMORROW FOR MUI WO AND RETURN AFTER THE CEREMONY FINISHES AT ABOUT 7.30 P.M.

--------0 -

MONDAY, MAY 1, 1978

TAX EXEMPTION RATE ON SAVINGS INTEREST RAISED * * *

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT THE MAXIMUM RATE OF INTEREST PAYABLE BY THE GOVERNMENT AND LICENSED BANKS WHICH IS EXEMPTED FROM INTEREST TAX HAS BEEN RAISED FROM 1-3/4 PER CENT TO 2-1/4 PER CENT WITH EFFECT FROM TODAY (MONDAY).

THE EXCHANGE BANKS’ ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCED ON APRIL 27 THAT THE RATE OF INTEREST PAYABLE ON SAVINGS ACCOUNTS WOULD BE RAISED ALSO WITH EFFECT FROM TODAY, AND THE INCREASE IN THE TAX EXEMPTION LIMIT FOLLOWS THAT CHANGE.

- - 0 - -

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN SHA TIN AND KWUN TONG * * * *

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT A NEW SECTION OF TAI PO ROAD BETWEEN LION ROCK TUNNEL ROAD AND SHA TIN BYPASS ROAD WILL BE OPENED TO TRAFFIC FROM 10 A.M. ON WEDNESDAY (MAY 3).

WITH EFFECT FROM THE SAME TIME, AN URBAN CLEARWAY RESTRICTION WILL BE IMPOSED ON THE SAME SECTION OF TAI PO ROAD BETWEEN 7 A.M. AND MIDNIGHT DAILY.

ALL MOTOR VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM PICKING UP OR SETTING DOWN PASSENGERS AND LOADING OR UNLOADING GOODS ALONG THIS SECTION OF TAI PO ROAD DURING THE RESTRICTED PERIOD.

THE DEPARTMENT ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT TING ON STREET BETWEEN TING FU STREET AND KWUN TONG ROAD IN KWUN TONG WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL VEHICULAR TRAFFIC, EXCEPT THOSE REQUIRING ACCESS TO THE STREET, BETWEEN 9 P.M. AND 6 A.M. DAILY FROM WEDNESDAY (MAY 3) TO SATURDAY (MAY 6) TO FACILITATE MTR CONSTRUCTION WORKS.

DURING THE CLOSURE PERIODS THE PRESENT ONE-WAY TRAFFIC FLOW IN THE NORTHBOUND DIRECTION IN TING ON STREET WILL BE SUSPENDED. »

APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE SET UP IN THESE AREAS TO ASSIST MOTORISTS.

MONDAY, MAY 1,

1973

* H

THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO A HUMLER OF PREMISES It: HOLLYWOOD ROAD WILL EE TURNED OFF FOR SIX HOURS FRO.' ' ID IIGHT T IUF.SD.-iY (r.«Y 4) TO FACILITATE A ..ASTE DETECTION TEST.

PREMISES TO EE AFFECTED ARE 127 TO 133 ROAD INCLUDING THE POLICE PRIMARY SCHOOL, 1 1 TO 13 SHING WONG STREET.

AND 84 TO 130 HOLLY’.. OLD

TO 51 GOUGH STREET AND

ALSO, THE SALT ’..'ATER SUPPLY TO PART OF THE MID-LEVELS WILL DE TURNED OFF FOR SEVEN HOURS FROM 9 A.N. CH FRIDAY (MAY 5) TO FACILITATE A ..ASTE DETECTION TEST.

THE AREA AFFECTED IS SOUNDED DY SEYMOUR ROAD, CASTLE ROAD, 11° TO 1470 AND 92 TO 142A CAINE ROAD, 19 TO 21 AND 2 TO ID SHIN’S .ONG STREET, .A IN' FONG .EOT, ,. I.’. FONG EAST, PC '..AH STREET, WOODLAND TERRACE AND CASTLE LANE.

--------o-----------

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

TUESDAY, MAY 2, 1978

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

VILLAGE LIGHTING SCHEME FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES ......... 1

GOVERNOR RETURNING TOMORROW............................ 2

TEXTILE QUOTA UTILISATION POSITION ...................... 3

56 NEW BUILDING PLANS APPROVED FOR MARCH ................ 5

TOPLEY TO ATTEND EDUCATION CONFERENCE IN CANADA ......... 6

AIRPORT MANAGER TO ATTEND REGIONAL CONFERENCE ........... 6

Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191

TUESDAY, MAY 2, 1978

- 1 -

VILLAGE LIGHTING SCHEME FOR NEW TERRITORIES

* * *

AN EXTENSIVE PROGRAMME TO PROVIDE STREET LIGHTING TO VILLAGES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES GAINED IMPETUS TODAY WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE FIRST EXPERIMENTAL SCHEME IN MUI WO, LANTAU ISLAND.

THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, ALONG WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK, MR. CHAN YAT-SAN, AND VICE-CHAIRMEN, MR. CHEUNG YAN-LUNG AND MR. TSANG LIN, OFFICIATED AT THE SWITCH-ON CEREMONY AT TAI TEI TONG VILLAGE THIS EVENING.

THE $76,000 SCHEME, THE FIRST OF THE SEVEN LIGHTING PROJECTS FOR VARIOUS NEW TERRITORIES VILLAGES, WAS COMPLETED LAST MARCH TO SERVE THE TWIN VILLAGES OF TAI TEI TONG AND LUK TEI TONG ON THE ISLAND. IT INVOLVED THE INSTALLATION OF 23 STREET LIGHTS — 13 FOR TAI TEI TONG AND 10 FOR THE NEIGHBOURING LUK TEI TONG .VILLAGE.

ADDRESSING THE GATHERING, MR. AKERS-JONES SAID THE SCHEME WAS ANOTHER INDICATION OF THE RESULTS THAT COULD BE EXPECTED FROM THE EXISTING CLOSE LIAISON BETWEEN THE PEOPLE OF THE NEW TERRITORIES AND THE GOVERNMENT.

+IN THE CONTEXT OF OVERALL DEVELOPMENT, THIS IS OF COURSE ONLY A SMALL ITEM,+ HE SAID.

+BUT FOR THE PEOPLE CONCERNED, I AM SURE THAT THIS WILL EE OF GREAT BENEFIT IN MANY WAYS, PARTICULARLY PERHAPS IN ALLOWING VILLAGERS AND CHILDREN TO MEET AND PLAY OUTSIDE DURING THE EVENING TIME.+

THE MUI WO SCHEME,WHICH FORMS PART OF THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOR THE ISLAND, WAS FINANCED BY LOCAL PUBLIC WORKS FUND ALLOCATED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

MR. AKERS-JONES ALSO PRAISED THE STAFF OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR EFFORTS AND ASSISTANCE RENDERED TO THE PROJECT.

HE SAID: +IT IS ONLY WITH THEIR HELP THAT THESE EARLY SCHEMES HAVE BEEN MADE POSSIBLE, AND THAT WE SHALL BE ABLE TO EXPAND OUR PRESENT EFFORTS INTO FORMALISING A VILLAGE LIGHTING PROGRAMME.+

AT TODAY’S CEREMONY, WHICH WAS PRECEDED BY A LION DANCE ORGANISED BY THE LOCAL RURAL COMMITTEE, THE STREET LIGHTS FOR THE TWO LANTAU VILLAGES WERE OFFICIALLY SWITCHED ON BY MR. CHAN YAT-SAN. f

MR. AKERS-JONES, THE OFFICIAL PARTY AND RURAL COMMITTEE LEADERS LATER WENT ON A TOUR OF THE ILLUMINATED AREA.

/the village ....

TUESDAY, MAY 2, 1973

- 2 -

THE VILLAGE LIGHTING PROGRAMME IN THE NEW TERRITORIES COMPRISES SEVEN SCHEMES COSTING A TOTAL OF $450,000. THE PROGRAMME COVERS 16 VILLAGES IN TSUEN WAN, YUEN LONG, TAI PO, TUEN MUN, SAI KUNG, SHA TIN AND ISLANDS DISTRICTS.

THERE ARE ALSO PLANS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION FOR THE CONTRACTS OF A FURTHER 20 TO 25 SCHEMES TO BE LET AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF «1 MILLION IN THIS FINANCIAL YEAR AND FOR A COMPREHENSIVE VILLAGE STREET LIGHTING PROGRAMME FOR THE FUTURE TO BE FORMALISED.

--------0------------

NOTE TO EDITORS*

GOVERNOR RETURNING TOMORROW

* * * *

THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, IS EXPECTED TO RETURN TO HONG KONG TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON AFTER A SHORT VISIT TO THE UNITED KINGDOM.

SIR MURRAY IS DUE TO ARRIVE BY FLIGHT BA 003, ETA 3.15 P.M.

A PRESS PHOTOGRAPHIC FACILITY WILL BE AVAILABLE TO NEWSMEN. THOSE COVERING THE GOVERNOR’S ARRIVAL ARE ASKED TO ASSEMBLE AT THE PRESS ROOM ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF AIRPORT TERMINAL BUILDING NOT LATER THAN 30 MINUTES BEFORE THE ARRIVAL TIME. G, I.S. OFFICERS WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST THE PRESS.

-----o------

TUESDAY, MAY 2, 1973

TEXTILE QUOTA UTILISATION POSITION

*****

THE TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT TODAY PUBLISHED THE END-OF-MARCH 1978 FIGURES ON THE UTILISATION OF QUOTA IN RESPECT OF MARKETS TO WHICH HONG KONG’S TEXTILES EXPORTS ARE RESTRAINED.

A BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE QUOTA POSITION OF THE UNITED STATES AND EEC, HONG KONG’S TWO MAJOR TEXTILE MARKETS,IS GIVEN BELOW.

USA

THE CURRENT 12-MONTH U.S. TEXTILE RESTRAINT PERIOD BEGAN ON JANUARY 1, 1978. QUOTA USED IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS AMOUNTED TO 189.55 MILLION EQUIVALENT SQ. YDS. OR 18.85 PER CENT OF THE OVERALL RESTRAINT LIMIT. FIGURES SHOWING THE QUANTITIES LICENSED FOR EXPORT AND PERCENTAGES OF UTILISATION ON A GROUP BASIS ARE SET OUT BELOW:

GROUP DESCRIPTION QUANTITY LICENSED (IN MILLION EQUIVALENT SQ. YDS.) PERCENTAGE UTILISATION AGAINST GROUP LIMITS

1 YARNS AND FABRICS OF COTTON AND'MAN-MADE FIBRES 36.62 13.99

1 1 APPAREL OF COTTON AND MAN-MADE FIBRES 127.91 21.36

1 1 1 MADE-UPS AND MISCELLANEOUS ARTICLES OF COTTON AND MAN-MADE FIBRES 12.61 21.34

IV WOOL TEXTILES AND APPAREL 4.39 19.21

OF THE 24 CATEGORIES SUBJECT TO SPECIFIC LIMITS IN THE HONG KONG/U.S. TEXTILE AGREEMENT, THE RATE OF UTILISATION IN FIVE OF THEM COULD BE DESCRIBED AS RELATIVELY HIGH. THESE FIVE CATEGORIES WERE CATEGORY 331 (COTTON GLOVES), CATEGORY 338/339 (COTTON KNIT SHIRTS AND ELOUSES INCLUDING T-SHIRTS AND SWEATSHIRTS), CATEGORY 347/348 (COTTON OUTER TROUSERS, SLACKS AND SHORTS), CATEGORY 638/639 (MMF KNIT SHIRTS AND BLOUSES INCLUDING T-SHIRTS) AND CATEGORY 649 (BRASSIERES, ETC.).

TUESDAY, MAY 2, 1978

EEC

THE CURRENT 12-MONTH RESTRAINT PERIOD FOR THE EEC ALSO BEGAN ON JANUARY 1, 1978. QUOTA UTILISATION POSITION ON A MEMBER STATE BASIS FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS IS GIVEN BELOW:

MEMBER STATE QUANTITY LICENSED (IN MILLION EQUIVALENT KGS.) PERCENTAGE UTILISATION

UNITED KINGDOM 13.05 20.6

DENMARK 0.75 16.3

IRISH REPUBLIC 0.03 3.8

FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY 8.66 16.1

BENELUX 2.03 17.6

FRANCE 0.19 5.4

ITALY 0.22 7.1

OUT OF A TOTAL OF 288 CATEGORIES ON MEMBER STATE/CATEGORY BASIS, THE RATE OF UTILISATION IN 33 OF THEM WAS RELATIVELY HIGH. THESE POPULAR CATEGORIES INCLUDE CATEGORY A (KNITTED SHIRTS, ETC), CATEGORY 5 (KNITTED SWEATERS, ETC.), CATEGORY 6 (WOVEN TROUSERS AND MEN’S SHORTS), CATEGORY 7 (WOVEN/KNITTED ELOUSES), CATEGORY 8 (MEN’S WOVEN SHIRTS), CATEGORY 10/11 (KNITTED GLOVES), CATEGORY 12 (KNITTED SOCKS AND STOCKINGS), CATEGORY 13 (KNITTED UNDERPANTS), CATEGORY 17 (MEN’S WOVEN JACKETS), CATEGORY 19/89 (COTTON HANDKERCHIEFS), CATEGORY 21 (PARKAS, ANORAKS AND WINDCHEATERS), CATEGORY 26 (WOVEN AND KNITTED DRESSES), CATEGORY 31 (BRASSIERES), CATEGORY 61 (NARROW ..'OVEN FABRICS), CATEGORY 72 (KNITTED SWIMWEAR) AND CATEGORY 76 (WOVEN WORK GARMENTS).

TUESDAY, MAY 2, 1978

- 5 -

BUILDING PLANS APPROVED FOR MARCH

* * * *

A TOTAL OF 56 NEW BUILDING PLANS WERE APPROVED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT’S BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE IN MARCH, COMPARED WITH 58 FOR THE SAME MONTH LAST YEAR.

OF THE PLANS APPROVED, 16 WERE FOR BUILDINGS ON HONG KONG ISLAND, 13 FOR KOWLOON AND 27 FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES.

THEY INCLUDED PLANS FOR AN OUTSIDE BROADCAST TRANSMITTING BUILDING IN SHA TIN, A HOME FOR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS AND TWO ADDITIONAL STOREYS TO THE EXISTING SOCIAL SERVICE AND COMMUNITY CENTRE IN KWAI CHUNG.

THE TOTAL DECLARED COST OF NEW BUILDINGS COMPLETED DURING THE MONTH WAS $193 MILLION, COMPARED WITH $276.3 MILLION LAST YEAR.

THE TOTAL USABLE FLOOR AREA'OF NEW BUILDINGS COMPLETED DURING MARCH AMOUNTED TO 230,643.2 SQUARE METRES, COMPRISING 82,450.8 SQUARE METRES OF DOMESTIC FLOOR AREA AND 148,192.4 SQUARE METRES OF NON-DOMESTIC FLOOR AREA.

DURING THE MONTH, THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE GAVE CONSENT FOR WORK TO START ON 52 NEW BUILDING PROJECTS, INCLUDING A CHILDREN CENTRE AT TAI PO, AND A SCHOOL BUILDING AT THE JUNCTION OF LA SALLE ROAD AND BOUNDARY STREET IN KOWLOON.

A TOTAL OF 50 NEWLY COMPLETED BUILDINGS WERE CERTIFIED FOR OCCUPATION DURING THE MONTH, INCLUDING AN ELECTRIC SUBSTATION IN SAI KUNG, A GODOWN BUILDING IN CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD AND LAI CHI KOK ROAD AND A SCHOOL BUILDING IN TAI 0, LANTAU ISLAND.

THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE ALSO ASSENTED TO THE DEMOLITION OF 36 BUILDINGS.

------0-------

*> •

TUESDAY, MAY 2, 1978

- 6 -

TOPLEY TO ATTEND EDUCATION CONFERENCE IN CANADA ******

THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY, LEFT FOR CANADA THIS AFTERNOON TO REPRESENT HONG KONG AT AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EDUCATION.

THE CONFERENCE IN VANCOUVER IS PART OF THE FOURTH INTERNATIONAL INTERVISITATION PROGRAMME IN EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION WHICH TAKES PLACE EVERY FOUR YEARS IN A DIFFERENT COUNTRY. THE PROGRAMME WAS HELD IN BRITAIN IN 1974, IN AUSTRALIA IN 1970 AND IN THE UNITED STATES IN 1966.

TOP EDUCATORS FROM BRITAIN, THE UNITED STATES, TURKEY, AUSTRALIA, MALAYSIA, PAKISTAN, SRI LANKA. INDIA, THAILAND, NIGERIA, FIJI AND OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE BEEN INVITED TO TAKE PART IN A STUDY OF A NUMBER OF MAJOR SUBJECTS.

TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED INCLUDE EDUCATIONAL POLICY DEVELOPMENT, ISSUES IN POST-SECONDARY AND CONTINUING EDUCATION, AND PROJECTED ISSUES IN THE PRACTICE OF EDUCATIONAL ADMINISTRATION.

BUT FIRST ON MAY 5, MR. TOPLEY WILL ATTEND THE ORIENTATION SESSIONS IN MONTREAL WHERE MR. LUCIEN PERRAS, DIRECTOR GENERAL, COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF EDUCATION, CANADA, WILL WELCOME PARTICIPANTS.

MR. TOPLEY AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS WILL THEN VISIT A NUMBER OF EDUCATIONAL CENTRES IN THE COUNTRY BEFORE GOING TO VANCOUVER FOR THE MAIN CONFERENCE SESSIONS FROM MAY 20 TO 25.

MR. TOPLEY IS SCHEDULED TO RETURN TO HONG KONG ON MAY 27.

DURING HIS ABSENCE THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. COLVYN HAYE, WILL ACT AS DIRECTOR.

-----0------

AIRPORT MANAGER TO ATTEND REGIONAL CONFERENCE

******

MR. R.A. SIGEL, ASSISTANT AIRPORT GENERAL MANAGER OF THE ^m^JNTERNAT10NAL AIRP0RT« WILL LEAVE FOR FIJI TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) TO ATTEND THE EIGHTH PACIFIC REGION CONFERENCE OF AIRPORT OPERATORS’ COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL.

THE CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD IN SUVA FROM MAY 7 TO 11.

REPRESENTATIVES FROM ABOUT 20 MEMBER STATES IN THE PACIFIC REGION WILL ATTEND FOR DISCUSSIONS ON AIRPORT MANAGEMENT, CARGO OPERATIONS AND OTHER TOPICS OF GENERAL INTEREST.

MR. SIGEL, WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE FOR THE CONFERENCE AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SESSION ON +HANDLING CONCEPTS+ WILL PRESENT A PAPER ON THE SUBJECT AT THE MEETING.

- - 0 - -

GIS

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 1978

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

DUTCH MINISTER IN HONG KONG FOR ANT I-DRUG TALKS......... 1

BANKING STATISTICS FOR MARCH ............................ 2

LABOUR COMMISSIONER VISITS FACTORY ...................... 4

GOVERNMENT GIVES BREEDER PIG TO VILLAGERS ............... 5

SALT WATER CUT........................................... 5

Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191

WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 1978

DUTCH MINISTER IN HONG KONG FOR ANTI-DRUG TALKS UK O

THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE OF THE NETHERLANDS, PROFESSOR JACOB DE RUITER, ARRIVED IN HONG KONG THIS EVENING FOR A THREE-DAY VISIT ON THE.FIRST LEG OF A NARCOTICS FACT-FINDING TOUR OF SOUTHEAST ASIA..

THE PURPOSE OF THE TOUR IS TO ENABLE THE MINISTER TO KEEP HIMSELF INFORMED OF THE CURRENT NARCOTICS SITUATION IN SOUTHEAST ASIA, AND THE MEASURES BEING TAKEN BY COUNTRIES IN THE REGION TO DEAL WITH DRUG TRAFFICKING AND ABUSE.

DURING HIS VISIT HERE, THE MINISTER WILL MEET THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, AND HOLD DISCUSSIONS WITH SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS RESPONSIBLE FOR ANTI-NARCOTICS POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES IN HONG KONG.

THE MINISTER WILL BE BRIEFED ON HONG KONG’S NARCOTICS PROBLEMS AND OUR METHODS OF DEALING WITH THEM BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS, AND SENIOR POLICE, CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION OFFICERS.

HE WILL ALSO VISIT THE MUSEUM OF THE POLICE NARCOTICS BUREAU, HEI LING CHAU ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRE OF THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT AND THE SHEK KWU CHAU REHABILITATION CENTRE OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE AID AND REHABILITATION OF DRUG ADDICTS.

HE IS ACCOMPANIED ON HIS VISIT BY THE DEPUTY SECRETARYGENERAL OF JUSTICE MINISTRY, MR. L. ORANJE, AND THE HEAD OF THE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT OF THE SAME MINISTRY, MR. J. VAN STRATEN.

PROFESSOR DE RUITER IS THE SECOND DUTCH MINJSTER OF.

JUSTICE TO HAVE VISITED HONG KONG FOR ANTI-DR'UG DISCUSSIONS. HIS PREDECESSOR, MR. A.A.M. VAN AGT, WHO IS NOW PRIME MINISTER OF THE NETHERLANDS, CAME TO HONG KONG IN JANUARY 1977 ON A SIMILAR MISSION.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SAID PROFESSOR DE RUITER’S TOUR OF SOUTHEAST ASIA OFFERED ANOTHER VALUABLE OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER STRENTHEN THE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE NETHERLANDS AND THOSE IN THIS REGION IN TACKLING THEIR PROBLEMS OF DRUG TRAFFICKING AND ABUSE.

PROFESSOR DE RUITER WILL LEAVE HONG KONG FOR SINGAPORE ON SATURDAY (MAY 6) TO CONTINUE HIS TOUR WHICH ALSO INCLUDES KUALA LUMPUR AND BANGKOK.

--------o

WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 1978

BANKING STATISTICS FOR MARCH *****

BANKING DEPOSITS AT THE END OF MARCH THIS YEAR STOOD AT $56,093 MILLION, COMPRISING $12,443 MILLION IN DEMAND DEPOSITS, $21,811 MILLION IN TIME DEPOSITS AND $21,839 MILLION IN SAVINGS DEPOSITS, ACCORDING TO STATISTICS RELEASED BY THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING TODAY.

THE AVERAGE LIQUIDITY DURING THE MONTH WAS 45.31 PER CENT.

THERE WERE 74 BANKS IN HONG KONG AT THE END OF MARCH.

THE FOLLOWING TABLES GIVE A DETAILED BREAKDOWN OF BANK LIABILITIES AND ASSETS AND MONEY SUPPLY FOR THE MONTH.

LIABILITIES $ MILLION

1. DEPOSITS 56,093

2. AMOUNT DUE TO BANKS ABROAD 39,260

3. OTHER LIABILITIES 10,968

TOTAL LIABILITIES! 106,321

ASSETS

1. CASH 1,084

2. AMOUNT DUE FROM BANKS ABROAD: (1) DEMAND AND SHORT TERM CLAIMS (II) TIME DEPOSITS 31,154 6,639 37,793

3. LOANS (lli AND ADVANCES: HONG KONG ABROAD 39,833 18,468 58,301

4. INVESTMENTS: (1) HONG KONG (11) ABROAD 3,905 92 3,997

5. OTHER (l'lj ASSETS: HONG KONG ABROAD 4,932 214 5,146

TOTAL'ASSETS 106,321

AVERAGE LIQUIDITY DURING MONTH

45.31%

SDPPLY

WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 1978 - 3 -

MONEY SUPPLY

MONTH ENDED 31ST MARCH 1978

$ MILLION

1. LEGAL TENDER COINS AND NOTES IN CIRCULATION (A)

(I) COMMERCIAL BANK ISSUES 6,133

(II) GOVERNMENT ISSUES 677 6,810

2. LICENSED BANKS’ HOLDINGS OF LEGAL TENDER COINS AND NOTES (B) 1,084

3. LEGAL TENDER COINS AND NOTES IN HANDS OF

NON-BANK PUBLIC (A) - (B) » (C) 5,726

4. DEMAND DEPOSITS WITH LICENSED BANKS (D) 12,443

5. MONEY SUPPLY (DEFINITION 1) (C) + (D) » (E) 18,169

6. TIME DEPOSITS WITH LICENSED BANKS (F) 21,811

7. SAVINGS DEPOSITS WITH LICENSED BANKS (G) 21,839

8. MONEY SUPPLY (DEFINITION 2)

(E) + (F) + (G) - (H) 61,819

-----o------

WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 1978

LABOUR COMMISSIONER VISITS FACTORY ******

THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR. NEIL HENDERSON, TODAY OUTLINED THE FAR-REACHING BENEFITS WHICH GOOD WELFARE FACILITIES ERING TO EMPLOYERS AS WELL AS EMPLOYEES DURING A VISIT TO THE AMOY CANNING CORPORATION’S PLANT IN NGAU CHI WAN, KOWLOON.

THE TOUR WAS THE FIRST IN MR. HENDERSON’S PROGRAMME OF VISITS TO INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENTS SINCE HE BECAME COMMISSIONER A MONTH AGO.

DURING THE VISIT MR. HENDERSON CONGRATULATED THE CORPORATION ON ITS WELFARE ARRANGEMENTS, AND SAID IT WAS NOT ALWAYS APPRECIATED THAT SUCH FACILITIES COULD CONTRIBUTE AS MUCH TO A COMPANY’S PROSPERITY AS THEY DID TO THE WORKERS’ WELL BEING. AMOY CANNING EMPLOYS MORE THAN 1,000 WORKERS.

+THE GOODWILL OF EMPLOYEES, THEIR HEALTH AND THEIR SECURITY SHOULD EE CONSIDERED BY ALL EMPLOYERS,* HE SAID. +ASIDE FROM THE OBVIOUS BENEFITS, CONCERN IN THIS DIRECTION INVARIABLY RESULTS IN A DECREASE IN TIME LOST THROUGH SICKNESS OR ACCIDENTS, CLOSER CO-OPERATION BETWEEN WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS, A HIGHER STANDARD OF WORK AND AN INCREASE IN OUTPUT.*

MR. HENDERSON ALSO PRAISED THE CORPORATION ON THE INITIATIVE IT HAD SHOWN IN RECOGNISING AND ACTING UPON OPPORTUNITIES TO DIVERSIFY, ADDING NEW PRODUCTS TO THE ORIGINAL LINE OF SOY SAUCE WHICH HAD GIVEN THE CORPORATION ITS STABILITY.

+1 HOPE THAT MORE AND MORE LOCAL FIRMS WILL ACT IN THIS WAY,* SAID MR. HENDERSON. +AFTER ALL, IT IS THE LOCAL INDUSTRIALISTS, RATHER THAN THOSE OVERSEAS, WHO ARE IN THE BEST POSITION TO SEE OPPORTUNITIES HERE.*

AMOY CANNING IS THE ONLY FACTORY IN HONG KONG WHICH HAS ITS OWN REGISTERED CHILD-CARE CENTRE FOR THE CHILDREN OF WOMEN EMPLOYEES. OTHER BENEFITS INCLUDE A CLINIC FOR WORKERS AND THEIR DEPENDANTS, LOW-COST HOUSING, EDUCATION AND TRAINING ALLOWANCES, FREE TRANSPORTATION, A PROVIDENT FUND SCHEME AND A RETIREMENT GRATUITY SCHEME.

THE FIRM HAS A SECOND PLANT AT TSUEN WAN AND, IN ADDITION TO SOY SAUCE, TODAY’S MAJOR PRODUCTS OF THE CORPORATION ARE SOFT DRINKS, CANNED FOODS, PRESERVED GINGER AND CORRUGATED PAPER CARTONS.

-----o------

WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 1978

- 5 -

GOVERNMENT GIVES BREEDER PIG TO VILLAGERS

* * * * *

THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT HAS GIVEN VILLAGERS OF CHEUNG SHEUNG IN SAI KUNG A BOAR FOR BREEDING PURPOSES.

THE PEDIGREE LARGE WHITE BOAR WAS FLOWN TO THE REMOTE VILLAGE BY HELICOPTER AS A REPLACEMENT FOR THE PREVIOUS 'LOAN BOAR’ WHICH DIED RECENTLY AFTER FIVE YEARS SERVICE. IT HAD FATHERED 5,000 PIGLETS IN THE VILLAGE, WHOSE MAIN SOURCE OF INCOME IS FROM THE SALE OF PIGLETS.

THE AIRLIFT OF THE 240 LB PIG WAS CARRIED OUT WITH THE COOPERATION OF THE ROYAL HONGKONG AUXILIARY AIR FORCE AND THE ROYAL AIR FORCE. WITHOUT THE USE OF A HELICOPTER, IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN EIGHT MEN AT LEAST SIX HOURS TO CARRY THE BOAR FROM THE NEAREST ROAD TO THE VILLAGE WHICH IS 350 METRES ABOVE SEA LEVEL.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAIDi +CHEUNG SHEUNG IS NOW THE ONLY VILLAGE IN HONG KONG SUPPLIED WITH ’LOAN BOARS’ BY THE DEPARTMENT.

+PREVIOUSLY, SPECIAL CENTRES WERE ESTABLISHED IN THE REMOTE AREAS. SUCH AS CHEUNG CHAU, UNTIL ROAD AND SEA ACCESS MADE THE SUPPLY OF BOARS AND MEANS OF ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION AVAILABLE TO ALL PRODUCERS +

_ ... o - - - -

WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 1978

SALT WATER CUT * * * *

SALT WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN PARTS INTERRUPTED FOR 24 HOURS FROM 8 A.M,

OF KOWLOON TONG WILL ON FRIDAY (MAY 5).

THE TEMPORARY STOPPAGE SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT TO SHIFT BROADCAST DRIVE.

IS A

TO ENABLE STAFF OF THE WATER VALVE AT JUNCTION ROAD NEAR

THE AREA TO BE AFFECTED IS BOUNDED BY CORNWALL rtrpft SHING ROAD, JUNCTION ROAD. LA SALLE ROAD PR I NCFFnWAen DnlnKAM AND KOWLOO& CANTON RAILWAY. ALSO AFFECTED WILL BE THE BAPTIST ctocctAa AND THE LOWER END OF EDE ROAD, NORTH SIDE OF CORNWALL ROADEANDNARCYlTF WATERL0° R0AD BETWEEN PRINCE EDWARD

KvAU AND ARGYLE STREET.

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

THURSDAY, MAY 4, 1978

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

REFURBISHMENT OF GOVERNMENT HOUSE .......................... 1

GOVERNOR TO OPEN TUEN MUN ROAD TOMORROW..................... 2

ADVERTISING SCHEME TO GIVE NEW LOOK TO STAR FERRY APPROACHES ................................................. 3

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY TO KWUN TONG VILLAGES ................... 4

PHOTOGRAPHS OF DEPARTMENT HEADS ............................ 4

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN TUEN MUN ........................

THURSDAY, MAY 4, 1978

REFURBISHMENT OF GOVERNMENT HOUSE

******

TENDERS WILL BE INVITED TOMORROW FOR THE RENOVATION OF GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

THE WORKS WILL INVOLVE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE AIR-CONDITIONING AND PLUMBING SYSTEMS, REBUILDING OF THE ROOF, REPAIRS TO INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL PARTS OF THE BUILDING, AS WELL AS AMENITY IMPROVEMENTS

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY WORK ON SITE SHOULD BEGIN IN NOVEMBER AND IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN MAY OR JUNE NEXT YEAR.

DURING THIS PERIOD, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, AND HIS OFFICE WILL TAKE UP TEMPORARY RESIDENCE AT FLAGSTAFF HOUSE NOW OCCUPIED BY THE COMMANDER BRITISH FORCES.

THE COMMANDER BRITISH FORCES WILL BE VACATING FLAGSTAFF HOUSE ABOUT JULY AND MOVE TO HIS NEW OFFICIAL RESIDENCE AT BARKER ROAD WHICH IS BEING BUILT AS PART OF THE VICTORIA BARRACKS REPROVISIONING SCHEME.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE GOVERNOR AND HIS OFFICE WERE EXPECTED TO RETURN TO GOVERNMENT HOUSE IN MAY OR JUNE NEXT YEAR.

- _ 0 - -

THURSDAY, MAY 4, 1978

- 2 -

GOVERNOR TO OPEN TUEN MUN ROAD * * * *

THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING OF THE FIRST STAGE OF THE $350 MILLION TUEN MUN ROAD AT 3 P.M. TOMORROW (FRIDAY).

SIR MURRAY WILL ARRIVE AT TUEN MUN BY HELICOPTER AND THEN BOARD HIS CAR FOR SIU LAM WHERE THE OPENING CEREMONY WILL TAKE PLACE. - •

ON ARRIVAL, HE WILL BE MET BY THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, NR. DAVID MCDONALD, AND WILL BE INTRODUCED TO OFFICIALS OF THE P.W.D. AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CONSULTANTS FIRM AND CONTRACTORS.

AFTER UNVEILING A PLAQUE TO DECLARE THE ROAD OPEN, SIR MURRAY WILL ATTEND A COCKTAIL RECEPTION AT WHICH SOME 200 GUESTS WILL BE PRESENT.

THE GOVERNOR WILL RETURN TO GOVERNMENT HOUSE BY WAY OF THE NEW 17-KILOMETER HIGH CAPACITY ROAD.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY FOR TUEN MUN ROAD.

PRESS TRANSPORT WILL BE PROVIDED. NEWSMEN WHO WISH TO MAKE USE OF THE TRANSPORT FACILITY SHOULD ASSEMBLE AT 1 P.M. TOMORROW AT THE OPEN CAR PARK OUTSIDE THE RECEPTION OFFICE OF MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD. FOUR NINE-SEATER VANS WILL LEAVE MURRAY BUILDING AT 1.15 P.M. SHARP.

OFFICERS OF THE P.W.D.’S PUBLICITY UNIT WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST THE PRESS.

_ - 0 - -

THURSDAY, MAY 4, 1973

ADVERTISING SCHEME WILL GIVE NEW LOOK TO STAR FERRY APPROACHES K * * * *

THE APPROACHES TO THE STAR FERRY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE HARBOUR WILL SOON BE TAKING ON A NEW LOOK.

A TENDER HAS BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE OPERATION OF A COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING SCHEME, THE OVERALL CONCEPT OF WHICH IS INTENDED TO ENHANCE THE APPEARANCE OF THE FERRY APPROACHES.

DETAILED DISCUSSIONS ON THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SCHEME, WHICH WILL COME INTO EFFECT SOON, WILL NOW TAKE PLACE WITH THE SUCCESSFUL TENDERERS, PEARL AND DEAN.

THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, WILL HAVE JURISDICTION OVER THE SCHEME WHICH IS A PILOT PROJECT TO DEVELOP OUTDOOR ADVERTISING

SPACE FOR COMMERCIAL USE.

AS WELL AS RECEIVING REVENUE FROM THE SCHEME, THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE PROVIDED WITH FREE ADVERTISING BOARDS FOR PUBLICITY POSTERS CONVEYING PUBLIC MESSAGE MATERIAL.

IF THE SCHEME PROVES SUCCESSFUL IT IS HOPED TO DEVELOP COMMERCIAL ADVERTISING CONCESSIONS IN OTHER AREAS UNDER GOVERNMENT CONTROL, ALTHOUGH NO SPECIFIC SITES HAVE YET BEEN IDENTIFIED.

THE GOVERNMENT IS INTERESTED IN THE POSSIBILITIES THAT MAY EXIST FOR CREATING AUTHORISED SITES AS UNSIGHTLY FLY-POSTING IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM.

CONSIDERATION IS ALSO BEING GIVEN TO AN OFFER MADE BY THE SUCCESSFUL TENDERERS FOR THE FERRY APPROACHES’ CONCESSION TO INCLUDE LITTER-BINS AS INTEGRAL FEATURE OF THE SCHEME.

-----o------

THURSDAY, MAY 4, 1978

4 -

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY TO KWUN TONG VILLAGES

* * * * *

KWUN TONG CITY DISTRICT OFFICER, MR. C.M. LEUNG, WILL TAKE PART IN A SWITCH-ON CEREMONY TOMORROW (FRIDAY) TO MARK THE COMPLETION OF AN ELECTRIFICATION PROJECT FOR TWO VILLAGES IN KWUN TONG.

THE 2,000 PEOPLE OF LAM TIN FIRST AND SECOND VILLAGES PREVIOUSLY HAD NO PROPER ELECTRICITY SUPPLY. THE KWUN TONG CITY DISTRICT OFFICE THEN HELPED THEM TO FORM A MUTUAL AID COMMITTEE WHICH SET ABOUT IN APPLYING FOR LEGAL POWER SUPPLY.

INSTALLATION WORK BEGAN IN OCTOBER LAST YEAR AND WAS COMPLETED IN APRIL.

THE TWO VILLAGES ARE THE SECOND IN KWUN TONG TO RECEIVE LEGAL ELECTRICITY WITH THE HELP OF THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICE.

NOTE TO EDITORS: A

YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE SWITCHON CEREMONY TOMORROW AT 3.30 P.M. AT THE OPEN SPACE NEXT TO SING YIN SECONDARY SCHOOL, ON TIN ROAD, LAM TIN ESTATE.

------0-------

NOTE TO EDITORS:

PHOTOGRAPHS OF DEPARTMENT HEADS *****

AS IN PAST YEARS, WE ARE UPDATING OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF DEPARTMENT HEADS TO REPLACE PREVIOUS STOCKS.

IN THIS CONNECTION, COPIES OF NEW PHOTOGRAPHS OF VARIOUS DEPARTMENT HEADS WILL BE SENT TO YOU, FROM TIME TO TIME AS THEY ARE AVAILABLE, FOR YOUR RECORD AND EDITORIAL USE. IT WOULD BE MOST APPRECIATED IF, WHEN THE OCCASION ARISES, THE NEW PHOTOGRAPHS ARE USED INSTEAD OF THE OLD ONES.

DISTRIBUTED TODAY IN THE G.I.S. PRESS BOXES ARE COPIES OF NEW PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION, MR. R.G.B. ERIDGE, THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT, MR. G.E. LYTH, AND THE DIRECTOR OF LEGAL AID, MR. D.O’REILLY MAYNE.

THURSDAY, MAY 4, 1978

- 5 -

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN TUEN MUN

***#*#

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TODAY ANNOUNCED SEVERAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WHICH WILL COME INTO EFFECT ON SATURDAY (MAY 6) IN CONNECTION WITH THE OPENING OF TUEN MUN ROAD AND PUI TO ROAD ROUNDABOUT.

FROM 10 A.M. ON THAT DAY, A 24-HOUR CLEARWAY RESTRICTION, EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES, WILL BE IMPOSED ON TUEN MUN ROAD FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH CASTLE PEAK ROAD AT CHAI WAN KOK TO A POINT ABOUT 2,460 FEET NORTH OF PUI TO ROAD ROUNDABOUT AND ON PUI TO ROAD FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH CASTLE PEAK ROAD TO A POINT ABOUT 200 FEET WEST OF ITS JUNCTION WITH TUEN MUN ROAD.

THE FOLLOWING ROAD SECTIONS WILL ALSO BE RESTRICTED TO PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES, PEDESTRIANS, CYCLISTS AND LEARNER DRIVERS:

X TUEN MUN ROAD FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH CASTLE PEAK ROAD AT CHAI WAN KOK TO ITS JUNCTION WITH PUI TO ROAD AT TUEN MUN= AND

* THE UNNAMED SLIP ROADS LINKING CASTLE PEAK ROAD WITH TUEN MUN ROAD AT SIU LAM AND SHAM TSENG.

IN ADDITION, PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING PUI TO ROAD WEST OF ITS JUNCTION WITH TUEN MUN ROAD.

HOWEVER, THE EXISTING PLB RESTRICTED ZONE FROM THE SECTION OF PUI TO ROAD BETWEEN ITS JUNCTION WITH CASTLE PEAK ROAD AND ITS JUNCTION WITH TUEN MUN ROAD WILL BE CANCELLED.

MEANWHILE, THE CURRENT DIVERSION OF TRAFFIC FROM THE NORTHBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF CASTLE PEAK ROAD ONTO PUI TO ROAD NEAR WONG KA WAI VILLAGE WILL CEASE, AND CASTLE PEAK ROAD BETWEEN THE DIVERSION POINT AT WONG KA WAI VILLAGE AND ITS JUNCTION WITH PUI TO ROAD WILL BE REVERTED TO TWO-WAY TRAFFIC. AT THE SAME TIME, THE SECTION OF PUI TO ROAD BETWEEN CASTLE PEAK ROAD AND PUI TO ROAD ROUNDABOUT WILL BE REVERTED TO TWO-WAY TRAFFIC.

THE DEPARTMENT ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT FROM THE SAME TIME ON SATURDAY. A SPEED LIMIT OF 40 MILES PER HOUR WILL BE IMPOSED ON TUEN MUN ROAD FROM A POINT 164 FEET WEST OF ITS JUNCTION WITH CASTLE PEAK ROAD AND CHAI WAN KOK TO A POINT 1,066 FEET NORTH OF SAM SHING HUI BRIDGE IN TUEN MUN.

HOWEVER AT SIU LAM, A SPEED LIMIT OF 30 MILES PER HOUR WILL BE IMPOSED ON CASTLE PEAK ROAD AT A POINT 262 FEET EAST OF THt SIU LAM INTERCHANGE TO A POINT 984 FEET WEST OF THE SAME INTERCHANGE.

APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL EE SET UP IN THESE AREAS TO INDICATE THE RESTRICTIONS AND ASSIST MOTORISTS.

- - 0 ---------

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 1973

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

QUEEN THANKS GOVERNOR FOR MESSAGE OF BIRTHDAY GREETINGS ........................................... 1

GOVERNOR OPENS TUEN MUN ROAD......................... 1

MORE AREAS IN TUEN MUN TO BE DEVELOPED .............. 3

COUNTRY PARK CONCEPT EXTENDED ....................... 4

CONTRACT FOR TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS SIGNED ......... 5

EMPLOYMENT AT BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION SITES ....... 6

SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED TO HONG KONG STUDENTS .......... 7

DUTIABLE COMMODITIES (AMENDMENT) BILL ............... 8

TECHNICAL TEACHERS’ COURSE FOR FORM 5 GRADUATES ..... 8

WIDENING OF CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD .................... 9

HEADQUARTERS OF RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE MOVING . 10

FIRING PRACTICE CANCELLED ........................... 10

IsuBd by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 1978

QUEEN THANKS GOVERNOR FOR MESSAGE OF BIRTHDAY GREETINGS * * * *

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN HAS THANKED THE GOVERNOR AND THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG FOR THEIR MESSAGE OF GREETINGS AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THE OCCASION OF HER MAJESTY’S BIRTHDAY ON APRIL 21.

IN A TELEGRAM TO THE GOVERNOR TODAY, THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS SAID: +1 AM COMMANDED TO CONVEY HER MAJESTY’S SINCERE APPRECIATION AND THANKS TO YOU AND TO ALL WHO ASSOCIATED THEMSELVES WITH YOUR MESSAGE OF LOYAL GREETINGS ON THE OCCASION OF HER MAJESTY’S BIRTHDAY.+

- - 0 - -

GOVERNOR OPENS TUEN MUN ROAD

*****

THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID TODAY THAT IMPROVED COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE ACCESS TO NEW LAND WHICH THEY WOULD BRING WOULD GREATLY BENEFIT THE NEW TERRITORIES AND ALL HONG KONG.

SIR MURRAY WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF STAGE ONE OF THE $350 MILLION TUEN MUN ROAD.

+COMMUNICATIONS — ACCESS TO NEW LAND —LIE AT THE HEART OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG,+ HE SAID.

THE GOVERNOR RECALLED THE DECISION TO BUILD THE NEW HIGH-CAPACITY HIGHWAY AND SO OPEN THE WEST AND NORTH-WEST TO DEVELOPMENT.

+ IT WAS TAKEN AT A DARK TIME WHEN THE QUINTUPLING OF OIL PRICES HAD SUDDENLY OPENED AT OUR FEET WHAT THEN APPEARED A FINANCIAL ABYSS,+ HE SAID.

SIR MURRAY POINTED OUT THAT PRUDENCE REQUIRED RETRENCHMENT AND RETRENCHMENT THERE WAS.

BUT HE ADDED, RECOVERY REQUIRED PROGRESS AND DEVELOPMENT, AND SO, INSPITE OF ECONOMIES IN OTHER FIELDS, THE GO-AHEAD FOR TUEN MUN ROAD WAS GIVEN.

* ■ — ■ ——— —- - — — — - - ■ — . . _ — — ----- ■ - ■■

/THIS

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 1978

- 2 -

THIS, HE ADDED, HAD ACTED AS A SHOT IN THE ARM FOR BOTH TUEN MUN AND YUEN LONG.

THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT HE HAD NO DOUBT THAT THE DOUBLE TRACK RAILWAY, AND THE NEW COASTAL ROAD WOULD DO THE SAME FOR TAI PO AND THE NORTH-EAST AND THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL WOULD SIMILARLY AFFECT ABERDEEN AND AP LEI CHAU.

SIR MURRAY CONGRATULATED THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND THEIR CONTRACTORS AND ENGINEERS ON THE COMPLETION OF THE FIRST PHASE OF TUEN MUN ROAD WHICH HE DESCRIBED AS A +SPECTACULAR PROJECT+.

WITH THE COMPLETION OF STAGE II AND ALSO THE TSUEN WAN EY-PASS IN 1982, HE SAID, IT WOULD THEN BE POSSIBLE TO TRAVEL BY CONTINUOUS DUAL CARRIAGEWAY FROM YUEN LONG AND TUEN MUN IN THE WEST TO KWUN TONG IN THE EAST OR ABERDEEN IN THE SOUTH OR SHA TIN AND TAI PO IN THE NORTH-EAST.

IN HIS SPEECH WELCOMING THE GOVERNOR, THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, MR. DAVID MCDONALD, SAID : +THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FIRST CARRIAGEWAY OF WHAT WOULD EVENTUALLY BE A DUAL THREE-LANE ROAD SOME 17 KILOMETRES LONG TOOK THREE-AND-A-HALF YEARS TO COMPLETE, AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $300 MILLION.+

IT WOULD REPLACE THE EXISTING INADEQUATE CASTLE PEAK ROAD WITH A HIGH CAPACITY HIGHWAY LINKING THE NEW TOWNS OF TUEN MUN AND TSUEN WAN.

MR. MCDONALD SAID THAT CONSTRUCTION OF THE SECOND STAGE WOULD COMMENCE SOON AFTER THE FIRST CARRIAGEWAY WAS OPENED TO TRAFF IC.

ON FULL COMPLETION, HE ADDED, TUEN MUN ROAD WOULD FORM PART OF THE TRUNK ROAD SYSTEM TO PROVIDE CONTINUOUS DUALCARRIAGEWAY FROM THE RAPIDLY GROWING TOWN OF TUEN MUN TO KOWLOON.

+THIS GREATLY IMPROVED FACILITY WILL BE OF SPECIAL BENEFIT TO THE INCREASING NUMBER OF LARGE HEAVY VEHICLES GENERATED BY THE EXPANDING INDUSTRY OF THE TOWN,+ MR. MCDONALD SAID.

EARLIER, THE GOVERNOR WAS GREETED ON ARRIVAL BY MR. MCDONALD.

HE WAS THEN INTRODUCED TO OFFICIALS OF P.W.D. AND REPRESENTATIVES OF CONSULTANTS FIRM AND CONTRACTORS EY MR. DAVID STEAD, P.W.D.’S DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT.

THE NEW ROAD WILL EE OPENED TO TRAFFIC AT 10 A.M. TOMORROW (SATURDAY).

-----o------

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 1978

3 -

MORE AREAS IN TUEN MUN * * * *

TO BE DEVELOPED *

THE GOVERNMENT IS TO DEVELOP TWO LARGE AREAS IN TUEN MUN NEW TOWN TO PROVIDE SITES FOR TWO PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES WHICH WILL ACCOMMODATE A TOTAL OF 80,000 PEOPLE.

A THIRD AREA IN THE NEW TOWN WILL ALSO EE DEVELOPED TO PROVID A SITE FOR LIGHT INDUSTRY BY THE END OF 1980.

THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR. PETER NG, TODAY (FRIDAY) DESCRIBED THE PROJECTS AS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TOWN.

WORK ON RECLAMATION AND SITE FORMATION FOR THE FIRST PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECT — THE $380 MILLION BUTTERFLY ESTATE -- WILL START LATER THIS YEAR AND IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY MID-1980.

THE ESTATE WILL ACCOMMODATE 60,000 PEOPLE BY 1983. IT ..'ILL INCORPORATE ALL THE MODERN FACILITIES ON A SPACIOUS AREA OF 23 HECTARES, NORTHEAST OF PAK KOK.

WORK ON SITE FORMATION, ROADS AND DRAINAGE SYSTEMS FOR THE SECOND PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECT -- THE 3130 MILLION SAU SING ESTATE — IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER NEXT YEAR. PARTS OF THE SITE FORMATION WORK STARTED IN MARCH THIS YEAR.

THE SAU SING ESTATE, OCCUPYING 7.8 HECTARES NEAR YEUNG SIU HANG, WILL ACCOMMODATE 20,000 PEOPLE BY 1981.

THE SITE FOR LIGHT INDUSTRY WILL MAINLY BE ON RECLAIMED LAND OPPOSITE SAM SHING HUI. THE GOVERNMENT WILL ALSO CONSTRUCT THE MAIN BREAKWATER FOR A TYPHOON SHELTER PROVIDING AN ANCHORAGE OF 50 HECTARES FOR LOCAL FISHERMEN.

TO FACILITATE THE WORKS ON THE PROJECTS, MR. NG SAID, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD RESUME A TOTAL OF 8,559.5 SQUARE METRES OF AGRICULTURAL LAND AND 19.3 SQUARE METRES OF BUILDING LAND. TWO MONTHS’ NOTICE OF THE RESUMPTION WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY.

THE LAND RESUMPTION WILL INVOLVE THE CLEARANCE OF 13 DOMESTIC STRUCTURES OCCUPIED BY TEN FAMILIES. IN ADDITION, A TOTAL OF 57 OTHER TEMPORARY STRUCTURES, INCLUDING A SHOP, A WORKSHOP, A PIGSTY AND CHICKEN SHEDS, WILL HAVE TO EE CLEARED.

+DEPENDING ON THEIR ELIGIBILITY, DISPLACED FAMILIES WILL BE OFFERED EITHER PUBLIC HOUSING IN TUEN MUN OR SPACE IN A TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA.

+GENUINE FARMING FAMILIES MAY OPT FOR A RESITE TOGETHER WITH AN EX-GRATIA REHABILITATION ALLOWANCE CF $5,300, BUT THE FAMILY WILL FORFEIT THEIR PRIORITY FOR PUBLIC HOUSING,* MR. NG SAID.

OWNERS OF AGRICULTURAL AND BUILDING LAND WILL BE OFFERED LAND EXCHANGE ENTITLEMENTS OR CASH COMPENSATION, HE ADDED.

-----o------

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 1978

COUNTRY PARKS CONCEPT EXTENDED * * * *

MORE THAN 40 AREAS IN HONG KONG WILL BE EARMARKED AS SPECIAL SITES OF BOTANICAL AND ORNITHOLOGICAL INTEREST, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (COUNTRY PARKS) OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, MR. MARTIN LEWIS, SAID TODAY.

SPEAKING AT THE LIONS CLUB (HOSTS) LUNCHEON AT THE HILTON HOTEL, HE SAID THESE AREAS WOULD BE IN ADDITION TO THE DESIGNATION OF 19 COUNTRY PARKS BY APRIL 1, 1981.

MR. LEWIS ADDED THAT CONSIDERATION WAS ALSO BEING GIVEN TO EXTENDING THE COUNTRY PARKS CONCEPT TO INCLUDE SITES OF CULTURAL, HISTORICAL AND GEOLOGICAL INTEREST WITH THE ADVICE OF THE ANTIQUITIES SECTION OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

+THESE ARE ALL CHALLENGING TASKS, BUT NONE MORE SO THAN THE COUNTRYSIDE EDUCATION PROGRAMME.

+WE ARE DISCUSSING HOW THE CONSERVATION MESSAGE CAN BEST BE PUT ACROSS TO SCHOOLS WITH THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. BUT FOR OUR PART, WE WILL BE ACTIVELY PROMOTING THE USE OF THE COUNTRYSIDE BY:

* ESTABLISHING A COUNTRYSIDE ACTIVITIES PROGRAMME, GEARED

TO SELF-STARTING GROUPS WHICH WISH TO UNDERTAKE PROJECTS IN THE COUNTRY PARKS®

* ESTABLISHING VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRES AT ENTRANCES TO THE MAIN COUNTRY PARK AREAS®

* RUNNING 80 WEEK-LONG FORESTRY CAMPS IN THE COUNTRY PARKS FOR VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS AND SCHOOLS® AND

* ORGANISING A PILOT ’SCHOOL FORESTER’ PROJECT TO ENABLE SPECIFIC GROUPS TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES WITH A PARTICULAR PIECE OF FOREST AND TAKE A CONTINUING INTEREST IN IT.*

MR. LEWIS SAID THE FIRST TWO PROJECTS WERE IN THE FORMULATIVE STAGE AND WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED ONCE RESOURCES — PRINCIPALLY STAFF — WERE AVAILABLE. THE OTHER TWO PROJECTS WOULD BE UNDER WAY IN JULY.

THE COUNTRY PARKS, HE ADDED, CONTAINED A GREAT DEAL MORE THAN JUST AREAS OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL EEAUTY.

WITHIN THEIR BOUNDARIES, THERE ARE MORE THAN 2,400 SPECIES OF VASCULAR PLANTS, ABOUT 343 SPECIES OF BIRDS, ABOUT 118 SPECIES OF NATIVE ORCHIDS, MORE THAN 200 SPECIES GF BUTTERFLIES, A SMALL NUMBER OF WILD ANIMALS AND A VARIETY GF SNAKES.

MR. LEWIS SAID THERE WERE MANY HISTORICAL SITES WHICH WOULD SERVE AS INTERESTING EDUCATIONAL FEATURES TG THE PRESENT GENERATION +WHO MAY NOT EASILY IDENTIFY THEMSELVES WITH HONG KONG’S PAST ... NOT TO MENTION TOURISTS, FOR WHOM, I AM SURE, WE WILL FIND MANY MORE AREAS OF INTEREST TO VISIT IN THE COUNTRYSIDE.+

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 1978

MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT FOR TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS SIGNED * * * *

THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TODAY AWARDED A $15.8 MILLION CONTRACT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS ON THE HILLTOPS OF LAI KING HEADLAND IN TSUEN WAN.

THE CONTRACT WAS FORMALLY SIGNED WITH WAN HING AND CO. LTD. IN THE P.W.D.’S TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE THIS MORNING.

MR. NORMAN TUCKER, P.W.D.’S CHIEF ENGINEER, SAID THAT THE WORK, WHICH IS PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN, WOULD ALSO INCLUDE THE CONSTRUCTION OF ACCESS ROADS AND A DRAINAGE SYSTEM.

WORK WOULD BEGIN NEXT WEEK AND TAKE ABOUT A YEAR TO COMPLETE.

MR. TUCKER SAID THAT THE TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS WERE REQUIRED TO MEET CLEARANCE COMMITMENTS ARISING FROM THE EXTENSION OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY TO TSUEN WAN AND FURTHER DEVELOPMENT CF THE NEW TOWN.

HE SAID THAT THE HILLTOPS, WHICH WERE USED AS BORROW AREAS, HAD NOW BEEN FORMED INTO PLATFORMS BY THE DEVELOPERS OF THE KWAI CHUNG CONTAINER TERMINAL.

MR. TUCKER POINTED OUT THAT INITIALLY THE PLATFORMS WOULD BE USED AS TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS BUT WOULD EVENTUALLY BE DEVELOPED TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY FACILITIES.

- - 0 - -

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 1973

EMPLOYMENT AT BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION SITES H * K M H

THERE WERE 65,036 MANUAL WORKERS ENGAGED AT BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION SITES IN MARCH THIS YEAR, ACCORDING TO A RECENT EMPLOYMENT SURVEY CONDUCTED BY CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

THE FIGURE SHOWED AN INCREASE OF 2,026 WORKERS OR THREE PER CENT COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1977. AS AGAINST THE SAME PERIOD IN 1977, THE FIGURE ROSE BY 10,501 OR 19 PER CENT.

THE SURVEY ALSO SHOWED THAT THERE WERE 1,167 BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION SITES IN OPERATION IN MARCH THIS YEAR. OF THESE, 352 WERE SITES TENDERED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS AND HOUSING DEPARTMENTS. THEY ACCOUNTED FOR 24,913 WORKERS -- AN INCREASE OF 1,720 WORKERS OR SEVEN PER CENT OVER DECEMBER LAST YEAR.

DURING THE PERIOD FROM DECEMBER 1977 TO MARCH 1978, THE NUMBER OF WORKERS ENGAGED AT CONSTRUCTION SITES OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR DECREASED SLIGHTLY BY ONE PER CENT TO 32,004. BUT EMPLOYMENT AT THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION SITES RECORDED AN INCREASE OF EIGHT PER CENT TO 8,119 WORKERS IN MARCH 1978.

DETAILED STATISTICS ARE AS FOLLOWS

MARCH 1977 DECEMBER 1977 MARCH 1978

TENDER ING AUTHORITY SITES IN OPERATION MANUAL WORKERS ENGAGED SITES IN OPERATION MANUAL WORKERS ENGAGED SITES IN OPERATION MANUAL WORKtR 3 ENGAGED

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT 764 13,936 294 18,162 304 18,493

HOUS 1 NG DEPARTMENT 18 2,303 43 5,031 48 6,423

MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY 23 5,563 26 7,526 28 8,119

PRIVATE SECTOR 804 32,763 339 32,291 787 32,304

TOTAL 1,109 54,535 1,202 63,010 1,167 65,036

(NOTE : CONSTRUCTION SITES UNDER THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY REFER TO M.T.R. CONTRACTS FOR WHICH WORK WAS IN PROGRESS DURING MARCH 1978).

-----0------

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 1978

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR HONG KONG STUDENTS

* * * * *

A NUMBER OF SCHOLARSHIPS ARE BEING OFFERED IN MEMBER COLLEGES CF THE UNITED WORLD COLLEGES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND CANADA TO STUDENTS IN HONG KONG FOR A TWO-YEAR MATRICULATION COURSE COMMENCING SEPTEMBER, 1978.

THE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE OFFERED AT ATLANTIC COLLEGE, SOUTH WALES, UNITED KINGDOM, OR PEARSON COLLEGE, VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA.

THE MATRICULATION COURSES V. ILL LEAD TO THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE, THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY ENTRY EXAMINATION. THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE IS RECOGNISED FOR UNIVERSITY ENTRY PURPOSES IN HONG KONG AND IN MANY COUNTRIES.

THE UNITED WORLD COLLEGES WERE ESTABLISHED TO PROMOTE INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING THROUGH EDUCATION. THE STUDENT BODY AND TEACHING STAFF ARE FULLY INTERNATIONAL. ENTRY TO EACH COLLEGE IS HIGHLY COMPETITIVE AND IS BASED ON ACADEMIC ABILITY AND PERSONAL QUALIT IES.

AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY: +APPLICANTS FOR THESE SCHOLARSHIPS MUST BE UNDER 17-1/2 YEARS OF AGE ON 1ST SEPTEMBER, 1978 AND BE IN POSSESSION OF A HONG KONG CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION WITH AT LEAST FOUR SUBJECTS AT GRADE C OR ABOVE, INCLUDING GOOD RESULTS IN ENGLSIH LANGUAGE' OR HAVE A GOOD CHANCE OF OBTAINING SIMILAR (OR BETTER) RESULTS IN THE 1978 HONG KONG CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION, INCLUDING GOOD RESULTS IN ENGLISH OR HAVE OBTAINED AN APPROVED EQUIVALENT, (E.G. H.K.U.A.L. CERTIFICATE, THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG MATRICULATION CERTIFICATE, OR ANY G.C.E. CERTIFICATE.)+

HE SAID THAT EACH SCHOLARSHIP WOULD COVER TUITION AND BOARDING FEES FOR THE TWO-YEAR COURSE, THE INITIAL COST OF UNIFORM AND SPORTS CLOTHING AND A PERSONAL ALLOWANCE DURING THE TERM. IT WOULD NOT, HOWEVER, BE ADEQUATE TO COVER OTHER NECESSARY EXPENSES SUCH AS AIR FARES TO AND FROM THE COLLEGE AND MAINTENANCE FOR LONG VACATIONS.

+THE CRITERIA FOR THE SELECTION CF CANDIDATES WILL INCLUDE PAST ACADEMIC RECORDS, EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, RECOMMENDATION OF THE HEAD OF SCHOOL, PERSONALITY AND KNOWLEDGE OF ENGLISH.

+CAND(DATES MAY BE REQUIRED TO ATTEND AN INTERVIEW IN HONG KONG. SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES WILL BE REQUIRED TO SIGN AN UNDERTAKING THAT THEY WILL RETURN TO HONG KONG ON COMPLETION OF THE COURSE,* THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED.

APPLICATION FORMS ARE OBTAINABLE FROM THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S BRANCH OFFICE AT ROOM 1522, LEIGHTON CENTRE, 15TH FLOOR, LEIGHTON ROAD, CAUSEWAY BAY.

COMPLETED FORMS MUST BE RETURNED TO THE SAME OFFICE BY MAY 12. LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

-----0------

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 1978

DUTIABLE COMMODITIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978 * * * * *

A BILL WHICH AIMS AT PREVENTING THE MISUSE OF HYDROCARBON OILS IN MOTOR VEHICLES IS PUBLISHED IN TODAY’S GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.

THE DUTIABLE COMMODITIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978 WILL IMPLEMENT A PROPOSAL ANNOUNCED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH BY MAKING IT AN OFFENCE TO MIX KEROSENE WITH DIESEL OIL FOR USE IN VEHICLES.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY POINTED OUT THAT SUCH A MIXTURE CAUSED AIR POLLUTION PROBLEMS AND ALSO PRESENTED A FIRE RISK WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OF THE ENGINE RISES.

BESIDES THE MIXTURE REDUCES THE CONSUMPTION ON DIESEL OIL, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF REVENUE FROM DUTY. THERE IS NO DUTY ON KEROSENE.

A MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR SUCH AN OFFENCE UNDER THE BILL IS A FINE OF $100,000 AND TWO YEARS IMPRISONMENT.

------0-------

FULL-TIME TECHNICAL TEACHERS’ COURSE FOR FORM 5 GRADUATES ******

THE HONG KONG TECHNICAL TEACHERS’ COLLEGE IS OFFERING A TWO-YEAR FULL-TIME TECHNICAL TEACHERS’ COURSE COMMENCING IN SEPTEMBER 1978. APPLICATIONS ARE NOW INVITED FROM YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO INTEND TO TAKE UP TEACHING PROFESSION AS THEIR CAREER.

THE COURSE IS DESIGNED TO TRAIN FORM V GRADUATES WITH APPROPRIATE TECHNICAL EDUCATION BACKGROUND TO BECOME QUALIFIED TEACHERS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

DURING THE TWO YEARS OF TRAINING, STUDENTS WILL STUDY EDUCATION THEORIES INCLUDING EDUCATION PHILOSOPHIES AND PSYCHOLOGY, THE DESIGN, PREPARATION AND APPLICATION OF AUDIOVISUAL AIDS, TEACHING METHODOLOGY, MATHEMATICS AND GENERAL SCIENCE. A PROPORTION OF TIME WILL BE ALLOCATED TO THE POLISHING UP OF SPECIALIST SUBJECT-MATTER IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING, CONSTRUCTION, ACCOUNTANCY AND SECRETARYSHIP. INDUSTRIAL ATTACHMENT AND VISITS WILL ALSO BE ARRANGED TO PROMOTE STUDENTS’ CONTACT WITH INDUSTRIES.

STUDENTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO PASS BOTH COURSE WORK AND EXAMINATIONS AS WELL AS TEACHING PRACTICES BEFORE THEY GRADUATE.

FINANCIAL AIDS ARE STUDENTS TO TAKE UP THE

AVAILABLE ON APPLICATION TO ASSIST TEACHER TRAINING.

APPLICATION FORMS ARE OBTAINABLE FROM THE HONG KONG TECHNICAL TEACHERS’ COLLEGE, 373, QUEEN’S ROAD EAST, WAN CHAI, HONG KONG. COMPLETED FORMS SHOULD BE RETURNED TO THE COLLEGE ON OR BEFORE THE END OF THIS MONTH.

- 0 ----------

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 1978

WIDENING OF CLEARWATER BAY ROAD * * * *

THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WILL SOON WIDEN THE EXISTING CLEARWATER BAY ROAD BETWEEN PIK UK AND CLEARWATER BAY APARTMENTS TO A TWO-LANE DUAL CARRIAGEWAY WITH IMPROVED ALIGNMENT AND LEVELS.

THIS PROJECT IS PART OF A SCHEME TO IMPROVE CLEARWATER BAY ROAD BETWEEN ANDERSON ROAD AND HANG HAU ROAD.

ON COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT, IT IS HOPED THAT THE PRESENT TRAFFIC CONGESTION ALONG CLEARWATER BAY ROAD WILL BE CONSIDERABLY RELIEVED.

ANYONE WHO MAY HAVE OBJECTIONS TO THE PROJECT SHOULD SUBMIT THEM IN WRITING TO THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS WITHIN ONE MONTH FROM TODAY.

-----0------

/10

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 1978

- 10 -

HEADQUARTERS OF RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE MOVING *****

THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS MOVING ITS HEADQUARTERS FROM MAU TAU KOK ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES IN KOWLOON TO THE WING ON CENTRE ON HONG KONG ISLAND.

THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT, AN ADVISORY BODY TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, WILL ALSO BE LOCATED IN THE SAME BUILDING.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SEEKING INFORMATION ON RECREATION AND SPORT PROGRAMMES SHOULD GO TO 11TH FLOOR, WING ON CENTRE, 111 CONNAUGHT ROAD, HONG KONG, FROM MONDAY (MAY 8). THE SERVICE’S 17 DISTRICT OFFICES - FOUR ON HONG KONG, SIX IN KOWLOON, AND SEVEN IN THE NEW TERRITORIES - WILL REMAIN IN THEIR RESPECTIVE LOCATIONS.

THE SERVICE, HEADED BY A PRINCIPAL EDUCATION OFFICER, MR. MIKE CASWELL, HAS A STAFF OF 130 OFFICERS TO ORGANISE AND PROMOTE RECREATION AND SPORT PROGRAMMES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY.

THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS AT THE NEW OFFICES ARE:

RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE

5-458791 (10 LINES)

5-458511 (4 LINES)

SECRETARIAT FOR COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT

5-442170 - SECRETARY

5-441086 - SENIOR EXECUTIVE OFFICER

5-441936 - EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

5-441902 - ENQUIRIES

------o-------

FIRING PRACTICE CANCELLED

* * * * *

THE FIRING PRACTICE FOR THIS MONTH WHICH WAS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE AT CASTLE PEAK RANGE ON MAY 18 (THURSDAY), MAY 30 (TUESDAY) AND MAY 31 (WEDNESDAY), HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

--------0 -

PR 33

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

SUPPLEMENT

Friday, May 5, 1978

GOV^IOR OPENS TUEN MUN HIGHWAY

The following is the full text of speech by the Governor, Sir Murray MacLehose, at the opening of Tuen Mun Highway today :

I am very glad to open this new highway. If any of you had doubts about the need for it, I trust they were dispelled as you joined the queue to get here along the old coast road. Clearly the Test and North-Jest have need of greatly improved communications.

Communications - access to new land - lie at the heart of the development of Hong Kong. I well remember the decision to build this highway, and so open the West and North-Jest to development. It was taken at a dark time when the quintupling of oil prices had suddenly opened at our feet what then appeared a financial abyss. Prudence required retrenchment and retrenchment there was. But recovery required progress and development, and so, inspite of economies in other fields, the go-ahead for this highway was given. It has acted as a shot in the arm for both Tuen Mun and Yuen Long.

I have no doubt that the double Lion Rock Tunnels, the double track railway, and the new coastal road will do the same for Tai Po and the North-East and the Aberdeen Tunnel will similarly affect Aberdeen and Ap Lei Chau.

/This Tuen Mun .....

Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House. Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191

This Tuen Mun highway is a spectacular project and I congratulate the Public Works Department and their contractors and engineers on the completion of this first phase. With the completion of stage II and also the Tsuen Wan by-pass by 1982, it will then be possible to travel by continuous dual carriageway from Yuen Long and Tuen Mun in the West to Kwun Tong in the East or Aberdeen in the South or Sha Tin and Tai Po in the North-East.

I believe that these improved communications with the access to new land which they will bring will be greatly to the benefit of the New Territories and to all Hong Kong.

It is with the greatest pleasure that I declare the Tuen Mun Highway open.

- 0 -

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

SATURDAY, MAY 6, 1978

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

CAREER PROSPECTS OF TECHNICAL GRADUATES VERY GOOD .................................................. 1

HARD WORK PAYS OFF FOR CHAN SIU-LEUNG ................. 2

SENIOR C.A.D. OFFICER TO ATTEND AIR TALKS IN U.K... 3

BUN FESTIVAL PROCESSION ON CHEUNG CHAU BEGINS TOMORROW .............................................. 4

LEASE OF ALDRICH BAY FORESHORE ........................ 5

WATER CUT AT A KUNG NGAM............................... 5

BROADWOOD ROAD TO BE WIDENED .......................... 6

TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF SECTION OF TREGUNTER PATH .... 6

Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191

SATURDAY, MAY 6, 1973

TECHNICAL GRADUATES EASILY FIND JOBS * * *

A SURVEY BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S TECHNICAL EDUCATION DIVISION HAS REVEALED HOW GRADUATES OF TECHNICAL INSTITUTES FEEL ABOUT JOB PROSPECTS AND SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND THEIR ATTITUDES TOWARDS CONTINUING THEIR EDUCATION ON A PART-TIME BASIS.

THE REPORT OF THE SURVEY ENTITLED +THE EMPLOYMENT SURVEY OF THE FULL-TIME GRADUATES OF TECHNICAL INSTITUTES (ACADEMIC YEAR 1976-77)+, NOTES THAT GRADUATES OF TECHNICAL INSTITUTES ARE READILY ACCEPTED BY LOCAL INDUSTRY. ABOUT 4-0.8 PER CENT OF THESE GRADUATES GOT THEIR JOBS IN JULY 1977, AND BY DECEMBER 1977, NEARLY 97.8 PER CENT HAD BEEN EMPLOYED.

THE NEWSPAPER IS STILL THE CHIEF SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR EMPLOYMENT (26.8 PER CENT). BUT TECHNICAL INSTITUTES NOTICE BOARDS ALSO PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE DISSEMINATION OF CAREER INFORMATION.

ABOUT 91 PER CENT OF ALL THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE GRADUATES FIND THAT THEIR JOBS BEAR SOME RELEVANCE TO THE COURSES STUDIED. SOME 32.9 PER CENT OF CRAFT GRADUATES AND ONLY 16.5 PER CENT OF COMMERCIAL POST-SECONDARY GRADUATES FIND THEIR JOBS +HIGHLY+ RELEVANT TO THEIR STUDY. THIS POINTS TO THE HEED FOR BROAD-EASED COURSES.

MORE THAN HALF (55.8 PER CENT) OF THE GRADUATES SAY THEY ARE SATISFIED WITH THEIR JOBS- AND THOSE WHO SHOW DISSATISFACTION POINT OUT THAT LOW PAY, DIM PROMOTION PROSPECTS AND LITTLE CHANCE FOR PROFESSIONAL GROWTH ARE THE MAIN CAUSES OF DISCONTENT.

PART-TIME EVENING COURSES ARE STILL THE MOST COMMON FORM OF FURTHER STUDY FOR THE FULL-TIME TECHNICAL GRADUATES (58.6 PER CENT) AS COMPARED TO PART-TIME DAY-RELEASE. BLOCK-RELEASE AND CORRESPONDENCE COURSES ARE VERY RARE.

MOST STUDENTS (81.3 PER CENT) CHOOSE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC AS THEIR INSTITUTIONS OF PART-TIME EDUCATION, AND 88.8 PER CENT OF THE EMPLOYED GRADUATES UNDERTAKE SOME FORM OF PART-TIME STUDY — AN INCREASE OF 9.3 PER CENT OVER LAST YEAR’S FIGURES.

MOST GRADUATES WHO GO ON FOR FURTHER FULL-TIME STUDY ENTER THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES (56.5 PER CENT) AND 13.6 PER CENT ENTER THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC. BUT THE PROPORTION OF GRADUATES 'WHO PURSUE HIGHER FULL-TIME STUDY IS LOW (8.5 PER CENT).

CAREER EXHIBITIONS OF ORGANISATIONS IN COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, AS WELL AS THE GOVERNMENT HAVE BEEN FOUND VERY EFFECTIVE AND INFORMATIVE IN PROVIDING GUIDANCE TO YOUNG PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEES.

- - 0 -

SATURDAY, MAY 6, 1978

HARD WORK PAYS OFF FOR CHAN SIU-LEUNG

ANOTHER LOCAL OFFICER WHO HAS REACHED THE DIRECTORATE GRADE IN THE GOVERNMENT IS MR. CHAU SIU-LEUNG WHOSE PROMOTION TO THE RANK OF CHIEF TREASURY ACCOUNTANT WAS ANNOUNCED RECENTLY.

MR. CHAN, WHO IS 44, CAN BE JUSTLY PROUD OF HIS ACHIEVEMENT IN RISING FROM THE POST OF CLERK TO BE THE HIGHEST-RANKING CHINESE OFFICER ON THE STAFF OF THE TREASURY.

HIS SUCCESS HAS COME THROUGH HARD WORK, DEVOTION TO DUTY, AND DETERMINATION TO BETTER HIMSELF.

HE IS CURRENTLY SECONDED FROM THE TREASURY AS THE BUSINESS MANAGER IN THE P.W.D.’S WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT WHERE HE CONTROLS MORE THAN 300 ACCOUNTING STAFF.

MR. CHAN FIRST JOINED THE GOVERNMENT AS A CLERK IN THE P.W.D.’S ROAD OFFICE IN 1954.

HE USED HIS SPARE TIME TO STUDY ACCOUNTING AND AFTER PASSING A SERIES OF ACCOUNTING EXAMINATIONS HE JOINED THE TREASURY AS AN ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT IN 1964 — WHICH MR. CHAN DESCRIBED AS A TURNING POINT IN HIS CAREER.

MR. CHAN CONTINUED TO FURTHER HIS STUDY IN ACCOUNTING AND BECAME AN ASSOCIATE OF THE AUSTRALIAN SOCIETY OF ACCOUNTANTS (A.A.S.A.) IN 1968.

THE FOLLOWING YEAR HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE PROFESSIONAL GRADE AS A TREASURY ACCOUNTANT AND WAS SECONDED TO THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT IN OCTOBER 1971.

MR. CHAN WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FORMATION OF THE +SPECIAL SYSTEM GROUP+ WHICH WAS SET UP IN JUNE 1972 TO REVISE THE ACCOUNTING SYSTEM OF THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING CONSUMERS’ ACCOUNTING AND THE BILLING PROCEDURE.

HE WAS PROMOTED TO SENIOR TREASURY ACCOUNTANT IN 1975 AND BECAME THE BUSINESS MANAGER OF THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT. HE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY PROMOTED TO HIS PRESENT POSITION IN JANUARY THIS YEAR WHEN HIS POST JAS UPGRADED IK RECOGNITION OF ITS INCREASED RESPONSIBILITIES.

AS A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT, MR. CHAN ADVISED OFFICERS AT THE JUNIOR LEVEL TO PURSUE KNOWLEDGE RELEVANT TO THEIR JOB WHILE THEY ARE WORKING.

•►QUALIFICATIONS AND WORKING ABILITY ARE THE TWO MAIN KEYS TO SUCCESS IN ONE’S CAREER,+ HE SAID.

AS THE BUSINESS MANAGER IN THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT, MR. CHAN IS FACING AN EVER INCREASING WORKLOAD.

/+WE NOW ....

SATURDAY, MAY 6, 1978

+ ..H KOU HANDLE ABOUT 800,□□□ WATER ACCOUNTS — BOTH TRADE AND DOMESTIC -- AND THE GROWTH RATE IS ABOUT 5,303 TO 6,330 PER MONTH,+ MR. CHAN SAID.

+ .E ARE HOW WORKING ON THE COMPUTERISATION OF ALL THE ACCOUNTS. IN FACT, THE TRADE ACCOUNTS -- ABOUT ONE-TENTH OF i.-iE TOTAL — ..ERE COMPUTERISED LAST AUGUST.

+THE RE.'

IN ING ACCOUNTS ARE BEING COMPUTERISED.* MR. CHAN

+ ..HER THIS IS COMPLETED ALL THE ACCOUNTS '..ILL EE HANDLED .‘■ORE EFFICIENTLY AND ACCURATELY AND THE SERVICE STANDARD MILL BE MUCH IMPROVED,* HE ADDED.

-----o------

SENIOR C.A.D. OFFICER LEAVES FOR U.K. ON AIR TALKS * * * *

A- ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT, ■ R. -.ORMAN LATHAM, LEFT HOM'S KONG TODAY (SATURDAY) TO ATTEND AIR SERVICES TALKS IN LONDON BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND NEW ZEALAND AERONAUTICAL AUTHORITIES.

THIS IS THE SECOND ROUND OF TALKS TO EE HELD TO CONSIDER REVISED AIR SERVICES ARRANGEMENT DOTH ON THE TRUNK ROUTE BETWEEf LONDON AND AUCKLAND AND THE REGIONAL ROUTE BETWEEN HONG KONG AND NEW ZEALAND.

THE TALKS ARE EXPECTED TC CONTINUE FOR ABOUT ONE WEEK.

-----o-----

SATURDAY, MAY 6, 1978

EUN FESTIVAL PROCESSION ON CHEUNG CHAU * * * *

THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, '..ILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING OF THIS YEAR’S EUN FESTIVAL PROCESSION TO BE HELD ON CHEUNG CHAU OK TUESDAY (MAY 9).

THE PROCESSION — EETTER KNOWN AS +TA CHIU+ PROCESSION — IS ONE CF THE MAJOR EVENTS OF THE FOUR-DAY FESTIVAL WHICH BEGINS TOMORROW (SUNDAY). IT IS ORGANISED ANNUALLY EY THE TA CHIU COMMITTEE TO +PACIFY THE SPIRITS OF THOSE KILLED EY PIRATES IK PREVIOUS CENTURIES.+

MORE THAN 20,000 PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO WATCH THE ONE-HOUR PROCESSION, STARTING AT 2.30 P.M.

THIS YEAR 2,000 RESIDENTS FROM CHEUNG CHAU WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESSION INCLUDING A PARADE OF SHRINES AND FLOATS, FAMOUS CHIU CHC..1 GONG AND DRUM PERFORMANCES, TRADITIONAL CHINESE FOLK DANCES AND LION AND UNICORN DANCES.

T>.0 HUNDRED STUDENTS FROM ST. MARGARET’S GIRLS’ COLLEGE AND THE BUDDHIST TAI KWONG MIDDLE SCHOOL '..ILL TAKE PART IN THE PROCESSION, PERFORMING FOLK DANCES CF ASIAN COUNTRIES.

THE ARMY’S ROYAL GREEN JACKETS WILL PROVIDE THE BAND MUSIC.

AS FOR THE FOUR-DAY FESTIVAL, COMMENCING TOMORROW (SUNDAY), THERE WILL BE NIGHTLY PERFORMANCES CF CHINESE OPERAS AND CHANTING CF PRAYERS EY TAOIST PRIESTS.

THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE FESTIVAL WILL EE A SIG SCRAMBLE FOR EU’.Z FIXED ON THREE HIGH TOWERS WHICH JILL START AT MIDNIGHT ON TUESDAY NIGHT.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CF THE +TA CHIU+ PROCESSION ON CHEUNG CHAU. AS THERE ARE LI.'-. ITED NUMBER OF PLACES AT A PRESS STAND PROVIDED EY THE TA CHIU COMMITTEE, YOU ARE REQUESTED TO TELEPHONE MR. PETER CHC I CF THE NEW TERR ITCHES ADMINISTRATION, TEL. NO. 3-3502465, TO GIVE THE NAMES GF YOUR REPRESENTATIVES NOMINATED TO COVER THE EVENT BEFORE NOON ON MONDAY (MAY 8).

SPECIAL PRESS BADGES ..ILL EE AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION AT G. I.S. PRESS BOXES ON MONDAY AFTERNOON.

A FERRY, MAX CHOI, .ILL ALSO EE AVAILABLE TO NEWSMEN AND INVITED GUESTS AT QUEEN’S PIER. IT ..ILL LEAVE FOF CHEUNG CHAU AT 12.33 P.M. OK TUESDAY (MAY 9) AND IS SCHEDULED TO RETURN EY 5

-----o------

SATURDAY, MAY 6, 1978

LEASE OF ALDRICH BAY FORESHORE * * *

THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO GRANT LEASES OF ABOUT 8,710 SQUARE METRES OF FORESHORE AND SEA BED AT ALDRICH BAY, SHAU KEI WAN FOR USE AS BOATYARDS.

THE LEASES WILL BE OFFERED INITIALLY TO FORMER PERMITTEES OR LICENCEES WHO WILL BE DISPLACED BY FURTHER RECLAMATION AT ALDRICH BAY.

A NOTICE TO THIS EFFECT WAS PUBLISHED IN THE LATEST ISSUE OF GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.

ANY PERSON WHO HAS OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSAL SHOULD SUBMIT THEM IN WRITING TO THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS WITHIN TWO MONTHS FROM MAY 5, THE DATE OF THE NOTICE.

THE NOTICE, IN BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE, WITH ITS RELATED PLAN CAN BE SEEN ON NOTICE BOARD ERECTED NEAR THE SITE.

THE PLAN SHOWING THE AREA OF FORESHORE AND SEA BED INVOLVED MAY ALSO BE SEEN AT THE PORT WORKS DIVISION, FIRST FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG OR AT THE CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE, 19TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG.

0 - -

WATER CUT * * *

THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT HAS ANNOUNCED THAT FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER OF PREMISES AT A KUNG NGAM WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR EIGHT HOURS FROM 10 P.M. ON MONDAY (MAY 8) TO FACILITATE THE RESITING OF A FRESH WATER PEDESTAL HYDRANT AT A KUNG NGAM VILLAGE ROAD.

PREMISES TO BE AFFECTED ARE THOSE IN A KUNG NGAM VILLAGE, A KUNG NGAM VILLAGE ROAD, AND IN SHAU KEI WAN MAIN STREET EAST BETWEEN BASEL ROAD AND A KUNG NGAM VILLAGE ROAD.

- - 0 - -

SATURDAY, MAY 6, 1978

BROADWOOD ROAD TO BE WIDENED * * * * *

THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF BROADWOOD ROAD BETWEEN TAI HANG ROAD AND LINK ROAD WILL BE IMPROVED IN CONNECTION WITH MAJOR RESIDENTIAL REDEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS FOR PROPERTIES ALONG THAT ROAD.

A GAZETTED GOVERNMENT NOTICE SAID THE IMPROVEMENTS WILL CONSIST OF WIDENING OF BROADWOOD ROAD, ON AN IMPROVED ALIGNMENT, TO A WIDTH OF 7.3 METRES WITH A 1.8-METRE WIDE FOOTPATH ALONG THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE CARRIAGEWAY.

THE WORK IS EXPECTED TO TAKE ABOUT TWO YEARS TO COMPLETE AND ON COMPLETION BROADWOOD ROAD WILL PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE ROUTE FOR TRAFFIC BETWEEN TAI HANG ROAD AND HAPPY VALLEY.

ANY PERSON WHO HAS OBJECTIONS TO THE PROJECT SHOULD SUBMIT THEM IN WRITING TO THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS WITHIN ONE MONTH FROM MAY 5.

- - 0 - -

SECTION OF TREGUNTER PATH TEMPORARILY CLOSED

*****

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THE SECTION OF TREGUNTER PATH BETWEEN TAVISTOCK AND OLD PEAK ROAD IN MID-LEVELS WILL BE TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO ALL VEHICLES FROM 10 A.M. ON MONDAY (MAY 8) FOR ABOUT FIVE WEEKS.

APPROPRIATE SIGNS WILL EE SET UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.

- - 0

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

SUNDAY, MAY 7, 1978

CONTENTS

PAGE NO.

SECOND LION ROCK SERVICE RESERVOIR NEARS COMPLETION ... 1

YEAR-BOOK SALES POINT TO INCREASED INTEREST IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS .........................................

REGISTRATION TEAM TO OPERATE IN WONG CHUK HANG ........... 3

RESTRICTIONS ON LORRIES ON CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD .......... 3

Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hone Kong. Tel: 5-W1P1

SUNDAY, MAY 7, 1978

NEW SERVICE RESERVOIR NEAR COMPLETION

*****

THE SECOND LION ROCK HIGH-LEVEL SERVICE RESERVOIR, ONE OF THE BIGGEST OF ITS KIND IN HONG KONG, IS NEARING COMPLETION AND ..ILL COME INTO OPERATION IN T..0 MONTHS.

THE „13 MILLION SERVICE RESERVOIR, SITUATED CN THE WEST SIDE OF THE KOWLOON PORTAL OF THE LION ROCK TUNNEL, HAS A CAPACITY OF MORE THAN 95 MILLION LITRES.

MR. LEUNG TAT-MING, CHIEF ENGINEER (CONSTRUCTION) CF THE P.W.D.’S /.ATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT, SAID THE RESERVOIR IS PART OF THE HIGH ISLAND '..'ATER SCHEME.

+IT WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PRIMARY STORAGE FOR THE INCREASED OUTPUT OF SHA TIN TREATMENT WORKS WHOSE DAILY CAPACITY HAS BEEN INCREASED TO 109 MILLION LITRES,* HE SAID.

+THE SERVICE RESERVOIR WILL BE FED BY TRUNK MAINS LAID IN THE LION ROCK TUNNELS AND WILL SUPPLY WATER TO OTHER SERVICE RESERVOIRS IN KOWLOON AND ON HONG KONG ISLAND VIA THE CROSS-HARBOUR MAIN.*

LIKE SOME OF THE BIGGER SERVICE RESERVOIRS, THE

DECKING CF THIS NEW SERVICE RESERVOIR ’.'.ILL PROVIDE SOME 13,030 SQUARE METRES OF OPEN SPACE WHICH CAN BE USED AS A PLAYGROUND IF THE NEED ARISES.

MR. LEUNG POINTED OUT THAT THE SERVICE RESERVOIR WAS ONE ‘OF NINE UNDER CONSTRUCTION BY THE '..ATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT AT PRESENT.

THE OTHER EIGHT — ONE ON HONG KONG ISLAND AND SEVEN IN THE NEW TERRITORIES — COST A TOTAL OF ABOUT 036 MILLION.

THEY CONSIST OF SIX FRESH WATER SERVICE RESERVOIRS AND TWO FCR SALT WATER.

THE CAPACITY OF THESE RESERVOIRS RANGE FROM ONE MILLION TO 33 MILLION LITRES. MOST CF THEM ARE SCHEDULED FCR COMPLETION IN THE SECOND HALF CF THE YEAR.

MR. LEUNG SAID THAT THESE SERVICE RESERVOIRS ..ERE PART CF A PLAN OF THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT TO IMPROVE WATER SUPPLY TO AREAS ON ECTH SIDES CF THE HARBOUR.

THEY ALSO AIM TO COPE WITH THE INCREASING DEMAND AS WELL AS DEVELOPMENTS IN TH* NEW TERRITORIES.

APART FROM THESE SERVICE RESERVOIRS, MR. LEUNG SAID 16 OTHERS ..ERE PLANNED TO BE BUILT IN THE NEXT T..0 YEARS.

THREE OF THEM WILL EE CN HONG KONG ISLAND, TWO IN KOWLOON AND 11 IN THE NE,. TERRITORIES.

SUNDAY, MAY 7, 1972

- 2 -

YEAR-BOOK SALES POINT TO INCREASED INTEREST IN

PUBLIC AFFAIRS

*****

INTEREST IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS IN HONG KONG IS CONTINUING TO GROW JUDGING FROM SALES OF THE BEST-SELLING YEAR-DOOK +HONG KONG 1978.+

A RECORD TOTAL OF MORE THAN 40,000 COPIES -- 35,000 IN ENGLISH AND 7,000 IN CHINESE -- WERE PRINTED AND IT LOOKS SURE TO DE A SELL-OUT BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.

SINCE GOING ON SALE AT THE BEGINNING OF MARCH, 22,500 COPIES HAVE BEEN SOLD IN ENGLISH AND 6,000 IN CHINESE.

THE NUMBER SOLD IN CHINESE IS DOUBLE THAT OF LAST YEAR’S SALES, AND ONLY A FEW HUNDRED COPIES ARE NOW AVAILABLE.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID; +THE GROWING DEMAND FOR THE YEAR-BOOK, ESPECIALLY THE CHINESE EDITION, IS A WELCOME DEVELOPMENT AS IT INDICATES THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE TAKING A CLOSE INTEREST IN THE WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT, AND WANT TO BE ACCURATELY INFORMED ABOUT IT.+

+ .E HAVE TAKEN PARTICULAR NOTICE OF THE INCREASED DEMAND FOR THE CHINESE EDITION AND THE PRINT-RUN FOR THIS NEXT YEAR WILL BE RAISED EVEN HIGHER, PROBABLY TO ID,ODO COPIES.

MEANWHILE SALES OF THE ENGLISH EDITION ARE ALSO RISING ANNUALLY, ALTHOUGH NOT AT THE SAME RATE AS THE CHINESE EDITION.

+WE EXPECT TO SELL OUT THE REMAINING 12,500 ENGLISH COPIES WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS BECAUSE IT IS ALSO IN STRONG DEMAND, AND IT MAY EE NECESSARY TO PRINT MORE NEXT YEAR.+

THE YEAR-BOOK IS ON SALE AT £15 AND CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, LEADING BOOKSHOPS, CITY DISTRICT OFFICES AND DISTRICT OFFICES IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.

-------- 0 - - - -

SUNDAY, MAY 7, 1978

-3-

REGI STRATI ON TEAM TO OPERATE IN WONG CHUK HANG M * * *

A TEAM FROM THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS OFFICE WILL CONDUCT REGISTRATIONS IN WONG CHUK HANG ESTATE OFFICE FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN THE AREA FOR FIVE DAYS FROM. MAY 15.

REGISTRATIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED BETWEEN 9.30 A.M. AND

4.33 P.M. DURING THESE DAYS.

THE VISIT IS TO ENABLE PARENTS OR GUARDIANS TO REGISTER THEIR CHILDREN OR WARDS BETWEEN 11 AND 17 YEARS OF AGE FOR JUVENILE IDENTITY CARDS AND HOLDERS OF JUVENILE IDENTITY CARDS TO REGISTER FOR ADULT IDENTITY CARDS ON REACHING 18 YEARS CF AGE.

ALL PERSONS LIVING IN THIS AREA ARE REMINDED OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO REGISTER THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN FOE IDENTITY CARDS AND TO REPORT CHANGES OF EMPLOYMENT OR RESIDENTIAL ADDRESSES, MARITAL STATUS, OR ANY OTHER PARTICULARS WHICH HAVE CHANGED SINCE REGISTERING FOR THEIR IDENTITY CARDS.

-----0------

RESTRICTIONS ON LORRIES ON CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD _ 4 4 4

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT TWO SECTIONS CF CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL LORRIES DURING CERTAIN HOURS ON SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS FROM MAY 14 UNTIL OCTOBER.

THE RESTRICTIONS WILL APPLY FROM 9 A.M. TO 2 P.M. FOR THE EASTBOUND SECTION OF THE ROAD FROM LUNG CHEUNG ROAD TO FEI NGC SHAN ROAD AND FROM 2 P.M. TO 7 P.M. FOR THE WESTBOUND SECTION CF THE ROAD FROM HIRAM’S HIGHWAY TO ANDERSON ROAD.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE RESTRICTIONS WERE AIMED AT RELIEVING THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION CAUSED BY THE COMB I HAT I CM CF BEACH-GOING TRAFFIC AND SLOW MOVING HEAVY VEHICLES.

LORRIES WHICH NEED TO TRAVEL ALONG THESE TWO SECTIONS OF THE ROAD DURING THE RESTRICTED PERIODS SHOULD APPLY FOR PERMITS FROM THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT, CR IN THE CASE OF SAI KUNG RESIDENTS, THROUGH THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT OFFICE.

--------0----------

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

MONDAY, MAY 8, 1978

CONTENTS

PAGE NO.

TEXTILE TALKS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND NORWAY SUSPENDED .............................................. i

SPEEDPCST RATES TO BE LOWERED FROM JUNE ................ 2

LOCAL FISHING INDUSTRY ADOPTS MODERN METHODS........ 3

AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICE SETS TWO RECORDS ............. 4

RECONSTRUCTION OF JAVA ROAD NEAR COMPLETION ............ 5

WATER CUT IN SHAU KEI WAN AND AP LEI CHAU .............. 5

TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF NORTH STREET ..................

Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House. Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191

MONDAY, MAY 8, 1973

HK-NORWAY TEXTILE TALKS SUSPENDED * * * *

DIRECTOR OF TRADE, MR. LAWRENCE MILLS, WHO LED. MONG KONG’S NEGOTIATING TEAM IN TEXTILE TALKS WITH NOR .VEG I AN OFFICIALS. RETURNED FROM OSLO YESTERDAY (SUNDAY).

MR. MILLS SAID TODAY THAT AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON

THE SUSPENSION OF CURRENT TEXTILE TALKS HAD BEEN ISSUED BY THE HONG KONG AND NORWEGIAN SIDES BEFORE HE LEFT OSLO.

IN THE STATEMENT HE SAID:+THE DELEGATIONS MET IN OSLO THIS WEEK TO EXAMINE WHETHER A BASIS EXISTED FOR DRAWING MUTUALLY ACCEPTABLE TEXTILE AGREEMENT BET,VEEN NORWAY AMD HONG KONG.

+AFTER A THOROUGH REVIEW OF THE CURRENT SITUATION AS IT TEXTI LS INDUSTRY AMD HONG KONG TEXTILE MANUFACTURERS AND TRADERS, THS TWO DELEGATIONS CONCLUDED WITH ,T 'AS 'J0T POSSIBLE TO’REACH A CC'.iON POSITION AT THIS TIME.*

, 'jif'iT,rM2ei:s^A'^’,o^EVER’ THAT B0TH delegations had expressed ’LLINGNFSo TO CONSIDER ANY PROPOSALS PUT FORWARD BY THE OTHER.

IN THE Co5rsEUOF ?HE ^F0SSIBIL,TY CF FURTHER CONSULTATIONS

FR- ,LLS SAID THAT HE WOULD BE REPORTING ON THE POSITION REACHED TO THE GOVERNMENT AND TO THE TEXTILES ADVISORY BOARD. AMONG OTHER THINGS WHICH THE BOARD WOULD CONSIDER WOULD BE aHAT NEXT STEPS WERE OPEN TO HONG KONG.

-----0------

MONDAY, MAY 3, 1978

- 2 -

SPEEDPOST RATES TO EE LOWERED FROM JUNE 1

*****

CERTAIN SPEEDPOST RATES '..'ILL SE LOWERED' FROM JUNE 1, THE SENIOR CONTROLLER OF POSTS, MR. ARTHUR DICKSON SAID TODAY.

SPEAKING AT THE LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF VICTORIA, MR. DICKSON SAID THE CUTS HAVE BEEN MADS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE GROWING POPULARITY OF SPEEDPOST AMONG HONG KONG BUSINESSMEN.

HE SAID THE RATES OF CONTRACT SPEEDPOST TO TAIWAN AND JAPAN ..ILL BE REDUCED BY $10 TO $70 FOR THE FIRST POUND. BUT THE $5 CHARGE FOR EACH ADDITIONAL POUND WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED.

THE FIRST POUND CHARGE FOR SENDING ’ON DEMAND’ ITEMS TO AUSTRALIA, BRITAIN, THE NETHERLANDS AND THE UNITED STATES WILL ALSO EE REDUCED FROM $100 TO $90.

THE REVISED FIRST POUND CHARGE FOR ’ON DEMAND’ SERVICE TO JAPAN, SINGAPORE AND TAIWAN WILL BE $80, MR. DICKSON SAID.

HE ALSO SAID THAT SPEEDPOST SERVICE TO TAIWAN IS NOW AVAILABLE TO ITS FIVE MAJOR CITIES— KEELUNG, KAOHSIUNG, TAICHUNG, TAINAN AND TAIPEI.

+AND WITH EFFECT FROM JUNE 5, MERCHANDISE CAN BE SENT IN THE SPEEDPOST SERVICE TO SINGAPORE,+ HE SAID.

MR. DICKSON SAID FURTHER INFORMATION ON SPEEDPOST SERVICE CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE POST OFFICE REPRESENTATIVE AT 5-267110$.

MONDAY, MAY 8, 1978

HONG KONG FISHING INDUSTRY ADOPTS MODERN METHODS ******

HONG KONG’S FISHING INDUSTRY HAS CHANGED ITS TECHNIQUES TO MORE MODERN METHODS RESULTING IN INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY DESPITE DECREASES IK LABOUR AND SIZE OF THE FLEET.

THIS WAS STATED THIS EVENING BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT’S CAPTURE FISH DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, MR. T.Y. YIM AT A DINNER MEETING OF THE Y’S MEN’S CLUB OF VICTORIA AT THE MANDARIN HOTEL.

MR. YIM ESTIMATED THAT DURING THE PAST IQ YEARS, FISH LANDINGS HAD INCREASED BY 50 PER CELT. LAST YEAR, HONG KONG’S FISH AMD FISHERY PRODUCTS WERE VALUED AT $730 MILLION, OF WHICH ABOUT 58 PER CENT ..AS FRESH MARINE FISH LANDED BY THE HONG KONG FLEET. THE BALANCE CAME FROM CULTURE FISH FARMS ON LAND AND IN THE SEA.

LARGE SCALE FISHING, HE SAID, HAD THE ELEMENTS OF RUNNING A FULLY COMMERCIAL BUSINESS.

+INVESTMENT IK FISHING OF THIS SCALE IS FAIRLY SUBSTANTIAL AND AS AN EXAMPLE, IN A RECENT PROJECT INVOLVING THE BUILDING OF TWO 26-METRE TRAWLERS WHICH ..'ERE FINANCED BY GOVERNMENT LOANS, COST JI.8 MILLION. WITH THIS LEVEL OF INVESTMENT AND. HIGH OPERATING COSTS, FISHING NOWADAYS, IS A DEMANDING JOE.

♦FISHERMEN TODAY ARE LESS ABLE TO AFFORD UNSATISFACTORY FISHING RESULTS AND THEY NOW ADOPT A MORE POSITIVE ATTITUDE.

+THE FLEET IS NOW FAIRLY MOBILE IN THE SENSE THAT WHEN FISHING IS UNSATISFACTORY, THEY WOULD EE QUICK TO CHANGE GROUNDS, WHICH MAY EE FAR APART. THIS SOMETIMES TAKES THEM BEYOND THE TRADITIONAL FISHING AREAS. IN ORDER TO MINIMISE THE LOSS OF FISHING DAYS, THEY -OULD CONTINUE FISHING AS FAR AS POSSIBLE IN ADVERSE WEATHER- AND WHEN ALERTED OF POSSIBLE TROPICAL CYCLONES, WOULD STAY ON IN THE FISHING AREAS TILL THE THREAT IS DEFINITE,+ SAID MR. YIM.

ALL THESE INFLUENCED THEIR PREFERENCE FOR LARGE VESSELS AND POWERFUL ENGINES FOR SEA KEEPING AND SPEED. IN THE CASE OF TRAWLERS, ENGINE POWER WAS IMPORTANT FOR ANOTHER REASON ... TO ENABLE THE VESSEL TO FISH IN DEEPER .'.ATERS, a I TH HEAVIER GEAR, AND IN MORE SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

♦COMPASS AND VESSELS.

DEPTH SOUNDER ARE STANDARD ITEMS AMONG THE LARGER

♦ II. THE FACE OF DEMAND FOR EFFICIENT FISHING OPERATIONS, FISHERMEN, ON THE WHOLE, ARE HORE RECEPTIVE TO IDEAS FOR MODER.'. FISHING AND NAVIGATIONAL AIDS. A FEW VESSELS HAVE INSTALLED LORAL -AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE TO FIX VESSEL POSITION AT SEA. SEVERAL HAVE INSTALLED RADAR TO HELP NAVIGATION. AND, QUITE A NUMBER OF PURSE SEINERS, SMALL VESSELS WORKING IN INSHORE WATERS, HAVE ONBOARD ELECTRONIC FISHING FINDING EQUIPMENT TO HELP LOCATING FISH. FISHERMEN ARE ALSO MORE RECEPTIVE TO IDEAS FOR LABOUR-SAVING DEVICES,+ SAID MR. YIM.

-----o------

MONDAY, MAY 6, 1973

4 -

AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICE SETS TWO RECORDS * * * * *

. Iv.".AU?IL,ARY MED|CAL SERVICE HAS SET TWO RECORDS IN THE

“reT m1nhoursLtJanRe?erCbefJre? 0UT K0RE DUTIES AND putt,ng ,n

„ THE YEAR 1977/7-3, IT HANDLED 630 ASSIGNMENTS INVOLVING

22,000 MANHOURS COMPARED WITH 400 ASSIGNMENTS AND 15,400 MANHOURS IN 1976/77.

I,. tJTAFF °FFICER 0F TH- Af1Si !'R« K-c- TONG, SAID THE DIG INCREASE IK THE NUr.Bcr. OF DUTIES OF THE SERVICE REFLECTS THE EVER GROWING GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY BUILDING AND EDUCATION EY ORGANISING NUMEROUS PUBLIC ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT FJONG KONG.

♦WHENEVER THESE ACTIVITIES TAKE PLACE, WE ARE CALLED OUT TO .HELP PROVIDE FIRST AID SERVICE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, + MR. TONG SAID.

♦AT MAJOR INCIDENTS SUCH AS FIRES, TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, LANDSLIDES, FLOODINGS AND HOUSE COLLAPSES, VIE ARE ALSO CALLED OUT TO THE SCENE TO RENDER FIRST AID AND TO EVACUATE CASUALTIES,+ HE ADDED.

DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS CF EACH YEAR OUR MEMBERS ACT AS LIFE GUARDS TOC OK GAZETTED EEACHES OR PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS, HE SAID. .•■EMBERS ALSO HELP IN ADMINISTERING METHADONE AT DEfCX IF I CAT ION CENTRES FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT. ON SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS SOME MEMBERS EVEN VOLUNTEER FOR DUTY AT AMBULANCE DEPOTS.

IN PAST YEARS WE HAVE TAKEN PART IN HEALTH EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS AND MANNED CHOLERA QUARANTINE CENTRES.

THE AMS WAS FORMED IN 1953 WITH THE AIM OF AUGMENTING THE REGULAR MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES IN TIMES OF EMERGENCIES. TODAY IT IS THE LARGEST VOLUNTEER FORCE IN HONG KONG WITH ABOUT 90 TEAMS COMPRISING NEARLY 6,339 MEMBERS WHO CAN BE MOBILISED AT SHORT NOTICE.

ITS MEMBERS COME FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, AND ABOUT 4,030 ARE IN THE 23 TO 33 AGE GROUP.

SOME 1,633 VOLUNTEERS ARE DOCTORS, NURSES, DISPENSERS, RADIOGRAPHERS AND PARA-MEDICAL PERSONNEL SERVING EITHER IN GOVERNMENT OR IN PRIVATE MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.

♦APART FROM MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, ALL RECRUITS AfcK GIVEN AN INITIAL 43—HOUR BASIC FIRST AID TRAINING AND DRILL AT WEEKENDS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS,* MR. TCI.'G SAID.

♦TRAINING RELATED TC CASUALTY HANDLING, NURSING, THE MANNING OF AMBULANCE DEPOTS AND OTHER PRACTICAL WORK AT HOSPITAL WA$S AND CASUALTY DEPARTMENT ARE ALSO BEING PROVIDED. AFTER THATJWVANCED COURSES I . LEADERSHIP, ADMINISTRATION, AND SUPERVISORY TECHNIQUES AS ..ELL AS TRAINING WILL BE GIVEN,+ HE SAID.

MR. TONG POINTED OUT THAT AS THE NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES ORGANISED DOTH EY THE GOVERNMENT AND VARIOUS VOLUNTARY BODIES INCREASES IN THE FUTRUE, IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE AMS ..ILL CONTINUE TO PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN SERVICE OF THE COMMUNITY.

MONDAY, MAY 8, 1978

- 5 -

RECONSTRUCTION OF JAVA ROAD TO BE COMPLETED SOON

******

TRAFFIC ON JAVA ROAD, NORTH POINT WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE MORE QUICKLY AND SMOOTHLY IN A FEW WEEKS TIME.

WORKMEN FROM PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WILL, BY THE END OF THIS MONTH, HAVE COMPLETED THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE ROAD SURFACE AND PEDESTRIAN PAVEMENTS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE ROAD.

THE SECTION-OF JAVA ROAD BETWEEN TONG SHU I ROAD AND NORTH POINT ROAD IS BEING RECONSTRUCTED WITH 250 MM. THICK REINFORCED CONCRETE.

MR. HC KWOK-YU, ACTING CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE P.W.D.’S HIGHWAYS (HONG KONG) DIVISION, SAID THAT DESPITE THE WORK, CONGESTION ALONG THE ROAD HAD BEEK KEPT TO A MINIMUM.

+WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE ROAD WORK,+ HE SAID, +TRAFFIC FLOW IN THE ARE;' SHOULD BE FURTHER IMPROVED. +

-----o------

WATER CUT IN SHAU KEI WAN AND AP LEI CHAU

*****

THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT HAS ANNOUNCED THAT WATER SUPPLY TO AP LEI CHAU AND PARTS CF SHAU KEI WAN WILL EE TEMPORARILY TURNED OFF ON WEDNESDAY (MAY 10) TO FACILITATE WORKS ON WATER MAINS.

IN A? LEI CHAU, WATER SUPPLY WILL EE TURNED OFF FROM

9 A.M. OK THAT DAY FOR 10 HOURS TO FACILITATE REPAIR .^ORKS OF FRESH WATER MAINS AT TIN WAN NEAP' THE BREAKWATER.

ALL PREMISES IN THE AREA INCLUDING THE HONG KONG ELECTRIC POWER STATION WILL BE AFFECTED.

ON THE bAMt DAY IN SHAU KEI WAN, WATER SUPPLY TO A LUMBER PREMISES WILL EE TURNED OFF FOR EIGHT HOURS FROM 10 P.M. FACILITATE THE CONNECTION OF A FRESH WATER MAIK' AT SAI WAN STREET NEAR SHING ON STREET.

PREMISES AFFECTED ARE NOS. 120 TO 132A AND 137 TO 145

SAI rt'Arl HC STREET- NOS. 1 TO 15 SHING ON STREET- NOS. 18 TO 23

TAI SHEK STREET AND NOS. 92 TO 114 SHAU KEI WAN ROAD.

- - 0 - -

/(>

MONDAY, MAY 8, 1978 - 6 -

TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF NORTH STREET

******

THE TRANSPORT DEPART: EI.T ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT FROM 9 A.M. Of.' WEDNESDAY (MAY 10), THE SZ7TI0’' OF ‘.’ORTH STREET BETWEEN CATCHICK STREET AND BELCHER’S STREET IN KENNEDY TOWN WILL EE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC TC FACILITATE AEI'ARCATI CH OF HAWKER STALLS IK NORTH STREET.

THE CLOSURE IS EXPECTED TO LAST UNTIL 13 A.M. ON SATURDAY, MAY 27 -HEI THE STREET ..ILL BE OPENED TO TRAFFIC AGAIN.

APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGHS ..ILL DE SET UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.

0 - -

PR 33

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

SUPPLEMENT

Monday, May 8, 197$

OPENING ADDRESS BY ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY AT MECTG AND METALLURGICAL CONGRESS

* * * * *

The following is the full text of speech by the Acting Chief Secretary, Mr. Philip Haddon-Cave, at the opening of the 11th Commonwealth Mining and Metallurgical Congress at Convention Centre today. Introduction

On behalf of the Government it gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to Hong Kong on the occasion of the Eleventh Commonwealth Mining and Metallurgical Congress. Hong Kong is honoured to have been chosen as the venue for this Congress. And it affords us a special pleasure to play host to a Commonwealth meeting. Sir Denys Roberts, your honorary President in absentia, has asked me to convey to you his personal best wishes for a successful meeting and enjoyable stay here.

Ladies and gentlemen, I can see that you have a busy week ahead of you. The Congress handbook lists as many as 71 papers on a vast range of subjects and I am sure the treatment of each will be erudite. I shall, therefore, be mercifully brief, is somewhat simplistic.

/Hong Kong .....

Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House. Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191

Hong Kong : Mining and Metals

Hong Kong cannot claim to be among the leading mining areas in the world. In recent years the value of our miniscule production of iron ore, feldspar, kaolin and quartz has averaged less than US$2 million per annum and our tiny iron ore mine has now closed down. On the other hand, it is possible that a small tungsten mine may be reopened soon after being closed down for 10 years.

Equally, although we are a user of metals for some of our industries, we produce little of our own. We do, however, have one of the largest gold markets in the world, with silver trading soon to be added; and our commodity futures exchange could v/ell, before long, branch out into trading in metals. Indeed, I think Hong Kong will eventually become a major commodities trading centre in this part of the world, with close links with the London and Hew York markets.

World Trade in Minerals and Metals

The failure successfully to cartellise or control world trade in minerals and their refined products - gold being an exception until recently - has meant that producers have simply had to adapt themselves to movements in market forces. Even today, when much of the world’s production and trade in minerals'and metals is in the hands of large firms and groups, prices are, for the most part, determined on relatively free markets such as the London Ketal Exchange.

/Apart perhaps .....

Apart perhaps from steel, which is a baleful exception, world trade in minerals and metals is also free from quantitative import restrictions and other protectionist devices. Such a competitive environment has fostered product innovation and the introduction of new techniques aimed at increasing productivity and reducing costs. In other words, this competitive environment has evinced a response from those many individualists traditionally to be found in the mining and metallurgical industries.

World Trade in I.Ianufactures

I think it would be fair to say that manufacturers and traders in Hong Kong count many individualists among their numbers - and very robust individualists they are too - and the Hong Kong Government's fiscal and other policies are committed, to the concept of reward for enterprise and effort.

Unfortunately, however, international trade in manufactures is not now conducted within a relatively free trade environment similar to that enjoyed by minerals and metals. It is true that the thirty or so years following the Second World War saw the largest increase in world output and trade in any comparable period in history. Part of the credit for this must go to the gradual lowering of barriers to trade and payments over this period. Indeed, it is no coincidence that the most significant exercise in trade liberalisation in this period, the GATT Kennedy Round in 1967, was followed by a marked acceleration in the growth of world output and trade over the next five years.

/The Nev; • • • • •

The New Protectionism

Nov/, however, following the shock of the three-fold increase in crude oil prices in 1973 and inflationary tendencies already apparent before then, most of the western developed countries are finding it difficult to overcome recession and unemployment without a resurgence of inflation.

So, once again, as in the 1930s, the case for protectionism is being vehemently argued by strong socio-political forces. These forces argue their case on the basis of two highly suspect propositions : that imports deprive the domestic labour force of jobs and that to cut imports, or to make them prohibitively expensive, will save jobs.

Yet one country’s imports are another country’s exports and proliferating protectionism will prove to be mutually destructive of jobs and damaging to living standards all round. The fact is that unemployment cannot be reduced, except in the very short term, by restricting imports, while the loss of the benefits which flow from free trade keeps prices high and depresses real incomes further.

The rather novel combination of high unemployment and a high rate of inflation still being experienced by a number of major developed countries is due, in my opinion, to two factors : in the first place, to a failure to allow real incomes to adjust downwards sufficiently to offset the dramatic increase in the size of the transfers made to the oil producing countries; and, secondly, to attempts by governments to follow budgetary, fiscal and monetary policies inconsistent with realistic growth rates for their economies.

/Hong Kong’s

Hong Kong's Reliance on Free Trade

Here, in Hong Kong, the possibility of adopting the apparently soft policy option of import restrictions to maintain the level of employment, and correct balance of payments disequilibrium, simply does not exist. This is because of the exceptional degree of external dependence of this economy. That is to say, it is based on the import of foodstuffs, raw materials, capital equipment, semi-manufactures and many consumer goods to pay for which we have to export manufactured goods and financial and mercantile services and sell our tourist facilities. This means that we have to maintain a cost/price structure v?hich is flexible downwards so that our price level continually adjusts to the ext Amal price level; and we-have to ensure that labour and capital are sufficiently mobile to enable us to respond quickly to changing market circumstances.

The Hong Kong Government seeks to pursue policies which have at lease a neutral impact on the flexibility and mobility of our economy. But there are limits to the extent to which even our economy, with its free enterprise-based private sector (which, as a matter of deliberate policy, is neither helped to make profits nor protected from making losses), can cope with trade policy decisions which arbitrarily, and even, sometimes, illegally, erode our GATT most-favoured-nation rights of access to overseas markets.

And I would add that, as a matter of fact, the scope for retaliatory import substitution is very limited indeed here. So, whatever temporary devices that may be available to us to ameliorate the income and employment effects of protectionism, such as the running down of foreign exchange reserves and the financing ef part of the public sector's capital works programmes with debt, the fact is that the growth

/rate of .....

rate of our net external earnings is the basic determinant of the growth rate of real incomes in Hong Kong; and this harsh reality is inescapable except in the very short term. The budgetary and fiscal policy implications of this reality are equally inescapable, if not always entirely self-evident to some.

Free Trade a Condition of Growth

Of course, the adjustment process which is associated with free trade situations can be painful in the short term, as we in Hong Kong know from our own experience in the field of manufactures; and as all of you will know from your own experience in your own fields. Nevertheless, restrictions on trade, although superficially attractive in certain circumstances, are in practice a prescription for stagnation, not growth, in the medium and longer term.

Interdependence of .Vorld Economy

To sum up, therefore, whilst we in Hong Kong have an immediate cause for concern because the present lurch to protectionism is directed largely at manufacturers, only through the opportunities provided by an open world economy can a recovery of v?orld output and trade generally be eventually engineered and a satisfactory growth rate sustained thereafter. So, any endeavour to return to a more liberal approach is not the concern of exporters of manufactures alone, but of all participants in world trade including the mining and metals industries.

Conclusion

V/ith these lighthearted words, ladies and gentlemen, I have pleasure in declaring open the Eleventh Commonwealth Mining and Metallurgical Congress.

-------0---------

Igisi laid

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

TUESDAY, MAY 9, 1978

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

APPOINTMENT OF NEW DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE (ADMINISTRATION) ....................................... 1

SWD COMPLETES PILOT STUDY ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT .. 2

LEGCO MEETING TOMORROW .................................. 4

ELECTIONS OF HEUNG YEE KUK COUNCILLORS .................. 5

HIGH COURT JUDGE APPOINTED .............................. 6

EMPLOYERS URGED TO WORK OUT TYPHOON ARRANGEMENTS

FOR WORKERS ............................................. 6

SHELTER DURING PROLONGED HEAVY RAIN ..................... 8

TECHNICAL INSTITUTES OFFER PART-TIME EVENING

CLASSES ................................................. 8

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN WAN CHAI AND KWUN TONG .......... 9

PHOTOGRAPHS OF DEPARTMENT HEADS ......................... 9

Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191

TUESDAY, MAY 9, 1978

APPOINTMENT OF NEW DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE (ADMINISTRATION) ******

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS HAS APPROVED THE APPOINTMENT OF MR. CORRAN WILLIAM BROOKE PURDON, CEE, MC, A RETIRED MAJOR GENERAL, TO FILL THE NEW POST OF DEPUTY COMMISSIONER ADMINISTRATION IN THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE.

IN THE NEW POST MR. PURDON WILL ASSUME OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR PERSONNEL, TRAINING, CIVIL MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT MATTERS.

MR. PURDON IS 57. HE WAS EDUCATED AT THE ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE, SANDHURST AND SERVED THROUGHOUT THE 1939-45 WAR, MOSTLY ON ACTIVE SERVICE WITH THE COMMANDOS AND AIRBORNE FORCES. HE HAS HELD COMMAND APPOINTMENTS AT ALL LEVELS, INCLUDING THAT OF COMMANDANT OF THE SCHOOL OF INFANTRY. HE HAS HAD CONSIDERABLE POST WAR ACTIVE SERVICE EXPERIENCE IN THE NEAR EAST AND FOR THREE YEARS COMMANDED THE SULTAN OF MUSCAT’S ARMED FORCES. HE HAS EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE OF ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT, INCLUDING RESPONSIBILITIES FOR UNITED NATIONS FORCES IN CYPRUS.

SINCE LEAVING THE ARMY, MR. PURDON HAS BEEN TRAINING ADVISER WITH THE YEMEN ARAB REPUBLIC’S COMMANDO AND PARACHUTE FORCES.

HE IS A MEMBER OF THE BRITISH INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT AND IS MARRIED WITH TWO SONS AND A DAUGHTER.

IT IS EXPECTED THAT MR. PURDON WILL ARRIVE IN HONG KONG AT THE END OF THIS MONTH.

-----o------

/2 ....

TUESDAY, MAY 9, 1978

- 2 -

SWD COMPLETES PILOT PROJECT ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT *****

THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAS COMPLETED AN INTENSIVE PILOT PROJECT ON URBAN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WHICH AIMS AT PROVIDING WORKING REFERENCE FOR DEVELOPING A BETTER AND MORE COHESIVE LIFE IN HOUSING ESTATES.

THE PROJECT, INITIATED BY THE DEPARTMENT, WAS CARRIED OUT IN TSZ WAN SHAN ESTATE FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS BY A TEAM OF PROFESSIONAL STAFF FROM THE DEPARTMENT, WITH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND EXPERTISE FROM THE UNITED NATIONS.

IT IS MEANT TO ACQUIRE A DEEPER INSIGHT AND BETTER SKILLS IN URBAN COMMUNITY WORK WITH A VIEW TO DEVELOPING COMMUNITY

WORK ON A LARGER SCALE IN FAST-GROWING HOUSING ESTATES.

DURING THE PAST THREE YEARS, THE PROJECT WORKERS PROVIDED VARIOUS COMMUNITY WORK SERVICES ON AN EXPERIMENTAL BASIS AT TSZ WAN SHAN ESTATE AND TESTED A NUMBER OF APPROACHES IN URBAN COMMUNITY WORK.

FIELD WORKERS DEVELOPED EXTENSIVE CONTACTS WITH HOUSEHOLDS, IDENTIFIED AND TRAINED RESIDENTS WITH POTENTIAL LEADERSHIP QUALITIES, HELPED SET UP COMMUNITY GROUPS TO TACKLE SPECIFIC PROBLEMS AND PROMOTED A SENSE OF IDENTITY AMONG RESIDENTS BY INVOLVING THEM IN THE IMPROVEMENT OF LIFE IN THE ESTATE.

DURING THEIR EXPERIMENT, SOCIAL WELFARE WORKERS ALSO ESTABLISHED AN EVALUATION SYSTEM ON THE EFFECTIVENESS AND IMPACT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES.

THE THREE-YEAR PROJECT HAS BEEN CO-SPONSORED BY THE UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME AND THE UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S EMERGENCY FUND.

A DETAILED REPORT ON IT HAS JUST BEEN COMPILED BY THE PROJECT DIRECTOR, MR. CHAN SAI-TAK.

COMMENTING ON THE PROJECT TODAY, MR. CHAN SAID HONG KONG’S RAPID URBANISATION OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS HAD BROUGHT WITH IT SOCIAL PROBLEMS ALONGSIDE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND THAT THE POPULATION INCREASE HAD EXERTED PRESSURES ON THE SOCIAL SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.

+COMMUNITY WORKERS HAVE REALISED THAT PROBLEMS COULD ARISE WHERE PEOPLE WITH NO NATURAL COHESION AND COMMUNICATION ARE DRAWN TO LIVE TOGETHER, ESPECIALLY IN CROWDED ENVIRONMENT.

Ait is....

TUESDAY, MAY 9, 1978

- 3 -

+IT IS THEREFORE ESSENTIAL THAT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ARE PROVIDED IN NEW URBAN CONCENTRATIONS SO AS TO INTEGRATE NEW-COMERS INTO THE LOCAL POPULATION, TO PROMOTE NEIGHBOURHOOD AND MUTUAL AID SPIRIT AMONG RESIDENTS, AND TO HELP TACKLE PROBLEMS,+ MR. CHAN SAID.

IN ORDER TO DEVELOP COMMUNITY WORK ON A LARGER SCALE

AND TO FIND OUT WAYS TO ENABLE COMMUNITY WORKERS TO ASSIST ESTATE RESIDENTS EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT APPROACHED THE U.N. IN 1972 FOR SPONSORSHIP OF THE PILOT PROJECT.

MR. CHAN SAID THAT THE PROJECT HAD BEEN CARRIED OUT BY A TEAM OF FIVE S.W.D. STAFF MEMBERS UNDER HIS SUPERVISION, WITH ASSISTANCE FROM VARIOUS OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS.

A U.N. CONSULTANT WAS ALSO INVITED TO HONG KONG FOR FOUR MONTHS TO ADVISE ON THE GENERAL PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT.

MR. CHAN SAID THE PROJECT COVERED THE FIRST 39 BLOCKS OF TSZ WAN SHAN ESTATE. DURING THE PAST THREE YEARS, A NUMBER OF WORKING METHODS HAD BEEN DEVELOPED AND MOST OF THE SET OBJECTIVES HAD ALSO BEEN ACHIEVED AS INDICATED BY THE OUTCOME OF VARIOUS PROGRAMMES IN THE TARGET AREA.

ONE OF THE FREQUENTLY USED METHODS, HE SAID, WAS THE 'BLOCK ORGANISING APPROACH’ WHEREBY MANY HOUSEHOLDS VISITS WERE MADE IN A SELECTED ESTATE BLOCK TO IDENTIFY PROBLEMS, TO PROMOTE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, SELF-HELP AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT AMONG RESIDENTS, AND TO ASSIST RESIDENTS TO MAKE THE BEST USE OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES.

♦WE HOPE THIS PROJECT AND THE REPORT COMPILED ON IT WOULD BE CONTRIBUTORY TO THE EXCHANGE OF WORKING EXPERIENCES WITH FELLOW COMMUNITY WORKERS, AND THAT OUR VIEWS WOULD BE FOUND USEFUL BY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATIONS IN HONG KONG AND OTHER PLACES,+ HE SAID.

0 -------

LEGCO MEETING TOMORROW * * * *

THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, WILL MOVE A MOTION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TOMORRO.. (WEDNESDAY) TO AMEND THE STANDING ORDERS SO AS TO SET UP THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE.

THE PROPOSED COMMITTEE IS TO CONSIDER REPORTS OF THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT ON THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTS, ON OTHER ACCOUNTS REQUIRED TO EE LAID BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AS THE COMMITTEE MAY THINK FIT AND ON ANY MATTER INCIDENTAL TO THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT’S PERFORMANCE OF HIS DUTIES OR THE EXERCISE OF HIS POWERS..

DURING TOMORROW’S MEETING, THE UNOFFICIALS WILL ASK A TOTAL OF 15 QUESTIONS.

THE HON. S.L. CHEN WILL ASK WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WILL MAKE A STATEMENT ON THE PROGRESS OF ITS SLOPE STABLISATION PROGRAMME.

HE WILL ALSO ASK WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONSIDER INTRODUCING SOME MEASURE OF CONTROL OVER SPECULATIVE ACTIVITIES IN PROPERTY DEALINGS TO PROTECT GENUINE INVESTORS AND HOME BUYERS.

THE HON. MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH WILL ASK IF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WILL CONSIDER APPLYING TO THE COURT OF APPEAL FOR A REVIEW OF THE SENTENCES RECENTLY IMPOSED BY A DISTRICT COURT JUDGE ON THE COUPLE WHO OPERATED A CALL-GIRL RACKET.

SHE WILL ALSO RAISE A QUESTION ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE POLICE BEAT RADIO SCHEME AND WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT HAS ANY PLANS TO EXPAND IT.

THE HON. LYDIA DUNN WILL ASK WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT IS AWARE OF THE ADMISSION MADE IN A RECENT HOUSE OF COMMONS DEBATE THAT IT WAS +RIGHT AND ADVANTAGEOUS* FOR THE HK/EEC AGREEMENT TO BE NEGOTIATED IN SUCH A WAY AS +EFFECTIVELY TO SQUEEZE* THE SHARE OF THE MARKET AVAILABLE TO HONG KONG IN FAVOUR OF OTHER SUPPLIES.

OTHER QUESTIONS ARE RELATED TO PROVISION OF METERED WATER SUPPLY TO SQUATTER HOUSEHOLDS, PROGRESS ON THE CONSTRUCTION GF THE DUAL CARRIAGEWAY TO LINK YUEN LONG WITH FAN LING THROUGH AU TAU AND SAN TIN AND THE NUMBER GF APPLICATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENT FOLLOWING THE LIFTING OF BUILDING RESTRICTIONS IN MID-LEVELS.

FOUR BILLS WILL BE INTRODUCED IN THE COUNCIL. THEY ARE THE AUXILIARY FORCES PAY AND ALLOWANCES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978, THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (AMENDMENT) (NO. 3) BILL 1978, THE RAILWAYS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978 AND THE WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1978.

-------0 - - - _

TUESDAY, MARY 9, 1978 - 5 -

ELECTIONS OF SPECIAL COUNCILLORS OF HEUNG YEE KUK

******

THE REGIONAL ELECTIONS TO FILL 21 SEATS OF SPECIAL COUNCILLOR FOR THE TWENTY-THIRD TERM OF HEUNG YEE KUK WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY (MAY 11).

SPECIAL COUNCILLORS OF THE TWENTY-SECOND TERM OF THE KUK WHICH IS THE STATUTORY ADVISORY BODY TO GOVERNMENT ON ALL MATTERS AFFECTING THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL CEASE TO HOLD OFFICE ON MAY 31.

THERE ARE SEVEN SEATS FOR EACH OF THE THREE ELECTORAL DISTRICTS IN TAI PO (INCLUDING SHA TIN), YUEN LONG (INCLUDING TUEN MUN) AND SOUTHERN (WHICH COMPRISES THE ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICTS OF SAI KUNG, ISLANDS, AND TSUEN WAN).

ALTOGETHER 33 CANDIDATES, 10 FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT, 12 FOR TAI PO DISTRICT AND 11 FOR YUEN LONG DISTRICT WILL STAND FOR THE ELECTIONS.

NINETY ELECTORS, CONSISTING OF CHAIRMEN AND VICE-CHAIRMEN OF ALL RURAL COMMITTEES AND THE 19 UNOFFICIAL JUSTICES OF THE PEACE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE FOR THE CANDIDATES IN THEIR RESPECTIVE ELECTORAL DISTRICTS.

THE RETURNING OFFICER FOR THE ELECTIONS IS THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, WHO WILL BE ASSISTED BY STAFF OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION.

THE ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD IN ACCORDANCE WITH A PROCEDURE PRESCRIBED IN THE FIRST SCHEDULE TO THE HEUNG YEE KUK ORDINANCE, CHAPTER 1097 IN THE LAWS OF HONG KONG. ELECTORS WILL VOTE FOR THEIR CANDIDATES BY SECRET BALLOT.

THE ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD ON THURSDAY, AT THE HEUNG YEE KUK OFFICE, 47 CUMBERLAND ROAD, KOWLOON, AT FOLLOWING TIMES :-

* 9 A.M...........TAI PO ELECTORAL DISTRICT (INCLUDING SHA TIN

DISTRICT)?

* 11.30 A.M.......SOUTHERN ELECTORAL DISTRICT (COMPRISING SAI

KUNG, ISLANDS AND TSUEN WAN DISTRICTS),

* 3 P.M. ......... YUEN LONG DISTRICT (INCLUDING TUEN MUN

DISTRICT).

EACH ELECTION IS EXPECTED TO LAST ABOUT ONE HOUR.

THE RESULTS OF THE ELECTIONS WILL BE ANNOUNCED BY THE RETURNING OFFICER IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VOTES HAVE BEEN' CHECKED AND COUNTED.

THE PROCEDURE FOR THE ELECTIONS WILL BE EXPLAINED BY THE RETURNING OFFICER BEFORE VOTING TAKES PLACE. ELECTORS ARE REMINDED TO ARRIVE ON TIME.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL NOT BE ADMITTED TO THE ELECTION ROOM. ADMISSION WILL BE RESTRICTED TO ELECTION OFFICIALS, CANDIDATES, ELECTORS AND MEMBERS OF THE PRESS.

------0 - - - -

/6.....

TUESDAY, MAY 9, 1978

HIGH COURT JUDGE APPOINTED * * * * *

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN HAS APPROVED THE APPOINTMENT OF MR. FRANK ADDISON TO BE A JUDGE OF THE HIGH COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT OF HONG KONG.

MR. JUSTICE ADDISON WAS BORN IN LONDON, ENGLAND, ON DECEMBER 30, 1926. HE WAS EDUCATED AT DAME ALICE OWENS SCHOOL. AFTER SERVING IN THE ROYAL NAVY AS AN INSTRUCTOR LIEUTENANT HE WENT TO UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON, WHERE HE OBTAINED THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF LAWS.

HE WAS CALLED TO THE BAR BY INNER TEMPLE IN 1952 AND IN THE SAME YEAR WAS AWARDED A COLONIAL LEGAL PROBATIONSHIP.

HE WAS A RESIDENT MAGISTRATE IN TANGANYIKA FROM 1954 TO I960, SENIOR CROWN COUNSEL IN KENYA FROM 1961 TO 1963 AND LEGAL ASSISTANT IN THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS IN LONDON FROM 1963 TO 1964.

HE JOINED THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AS A CROWN COUNSEL IN 1964 AND WAS PROMOTED TO SENIOR CROWN COUNSEL IN 1966.

IN 1969 HE WAS APPOINTED A PRINCIPAL MAGISTRATE AND HAD BEEN A DISTRICT JUDGE SINCE SEPTEMBER 1971, PRIOR TO HIS PRESENT APPOINTMENT.

MR. JUSTICE ADDISON IS MARRIED AND HAS THREE CHILDREN.

- 0 - -

EMPLOYERS URGED TO WORK OUT TYPHOON ARRANGEMENTS FOR WORKERS * * *

THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TODAY ADVISED EMPLOYERS TO ACT WITH COMMON SENSE REGARDING THE SAFETY OF THEIR EMPLOYEES DURING OR ON THE APPROACH OF A TYPHOON.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID ALTHOUGH THE LAW DID NOT LAY DOWN ANY PARTICULAR PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW ON SUCH OCCASIONS, TO AVOID CONFUSION, EMPLOYERS SHOULD REACH AN AGREEMENT WITH THEIR EMPLOYEES ON THE RULES FOR WORK, AND THE RELEASE FROM WORK, DURING OR ON THE APPROACH OF A TYPHOON.

+SUCH AN AGREEMENT SHOULD INCLUDE THE METHOD OF CALCULATING WAGES TO BE PAID UNDER VARIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES,* HE ADDED.

/THE SPOKESMAN

TUESDAY, MAY 9, 1978

THE SPOKESMAN SAID IN PREVIOUS YEARS THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAD RECEIVED MANY ENQUIRIES DURING THE TYPHOON SEASON FROM EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES SEEKING ADVICE ON THE SUBJECT.

+BASICALLY.+ HE SAID, +IT IS A MATTER OF DECISION BETWEEN EACH EMPLOYER AND HIS EMPLOYEES, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE NATURE OF EMPLOYMENT AND THE INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEE’S PLACE OF RESIDENCE, AVAILABILITY OF TRANSPORT AND OTHER FACTORS.

+CONFUSION OR EVEN DISPUTES CAN ARISE IF THERE IS A LACK OF PRIOR UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES AS TO WHAT TO DO WHEN A TYPHOON IS COMING,+ HE SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN ADVISED THAT THE IMPORTANT THING TO CONSIDER ON SUCH OCCASIONS IS THE EMPLOYEES’ SAFETY BOTH AT THE PLACE OF WORK AND DURING THE JOURNEY TO AND FROM HOME.

+FOR EXAMPLE, FIRMS SHOULD SEND THEIR EMPLOYEES HOME WHEN TYPHOON SIGNAL NUMBER EIGHT OR HIGHER IS HOISTED, OR WHEN PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES IS ABOUT TO CEASE.

+OF COURSE, EMPLOYEES WHO ARE REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL AND EMERGENCY DUTIES DURING A TYPHOON WOULD BE EXCEPTIONS,+ HE ADDED.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT EMPLOYERS COULD ALWAYS APPROACH THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR APPROPRIATE ADVICE WHEN DRAFTING OR PREPARING THEIR AGREEMENTS CONCERNING TYPHOON ARRANGEMENTS.

THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE OPERATES IN THE FOLLOWING SIX BRANCH OFFICES OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT:

* HONG KONG ISLAND: HONG KONG REGIONAL OFFICE, NEW RODNEY BLOCK, QUEENSWAY, TEL: 5-282523 EXT. 60 =

* KOWLOON EAST: SAN PO KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES, PRINCE EDWARD ROAD, SAN PO KONG, TEL: 3-205638=

* KOWLOON WEST: SAN PO KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES, TEL: 3-201652=

* KWUN TONG: KWUN TONG DISTRICT BRANCH OFFICE BUILDING, TUNG YAN STREET, SECOND FLOOR, KWUN TONG, TEL: 3-898520=

M TSUEN WAN: CHARTERED BANK BUILDING, THIRD FLOOR, TSUEN WAN, TEL: 12-422096 AND-

* TUEN MUN: 39 TAK CHING COURT, TUEN MUN NEW TOWN, TEL: 12-818443.

-------0 - -

TUESDAY, MAY 9, 1978

- 8 -

SHELTER DURING PROLONGED HEAVY RAIN ******

IN THIS YEAR’S WET SEASON, AS LAST YEAR AND AS NORMAL IN TROPICAL CYCLONE SITUATIONS, THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE OPENING SHELTERS DURING PERIODS OF PROLONGED HEAVY RAIN FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY THOSE LIVING IN SQUATTER AREAS.

AS AND WHEN NECESSARY AN ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE MADE BY THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES TO THE NEWS MEDIA FOR BROADCASTING EY RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS.

- - - - 0----------

TECHNICAL INSTITUTES OFFER PART-TIME EVENING CLASSES ******

THE MORRISON HILL, KWAI CHUNG, KWUN TONG AND MAKING WONG TECHNICAL INSTITUTES ARE INVITING APPLICATIONS FOR PART-TIME EVENING CLASSES DUE TO BEGIN NEXT SEPTEMBER.

A TOTAL OF 66 COURSES ARE AVAILABLE. THESE INCLUDE COURSES AT TECHNICIAN LEVEL, WHICH ARE MAINLY TAUGHT IN ENGLISH, AND COURSES AT CRAFTSMAN LEVEL, WHICH ARE MAINLY TAUGHT IN CHINESE.

FIELDS COVERED INCLUDE CLOTHING INDUSTRIES- COMMERCIAL STUDIES CONSTRUCTION- ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING- GENERAL STUDIES- HOTELKEEPING AND TOURISM- MARINE AND FABRICATION- MECHANICAL ENGINEERING- PRINTING- AND TEXTILE INDUSTRIES.

APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE FOUR TECHNICAL INSTITUTES, CITY DISTRICT OFFICES AND DISTRICT OFFICES AND PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE CENTRES OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION

FORM 5 STUDENTS SITTING FOR THE HONG KONG CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION (HKCE) 1977-8 EXAMINATION MAY APPLY, LEAVING THEIR HKCE RESULTS OPEN IN THEIR APPLICATION FORMS.

■ 7

COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS SHOULD BE RETURNED TO THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES OFFERING THE COURSES ON OR BEFORE MAY 20.

APPLICANTS SHOULD HAVE FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT IN THE TRADES APPROPRIATE TO THE COURSES FOR WHICH THEY APPLY.

0 -------

TUESDAY, AY 9, 1978

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN WAN CHAI AND KWUN TONG

*****

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT HAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE JUNCTION OF MORRISON HILL ROAD AND SHARP STREET WEST WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL VEHICLES FROM 10 A.M. ON FRIDAY (MAY 12) FOR ABOUT FOUR WEEKS TO FACILITATE .ROAD RECONSTRUCT ION.

DURING THIS PERIOD SHARP STREET WEST BETWEEN MORRISON HILL RO AND BOWRINGTON ROAD WILL BE RE-ROUTED TWO-WAY.

VEHICLES WISHING TO ENTER SHARP STREET WEST ARE ADVISED TO PROCEED THROUGH CANAL ROAD WEST, CHEUNG WOO LANE, AND 30WRINGTO' ROAD.

MEANWHILE, THE DEPARTMENT ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT FROM 10 A.M. ON THURSDAY (MAY 11) LEARNER DRIVERS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO ENTER AND PRACTISE DRIVING ON FUK TONG ROAD, KWUN TONG.

APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE SET UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

PHOTOGRAPHS OF DEPARTMENT HEADS

*****

AS IN PAST YEARS, WE ARE UPDATING OFFICIAL PHOTOGRADHS OF DEPARTMENT HEADS TO REPLACE PREVIOUS STOCKS.

IN THIS CONNECTION, COPIES OF NEW PHOTOGRAPHS OF VARIOUS DEPARTMENT HEADS WILL BE SENT TO YOU, FROM TIME TO TIME AS THEY ARE AVAILABLE, FOR YOUR RECORD AND EDITORIAL USE. IT ..3ULD EE ‘■OST APPRECIATED IF, ..HEN THE OCCASION ARISES, THE NE>. PHOTOGRAPHS ARE USED INSTEAD OF THE OLD ONES.

DISTRIBUTED TODAY IN THE G.I.S. PRESS BOXES ARE COP IES OF NEW PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SI." DENYS RCEERTS= THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR. C.P. HADDO’-0' VE= THE CC:. ISSICN-FOR RATING AND VALUATION, MR. R.A. FRY ARD THE DIRECTOR OF PROTOCOL, SIR JOHN CURLE.

- - 0 - -

PRH 7

|eis| |ais

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1978

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

LEGCO APPROVES MOTION TO ESTABLISH PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE ................................................. 1

PLAN TO INTRODUCE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT INSURANCE SCHEME ... 3

PROECTION OF WOMEN AND JUVENILES (AMENDMENT) BILL PASSED .................................................... 4

BILL TO PROVIDE COMPENSATION TO WORKERS SUFFERING FROM LUNG DISEASES ............................................. 5

PROGRESS OF WORK ON STABLISING SLOPES ..................... 7

POLICE BEAT RADIO SCHEME TO BE EXTENDED ................... 7

ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY COMMENTS ON PROPERTY SPECULATION ............................................... 8

HOUSING BILL RECEIVES SUPPORT ............................ 10

FOOD STALL SITES AT INDUSTRIAL ESTATES ................... 11

PLANS TO REBUILD OLD TYPE ESTATE BLOCKS .................. 11

WORK ON A NEW ROAD IN NT TO START NEXT YEAR .............. 12

PARKING FACILITIES IN RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS .............. 13

METERED WATER SUPPLIES TO SQUATTER AREAS ................. 14

MEASURES TO COMBAT DUST POLLUTION ........................ 15

GOVERNMENT AWARE OF MP’S REMARKS ON HK-EEC TEXTILE AGREEMENT................................................. 16

APPEAL FOR REVIEW OF SENTENCE BEING CONSIDERED ........... 16

/UNOFFICIALS ...

issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield Hou. Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191

UNOFFICIALS EXPRESS CONCERN ABOUT NO ICE-BAN EXEMPTIONS. 17 i‘

URBAN COUNCIL (AMENDMENT) BILL PASSED .................... 18

CENSUS AND STATISTICS BILL ............................... 20

RAILWAYS (AMENDMENT) BILL ................................ 21

AUXILIARY FORCES PAY AND ALLOWANCES (AMENDMENT) BILL .. 21

USE OF TEAR-SMOKE IN CLEARANCE OPERATION EXPLAINED .... 22

BILLS PASSED ............................. »............. 23

APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH SCHEME ................................................... 24

SURVEY ON PROVISION OF SOCIAL FACILITIES AT HOUSING ESTATES .................................................. 25

SEMINAR AND WORKSHOP ON NEW BIOLOGY SYLLABUS ............. 26

STUDY ROOM FOR LAM TIN ESTATE STUDENTS ................. 26

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN CENTRAL AND WAN CHAI ............. 27

----0------

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1978 1 -

LEGCO APPROVES CTIOi. TO SET UP PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE H n ¥t %

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY APPROVED A MOTION TO AMEND STANDING ORDERS TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PUBLIC ACCOUNTS CO>- ITTEE.

IN CVI..G THE MOTION, THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDCN-CAVE SAID THE COMMITTEE’S PRINCIPAL TASK WOULD BE TO COMO IDE. THE REPORTS OF THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT ON THE GOVERNMENT’S ■..UAL ACCOU? T3 ...HIGH ALSO COVER DISBURSEMENTS MADE THROUGH SUB-

VERTED ORGANISATIONS.

li. ADDITION, THE COMMITTEE MAY, AT ITS DISCRETION, EXAMINE TWO OTHER TYPES OF REPORTS OF THE DIRECTOR OF ADU IT, MR. HADDCM-CAVE SAID.

♦THE FT ST ARE THOSE OH ACCOUNTS OF STATUTORY AND OTHER ORGA' ISmTIONS WHICH ARE REQUIRED TO DE LAID BEFORE THIS COUNCIL, SUCH AS REPORTS ON' THE ACCOUNTS OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION AND SO OR AND a VARIETY OF PROVIDENT FUNDS, CHARITABLE TRUSTS AND ..ELFARE AND SCHOLARSHIP -U"DS.

+THE SECOND ARE THOSE WHICH THE DIRECTOR OF ADUIT MAY MAKE, IN EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTAKCES, UNDER SECTIONS 12 AND 13 OF THE AUDIT ORDINANCE. THESE REPORTS RELATE TO A::Y SERIOUS IRREGULARITIES ..HIGH :-.AY COME TO THE NOTICE OF THE DIRECTOR, WHICH HE MAY WISH TO DEAL - I TH OUTSIDE THE CONTEXT OF HIS .EPORT ON THE GOVERNMENT’S ANNUAL ACCOUNTS.

♦REPORTS OF THIS TYPE ARE VERY RARE INDEED,+ MR. HADDON-CAVE SA ID.

TH; CO ITTEE WOULD CONSIST OF A CHAIRMAN AND SIX MEMBERS, ALL UNOFFICIAL EMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, AND THEY ..ILL EE NOMINATED BY THE GOVERNOR.

T E CO "-•ITTEE’S PC’I,'CIP,.L TASK WOULD EE TO ESTABLISH THE 0IRCU..ST ACES SURROUNDING THE MATTERS REPORTED Ci.' EY THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT AND CONSIDER ..HAT REMEDIAL ACTION HAS EEEN OR SHOULD DE TAKEN, AND THE COMMITTEE ..OULD DE CONCERNED PRIMARILY WITH PRINCIPLES AND SYSTEMS, CT IT. DETAILS OR PERSONALITIES.

TO GIVE T-iE CO’ ' ITTEE A SUITABLE DEGREE OF FLEXIBILITY III THE CONDUCT OF I S BUSINESS, R. HADDCN-CAVE SAID, THE PROPOSED STAND]’G ORDERS OULD ENABLE THE COMMITTEE TO REGULATE ITS OWN PROCEED I -HICO: HE ENVISAGED WOULD DE REASONABLY INFORMAL.

+ M. OTHER ..C'DO, THE COMMITTEE ..’OULD NOT TAKE THE FORM OF A OOI. ISOICN 7 EL UI Y T JUDGE OF DISCIPLINE INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS ..ere “ - .lt, lt:oug- it ig t .is;- t- know hat action, ILCLUB I !G DI'CI-_I Y "EASUFES ..A.' DEE’. TAKE.’ TO PREVENT REPETITION 0- THE ■: .LT, 1V'LVED,+ E SAID.

/MR. HADDON-CAVE......

.7EDNHSDAY, MAY 10, 1978

MS.. HADDON-CAVE ALSO EX PL.'-1"" 'ID'; THE COMMITTEE WOULD FUNCTI"

l>. - i 3CHARG I N.G ITS PRINCIPAL i/.D

HE SAID; +AS SCCN AS THE GOVERNMENT’S ANNUAL ACCOUNTS AND THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT’S REPORT ON TNEi. ~RE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE CCI ■ ITTEE, THE CHAIR"?.L ..OULD CGI.SULT . I TH THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT, I.' ORDER TO SELECT THE PARTICULAR FINDINGS ■ECORDED I THE REPORT -HI CH .ER IT THE COMMITTEE EXAMINATION.'.

+T0 ENABLE THE CO""ITTEE TO TRANSACT ITS BUSINESS AS METHODICALLY AND EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE, A PROGRAMME WOULD THEN D DRAWN UP, AND THE HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS AND OTHER PERSONS TO BE CALLE UPON TO GIVE EVIDENCE IN RESPECT OF THESE FINDINGS WOULD BE NOTIFIED ..HEN THEY SHOULD ATTEND.+

NR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO ATTEND I" PERSON BEFORE THE COMMITTEE AND COULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY MEMBERS OF HIS STAFF IF HE SO WISHED, EUT HE WOULD BE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EVIDENCE GIVEN TO THE COMMITTEE.

+THE DIRECTOR OF '.UDI", THE DEPUTY FINANCIAL SECRETARY AND THE DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING SERVICES ..CUL_ BE IL ATTENDANCE TO ASSIST THE COMMITTEE .HIGH WOULD BE SERVICED DY DEPUTY CLERK OF COUNCILS,* MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID.

HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT Gl. COMPLETION OF ITS EXAMINATION OF THE DI-ECTOR OF AUDIT’S DEPORT ’.HD OF THE EVIDENCE GIVE! BY HEADS OF DEPART. E TS A D REPRESENTATIVES OF mg:'-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS, THE COMMITTEE ..GULS SUB! IT ITS REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR AND THAT ITS REPORT -OULD DE TABLED IM THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AT THE SAME T1 E MS THE REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT.

IN ADDITION, THE COMMITTEE .OULD LOCK TO THE FINANCE LRAMC?, "IC" IS "ES?M SIDLE F THE :0"T'OL -.ND ".'.LAGE."E?'T OF PUBLIC FU CDN-IDz.. IT- SO'.. E TO - .ECON.ME.'.DATICNG.

E SAID THE COMMENTS ..HD DE'IS IONS OF THE FINANCE BRANCH DEALING .ITS THS ,-OINTS RAISED O'D STATING HAT ACTIO.'. IT PROPOSED Iv FAKc . I r.c —O' I I z~ ’ S .. zCC ।. ■ z. Lin i 10NS, - <. ..HY I I PF.. P-Ml-

Tr T ‘ ~ " r r T I ! I1 ". T C ' I “ ~ T c r t- t zi • T O T • • I - • T o r o r- t r. • —' - — —

.. HA^LO..—C?.Vr. I. । -'g. ?7-.C?0SEj STALL ING SRDER ..AS Oi\E OF ...S ENSURES REQUIRED TO ESTABLISH THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE, THE OTHER BEING INO' CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS TO THE AUDIT

+T E ' ECESS/'Y D ILL IVI"C INTRODUCED I THIO COU: OIL I' D

r.ESE A.VEh'DMEnTS '..CULD ifr- •* •• “■*

+ HE ADDED

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1973

GOVERNMENT CONSIDERING INTRODUCTION OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENT INSURANCE SCHEME ******

THE GOVERNMENT IS GIVING FURTHER CONSIDERATION TO BOTH A NO-FAULT TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE SCHEME AND A MOTOR INSURERS BUREAU SCHEME WITH THE INTENTION TO INTRODUCE ONE OR THE OTHER, OR BOTH, OF THESE SCHEMES AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE.

THIS WAS STATED TODAY BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

MR. JONES SAID THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT ASSISTANCE SCHEME WOULD PROVIDE A LIMITED DEGREE CF ASSISTANCE, WITHOUT PROOF OF NEGLIGENCE AND WITHOUT RESORT TO COURT PROCEEDINGS, TO THOSE SUFFERING PERSONAL INJURIES AS A RESULT OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS.

+PAYMENTS WOULD EE MADE FROM A GOVERNMENT CONTROLLED FUND FINANCED IN PART FROM GENERAL REVENUE AND IN PART FROM CHARGES ON VEHICLE OWNERS AND DR I VERS,+ HE SAID.

ON THE MOTOR INSURERS BUREAU SCHEME, MR. JONES SAID IT WOULD EE OPERATED BY THE ACCIDENT INSURANCE ASSOCIATION AND WOULD BE FINANCED BY A SURCHARGE ON MOTORISTS’ INSURANCE POLICIES.

+IT WOULD, LIKE ITS UNITED KINGDOM COUNTERPART, PAY COMPENSATION AWARDED BY THE COURTS IN CASES WHERE COMPENSATION

WOULD NOT NOW BE PAYABLE DUE TO DEFECTS IN THE INSURANCE,* HE ADDED.

MR. JONES STRESSED THAT WHILE THE FORMER SCHEME WOULD PROVIDE MINIMUM ASSISTANCE WITHOUT PROOF OF NEGLIGENCE, THE LATTER WOULD PROVIDE FOR THE PAYMENT OF FULL DAMAGES, AS AWARDED BY A COURT, WHICH COULD BE MUCH HIGHER.

-----o------

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 137

PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND JUVENILES (AMENDMENT) BILL PASSED

THE PROTECTION CF WOMfcll AND JUVENILES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1973, WHICH AIMS TC EXTEND- THE STATUTORY PROTECTION OF YOUNG PEOPLE UP TC THE AGE OF 18, COUNCIL TODAY.

IN THE LEGISLATIVE

SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEEAT: KO SIU-WAH SAID SHE ’..'AS GLAD TC SE: HER SUGGESTIONS ON THE DILL.

Ok THE BILL, THE HON. MRS. KWAN THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD ACCEPTED

THESE INCLUDE THAT THE POLICE TAKE YOUNG PEOPLE UP TC THE AGE OF ARE IN NEED OF CARE AND PROTECTION AUTHORITY SHOULD BE EMPOWERED TC D AGE OF 18 WHO ARE LIKELY TC DE EXP DANGER.

SHOULD BE GIVEN AUTHORITY TC 13 INSTEAD CF 16 PROVIDED THEY TO A PLACE OF REFUGE" AND THE AL WITH YOUNG PEOPLE UP TC THE SEE TO ANY MORAL OR PHYSICAL

SHE SAID THESE SUGGESTIONS SHOULD MAKE THE FOLLOWING POSSIBLE:

A COURT AMD A SUPERVISION ORDER CCULD EE MADE UNDER THE AMENDED LEGISLATION PLACING A CHILD OR JUVENILE (A NEW DEFINITION .-HICH MEANS A ECY OR A GIRL FROM 14 TO 18 YEARS OF AGE) WHO IS IN NEED CF CARE AND PROTECTION, UNDER SUPERVISION" ’

* ,41 ORDER COULD DE DADE RELATING TO THE CONTROL AND CUSTODY JF CHILD OR JUVE’JLE ..HC IS LIKELY TC EE EXPOSED TO ANY 3Ai’GER A':L Tc AFFORD TEMPORARY PROTECTION TC The. ,;HO ARe II. NEED CF SUCH CARE AND PROTECTION, AND"

AMY CHILD OR JUVENILE WHO IS IN AND PROTECTION COULD EE TAKEN TO AMENDED LEGISLATION.

NEED CF A REFUGE OR CARE A PLACE CF REFUGE UNDER

SHE LATER MOVED THE APPROPRIATE AMENDMENTS OF THE DILL TO GIVE EFFECT TO THESE SUGGESTIONS

THE

AT COMMITTEE STAGE

-----o------

WEDNESDAY, MAY ID, 197

orkmem’s compensation (amendment) (no. 2) bill

******

A BILL TO PROVIDE COMPENSATION TO WORKERS SUFFERING FRO. SILICOSIS AND ASEESTOSIS -- DUST DISEASES OF THE LUNGS KNOWN AS PNEUMOCONIOSIS — WAS INTRODUCED I! THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE WORKMEN’S COMPENSATIOI (AMENDMENT)(HO. 2) DILL 1973, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON. NEIL HENDERSON, SAID THE BILL PROPOSED TO ADD PNEUMOCONIOSIS TO THE SCHEDULE OF OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES UNDER THE WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE.

HE SAID THE BILL ALSO PROVIDED FOR THE SETTING UP OF A COMPENSATION SCHEME WHICH WOULD COVER PEOPLE ALREADY KNOWN TO EE SUFFERING FROM PNEUMOCONIOSIS — WORKERS WHO WERE FOUND TO HAVE THE DISEASE AT TSE TIME OF THE SCHEME’S INITIAL X-RAY EXAMINATION -- AND THOSE WHO SUBSEQUENTLY CONTRACTED THE DISEASE.

THE GOVERNMENT ..OULD MAKE EX-GRATIA PAYMENTS TO THE FIRST GROUP, ..'HILE THE ’ EST ..OULD EE COMPED DATED THROUGH EMPLOYERS IN SPECIFIED INDUSTRIES PAYING A LEVY AND CONTRIBUTING TO A COMPULSORY INSURANCE FUND.

IT IS PROPOSED TO COMPENSATE WORKERS OR THEIR DEPENDANTS FOR PERMANENT TOTAL OR PARTIAL INCAPACITY OR DEATH RESULTING FROM PNEUMOCONIOSIS CONTRACTED IC ANY SPECIFIED TRADE, INDUSTRY OR PROCESS.

HENDERSON EXPLAINED THAT PNEUMOCONIOSIS IS A COMPREHENSIVE TERM COVERING A GROUP OF DISEASES OF THE LUNGS CAUSED BY THE l.'.’HAL TIC" OF \ VARIETY OF INDUSTRIAL DUSTS SUCH AS FREE SILICA AND ASBESTOS DUSTS. ONCE THE DISEASE IS PRESENT, THE CONDITION OF THE PATIENT IS IRREVERSIBLE AND REMOVAL FROM EXPOSURE MAY ONLY SLOW DOWN PROGRESSION OF THE DISEASE.

SILICOSIS AND ASBESTOSIS ARE THE ONLY TWO PNEUMOCON IOTIC DISEASES OF KNOW!. CONGER! IN HONG KONG, AND THE BILL COVERS ONLY THESE T..C. SILICOSIS IS MAINLY FOUND IM WORKERS IN QUARRIES, MINING, TUNNELLING, CONSTRUCTION AND MASONRY .vORK, '..HILE ASBESTOS ID IS NORMALLY FOUND IC ..ORKERS I' /' INDUSTRY OR PROCESS IN ?.HICH ASBESTOS IS .. IDELY USED FC" l.'SULATICt! PURPOSES AND FIREPROOFING.

HE POINTED OUT THAT PNEUMOCONIOSIS HAS A LONG GESTATION PERIOD AMD THERE IS VARIABLE TIMING OF DISCOVERY OF THE DISEASE, .. ITH THE RESULT THAT WORKERS MAY HAVE CHANGED JOES AND EVEN INDUST IES r.A Y TIMES LEFT E DIAGNOSIS OF THE CONDITION. II SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES, IT DAS NET POSSIBLE TO ASCERTAIN ..HICH EMPLOYER ..AS LIABLE.

T. 113 8 ITU - T I’ SAD LED THE GOVE".’ TEST THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY TO P \CP E SE T' ' E_- . - ~ E DE' E "S■ I I ’.'. SCHEME.

/MR. HBNDB3S0N......

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1978

... HENDERSON EXPLAINED: +THE FIRST STAGE COVERS THOSE •WORKERS WHO ARE ALREADY KNOW'.' TO HAVE CONTRACTED PNEUMOCONIOSIS and ..ho may or may not still EE employed IN SPECIFIED INDUSTRIES. IT .. ILL ALSO COVER THOSE WORKERS WHO HAVE LEFT THE INDUSTRY EEFCRE PNEUMOCONIOSIS IS INCLUDED AS AN OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE AND „H0 ARE DIAGNOSED .. ITHIi. A PERIOD OF 13 YEARS FROM THIS DATE. ALL THESE WORKERS '..ILL EE COMPENSATED 01’ AH EX-GRATIA MON-STATUTORY BASIS DY THE GOVERNMENT CM THE DAS IS OF Ail UPDATED ASSESSMENT OF THE DISABILITY SUSTAINED.+

HE SAID THERE WERE SOME 733 SUCH CASES, AND PAYMENTS TO THESE PEOPLE WOULD TOTAL ABOUT J25 MILLION.

THE SECOND STAGE OF THE SCHEME, WHICH WOULD EE IMPLEMENTED CONCURRENTLY WITH THE FIRST STAGE, WOULD COVER WORKERS EMPLOYED IN SPECIFIED INDUSTRIES WHO ..'ERE DIAGNOSED AS SUFFERING FROM PNEUMOCONIOSIS IN THE SCHEME’S INITIAL X-RAY EXAMINATION.

+THESE WORKERS WILL EE PAID COMPENSATION EY THE GOVERNMENT INITIALLY,+ SAID MR. HEIIDERSOli. +EUT SUCH PAYMENTS, TOGETHER .. I TH li'TEF.EST, ARE TO EE RECOVERED SUBSEQUENTLY THROUGH A LEVY TO DE IMPOSED ON EMPLOYERS IN THE SPECIFIED INDUSTRIES.+

HE SAID THE INITIAL X-RAY EXAMINATION PERIOD WAS EXPECTED TO TAKE AT LEAST EIGHT MONTHS TO COMPLETE, AND ALL WORKERS IN THE SPECIFIED INDUSTRIES WOULD EE REQUIRED TO UNDERGO X-RAY.

ON THE FINAL STAGE OF THE SCHEME, MR. HENDERSON SAID: +IT ..ILL COME INTO EFFECT ON COMPLETION OF THE SECOND STAGE AND .. ILL COVER \LL WORKERS WHO ARE GIVEN A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH AT THE INITIAL X-RAY AND ..’HO APE EMPLOYED I" SPECIFIED INDUSTRIES CH OR AFTER THE DATE THE DILL COMES INTO FORCE, OR WHO SUBSEQUENTLY LEAVE THE INDUSTRY AND ARE DIAGNOSED ..3 PNEUKOCONIOTIC WITHIN A PERIOD OF 13 YEARS. ANY COMPENSATION DUE IN RESPECT OF SUCH WORKERS ..ILL EE PAID FROM THE STATUTORY COMPENSATION FUND.+

liR. HENDERSON SAID THE FUND WOULD EE FINANCED BY PREMIA FROM EMPLOYERS M. THE SPECIFIED INDUSTRIES, WHO WOULD ALSO EE REQUIRED TO MEET THE COST OF THE INITIAL Ai.'D PERIODICAL MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS OF . ORKERS.

HE SAID THE LEVY INVOLVED If. THE SECOND STAGE, THE X-RAY EXAMINATION AND THE INSURANCE PREMIUM WOULD BE ROUGHLY W1A-3 PER CAPITA PER ANNUM IN THE FIRST YEAR, BASED ON Ai. ESTIMATt OF 5",^33 .DRKEPS ' FED M G MISUEAXCE COVERAGE.

R. HENDERSON ADDED: +3 MCE THE LEVY WILL CEASE WHEil GOVERNMENT EXPEND I TURE UNDER STAGE II HAS BEEN RECOVERED, '.HAT ..ILL INITIALLY BE ABOUT A ONE PER CENT ADDITION TO THE LABOUR COST ..ILL TEND TO DECLINE RELATIVELY M TIME, ASSUMING THAT THERE IS :.S MARKED CO XT".ACT I'.'i I" "FOSE T ACTIVITY.+

--------0-----------

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1978

PROGRESS OF WORK ON STABILISING SLOPES * * * *

PREVENTIVE WORKS ON SOME 83 MAJOR FILL SLOPES HAVE BEEN COMPLETED OR ARE IN HAND, THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, THE HON. DAVID MCDONALD, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

HE .-/AS REPLYING TO A QUESTION EY THE HON. S.L. CHEN ON THE PROGRESS OF THE GOVERNMENT’S SLOPE STABILISATION PROGRAMME.

MR. MCDONALD SAID THAT MINOR WORKS HAD ALSO BEEN CARRIED OUT ON MANY OTHER SLOPES AND RETAINING WALLS.

BUT HE POINTED OUT THAT PRIORITY HAD BEEN GIVEN TO WORKS ON SLOPES AFFECTING HOUSING, HOSPITALS AND SCHOOLS.

+IT SEEMS PROBABLE THAT FURTHER WORKS WILL BE NECESSARY FOLLOWING THE COMPREHENSIVE GEOTECHNICAL SURVEYS NOW BEING UNDERTAKEN, BUT IT IS TOO EARLY TO SAY EXACTLY WHAT THESE WILL INVOLVE,* HE ADDED.

- - 0 - -

POLICE BEAT RADIO SCHEME TO BE EXTENDED * * * * *

THE GOVERNEMNT HAS PROVIDED $10.3 MILLION IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR TO EXTEND THE POLICE BEAT RADIO SCHEME TO SHA TIN, THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY AND THE AIRPORT.

THIS ..'AS REVEALED TODAY BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON. LEWIS DAVIES, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

CONSIDERATION IS ALSO BEING GIVEN TO EXTENDING THE EEAT RADIC COVERAGE TO OTHER WE.. TOWNS AND LATER TO THE WHOLE OF THE TERRITORY INCLUDING THE MARINE POLICE DISTRICT AT AN ESTIMATED ADDITIONAL CAPITAL COST OF $84 MILLION, MR. DAVIES ADDED.

MR. DAVIES SAID THE SCHEME WHICH WAS INTRODUCED ON HONG KONG ISLAND IN DECEMBER 1976?"T0 KWAI CHUNG AND TSUEN WAN IN MARCH 1977, AND TO KOWLOON THREE MONTHS LATER, HAS ALREADY GREATLY IMPROVED THE ABILITY OF THE POLICE FORCE TO RESPOND QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY TC REPORTS OF CRIME, OR ANY OTHER INCIDENT WARRANTING POLICE ATTENTION IN AREAS COVERED EY BEAT PATROLS.

+M: KOWLOON, KWAI CHUNG AND TSUEN WAN, THE TIME LAPSE BETWEEN AN EMERGENCY CALL BEING RECEIVED AND POLICE APPEARING ON THE SCENE HAS BEEN REDUCED C" AN \ VERAGE FROM SIX MINUTES TC FOUR MINUTES ..HILE C!< rCNG KONG ISLAND THE RESPONSE TIME HAS IMPROVED FROM FIVE MINUTES TO THREE i INUTES,+ HE SAID.

/MR. DAVIES

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1978

MR. DAVIES ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE SCHEME IS USED EXTENSIVELY IN SUPPORT OF THE 999 SYSTEM IN WHICH CALLS ANSWERED BY POLICE IN VEHICLES HAS FALLEN FROM 5'3 TO 37 PER CENT SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE BEAT fyADIO.

HE SAID: +AEOUT 703 PATROLLING POLICE OFFICERS WITH RADIO SETS ARE AT ANY ONE TIME ABLE TO COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH THEIR DISTRICT CONTROL AND WITH ANY OTHER OFFICER IN THEIR DISTRICT, AND TO EE CONTACTED THEMSELVES WHILST ON PATROL BY DIRECT RADIO LINK.

+IN ADDITION, THE RADIOS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR DIVISIONAL AND DISTRICT CID OFFICERS AND FOR SPECIAL PURPOSES BY OTHER UN ITS.+

HE ALSO NOTED THAT AS A RESULT OF THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SCHEME, A NUMBER OF ARRESTS WERE MADE AT THE SCENE OF THE CRIME.

♦

+BEAT RADIO ARE ALSO USED TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO PATROLLING OFFICERS AND TO REINFORCE THEM ITiL OTHER OFFICERS IN EMERGENCY.+

+THE FULL POTENTIAL OF THE SYSTEM WILL EE DEVELOPED AS EXPERIENCE IS GAINED IN ITS OPERATION AND AS THE INFORMATION SYSTEM WHICH WAS PARTIALLY INTRODUCED ON FEBRUARY 1, 1978, IS DEVELOPED,+ MR. DAVIES SAID.

- - 0 - -

ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY COMMENTS ON PROPERTY SPECULATION ******

THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONSIDER MEASURES OF CONTROL OVER SPECULATIVE ACTIVITIES IN PROPERTY DEALINGS IF SUCH SPECULATION CAN BE ESTABLISHED AS BEING DAMAGING TO THE ECONOMY OR TO THE SUPPLY OF RESIDENTIAL AND OTHER ACCOMMODATION AND IS LIKELY TO1 CONTINUE.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. DAVID JEAFFRESON, IN REPLY TC A QUESTION EY THE HOU. S.L. CHEN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

MR. JEAFFRESON ADDED THE GOVERNMENT IS MONITORING THE PROPERTY MARKET, BUT WARNED THAT TO FIND EFFECTIVE AND ACCEPTABLE MEASURES WOULD NOT BE EASY.

+FOR EXAMPLE,* HE SAID, +THEY MUST NOT INHIBIT THE SUPPLY OF PROPERTY COMING ON TO THE MARKET.+

MR. JEAFFRESON ALSO NOTED THAT THERE WERE OTHER DIFFICULTIES IN DEALING .JTH SPECULATIVE ACTIVITIES IM THE PROPERTY MARKET FOR THE PROTECTION OF GENUINE INVESTORS AND HOME-BUYERS.

HE SAID IT .<AS HARD TO DEFINE +3PECULATIVE ACTIVITIES IN PROPERTY DEALINGS* 'J.'D THAT THE +MISCKIEF MAKERS* WERE NOT EASY TC BE DISTINGUISHED FROM +GE’.'JI'.E INVESTORS* AND +HOME BUYERS*.

/+AJTO IF Yffl

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1978

+AND IF WE COULD ISOLATE THEM, CAL' WE BE SURE THESE ARE AGAINST THE PUBLIC INTEREST?

+AND IF WE COULD BE SC SURE, HOW COULD WE DEAL WITH ALSO HARMING THE INTERESTS OF GENUINE INVESTORS AND HOME MR. JEAFFRESON ASKED.

ACTIVITIES

THEM WITHOUT BUYERS?*

MR. JEAFFRESON SAID THAT IN CONSIDERING HOW TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS, WE MUST REALISE OUR LONG TERM GOAL, WHICH IS ENOUGH ACCOMMODATION, COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL AND RESIDENTIAL, TO SERVE THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.

TAKING RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATION AS AN EXAMPLE, MR. JEAFFRESON SAID PEOPLE NOW PREFERED TO LIVE IN SUITABLE INDEPENDENT AND SELFOWNED ACCOMMODATION.

,+YET THE ACUTE SHORTAGE OF LAND IN HONG KONG MEANS THAT THIS LEGITIMATE OBJECTIVE CAN BE MET, IN PART AT LEAST, ONLY BY PROPERTY DEVELOPERS BEING STIMULATED TO DEVELOP MORE INTENSIVELY THE LAND THEY ALREADY POSSESS,* MR. JEAFFRESON SAID.

MR. JEAFFRESON ALSO EXPLAINED THAT +SPECULATION* COULD BE HELPING THIS PROCESS AND IT COULD FURTHER STIMULATE SUPPLY BY ADDING TO DEMAND.

+ALTHOUGH THE INEVITABLE TEMPORARY PENALTY IS THAT IT RAISES PRICES MORE SHARPLY THAN WOULD OTHERWISE BE THE CASE, WE MUST NOT FORGET THAT ULTIMATE PRICES ARE DETERMINED BY THE LEVEL OF DEMAND FROM THOSE SEEKING BETTER HOMES IN WHICH TO LIVE AND THE COST OF PROVIDING SUCH HOMES.*

T0 THE EXTENT OF SUPPLY OF NEW FLATS. MR. JEAFFRESON SAID IT WAS PREDICTED THAT ABOUT 30,000 NEW PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL UNJTS WOULD BE COMPLETED IN 1978, FOLLOWED BY A SIMILAR AMOUNT IN

+THIS COMPARES WITH AN ANNUAL AVERAGE OF 19,000 OVER THE LAST FIVE YEAR,* MR. JEAFFRESON SAID.

-----0------

/10

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10,

1975

HOUSING BILL RECEIVES SUPPORT

******

UNOFFICIAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, TODAY URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO RAISE THE RESTRICTION PERIOD ON RESALE OF HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME FLATS FROM FIVE YEARS TO SEVEN YEARS +AS SOO’. AS IT IS PRACTICABLE TO DO S0+.

SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON HOUSING (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1973, WHICH WAS LATER PASSED II; THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR. CHEONG-LEEK SAID THE EXTENSION WAS NECESSARY SINCE THE FLATS UNDER THE SCHEME ARE SOLD AT 20 PER CENT BELOW MARKET PRICES.

+THIS IS A VERY DESIRABLE RESTRICTION IM ORDER TO DISCOURAGE SPECULATION GN THE PART OF THE PURCHASER,+ MR. CHEOMG-LEEN SAID.

SUPPORTING THE BILL, MR. CHEOMG-LEEN NOTED THAT THE REPAYMENT TERM UNDER THE SCHEME IS OVER A MAXIMUM PERIOD OF 15 YEARS, PARTIALLY GUARANTEED EY THE GOVERNMENT AT AN ATTRACTIVE INTEREST RATE OF EETWEEK 7-1/2 PER CENT TO NINE PER CENT, WITH AN INITIAL DOWN PAYMENT OF ONLY TEN PER CENT.

+FURTHERMORE, THE MANAGEMENT STANDARDS WILL EE HIGH COMPARED TO KHAT IS AVAILABLE GENERALLY IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR. RESIDENTS CAN EE ASSURED TOO OF A WELL-BALANCED RANGE OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES, AND SHOPS AND CAR PARKING SPACES AT REASONABLE COMMERCIAL RATES,+ MR. CHEONG-LEEN SAID.

+F INALLY, IT IS TO BE HOPED THAT EVERY EFFORT WILL EE MADE EY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO MAINTAIN MANAGEMENT COSTS AT AN ECONOMICAL MONTHLY RATE, IN KEEPING WITH THE INCOME LEVEL OF RESIDENTS PART IC I PAT I NG IN THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME,+ HE ADDED.

THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HOL. ALAN SCOTT, THANKED MR. CHEONG-LEEN FOR HIS +ELOQUENT+ SUPPORT FOR THE BILL AND SAID THAT THE SUGGESTION ABOUT THE RESALE RESTRICTION PERIOD WOULD BE KEPT IN MILD.

-----o------

/11

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 1973

11 -

FOOD STALL SITES PROVIDED AT INDUSTRIAL ESTATES * * * *

THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND ADMINISTRATION OF INDUSTRIAL ESTATES, PLANS TO PROVIDE AMENITY AREAS IN THE ESTATES TO INCLUDE PLACES WHERE WORKERS ’..ILL EE AELE TO EUY CHEAP HOT MEALS, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HQi.. DEREK JONES, SAID TODAY.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION EY THE HON. ALEX WU IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR. JONES SAID LAND WAS ALSO BEING SPECIFICALLY ALLOCATED IN OTHER NEW INDUSTRIAL AREAS FOR COCKED-FOOD STALLS TO PROVIDE FOR THE NEEDS OF WORKERS.

AS REGARDS THE OLDER INDUSTRIAL AREAS, HE SAID, UNFORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH LAND AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE COOKED-FOOD STALLS ON THE SAME SCALE AS IN THE NEW AREAS.

+SOME FACTORIES DO PROVIDE CANTEENS ON THEIR PREMISES EUT MANY WORKERS HAVE TO RELY ON CATERING FACILITIES IN NEARBY COMMERCIAL AREAS,+ MR. JONES SAID.

-------q ---------

PLANS TO REBUILD 73 OLD TYPE ESTATE BLOCKS * * * * *

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS PLANNING TO REBUILD 73 MARK I AND II ESTATE BLOCKS DURING THE NEXT FIVE YEARS TO IMPROVE EXISTING COMMUNAL FACILITIES.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION EY THE HON. LEUNG TAT-SHI MG AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON. ALAN SCOTT SAID: +THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS WELL AWARE THAT COMMUNAL EATHROOM AND TOILET FACILITIES IN THE MARK I AND MARK II ESTATES EUI LT 24 YEARS AGO ARE NOT UP TO THE STANDARDS OF LATER ESTATES.+

EUT MR. SCOTT POINTED OUT THAT BECAUSE OF THE WAY IN WHICH THESE BLOCKS WERE DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTED, THERE WAS LITTLE THE AUTHORITY COULD DO TO IMPROVE EXISTING FACILITIES FURTHER.

+THE FACT IS,* MR. SCOTT SAID, +THAT MODERN FACILITIES CAN EE PROVIDED ONLY EY CONVERSION OR REDEVELOPMENT.+

+OF THE 240 MARK l/l I BLOCKS, 21 HAVE SO FAR BEEN EITHER CONVERTED OR REDEVELOPED.

+IT IS PLANNED TO REBUILD 27 MORE BLOCKS DURING THE NEXT TWO YEARS, AND 73 BLOCKS DURING THE NEXT FIVE YEARS,+ MR. SCOTT SAID.

MR. SCOTT POINTED OUT THAT A MAJOR PROGRAMME TO IMPROVE DOORS AND SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS IN THESE COMMUNAL AREAS AT A COST GF C3.7 MILLION WAS COMPLETED IN 1974.

+CLEANSING CONTRACTORS ARE EMPLOYED TO WASH THE AREAS DAILY,* MR. SCOTT SAID. +SI.CE 1973, THERE HAS BEEN A CONTINUING PROGRAMME TO REDUCE OVERCROWDING IN THESE ESTATES, AND ONE EFFECT OF THIS PROGRAMME IS TO REDUCE THE PRESSURE ON COMMUNAL FACILITIES,* HE ADDED.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1978

12 -

WORK ON NT CARRIAGEWAY TO START NEXT YEAR * * * * *

WORK ON A DUAL TWO-LANE CARRIAGEWAY FROM YUEN LONG TO AU TAU, WHICH FORMS PART OF THE NEW TERRITORIES TRUNK ROAD LINKING YUEN LONG WITH FAN LING, IS EXPECTED TO START EARLY NEXT YEAR.

THIS WAS DISCLOSED BY THE HON. DAVID MCDONALD, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. CHARLES YEUNG AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY.

MR. MCDONALD SAID THAT THIS ITEM WAS INCLUDED IN CATEGORY A OF THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME AT THE FIRST REVIEW OF 1977.

PROGRESS ON THE ITEM WAS DELAYED BY AN OBJECTION RAISED TO THE ALIGNMENT OF THE ROADWAY.

HOWEVER, HE SAID THAT THE ROAD LAYOUT WAS MODIFIED AND THE OBJECTION RESOLVED AND IT WAS EXPECTED THAT WORK WOULD START EARLY NEXT YEAR AND WOULD BE COMPLETED TOWARDS THE END OF 1980.

REFERRING TO THE ROAD NETWORK FROM AU TAU TO FAN LING VIA MAI PC AND SAN TIN, MR. MCDONALD SAID IT WAS UNDER DETAILED PLANNING.

+TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION PROJECT PRIORITIES AND THE NEED TO AVOID UNDUE DISRUPTION TO TRAFFIC DURING CONSTRUCTION THE WORKS WILL BE CARRIED OUT IN STAGES,+ HE SAID.

+THE SECTION BETWEEN AU TAU AND MAI PO IS PRESENTLY SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION IN EARLY 1982 BUT THIS WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE TRAFFIC BUILD-UP DEVELOPING AS PRESENTLY FORECAST.+

IN REPLY TO ANOTHER QUESTION FROM MR. YEUNG, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, MR. DEREK JONES SAID, A TWO—WAY TRAFFIC WAS RE-INTRODUCED ALONG THE ROAD BETWEEN YUEN LONG AND AU TAU ON MAY 1, BY INCORPORATING INTO THE ROAD A SECTION OF THE BORDERING FOOTPATH, TO EASE TRAFFIC CONGESTION CAUSED BY THE LAYING OF WATER MAINS.

MR. JONES SAID PEDESTRIANS ARE STILL ABLE TO USE THE FOOTPATH ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT WORK ON THE WATER MAINS SHOULD BE COMPLETED AND THE ROAD PUT BACK TO NORMAL BY THE BEGINNING OF JUNE.

0 --------

/13

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1978

13 -

PROVISION OF PARKING FACILITIES IN RESIDENTIAL DU ILDINGS

* * * * *

THE PROVISION OF PARKING FACILITIES IN RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS IS ONLY COMPULSORY WHERE THERE ARE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS IN LEASE CONDITIONS, THE HON. DAVID MCDONALD, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS. SAID TODAY.

HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. ROGER LOBO AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING.

+THE RATIO OF CAR PARKING SPACE TO ACCOMMODATION FOR DENSITY ZONE 2, IN WHICH THE MAJORITY OF THE MID-LEVELS LIES. HAS VARIED OVER THE YEARS,+ MR. MCDONALD SAID.

IN 1965 WHEN DENSITY ZONING WAS INTRODUCED THE RATIO WAS ONE CAR PARKING SPACE PER FLAT. THIS, WAS INCREASED TO 1-1/4 SPACES PER FLAT IN 1971 AND TO 1-1/2 SPACES PER FLAT IN 1972, HE SAID.

IL 1975, THE RATIO WAS AMENDED TO ONE TO 1-1/2 SPACES PER FLAT OR PER 1,230 SQUARE FEET OF GROSS FLOOR AREA WHICHEVER PROVIDED THE LESSER RATION.

MR. MCDONALD SAID: +THE PARKING REQUIREMENT THEREFORE DEPENDS ON THt DATE OF THE LEASE. HOWEVER, WHERE THE REQUIREMENT IS IN EXCESS OF THE CURRENT RATIO A MODIFICATION COULD EE PERMITTED FOR REDUCTION TO THAT RATIO.+

IN REPLY TO ANOTHER QUESTION BY MR. LOBO, MR. MCDONALD SAID THAT SEVEN APPLICATIONS FOR NEW BUILDINGS HAD BEEN RECEIVED BY THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE BETWEEN MAY 1 WHEN BUILDING RESTRICTIONS IN THE MID-LEVELS AREA WERE LIFTED AND 9 A.M. YESTERDAY (TUESDAY).

-----o------

/14

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1978

METERED WATER SUPPLIES TO SQUATTER AREAS * * * * *

THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, THE HON. DAVID MCDONALD, SAID TODAY THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS CONSIDERING THE FEASIBILITY OF PROVIDING METERED WATER SUPPLIES TO SQUATTER AREAS ON A WIDER BAS IS.

HE WAS ANSWERING A QUESTION BY THE HON. WONG LAM IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

MR. WONG HAD ASKED WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSIDER PROVIDING INDIVIDUAL METERED WATER SUPPLY TO SQUATTER HOUSEHOLDS SO AS TO IMPROVE THEIR SANITARY CONDITIONS.

MR. MCDONALD SAID THAT INDIVIDUAL METERING HAD ALREADY BEEN INSTALLED AT MA HANG VILLAGE AND WAS PRESENTLY BEING INSTALLED AT A DIAMOND HILL VILLAGE.

+THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT AND THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, IS NOW CONSIDERING THE FEASIBILITY OF PROVIDING METERED SUPPLIES TO SQUATTER AREAS ON A WIDER BAS IS,+ HE SAID.

+THE ADEQUACY OF DISTRICT SUPPLY SYSTEMS AND THE PRACTICABILITY OF EXTENDING THEM IN THE CONGESTED AND HAPHAZARD CONDITIONS WHICH EXIST IN SQUATTER AREAS IS EE I NG ASSESSED.*

MR. MCDONALD SAID THAT A PRELIMINARY SURVEY HAD INDICATED THAT THE INSTALLATION OF ABOUT 40,000 METERS WOULD EE REQUIRED WHICH APPROXIMATED TO THE TOTAL ANNUAL METER INSTALLATION PROGRAMME.

HE SAID THAT IT WOULD, THEREFORE, EE NECESSARY TO ESTABLISH A PROGRAMME OF IMPLEMENTATION WITH AN ORDER OF PRIORITY AND TO ENGAGE THE SERVICES OF CUTSIDE PLUMBING AGENCIES TC SUPPLEMENT THE RESOURCES OF THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT SO THAT A SCHEME MIGHT Be. INTRODUCED WITHIN A REASONABLE PERIOD OF TIME.

0 --------

/15

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1978

MEASURES TC COMBAT DUST POLLUTION IN TUEN MUN ******

THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES, TODAY OUTLINED THE STEPS TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT TO ALLEVIATE DUST POLLUTION CAUSED EY PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS IN TUEN MUN.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, MR. JONES SAID THE FIRST STEP WAS THE REMOVAL OF THE SOIL STOCKPILE NEAR THE TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA IN TUEN MUN AND THAT ANY FURTHER STOCKPILING WOULD BE AWAY FROM THE AREA.

+SECONDLY, CONTRACTORS ARE BEING REQUIRED TO STATION LABOURERS AT THE HAUL ROUTE ENTRANCE TO REMOVE SOIL AND OTHER MATERIAL DROPPED ON THE ROAD BY THEIR LORRIES AND TO SPRAY THE ROAD WITH WATER,+ MR. JONES SAID.

+THE USD IS ALSO PROVID TNG A STREET WASHING VEHICLE ON PUI TO ROAD ON FINE DAYS,+ HE ADDED.

+THIRDLY, LORRY DRIVERS FOUND DEPOSITING EARTH ON PUBLIC ROADS ARE BEING PROSECUTED AND A TOTAL OF 25 SUCH SUMMONSES WERE ISSUED DURING THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR.

+FOURTHLY, A SECTION OF THE HAUL ROUTE NEAR PUI TO ROAD HAS BEEN PAVED WITH BITUMEN TO KEEP DOWN MUD AND DUST,+ MR. JONES SAID.

IN ADDITION, MR. JONES POINTED OUT THAT THE TUEN MUN NEW TOWN MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE IS KEEPING A CLOSE WATCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO CUT DOWN THE NUISANCE.

HOWEVER, MR. JONES SAID, THE PROBLEM OF DUST ASSOCIATED WITH MASSIVE CIVIL ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT WAS AN ENDEMIC ONE AND IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO ELIMINATE IT COMPLETELY.

- - - - 0

/16

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1973

- 16 -

GOVERNMENT AWARE OF MP’S REMARKS ON HK-EEC TEXTILE AGREEMENT * * * *

THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS, THE HON. DAVID JORDAN, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT THE GOVERNEDlEi.'T IS A;. ARE OF THE REMARKS MADE ZY A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT ABOUT HONG KONG IN CONNECTION ulTH THE KE:. EEC MULTI-FIBRE ARRANGEMENT.

MR. JORDAN ..AS REPLYING TO THE HON. LYDIA DUNN WHO ASKED

IS THE GOVERNMENT AWARE OF THE ADMISSION, NOT DENIED BY A BRITISH GOVERNMENT MINISTER, MADE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS DEBATE ON EEC TEXTILE POLICY ON APRIL 11 THAT IT WAS +RIGHT AND ADVANTAGEOUS* FOR THE HK/EEC AGREEMENT TO EE NEGOTIATED IN SUCH A WAY AS +EFFECTIVELY TO SQUEEZE* THE SHARE OF THE MARKET AVAILABLE TO HONG KONG IN FAVOUR OF OTHER SUPPLIERS.

.MR. JORDAN SAID THAT ACCORDING TO THE OFFICIAL REPORT, THE ACTUAL JORDS OF THAT MP WERE: +1 BELIEVE THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS RIGHT AND ADVANTAGEOUS IN THE NEW MULTI-FIBRE ARRANGEMENT WAS THE WAY IN WHICH THE THREE BIGGEST SUPPLIERS--HONG KONG, TAIWAN AND SOUTH KOREA — WERE EFFECTIVELY SQUEEZED IN ORDER TO PROVIDE A LARGER SHARE FOR THE SUPPLIES IN POORER THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES.*

UNFORTUNATELY, MR. JORDAN SAID HE COULD NOT QUOTE FROM THE SPEECH OF THE MINISTER WHO CONCLUDED THE DEBATE EECAUSE THE PRINTING OF THE OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE LATTER PART OF THE DEBATE HAS BEEN DELAYED EY INDUSTRIAL ACTION.

+HOWEVER, I UNDERSTAND FROM OUR LONDON OFFICE THAT : I3S DUNN IS CORRECT: THE MINISTER CONCERNED DID NOT INDEED MAKE ANY SPECIFIC REFERENCE TC THE REMARK THAT MISS DUNN HAS QUOTED,+ MR. JORDAN SAID.

-----0------

APPEAL FOR REVIEW OF SENTENCE BEING CONSIDERED * * * * *

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON. JOHN HOELEY, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT HE WAS CONSIDERING WHETHER TO APPLY TO THE COURT OF APPEAL FOR A REVIEW OF THE SENTENCES CONCERNING A RECENT DISTRICT COURT CASE.

HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH WHO ASKED: +WILL THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONSIDER APPLYING TO THE COURT OF APPEAL FOR A REVIEW OF THE SENTENCES RECENTLY IMPOSED BY A DISTRICT COURT JUDGE ON THE COUPLE ..HO OPERATED A CALL-GIRL RACKET?*

-----o------

/17

EDNESDAY, MAY 13, 1973

UNOFFICIALS EXPRESS CONCERN ABOUT NOISE-BAN EXEMPTIONS ******

a;: ad hoc group of legislative council uncfficials formed TO STUDY THE SUMMARY OFFENCES (AMENDMENT) BILL HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN AEOUT THE POWERS OF THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS TO GRANT EXEMPTIONS FROM THE RESTRICTIONS ON CONSTRUCTION NOISE.

SPEAKING AT THE SECOND READING OF THE EILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, CONVENOR OF THE AD HOC GROUP, THE HON. T.S. LO SAID THEY WERE CONCERNED THAT THE POWERS SHOULD ONLY BE EXERCISED II. CASES OF REAL NECESSITY.

+WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT SUCH EXEMPTIONS WILL ONLY DE GRANTED FOR EMERGENCY WORK, WHERE IT IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST TO ENSURE EARLY COMPLETION AND WHERE, FOR TECHNICAL REASONS, CONTINUAL OR MIGHT OPERATION IS UNAVOIDABLE,* HE SAID.

THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION IS ALSO EXEMPTED FROM THIS ASPECT OF THE SUMMARY OFFENCES ORDINANCE. +A COMBINATION OF THE DIN PRODUCED DY THE MTRC AND THAT PERMITTED BY THE DIRECTOR Or PUBLIC WORKS HAS GIVEN RISE TO THE CHARGE THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS BECOME A SELF-APPOINTED OPERATOR OF THE NOISE POLLUTION MONOPOLY,* MR. LO SAID.

HE ASKED BOTH THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MTRC +TO WEIGH CAREFULLY THE COMPARATIVE MERITS OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST THAT REQUIRES A PROJECT TO BE COMPLETED EARLY AND THAT WHICH REQUIRES THAT A MAN AND HIS FAMILY HAVE A GOOD NIGHT’S REST.*

ON THE EILL ITSELF, THE AD HOC GROUP HAS HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS ITH THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND HIS STAFF, AND ONE MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF EPCOM.

THE BILL IS CONCERNED WITH TWO TYPES OF NOISE NUISANCE, THAT CREATED BY PROPRIETORS OF RECORD SHOPS AND HAWKERS WHO PLAY RECORDS AND TAPE CASSETTES AT AN UNREASONABLY HIGH VOLUME TO ’TTRACT CUSTOMERS, AND THAT CREATED BY CONSTRUCTION.

MR. LO SAID WHILST THE DESIRABILITY OF CONTROLLING THE FIRST TYPE OF NOISE POLLUTION WAS NOT IN DISPUTE, HE AMD HIS UNOFFICIAL COLLEAGUES HAD KOT BEEN ABLE TO SATISFY THEMSELVES THAT THERE ..AS KOT ALREADY THE NECESSARY LAW TO ACHIEVE THIS NCR THAT THE CLAUSE IK THE EILL AS DRAFTED WOULD EE THE .OST APPROPRIATE APPROACH, IF ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION WERE FE'LIRED.

FOR THESE REASONS THEY HAD HOT FELT ABLE TO SUPPORT THE ENACT ENT OF THIS CLAUSE.

/as to

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1978

- 18 -

AS TO CONSTRUCTION NOISE, HE SAID: +AS INDEED WITH ALL FORMS OF NOISE POLLUTION, WE WOULD HAVE PREFERRED TO HAVE SEEN SPECIFIC LEVELS OF MOISE RATHER THAN SPECIFIC NOISE PRODUCERS AT SPECIFIC TINES .+

HOwEVER, SINCE THEY HAD BEEN ASSURED THAT THE EXPERTISE FOR ENFORCING LAW BASED ON DECIBEL COUNTS WAS MOT YET AVAILABLE IN HONG KONG, THEY HAD AGREED THAT THAT THIS PART OF THE DILL SHOULD PROCEED. O'! THE UNDERSTANDING GIVEN THEM THAT THIS WOULD ONLY EE AN INTERIM HOLD ITG MEASURE UNTIL THE GOVERNMENT PRODUCES COMPREHENSIVE NOISE LEGISLATION EASED ON MORE SCIENTIFIC AND UNIFORM APPROACH.

IN REPLY, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES SAID HE ACCEPTED THE AMENDMENT PROPOSED BY MR. LO AND WOULD INTRODUCE IT IN THE COMMITTEE STAGE.

MR. JONES ALSO REVEALED THAT A COMPREHENSIVE NOISE POLLUTION BILL JILL BE PREPARED AND EE PRESENTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HOPEFULLY IN ITS NEXT SESSION.

THE SUMMARY OFFENCES (AMENDMENT) BILL WAS PASSED INTO LAW TODAY.

-----o------

URBAN COUNCIL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978 PASSED ******

THE

R£v- THE H0N. JOYCE M. BENNETT HAS ASKED FOR A STUDY ON WHETHER ALL HOLDERS OF THE PRESENT HONG KONG CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION, AND NOT ONLY THOSE WITH AT LEAST FIVE SUEJ-CTS AT GRADE x, COULD BE CONSIDERED AS HAVING OBTAINED A +GOOD GENERAL EDUCATION* TO QUALIFY TO VOTE IN URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE URBAN COUNCIL (AMENDMENT) EILL 1978 AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, MISS BENNETT NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD RECENTLY SAID IT HAD "0 PLANS TO ENLARGE THE FRANCHISE OF THE URBAN COUNCIL OR TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF ITS ELECTED MEMBERS.

SHE SAID THAT IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE EILL WAS NOT TO EXTEND THE FRANCHISE BUT TO UPDATE THE LIST OF QUALIFICATIONS FOP. VOTERS SO AS TO INCLUDE ONCE MORE THE KIND OF PERSON THOUGHT SUITABLE TO VOTE IN THE MID-SIXTIES WHEN THE FRANCHISE ..AS LAST REVIEWED.

SHE WAS SURPRISED TO DISCOVER THAT ONLY THOSE WITH CERTAIN GRADES IN THEIR CERTIFICATE JERE INCLUDED IN THE EILL.

+THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION HAS CLEARLY STATED IN THIS CHAMBER AND ELSEWHERE THAT THE PRESENT HONG KONG CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION, UNLIKE THE OLD CERTIFICATE, HAS NO PASSING GRADES’ THE CtRTIFICATE IS OF A GENERAL NATURE TO SHOW THAT THE HOLDER HAS ACHIEVED A GENERAL STANDARD OF EDUCATION.*

/historically, .....

WEDNESDAY, HUT 10, 1978

- 19 -

HISTORICALLY, SHE ADDED, ACCORDING TO THE 1965 WORKING .ARTY, THIS EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION FOR VOTERS WAS TO PROVIDE ONE CATEGORY OF VOTERS TO EE THOSE '..'ITH A +GOOD GENERAL EDUCATION+.

MISS BENNETT SAID THE UNOFFICIALS FORMED AN HOC GROUP ■ITH HER AS CONVENOR TO STUDY THE BILL. fflEGROUP THOUGHT IT WISE NOT TO ENTER INTO AN OBVIOUSLY LENGTHY DEBATE, BEFORE THE PASSING OF THE BILL, ON WHETHER ALL HOLDERS OF THE PRESENT CERTIFICATE HAVE HAD A +GOOD GENERAL EDUCATION+, TO AVOID DISFRANCHISING THOSE ..ITH THE FIVE SUBJECTS QUALIFICATION FOR THE FORTHCOMING URBAN COUNCIL ELECTION.

SHE POINTED OUT HOWEVER THAT SO MUCH IMPROVEMENT HAD BEEN AND WAS BEING MADE IN OUR SECONDARY SCHOOL EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM THAT THE WORDING OF THE BILL ON THIS PARTICULAR ASPECT CERTAINLY SEEMED OUT-OF-DATE.

+WE SHALL EE HONOURING THOSE IN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WHO ARE ENDEAVOURING TO PROVIDE A MORE FLEXIBLE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, LESS BOUND TO A SYSTEM OF MARKS AND GRADES. WE SHALL BE ENSURING THAT THOSE WITH A ’GOOD GENERAL EDUCATION’ HAVE THE VOTE,+ SHE SAID.

MISS BENNETT ALSO SUGGESTED EXAMINING +THE WHOLE STRUCTURE OF THE URBAN COUNCIL TO WHICH SOKE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY CAN VOTE FOR 12 ELECTED MEMBERS OUT OF A TOTAL OF 24 MEMBERS.+

THE URBAN COUNCIL’S RESPONSIBILITIES CONCERN CLOSELY MANY ASPECTS OF THE CITIZEN’S DAILY LIFE, SUCH AS PUBLIC SANITATION AND MARKETS, HAWKERS AND PLACES OF PUBLIC RECREATION AND LEISURE, MATTERS WHICH CLOSELY AFFECT THE DAILY LIVES OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AND KOWLOON.

+PEOPLE AT THE GRASS ROOTS LEVEL OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE SHOWING A GROWING CONCERN FOR THE PROBLEMS THEY FACE. WE WOULD DO WELL TO CONSIDER HOW THEY CAN MOST EFFECTIVELY EXPRESS THAT CONCERN FOR OTHERS THROUGH THE URBAN COUNCIL. BY THEIR SO DOING THE COMMUNITY OF HONG KONG JILL BE STRENGTHENED,+ SHE SAID.

LA /

THE URBAN COUNCIL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978 WAS PASSED INTO IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

_ _ 0 - -

/20

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1978

- 20 -

CENSUS AND STATISTICS BILL K * * *

UNOFFICIAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR THE HON. PETER C. WONG TODAY EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE WIDE POWERS GIVEN TO A CENSUS OFFICER UNDER THE PROPOSED CENSUS AND STATISTICS BILL 1978.

SPEAKING DURING ITS RESUMED DEBATE, MR. WONG SAID THE BILL IMPOSED A STATUTORY DUTY ON AN OCCUPIER TO GRANT A CENSUS OFFICER ACCESS TO HIS PREMISES WHETHER OR NOT THE OCCUPIER HAS DULY COMPLETED AND RETURNED THE FORM DELIVERED TO HIM.

HE SAID THERE WAS NO PARALLEL PROVISION IN EITHER THE ENGLISH CENSUS ACT 1920 OR THE CENSUS REGULATIONS 1970.

HE PROPOSED THAT GOVERNMENT INTRODUCE APPROPRIATE AMENDMENTS AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE TO ENSURE THAT A CENSUS OFFICER MAY SEEK SUCH ACCESS ONLY WHEN THE OCCUPIER HAS FAILED TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THE FORM IN THE MANNER AND WITHIN THE TIME SPECIFIED.

♦SUCH AMENDMENTS, WHILE PROTECTING THE PRIVACY OF AN INDIVIDUAL, WOULD NOT HINDER THE COMMISSIONER IN CARRYING OUT HIS STATUTORY FUNCTIONS,* MR. WONG SAID.

IN REPLY, THE ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. DAVID JEAFFRESON, SAID HE HAD DISCUSSED MR. WONG’S PROPOSAL WITH THE COMMISSIONER FOR CENSUS AND STATISTICS AND IT WAS ABSOLUTELY ACCEPTABLE IN PRINCIPLE SUBJECT TO ANY DIFFICULTIES WHICH MIGHT BE ENCOUNTERED IN THE DRAFTING PROCESS.

MR. JEAFFRESON ALSO PROPOSED TO MOVE AN APPROPRIATE AMENDMENT AT THE BILL’S COMMITTEE STAGE.

AS REGARDS THE POWER TO ENTER PREMISES BY A CENSUS OFFICER, MR. JEAFFRESON SAID SUCH POWER WOULD BE EXERCISED IF SO REQUIRED BY THE COMMISSIONER AND HE WOULD BE EXERCISING THIS POWER PERSONALLY.

MR. JEAFFRESON ALSO ASSURED THAT THE COMMISSIONER WOULD USE THE POWER ONLY IN EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES.

+IN OTHER WORDS, HE WOULD USE THIS POWER WITH HIS GREATEST DISCRETION,* HE SAID.

-----o------

/21

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1978

RAILWAYS (AMENDMENT) BILL * * * * *

A BILL TO CHANGE THE TITLE OP THE RAILWAYS ORDINANCE TO THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY ORDINANCE AND TO BRING IN SOME AMENDMENTS TO THE EXISTING PROVISIONS WAS INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE RAILWAYS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES, SAID THE CHANGE OF TITLE WAS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO AVOID ANY CONFUSION.

+as it Stands at present it can theoretically cover the CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF ANY RAILWAY IN HONG KONG, ALTHOUGH IN PRACTICE IT GOVERNS ONLY THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY (BRITISH SECTION),* MR. JONES SAID.

+THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY IS GOVERNED BY ITS OWN SEPARATE ORDINANCE.*

CONCERNING OTHER AMENDMENTS, MR. JONES SAID ONE PROVIDES THAT ALL REFERENCES TO ADMINISTRATOR OR CHIEF RESIDENT ENGINEER, WHICH ARE DEFUNCT POSTS, ARE TO BE REPLACED BY GENERAL MANAGER.

THE BILL ALSO SEEKS TO PROVIDE A DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER IN CASE SUCH A POST IS CREATED, HE ADDED.

ANOTHER AMENDMENT SEEKS TO ENABLE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO MAKE RAILWAY RULES IN PLACE OF STANDING ORDERS AND, SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE GOVERNOR, TO PROVIDE IN THE RULES FOR THE DISCIPLINARY MEASURES FOR RAILWAY EMPLOYEES, MR. JONRS SAID.

+SENIOR RANKS WILL STILL BE SUBJECT TO CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS,* HE ADDED.

THE DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

- - 0 - -

AUXILIARY FORCES PAY AND ALLOWANCES (AMENDMENT) BILL

*****

MEMBERS OF THE AUXILIARY POLICE WOULD NO LONGER BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE RATION ALLOWANCE UNDER A PROPOSED BILL INTORDUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE AUXILIARY FORCES PAY AND ALLOWANCES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1970, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON. LEWIS DAVIES, SAID THE NECESSITY FOR THE BILL AROSE FROM THE RECENT PAY AWARD TO THE AUXILIARY POLICE, +ONE ELEMENT OF WHICH WAS THAT MEMBERS SHOULD MO LONGER BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE RATION ALLOWANCE.*

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

- 0 - -

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1970

USE OF TEAR-SMOKE AT CLEARANCE OPERATION EXPLAINED ******

TEAR-SMOKE GRENADES WERE USED DURING A CLEARANCE OPERATION IN CHOI YUEN TSUEN, SHEUNG SHU I RECENTLY AFTER STAFF OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE HADE REPEATED REQUESTS AND APPEALS TC FIVE PEOPLE TO LEAVE THEIR PREMISES, BUT TO NO AVAIL.

THS DISTRICT POLICE COMMANDER, NEW TERRITORIES ALSO CONCLUDED THAT THE USE OF TEAR-SMOKE DURING THAT OPERATION WAS JUSTIFIED AFTER THE POLICE OFFICER IN CHARGE SUBMITTED A REPORT ON THE INCIDENT.

THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON. LEWIS DAVIES SAID THIS TODAY wHEN REPLYING TO A QUESTION EY THE HON. PETER C. WONG AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

MR. DAVIES SAID OF THE FOUR MEN AND ONE WOMAN WHO BARRICADED THEMSELVES WITHIN A DOMESTIC/WORKSHCP STRUCTURE ON APRIL 25, WHEN THE CLEARANCE OPERATION './AS CARRIED OUT, ONE MAN WAS SEEN TC EE ARMED ..(TH A CLEAVER AND ANOTHER WITH A WOODEN CLUE.

+AFTER REPEATED REQUESTS TO THEM TO VACATE THE BUILDING, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT SUPERVISOR IN CHARGE OF THE CLEARANCE WORK CONCLUDED THAT ANY MOVE TO OUST THE OCCUPANTS WOULD RESULT IN VIOLENCE. HE THEREFORE REQUESTED THE POLICE WHO WERE IN ATTENDANCE AT THE SCENE TO REMOVE THESE PERSONS.+

MR. DAVIES SAID THE POLICE MADE FURTHER APPEALS TO THE OCCUPANTS, BUT TC NO AVAIL.

+THE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE POLICE CONTINGENT THEREFORE DECIDED THAT THE USE OF TEAR-SMOKE WAS THE MINIMUM FORCE LIKELY TC EE EFFECTIVE IN CLEARING THE PREMISES WITHOUT RISK CF SERIOUS INJURY.

THE TEAR-SMOKE GRENADES WERE LOBEED INTO THE BARRICADED SECTION CF THE BUILDING.

♦THE POLICE THEM FORCED ENTRY TO THE PREMISES AND REMOVED THE OCCUPANTS .WrlC CONSISTED CF THE FORMER TENANT, HIS .. IFE, TWO NEPHEWS, AND A FIFTH PERSON,+ MR. DAVIES SAID.

HE ADDED THAT THE OCCUPANTS WERE IMMEDIATELY TAKEN TC THE JOCKEY CLUE CLINIC AT SHEUNG SHU I FOR TREATMENT FOR THE EFFECTS CF TEAR-SMOKE.

+MO-ONE WAS DETAILED NOR SUFFERED ANY PHYSICAL INJURY.+

ONE MAN, THE FIFTH PERSON IN THE BUILDING, WAS SUBSEQUENTLY CHARGED WITH OBSTRUCTING A PU1LIC OFFICER UNDER THE CROWN LANDS ORDINANCE. HE HAD BEEN PLACED OK REMAND PENDING A REPORT ON HIS MENTAL HEALTH, MR. DAVIES SAID.

/MR. DAVIES

WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 1978

23 -

MR. DAVIES SAID THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT COMMENCED CLEARANCE OPERATION OF CROWN LAND IN CHOI YUEN TSUEN AT 9.30 A.M. ON APRIL 25 TO MAKE WAY FOR PUBLIC HOUSING.

THE OPERATION OF WHICH ADVANCE PUBLICITY WAS GIVEN INVOLVED THE REMOVAL OF 215 STRUCTURES ORIGINALLY OCCUPIED BY 578 PEOPLc.

MR. DAVIES SAID IT WAS ASSESSED THAT THE OPERATION MIGHT NCT BE ANY EASY ONE AND BECAUSE SOME OPPOSITION WAS EXPECTED, A POLICE CONTINGENT WAS REQUESTED TO STAND BY.

HE ADDED THAT THE DIFFICULT OPERATION WENT WELL UNTIL 11.45 A.M. WHEN CLEARANCE STAFF WERE CONFRONTED BY THE FOUR MEN AND ONE WOMAN WHO REFUSED TO LEAVE THEIR PREMISES.

AFTER REPEATED REQUESTS AND POLICE DECIDED TO USE TEAR-SMOKE

APPEALS MADE TO THESE PEOPLE, TO REMOVE THE OCCUPANTS.

FOLLOWING THIS INCIDENT THE CLEARANCE OPERATION PROCEEDED SMOOTHLY UNTIL ABOUT 2.3'3 P.M. WHEN HEAVY RAIN FORCED THE POSTPONEMENT OF THE OPERATION. ABOUT 23 STRUCTURES REMAINED TO BE CLEARED AT THAT TIME.

MR. DAVIES SAID THE OPERATION RESUMED ON MAY 2 AND WAS COMPLETED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

-----o------

SEVEN BILLS PASSED * * *

SEVEN BILLS WERE PASSED INTO LAW IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

THEY ARE URBAN COUNCIL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978, PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND JUVENILES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978, HOUSING (AMENDMENT) (NO 2) BILL 1978, LAND REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978, SUMMARY OFFENCES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1977, DISCIPLINED SERVICES (WELFARE FUNDS) BILL 1978 AND THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (AMENDMENT) EILL 1978.

--------o - -

/24

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1978

APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH SCHEME * * * * *

YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WISH TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY BY UNDERTAKING PROJECTS CAN NOW APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE UNDER THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH SCHEME.

THE SCHEME, NOW IN ITS EIGHTH YEAR, HAS SPONSORED A TOTAL OF 334 PROJECTS INVOLVING 14,000 VOLUNTEERS WHOSE SERVICES HAVE BENEFITTED 600,000 PEOPLE.

ADMINISTERED BY THE COMMUNITY AND YOUTH OFFICERS OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, THE SCHEME AIMS TO PROMOTE PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS OF YOUNG PEOPLE BY ENCOURAGING THEM TO UTILISE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS IN PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING PROJECTS WHICH '..ILL SATISFY THE NEEDS IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

EXPLAINING THE SCHEME, MR. LAM KWOK-JAN, PRINCIPAL SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER, GROUP AND COMMUNITY WORK DIVISION, SAID TODAY THAT CASH GRANTS, RANGING FROM 3190 TO 32,330, WOULD EE GIVEN FOR EACH .APPROVED PROJECT, AND WOULD ACT AS AN IMPETUS FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE TO ACQUIRE ACTUAL EXPERIENCE IN RESEARCH, ORGANISATION, MANAGEMENT, AND EVALUATION OF A PARTICULAR TYPE OF SERVICE.

+PROJECTS SUPPORTED DURING THE PAST YEARS COVERED A WIDE SPECTRUM OF SOCIAL SERVICES WHICH CAN EE BROADLY CLASSIFIED AS RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, SERVICES FOR THE UNDERPRIVILEDGED, COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMMES, CONSTRUCTION WORKS, FILM PRODUCTION AND PUBLICATIONS,* HE SAID.

THE TARGET OF THESE 330 PROJECTS INCLUDED THE HANDICAPPED, THE ELDERLY, YOUTH, CHILDREN, INDUSTRIAL AND OFFICE WORKERS, THE MARINE POPULATION AND THE RURAL COMMUNITY.

MR. LAM SAID THE SCHEME WAS OPEN TO YOUTH GROUPS COMPRISING MORE THAN 13 MEMBERS AGED BETWEEN 15 AND 25.

HE ADDED THAT THESE GROUPS HAD TO BE RECOGNISED BY INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS SCHOOLS, YOUTH AGENCIES, OR APPROVED BY THE RESPECTIVE COMMUNITY AND YOUTH OFFICER PRIOR TO APPLICATION.

+ASSESSMENT OF THE MERITS OF THE PROJECT PROPOSALS WILL BE BASED ON THE EXTENT OF YOUTH INVOLVEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT, COMMUNITY BENEFITS, PRIORITY OF NEEDS, INNOVATIVE QUALITY, FEASIBILITY AND THE OPT 11 ILK USE OF RESOURCES,* HE SAID.

+CONSDERATION WILL ALSO EE GIVEN TO AVOID DUPLICATION OF EXISTING SERVICES AND PROGRAMMES,* HE ADDED.

/APPLICATION .....

AY, MAY 10, 1978

APPLICATION FORMS AND LEAFLETS CONTAINING INFORMATION ON THE SCHEME ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE DEPARTMENT’S 15 COMMUNITY AND YOUTH OFFICES.

+T0 FACILITATE SELECTION, A DETAILED PLAN SHOULD BE SUBMITTED ALONG WITH THE APPLICATION FORMS TO THE COMMUNITY AND YOUTH OFFICER ON OR BEFORE JUNE 1, 1978,+ MR. LAM SAID.

HE SAID THAT SUCCESSFUL GROUPS WOULD EE RESULTS BEFORE JULY 10, 1978, AND THEY WOULD COMPLETE THEIR PROJECTS BY JANUARY 31, 1979.

INFORMED OF THE BE EXPECTED TO

- - - - 0 ---------

SURVEY ON PROVISION OF SOCIAL FACILITIES AT HOUSING ESTATES * * K

THE HOME

AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT HAS COMMISSIONED THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC TO CARRY OUT AN OPINION SURVEY ON THE PROVISION OF SOCIAL FACILITIES AT TWO PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES IN KWUN TONG.

THE SURVEY WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SAU MAU PING AND LAM TIN ESTATES STARTING FROM TOMORROW (THURSDAY;. IT IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN MID-JUNE.

THE SURVEY IS AIMED AT FINDING OUT THE OPINIONS OF RESIDENTS ON THE PROVISION OF SOCIAL FACILITIES SUCH AS COMMUNICATION, EDUCATION, MEDICAL SERVICE AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AT THESE ESTATES. ALL INFORMATION GATHERED WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNMENT.

STUDENTS FROM THE POLYTECHNIC, WHO WILL BE CARRYING THEIR STUDENT IDENTITY CARDS ISSUED BY THE COLLEGE, WILL INTERVIEW ABOUT 1,000 FAMILIES IN THE TWO ESTATES.

RESIDENTS ARE REQUESTED TO GIVE THEIR FULLEST SUPPORT TO THE SURVEY AND ANY ENQUIRY ON IT SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO KWUN TONG CITY DISTRICT OFFICE TELEPHONE NUMBER 3-892332.

/26

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1978

SEMINAR AND WORKSHOP ON NEW FORMS 4 AND 5 BIOLOGY SYLLABUS ******

A SEMINAR AND WORKSHOP ON THE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE’S BIOLOGY SYLLABUS FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL BIOLOGY TEACHERS WILL TAKE PLACE AT NORTHCOTE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, ON SATURDAY (MAY 13) MORNING.

THEY ARE ORGANISED JOINTLY BY THE SCIENCE SUBJECTS SECTION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION FOR SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION.

THE SEMINAR WILL BE CHAIRED BY MR. JOHN TAAM, PRINCIPAL INSPECTOR (SCIENCE) AND WILL BE OFFICIATED BY MRS. LOUISE MOK, DEPUTY CHIEF INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS. THERE WILL BE A WORKSHOP ON THE MAKING OF A MODEL SHOWING THE MUSCLE MOVEMENT OF THE FOREARM.

THE AIM OF THE SEMINAR AND WORKSHOP IS TO ACQUAINT THE INSERVICE BIOLOGY TEACHERS WITH THE NEW CURRICULUM AND MODERN APPROACH TO BIOLOGY TEACHING SPECIALLY IN TOPICS OF ECOLOGY AND MICROORGANISMS.

ABOUT 200 SECONDARY SCHOOL BIOLOGY TEACHERS WILL ATTEND THE SEMINAR AND WORKSHOP.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY OF A SEMINAR AND WORKSHOP ON BIOLOGY SYLLABUS AT 9.30 A.M. OH SATURDAY (MAY 13) AT THE HALL OF NORTHCOTE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION ANNEXE, 9A, BONHAM ROAD, HONG KONG.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

STUDY ROOM FOR LAM TIN ESTATE STUDENTS

*****

THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, WILL OFFICIATE AT A CEREMONY TO OPEN THE PLAYLEADERSHIP CENTRE-CUM-STUDY ROOM AT LAM TIN ESTATE BLOCK 21 TOMORROW (THURSDAY)

THE DUAL-PURPOSE CENTRE, OPERATED BY THE HONG KONG PLAYGROUND ASSOCIATION ON AN EXPERIMENTAL BASIS, HAS BEEN RENOVATED AND FURNISHED WITH GRANTS FROM THE LOTTERIES FUND.

YOU ARE WELCOME TO SEND CEREMONY.

REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE

-----o------

/27

WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 1978

- 27 -

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN CENTRAL AND WAN CHAI * * * * *

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THE WESTBOUN" CARRIAGEWAY OF QUEENSWAY BETWEEN COTTON TREE DRIVE AND GARDEN ROA" WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC BETWEEN 1 A.M. AND 6 A.M.DAILY FROM SATURDAY (MAY 13) TO MAY 16 TO FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE QUEENSWAY FLYOVER.

DURING THE ROAD CLOSURE PERIODS, TRAFFIC FROM WAN CHAI TO CENTRAL WILL BE DIVERTED VIA COTTON TREE DRIVE GARDEN ROA" AN^ BACK IN QUEEN’S ROAD CENTRAL.

CROSS HARBOUR BUS ROUTE NO. 121 WILL BE DIVERTED TO OPERATE VIA HENNESSY ROAD, FENWICK STREET, GLOUCESTER ROAD, HARCOUPT ROAn AND CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL ON ITS HONG KONG BOUND JOURNEY.

MEANWHILE THE DEPARTMENT ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT FROM 10 A M ON FRIDAY (MAY 12) THE EXISTING PROHIBITION ON PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES*IN MORRISON HILL ROAD WILL BE EXTENDED NORTHWARDS TO WAN CHAI ROA" JUNCTION FOR ABOUT ONE MONTH IN CONNECTION WITH THE CLOSURE OF MORRSION HILL ROAD AND SHARP STREET WEST.

PUBLIC LIGHT BUS DRIVERS ARE ADVISED TO OPERATE VIA HENNESSY ROAD AND MARSH ROAD ON JOURNEYS TO THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL.

APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE SET UP IN THESE AREAS TO INDICATE THE RESTRICTIONS AND ASSIST MOTORISTS.

- - 0

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

THURSDAY, MAY 11, 1978

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

FIRST CONTRACT FOR SHEK WU HUI DEVELOPMENT SIGNED .............................................. 1

NEW COMMISSIONER FOR CENSUS AND STATISTICS APPOINTED ........................................... 2

SEVEN GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS PROMOTED .. 3

RESULTS OF HEUNG YEE KUK ELECTIONS ..................

GOVERNOR TO ATTEND AMS DINNER TOMORROW .............. 5

RTHK HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE ......................... 5

FINDINGS OF COMPUTERISED TRAFFIC SIGNAL CONTROL SYSTEM .............................................. 6

LAM TIN ESTATE GETS NEW PLAYLEADERSHIP CENTRE ....... 7

WORLD TELECOMMUNICATION DAY ......................... 8

CONCERTS FOR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN ................... 9

Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191

THURSDAY, MAY 11, 1973

MARKET TOWN DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

******

THE Cl,330 MILLION MARKET TOWN DEVELOPMENT PROJECT OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAS GOT OFF THE GROUND WITH THE SIGNING OF ITS FIRST CONTRACT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SHEK WU HUI EARLIER THIS WEEK.

THE CONTRACT, WORTH MORE THAN $18.8 MILLION, INVOLVED SITE FORMATION AND DRAINAGE WORKS IN THE SOUTH WESTERN PART OF SHEK WU HUI. IT WAS AWARDED TO SHIMIZU CONSTRUCTION CO. LTD. OF JAPAN.

MR. BOSCO KEOWN, ACTING CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE P.W.E.’S NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, SAID TODAY THAT THE PROJECT INVOLVED THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MARKET TOWNS OF SHEK WU HUI AND FAN LING.

HE SAID WORK ON THE FIRST CONTRACT HAS ALREADY BEGUN AND WOULD TAKE ABOUT 14 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.

IT WOULD INCLUDE THE FORMATION OF'ABOUT 16 HECTARES OF LAND IN AN AREA FORMERLY OCCUPIED BY THE TANNERIES FOR PUBLIC HOUSING AND THE FIRST STAGE OF A MAJOR DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT SCHEME.

MR. KEOWN POINTED OUT THAT PART CF THE LAND WHICH

WOULD BE FORMED BY JULY WOULD INITIALLY BE USED AS A TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA TO ACCOMMODATE THE PEOPLE AFFECTED BY OTHER SHEK WU HUI AND FAN LING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS WHICH WOULD BEGIN IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR.

THESE PROJECTS, HE ADDED, WOULD INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION CF ROADS AND SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS.

SITES WOULD ALSO EE PROVIDED FOR COMMUNITY FACILITIES SUCH AS SCHOOLS, MARKETS, A COMMUNITY CENTRE, HOSPITAL AND STADIUM.

MR. 'KEOWN EMPHASISED THAT THE OBJECT CF THE DEVELOPMENT WAS TO CREATE A BALANCED COMMUNITY IN THE TWO MARKET TOWNS FOR A DESIGNED POPULATION OF 168,900.

TENDERS FOR THE WORKS TO BE CARRIED CUT IN FAN LING Av ILL EE CALLED IN OCTOBER.

TO COPE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SHEK WU HUI AND FAN LING AREAS, A FIVE-YEAR ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMME HAS BEEN DESIGNED.

WORK ON THE FIRST CONTRACT OF THIS PROGRAMME, INVOLVING THE RECONSTRUCTION OF A 2,420-METRE ROAD COVERING A SECTION CF JOCKEY CLUB ROAD AND TAI PC RCAD ..ILL BEGIN THIS AUTUMN AND WILL TAKE ABOUT TWO YEARS TC COMPLETE.

ON COMPLETION, THE ROAD .7 ILL BE IMPROVED TO DUAL TWO-LANE CARRIAGEWAY WITH CYCLE-WAYS AND FOOTPATHS WHICH WILL EE LINKED TO SUBWAY OR FOOTBRIDGE FACILITIES AT MAJOR RCAD INTERSECTIONS AND CROSSING POINTS IN THE AREA.

-------0 -------- /2.......................

THURSDAY, MAY 11, 1978

NEW COMMISSIONER FOR CENSUS AND STATISTICS APPOINTED

******

THE COMMISSIONER FOR CENSUS AND STATISTICS, MR« ^’S. WH LEGGE WILL GO ON PRE-RETIREMENT LEAVE NEXT MONTH AFTER SERVING THt GOVERNMENT FOR 19 YEARS. HE WILL EE SUCCEEDED BY MR. C.C. GREENFIELD WHOSE APPOINTMENT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE SECRETARY 0. STATl FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS.

MR WHITELEGGE FIRST JOINED THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AS A CADET OFFICER IN 1959 ON TRANSFER FROM THE FEDERATION OF MALAYA (Ao IT WAS THEN KNOWN).

HIS SCRVICE WAS MAINLY IN THE FINANCE, ESTABLISHMENT (CIVIL SERVICE) AND DEFENCE (SECURITY) BRANCHES OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT AND IN THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, BEFORE BEING APPOINTED TO HIS PRESENT POST IN 1973. HE WAS AWARDED THE OBE THIS YEAR.

MR. GREENFIELD, AGED 41, IS MARRIED WITH TWO CHILDREN. SINCE JANUARY 1966, HE HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE OF THE MINISTRY OF OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT IN LONDON DURING WHICH TIME HE WAS SECONDED ON SEVcRAL OCCASIONS TO OVERSEAS TERRITORIES TO WORK IN THE CENSUS AND STATISTICAL FIELD INCLUDING A PERIOD IN HONG KONG FROM SEPTEMBER 1973 TO SEPTEMBER 1975 AS ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR CENSUS AND STATISTICS.

THURSDAY, MAY 11, 1978

SEVEN GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS PROMOTED

*****

THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THE PROMOTION OF FOUR LOCAL AND THREE OVERSEAS ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.

THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, MR. MARTIN ROWLANDS, THIS MORNING BROKE THE GOOD NEWS TO THE OFFICERS OF THEIR PROMOTION TO THE RANK OF STAFF GRADE ’C’ -- THE EQUIVALENT RANK OF ASSISTANT DIRECTOR. ALL HAVE BEEN ACTING IN THIS RANK FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

THE PROMOTED OFFICERS ARE: MR. GORDON SIU, MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR IN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT' MRS. ELIZABETH WONG, ASSISTANT FINANCIAL SECRETARY IN THE FINANCE BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT' MR. CLIVE OXLEY, DISTRICT OFFICER, TAI PO= MR. MICHAEL SZE, CITY DISTRICT COMMISSIONER, KOWLOON WEST-MR. GORDON MORTIMER, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR IN CHARGE OF ADMINISTRATION IN THE TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT' MR. MICHAEL SMITH, PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY IN CHARGE OF TRAINING IN THE CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH' AND MR. JACK SO, WHO WAS RECENTLY APPOINTED TO THE POST OF ASSISTANT DIRECTOR IN CHARGE OF ADMINISTRATION IN THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

ALL THE PROMOTIONS ARE EFFECTIVE FROM FEBRUARY 1, EXCEPT FOR MR. SO’S WHICH WILL BE EFFECTIVE FROM JUNE 1.

MR. SIU JOINED THE GOVERNMENT IN 1966 AND WAS APPOINTED TO HIS PRESENT POST IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR. HE HAS SERVED IN THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION AND THE FINANCE AND SOCIAL SERVICES BRANCHES.

MRS. WONG JOINED THE GOVERNMENT IN 1969. SHE HAS SERVED IN THE HOME AFFAIRS AND SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENTS AND THE ESTABLISHMENT AMD FINANCE BRANCHES. SHE HAS BEEN IN HER PRESENT POST SINCE MARCH LAST YEAR.

MR. OXLEY HAS BEEN WITH THE GOVERNMENT SINCE 1969 AND SERVED IN THE ESTABLISHMENT BRANCH, THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT AND THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION WHERE HE HAS BEEN A DISTRICT OFFICER, FIRST IN SAI KUNG AND LATER IN TAI PO, SINCE 1973.

MR. SZE JOINED THE GOVERNMENT IN 1969 AND HAS SERVED WITH THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT AND RESETTLEMENT AND HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENTS. HE HAS BEEN IN HIS PRESENT POST SINCE MAY, 1975.

MR. MORTIMER JOINED THE GOVERNMENT IN 1971. HE SERVED IN THE LANDS AND ENVIRONMENT BRANCHES BEFORE MOVING TO THE TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT LAST SEPTEMBER.

MR. SMITH HAS BEEN WITH THE GOVERNMENT FOR 20 YEARS AMD SERVED IN A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS. HE HAS HELD HIS PRESENT POST SINCE NOVEMBER, 1976.

MR. SO WHO JOINED THE GOVERNMENT IN 1969, SERVED WITH THE RESETTLEMENT AND HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENTS, THE SOCIAL SERVICES BRANCH, THE I.C.A.C. AND THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT BEFORE TAKING UP HIS PRESENT APPOINTMENT WITH GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES LAST MONTH.

- - 0 - -

THURSDAY, MAY 11, 1978

RESULTS OF HEUNG YEE KUK ELECTIONS

******

TWENTY-ONE RESIDENTS IM THE NEW TERRITORIES WERE TODAY ELECTED SPECIAL COUNCILLORS FOR THE 23RD T£Rf'; OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK AT THE REGIONAL ELECTIONS HELD AT THE KUK’S OFFICE l\ CUMBERLAND ROAD, KOWLOON.

THE NEW COUNCILLORS ELECTED FOR THE THREE ELECTORAL DISTRICTS — TAI PO, SOUTHERN AND YUEN LONG — ARE:

TAI PO (INCLUDING SHA TIN):-- MR. MAK NAM, MR. KAN CHAU-CHI, ■•'R. CHEUNG SAN, MR. LEE SHU-SHING, MR. TANG TUNG, MR. CHAN YIU-FAI AND MR. WAI HON-KWONG.

SOUTHERN (COMPRISING SAI KUNG, ISLANDS AND TSUEN WAN): — ’R. NG TAM-HING, MR. LAM WAI-KEUNG, MR. CHUNG PUN, MR. TAI WING-FAI, MR. HO WING-KWONG, MR. HO YUN-LAM AND MR. YUEN SHU-KWAN.

YUEN LONG (INCLUDING TUEN MUN):— MR. MAN YEUNG-PO, MR. CHU HIN-CHEUNG, MR. LI SHUl-CHING, MR. HO SAN-KUEN, MR. CHEUNG CHING-CAT, MR. TANG TIM-KAU AND MR. LAI KAM-MAN.

THERE VERE ALTOGETHER 33 CANDIDATES, 12 FOR TAI PO DISTRICT, TE: FOR SOUTHERN AND 11 FOR YUEN LONG.

THE SEVEN COUNCILLORS FOR YUEN LONG DISTRICT WERE CHOSEN WITHOUT GOING THROUGH AN ELECTION AS FOUR OF THE 11 CANDIDATES FOR THIS ELECTORAL DISTRICT WITHDREW FROM THE ELECTION.

THE ELECTIONS WERE HELD BY SECRET BALLOT IN ACCORDANCE I TH A PROCEDURE PRESCRIBED IN THE FIRST SCHEDULE TO THE HEUNG YEE KUK ORDINANCE IN THE LAWS OF HONG KONG.

THE RETURNING OFFICER WAS THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES WHO WAS ASSISTED EY STAFF OF THE NEW TERRITOR'-S ADMINISTRATION.

- - 0 ----------

THURSDAY, MAY 11, 1978

- 5 -

NOTE TO EDITORS:

GOVERNOR TO ATTEND AI'S DINNER

******

THE

DI CAL UNTRY

GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE. SERVICE MESS DINNER TCNCEFO. (FR CLUE, DEEP WATER BAY.

'•■’ILL ATTEND IDAY) AT THE

THE AUXILIARY HONG KONG

THE GOVERNOR .••ILL ARRIVE T 7.4£

OTHER GUESTS WILL INCLUDE THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES COMMISSIONER C-HCNGJKONCAREC1|^Ft £RIGADE» AND the COMMANDING OFFICER OF ROYAL nVNb KUnlb Ktb I qti T.

irtHC

,?R- L'-L- JHON'G DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, Io ALoc Ti c U.J; CC..T..GLLER S .ILL ADDESS THE GATHER!,-.G.

YOU ARE IWI TEL TO SEND REP" cSE'.TAT I VES TO COVER THE EVENT.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

RTHK TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE ******

RTHK WILL BE HOLDING A PRESS CONFERENCE AT 11 A.M. ON SATURDAY (MAY 13) TO INTRODUCE THIS WEEK’S EPISODE OF +THE COMMON SENSE+ — +THE ARMED FORCES IN HONG KONG.+

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE CONFERENCE WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE IN STUDIO I OF TELEVISION PRODUCTION CENTRE, 79, BROADCAST DRIVE.

- - 0 - -

/6......

THURSDAY, MAY 11, 1970

FINDINGS OF COMPUTERISED TRAFFIC SIGNAL CONTROL SYSTEM

******

THE COMPUTERISED TRAFFIC SIGNAL CONTROL SYSTEM WHICH HAS BEEN IN OPERATION IN WEST KOWLOON FOR A YEAR HAS REDUCED THE JOURNEY TIME IK THE AREA BY 30 PER CENT.

THIS .JAS ONE OF THE FINDINGS OF A 12-WEEK EVALUATION STUDY OF THE AREA TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM WHICH WAS COMMISSIONED BY THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE OF P.W.D. AND CARRIED OUT BY MR. JOHN HUMPHREYS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT IN LONDON.

OTHER BENEFITS OF THE SYSTEM INCLUDE ITS FLEXIBILITY IN CHANG IL'S TRAFFIC CONTROL STRATEGIES TO COPE WITH DIFFERENT SITUATIONS, AND THE SHORT TIME TAKEN TO DISCOVER FAULTS IN TRAFFIC SIGNALS.

A REPORT ON THE STUDY, WHICH CONTAINS A NUMBER OF RECOMMENDATIONS, WILL EE SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR CONSIDERATION.

IT IS HOPED THAT A DECISION ON THE PROPOSALS WILL BE MADE LATER THIS YEAR.

A..

MR. HUMPHREYS, WHO ARRIVED IN HONG KONG IN FEBRUARY, HAS BEEL ENGAGED IN TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AND TRAFFIC ENGINEERING WORK IN LONDON FOR THE PAST 17 YEARS.

HE jAS A MEMBER OF A TEAM WHICH DESIGNED AND IMPLEMENTED THE FIRST EXPERIMENTAL COMPUTER CONTROLLED AREA TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM IN WEST LONDON.

DURING THE PAST SEVEN YEARS HE HAS BEEN DEALING WITH NATION-WIDE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AND TRAFFIC ENGINEERING PROBLEMS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, INCLUDING GIVING ADVICE ON COMPUTER CONTROL SYSTEMS IN THE COUNTRY.

-----0------

THURSDAY, MAY 11, 1978

PLAYLEADERSHIP CENTRE-CUM-STUDY ROOM OPENS AT LAM TIN ESTATE

******

A PLAYLEADERSHIP CENTRE WHICH ALSO ACCOMMODATES STUDY ROOM FACILITIES WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED TODAY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE OF LAM TIN ESTATE TO ENJOY THEIR LEISURE IN A MORE CONSTRUCTIVE WAY.

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE CENTRE RUN BY THE HONG KONG PLAYGROUND ASSOCIATION, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, UNDERLINED THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE TWO TYPES OF SERVICES IN FOSTERING YOUTH DEVELOPMENT.

+PLAYLEADERSHIP IS A NEW MODE OF YOUTH GUIDANCE INTRODUCED SEVERAL YEARS AGO TO REACH OUT TO YOUNGSTERS WHO ARE UNLIKELY TO JOIN ORGANISED OR SUPERVISED ACTIVITIES ON THEIR OWN INITIATIVE,* HE SAID.

MR. LEE ADDED THAT PLAYLEADERS, USING THE REACH OUT APPROACH IN SOCIAL WORK, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FREE ATMOSPHERE IN PLAYGROUNDS AND PARKS TO HELP THESE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE INTEGRATE INTO NORMAL SOCIAL GROUP ACTIVITIES.

+THROUGH THE ORGANISATION OF RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMES, FORMATION OF PLAYGROUPS, SUPERVISION, PROVISION OF EQUIPMENT AND ENCOURAGING FREE PLAY IN FOOTBALL PITCHES, REST GARDENS AND PLEASURE GROUNDS, A MORE CONSTRUCTIVE AND FAIRER USE OF PLAYGROUND FACILITIES COULD BE BROUGHT ABOUT,* HE NOTED.

APART FROM ENGAGING YOUNG PEOPLE IN MEANINGFUL ACTIVITIES, MR. LEE ADDED, THE SCHEME ALSO ENABLES PARTICIPANTS TO BRING FORWARD THEIR PERSONAL AND FAMILY PROBLEMS SO THAT OBSTACLES TO THEIR CHARACTER AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COULD BE IDENTIFIED AND REMOVED.

COMMENTING ON THE STUDY ROOM FACILITIES OF THE CENTRE, MR. LEE SAID THAT THE QUIET ENVIRONMENT AND ADEQUATE TUITION SERVICE WOULD BE MEETING A GREAT DEMAND AMONG STUDENTS LIVING IN CONGESTED CONDITIONS.

+SINCE THIS CENTRE COMMENCED OPERATION TWO MONTHS AGO, THE PLAYLEADERSHIP SECTION HAS ATTRACTED 420 PEOPLE A DAY AND THE STUDY ROOM HAS A DAILY ATTENDANCE OF 110,+ MR. LEE NOTED.

ACKNOWLEDGING THE EFFORTS OF THE HONG KONG PLAYGROUND ASSOCIATION IN SETTING UP THE LAM TIN PLAYLEADERSHIP CENTRE AND STUDY ROOM, THE DIRECTOR REVEALED THAT THE ASSOCIATION WOULD SOON BE OPENING A SIMILAR CENTRE IN TSZ WAN SHAN.

A GRANT OF 3150,000 HAD BEEN MADE AVAILABLE FROM THE LOTTERIES FUND TO FINANCE THE RENOVATION, DECORATION AND FURNISHING OF THE TWO CENTRES, HE SAID.

0 - - - -

THURSDAY, MAY 11,

1978

WORLD TELECOMMUNICATION DAY * * * * H

THE POST OFFICE ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT TO COMMEMORATE WORL-TELECCMMUNICATION DAY NEXT WEDNESDAY (MAY 17), THE INTERNATIONAL AMATEUR RADIO CLUE’- ( IhDC) STATION AT THE INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UN IC (ITU) HEADQUARTERS IN GENEVA ..ILL BE Cl Al. FROM MAY 13 TO 21 TO COMMUNICATE .. I TH RADIO AMATEUR ENTHUSIASTS IN THE WORLD.

THE STATION V. ILL USE SPECIAL CALL SIGN +4U0 - ITU+ TC

COMMUNICATE AND THOSE WHO CONTACT THIS STATION WILL RECEIVE >■ SPECIAL +QSL+ (ACKNOWLEDGEMENT) CARL.

IN ADDITION, A RADIO AMATEUR CONTEST FOR THE +ITU TROPHY+ .vIL. ALSO EE SPONSORED BY THE BRAZIL I AH RADIC AMATEUR ORGANISATION LIG^ DE AMADORES BRAS ILEIROS DE RAD ICE; >! ISSAO (LABRE).

THE COMPETITION IS OPEN TO RADIO AMATEURS OF ALL NATIONS, AND WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY (MAY 13) BETWEEN 0003 AND 2403 HOURS GMT FOR TELEPHONY. THE TELEGRAPHY PERIOD ..ILL EE ON MAY 23, FROM 3330 TO 2430 HOURS GMT.

APART FROM THE ITU TROPHY, THERE ..ILL BE, AS IN PREVIOUS YEA-GOLD, silver a::d bronze medals for the top three .. inners in bct? THE TELEGRAPHY AAD TELEPHONE CLASSES. LABRE IS OFFERING A SPECIAL PRIZE FOR THE -IR3T TIME -- A RETURN AIR TICKET TO BRAZIL - I TH A THREE-DAY STAY IF THE .INNER IS A NOI-BRAZ IL I AN.

COPIES OF THE CO..TEST RULES ARE AVAILABLE FROM DR. ...C. LU, HON. SECRETARY OF THE H.K. AMATEUR RADIC TRANSMITTING SOCIETY (HARTS), TEL: 3-2811592 BETWEEN 9 A.!.. AND 3.33 P.M.

D‘. LO SAID LICENSED RADIO AI-ATEURS BELONGING TO THE SOCIETY ..OULD TAKE /APT I' PCTH ACTIVITIES.

THE HONG KONG TELECOMMUNICATION'S AUTHORITY HAS ALLOCATED A SPECIAL CALL SIP FOR THE HARTS STATIC!:.

ITU WAS FOUNDED IN 1865 I" PA.-. 13 AND IS /C.. THE OLDEST I .TEt--GOVER' ’ 'ETTAL ORGANISATION I! THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEI . IT HAS 154 EMBER COUNTRIES.

0 -------

THURSDAY, MAY 11, 1973

CONCERTS FOR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN

*****

THE MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR’S OFFICE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS ARRANGED TWO DEMONSTRATION CONCERTS FOR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN OF INSTITUTIONS IN SANDY BAY TOMORROW (FRIDAY).

THE CONCERTS WILL BE HELD FROM 1.30 P.M. TO 4.30 P.M. AT THE JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTRE AND AT THE DUCHESS OF KENT CHILDREN’S ORTHOPAEDIC HOSPITAL AND CONVALESCENT HOME, BOTH AT SANDY BAY ROAD.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR’S OFFICE SAID THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE CONCERTS WAS TO INTRODUCE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC TO THE HANDICAPPED CHILDREN OF THE INSTITUTIONS AND TO TRAIN UP SOME OF THE TALENTED ONES.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER A DEMONSTRATION CONCERT AT JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTRE, 15 SANDY BAY ROAD, FROM 1.30 P.M. TO 2.30 P.M.

- - 0 -

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

FRIDAY, MAY 12, 1973

CONTENTS

PAGE NO.

RESUMPTION OF BUILDINGS IN TSUEN WAN ......................... 1

MORE COMPENSATION FOR SHEUNG SHUI FISH BREEDERS .............. 2

ACHIEVEMENTS OF AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICE .................... 3

ONE-YEAR FULL-TIME TECHNICAL TEACHERS’ COURSE ................ 4

PO LEUNG KUK DIRECTORS CALL ON SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS 4

T..C HK MUSICIANS ENTER FINALS IN MUSIC FESTIVAL II LONDON 5

INCREASING DEMAND FOR GOVERNMENT TELEPHONE DIRECTORY ......... 6

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN KWUN TONG ............................ c

rrt i jwr, i'iay iz, iy/c

RESUMPTION OF BUILDINGS IN TSUEN WAN

******

THE GOVERNMENT TODAY ANNOUNCED RESUMPTION OF SEVEN BUILDINGS IN SAI LAU KOK, TSUEN WAN, UNDER THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY (LAND RESUMPTION AND RELATED PROVISIONS) ORDINANCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSTRUCTING THE MTR DEPOT THERE.

THE BUILDINGS TO BE RESUMED ARE CHEONG NING MANSION, CHEONG LUNG MANSION, CHEONG HING MANSION, CHEONG SHUN MANSION, CHEONG WO MANSION, CHEONG ON MANSION AND TSUEN SING MANSION.

EXPLAINING THE RESUMPTION PROCEDURES, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE BUILDINGS WILL REVERT TO THE CROWN IN NOVEMBER 1978 AND THE GOVERNMENT IS LIKELY TO REQUIRE POSSESSION OF THESE BUILDINGS IN APRIL OR MAY NEXT YEAR.

+OFFICERS OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, THE MASS TRANSIT OFFICE CF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICE WILL BE VISITING OWNERS AND OCCUPIERS OF THESE PREMISES TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY FOR PUBLIC HOUSING AND TO ASSESS THE AMOUNT CF COMPENSATION AND ANY OTHER ALLOWANCES TO WHICH PEOPLE MAY EE ENTITLED,+ HE SAID.

DOMESTIC OCCUPIERS ELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC HOUSING WILL BE OFFERED ACCOMMODATION IN THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BEFORE THE END OF MARCH 197'. PEOPLE WISHING TO LEAVE THEIR PREMISES BETWEEN NOW AND THE DATE OF CLEARANCE WILL RECEIVE HALF OF THE COMPENSATION OR ALLOWANCE OFFERED TO THEM BEFORE VACATING THEIR PREMISES, WITH THE BALANCE BEING PAID IMMEDIATELY ON GIVING VACANT POSSESSION.

COMMERCIAL OCCUPIERS WILL RECEIVE A DISTURBANCE ALLOWANCE ON AN EX-GRATIA BASIS IN ACCORDANCE WITH HOUSING AUTHORITY RATES.

IN ADDITION, PEOPLE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION UNDER THE ORDINANCE WILL BE OFFERED A FAIR MARKET VALUE AT THE DATE OF REVERSION OF THEIR INTERESTS IN THE PREMISES CONCERNED.

IN RESPECT OF ANY DISPUTE INVOLVING THE AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION TO BE PAID FOR ANY LEGAL INTERESTS IN LAND, ARBITRATION AND FINAL SETTLEMENT MAY BE UNDERTAKEN BY THE LANDS TRIBUNAL.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE LOCATION OF THE DEPOT AND THE TSUEN WAN STATION WAS CHOSEN AFTER VERY CAREFUL CONSIDERATION AND IS DESIGNED TO BE AN INTEGRAL PART CF THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN OF NORTH TSUEN WAN.

THIS DEVELOPMENT CALLS FOR INTERCHANGE FACILITIES FOR SURFACE PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO SERVE THE REMAINING AREA OF TSUEN WAN, AND AN EXTENSIVE ROAD NETWORK IMMEDIATELY TO THE NORTH OF THE DEPOT WHICH BY-PASSES TSUEN WAN AND PROVIDES CONNECTIONS BETWEEN ROUTE TWISK AND TSUEN WAN AND, AT SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE, BETWEEN THE NEW TUEN MUN ROAD AND THE NEW ROAD TO SHA TIN.

THESE BUILDINGS ARE REQUIRED TO BE DEMOLISHED AS THEY ARE LOCATED .J TH IN THE AREA OF LAND DESIGNATED FOR THE MTR TSUEN WAN STATION AND DEPOT.

OWNERS AND OCCUPIERS WHO HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING RESUMPTION PROCEDURES OR WISH TO KNOW FURTHER DETAILS AS lO THE ELIGIBILITY FOR REHOUSING SHOULD CONTACT THE PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE AT 175 CASTLE PEAK ROAD, GROUND FLOOR, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

- - 0 - -

FRIDAY, MAY 12, 1973

MORE COMPENSATION FOR SHEUNG SHU I FISH BREEDERS

******

THE GOVERNMENT HAS APPROVED AN INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT GF COMPENSATION TO BE PAID TO A GROUP OF 24 TROPICAL FISH BREEDERS WHO ..ILL MOVE NEXT WEEK IN THE SECOND PHASE OF THE CHOI YUEN TSUEN CLEARANCE AT SHEUNG SHU I.

THE TAI PO DISTRICT OFFICER, MR. CLIVE OXLEY, SAID TODAY THE GOVERNMENT HAD NO.. OFFERED THE FISH BREEDERS ABOUT 3500,300 (^COMPENSATION - NEARLY THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT ORIGINALLY ASSESSED.

MR. OXLEY SAID: +THE FISH BREEDING OPERATIONS, CONSISTING OF OUTDOOR AQUARIA, WERE ORIGINALLY ASSESSED ON THE BASIS OF BEING AGRICULTURAL UNDERTAKINGS.

+BUT AFTER THE BREEDERS MADE REPRESENTATIONS TO THE DISTRICT OFFICE AND UMELCO WHO HAVE SINCE TAKEN UP THEIR APPEAL FOR BETTER TERMS OF COMPENSATION, FURTHER INQUIRIES WERE MADE BY STAFF OF THE TWO OFFICES IN CONSULTATION WITH THE HOUSING AND AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENTS.

+AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION, IT WAS DECIDED THAT IT WOULD EE MORE APPROPRIATE TO CLASSIFY THE AQUARIA AS RURAL INDUSTRY RATHER THAN AGRICULTURAL UNDERTAKINGS.

+THIS MEANS THAT COMPENSATION WILL BE PAID TO THE OPERATORS AT THE RATE OF PER SQUARE FOOT, . . I TH A CEILING OF 353,000. THIS RATE IS IN LINE WITH THE RATE REQUESTED BY THE BREEDERS THEMSELVES.

+THE DETAILS OF THE NEW RATE HAVE BEEN EXPLAINED TO THE OPERATORS, WHO SEEM VERY HAPPY WITH THE NEWS.+

MR. OXLEY ALSO CLARIFIED AN EARLIER GOVERNMENT STATEMENT ABOUT ELIGIBILITY FOR THE ALLOCATION RESITES IN THE DISTRICT.

HE SAID THAT THIS ELIGIBILITY APPLIED ONLY TO GENUINE LONG-TERM CULTIVATORS WHO COULD FIND A PIECE OF AGRICULTURAL LAND OUTSIDE THE DEVELOPMENT AREAS WHICH MET WITH THE APPROVAL CF THE DISTRICT OFFICE.

IN SUCH A CASE, THE CULTIVATOR WOULD BE PAID A REHABILITATION ALLOWANCE OF 35,000 WHILE FORFEITING HIS RIGHT TO PUBLIC HOUSING.

+3UT IN THIS PARTICULAR CLEARANCE, THERE ARE FEW, IF ANY, WHO WOULD QUALIFY AS GENUINE CULT IVATORS,+ MR. OXLEY ADDED.

- - 0 - -

FRIDAY, MAY 12, 1973 - 3 -

ACHIEVEMENTS OF AUXILIARY ..ED I CAL SERVICE

& n r rr H K

THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, MR. K.L. THONG, TODAY OUTLINED ACHIEVE. ENTS OF THE AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICE IN RENDERING A ..IDE RANGE OF SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY DOTH I.. TIMES OF PEACE AND EMERGENCY.

HE SAID THAT WHENEVER A MAJOR DISASTER STRUCK HONG KONG, AMS MEMBERS :.ERE ALWAYS AMONG THE FIRST TC ARRIVE AT THE SCENE, MANNING CASUALTY STATIONS AND ASSISTING IL RESCUE OPERATIONS.

AND WHEN EPIDEMICS OCCURRED, SUCH AS THE REPEATED CHOLERA OUTBREAKS IN THE 195DS, AMS MEMBERS WOULD RENDER ESSENTIAL SERVICES AT QUARANTINE CENTRES AND INOCULATION' POSTS, HE ADDED.

DR. THONG, WHO IS ALSO UNIT CONTROLLER OF THE AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICE, ..AS SPEAKING AT THE SERVICE’S THIRD OFFICERS’ MESS DINNER THIS EVENING, WHICH ..AS ATTENDED DY THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY M.ACLEHOSE, AND SENIOR OFFICERS OF OTHER DISCIPLINED FORCES.

HE SAID APART FRO” RENDERING EMERGENCY SERVICES, AMS MEMBERS ARE DEPLOYED AT AMBULANCE DEPOTS AND STATIONS ON A REGULAR BASIS ON WEEKENDS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.

THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER MONTHS, HE SAID, THEY HAVE ALWAYS PLAYED A VITAL PART IN AUGMENTING THE LIFE GUARD SERVICES OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT SINCE THE SERVICE WAS FORMED IN 1941, IT HAS GONE FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH WITH THE MEMBERSHIP RISING FROM A MERE HUNDRED-ODD TO OVER 6,303 TODAY, THE MAJORITY CF ..HOM ARE IN THE YOUNG AND DYNAMIC AGE GROUP OF 17 TO 25.

DR. THONG DESCRIBED THE AMS AS A +FINE+ BODY OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHOSE ENTHUSIASM AND DEVOTION TC THE COMMUNITY COULD BE REGARDED AS AX EXCELLENT EXAMPLE TC ALL YOUNG PEOPLE IN HONG KONG.

HE URGED THE AMS MEMBERS NOT TC BE COMPLACENT ABOUT THEIR ACHIEVEMENT BUT TO STRIVE CONSTANTLY TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND TC EXPAND THE AREAS OF THE SERVICE.

IN THIS CONNECTION, DR. THONG SAID PLANS WERE 111 HANE TO ESTABLISH AMS SUB-UNITS IN ALL URBAN DISTRICTS AND EVENTUALLY TO ALL DISTRICTS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND ON OFF-SHORE ISLANDS WHEREVER SUCH TEA'S ARE USEFUL AND NECESSARY.

AT THE MOMENT, HE SAID, THE SERVICE WAS PLANNING TO ESTABLISH A TRAINING CENTRE WHICH +..ILL GREATLY FACILITATE TRAINING PROGRAMMES AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY CF SERVICE.+

0 ----

FRIDAY, MAY 12, 1978

ONE-YEAR FULL-TIME TECHNICAL TEACHERS’ COURSE * * M *

'-mdii Y?mN? ^vrPb~AW TH cXPERI£NCE IN INDUSTRY HAVE A CHANCE TO N A ONE-YEAR FULL-TIME COURSE BEGINNING IN SEPTEMBER AT THE HONG KONG TECHNICAL TEACHERS’ COLLEGE.

THE COURSE IS INTEND£DrFCR MATURE STUDENTS WITH SOME YEARS OF PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING, TEXTILES AND CLOTHING AND, HOTEL-KEEPING AND CATERING WHC ARE INTERESTED IN PASSING ON THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO STUDENTS IN TECHNICAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

INDUCEMENT GRANTS, RANGING FROM 51,300 TO 51,990 A MONTH AND CALCULATED ACCORDING TO THE NUMBER OF YEARS OF POST-QUALIFICATION EXPERIENCE IN INDUSTRY WILL BE GIVEN TO STUDENTS TAKING THE COURSE.

APPLICATION FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE HONG KONG TECHNICAL TEACHERS’ COLLEGE, 373 QUEEN’S ROAD EAST, WAN CHAI.

COMPLETED FORMS MUST BE RETURNED TO THE COLLEGE BY MAY 31.

-----o-----

PO LEUNG KUK DIRECTORS CALL CN SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS * ¥■. * *

THE MEW MEMBERS OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF PO LEUNG KUK MADE A COURTESY CALL ON THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR. F.K. LI AND THE DIRECTOR OF HOME AFFAIRS, ME. AUGUSTINE CHUI THIS (FRIDAY) AFTERNOON.

THE GROUP, LED BY THE KUK’S CHAIRMAN, MR. MERVYN LAW, ..AS RECEIVED EY BOTH . R. LI AND MR. CHUI UPON THEIR ARRIVAL Al THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT'S HEADQUARTERS AT INTERNATIONAL BUILDING, CENTRAL.

DURING THE HOUR-LONG VISIT, MR. LA.. THANKED THE DEPARTMENT FCR ITS INVALUABLE GUIDANCE TO THE KUK AND BRIEFED NR. LI AND HR. CHUI 01 THE PROJECTED .,DD IKISTRATIVE IMPROVEMENTS AND EXPANSION PROGRAMME OF THE KUK THIS YEAR.

MR. LAW SAID THE EXPANSION PROGRAMME WOULD INCLUDE THREE PURSER IES, TWO SCHOOLS AND A PERNA ENT REHABILITATION CENTRE .. IT.- HOSTEL AND TR..IN IMG FACILITIES FOR THE MENTALLY RETARDED.

IN REPLY, R. LI PRAISED THE ACHIEVEMENTS AND GOCD WORK OF THE KUK I' COMMUNITY SERVICES DUR I' G THE PAST CENTURY AND EXP' ESSED HIS SINCERE .. ISH TO "All.TAI'.' ’-ND PROMOTE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE KUK AND THE GOVERNMENT.

- 0

FRIDAY, MAY 12, 1978

TWO HK MUSICIANS ENTER FINALS IN MUSIC FESTIVAL IN LONDON * * * * *

TWO YOUNG HONG KONG MUSICIANS ARE AMONG SEVEN FINALISTS IN THE PRESTIGEOUS ROYAL OVERSEAS LEAGUE MUSIC FESTIVAL TO BE HELD AT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH HALL IN THE SOUTH BANK COMPLEX IN LONDON ON JUNE 6.

THEY ARE TH IRTEEN-YEAR-OLD MARY WU, A PIANIST WHO COMES FROM A FAMILY OF TALENTED MUSICIANS, AND EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD LUNG HEUNG-WING, A XYLOPHONIST, WHO IS ON A HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SCHOLARSHIP.

THEY WERE SELECTED BY A PANEL OF JUDGES COMPRISING FAMOUS EXPERTS IN THE WORLD OF MUSIC, FOLLOWING THEIR PERFORMANCE AT THE SEMI-FINALS HELD AT THE ROYAL OVERSEAS LEAGUE LAST WEDNESDAY (MAY 10).

ANOTHER YOUNG HONG KONG MUSICIAN, SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD TO YAN, A VIOLINIST WAS ALSO IN THE SEMI-FINALS.

SHE, ALONG WITH MARY WU DAVID STONE PRIZE.

AND LUNG HEUNG-WING SHARED THE

THERE WERE 29 MUSICIANS IN THE SEMI-FINALS INCLUDING THREE FROM HONG KONG.

AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS INTERNATIONALLY FAMOUS FESTIVAL WHICH IS OPEN TO MUSICIANS FROM BRITAIN AND THE COMMONWEALTH, THERE WERE 493 PARTICIPANTS.

COMMENTING ON THE SUCCESS OF THE TWC HONG KONG MUSICIANS WHO ARE IN THE FINALS, MR. GORDON SIU, THE MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR SAID, +THE NUMBER OF COMPETITORS IN THE FINAL ROUND IS SEVEN AND TWO ARE FROM HONG KONG. THIS IS A HIGH PROPORTION COMPARED .. ITH OTHER COUNTRIES*.

LUNG HEUNG-WING AND TO YAN ARE ON A SPECIAL COURSE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM ARRANGED BY THE MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR’S OFFICE.

FR IDAY, ' AY 12,

1?7£

6 -

INCREASING DEMAND FOR GOVERNMENT TELEPHONE DIRECTORY *********

EXTRA COPIES OF THE LATEST EDITION OF THE GOVERNMENT TELEPHONE DIRECTORY HAVE BEEN PRINTED TO MEET INCREASING PUBLIC DEMAND.

THE 255-PAGE DIRECTORY IS ON SALE AT ,8 AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING IN CONNAUGHT PLACE.

IT LISTS IN DETAIL THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND CONTAINS THE NAMES OF A LARGE NUMBER OF OFFICIALS AND THE POSTS THEY HOLD. THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF SOME OTHER OFFICIAL ORGANISATIONS ARE ALSO INCLUDED.

- - 0 - -

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN KWUN TONG * * *

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT KWUN TONG ROAD BETWEEN HONG TAK ROAD AND ELEGANCE ROAD ..ILL BE CLOSED TO ALL VEHICLE TRAFFIC BETWEEN 1.33 A.M. AND 5.30 A.M. DAILY ON MAY 15, 16, 23 AND 21 IN ORDER TO FACILITATE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION WORKS.

DURING THE CLOSURE PERIODS SOUTHBOUND TRAFFIC ON KWUN TONG ROAD ..ILL BE DIVERTED VIA NGAU TAU KOK ROAD AND ELEGANCE ROAD TO REJOIN KWUN TONG ROAD.

NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC ON KWUN TONG ROAD WILL BE DIVERTED VIA LAI YIP STREET, WAI YIP STREET TO REJOIN KWUN TONG ROAD.

NORTHBOUND VEHICLES CAN ALSO PROCEED VIA THE ROUNDABOUT AT THE JUNCTION OF KWUN TONG ROAD AND ELEGANCE ROAD, TO NGAU TAU KOK ROAD AND SHING SHUN ROAD TO REJOIN KWUN TONG ROAD.

APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL EE SET UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.

- - 0 - -

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

SATURDAY, MAY 13, 1?7S

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

REPORT CM QUARTERLY BUSINESS SURVEY 1

KEENER DEMAND FOR GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS ................ c

BIOLOGY TEACHERS URGED TO STIMULATE THINKING ............. 4

FREEDOM FOR SEA TURTLE . c

COURSE ON JAZZ DANCE FOR STUDENTS PHOTOGRAPHS OF DEPARTMENT HEADS ..................

Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5 233191

SATURDAY, MAY 13, 1978

REPORT ON QUARTERLY BUSINESS SURVEY * * X *

THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT HAS COMPILED A REPORT ON A QUARTERLY BUSINESS SURVEY HELD IN APRIL THIS YEAR — THE FIFTH CF A SERIES OF QUARTERLY SURVEYS.

IN THE SURVEY ABOUT 700 FIRMS FROM VARIOUS INDUSTRIES, FORMING A CROSS-SECTION OF THE ECONOMIC COMMUNITY, WERE ASKED ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS EXPERIENCE IN THE FIRST QUARTER THIS YEAR AND THEIR BUSINESS EXPECTATIONS IN THE SECOND QUARTER.

THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY SUGGESTED THAT THE MANUFACTURING DIVISION, WHICH EXPERIENCED ITS USUAL LOW FIRST QUARTER, WAS EXPECTING A CONSIDERABLE UPTURN IN BUSINESS IN THE SECOND QUARTER.

’ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPLIANCES AND SUPPLIES’ AND ’FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS’ ARE THE TWO MOST ENCOURAGING SECTORS WHICH REPORTED GOOD FIRST QUARTER PERFORMANCE AND LOOKED FORWARD TO GOOD PROSPECTS IN THE SECOND QUARTER.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE WATCHES AND CLOCKS INDUSTRY EXPERIENCED SOME SLOW-DOWN IN BUSINESS AFTER GOOD PERFORMANCE IN 1977 AND HAD RESERVATIONS ABOUT THE IMMEDIATE PROSPECTS IN THE SECOND QUARTER.

FOR NON-MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES, THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR, WHICH REPORTED REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS IN ALL FOUR PREVIOUS SURVEYS, EXPECTED ITS UPTREND TO CONTINUE.

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE AND RESTAURANTS REPORTED A SATISFACTORY FIRST QUARTER, BETTER THAN ORIGINALLY EXPECTED, BUT DUE TO SEASONAL EFFECT, A SLOW-DOWN IN THE SECOND QUARTER PERFORMANCE IS PREDICTED.

HOTELS AND OTHER SERVICES WERE CONFIDENT OF A CONTINUATION IN THEIR STRONG UPTREND IN BUSINESS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT SAID THE DATA, OBTAINED WITH A MINIMUM TIME LAG, WERE BASICALLY INTENDED TO FACILITATE A QUICK ASSESSMENT OF THE CURRENT ECONOMIC SITUATION OF HONG KONG.

♦APART FROM A LIMITED NUMBER OF QUESTIONS REQUIRING ANSWERS IN QUANTITATIVE TERMS, THE FIRMS WERE ASKED TO COMPARE THE QUARTER JUST PAST WITH THE PREVIOUS QUARTER AND SIMILARLY WITH THE FORTHCOMING ONE,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

+THEY ONLY HAD TO INDICATE WHETHER, IN THEIR OPINION, A CERTAIN VARIABLE .AS UP, SAME OR DOWN,+ HE ADDED.

/THE SPOKESMAN .....

SATURDAY, MAY 13, 1978

- 2 -

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT IN A SURVEY OF THIS NATURE, CONSIDERABLE RESERVATIONS MUST BE MADE IN THE INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS, AS IT KAS DIFFICULT TO ESTABLISH THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE RESPONDENTS’ PERCEPTICw OF THE PAST AND THE FUTURE ACCOROo a I TH THE UNDERLYING TRENDS, AND THE SURVEY RESULTS ARE -’ACEABLY AFFECTED CONSIDERABLY BY SEASONALITY.

COPIES OF THE REPORT, CONTAINING AN ANALYSIS AND STATISTICAL ’acLES UN VARIOUS ECONChlC VARIABLES, HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED TC -I.Rf'S TAKING PART IN THE SURVEY AND OTHER BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS.

--------0 ----------

KEENER DEMAND FOR GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS

*****

a KEENER DEMAND IS DEVELOPING WHICH CONVEY INFORMATION ON A WIDE

FOR OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS RANGE OF SUBJECT MATTERS.

THIS IS INDICATED BY THE INCREASE IN THE SALES OF GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS IN LAST FINANCIAL YEAR 1977-78, FOR WHICH REVENUE TOTALLED MORE THAN 55 MILLION -- AN 11 PER CENT INCREASE OVER THE ’REV I OUS YEAR.

a GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID: +THE PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE RANGE FROM TRADE STATISTICS AND GOVERNMENT ORDINANCES TO WELL-DRtSENTED COLOUR BOOKLETS ON NEW TOWNS AND LEAFLETS ON' COUNTRY •^ARKS. +

+TC BALANCE THE HEAVY READING THAT MANY GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS REQUIRE WE HAVE ALSO INTRODUCED NEW BOCKS OF A MORE GENERAL INTEREST NATURE WHICH EXTEND PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE ON FEATURES OF HONG KONG THAT HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED WIDE COVERAGE,+ HE ADDED.

THESE BOOKS ARE BEING PUBLISHED IN A SERIES UNDE.' THE TITLE ♦THIS IS HONG KONG+ FOR WHICH A STANDARDISED FORMAT, USING ILLUSTRATIONS IN FULL COLOUR, HAS BEEN DEVISED. TWO BOOKS IN THIS SERIES ARE SO FAR AVAILABLE -- ONE ON HONG KONG TEMPLES AND THE OTH=R ON THE HISTORY OF GOVERNMENT HOUSE. THEY ARE SELLING .-.ELL.

A THIRD BOOK ON HONG KONG BUTTERFLIES, AIMED AT THE NONSPECIALIST READERS, IS NOW BEING PREPARED AND WILL BE PUBLISHED LATER THIS YEAR.

SEVERAL OTHER SUBJECTS ARE NOW UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR INCLUSION IN PUBLICATION IN THIS SERIES. THE USE OF A STANDARD FORMAT IS INTENDED TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO START A COLLECTION WHICH CAN BE ADDED TO AS NEW TITLES ARE PUBLISHED.

/+AT THE SAME ••••.

SATUBDAY, MAY 13, 1978

- 3 -

+AT THE SAME TIME WE ARE NOT NEGLECTING OUR MAIN OBJECTIVE TO PRODUCE PUBLICATIONS WHICH DISSEMINATE INFORMATION ABOUT THE WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT AND ITS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES,* THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED.

+THE HONG KONG YEAR BOOK, WHICH PUTS ON RECORD THE ADVANCES BEING MADE ON MANY DIFFERENT FRONTS, CONTINUES TO BE OUR MAJOR PUBLICATION, AND DEMAND FOR IT, ESPECIALLY THE CHINESE EDITION, IS RISING YEAR BY YEAR.

+SALES OF THE CURRENT EDITION, +HONG KONG 1978+, ARE EXPECTED TO REACH A RECORD TOTAL OF AROUND 40,000 COPIES BY THE END OF THE YEAR.*

THE SPOKESMAN ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE OPENING OF A NEW GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, WHERE MODERN BOOKSHOP FACILITIES ARE PROVIDED, HAS STIMULATED DEMAND FOR GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS. THE CENTRE IS ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE NEW POST OFFICE BUILDING IN CONNAUGHT PLACE.

HE SAID: +WITH DEMAND CONTINUING TO RISE, CONSIDERATION IS NOW BEING GIVEN TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PUBLICATIONS CENTRE IN KOWLOON. HOWEVER, THIS WILL DEPEND ON WHETHER FUNDS CAN Bt SPARED, BEARING IN MIND THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS MANY OTHER PRIORITIES TO CONSIDER.*

--------0 ---------

SATURDAY, MAY 13, 1978

BIOLOGY TEACHERS URGED TO STIMULATE THINKING

******

THE DEPUTY CHIEF INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS, MRS. LOUISE MOK, TODAY ENCOURAGED BIOLOGY TEACHERS TO ASK QUESTIONS BEGINNING WITH +WHY+ AND + HOW+ TO STIMULATE CRITICAL THINKING.

MRS. MOK WAS SPEAKING AT A SEMINAR AND WORKSHOP ON THE NE.. FORM 4 TO 5 BIOLOGY SYLLABUS HELD AT NORTHCOTE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION.

+IF PUPILS ONLY ACQUIRE THEIR KNOWLEDGE FROM BOOKS WITHOUT ACTUAL OBSERVATION, EXPERIMENTATION AND CRITICAL THINKING, THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS BEGINNING WITH ’WHY’ AND ’HOW’,* MRS. MOK SAID.

+IN ADDITION TO THE PROVISION OF BIOLOGY CONCEPTS FOR OUR PUPILS, BIOLOGY TEACHERS TODAY HAVE TO MAKE THEIR PUPILS UNDERSTAND THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS OF LIVING ORGANISMS AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LIFE AND THE ENVIRONMENT.

+TEACHERS ALSO MUST HELP PUPILS UNDERSTAND THE APPLICATION OF BIOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL AND IN THIS CHANGING SOCIETY.

+BIOLOGY EDUCATION HAS TO NURTURE PUPILS’ ABILITY TO MAKE ACCURATE OBSERVATION, TO THINK CRITICALLY AND SOLVE PROBLEMS li. A SCIENTIFIC WAY.

+TO ACHIEVE THESE AIMS, BIOLOGY TEACHERS SHOULD USE THE ENQUIRY APPROACH IN THEIR TEACHING AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUPILS TO DO EXPERIMENTS, TO MAKE ACCURATE OBSERVATIONS, TO DISCUSS THEIR EXPERIMENTS AND TO DRAW THEIR OWN CONCLUSIONS.*

MRS. MOK ALSO EMPHASISED THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING USE OF LOCAL HABITAT AND SITES FOR THE TEACHING OF BIOLOGY.

+OCEAN PARK, THE BOTANICAL AND ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS, COUNTRY PARKS AND NATURE TRAILS ARE VERY SUITABLE SITES FOR FIELD STUDIES,* SHE SAID.

+FIELD TRIPS WERE ALSO IMPORTANT IN DEVELOPING IN PUPILS A CORRECT ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE CONSERVATION OF OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT.*

THE SEMINAR AND WORKSHOP WAS ATTENDED BY 200 BIOLOGY TEACHERS.

--------0 -

SATURDAY, MAY 13, 1973

FREEDOM FOR TURTLE

* * * *

A LARGE SEA TURTLE, nEIGHING MORE THAN 300 LBS, .vAS RELEASED BY OFFICERS OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT IK MIRS

BAY YESTERDAY (FRIDAY).

THE TURTLE, A LOGGERHEAD, WAS DEPARTMENT IN TAN LUNG CHAU MARKET THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS (PROTECT I CL

SEIZED BY OFFICERS OF THE

ON MARCH 22 IN CONTRAVENTION OF GF ENDANGERED SPECIES) ORDINANCE.

THE TURTLE wAS TAKEN FROM A HOLDING CENTRE ON DOUBLE ISLAND AND RELEASED ABOUT 20 KILOMETRES SOUTH IN MIRS BAY. .vlTH A SWIFl FLIP OF ITS FLIPPERS IT DIVED BELOW THE SURFACE TO FREEDOM.

MARINE BIOLOGISTS BELIEVED THE TURTLE WAS ABOUT 30 YEARS OLD AMD POSSIBLY CAME FROM BREEDING GROUNDS IN EASTERN AUSTRALIA.

ACCORDING TO A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN, THE SEA TURTLES, OF WHICH THERE ARE SEVEN SPECIES, ARE IM DANGER OF BECOMING EXTINCT.

+ALTHOUGH A TURTLE MAY LAY MORE THAN A THOUSAND EGGS IN A EREEDING SEASON, THIS DOES NOT OCCUR EVERY YEAR. AND YOUNG TURTLES SUFFER GREATLY FROM PREDATION BY MAMMALS, BIRDS, FISH, CRABS AND MAN. SOME LARGE TURTLES DISCOVERED RECENTLY HAVE BEEN BADLY INJURED EY SHARK BITES,+ HE SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT WHAT WAS COMMONLY KNOWN IK LUXURIOUS ITEMS AS TORTOISE SHELL, IN FACT CAME FROM THE LOGGERHEAD TURTLE. THE SAME TURTLE WAS POPULAR FOR TURTLE SOUP ... A DELICACY IL RESTAURANTS.

THE TURTLES WERE FIRST PROTECTED UNDER THE WASHINGTON CONVENT I CT ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF ILD FAUNA -HD FLORA IM 1973 AND WERE INCLUDED IN THE HONG KONG ORDINANCE ON PROTECTION >F "LDANGERED SPECIES IN 1976. UNDER THIS ORDINANCE IT IS AN OFFENCc -OR ANYONE TO IMPORT, EXPORT OR BE IN POSSESSION OF ANY SEA TURTLE .. ITHCUT A LICENCE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES. THE AX I MUM PENALTY Id CONTRAVENT I Or CF iHE ORDINANCE IS .5,033 -IKE.

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT FISHERMEN HAVE BEE'. ABUSED THAT IF TURTLES BECOME CAUGHT IN FISHING NETS, THEY "UST BE RELEASED IMMEDIATELY.

0 -

SATURDAY, MAY 13, 1?7£

AMERICAN TO +JAZZ UP+ SCHOOL DANCING

******

THE AMERICAN LEADER OF THE MEWLY-FORMED MODERN DANCE THEATRE OF HONG KONG, ISS DARYL RIES, IS SET TO +JAZZ UP+ DANCING IN LOCAL SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

THE 'ARTHA GRAHAM-TRAINED DANCER FROM NEW YORK WILL LECTURE SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS ON MODERN JAZZ DANCING AT A SPECIAL JCU^SE TO BE HELD IN JUNE.

THE COURSE IS BEING ORGANISED BY THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION SECTION ,F ’HE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S ADVISORY INSPECTORATE.

IT ILL EE HELD IN THE BELILIOS PUBLIC SCHOOL, TIN HAU TEMPLE ROAD, HONG KONG, FROM 1 P.M. TO 3 P.M. ON JUNE 3, 10, 17 AND 24 AND 5.33 P.M. TO 7.30 P.M. ON JUNE 6, 13, 20 AND 27.

TEACHERS ..I SHI NG TO ATTEND THE COURSE MUST REGISTER .<ITn THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION SECTION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT EEFC RE MAY 2 J.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

PHOTOGRAPHS OF DEPARTMENT HEADS

******

PLEASE NOTE THAT COPIES OF NEW PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE SECRETARY e0R THE ENVIRONMENT, MR. D.J.C. JONES’ THE COMMISSIONER OF INLAND REVENUE, MR. R.V, GIDDY’ THE COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS, MR. E.l. LEE AND’ THE COMMISSIONER FOR SECURITIES, MR. U.A. MCINNES HAVE EES'- DISTRIBUTED IN THE G.I.S. PRESS BOXES TODAY IN OUR PROCESS UPDATING OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF DEPARTMENT HEADS TO REPLACE DEVIOUS STOCKS.

THESE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE FOR YOUR RECORD AND EDITORIAL USE. IT WOULD EE MOST APPRECIATED IF, WHEN THE OCCASION ARISES, THE NE™ PHOTOGRAPHS ARE USED INSTEAD OF THE OLD ONES.

MORE PHOTOGRAPHS OF DEPARTMENT HEADS WILL BE SENT TO YOU AS THEY ARE AVAILABLE.

- - 0 -

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

SUNDAY, MAY 14, 197?

CONTENTS

PAGE NO.

<. >

LDSL'RE OF PRECIOUS BLOOD GOLDEN JUBILEE EC"” DARY SCHOOL .............................................. 1

'•E.; KO..'LOCr'-CA’TOr.' RAILWAY GENERAL MANAGER APPCI’TE"1 ..................................................... 3

’U JTY ’URS I mg SERVICE .................................. 4

“’’ESC CC/'FERE'ICE TC BE HELD BY EDUCATICI DERAT E T ...................................................... 5

+HC T0 APPLY* LEAFLETS OBTAINABLE FREE ......................... 6

tf?ic arrange■:e,,ts r jester: district......................... s

SUNDAY, f.AY 14, 197

0LC3URE OF PRECIOUS ELOGI GOLDEi.' JUEILEE SECONDARY SCHOOL

********

TnE ACTING DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION', MR. COLVYN HAYE, HAS DECIDED TC CLOSE THE PRECIOUS BLOOD GOLDEN JUBILEE SECONDARY SCHOOL UNTIL -GuST 1973. FORMAL NOTICE TO THIS EFFECT WAS SERVED O: Ti-.E ^uPERVI'OR, THE REV. SISTER LORRAINE TURCOTTE, AT 4 P.M. TODAY.

+IT L WITH REGRET THAT, mFTER THE HOST CAREFUL CONSIDERATIC , I -:JVE REACHED THIS DECISION,* MR. HAYE SAID. +EUT I AM ENTIRELY SATISFIED THAT MY DECISION IS IN THE INTEREST OF THE PROPER CO!.DUCT OF EDUCATION GENERALLY IN HONG KONG, AND IN THE LONG-TERM INTEREST ?F THE JJ?ILS OF THE SCHOOL - BOTH THOSE WHOSE MISGUIDED BEHAVICU-vnDEE IRRESPONSIBLE ADULT INFLUENCES HAS CONTRIBUTED TO MY DEC I 3l_ AND THOSE wHO HAVE ONLY WANTED TO PURSUE THEIR SCHOOL LIFE I' - iORFAL WAY AND WHO THEREFORE HAVE SADLY BEEN THE VICTIMS OF THE GROSS MISCONDUCT OF OTHERS,* HE ADDED.

'•P. HAYE SAID THAT HE AND HIS SENIOR STAFF HAD MADE A CLOSE STUDY OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AT THE SCHOOL AND IN PARTICULAR THE EVE..TO LF THE LAST FEW DAYS WHICH HAD CALLED FOR INSPECTORS’ VISITS. THIS STUDY, HOURLY REPORTS FRO:-' THE SCHOOL AND FIRST HAND OBSERVATION BY SENIOR INSPECTORS HAD CONVINCED HIM THAT THE MASSIVE DISRUPTION OF STUDIES AT PRECIOUS BLOOD GOLDEN JUEILEE SECONDARY SCHOOL WOULD CONTINUE. THE ADAMANT REFUSAL GF A HUMBER OF MILITANT TEACHERS, WHO HAD BEEN LEADING THE DEMONSTRATIONS OF rtUNDREDS OF MISGUIDED STUDENTS, TO ACCEPT THE AUTHORITY OF THE SCHOOL MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE SCHOOL TO CONTINUE AS IT SHOULD FOR THE LITTLE THAT WAS LEFT OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR. THE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS HAD PROVED THIS BY ABSENTING THEMSELVES FROM THE 3CWOOL DURING THE WEEK TO PARADE AND DEMONSTRATE, AND, ON THE IF RETU’N TO THE SCHOOL ON FRIDAY (MAY 12) BY FURTHER DEMONSTRATIONS OP THE SCHOOL PREMISES.

+ THERE IS NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER THAT THE TEACHERS iWL‘ 3TLDE T.

IL JEFIaLCE OF SCHOOL AUTHORITY ..EAR TO ABANDON THE IF. CAMPAIGN OF

I <T INI uAT I ON AT THE SCHOOL, + MR. HAYE SAID. +TH IS HAS BEEi. . iuTED BY CLOSE OBSERVERS, CONFIRMED BY PRESS REPORTS OF TEACHERS’ STATEMENTS AND BY THEIR MOST RECENT ACTIONS.*

VR. HAYE EMPHASISED THAT THE FACTS „ERE CLEAR. STUDENTS HAL DEE;\ ENCOURAGED BY A GROUP OF TEACHERS TO DEFY SCHOOL AUTHORITY. PHYSICAL I-TIM I DAT I ON AND ABUSE OF THE PRINCIPAL AND HER DEPUTY HAD LED TC THE SUSPENSION AND WARNING OF RING LEADERS. TEACHERS HAD THEN LED STUDENTS IN MARCHES AND DEMONSTRATIONS DEMANDING THE WITHDRAWAL OF SUSPENSIONS AND ..ARNINGS AND THE DIS? ISSAL OF " PRINCIPAL. TEACHERS AND STUDENTS DECLARED THAT THEY WOULD FETUF.I. TC SCHOOL, BUT HAD MADE IT CLEAR THAT THEY HAD NOT DROPPED THEIR DEMANDS BY IMMEDIATE CONFRONTATION OF THE SCHOOL AUTHORITIES.

/MOREOVER, .....

SUNDAY, MAY U, 1978

- 2 -

MOREOVER, MR. HAYE ADDED, SENIOR INSPECTORS OF SCHOOLS WHO HAD BEEN AT PRECIOUS BLOOD HAD CONFIRMED THAT MOST OF THE GIRLS .F ■ I DOLE 2 TO 4 CLASSES, WHO HAD RETURNED TO THE SCHOOL EARLIER I!. THE wEEK AT THE INSISTENCE OF THEIR PARENTS, HAD REFUSED I'-STRUCT IO-'. THEY VERE DEFIANT, HOSTILE AND ABUSIVE, DESPITE TnE I- I3TRATI0NS OF TEACHERS ..HO HAD STUCK TO THEIR POSTS. T-ESE POOR TEACHERS, i’;R. HAYE SAID, JERE AT THE END OF THEIR TETHER, AND PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY EXHAUSTED BY THE STRAIN CF _ UTUREANCES AT THE SCHOOL. LOST OF THEM DOUBTED THEIR ABILITY TC RACE THE TROUBLE THEY .ERE CERTAIN WOULD COME ..ITH THE RETURN CF TEACHERS AND STUDENTS .-.HO HAD SO OPENLY DEMONSTRATED THEIR CONTEMPT OF SCHOOL AUTHORITY.

+THINGS HAVE BEEN BAD AT THE SCHOOL, + MR. HAYE SAID. +THEY tAVE GOT ..CRSE, AND THEY ..ILL NCT GET BETTER. THE ARENA OF CONFLICT HAS BEEN THE SCHOOL. IT ’’OVED TO CARITAS HOUSE LAST WEEK, AND ..CW IT HAS RETURNED TO THE SCHOOL. I CANNOT LET THIS SORRY AND DANGEROUS STATE OF AFFAIRS CONTI NUE.+

TEACHERS AND STUDENTS HAD RAISED A NUMBER OF PRETEXTS FOR THE IF REJECTION OF SCHOOL AUTHORITY, MR. HAYE COMMENTED. LAST YEAR IT HAD BEEN THE MISMANAGEMENT OF SCHOOL FUNDS, DESPITE THE PROMPT ACTION TAKEN BY THE SCHOOL MANAGERS TO REPORT TO THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, THE THOROUGH INVESTIGATION WHICH HAD CC ENDED BEFORE TEACHERS LODGED OFFICIAL COMPLAINTS, THE jLESEaUEvT PUNISHMENT OF a PREVIOUS PRINCIPAL AND REGULAR I SAT I ON ..F THE SCHOOL BOOKS. THEN IT HAD BEEN TEACHING CONTRACTS WHICH ,-wC LED TO SIT-INS, DESPITE THE FACT THAT TEACHERS HAD ACCEPTED T.-.OSE CONTRACTS. MORE RECENTLY IT HAD BEEN ALLEGATIONS OF THE SEARCHING OF SCHOOL EAGS, ALLEGATIONS OF UNFAIR LETTERS OF WARNING A-ID SUSPENSION, AND, FINALLY, ALLEGATIONS OF ASSAULT. WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE LATTER, WHICH WAS IN THE HANDS OF THE POLICE, nAYE SAID, CAREFUL STUDY OF THE FACTS CONFIRMED THAT THE CL-d'S ..EFE PRETEXTS FOR ANARCHY. UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, HE -ELT THERE ..AS NO SENSIBLE ALTERNATIVE TC CLOSURE OF THE SCHOOL.

THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION SAID THAT THROUGHOUT THE ESC^LmTION OF TROUBLE BY TEACHERS AND STUDENTS, HE HAD BEE! IN DLDoE TOUCH a I TH THE SCHOOL SUPERVISOR AND .-.ANAGENS. aT E.-ERGENCY EETINGS ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY (MAY 12 - 13) THERE HAD BEEN UNANIMOUS SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSAL AND FINAL DECISION TO CLOSE THE SCHOOL.

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP OF HONG KONG HAD BEEN KEPT INFORMED OF DEVELOPMENTS AND CONSULTED BEFORE THE DECISION, WHICH HE NOV. ENDORSED.

+ VHEN THE SCHOOL REOPENS ON SEPTEMBER 1, 1978, IT WILL BE TO A FRESH START UNDER A NEW SPONSOR AND WITH A NEW NAME,* i- - . HAYE CONCLUDED.

------0--------

SUNDAY, MAY 14, 1978

- 3 -

NEW KCR GENERAL MANAGER APPOINTED * * * * *

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AMD COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS HAS APPROVED THE APPOINTMENT OF I'.R. D.M. HOWES, A SENIOR MANAGEF PRC- BRITISH RAIL, AS GENERAL MANAGER OF THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAIl..AY TC SUCCEED "R. REGINALD GREGORY, -HO LEFT HONG KONG IN FEBRUARY.

MP. HOWES HAS HAD A TOTAL OF 42 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE WITH

RAIL.,AYS I ERITAIN AND OTHER COUNTRIES, MANY AT THE HIGHEST

LEVELS. HIS APPOINTMENT WILL EE FOR TWO AND A HALF YEARS INITIALLY.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID MR. HOWES HAD BEEN APPOINTED BECAUSE OF HIS LONG EXPERIENCE .. I TH RAILWAYS AND PARTICULARLY ELECTRIFIED RAIL-AY SYSTEMS.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD DECIDED TO ELECT7 IFY THE ..HOLE OF THE KCR MAIN LINE FROM HUNG HOM TO LO WU AT A COST OF mEOUT j4OD MILLION AND THAT A STUDY WAS NOW BEING UNDERTAKEN EY CONSULTANTS AS TO HO';. BEST THIS PROJECT SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT.

+ELECTR IF I CAT I ON OF THE KCR, TOGETHER ..ITH DOUBLE TRACK I ft AND OTHER MEASURES TO MODERNISE THE RAIL-AY, ARE ESSENTIAL IF IT IS TC COPE WITH AN EXPECTED SEVEI.-FOLD GROWTH IN PASSENGER TRAFFIC BY 1990, AS WELL AS LARGE INCREASES IN THE VOLUME OF FREIGHT,* T.-.E SPOKES^.AN SAID.

+AND Ai,' ELECTRIFIED RAILWAY SYSTEM .-.ILL ALSO SHORTS? JUU-.-.EY TIMES AND BE MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE FOR THE TRAVELLING PUBLIC,* HE ADDED.

THE SPOKESMAN ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THERE -AS NO ONE li HONG KONG -ITH THE NECESSARY EXPERIENCE TO GUIDE THE RAILWAY THROUGH THE PERIOD WHEN THE HIGHLY COMPLEX ELECTRIFICATION PROGRAi E, WHICH VCULD REQUIRE TECHNIQUES NEW TO HONG KONG, wAS DE I G UNDERTAKEN.

ONE OF MR. HOWES’S MAJOR TASKS WOULD EE TC SELECT AND TRAM.

A LOCAL MEMBER OF THE KCR STAFF TC SUCCEED Hlf AS GE Ef.AL .'-AD-GER TO RUN <HAT -OULD EY THEN EE A MUCH EUSIEP AND OPERATIC: ALLY ~h' iCpE SOPHISTICATED RAIL-AY.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT, BECAUSE THE I CREASE IK WORKLOAD AND RESPONSIBILITIES TC WHICH THE I MPLEf-EITATIC . CF THE ELECTRIFICATION AND MODERNISATION PROGRAMME ..ILL -IVE -ISE, A NE- POST OF DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER CF THE KCR HAS BEE'. CPE/TED.

THIS POST ..ILL BE FILLED EY THE PROMOTION GF '• R. -ONG U-LA. , >vHO IS AT PRESENT ASSISTANT GENERAL .-'A AGER, A L ,-.HC HAS ACTING AS GENERAL MANAGER SINCE THE DEPARTURE ,-F . GPEGC'Y.

MR. HOWES IS MARRIED AND HAS T-? 'ARRIED CHILDREN.

HE wAS THE CHIEF OPERATING -'.A'.AGEF CF T.-E LC’.DC /.'■ I ■ .D- ‘ E G I . CF BRITISH RAIL FROM 1971 TO 1^ AD THE GENERAL MANAGER FROM 1Q74 TC 1977. MR. HC..ES HAS U TIL RECENTLY DEE. DEPUTY MANAGING DIRECTOR OF A MAJOR FIRM CF TRANSPORT CONSULTANT-.

MR. ..ONG’S SERVICE -ITH THE KCF DATES BACK TO 1953 WHEN HE aAS APPOINTED ASSISTANT MECHANICAL ENGINEER. HE HAS BEE ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER SINCE 1^73.

SUNDAY, NAY 14, 1970

COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICE * 4 4 4

-TOUT -»??? P'TIE’TS HAVE 'ECEIVED HEALTH CARE AT HONE ZY * -. 5' 11 Y ‘U ■>~'J ~ c 1 *•- -L , '. THS U 2E -. A GOVE RI .ME . T - -C4 t । v ASSIST IX ORGA' I T101.3 pU’ . I' G Ti-.E

22 U..ITY L-SI G SERVICE.

IT •A3_T:r ?P3T YZf’ T<'T GOVERWEET SUB-VENT I CMS ..ERE ilvc. TO Tr.E ORGAf. ISATIONS 02 ACER.NED. THE SUBVENT I O' 3 nOUL~ ::,”l UE -O’ THE 'EXT T.C YEARS SC THAT A?' ASSESSES’ T CGUL” ■>-- .< THE GCVEH T OF THE EFFECT IVERESS OF THE SERVICE.

TrE GOVERNME ,'T DECISION TO SUEVENT THE SIX ORGANISATIONS FOR ,A TRIAL PERIOD OF THREE YEARS FOLLOWED A RECOMMENDATION Y THE -'EDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN THE MEDICAL SHITE HARER T2 GIVE FURTHER CONSIDERATION TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF CD-'f'UNITY NURSING.

AT PRESENT, SIX ORGANISATIONS ARE EMPLOYING 33 FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME NURSES TO DO COMMUNITY NURSING. BETwEEI. THE' , THEY HAVE ADE MORE THAN 43,ODD VISITS, OR AN AVERAGE OF 7.7 HOME VISITS TO EACH PATIENT, DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF SUBVENTION.

THE SIX ORGANISATIONS ARE UNITED CHRISTIAN HOSPITAL, CARITAS

•EDICAL CENTRE, OUR LADY OF KARYKNOLL HOSPITAL, YANG SOCIAL SERVICE CENTRE, NETHERSOLE HOSPITAL AND RENNIE’S MILL CHRISTIAN MEDICAL CENTRE.

BASICALLY, COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICE ENABLES EXTENSIC OF .,LT- CARE TO PATIENTS AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN DISCHARGE: - ' '.S.-'ITaLo. IT IS NOT A PRIVATE NURSING SERVICE, AND THE TI; E o-E T ,t EACH HOME VISIT ..ILL EE LIMITED TO THAT RECiLlRED FOF GIVING 'ECE33ARY "'URSING CARE AND INSTRUCTIONS.

THE Al OBJECTIVE OF THE COMMUNITY "URS I NG SERVICE IS

T: ENABLE CONTINUITY OF CARE AMD ENSURE THAT TREATKE T FOR A PATIENT u Ali.TAI’.'ED FOLLOWING HIS DISCHARGE FROM HOSPITAL AFTER THE ACUTE STAG; OF ILL ESS HAS PASSED.

IT ;■ COURAGES PERSONS ..ITH THE HELP OF THEIR FAMILIES TO = i;.TICI?2TE I’. THEIR 0.’ TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION AS ELL AS T. P-EVEXT RELAPSE BY SUPPORTIVE CARE AND HEALTH TEACHING.

jURING THE COURSE OF THEIR DUTIES, COMMUNITY "URSES ALSO EDUCATE FAMLIES TO CONTRIBUTE TO CARING FOR THEIR C.vi. HEAL7 AND ..ELL-BEING.

A ..IDE-RANGE OF SKILLED NURSING CAPE IS GIVE:. BY THE CCZ..UNITY ',’URSE PROVIDED THE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT AND HURS I: G FACILITIES ARE AVAILABLE AMD CAN BE UTILISED AT THE -ATIEMTS’ HOME.

THE TYPE OF NURSING CARE '.vCULD INCLUDE OBSERVATION OF FLOOD PRESSURE AND PULSE, ENEMAS, I'JECTICi.S, IRRIGATIONS, SLFGIC _ LESSINGS, RE.-.OVAL OF STITCHES, ’.E.-'AL IL I ’ “12. EXERCISES, CATHETcRISATION AND VARIOUS DIAGNOSTIC TESTS.

/the patient .....

SUNDAY, MAY 14, 1978

- 5 -

THz rATIENT AND HIS FAMILY -UPPORTED IN CARRYING CUT 21 "PLz A”. .UR I X'G VISITS 0- A COMMUNITY ysieiie a:d home manage: e:.t

ARE INSTRUCTED, SUPERVISED AND TREAT! E'.T INDEPENDENTLY BETWEEN ■’U^SE. KNOWLEDGE ON GENERAL

ALSO JtLIVERED DURING HOKE VISITS.

I- THE t-'e- op -PISTo,

CONDITIONS SC REQUIRED, HE ' -Y EE REFER 51 CARz 3UC- .^3 PHYS I OTHER AP I STS, OCCUP-TIC o YCHCL3G I SiS AND SOCIAL WORKERS.

_ P. Ly .ATItNTS RECOMMENDED BY A PHYSICIAN LHC CAi COMPLY .. I Tr -z.-.taI I .TA-,z CRITERIA ARE ELIGIBLE FOE RECEIVING COMMUNITY

;iG ozRVICE. BROADLY SPEAKING, THESE ARE PATIENTS .<HC DC NOT Rt*.IRz -!.;>PITAL CARE AND HAVE DIFFICULTY IN ATTENDING CLINIC FOR r.LL'. CHzCKS, BUT REQUIRED SKILLED NURSING CARE. ALSO THz In HOME CONDITIONS MUST BE SUITABLE FOR CARE AT HOM".

TO BE ELIGIBLE, PATIENTS MUST ALSO MEET THE CRITERIA THAT TrfzY xCULD BENEFIT FROM SKILLED NURSING CARE IN ORDER TO ATTAIN — । I ■' J:' RtzHAE IL I TAT ION OR MA li.TAIN THEIR PRESENT CAPABILITIES. ?\TIS’TS REQUIRING CONSTANT NURSING SUPERVISION WOULD NOT EE •zc I TAELE FOR COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICE.

PATIENTS RECEIVING COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICE ARE CHARG-D AT A STANDARD FEE OF 35 PER VISIT. SPECIALISED EQUIPMENT AND DRUGS ARz CHARGED AT COST PRICE. HOWEVER, IK CASE OF FINANCIAL NEED, THESE FEES MAY EE REDUCED OR WAIVED.

PROVIDED THAT THE INTAKE CRITERIA APE MET, THE SERVICE IS WAILAELE TO ANY PATIENT REGARDLESS OF NATIONALITY, AGE, _ IomEILITIES, RELIGION AND FINANCIAL STATUS.

--------o

vTE TO EDITORS:

PRESS CCKFEREKCE OK AK EDUCATIONAL TOPIC * * * * *

TH" ACTING DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. COLVYN HAYE, WILL HOLD - -“ESS CONFERENCE ON A MAJOR EDUCATIONAL TOPIC IN THE .ohfo'EN'ce 'oc: c- the educatk ’ depaf ••■=’t, lee gardens, 3RD FLOOR, CAUSEWAY BaY, HC’iG KONG, AT 2.33 P.i . 7. A; .C ( ONDAY).

XL3" PRESET ILL BE THE ’CTI’-'G SENIOR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR CF -DUCATIOF'j LAM. TAT-LAU, THE S31Z~ 21 DIRECTOR CF EDUC'TIC:. (CHIEF INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS), ' . n.-'.T-O" ..-.0. , '■'0 THz SB. ICR EDUCATICi OFFICE' I' CHARGE OF THE PL.- I < O' IT, Y.T. LI.

TELEVISION A'" '.-.DIO 0'0.3 " E 'E.lEOT

2.20 -. •.. M. THE CC FEREKCE . ’

--------o

SUNDAY, MAY 14, 1973

+HOW TO APPLY* LEAFLETS OBTAINABLE FREE

*****

A NEW SERIES OF +HOW TO APPLY* LEAFLETS IS BEING PRODUCED TO ADVISE PEOPLE OF GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTATION PROCEDURES.

THE FIRST EIGHT LEAFLETS, ALL IN CHINESE, ARE +HOW TO APPLY FOR A FLAT IN THE PUBLIC ESTATES*, +HOW TO APPLY FOR A CERTIFICATE OF IDENTITY AND A RE-ENTRY PERMIT*, +HOW TO REGISTER AND LICENSE A VEHICLE*, +HOW TC APPLY FOR A DRIVING LICENCE*, +HOW TO APPLY FOR BUSINESS REG ISTRATI ON*, +HO.. TO FILL IN A PROFITS TAX RETURN*, +HO'.. TO APPLY FOR A JOB WITH THE GOVERNMENT* AND, +HOW TO APPLY TO JOIN THE FIRE SERVICES*.

THEY CAN EE OBTAINED FREE OF CHARGE FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, CITY DISTRICT OFFICES, DISTRICT OFFICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND ALSO FROM THE RELEVANT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID: +WE HOPE PEOPLE WILL MAKE A POINT OF OBTAINING THESE LEAFLETS IF THEY ARE NOT SURE OF THE PROCEDURES INVOLVED AS IT COULD SAVE THEM A LOT OF TIME AND INCONVENIENCE.

+IT ALSO HELPS DEPARTMENTS DEAL WITH APPLICATIONS MORE EFFICIENTLY IF A PERSON KNOWS WHAT PARTICULARS HE IS REQUIRED TO PRODUCE.*

LEAFLETS ON OTHER SUBJECTS ARE NOW BEING PREPARED EY THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES IN CONSULTATION WITH THE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID EVENTUALLY ABOUT 40 DIFFERENT LEAFLETS WILL BE AVAILABLE, MOSTLY IN CHINESE, ALTHOUGH A FEW WILL EE PRODUCED IN ENGLISH AS WELL IF THE SUBJECT MATTER IS RELEVANT.

+FOR INSTANCE, ENGLISH VERSIONS WILL EE AVAILABLE SHORTLY ON HOW TO APPLY FOR A DRIVING LICENCE, HOW TO REGISTER AND LICENSE A VEHICLE, AND ALSO HOW TO APPLY FOR BUSINESS REGISTRATION, A BIRTH CERTIFICATE AND A MARRIAGE LICENCE,* HE ADDED.

0 - -

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN WESTERN DISTRICT * * * *

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT FROM 10 A.'.. ON TUESDAY (MAY 16) NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC ALONG HILL ROAD ..ILL EE PROHIBITED FROM TURNING LEFT INTO QUEEN’S ROAD ..EST.

AT THE SAME TIME THE EASTEOUND TRAFFIC ALONG <UEEi.’S F.OAD WEST WILL EE PROHIBITED FROM TURNING RIGHT INTO THE SOUTHBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF HILL ROAD.

APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS ..ILL BE SET UP TC GUIuE MOTOR I STS.

- 0 - -

IgisI Ism

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

MONDAY, MAY 15, 1978

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

NEW SYSTEM TO REPLACE JUNIOR CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION .............................................. 1

HIGHWAY PROJECTS IN NT.................................. 3

EMBLEM AND MURAL DESIGNS FOR TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL SELECTED ................................................. 4

WEATHER SUMMARY FOR.APR IL................................ 5

BALLOT FOR A TAXI LICENCE ................................ 7

YOUTH LEADERSHIP COURSE .................................. 7

PC LEUNG KUK BOARD CALLS ON DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE .................................................. 3

Issued by Government Information Services. Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191

MONDAY, MAY 15, 1978

NEW SYSTEM TO REPLACE JUNIOR CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION

******

THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. COLVYN HAYE, ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THERE WOULD BE NO FULL-SCALE FORMAL PUBLIC EXAM.(NATION AT THE END OF THE JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION COURSE IN FORM 3.

THERE WOULD EE A UNIFORM SYSTEM OF CERTIFICATION VALIDATED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT INSTEAD, BASED ON INTERNAL ASSESSMENTS GF A RAMGE OF SUBJECTS COMMONLY TAUGHT IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS, CAREFULLY SCALED BY A TEST OF LANGUAGE AND NUMBER.

INTERNAL ASSESSMENTS WOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SCHOOLS, AND THE SCALING OF THOSE ASSESSMENTS WOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF HIS DEPARTMENT, MR. HAYE SAID.

ALL CHILDREN COMPLETING FORM 3 IN THE NEV. SYSTEM WOULD RECEIVE A JUNIOR CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION, THE FIRST PART OF WHICH WOULD RELATE TO ACHIEVEMENT IN A RANGE OF SUBJECTS, AND THE SECOND PART TO THE PERSONALITY, POTENTIAL AND EXTRACURRICULA INTERESTS OF PUPILS. THESE ARRANGEMENTS WOULD APPLY TO ALL PRIMARY 6 LEAVERS WHO ENTER SECONDARY SCHOOLS THIS YEAR TO COMPLETE A THREE-YEAR JUNIOR SECONDARY COURSE IN 1981.

MR. HAYE SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT DECISION TO SCRAP A FULL-SCALE PUBLIC EXAMINATION AT FORM. 3 HAD BEEN TAKEN AS A RESULT OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF TWO WORKING PARTIES IN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC REACTION TO THEIR REPORTS, REFERENCE TO ALL THE MAJOR SCHOOL COUNCILS, AND THE ADVICE OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

THE SYSTEM TO REPLACE THE EXAMINATION HAD BEEN DRAWN FROM WIDELY REPRESENTATIVE PROFESSIONAL OPINION IN SCHOOLS AND THE DEPARTMENT. AND IT HAD BEEN SIMILARLY ENDORSED BY A NUMBER OF SCHOOL COUNCILS AND AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY IN THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

MR. HAYE SAID THAT HE HAD TODAY CIRCULARISED ALL SCHOOLS WITH DETAILS OF THE NEW SYSTEM BECAUSE IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT ALL PUPILS, PARENTS AND SCHOOLS CONCERNED SHOULD HAVE EARLY NOTICE OF ARRANGEMENTS WHICH WOULD AFFECT THE JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION COURSE COMMENCING IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR.

IN A PERSONAL LETTER TO ALL HEADS OF SCHOOLS, MR. HAYE HAD STRESSED THAT SIGNIFICANT WEIGHT WOULD BE PLACED ON THEIR ASSESSMENT OF A RANGE OF COMMONLY TAUGHT SUBJECTS ..HIGH SHOULD PROVIDE PUPILS WITH A BROAD BASE ON WHICH TO PROCEED WITH THEIR STUDIES IN SCHOOLS, TECHNICAL INSTITUTIONS CR ELSEWHERE. THE DEPARTMENT WOULD EE PARTICULARLY VIGILANT IN MONITORING SCHOOLS TO ENSURE THAT THERE WAS NC DELIBERATE DISTORTION OF CURRICULA AND TIME-TABLES TO THE NEGLECT OF CULTURAL AND PRACTICAL SUBJECTS.

/MB. HAYE ......

MONDAY, MAY 15, 1978

MR. HAYE WAS ALSO CAREFUL TO POINT OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT DECISION IN NO WAY PREEMPTED THE WHITE PAPER ON SENIOR SECONDARY AND TERTIARY EDUCATION WHICH WAS DUE FOR PUBLICATION LATER THIS YEAR. THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS WOULD SERVE NOT ONLY TO PROVIDE A CERTIFICATE F3R THOSE WHO WISHED TO LEAVE SCHOOL TO WORK, BUT ALSO PROVIDE THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WITH AN EFFECTIVE MEANS TO SELECT AND ALLOCATE CHILDREN FOR SUBSIDISED EDUCATION POST-FORM 3- SOME FORM OF SELECTION, IF ONLY FOR ALLOCATION, WOULD EE NECESSARY WHATEVER WAS DECIDED BY THE WHITE PAPER.

TURNING TO DETAILS OF THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS, MR. HAYE OBSERVED THAT WHILE IT WAS POSSIBLE TO STATE CLEARLY .<HAT WAS INTENDED FOR SCHOOL ASSESSMENTS AND CERTIFICATION IN EROAD TERMS, THE PRECISE DETAILS OF THE MEANS BY WHICH THE DEPARTMENT WOULD SCALE AND MONITOR ASSESSMENTS DEPENDED ON FURTHER EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH IN WHICH HIS OFFICERS WERE ACTIVELY ENGAGED, AND THESE WOULD BE ANNOUNCED BY SEPTEMBER NEXT YEAR.

WHAT COULD BE SAID NOW WAS THAT THIS WOULD INVOLVE A TEST IN THE USE OF BASIC LANGUAGES (CHINESE AND ENGLISH) AND THE USE OF NUMBER (MATHEMATICS), WITH THE IMPORTANT REMINDER THAT THE TEST WOULD BE SO DEVISED THAT SCHOOLS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CRAM FOR IT.

CONSIDERATION WAS BEING GIVEN TO THE SUGGESTION OF A NUMBER OF EDUCATIONAL COUNCILS THAT AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF HEADS OF SCHOOLS AND OTHERS EE APPOINTED TO OVERSEE THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS, MR. HAYE ADDED.

IN ANY CASE, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WOULD CAREFULLY MONITOR THE EFFECT OF THE NEW SYSTEM ON TEACHING AND THE SCHOOL CURRICULn AND REPLACE IT IF NECESSARY BY SOMETHING BETTER. THERE WOULD BE A REVIEW BY 1983.

THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF THE IMPORTANCE OF TECHNICAL

EDUCATION TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO STRESS SUBJECTS IN SCHOOLS.

NOT ALL SCHOOLS HAD FACILITIES YET FOR THESE SUBJECTS BUT THE DEPARTMENT WAS DOING ALL IT COULD TO HELP, INCLUDING ENCOURAGING THE EXPANSION OF ART RELATED TO DESIGN, AND WHILE IT WOULD EE DIFFICULT TO SCALE THESE SUBJECTS EFFECTIVELY, THEY SHOULD NOT EE NEGLECTED.

A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF FORM 3 LEAVERS WOULD OPPORTUNITIES IN THE PRESENT TECHNICAL INSTITUTES ARRANGEMENTS WOULD GIVE THEM EVERY ENCOURAGEMENT. FROM PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOLS WOULD RECEIVE PRIORITY ALLOCATION FOR TECHNICAL COURSES.

EE LOOKING TO

AND THE NEW

ALSO, STUDENTS

IN SELECTION AND

MR. HAYE THEN SUMMARISED SALIENT FEATURES OF THE NEW SYSTEM WHICH IS TO REPLACE THE ORIGINALLY PROPOSED FULL-SCALE FORMAL JCE EXAMINATION IN 1981 AND SAID THAT HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT PUPILS, PARENTS AND SCHOOLS WOULD WELCOME HIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

MONDAY, MAY 15, 1978

HIGHWAY PROJECTS IN NT * * * * *

A DOZEN MAJOR PROJECTS OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ARE EITHER IN HAND OR UNDER INVESTIGATION TO IMPROVE THE ROAD SYSTEM

IL THE NEW TERRITORIES.

THIS WAS DISCLOSED BY MR. AU CHI-LAU, SENIOR ENGINEER, P.W.D.’S HIGHWAYS OFFICE, AT A LIONS CLUE DINNER MEETING TODAY.

MR. AU EXPLAINED THAT THE PRESENT EXPANDED HIGHWAY SYSTEM IN THE NEW TERRITORIES GENERALLY FOLLOWED PROPOSALS OUTLINED IN THE PAPER +TRANSPORT IN HONG KONG.+

HE SAID THAT WHILE THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED VEHICLES HAD DOUBLED DURING THE LAST DECADE, THE TOTAL ROAD MILEAGE THROUGHOUT HONG KONG HAD INCREASED BY 14 PER CENT.

HOWEVER, HE SAID, THIS DID NOT TRULY REFLECT THE WORK THAT HAD BEEN DONE TO IMPROVE THE TRAFFIC SITUATION.

IT DID NOT INCLUDE WORKS SUCH AS THOSE ON EASING BENDS, AND WIDENING ROADS. WORK SUCH AS THIS, HE EXPLAINED, IMPROVED THE SITUATION BUT IN FACT OFTEN REDUCED THE LENGTH OF ROAD.

THE MAJOR PROJECTS MR. AU OUTLINED IN HIS TALK INCLUDED:

+THE CLEARWATER BAY ROAD IMPROVEMENT SCHEME WHICH IS TO

COST MORE THAN $40 MILLION, AND IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN 1981.

+THE LION ROCK TUNNEL AND TUNNEL ROAD. THE ORIGINAL

TUNNEL IS BEING REFURBISHED, AND CONSTRUCTION OF A SECOND CARRIAGEWAY OF THE LION ROCK TUNNEL ROAD IS IN HA* COMPLETION DATE IS EXPECTED TO BE LATER THIS YEAR.

+THE NEW TERRITORIES TRUNK ROAD WHICH WILL PASS THROUGH TAI PO, SHEK KONG, PAT HEUNG AND ON TO AU TAU.

+THE TING KOK ROAD WIDENING PROGRAMME WILL BE COMPLETED EARLY NEXT YEAR, AND WILL PROVIDE BETTER ACCESS TO TAI PO INDUSTRIAL ESTATE.

+IN THE PLANNING STAGE IS THE NEW TERRITORIES CIRCULAR

ROAD WHICH WILL CATER FOR DEVELOPMENT OF FANLING, SHEUNG SHU I AND THE ADJACENT AREAS. EXISTING ROADS IN THE AREA WILL ALSO BE IMPROVED OR WIDENED.

+THE PRESENT CARRIAGEWAY BETWEEN YUEN LONG AND AU TAU TOO, WILL BE WIDENED TC DUAL TWO-LANE STANDARD. WORK STARTS EARLY NEXT YEAR AND WILL EE FINISHED IN LATE 1980.

+STAGE TWO OF THE TUEN MUN HIGHWAY — ANOTHER THREE LANES — SHOULD BE COMPLETED AROUND THE END OF 1980.

OTHER PROJECTS INCLUDED THE TSUEN WAN BY-PASS, IMPROVEMENTS TO THE TSUEN WAN - KWAI CHUNG ROAD, SOUTH LANTAU ROAD AND THE ROADS FROM SHA TIN TO TSUEN WAN AND SHA TIN TO LA I CHI KOK.

-----0------

MONDAY, MAY 15, 1978

EMBLEM AND MURAL DESIGNS FOR TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL SELECTED ******

A GROUP OF ACCOMPLISHED ARTISTS AND DESIGNERS PUT THEIR CREATIVE HEADS TOGETHER TODAY (MONDAY) TO JUDGE ABOUT 600 ENTRIES TO A SERIES OF DESIGN COMPETITIONS LAUNCHED EY THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD IN JANUARY THIS YEAR.

THEY JOINED THREE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY BOARD AND SENIOR OFFICERS OF THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICE IN JUDGING THE EMBLEM AND MURAL DESIGNS FOR THE NEW £23 MILLION TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL SUBMITTED BY LOCAL ARTISTS AND SCHOOL STUDENTS.

AMONG THE JUDGES WERE MR. M. FARR, HEAD OF HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC’S DESIGN DEPARTMENT- MR. TAO HO, WELL-KNOWN ARCHITECT AND DESIGNER- MR. LEE FUK-WAH AND MR. VAN LAU, BOTH RENOWNED SCULPTORS- MR. FREDERICK WOO, PWD’S PROJECT ARCHITECT AND MR. GERARD TSANG, ACTING CURATOR OF THE MUSEUM OF ART, CITY HALL.

THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD JUDGES WERE MR. CHAN PO-FONG, MR. CHAN KAI-CHUNG AND MR. LAM KIN-MING, WHO WERE ASSISTED BY THE BOARD SECRETARY MR. BENJAMIN TANG.

AT THEIR JUDGING SESSION, THE BEST DESIGN FOR AN EMBLEM AND THREE MURALS WERE CHOSEN FOR USE IN THE TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL WHICH WILL BE READY LATE NEXT YEAR, PROVIDING A WELL-EQUIPPED AUDITORIUM AND OTHER FACILITIES ALONG THE LINES OF HONG KONG CITY HALL TO MEET THE CULTURAL NEEDS OF THE NEW TOWN.

THERE WERE 180 ENTRIES FROM HONG KONG RESIDENTS TO THE EMBLEM DESIGN COMPETITION, THE THEME OF WHICH IS ON TSUEN WAN.

IN THE MURAL DESIGN COMPETITION, A TOTAL OF 419 ENTRIES WERE RECEIVED, AND THEY WERE SPLIT INTO THREE GROUPS— GROUND-FLOOR MURAL, FIRST-FLOOR MURAL AND SECOND-FLOOR MURAL.

THE THEME OF THIS COMPETITION IS +TSUEN WAN—OLD AND NEW+.

THE BOARD SECRETARY, MR. BENJAMIN TANG SAID TODAY THAT IT WAS ENCOURAGING TO WITNESS THE OVERWHELMING RESPONSE TO THE COMPETITIONS—THE FIRST MAJOR COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROJECT UNDERTAKEN BY THE BOARD SINCE IT WAS SET UP SIX MONTHS AGO.

+BECAUSE OF THE HIGH STANDARD OF THE ENTRIES, THE PANEL OF JUDGES HAD FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO SELECT THE WINNING DESIGNS,* HE SAID.

+INITIAL JUDGEMENTS HAD NOW BEEN COMPLETED AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE JUDGES ..ILL SHORTLY BE PRESENTED TO THE BOARD FOR ENDORSEMENT.

+ IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE RESULTS WILL BE MADE KNOWN LATER THIS MONTH.*

/THERE WILL......

MONDAY, MAY 15, 1978

THERE .'.ILL BE A CASH PRIZE OF .5,333 AND A TROPHY EACH FOP THE WINNING EMBLEM AND THE GROUND-FLOOR MURAL DESIGN, AND THREE CONSOLATION PRIZES OF ;!,□□□ EACH FOR BOTH GROUPS.

AS FOR THE FIRST-FLOOR AND SECOND-FLOOR MURAL GROUPS, THERE ..'ILL ALSO EE ONE FIRST PRIZE OF EOOK COUPONS a OR TH w533 AND A TROPHY EACH, PLUS 10 CONSOLATION PRIZES OF BOOK COUPONS ..■ORTH 0300 EACH.

- - 0 - -

HONG KONG MONTHLY WEATHER SUMMARY * * * * *

HONG KONG EXPERIENCED TEN DAYS WITH THUNDERSTORMS LAST MONTH (APRIL) — THE HIGHEST FIGURE RECORDED BY THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY IN ANY APRIL SINCE 1926.

ACCORDING TO THE MONTHLY LEATHER SUMMARY PUBLISHED BY THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY TODAY, THE TOTAL RAINFALL OF LAST MONTH AMOUNTED TO 237 MM WHICH IS 75 PER CENT ABOVE AVERAGE, WHILE THE ACCUMULATED RAINFALL FROM JANUARY 1 UNTIL APR IL 33 IS 419.° V.M OR 161.9 MM ABOVE AVERAGE.

LAST MONTH WAS ALSO CLOUDIER AND MORE HUMID THAN USUAL WITH CLOUDINESS AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY ABOVE NORMAL BY SEVEN PER CE’:T AND FOUR PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.

THE ONLY TROPICAL CYCLONE — TYPHOON OLIVE -- REPORTED DURING THE month OVER THE WESTERN NORTH PACIFIC OR THE SOUTH CHIKA SEA 'VAS ONE OF THE FEW TYPHOON'S THAT HAVE EVER THREATENED HONG KONG IL APRIL. THE LAST ONE WAS TYPHOON VIOLET IN APRIL 1967.

DURING THE MONTH TWO AIRCRAFT WERE DIVERTED FRO!-: HONG KONG DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER.

THE FIRST TEN DAYS OF APRIL VERE GLOOMY AND DULL WITH RAH REPORTED EVERY DAY.

THE PASSAGE OF A WEAK COLD FRONT ON APRIL 1 CLEARED THE FOG AND GAVE RISE TO SLIGHTLY COOLER CONDITIONS.

ON THE MORNING OF APRIL 3, TEMPERATURE FELL TO A Ml Nii'U.K OF 15.1 DEGREES WHICH WAS THE LOWEST IN THE MONTH.

FOGGY CONDITIONS RETURNED ON APRIL 5 AND PERSISTED UNTIL THE ARRIVAL OF A DRIER AIRSTREAM FRO’’ THE NORTHEAST THE FOLLOW I "G AFTERNOON.

THUNDERSTORMS AND HEAVY RAIN WERE EXPERIENCED ON APRIL 3 Ak'D '’ASA SLOW-MOVING UPPER TROUGH APPROACHED HO’.G KO! G FRO’ THE WEST.

/A weak

MONDAY, MAY 15, 1978

6 -

A WEAK RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE COVERED SOUTHEAST CHINA FROM APRIL 11 TO 14 AND THE WEATHER IN HONG KONG WAS MAINLY FINE APART FROM SOME FOG ON APRIL 11 TO 13.

SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WERE AGAIN REPORTED ON APRIL 15

AND 16. RAIN WAS HEAVIEST BETWEEN S P.l'.. AND 11 P.M. ON APRIL 16 WHEN A COLD FRONT ARRIVED OVER HONG KONG.

DURING THESE THREE HOURS THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY RECORDED 52.7 MM OF RAINFALL OR NEARLY A QUARTER OF THE MONTH’S TOTAL.

• WEATHER GRADUALLY IMPROVED ON APRIL IB AND BECAME FINE AND SUNNY FROM APRIL 20 TO 21 WITH FOG AT SEA EARLY ON APRIL 20.

A WEAK COLD FRONT REACHED THE SOUTH CHINA COAST ON THE EVENING OF APRIL 21 AND CONDITIONS BECAME MAINLY CLOUDY DURING THE FOLLOWING SIX DAYS.

ALTHOUGH TYPHOON OLIVE WAS OVER- THE NORHTERN PART OF THE SOUTH CHINA SEA FROM APRIL 23 TO 25, IT HAD LITTLE EFFECT ON THE WEATHER.

IT WAS BRILLIANTLY FINE ON THE MORNING OF APRIL 25 AND IN THE AFTERNOON A MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 31.5 DEGREES WAS RECORDED, THE HIGHEST IN THE MONTH.

A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE REMAINED STATIONARY NEAR THE SOUTH CHINA COAST FROM APRIL 28 UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH AND GAVE RISE TC FREQUENT SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS.

RAIN WAS VERY HEAVY ON THE MORNING OF APRIL 28 AND FLOODING WAS REPORTED IN MANY LOCATIONS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE HARBOUR.

-----o------

MONDAY, MAY 15, 1978

BALLOT FOR A TAXI LICENCE * * * * *

A PUBLIC BALLOT WILL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY (MAY 17) TO DETERMINE ACCEPTANCE OF THOSE TENDERS OFFERING AN IDENTICAL UNIT PREMIUM OF 3206,510 FOR THE ALLOCATION OF ONE HONG KONG AND KOWLOON TAXI LICENCE WHICH REMAINS AVAILABLE.

299 OF THE 300 NEW URBAN TAXI LICENCES HAVE ALREADY BEEN ALLOCATED TO TENDERERS OFFERING A UNIT PREMIUM IN EXCESS OF 3206,510.

THE BALLOT WILL TAKE PLACE AT 2.30 P.M. AT THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT’S LICENSING OFFICE ON THE MEZZANINE FLOOR, 2 MURRAY ROAD.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY ONLY THREE TENDERERS ARE INVOLVED.

- - 0 - -

PO LEUNG KUK BOARD CALLS ON DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE

*****

THE NEW MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF PO LEUNG KUK, LED BY THE CHAIRMAN, MR. MERVYN LAW, TODAY PAID A COURTESY CALL ON THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE.

THE GROUP WAS RECEIVED BY MR. LEE AND THE ACTING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (SOCIAL WELFARE), MRS. EVELYN DOE, AT THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S HEADQUARTERS IN CAUSEWAY EAY.

THEY HELD AN HOUR-LONG DISCUSSION IN WHICH MR. LAW THANKED THE DEPARTMENT FOR ITS GUIDANCE TO THE KUK AND EXPLAINED THE KUK’S FUTURE EXPANSION PROGRAMMES IN THE FIELD OF WELFARE SERVICES FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

HE SAID THE EXPANSION PROGRAMMES INCLUDED PLANS FOR A RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION CENTRE WITH TRAINING FACILITIES FCR THE MENTALLY RETARDED.

MR. LEE EXPRESSED HIS SUPPORT FOR THE PLANS AND PRAISED THE KUK FOR ITS ACHIEVEMENTS ARD GOOD WCRK IN WELFARE SERVICES. HE TOLD THE VISITING GROUP THAT HIS DEPARTMENT HOPED TO CONTINUE TO HAVE CLOSE COOPERATION FROM THE KUK.

0 - -

MONDAY, MAY 15, 1978

- 8 -

SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT OFFERING LEADERSHIP COURSE

********

THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IS ORGANISING A 'TRAINING LABORATORY’ NEXT MONTH (JUNE) TO TRAIN UP YOUNG PEOPLE AS GROUP LEADERS.

THE 'TRAINING LABORATORY’, A COMMUNITY PROJECT PLANNED BY THE DEPARTMENT’S YOUTH WORK UNIT, WILL PROVIDE A SEVEN-DAY COURSE ON SUCH TOPICS AS DECISION-MAKING, GROUP DEVELOPMENT AND PERSONAL INFLUENCE IN GROUPS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY APPLICATIONS FOR THE COURSE WERE NOW INVITED FROM YOUNG PEOPLE AGED BETWEEN 17 AND 25 WITH A MINIMUM EDUCATION LEVEL OF FORM 4.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE 'TRAINING LABORATORY’ WAS AN APPROACH IN .(HICH PARTICIPANTS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO TAKE PART ACTIVELY IN GROUP ACTIVITIES AND SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSIONS ON EXPERIENCES GAINED.

+DURING THE COURSE, POTENTIAL LEADERS IN YOUTH GROUPS LILL BE TRAINED IN THEIR UNDERSTANDING TOWARDS THE DYNAMICS OF GROUP PROCESS,* HE SAID.

+PARTICI PANTS WILL LEARN MORE THROUGH PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT RATHER THAN BY WAY OF ACADEMIC LECTURES,* HE ADDED.

THE COURSE WILL EE HELD FROM JUNE 11 AT THE DEPARTMENT’S LADY TRENCH TRAINING CENTRE IN WAN CHAI, AND LATER, IN THE FORM OF A TRAINING CAMP, AT THE WESLEY VILLAGE COMMUNITY CENTRE IN TAI HANG ROAD.

APPLICATION FORMS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE YOUTH WORK UNIT ON THE TOP FLOOR OF KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING AT 435, NATHAN RCAD, KOWLOON. ENQUIRIES MAY EE MADE BY TELEPHONE OR 3-884111 EXTENSIONS 334 OR 331.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID APPLICATIONS SHOULD EE MADE BEFORE THE END CF THIS MONTH.

-----o------

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

TUESDAY, MAY 16, 1973

COMTENTS PAGE NO.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ENDORSES DECISION OF ACTING DI RE-TOR OF EDUCATION....................................... 1

SOCIAL SECURITY APPEAL BOARD STARTS OPERATION ............... 2

TRADE FIGURES FOR JANUARY-MARCH ............................. 3

SECURITIES COMMISSION APPOINTS INSPECTORS ................... c

SPECIAL POLICE ADVISER TO . .EET THE PRESS ................

“22 MILLION CONTRACT FOR POSTAL MECHANISATION EQUIPMENT .. 9

REVISED PORT SIGNALS LEAFLET ON SALE ........................ 9

SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS AT TREE-PLANTING CEREMONY ....... 10

YAM CHAI HOSPITAL 30ARD CALLS ON DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE .................................................... 10

TRAFFIC RE-ROUTING IN HUNG HOM............................. 11

SALT WATER CUT.............................................. 11

Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191

TUESDAY, MAY 16, 1970

—XtCUTIVc COUr.ClL cNDORotS Jc^lolcil vF ACTING DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION ******

AT ITS FIRST MEETING FOLLOW ING THE CLOSURE OF THE PRECIOUo BLOOD GOLDEN JUBILEE SECONDARY SCHOOL, THE EXECUTIVE COIRCJL TODAY (TUESDAY) UNANIMOUSLY ENDORSED THE ACTING DIRECTOR Or EDUCATION’S DECISION, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN’ SAID.

+THE COUNCIL FULLY AGREED THAT THE CLOSURE NAS A PRACTICAL RECESSITY+ THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE CCIN'CIL ADVISED THAT DETAILED CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVE; TO MEASURES AIMED AT PREVENT IBG_ A RECURRENCE OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS. IN THE LIGHT OF THIS A-AIOz, TEE GOVERNOR HAS APPOINTED A COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THIS END.

THE SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED THAT THE COMMITTEE’S TASK IS TO CONSIDER WHAT LESSORS CAR DE LEARNT FROM THE PRECIOUS BLOOD CASE AND TO RECOMMEND WHAT POSITIVE STEPS SHOULD EE TAKER TO AVOID SIMILAR PROBLEMS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS I; FUTURE. IT ..ILL DE READY TO LISTER TO ’..'HAT ALL CONCERNED HAVE TO SAY.

THE COMMITTEE’S TERMS OF REFERENCE ARE:

♦HAVING REGARD TO THE CLOSURE OF THE PRECIOUS BLOOD GOLDEN JUBILEE SECONDARY SCHOOL, TC MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR OK WHAT MEASURES SHOULD DE TAKEN TO AVOID A RECURRENCE OF A SIMILAR STATE OF AFFAIRS II SECONDARY SCHOOLS IK THE PUBLIC SECTOR.

AS SCHOOLS OPEN IN EARLY SEPTEMBER THE COMMITTEE SIRULD SUBMIT AR INTERIM REPORT BEFORE 1ST AUGUST 1970.+

THE COMMITTEE '..'ILL BE CHAIRED BY DR. THE HON. R. Y30N HUANG, LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, V ICE-CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG AND A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION. THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE A ILL DE:

MRS. MAISIE SHIK-U WONG, MEMBER OF THE HONG KONG EM,'Ml ,'TICKS AUTHORITY, MEMBER OF THE TELEVISION ADVISB.'.Y CCVi.D AUD A BARR ISTER-AT-LA’., DY PROFESSION.

MR. LO KING-MAK, MEMBER OF THE HONG KCNG EXAMINATIONS AUTHORITY, AND ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR (COMMERCE AND DESIGN) HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC.

-----0------

TUESDAY, MAY 16, 1973

SOCIAL SECURITY APPEAL BOARD STARTS OPERATION ******

THE NEWLY-ESTABLISHED SOCIAL SECURITY APPEAL EOARD IS ".Q\.

READY TO RECEIVE APPEALS FROM ANYONE DISSATISFIED ..ITH THE SOCIAL ..ELFARE DEPARTMENT’S DECISIONS ON ELIGIBILITY AND PAYMENT OF SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS.

THE THREE-MEMBER INDEPENDENT EOARD HAS BEEN SET UP WITH SECRETARIAL SUPPORT FROM. THE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE A SPEEDY MEANS OF REDRESS FOR PERSONS WHO .. ISH TO HAKE THE APPEALS.

IT FORMS PART OF THE MAJOR IMPORVEMENTS ADOPTED FOR IMPLEMENTATION AS PROPOSED BY THE GREER PAPER ON SOCIAL SECURITY DEVELOPMENT.

MRS. MAXINE KWOK HAS DEEN APPOINTED CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD .. ITr •’•ADAM POW SHU I-PI NG AND MF.. VICTOR FUNG AS THE OTHER TWO MEMBERS. MORE MEMBERS FOR THE BOARD ..ILL BE APPOINTED IF THE CASELOAD WARRANTS IT.

ANNOUNCING DETAILS OF THE FUNCTIONS AND PROCEDURES OF THE APPEAL SYSTEM, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY AN APPEAL MAY BE LODGED EY ANY PERSON APPLYING FOR OR RECEIVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE OR WELFARE ALLOWANCE.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE PERSON MAY APPEAL AGAINST A DECISION OF THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE ON MATTERS CONCERNING THE REFUSAL OF ANY PAYMENT, iHE AMOUNT OR THE DATE FROM WHICH PAY. ENT WAS OFFERED, OR THE ISSUING OF PAYMENT TO A PERSON OTHER THAN THE APPLICANT.

+AN APPEAL MUST BE MADE WITHM FOUR WEEKS OF NOTIFICATION OF THE DECISIO! , BY GIVING NOTICE I'. WRITING AT THE DEPARTMENT’S HEADQUARTERS OR AT ANY OF THE 26 SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNITS CONCE.;:.ED,+ HE SAID.

APPEAL FORMS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THESE PLACES AND THE APPELLA 7 WOULD EE GIVEN REASONABLE NOTICE OF THE DATE AND PLACE OF HEARING.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID HEARINGS WOULD EE INFORMAL WITHOUT LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND WOULD EE CONDUCTED AT THE BOARD’S OFFICE AT INTERNATIONAL BUILDING 1.0' CENTRAL I:. THE LANGUAGE BEST SUITED TO THE APPELLANT.

HE SAID BOTH THE APPELLANT AND THE DIRECTOR CF SOCIAL WELFARE WOULD EE GIVEN AN OPPORTU’.’ITY OF PRESENTING THEIR CASE I'. ..SITING, EITHER IN CHINESE OR ENGLISH.

♦DURING A HEARING, THE APPELLA’T MAY CHOOSE TC PRESENT HIS CASE PERSONALLY, OR IF THE EOARD AGREES, A FRIEND OF RELATIVE COULD LPEAH CN HIS BEHALF,+ HE SAID.

THE DIRECTOR CF SOCIAL WELFARE .ILL EE ENTITLED TC BE REPRESENTED aT THE HEARING AND TC PUT FORWARD HIS CASE, HE ..DEED.

/however,

TUESDAY, MAY 16, 1978

HOWEVER HE SAID, IF THE APPELLANT OR ANY OTHER PARTY CONCERLtD AFTER HAVING BEEN DULY NOTIFIED, FAILS TO APPEAR AT THE HEARING WITH CUT REASONABLE EXCUSE, THE BOARD HAY PROCEED TO CONSIDER AI'.DvcTcR-H.INE THE MATTER IN HIS ABSENCE OR POSTPONE THE HEARING AT I To

DISCRETION.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID; +WHEN SITTING TO HEAR APPEALS, THE BOARD 'JILL CONSIST OF THE CHAIRMAN AND THE T.,0 MEMBERS.*

+THE BOARD WILL DECIDE ON AN INDIVIDUAL APPEAL CASE BASED ON THE FACTS PRESENTED TO IT, AND ITS DECISION ON THAT CASE WILL BE FINAL ALTHOUGH IT WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A PRECEDENT EITHER FOR_THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE OR FOR OTHER CASES COMING BEFORE THe

BOARD.

+THE DECISION OF THE BOARD IN EACH APPEAL CASE WILL EE NOTIFIED IN WRITING TO THE APPELLANT AND TO DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE,* He SAID.

IN ORDER TO FACILITATE ATTENDANCE AT HEARINGS, HE SAID, ARRANGEMENTS WOULD BE MADE FOR TRAVELLING EXPENSES OF APPELLANTS TC DE REIMBURSED' IF THEY SO WISH.

TRADE FIGURES FOR JANUARY-MARCH *****

THE VALUE OF HONG KONG’S DOMESTIC EXPORTS FOR THE FIRST

THREE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR WAS 07,705 MILLION — AN INCREASE

OF SIX PER CENT COMPARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR, ACCORD I. M TO TRADE FIGURES RELEASED BY THE CENSUS AMD STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY.

THE FIGURES ALSO SHOWED THAT THE VALUE OF IMPORTS ROSE BY 17.4 PER CENT TO 013,076 MILLION AND RE-EXPORTS UP 16.9 3ER CENT TC 02,646 MILLION COMPARED WITH THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD LAST YEAR.

/THE following......

TUESDAY, MAY 16, 1978

- 4 -

THE FOLLOWING TAELE SHOWS HONG KONG’S DOMESTIC EXPORTS

TO 10 MAJOR OVERSEAS MARKETS THIS YEAR:- IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF

JAN.-MAR. 1977 (HKV MN.) JAN.-MAR. 1973 (HK3 m;;.) INCREASE/ DECREASE (HK3 MN.) PERCENTAGE CHANGE

U.S.A. 2,561 2,790 +228 + 3.9%

E R. OF GERMANY 334 833 - 2 - 3.2%

UNITED KINGDOM 633 638 + 9 + 1.4%

AUSTRALIA 321 337 - 14 ” A ■ c./'.

JAPAN 261 311 + 50 +19.1J0

CANADA * 253 251 — 2 - 0.9!-

SINGAPORE 189 216 + 26 +14.3%

•

THE NETHERLANDS 175 178 + 3 + 1.7%

SWITZERLAND AND

LIECHTENSTEIN 146 151 + 6 + 3-8;'

SWEDEN 160 109 - 52 -32.2"

EXPORTS TO THE U.S. INCREASED FAVOURABLY BECAUSE OF ENCOURAGING PERFORMANCE IN SALES CF ARTICLES OF APPAREL AND CLOTHING ACCESSORIES (Cl, 360 ■' ILL ION, +11. 6 PER CENT) AND WATCHES AND CLOCKS (0137 MILLION, +56.5 PER CENT).

THESE INCREASES MORE THAN COMPENSATED FOR THE SIGNIFICANT DECLINES IN EXPORTS OF RADIO RECEIVERS ( 119 MILLION, -33.4 PER CENT) AND PLASTIC TOYS AND DOLLS (3174 . ILLICN, -10.7 PER CENT).

EXPORT SALES TO F.R. OF GERMANY AND U.K. SHOWED A CONSIDERABLE IMPROVEMENT IN MARCH, MAINLY IN SALES CF ARTICLES CF APPAREL AND CLOTHING ACCESSORIES AND CF ..ATCHES AND CLOCKS.

WHILE DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO SWEDEN DECLINED MARKEDLY IN THE FACE OF SETBACKS IN EXPORTS CF ARTICLES OF APPAREL, EXPORTS TO JAPAN AND SINGAPORE SHOWED SIGNIFICANT INCREASES.

/an ANALYSIS .....

TUESDAY, MAY 16, 1978

- 5 -

AN ANALYSIS OF THE CHANGES lb! EXPORTS EY MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS IS AS FOLLOWS-;—

X JAK.-MAR. JAL.-MAR. INCREASE/ DECREASE rERCERTAGE

1977 (HK3 MN.) 1978 (HK$ MN.)

(HKS MN.) CHANGE

ARTICLES OF APPAREL AND CLOTHING ACCESSORIES 2,855 2,857 + 3 + o.r,-

MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (MAINLY PLASTIC TOYS AND DOLLS) 1,148 1,174 + 26 + 2.3/

PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, OPTICAL GOODS, WATCHES AND CLOCKS 379 591 +212 +56.17-

TEXTILE YARN, FABRICS, MADE-UP ARTICLES AND RELATED PRODUCTS 609 572 — 33 - 6.2:

TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT 603 558 - 45 - 7.5/

ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLICANCES (MAINLY TRANSISTORS AND DIODES AND HOUSEHOLD TYPE EQUIPMENT) 374 427 + 53 +14.1/

IN TERMS OF INDIVIDUAL COMMODITIES, EXPORTS OF PLASTIC TOYS AND DOLLS (3411 MILLION, -9.6 PER CENT), RADIO RECEIVERS (3307 MILLION, -32.2 PER CENT), TEXTILE YARN („31 MILLION, -16.5 PER CENT), AND TEXTILE MADE-UP ARTICLES ( ,c5 MILLION, -16.2 PER CENT), DROPPED SUBSTANTIALLY. THESE DECLINES .'PRE OFFSET EY A SIGNIFICANT UPSURGE IN EXPORTS OF LATCHES ARD CLOCKS (3480 MILLION. +67.6 PER CENT).

/THE CHANGES .....

TUESDAY, MAY 16, 1978

THE CHANGES AS FOLLOWS:- IN IMPORTS FROM 13 MAJOR SOURCES ARE SUMMARISED

JAN.-MAR. 1977 (HK3 MN.) JAN.-MAR. 1973 (HKC MN.) INCREASE/ DECREASE (HKO MM.) PERCENTAGE CHANGE

JAPAN 2,445 2,935 +460 +18.a;:

CH 1 NA 1,329 2,136 +307 +i6.s%

U.S.A. 1,469 1,617 +148 +10.1%

TAIWAN 799 322 + 23 + 2.8$;

SINGAPORE 636 716 + 80 +12.6%

UNITED KINGDOM 493 573 + 80 +16.3%

SOUTH KOREA 372 416 + 44 +11.7%

F.R. OF GERMANY’ 325 445 +119 +36.7%

SWITZERLAND AND LIECHENSTEIN 293 383 + 98 +33.9%

AUSTRALIA 198 243 + 50 +25.3%

THERE WAS AN ACTIVE DEMAND FOR IMPORTS FROM OUR 13 ’ AJOR SUPPLIERS IN MARCH.

THE INCREASE IN IMPORTS FROM JAPAN COMPRISED MAINLY CONSUMER GOODS AND RAW MATERIALS.

SHARP INCREASES OCCURRED IN TEXTILE YARN, FABRICS, MADE-UP ARTICLES AND RELATED PRODUCTS (513 MILLION, +21.6 PER CENT) AND PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, OPTICAL GOODS AND ..'ATCHES AND CLOCKS (3354 MILLION, +43.3 PER CENT).

IN ADDITION, IMPORTS OF LIVE ANIMALS (.272 ..ILL ION, +19.2 PER CENT), VEGETABLES AND FRUITS (316? MILLION, +17.£ PER CENT), TEXTILE FABRICS (J237 MILLION, +53.2 PER GENT) AND PETROLED. AND PETROLEUM PRODUCTS G159 MILLION, +85.4 PER CENT) FROM CHINA ALSO ADVANCED REMARKABLY.

/THE following .....

TUESDAY, MAY 16, 1978

THE FOLLOWING TABLE ILLUSTRATES THE IMPORTANT CHANGES IN IMPORTS BY COMMODITY SECT IONS

JAN.-MAR. JAN.-MAR. INCREASE/ PERCENTAGE

1977 1978 DECREASE

(HK5 MN.) (HK3 MN.) (HK$ MN.) CHANGE

MANUFACTURED GOODS CLASSIFIED CHIEFLY BY MATERIAL

(MAINLY TEXTILE PRODUCTS AND DIAMONDS) 3,269 4,011 +742 +22.7/c

MACHINERY AND TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT 2,173 2,578 +405 +18.6%

FOOD AND LIVE ANIMALS CHIEFLY FOR FOOD 1,709 1,838 +129 + 7.5%

MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (MAINLY WATCHES AND CLOCKS, ARTICLES OF APPAREL) 1,297 1,668 +371 +28.6%

CHEMICALS AND RELATED PRODUCTS 346 930 + 83 + 9.9%

IN TERMS OF INDIVIDUAL COMMODITIES, IMPORTS OF TEXTILE FABRICS AND TEXTILE’YARN ..'ERE VALUED AT 31.029 MILLION, (+13.5 PER CENT) AND 5614 MILLION (+11.8 PER CENT) RESPECTIVELY.

THERE WAS ALSO A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE IMPORTS OF PEARLS, PRECIOUS AND SEMI-PRECIOUS STONES (3777 MILLION) WHICH REGISTERED A 58.8, PER CENT INCREASE II; VALUE.

OTHER REMARKABLE ADVANCES IL’ IMPORTS WERE RECORDED IN WATCHES AND CLOCKS (.,587 MILLION, +37.1 PER CENT), ROAD VEHICLES (..333 MILLION, +47.3 PER CENT) AND OFFICE MACHINES AND AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT (3282 I ILL ION, +38.4 PER CELT).

RE-EXPORTS TO JAPAN AMOUNTED TO ;.432 MILLION, AN INCREASE OF 16.1 PER CENT OVER THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.

THE BULK OF INCREASE OCCURRED IK PEARLS, PRECIOUS AND SEMI-PRECIOUS STOLES (.161 MILLION, +62.3 PER CENT) AND TEXTILE FIBRES (32? MILLION, +819.8 PER CENT).

WITH INCREASING RE-EXPORTS OF MOTOR VEHICLES, THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS TO INDONESIA NEARLY DOUBLED (.324 MILL ION, +99.2 PER CENT).

SIMILARLY, FAVOURABLE GRC'..TH RATES WERE REGISTERED IN REEXPORTS TO SINGAPORE (.310 MILLION, +25.9 PER CENT) AND U.S.A. (J237 MILLION, +21.6 PER CENT).

TUESDAY, HAY Id, 1970

SECURITIES COMMISSION APPOINTS INSPECTORS

*****>•

THE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS ANNOUNCED THE APPOINTEMEHT OF INSPECTORS TO EXAMINE THE AFFAIRS OF SIU KING CHEUNG Hli.G YIP CC. LTD. AND THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THAT COMPANY AND SAN IMPERIAL CORPORATION LTD., KAR YAU LTD. AND HOWARD LAND AND INVESTMENT LTD.

THE INSPECTORS APPOINTED DY THE SECURITIES COMM ISSIC' ARE: MR. J.R. MARSHALL, A CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT AND HR. S.V. GITTINS, A BARRISTER.

- - 0 - -

NOTE TO EDITORS

SPECIAL POLICE ADVISER TO MEET THE PRESS X X X H

MR. J.W.D. CRANE, SPECIAL POLICE ADVISER, WILL DE AVAILABLE TO MEET PRESS REPRESENTATIVES TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) AT 3 =.. . I?; THE G.I.S. THEATRE, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, FIFTH FLOOR.

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND MEMBERS OF YOUR STAFF TO ATTEND.

- - 0 - -

NOTE TO EDITORS:

322 MILLION CONTRACT FOR POSTAL MECHANISATION EQUIPMENT * * & * * *

A .'22 MILLION CONTRACT FOR POSTAL MECHANISATION EQUIPMENT FOR THE INTERNATIONAL MAIL CENTRE ILL EE SIGNED TOMCRRO.. (..EDHE3DAY) AT A CEREMONY AT THE PUBLIC DORKS DEPARTMENT'S ELECTRICAL AiiD MECHANICAL OFFICE.

THE SIGNING CEREMONY '..ILL TAKE PLACE AT 10.33 A.. . IN TLE STAFF CLUE ROOM, SECOND FLOOR, ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL OFFICE, CAROLINE HILL ROAD, HONG KONG.

YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND A REPORTER AND/OR PHOTOGRAPHS; TO COVER THE EVENT.

TV CREES ARE ASKED TO ARRIVE EARLY SO THAT THEY .ILL HAVE AMPLE TIME TO SET UP THEIR EQUIPMENT.'

-----o------

REVISED COPY OF INTERNATIONAL AND HK PORT SIGNALS ON SALE ******

THE MARINE DEPARTMENT HAS REVISED THE +1 INTERNATIONAL AND HOi.G KONG PORT SIGNALS* LEAFLET WHICH IS AVAILABLE FOR SALE NO',. AT "1 A COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, AND AT MARINE DEPARTMENT INFORMATION COULTER, 102 CONNAUGHT ROAD, CENTRAL.

THE LARGE, ILLUSTRATED, BILINGUAL LEAFLET COVERS THREE ,.hIN SUBJECTS INCLUDING INTERNATIONAL SIGNAL FLAGS, HONG KONG PORT SIGNALS (INCLUDING LOCAL STORM AND MONSOON SIGNALS) AND HONG KONG PORT OPERATIONS (V.H.F.) SERVICE.

IT ALSO DRAWS ATTENTION TO THE DELETION OF THE SPECIAL INMIGRATION NIGHT SIGNAL, WHICH HAS BEEN REPLACED BY THREE ..'HITE ALL-ROUND LIGHTS SET VERTICALLY.

IT ALSO INDICATES THE CHANGES OF CERTAIN BERTHING SIGNALS AND THE AMENDMENTS TO +CHANKEL ALLOCATION DETAILS UNDER THE HEAD I .G +HCNG KONG PORT OPERATIONS (V.H.F.) SERVICE.

-----o------

/10

TUESDAY, MAY 16,

127-

NOTE TO EDITORS

SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS AT TREE-PLANTING CEREMONY ******

THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR. F.K. LI, WILL OFFICIATE AT A TREE-PLANTING CEREMONY TO MARK THE OPENING OF THE PC LEUNG KUK’S PAK TAM CHUNG HOLIDAY CAMP SITE IN SAI KUNG AT 4 P.M. TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO COVER THE CEREMONY. ,

TRANSPORT WILL EE PROVIDED TO NEWSMEN AND WILL LEAVE THE PC LEUNG KUK’S LEIGHTON ROAD CAMPUS AT 2.30 P.M. TOMORROW.

- - 0 - -

YAN CHAI HOSPITAL 30ARD CALLS ON DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL './ELFARE

* * * * *

MEMBERS OF THE EOARD OF DIRECTORS OF YAH CHAI HOSPITAL, LED EY THEIR CHAIRMAN, MR. V.'U CHUNG, PAID A COURTESY CALL OK THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL ..'ELFARE, NR. THOMAS LEE, THIS (TUESDAY) AFTERNOON AT THE SOCIAL /ELFARE DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS.

DURING THE VISIT, MR. WU THANKED THE DEPARTMENT FCR SUPPORTING THE HOSPITAL M ITS EXTENSION OF SERVICES FROM THE PROVISION OF MEDICAL FACILITIES TC THE ..ELFARE FIELD.

THE HOSPITAL IS NOW RUNNING A NURSERY WITH 103 CHILDREN UNDE’ ITS CARE AT SHEK LEI ESTATE. A SECOND NURSERY IS BEING PLANNED AT SHEK YAM ESTATE.

THE VISITORS ALSO DISCUSSED WITH MR. LEE THE HOSPITAL’S PLAN TC PROVIDE A HOME FOR THE HANDICAPPED ELDERLY, TO WHICH MR. LEE EXPRESSED HIS FULL SUPPORT.

- - o - -

TUESDAY, MAY 16, 1973

TRAFFIC RE-ROUTING IM KUN YUM STREET * * * * *

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT FROM 13 A.M. ON THURSDAY (MAY 18), A SECTION OF KUN YUM STREET BETWEEN WUHU STREET AND STATION LAKE IN HUNG HOM WILL EE RE-ROUTED FROM Oi\t WAY SOUTHBOUND TO ONE WAY NORTHBOUND TO IMRPOVE TRAFFIC FLOW IN THE AREA.

APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL SET UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.

- - o - -

SALT WATER CUT IN KOWLOON * * * *

THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT SALT ..ATER SUPPLY TO PREMISES IN A NUMBER OF DISTRICTS IN KOWLOON ..ILL EE TURNED.OFF FROM 13 P.M. TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) TO 7 P.M. ON THURSDAY TO ENABLE MAJOR PIPE WORKS AT KOWLOON CITY RCAD EETWEEN SHEUNG HEUNG ROAD AND LOK SHAN ROAD.

THE DISTRICTS AFFECTED ARE HUNG HOM, TO KWA WAN, KOWLOON CITY, TUNG TAU TSUEN, KOWLOON TONG, LOK FU, WANG TAU HOM, WONG TAI SIH AND FUNG WCi.'G TSUE’..

- - 0 - -

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

/ednesday, may 17, 1978

CONTENTS

PAGE NO.

ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE WORKING ALONG RIGHT LINES . . 1

HO'T i/'v’G MAKES REPRESENTATION TO GATT ON NORWAY’S TEXTILE RESTRICTIONS ....................................

REPORT Cr' POPULATION PROJECTION ........................... 4

SECRETARY TO COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY APPOINTED .............

'22 MILLION CONTRACT FOR POSTAL MECHANISATION EQUIPMENT SIGNED ..................................................

•■'ORE OUTDOOR RECREATION CENTRES BEIf’G PLANNED ........... 5

APPEAL FOR MORE CARE-AND-ATTENTION HOMES FOR THE AGED ... 6

LABOUR COMMISSIONER VISITS FACTORY ......................

PASSING-OUT PARADE OF IMMIGRATE OF-ICE’S ................

DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE GOES O'. LEAVE .................. 9

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN KOWLOON AND NEW TERRITORIES ........ 9

Issued by Government Information Services. Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1978

ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE WORKING ALONG RIGHT LINES

******

THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE IS WORKING ALONG THE RIGHT LINES, MR. J.W.D. CRANE, SPECIAL POLICE ADVISER, TOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON PRIOR TO HIS DEPARTURE.

MR. CRANE, H.M. INSPECTOR OF CONSTABULARY FOR WALES AND SOUTH WEST ENGLAND, ARRIVED IN HONG KONG IN JANUARY, ACCOMPANIED BY CHIEF SUPERINTENDENTS ALFRED WALLEN AND ERIC HUMPHREY.

THE TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE THREE-MAN TEAM WERE s-

(1) TO ADVISE THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE ON THE ORGANISATION AND OPERATION OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE, WITH PARTICULAR REGARD TO DISCIPLINE, STAFF MANAGEMENT AND MORALE, CHAIN OF COMMAND AND CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION AT ALL LEVELS, SOURCES AND STANDARDS OF RECRUITMENT, RELATIONS WITH I.C.A.C. AND ANY OTHER MATTERS THE TEAM CONSIDERS RELEVANT TO THE FOREGOING.

(2) TO ADVISE THE COMMISSIONER AGAINST CORRUPTION ON I.C.A.C. PROCEDURES.

MR. CRANE SAID THAT PROFESSIONALLY SPEAKING THE FORCE WAS WORKING ALONG THE RIGHT LINES. A GREAT DEAL HAD BEEN ACHIEVED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. THE FORCE HAD BEEN MODERNISED AND THERE HAD BEEN A LARGE NUMBER OF INNOVATIONS. MANY OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS NOW BEING MADE WERE ALREADY UNDER REVIEW BY THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE.

+BECAUSE OF THE INCREASES IN CRIME DURING 1973 AND 1974 THERE WAS A NATURAL PRE-OCCUPATI ON WITH THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME,* MR. CRANE SAID. +THERE HAS ALSO BEEN A RAPID EXPANSION OF THE FORCE IN RECENT YEARS AND, WITH THE CRIME FACTOR IN MIND, CONSIDERABLE RE-DEPLOYMENT AND RE-ORGANISATION. WHILST SUCCESS AGAINST CRIME HAS BEEN CONSIDERABLE, THE ADMINISTRATION, MANMANAGEMENT, DISCIPLINE AND CONTROL OF THE FORCE HAS RECEIVED LESS EMPHASIS.*

MR. CRANE SAID THAT THIS IMBALANCE IN ORGANISATION, MAN-MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL HAD CAUSED DIFFICULTIES IN COMBATTING THE PROBLEM OF CORRUPTION AND IN PROVIDING GUIDANCE TO THE FORCE IN THE LIGHT OF I.C.A.C. OPERATIONS.

+IT MUST BE ACCEPTED, OF COURSE THAT THIS WEAKNESS WAS EXPLOITED BY THE CORRUPT THEMSELVES,* MR. CRANE SAID.

HE SAID THE MAIN CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS, DEVELOPED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE POLICE WERE, THEREFORE, AIMED AT STRENGTHENING ADMINISTRATION, MAN—MANAGEMENT, TRAINING AND DISCIPLINE AT ALL LEVELS.

/+AT POLICE

AY, MAY 17, 1978

- 2 -

+AT POLICE HEADQUARTERS, FOR EXAMPLE, WE HAVE RECOMMENDED THAT THE STRUCTURE SHOULD BE RE-ORGANISED TO ALLOW GREATER EMPHASIS TO BE PLACED ON PERSONNEL AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES,+ HE SAID.

MR. CRANE SAID THE TEAM HAD ALSO MADE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE FORCE ESTABLISHMENT TO ENSURE CONTINUITY OF COMMAND AT SUB-UNIT LEVEL, MORE EXTENSIVE BEAT COVERAGE, FLEXIBLE SHIFT SYSTEMS- A REVIEW OF C.I.D. WORKLOADS, CRIME REPORTING PROCEDURES AND SHIFT SYSTEMS- ADDITIONAL VEHICLES, CLERICAL SUPPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT FOR THE C.I.D.- HOUSING- A RE-STRUCTURED COMPLAINTS AGAINST POLICE OFFICE- EVEN GREATER EMPHASIS TO BE PLACED ON TRAINING, PARTICULARLY REFRESHER AND LANGUAGE TEACHING- A MORE COMPETITIVE PROMOTION EXAMINATION FOR RANK AND FILE OFFICERS- A REVIEW OF ALLOWANCES- AND METHODS BY WHICH I.C.A.C. AND POLICE RELATIONS MAY BE IMPROVED.

MR. CRANE SAID THESE CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS WERE BEING CONSIDERED BY THE GOVERNMENT, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, AND FOLLOW UP ACTION WAS BEING TAKEN WITH REGARD TO EACH SUBJECT. THERE WILL NOT BE A FORMAL REPORT.

MR. CRANE SAID THE FIRST PART OF THE ADVISORY TEAM’S STAY WAS FULLY OCCUPIED IN IDENTIFYING WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE AND THE COMMISSIONER AGAINST CORRUPTION THOSE AREAS REQUIRING STUDY TO FULFIL THE TERMS OF REFERENCE. HE SAID THAT DURING HIS ABSENCE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM FOR ABOUT A MONTH TO CONDUCT TWO FORCE INSPECTIONS, TO WHICH HE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN COMMITTED, HIS TWO COLLEAGUES HAD EXAMINED THOSE AREAS IN MORE DEPTH WITH ASSISTANCE FROM A POLICE TEAM AND, WHEN NECESSARY, I.C.A.C. OFFICERS.

+BY THE TIME OF MY RETURN THEY HAD REACHED A NUMBER OF CONCLUSIONS WHICH TOGETHER WE DEVELOPED,* MR. CRANE SAID. +FOLLOWING THIS I DISCUSSED OUR CONCLUSIONS WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE AND WHERE APPROPRIATE WITH THE COMMISSIONER AGAINST CORRUPTION. IN THE COURSE OF DISCUSSIONS SOME OF OUR CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN REVISED.* THE GOVERNOR HAD BEEN KEPT FULLY INFORMED OF PROGRESS AND CONCLUSIONS REACHED.

MR. CRANE SAID THE TEAM HAD VISITED ALL MAJOR FORMATIONS AND MANY SMALLER UNITS OF THE POLICE FORCE AND HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH OFFICERS OF ALL RANKS AND ALL FOUR POLICE STAFF ASSOCIATIONS. THEY HAD ALSO MET THE U.M.E.L.C.O. POLICE GROUP AND THE I.C.A.C. COMPLAINTS AND OTHER COMMITTEES, HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME AND MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND MET MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND THE PRESS.

+YOU CAN SEE, THEREFORE, WE HAVE HAD A FAIRLY FULL PROGRAMME,* MR. CRANE SAID, ADDING : +OUR WORK HAS BEEN MADE EASIER BY THE HIGH DEGREE OF CO-OPERATION WHICH WE HAVE RECEIVED.*

MR. CRANE AND CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT WALLEN LEAVE THIS EVENING TO RETURN TO BRITAIN. MR. HUMPHREY LEFT AT THE END OF MARCH TO ATTEND A SENIOR POLICE COLLEGE COURSE.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1973

HONG KONG REPRESENTATIONS TO THE GATT ON TEXTILES ******

THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAS REFERRED THE PROBLEM OF NORWAY’S IMPORT RESTRICTIONS ON HONG KONG TEXTILES TO THE GATT.

THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE, MR. LAWRENCE MILLS, SAID TODAY THAT THE MATTER WOULD BE RAISED AT THE GATT COUNCIL MEETING TO BE HELD TODAY (MAY 17) WITH THE REQUEST THAT THE MATTER BE INVESTIGATED BY THE CONTRACTING PARTIES.

HE SAID: +THE BULK OF HONG KONG’S TEXTILE EXPORTS TO NORWAY UP TO DECEMBER 1977 WAS COVERED BY BILATERAL AGREEMENTS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND NORWAY MADE UNDER THE ARRANGEMENT REGARDING INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN TEXTILES (MFA).

+WHEN HONG KONG AND NORWAY MET IN DECEMBER 1977 TO CONSULT ON FUTURE ARRANGEMENTS REGARDING THIS TRADE, NORWAY ASKED FOR 40 PER CENT REDUCTION OF IMPORTS FROM HONG KONG BASED ON 1976 LEVELS. THE TWO SIDES WERE UNABLE TO REACH AGREEMENT THEN.

+ IN JANUARY THIS YEAR, NORWAY INTRODUCED UNILATERAL IMPORT RESTRICTIONS ON A WIDE RANGE OF TEXTILE PRODUCTS FROM HONG KONG. THESE MEASURES ARE DISCRIMINATORY AGAINST HONG KONG AND CONTRARY TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE GATT,+ MR. MILLS SAID.

COMMENTING ON HONG KONG’S REFERENCE OF THE MATTER TO THE GATT COUNCIL, MR. MILLS SAID THAT THE ACTION WAS REGRETTABLY UNAVOIDABLE. HONG KONG HAD, PRIOR TO NORWAY’S IMPOSITION OF IMPORT RESTRICTIONS, OFFERED TO VOLUNTARILY RESTRAIN TEXTILE EXPORTS FOR THREE MONTHS BEGINNING JANUARY 1978 TO ALLOW THE NORWEGIAN AUTHORITY TO REFLECT ON ITS FUTURE COURSE OF ACTION AND WITH A VIEW TO AVOIDING HARDSHIP TO THE COMMERCIAL PARTICIPANTS IN THE TRADE IN NORWAY AND IN HONG KONG. AFTER NORWAY INTRODUCED ITS IMPORT RESTRICTIONS, HONG KONG REQUESTED FURTHER CONSULTATIONS UNDER ARTICLE XXII OF THE GATT IN AN ATTEMPT TO REACH A MUTUALLY ACCEPTABLE AGREEMENT. BUT CONSULTATIONS EVENTUALLY HELD IN EARLY MAY INDICATED THAT NORWAY COULD NOT MOVE FROM THE POSITION IT ADOPTED IN DECEMBER 1977.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1978

REPORT ON POPULATION PROJECTION IM * K *

THE POPULATION OF HONG KONG IS EXPECTED TO REACH 5.2 MILLION BY 1986 AND 5.9 MILLION 10 YEARS LATER ACCORDING TO THE REPORT — +HONG KONG POPULATION: A 20-YEAR PROJECTION+ PUBLISHED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY.

THE REPORT ALSO POINTS OUT THAT THE BALANCE OF THE POPULATION IS EXPECTED TO CHANGE. IT SAYS: +DUE TO A GENERAL DECLINE IN FERTILITY AND MORTALITY, WE CAN EXPECT TO HAVE RELATIVELY MORE OLD PEOPLE AND RELATIVELY LESS CHILDREN. IN 15-20 YEARS’ TIME, OVER NINE PER CENT OF THE POPULATION WILL BE OVER 64 AND ABOUT 24 PER CENT BELOW 15+.

THE REPORT ALSO INCORPORATES THE RESULTS OF A POPULATION PROJECTION EXERCISE CONDUCTED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT EARLIER THIS YEAR.

OTHER THAN PRESENTING THE PROJECTED POPULATION BY SEX AND QUINQUENNIAL AGE GROUP FOR THE 20 YEARS FROM 1976, THE REPORT GIVES DETAILED ANALYSES ON EACH OF THE COMPONENTS TO POPULATION GROWTH INCLUDING FERTILITY, MORTALITY AND BALANCE OF MIGRATION OVER THE PERIOD 1961-1976 ALONG WITH AN ASSESSMENT'©N THEIR LIKELY CHANGES IN THE 20 YEARS TO COME.

THE REPORT IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR SALE AT $6 A COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATION CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL.

0 - -

SECRETARY TO COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY APPOINTED

******

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT MR. RAFAEL HUI, AN ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER CURRENTLY SERVING WITH THE COMMUNITY RELATIONS DEPARTMENT, I.C.A.C., HAS BEEN APPOINTED SECRETARY TO THE COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY APPOINTED YESTERDAY (TUESDAY) TC MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHAT MEASURES SHOULD BE TAKEN TO AVOID AN OCCURRENCE SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE PRECIOUS BLOOD GOLDEN JUBILEE SECONDARY SCHOOL.

WEDNESDAY, NAY 17, 1978

S22 MILLION CONTRACT FOR POSTAL MECHANISATION EQUIPMENT SIGNED

#*?**#*

THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAS AWARDED A $22 MILLION CONTRACT FOR THE SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF POSTAL MECHANISATION EQUIPMENT AT THE POST OFFICE’S INTERNATIONAL MAIL CENTRE IN HUNG HOM.

THE CONTRACT, WHICH WAS AWARDED TO THE MECHANICAL HANDLING DEPARTMENT OF JARDIME ENGINEERING CORPORATION LTD., (JEC), ..AS SIGNED TODAY BY MR. J.A. WALLACE, P.W.D.’S PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEER, AND MR. SIMON MURRAY, DIRECTOR AND GENERAL MANAGER OF THE COMPANY.

THE MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT WILL EE SUPPLIED BY A CONSORTIUM COMPRISING JEC AND THE BRITISH MANUFACTURERS -- GEO. ROBSON AND CO. (CONVEYORS) LTD., FENAMEC LTD. AND DAVIES PRITCHARD AND RICHMOND LTD

ELECTRICAL AND CONTROL EQUIPMENT ..ILL ALSO COME FROM ANOTHER BRITISH MANUFACTURER — MIDLAND DYNAMO LTD. -- WHILE THE PARCELSORTING EQUIPMENT WILL BE SUPPLIED BY A DANISH MANUFACTURER, KCSAN CR ISPLANT.

THE BRITISH POSTAL CONSULTANCY SERVICE IN U.K. HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DESIGN AND SPECIFICATION OF THE EQUIPMENT.

THE 7,300 SQUARE-METRE INTERNATIONAL MAIL CENTRE WILL BE THE MAJOR SORTING OFFICE FOR HANDLING INTERNATIONAL MAIL TO AND FROM HONG KONG.

AT PRESENT, STRUCTURAL WORK IS IN PROGRESS FOR THE TWO-STCREY BUILDING WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN EARLY 1979.

TRIALS FOR THE POSTAL MECH.- TIC!- EQUIPMENT ARE EXPECTED TO EE HELD IN 1980.

- 0 -

MORE OUTDOOR RECREATION CENTRES BEING PLANNED * * * *

THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR. F.K. LI, TODAY SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS PLANNING TO OPEN MORE OUTDOOR RECREATION CENTRES IN THE COMING YEARS.

SPEAKING AT A TREE-PLANT I LG CE’EMCNY HARKING THE OPENING OF THE PO LEUNG KUK PAK TAM CHUNG HOLIDAY CAMP SITE, MR. LI SAID IT WOULD START .. I TH THE OPENING OF THE TSO KUNO TAM. OUTDOOR RECREATION CENTRE IN TSUEN WAN IN 1930.

/HE SAIL

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17» 1978

HE SAID THERE WAS AN INCREASING DEMAND FOR FACILITIES FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION IN GENERAL AND FOR HOLIDAY CAMPS IN PARTICULAR AS SHOWN BY +THE GROWING EXODUS EVERY WEEKEND AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS INTO THE COUNTRYSIDE AND THE SUCCESS OF THE SAI KUNG OUTDOOR RECREATION CENTRE SINCE IT OPENED TO THE PUBLIC IN 1976.+

MR. LI SAID THE GOVERNMENT LIKED TO ENCOURAGE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO PROVIDE SUCH PUBLIC FACILITIES THOUGH IN GENERAL THEY WOULD BE EXPECTED TO RUN ON AN INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL BASIS.

HE PRAISED THE KUK FOR SHOWING +ADMIRABLE INITIATIVE* IN PLANNING TO DEVELOP THE PAK TAM CHUNG SITE AS A HOLIDAY CAMP AND RECREATION CENTRE.

-----0------

CARE-AND-ATTENTION HOMES FOR THE AGED — A PRIORITY FOR THE ELDERLY *****

THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. K.L. THONG, SAID THAT ONE OF THE PRIORITIES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ELDERLY PEOPLE IS THE PROVISION OF CARE-AND-ATTENTI ON HOMES FOR THE AGED, WHO ARE SICK OR INFIRMED.

DR. THONG WAS SPEAKING AT A MEETING OF THE HONG KONG SOCIETY FOR THE AGED THIS EVENING.

HE SAID RECENTLY THERE HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF INTEREST IN THE COMMUNITY IN REGARD TO SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY FOLLOWING THE PUBLICATION OF THE GOVERNMENT’S GREEN PAPER ON THE SUBJECT.

+HOW TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OLD PEOPLE HAS BECOME AN IMPORTANT TOPIC NOT ONLY AMONG PROFESSIONS BUT AMONG A LARGE SECTION OF THE PUBLIC,+ HE SAID.

HE SAID THE OBJECTIVE OF CARE-AND-ATTENTI ON HOMES IS TO CATER FOR THOSE OLD PEOPLE WHO REQUIRE CONSTANT AND PERSONAL CARE.

THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO FAMILIES OR FRIENDS TO RELY ON OR WHO FALL SICK AND TREATED IN HOSPITAL BUT CANNCl BE DISCHARGED EVEN WHEN THEY NO LONGER REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION.

+THESE OLD PEOPLE LIE ABANDONED IN HOSPITALS SIMPLY BECAUSE THERE IS A LACK OF SUITABLE INSTITUTIONS TO ACCOMMODATE THEM EVEN WHEN THEY ARE NO LONGER ILL,* SAID DR. THONG.

/in other .....

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1978

- 7 -

IN OTHER CASES, HE SAID, THE ELDERLY REMAIN WITH THEIR FAMILIES BUT DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONSTANT AND PROPER ATTENTION WHICH IS NECESSARY FROM THEIR RELATIVES WHO FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER HAVE TO LEAVE THEM TO THEIR OWN DEVICES.

THE DIRECTOR POINTED OUT THAT THIS PROBLEM OF THE SICK AND INFIRMED ELDERLY IS +VERY MUCH WITH US+ IN HONG KONG, WHICH WILL NOT DISAPPEAR +SIMPLY BECAUSE THE COMMUNITY CHOOSES TO ASSUME AN OSTRICH-LIKE ATTITUDE.*

+GROWING OLD IS AN INEVITABLE AND CONT I NOUS PROCESS AND THE ELDERLY INDIVIDUAL WILL EVENTUALLY FIND THAT OLD AGE MAY PREVENT HIM FROM LEADING AN ORDINARY LIFE SUCH THAT HE CAN NO LONGER LOOK AFTER HIMSELF WITHOUT HELP FROM TRAINED STAFF,* HE SAID.

IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, HE SAID, CARE-AND-ATTENTION HOMES APPEAR TO BE THE APPROPRIATE SOLUTION.

BUT AT PRESENT, SPECIAL CARE AND ATTENTION FACILITIES COULD ONLY CATER FOR A FEW HUNDRED OLD PEOPLE.

+THEREFORE, GREAT EFFORTS MUST BE MADE TO INCREASE THE QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF THIS TYPE OF SERVICE TO A LEVEL SUCH THAT THE NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY COULD BE MET REASONABLY,* HE SAID.

ONE WAY OF ACHIEVING THIS, SAID DR. THONG, WOULD BE FOR MORE PRIVATE AGENCIES TO ESTABLISH AND OPERATE SUCH SERVICES.

THE HONG KONG SOCIETY FOR THE AGED, FOR EXAMPLE, IS PLANNING TO BUILD A CARE-AND-ATTENTION HOME IN TIN WAN. THE PROJECT HAS BEEK MADE POSSIBLE BY A GENEROUS DONATION OF Si MILLION FROM A LOCAL PHILANTHROPIST, MR. QUAN CHUEN TO THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, WHO RECEIVED IT IN HIS CAPACITY AS VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIETY.

DR. THONG APPEALED FOR MORE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY TO COME FORWARD AND FOLLOW THE +EXCELLENT+ EXAMPLE SHOWN BY MR. QUAN IN HELPING THE COMMUNITY IN A CONCRETE WAY.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 197

LABOUR COMMISSIONER VISITS FACTORY

*****

THE GROWTH OF NEW CAPITAL INTENSIVE AND HIGH TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRIES WAS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WELCOMED EY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, 'R. NEIL HENDERSON, ..'HEN HE VISITED A RECENTLY ESTABLISHED FACTORY ENGAGED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF HEAT-TRANSFER PRINTING PAPER -OR THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY.

MR. HENDERSON WAS TOURING THE TUEN MUN PLANT OF SUELIPRINT (FAR EAST) LTD., WHICH INTRODUCED TO HONG KONG LAST YEAR AN INDUSTRY THAT BEGAN IN EUROPE ONLY 13 YEARS AGO. IT EMPLOYS ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY TO ENABLE DESIGNS TO EE PRINTED ON TEXTILES BOTH QUICKLY AND ECONOMICALLY.

+MORE PROJECTS LIKE THIS ARE VITAL TO THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AND VIABILITY OF HONG KONG’S INDUSTRY,+ MR. HENDERSON SAID.

HE PRAISED SUELIPRINT FOR TRAINING WORKERS IN THE NEW TECHNOLOGY EMPLOYED AT THE FACTORY AND ASSURED EMPLOYERS GENERALLY THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS AWARE OF ITS RESPONSIBILITIES TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL EDUCATION TO COMPLEMENT SHOP-FLOOR EXPERIENCE.

SUELIPRINT IS A SWISS-FRENCH CONCERN WITH SIX OTHER FACTORIES IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE WORLD. THERE ARE ABOUT 183 WORKERS AT THE TUEN MUN PLANT, WHICH WAS SET UP TO SUPPLY THE FAR EAST MARKET AND TO ENCOURAGE THE USE OF HEAT-TRANSFER PRINTING IN HONG KONG’S TEXTILE INDUSTRY.

UNLIKE CONVENTIONAL METHOD OF TEXTILE PRINTING -- WHERE THE FABRIC IS PRINTED DIRECTLY WITH LIQUID DYES -- THE PRINTING PAPER PRODUCED BY THE FACTORY USES SPECIAL SUELIMAL DYESTUFFS WHICH VAPORISE ON CONTACT WITH HEAT DURING TRANSFER FROM PAPER TO THE FABRIC. WHEN HEAT IS WITHDRAWN, THE DYESTUFFS RE-SOL IDIFY AND BECOME PERMANENTLY ATTACHED TO THE FABRIC. THE RESULT IS A DURABLE, ..ASHABLE PRINT WHICH REQUIRES NEITHER ..ASHING TO REMOVE EXCESSIVE DYESTUFFS NOR STEAMING TO FIX THE COLOUR.

-----o------

NOTE TO EDITORS:

GRADUATION PARADE OF IMMIGRATION OFFICERS * * * *

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC SERVICES COMMISSION SIR nnNAi n LUDDINGTON, WILL INSPECT A PASS I NG—OUT PARADE OF 46*ASS ISTAMT roniliMnAT12^o$-FICERS AT THE R0YAL HONG KONG REGIMENT PARADE ' ^jy\o? vR|4 ROAD, HAPPY VALLEY AT 9.30 A.M. ON FRIDAY VrlAY 157/.

co YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO vv vu.i\ I nt t Veh I,

-----0------

WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1978

- 9 -

DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE GOES ON LEAVE *****

THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, WILL GO ON LEAVE FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS STARTING FROM TOMORROW (THURSDAY).

DURING HIS ABSENCE, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. JIMMY SWEETMAN, WILL BE THE ACTING DIRECTOR.

MR. LEE WILL BE BACK AT WORK ON JUNE 5.

-----o------

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES * * * *

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT SEVERAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL COME INTO EFFECT IN KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES FROM 10 A.M. ON FRIDAY (MAY 19) TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS IN THESE AREAS.

IN MONG KOK, TUNG CHOI STREET BETWEEN PRINCE EDWARD ROAD AND NULLAH ROAD WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE WAY SOUTH BOUND.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE NORTHERN SECTION OF NULLAH ROAD BETWEEN TUNG CHOI STREET AND SAI YEUNG CHOI STREET WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE WAY SOUTHWEST BOUND, AND THE SECTION OF SAI YEUNG CHOI STREET AT ITS JUNCTION WITH NULLAH ROAD WILL BE RE-ROUTED FROM TWO WAY TRAFFIC TO ONE WAY SOUTH BOUND.

IN NGAU TAU KOK DISTRICT THE EXISTING PUBLIC LIGHT BUS RESTRICTED ZONE IN NGAU TAU KOK ROAD BETWEEN TUNG MING STREET AND A POINT ABOUT 50 FEET TO THE WEST OF LUEN ON STREET WILL BE EXTENDED WESTWARD TO A POINT ABOUT 380 FEET TO THE WEST OF LUEN ON STREET.

THE RESTRICTION WILL BE IMPOSED FROM 7 A.M. TO MIDNIGHT DA IL Y.

IN THE NEW TERRITORIES FOLLOWING BOUNDARY WILL BE TAXIS:

, THE AREAS TO THE SOUTH OF THE RESTRICTED TO ALL NEW TERRITORIES

* A POINT ON TUEN MUN ROAD AT ITS JUNCTION WITH A SLIP ROAD LEADING TO CASTLE PEAK ROAD AT SHAM TSENG INTERCHANGE’ AND

A POINT ON THE SLIP ROAD LEADING TO THE SOUTHBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF TSENG INTERCHANGE.

FROM CASTLE PEAK ROAD TUEN MUN ROAD AT SHAM

THE EFFECT OF THE PROHIBITION IS TO EXCLUDE THE TAXIS FROM THE SECTION OF TUEN MUN ROAD SOUTH OF SHAM TSENG INTERCHANGE.

APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE SET UP IN ALL THESE AREAS TO INDICATE THE RESTRICTIONS AND ASSIST MOTORISTS.

------o-------

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

THURSDAY, MAY 18, 1978

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

NEED FOR RESUMPTION OF LAND FOR MTR EXTENSION EXPLAINED ................................................. 1

USD HELPS IMPROVE ENVIRONMENT IN NT ....................... 3

IMPROVEMENT TO ENVIRONMENT OF BUILT-UP AREAS ON OUTLYING ISLANDS .................................................... 5

OPENING OF COMMUNITY HALL IN CHAI WAN ...................... 6

WATER STORAGE FIGURES ...................................... 7

CROWN LAND FOR SALE ........................................ 7

MA TAU WAI ROAD BEING RESURFACED ........................... 8

PASSING-OUT PARADE OF PRISON OFFICERS ...................... 8

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN CENTRAL DISTRICT ................... 9

Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House. Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191

THURSDAY, MAY 18, 1978

LAND REQUIRED FOR MTR EXTENSION TO TSUEN WAN

******

THE SITE OF THE SEVEN MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS IN SAI LAU KOK, TSUEN WAN, TO BE RESUMED UNDER THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY (LAND RESUMPTION AND RELATED PROVISIONS) ORDINANCE IS REQUIRED FOR AN INTRICATE PATTERN OF INTER-LINKING RAILS TO ENABLE TRAINS TO OBTAIN ACCESS TO INSPECTION, MAINTENANCE AND OTHER FACILITIES IN TSUEN WAN DEPOT, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT IN ORDER TO LAY OUT THESE INTERLINKING RAILS KNOWN AS THE ’ACCESS FAN’, IT WAS NECESSARY TO EXTEND THE RAILWAY LINE WESTWARDS BEYOND TSUEN WAN STATION.

+IT IS THIS ACCESS FAN AND THE EXTENSION OF THE RUNNING LINE WHICH MAKE THE RESUMPTION OF THESE BUILDINGS UNAVOIDABLE,+ HE EXPLAINED.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THERE WOULD BE NO BUILDING DEVELOPMENT OVER THE ACCESS FAN, THAT IS ON THE SITE ON WHICH THE BUILDINGS INVOLVED ACTUALLY STAND. THIS PART OF THE DEPOT WOULD BE FULLY UTILISED FOR RAILWAY PURPOSES ONLY.

HOWEVER, TO MAKE THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND ECONOMIC USE OF OTHER PARTS OF THE DEPOT LAND, DEVELOPMENT WILL BE PERMITTED ABOVE THE PORTION OF THE DEPOT TO THE EAST OF THE SITE IN ORDER TO PAY FOR THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION.

IN ADDITION TO 4,000 FLATS, THE DEVELOPMENT WILL INCLUDE A PRIMARY AND A SECONDARY SCHOOL, A COMMERCIAL AREA, A MARKET AND AN OPEN SPACE, THE LAYOUT OF THE LATTER BEING DESIGNED TO ACCORD WITH THE TIN HAU TEMPLE WHICH WILL BE PRESERVED.

COMMENTING ON SOME SUGGESTIONS THAT THE DEMOLITION OF THE SEVEN BUILDINGS WOULD BE AVOIDED IF THE DEPOT WERE TO BE RESITED FURTHER NORTH, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE DEPOT REQUIRED COMPARATIVELY FLAT LAND AND ALTHOUGH IT WAS TRUE THERE WAS A SIZEABLE AREA OF CROWN LAND TO THE NORTH OF THESE BUILDINGS, IT WAS UNSUITABLE FOR A RAILWAY DEPOT BECAUSE OF ITS SHAPE. IN ANY CASE, IT IS MUCH TOO SMALL, HE SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED: +THE AREA MUST ALSO BE SUFFICIENTLY LARGE TO ACCOMMODATE TSUEN WAN STATION WHICH WILL BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH TSUEN WAN, SERVING MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. IT MUST, IN ADDITION, FIT IN WITH THE PLANNED EXTENSIVE ROAD NETWORK IN THE AREA WHICH WILL PROVIDE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN ROUTE TWISK AND TSUEN WAN AND, AT SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE, BETWEEN THE NEW TUEN MUN ROAD AND THE PROPOSED NEW ROUTE 5 TO SHA TIN.+

THE LIMITATIONS IMPOSED BY THIS ROAD NETWORK AND THE TOPOGRAPHY OF THIS PART OF TSUEN WAN, THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED, MEAN IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE THE WHOLE DEPOT AND STATION COMPLEX ANYWHERE ELSE, INCLUDING NORTHWARDS.

/THE SPOKESMAN

Thursday, mat 18, 1978

THE SPOKESMAN RECALLED THAT, RECOGNISING THE NEED FOR OWNERS AND OCCUPIERS OF THESE BUILDINGS TO HAVE NOTICE AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE, THE GOVERNMENT INFORMED ALL OCCUPIERS OF THE IMPENDING RESUMPTION ON JANUARY 31, 1978 BEFORE THE GAZETTING OF THE RAILWAY AREA PLAN.

AGAIN, ON APRIL 28, 1978, ALL OWNERS AND OCCUPIERS WERE INFORMED THAT A NOTICE ABOUT THE RESUMPTION OF THESE BUILDINGS WOULD APPEAR IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF MAY 1978 AND THAT THE PROPERTIES WOULD REVERT TO THE CROWN IN NOVEMBER 1978.

OWNERS AND OCCUPIERS WERE ALSO INFORMED THAT, DURING THIS PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS, OFFICERS OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, THE MASS TRANSIT OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, AND THE DISTRICT OFFICE, TSUEN WAN, WOULD BE VISITING THE PREMISES IN ORDER TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY FOR ACCOMMODATION IN A HOUSING AUTHORITY ESTATE AND TO ASSESS THE AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION AND ANY OTHER ALLOWANCES TO WHICH PEOPLE MIGHT BE ENTITLED. THEY WERE FURTHER NOTIFIED THAT POSSESSION OF THE BUILDINGS WOULD BE REQUIRED IN APRIL OR MAY 1979.

♦THUS, QUITE APART FROM THE PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION, A FULL 12-MONTH NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN TO OWNERS AND OCCUPIERS OF THESE BUILDINGS OF GOVERNMENT’S INTENTION TO RESUME THE LAND AND DEMOLISH THE BUILDINGS,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

RESIDENTIAL OCCUPIERS ELIGIBLE FOR ACCOMMODATION IN A HOUSING AUTHORITY ESTATE WILL, BEFORE THE END OF MARCH 1979, BE OFFERED ACCOMMODATION WITHIN THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT. PEOPLE WHO WISH TO LEAVE THEIR PREMISES AT ANY TIME BETWEEN MAY 1978 AND THE DATE OF CLEARANCE MAY DO SO AND WILL RECEIVE HALF OF THE COMPENSATION OR ALLOWANCE OFFERED THEM BEFORE VACATING THEIR PREMISES, WITH THE BALANCE BEING PAID IMMEDIATELY ON GIVING VACANT POSSESSION.

COMMERCIAL OCCUPIERS WILL RECEIVE AN EX-GRATIA DISTURBANCE ALLOWANCE.

IN ADDITION, PEOPLE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION UNDER THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY (LAND RESUMPTION AND RELATED PROVISIONS) ORDINANCE WILL BE OFFERED A FAIR MARKET VALUE AT THE DATE OF REVERSION FOR THEIR INTERESTS IN THE PREMISES CONCERNED.

IN RESPECT OF ANY DISPUTE INVOLVING THE AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION TO BE PAID FOR ANY LEGAL INTERESTS IN LAND ARBITRATION AND FINAL SETTLEMENT MAY BE UNDERTAKEN BY THE LANDS TRIBUNAL.

THE TOWN MANAGER AND DISTRICT OFFICER IS IN CONTACT WITH RESIDENTS OF THE BUILDINGS AND HAS HELD MEETINGS WITH REPRESENTATIVES TO DISCUSS THE GENERAL CIRCUMSTANCES RELATING TO THIS RESUMPTION AND WAYS IN WHICH HIS OFFICE CAN HELP RESIDENTS.

HE HAS ADVISED THE OWNERS TO ASSIST THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IN THE VALUATION SURVEY WHICH IS NECESSARY TO ASSESS COMPENSATION AND ASSURED THEM OF HIS INTEREST AND SUPPORT IN THEIR CLAIMS FOR REALISTIC COMPENSATION.

/THE MASS TRANSIT .....

THURSDAY, MAY 18, 1978

THE MASS TRANSIT ADVISER HAS ESTABLISHED AN OFFICE IN ROOM NO. 1, TSUEN KING BUILDING, HOI PA STREET, TSUEN WAN, TELEPHONE NUMBER 12-428360 AND ANY OWNER OR OCCUPIER REQUIRING FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING RESUMPTION, VALUATION AND COMPENSATION PROCEDURES OR ANY OTHER RELATED MATTER SHOULD CONTACT MR. VINCENT SUNG AT THAT ADDRESS SO THAT APPOINTMENTS CAN BE ARRANGED FOR PROBLEMS TO BE DISCUSSED.

-----o------

USD HELPS IMPROVE ENVIRONMENT AND LIVING CONDITIONS IN NT ******

IT IS A SAD FACT THAT OFTEN SPOILT BY THE AMOUNT

THE BEAUTY OF THE NEW TERRITORIES IS

OF JUNK AND RUBBISH SUCH AS BOXES, CRATES, SCRAP WOOD, OLD IRON AND EARTHENWARE THAT ARE DUMPED IN VARIOUS PLACES AND ALLOWED TO LIE THERE BY LOCAL RESIDENTS, THE

DIRECTOR OF URBAN SERVICES, MR. BRIAN WILSON SAID THIS EVENING.

HE SAID NO ONE SEEMED TO HAVE THE ENERGY OR INTEREST TO TAKE THE JUNK TO THE NEAREST REFUSE COLLECTION POINT FOR REMOVAL EY STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT.

IF THEY DID, HE POINTED OUT, NOT ONLY WOULD IT RID THE COUNTRYSIDE OF UNSIGHTLY MESS, BUT IT WOULD ALSO HELP TO REMOVE HIDING PLACES AND POSSIBLY FOOD FOR RATS.

MR. WILSON MADE THESE OBSERVATIONS IN A TALK HE GAVE TO THE LIONS CLUB OF CASTLE PEAK ON THE WORK OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

MR. WILSON SAID THOUGH THERE ARE SEPARATE USD STAFF FOR THE URBAN AREAS AND THE NEW TERRITORIES BECAUSE OF VARIOUS REASONS, THERE WAS NO DIFFERENCE IN THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AND THE STANDARDS REQUIRED.

HE DISCUSSED THE WORK THE DEPARTMENT WAS DOING IN THE NEW TERRITORIES TO HELP IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT AND LIVING CONDITIONS OF THE PEOPLE THERE MOST OF WHOM HE NOTED WERE NOT NATIVES .-HC HAD BEEN THERE FOR SEVERAL GENERATIONS, BUT PEOPLE WHO MOVED FROM THE URBAN AREAS.

ON THE PROBLEM OF HAWKERS, HE SAID IT WAS NOT AS SERIOUS AS IN THE URBAN AREAS, BUT THERE IS NEVER LIKELY TO EE ENOUGH SUITABLE OFF-STREET SPACES TO ACCOMMODATE ALL ON-ROAD HAWKERS.

THE DEPARTMENT WAS, HOWEVER, PERSUING A PROGRAMME OF REBUILDING EXISTING INADEQUATE MARKETS AND CONSTRUCTING NEW ONES THAT WOULD CONTAIN STALLS NOT ONLY FOR THE USUAL MARKET COMMODITIES OF MEAT, FISH AND POULTRY, BUT ALSO FOR ;ET AND DRY GOODS. THE MARKETS WILL HAVE LIFTS AND ESCALATORS TO HELP CUSTOMERS AND STIMULATE BUSINESS. THE FIRST CF THE NEW ONES IS LIKELY TO BE READY IN THE NEXT YEAR OR SC.

/in the field

THURSDAY, MAY 18, 1978

IN THE FIELD OF RECREATION, HE SAID, ACTIVE AND PASSIVE RECREATION GROUNDS SUCH AS TURFED FOOTBALL FIELDS, HARD-SURFACED MINI-SOCCER PITCHES, BASKETBALL COURTS, CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUNDS, SITTING OUT AREAS AND AMENITY PLOTS WERE BEING BUILT.

THE FIRST BIG SWIMMING POOL COMPLEX IS ALREADY OPENED IN KWAI CHUNG. A SECOND SMALLER POOL IS BEING BUILT AT FAN LING WHILE SEVERAL OTHER POOL COMPLEXES ARE IN THE PLANNING STAGE FOR TSUEN WAN, SHA TIN, TUEN MUN, YUEN LONG AND TAI PO.

A SQUASH COURT ON THE UPPER FLOOR OF THE NEW PERMANENT MARKET IN TAI PO IS ALSO BEING CONSIDERED.

AS FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES, MR. WILSON SAID THE USD HOPED TO EVENTUALLY PROVIDE ONE FOR EVERY 200,000 HEAD OF POPULATION WITH A LENDING SECTION, REFERENCE SECTION, PERIODICALS, JUNIOR SECTION AND A STUDENT STUDY ROOM.

THERE WILL ALSO BE SPACE FOR EXTENSION ACTIVITIES AND AN EXHIBITION ROOM FOR DISPLAYING TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS OF ART, MUSEUM MATERIAL AND ANYTHING THAT WILL USEFULLY STIMULATE AWARENESS OF CULTURE.

TO THIS END, HE SAID, A NEW TOWN HALL IS BEING BUILT IN TSUEN WAN AND DETAILED PLANNING IS GOING ON FOR THE ONES AT SHA TIN AND TUEN MUN.

IN THIS CONNECTION ALSO, HE ADDED, THE DEPARTMENT’S ANTIQUITIES AND MONUMENTS SECTION WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE ANTIQUITIES ADVISORY BOARD OF WHICH HE IS THE CHAIRMAN, TO CONSIDER PRESERVING PLACES OF HISTORICAL INTEREST IN THE N.T.

HE SAID THE BOARD HAD RECENTLY INSPECTED A NUMBER OF FINE OLD ANCESTRAL HALLS THAT NEEDED RESTORING AND PRESERVING AS EXAMPLES OF THE OLD WAY OF LIFE.

EXPLAINING THE ORGANISATION OF THE DEPARTMENT’S STAFF FOR THE N.T., MR. WILSON SAID THEY WERE UNDER A DEPUTY DIRECTOR WHO HAD SEVEN URBAN SERVICES OFFICERS (USO) EACH IN CHARGE OF A PARTICULAR DISTRICT SIMILAR TO THOSE OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION.

WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CULTURAL ACTIVITIES, THE USO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL USD ACTIVITIES IN HIS DISTRICT COVERING PUBLIC HEALTH, CLEANSING, RECREATION, PEST CONTROL, HORTICULTURE, CEMETERIES, HAWKERS AND MARKETS.

THE FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH THE USD OPERATES IS GOVERNED BY A COMPREHENSIVE MASS OF LEGISLATION. IN THE CASE OF PUBLIC HEALTH, STANDARDS ARE BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION.

0 - - -

THURSDAY, MAY 18, 1978

IMPROVEMENTS TO ENVIRONMENT OF BUILT-UP AREAS ON ISLANDS ******

THE ISLANDS DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD IS TAKING POSITIVE STEPS TO FURTHER IMPROVE LIVING ENVIRONMENT OF BUILT-UP AREAS SUCH AS CHEUNG CHAU, PENG CHAU AND MUI WO, MR. VICTOR YUNG, THE DISTRICT OFFICER, ISLANDS, SAID TODAY.

ADDRESSING THE LIONS CLUB OF HONG KONG HARBOUR LUNCHEON, MR. YUNG SAID; +THE BOARD HAS DECIDED TO SET UP AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT GROUP FOR EACH RURAL DISTRICT TO TAKE A HARD AND CRITICAL LOOK AT ITS ENVIRONMENT AND TO TAKE POSITIVE ACTION TO CLEAN IT UP.

+THESE GROUPS WILL CONSIST OF DISTRICT OFFICE STAFF, URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT STAFF, POLICE AND RURAL COMMITTEE REPRESENTATIVES AND THEY WILL MAKE REGULAR SITE INSPECTIONS IN THE DISTRICT AND PRODUCE PLANS FOR ACTION TO CLEAN UP THE BLACK SPOTS.+

MR. YUNG ADDED THAT THERE WERE PLANS TO CONVERT SUCH SPOTS INTO SITTING-OUT AREAS BY PLANTING TREES AND PROVIDING BENCHES AND OTHER FACILITIES.

SINCE ITS FORMATION IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR, THE BOARD HAS ALLOCATED ITS OWN FUNDS TO SUPPORT VARIOUS CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, HE ADDED.

+IN THE FIELD OF CULTURAL ACTIVITIES, THE BOARD HAS SPONSORED THE FORMATION OF A CHOIR FROM KEEN SINGERS IN THE DISTRICT, A CHINESE INSTRUMENTAL GROUP, A DRAMA COMPETITION, A PAINTING, CALLIGRAPHIC AND PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION AND A MID-AUTUMN LANTERN-MAKING COMPETITION.

+THE BOARD HAS APPROVED FUNDS FOR THE ORGANISATION OF SUMMER CAMPS, CHILDREN’S GAMES DAYS IN DIFFERENT DISTRICTS, VARIETY SHOWS, LIFE-SAVING CLASSES, A DISTRICT-WIDE SWIMMING GALA AND ATHLETIC MEETS.+

THE BOARD HAS ALSO RECENTLY APPROVED A GRANT OF DI,OOO PER MONTH TO ASSIST THE EIGHT RURAL COMMITTEES TO MANAGE THEIR COMMUNITY CENTRES AND TO ORGANISE ACTIVITIES FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS.

--------o -

/6 .....

THURSDAY, MAY 18, 1978

- 6 -

OPENING OF COMMUNITY HALL IN CHAI WAN

******

THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S SECOND COMMUNITY HALL ON HONG KONG ISLAND WILL BE OFFICIALLY OPENED TOMORROW (FRIDAY) TO SERVE AS A FOCAL POINT OF COMMUNfTY ACTIVITIES FOR RESIDENTS IN CHAI WAN.

THE NEW HALL, NEAR YUE WAN ESTATE, IS SIMILAR TO THE ONE AT HING WAH ESTATE. IT PROVIDES A WIDE RANGE OF COMMUNITY. RECREATIONAL AND TRAINING FACILITIES.

THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, MR. DONALD LIAO, WILL CUT A RIBBON TO MARK THE OPENING AT A CEREMONY TO BE HELD AT THE HALL. THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. JIMMY SWEETMAN WILL ALSO ATTEND.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY THE YUE WAN COMMUNITY HALL WOULD PROVIDE A VENUE FOR A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES FOR ALL AGE GROUPS IN THE ESTATE.

+PROGRAMMES AIMED AT PROMOTING VOLUNTEER TRAINING, FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION AND OTHER COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES ARE BEING ORGANISED FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS,* HE SAID.

+THROUGH PARTICIPATION, RESIDENTS ARE HELPED TO BECOME MORE CIVIC-MINDED AND, THROUGH SELF-HELP AND CO-OPERATIVE EFFORTS, TO BECOME INCREASINGLY CAPABLE OF BUILDING UP A MORE INTEGRATED COMMUNITY AND ENRICHING THE QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG THEMSELVES.*

THE SPOKESMAN SAID FACILITIES IN THE 5,000 SQUARE-FOOT COMMUNITY HALL INCLUDE A LARGE HALL WITH A STAGE AND A MEETING ROOM.

THE HALL CAN ACCOMMODATE 350 PEOPLE AND CAN BE USED FOR MEETINGS, EXHIBITIONS, GROUP AND TRAINING ACTIVITIES, AS WELL AS FOR INDOOR GAMES SUCH AS BADMINTON, CHINESE BILLARDS AND TABLE-TENNIS, HE SAID.

+THE COMMUNITY HALL AND ITS FACILITIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR USE BY LOCAL GROUPS, SCHOOLS AND ORGANISATIONS FOR MEETINGS AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES,* HE ADDED.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY FOR THE COMMUNITY HALL BEGINNING AT 5 P.M. TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AT THE COMMUNITY HALL IN YUE WAN ESTATE, CHAI WAN.

THURSDAY, MAY 18, 1978

WATER STORAGE FIGURES

******

AS FROM NOW, DAILY FIGURES ON TOTAL WATER STORAGE WILL INCLUDE THE MAXIMUM CAPACITY AND THE ACTUAL STORAGE POSITION OF HIGH ISLAND RESERVOIR, THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY.

THE INCLUSION OF THE WATER STORAGE FIGURES OF THE RESERVOIR WILL REFLECT A CHANGE IN THE OVERALL SITUATION.

THE PERCENTAGE OF STORAGE, COMPARED WITH THE TOTAL CAPACITY, WILL THEREFORE APPEAR LESS THAN IN THE PAST.

IN THE PAST, THE FIGURES RELATING TO THE RESERVOIR WERE ISSUED SEPARATELY BECAUSE THE STORAGE WAS OF LITTLE RELATIVE CONSEQUENCE.

HOWEVER, THE WATER STORAGE HAS NOW REACHED A LEVEL OF SOME IMPORTANCE.

THE MAXIMUM CAPACITY OF THE HIGH ISLAND RESERVOIR IS 272 MILLION CUBIC METRES AND IT IS, AT PRESENT, ABOUT 15 PER CENT FULL.

BEARING IN MIND THIS VASTLY INCREASED CAPACITY, BUT THE RELATIVELY SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE ACTUAL WATER-STORAGE, THE PERCENTAGE COMPARISON WILL INEVITABLY DROP.

- - - - 0 ---------

CROWN LAND SALE * * * *

THE P.W.D.’S LANDS AND SURVEY DEPARTMENT WILL OFFER TWO LOTS OF CROWN LAND FOR SALE IN THE CITY HALL THEATRE ON JUNE 21, 1978 AT 2.30 P.M.

THE FIRST SITE, WITH AN AREA OF 730.9 SQUARE METRES AT UPPER LASCAR ROW, HONG KONG, IS FOR NON-1NDUSTRI AL PURPOSES.

THE OTHER SITE, WHICH IS FOR INDUSTRIAL AND/OR GODOWN PURPOSES, IS LOCATED AT YIP KAN STREET, WONG CHUK HANG. IT HAS AN AREA OF 3,750 SQUARE METRES.

FULL PARTICULARS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM, AND SALE PLANS INSPECTED AT, THE PUBLIC ENQUIRIES SUBOFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES '(WEST WING), GROUND FLOOR, HONG KONG= THE CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE, 19TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, HONG KONG, AND AT THE KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 405 NATHAN ROAD, 10TH FLOOR, KOWLOON.

------o-------

THURSDAY, MAY 18, 1978

MA TAU WAI ROAD BEING RESURFACED * * * *

THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS RESURFACING MA TAU WAI ROAD IN HUNG HOM TO IMPROVE THE CONDITION OF THE ROAD.

MR. R.K. WINTER, CHIEF TECHNICAL OFFICER (MAINTENANCE) OF HIGHWAYS (KOWLOON) SAID TODAY THE WORK WILL BE CARRIED OUT IN TWO STAGES.

HE SAID THE FIRST STAGE OF THE ROADWORK, WHICH INVOLVED THE RESURFACING OF THE SECTION OF MA TAU WAI ROAD, BETWEEN PAK KUNG STREET AND FAT KWONG STREET, WAS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED ON FRIDAY (MAY 26).

WORK ON STAGE TWO, INVOLVING THE RESURFACING OF THE SECTION BETWEEN FAT KWONG STREET AND WUHU STREET, WILL START AT A LATER DATE.

MR. WINTER WARNED THAT TRAFFIC CONGESTION ALONG MA TAU WAI ROAD WAS EXPECTED DURING THE RESURFACING PERIOD.

HE URGED MOTORISTS TO BE PATIENT AND TO EXERCISE SPECIAL CARE WHEN USING MA TAU WAI ROAD DURING THE PERIOD, ESPECIALLY BETWEEN 9 A.M. AND 6 P.M. WHEN ROAD WORK IS IN PROGRESS.

•-------o - - - -

NOTE TO EDITORS:

PRISONS DEPARTMENT’S PASSING-OUT PARADE ******

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DISCHARGED PRISONERS’ AID SOCIETY, MR. FREDERICK YU SAK-KWONG, WILL TAKE THE SALUTE AT THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT’S PASSING-OUT PARADE AT 11 A.M. ON SATURDAY (MAY 20).

THE PARADE OF 93 RECRUITS WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE DEPARTMENT’S STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE IN TUNG TAU WAN ROAD, STANLEY. IT WILL LAST ABOUT 30 MINUTES.

YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND YOUR REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE PARADE. PARKING SPACES WILL BE AVAILABLE IN FRONT OF STANLEY PR ISON.

--------0 ---------

THURSDAY, MAY 18, 1978

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN CENTRAL DISTRICT

******

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THE EASTEOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF QUEENSWAY BETWEEN GARDEN ROAD AND COTTON TREE DRIVE, AND THE SECTION OF MURRAY ROAD BETWEEN CHATER ROAD AND QUEENSWAY WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC BETWEEN 1 A.M. AND 6 A.M. DAILY FROM SATURDAY (MAY 20) TO TUESDAY (MAY 23) TO FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF GARDEN ROAD FLYOVER.

DURING THE CLOSURE PERIODS, TRAFFIC FROM GARDEN ROAD WILL BE DIVERTED TO QUEEN’S ROAD CENTRAL, PEDDER STREET AND CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL.

EASTBOUND VEHICLES CAN TURN LEFT FROM DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL TO PEDDER STREET WHILE TRAFFIC FROM CHATER ROAD WILL PROCEED VIA LAMBETH WALK TO CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL.

CROSS HARBOUR BUSES ON ROUTE 121, WILL EE DIVERTED VIA DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL, PEDDER STREET AND CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL ON THEIR KOWLOON-BOUND JOURNEYS DURING THE CLOSURE PERIODS.

APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE SET UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.

-----o------

PWH 7

GIS SrSlEK

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

FRIDAY, MAY 19, 1973

CONTENTS pAGE No.

TIME TO DESIG;. AM INTEGRATED SYSTE' OF POST-

ScCC.NDARY SCHOOL EDUCATION — SAYS GOVERNOR ....... 1

APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR OPERATING NE.. 1AXICAB ROUTES .....................................o........ 2

NEW DRAFT OUTLINE ZONING FLA............................. 4

SPEEDING UP HONG KONG TEXTILE EXPORTS ................... £

SITE PROPOSED FOR POWER PLA IT OU LAMMA ISLAND....... 7

HOME OWNERSHIP FLAT BUYERS TO PAY NORMAL STAMP DUTY .......................................... 7

CAREER IN IMMIGRATION SERVICE ORTH .HILE ............

TUEN MUN SITE FOR SALE ................................ 9

PROBATIONARY CUSTOMS OFFICERS GRADUATE .............. 9

FIRING PRACTICE ........................................ 10

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT .................................... 10

Issued by Government Information Services, BeaConsflBid House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233W

FRIDAY, MAY 19, 1978

TIME TO DESIGN AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM OF POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION - SAYS GOVERNOR * * * *

THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID THIS EVENING THE GOVERNMENT BELIEVES THAT THE TIME HAS COME TO DESIGN AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM OF POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION +WHICH kILL HAVE DIVERSIFIED EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, MEET THE PRACTICAL NEEDS OF OUR ECONOMY AND SOCIETY, AND BE WITHIN OUR MEANS TO PROVIDE.*

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE BAPTIST COLLEGE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY HALL IN KOWLOON TONG, SIR MURRAY SAID ANY PLAN WHICH DOES NOT INCLUDE A PROPER USE FOR THE APPROVED POST-. SECONDARY COLLEGES WOULD BE WASTING VALUABLE ASSETS BECAUSE +THEV VERY MUCH EXIST, THEY DO GOOD WORK, AND YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE PASSED THROUGH THEIR DOORS ARE MAKING THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO OUR COMMUNITY*.

HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS USEFUL DISCUSSIONS HAVE BEEN TAKING PLACE BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE BAPTIST COLLEGE AND HE WAS SURE THAT WHEN THE GOVERNMENT’S FINAL PLANS ARE ANNOUNCED IN THE FORTHCOMING WHITE PAPER ON SENIOR SECONDARY AND TERTIARY EDUCATION THEY WILL INCLUDE A USEFUL AND HONOURABLE ROLE FOR OUR APPROVED POST-SECONDARY COLLEGES.

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH AT THE OPENING OF THE BAPTIST COLLEGE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY HALL:

+AS DR. LAM HAS POINTED OUT, THE CEREMONY THIS EVENING IS THE CULMINATION OF SEVERAL YEARS OF PLANNING AND HARD WORK BY THE HONG KONG BAPTIST COLLEGE. THE COMPLETION OF A MULTI-PURPOSE BUILDING OF THIS SIZE AND STANDARD IS NO MEAN ACHIEVEMENT.

+THIS HALL WILL BRING CONSIDERABLE BENEFITS TO THE COLLEGE AND ENRICH THE COLLEGE CURRICULA ESPECIALLY FOR MUSIC AND THE VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS.

+ 1 AM GLAD THESE FACILITIES WILL EE SHARED a I TH THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND ORGANISATIONS WISHING TO HIRE THEM FOR SUCH OCCASIONS AS ASSEMBLIES, CONFERENCES AND CONCERTS.

+TOMORROW AN INAUGURAL INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL WILL BEGUN. I HOPE THIS FESTIVAL WILL ENABLE THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY HALL QUICKLY TO ESTABLISH ITSELF AS A FOCAL POINT FOR CULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN NORTH KOWLOON.

+NOW I THINK YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE BAPTIST COLLEGE ITSELF. I UNDERSTAND YOUR ANXIETY ABOUT ITS FUTURE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE GREEN PAPER ON SENIOR SECONDARY AND TERTIARY EDUCATION.

Aplease rememb;

FBIBAY, MAY 19, 1978

2 -

+PLEASE REMEMBER THAT A GREEN PAPER IS ONLY A BASIS AND AN INVITATION FOR DISCUSSION AND CONSULTATION. INDEED IT IS CALLED ’’GREEN” BECAUSE THE IDEAS IN IT, LIKE ANY YOUNG PLANTS, ARE GREEN IN THE SENSE THAT THEY ARE STILL GROWING AND OPEN TO CHANGE, 'WHEREAS A WHITE PAPER SETS OUT THE FINAL POSITION OF THE GOVERNMENT - AS IT WERE, IN BLACK AND WHITE.

+LIKE EVERYONE ELSE YOUR GOVERNMENT BELIEVES THAT THE TIME HAS COME TO DESIGN AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM OF POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION WHICH WILL HAVE DIVERSIFIED EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, MEET THE PRACTICAL NEEDS OF OUR ECONOMY AND SOCIETY, AND BE WITHIN OUR MEANS TO PROVIDE.

+OUR APPROVED POST-SECONDARY COLLEGES VERY MUCH EXIST, THEY DO GOOD WORK, AND YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE PASSED THROUGH THEIR DOORS ARE MAKING THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO OUR COMMUNITY. SO ANY PLAN WHICH DOES NOT INCLUDE A PROPER USE FOR THESE COLLEGES WOULD BE WASTING VALUABLE ASSETS.

+l WOULD THEREFORE LIKE YOU TO KNOW THAT OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS USEFUL DISCUSSIONS HAVE BEEN TAKING PLACE BETWEEN YOUR COLLEGE MANAGEMENT AND THE GOVERNMENT’S REPRESENTATIVES AND I AM SURE THAT WHEN THE GOVERNMENT’S FINAL PLANS ARE ANNOUNCED IN THE FORTHCOMING WHITE PAPER ON SENIOR SECONDARY AND TERTIARY EDUCATION THEY WILL INCLUDE A USEFUL AND HONOURABLE ROLE FOR OUR APPROVED POST-SECONDARY COLLEGES.

+RETURNING TO THE HALL, I CONGRATULATE ALL CONCERNED WITH ITS PLANNING, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION. MAY IT PROVE A HAPPY PLACE IN WHICH MANY FIND INTEREST, PLEASURE AND RELAXATION. I NOW HAVE MUCH MUCH PLEASURE IN DECLARING IT OPEN.+

- - 0 --------

FRIDAY, MAY 19, 1978

APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR OPERATING 11 NEW MAXICAB ROUTES

******

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT IS INVITING APPLICATIONS FROM PUBLIC LIGHT BUS OWNERS TO OPERATE 11 NEW MAX I CAB ROUTES ON HONG KONG ISLAND.

THE NEW ROUTES COVER AREAS WHERE THE OPERATION OF FRANCHISED BUSES IS IMPRACTICAL.

ACCORDING TO A NOTICE IN TODAY’S GOVERNMENT GAZETTE,AREAS TO BE SERVED BY THE NEW ROUTES INCLUDE BOWEN ROAD, SANDY BAY, KENNEDY TOWN, BROADWOOD ROAD, STANLEY, CHUNG HOM KOK, SHING ON VILLAGE AND CAPE COLLINSON.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID: +MANY OF THESE AREAS HAVE NO PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES AT ALL AT PRESENT.+

HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT UP TO NOW EIGHT MAX I CAB ROUTES HAVE BEEN OPERATING TO THE PEAK, SHOUSON HILL AND ABERDEEN AREAS, AND THEY HAVE PROVED POPULAR WITH PASSENGERS AND PROFITABLE TO THE OPERATORS.

HE SA I'D THE MAX I CABS ARE IDENTIFIED BY A GREEN AND YELLOW COLOUR WHEREAS-THE ORDINARY PLB’S ARE RED AND YELLOW.

+MAXICABS OPERATE ON A FIXED ROUTE, A REGULAR FREQUENCY, AND AT A FLAT FARE. FURTHERMORE THEIR STOPPING PLACES ARE RESTRICTED TO CERTAIN SAFE LOCATIONS, SO THEY COMBINE MANY OF THE BEST FEATURES OF BOTH THE PUBLIC LIGHT BUS AND THE CONVENTIONAL BUS SERVICES,-*- THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

APPLICATION FOR OPERATING THESE NEW ROUTES MUST BE MADE ON THE STANDARD FORM — +APPL I CAT I ON FOR PUBLIC LIGHT BUS- 'MAX I CAB ROUTES?-*-WHICH IS OBTAINABLE FREE ON REQUEST FROM THE HEADQUARTERS OF TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ON THE SIXTH FLOOR, GUARDIAN HOUSE, 32 01 KWAN ROAD, WAN CHAI.

COMPLETED FORMS MUST EE RETURNED BY REGISTERED MAIL TO THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT BY 5 P.M. ON JUNE 8. LATE APPLICATION WILL NOT EE CONSIDERED.

-----o------

FRIDAY, MAY 19, 1978

NEW DRAFT OUTLINE ZONING PLAN * K * K

THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD TODAY PUBLISHED A NEW DRAFT OUTLINE ZONING PLAN FOR TSZ WAN SHAN, DIAMOND HILL AND SAN PO KONG COVERING A TOTAL AREA OF ABOUT 265 HECTARES.

IT PROVIDES ABOUT 64 HECTARES FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, NINE HECTARES FOR COMMERCIAL/RESI DENT I AL PURPOSES, 29 HECTARES FOR INDUSTRIAL USE, ONE FIFTH OF A HECTARE FOR COMMERCIAL USE AND 37 HECTARES FOR GOVERNMENT, INSTITUTION AND COMMUNITY USES, SUCH AS SCHOOLS, PLAYGROUNDS, COMMUNITY CENTRES AND MARKETS.

A MAJOR FEATURE OF THE PLAN IS THE ZONING OF SEVERAL AREAS NOW OCCUPIED BY VILLAGE AND SQUATTER DEVELOPMENT IN TAI HOM FOR INDUSTRIAL USE. THE AREA COVERED IS ABOUT 10 HECTARES AND WILL BE A VALUABLE EXTENSION TO THE EXISTING INDUSTRIAL AREA IN SAN PO KONG.

A TOTAL OF MORE THAN 17 HECTARES IS EARMARKED FOR OPEN SPACE, INCLUDING PART OF THE LAND SOUTH OF FUNG TAK ROAD, AN AREA SOUTH OF LUNG CHEUNG ROAD AT SHA TIN PASS INTERSECTION, AN AREA ON EITHER SIDE OF LOK WAH STREET, SEVERAL AREAS WITHIN THE TAI HOM INDUSTRIAL AREA, AND A LARGE AREA TO THE NORTHWEST OF THE SAN PO KONG INDUSTRIAL AREA.

OPEN SPACE WILL ALSO EE PROVIDED WITHIN THE CHUK YUEN ESTATE, AND WITHIN OTHER AREAS OF LAND ZONED FOR GOVERNMENT, INSTITUTION AND COMMUNITY USE.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD ADDITION TO THE VARIOUS AREAS OF OPEN SPACE, HAD BEEN SET ASIDE FOR GREEN BELT TO FURTHER ENVIRONMENT OF THE DISTRICT.

SAID THAT IN

SOME 55 HECTARES

ENHANCE THE LIVING

+THIS GREEN BELT AREA COVERS THE STEEP SLOPES WHICH RISE BEYOND THE EXISTING SHA TIN PASS AND TSZ WAN SHAN ESTATES, AND ALSO BEYOND THE PROPOSED CHUK YUEN ESTATE,* HE SAID.

+THE REMAINDER OF THE GREEN BELT ZONE IS LOCATED TO THE NORTH OF THE PROPOSED TAI HOM INDUSTRIAL AREA PART OF WHICH IS AT PRESENT BEING USED AS THE DIAMOND HILL QUARRY.*

ON COMMUNICATIONS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE PLANNING AREA WOULD BE SERVED BY TWO MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY STATIONS, ONE AT WONG TAI SIN AND THE OTHER, THE DIAMOND HILL STATION, AT TAI HOM.

+THE WONG TAI SIN STATION WILL SERVE THE HOUSING ESTATES AT WONG TAI SIN AND CHUK YUEN WHILE THE DIAMOND HILL STATION WILL SERVE THE INDUSTRIAL AREAS OF TAI HOM AND SAN PO KONG,* HE SAID.

/+IN ADDITION.......

FRIDAY, MAY 19, 1978

- 5 -

+IN ADDITION, THE DIAMOND HILL STATION WILL BECOME A MAJOR INTERCHANGE STATION FOR POSSIBLE EXTENSIONS TO THE MODIFIED INITIAL SYSTEM.*

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT MOST OF THE NEW COMMUNITY AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES WERE PLANNED FOR THE DISTRICT’S FUTURE POPULATION WHICH IS ESTIMATED TO EE 219,000 BY 1996.

COPIES OF THE DRAFT PLAN, WITH A SET OF NOTES 'DEFINING THE PERMITTED USES IN THE VARIOUS ZONES AS WELL AS THOSE WHICH MAY BE EXCEPTIONALLY PERMITTED BY THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD, MAY BE INSPECTED AT THE C.D.O. (CENTRAL AND WESTERN) ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE= THE C.D.O. (WONG TAI SIN) AND AT THE P.W.D.’S TOWN PLANNING OFFICE.

UNDER A NOTICE PUBLISHED IN TODAY’S GOVERNMENT GAZETTE ANY PERSON OBJECTING TO THE PLAN OR NOTES SHOULD SUBMIT HIS OBJECTIONS IN WRITING BEFORE JULY 18, 1978 TO THE SECRETARY OF THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD, C/0 PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, MURRAY BUILDING, HONG KONG.

COPIES OF THE DRAFT PLAN MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE P.W.D.’S CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE, 19TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, AT $5 EACH FOR UNCOLOURED ONES, AND $50 COLOURED.

- - 0 - -

FRIDAY, MAY 19, 1978

SPEEDING UP HONG KONG TEXTILE EXPORTS ******

THE TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT IS COMPUTERISING ITS TEXTILES EXPORT CONTROL SYSTEM.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY THAT THE COMPUTER WAS NECESSARY BECAUSE OF INCREASED COMPLEXITIES IN HONG KONG’S BILATERAL TEXTILES AGREEMENTS WITH A NUMBER OF IMPORTING COUNTRIES AND EVER GROWING NUMBER OF EXPORT LICENCE APPLICATIONS.

+IT IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN AN EFFICIENT LICENSING SERVICE. TO PREVENT THE PROBLEM FROM GROWING AND ADVERSELY AFFECTING THE TRADE, THE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING WHETHER THE EXISTING TEXTILES EXPORT CONTROL SYSTEM IS OPEN TO COMPUTERISATION.*

SINCE 1977 THE DEPARTMENT HAS, WITH THE HELP OF THE MANAGEMENT SERVICES DIVISION OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT AND CONSULTANTS, BEGUN WORKING OUT A COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR THE USA TEXTILES CONTROL SECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT. DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF THE SYSTEM SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT, STARTING ON MONDAY (MAY 22), A NUMBER OF VISUAL DISPLAY UNITS (VDU) WILL BE SET UP ON THE COUNTER DESKS OF THE USA TEXTILES CONTROL OFFICE WHERE OPERATORS WILL WORK SIDE BY SIDE WITH OFFICERS EMPLOYING THE TRADITIONAL MANUAL METHOD OF PROCESSING EXPORT LICENCE, EXPORT AUTHORISATION, SWING AND TRANSFER TRANSACTIONS.

+THE PUBLIC MIGHT THINK THAT BECAUSE THE COUNTERS ARE EQUIPPED WITH VDU THE ISSUING OF LICENCES WILL BE QUICKER*, THE SPOKESMAN SAID. +BUT AT THIS STAGE THERE WILL BE NO APPRECIABLE DIFFERENCE. THE MOVEMENT OF THE VDU TO THE COUNTERS IS JUST ANOTHER ESSENTIAL PART OF THE TESTING PROGRAMME TO ESTABLISH THE OPERATIONAL READINESS OF THE COMPUTERISED SYSTEM.*

HE SAID THAT AFTER THE TRIAL PERIOD A DECISION WILL BE MADE WHETHER TO REPLACE THE MANUAL BY THE COMPUTERISED SYSTEM FOR THE U.S. MARKET. +CONSIDERATIONS WILL THEN BE GIVEN WHETHER TO MECHANISE THE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR OTHER RESTRAINT MARKETS*.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT DURING THE TRIAL PERIOD THERE WILL BE LITTLE OR NO EFFECT ON THE TRADE. +THE METHOD AND PROCEDURE FOR MAKING AND PROCESSING ALL LICENCE APPLICATIONS WILL REMAIN AS AT PRESENT.*

-----0------

FRIDAY, MAY 19, 1978

PROPOSED RECLAMATION FOR NEW POWER STATION ON LAMMA ISLAND

******

THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO GRANT AN AREA OF FORESHORE AND SEA BED AT PO LO TSUI, LAMMA ISLAND TO THE HONG KONG -LECTRIC COMPANY LTD. FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECLAMATION AND JETTIES FOR A NEW POWER STATION.

A NOTICE PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY SAID THE AREA INVOLVED MEASURES 58.9 HECTARES AND IS SITUATED AT THE NORTHWEST OF LAMMA ISLAND.

ANY PERSON HAVING OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSAL OR ANY CLAIMS OF PRIVATE PROPERTY WHICH MIGHT EE AFFECTED ARE ASKED TO SUBMIT SUCH OBJECTIONS OR CLAIMS IN WRITING TO THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS WITHIN TWO MONTHS FROM TODAY.

THE PLAN SHOWING THE AREA OF FORESHORE AND SEA BED INVOLVED MAY EE INSPECTED AT THE PORT WORKS DIVISION, 1ST FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD OR THE DISTRICT OFFICE (ISLANDS), INTERNATIONAL BUILDING, CONNAUGHT ROAD, HONG KONG. THE NOTICE AND ITS RELATED PLAN CAN ALSO BE SEEN ON NOTICE BOARDS ERECTED NEAR THE SITE.

----o------

HOME OWNERSHIP FLAT BUYERS TO PAY NORMAL STAMP DUTY ******

3UYERS OF HOME OWNERSHIP FLATS WILL BE REOU FRED TO PAY NORMAL STAMP DUTY ON THE ASSIGNMENT DEED, UNDER A BILL GAZETTED TODAY.

THE STAMP (AMENDMENT)(NO. 4) BILL 1978 WOULD MAKE ASSIGNMENTS OF FLATS EXECUTED BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY LIABLE TO STAMP DUTY BASED ON THE MARKET VALUE, RATHER THAN THE SALE PRICE, OF THE FLATS.

THIS FOLLOWS THE SAME PRACTICE USED IN THE ASSIGNMENT OF FLATS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

THE AMENDMENT IS NECESSARY BECAUSE THE PRESENT ORDINANCE REFERS ONLY TO LEASES EXECUTED BY THE AUTHORITY, AND THESE DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN EXEMPTED FROM STAMP DUTY.

A RECENT AMENDMENT TO THE HOUSING ORDINANCE HAD GIVEN THE HOUSING AUTHORITY POWER TO SELL AND MANAGE FLATS UNDER THE HC.'.E OWNERSHIP SCHEME.

--------o----------

FRIDAY, MAY 19, 1978

WORTH WHILE CAREER IN IMMIGRATION SERVICE *****

SIR DONALD LUDDINGTON, CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLIC SERVICES COMMISSION, TODAY TOLD A GROUP OF NEW ASSISTANT IMMIGRATION OFFICERS THEY HAVE CHOSEN A WORTH WHILE CAREER IN A SERVICE VITAL TO THE WELFARE OF HONG KONG AND ITS CITIZENS.,

HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE OFFICER’S PASSING-OUT PARADE HELD AT THE LADY TRENCH TRAINING CENTRE IN WAN CHAI.

SIR DONALD SAID: +YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE RAPIDLY BECAUSE THE SERVICE IS BOUND TO EXPAND AS TRAVEL FACILITIES IMPROVE.+

BUT, HE REMINDED THEM THAT THEIR WORK DEMANDED SYMPATHY, PATIENCE AND EFFICIENCY.

+IN ALL ASPECTS OF YOUR WORK IN FUTURE YOU WILL BE DEALING WITH PEOPLE,* HE SAID, +SOMETIMES YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HELP THEM, SOMETIMES YOU WILL HAVE TO DENY THEM WHAT THEY WANT.*

+BUT WHATEVER YOUR DECISION HAS TO BE DO NOT FORGET THAT THEY ARE PEOPLE. THEY ARE AS DESERVING OF COURTESY, EXPLANATION AND FAIR PLAY AS YOU ARE,* HE STRESSED.

-----o------

[Typographical errors in the original document]

FRIDAY, MAY 19, 1978

TUEN MUN SITE FOR SALE

M M

* * *

THE GOVERNMENT WILL AUCTION USE AS SUPERMARKET OR RESTAURANT PEAK ROADi TUEN MUN'.

THE AUCTION WILL BE HELD AT

A 2,□□□-SQUARE-METRE SITE FOR AT THE 17 MILESTONE ON CASTLE

Kn Ini__ THE ST. SIMON LUl MING CHOI

SECONDARY SCHOOL IN TUEN MUN ON TUESDAY (MAY 23).

ATE SURVEYOR OF TUEN.MUN DISTRICT OFFICE, ID TODAY; +THIS SPACIOUS SITE IS LOCATED I

THE StNlOR ESt

MR. VINCENT CHU. SAID TODAY: +THIS SPACIOUS SITE IS LOCAT A HIGH-CLASS RESIDENTIAL AREA AND HAS GOOD ROAD ACCESS TO KOWLOON AND TUEN MUN NEW TOWN BY WAY OF THE NEW TUEN MUN ROAD.+

THE SITE CARRIES A BUILDING COVENANT OF 31 MILLION TO BE FULFILLED WITHIN THREE YEARS, MR. CHU ADDED.

UNDER THE CONDITION OF SALE, THE GROSS FLOOR AREA OF THE SUPERMARKET OR RESTAURANT SHALL NOT EE LESS THAN 465 SQUARE METRES. BUILDINGS TO BE ERECTED ON THE SITE WILL BASICALLY BE RESTRICTED TO TWO

IN ADDITION. STORAGE OF GOODS.

STOREYS.

A BASEMENT MAY BE BUILT FOR THE PURPOSE OF

MR. CHU SAID THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDER SHALL PAY CASH OR A CHEQUE FOR THE SUM OF $!□□,□□□ AS A DEPOSIT AND IN PART PAY OF THE PREM UM.

PART PAYMENT

FULL PARTICULARS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM AND SALE PLANS INSPECTED AT THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, HOUSING AUTHORITY HEADQUARTERS BUILDING, PRINCESS MARGARET ROAD, KOWLOON.

- - 0 - -

SIXTY PROBATIONARY CUSTOMS OFFICERS GRADUATE * M H * *

SIXTY PROBATIONARY CUSTOMS OFFICERS WILL TAKE PART IN A PASSING-OUT PARADE TOMORROW (SATURDAY) AT THE CUSTOMS AND EX TRAINING SCHOOL IN TAI LAM CHUNG, THE NEW TERRITORIES.

EXCISE

MR. K.T. WONG, A SUPERINTENDENT OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE, WILL TAKE THE SALUTE AT THE PARADE STARTING AT 11.15 A.M.

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE OCCASION. A GOVERNMENT COACH (AM 5606) WILL LEAVE FROM THE KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER, TSIM SHA TSUI AT 9.30 A.M. TOMORROW FOR THE TRAINING SCHOOL.

- - 0 - -

/1O

FRIDAY, MAY 19, 1978

- 10

FIRING PRACTICE

* * *

FIRING PRACTICE WILL TAKE PLACE AT CASTLE PEAK RANGE ON 12 DAYS NEXT MONTH (JUNE).

THE PUBLIC ARE REMINDED THAT IT IS DANGEROUS TO ENTER THE AREA WHEN THE RED FLAGS ARE FLYING DURING THE TIME OF FIRING PRACTICE.

THE PRACTICE TIMES ARE:

DATE HOURS

JUNE 1 (THURSDAY) 9 A.M. - 10 P.M.

JUNE 2 (FRIDAY) 8.30 A.M. - 6.30 P.M.

JUNE 13 (TUESDAY) 8 A.M. - 4.30 P.M.

JUNE 14 (WEDNESDAY) 8 A.M. - 4.30 P.M.

JUNE 15 (THURSDAY) 8 A.M. - 4.30 P.M.

JUNE 20 (TUESDAY) 8 A.M. - 4 P.M.

JUNE 21 (WEDNESDAY) 8 A.M. - 4.30 P.M.

JUNE 26 (MONDAY) 8 A.M. - 5 P.M.

JUNE 27 (TUESDAY) 8 A.M. - 5 P.M.

JUNE 28 (WEDNESDAY) 8 A.M. - 5 P.M.

JUNE 29 (THURSDAY) 8 A.M. - 4.30 P.M.

JUNE 30 (FRIDAY) 8 A.M. - 4.30 P.M.

-----0------

TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF TAI HANG TUNG ROAD * * *

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THE SECTION OF TAI HANG TUNG ROAD ABOUT 50 YARDS NORTH OF ITS JUNCTIONS WITH TAI HANG SAI STREET WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC BETWEEN 10 P.M. ON SUNDAY (MAY 21) AND 2 A.M. ON MONDAY (MAY 22) IN ORDER TO FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A TEMPORARY FOOTBRIDGE ACROSS TAI HANG TUNG ROAD OUTSIDE BLOCK 2.

APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL EE SET UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.

------o-------

F+<||iw]

IGISl Iffigfel

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

SATURDAY, MAY 20, 1978

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

MAJOR RAOD PROJECT FOR TSUEN WAN ....................... 1

SPECIAL CENTRES TO ASSIST PRECIOUS BLOOD GOLDEN JUBILEE SCHOOL STUDENTS ................................ 2

PRISONS DEPARTMENT WINS BATTLE AGAINST DRUGS AND TRIADS ................................................. 3

QUEENSWAY FLYOVER TO OPEN SOON ......................... 4

REGISTRATION OF REDUNDANT TEACHERS ..................... 5

PASSING-OUT PARADE OF CUSTOMS OFFICERS ................. 6

ACTIVITY APPROACH COURSES FOR TEACHERS ................. 7

VEW PLAYGROUND FOR SCOUTS IN TAI PO .................... S

NEW PHOTOGRAPHS OF DEPARTMENT HEADS .................... S

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS I-. MO’ G KOK AND KWUN TONG ....... 9

Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House. Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191

SATURDAY, MAY 20, 1978

- 1 -

MAJOR ROAD PROJECT FOR TSUEN WAN

* * H H *

THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WILL SHORTLY CARRY OUT ANOTHER MAJOR ROAD PROJECT IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

THE PROJECT, KNOWN AS TSUEN WAN BY-PASS, IS PART OF THE ROAD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOR THE TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN. IT 'WILL BE CARRIED OUT IN T..0 STAGES.

TENDERS FOR STAGE ONE WHICH INVOLVES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SIX-LANE ROAD FROM KWAI CHUNG TO TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN ARE EE ING INVITED.

MR. CHEN SHAO-CHI, CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE P.W.D.’S HIGHWAYS (M.T.) DIVISION, SAID THE TWO-KILOMETRE ROAD WOULD RUN FROM A POINT NEAR THE CONTAINER TERMINALS AT KWAI CHUNG ROAD TO TEXACO ROAD NEAR YEUNG UK ROAD.

THERE WILL BE THREE INTERCHANGES LOCATED AT KWAI CHUNG ROAD, HING FONG ROAD AND TEXACO ROAD RESPECTIVELY.

+A SECTION OF THE ROAD FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH KWAI CHUNG ROAD TO THE NORTH OF HING FONG ROAD ..ILL BE A VIADUCT, THE FOUNDATIONS OF WHICH ARE ALREADY UNDER CONSTRUCTION,+ MR. CHEN SAID.

WORK ON THE FIRST STAGE OF THE ROAD PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO EEGIN IN MID-SEPTEMBER AND WILL TAKE ABOUT 27 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.

STAGE TWO OF THE PROJECT WILL INVOLVE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A TWO-KILOMETRE ROAD WHICH WILL RUN FROM TEXACO ROAD ACROSS TSUEN WAN BAY TO LINK WITH TUEN MUN ROAD AT CHAI WAN KOK.

WORK ON THIS STAGE OF THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN 1930.

MEANWHILE, WORK ON A MULTI-MILL ION-DOLLAR FLYOVER COMPLEX AT Tr JUNCTION OF TEXACO ROAD AND CASTLE PEAK ROAD IN TSUEN WAN IS PROGRESSING SATISFACTORILY.

THIS INVOLVES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 230-METRE-LONG FLYOVER WHICH WILL CARRY FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC OVER CASTLE PEAK ROAD.

SLIP ROADS WILL ALSO EE CONSTRUCTED TO LINK CASTLE PEAK ROAD WITH TEXACO ROAD AND KWOK SHU I ROAD.

- TO IMPROVE THE TRAFFIC FLOW IN TSUEN WAN, THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN KWAI CHUNG ROAD AND CASTLE PEAK ROAD WILL BE RECONSTRUCTED.

IN ADDITION, THERE TO CHEUNG WING ROAD AND THE AREA.

WILL EE A DIRECT LINK FROM CASTLE PEAK ROAD A ROUNDABOUT SYSTEM WILL BE INTRODUCED IN

----0------

SATURDAY, MAY 20, 1978

SPECIAL CENTRES TO ASSIST PRECIOUS BLOOD GOLDEN JUBILEE SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

* * * *

SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO ASSIST MIDDLE 2 TO 4 STUDENTS OF THE RECENTLY CLOSED PRECIOUS BLOOD GOLDEN JUBILEE SECONDARY SCHOOL WHO WISH TO CONTINUE THEIR STUDIES FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS SEMESTER.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY THREE CENTRES HAD BEEN SET UP TO ADVISE AND ASSIST PARENTS IN FINDING TEMPORARY PLACES FOR THEIR CHILDREN IN NEIGHBOURING SCHOOLS.

A NUMBER OF PARENTS HAD ALREADY MADE ENQUIRIES OF THIS SERVICE.

+W’E WOULD CALL THE ATTENTION OF ALL PARENTS TO THIS FACILITY WHICH HAS BEEN SPECIALLY ARRANGED TO HELP THESE STUDENTS QUICKLY FIND ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL PLACES TO ENABLE THEM TO CONTINUE THEIR STUDIES FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS SEMESTER,+ HE SAID.

PARENTS OF MIDDLE 3 PUPILS SHOULD CALL ON THE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S KOWLOON SUB-OFFICE ON THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH FLOORS OF THE KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES IN NATHAN ROAD.

PARENTS OF MIDDLE 4 CHILDREN SHOULD CALL ON THE OFFICER IN CHARGE AT THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S SUB-OFFICE ON THE NINETH FLOOR OF THE CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES.

PARENTS OF MIDDLE 2 PUPILS SHOULD CONTACT THE HO MAN TIN CITY DISTRICT SUB-OFFICE AT 123-126 BLOCK 8 HOMANTIN ESTATE, SHEUNG SHING STREET, KOWLOON.

AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED THAT ARRANGEMENTS HAD ALREADY BEEN MADE TO ACCOMMODATE PUPILS OF MIDDLE 1 CLASSES AND THAT THEIR PARENTS HAD BEEN INFORMED ACCORDINGLY.

-----o------

SATURDAY, MAY 20, 1978

PRISONS DEPARTMENT WINS BATTLE AGAINST DRUGS AND TRIADS

*****

THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT WAS PRAISED TODAY FOR SUCCESSFULLY CURBING THE TRAFFICKING OF ILLICIT GOODS AND TRIAD ACTIVITIES IN PENAL INSTITUTIONS.

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG DISCHARGED PRISONERS AID SOCIETY, MR. FREDERICK YU SAK-KWONG SAID THE DEPARTMENT’S CONTINUOUS EFFORTS IN IMPLEMENTING VARIOUS MEASURES DURING THE PAST SIX YEARS TO COMBAT THE ILLICIT TRAFFICKING OF UNAUTHORISED ARTICLES HAS NOW YIELDED FRUITFUL RESULTS IN THE WAY THAT THE PENAL INSTITUTIONS ARE FREE FROM DRUGS.

+THE DEPARTMENT HAS ALSO WON ANOTHER BATTLE, THAT IS THE SUPPRESSION OF TRIAD AND GANG ACTIVITIES WITHIN PENAL INSTITUTIONS WHICH WERE AN OBSTACLE TO REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES,+ HE SAID AT THE PASSING-OUT PARADE FOR 93 PRISON OFFICERS AT THE DEPARTMENT’S STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE IN STANLEY.

MR. YU ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT HAS NOT ONLY MET WITH LOCAL ACCEPTANCE, ITS ACHIEVEMENTS ARE WELL RECOGNISED BY NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES.

HE SAID: +THE 18 INSTITUTIONS ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT ARE FREQUENTLY VISITED BY EMINENT OFFICIALS AND SCHOLARS ABROAD WHO GENERALLY AGREE THAT OUR PRISON ADMINISTRATION IS TAKING THE LEAD IN MOST AREAS, WHEN COMPARED WITH MANY OTHER COUNTRIES.*

THE OFFICERS WHO TOOK PART IN THE PASSING-OUT PARADE TODAY COMPRISED 18 PRISON OFFICERS AND 75 ASSISTANT OFFICERS.

GOLDEN WHISTLES WERE PRESENTED TO THE BEST RECRUITS OF THE IWO SQUADS ON PARADE. THEY WERE MR. WU YING-MING (21) AND MR. CHEUNG KWAN-LUN (26).

-----o------

SATURDAY, MAY 20, 1978

QUEENSWAY FLYOVER TO OPEN SOON * * * * *

QUEENSWAY FLYOVER AT THE FOOT OF GARDEN ROAD WILL BE PARTIALLY OPENED TO TRAFFIC IN ABOUT TWO MONTHS.

MR. CHOI YU-LEUK, CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE CONSULTANTS MANAGEMENT DIVISION OF THE P.W.D.’S HIGHWAYS OFFICE, SAID TODAY THAT WORK ON THE TWO-LANE FLYOVER WAS PROGRESSING SMOOTHLY.

+ONE OF THE LANES WILL BE COMPLETED AND OPENED TO TRAFFIC IN JULY WHILE THE OTHER WILL BE READY IN SEPTEMBER,+ HE SAID.

ON COMPLETION, HE SAID, THE FLYOVER WOULD IMPROVE THE TRAFFIC FLOW AT THE JUNCTION OF GARDEN ROAD AND QUEENSWAY.

THE 230-METRE-LONG FLYOVER COMPLEMENTS THE P.W.D.’S TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENT SCHEME TO EASE TRAFFIC CONGESTTON IN THE MID-LEVELS.

THE PLAN INVOLVES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SERIES OF ELEVATED ROADS ALONG ROBINSON ROAD. TWO OF THESE FLYOVERS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND ARE NOW IN OPERATION. THEY ARE THE ONES AT THE TOP OF GARDEN ROAD AND AT CASTLE ROAD.

WORK ON TWO MORE — ONE AT OLD PEAK ROAD AND THE OTHER AT GLENEALY — ARE PROGRESSING SATISFACTORILY. THEY ARE EXPECTED TO EE COMPLETED IN THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR.

0 --------

SATURDAY, MAY 20, 1978

JOBS FOR REDUNDANT TEACHERS ******

THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S PLACEMENT SERVICE ON MONDAY (MAY 22) WILL BEGIN REGISTERING ABOUT 400 TEACHERS WHO WILL BE MADE REDUNDANT FOLLOWING THE CLOSURE OF CLASSES IN SUBSIDISED PRIMARY SCHOOLS NEXT SEPTEMBER.

THE SENIOR EDUCATION OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE SERVICE, MR. CHAN SAI-BUN, SAID TODAY THAT THE TEACHERS HAD BEEN NOTIFIED IN WRITING THAT THEY MUST REGISTER BY 5 P.M. ON FRIDAY, MAY 26.

+THE TEACHERS HAVE BEEN MADE REDUNDANT THROUGH POPULATION SHIFTS AND THE PHASING OUT OF UNDER-USED CLASSES RESULTING FROM A GENERAL DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN OF PRIMARY SCHOOL AGE,* HE SAID.

MR. CHAN STRESSED THAT ALTHOUGH THE PLACEMENT SERVICE DID ITS BEST TO FIND JOBS FOR REDUNDANT TEACHERS, IT COULD NOT GUARANTEE EMPLOYMENT.

+THE SERVICE MERELY IDENTIFIES VACANCIES AND BRINGS TOGETHER SCHOOL MANAGERS AND TEACHERS IN AN EFFORT TO SOLVE MUTUAL PROBLEMS,* HE SAID.

HOWEVER, MR. CHAN SAID HE HOPED TO ABSORB HALF OF THE 400 REDUNDANT TEACHERS IN ADDITIONAL SPECIAL CLASSES IN AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND WITH THE OPENING OF NEW CLASSES IN ORDINARY SCHOOLS IN NEW TOWNS AND HOUSING ESTATES, AND IN AREAS WITH SHORTAGES OF AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOL PLACES.

+ THE REMAINING 200 COULD PROBABLY BE ABSORBED IN VACANCIES EXPECTED TO RESULT FROM NORMAL WASTAGE, SUCH AS RESIGNATIONS, RETIREMENTS AND DEATHS,* HE SAID.

MR. CHAN SAID THAT, DURING THE PAST THREE YEARS, THE PLACEMENT SERVICE HAD FOUND POSITIONS IN AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS FOR 752 TEACHERS WHO CAME FORWARD FOR REGISTRATION.

SATURDAY, MAY 20, 197S

CUSTOMS OFFICERS PASSING-OUT PARADE * * * * *

SUPERINTENDENT OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE K.T. WONG TODAY CALLED ON 60 NEW CUSTOMS OFFICERS TO EXERCISE THEIR AUTHORITY WITH +TOLERANCE, INTEGRITY AND WITH NO TRACE OF ARROGANCE.*

ADDRESSING THE GROUP AT THE PASSING-OUT PARADE HELD AT THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE TRAINING SCHOOL IN TAI LAM CHUNG, MR. WONG STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-DISCIPLINE AND SELF-RESPECT WHICH WOULD ENABLE THEM TO HANDLE SITUATIONS WITH TACT AND FIRMNESS.

HE NOTED THAT +BECAUSE OF YOUR AUTHORITY YOU MIGHT RECEIVE APPROACHES FROM THE CORRUPT AND DISHONEST OR EVEN THOSE SIMPLY LOOKING FOR AN EASY WAY OUT*.

+YOU MUST NEVER ERR. YOU CANNOT AFFORD ONE MISTAKE FOR WITHOUT THIS SELF-DISCIPLINE AND SELF-RESPECT, THE BADGES OF RANK AND STANDING ORDERS WILL HAVE LOST THEIR SIGNIFICANCE.*

MR. WONG REMINDED THE OFFICERS THAT THEY WERE PUBLIC SERVANTS AND THAT THEIR DUTY WAS TO SERVE THE PUBLIC.

+WE MIGHT OFTEN SAY TO OURSELVES THAT WE WORK FOR THE GOVERNMENT AND FORGET THAT THIS REALLY MEANS WE WORK FOR THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH WE LIVE.

+YOU SHOULD REMEMBER AT ALL TIMES THAT IT IS THE COMMUNITY WHICH CONTRIBUTES TO OUR SALARIES AND THE COMMUNITY FROM WHICH WE DERIVE CUR AUTHORITY,* HE ADDED. MR. WONG HAS BEEN WITH THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE FOR 31 YEARS.

-----o------

SATURDAY, MAY 20, 1978

ACTIVITY APPROACH COURSES FOR TEACHERS

******

THE ADVISORY INSPECTORATE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT NEXT MONTH WILL HOLD FOUR INTRODUCTORY COURSES FOR CHINESE PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS INTERESTED IN THE ACTIVITY APPROACH TO LEARNING.

TWO OF THE COURSES WILL EE CONDUCTED AT THE GRANTHAM COLLEGE OF EDUCATION ANNEXE IN HOK YUEN STREET, HUNG HOM, FROM 9 A.M. TO 11.30 A.M. AND FROM 2.30 P.M. TO 5 P.M. FROM JUNE 12 TO 13 AND JUNE 15 TO 16.

THE REMAINING TWO COURSES WILL BE HELD AT THE CULTURAL CRAFT CENTRE, TANNER ROAD, NORTH POINT, FROM 9 A.M. TO 11.30 A.M. AND FROM 2.30 P.M. TO 5 P.M. FROM JUNE 19 TO 20 AND JUNE 22 TO 23.

ONLY 70 APPLICATIONS CAN BE ACCEPTED FOR EACH OF THE FOUR COURSES. APPLICATIONS FOR PLACES MUST BE LODGED WITH THE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT SECTION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT BEFORE MAY 29. PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO TEACHERS FROM SCHOOLS INTENDING TO ADOPT THE ACTIVITY APPROACH METHOD WHEN THE NEW ACADEMIC YEAR BEGINS IN SEPTEMBER.

THE METHOD IS AIMED AT BRINGING ABOUT A LESS FORMAL APPROACH TO TEACHING BY PROMOTING SELF-INITIATED LEARNING THROUGH GROUP ACTIVITIES.

THE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT INTRODUCED THE ACTIVITY APPROACH METHOD AS A PILOT PROJECT IN 16 CLASSES AT SIX CHINESE PRIMARY SCHOOLS SIX YEARS AGO.

IT HAS SINCE GAINED WIDE ACCEPTANCE AND IS NOW USED IN 360 CLASSES IN 45 SCHOOLS.

0---------

SATURDAY, MAY 20, 1970

NEW PLAYGROUND FOR SCOUTS AT TAI PO

******

THE PROVISION OF WELL-EQUIPPED RECREATION GROUNDS FOR THE . YOUNGER GENERATION IS A MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY, THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES SAID TODAY.

OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING OF THE LEUNG SHING TAK PLAYGROUND AT THE HONG KONG SCOUT ASSOCIATION’S TRAINING CENTRE IN TUNG TSZ, TAI PO, MR. AKERS-JONES SAID THAT THE PLAYGROUND AT THE CENTRE ONLY MARKED THE BEGINNING OF MORE TO COME.

+1 WOULD LIKE TO SEE OTHER CENTRES PROVIDING SIMILAR RECREATIONAL FACILITIES SO THAT MORE YOUNG PEOPLE CAN PARTICIPATE AND SHARE THE ENJOYMENT OF CAMPING AND VARIOUS OTHER ACTIVITIES DURING THEIR VACATION,+ HE SAID.

MR. AKERS-JONES NOTED THAT WORK HAD ALREADY STARTED ON A PROJECT TO OPEN UP THE HILLY LAND BEHIND THE TUNG TSZ CENTRE FOR A LEADERSHIP TRAINING GROUND.

+WHEN COMPLETED, THE NEW GROUND WILL ENABLE DIFFERENT FORMS OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING TO TAKE PLACE SIMULTANEOUSLY, MAKING THE CENTRE ALL THE MORE IDEAL FOR TRAINING.*

HE PRAISED MISS LEUNG SHING-TAK, REGIONAL VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE SCOUT ASSOCIATION FOR FINANCING THE COST OF BUILDING THE PLAYGROUND WHICH REFLECTED HER ADMIRABLE DEVOTION TO THE SCOUTING MOVEMENT IN HONG KONG.

-----o------

NOTE TO EDITORS:

NEW PHOTOGRAPHS OF DEPARTMENT HEADS ******

WITH THE AIM OF UPDATING OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF DEPARTMENTAL HEADS, COPIES OF NEW PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE- THE DIRECTOR OF ROYAL OBSERVATORY, MR. G.J. BELL AND THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR AND MINES, MR. J.N. HENDERSON HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED IN THE G.I.S. PRESS BOXES TODAY.

THESE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE FOR YOUR RECORD AND EDITORIAL USE. IT WOULD BE MOST APPRECIATED IF, WHEN THE OCCASION ARISES, THE NEW PHOTOGRAPHS ARE USED INSTEAD OF THE OLD ONES.

MORE PHOTOGRAPHS OF DEPARTMENT HEADS WILL BE SENT TO YOU WHEN THEY ARE AVAILABLE.

0 --------

SATURDAY, MAY 2D, 197-'

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS HI MONG KOK AND KWUN TONG * * * * *

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT FROM ID A.I . ON MONDAY (MAY 22) A CLEARWAY RESTRICTION ..ILL EE IMPOSED EET..EEI 7 AND 7 ?.M. DAILY 0" A SECTION OF PORTLAND STREET, FROM WATERLOO 7.-DA EXTENDED NORTH,ARDS TO A DISTANCE OF 8D FEET.

ALL .‘'.CTOR VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED EUSES WILL EE PROHIBITED FROM PICKING UP OR SETTING DOWN PASSENGERS AND LOAD-1 NG OR UNLOADING GOODS DURING THE RESTRICTED PERIOD.

THE CLEARWAY RESTRICTION IS INTENDED TO IMPROVE THE TRAFFIC FLOW AT THE JUNCTION OF PORTLAND STREET AND WATERLOO ROAD.

MEANWHILE, THE DEPARTMENT ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT FROM MAY 22 TO JUNE 12 THE SECTION OF WAI YIP STREET EETWEEN THE JUNCTIONS OF LAI YIP STREET AND KWUN TONG ROAD WILL EE CLOSED TO ALL VEHICULAR-TRAFFIC BETWEEN 1.30 A.M. AND 5.30 A.M.

THE WIGHT CLOSURE IS TO ENABLE THE DEMOLITION OF OVERHEAD STRUCTURES WHICH HAD BEEN SET UP FOR MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY WORKS IN THE AREA.

MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO USE KWUN TONG ROAD AS AN ALTERNATIVE ROUTE.

APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS ..ILL DE SET UP IN THESE AREAS TO INDICATE THE RESTRICTIONS AND ASSIST MOTORISTS.

-----o------

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

SUNDAY, MAY 21, 197S

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

WORK ON NEW BEACON HILL RAILWAY TUNNEL UNDERWAY ......... 1

NEW SHAM SHU I PC FERRY PIER READY NEXT MONTH ........... 1

PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES FOR APRIL.......;.............. 2

NEW TELEX EQUIPMENT FOR MARINE DEPARTMENT ............... 4

SITES IN OFFENSIVE TRADES AREA FOR TENDER ............... 5

DROP IN NUMBER OF FIRES ................................. 6

REGISTRATION TEAM TO OPERATE IN CHAI WAN ................ 6

NEW BEACON HILL RAILWAY TUNNEL

*******

CONSTRUCTION OF THE MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR NEW BEACON HILL RAILWAY TUNNEL IS WELL UNDERWAY.

PILOT +BURROWING+ HAS STARTED ON BOTH THE NORTH AND SOUTH PORTALS AND SO FAR THERE HAVE BEEN NO MAJOR PROBLEMS.

THE CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE CIVIL ENGINEERING OFFICE’S RAILWAY DIVISION, MR. LEUNG MIN-SUN, SAID TODAY +EVERYTHING IS FINE. WE ARE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS.+

THE NEW 2.3 KM DOUBLE TRACK TUNNEL, COSTING A TOTAL OF ABOUT $97 Million, will replace the existing single track tunnel which HAS BEEN IN USE SINCE 1910 AND ACCOMMODATES THE LAST SECTION OF RAILWAY BETWEEN HUNG HOM AND SHA TIN. IT IS BEING CONSTRUCTED TO THE ./EST OF THE EXISTING TUNNEL. COMPLETION DATE IS AROUND JUNE 1980.

+ALTHOUGH WE ARE STILL IN THE VERY EARLY STAGES,+ SAID MR. LEUNG, +WE DO NOT EXPECT TO BE UNDULY HELD UP.+

THE TUNNEL WILL BE LINED THROUGHOUT WITH CONCRETE WHICH WILL VARY FROM A THICKNESS OF 550 MM NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO 300 MM OVER MOST OF ITS LENGTH ./HERE THE TUNNEL WILL PASS THROUGH SOLID ROCK.

THE ROUTE FOR THE NEW TUNNEL WILL IMPROVE THE ALIGNMENT OF THE KCR AND SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF THE RAILWAY, PARTICULARLY FOR GOODS TRAFFIC.

- 0 - -

NEW FERRY PIER FOR SHAM SHU I PO

******

A NEW $11 MILLION FERRY PIER WILL COME INTO OPERATION IN SHAN SHU I PO SOME TIME NEXT MONTH.

THE NEW PIER WILL PROVIDE BETTER BERTHING FACILITIES FOR FERRIES, INCLUDING THE LARGE TRIPLE-DECKERS,AND FOR PASSENGERS. MORE THAN 26 MILLION PASSENGERS TRAVELLED BY FERRIES TO SHAM SHU I PO LAST YEAR.

. MR. HOWARD CHAMBERLAIN, CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE PORT WORKS DIVISION OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, SAID TODAY THAT THE TWO-STOREY PIER HAS TWO BERTHS WITH ELECTRICALLY OPERATED LIFTS AND RAMPS TO FACILITATE EMBARKING AND DISEMBARKING OF PASSENGERS.

THERE IS ALSO A LARGE CONCOURSE WITH COVERED WALKWAYS, BUS AND PUBLIC LIGHT BUS TERMINI AS WELL AS TAXI RANKS PROVIDING GOOD LAND TRANSPORT TO AND FROM THE PIER.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN ALSO POINTED OUT THAT WITH THE OPENING OF THE NEW PIER, TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN THE AREA SHOULD BE CONSIDERABLY REDUCED.

- - 0 - -

SUNDAY, MAY 21, 1973.

- 2 -

PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES FOR APRIL

******

THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS FOR LAST MONTH (APRIL) WAS 33,338 MILLION, IMPORTS WERE WORTH 04,948 MILLION AND RE-EXPORTS *1,301 MILLION, ACCORDING TO THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT’ PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES PUBLISHED TODAY.

A SPOKESMAN IS A RECORD HIGH FIRST TIME.

FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS FIGURE, EXCEEDING THE 31,000 MILLION MARK FOR THE

THE FIGURES

FOR THE

_ PERIOD FEBRUARY TO APRIL 1978 (LATEST

THREE MONTHS) SHOWED INCREASES, EY VALUE, OF 11.5

PER CENT FOR DOMESTIC EXPORTS, 20.1 PER CENT FOR IMPORTS

AND 29.1 PER CENT FOR RE-EXPORTS, COMPARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN 1977.

COMPARED WITH APRIL LAST YEAR, EXPORTS INCREASED, EY VALUE, OF 3420 MILLION OR 16.1 PER CENT, IMPORTS EY 3319 MILLION OR 19.8 PER CENT AND RE-EXPORTS BY 3282 MILLION'OR 39.2 PER CENT.

THE SHORT TERM CHANGES, APRIL 1978 COMPARED WITH MARCH 1978, SHOWED INCREASES OF 3178 MILLION OR 6.2 PER CENT FOR DOMESTIC EXPORTS, 366 MILLION OR 1.3 PER CENT FOR IMPORTS AND 314 MILLION OR 1.4 PER CENT FOR RE-EXPORTS.

THE FIGURES FOR THE 12-MONTH PERIOD FROM MAY 1077 TO APRIL 1978 COMPARED WITH THOSE OF THE PREVIOUS CORRESPONDING 12 MONTHS SHOWED INCREASES, EY VALUE, OF 7.9 PER CENT FOR DOMESTIC EXPORTS, 13.4 PER CENT FOR IMPORTS AND 14.8 PER CENT FOR RE-EXPORTS.

FOLLOWING ARE COMPARATIVE TRADE FIGURES :-

FEB. - APRIL FEE. - APRIL INCREASE OR

LATEST 3 MONTHS 1978 1977 DECREASE

3 MN. 3 MN. 3 MN. %

DOMESTIC EXPORTS 8,023 7,198 + 825 + 11.5

IMPORTS 13,743 11,440 +2,333 +20.1

RE-EXPORTS 2,766 2,141 + 624 + 29.1

/same month ....

SUNDAY, MAY 21, 1978 - 3 -

SAME MONTH LAST YEAR APR IL 1978 APR IL 1977 INCREASE OR DECREASE

5 MN. $ MN. C MN. $0

DOMESTIC EXPORTS 3,338 2,618 + 423 + 16.1

(% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) (75.2%) (78.550

IMPORTS 4,943 4,129 + 819 + 19.3

RE-EXPORTS 1,301 719 + 232 + 39

(% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) (24.85-0 (21.5%)

APRIL MARCH INCREASE OR

LAST MONTH 1978 1978 DECREASE

S MN • $ MN. • 3 MN. %

DOMESTIC EXPORTS 3,338 2,860 + 178 + 6.2

(% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) (75.250 (74.3%)

IMPORTS 4,948 4,382 + 66 + 1.3

RE-EXPORTS 1,001 ‘ 987 + 14 + 1.4

(% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) (24.850 (25.750

JAN. - APRIL JAN. - APRIL INCREASE OR

CALENDAR YEAR TO-DATE 1978 1977 DECREASE

3 MN. $ MN. $ MN. %

DOMESTIC EXPORTS 10.743 9,883 + 354 + 8.6

(% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) (74.750 (76.8%)

IMPORTS 18,024 15,271 +2,753 + 13.3

RE-EXPORTS 3,647 2,982 + 665 + 22.3

(55 OF TOTAL EXPORTS) (25.350 (23.2%)

MAY 1977 MAY 1976

TO TO INCREASE

LAST 12 MONTHS APRIL 1973 APRIL 1977 DECREASE

* W MN. 5 MN. i MM. 55

DOMESTIC EXPORTS 35,858 33,240 +2,619 + 7.9

IMPORTS 51,454 45,378 +6,376 + 13.4

RE-EXPORTS 13,495 9,139 +1,356 + 14.8

SUNDAY, MAY 21, 19?8

TWO-WAY TELEX LINK INSTALLED AT PORT CONTROL CENTRE * * * *

NE'.' TELEX EQUIPMENT WHICH ENABLES THE MARINE DEPARTMENT TO COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY WITH OTHER TELEX USERS, PARTICULARLY THOSE IN THE SHIPPING CIRCLE IN HONG KONG AND OTHER MAJOR CITIES, HAS RECENTLY BEEN BROUGHT INTO USE AT THE DEPARTMENT’S PORT CONTROL CENTRE.

THE NEW INSTALLATION IS ESPECIALLY USEFUL TO LOCAL SHIPPING AGENTS FOR SENDING INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR HONG KONG-BOUND SHIPS TO THE PORT CONTROL CENTRE WITH WHICH ALL OCEAN-GOING VESSELS MUST REGISTER ON ENTERING OR CLEARING THE PORT.

THE TELEX LINK ALSO IMPROVES THE EFFICIENCY OF THE DEPARTMENT AS THE TIME CONSUMING PROCESS OF TAKING DOWN SHIPPING INFORMATION FROM LOCAL AGENTS OVER THE TELEPHONE, '..HICH AT TIMES MIGHT CAUSE CONFUSION AND MISUNDERSTANDING, IS ELIMINATED.

+THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT IN THE CASE OF SHIPS WITH DANGEROUS GOODS, WHOSE ENTRY MUST EE REPORTED TO THE DEPARTMENT 48 HOURS BEFORE ARRIVAL,* MARINE OFFICER (COMMUNICATIONS), MR. P.J. WEAVER SAID TODAY.

+THE AGENTS AND COMPANIES CAN ALSO USE THIS TELEX LINK TO MAKE BUOY BOOKINGS, THUS SAVING A LOT OF OUR TIME AND MANPOWER PREVIOUSLY SPENT IN RECEIVING SUCH A REQUEST BY TELEPHONE.

+ IN ADDITION, THEY CAN USE THE TELEX MACHINE TO PASS INQUIRIES OR MESSAGES OF COMPLICATED OR TECHNICAL NATURE TO MARINE DEPARTMENT WITHOUT CAUSING CONFUSION OR MISUNDERSTANDING AS COULD OCCUR ON THE TELEPHONE,* MR. WEAVER SAID.

IN TIME OF EMERGENCIES SUCH AS SHIP IN DISTRESS OR THE APPROACH CF A STCRi , THE NEW EQUIPMENT CAN SPEEDILY DISSEMINATE INFORMATION TO ALL THOSE CONCERNED.

MR. WEAVER SAID : +WHEN A VESSEL IS IN DIFFICULTY WITHIN OR NEAR HONG KONG’S TERRITORIAL WATERS, THE MARINE DEPARTMENT HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PASS ALL RELEVANT INFORMATION TO THE SHIPPING AGENTS CONCERNED, THE SALVAGE COMPANIES AND OTHER ’NEED TO KNOW’ DISCIPLINED SERVICES SUCH AS ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY AIR FORCE AND THE POLICE.

- +THE DISADVANTAGES CF RELAYING SUCH INFORMATION EY TELEPHONE WHICH MIGHT BE MISTAKEN AND HAMPER OR DELAY SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS NOW NO LONGER EXIST WITH THE PASSING OF SUCH INFORMATION DIRECT EY TELEX.* HE SAID.

IN ADDITION, THE TELEX SYSTEM HAS A BUILT-IN MINI-COMPUTER TC ENABLE IT TO STORE INCOMING OR OUTGOING MESSAGES U? TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.

0 --------

SUNDAY, MAY 21, 1978

- 5 -

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT SITES FOR TENDER IN KWAI CHUNG

******

THE GOVERNMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR TWO INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT SITES IN THE OFFENSIVE TRADES AREA IN KWAI CHUNG.

APPLICATIONS FOR THE LOTS, WHICH HAVE A TOTAL AREA OF 3,912 SQUARE METRES, ARE LIMITED TO HOLDERS OF LAND EXCHANGE ENTITLEMENTS ISSUED BY THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION.

THE SENIOR ESTATE SURVEYOR OF TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICE, MR. NIGEL BURLEY, SAID TODAY : +THE LOTS ARE THE LAST TWO REMAINING IN THE DESIGNATED OFFENSIVE TRADES AREA IN KWAI CHUNG.

+THEY ARE SITUATED NORTH OF GIN DRINKER’S BAY AND WEST OF THE NEW TSUEN WAN BY-PASS.+

THE FIRST LOT HAS AN AREA OF 3,390.3 SQUARE METRES AND CARRIES A BUILDING COVENANT OF 05,480,000 OVER 30 MONTHS. APPLICATIONS FOR THE LOT MUST EE SUBMITTED EY NOON ON FRIDAY (MAY 26).

THE SECOND LOT HAS AN AREA OF 522.3 SQUARE METRES AND CARRIES A BUILDING COVENANT OF 3850,000 OVER 30 MONTHS. APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY NOON ON JUNE 2 THIS YEAR.

IN ADDITION TO FACTORIES ERECTED ON THIS LOT, WAREHOUSES MAY ALSO BE BUILT.

APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH A CROSSED CHEQUE FOR 310,000 MADE PAYABLE TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, AND SHOULD BE PLACED IN THE APPLICATION BOX IN THE RECEPTION LOBBY OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, HONG KONG HOUSING AUTHORITY HEADQUARTERS BUILDING, PRINCESS MARGARET ROAD, KOWLOON.

0 - -

SUNDAY, MAY 21, 1978

DROP IN NUMBER OF FIRES ******

A TOTAL OF 4,147 FIRES WERE RECORDED DURING THE FOUR MONTHS ENDED FEBRUARY 1978, COMPARED WITH 4,373 IN THE SAME PERIOD OF LAST YEAR, ACCORDING TO FIGURES RELEASED BY THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TODAY.

BUT THE NUMBER OF FACTORY FIRES AND THE RESULTANT INJURIES HAVE RISEN.

THERE WERE 144 FIRES INVOLVING FACTORIES DURING THE PERIOD UNDER REVIEW COMPARED WITH 134 IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND NEARLY 63 PEOPLE, INCLUDING 30 FIREMEN, WERE INJUR-ED IN THESE BLAZES COMPARED WITH 20.

A FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN APPEALED TO FACTORY OWNERS TO ENSURE THAT ALL FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS OR EQUIPMENT ARE PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND IN EFFICIENT WORKING ORDER. FURTHERMORE, THEY SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT NO EMERGENCY EXITS ARE BLOCKED.

THE NUMBER OF DOMESTIC FIRE DROPPED FROM 622 IN THE FOUR-MONTH PERIOD ENDED FEBRUARY 1977 TO 558 IN THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD THIS YEAR. THE NUMBER OF RESULTING DEATHS FROM THESE FIRES WERE 13 AND 11 RESPECTIVELY.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT MOST OF THESE FIRES WERE CAUSED BY CARELESSNESS ON THE PART OF HOUSEHOLDS. HE ALSO WARNED THE PUBLIC THAT ALTHOUGH WE ARE IN THE MET SEASON, THEY SHOULD NOT BE COMPLACENT ABOUT FIRE PRECAUTIONS.

AS TO THE DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF HILL FIRES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE HUMID WEATHER MAY BE THE REASON FOR THE GENERAL DECLINE.

REGISTRATION TEAM TO OPERATE IN CHAI WAN

******

A TEAM FROM THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS OFFICE WILL CONDUCT REGISTRATIONS IN YUE WAN ESTATE OFFICE, CHAI ..AN FOR PEOPLE LIVING NEARBY FOR FIVE DAYS FROM MAY 29.

REGISTRATIONS WILL EE CONDUCTED BETWEEN 9.33 A.M. AND 4.33 P.M. DAILY.

THE VISIT IS TO ENABLE PARENTS AND GUARDIANS TO REGISTER THEIR CHILDREN AND WARDS BETWEEN 11 AND 17 YEARS OF AGE FOR JUVENILE IDENTITY CARDS AND HOLDERS OF JUVENILE IDENTITY CARDS TO REGISTER FOR ADULT IDENTITY CARDS ON REACHING 18 YEARS OF AGE.

ALL PERSONS LIVING IN THIS AREA ARE REMINDED OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO REGISTER THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN FOR IDENTITY CARDS AND TO REPORT CHANGES OF EMPLOYMENT OR RESIDENTIAL ADDRESSES, MARITAL STATUS, OR ANY OTHER PARTICULARS WHICH HAVE CHANGED SINCE REGISTERING FOR THEIR IDENTITY CARDS.

- 0 -

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

MONDAY, MAY 22, 1978

CONTENTS

PAGE MO.

CHANCES AND COST OF BEING CAUGHT FOR TAX EVASION ARE GREATER ............................................

J1C MILLION DONATION TO HEART FOUNDATION ...............

HEUNG YEE KUK ELECTIONS ON THURSDAY ....................

GOVERNOR TO VISIT SEA SCHOOL ...........................

PLA?. TO CONVERT KCR STATIONS INTO HIGH-RISE COMPLEXES ..............................................

STAMPS TC COMMEMORATE SILVER JUBILEE OF QUEEN’S CORONATION .............................................

GOOD RESPONSE TO NE.. MAXICAB ROUTES ...................

HUNG HOM FERRY CONCOURSE TO BE I'’PROVED ...............

HK'DANCE TEAM TC PERFORM I’! COM ION .'EALTH CARNIVAL .... CHINESE LANGUAGE TEACHING AIDS O’l DISPLAY .............

..ATER CUTS ............................................

MONDAY, MAY 22, 1978

CHANCES AND COST OF BEING CAUGHT FOR TAX EVASION ARE GREATER

******

THE COMMISSIONER OF INLAND REVENUE, MR. R.V. GIDDY, WARNED TODAY THAT BOTH THE CHANCES AND COST OF BEING CAUGHT OUT FOR TAX EVASION ARE GREATER NOW-THAN BEFORE.

SPEAKING ON +TAX EVASION - A PROGRESS REPORT* AT THE LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF VICTORIA TODAY, MR. GIDDY SAID HIS DEPARTMENT’S CAMPAIGN AGAINST TAX EVASION IS BEGINNING TO SHOW RESULTS BUT CAUTIONED THAT +IT HAS BEEN A LONG HAUL AND THERE IS STILL A VERY LONG WAY TO GO.+

HE SAID: +THERE IS A LOT OF WORK STILL TO BE DONE AND MY STAFF AND I HAVE EVERY INTENTION OF TACKLING IT.

MR. GIDDY OUTLINED THE STEPS TAKEN BY HIS DEPARTMENT IN ITS CAMPAIGN AGAINST TAX EVASION WHICH HE REVEALED TWO YEARS AGO.

HE SAID: +PHASE 1 OF OUR CAMPAIGN HAD'BEEN TO GET THE LAW STRENGTHENED AND THE PENALTIES INCREASED.

+PHASE 2 HAD CONSISTED OF ENCOURAGING PERSONS WHO HAD BEEN GUILTY OF EVASION IN THE PAST TO COME FORWARD AND MAKE FULL VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURES OF UNDERSTATEMENTS AND OMISSIONS. THIS HAD BEEN COUPLED WITH ISSUE OF GUIDELINES TO PRACTISING ACCOUNTANTS ON THE CALCULATION OF UNDERSTATEMENT WHERE, AS IS SO OFTEN THE CASE, PROPER BUSINESS RECORDS HAD NOT BEEN KEPT.

MR. GIDDY SAID PHASE 3 WOULD BE THE STEPPING UP OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE INVESTIGATION BRANCH.

♦ADDITIONAL STAFF HAVE BEEN RECRUITED AND, WHAT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT, TRAINED IN INVESTIGATION TECHNIQUES,* MR. GIDDY SAID.

+THE NET RESULT IS THAT WE NOW HAVE AN ENLARGED AND VERY PROFESSIONAL INVESTIGATION SECTION AND IT IS PROBABLE THAT THERE WILL BE FURTHER STAFF INCREASES BECAUSE THERE ARE AT PRESENT STILL MORE CASES AND POTENTIAL CASES THAN CAN BE HANDLED,* HE ADDED.

COMMENTING ON THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE INVESTIGATION BRANCH IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, MR. GIDDY SAID THE BRANCH COMPLETED 104 CASES INVOLVING BACK TAXES AND PENALTIES UP TO 328 MILLION DURING THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR COMPARED WITH 77 CASES AND LESS THAN $10 MILLION OF TAX AND PENALTIES IN 1975-76.

FURTHERMORE, MR. GIDDY POINTED OUT THAT ASSESSORS OF THE DEPARTMENT OUTSIDE THE INVESTIGATION SECTION HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGED il CARRY A FEW OF THE MORE STRAIGHT FORWARD CASES OF SUSPECTED EVASION .■I TH THE TAX AND PENALTIES INVOLVED IK THESE CASES AMOUNTING TO ANOTHER 32.5 MILLION.

/+<."£ ARE • • • • •

MONDAY, MAY 22, 1978

+'JE ARE THEREFORE ACHIEVING A FAR GREATER DEGREE OF PENETRATION IN OUR INVESTIGATION ..ORK,+ MR. GIDDY SAID.

0" DISCLOSURE CF UNDERSTATEMENT CR OMISSION OF TAX, MR. GIDDY SAID THE DISCLOSURE MUST EE VOLUNTARY, AND FULL AND THE DEPARTMENTAL PRACTICE DOES NOT AMOUNT TO AN AMNESTY.

HE SA IDs +ALL THAT I CAN SAY IS THAT ..HERE OFFENCES HAVE BEEN COMMITTED, ..’HILST NO UNDERTAKING CAN DE GIVEN AS TO ..HETHER OR NOT I ..ILL REFRAIN FROM PROSECUTION, IT IS NEVERTHELESS MY PRACTICE TO EE INFLUENCED BY THE FACT THAT A FULL VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE HAS DExi. MADE AND THAT THIS FACT '..ILL ALSO HAVE A FAVOURABLE BEARING ON THE AMOUNT OF PENALTY, IF ANY, IMPOSED BY NE.+

- - 0 -

13 MILLION DONATION TO HEART FOUNDATION K H * *

A CHEQUE FOR 013 MILLION '..'AS PRESENTED TODAY (MONDAY) TO THE HONG KONG HEART FOUNDATION DY MR. K..OK TAK-SENG, CHAIRMAN OF SUN HUNG KAI PROPERTIES LIMITED.

THE CHEQUE WAS RECEIVED BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHCSE, IN HIS CAPACITY AS THE PATROL' OF THE FOUNDATION, AT A CEREMONY AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

THE MONEY ..ILL GO TOWARDc DEVELOPING GRANTHAM HOSPITAL INTO A 633-BED CARD I O-THORAC IC CENTRE. THE "E. FACILITIES BEING PLANNED FOR THE HOSPITAL INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL OPERATING THEATRE, A CARDIAC LABORATORY, INTENSIVE CARE AMD OTHER SERVICE UNITS AND ACCOMMODATION FOR STAFF.

THE BUILDING AND EQUIPMENT COSTS CF THIS PROJECT ARE ESTH ATED AT „22 MILLION WHICH '..'ILL BE SHARED EQUALLY BETWEEN THE FOUNDATION AND THE GOVERNMENT.

SPEAKING AT THE CHEQUE PRESENTATION CEREMONY THE GOVERNOR SAID: +N0W THAT OUR MEDICAL SERVICES HAVE PROGRESSIVELY MASTERED OLD SCOURAGES SUCH AS CONTAGIOUS DISEASES AND TUBERCULOSIS, ..E MUST REDEPLOY OUR EFFORTS TO DEAL .. I TH THE MORE NORMAL THREATS - HEART CONDITIONS AND CANCER.+

HE SAID IT ..AS THEREFORE MOST TIMELY THAT THE HONG KCNG HEART FOUNDATION, _IN C0‘JU’ CTIC" ‘I’ THE HOL'S KCNG ANTI — TUEERCULCSIS Ai.D BHCr.ACIC DISEASES DoCCIATI HAD RESPONDED SO READILY TO CO-OPERATE ..IT- T-E 1T.E'' "E"T I' THIS IMPORTANT PROJECT.

/+IT WILL

MONDAY, MAY 22, 1978

+ IT ..ILL PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED FACILITIES FOR HEART SURGERY AND FOR THE CARE OF PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM MEDICAL HEART CONDITIONS,+ HE ADDED.

SIR MURRAY CONGRATULATED ME. LEE, CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG HEART FOUNDATION, AND MEMBERS OF THE FOUNDATION FOE THEIR HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL FUND RAISING EFFORTS AND SAID: ^-PARTICULARLY I THANK MR. KWOK FOR HIS GREAT GENEROSITY, AND HOPE THAT THE EXAMPLE YOU HAVE GIVEN ..ILL EE A MODEL FOR OTHERS TO COME.+

ALSO PRESENT AT TODAY’S CEREMONY '.'ErE OTHER OFFICIALS OF THE HONG KONG HEART FOUNDATION, THE GRANTHAM HOSPITAL AND THE HONG KONG ANTI-TUBERCULOSIS AMD THORACIC DISEASES ASSOCIATION AS .. cLL AS I .c..._ cR S OF .. Ka-OK’S F A. I — Y A..j FR I i\DS•

SIR YUET-KEUNG KAN, SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR. LI FCOK-KO.,, THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, MR. E.P. HO, AND THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. K.L. THONG, WHO IS PRESIDENT CF THE HONG KONG HEART FOURDATION, ALSO ATTENDED.

THE PLAN TO DEVELOP GRANTHAM HOSPITAL INTO A CARD IC-THORACIC CENTRE WAS SUGGESTED DY PROFESSOR J.G. SCADDING AND DR. WALLACE FOX OF THE UNITED KINGDOM ’..'HO VISITED HONG KONG IN 1975.

THE PROPOSAL WAS ACCEPTED IN PRINCIPLE EY A WORKING COMMITTEE APPOINTED EY THE DIRECTOR CF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES AND A JOINT WORKING PARTY, INCLUDING MEMBERS CF THE HONG KONG ANTITUBERCULOSIS AND THORACIC DISEASES ASSOC I'TIDI; AND THE HONG KONG HEART FOUNDATION, ..AS LATER APPOINTED TO DRAW UP A DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME.

THE JOINT ..COKING GROUP RECOMMENDED THAT THE CENTRE SHOULD BE SET UP ..ITH SUFFICIENT FACILITIES TO:

X INCREASE THE NUMBER OF OPEN-HEART OPERATIONS FROM 153 TC 600 A YEAR=

X INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CLOSED-HEART OPERATIONS FROM. 50 TO 153 A YEAR=

X PROVIDE INTENSIVE CARE FACILITIES FOR PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM MEDICAL HEART CONDITIONS'

n RELIEVE QUEEN MARRY HOSPITAL CF CARDIAC INVESTIGATORY CASES' AND

X EXPAND THORACIC WORK INTO NCN-TUBERCULOSIS FIELDS AND PROVIDE AN OUT-PATIENT SERVICE.

WHEN THE CENTRE IS FULLY DEVELOPED, GRANTHAM' HOSPITAL ..ILL REQUIRE AM ADDITIONAL J14 ‘.ILLIOI .' YEAR TC RUI.. THIO SU” ..ILL BE PROVIDED BY A GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION.

---------o

MONDAY, MAY 22, 1070

heung yee kuk elect let's tc ee held on Thursday K Jr * H X

ELECTIONS FOR THE OFFICES THE 23RD TERM OF THE HEUNG YEE IN CUMBERLAND ROAD, KOWLOON ON

OF CHAIRMAN AND TWO VICE-CHAIRMEN OF KUK ..ILL BE HELD AT THE KUK’S OFFICE THURSDAY (MAY 25) AFTERNOON.

THE SECRETARY FOR THE NE.. TERRITORIES, ..ILL EE T.-.E RETURNING OFFICER.

MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES,

CANDIDATES '.'.'ILL EE 52 KUK.

MEMBERS CF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE

THE ELECTORATE CONSISTS OF THE 111 COUNCILLORS WHO CONSTITUTE THE FULL COUNCIL OF THE KUK. THEY COMPRISE SPECIAL COUNCILLORS, RURAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN AND VICE-CHAIRMEN AND NEL TERRITORIES UNOFFICIAL JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

STARTI IG AT 2.30 P.M., THREE SEPARATE ELECTIONS WILL EE HELD TO FILL THE OFFICES OF CHAIRMAN AND VICE-CHAIRMEN.

THE FIRST VICE-CHAIRMAN '..'ILL EE ELECTED EY MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ..'HO DC NOT BELONG TO THE SAME ELECTORAL DISTRICT AS THE KELLY-ELECTED CHAIRMAN. THS SECOND VICE-CHAIRMAN . ILL EE ’L-DT-' DY MEMBERS ..HO DC NOT DELONG TC THE SAME ELECTORAL DISTRICTS rtS THE ..EWLY-ELECTED CHAIRMAN AND FIRST VICE-CHAIRMAN.

ELECTIONS ..'ILL EE HELD EY SECRET BALLOT IN ACCORDANCE ..I TH THE HEUNG YEE KUK ORDINANCE.

IN THE MORNING, THERE ..ILL BE ANOTHER ELECTION TC FILL 15 ORDINARY MEMBER SEATS OF THE KUK’S EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. THIS ELECTION ..ILL START AT 13.30 A.M.

ADMISSION TO THE ELECTIONS .ILL DE LIMITED TO COUNCILLORS, ELECTION OFFICIALS, STAFF CF THE HEUNG YEE KUK AND PRESS REPRESENTATIVES.

,'JCTE TO EDITORS;

YOU ARE CORDIALLY ON'THURSDAY (NAY 25). administration ..ill de PRESS EPRESE'.TAT IV-S.

INVITED TO COVER THE HEUNG YEE KUK ELECTIONS MR. PETER CHOI CF THE NE'.. TERRITORIES

AT THE OFFICE OF THE HEUNG YEE ixU.. TO ASSIST

0 --------

MONDAY, MAY 22, 1978 - 5 -

GOVERNOR TO VISIT SEA SCHOOL

H * * *

THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, WILL VISIT THE HONG KONG SEA SCHOOL AT STANLEY TOMORROW (TUESDAY) AND UNVEIL A COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE TO MARK THE OPENING OF THE BRADBURY PIER IN THE SCHOOL.

SIR MURRAY WILL EE MET ON ARRIVAL EY THE SCHOOL’S CHAIRMAN, CAPTAIN M.D. BURBIDGE, AND THE SUPERINTENDENT, BRIGADIER N.G.A. NOELE.

DURING THE VISIT, THE GOVERNOR WILL SEE DEMONSTRATIONS OF LIFEBOAT LAUNCHING AND CARGO-HANDLING AND SOME OF THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION ACTIVITIES INCLUDING TRAMPOLINI NG, ROPE CL I ME ING, WINDOW DISPLAY AND JACKSTAY TRANSFER.

HE WILL ALSO VISIT VARIOUS BUILDINGS IK THE SCHOOL TO SEE BOYS ATTENDING CLASSES AND UNDERGOING TRAINING IN SEAMANSHIP.

THE HONG KONG SEA SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1967 TO PROVIDTRAINING TO BOYS FOR A CAREER AT SEA.

TRAINING IN THE SCHOOL IS AIMED AT PREPARING THE BOYS EITHER AS DECK HAND TRAINEES OR STEWARD TRAINEES AND GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER-THE IR ACADEMIC EDUCATION ON SUBJECTS MOST LIKELY TO BENEFIT A CAREER AT SEA.

THE SCHOOL NOW HAS AN ENROLMENT OF 572 BOYS OF AGES BETWEEN 14 AND 13. THEY ALL RESIDE IN THE SCHOOL.

SINCE ITS INCEPTION, THE SCHOOL HAS PRODUCED MORE THAN 2,333 GRADUATES FOR EMPLOYMENT AT SEA AND MANY HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED AS TRAINEES EY SHIPPING COMPANIES EMPLOYING HONG KONG SEAMEN.

THE MAIN FINANCIAL RESOURCES OF THE SCHOOL COME FROM GOVERNMENT SUBVENTIONS, ANNUAL GRANTS FROM COMMUNITY CHEST AND THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUE, AS WELL AS VARIOUS SHIPPING COMPANIES.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

■_ YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER T" GOVERNOR’S VISIT TO THE HONG KONG SEA SCHOOL IN TUNG TAU WAN ROAD, STANLEY AT 3 P.M. TOMORROW (TUESDAY). PRESS REPRESENTATIVES ARE REQUESTED TO ARRIVE AT THE SCHOOL BY 2.33 P.M..

------o--------

MONDAY, MAY 22, 1978

REMODELLING OF LOW-BLOCK KCR STATIONS INTO HIGH RISE COMPLEXES ******

RAILWAY JOURNEYS INTO THE NE.. TERRITORIES WILL IN THE FUTURE EE INTERSPERSED WITH MODERN STATIONS LINKED WITH EXCELLENT PUBLIC ROAD TRANSPORT FACILITIES.

MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT PROJECTS ARE NOV; UNDERWAY TC TRANSFORM THE PRESENT LOW-BLOCK RAILWAY STATIONS INTO HIGH RISE COMPLEXES.

CIVIL ENGINEERING WORKS HAVE BEGUN AT SHA TIN AND THE TOTAL COST OF THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO EE ABOUT $17 MILLION.

PWD WORKMEN ARE LAYING SIX NEW TRACKS AND BUILDING THREE NEW PLATFORMS.

NEXT ..ILL EE AN AMENITIES ELOCK, AND PILING HAS STARTED FOR A COMPLETELY NEW STATION.

THE NEW COMPLEX WILL PROBABLY EE 13 STOREYS HIGH AND WILL ACCOMMODATE, I’ ADDITION TO THE STATION, GOVERNMENT OFFICES.

THERE ..'ILL ALSO EE A BUS TERMINUS LINKED WITH THE STATION COMPLEX. PILING WORK HAS ALREADY COMMENCED ON THIS.

FURTHER OUT INTO THE NEW TERRITORIES WORK HAS STARTED ON PHASE ONE OF THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE RAILWAY BRIDGE AT SHEUNG SHU I.

AND NEXT MONTH TENDERS ARE EXPECTED TO EE CALLED BY THE PUBLIC ..'ORKS DEPARTMENT FOR THE REMODELLING OF THE EXISTING MONG KOK STATION. THIS WILL ALSO INCLUDE SITE FORMATION FOR KCR STAFF QUARTERS.

THE EXISTING BUTE STREET EXTENSION WILL BE WIDENED PROVIDING BETTER VEHICULAR ACCESS TC THE NEW STATION.

THE KE.. WONG KOK RAILWAY STATION WILL BE ABOUT THE SAME SIZ AS THAT PLANNED FOR SHA TIN AMD .ILL INCLUDE TWO 14-STOREY COMPL OF GOVERNMENT OFFICES AND COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES.

. AGAIN, A BUS TERMINUS WILL EE PROVIDED AT PODIUM LEVEL. COMPLETION DATE FOR THE MONG KOK STATION PROJECT IS ANTICIPATED TO BE NOVEMBER 1932.

m ni

- - 0 - -

MONDAY, MAY 22, 1978

STAMPS TO COMMEMORATE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF QUEEN’S CORONATION * * *

THE POST OFFICE WILL ISSUE TWO STAMPS ON JUNE 2 TO COMMEMORATE THE SILVER JUBILEE OF THE QUEEN’S CORONATION.

THE TWO STAMPS ARE IN THE 23 AND WILL EE PLACED ON SALE AT ALL DISPLAY ON THE FIRST FLOOR PUBLIC OFFICE BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, 4.30 P.H.

CENTS AND 51.30 DENOMINATIONS POST OFFICES. THEY WILL EE ON COUNTER OF THE GENERAL POST

OK MAY 29 FROM 9.30 A.M. TO

FIRST DAY COVERS SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR THIS ISSUE WILL EE ON SALE FROM WEDNESDAY (MAY 24) AT 23 CENTS EACH. THE PUBLIC ARE ASKED TO OBTAIN THEIR REQUIREMENTS EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE POST OFFICE SAID THE DESIGN OF THE STAMPS ./OULD EE SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE FIRST HONGKONG DEFINITIVE ISSUE OF THE QUEEN’S REIGN ’./HI CH WAS RELEASED IN 1954 AND WITHDRAWN IN 1962.

+IT IS OF INTEREST TO NOTE THAT THIS DESIGN IS ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE VERY FIRST ISSUE OF HONG KONG STAMPS MADE IN 1862.

+THE COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS WILL, HOWEVER, EE LARGER THAN THE 1954 DEFINITIVE ISSUE AND WILL BE SIMILAR IN SIZE TO THE CURRENT DEFINITIVE HIGH VALUE STAMPS.+

THE OVERALL DESIGN OF THE STAMPS WHICH INCORPORATES A LINE ENGRAVING OF PETER GRUGEON’S PORTRAIT OF THE QUEEN HAS BEEN PREPARED BY THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

ADVANCE ORDERS FOR SERVICING OF FIRST DAY COVERS WILL DE ACCEPTED AT THE GENERAL POST OFFICE, CONNAUGHT PLACE- KOWLOON CENTRAL POST OFFICE, NATHAN ROAD, AND TSIM SHA TSUI POST OFFICE, SALISBURY ROAD.

FOR THIS SERVICE, ADDRESSED FIRST DAY COVERS MUST B£ HANDED IN WITH AN ORDER FORM TOGETHER WITH A REMITTANCE TO COVER THE COST. THE CHARGE WILL DE 51.73 PER COVER WHICH INCLUDES THE COST OF T..0 STAMPS AMD A SERVICE FEE OF 2D CENTS.

THE COVERS MUST BE FULLY ADDRESSED BY THE APPLICANT, AND NOT LESS THAN 10 COVERS WILL EE ACCEPTED WITH EACH ORDER.

THE ORDER FORMS WILL EE AVAILABLE AT THE GENERAL POST OFFICE, KOWLOON CENTRAL POST OFFICE AND TSIM SHA TSUI POST OFFICE ON WEDNESDAY (MAY 24).

/ANY PHRSON .....

MONDAY, MAY 22, 1976

ANY PERSON ORDERING SERVICED COVERS ADDRESSED TO A LOCAL DESTINATION '-'AY COLLECT THEM ON' JUNE 3 FROM THE OFFICE '.'.HERE THE ORDER JAS PLACED.

COVERS ADDRESSED OVERSEAS .ILL BE SENT FORWARD EY ORDINARY POST, DEFACE MAIL, UNLESS SUFFICIENT STAMPS ARE AFFIXED TC COVER AIRMAIL AND/OR REGISTRATION CHARGES. THE LATEST ACCEPTANC" DATE FOR ADVANCE ORDERS OF SERVICED COVERS ..'ILL EE 5 Oi. MAY 29 (MONDAY).

A SERVICE ..ILL BE PROVIDED ON’ JUNE 2 (FRIDAY) AT ALL POST OFFICES .-.HEREBY FIRST DAY COVERS ..ILL EE ACCEPTED OVER THE COUNTER, IMPRESSED ITH THE NCR: NL POST OFFICE DATE STAMP AMD HANDED EACK TO THE PERSON' PRESENTING THEM. NO TIME TYPE WILL APPEAR IN THE POSTMARK. THE SPECIAL CONDITIONS FOR THIS SERVICE ARq

(A) ONLY ARTICLES BEARING AN INDICATION THAT THEY ARE +FIRST DAY COVERS+ .ILL BE SC TREATED-

(E) THE ARTICLES MUST EE ADDRESSED TO A LOCAL ADDRESS-

(D) MO REGISTERED ITEMS ..ILL EE PROCESSED EY THIS METHOD

_ oPiCIAL POSTING BOXES ..ILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE AT THE GENERAL POST OFFICE, KOWLOON CENTRAL POST OFFICE AND TSIM SHA TSUI POST -FFICE ON JUNE 2 FCF. THOSE ..HO .. ISH TC HAVE FIRST DAY COVERS CAREFULLY HAND-POSTMARKED BEFORE DESPATCH TC THE ADDRESS Oi. THE COVERS.

-----o------

GOOD RESPONSE TO KE'.. MAX I CAB ROUTES

******

A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT RESPONSE TC DEPARTMENT’S INVITATION TO OPERATE 11 NEW MAX I CAE ROUTES ON

HONG KONG ISLAND JAS VERY GOOD

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THERE ..'EF.E MANY PEOPLE GOING iC THE .■•RONG PLACES TC OBTAIN THE APPLICATION FORMS.

FORMS COULD ONLY HEADQUARTERS IN '..'BITING TC THE

HE SAID THE APPLI CAT I ON FROM THE TRANSPORT DEPART"Ei.'T 01 KWAN ROAD, WAN CHAI, OR EY

BE OBTAINED IM PERSON GUARDIAN HOUSE, 32.

DEPARTMENT.

THE SPOKESMAN REMINDED THAT COMPLETED FORMS SHOULD EE RETURNED BEFORE 5 P.M. ON JUNE 8, 1978.

THE 11 NEW MAX I CAB ROUTES COVER AREAS WHERE THE USE OF EIG EUSES IS IMPRACTICAL.

AREAS SERVED EY THE NEV; ROUTES INCLUDE BOWEN ROAD, SANDY BAY, KENNEDY TOWN, BROADWOOE ROAD, STANLEY, CHUNG HOM KOK, SHING ON VILLAGE AND CAPE COLL INSC':.

AT PRESENT EIGHT MAX I CAE ROUTES ARE OPERATING TO THE PEAK, SHOUSCi; HILL AND ABERDEEN AREAS. THESE HAVE PROVED POPULAR ;>ITH PASSENGERS AND PROFITABLE TO THE OPERATORS.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THERE

OUTES ON HONG KONG ISLAND A

RE PLANS TC INTRODUCE ABOUT

KOWLOON. IT IS ALSO HOPED

TO INTRODUC

D A SIMILAR NUMBER IN AEOUT 63 MAX I CAE ROUTES

THE NEW TERRITORIES.

-----0------

HUNG HOM FERRY CONCOURSE TC

*****

EE IMPROVED

WORK WILL BEGIN NEXT MONTH ON A KE’.. HU.'.'G HOM FERRY CONCOURSE TC PROVIDE BETTER AND MORE EFFICIENT FACILITIES FOR THE PUBLIC.

MR. TOM ARMOUR, ACTING CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE P....D.’S HIGHWAYS (KOWLOON) DIVISION, SAID TODAY THAT THE PROJECT, COSTING AEOUT JO MILLION, WOULD EE COMPLETED IN AUTUMN NEXT YEAR.

HE SAID THAT IT ,,'OULD COMPRISE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A DUS TERMINUS, A TAXI STAND AND A PUBLIC LIGHT BUS TERMINUS. DRAINAGE IN THE AREA WOULD ALSO BE IMPROVED.

+WITH THE INCREASED DEMAND FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT RESULTING FROM LARGS SCALE DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN THE HUNG HON AREA AND I TH THE COMPLETION OF A KEV; PASSENGER FERRY PIER I’. THE VICINITY EARLY NEXT YEAR, THE EXISTING CONCOURSE WOULD NOT EE ABLE TO COPE WITH THE SITUATION.+ MR. ARMOUR SAID.

+IN ORDER TO MINIMISE DISRUPTION TO THE TRAFFIC IN THE EXISTING CONCOURSE AREA, THE ..ORK WOULD BE CARRIED CUT IK STAGES. +

THE PROJECT HAS BEEK DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTION ..ILL EE SUPER-

VISED EY THE KOWLOON DIVISION OF THE P.W.D.’S HIGHWAYS OFFICE.

-----0------

/10

MONDAY, YAY 22, 1973

HONG KONG DANCE TEAM TO PERFORM IN COMMONWEALTH CARNIVAL

*******

A HONG KONG DANCE TEAM, ORGANISED BY ’HE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL TAKE PART IN THE COMMONWEALTH CARNIVAL AT EDMONTON, CANADA IN AUGUST.

TWENTY SCHOOL CHILDREN, AGED BETWEEN 14 AND 20, WILL PERFORM TRADITIONAL CHINESE DANCES AT THE CARNIVAL — A "AJOR ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAMME OF THE ELEVENTH COMMONWEALTH GAMES.

ABOUT 400 ARTISTS FROM OVER 2° COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES .'ILL PERFORM IN THE CARNIVAL ORGANISED RY THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES FOUNDATION'.

HOMG KONG’S CONTINGENT OF 15 GIRLS AND FIVE BOYS WILL LEAVE FOR CANADA IN LATE JULY LED BY MR. R. BIRD AND MISS WINNIE HO OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND MR. ANDY "G OF THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPART' E”T. THE THREE-"EEK VISIT HAS AGAIN BEE'.' MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROSITY OF MR. CHA” SI'J-LEUN, A CO''.'’UNITY LEADER.

THE TEAM '-'EMBERS HAVE BEEN CHOSEN FROM PERFORMERS WHO DISTINGUISHED THE’SELVES IN THE HOVG KONG SCHOOLS DANCE FESTIVAL.

FROM A MODEST BEGINNING I" 1965 ''.'HEN ONLY WESTERN FOLK DANCE JAS FEATURED, THIS ANNUAL FESTIVAL STAGED DY THE EDUCATIC" DEPARTMENT HAS GROWN INTO AN EVENT INVOLVING HUNDREDS OF SCHOOLS AND THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN .

THE STANDARD OF PERFORMANCES, PARTICULARLY IM THE ORIENTAL, CLASSICAL AND FOLK DANCE SECTIONS, HAS RISE” SO "UC1-' OVER THE YEARS THAT HONG KONG HAS DEEN ASKED ON' SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO SEND SCHOOL DANCE TEAMS ABROAD.

IN 1Q7D, JAPAN INVITED THE TEA'' TC PARTICIPATE IN EXPO ’70 I” OSAKA.

I” 1°75 THE DANCE TEAM PARTICIPATED I' FESTIVAL OF YOUTH ORCHESTRAS AND PERFORMING AND LONDON.

LAST YEAR THE SCHOOL DANCE TEAM TOURED CELEBRATION OF THE QUEE‘”S SILVER JUBILEE.

THE INTERNATIONAL

ARTS I'. ABERDEE*'

GREAT BRITAI’I I”

ON EACH OCCASION THE SCHOOL DANCE TEA” RECEIVED IDE ACCLAIM FOR THE DIVERSITY A>’D EXCELLENCE OF ITS PERFORMANCES.

FOR ITS VISIT TC CANADA THE TEA” H-'S CHOSE' A REPERTOIRE OF 16 TRADITIONAL CHI'IESE FOLK 0* CLASSICAL DA'ICES I'CLUDI'C SUCH FAVOURITES AS ’'E FLOWER DR'."-' DANCE, T-E - '■ ’ DANCE, THE RIBBON' DANCE AND THE LIO' 'A'.'CE.

--------0---------

/II

MONDAY, MAY 22, 1978

- 11 -

CHINESE LANGUAGE TEACHING AIDS GO CL DISPLAY 4 4 4 4 4 4

CHINESE LANGUAGE TEACHERS FROM ALL OVER HONG KONG THIS WEEK .'.ILL HAVE A CHANCE TO EXAMINE THE LATEST TEACHING AIDS AT A FOUR-DAY EXHIBITION.

THE EXHIBITION, ORGANISED EY THE CHINESE LANGUAGE TEACHING CENTRE, WILL EE STAGED AT THE CENTRE’S MAIN KOWLOON UNIT IN THE MA TAU KOK ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES FROM NAY 24 TO 27.

AFTER THE EXHIBITION, SAMPLES OF THE TEACHING AIDS ..ILL FORM PERMANENT DISPLAYS AT THE CHINESE LANGUAGE TEACHING CENTRE’S UNITS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE HARBOUR.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND .. PHOTOGRAPHER TO COVER THE EXH I BIT ICE ..HICK .7 ILL DE HELD ON THE 2ND FLOC:' CF THE MA TAU KOK ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES, NO. 1 MA TAU KOK ROAD. THE EXHIBITION WILL EE OPEN FROM 9 A.M. TO 5 P.M. FROM MAY 24 TO 26 AND FROM 9 A.M. TO NOON C". NAY 27.

-----o------

WATER CUTS *

SALT WATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER CF AREAS IN KOWLOON TONG AND KOWLOON CITY WILL EE INTERRUPTED FOR 16 HOURS FROM 8 A.M. TOMORROW (TUESDAY).

THE STOPPAGE IS TO ENABLE WORKERS DEPARTMENT TC CONNECT A PIPE TO A FIRE

OF THE WATER SUPPLIES HYDRANT IN JUNCTION ROAD.

THE AREA AFFECTED IN KOWLOON TONG IS BOUNDED DY CORNWALL STREET, KAN SHING ROAD, LOWER PART OF EDE ROAD, JUNCTION ROAD, BOUNDARY STREET, ..ATERLOO ROAD BETWEEN BOUNDARY STREET AND ARGYLE STREET AND THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY LINE.

IN KOWLOON CITY THE PREMISES AFFECTED ARE BOUNDED EY CARPENTER ROAD, PRINCE EDWARD ROAD AND JUNCTION ROAD.

LOK FU ESTATE AND WANG TAU HOM ESTATE WILL ALSO BE AFFECTED.

Ci. HONG KONG ISLAND, FR PREMISES I' REPULSE BAY AND HOURS FROM MIDNIGHT TC 6 A. . A LEAKAGE DETECTION TEST.

ESH .'ATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER CF SOUTH BAY WILL BE TURNED CFF FOR SIX . OR .'EDIIESDAY (MAY 24) TO FACILITATE

TED ARE 58 REPULSE

uTm AeREo ,5Et.^FFcCTED A'<E 53 Repulse bay road, 70-34 repulse BAY VILLAS, 2-. A D ? SOUTH DAY ROAD, SOUTH BAY CLOSE BEACH ROAD THE CALTEX PETROL FILLING STATIC. AND THE ROAD DEPOT IN SOUTH BAY HU .

- 0 - -

PR 33

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

SUPPLEMENT

Monday, May 22, 1978

SPEECH BY GOVERNOR AT

HONG KONG HEART FOUNDATION DONATION CEREMONY * * * * *

The following is the full text of the speech by the Governor, Sir Ljirray n.acLehose at the Hong Kong Heart Foundation donation ceremony at Government House today:

"I am delighted to receive, in my capacity as Patron of the Hong Kong Heart Foundation, this very generous donation from Mr. Kwok towards the cost of developing Grantham Hospital into a 600-bed cardio-thoracic centre.

”Nuw that our medical services have progressively mastered old scourges such as contagious diseases and tuberculosis, we must redeploy our efforts to deal with the more normal threats - heart conditions and cancer.

"It was therefore most timely that the Hong Kong Heart Foundation, in conjunction with the Hong Kong Anti-Tuberculosis and Thoracic Diseases Association, has responded so readily to co-operate with the Government in this important project. It will provide much needed facilities for heart surgery and for the care of patients suffering from medical heart conditions.

/"I congratulate

Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House. Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191

"I congratulate you, Lir. Lee, and members of your Foundation for your highly successful fund-raising efforts and particularly I thank Mr. Kwok for his great generosity, and hope that the example you have given will be a model for others to ccine.”

PRH 7

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

TUESDAY, .’AY 23, 1973

CO iTE :T3

PAGE ,:0.

A. .PLATE E J3GED TC M'E ’CEE DIE SLED ......................... 1

CCVEE :E3 VISITS SEA SC EEL .................................... 3

EES. SETS TC-’ORTC. ........................................... 4

c:.ts: i~ =:.i:e i idices for afril ............................ 5

TAE . . SITE SE.E T: '.-2 ILL IC................................ 7

..TEAS ELEVATED AAD TA EE LA.ESCAPED ........................

I . j. ■ - 71 .71 . C iC AS A . FACTOTI^S ...............

TAaFFIC ..... EaiGE 'E .TA aT THE FEaA AAD CE TEAL .......

ATE. C AT ...............................................

Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House. Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191

TUESDAY, MAY 22, 1978

1 -

EMPLOYERS URGED TO HIRE MORE DISABLED PERSONS

******

A SENIOR SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT OFFICER TODAY APPEALED TO EMPLOYERS TO PLAY A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN HIRING DISABLED PERSONS IN ORDER TO HELP INTEGRATE THEM INTO THE COMMUNITY.

MRS. ROSE GOODSTADT, HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT’S REHABILITATION DIVISION, SAID THAT WHILE EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS FOR THE DISABLED HAD IMPROVED CONSIDERABLY OVER THE PAST YEARS, MORE NEEDED TO BE DONE.

ADDRESSING A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE LIONS CLUB OF LION ROCK, MRS. GOODSTADT SAID EXPERIENCE SHOWED IT WOULD BE WRONG TO REGARD HIRING THE DISABLED AS CHARITY EFFORTS WHICH INEVITABLY ENTAILED LOSS.

IN FACT, MOST DISABLED PERSONS HAVE MORE ABILITIES THAN DISABILITIES AND TO EMPLOY THEM CAN BE MOST REWARDING, SHE STRESSED.

SHE CALLED ON EMPLOYERS TO GIVE THE DISABLED A CHANCE BY DISCARDING ANY PREJUDICE OR DOUBTS THEY MIGHT HAVE ABOUT THEIR ADAPTABILITY TO WORK, OR ANY WORRY THAT HIRING THEM MIGHT GIVE RISE TO MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS.

+ l AM QUITE SURE THAT IF GIVEN A FAIR COMPETITION ON THE BASIS OF SKILLS, MANY DISABLED PERSONS WHO HAVE RECEIVED ADEQUATE TRAINING STAND A VERY GOOD CHANCE OF BEING RECRUITED,* SHE SAID.

MRS. GOODSTADT SAID THE DISABLED SHOULD BE GIVEN EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD THE LIFE OF A NORMAL PERSON, AND THERE WERE ADVANTAGES IN TAKING IN THE DISABLED AS WORKERS.

ON THE ONE HAND, SHE EXPLAINED, THEIR MOBILITY IS RELATIVELY LOW AS THEY TEND TO BE MORE LOYAL TO THEIR EMPLOYERS AND THEY CAN GET ON WELL WITH THEIR FELLOW WORKERS.

+ON THE OTHER HAND, TO HAVE THEM ON THE STAFF WOULD SHOW THAT THE EMPLOYER IS A PUBLIC-SPIRITED PERSON AND THIS WOULD COMMAND RESPECT AND HELP PROMOTE A SENSE OF LOYALTY AND GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP,* SHE ADDED.

SHE SAID MANY HAD COME TO REALISE THAT THE DEAF AND PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED WERE ABLE TO DO A WIDE RANGE OF JOBS, ALTHOUGH SOME STILL HAD RESERVATIONS ABOUT THE ABILITY OF THE BLIND, THE MENTALLY RETARDED AND THE EX-MENTAL PATIENT.

+IN FACT, IF GIVEN THE CHANCE, ALL DISABLED PERSONS CAN VERY WELL FIT INTO A SUITABLE JOB. FOR INSTANCE, THE BLIND CAN BE A GOOD TELEPHONE OPERATOR, A TYPIST OR A METAL ASSEMBLING WORKER’ WHILE THE MENTALLY RETARDED CAN BE GOOD ENOUGH AT PLASTIC ASSEMBLING AND PACKAGING WORK.*

/ADMITTEDLY, .....

TUESDAY, MAY 23, 1978

ADMITTEDLY, MRS. GOODSTADT SAID A PERIOD OF ADJUSTMENT IS NECESSARY IN SOME CASES, BUT THE TIME TAKEN FOR A DISABLED PERSON TO SETTLE DOWN IN HIS JOB IS FAR SHORTER THAN SOME MAY HAVE IMAGINED.

+ l TRULY BELIEVE THAT IF EMPLOYERS COULD SHOW TRUST AND A BIT OF PATIENCE DURING THIS SHORT PERIOD, THE DISABLED WORKER CAN PICK UP VERY QUICKLY AND SATISFY THEIR REQUIREMENTS,* SHE SAID.

MRS. GOODSTADT SAID THE JOB PLACEMENT UNIT OF HER DIVISION WOULD CONTINUE ITS EFFORTS TO PROVIDE JOB GUIDANCE FOR THE DISABLED AND TO DISPEL DOUBTS AMONG EMPLOYERS AS TO THEIR ABILITY.

+SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1967, THE UNIT HAS FOUND JOES FOR MORE THAN 3,100 DISABLED PERSONS IN THE COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL SECTORS, THE JOBS RANGING FROM OFFICE CLERK, BOOKKEEPER, TYPIST TO MECHANIC,* SHE SAID.

TUESDAY, MAY 23, 1978

GOVERNOR VISITS HONG KONG SEA SCHOOL

* K * * *

THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, THIS (TUESDAY) AFTERNOON VISITED THE HONG KONG SEA SCHOOL AT STANLEY AND UNVEILED A COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE TO MARK THE OPENING OF THE BRADBURY PIER IN THE SCHOOL.

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY, SIR MURRAY PRAISED THE SCHOOL FOR ITS ENVIABLE REPUTATION BUILT UP OVER 30 YEARS OF DEVOTED WORK AND DESCRIBED THE PIER AS +ANOTHER MILESTONE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SCHOOL.+

THE BRADBURY PIER WAS BUILT WITH $1 MILLION DONATED BY THE BRADBURY TRUST FUND.

THE GOVERNOR, ACCOMPANIED BY THE SCHOOL’S CHAIRMAN, CAPTAIN M.D. BURBIDGE, AND THE SUPERINTENDENT, BRIGADIER N.G.A. NOBLE, LATER TOURED THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND SAW BOYS AGED BETWEEN 14 AND 18 UNDERGOING TRAINING IN SEAMANSHIP. ’

THE SCHOOL PROVIDES GENERAL EDUCATION AND PRACTICAL

TRAINING FOR BOYS FOR A CAREER'AT SEA -------- ----------

FOR 572 BOYS.

IT HAS .ACCOMMODATION

THE FOLLOWING IS'THE FULL TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH:-

+IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO BE HERE TODAY TO VISIT THE HONG KONG SEA SCHOOL AND THE BRADBURY PIER. THIS IS ANOTHER MILESTONE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SCHOOL.

+THE HONG KONG SEA SCHOOL PROVIDES EDUCATION AND RESIDENTIAL CARE FOR BOYS WHO IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER HAVE BEEN DOWN ON THEIR LUCK. ITS PROGRAMME COMBINES GENERAL EDUCATION WITH PRACTICAL TRAINING IN SEAMANSHIP AND IT THUS PREPARES BOYS FOR AN INDEPENDENT AND ACTIVE LIFE. IT HAS AN ENVIABLE REPUTATION BUILT UP OVER 30 YEARS OF DEVOTED WORK.

+BUT IT CONTINUES TO IMPROVE ITS PROGRAMME. THE EXTENSION OF THIS PIER AND THE INSTALLATION OF NEW EQUIPMENT ARE TWO IMPORTANT FURTHER CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARDS THE QUALITY OF EXPANSION OF.SEAMANSHIP TRAINING. THIS HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS DONATION OF $1 MILLION FROM THE BRADBURY TRUST FUND.

+BEFORE I OPEN THIS PIER, I SHOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE BOARD OF MANAGERS AND STAFF OF THE HONG KONG SEA SCHOOL FOR ITS ACHIEVEMENTS AND TO WISH THEM AND THE BOYS EVERY SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE.

+1 HAVE MUCH PLEASURE IN DECLARING THE BRADBURY PIER OPEN.+

- - - - 0 ----------

TUESDAY, MAY 23, 1978

. 4 _

LEGCO MEETING * * * * *

SEVERAL UNOFFICIAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLORS WILL COMMENT ON THE GREEN PAPER ON +DEVELOPMENT OF PERSONAL SOCIAL WORK AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE IN HONG KONG+ AT THE COUNCIL MEETING TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).

THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON. E.P. HO, WILL REPLY.

DURING QUESTION TIME, THE UNOFFICIALS WILL RAISE A TOTAL OF 17 QUESTIONS ON VARIOUS MATTERS OF PUBLIC CONCERN.

THE HON. LYDIA DUNN WILL ASK THE GOVERNMENT TO STATE THE CAUSES OF THE COLLAPSE OF THE TWO BUN TOWERS AT THE CHEUNG CHAU BUN FESTIVAL ON MAY 9 AND WHICH GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STANDARD, SPECIFICATIONS AND STRUCTURAL SOUNDNESS OF THESE TOWERS.

MISS DUNN WILL ALSO ASK WHAT STEPS ARE, BEING TAKEN TO LAY DOWN SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCH TEMPORARY STRUCTURES FOR MASS PUBLIC GATHERINGS AND TO ENSURE THAT THESE REQUIREMENTS ARE

STRICTLY ENFORCED.

THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN WILL ASK THE GOVERNMENT ABOUT THE NUMBER OF LEGAL AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ESTIMATED TO HAVE ARRIVED IN HONG KONG FROM JANUARY 1 THIS YEAR, AND TO WHAT EXTENT THE SOCIAL SERVICES AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES ARE COPING WITH THE PRESENT RATE OF INFLUX OF IMMIGRANTS.

THE HON. PETER C. WONG WILL ASK WHEN DETAILS OF THE PROGRAMME FOR THE ELECTRIFICATION OF KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY WILL BE PUBLICISED AND WHEN THE PROJECT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED AND COMPLETED.

IN A SEPARATE QUESTION, MR. WONG WILL ASK IF THE GOVERNMENT IS SATISFIED WITH THE EXISTING PASSENGER ARRIVAL ARRANGEMENTS AT KAI TAK AIRPORT AFTER THE NEW BUFFER ARRIVAL HALL HAS BEEN IN USE FOR TWO MONTHS AND IF NOT, WHAT MEASURES GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION.

THE HON. CHARLES YEUNG WILL ASK THE GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE A BREAKDOWN OF THE PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN OR WILL BE AFFECTED BY CLEARANCE OPERATIONS IN CHOI YUEN TSUEN, SHEUNG SHU I, SHOWING THE NUMBER OF SUCH PERSONS AFFECTED AND THE NATURE OF THEIR ENTITLEMENT TO USE OF LAND.

MR. YEUNG WILL ALSO ASK ABOUT THE BASIS AND AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION AND/OR OTHER BENEFITS, WHICH WERE OR WILL BE PAID TO THEM IN RESPECT OF LAND OWNERSHIP AND OCCUPANCY.

/OTHEH QUESTIONS

TUESDAY, MAY 2J, 1978

- 5

OTHER QUESTIONS TO BE RAISED BY THE UNOFFICIALS CONCERN THE RE-INTRODUCTION OF FIVE-DOLLAR NOTES, THE CONDITION OF THE OPEN NULLAH IN THE JORDAN VALLEY ESTATE, THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED MOTORCYCLES IN HONG KONG AND THEIR RATE OF INCREASE OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.

THREE BILLS — THE MOTOR VEHICLES (FIRST REGISTRATION TAX) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978, THE STAMP (AMENDMENT) (NO. 4) BILL 1978 AND THE DUTIABLE COMMODITIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978 — WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE COUNCIL FOR FIRST AND SECOND READINGS.

---.0-----

CONSUMER PRICE INDICES FOR APRIL

X X X X X X

THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A) FOR LAST'MONTH (APRIL) WAS 125, UP BY THREE POINTS, AND THE INDEX (B) WAS 124, UP BY TWO POINTS COMPARED WITH THOSE FOR THE PREVIOUS MONTH.

THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS ADVANCED BY THREE POINTS IN C.P.I. (A) AND BY TWO POINTS IN C.P. I. (B).

THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF FRESH-WATER FISH AND FRESH VEGETABLES ROSE AS A RESULT OF REDUCED SUPPLIES.

FOLLOWING HIGHER PRICES FOR ORANGES, APPLES, PEARS, GRAPES AND WATER-MELONS, THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICE FOR FRESH FRUITS WENT UP. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICE OF SALT-WATER FISH DECLINED OWING TO INCREASED SUPPLIES.

MOVEMENTS IN RETAIL PRICES OF OTHER FOOD ITEMS WERE INSIGNIFICANT.

HIGHER PRICES FOR CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINES AND FRESH FLOWERS PUSHED THE INDEX FOR MISCELLANEOUS GOODS UP BY TWO POINTS IN BOTH C.P. I. (A) AND C.P. I. (B).

. THE INDICES FOR HOUSING AND DURABLE GOODS ROSE BY ONE POINT EACH IN C.P.I. (A) AS A RESULT OF HIGHER PRICES FOR MATERIALS FOR HOUSE MAINTENANCE, ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES, CAMERAS AND OPTICAL GOODS.

PRICE MOVEMENTS IN OTHER COMMODITY AND SERVICES SECTIONS WERE INSIGNIFICANT.

/THE C.P.I.

TUESDAY, MAY 23, 1978

THE C.P.I. (A) IS BASED ON WEIGHTS DERIVED FROM THE EXPENDITURE OF HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN $400 - $1,499 A MONTH AND THE C.P.I. (B), BETWEEN $1,500 - $2,999 A MONTH IN THE HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE SURVEY, 1973/74.

THE SECTION INDICES FOR APRIL 1978 COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS MONTH AND THE CORRESPONDING MONTH IN 1977 ARE INDICATED BELOW i-

C.P.I. (A) C.P.I. (B)

SECTION APR. 78 MAR. 78 APR. 77 APR. 78 MAR. 78 APR. 77

FOODSTUFFS 122 119 113 122 120 114

HOUSING 129 128 123 127 127 122

FUEL AND LIGHT 135 135 135 134 134 134

ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO 140 140 131 136 136 128

CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR 101 101 100 100 100 99

DURABLE GOODS 113 112 109 110 110 107

MISCELLANEOUS GOODS 132 130 125 129 127 121

TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES 119 119 114 123 123 119

SERVICES 135 135 129 136 136 129

ALL ITEMS 125 122 117 124 122 117

0 - • /?

TUESDAY, MAY 23, 1978

TUEN MUN SITE SOLD FOR $2 MILLION *****

A COMMERCIAL SITE AT THE 17 MILESTONE IN CASTLE PEAK ROAD, TUEN MUN WAS SOLD FOR $2 MILLION AT A PUBLIC AUCTION TODAY.

THE 2,000 SQUARE METRES SITE LOCATED IN A HIGH CLASS RESIDENTIAL AREA WITH GOOD ROAD ACCESS TO KOWLOON AND TUEN MUN NEW TOWN BY WAY OF THE NEW TUEN MUN ROAD IS FOR SUPERMARKET OR RESTAURANT DEVELOPMENT.

IT WAS THE FIRST AUCTION FOR A COMMERCIAL SITE HELD FOR TUEN

MUN.

THE SENIOR ESTATE SURVEYOR OF TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICE, MR. VINCENT CHU, WHO CONDUCTED THE AUCTION AT THE ST. SIMON LUI MING CHOI SECONDARY SCHOOL IN TUEN MUN, INVITED AN OPENING BID OF #1.5 MILLION AND STEADY BIDDINGS QUICKLY FOLLOWED.

THE HAMMER FELL ON THE HIGHEST BID OF $2 MILLION — ABOUT $93 PER SQUARE FOOT OR $1,000 PER SQUARE METRE — OFFERED BY KIT LING ENTERPRISES LTD.

MR. CHU SAID AFTER THE AUCTION THAT THE SALE PRICE WAS SATISFACTORY.

+THE BIDDINGS AT TODAY’S AUCTION REFLECTED THE CONTINUING INTEREST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TOWN.

+THE HIGH LAND PRICE OFFERED BY THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDER ALSO INDICATED THE CONFIDENCE OF ENTREPRENEURS IN THE INVESTMENT PROSPECTS OF TUEN MUN.+

THE SITE CARRIES A BUILDING COVENANT OF $1 MILLION TO BE FULFILLED WITHIN THREE YEARS. UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF SALE, THE GROSS AREA OF THE SUPERMARKET OR RESTAURANT SHALL NOT BE LESS THAN 465 SQUARE METRES. BUILDINGS TO BE ERECTED ON THE SITE WILL BASICALLY BE RESTRICTED TO TWO STOREYS.

IN ADDITION, A BASEMENT MAY BE BUILT FOR THE PURPOSE OF STORAGE OF GOODS.

- _ 0 - -

TUESDAY, MAY 23, 1973

- 8 -

\ AREAS UNDER ELEVATED ROAD IN WEST KOWLOON TO BE LANDSCAPED ******

AREAS UNDER THE WESTERN END OF THE WEST KOWLOON CORRIDOR — AN ELEVATED ROAD FROM GASCOIGNE ROAD TO TONG- Ml ROAD -- WILL BE REINSTATED SHORTLY UNDER A $617,000 LANDSCAPING CONTRACT.

MR. PANG HO--CHE, SENIOR ENGINEER (CAPITAL WORKS) OF THE P.W.D.’S HIGHWAYS (KOWLOON) DIVISION, SAID TODAY THAT THE MAJOR PART OF THE AREA TV) BE REINSTATED WAS AT THE WESTERN END BETWEEN CANTON ROAD AND FER.RY STREET.

+THIS AREA WILL .BE LANDSCAPED AND TERRACES AND FLOWER POTS CONTAINING DIFFERENT TYPES OF PLANTS AND SHRUBS WILL BE PROVIDED,+ HE SAID.

+AT THE SAME TIME, ANOTHER AREA, WHICH IS NOT DIRECTLY UNDER THE ELEVATED ROAD, WILL BE TURFED.+

MR. PANG POINTED OUT THAT THE CONTRACT i/OULD ALSO COVER THE PAVING OF AREAS UNDER THE ELEVATED ROAD BETWEEN CANTON ROAD AND SHANGHAI STREET WHICH MIGHT POSSIBLY BE TURNED INTO REST AREAS FOR THE PUBLIC.

WORK ON THIS CONTRACT WILL BEGIN NEXT MONTH AND TAKE ABOUT FOUR MONTHS TO COMPLETE.

MEANWHILE, WORK ON ANOTHER CONTRACT FOR THE $300 MILLION WEST KOWLOON CORRIDOR IS UNDERWAY.

THE CONTRACT INVOLVES THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN ELEVATED ROADWAY FROM TAI KOK TSUI TO SHAM SHU I PO AND THE ASSOCIATED GROUND-LEVEL ROADS. IT IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED EARLY IN 1980.

WHEN COMPLETED, THIS NEW FLYOVER WILL PROVIDE A VERY DESIRABLE BY-PASS FOR TRAFFIC TRAVELLING THROUGH THE HEAVILY CONGESTED TAI KOK TSUI AREA.

------o--------

NOTE TO EDITORS:

FIRE OFFICERS TO INSPECT FACTORIES

******

THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL CARRY OUT INSPECTIONS OF FACTORY PREMISES IN TAI YAU STREET, SAN PO KONG, TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) WITH THE AIM OF ABATING POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARDS.

YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE SURVEY WHICH BEGINS AT 9 30 A.M. THOSE COVERING THE ASSIGNMENT ARE ASKED TO MEET DIVISIONAL OFFICER KEN HODGKINS OUTSIDE SAN PO KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES, TSUK LUK STREET NOT LATER THAN 9.15 A.M.

TUESDAY, MAY 23, 1973

- 9 -

CLOSURE OF HOMESTEAD ROAD

******

o- TPirH-I?A'-S wRL?EPxEIf'E‘'T ANNOUNCE TODAY THAT FROM 13 A.M ^,Jt‘^^AY (hAY 25), THE SECTION OF HOMESTEAD ROAD BETWEEN i^ST^n a,LPT^ ;ir.THE JUK'CTI0N w'TH MT. KELLETT ROAD WILL

ALL TRAFFIC EXCEPT THOSE AUTHORISED IN WRITING EY

Au I Hun ITY•

EE THE

.. --■■'EAXWHILE, THE DEPARTMENT ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT A SECTION ,]N EDINBURGH PLACE BETWEEN H.M.S. TAMAR AND STAR FERRY PIER ..ILL

OF ROAD

EE CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC THE ’FIGHT VIOLENT CRIME

FROM 3 A.M. UNTIL 6 P.M. ON THURSDAY FOR CAMPAIGN’.

APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC GUIDE MOTORISTS.

SIGNS LILL EE SET UP IN THESE AREAS TO

-----o------

WATER CUT * * *

FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO THE SILVER STRAND AREA IN SAI KUNG ..ILL EE STOPPED FOR 11 HOURS FROM 9 P.' . TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).

THIS IS TO ENABLE STAFF OF THE WATER SUPPLIES CARRY CUT WORK ON ’..’ATER "’.IM’S IM THE AREA.

DEPARTMENT

THE AREAS TO EE AFFECTED CF CLEARWATER EAY ROAD BETWEEN HAU ROAD, INCLUDING A KUNG ..A:., STRAND EEACH.

ILL EE THE NORTHEASTERN SIDE SHAW EROTHERS STUDIO AND HANG SILVER STRAND NORTH AND SILVER

-----o------

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1978

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

DEBATE ON GREEN PAPER ON PERSONAL SOCIAL SERVICES ............ 1

SOCIAL SERVICES UNDER INCREASING PRESSURE FROM IMMIGRANTS ............................................... 8

BUS AND TRAM PRIORITY SCHEME FOR NORTH POINT.................. 9

ELECTRIFICATION OF KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY ................... 10

GOVERNMENT WILL CONSIDER ISSUE OF $5 NOTES IF DEMAND WARRANTS IT ......................................... n

COMPENSATION FOR RESUMED LAND IS REALISTIC AND REASONABLE ................................................. 11

PLACES OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT ORDINANCE TO BE AMENDED .. 12

MOTOR VEHICLES (FIRST REGISTRATION TAX) AMENDMENT BILL 1978 ................................................... 13

DUTIABLE COMMODITIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978 ................ 14

MOTION TO GIVE LEGISLATIVE EFFECT TO.RAISE DUTY ON TOBACCO AND CIGARETTES ...................................... 15

AUD I TOR IA FOR NEW TOWNS IN N.T............................ 16

AIRPORT ARRIVAL ARRANGEMENTS BEING IMPROVED ................. 17

COMPENSATION FOR CHOI YUEN TSUEN CLEARANCE .................. 18

/PUBLIC ..

Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Honq Kono. Tel: 5-233191

PUBLIC HOUSING FOR FAMILIES IN CHAI WAN TEMPORARY

HOUSING AREA ............................................... 20

PLANS IN HAND TO REMOVE SMELL NUISANCE IN NGAU •TAU KOK ................................................... 21

QUERY ON INITIAL ATTENDANCE AT MAGISTRATE COURTS ........... 21

PARKING ALLOWED FOR ONLY TWO DAYS ......................... 22

POST OFFICE FOR 01 MAN ESTATE .............................. 22

NUMBER OF REGISTERED MOTORCYCLES ........................... 23

GOVERNMENT GUARANTEE TO MTRC LOAN .......................... 23

BILLS PASSED ............................................... 24

COMMONWEALTH GROUP VISITS SHA TIN NEW TOWN ................. 24

FIRE PREVENTION CHECKS ON FACTORIES IN KWUN TONG ........... 25

WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1978

DEBATE ON GREEN PAPER ON PERSONAL SOCIAL SERVICES *****

AN UMELCO AD HOC GROUP HAD ASKED FOR A MORE INTEGRATED AND COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO OUR YOUTH PROBLEM.

THE GROUP, CONVENED BY THE HON. MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH TO STUDY THE GREE& PAPER ON DEVELOPMENT OF PERSONAL SOCIAL WORK AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE FELT THAT PREVENTION OF DELINQUENCY INVOLVED A WIDE RANGE OF PROGRAMMES AND SERVICES, SUCH AS HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE AND RECREATION, ALL OF WHICH HAVE A BEARING ON THE PROCESS OF GROWING UP.

THEY SUGGESTED THAT THE INTER-RELATION BETWEEN. THE VARIOUS PROGRAMMES SHOULD BE CLEARLY SPELT OUT, BECAUSE THEY WERE COMPLEMENTARY IN PREVENTING DELINQUENCY.

MOVING THE DEBATE ON THE GREEN PAPER IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH SUGGESTED THAT IF IT WAS PREMATURE NOW TO FORMULATE A COMPREHENSIVE YOUTH POLICY, THERE COULD BE MORE JOINT PLANNING, BETTER CO-ORDINATION, AND CLOSER CO-OPERATION AMONG ALL THE PARTIES CONCERNED TO MAXIMISE THE UTILISATION OF RESOURCES.

SHE FURTHER URGED THAT ONE WHITE PAPER ON SOCIAL WELFARE BE PRODUCED IN THE FUTURE TO COVER ALL THE VARIOUS AREAS IN THE FIELD, BECAUSE THEY ARE SO CLOSELY RELATED.

FOUR OTHER UNOFFICIALS SPOKE ON THE GREEN PAPER DURING DEBATE ON THE MOTION AND ALL WERE IN FAVOUR OF A WIDER APPROACH TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUTH WORK.

THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN NOTED THAT IF AN INTEGRATED SERVICE APPOACH COULD BE PLANNED FOR THE ELDERLY, THERE WAS NO REASON WHY AN EQUALLY INTEGRATED APPROACH IN SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COULD NOT BE PLANNED FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

HE SAID THERE WAS AN APPARENT NEED TO SET UP AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE, CHAIRED BY AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, TO MONITOR AND COORDINATE THE PROPOSALS IN THE GREEN PAPER.

CO-ORDINATION AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL SHOULD FOLLOW THE TEAM APPROACH.IN WHICH THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICER, THE COMMUNITY YOUTH OFFICER AND REPRESENTATIVES OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WOULD BE INVOLVED.

THE HON. ALEX WU CALLED FOR A SENSE OF PROPORTION IN OUR YOUTH SERVICES DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME. HE SAID WHILE THERE WAS A NEED FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR THOSE uHO SHOWED SYMPTOMS OF DELINQUENCY, SUCH SERVICES SHOULD ALWAYS EE REGARDED AS ONLY A PART OF A LARGER PROGRAMME OF CONSTRUCTIVE DEVELOPMENT.

THE REV. THE HON. JOTCE M. BENNETT SAID THAT THERE WAS A DANGER IN OUR CURRENT SERIES OF GREEN PAPERS IN FRAGMENTING OUR PROBLEMS AND OUR RESOURCES.

SHE AGAIN URGED THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES TO CO-CRDINATE ALL THE WORK AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE.

/THE HON. TONG

3«l

- 2

>1Y, MAY 24, 1978

THE HON. WONG LAM ALSO THOUGHT THAT ONLY COMPREHENSIVE AND INTEGRATED PLANNING WOULD OBTAIN FRUITFUL RESULTS IN YOUTH GU IDANCE.

HE SAID PERSONAL PROBLEMS VERY OFTEN ARE BUT A REFLECTION

CF THE PROBLEMS OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY, OR HAVE ARISEN FROM CERTAIN SOCIAL PROBLEMS.

IT IS INSUFFICIENT TO RELY SOLELY ON THE WORK OF SOCIAL WORKERS" THE CO-OPERATION OF MANY OTHER SECTORS, SUCH AS THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND EDUCATIONISTS, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, AND THE MEDIA MUST ALSO BE ENLISTED IF WE HOPE TO ACHIEVE GOOD RESULTS.

SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK

THE UNOFFICIALS COMMENTED ON PARTICULAR ASPECTS OF THE GREEN PAPER WHICH THEY THOUGHT SHOULD BE IMPROVED.

MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAN SAID THAT THE PROPOSED ASSIGNMENT CF ONE PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORKER TO FOUR SECONDARY SCHOOLS OR 4,000 PUPILS WAS INADEQUATE AS WELL AS ARBITRARY. IT WAS ALSO INFLEXIBLE BECAUSE IN PRACTICE NOT ALL SCHOOLS HAVE THE SAME NEED FOR SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK SERVICE.

AS AN ALTERNATIVE, SHE SUGGESTED A DISTRICT BASED SERVICE, WITH THE SCHOOLS IN EACH DISTRICT SERVED BY A TEAM OF SOCIAL WORKERS WHO WOULD THEN WORK FLEXIBLY WITH THE SCHOOLS WITHIN THEIR DISTRICT, AND DETERMINE THE KIND OF CONTACT AND APPROACH THAT THEY SHOULD ESTABLISH WITH EACH SCHOOL.+

THE TEAM MAY ALSO BE ATTACHED TO A VOLUNTARY WELFARE AGENCY TO MAKE THE BEST USE OF AVAILABLE COMMUNITY SERVICES TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR WORK WITH THE STUDENTS.

MR. ALEX WU THOUGHT THAT BECAUSE OF THE INADEQUATE PROVISION-OF PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORKERS, +IT WOULD INEVITABLY BE A CASE CF REFERRING A STUDENT TO THE SOCIAL WORKER WHICH WOULD IN ITSELF BE A STIGMA.+ THE DISGRACE ITSELF COULD CREATE LONG LASTING ILL EFFECTS FOR THE STUDENT.

WITH THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE AD HOC GROUP, MR. WU FELT THERE WAS WITHOUT DOUBT A NEED FOR PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORKERS TO ADVISE AND CONSULT, +BUT NOT TO TAKE THE PLACE OF TEACHERS, ANY MORE THAN THEY SHOULD TAKE THE PLACE CF PARENTS.+

HE SUGGESTED THAT IT WOULD BE MORE CONSTRUCTIVE, AND MORE ECONOMICAL TO DEVOTE RESOURCES TO EQUIPPING SCHOOL TEACHERS WITH MORE KNOWLEDGE OF BEHAVIOUR I AL PROBLEMS AND THEIR SOLUTION.

THE UMELCO AD HOC GROUP AGREED THAT TEACHERS WITH SUITABLE PERSONALITY, THE NECESSARY APTITUDES AND ADQUATE TRAINING COULD EE RECRUITED TO BE STUDENT GUIDANCE OFFICERS.

MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH HOPED HOWEVER THAT IN FUTURE ONLY PERSONS WITH APPROPRIATE SOCIAL 'WORK TRAINING WOULD EE RECRUITED FOR THESE POSTS.

Anss EEnrarr,

WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1978

MISS BENNETT WONDERED WHAT THE STUDENT GUIDANCE OFFICERS .. ITH THREE VO'THS’ TRAINING CCULD ACHIEVE. SHE ASKED WHY THE RATIO OF TEACHERS TO PRIMARY SCHOOL CLASSES COULD NOT BE INCREASED, +SO THAT THE CLASS TEACHER CAN BECOME THE TRUE GUIDE, PHILOSOPHER AND FRIEND OF THE PRIMARY CHILD.* IT WOULD BE MUCH EASIER FOR THE STUDENT GUIDANCE OFFICERS TO DO A SATISFACTORY JOB IF THEY WERE FULLY INTEGRATED INTO THE PRIMARY SCHOOL, SHE ADDED.

SHE THOUGHT THEY WOULD THEMSELVES NEED GUIDANCE FROM THE PRINCIPALS AND SENIOR TEACHERS ON THEIR EXACT ROLE IN THE . SCHOOL, WHICH WAS NOT LAID DOWN CLEARLY IN THE GREEN PAPER.

SHE ALSO THOUGHT THAT SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS SHOULD BE EASED IN FAMILY CENTRES SO AS TO GIVE HELP TO THE WHOLE FAMILY UNIT. +OUR WORKERS WILL NOT SUCCEED UNLESS THEY HELP THE FAMILIES TO HELP THEIR PROBLEM CHILDREN HELP THEMSELVES,* SHE SAID.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN ASKED WHY THE SAME PLANNING RATIO OF ONE STUDENT GUIDANCE OFFICER FOR 3,000 PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS IN URBAN AREAS AND 2,000 PUPILS IN RURAL AREAS COULD NOT BE PROVIDED FOR THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS WHERE THE PROBLEMS OF STUDENTS COULD BE EVEN MORE COMPLICATED AND TIME-CONSUMING.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE TO COME UP ..ITH A SOLUTION TO PLACE THE 5,000 SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT YET IN SCHOOL.

HE WAS ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE SEVERAL THOUSAND OTHER YOUNGSTERS WHO DO NOT FINISH PRIMARY SCHOOL AND DO NOT GO UP TO FORM I.

HE SAID THERE 'WAS A CLEAR-CUT NEED TO REVERT EACK TO FULL DAY SESSION FOR ALL GOVERNMENT AND AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS AS ..ELL AS TO REDUCE THE MAXIMUM PERMITTED CLASS SIZE IF WE WERE TO HIT AT THE ROOT OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY.

MR. ..ONG LAM TOO HAD RESERVATIONS ABOUT THE DEPLOY?*. T OF STUDENT GUIDANCE OFFICERS. HE THOUGHT'AN IMPORTANT PART OF A TEACHER’S RESPONSIBILITY IS TO '-'ELF 3TUDE TS SOLVE THEIR PERSONAL PROBLEMS AND DIVORCING SUCH DUTY FROM THE TEACHER’S WORK, COUNTER-EFFECTS MAY POSSIBLY EE PRODUCED. TEACHERS WOULD IMPERCEPTIBLY BE ENCOURAGED TC ATTACH IMPORT. CE ONLY TO THE IMPARTING OF KNOWLEDGE, WHILE THE STUDENTS <>HC ARE OFFERED GUIDANCE MAY FEEL EMBARRASSED OR ASHAMED.

MR. WONG ALSO THOUGHT THAT REDEPLOYING PRIMARY SCHOOL

TEACHERS AS STUDENT GUIDANCE OFFICERS MIGHT NOT EE AS DESIRABLE

AS sAS THOUGHT. THERE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH TEACHERS .. IDLING OR SUITABLE TO BE TRAINED, AND ANY COMPULSORY TRANSFER .OULD EASILY LEAD TO DISCONTENT AND IMPAIR THE SCHEME.

THEY ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO POSSESS A HIGH LEVEL GF PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND IT IS DOUBTFUL WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT CAN a ITH IN A SHORT TIME TRAIN UP A LARGE NUMBER OF PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS TO BE GOOD STUDENT GUIDANCE OFFICERS.

/social wobk .....

WEDNESDAY, MAY 24» 1978

SCC I !'.L WORK AMONG UNATTACHED YOUTH

MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH DISAGREED WITH THE CAUTION EXPRESSED IN THE GREEN PAPER ON THE EXPANSION OF OUTREACH ING SOCIAL WORK.

SHE SAID THAT DESPITE THE PROVISION OF THREE YEARS OF SUBSIDISED SECONDARY EDUCATION, MANY YOUNG PEOPLE WOULD CONTINUE TO LEAVE SCHOOL AT AN EARLY AGE. SHE URGED SOCIAL WORK TRAINING INSTITUTIONS TO GIVE MORE EMPHASIS TO DEVELOPING THE SKILLS OF THEIR STUDENTS IN WORKING WITH UNATTACHED YOUNG PEOPLE.

MR. WONG LAM HOWEVER THOUGHT THAT PAST RESULTS OF SUCH SOCIAL WORK SHOULD BE ASSESSED FIRST BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT COMMITS A LARGE AMOUNT OF MANPOWER AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES IN IT.

IF IT IS UNCERTAIN WHAT POSITIVE RESULTS COULD BE OBTAINED, IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO INVEST OUR VALUABLE RESOURCES IN A HURRY, HE SAID.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN SUGGESTED THAT OUTREACH I NG WORK TEAMS WOULD HAVE TO BE LOCATED IN THE DENSELY POPULATED URBAN OR NEW TERRITORIES AREAS WHERE A HIGHER INCIDENCE OF DELINQUENCY EXISTS.

THE WORK OF THESE TEAMS WOUULD HAVE TO EE CONTINUOUSLY MONITORED AND IN THE ABSENCE OF OTHER MORE EFFECTIVE MEASURES, THEY SHOULD BE EXPANDED AND INCREASED AS FAST AS THE NEED BECOMES APPARENT OR CAN BE ANTICIPATED AND TRAINING RESOURCES PERMIT.

THE AD HOC GROUP OF UNOFFICIALS SUPPORTED THE WORK OF THE POLICE DISCRETIONARY SCHEME AMD PROPOSED CLOSER LIAISON BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IN REHABILITATING JUVENILE DELINQUENTS.

THEY WERE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT GIRLS FOUND IN VICE ESTABLISHMENTS DURING POLICE RAIDS AND SUGGESTED THAT PROCEDURES SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED FOR THEM TO EE AUTOMATICALLY AND EXPEDITIOUSLY REFERRED TO SOCIAL WORKERS FOR IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE.

RESIDENTIAL HOMES OR REFUGE FOR BOYS AND GIRLS WITH PROBLEMS WHICH NOW PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IK REHABILITATION WORK SHOULD ALSO BE MADE MORE WIDELY KNOWN AND FURTHER EXPANDED.

FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION

THE AD HOC GROUP SUPPORTED THE EXPANSION AND CONSCIOUS PROMOTION OF FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PROGRAMMES AND SUGGESTED THAT FUNDS SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR TRAINING OR FOR WELFARE ORGANISATIONS TO DEVELOP RESOURCE MATERIALS.

THEY:.ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT LIAISON BETWEEN THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG, GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES, AND THE MASS MEDIA IN GENERAL SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED.

/MR. CHBQBOLRai....

WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1978

MR. CHEONG-LEEN POINTED OUT THAT THE FAMILY HAS ALWAYS PLAYED AN ESSENTIAL ROLE IN CHINESE TRADITION AND CIVILIZATION. THE SCHEME NOW AIMS TO AMELIORATE THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF LIVING IN AN INDUSTRIALISED COMMUNITY AND ENCOURAGES THE HARMONIOUS PRESERVATION OF THE FAMILY AS A SOCIAL UNIT TC BENEFIT BOTH YOUNG PEOPLE AS WELL AS PARENTS IN THEIR OLD AGE.

MISS BENNETT REGRETTED THAT LITTLE DEPTH ON FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION WAS COVERED BY THE GREEN PAPER AND TRUSTED THAT THERE WOULD EE AMPLIFICATION IN THE COMING WHITE PAPER.

MR. WONG LAM QUERIED HOW THE STAFFING RATIO OF ONE PROFESSIONAL WORKER TO EVERY 10,900 POPULATION WAS ARRIVED AT IN THE GREEK PAPER. HE SAID THIS WOULD ONLY MEAN A FEW DOZENS SUCH SOCIAL WORKERS FOR THE WHOLE POPULATION. HE ALSO ASKED HOW RELIABLE WAS THE PAST EXPERIENCE WHICH.WAS USED AS A EASIS FOR WORKING CUT THIS RATIO.

ROLE OF THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES

MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH POINTED OUT THAT VOLUNTARY AGENCIES HAVE BEEN TAKING AN IMPORTANT PART IM PROVIDING YOUTH SERVICES AND HAVE PROVED THEIR SUITABILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS IN PILOTING NEW SCHEMES.

SHE SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD ADMITTED THAT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE VARIOUS PROPOSALS WOULD RELY TO A LARGE EXTENT ON THEIR SUPPORT. THE GREEN PAPER, HOWEVER, MADE NO FIRM FINANCIAL COMMITMENT TC ASSIST THEM IN PROVIDING THEIR SERVICES. IT EVEN WARNED THAT IF FUNDS WERE INSUFFICIENT, THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE EITHER A SLOWING DOWN IN EXPANSION OR A LOWERING OF STANDARD.

SHE SAID THIS WAVERING ATTITUDE WOULD MAKE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES MOST HESISTANT TO VENTURE INTO NEW, AND ESPECIALLY EXPERIMENTAL, AREAS.

MR. ALEX WU DOUBTED WHETHER THE POTENTIAL FOR SOCIAL WORK AMONG UNATTACHED YOUNG PEOPLE BY EXISTING AGENCIES HAS BEEN EXHAUSTED.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE OBJECTIVES OF THE GREEN PAPER ARE SHARED BY A LARGE NUMBER OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES ALREADY AT WORK IN THE COMMUNITY AND IN MANY CASES RECEIVING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

IT WOULD SEEM THAT FURTHER CONSIDERATION IS NECESSARY BEFORE A WHOLE NEW MACHINERY IS PROPOSED TO DC THE SAME WORK, HE SAID.

HE HOPED THAT BEFORE THE WHITE PAPER IS APPROVED, THERE WOULD BE IN-DEPTH CONSULTATIONS WITH ALL THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WORKING IN THIS FIELD.

SOCIAL ATTITUDES TRAINING AND MORAL EDUCATION

MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH SAID SHE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS PREPARED AND IS MAKING IMPROVEMENT TO THE SYLLABUSES ON MORAL EDUCATION AND SOCIAL ATTITUDES TRAINING.

/SHE SAID .....

WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1978

SHE SAID HOWEVER THAT THESE VALUES SHOULD NOT BE TAUGHT ONLY BY PRECEPT BUT BY EXAMPLE. PROPER USE OF LITERATURE AND PARTICIPATION IN ARTISTIC ENDEAVOURS WOULD DO MORE FOR THE YOUNGER GENERATION THAN LEARNING DREARY TEXTBOOKS ON MORAL BEHAVIOUR.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN REGRETTED THAT THE RECOMMENDED SYLLABUSES PREPARED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAVE NOT YET BEEN ADOPTED ON A WIDE SCALE BY THE SCHOOLS.

HE SAID ALL SCHOOL GUIDANCE OFFICERS AND PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORKERS SHOULD PROMOTE SUCH EDUCATION THROUGH TALKS, SEMINARS AND DISCUSSIONS. WITH MR. WONG LAM, HE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE THE SYLLABUSES AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM.

RESEARCH AND TRAINING

MEMBERS OF THE AD HOC GROUP FELT THAT THE FORECAST OF THE DEMAND FOR SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK WAS EXTREMELY ARBITRARY AND SUGGESTED THAT MORE RESEARCH BE CONDUCTED TO PROVIDE.MORE ACCURATE INFORMATION FOR THE PLANNERS.

THEY ALSO FELT STRONGLY ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAINING IN THE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROPOSALS IN THE GREEN PAPER.

MISS BENNETT REGRETTED THAT THE METHODS OF TRAINING WERE NOT CLEARLY LAID DOWN. SHE SAID EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGISTS AND PSYCHIATRISTS WERE DESPERATELY SHORT AND THERE WAS AN URGENT NEED TO ATTRACT BACK THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN TRAINED AND ARE WORKING OVERSEAS, TO SERVE THE FUTURE YOUNG PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.

IN REPLY, THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, MR. E.P. HO SAID THE AIM OF PERSONAL SOCIAL WORK IN THE CONTEXT OF THE GREEN PAPER IS TO GUIDE AND HELP THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE.VULNERABLE. TO DELINQUENT INFLUENCES, TO BECOME BETTER ADJUSTED MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.

HE SAID THIS IS AN AREA CF RELATIVELY NEW ENDEAVOUR, AND HONG KONG IS NOT ALONE IN THIS REGARD.

+BUT IN THE GOVERNMENT’S VIEW THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE SOME LEEWAY TO CATCH UP AND WHERE WE ARE LIKELY TC ACHIEVE THE MOST PROGRESS WITH THE LIMITED PROFRESSIONAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO US,+ HE SAID.

HE ALSO EMPHASISED THAT THE GOVERNMENT ATTACHES GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE INTO MATURE, RESPONSIBLE AND CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.

+EVIDENCE OF THIS IS AVAILABLE IN THE SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES IN RECENT YEARS WHICH CATER SPECIFICALLY OR LARGELY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, UNDER THE GENERAL GUIDANCE AND OVERALL DIRECTION OF THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS.

/hr. ho .....

WEDNESDAY, HAY 24, 1978

- 7 -

MR. HO POINTED CUT THAT HORE THAN ONE THIRD OF ALL YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE AGE RANGE FROM 6 TO 20 ARE TAKING PART IN SOME FORM OF ORGANISED YOUTH OR RECREATION ACTIVITY IN THEIR SPARE TIME.

+WE BELIEVE THAT THIS PROPORTION WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE IN THE YEARS AHEAD AS ADDITIONAL FACILITIES ARE PROVIDED IN THE COUNTRY PARKS AND NEW TOWNS BY THE URBAN COUNCIL, AND AS THE VARIOUS YOUTH AND RECREATION SERVICES ARE DEVELOPED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY SECTOR.

HE SAID THAT THE RELIEF OF OVERCROWDING, IMPROVED STANDARDS OF HOUSING AND A BETTER GENERAL ENVIRONMENT CAN ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO A LESSENING OF TENDENCIES TOWARDS DELINQUENCY, AND ASSURED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO SLACKENING OF EFFORT IN THESE VARIOUS DIRECTIONS.

REPLYING TO SOME OF THE POINTS RAISED BY THE UNOFFICIALS IN THE DEBATE, MR. HO SAID THE CRITICISM THAT THE STAFFING RATIOS PROPOSED IN THE GREEN PAPER FOR SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK ARE INADEQUATE MAY WELL BE VALID, BUT +WE MUST BE REALISTIC AND MAKE AN EARLY START WITH THE MANPOWER RESOURCES LIKELY TO BE AVAILABLE.+

HE SAID TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ALL RELEVANT FACTORS AND HAVING REGARD TO THE DEMAND FOR SOCIAL WORKERS IN OTHER FIELDS OF ACTIVITY, THE PROPOSALS IN THE GREEN PAPER REPRESENT A REASONABLE STARTING POINT.

+0F COURSE, I INTEND TO HAVE THEM REVIEWED ANNUALLY IN THE LIGHT OF ACTUAL DEMAND AND OPERATING EXPERIENCE,+ MR. HO SAID.

HE ALSO ASSURED THAT ALL CONSTRUCTIVE SUGGESTIONS MADE

BY THE PUBLIC AND THE UNOFFICIALS INCLUDING MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH’S PROPOSAL TO COMBINE THE THREE GREEN PAPERS IN SOCIAL WELFARE FIELD INTO A SINGLE WHITE PAPER WOULD EE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED EEFORE ANY FINAL CONCLUSIONS ARE REACHED.

0 --------

WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1978

SOCIAL SERVICES AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES UNDER INCREASING PRESSURE FROM IMMIGRANTS *****

THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT OUR SOCIAL SERVICES AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES ARE INEVITABLY UNDER INCREASING PRESSURE FROM THE IMMIGRANTS WHO CONTINUE TO FLOW INTO HONG KONG.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, MR. HADDON-CAVE REVEALED THAT A TOTAL OF 23,500 LEGAL AND 6,500 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS (EXCLUDING THOSE ARRESTED AND REPATRIATED) FROM ALL SOURCES ARE ESTIMATED TO HAVE ARRIVED IN HONG KONG SO FAR THIS YEAR.

+THESE FIGURES COULD IMPLY A TOTAL GROSS INTAKE FOR THE YEAR BETWEEN 75-80,000,+ MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID.

MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THE PRESENCE OF THESE IMMIGRANTS INITIALLY EITHER CONTRIBUTES TO THE NUMBERS WHO CONTINUE TO SQUAT ON CROWN LAND OR EXACERBATES OVERCROWDING IN TENEMENTS AND HOUSING ESTATES.

+IMMIGRANTS ADD, THEREFORE, TO THE POTENTIAL REQUIREMENT FOR PUBLIC HOUSING. DEPENDING ON THEIR AGE AND NEEDS, THEY ADD TO THE DEMAND, AND IMMEDIATELY, FOR OUR EDUCATION AND MEDICAL SERVICES,* MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID.

+THEN, WITHIN PRESCRIBED PERIODS OF TIME, THEY BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR OTHER FORMS OF ASSISTANCE FROM PUBLIC FUNDS*. FOR EXAMPLE, PUBLIC ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE AFTER ONE YEAR’S RESIDENCE AND INFIRMITY ALLOWANCES AFTER FIVE YEARS,+ HE ADDED.

--------o----------

WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1978

BUS AND TRAM PRIORITY SCHEME FOR NORTH POINT * * *

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT A BUS AND TRAM PRIORITY SCHEME ALONG KING’S ROAD IN NORTH POINT WILL COME INTO EFFECT FROM 10 A.M. ON SUNDAY (MAY 28).

UNDER THIS SCHEME THE WEST-BOUND KERB-SIDE LANE OF KING’S ROAD, BETWEEN A NUMBER OF POINTS, WOULD BE RESERVED FOR THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF FRANCHISED BUSES BETWEEN 7 A.M. AND 7 P.M. DAILY.

IT IS AN OFFENCE FOR ANY VEHICLE OTHER THAN A FRANCHISED BUS, TO ENTER THE +BUS ONLY+ LANE BETWEEN THESE HOURS.

THE +BUS ONLY+ LANE WILL BE MARKED OUT BY A CONTINUOUS WHITE LINE. THE WORDS +BUS ONLY+ WILL BE PAINTED ON THE ROAD SURFACE AND APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE POSTED AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH OF THE LANES.

THE TRAFFIC LANE ON THE EAST-BOUND TRAM TRACKS, IN TWO SECTIONS, WILL BE RESERVED FOR THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF TRAMS 24 HOURS DAILY.

THE STARTING POINT OF EACH OF THE TWO SECTIONS OF THE TRAM RESERVE WILL BE MARKED BY A +KEEP LEFT* BOLLARD WITH WHITE WORDS AND CHARACTERS +TRAM ONLY+ PAINTED ON THE ROAD SURFACE.

THE NORTHERN EDGE OF THE TRAM RESERVE WILL BE MARKED BY DOUBLE-WHITE LINES.

IT IS AN OFFENCE FOR ANY VEHICLE TO ENTER THE TRAM RESERVATION.

TIN CHIU STREET BETWEEN TSAT TSZ MUI ROAD AND KING’S ROAD WILL BE DESIGNATED A PUBLIC LIGHT BUS CLEARWAY. PLB’S WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PICK UP OR SET DOWN PASSENGERS ALONG THE CLEARWAY ZONE BETWEEN 7 A.M. AND MIDNIGHT.

THE EXISTING PLE CLEARWAY RESTRICTION ON THE WESTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF KING’S ROAD WILL BE EXTENDED EASTWARDS TO NEAR THE JUNCTION WITH JAVA ROAD.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THE OBJECT OF THE BUS AND TRA’" PRIORITY SCHEME IS TO GIVE PRIORITY TO THESE FORMS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT OVER THIS SECTION OF KING’S ROAD TO IMPROVE THEIR OPERATING SPEED AND RELIABILITY.

/10......

WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1978

10 -

ELECTRIFICATION OF KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY

******

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAS ACCEPTED A FINANCIAL COMMITMENT OF UP TO £400 MILLION TO UNDERTAKE THE PROJECT OF ELECTRIFICATION OF THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY AFTER THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL APPROVED SUCH PROPOSALS IN JANUARY THIS YEAR.

THIS WAS REVEALED BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. PETER C. WONG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

MR. JONES SAID THE FINANCIAL COMMITMENT WILL BE ON TOP OF THE PROGRAMME OF CIVIL ENGINEERING WORKS WHICH IS NOW UNDERWAY TO DOUBLE TRACK THE RAILWAY LINE, BUILD A NEW BEACON HILL TUNNEL AND IMPROVE STATIONS.

HE SAID SUCH DEVELOPMENTS CAME AFTER THE CONSULTANTS — TRANSMARK — THE CONSULTANCY ARM OF BRITISH RAILWAYS, SUBMITTED A REPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR.

THE CONSULTANTS HAVE RECOMMENDED THE USE OF THREE CAR ELECTRIC MULTIPLE UNITS, POWERED BY A 25 KILOVOLT ALTERNATING CURRENT OVERHEAD TRACTION SYSTEM.

+THE UNITS CAN BE LINKED TO PROVIDE TRAINS OF FROM THREE TO TWELVE CARS IN LENGTH, AND THE PURCHASE OF SOME 60 SETS SHOULD PERMIT THE RUNNING OF UP TO 16 TRAINS AN HOUR IN EACH DIRECTION,+ MR. JONES SAID.

+A MAINTENANCE AND STABLING DEPOT FOR THE ROLLING STOCK WILL BE CONSTRUCTED AT SHA TIN NEAR THE RACE COURSE.

+THE CONSULTANTS HAVE NOW BEEN- ASKED TO EXAMINE CERTAIN ASPECTS ON THE CRITICAL PATH OF THE PROJECT AND, WHEN THIS HAS BEEN COMPLETED, A FULL SCALE CONSULTANCY WILL BE COMMISSIONED TO PREPARE DETAILED DESIGNS AND TO LET CONTRACTS,+ MR. JONES ADDED.

HE SAID THE AIM OF SUCH MOVES IS TO BEGIN ELECTRIC SERVICES AT LEAST TO RACECOURSE STATION IN SHA TIN BY THE MIDDLE OF 1981 WHICH HE STRESSED IS AN +EXTREMELY AMBITIOUS TARGET.*

ON OTHER DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR THE RAILWAY, MR. JONES SAID THREE NEW STATIONS WILL BE BUILT TO SERVE SHA TIN NEW TOWN AND ITS ENVIRONS AND ANOTHER NEW STATION IS BEING PLANNED AT KOWLOON TONG TO PROVIDE A VERY NECESSARY INTERCHANGE WITH MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY,* HE ADDED.

►THE SYSTEM WILL ALSO REQUIRE THE INSTALLATION OF A SOPHISTICATED COLOUR LIGHT SIGNALLING SYSTEM,* HE SAID.

-------0---------

WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1978

GOVERNMENT WILL CONSIDER ISSUE OF 35 NOTES IF DEMAND WARRANTS IT

* * * * *

THE GOVERNMENT WILL DOLLAR NOTES IF THERE IS FOR THEN AND THE COST IS

CONSIDER THE RE-INTRODUCTION OF F I VE-A SUBSTANTIAL AND WIDE-SPREAD DEMAND NOT EXCESSIVE.

THIS WAS STATED EY THE ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY. THE HON. DAVID JEAFFRESON, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. PETER C. WONG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

MR. JEAFFRESON REMINDED THAT THE REPLACEMENT OF THE $5 NOTE EY A COIN WAS ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE EY THE COINAGE REVIEW COMMITTEE SET UP IN NOVEMBER 1973.

+THE COMMITTEE CONSULTED WIDELY ON THE USES OF COINS AND BANK NOTES AND ITS CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS WERE ACCEPTED EY THE GOVERNMENT IN SEPTEMBER 1974 AND ITS REPORT .. IDELY CIRCULATED,* MR. JEAFFRESON SAID.

HE ADDED THAT MANY COUNTRIES HAVE, IN RECENT YEARS, INTRODUCED HIGHER VALUE COINS AS INFLATION DEPRECIATES THE VALUE OF LOW DENOMINATION NOTES.

+MOREOVER, SMALL DENOMINATION MOTES HAVE A VERY SHORT LIFE, IN THIS CASE LESS THAN ONE YEAR, WHEREAS A COIN MAY HAVE A LIFE OF UP TO 50 YEARS,* HE SAID.

- - 0 --- -----

COMPENSATION FOR RESUMED LAND IS REALISTIC AND REASONABLE * * * *

THE GOVERNMENT IS SATISFIED THAT THE PRESENT COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE RESUMPTION OF PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL.BUILDINGS FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT ARE REALISTIC AND REASONABLE, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

' REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. WONG LAM, MR. JONES SAID THE TERMS FOR THE ACQUISITION OF PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY FOR A PUBLIC PURPOSE HAD BEEN COIIS I DERA BLY ADJUSTED IN RECENT YEARS AND NOW INCLUDED A COMBINATION OF STATUTORY AND EX-GRATIA COMPENSATION, AS WELL AS AN OFFER OF REHOUSING.

+THE GOVERNMENT WILL KEEP A CLOSE .. ATCH ON CURRENT AND FUTURE CLEARANCE TO ENSURE THAT COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS CONTINUE TO BE APPROPRIATE TO THE CIRCUMSTaNCxo,+ MR. JONES ADDED.

-----0------

/12

-> ...LOxJm , . 7'5

PLACES CF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT ORDINANCE TO BE AMENDED K H K * K *

THE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO EXTEND THE SCOPE OF THE PLACES CF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT ORDINANCE TO COVER SUCH TRADITIONAL CHINESE FESTIVALS AS THE CHEUNG CHAU EUN FESTIVAL AND THE STRUCTURES USED IN THEM, THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEL TERRITORIES, THE HON. DAVID AKE”’3-JONES, SAID TODAY.

HE TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT A REVIEW WAS NOW IN HAND AND HOPED THAT THE NECESSARY LEGISLATION WOULD BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE COUNCIL DURING THE NEXT SESSION.

MR. AKERS-JONES WAS REPLYING TO POINTS RAISED BY THE HON. LYDIA DUNN REGARDING THE COLLAPSE OF TWO EUN TOWERS DURING THE RECENT CHEUNG CHAU EUN FESTIVAL.

HE SAID THE MOST PROBABLE CAUSE OF THE COLLAPSE WAS THE USE OF POOR MATERIALS IN THE BUN TOWER THAT TOPPLED FIRST. +AS IT FELL, IT HIT A GUY ROPE OF ANOTHER TOWER, CAUSING IT ALSO TO COLLAPSE SINCE IT WAS NOT DESIGNED TO WITHSTAND THE IMPACT OF ANOTHER COLLAPSING TOWER,+ HE ADDED.

+THESE TOWERS, LIKE MANY OTHER STRUCTURES ERECTED IN CONNECTION WITH TRADITIONAL CHINESE FESTIVALS, ARE BUILT IN ACCORDANCE WITH TIME TESTED DESIGNS AND TRADITIONAL METHODS OF CONSTRUCT I ON.+

HE SAID THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE INSPECTS STRUCTURES CAPABLE OF ACCCMMODATI NG THE PUBLIC AS REQUIRED UNDER THE PLACES OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT ORDINANCE CAP. 172.

BUT BUN TOWERS DID NOT COME WITHIN THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ORDINANCE, AND HAVE NOT HITHERTO BEEN INSPECTED OR SPECIFICALLY LICENSED BY ANY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT.

ARISING FROM THE CONSIDERATION OF THE FINDINGS CF THE SEK KONG COMMISSION OF INQUIRY, AND NOW THE INCIDENT ON CHEUNG CHAU, THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSED TO EXTEND THE SCOPE OF THE ORDINANCE, MR. AKERS-JONES ADDED.

- - 0 - -

WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1978

- 13 -

MOTOR VEHICLES (FIRST REGISTRATION TAX) AMENDMENT BILL 1978 ******

A BILL TO IMPLEMENT THE BUDGET PROPOSAL TO INTRODUCE NEW RATES OF TAX AS FROM MARCH 2 THIS YEAR IN RESPECT OF THE FIRST REGISTRATION OF PRIVATE CARS, WAS INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

SPEAKING AT THE SECOND READING OF THE MOTOR VEHICLES (FIRST REGISTRATION TAX)(AMENDMENT) BILL 197S, THE ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. DAVID JEAFFRESON, SAID THE BILL SEtKS TO IMPLEMENT THE PROPOSAL THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY MADE IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH THAT THE FIRST REGISTRATION TAX IN RESPECT OF CARS WITH A VALUE ABOVE 323,333 AND UP TO 330,030 SHOULD EE AT 35 PER CENT AND FOR THOSE OVER 330,□□□ THE TAX SHOULD EE AT 40 PER CENT.

THE FIRST REGISTRATION TAX FOR CARS VALUED UP TO 323,303 REMAINS AT 33 PER CENT.

MR. JEAFFRESON SAID THE PROVISIONS OF THE BILL BECAME EFFECTIVE FROM MARCH 2, THIS YEAR AS A RESULT OF AN ORDER SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR UNDER THE PUBLIC REVENUE PROTECTION ORDINANCE AND THE ESTIMATED YIELD TO THE REVENUE FROM THE NEW RATES IS 015 MILLION FOR 1973-79.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

----o------

WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1978

DUTIABLE COMMODITIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978

* * * *

A BILL TO IMPLEMENT A PROPOSAL MADE IN THIS YEAR’S BUDGET SPEECH TO MAKE IT AN OFFENCE TC RUN A CAR — OR ANY OTHER VEHICLE -- ON KEROSENE OR A MIXTURE OF DIESEL OIL AND KEROSENE WAS INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE DUTIABLE COMMODITIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978, THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS, THE HON. DAVID JORDAN SAID OFFICERS OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE HAD DISCOVERED THAT AN INCREASING NUMBER OF VEHICLE OWNERS AND DRIVERS WERE MIXING KEROSENE WITH DIESEL OIL IM THEIR FUEL TANKS.

HE SAID: +AS THE LAW NOW STANDS THEY ARE DOING NOTHING ILLEGAL AND, SINCE KEROSENE IS A CHEAPER FUEL•THAN DIESEL OIL, IT MIGHT BE SAID THAT THEY ARE DISPLAYING THAT ENTERPRISE AND INGENUITY THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED SO MUCH TO OUR ECONOMIC SUCCESS.*

MR. JORDAN RECALLED THAT DUTY ON KEROSENE AND CERTAIN OTHER HYDROCARBON OILS WAS ABOLISHED IN 1972 ON THE GROUNDS THAT THE DUTY TENDED TO ADD TO INDUSTRIAL COSTS AND THE COST OF LIVING.

BUT DUTY CONTINUED TO BE LEVIED ON HYDROCARBON OILS USED FOR ROAD VEHICLES SINCE IT WAS CONSIDERED THAT ROAD USERS SHOULD THUS CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THE COST OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED FOR THEM.

NOTING THAT THERE WERE ALSO ENVIRONMENTAL ARGUMENTS, MR. JORDAN SAID A MIXTURE OF KEROSENE AND DIESEL PRODUCED EVEN MORE UNPLEASANT EXHAUST FUMES THAN DIESEL ALONE.

-----o------

/15

WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1978

- 15 -

MOTION TO GIVE LEGISLATIVE EFFECT TO RAISE DUTY ON TOBACCO AND CIGARETTES * * *

A MOTION TO GIVE LEGISLATIVE EFFECT TO THE BUDGET PROPOSAL TO RAISE THE EXCISE DUTY ON IMPORTED TOBACCO AND CIGARETTES FROM MARCH 1 WAS ADOPTED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

IN MOVING THE MOTION, THE ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. DAVID JEAFFRESON, SAID THE BUDGET PROPOSAL TO INCREASE THE RATE OF DUTY ON IMPORTED CIGARETTES EY $1.65 PER POUND TO $20.15 PER POUND WAS IMPLEMENTED WITH EFFECT FROM MARCH 1 AS A RESULT OF AN ORDER SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR.

EXPLAINING THE DUTY INCREASE PROPOSAL, MR. JEAFFRESON SAID THERE HAS BEEN A GROWING TENDENCY FOR IMPORTED CIGARETTES TO BE MADE OF TOBACCO WHICH HAS BEEN SPECIALLY TREATED SO THAT, FOR A GIVEN WEIGHT, THE VOLUME IS INCREASED.

THE USE OF THIS KIND OF TOBACCO IN CIGARETTES HAS RESULTED IN LESS TOBACCO, BY WEIGHT, BEING INCLUDED IN CERTAIN BRANDS OF IMPORTED CIGARETTES AND THUS THE AMOUNT OF DUTY PAYABLE PER PACKET OF CIGARETTES HAS DECLINED, WITH A LOSS OF ABOUT Uli MILLION A YEAR IN REVENUE, MR. JEAFFRESON SAID.

HE NOTED THAT THE INCREASE HAD THE EFFECT OF ADDING SIX CENTS TO THE DUTY LEVIED ON A PACKET OF 23 IMPORTED CIGARETTES.

MR. JEAFFRESON ALSO NOTED THAT DURING THE BUDGET DEBATE THIS YEAR, AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, THE HON. SIR SZE-YUEN CHUNG, HAD ASKED WHY THE GOVERNMENT HAD MOT FOLLOWED THE PRINCIPLE ENUNCIATED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY IN 1966 THAT DUTY SHOULD EE RAISED IN MULTIPLES OF 13 CENTS A PACKET.

+THE ANSWER IS THAT IN THIS PARTICULAR SOLELY WITH RESTORING THE REVENUE YIELD AND DO NO MORE THAN THAT,* MR. JEAFFRESON SAID.

CASE WE WERE CONCERNED WE FELT WE COULD

+BUT I CAN ASSURE MY HONOURABLE FRIEND THAT THE 1966 PRINCIPLE HAS BEEN NEITHER FORGOTTEN NOR DISCARDED,* HE ADDED.

• SPEAKING IN THE DEBATE ON THE MOTION, SIR SZE-YUEN SAID IT IS RATHER A PITY THAT THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY HAS IGNORED THE 1966 PRINCIPLE IN THIS CASE.

+IN CONSEQUENCE, IN ORDER TO RECOUP THE $11 MILLION ANNUAL LOSS OF REVENUE FROM THE CONSUMERS, THE IMPORTERS AND DEALERS ARE PRESENTED WITH A GIFT OF ,7 '• ILL ION A YEAR AND THE CONSUMERS HAVE TO PAY OUT A TOTAL OF $18 MILLION A YEAR,* SIR SZE-YUEN SAID.

+1 SIMPLY CANNOT SEE THE LOGIC OF LETTING THE IMPORTERS AND DEALERS RECEIVE THIS WINDFALL WHICH COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN DIRECTED INTO PUBLIC REVENUE.

+ ALTHOUGH THE SUM OF $7 '-'.ILL ION IS TRIVIAL WHEN WE HAVE AN ANNUAL SURPLUS OF 51,300 MILLION, YET IT IS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE,* SIR SZE-YUEN SAID.

-------0 - -

/16

OJNESDAY, MAY 24, 1978

GOVERNMENT PLANS A RANGE OF CULTURAL FACILITIES IN NEW TERRITORIES ik H ft ft

THE THREE NEW TOWNS OF SHA Till, TUEN MUN AND TSUEN WAN ARE TO HAVE MAJOR AUDITORIA WITH RELATED CULTURAL FACILITIES, WHILE THE DEVELOPING MARKET TOWNS ARE TO HAVE SCALED DOWN FACILITIES WHICH WILL COMPLEMENT RATHER THAN COMPETE WITH THE ARTISTIC ACTIVITIES OF THE THREE MAJOR CENTRES.

THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE HON. DAVID AKERS-JONES SAID THIS TODAY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. CHARLES YEUNG ON THE PROVISION OF AUDITORIA AND THE PROMOTION OF CULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

MR. AKERS-JONES POINTED OUT THAT SHA TIN AND TUEN MUN WOULD EACH HAVE A POPULATION OF HALF A MILLION PEOPLE WHILE THE POPULATION OF TSUEN WAN WOULD EVENTUALLY REACH NEAR A MILLION AND THE BASIS OF THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY WAS TO PROVIDE MAJOR CENTRES OF CULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN EACH OF THESE TOWNS.

+THE FACILITIES IN THESE MAJOR CENTRES WILL INCLUDE AN AUDITORIUM WHERE CONCERTS, DRAMAS, CHINESE OPERAS AND OTHER PERFORMANCES CAN EE HELD, AND WILL BE CAPABLE OF SEATING AN AUDIENCE OF 1,500.

+IN ADDITION, THERE WILL BE MUSIC PRACTICE ROOMS, LECTURE ROOMS AND AN EXHIBITION OR CONFERENCE HALL,+ HE SAID.

MR. AKERS-JONES NOTED THAT WORK HAD ALREADY STARTED ON THE AUDITORIUM AT TSUEN WAN AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR, WHILE BUILDING WORK ON THE CENTRES AT TUEN MUN AND SHA TIN WOULD BEGIN IN THE MIDDLE OF 1979.

+THESE THREE MAJOR CENTRES WILL SERVE THE NEW TOWNS AND THE RURAL AREAS ADJACENT TO THEM, BUT THERE ARE OTHER TOWNS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES THAT WILL ALSO GROW TO HAVE SUBSTANTIAL POPULATIONS -PARTICULARLY TAI PO, FANLING/SHEUNG SHU I AND YUEN LONG.

+OUR THINKING IS THAT CULTURAL FACILITIES IN THESE PLACES SHOULD BE SCALED DOWN PROPORTIONATELY TO COMPLEMENT RATHER THAN TO COMPETE WITH THE THREE LARGE CENTRES OF ARTISTIC ACTIVITY AND THAT BUILDINGS SHOULD, IF POSSIBLE, BE ABLE TO EE USED FOR OTHER RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.

+0N THIS BASIS, APPROVAL IS BEING SOUGHT TO IMPROVE AND EXTEND A SECONDARY SCHOOL HALL BEING BUILT IN YUEN LONG TO PROVIDE AN AUDITORIUM FOR LOCAL PURPOSES.

+ IN FANLING/SHEUNG SHU I IT IS PROPOSED TO BUILD A TOWN HALL WITH A SEATING CAPACITY OF 1,330 AND WHICH WILL INCORPORATE OTHER FACILITIES. A SIMILAR SCHEME IS BEING CONSIDERED FOR TAI PG,+ MR'. AKERS-JONES SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT IN PLACES WITH FEW PEOPLE - SAI KUNG, FOR EXAMPLE - WHERE THE DEMAND FOR CULTURAL ACTIVITIES WAS NOT SO GREAT, NEVERTHELESS THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISED THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR A COMMUNITY HALL TO STAGE A ..IDE VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES.

+BUT THE PRECISE NEED FOR AND TIMING OF PROVISION OF FACILITIES WILL VARY FROM PLACE TO PLACE,+ HE ADDED.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1978

- 17 -

IMPROVEMENTS BEING MADE TO ARRIVAL ARRANGEMENTS AT AIRPORT ******

THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE EXISTING PASSENGER ARRIVAL ARRANGEMENTS AT KAI TAK AIRPORT BUT THESE ARE BEING IMPROVED UNDER THE RE-DEVELOPMENT OF THE TERMINAL BUILDING WHICH WILL BE COMPLETED IN 1981.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON. DAVID T.K. WONG IN A REPLY TO THE HON. PETER C. WONG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

MR. WONG SAID THE EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS AT THE BUFFER ARRIVAL HALL WERE ONLY TRANSITIONAL.

+THEY FORM ONLY ONE PHASE OF A $300 MILLION PROGRAMME TO REDEVELOPS AND EXPAND THE AIRPORT TERMINAL BUILDING,+ HE SAID.

MR. WONG SAID THIS PROGRAMME INVOLVED TEARING DOWN AND REBUILDING MUCH OF THE INTERNAL PART OF THE TERMINAL BUILDING WHILST •MAINTAINING AT THE SAME TIME ITS FULL OPERATIONAL CAPABILITY.

+THIS IS NO EASY TASK WHEN THE FLOW OF IN-COMING AND OUTGOING PASSENGERS EXCEEDS 4,300 PERSONS PER HOUR AT THE PEAK. UNDER SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES CONDITIONS MUST OF NECESSITY BE LESS THAN IDEAL,+ HE ADDED.

IMPROVEMENTS, HOWEVER, WERE BEING MADE TO THE BUFFER HALL AS AND WHEN DEFICIENCIES CAME TO LIGHT AND WHEN PROGRESS IN CONSTRUCTION PERMITTED, MR. WONG SAID.

+FOR EXAMPLE, DURING THE LAST TWO MONTHS DEFICIENCIES IN THE SYSTEM OF DIRECTIONAL SIGNS IN THE HALL BECAME APPARENT.

+AS A CONSEQUENCE, TEMPORARY SIGNS HAVE BEEN PUT UP AND PERMANENT SIGNS ARE BEING REDESIGNED, RELOCATED AND INCREASED IN NUMBER.+

MR. WONG STATED THAT SINCE MONDAY, THE COMPLETION OF ANOTHER PHASE OF THE CONSTRUCTION WORK PERMITTED THE OPENING OF A THIRD EXIT FROM THE BUFFER HALL.

THE ADDITIONAL EXIT LEADS TO THE SEPARATE PARKING AREA SET ASIDE FOR BUSES CATERING FOR TOUR GROUPS.

+HITHERTO, TOUR GROUPS HAD TO SHARE THE KERB SPACE ALLOCATED TO HOTEL TRANSPORT, THUS LEADING TO A DEGREE OF CONGESTION. SINCE TOUR GROUPS ACCOUNT FOR 41 PER CENT OF ARRIVING TOURISTS, THIS HAS GREATLY EASED THE CONGESTION AT THE KERB-SI DES, + M.R. WONG NOTED.

HE ADDED THAT OTHER IMPROVEMENTS WOULD PROGRESSIVELY BE MADE UNTIL THE ENTIRE RE-DEVELOPMENT OF THE TERMINAL BUILDING IS COMPLETED BY THE END OF 1981.

0----------

/18

--at .:-. a i?7j

- 18 -

MORE THAN $3.6 MILLION PAID OUT IN CHOI YUEN TSUEN CLEARANCE * * * $

ONLY ABOUT 10 PER CENT CF THE FAMILIES INVOLVED IN THE CLEARANCE OF CHOI YUEN TSUEN ARE OWNER OCCUPIERS, THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE HON. DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY.

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. CHARLES YEUNG HE POINTED OUT THAT MORE THAN 83 PER CENT CF THE FAMILIES WERE OCCUPANTS OF UNAUTHORISED STRUCTURES ON CROWN LAND OR LEASED LAND.

MR. AKERS-JONES SAID THAT 1,147 PEOPLE BELONGING TO 255 FAMILIES WILL HAVE BEEN CLEARED FROM CHOI YUEN TSUEN BY THE END OF THIS MONTH. THE LAND COVERS AN AREA OF 132,000 SQUARE METRES (1.1 MILLION SQUARE FEET) AND MORE THAN $3.6 MILLION WOULD BE PAID IN COMPENSATION OR EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES.

HE SAID: +CF THE PEOPLE CLEARED, THOSE OCCUPYING STRUCTURES SURVEYED IN 1968 OR COVERED BY VALID LICENCE HAVE BEEN OFFERED PUBLIC HOUSING, THE NEAREST BEING WO CHE AT SHA TIN.

+THOSE WHOSE STRUCTURES WERE BUILT LATER AND FIRST RECORDED IN THE 1976 SURVEY HAVE BEEN OFFERED TEMPORARY PUBLIC HOUSING IN THE FANLING TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA.

+A DOMESTIC REMOVAL ALLOWANCE, MEANS-TESTED, IS PAYABLE TO BOTH CATEGORIES TO ASSIST THEM AT A RATE OF $600/800/1,000 FOR 1-2/3-5/5+ PERSON FAMILIES.+

MR. AKERS-JONES GAVE THE FOLLOWING BREAKDOWN OF COMPENSATION AND EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES:

STATUTORY COMPENSATION:

K AGRICULTURAL LAND IN THE AREA HAS BEEN VALUED AT

$5 PER SQUARE FOOT, BUT LANDOWNERS ACCEPTING LAND EXCHANGE ENTITLEMENT DOCUMENTS (LETTER E) HAVE HAD A VALUE OF $10 ATTRIBUTED TO THEIR AGRICULTURAL LAND, INCLUDING A $5 EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCE.

* LANDOWNERS ACCEPTING CASH COMPENSATION HAD RECEIVED $17 PER SQUARE FOOT - $12 EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCE ADDED TO THE BASIC AGRICULTURAL VALUE OF $5 PER SQUARE FOOT.

EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES:

* CROPS HAD BEEN ASSESSED BY AGRICULTURE AND

FISHERIES DEPARTMENT STAFF AT CURRENT MARKET VALUE WITH AN ADDITIONAL DISTURBANCE ALLOWANCE OF $1 PER SQUARE FOOT FOR LAND UNDER CULTIVATION.

X PIG BREEDERS RECEIVE AN ALLOWANCE OF $11.50 PER SQUARE FOOT OF PIGSTY, SUBJECT TO A LIMIT OF $43,300 FOR PIGSTIES NOT COVERED BY A VALID LICENCE.

/* POULTRY ....

MSDNBSDaY, MAY 24, 1978

- 19 -

* POULTRY BREEDERS ARE RAID ACCORDING TO THE NUMBER OF BIRDS KEPT, WITH A MINIMUM OF 33 REQUIRED FOR ASSESSMENT. THE RATES IN SUCH CLEARANCES ARE 34.53 PER CHICKEN, $4 PER DUCK, 38 PER PIGEON, 31 PER QUAIL AND 34 FOR EACH GOOSE, SUBJECT TO AN UPPER LIMIT OF 313,303 ON POULTRY SHEDS NOT COVERED BY A VALID LICENCE.

X MINOR IMPROVEMENTS TO LAND ATTRACT COMPENSATION ACCORDING TO THEIR CURRENT REPLACEMENT VALUE AS ASSESSED BY NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION WORKS STAFF AND COVER SUCH ITEMS AS WELLS, FENCES, THRESHING FLOORS AND SIMILAR PERMANENT IMPROVEMENTS.

* WORKSHOPS ARE ASSESSED BY HOUSING DEPARTMENT STAFF, AND $7,003 IS PAYABLE FOR THE FIRST 200 SQUARE FEET, WITH 53 SQUARE FEET SET AS A QUALIFYING MINIMUM, AND 320 PER SQUARE FOOT THEREAFTER UP TO A MAXIMUM OF 3100,000.

* TROPICAL FISH IN COVERED AQUARIA ARE ASSESSED ON THE SAME BASIS AS WORKSHOPS, BUT IN OPEN AIR PONDS THEY ARE ASSESSED AS THOUGH THEY WERE OPEN (INDUSTRIAL) WORKING AREAS, USING THE SAME RATE BUT WITH AN UPPER LIMIT OF 353,030.

* SHOPS ARE COMPENSATED AT A RATE OF 3120 FOR THE FIRST 75 SQUARE FEET, 330 PER SQUARE FOOT FOR THE NEXT 425 SQUARE FEET AND 320 PER SQUARE FOOT THEREAFTER, WITH AN UPPER LIMIT OF 350,330.

MR. AKERS-JONES TABLED A DETAILED BREAKDOWN OF THE FIGURES RELATING TO THE CLEARANCE.

-----0------

/20

WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1978

CHAI WAN TEMPORARY HOUSING FAMILIES TO GET FLATS * * * * *

AREA TO EE CLOSED --AT YUE WAN

A TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA AT CHAI WAN SUBJECT TO FLOODING AFTER VERY HEAVY RAIN IS DUE TO BE CLOSED IN AUGUST, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON. DONALD LIAO, SAID IN THS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR. THE HON. HENRY HU.

ABOUT 300 ELIGIBLE FAMILIES LIVING THERE ARE TO BE OFFERED PUBLIC HOUSING AT THE ADJOINING YUE WAN ESTATE.

MR. LIAO EARLIER VISITED THE AFFECTED TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA, SAW FOR HIMSELF THE DRAINAGE PROBLEM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FLOODING, SPOKE WITH RESIDENTS AND A MUTUAL AID COMMITTEE MEMBER, AND TOLD THEM THAT MODERN FLATS IN THE LATEST PHASE OF YUE WAN HAD BEEN EARMARKED FOR THE 1,530 PEOPLE CONCERNED.

IN HIS REPLY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY MR. LIAO SAID THERE WERE ALTOGETHER FOUR TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS AT CHAI WAN WITH A TOTAL CAPACITY FOR 10,900 PEOPLE BUT AT PRESENT ONLY 7,500 PEOPLE JERE LIVING THERE.

ONLY ONE OF THE FOUR WAS AN OLD-STYLE TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA, AND THIS WAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING BECAUSE CONSIDERABLE ENGINEERING WORKS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD HAD LOWERED THE LEVEL OF THE AREA WHILE RECLAMATION WORK HAD BLOCKED TWO OF THE THREE DRAINAGE OUTLETS.

+T0 ALLEVIATE FLOODING THE WATER DRAINS WERE RE-CHANNELLED LAST MONTH,+ SAID MR. LIAO. +TWENTY FAMILIES WHO WERE AFFECTED BY THE RECENT FLOODING HAVE BEEN OFFERED AND HAVE ACCEPTED PUBLIC HOUSING IN NEARBY ESTATES.*

MR. LIAO SAID THE OTHER THREE TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS WERE THE MORE MODERN TYPE WITH PART-BUILT STRUCTURES, ELECTRICITY AND WATER SUPPLIES TO INDIVIDUAL HOMES, SECURITY AND CLEANSING SERVICES.

+THESE AREAS ARE SPACIOUS BY COMPARISON AND LIVING CONDITIONS THERE ARE GOOD,* HE SAID.

THE ONLY REMAINING PROELEM WAS THE ACCESS ROAD TO THE NEWEST TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA, AN UNMETALLED ROAD WHICH ALSO PROVIDED ACCESS TO THE MASS TRANSIT WORKS AREA AND WHICH HAD DETERIORATED BADLY FROM HEAVY USE.

TO REMEDY THE SITUATION THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT WAS CONSTRUCTING AN ACCESS FOOTPATH AND A DRAIN, WITH THE WORK DUE TO EE COMPLETED IN JULY. ALSO, HE SAID, THE CONDITION OF THE ROAD ITSELF WAS BEING IMPROVED.

-----0------

/21

E^HESDAY, 'AY 24, Q?73

- 21 -

PLANS IN HAND TO REMOVE SMELL NUISANCE IN

NGAU TAU KOK

* * * * *

PLANS APE IN HAND TO REMOVE THE SMELL PERMEATING THE STRETCH OF KWUN TONG ROAD IN THE MIDDLE OF NGAU TAU KOK ESTATE, THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, THE HON. DAVID MCDONALD SAID TODAY.

HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION EY THE REV. THE HON. JOYCE M. BENNETT AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

MR. MCDONALD SAID: +WHEN THE NULLAH DECKING IN KWUN TONG ROAD WAS CONSTRUCTED, A SMALL SECTION IN THE CENTRAL DIVIDER OF THE ROAD WAS LEFT OPEN TO ACCOMMODATE THE PROJECTING VALVES ON A LARGE WATER MAIN WHICH CROSSES OVER THE NULLAH.

+THIS OPENING ALLOWS THE EMISSION OF SMELLS PRODUCED IN THE NULLAH BY THE DISCHARGE OF SULLAGE WATER FROM THE OLD RESETTLEMENT BLOCKS AT JORDAN VALLEY AND THE WASTE FROM SQUATTER AREAS UPSTREAM OF THE NULLAH.+

HE SAID THAT PLANS WERE IN HAND TO REMOVE THE NUISANCE BY CONSTRUCTING A DECK OVER THE OPENING WITH A HOUSING FOR THE WATERWORKS INSTALLATI ON.

IN REPLY TO ANOTHER QUESTION, MR. MCDONALD SAID THERE JAS NG PLAN AT PRESENT TO COVER THE NULLAH IN THE JORDAN VALLEY ESTATE.

HOWEVER, HE ADDED, DECKING OF THE NULLAH WOULD BE RECONSIDERED WHEN DETAILED PLANNING FOR REDEVELOPMENT OF THE AREA WAS BEING PREPARED.

-----o------

QUERY ON INITIAL ATTENDANCE AT MAGISTRATE COURTS ******

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON. JOHN HOELEY, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT THE SUGGESTION TO ALLOW A DEFENDANT WHO INTENDS TO PLEAD NOT GUILTY TO DO SO BY POST IS EE I NG EXAMINED IN DETAIL.

HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, v<HO HAS ASKED: +WILL GOVERNMENT REVIEW THE LEGISLATION IN REGARD TO MAGISTRATE COUPTS SO THAT A DEFENDANT WHO INTENDS TC PLEAD NOT GUILp CAN DO SO BY POST AND EE SUBSEQUENTLY NOTIFIED BY LETTER OF THc DAic OF THE HEARING IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT SUCH CASES ARE INVARIABLY ADJOURNED TC A LATER DATE FOR HEARING AND THEREFORE A WASTc OF THc TIME OF BOTH THE COURT AND THE DEFENDANT?*

MR. HOELEY SAID THAT AT FIRST SIGHT, THE REGISTRAR OF I HE SUPREME COURT WAS HOPEFUL THAT MR. CHEONG-LEEN*S SUGGESTION COULj Be IMPLEMENTED.

BUT MR. HOELEY STRESSED THAT THE EXISTING JUDICIARY SYSTEM OF REQUIRING AN INITIAL ATTENDANCE AT COURT HAS +REAL ADVANTAGES.*

ON SUCH AN INITIAL APPEARANCE, THE MAGISTRATE IS CONCERNED WITH MORE THAN MERELY FIXING DATES FOR A TRIAL, ' R. HOELEY EXrLAINcD.

o --------

/22......

WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1978

- 22 -

PARKING ALLOWED FOR ONLY TWO DAYS * * * * *

NO VEHICLES ARE ALLOWED TO EE PARKED IN A PARKING PLACE FOP .ORE THAN TWO DAYS ACCORDING TO THE LAW, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

ANSWERING A QUESTION FROM THE REV. THE HON. JOYCE M. BENNETT, MR. JONES SAID WHERE A CASE WAS FOUND THE POLICE NORMALLY NOTIFIED THE REGISTERED OWNER AND ASKED HIM TO REMOVE THE VEHCILE. IF HE FAILED TO DO SO, ANY POLICE OFFICER OF THE RANK OF SERGEANT OR ABOVE MAY AUTHORISE THE REMOVAL OF THE VEHICLE.

-----o--------

POST OFFICE FOR 01 MAN ESTATE * * * *

THE GOVERNMENT DOES CONSIDER IT DESIRABLE TO ESTABLISH POST OFFICES IN LARGE COMMUNITIES AS A PUBLIC SERVICE, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON. DAVID T.K. WONG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

HE WAS ANSWERING A QUESTION FROM THE HON. OSWALD CHEUNG, WHO HAS ASKED: +DOES GOVERNMENT CONSIDER IT DESIRABLE TO ESTABLISH POST OFFICES IN LARGE COMMUNITIES LIKE 01 MAN ESTATE, BOTH AS AN ESSENTIAL PUBLIC SERVICE AND AS ENCOURAGEMENT TO USE SUCH SERVICE THUS CONTRIBUTING TO ITS PROFITABILITY?*

+S0 FAR AS 01 MAN ESTATE-IS CONCERNED,* MR. WONG REPLIED, +THE POSTMASTER GENERAL HAS IN FACT RECENTLY COMPLETED A SURVEY OF THE AREA AND HE HAS COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT A POST OFFICE IS NEEDED AT 01 MAN ESTATE.*

+HE IS NOW IN THE PROCESS OF PREPARING A FORMAL PROPOSAL TO THIS EFFECT.*

0 --------

/23

WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1978

- 23 -

•NUMBER OF REGISTERED MOTORCYCLES * * * M * *

THERE '.ERE 16,464 MOTORCYCLES REGISTERED AT THE END OF MARCH TH]S YEAR — AN INCREASE OF ’.U.c PER CENT OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THE HOI.. DEREK JOLixS, SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, SAID TODAY.

HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. ROGER LOBO AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

MR. JONES ALSO SAID, IN REPLY TO ANOTHER QUESTION BY MR. LOBO. THERE IS NO UP-TO-DATE RECORD OF THE NUMBER OF ESTABLISHMENTS FOR ’ HIRING MOTORCYCLES BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO BE LICENSED.

, ',/HEN THE P0LJCE CHECKED OUT THEIR INSURANCE COVER LAoT YcAR, THERE WERE FOUND TO BE 12 ESTABLISHMENTS OPERATING IN KOWLOON,* HE SAID.

-----0------

GOVERNMENT GUARANTEE TO MTRC LOAN

******

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY ADOPTED A MOTION WHICH SEEKS AUTHORITY FOR A GOVERNMENT GUARANTEE TO ENABLE THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION TO BORROW HK&204 MILLION FOR THE PURCHASE OF 70 RAILCARS.

IN MOVING THE MOTION, THE'ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. DAVID JEAFFRESON SAID: +AS THE LOAN WHICH COVERS 85 PER CENT OF THE CONTRACT PRICE IS DENOMINATED IN HK DOLLARS, THE GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT IN RESPECT OF THE GUARANTEE WILL BE ENTIRELY FREE FROM EXCHANGE RISKS.*

THE LOAN WITH INTEREST RATE FIXED AT 7-3/4 PER CENT PER ANNUM WILL EE REPAYABLE OVER A PERIOD OF EIGHT AND A HALF YEARS FROM MAY 1981.

the loan Guarantee will bring the government’s total amount

OF GUARANTEE TO HK$6,890 MILLION.

-----0------

/24

WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1973

- 24 -

BILLS PASSED * * * *

FOUR BILLS WERE PASSED INTO LAW TODAY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

WERE ™E CENSUS AND STATISTICS BILL 1978, THE AUXILIARY FORCES PAY AND ALLOWANCE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978, THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (AMENDMENT) (NO.3) BILL 1978 AND THE RAILWAYS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978.

COMMONWEALTH GROUP VISITS SHA TIN NEW TOWN

* * * * *

SIXTEEN MEMBERS OF THE COMMONWEALTH INTERCHANGE STUDY GROUP TO SOUTH-EAST ASIA TODAY TOOK A FIRST-HAND LOOK AT THE FAST-GROWING SHA TIN NEW TOWN AND-DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN KWAI CHUNG AND TSING Yl.

THE GROUP, COMPRISING GOVERNMENT OFFICERS, EXECUTIVES FROM COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY AND OFFICIALS FROM PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTIONS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM, STARTED THE DAY WITH A BRIEFING BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE' NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES.

THEY THEN WENT UP TO A VANTAGE POINT BEHIND SHA TIN WEI FOR A BIRD’S EYE VIEW OF THE NEW TOWN.

THE GROUP WAS BRIEFED ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TOWN INTO A BALANCED, SELF-CONTAINED COMMUNITY OF HALF A MILLION PEOPLE BY MID-1980'S.

THEY LATER WENT TO THE NE’..' TOWN’S FIRST PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE -LEK YUEN ESTATE.

IN THE AFTERNOON, THE GROUP SAILED ON +CLEMENTI+ FROM TSUEN WAN TO QUEEN’S PIER IN CENTRAL AND SAW DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN KWAI CHUNG AND TSING Yl EN ROUTE.

THEY WERE ACCOMPANIED ON THE DAY-LONG TOUR BY THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. JOHN TODD, THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR INFORMATION, MR. BARRIE WIGGHAM, AND THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES (DEVELOPMENT), MR. ROBERT UPTON.

THE GROUP IS ON THE THIRD AND LAST LEG OF THEIR SOUTH-EAST ASIAN TOUR UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE ROYAL COMMONWEALTH SOCIETY, HAVING VISITED SINGAPORE AND MALAYSIA. THEY WILL FLY BACK TO LONDON ON FRIDAY (MAY 26).

♦

WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 1978 - 25 -

FIRE OFFICERS MAKE SURPRISE CHECKS ON FACTORY PREMISES

* * K *

A TEAM OF FIRE OFFICERS THIS (WEDNESDAY) MORNING MADE SURPRISE CHECKS ON FACTORIES IN TAI YAU STREET, SAN PO KONG IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE FIRE HAZARDS.

THE TEAM COMPRISING 18 OFFICERS AND TEN FIREMEN INSPECTED MORE THAN 1,333 FACTORIES IN 33 INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS IN THE AREA.

THEY DISCOVERED A NUMBER OF POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARDS SUCH AS STAIRCASES PILED WITH PAPER CARTONS AND STACKS OF UNFINISHED PRODUCTS, OBSTRUCTIONS TO EXITS AND USING LIFT LOBBIES AS STORAGE AREAS.

AS A RESULT 73 FACTORIES HAVE BEEN GIVEN FIRE HAZARD ABATMENT NOTICES REQUIRING THEIR OWNERS TO CLEAR THE OBSTRUCTIONS v. I TH IN THE STIPULATED PERIOD.

SUMMONSES WILL BE TAKEN OUT AGAINST TEN FACTORIES THAT FAILED TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS IN ABATMENT NOTICES PREVIOUSLY SERVED ON THEM.

DURING THE INSPECTION THE OFFICERS ALSO FOUND 22 CASES OF UNAUTHORISED BUILDING ALTERATIONS, ILLEGAL ROOFTOP STRUCTURES OR USING THE PREMISES FOR OTHER PURPOSES. THESE WILL BE REFERRED TO RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS FOR THEIR ATTENTION.

- 0 - -

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

THURSDAY, MAY 25, 1978

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENTS AMOUNT TO $244 MILLION LAST FINANCIAL YEAR ............................................... 1

+MUSIC FOR THE MILLIONS* SCHEME .............................. 2

DOMESTIC MARKET FOR HK’S FURNITURE INDUSTRY .................. 4

NEW HEUNG YEE KUK CHAIRMAN AND VICE-CHAIRMEN ELECTED ......... 5

OPERATION OF DESALTER TO BE PHASED OUT ....................... 6

NEW POST OFFICE FOR SHEK LEI ESTATE .......................... 6

P.W.D.’S LANDS AND SURVEY DEPARTMENT RETITLED ................ 7

MORE DISABLED FOUND JOBS ..................................... 7

ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MARINE RETIRING .................... 8

RETIREMENT OF CHIEF OF ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL OFFICE .. 9

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS ........................................ 10

WATER CUT .............

Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191

IHUKOUMI, HH I C- J, J.Jt'-’

$244 MILLION PAID OUT LAST FINANCIAL YEAR AS SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS

******

THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT PAID OUT NEARLY $244 MILLION DURING THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1977-78 AS NON-CONTRIBUTORY SOCIAL SECURITY CASH BENEFITS TO NEEDY FAMILIES, THE DISABLED AND THE ELDERLY.

A TOTAL OF 225,900 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED THE BENEFITS, IN THE FORM OF EITHER PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, DISABILITY ALLOWANCE OR OLD AGE ALLOWANCE.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY THE AMOUNT OF PAYMENTS THIS YEAR WAS EXPECTED TO RISE TO $335 MILLION, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 37.2 PER CENT.

LAST MONTH ALONE, HE SAID, $21.1 MILLION WERE PAID OUT, COMPARED WITH $18.5 MILLION IN APRIL LAST YEAR.

TOTAL PAYMENTS IN THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1976-77 AMOUNTED TO $237.3 MILLION, HE ADDED.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE EXPECTED INCREASE IN PAYMENT THIS YEAR WAS DUE TO THE RECENT INCREASE IN PAYMENT RATES AND THE NEWLY-INTRODUCED SOCIAL SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS.

THESE IMPROVEMENTS, HE SAID, PROVIDE NEW BENEFITS AND COVER MORE PEOPLE IN NEED OF WELFARE ASSISTANCE.

THEY INCLUDE THE OLD AGE SUPPLEMENT, THE LONG-TERM SUPPLEMENT AND THE DISREGARDED INCOME PROVISION FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RECIPIENTS, AND THE EXTENSION OF THE DISABILITY AND OLD AGE ALLOWANCES SCHEME TO COVER THOSE UNDER INSTITUTIONAL CARE.

+THEIR IMPLEMENTATION WOULD COST AN ESTIMATED $49 MILLION IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR,+ HE SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT OF THE $244 MILLION DISTRIBUTED LAST YEAR, $143.8 MILLION WERE PAID OUT AS PUBLIC ASSISTANCE IN 534,911 PAYMENTS, AND ANOTHER $100.1 MILLION AS DISABILITY AND OLD AGE ALLOWANCES IN 848,888 PAYMENTS.

HE SAID : +AT PRESENT, THE DEPARTMENT’S 26 SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNITS ARE HANDLING 48,000 PUBLIC ASSISTANCE CASES, 18,000 DISABILITY ALLOWANCE CASES AND 63,000 OLD AGE ALLOWANCE CASES.

+MOST PEOPLE RECEIVE THEIR DISABILITY AND OLD AGE ALLOWANCES THROUGH BANK AUTOPAY SYSTEM, WHILE THE MAJORITY OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS ARE MADE THROUGH POST OFFICES.

+OTHER PLACES FOR COLLECTION ARE TREASURY OFFICES, DISTRICT OFFICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND THE SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UN ITS,+ HE ADDED.

)

THURSDAY, MAY 25, 1978

- 2 -

GOVERNMENT STARTS +MUSIC FOR THE MILLIONS* * SCHEME

* * *

THE MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR’S OFFICE HAS PLANNED A SERIES OF CONCERTS TO BE HELD EVERY SATURDAY IN EACH DISTRICT OF HONG KONG AS PART OF ITS +MUSIC FOR THE MILLIONS* SCHEME.

FOR SATURDAY (MAY 27), THE MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR’S OFFICE HAS ARRANGED TEN CONCERTS FOR TSUEN WAN SCHOOL CHILDREN.

FIVE ENSEMBLES WILL GIVE PERFORMANCES IN WESTERN AND CHINESE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC IN TEN SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT, EACH LASTING ONE HOUR. ABOUT 8,000 PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR’S OFFICE SAID THE PURPOSE OF THESE CONCERTS WAS TO GIVE CHILDREN THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY LIVE PERFORMANCES OF ORCHESTRAL MUSIC AND TO LEARN ABOUT THE VARIOUS INSTRUMENTS AS WELL AS TO PAVE THE WAY FOR A HONG KONG-WIDE MUSIC TRAINING PROGRAMME IN SEPTEMBER.

HE SAID THE MUSICIANS TAKING PART IN THE CONCERTS WERE INSTRUCTORS AND STUDENTS OF THE MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR’S OFFICE TRAINING PROGRAMMES AND MEMBERS OF TOO LOCAL MUSIC SOCIETIES.

THE VENUES OF THE CONCERTS ON MAY 27 AND THE STARTING TIMES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

ENSEMBLES OF WESTERN INSTRUMENTS

# HOLY CROSS LUTHERAN SCHOOL, 31 LO TAK COURT, TSUEN WAN, AT 10 A.M.

* HOI PA STREET GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOL, HOI PA STREET, TSUEN WAN, AT 11.30 A.M.

* SUN WUI KU CHENG NATIVE ASSOCIATION TAK SIN PRIMARY SCHOOL, SHEK YAM ESTATE SCHOOL NO. 3, KWAI CHUNG, AT 10 A.M.

K ALLIANCE PRIMARY SCHOOL, SHEK LEI ESTATE, TSUEN WAN, AT 11.30 A.M.

/ENSEMBLES OF .....

THURSDAY, MAY 25, 1978

- 3

ENSEMBLES OF CHINESE INSTRUMENTS

H TSUEN WAN CHIU CHOW PUBLIC SCHOOL, HOI PA STREET, TSUEN WAN, AT 10 A.M.

* TSUEN WAN CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL, 37-41 TAK WAH STREET, TSUEN WAN, AT 11.30 A.M.

* SHEK YAM SALESIAN A.M. PRIMARY SCHOOL, BLOCK 1, SHEK YAM ESTATE, TSUEN WAN, AT 10 A.M.

* KAI YAM SCHOOL, BLOCK 3, SHEK YAM ESTATE, TSUEN WAN, AT 11.30 A.M.

* SHEK LEI CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL, BLOCK 10, SHEK LEI ESTATE, TSUEN WAN, AT 10 A.M.

* LAI CHACK TAM SHIU HONG MEMORIAL SCHOOL, BLOCK 3, SHEK LEI ESTATE, TSUEN WAN, AT 11.30 A.M.

------0-------

A.....

U -

THURSDAY, MAY 25, 1978

DOMESTIC MARKET FOR HK’S FURNITURE INDUSTRY

******

THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS, MR. DAVID JORDAN SAID THIS EVENING THAT HONG KONG HAS AN UNUSUALLY LARGE DOMESTIC MARKET FOR MODERN FURNITURE.

SPEAKING AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG FURNITURE MANUFACTURERS, HE SAID THAT ALMOST 50,000 NEW HOMES ARE FORECAST FOR 1978 AND 60,000 FOR 1979. +ADD TO FURNITURE REQUIRED FOR THESE UNITS REPLACEMENT ITEMS FOR SOME OF THE HOUSEHOLDERS IN THE 770,000 UNITS NOW IN USE, AND YOU HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL DOMESTIC MARKET*.

MR. JORDAN SAID THAT OTHER COUNTRIES HAD NOTICED THE POTENTIAL OF OUR LOCAL MARKET AND HAD EXPORTED §200 MILLION WORTH OF FURNITURE TO HONG KONG IN 1977 — NOT VERY MUCH LESS THAN OUR DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF FURNITURE WHICH LAST YEAR WERE VALUED AT $260 MILLION.

+T0 HAVE A LARGE DOMESTIC MARKET IS AN UNUSUAL SITUATION FOR ANY HONG KONG INDUSTRY TO BE IN, AND THIS NEW FEDERATION IS WELL PLACED TO CO-ORDINATE THE MANY ACTIVITIES WHICH ARE NECESSARY IF THE INDUSTRY IS TO CAPITALISE FURTHER ON IT+.

BUT HE STRESSED THAT IF THEY WERE TO DO THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO BE READY TO ACCEPT NEW MATERIALS, NEW DESIGNS, NEW SKILLS AND NEW TOOLS.

+THIS IS NOT EASY FOR AN INDUSTRY WHICH IS OLD-FASHIONED, TRADITIONAL, CRAFT-BASED AND IN ITS OWN WAY SUCCESSFUL IN MANY RESPECTS+. BUT IN REMINDING HIS AUDIENCE THAT TIME DOES NOT STAND STILL, HE SAID THAT CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE MARKET PLACE MIGHT ALSO FORCE THEM INTO LINES OF PRODUCTION OTHER THAN THOSE THEY ARE NOW IN.

HE GAVE A REASSURANCE TO THE INDUSTRY, WHICH HE SAID HAD SERVED HONG KONG SO WELL FOR SO LONG, THAT THE TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT, THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE, THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AND THE POLYTECHNIC STAND READY TO PROVIDE WHATEVER HELP IT IS IN THEIR POWER TO PROVIDE.

MR. JORDAN DID NOT OVERLOOK THE TRADITIONAL SKILLS WHICH HAVE MADE HONG KONG’S ROSEWOOD, BLACKWOOD AND RATTAN FURNITURE SO POPULAR AT HOME AND ABROAD.

' HE SAID THESE SKILLS HAVE LONG HELD AN IMPORTANT AND HONOURED PLACE AMONG THE TRADITIONAL CHINESE CRAFTS AND THAT THERE IS STILL A MARKET FOR SUCH FURNITURE, ALTHOUGH NOT A MASS ONE.

BUT FOR THE MASS MARKET MR. JORDAN SAID: +HERE THE NEEDS ARE DIFFERENT. TODAY’S CONSUMER LOOKS FOR ATTRACTIVE, BUT FUNCTIONAL STYLING, AND FOR PIECES OF A SIZE SUITABLE FOR MODERN APARTMENTS*.

THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG FURNITURE MANUFACTURERS INCLUDES THREE MAJOR FURNITURE ASSOCIATIONS AND 125 INDEPENDENT COMPANIES. MORE THAN 600 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY.

' THURSDAY, MAY 25, 1978

- 5 -

NEW HEUNG YEE KUK CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMEN ELECTED *****

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TAI PO RURAL COMMITTEE, MR. STEPHEN WONG YUEN-CHEUNG, WAS TODAY ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF THE 23RD TERM OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK AT AN ELECTION HELD AT THE KUK’S OFFICE IN CUMBERLAND ROAD, KOWLOON TONG.

HE REPLACES MR. CHAN YAT-SAN, THE KUK’S CHAIRMAN FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS WHO DID NOT STAND FOR RE-ELECTION THIS TERM.

MR. WONG WAS ELECTED BY 64 VOTES TO 46 OVER THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TUEN MUN RURAL COMMITTEE, MR. LAU WONG-FAT.

THE ELECTORATE CONSISTED OF 111 COUNCILLORS WHO COMPRISED THE FULL COUNCIL OF THE KUK.

IN ELECTIONS FOR THE POSITIONS OF VICE CHAIRMEN, MR. LAU WONG-FAT WAS ELECTED UNOPPOSED AS FIRST VICE-CHAIRMAN AND MR. PETER YEUNG WAS ELECTED BY 61 VOTES TO 49 VOTES POLLED BY THE FORMER VICE-CHAIRMAN MR. TSANG LIN TO FILL THE SECOND VICE-CHAIRMAN’S POST.

EARLIER IN THE MORNING, 15 ORDINARY MEMBERS OF THE KUK’S EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE WERE CHOSEN FROM AMONG SPECIAL COUNCILLORS AND RURAL COMMITTEE VICE CHAIRMEN.

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES WERE: MR. WONG MO-YUEN, MR. LAM WAI-KEUNG, MR. LIU CHING-LEUNG, MR. LAU HON-KIT, MR. TANG TONG-KENG, MR. CHUNG PUN, MR. TANG TAK-KAU, MR. LAM CHAK-MAN, MR. NG TAM-HING, MR. LI CHEONG, MR. FUNG PAK-TAI, MR. HO SAN-KUEN, MR. LAM PAK-PING, MR. LAI KAM-MAN, AND MR. CHAN LAU-FONG.

TODAY’S ELECTIONS WERE HELD BY SECRET BALLOTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH PROCEDURES LAID DOWN IN THE HEUNG YEE KUK ORDINANCE.

THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES WAS THE RETURNING OFFICER.

------0-------

THURSDAY, MAY 25, 1978

6 -

OPERATION OF DESALTER TO BE PHASED OUT

* * *

OPERATION OF THE LOK ON PAI DESALINATION PLANT WILL BE PHASED OUT OVER THE NEXT THREE WEEKS.

IN MAKING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT TODAY THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT SAID THE DECISION HAD BEEN TAKEN AFTER CONSIDERING THE PRESENT WATER STORAGE AND THE LONG-RANGE WEATHER FORECAST BY THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY.

THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, MR. T.H. TOMLINSON, SAID TODAY: +THE PRESENT STORAGE IS QUITE GOOD, AND THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY HAS FORECAST A SUMMER RAINFALL OF BETWEEN 1800 AND 2200 MM AND THE WHOLE YEAR RAINFALL OF BETWEEN 2250 AND 2750 MM.+

A SCHEDULE OF PLANNED MAINTENANCE WILL BE IMMEDIATELY UNDERTAKEN IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THE DESALTER IS +OPERATION READY+ SHOULD THE EXPECTED RAINFALL FAIL TO MATERIALISE, AND IF DESALTED WATER AGAIN BECOMES NECESSARY.

SINCE WATER RESTRICTIONS WERE IMPOSED IN JUNE LAST YEAR THE PLANT HAS PRODUCED A TOTAL OF 50 MILLION CUBIC METRES.

- 0 --------

NEW POST OFFICE FOR SHEK LEI ESTATE * * * M

THE POST OFFICE ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT A NEW POST OFFICE LOCATED ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING IN SHEK LEI ESTATE, THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL OPEN AT 9 A.M. ON MONDAY (MAY 29).

THE NEW POST OFFICE WILL REPLACE THE PRESENT ONE NEXT DOOR WHICH WILL BE CLOSED AFTER BUSINESS ON SATURDAY (MAY 27).

• THE EXISTING BUSINESS HOURS (9 A.M. TO 5 P.M. FROM MONDAY TO FRIDAY AND 9 A.M. TO 1 P.M. ON SATURDAY) AND TELEPHONE NUMBER 12-205286 ARE UNCHANGED.

- 0

THURSDAY, MAY 25, 1978

P.W.D.’S LANDS AND SURVEY DEPARTMENT RETITLED * * * *

THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THE LANDS AND SURVEY DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN RETITLED +THE LANDS, SURVEY AND TOWN PLANNING DEPARTMENT+.

ACCORDINGLY, THE DIRECTOR’S TITLE IS +DI RECTOR OF LANDS, SURVEY AND TOWN PLANNING*.

THE TITLES OF FOUR OTHER POSTS HAVE ALSO BEEN AFFECTED BY THE CHANGE. THEY ARE CHIEF PLANNING OFFICER, NOW RETITLED CHIEF TOWN PLANNER- SENIOR PLANNING OFFICER, NOW SENIOR TOWN PLANNER- PLANNING OFFICER, NOW TOWN PLANNER- AND ASSISTANT PLANNING OFFICER, NOW ASSISTANT TOWN PLANNER.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT SAID THE CHANGE WAS INTRODUCED, WITH EFFECT FROM MARCH 15, THIS YEAR, BECAUSE THE OLD TITLE DID NOT TRULY REFLECT THE OVERALL FUNCTION OF THE DEPARTMENT.

+THE NEW TITLE DOES SO,+ HE SAID.

------0-------

MORE DISABLED FOUND JOBS *****

THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S JOB PLACEMENT UNIT FOUND JOBS FOR 47 DISABLED PEOPLE LAST MONTH.

AMONG THEM WERE 19 PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED, NINE BLIND, EIGHT DEAF FIVE EX-MENTAL PATIENTS, FOUR MENTAL RETARpATES, ONE FORMER T.B. PATIENT AND ONE EX-LEPER. THEIR AGE RANGES FROM 17 TO 51.

THEY ARE NOW ENGAGED AS CLERKS, TYPISTS, TELEPHONE OPERATORS, ASSEMBLERS, CLEANSING AND IRONING WORKERS IN THE COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL SECTORS.

- THE OFFICER-IN-CHARGE OF THE UNIT, MR. CHAN SHIU-WING, SAID TODAY THE FIGURE SHOWED AN INCREASE OF 15 OVER THAT OF MARCH, AND THIS IN PART REFLECTED AN ENLIGHTENED ATTITUDE OF EMPLOYERS.

+WE HOPE MORE PROPRIETORS OF FACTORIES AND COMMERCIAL FIRMS WOULD OFFER A WIDER RANGE OF JOBS TO FIT THE QUALIFICATION AND CAPABILITY OF THE DISABLED, WHO COULD BE VERY LOYAL AND RELIABLE EMPLOYEES,* MR. CHAN SAID.

THOSE WHO FOUND JOBS LAST MONTH ARE EITHER PAID AT A MONTHLY RATE AVERAGED AT $650 OR AT A DAILY RATE RANGING FROM $18 TO $28.

0 -------

THURSDAY, MAY 25, 1973

- 8 -

NOTE TO EDITORS:

RETIREMENT OF

ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MARINE

******

THE ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR LILL SOON RETIRE AFTER 27 YEARS

OF MARINE, OF SERVICE

MR. W.D. LEIGHTON, .. ITH THE GOVERNMENT.

TO MARK HIS RETIREMENT, THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF MARINE, IE. P.E.J. DAVY, WILL PRESENT A FAREWELL GIFT TO MR. LEIGHTON ON BEHALF OF HIS COLLEAGUES AT A CEREMONY TO EE HELD AT THc DIRECTOR OF MARINE’S OFFICE, MARINE DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS, 102 CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL, AT NOCI' TOMORROW (FRIDAY).

YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY.

THURSDAY, MAY 25, 1978

CHIEF OF ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL OFFICE RETIRING ******

MR. J.A. WALLACE, PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEER, WILL GO ON PRE-RETIREMENT LEAVE EARLY NEXT MONTH AFTER 13 YEARS’ SERVICE WITH THE GOVERNMENT.

MR. WALLACE JOINED THE GOVERNMENT IN 1965 AS A WATERWORKS MECHANICAL ENGINEER IN THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AFTER HAVING SERVED IN MALAYSIA AS A SUPERINTENDING MECHANICAL ENGINEER.

HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL OFFICE IN FEBRUARY 1966 AND TWO MONTHS LATER BECAME CHIEF MECHANICAL ENGINEER.

IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR, HE WAS PROMOTED TO GOVERNMENT ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEER.

HIS POST WAS RE-TITLED PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEER IN 1970.

AT A FAREWELL PARTY THIS AFTERNOON, THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, MR. DAVID MCDONALD, SAID THAT MR. WALLACE’S RISE TO THE HIGHEST RANK IN HIS DISCIPLINE IN THE GOVERNMENT WAS INDEED RAPID.

+AS HEAD OF THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL OFFICE, HE HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN BUILDING UP AN EFFICIENT ORGANISATION THAT NOW MAKES A VITAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF GOVERNMENT INSTALLATIONS,* HE SAID.

DURING HIS TENURE, MR. MCDONALD ADDED, THE PERSONNEL ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL OFFICE HAD INCREASED BY MORE THAN 100 PER CENT FROM 2,425 TO 5,155 POSTS.

IN RECOGNITION OF HIS EFFORTS, THE QUEEN AWARDED HIM THE M.B.E. EARLY THIS YEAR.

AT TODAY’S PARTY MR. MCDONALD PRESENTED MR. WALLACE WITH A FAREWELL GIFT, A CHINESE LACQUER CHEST, ON BEHALF OF HIS COLLEAGUES.

------o-------

/1O....

THURSDAY, MAY 25, 1978

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN KENNEDY TOWN, KWAI CHUNG AND TSUEN WAN *****

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT FROM SATURDAY (MAY 27) SEVERAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN KWAI CHUNG AND TSUEN WAN, THE NEW TERRITORIES AND KENNEDY TOWN ON THE ISLAND TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW IN THESE AREAS.

WITH EFFECT FROM 10 A.M. ON SATURDAY, THE SECTION OF KWAI FUK ROAD BETWEEN SHING FUK STREET AND TEXACO ROAD WILL BE OPENED TO TRAFFIC, WHILE GIN DRINKER’S BAY ROAD AT ITS JUNCTION WITH TEXACO ROAD WILL BE CLOSED.

WITH EFFECT FROM THE SAME TIME, AN URBAN CLEARWAY RESTRICTION WILL BE IMPOSED ON THE FOLLOWING ROAD SECTIONS FROM 7 A.M. TO 10 A.M. AND FROM 4 P.M. TO 7 P.M. DAILY s-

* SHA TSUI ROAD FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH CASTLE PEAK ROAD TO A POINT 50 FEET WEST OF THE JUNCTION WITH WO TIK STREET-

* TAI HO ROAD FROM A POINT 82 FEET NORTH OF ITS JUNCTION WITH SHA TSUI ROAD UP TO YEUNG UK ROAD-

* YEUNG UK ROAD FROM TAI HO ROAD UP TO THE JUNCTION WITH TEXACO ROAD-

* MA TAU PAR ROAD FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH YEUNG UK ROAD UP TO A POINT 115 FEET ALONG ITS LENGTH-

* TEXACO ROAD FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH SHA TSUI ROAD UP TO A POINT 213 FEET SOUTH OF THE JUNCTION WITH KWAI FUK ROAD- AND

* KWAI FUK ROAD FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH TEXACO ROAD UP TO A POINT 65 FEET ALONG ITS LENGTH.

ALL MOTOR VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM PICKING UP OR SETTING DOWN PASSENGERS AND LOADING OR UNLOADING GOODS DURING THE RESTRICTED PERIODS.

LEARNER DRIVERS WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING AND PRACTISING DRIVING INSTRUCTION IN THE SECTION OF KWAI FUK ROAD BETWEEN SHING FUK STREET AND TEXACO ROAD.

IN KENNEDY TOWN, WITH EFFECT FROM 10 A.M. ON SATURDAY, AN URBAN CLEARWAY RESTRICTION WILL BE IMPOSED ON THE SECTION OF VICTORIA ROAD AND BELCHER’S STREET BETWEEN KA WAI MAN ROAD AND SANDS STREET FROM 7 A.M. TO 10 A.M. AND FROM 4 P.M. TO 7 P.M. DAILY.

MOREOVER, THE SECTION OF SMITHFIELD ROAD BETWEEN CATCHICK STREET AND BELCHER’S STREET WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE-WAY SOUTHBOUND, WHILE HAU WO STREET WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE-WAY EASTBOUND.

-------o -

/11 .....

THURSDAY, MAY 25, 1978

ALL PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING THE SECTION OF CATCHICK STREET BETWEEN SMITHFIELD ROAD AND CADOGAN STREET AND THE SECTION OF CADOGAN STREET BETWEEN BELCHER’S STREET AND CATCHICK STREET.

PUBLIC LIGHT BUS DRIVERS ARE ADVISED TO OPERATE ALONG BELCHER’S STREET, HOLLAND STREET, KENNEDY TOWN PRAYA AND CATCHICK STREET TO MAKE USE OF THE NEW PLB STAND IN SMITHFIELD ROAD BETWEEN CATCHICK STREET AND BELCHER’S STREET.

APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE SET UP IN ALL THESE AREAS TO INDICATE THE RESTRICTIONS AND GUIDE MOTORISTS.

- _ 0 - -

WATER CUT * * *

FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO THE SILVER STRAND AREA IN SAI KUNG WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR EIGHT HOURS FROM 9 A.M. ON SATURDAY (MAY 27).

THIS IS TO ENABLE STAFF OF THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT TO CARRY OUT WORK ON WATER MAINS IN THE ARbA.

THE AREA TO EE AFFECTED WILL BE THE NORTHEASTERN SIDE OF CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD BETWEEN SHAW BROTHERS STUDIO AND HANG HAU ROAD, INCLUDING A KUNG WAN, SILVER STRAND AREA AND SILVER STRAND BEACH.

- - 0 - -

PRH 7

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

FRIDAY, MAY 26, 1978

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY ADDRESSES DIVERSIFICATION SEMINAR ..................................................... 1

1,200- BED HOSPITAL FOR TUEN MUN ........................... 3

DANGEROUS DRUGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978 ....................... 4

RESULTS OF TENDER FOR 300 URBAN TAXI LICENCES ............... 5

OVER 170 FIREMEN PROMOTED OR GIVEN ACTING APPOINTMENTS .... 5

REDUNDANT TEACHERS REGISTER FOR JOBS ........................ 6

CROWN LAND SALES ............................................ 6

CONTRACT FOR A SECOND VIADUCT FOR TUEN MUN ROAD SIGNED .... 7

RETIREMENT OF ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MAR I NE ............ 8

FREE MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR FORMER PRISONERS OF WAR .......... 9

AVIARY FOR KOWLOON PARK .................................... 10

SUBSTITUTE RAILWAY AREA PLAN ............................... 10

SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES GOES ON LEAVE ............ 11

COURTESY CALL ON DIRECTOR OF HOME AFFAIRS .................. 11

Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191

FRIDAY, MAY 26, 1978

ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY ADDRESSES DIVERSIFICATION SEMINAR * * * * *

THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DIVERSIFICATION, WHICH HAS COMPLETED ITS STUDY OF THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG’S ECONOMY OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS, WILL +VERY SHORTLY* BE MOVING ON TO CONSIDER WHETHER THERE IS A CASE FOR MODIFYING EXISTING GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND/OR EXTENDING THEM, BOTH TO STIMULATE EXPORTS AND TO FACILITATE THE PROCESS OF DIVERSIFICATION.

THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY, MR. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID THIS TODAY WHEN DELIVERING AN INAUGURATION MESSAGE AT A SEMINAR ON DIVERSIFICATION OF HONG KONG’S INDUSTRIES ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION.

MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAD TENTATIVELY IDENTIFIED THE LIKELY FUTURE DETERMINANTS OF GROWTH OF THE VARIOUS INDUSTRIES THAT MADE UP OUR ECONOMY, INCLUDING SOCIO-POLITICAL AND GEO-POLITICAL FACTORS, AND THE RESTR I CT IVE.IMPACT OF THE NEW GENERATION OF TEXTILE RESTRAINT AGREEMENTS.

+AND IT HAS ARRIVED AT CERTAIN FORECASTS OF THE LIKELY GROWTH OF EXPORTS OF BOTH GOODS AND SERVICES OVER THE FIVE YEARS 1978 TO 1982,+ HE SAID.

+THE MACRO-ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF THESE FORECASTS ARE NOW BEING CONSIDERED, THAT IS TO SAY, WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THESE FORECASTS OF THE GROWTH OF EXPORTS IMPLY FOR THE GROWTH RATE OF G.D.P. IN THE FUTURE.

+SO, VERY SHORTLY, WE SHALL BE MOVING ON TO THE ESSENTIALLY DELIBERATIVE STAGE, THAT IS TO SAY, CONSIDERATION OF WHETHER THERE IS A CASE FOR MODIFYING EXISTING GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND/OR EXTENDING THEM, BOTH TO STIMULATE EXPORTS AND TO FACILITATE THE PROCESS OF DIVERSIFICATION,+ HE SAID.

AS THE RANGE OF POLICIES TO BE CONSIDERED WAS VERY WIDE THIS WOULD TAKE SOME TIME, HE SAID.

+1 SHOULD ADD THAT IT WILL BE AT THIS STAGE THAT THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE WILL BE LOOKING AT OVERSEAS PRACTICES TO SEE WHETHER THEY MIGHT BE APPLICABLE TO HONG KONG IN FACILITATING DIVERSIFICATION. THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE WILL ALSO BE CONSULTING OFFICIALLY WITH A NUMBER OF ORGANISATIONS REPRESENTING VARIOUS SECTORS OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY.*

' CLEARLY, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID, THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAD NEITHER BEEN INACTIVE NOR HAD IT BEEN SUFFERING FROM +A LOSS OF DIRECTION*.

+WHEN ITS REPORT IS COMPLETED I HOPE IT WILL BE SEEN TO BE A DEFINITIVE STUDY OF HONG KONG’S ECONOMY AND A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY ATTITUDES AND OBLIGATIONS.

/♦MEANWHILE, .....

FRIDAY, MAY 26, 1978

♦MEANWHILE. LET ME HASTEN TO ADD THAT THE ECONOMY IS NOT WAITING WITH BATED BREATH FOR GUIDANCE ON HOW TO SUSTAIN OUR PROS'-RITY. IN MY BUDGET SPEECH IN MARCH, I ESTIMATED THAT G.D.P. IN REAL TERM WOULD GROW AT 9 PER CENT THIS YEAR, A RESPECTABLE RATE OF GROWTH BY ANY STANDARDS, PARTICULARLY AS WE ARE NOW IN THE MATURE PHASE OF THE RECOVERY FROM THE 1974-75 RECESSION.

♦CONSIDERATION OF THE FURTHER EVIDENCE THAT HAS BECOME AVAILABLE SINCE THEN SUGGESTS THAT THE EXTERNAL SECTOR IS GROWING, AT PRESENT, FASTER THAN MY FORECAST, PARTICULARLY AS REGARDS IMPORTS. THIS IS A WELCOME DEVELOPMENT. IT IS TRUE THAT DOMESTIC ACTIVITY IS ALSO GROWING FASTER THAN MY FORECAST, BUT THE PERSONAL CONSUMPTION COMPONENT CAN BE EXPECTED TO SLOW DOWN LATER IN THE YEAR.

♦ALL IN ALL, ON PRESENT EVIDENCE, I HAVE NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT AN OVERALL GROWTH RATE OF 9 PER CENT WILL NOT BE ACHIEVED IN 1978.

♦SO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS TIME TO TACKLE ITS REMIT SYSTEMATICALLY AND IN AN ORDERLY SEQUENCE.+

MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THE TERM +DI VERS IF I CATION+ HAD COME TO MEAN DIFFERENT THINGS TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE. TO SOME, HE SAID, DIVERSIFICATION MEANT A HEAVEN-SENT OPPORTUNITY FOR REQUIRING AN INERT BUREAUCRACY TO HEED THE CASE FOR THEIR PET IDEAS. TO OTHERS, DIVERSIFICATION HOPEFULLY MEANT THE SUBSIDISATION OF CERTAIN COST-INPUTS FOR CERTAIN INDUSTRIES OR, IN ITS MOST EXTREME FORM, FOR ALL INDUSTRIES AND REGARDLESS OF THE INEVITABLE FISCAL AND OTHER CONSEQUENCES.

HE CONTINUED: +FORTUNATELY, IT IS NOT LIKE THAT AT ALL. THE FACT IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT’S INVOLVEMENT IN OUR ECONOMY IS DETERMINED BY OUR PHILOSOPHY OF POSITIVE NON-INTERVENTION ISM. THAT IS TO SAY, WE TAKE THE VIEW THAT ATTEMPTS TO GUIDE OR OTHERWISE INTERFERE WITH THE OPERATION OF MARKET FORCES WILL TEND TO DAMAGE THE GROWTH RATE OF THE ECONOMY.

♦I SEE NO PROSPECT OF OUR MODIFYING THAT PHILOSOPHY. THIS

IS NOT TO SAY THAT EVEN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT DOES NOT RECOGNISE CERTAIN QUITE SPECIFIC OBLIGATIONS TO PROVIDE SERVICES AND FACILITIES WHICH IT IS EITHER MORE CONVENIENT OR MORE EFFICIENT FCR IT TO PROVIDE OR WHICH SHOULD BE PROVIDED, AS A MATTER OF DELIBERATE POLICY, AS A CHARGE TO PUBLIC FUNDS. BUT EEYOND THESE OBLIGATIONS, THE GOVERNMENT’S APPROACH IS TO FACILITATE, OR AT LEAST TO AVOID FRUSTRATING, THE OPERATION OF MARKET FORCES.+

SO IT WAS WITHIN THE CONFINES OF THIS LONG ESTABLISHED AND WELL TRIED PHILOSOPHY, DETERMINED IN PART - BUT ONLY IN PART - BY THE NATURE OF THIS ECONOMY, THAT THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE’S REMIT .;AS WRITTEN, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID.

-----0------

1,200-BED DISTRICT HOSPITAL FOR TUEN MUN ’ * * * *

THE GOVERNMENT IS TO DEVELOP A LARGE AREA IN TUEN MUN NEW TOWN TO PROVIDE A SITE FOR THE 1,200-BED TUEN MUN DISTRICT HOSPITAL.

THE DISTRICT HOSPITAL, OCCUPYING AN AREA OF 12 HECTARES, IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF 1983.

THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR. PETER NG, TODAY'DESCRI BED THE DISTRICT HOSPITAL AS A BIG STEP FORWARD IN PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS OF THE'NEW TOWN AND THE WESTERN PART OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.

TUEN MUN WILL BECOME A SELF-CONTAINED AND MODERN NEW TOWN FOR HALF A MILLION PEOPLE BY 1985, MR. NG SAID.

ENGINEERING WORK ON PART OF THE AREA WILL START AT THE END OF THIS MONTH AND SITE FORMATION WORKS WILL TAKE 15 MONTHS TO COMPLETE. -

TO FACILITATE THE WORKS ON THE PROJECTS, MR. NG SAID, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD RESUME A TOTAL OF 116,485.5 SQUARE METRES OF AGRICULTURAL LAND AND 9,533.3 SQUARE METRES OF BUILDING LAND. TWO MONTHS’ NOTICE OF THE RESUMPTION WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY.

THE RESUMPTION WILL INVOLVE THE CLEARANCE OF 52 TEMPORARY ; DOMESTIC STRUCTURES OCCUPIED BY 38 FAMILIES. OF THE 52 STRUCTURES, 18 ARE ON CROWN LAND.

IN ADDITION, A TOTAL OF 271 OTHER TEMPORARY STRUCTURES INCLUDING SHOPS, WORKSHOPS, PIGSTIES, CHICKEN AND DUCK SHEDS WILL HAVE TO BE CLEARED.

MR. NG SAID; +DEPENDING ON THEIR ELIGIBILITY, DISPLACED FAMILIES WILL BE OFFERED EITHER PUBLIC HOUSING OR TEMPORARY PUBLIC HOUSING IN TUEN MUN.

+GENUINE CULTIVATOR FAMILIES MAY OPT FOR A RESITE TOGETHER WITH AN EX-GRATIA REHABILITATION ALLOWANCE OF $5,000, BUT WILL FORFEIT THEIR PRIORITY FOR PUBLIC HOUSING.*

OWNERS OF AGRICULTURAL AND BUILDING LAND WILL BE OFFERED LAND EXCHANGE ENTITLEMENTS OR CASH COMPENSATION, HE ADDED.

o - -

FRIDAY, MAY 26, 1978

4 -

DANGEROUS DRUGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978

******

THE GOVERNMENT TODAY PROPOSED AN AMENDMENT TO THE LAW TO UPDATE THE DEFINITION OF CANNABIS IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN THE CONTROL OF THE DRUG IN HONG KONG.

THE PROPOSAL IS CONTAINED IN THE DANGEROUS DRUGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978 PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE NEED FOR A NEW LEGAL DEFINITION OF CANNABIS HAS BEEN GENERATED BY NEW SCJENTIFIC FINDINGS ABOUT THE DRUG.

THE PRESENT DEFINITION OF CANNABIS IN THE DANGEROUS DRUGS ORDINANCE, WAS MADE AT A TIME WHEN IT WAS THOUGHT THAT ONLY THE FRUITS, FLOWERS ARD SEEDS OF THE PLANT CONTAINED THE HALLUCINOGENIC SUBSTANCE KNOWN AS TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL.

HOWEVER, IT HAS NOW BEEN ESTABLISHED THAT TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL IS NATURALLY PRESENT IN THE ENTIRE PLANT. THEREFORE, THE EXISTING DEFINITION HAS BECOME INADEQUATE AND GIVEN RISE TO DIFFICULTIES IN PROSECUTING CASES INVOLVING CANNABIS.

IN ADDITION, IT HAS ALSO BEEN ESTABLISHED THAT TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL AND SIMILAR SUBSTANCES CAN ACTUALLY BE SYNTHESISED AND, IF THIS OCCURS, THERE ARE NO SUITABLE PROVISIONS IN THE DANGEROUS DRUGS ORDINANCE AT PRESENT FOR CONTROL.

THE BILL IS THEREFORE DESIGNED TO REPLACE THE EXISTING DEFINITION WITH A NEW' ONE WHICH EMBRACES ANY PART OF THE CANNABIS PLANT AND TO ADD PROVISIONS COVERING SYNTHETIC INGREDIENTS.

THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT THERE IS AS YET NO WIDESPREAD ABUSE OF CANNABIS IN HONG KONG EXCEPT AMONG A SMALL NUMBER OF BAR GIRLS AND THE LIKE, AND SOME EXPATRIATES. THE LEGAL AMENDMENT IS THEREFORE A PREVENTIVE MEASURE TO CONTAIN THE SITUATION.

HE ADDED THAT THE POLICE AND THE CUSTOMS OFFICERS TOGETHER SEIZED ABOUT 19 KILOGRAMMES OF CANNABIS LAST YEAR, OVER .90 PER CENT OF WHICH WAS IN TRAN 1ST THROUGH HONG KONG.

BESIDES UPDATING THE DEFINITION OF CANNABIS, THE DANGEROUS DRUGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978 ALSO SEEKS TO INCREASE THE PENALTY FOR THE OFFENCE OF CARRYING DANGEROUS DRUGS ILLEGALLY THROUGH HONG KONG.

SECTION 14(1) OF THE ORDINANCE AT PRESENT PRESCRIBES A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF ONLY THREE YEARS IMPRISONMENT AND A 510,000 FINE FCR SUCH AN OFFENCE. THIS IS CONSIDERED TO BE INADEQUATE BECAUSE ALTHOUGH THE DRUGS ARE NOT TO BE SMUGGLED INTO HONG KONG, THE NATURE OF OFFENCE IS SIMILAR TO TRAFFICKING WHICH IS PUNISHABLE BY A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF LIFE IMPRISONMENT AND A 35 MILLION FINE.

THE EILL THEREFORE SEEKS TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM PENALTY TO 13 YEARS IMPRISONMENT AND A S130,000 FINE ON INDICTMENT AND THREE YEARS IMPRISONMENT AND A 313,330 FINE ON SUMMARY CONVICTION.

-------o--------

FRIDAY, MAY 26, 1978

RESULTS OF TENDER FOR 300 URBAN TAXI LICENCES

* * * *

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT HAS COMPLETED PROCESSING THE LATEST TENDER FOR 303 HONG KONG AND KOWLOON TAXI LICENCES.

A TOTAL OF 3,893 INDIVIDUAL TENDERS HAD BEEN RECEIVED WHEN THE OFFER CLOSED ON APRIL 2Q.

THE HIGHEST TENDER WAS $212,860 AND THE LOWEST $2,500.

A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT 299 OF THE 300 URBAN TAXI LICENCES WILL BE ALLOCATED TO TENDERERS OFFERING A UNIT PREMIUM OF $206,610 AND ABOVE.

THE REMAINING TAXI LICENCE WAS DETERMINED BY A PUBLIC BALLOT CARL|PR THIS MONTH BECAUSE THERE WERE THREE TENDERS EACH WITH AN IDENTICAL UNIT PREMIUM OF $206,510 SEEKING A TOTAL OF FOUR TAXI LICENCES.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID TENDERERS WHO OFFERED A UNIT PREMIUM OF UNDER $206,510 WERE UNSUCCESSFUL BUT THEY COULD TRY AGAIN ..'HEN URBAN TAXI LICENCES WERE NEXT OFFERED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT.

OVER 170 FIREMEN PROMOTED OR GIVEN ACTING APPOINTMENTS * * * * *

THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TODAY ANNOUNCED THE PROMOTIONS AND ACTING APPOINTMENTS OF OVER 170 RANK AND FILE OFFICERS TO FILL THE EXISTING VACANCIES IN THE DEPARTMENT.

OF THESE, SEVEN WERE PROMOTED TO PRINCIPAL FIREMEN AND 38 TO SENIOR FIREMEN. ANOTHER 60 WERE MADE ACTING SENIOR FIREMEN AND 63 AS ACTING PRINCIPAL FIREMEN.

THEY RECEIVED THEIR LETTERS OF APPOINTMENT FROM'THEIR RESPECTIVE CHIEF FIRE OFFICERS THIS (FRIDAY) MORNING.

COMMENTING ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE FIRE SERVICES SAID THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT SUCH A LARGE GROUP OF OFFICERS IN THE DEPARTMENT GOT PROMOTED AND GIVEN ACTING APPOINTMENTS AT ONE TIME. f

+IN FACT, THIS HAS RESULTED FROM A TRIAL SCHEME WHEREBY EXPERIENCED PRINCIPAL FIREMEN REPLACE STATION OFFICERS AS THE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF CERTAIN MAJOR FIRE APPLIANCES, INCLUDING SNORKEL, EMERGENCY TENDER AND EXTRA HEAVY PUMP, SO AS TO IMPROVE THE COMMAND STRUCTURE AND TO PROVIDE BETTER PROMOTION IN THE FIREMEN’S GRADE,+ HE SAID.

THE SCHEME HAS BEEN IN FORCE SINCE 1975 AND PROVED SUCCESSFUL IN RESPECT OF OPERATIONAL DUTIES AND FROM THE ACTUAL COMPETENCE AND SUPERVISORY POINTS OF VIEW.

+WITH THE EXPANSION OF THE SERVICE TO MEET INCREASING PUBLIC DEMAND, PROMOTION PROSPECTS IN THE DEPARTMENT ARE EXCELLENT,+ THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

FRIDAY, MAY 26, 1978

REDUNDANT TEACHERS REGISTER FOR JOES * * * *

SOME 372 OF THE 400 TEACHERS WHO WILL BE MADE REDUNDANT FOLLOWING THE CLOSURt OF CLASSES IN UNDER-USED SUBSIDISED PRIMARY SCHOOLS NEXT SEPTEMBER ARE SEEKING ALTERNATIVE JOBS THROUGH THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S PLACEMENT SERVICE.

THE SENIOR EDUCATION OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE SERVICE, MR. CHAN SAI-BUN, SAID TODAY THAT THE 372 HAD REGISTERED FOR ALTERNATIVE EMPLOYMENT DURING THE PAST FIVE DAYS.

MR. CHAN SAID EVERY EFFORT WOULD BE MADE TO PLACE THE TEACHERS IN OTHER SUBSIDISED PRIMARY SCHOOLS WITH VACANCIES -ARISING FROM THE CREATION OF ADDITIONAL SPECIAL CLASSES IN AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND FROM THE OPENING OF NEW CLASSES IN ORDINARY SCHOOLS IN NEW TOWNS AND HOUSING ESTATES, AND IN AREAS WITH SHORTAGES OF AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOL PLACES.

OTHERS COULD PROBABLY BE ABSORBED IN VACANCIES EXPECTED TO RESULT FROM NORMAL WASTAGE, SUCH AS RESIGNATIONS, RETIREMENTS AND DEATHS.

+THE PLACEMENT SERVICE WILL BEGIN REFERRING THE REGISTERED TEACHERS TO ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS FOR POSSIBLE APPOINTMENT FROM JUNE 1,+ MR. CHAN SAID.

HE EXPECTED THAT THE PLACEMENT OF THE TEACHERS WOULD BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF JULY.

MR. CHAN POINTED OUT THAT THE PLACEMENT SERVICE HAD BEEN EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL IN THE PAST THREE YEARS AND HAD FOUND POSITIONS FOR MORE THAN 750 TEACHERS.

------0-------

CROWN LAND SALES * * *

A MAJOR PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL SITE AT TIN NORTH POINT, WAS SOLD TODAY (FRIDAY) FOR 375 AUCTION CONDUCTED BY THE - - -

HAU TEMPLE ROAD, MILLION AT A PUBLIC

P.W.D.’S CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE

IN THE CITY HALL.

THE SITE, CHEUNG FINANCE SQUARE METRE.

MEASURING LTD. AT A

4,400 SQUARE METRES, WAS BOUGHT BY TAI REALISED PRICE OF 017,045.45 PER

' ANOTHER RESIDENTIAL AND NON-1NDUSTRI AL SITE, WITH AN AREA OF 530 SQUARE METRES AT PAK TIN, KOWLOON, WAS SOLD FOR $8.4 MILLION TO CHIAP SHENG ENTERPRISE LTD.

THE LAST LOT, LOCATED AT 135, TEMPLE STREET, KOWLOON WAS SOLD FOR $1.35 MILLION TO MR. CHU SHING-KIT. THE SITE, i-EASURING 63.4 SQUARE METRES, IS FOR NON-1 NDUSTR I AL PURPOSES.

0 -------

FRIDAY, MAY 26, 1978

7 -

CONTRACT FOR A SECQND VIADUCT FOR TUEN MUN ROAD SIGNED

******

THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAS AWARDED A $12 MILLION CONTRACT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SECOND VIADUCT ON THE SECTION OF TUEN MUN ROAD AT SHAM TSENG.

THE CONTRACT, AWARDED TO KUMAGAI GUM I (HK) LTD., WAS FORMALLY SIGNED TODAY IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE P.W.D.’S HIGHWAYS OFFICE.

MR. CHOI YU-LEUK, CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE’S CONSULTANTS MANAGEMENT DIVISION, SIGNED ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT AND MR. C.P. YU AND MR. K. MACHIDA FOR THEIR COMPANY.

MR. CHOI SAID THAT FOOTINGS FOR THIS VIADUCT HAD BEEN COMPLETED IN AN EARLIER CONTRACT.

THE NEW CONTRACT INVOLVES THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SUPERSTRUCTURE ■OF THE 350-METRE VIADUCT AT SHAM TSENG VILLAGE AND ASSOCIATED EARTH AND DRAINAGE WORKS.

THE VIADUCT WILL BE BUILT ALONGSIDE THE ONE CONSTRUCTED DURING THE FIRST STAGE OF THE ROAD PROJECT AND WILL HAVE 11 SPANS OF 32 METRES EACH.

WORK ON THIS CONTRACT WILL BEGIN EARLY IN JUNE FOR COMPLETION BY 1979.

MEANWHILE, ANOTHER CONTRACT FOR THE SECOND CARRIAGEWAY OF TUEN i-1UN ROAD IS EXPECTED TO BE SIGNED TOWARDS THE END OF NEXT MONTH.

IT WILL INVOLVE THE CONSTRUCTION OF ABOUT 5.5 KILOMETRES OF CARRIAGEWAY AND 1.2 KILOMETRES OF BRIDGES AND VIADUCTS ALONGSIDE THE STAGE ONE ROAD BETWEEN TSUEN WAN AND SHAM TSENG VILLAGE.

ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS LENGTH OF THE CARRIAGEWAY WILL BE SEVERAL DRAINAGE CULVERTS AND RETAINING WALLS.

THE REMAINING 10.2 KILOMETRES OF THE SECOND CARRIAGEWAY OF THE 17-KILOMETRE TUEN MUN ROAD WILL BE CONSTRUCTED UNDER TWO OTHER CONTRACTS FOR WHICH TENDERS WILL EE CALLED THIS SUMMER.

WORK ON TUEN MUN ROAD STAGE TWO IS EXPECTED-TO BE COMPLETED BY THE SPR ING OF 1981.

/8 .....

o —

FRIDAY, MAY 26, 1978

RETIREMENT OF ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MARINE *****

THE ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MARINE, MR. W.D. LEIGHTON, WILL GO ON PRE-RETIREMENT LEAVE EARLY NEXT MONTH AFTER SERVING IN THE GOVERNMENT FOR 27 YEARS.

TO MARK HIS RETIREMENT, THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF MARINE, r/R. P.E.J. DAVY, PRESENTED A FAREWELL GIFT TO MR. LEIGHTON ON BEHALF OF HIS COLLEAGUES AT A CEREMONY HELD AT THE DIRECTOR’S OFFICE TODAY.

MR. LEIGHTON JOINED THE GOVERNMENT IN 1951 AS A MARINE OFFICER AND WAS PROMOTED TO SENIOR MARINE OFFICER IN 1957 AND TO PRINCIPAL MARINE OFFICER IN 1967.

HE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY PROMOTED°TO ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF MARINE IN 1971 AND HAS ACTED AS DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS. IN 1971, HE WAS APPOINTED AN OFFICIAL JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.

DURING HIS LONG SERVICE WITH THE DEPARTMENT, MR. LEIGHTON HAS EEEN CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WI TH NUMEROUS MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS INCLUDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SEAMEN’S RECRUITING OFFICE.

MR. LEIGHTON HAS ALSO PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PORT SERVICES REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONTAINER HANDLING FAC IL ITIES,- THE INTRODUCTION OF PUBLIC CARGO HANDLING AREAS AND HOVERFERRY SERVICES AND THE TRAFFIC SEPARATION SCHEMES IN THE APPROACHES TO THE PORT.

IN COMMITTEE WORK, MR. LEIGHTON HAS BEEN CHAIRMAN OF A NUMBER OF COMMITTEES INCLUDING THE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE ON SHIP PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT, THE SEAMEN’S TRAINING COMMITTEE, THE PILOTAGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THE’ DANGEROUS GOODS STANDING COMMITTEE, THE COMMITTEE ON BOATING AND YACHTING AND THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON NAVIGATIONAL AIDS.

HE ALSO REPRESENTED HONG KONG AT THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION PREPARATORY TECHNICAL MARITIME CONFERENCE HELD IN ITALY IN 1969.

ON THE SOCIAL SIDE, MR. LEIGHTON IS AN ENTHUSIATIC GOLFER AND WAS THE CAPTAIN OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG GOLF CLUB IN 1973~74 AND VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE GOLF ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG IN 1975.

- - o - -

FRIDAY, MAY 26, 1978

' - 9 -

FREE MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR FORMER PRISONERS OF WAR *****

ABOUT 115 FORMER HONG KONG PRISONERS OF WAR HAVE REGISTERED WITH THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT UNDER A GOVERNMENT SCHEME ENABLING THEM TO RECEIVE FREE MEDICAL TREATMENT AT GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AND CLINICS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTCENT ADVISED TODAY THAT ELIGIBLE ..AR VICTIMS WHO WISH TO AVAIL THEMSELVES TO THIS SCHEME BUT HAVE NOT YET APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION SHOULD DO SO AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

APPLICATION FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED AT THE DEPARTMENT’S HEADQUARTERS AT LEE GARDENS, AT CITY DISTRICT OFFICES IN THE URBAN AREAS OR AT DISTRICT OFFICES IN THE NEW .TERR I TOR IES.

UNDER THE SCHEME, MEDICAL BENEFITS ARE EXTENDED TO WIVES OR HUSBANDS OF THOSE ELIGIBLE WHO INCLUDE FORMER MEMBERS OF VARIOUS FORCES IMPRISONED OR INTERNED DURING THE BATTLE FOR HONG KONG OR DURING THE SUBSEQUENT ENEMY OCCUPATION.

AN ELIGIBLE PERSON MAY RECEIVE FREE MEDICAL TREATMENT AT THE OUT-PATIENT DEPARTMENT OF ANY GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL OR AT A GOVERNMENT CLINIC. IF HOSPITAL IN-PATIENT TREATMENT IS NECESSARY, THERE WILL BE NO CHARGE FOR TREATMENT BUT MAINTENANCE FEES WILL BE PAYABLE AT THE SAME RATE AS THOSE APPL.I CABLE TO CIVIL SERVANTS.

PERSONS ACCEPTED AS BEING ENTITLED TO BENEFIT UNDER THE SCHEME ARE ISSUED WITH A CERTIFICATE OF IDENTITY WHICH THEY MUST PRESENT WHEN ATTENDING A GOVERNMENT CLINIC OR HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT.

WHEN THE SCHEME FIRST CAME INTO OPERATION, ELIGIBLE PERSONS WERE ENTITLED TO CLAIM REIMBURSEMENT OF HOSPITAL AND RELATED EXPENSES INCURRED DURING THE PERIOD BETWEEN APRIL 1, 1977 AND THE TIME OF THEIR REGISTRATION WITH THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

NOW THAT THE SCHEME HAS BEEN OPERATING SMOOTHLY FOR OVER NINE MONTHS AND THERE IS NO BACKLOG OF APPLICATIONS AWAITING PROCESSING, CLAIMS FOR SUCH REIMBURSEMENT WILL NO LONGER BE ENTERTAINED IN FUTURE. * - - - - 0 ------------------------------

/1O

FRIDAY, MAY 26, 1978

- 10 -

AVIARY FOR KOWLOON PARK ***** w

THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TODAY INVITED TENDERS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN AVIARY IN KOWLOON PARK.

THE AVIARY WILL BE BUILT ON A 914 SQUARE METRE SITE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARK.

MR. THOMAS KU, P.W.D.’S SENIOR ARCHITECT, SAID THAT WORK WOULD BEGIN IN JULY AND TAKE ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS TO COMPLETE.

+THE PROJECT CONSISTS OF A SUNKEN AVIARY SURROUNDED WITH VIEWING WALKWAY COVERED WITH CREEPERS,* HE SAID.

+OTHER FEATURES INCLUDE A CHESS GARDEN AT THE FOOT OF THE EXISTING SLOPE WITH WATER WALLS, PLANTS AND TREES BEING INCORPORATED TO GIVE CONTRAST TO THE AVIARY.+

MR. KU EMPHASISED THAT THE PROVISION OF AN AVIARY IN KOWLOON PARK WAS TO SUPPLEMENT THE EXISTING AVIARIES TN THE BOTANICAL AND ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN FOR THE EXHIBITION OF PARTICULAR SPECIES OF BIRDS, SUCH AS PARROTS, COKATOOS AND MACAWS.

+THIS AVIARY IS SUNKEN TO SUIT THE EYE LEVEL OF VIEWERS,* HE POINTED OUT. +IT HAS A FREE FORM SHAPE WITH ENCLOSING MESH SUSPENDED FROM CABLE HELD UP BY VERTICAL CANTILEVERED POSTS SET OUTSIDE THE VIEWING WALKWAY.*

SUCH A SYSTEM ALLOWS THE BIRDS TO BE SEEN WITHOUT VISUAL OBSTRUCTION, HE ADDED.

------(J _ - - -

SUBSTITUTE RAILWAY AREA PLAN * * * * *

AN AMENDMENT HAS BEEN MADE TO THE RAILWAY AREA PLAN FOR THE PRINCE EDWARD ROAD TO LAI CHI KOK BAY SECTION OF THE TSUEN WAN EXTENSION OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY, IT WAS ANNOUNCED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY.

THE +RA ILWAY AREA* IS THE AREA WITHIN WHICH LAND MAY BE RESUMED OR EASEMENTS IN, UNDER OR OVER LAND MAY BE CREATED FOR THE PURPOSE OF AND INCIDENTAL TO THE RAILWAY.

A SUBSTITUTE PLAN SHOWING THE AMENDMENT HAS BEEN DEPOSITED IN.THE LAND OFFICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY (LAND RESUMPTION AND RELATED PROVISIONS) ORDINANCE.

THE PLAN INCORPORATES A MINOR BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT TO THE RAILWAY AREA IN THE VICINITY OF 769-769A NATHAN ROAD, MONG KOK.

COPIES OF THE SUBSTITUTE PLAN MAY EE INSPECTED FREE OF CHARGE DURING OFFICE HOURS AT THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICE (CENTRAL AND WESTERN) ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING. GROUND FLOOR, HONG KONG= THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, MURRAY BUILDING, 19TH FLOOR, GARDEN ROAD, OR AT ANY CITY DISTRICT OFFICES.

- - - - 0 ---------

/11.......

FRIDAY, MAY 26, 1978

MR. JOHN TODD ACTING SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES

******

THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. LEFT HONG KONG TODAY TO TAKE HIS ANNUAL LEAVE.

DAVID AKERS-JONES,

DURING HIS LEAVE, MR. AKERS-JONES WILL ATTEND THE FIFA CONGRESS IN ARGENTINA IN HIS CAPACITY AS VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE HONG KONG FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION.

HIS DEPUTY, MR. JOHN TODD, WILL ACT AS SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES UNTIL MR. AKERS-JONES RETURNS EARLY IN JULY.

COURTESY CALL ON DIRECTOR OF HOME AFFAIRS

*****

THE NEWLY ELECTED OFFICE-BEARERS OF THE 10TH TERM OF THE COUNCIL OF HONG KONG AND KOWLOON KAIFONG ASSOCIATIONS TODAY PAID A COURTESY CALL ON THE DIRECTOR OF HOME AFFAIRS, MR. AUGUSTINE CHUI KAM AT THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT.

THE GROUP LED BY THE COUNCIL’S CHAIRMAN, MADAM CHAN LAI-LING AND VICE-CHAIRMEN, MR. LUI FOOK-HONG AND MR. CHOW YIN-SUM, HELD AN.HOURLONG MEETING WITH MR. CHUI AND SENIOR OFFICIALS.OF THE DEPARTMENT.

DURING THE MEETING, MADAM CHAN THANKED MR. CHUT FOR THE INVALUABLE GUIDANCE AND ADVICE GIVEN TO THE COUNCIL. SHE THEN MADE A BRIEF REPORT ON THIS YEAR’S WORK OF THE COUNCIL.

IN REPLY, MR. CHUI PAID TRIBUTE TO THE GOOD WORK OF THE COUNCIL IN COMMUNITY SERVICES AND EXPRESSED HIS SINCERE WISH TO MAINTAIN AND PROMOTE THE CORDIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COUNCIL AND THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT.

-----o--------

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

1 SATURDAY, MAY 27, 1973

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

WORK ON AP LEI CHAU ERIDGE IN PROGRESS........'............... 1

MR. EDWARD HEATH VISITS SHA TIN NEW TOWN ..................... 2

CAREERS EXHIBITION VAN BEGINS SUMMER TOUR .................... 3

REMINDER TO SALARIES TAXPAYERS ............................... 4

SCHOOLS TO HOLD SOCIAL STUDIES EXHIBITIONS ................... 5

FIRING PRACTICE .............................................. 5

Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191

SATURDAY, MAY 27, 1978

WORK ON AP LEI CHAU BRIDGE IN PROGRESS

* * * * *

WORK ON THE AP LEI CHAU BRIDGE, THE FIRST BRIDGE TO LINK HONG KONG ISLAND WITH ONE OF ITS OFFSHORE ISLANDS, IS MAKING PROGRESS.

MR. A. HAMILTON, P.W.D.’S SENIOR RESIDENT ENGINEER FOR THE PROJECT, SAID THAT THE SUB-STRUCTURE FOR THE BRIDGE AND ITS ELEVATED APPROACH ROAD WAS VIRTUALLY COMPLETE.

+THE LINE OF TALL PIERS IS NOW CLEARLY VISIBLE TO USERS OF WONG CHUK HANG ROAD,+ HE SAID.

THE ENTIRE SCHEME, INCLUDING ALL ANCILLARY WORKS AND LAND ACQUISITION, IS ESTIMATED TO COST $60 MILLION. IT IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR.

THE PROJECT INVOLVES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 230-METRE LONG BRIDGE, THE NORTHERN ROAD CONNECTION IN ABERDEEN AND THE SOUTHERN APPROACH ROADS ON AP LEI CHAU.

ON COMPLETION, THE BRIDGE) WHICH WILL BE OF THE BALANCED CANTILEVER TYPE, WILL CARRY TWO TRAFFIC LANES, WITH A CAPACITY OF ABOUT 1,500 VEHICLES PER HOUR.

A FOOTBRIDGE WILL BE ATTACHED TO THE OVERPASS TO ALLOW PEDESTRIANS TO CROSS SAFELY.

IT WILL ALSO CARRY A WATER MAIN AND OTHER ESSENTIAL UTILITIES TO SERVE THE EXPECTED POPULATION GROWTH ON THE ISLAND, WHERE A PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE, CAPABLE OF ACCOMMODATING 19,000 PEOPLE, IS NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

THE PROJECT FORMS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT’S PLANS TO DEVELOP THE SOUTHERN PART OF HONG KONG ISLAND.

-----0------

/2......

SATURDAY, MAY 27, 1978

MR. EDWARD HEATH BRIEFED ON NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT

******

THE FORMER BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, MR. EDWARD HEATH, TODAY TOOK A BIRD’S EYE VIEW OF ONE OF HONG KONG’S MOST SPECTACULAR PROJECTS — THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHA TIN NEW TOWN.

ACCOMPANIED BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, MR. HEATH FLEW OVER THE TOWN IN A GOVERNMENT HELICOPTER BEFORE LANDING ON A PLATFORM FORMED FROM A RECLAMATION +BORROW+ AREA.

FROM THIS VANTAGE POINT HIGH ABOVE SHA T4N, HE WAS BRIEFED ON THE PROGRESS OF THE WORK GOING ON BELOW HIM BY THE PROJECT MANAGER, MR. JOHN DON, AND THE DISTRICT OFFICER, SHA TIN, MR. GERRY HIGGINSON.

THEY POINTED OUT THAT THE TOWN, WHICH NOW HAS A POPULATION OF ABOUT 50,000, WILL GROW TO A MODERN CITY OF HALF A MILLION PEOPLE WITHIN THE NEXT SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS.

MR. HIGGINSON SAID LATER: +MR. HEATH SHOWED A KEEN INTEREST IN WHAT WE ARE DOING AND WE WERE ABLE TO GIVE HIM A RUNDOWN ON ALL OUR PLANS — AND PROBLEMS.+

-----0------

SATURDAY, MAY 27, 1978

- 3 -

CAREERS EXHIBITION VAN BEGINS SUMMER TOUR

*****

THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT’S EXHIBITION VAN WILL BEGIN A SUMMER TOUR NEXT TUESDAY (MAY 30) WITH A CAREERS EXHIBITION FOR STUDENTS AND YOUNG PEOPLE AT 10 LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT HONG KONG.

FOR THIS EXHIBITION THE THREE-TON TRUCK WILL OPEN UP INTO A LARGE COVERED AREA, WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE DISPLAYS OF COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHS, GRAPHICS AND OTHER MATERIAL ILLUSTRATING THE WIDE RANGE OF PROFESSIONS, TRADES AND INDUSTRIAL JOBS AVAILABLE TO THEM. THERE WILL ALSO BE SLIDES AND FILMS PRESENTATION.

THE EXHIBITION IS ORGANISED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT’S YOUTH EMPLOYMENT ADVISORY SERVICE, AND OFFICERS WILL BE ON HAND TO ANSWER ENQUIRIES THROUGHOUT THE TOUR.

THE FIRST SHOW WILL BE HELD AT THE WA YING COLLEGE IN HOMANTIN NEXT TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.

MORE THAN 100 SCHOOLS HAVE MADE BOOKINGS FOR GROUPS OF STUDENTS TO VISIT THE EXHIBITION AT THE VARIOUS LOCATIONS AND SPECIAL BRIEFINGS ARE BEING ARRANGED FOR SUCH GROUPS. ARRANGEMENTS FOR GROUP VISITS CAN BE MADE BY TELEPHONING THE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT ADVISORY SERVICE ON 5-281494.

PLACES AND DATES OF THE OTHER EXHIBITIONS ARE: HEEP WOH COLLEGE, TSZ WAN SHAN, JUNE 6 - 7= HOH FUK TONG COLLEGE, TUEN MUN, JUNE 13 - 14= ST. PAUL’S SCHOOL, LAM TIN, JUNE 20 - 21= OXFORD ROAD PLAYGROUND, KOWLOON TONG, JUNE 27 - 28= TAI HANG TUNG RESETTLEMENT ESTATE PLAYGROUND, TAI HANG TUNG, JULY 4-5- FUNG KAI NO. 1 SECONDARY SCHOOL, SHEUNG SHU 1, JULY 11 - 12= LEK YUEN ESTATE, SHATIN, JULY 25 - 26- EDINBURGH PLACE, CENTRAL, HONG KONG ISLAND, AUGUST 15 - 17= AND KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER, KOWLOON, AUGUST 22 - 24.

SATURDAY, HAY 27, 1973

RE.‘ INDER TO SALARIES TAXPAYERS H X H H X

THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT TCDAY URGED SALARIES TAXPAYERS TO SUDA IT THEIR TAX RETURN FORMS FOR THE 1978-79 YEAR OF ASSESSMENT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE FORMS SENT TO TAXPAYERS ON MAY 1 SHOULD BE RETURNED WITHIN ONE MONTH.

HE SAID THE DEPARTMENT SENT OUT 274,725 SUCH FORMS, BUT ONLY 74,930, OR 27 PER CENT, HAVE BEEN RETURNED.

♦ SAME TIME LAST YEAR,* HE ADDED, +WE HAD ALREADY RECEIVED NEARLY 33 PER CENT OF THE RETURNS SENT OUT ON MAY 1, ALTHOUGH THAT WAS NOT A SATISFACTORY FIGURE EITHER.*

HE REMINDED TAXPAYERS THAT THE LAW PROVIDES PENALTY FOR LATE SUBMISSION OF THE RETURN FORMS.

+IF THEY ARE LIABLE TO PAY SALARIES TAX OR IN DOUBT WHETHER THEY ARE SO LIABLE AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED A SALARIES TAX RETURN THEY CAN PHONE 5-95731 FOR SALARIES TAX QUERIES,* HE SAID.

- - 0 - -

SATURDAY, MAY 27, 1978 ‘

SCHOOLS TO STAGE SOCIAL STUDIES EXHIBITIONS

******

TWO SECONDARY SCHOOLS WHICH TEACH SOCIAL STUDIES ON A MONITOR ING BASIS WILL STAGE EXHIBITIONS UNDER THE SPONSORSHIP OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT EARLY NEXT MONTH.

THEY ARE THE KEI CHING MIDDLE SCHOOL IN SHU I NING STREET, KWUN TONG, AND THE CHUEN YUEN COLLEGE IN SHEUNG KOK STREET, KWAI CHUNG ESTATE, TSUEN WAN.

THE KEI CHING MIDDLE SCHOOL’S EXHIBITION, TO BE OPENED BY THE DEPUTY CHIEF INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS, MRS. LOUISE MOK, AT 11 A.M. ON JUNE 2, WILL FEATURE A THEMATIC APPROACH BASED ON THE TOPIC OF POPULATION SELECTED FROM THE PROVISIONAL SYLLABUS FOR SOCIAL STUDIES.

THE EXHIBITION WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FROM 11.30 A.M. TO 5 P.M. ON JUNE 2, FROM 9 A.M. TO 5 P.M. ON JUNE 3 AND FROM 1 P.M. TO 5 P.M. ON JUNE 4.

THE CHUEN YUEN COLLEGE EXHIBITION WILL COMPRISE DISPLAYS OF WORK BY PUPILS TAKING THE SOCIAL STUDIES COURSE AND A SELECTION OF REFERENCE MATERIALS.

THIS EXHIBITION WILL BE OPENED BY THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (CHIEF INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS), MR. ARTHUR BROWN, AT 10.30 A.M. ON JUNE 6.

IT WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FROM 11 A.M. TO 4.30 P.M.

ON JUNE 6 AND FROM 9 A.M. TO 4 P.M. ON JUNE 7, 8 AND 9.

- - o - -

FIRING PRACTICE * * * *

FIRING PRACTICE WILL TAKE PLACE AT CASTLE PEAK RANGE ON TWO DAYS NEXT WEEK.

THE PUBLIC ARE REMINDED THAT IT IS DANGEROUS TO ENTER THE AREA WHEN THE RED FLAGS ARE FLYING DURING THE TIME OF FIRING PRACTICE.

THE PRACTICE TIMES ARE:

DATE

HOURS

JUNE 1 (THURSDAY)

9 A.M

10 P.M

JUNE 2 (FRIDAY)

8.30 A.M. - 6.30 P.M

- - 0 - -

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

SUNDAY, MAY 28, 1978

CONTENTS

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SOCIAL SERVICES AND MP ARRIVE TOMORROW FOR A VISIT .....................................

WORK ON CHEUNG CHAU DEVELOPMENT TO BEGIN SOON

FAST MAIL DELIVERY SERVICE ...........................

NEW FERRY PIER FOR NORTH POINT .....................

...........

DON’T ADD YOUR ENGINE TO YOUR FUEL BILL

CODE TO ADVISE PEOPLE TO CARE FOR COASTLINE ..............

YUEN CHAU TSAI SQUATTER AREA CLEARED FOR MAJOR DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP ON FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION

WATER CUT......

PAGE NO

Issued by Government Information Services. Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191

SUNDAY, MAY 28, 1973

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SOCIAL SERVICES AND MP ARRIVE TOMORROW' FOR A VISIT > * * * *

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE RT. HON. DAVID ENNALS, M.P., AND MR. RCDERfCj^ MACFARQUHAR, M.P. WILL ARRIVE IN HONG KONG TOMORROW (MONDAY) FOR A FIVE-DAY VISIT ON THEIR WAY HOME FOLLOWING A TOUR OF CHINA.

MR. ENNALS AND MR. MACFARQUHAR WILL BE MET AT THE LOWU BORDER BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE.

DURING THEIR STAY HERE, THEY WILL BE BRIEFED ON HONG KONG’S SOCIAL SERVICES PROGRAMMES AND SEE FOR THEMSELVES THE WORK OF VARIOUS WELFARE AND MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.

THEY WILL ALSO SEE THE DEVELOPMENT WORKS OF SHA TIN NEW TOWN AND VISIT THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR BRIEFING ON THE HOUSING PROGRAMME.

MR. ENNALS AND MR. MACFARQUHAR WILL LEAVE HONG KONG ON FRIDAY (JUNE 2).

0--------

SUNDAY, MAY 28, 1978

WORK ON CHEUNG CHAU DEVELOPMENT TO BEGIN SOON

* * * * *

THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WILL BEGIN WORK SHORTLY ON A MAJOR SCHEME TO DEVELOP CHEUNG CHAU OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS.

TENDERS FOR THE WORK, WHICH INCLUDES THE FORMATION OF ABOUT 12 HECTARES OF LAND ARE BEING INVITED BY THE P.W.D.

MR. T.S. NG, GOVERNMENT ENGINEER (NEW TERRITORIES), SAID THAT THE CONTRACT WOULD BE THE FIRST STAGE IN THE PLANNED DEVELOPMENT OF CHEUNG CHAU.

+THE FULL SCHEME INVOLVES THE PROVISION OF PUBLIC HOUSING FOR 5,000 PEOPLE, LAND FOR PRIVATE HOUSING FOR ANOTHER 10,000 PEOPLE AND SITES FOR LIGHT INDUSTRIES,* HE SAID.

+GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES, INCLUDING SCHOOLS, MARKETS, SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS, INCINERATORS, AN ABATTOIR, OPEN SPACES WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED.*

OF THE 12 HECTARES OF LAND TO BE FORMED, SIX WOULD BE RECLAIMED FROM THE SEA AT CHEUNG CHAU WAN, KWAI TSAI WAN AND TAI KWAI WAN, HE ADDED.

FILLING MATERIALS WILL BE TAKEN FROM A BORROW AREA ON A HILLSIDE NORTH OF TAI KWAI WAN AND FROM THE AREA EAST OF KWAI TSAI WAN WHERE A PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE WILL BE SITUATED.

TO CONTAIN THE FILLING MATERIALS, MR. NG SAID, 300 METRES

OF SEAWALLS AND 1,400 METRES OF RUBBLE REVETMENT WOULD BE BUILT.

FOR TRANSPORTATION OF THE FILLING MATERIALS ABOUT ONE KILOMETRE OF HAUL ROAD WILL EE CONSTRUCTED.

THE CONTRACT ALSO COVERS THE CONSTRUCTION OF THREE KILOMETRES OF ROADS, PATHWAYS AND PROMENADES. SOME NINE KILOMETRES OF STORM WATER DRAINS AND SEWERS WILL ALSO BE LAID.

ON COMPLETION OF THE WORK, MR. NG POINTED OUT, SITES WOULD BE PROVIDED AT CHEUNG CHAU WAN, KWAI TSAI WAN AND TAI KWAI WAN FOR A PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE FOR 1870 PEOPLE AND FOR VILLAGE TYPE HOUSING AND INDUSTRIAL USES.

* PART OF THE LAND TO BE FORMED OR RECLAIMED, HE ADDED, WOULD BE USED AS SITES FOR A CENTRAL SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT, AN INCINERATOR, AN ABATTOIR, AND A NEW MARINE FUELLING STATION.

A SYSTEM OF STORM AND SANITARY WATER DRAINS WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW TRUNK SEWERS TO SERVE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN CHEUNG CHAU. THIS SYSTEM WILL, IN FUTURE, BE FURTHER EXTENDED.

WORK ON THE CONTRACT IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER AND WILL TAKE ABOUT 21 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.

o -------

SUNDAY, MAY 28, 1978

FAST MAIL DELIVERY SERVICE * * * *

A NEW POSTAL SERVICE KNOWN AS +RAPID BOX DELIVERY SERVICE* WILL BE INTRODUCED BY THE POST OFFICE FROM JUNE 1.

THE NEW SERVICE WILL ENSURE THAT MAIL ADDRESSED

TO POST OFFICE BOXES AT THE GENERAL POST OFFICE. THE KOWLOON CENTRAL POST OFFICE AND TSIM SHA TSUI POST OFFICE AND POSTED AT THESE THREE OFFICES WILL BE DELIVERED WITHIN TWO HOURS EXCEPT ON SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE POST OFFICE SAID SPECIAL POSTING BOXES FOR THIS NEW SERVICE HAVE BEEN SET UP IN THE P.O. BOX LOBBIES OF THESE THREE POST OFFICES.

HE SAID ARRANGEMENT HAS ALSO BEEN MADE. TO EXTEND THE NEW SERVICE TO COVER SPECIALLY SEGREGATED FRANKED POSTAL ITEMS ADDRESSED TO P.O. BOXES IN THESE THREE POST OFFICES.

UNDER THE ARRANGEMENT THE BULK ACCEPTANCE COUNTERS AT

THESE THREE POST OFFICESWILL RECEIVE SUCH POSTAL ITEMS WHICH ARE ADDRESSED AND POSTED AT THAT PARTICULAR POST OFFICE. THEY WILL BE DELIVERED WITHIN TWO HOURS.

+THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL CHARGES FOR THE NEW SERVICE, BUT IT IS RESTRICTED TO ITEMS FULLY PREPAID AT THE LETTER RATE OF POSTAGE,* THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

- - o - -

NEW FERRY PIER FOR NORTH POINT * * * *

NORTH POINT FERRY COMMUTERS WILL BE ABLE TO USE BY AUGUST NEXT YEAR A NEW PIER WITH A COVERED WALKWAY TO LINK WITH THE BUSY BUS TERMINUS WHICH WILL ALSO BE COVERED.

WORK ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW TWIN-DECK FERRY PIER BY THE CIVIL ENGINEERING OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS PROGRESSING SATISFACTORILY AND IS ABOUT ONE-THIRD COMPLETE.

THE NEW PIER BEING BUILT AT A COST OF AROUND $10.5 MILLION, IS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE EASTERN CORRIDOR PROJECT.

WORK ON THE PIER IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY JUNE 1979 WITH THE OPENING SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST.

THE PIER HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO ALLOW FOR AN EXTRA DECK SHOULD IT BECOME NECESSARY AT A LATER DATE.

ONCE THE NEW PIER IS OPENED THE OLD ONE WILL BE DEMOLISHED.

- - 0 - -

SUNDAY, MAY 28, 1978

4 -

SPEECH THERAPY EXPERT TO SPEND TWO MONTHS WITH EDUCATION DEPARTMENT * * * *

MR. ROBERT FAWCUS, A SPEECH THERAPY EXPERT FROM BRITAIN, WILL ARRIVE IN HONG KONG ON FRIDAY (JUNE 2) TO SERVE AS A CONSULTANT TO THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

HE WILL BE HERE FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS ADVISING THE DEPARTMENT ON EXPANSION OF ITS SERVICES IN THE FIELD OF SPEECH THEBAPY.

MR. FAWCUS HAS BEEN SELECTED FOR THE ASSIGNMENT BY THE COMMONWEALTH FUND FOR TECHNICAL CO-OPERATION.

HE HAS HAD LONG EXPERIENCE AND A DISTINGUISHED CAREER IN SPEECH THERAPY. HE IS IN CHARGE OF THE MASTER OF SCIENCE COURSE IN HUMAN COMMUNICATION STUDIES AT LONDON UNIVERSITY AND IS A MEMBER OF THE UNIVERSITY’S EXAMINATION BOARD.

HE IS ALSO AN EXTERNAL EXAMINER FOR THE BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (SPEECH PATHOLOGY) COURSE AT NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY.

MR. FAWCUS WAS FOR SEVEN YEARS SENIOR SPEECH THERAPIST AT GUY’S HOSPITAL MEDICAL SCHOOL AND HAS ALSO BEEN A LECTURER IN disorders of communication at the kingdon-ward school of speech THERAPY.

HE HAS BEEN AWARDED A FELLOWSHIP BY THE COLLEGE OF SPEECH THERAPISTS AND IS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE BRITISH PSYCHOLOGICAL SOCIETY AND THE BRITISH SOCIETY FOR AUDIOLOGY.

-----o------

SUNDAY, MAY 28, 1978

DON’T ADD YOUR ENGINE TO YOUR FUEL BILL

* * * *

IF YOU ARE WONDERING WHY MORE DIESEL VEHICLES SEEM TO BE BREAKING DOWN LATELY, IT IS POSSIBLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN RUNNING ON A MIXTURE OF KEROSENE AND DIESEL OIL.

DRIVERS AND VEHICLE OPERATORS SEEM TO HAVE CAUGHT ON TO THE FACT THAT MIXING CHEAPER KEROSENE WITH DIESEL FUEL CAN SAVE ON FUEL BILLS.

UP TILL NOW THIS HAS NOT BEEN ILLEGAL. BUT WHAT IT MUST HAVE DONE IS TO DAMAGE A LOT OF ENGINES LEAVING THE VEHICLE OWNERS TO FACE BIG REPAIR BILLS.

BESIDES THE TOLL IN DAMAGED LORRY AND MINIBUS ENGINES, THE GOVERNMENT, WHICH HAD IMPOSED A DUTY ON PETROL AND DIESEL FUEL USED IN ROAD VEHICLES, HAS BEEN LOSING REVENUE BECAUSE OF VEHICLES USING KEROSENE ON WHICH NO DUTY IS PAYABLE.

AND THE MAN IN THE STREET HAS HAD TO SUFFER FROM INCREASED POLLUTION CAUSED BY THE MIXTURE AS WELL AS SOMETHING OF AN INCREASED FIRE RISK.

THE DUTIABLE COMMODITIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978, WHICH PASSED ITS SECOND READING AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON MAY 24, PROPOSES TO MAKE THE MIXING OF KEROSENE AND DIESEL OIL AN OFFENCE WITH A FINE OF HK$100,000 OR UP TO TWO YEARS IN PRISON.

THE BILL IS EXPECTED TO TAKE ONE OR TWO MONTHS BEFORE IT IS PASSED. AFTER IT BECOMES LAW, THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE WILL THEN CARRY OUT SPOT CHECKS ON VEHICLES TO MAKE SURE DRIVERS ARE NOT BREAKING THE LAW AS WELL AS DAMAGING THEIR VEHICLES’ ENGINES.

------0-------

SUNDAY, MAY 28, 1978

- 6

CODE TO ADVISE PEOPLE TO CARE FOR COASTLINE

******

A CODE OF BEHAVIOUR HAS BEEN DRAWN UP TO ADVISE PEOPLE HOW TO CARE FOR HONG KONG’S SEASHORES.

DETAILS OF IT ARE GIVEN IN A NEW FREE BOOKLET, +A COASTAL CODE FOR HONG KONG+ WHICH IS BEING DISTRIBUTED TO SCHOOLS AND IS ALSO AVAILABLE FROM VARIOUS GOVERNMENT OUTLETS.

+THE CODE IS SUGGESTED SO THAT WE CAN ALL ENJOY OUR NATURAL INHERITANCE AND LEAVE IT UNSPOILED FOR OUR CHILDREN,* THE BOOKLET SAYS.

IT HAS BEEN DESIGNED BY THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES AND IS PUBLISHED IN A COMBINED ENGLISH AND CHINESE VERSION ON BEHALF OF THE ENVIRONMENT BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT.

THE TEXT, WHICH IS EMBELLISHED WITH ORIGINAL DRAWINGS IN BLACK AND WHITE, JAS PREPARED BY DR. E.S. MORTON, OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG.

COPIES OF THE BOOKLET CAN BE OBTAINED FROM CITY DISTRICT OFFICES ON HONG KONG ISLAND AND IN KOWLOON, DISTRICT OFFICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, COUNTRY PARKS AUTHORITY CENTRES AND THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, CENTRAL.

IT IS ALSO BEING DISTRIBUTED TO PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS THROUGH THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

+HONG KONG, WITH ITS MAINLAND OF SHARP HEADLANDS AND NOTCHED BAYS AND CIRCLET OF SOME 230 ISLANDS, POSSESSES A LONG AND ATTRACTIVE SEASHORE,* DR. MORTON OBSERVED.

+THE ANIMAL AND PLANT COMMUNITIES THAT COLON ISE IT ARE DIVERSE.

+IN OUR IGNORANCE OF THESE COMMUNITIES, HOWEVER, WE MAY INADVERTENTLY DESTROY THE VERY FEATURES THAT ATTRACT US IN THE FIRST PLACE TO THE SEASHORE AMD OUR COASTAL SEAS.*

SECTIONS IN THE FOLD-OUT BOOKLET INCLUDE CONSERVATION, PICNICKING, NATURE STUDIES, WATER SPORTS, FISHING, AQUaTIC LIFE AND SHELLS.

POINTING OUT THAT CARELESSNESS CAN SPOIL BEACHES AND THE SEASHORE, THE BOOKLET EMPHASISES THE FEED TC KEEP THE! LITTER-FREE AND SAYS PEOPLE SHOULD NEVER BUILD BARBECUES ON SEASHORE GRASSES.

/IT TO] XS.....

SUNDAY, MAY 28, 1978

IT TELLS STUDENTS: +D0 NOT MOVE ROCKS OR STONES UNNECESSARILY. IF YOU DO HAVE TO MOVE THEM REPLACE THEM IN THEIR NATURAL POSITION. SOME OF THE MOST DELICATE AND SUSCEPTIBLE FORMS OF MARINE LIFE OCCUR ON THE UNDERSIDES OF STABLE ROCKS. THESE .'.ILL ALL DIE IF THE STONE IS NOT PUT BACK IN ITS NORMAL POSITION.*

SPEED BOAT DRIVERS ARE ADVISED TO KEEP AWAY FROM THE SHORES AS THE LASH FROM THEIR BOATS MAY DAMAGE DELICATE COASTAL PLANTS AND SWAMP BIRDS’ NESTS.

THE BOOKLET ALSO SAYS PEOPLE SHOULD NOT ALLOW DETERGENTS, PAINTS, SOLVENTS OR FUEL TO ESCAPE FROM THEIR BOATS WHETHER THEY ARE MOVING OR STATIONARY.

+WE CAN ALL USE THE SEASHORE FOR EDUCATION AND RELAXATION. WE ALL HAVE A DUTY TO CARE FOR IT,* ’A COASTAL CODE FOR HONG KONG’ SAYS.

+SPECIAL CARE SHOULD EE TAKEN WHEN VISITING WILD LIFE SANCTUARIES, RESERVES OR NO-HUNTING AREAS. THESE ARE ALWAYS WELL SIGNPOSTED.

+THE DELICATE PATTERN OF LIFE ON THE SEASHORE CAN ONLY SURVIVE IF IT IS CARED FOR.+

THE BOOKLET SAYS HONG KONG HAS A NUMBER OF INTERESTING SEASHORE COMMUNITIES WHICH DESERVE SPECIAL CONSIDERATION. THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THESE ARE THE MANGROVES CF DEEP BAY, TCLC HARBOUR AND THE SAI KUNG AND SHALLOW-SEA CORAL FORMATIONS TO THE EAST.

+DO NOT COLLECT SPECIMENS OF CORAL. OUR CORAL COMMUNITY IN HONG KONG IS HELD IK A DELICATE BALANCE BECAUSE HERE IT IS APPROACHING THE NORTHERN LIMIT OF ITS RANGE,* IT WARNS.

+ONCE THE CORAL DIES SO WILL ALL THE CORAL FISH THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH IT.*

SUNDAY, MAY 28, 1978

YUEN CHAU TSAI SQUATTER AREA CLEARED FOR MAJOR DEVELOPMENT ******

THE YUEN CHAU TSAI SQUATTER AREA - OFFICIALLY DESCRIBED AS THE MOST SQUALID IN THE NEW TERRITORIES - NO LONGER EXISTS.

GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS THIS WEEK COMPLETED A FIVE-MONTH CLEARANCE OPERATION TO MOVE NEARLY 4,000 PEOPLE FROM THE AREA INTO PUBLIC AND TEMPORARY HOUSING. t ;

ALL THAT REMAINS OF THE AREA TODAY ARE THE SMOKING RUINS OF THE FLIMSY WOODEN AND TIN STRUCTURES THAT WERE FIRST PUT UP ABOUT 29 YEARS AGO.

THE TAI PO DISTRICT OFFICER, MR. CLIVE OXLEY, SAID TODAY THAT THE CLEARANCE OPERATION - CARRIED OUT EY DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT STAFF - HAD REMOVED AN’EYESORE FROM THE 31 STR ICT.

+THE GOVERNMENT HAD PLANNED FOR MANY YEARS TO.REMOVE THE STRUCTURES BUT THE OPPORTUNITY ONLY CAME LAST YEAR WITH THE DEVELOPMENT PLANS FOR TAI PO AND THE AVAILABILITY OF SUITABLE ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION IN THE DISTRICT.

+IT WAS NOT AN EASY CLEARANCE BECAUSE MOST OF THE YUEN CHAU TSAI RESIDENTS ARE FISHERFOLK WHO HAD LIVED IN THE AREA FOR MANY YEARS AND WERE WORRIED ABOUT THE MOVE, EVEN THOUGH THEY LIVED IN CONDITIONS THAT WERE EXTREMELY UNHYGENIC AND HAZARDOUS AS FAR AS FIRE WAS CONCERNED.

+BUT NOW THAT THE FAMILIES HAVE ALL MOVED INTO THEIR NEW ACCOMMODATION THEY REALISE THAT THEIR ORIGINAL WORRIES WERE GROUNDLESS. IN FACT, MANY FAMILIES HAVE SINCE MENTIONED TO ME HOW HAPPY THEY ARE WITH THEIR NEW ACCOMMODATION.+

MR. OXLEY SAID ABOUT 29 PER CENT OF THE 599 FAMILIES FROM YUEN CHAU TSAI HAD GONE TO LIVE AT THE WO CHE PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE AT SHA TIN.

+MORE FAMILIES WERE ACTUALLY QUALIFIED FOR PUBLIC HOUSING, EUT THEY PREFERRED TO GO TO THE NEARBY YUE KOK TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA BECAUSE OF THEIR TIES WITH TAI P0,+ HE SAID.

' APART FROM PROVIDING THE FAMILIES WITH NEW HOMES, MR. OXLEY SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD ALSO PAID MORE THAN §590,999 IN REMOVAL ALLOWANCES AND ANOTHER §360,000 IN COMPENSATION FOR COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL CONCERNS.

THE SQUATTER AREA IS NOW THE SCENE OF INTENSE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY, AS PWD CONTRACTORS ARE ENGAGED ON SITE FORMATION WORKS WHICH WILL RESULT IN THE AREA HAVING A NEW BRIDGE, AN INTERCHANGE FOR THE ;220 MILLION SHA TIN-TAI PO COASTAL ROAD AND A PUBLIC RECREATION AREA.

+THE CLEARANCE HAS NOT ONLY REMOVED THE MOST SQUALID SQUATTER AREA IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, BUT HAS PROVIDED LAND WHICH IS NECESSARY FOR THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT PLAN TO BUILD A MODERN TOWNSHIP FOR 220,000 PEOPLE IN TAI P0,+ MR. OXLEY ADDED.

SUNDAY, MAY 28, 1978

WORKSHOP ON FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION * * * * *

WAYS OF UTILISING RESOURCE MATERIALS TO HELP IMPLEMENT FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PROGRAMMES WILL BE DEMONSTRATED AND THEIR MERITS AND SETBACKS DISCUSSED AT A WORKSHOP FOR TEACHERS, SOCIAL WORKERS AND NURSERY STAFF IN WANCHAI DISTRICT.

THE WORKSHOP, ORGANISED BY THE RECENTLY-FORMED WANCHA I DISTRICT COMMITTEE ON FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION, AIMS AT GIVING THOSE ALREADY ENGAGED IN EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY WORK AN INSIGHT INTO THE PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES AND CONTENTS.

MR. LAM HARK-CHEE, WANCHAI COMMUNITY AND YOUTH OFFICER, WHO IS ALSO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THE WORKSHOP, TO BE HELD ON JUNE 17 AT THE LADY TRENCH TRAINING CENTRE, WOULD COMPRISE TWO SESSIONS.

+THE WHOLE MORNING WILL BE DEVOTED TO LECTURES ON THE HISTORY, CONCEPT, CONTENTS, TARGET GROUPS AS JELL AS TRENDS OF DEVELOPMENT OF THIS COMMUNITY EDUCATION PROGRAMME,+ HE POINTED OUT.

HE ADDED THAT GROUP DISCUSSIONS, PROVIDING MEMBERS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE II! THE PLANNING OF PROMOTIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES DIRECTED AT TARGET GROUPS OF THEIR CHOICE, WOULD BE CONDUCTED IN THE AFTERNOON.

+THE TALKS AND DISCUSSIONS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A PRESENTATION OF RESOURCES INCLUDING SLIDE AND FILM SHOWS’ EXHIBITION OF POSTERS, PAMPHLETS, BOOKS, MAGAZINES, MODELS AND DISPLAY PANELS,+ HE SAID.

TO ENCOURAGE PARTICIPANTS TO PLAY A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN THE FUTURE EXTENSION OF THE PROGRAMME, MR. LAM SAID, FOLDERS CONTAINING CATALOGUES OF AUDIO-VISUAL MATERIALS AND LITERATURE AVAILABLE AT THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION HEAD OFFICE WILL ALSO EE DISTRIBUTED.

APPLICATIONS FOR ATTENDANCE CAN DE MADE AT THE WANCHA I COMMUNITY AND YOUTH OFFICE, 44, 01 KWAN RC..D, HONG KONG BEFORE JUNE 5, 1978. EACH PARTICIPANT ..ILL EE CHARGED 13 TO COVER EXPANSES FOR LUNCH, LIGHT REFRESHMENT AND PRINTING OF HAND-CUTS.

- - 0 - -

WATER CUT * * *

THE VATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT FRESH ..■ATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN WAN CHAI „ ILL EE CUT FOF. EIGHT HOURS FROM 13 P.N. CN VEDMESDAY (MAY 31) TO FACILITATE WORK ON VALVE INSTALLATION AND PIPE CONNECT 10!..

THE PREMISES TO BE AFFECTED APE 432-472 HENNESSY ROAD AND 2-53 TANG LUNG STREET.

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

MONDAY, MAY 29, 1978

CONTENTS PAG£ f,|C>‘

ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY OPENS COMMUNITY CENTRE AT POLYTECHNIC ...............................................

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SOCIAL SERVICES AND MP TO VISIT WELFARE INSTITUTIONS ......................................

NEW AIRPORT HIRE CAR SERVICE ................................ 4

SOCIAL SERVICES SECRETARY ADDRESSES POPULATION AND INDUSTRY SEMINAR ............................................ 5

VILLAGES IN DANGER OF BECOMING RURAL SLUMS SAYS DISTRICT OFFICER ..................................................... €

BOOKLET TO EXPLAIN RENT OFFICERS’ SERVICES ................. 8

WATER MAINS LAYING WORK IN TUEN MUN .......................

DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT TO VISIT SITES .......... 9

PRESENTATION OF GOODWILL BANNERS ............................ 9

IflMadbv Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191

MONDAY, MAY 29, 1978

ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY LIKENS POLYTECHNIC TC SELF-CONTAINED TOWNSHIP ******

THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY, MR. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, THIS EVENING LIKENED THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC TC A TOWNSHIP.

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE COMMUNITY CENTRE AT THE ■>OLYT”CHNIC MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID OUT OF THE METAPHORICAL ASHzo OF THE OLD HONG KONG TECHNICAL COLLEGE HAD ARISEN, IN EFFECT A NE.< TOWNSHIP AND, LIKE THE NEW STYLE HOUSING ESTATES, IT wAS DESIGNED TO BE AS SELF-CONTAINED AS POSSIBLE.

TC HAVE 32 DOO PEOPLE BY 1980-61 ON A SITE SO PHYSICALLY RESTRICTED AND BOUNDED BY FOUR MAIN ROADS WAS NO MEAN ACHIEVEMENT, HADDON-CAVE SAID.

HE SAID THERE ..AS AN ANALOGY TO BE DRAWN BETWEEN THE D-VELOPMENT OF TH= SITE AS A CAMPUS AND THE WAY +THE PROBLEM OF PEOPLE* GENERALLY HAD HAD TO BE TACKLED IN THE 195OS AND 196OS ,;ITHIN THE CONFINED SPACE CF HONG KONG AS A WHOLE.

+THERE IS AN ANALOGY, TOO, BETWEEN THE EMERGENCE OF THIS COMMUNITY CENTRE AND THE IMPROVEMENT IN THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY IN THE 197OS,+ MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID.

HE SAID SIR SZE-YUEN CHUNG HAD ALREADY SPOKEN OF THE IMPORTANT ROLE WHICH THE FACILITIES OF THE POLYTECHNIC WOULD PLAY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CORPORATE SPIRIT IN THE CAMPUS LIFE OF THE POLYTECHNIC, AND HE WAS CLEARLY RIGHT.

+AND I AGREE WITH HIM THAT THIS CENTRE SHOULD BE SEEN AS FACILITATING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN STUDENTS AND STUDENTS AND BETWEEN STAFF AND STUDENTS. IN THIS DAY AND AGE, PARTICULARLY, THIS IS TC BE WELCOMED. I HOPE THE CENTRE WILL BE USED IMAGINATIVELY FOR THIS PURPOSE, AND WITH TOLERANCE. IT DESERVES TO BE- AND I X' SURE IT WILL BE.+

MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THAT SINCE ITS INCEPTION THE POLYTECHNIC HAD BEEN SEEN BY ALL CONCERNED, OFFICIALS AND UNOFFICIALS ALIKE, AS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT’S TOTAL EFFORT TO MEET ITS CONTINUING OBLIGATIONS TO +THE PROBLEM CF PEOPLE*.

+BY THE LATE 1963S, WE WERE ABLE TO AFFORD SOMEHTING BIGGER AND BETTER THAN THE HONG KONG TECHNICAL COLLEGE, WHICH FORMERLY OCCUPIED THE SITE OF THIS CAMPUS,+ MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID.

+SC THE POLYTECHNIC FOR AN INSTITUTION WHICH WITH THE SKILLED MAN AND REVOLUTION.*

PLANNING COMMITTEE DEVELOPED A BLUE-PRINT WOULD SUPPLY THE ECONOMY AND THE COMMUNITY WOMAN POWER TO SUPPORT OUR INDUSTRIAL

THE COMMITTEE BEGA!.' WORK IN MAY, 1969, AND SUBMITTED ITS FINAL REPORT TWO YEARS LATER. I' THE FOLLOWING YEAR THE HONG KCI.G POLYTECHNIC HAD OPENED ITS DOORS TC STUDENTS.

/+A GREAT ''FAL.....

MONDAY, MAY 29, 1978

+A GREAT DEAL HAS HAPPENED IN THE SIX YEARS SINCE 1972,+ ?-R. HADDON-CAVE CONTINUED. THE NUMBER OF FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT STUDENTS HAD INCREASED FROM 3,503 TO 9,000. ANNUALLY, RECURRENT EXPENDITURE HAD INCREASED EIGHT TIMES FROM 315.6 MILLION IN 1972-73 TO 3123 MILLION IN 1977-78.

CONCURRENTLY, AN AMBITIOUS BUILDING PROGRAMME HAD BEEN PUT IN TRAIN, IN THE FIRST STAGE OF WHICH A MULTI-PURPOSE TEACHING BLOCK AND A NEW LIBRARY WERE COMPLETED AND OCCUPIED IN 1976 AT A COST OF .’’EARLY 3133 MILLION.

WORK ON PHASE II, CONSISTING OF WORKSHOP ACCOMMODATION FOR THE TEXTILES DEPARTMENT, THE NAUTICAL STUDIES BUILDING ON DYERS AVENUE AND THE COMMUNITY CENTRE BEGAN TWO YEARS AGO AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF 338 MILLION.

MR. HADDON-CAVE CONTINUED* +AS 1 JUST SA H), THERE ARE NOW ABOUT 9,303 FULL TIME EQUIVALENT STUDENTS ON THIS CAMPUS.

+THIS MEANS, OF COURSE, A MUCH LARGER NUMBER OF ACTUAL PEOPLE, PROBABLY AS MANY AS 25,303, ALMOST ALL OF WHOM WILL USE THIS FACILITY AT SOME TIME OR OTHER.

+IN ADDITION,+ HE SAID, +THERE ARE ABOUT 630 FULL-TIME ACADEMIC STAFF, ABOUT 330 DEPARTMENTAL SUPPORT STAFF AND ABOUT 653 NON-ACADEMIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF, MAKING A TOTAL ESTABLISHMENT OF ABOUT 1,633, AND THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE PART TIME TEACHERS RUNNING EVENING COURSES.

+THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE MILLING ABOUT ON THIS CAMPUS, THEREFORE, IS GETTING ON FOR 27,333. BY 1983-81 IT WILL BE ABOUT 32,033,+ MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID.

-----0------

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SOCIAL SERVICES AND MP TO VISIT WELFARE INSTITUTIONS ******

THE VISITING SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE RT. HON. DAVID ENNALS, M.P., AND MR. RODERICK MACFARQUHAR, M.P. WILL VISIT A NUMBER OF WELFARE INSTITUTIONS TOMORROW (TUESDAY).

THEY WILL SEE FOR THEMSELVES THE WORK AND ACTIVITIES GF THE JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTRE AT SANDY BAY, THE KAI CHI CHILDREN’S CENTRE AND ABERDEEN REHABILITATION CENTRE IN ABERDEEN AND THE ..AH HONG HOSTEL FOR THE ELDERLY IN WAH FU ESTATE.

ACCOMPANYING THEM ON THE VISITS WILL BE MRS. ROSE GOODSTADT, HEAD OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S REHABILITATION DIVISION.

THE JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTRE, RUN BY THE HONG KONG RED CROSS WITH GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, IS A RESIDENT I AL-CUi'-DAY CENTRE FOR PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN AGED FOUR TO 17 YEARS.

/WITH AN .....

MONDAY, MAY 29, 1978

WITH AN ENROLMENT OF 113 CHILDREN, THE CENTRE PROVIDES TWO YEARS OF PRE-SCHOOL TRAINING AND NINE YEARS OF PRIMARY AND JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION.

THIS IS COMPLEMENTED EY VARIOUS MEDICAL AND THERAPEUTIC CARE AIMED AT DEVELOPING THE CHILD’S PHYSICAL, EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL POTENTIAL AS WELL AS ACHIEVING MAXIMUM INTEGRATION INTO THE COMMUNITY.

THE KAI CHI CHILDREN’S CENTRE1AND THE ABERDEEN REHAB IL ITATION CENTRE ARE BOTH GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS ADMINISTERED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.

THE KAI CHI CHILDREN’S CENTRE, WITH A CAPACITY OF 149, PROVIDES BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND DAY TRAINING FACILITIES TO MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN AGED FIVE TO 16 YEARS.

IT TRAINS THEM IN SELF-CARE SKILLS, SOCIALISATION, GENERAL KNOWLEDGE, LEARNING HABITS AND WORK TOLERANCE.

THE ABERDEEN REHABILITATION CENTRE PROVIDES FOR THE SOCIAL AND VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION OF DISABLED PERSONS.

THE MAXIMUM CAPACITY IS 255, OF WHOM THE ORTHOPAEDICALLY DISABLED AND THE MENTALLY RETARDED COMPRISE THE LARGEST GROUPS. OTHERS ARE THE BLIND, THE DEAF, DISCHARGED MENTAL PATIENTS, EX-T.B. AND EX-LEPROSY PATIENTS AND ELDERLY INFIRM PERSONS.

THE WAH HONG HOSTEL AT WAH FU ESTATE, RUN BY THE HONG KONG CHRISTIAN SERVICE AS A GOVERNMENT SUE-VENTED SERVICE, ACCOMMODATES 120 AMBULATORY AND INDEPENDENT PEOPLE AGED 60 YEARS AND OVER.

IT AIMS AT PROVIDING GROUP ACCOMMODATION FOR THE AGED WITH MINIMAL ATTENTION FROM STAFF WHO CAN EE SUMMONSED FOR HELP IK CASE OF EMERGENCY. THE ELDERLY RESIDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE FULLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR OWN SHOPPING AND COOKING, AS WELL AS CLEANING OF THEIR OWN DORMITORIES.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE VISITS TO VARIOUS WELFARE INSTITUTIONS BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SOCIAL SERVICES AND AN MP. GOVERNMENT TRANSPORT HAS BEEN ARRANGED TC TAKE MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES TO THE KAI CHI CHILDREN’S CENTRE. IT LEAVES AT 2.30 P.H. TOMORROW (TUESDAY) FROM THE EASTERN ENTRANCE OF LEE GARDENS IN CAUSEWAY BAY. MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES WISHING TO MAKE THEIR OWN WAY TO THE CENTRE, AT WELFARE ROAD, WONG CHUK HANG, ARE REQUESTED TO BE AT THE CENTRE LEFC.'.E 3.29 P.M.

- - 0 ---------

MONDAY, MAY 29, 1978

- 4 .

NEW AIRPORT HIRE CAR SERVICE STARTS FROM JUNE * * * * *

A NEW AIRPORT HIRE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL

CAR SERVICE WILL START OPERATION AT THE AIRPORT FROM THURSDAY (JUNE 1).

IT WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING SERVICE OF THE AIRPORT PUBLIC HIRE CARS AS THEY ARE DUE TO BE DEREGISTERED UNDER NEW LICENSING REQUIREMENTS.

INITIALLY, THE OPERATOR WILL HAVE A FLEET OF 20 CARS IN THE NEW SERVICE, INCREASING THEM GRADUALLY TO 40.

ALL VEHICLES IN THE FLEET WILL BE AIR-CONDITIONED. THEY WILL BE WHITE IN COLOUR BEARING A LOGO FOR IDENTIFICATION.

THESE VEHICLES WILL BE STATIONED AT THE AIRPORT TO PROVIDE A 24-HOUR SERVICE TO PEOPLE WHO NEED THIS FORM OF TRANSPORT. SINCE THE VEHICLES ONLY PROVIDE A +ONE WAY+ SERVICE FROM THE AIRPORT, THEY WILL BE A LITTLE MORE EXPENSIVE THAN TAXIS.

CHARGES, WHICH MUST EE PRE-PAID EY TICKET, WILL EE ABOUT 53.5 FOR THE FIRST MILE, £2.5 FOR THE SECOND MILE AND J2 FOR THE THIRD AND EACH NILE THEREAFTER.

FEES TO VARIOUS DESTINATIONS ARE SHOWN ON NOTICE BOARDS AT THE AIRPORT PICK-UP POINT AND AT THE HIRE CAR BOOKING COUNTER IN THE +BUFFER HALL+ OF THE PASSENGER TERMINAL.

THE FOLLOWING’ ARE FEES FOR TYPICAL JOURNEYS :

KOWLOON : TSIM SHA TSUI - 57, KWUN TONG AND LAI CHI KOK -59 AND LEI YUE MUN - 514.

HONG KONG (TUNNEL FEES INCLUSIVE) : CENTRAL AND NORTH POINT -535, ■’ID-LEVELS - 340, THE PEAK AND ABERDEEN -AND SHEK 0 - 560.

NEW TERRITORIES : SHA TIN AND TSUEN WAN - 520, SAI KUNG -335 AND FAN LING - 363.

-----0------

HONDAT, . ;AT Z? , If ic

SOCIAL SERVICES SECRETARY ADDRESSES POPULATION and industry SEMINAR * * * * *

ANY FURTHER EXPANSION CF HONG KONG’S POPULATION MOULD ENGEN A SERIOUS DECLINE IN THE QUALITY CF LIFE, MR. E.P. HO, SECRETARY

OR SOCIAL SERVICES STATED TODAY.

NR. HO SAID, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ;.OULD DE OVER-CROWDED LIVING CONDITIONS, INCREASED POLLUTION, LOWERING STANDARDS CF PUBLIC UTILITIES .-ND I'EV I TALLY LEoS SOCIAL PROGRESS.

+ A POPULATION POLICY IS THUS ESSENTIAL FOR HONG KONG AND II THE -AST Fz.. YEARS ,.E HAVE . AD: I .PF.cSSIVc STRIDES IN RESTRAINING OUR POPULATION, AS RECENT FIGURES ISSUED EY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPA.RTME T ILLUSTR .TE, BUT ,.E CANNOT AFFORD ANY COMPLACENCY,* _’R. HO SAID A" THE OPENING CF A SEMINAR Ci; POPULATION AND INDUSTRY AT TH: .Ai;DAR II HOTEL.

HE ADDED GOVERNMENT’S RECOGNITION' OF THE NEED FOR AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE QUALITY CF FAMILY LIFE ..AS REFLECTED I" ITS PROVISION CF FAMILY -’LALLING CL I ICS, ITS PR-' OTIC: OF FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION AND ITS SUPPORT FCR THE VERY VALUABLE SERVICES RENDERED EY ORGANISATIONS SUCH AS THE FA. ILY PLA, i.'I'.'G .-.oSCCIA, ION.

+CF COURSE, THE GOVERN ENT ALSO CANNOT REALISE ITS SOCIAL PROGRAI "ES «ITHCUT STABILISING THE POPULATION, AND TO DC Tris IT REQUIRES THE SUPPORT OF DOT I "JUSTLY AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE WORKING IN UNISON,* "R. HO Sr. ID.

♦FORTUNATELY, THERE IS . GROWING AWARENESS THAT DOTH HAV: A ROLE TO PLAY I'. IMPROVING .ELF ME STANDARDS.*

GOVERNMENT WOULD, OF COURSE, CONTINUE TO IMPROVE ITS RANGE OF SERVICES, INCLUDING GENERAL AND TECH ICAL EDUCAT I CL, HILE INDUSTRY, FOP ITS PART, COULD INP'CVE T E -’CDUCTI.ITY AND ..OTIV-TIO'' CF ITS WORK-FORCE DY l"VE3TME"T I TRAC ING AND .ELF, .0 DE REF ITS.

HO SAID C E OF THE SIGL'IFICA T -E TURES CF EMPLOYMENT T HONG KONG I’ RECENT YEARS HAD BEE. THE GRO..TH OF OCCUPATIONAL BENEFITS PROVIDES DY EMPLOYERS, -.T-TLY TTCUG? LEGISLATIVE 0. PULS I,: '. 0 - -TLY T-.'OUC." VCLUNT RY PROVISIONS.

THESE I CLU. E- 3 I OK . ESS LLC A: CE, SEVERANCE PAYMENTS, -.'ID HOLIDAYS, COMPELS TIC’ FC? INJURIES '. _ DEATH ARISING OUT CF E.'PLCY-..ELT . E OTHER FINANCIAL BENEFITS I CLUB I I RETIRE E. " E EFITS, / 0 EL- I TH "EDICAL -i.D OTHER EX?E"3ES.

SOU - AT I 0 ‘ -.L Ex I TO z z . . ■_ z ^Ur rLz i _ 0 I

-ECU ITY SCHE ES O' I ISTE EC _I'EOT_ . . i' ~ E VS' ELT. T; ESE ..EFE ’UBLIC ASS1STA CE SCHE L, THE DISABILIT LD GE ALLOWAHCES, T . I INAL _ LA.. ENFORCENENT INJURIES OOr.PENSATION SCHEME A. 0 THE EMERGENCY RELIEF SCHE: E.

/+TH2S3 SCH3MBS

MONDAY, MAY 29, 1978

♦THESE SCHEMES PROVIDE A SAFETY NET FOR THE VULNERABLE MEMBERS CF OUR COMMUNITY ..HO, BECAUSE CF CIRCUMSTANCES EEYOND THclR CUuTr.CL ARE '.■"ABLE TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES,+ MR. HO SAID. +THIa APPPOACr. K Cl AL SECURITY IS CONSIDERED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO BE RIGHT .TNG AND li'. THIS IT HAS THE SUPPORT CF THE PUBLIC.*

FOR HONG

HOWEVER, THERE AS SCOPE FOR THE COLT I RUED DEVELOPMENT OCCUPATIONAL BENEFITS IN HONG KONG, AND MR. :<• -.0Pc_ . T..A • --..CULD RISE TO THE CHALLENGE AS SOCIAL ASPIRATIONS CHA..Ge.-.

CF i?LOYER3

EMPLOYEES ’’IGHT ALSO EE ENCOURAGED TO PLAY A MORE POSITIVE ROLE IN PROVIDING FOR THEIR OWN WELFARE AND li .'.AS rCR TH U REASun T..h . THE GOVERNMENT HAD RECENTLY PROPOSED THAT A CONTRIBUTORY oOC I AL INSURANCE SCHEME ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS MIGHT NOW BE EXPLORE.

♦PUBLIC RESPONSE INDICATES A WIDE MEASURE CF SUPPORT FOR _ ADDITIONAL BENEFITS CF THE SORT PROPOSED IN THE GREEN PAPxh, ~Ui _ THER- IS SOKE DIVERGENCE OF VIEW ON THE BEST MEANS OF PRCVM.t COVERAGE,* MR. HO SAID. THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOW EXAMINING Trie. VARIOUS OPTIONS AVAILABLE BEFORE PROCEEDING FURTHER.

0 ---------

VILLAGES IN DANGER OF BECOMING RURAL SLUMS, SAYS DISTRICT OFFICER X X K X » X

MANY OF THE TRADITIONAL PICTURESQUE VILLAGES IN THE NE’.. TERRITORIES ARE I'.' DANGER CF BECOMING INSALUBRIOUS RURAL SLUMS, THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT OFFICER, MR. MICHAEL CARTLAND, WARNED TODAY.

THERE JERE I ANY FACTORS .."HIGH HAVE LED TC THIS SITUATION, HE SAID, NOT LEAST AMONG THEN ..AS THE ATURAL DESIRE CF THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE — THE LANDOWNERS — TO MAKE THE BEST ECONOMIC USE OF THEIR LAND.

+AS AFFLUENCE GROWS I.’ THE URBAN AREAS, PEOPLE LOCK TO THE RURAL AREAS FOR COUNTRY HOUSES AND DEVELOPERS ARE PREPARED TO OFFER A BETTER RETURN THAN COULD BE OBTAINED FROM AGRICULTURE,* HE SAID AT THE ^EETI’-'G OF THE NE'..' TERRITORIES ROTARY CLUE.

+FACTCRIES AND WORKSHOPS ARE BEING CLEARED FOR DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEW TOWNS AND THE OPERATORS ARE PREPARED TO PAY WELL TO RE-ESTABLISH Ci AGRICULTURAL LANE.

+THESE FORCES ARE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO RESIST. TEMPORARY STRUCTURES ARE GOING UP AS FAST, IF i.'CT FASTER, THAN THEY CA’ BE DEMOLISHED.

♦ONE HAS ONLY TC TAKE Ai; AERIAL VIEW OF THE SO-CALLED RURAL AREAS li! YUE'. LONG DISTRICT TC SEE THAT "A’Y CF THEM ARE ALREADY ALMOST ENTIRELY COVERED OVEF..+

MR. CARTLAND POINTED CUT THAT '.HILE AGRICULTURE WOULD HAVE A PLACE IN THE i-.’E'.. TE.'-ITO’IES FOR SOME YE/. PS TO COME, MUCH AGRICULTURAL LAND .-.AS NOW LYING FALLOW AND MUCH MORE WAS BEING PUT TO OTHER USES.

MONDAY, MAY 29, 1978

HE SAID THERE WERE .WORE THAI. 1,300 INDUSTRIAL AND CO! i-’.ET-CI AL CONCER S, iAINLY WORKSHOPS A’.’D SMALL FACTORIES ON AGRICULTURAL L. _ IN THE YUEN LONG DISK. ICT ALONE.

,',R. CARTLAND ADDED THAT THE 1973/77 SQUATTER CONTROL SURVEY REVEALED THAT THERE WE-E 1S5,'K TH? RY STRUCTURES II. THE DISTRICT — OF WHICH 25,330 .E. E FOUND TO DE FOR DOMESTIC RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES.

ADDITIONALLY, ABOUT 1,533 -OUSES OF 703 SQUARE FEET HAD DEE'. BUILT UNDER THE S. ALL HOUSE POLICY SINCE 1972.

+ALL OF THIS REPRESENTS A MAJOR PLANNING HEADACHE,+

MR. CARTLAND SAID. +IT CREATES PRESSURES FOR ROADS, ..ATER SUPPLIED AND OTHER SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED EVERYWHERE AT ONCE ON A HAPHAZARD BASIS.

+THE RIVERS AND STREAMS ARE HEAVILY POLLUTED WITH PIG AND CHICKEN MANURE, NOT TO MENTION THE EFFLUENT OF TANNERIES AND OTHER OFFENSIVE TRADES.

+MANY OF THE TRADITIONAL PICTURESQUE VILLAGES ARE IN DANGER

OF BECOr ING I?;SALUBRIOUS RURAL 3LU S.+

•DR. CARTLAND URGED A MORE CO-ORDINATED APPROACH TO RURAL DEVELOPMENT, SI' ILAR TO THAT TAKE?: I' THE TOWNS.

HE SAID THAT MANY MAJOR DEVELOP?-ENTS WERE TAKING PLACE li YUEN LONG WHICH WILL DOUBLE THE TOWN’S POPULATION TO ABOUT 133,333 OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

HE SAID IT .AS IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE AFFECTED BY THESE DEVELOPMENTS ..ERE ADEQUATELY COMPENSATED.

HE EMPHASISED THAT THE GOVE"‘ME'.T’S COMPENSATION RULES ARE REGULARLY REVIEWED BOTH AS TO ...HAT ITEMS QUALIFY FOR COMPENSATION AS '..ELL AS TO WHAT FATES SHOULD APPLY.

HE CITED THE CASE OF FIS'- PC'DS, i-’EEE THE RATES HAD RECENTLY BEEN RE—EXA.'. I NcD A’.D 3UD3TA“T 1 -LLY INCREASED FC SUCr. Al? EXTENT THAT I?? A RECENT CASE M YUE?. LONG, THE OPERATOR OF ONE POND —

CT THE OWNER '.'HO HAD ALREADY ACCEPTED LAND EXCHANGE ENTITLE' ENT -QUALIFIED FOR NEARLY A <UART- . ^F A . ILLION DOLLARS Ai.D WAS STILL ABLE TO HARVEST HIS FISH.

• +CONS IDER ING THAT THE POND .AS EMPTY LESS TH A* A YEAR AGO T..' IS .NOT A BAD RETURI FOR OLE YEAR’S ..ORK AND CERT.' INLY SUFFICIENT 7 RE-ESTABLISH HIMSELF ELSE.HERE,+ . OAF.TLA'D NOTED.

+0F COURSE THERE ..ILL AL..AYS EE CASES HERE Ai. INDIVIDUAL FEELS, PERHAPS RIGHTLY, THAT E HAS NOT BEEK OFFERED ADEQUATE COMPENSATION, JUST -.3 THE? E ILL LW-Y3 DE CASES aHERE SOMEONE, TO '.HOM A FAIR OFFER HAS DEE -DE, DELIBERATELY HOLDS CUT li. THE HOPE OF SQUEEZING i OR;,

+THE LATTER CASE SHOULD „TT',.DT LITTLE SY PATHY BUT li. PRACTICE IT IS DIFFICULT TO DISTINGUISH FRO? THE FORMER WHEN A CLEARANCE IS RESISTED C li EITHER EVE? T THE -•‘.PE?. RECOURSE IS TO THE NEUTRAL THIRD ? ' “ , THE LANDS TRIBUNAL, FOr Al INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT,+

0 ---------

MONDAY, MAY 29, 1973

BOOKLET ON SERVICES BY RENT OFFICERS

*****

A NEW EXPLANATORY BOOKLET ON THE SERVICES PROVIDED EY RENT OFFICERS OF THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT IS NOW AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC FREE OF CHARGE.

THE BOOKLET, IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE, EXPLAINS THE DUTIES CF RENT OFFICERS AND HOW THEIR SERVICES MAY BE OBTAINED EY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

A SPOKESMAN OF THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT SAID THAT RENT OFFICERS ARE EMPLOYED IN THE RENT CONTROL DIVISION OF THE DEPARTMENT AND ARE READY TC ADVISE AND ASSIST THE PUBLIC IN LANDLORD AND TENANT MATTERS AS WELL AS'ON OTHER RELATED ISSUES.

FREE COPIES OF THE BOOKLET ARE OBTAINABLE FROM CITY DISTRICT OFFICES, NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT OFFICES/TOWN MANAGEMENT OFFICES AND OFFICES OF THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT.

0 - -

WATER MAINS LAYING WORK IN TUEN MUN * * * *

THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT OF THE P.W.D. WILL LAY THOUSANDS CF METRES OF FRESH AND FLUSHING WATER MAINS IN TUEN MUN NEW TOWN IN THE NEXT TEN MONTHS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA

THE WORK, WHICH WILL BEGIN IN JULY, IS THE FIRST PHASE OF A SCHEME TO SUPPLY FRESH AND FLUSHING WATER TO THE NEW TOWN.

MR. LEUNG TAT-MING, CHIEF ENGINEER (CONSTRUCTION), SAID THAT WORK IN THIS PHASE WOULD INVOLVE THE LAYING OF SOME 3,400 METRES OF STEEL AND ASBESTOS CEMENT MAINS.

THEY WOULD INCLUDE INLET AND OUTLET MAINS TO BE LAID ALONG CASTLE PEAK ROAD FOR THE TUEN MUN EAST FRESH WATER SERVICE RESERVOIR NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION, AID OTHER PRINCIPAL DISTRIBUTION MA I NS ALONG NEW ROADS BEING BUILT.

MR. LEUNG SAID THAT THE MAIN-LAYING HAD BEEN SO PROGRAMMED THAT IT WOULD ENABLE THE WORK TO EE CARRIED OUT MAINLY IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS IN THE AREAS.

---o -

MONDAY, MAY 29, 1978 .

NOTE TO EDITORS:

ENGINEERING DIRECTOR TO VISIT SITES * * * * *

DAVID STEAD, P.W.D.’S DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT ..ILL INSPECT A NUMBER OF SITES OR HONG KONG ISLAND TOMORROW (TUESDAY) TO SEE THE PROGRESS OF VARIOUS P...D. PROJECTS.

HE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY CHIEF ENGINEERS OF VARIOUS OFFICES CONCERNED.

AMONG THE SITES PLANT.

TO EE VISITED WILL BE THE CHAI

WAN COMPOSTING

YOU ARE INVITED THE COMPOSTING PLANT ROAD AT 11 A..' . DE ON HAND TO ASSIST

TO COVER THE VISIT. MR. ON RECLAIMED LAND AT SUN OFFICERS OF THE P...D.’S THE PRESS.

STEAD WILL ARRIVE AT YIP STREET OFF CHAI PUBLICITY UNIT .. ILL

-----o------

NOTE TO EDITORS:

PRESENTATION OF GOODWILL BANNERS * * * * *

THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, MR. TED NICHOLS, ..ILL PRESENT ON WEDNESDAY (MAY 31) A GOODWILL BANNER TO A GROUP OF NEL TERRITORIES FARMERS 7HC ARE GOING ON A STUDY TOUR OF THE UNITED KINGDOM NEXT MONTH.

THE PRESENTATION WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT’S CONFERENCE ROON (ROON. 14-34), CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING, 393 CANTON ROAD, AT NOON.

YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE OCCASION.

-----o------

PRH 7

|gis| |ofe|

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

TUESDAY, MAY 30, 1978

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SOCIAL SERVICES AMD MP VISIT WELFARE INSTITUTIONS ..................... 1

U.K. SOCIAL SERVICES SECRETARY AND MP TO VISIT MORE WELFARE AND TRAINING INSTITUTIONS ......... 2

LAST TWO WEEKS FOR URBCO ELECTION REGISTRATION . 3

NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS TO ISSUE GSP CERTIFICATES FOR EXPORTS TO NEW ZEALAND ..................... 4

NEED TO STRENGTHEN ARRANGEMENTS FOR CONSULTATIONS WITH INDUSTRY ON POLLUTION CONTROL ............. 5

TUEN NG FESTIVAL IS A STATUTORY HOLIDAY ........ 7

DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT VISITS PWD SITES 8

ROAD SAFETY SPEECH CONTEST ..................... 9

NEW BUSINESS HOURS FOR KWAI FONG POST OFFICE .. 10

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN FLEMING ROAD .......... 10

Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191

TUESDAY, MAY 30, 1978

- 1 -

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SOCIAL SERVICES AND MP

VISIT WELFARE INSTITUTIONS

******

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE RT. HON. DAVID ENNALS, M.P., AND MR. RODERICK MACFARQUHAR, M.P. TODAY VISITED FOUR WELFARE INSTITUTIONS AND OBSERVED HOW RESIDENTS THERE WENT ABOUT THEIR DAILY LIFE.

MR. ENNALS AND MR. MACFARQUHAR VISITED THE JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTRE FOR PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN IN SANDY BAY, THE KAI CHI CHILDREN’S CENTRE AND THE ABERDEEN REHABILITATION CENTRE IN WONG CHUK HANG AND THE WAH HONG HOSTEL FOR THE AGED IN WAH FU ESTATE.

•

ACCOMPANYING THEM THROUGHOUT THE VISITS WERE MR. E.P. HC, SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES AND MRS. ROSE GOCDSTADT, HEAD OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S REHABILITATION DIVISION.

MR. ENNALS AND MR. MACFARQUHAR WERE SHOWN- ROUND THE INSTITUTIONS AND BRIEFED ON THE VARIOUS FACILITIES, TRAINING ACTIVITIES AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES FOR RESIDENTS IN THESE INSTITUTIONS.

THEY SAW THE DISABLED AT THE VARIOUS CENTRES UNDERGOING TRAINING IN DOMESTIC HELP, TAILORING, CARPENTRY AND SEWING.

AT THE JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTRE, THEY WERE TOLD IT WAS A GOVERNMENT-SUBVENTED RESIDENTIAL-CUM-DAY CENTRE RUN BY THE HONG KONG RED CROSS, CARING FOR 113 PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN AGED FOUR TO 17.

THE CENTRE PROVIDES TWO YEARS OF PRE-SCHOOLING TRAINING AND NINE YEARS OF PRIMARY AND JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION, COMPLEMENTED BY VARIOUS MEDICAL AND THERAPEUTIC CARE.

THE KAI CHI CHILDREN’S CENTRE IN WONG CHUK HANG GIVES BOTH DAY AND RESIDENTIAL TRAINING TO 140 MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN IN SELF-CARE SKILLS, SOCIALISATION, GENERAL KNOWLEDGE, LEARNING HABITS AND WORK TOLERANCE.

THE ADJACENT ABERDEEN REHABILITATION CENTRE, WITH A CAPACITY OF 255, PROVIDES THE SOCIAL AND VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION TO VARIOUS DISABLED PERSONS. THE ORTHOPAEDI CALLY DISABLED AND THE MENTALLY RETARDED FORM THE LARGEST GROUPS OF RESIDENTS IN THE CENTRE.

• BOTH CENTRES ARE GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS, ADMINISTERED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.

THE WAH HONG HOSTEL FOR THE AGED, RUN BY THE HONG KONG CHRISTIAN SERVICE WITH A GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION, PROVIDES ACCOMMODATION FOR 120 AMBULATORY AND INDEPENDENT PEOPLE AGED 63 YEARS AND OVER.

- - - - 0-----

/2....

TUESDAY, MAY 30, 1973

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SOCIAL SERVICES AND MP CONTINUE VISIT TO WELFARE AND TRAINING INSTITUTIONS *****

THE VISITING SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE RT. HON. DAVID ENNALS, M.P., AND MR. RODERICK MACFARQUHAR, M.P., WILL VISIT THE CHUK YUEN CHILDREN’S RECEPTION CENTRE IN WONG TAI SIN AND THE CAPE COLLINSON TRAINING CENTRE IN CHAI WAN TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).

DURING THE VISIT, MR. ENNALS AND MR. MACFARQUHAR WILL INSPECT THE VARIOUS FACILITIES OF THE TWO INSTITUTIONS.

THE CHUK YUEN CHILDREN’S RECEPTION CENTRE, OPERATED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, PROVIDES TEMPORARY CARE FOR UP TO SIX MONTHS TO CHILDREN BELOW EIGHT YEARS OF AGE.

THE CAPE COLLINSON TRAINING CENTRE, RUN BY THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT, PROVIDES CONVICTED YOUNG PEOPLE AGED BETWEEN 17 AND 21 WITH BOTH EDUCATIONAL AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR A PERIOD RANGING FROM SIX TO 36 MONTHS.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE VISITS TO CHUK YUEN CHILDREN’S RECEPTION CENTRE AND THE CAPE COLLINSON TRAINING CENTRE BY MR. ENNALS AND MR. MACFARQUHAR.

TRANSPORT FACILITIES FOR NEWSMEN WILL BE PROVIDED FOR BOTH THE VISITS. THE PRESS VAN TO CHUK YUEN CHILDREN’S CENTRE WILL LEAVE FROM THE EASTERN ENTRANCE OF LEE GARDENS IN CAUSEWAY BAY AT 9 A.M. TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY). THOSE WISHING TO USE THEIR OWN TRANSPORT ARE REQUESTED TO ARRIVE AT THE CENTRE, AT LUNG FUNG STREET, WONG TAI SIN, BEFORE 9.35 A.M.

PRESS TRANSPORT FOR CAPE COLLINSON CENTRE WILL LEAVE FROM GUARDIAN HOUSE, 01 KWAN ROAD, WAN CHAI, AT 10 A.M. SENIOR INFORMATION OFFICER, MR. JOHN PICKARD, WILL BE THERE TO ASSIST THE PRESS. THOSE WHO WISH TO MAKE THEIR OWN WAY TO CAPE COLLINSON CENTRE SHOULD ARRIVE AT THE CENTRE AT CAPE COLLINSON ROAD, CHAI WAN, BEFORE 11 A.M.

-----0------

TUESDAY, MAY 30, 1978

LAST TWO WEEKS FOR URBCO ELECTION REGISTRATION

******

THE REGISTRATION OFFICER FOR THE 1978 URBAN COUNCIL ELECTION REGISTRATION, MR. KUO KET-CHEN TODAY REMINDED ELIGIBLE VOTERS WHO HAVE NOT YET REGISTERED FOR NEXT YEAR’S ELECTIONS THAT THE CLOSING DATE FOR REGISTRATION IS JUNE 15.

MR. KUO SAID: +APPLICATION FORMS FOR REGISTRATION ARE STILL AVAILABLE AT ALL POST OFFICES, CITY DISTRICT OFFICES, DISTRICT OFFICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT OFFICES AND THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS OFFICES. THE FORMS MAY EE COMPLETED IN ENGLISH OR CHINESE.

MR. KUO POINTED OUT THAT SINCE REGISTRATION BEGAN IN MIDFEBRUARY, MORE THAN 8,000 PEOPLE HAVE COME FORWARD TO REGISTER AS ELECTORS.

+THIS IS VERY ENCOURAGING AS THE THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD IN 1976,+ HE

MR. KUO ALSO REMINDED REGISTERED TO A CHOICE OF POLLING STATIONS.

FIGURE NEARLY TRIPLED THAT OF ADDED.

VOTERS THAT THEY ARE ENTITLED

+REGISTERED VOTERS HAVE UNTIL JUNE 15 TO DECIDE GN WHICH POLLING STATION THEY .VISH TO USE.+ MR. KUO SAID.

-----o------

TUESDAY, MAY 30, 1978

- 4 -

NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS TO ISSUE GSP CERTIFICATES FOR EXPORTS TO NEW ZEALAND * * * * *

THE TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT FIVE NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS HAVE BEEN AUTHORISED TO ISSUE ENDORSED CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN FOR GOODS SHIPPED UNDER GENERALISED SCHEME OF PREFERENCES (GSP) TO NEW ZEALAND FROM HONG KONG FROM JUNE 1, 1978.

THE FIVE ORGANISATIONS SO AUTHORISED ARE: THE HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE- THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES- THE INDIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE- THE CHINESE MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG AND THE CHINESE GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

NEW ZEALAND IS THE FOURTH COUNTRY, FOLLOWING JAPAN, SWITZERLAND AND CANADA, TO ACCEPT GSP CERTIFICATES ISSUED BY NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS.

THE NEW ZEALAND GENERALISED SCHEME OF PREFERENCES OFFERS TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, INCLUDING HONG KONG, TARIFF REDUCTIONS ON ABOUT 3,300 PRODUCTS WHICH INCLUDE MOST OF HONG KONG’S MAJOR EXPORTS SUCH AS TEXTILE PRODUCTS, FOOTWEAR AND TOYS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THE STAFF OF THE FIVE ORGANISATIONSHAD UNDERGONE TRAINING IN THE DEPARTMENT AND WERE FULLY COMPETENT TO DEAL WITH APPLICATIONS FOR GSP CERTIFICATES.

HE SAID THAT THE FIVE ORGANISATIONS WOULD APPLY THE SAME RULES AND PROCEDURES ADOPTED BY THE DEPARTMENT AND THAT CLOSE CO-ORDINATION WOULD BE MAINTAINED THROUGH A +CERTIFI CAT I ON COORDINATION COMMITTEE* WHICH COMPRISES SENIOR OFFICIALS OF THE FIVE CERTIFICATE-ISSUING ORGANISATIONS AND THE DEPARTMENT.

-----0------

TUESDAY, MAY 30, 1978

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ADVISER TALKS ON

CONSULTATION WITH INDUSTRY ON POLLUTION CONTROL * * * * *

THE GOVERNMENT’S ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ADVISER, DR. STUART REED, SAID TODAY HE SAW A DEFINITE NEED TO STRENGTHEN ARRANGEMENTS FOR CONSULTATION WITH INDUSTRY ON POLLUTION CONTROL.

DR. REED TOLD THE MONTHLY LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES THAT THE POSSIBILITY OF REPRESENTATION FROM THE MAIN INDUSTRIAL BODIES WAS BEING EXPLORED AS WELL AS RECONSTITUTING THE GOVERNMENT’S ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (EPCOM).

IN THE PAST EPCOM HAD INCLUDED PROMINENT PEOPLE FROM INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE AND HAD DONE A VERY VALUABLE JOB IN DEVELOPING THE GENERAL STRATEGY FOR PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT IN HONG KONG.

+BUT FOR THE NEXT STAGE OF WORK, WHICH WILL INVOLVE SETTING QUANTITATIVE REGULATIONS AND THE EARLY STAGES OF IMPLEMENTATION, WE ARE GOING TO NEED A RATHER DIFFERENT EPCOM. AMONG THE CHANGES WE ARE CURRENTLY EXPLORING IS THE POSSIBILITY OF INCLUDING IN THE RECONSTITUTED EPCOM FORMAL REPRESENTATION FROM THE MAIN INDUSTRIAL BODIES SUCH AS YOUR FEDERATION,+ HE SAID.

DR. REED SPOKE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF A LEGAL FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH OVERALL STRATEGY FOR POLLUTION CONTROL COULD BE WORKED OUT. EXTENSIVE DISCUSSIONS HAD BEEN HELD IN EPCOM OVER A THREE-YEAR PERIOD AND NOW DISCUSSIONS WERE TAKING PLACE WITH REPRESENTATIVE BODIES FROM HONG KONG INDUSTRY, INCLUDING AN AD HOC BODY SET UP BY THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES, AND SIMILAR GROUPS FROM THE HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND THE CHINESE MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION.

+WE ARE TAKING DISCUSSIONS WITH INDUSTRY ON THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION ONE ORDINANCE AT A TIME, TO TRY TO AVOID CONFUSING THE ISSUE IN THE DIFFERENT AREAS,+ DR. REED SAID.

+THERE IS CURRENTLY LITTLE IN THE WAY OF CONTROLS ON LIQUID EFFLUENTS IN HONG KONG AND THE POTENTIAL ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS IN THIS AREA CAN BE SERIOUS, SO WE HAVE TAKEN WATER POLLUTION AS A PRIORITY AREA.+

THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE WAS THEREFORE THE FIRST OF THE FIVE ORDINANCES BEING DISCUSSED WITH INDUSTRY.

DR. REED SAID THAT AT EACH MEETING WITH THE COMMITTEES SET UP BY THE REPRESENTATIVE BODIES OF INDUSTRY, HE HAD EMPHASIZED THAT, CONTRARY TO THE IMPRESSION SOME MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SEEMED TO HAVE, GOVERNMENT DID NOT EQUATE INDUSTRY WITH POLLUTION.

+INDUSTRY, AND ONLY SOME INDUSTRIES AT THAT, IS ONLY ONE OF THE CONTRIBUTORS TO POLLUTION. IN FACT, IT HAS BEEN ESTIMATED THAT ONLY 13 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENTS PRODUCE A LIQUID EFFLUENT LIKELY TO GIVE RISE TO WATER POLLUTION. MANY OF THE CONTROLS IN ALL AREAS, AND MUCH OF THE INVESTMENT REQUIRED, PARTICULARLY FOR WATER POLLUTION CONTROL, CAN BE EXPECTED TO FALL OX THE PUBLIC AND DOMESTIC SECTOR RATHER THAN ON MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY.

/+! Aii PLBASSD

TUESDAY, MAY 30, 1978

+1 AM PLEASED TO SAY THAT, IN THE DISCUSSIONS WE HAVE HAD SO FAR WITH INDUSTRY, THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN MOST ENCOURAGING. I AM NOT SAYING WE HAVE BEEN WELCOMED WITH OPEN ARMS. BUT THERE HAS BEEN GENERAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE NEED FOR SOME SORT OF CONTROLS AND THE CRITICISMS OF OUR PROPOSALS HAVE BEEN THOUGHTFUL AND CONSTRUCTIVE.+

DR. REED SAID THERE WERE TWO IMPORTANT FEATURES WHICH SHOULD BE MENTIONED: THE FIRST IS +THAT WE PLAN TO ARRANGE MATTERS SO THAT THE EFFECT ON EXISTING INDUSTRY AND THE PUBLIC SECTOR IN HONG KONG IS MINIMAL. WE DO NOT PLAN TO INTRODUCE RETROACTIVE CONTROL REQUIREMENTS, EXCEPT IN THE RARE CASES WHERE WE FIND THERE IS QUITE CLEAR EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS HEALTH HAZARD.

+WHAT WE AIM TO DO IS TO CONTAIN THE PRESENT POLLUTION SITUATION IN THE SHORT-TERM BY LIMITING EXISTING EMISSIONS TO PRESENT VALUES, WITH SOME ALLOWANCE FOR NORMAL PRODUCTION VARIATIONS" WE AIM TO PREVENT SIGNIFICANT DETERIORATION IN THE MEDIUM-TERM BY PLACING APPROPRIATE EMISSION CONTROLS ON NEW INDUSTRIES, NEW SEWAGE WORKS AND OTHER NEW INSTALLATIONS WHERE SUCH CONTROLS CAN BE APPLIED MOST CONVENIENTLY AND ECONOMICALLY" AND WE ARE LOOKING FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LONGER-TERM THROUGH THE NATURAL PROCESS OF URBAN AND INDUSTRIAL RENEWAL WHICH WOULD, OF COURSE, HAVE TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR NEW INSTALLATIONS.*

THE SECOND IMPORTANT FEATURE OF THE PROPOSED CONTROLS, DR. REED SAID, WAS THE INTENTION TO USE AN +ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT* APPROACH RATHER THAN THE BLUNT INSTRUMENT OF BLANKET EMISSION LIMITS.

THROUGHOUT THE DISCUSSIONS ON THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE, THERE HAD BEEN TWO MAIN ANXIETIES ON THE PART OF REPRESENTATIVES WITH INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS.

+ONE IS THAT, ALTHOUGH THERE IS GENERAL ACCEPTANCE OF THE ENABLING LEGISLATION THAT WE ARE PROPOSING AS A QUALITATIVE FRAMEWORK, IT IS FELT THAT THERE MUST BE MORE THAN JUST ASSURANCES FROM THE GOVERNMENT SIDE THAT INDUSTRY WILL BE CONSULTED WHEN THE QUANTITATIVE REGULATIONS, WHICH FLOW FROM THE ENABLING LEGISLATION, ARE BEING FORMULATED.

+THE SECOND MAIN ANXIETY IS THAT THE IMPLICATIONS OF AN EXISTING DISCHARGER MODIFYING HIS INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENT BY INCREASING THE EMISSION OF EXISTING COMPONENTS OR INTRODUCING NEW COMPONENTS INTO THE DISCHARGE SHOULD BE SPELT OUT MUCH MORE CLEARLY THAN IT IS AT PRESENT.

• +WE VERY MUCH UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN ON THIS POINT AND WE ARE REVISING THE DEFINITIONS INVOLVED IN A WAY THAT WE HOPE WILL MEET THE CONCERNS EXPRESSED WHILST AT THE SAME TIME WE HOPE TO AVOID PLACING THE POLLUTER AND THE CONTROL AUTHORITY IN TOO RIGID A POSITION.*

DR. REED SAID IT WAS PLANNED TO HAVE A CENTRAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION UNIT IN THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT AND TO ESTABLISH CONTROL UNITS IN INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS.

-----o------

TUESDAY, MAY 30, 1978

TUEN NG FESTIVAL IS A STATUTORY HOLIDAY

*****

THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR. NEIL HENDERSON, TODAY REMINDED EMPLOYERS THAT THE.TUEN- NG.(DRAGON BOAT) FESTIVAL, WHICH FALLS ON JUNE 13, IS ONE OF THE 10 STATUTORY HOLIDAYS UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE.

MR. HENDERSON EMPHASISED THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE APPLY NOT ONLY TO INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYEES BUT ALSO TO EMPLOYEES IN THE ENTIRE COMMERCIAL SECTOR, INCLUDING THE SERVICES AND CATERING TRADES.

UNDER THE ORDINANCE, ALL MANUAL EMPLOYEES WITHOUT DISTINCTION AND INCLUDING DOMESTIC SERVANTS, IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR EARNINGS AND ALL NON-MANUAL EMPLOYEES EARNING NOT MORE THAN 32,000 A MONTH, ARE ENTITLED TO THE HOLIDAY.

THEY MUST ALSO BE PAID FOR THE DAY OFF IF THEY HAVE WORKED CONTINUOUSLY FOR THEIR EMPLOYERS FOR THREE MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE STATUTORY HOLIDAY.

IF THE EMPLOYER REQUIRES AN EMPLOYEE TO WORK ON A STATUTORY HOLIDAY, HE MUST GIVE HIM AT LEAST 48 HOURS’ NOTICE, AND HE MUST GIVE HIS EMPLOYEE AN ALTERNATIVE HOLIDAY WITHIN 60 DAYS OF THE STATUTORY HOLIDAY.

IF THE EMPLOYER INTENDS TO GIVE HIS EMPLOYEE AN ALTERNATIVE HOLIDAY BEFORE THE STATUTORY HOLIDAY, HE MUST NOTIFY HIM 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF THAT ALTERNATIVE HOLIDAY. AND IF AN ALTERNATIVE HOLIDAY IS TO BE GIVEN AFTER THE STATUTORY HOLIDAY, THE EMPLOYER MUST INFORM HIS EMPLOYEE OF THE ARRANGEMENT AT LEAST 48 HOURS BEFORE THE STATUTORY HOLIDAY.

COMPLAINTS OR ENQUIRIES ABOUT STATUTORY HOLIDAYS MAY BE MADE TO THE NEAREST BRANCH OFFICE OF THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE. THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS ARE: FOR KOWLOON EAST 3-205638- KOWLOON WEST 3-201652- KWUN TONG 3-898520= TSUEN WAN 12-422096- TUEN MUN 12-818443 EXT. 82= AND HONG KONG ISLAND 5-282523 EXT. 60.

0 - - - -

/8........

TUESDAY, MAY 30, 1978

DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT VISITS PWD SITES

******

THE DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, MR. DAVID STEAD, TODAY TOURED SOME OF THE WORK SITES ON HONG KONG ISLAND TO SEE THE PROGRESS OF VARIOUS P.W.D. PROJECTS.

HE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL OFFICE, MR. M.J. HUTTON- CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE PORT WORKS DIVISION, MR. HOWARD CHAMBERLAIN- CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE CIVIL ENGINEERING OFFICE’S CONSULTANTS MANAGEMENT DIVISION, MR. WONG KWOK-CHOY AND THE CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE HIGHWAYS (H.K.) DIVISION, MR. HO KWOK-YU.

AMONG THE SITES VISITED WAS THAT OF THE NEW $38 MILLION SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL PLANT AT CHAI WAN.

MR. STEAD WAS PLEASED WITH THE PROGRESS OF THE WORK ON THE PLANT, THE FIRST PULVERISING AND COMPOSTING PLANT IN HONG KONG.

PILING WORK FOR THE TWO-STOREY ADMINISTRATION OFFICE AND THE +DIGESTER+, WHERE REFUSE IS PROCESSED, HAS BEEN COMPLETED.

MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE COMPOSTING PLANT HAVE BEEN DELIVERED TO THE SITE AND INSTALLATION WORK HAS JUST BEGUN.

THE NEW PLANT WHICH OCCUPIES AN AREA OF ABOUT 9,300 SQUARE METRES ON RECLAIMED LAND AT SUN YIP STREET OFF CHAI WAN ROAD, <vAS DESCRIBED BY MR. STEAD AS A MAJOR STEP IN THE P.W.D.'S EFFORTS TO DEVELOP BETTER AND MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY ACCEPTABLE MEANS OF REFUSE DISPOSAL.

ON COMPLETION IN FEBRUARY NEXT YEAR, HE SAID, THE PLANT WOULD SUBSTANTIALLY BOOST THE PRESENT REFUSE DISPOSAL FACILITIES.

OTHER PROJECTS INSPECTED BY MR. STEAD TODAY INCLUDED THE SECOND PASSENGER FERRY PIER AT NORTH POINT AND THE AP LEI CHAU BRIDGE, BOTH OF WHICH ARE SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION NEXT YEAR.

0 --------

TUESDAY, MAY 30, 1978 - 9 -

ROAD SAFETY SPEECH CONTEST FOR PRIMARY STUDENTS *****

CHILDREN FROM 15 PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICTS WILL BE GIVEN A CHANCE TO AIR THEIR VIEWS ABOUT ROAD SAFETY WHEN THEY TAKE PART IN A SPEECH CONTEST TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY (JUNE 3) AT CHIU SHEUNG SCHOOL.

EACH OF THE 15 PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS WILL SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO GIVE A FOUR-MINUTE SPEECH ON +HOW TO AVOID TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS*.

MR. LEE TAT-YU, WHO HAS ORGANISED THE CONTEST AS PART OF THE SECOND DISTRICT BEAT CRIME CAMPAIGN SAID TODAY: +ABOUT A MONTH AGO I SENT LETTERS TO THE HEADMASTERS OF EACH OF THE SCHOOLS IN CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICTS AND THE RESPONSE WAS QUITE ENCOURAGING.

+TEACHERS IN EACH OF THE SCHOOLS TAKING PART WILL STAGE A COMPOSITION COMPETITION ON THE SUBJECT OF THE SPEECH CONTEST AND THE BEST ONE WILL BE CHOSEN AS THE SPEECH TO BE GIVEN ON JUNE 3.+

HE ADDED: +EY DOING THIS I HOPE SCHOOL CHILDREN WILL GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF ROAD SAFETY.*

ACCORDING TO STATISTICS ISSUED BY THE POLICE TRAFFIC DIVISION, 236 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS OCCURRED IN CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICTS DURING THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR.

CHIEF STAFF INSPECTOR OF THE TRAFFIC POLICE DIVISION, IU YEE-HUNG SAID TODAY: +IN VIEW OF THE HEAVY TRAFFIC IN CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICTS WHERE MOST SCHOOLS ON THE ISLAND ARE LOCATED I THINK SCHOOL ACTIVITIES LIKE THE ROAD SAFETY SPEECH CONTEST ARE IMPORTANT TO REMIND CHILDREN ABOUT ROAD SAFETY.*

ADJUDICATORS WILL BE DRAWN FROM THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT BEAT CRIME ORGANISING COMMITTEE.

PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED TO THE FIRST THREE WINNERS WHO WILL RECEIVE TROPHIES AND BOOK TOKENS ..’ORTH 5150, $100 AND $50 EACH.

--------0 ----------

/10

TUESDAY, MAY 30, 1978

KWAI FCL'G POST OFFICE BUSINESS HOURS * * * *

T'5E POST OFFICE TODAY AHAC'JUCED T..AT THE BUSINESS HOURS

SF i _ a..Al FONG POST CFF IO_ r>T ~LCCk 7, A .'.A I FONG zSTATi ..ILL

BE CHANGED AS FOLLOWS THU-SLAY (JU' E 1):

2.33 .= / . - 5 P.M ? A..'.. - 1 P.M.

AT PRESENT, THE POST 2.15 P.M. TILL 5 P.M.

OFFICE OPERATES IN THE AFTERNOON FROM

-------o - - - -

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN FLEMING ROAD

*****

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE AREA NEAR FLEMING ROAD, WAN CHAI ON JUNE 1, 2, 5 AND 6 BETWEN 8 A.M. AND 6 P.M. DAILY IN ORDER TO FACILITATE MAINTENANCE WORKS ON FLEMING ROAD FLYOVER.

ON JUNE 1 THE NORTH-EASTERN RAMP OF FLEMING ROAD FLYOVER WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL VEHICLES. SIGNAL-CONTROLLED SINGLE-LANE TRAFFIC IN ALTERNATE DIRECTIONS WILL BE MAINTAINED ON THE NORTH-WESTERN RAMP.

AT THE SAME TIME THE WESTERN CARRIAGEWAY OF THE SECTION OF FLEMING ROAD NORTH OF HARBOUR ROAD WILL BE RE-ROUTED TWO-WAY, AND THE SLIP ROAD BETWEEN THE EASTERN AND WESTERN CARRIAGEWAYS OF FLEMING ROAD NORTH OF HARBOUR ROAD WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONEWAY WESTBOUND.

ON JUNE 2 THE NORTH-WESTERN RAMP OF FLEMING ROAD FLYOVER WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL VEHICLES. SIGNAL-CONTROLLED SINGLE-LANE TRAFFIC IN ALTERNATE DIRECTIONS WILL BE MAINTAINED ON THE NORTHEASTERN RAMP.

IN ADDITION THE EASTERN AND WESTERN CARRIAGEWAYS OF FLEMING ROAD NORTH OF HARBOUR ROAD WILL BE RE-ROUTED TWO-WAY, AND THE SLIP ROAD BETWEEN THE EASTERN AND WESTERN CARRIAGEWAYS OF FLEMING ROAD NORTH OF HARBOUR ROAD WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONEWAY WESTBOUND.

ON JUNE 5 AND 6 ONE OF THE TWO LANES ON THE SOUTHERN RAMP OF FLEMING ROAD FLYOVER WILL BE CLOSED TO VEHICLES. SIGNAL-CONTROLLED SINGLE-LANE TRAFFIC IN ALTERNATE DIRECTIONS WILL BE MAINTAINED ON THE OTHER LANE.

APPROPRIATE SIGNS WILL BE SET UP IN THE AREA TO GUIDE MOTOR I STS.

------0-------

PRH 7

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 1978

CONTENTS

PAGE NO.

U.K. SOCIAL SERVICES SECRETARY CENTRE AND TRAINING INSTITUTION

AND MP VISIT CHILDREN’

U.K. SOCIAL SERVICES SECRETARY AND MP TO TOUR QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL ........................

PROBLEMS FACING PRISON STAFF ..............................

NEW COASTAL TRUNK ROAD TO LINK SHA TIN AND TAI PO .......

BANKING STATISTICS FOR APRIL .............................

AGRICULTURAL TOUR OF U.K. FOR LOCAL FARMERS .............. 47 NEW BUILDING PLANS APPROVED LAST MONTH ................ RECLAMATION IN SHA TIN ................................... PILING WORK STARTS FOR PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES IN

SECRETARY for home affairs to attend inauguration of

NEW SPORTS COMMITTEE ..................................... 9

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS ...................................... 10

Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong.Tel: 5-233191

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 1978

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SOCIAL SERVICES AND MP VISIT CHILDREN’S CENTRE AND TRAINING INSTITUTION

* # H 4 H H

THE SECRETARY CF STATE FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE RT. HON. DAVID ENMALS, M.P., AND MR. RODERICK MACFARQUHAR, M.P. TODAY VISITED THE CHUK YUEN CHILDREN’S RECEPTION CENTRE IN WONG TAI SIN AND THE CAPE COLLINSON TRAINING CENTRE IN CHAI WAN.

THEY FIRST WENT TO THE CHILDREN’S CENTRE TO INSPECT THE FACILITIES THERE. THE CENTRE NOW PROVIDES CARE FOR 104 ABANDONED BABIES AND CHILDREN.

ACCOMPANYING THEM ON THE VISIT WERE THE ACTING DIRECTOR CF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. JIMMY SWEETMAN- THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (SOCIAL WORK), MRS. EVELYN DOE- AND THE CENTRE’S SUPERINTENDENT, MRS. LU CHENG YUK-YIP.

THE VISITORS WERE BRIEFED ON HOW THE CENTRE, IN A HAPPY AND HOMELY SETTING, DEVELOPED THE CHILDREN’S PHYSICAL AND MENTAL POTENTIAL THROUGH INFORMAL SCHOOLING AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES.

THE CENTRE, OPERATED DY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, PROVIDES TEMPORARY CARE FOR A .MAXIMUM OF SIX MONTHS FOR ABANDONED OR WARDER ING CHILDREN BELO1.. THE AGE OF EIGHT YEARS.

SOME OF THE CHILDREN NO'. UNDER CARE AT THE CENTRE ..ILL DE REUNITED WITH THEIR FAMILIES .<HEK--THEIR PARENTS ARE ABLE ONCE AGAIN, TO RESUME THEIR ROLE.

OTHERS ARE TRANSFERRED TO OTHER CHILDREN’S HOMES FOR SCHOOLING AND LONGER-TERM INSTITUTIONAL CARE.

FOR THE HOMELESS CHILDREN GIVEN UP BY THEIR PARENTS, THE STAFF OF THE CENTRE, THROUGH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE DEPARTMENT’S ADOPTION UNIT, HELP THEM TO EE ADOPTED EITHER LOCALLY OR OVERSEAS.

IN CASES CF CHILDREN . ITH PHYSICAL DISABILITY OR MENTAL DEFECT .'HERE THE CHANCE CF ADOPTION IS SLIM. THEY ARE ADMITTED INTO ORE OF THE C.-ILCE' ’3 HOMES FC LC G-TcRM CARE ARD SPECIAL TRAINING.

MR. ENMALS AND N-CARGUHAR LATER WENT TO THE CAPE COLLINSON T.-.AIA’H.G CE’ Fr.E •IC" IS OPERATED BY T E r ISC S Dir' A.-» i C . .

THEY ,E‘E MET CM C'lVC 7.Y T"E CCMISSICNEP CISCNS, MR . . T. G. _ D * M R 0 U i THE . 0 E £.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 197- •

2 -•

NOTE TO EDITORS:

SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SOCIAL SERVICES AND MP TO VISIT HOSPITAL ;

* * * *

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE RT. HO\’t DAVID ENNALS, AMD MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, MR. RODERICK MACFARQUHAR, WILL VISIT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL TOMORROW (THURSDAY). THEY WILL BE ACCOMPANIED CX THE VISIT BY THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES.

REPORTERS/PHOTOGRAPHERS WISHING TO COVER THE EVENT ARE REQUESTED TO ASSEMBLE AT THE HOSPITAL’S SCHOOL OF GENERAL NURSING AT 13.45 A.M. TOMORROW. SENIOR INFORMATION OFFICER OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, MR. K.Y. MAK, WILL BE PRESENT TO ASSIST THE PRESS.

- PROBLEMS FACING PRISON STAFF * * * *

.A*

ASSAULTS ON PRISON STAFF OCCUR MUCH MORE FREQUENTLY THAN THE PUBLIC REALISE AND PRISONERS WITH LONG OR INDETERMINATE SENTENCES ARE PRONE TO ACTS OF VIOLENT AND PROVOCATIVE BEHAVIOUR, THE SENIOR SUPERINTENDENT OF PRISON, MR. GARTH HYDES, SAID TODAY.

SPEAKING AT THE LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF HONG KONG ISLAND EAST, MR. HYDES SAID SUCH PRISONERS, WHEN SUBDUED BY THE USE OF NECESSARY FORCE REQUIRED TO STOP AN ATTACK ON PR ISON STAFF, REACT BY MAKING FALSE COMPLAINTS ABOUT ILL-TREATMENT TO ANYONE PREPARED TO LISTEN, FORGETTING THEIR ASSAULT ON THE STAFF.

„ .MR* HYDES, WHO WAS UNTIL RECENTLY THE SENIOR SUPERINTENDENT OF STANLEY PRISON AND IS NOW IN CHARGE OF ALL YOUNG OFFENDER INSTITUTIONS, ALSO OUTLINED HE ENORMOUS PROBLEMS FACING PRISON STAFF•

INCLUDED THE DIFFICULTIES IN HANDLING AGGRESSIVE PRISONERo WHO TRY TO +MANIPULATE THE STAFF BY USING THE SAME BULLYING TACTICS THEY USED CUTSIDE HOP I NG TO BRING ABOUT A SITUATION WHEREBY THEY ARE GRANTED CERTAIN THINGS BY JUNIOR STAFF+, THE CHANGING NATURE UF CPI'E AND CRIMINALS AS WELL AS THt ..ORRIES CREATED BY PUBLIC C-1 IC'

HE SAID: +OVEP THE YEARS, THAT SENTENCE PATTERNS Haas SENTENCES IMPOSED BY THE COURTS

IT HAS BEEN NOTED BY OUR SERVICE ■ C: ANGLO, AND THAT GENERALLY

ARE LONGER.

/♦THE MEN

«£UJN1SkXUA.1 , MAI Jl| IJI

+THE MEN AND WOMEN IN CUR CUSTODY HAVE ALSO CHANGED AND ARE NOW FAR MORE ANTI—SOC I AL, ANT I-AUTHOR I TAR IAN, VIOLENT AND DIFFICULT TO HANDLE.

+AS A RESULT Oc THIS, THE STAFF ARE REQUIRED TO SHOW THE UTMOST SELF-CONTROL AND DISC I PL HIE,+ HE ADDED.

HE SAID: +THE NUMBER OF PERSONS SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT IS INCREASING- AS DEATH SENTENCES ARE COMMUTED TO IMPRISONMENT, AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT OUR PROBLEMS WITH THEM WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO INCREASE.+

MR. HYDES COMPLIMENTED THE DISCHARGED PRISONERS AND SOCIETY FOR THEIR +STERLING SERVICE* FOR THE EX-PRISONER IN NEED OF HELP AND POINTED OUT THE NEED FOR A STATUTORY AFTER-CARE SERVICE FOR PRISONERS.

HE SAID: +1 WOULD WELCOME THE INTRODUCTION OF AFTER-CARE, AT LEAST FOR YOUNG PRISONERS.*

IN HIS SPEECH, MR. HYDES ALSO EXPLAINED THE PRIME FUNCTIONS OF THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT, THE TYPES OF PRISONS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS, AND THE CLASSIFICATION CP PRISONERS AND INMATES, THE ADMISSION PROCEDURES, THE PRISON INDUSTRIES AND WELFARE SERVICES AVAILABLE IN PRISONS.

-----o------

NEW COASTAL TRUNK ROAD TO LINK SHA TIN AND TAI PO *■ * * * *

THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO BUILD A NEW DUAL THREE-LANE COASTAL TRUNK ROAD TO LINK SHA TIN AND TAI PO TO COPE WITH THE TRAFFIC EXPECTED TO BE GENERATED EY THE DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREAS.

AS PART OF THE PROJECT, AN AREA OF FORESHORE AND SEA BED TOTALLING ABOUT 10 HECTARES, WILL BE RECLAIMED AT MA LIL SHU I NEAR THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY.

THE EXTENT OF THE AREA OF FORESHORE AND SEA BED INVOLVED IS DESCRIBED IN A NOTICE IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE PUBLISHED LAST FRIDAY (MAY 26).

ANYONE WHO HAS OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSAL SHOULD SUBMIT SUCH OBJECTIONS IN WRITING TO THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS WITHIN A PERIOD OF T./O MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF THE NOTICE.

THE NOTICE, I . BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE, aITH ITS RELATED PLA.. CAN BE SEEN ON NOTICE BOARDS POSTED NEAR THE SITE.

THE PLAN SHOWING THE AREA OF FORESHORE AND SEA BED INVOLVED MAY ALSO EE SEEN AT THE PORT WORKS DIVISION, FIRST FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG OR THE CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE, 19TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, OR THE SHA TIN GOVERNMENT OFFICES, GROUND FLOOR, 2 TUNG LO ..A HILL ROAD, SHA TIN, NEa TERRITORIES.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 1978

BANKING STATISTICS FOR APRIL

*****

BANKING DEPOSITS AT THE END OF APRIL THIS YEAR STOOD AT *57,52’’ MILLION, COMPRISING *>12,840 MILLION IN DEMAND DEPOSITS, *22,431 MILLION IM TIME DEPOSITS AND 322,282 MILLION IN SAVINGS DEPOSITS, ACCORDING TO STATISTICS RELEASED TODAY BY THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING.

THE AVERAGE LIQUIDITY DURING THE MONTH WAS 45.20 PER CENT.

THERE WERE 74 LICENSED BANKS IN HONG KONG AT THE END OF APRIL.

THE FOLLOWING TABLES GIVE A DETAILED BREAKDOWN OF BANK LIABILITIES AND ASSETS AND MONEY SUPPLY FOR THE MONTH.

LIABILITIES

$ MILLION

1. DEPOSITS 57,523

2. AMOUNT DUE TO9 BANKS ABROAD 36,614

o. OTHER LIABILITIES 10,852

TOTAL LIABILITIES: 104,989

ASSETS

1. CASH 1,020

2. AMOUNT DUE FRO" BANKS ABROAD:

(I) DEMAND AND SHORT TER,- CLAIMS 30,751

.(II) TIME DEPOSITS 7,049

-------- 37,800

3. LOANS AMD ADVANCES:

(I) HONG KONG 41,114

(II) ABROAD 16,143

-------- 57,257

/•A. XKVESI34ENTS.......

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 1978

4. INVESTMENTS:

(I) HONG KONG 3,939

(II) ABROAD H5 .

---------- 4,054

5. OTHER ASSETS:

(I) HONG KONG 4,703

(II) ABROAD 155

---------- 4,858

TOTAL ASSETS: lQA-,98?

AVERAGE LIQUIDITY DURING MONTH

45.2C'(

MONEY SUPPLY

MONTH ENDED 30TH APRIL 1978

« MILLION

1. LEGAL TENDER COINS AND NOTES IN CIRCULATION (A)

* • ( 1) COI 'ERCIAL DANK ISSUES (II) GOVERNMENT ISSUES 6,105 657 6,763

2. LICENSED BANKS’ HOLDINGS OF LEGAL TENDER AND MOTES (3) CO 1 NS 1,020

3. LEGAL TENDER COINS AMD NOTES IM HANDS OF BANK PUBLIC (A) - (3) - (C) NON- 5,743

4. DEMAND DEPOSITS WITH LICENSED BANKS (D) 12,840

5. MONEY SUPPLY (DEFINITION 1) (C) + (D) - CE) 18,583

6. TIME DEPOSITS WITH LICENSED BANKS (c) 22,401

7. .SAVINGS DEPOSITS <'ITH LICENSED BANKS (G) 22,282

8. MONEY SUPPLY (DEFINITION Z) (E) + (P) + (G) = (H) KO KO CM KO

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 1973

- 6

AGRICULTURAL TOUR OF U.K. FOR * * * * *

LOCAL FARMERS

WILL VISIT BRITAIN AT THE

A GROUP OF NEW TERRITORIES FARMERS -----

END OF JUNE FOR TWO WEEKS TO STUDY MODERN U.K. FARMING METHODS.

THE GROUP WILL BE LED BY A MEMBER OF THE VEGETABLE MARKETING ADVISORY BOARD, MR. CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, AND ACCOMPANIED BY AN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT* DR. C.T. ..ONG.

THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, MR. TED NICHOLS, TODAY PRESENTED A GOODWILL BANNER TO THE GROUP LEADER, MR. CHEUNG.

THE VISIT, SPONSORED BY THE VEGETABLE MARKETING ORGANISATION, THE KADOORIE AGRICULTURAL AID ASSOCIATION AND THE AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, IS AIMED AT GIVING LOCAL FARMERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE BRITISH AGRICULTURAL TECHNIQUES AS WELL AS THE MARKETING OF FARM PRODUCE. THEY WILL ALSO MAKE CONTACT WITH VARIOUS AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTIONS IN THE U.K.

A HIGHLIGHT OF THE TOUR WILL BE THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SHOW NEAR KENILWORTH, WARWICKSHIRE.

THE GROUP WILL ALSO VISIT SEVERAL VEGETABLE AND PIG FARMS AND RESEARCH STATIONS. THE NEW CONVENT GARDEN MARKET IN LONDON AND THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING ARE ALSO IN THEIR ITINERARY WHICH HAS BEEN ARRANGED EY THE NATIONAL FARMERS UNION, HiNtKAKT —Sture, fisheries and food and the hong kong

LONDON.

THE MINISTRY OF AGRIC GOVERNMENT OFFICE IN I

THIS WILL BE THE SECOND AGRICULTURAL TOUR TO U.K.- THE FIRST, LAST YEAR, COMPRISEfl F IVE SENIOR COMMIJJtE MEMBERS OF THE FEDERATION OF VEGETABLE MARKET

O-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 1978

BUILDING PLANS FOR APR IL ******

A TOTAL OF 47 NEW BUILDING PLANS WERE APPROVED LAST MONTH (APRIL) BY THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, COMPARED WITH 44 IN THE SAME MONTH LAST YEAR.

■>

OF THE NEW PLANS APPROVED, 19 WERE FOR BUILDINGS ON HONG KONG ISLAND, SEVEN FOR KOWLOON AND 21 FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES.

THEY INCLUDED PLANS FOR A COLD AND DRY STORAGE BUILDING IN KWAI CHUNG, A COMMERCIAL OR COMMUNITY COMPLEX IN SHA TIN, AND SEVERAL FACTORY BUILDINGS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

THE TOTAL DECLARED COST OF NEW BUILDINGs' COMPLETED DURING THE MONTH WAS 0253.23 MILLION, COMPARED WITH $119.16 MILLION LAST YEAR.

THE TOTAL USABLE FLOOR AREA OF NEW BUILDINGS COMPLETED DURING LAST MONTH AMOUNTED TO 148,927.3 SQUARE METRES, COMPRISING 113,066 SQUARE METRES OF NON-DOMESTIC FLOOR AREA AND 35,861.3 SQUARE METRES OF DOMESTIC FLOOR AREA.

DURING THE MONTH, THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE GAVE CONSENT FOR WORK TO START ON 51 NEW BUILDING PROJECTS, INCLUDING A FILTER HOUSE ON TSI NG Yl ISLAND, AND A PETROL F ILL I NG STATION IN TAI PO ROAD.

A TOTAL OF 39 NEWLY COMPLETED BUILDINGS WERE CERTIFIED FOR OCCUPATION DURING THE MONTH, INCLUDING AN EXTENSION TO NAM LONG HOSPITAL IN ABERDEEN, A SWIMMING POOL AT THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC, AND A VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE AND STAFF QUARTERS IN CAINE ROAD.

THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE HAS ASSENTED TO THE DEMOLITION OF 35 BUILDINGS.

-----o------

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 1973

_ 8 _

RECLAMATION WORK TO PROVIDE 48 HECTARES

*******

RECLAMATION WORK IS NOW IN PROGRESS NEAR SIU LEK YUEN AND TURRET HILL QUARRY, SHA TIN NEW TOWN, TO PROVIDE 46.5 HECTARES OF LAND FOR DEVELOPMENT.

ACCORDING TO MR. S.K. KWEI, CHIEF ENGINEER OF P.W.D.’S NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, 4.8 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF DUMPING WILL BE REQUIRED FOR RECLAIMING THE LAND. OF THIS 1.2 MILLION CUBIC METRES WILL BE FROM BORROW AREAS AND 2.25 MILLION CUBIC METRES FROM PUBLIC/MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION DUMPING.

A 2,312-METRE-LONG SEA WALL TO BE BUILT, WILL REQUIRE A DREDGING OF 495,000 CUBIC METRES, AMD DEPOSITING OF 356,000 CUBIC METRES OF SOFT-FILL AND 108,800 CUBIC METRES OF RUBBLE.

THERE WILL BE TdQ CHANNELS, TWO BRIDGES AND THREE BOX CULVERTS IN THE AREA.

WHEN RECLAMATION WORKS ARE COMPLETED, THE AREA IS EXPECTED TO PROVIDE 30 HECTARES FOR LIGHT INDUSTRIAL USE, 8.75 HECTARES FOR RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES, AND 8.1 HECTARES FOR OPEN SPACE. ABOUT 0.5 HECTARE WILL BE RESERVED FOR GOVERNMENT, INSTITUTION AND COMMUNITY USES.

A SUBSTANTIAL P*RT OF THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL AREA WILL EE AVAILABLE FOR DEVELOMKNT BY MID-1980. OTHER AREAS ARE EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE BEFORE DECEMBER 1980.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 1978

- 9 -

PILING WORK STARTS FOR SHA TIN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES ******

THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF, THE P.W.D. HAS COMPLETED SITE FORMATION WORKS FOR MOST OF THE AR^A NORTH-EAST OF TSANG TAI UK IN SHA TIN NEW TOWN.

THIS AREA, WHICH HAS RECENTLY BEEN RECLAIMED FROM THE SEA, WILL CONTAIN TWO PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES — ONE TO BE ’BUILT BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND ANOTHER BY THE HOUSING SOCIETY.

THE HOUSING AUTHORITY ESTATE, EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN THREE PHASES BY 1981, WILL HOUSE 23,000 PEOPLE.

THE HOUSING SOCIETY ESTATE, DUE FOR COMPLETION BY THE END OF 1980, WILL HOUSE 15,000 PEOPLE.

PILING WORK HAS ALREADY COMMENCED FOR THE TWO ESTATES.

----o------

NOTE TO EDITORS!

SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS TO OF NEW COMMITTEE * * * *

ATTEND INAUGURATION

MEMBERS *

THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR. F.K. LI, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY FOR THE FIFTH TERM OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE KWUN TONG SPORTS ASSOCIATION AT 7 P.M. TOMORROW (THURSDAY) AT MARIGOLD RESTAURANT, 130 NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON.

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO COVER THE EVENT.

---------o---------

/10

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 1973

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN EASTERN DISTRICT * * * * *

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT/FROM 10 A.M. ON FRIDAY (JUNE 2), PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM USING CHEUNG WOO LANE, SHARP STREET WEST AND BOWRuNGTON ROAD IN EASTERN DISTRICT ON HONG KONG ISLAND FOR ABOUT ONE MONTH TO FACILITATE ROAD WORKS.

DURING THE SAME PERIOD THE SECTION OF WAN CHAI ROAD EAST OF MORRISON HILL ROAD WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL VEHICULAR TRAFFIC.

MEANWHILE, THE DEPARTMENT ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT THE NORTHBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF CANAL ROAD WEST BETWEEN SHARP STREET WEST AND WAN CHAI ROAD WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FOR THREE HOURS FROM 11 P.M. ON FRIDAY TO FACILITATE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CANAL ROAD EXTENSIONS.

APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL EE SET UP IN THESE AREAS TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.

-----o------

Daily Information Bulletin - 1970s - 1978 - MAY - ENG