DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1981
contents page no.
EXTENSIVE SCHEME FOR WATER FROM CHINA........................... 1
LUNAR NEW YEAR FIRE PREVENTION ADVICE.......................... 4
$493 MILLION SOCIAL SECURITY PAYOUT IN 1?8o .................... 5
FAIR TIME IN NEW TERRITORIES ................................... g
CHE KUNG FESTIVAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS ......................... 7
TAX REMINDER TO PROPERTY OWNERS ................................ 9
FORUM ON SPORT AND RECREATION FOR THE DISABLED ................. 9
LUNAR NEV YEAR CARNIVAL FOR CHILDREN .......................... 10
GOOD RESPONSE TO INDUSTRIAL SAFETY POSTER COMPETITION.......... 11
1
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1981
EXTENSIVE SCHEME FOR WATER FROM CHINA
*****
THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT IS TO SPEND MORE THAN $1 300 MILLION IN ITS MOST EXTENSIVE SCHEME EVER TO CATER FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES OF WATER FROM CHINA.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY, THE DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, MR WILLIAM TUCKER, SAID THE PROJECT WOULD BE CARRIED OUT IN THREE STAGES DURING THE NEXT 12 YEARS.
IT WILL INVOLVE THE CONSTRUCTION OF SEVEN PUMPING STATIONS, 32 KILOMETRES OF TUNNEL AND THE LAYING OF 31 KILOMETRES OF PIPELINE.
MR TUCKER SAID DESIGN WORK FOR THE NEW INSTALLATIONS REQUIRED IN THE FIRST STAGE WERE WELL IN HAND.
THE NEW WORKS INCLUDEi
* THE LAYING OF PIPELINES BETWEEN THE NEW MUK WU PUMPING STATION AND SHEUNG SHUI-
* THE LAYING OF TWO LARGE PIPELINES ACROSS THE SHENZHEN RIVER TO JOIN UP WITH THE DELIVERY SYSTEM FROM CHINA AT THE NORTHERN BANK OF THE RIVER»
* THE CONSTRUCTION OF FOUR NEW PUMPING STATIONS AT MUK WU ON THE SOUTHERN BANK OF THE SHENZHEN RIVER, BELOW LOWER SHING MUN DAM, AT FAN KAM ROAD AND AT AU TAU-
* THE EXPANSION OF EXISTING PUMPING FACILITIES AT TAI PO TAU AND HIGH ISLAND-
* THE UPGRADING OF THE EXISTING AQUEDUCT SYSTEM BETWEEN TAI PO TAU AND SHA TIN-
* THE CONSTRUCTION OF A TUNNEL FROM PAT HEUNG TO YAU KAM TAU AND
* THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN AQUEDUCT BETWEEN MUK WU AND TAI LAM CHUNG RESERVOIR.
HE SAID THE FIRST CONTRACT, FORMING PART OF THE FUTURE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, WAS AWARDED RECENTLY. IT WAS FOR THE LAYING OF ABOUT 1.8 KILOMETRES OF MILD STEEL PIPELINE FROM FU TEI AU TO SHEUNG SHU I.
TENDERS ARE ALSO BEING INVITED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PUMPING STATION BELOW LOWER SHING MUN DAM.
THIS NEW PUMPING STATION, WITH A DAILY OUTPUT OF 182 000 CUBIC METRES WILL, ON COMPLETION, AUGMENT THE OUTPUT OF THE EXISTING LOWER SHING MUN PUMPING STATION IN SUPPLYING RAW WATER TO TSUEN WAN AND SHEK LEI PUI TREATMENT WORKS.
/me tucker .......
I
SUNDAY, KEBEUAHY 1, 1?81
- 2
MR TUCKER SAID THAT MORE TENDERS FOR WORKS ON THE FIRST STAGE OF THE PROJECT WOULD BE INVITED DURING THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.
WORK ON STAGE ONE IS SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED IN VARIOUS PHASES BETWEEN OCTOBER THIS YEAR AND MID-1984 TO RECEIVE AND DISTRIBUTE THE INCREASED QUANTITIES OF SUPPLY UP TO 1986.
HE SAIDt +WORK ON STAGE TWO WILL START IN 1984 AND WILL BE COMPLETED IN 1988 TO MEET THE DEMAND BETWEEN 1987 AND 1990 WHILE WORK ON THE THIRD STAGE WILL BE CARRIED OUT BETWEEN 1988 AND 1992 TO MEET THE DEMAND BETWEEN 1991 AND 1994.+
MR TUCKER ESTIMATED THAT THE FIRST STAGE WOULD COST ABOUT S800 MILLION, THE SECOND $350 MILLION AND THE THIRD $150 MILLION.
WORK ON STAGE TWO WILL INVOLVEi
* THE LAYING OF PIPELINES BETWEEN SHEUNG SHU I AND TAU PASS"
X THE INSTALLATION OF ADDITIONAL PUMPING PLANTS AT THE NEW MUK WU PUMPING STATION, AU TAU PUMPING STATION AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW PUMPING STATIONS AT HARBOUR ISLAND AND TAI MEI TUK, PLOVER COVE RESERVO IR-
* THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN AQUEDUCT BETWEEN PLOVER COVE RESERVOIR AND PAK KONG, SAI KUNG, INCLUDING THE LAYING OF A SUBMARINE PIPELINE ACROSS TOLO CHANNEL AND
THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN AQUEDUCT FROM TAI PO TAU TO NGAU TAM MEI.
WORK ON STAGE THREE IS ENVISAGED TO COMPRISEi
* THE INSTALLATION OF ADDITIONAL PUMPING PLANTS AT THE NEW MUK WU, AU TAU, TAI MEI TUK AND HARBOUR ISLAND PUMPING STATIONS AND
X THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN AQUEDUCT, INCLUDING THE LAYING OF A SUBMARINE PIPELINE BETWEEN TAI LAM CHUNG RESERVOIR AND NORTH LANTAU SHOULD LARGE SCALE DEVELOPMENT IN THE LATTER BE PROCEEDED WITH.
MR TUCKER POINTED OUT, HOWEVER, THAT THE EXTENT OF WORK REQUIRED BEYOND STAGE ONE WOULD BE REVIEWED BEFORE IMPLEMENTATION TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF CHANGES IN THE PATTERN OF DEVELOPMENT.
IN VIEW OF THE EXTENT OF THE NEW WORKS TO BE UNDERTAKEN IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE NEW TERRITORIES, HE SAID, PRIVATELY-OWNED LAND AS WELL AS LOCAL INHABITANTS AND THEIR FARMING ACTIVITIES WOULD INEVITABLY BE AFFECTED OR DISTURBED.
HE ADDED THAT DURING THE PLANNING STAGE CONSIDERATION HAD BEEN GIVEN TO WAYS OF MINIMISING UNDESIRABLE DISRUPTIVE EFFECTS.
/+THIS HAD....
SUNDAY, FEBBDABY 1, 1981
- 3 -
+THIS HAD LED TO THE USE OF TUNNELS WHEREVER PRACTICABLE, THE AVOIDANCE OF REPETITIVE PIPE LAYING OVER THE SAME ROUTE, THE IMPROVEMENT OF LOCAL ACCESSES TO ACCOMMODATE CONSTRUCTION TRAFFIC, AND PRESERVATION, AND WHERE NECESSARY, IMPROVEMENT OF IRRIGATIONAL SYSTEMS AFFECTED AND, MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, THE CHOICE OF ROUTES AND LOCATIONS OF INSTALLATION WHICH MAY MINIMISE LOCAL DISTURBANCE AS ADVISED BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES,* SAID MR ' TUCKER.
+EVEN SO, THE AMOUNT OF PRIVATE LAND REQUIRED FOR THIS PROJECT IS STILL CONSIDERABLE, AND IS EXPECTED TO BE IN THE ORDER OF 40 HECTARES.*
THE NEW RECEPTION AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, HE ADDED, WOULD, ON COMPLETION, BRING RAW WATER SUPPLY TO CENTRES OF DEMAND AT DISTRICT LEVEL.
TREATMENT WORKS, PUMPING STATIONS, TRUNK AND DISTRIBUTION PIPELINES AND SERVICE RESERVOIRS FOR TREATMENT AND DISTRIBUTION CF WATER WITHIN THE DISTRICTS WILL BE CONSTRUCTED AS AND WHEN NECESSARY TO MEET DEMAND GENERATED FROM EXISTING AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.
HONG KONG NOW GETS 168 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF WATER FROM CHINA AND UNDER THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT SIGNED IN NOVEMBER 1978, THE TERRITORY IS TO RECEIVE AN ANNUAL SUPPLY OF 182 MILLION CUBIC METRES BY 1982.
THE LATEST AGREEMENT SIGNED IN MAY 1980 WILL ENSURE SUFFICIENT WATER SUPPLIES FOR HONG KONG WITH AN AVERAGE ANNUAL INCREASE IN SUPPLY OF ABOUT 35 MILLION CUBIC METRES FROM 1983.
MR TUCKER SAID THAT FROM 1982, THE ANNUAL SHUT-DOWN PERIOD WOULD BE CHANGED FROM AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER TO MARCH AND APRIL TO MORE READILY FACILITATE THE ANNUAL MAINTENANCE OF THE RECEPTION AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.
THIS MEANS THAT THE ANNUAL QUOTA OF WATER WILL BE SUPPLIED BETWEEN MAY 1 AND THE END OF FEBRUARY OF THE FOLLOWING YEAR, LEAVING MARCH AND APRIL FOR MAINTENANCE BY BOTH SIDES. DURING THE SHUT-DOWN PERIOD, SUPPLY WILL BE MAINTAINED FROM STORAGE IN THE RESERVOIRS WITHIN THE TERRITORY.
IN VIEW OF THE CONSTRUCTION KONG WOULD NOT BENEFIT FROM LAST
LEAD TIME, MR TUCKER SAID, HONG YEAR’S AGREEMENT UNTIL 1983.
ON THE CURRENT WATER SITUATION, MR TUCKER DREW ATTENTION TO THE RATE OF INCREASE IN CONSUMPTION OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. HE POINTED OUT THAT THE ANNUAL INCREASE IN CONSUMPTION IN 1979 WAS 10 PER CENT, WHILE THAT FOR 1980 WAS 8.5 PER CENT, COMPARED WITH A FORECAST AVERAGE INCREASE OF JUST OVER 6 PER CENT.
THE INCREASES WERE SIMILAR IN ALL DISTRICTS AND ARE ATTRIBUTED TO IMPROVED HOUSING STANDARDS, GREATER USAGE OF WATER CONSUMING APPLIANCES AND THE INCREASE IN POPULATION.
WHILE THE TREND DID NOT GIVE RISE TO CONCERN AT THE PRESENT, HE STRESSED THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR CAREFUL USE OF WATER IN VIEW OF THE CURRENT WATER STORAGE SITUATION.
/the total .......
SUNDAY, FEBHUAHY 1, 1981
4
THE TOTAL STORAGE IN THE RESERVOIRS AT 9 AM YESTERDAY WAS 282.698 MILLION CUBIC METRES OR 48.9 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL STORAGE CAPACITY, COMPARED WITH 379.717 MILLION CUBIC METRES OR 65.7 PER CENT AT THE SAME TIME LAST YEAR.
♦ THIS IS THE RESULT OF THE BELOW AVERAGE RAINFALL IN 1980 FOLLOWED BY AN EXCEPTIONALLY DRY WINTER COMBINED WITH THE INCREASE IN CONSUMPTION DURING THE PAST 12 MONTHS,+ MR TUCKER SAID.
HE ADDED THAT THE WATER STORAGE SITUATION WAS KEPT UNDER CONSTANT REVIEW.
WHILE NO WATER RESTRICTIONS WERE PROPOSED, HE APPEALED TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC NOT TO WASTE WATER.
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LUNAR NEW YEAR FIRE PREVENTION ADVICE * * * *
THE PUBLIC WERE TODAY (SUNDAY) URGED TO BE ON FULL ALERT AGAINST POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARDS WHILE PREPARING FOR THE LUNAR NEW YEAR.
THE WARNING WAS GIVEN BY A SPOKESMAN FOR THE FIRE PREVENTION CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE, WHO SAID THAT AS USES OF ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND KITCHEN UTENSILS WERE INTENSIFIED, EVERY CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN TO REDUCE FIRE RISKS TO A MINIMUM.
HE ADVISED THAT THE FOLLOWING PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE OBSERVED:
* DON’T LEAVE ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES IN USE UNATTENDED. SWITCH THEM OFF BEFORE LEAVING THE HOUSE.
* TAKE CARE WHEN COOKING - DON’T LEAVE PANS, ESPECIALLY PANS OF FAT, UNATTENDED. CHECK THAT ALL KITCHEN FIRES ARE SAFELY GUARDED.
* STORE FUEL ONLY IN REASONABLE QUANTITIES AND IN SUITABLE CONTAINERS, WHICH SHOULD BE KEPT WELL AWAY FROM ANY SOURCE OF HEAT.
* NEVER FILL A KEROSENE STOVE OR HEATER WHEN IT IS ALIGHT.
* KEEP ALL MATCHES, LIGHTERS OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN WHO SHOULD BE TAUGHT BASIC FIRE SAFETY RULES AND FIRE ESCAPE ROUTES.
* NEVER STACK UNUSED FURNITURE AND ARTICLES IN THE CORRIDOR OR STAIRCASE AND KEEP ALL EXITS FREE FROM OBSTRUCTION.
* ALWAYS USE METAL CONTAINERS FOR BURNING JOSS STICKS AND JOSS PAPERS IN WORSHIPPING RITUALS.
* ENSURE THAT SUFFICIENT ASHTRAYS ARE AVAILABLE TO HOLD CIGARETTE ENDS. NEVER EMPTY AN ASHTRAY UNTIL THE CONTENTS ARE TOTALLY EXTINGUISHED.
/THE SPOKESMAN....
SUNDAY, KBfiUAfiY 1, 1981
5
THE SPOKESMAN SAID, +THE DANGER OF FIRE WILL BE CONSIDERABLY MINIMISED IF THESE SIMPLE SAFETY HINTS ARE HEEDED. I NOW APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC FOR THEIR CO-OPERATION TO ENSURE A FIRE-FREE NEW YEAR.*
APART FROM FIRE PRECAUTIONS AT HOME, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT EQUAL ATTENTION SHOULD BE PAID TO PREVENTING HILL FIRES.
HE SAIDi +PICNICKERS AND VISITORS TO THE COUNTRYSIDE SHOULD BARBECUE IN DESIGNATED AREAS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT ALL FIRES ARE PROPERLY EXTINGUISHED BEFORE LEAVING.*
HE ALSO REMINDED THAT A BAN ON THE USE OF FIRE WAS ALREADY IN FORCE IN THE PAT HEUNG AREA OF THE TAI LAM COUNTRY PARK AND THE TAI PO KAU NATURE RESERVE AREA.
PEOPLE PLANNING TO VISIT ANY OF THESE COUNTRY PARKS ARE ADVISED TO TAKE ALONG SANDWICHES OR PRE-COOKED FOOD.
♦CAUSING A FIRE IN A COUNTRY PARK OR ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE WILL LEAD TO MAXIMUM FINES OF $5 OOO AND $2 000 RESPECTIVELY,* THE SPOKESMAN WARNED.
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$493 MILLION SOCIAL SECURITY PAYOUT IN 1980
* * * *
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT PAID OUT $493 MILLION IN NON-CONTRIBUTORY SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS LAST YEAR TO PEOPLE IN NEED - $72 MILLION MORE THAN IN 1979.
THE CASH GRANTS, REPRESENTING AN AVERAGE DAILY PAYOUT OF $1.4 MILLION, WENT TO SOME 300 000 PEOPLE AS PUBLIC ASSISTANCE TO MEET BASIC LIVING AND AS OLD AGE AND DISABILITY ALLOWANCES TO COVER SPECIAL NEEDS.
IN DECEMBER ALONE, PAYMENTS IN PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCES AMOUNTED TO $48.1 MILLION.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THE INCREASED PAYOUT RESULTED FROM THE 22 PER CENT INCREASE IN PAYMENT RATES INTRODUCED LAST SEPTEMBER.
HE SAID THAT OF THE $493 MILLION PAID OUT IN I960, $211 MILLION WERE FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, $209 MILLION FOR OLD AGE ALLOWANCE AND $73 MILLION FOR DISABILITY ALLOWANCE.
AT PRESENT, HE SAID, THE DEPARTMENT’S 26 SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNITS HANDLE 45 600 PUBLIC ASSISTANCE CASES, 155 600 OLD AGE ALLOWANCE CASES AND 27 800 DISABILITY ALLOWANCE CASES.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT OF THE TOTAL PUBLIC ASSISTANCE CASELOAD,ABOUT 300 CASES WERE UNEMPLOYED ABLE-BODIED ADULTS UNABLE TO SUPPORT THEMSELVES THROUGH NO FAULT OF THIEF OWN.
/HS SAID .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1981
6
HE SAID THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME WAS EXTENDED IN 1977 TO
COVER PEOPLE IN THIS CATEGORY WHO WERE AGED BETWEEN 15 AND 59 YEARS.
TO QUALIFY, HE SAID, THE UNEMPLOYED APPLICANT IS REQUIRED TO HAVE LIVED IN HONG KONG FOR TWO YEARS AND TO REGISTER FOR JOBS IN THE FIRST INSTANCE WITH THE LOCAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.
SINCE APRIL 1977, THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME COVERED A TOTAL CASELOAD OF 2 079 UNEMPLOYED ABLE-BODIED ADULTS, HE ADDED.
THE MEANS-TESTED PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME PROVIDES MONTHLY CASH PAYMENT TO HELP MAINTAIN THE INCOME OF AN INDIVIDUAL OR A FAMILY IN NEED UP TO A LEVEL WHERE BASIC LIVING CAN BE MET.
THE SCHEME IS ALSO BUILT IN WITH SUPPLEMENTS TO PROVIDE EXTRA GRANTS FOR THOSE RECIPIENTS AGED 60 YEARS AND OVER, OR PARTIALLY DISABLED. IN ADDITION, AN ANNUAL PAYMENT IS MADE TO LONG-TERM RECIPIENTS.
ANY INDIVIDUAL OR FAMILY WITHOUT INCOME OR UNABLE TO EARN ENOUGH FOR BASIC LIVING, OR IN NEED OF SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCES, MAY APPLY TO THEIR NEAREST FAMILY SERVICES CENTRE OR SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNIT OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.
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FAIR TIME IN NEW TERRITORIES
******
SIX LUNAR NEW YEAR FAIRS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL START DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS TO WELCOME IN THE YEAR OF THE COCKEREL ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 5).
WITH THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF KWAI CHUNG ANn TUEN MUN. RESIDENTS OF THESE TWO NEW TOWNS WILL HAVE THEIR /N FAIRS FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR.
♦THIS WILL SAVE THEM FROM TRAVELLING A LONG WAY TO VISIT FAIRS IN OTHER DISTRICTS,* A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
THE KWAI CHUNG LUNAR NEW YEAR FAIR WILL BE AT THE KWAI CHUNG PLAYGROUND WHILE THE TUEN MUN FAIR WILL BE AT THE TUEN MUN SAN HUI PLAYGROUND.
TUEN MUN’S FIRST NEW YEAR FAIR WILL BE OPENED BY A RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY AT 2.30 PM ON TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 3).
AT THE CEREMONY WILL BE THE CHAIRMAN OF HEUNG YEE KUK, LAU WONG-FAT- THE DISTRICT OFFICER OF TUEN MUN, MR BILLY LAM-AND THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (NORTH) OF THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT, MR BOWEN LEUNG.
/OTHER LUNaH ........
SUNDAY, FE3BUA2Y 1, 19&1
- 7 -
OTHER LUNAR NEW YEAR FAIRS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES ARE BEING HELD AT SHA TSUI ROAD PLAYGROUND IN TSUEN WAN- SHEK WU HUI PLAYGROUND IN SHEUNG SHU I- YUEN LONG SPORTS GROUND- AND THE TAI PO TEMPORARY RECREATION GROUND.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID BUSINESS ACTIVITIES IN THE SIX FAIRS WERE EXPECTED TO FLOURISH AS THE POPULATION IN THE NEW TOWNS WAS LARGE.
HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT TSUEN WAN HAD THE LARGEST FAIR SITE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WITH 208 STALLS FOLLOWED BY THE YUEN LONG FAIR, WITH 142 STALLS.
THE 780 STALLS OF ALL THE SIX FAIRS WERE SOLD AT SEPARATE AUCTIONS IN WHICH A FLOWER STALL AT THE TSUEN WAN FAIR WAS SOLD AT A RECORD PRICE OF $2 100, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
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CHE KUNG FESTIVAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS * * * *
AT LEAST 100 000 WORSHIPPERS ARE EXPECTED TO VISIT THE CHE KUNG TEMPLE IN SHA TIN DURING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAY, AND A STRONG APPEAL HAS BEEN MADE TO THEM TO AVOID GOING THERE
A SPOKESMAN FOR SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICE SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THE MAJORITY OF WORSHIPPERS WOULD VISIT THE TEMPLE ON THE THIRD DAY OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAY (SATURDAY) WHEN THE CHE KUNG FESTIVAL REACHES ITS PEAK.
THEY WERE ALSO EXPECTED TO VISIT THE TEMPLE ON FEBRUARY 5, 6, 8, 10, 13 AND 19.
EXPLAINING THE SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS MADE TO ASSIST WORSHIPPERS THE SPOKESMAN SAID A ONE-WAY CIRCUIT WOULD BE PROVIDED FOR PEDESTRIANS, WHO WERE ASKED TO USE THE ACCESS TRACK ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF SHING MUN RIVER FROM LION ROCK TUNNEL ROAD.
♦THEY ARE ASKED TO LEAVE THE TEMPLE USING THE FOOT-BRIDGE LEADING TO TAI PO ROAD, ALONG THE PATH BESIDE THE SHING MUN RIVER.+ HE SAID. ’
HE URGED WORSHIPPERS TO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO GET TO THE TEMPLE AS PARKING FACILITIES WOULD BE VERY LIMITED DUE TO EXTENSIVE CONSTRUCTION WORK IN THE AREA.’
♦PRIVATE CAR OWNERS WILL FIND IT VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND A PLACE TO PARK ANYWHERE IN THE VICINITY,* HE SAID.
ONLY FRANCHISED BUSES WOULD BE ALLOWED TO STOP ON THE LION ROCK TUNNEL ROAD AND PLBS AND TAXIS WOULD HAVE SPECIAL STOPPING POINTS.
/TH3 KOWLOON ........
SUNDAY, FEBHUASY 1, 1981
8
THE KOWLOON MOTOR BUS COMPANY WILL ARRANGE EXTRA BUS SERVICES ON THE BUSIEST ROUTES ASt
* ROUTE 70 - JORDAN ROAD TO SHEUNG SHU I, VIA LION ROCK TUNNEL
* ROUTE 70M - KOWLOON TONG MTR STATION TO WO CHE ESTATE, VIA LION ROCK TUNNEL
M ROUTE 87 - TAI KOK TSUI FERRY PIER TO LEK YUEN ESTATE, VIA LION ROCK TUNNEL
* ROUTE 89 - KWUN TONG (YU MAN SQUARE) TO LEK YUEN ESTATE VIA LION ROCK TUNNEL
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR PLBS AND TAXIS ARE:
* A PLB AND TAXI ALIGHTING POINT WILL BE LOCATED OUTSIDE SHA TIN KOWLOON MOTOR BUS COMPANY DEPOT, BESIDE LION ROCK TUNNEL ROAD, FOR THOSE ARRIVING FROM LION ROCK TUNNEL.
M A PLB AND TAXI ALIGHTING POINT WILL BE LOCATED IN SHING HO ROAD, BESIDE SHING MUN RIVER, FOR THOSE ARRIVING FROM TAI PO ROAD.
* FOR WORSHIPPERS WISHING TO RETURN TO KOWLOON, A PLB AND TAXI STAND WILL OPERATE IN TAI WAI ROAD.
POLICE WILL BE PRESENT TO ASSIST AND DIRECT WORSHIPPERS, AND ALL PEDESTRIAN AND TRAFFIC ROUTES WILL BE WELL SIGN-POSTED.
A POLICE SPOKESMAN SAIDs +ALL SIGNS AND SPECIAL ROUTES ARE INTENDED TO HELP WORSHIPPERS, AND WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR THEIR SUPPORT.+
THE DISTRICT OFFICE SPOKESMAN WARNED ALL VISITORS TO THE TEMPLE ABOUT THE FIRE RISK, ASKING THEM TO TAKE SPECIAL CARE WHEN BURNING JOSS STICKS. HE ALSO ADVISED HAWKERS THAT THEY WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO OPERATE IN THE VICINITY OF THE TEMPLE, AND WARNED THAT IT WAS DANGEROUS TO SELL HYDROGEN FILLED BALLONS AS THEY COULD EXPLODE.
THE POLICE SPOKESMAN ISSUED A WARNING THAT PICK-POCKETS WERE LIKELY TO BE OPERATING IN THE AREA AND ADVISED ALL WORSHIPPERS TO REMAIN ALERT TO THIS DANGER.
0
/9
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1981
9
TAX REMINDER TO PROPERTY OWNERS
* X M X
PROPERTY OWNERS ARE REMINDED TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT OBJECTIONS TO PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENTS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE COMMISSIONER CF INLAND REVENUE WITHIN ONE MONTH OF THE DATE OF THE NOTICE OF THE ASSESSMENT.
CLAIMS FOR PROPERTY TAX REFUND SHOULD BE MADE WITHIN 90 DAYS AFTER THE END OF THE RELEVANT YEAR OF ASSESSMENT, OR WITHIN 90 DAYS AFTER THE NOTICE TO PROPERTY TAX IS GIVEN.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT SAID THE DEADLINE WOULD BE EXTENDED IF THE COMMISSIONER WAS SATISFIED THAT THE PERSON OBJECTING TO AN ASSESSMENT OR CLAIMING FOR REFUND WAS PREVENTED FROM DOING SO WITHIN THE SPECIFIED TIME OWING TO ABSENCE FROM HONG KONG, SICKNESS OR ANY OTHER REASONABLE CAUSE.
HE SAID VACANCY CLAIMS COULD ALWAYS BE MADE WITHOUT SUPPORTING EVIDENCE IN ORDER TO MEET TIME LIMITS- BUT OWNERS OF DOMESTIC PREMISES MUST BE PREPARED TO FORWARD EVIDENCE SUCH AS ELECTRICITY, GAS AND WATER BILLS LATER.
FOR NON-DOMESTIC PREMISES, HE ADDED, THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT WOULD ISSUE VACANCY CERTIFICATES IN ALL APPROPRIATE CASES AND THESE FORMS MUST BE PRODUCED TO SUPPORT CLAIMS FOR REFUND.
FURTHER INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED BY TELEPHONING THE ASSESSOR (PROPERTY TAX) AT 5-79595217, OR BY WRITING TO THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT, GPO BOX 132, HONG KONG.
ADVICE, IN PERSON, IS AVAILABLE FROM THE INLAND REVENUE OFFICES, 17TH FLOOR, WINDSOR HOUSE, 311 GLOUCESTER ROAD, CAUSEWAY BAY- ON THE 12TH FLOOR, PARK-IN COMMERCIAL BUILDING, 56 DUNDAS STREET, MONG KOK- OR ON THE GROUND FLOOR, FOU WAH CENTRE, 210 CASTLE PEAK ROAD, TSUEN WAN.
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FORUM ON SPORT AND RECREATION FOR THE DISABLED X X X X
THE REHABILITATION DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE SPORT AND RECREATION SUB-COMMITTEE AND THE HONG KONG PHAB ASSOCIATION WILL LATER THIS MONTH HOLD AN OPEN FORUM ENTITLED +SPORT AND RECREATION FOR THE DISABLED*.
THE FORUM WILL BE HELD DURING THE AFTERNOON OF FEBRUARY 22 AT THE POKFULAM CENTRE OF THE HONG KONG PHAB ASSOCIATION.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE FORUM WAS ONE OF A SERIES OF PROGRAMMES LAUNCHED TO COMMEMORATE 1981 AS THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR CF DISABLED PERSONS.
FOLLOWING THE THEME OF THE ’INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF DISABLED PERSONS’, THE OPEN FORUM WILL FOCUS ON THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF NEEDS FOR THE PROVISION OF SPORT AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND FACILITIES FOR THE DISABLED.
/+WITH TEIS.........
SUNDAY, F3BHUAHY 1, 1961
- 10 -
+WITH THIS OBJECTIVE IN MIND, IT HOPES TO OBTAIN VIEWS AND SUGGESTIONS FROM DISABLED PERSONS THEMSELVES, AS WELL AS EXPERTS IN THIS FIELD, ON WAYS AND MEANS TO IMPROVE THEIR SPORT AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES,* SAID THE SPOKESMAN.
MR LI KWAN-HUNG, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG PHAB ASSOCIATION, WILL BE CHAIRMAN OF THE PANEL. OTHER MEMBERS WILL BE CHOSEN EITHER BY VIRTUE OF THEIR EXPERIENCE IN THIS FIELD OF SPECIALITY, OR AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF DISABLED PERSONS -MENTALLY HANDICAPPED, MENTALLY ILL, BLIND, DEAF AND PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED.
THE PROGRAMME WILL START WITH A PANEL PRESENTATION, FOLLOWED BY A GROUP DISCUSSION AND +REPORT-BACK+ SESSION.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID ANYONE INTERESTED IN THE FORUM COULD OBTAIN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BY CONTACTING THE HONG KONG PHAB ASSOCIATION ON TELEPHONE 5-514161.
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LUNAR NEW YEAR CARNIVAL FOR CHILDREN ** K
A LUNAR NEW YEAR CHILDREN’S CARNIVAL WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11 FROM 10.30 AM TO 5 PLAYGROUND AT SAI YEE STREET, MONG KOK.
WILL BE HELD ON PM AT MACPHERSON
THE CARNIVAL WILL BE ORGANISED BY THE MONG KOK DISTRICT CULTURAL, RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS ASSOCIATION AND THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICE (MONG KOK).
IT WILL FEATURE 30 GAMESTALLS AND PERFORMANCES BY THE MONG KOK CHILDREN’S CHOIR, HONG KONG BUDDHIST NICHIRENSHOCHU. WALT DISNEY’S MICKEY MOUSE CLUB AND THE JUNIOR POLICE CALL. THE ROYAL NAVY WILL PROVIDE A TOY TRAIN, *THE TAMAR BELLE*, TO ADD COLOUR TO THE OCCASION.
CARNIVAL» APART FR0M PROVIDING free entertainment to SOME 30 000 CHILDREN IN THE DISTRICT, IS AIMED TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE MORE ACTIVELY IN CULTURAL RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES.
MR G. BARNES, DIRECTOR OF HOME AFFAIRS, MRS BARNES AND Smu’iuA SENI0R MANAGER OF HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION, WILL OPEN THE CARNIVAL.
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1981
11
GOOD RESPONSE TO INDUSTRIAL SAFETY POSTER COMPETITION ******
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT’S LATEST INDUSTRIAL SAFETY POSTER COMPETITION ATTRACTED MORE THAN 200 ENTRIES FROM 22 SCHOOLS.
THE COMPETITION — THE 13TH SO FAR — WAS FOR STUDENTS ATTENDING POST-SECONDARY COLLEGES. VOCATIONAL TRAINING INSTITUTES, GOVERNMENT, GOVERNMENT-AIDED AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
ON THE PANEL OF JUDGES WERE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CULTURAL CRAFTS CENTRE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, THE DESIGN DEPARTMENT OF THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC, THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT’S PRINCIPAL INFORMATION OFFICER, SUPERINTENDENT OF FACTORY INSPECTORS (TRAINING) AND THE DIVISIONAL FACTORY INSPECTOR (TRAINING).
THE FIRST PRIZE OF $500 WAS WON BY TSE PUI-LEUNG OF METHODIST COLLEGE. THE SECOND AND THIRD PRIZES OF $400 AND $300 WENT TO YIP PO-HOI AND NG CH I-FA I OF CARITAS BIANCHI COLLEGE OF CAREERS.
TEN ENTRIES WON CONSOLATION PRIZES OF $100 EACH. IN ADDITION, ALL PRIZE-WINNERS RECEIVED A CERTIFICATE OF MERIT.
A PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY, TO BE OFFICIATED BY NR CHAN KAr.-CHUEN, AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,WILL BE HELD LATER THIS MONTH.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1981
CONTENTS PAGE NO
S25 MILLION PAYOUT TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ..................... 1
MORE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY NEEDED .................................... 2
'PAI LAU' OPENED TO MARK VILLAGE RESITING.......................... 2
A TREAT FOR LUNAR NEW YEAR.......................................... J
ACDO (WONG TAI SIN) RETIRES ........................................ 4
LUNAR NEW YEAR POSTAL ARRANGEMENTS ................................. 4
MARINE HOLIDAY ARRANGEMENTS ........................................ 5
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1981
1
$25 MILLION PAYOUT TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS *****
TOTAL PAYMENTS FOR DEATH AND INJURY GRANTS UNDER THE +NO FAULT+ TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE (TAVA) SCHEME HAVE PASSED THE $25 MILLION MARK.
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAS PAID OUT MORE THAN $25.2 MILLION AS QUICK CASH RELIEF TO 6 654 CASES SINCE THE SCHEME STARTED IN MAY 1979.
MR SIU KING-CHIU, HEAD OF THE TAVA SECTION, SAID TODAY (MONDAY) ANOTHER $41 OOO HAD BEEN AUTHORISED FOR PAYMENT TO 110 CASES AND NOW AWAIT COLLECTION AT THE DEPARTMENT.
MR SIU SAID GRANTS ALREADY MADE WERE PAID TO 596 CASES INVOLVING DEATH, AND TO 6 058 CASES INVOLVING INJURIES WHICH HAD CAUSED AT LEAST SEVEN DAYS’ LOSS OF EARNING CAPACITY.
PAYMENTS FOR DEATH GRANTS AMOUNTED TO OVER $4.2 MILLION, HE SAID, WHILE INJURY PAYMENTS TOTALLED $21 MILLION, OF WHICH 85 MILLION WERE FOR FURTHER PAYMENTS TO THOSE WHO REQUIRED EXTENDED SICK LEAVE.
MR SIU SAID THE HIGHEST PAYMENT SO FAR WAS $26 100 IN ONE FATAL CASE, WHILE OTHER PAYMENTS RANGED FROM $800 TO $25 040.
+AT PRESENT, 323 APPLICATIONS ARE BEING PROCESSED AND THE APPLICANTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO RECEIVE PAYMENTS SHORTLY,+ HE SAID.
THE TAVA SCHEME IS NON-MEANS TESTED AND PROVIDES QUICK CASH RELIEF FOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS OR THEIR DEPENDANTS REGARDLESS OF WHO WAS AT FAULT IN CAUSING THE ACCIDENT.
UNDER THE SCHEME, TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS MUST BE REPORTED TO THE POLICE.
PEOPLE INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS CAN APPLY WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF THE INCIDENT AT THE DEPARTMENT’S TAVA SECTION ON THE 14TH FLOOR OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTRE AT 280 GLOUCESTER ROAD, HONG KONG (TEL. NOS. 5-779421 AND 5-7903650).
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1981
2
MORE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY NEEDED * * * * *
THE COMMISSIONER OF INDUSTRY, MR LAWRENCE MILLS, TODAY (MONDAY) EMPHASISED THE CONTINUOUS NEED TO INTRODUCE NEW SKILLS, MORE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY, AND EQUIPMENT INTO HONG KONG TO ENSURE THAT LOCAL INDUSTRY RESPONDS QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY TO THE CHANGING DEMANDS AND CHALLENGES OF THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET PLACE.
MR MILLS WAS ADDRESSING THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY OF HONG KONG OXYGEN’S NEW AIR SEPARATION PLANT AT JUNK BAY, WHICH IS THE MOST MODERN OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD.
CONGRATULATING THE COMPANY’S MANAGEMENT, THE ENGINEERS AND TECHNICIANS FOR BRINGING THE LATEST TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN THIS FIELD TO HONG KONG, MR MILLS SAIDi +ALL THIS HAS A SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE FOR ME AS THE COMMISSIONER OF INDUSTRY, BECAUSE IT DEMONSTRATES NOT ONLY THE GROWING SOPHISTICATION OF LOCAL INDUSTRY AND THE FORWARD THINKING ATTITUDE OF OUR ENTREPRENEURS BUT ALSO THEIR CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG INDUSTRY.*
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE NEW PLANT IS SEPARATING AND PURIFYING ARGON (ONE OF THE RARE GASES THAT EXISTS IN AIR) FOR THE FIRST TIME - ADDING TO THE COMPANY’S RANGE SERVING HONG KONG’S INDUSTRY AND SOCIETY. UP TO NOW, ARGON HAS HAD TO BE IMPORTED.
UNDERLINING THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY TOWARDS INDUSTRY, HE SAID s +THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO A NEW INVOLVEMENT IN ASSISTING INDUSTRY’S EFFORTS TO DIVERSIFY AND MOVE UP-MARKET. BUT IT REMAINS A POLICY OF INVOLVEMENT, NOT INTERFERENCE. THE ULTIMATE DECISIONS AND THE IN-PUT HAVE TO COME FROM INDUSTRY ITSELF.*
- - 0 - -
'PAI LAU’ OPENED TO MARK VILLAGE RESITING * * * *
THE FORBEARANCE OF RESIDENTS OF A NEW TERRITORIES VILLAGE, WHO CO-OPERATED WITH THE GOVERNMENT WHEN THE TUEN MUN HIGHWAY WAS BEING BUILT NEARBY, WAS PRAISED TODAY (MONDAY).
THE VILLAGERS LIVE IN SHAM TSENG, WHERE A MASSIVE VIADUCT WAS CONSTRUCTED AS PART OF THE HIGHWAY PROJECT.
THEY CONTINUED TO LIVE IN THEIR HOUSES WHILE THE WORK WENT ON, BUT WERE EVENTUALLY RESITED UNDER THE GOVERNMENT’S VILLAGE REMOVAL SCHEME.
TO MARK THEIR CO-OPERATION, AND COMPLETION OF THE RESITING OF SHAM TSENG VILLAGE, A 'PAI LAU’ (DECORATIVE ARCHWAY) WAS TODAY OPENED IN THE VILLAGE BY TSUEN WAN TOWN MANAGER, DR JAMES HAYES.
THE ’PAI LAU’ IS EIGHT METRES HIGH AND NINE METRES WIDE. IT IS SITUATED AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE VILLAGE.
/SPBAKTNR AT
3
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY, DR HAYES DESCRIBED CONSTRUCTION OF THE VIADUCT AS AN +EXCITING PROJECT* WHICH INVOLVED BUILDING A 30 METRES HIGH MAJOR STRUCTURE ACROSS THE VALLEY LINKING ROAD WORKS ON THE HILLS ON EACH SIDE.
THE WORKS, HE SAID, HAD TO BE CONSTRUCTED VERY CLOSE TO THE OLD HOUSES AND HENCE CAUSED A GREAT DEAL OF NUISANCE AND INCONVENIENCE TO VILLAGERS.
♦WE GREATLY APPRECIATED THEIR FORBEARANCE DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME AND I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE HERE TODAY THAT THIS CO-OPERATION WAS GREATLY VALUED BY THE GOVERNMENT,* HE SAID.
DR HAYES ALSO ASSURED THAT MORE EXPANSION WORKS, SUCH AS THE REPROVISIONING OF A MARKET AND A RECREATION GROUND, WOULD BE CARRIED OUT IN THE VILLAGE IN DUE COURSE.
+DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN ARE CONTINUING IN THE CONCERNED GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, AND LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS AND FIRMS WILL BE CONSULTED,* HE SAID.
HE SAID VILLAGERS COULD LOOK FORWARD TO IMPROVED HOUSING AND MORE FACILITIES WHEN THE PROPOSALS WERE FINALISED AND APPROVED, AND WORK WAS STARTED TO IMPLEMENT THEM BY STAGES.
ALSO OFFICIATING AT TODAY’S CEREMONY WERE THE CHAIRMAN OF TSUEN WAN RURAL COMMITTEE, MR CHAN LAU-FONG- LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADER, MR CHAN PO-FONG- AND THE VILLAGE REPRESENTATIVE, MR FU YUEN-HUNG.
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A TREAT FOR LUNAR NEW YEAR * * * *
MUSIC AND GAIETY WILL FILL STATUE SQUARE ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 8) WHEN A LUNAR NEW YEAR ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME TAKES PLACE.
IN THE FORM OF A VARIETY SHOW, IT HAS BEEN SPECIALLY ORGANISED TO CELEBRATE THE YEAR OF COCKEREL AND TO PROVIDE A FREE FESTIVITY PROGRAMME TO THE PUBLIC.
THE SHOW WILL BE PRESENTED BY THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION, THE HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL SOCIETY, THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES.
THE PROGRAMME, WHICH WILL START AT 2.15 PM AND LAST
UNTIL 4.15 PM, WILL FEATURE A CONCERT BY A CHINESE FOLK MUSIC ORCHESTRA, TRADITIONAL DANCES AND FOLK SONGS IN ADDITION TO DRAGON AND LION DANCES.
FREE ADMISSION TICKETS TO THE SHOW WILL BE AVAILABLE ON A FIRST-COME-FIRST-SERVED BASIS, FROM TOMORROW (TUESDAY) AT THE HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL BOX OFFICE, CITY HALL, WHICH WILL BE OPEN FROM 10.30 AM TO 8.00 PM THROUGHOUT THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS (FEBRUARY 5 - 8), AND FROM TOM LEE PIANO CO. LTD. ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 3 AND 4).
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/4......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1981
4
ACDO (WONG TAI SIN) RETIRES
* * * *
THE DIRECTOR OF HOME AFFAIRS, MR J.G. BARNES, TODAY (MONDAY) PRESENTED A RETIREMENT GIFT TO MR LAU KWONG-TO, WHO HAS SERVED THE GOVERNMENT FOR 29 YEARS.
MR LAU, EXECUTIVE OFFICER I AND ASSISTANT CITY DISTRICT OFFICER (LIAISON) FOR THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT WILL GO ON PRE-RETIREMENT LEAVE NEXT WEEK.
SINCE JOINING THE CIVIL SERVICE IN APRIL 1952 AS A TEMPORARY CLERK, MR LAU WORKED HIS WAY THROUGH VARIOUS CLERICAL AND LIAISON GRADES TO BE APPOINTED EXECUTIVE OFFICER I IN MAY 1972.
DURING HIS CAREER WITH THE GOVERNMENT HE HAS WORKED IN VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING THE KOWLOON CANTON RAILWAY, SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT WITH APPOINTMENTS IN KOWLOON CITY AND WONG TAI SIN.
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LUNAR NEW YEAR POSTAL ARRANGEMENTS *****
THE POSTMASTER GENERAL ANNOUNCED THERE WOULD BE NO MAIL DELIVERIES ON LUNAR NEW YEAR DAY (THURSDAY) AND ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 7).
HOWEVER, THERE WILL BE ONE DELIVERY ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 6) AND ONE ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 8).
HE ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT ALL POST OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED FROM FEBRUARY 5 TO 7. HOWEVER, 33 POST OFFICES, INCLUDING THE GENERAL POST OFFICE, ON HONG KONG ISLAND- KOWLOON CENTRAL AND TSIM SHA TSUI POST OFFICES IN KOWLOON- AND TSUEN WAN AND TAI PO POST OFFICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, WILL BE OPEN FROM 9 AM TO NOON ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 8).
0
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1981
5
MARINE HOLIDAY ARRANGEMENTS * * * *
THE MARINE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (MONDAY) THAT ITS OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED DURING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS (FEBRUARY 5, 6, 7 AND 8) WITH THE EXCEPTIONS OF:
X THE PORT COMMUNICATION CENTRE WHICH WILL BE OPEN CONTINUOUSLY-
* MACAU FERRY TERMINAL UNIT OFFICES WHICH WILL BE OPEN FROM 7.30 AM TO 1.30 AM THROUGHOUT THE HOLIDAYS-
* THE VICTORIA SMALL CRAFT LICENSING OFFICE WHICH WILL BE OPEN FROM 9 AM TO 11 AM ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 7)-
* THE ENTRY AND CLEARANCE OFFICE WHICH WILL BE OPEN FROM 9 AM TO 11.30 AM ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 6)- AND
* PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREAS AT WAN CHAI, YAU MA TEI, KWUN TONG, TSUEN WAN AND WESTERN DISTRICT WHICH WILL BE CLOSED ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY (FE3RUARY 5 AND 6). HOWEVER, VESSELS WITH VALID PERMITS MAY BERTH AT THESE AREAS DURING THE HOLIDAYS.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL 5-233191
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1981
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
SIR MURRAY VISITS WONG TAI SIN ................................... 1
MONEY SUPPLY AND FINANCIAL STATISTICS ..........................
NEW POLITIC. Ji ADVISER NAMED .................................... 6
FIRE WATCH ON HOLIDAYS ........................................... 6
CENSUS COMMISSIONER AFLOAT FOR CHECKS ............................ 7
EXHIBITION AT THE THIRD TSUEN WAN ARTS FESTIVAL .................. 7
BIG TURNOUT FOR TAI PO SHOW ....................................
THEN MUN'S BLOSSOM TIME.........................................
WELFARE "HOTLINE" TO REMAIN OPEN IN LUNAR NEL YEAR..............
EIGHT GOVERNMENT CLINICS TO REMAIN OPEN ON SATURDAY ............. 10
DUTY FREE BRANDY FOR HOLIDAY SPIRIT ............................. 1°
DANGEROUS BUILDINGS IN TAI PO MARKET ............................ 1°
LANTAU BUS SERVICES RESUME NORMAL FREQUENCIES
11
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1981
1
SIR MURRAY VISITS WONG TAI SIN
* * *
THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, TODAY (TUESDAY) MET WITH THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AFTER A TOUR OF THE AREA.
SIR MURRAY TOLD THE COMMITTEE THAT THE YEAR WOULD SEE THE INSTITUTION OF MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES IN MANY DISTRICTS AND THAT HE WAS INTERESTED TO FIND OUT WHAT DEMANDS FOR FACILITIES THEY HAD, TO DO THEIR JOBS BETTER IN IMPROVING DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION.
HE HAD BEEN EARLIER BRIEFED BY THE CITY DISTRICT COMMISSIONER (WONG TAI SIN), MR IAN STRACHAN, ON THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE AND DISTRICT DEVELOPMENTS.
HE STARTED THE TOUR WITH A VISIT TO THE ICAC MEI TUNG SUB-OFFICE AT TUNG TAU TSUEN ROAD WHERE HE MET ITS STAFF AND DISCUSSED THEIR ANT I-CORRUPT ION WORK AND EFFORTS IN PROMOTING COMMUNITY EDUCAT I OH.
THE GOVERNOR THEN WALKED TO THE SITE OF THE LOK FU COMPLEX — A MODERN RE-DEVELOPMENT OF OLD-TYPE HOUSING BLOCKS — WHERE HE WAS BRIEFED ON THE PROJECT BY SENIOR HOUSING MANAGER (WONG TAI SIN), MR ANTHONY HUI, AND A CONSULTANT ARCHITECT.
WORK ON THE COMPLEX — WHICH INCLUDES MORE SPACIOUS AND WELL LAID-OUT RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL UNITS, A BUS TERMINUS, A PODIUM — STARTED IN NOVEMBER 1979, AND IS EXPECTED TO FINISH BY THE END OF 1983.
SIR MURRAY ALSO TOURED MORSE PARK INDOOR GAMES HALL AND WAS GIVEN AN ACCOUNT OF THE URBAN COUNCIL’S NEW FACILITIES FOR WONG TAI SIN BY URBAN SERVICES OFFICER, MR CHAN TING-PO.
AFTER VISITING THE GAMES HALL, SIR MURRAY VISITED THE WONG TAI SIN POLICE HEADQUARTERS WHERE HE DISCUSSED WITH DIVISIONAL SUPERINTENDENT VINCE CHAPMAN THE DISTRICT’S CRIME SITUATION.
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/2......
2
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY J, 1981
MONEY SUPPLY AND FINANCIAL STATISTICS * * .
THE MONEY SUPPLY AND FINANCIAL STATISTICS FOR DECEMBER 1980 ARE PUBLISHED TODAY (TUESDAY).
THE GROWTH OF THE MONEY SUPPLY (M3) AND OF TOTAL LOANS AND ADVANCES IN HONG KONG IN DECEMBER WAS PARTLY SEASONAL, REFLECTING THE INFLUENCES OF CHRISTMAS AND THE NEW YEAR, AND ALSO THE HALF-YEARLY CREDITING OF INTEREST ON SAVINGS DEPOSITS. AN INFLOW CF FUNDS INTO THE HONG KONG MONETARY SECTOR DURING THE MONTH ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THE RISE IN THE MONEY SUPPLY. DEPOSITS WITH DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES CONTINUED TO EXPAND, WHILE A SIGNIFICANT PROPORTION OF NEW LENDING BY BANKS WAS FINANCED BY THEIR INCREASED BORROWING FROM DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES.
THE DETAILED FIGURES FOR DECEMBER 1980, AND COMPARI SONS'WITH PREVIOUS MONTHS, ARE SET OUT IN TABLE 1. TABLE 2 SETS OUT SOME FIGURES FROM THE QUARTERLY ANALYSIS OF LOANS AND ADVANCES IN HONG KONG BY SECTOR.
MONEY SUPPLY
THE MONEY SUPPLY ON THE NARROWEST DEFINITION, Ml (NOTES AND COINS WITH THE PUBLIC, PLUS DEMAND DEPOSITS, OTHER THAN FROM BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES, WITH LICENSED BANKS) FELL BY 1.1 PER CENT IN DECEMBER, AFTER A FALL OF 4.6 PER CENT IN NOVEMBER.
M2 (Ml PLUS SAVINGS AND TIME DEPOSITS, OTHER THAN FROM BANKS AND DTCS, WITH LICENSED BANKS) ROSE BY 1.9 PER CENT IN DECEMBER, AFTER A 0.6 PER CENT FALL IN NOVEMBER.
M3 (M2 PLUS DEPOSITS WITH DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES) INCREASED BY 4.1 PER CENT IN DECEMBER, UP FROM A 2.1 PER CENT RISE IN NOVEMBER. THE DECEMBER GROWTH REFLECTED A 9.4 PER CENT RISE IN DEPOSITS WITH DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES.
IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1980 Ml FELL BY 5.7 PER CENT WHILE M2 ROSE BY ONLY 1.3 PER CENT, SHARPLY REDUCED FROM THEIR INCREASES CF 12.5 PER CENT AND 8 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY IN THE THIRD QUARTER. IN THE FOURTH QUARTER M3 ROSE BY 8.7 PER CENT, AGAINST A 7.8 PER CENT INCREASE IN THE THIRD QUARTER.,
LOANS IN HONG KONG
TOTAL LOANS AND ADVANCES IN HONG KONG ROSE BY 4 PER CENT IN DECEMBER, DOWN FROM A 6.3 PER CENT RISE IN NOVEMBER. IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1980 TOTAL LOANS AND ADVANCES IN HONG KONG EXPANDED BY 16.7 PER CENT, SHARPLY UP FROM AN INCREASE CF 10.3 PER CENT IN THE THIRD QUARTER.
BANK LOANS IN HONG KONG ROSE BY 4.5 PER CENT IN DECEMBER AND LOANS IN HONG KONG BY DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES BY 2.2 PER CENT, DOWN FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE INCREASES OF 6.6 PER CENT AND 5.7 PER CENT IN NOVEMBER. IN THE FOURTH QUARTER CF 1Q80 THE GROWTH RATE CF BANK LOANS IN HONG KONG ACCELERATED TO 18 PER CENT FROM 9.4 PER CENT IN THE PREVIOUS QUARTER, HILE THE GROWTH RATE OF LOANS IN HONG KONG BY DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES WAS ALMOST UNCHANGED IN THE FOURTH QUARTER AT 12.7 PER CENT, AS COMPARED WITH 13 PER CEKT IN
THE THIRD QUARTER
/FOREIGN ASSETS
TUSSDAY, FEBRUARY J, 1981
- 3 -
FOREIGN ASSETS
THE NET IDENTIFIABLE FOREIGN ASSETS OF ALL BANKS FELL FURTHER IN DECEMBER BY SI 232 MN, BUT THOSE OF DTCS ROSE BY ANOTHER $1 808 MN, INDICATING A NET INFLOW OF FUNDS INTO THE HONG KONG MONETARY SECTOR OF $576 MN, AS COMPARED WITH AN OUTFLOW OF $2 771 MN IN THE PREVIOUS MONTH. THE NET OUTFLOW OF FUNDS FROM HONG KONG IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1980 AMOUNTED TO $3 977 MN, AFTER A NET OUTFLOW OF $776 MN IN THE PREVIOUS QUARTER. BALANCE SHEET RATIOS
THE AVERAGE LIQUIDITY RATIO FOR ALL BANKS IN HONG KONG ROSE IN DECEMBER TO 48.4 PER CENT FROM 48.2 PER CENT IN NOVEMBER. THE LOAN/DEPOSIT RATIO ROSE FURTHER TO 107.3 PER CENT AT THE END OF DECEMBER FROM 104.7 PER CENT AT THE END OF NOVEMBER, REFLECTING THE EXPANSION IN BANK LOANS IN THE MONTH.
THE AVERAGE LIQUIDITY RATIO FOR ALL DTCS FELL FURTHER TO 44.2 PER CENT IN DECEMBER FROM 46.6 PER CENT IN NOVEMBER. THE LOAN/DEPOSIT RATIO AT THE END OF DECEMBER ALSO FELL TO 68.6 PER CENT FROM 73.5 PER CENT AT THE END OF NOVEMBER, REFLECTING THE RAPID GROWTH IN DEPOSITS WITH DTCS DURING THE MONTH.
QUARTERLY ANALYSIS OF LENDING IN HONG KONG BY SECTOR
IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1980, LOANS TO THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR ROSE BY 8.9 PER CENT, WELL UP FROM A 1.6 PER CENT RISE IN THE THIRD QUARTER. LOANS TO THE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION SECTOR EXPANDED BY 26.3 PER CENT, AFTER RISING BY 25.9 PER CENT IN THE THIRD QUARTER. LOANS TO THE TRANSPORT AND TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT SECTOR ROSE BY 1.3 PER CENT IN THE FOURTH QUARTER, AFTER A FALL OF 3.1 PER CENT IN THE THIRD QUARTER.
BORROWING BY INDIVIDUALS TO PURCHASE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY GREW BY 15.8 PER CENT IN THE FOURTH QUARTER, UP FROM AN INCREASE OF 10.3 PER CENT IN THE THIRD QUARTER. BORROWING BY INDIVIDUALS FOR OTHER PURPOSES ROSE BY 3.1 PER CENT IN THE FOURTH QUARTER, SHARPLY REDUCED FROM A 20.4 PER CENT RISE IN THE THIRD QUARTER.
NUMBER OF REPORTING INSTITUTIONS
THE NUMBER OF REPORTING BANKS REMAINED UNCHANGED IN DECEMBER AT 113. THE NUMBER OF REPORTING DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES ROSE BY ANOTHER 2 DURING THE MONTH TO 302.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1981
TABLE 1
MONEY AND BANKING FIGURES - END OF DECEMBER 1980 (IN HKSMILLION)
FIGURES FOR EARLIER MONTHS (% CHANGE):
DECEMBER 1980 NOVEMBER 1980 SEPTEMBER 1980 DECEMBER 1979
Ml 24 124 24 394 (-1.1%) 25 586 (-5.7%) 20 852 (+15.7%)*
M2 96 862 95 058 (+1.9%) 95 577 (+1.3%) 75 270 (+28.7%)*
M3 139 578 134 117 (+4.1%) 128 457 (+8.7%) 99 765 (+39.9%)*
BANKS
DEPOSITS 88 490 86 816 (+1.9%) 87 396 (+1.3%) 67 985 (+30.2%)*
LOANS AND ADVANCES IN HONG KONG 94 970 90 865 (+4.5%) 80 485 (+18.0%) 62 227 (+52.6%)*
LOAN/DEPOSIT RATIO 107.3% 104.7% 92.1% 91.5%
AVERAGE LIQUIDITY RATIO 48.4% 48.2% 47.8% 48.0%
DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES
DEPOSITS 42 716 39 059 (+9.4%) 32 880 (+29.9%) 24 495 (+74.4%)
LOANS AND ADVANCES IN HONG KONG 29 317 28 689 (+2.2%) 26 021 (+12.7%) 13 566 (+116.1%)
LOAN/DEPOSIT RATIO 68.6% 73.5% 79.1% 55.4%
AVERAGE LIQUIDITY RATIO « 44.2% 46.6% 47.5% ft
BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES
TOTAL LOANS AND 124 287 119 554 106 506 75 793
ADVANCES IN HONG KONG (+4.0%) (+16.7%) (+64.0%)
* THESE FIGURES ARE RECALCULATED TO EXCLUDE BANKS’
LIABILITIES TO, AND CLAIMS ON, DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES.
a THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENT FOR DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES TO OBSERVE A MINIMUM LIQUID ASSETS
RATIO CAME INTO FORCE ON JANUARY 1, 1980.
/TABLE 2 ......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY J, 1981
5
TABLE 2
QUARTERLY ANALYSIS OF LOANS AND ADVANCES IN HONG KONG (IN HKSMILLION)
CATEGORY OF BORROWER
LOANS AND ADVANCES BY BANKS
LOANS AND ADVANCES BY DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES
DECEMBER 1980 SEPTEMBER 1980 DECEMBER 1980 SEPTEMBER 1980
MANUFACTURING OF WHICH: 11 905 (*10.5%) 10 778 1 418 (-2.9%) 1 460
TEXTILES 2 675 (*11.3%) 2 403 270 (+11.1%) 243
TRANSPORT AND TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT 7 699 (-2.0%) 7 855 3 822 (+8.5%) 3 521
BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION 14 064 (+27.2%) 11 057 5 143 (+23.8%) 4 153
GENERAL COMMERCE 27 308 (+13.9%) 23 981 4 904 (+30.7%) 3 752
FINANCIAL CONCERNS * 5 336 (+25.3%) 4 259 1 289 (-5.2%) 1 360
INDIVIDUALS: TO PURCHASE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY 7 173 (+17.2%) 6 121 4 530 (+13.6%) 3 986
OTHER PURPOSES 8 952 (+17.7%) 7 606 3 861 (-20.0%) 4 827
OTHERS 9 858 (+11.7%) 8 828 4 080 (+37.7%) 2 962
TOTAL * 94 970 (+18.0%) 80 485 29 317 (+12.7%) 26 021
* THIS EXCLUDES FUNDS ADVANCED BY BANKS TO DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1981
6
NEW POLITICAL ADVISER NAMED
* * * *
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS HAS APPROVED THE APPOINTMENT OF MR ROBIN MCLAREN AS THE NEXT POLITICAL ADVISER IN HONG KONG.
MR MCLAREN — HEAD OF THE FAR EASTERN DEPARTMENT IN THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE — WILL TAKE OVER FROM THE PRESENT POLITICAL ADVISER, DR DAVID WILSON, IN OCTOBER ON COMPLETION OF HIS TOUR OF DUTY IN HONG KONG.
THE POLITICAL ADVISER’S POST IS BEING UPGRADED AND ON HIS ARRIVAL MR MCLAREN WILL OPERATE AT THE SAME LEVEL AS A SECRETARY IN THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT.
MR MCLAREN WAS A LANGUAGE STUDENT IN HONG KONG FROM 1959-60. FE SERVED IN THE BRITISH MISSION IN PEKING FROM 1960-61 AND WAS ASSISTANT POLITICAL ADVISER IN HONG KONG FROM 1968-70. BETWEEN THESE TWO PERIODS, FROM 1963-64, HE WAS ASSISTANT PRIVATE SECRETARY TO MR EDWARD HEATH, THE LORD PRIVY SEAL AT THE TIME. AFTER SERVING AS COUNSELLOR AND HEAD OF CHANCERY IN THE BRITISH EMBASSY, COPENHAGEN, FROM 1975-78, HE RETURNED TO THE FCO AS HEAD OF HONG KONG AND GENERAL DEPARTMENT. HE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY POSTED TO HIS PRESENT JOB AS HEAD OF THE FAR EASTERN DEPARTMENT IN NOVEMBER 1979.
MR MCLAREN WILL BE 47 WHEN HE TAKES UP HIS POST. HE IS MARRIED WITH THREE CHILDREN.
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FIRE WATCH ON HOLIDAYS
*****
THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TODAY (TUESDAY) URGED RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE LIVING IN SQUATTER AREAS, TO EXERCISE CARE WHEN CONDUCTING RITUAL CEREMONIES DURING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT WHEN BURNING JOSS STICKS, CANDLES AND WORSHIPPING MATERIALS PEOPLE SHOULD TAKE EVERY PRECAUTION TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE EXTINGUISHED BEFORE GOING TO BED AND WHEN LEAVING THEIR RESIDENCE.
♦WE MUST EMPHASISE THAT MANY FIRES BREAK OUT BECAUSE OF CARELESSNESS,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
♦PEOPLE MUST BE MORE FIRE CONSCIOUS IN ANY FESTIVE SEASON TO AVOID TRAGEDY WHICH CAN AFFECT MANY OTHERS. IT IS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. +
HE RECALLED THAT DURING THE NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS ON FEBRUARY 1, 1976 MORE THAN 500 WOODEN AND TIN STRUCTURES, AND GROUNDED JUNKS USED AS HOMES IN ALDRICH BAY, SHAU KEI WAN, WERE DESTROYED BY FIRE IN SEVERAL HOURS. AS A RESULT MORE THAN 3 300 PEOPLE WERE MADE HOMELESS.
♦THIS IS A GRIM REMINDER OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN, AND IF REPETITION IS TO BE AVOIDED THEN ALL PRECAUTIONS MUST BE TAKEN,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
/HE ALSO....
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY J, 1981
7
HE ALSO ADVISED THAT:
X INFLAMMABLE MATERIAL SHOULD NOT BE IN THE VICINITY WHERE WORSHIPPING IS TO TAKE PLACE-
* CHILDREN SHOULD NOT EE ALLOWED TO PLAY WITH MATCHES OR TOLD TO LIGHT CANDLES OR JOSS STICKS-
M BURNING OF CANDLES AND JOSS STICKS ON ALTARS SHOULD BE MINIMISED, AND
* MATCHES AND SOURCES OF IGNITION SHOULD BE KEPT OUT OF SIGHT OF CHILDREN.
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CENSUS COMMISSIONER AFLOAT FOR CHECKS
* * *
THE COMMISSIONER FOR CENSUS AND STATISTICS, MR C.C. GREENFIELD, TODAY (TUESDAY) SAW MARINE CENSUS ENUMERATORS AT WORK AND MET WITH BOAT DWELLERS IN THE CAUSEWAY BAY TYPHOON SHELTER.
HE WENT ON BOARD SOME OF THE BOATS TO SEE HOW THE CENSUS WAS PROGRESSING, AND DISCUSSED WITH THE ENUMERATORS THEIR PREVIOUS DAY’S EXPERIENCE CARRYING OUT BOAT-TO-BOAT INTERVIEWS.
THE 1981 MARINE CENSUS, WHICH ENDS TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY), HAD BEEN TIMED TO COINCIDE WITH THE RETURN OF MOST OF THE BOAT PEOPLE TO THEIR ANCHORAGES TO CELEBRATE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR.
ABOUT 250 ENUMERATORS HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED TO CARRY OUT THIS YEAR’S MARINE CENSUS.
THE 1981 LAND CENSUS WILL BE FROM MARCH 6 TO 15. THE LAST FULL CENSUS WAS CARRIED OUT IN 1971, AND A BY-CENSUS IN 1976 BASED ON A 10 PER CENT SAMPLE OF THE POPULATION.
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EXHIBITIONS AT THE THIRD TSUEN WAN ARTS FESTIVAL * * * *
FOUR EXHIBITIONS ARE BEING HELD AT THE TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL DURING THE THIRD TSUEN WAN ARTS FESTIVAL, NOW EXTENDED TO FEBRUARY 27.
A STAMP EXHIBITION, PRESENTED BY THE HONG KONG PHILATELIC SOCIETY AND THE CHINA PHILATELIC ASSOCIATION, IS BEING HELD AT THE HALL’S CULTURAL ACTIVITIES HALL UNTIL FEBRUARY 8. EXHIBITS INCLUDE VALUABLE COLLECTIONS OF LOCAL STAMPS AS WELL AS WINNING ITEMS OF THE STAMP COLLECTION JUNIOR COMPETITION WHICH WAS ORGANISED WITH THIS EXHIBITION.
IN THE EXHIBITION GALLERY THERE IS A DISPLAY 0" ANCIENT ROCK CARVINGS FEATURING SOME OF THE UNKNOWN DESIGNS CARVED INTO THE ROCKS ALONG THE COASTLINE OF HONG KONG.
AN EXHIBITION OF MODERN PRINTS, ORGANISED EY CONTEMPORARY LOCAL AND OVERSEAS MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG GRAPHICS SOCIETY, IS ALSO BEING HELD IN THE GALLERY.
/THESE TW .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY J, 1981
8
THESE TWO EXHIBITIONS WILL EE ON FOR THE DURATION OF THE FESTIVAL.
DURING THE FESTIVAL, AN EXHIBITION OF BOOKS ON PERFORMING ARTS WILL ALSO BE HELD AT THE KWAI CHUNG PUBLIC LIBRARY.
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BIG TURNOUT FOR TAI PO SHOW * * * X *
TAI PO’S LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS OPENED TODAY (TUESDAY) WITH A VARIETY SHOW ATTENDED BY 2 OOO PEOPLE.
THE SHOW WAS HELD AT A SPORTSGROUND IN PLOVER COVE ROAD WHERE A NEW YEAR FAIR IS ALSO TAKING PLACE.
PERFORMANCES INCLUDED FOLK DANCES, SINGING, AND LION DANCES BY TAI PO ARTS ADVANCEMENT ASSOCIATION AND LOCAL SCHOOLS AND SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS.
OPENING THE SHOW WAS TAI PO DISTRICT OFFICER, MR NICHOLAS NG, WHO PRESENTED PRIZES TO 15 WINNERS OF A CHINESE COUPLET WRITING COMPETITION WHICH ATTRACTED 6 000 ENTRIES LAST MONTH.
THE WINNING ENTRIES, WHICH DEPICTED THE SPECIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF TAI PO AND PROMOTED NEW YEAR FESTIVITY AND GOODWILL, WERE ON DISPLAY AT THE PLAYGROUND.
MR NG SAID ACTIVITIES TO CELEBRATE LUNAR NEW YEAR HAD BEEN ORGANISED ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS IN THE PAST.
TO ENCOURAGE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION BY LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS, A COMMITTEE WITH OFFICIAL AND UNOFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVES WAS FORMED RECENTLY TO CO-ORDINATE ACTIVITIES.
HE SAID IT WAS HOPED THAT EVERY RESIDENT WOULD ENJOY THE PROGRAMME AND GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEW TOWN THROUGH PARTICIPATION.
SOME OF 12 EVENTS WILL BE HELD DURING THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, WITH A CLOSING CEREMONY TAKING PLACE AT THE TAI PO DISTRICT OFFICE CAR PARK ON FEBRUARY 19.
THE DISTRICT OFFICE BUILDING IS BEING FULLY DECORATED WITH LIGHTING FOR THE WHOLE OF THE TWO-WEEK PERIOD.
OTHER ACTIVITIES IN THE PROGRAMME INCLUDE A FLOWER SHOW, NEW YEAR WALKS, PICNICS, A DINNER FOR THE ELDERLY, FIL ..<.0, CAMPS AND COMPETITIONS IN PHOTOGRAPHY AND LANTERN DESIGN.
ENTRIES TO THE PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION, WHICH MUS’ SHC * • SCENERY OF TAI PO OR ACTIVITIES HELD DURING THE LUNAR NE. r-AE, SHOULD REACH TAI PO DISTRICT OFFICE BY FEBRUARY 2.~.
C - -
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1981
- 9 -
TUEN MUN’S BLOSSOM TIME * * * *
TUEN MUN RESIDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO FIND A WIDE SELECTION OF PEACH BLOSSOMS AND GOODS FROM THE 70 STALLS OPERATING AT THE FIRST LUNAR NEW YEAR FAIR EVER HELD IN THEIR DISTRICT.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE FAIR AT TUEN MUN SAN HUI PLAYGROUND TODAY (TUESDAY), THE CHAIRMAN OF TUEN MUN RURAL COMMITTEE, MR LAU WONG-FAT SAID THE FAIR WOULD SAVE THE LOCAL PEOPLE FROM TRAVELLING A LONG DISTANCE TO ATTEND A YEAR-END FAIR AT OTHER DISTRICT.
THE FAIR WAS SPECIALLY SET UP TO KEEP PACE WITH THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF TUEN MUN, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (NORTH) OF THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT, MR BOWEN LEUNG SAID.
TO MARK THE OPENING OF THE FAIR, MR LAU WONG-FAT, MR BOWEN LEUNG AND THE DISTRICT OFFICER OF TUEN MUN, MR BILLY LAM, PERFORMED THE RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY.
------o-------
WELFARE +HOTLINE+ TO REMAIN OPEN IN LUNAR NEW YEAR ******
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S +HOTLINE+ SERVICE WILL REMAIN OPEN THROUGHOUT THE LUNAR NEW YEAR.
THE HOTLINE - 3-432255 - WILL BE MANNED BY THE DEPARTMENT’S SOCIAL WORK STAFF BETWEEN 1 PM AND 10 PM FROM THURSDAY TO SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 5-8).
CALLS MADE OUTSIDE THESE HOURS WILL EE MACHINE-RECORDED FOR FOLLOW-UP ACTION AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
THE HOTLINE WAS INTRODUCED LAST OCTOBER TO SUPPLEMENT WELFARE SERVICES ALREADY AVAILABLE IN THE DEPARTMENT’S FIELD OFFICES AND WAS PRIMARILY FOR OUTSIDE OFFICE HOURS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE HOTLINE HAD SO FAR RECEIVED OVER 10 600 CALLS, MOST OF WHICH WERE MADE AFTER OFFICE HOURS.
HE SAID THE CALLS RECEIVED WERE GENERALLY OF FIVE AREAS: FAMILY PROBLEMS, CHILDREN’S BEHAVIOUR, CHILD CARE, REHABILITATION SERVICES AND FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES.
CALLERS WERE GIVEN PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE OVER THE PHONE ON FAMILY OR INDIVIDUAL PROBLEMS, OR AN EXPLANATION OF AVAILABLE WELFARE SERVICES.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID PEOPLE USING THE HOTLINE DURING THE PERIODS WHEN MACHINE-RECORDING IS IN OPERATION SHOULD LEAVE THEIR NAMES, TELEPHONE NUMBERS AND ADDRESSES.
OVERNIGHT CASES WHICH REQUIRE URGENT ATTENTION, SHOULD BE REPORTED TO THE NEAREST POLICE STATION, HE ADDED.
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/1O
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1981
10
EIGHT GOVERNMENT CLINICS TO REMAIN OPEN ON SATURDAY
******
EIGHT GOVERNMENT OUT-PATIENT CLINICS WILL REMAIN OPEN BETWEEN 9 AM AND 1 PM ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 7) — A NEW YEAR HOLIDAY.
THEY ARE THE VIOLET PEEL POLYCLINIC AND THE SHAU KEI WAN JOCKEY CLUB CLINIC ON HONG KONG ISLAND- THE YAU MA TEI JOCKEY CLUB CLINIC, THE KWUN TONG JOCKEY CLUB HEALTH CENTRE AND THE ROBERT BLACK HEALTH CENTRE IN KOWLOON- THE TSUEN WAN LADY TRENCH POLYCLINIC, THE YUEN LONG JOCKEY CLUB HEALTH CENTRE AND THE SHEK WU HUI JOCKEY CLUB CLINIC IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
ALL OTHER GOVERNMENT OUT-PATIENT CLINICS AND EVENING CLINICS WILL BE CLOSED DURING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS FROM FEBRUARY 5 TO 7 (THURSDAY TO SATURDAY).
------0-------
DUTY FREE BRANDY FOR HOLIDAY SPIRIT *****
THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT PASSENGERS ARRIVING FROM MACAU DURING THE TWO DAYS FOLLOWING CHINESE NEW YEAR’S DAY (FEBRUARY 6 AND 7) MAY BRING INTO HONG KONG, FREE OF DUTY, ONE BOTTLE OF PORTUGUESE BRANDY CONTAINING NO MORE THAN ONE LITRE OF THE SPIRIT.
THIS CONCESSION IS ALLOWED IN LIEU OF NORMAL ONE LITRE BOTTLE OF GRAPE WINE.
------o ------
DANGEROUS BUILDINGS IN TAI PO MARKET
******
THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TODAY (TUESDAY) DECLARED NOS. 42, 44 AND 46 YAN HING STREET, TAI PO MARKET TO BE IN A DANGEROUS CONDITION.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AUTHORITY SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) THE TERRACES OF THE PRE-WAR TWO-STOREY STRUCTURES WERE INSPECTED RECENTLY FOLLOWING A COMPLAINT.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE LOADBEARING WALLS HAD NUMEROUS CRACKS AND SHOWED SIGNS OF MOVEMENT. PATCHES OF BRICKWORK WERE EXTENSIVELY ERODED AND ALL STRUCTURAL TIMBER WAS IN AN ADVANCED STATE OF DECAY AND ONE ROOF HAD PARTLY COLLAPSED.
ACCORDINGLY NOTICES OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR A CLOSURE ORDER IN KOWLOON DISTRICT COURT AT 9.30 AM ON MARCH 3, 1981 WERE POSTED TODAY.
0 -
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1981
< ■ 11 -LANTAU BUS SERVICES RESUME NORMAL FREQUENCIES *****
~BUS SERVICES ON LANTAU ISLAND HAVE RESUMED NORMAL FREQUENCIES AFTMTHE RECRUITMENT OF NEW DRIVERS TO FILL VACANCIES LEFT BY EIGHhFoF THEIR FORMER COLLEAGUES LAST MONTH.
DURING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS THE NEW LANTAU BUS COMPANY WILL OPERATE ADDITIONAL BUS SERVICES TO MEET THE ANTICIPATED INCREASE IN DEMAND WHEN THOUSANDS OF HOLIDAY-MAKERS ARE EXPECTED TO VISIT THE ISLAND.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1981
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
PROPOSAL TO LIMIT HIRE CARS .................................. 1
MTR ISLAND LINE PROPOSAL ..................................... 1
FISH CATCH UP DESPITE OIL HIKE................................ 2
PATIENTS PLAY UP NEW YEAR .................................... 5
JO FAMILIES TO SPEND HOLIDAYS IN CAMP ........................ 3
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1981
1
PROPOSAL TO LIMIT HIRE CARS
* * *
THE ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) BILL 1981, WHICH LIMITS THE NUMBER OF CONTRACT HIRE CAR PERMITS TO BE ISSUED, WAS PUBLISHED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
THE BILL ALSO ENABLES TRANSPORT TRIBUNALS TO REVIEW DECISIONS BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT TO CANCEL PERMITS. THE TRIBUNAL WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO REVIEW CASES IN WHICH THE COMMISSIONER HAS REFUSED TO ISSUE PERMITS.
A THIRD PROVISION ALLOWS THAT WHERE ANY REGULATION IS MADE UNDER THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE DEALING WITH THE GRANTING OF HIRE CAR PERMITS THE COMMISSIONER MAY, IN HIS DISCRETION :
* GIVE PRIORITY TO ANY PERSON OR CLASS OF PERSONS-
* DETERMINE BY LOT APPLICATIONS RECEIVED- AND
* LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PERMITS WHICH MAY BE GRANTED TO ANY PERSON OR CLASS OF PERSONS.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE AMENDING BILL, IF PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, WOULD ENABLE REGULATIONS TO BE MADE INCORPORATING THESE THREE PROVISIONS.
------o--------
MTR ISLAND LINE PROPOSAL
* * * *
A BILL TO FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ISLAND LINE WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL NEXT WEDNESDAY.
THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY (LAND RESUMPTION AND RELATED PROVISIONS)(AMENDMENT) BILL 1981 IS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IT SEEKS TO ENLARGE GEOGRAPHICALLY THE SCOPE OF THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE BY INCLUDING THE SECTION OF THE MTR BETWEEN WESTERN MARKET AND CHAI WAN.
THE ORDINANCE PROVIDES FOR ACTION TO BE TAKEN ON LAND ACQUISITION AND COMPENSATION CLAIMS ARISING FROM THE CONSTRUCTION CF THE RAILWAY.
IT IS A REQUIREMENT OF THE ORDINANCE THAT ANY LAND RESUMPTION BE PRECEDED BY THE EXHIBITION OF A RAILWAY AREA PLAN.
TO MEET THIS REQUIREMENT WITHIN THE OVERALL TIMETABLE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ISLAND LINE, THE PLAN MUST BE EXHIBITED BY THE END OF THIS MONTH.
FOR THIS REASON IT IS PROPOSED THAT THE BILL BE TAKEN THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN ONE SITTING.
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/2.....
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1981
2
FISH CATCH UP DESPITE OIL HIKE * * * *
PRODUCTIVITY BY THE LOCAL FISHING FLEET INCREASED BY ABOUT THREE PER CENT LAST YEAR DESPITE A TRYING TIME FOR THE FISHERMEN DUE TO INCREASED FUEL OIL COSTS.
STATING THIS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) AT THE ANNUAL PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONY AT THE ABERDEEN WHOLESALE FISH MARKET, ACTING DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DR C.T. WONG SAID: +THE YEAR ABOUT TO PASS HAS BEEN A TIME OF TRIAL AND TRIBULATION FOR THE LOCAL FISHING FLEET.+ r
THE HIGH PRICE OF FUEL OIL CONTINUED TO GIVE THE LOCAL FISHERMEN A HARD TIME DURING THE YEAR, HE SAID.
DR WONG SAID: +DUE TO YOUR HARD WORK AND ADAPTABILITY, HOWEVER, THE PRODUCTIVITY OF THE LOCAL FLEET INCREASED BY ABOUT THREE PER CENT ALTHOUGH LANDINGS SOLD THROUGH THE FISH MARKETING ORGANISATION DURING 1980 DECLINED BY APPROXIMATELY SEVEN PER CENT COMPARED WITH 1979. +
NEVERTHELESS, THE AVERAGE PRICE RECEIVED THROUGH THE F.M.O. ROSE BY JUST UNDER $47 PER PICUL OR 17 PER CENT TO HELP OFFSET THE INCREASED COSTS.
DR WONG URGED FISHERMEN TO ADOPT ALL MEASURES POSSIBLE TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY IN ORDER TO OFFSET INCREASED EXPENDITURE.
REGARDING ASSISTANCE TO FISHERMEN, DR WONG SAID THE ISSUE OF LOANS FROM THE VARIOUS FUNDS ADMINISTERED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN SPEEDED UP AND REPAYMENT TERMS EASED.
+THE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO EXPANDING THE RANGE OF ITS TRAINING CLASSES FOR YOUR BENEFIT AND IN OCTOBER 1980 COMMISSIONED A NEW FISHERIES RESEARCH VESSEL, THE ’TAI SHUN’,+ HE SAID.
THE 'TAI SHUN’, WHICH REPLACED THE 28-YEAR-OLD ’CAPE ST. MARY’, WILL CARRY OUT EXPLORATORY FISHING IN AN ATTEMPT TO OPEN UP NEW FISHING GROUNDS AND NEW RESOURCES. THE INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE MADE KNOWN TO THE FISHERMEN.
♦THE NEW VESSEL IS A FURTHER EXAMPLE OF THE DEPARTMENT’S DETERMINATION TO FOSTER THE GROWTH OF THE LOCAL FISHING INDUSTRY,+ DR WONG SAID.
DURING THE CEREMONY, DR WONG PRESENTED PRIZES AND CERTIFICATES TO NINE FISHERMEN WHO SAVED THE LIVES OF 22 PEOPLE IN SEVEN ACCIDENTS AT SEA DURING THE YEAR.
MRS WONG PRESENTED PRIZES AND CERTIFICATES TO 24 CHAMPION FISHERMEN.
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/3......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1981
- 3 -
PATIENTS PLAY UP NEW YEAR * * * *
MORE THAN 300 PATIENTS OF LAI CHI KOK HOSPITAL AND THEIR RELATIVES WILL HAVE A DAY OF FUN DURING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR.
THE CHINESE NEW YEAR FUN DAY WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 8) IN THE HOSPITAL’S OPEN SPACE.
THE FUNCTION IS ORGANISED BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT WITH THE COMMUNITY AND YOUTH OFFICER AND YOUTH CENTRE OF SHAM SHU I PO.
THERE WILL BE A WIDE VARIETY OF GROUP GAMES AND STALLS RUN AND PARTICIPATED BY THE PATIENTS.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAY WILL INCLUDE A LION DANCE AND A DEMONSTRATION OF CHINESE MARTIAL ART, WITH SOME OF THE PATIENTS TAKING PART.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID: +THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT LAI CHI KOK HOSPITAL HAS EVER HELD A FUNCTION OF SUCH NATURE ON SUCH A LARGE SCALE.*
THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE EVENT IS TO BUILD UP THE CONFIDENCE OF PATIENTS AND HELP PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
------o-------
30 FAMILIES TO SPEND HOLIDAYS IN CAMP * * * *
ABOUT 200 PEOPLE FROM 30 FAMILIES RESIDENT IN NORTH DISTRICT, NEW TERRITORIES, WILL SPEND PART OF THEIR LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS IN WU KAI SHA YOUTH CAMP.
THE CAMP, ORGANISED BY NORTH DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE, THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS AND THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE, WILL BE HELD ON FEBRUARY 10 AND 11.
APPLICATIONS WERE MADE ON A FAMILY BASIS. THE LARGEST FAMILY ENROLLED HAS 11 MEMBERS WITH THE ELDEST BEING AN 80-YEAR-0LD WOMAN.
ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO SHOW THE IMPORTANCE OF CO-OPERATION AMONG FAMILY UNITS WILL INCLUDE ARCHERY, BALL GAMES, KITE FLYING, HIKING, A BARBECUE AND A VARIETY SHOW.
PAMPHLETS CONTAINING FIGHT CRIME AND ANT I-NARCOTIC MESSAGES WILL ALSO BE DISTRIBUTED TO ALL PARTICIPANTS.
EACH PERSON ATTENDING HAS TO PAY $12. NORTH DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE AND ACAN HAVE PROVIDED $6 500 TO SUBSIDISE THE CAMP.
IT IS AMONG A SERIES OF ACTIVITIES BEING ORGANISED IN THE DISTRICT TO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO TAKE PART IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CRIME.
OTHER ACTIVITIES INCLUDE A POSTER DESIGN COMPETITION, A WATER CARNIVAL, A CROSSWORD PUZZLE CONTEST, A TABLE TENNIS TOURNAMENT, VARIETY SHOWS AND EXHIBITIONS.
0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1981
CONTENTS PAGE NO,
AIRPORT STUDIES FOR CHEK LAP KOK ............................... 1
DRUG SMUGGLERS FACE GREATER RISK ............................... 2
789 BUILDING PLaNS APPROVED IN 198O ............................ 3
SAI KUNG HAS PUBLIC TENNIS COURTS .............................. 4
CENTRAL TRAFFIC DIVERSIONS...................................... 5
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1981
1
AIRPORT STUDIES FOR CHEK LAP KOK
* * * *
THE GOVERNMENT HAS ENGAGED CONSULTANTS TO CARRY OUT AN AIRPORT MASTER PLANNING STUDY AS PART OF A SERIES OF STUDIES CONNECTED WITH THE REPLACEMENT AIRPORT PROJECT AT CHEK LAP KOK, OFF LANTAU.
AN AGREEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED WITH THE AMERICAN CONSULTANTS GROUP, R.M.P. INTERNATIONAL LTD., BY MR B.D. KEEP, DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION, ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND MR J.N. FEHRER, CONTRACTS MANAGER, FOR THE CONSULTANTS GROUP.
R.M.P. INTERNATIONAL LTD WILL CARRY OUT THE STUDY WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY, THE G.M.W. PARTNERSHIP OF LONDON, AND FOUR HONG KONG-BASED ARCHITECTURAL, CIVIL ENGINEERING, TRANSPORT PLANNING AND DESIGN GROUPS (PRESCOTT STUTELY DESIGN GROUP, WILBUR SMITH AND ASSOCIATES, LEVETT AND BAILEY, AND MOTT HAY AND ANDERSON FAR EAST). EACH OF THE SUB-CONTRACTING GROUPS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SPECIALIST ASPECTS OF THE STUDY.
THE CONSULTANTS ARE TO DEVELOP AN AIRPORT MASTER PLAN WHICH WILL DEFINE THE PHASED DEVELOPMENT OF THE REPLACEMENT AIRPORT IN TERMS OF THE LOCATION OF RUNWAYS AND ALL AIRPORT FACILITIES.
THEY WILL ALSO LOOK INTO THE AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS ASPECTS, INCLUDING ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE PROCEDURES AND ASSOCIATED AIRCRAFT NOISE, BUILDING HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS IN THE VICINITY OF THE AIRPORT AND FINALLY UP-DATING THE ORDER OF COSTS FOR CONSTRUCTING THE REPLACEMENT AIRPORT.
THE CONSULTANTS WILL THEIR STUDIES TOWARDS THE
START WORK NEXT MONTH (MARCH) AND COMPLETE END OF 1982.
THE RESULTS OF THE AIRPORT MASTER PLANNING STUDY TOGETHER WITH THE FINDINGS OF OTHER STUDIES - INCLUDING CIVIL ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL, FINANCIAL, METEOROLOGICAL AND OCEANOGRAPHIC STUDIES -AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED TO THE PROPOSED NORTH LANTAU DEVELOPMENT WILL BE PRESENTED TO GOVERNMENT AT THE END OF 1982.
+THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE CONSULTANTS IS ANOTHER STEP ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO BUILD TO REPLACE KAI TAK.+ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CIVIL AVIATION SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
TAKEN TO
A NEW AIRPORT DEPARTMENT
+WITH THE PRESENT RATE OF GROWTH IN AIR TRAFFIC, KAI TAK IS EXPECTED TO REACH ITS CAPACITY IN THE MID-1980S AND THEREAFTER THE AIRPORT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN THE TRAFFIC DEMAND WITHOUT INTRODUCING CONSTRAINTS ON THE AIRLINES OPERATING TO AND FROM HONG KONG.
+CONSTRUCTION OF A REPLACEMENT AIRPORT IS ONE OF THE ALTERNATIVES TO BE EXAMINED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN ORDER TO MAXIMISE THE BENEFITS OF CIVIL AVIATION TO HONG KONG,+ THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
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/2
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1981
2
DRUG SMUGGLERS FACE GREATER RISK
* * * *
A 49-YEAR-OLD MAN HAD JUST ARRIVED AT THE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT FROM BANGKOK. AS HE STEPPED INTO THE ARRIVAL HALL, HE WAS IMMEDIATELY STOPPED BY OFFICERS OF THE JOINT POLICE AND CUSTOMS INTELLIGENCE UNIT.
THE MAN WAS NO ORDINARY TOURIST. AFTER HE WAS TAKEN TO THE CUSTOMS OFFICE AND TOLD THAT HE WOULD BE MEDICALLY EXAMINED, THE MAN EXTRACTED ABOUT 38 GRAMS OF HEROIN BASE FROM HIS BODY.
IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT A NEW TYPE OF DRUG SMUGGLING, KNOWN IN THE BUSINESS AS THE +BODY CAVITY METHOD*, WAS DETECTED AT THE HONG KONG AIRPORT.
THE MAN HAD BEEN SUSPECTED OF BEING A DRUG COURIER FOLLOWING INVESTIGATIONS BASED ON INTELLIGENCE GATHERED BY THE JOINT POLICE AND CUSTOMS INTELLIGENCE UNIT.
THE UNIT, WHOSE MEMBERS INCLUDED POLICE AND CUSTOMS OFFICERS, WAS FORMED IN JULY 1979 TO STEP UP PREVENTIVE MEASURES AGAINST ILLEGAL DRUG IMPORTS THROUGH THE AIRPORT.
THE UNIT’S HARD WORK HAD LED TO THE SEIZURE OF 0.62 KG OF NO. 3 HEROIN AND 2 KG OF HEROIN BASE LAST YEAR.
ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF THE INVESTIGATION DIVISION OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE, MR DAVID TONG, SAID THE +BODY CAVITY METHOD* WAS COPIED FROM AN OLD TRICK USED BY GOLD/DIAMOND SMUGGLERS.
+BUT SMUGGLING DRUGS IN THIS WAY CAN BE LETHAL,* HE STRESSED.
THIS WAS FORCEFULLY DEMONSTRATED IN MAY 1980 WHEN A COURIER DIED OF OVERDOSE AFTER A PLASTIC BAG CONTAINING HEROIN BURST INSIDE HIS BODY.
ALTHOUGH EIGHT PERSONS WERE ARRESTED FOR EMPLOYING THIS METHOD LAST YEAR, MORE AND MORE COURIERS WERE TURNING TO THE USE OF DIVERSIONARY ROUTES, MR TONG SAID.
COURIERS, AFTER PICKING UP THE DRUGS IN THAILAND OR MALAYSIA, WOULD TRAVEL TO THE PHILIPPINES AND TAIWAN BEFORE COMING TO HONG KONG TO AVOID STRINGENT CUSTOMS CHECKS AT THE AIRPORT.
DESPITE THE MORE SOPHISTICATED METHODS EMPLOYED BY TRAFFICKERS, THEY COULD NOT ESCAPE THE TRAINED EYES OF CUSTOMS OFFICERS.
EIGHT COURIERS USING THE DIVERSIONARY METHOD WERE ARRESTED LAST YEAR AND THE NUMBER OF AIR PASSENGER COURIERS ARRESTED IN 1980 INCREASED BY 250 PER CENT COMPARED WITH 1979.
DRUGS SEIZED AT THE AIRPORT WERE COMPARATIVELY SMALL IN QUANTITY AS THE USE OF OCEAN-GOING VESSELS IS STILL FAVOURED BY TRAFFICKERS FOR SMUGGLING LARGE QUANTITIES OF DRUGS.
/TWO aaUHEABLS.......
Friday, February 6, 1981
TWO REMARKABLE SEIZURES IN THE HARBOUR TOOK PLACE AT THE END OF LAST YEAR.
ON DECEMBER 15, CUSTOMS OFFICERS FOUND 19.69 KG OF HEROIN BASE IN THE CARGO HATCH OF A POLISH VESSEL FROM BANGKOK. ANOTHER SHIPMENT CF 5.29 KG OF HEROIN BASE WAS SEIZED BY CUSTOMS OFFICERS NINE DAYS LATER ON BOARD ANOTHER VESSEL.
+THE FIRST SEIZURE,+ MR TONG SAID, +WAS THE LARGEST HEROIN BASE IMPORT INTERCEPTED ON BOARD OCEAN-GOING VESSELS IN HONG KONG HISTORY.+
1983 WAS A BUSY YEAR FOR THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE. THEY SEIZED $73 MILLION WORTH OF DANGEROUS DRUGS, INCLUDING 27.31 KG OF HEROIN, 37.33 KG OF HEROIN BASE, 68.96 KG OF OPIUM, 1.81 KG OF MORPHINE, 5.8 KG OF CANNABIS AND 32.6 KG OF CANNABIS RESIN.
OF THESE, 35.69 KG WERE SEIZED AT THE AIRPORT, 109.3 KG IN THE HARBOUR AND 28.87 KG ON LAND.
THE SERVICE’S ANTI-NARCOTICS OPERATION ALSO LED TO THE ARRESTS OF 767 PERSONS WHO WERE PROSECUTED FOR DRUG OFFENCES.
THE SERVICE ALSO PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION ON DRUG SUPPRESSION. VALUABLE INFORMATION ON INTERNATIONAL DRUG TRAFFICKING WERE EXCHANGED BETWEEN THE SERVICE AND FOREIGN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
THIS RESULTED IN TWO REMARKABLE SEIZURES BY OVERSEAS AGENCIES. ON OCTOBER 16, ACTING ON INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY THE SERVICE, THE PHILIPPINES CUSTOMS SEIZED 2.8 KG OF HEROIN BASE AND ARRESTED THREE SUSPECTS. ON NOVEMBER 29, ALSO ACTING ON INFORMATION BY THE SERVICE, THE ROYAL THAI CUSTOMS SEIZED 5.5 KG OF NO. 3 HEROIN AND ARRESTED THREE PEOPLE.
-----0------
789 BUILDING PLANS APPROVED IN 1980 * * * *
C1111 A TOTAL 0F 789 NEW BUILDING PLANS WERE APPROVED BY THE 8°;;^ PUBLIC *0RKS APARTMENT LAST
tup vIa! ™™J,DE£VAREI) C0ST 0F NEW BUILDINGS COMPLETED DURING ™E YEAR 674 MILLI0N« AS AGAINST $3 268 MILLION IN THE
rKtvIUUb YtAR.
TOTAL usable floor area of new buildings completed was SaIp2mc?dcqLL,0N SQUARE METRES. IN 1979 IT WAS 2.87 MILLION^ oWUAKt Mt TRES.
a Aklc,N °E£EMBER LAST YEAR’ THE B0° APPROVED 68 NEW BUILDING PLANS, COMPARED WITH 70 IN THE SAME MONTH IN 1979.
cao °F.IHESE’ 27 WERE F0R BUILDINGS ON HONG KONG ISLAND SEVEN
FOR KOWLOON AND 34 FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES. ’
/THEY djcluded....
Xfl i 1/211 y x
4 -
THEY INCLUDED PLANS FOR A CHURCH IN HAPPY VALLEY, A PUMPHOUSE ON MOUNT DAVIS, A HOLIDAY CENTRE FOR THE HONG KONG GIRL GUIDES ASSOCIATION IN PING SHAN, A SWIMMING POOL IN YUEN LONG AND A BARGE BERTH AND DOCK STRUCTURE IN CASTLE PEAK.
DURING THE MONTH, THE TOTAL USABLE FLOOR AREA OF NEW BUILDINGS COMPLETED AMOUNTED TO 283 102.4 SQUARE METRES, COMPRISI NG 162 760.4 SQUARE METRES OF NON-DOMESTIC FLOOR AREA AND 120 342 SQUARE METRES OF DOMESTIC FLOOR AREA.
THE TOTAL DECLARED COST OF NEW BUILDINGS COMPLETED IN DECEMBER AMOUNTED TO $514.59 MILLION, COMPARED WITH $570.42 MILLION IN DECEMBER 1979.
FIFTY NEW PROJECTS RECEIVED THE GO-AHEAD FOR WORK TO START.
THESE INCLUDED A SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG IN VICTORIA ROAD, A TEMPLE IN WONG TAI SIN AND A PETROL FILLING STATION IN CLEARWATER BAY ROAD.
A TOTAL OF 48 NEWLY COMPLETED BUILDINGS WERE CERTIFIED FOR OCCUPATION IN THE MONTH, INCLUDING A SCHOOL IN KENNEDY ROAD, AN ELECTRICITY SUB-STATION IN TUEN MUN AND A KINDERGARTEN AND CHAPEL ON LANTAU ISLAND.
THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE ALSO ASSENTED TO THE DEMOLITION CF 85 BUILDINGS.
----- 0 ------
SAI KUNG HAS PUBLIC TENNIS COURTS
* * * * *
WORK ON THE FIRST PUBLIC TENNIS COURTS IN SAI KUNG HAS BEEN COMPLETED.
THE COURTS WERE PREVIOUSLY THE PLAYGROUND OF SUN LUEN PUBLIC SCHOOL AT TAI PING TSUEN, A VILLAGE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF SAI KUNG TOWN.
A PROPOSAL TO CONVERT THE PLAYGROUND IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE RANGE OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS WAS ACCEPTED BY THE SCHOOL AUTHORITIES LAST SUMMER.
SAI KUNG DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD LATER ALLOCATED $25 □□□ FROM ITS MINOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS VOTE TO INSTALL NETS AND POSTS AND ERECT FENCES.
BESIDES A STANDARD-SIZE TENNIS COURT, THERE IS ALSO A HALF-SIZE COURT FOR PRACTICE PURPOSES.
THE COURTS WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FROM NEXT MONTH OUTSIDE SCHOOL HOURS.
BOOKINGS CAN EE MADE AT SAI KUNG RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE OFFICE, WHICH IS ALSO PLANNING TO MAKE USE OF THE COURTS TO HOLD TRAINING CLASSES AND MATCHES FOR LOCAL YOUNGSTERS.
THEY WILL EE IN USE FOR TWO YEARS UNTIL PERMANENT COURTS ARE BUILT IN THE DISTRICT.
---------------------------------o-------------------/5 ...........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1981
5
CENTRAL TRAFFIC DIVERSIONS * * * *
PART OF CENTRAL WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM 10 AM TO 6 PM ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 8) FOR THE HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL’S LUNAR NEW YEAR ENTERTAINMENT IN STATUE SQUARE.
THE CLOSURES WILL BE ALONG CHATER ROAD BETWEEN DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL AND JACKSON ROAD AND ICE HOUSE STREET BETWEEN DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL AND CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL.
SUBSEQUENT TO THESE CLOSURES, THE FOLLOWING DIVERSIONS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED DURING THE PERIOD: TRAFFIC RUNNING NORTHWARD ALONG ICE HOUSE STREET BETWEEN QUEEN’S ROAD AND DES VOEUX ROAD WILL BE DIVERTED VIA QUEEN’S ROAD, PEDDER STREET AND CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL EASTBOUND BUS ROUTES 23A, 24, 40M AND 103 ALONG ICE HOUSE STREET AND CHATER ROAD WILL BE DIVERTED VIA DES VOEUX ROAD- EASTBOUND CMB ROUTES 5B, 10 AND 20 WILL OPERATE ALL ALONG DES VOEUX ROAD INSTEAD CF CHATER ROAD= AND CROSS HARBOUR ROUTE 200 WILL TERMINATE AT JACKSON ROAD INSTEAD OF ICE HOUSE STREET.
0
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1981
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
EXPERT TO ADVISE ON TRAINING NEEDS OF DISABLED................... 1
FACTORIES BANNED FROM NON-INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS....... 1
CONTRACTS WORTH $73OM IN DECEMBER............................... 2
NEW SQUASH COURTS READY SOON .................................... 3
TAI PO SPORTS ASSOCIATION SEEKS.SYMBOL .......................... 3
MUSIC IN THE AIR
4
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1981
1
EXPERT TO ADVISE ON TRAINING NEEDS OF DISABLED * * * *
AN INTERNATIONAL EXPERT HAS ARRIVED IN HONG KONG TO ADVISE THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ON THE TRAINING NEEDS OF THE DISABLED.
HE IS MR ROBERT SPENCER OF CANADA WHO HAS BEEN RECOMMENDED BY THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION.
THE PROJECT, WHICH WILL LAST SIX MONTHS, HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME.
MR SPENCER’S PRINCIPAL ASSIGNMENT IS TO INTRODUCE A NEW TRAINING SYSTEM CALLED +MODULES OF EMPLOYABLE SKILL*.
THIS SYSTEM IS BASICALLY A PROCESS IN WHICH ALL TASKS CONNECTED WITH A DEFINED TRADE OR OCCUPATION ARE BROKEN DOWN INTO SIMPLE TASK-UNITS. A NUMBER OF SUCH TASK-UNITS ARE GROUPED TOGETHER TO FORM A MODULE AND EACH MODULE OR A COMBINATION OF APPROPRIATE MODULES WILL CONSTITUTE AN EMPLOYABLE SKILL COMMENSURATE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LABOUR MARKET.
*THE REALISATION OF THIS PROJECT IN THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF DISABLED WILL MARK A BREAK-THROUGH IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES IN HONG KONG,* A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
HE ADDED THAT MR SPENCER’S EXPERTISE IN MODULARISED TRAINING PACKAGES AND THEIR DEVELOPMENT IN RELATION TO PRE-IDENTIFIED COMPETENCIES FOR EMPLOYABLE SKILL IN ALL TYPES OF OCCUPATION WOULD BE INVALUABLE TO THE DISABLED IN HELPING THEM TO INTEGRATE INTO THE COMMUNITY.
SINCE THE PUBLICATION OF THE 1977 WHITE PAPER +INTEGRATING THE DISABLED INTO THE COMMUNITY: A UNITED EFFORT*, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN GRADUALLY TAKING OVER THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING OF THE DISABLED.
THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION DIVISION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL BE PROVIDING MR SPENCER WITH THE NECESSARY MANPOWER AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR HIS PROJECT.
-----o------
FACTORIES BANNED FROM NON-INDUSTRI AL BUILDINGS *****
PROSPECTIVE FACTORY OPERATORS WERE REMINDED TODAY THAT NO FACTORIES, EXCEPT SERVICE TRADES ON THE GROUND FLOOR, MAY BE SET UP IN NON-1NDUSTRI AL BUILDINGS UNDER THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED THAT A NONINDUSTRIAL BUILDING WAS DEFINED AS A BUILDING WHICH WAS NOT CONSTRUCTED OR INTENDED TO BE USED FOR INDUSTRIAL PURPOSES AND IN RESPECT OF WHICH AN OCCUPATION PERMIT HAD BEEN ISSUED ON OR AFTER MARCH 1, 1976.
/+0NLY SERVICE ....
SATOBDAY, FHBEDA&Y 7, 1981
♦ONLY SERVICE TRADES ARE PERMITTED TO OPERATE ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF SUCH BUILDINGS,+ HE SAID. SERVICE TRADES INCLUDE BAKERIES, LAUNDRIES, TAILORING, PREPARATION OF FOOD FOR OUTSIDE CONSUMPTION AND BICYCLE REPAIR WORKSHOPS.
THE SPOKESMAN ADVISED THOSE WISHING TO SET UP A FACTORY IN A NON-1NDUSTRI AL BUILDING TO FIRST ASCERTAIN THE SUITABILITY OF THE PREMISES.
+IN CASE OF DOUBT, THEY SHOULD CONTACT THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE WHO ARE ALWAYS HAPPY TO GIVE ADVICE,+ HE SAID.
- - 0 - -
CONTRACTS WORTH S73OM AWARDED IN DECEMBER
*****
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AWARDED A TOTAL OF 57 CONTRACTS WORTH MORE THAN $730 MILLION IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR.
ONE OF THE MAJOR CONTRACTS WAS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ANOTHER 29 HECTARES OF LAND FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TUEN MUN NEW TOWN.
THE CONTRACT, WORTH ABOUT $204 MILLION, IS THE BIGGEST SINGLE CONTRACT LET FOR TUEN MUN SO FAR UNDER THE NEW TOWN’S $6 000 MILLION DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME.
THE PROJECT INCLUDES THE RECLAMATION OF ABOUT 16 HECTARES OF LAND IN THE CENTRAL PART OF CASTLE PEAK BAY FOR LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SWIMMING POOL COMPLEX, A POLICE STATION, AN AMBULANCE DEPOT AND A FIRE STATION, AND THE FORMATION OF ABOUT 13 HECTARES OF LAND EAST OF THE NEW TOWN FOR HIGH CLASS RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT AND OPEN SPACES AND OTHER USES.
ALSO INCLUDED IN THE CONTRACT IS THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 640-METRE RIVER TRAINING WALL IN WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY THE CENTRE OF CASTLE PEAK BAY AND A 750-METRE SEAWALL IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE BAY.
THE SEAWALL WILL COMPLETE THE FINAL SHAPE OF TUEN MUN HARBOUR WHICH WILL PROVIDE MORE THAN 50 HECTARES OF SHELTERED ANCHORAGE FOR CARGO HANDLING AND OTHER ACTIVITIES.
IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE A TYPHOON REFUGE FOR THE WESTERN WATERS OF HONG KONG AND SERVE AS A BASE FOR THE TUEN MUN FISHING FLEET.
ANOTHER MAJOR CONTRACT, WORTH ABOUT $70 MILLION, WAS FOR SITE FORMATION WORK AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, DRAINS AND SEWERS IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF YUEN LONG NEW TOWN.
UNDER THIS CONTRACT, ABOUT 20 HECTARES OF LAND WILL BE FORMED FOR PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, AND FOR GOVERNMENT, INSTITUTION AND COMMUNITY USES.
OF THE CONTRACTS AWARDED DURING THE MONTH, 39 WERE ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CENTRAL TENDER BOARD AND THE OTHERS ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE PWD TENDER BOARD.
- - 0 - -
/2 .
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1981
3
NEW SQUASH COURTS READY SOON * * * *
THERE WILL SOON BE TWO MORE SQUASH COURTS AT VICTORIA PARK.
WORK ON THE BUILDING WHICH WILL HOUSE THE NEW COURTS IS PROGRESSING SMOOTHLY.
THE NEW COURTS ARE ADJACENT TO THE EXISTING ONES AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED IN THREE MONTHS. THEY ARE BEING BUILT BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT FOR THE URBAN COUNCIL.
A PWD SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THE NEW BUILDING WOULD PROVIDE CHANGING FACILITIES FOR MEN AND WOMEN UNLIKE THE EXISTING ONE WHICH HAS ONLY MALE CHANGING ROOMS AND TOILETS.
THE NEW AND THE EXISTING COURTS WOULD BE LINKED BY A GROUND LEVEL CORRIDOR, HE ADDED.
-----o------
TAI PO SPORTS ASSOCIATION SEEKS SYMBOL
* * K X
ENTRIES ARE INVITED FOR A LOGO DESIGN COMPETITION FOR TAI PO SPORTS ASSOCIATION WHICH IS OFFERING $1 000 AS FIRST PRIZE.
ALL HONG KONG RESIDENTS ARE WELCOME TO ENTER.
THE WINNING DESIGN WILL APPEAR ON LETTERHEADS, BANNERS, SPORTS WEAR AND MEDALS.
IT MAY ALSO BE ADOPTED TO DECORATE THE $12 MILLION SPORTS CENTRE THE ASSOCIATION IS BUILDING.
SITUATED ON A 2 700 SQUARE METRE SITE GRANTED BY THE GOVERNMENT NEAR TAI PO OLD MARKET, THE CENTRE WILL BE COMPLETED IN 1932. HOUSED IN THE THREE-STOREY BUILDING WILL BE A GAMES HALL, TENNIS COURTS, A 24-LANE BOWLING ALLEY, A DANCE STUDIO, A RECREATION ROOM, AN OFFICE AND A RESTAURANT FOR 80 PERSONS.
ENTRIES FOR THE LOGO COMPETITION SHOULD MEASURE NOT LESS THAN 25 X 25 CENTIMETRES, AND NO MORE THAN THREE COLOURS SHOULD BE USED.
THEY SHOULD REACH THE ASSOCIATION AT TAI PO GOVERNMENT OFFICES AT TING KOK ROAD BY FEBRUARY 28.
THERE WILL BE FIVE MERIT PRIZES IN ADDITION TO THE $1 000 FIRST PRIZE.
WITH FUNDS PROVIDED BY THE LOCAL DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD, TAI PO SPORTS ASSOCIATION REGULARLY ORGANISES SPORTS ACTIVITIES AND TRAINING FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS.
0
/4 •••«•••
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1981
4
MUSIC IN THE AIR * * * *
A CONCERT BY THE HONG KONG PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA AND HONG KONG YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WILL BE HELD ON FEBRUARY 13 AT 7.30 PM AT TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL.
AS PART OF THE THIRD TSUEN WAN ARTS FESTIVAL, THE CONCERT IS BEING PRESENTED BY THE MUSIC OFFICE WITH THE HONG KONG PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY LTD, TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL, TSUEN WAN DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD AND TSUEN WAN CULTURE AND RECREATION CO-ORDINATING ASSOCIATION.
THE HONG KONG YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WILL PLAY BEETHOVEN SYMPHONY NO. 7 IN A MAJOR, OP. 92 WITH THE HONG KONG PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA.
TICKETS AT $30, $20, $15, $10 AND $3 (STUDENTS ONLY) ARE ON SALE AT THE TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL, MEI FOO SUN CHUEN (FLYOVER BUS TERMINUS), KWAI CHUNG PUBLIC LIBRARY AND UN LONG PUBLIC LIBRARY.
THE MUSIC OFFICE WILL ALSO PRESENT TWO OUTDOOR CONCERTS BY THE MUSIC OFFICE SYMPNONIC BAND AND CHINESE ORCHESTRA OF THE HONG KONG YOUTH MUSIC SOCIETY RESPECTIVELY ON FEBRUARY 7 AT SHEK LEI NO. 9 PLAYGROUND AND FEBRUARY 14 AT SHA TSUI ROAD PLAYGROUND TSUEN WAN.
BOTH CONCERTS WILL START AT 7.30 PM AND ADMISSION IS FREE.
POPULAR PIECES SUCH AS JUBILANT FANFARE II BY SIR ANTHUR BLISS, CORONATION MARCH FROM +STAR WARS+ BY JOHN WILLIAMS, AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS BY VICTOR YEUNG, MOON RIVER FROM +BREAKFAST AT TIFFANYS+ BY HENRY MANCINI, GREASE, YMCA .... ETC. WILL BE PLAYED AT THE CONCERT ON FEBRUARY 7 WHILE A REPERTOIRE OF TRADITIONAL AND CONTEMPORARY POPULAR CHINESE COMPOSITIONS WILL BE PLAYED AT THE CONCERT ON FEBRUARY 14.
- 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1981
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
EMPLOYMENT STATISTICS IN SEPTEMBER 1980 ........................... 1
LRS HELPS SETTLE PROBLEMS ....................................... 4
LOTTERIES FUND GRANTS FOR WELFARE PROJECTS........................ 5
ART WORK BY STUDENTS ./IN AWARDS IN JAPAN ......................... 6
NEW TERRITORIES BASKETBALL LEAGUE STARTS SOON ..................... 7
KWAI CHUNG ROAD FLYOVER DUE FOR COMPLETION ........................ 8
TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SENIOR CLERK RETIRES ......................... 8
CARS ON THE RISE
8
1
EMPLOYMENT STATISTICS IN SEPTEMBER 1983 * * * *
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY PUBLISHED EMPLOYMENT STATISTICS FOR MAJOR SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY IN SEPTEMBER 1980. THESE WERE DERIVED FROM EMPLOYMENT SURVEYS CONDUCTED EVERY QUARTER BY THE DEPARTMENT COVERING THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR- THE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL, IMPORT AND EXPORT, AND RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS SECTOR- THE FINANCE, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS SERVICES SECTOR- AND BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION SITES.
THE OVERALL FIGURES, TOGETHER WITH A COMPARISON WITH THE CORRESPONDING FIGURES FOR SEPTEMBER 1979 AND JUNE 1980, ARE AS FOLLOWS:
EMPLOYMENT IN PERCENTAGE INCREASE
SECTOR OF THE ECONOMY SEP 79 JUN 80 SEP 80 SEP 80 ON SEP 79 SEP 80 ON JUN 80
MANUFACTURING 879 700 925 400 892 100 1.4 -3.6
BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION (MANUAL WORKERS ON SITES ONLY) 80 100 85 400 86 200 7.6 0.9
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL, IMPORT AND EXPORT, AND RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS 417 400 440 900 447 300 7.2 1.4
FINANCE, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS SERVICES 109 900(H) 121 • 300 126 603 15.2 4.3
NOTE: (*) REFERRING TO AUGUST 1979
COMPARING THE FIGURES FOR SEPTEMBER 1980 WITH THOSE FOR APPROXIMATELY THE SAME TIME IN 1979, THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN EACH OF THE FOUR SECTORS LISTED ABOVE. THE GROWTH RATE OF EMPLOYMENT IN THE FINANCE, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS SERVICES SECTOR WAS PARTICULARLY RAPID- EMPLOYMENT IN THIS SECTOR IN SEPTEMBER 1980, AT 126 600, WAS 15.2 PER CENT HIGHER THAN THAT IN AUGUST 1979.
THE GROWTH RATE OF EMPLOYMENT OF MANUAL WORKERS ON BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION SITES AND THE GROWTH RATE OF EMPLOYMENT IN ThE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL, IMPORT AND EXPORT, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS SECTOR wERE ALSO RAPID, WITH EMPLOYMENT IN SEPTEMBER, AT 86 200 AND 447 300 RESPECTIVELY, BEING 7.6 PER CENT AND 7.2 PER CENT HIGHER THAN THOSE IN SEPTEMBER 1979.
THE GROWTH RATE OF EMPLOYMENT IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, HOWEVER, WAS RELATIVELY SLOW. AT 892 100, EMPLOYMENT IN THIS SECTOR IN SEPTEMBER 1980 WAS ONLY 1.4 PER CENT HIGHER THAN THAT IN SEPTEMBER 1979. THIS NEVERTHELESS REPRESENTS A NET INCREASE OF 12 400 WORKERS DURING THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDING SEPTEMBER I960.
/COMPARING THE.....
2 _ SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1981
COMPARING THE FIGURES FOR SEPTEMBER 1980 WITH THOSE FOR JUNE 1980 TO SHOW THE MORE SHORT-TERM CHANGES, WHILE A FAIRLY LARGE DECREASE IN EMPLOYMENT WAS RECORDED IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN EMPLOYMENT IN THE OTHER THREE SECTORS.
EMPLOYMENT IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR DECREASED BY 3.6 PER CENT BETWEEN JUNE AND SEPTEMBER 1980. PART OF THIS DECREASE, ACCORDING TO A SPOKESMAN IN THE ECONOMIC SERVICES BRANCH, WAS SEASONAL.
HE POINTED OUT THAT A SIMILAR, ALBEIT LESS SUBSTANTIAL, DECREASE OCCURRED IN THE THIRD QUARTERS OF BOTH 1977 AND 1978. HE ADDED, HOWEVER, THAT UNFAVOURABLE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN HONG KONG’S MAIN MARKETS MUST ALSO HAVE BEEN AN IMPORTANT FACTOR LEADING TO THE DECREASE.
NEVERTHELESS, EMPLOYMENT IN THE FINANCE, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS SERVICES SECTOR INCREASED BY 4.3 PER CENT BETWEEN JUNE AND SEPTEMBER 1980. DURING THE SAME PERIOD, EMPLOYMENT IN THE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL, IMPORT AND EXPORT, AND RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS SECTOR INCREASED BY 1.4 PER CENT AND EMPLOYMENT OF .MANUAL WORKERS ON BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION SITES INCREASED BY 0.9 PER CENT.
DETAILS OF EMPLOYMENT IN SELECTED INDIVIDUAL INDUSTRIES WITHIN THE FOUR SECTORS ARE GIVEN IN THE TAELES BELOW. FURTHER DETAILS ARE OBTAINABLE FROM THE EMPLOYMENT AND EARNINGS STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
DETAILS OF EMPLOYMENT IN SELECTED INDUSTRIES
I. MANUFACTURING SECTOR
EMPLOYMENT IN PERCENTAGE INCREASE
INDUSTRY GROUP SEP 79 JUN 80 SEP 80 SEP 80 ON SEP 79 SEP 80 ON JUN 80
WEARING APPAREL (EXCLUDING KNITWEAR FROM YARN) 254 800 269 100 255 700 0.3 -5.0
TEXTILES (INCLUDING KNITWEAR FROM YARN) 127 900 132 500 124 600 -2.6 -6.0
ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPLIANCES AND SUPPLIES, INCLUDING ELECTRON IC PRODUCTS 118 200 123 600 119 100 0.8 -3.6
PLASTIC PRODUCTS 91 600 95 100 86 300 -5.8 -9.2
FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS 84 200 • 91 500 84 800 0.6 -7.4
/II. BUILDING AND ......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1981
3
II. CONTRACTING PARTY BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION SECTOR
(MANUAL WORKERS EMPLOYMENT ON SITES ONLY)
IN SEP 80 PERCENTAGE SEP 80 ON SEP 79 INCREASE SEP 80 ON JUN 80
SEP 79 JUN 80
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT 16 742 13 756 14 449 -13.7 + 5.0
HOUSING DEPARTMENT 16 543 16 435 15 916 - 3.8 -3.2
MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION* 5 811 4 913 4 432 -23.7 -9.8
PRIVATE SECTOR 40 986 50 341 51 389 +25.4 +2.1
* CONSTRUCTION SITES UNDER THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION REFER TO MTR CONTRACTS FOR WHICH WORK WAS IN PROGRESS DURING SEPTEMBER 1980.
III. WHOLESALE AND RETAIL, IMPORT AND EXPORT,
AND RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS SECTOR
EMPLOYMENT IN PERCENTAGE INCREASE
INDUSTRY GROUP SEP 79 JUN 80 SEP 80 SEP 80 ON SEP 79 SEP 80 ON JUN 80
WHOLESALE TRADE 44 900 48 100 49 800 +11.1 +3.7
RETAIL TRADE 139 600 148 000 149 600 + 7.1 +1.1
IMPORT/EXPORT BUSINESS 103 800 112 800 115 000 4-10.8 +1.9
RESTAURANTS, CAFES AND BARS 110 200 113 100 114 000 + 3.5 4-3.8
HOTELS AND BOARDING HOUSES 19 000 18 900 18 900 - 0.7 -0.3
/IV. FINANCE, ......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1981
4
IV. FINANCE, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS SERVICES SECTOR
INDUSTRY GROUP AUG 79 EMPLOYMENT 1 JUN 80 IN SEP 80 PERCENTAGE SEP 80 ON AUG 79 INCREASE SEP 80 ON JUN 80
MONETARY INSTITUTIONS INCLUDING BANKS 37 800 40 200 42 600 + 12.9 +6.1
REAL ESTATE
COMPANIES 16 600 18 000 18 400 +10.8 +2.4
OTHER FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS 15 400 17 800* 18 900 +22.7 +6.4
ACCOUNTING AND
AUDITING FIRMS 4 800 5 300 5 400 +12.0 +2.7
ENGINEERING, ARCHITECTURAL AND TECHNICAL SERVICES 7 200 8 200 8 100 +12.9 -0.8
* REVISED FIGURE 0 LRS HELPS SETTLE PROBLEMS * X * * MORE THAN $35 MILLION WAS PAID TO WORKERS LAST YEAR BY their
EMPLOYERS AFTER THEIR LABOUR MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS WERE SETTLED THROUGH THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.
PAYMENTS WERE MADE TO 20 137 EMPLOYEES WHO BROUGHT THEIR LABOUR GRIEVANCES TO THE SERVICE FOR CONCILIATION.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) S12 969 087 (36.7 PER CENT) WAS FOR SEVERANCE PAYMENTS TO 5 062 WORKERS WHILE THE REMAINING $22 326 770 WAS PAID AS ARREARS OF WAGES, WAGES IN LIEU OF NOTICE, STATUTORY HOLIDAY PAY, BONUSES AND OTHER PAYMENTS.
MORE THAN 73 PER CENT OF THE 169 TRADE DISPUTES LAST YEAR WERE SETTLED WITH THE HELP OF THE SERVICE IN WHICH ITS OFFICERS CONDUCTED 258 EMPLOYER/EMPLOYEE MEETINGS AND MADE 91 VISITS TO PLACES OF EMPLOYMENT.
PAYMENTS MADE TO WORKERS INVOLVED IN TRADE DISPUTES TOTALLED $26.7 MILLION COMPARED TO $8.1 MILLION IN 1979.
THE SPOKESMAN ATTRIBUTED THE 225 PER CENT INCREASE IN PAYMENTS TO THE CLOSURE OF TWO MAJOR TEXTILE FACTORIES WHICH AFFECTED A LARGE NUMBER OF WORKERS.
/BESIDES HANDLING ......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1981
5
BESIDES HANDLING TRADE DISPUTES, THE SERVICE ALSO ASSISTED IN 12 555 CLAIMS REGARDING TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE. SOME 7 295 CLAIMS (58.1 PER CENT) WERE SETTLED AND THE BALANCE WERE REFERRED TO THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL.
OTHER DUTIES OF THE SERVICE INCLUDED THE INVESTIGATION OF 185 MAJOR COMPLAINTS CONCERNING FAILURE TO PROVIDE REST DAYS, HOLIDAYS WITH PAY, ANNUAL LEAVE PAY, IMPROPER DEDUCTIONS OF WORKERS’ WAGES AND OTHER BREACHES OF THE ORDINANCE.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT DURING 1980, THERE WERE 37 WORK STOPPAGES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF 21 069 WORKING DAYS, WITH AN AVERAGE OF 10.16 DAYS LOST PER THOUSAND EMPLOYEES.
HE SAID THE AVERAGE WAS CONSIDERED LOW BY INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AND WAS A POSITIVE INDICATOR OF GOOD LABOUR RELATIONS.
DURING THE YEAR, OFFICERS FROM THE SERVICE GAVE ADVICE ON MATTERS RELATING TO CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT AND PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT IN 157 348 CONSULTATIONS SOUGHT BY WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS.
+THE INCREASE IN ENQUIRIES AND CONSULTATIONS (124 916 IN 1979) REFLECTS THE GROWING IMPORTANCE NOW ATTACHED TO LABOUR RELATIONS AND EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS BY BOTH EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
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LOTTERIES FUND GRANTS FOR WELFARE PROJECTS ******
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT APPROVED 88 GRANTS TOTALLING MORE THAN $28.2 MILLION FROM THE LOTTERIES FUND TO FINANCE NEW WELFARE PROJECTS AND TO IMPROVE EXISTING SERVICES DURING THE LAST SIX MONTHS OF 1980.
THEY INCLUDED A MAJOR CAPITAL GRANT OF ABOUT $2.8 MILLION FOR THE HONG KONG RED CROSS TO EXPAND ITS JONN F. KENNEDY CENTRE WHICH PROVIDES RESIDENTIAL TRAINING FOR SEVERELY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN.
ANOTHER MAJOR GRANT OF $3.5 MILLION WAS FOR THE HONG KONG GIRL GUIDES ASSOCIATION TO BUILD A NEW HEADQUARTERS IN KOWLOON TO COPE WITH ITS EXPANDING ACTIVITIES.
THE GRANTS WERE APPROVED ON THE ADVICE OF THE SUBVENTION AND LOTTERIES FUND SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH IS REPRESENTED BY COMMUNITY LEADERS AND SOCIAL WORKERS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) GRANTS WERE CONSIDERED ON APPLICATION BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO FINANCE NEW PROJECTS OR TO IMPROVE EXISTING SERVICES SUCH AS RENOVATION OR PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT.
HE SAID THE GRANT FOR THE HONG KONG RED CROSS FORMED A MAJOR PORTION OF THE $3.2 MILLION CAPITAL COST TO EXPAND THE OVERALL FACILITIES OF THE JOHN F. KENNEDY CENTRE BY ADDING ONE STOREY TO THE EXISTING BUILDING.
/THE CENTRE ....
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1981
6
THE CENTRE IS A RESIDENTIAL-CUM-DAY SCHOOL FOR SEVERELY DISABLED CHILDREN, WITH ITS RESIDENTIAL SECTION SUBVENTED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND THE SCHOOL SECTION BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
THE EXTENSION PROJECT, HE SAID, HAD THE SUPPORT OF THE DEPARTMENTS AS IT WAS IN LINE WITH THE 1979 REHABILITATION PROGRAMME PLAN REVIEW.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE S3.5 MILLION GRANT FOR THE HONG KONG GIRL GUIDES ASSOCIATION WAS TO MEET PART OF THE CAPITAL COST FOR A S1O MILLION SIX-STOREY HEADQUARTERS BUILDING IN GASCOIGNE ROAD.
THE ASSOCIATION HAS SECURED A PLEDGED CONTRIBUTION OF 53.5 MILLION FROM THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB, AND THE BALANCE WILL EE RAISED BY THE ASSOCIATION ITSELF.
ON COMPLETION, THE NEW HEADQUARTERS WILL RELEASE AND RESTORE THE PRESENT HEAD OFFICE AT WONGNEICHONG GAP ROAD TO ITS ORIGINAL USE AS A TRAINING AND ACTIVITIES CENTRE.
APART FROM BEING AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEADQUARTERS, THE NEW OFFICE WILL ALSO BE USED AS A TRAINING CENTRE WITH DORMITORY FACILITIES FOR OVERSEAS MEMBERS AND FOR GUIDES FROM THE NEW TERRITORIES AND OUTLYING ISLANDS.
------O - - - -
ART WORK BY STUDENTS WIN AWARDS IN JAPAN * * *
AN EXHIBITION OF PUPILS’ CREATIVE WORK WILL BE HELD IN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S CULTURAL CRAFTS CENTRE IN NORTH POINT FROM TOMORROW (MONDAY) TO FEBRUARY 14.
DURING THE EXHIBITION, 20 LOCAL STUDENTS WHOSE WORK HAVE WON AWARDS IN A HONG KONG-JAPAN CHILDREN ART EXCHANGE PROGRAMME WILL RECEIVE THEIR PRIZES. THE PROGRAMME WAS CO-ORDINATED BY THE HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION.
MISS KAZUKO IINO, CONSUL, JAPANESE INFORMATION AND CULTURAL OFFICE, CONSULATE GENERAL OF JAPAN IN HONG KONG- MR JOHN PAIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION AND MRS J.W. GILLARD, PRINCIPAL INSPECTOR (CULTURAL CRAFTS) OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL OFFICIATE AT THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY TO BE HELD AT 3 PM TOMORROW AT THE CENTRE.
THE WINNING ENTRIES OF THE LOCAL CHILDREN TOGETHER WITH ANOTHER 20 WINNING ENTRIES BY JAPANESE CHILDREN WILL BE SHOWN IN A SPECIAL SECTION OF THE EXHIBITION.
SELECTED ART WORK BY FORM/MIDDLE 5 STUDENTS WILL ALSO BE DISPLAYED AT THE EXHIBITION, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CULTURAL CRAFTS CENTRE SAID.
♦THIS PART OF THE EXHIBITION WILL BE OF ^ARTICULAR INTEREST TO TEACHERS AND STUDENTS PREPARING FOR THE HONG KONG CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION IN ART,+ HE SAID.
ALSO ON SHOW WILL BE CREATIVE WORK INCLUDING PAINTING, NEEDLEWORK AND OTHER CRAFTS BY PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS.
/WINNING ....
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1981
- 7 -
WINNING ENTRIES OF PHOTOGRAPHS, PAINTINGS AND DRAWINGS FROM THE 1980 SUMMER RECREATION PROGRAMME ORGANISED BY THE ART SECTION AND THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION SECTION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT-TOGETHER WITH PAINTINGS BY JAPANESE AND KOREAN CHILDREN ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THE EXHIBITION.
ADMISSION IS FREE AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, TEACHERS AND STUDENTS ARE WELCOME TO SEE THE DISPLAY AT THE CENTRE AT 4 PAK FUK ROAD, NORTH POINT, HONG KONG.
OPENING HOURS ARE FROM 9 AM TO 5 PM ON WEEKDAYS, AND FROM 9 AM TO 12 NOON ON SATURDAY.
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NEW TERRITORIES BASKETBALL LEAGUE STARTS SOON
* * * *
A BASKETBALL LEAGUE, INVOLVING ALL EIGHT NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICTS, IS TO START ON FEBRUARY 22 (SUNDAY).
THE LEAGUE, ORGANISED BY TSUEN WAN DISTRICT, WILL BE OFFICIALLY STARTED BY SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES.
THE LEAGUE WILL BE RUN ON AN INTER-DISTRICT BASIS, WITH EACH DISTRICT ENTERING A MEN’S TEAM AND A WOMEN’S TEAM.
IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE OPENING CEREMONY AT THE OSMAN RAMJU SADICK MEMORIAL STADIUM, KWAI CHUNG, TSUEN WAN WILL PLAY TUEN MUN IN THE FIRST MATCH OF THE NEW LEAGUE. THE FINALS WILL BE PLAYED IN JUNE.
THE BASKETBALL LEAGUE IS ONE OF A NUMBER OF LEAGUES BEING PROMOTED BY THE NEW TERRITORIES INTER-DISTRICT SPORTS COMPETITION CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE.
A SOCCER LEAGUE ORGANISED BY YUEN LONG DISTRICT STARTED ON DECEMBER 14. IT WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MAY WHEN THE FINALS WILL BE PLAYED.
OTHERS UNDER PLANNING INCLUDE VOLLEYBALL, BADMINTON, TABLE-TENNIS, AND TENNIS LEAGUES. IT IS HOPED THAT ALL WILL COMMENCE THIS YEAR.
THE CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE IS CHAIRED BY PRINCIPAL RECREATION AND SPORTS OFFICER, MR DICKEN YUNG, AND INCLUDES REPRESENTATIVES FROM DISTRICT SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS, THE NEW TERRITORIES SCHOOLS’ SPORTS ASSOCIATION, THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION.
EACH DISTRICT SPORTS ASSOCIATION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ORGANISING ONE PARTICULAR TYPE OF SPORT.
AT PRESENT, MATCHES ARE PLAYED AT WEEKENDS AND ON PUBLIC HOLIDAYS AT NEW TERRITORIES PLAYGROUNDS.
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/8.....
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1981
8
KWAI CHUNG ROAD FLYOVER DUE FOR COMPLETION * * * *
TRAFFIC FLOW IN TSUEN WAN AND KWAI CHUNG SHOULD IMPROVE CONSIDERABLY WHEN A FLYOVER BYPASSING THE CENTRE OF TSUEN WAN IS COMPLETED IN ABOUT THREE MONTHS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS'DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY THE MAIN CIVIL ENGINEERING WORK ON THE FLYOVER, KNOWN AS TSUEN WAN BYPASS STAGE ONE HAD BEEN COMPLETED AND FINISHING WORK WAS IN HAND.
IT FORMS PART OF A MAJOR ROAD SCHEME TO RELIEVE THE HEAVY TRAFFIC CAUSED BY THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN.
THE TWO-KILOMETRE STRETCH RUNS FROM A POINT NEAR THE CONTAINER TERMINALS AT KWAI CHUNG ROAD TO TEXACO ROAD NEAR YEUNG UK ROAD, WITH THREE INTERCHANGES LOCATED AT KWAI CHUNG ROAD, HING FONG ROAD AND TEXACO ROAD.
- - 0 - -
TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SENIOR CLERK RETIRES * * * *
MR MAK MING-SUN, B.E.M., SENIOR CLERICAL OFFICER OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT, WILL PROCEED ON PRE-RETIREMENT LEAVE ON TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 19) AFTER MORE THAN 33 YEARS SERVICE IN GOVERNMENT.
MR MAK FIRST JOINED GOVERNMENT IN JULY 1947 AS A TEMPORARY CLERK.
HE WAS LATER APPOINTED TO CLERK CLASS III AND PROMOTED IN JULY 1955 TO CLERK CLASS II.
IN APRIL 1961 HE WAS FURTHER PROMOTED TO CLERK CLASS I AND IN OCTOBER 1969 TO SENIOR CLERICAL OFFICER.
HE SPENT HIS ENTIRE 33 YEARS SERVICE WITH THE TRAFFIC POLICE AND TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT.
IN RECOGNITION OF HIS DISTINGUISHED AND LOYAL SERVICE HE WAS AWARDED THE BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL (CIVIL DIVISION) IN 1975 BY THE QUEEN IN HER BIRTHDAY HONOURS.
- - 0 - -
CARS ON THE RISE * # K *
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF REGISTERED PRIVATE CARS TOPPED 193 009 AT THE END OF JANUARY, A RISE OF MORE THAN 27 699 OR 16.6 PER CENT OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS.
THIS COMPARES WITH A RISE OF ABOUT 21 609 DURING THE 12 MONTHS ENDING JANUARY 1980.
THE NUMBER OF NEW CARS REGISTERED DURING JANUARY WAS 4 167 AND THE NUMBER OF REGISTRATIONS WHICH LAPSED .vAS 682, REPRESENTING A NET INCREASE OF 3 485 AND BRINGING THE OVERALL TOTAL TO 193 616.
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1981
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
EMPLOYMENT UP IN CAR INDUSTRY.................................... 1
EXPORT OF TEXTILES TO GREECE.................................... 1
GIVE NOTICE TO MARRY ....................................... 2
SAFETY IN OPERATING CONCRETE PUMPS .............................. 3
EDUCATIONAL EVENTS TO MARK IYDP ................................. 3
NEW' YEAR FESTIVITIES FOR TSE WAN SHAN .......................... 4
YAN YAT DINNER FOR TAI PO ELDERLY ............................... 5
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1981
1
EMPLOYMENT UP IN CAR INDUSTRY
* * * *
THE REPORT ON THE FIFTH MANPOWER SURVEY OF THE AUTOMOBILE REPAIRS AND SERVICING INDUSTRY SHOWED THAT THERE WERE 11 599 WORKERS AND 4 199 TRAINEES/APPRENTICES IN THE INDUSTRY IN JUNE 1980.
COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS SURVEY, THE LABOUR FORCE HAD GROWN AT AN AVERAGE ANNUAL GROWTH RATE OF 8.08 PER CENT.
AT THE TIME OF THE SURVEY, THERE WERE 755 VACANCIES.
EMPLOYERS ESTIMATED THAT AN ADDITIONAL 1 098 WORKERS OR 9.46 PER CENT OF THE EXISTING LABOUR FORCE WOULD BE REQUIRED IN THE FOLLOWING 12 MONTHS.
THE GROWTH WAS ATTRIBUTED MAINLY TO THE INCREASED DEMAND FOR SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE WHICH AROSE FROM THE DRASTIC INCREASE OF VEHICLE POPULATION, THE RISE IN MILEAGE TRAVELLED BY VEHICLES AND COMPULSORY INSPECTION OF GOODS VEHICLES AND ANNUAL INSPECTION ON PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES.
THE REPORT WAS PREPARED BY THE AUTOMOBILE REPAIRS AND SERVICING INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD OF THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL ON INFORMATION COLLECTED IN A SURVEY CONDUCTED IN JUNE 1980 WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT AND THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.
BESIDES DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE EMPLOYMENT STRUCTURE OF THE INDUSTRY, THE REPORT ALSO CONTAINS FORECAST OF TRAINING NEEDS FOR THE PERIOD BETWEEN 1981 AND 1984 FOR EACH PRINCIPAL JOB AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON MEASURES TO COPE WITH THE INDUSTRY’S NEEDS.
THE REPORT, IN CHINESE AND ENGLISH, IS NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATION CENTRE AT $10 A COPY.
-----o------
EXPORT OF TEXTILES TO GREECE
*****
THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS ANNOUNCED TODAY (MONDAY) THAT AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REACHED ON MODIFICATIONS TO THE HONG KONG/EEC TEXTILES AGREEMENT TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE ACCESSION OF GREECE TO THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY.
DETAILS REGARDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT AS IT RELATES TO EXPORTS OF COTTON, MAN-MADE FIBRE AND WOOL TEXTILE PRODUCTS TO GREECE, INCLUDING ARRANGEMENTS FOR QUOTA ALLOCATION, ARE SET IN NOTICE TO EXPORTERS, SERIES 2: (EEC) NO 6/81.
IN RESPECT OF TEXTILE PRODUCTS NOT SUBJECT TO QUOTA, THE DEPARTMENT WILL RESUME THE ISSUE OF EXPORT LICENCES TO GREECE WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT.
THE DEPARTMENT IS NOW IN THE PROCESS OF CALLING FOR SHIPMENT RETURNS IN RESPECT OF THOSE PRODUCTS SUBJECT TO QUOTA. FOLLOWING THE ALLOCATION OF QUOTAS, THE USUAL CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS CURRENTLY APPLICABLE TO HONG KONG’S EXPORTS OF RESTRAINED TEXTILES TO THE EEC (THAT IS, THOSE DETAILED IN NOTICE TO EXPORTERS, SERIES 2: (EEC) NO 42/80) WILL APPLY.
/TRADE ASSOCIATIONS ..
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1981
2
TRADE ASSOCIATIONS AND COMPANIES ON THE TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT’S MAILING LIST FOR NOTICE TO EXPORTERS, SERIES 2: (EEC) WILL RECEIVE COPIES OF NOTICE NO 6/81 SHORTLY. COPIES OF THE NOTICE ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM THE RECEPTION COUNTER ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT, OCEAN CENTRE.
INTERESTED PARTIES WHO WISH TO SEEK FURTHER INFORMATION MAY CONTACT THE FOLLOWING OFFICERS :
MR A.L.S. LAI - INDUSTRY OFFICER TELEPHONE 3-7222333
MR K.K. LEUNG - INDUSTRY OFFICER TELEPHONE 3-7222304
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GIVE NOTICE TO MARRY * * * *
THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT TODAY (MONDAY) REMINDED THE PUBLIC THAT ANYONE WHO INTENDS TO MARRY IN HONG KONG IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO GIVE A 15 CLEAR DAY NOTICE.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID: +T0 COMPLY WITH THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENT, NOTICES OF INTENDED MARRIAGE WITH A VISITOR WHO IS ONLY PERMITTED TO STAY HERE FOR A STAY OF LESS THAN 15 DAYS WILL THEREFORE NOT BE ACCEPTED.
+EXTENSIONS OF STAY WILL NOT NORMALLY BE GRANTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF GETTING MARRIED IN HONG KONG AND OVERSTAYERS ARE LIABLE TO PROSECUTION AND REMOVAL,* HE ADDED.
HE ADVISED THOSE WHO HAVE THE INTENTION OF COMING HERE FOR MARRIAGE OR SETTLEMENT TO APPLY FOR AND OBTAIN THE APPROPRIATE VISA IN THEIR COUNTRY OF DOMICILE PRIOR TO DEPARTURE.
+THOSE WHO HAVE ENTERED HONG KONG AS A VISITOR BUT UNABLE TO COMPLY WITH THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENT IN GIVING NOTICE OF INTENDED MARRIAGE SHOULD RETURN TO THEIR COUNTRIES FOR THE SAME PROCEDURE,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THERE HAD BEEN INCIDENTS OF EITHER COUPLE BECOMING VICTIMS OF BOGUS MARRIAGES IN THE PAST.
MOST OF THE DECEIVED BRIDEGROOMS WERE LOCAL MIDDLE-AGED MEN WHO OFTEN HAD TO PAY SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A WIFE. AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF COHABITATION, THEIR WIVES WOULD DISAPPEAR.
IN SOME CASES, HOWEVER, THE VICTIMS WERE YOUNG BRIDES USUALLY FROM SOUTHEAST ASIAN COUNTRIES, WHO SOUGHT A LUXURIOUS LIFE IN HONG KONG.
+WHEN THEY ARRIVED, THEY FOUND THEMSELVES SOLD TO SOME MIDDLE-AGED MEN IN SOME SQUATTER HUTS ON HILLSIDES, AND WOULD LATER APPROACH US FOR ASSISTANCE,* HE ADDED.
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/5.....
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1981
- 3 -
SAFETY IN OPERATING CONCRETE PUMPS
* * * * *
BUILDING CONTRACTORS AND WORKERS WERE URGED TODAY (MONDAY) TO TAKE ADEQUATE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WHEN OPERATING CONCRETE PUMPS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SAID MORE HIGH-PRESSURE CONCRETE PUMP DELIVERY SYSTEMS WERE USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.
+ACCIDENTS INVOLVING SUCH EQUIPMENT ARE MAINLY DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION, POOR MAINTENANCE OR INCORRECT HANDLING BY UNTRAINED OPERATORS,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE COMMON FAULTS WERE BURSTING OF THE PIPELINE DUE TO BLOCKAGE IN THE PNEUMATIC SYSTEM AND UNCONTROLLED SHOOTING OUT OF THE PISTON BALL AT THE DISCHARGE END OF THE PIPELINE, HE EXPLAINED.
BUILDING CONTRACTORS SHOULD ENGAGE ONLY COMPETENT WORKERS TO OPERATE CONCRETE PUMPS AND INEXPERIENCED OPERATORS SHOULD BE TRAINED AND PROPERLY SUPERVISED, HE ADDED.
A COMPETENT OPERATOR MUST BE FAMILIAR WITH THE PARTICULAR MODEL BEING USED, KNOW THE LIMITATIONS OF THE PUMP, UNDERSTAND THE DANGERS INVOLVED IN THE OPERATION OF THE PUMP AND CONDUCT THOROUGH EXAMINATIONS OF THE EQUIPMENT BEFORE USE OR AFTER SUBSTANTIAL ALTERATIONS OR REPAIRS.
HE SHOULD ALSO KEEP PROPER RECORDS OR REPORTS OF THE EXAMINATIONS, ALTERATIONS AND REPAIRS AS WELL AS CARRY OUT REGULAR CLEANING AND PROPER MAINTENANCE OF THE PIPELINES, HOSES AND FITTINGS.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID COPIES OF A GUIDE CONTAINING RELEVANT SAFETY HINTS FOR THE EQUIPMENT WILL BE SENT TO ALL BUILDING CONTRACTORS AND SITE PERSONNEL FOR REFERENCE.
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EDUCATIONAL EVENTS TO MARK IYDP
*****
THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS PLANNED A SERIES OF ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WITH COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS TO MARK THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF DISABLED PERSONS (IYDP).
A +SISTER SCHOOLS+ SCHEME WILL BE CONDUCTED YEAR-ROUND UNDER WHICH A SPECIAL SCHOOL WILL TEAM UP WITH AN ORDINARY SCHOOL AND STUDENTS CAN PARTICIPATE IN JOINT FUNCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES.
THIS SCHEME IS BEING IMPLEMENTED WITH LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL - DISTRICT 303.
A PAMPHLET PROVIDING INFORMATION AND ADVICE FOR PARENTS OF HANDICAPPED CHILDREN IS EEING PREPARED EY THE SPECIAL EDUCATION SECTION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
+THIS WILL EE PUBLISHED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE HANG SENG BANK LTD, AND WILL BE DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT HONG KONG,+ HE SAID.
/■ITS I.IE...
MONDAY, FEBHUARI 9, 1981
4
WITH THE HELP OF THE EXTRA-MURAL DEPARTMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, SIX LECTURES WILL BE DELIVERED ON NEW TRENDS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION BY EXPERTS IN THE RELATED FIELDS.
THE LECTURES STARTED ON JANUARY 10 AND THE LAST WILL BE DELIVERED ON FEBRUARY 28.
THE DEPARTMENT, WITH THE CHINESE WOMEN’S CLUB, CONDUCTED A POSTER DESIGN COMPETITION LAST YEAR AMONG STUDENTS TO MARK IYDP.
AN EXHIBITION OF THE WINNING ENTRIES WILL BE HELD AT THE OCEAN TERMINAL CONCOURSE ON FEBRUARY 14 AND 15. THE PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONY WILL ALSO BE HELD DURING THE EXHIBITION.
THE DEPARTMENT AIMS TO ENCOURAGE CHILDREN IN SPECIAL SCHOOLS TO JOIN YOUTH ORGANISATIONS SUCH AS RED CROSS, BOY SCOUTS, GIRL GUIDES, COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUBS, AND DUKE OF EDINBURGH SCHEME, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
FOR THIS PURPOSE A +JOIN IN+ EXHIBITION WILL BE AT THE HO MAN TIN GOVERNMENT MIDDLE SCHOOL ON MARCH 21 FROM 10 AM TO NOON WHEN CHILDREN FROM SPECIAL SCHOOLS CAN VISIT STALLS SET UP BY VARIOUS YOUTH ORGANISATIONS TO OBTAIN A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR WORK.
ART AND CRAFT WORK BY SPECIAL EDUCATION CHILDREN WILL BE DISPLAYED IN AN EXHIBITION AT THE HONG KONG ARTS CENTRE FROM JULY 25 TO AUGUST 4.
ON THE SPORTS SIDE, AN ATHLETIC MEETING OF THE ABLE-BODIED AND THE DISABLED WILL BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 15 AND 22.
THIS WILL BE ORGANISED BY THE EDUCATION AND SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENTS AND THE ISLAND JAYCEES, AND WILL BE HELD AT THE ABERDEEN SPORTS GROUND.
AN ESSAY COMPETITION WILL BE HELD IN APRIL AND MAY AMONG PRIMARY AND SECONDARY STUDENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO AROUSE THEIR AWARENESS OF THE DISABLED AS A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
THIS COMPETITION WILL BE ORGANISED BY THE DEPARTMENT WITH THE PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS UNION AND WAH KIU YAT PO.
------o -------
NEW YEAR FESTIVITIES FOR TSZ WAN SHAN
* * *
THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICE AND DISTRICT ORGANISATIONS IN WONG TAI SIN HAVE ARRANGED A SERIES OF SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR RESIDENTS IN TSZ WAN SHAN TO CELEBRATE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR.
AMONG THE ACTIVITIES, WHICH RANGE FROM SPORTS TO MUSIC, ARE A BASKETBALL COMPETITION AND A LUNAR NEW YEAR FUN DAY.
THE BASKETBALL COMPETITION IS BEING ORGANISED BY THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE, AND SPONSORED BY THE HANG LUNG BANK.
<rr wtll
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1981
5
IT WILL BE OPEN TO PEOPLE LIVING, STUDYING, OR WORKING IN TSZ WAN SHAN BUT ENTRIES wILL BE LIMITED TO 16 TEAMS.
THE COMPETITION WILL START AT 10.30 AM ON FEBRUARY 15 (SUNDAY), AFTER AN OPENING CEREMONY AT 9.30 AM AT TSZ WAN SHAN CENTRAL PLAYGROUND.
MR S.R. SELBY, CITY DISTRICT OFFICER (WONG TAI SIN), MR Y.Y. CHAN, RECREATION AND SPORT OFFICER (WONG TAI SIN) AND MR HERBERT HUNG, BRANCH MANAGER OF HANG LUNG BANK WILL OFFICIATE AT THE CEREMONY.
A FRIENDSHIP MATCH BETWEEN THE STAFF OF TSZ WAN SHAN BRANCH, HANG LUNG BANK AND CITY DISTRICT OFFICE (WONG TAI SIN) WILL BE HELD AS PART OF THE CEREMONY.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO COVER THE EVENT.
------0--------
YAN YAT DINNER FOR TAI PO ELDERLY
*****
A DINNER FOR THE ELDERLY IS TO BE HELD IN TA I PO ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 11) AND WILL BE ATTENDED BY 600 LOCAL RESIDENTS ALL AGED OVER 70.
THE PARTY FALLS ON THE SEVENTH DAY OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR, WHICH ACCORDING TO CHINESE CUSTOM IS YAN YAT -- EVERYBODY’S BIRTHDAY.
IT IS BEING ORGANISED BY A COMMITTEE OF OFFICIAL AND UNOFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVES AS PART OF NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS.
COSTS WILL BE MET BY THE DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD AND PRIVATE DONATIONS FROM COMMUNITY LEADERS.
THE ELDEST GUEST AT THE PARTY WILL BE MR WONG KWOK-SHOU, AGED 103, WHO WILL RECEIVE A GOLDEN DISH AS A SOUVENIR.
THE NEXT FOUR ELDEST, WHO ARE ALL CLOSE TO 100 YEARS OLD, WILL ALSO BE AWARDED A SOUVENIR EACH.
ALL THOSE ATTENDING THE DINNER WILL BE PRESENTED WITH A +LAI SEE+ PACKET AS A TOKEN OF BLESSING.
ALSO ATTENDING THE PARTY WILL BE TAI PO DISTRICT OFFICER, NR NICHOLAS NG.
TAI PO NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS, WHICH BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 3, WILL LAST TWO WEEKS.
A CLOSING CEREMONY WILL BE HELD AT TAI PO DISTRICT OFFICE CAR PARK ON FEBRUARY 19 WHICH WILL INCLUDE PERFORMANCES EY SCHOOL BANDS, TAI PO CHILDREN’S CHOIR AND DANCE GROUPS FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1981
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
ACTION GROUP STUDIES ISLAND CORRIDOR .............................. 1
SIR MURRAY VISITS FIRE VICTIMS .................................... 2
DRIEST JANUARY IN 15 YEARS ........................................ 3
NEIGHBOURHOOD EFFORT NEEDED IN TSUEN WAN .......................... 4
TUEN MUN COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS CELEBRATE NEW YEAR................ 5
NEW TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN TSUEN WAN AND SHA TIN.................. 5
MANUAL FOR KNITTING TEXTILE JOBS
6
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1981
1
ACTION GROUP STUDIES ISLAND CORRIDOR
******
A SPECIAL TRAFFIC ACTION GROUP -- COMPRISING REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT, THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, THE ENVIRONMENT BRANCH AND THE POLICE -- IS STUDYING SUBSTANTIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE ISLAND CORRIDOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT PRIORITY SCHEME TO FURTHER RELIEVE CONGESTION IN THE AREA.
A RECENT SURVEY COMPLETED BY THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT SURVEY DIVISION OF THE PWD HAS SHOWN THAT THE EXISTING SCHEME IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY BETWEEN SHAU KEI WAN AND NORTH POINT. CONGESTION ALONG THIS STRETCH OF THE ROAD HAS HAD THE OVERALL EFFECT OF SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING THE CAPACITY AND SPEED OF ALL MODES OF TRANSPORT OTHER THAN TRAMS.
HOWEVER, DESPITE A LARGER NUMBER OF TRAMS OPERATING FROM SHAU KEI WAN THE SURVEY SHO*S THAT THE INCREASED TRAM CAPACITY DURING PEAK HOURS HAS BEEN MORE THAN OFF-SET BY THE REDUCTION IN THE CAPACITY OF OTHER TRANSPORT MODES. THIS CALLS INTO QUESTION THE OVERALL EFFECTIVENESS OF PRESERVING THE TRAM RESERVE IN KING’S ROAD FROM TAI ON STREET TO JAVA ROAD.
AS A FIRST STEP, THEREFORE, THE TRAM RESERVE ALONG THIS STRETCH OF ROAD -- EXCEPT FOR A SECTION AT WESTLANDS ROAD --WILL BE CANCELLED. THE CANCELLATION WILL ALLOW OTHER VEHICLES TO USE THE TRAM-ONLY LANE IN QUARRY BAY, IMPROVING TRAFFIC FLCw ALONG THE CORRIDOR.
WORK TO EFFECT THIS CHANGE WILL BEGIN ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 11) AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 22).
A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE ENTIRE STRETCH OF THIS TRAM-ONLY LANE SHOULD EE COMPLETELY OPENED TO OTHER VEHICLES FROM MONDAY (FEBRUARY 23), ALTHOUGH SECTIONS OF IT CAN BE USED BY OTHER VEHICLES AS SOON AS THE DOUBLE WHITE LINES ARE REPLACED BY ORDINARY INTERMITTENT wHITE LANE MARKINGS. HE ADDED, HOWEVER, THAT DRIVERS SHOULD TAKE PARTICULAR CARE WHEN USING THE TRAM-TRACK AS SOME PEDESTRIANS MAY NOT BE AWARE OF THE CHANGES IN THE TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS.
+THE ADDITIONAL ROAD CAPACITY MADE AVAILABLE BY CANCELLING PART OF THE TRAM RESERVE WILL PROVIDE SOME RELIEF TO THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN QUARRY EAY,+ HE SAID.
+THIS SHOULD ALSO RELIEVE CONGESTION IN SHAU KEI wAN = BUT THE NARROW ROADS IN THE AREA WILL MEAN THAT CONGESTION wILL REMAIN UNTIL FURTHER MEASURES ARE INTRODUCED, AND THAT IT a ILL CONTINUE TO HAMPER THE EFFECTIVENESS OF BUS OPERATIONS.+
THE SPOKESMAN SAID FURTHER COMPREHENSIVE MODIFICATIONS TO THE SCHEME WERE BEING CONSIDERED TO ENSURE THE ULTIMATE SUCCESS OF THE GOVERNMENT’S PRIME OBJECTIVE OF ENHANCING PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN THE ISLAND CORRIDOR TO BENEFIT THE MAJORITY OF TRAVELLERS.
THIS INCLUDES, FOR EXAMPLE, THE FEASIBILITY OF EXTENDING THE WEST-BOUND BUS-ONLY LANE ALL THE WAY FROM CHAI WAN THROUGH SHAU KEI WAN TO CAUSEWAY BAY DURING A SHORTER MORNING PEA* PERIOD. BUT IT wAS LIKELY THAT SUCH A STEP COULD BE TAKEN ONLY IN CONJUNCTION WITH OTHER TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT IN THE .AREA.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1981
2
SIR MURRAY VISITS FIRE VICTIMS
* * * *
THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, TODAY (TUESDAY) EXPRESSED SYMPATHY TO LAST NIGHT’S PING YEUNG SUN TSUEN FIRE VICTIMS DURING A VISIT TO THEIR TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION AT THE WONG TAI SIN COMMUNITY CENTRE.
IT WAS PARTICULARLY SAD, HE SAID, THAT IT OCCURRED IN THE NEW YEAR WHEN MOST OF THE RESIDENTS WERE AWAY IN CHINA FOR THE HOL I DAYS.
AND HE ALSO EXPRESSED HIS CONCERN ABOUT THE SQUATTER SITUATION WHICH HAD BEEN EXACERBATED BY THE ARRIVAL OF NEW IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA.
EARLIER IN THE DAY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR SELwYK ALLEYNE VISITED THE SITE TO CHECK ON EMERGENCY RELIEF WORK.
HE WAS TOLD THAT MORE THAN 2 433 PEOPLE FROM 757 FAMILIES HAD REGISTERED FOR RELIEF. THE VICTIMS COMPRISED 1 232 MEN, 757 WOMEN AND 446 CHILDREN.
SIR MURRAY wAS MET AT THE FIRE SCENE BY THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING, MR BERNARD WILLIAMS AND THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICER (WONG TAI SIN), MR STEPHEN SELBY, WHILE MR ALLEYNE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE REGIONAL SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER (EAST KOWLOON), MR ALEXANDER FUNG.
THE VICTIMS ARE EE I NG TEMPORARILY ACCOMMODATED AT THE WONG TAI SIN COMMUNITY CENTRE, THE TSZ WAN SHAN EAST AND SOUTH COMMUNITY CENTRES AND AT THE EAST KAI TAK INDOOR STADIUM.
MEANWHILE, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF HOUSING (CLEARANCE) MR GREGORY CHAN SAID SITE IDENTIFICATION WILL BE CARRIED OUT ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 12) AND GENUINE VICTIMS WOULD BE REHOUSED ACCORDING TO THEIR ELIGIBILITY WITH THE PAYMENT OF EMERGENCY RELIEF FUNDS.
-•-ELIGIBILITY OF SOME COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL AND AGRICULTURAL UNDERTAKINGS WILL ALSO EE ESTABLISHED FOR EX-GRATIA PAYMENT.
+WE ARE ALSO WORKING OUT A ’BATTLE PLAN’ TO ACCELERATE THE HOUSING PROCESS IN THE SHORTEST TIME POSSIBLE. HOWEVER, CARE MUST BE TAKEN TO PREVENT IMPOSTERS FROM TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION,* HE SAID.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1961
- 3 -
DRIEST JANUARY IN 15 YEARS ******
JANUARY WAS THE FIFTH JANUARY SINCE 1884 DURING WHICH NO MEASURABLE RAINFALL WAS RECORDED.
THE MONTH’S RAINFALL WAS 26.9 MILLIMETRES BELOW NORMAL, MAKING IT THE SIXTH CONSECUTIVE MONTH WITH RAINFALL BELOW NORMAL.
THE OTHER DRY JANUARIES wERE IN 1884, 1914, 1932 AND 1966.
THE TOTAL RAINFALL DURING DECEMBER LAST YEAR AND JANUARY WAS ONLY 3.7 MILLIMETRES WHICH WAS THE LOWEST ON RECORD FOR THE TwO-MONTH PERIOD.
THERE WERE NO TROPICAL CYCLONES OVER THE WESTERN NORTH PACIFIC OR THE SOUTH CHINA SEA DURING THE MONTH WHICH WAS SUNNIER AND WARMER THAN USUAL WITH A MEAN TEMPERATURE OF 16.3 DEGREES CELSIUS.
SOME 176.2 HOURS OF SUNSHINE WERE RECORDED WHICH WAS 22.7 HOURS ABOVE NORMAL.
THE FIRST SIX DAYS OF THE MONTH WERE FINE AND DRY. ON JANUARY 7 A COLD FRONT PASSED THROUGH HONG KONG CAUSING STRONG EASTERLY WINDS AND A TRACE OF RAIN. THE STRONG MONSOON SIGNAL WAS HOISTED.
IT WAS AGAIN HOISTED ON JANUARY 10 WHEN FRESH NORTHERLY WINDS, STARTED ON THE PREVIOUS NIGHT, STRENGTHENED IN THE EVENING BRINGING COLD, DRY AIR.
THE MONTH’S LOWEST TEMPERATURE OF 9.8 DEGREES CELSIUS WAS RECORDED ON JANUARY 11.
THE WEATHER WAS STILL COLD ON THE FOLLOWING TWO MORNINGS BUT GRADUALLY BECAME WARMER.
CONDITIONS WERE VERY DRY FROM JANUARY 11 TO 14 AND THERE WERE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF FIRE.
IT WAS CLOUDY FROM JANUARY 21 TO 23. THE MONTH’S HIGHEST TEMPERATURE OF 23.2 DEGREES CELSIUS WAS RECORDED ON JANUARY 24 WHEN THE WEATHER WAS SUNNY.
IT BECAME CLOUDY AGAIN WHEN A COLD FRONT ARRIVED IN THE AFTERNOON OF JANUARY 25 AND COOLER WEATHER WAS EXPERIENCED ON JANUARY 27 AND 28.
THE WEATHER REMAINED DULL UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH aITH TRACES OF RAIN ON THE LAST TWO DAYS.
THE YELLOW FIRE DANGER WARNING WAS IN EFFECT ON SIX DAYS WHILE THE RED FIRE DANGER WARNING wAS EFFECTIVE ON 16 DAYS. DURING THE MONTH NO AIRCRAFT wERE DIVERTED FROM HONG KONG.
o -------
/4
TUESDAY, FEBBUABY 10, 19»1
4
NEIGHBOURHOOD EFFORT NEEDED IN TSUEN WAN
* * *
TSUEN WAN TOWN MANAGER, DR JAMES HAYES, TODAY (TUESDAY) CALLED FOR MORE LOCAL NEIGHBOURHOOD EFFORT TO MAKE THE TOWN A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE IN.
DR HAYES SAID HE FELT WHAT HAD BEEN DONE SO FAR AT THE NEIGHBOURHOOD LEVEL WAS NOT ENOUGH.
SPEAKING AT A LUNAR NEw YEAR GATHERING FOR LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS, HE SAID COMBINED ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT IN TSUEN WAN BY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND LOCAL ORGANISATIONS MIGHT LOOK VERY IMPRESSIVE.
+BUT WHAT WE MUST REALISE IS THAT THE TOWN HAS A HUGE POPULATION AND MANY NEIGHBOURHOODS.
+wHEN OUR JOINT EFFORTS ARE ASSESSED AT THE NEIGHBOURHOOD LEVEL, THEY FALL FAR SHORT OF WHAT IS REQUIRED.+
DR HAYES SAID THERE WAS A NEED FOR MORE NEIGHBOUR EFFORT, RATHER THAN AN INCREASED EFFORT FROM THE CENTRE OR AN AUGMENTED GOVERNMENT PROVISION.
+THIS YEAR, THEN, TSUEN WAN WILL BE THE SCENE OF GREATER EFFORTS AT THE NEIGHBOURHOOD LEVEL,* DR HAYES SAID.
+FOR OUR PART WE WILL FIND EXTRA NEW' AND AVAILABLE FACILITIES WHICH ARE SUITABLY LOCATED FOR NEIGHBOURHOOD USE AND IMPROVE THEIR PROVISION WHERE NECESSARY.
+WE WILL BRING INTERESTED ASSOCIATIONS TOGETHER TO FORM LOCAL COMMITTEES WHICH CAN ORGANISE ON-GOING PROGRAMMES AND SUPPLY MANAGEMENT TO SECURE THE PROPER USE OF THE PRIVATE FACILITIES THAT WILL BE INVOLVED.
+WE WILL BRING TOGETHER THE OWNERS OR MANAGERS OF THESE FACILITIES TO WORK OUT THE NECESSARY SET OF RULES TO GOVERN INCREASED PUBLIC USE. WE WILL ASSIST WITH LOCAL INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY. WE WILL HELP WITH THE NECESSARY EXPENSES, EITHER FROM DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARDS FUNDS OR THROUGH A NEW FUND WHICH WE PROPOSE TO LAUNCH SHORTLY TO BE CALLED THE +TSUEN WAN FUND*.
+IN THIS WAY, WE HOPE THAT wE CAN USE OUR POSITION AND RESOURCES TO ASSIST PUBLIC SPIRITED CITIZENS TO COME TOGETHER TO ORGANISE MORE PROGRAMMES IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD.
+THROUGH THESE COMBINED EFFORTS WE HOPE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO PERSUADE PARENTS OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS THAT IT IS BOTH SAFE AND USEFUL FOR THEM TO ALLOW THEIR CHILDREN TO TAKE PART IN THESE ACTIVITIES,* HE SAID.
DR HAYES PRAISED THE EFFORTS OF THE 550 MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND OWNERS’ INCORPORATIONS IN TSUEN WAN, AS WELL AS THE 100 OTHER ASSOCIATIONS OF ALL TYPES, wHICH HE SAID WERE TRULY THE FOUNDATION OF COMBINED EFFORTS TO MAKE TSUEN WAN A BETTER PLACE IN WHICH TO LIVE AND A MORE STABLE COMMUNITY.
ABOUT 500 COMMUNITY LEADERS ATTENDED THE RECEPTION wHICH
WAS ALSO ATTENDED EY SECRETARY FOR THE NEW .TERR I TOR IES, MR DAVIE AKERS-JONES.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1981
5
TUEN MUN COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS CELEBRATE NEW YEAR *****
COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS IN TUEN MUN DISTRICT HELD A LUNAR NE* YEAR PARTY, ATTENDED BY 300 GUESTS, INCLUDING DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, THIS (TUESDAY) EVENING.
THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, AND THE DEPUTY SECRETARY, MR AUGUSTINE CHUI KAM, WERE GUESTS OF HONOUR.
TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR BILLY LAM, SAID COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS HAD BEEN PLAYING AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN BUILDING THE NEW TOWN, IN PROMOTING UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PUBLIC, AND IN PROVIDING CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND SOCIAL SERVICES FOR THE PEOPLE.
THEIR CONSTRUCTIVE ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE WOULD BE NEEDED EVEN MORE IN THE NEW YEAR WHEN TUEN MUN WAS ENTERING A NEW STAGE IN ITS DEVELOPMENT, HE SAID.
THE HOST ORGANISATIONS INCLUDED RURAL COMMITTEES, CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS, TRADE AND SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS AND RESIDENTS’ WELFARE ORGANISATIONS.
TUEN MUN DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD PROVIDED $10 □□□ TO MEET PART OF THE CCSTS OF THE PARTY.
-----o------
NEW TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN TSUEN WAN AND SHA TIN * * *
NEW TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE NEW TERRITORIES ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 13) AND SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 15).
FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY, THE EXISTING PUBLIC LIGHT BUS PROHIBITED ZONE AT CHEUNG WING ROAD IN TSUEN WAN WILL BE RESCINDED.
FROM 10 AM ON SUNDAY, THE SECTION OF ROAD Pl BETWEEN LION ROCK TUNNEL ROAD AND ROAD D3 IN SHA TIN WILL BE DESIGNATED A PUBLIC LIGHT BUS PROHIBITED ZONE EXCEPT THOSE AUTHORISED IN WRITING BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE EXISTING CLEARWAY RESTRICTION AT ROAD Pl IN SHA TIN WILL BE EXTENDED WESTWARD FROM THE JUNCTION WITH LION ROCK TUNNEL ROAD TO THE JUNCTION WITH ROAD D3.
WITHIN THE CLEARwAY, ALL MOTOR VEHICLES, EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES, WILL EE PROHIBITED FROM PICKING UP OR SETTING DOwN PASSENGERS AND LOADING OR UNLOADING GOODS BETWEEN 7 AM AND 12 MIDNIGHT DAILY.
o----------
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1981
6
MANUAL FOR KNITTI * * * *
NG JOBS
HONG KONG TRAINING AND TRADE TESTS
THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD OF THE COUNCIL HAS PUBLISHED A MANUAL OF JOB STANDARDS JOBS IN THE KNITTING BRANCH OF THE TEXTILE
FOR THE PRINCIPAL INDUSTRY.
PUBLISHED IN CHINESE AND ENGLISH, THE MANUAL IS AVAILABLE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE, CENTRAL, AT S15 A COPY.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COUNCIL SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) THE MANUAL *AS THE FOURTH PREPARED EY THE BOARD. THE FIRST THREE VOLUMES WERE FOR THE PRINCIPAL JOES IN THE SPINNING, TEXTURISING AND THE WEAVING BRANCHES.
THE LATEST MANUAL CONSISTS OF JOB STANDARDS AND TRADE TESTS FOR 3P PRINCIPAL JOBS AT TECHNOLOGIST, TECHNICIAN, CRAFT AND OPERATIVE LEVELS.
APART FROM INTRODUCING A GENERALLY ACCEPTABLE STANDARD OF SKILL FOR THE PRINCIPAL JOBS, THE MANUAL 'WILL ASSIST TECHNICAL INSTITUTIONS IN PLANNING COURSES AND EMPLOYERS IN DRAWING UP PROPER TRAINING PROGRAMMES FOR APPRENTICES OR TRAINEES AND IN ASSESSING THE COMPETENCE OF THEIR WORKERS.
- - 0
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1981
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL:
OBJECTIONS TO CLAUSE 4 OF OFFENCES BILL ...................... 1
FOUR UNOFFICIALS SUPPORT BILL................................. 8
OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON BILL PASSED ..................... 11
UNOFFICIALS ON DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION ...................... 13
WHITE PAPER'S OBJECTIVES WILL BE ACHIEVED - SIR JACK......... 19
GOVERNMENT APPROVES 11 SURVEYS .............................. 21
GUARANTEE FOR MPRC LOAN ..................................... 22
CHANCE FOR PAK PAI OPERATORS ................................ 22
FIRE HAZARD FINES MAY INCREASE............................... 23
GOVERNMENT INTERVENES ON OIL SHORTAGE........................ 24
F.S. AWARE OF TAX COMMENT.................................... 24
SAGA OF OLD WOMAN AIRED IN LEGCO ............................ 25
FIVE BILLS PASSED ........................................... 25
FIRE VICTIMS MAY CLAIM 'FAT CHOY' RELIEF ON FRIDAY........... 25
NATIONALITY BILL MPS SE£K LOCAL VIEWS ......................... 26
INDUSTRIAL SAFETY A JOINT EFFORT .............................. 27
TRADE WITH IRAN ............................................... 28
SNT ATTENDS HEUNG YES KUK RECEPTION ........................... 28
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1981
1
OBJECTIONS TO CLAUSE 4 OF OFFENCES BILL
* * * *
TWELVE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS COMMENTED ON THE CONTROVERSIAL OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON (AMENDMENT) BILL WHEN IT RECEIVED ITS SECOND READING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
FOUR OF THEM SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL WHILE THE OTHERS WERE OPPOSED TO ITS VARIOUS PROVISIONS.
LEADING THE ATTACK WAS DR THE HON HARRY FANG WHO WAS THE CONVENER OF AN AD HOC GROUP OF UNOFFICIALS FORMED TO STUDY THE BILL.
THE GROUP HAD HELD A NUMBER OF MEETINGS WITH THE OFFICIAL SIDE AND MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM VARIOUS INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANISATIONS ABOUT THE BILL.
IN HIS SPEECH DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE, DR FANG SAID
IT SEEMED SOMEWHAT IRONIC THAT AT A TIME WHEN MANY COUNTRIES WERE CONCERNED THAT THEIR ABORTION LEGISLATION HAD GONE TOO FAR, HONG KONG WAS PROPOSING TO RELAX ITS ABORTION LAW.
HE POINTED OUT THAT HE SUPPORTED THE MAJORITY OF THE BILL’S PROVISIONS WHICH WERE CONCERNED WITH THE PROTECTION OF THE UNBORN CHILD, BUT WAS OPPOSED TO CLAUSE 4 WHICH +RELAXES TO AN ALARMING DEGREE THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH AN ABORTION MAY LEGALLY BE PERFORMED*.
+IT SPECIFIES THAT WOMEN DIAGNOSED AS BEING PREGNANT wITH AN ABNORMAL FOETUS- WOMEN UNDER 17 YEARS OF AGE AND ALLEGED VICTIMS OF RAPE, INCEST AND SEXUAL INTERCOURSE PROCURED BY DRUGS, FALSE PRETENCES OR THREAT ARE ENTITLED TO ABORT IONS,+ DR FANG SAID.
+ EUT THROUGHOUT OUR DISCUSSIONS NO ONE,HAS BEEN ABLE TO OFFER A CONVINCING EXPLANATION AS TO WHY SUCH ADDITIONAL MEASURES ARE NECESSARY.
+MOREOVER, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE SO FAR AS WE ARE AWARE TO INDICATE THAT SUCH VICTIMS ARE BEING DENIED ABORTIONS UNDER THE LAW AS IT STANDS.*
ON THE PROVISION WHICH ALLOWS WOMEN DIAGNOSED AS BEING PREGNANT WITH AN ABNORMAL FOETUS AN ABORTION, DR FANG OPINED THAT MEDICAL SCIENCE WAS NOT PRECISE AND IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, AND IN SOME CASES IMPOSSIBLE, TO DIAGNOSE ACCURATELY THE DEGREE OF DEFORMITY.
+ IN ADDITION,* HE ADDED, +THERE IS ALSO A HIGH ERROR FACTOR ASSOCIATED WITH PRE-NATAL TESTING FOR FOETAL ABNORMALITIES AND IT IS ESTIMATED THAT FOR EVERY 100 BABIES ABORTED ON THE GROUNDS OF FOETAL ABNORMALITY, TEN HEALTHY BABIES ARE KILLED.
+ INDEED IT WAS ON THESE GROUNDS, BASED ON EVIDENCE PRESENTED BY THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF OBSTETRICIANS AND GYNAECOLOGISTS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, THE GOVERNMENT, LESS THAN THREE YEARS AGO, HALTED ITS PLANS TO MAKE AMMOCENTESIS (A FORM OF PRE-NATAL TESTING) AVAILABLE NATION-WIDE.*
/B2ABIKG THIS .......
V/3DNBSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1?81
2
BEARING THIS IN MIND, DR FANG SAID THAT HE FAILED TO SEE HOW ANY TWO MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS, WHO WERE NOT EXPERTS IN THIS FIELD, WOULD BE ALLOWED TO FORM AN OPINION AS TO WHETHER THERE wAS A ’SUBSTANTIAL RISK’ THAT THE CHILD IF BORN WOULD BE 'SERIOUSLY HANDICAPPED’.
HE SUGGESTED THAT EITHER THIS DECISION BE LEFT IN THE HANDS OF PER INATALOG I STS WHO WERE SPECIALISTS IN THIS FIELD OR THE PROVISION EE AMENDED TO GIVE THE MEDICAL PROFESSION SOME GUIDELINES WITHIN WHICH TO OPERATE, BY DEFINING MORE CLEARLY WHAT WAS MEANT BY A SERIOUS HANDICAP.
DR FANG ALSO REVEALED THAT MEDICAL ADVANCES MADE IT POSSIBLE TO ADMINISTER DRUGS AND INJECTIONS, AS WELL AS CARRYING OUT INTERUTERINE TRANSFUSIONS AND EVEN SURGERY, ON A FOETUS.
+GIVEN THE PACE AT WHICH MEDICAL SCIENCE IS ADVANCING IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE, AND PERHAPS EVEN WITHIN OUR LIFE TIME, WE SHALL BE ABLE TO CORRECT SOME DEFORMITIES WHILST THE FOETUS IS STILL IN THE WOMB.
+IN THE LIGHT OF SUCH DEVELOPMENTS, THE PROPOSAL NOW BEFORE US TO ALLOW ABORTION ON THE GROUNDS OF SUSPECTED FOETAL ABNORMALITY IS BOTH UNTIMELY AND RETROGADE.+
REGARDING THE PROVISION WHICH ALLOWS VICTIMS OF RAPE, INCEST AND SEXUAL INTERCOURSE PROCURED BY THREATS, DRUGS OR FALSE PRETENCES AN ABORTION, DR FANG NOTED THAT ALTHOUGH THE CRIMES ORDINANCE RECOGNISED THE VARYING DEGREES OF SEVERITY OF THESE OFFENCES, THE BILL DID NOT +SINCE IT ENTITLES A WOMAN WHO HAS BEEN THE VICTIM OF ANY OF THESE OFFENCES TO AN ABORTION*.
HE WAS PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE DANGERS OF ABUSE FOR THE PROVISION RELATING TO FALSE PRETENCES AND URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO CLARIFY WHAT CONSTITUTED A FALSE PRETENCE.
+EECAUSE OF MY RESERVATIONS AND HAVING REGARD TO THE DISTINCTION MADE IN THE CRIMES ORDINANCE BETWEEN THESE VARIOUS OFFENCES, I INTEND MOVING A COMMITTEE STAGE AMENDMENT TO DELETE THE PROVISION WHICH ALLOWS ALLEGED VICTIMS OF SEXUAL INTERCOURSE PROCURED BY DRUGS, THREATS OR FALSE PRETENCES AN ABORTION,* HE SAID.
THE REV THE HON PATRICK MCGOVERN IN OPPOSING THE BILL SAID THE GOVERNMENT wAS DETERMINED, FOR SOME REASON BEYOND THE COMPREHENSION OF ANYBODY ELSE, TO EXTEND THE GROUNDS FOR LEGALISED ABORTION BEYOND THE MEDICAL GROUNDS ACCEPTED IN THE U.K.
+THOSE IN FAVOUR OF LIFE, AND RESPONSIBLE PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND THE PRESERVATION OF HUMAN VALUES DO NOT WANT THOSE GROUNDS EXTENDED,* HE SAID.
HE ASKED FOR REASON AND NOT EMOTION IN THE DEBATE ON THE EILL AND STARTED BY PUTTING IT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE.
THE OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON ORDINANCE, HE SAID, STARTS OFF WITH MURDER, GOES ON TO MANSLAUGHTER, ATTEMPTS TO MURDER, ASSAULTS, FORCEABLE DETENTION ...... UP TO SECTIONS 46 AND 47 WHICH
ARE THE SUBJECT OF THE EILL, AND ENDS WITH KEEPING OR MANUFACTURING EXPLOSIVE SUBSTANCES.
/+THE BROAD .....
WEDNESDAY, FEBEUABY 11, 19&1
3
+THE BROAD PICTURE IS CLEAR IN THAT IT IS TOTALLY CONCERNED aITH PROTECTING PERSONS AGAINST OFFENCES OF VARIOUS SORTS. AND IT PROTECTS EVERY PERSON, MAN OR BOY, WOMAN OR FEMALE CHILD, INCLUDING IN 46 AND 47 THE PERSON OF THE CHILD AS YET UNBORN,+ FR MCGOVERN SAID.
HE STRESSED THAT THE BILL REFERS TO A WOMAN AND A CHILD THROUGHOUT: +SO, LET NO ONE DRAG IN TnE WORD 'FOETUS’ a I Tri ITS ANTI-LIFE IMPLICATION THAT A FOETUS EY SOME FREAK OF NATURE IS SOM.EHOw OR OTriER NOT A CHILD, OR IS A POTENTIAL CHILD, OR IS A ELOe OF PLASM CR SOMETH ING.+
+ *E ARE VOTING ABOUT WHETHER THE CHILD SHOULD LIVE OR WHETHER ITS LIFE SHOULD BE TERMINATED ON NEW EXTENDED GROUNDS,* HE SAID.
THESE GROUNDS — AGE, RAPE, INCEST, THREATS, FALSE PRETENCES — ARE ALL NON-MEDICAL AND WOULD NOT BECOME MEDICAL BY BEING PUT UNDER MEDICAL JUDGMENT. THEY WERE LEGALLY, MEDICALLY OR SOCIALLY UNSOUND, FR MCGOVERN SAID.
ON ABORTION FOR THE PREGNANT AT 16, FR MCGOVERN SAID THE MILDEST HE COULD MAKu IT wAS TO CALL IT ECTH SOCIAL AND LEGAL LUNACY.
+WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT RAPE OR OTHER CRIMES,* HE SAID, +WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BEING UNDER 16 AND WILLING TO HAVE INTERCOURSE, PERHAPS EVEN INVITING IT AND THEREBY BECOMING PREGNANT.
+MY READING OF THE PROPOSAL IS THAT IT IS AN ADDED INVITATION FOR MINORS TO GET PREGNANT BECAUSE IT PROVIDES NEW AND SEPARATE GROUNDS EY wHICH MINORS JUST EY EE ING MINORS CAN IN THEIR OwN RIGHT ASK FOP THE SO-CALLED EASy WAY OUT OF THEIR TROUBLES.
+LEGALLY IT MINORS. +
IS AN INVITATION TO CONTEMPT OF THE LAw PROTECTING
SOCIALLY, HE ADDED, ONE wOULD NEED TO BE A BLIND ANGEL NOT TO SEE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN CONTRACEPTIVES WITH A KNOWN FAILURE RATE BEING READILY AVAILABLE TO TEENAGERS, THE INCREASING BREAKDOWN OF TRADITIONAL FAMILY VALUES, AND AN INCREASED RATE OF UNWANTED TEENAGE PREGNANCIES WITH ITS FUTURE INCREASED RATE OF ABORTIONS.
ON THE PROVISIONS FOR ABORTION ARISING OUT OF RAPE AND OFFENCES AGAINST THE CRIMES ORDINANCE, FR MCGOVERN SAID IT COULD ' EAN THAT THE LA;. wAS SAYING TO THE MEDICAL PRACTITIONER a HO WAS IN DOUBT THAT IT RESOLVED HIS DOUBT AND GAVE THE MEDICAL OPINION THAT IN ALL CASES OF DOUBT THE WOMAN wAS IN GREATER DANGER IF SHE ALLOWED THE CHILD TO COME TO TERM.
+IT COULD NOT MEAN THAT,* HE SAID, +IF NOT IT MUST MEAN THaT THE LAw IS SAYING: ’YOU HAVE A DOUBT, IGNORE YOUR DOUET AND YOUR MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE AND GO AHEAD, AND THE LAW WILL PROTECT YOU FROM THE CONSEQUENCES.’
+wHAT MEDICAL PRACTITIONER COULD ACCEPT SUCH A POSITION? AGAIN, THIS IS BAD MEDICINE AND THEREFORE BAD LAw.+
/TEE .HOLE.........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1981
- 4 -
THE WHOLE PROPOSITION, FR MCGOVERN SAID, ALSO IGNORES THE FACT THAT IN SUCH CRIMINAL CASES, THERE ARE TWO INNOCENT VICTIMS, THE GIRL, AND THE UNWANTED CHILD.
+EY ALL MEANS LET THE LAW INTENSIFY THE WAR AGAINST RAPE, BY ALL MEANS LET THE LAW BE AS SEVERE AS HUMANLY POSSIBLE AGAINST THE CONVICTED RAPIST. BUT THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE THE LAW TO CONDEMN THE INNOCENT AFTERMATH CF CRIME,* HE SAID.
THE HON S.L. CHEN PROPOSED TO DELETE THE PROVISION WHICH ALLOWS WOMEN UNDER 16 YEARS OF AGE AN ABORTION.
HE SAID THIS WAS BECAUSE +NOT ONLY ARE THERE NO GROUNDS FOR SINGLING OUT WOMEN IN THIS AGE GROUP FOR EASY ABORTION BUT IT IS NOT RIGHT MORALLY.+
HIS SUBMISSION WAS EASED ON THREE OBSERVATIONS.
FIRST, HE SAID, IF RISK OF PREGNANCY WITH ITS CONSEQUENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES MAY STILL EE REGARDED AS A SORT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL AND MORAL RESTRAINT TO DISCOURAGE IMPROPER SEX CONDUCT, THE PROPOSAL TO ALLOW WOMEN UNDER 16 ABORTION, VIRTUALLY ON DEMAND, IS TENTAMOUNT TO REMOVING ANY SUCH RESTRAINT AND COULD ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO PRACTISE SEX MORE FREELY AND INDISCRIMINATELY.
SECONDLY, ALTHOUGH AN ABORTION COULD ONLY BE CARRIED OUT WITH THE CONSENT OF THE PARENTS, PARENTAL CONSENT IN CASES OF THIS NATURE IS VERY SELDOM WITHHELD, PARTICULARLY WITH CHINESE PARENTS IF THEY THINK ABORTION IS THE LAST RESORT TO PROTECT THE NAME OF THE FAMILY AND THE YOUNG WOMAN WOULD IN FACT BE LEFT WITH THE DECISION ON WHETHER TO HAVE AN ABORTION OR NOT.
IF ONE IS INDEED CONCERNED THAT A YOUNG WOMAN OF THIS AGE IS NOT PHYSICALLY MATURE ENOUGH TO SHOULDER THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARENTHOOD, AND SHOULD THEREFORE EE PROTECTED, IT IS UNFAIR THEN TO IMPOSE UPON HER THE MENTAL BURDEN OF TAKING A DECISION WHICH MAY TERMINATE A VERY NATURAL HUMAN RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HERSELF AND HER CHILD.
THIRDLY, FOR CASES WHERE THE PREGNANCY IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE A SERIOUS MENTAL OR PHYSICAL HEALTH RISK TO THE YOUNG MOTHER, THESE ARE ADEQUATELY COVERED EY THE EXISTING LEGISLATION.
UNDER EXISTING PROVISIONS, MOREOVER, A MEDICAL PRACTITIONER CAN TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE REASONABLY FORESEEABLE ENVIRONMENT OF THE PREGNANT WOMAN BEFORE DECIDING WHETHER HE IS WILLING TO PERFORM AN ABORTION.
THE HON PETER C. WONG SAID IF WE MUST LIBERALIZE ABORTION, PERHAPS A MORE SENSIBLE SOLUTION WOULD EE TO ENLARGE THE EXISTING MEDICAL GROUNDS ON WHICH ABORTION IS PERMISSIBLE.
BUT HE POINTED CUT THAT-aHAT CLAUSE 4 OP THE BILL PROPOSED WAS A RADICAL DEPARTURE FROM THE CONCEPT ON THE SUBJECT AS REFLECTED EY THE EXISTING LAW.
FOETUS, HE NOTED, IS DEFINED BY THE WEBSTER DICTIONARY AS A DEVELOPING HUMAN FROM ABOUT 12 WEEKS AFTER CONCEPTION TO BIRTH.
/+TO SAY .......
jbdnssday, kbhuahi 11, 19&1
5
♦ TO SAY THAT A FOETUS OF LESS THAN 24 WEEKS IS LIFE WHICH IS EXPENDABLE IS TO ME PURE LEGAL FICTION.
♦GOVERNMENT HAS NOT PUT FORWARD COGENT REASONS WHY THE LAW SHOULD BE CHANGED TO ALLOw THE DESTRUCTION OF DEVELOPING HUMAN LIFE IN THE MANNER PROPOSED.
♦OBVIOUSLY, WE ARE TREADING ON VERY TENUOUS GROUNDS,+ MR WONG SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT ACCORDING TO MEDICAL OPINION, THE EXISTING LAW, BASED AS IT WAS ON MEDICAL GROUNDS, ALREADY SUBSTANTIALLY COVERED MOST OF THE NEW PROPOSALS.
♦WHY THEN DO WE NEED TO INTRODUCE THESE CONTROVERSIAL AMENDMENTS?* HE ASKED.
THE HON WONG LAM WARNED THAT THE PROPOSAL TO ALLOW ABORTION ON DEMAND COR wOMEN UNDER 17 WITHOUT REQUIRING THEM TO GIVE ANY REASONS WAS TOO INDULGENT AND WOULD BRING ABOUT MORE DISADVANTAGES THAN ADVANTAGES.
IT NOT ONLY INDIRECTLY ENCOURAGES GIRLS UNDER 17 TO EE MORE CASUAL IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE OPPOSITE SEX, BUT ALSO DISRUPTS THE CONCEPT OF ETHICS WHICH IS OF IMPORTANT CONCERN TO THE CHINESE.
♦ IT WOULD ALSO HAVE A BAD INFLUENCE ON SOCIAL MORALITY,* HE SAID.
MR WONG BELIEVED THAT THE MAIN REASON FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO °UT UP SUCH A PROPOSAL wAS PROBABLY THE BELIEF THAT WOMEN UNDER 17 WERE NOT CAPABLE OF FULFILLING THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF A MOTHER.
♦ I TOTALLY DISAGREE WITH THIS VIEW,+ MR WONG STRESSED.
♦JUDGING FROM CASES OF CHILD ABUSE AND PARENTAL NEGLIGENCE IN HONG KONG, THOSE WHO HAVE FAILED TO FULFIL MATERNAL RESPONSIBILITIES ARE NOT NECESSARILY WOMEN UNDER 17, MANY OF WHOM, I BELIEVE, HAVE SHOWN THEMSELVES TO EE FULLY CAPABLE OF SUCH DUTIES.
♦BESIDES, EVEN IF YOUNG MOTHERS ARE UNABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD TRY TO HELP THEM IN A POSITIVE wAY, E.G. BY ENCOURAGING THEIR RELATIVES, SAY THEIR GRANDPARENTS, TO HELP RAISE THE IF. CHILDREN, AND NOT GO ABOUT THE ISSUE NEGATIVELY BY WAY OF THE SHORTCUT OF ABORTION.+
HE THOUGHT THIS PROPOSAL WAS CONTRADICTORY TO THE BASIC HUMANITARIAN SPIRIT OF THE BILL.
THE HON ANDREW SO SAID THAT HE OPPOSED CLAUSE 4 OF THE BILL ON THE GROUNDS THAT +IT CONNIVES AT AND ENCOURAGES OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON BY ALLOWING AN INNOCENT, HELPLESS CHILD TO BE HARMED AND DESTROYED BEFORE IT HAS AN EXISTENCE INDEPENDENT OF ITS MOTHER. +
♦ TO DESTROY AN UNBORN CHILD IS TO DESTROY LIFE, FOR EVEN SCIENTISTS CANNOT SAY THAT THERE IS ANY PERIOD BETWEEN CONCEPTION AND CHILD BIRTH WHEN THERE IS NO HUMAN LIFE,+ nE SAID.
WEDNESDAY, FEBBUAHY 11, 1?81
6
+THE CHINESE HAVE LONG REGARDED A CHILD IN ITS FOcTAL FORM AS A HUMAN LIFE AND, ACCORDING TO TRADITIONAL CHINESE PRACTICE, THC FOETAL STAGE COUNTS AS AGE, SO THAT A CHILD IS RECKONED AS ONE YEAR OLD IMMEDIATELY AFTER BIRTH.
+ON FILIAL PIETY, THE REFERENCE TO THE ’TEN-MONTH PREGNANCY PERIOD’ IS COMMONLY ASSOCIATED WITH ONE’S GREAT INDEBTEDNESS TO ONE’S PARENTS, IN THE LEGENDARY ’LEUNG TIN LOY CASE’ WHILE THE ALLUSION TO 'SEVEN CORPSES WITH EIGHT LIVES’ IS ALSO ILLUSTRATIVE OF This CONVENTIONAL BELIEF AMONG THE CHINESE.*
MR SO NOTED OUT THAT ANY WOMAN WHO SOUGHT AN ABORTION MUST EE AN UNFORTUNATE PERSON FOR, AFTER ALL, WHO WANTED TO GET RID OF HER OWN FLESH AND BLOOD IF AN ALTERNATIVE WAS AVAILABLE.
+TO COME TO GRIPS WITH THE PROBLEM, THEREFORE, WE SHOULD GIVE OUR SYMPATHY AND CONCRETE SUPPORT, INSTEAD OF DEVISING WAYS AND MEANS TO DESTROY LIFE.
+RESPECT FOR LIFE SHOULD EE THE BASIS OF ALL EFFORTS OF A CIVILISED SOCIETY.
+AFTER ALL, IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, I MUST ASK WHO IS TO DETERMINE WHO IS FIT TO SURVIVE AND WHO IS NOT7+ HE ASKED.
THE HCN CHAN KAM-CHUEN PROPOSED THAT THE CLAUSE RELATING TO FOETUS ABNORMALITY EE AMENDED SO THAT AN AEORTION MIGHT ONLY EE PERFORMED WHERE THERE WAS A SUBSTANTIAL RISK THAT THE CHILD, IF PORN, WOULD EE SO SERIOUSLY HANDICAPPED AS TO EE UNABLE TO EXIST WITHOUT SUBSTANTIAL CARE OR ASSISTANCE FOR LIFE.
WHILE SUPPORTING THE BILL, HE EXPRESSED SERIOUS CONCERN OVER THE PROPOSAL WHICH ALLOWED AN AEORTION TO BE PERFORMED IF TWO REGISTERED MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS WERE OF THE OPINION, FORMED IN GOOD FAITH, THAT THERE WAS A SUBSTANTIAL RISK THAT THE CHILD, IF BORN, WOULD SUFFER FROM SUCH PHYSICAL OR MENTAL ABNORMALITY AS TO EE SERIOUSLY HANDICAPPED.
+MY CONCERN IS,* HE SAID, +THAT NO MENTION IS MADE OF wHAT CONSTITUTES A SERIOUS HANDICAP.
+WOULD IT, FOR EXAMPLE, INCLUDE A CHILD BORN WITH A CLUB FOOT OR A DISLOCATED HIP?*
MR CHAN BELIEVED THAT A PREGNANT WOMAN WHO HAD UUST BEEN TOLD THERE WAS A SUBSTANTIAL RISK THAT HER CHILD, IF BORN, WOULD EE SERIOUSLY HANDICAPPED, WOULD BE UNDER SUCH SEVERE STRAIN AND SUFFERING FROM SUCH MENTAL ANGUISH THAT SHE wOULD BE LIKELY TO DECIDE IN FAVOUR OF AN ABORTION, NO MATTER HOW MINOR THE HANDICAP MIGHT BE.
+INDEED, AND WITHOUT DOUET, MANY INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE MADE A VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN BORN HAD PROVISION EXISTED EARLIER FOR ABORTIONS ON DEMAND FOR THOSE SUSPECTED OF BEING PREGNANT w iTri A MALFORMED FOETUS.
+BECAUSE OF THIS, I CONSIDER THE CLAUSE SHOULD SPECIFY MORE CLEARLY WHAT IS MEANT BY SERIOUS HANDICAP.+ HE SAID.
/THS REV .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1981
- 7 -
THE REV HON JOYCE M. BENNETT SAID SHE WAS IN FAVOUR OF CHILD PRESERVATION BUT OPPOSED TO CHILD DESTRUCTION AT ANY STAGE OF LIFE IN THE WOMB UNLESS THE REASONS FOR THIS DESTRUCTION WERE CLEARLY ON MEDICAL GROUNDS.
HOWEVER, SHE POINTED OUT, CLAUSE 4 OF THE BILL HAS BROUGHT THREE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DOCTOR TO BE PERMITTED TO PERFORM AN ABORTION.
WHILE AGREEING THAT ABORTION SHOULD BE ACCEPTED WHEN THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER IS IN DANGER, MISS BENNETT THOUGHT THE ADDITION OF THE REFERENCE TO MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDED A COMPLICATION SINCE +OUR KNOWLEDGE OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND OUR ABILITY TO DEAL WITH IT IN HONG KONG IS FAR FROM ADEQUATE.+
+l FIND MYSELF THEREFORE IN THEORY ACKNOWLEDGING THE NECESSITY TO WIDEN PHYSICAL HEALTH TO INCLUDE MENTAL HEALTH, BUT IN PRACTICE WONDERING WHETHER WE HAVE THE NECESSARY COMPETENCE TO PUT THIS EFFECTIVELY INTO PRACTICE WITHOUT DEVELOPING A SITUATION WHERE ABORTION IS GIVEN ON DEMAND,* SHE SAID.
REFERRING TO THE PROPOSAL WHICH ALLOWS AN ABORTION WHEN A SUBSTANTIAL RISK EXISTS THAT IF THE CHILD WERE BORN, IT WOULD SUFFER FROM SUCH PHYSICAL OR MENTAL ABNORMALITY AS TO BE SERIOUSLY HANDICAPPED, MISS BENNETT REMARKED: +l UNDERSTAND FROM MY FRIENDS IN THE MEDICAL PROFESSION AND FROM MY CONSIDERABLE READING OF THE LITERATURE ON THE SUBJECT IN PREPARATION FOR THIS DEBATE, THAT MEDICAL SCIENCE IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CONDITION OF THE CHILD TO EE BORN.
+WE MAY NOT YET HAVE IN HONG KONG ENOUGH EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES TO CARRY OUT THESE DIAGNOSIS ON A WIDESPREAD SCALE BUT SUCH DIAGNOSIS WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY AVAILABLE.
+l SHALL THEREFORE SUPPORT AN AMENDMENT TO THIS PART OF CLAUSE 4 WHICH STATES THAT ABORTION SHALL CNLY BE PERMITTED WHEN ’THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL RISK THAT IF THE CHILD WERE BORN, IT WOULD SUFFER FROM SUCH PHYSICAL OR MENTAL ABNORMALITY AS TO BE SO SERIOUSLY HANDICAPPED THAT THE CHILD WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO EXIST WITHOUT SUBSTANTIAL CARE OR ASSISTANCE FOR LIFE’*.
ON THE PROPOSAL RELATING TO ABORTION ON DEMAND FOR ANY GIRL UNDER THE AGE OF 17, WHICH WAS SUBSEQUENTLY AMENDED TO 16, MISS BENNETT SAID SHE UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS CLAUSE WAS ADDED IN ON SOCIAL GROUNDS TO OFFER PROTECTION TO THOSE NOT MATURE ENOUGH TO SHOULDER THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARENTHOOD.
+IT APPEARS THAT THE ARGUMENT FOR ALLOWING ABORTION TO THE GIRL WHO HAS CONCEIVED UNDER 16 IS THAT AS SHE IS UNABLE TO BE A GOOD MOTHER, LET US DISPOSE OF THIS RESULT OF HER SEXUAL INTERCOURSE.
+HOWEVER DO NOT FORGET THAT THIS RESULT OF HER SEXUAL INTERCOURSE IS NOT JUST SOME UNWANTED TISSUE, IT IS A TINY LIFE THAT wILL GROW AND DEVELOP INTO A NEw-BORN BABY,+ SHE ADDED.
SHE SUGGESTED THAT A FAR GREATER STUDY WAS NEEDED OF THE EFFECT OF ABORTION ON DEMAND ON THE WHOLE MORAL CLIMATE OF THE COMMUNITY.
/SHE ALSO .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBHUASY 11, 1981
- 8
SHE ALSO ASKED THE GOVERNMENT, IF THE BILL WAS PASSED, TO Keep vcRY CAREFUL STATISTICS OF THE NUMBER OF LEGAL ABORTIONS PERFORMED ON GIRLS OF UNDER 16, OF THE NUMBER OF PP^E^T.1?^ AND CONVICTIONS OF THE MEN INVOLVED AND OF THE NUMBER OF LIVE BIRTHS TO GIRLS WHO CONCEIVED UNDER THE AGE OF 16.
THESE STATISTICS WILL BE IMPORTANT IN A FEW YEARS TIME WHEN THIS LAw, IF PASSED, IS REVIEWED.
A VICTIM
N'iss BENNETT ALSO THREE MONTHS AFTER THE ♦SEEMS TC ME TO MAKE A THE EXECUTION OF THE IR
SAID THE PROVISION WHICH ALLOWS
DATE OF AN OFFENCE TO REPORT TO THc POLICE MOCKERY OF OUR SUPPORT TO THc. POLICE IN
DUTY.+
♦THERE ARE NOW TO EE PROVISIONS TO ENSURE THAT NO ABORTION SHOULD NORMALLY TAKE PLACE ’OF A PREGNANCY WHICH IS OF MORE THAN 24 WEEKS DURATION’, SO THAT THIS MENTION OF THREE MONTHS ScEMs TO NE TO SERVE NO USEFUL PURPOSE,* SHE SAID.
-----o------
FOUR UNOFFICIALS SUPPORT BILL ******
FOUR UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF THE OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON (AMENDMENT) BILL DURING ITS RESUMED DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI SAID IT WOULD BE TOTALLY WRONG TO ASSUME THAT IN EVERY CASE WHERE THE WOMAN IS ELIGIBLE FOR AN ABORTION UNDER THE LAW, AN ABORTION IS ACTUALLY PERFORMED.
HE NOTED THAT THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES WOULD MOVE A COMMITTEE STAGE AMENDMENT TO ALLOW WOMEN UNDER 16 YEARS OF AGE AND VICTIMS OF RAPE, INCEST AND SEXUAL INTERCOURSE PROCURED BY THREATS, DRUGS OR FALSE PRETENCES AN ABORTION, ONLY WHEN TWO DOCTORS ARE OF THE OPINION THAT THE CONTINUATION OF THE PREGNANCY INVOLVES GREATER PHYSICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH RISK TO THE MOTHER THAN IF THE PREGNANCY wERE TERMINATED.
♦I WOULD LIKE TO STRESS THAT THE AGE OF THE WOMAN AND WHETHER OR NOT SHE IS A VICTIM OF CRIMINAL SEXUAL INTERCOURSE IS ONLY A CRITERION FOR ABORTION IN THOSE BORDER-LINE CASES WHERE THE TwO DOCTORS ARE IN DOUBT AS TO WHETHER AN ABORTION IS WARRANTED ON MEDICAL GROUNDS,+ HE SAID.
♦IN OTHER WORDS, THERE IS NO QUESTION OF ABORTION ON DEMAND FOR THESE WOMEN.
♦IN THE EVENT THAT TWO DOCTORS DO DECIDE IS NECESSARY, IT IS STILL UP TO THE MOTHER TO OR NOT SHE WISHES TO HAVE AN ABORTION.♦
THAT AN ABORTION DECIDE WHETHER
TURNING TO VICTIMS OF RAPE AND INCEST AND OTHER SEXUAL INTERCOURSE OFFENCES, DR HO FELT IT WAS ABSOLUTELY WRONG lO FORCE THESE VICTIMS INTO SUFFERING THE ADDITIONAL TRAUMA OF GOING THROUGH NINE MONTHS PREGNANCY AND GIVING BIRTH TO AN UNWANTED CHILD.
WEDNESDAY, FEBBDAHY 11, 1981
+l CONSIDER THAT SHE HAS ALREADY SUFFERED MORE THAN ENOUGH AND WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO ENSURE SHE SUFFERS NO FURTHER,+ HE SAID.
THE HON ALLEN LEE ALSO CONSIDERED THAT ONE SHOULD NOT ASSUME EVERY CASE STATED IN THE BILL AS IT OCCURRED WOULD RESULT IN AUTOMATIC ABORTION.
HE BELIEVED THE DECISION STILL LIES WITH THE PREGNANT WOMAN WHO CAN EITHER ACCEPT OR REJECT THE MEDICAL PRACTITIONER’S ADVICE TO TERMINATE HER PREGNANCY.
+ IF A PREGNANT WOMAN DECIDED TO CARRY ON WITH HER PREGNANCY UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF THIS BILL, THEN IT IS SAFE TO ASSUME THAT SHE HAS ACCEPTED THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BEING A MOTHER AND SHE WILL PERFORM HER DUTIES AS A MOTHER TO THE BEST OF HER ABILITY,* SAID MR LEE.
+ON THE OTHER HAND, I AM ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED THAT WE CANNOT ASK A SEX VICTIM, REGARDLESS OF RAPE OR INCEST, TO CARRY ON wITH HER PREGNANCY AND LET THE UNWANTED CHILD BE BORN AND LET HER GO THROUGH MORE THAN NINE MONTHS OF MENTAL AGCNY AND TELL HER IF SHE IS UNWILLING THAT SOMEBODY WILL TAKE CARE OF THE BABY.
+ | AM ALSO ABSOLUTELY CONVINCED THAT IF A PREGNANT WOMAN IS AWARE THAT HER CHILD WILL BE SERIOUSLY HANDICAPPED SHE MUST BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE WHETHER SHE WANTS AN ABORTION.*
ON THE CONTROVERSIAL QUESTION ABOUT AGE 17, MR LEE NOTED
THAT +THERE ARE THOSE WHO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE GIVING A LICENCE FOR THE UNDER-AGED GIRLS TO HAVE FUN AND THERE ARE THOSE WHO EVEN BELIEVE THAT IT IS AN ENCOURAGEMENT.*
+1 THINK OTHERWISE,* HE SAID.
+OUR COMMUNITY IS WELL AWARE OF THE FACT THAT HAVING SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH A GIRL WHO IS 16 YEARS OLD OR LESS IS UNLAWFUL, BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT HAPPENS AND WHEN A YOUNG GIRL BECOMES PREGNANT SHOULD SHE BE PUNISHED AND CONDEMNED FOR THE REST OF HER LIFE DUE TO HER MISTAKE?
+AND IN MANY INSTANCES IT MAY NOT BE HER OWN FAULT BECAUSE SHE MIGHT BE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS.
+AN OPTION OF LEGAL ABORTION MUST BE PROVIDED, THEREFORE I SUPPORT IT WITHOUT RESERVATION.*
HOWEVER, MR LEE NOTED THAT HE AND A NUMBER OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ADEQUACY OF HOSPITAL FACILITIES AND *ERE SEEKING AN ASSURANCE FROM THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTi-ENT THAT IT WAS PREPARED .ELL IN ADVANCE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE +EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE '0 STATISTICS TO INDICATE /.HAT MIGHT BE THE I'.O-EmSE in demand.*
THE HON WILLIAM EPO.vN TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL Tr-AT +WE ARE PR EDOM I ATEL Y A MALE LEGISLATURE DEBATI'.G A MATTER /.HI CH IS PRIMARILY THE CC'CER CF aD.C..*
■VKDNSSDAY, FEBRUABY 11, 1981
- 10 -
HE NOTED THAT ABORTION IS THE CONCERN OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY WHEN BEING CONSIDERED FROM A THEORETICAL POINT OF VIEW. BUT wHEN IT COMES DOwN TO PRACTICALITIES IT IS THE WOMAN WHO REQUIRES AN ABORTION AND WHO HAS THE MOST IMMEDIATE CONCERN WITH THIS SUBJECT.
+ AND WE MUST PROTECT HER RIGHTS TO HAVE HER WISHES RESPECTED BY PROPER MEDICAL ATTENTION RATHER THAN A BACK STREET ABORTIONIST,* SAID MR BROWN.
+THE INTENTION OF THIS BILL TO BRING JUSTIFICATION FOR ABORTIONS INTO THE AREA OF MEDICAL JUDGEMENT, WITH ALL CONSIDERATIONS BEING WITHIN MEDICAL CRITERIA, IS A COMPROMISE WHICH STOPS SHORT OF ABORTION ON DEMAND.
+DERHAPS IT IS BEST TO LIMIT ANY CHANGE IN OUR LAW IN THIS wAY AT THIS TIME, AND IT DOES PROVIDE A PRACTICAL CONTRIBUTION TOwARDS A SOLUTION OF AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT SOCIAL PROBLEM.*
MR BROWN CONSIDERED THE BILL PRIMARILY A MORAL ONE AND THE NEED FOR IT MUST EE SEEN AS A CONFESSION OF FAILURE TO DEAL WITH MANY OF THE MALADIES AFFLICTING OUR MODERN SOCIETY.
HE ARGUED THAT THE BILL DOES NOT FORCE DOCTORS TO ABORT NOR WOMEN TO HAVE ABORTIONS. HE BELIEVED ITS PROVISIONS ARE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ATTITUDES TOWARDS ABORTION HELD BY THE MAJORITY OF OUR POPULATION.
MR BROWN ALSO STATED THAT THE ABORTION LAW IN EUROPE HAS BECOME MORE LIBERAL WITH MANY COUNTRIES NOW PERMITTING ABORTION AT THE REQUEST OF THE MOTHER.
AND IN ASIA, HE BELIEVED, ABORTION IS NOT GENERALLY COVERED BY LEGISLATION, OTHER THAN IN CHINA AND JAPAN WHERE IT IS AVAILABLE MORE OR LESS ON DEMAND.
THE HON JCHN SWAINE, WHO ALSO SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL, COMMENTED ON THE GOVERNMENT’S COMMITTEE STAGE AMENDMENTS TO THE PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE AGE OF THE PREGNANT GIRL AND VICTIMS OF INCEST, RAPE AND RELATED SEXUAL OFFENCES.
HE EXPLAINED THAT THE CASE FOR ABORTION IS NOW TO BE RE-VESTED IN THE DOCTORS FOR THEM TO DECIDE WHETHER TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY IS JUSTIFIED WHERE THE WOMAN IS UNDER-AGE OR IS THE VICTIM OF A SEXUAL OFFENCE.
+THE REVISED CLAUSE PROVIDES THAT, WHERE THE DOCTOR IS IN DCUET, HE MAY PRESUME THAT THE CONTINUANCE OF THE PREGNANCY IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD INVOLVE RISK OF INJURY TO HER PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH GREATER THAN IF THE PREGNANCY WERE TERMINATED,* MR SWAINE SAID.
+THE NEW PROVISION MAY BE ANALYSED THUS: IF THE DOCTOR IS IN NO DOUBT THE TERMINATION IS MEDICALLY JUSTIFIED, HE MAY LAWFULLY PROCEED AND HAS NO NEED FOR THE STATUTORY PRESUMPTION-IF HE IS IN NO DOUBT THE TERMINATION IS MEDICALLY UNJUSTIFIED, HE MAY NOT LAwFULLY PROCEED AND THE STATUTORY PRESUMPTION DOES NOT AVAIL HIM- IT IS ONLY IF HE IS IN DOUBT THAT HE MAY HAVE RECOURSE TO THE STATUTORY PRESUMPTION.*
AGIij .■•••••■
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 19&1
THE AGE REQUIREMENT HAS ALSO BEEN REVISED TO QUALIFY THE .-.OMAN IF SHE IS WITH CHILD BEFORE ATTAINING THE AGE OF 16, THEREBY AVOIDING CONFLICT a I TH SECTION 14 OF THE MARRIAGE ORDINANCE, HE SAID.
UNDER THE ORDINANCE, A LAWFUL MARRIAGE MAY BE CONTRACTED EY A GIRL WHO IS OF, OR OVER, THE AGE OF 16 IF SHE HAS PARENTAL CONSENT.
REFERRING TO THE REPORTING PROVISION, MR SWAINE NOTED THAT IT HAD BEEN REPLACED BY +THE CREATION OF THE DOUBLE REQUIREMENT THAT, IN ORDER TO QUALIFY, THE WOMAN HAS BEEN VICTIM OF A SEXUAL OFFENCE AND HAS REPORTED TO THE POLICE WITHIN THREE MONTHS OF IT.*
+SHE CANNOT BRING HERSELF WITHIN THE PROTECTION OF THE CLAUSE SIMPLY BY MAKING A REPORT TO THE POLICE,* HE SAID.
MR SWAINE SAID THE PROVISIONS, BEFORE AMENDMENTS, DID NOT HINGE ON THE FACT THAT WOMEN HAD BEEN THE VICTIM OF A SEXUAL OFFENCE, BUT THAT A REPORT HAD BEEN MADE TO THE POLICE.
+HOWEVER, THE DOCTOR MAY PROPERLY RELY ON THE REPORT.
IT IS HIS BELIEF WHICH COUNTS, AND THE REVISED CLAUSE PRESUMES IN HIS FAVOUR, UNTIL THE CONTRARY IS PROVED, THAT HE DID BELIEVE THE WOMAN TO HAVE BEEN SUCH A VICTIM IF SHE MADE THE REQUISITE REPORT TO THE POLICE,* SAID MR SWAINE.
- - 0 -
OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON BILL PASSED * * * *
THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON ERIC HO SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT DESPITE THE CAMPAIGN MOUNTED EY THE OPPONENTS OF THE OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON (AMENDMENT) BILL, THEY HAD BEEN UNABLE TO GENERATE ANY PUBLIC SUPPORT.
THE BILL, WITH MR HO’S AMENDMENT, WAS PASSED. AMENDMENTS PROPOSED BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WERE DEFEATED.
MR HO SAID: +1 PERSONALLY FEEL THAT NOTWITHSTANDING THE COMMENDABLE CONVICTION AND RELIGIOUS ZEAL OF THESE PRESSURE GROUPS THEY COMPRISE A SMALL, THOUGH VOCAL, FRACTION OF OUR COMMUNITY, SO MUCH SO THAT THERE ARE PROBABLY MANY MORE IN OUR MIDST «HO MAY FEEL THAT THE BILL DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH,* HE SAID.
HE QUOTED THE EXAMPLE OF ITALY, A CATHOLIC COUNTRY, WHERE VOLUNTARY ABORTIONS WERE PERMITTED WITHIN THE FIRST 93 DAYS OF PREGNANCY VIRTUALLY ON DEMAND.
+ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND FAMILY CONDITIONS, CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH CONCEPTION OCCURRED, AND FORESEEN DEFORMITIES OR ABNORMALITIES IN THE UNBORN CHILD, AS «ELL AS THE HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS OF THE PREGNANT WOMAN CAN BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
+wHY THEN NOT A SIMILAR CLAUSE TO COVER ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS IN THE HONG KONG LAW?* HE ASKED.
/HR THOUGHT
WEDNESDAY, FE3H0ARY 11, 19B1
12
HE THOUGHT IT WAS FAIR TO SAY THAT APART FROM CLAUSE 4 AND THE TECHNICAL AMENDMENT TO CLAUSE 1, THE PROVISIONS OF THE EILL WERE GENERALLY ACCEPTAELE -- EXCEPT TO FR MCGOVERN.
HE SAID HE HAD NOT THOUGHT THAT THE MARGINAL CHANGE IN CLAUSE 4(E) IN NOT REQUIRING THE EXERCISE OF MEDICAL OPINION IN AEORTIONS INVOLVING VERY YOUNG GIRLS AND PREGNANCIES ARISING FROM INCEST AND RAPE WOULD EE OBJECTIONAELE TO THE PUBLIC, PARTICULARLY AS NO SUCH OBJECTIONS aERE RAISED BY THE BULK OF THEM.
HOWEVER HE WELCOMED DR FANG’S AD HOC GROUP AND MR SWA I NE IN PINPOINTING THE DESIRABILITY Or MAINTAINING MEDICAL GROUNDS AS THE ONLY BASIS FOR PERMITTING A LEGAL ABORTION AND WOULD AMEND THIS PROVISION.
HE ADDED THAT IN THE CHARTER FOR THE 80’S PRESENTED BY REHABILITATION INTERNATIONAL AND THE UNITED NATIONS STATEMENTS PROCLAIMING 1981 AS THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF DISABLED PERSONS, HE COULD FIND NO SUGGESTION AGAINST ABORTION: MUCH LESS ABORTION OF ABNORMAL FOETUS.
REFERRING TO DR FANG’S STATEMENT THAT THERE WAS A HIGH ERROR FACTOR ASSOCIATED w ITH PRE-NATAL TESTING FOR FOETAL ABNORMALITIES, MR HO SAID HE WAS ADVISED AND THIS WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE CONCLUSIONS IN AN ASSESSMENT OF THE HAZARDS OF AMNIOCENTESIS CONTAINED IN AN ISSUE OF THE BRITISH JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY THAT THE BALANCE OF ADVANTAGE OF AMNIOCENTESIS DEPENDED CRITICALLY UPON THE MEDICAL INDICATION FOR THE PROCEDURE- AND IN HONG KONG THE INDICATIONS ARE SUCH THAT THE PROCEDURES WILL EE BENEFICIAL WHEN ALL FACTORS WERE CONSIDERED AND THAT THE ERROR FACTOR WOULD BE MINIMAL.
IN HIS OPINION, MR CHAN’S AMENDMENT WOULD MAKE THIS SUB-SECTION UNWORKABLE. IF ADOPTED, IT WILL CIRCUMSCRIBE AND NULLIFY THE DECISION OF INDIVIDUAL PARENTS.
ON POINTS RAISED BY MR WONG LAM AND MR S.L. CHEN, MR HO SAID HE DID NOT BELIEVE THE PROVISION IN THE BILL THEY REFERRED TO WOULD CAUSE IMMORALITY, BUT RATHER THAT GIVEN CERTAIN UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCES IT WOULD MINIMISE THE RISK OF FURTHER MISERY.
+HOWEVER, IF THE YOUNG WOMAN DESIRES TO HAVE HER BABY, AND CLEARLY UNDERSTANDS HER ACTIONS THEN I AM ASSURED THAT, AT LAW, EVEN AN OVER-ANXIOUS PARENT CANNOT REQUIRE HER TO HAVE AN ABORTION,* HE SAID.
HE SAID IT WAS ILLOGICAL FOR DR FANG NOT TO OBJECT TO ABORTIONS BEING AVAILABLE IN CASES OF PREGNANCIES ARISING FROM INCEST OR VIOLENT RAPE, BUT AVAILABLE TO A VICTIM OF SEXUAL INTERCOURSE PROCURED BY DRUGS, THREATS OR FALSE PRETENCES.
UNDER COMMON LAW ALL THESE CASES CONSTITUTE RAPE, + AND HE DOtS NOT SEEM TO EE CONCERNED THAT THESE VICTIMS OF RAPE ...... SHOULD
EE REQUIRED TO SUFFER THIS FURTHER PENALTY OF HAVING TO BEAR TO FULL TIME IN HER WOMB THIS CRUEL SEED.
+ EUT I AM CERTAIN THAT THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF OUR POPULATION DO NOT SHARE THIS VIEW,* MR HO SAID.
/AS BEGAHDS ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 19^1
AS REGARDS DR FANG’S FEAR OF FALSE CLAIMS TO THE POLICE IN CASES OF VOLUNTARY INTERCOURSE RESULTING IN AN UNEXPECTED PREGNANCY, MR HO SAID THE POLICE DO INVESTIGATE SUCH REPORTS AND A FALSE REPORT IS A CRIMINAL OFFENCE IN ADDITION TO MAKING THE WOMAN GUILTY OF PROCURING HER OWN MISCARRIAGE.
COUNTERING MISS BENNETT’S PROPOSAL TO DELETE THE THREE MONTHS TIME LIMIT FOR MAKING REPORT TO THE POLICE, MR HO SAID THIS PERIOD WAS A REASONABLE INTERVAL FOR THE VICTIM JO RECOVER FROM' THE INITIAL SHOCK. FURTHERMORE, IT WAS GcNEkALLY BELIEVED THAT SOME VICTIMS MAY NOT WISH TO DISCLOSE THEIR TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE UNTIL AND UNLESS THEY ARE CONVINCED THEY ARE PREGNANT.
HE ASSURED HER THAT STATISTICS OF ABORTIONS PERFORMED UNDER EACH CLASS OF CIRCUMSTANCES PERMITTED BY THE LAW wtRc AND wOULD CONTINUE TO BE KEPT.
TURNING TO THE ARGUMENTS OF MR ANDREW SO, MR HO POINTED OUT THAT MR SO HAD NOT SUGGESTED THAT TERMINATION OF AN UNWANTED PREGNANCY WAS A PUNISHABLE OFFENCE IN TRADITIONAL CHINESt LAw — +LET THERE EE NO MISTAKE, HERBAL PREPARATIONS BELIeVED TO BE CAPABLE OF INDUCING ABORTION HAVE BEEN USED BY CHINESE WOMEN OVER THE AGES.+
FURTHERMORE, AS MISS BENNETT HAD REMARKED, MR HO SAID, .PREDOMINANTLY ETHNIC CHINESE COMMUNITIES ELSEWHERE APrEAR T~ HAVE MUCH MORE LIBERAL ABORTION LAwS THAN THE BILL.
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UNOFFICIALS ON DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION ******
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALLOW DISTRICT BOARDS TO REFER PROoLEMS TO THE CHIEF SECRETARY AND THE GOVERNOR WHERE NECESSARY.
THE CALL CAME FROM THE HON WONG LAM WHO BELIEVES THAT IF THE GOVERNMENT CAN BY DOING SO DEMONSTRATE THE SIGNIFICANCE IT ATTACHES TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS, THE P^IC WILL GIVE MORE SUPPORT TO AND HAVE GREATER CONFIDENCE IN THE BOARDS.
MR WONG WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF DEBATE ON THE WHITE PAPER ON DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION IN HONG KONG IN THE LEGISLATIVE. COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON.
HE CONSIDERED REASONABLE THE ARRANGEMENT WHEREBY AD ISTR ICT BOARD, WHEN NOT SATISFIED WITH THE D I STR I CT MANAGEMENT COMM ITTEc S RESPONSE TO ITS ADVICE, COULD BRING THE MATTER EI™ER TO THE ATTENTION OF THE HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED, OR OF Trie DIRECTOR OF HOME AFFAIRS, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS vR THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEw TERRITORIES.
4-un^PVFR I THINK THAT IT COULD WELL BE THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT,“AND NOT NECESSARILY Tr.E D IS™ ' 1 T ' "L $ ’
aHICH aOULD HOLD A DIFFERENT VltW FROM iHAT Or THE DISTRICT BOARDS,+ HE SAID.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1981
14
♦SO IT IS POSSIBLE THAT BECAUSE Or DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS OR SENSE OF PRIORITIES, A DISTRICT BOARD AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT MAY HOLD DIVERGENT VIEWS ON CERTAIN MATTERS.
+UNDER SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES, THE DISTRICT BOARD MAY THINK IT WOULD EE MORE APPROPRIATE TO BRING THE MATTER DIRECT TO THE ATTENTION CF THE CHIEF SECRETARY, WHO REPRESENTS THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT, OR YOUR EXCELLENCY.+
TAKE FOR INSTANCE, MR WONG SAID, THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD MIGHT OBJECT TO REMOVING THE SOUTHORN PLAYGROUND FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MTR STATION SINCE THE PLAYGROUND WAS REGARDED AS THE +LUNG+ CF THAT DENSELY POPULATED DISTRICT.
+AS SUCH PROBLEM HAS A DIRECT EEARING ON THE GOVERNMENT’S OVERALL TRANSPORT AND LAND POLICIES, IT MAY EE NECESSARY TO REFER THIS MATTER TO HIGHEST AUTHORITY TO KAKE A FINAL DECISION ONCE IT EECOMES CLEAR THAT THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE IS NOT THE ADEQUATE AUTHORITY TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM,* HE ADDED.
FOUR OTHER UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS ALSO GAVE THEIR COMMENTS ON THE WHITE PAPER.
THE HON CHARLES YEUNG CALLED FOR THE CREATION CF DEPUTY GOVERNORS TO MONITOR THE PROGRESS AND TO GUIDE THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION WITH APPROPRIATE RESPONSIVENESS.
HE SAID THE INHERENT WEAKNESS AND DANGER IN THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM SET OUT IN THE WHITE PAPER WERE FOUND IN THE MISSING LINKS IN THE CHAIN OF DIRECT AUTHORITY.
+THE PROPOSITION ENVISAGED IN THE WHITE PAPER WAS THAT WHEN LOCAL ASPIRATIONS WERE NOT MET, THE DISTRICT BOARD 'WILL LOOK TO THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES OR THE DIRECTOR CF HOME AFFAIRS TO CHAMPION THEIR CAUSE.
+THE QUESTION IS HOW AND HOW EFFECTIVE IF THOSE CHAMPIONS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH ARMOURS AND WEAPONS TO RUN THE GAUNTLET OF EQUAL AND INDEPENDENT OR HIGHER AUTHORITIES,* HE ASKED.
MR YEUNG POINTED OUT THAT THE SPIRIT AND INTENDMENT OF THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM WAS THE CREATION OF +A HORE CONGENIAL POLITICAL ATMOSPHERE, A MORE HARMONIOUS SOCIAL SETTING AND A BETTER COMMUNITY*.
THE SUCCESS OF THE SYSTEM DEPENDED UPON THE CHARISMA AND DYNAMISM CF ITS SUPREME LEADER RADIATING THROUGH HIS SOCIOPOLITICAL DEPUTY GOVERNORS AND ENSHRINED BY THEIR ADROITNESS IN LOCAL POLITICS, KNOWLEDGE OF THE SOCIAL NORM AND AWARENESS CF COMMUNITY ASPIRATIONS, THEREBY THEY COULD GET THE RIGHT THINGS DONE AT THE RIGHT TIME AND IN THE RIGHT WAYS, HE ADDED.
+THESE ESSENTIAL SOCIO-POLITICAL QUALITIES CAN ONLY EE ACQUIRED BY ACCUMULATION THROUGH A LONG EXPOSURE TO LOCAL POLITICS, THROUGH ACCEPTANCE BY THE LOCAL SOCIETY AND THROUGH INVOLVEMENT IN LOCAL AFFAIRS, AS THEY WILL GENERATE CONFIDENCE, TRUST AND AFFECTION WHICH ARE THE BASE OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AND UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE GOVERNED.*
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1?81
15
whILE AGREEING THAT THE GOVERNOR WOULD BE WELL-INFORMED ON IMPORTANT ISSUES OF TERRITORY-WIDE IMPLICATIONS, MR YEUNG NOTED MANY LOCAL ISSUES, THOUGH MINOR IN THE EYES OF SOME GOVERNMENT SECRETARIES AND DEPARTMENTS, WERE NONETHELESS VERY IMPORTANT AND URGENT TO A PARTICULAR DISTRICT OR COMMUNITY.
AND THE FAILURE TO ADDRESS GOVERNMENT EFFORT TO SUCH ISSUES TIMELY COULD HAVE PROFOUND POLITICAL AND SOCIAL REPERCUSSIONS.
+THESE LOCAL ISSUES BY THEIR VERY MINOR NATURE WILL NOT BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE GOVERNOR UNLESS SOMEONE IS CHARGED WITH THE DUTY TO DO SO.
+IT IS, THEREFORE, A DEFINITE ADVANTAGE, IF NOT A MUST, TC HAVE DEPUTY GOVERNORS TO UNDERTAKE AND PERFORM THE ONEROUS AND TIME-CONSUMING SOCIO-POLITICAL FUNCTIONS SO AS TO ERING THE PEOPLE CLOSER TO THE GOVERNMENT.+
MR YEUNG SUGGESTED INITIALLY IT WAS BETTER TO HAVE T/.0 DEPUTY GOVERNORS -- ONE FOR THE URBAN AREA AND ONE FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES — +SO THAT HE MAY CONCENTRATE ON PLANNING THE DEVELOPMENT, TO MONITOR THE PROGRESS AND TO GUIDE THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION W I TH APPROPRIATE RESPONSIVENESS TO THE DICTATE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES PECULIAR TO EACH TERRITORY THROUGH THE IMPORTANT BUT DIFFICULT FORMATIVE STAGE+.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE CREATION OF SUCH SOCIO-POLITICAL DEPUTY GOVERNORS WOULD NOT UPSET THE USUAL PATTERN OF CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION AND IMPAIR THE USUAL PROCESS OF CHECKS AND BALANCES.
♦THE SOCIO-POLITICAL DEPUTY GOVERNORS HAVE NO POWER PER SE AND THEY ARE AS POWERFUL AS THE GOVERNOR WOULD LIKE THEM TO BE AND THEY CAN ONLY DO WHAT THE GOVERNOR WOULD LIKE THEM TO DO ON HIS BEHALF AND NO MORE.
+THE USUAL PATTERN OF ADMINISTRATION IS, THEREFORE, NOT DISTURBED.
+THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY OF PROVIDING CHECKS AND BALANCtS TO THE ADMINISTRATION IS WITH THE GOVERNOR AND AS FAR AS THE ADMINISTRATION DIRECTLY AFFECTING LOCAL INHABITANTS IS CONCERNED THE ASSISTANCE OF THE SOCIO-POLITICAL DEPUTY GOVERNORS WILL STRENGTHEN THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE GOVERNOR IN THE FULL SPECTRUM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES IN THE ADMINISTRATION,+ hE SAID.
MR YEUNG THEN SPOKE ON THE MANNERISM OF THE OFFICIALS.
I
HE FELT THAT NO MATTER HOW PERFECT WAS THE SYSTEM AND HOW HIGH THE QUALITY OF THE ADMINISTRATORS, THE STANDARD OF THE END PRODUCT STILL DEPENDED UPON THE MANNER OF THE PERSONS RUNNING THE SYSTEM.
UNFORTUNATELY, GLARING EXAMPLES OF SUCH HUMAN .-.EAKNESS WERE FOUND THOUGH IN DIMINISHING SCALE wITHIN EVcRY STRATUM OF OUR CIVIL SERVICE.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1?81
16
♦GOOD HANKER AND CIVILITY --E, THEREFORE, THE POSTULATES FOR THE SELECTION OF LEADING POSTS AND FOR COMMUNITY-EASED APPOINTMENTS I' "UR GOVERNMENT AS THE IMAGE, mHICH THEY PROJECT, REFLECTS THE PENTALITY AND ATTITUDE OF THE GOVERNMENT,* HE NOTED.
TURNING TO THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, MR YEUNG SUGGESTED THAT IT SHOULD BE OPEN T3 PARTICIPATION OF THE PEOPLE AT THE GCASS-ROOT LEVEL.
HE DISAGREED ITH THE SUGGESTION THAT AS MUCH OF THE WORK GF THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE INVOLVES DETAIL PLANNING, MONITORING ' 7 CO-ORDINATION C- THE WORKS PROGRAMME AND PROJECTS, THE PRESENCE OF UNCFFICIALS WILL SERVE NO MEANINGFUL PURPOSE.
HE THOUGHT THE PARTICIPATION OF UNOFFICIALS IN THE
DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE WOULD BRING PRESSURE ON DEPARTMENTAL REPRESENTATIVE TO EE MORE CO-OPERATIVE AND REASONABLE +FOR HE KNOWS THAT THE PROPOSED SCHEME MAY NOT REST AT THAT LEVEL AND r£ MAY HAVE TO JUSTIFY HIS OBJECTION IN A HIGHER FORUM AND HIS VIEW MAY BE PUT TO ACID TEST BY OTHER EXPERTS.*
+FURTHERMORE+, MR YEUNG NOTED, +THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM IN ITS ENTIRETY IS THE BEST TRAINING GROUND FOR LOCAL GRASS-ROOTS LEADERS TO ACQUIRE THE SKILL AND KNOWLEDGE OF ADMINISTRATION.
+IS IT FAIR TO DENY LOCAL LEADERS IN THE MAKE THE OPPORTUNITY OF SUCH TRAINING AND IS IT IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF HONG KONG TO BE DEPRIVED OF TRAINED AND ADEPT LEADERS?* HE QUERIED.
DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI THOUGHT THAT IN ADDITION TO IMPROVED DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, THE PROPOSAL IN THE WHITE PAPER WOULD HAVE FAR-REACHING IMPLICATIONS ON CIVIC DEVELOPMENT.
IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, HE SAID, AS OPPORTUNITIES ARE BEING CULTIVATED FOR GRASS-ROOTS INPUTS INTO THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL, MORE RESIDENTS WILL COME FORWARD TO TAKE AN ACTIVE INTEREST IN THE LOCAL MATTERS THAT HAVE A HEARING ON THE IP DA ILY LIFE.
+WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES AND THE DISTRICT BOARDS, LOCAL RESIDENTS WILL FEEL THAT THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THEM AND THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT IS SHORTENED AND THEY WILL REALISE THAT THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT IS MORE COMPREHENSIVE AND ACCESSIBLE ON THE ONE HAND, AND IS RECEPTIVE AND RESPONSIVE TO PUBLIC VIEWS AND REQUESTS ON THE OTHER,* MR HO SAID.
+THEY WILL GRADUALLY COME TO BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE, TO A GREATER EXTENT THAN EVER BEFORE, THE ARCHITECTS OF THEIR ENVIRONMENT AND LIVES.*
IN THE MORE DISTANT FUTURE, THE RESIDENTS WOULD, OUT OF PRIDE, SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENTS AND INVOLVEMENT, DEVELOP AN IDENTIFICATION WITH, AND SUBSEQUENTLY A FEELING OF BELONGING TO, THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH THEY LIVE.
+THIS CIVIC SPIRIT a ILL GIVE IMPETUS TO GREATER LOCAL INVOLVEMENT, LEADING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MORE CLOSE-KNIT, TORE MUTUALLY CARING COMMUNITY,* HE SAID.
/as the .......
.V3DNESDAY, J5E3UA.3Y 11, 1981
17
AS "HE DISTRICT ECARD IS THE KEY INSTRUMENT IN THIS SCHEME OF ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM, DR HO WELCOMED THE WHITE PAPER PROPOSALS TO INTRODUCE DIRECT ELECTIONS TO SEATS OK THE EOARDS EOTH IN THE URBAN AREA AND T-iE NE.. TERRITORIES.
BUT HE POINTED CUT THAT A SCHEME TO INVOLVE THE PUBLIC, HOWEVER wELL CONCEIVED, wCULD NOT GENERATE TmE EXPECTED RESULTS, IF IT DID NOT -- E THE PEOPLE’S SUPPORT.
♦WHETHER LOCAL LEADERS WILL COME OUT TO RUN FOR ELECTION WILL DEPEND OK THE SUCCESS OF THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND THE DISTPIO BOARD IK MzizT I NG i HE IR DISTRICT’S EXPRESSED NEEDS AND aISHES,+ HE SAID.
♦THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND THE DISTRICT EOARDS CAN DISCHARGE THEIR FUNCTIONS EFFICIENTLY ONLY WHEN THERE IS ADEQUATE STAFF SUPPORT, EOTH IN TERMS OF QUALITY AND QUANTITY.+
DR 'HO NOTED THAT THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT AND THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION WILL INEVITABLY NEED TO INCREASE THE IP EXECUTIVE .-ND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF SIGNIFICANTLY TO COPE WITH A" I'''OF E ASED DEMAND FOR ACTIVITIES ARISING FROM THE IMPLEMENTATION CF THE WHITE PAPER.
OFFICERS CF SUFFICIENT EXPERIENCE AND SENIORITY WILL BE REQUIRED IK PROFESSIONAL DEPARTMENTS TO SERVE ON DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES SO THAT THEY CAN REACT PROMPTLY TO THE D'CIS IONS AND RECOMMENDATION'S CF DISTRICT BOARDS.
THE EXISTING ESTABLISHMENT CF CHINESE LANGUAGE OFFICERS ALSO NEEDS TO BE STRENGTHENED CONSIDERABLY IN ORDER THAT DISTRICT EOARDS CAN EE PROVIDED WITH ADEQUATE TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETATION SERV ICES.
IN ADDITION, SOME DEPARTMENTS SUCH AS THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAVE NOT YET BEEN REGIONAL ISED TO THz EXTENT THAT Tr.E IR DISTRICT STAFF CAN HAVE SUFFICIENT RESPONSIBILITY AND AUTHORITY TO SERVE EFFICIENTLY ON DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES.
♦ ALL THESE PROBLEMS NEED TO EE DEALT WITH URGENTLY AND WITH DETERMINATION BEFORE THE NEW DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME CAN SUCCEED,+ DR HO SAID.
♦ I THEREFORE EARNESTLY CALL ON THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY SERIOUS AND URGENT ATTENTION TO THE ISSUE OF MANPOWER PLANNING AMID ITS PREPARATION IN LAUNCHING THE SCHEME.*
THE HON F.K. HU SUGGESTED THAT ELECTED MEMBERS CF DISTRICT EOARDS SHOULD EE GIVEN A REASONABLE ALLOWANCE.
A MEMBER OF A DISTRICT BOARD HAS TO SPEND CONSIDERABLE TIME IN ATTENDING MEETINGS, DISCUSSIONS, VISITS AND OTHER RELATED ACTIVITIES IN ORDER TO PLAY A USEFUL AND VALUABLE ROLE, HE SAID.
+EUT TIME SPENT wOULD MEAN FINANCIAL OR CAREER SACRIFICE CN TH" PART 0" THE MEMBER AS HE ..OULD HAVE TO SPEND LESS TI’E ON HIS C-EEE-. " EMPLOYMENT AND MIGHT FACE OBJECTION FROM -> I S FAMILY C- EMPLOYE’ .
/+ THESE CCNSIDiEUDICKS.....
WHDN3SDAY, FEBRUAHY 11, 1981
18
♦THESE CONSIDERATIONS COULD DISCOURAGE MANY SUITABLE POTENTIAL CANDIDATES, SPECIALLY AMONG THE YOUNGER GENERATION FROM COMING FORWARD AND THE FINAL CHOICE FROM THE LIST OF CANDIDATES MIGHT EE LIMITED.
♦ IN ORDER TO OVERCOME THIS POSSIBLE PROBLEM, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT A REASONABLE ALLOWANCE SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE ELCCTED MEMBERS CF DISTRICT BOARDS SO THAT THEY WOULD NOT SUFFER FINANCIALLY BECAUSE OF THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.*
MR HU THOUGHT THAT THIS ARRANGEMENT MIGHT ENCOURAGE MORE GOOD CANDIDATES TO COME FORWARD TO SEEK ELECTION.
ON THE REQUIREMENT OF FORMAL EDUCATION QUALIFICATION OF VOTERS, HE AGREED « ITH THE WHITE PAPER THAT IT MIGHT RULE OUT OLDER PEOPLE WHO DO NOT POSSESS THEM.
HOWEVER, HE FELT THAT THIS REQUIREMENT FOR REGISTRATION AS VOTERS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AGAIN IN 1988 WHEN MOST PEOPLE RESIDING AND EDUCATED IN HONG KONG WOULD HAVE RECEIVED THE MINIMUM NINE YEAR COMPULSORY EDUCATION UPON REACHING THE AGE CF 21.
THE HON ANDREW' SO URGED THAT PRUDENCE AND VIGILENCE MUST-BE EXERCISED IN SELECTING LEADERS FOR THE DISTRICT BOARDS — BE IT BY ELECTION OR APPOINTMENT.
THIS IS BECAUSE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION AFFECTS THE WELL-BEING CF LOCAL RESIDENTS, AS WELL AS PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES FOR THEM, HE SAID.
+PRUDENCE IN THIS RESPECT WILL ENSURE THE PROPER CONDUCT CF AFFAIRS AND AVOID ABUSES AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
♦RESIDENTS OF ALL DISTRICTS MUST PLAY AN INTELLIGENT AND COURAGEOUS ROLE IF THEY WANT TO MAKE THE SCHEME A SUCCESS.+
MR SO SAID TO IMPLEMENT THE PROPOSALS IN THE WHITE PAPER WOULD INEVITABLY INVOLVE A TREMENDOUS OUTLAY OF BOTH MANPOWER AND MONEY.
ALTHOUGH MANPOWER HAS INDIRECTLY BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR IN THE WHITE PAPER, HE NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT DISCLOSED HOW MUCH MONEY IS REQUIRED TO CARRY OUT THE SCHEME.
♦ IF THE GOVERNMENT COULD PROJECT AND MAKE KNOWN ITS BUDGET FOR THE SCHEME, THE PEOPLE WOULD UNDERSTAND THIS TREMENDOUS VENTURE BETTER AND HAVE A STAKE IN IT IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE,+ HE SA ID.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1981
19
WHITE PAPER’S OBJECTIVES a ILL * * * *
BE ACHIEVED -SIR JACK * *
THE HON THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR JACK CATER, TODAY TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HE HAD NO DOUBT THAT, GIVEN THE SUPPORi A'3 ASSISTANCE OF THE COUNCIL AND IN ^ARTICULAR THE SUPPORT OF TnE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, THE OBJECTIVES OF THE WHITE PAPER ON DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION WOULD EE ACHIEVED.
HE REPEATED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD DO FTS UTMOST TO ENSURE THAT THE DISTRICT BOARDS WERE SUCCESSFUL.
IN HIS ,°EECH WINDING UP THE DEBATE ON THE WHITE PAPER, SIR JACK THANKED U’Cr-ICIL MEMBERS, THE HON WONG LAM, THE HON CHARLES YEUNG, DR THE HON HO KAI -rAl, THE HON ANDREW SO AND THE HON F.K. HU FOR THEIR GENERAL SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSALS IN THE WHITE ?. PER.
IM THEI' SPEECHES MR WONG AND DR HO DREW ATTENTION TO THE POSSIBILITY - DIVERGENT VIEWS BETWEEN DISTRICT BOARDS AND TriE CENTRAL GOVE'’ ’ -PT A'3 SUGGESTED THAT IN SUCH A SITUATION THE BOARDS E-OULD DE ABLE TO APPROACH THE GOVERNOR OR THE CHItF SECRETARY DIRECT.
SIR JACK SAID IF A BOARD WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, THEY COULD APPROACH THE SECRET/-~Y FOR HOME A-FAIRS OR THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES CP., IF THEY CONSIDERED IT MORE APPROPRIATE, THE DIRECTOR OF 'HOME AFFAIRS OR THE HEAD OF THE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT CCNCER.’ zD.
ADVICE F-CM THE ECARDS CONCERNING GENERAL POLICY WHICH HAS TERR I TORY-V IDE IMPLICATIONS WILL EE CONSIDERED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRE OR THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES AND, WHERE APPROPRIATE, TAKEN U3 WITH THE POLICY SECRETARIES I'. THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT.
♦ADDITIONALLY, I EXPECT THAT BOTH THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AF FAIRS AND iHE SECRETARY F OR iri- i- RRITCRIcS *. ILL z.R I NG MATTERS OF SIGNIFICANCE TO YOUR ATTENTION, SIR, OR iO Ml..£,+ SIR JACK SA ID.
+1 CAN ASSU'E MEMBERS TriAi THE CHIE" SECRETARY WILL BE TAKING A CONTINUING AND SUBSTANTIAL INTEREST IN TriE AFFAIRS OF THE DISTRICT BO-:DS A'D WILL MAKE CERTAIN THAi EVERYTHING POSSIBLE IS DONE TO ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF THESE PROPOSALS.+
HOWEVER, SIR JACK SAID THAT FOR GENERAL MATTERS IN T-E DISTRICTS, IT WOULD EE FOR THE APPROPRIATE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE TO DEAL a I Tri THAT ^DVICE.
+1 BELIEVE THAT SUCH A SYSTEM ILL ENSURE A FRUITFUL PEL AT ICNS H I ? BETWEEN TriE BOARDS A' . CO. JiT-ES -'3 THE ADMINISTRATION,* HE SAID.
SIR JACK SA ID IN THE C IRC RT-. EES HE HAD OUTL . lD iHxRE WAS NO NEED TO ATTEMPT TO LA:' D" EC'- IC AMD RIGID - -FOR DEALING ITH a SITUATION WHICH . ..3 VERY SELDC IF EVER ARISE.
/♦THE IMPOBTAlil
WEDNESDAY, EEBTJAB.Y 11, 1981
20
+THE IMPORTANT POINT IS THAT THERE SHOULD BE FLEXIBLE ARRANGEMENTS FOR CONSIDERING THE ADVICE FROM THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND COR ACTING UPON IT. ANY DIFFERENCE IN OPINION BETWEEN THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT IS UNLIKELY TO BE ONE OF INTEREST OR PRINCIPLE, BUT RATHER OF DEGREE OR PRIORITY.*
ON MR YEUNG’S IDEA OF INTRODUCING DEPUTY GOVERNORS FOR THE NE* TERRITORIES AND THE URBAN AREA, SIR JACK SAID IT wAS + INTRIGUING AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING.*
♦NEVERTHELESS,* HE SAID, +AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE, THE WHITE PAPER IS CONCERNED WITH THE DEVOLUTION OF GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES TO THE DI STR ICT LEVEL.
ITH THAT THOUGHT FIRMLY IN MIND, MY FIRST REACTION IS
THAT IF .■.£ WERE TO PROCEED AS ENVISAGED BY MR YEUNG IT wOULD WELL MEAN THAT WE MIGHT FIND OURSELVES GOING INTO REVERSE FROM SINCERELY INTENDED DEVOLUTION TO A HIGH DEGREE OF CENTRALISATION.*
SIR JACK SAID HE APPRECIATtD MR YEUNG’S WORRY AND IT WAS UP TO THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT PROPOSALS IN THE WHITE PAPER DID WORK AND THAT HIS FEARS WERE NOT REALISED.
HE ASSURED MR YEUNG THAT HE AND THE GOVERNOR WOULD BE TAKING A DIRECT PERSONAL INTEREST IN DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION MATTERS.
ON MR YEUNG’S SUGGESTION TO INCLUDE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS IN THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES, SIE JACK SAID THE KEY ORGANISATIONS ENVISAGED IN THE WHITE PAPER WERE THE DISTRICT BOARDS WHICH WOULD EE POWERFUL BODIES, DERIVING THEIR POWER THROUGH INFLUENCE AND ACCESS, AND THE RIGHT TO BE CONSULTED.
+IT MUST BE REMEMBERED THAT THE DISTRICT BOARDS WILL INCLUDE OFFICIAL MEMBERS FROM THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND ANY ISSUE w ILL EE THOROUGHLY DEBATED IN THE BOARD BY BOTH OFFICIAL AND UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS,* HE SAID.
+THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE IS THE EXECUTIVE ARM.
IT IS THE DISTRICT BOARD’S TASK TO GIVE ADVICE, INCLUDING IF NECESSARY ADVICE OK IMPLEMENTATION LEAVING ACTUAL IMPLEMENTATION TO THE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED.*
ON MEMBERSHIP OF THt DISTRICT BOARDS, SIR JACK SAID THE GOVERNMENT SHARED THE CONCERN OF MR SO AND MR HU THAT ONLY THE ABLEST PERSONS SHOULD BE ELECTED OR APPOINTED TO SERVE ON THE BOARDS.
+THE GOVERNMENT WILL SEEK TO ENSURE THAT THE QUALIFICATIONS AND DISQUALIFICATIONS FOR CANDIDATES, AS OUTLINED IN CHAPTER 5 OF THE aHITE PAPER, a ILL BE EMBODIED IN THE LAW AND BE APPLICABLE TO BOTH ELECTED AND APPOINTED MEMBERS.*
SIR JACK SAID THE GOVERNMENT ALSO AGREED THAT SOME FORM OF PAYMEfT BY *AY OF AN ALLOWANCE SHOULD EE MADE AVAILABLE TC DISTRICT BOARD ‘'-MEERS TO ENSURE THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE OUT OF POCKET THROUGH ATTENDING MEETINGS.
ON STAFF REQUIREMENTS, HE ASSURED DR HO AND MR SC THAT THE GOVERNMENT aAS FULLY AWARE OF THE IMPORTANCE CF ADEQUATE STAFFING, BOTH IN QUALITY AND QUANTITY, IN ENSURING A SUCCESSFUL DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME.
J A ACK • • • •..
WSDNSSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 19E1
21
SIR JACK ALSO SAID THAT SIGNIFICANT FUNDS *OULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TC THE DISTRICTS TO BE SPENT ON SMALL SCALE PROJECTS AS ADVISED BY THE BOARDS, ALTHOUGH IT kAS DIFFICULT TO COMPUTE THE AMOUNT AT THIS STAGE.
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GOVERNMENT APPROVES 11 SURVEYS * * * * *
ELEVEN CENSUS AND STATISTICS ORDERS ENABLING THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TO COLLECT FULL STATISTICAL INFORMATION FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES THIS YEAR WERE TABLED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
IN A STATEMENT TO THE COUNCIL, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON SAID THE ORDERS COULD BE DIVIDED INTO THREE CATEGORIES: THE FIRST (EIGHT ORDERS) AUTHORISES SURVEYS ON ECONOMIC ACTIVITY EY SECTOR- THE SECOND (ONE ORDER) FOR COLLECTING STATISTICS ON THE LABOUR SECTOR, AND THE THIRD (TWO ORDERS) AUTHORISES A CENSUS OF THE POPULATION.
THE EIGHT ORDERS IN THE FIRST CATEGORY COMPRISE:
* TWO BENCHMARK SURVEYS - OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS IN lQ8O- AND OF STORAGE, COMMUNICATION, FINANCING, INSURANCE AND BUSINESS SERVICES FOR 1980-
* FOUR ANNUAL FOLLOw-UP SURVEYS - OF IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF SERVICES- INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION- aHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADES, AND RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS- AND OF TRANSPORT ESTABLISHMENTS FOR 1983-
* TWO +MORE FREQUENT THAN ANNUAL SURVEYS* - A SERIES OF QUARTERLY SURVEYS OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION, AND A SERIES OF MONTHLY SURVEYS OF RETAIL SALES.
IN THE SECOND CATEGORY, WHICH CONCERNS THE LABOUR SECTOR, THERE aILL BE A SURVEY OF EMPLOYMENT, VACANCIES AND PAYROLL FOR 1981-82.
THE TWO ORDERS IN THE THIRD CATEGORY, ARE FOR THE 1981 DECENNIAL CENSUS OF THE LAND AND MARINE POPULATIONS.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1981
22
GUARANTEE FOR MTRC LOAN * > k *
ThE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODA/ GAVE ITS APPROVAL FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO GRANT A GUARANTEE ~j THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION TO COVER THE REPAYMENT OF A 3245 MILLION LOAN.
THE SUMS BORROWED UNDER THIS GUARANTEE WILL BE FINANCED UNDER A UK EXPORT CREDIT AND USED TO TAKE UP AN OPTION TO PURCHASE 73 ADDITIONAL RAILCARS FOR THE MTR TSUEN WAN EXTENSION.
THIS EFI'.GS GOVEPI'.'VE'T’S TCT-L GUARANTEE COMMITMENT IN RESPECT OF ’< =IXSIPAL Cr LOA' 3 BAILABLE TO THE MTR CORPORATION TO :• 530 MILLION.
- - 0 - -
CHANCE FOR PAK PAI OPERATORS X K K K
EXISTING AND BONA FIDE PAK PAI OPERATORS WOULD BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEGALISE THE IP. OPERATIONS UNDER THE PROPOSED ROAD TRAFFIC (AmeaD'-E’.'T) BILL 1981, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT THE HON DEREK JONES, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
AND HE ADVISED ALL PAK PAI OPERATORS TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THIS OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE, THEREAFTER, ALL ILLEGAL CARRYING aITHOUT A CONTRACT HIRE CAR PERMIT AND ALL PLYING AND SOLICITING FOR HIRE CR REWARDS BY VEHICLES OTHER THAN TAXIS WILL BE SUBJECT TO STIFFER LEGAL SANCTIONS, SUCH AS THE IMPOUNDING OF VEHICLES AND THE SUSPENSION OF VEHICLE LICENCES, IN ADDITION TO EXISTING PENALTIES.
IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, MR JONES SAID THE PURPOSE OF THE EILL WAS TO AUGMENT AND CLARIFY THE PROVISIONS FOR THE ISSUE OF CONTRACT HIRE CAR PERMITS WHICH WERE INCLUDED IN THE AMENDMENTS TO THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE ENACTED IN JUNE 1977.
+THE EILL, BY SPELLING OUT THE PROPOSED ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ISSUE OF PERMITS, SEEKS TO PROVIDE SAFEGUARDS FOR THE CONTRACT HIRE CAR SCHEME WHEN IT IS BROUGHT FULLY INTO EFFECT TO E SURE THAT THIS ORIGINAL PURPOSE IS MAINTAINED,+ HE SAID.
THE EILL MAKES PROVISION FOR THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL TO MAKE REGULATIONS HEREBY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT MAY ISSUE, REFUSE TO ISSUE, OR CANCEL HIRE CAR PERMITS, AND TO SET L ITS ON THE NUMBER OF PERMITS TO EE ISSUED FOR ANY TYPE OF HIRE C~R SERVICE.
+UNDER THE NEW DRAFT REGULATIONS IT IS INTENDED THAT DIFFERENT PERMITS a ILL BE ISSUED FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF SERVICE, MELY
HOTEL HIRE CAP 1, TOUR HIRE CARS, IRPORT HIRE CARS, L HIRE
CARS AND :R|.-T£ HIRE CARS,* MR JONES SAID.
+TUE MAJO? ITY a ILL BE IN THE TWO LATTER CATEGORIES xHICH HAVE HITHERTO BEEN LARGELY SERVED BY PAK PAI CJERATORS.+
/TH3 PROPOSED
WEDNESDAY, E3B3UA3Y 11, 1?81
- 23 -
THE PROPOSED NEW CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH CONTRACT HIRE CARS WILL OPERATE * ILL DETER THEM FROM PLYING FOR HIRE AS ILLEGAL TAXIS, BY PROVIDING THAT THEY SHOULD ONLY OPERATE FROM A DESIGNATED ADDRESS AND ACCEPT HIRINGS ONLY ON PRIOR BOOKING.
THE BILL * ILL ALSO GIVE THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT DISCRETION TO GIVE PRIORITY TO ANY APPLICANT, TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PERMITS AHICr «AY BE ISSUED TO ANY ONE APPLICANT AND TO DETERMINE APPLICATIONS BY LOTS.
+THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO LI!- IT THE NUMBER OF PERMITS TO BE ISSUED SC AS "0 PREVENT LARGE FLEETS OF NEW CONTRACT HIRE CARS APPEARING ON THE ROADS,+ MR JONES SIU.
ENSURE T-E PROPER ADMINISTRATION OF THE SCHEME AND TO REGULATE THE POWERS OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, THE BILL ARES -''OVISIOI- FOR THE SETTING UP OF TRANSPORT TRIBUNALS TO
REVIEW DECISIONS CF THE COMMISSIONER.
THE PROVISIONS C" THE BILL, IF ENACTED, AND ITS T*IN APPROACH OF LEGAL CONTRAS’ -IRE CAR PERMITS AND SANCTIONS AGAINST ILLEGAL OPERATIONS WOULD ALSO SERVE TO FILL A GA? IN VEHICLE INSURANCE COVERAGE, HE SAID.
FIRE HAZARD FINES MAY INCREASE
*****
AMENDING LEGISLATION WILL SOON EE SUBMITTED TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL PROPOSING SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN FINES FOR FIRE HAZARDS IN BUILDINGS, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, TmE HON LEWIS DAVIES SAID THIS AFTERNOON.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ANDREW SO ON THE RECENT NORTH POINT aIG FACTORY FIRE, MR DAVIES SAID IT WAS UNFORTUNATELY IMPOSSIBLE TO ENSURE THAT SIMILAR INCIDENTS DO NOT OCCUR, GIVEN THE FALLIBILITY CF HUMAN NATURE, BUT STRENUOUS EFFORTS WERE BEING MADE TO MINIMISE THE RISK.
THESE EFFORTS INCLUDE:
* SCRUTINY OF ALL BUILDING PLANS BY THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT PRIOR TO THEIR APPROVAL, TO ENSURE THAT PROPER FIRE SERVICES INSTALLATIONS AND EQUIPMENT ARE INCORPORATED"
* REGULAR INSPECTION'S BY T.-.Z FIRE SERVICES A’.D LA.-OUR DEPARTMENTS C" ALL FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS ' .3 OFFERING OF ADVICE TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE I TH FIRE REGULATIONS" AND
* MAJOR CAMPAIGNS MOUNTED REGULARLY BY THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES WHICH CD’'PRI5E THE PUBLICATION OF LEAFLETS AND POSTERS AND pMcDUCTIGN CF TV CCMMERICALS.
WEDNESDAY, ?EB±UJABY 11, 1?81
- 24 -
AS TO THE FIRE IN THE WIG FACTORY ON JANUARY 20, MR DAVIES SAID IT WAS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION SO NO STATEMENT AS TO ITS CAUSE COULD BE MADE AT THIS STAGE. THE INVESTIGATION IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY EARLY NEXT WEEK.
-----o------
GOVERNMENT INTERVENES ON OIL SHORTAGE
* * * *
THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY wHEN THERE ARE PROSPECTS OF INTERNATIONAL ENERGY SHORTAGES, IS TO INTERVENE TO ENSURE THAT STEPS CAN REASONABLY BE TAKEN TO GUARD HONG KONG AGAINST SUCH SHORTAGES.
+THEN WHEN THERE ARE SHORTAGES, THE GOVERNMENT INTERVENES TO ENSURE THAT THE SUPPLIES WE DO HAVE ARE USED IN SUCH A wAY THAT THE ECONOMY AND BASIC EVERYDAY LIVING ARE AFFECTED AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE,* SAID THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON PETER C. WONG AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, MR JEAFFRESON SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICIES ON ENERGY WERE EASED ON DOMESTIC RATHER THAN INTERNATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS, AS HONG KONG WAS NOT A SUPPLIER OF SOURCES OF ENERGY AND WAS NOT A SIGNIFICANT CONSUMER BY WORLD STANDARDS.
THE POLICIES ARE ALSO INFLUENCED BY THE FACT THAT ALL SOURCES OF ENERGY IN HONG KONG WERE IN THE HANDS OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR, HE ADDED.
+IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY APPLICABLE WHEN THERE ARE NO INTERNATIONAL PROBLEMS OVER SUPPLIES, IS TO KEEP A wATCH ON THE COMPANIES CONCERNED TO SEE THAT IMPORTERS OF SOURCES OF ENERGY ARE SATISFYING HONG KONG’S NEEDS,* HE SAID.
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F.S. AWARE OF TAX COMMENT * * *
THE
TOLD THE
HON THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT HE WAS AWARE OF PUBLIC OMMENT RELATING TO PERSONAL ALLOWANCES FOR SALARIES TAX.
,|n !'RMn!!!T^IN REPLY T0 A QUESTION BY THE HON OSWALD CHEUNG tSfD|ccii-0N T0RED THE MtD,A» LETTERS AND PERSONAL COMMENTS ON Irz lobUz.
+NOT THAT PUBLIC ZE OR MAY NOT EE, CAN PUBLIC INTEREST MUST
CONCERN, NO MATTER HOW WIDESPREAD IT MAY ONLY BE DETERMINANT OF PUBLIC POLICY= THE
EE CONSIDERED AS WELL,* SAID SIR PHILIP.
- - 0---------
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1931
SAGA OF OLD WOMAN AIRED IN LEGCO ’ * * * *
AFTER AN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO TRACE THE FAMILY OF AN OLD aOMAN wHO WAS FOUND WANDERING IN APLIU STREET ON JANUARY 23, THE POLICE REFERRED THE WOMAN TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S DISTRICT OFFICE IN SHAM SHU I PO FOR ASSISTANCE ON THE SAME DAY.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, THE HON SELWYN ALLEYNE, IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS BY DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
EXPLAINING WHY THE WOMAN WAS REFUSED ADMISSION BY THE ABERDEEN REHABILITATION CENTRE, MR ALLEYNE SAID IT WAS BECAUSE SHE WAS UNABLE TO PRODUCE PROOF OF IDENTITY, WHICH WAS REQUIRED EY ALL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS RENDERING PERSONAL SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS.
+WHEN IT APPEARED THAT SHE WAS A HONG KONG RESIDENT, SHE WAS ACCEPTED FOR TEMPORARY CARE AND WAS ADMITTED TO THE CENTRE IN THE EVENING OF JANUARY 24,+ HE ADDED.
FIVE BILLS PASSED * *
THE OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON (AMENDMENT) BILL 1981 WAS PASSED TODAY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
OTHER BILLS WHICH WERE PASSED AFTER THE THIRD READING WERE THE URBAN COUNCIL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1981, THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) EILL 1981, THE SUMMARY OFFENCES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1981, AND THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY (LAND RESUMPTION AND RELATED PROVISIONS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1981.
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FIRE VICTIMS MAY CLAIM ’FAT CHOY’ RELIEF ON FRIDAY * * * *
GENUINE VICTIMS OF THE PING YEUNG NEW VILLAGE FIRE ON MONDAY NIGHT wILL EE AELE TO APPROACH THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICE, WONG TAI SIN FOR FAT CHOY HUND RELIEF ON FRIDAY.
THE GENUINE FIRE VICTIMS WILL EE CONFIRMED AFTER STAFF CF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT CARRY OUT SITE INSPECTIONS TOMORROW (THURSDAY).
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICE SAID THAT UP TO MID-DAY TODAY (WEDNESDAY) SOME 2 667 PEOPLE FROM 839 FAM 1-IES HAD REGISTERED AS FIRE VICTIMS WITH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
1
WEDN3SDAY, FBBHDAHY 11, 1981
- 26 -
ANu HE SAID THE OFFICE HAD OPENED ALL ITS EMERGENCY CENTRES FOR THOSE WHO WERE UNABLE TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THEIR OwN ACCOMMODATION. HOWEVER, AS THIS HAD NOT BEEN SUFF ICENT^ADD ITIONAL CENTRES HAVE BEEN OPENED UP BY KAIFONG ASSOCIATIONS, SCHOOLS AND FOUR WELFARE CENTRES IN KWUN TONG DISTRICT.
THE VICTIMS ARE BEING TEMPORARILY SHELTERED IN THE WONG TAI SIN COMMUNITY CENTRE, THE T3Z wAN SHAN (SOUTH) COMMUNITY CENTRE, THE TSZ WAN SHAN (EAST) COMMUNITY CENTRE, THE EAST KAI TAK GAVES HALL, THE TAI HOM VILLAGE KAIFONG ASSOCIATION, LAM TIN EAST WELFARE CENTRE, LAM TIN wEST WELFARE CENTRE, NGAU TAU KOK WELFARE CENTRE AND SAU MAU PING WELFARE CENTRE.
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THE DISTRICT OFFICE HAD RECEIVED MANY OFFERS OF HELP PROM VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS AND CHARITIES AND WHERE ASSISTANCE COULD EE GIVEN BY SUCH ORGANISATIONS, THE OFFICE WOULD MAKE THE NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS.
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NATIONALITY BILL MPS SEEK LOCAL VIEWS * * *
TWO BRITISH MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT WILL BE VISITING HONG KONG ON FEBRUARY 12 TO 16.
THEY ARE MR RAYMOND WHITNEY, OBE, (CONSERVATIVE) AND MR EDWARD LYONS, QC, (LABOUR).
ALTHOUGH THE VISIT HAS BEEN ARRANGED AS PART OF A CONTINUING SERIES Or FAMILIARISATION VISITS TO HONG KONG BY BRITISH MPS, MESSRS WHITNEY AND LYONS HAVE A PARTICULAR INTEREST IN THE BRITISH NATIONALITY BILL WHICH PASSED ITS SECOND READING IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ON JANUARY 27.
THE BILL IS NO* BEING CONSIDERED IN DETAIL BY A STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. BOTH MESSRS WHITNEY AND LYONS ARE MEMBERS OF THAT COMMITTEE.
THE TWO MPS WILL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY OF THEIR VISIT TO CALL ON THE GOVERNOR AND HOLD DISCUSSIONS WITH UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS CF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, IN ORDER TO HEAR HONG KONG’S VIEWS AND REPRESENTATIONS ON THE BILL.
THE MPS WILL ALSO EE BRIEFED ON DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG’S TRADE AND INDUSTRY AND WILL VISIT VARIOUS PARTS OF HONG KONG.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MESSRS wHITNEY AND LYONS HAVE A VERY FULL PROGRAMME BUT IT IS HOPED TO ARRANGE A PRESS CONFERENCE TOWARDS THE END F THEIR VISIT. DETAILS WILL BE NOTIFIED LATER.
------0--------- /27 .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1981
27
INDUSTRIAL SAFETY A JOINT EFFORT W n r *
IF EMPLOYERS INDUSTR IAL SAFETY MANAGEMENT, THERE
ARE PREPARED TO PAY THE SAME ATTENTION TO AS THEY ARE PAYING TO PRODUCTION AND SALES OCCUPATIONAL ACCIDEn¥s? ?R°BAEI-Y ‘ SU6STA,<TREDUCTION IN
THIS aAS STATED BY THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR .*-^yiD LIN, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) ..HEN HE ADDRESSED A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE LIONS CLUE OF VICTORIA.
deci c^Etua$T.IoAT H0^G K0NG EXP0RTS KEEP INCREASING INDIRECTLY ™AT ITS QUAL,TY CONTROL IS OF VERY HIGH STANDARD. IT
IS FAIR TO SAY, THEREFORE, THAT MANAGEMENT IF WILLING, OUGHT TO BE aELE TO ADOPT A BETTER APPROACH TO SAFETY,* HE ADDED.
..._ ULC2NSIDERED THE NUMEER CF ACCIDENTS STILL VERY HIGH AND oTRESSED THAT EVERY EFFORT MUST EE MADE TO REDUCE THEM.
eNACTF2EC^iA^RZeGr!L:?ISiED1^^*IEHET^V"^TO?,^^?GRESS'7E^
HOWEVER, THE REDUCTION OF INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS DID NOT MERELY DEPEND ON SAFETY LEGISLATION OR ITS STRICT ENFORCEMENT. THE ATTENTION AND INTEREST OF BOTH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES HAD TO BE AROUSED AND THEIR PRESENT ATTITUDES TOWARDS SAFETY IN THEIR WORKING ENVIRONMENT DRASTICALLY CHANGED.
+IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE A GOOD SAFETY RECORD, EVERY ONE FROM THE SENIOR MANAGEMENT DOWN TO MINOR STAFF MUST BE MADE FULLY AWARE OF THE NEED FOR INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND THE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCE IF SAFETY PRACTICES ARE NOT STRICTLY ADHERED TO,+ HE NOTED.
MR LIN SAID ALREADY MANY ENLIGHTENED EMPLOYERS WERE FOCUSING THEIR ATTENTION ON THE IMPORTANCE CF HAVING A SAFE WORKING ENVIRONMEKT.
HE BELIEVED THAT .. ITH REGULAR INSPECTION EY THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE TO GIVE ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE AND WITH EFFORTS EY MANAGEMENT AND .O-KERS, THE NU-'EER CF ACCIDENTS IN THE COMING YEAR COULD EE REDUCED.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1981/
- 28 - \
TRADE WITH IRAN
* * *
A SPOKESMAN OF THE TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY < *EDNESDATHAT THE IMPORT A D EXPORT (GENERAL) (AKEN NT) REGULATIONS 1981 HAVE NO* BEEN ENACTED, DELETING THE Rt'_ ENCE TO IRAN IN THE IMPORT AND EXPORT (GENERAL) REGULATIONS.
PRIOR TO 'NACTMEN7 OF THE AMENDMENT REGULATIONS, ALL
EXPORTS TO IRAN *E.-E SUBJECT TC LICENSING CONTROL IRRESPECTIVE
•OF THE PRODUCTS.
Th: INTRODUCTION OF THE AMENDMENT REGULATIONS MEANS THAT THE EXPORT LICENSING REQUIREME T3 REGARDING TRADE WITH IRAN ARE NO* ThE SAME AS THOSE APPLIC — E T. OTHER COUNTRIES, I.E. EXPORT LICENCES ARE REQUIRED ONLY IF 7-.E GOODS ARE CAUGHT BY ONE OF THE SPECIFIC F.E ICTIO S OR PROHIBITION'S ON TRADE, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
ST ATTENDS HEUNG YEE KUK RECEPTION • • * •
THE 0ECRE7 Y FOR THE L'EA. TERRITORIES, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, TODAY ( ED E' -.Y) PAID TRIBUTE TO THE EFFORTS OF HEUNG YEE KUK MEMBERS DUR I T.-E PAST YEAR AND WISHED THEM EVERY SUCCESS IN THE YEAR OF T E COCKEREL.
MR AKERS-JONES WAS SPEAKING AT A SPRING FESTIVAL TEA RECEPTION AND LUNCH HOSTED BY THE KUK.
HE SAID THAT LAST YEAR SAW CLOSE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE KUK AND THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION.
REMARKABLE PROGRESS WAS MADE ON THE SMALL VILLAGE HOUSE POLICY IN WHICH THE UTA AND THE KUK REACHED AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE AND PROPOSALS HAD BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR APPROVAL.
+THE PROPOSALS WILL EE IMPLEMENTED ONCE THEY ARE APPROVED,+ NR AKERS-JONES SAID.
HE SAID TOWN FLANNERS HAD AGREED TO DRA* UP ELUE PRINTS FOR 50 VILLAGES UD IT *AS HOPED THAT THE ENVIRONMENT IN THESE VILLAGES aOULD BE IMPROVED.
+ON THE OTHER HAND, CONSULTANTS ARE NCw STUDYING THE FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING THE NORTH aESTERN NEW TERRITORIES,* MR AKERS-JONES SAID, AND +A STUDY ON TfiE NORTH EASiERN UE* TERRITORIES WILL ALSO BEGIN SHORTLY.*
AS FAR AS r' 'VATE DEVELODME ~ PROJECTS ERE CO .CEP ,E0, GOVERNMENT WpULD GIVE THEM CONSIDERATION OK AN INDIVIDUAL NASIS, HE SAID.
29
ODNESDaY, PjSEBDABY 11, 19E1
"K THE APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS BY GOVERNMENT, MORE IMPORTANCE was BEING GIVEN TO NEW TERRITORIES PEOPLE. MORE EXPERIENCED AND KNOWLEDGEABLE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE NT *OULD BE APPOINTED IN FUTURE.
+l LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUED CO-OPERATION AND MARKED PROGRESS IN THE COMING YEAR,+ MR AKERS-JCNES CONCLUDED.
AF.OUT 133 GUESTS ATTENDED THE RECEPTION, INCLUDING DEPUTY SECRETARY "OR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR AUGUSTINE CHUI KAM, AND THE SxNICR STAFF OFFICER/DEVELOPMENT, DR RICHARD BUTLER.
LATER THIS EVENING, MR AKERS-JONES WILL HOST A YAN YAT PARTY FOR 153 GUESTS.
ALL EIGHT DISTRICTS C" THE NE TERRITORIES WILL HOLD THEIR RECEPTIONS OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS wITH DISTRICT OFFICERS AS HOSTS.
ATTENDING THIS EVENING wILL BE MEMBERS OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK, CFrICIALS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES GeNEkAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, CHAIRMEN AND VICE-CHAIRMEN CF i.-,E PC.K 01, YAN CHAI AND TUNG aAH GROUP OF ,-iOS°ITALS AND THE PO LEU'.'O KUK, YAM 01 TONG DIRECTORS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF OTHER NE. 1EP.RITORIES ORGANISATIONS.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1981
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
PROSPECTS FOR TRADE RECOVERY................................... -j
KOWLOON SITE SOLD FOR 8395 MILLION ............................. 2
JOINT CONSULTATION HELPS MANAGEMENT ............................ 3
ORIGIN CERTIFICATION - NEW ARRANGEMENTS ........................ 4
AIRPORT TEST WITH 190 000 TRAVELLERS ........................... 4
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF KAU WAH KENG ROAD ......................... 5
TUJN MUN TO HOLD DISTRICT RACE.................................. 5
TAI PO NEW YEAR PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION ....................... 6
SPRING MUSIC 10 R SAI KUNG ..................................... 6
NEW YEAR CONCERT AT TAI 0
7
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1981
1
PROSPECTS FOR TRADE RECOVERY
*****
THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE SAID HE WAS CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT PROSPECTS FOR SOME RECOVERY IN WORLD TRADE THIS YEAR +AND ABOUT HONG KONG’S ABILITY TO BENEFIT FROM IT,* - IF THE WORLD COULD BE SPARED FURTHER SHOCKS TO ITS ECONOMIC SYSTEM.
SIR MURRAY MADE THE COMMENTS AT THE OPENING OF THE HANG SENG SCHOOL OF COMMERCE IN SHA TIN TODAY (THURSDAY).
+HONG KONG IS JUSTLY NOTED FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY AND OUR ECONOMIC GROWTH RATE IS THE ENVY OF OTHER COUNTRIES,♦ HE SAID.
+ BUT ITS POSITION AS A BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL CENTRE CAN ONLY BE CONSOLIDATED AND ITS INDUSTRIAL GROWTH MAINTAINED, IF THOSE WHO ENTER OUR PLACES OF BUSINESS HAVE A SOUND THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL GROUNDING.*
SIR MURRAY DESCRIBED THE SCHOOL AS BEING +A TYPICAL HONG KONG PROJECT TO HANDLE A PUBLIC NEED* AND THE HANG SENG BANK AS A +TYPICAL HONG KONG INSTITUTION*.
THE GOVERNMENT GAVE THE SITE FOR THE SCHOOL, THE BUILDING WAS GIVEN PRINCIPALLY BY THE BANK AND ITS DIRECTORS AND IT WAS BUILT IN RECORD TIME.
THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF SIR MURRAY’S SPEECH:
I AM IMMENSELY PLEASED TO BE HERE FOR THE OPENING OF THIS IMPRESSIVE NEW SCHOOL BUILDING.
THE GOVERNMENT GAVE THE SITE- THE BUILDING WAS GIVEN PRINCIPALLY BY THE HANG SENG BANK AND ITS DIRECTORS: THE SCHOOL WAS BUILT IN RECORD TIME. IT HAS BEEN A TYPICAL HONG KONG PROJECT TO TACKLE A PUBLIC NEED, WITH, IN THE LEAD, A TYPICAL HONG KONG INSTITUTION - THE HANG SENG BANK.
THERE IS NOTHING NEW ABOUT THE HANG SENG BANK’S INTEREST IN EDUCATION AND TRAINING. ITS COURSES OF ELEMENTARY BANKING HAVE ALREADY BENEFITTED NEARLY 70 000 YOUNG PEOPLE. FROM THESE BEGINNINGS THE IDEA OF THIS SCHOOL WAS CONCEIVED MORE THAN TEN YEARS AGO BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BANK, DR S.H. HO. HE ENVISAGED A NON-PROFIT-MAKING INSTITUTION OFFERING FULL-TIME COMMERCIAL TRAINING AT POST-FORM V LEVEL.
NOW, THIS FINE BUILDING IS COMPLETED AND THE WORK OF TEACHING HAS STARTED, AND IN 1982 THE FIRST GRADUATES FROM THE HANG SENG SCHOOL OF COMMERCE WILL TAKE THEIR PLACE IN HONG KONG’S BUSINESS WORLD. THE COMBINATION OF ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE, WHICH IS THE KEY-NOTE OF THIS SCHOOL, WILL SURELY GIVE ITS STUDENTS A FLYING START.
HONG KONG IS JUSTLY NOTED FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL ACTIVITY, AND OUR ECONOMIC GROWTH RATE IS THE ENVY OF OTHER COUNTRIES. BUT ITS POSITION AS A BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL CENTRE CAN ONLY BE CONSOLIDATED AND ITS INDUSTRIAL GROWTH MAINTAINED, IF THOSE WHO ENTER OUR PLACES OF BUSINESS HAVE A SOUND THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL GROUNDING.
/IT IS ....
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1981
- 2 -
IT IS THE INTENTION OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE SCHOOL TO PROVIDE THIS- AND IN THEIR WISE PERCEPTION OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST THEY HAVE NOT ONLY BUILT AND EQUIPPED THE SCHOOL BUT ALSO, THROUGH THE TRUST FUND, HAVE PROVIDED FOR ITS RECURRENT COSTS. I HEAR THAT OVER 30 CANDIDATES APPLIED FOR EACH PLACE AVAILABLE. WHAT BETTER PROOF COULD THERE BE OF THE SOUNDNESS OF THE FOUNDERS’ JUDGEMENT OF WHAT IS NEEDED?
THIS OPENING CEREMONY IS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW YEAR. IF THE WORLD CAN BE SPARED FURTHER SHOCKS TO ITS ECONOMIC SYSTEM I AM CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT PROSPECTS FOR SOME RECOVERY IN WORLD TRADE THIS YEAR AND ABOUT HONG KONG’S ABILITY TO BENEFIT FROM IT. WHEN THE FIRST STUDENTS GRADUATE AND ENTER BUSINESS IN 1982 THEY WILL NO DOUBT FIND THAT THEY DO SO ON HONG KONG’S USUAL RISING TIDE OF PROSPERITY. TO THEM, TO THE SCHOOL, ITS FOUNDERS AND ITS TEACHERS, I OFFER MY BEST WISHES FOR SUCCESS.
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KOWLOON SITE SOLD FOR 8395 MILLION
* * *
A 3 149 SQUARE METRE SITE IN TSIM SHA TSUI EAST WAS SOLD AT AN AUCTION TODAY (THURSDAY) FOR 3395 MILLION OR 8125 436.65 PER SQUARE METRE.
THE SITE WAS BOUGHT BY BRISBANE TRADING CO LTD, BAUGHEN INVESTMENTS LTD AND VARITRADE CO LTD.
IT IS FOR A MULTI-STOREY CAR PARK AND OTHER NON-1NDUSTRI AL USE, EXCLUDING RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES.
ANOTHER SITE OF 2 312 SQUARE METRES WAS SOLD TO GLORY COURT LTD FOR 851 MILLION OR 822 058.82 PER SQUARE METRE.
IT IS SITUATED NEAR SUN YIP STREET, CHAI WAN AND IS FOR GODOWN PURPOSES.
THE AUCTION WAS CONDUCTED BY THE CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY CFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
0 - -
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1981
5
JOINT CONSULTATION HELPS MANAGEMENT
*****
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAS SET UP A PROMOTION UNIT IN ITS LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE TO ADVISE AND ASSIST ORGANISATIONS AND BUSINESSES TO SET UP MORE JOINT CONSULTATION MACHINERY.
THE SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE UNIT IS AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE TO BOTH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES, A LABOUR OFFICER OF THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE, MR MAK SAI-YIU, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) WHILE ADDRESSING A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT CLUB OF THE HONG KONG MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION.
HE SAID THE UNIT KEEPS ITS METHODS OF PROMOTING EMPLOYEE RELATIONS FLEXIBLE AND TAILORS ITS APPROACH TO SUIT THE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE COMPANIES.
JOINT CONSULTATION, MR MAK EXPLAINED, IS A PROCESS OF DISCUSSION BETWEEN MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES ON MATTERS OF MUTUAL CONCERN, PROVIDING A RECOGNISED TWO-WAY FLOW OF INFORMATION AND IDEAS FOR THE EFFICIENT OPERATION OF THE ORGANISATION.
HE POINTED OUT THAT JOINT CONSULTATION SERVE SEVERAL FUNCTIONS.
FIRST, IT PROVIDES A MANAGEMENT WITH AN ADDITIONAL SOURCE OF USEFUL INFORMATION AND SAFETY-VALVE WHERE COMMUNICATION IS ABOUT TO BREAK DOWN.
SECONDLY, IT PROVIDES A MEANS FOR MANAGEMENT TO TRANSMIT TO EMPLOYEES INFORMATION AND EXPLANATION WHICH WILL HELP THE LATTER TO FORM A MORE BALANCED ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE JOB OR THEIR MANAGEMENT.
MR MAK SAID JOINT CONSULTATION IS ALSO ONE MEANS BY WHICH EMPLOYERS COULD OBTAIN A CLEARER PICTURE OF THE ASPIRATIONS, OPINIONS AND ATTITUDES OF THE STAFF.
HE SAID ALL COMPANIES NEED INFORMATION FOR ITS DECISIONS, SUCH AS OPINIONS AND ATTITUDES OF THE WORK FORCE.
MR MAK SAID IN MATTERS AFFECTING THEIR WELL-BEING, EMPLOYEES HAVE A LEGITIMATE RIGHT TO AN OPINION. COMING FROM THE SHOPFLOOR, THE STAFF HAVE INFORMATION WHICH IS NOT READILY AVAILABLE TO TOP MANAGEMENT.
HE WARNED THAT MANAGEMENT THAT DID NOT USE THIS SOURCE OF INFORMATION DID SO AT ITS OWN PERIL.
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A...
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1961
- 4 -
ORIGIN CERTIFICATION -- NEW ARRANGEMENTS * * * *
THE TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT NEW OUTWARD PROCESSING ARRANGEMENTS FOR ORIGIN CERTIFICATION AND ORIGIN LABELLING PURPOSES WILL EE IMPLEMENTED ON FEBRUARY 23, 1981.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED THAT THERE ARE TWO ARRANGEMENTS UNDER THIS SCHEME. ARRANGEMENT (A) IS TO FACILITATE THE ISSUE OF CERTIFICATES OF HONG KONG ORIGIN FOR PRODUCTS WHICH HAVE HAD MINOR PROCESSING OUTSIDE HONG KONG, BUT ON WHICH THE MAIN, OR ORIGIN-CONFERRING PROCESS HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT IN HONG KONG. THIS ARRANGEMENT IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO MANUFACTURERS REGISTERED wITH THE DEPARTMENT FOR THE ISSUE OF CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN.
ARRANGEMENT (B) IS TO FACILITATE THE RE-1MPORTATI ON OF GOODS WHICH HAVE HAD MINOR PROCESSING OUT OF HONG KONG AND ARE RE-IMPORTED WITH LABELS INDICATING HONG KONG ORIGIN. THIS IS AN OPTIONAL SCHEME FOR MANUFACTURERS WHO DO NOT WISH TO APPLY FOR A CERTIFICATE OF HONG KONG ORIGIN AND IS AVAILABLE TO ANY LOCAL COMPANY. AT PRESENT, SUCH GOODS WOULD BE LIABLE TO DETENTION ON IMPORTATION BY THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE FOR INVESTIGATION OF A POSSIBLE TRADE DESCRIPTION OFFENCE.
THESE ARRANGEMENTS WILL COMMENCE ON FEBRUARY 23, 1981. HOWEVER, THOSE CONCERNED MAY WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT APPLY TO REGISTER THEIR GOODS AND MANUFACTURING PROCESSES WITH THE OUTWARD PROCESSING SECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT ON FIRST FLOOR, OCEAN CENTRE, CANTON ROAD, KOWLOON.
DETAILS OF THE OUTWARD PROCESSING ARRANGEMENTS ARE PUBLISHED IN CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN CIRCULAR NO. 2/81 DATED FEBRUARY 12, 1981. COPIES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE RECEPTIONIST COUNTER OF THE TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT, GROUND FLOOR, OCEAN CENTRE.
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AIRPORT TEST WITH 190 000 TRAVELLERS
M * * *
CROWD CONTROL AT THE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WAS PUT TO THE TEST DURING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR PERIOD WHEN MORE THAN 190 000 PEOPLE MOVED THROUGH ITS DEPARTURE AND ENTRY GATES.
AND A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT TODAY (THURSDAY) DESCRIBED THE OPERATION AS BEING +SMOOTH AND EFFICIENT*.
HE ATTRIBUTED THE SUCCESS TO THE CO-OPERATION OF TRAVELLERS BY CHECKING-IN EARLY AND KEEPING FRIENDS DOWN TO A MINIMUM, AND TO THE INTRODUCTION OF TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENTS IN THE AIRPORT WHICH INCLUDED THE PROVISION OF SPECIAL CHECK-IN FACILITIES FOR CH I NA-BOUND TRAVELLERS.
DURING THE NEW YEAR +TRAVELLING PERIOD* (FEBRUARY 1 TO 9) SOME 120 000 LEFT HONG KONG BY AIR AND 70 000 ARRIVED VIA THE AIRPORT.
THE HOLIDAY RUSH STARTED ON FEBRUARY 3 WHEN 15 000 PEOPLE FLEW OUT WITH ANOTHER 17 000 ON NEW YEAR’S EVE AND ABOUT 18 000 ON NEW YEAR’S DAY.
/HEAVY DEMAND ..
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1981
5
HEAVY DEMAND ON FACILITIES IN THE ARRIVAL HALL STARTED ON FEBRUARY 7 WHEN SOME 10 000 PASSENGERS CHECKED THROUGH THE COUNTERS. ON THE FOLLOWING DAY THERE WERE ANOTHER 13 500 ARRIVALS AND ON FEBRUARY 9 THERE WERE 12 500 AIR PASSENGERS RETURNING TO HONG KONG.
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF KAU WAH KENG ROAD ' * * * * *
PART OF KAU WAH KENG ROAD IN THE NEW TERRITORIES FROM THE ACCtSS ROAD LEADING TO THE 0 PUI SHAN BOYS’ HOME TO THE ACCESS ROAD Leading to tai po road (pi°er’s hill) will be closed to traffic for THREE MONTHS FROM P AM ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 16) TO FACILITATE WATER MAIN LAYING WORKS.
DURING THE CLOSURE, TRAFFIC WILL BE DIVERTED VIA THE ACCESS ROAD LEADING TO 0 PUI SHAN BOYS’ HOME.
TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE PUT UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
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TUEN MUN TO HOLD DISTRICT RACE * * * *
ABOUT 400 PEOPLE WILL COMPETE IN A DISTRICT RACE IN
TUEN MUN ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 15).
THE RACE IS CONNECTED wITH A LOCAL COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT WEEK WHICH RUNS FROM FEBRUARY 22 TO MARCH 1.
IT WILL BE DIVIDED INTO SECTIONS FOR MEN AGED 17 OR OVER, FOR BOYS AGED 12 TO 16 AND FOR WOMEN AGED OVER 12.
, THERE WILL BE TWO FOR THOSE AGED OVER 43.
TO ENCOURAGE MEN OVER 35 TO TAKE PART SECTIONS FOR THOSE AGED FROM 35 TO 39 AND
THE RACE IS OPEN TO ALL TUEN MUN DISTRICT RESIDENTS. LOCAL COMMUNITIES, SCHOOLS, FACTORIES, AND ASSOCIATIONS ARE BEING ENCOURAGED TO ORGANISE TEAMS TO TAKE PART.
AMONG THOSE ENTERING IS TUEN MUN DIVISIONAL POLICE SUPERINTENDENT, MR S.J. MCDERMOTT.
THE 5.64-KILOMETRE RACE WILL START AND FINISH AT TUEN MUN TEMPORARY SOCCER PITCH. IT w ILL BE STARTED AT 10 AM BY HEUNG YEE KUK CHAIRMAN, MR LAU WONG-FAT.
THE FIRST THREE RUNNERS TO FINISH IN EACH SECTION AND THE FIRST THREE TEAMS WILL EACH RECEIVE A TROPHY. ALL ENTRANTS COMPLETING THE WHOLE COURSE wILL RECEIVE A ’T’ SHIRT.'
THE TUEN MUN COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT WEEK PROGRAMME INCLUDES A FUN FAIR, AN EXHIBITION, A CHILDREN’S GAMES DAY AND A CULTURAL EVENING.
IT IS BEING ORGANISED BY TUEN MUN DISTRICT COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT WEEK ORGANISING COMMITTEE, WITH DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD SPONSORSHIP.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1981
6
TAI PO NEW YEAR PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION ******
ENTRIES ARE NOW OPEN FOR A PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION DESIGNED TO PROMOTE NEW YEAR FESTIVITY IN TA I PO.
ANYONE LIVING, WORKING OR STUDYING IN THE DISTRICT CAN ENTER.
PHOTOGRAPHS CAN SHOW EITHER NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS OR PROGRESS IN THE NEW TOWN.
THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS ON SIZES OF ENTRIES WHICH CAN BE IN COLOUR OR BLACK-AND-WHITE.
CAMERAS AND FILMS WILL BE AWARDED AS PRIZES TO THE FIRST EIGHT WINNERS, WHOSE PHOTOGRAPHS WILL BE USED IN FUTURE PUBLICATIONS AND EXHIBITIONS.
ENTRIES MUST BE SENT TO TAI PO DISTRICT OFFICE, TING KOK ROAD, BEFORE FEBRUARY 27.
RESULTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON MARCH 4. PRIZE-WINNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY LETTER.
THE COMPETITION IS PART OF 17 DAYS OF NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS IN TAI PO WHICH BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 3.
ACTIVITIES IN THE COMING WEEK INCLUDE A GAMES DAY AT YU KOK TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA ON SATURDAY- PICNICS TO BRIDE’S POOL AND VICTORIA PEAK ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY- A FUNFAIR AT PLOVER ROAD PLAYGROUND ON SUNDAY- AND A LANTERN EXHIBITION AND VARIETY SHOW AT THE DISTRICT OFFICE CARPARK ON THURSDAY.
TAI PO DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD HAS PROVIDED $100 000 FOR THE CELEBRATIONS.
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SPRING MUSIC FOR SAI KUNG * * * *
THE MUSIC OFFICE AND THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT OFFICE WILL PRESENT A ’SPRING MUSIC FOR THE MILLIONS’ CONCERT ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 14) AT 3 PM IN THE HALL OF THE NEWLY OPENED CHENG CHIK CHEE SECONDARY SCHOOL AT CHUK KOK, SAI KUNG.
THE CONCERT
OF LOVE TUNES AND LIGHT CLASSICS TO HOLD YOUR HAND’, ’YESTERDAY’,
BEING HELD ON VALENTINE DAY, WILL HAVE REPERTOIRE
RICHARD ROGERS’ ’THE SOUND OF MUSIC’ MANCINI’S ’PINK PANTHER’, AND BLISS’
INCLUDING BEATLES’ ’I WANT ELVIS PRESLEY’S GOLDEN HITS
JOHNSON’S ’I WRITE THE SONG’ ’JUBILANT FANFARE’.
THE MUSIC OFFICE SYMPHONIC BAND WILL BE PERFORMING UNDER THE BATON OF MR JOHN CHENG.
THE CHOIR AND DANCE TEAM OF THE HONG KONG GIRL GUIDES ASSOCIATION WILL ALSO BE INVITED TO PERFORM IN THE CONCERT TO ADD GLAMOUR TO THIS HAPPY OCCASION. ____
/THE CONCERT....
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1981
7
ruralTcommittees.WILL BE sponsored by the sai xung and HANG HAU
off .rCFR^nA™'SS'°”J,CKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT SAI KUNG DISTRICT OFFICE AND SUB-OFFICE, SAI KUNG AND HANG HAU RURAL COMMITTEE OFFICES.
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NEW YEAR CONCERT AT TAI 0
* * * K
THE MUSIC OFFICE AND THE Y.W.C.A. TAI 0 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT OFFICE WILL PRESENT A LUNAR NEW YEAR CONCERT ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 15) AT 2.30 PM AT THE TAI 0 BUDDHIST FAT HO MEMORIAL COLLEGE, LANTAU ISLAND.
IT WILL BE SPONSORED BY THE DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD (ISLANDS).
. THE CONCERT, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND EVER HELD AT TAI 0, WILL BE GIVgN BY THE CHINESE ORCHESTRA OF THE YOUTH MUSIC ASSOCIATION. SOPRANO MISS WONG WAI-WAN AND BARITONE MR CHOW WAN-JIN WILL GIVE SOLO PERFORMANCES. THERE WILL ALSO BE TRADITIONAL DANCES.
, FREE ADMISSION TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE Y.W.C.A. TAI 0 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT OFFICE (TAI 0), THE TAI 0 BUDDHIST ARTfeHCENTR°RIAL C0LLEGE» AND THE MUSIC 0FFICE» 9TH FLOOR, HONG KONG
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
Friday, February 13, 1981
COMT? PAGE NO.
lord Carrington's visit ............................... 1
ELEVATED ROAD FOR CENTRAL PROPOSED .................... 1
MP TOURS NErf TERRITORIES ............................. 3
FLOATING POPULATION DECLINES .......................... 4
SERVICE GROUPS ROLE IN DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION ........ 4
FIFTEE1J NT SITES FOR TENDER .......................... 5
TEMPORARY DIVERSION OF CKB ROUTE NO. 20
6
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1981
1
LORD CARRINGTON’S VISIT
* * * *
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS, LORD CARRINGTON, WILL VISIT HONG KONG TOWARDS THE END OF NEXT MONTH EN ROUTE TO CHINA AND WILL HOLD TALKS WITH THE GOVERNOR AND SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ON MATTERS OF MUTUAL INTEREST.
LORD CARRINGTON, WHO ARRIVES FROM ISLAMABAD ON MARCH 29, WILL ALSO MEET UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS AND THE URBAN COUNCIL.
HE IS SCHEDULED TO DEPART FOR CHINA ON APRIL 1.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT WHILE DETAILS OF LORD CARRINGTON’S PROGRAMME IN HONG KONG HAD NOT BEEN FINALISED, HE WAS EXPECTED TO BE BRIEFED ON THE PRESENT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION SITUATION AND TO VISIT THE NEW TERRITORIES.
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ELEVATED ROAD FOR CENTRAL PROPOSED M K K *
A GRADE SEPARATED INTERCHANGE ACROSS QUEENSWAY HAS BEEN INCORPORATED INTO THE REVISED DRAFT CENTRAL DISTRICT OUTLINE ZONING PLAN PUBLISHED BY THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD TODAY (FRIDAY).
ALSO INCLUDED IN THE PLAN IS A PROPOSED ELEVATED ROAD FROM WESTERN MARKET ALONG CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL AND PART OF HARCOURT ROAD AND ITS CONNECTION TO COTTON TREE DRIVE.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD SAID CENTRAL TRAFFIC WAS BECOMING MORE AND MORE CONGESTED.
♦IN ORDER TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC MOVEMENT AND TO MEET FUTURE TRAFFIC DEMAND IN THE AREA, IT IS PROPOSED TO INCORPORATE THE ELEVATED ROAD ABOVE CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL INTO THE PLAN,+ HE SAID.
THE PLANNING AREA, OF ABOUT 83 HECTARES, IS THE CENTRE OF GOVERNMENT, CONSULAR, BANKING, BUSINESS AND CIVIC ACTIVITIES IN HONG KONG.
BESIDES ROADS AND OTHER SPACES WHICH TAKE UP ABOUT 37.2 PER CENT OF THE AREA, THE PREDOMINANT LAND USES IN CENTRAL DISTRICT ARE +COMMERCIAL+ AND +GOVERNMENT, INSTITUTION AND COMMUNITY^ WHICH ACCOUNT FOR ABOUT 22.1 PER CENT AND 21.5 PER CENT OF THE AREA RESPECTIVELY.
THE PROPOSED LAND USE AREAS ARE«
M COMMERCIAL USE - 18.36 HECTARES
M RESIDENTIAL USE - 0.23 HECTARES
M GOVERNMENT, INSTITUTION AND COMMUNITY USE - 17.85 HECTARES
M OPEN SPACE - 8.39 HECTARES AND
M OTHER SPECIFIED USES - 7.27 HECTARES
/the spokesman ....
FHLDAY, FEBRUABY 13, 1981
2
THE SPOKESMAN SAID INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED 16 AMENDMENTS WEREi
* THE EXISTING RODNEY BLOCK FROM GOVERNMENT, INSTITUTION AND COMMUNITY USE TO OPEN SPACE,
* THE ADMIRALTY STATION AREA FROM COMMERCIAL/ RESIDENTIAL USES TO COMMERCIAL AND OPEN SPACE USE,
* PART OF THE COMMERCIAL SITE EAST OF MURRAY ROAD TO OPEN SPACE AND GOVERNMENT, INSTITUTION AND COMMUNITY USE,
* THE SITE NORTH OF MURRAY BUILDING FROM GOVERNMENT, INSTITUTION AND COMMUNITY PURPOSES TO OPEN SPACE AND COMMERCIAL USE,
* THE URBAN COUNCIL CHAMBER FROM OPEN SPACE TO GOVERNMENT, INSTITUTION AND COMMUNITY USE,
M THE MEMORIAL GARDEN FROM OPEN SPACE TO GOVERNMENT INSTITUTION, AND COMMUNITY USE AND
M THE MACAU FERRY WHARF FROM GOVERNMENT, INSTITUTION AND COMMUNITY USE TO COMMERCIAL USE.
OTHER AMENDMENTS INCLUDE THE EXTENSION OF THE PLANNING AREA TO COVER AREAS NORTH OF UPPER ALBERT AND KENNEDY ROADS AND THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE BOUNDARY OF THE COMMERCIAL SITES WEST OF CONNAUGHT CENTRE.
PROPOSALS WERE ALSO MADE TO REVISE THE SCHEDULE OF NOTES OF THE PLAN.
THE AMENDED PLAN MAY BE INSPECTED AT THE TOWN PLANNING OFFICE, 17TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD AND THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICE (CENTRAL AND WESTERN) ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING ENTRANCE.
THE DRAFT AMENDMENT PLAN IS ON SALE AT THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT’S CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE, 19TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, AT $8.50 FOR AN UNCOLOURED COPY AND $60 FOR A COLOURED COPY.
OBJECTIONS TO THE PLAN MAY BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING TO THE SECRETARY, TOWN PLANNING BOARD, C?0 PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD.
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1981
3
MP TOURS NEW TERRITORIES * * * *
A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, SIR ANTHONY ROYLE, IN HONG KONG FOR A FIVE-DAY PRIVATE VISIT, TODAY (FRIDAY) SAW THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THREE NEW TOWNS.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, AND SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SIR ANTHONY WENT TO TSUEN WAN FOR A BRIEFING BY THE TOWN MANAGER, DR JAMES HAYES, AND PROJECT MANAGER, MR EDDY SHORT.
MAJOR PROJECTS, INCLUDING THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY EXTENSION AND THE TSUEN WAN BY-PASS NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN THE INDUSTRIAL NEW TOWN, WERE EXPLAINED TO HIM.
THE PARTY DROVE TO TUEN MUN AND WERE MET BY THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR BILLY LAM- PROJECT MANAGER, MR STAN BARDEN- HEUNG YEE KUK CHAIRMAN, MR LAU WONG-FAT- AND FORMER KUK CHAIRMAN, MR CHAN YAT-SUN.
FROM A VANTAGE POINT, SIR ANTHONY WAS TOLD THAT THE POPULATION OF THE NEW TOWN WOULD DOUBLE IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS WITH THE COMPLETION OF A NUMBER OF LARGE PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES AND HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME FLATS.
HE SHOWED GREAT INTEREST IN VARIOUS GOVERNMENT PLANS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF A FAST GROWING POPULATION.
AFTER LUNCH AT FANLING LODGE, THE GROUP TRAVELLED TO SHA TIN FOR A BRIEFING BY THE DISTRICT OFFICER, DR PATRICK HASE, AND PROJECT MANAGER, MR KENNETH KWOK.
SIR ANTHONY, WHO IS VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY, ARRIVED IN HONG KONG ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 11). HE VISITED SHENZHEN SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE YESTERDAY (THURSDAY). HE WILL TOUR MACAU TOMORROW AND LEAVE ON SUNDAY.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
COPIES OF A PHOTOGRAPH SHOWING SIR ANTHONY BEING BRIEFED AT TUEN MUN WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION LATER FROM GIS PRESS BOXES.
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/4.........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1981
4
FLOATING POPULATION DECLINES
* * * *
PRELIMINARY FINDINGS OF THE 1981 MARINE CENSUS SHOW THERE HAS BEEN A CONTINUOUS DECREASE IN HONG KONG’S FLOATING POPULATION OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS.
THE LATEST HEADCOUNT SHOWS THAT THE SIZE OF THE FLOATING POPULATION IS ABOUT 50 000, AS COMPARED WITH 137 000 IN THE 1961 MARINE CENSUS, 80 000 IN 1971, AND 59 000 IN 1976.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THE HEADCOUNT, WHICH WAS PROVISIONAL, INCLUDED ALL DWELLERS ON FISHING VESSELS, BARGES, LIGHTERS, HOUSE BOATS AND STATIONARY BOATS. MORE THAN 10 000 VESSELS WERE ENUMERATED IN THE CENSUS.
♦FINAL RESULTS OF THE MARINE CENSUS, WHICH WILL INCLUDE DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE SOCIAL, DEMOGRAPHIC AND ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FLOATING POPULATION, WILL BE AVAILABLE TOWARDS THE END OF THIS YEAR ALONG WITH THE RESULTS OF THE LAND CENSUS,* HE SAID.
THE MARINE CENSUS, CONDUCTED BETWEEN FEBRUARY 1 AND 4. WAS THE FIRST PART OF A FULL-SCALE DECENNIAL CENSUS AIMED AT OBTAINING BENCHMARK INFORMATION ON THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF HONG KONG.
THE 1981 LAND CENSUS WILL BE CONDUCTED FROM MARCH 6 TO 15.
ENUMERATORS CARRYING A RED SATCHEL AND A GREEN CENSUS OFFICER IDENTITY CARD BEARING THE HOLDER’S NAME AND PHOTOGRAPH WILL VISIT ALL HOUSEHOLDS IN HONG KONG.
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SERVICE GROUPS ROLE IN DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION
* * * *
VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS HAVE TWO ROLES TO PLAY IN DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION -- PARTICIPATE IN ITS WORK AND TO ENCOURAGE THEIR MEMBERS TO BE ELECTED TO THE DISTRICT BOARDS.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE DIRECTOR OF HOME AFFAIRS, MR GRAHAM BARNES AT THE KWUN TONG ROTARY CLUB MEETING THIS (FRIDAY) EVENING.
♦WITH THE BEST WILL IN THE WORLD, NO BOARD OF A MANAGEABLE SIZE, EVEN IF ELECTED, CAN EVER HOPE TO BE ABLE TO PRODUCE SINGLE-HANDED ALL THE IDEAS AND SCHEMES FOR IMPROVEMENT WHICH EACH DISTRICT NEEDS,* MR BARNES SAID.
IT WAS HOPED THAT MEMBERS OF MAJOR DISTRICT ORGANISATIONS ON THE DISTRICT BOARDS WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR RELATIONSHIPS TO TIE THEIR OWN ORGANISATIONS MORE CLOSELY TO THE SYSTEM, HE SAID.
HE BELIEVED THAT MANY ASSOCIATIONS COULD PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE IN ENCOURAGING CANDIDATES TO COME FORWARD, IN HELPING THEM IN THEIR ELECTION CAMPAIGNS, IN ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO REGISTER FOR ELECTIONS AND FINALLY IN VOTING.
/MR BAHNES......
FRIDAY, FEBBUABY 13, 1?81
5
MR BARNES SAID THAT COMPLICATED AS THEY MIGHT SEEM AT FIRST GLANCE, THE GOVERNMENT’S PLANS FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION WERE A LOGICAL RESPONSE TO THE PROBLEMS IN THE DISTRICTS.
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FIFTEEN NT SITES FOR TENDER
* * * *
APPLICATIONS ARE BEING INVITED FOR THE LAST 15 NEW TERRITORIES SITES FOR TENDER THIS FINANCIAL YEAR.
THE TENDER IS LIMITED TO HOLDERS OF LAND EXCHANGE ENTITLEMENTS (LETTERS ’A’ AND ’B’) ISSUED BY THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION.
DETAILS ARE IN TODAY’S GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
THE SITES, TOTALLING MORE THAN 8.4 HECTARES, ARE FOR RESIDENTIAL, NON-INDUSTRIAL AND INDUSTRIAL/GODOWN DEVELOPMENT.
TEN ARE IN SHA TIN NEW TOWN, FOUR IN TUEN MUN NEW TOWN AND THE REMAINING SITE IS IN TAI PO NEW TOWN.
THE LARGEST SITE, MEASURING 24 400 SQUARE METRES, IS IN THE CENTRAL PART OF TUEN MUN TOWN CENTRE AND IS FOR NON-1NDUSTRI AL USE. IT CARRIES A BUILDING COVENANT OF $217 MILLION TO BE COMPLETED IN 56 MONTHS.
IT IS ONE OF SEVEN TUEN MUN NEW TOWN CENTRE LOTS, THE LAST THREE OF WHICH WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT BY THE END OF THIS YEAR. WHEN FULLY DEVELOPED, THE TOWN CENTRE WILL PROVIDE HOMES FOR 25 000 PEOPLE.
ANOTHER FIVE NON-INDUSTRI AL SITES MEASURE BETWEEN 1 550 AND 8 100 SQUARE METRES. THREE ARE IN SHA TIN, ONE IS IN TAI PO AND ONE IS IN TUEN MUN.
ALL THE RESIDENTIAL SITES ARE IN SHA TIN NEW TOWN, COVERING AN AREA BETWEEN 1 650 AND 8 300 SQUARE METRES.
THE REMAINING FOUR SITES ARE FOR INDUSTRIAL/GODOWN USE, MEASURING BETWEEN 2 000 AND 5 000 SQUARE METRES. TWO ARE IN SHA TIN AND THE OTHER TWO ARE IN TUEN MUN.
TENDER FORMS, TENDER NOTICES AND CONDITIONS OF SALE ARE AVAILABLE FROM NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION HEADQUARTERS OR ANY OF THE EIGHT DISTRICT OFFICES.
THE CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS IS MARCH 13.
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/6
FR(DAY, FEBRUARY 13, 19=1
6
TEMPORARY DIVERSION OF CMB ROUTE NO. 20
******
CME ROUTE NO. 20 (SHAU KEI aAN TO CENTRAL) n ILL EE TEMPORARILY DIVERTED VIA QUEEN VICTORIA STREET INSTEAD OF POTTINGER STREET IN CENTRAL FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS FROM SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 15).
THE DIVERSION IS TO FACILITATE CONSTRUCTION WORK IN POTTINGER STREET EET.vEEN QUEEN’S AND DES VOEUX ROADS.
DURING THE DIVERSION PERIOD, A TEMPORARY BUS STOP WILL EE PUT UP OUTSIDE LANE CRAWFORD BUILDING TO REPLACE THE BUS TERMINAL AT °OTTINGER STREET.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL 5-233191
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1981
CONTENTS PAGE NO
GOVERNOR DINES WITH TSUEN WAN D.A.B. MEMBERS ......... 1
EMPLOYERS REMINDED OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY .............. 1
CHEUNG CHAU NEW YEAR CARNIVAL ........................ 2
SEASIDE PROMENADE FOR TSIM SHA TSUI .................. 2
GASCOIGNE ROAD FLYOVER TEMPORARY CLOSURE ............. 5
SPECIAL MAXICAB SERVICE FOR CHA KWO LING RESIDENTS ... 5
FIRING PRACTICE REMINDER
3
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1961
1
GOVERNOR DINES WITH TSUEN WAN D.A.B. MEMBERS
* * * *
THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, THIS (SATURDAY) EVENING HAD DINNER WITH MEMBERS OF TSUEN WAN DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD AND THE TOWN MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. HE LATER ATTENDED A CONCERT AT THE TOWN HALL.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE TSUEN WAN TOWN MANAGER, DR JAMES HAYES, THE GOVERNOR MET MORE THAN 30 MEMBERS AND OFFICIALS AND DISCUSSED THEIR WORK WITH THEM OVER DINNER AT SUNG CITY, LAI CHI KOK.
THE GOVERNOR HEARD OF THE INCREASING RECREATIONAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES BEING CARRIED OUT IN THE DISTRICT, AND LEARNED THAT COORDINATION AND EFFORT AT THE NEIGHBOURHOOD LEVEL WOULD BE EMPHASISED IN TSUEN WAN THIS YEAR.
HE WAS ALSO BRIEFED ON MEMBERSHIP EXPANSION IN THE DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD WHICH WILL FOLLOW NEXT YEAR’S ELECTION- THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF THE DISTRICT AND IMPROVEMENTS- PROGRESS ON SPORTING AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, AND DEVELOPMENT OF CENTRAL TSUEN WAN.
LATER IN THE EVENING, SIR MURRAY AND HIS GUESTS ATTENDED A CONCERT BY THE MUSIC GROUP OF LONDON AT TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL.
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EMPLOYERS REMINDED OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY
* X X *
EMPLOYERS WERE REMINDED TODAY (SATURDAY) TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO GUARD THEIR MACHINERY AND FENCE FLOOR EDGES AND OTHER DANGEROUS PLACES OF BUILDINGS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
THE REMINDER WAS MADE BY A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WHILE COMMENTING ON RECENT COURT CASES IN WHICH FOUR BUILDING CONTRACTORS WERE FINED FOR BREACHING SAFETY REGULATIONS.
THE CONTRACTORS WHO FAILED TO OBSERVE THE FENCING PROVISION WERE EACH GIVEN THE MAXIMUM FINE OF $10 000 FOR BREACHES OF THE CONSTRUCTION SITES (SAFETY) REGULATIONS.
IN ADDITION, ONE OF THE CONTRACTORS WAS ALSO GIVEN THE MAXIMUM FINE OF $5 000 FOR EACH OF THREE SUMMONSES FOR FAILING TO PROVIDE A WORKER WITH AN EYE PROTECTOR AND TO GUARD THE DANGEROUS PARTS OF MACHINERY.
THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT UNDER THE CONSTRUCTION SITES (SAFETY) REGULATIONS, FLOOR EDGES, BALCONIES, LIFT SHAFT OPENINGS AND OTHER DANGEROUS PLACES OF BUILDINGS UNDER CONSTRUCTION SHOULD BE SECURELY FENCED OFF.
THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (GUARDING AND OPERATION OF MACHINERY) REGULATIONS REQUIRE FACTORY OWNERS TO EFFECTIVELY GUARD DANGEROUS PARTS OF EVERY PIECE OF MACHINERY OR PLANT DRIVEN BY MECHANICAL POWER. THE DANGEROUS PARTS ARE SPECIFIED IN THE FIRST SCHEDULE TO THESE REGULATIONS, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
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/?-.....
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1981
2
CHEUNG CHAU NEW YEAR CARNIVAL * * * *
A NEW YEAR CARNIVAL ON CHEUNG CHAU THIS (SATURDAY) AFTERNOON ATTRACTED 5 OOO RESIDENTS — ALMOST ONE-SIXTH OF THE ISLAND’S POPULATION.
THE EVENT WAS ORGANISED BY ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICE, THE LOCAL RURAL COMMITTEE, SCHOOLS, WELFARE INSTITUTIONS, COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICES.
ACTIVITIES WERE HELD IN FRONT OF PAK TAI TEMPLE AND INCLUDED A VARIETY SHOW OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE DANCES, SONGS AND WESTERN AND KOREAN FOLK DANCES BY TEAMS FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS AND THE CHEUNG CHAU CULTURE AND RECREATION ADVANCEMENT ASSOCIATION.
AFTER THE PERFORMANCES VISITORS PARTICIPATED IN STALL GAMES PUT UP BY YOUTH ORGANISATIONS AND SCHOOLS.
AMONG THOSE ATTENDING WERE 500 PEOPLE AGED OVER 70 YEARS.
THEY WERE PRESENTED WITH LAISEE PACKETS AND GIFTS BY THE ISLAND’S ELDERS.
SPEAKING AT A RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY, ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICER MR NICKY LO, SAID THE CARNIVAL MARKED AN OCCASION WHERE CHEUNG CHAU RESIDENTS, BOTH YOUNG AND OLD, SHARED FESTIVE HAPPINESS TOGETHER LIKE IN A BIG FAMILY.
HE URGED LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS TO ORGANISE MORE RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN THE COMING YEAR, ESPECIALLY FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE AND TEENAGERS.
MR LO WILL ATTEND ANOTHER NEW YEAR CELEBRATION ON PENG CHAU TOMORROW (SUNDAY), WHICH WILL INCLUDE A CANTONESE OPERA AND STALL GAMES.
ISLANDS DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD IS PROVIDING FUNDS FOR BOTH EVENTS.
0 - -
SEASIDE PROMENADE FOR TSIM SHA TSUI * * * X
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS TO BUILD A PROMENADE AT THE TSIM SHA TSUI WATERFRONT TO PROVIDE A REST SPOT FOR OFFICE WORKERS, RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS. IT WILL RUN FROM THE EAST OF THE NEW WORLD CENTRE TO THE INTERNATIONAL MAIL CENTRE IN HUNG HOM.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROMENADE, WHICH IS FINANCED BY THE URBAN COUNCIL, WILL BEGIN IN APRIL AND WILL TAKE ABOUT 10 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
A PWD SPOKESMAN SAID THE PROMENADE WILL BE LINKED TO THE ONE BEING CONSTRUCTED BY THE NEW WORLD CENTRE AND THE ONE PLANNED AT THE TSIM SHA TSUI CULTURAL CENTRE.
♦ON COMPLETION, IT WILL FORM AN UNBROKEN PEDESTRIAN BELT BETWEEN THE CULTURAL COMPLEX, THE NEW WORLD CENTRE AND THE COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTI AL CENTRE OF EAST TSIM SHA TSUI,+ HE SAID.
/FACILITIES TO
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1981
5
FACILITIES TO BE PROVIDED IN THE PROMENADE WILL INCLUDE FOUNTAINS, CONCRETE PAVING, PLANTINGS AND SITTING-OUT-BENCHES.
-------0----------
GASCOIGNE ROAD FLYOVER TEMPORARY CLOSURE *****
THE GASCOIGNE ROAD FLYOVER WILL BE TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM 10 PM ON FEBRUARY 17 TO 6 AM ON FEBRUARY 18 AND AGAIN FROM 10 PM ON FEBRUARY 20 TO 6 AM ON FEBRUARY 21 TO FACILITATE MAINTENANCE WORK OF THE FLYOVER.
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE ERECTED TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
-----0------
SPECIAL MAXICAB SERVICE FOR CHA KWO LING RESIDENTS *****
TO MEET TRAFFIC DEMAND OF THE CHA KWO LING RESIDENTS, A SHORTWORKING SERVICE OF MAXICAB NO. 23 WILL BE INTRODUCED FROM MONDAY (FEBRUARY 16) BETWEEN CHA KWO LING AND KWUN TONG TOWN CENTRE (TUNG YAN STREET), THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY.
THE SPECIAL SERVICE WILL OPERATE FROM 7 AM TO 10 AM AND FROM 5 PM TO 8 PM DAILY AT 70 CENTS FOR A SINGLE JOURNEY.
MAXICAB ROUTE NO. 23 IS CURRENTLY OPERATING BETWEEN CHA KWO LING AND KWUN TONG (WAN HON STREET).
------0-------
FIRING PRACTICE REMINDER *****
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE REMINDED THAT FIRING PRACTICE WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE CASTLE PEAK/HA TSUEN RANGE ON TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 17) BETWEEN 8 AM AND 4 PM.
THEY ARE WARNED NOT TO ENTER THE AREA WHEN RED FLAGS ARE FLYING DURING THE PERIOD.
- - 0 -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1981
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
1980 POPULATION ESTIMATE ...................................... 1
COMMUNITY CAN HELP EDUCATE YOUNG PEOPLE AGAINST DRUG ABUSE .. 1
REMINDER TO PNEUMOCONIOSIS SUFFERERS .......................... 2
SCHOLARSHIPS ARE A GOOD WAY TO HELP STUDENTS .................. 3
TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ON H.K. ISLAND ........................... b
CHEUNG CHAU TO LAUNCH BIG CLEAN-UP ............................ 4
TUEN MUN OLD PEOPLE CELEBRATE LUNAR NEW YEAR................... 5
LAND TO BE FORMED IN TAI WAI
5
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1981
1
1980 POPULATION ESTIMATE * * * *
THE ESTIMATED POPULATION OF HONG KONG AT THE END OF DECEMBER 1980 WAS 5 147 900, ACCORDING TO FIGURES RELEASED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
THIS REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF 130 900 PEOPLE OR 2.6 PER CENT OVER END-1979. THE SLOWER RATE OF INCREASE AS COMPARED WITH THE GROWTH RATE OF 6.3 PER CENT FOR 1979 WAS DUE TO A LOWER LEVEL OF IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA AS WELL AS A NET OUTFLOW OF 32 873 VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
THE LARGEST CONSTITUENT IN THE POPULATION GROWTH WAS NET IMMIGRATION, THAT IS THE BALANCE OF TOTAL ARRIVALS OVER TOTAL DEPARTURES, WHICH ACCOUNTED FOR 69 560 OR 53 PER CENT OF THE GROWTH.
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF BIRTHS FOR 1980 WAS 86 518, AN INCREASE OF 4.2 PER CENT COMPARED WITH 83 019 FOR 1979. THE INCREASE WAS DUE TO THE GRADUAL INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF WOMEN IN THE CHILDBEARING AGES AND ALSO AN INCREASE IN BIRTHS (1 357 AS COMPARED WITH 618) GIVEN BY VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS FOR 1980 WAS 25 173- THIS COMPARES WITH 25 268 FOR 1979. OVERALL, NATURAL INCREASE, THAT IS THE BALANCE OF BIRTHS OVER DEATHS, CONTRIBUTED TO A GAIN OF 61 345 PEOPLE OR 47 PER CENT OF THE GROWTH.
------0-------
COMMUNITY CAN HELP EDUCATE YOUNG PEOPLE AGAINST DRUG ABUSE ******
THE DIRECTOR OF HOME AFFAIRS, MR GRAHAM BARNES TODAY (SUNDAY) CALLED ON THE COMMUNITY TO GIVE SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE TO EDUCATE YOUNG PEOPLE AGAINST DRUG ABUSE.
HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE TELEMATCH AND PRIZE-PRESENTATION CEREMONY OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN HELD AT THE ABERDEEN SPORTS GROUND.
MR BARNES POINTED OUT THAT THE DISTRICT IS A FAST DEVELOPING COMMUNITY WITH A YOUNG POPULATION.
TO HELP THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO TEMPTATION TO TRY DRUGS, HE SAID, WE SHOULD CHANNEL THEIR ENERGIES AND CURIOSITY BY PROVIDING MORE AND BETTER RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL FACILITIES AND TO INSTILL A SENSE OF SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY INTO THEM THROUGH GUIDANCE AND EDUCATION.
MR BARNES NOTED THAT AS A RESULT OF YEARS OF DETERMINED AND CONCERTED JOINT EFFORTS BY THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS, THE GOVERNMENT, VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND ENTHUSIASTIC CITIZENS, HONG KONG’S FIGHT AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKING AND ABUSE HAD ACHIEVED CONSIDERABLE SUCCESS.
/THE 'IUMBEH.........
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1?81
2
THE NUMBER OF DRUG ADDICTS IN HONG KONG HAS DECREASED FROM ABOUT 2OO 000 IN 1959 TO ABOUT 40 000. +WE MUST NOT, HOWEVER, BE COMPLACENT WITH THE ACHIEVEMENTS THUS FAR,+ MR BARNEb SAID.
HE EMPHASISED THAT THE PRESENCE OF THE 40 000 DRUG CVTCUT
ADDICTS IN OUR COMMUNITY COULD POSE, TO A GREATER OR LESSER EXTENT, A THREAT TO THE COMMUNITY’S INTEGRITY AND PEACE OF MIND.
♦DESPITE THE FACT THAT THOSE UNDER 19 MAKE UP ONLY FOUR PER CENT OF THE TOTAL ADDICT POPULATION AND THERE IS EVERY SIGN CF ITS CONTRACTION, WE MUST NOT OVERLOOK THE POTENTIAL DANGER WHICH DRUG ABUSE POSES TO THE YOUNG IF WE ARE TO RELAX OUR EFFORTS TO ERADICATE THE DRUG PROBLEM.+
♦WE MUST NEVER FORGET THAT WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE IN OUR MIDST ALSO THOSE WHO, IN THEIR PITILESS GREED FOR PROFIT, WOULD WISH TO SEE A VAST INCREASE IN ADDICTION,+ HE ADDED.
TODAY’S EVENT WAS ORGANISED BY THE ACAN AND THE DISTRICT’S ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE, RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE, CITY DISTRICT OFFICE (SOUTHERN) AND THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION, WONG CHUK HANG OFFICE.
ALSO OFFICIATING AT THE PRIZE-PRESENTATION WERE MR KARL STUMPF, CHAIRMAN OF ACAN’S PREVENTIVE EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY SUB-COMMITTEE AND MR C.M. LEUNG, ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS.
AMONG THE GUESTS WERE REPRESENTATIVES FROM VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND LOCAL KAIFONG LEADERS.
MR PETER WILLIAMS, COMMISSIONER FOR THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION EARLIER VISITED THE SPORTS GROUND TO WATCH THE TELEMATCH GAMES.
- - 0 - -
REMINDER TO PNEUMOCONIOSIS SUFFERERS * * * * *
WORKERS WHO WERE DIAGNOSED BEFORE JANUARY 1 AS SUFFERING FROM PNEUMOCONIOSIS, BUT WHO HAVE NOT YET BEEN ASSESSED BY THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS MEDICAL ASSESSMENT BOARD, WERE URGED TODAY (SUNDAY) TO CONTACT THE WAN CHAI CHEST CLINIC IN KENNEDY ROAD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THEY SHOULD CALL AT THE CLINIC IN PERSON OR TELEPHONE 5-726024.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SAID PEOPLE DIAGNOSED BEFORE JANUARY 1 AS SUFFERING FROM PNEUMOCONIOSIS MAY APPLY FOR EXGRAT IA PAYMENTS FROM GOVERNMENT.
HE SAID THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAD WRITTEN TO PEOPLE KNOWN TO IT TO BE SUFFERING FROM THE LUNG DISEASE TO COME FORWARD FOR MEDICAL ASSESSMENT, BUT SOME OF THEM HAD NOT RESPONDED TO THIS NOTIFICATION.
/♦PERHAPS THIS ......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1981
3
+PERHAPS THIS IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE LETTER DUE TO CHANGE OF ADDRESSES,+ HE NOTED.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT UP TO LAST TUESDAY ABOUT 700 APPLICATIONS INVOLVING OVER $20 MILLION IN EXGRATIA PAYMENT HAD BEEN APPROVED.
PEOPLE DIAGNOSED AFTER JANUARY 1 AS SUFFERING FROM THE DISEASE ARE NOT ENTITLED TO EXGRATIA PAYMENTS. HOWEVER, THEY ARE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION UNDER THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS COMPENSATION ORDINANCE.
- - 0 -
SCHOLARSHIPS ARE A GOOD WAY TO HELP STUDENTS X * * *
THERE IS NO BETTER WAY TO HELP A STUDENT THAN TO DONATE A SCHOLARSHIP TO THE EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS FUND.
THE FUND, ADMINISTERED BY A SIX-MEMBER COMMITTEE, PROVIDES AWARDS TO PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AND STUDENTS FROM THE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION AND THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC.
+THE MINIMUM DONATION TO ESTABLISH A SCHOLARSHIP IS $5 000,+ SAID MISS ROSE LAM, SECRETARY OF THE FUND COMMITTEE.
+DONORS WILL BE ASKED TO NAME THEIR SCHOLARSHIPS AND TO SUGGEST CONDITIONS OF AWARDS FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS FUND COMMITTEE,+ MISS LAM ADDED.
THE MONEY DONATED TO THE FUND WILL NORMALLY BE INVESTED EITHER IN STOCKS OR IN FIXED DEPOSITS. +THE INTEREST DERIVED WILL COVER THE YEARLY AWARD TO THE STUDENT,+ SHE EXPLAINED.
IN THE 1979-80 ACADEMIC YEAR, 388 STUDENTS BENEFITED FROM THE 122 SCHOLARSHIPS IN THE FUND AND THE AMOUNT PAID TO STUDENTS WAS $92 030.
THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS RECEIVING AWARDS IN 1980-81 ROSE TO 399 AS TWO MORE DONATIONS AMOUNTING TO $26 000 WERE MADE TO THE FUND. THE TOTAL PAYMENTS CAME CLOSE TO $100 000.
IN THE COMING ACADEMIC YEAR, ABOUT TEN MORE AWARDS wILL BE OFFERED.
ACCORDING TO MISS LAM, THE EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS FUND HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE SINCE PRE-WAR YEARS AND HAS ASSISTED NUMEROUS STUDENTS DURING THESE INTERVENING YEARS.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AWARDS ARE MADE YEARLY IN JULY OR AUGUST BY PRINCIPALS OF SCHOOLS TO WHICH DONATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS FUND COMMITTEE.
DONATIONS, AS WELL AS ENQUIRIES, CAN BE MADE TO THE OVERSEAS STUDENTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS SECTION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AT LEIGHTON CENTRE, 15TH FLOOR, 77 LEIGHTON ROAD, HONG KONG, (TELEPHONE 5-7903968).
0 - -
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1981
4
TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ON H.K. ISLAND
*****
MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED THAT NEW TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED ON HONG KONG ISLAND ON TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 17) AND WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 18).
FROM 10 AM ON TUESDAY, ALL VEHICLES TRAVELLING ALONG POK FU LAM ROAD WITH UNLADEN WEIGHT EXCEEDING TWO TONS WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM MAKING LEFT-TURNS INTO POKFIELD ROAD.
FROM 10 AM ON WEDNESDAY, A 50-METRE SECTION OF TAI CHEONG STREET FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH SHAU KEI WAN ROAD WILL BE DESIGNATED A PUBLIC LIGHT BUS CLEARWAY ZONE.
WITHIN THE ZONE, ALL PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES, EXCEPT THOSE AUTHORISED IN WRITING BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS BETWEEN 7 AM AND MIDNIGHT DAILY.
-----o-------
CHEUNG CHAU TO LAUNCH BIG CLEAN-UP
* * * *
CHEUNG CHAU RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN URGED TO GIVE THEIR FULL SUPPORT TO AN INTENSIVE CLEAN-UP WHICH WILL BE LAUNCHED TOWARDS THE END OF THIS MONTH.
MORE THAN 40 REFUSE BLACK SPOTS ALONG THE WATERFRONT AREA AND SIDE STREETS ON THE ISLAND WOULD BE GIVEN A FACE-LIFT, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
ALL DISCARDED ITEMS AND BUILDING DEBRIS AND MATERIALS ACCUMULATED AT THE BLACK SPOTS WILL BE REMOVED.
CHEUNG CHAU RESIDENTS ARE REQUESTED TO KEEP THE ISLAND CLEAN AND REMOVE ALL JUNK TO THE REFUSE COLLECTION POINTS.
THEY ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO CLEAN UP ALL RUBBISH PLACED IN PUBLIC PLACE WITHIN SIX METRES OF THEIR PREMISES UNDER THE PROVISION CF THE PUBLIC CLEANSING AND PREVENTION OF NUISANCES BY-LAwS.
THE COMING CLEAN-UP IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE CHEUNG CHAU RURAL COMMITTEE, THE DISTRICT OFFICE OF ISLANDS AND THE URBAN SERVICES OFFICE OF ISLANDS.
♦AFTER THE INITIAL IMPACT OF THE DRIVE IS ACHIEVED, THE NTSD W ILL SPEND EVERY EFFORT, BACKED UP BY STRONG ENFORCEMENT ACTION, TO MAINTAIN A HIGH STANDARD OF CLEANLINESS THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
HE REMINDED HOLIDAY-MAKERS VISITING THE ISLAND NOT TO TURN THE PICNIC RESORT INTO A DUMPING GROUND OR THEY WOULD FACE A FINE OF Si 000 ON FIRST CONVICTION OF A LITTER OFFENCE.
------o--------
/5......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1981
5
TUEN MUN OLD PEOPLE CELEBRATE LUNAR NEW YEAR ******
MORE THAN 500 TUEN MUN RESIDENTS AGED OVER 70 TODAY (SUNDAY) ATTENDED A CANTONESE OPERA AND A DINNER.
THE EVENTS WERE ARRANGED BY THE RESPECT FOR THE AGED ORGANISING COMMITTEE WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE LOCAL DISTRICT OFFICE, COMMUNITY AND YOUTH OFFICE AND TUEN MUN ARTS PROMOTION ASSOCIATION.
EXPENSES TOTALLING ABOUT $50 000 WERE MET BY THE DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD AND LOCAL PRIVATE DONATIONS. THE OPERA WAS PERFORMED BY MEMBERS OF TUEN MUN ARTS PROMOTION ASSOCIATION AT ST. SIMON’S LUI MING CHOI TECHNICAL SCHOOL.
THE TWO ELDEST ATTENDING THE DINNER, MADAME MOK TZE-CHING, AG_D 99, AND MR YEUNG CHONG-KWONG, AGED 92, WERE EACH PRESENTED WITH A GOLD MEDAL.
DISTRICT OFFICER, MR BILLY LAM, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF TUEN MUN RURAL COMMITTEE, MR LAU WONG-FAT, WERE ALSO PRESENT AT THE DINNER.
THE EVENTS WERE PART OF A FIVE-WEEK PROGRAMME WHICH BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 1 TO CELEBRATE LUNAR NEW YEAR IN TUEN MUN.
OTHER CELEBRATIONS INCLUDE A VARIETY SHOW AT FIRST NEW MOON, A FUN FAIR, AN EXHIBITION ON TUEN MUN, A BALL, PICNICS, A CHILDREN’S GAMES DAY AND A SPECIAL EVENT FOR FISHERMEN.
- - 0 - -
LAND TO BE FORMED IN TAI WAI * * * *
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TODAY (SUNDAY) INVITED TENDERS FOR SITE FORMATION, ROAD AND DRAINAGE WORKS IN TAI WAI, SHA TIN NEW TOWN.
UNDER THE CONTRACT, ABOUT SIX HECTARES WILL BE FORMED FOR PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL, GOVERNMENT, INSTITUTION AND COMMUNITY USES.
ASSOCIATED WORKS WILL INCLUDE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A ROAD BRIDGE ACROSS SHING MUN RIVER, GROUND LEVEL ROADS TO SERVE THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA, AND A SUBWAY.
WORK ON THE PROJECT WILL BEGIN IN MAY AND WILL TAKE ABOUT 21 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
THE WORKS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTION WILL BE SUPERVISED BY MAUNSELL CONSULTANTS ASIA, CONSULTING ENGINEERS FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
- - 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL 5-233191
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1981
CONTENTS PAGE NO,
COUNTRY AND COMMODITY BREAKDOWN FIGURES FOR HONG KONG’S EXTERNAL TRADE FOR 1980............................ 1
PORT TRAFFIC INCREASES ........................................ 5
THIRD PREVCCATIONAL SCHOOL AT SHA TIN.......................... 6
TRAINING FOR TRAINERS ......................................... 7
TURKISH TRADE MISSION VISITS SHA TIN .......................... 8
NEW OFFICE FOR FACTORY INSPECTORATE ........................... 8
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF STUBBS ROAD ROUNDABOUT
8
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1981
1
COUNTRY AND COMMODITY BREAKDOWN FIGURES FOR HONG KONG’S EXTERNAL TRADE FOR 1983 * * * *
TOTAL MERCHANDISE TRADE FOR 1980, VALUED AT $239 893 MILLION, SHOWED AN INCREASE OF 30 PER CENT OVER 1979.
DOMESTIC EXPORTS ROSE BY 22 PER CENT TO $68 171 MILLION, IMPORTS BY 30 PER CENT TO Sill 651 MILLION AND RE-EXPORTS BY 50 PER CENT TO $33 072 MILLION. DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS TOGETHER SHOWED AN INCREASE OF 29 PER CENT.
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY (MONDAY) RELEASED THE RELEVANT DETAILED TRADE STATISTICS.
THE CHANGES IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO THE TEN MAJOR OVERSEAS .MARKETS WERE :
1983 (HK$ MN.) 1979 (HK$ MN.) INCREASE/ DECREASE (HK$ MN.) PERCENTAGE CHANGE
U.S.A. 22 591 18 797 ♦3 794 + 29
F.R. OF GERMANY 7 384 6 344 + 1 343 + 16
U.K. 6 791 5 974 + 817 + 14
JAPAN 2 329 2 656 - 327 - 12
AUSTRALIA 1 941 1 789 + 152 + 8
SINGAPORE 1 791 1 413 + 378 + 27
CANADA 1 782 1 637 + 145 4- 9
CHINA 1 635 633 +1 902 + 166
NETHERLANDS 1 575 1 436 + 169 + 12
FRANCE 1 437 1 334 + 433 ♦ 49
DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO THE U.S. CONTINUED TO GROW. SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN CLOTHING (BY 5872 MILLION OR 12 PER CENT), ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES (BY 5634 MILLION OR 42 PER CENT), OFFICE MACHINES AND AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT (EY $557 MILLION OR 55 PER CENT), AND WATCHES AND CLOCKS (BY $546 MILLION OR 51 PER CENT).
SIGNIFICANT INCREASES WERE NOTED IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO wEST GERMANY CF CLOTHING (EY $662 MILLION OR 18 PER CENT), WATCHES AND CLOCKS (EY 5128 MILLION OR 26 PER CENT) AS WELL AS ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES (BY $97 MILLION OR 63 PER CENT).
/AS FOR .....
2
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1?81
AS FOR DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO THE U.K., INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN CLOTHING (BY $370 MILLION OR 13 PER CENT), AND WATCHES AND CLOCKS (BY $63 MILLION OR 16 PER CENT). HOWEVER, DECREASES WERE REGISTERED IN TEXTILES (BY S137 MILLION OR 22 PER CENT).
THE DOWNWARD TREND IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO JAPAN CONTINUED. DECREASES WERE NOTED MAINLY FOR MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (BY $57 MILLION OR 17 PER CENT), FISH, CRUSTACEANS AND MOLLUSCS, AND THEIR PREPARATIONS (BY $75 MILLION OR 23 PER CENT), AND CLOTH INu (BY 591 MILLION OR 11 PER CENT).
AN ANALYSIS DIVISION IS :
OF CHANGES IN
DOMESTIC EXPORTS BY MAJOR COMMODITY
1980 (HKS MN.) 1979 INCREASE (HK$ MN.) PERCENTAGE CHANGE
(HKJ i MN.)
ARTICLES OF APPAREL AND CLOTHING ACCESSOR IES 23 258 20 131 +3 127 + 16
MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (MAINLY PLASTIC TOYS AND DOLLS) 11 020 9 454 +1 566 ♦ 17
PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, OPTICAL GOODS, WATCHES AND CLOCKS 7 119 5 126 *1 993 ♦ 39
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT 5 033 4 063 4- 967 + 24
TEXTILE YARN, FAERICS, MADE-UP ARTICLES AND RELATED PRODUCTS 4 535 4 065 4- 473 4- 12
ELECTRICAL MACHINERY APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES (MAINLY TRANSISTORS AND DIODES AND HOUSEHOLD TYPE APPLIANCES) 4 490 3 235 *1 255 4- 39
/THE CHANGES .....
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1981
THE CHANGES
IN IMPORTS FROM THE TEN MAJOR SOURCES WERE:
1980 (HK$ MN.) 1979 (HK$ MN.) INCREASE (HKS MN.) PERCENTAGE CHANGE
JAPAN 25 644 19 320 +6 324 + 33
CHINA 21 948 15 130 +6 818 ♦ 45
U.S.A. 13 210 10 365 +2 845 ♦ 27
TA IWAN 7 961 6 035 + 1 926 ♦ 32
SINGAPORE 7 384 4 821 +2 563 ♦ 53
U.K. 5 456 4 350 ♦1 106 + 25
REP. OF KOREA 3 869 2 529 +1 340 * 53
SWITZERLAND 2 897 2 592 ♦ 305 + 12
F.R. OF GERMANY 2 883 2 775 + 108 ♦ 4
AUSTRALIA 1 698 1 579 + 119 ♦ 8
IN CONTRAST WITH DECLINING DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO JAPAN, LOCAL DEMAND FOR JAPANESE GOODS REMAINED STRONG. INCREASES WERE NOTED PARTICULARLY FOR ROAD VEHICLES (BY $1 098 MILLION OR 93 PER CENT), TEXTILES (BY $790 MILLION OR 27 PER CENT), TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY S712 MILLION OR 42 PER CENT), WATCHES AND CLOCKS (BY $582 MILLION OR 34 PER CENT), AND IRON AND STEEL (BY $558 MILLION OR 45 PER CENT).
AS FOR IMPORTS FROM CHINA, INCREASES WERE RECORDED MAINLY IN CLOTHING (BY $1 194 MILLION OR 109 PER CENT), TEXTILES (BY $1 042 MILLION OR 34 PER CENT), PETROLEUM AND RELATED PRODUCTS (BY $787 MILLION OR 54 PER CENT), MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (BY $410 MILLION OR 76 PER CENT), LIVE ANIMALS CHIEFLY FOR FOOD (BY $346 MILLION OR 29 PER CENT), AND MEAT AND MEAT PREPARATIONS (BY $238 MILLION OR 40 PER CENT).
INCREASES IN IMPORTS FROM THE U.S. WERE LARGELY OF TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT (BY 3562 MILLION OR 156 PER CENT), OFFICE MACHINES AND AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT (BY $452 MILLION OR 47 PcR CENT), ARTIFICIAL RESINS AND PLASTIC MATERIALS, AND CELLULOSE ESTcRo AN« ETHERS (BY $242 MILLION OR 37 PER CENT), MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (BY $156 MILLION OR 37 PER CENT), AND ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES (BY $130 MILLION OR 14 PER CENT).
SIGNIFICANT INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN THE SUPPLY OF PETROLEUM AND RELATED PRODUCTS (BY $2 119 MILLION OR 78 PER CENT) FROM SINGAPORE, AS wELL AS TEXTILES (BY $630 MILLION OR 2c PcR CcNT) AND ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES (BY S272 MILLION
Cfc 40 PER CENT) FROM TAIWAN.
/THE FCIXC.TING
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1981
4
THE FOLLOWING TABLE ILLUSTRATES THE MORE IMPORTS BY COMMODITY SECTION:
IMPORTANT CHANGES IN
1980 (HK$ MN.) 1979 (HKS MN.) INCREASE (HKS MN.) PERCENTAGE CHANGE
MANUFACTURED GOODS CLASSIFIED CHIEFLY BY MATERIAL (MAINLY TEXTILE PRODUCTS, DIAMONDS, IRON AND STEEL, AND PAPER) 33 720 26 931 +6 789 + 25
MACHINERY AND TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT 25 133 18 699 +6 524 ♦ 35
MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (MAINLY WATCHES AND CLOCKS, ARTICLES OF APPAREL) 17 628 12 525 +5 103 * 41
FOOD AND LIVE ANIMALS CHIEFLY FOR FOOD 11 558 9 646 +1 912 + 20
CHEMICALS AND RELATED PRODUCTS 7 934 6 819 +1 115 + 16
MINERAL FUELS, LUERICANTS AND RELATED MATERIALS 7 882 4 906 +2 976 + 61
SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH WAS RECORDED IN RE-EXPORTS TO CHINA (BY
S3 327 MILLION OR 253 PER CENT), U.S. (BY SI 099 MILLION OR 55 PER CENT), INDONESIA (BY SI 978 MILLION OR 64 PER CENT), SINGAPORE (EY 5797 MILLION OR 39 PER CENT), TAIWAN (BY $499 MILLION OR 29 PER CENT), NIGERIA (BY S466 MILLION OR 124 PER CENT), THE U.K. (EY <444 MILLION OR IIP PER CENT), MACAU (BY 8318 MILLION OR 53 PER CENT), AND THE F.R. OF GERMANY (BY $196 MILLION OR 43 PER CENT). ON THE OTHER HAND, A DECLINE WAS REGISTERED IN RE-EXPORTS TO JAPAN (BY $276 MILLION OR 11 PER CENT).
/MOST COMMODITIES...
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1981
MOST COMMODITIES RE-EXPORTED THROUGH HONG KONG EXHIBITED STRONG GROWTH, THE MORE SIGNIFICANT ONES BEING TEXTILES (BY $1 538 MILLION OR 56 PER CENT), WATCHES AND CLOCKS (BY $858 MILLION OR 69 PER CENT), ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES (BY $769 MILLION OR 64 PER CENT), ROAD VEHICLES (BY $749 MILLION OR 160 PER CENT), TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY $641 MILLION OR 100 PER CENT), CLOTHING (BY $619 MILLION OR 66 PER CENT), AND MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (BY $516 MILLION OR 59 PER CENT).
+THE HONG KONG TRADE STATISTICS - SUMMARY*, A SUMMARY ON HONG KONG’S EXTERNAL TRADE IN DECEMBER, 1980, WILL SOON BE ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT HK$3 PER COPY. A MORE COMPREHENSIVE REPORT, +HONG KONG EXTERNAL TRADE*, A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE MONTH’S IMPORTS, EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS, WILL BE PUBLISHED IN EARLY MARCH AND WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT HKS10 PER COPY. ENQUIRIES CONCERNING SUBSCRIPTIONS TO THESE REPORTS MAY BE MADE TO THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT, BASKERVILLE HOUSE, TEL. NO. 5-214375.
------0-------
PORT TRAFFIC INCREASES
* * *
HONG KONG, THE WORLD’S THIRD LARGEST CONTAINER HANDLING PORT, EXPERIENCED ANOTHER RECORD GROWTH LAST YEAR.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MARINE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT AN AVERAGE OF 301 OCEAN-GOING VESSELS AND RIVER TRADE CRAFT ARRIVED IN AND DEPARTED FROM THE PORT EACH DAY.
IN 1980, SOME 10 229 OCEAN-GOING VESSELS USED THE PORT FACILITIES WHICH WAS A 4.3 PER CENT INCREASE OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
THE VESSELS DISCHARGED AND LOADED 30.7 MILLION TONNES OF CARGO -- 10.1 PER CENT MORE THAN THAT FOR 1979. AND OF THIS 6.6 MILLION TONNES WERE FUEL OIL AND PETROLEUM PRODUCTS.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID, +DURING THE YEAR, 51.3 PER CENT, OR MORE THAN HALF OF ALL GENERAL CARGO HANDLED WAS CONTAINERISED.
+THE TOTAL CONTAINER THROUGHOUT AT THE KWAI CHUNG TERMINAL COMPLEX WAS 1.465 MILLION T.E.U.S (TWENTY FEET EQUIVALENT UNITS), AN INCREASE OF 12.4 PER CENT OVER THE 1979 THROUGHOUT OF 1.304 MILLION T.E.U.S.*
HE ADDED THAT 36.2 PER CENT OF THE THROUGHPUT OR 0.478 MILLION T.E.U.S., BOTH FULL AND EMPTY, WERE FOR TRANSHIPMENT, A 3.9 PER CENT INCREASE COMPARED WITH 1979.
+RIVER TRADE ALSO SHOWED A MARKED INCREASE LAST YEAR,* HE SAID.
+THE NUMBER OF RIVER TRADE VESSELS WHICH ENTERED AND CLEARED THE PORT WAS 90 208, BEING 8.3 PER CENT HIGHER THAN THAT FOR 1979.+
A TOTAL OF 2.87 MILLION TONNES OF CARGO WERE HANDLED BY THESE VESSELS, AN 18.1 PER CENT INCREASE OVER 1979.
/ALSO, ABOUT ..
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1981
6
ALSO, ABOUT 7 MILLION PASSENGERS TRAVELLED TO AND FROM
MACAU COMPARED WITH 6.6 MILLION IN 1979 — AN INCREASE OF 6.1 PER CENT.
-----0------
THIRD PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOL AT SHA TIN *****
THE FOUNDATION STONE OF HONG KONG’S 15TH PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOL WILL BE LAID BY THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR COLVYN HAYE, AT SHA TIN ON WEDNESDAY.
THE SCHOOL AT TIN SAM WILL BE THE THIRD PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOL FOR SHA TIN AND THE FIRST OF ITS KIND TO BE OPERATED BY THE PO LEUNG KUK.
CONSTRUCTION WORK IS EXPECTED TO START ON THE PO LEUNG KUK C.W. CHU PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOL WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS ON A 5 480 SQUARE-METRE SITE WITH COMPLETION EXPECTED BY DECEMBER, 1982.
CAPITAL COST OF THE PROJECT IS ESTIMATED AT $16 MILLION WITH AN EXTRA $1.6 MILLION REQUIRED FOR FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT.
THE SCHOOL wILL HAVE 25 CLASSROOMS FOR ABOUT 1 □□□ PUPILS.
IN ADDITION IT WILL HAVE A LARGE HALL, NINE WORKSHOPS AND A NUMBER OF SPECIAL ROOMS, EQUIPPED WITH MODERN MACHINERY.
PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOLS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF HONG KONG’S SECONDARY SCHOOL SYSTEM WHICH PROVIDE PUPILS WITH A SOLID FOUNDATION OF GENERAL KNOWLEDGE AND AN INTRODUCTION TO BROAD-BASED TECHNICAL SKILLS FOR FUTURE VOCATIONAL TRAINING.
PUPILS IN THESE SCHOOLS CAN CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION UP TO THE CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION LEVEL, AND LATER PROCEED TO THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND POLYTECHNIC.
+PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOLS THEREFORE PLAY A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN PROVIDING THE NECESSARY TECHNICAL MANPOWER VITAL TO HONG KONG’S INDUSTRY,* A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID.
IN A PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOL, THE CURRICULUM CONTENT IS NORMALLY 43/50 PER CENT TECHNICAL AND 50/60 PER CENT ACADEMIC FOR FORMS I TO III AND 33 PER CENT AND 70 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY FOR FORMS IV AND V.
NOTE TO EDITORS: YOU ARE WELCOME TO SEND YOUR REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE FOUNDATION STONE LAYING CEREMONY BY THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE AT 12 NOON ON WEDNESDAY.
TRANSPORT WILL EE PROVIDED FOR THE PRESS AND WILL LEAVE PO LEUNG KUK, 66 LEIGHTON ROAD, CAUSEWAY BAY, HONG KONG AT 13.50 AM ON THE DAY.
THE SCHOOL IS LOCATED AT AREA 2A, TIN SAM, SHA TIN.
------0--------
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1981
7
TRAINING FOR TRAINERS * * * *
THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF INDUSTRY, MR ALEX PURVES, EMPHASISED THE IMPORTANCE OF TRANSPORTATION TO MANUFACTURERS AND EXPORTERS WHEN HE OPENED A U.N. AGENCY-SPONSORED COURSE IN HONG KONG TODAY (MONDAY).
THE SECOND TRAINING COURSE FOR TRAINERS IN THE WORK OF SHIPPERS’ COUNCILS, IS BEING SPONSORED BY ESCAP AND ATTENDED BY DELEGATES FROM THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION.
+ HONG KONG LIVES BY TRADE. OUR TOTAL DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF US$13 200 MILLION IN 1980 REPRESENTED ABOUT 90 PER CENT OF MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY’S TOTAL PRODUCTION,+ SAID MR PURVES.
+SINCE OUR MAJOR MARKETS ARE IN EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA IT FOLLOWS THAT WE ARE KEENLY INTERESTED IN THE TRANSPORTATION COSTS FACED BY OUR MANUFACTURERS AND EXPORTERS.
+T0 HELP US ENSURE THAT THEY ARE NOT UNREASONABLY TREATED,+ HE CONTINUED, +WE HAVE A VIGOROUS SHIPPERS’ COUNCIL WHICH HAS CONDUCTED QUITE A NUMBER OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH SHIPPING CONFERENCES OVER THE YEARS, IN THE PROCESS OF WHICH IT HAS GAINED QUITE A BIT OF EXPERTISE.+
PAYING TRIBUTE TO ESCAP, WHICH IS ACTIVE IN THE PROMOTION OF SHIPPERS’ INTERESTS IN THE REGION, MR PURVES SAID: +ESCAP’S DECISION TO HOLD THIS TYPE OF COURSE AGAIN IN HONG KONG HAS SERVED TO REMIND US THAT THERE ARE OTHER SHIPPERS’ COUNCILS IN THE REGION WHICH COULD BENEFIT FROM THAT EXPERTISE.+
HE SAID THAT IN ADDITION TO THE HONG KONG SHIPPERS’ COUNCIL BEING HAPPY TO SHARE ITS KNOWLEDGE WITH THESE COUNCILS, IT HAD THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, WHICH WAS CONSCIOUS OF THE BENEFITS TO BE GAINED FROM REGIONAL COOPERATION.
STRESSING THAT SHIPPERS’ COUNCILS AFFAIRS MUST BE HANDLED PROFESSIONALLY, MR PURVES SAID: +THE SUBJECTS WITH WHICH SHIPPERS’ COUNCILS DEAL, AND THEIR IMPACT UPON THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES’ ECONOMIES, ARE SUCH THAT THEY CANNOT BE LEFT TO UNQUALIFIED OFFICIALS.
+THOSE WHO SIT ON THE SHIPPING CONFERENCES SIDE OF THE NEGOTIATING TABLE ARE EXPERTS IN THEIR OWN FIELD. IT FOLLOWS, THEREFORE, THAT OUR OWN SHIPPERS’ COUNCILS MUST EE NO LESS PROFESSIONAL.
♦THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG IS AWARE OF THIS AND, BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE HONG KONG SHIPPERS’ COUNCIL, HAS ENABLED THE COUNCIL TO OBTAIN THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF IT NEEDS TO FULFIL ITS OBLIGATIONS,* HE SAID.
AS TO THE FUTURE, MR PURVES SUGGESTED THAT A REGIONAL EXCHANGE OF VIEwS, IN ADDITION TO THE RUNNING OF TRAINING COURSES, WOULD EE A SUITABLE WAY OF EXTENDING LEARNING THROUGH REGIONAL COOPERATION.
THE OBJECTIVE OF THE COURSE, RUN BY THE HONG KONG SHIPPERS’ COUNCIL AND THE HONG KONG MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, IS TO TRAIN EXECUTI.VES OF SHIPPERS’ COUNCILS, AND OTHER INSTITUTES CONNECTED WITH SHIPPERS’ AFFAIRS, SO THAT THEY wILL IN TURN ORGANISE TRAINING COURSES AND TRANSFER THEIR SKILL AT COUNTRY LEVEL.
------0------- /8........................
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1981
8
TURKISH TRADE MISSION VISITS SHA TIN
*****
A TURKISH MISSION, WHICH IS IN HONG KONG TO STUDY TRADE OPPORTUNITIES, VISITED SHA TIN NEW TOWN TODAY (MONDAY).
THE SIX-MEMBER MISSION ARRIVED YESTERDAY AND IS INTERESTED IN GOVERNMENT POLICY AND EFFORTS IN DEVELOP L G NEW TOWNS.
THE MISSION CALLED AT NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION HEADQUARTERS WHERE THEY WERE BRIEFED ON THE OVERALL NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME BY ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR DEVELOPMENT, MISS DENISE YUE.
ACCOMPANIED BY NTA OFFICIALS, THE GROUP LATER TRAVELLED TO SHA TIN NEW TOWN TO TOUR THE MAJOR LOCAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS.
THE GROUP WILL HAVE DISCUSSIONS AT THE HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TOMORROW (TUESDAY) BEFORE LEAVING HONG KONG IN THE EVENING.
-----0------
NEW OFFICE FOR FACTORY INSPECTORATE * * * *
THE THIRD DIVISIONAL INSPECTORATE DIVISION HAS
OFFICE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT’S FACTORY
„ „„ MOVED FROM THE FIRST FLOOR OF NEW RODNEY
BLOCK, QUEtNSwAY TO NEW PREMISES AT 4TH FLOOR, 198-200 ABERDEEN MAIN ROAD, ABERDEEN.
THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF THE NEW OFFICE ARE 5-520727 FOR FACTORY INSPECTORS AND 5-520723 FOR GENERAL ENQUIRIES.
-------0---------
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF STUBBS ROAD ROUNDABOUT
*****
MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED THAT THE SECTION OF STUBBS ROAD FROM STUBBS ROAD/TAI HANG ROAD ROUNDABOUT TO ABOUT 300 METRES NORTH OF THE ROUNDABOUT WILL BE TEMPORARILY
TO 5.30 AM ON FEBRUARY 19 - 21, 26 TO FACILITATE CONSTRUCTION WORK.
CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM 12.30 AM - 28 AND ON MARCH 3 AND 4
DURING THE TEMPORARY CLOSURE, HANG ROAD, WHILE MOTORISTS WISHING
TRAFFIC WILL BE DIVERTED TO TAI
- ■- TO GO TO TUNG SHAN TERRACE AND
CRAIGMONT MAY USE QUEEN’S ROAD EAST AND STUBBS ROAD.
TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL EE PUT UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
------o--------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL 5-233191
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1981
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
PARKING CHARGES TO GO UP....................................... 1
GOVERNMENT TO IMPROVE TRANSPORT IN TUEN MUN ................... 2
314M SHA TIN CONTRACT SIGNED................................... 4
SURVEY ON RETAIL TRENDS ....................................... 4
INDUSTRIAL STANDARDISATION IN JAPAN ........................... 5
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL IN YUEN LONG ............................ 6
DMC TO CLEAR ILLEGAL STRUCTURES ............................... 7
NEW TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN HUNG HOM .......................... 8
GOVERNMENT SCHOLARSHIPS FCR YOUNG PEOPLE ...................... 8
HALF-DAY WORKSHOPS ON SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHING ................. 9
BANKER TOURS SHA TIN.......................................... 10
NEW YEAR PARTY FOR KWAI CHUNG OLD PEOPLE...................... 11
WINNERS OF INDUSTRIAL QUIZ ................................... 11
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1981
1
PARKING CHARGES TO GO UP
*****
PARKING METER CHARGES ARE TO BE INCREASED - BUT NOT UNREALISTICALLY AND NOT FOR SOME TIME.
ALSO, NEW AND MORE SECURE METERS WILL REPLACE EXISTING ONES, AND NEW METERS WILL BE INTRODUCED LATER TO THE NEW TOWNS.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED TODAY (TUESDAY) IT WOULD NOT BE BEFORE JULY THAT THE NEW RATES COME INTO EFFECT - THE FIRST INCREASE IN METER CHARGES SINCE 1973.
HE SAID CHARGES WOULD BE REVISED ALONG THE FOLLOWING LINESj
EXISTING RATE NEW RATE MAXIMUM PERIOD
50 CENTS PER TWO HOURS $1 PER HOUR ONE OR TWO HOURS
93 CENTS PER HOUR $1 PER HOUR ONE OR TWO HOURS
93 CENTS PER HALF HOUR $2 PER HOUR HALF HOUR OR TWO HOURS
$1 PER HALF HOUR S2 PER HOUR HALF HOUR OR TWO HOURS
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE REVISION WOULD GIVE AN AVERAGE METER RATE OF $1 TO $2 PER HOUR, COMPARED WITH THE EXISTING RATE OF BETWEEN 25 CENTS AND $2 PER HOUR.
HE SAID: +THE INCREASES ARE AIMED AT RESTORING THE RELATIVITY BETWEEN OFF-STREET AND ON-STREET PARKING CHARGES. THE IDEA IS TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO USE OFF-STREET CARPARKS WHERE THEY ARE AVAILABLE, AND TO LEAVE MORE KERBSIDE SPACE FOR THE CIRCULATION OF TRAFFIC.*
IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT CONDUCTED A METER UTILISATION SURVEY ON HONG KONG ISLAND AND IN KOWLOON. THE RESULTS SHOWED THAT APART FROM CENTRAL DURING THE EVENING WHEN DEMEND FOR SPACES WAS LOW, AVAILABILITY WAS SIGNIFICANTLY BELOW THE DESIRED 15 PER CENT LEVEL AT MOST TIMES OF THE DAY.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE NEW METER CHARGES WERE LOWER THAN THOSE FOR OFF-STREET PARKING, THE MOST COMMON RATE FOR WHICH WAS NOW $3 PER HOUR DURING THE DAY AND $1 PER HOUR DURING THE NIGHT. PRIVATE CAR PARKS CHARGED BETWEEN $3 AND $5 PER HOUR.
A THREE-YEAR PROGRAMME TO RESTORE, REPLACE AND EXPAND THE NUMBER OF PARKING METERS HAS BEEN DEVISED.
IN 1981-82 SOME 1 600 NEW METERS WILL BE RESTORED TO AREAS FROM WHICH THEY WERE WITHDRAWN IN 1979, ANOTHER 7 800 OLD METERS WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEW AND MORE SECURE METERS, AND 3 500 NEW METERS WILL BE INTRODUCED TO OTHER PARTS OF THE URBAN AREA.
IN 1982-83 A FURTHER 4 000 NEW METERS WILL BE INTRODUCED TO THE NEW TOWNS.
/AND IN ...
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1981
AND IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR PARKING METER OPERATIONS WILL BE EXTENDED TO SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT IN ADDITION TO REPLACING ALL EXISTING NETERS WITH NEW AND +SAFER+ ONES, SECURITY WOULD ALSO BE IMPROVED BY COLLECTING METER MONEY DAILY, RATHER THAN TWO OR THREE TIMES A WEEK AS AT PRESENT.
HE SAID THE DELIVERY OF NECESSARY EQUIPMENT WOULD TAKE ABOUT FOUR MONTHS. THEREFORE, THE ROAD TRAFFIC (PARKING AND WAITING) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1981 WHICH PROVIDE FOR THE NEW METER CHARGES WOULD COME INTO EFFECT ON JULY 1.
+BUT,+ HE SAID, +AS THE WHOLE RECALIBRATION AND INSTALLATION EXERCISE WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO COMPLETE AFTER THAT DATE, THE PUBLIC WILL NOT HAVE TO PAY THE NEW CHARGES UNTIL THEY APPEAR ON THE STREET, AS IT WERE. THIS WILL BE IN STAGES.+
0 - -
GOVERNMENT TO IMPROVE TRANSPORT IN TUEN MUN * * * * *
GOVERNMENT IS DETERMINED TO IMPROVE THE TRANSPORT SITUATION IN TUEN MUN, BOTH FOR INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS AND EXTERNAL COMMUTING.
THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR BILLIE LAM, SAID THIS TODAY (TUESDAY) DURING A SPEECH TO THE CITY LIONS CLUB OF HONG KONG.
MR LAM SAID PRIORITY ATTENTION WAS BEING GIVEN BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT AND KOWLOON MOTOR BUS COMPANY IN IMPROVING THE FREQUENCY OF THE 10 EXISTING BUS ROUTES PLYING BETWEEN TUEN MUN AND THE URBAN AREAS.
A FLEET OF 33 DOUBLE DECKERS, EACH WITH SEATING CAPACITY FOR 120, WAS BEING DEPLOYED TO SERVE TUEN MUN AND URBAN KOWLOON ROUTES.
THE DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD, WHICH MONITORS THE SITUATION WITH THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT AND THE DISTRICT OFFICE, HAD AGREED TO A TENTATIVE TARGET OF HAVING 20 MINUTES AS THE MAXIMUM WAITING TIME, WHICH SHOULD BE IMPROVED AS AND WHEN MORE BUSES WERE INTRODUCED AND WHICH WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO DETERIORATE EVEN WITH THE CONTINUOUS GROWTH OF POPULATION.
MR LAM SAID WORK WOULD NOW START ON A TEMPORARY PIER TO PROVIDE FOR FERRIES TO OPERATE FROM TUEN MUN TO BOTH KOWLOON AND HONG KONG BY AUGUST.
+INITIALLY, IT IS EXPECTED THAT DOUBLE-DECKER FERRIES CAPABLE OF CARRYING 600 OR MORE PASSENGERS WILL PLY BETWEEN TUEN MUN AND MEI FOO, AND AN HOURLY HOVERCRAFT SERVICE WITH A JOURNEY TIME OF 30 MINUTES WILL PLY BETWEEN CENTRAL AND TUEN MUN,+ MR LAM SAID.
+THE ROUTES AND FREQUENCIES ARE BEING FINALISED AND WILL BE REVIEWED IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE.*
THE COMPLETION OF THE MTR EXTENSION TO TSUEN WAN BY MID-1982 AND THE SIX-LANE TUEN MUN HIGHWAY BY LATE 1982 WOULD CERTAINLY FURTHER IMPROVE EXTERNAL TRANSPORT BETWEEN TUEN MUN AND THE URBAN AREAS, A PROBLEM WHICH WOULD GRADUALLY DIMINISH AS THE TOWN BECAME SELF-CONTAINED.
/MR LAM
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1981
MR LAM REVEALED THAT DETAILED NEGOTIATION, NOW REACHING ITS FINAL STAGE, WAS BEING CONDUCTED BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND A PRIVATE COMPANY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A LIGHT RAIL TRANSPORT SYSTEM WITHIN TUEN MUN.
♦IT IS EXPECTED THAT PROPOSALS WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL FOR A DECISION WITHIN THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS, AFTER WHICH, IF THE DECISION IS TO PROCEED WITH THE PROPOSAL, THE FIRST STAGE OF TUEN MUN’S INTERNAL TRANSPORT NET-WORK IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY 1984,+ MR LAM SAID.
+SUBJECT TO GOVERNMENT’S ACCEPTANCE, THE COMPANY MAY BE RUNNING AN INTERIM BUS SERVICE IN TUEN MUN BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR.
+MEANWHILE, SPECIAL RESERVE FOR THE LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE IN SOME PARTS OF THE TOWN AND PLANNING IS UNDERWAY FOR ITS RAPID IMPLEMENTATION.
+WITH ALL THESE IMPROVEMENTS IN HAND, I CAN ASSURE PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES THAT THEY NEED NOT UNDULY WORRY ABOUT POSSIBLE TRANSPORT PROBLEMS WHEN THEY OPEN THEIR FACTORIES AND OFFICES IN TUEN MUN OR MOVE THEIR HOMES INTO THIS BOOMING NEW T0WN.+
MR LAM SAID SUCH A MASSIVE PROGRAMME CARRIED THE POTENTIAL FOR CAUSING SERIOUS DISRUPTION TO LOCAL RESIDENTS WHO HAD TO BE CLEARED AND REHOUSED TO MAKE WAY FOR DEVELOPMENT.
FORTUNATELY, HOWEVER, TUEN MUN WAS BLESSED WITH ACTIVE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY LEADERS AND AN EFFECTIVE RURAL COMMITTEE, WHOSE KNOWLEDGE AND ATTACHMENT TO THE DISTRICT, AS WELL AS THEIR MORAL AND PRACTICAL CONTRIBUTION AND SUPPORT, HAD HELPED BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE.
+THEY HAVE ALSO HELPED IRON OUT THE MANY TEETHING PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW TOWN, THUS ELIMINATING AND MINIMISING THE MANY HUMAN PROBLEMS WHICH MIGHT HAVE OTHERWISE ARISEN DURING THIS PROCESS OF TRANSFORMAT ION,+ HE SAID.
MR LAM SAID TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD WOULD BEGIN IN APRIL WITH SIX OFFICIALS AND 11 APPOINTED UNOFFICIALS.
BY APRIL, 1982, AND AFTER ELECTIONS THE PRECEDING MONTH, IT WOULD CONSIST OF 17 UNOFFICIALS (EIGHT ELECTED, ONE EX-OFFICIO RURAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN AND EIGHT APPOINTED) AND SIX OFFICIALS.
FOR THE ELECTIONS TO BE CONDUCTED IN A YEAR’S TIME, THE DISTRICT WOULD BE DIVIDED INTO FOUR DOUBLE-MEMBER, GEOGRAPHICALLY WELL-DEFINED CONSTITUENCIES EACH WITH POPULATIONS VARYING FROM 35 ODO TO 60 000, COMPRISING RESIDENTS FROM TRADITIONAL RURAL VILLAGES, INDUSTRIAL AREAS AND THE RECENTLY COMPLETED PRIVATE AND PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES.
+OUR INTENTION IS TO INVOLVE RESIDENTS FROM DIFFERENT ORIGINS TO TAKE AN ACTIVE INTEREST IN RUNNING THEIR AFFAIRS AND TO ENCOURAGE POTENTIAL CANDIDATES, BOTH TRADITIONAL AND NEW-COMERS, TO SEEK ELECTION WITHOUT THE EXCLUSION OF EACH OTHER, THUS BLENDING BOTH THE INDIGENOUS AND NEWLY-ARRIVED POPULATIONS INTO A HARMONIOUS AND COHESIVE COMMUNITY, ALL CONTRIBUTING THEIR SHARE IN THE TOWN’S RUNNING AND OPERATION,* MR LAM SAID.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1981
- 4 -
SIAM SHA TIN CONTRACT SIGNED ******
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TODAY (TUESDAY) AWARDED A $14 MILLION CONTRACT TO TRULY CONSTRUCTION COMPANY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS AND DRAINAGE IN HUNG MUI KUK, SHA TIN NEW TOWN.
THE CONTRACT WAS SIGNED BY MR K.K. TANG, CHIEF ENGINEER CF THE SHA TIN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMPANY.
WORK WILL INCLUDE THE CONSTRUCTION OF ABOUT ONE KILOMETRE CF DISTRIBUTOR ROADS WITH ASSOCIATED DRAINS AND SEWERS, FOOTPATHS, A PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLIST SUBWAY AND AN ACCESS ROAD FROM TIN SAM NULLAH ROAD.
ON COMPLETION, THE ROADS WILL PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE AREA WHERE RESIDENTIAL BLOCKS WILL BE DEVELOPED TO HOUSE ABOUT 2 OOO PEOPLE AND A PRIVATE HOSPITAL WITH 600 BEDS IS PLANNED.
THE PROJECT, WHICH FORMS PART OF STAGE II OF THE NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT, WILL TAKE ABOUT 12 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
THE WORKS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTION WILL BE SUPERVISED BY MAUNSELL CONSULTANTS ASIA, CONSULTING ENGINEERS FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
------o-------
SURVEY ON RETAIL TRENDS
*****
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT IS CONDUCTING A MONTHLY SURVEY TO PROVIDE ESTIMATES OF THE LEVELS AND TRENDS OF RETAIL SALES.
THE INFORMATION COLLECTED WILL SERVE AS AN INDICATOR OF CURRENT ECONOMIC TRENDS GENERALLY AND OF CONSUMER SPENDING IN PARTICULAR.
QUESTIONNAIRES WERE SENT TO SOME 1 000 RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS SELECTED ON A SAMPLE BASIS TO SOLICIT MONTHLY SALES FIGURES FOR JANUARY 1981.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY RESPONDENTS WERE REQUESTED TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THE QUESTIONNAIRES TO THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ON OR BEFORE FEBRUARY 28.
HE ALSO APPEALED TO MANAGEMENTS OF THE SELECTED ESTABLISHMENTS FOR THEIR CO-OPERATION IN RETURNING THE COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRES PROMPTLY.
+ALL INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY INDIVIDUAL ESTABLISHMENTS WILL BE TREATED IN THE STRICTEST CONFIDENCE, AND ONLY AGGREGATE INFORMATION WHICH DOES NOT REVEAL THE DETAILS OF ANY INDIVIDUAL ESTABLISHMENT, WILL BE PUBLISHED,* HE SAID. . .
iLISHXENTS
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1981
- 5 -
ESTABLISHMENTS ENCOUNTERING DIFFICULTY IN COMPLETING THE QUESTIONNAIRE SHOULD CONTACT THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT AT 5-455422 OR 5-455255.
CENSUS AND SURVEY OFFICERS, CARRYING GOVERNMENT IDENTITY CARDS WHILE ON DUTY, ARE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST ESTABLISHMENTS.
------0-------
INDUSTRIAL STANDARDISATION IN JAPAN * * * *
THE COMMISSIONER OF INDUSTRY, MR LAWRENCE MILLS, TODAY (TUESDAY) EMPHASISED THE POTENTIAL BENEFIT TO HONG KONG’S TRADE WITH JAPAN BY THE RECENT REVISION OF THE JAPANESE INDUSTRIAL STANDARDISATION LAW.
THE JAPANESE INDUSTRIAL STANDARDS (JIS) MARKING SYSTEM, THE QUALITY MARKING SCHEME OF JAPAN, PREVIOUSLY RESTRICTED TO JAPANESE GOODS, IS NOW OPEN TO MANUFACTURERS OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY.
OPENING THE SEMINAR ON INDUSTRIAL STANDARDISATION IN JAPAN AT THE NEW WORLD HOTEL, MR MILLS SAID THE JIS MARKING SYSTEM COVERED A WIDE RANGE OF PRODUCTS.
♦THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT THAT THOSE BEARING THE ’JIS MARK’ FIND MUCH GREATER ACCEPTANCE WITH THE JAPANESE CONSUMER THAN THOSE WITHOUT, AND THIS FACT MAY WELL HAVE SERVED AS A TECHNICAL BARRIER TO HONG KONG MANUFACTURERS WISHING TO EXPORT TO JAPAN.
♦THE BASIC REASONS FOR PRODUCT STANDARDS ARE WELL KNOWN AND APPRECIATED,* SAID MR MILLS, +BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT SUCH REQUIREMENTS CAN, AND SOMETIMES DO, ACT AS ARTIFICIAL AND UNINTENTIONAL BARRIERS TO TRADE.*
FOR THE FIRST TIME, HE SAID, MANUFACTURERS IN HONG KONG CAN OBTAIN QUALITY CERTIFICATION OF THEIR PRODUCTS UNDER THE JIS MARKING SYSTEM WITH A VIEW TO GAINING ACCESS TO THE JAPANESE MARKET.
THE REVISION OF THE JAPANESE INDUSTRIAL STANDARDISATION LAW BY THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT IS IN LINE WITH THE GATT AGREEMENT ON TECHNICAL BARRIERS TO TRADE.
CONGRATULATING THE ORGANISERS OF THE SEMINAR, MR MILLS UNDERLINED THE IMPORTANCE WHICH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ATTACHED TO THE EVENT: +OUR EXPORT-ORIENTED ECONOMY MAKES US ACUTELY AWARE CF THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING CONVERSANT WITH, AND ABLE TO MEET, THE PRODUCT STANDARD REQUIREMENTS OF OUR OVERSEAS MARKETS.
+THIS ALONE WOULD BE JUSTIFICATION FOR THE GOVERNMENT’S WHOLE-HEARTED SUPPORT,* MR MILLS CONTINUED.
+EUT THIS PARTICULAR EVENT HAS AN ADDITIONAL SIGNIFICANCE. IT DEMONSTRATES IN A PRACTICAL WAY THE FURTHER STRENGTHENING OF TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL CO-OPERATION BETWEEN JAPAN AND HONG KONG WHICH HAS BEEN GIVEN SUCH STIMULUS BY THE HONG KONG/JAPAN BUSINESS CO-OPERATION COMMITTEES,* HE ADDED.
/THE HALF-DAY...
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1981
- 6 -
THE HALF-DAY SEMINAR- INTENDED TO PROVIDE SENIOR MANAGEMENT IN INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT WITH AN INSIGHT INTO THE JIS MARKING SYSTEM AND THE ENERGY SAVING POLICY OF JAPAN THROUGH STANDARDISATION — WAS ORGANISED BY THE JAPANESE STANDARDS ASSOCIATION, THE JAPAN TRADE CENTRE HONG KONG (JETRO), THE CHINESE MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG, AND THE HONG KONG STANDARDS AND TESTING CENTRE OF THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES.
------0-------
ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL IN YUEN LONG
*****
AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SECTION HAS BEEN SET UP IN YUEN LONG DISTRICT OFFICE TO STRENGTHEN CONTROL ON BREACHES OF CROWN LEASE CONDITIONS AND HELP REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION IN THE DISTR ICT.
STAFF OF THE SECTION ARE CARRYING OUT INSPECTIONS OF BUILDINGS TO UNCOVER THESE BREACHES.
ILLEGAL TEMPORARY STRUCTURES WILL BE DEMOLISHED BY THE SQUATTER CONTROL SECTION.
STAFF OF THE SECTION WILL ALSO TAKE ACTION AGAINST CONTRAVENTIONS IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:
* OPERATION OF ANY RISK AND OFFENSIVE INDUSTRIES INSIDE BUILDINGS, SUCH AS WORKSHOPS WITH HEAVY EQUIPMENTSCAR-SPRAY I NG- PLASTIC AND RUBBER PRODUCTS MANUFACTURINGWIG MAKING- DYEING INDUSTRIES- AND COLD STORAGE
ESTABLISHMENTS,
* ANY FORM OF INDUSTRIAL OPERATION INSIDE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS,
* ILLEGAL EXTENSIONS, SUCH AS BALCONIES AND STRUCTURES ON TERRACES AND ROOFTOPS,
* STALLS, STRUCTURES AND STORED GOODS IN ALLEYS OR ON PAVEMENTS.
STAFF OF THE SECTION ARE EMPOWERED TO ENTER ANY BUILDING WHERE A CONTRAVENTION IS SUSPECTED.
A SPOKESMAN FOR YUEN LONG DISTRICT OFFICE TODAY (TUESDAY) URGED YUEN LONG RESIDENTS TO CO-OPERATE IN THE DRIVE AGAINST CONTRAVENTIONS OF LEASE CONDITIONS.
HE APPEALED TO BUYERS AND TENANTS OF LOCAL PROPERTIES TO ACQUAINT THEMSELVES WITH THE LEASE CONDITIONS OF THE BUILDINGS AND NOT TO MODIFY THE USE OF THEIR BUILDINGS, CONSTRUCT ANY EXTENSION OR UNDERTAKE ANY EXPANSION WITHOUT AUTHORISATION.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1981
- 7 -
DMC TO CLEAR ILLEGAL STRUCTURES
K H M If *
THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE IS ORGANISING AN OPERATION ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 19) TO CLEAR UNAUTHORISED STRUCTURES IN THE INDUSTRIAL AREA OF THE DISTRICT.
THE OPERATION WILL BE CARRIED OUT IN THE REAR LANES BOUNDED BY TSUN YIP STREET, HUNG TO ROAD, HOW MING STREET AND HOI YUEN ROAD.
THE SENIOR EXECUTIVE OFFICER (ENVIRONMENT CONTROL) OF THE KWUN TONG CITY DISTRICT OFFICE, MR ERIC CHOI SAID THE LANES WERE SERIOUSLY BLOCKED BY ILLEGAL STRUCTURES BUILT CLOSELY TO FACTORY PREMISES.
+IN CASE OF FIRE, THE STRUCTURES COULD BE OBSTRUCTING PEOPLE FROM USING THESE LANES AS ESCAPE ROUTES,* HE SAID.
THE CLEARANCE OPERATION WILL BE THE SECOND IN A SERIES CARRIED OUT IN KWUN TONG TO CONTROL AND REMOVE ALL UNLAWFUL STRUCTURES WHICH MAY CAUSE POTENTIAL HAZARDS TO LIVES AND PROPERTIES.
THE FIRST WAS IN DECEMBER IN THE REAR LANE OF TING YIP STREET IN NGAU TAU KOK WHERE MORE THAN 30 UNAUTHORISED STRUCTURES WERE REMOVED.
♦WE HOPE TO GRADUALLY REMOVE THESE OBSTRUCTIONS FROM REAR LANES IN KWUN TONG TO IMPROVE THE GENERAL ENVIRONMENT IN THE DISTRICT,* MR CHOI SAID.
♦FACTORY OWNERS CAN ALSO ASSIST GOVERNMENT IN MAINTAINING THE LANES IN GOOD CONDITION BY REPORTING IMMEDIATELY OF ANY ILLEGAL OCCUPATION,+ HE ADDED.
THE CLEARANCE OPERATION ON THURSDAY WILL BE CARRIED OUT WITH ASSISTANCE FROM OTHER DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HOUSING DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE.
NOTE TO ED I TORSi
YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO COVER THE CLEARANCE OPERATION ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 19) AT 9 AM IN THE REAR LANES BOUNDED BY TSUN YIP STREET, HUNG TO ROAD, HOW MING STREET AND HOI YUEN ROAD IN KWUN TONG.
------o ------
/£....
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1981
- 8 -
NEW TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN HUNG HOM * * * *
NEW TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN HUNG HOM FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 20) TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC CIRCULATION IN THE AREA. _
UNDER THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS, ALL VEHICLES WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM MAKING RIGHT TURNS FROM MA TAU WAI ROAD NORTHBOUND INTO HOK YUEN STREET AND FROM MA TAU WAI ROAD SOUTHBOUND INTO FAT KWONG STREET.
HOK YUEN STREET EAST OF MA TAU WAI ROAD, MAIN LOK STREET AND MAN YUE STREET WILL BE RE-ROUTED FROM TWO-WAY TO ONE-WAY TRAFFIC IN CLOCKWISE DIRECTION.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS OF ROADS WILL BE DESIGNATED URBAN CLEARWAYS:
* MA TAU WAI ROAD FRCM THE END OF THE EXISTING URBAN CLEARWAY RESTRICTION ZONE BETWEEN WUHU STREET AND FAT KWONG STREET TO 20 METRES NORTH OF ITS JUNCTION WITH HOK YUEN STREET-
HOK YUEN STREET FROM MA TAU WAI ROAD TO CHUN TIN STREET- AND
X A 30-METRE SECTION OF MAN YUE STREET FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH MA TAU WAI ROAD.
WITHIN THE CLEARWAYS, NO VEHICLES, EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES, WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS FROM 7 AM TO 10 AM AND FROM 4 PM TO 7 PM DAILY.
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE PUT UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
------0-------
GOVERNMENT SCHOLARSHIPS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE * * * * *
THE GOVERNMENT IS OFFERING FOUR SCHOLARSHIPS TO YOUNG LOCAL RESIDENTS FOR TRAINING IN THE UNITED KINGDOM OR AUSTRALIA IN THE 1981/82 FINANCIAL YEAR.
THE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE FOR A THREE-YEAR DIPLOMA COURSE IN CHIROPODY, A FOUR-YEAR BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE COURSE IN SPEECH SCIENCES, A ONE-YEAR MASTER OF SCIENCE COURSt IN AUDIOLOGY AND A THREE-YEAR DIPLOMA COURSE IN DIETETICS.
THEY WILL COVER TUITION AND EXAMINATION FEES, RETURN AIR PASSAGES, BOOKS, AMD A MAINTENANCE ALLOWANCE FOR BOARD AD LODGING.
A SPOKCSVAN FCR THE CIVIL SERVICE TRAININ? DIVISION SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) CANDIDATES WHO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE TRAINING WILL PE CONSID-~ED FOR APPOINTMENT AS CHIROPODIST, SPEtCH THERAPIST, AUDIOLOGIST AND DIETICIAN IN THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH
DEPARTMENT.
/APPLICANTS FC® .....
TUESDAY, FEBRUABY 17, 1981
- 9 -
APPLICANTS FOR THE SCHOLARSHIPS MUST EITHER BE BORN IN HONG KONG OR HAVE RESIDED HERE FOR NOT LESS THAN SEVEN YEARS. THEY SHOULD PREFERABLY BE UNMARRIED AND NOT OVER 30 YEARS OF AGE BY THE TIME THEY COMPLETE THE COURSES.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID FEMALE APPLICANTS ARE PREFERRED FOR COURSES IN CHIROPODY AND DIETETICS BECAUSE THEY OFTEN SHOW GREATER PATIENCE OF WORK IN THESE TWO FIELDS.
FURTHER INFORMATION AND APPLICATION FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE TRAINING DIVISION, 17TH FLOOR, WING ON CENTRE, CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL (TEL. 5-448133).
COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS MUST BE DIVISION NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 28.
-----0------
HALF-DAY WORKSHOPS ON SOCIAL
*****
RETURNED TO THE TRAINING
STUDIES TEACHING
IN-SERVICE TEACHERS WILL BE ABLE TO ATTEND WORKSHOPS NEXT MONTH TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NEW SOCIAL STUDIES SYLLABUS INTRODUCED INTO FORMS I TO III.
THE WORKSHOPS WILL BE IN THE AFTERNOONS ON MARCH 6 AND 20, AND WILL INCLUDE SHORT TALKS, DISCUSSIONS AND DISPLAY OF SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHING MATERIALS. TALKS WILL BE CONDUCTED IN ENGLISH AND DISCUSSIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED IN BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE.
DISCUSSIONS WILL INCLUDE TOPICS ON HOW TO SOLVE PROBLEMS WHEN IMPLEMENTING SOCIAL STUDIES IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS, HOW TO COLLECT INFORMATION AND ARRANGE MATERIALS FOR THE TEACHING OF SOCIAL STUDIES AND HOW TO PLAN STUDENTS’ EXERCISES AND TEACHING KITS.
THE TWO WORKSHOPS WILL BE AT THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S ADVISORY INSPECTORATE TEACHING CENTRE, THIRD FLOOR, 4 PAK FUK ROAD, NORTH POINT, HONG KONG.
APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE SENT BEFORE FEBRUARY 25 TO THE SENIOR INSPECTOR, SOCIAL STUDIES AND HEALTH EDUCATION SECTION, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, LEE GARDENS, FIFTH FLOOR, CAUSEWAY BAY, HONG KONG.
THE WORKSHOPS HAVE BEEN ORGANISED BY THE SOCIAL STUDIES AND HEALTH EDUCATION SECTION AND THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL STUDIES EDUCATION. -------------------------------0--------
/10....
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1981
10
BANKER TOURS SHA TIN
* * *
MR REUBEN STERNFELD, EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE INTER-AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK, TODAY TOURED SHA TIN NEW TOWN TO SEE SOME OF THE PROJECTS BEING BUILT WITH LOANS FROM THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (ADB).
THE INTER-AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK IS THE EQUIVALENT OF THE ADB IN THE UNITED STATES.
MR STERNFELD, ON A FOUR-DAV VISIT TO HONG KONG, WAS ACCOMPANIED ON THE TOUR BY MR KENNETH KWOK, PROJECT MANAGER (SHA TIN), OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
AMONG THE PROJECTS VISITED WERE THE SHA TIN TEACHING HOSPITAL AND THE SHA TIN SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS.
THE HOSPITAL, PARTLY FINANCED BY THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK, WILL PROVIDE A FULL RANGE OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH FACILITIES WITH GENERAL AND SPECIALIST SERVICES.
IT WILL ALSO BE THE TEACHING HOSPITAL FOR THE MEDICAL FACULTY OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, PROVIDING CLINICAL TRAINING FACILITIES FOR 300 MEDICAL STUDENTS.
WORK ON THE PROJECT IS ABOUT 30 PER CENT COMPLETE. WHEN FULLY COMPLETED LATE NEXT YEAR, THE S425 MILLION HOSPITAL WILL HAVE 1 400 BEDS TO AUGMENT HOSPITAL FACILITIES FOR 700 000 PEOPLE IN THE EASTERN AREA OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE SHA TIN SEWAGE TREATMENT WORKS, WHICH IS ALSO PARTLY FINANCED BY THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK, WILL PROVIDE FULL BIOLOGICAL TREATMENT TO SEWAGE.
WORK ON THE PROJECT IS NOW IN FULL SWING AND INLET WORKS ARE EXPECTED TO BE COMMISSIONED FOR SCREENING AND DEGRITTING BY THE END OF NEXT MONTH.
THIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE COMMISSIONING OF THE SEDIMENTATION, SLUDGE HOLDING TANKS TOGETHER WITH THE CENTRIFUGE HOUSE AND THE SUBMARINE OUTFALL IN OCTOBER.
WHEN FULLY COMMISSIONED NEXT YEAR, THE FIRST STAGE OF THE TREATMENT WORKS, COSTING ABOUT $310 MILLION, WILL SERVE A POPULATION OF ABOUT 230 000 IN THE NEW TOWN.
MR STERNFELD, WHO ARRIVED OVER THE WEEKEND, HAD TALKS YESTERDAY WITH PWD’S DIRECTOR OF BUILDING DEVELOPMENT, MR JOHN AITKEN-DIRECTOR OF NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT, MR JOHN DON AND DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT, MR NICKY CHAN.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1981
NOTE TO EDITORS:
NEW YEAR PARTY FOR KWAI CHUNG OLD PEOPLE * * * *
ONE THOUSAND KWAI CHUNG RESIDENTS AGED OVER 70 WILL ATTEND A NEW YEAR PARTY AT FU LAI WAH RESTAURANT, 482 CASTLE PEAK ROAD, ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 19) AT 4 PM.
OFFICIATING AT THE PARTY, ORGANISED BY KWAI CHUNG TOWN MANAGEMENT OFFICE AND THE HONG KONG SOCIETY FOR THE AGED, WILL BE TSUEN WAN TOWN MANAGER, DR JAMES HAYES, HONG KONG SOCIETY FOR THE AGED CHAIRMAN, MRS KITTY SIU AND SPONSOR OF THE EVENT, MR YUEN KWOK-WAH.
YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE PARTY. A GOVERNMENT VEHICLE WILL LEAVE KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER AT 2.45 PM TO TAKE THE PRESS TO KWAI CHUNG. MR DONALD STRANGE OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION PRESS UNIT WILL BE PRESENT TO ASSIST MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES.
o - -
WINNERS OF INDUSTRIAL QUIZ * * * *
WINNERS OF THE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY QUIZ COMPETITION, ORGANISED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, THE HONG KONG DAILY NEWS AND REDIFFUSION LTD., WERE PRESENTED WITH PRIZES TODAY (TUESDAY).
THE FIRST PRIZE — TWO RETURN AIR TICKETS TO THE PHILIPPINES PLUS FREE FOOD AND LODGING, BY COURTESY OF HONG KONG DAILY — WAS WON BY MR LEE KWOK-PO.
THE SECOND PRIZE (A TELEVISION SET) AND THE THIRD PRIZE (A WRIST WATCH) WENT TO MR SUNNY MA MAN-FAI AND MISS TSE FUNG-CHUN RESPECTIVELY.
THE FIRST THREE PRIZES WERE PRESENTED BY THE CHIEF EDITOR OF THE HONG KONG DAILY, MR JOSEPH LAW.
THE RTV SPECIAL PRIZE OF A MINIATURE GOLD SAFETY HELMET WAS PRESENTED TO MISS NG MO-HA BY RTV’S SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE MANAGING DIRECTOR, MRS ELEANOR MORRIS.
THE LUCKY PRIZES OF RADIO SETS WERE PRESENTED BY THE DEPARTMENT’S DEPUTY CHIEF FACTORY INSPECTOR, MR YIP YUK-LUN.
THE LAST SERIES OF THE COMPETITION IS IN PROGRESS WITH SAFETY HINT QUESTIONNAIRES BEING PUBLISHED IN THE HONG KONG DAILY.
- - 0 -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1981
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
POLL CARDS FOR URBAN COUNCIL ELECTION .......................... 1
POPULAR DEMAND FOR PREVOCATICNAL EDUCATION ..................... 1
SURVEYS ON SERVICES INDUSTRY ................................... J
ORDERS-ON-HAND STATISTICS FOR DECEMBER ......................... 4
SHA TIN GETS TOWN HALL ......................................... 5
VARIETY SHOW TO CELEBRATE FIRST FULL MOON FESTIVAL .... 6
KCR TIMETABLES REVISED.......................................... 6
RESERVOIRS TO BOOST SUPPLIES ................................... 7
NEW DUMP NEAR TAMAR
7
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1981
1 -
POLL CARDS FOR URBAN COUNCIL ELECTION ******
A TOTAL OF 34 381 POLL CARDS SPECIALLY DESIGNED TO FACILITATE THE SPEEDY ISSUE OF BALLOT PAPERS TO VOTERS ON URBAN COUNCIL ELECTION DAY, THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 1981 WILL BE IN THE POST TOMORROW (THURSDAY).
THIS WAS ANNOUNCED BY MR KUO KET-CHEN, REGISTRATION OFFICER, URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS.
EACH CARD WILL BEAR THE VOTER’S ELECTORAL NUMBER, HIS NAME, AND ADDRESS OF THE POLLING STATION AT WHICH HE IS REGISTERED TO VOTE.
MR KUO REMINDED VOTERS THAT IN ORDER TO VOTE WITH THE MINIMUM OF DELAY, THEY SHOULD PRODUCE THEIR POLL CARDS AS WELL AS IDENTITY CARDS TO THE STAFF AT THE POLLING STATION.
+IF AN ELECTOR IS UNABLE TO PRODUCE HIS POLL CARD, HE IS STILL ENTITLED TO VOTE PROVIDED THAT HIS NAME APPEARS ON THE 1981 FINAL REGISTER OF ELECTORS AND HE IS ABLE TO IDENTIFY HIMSELF TO THE SATISFACTION OF THE PRESIDING OFFICER, BUT THIS WILL NO DOUBT CAUSE INCONVENIENCE,+ HE ADDED.
♦ IF VOTERS HAVE MOVED THEIR RESIDENCES SINCE THE COMPILATION OF THE FINAL REGISTER AND HAVE NOT NOTIFIED THE REGISTRATION OFFICER OF THE CHANGE, IT IS LIKELY THAT THEIR POLL CARDS WILL BE RETURNED TO THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS OFFICE.+
ANY PERSON WHOSE NAME APPEARS ON THE FINAL REGISTER BUT WHO DOES NOT RECEIVE HIS POLL CARD WITHIN THREE DAYS MAY CONTACT MR LI KENG-HEI AT TELEPHONE NUMBER 5-769567 SO THAT ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE FOR A POLL CARD TO BE DELIVERED TO HIM BEFORE ELECTION DAY.
ENQUIRIES MAY ALSO BE MADE IN PERSON AT 7TH FLOOR, 4 SUNNING ROAD, KA CHEONG BUILDING, CAUSEWAY BAY, HONG KONG.
------o-------
POPULAR DEMAND FOR PREVOCATIONAL EDUCATION ******
MORE AND MORE PARENTS AND PUPILS ARE TURNING TO PREVOCATIONAL EDUCATION TO MEET THE NEW PATTERN OF SOCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL LIFE IN HONG KONG, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR COLVYN HAYE, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MR HAYE WAS SPEAKING AT THE FOUNDATION STONE LAYING CEREMONY OF THE PO LEUNG KUK C.W. CHU PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOL AT TIN SAM, SHA TIN.
HE SAID THAT THE POPULARITY OF THIS TYPE OF EDUCATION WAS WELL ILLUSTRATED IN THE SECONDARY SCHOOL PLACES ALLOCATION SCHEME WHERE FOR EVERY FORM I PLACE IN A PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOL, THERE WERE SIX PRIMARY VI APPLICANTS.
/+NOT SO .....
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1981
2
♦NOT SO LONG AGO, PREVOCATIONAL EDUCATION WAS VIEWED BY PARENTS WITH SUSPICION. THEY SAW IT AS A DEAD-END, A BLEAK PROMISE OF NOTHING MORE THAN A MONOTONOUS JOB IN A FACTORY.
+THAT THINKING HAS NOW CHANGED AS PARENTS SEE WITH THEIR OWN EYES THE VARIED DEMAND FOR SKILLED CRAFTSMEN AND TECHNICIANS IN INDUSTRY,* MR HAYE SAID.
FOR THE LESS ACADEMIC INCLINED PUPILS, THIS FORM OF EDUCATION OFFERS AN ATTRACTIVE ALTERNATIVE AS THEY CAN SEEK POST FORM III EDUCATION THROUGH THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND THE POLYTECHNIC.
AND FOR THOSE WHO ARE CAPABLE OF COMPLETING THEIR ACADEMIC EDUCATION, THERE ARE NOW OPPORTUNITIES FOR THIS IN PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOLS.
TO MEET POPULAR DEMAND FOR THIS TYPE OF EDUCATION, GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO BUILDING 12 MORE PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOLS, MAINLY IN THE NEW TOWNS, AT A COST OF ABOUT $200 MILLION. THESE SCHOOLS WILL BE COMING INTO STREAM BY 1982.
MR HAYE COMMENDED THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE KUK, FOR THEIR FORESIGHT IN BREAKING NEW GROUND IN THE DIVERSIFICATION OF THEIR SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY.
IN THE EDUCATION FIELD, THE KUK IS OPERATING 17 SCHOOLS -THREE SECONDARY, EIGHT PRIMARY, THREE SPECIAL AND THREE KINDERGARTENS.
♦THIS IS YOUR FIRST PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOL WHICH I AM SURE WILL NOT BE YOUR LAST. I AM ALSO CONFIDENT THAT YOU WILL OPERATE IT WITH GREAT SUCCESS AS WITH YOUR OTHER 17 SCHOOLS,+ MR HAYE SAID.
CONSTRUCTION WORK WILL START ON THE PO LEUNG KUK C.W. CHU PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOL WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WITH COMPLETION EXPECTED BY DECEMBER 1982. THE SCHOOL OCCUPIES A SITE OF ABOUT 5 480 SQUARE METRES.
CAPITAL COST OF THE PROJECT IS ESTIMATED AT $16 MILLION WITH AN EXTRA $1.6 MILLION REQUIRED FOR FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT.
THE SCHOOL WILL HAVE 25 CLASSROOMS WITH AN ENROLMENT OF ABOUT 1 000 PUPILS. IN ADDITION IT WILL HAVE A LARGE HALL, NINE WORKSHOPS AND A NUMBER OF SPECIAL ROOMS, EQUIPPED WITH MODERN MACHINERY.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1981
- 5 -
SURVEYS ON SERVICES INDUSTRY
*****
STARTING IN APRIL THIS YEAR THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT WILL UNDERTAKE A BENCHMARK ECONOMIC SURVEY OF STORAGE, COMMUNICATION, FINANCING, INSURANCE AND BUSINESS SERVICES ESTABLISHMENTS AND A MUCH SIMPLIFIED ECONOMIC SURVEY OF TRANSPORT ESTABLISHMENTS FOR THE YEAR 1980.
CENSUS AND STATISTICS ORDERS AUTHORISING THE CONDUCT OF THESE TWO SURVEYS WERE MADE BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL UNDER SECTION 11 OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS ORDINANCE ON JANUARY 27, 1981, AND WERE GAZETTED ON JANUARY 30, 1981.
TRADES AND SERVICES COVERED IN THESE TWO SURVEYS WILL INCLUDE»-
(A) STORAGE AND WAREHOUSING FACILITIES FOR HIRE BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC-
(B) POSTAL, TELEPHONE, TELEGRAPH, RADIO AND CABLE COMMUNICATION, MESSAGE DELIVERY AND MESSAGE EXCHANGE SERVICES"
(C) ALL FINANCE (EXCEPT BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES) AND INVESTMENT COMPANIES, LOAN, MORTGAGE AND DISCOUNT COMPANIES, DEALERS/BROKERS AND EXCHANGES IN STOCKS AND SHARES, COMMODITY FUTURES, GOLD BULLION AND FOREIGN EXCHANGES, PAWNSHOPS, MONEY CHANGERS, AND OTHER FINANCIAL UNDERTAKINGS-
(D) INSURERS, RE-INSURERS, AGENTS AND BROKERS OF ALL KINDS OF INSURANCE AND RELATED INSURANCE SERVICES-
(E) ACCOUNTING AND AUDITING, ADVERTISING, DATA PROCESSING, EMPLOYMENT AGENCY, EQUIPMENT LEASING AND MACHINERY RENTAL, LEGAL, NEWS AGENCY, SECRETARIAL AND OTHER BUSINESS SERVICES- AND
(F) TRANSPORTATION AND SUPPORTING SERVICES BY LAND, WATER OR AIR, TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT RENTAL AND AGENCIES, MANAGEMENT COMPANIES, BRANCH OR REPRESENTATIVE OFFICES OF ESTABLISHMENTS PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION SERVICES BY LAND, WATER OR AIR.
THE SURVEYS WILL GATHER DATA ON EMPLOYMENT, LABOUR COSTS, OTHER OPERATING COSTS, BUSINESS TURNOVER, CAPITAL EXPENDITURE AND CAPITAL STOCK. THESE STATISTICS ARE REQUIRED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN FORMULATING POLICIES.
IN ADDITION, THEY WILL PROVIDE BASIC DATA FOR A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE OPERATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SECTORS CONCERNED, AND FOR AN ASSESSMENT OF THE SECTORAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO HONG KONG’S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT.
ABOUT 16 000 ESTABLISHMENTS WILL BE SELECTED FOR THE SURVEYS OUT OF A TOTAL OF SOME 40 000 ESTABLISHMENTS. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS ORDERS, THOSE SELECTED FOR THE SURVEYS ARE LEGALLY OBLIGED TO COMPLETE THE SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE AND RETURN IT TO THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT BY JULY 31, 1981.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1981
4
ORDERS-ON-HAND STATISTICS FOR DECEMBER
***** THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY RELEASED
ORDERS-ON-HAND STATISTICS FOR DECEMBER 1980 AS FOLLOWS: DEC 1980
INDUSTRY GROUP DEC 1979 NOV 1980
WEARING APPAREL, EXCEPT FOOTWEAR 5.1 5.0 4.8
TEXTILE, EXCEPT WEARING APPAREL 3.2 2.3 2.2
PLASTIC PRODUCTS 4.2 3.6 3.8
FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS, EXCEPT
MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT 4.1 3.7 3.7
ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC MACHINERY,
APPARATUS, APPLIANCES AND SUPPLIES 5.1 5.0 5.0
OTHERS 3.9 3.6 3.8
ALL MANUFACTURING 4.5 4.2 4.2
THE GENERAL DECREASE IN ORDERS-ON-HAND COMPARED WITH 12 MONTHS AGO MAY NOT SUGGEST A SUBSTANTIAL DECLINE IN BUSINESS VOLUMES BUT RATHER A TENDENCY FOR ORDERS RECEIVED BY THE MANUFACTURERS SURVEYED TO HAVE BECOME SHORTER AND MORE FREQUENT.
THE ABOVE STATISTICS ARE BASED ON AN UPDATED AND ENLARGED PANEL OF THE 200 LARGEST MANUFACTURING COMPANIES SELECTED BY THEIR EMPLOYMENT SIZE IN SEPTEMBER 1979. AS THE PANEL IS NOT A SCIENTIFICALLY DESIGNED SAMPLE, RESULTS OBTAINED WILL BE REPRESENTATIVE ONLY OF THE COMPANIES INCLUDED IN THE PANEL, BUT IT IS HOPED THAT THEY WILL GENERALLY INDICATE THE DIRECTION OF CHANGE IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE.
THIS SURVEY, WHICH IS CONDUCTED MONTHLY, ALSO ASKS QUESTIONS ON EMPLOYMENT AND PAYROLL AND COVERS THE CONSTRUCTION AND SELECTED SERVICES SECTORS BESIDES MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY.
THE SURVEY REPORT FOR DECEMBER 1980 IS NOW ON SALE AT SI A COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE. ENQUIRIES ON THE SURVEY RESULTS MAY BE MADE TO THE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT (TELi 5-274203).
0
/5
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1981
- 5 -SHA TIN GETS TOWN HALL * * * *
WORK WILL START THIS YEAR ON A TOWN HALL FOR SHA TIN, THE DISTRICT OFFICER, DR PATRICK HASE, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
DR HASE, WHO WAS SPEAKING AT A SPRING FESTIVAL RECEPTION FOR 300 GUESTS, INCLUDING LOCAL LEADERS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, SAID WORK WOULD ALSO START THIS YEAR ON A SPORTSGROUND.
♦FURTHERMORE, THE SWIMMING POOL COMPLEX AND SQUASH COURTS CLOSE TO LEK YUEN ESTATE WILL BE PARTIALLY OPEN FOR USE BY MID-APRIL.+ HE SAID.
♦ I AM VERY PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THESE PROJECTS TODAY AS I AM FREQUENTLY BEING ASKED WHEN BETTER FACILITIES WILL BE READY IN SHA TIN,+ HE ADDED.
OUTLINING OTHER NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENTS, DR HASE SAID MA ON SHAN RECLAMATION WAS UNDER PLANNING AND WORK ON THE TAI PO COASTAL TRUNK ROAD WOULD START SOON TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW.
+A VILLAGE HOUSE LAYOUT PLAN IS READY AND DETAILS WILL BE DISCUSSED WITH THE RURAL COMMITTEE,+ DR HASE SAID.
♦THE PLAN PROVIDES FOR A GOOD LIVING ENVIRONMENT- PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO LIVE COMFORTABLY AND THUS FEEL A SENSE OF BELONGING TO THE NEW TOWN.+
BESIDES CONSTRUCTION WORK, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WORK WAS ALSO IMPORTANT. BOTH SHOULD BE INTER-DEPENDENT AND PROGRESS AT THE SAME PACE. GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WERE PLAYING THEIR PART IN THIS.
CLEAN-UP AND FIGHT-CRIME CAMPAIGN WOULD START THIS YEAR AND A FULL-SCALE ANT I-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN WOULD BE LAUNCHED IN A YEAR’S TIME.
RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES WOULD BE ORGANISED IN EACH DISTRICT EACH MONTH.
DR HASE SAID BESIDES ORGANISING MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND BUILDING OWNERS’ INCORPORATIONS, IT WAS PLANNED TO SET UP THREE SUB-DISTRICT COMMITTEES TO CARRY OUT LOCAL AFFAIRS.
IT WAS ALSO HOPED, FOLLOWING THE SETTING UP OF SPORTS AND ARTS ASSOCIATIONS, TO GET LOCAL RESIDENTS TO SPONSOR AND PARTICIPATE IN AN +ARTS AND SPORTS FORTNIGHT+ TO BE HELD NEXT CHRISTMAS.
♦THIS EVENT SHOULD HELP TO UNITE OLD AND NEW RESIDENTS AND TO DEVELOP A LOCAL COMMUNITY SPIRIT,+ HE SAID.
DR HASE MADE AN APPEAL FOR +ZEALOUS SUPPORT+ FOR THE DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS TO BE HELD NEXT YEAR.
♦THE SUCCESS OF THE BOARD DEPENDS ON THE SUPPORT OF ALL PUBLIC SPIRITED RESIDENTS OF THE DISTR ICT,+ HE SAID.
ALL EIGHT NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN HOLDING RECEPTIONS OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS TO CELEBRATE THE SPRING FESTIVAL. BESIDES TODAY’S RECEPTION AT SHA TIN, A SIMILAR RECEPTION ATTENDED BY ABOUT 400 GUESTS WAS HELD AT YUEN LONG HOSTED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR FUNG KWOK-KEUNG.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1981
6
VARIETY SHOW TO CELEBRATE FIRST FULL MOON FESTIVAL ******
A VARIETY SHOW TO CELEBRATE THE FIRST FULL MOON FESTIVAL IS BEING HELD FOR TUEN MUN RESIDENTS TOMORROW (THURSDAY) AT ST. SIMON’S LUI MING CHOI TECHNICAL SCHOOL.
THE SHOW IS BEING ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE, THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND YOUTH OFFICE AND TUEN MUN ARTS PROMOTION ASSOCIATION.
THOSE ATTENDING THE SHOW WILL BE INVITED TO SOLVE RIDDLES WRITTEN ON LANTERNS, A TRADITIONAL PRACTICE TO CELEBRATE THE FESTIVAL WHICH FALLS ON THE FIFTEENTH DAY OF THE FIRST MONTH ON THE LUNAR CALENDAR.
PERFORMANCES, WHICH START AT 7 PM, WILL INCLUDE DANCE, MAGIC AND ACROBATICS SHOWS, A LION DANCE AND LUCKY DRAWS.
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MISS SARAH WU, AND HEUNG YEE KUK CHAIRMAN, MR LAU WONG-FAT.
ADMISSION IS FREE. TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE COMMUNITY AND YOUTH OFFICE AT TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICE.
THE DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD IS PROVIDING $50 000 FOR THE CELEBRATIONS AND A FURTHER $50 000 HAS BEEN RAISED FROM PRIVATE DONATIONS TO MEET THE REMAINING COSTS.
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KCR TIMETABLES REVISED
* * * *
A NUMBER OF EARLY MORNING TRAIN SERVICES WILL BE CANCELLED AND DELAYS ARE EXPECTED DUE TO MAJOR ENGINEERING WORKS BETWEEN MONG KOK AND SHA TIN STATIONS STARTING ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 21).
APOLOGISING FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE TO COMMUTERS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THE JOB WAS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE MODERNISATION AND ELECTRIFICATION PROGRAMME.
HE URGED COMMUTERS TO USE OTHER FORMS OF TRANSPORT WHENEVER POSSIBLE ON THAT DAY.
HE ADDED THAT ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 22), A REVISED TIMETABLE WILL COME INTO OPERATION.
THE NEW TIMETABLES ARE DISPLAYED AT ALL STATIONS FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF PASSENGERS.
0 - -
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1981
7
RESERVOIRS TO BOOST SUPPLIES * * * *
CAO DEPARTMENT TODAY (WEDNESDAY) LET A CONTRACT
FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A FRESH WATER SERVICE RESERVOIR AND A SALT WATER SERVICE RESERVOIR AT TAI WO TSUEN, TSUEN WAN.
THE CONTRACT, WORTH ABOUT $4 MILLION, WAS SIGNED BY MR LEE GUN-CHEUNG, CHIEF ENGINEER (CONSTRUCTION) OF THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF LAW CHI YIP CONSTRUCTION CO LTD.
LOCATED ON A HILLSIDE AT TAI WO TSUEN, THE FRESH RESERVOIR WILL HAVE A STORAGE CAPACITY OF 4 800 CUBIC THE ONE FOR SALT WATER, 200 CUBIC METRES.
WATER SERVICE METRES AND
WHEN COMPLETED, THEY WILL FORM PART OF THE FRESH AND SALT WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS TO THE TAI WO TSUEN DEVELOPMENT.
WORK ON THE CONTRACT WILL START THIS WEEK AND TAKE ABOUT 18 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
0
NEW DUMP NEAR TAMAR
* * *
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT A PUBLIC DUMP EAST OF H.M.S. TAMAR BASIN WOULD BE OPENED TOMORROW (THURSDAY).
ACCESS TO THE NEW DUMP WILL BE FROM FENWICK PIER STREET VIA HARCOURT ROAD.
HOLDERS OF VALID DUMPING LICENCE FOR PUBLIC DUMPS ON HONG KONG ISLAND WILL BE PERMITTED TO USE THIS DUMP.
DUMPING LICENCES MAY BE OBTAINED FREE OF CHARGE ON APPLICATION TO THE CHIEF ENGINEER, PORT WORKS DIVISION, FIRST FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD.
ALL DUMPING MUST BE CARRIED OUT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE DUMP SUPERVISORS.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED SY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1981
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
LADY MACLEHOSE VISITS GIRLS INSTITUTION ..................... 1
HONG KONG-UNITED STATES TEXTILES TALKS START NEXT WEEK .. 1
QUARTERLY BUSINESS SURVEY - JANUARY 1981 .................... 2
TAXI SURVEY ................................................. 3
JOBS FOR THE YOUNG .......................................... U
FREE COACHING SESSIONS FOR LOCAL DIVERS ..................... 5
TAI PO SWITCHED ON .......................................... 6
THE AGED OF KWAI CHUNG ATTEND PARTY ......................... 6
MHD STAFF FUN FAIR........................................... 7
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF THE GARDEN ROAD U-TURN LOOP ............ 8
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1981
1
LADY MACLEHOSE VISITS GIRLS INSTITUTION *****
LADY MACLEHOSE THIS MORNING (THURSDAY) VISITED THE TAI TAM GAP CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION TO SEE THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT’S COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR YOUNG FEMALE OFFENDERS.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF PRISONS, MR THOMAS GARNER, LADY MACLEHOSE INSPECTED ITS VARIOUS FACILITIES INCLUDING DORMITORIES, CLASSROOMS, WORKSHOPS, SICK BAY- AND WATCHED INMATES UNDERGOING TRAINING. SHE ALSO SAW THE INSTITUTION’S MARCHING TEAM PRACTISING.
THE TAI TAM GAP CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION WAS OPENED IN 1972 AS A CENTRE FOR YOUNG MALE OFFENDERS. HOWEVER, IN MAY 1980 ITS STATUS WAS CHANGED TO A TRAINING CENTRE AND PRISON FOR YOUNG FEMALE OFFENDERS UP TO THE AGE OF 21.
THE TRAINING PROGRAMME PROVIDES FOR HALF-DAY EDUCATIONAL CLASSES, CONDUCTED BY QUALIFIED TEACHERS AND FOLLOWING A SYLLABUS PLANNED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT- AND HALF-DAY VOCATIONAL TRAINING IN ONE OF THE TRADES AVAILABLE, UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF QUALIFIED INSTRUCTORS. THE TRADES INCLUDE TAILORING, WEAVING, HAIR DRESSING, LAUNDERING AND DOMESTIC SCIENCE. LADY MACLEHOSE WAS TOLD VOCATIONAL TRAINING WAS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT IN ASSISTING CULTIVATING AND RETAINING GOOD WORKING HABITS AS WELL AS PREPARING INMATES FOR RELEASE.
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HONG KONG-UNITED STATES TEXTILES TALKS START NEXT WEEK * * * *
TALKS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND THE UNITED STATES WILL TAKE PLACE IN HONG KONG ON FEBRUARY 24 AND 25 IN CONNECTION WITH THE HONG KONG/UNITED STATES TEXTILES RESTRAINT AGREEMENT.
THE COMMISSIONER OF TRADE, MR PETER TSAO, EXPLAINED THAT THE AGREEMENT PROVIDED THAT THE TWO SIDES SHOULD CONSULT, AT THE REQUEST OF EITHER SIDE, ON ANY QUESTIONS ARISING FROM THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGREEMENT. THE TALKS, WHICH WILL FOCUS ON ARRANGEMENTS FOR 1981, ARE BEING HELD AT THE REQUEST OF THE UNITED STATES.
THE UNITED STATES DELEGATION WILL BE LED BY AMBASSADOR MICHAEL B. SMITH, AND THE HONG KONG DELEGATION BY MR TSAO.
2 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1981
QUARTERLY BUSINESS SURVEY - JANUARY 1981
* * * *
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY (THURSDAY) RELEASED THE RESULTS OF THE QUARTERLY BUSINESS SURVEY CONDUCTED IN JANUARY 1981.
ABOUT 850 FIRMS FROM VARIOUS INDUSTRIES AND BUSINESSES, FORMING A CROSS-SECTION OF THE ECONOMIC COMMUNITY, WERE ASKED ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS EXPERIENCE IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1980, AND THEIR BUSINESS EXPECTATIONS FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1981.
RESULTS OF THE SURVEY INDICATE THAT BUSINESS EXPERIENCE IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1980 WAS QUITE DIFFERENT BETWEEN THE MANUFACTURING AND NON-MANUFACTURING SECTORS. MOST MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES REPORTED SOME DETERIORATION IN THE GENERAL BUSINESS SITUATION IN THE FOURTH QUARTER AS COMPARED WITH THE THIRD QUARTER, ALTHOUGH THE EXTENT OF DETERIORATION WAS PROBABLY LESS SERIOUS THAN HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN EXPECTED. IN CONTRAST, SERVICES SECTORS REPORTED SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN THE GENERAL BUSINESS SITUATION.
AS REGARDS THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1981, FIRMS IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE +FOOD, BEVERAGE, TOBACCO* INDUSTRY, GENERALLY EXPECT FURTHER DETERIORATION IN THE GENERAL BUSINESS SITUATION BUT THIS MAY PARTLY BE ATTRIBUTED TO SEASONAL EFFECTS. FIRMS IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR AND OTHER SERVICES SECTORS, HOWEVER, LOOK FORWARD TO IMPROVEMENTS. CONSIDERING THE RESULTS OF THE PRESENT SURVEY IN CONJUNCTION WITH THOSE OF PREVIOUS SURVEYS, IT CAN BE CONCLUDED THAT BUSINESS CONFIDENCE IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1981 IS STRONG IN THE NON-MANUFACTURING SECTORS BUT RELATIVELY WEAK IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR.
WITHIN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, FIRMS IN THE +FOOD, BEVERAGE, TOBACCO+ INDUSTRY SEEMED TO HAVE DONE QUITE WELL IN THE FOURTH QUARTER AND THEY EXPECT FURTHER IMPROVEMENT IN THE BUSINESS SITUATION IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1981. THE +WATCHES AND CLOCKS+ INDUSTRY ALSO HAD A FAIRLY GOOD FOURTH QUARTER BUT FIRMS IN THE INDUSTRY PREDICT SOME DETERIORATION IN THE FIRST QUARTER. FIRMS IN THE +TEXTILES+, +PR INTING*, +PLASTICS+, +FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS*, +ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPLIANCES AND SUPPLIES* AND ■ELECTRONICS* INDUSTRIES EXPERIENCED SOME DECLINE IN BUSINESS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1980 AND EXPECT FURTHER DECLINE IN THE COMING QUARTER. WITH REFERENCE TO RESULTS OF PREVIOUS SURVEYS, IT SEEMS THAT THE EXPECTED DECLINE IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1981 FOR THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR IS PARTLY DUE TO SEASONAL EFFECTS. COMPARING RESULTS OF THIS SURVEY WITH THOSE OF THE SURVEY THIS TIME LAST YEAR, IT MAY BE INFERRED THAT THE GENERAL BUSINESS SITUATION IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1981 IS ONLY MARGINALLY WORSE THAN THAT IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF LAST YEAR. +PLASTICS+, +ELECTRONICS+ AND +ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPLIANCES AND SUPPLIES* ARE INDUSTRIES IN WHICH FIRMS SEEM TO BE MORE DEFINITE THAT THEY ARE IN A LESS FAVOURABLE POSITION THAN AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR.
FIRMS IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR HAD PREVIOUSLY EXPECTED SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT IN THE FOURTH QUARTER. IMPROVEMENT WAS INDEED REPORTED, BUT wAS NOT AS MUCH AS ANTICIPATED. RESPONDENTS IN THE +WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS* SECTOR REPORTED IMPROVED BUSINESS PERFORMANCE IN THE FOURTH QUARTER. THE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE PREDICTS A STABLE BUSINESS SITUATION IN THE COMING QUARTER, BUT RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS EXPECT DETERIORATIONS POSSIBLY A RELECTION OF SEASONAL EFFECTS.
/THE DEPARTMENT .....
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1981
3
THE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE SURVEY DATA, OBTAINED WITH A MINIMUM TIME LAG, WAS BASICALLY INTENDED TO PROVIDE ONE SOURCE OF REFERENCE FOR MAKING A QUICK ASSESSMENT OF THE CURRENT ECONOMIC SITUATION IN HONG KONG. APART FROM A LIMITED NUMBER OF QUESTIONS REQUIRING ANSWERS IN QUANTITATIVE TERMS, FIRMS WERE ASKED TO COMPARE THE QUARTER JUST PAST WITH THE PREVIOUS QUARTER AND SIMILARLY FOR THE FORTHCOMING ONE, AND ONLY HAD TO INDICATE WHETHER, IN THEIR OPINION, A CERTAIN VARIABLE WAS +UP+, +SAME+ OR +DOWN+. BALANCE OF OPINIONS OF RESPONDENTS WERE TABULATED AND ANALYSED, AND WHERE APPROPRIATE THEY WERE INTERPRETED ALONG WITH RESULTS OBTAINED IN EARLIER SURVEYS. THE DEPARTMENT CAUTIONED THAT IN A SURVEY OF THIS NATURE, CONSIDERABLE RESERVATIONS MUST BE MADE IN THE INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS AS IT WAS DIFFICULT TO ESTABLISH PRECISELY THE EXTENT TO WHICH RESPONDENTS’ PERCEPTION OF THE PAST AND THE FUTURE ACCORDS WITH THE UNDERLYING TRENDS.
COPIES OF THE REPORT, CONTAINING AN ANALYSIS AND STATISTICAL TABLES ON VARIOUS ECONOMIC VARIABLES, HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO FIRMS TAKING PART IN THE SURVEY AND OTHER BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS. MEMBERS OF PUBLIC MAY OBTAIN COPIES OF THE REPORT AT $3 PER COPY FROM GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES CENTRE, CENTRAL POST OFFICE BUILDING.
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TAXI SURVEY * * * *
AS PART OF ITS ON-GOING EXERCISE TO MONITOR TAXI SERVICES IN HONG KONG THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT IS CARRYING OUT ANOTHER SURVEY ON THE OPERATIONAL COSTS FOR URBAN AND NEW TERRITORIES
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THE SURVEY WILL BE SPREAD OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS AND APPEALED TO TXi OPERATORS FOR THEIR CO-OPERATION IN THE EXERCISE.
HE SAID, +FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE SURVEY 1 530 TAXIS IN THE URBAN AREAS AND THE NEW TERRITORIES HAVE BEEN SELECTED AT RANDOM AND THEIR OWNERS HAVE BEEN REQUESTED TO COMPLETE A QUESTIONNAIRE FORM ASKING FOR INFORMATION ON THE MONTHLY EXPENDITURE INCLUDING THE COST OF FUEL AND LUBRICANT, WAGES OF DRIVERS, INSURANCE AND GARAGE EXPENDITURE, OF EACH TAXI AND RETURN IT IN A SELF-ADDRESSED, POSTAGE PAID, ENVELOPE TO THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT.+
♦EACH TAXI OWNER WILL THEN BE REQUESTED TO PRESENT THEIR TAXI ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS AT ONE MONTH’S INTERVAL AT THE THREE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT CENTRES FOR METER READINGS. THESE CENTRES ARE THE TIN KWONG ROAD DRIVING TEST CENTRE AND THE VICTORIA BARRACKS TRANSPORT INSPECTOR OFFICE FOR URBAN TAXIS AND THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT OFFICE FOR N.T. TAXIS.
♦THE WHOLE METER READING PROCESS IS VERY SIMPLE AND WILL ONLY TAKE AT MOST FIVE MINUTES,+ THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT ALL TAXI ASSOCIATIONS HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THE EXERCISE AND ASSURED TAXI OWNERS THAT THE DATA COLLECTED WOULD BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL BY THE DEPARTMENT.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1981
4
JOBS FOR THE YOUNG
* * * *
ABOUT 2 600 YOUNG PEOPLE FOUND A NEW CRAFT OR TECHNICIAN APPRENTICESHIP LAST YEAR WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE TRAINING COUNCIL DIVISION OF THE LABOUR SEPARTMENT.
AND THERE ARE STILL OPPORTUNITIES OPEN IN 10 MAJOR INDUSTRIES, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
HE POINTED OUT THE DIVISION OPERATED AN APPRENTICE PLACEMENT SERVICE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WISHING TO PURSUE A CAREER IN INDUSTRY THROUGH AN APPRENTICESHIP.
+THESE APPRENTICES ARE NOW USEFULLY AND PRODUCTIVELY EMPLOYED, EARNING THEIR LIVING AND AT THE SAME TIME LEARNING A TRADE IN WHICH THEY ARE INTERESTED,+ HE SAID.
DURATION OF THEIR APPRENTICESHIP IS NORMALLY FOUR YEARS.
IN ADDITION TO RECEIVING ON-THE-JOB TRAINING PROVIDED BY THEIR EMPLOYERS, THE APPRENTICES ALSO ATTEND RELATED TECHNICAL COURSES THREE TIMES A WEEK — ONE DAY AND TWO EVENINGS ■— EITHER IN A TECHNICAL INSTITUTE OR THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC.
THE 10 INDUSTRIES WITH VACANCIES FOR QUALIFIED YOUNG PEOPLE ARE AUTOMOBILE REPAIRS AND SERVICING, BUILDING AND CIVIL ENGINEERING, CLOTHING, ELECTRICAL, ELECTRONICS, MACHINE SHOP AND METAL WORKING, PLASTICS, PRINTING, SHIPBUILDING AND SHIP REPAIRS AND TEXTILES.
THE ENTRY REQUIREMENT FOR CRAFT APPRENTICESHIP IS COMPLETION
OF FORM 3 WHILE THAT FOR TECHNICIAN APPRENTICESHIP IS COMPLETION OF FORM 5 WITH PASSES IN FOUR RELEVANT SUBJECTS IN THE CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION.
ON COMPLETING THEIR COURSES, THE APPRENTICES ARE AWARDED CERTIFICATES OF APPRENTICESHIP BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR CERTIFYING THEIR COMPETENCY IN THE TRADE OR OCCUPATION THEY HAVE CHOSEN.
THOSE INTERESTED IN AN APPRENTICESHIP MAY MAKE ENQUIRIES AT THE TRAINING COUNCIL DIVISION, 12TH FLOOR, ASIAN HOUSE, 1 HENNESSY ROAD, WAN CHAI.
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1981
5
FREE COACHING SESSIONS FOR LOCAL DIVERS
*****
LOCAL DIVERS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE FREE COACHING FROM THE GREAT AMERICAN HIGH DIVING TEAM WHICH IS APPEARING AT THE OCEAN PARK.
THE COURSES WILL BE RUN ON FOUR CONSECUTIVE SATURDAYS STARTING ON FEBRUARY 21 AT THE OCEAN PARK.
THE PROGRAMME, WHICH IS BEING CO-ORDINATED BY THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DIVISION AND THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE HONG KONG AMATEUR SWIMMING ASSOCIATION, WILL CONSIST OF A PRELIMINARY EVENING SEMINAR, FOLLOWED BY THREE COACHING SESSIONS AND A COMPETITION AT THE END.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DIVISION SAID THE COACHING WILL BE IN CONVENTIONAL DIVING TECHNIQUES AND ALSO IN TRICK AND COMEDY DIVING WHICH IS ONE OF THE GREAT AMERICAN HIGH DIVING TEAM’S SPECIALITIES. THE OCEAN PARK HAS AGREED FOR THE DIVERS TO USE THEIR POOL FREE OF CHARGE.
+THIS IS A GENEROUS OFFER OF FREE COACHING BY THE AMERICAN TEAM AND A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR LOCAL DIVERS TO IMPROVE THEIR SKILLS, WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF THEM GIVING THEIR OWN SHOWS IN THE FUTURE,* HE ADDED.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE COACHING SESSION OFFERED TO LOCAL DIVERS BY THE GREAT AMERICAN HIGH DIVING TEAM ON FEBRUARY 21 (SATURDAY).
THE SESSION WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE OCEAN THEATRE OF OCEAN PARK FROM 2 PM TO ABOUT 5 PM.
MEMBERS OF THE AMERICAN TEAM AND LOCAL DIVERS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS DURING THE SESSION.
ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE WITH THE OCEAN PARK FOR PRESS MEMBERS TO ENTER THE PARK AND TO TAKE THE CABLE CAR UP TO THE HEADLAND FREE OF CHARGE ON THE PRODUCTION OF THEIR PRESS CARD. A MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN TEAM WILL MEET PRESS MEMBERS AT 2 PM AT THE HEADLAND CABLE CAR TERMINAL AND ASSIST THEM TO COVER THE EVENT.
A PRESS POSITION HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AT THE FRONT CENTRE OF THE SPECTATOR STAND.
TV CREWS WHO WISH TO BRING THEIR EQUIPMENT UP TO THE OCEAN THEATRE CAN CONTACT MR DEAN MAXWELL (5-538111 EXT. 173) SO THAT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ACCESS CAN BE MADE.
ENQUIRIES ON THIS EVENT CAN BE MADE TO MR I.B.I. PETERSEN OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DIVISION AT 5-951944.
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/6.....
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1981
6
TAI PO SWITCHED ON * * * *
SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, TODAY (THURSDAY) LIT UP TAI PO BY SWITCHING ON 200 LANTERN LIGHTS TO OPEN A FIRST FULL MOON FAIR.
THE LANTERNS, MADE BY STUDENTS, WERE ENTERED IN A DESIGN COMPETITION ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE AND LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS AS PART OF A 14-DAY PROGRAMME OF NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS.
BEFORE THE SWITCHING-ON CEREMONY 500 STUDENTS, EACH CARRYING A LANTERN, SNAKED THEIR WAY THROUGH THE MAIN ROADS OF THE NEW TOWN.
AT DUSK THEY GATHERED AT THE DISTRICT OFFICE CARPARK AND WATCHED PERFORMANCES BY LOCAL SCHOOLS, TAI PO CHILDREN’S CHOIR AND THE LIONS CLUB YOUTH CENTRE.
WISHING THE AUDIENCE SUCCESS IN THE YEAR OF THE COCKEREL, NR AKERS-JONES SAID THE ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATION BY TAI PO RESIDENTS IN THE CELEBRATIONS REFLECTED THE TRADITIONAL CO-OPERATIVE COMMUNITY SPIRIT WHICH HAD BEEN RETAINED DURING THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TOWN.
A SERIES OF EVENTS HAD BEEN ORGANISED FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS DURING THE PAST TWO WEEKS, PROMOTING NEW YEAR FESTIVITY AND GOODWILL.
THESE EVENTS ENABLED PEOPLE OF ALL AGES TO OBTAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF TAI PO AND TO SHOW THEIR CONCERN FOR THE NEW TOWN, MR AKERS-JONES SAID.
THE FAIR WAS THE LAST EVENT OF THE CELEBRATION PROGRAMME, WHICH INCLUDED NEW YEAR WALKS, PICNICS, A DINNER FOR THE ELDERLY, FILM SHOWS, CAMPS AND COMPETITIONS IN PHOTOGRAPHY AND LANTERN DESIGN.
- ----0 - - - -
THE AGED OF KWAI CHUNG ATTEND PARTY
* * *
MORE THAN 1 000 AGED PEOPLE IN KWAI CHUNG TODAY (THURSDAY) ATTENDED A PARTY TO CELEBRATE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR FESTIVAL.
TODAY IS THE FIFTEENTH DAY OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR - OR THE FIRST FULL MOON IN THE LUNAR CALENDAR - AND, ACCORDING TO CHINESE TRADITION, IT IS A TIME FOR LAVISH CELEBRATION.
OFFICIATING AT THE PARTY, TSUEN WAN TOWN MANAGER, DR
JAMES HAYES, PRAISED THE VOLUNTARY WELFARE AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS FOR THEIR +FINE WORK+ IN ORGANISING ACTIVITIES FOR THE AGED IN THE DISTRICT.
HE ASSURED THAT MORE DEVELOPMENT PLANS WOULD BE CARRIED OUT IN KWAI CHUNG TO MEET THEIR NEEDS.
+ANY FURTHER DEVELOPMENT WILL RELY ON THE EFFORTS OF THE GOVERNMENT, COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS, VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY LEADERS,+ HE SAID.
/ta ALSO ...
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1981
7
HE ALSO CALLED ON THE AGED TO EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS AND MAKE SUGGESTIONS WHICH WOULD BE USEFUL IN PLANNING FUTURE SERVICES FOR THEMSELVES IN THE DISTRICT.
THREE OF THE GUESTS, ALL OVER 90 YEARS OLD, EACH RECEIVED A GOLD MEDAL WHILE THE OTHERS WERE PRESENTED WITH SOUVENIRS.
ALSO PRESENT AT THE PARTY WERE THE CHAIRWOMAN OF THE HONG KONG SOCIETY FOR THE AGED, MRS KITTY SIU, AND COMMUNITY LEADER, MR YUEN KWOK-WAH, WHO SPONSORED THE PARTY.
------6 ------
MHD STAFF FUN FAIR
* * * *
THE STAFF DEVELOPMENT AND RELATIONS UNIT OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, IN CONJUNCTION WITH STAFF CLUBS, IS ORGANISING AN ANNUAL FUN FAIR AND A PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST FOR THE STAFF.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE FUN FAIR WAS DESIGNED TO BRING ALL STAFF AND THEIR FAMILIES TOGETHER TO PROMOTE BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND GOODWILL.
♦SUCH EVENTS HAVE PROVED TO BE AN EFFECTIVE TOOL IN BRIDGING THE GAPS BETWEEN STAFF OF DIFFERENT GRADES AND ARE NOW AN ANNUAL EVENT FOR THE DEPARTMENT,+ HE SAID.
THE PARTY, THE 10TH ORGANISED BY THE DEPARTMENT, WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 22) FROM 1 PM TO 5 PM IN THE SPORTS FIELD OF KOWLOON HOSPITAL.
MORE THAN 8 000 STAFF AND THEIR CHILDREN ARE EXPECTED TO COME.
A VARIETY OF STALL AND GROUP GAMES WILL BE PROVIDED. VISITORS TO THE FUN FAIR WILL ALSO BE ENTERTAINED BY A LION DANCE AND FOLK DANCES, CHINESE MARTIAL ART DEMONSTRATION, MAGIC AND ACROBATIC SHOWS. HIGHLIGHT OF THE EVENT WILL BE A LUCKY DRAW.
TO MARK THE OCCASION, A PHOTO CONTEST WILL BE HELD FOR THE FIRST TIME FOR STAFF MEMBERS TO GAIN A DEEPER INSIGHT INTO THE WORKING OF THE DEPARTMENT AND THE VARIOUS SERVICES IT PROVIDES.
ENTRIES SHOULD EITHER DEPICT THE JOYFUL SPIRIT OF THE FUN FAIR OR ILLUSTRATE THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE DEPARTMENT’S SERVICES AND THE WORK OF THE STAFF.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE FUN FAIR, WHICH WILL BE HELD ON THE LAWN BY THE ENTRANCE TO THE WEST WING OF KOWLOON HOSPITAL, ARGYLE STREET, BETWEEN 1 PM AND 5 PM ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 22). ______0_______
/8....
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1981
- 8 -
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF THE GARDEN ROAD U-TURN LOOP
» * a « x *
TO FACILITATE REPAIR WORK ON COTTON TREE DRIVE, THE U-TURN LOOP FROM GARDEN ROAD TO COTTON TREE DRIVE NORTH OF PEAK TRAM STATION WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC FROM 4 PM ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 21) TO 7 AM ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 23) AND FROM 4 PM ON FEBRUARY 28 TO 7 AM ON MARCH 2.
MOTORISTS COMING DOWN FROM GARDEN ROAD ARE ADVISED TO MAKE USE OF THE U-TURN LOOP NORTH OF THE HELENA MAY INSTITUTE. FOR TRAFFIC FROM LOWER ALBERT ROAD, THE ALTERNATIVE IS TO USE THE SLIP ROAD ADJACENT TO THE MURRAY BARRACK OPEN AIR CAR PARK.
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE PUT UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
- - - - 0 --------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1981
CONTENTS PAGE NO,
TRAFFIC WATCHDOG FORMED .................................. 1
REDEVELOPMENT TO PRODUCE MORE GOVERNMENT QUARTERS......... 2
REVENUE MAN REFLECTS ..................................... 2
MORE BURIAL SITES ........................................ 3
GAINS TAX BILL GAZETTED................................... 5
FIRE BAN TO BE LIFTED IN TAI LAM COUNTRY PARK............. 5
U.C. NOMINATIONS ......................................... 6
RECRUITMENT DRIVE FOR FIRE OFFICERS ...................... 6
NEW GOVERNMENT OFFICERS VIEW TSUEN WAN DEVELOPMENTS....... 7
TUEN MUN TO HOLD COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT WEEK .............. 7
NEW TERRITORIES ACTIVITIES ON SUNDAY ..................... 8
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN KENNEDY TOWN ........... 9
FIRE PRACTICE IN MARCH ................................... 9
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1981
1
TRAFFIC WATCHDOG FORMED
* * * *
A NEW ROAD SAFETY DIVISION HAS BEEN FORMED WITHIN THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO STUDY THE INTERACTING FACTORS LEADING TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS.
THE DIVISION WILL ALSO BE EMPOWERED TO INVESTIGATE, RECOMMEND AND, WHERE APPLICABLE, DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT REMEDIAL MEASURES.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY, MR HAROLD BEATON, PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT HIGHWAY ENGINEER, SAID THE NEW DIVISION WOULD BE HEADED BY MR D.G. WILLDAY, WHO WOULD TAKE UP HIS POST ON MONDAY.
MR WILLDAY, WHO ARRIVED FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM TODAY (FRIDAY), WAS UNTIL RECENTLY WITH THE NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY COUNCIL, DEALING WITH TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT, ROAD SAFETY AND ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION.
MR BEATON SAID, +THE NEW DIVISION WILL COMPRISE TWO SECTIONS — THE ANALYSIS AND STRATEGY SECTION AND THE INVESTIGATION AND REMEDIES SECTION -- EACH HEADED BY A SENIOR ENGINEER.
♦THE ANALYSIS AND STRATEGY SECTION WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANALYSIS OF THE COMPUTER-BASED TRAFFIC ACCIDENT STATISTICS AND THE FORMULATION OF GENERAL STRATEGY IN IMPROVING ROAD SAFETY.
+THE OTHER SECTION WILL BE CONCERNED ESSENTIALLY WITH THE MORE IMMEDIATE LOCAL ACCIDENT PROBLEMS AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TRAFFIC ENGINEERING REMEDIAL MEASURES.+
MR BEATON ADDED THAT THE MAIN PREOCCUPATION OF THE ANALYSIS AND STRATEGY SECTION WOULD BE THE SETTING UP OF AN ACCIDENT STATISTICS SYSTEM, REVIEWING THE PRESENT DATA COLLECTION ARRANGEMENTS AND DEVELOPING COMPUTER PROGRAMMES FOR DATA ANALYSIS.
+UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE DIVISION HEAD, THE INVESTIGATION AND REMEDIES SECTION WILL BE DEVELOPING TRAFFIC ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM OF ACCIDENT BLACK SPOTS.
♦THE DIVISION WILL BE DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE TO THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT HIGHWAY ENGINEER AND ITS WORK WILL BE GUIDED AND MONITORED BY AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL STEERING COMMITTEE,+ HE SAID.
MR BEATON ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE APPLICATION OF TRAFFIC ENGINEERING PRINCIPLES TO THE PROBLEM OF ROAD ACCIDENTS HAD BEEN AN ON-GOING TASK OF THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE SINCE THE 1960’S, BUT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ROAD SAFETY DIVISION WOULD MEAN AN UPGRADING AND CONCENTRATION OF THIS EFFORT TO COMBAT AN INCREASING PROBLEM.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 19Sl
2
REDEVELOPMENT TO PRODUCE MORE GOVERNMENT QUARTERS
*****
THE GOVERNMENT WILL RECEIVE THREE TIMES THE NUMBER OF EXISTING FLATS, AS WELL AS A CASH PREMIUM, IN A LAND-FOR-PROPERTY EXCHANGE INVOLVING QUEEN’S GARDENS QUARTERS IN OLD PEAK ROAD.
QUEEN’S GARDENS, WHICH HAS 26 FLATS, IS ONE OF SEVERAL OLD, LOW-RISE GOVERNMENT QUARTERS SCHEDULED TO BE REDEVELOPED TO PRODUCE ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATION, WITHOUT DIRECT EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC FUNDS.
DETAILS OF THE SCHEME WERE ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY) FOLLOWING NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE HONG KONG LAND GROUP, WHICH IS REDEVELOPING SEVERAL OF ITS OWN PROPERTIES ON ADJOINING SITES.
IN EXCHANGE FOR BEING GRANTED THE QUEEN’S GARDENS SITE, HONG KONG LAND IS TO GIVE THE GOVERNMENT 83 QUARTERS IN ITS NEW DEVELOPMENT IN MAY ROAD, TREGUNTER, WHICH WILL BE READY FOR OCCUPATION IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR.
IN ADDITION, HONG KONG LAND WILL PAY THE GOVERNMENT, ON COMPLETION OF TREGUNTER, A CASH PREMIUM CURRENTLY ASSESSED AT 513.8 MILLION.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE REASON FOR ENTERING INTO A LAND EXCHANGE WITH HONG KONG LAND RATHER THAN OFFERING THE QUEEN’S GARDENS SITE FOR SALE BY TENDER WAS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE COMPANY’S TREGUNTER DEVELOPMENT WHICH, BEING NEAR COMPLETION, WOULD ENABLE THE EARLY REDEVELOPMENT OF OTHER GOVERNMENT QUARTERS SITES TO THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.
+THIS WILL ALSO REDUCE THE NEED FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO LEASE FLATS IN PRIVATE BUILDINGS,* THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
- - 0 - -
REVENUE MAN REFLECTS * * *
THE NEW OUTWARD PROCESSING ARRANGEMENTS CURRENTLY BEING INTRODUCED WERE EXAMPLES OF THE WAY A CUSTOMS ORGANISATION MUST MOVE WITH THE TIMES IF IT WAS TO ASSIST AND SUPPORT TRADE, THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND CONTROLS, MR DOUGLAS JORDAN, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
ADDRESSING MEMBERS OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON NORTH, NR JORDAN REFLECTED: +UNDER THESE NEW ARRANGEMENTS TRADERS ARE ENABLED TO OBTAIN HONG KONG CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN, OR USE A +MADE IN HONG KONG* LABEL ON THEIR GOODS, WHEN A PRESCRIBED AND LIMITED INTERMEDIATE PART OF A MANUFACTURING PROCESS IS CARRIED ON OUTSIDE HONG KONG.*
POINTING OUT THAT THIS WAS ONE OF THE MODERN ASPECTS OF THE CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT’S WORK, MR JORDAN SAID: +N0 LONGER ARE OUR CUSTOMS MEN PRIMARILY CONCERNED WITH THE PASSENGER SMUGGLING HIS EXTRA CIGARETTES OR HIS SECOND BOTTLE OF BRANDY. NO LONGER IN HONG KONG CAN WE COMMIT SUBSTANTIAL NUMBERS OF STAFF TO COMBING THE RELATIVELY UNPOPULATED HILLS AND ISLANDS FOR ILLICIT STILLS. NO LONGER CAN WE AFFORD TO SEND A CUSTOMS LAUNCH ON AN EXPLORATORY PATROL SOLELY TO PROVIDE A POSSIBLE DETERRENT TO WOULD-BE SMUGGLERS.*
/HE SAID
3
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1981
HE SAID THAT TODAY THE CUSTOMS AND CONTROLS DEPARTMENT WAS A SOPHISTICATED, HIGHLY-TRAINED ORGANISATION WITH A VERY HIGH REPUTATION, COLLABORATING WITH ITS COUNTERPARTS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
ITS WORK INVOLVES NOT ONLY ITS REVENUE RESPONSIBILITIES BUT INCREASINGLY, TRADE FACILITATION WHICH COVERED IMPORT AND EXPORT LICENSING, ORIGIN CERTIFICATION, QUOTA CONTROL AND ALL +THE CAREFULLY TAILORED ARRANGEMENTS BY WHICH HONG KONG TRADE CAN MATCH THE RESTRAINTS AND REQUIREMENTS OF OUR TRADING PARTNERS OVERSEAS.+
IN ADDITION TO DESCRIBING THESE TWO AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES, MR JORDAN SAID: + IN THE INVESTIGATIVE FIELD, THE HONG KONG SERVICE STRIKES AT THOSE WHO WOULD BRING HONG KONG’S INTERNATIONAL TRADING REPUTATION INTO DISREPUTE — THE QUOTA EVADERS, THE COUNTERFEITERS OF OTHER PEOPLE’S COPYRIGHT AND TRADE MARK PROPERTY AND ANY PERSONS WHO BY THEIR DISHONEST PRACTICES BRING INTO JEOPARDY THE TRADING POTENTIAL AND REPUTATION OF THE VAST MAJORITY OF DECENT HONG KONG BUSINESSMEN.*
+ IN OUR RESPONSIBILITIES TOWARDS THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, WE ARE ENGAGED HEAVILY IN COUNTERING THE NARCOTICS TRAFFICKERS. IN THIS FIELD WE HAVE HAD OUTSTANDING SUCCESS, BOTH AT THE POINTS CF ENTRY AND IN THE HINTERLAND. LAST YEAR WE SEIZED 145 KILOS OF HEROIN, HEROIN BASE AND MORPHINE OR ENOUGH TO PROVIDE 1.5 MILLION DOSES TO SATISFY THE CRAVINGS OF 10 000 ADDICTS FOR 75 DAYS.
+ALL THESE RESPONSIBILITIES ARE A FAR HAUL FROM THE DAYS WHEN THE REVENUE MEN WERE CONCERNED ONLY WITH LIQUOR, TOBACCO AND VERY LITTLE ELSE.
+AS WE MODERNISE AND COMPLETE OUR REORGANISATION OF THE ORGANISATION DURING THIS YEAR, WE ARE DOING SO WITH ONE AIM, THAT OF IMPROVING THE SERVICE WE OFFER TO HONG KONG,* CONCLUDED MR JORDAN.
------C-------
MORE BURIAL SITES FOR WO HOP SHEK CEMETERY AND REVISION OF FEES FOR BURIALS AND CREMATIONS *****
O1__ THE GOVERNMENT IS TO SPEND $6.7 MILLION ON 6 700 MORE BURIAL SITES AT AN EXTENSION TO THE WO HOP SHEK CEMETERY.
AB0UT SIX HECTARES AT THE CEMETERY FOR COFFIN ®^RIAL STARTED AND IS EXPECTED TO TAKE 18 MONTHS TO COMPLETE fro?nL\P0KESMAN F0R THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT TODAY v R ID A Y)e
he SAID MOST OF THE 64 000 COFFIN BURIAL SITES AT THE CEMETERY ARE OCCUPIED. THERE ARE ANOTHER 93 000 SITES FOR URN BURIAL.
LAST YEAR’S COFFIN BURIALS TOOK UP 9 896 SITES WHILE LRN BURIAL OCCUPIED 5 252 SPACES IN THE CEMETERY.
AND THE KWAI CHUNG CREMATORIUM RECORDED 2 397 CREMATIONS DURING THE YEAR, SAID THE SPOKESMAN.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1981
MEANWHILE, THE GOVERNMENT HAS APPROVED THE REVISION
OF FEES FOR BURIALS, CREMATIONS AND OTHER SERVICES
RELATED TO THE DISPOSAL OF THE DEAD IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES ORDINANCE.
WITH EFFECT FROM TODAY (FRIDAY), THE FEE FOR A BURIAL SITE AT A PUBLIC CEMETERY IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL BE $250 FOR AN ADULT AND $125 FOR THE INTERMENT OF A CHILD UNDER 12 YEARS OF AGE, COMPARED WITH THE OLD FEES OF $60 AND $30 RESPECTIVELY.
ALL HUMAN REMAINS WHICH ARE INTERRED IN PUBLIC CEMETERIES ARE REQUIRED TO BE EXHUMED AFTER SIX YEARS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID. THE GRAVES ARE THEN REUSED.
AS FOR THE PERMANENT URN GRAVE SPACE IN THE PUBLIC CEMETERIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE CHARGE WILL INCREASE FROM $100 TO $430.
IN THE CASE OF CREMATION OF AN ADULT AND A CHILD UNDER 12 YEARS OF AGE, THE FEES WILL BE $120 AND $60 RESPECTIVELY, COMPARED WITH THE PRESENT FEE OF $60 AND $30. THIS WILL BRING THEM IN LINE WITH THE FEES FOR CREMATION IN THE URBAN AREA.
THERE WILL BE NO SERVICE CHARGE FOR THE TEMPORARY STORAGE OF ASHES FOR THE FIRST TWO MONTHS BUT A FEE OF $50 WILL BE IMPOSED FOR EACH MONTH OR PART OF A MONTH THEREAFTER.
FOR THE PERMANENT PLACING OF ASHES IN A COLUMBARIUM IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, A SUM OF $1 000 WILL BE CHARGED FOR EACH STANDARD NICHE CAPABLE OF HOLDING TWO URNS (PREVIOUSLY $500) AND $4 000 FOR EACH FAMILY NICHE CAPABLE OF HOLDING FOUR URNS (PREVIOUSLY S2 000).
CHARGES FOR THE PLACING OF A MEMORIAL TABLET ON THE WALL OF A COLUMBARIUM IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, OR A TREE PLANTED IN THE GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE OF A CREMATORIUM INCREASES FROM $25 TO $50.
THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE REVISION OF FEES FOR BURIALS AND CREMATIONS IS TO REFLECT MORE REALISTICALLY GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE ON THESE SERVICES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
NEVERTHELESS, THE 30 PER CENT GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY ON BURIAL FEES IS RETAINED. THERE IS ALSO A 50 PER CENT SUBSIDY ON CREMATION FEES IN ORDER TO ENCOURAGE THE USE OF CREMATION AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO BURIAL, HE ADDED.
/5......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1981
5 -
GAINS TAX BILL GAZETTED * * *
THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT)(NO. 2) BILL 1981, WHICH SEEKS TO CLARIFY THE LIABILITY TO TAX OF GAINS ARISING ON CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT AND BILLS OF EXCHANGE, WAS GAZETTED TODAY.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE INTENTION TO INTRODUCE THIS LEGISLATION WAS ANNOUNCED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY IN HIS 1980 BUDGET SPEECH.
THE BILL WILL ALSO
* REMOVE AN ANOMALY UNDER WHICH INTEREST, ALREADY SUBJECT TO WITHHOLDING TAX, PAID BY TRUSTEES TO BENEFICIARIES IS CHARGED TO TAX A SECOND TIME”
* CLARIFY THE PROFITS TAX LIABILITY OF TRUSTEES WHO CARRY ON A TRADE, PROFESSION OR BUSINESS IN HONG KONG- AND
* RATIFY THE LONG ESTABLISHED PRACTICE OF THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT OF GRANTING DEPRECIATION ALLOWANCES ON CAPITALISED INTEREST INCURRED FOR THE PURPOSE OF FINANCING THE ACQUISITION OF BUILDINGS AND MACHINERY OR PLANT.
------0-------
FIRE BAN TO BE LIFTED IN TAI LAM COUNTRY PARK * * * *
THE BAN ON THE LIGHTING OF FIRES IN TAI LAM COUNTRY PARK WILL BE LIFTED FROM TOMORROW (SATURDAY), A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COUNTRY PARKS AUTHORITY ANNOUNCED TODAY.
THE DECISION TO LIFT THE BAN, IMPOSED ON JANUARY 16, WAS MADE IN VIEW OF THE WET WEATHER CONDITIONS IN RECENT DAYS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
HOWEVER, HE EMPHASISED THAT DESPITE THE REMOVAL OF THE BAN, PICNICKERS SHOULD ONLY BARBECUE IN DESIGNATED AREAS AND CAMPING SITES. IT IS AN OFFENCE TO BARBECUE ANYWHERE ELSE IN A COUNTRY PARK.
HE REMINDED THE PUBLIC THAT LIGHTING FIRES ILLEGALLY IN THE COUNTRY PARKS COULD RESULT IN A MAXIMUM FINE OF $5 000 AND THE MAXIMUM FINE FOR ILLEGAL FIRES ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE IS $2 000.
A TOTAL OF 211 CASES OF ILLEGAL FIRES WERE BROUGHT BEFORE THE COURTS LAST YEAR. THESE RESULTED IN FINES TOTALLING $36 850 BEING IMPOSED ON THE OFFENDERS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID. ANOTHER 40 CASES ARE STILL AWAITING HEARING.
+ THE BAN ON LIGHTING FIRES COULD BE RE-INTRODUCED IN TAI LAM COUNTRY PARK OR ANY OTHER COUNTRY PARKS SHOULD WEATHER BECOME WINDY AND DRY AGAIN,* HE SAID.
/+FIRE IS .....
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2C, 1981
6
+FIRE IS THE BIGGEST SINGLE THREAT TO THE COUNTRYSIDE AND NO ONE SHOULD UNDERESTIMATE THE DANGER TO LARGE AREAS OF THE TERRITORY BY THE CARELESSNESS OF PERSONS VISITING THE COUNTRYSIDE.*
THE SPOKESMAN ALSO ADVISED FARMERS TO TAKE SPECIAL CARE WHEN BURNING RUBBISH AND WEEDS ON THEIR FARMS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE.
THEY SHOULD INFORM STAFF AT THE NEAREST COUNTRY PARK MANAGEMENT CENTRE OR SEEK THEIR ASSISTANCE WHERE NECESSARY, BEFORE LIGHTING A FIRE.
FARMERS SHOULD ALSO HAVE BUCKETS OF WATER AND FIRE BEATERS READY TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF FIRE TO ADJOINING COUNTRYSIDE. THEY SHOULD POSTPONE THE BURNING WHEN WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE DRY AND WINDY.
C - -
U.C. NOMINATIONS * * * *
THE RETURNING OFFICER, MR THOMAS TSO MAN-TAI, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT NINE NOMINATIONS HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED FOR THE URBAN COUNCIL ELECTION ON MARCH 5.
THE CANDIDATES ARE: MESSRS FRANCIS CHAINE, CHAM PO-CHEUNG, CHAN CHAN-NAM, PETER CHAN CHI-KWAN, PETER CHAN PO-FUN, CHOI KWOK-CHING, CHOW WAI-HUNG, SHUM KUI-CHUNG AND TSIN SAI-NIN.
THE ELECTION WILL BE FROM 8 AM TO 8 PM.
0 - -
RECRUITMENT DRIVE FOR FIRE OFFICERS * * * *
THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS TO LAUNCH A RECRUITING DRIVE FOR STATION OFFICERS FROM MONDAY (FEBRUARY 23).
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID APPLICANTS WHO MEET BASIC EDUCATIONAL AND PHYSICAL FITNESS REQUIREMENTS BUT WITH ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE USEFUL IN THEIR NEW CAREER WILL BE OFFERED HIGHER STARTING SALARY.
THIS INCLUDES EXPERIENCE IN PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT OR ADMINISTRATION, TECHNICAL OR SCIENTIFIC FIELDS, TEACHING OR ANY OF THE AUXILIARY SERVICES.
+UP TO TWO ADDITIONAL INCREMENTS CAN BE AWARDED TO A RECRUIT STATION OFFICER. A MATRICULANT WITH CONSIDERABLE RELEVANT EXPERIENCE, FOR EXAMPLE, CAN START WITH A SALARY OF 54 720, RISING TO $8 450 AND WITH PROSPECTS OF PROMOTION TO HIGHER RANKS,* HE SAID.
+A FIRE OFFICER IN HONG KONG IS A CAREER WORTH PURSUING FOR IT OFFERS JOB SATISFACTION, COMRADESHIP AND A HEALTHY ACTIVE LIFE AS A RESPONSIBLE MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY.*
LAST YEAR THE SERVICES RESPONDED TO SOME 241 000 EMERGENCIES OF WHICH MORE THAN 19 500 WERE FIRE AND SPECIAL SERVICES ALARMS. IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR, ABOUT 218 000 CALLS WITH MORE THAN 18 700 FIRE AND SPECIAL SERVICES ALARMS WERE RECEIVED.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1981
7
DURING THE FOUR-WEEK RECRUITMENT EXERCISE TWO RECRUITING CENTRES WILL BE SET UP, ONE ON HONG KONG ISLAND AND THE OTHER IN KOWLOON.
THE HONG KONG ISLAND CENTRE WILL BE AT THE HARBOUR ROAD FIRE STATION AND THE KOWLOON CENTRE AT TSIM SHA TSUI FIRE STATION, CANTON ROAD.
THE CENTRES WILL OPERATE BETWEEN 9 AM AND 6 PM ON WEEKDAYS, AND FROM 9 AM TO NOON ON SATURDAYS.
u —
NE* GOVERNMENT OFFICERS VIEW TSUEN WAN DEVELOPMENTS X X * X
A PARTY OF 20 NEWLY-APPOINTED ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS FROM VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS TOURED TSUEN WAN THIS AFTERNOON (FRIDAY) TO SEE NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENTS.
THEY BEGAN AT TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICE WHERE THEY WERE BRIEFED BY THE TOWN MANAGER, DR JAMES HAYES, AND OTHER OFFICERS ON TOWN PLANNING AND THE URBAN RENEWAL SCHEME. THEY ALSO WATCHED A FILM ON NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT.
THEY THEN WENT TO THE ROOF OF THE FOU W’AH CENTRE FOR A PANORAMIC VIEW OF THE AREA AND OF THE VARIOUS PROJECTS NOW TAKING PLACE, INCLUDING THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY EXTENSION WHICH WILL BE READY BY MID-1982.
THE PARTY THEN VISITED SAM TUNG UK, THE VILLAGE SITE RECENTLY DECLARED A MONUMENT, AND HOI PA VILLAGE AND SQUATTER AREA, WHERE THEY SAW SOME OF THE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN RESITING THESE OLD COMMUNITIES AND REHOUSING AND COMPENSATING THE RESIDENTS.
LATER, THEY VISITED TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL WHERE THE THIRD TSUEN WAN ARTS FESTIVAL IS TAKING PLACE. THE TOWN HALL IS ALSO A CENTRE FOR ALL LOCAL COMMUNITY AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES.
THE TOUR WAS PART OF A FAMILIARISATION PROGRAMME FOR NEWLY-APPOINTED LOCAL AND OVERSEAS OFFICERS. IT WAS ORGANISED BY THE TRAINING DIVISION OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT.
0 - -
TUEN MUN TO HOLD COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT WEEK X * *
A COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT WEEK WILL BE OPENED IN TUEN MUN ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 22) BY THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR BILLY LAM.
ORGANISED BY A COMMITTEE INCLUDING REPRESENTATIVES FROM GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS, A SERIES OF EVENTS WILL BE HELD DURING THE WEEK wITH THE AIM OF KEEPING TUEN MUN RESIDENTS INFORMED OF LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE NEW TOWN.
ONE OF THE MAJOR EVENTS IS A FUN FAIR WHICH WILL OPEN AT TUEN MUN PLAYGROUND IMMEDIATELY AFTER,THE OPENING CEREMONY.
BESIDES GAMES STALLS SET UP BY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS, FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT VEHICLtS WILL BE ON DISPLAY TO PUBLICISE THE FIRE PREVENTION CAMPAIGN.
ATT.T.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1981
8
THERE WILL ALSO BE PERFORMANCES BY A SCHOOL BAND AND A MOTOR CYCLE DEMONSTRATION TEAM FROM THE CIVIL AID SERVICES,Ao ViELL AS AN EXHIBITION AT TAI HING COMMUNITY HALL. EXHIBITS WILL INCLUDE PHOTOGRAPHS AND CAPTIONS SHOWING PROJECTS BEING CARRIED OUT IN THE NEW TOWN STATISTICS ON POPULATION AND THE EMPLOYMENT situation" and fight crime equipment, a film on the work of the FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT * ILL ALSO EE SHO*N.
OTHER ACTIVITIES DURING THE WEEK GAMES DAY NEXT SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 28) MARCH 1.
WILL BE A CHILDREN’S AND A CULTURAL NIGHT ON
TICKETS FOR THIS SUNDAY’S FAIR ARE AVAILABLE FROM TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICE, TAI HING PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE CENTRE AND TAI HING COMMUNITY HALL.
-------o----------
NOTE TO EDITORS :
NEW TERRITORIES ACTIVITIES ON SUNDAY * * *
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 22) IN THE NEW TERRITORIES :
TIME EVENT VENUE
(1) 11 AM OPENING OF NT BASKETBALL LEAGUE OSMAN RAMJU SADICK MEMORIAL STADIUM, KWAI CHUNG
(2) 1.30 PM OPENING OF TUEN MUN COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT WEEK TUEN MUN PLAYGROUND, HEUNG SZE WUI ROAD
(3) 2.45 PM GIRL GUIDE THINK ING DAY CELEBRATION YUEN LONG STADIUM
THE WILL OFF OFF ICER, SECRETARY IC 1 ATE AT MR BILLY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR EVENTS (1) AND (3) WHILE THE LAM, WILL OFFICIATE AT EVENT DAVID AKERS-JONES, TUEN MUN DISTRICT (2).
TRANSPORT WILL LEAVE KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER AT 10 AM TO TAKE THE PRESS TO COVER ALL THREE EVENTS. MR DONALD STRANGE OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION WILL BE PRESENT TO ASSIST.
/9.....
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1981
9
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN KENNEDY TOWN * * * *
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN KENNEDY TOWN FROM 10 AM TOMORROW (SATURDAY) TO FACILITATE TRAM TRACK RENEWAL WORKS ALONG KENNEDY TOWN PRAYA.
UNDER THE ARRANGEMENTS, COLLINSON STREET WILL BE RE-ROUTED FROM ONE WAY WESTBOUND TO ONE WAY EASTBOUND- SAI CHEUNG STREET WILL BE RE-ROUTED FROM ONE WAY EASTBOUND TO ONE WAY WESTBOUND-AND THE SOUTHBOUND CARRIAGEWAY ON KENNEDY TOWN PRAYA BETWEEN COLLINSON STREET AND SAI CHEUNG STREET WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC.
THE ARRANGEMENTS WILL LAST FOR ABOUT FIVE WEEKS AND ANY VEHICLES PARKED BESIDE THE RENEWAL WORKS AREA WILL BE TOWED AWAY BY POLICE.
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE PUT UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
- - 0
FIRING PRACTICE IN MARCH
*****
FIRING PRACTICE WILL TAKE PLACE ON 16 DAYS IN THE CASTLE PEAK/ HA TSUEN RANGE NEXT MONTH (MARCH).
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WARNED NOT TO ENTER THE AREA WHEN RED FLAGS ARE FLYING DURING TIMES OF PRACTICE.
THE PRACTISING TIMES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
/DATE
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1981
10
DATE TIME
— — 1
MARCH 3 (TUESDAY) 8 AM - 5 PM
MARCH 9 (MONDAY) 8 AM - 4 PM
MARCH 10 (TUESDAY) 8 AM - 4 PM
MARCH 11 (WEDNESDAY) 8 AM - 4 PM
MARCH 12 (THURSDAY) 8 AM - 8 PM
MARCH 13 (FRIDAY) 8 AM - 4 PM
MARCH 16 (MONDAY) 8 AM - 4 PM
MARCH 17 (TUESDAY) 9 AM - 3 PM
MARCH 18 (WEDNESDAY) 9 AM - 2 PM
MARCH 19 (THURSDAY) 9 AM - 2 PM
MARCH 20 (FRIDAY) 9 AM - 2 PM
MARCH 23 (MONDAY) 8 AM - 4 PM
MARCH 24 (TUESDAY) 8 AM - 4 PM
MARCH 25 (WEDNESDAY) 8 AM - 4 PM
MARCH 26 (THURSDAY) 8 AM - 4 PM
MARCH 27 (FRIDAY) 8 AM - 4 PM
- - 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL 5-233191
SATURDAY, FEBRU^iRY 21, 1981
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
ACCIDENTS: A SERIOUS PROBLEM................................... 1
NORTH DISTRICT NEff YEAR FUN FAIR.............................
SEAWALL TENDERS SOUGHT
2
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1981
1
ACCIDENTS*.A SERIOUS PROBLEM * * * * * *
SAFETY IS EVERYONE'S BUSINESS AND IT IS ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT THAT SAFETY CONSCIOUSNESS SHOULD BE INSTILLED IN THE YOUNGER GENERATION, MR CHAN KAM-CHUEN, UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
OFFICIATING AT THE PRIZE PRESENTATION OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S 13TH INDUSTRIAL SAFETY POSTER DESIGN COMPETITION, HE NOTED THAT DESPITE RELENTLESS EFFORTS TO PROMOTE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY BY THE GOVERNMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS, INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS IN HONG KONG STILL PRESENTED A SERIOUS PROBLEM.
REFERRING TO THE AIMS OF THE COMPETITION, ORGANISED ANNUALLY WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, MR CHAN SAID IT NOT ONLY AIMED AT AROUSING THE INTEREST OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN INDUSTRIAL SAFETY BUT ALSO THE AWARENESS OF THOSE WORKING IN INDUSTRY TO THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY AT WORK.
HE WAS DELIGHTED THAT SO MANY STUDENTS HAD SHOWN A KEEN INTEREST IN THE COMPETITION.
♦YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THIS COMPETITION HAS NOT ONLY SHOWN YOUR CREATIVE TALENTS IN ART AND GRAPHIC DESIGN BUT ALSO DEMONSTRATED YOUR INTEREST AND CONCERN IN PREVENTING ACCIDENTS IN INDUSTRY.
♦IT IS GENERALLY RECOGNISED THAT ATTRACTIVE, INFORMATIVE AND WELL-DESIGNED SAFETY POSTERS CAN DO A LOT TO DRIVE HOME THE VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY,+ MR CHAN TOLD THE PRIZE WINNERS.
MR CHAN SAID THE STANDARD OF THIS YEAR'S ENTRIES WAS EXCEEDINGLY HIGH AND THAT THE PANEL OF JUDGES MUST HAVE HAD A DIFFICULT TIME IN SELECTING THE WINNERS.
MR CHAN LATER PRESENTED CASH PRIZES TO 13 WINNERS.
THE FIRST PRIZE OF 1500 WAS WON BY TSE PUI-LEUNG OF METHODIST COLLEGE, WHILE THE SECOND AND THIRD PRIZES OF 1400 AND $300 WENT TO YIP PO-HOI AND NG CHI-FA I OF CARITAS BIANCHI COLLEGE OF CAREERS RESPECTIVELY.
THE OTHER 10 WINNERS EACH WON A CONSOLATION PRIZE OF $100.
=----o------
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1?81
2
NORTH DISTRICT NEW YEAR FUN FAIR *****
MORE THAN 2 500 NORTH DISTRICT RESIDENTS ATTENDED A CHINESE NEW YEAR FUN FAIR AT LUEN WO HUI, FANLING, THIS (SATURDAY) AFTERNOON.
THE FAIR WAS ORGANISED BY NORTH DISTRICT MUTUAL AID COMMITTEE WORKING SUB-COMMITTEE, WITH DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD ASSISTANCE.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY. ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MR HO WING-HIM, SAID MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES HAD BEEN PLAYING A MAJOR ROLE IN IMPROVING THE LOCAL LIVING ENVIRONMENT.
AND HE ALSO MADE AN APPEAL FOR DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS TO BE HELD
♦EARNEST SUPPORT^ FOR THE NEXT YEAR.
THE FAIR INCLUDED GAMES STALLS PUT UP BY THE ICAC KWONG FUK SUB-OFFICE, LOCAL VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS.
ALSO OFFICIATING AT THE CEREMONY WAS THE CHAIRMAN OF NORTH DISTRICT MUTUAL AID COMMITTEE WORKING SUB-COMMITTEE, MR WONG SHU-TING.
0
SEAWALL TENDERS SOUGHT * * * *
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WILL BUILD A 410-METRE SEAWALL FOR A RECLAMATION PROJECT AT QUARRY BAY.
THE RECLAMATION PROJECT WILL PROVIDE ABOUT 8.4 HECTARES FOR OPEN SPACE AND OTHER USES INCLUDING THE CONSTRUCTION OF PART OF HONG KONG ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR STAGE II.
TENDERS FOR THE WORK ARE BEING INVITED BY THE PWD.
uoutTJo^o'IoSTI^’ to st‘"t ‘pril and “,ll ™e
„ THE PROJECT HAS BEEN DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTION WILL BE ci^lVenI?neerTSI 0F0Rnc?0RKS D,V,S,ON * THE depa*™ent’s
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1981
CONTENTS PAGE NO
SOCIAL WELFARE PREMISES IN ESTATES ........................... 1
EIGHT ELECTED UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS FOR TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD....................................... 2
TECHNICAL INSTITUTE GRADUATES WELL RECEIVED BY EMPLOYERS ........................................ 3
GIRL GUIDE MEMBERSHIP TO TRIPLE IN FIVE YEARS ................ 4
N.T. INTER-DISTRICT BASKETBALL LEAGUE STARTS ................. 5
COURSES FOR BOILER OPERATORS ................................. 6
CLOSURE OF TRAFFIC LANE ON FLYOVER............................ 7
TAI PO MARKET STALLS FOR AUCTION.............................. 7
SITE FOR SORE FEET ........................................... 7
PEDESTRIAN MALL IN YUEN LONG ................................. 8
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1981
1
SOCIAL WELFARE PREMISES IN ESTATES * * * *
THE PROVISION OF SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES FOR THE YOUNG, THE OLD AND THE DISABLED IS BEING BOOSTED WITH MORE PREMISES EARMARKED FOR WELFARE PURPOSES IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES.
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IS INVITING VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND INTERESTED BODIES TO APPLY FOR NEWLY RESERVED WELFARE PREMISES IN 12 PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES AND TWO COMMUNITY CENTRES.
ALTOGETHER 21 PREMISES WITH A TOTAL FLOOR AREA OF MORE THAN 6 880 SQUARE METRES ARE RESERVED FOR WELFARE PURPOSES. THEY VARY IN SIZES FROM 93 TO 1 300 SQUARE METRES.
THESE PREMISES.ARE EARMARKED FOR EIGHT SOCIAL CENTRES, ONE MULTI-SERVICE CENTRE AND ONE DAY CARE CENTRE FOR OLD PEOPLE, FIVE CHILDREN’S AND YOUTH CENTRES, THREE ^URSERIES, AS WELL AS A CLUB AND A HOME FOR THE DISABLED.
A SITE WITH THE LARGEST SIZE OF 1 300 SQUARE METRES IS RESERVED FOR A REHABILITATION INSTITUTION TO CATER FOR 100 DISABLED PERSONS IN THE BUTTERFLY ESTATE IN TUEN MUN.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THE LATEST LIST OF WELFARE PREMISES HAD BEEN SENT TO VOLUNTARY AGENCIES FOR FORWARD PLANNING AND EARLY APPLICATION.
HE SAID THE DEPARTMENT REGULARLY LIAISED WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY ON THE ALLOCATION OF WELFARE PREMISES TO ENSURE A BALANCED PROVISION OF WELFARE SERVICES IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES.
RESERVED PREMISES ARE IN EXISTING ESTATES OR ESTATES WHICH ARE NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION OR WILL BE BUILT SHORTLY AND WHICH WILL BE AVAILABLE BEFORE 1985-86, HE SAID.
ONE PREMISE IS NOW AVAILABLE AT THE SHEK LEI ESTATE IN TSUEN WAN FOR RUNNING A SOCIAL CENTRE FOR THE ELDERLY, HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID 17 OTHER^PREMISES WITH A TOTAL FLOOR SPACE OF 5 800 SQUARE METRES WOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE IN 11 NEW ESTATES.
THESE ESTATES, HE SAID, WILll BE IN CHAI WAN ON HONG KONG ISLAND, WONG TAI SIN, NGAU TAU KOK AND KWUN TONG IN KOWLOON, AND ON TSING Yl ISLAND, IN SHA TIN, TA I PO AND TUEN MUN IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
ANOTHER THREE PREMISES WITH FLOOR AREA TOTALLING 970 SQUARE METRES WILL BE READY BY 1982-83 FOR AN OLD PEOPLE’S MULTI-SERVICE CENTRE AND TWO NURSERIES IN THE TAI PO COMMUNITY CENTRE AND YAU MA TEI COMMUNITY CENTRE OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, HE ADDED.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID APPLICATIONS FOR THE PREMISES SHOULD REACH THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, 19TH FLOOR, WORLD TRADE CENTRE, 280 GLOUCESTER ROAD, ON OR BEFORE APRIL 1, 1981.
FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE PREMISES OR APPLICATION PROCEDURES CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SECTION (TEL. NO. 5-7953754).
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1981
2
EIGHT ELECTED UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS FOR TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD ******
TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD WILL HAVE EIGHT ELECTED UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS IN MARCH 1982, AND REGISTRATION OF VOTERS WILL BE HELD IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS YEAR.
THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR BILLY LAM, SAID THIS TODAY (SUNDAY) AT A CEREMONY TO OPEN TUEN MUN COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT WEEK.
THE ELECTION IS TO ACHIEVE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION BY RESIDENTS IN BUILDING THE NEW TOWN, AND TO IMPROVE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION THROUGH COLLECTIVE VIEWS FROM ELECTED UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, HE SAID.
IN 1966, GOVERNMENT APPROVED PLANS TO BUILD TUEN MUN INTO A BALANCED NEW TOWN, PROVIDING SELF-CONTAINED PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES, MR LAM SAID.
SINCE THEN POPULATION AND FACILITIES HAD INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY.
♦AT PRESENT, TUEN MUN HAS A POPULATION OF 130 000 AND IT WILL RISE TO 500 000 BY THE END OF THE DECADE WITH MORE THAN 70 PER CENT LIVING IN PUBLIC HOUSING,♦ HE SAID.
ABOUT 70 PER CENT OF TUEN MUN RESIDENTS WERE NEWCOMERS WHO KNEW VERY LITTLE ABOUT THE NEW TOWN.
TO HELP LOCAL RESIDENTS GAIN BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE PLACE IN WHICH THEY LIVE AND TO PROMOTE A SENSE OF BELONGING AS WELL AS CO-OPERATION AMONG OLD AND NEW RESIDENTS, GOVERNMENT ENCOURAGED THE FORMATION OF ASSOCIATIONS, MR LAM SAID.
THERE WERE 39 MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND 13 OWNERS’ INCORPORATIONS ALREADY IN THE NEW TOWN.
A BIG STEP FORWARD WOULD BE TAKEN WITH THE SETTING UP OF A DISTRICT BOARD, WHICH WOULD CONSIST OF APPOINTED AND ELECTED UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS.
THE PROPOSALS WERE CONTAINED IN THE WHITE PAPER ON DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION PUBLISHED IN JANUARY.
ONE OF THE MAJOR EVENTS OF THE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT WEEK IS A FUN FAIR WHICH OPENED AT TUEN MUN PLAYGROUND IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE OPENING CEREMONY.
ALSO OPENED TODAY WAS AN EXHIBITION ON TUEN MUN DEVELOPMENTS AND A DISPLAY OF FIGHT CRIME EQUIPMENT AT TAI HING COMMUNITY HALL.
OTHER ACTIVITIES DURING THE WEEK INCLUDE A CHILDREN’S GAMES DAY NEXT SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 28) AND A CULTURAL NIGHT ON MARCH 1.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1981
3
TECHNICAL INSTITUTE GRADUATES WELL RECEIVED BY EMPLOYERS * * * * *
THE MAJORITY OF FULL-TIME GRADUATES IN THE 1979/80 ACADEMIC YEAR FROM THE FIVE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES WERE EITHER EMPLOYED OR ENGAGED IN FURTHER STUDIES BY LAST OCTOBER, ACCORDING TO A RECENT SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
IN THE SURVEY, QUESTIONNARIES WERE SENT TO THE 1 764 FULL-TIME GRADUATES. SOME 1 134 REPLIES WERE RECEIVED WHICH REPRESENTED A RESPONSE RATE OF 64.3 PER CENT.
♦THE NUMBER OF GRADUATES IN THE 1979/80 ACADEMIC YEAR SHOWS AN INCREASE OF 18.9 PER CENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR,+ AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
ACCORDING TO THE RETURNS, 81.5 PER CENT OF THE FULL-TIME STUDENTS WHO GRADUATED IN JULY LAST YEAR WERE IN EMPLOYMENT AND 12.4 PER CENT WERE FURTHERING THEIR STUDIES WHEN THE SURVEY WAS COMPLETED IN OCTOBER.
♦MOREOVER, THE GRADUATES ENJOYED HIGHER STARTING SALARIES THAN THOSE IN THE PREVIOUS SURVEY,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
GRADUATES OF POST-FORM 5 COMMERCIAL AND SERVICES COURSE RECEIVED 19 PER CENT MORE IN THEIR STARTING SALARIES, AND TECHNICIAN GRADUATES OF ENGINEERING DISCIPLINES RECEIVED 22.5 PER CENT MORE, HE SAID.
ABOUT 13.6 PER CENT OF THE TECHNICIAN GRADUATES AND 48.2 PER CENT OF THE CRAFT GRADUATES JOINED THE APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME.
PRESS ADVERTISEMENTS, TECHNICAL INSTITUTE CIRCULARS AND TEACHERS WERE LISTED AS THE CHIEF SOURCES OF INFORMATION FOR EMPLOYMENT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
OF THE GRADUATES WHO WENT ON TO FURTHER FULL-TIME STUDIES, 35.5 PER CENT CONTINUED TO STUDY AT THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES, AND 22.5 PER CENT ENTERED THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC.
ABOUT 90 PER CENT OF THE EMPLOYED GRADUATES WERE ENGAGED IN SOME FORM OF PART-TIME STUDY. OF THESE, 25.9 PER CENT WERE ENROLLED IN PART-TIME DAY-RELEASE COURSES AND 55.9 PER CENT WERE STUDYING EVENING COURSES IN EITHER TECHNICAL INSTITUTES OR THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC.
THE EMPLOYMENT SURVEY HAD BEEN CONDUCTED ANNUALLY SINCE 1975 TO ASSESS THE DEGREE OF ACCEPTANCE OF THE FULL-TIME TECHNICAL INSTITUTE GRADUATES BY INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE, AND TO FIND OUT THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION OF THE GRADUATES.
IT WAS CONDUCTED AMONG GRADUATES OF MORRISON HILL, KWAI CHUNG, KWUN TONG, HAKING WONG AND LEE WAI LEE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES.
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/4 ....
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1981
- 4 -
GIRL GUIDE MEMBERSHIP TO TRIPLE IN FIVE YEARS ft * * * * *
THE NUMBER OF GIRL GUIDES IN HONG KONG IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE MORE THAN THREEFOLD IN FIVE YEARS.
THIS WAS SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) BY SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, AT THE HONG KONG GIRL GUIDES ♦THINKING DAY+ CELEBRATION AT YUEN LONG STADIUM WHICH WAS ATTENDED BY 4 OOO GUIDES.
HE SAID THE CELEBRATION BROUGHT TOGETHER GUIDES FROM ALL OVER HONG KONG WHERE GUIDING HAD BEEN ACTIVE FOR 64 YEARS.
IT WAS FITTING THAT THIS YEAR THE NEW TERRITORIES SHOULD HOST THE CELEBRATION FOR IT WAS HERE THAT THE MOVEMENT WAS EXPANDING MOST RAPIDLY.
HE SAID THE NEW TERRITORIES REGION HAD THE FASTEST GROWING ftMBERSHIP AND IT WAS HOPED THAT THIS WOULD INCREASE ENORMOUSLY DURING THE NEXT FEW YEARS AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE CAME TO LIVE IN THE NEW TOWNS.
♦WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE MANY GENEROUS AND CONCERNED CITIZENS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WHO APPRECIATE THIS AND ARE READY AND WILLING TO HELP PROVIDE THE CENTRES WHERE YOUR ACTIVITIES CAN TAKE PLACE.
♦TODAY HONG KONG HAS ABOUT 15 000 GUIDES, BUT AS THE NEW TOWNS GROW IN FIVE YEARS WE EXPECT YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO HAVE GROWN TO AT LEAST 50 000.
♦EXCITING ACTIVITIES ARE IN STORE FOR YOU,+ HE TOLD THE GUIDES.
THE TAI MEI TUK SEA CENTRE, WHERE SCOUTS AND GUIDES HAVE BEEN GRANTED ADJOINING SITES AND WHERE THEY WOULD SHARE A SLIPWAY, WOULD SOON BE READY AND THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO LEARN SAILING AND CANOEING THERE.
HE COMMENDED THIS EXAMPLE OF CO-OPERATION BETWEEN SCOUTS AND GUIDES AS A PROPER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A BROTHER AND SISTER MOVEMENT.
MR AKERS-JONES SAID THE YUEN LONG HOLIDAY HOUSE WAS BEING REDEVELOPED WHICH WOULD GIVE A NEW AND LARGER CENTRE FOR HOLIDAYS AND TRAINING WEEKENDS, AND BY THE END OF THE YEAR A NEW HEADQUARTERS BUILDING WOULD BE READY IN KOWLOON.
TODAY’S EVENT CELEBRATED THE BIRTHDAYS OF LORD AND LADY BADEN-POWELL, THE FOUNDERS OF SCOUTING AND GUIDING.
IT IS KNOWN AS +THINKING DAY+ AND MR AKERS-JONES ASKED THE GUIDES TO THINK TODAY OF WHAT IT MEANT TO BE A MEMBER OF ♦A HUGE WORLD-WIDE FAMILY AND A SISTER TO EVERY OTHER GUIDE*.
/a pbayer .........
SUNDAY, FEBRUAEY 22, 1?81
5
A PRAYER CEREMONY WAS CONDUCTED BY THE REV CANON FRANK LIN CF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH, FR JOSEPH NIJSSEN OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE REV KOK KONG OF THE BUDDHIST ASSOCIATION.
THE CEREMONY WAS FOLLOWED BY HELICOPTER AND PARACHUTING DISPLAYS BY THE ARMY AND A +PIONEERING+ DEMONSTRATION BY BOY SCOUTS.
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N.T. INTER-DISTRICT BASKETBALL LEAGUE STARTS ft ft ft ft ft
A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES IS PLANNED TO SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE GROWING POPULATION, SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING OF THE NEW TERRITORIES BASKETBALL LEAGUE AT OSMAN RAMJU MEMORIAL STADIUM, KWAI CHUNG, HE SAID IT WAS ESSENTIAL TO HAVE ADEQUATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPORT AND RECREATION.
♦BUT, BECAUSE OF THE NEED TO CONCENTRATE ON THE PRIMARY AIM CF PROVIDING HOUSING, SOME OF THESE FACILITIES ARE BEING BUILT SOMEWHAT LATER THAN WE WOULD WISH,+ HE SAID.
THIS YEAR, HOWEVER, THERE WOULD BE A PROGRAMME OF IMPROVEMENT TO EXISTING FACILITIES, A CONSIDERABLE INCREASE IN PLANNED EXPENDITURE ON NEW FACILITIES, AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF TEMPORARY FACILITIES WHERE NECESSARY, HE SAID.
♦THIS WILL ENSURE THAT THERE IS A SPREAD OF GAMES, PITCHES, SPORTSGROUNDS AND SWIMMING POOLS THROUGHOUT THE NEW TERRITORIES.♦
TEAMS FROM ALL EIGHT N.T. DISTRICTS WERE PRESENT AT TODAY’S OPENING CEREMONY, WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY A MATCH BETWEEN TSUEN WAN AND TUEN MUN.
THE FINALS WILL BE PLAYED IN LATE MAY.
IT IS HOPED THAT VOLLEY BALL, BADMINTON, TABLE-TENNIS AND TENNIS LEAGUES WILL COMMENCE THIS YEAR, MR AKERS-JONES SAID.
A SOCCER LEAGUE STARTED ON DECEMBER 14 AND WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MAY WHEN FINALS WILL BE PLAYED.
MR AKERS-JONES SAID THE NEW TERRITORIES INTER-DISTRICT SPORTS COMPETITION COORDINATING COMMITTEE, WHICH PROMOTED THESE LEAGUES, WOULD CONTINUE TO ENJOY THE SUPPORT OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS, DISTRICT OFFICE AND RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE.
ALSO PRESENT AT THE OPENING CEREMONY WERE TSUEN WAN TOWN MANAGER, DR JAMES HAYES- THE CHAIRMAN OF THE NEW TERRITORIES INTER-DISTRICT SPORTS COMPETITION CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE, MR DICKEN YUNG- AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BASKETBALL LEAGUE COMMITTEE, MR CHOW HOW-CHUEN.
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/6.....
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1981
6
COURSES FOR BOILER OPERATORS * * * *
THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC AND THE HAKING WONG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE HAVE STARTED EVENING COURSES FOR BOILER OPERATORS.
AND THE WAITING PERIOD FOR WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS FOR BOILER OPERATORS WITH THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAS NOW BEEN REDUCED WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF EXAMINATIONS EVERY SATURDAY MORNING.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THE NEW MEASURES WERE NECESSARY TO MEET A SHORTAGE OF BOILER OPERATORS. ESPECIALLY IN THE GARMENT INDUSTRY.
THE COURSES OFFERED BY THE POLYTECHNIC AND THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE ARE FOR A MAXIMUM OF 18 HOURS DURATION OVER A PERIOD OF ABOUT FIVE WEEKS.
AT THE END OF THE COURSE CANDIDATES ATTENDING THE HAKING WONG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE MAY SIT FOR A WRITTEN EXAMINATION COVERING THE SYLLABUS FOR A CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY FOR CLASS I I I OR CLASS I I 1(A) EQUIPMENT, WHICH INCLUDES THE TYPES OF BOILERS NORMALLY USED IN THE GARMENT INDUSTRY.
CANDIDATES TAKING THE CLASS III BOILER EXAMINATION REQUIRE AT LEAST NINE MONTHS EXPERIENCE IN GENERAL BOILER OPERATIONS, INCLUDING AT LEAST SIX MONTHS EXPERIENCE WITH THE AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED TYPE. CANDIDATES FOR CLASS I I 1(A) BOILERS NEED ONLY SIX MONTHS EXPERIENCE WITH MANUALLY CONTROLLED BOILERS.
CANDIDATES SUCCESSFUL AT THE EXAMINATION CONDUCTED BY THE HAKING WONG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE ARE ISSUED WITH COMPETENCY CERTIFICATES BY THE PRINCIPAL SURVEYOR OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WITHOUT HAVING TO SIT THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT’S EXAMINATIONS.
THOSE INTERESTED IN TAKING THE BOILER OPERATOR COURSES SHOULD CONTACT THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC OR HAKING WONG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE FOR FURTHER DETAILS. THOSE SEEKING THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT’S EXAMINATION SHOULD CONTACT ITS PRESSURE EQUIPMENT UNIT AT THE CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES, KOWLOON, TELEPHONE 3-688111 EXT. 352.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT URGED FACTORY OWNERS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TWO SHORT COURSES OFFERED BECAUSE FACTORIES OPERATING BOILERS WITHOUT PROPERLY QUALIFIED ATTENDANTS WERE LIABLE TO PROSECUTION AND BOILERS NOT ISSUED WITH CERTIFICATES OF FITNESS COULD BE CLOSED DOWN.
HE SAID, +WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE TWO SHORT COURSES FOR WHICH PLACES ARE NOW READILY AVAILABLE WITH VIRTUALLY NO WAITING TIME FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT EXAMINATIONS, FACTORY OWNERS SHOULD HAVE LITTLE DIFFICULTY IN OBTAINING THE SERVICES OF QUALIFIED STAFF.*
/7 .........
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1981
- 7 -
CLOSURE OF TRAFFIC LANE ON FLYOVER * * *
MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED THAT ONE TRAFFIC LANE ON THE PRINCE EDWARD ROAD/LAI CHI KOK ROAD FLYOVER WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM 10 PM ON TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 24) TO 6 AM ON FEBRUARY 25 AND FROM 10 PM ON FEBRUARY 27 TO 6 AM ON FEBRUARY 28 TO FACILITATE MAINTENANCE WORK OF THE FLYOVER.
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TAI PO MARKET STALLS FOR AUCTION
* *
FIVE STALLS AT THE TAI PO MARKET AND TAI PO KUK TENG MARKET WILL BE PUT UP FOR PUBLIC AUCTION ON TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 24).
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY THE AUCTION WILL BE HELD AT THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE NORTH URBAN SERVICES OFFICE, FIRST FLOOR, MEI TAK BUILDING, 1-17 KWONG FUK ROAD, TAI PO.
THE STALLS ARE FOR SELLING FISH AND VEGETABLES.
ONLY PERSONS AGED 21 OR ABOVE CAN TAKE PART IN THE AUCTION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
+THEY SHOULD BRING ALONG THEIR IDENTITY CARDS AND FIVE PHOTOGRAPHS TO THE AUCTION.*
,S^SSFUL B,DDERS CAN START THEIR BUSINESS ON MARCH 1 FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS.
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SITE FOR SORE FEET
* * *
SHEK KIP MEI RESIDENTS WILL HAVE A NEW REST GARDEN LATER THIS YEAR.
THE GARDEN, IN SHEK KIP MEI STREET, WILL HAVE A PLAYGROUND AND A SHADED SITTING-OUT AREA.
TENDERS FOR THE WORK ARE BEING INVITED BY THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
WORK WILL START IN MARCH AND WILL TAKE ABOUT FIVE MONTHS TO COMPLETE AT WHICH TIME IT WILL BE HANDED OVER TO THE URBAN COUNCIL FOR MANAGEMENT.
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1981
8
PEDESTRIAN MALL IN YUEN LONG * * *
FROM 10 AM ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 25), THE AREA BOUNDED BY MA MIU ROAD, MA WANG ROAD, ON NING ROAD AND THE UN-NAMED ROAD SERIALLED +L3* IN YUEN LONG WILL BE TURNED INTO A PEDESTRIAN PRESCINT AND ALL MOTOR VEHICLES WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING THE AREA.
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE ERECTED TO GUIDE MOTOR I STS.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
WIIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1981
CONTENTS PAGE! NO.
BUDGET DAY ON WEDNESDAY....................................... 1
EMPLOYMENT UP IN ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY......................... 1
SAFETY REMINDER TO FACTORY OWNERS ............................. 2
CONTRACT FOR AIRPORT CRASH TRUCKS ............................. 2
NEW OP'S FOR HONG KONG ........................................ 3
LADY CATER TO VISIT COMMUNITY CHEST AGENCIES IN NT ............ 4
POTTERY WORKSHOP FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL aRT TEACHERS ............ 5
BAT,T,CT INSTRUCTORS WANTED BY SAI KUNG ....................... 6
CLEAN-UP IN CHEUNG CHAU ....................................... 6
SHA TIN WATER CUT
7
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1981
1
BUDGET DAY ON WEDNESDAY * * * *
HONG KONG’S BUDGET FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1981-82 WILL BE PRESENTED TO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 25).
THE PROCEEDINGS WILL START AT 2.30 PM WHEN THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE MOVES THE FIRST AND SECOND READINGS OF THE APPROPRI AT ION BILL 1981 AND OUTLINES HONG KONG’S ESTIMATED REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE FOR 1981-82.
THE ESTIMATED HEADS OF EXPENDITURE WILL BE SET OUT IN THE SCHEDULE OF THE BILL TO BE PUBLISHED IN AN EXTRAORDINARY GAZETTE AT 2.30 PM ON WEDNESDAY.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WILL BE ADJOURNED UNTIL MARCH 25 AND 26 WHEN UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON THE BUDGET PROPOSALS.
OFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL REPLY TO POINTS RAISED BY THEIR UNOFFICIAL COLLEAGUES ON APRIL 8. IF NECESSARY, THE DEBATE WILL CONTINUE THE FOLLOWING DAY.
THIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD READING OF THE BILL ON APRIL 29.
AS IN PREVIOUS YEARS, THE PROCEEDINGS WILL BE COMPREHENSIVELY COVERED BY THE MASS MEDIA.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S SPEECH ON WEDNESDAY’S SITTING WILL BE BROADCAST LIVE OVER RTHK’S RADIO 2 (CHINESE) AND RADIO 3 (ENGLISH).
RTHK WILL ALSO BROADCAST LIVE THE OTHER BUDGET SITTINGS ON MARCH 25 AND 26, APRIL 8, 9 (IF NECESSARY) AND 29 ON RADIO 2 (CHINESE) AND RADIO 4 (ENGLISH).
THE BUDGET SITTINGS WILL ALSO BE COVERED, IN NORMAL NEWS CASTS AND BULLETINS OF RTHK, COMMERCIAL RADIO, HK-TVB AND RTV.
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EMPLOYMENT UP IN ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY
*****
THE WORKFORCE OF THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY HAS GROWN BY AN AVERAGE OF 8.6 PER CENT ANNUALLY BETWEEN 1978 AND 1980, ACCORDING TO A SURVEY BY THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD OF THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL.
FINDINGS OF THE SURVEY, CONDUCTED LAST JUNE, WERE IN A REPORT OF THE SIXTH MANPOWER SURVEY OF THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY.
THE REPORT CONTAINS DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE EMPLOYMENT STRUCTURE OF THE INDUSTRY, FORECAST OF TRAINING NEEDS UP TILL 1983 AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON MEASURES TO COPE WITH THE INDUSTRY’S NEEDS.
PUBLISHED IN CHINESE AND ENGLISH, THE REPORT, AT S6 A COPY, IS ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING.
/THE REPORT..
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1981
2
THE REPORT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE INDUSTRY HAD BEEN MOVING PROGRESSIVELY TOWARDS AUTOMATION AND MECHANISATION AND CONCLUDED THAT THE INDUSTRY MUST INVEST NOT ONLY IN SOPHISTICATED PLANT AND MACHINERY, BUT ALSO IN MANPOWER TRAINING AT ALL LEVELS.
-----0------
SAFETY REMINDER TO FACTORY OWNERS * * *
FACTORY PROPRIETORS WERE REMINDED TODAY (MONDAY) TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE GUARDING OF MACHINERY IN ORDER TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS.
THE REMINDER WAS MADE BY A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT FOLLOWING A RECENT COURT CASE IN WHICH A FACTORY WAS GIVEN THE MAXIMUM FINE OF $5 OOO FOR EACH OF THREE SUMMONSES FOR FAILING TO GUARD THE TOOL DIES OF POWER PRESSES IN CONTRAVENTION OF THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (GUARDING AND OPERATION OF MACHINERY) REGULATIONS.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE REGULATIONS REQUIRE FACTORY PROPRIETORS TO EFFECTIVELY GUARD DANGEROUS PARTS OF EVERY PIECE OF MACHINERY AND PLANT WHICH IS DRIVEN BY MECHANICAL POWER. DANGEROUS PARTS OF MACHINERY ARE SPECIFIED IN THE FIRST SCHEDULE TO THE REGULATIONS.
♦BOTH PROPRIETORS AND WORKERS SHOULD PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE DANGER ASSOCIATED WITH THE WORKING OF MACHINERY. PROPER GUARDING CAN ENSURE SAFE OPERATION AT ALL TIMES AND GIVES CONFIDENCE TO OPERATIVES. GUARDS WHICH ARE PROPERLY DESIGNED, INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED CAN HELP INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY,* HE NOTED.
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT FACTORY PROPRIETORS SEEKING IDEAS AND ADVICE ABOUT MACHINE GUARDING WERE WELCOME TO APPROACH THE DEPARTMENT’S FACTORY INSPECTORATE AT CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES AND ITS BRANCH OFFICES.
- - - - 0 ----
CONTRACT FOR AIRPORT CRASH TRUCKS
*****
THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TODAY LET A CONTRACT TO CHUBB (HK) LIMITED TO SUPPLY TWO PATHFINDER AIRPORT CRASH TRUCKS.
THE CONTRACT, WORTH ABOUT $6 MILLION, WAS SIGNED BY W GRAHAM OSBORNE, PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEER, AND MR F. BLEACKLEY, DIRECTOR OF CHUBB (HK) LIMITED.
MR OSBORNE SAID THE VEHICLES WERE ORDERED ON BEHALF OF THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT FOR USE AT THE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO MAINTAIN THE AIRPORT’S CRASH, FIRE AND RESCUE CAPABILITIES.
♦THE VEHICLES, TO BE DELIVERED IN DECEMBER THIS YEAR AND FEBRUARY NEXT YEAR, WILL ADD TO THE PRESENT FACILITIES OF THE AIRPORT FIRE CONTINGENT,♦ MR OSBORNE ADDED.
THE TRUCKS, WHICH WILL HAVE ACCOMMODATION FOR A CREW OF FIVE BUT CAN BE OPERATED BY ONE MAN, ARE IN USE AT MANY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
------°------- /3.......................
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1981
- 3 -
NEW QC’S FOR HONG KONG
* * * *
TWO BARRISTERS AND THREE MEMBERS OF THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN APPOINTED QUEEN’S COUNSEL FOR HONG KONG. THEY ARE MR DENIS CHANG KHEN-LEE, MR JOHN DESMOND MARY DONNELLY, MR DAVID RAYMOND BOY, MR GERALD PAUL NAZARETH AND MR MAX LUCAS.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THEIR APPOINTMENT WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE LAST FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 20, 1981).
MR CHANG WAS BORN IN SABAH, MALAYSIA IN 1944. HE OBTAINED THE DEGREE OF LL.B. AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL IN 1967, WAS CALLED TO THE BAR BY LINCOLN’S INN IN 1968 AND DID HIS PUPILLAGE IN HONG KONG IN CHAMBERS OF MR HENRY LITTON, QC.
HE WAS CALLED TO THE HONG KONG BAR IN 1970 AND HAS BEEN PRACTISING IN HONG KONG EVER SINCE. HE IS HEAD OF THE LAW DEPARTMENT OF SHU I YAN COLLEGE AND THE AUTHOR OF SEVERAL PUBLICATIONS ON LEGAL MATTERS.
MR CHANG IS A MEMBER OF THE LANDS TRIBUNAL, THE SUPREME COURT RULES COMMITTEE, THE CRIMINAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES COMPENSATION BOARDS, THE COMMITTEE OF THE LAW SOCIETY’S LEGAL ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE SCHEME AND THE EDITORIAL BOARD OF THE HONG KONG LAW JOURNAL.
MR DONNELLY WAS BORN IN DUBLIN IN 1916. HE OBTAINED THE B.A. DEGREE AT TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN IN 1938, WAS ADMITTED AS SOLICITOR IN IRELAND IN 1939 AND CALLED TO THE ENGLISH BAR (MIDDLE TEMPLE) IN 1948.
HE SERVED IN THE ROYAL AIR FORCE FROM 1942 TO 1945 AND IN THE OFFICE OF THE JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL FROM 1945 TO 1948. HE THEN PRACTISED WITH FIRMS OF ADVOCATES AND SOLICITORS IN IPOH FROM 1948 TO 1952 AND IN SINGAPORE FROM 1952 TO 1965.
MR DONNELLY WAS ADMITTED TO THE HONG KONG BAR IN 1964 AND HAS PRACTISED IN HONG KONG SINCE 1967, SPECIALISING IN CRIMINAL WORK.
MR BOY WAS BORN IN KENYA IN 1933. HE DID HIS PUPILLAGE IN ENGLAND AND WAS CALLED TO THE ENGLISH BAR (GRAY’S INN) IN 1954.
HE SERVED AS CROWN COUNSEL IN KENYA UNTIL 1962, WHEN HE WAS APPOINTED AS CROWN COUNSEL IN HONG KONG.
MR BOY HAS SINCE SERVED IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S CHAMBERS IN VARIOUS CAPACITIES AND WAS PROMOTED TO LAW OFFICER (DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS) IN FEBRUARY 1979. HE HAS ALSO BEEN LAW DRAFTSMAN AND HAS ACTED AS SOLICITOR GENERAL ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS SINCE 1973.
MR NAZARETH WAS BORN IN KENYA IN 1932. HE OBTAINED THE DEGREE OF LL.B. AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BOMBAY AND DID HIS PUPILLAGE IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S CHAMBERS IN KENYA. HE WAS CALLED TO THE ENGLISH BAR IN 1962.
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/4
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1981
4
HE SERVED IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S CHAMBERS IN KENYA FROM 1954 TO 1962 AND FROM THEN UNTIL 1976 IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S CHAMBERS IN THE BRITISH SOLOMON ISLANDS PROTECTORATE AND THE WESTERN PACIFIC HIGH COMMISSION HOLDING VARIOUS POSTS. HE WAS A VISITING FELLOW AT CANBERRA UNIVERSITY IN 1971 IN THE INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED LEGAL STUDIES.
MR NAZARETH CAME TO HONG KONG IN 1976 AS DEPUTY LAW DRAFTSMAN AND WAS PROMOTED TO LAW OFFICER (LAW DRAFTSMAN) IN FEBRUARY 1979.
MR LUCAS WAS BORN IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA IN 1935. HE OBTAINED THE DEGREE OF LL.B. AT ADELAIDE UNIVERSITY IN 1958 AND WAS ADMITTED AS BARRISTER AND SOLICITOR OF THE SUPREME COURT OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA IN 1959.
HE WAS APPOINTED CROWN COUNSEL IN HONG KONG IN 1964 AND HAS SERVED IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S CHAMBERS EVER SINCE.
MR LUCAS WAS APPOINTED PRINCIPAL CROWN COUNSEL IN 1977 AND IS PRESENTLY THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS. HE HAS ALSO ACTED AS DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS.
THE CHIEF JUSTICE WILL FORMALLY CALL THE NEW SILKS TO THE INNER BAR AT A CEREMONY TO BE HELD AT THE SUPREME COURT ON MARCH 7, 1981.
- - C -
NOTE TO EDITORSi
LADY CATER TO VISIT COMMUNITY CHEST AGENCIES IN NT * * *
LADY CATER, PRESIDENT OF THE COMMUNITY CHEST OF HONG KONG, WILL VISIT TWO MEMBER AGENCIES OF THE CHEST AT TUEN MUN ON THURSDA AFTERNOON (FEBRUARY 26).
THE AGENCIES TO BE VISITED ARE THE +ST. SIMON+ HOME FOR FISHERMEN’S AND WORKMEN’S CHILDREN AND THE YUEN LONG HOME FOR THE AGED BLIND.
THE DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY CHEST, 14? G.A. HENDERSON WILL ACCOMPANY LADY CATER THROUGHOUT THE VISITS.
YOU ARE WELCOME TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER LADY CATER’S VISITS TO THE COMMUNITY CHEST ORGANISATIONS ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 26).
/THE FGLLCWIN3
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2J, 1981
THE FOLLOWING IS A PROGRAMME OF THE VISITSi
♦ST. SIMON* HOME FOR FISHERMEN’S AND WORKMEN’S CHILDREN
(3 PM TO 3.40 PM)
(1) TAI HING DAY NURSERY,
COMMERCIAL COMPLEX,
GROUND FLOOR, TAI HING ESTATE, TUEN MUN, NT.
(2) CHILD WELFARE CENTRE, LOT 683, TSI NG WUN ROAD, TUEN MUN, NT.
(3) HOSTEL,
LOT 1180, TSI NG WUN ROAD, TUEN MUN, NT.
YUEN LONG HOME FOR THE AGED BLIND (4 PM TO 4.30 PM)
LOT 49, ON NING ROAD, YUEN LONG, NT.
------0-------
POTTERY WORKSHOP FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL ART TEACHERS X X X X X
TWO POTTERY WORKSHOPS WILL BE HELD FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL ART TEACHERS IN MARCH AND MAY AT THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S CULTURAL CRAFTS CENTRE IN NORTH POINT.
♦THE AIM OF THE WORKSHOPS IS TO ENHANCE TEACHERS’ KNOWLEDGE IN POTTERY THROUGH STUDIO PRACTICE AND TO EXPLORE FURTHER POSSIBILITIES OF USING CLAY, ESPECIALLY IN DECORATION AND FORM EXPRESS ION,♦ AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE EVENT IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE ART SECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT’S ADVISORY INSPECTORATE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF EXTRAMURAL STUDIES OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG.
LECTURES WILL BE CONDUCTED IN CANTONESE BY MRS M.Y.F. LORD WHOSE WORK WAS REPRESENTED IN THE RECENT EXHIBITION OF CONTEMPORARY BRITISH POTTERY.
EACH WORKSHOP WILL CONSIST OF EIGHT SESSIONS ON EIGHT CONSECUTIVE SATURDAY MORNINGS. THE FIRST WORKSHOP WILL START ON MARCH 21 AND THE SECOND ON MAY 23.
FEES WILL BE $150, PAYABLE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EXTRA-MURAL STUDIES, THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG ON ACCEPTANCE TO THE WORKSHOP.
THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS IS RESTRICTED TO 15 PER WORKSHOP.
A CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE WILL BE ISSUED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO PARTICIPANTS WITH SATISFACTORY ATTENDANCE RECORDS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
TEACHERS WHO WISH TO ATTEND THE WORKSHOPS SHOULD APPLY THROUGH THEIR HEADS OF SCHOOLS TO THE ART SECTION, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, 4 PAK FUK ROAD, NORTH POINT, HONG KONG.
' - 1 - - 0------
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1981
6
BALLET INSTRUCTORS WANTED BY SAI KUNG
MX*
SAI KUNG DISTRICT ADVSORY BOARD IS LOOKING FOR PART-TIME STAFF TO TEACH BALLET TO CHILDREN OF THE DISTRICT STARTING IN APRIL.
THE VACANCIES ARE FOR AN INSTRUCTOR, AN ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR AND A PIANIST.
THEY WILL BE REQUIRED ON SATURDAY OR SUNDAY AFTERNOONS FOR THREE HOURS TO CONDUCT CLASSES FOR CHILDREN AGED BETWEEN EIGHT AND 12.
THERE WILL BE THREE CLASSES EACH OF ABOUT 30 STUDENTS.
THE BALLET INSTRUCTOR SHOULD HAVE A ROYAL SCHOOL OF BALLET CERTIFICATE, WHILE THE ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR SHOULD BE EXPERIENCED IN ORGANISING DANCE ACTIVITIES. THE PIANIST SHOULD HAVE REACHED GRADE SEVEN IN THE ROYAL SCHOOL OF MUSIC EXAMINATIONS.
THE INSTRUCTOR, ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR AND PIANIST WILL BE PAID $50, $20 AND $30 PER HOUR RESPECTIVELY. PAYMENT OF TRAVELLING ALLOWANCES WILL ALSO BE CONSIDERED.
APPLICATIONS SHOULD REACH SAI KUNG DISTRICT OFFICE AT SAN PO KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES BY FEBRUARY 28.
THE BALLET CLASSES WILL BE PART OF THE SERIES OF CULTURAL ACTIVITIES ORGANISED BY SAI KUNG DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD, WHICH ALSO SPONSORS A 160-MEMBER CHILDREN’S CHOIR AND A 50-MEMBER PLAY-AND-SI NG GROUP.
------o-------
CLEAN-UP IN CHEUNG CHAU M M M
CHEUNG CHAU RESIDENTS WERE TODAY (MONDAY) URGED TO PLAY THEIR ROLE IN MAKING THE ISLAND A CLEANER AND HEALTHIER PLACE TO LIVE IN.
THE APPEAL WAS MADE BY A MEMBER OF THE ISLANDS DISTRICT KEEP HONG KONG CLEAN COMMITTEE, MR FUNG PEI-TAI, WHO IS ALSO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CHEUNG CHAU RURAL COMMITTEE, WHILE HE TOURED THE ISLAND TO INSPECT A CLEAN-UP OPERATION.
MR FUNG WAS IMPRESSED BY THE WORK OF THE SPECIAL CLEANSING WORKERS AND STAFF OF THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND.
DURING THE TOUR, HE WAS TOLD BY THE URBAN SERVICES OFFICER (ISLANDS), MR YUNG CHING-FONG, THAT MORE THAN 800 BASKETS OF REFUSE, BUILDING DEBRIS AND DOMESTIC WASTE AS WELL AS ONE JUNK-LOAD OF DISCARDED ITEMS WERE REMOVED FROM SOME 40 BLACK SPOTS.
THE OPERATION WAS LAUNCHED BY THE CHEUNG CHAU RURAL COMMITTEE, THE ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE URBAN SERVICES OFFICE.
/MR FUNG ...
MONDAY, EEBHDABY 2J, 1981
7
MR FUNG CALLED ON HIS FELLOW ISLANDERS TO SET A GOOD EXAMPLE TO RESIDENTS ON OTHER OUTLYING ISLANDS BY KEEPING CHEUNG CHAU A PLEASANT PLACE.
ACCOMPANYING MR FUNG ON THE VISIT WERE THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (SOUTH) OF THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT, MR JAMES WILSON, AND THE DISTRICT OFFICER (ISLANDS), MR LO KAR-CHUN.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
COPIES OF A PHOTOGRAPH SHOWING THE CHEUNG CHAU CLEAN-UP ARE AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION AT GIS PRESS BOXES.
SHA TIN WATER CUT ft ft ft ft ft
THE FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO PART OF SHA TIN WILL BE TURNED OFF FROM 9 PM ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 25) TO 8 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY.
ALL PREMISES AND VILLAGES IN THE FO TAN AREA WILL BE AFFECTED.
0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1981
PRINCE PHILIP TO OPEN HOSPITAL............................... 1
HK EXPORTS NOT DISRUPTIVE ................................... 2
SIR JACK TO VISIT GUANGDONG ................................. 3
SCHOOLS INVITED TO JOIN JSEA SYSTEM IN 1982 ................. 3
NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE OPENS IN TUEN MUN......... 4
CENTRE FOR MENTALLY HANDICAPPED IN KWAI CHUNG......... 5
SOCIAL WELFARE DIRECTOR INSPECTS WELFARE SERVICES .... 6
SECOND PUMPING STATION IN LOV/ER SHING MUN .................. 6
ILLEGAL GRAVES TO BE CLEARED................................. 7
SECOND GOVERNMENT INTERDEPARTMENTAL RACE .................... 8
TWO-WAY TRAFFIC IN SHEK KU STREET............................ 8
TSIM SHA TSUI WATER CUT
8
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1981
1
PRINCE PHILIP TO OPEN HOSPITAL X M *
-rue >515 E?.YAl7 HIGHNESS, THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH, WILL OFFICIALLY OPEN THE >200 MILLION PRINCE PHILIP DENTAL HOSPITAL IN SAI YING PUN DURING A BRIEF STOPOVER IN HONG KONG ON MARCH 24.
DOrteeIeLG?y«^MENT SUBVERTED HOSPITAL, DESCRIBED BY ITS DIRECTOR, PROCESSOR GEOFFREY L. HOWE AS BEING +ONE OF THE MOST MODERN IN Th£ WORLD*, HAS STARTED ACCEPTING TRAINEE DENTISTS.
£ j:^hp^s:s?n?esfarIhethisi^a^2!ng eor australia- prof- howe
DURING A TOUR OF THE HOSPITAL, PRINCE PHILIP WILL BE TAKEN THROUGH FOUR FLOORS WHICH HAVE BEEN HANDED OVER TO THE BOARD OF nii^RED BY ^OFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL riloo LYDIA DUNN.
L1_o HE 'flLL^EE TRA,NEE DENTAL TECHNICIANS AT WORK IN THE HOSPITAL S 228 CLINICAL CHAIRS — 161 IN OPEN PLAN UNITS WITH ASSOCIATED BACK-UP FACILITIES, 56 INDIVIDUAL SURGERIES NINE SPECIAL MONSTRATION SURGERIES AND TWO OPERATING THEATRES. ’ SPECIAL u.e THE H0SP,TAL STARTED IN JUNE 1978- THE SUPERSTRUCTURE
equipment Jas inIt1lleJTla§tAyear?CH °F ,TS H,GHLY sophist,cated .
«- H0WE> WHO IS ALSO DEAN OF DENTAL STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY
K FO^TS^ET'TElc’lIe^^yiy’ SU'TABLE MT'E"TS “0ULD HAVE T0
HUHDCn Ur IKAINtto.
ncuT.12! ™S^IAL IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE ABOUT 60 FULLY QUALIFIED 0R TECHNICIANS a year- the first batch will graduate
IN
einoTT{Ju EULL COURSES ARE FOR FOUR AND A HALF YEARS. DURING THE FIRST THREE YEARS, THE HOSPITAL’S TRAINING STAFF (THERE ARE » PR£”CL INICAL TEACHERS AT THE MOMENT AND THIS WILL BE
BOOSTED TO 80 ACADEMIC STAFF WHEN FULLY OPERATIONAL) WILL DO MOST £ ™E WORK 0N THE PATIENTS WITH THE STUDENTS LOOKING ON. HOWEVER STUDENTS DURING EARLY TRAINING WILL BE DOING SCRAPINGS, CLEANING AND SIMILAR DUTIES ON PATIENTS.
COURSES AT THE HOSPITAL INCLUDE TRAINING FOR DENTAL HEALTH INSTRUCTORS, DENTAL SURGERY ASSISTANTS (DSA), EXTENDED DUTY FOR DSA’S, DENTAL HYGIENISTS, DENTAL THERAPISTS AND ANCILLARY WORKERS SUCH AS TECHNICIANS.
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/2
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1981
2
HK EXPORTS NOT DISRUPTIVE * X * *
THE CLAMOUR OF CALLS FROM INDUSTRIES IN DEVELOPED COUNTRIES FOR INCREASED PROTECTION AGAINST IMPORTS FROM SO-CALLED LOW-COST SUPPLIERS IS OBSCURING THE FACT THAT GARMENTS FROM HONG KONG REPRESENTED ONLY 1.3 PER CENT AND 3 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY OF US AND EEC CONSUMPTION.
THIS WAS STATED TODAY (FEBRUARY 24) BY MR BILL DORWARD, DIRECTOR OF TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS, WHEN HE REVEALED THAT, IN THE SO-CALLED ♦SENSITIVE* CATEGORIES IN BOTH THOSE MAJOR MARKETS IN 1980, EXPORTS TO THE EEC HAD ACTUALLY DECLINED BY 0.1 PER CENT AND TO THE US HAD GENERALLY INCREASED BY ONLY 2 TO 3 PER CENT.
♦NO ONE WITH ANY HOPE OF PRESERVING A SHRED OF CREDIBILITY CAN ARGUE THAT THESE NUMBERS REFLECT A TRADE WHICH IS, OR THREATENS TO BE. WIDELY DISRUPTIVE. TO DO SO WOULD BE EFFECTIVELY TO ARGUE THAT ALL IMPORTS ARE BY DEFINITION DISRUPTIVE- WHICH IS PATENT AND SELF-DEFEATING RUBBISH,♦ HE SAID.
DESPITE THE SLUGGISH PERFORMANCE IN THE SENSITIVE CATEGORIES, HOWEVER, MR DORWARD REVEALED THAT IN 1980 TOTAL QUOTA UTILISATION FOR GARMENTS TO THE US SHOWED AN INCREASE IN THE VOLUME OF EXPORTS OF ABOUT 4 PER CENT AND TO THE EEC OF ABOUT 7 PER CENT.
SPEAKING TO THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG GARMENT MANUFACTURERS AT THEIR ANNUAL SPRING DINNER, MR DORWARD SAIDi +THE OVERALL INCREASE WAS ACHIEVED FIRST OF ALL AS A RESULT OF IMPROVED MARKET CONDITIONS FOR KNITWEAR AFTER A RELATIVELY SLOW YEAR IN 1979- AND ALSO, PERHAPS MORE SIGNIFICANTLY, BY YOUR ABILITY TO DEVELOP EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE NON-SENSIT IVE CATEGORIES.♦
MR DORWARD TOLD HIS AUDIENCE THAT THESE VERY IMPORTANT FACTS WERE PRESENTED TO THE US NEGOTIATORS WHO ARE IN HONG KONG TODAY SEEKING STILL FURTHER CONCESSIONS IN RESPECT OF THE SO-CALLED ♦SENSITIVE* CATEGORIES.
♦AND THEY WILL BE MADE FIRMLY AND OFTEN IN THE COMING YEAR OR SO TO THOSE WHO ARGUE THAT OUR LEGITIMATE ASPIRATIONS TO FAIR TRADING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR MAJOR INDUSTRY SHOULD BE MORE AND MORE RESTRICTED,* HE EMPHASISED.
ON THE FORTHCOMING DISCUSSIONS ON THE MULT I-FIBRE ARRANGEMENT, WHICH EXPIRES AT THE END OF 1981, MR DORWARD SAID IT WAS REGRETTABLE THAT THE RENEGOTIATIONS WOULD BE TAKING PLACE IN A WORLD HIT BY ECONOMIC RECESSION- AND WITH A TEXTILE AND GARMENT INDUSTRY IN THE DEVELOPED WORLD AFFECTED BY UNEMPLOYMENT CAUSED MAINLY BY IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY AND IMPORTS FROM OTHER, MORE COMPETITIVE, DEVELOPED COUNTRIES.
♦THE PRESSURES ARE, OF COURSE, ON FOR RESTRICTION TO BE PILED ON RESTRICTION WHEREVER THIS CAN BE CONVENIENTLY DONE WITH LITTLE OR NO FEAR OF RETALIATION.
♦FOR OUR PART, WE ARE PREPARING OURSELVES FOR THE MAJOR NEGOTIATIONS, WHICH SHOULD START IN THE EARLY SUMMER, BY MARSHALLING OUR FACTS AND THOUGHTS AND MAINTAINING CONTACTS AT SENIOR LEVELS AROUND THE WORLD,♦ HE SAID.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1981
3
♦WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY IN GENEVA WITH THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WITH WHOM WE HAVE COMMON INTERESTS,* MR DORWARD SAID.
FOLLOWING ON THE FIRST FORMAL CO-ORDINATING MEETING OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WHICH HE HAD ATTENDED IN BOGOTA, COLOMBIA LAST NOVEMBER, MR DORWARD ANNOUNCED THAT A FURTHER MEETING WOULD BE HELD IN DJAKARTA IN APRIL.
MR DORWARD ALSO DISCLOSED THAT HE WILL BE LEAVING LATER THIS WEEK FOR VISITS TO GENEVA, BRUSSELS, LONDON AND WASHINGTON FOR DISCUSSIONS WITH SENIOR POLITICAL AND OFFICIAL FIGURES.
♦COMMUNICATION IS AN ESSENTIAL FEATURE OF NEGOTIATION IF WE ARE TO AVOID IT DEGENERATING, IN THE PRESENT DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES, INTO CONFRONTATION,♦ MR DORWARD CONCLUDED.
- - 0 - -
SIR JACK TO VISIT GUANGDONG
* * *
THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR JACK CATER, WILL BE VISITING GUANGDONG FROM MARCH 9 TO 13 AT THE INVITATION OF VICE-GOVERNOR LIU TIANFU. HE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY LADY CATER, MISS JACQUELINE CATER, AND THE POLITICAL ADVISER, DR DAVID WILSON. DURING HIS VISIT TO GUANGDONG SIR JACK WILL DISCUSS ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND OTHER MATTERS OF COMMON INTEREST.
-----0------
SCHOOLS INVITED TO JOIN JSEA SYSTEM IN 1982
SCHOOLS WISHING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 1982 JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION ASSESSMENT (JSEA) SYSTEM SHOULD APPLY TO THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ON OR BEFORE MARCH 23 THIS YEAR, AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY.
♦PRIVATE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS WHICH ARE NOT IN THE BOUGHT PLACE SCHEME AND WHICH CHOOSE NOT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE JSEA SYSTEM, ARE REMINDED THAT THEY MUST NOTIFY PARENTS THAT THEIR CHILDREN WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR ALLOCATION TO SUBSIDISED FORM 4 PLACES,♦ HE SAID.
ALL GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS, AIDED SCHOOLS, NON-PROFIT-MAKING PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND INDEPENDENT PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN THE BOUGHT PLACE SCHEME WILL BE EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE NEXT YEAR.
SCHOOLS WHICH PARTICIPATED THIS YEAR ARE REQUESTED WITH THE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO IN
TO REAFFIRM 1982.
,N 0RDER To ASSIST PARENTS OF PRIMARY 6 LEAVERS IN CHOICE OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS FOR THEIR CHILDREN, SCHOOLS •R THE JSEA SYSTEM W,L*- BE EXPECTED TO GIVE THREE YEARS NOTICE OF THEIR INTENTION TO WITHDRAW FROM THE SYSTEM, SPOKESMAN SAID.
THEIR PARTICIPATING ADVANCE
THE
/♦THIS 1SAHS........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1981
4
♦THIS MEANS THAT SCHOOLS OPTING TO JOIN THE SYSTEM IN 1982 WILL BE EXPECTED TO REMAIN IN THE SYSTEM AT LEAST UNTIL 1984, HE SAID.
ciurp THE IDENTITY CARD NUMBER OF EACH PARTICIPATING STUDENT WILL BE PRINTED ON HIS CERTIFICATE, STUDENTS SHOULD ENSURE THEY HAVE THEIR PERSONAL IDENTITY CARD BEFORE THEY ENTER FOR THE SCALING TEST, THAT IS, BEFORE SEPTEMBER OF THE YEAR THEY ENTER FORM 3.
SUCH IDENTITY CARDS SHOULD BE THE NEW TYPE WHICH BEARS THE PHOTOGRAPH OF THE HOLDER, AND CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS OFFICE.
-----0-----
NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE OPENS IN TUEN MUN
*****
THE DIRECTOR OF NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT, MR JOHN DON, TODAY OFFICIALLY OPENED THE TUEN MUN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE.
THE OFFICE IS ONE OF FIVE NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICES OPERATED BY THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. IT IS THE THIRD NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE ACTUALLY LOCATED IN THE NEW TOWN IT IS BUILDING- THE OTHER TWO ARE IN TSUEN WAN AND SHA TIN.
MR STAN BARDEN, PROJECT MANAGER (TUEN MUN), TOLD THE GATHERING THAT WITH THE OPENING OF THE NEW OFFICE, +OUR STAFF ARE NOW TRULY PART OF TUEN MUN’S LIFE AND THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THEY HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE DIFFICULTIES FACED BY THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE TOWN, BECAUSE THEY FACE SOME OF THOSE DIFFICULTIES THEMSELVES*.
HE SA IDi +THERE IS A PRICE TO BE PAID OF COURSE, FOR WORKING IN A TOWN WHICH IS SO REMOTE FROM THE PLACE WHERE YOU LIVE, AND THAT IS THE TIME LOST EVERY DAY IN TRAVELLING.*
MR BARDEN POINTED OUT THAT THE LOSS OF TIME WAS SERIOUS.
HOWEVER, HE WAS HAPPY TO SEE THAT PROGRESS ON SOLUTIONS TO THIS PROBLEM WAS SLOWLY BEING MADE AND HE WAS HOPEFUL THAT THINGS WOULD IMPROVE IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.
MR BARDEN SAID VISITORS TO TUEN MUN WERE OFTEN A LITTLE PUZZLED ABOUT THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE AND THE DI STR CT OFFICE.
HE EXPLAINED THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR BUILDING THE TOWN AND THE 'I STR I CT OFFICE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO BUILD THE TU-'N.
♦WE ARE A TEAM, AND WE ALL REALISE THAT NONE OF US CAN WORK IN I SOLAT ION,♦ HE ADDED.
/me babden........
TUESDAY, FEBBUARY 24, 1981 - 5 -
MR BARDEN THANKED THE DISTRICT OFFICE FOR ITS CO-OPERATION AND WAS GRATEFUL OF THE GUIDANCE GIVEN BY MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY THE YAN Ol TONG, THE HEUNG YEE KUK AND ALL OTHER ORGANISATIONS WITHIN AND OUTSIDE GOVERNMENT THAT WORK TOWARDS THE GOOD OF THE FUTURE POPULATION OF TUEN MUN.
------0
CENTRE FOR MENTALLY HANDICAPPED IN KWAI CHUNG
* * * K
THE FOUNDATION STONE FOR THE PO LEUNG KUK CENTRE FOR MENTALLY HANDICAPPED ADULTS NEAR KWAI CHUNG WAS LAID TODAY (TUESDAY) BY SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES.
THE CENTRE WILL BE BUILT IN TWO PHASES ON A 7 500 SQUARE METRE SITE AT 0 PUI SHAN AND PROVIDE ACCOMMODATION FOR 200 ADULTS WHEN COMPLETED IN JUNE, 1983.
IT WILL HAVE TWO DORMITORY WINGS, EACH OF 100 BEDS, A KITCHEN, DINING HALL, ACTIVITY ROOMS, RECREATIONAL HALL, OFFICES AND STAFF QUARTERS. THE WINGS WILL BE LINKED BY COVERED WALKWAY AND BE SEPARATED FROM THE TRAINING AREAS. HYDRAULIC LIFTS WILL BE INSTALLED FOR THE DISABLED.
AT TODAY’S CEREMONY MR AKERS-JONES RECEIVED A CHEQUE FOR $500 000 FROM MR CHENG YIK-CHEE, UNCLE OF PO LEUNG KUK DIRECTOR, MR ARTHUR CHENG. MR CHENG HAS AGREED TO DONATE A TOTAL OF $2 MILLION TOWARDS THE COST OF BUILDING THE CENTRE WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE AROUND $15 MILLION.
MR AKERS-JONES SAID THE CENTRE WOULD NEARLY DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF PLACES IN HONG KONG FOR SEVERELY MENTALLY RETARDED ADULTS AND WOULD MAKE A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO EASING THE PRESENT SHORTAGE. FURTHER CENTRES WERE PLANNED BY OTHER AGENCIES FOR TUEN MUN AND YUEN LONG.
HE SAID THE PO LEUNG KUK WAS NO STRANGER TO THE FIELD OF REHABILITATION AND SERVICES FOR THE MENTALLY ILL. IT NOW OPERATED HOSTELS, SHELTERED WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING CENTRES IN ADDITION TO RESIDENTIAL HOMES.
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/6
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1981
6
SOCIAL WELFARE DIRECTOR INSPECTS WELFARE SERVICES ft * ft *
THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR SELWYN ALLEYNE, TODAY (TUESDAY) INSPECTED THE WELFARE SERVICES OF A GIRLS' CENTRE, AN OLD PEOPLE’S HOSTEL AND A PRE-SCHOOL CENTRE FOR DISABLED CHILDREN IN ABERDEEN.
CONTINUING HIS SERIES OF VISITS TO VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, HE FIRST CALLED ON THE MARYCOVE CENTRE, A RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTRE RUN BY THE GOOD SHEPHERD SISTERS FOR GIRLS WITH PERSONAL OR FAMILY PROBLEMS.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR, SISTER MARY ANTIGUA, AND COORDINATOR, SISTER MARY DUNNE, MR ALLEYNE TOURED THE CENTRE WHICH ADMITS 200 ADOLESCENT GIRLS IN NEED OF CARE OR PROTECTION.
THE CENTRE PROVIDES FREE RESIDENTIAL CARE FOR GIRLS AGED 12 TO 18 YEARS REQUIRING A TEMPORARY ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE, DAY CARE SERVICE FOR THOSE UNABLE TO STUDY IN REGULAR SCHOOLS, AND HOSTEL SERVICE FOR GIRLS WITHOUT SUITABLE HOMES.
THE DIRECTOR LEARNED THAT THROUGH INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP AND INDIVIDUALISED TREATMENT, THE CENTRE HELPS THE GIRLS TOWARDS FAMILY RECONCILIATION AND REINTEGRATION INTO THE COMMUNITY.
MR ALLEYNE LATER CALLED AT THE WAI KEI OLD PEOPLE’S HOSTEL RUN BY THE HONG KONG AND MACAU LUTHERAN CHURCH, AND THE APLEICHAU PRE-SCHOOL CENTRE RUN BY THE HONG KONG SPASTICS ASSOCIATION FOR DISABLED CHILDREN.
HE WAS GREETED BY PRESIDENT OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH, THE REV A. ESPEGREN, AND OTHER OFFICIALS AT THE HOSTEL WHICH CATERS FOR 107 ELDERLY PEOPLE PROVIDING MEAL SERVICE, RESIDENTIAL CARE AND ORGANISED ACTIVITIES.
AT THE PRE-SCHOOL CENTRE, HE WAS BRIEFED BY THE ASSOCIATION CHAIRMAN, THE REV ERIK KVAN, AND STAFF AT THE CENTRE. THE CENTRE PROVIDES BOTH DAY CARE SERVICE AND RESIDENTIAL TRAINING FOR MULTIPLE-HANDICAPPED CHILDREN AGED UP TO SIX YEARS. ITS CAPACITY IS 48.
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SECOND PUMPING STATION IN LOWER SHING MUN ft ft ft ft
™T?t?LT^PLSErTRi2“^E1)
BV FOU"tM
SUPPLIES OEpStMeIiT^M? ^5NG0U^^:E^°T"I)HrNETSEp^SG
M’cSKtr’e^ MILLI0N’ w'll have a 5.T™Eoutput"SfPING
/+IT WILL .......
TOSSDAY, FEBEUAHY 24, 1981
7
♦IT WILL BE CONSTRUCTED NEXT TO THE EXISTING ONE BELOW THE SHING MUN DAM AND WILL CONVEY PART OF THE RAW WATER FROM THE MAJOR AQUEDUCT SYSTEM FROM TAI PO TAU TO SHA TIN TREATMENT WORKS, WHICH IS CURRENTLY BEING UP-RATED TO A CAPACITY OF 1.36 MILLION CUBIC METRES A DAY.+
MR LEUNG WAS SPEAKING AFTER THE SIGNING OF A CONTRACT FOR THE NEW STATION WITH THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF WO HING CONSTRUCTION CO. LTD., MR YU YUEN-HING, AT THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS IN LEIGHTON CENTRE.
HE SAID THE NEW PUMPING STATION FORMED PART OF THE$1 300 MILLION SCHEME WHICH WILL BE CARRIED OUT IN THREE STAGES OVER THE NEXT 12 YEARS TO CATER FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES OF WATER FROM CHINA.
THE NEW PUMPING STATION WAS THE SECOND MAJOR CONTRACT FOR WORK ON STAGE ONE.
THE FIRST CONTRACT, COSTING $11.7 MILLION, WAS AWARDED TO VIAN INI S.P.A. RECENTLY. IT WAS FOR THE LAYING OF ABOUT 1.8 KILOMETRES OF MILD STEEL PIPE-LINES FROM FU TEI AU TO SHEUNG SHUI.
MR LEUNG SAID THE DEPARTMENT WILL AWARD FIVE MORE MAJOR CONTRACTS FOR WORK ON STAGE ONE THIS YEAR.
ILLEGAL GRAVES TO BE CLEARED X X X X
THIRTY ILLEGAL GRAVES IN THE KWONG SHAN AREA IN TUEN MUN DISTRICT LYING WITHIN THE BOUNDARY OF THE CASTLE PEAK FIRING RANGE WILL BE CLEARED BY GOVERNMENT STAFF AFTER SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 28).
RELATIVES CAN BE TRACED BEFORE EXHUMATION, THEY HAVE BEEN APPROACHED AND GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO REMOVE THE GRAVES THEMSELVES.
UNDER SECTION 118 OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES ORDINANCE, BURIALS OUTSIDE AUTHORISED CEMETERIES ARE NOT PERMITTED AS THE PRACTICE IS CONTRARY TO THE PROPER DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRYSIDE AND COULD CONSTITUTE A HEALTH HAZARD.
■rueirZ1 “lJ9RSJ’° ILLEGAL GRAVES IN THE KWONG SHAN AREA ALSO PUT THE R LIVES AT RISK BY ENTERING THE DANGER AREA OF THE CASTLE PEAK FIRING RANGE.
EXHUMED REMAINS OF THESE BURIALS WILL BE RE-INTERRED IN SANDY RIDGE CEMETERY.
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/B......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 198'1
t
8 -
SECOND GOVERNMENT INTERDEPARTMENTAL RACE
*****
THE KAM SHAN COUNTRY PARK WILL BE THE VENUE OF THE SECOND GOVERNMENT INTERDEPARTMENTAL RACE ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 28).
THIS FOLLOWS THE SUCCESS OF THE INAUGURAL RACE LAST YEAR WHICH WAS RUN ON THE INTERHONG RACE COURSE AROUND MT CAMERON ON HONG KONG ISLAND.
THERE WILL BE TWO RACES THIS YEARi LADIES WILL START JUST AFTER 10 AM AND FOLLOW A COURSE OF ABOUT 4.5 KM- THE MEN WILL START AT 10.30 AM AND PROCEED ON A LONGER COURSE OF 7.5 KM.
18 DEPARTMENTS WITH ABOUT 300 PARTICIPANTS WILL ENTER THE RACES WHICH ARE EXPECTED TO BE COVERED IN LESS THAN 25 MINUTES.
THE INTERDEPARTMENTAL RACES, ORGANISED BY PARTICIPATING DEPARTMENTS ON YEARLY ROTATION, IS BEING ORGANISED THIS YEAR BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
THE CHIEF JUSTICE, SIR DENYS ROBERTS, HAS DONATED A TROPHY. HE WILL START THE RACES AND LATER PRESENT THE +ROBERTS SHIELD+ AND OTHER TROPHIES.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE EVENT WHICH WILL START AT THE SECTION OF GOLDEN HILL ROAD BETWEEN KOWLOON AND BYEWASH RESERVOIR AT 10 AM ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 28).
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TWO-WAY TRAFFIC IN SHEK KU STREET
* * * *
TRAFFIC IN SHEK KU STREET IN HO MAN TIN DISTRICT WILL BE REVERTED TO TWO-WAY FLOW FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 27), A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED TODAY.
THE REVERSION TO TWO-WAY TRAFFIC IS BEING MADE FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF ROAD WORKS IN THE AREA.
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TSIM SHA TSUI WATER CUT
* * *
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN TSIM SHA TSUI WILL BE TEMPORARILY CUT OFF FOR SEVEN HOURS FROM 11 PM ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 26) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR LEAKAGE TESTS.
THE AREA TO BE AFFECTED IS BOUNDED BY NATHAN ROAD, KIMBERLEY ROAD, OBSERVATORY ROAD, CHATHAM ROAD, CAMERON ROAD, AND CARNARVON ROAD INCLUDING KIMBERLEY STREET, GRANVILLE ROAD, SALISBURY AVENUE AND GRANVILLE CIRCUIT.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES ' BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
• .... . .... WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1981
• • ■ • -CQNTLINTS PAGE NO,
BUDGET SPEECH:
GDP TO GROW BY-8-PHIL GOT? AT CONSTANT PRICES ......... 1
GLOOMY PREDICTIONS NOT BORNE OUT BY BUDGET FORECAST.... 2
PERSONAL ALLOWANCES TO GO UP........................... 3
•’ ■ • .• ••» .
REVPNUE TO TOP $33 700 M IN 1?8l/82 ................... 5
25 PER CINT BISS IN GOVT SPENDING TIPPED .............. 7
FSs $7 881 MILLION SURPLUS FOR 1981-82 ................ 8
1980-81 SURPLUS EXPECTED TO BE ABOUT $6 JOO M.......... 8
FISCAL RESERVES SET TO REACH 3 10 300 M................ 9
PROPER MANAGEMENT - KEY TO HK'S ECONOMIC DESTINY....... 10
SEVEN PER CENT GROWTH IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS FORECAST..... 11
FS OPTS NOT TO RAISE TAXES ............................ 12
3 3 976 M TO BE SPENT ON HOUSING IN 198l/82 ........... 15
FS CAUTIONS AGAINST USING PRICE CONTROLS TO FIGHT INFLATION .............................................. 16
MORE LAND TO BE PRODUCED .............................. 18
LAW AND ORDER COSTS UP 11 PER CENT .................... 18
INCREASE IN PRIMARY SCHOOL PLACES ..................... 20
31 800 MILLION EAWMfl me FOR HEALTH.................... 21
WELFARE ALLOWANCES TO BE RAISED ....................... 22
/CUTS IN ......
CUTS HI BUSINESS TAK, ESTATE DUTY............................... 23
N37 LEGAL DEFINITION ON BANKING ................................ 24
HK'S TERTIARY SERVICES TO GR07 WITH CHINA TRADE................. 26
FACTS jiND MYTHS OF THE MFA .................................... 27
____TELEVISION TALK ON BUDGET .................................... 28
NO LET UP IN FIGHT AG.JNST ILLEG.JL IMMIGRATION..................... J1
MORE SPECIAL-G.-Ji-NUMBERS FOR SALE................................. 32
TEMPOR.xRY-RQ.D-CLOSURE IN SHA TIN .JfD BUS DIVERSION ON HONG KONG ISLAND.................................................... 33
PRESENTATION OF COLONIAL PRISON SERVICE MEDAL ...................... 33
V
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1981
1
GDP TO GROW BY 8 PER CENT AT CONSTANT PRICES
******
FORECIST FTi!?"CT;EALGROSSEMSESTlcHEpfiHSSUCS|R, VfyT°”**
ml\5EWT™c^ES C0MPaRED W,TH ™
THIS FORECAST IMPLIES THAT AT CONSTANT (1973) PRICES, TOTAL EXPENDITURE ON\THE GDP WILL BE ABOUT $65 300 MILLION. ♦ASSUMING THAT THE GROWTH RATE OF THE POPULATION WILL BE 2.4 PER CENT, THE GROWTH RATE OF GDP PER CAPITA IN 1981 WILL BE 5.5 PER CENT WHICH IS THE SAME, FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, AS THE ACHIEVED GROWTH RATE IN 1980 OF 5.4 PER CENT,* SIR PHILIP SAID.
AT CURRENT PRICES, THE GROWTH RATE OF GDP IN MONEY TERMS IN 1981 IS 19 PER CENT COMPARED WITH THE ACHIEVED GROWTH RATE IN 1980 OF 23.2 PER CENT, TOTAL EXPENDITURE ON THE GDP IN 1981 WILL BE ABOUT $126 400 MILLION. IN PER CAPITA TERMS, GDP AT CURRENT PRICES WILL BE ABOUT $24 400 REPRESENTING A GROWTH RATE OF 16 PER CENT, COMPARED WITH THE ACHIEVED GROWTH RATE IN I960 OF 19.1 PER CENT.
SIR PHILIP ALSO FORECAST A 12 PER CENT RATE OF INCREASE IN CONSUMER PRICES IN HONG KONG IN 1981, REPRESENTING A SLOW DOWN FROM THE ACTUAL RATE OF INCREASE RECORDED IN 1980 OF 15.5 PER CENT. THIS FORECAST WAS MADE AGAINST THE BACKGROUND THAT THE RATE OF INFLATION IN THE WORLD ECONOMY WILL SLOW DOWN IN 1981. THE RATE OF INCREASE IN CONSUMER PRICES IN THE O.E.C.D. GROUP OF COUNTRIES, FOR EXAMPLE, IS EXPECTED TO SLOW DOWN FROM 13 PER CENT IN 1980 TO ABOUT 10 PER CENT IN 1981.
HOWEVER, HE SAID MUCH STILL DEPENDED UPON THE FUTURE COURSE OF WORLD OIL PRICES. ^RETAINED IMPORTS OF OIL PRODUCTS NOW REPRESENT 9 PER CENT OF TOTAL RETAINED IMPORTS BY VALUE, COMPARED WITH 7 PER CENT IN 1976 AND ONLY 2 PER CENT IN 1973- AND, GIVEN THAT DEMAND IS FAIRLY PRICE INELASTIC IN THE SHORT TERM, THE IMPACT OF INCREASES IN THE PRICES OF THESE PRODUCTS ON OUR BALANCE CF TRADE AND THE INTERNAL PRICE LEVEL HAS BECOME MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT.♦
SIR PHILIP ALSO EXPECTED THE RATE OF INCREASE IN THE GENERAL PRICE LEVEL — THE GDP DEFLATOR — TO SLOW DOWN AND HIS FORECAST IS THAT IT WILL INCREASE IN 1981 BY 10 PER CENT COMPARED WITH THE ACTUAL RATE OF INCREASE RECORDED IN 1980 OF 13 PER CENT.
THE FOLLOWING ARE THE FORECASTS OF EXPENDITURE ON GDP BY COMPONENTS IN 1981 AT CONSTANT (1973) PRICES!
(A) PRIVATE CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURE! SIR PHILIP EXPECTED LESS BUOYANT EXPORT EARNINGS IN THE SECOND HALF OF 1980 AND PROBABLY IN THE FIRST HALF OF 1981 TO EXERT A DAMPENING EFFECT. HIS FORECAST FOR THE GROWTH RATE OF THIS COMPONENT IN 1981 IS EIGHT PER CENT AGAINST THE ACHIEVED RATE IN 1980 OF 8.8 PER CENT.
(B) GOVERNMENT CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURE! TO GROW BY 15 PER CENT COMPARED WITH THE ACHIEVED GROWTH RATE IN 1980 OF 7.9 PER CENT.
/(c) gross ......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1981
2
(C) GROSS DOMESTIC FIXED CAPITAL FORMATION, TO GROW BY 13 PER CENT, THE SAME AS THE ACHIEVED GROWTH RATE IN 1980. THE GROWTH RATE OF INVESTMENT IN PLANT AND MACHINERY IN 1981 IS 16 PER CENT, A SLOW DOWN FROM THE ACHIEVED GROWTH RATE IN 1980 OF 18.7 PER CENT. GROWTH RATE OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE ON BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION IN 1981 IS 7 PER CENT COMPARED WITH THE ACHIEVED RATE IN 1980 OF 2 PER CENT. (EXPENDITURE BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR ON BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TO GROW BY 5 PER CENT WHILE THAT BY THE PUBLIC SECTOR TO GROW BY 8 PER CENT).
(D) TOTAL EXPORTS OF GOODS* THE GROWTH RATE IN 1981 IS 12 PER CENT COMPARED WITH THE ACHIEVED RATE OF 17.7 PER CENT.
(E) IMPORTS OF GOODS, THE GROWTH RATE IS 13 PER CENT AGAINST THE ACHIEVED RATE OF 18.6 PER CENT IN 1980.
(F) NET EXPORTS OF SERVICES, TO GROW BY 3 PER CENT IN 1981 COMPARED WITH THE ACHIEVED RATE OF MINUS 2.5 PER CENT.
(G) STOCKS, A SMALL ACCRETION OF STOCKS IN 1981 AS IN 1980.
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GLOOMY PREDICTIONS NOT BORNE OUT BY BUDGET FORECAST * * *
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TODAY FORECAST AN EIGHT PER CENT GROWTH IN HONG KONG’S ECONOMY AND SAID THE GLOOMY PREDICTIONS OF IMMINENT DISASTER, SO FASHIONABLE RECENTLY IN SOME QUARTERS, ARE SIMPLY NOT BORNE OUT BY HIS FORECAST.
IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH, HE SAID THE EIGHT PER CENT GROWTH COMPARED FAVOURABLY WITH THE TREND GROWTH RATE ACHIEVED BY OUR ECONOMY IN ALMOST ANY OTHER PERIOD ONE CHOSE TO SELECT DURING THE PAST 15 YEARS.
FURTHERMORE, HE SAID, SHOULD THE FORECAST BE BORNE OUT, IT WOULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH A FAIR MEASURE OF STABILITY WHICH EXPLAINED AS FOLLOWS,
FIRST, HE PREDICTED THAT THE GROWTH RATE OF FINAL TOTAL DEMAND, AT EIGHT PER CENT, WILL BE THE SAME AS THE GROWTH RATE OF GDP WHICH DOES NOT SUGGEST ANY SUBSTANTIAL IMBALANCE BETWEEN AGGREGATE DEMAND AND SUPPLY.
SECONDLY, THE GROWTH RATE OF DOMESTIC DEMAND, AT 10 PER CENT, WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THAN THE GROWTH RATE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS AT SEVEN PER CENT IMPLYING A CONTINUATION OF THE SHIFT IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF LABOUR AWAY FROM THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR WHICH STARTED IN THE SECOND HALF OF 1980.
THIRDLY, THE GROWTH RATE OF PUBLIC SECTOR DEMAND, AT 14 PER CENT, WILL BE HIGHER THAN THE GROWTH RATE OF PRIVATE SECTOR DEMAND AT NINE PER CENT. SO THE PUBLIC SECTOR WILL COMMAND A LARGER SHARE OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES IN THE ECONOMY, A REVERSE OF THE SITUATION IN 1980.
/FOURTHLY ...
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1981
5
FOURTHLY, THE OVERALL GROWTH RATE OF EXPENDITURE ON BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION IS FORECAST TO BE ONLY SEVEN PER CENT, WHICH IS PROBABLY NOT MUCH GREATER THAN THE LIKELY GROWTH IN CAPACITY, THUS THE CROWDING OUT EFFECT, CAUSED BY THE HIGHER GROWTH RATE IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE THAN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, SHOULD NOT BE TOO SERIOUS.
FIFTHLY, THE GROWTH RATE OF PRIVATE CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURE, AT EIGHT PER CENT, WILL BE CONSISTENT WITH THE ACHIEVED GROWTH RATE OF REAL INCOME IN 1980 OF 9.1 PER CENT, AND THE FORECAST GROWTH RATE IN 1981 OF 7.5 PER CENT.
SIXTHLY, THE GROWTH RATE OF IMPORTS OF GOODS, AND THAT OF TOTAL EXPORTS OF GOODS, AT 12 PER CENT, IN LINE WITH EACH OTHER AS THEY WERE IN 1980.
AT 13 PER CENT, WILL BE ROUGHLY
SEVENTHLY, THE VISIBLE TRADE GAP WILL WIDEN SLIGHTLY TO 13.2 PER CENT IN 1981 FROM 12.1 PER CENT IN 1980, BUT STILL WITHIN THE RANGE OF OUR HISTORICAL EXPERIENCE, AND THE VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE TRADE GAP WILL WIDEN TO FIVE PER CENT FROM 3.7 PER CENT. BUT IN RELATION TO FLOWS OF FUNDS ACROSS THE EXCHANGES, THIS SHOULD NOT PRESENT A FINANCING PROBLEM.
FINALLY, THERE WILL BE LOWER RATES OF INCREASE IN PRICES AS WORLD INFLATION SLOWS DOWN AND AS THE INTERNAL COST/PRICE STRUCTURE DEFLATES.
REVIEWING OUR ECONOMY IN 1980, SIR PHILIP SAID THERE WERE TWO REALLY SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SECOND HALF OF 1980.
THE FIRST WAS A SHARP SLOW DOWN IN THE GROWTH RATE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS, FROM A HIGH 18 PER CENT, IN REAL TERMS, IN THE FIRST HALF, TO ONLY FIVE PER CENT IN THE SECOND HALF. THIS SLOW DOWN REFLECTED DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ECONOMIES OF OUR MAJOR MARKETS, PARTICULARLY IN THE UNITED STATES, WHERE THERE WAS A SHARP DECLINE IN RETAIL SALES IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF 1980 WITH ONLY A LIMITED RECOVERY IN THE SUBSEQUENT TWO QUARTERS.
THE SECOND SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT WAS AN ACCELERATION IN THE GROWTH RATE OF PRIVATE CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURE, FROM 22 PER CENT IN THE FIRST HALF TO 35 PER CENT IN THE SECOND HALF.
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PERSONAL ALLOWANCES TO GO UP
*****
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE TODAY PROPOSED AN INCREASE OF THE PERSONAL ALLOWANCES FOR SINGLE PEOPLE TO $22 500 FROM $15 000, AND FOR MARRIED PERSONS TO $45 000 FROM $30 000.
HE ALSO PROPOSED AN INCREASE IN CHILD ALLOWANCES FROM $5 000 TO $7 000 FOR THE FIRST CHILD- AND FROM $4 000 TO $5 000 FOR THE SECOND CHILD. BUT THERE WILL BE NO CHANGE IN ALLOWANCES FOR OTHER CHILDREN.
SIR PHILIP ALSO PROPOSED A 40 PER CENT INCREASE IN THE DEPENDENT PARENT ALLOWANCE TO $7 000, WHICH HE SAID WAS CLAIMED BY 65 000 TAXPAYERS FOR 80 000 DEPENDENT PARENTS.
/HIS PACKAGE ...
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1981
4
HIS PACKAGE OF PROPOSALS, IF APPROVED, WILL BE EFFECTIVE FOR FINAL SALARIES TAX AND PERSONAL ASSESSMENTS FOR 1980-81 AND FOR PROVISIONAL SALARIES TAX FOR 1981-82.
HIS CONCESSIONS FOR PERSONAL TAXATION ARE MADE UP OF AN INCREASE IN THE LEVEL OF PERSONAL ALLOWANCES FROM 812 500 TO $15 000 FOR SINGLE PEOPLE AND FROM $25 000 TO 830 000 FOR MARR IED I---- “ ------------
PEOPLE, AND SUPPLEMENTARY PERSONAL ALLOWANCES TO INCREASE 500 TO $7 500 FOR SINGLE PEOPLE AND FROM $5 000 TO FOR MARRIED PEOPLE.
FROM $2 $15 000
HE
ALSO PROPOSED THAT THE CLAW-BACK CONTINUE TO BE ZERO RATED MEANING THAT TAXPAYERS AT ALL LEVELS OF INCOME WILL ENJOY THE FULL BENEFIT OF THE SUPPLEMENTARY PERSONAL ALLOWANCES, SAVE THOSE ON HIGH INCOMES TO WHOM THE STANDARD RATE APPLIES.
+THE EFFECT OF THE PACKAGE,* SAID SIR PHILIP,
BE T0 EXEMPT 85 000 PEOPLE PREVIOUSLY LIABLE TO SALARIES TAX AND ANOTHER 55 000 WHO WOULD HAVE BECOME LIABLE IN 1981-82 BUT WHO WILL NOW REMAIN OUT OF THE TAX NET.
.ee *™US THE NUMBER 0F SALARIES TAXPAYERS FOR THE YEAR OF ASSESSMENT 198l-82 WILL BE 255 000 AS OPPOSED TO THE 395 000 PRESENTLY ENVISAGED IN THE NET WITHOUT THIS PACKAGE OF CONCESSIONS.
+ADDITIONALLY, 237 000 OF THESE TAXPAYERS WILL BENEFIT BY tot?CED l,ab*l,TY. THE REMAINING 18 000 OR SEVEN PER CENT OF TH_ TOTAL NUMBER OF TAXPAYERS LEFT IN THE NET WILL NOT BENEFIT FOR THEY WILL REMAIN ON THE STANDARD RATE OF 15 PER CENT AND THIS GROUP WILL CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE WELL OVER HALF OF THE TOTAL YIELD FROM SALARIES TAX,* SAID SIR PHILIP.
THE BE??E"UO?p™h™SAId‘IM ™AT ™E LESS "ELL PA'D SUBSIDIES
HIS TAX CONCESSIONS, IF OF THE STANDARD RATE ZONE OF 8136 250 FOR A SINGLE PERSON WITH NINE CHILDREN FROM 3172
IMPLEMENTED, WOULD RAISE THE LIMIT 15 PER CENT FROM 887 500 TO ON A SCALE TO A MARRIED TAXPAYER 000 TO 3222 500.
*1 WOULD EARNESTLY SUGGEST,* SAID SIR PHILIP, +THAT THIS PACKAGE OF PROPOSALS WILL MEET THE CLAIMS OF THOSE WHO ARGUE THAT THE LOW INCOME EARNER IS IN DIRE NEED OF RELIEF FROM HIS TAX ’BURDEN’, ALTHOUGH I WOULD DENY THAT THE LOW INCOME EARNER IS SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED BY OUR SALARIES TAX SYSTEM AT ALL. THE PACKAGE WILL ALSO AFFORD CONSIDERABLE RELIEF FOR THOSE WHO CLAIM TO BELONG TO THE ’SANDWICH’ SOCIETY- AND TO MIDDLE INCOME EARNERS AS WELL FOR, EVEN THEIR TAX LIABILITY IS, IN PERCENTAGE TERMS, VERY MODEST COMPARED WITH THEIR OTHER PERSONAL LIABILITIES.*
SIR PHILIP DREW ATTENTION TO THE +VERY CONSIDERABLE RELIEF* OUTLINED IN HIS TABLESi A SINGLE PERSON ON AN ANNUAL INCOME OF 823 500 WOULD PAY 350, A REDUCTION OF 8375 ON HIS PRESENT LIABILITY OF $425. A MARRIED PERSON WITH AN ANNUAL INCOME OF $46 000 WOULD PAY $50 A REDUCTION OF $1 050 ON HIS PRESENT LIABILITY OF $1 100 WHILE A MARRIED PERSON WITH TWO CHILDREN AND WITH TWO DEPENDENT PARENTS ON AN ANNUAL INCOME OF $72 000 WOULD ALSO PAY $50, A REDUCTION OF $1 900 ON HIS PRESENT LIABILITY OF 81 950.
/SIB PHILIP ......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1981
5
SIR PHILIP ALSO PRESENTED A TABLE COMPARING HIS PROPOSED TAXES WITH SINGAPORE, MALAYSIA AND THE U.K. A SINGLE PERSON EARNING $36 OOO WOULD PAY 2.4 PER CENT IN HONG KONG ($850), 6.7 PER CENT IN SINGAPORE (HK$2 427), 8.4 PER CENT IN MALAYSIA (HK$3 037) AND 15.7 PER CENT IN THE U.K. (HK$5 644). SIMILARLY, A MARRIED PERSON WITH NO CHILDREN AND EARNING $120 000 A YEAR WOULD PAY 11.5 PER CENT IN HONG KONG ($13 750), 18.4 PER CENT IN SINGAPORE (HK$22 137), 24.4 PER CENT IN MALAYSIA (HK$29 232) AND 23.3 PER CENT IN THE U.K. (HK$27 956). THE COMPARISON DOES NOT INCLUDE COMPULSORY LEVIES SUCH AS THE UK NATIONAL INSURANCE CONTRIBUTION, THE PAYROLL TAX IN SINGAPORE AND CAPITAL GAINS TAX IN THE UK AND MALAYSIA.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID SOMEWHAT VOCIFEROUS CLAIMS HEARD RECENTLY TO THE EFFECT THAT OUR DIRECT TAX SYSTEM IS ONE WHEREIN THE ’RICH’ ARE SUBSIDISED BY THE ’POOR’, BUT THE RESPECTIVE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE REVENUE OF SALARIES TAX AND PROFITS TAX JUST DO NOT SUPPORT SUCH CLAIMS.
ON THE CONTRARY, HE SAID, OVER THE YEARS, THE CONTRIBUTION FROM PROFITS TAX HAD OUTSTRIPPED THAT FROM SALARIES TAX. THUS IN 1979-80, THE CONTRIBUTION FROM PROFITS TAX AMOUNTED TO 67 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL COLLECTIONS OF EARNINGS AND PROFIT TAXES COMPARED WITH ONLY 22 PER CENT FROM SALARIES TAX,+ HE SAID.
IN 1980-81 THE CONTRIBUTION FROM PROFITS TAX WAS NO LESS THAN 69 PER CENT WHILE THAT FROM SALARIES TAX, DESPITE FISCAL DRAG, HAD DECLINED TO 18 PER CENT.
------0-------
REVENUE TO TOP $33 700 M IN 1981/82
******
THE TOTAL REVENUE COLLECTIONS FOR THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR, AFTER ADJUSTMENTS ON CAPITAL ACCOUNT, WILL BE $33 774 MILLION, AN INCREASE OF $4 774 MILLION, OR 16.5 PER CENT, ON THE REVISED ESTIMATE FOR 1980/81.
OF THESE, ABOUT $21 842 MILLION WILL BE IN RECURRENT REVENUE AND $11 932 IN CAPITAL REVENUE.
IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID INCOME FROM DIRECT TAXES WILL AMOUNT TO $10 005 MILLION, AN INCREASE CF $1 970 MILLION, OR 24.5 PER CENT, ON THE REVISED ESTIMATE FOR 1980/81 OF $8 035 MILLION, WHICH WAS 40 PER CENT UP ON ACTUAL COLLECTIONS IN 1979/80.
+SUCH HAS BEEN THE GROWTH RATE OF MONEY INCOMES IN RECENT YEARS, PARTICULARLY IN THE FINANCIAL AND RELATED BUSINESS SERVICES AND PROPERTY SECTORS,+ SIR PHILIP REMARKED.
HE ESTIMATED THAT REVENUE FROM PROFIT TAX WOULD GO UP BY 20 PER CENT TO $6 675 MILLION AS TOTAL PROFITS ASSESSABLE TO TAX IN 1981/82 WOULD BE AROUND 25 PER CENT HIGHER THAN PROFITS ASSESSED TO TAX IN 1980/81.
/+HGVjlV£R ......
.WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1981
6
♦HOWEVER, IF THERE WERE TO BE A SHARP DOWNTURN IN THE ECONOMY, THE EFFECT ON PROFITABILITY OF BUSINESS COULD LEAD TO THE HOLD-OVER PROVISIONS OF THE PROVISIONAL TAX SYSTEM BEING INVOKED ON A LARGER SCALE THAN THIS AND ACTUAL COLLECTIONS IN 1981/82 BEING DOWN ON THE ESTIMATE.♦
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY ALSO EXPECTED THAT REVENUES FROM SALARIES TAX WOULD GO UP BY 32 PER CENT TO SI 950 MILLION AS PROVISIONAL TAX PAID IN 1980/81 WOULD PROBABLY BE MUCH LESS THAN THE FINAL TAX COLLECTIBLE IN 1981/82.
♦THIS IS BECAUSE MONEY INCOMES IN 1980/81 WERE ON A FAST RISING TREND AND, THEREFORE, THERE WILL BE SUBSTANTIAL BALANCES TO BE COLLECTED IN 1981/82,+ HE SAID.
♦THE ESTIMATE ENVISAGES THAT THE NUMBER OF SALARIES TAXPAYERS IN THE NET WILL BE AROUND 395 000 IN 1981/82, AS OPPOSED TO 340 000 IN 1980/81,+ SIR PHILIP ADDED.
HE ALSO FORECAST THAT REVENUE FROM PROPERTY TAX WOULD GO UP BY 100 PER CENT TO $640 MILLION. THIS REFLECTS THE HIGHER ASSESSABLE VALUES LIKELY TO BE ESTABLISHED BY THE REASSESSMENT EXERCISE NOW IN HAND.
♦THE APPLICATION OF THESE HIGHER ASSESSABLE VALUES WILL GO SOME WAY TOWARDS CORRECTING THE PRESENT INEQUITY OF TREATMENT BETWEEN NON-CORPORATE AND CORPORATE PROPERTY OWNERS (INCLUDING, IN EFFECT, NON-CORPORATE BUSINESS PROPERTIES), THE LATTERS* ACTUAL INCOME FROM PROPERTY BEING BROUGHT INTO PROFITS TAX CHARGE,♦ HE SAID.
AS REGARDS INDIRECT TAXES, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY ESTIMATED THAT REVENUE WOULD BE ABOUT $4 977 MILLION. THIS INCLUDES $1 300 MILLION ON STAMP DUTIES, $1 061 MILLION ON RATES, $1 020 MILLION FROM TAXES ON BETS AND SWEEPS AND $943 MILLION FROM DUTIABLE COMMODITIES.
CAP ITAL REVENUE FOR THE COMING FISCAL YEAR WILL BE $11 932 MILLION, WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF $1 306 MILLION, OR 12.3 PER CENT, ON THE REVISED ESTIMATE FOR 1980/81. LAND TRANSACTIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BRING IN $11 498 MILLION (AS OPPOSED TO THE REVISED ESTIMATE FOR 1980/81 OF $10 077 MILLION), TAXI CONCESSIONS $86 MILLION AND ESTATE DUTY $250 MILLION.
♦IN THE FIVE POST-RECESSION YEARS, LAND SALES BY PUBLIC AUCTION AND TENDER HAVE BEEN 38 ACRES, 34 ACRES, 58 ACRES, 76 ACRES AND 156 ACRES RESPECTIVELY. THE FACT THAT, IN 1981/82, A FURTHER SUBSTANTIAL AREA WILL BE SOLD, NAMELY 196 ACRES, IS A REFLECTION OF THE BUILD UP OF EXPENDITURE ON DEVELOPMENT WORKS RECENTLY,♦ SIR PHILIP SAID.
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/7.......
7
25 PER CENT RISE IN GOVT SPENDING TIPPED *****
GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE FOR 1981-82 IS ESTIMATED TO INCREASE BY 25 PER CENT TO $24 643 MILLION AFTER ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CAPITAL ACCOUNT, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE SAID IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH TODAY.
THE RECURRENT EXPENDITURE IS ESTIMATED AT $15 188 MILLION, UP 27 PER CENT COMPARED WITH THAT FOR 1980-81.
PERSONAL EMOLUMENTS AT $5 271 MILLION ACCOUNT FOR 36 PER CENT OF THE RECURRENT EXPENDITURE. OF THIS $493 MILLION IS FOR SOME 17 600 POSTS WHICH MIGHT BE CREATED DURING THE FINANCIAL YEAR. THE PROVISION SOUGHT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR THE COST OF ANY REVISION OF CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES IN 1981-82.
OTHER ITEMS WHICH FEATURE PROMINENTLY ON THE RECURRENT EXPENDITURE INCLUDE PUBLIC WORKS AT $891 MILLION WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR 6.1 PER CENT, DEFENCE AT $1 375 MILLION (9.4 PER CENT) AND SUBVENTIONS AND U.P.G.C. AT $3 525 MILLION (24.2 PER CENT).
TAKING RECURRENT AND CAPITAL SUBVENTIONS TOGETHER, SIR PHILIP SAID, NO LESS THAN $3 958 MILLION, OR 17 PER CENT OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE ON GENERAL REVENUE ACCOUNT, WILL BE DISBURSED BY SUBVENTED ORGANISATIONS. EXPENDITURE BY THESE ORGANISATIONS FINANCED FROM THE GENERAL REVENUE WILL BE NO LESS THAN 10 PER CENT UP ON THE REVISED ESTIMATE FOR 1980-81 OF S3 590 MILLION WHICH IS UP BY 39 PER CENT ON ACTUAL EXPENDITURE IN 1979-80.
ON THE PATTERN OF EXPENDITURE, SIR PHILIP SAID THE GENERAL SERVICES WILL ABSORB 16.9 PER CENT OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE- ECONOMIC SERVICES 7.7 PER CENT- COMMUNITY SERVICES 22.5 PER CENT- AND SOCIAL SERVICES 42.1 PER CENT.
SIR
PHILIP POINTED OUT THERE WAS A RECURRENT MISCELLANEOUS COMPONENT OF $1 364 MILLION OF WHICH $600 MILLION WAS BEING SOUGHT nSLnronr !^T ,F ,ABLE> BUT LIKELY, COMMITMENTS AND FOR COMMITMENTS UNFORESEEN WHEN THE ESTIMATES WENT TO PRINT.
+SOME OF THESE HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO FINANCE BRANCH RECENTLY, INCLUDING A REVISION OF THE SCHEMES FOR GRANTS AND LOANS TO POST SECONDARY STUDENTS, A REVISION OF THE SCHEME FOR SUBSIDISING STUDENTS TRAVELLING ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT, A POSSIBLE SCHEME OF ASSISTANCE FOR STUDENTS FROM HONG KONG UNDERTAKING COURSES OF STUDY LEADING TO A FIRST DEGREE/DIPLOMA IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, THE COST OF BACK-PAYMENTS INTO APPROVED PROVIDENT FUNDS FOR STAFF EMPLOYED BY SUBVENTED ORGANISATIONS, THE COST OF THE 1981-82 KEEP HONG KONG CLEAN CAMPAIGN, ANY INCREASED EXPENDITURE WHICH MAY BE APPROVED BY FINANCE COMMITTEE UNDER VARIOUS VOTES AS THE DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARDS ARE FORMED AND START OPERATING, AND THE COST OF IMPROVEMENTS TO CERTAIN FACILITIES FOR THE CARE OF HANDICAPPED CHILDREN.*
HE ADDED THAT $280 MILLION HAD ALSO BEEN SET ASIDE FOR AN EX-GRATIA ONE-OFF GRANT TO THE URBAN COUNCIL TO MEET AN ANTICIPATED DEFICIT IN ITS ACCOUNTS IN 1981-82, THIS GRANT BEING IN LIEU OF AN INCREASE IN THE URBAN COUNCIL RATE.
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/8.......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1981
8
FS: $7 881 MILLION SURPLUS FOR 1981-82 * * * *
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, HAS BUDGETTED FOR A SURPLUS OF $7 881 MILLION FOR THE 1981-82 FINANCIAL YEAR.
THE SURPLUS WOULD BE DERIVED FROM AN ESTIMATED TOTAL REVENUE OF $32 524 MILLION AS AGAINST AN ESTIMATED TOTAL EXPENDITURE OF $24 643 MILLION, HE SAID.
ALSO TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WAS THE COST TO THE REVENUE OF THE FIVE TAX CONCESSIONS, WHICH WAS Si 250 MILLION.
HE SAID THE ESTIMATED SURPLUS +REPRESENTS 24 PER CENT OF REVENUE AS NOW ESTIMATED AND, WHILST IT IS ABOUT TWICE THE RELATIVE SIZE OF THE SURPLUS IN THE FIRST THREE YEARS OF THE POST-RECESSION PERIOD, IT IS BELOW THE RELATIVE SIZE OF THE EXPECTED SURPLUS FOR 1980-81 OF 32 PER CENT.
♦THE REASON IS, OF COURSE, THAT THE INCREASE IN EXPENDITURE IN 1981-82 ON 1980-81 IS 25 PER CENT, BUT THE INCREASE IN REVENUE IS ONLY 12 PER CENT, COMPARED WITH THE INCREASE IN EXPENDITURE IN 1980-81 ON 1979-80 OF 42 PER CENT AND THE INCREASE IN REVENUE OF 73 DER CENT,+ SIR PHILIP SAID.
HE ADDED: +SHOULD THIS BUDGETTED FOR SURPLUS MATERIALISE OUR ’FREE’ FISCAL RESERVES AT APRIL 1, 1982 WILL BE OF THE ORDER OF $18 100 MILL ION.+
- - 0 - -
1980-81 SURPLUS EXPECTED TO BE ABOUT $6 000 M
X X *
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID TODAY THE ACTUAL SURPLUS FOR THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR WOULD BE ABOUT $6 000 MILLION.
THIS WOULD PROBABLY BE THE FIGURE, HE SAID, ALTHOUGH THE REVISED ESTIMATES OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE FOR 1980-81 AT $29 000 MILLION AND $19 677 MILLION RESPECTIVELY INDICATED A SURPLUS OF $9 323 MILLION.
HE GAVE TWO REASONS FOR THE DIFFERENCE: FIRST, BECAUSE OF VARIOUS ADJUSTMENTS TO BOTH REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE MADE FOR ANALYTICAL REASONS AMOUNTING TO A NET ADDITION TO EXPENDITURE OF $3 815 MILLION, INCLUDING A TRANSFER OF $3 500 MILLION TO THE MASS TRANSIT FUND- AND SECONDLY, BECAUSE THE REVISED ESTIMATES MAY OVERSTATE EXPENDITURE AND UNDERSTATE REVENUE BY RELATIVELY SMALL MARGINS.
THE SURPLUS OF $9 323 MILLION WOULD BE THE HIGHEST ON RECORD IN BOTH ABSOLUTE AND RELATIVE TERMS (I.E. AS A PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL REVENUE), HE SAID.
♦FOR THE FOURTH YEAR RUNNING, THIS LARGER THAN BUDGETTED FOR SURPLUS — $9 323 MILLION RATHER THAN $2 904 MILLION — IS DUE TO A FLUSH OF REVENUE RATHER THAN A FAILURE OF EXPENDITURE.
♦IN ADDITION, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, THERE IS A SURPLUS ON CAPITAL ACCOUNT, AND OF NO LESS THAN $2 899 MILLION AS OPPOSED TO A BUDGETTED FOR DEFICIT OF $701 MILL ION,♦ HE SAID.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1981
9
FISCAL RESERVES SET TO REACH $10 300 M
* * * *
HONG KONG’S FISCAL RESERVES WILL INCREASE FROM $5 716 MILLION LAST APRIL TO $10 300 MILLION AT APRIL 1 THIS YEAR, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON.
THIS WAS THE EQUIVALENT OF 42 PER CENT OF THE 1981-82 BUDGETTED EXPENDITURE OF $24 670 MILLION COMPARED WITH THE 31 PER CENT OR $18 332 MILLION FOR 1980, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE SAID IN PRESENTING HIS BUDGET REPORT.
THIS PERCENTAGE, HE SAID WAS DISTINCTLY BETTER THAN THE GUIDELINE OF 15 PER CENT.
FISCAL RESERVES, SIR PHILIP EXPLAINED, TOGETHER WITH THE BALANCES IN VARIOUS FUNDS AND THE EXCHANGE FUND’S SURPLUS, REPRESENTED THE NET FINANCIAL ASSETS OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.
+APART FROM THE TREASURY’S CURRENT CASH REQUIREMENTS, THE BULK OF THE FINANCIAL ASSETS ARE HELD IN THE EXCHANGE FUND, AND PLACED BY THE FUND IN BANK DEPOSITS IN HONG KONG DOLLARS AND FOREIGN CURRENCIES AND IN VARIOUS INTEREST BEARING INSTRUMENTS IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES,* HE SAID.
SIR PHILIP SAID THE FUND TRANSACTED ITS BUSINESS THROUGH 87 BANKING, SAFE CUSTODY AND SECURITY ACCOUNTS LOCATED IN 13 COUNTRIES, REFLECTING THE EXTENSIVE PROGRAMME OF DIVERSIFICATION, IN TERMS OF BOTH CURRENCIES AND MANAGEMENT, OF OUR FINANCIAL ASSETS OVER THE PAST SEVEN YEARS SINCE THE END OF 1974.
FISCAL RESERVES, HE SAID, HAD SEVERAL ROLES, THE FIRST BEING PROVISION HAVING TO BE MADE TO COVER CONTINGENT LIABILITIES WHICH WOULD ALSO SECURE CREDIT RATING IN INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL MARKETS.
WITH +FREE* FISCAL RESERVES AVAILABLE, IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GOVERNMENT’S ON-GOING POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES WOULD NOT BE AFFECTED IF COMMITMENTS AND SITUATIONS INVOLVED EXPENDITURE EXCEEDING REVENUE OR REVENUE YIELDS FELL BELOW EXPECTATIONS.
HE ALSO EXPLAINED THAT IF OUR +FREE+ FISCAL RESERVES EXCEEDED THE MINIMUM GUIDELINE RATIO OF 15 PER CENT OF BUDGETTED FOR EXPENDITURE IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR, THEY WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR SUCH PURPOSES AS THE PURCHASE OF EQUITY IN TRADING ENTERPRISES (SUCH AS THE MTRC) AND THE PLACING OF STATUTORY FUNDS, SUCH AS THE DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND, IN A POSITION TO MEET THEIR COMMITMENTS, +FOR THERE IS NO REASON WHY ANNUAL REVENUES SHOULD NECESSARILY HAVE TO MEET THESE PARTICULAR CALLS.*
+IN ADDITION, THEY WILL ENABLE US TO BLEND GRANTS FROM GENERAL REVENUE WITH DEBT FINANCE FOR SUCH LARGE, LUMPY AND EXPENSIVE WORKS PROJECTS AS A NEW AIRPORT OR FIXED HARBOUR CROSSINGS WHICH w'E MAY EVENTUALLY DECIDE TO EMBARK UPON IN THE 1980’S OUTSIDE THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME ITSELF,* HE ADDED.
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/10.....
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1981
10
PROPER MANAGEMENT - KEY TO HK’S ECONOMIC DESTINY * * * *
HONG KONG, WITH PROPER MANAGEMENT, WILL FULFIL ITS ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL DESTINY TO BECOME THE INTERNATIONAL CITY IN THE FAR EAST, IF DUE RESPECT IS PAID TO THE TWIN CONCEPTS OF THE MARKET DISCIPLINED ECONOMY AND THE FREE ENTERPRISE SYSTEM, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE SAID.
IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH, SIR PHILIP SAID OUR ECONOMY AND PUBLIC FINANCES HAD ACQUIRED, NEW DIMENSIONS SINCE 1975 AND HE HAD NO DOUBT THAT, NOTWITHSTANDING DIFFICULTIES BEYOND OUR CONTROL THAT WERE BOUND TO ARISE FROM TIME TO TIME, BY 1985 YET FURTHER DIMENSIONS WOULD BE ACQUIRED.
ON PUBLIC FINANCE, HE NOTED THAT THE HIGHER PLATEAU OF COMMITMENTS THAT THE GOVERNMENT ENTERED INTO IN 1980-81 IS THE MAXIMUM THAT THE ECONOMY CAN COPE WITH FOR THE TIME BEING, IF PROJECTS IN HAND ARE TO BE COMPLETED WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME- AND, AS MANY OF THESE COMMITMENTS ARE IRREVERSIBLE, AS OUR FISCAL RESERVES ARE FINITE AND HAVE SEVERAL OTHER FUNCTIONS APART FROM MEETING BUDGETARY DEFICITS AND *AS OUR RESERVES OF TAXABILITY ARE NOT UNLIMITED EVEN IN A PURELY FINANCIAL SENSE, WE MUST NOT OVER-EXTEND OURSELVES.*
+ IN SAYING THIS, I AM NOT UNMINDFUL OF THE CRITICAL ROLE CF THE GOVERNMENT’S CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMMES IN SECURING OUR FUTURE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PROGRESS,* HE SAID.
HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT IF GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE IS ALLOWED TO GROW AT 10 PER CENT, IT MIGHT INCREASE TO $41 000 MILLION BY 1984-85 AT CURRENT PRICES. +THIS MIGHT MEAN THAT THE RELATIVE SIZE OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR WOULD INCREASE TO 24 PER CENT WHICH WOULD BE QUITE UNACCEPTABLE.*
HOWEVER, HE SAID THAT IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE SERVICES ENVISAGED IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES, AND TO EXPAND THEM TO MEET DEMAND AT EXISTING STANDARDS, RECURRENT EXPENDITURE AT 1981 PRICES IS LIKELY TO INCREASE FROM AROUND $15 200 MILLION IN 1981-82 TO $19 000 MILLION IN 1984-85. +IF OUR PRESENT VERY HIGH LEVEL OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURE OF AROUND $9 500 MILLION AT 1981 PRICE IS MAINTAINED, THIS WILL LEAVE LITTLE ROOM FOR ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE ON NEW SERVICES FOR OUR FIRST OBLIGATION IS TO MAINTAIN PRESENT SERVICES AND EXPAND THEM TO MEET DEMAND AT EXISTING STANDARDS,* SIR PHILIP SAID.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY NOTED THAT THE RELATIVE SIZE OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR IS NOW MUCH LARGER THAN FIVE OR TEN YEARS AGO AND THE IMPACT OF PUBLIC SECTOR DECISIONS ON THE ECONOMY HAS BECOME MORE SIGNIFICANT. THIS WILL REMAIN SO IN THE YEARS AHEAD.
HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE REAL INCOMES PER CAPITA INCREASED VERY RAPIDLY IN THE FIVE POST-RECESSION YEARS AT AN AVERAGE ANNUAL GROWTH RATE OF 8.6 PER CENT AND WILL NOT EXACTLY COME TO A STANDSTILL IN 1981. THIS, HE SAID, ENABLED THE FULFILMENT CF MANY ECONOMIC NEEDS, BUT ACCOMPANIED BY SOME EROSIONS OF TRADITIONAL ATTITUDES AND CERTAINLY BY GROWING ASPIRATIONS. SUCH ASPIRATIONS HAVE HAD, AND ARE LIKELY TO CONTINUE TO HAVE, IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR, HE SAID.
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/11 ...
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1981
11 -
SEVEN PER CENT GROWTH IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS FORECAST ******
HONG KONG’S DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO ALL MARKETS IN 1981 IS TO GROW BY SEVEN PER CENT COMPARED WITH THE ACHIEVED GROWTH RATE IN 1980 OF 10.9 PER CENT, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE SAID TODAY.
SIR PHILIP IS ALSO OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE GROWTH RATE OF RE-EXPORTS IN 1981 AND HIS FORECAST IS FOR A GROWTH RATE OF 25 PER CENT, ONLY JUST BELOW THE AVERAGE ANNUAL GROWTH RATE IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, ALTHOUGH DOWN ON THE ACHIEVED GROWTH RATE IN 1980 OF 37.3 PER CENT.
THE FORECAST FOR THE GROWTH RATE OF TOTAL EXPORTS OF GOODS IN 1981 IS 12 PER CENT COMPARED WITH THE ACHIEVED RATE IN 1980 OF 17.7 PER CENT.
REVIEWING OUR EXPORT PROSPECTS AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF THE WORLD ECONOMY, SIR PHILIP SAID SHARP INCREASES IN OIL PRICES, COMBINED WITH TIGHT FISCAL AND MONETARY POLICIES ADOPTED BY THE GOVERNMENTS OF O.E.C.D. GROUP OF COUNTRIES, RESULTED IN THE OVERALL GROWTH RATE OF THESE ECONOMIES SLOWING DOWN TO ONE PER CENT IN 1980, COMPARED WITH THREE PER CENT IN 1979. THE SLOWING DOWN IN THE GROWTH RATE OF THEIR IMPORTS WAS EVEN MORE DRASTIC, TO AN ESIMATED ZERO TO MINUS ONE PER CENT IN 1980, COMPARED WITH ABOUT EIGHT PER CENT IN 1979.
+NEGATIVE GROWTH RATES WERE RECORDED BY SEVERAL O.E.C.D. COUNTRIES AS THEIR ECONOMIES MOVED INTO THE TROUGH OF THE DOWNTURN, BUT THE PROPSECTS ARE FOR A WEAK RECOVERY STARTING IN THE FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR,* HE SAID.
+THIS VIEW IS BASED ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT, FOLLOWING THE INCREASE IN POSTED PRICES LAST DECEMBER, THERE WILL BE NO SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE REAL PRICE OF OIL AND THAT GOVERNMENTS WILL PERSIST WITH FISCAL AND MONETARY POLICIES AIMED AT RESTRAINING AGGREGATE DEMAND SO AS TO REDUCE INFLATION.*
SIR PHILIP EXPECTED THE ECONOMIES OF THE O.E.C.D. GROUP OF COUNTRIES AS A WHOLE TO GROW BY ONE PER CENT IN 1981, ROUGHLY THE SAME AS THAT IN 1980. BUT HE SAID THE VOLUME OF IMPORTS INTO THESE COUNTRIES WAS EXPECTED TO BE MARGINALLY LESS IN 1981 THAN IN 1980. +IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES — AND REMEMBER THAT ABOUT 75 PER CENT OF OUR DOMESTIC EXPORTS ARE SOLD IN THE MARKETS OF THE O.E.C.D. GROUP OF COUNTRIES — IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT OUR COST/PRICE STRUCTURE IS ALLOWED TO ADJUST DOWNWARDS RELATIVELY SO AS TO RESTORE OUR EXTERNAL COMPETITIVENESS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.*
AS REGARDS THE UNITED STATES WHICH TOOK 33 PER CENT OF OUR DOMESTIC EXPORTS BY VALUE IN 1980, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID THAT THERE SEEMED TO BE A CONSENSUS AMONG FORECASTERS THAT THE U.S. ECONOMY WOULD PROGRESSIVELY RECOVER, ALBEIT SLOWLY, THIS YEAR. IF THIS IS SO, THEN THE GROWTH RATE OF OUR DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO THIS MARKET SHOULD RECOVER SHORTLY, REVERSING THE TREND WHICH SAW A SLOW DOWN FROM 21 PER CENT IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF I960 TO SEVEN PER CENT IN THE THIRD QUARTER AND TO ZERO IN THE FOURTH QUARTER.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1981
12
HE SAID IF THE RECOVERY IN THE U.S. ECONOMY WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A REBUILDING OF INVENTORIES — THIS WAS POSSIBLE IN VIEW OF THEIR DEPLETION IN THE SECOND HALF OF 1980, PARTICULARLY IF INTEREST RATES DECLINE — THE RECOVERY COULD WELL BE AS SHARP AS THE SLOW DOWN HONG KONG HAS JUST EXPERIENCED.
HIS FORECAST FOR THE GROWTH RATE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO U.S.A. FOR 1981 IS FIVE PER CENT AGAINST THE ACHIEVED GROWTH RATE IN 1980 OF 10 PER CENT.
ON TO THAT SAME AS
THE WEST GERMAN MARKET, HE FORECAST OUR DOMESTIC EXPORTS COUNTRY TO GROW IN 1981 BY SIX PER CENT, ROUGHLY THE THE ACHIEVED GROWTH RATE IN 1980.
AS
REGARDS THE UNITED KINGDOM WHICH TOOK 10 PER CENT OF OUR DOMESTIC EXPORTS BY VALUE IN 1980, THE LATEST FORECAST IS FOR A GROWTH RATE OF THE GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT (GDP) OF MINUS TWO PER CENT IN 1981 AS IN 1980. SIR PHILIP EXPECTED THE DEPRECIATION OF THE HONG KONG DOLLAR AGAINST STERLING OF ABOUT 10 PER CENT DURING 1980 TO FACILITATE SOME GROWTH IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO THIS MARKET IN 1981. HIS FORECAST FOR THE GROWTH RATE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO UK IN 1981 IS THREE PER CENT, AN IMPROVEMENT OVER 1980 WHEN VIRTUALLY NO GROWTH WAS RECORDED.
REGARDING THE REST OF THE WORLD WHICH TOOK 46 PER CENT OF OUR DOMESTIC EXPORTS BY VALUE IN 1980, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID OUR PROSPECTS WERE RATHER MORE PROMISING, PARTICULARLY IN THE COUNTRIES OF THE EAST ASIAN REGION BECAUSE HE EXPECTED THE REGION’S GROWTH MOMENTUM IN 1981 WOULD BE MAINTAINED. HIS FORECAST FOR THE GROWTH RATE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO THE REST OF THE WORLD IN 1981 IS NINE PER CENT COMPARED WITH THE ACHIEVED GROWTH RATE IN 1980 OF 15 PER CENT.
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FS OPTS NOT TO RAISE TAXES * * *
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY HAS NO INTENTION OF INCREASING DIRECT AND INDIRECT TAXES TO BALANCE TAX CONCESSIONS, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WAS TOLD THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON.
THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, PRESENTING HIS BUDGET REPORT, SAID HE DID NOT INTEND TO INVOKE OPTIONS AVAILABLE NOW BECAUSE OF THE PRESENT STATE OF PUBLIC FINANCES, EVEN THOUGH IT WOULD BE JUSTIFIED ON A MACRO-ECONOMIC POLICY GROUND TO DO SO.
SPEAKING ON GOVERNMENT’S PUBLIC UTILITY-TYPE UNDERTAKINGS, SIR PHILIP SAID THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL INTENDED DURING THE COMING YEAR TO ADJUST POSTAL CHARGES TO MEET INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS AND TO RATIONALISE PART OF THE SYSTEM OF POSTAL RATES AND FEES.
+A FEW SERVICES WILL BECOME MORE EXPENSIVE AND A FEW SLIGHTLY CHEAPER,* HE EXPLAINED.
SIR PHILIP SAID THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY AND WATERWORKS UNDERTAKINGS WERE MAKING LOSSES AND OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, 1981-82 TO 1984-85, THE POSITION OF EACH WOULD BECOME WORSE, PARTICULARLY AS FURTHER SUBSTANTIAL CAPITAL INVESTMENT WAS BEING MADE IN BOTH UNDERTAKINGS.
/+! FEaR ....
JEBKUABY 25, 1961
13
♦I FEAR, THEREFORE, THAT THEIR FARE/TARIFF STRUCTURES WILL HAVE TO BE LOOKED AT AGAIN CLOSELY BEFORE VERY LONG (BUT THIS WILL BE COUPLED WITH A RE-EXAMINATION OF THE ASSUMPTIONS UNDERLYING THEIR OPERATING ACCOUNTS),* HE SAID.
EXPLAINING HIS FISCAL POLICY, SIR PHILIP SAID EQUITY OF THE TAX SYSTEM, ACCORDING TO THE REVENUE ESTIMATES, WOULD FURTHER DETERIORATE WITH ONE EXCEPTION* REVENUE FROM PROPERTY TAX IN 1981-82 IS ESTIMATED TO DOUBLE COMPARED WITH 1980-81, PARTLY AS A RESULT OF THE ADDITION OF NEW BUILDINGS, BUT MAINLY AS A RESULT OF THE REASSESSMENT OF ASSESSABLE VALUES NOW IN TRAIN.
THE CONTRIBUTION OF PROPERTY TAX TO TOTAL COLLECTIONS OF EARNINGS AND PROFITS TAXES WOULD INCREASE TO 6.4 PER CENT IN 1981-82 FROM FOUR PER CENT IN 1980-81 AND COULD BE COMPARED WITH 9.4 PER CENT IN 1976-77, THE YEAR OF ASSESSMENT IN WHICH THE LIST OF ASSESSABLE VALUES WAS ESTABLISHED AS A BY-PRODUCT OF THE 1976 REVALUATION OF RATEABLE VALUES.
OTHER INDIRECT TAXES ESTIMATED TO CONTRIBUTE TO TOTAL RECURRENT REVENUE IN 1981-82 WERE *
RATES* 4.9 PER CENT COMPARED WITH 5.4 PER CENT IN 1980-81 AND 8.9 PER CENT IN 1977-78. *THE ONLY WAY THAT THIS TREND CAN BE REVERSED IS BY AN INCREASE IN THE GENERAL RATE PERCENTAGE, BECAUSE A REVALUATION OF RATEABLE VALUES IS NOT POSSIBLE SO LONG AS RENT CONTROLS EXTEND TO ALL RESIDENTIAL PREMISES,* HE EXPLAINED.
STAMP DUTIES* SIX PER CENT COMPARED WITH A PREDICTED HIGH CF 10.5 PER CENT IN 1980-81 AND BETWEEN SIX PER CENT AND 7.5 PER CENT IN THE FIRST FOUR POST-RECESSION YEARS.
DUTIABLE COMMODITIES* 4.3 PER CENT COMPARED WITH 4.9 PER CENT IN 1980-81. HE EXPLAINED THAT THE CONTRIBUTION OF DUTIABLE commodities had, in fact, been declining steadily ?'^CLi976"77’ WHEN LT WAS 10 PER CENT, PARTLY BECAUSE EARNINGS PR0FITS TAXES WERE so INCOME SENSITIVE AND PARTLY BECAUSE EXCISE DUTIES WERE SPECIFIC AND NOT AD VALOREM AND RATES HAD NOT BEEN UPDATED TO MAINTAIN INCIDENCE.
BETS AND SWEEPS TAXES* 4.1 PER CENT FROM A PEAK OF FIVE PER CENT IN 1977-78 AND DOWN TO 4.6 PER CENT IN 1980-81.
+FINALLY, OF THE OTHER INDIRECT TAXES, THE ONLY ONE THAT IS WORTH WORRYING ABOUT IN TERMS OF EQUITY BETWEEN CLASSES OF TAXPAYERS IS FIRST REGISTRATION TAX ON MOTOR VEHICLES WHICH IS ESTIMATED TO CONTRIBUTE TWO PER CENT TO TOTAL RECURRENT REVENUE IN 1981-82, COMPARED WITH 2.2 PER CENT IN 1980-81, HAVING PEAKED AT 2.6 PER CENT IN EACH OF THE TWO PREVIOUS YEARS 1978-79 AND 1979-80,+ SIR PHILIP CONTINUED.
HE ADDED* +WHETHER THIS REPRESENTS A REASONABLE CONTRIBUTION TO THE REVENUE IS DEBATABLE.*
SIR PHILIP DID NOT WISH TO BE DRAWN INTO ARGUMENTS ABOUT WHICH OF THE THREE IMPOSTS CARRIED BY PRIVATE MOTORISTS ----- FIRST
REGISTRATION TAX, ANNUAL LICENCE FEES FOR VEHICLES AND DRIVERS. AND EXCISE DUTY ON HYDROCARBON OILS ---- WOULD BE THE WEAPON MOST
EFFECTIVE TO ENSURE THAT AVAILABLE ROAD SPACE WAS USED AS EFFECTIVELY AS POSSIBLE AS OUR PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES WERE DIVERSIFIED AND IMPROVED OR, INDEED, INTO AN ARGUMENT AS TO WHETHER ANY OF THESE WEAPONS SHOULD BE USED.
/♦BUT IT ....
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1981
14
♦BUT IT IS ALSO DEBATABLE WHETHER THE TOTAL CONTRIBUTION OF ROAD USERS TO TOTAL RECURRENT REVENUE IS AS HIGH AS IT SHOULD BE, HAVING FALLEN FROM AN AVERAGE OF 6.8 PER CENT IN THE FIRST FOUR POST-RECESSION YEARS TO 5.3 PER CENT IN 1980-81 AND BEING ESTIMATED AT ONLY 4.8 PER CENT IN 1981-82,+ HE SAID.
DISCUSSING OPTIONS OPEN TO HIM TO INCREASE REVENUE, SIR PHILIP SAID THE GENERAL RATE PERCENTAGE AND STAMP DUTIES ON CONTRACT NOTES AND ASSIGNMENTS OF PROPERTY COULD BE RAISED.
HE ALSO SAID SOME ADJUSTMENTS TO SOME RATES OF DUTY ON DUTIABLE COMMODITIES OUGHT TO BE PRODUCTIVE OF MORE REVENUE, ALBEIT CARRYING A POSSIBLE RISK OF ADDING TO INFLATIONARY PRESSURES.
SIR PHILIP SAID EXTRA REVENUE FROM BETS AND SWEEPS TAXES COULD BE RAISED AS HE COULD NOT BELIEVE PUNTERS AS A CLASS OF TAXPAYER SHOULD BE CONTRIBUTING LESS THAN FIVE PER CENT TO TOTAL RECURRENT REVENUE PARTICULARLY WHEN TOTALISATOR TURNOVER HAD INCREASED FROM $2 580 MILLION IN FISCAL 1976-77 TO WELL OVER $8 200 MILLION IN 1980-81 AND WAS PREDICTED TO BE ABOUT $10 500 MILLION IN 1981-82.
THERE WAS, HE SAID, ALSO SCOPE FOR SOME INNOVATIONS IN THE TAXATION OF MOTORISTS — FRT, ANNUAL LICENCE FEES FOR VEHICLES AND DRIVERS AND DUTY ON HYDROCARBON OILS — +AGAIN ON THE GROUNDS OF EQUITY BETWEEN CLASSES OF TAXPAYERS AND LIKELY PRICE ELASTICITIES.
REGARDING ROYALTY-LOADED AND TAX-LOADED FEES AND CHARGES, SIR PHILIP SAID MANY OF THEM SHOULD BE INCREASED BY UP TO 100 PER CENT AND MORE TO RESTORE THE ORIGINAL LOADINGS.
+AND, AS REGARDS COST-RELATED CHARGES, MANY OF THESE ARE, FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER, UP TO FIVE YEARS OR MORE OUT OF DATE,* HE ADDED.
SIR PHILIP POINTED OUT THAT PHASE I I I OF THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION SYSTEM MEANT THE AVAILABILITY IN DUE COURSE OF UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON COSTS TO ADJUST ALL FEES AND CHARGES ON A ROUTINE BASIS ANY TIME DURING A YEAR AS A PURELY MANAGEMENT BASIS.
♦I EMPHASISE ON A ROUTINE BASIS, BECAUSE NOT TO KEEP THEM UP TO DATE MEANS THAT USERS ARE CROSS-SUBSIDISED FROM GENERAL REVENUE OR CROSS-SUBSIDISED TO A GREATER EXTENT THAN INTENDED,* HE STRESSED.
SIR PHILIP ADDED THAT THIS WAS PARTICULARLY OBJECTIONABLE IN PRINCIPLE IN THE CASE OF FEES AND CHARGES PAYABLE BY BUSINESS ENTERPRISES.
THOUGH IT WAS APPARENT THAT VARIOUS OPTIONS WERE AVAILABLE TO FINANCE ANY NECESSARY AND DESIRABLE TAX CONCESSIONS AND TO CORRECT THE FALLING TREND OF RECURRENT REVENUE TO TOTAL EXPENDITURE, HE SAID:
♦HOWEVER, I DO NOT INTEND TO INVOKE ANY OF THESE OPTIONS AT THIS TIME IN VIEW OF THE PRESENT STATE OF OUR PUBLIC FINANCES GENERALLY, EVEN THOUGH IT COULD BE ARGUED THAT, TO DO SO, WOULD BE JUSTIFIED ON MACRO-ECONOMIC GROUNDS.*
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/15 ....
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1981
15
S3 976 M TO BE SPENT ON HOUSING IN 1981/82
*****
THE TOTAL EXPENDITURE ON HOUSING IN 1981-82 IS ESTIMATED TO RISE TO $3 976 MILLION FROM THE 1980-81 ESTIMATE OF $3 287 MILLION, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THESE FIGURES, HE SAID, EXCLUDED THE VALUE OF LAND USED BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR RENTED HOUSING.
♦THE GOVERNMENT’S PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME WAS RECAST IN 1979 AS A FOUR-YEAR PROGRAMME AIMED AT ACHIEVING A LEVEL OF PRODUCTION, FOR BOTH RENTAL AND SALE, OF ABOUT 35 000 FLATS A YEAR,+ SIR PHILIP SAID.
THIS ANNUAL TARGET FIGURE, HE SAID, SHOULD BE ACHIEVED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 1980-81 AND WILL BE MAINTAINED AT THIS LEVEL THEREAFTER.
HE NOTED THAT THE FORECAST OF PRODUCTION IN THE FOUR YEARS, 1981-82 TO 1984-85, AT 147 100 FLATS EXCEEDS PRODUCTION IN THE FIVE POST-RECESSION YEARS, 1976-77 TO 1980-81, BY 42 432 FLATS.
♦THESE PRODUCTION FIGURES DO NOT INCLUDE 7 620 HOUSING SOCIETY FLATS AND 2 250 HOME OWNERSHIP (PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION) SCHEME FLATS EXPECTED TO COME ON STREAM DURING THE SAME FOUR YEAR PERIOD,+ SIR PHILIP SAID.
AS REGARDS THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME, SIR PHILIP SAID 15 500 FLATS OUT OF A TOTAL OF ABOUT 23 200 FLATS IN PHASES I, II AND III HAD BEEN COMPLETED BY THE END OF 1981-82.
♦WORK WILL BE IN HAND ON THE BALANCE, AND ALSO ON A FURTHER 13 800 FLATS IN PHASES IV AND V,♦ HE SAID.
HE NOTED THAT MORTGAGE FINANCE, AMOUNTING TO $1 255 MILLION, WAS OFFERED BY 18 BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, OUT OF A TOTAL OF WELL OVER 300 ORGANISATIONS, FOR ELIGIBLE PURCHASERS OF FLATS IN PHASE I AND THE FIRST PART OF PHASE II.
HE SAID HE HAD WRITTEN AGAIN TO ALL BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES INVITING THEM TO COMMIT ABOUT $900 MILLION FOR THE REMAINDER OF PHASE II AND THE FIRST PART OF PHASE III.
♦I SHALL BE MOST DISAPPOINTED IF MY INVITATION TO PROVIDE THESE FUNDS DOES NOT GENERATE A WIDER RESPONSE, PARTICULARLY AS THERE ARE NOW OVER 400 SUCH INSTITUTIONS,♦ SIR PHILIP SAID.
SIR PHILIP SAID ALTHOUGH THE ANNUAL PUBLIC HOUSING TARGET OF PRODUCTION OF 35 000 FLATS FOR RENTAL AND FOR SALE HAS NOW BEEN ACHIEVED, AND WILL BE MAINTAINED, THE LENGTH OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY’S WAITING LIST HAS REMAINED FAIRLY STATIC IN RECENT YEARS AND IS LIKELY TO REMAIN SO FOR SOME TIME IN VIEW OF CONTINUING CLEARANCES.
♦THERE IS THUS A CLEAR NEED TO REVIEW THE SCOPE OF THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME, IF NOT ITS AMBIT.
/♦ACCORDINGLY ...
WEDNESDAY, FEBBUARY 25, 1981
16
♦ACCORDINGLY, AS YOUR EXCELLENCY FORESHADOWED RECENTLY, THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS SHORTLY TO RECONVENE THE ORIGINAL WORKING PARTY TO REVIEW THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME AND THE HOME OWNERSHIP (PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION) SCHEME.
♦THE INTENTION WOULD BE TO BUILD MORE FLATS, IF FEASIBLE, TO hEET THE DEMONSTRATED ASPIRATIONS OF THE INCOME CLASS COVERED BY THESE SCHEME FOR HOME OWNERSHIP (AND POSSIBLY TO WIDEN THEIR AMBIT A LITTLE).♦ SIR PHILIP ADDED.
FS CAUTIONS AGAINST USING PRICE CONTROLS TO FIGHT INFLATION *****
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT INTERVENE TO HOLD DOWN LAND PRICES TO COMBAT INFLATION, NOR SHOULD IT CONTROL RENTS OF COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING ON INFLATION IN HIS BUDGET REPORT, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE SAID THE HONG KONG ECONOMY WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO LIVE WITH IMPORTED INFLATION FOR SOME TIME TO COME INTO THE 198Q’S, AND CERTAINLY UNTIL LATE 1982 OR EVEN 1983.
HE SA IDi +TO THE EXTENT THAT OUR GROWTH MOMENTUM HAS TENDED IN RECENT YEARS TO BE ACCOMPANIED, FROM TIME TO TIME, BY A MEASURE OF DOMESTICALLY GENERATED INFLATION, THE LINK BETWEEN GROWTH AND INFLATION HAS BEEN DIFFICULT TO BREAK, BUT WE MUST SEEK TO ENSURE THAT OUR POLICIES INCLUDING, OF COURSE, OUR BUDGETARY POLICIES, AND OUR INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS DO NOT CEMENT THE LINK.+
ANY ANTI-INFLATIONARY ACTION ON GOVERNMENT’S PART WHICH INVOLVED ABANDONING, EVEN IN PART, OUR COMMITMENT TO FREE TRADE AND TO THE FREE FLOW OF FUNDS ACROSS THE EXCHANGES WOULD SEVERELY DAMAGE THE GROWTH RATE OF THE ECONOMY AND SIMPLY COULD NOT BE CONTEMPLATED, HE SAID.
SIR PHILIP COULD NOT SEE ANY SCOPE FOR REMEDIAL ACTION AGAINST INFLATION WHICH INVOLVED ANY FORM OF PRICE CONTROL OR SUBSIDY IN RELATION TO THE PRICES OF IMPORTED INPUTS AND DOMESTIC EXPORTS.
THE COST OF SUCH ACTION, HE SAID, WOULD BE REFLECTED IN LOWER REAL INCOMES IN HONG KONG AND, EVEN IF SUCH MEASURES WERE GATT-ABLE, MIGHT WELL RESULT IN RETALIATORY ACTION BEING TAKEN AGAINST US.
EXPLAINING HIS STAND AGAINST LAND PRICE CONTROL, SIR PHILIP SAID THERE WERE TWO QUESTIONS TO BE FACEDi
/X HOW TO .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1981
17
* HOW TO INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF LAND -- THE GOVERNMENT’S LAND PRODUCTION PROGRAMME PROVIDES FOR AN INCREASING SUPPLY OF NEW LAND.
* HOW TO ALLOCATE THE EXISTING SCARCE SUPPLY IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE ECONOMY — LEAVING ASIDE THE LAND USED TO MEET LETTER A/B COMMITMENTS, THE GOVERNMENT BELIEVES THAT THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY OF ALLOCATING MOST OF THE LAND IT DISPOSES OF TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS BY SELLING IT TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER.
THE ALTERNATIVE, HE SAID, WOULD BE ARBITRARILY TO SET A LOWER PRICE FOR THE LAND AND THEN, BECAUSE THE AMOUNT DEMANDED AT THAT PRICE WOULD EXCEED SUPPLY, IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO MAKE SUBJECTIVE JUDGEMENTS AS TO ITS ALLOCATION.
♦ALTHOUGH THIS APPROACH WOULD REDUCE THE PRICE OF NEW LAND (AND NEW LAND ONLY), IT WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY SATISFY CRITICS OF THE GOVERNMENT’S LAND DISPOSAL POLICY IN NO OTHER RESPECT,* SIR PHILIP POINTED OUT.
ON CONTROLLING COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY RENTS, HE SAID THAT WHILE LAYING DOWN PERMITTED INCREASES IN RENTS OF DOMESTIC PREMISES HAD BEEN JUSTIFIED ON SOCIAL GROUNDS, DESPITE THE RISKS INVOLVED IN TERMS OF INHIBITING SUPPLY, INTERFERENCE IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LANDLORD AND TENANT FOR NON-DOMESTIC PREMISES COULD NOT BE JUSTIFIED.
AS ALREADY DEMONSTRATED, HE SAID THE MARKET SHOWED EVERY SIGN OF PROVIDING ITS OWN SOLUTION AS SHOWN BY THE VERY HIGH LEVELS CF NEW SUPPLY -- BOTH PAST AND PROSPECTIVE — OF THE TYPES OF PROPERTY IN HEAVIEST DEMAND, NAMELY, OFFICES AND SHOPS.
HE SAID THERE WAS NO CLEAR EVIDENCE THAT COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL PREMISES WERE BEING KEPT VACANT BECAUSE OF THE SYSTEM IN WHICH HALF THE RATES PAID ON SUCH PREMISES WERE REFUNDED.
♦THEORETICALLY, THE RATING SYSTEM COULD BE ADAPTED SO AS TO CHARGE A PENAL RATE TO ENCOURAGE OWNERS TO LET OR SELL VACANT PREMISES,♦ SIR PHILIP SAID.
BUT THERE WERE A NUMBER OF PRACTICAL OBJECTIONS TO DOING THIS, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH WAS THE EXTENT OF THE POLICING REQUIRED TO ESTABLISH THAT PREMISES WERE VACANT.
WHILE UNDER THE RATE REFUND SYSTEM OWNERS HAD A FINANCIAL INCENTIVE TO DECLARE PREMISES VACANT, UNDER A PENAL RATING SYSTEM THEY WOULD HAVE AN INCENTIVE TO CONCEAL THE FACT, HE SAID.
♦FURTHERMORE, NOT ALL VACANT PREMISES ARE KEPT VACANT BECAUSE THEIR OWNERS WISH IT,* SIR PHILIP ADDED.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1981 •
18
MORE LAND TO BE PRODUCED * * * *
ABOUT 1 562 ACRES OF LAND WILL BE PRODUCED IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR, COMPARED WITH 1 228 ACRES IN 1980-81 AND 238 ACRES IN 1976-77.
AND OVER THE THREE YEARS OF THE NEW FORECAST PERIOD 1982-83 TO 1984-85, LAND PRODUCTION WILL BE ABOUT 1 400 ACRES A YEAR, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID TODAY.
HE ALSO FORECAST THAT ABOUT 300 ACRES OF LAND WOULD BE SOLD IN EACH OF THESE THREE YEARS.
SIR PHILIP SAID THE IMPORTANCE WHICH THE GOVERNMENT LAND PRODUCTION IS EVIDENCED BY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMITTEE ON LAND PRODUCTION WHICH SETS TARGETS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS AND MONITORS THE ADMINISTRATION IN THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THESE TARGETS.
ATTACHED TO SPECIAL
IT IS ALSO EVIDENCED BY THE PROVISION WITHIN THE TWO PUBLIC 'i°Rrecen?Gyears ChePaddedS °F THE cap,tal ACC0UNT F0R land production
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LAW AND ORDER COSTS UP 11 PER CENT ******
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) SAID THE 1981-82 DRAFT ESTIMATES FOR EXPENDITURE ON LAW AND ORDER WAS $1 927 MILLION.
HE SAID THIS WAS AN INCREASE OF 11 PER CENT ON THE REVISED ESTIMATE OF 1980-81.
OF THE PROVISION, $1 304 MILLION WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE AND THE AUXILIARY POLICE FORCE.
SIR PHILIP SAID IT WAS ESTIMATED THE NET STRENGTH OF THE POLICE FORCE (AFTER RETIREMENTS, RESIGNATIONS AND DISMISSALS) WOULD INCREASE BY ABOUT 1 000 DISCIPLINED PERSONNEL TO 21 800 DURING THE YEAR.
SIR PHILIP SAID 819 MILLION HAD BEEN INCLUDED IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES FOR ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION WORK BY POLICE OFF ICERS.
♦DESPITE THE REDUCTION IN ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION SINCE THE SUSPENSION OF THE FORMER ’REACH BASE’ POLICY, IT IS NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN GUARD AGAINST THE CONTINUING THREAT,* HE SAID.
A MAJOR EXPANSION PROGRAMME OF THE MARINE POLICE IN RESPONSE TO THIS THREAT INVOLVING 24 ADDITIONAL AND 34 REPLACEMENT LAUNCHES WAS STARTED IN 1980-81.
/+THEEE LOGISTICS .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1981
19
+THREE LOGISTICS LAUNCHES AND NINE INSHORE LAUNCHES WILL BE DELIVERED IN 1981-82 AT A TOTAL CAPITAL COST OF $31 MILLION,+ SIR PHILIP SAID.
THE BEAT RADIO SYSTEM OF THE POLICE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM WILL ALSO BE EXTENDED IN 1981-82 TO THE AIRPORT AND SHA TIN DIVISIONS. AT AN EXPENDITURE OF 313 MILLION.
+ A CONSULTANCY FOR A FEASIBILITY STUDY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ULTRA HIGH FREQUENCY RADIO SYSTEM WILL COMMENCE FOR WHICH $1.5 MILLION IS ESTIMATED TO BE REQUIRED IN 1981-82,+ HE ADDED.
ON POLICE BUILDINGS AND INSTALLATIONS, $43 MILLION HAS BEEN INCLUDED IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES, COMPARED WITH $5.5 MILLION FOR 1980-81, AND A FURTHER 21 NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE UNITS AND REPORTING CENTRES ARE PLANNED TO OPEN IN 1981-82.
IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT
SIR PHILIP SAID $10 MILLION WAS INCLUDED IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES FOR NEW POSTS TO BE CREATED IN THE DEPARTMENT IN 1981-82.
THE PROVISIONS INCLUDE COMPUTER INDEXING SYSTEM.
$5 MILLION TO BE SPEND ON A NEW
HE ADDED THAT THE MAN KAM SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN 1981-32.
TO BORDER CONTROL POINT WAS
PRISONS DEPARTMENT
SIR PHILIP NOTED THAT THE PRISON MUSTER OF CONVICTED CRIMINALS AND PERSONS HELD ON REMAND ROSE FROM 5 919 IN JANUARY TO 6 611 IN DECEMBER 1980, AN INCREASE OF 12 PER CENT.
+AN ESTIMATED TOTAL OF $90 MILLION IS REQUIRED IN 1981-82 FOR CAPITAL EXPENDITURE ON NEW PRISONS DEPARTMENT INSTALLATIONS, NOTABLY FOR THE NEW MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON AT SHEK PIK,+ HE SA ID.
JUD IC IARY
SIX POSTS FOR HIGH COURT JUDGES, THREE POSTS FOR JUSTICE OF THE APPEAL COURT, AND EIGHT POSTS FOR DISTRICT COURT JUDGES WERE CREATED IN 1980-81, SIR PHILIP SAID.
+TWO NEW CENTRES CONTAINING A TOTAL OF 20 COURTROOMS WILL OPEN IN 1981-82, SOME OF THESE BEING NEW COURTS IN LINE WITH THE INCREASED JUDICIAL POSTS AND SOME REPLACEMENTS FOR PRESENT INADEQUATE FAC IL IT IES.
+PLANNING IS NOW IN HAND FOR A FURTHER SIX COURTROOMS AND TWO TRIBUNALS IN BOTH SHA TIN AND TUEN MUN, AND SIMILAR PROVISION IS UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR FANLING.+ HE ADDED.
WEDNESDAY, FEBHJAHY 25, 1981
- 20
DEFENCE
SIR PHILIP SAID THE DRAFT ESTIMATES PROVIDED FOR TOTAL EXPENDITURE OF $1 783 MILLION ON DEFENCE, COMPARED WITH THE REVISED ESTIMATE OF $1 651 MILLION FOR 1980-81, AN INCREASE CF 8 PER CENT.
HE SAID A NEW DEFENCE COSTS AGREEMENT FOR A SEVEN YEAR TERM STARTING ON APRIL 1, 1981 WAS SIGNED LAST OCTOBER REPLACING ONE IN EFFECT SINCE 1976.
UNDER THE NEW AGREEMENT, SIR PHILIP SAID, THE RESIDENT GARRISON WOULD BE STRENGTHENED BY AN ADDITIONAL INFANTRY BATTALION, RAISING THE TOTAL FROM FOUR TO FIVE. ABOUT $40 MILLION IS INCLUDED IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES FOR WORK ON NEW BARRACKS NEEDED FOR THE NEW BATTALION.
HE SAID WORKS SERVICES WOULD TOTAL $183 MILLION FOR BOTH CAPITAL WORKS AND MAINTENANCE AND THE REPROVISIONING OF LYEMUN AND SHAM SHU I PO CAMPS WAS ESTIMATED AT $131 MILLION.
SIR PHILIP ALSO SAID CONSTRUCTION OF FIVE NEW PATROL CRAFT SHOULD START IN 1981-82 AND BE COMPLETE BY THE END OF 1984.
THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT’S 75 PER CENT CONTRIBUTION TO CAPITAL COSTS IN 1981-82 WOULD BE $66 MILLION.
OTHER PROVISIONS IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES INCLUDE $26 MILLION FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION, AND $3 MILLION FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE BORDER FENCE SYSTEM, AND $4 MILLION FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY AIR FORCE AIRCRAFT, INCLUDING THREE NEW TWIN ENGINE HELICOPTERS DELIVERED IN 1980-81.
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INCREASE IN PRIMARY SCHOOL PLACES *****
EXPENDITURE ON EDUCATION IN 1981-82 IS ESTIMATED TO BE $3 634.7 MILLION, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SIR PHILIP SAID THE DRAFT ESTIMATES INCLUDED PROVISION OF $1 023 MILLION FOR GOVERNMENT AND AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS.
HE SAID THAT IN LINE WITH THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY THAT NO CHILD SHOULD HAVE TO TRAVEL AN UNREASONABLE DISTANCE TO ATTEND PRIMARY SCHOOL, 14 NEW PRIMARY SCHOOLS, PROVIDING AN ADDITIONAL 2 500 PLACES, ARE EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN THE FISCAL YEAR IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES IN THE NEW TOWNS AND OTHER DEVELOPING AREAS.
IN PURSUIT OF THE OBJECTIVE TO INCREASE , DURING THE 1980S. THE NUMBER OF PLACES IN SCHOOLS, TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND ADUL? EDUCATION CENTRES, SIR PHILIP SAID THAT BY SEPTEMBER 1981, SUBSIDISED FORM IV PLACES IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS 70ULD BE INCREASED TO 58 400-FULL-TIME PLACES ON CRAFT AND DIPLOMA COURSES AT THE FIVE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES TO 4 200- AND PART-TIME DAY COURSES TO 16 300.
/THE estimates ....
wednbsday, February 25, 1981
21
THE ESTIMATES PROVIDE $1 162 MILLION FOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND TECHNICAL INSTITUTES.
HE ALSO NOTED THAT MORE THAN 50 PRIVATE NON-PROFIT-MAKING SCHOOLS WOULD BE CONVERTED INTO FULLY AIDED SCHOOLS BY SEPTEMBER 1982.
AND, SOME 65 NEW SCHOOLS WOULD BE BUILT DURING THE NEXT THREE TO FOUR YEARS, SIR PHILIP SAID.
ON POST-SECONDARY COLLEGES, SIR PHILIP SAID THE ENROLMENTS CF BAPTIST COLLEGE AND LINGNAN COLLEGE WOULD INCREASE FROM 2 367 TO 3 217, WHICH WOULD ACCOUNT FOR EXPENDITURE OF $17 MILLION IN 1981-82.
HE SAID THE DRAFT ESTIMATES PROVIDED $840.6 MILLION FOR EXPENDITURE IN CONNECTION WITH UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC EDUCATION, AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR GRANTS SUBMITTED BY THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE WOULD INVOLVE $634 MILLION.
FULLY EARMARKED GRANTS OF $20 MILLION AND $38 MILLION ARE ALSO PROVIDED FOR IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL AT THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY AND A NEW DENTAL SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG RESPECTIVELY, HE SAID.
SIR PHILIP ALSO POINTED OUT THAT A SUBVENTION OF $17 MILLION IS INCLUDED IN THE 1981-82 DRAFT ESTIMATES TO MEET THE OPERATING EXPENSES OF THE PRINCE PHILIP DENTAL HOSPITAL WHICH WOULD BE READY TO ACCEPT PATIENTS IN APRIL.
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$1 800 MILLION EARMARKED FOR HEALTH *****
THE GOVERNMENT HAS PROPOSED TO EARMARK $1 884 MILLION FOR NEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES IN THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE SAID TODAY.
SIR PHILIP SAID THE DRAFT ESTIMATES PROVIDED FOR EXPENDITURE BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT OF $1 077 MILLION, ON MEDICAL SUBVENTIONS OF $590 MILLION AND ON CAPITAL WORKS OF $212 MILLION.
HE SAID THE INTEGRATION OF GOVERNMENT AND SUBVERTED HOSPITALS WITHIN THE REGIONAL SYSTEM HAD ALLEVIATED OVER-CROWDING IN THE *AIN GOVERNMENT REGIONAL HOSPITALS.
+ T0 ENABLE SUBVERTED HOSPITALS TO MAKE A STILL GREATER CONTRIBUTION TO THE TREATMENT OF ACUTE HOSPITAL CASES DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES ARE UNDERWAY IN THE YAN CHAI, CARITAS AND 0OK 01 HOSPITALS.*
SIR PHILIP SAID NEARLY 1 300 ADDITIONAL BEDS WOULD BE PROVIDED TO GOVERNMENT AND SUBVERTED HOSPITALS IN THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR WHICH, TOGETHER WITH THE EXISTING 21 000 BEDS, +WILL MEET APPROXIMATELY 80 PER CENT OF THE ESTIMATED REQUIREMENT.*
/+THIS IS
WEDNESDAY, FEBHUAEY 25, 1981
22
♦THIS IS EQUIVALENT TO FOUR BEDS PER 1 000 POPULATION,♦ HE ADDED.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID SEVERAL MAJOR PROJECTS IN SUBVENTED HOSPITALS WOULD BE COMPLETED IN 1981-82. THESE INCLUDED THE NEW PATHOLOGY WING AT THE KWONG WAH HOSPITAL, A CARDIAC-THORACIC CENTRE AT THE GRANTHAM HOSPITAL AND AN EXTENSION TO THE WONG TAI SIN INFIRMARY. SIX NEW CLINICS AND POLYCLINICS WERE ALSO DUE FOR COMPLETION IN THE FORTHCOMING FINANCIAL YEAR.
WELFARE ALLOWANCES TO BE RAISED X X X X
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY HAS EARMARKED $1 126.9 MILLION FOR SOCIAL WELFARE IN HIS 1981-82 DRAFT ESTIMATES, COMPARED WITH THE REVISED ESTIMATES OF $830.5 MILLION FOR THE CURRENT YEAR.
THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE ALSO PROPOSED AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) RAISING THE BASIC RATES OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCES TO IMPROVE, IN REAL TERMS, THE STANDARD OF LIVING OF PEOPLE RECEIVING SOCIAL SECURITY.
THE DRAFT ESTIMATES, HE SAID, INCLUDED ADDITIONAL PROVISION OF $145 MILLION, COMPRISING $54.5 MILLION FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, S86.5 MILLION FOR SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCES AND $4 MILLION FOR RENTAL ALLOWANCES, SPECIFICALLY TO INCREASE BASIC RATES.
SIR PHILIP SAID A LARGE PORTION OF RECURRENT EXPENDITURE WOULD CONTINUE TO BE CHANNELLED THROUGH SOCIAL WELFARE SUBVENTIONS TO VOLUNTARY AGENCIES — $192 MILLION (INCLUDING $26 MILLION FOR REHABILITATION SERVICES) FOR THIS PURPOSE, AN INCREASE OF 32 PER CENT OVER 1980-81.
THE BULK WOULD BE DISBURSED, ON THE ADVICE OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, IN DISCRETIONARY GRANTS TO VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.
OF $78 MILLION FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS IN 1981-82, $41 MILLION WOULD BE PROVIDED UNDER THE PUBLIC WORKS NON-RECURRENT HEADS AND $37 MILLION WOULD BE PROVIDED FROM THE LOTTERIES FUND, COMPARED WITH $15 AND $31 MILLION IN THE REVISED 1980-81 ESTIMATES.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1981
23
CUTS IN BUSINESS TAX, ESTATE DUTY * * *
oononlen SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE TODAY
PROPOSED CUTS IN BUSINESS TAXATION, ESTATE DUTY, STAMP DUTY ON CONVEYANCES OF LOW VALUE PROPERTIES AND AN INCREASE IN DEPRECIATION ALLOWANCES.
ON BUSINESS TAXATION, SIR PHILIP PROPOSED TO REMOVE THE HALF PERCENTAGE POINT LOADING LEVIED WITH EFFECT FROM THE YEAR OF ASSESSMENT 1976-77, THUS RETURNING THE EFFECTIVE RATE OF CORPORATION PROFITS TAX TO 16-1/2 PER CENT.
HE SAID, +LEST IT BE THOUGHT THAT THIS PROPOSAL WILL ONLY BENEFIT A FEW LARGE CORPORATIONS, MAY I REMIND MEMBERS THAT THE NUMBER OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANIES PAYING CORPORATION PROFITS TAX IS PRESENTLY OF THE ORDER OF 18 OOO, MANY OF WHICH ARE SMALL FAMILY-OWNED BUSINESSES.*
THE COST TO THE REVENUE IN 1981-82 WILL BE $206 MILLION, OR 3.5 PER CENT OF ESTIMATED REVENUE FROM CORPORATION PROFITS TAX.
ON DEPRECIATION ALLOWANCES, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY PROPOSED THAT THE INITIAL ALLOWANCES SHOULD BE INCREASED FROM 25 PER CENT TO 35 PER CENT AND THAT THE 33 HEADS WHICH ATTRACT DEPRECIATION ALLOWANCES BE RE-GROUPED UNDER THREE RATES OF ANNUAL ALLOWANCE OF 10 PER CENT, 20 PER CENT AND 30 PER CENT.
THESE TAX CONCESSIONS, SIR PHILIP SAID, ARE DESIGNED TO OFFER ENCOURAGEMENT TO MANUFACTURERS AND OTHERS TO RE-EQUIP AND UPGRADED THEIR PLANT AND EQUIPMENT AS OUR ECONOMY FACES UP TO THE CHALLENGES OF A CHANGING WORLD TRADING ENVIRONMENT. THE COST TO THE REVENUE OF THESE ALLOWANCES WILL BE $119 MILLION IN A FULL ORDINARY YEAR.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY ALSO PROPOSED TO RAISE THE LIMIT BELOW WHICH ESTATE DUTY IS NOT PAYABLE FROM $600 000 TO $1 MILLION FOR PERSONS DYING AFTER THE ENACTMENT OF THE NECESSARY LEGISLATION. THE COST TO THE REVENUE WILL BE ABOUT $13 MILLION IN 1981-82 AND PERHAPS $17 MILLION IN 1982-83-
ON STAMP DUTY ON CONVEYANCES OF LOW VALUE PROPERTIES, SIR PHILIP PROPOSED THAT THE LIMIT FOR THE FIXED CONCESSIONARY RATE OF $20 BE RAISED FROM $100 000 TO $250 000 WHILE THE LIMIT FOR THE FIXED CONCESSIONARY AD VALOREM RATE OF DUTY OF ONE PER CENT BE RAISED FROM $250 000 TO $500 000. ABOUT 48 000 FLAT PURCHASERS WILL BENEFIT FROM THESE HIGHER LIMITS AND THE COST TO THE REVENUE OF IMPLEMENTING THIS PROPOSAL WILL BE NO LESS THAN $155 MILLION IN 1981-82. THESE NEW LIMITS WILL BE EFFECTIVE FROM THE OPENING OF BUSINESS TOMORROW (THURSDAY) MORNING.
BILLS TO AMEND THE INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR HIS PROPOSALS IN RESPECT OF PERSONAL TAXATION, CORPORATION PROFITS TAX, THE INITIAL DEPRECIATION ALLOWANCE FOR PLANT AND MACHINERY AND ESTATE DUTY WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THE COST TO THE REVENUE OF THESE FIVE CONCESSIONARY PROPOSALS INCLUDING THAT FOR PERSONAL TAXATION WILL BE $1 250 MILLION IN 1981-82.
------o-------
/24 .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1981
24
NEW LEGAL DEFINITION ON BANKING
* * *
THE GOVERNMENT IS ABOUT TO DRAFT LEGISLATION ON A DEFINITION CF BANKING BUSINESS, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID TODAY.
*
LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS ARE ALSO BEING CONSIDERED TO CREATE A NEW CATEGORY OF DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES (DTCS) WHICH COULD BE LOOSELY DESCRIBED AS MERCHANT BANKS, SIR PHILIP SAID IN PRESENTING HIS BUDGET.
HE ALSO SAID THE NEW HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF BANKS WOULD SOON BE REVIEWING THE RULES BINDING ON MEMBER BANKS AND HOPED IT WOULD PROVIDE A CHANCE TO CONSIDER THE EXTENT TO WHICH BANKS SHOULD BE FREE TO COMPETE ON THE RANGE AND COST OF THE DIFFERENT SERVICES WHICH THEY OFFERED TO THEIR CUSTOMERS.
TURNING TO THE BANKING BUSINESS DEFINITION, SIR PHILIP SAID IT HAD REMAINED UNCHANGED SINCE 1964.
♦THE PRESENT DEFINITION OF BANKING BUSINESS REALLY NEEDS TO BE RECONSIDERED IN THE CONTEXT OF A CAREFUL EXAMINATION OF THE ROLE AND SCOPE OF THE DTCS INDUSTRY,+ HE SAID.
SIR PHILIP SAID THERE WERE TWO RELATED ASPECTS TO THE QUESTION OF THE DEFINITION:
* THE NEED TO REINFORCE THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF BANKS’ INTEREST RATE AGREEMENT, SINCE THE INTEREST RATE MECHANISM IS, EFFECTIVELY, THE ONLY MONETARY POLICY WHICH IS AVAILABLE TO US WHATEVER MAY BE ARGUED TO THE CONTRARY BY SOME COMMENTATORS, WHO SEEM TO ASSUME THAT THEIR IDEAS, TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY ARE COMPREHENSIBLE, HAVE NOT ALREADY BEEN CONSIDERED AND REJECTED, FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER, BY US.
* THE NEED TO SAFEGUARD THE INTERESTS OF DTCS, BOTH FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THEIR DEPOSITORS AND THE CUSTOMERS TO WHOM THEY HAVE LENT THEIR DEPOSIT RESOURCES (AND, ALSO, TO SOME EXTENT, FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF THE PROPRIETY OF REMOVING FROM THEM THE ABILITY TO PURSUE A BUSINESS WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN CARRYING ON IN HONG KONG FOR UP TO 10 YEARS OR MORE).
SIR PHILIP SAID IT HAD BEEN ARGUED BY SOME THAT BANKS ALONE SHOULD BE PERMITTED TO TAKE DEPOSITS WITH AN ORIGINAL TERM OF MATURITY OF LESS THAN THREE MONTHS- AND THAT DTCS SHOULD ONLY BE ABLE TO ACCEPT DEPOSITS WITH AN ORIGINAL TERM TO MATURITY OF THREE MONTHS OR MORE.
♦THE MAIN DIFFICULTY WITH SUCH A RE-DEFINITION OF THE BUSINESS WHICH DTCS WOULD BE PERMITTED TO UNDERTAKE IS THAT IT FAILS TC TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE EXISTENCE OF WHOLESALE DEPOSITS,* HE EXPLAINED.
HE SAID THESE WERE LARGE DEPOSITS PLACED WITH DTCS BY COMPANIES (OTHER THAN BANKS AND DTCS) AND BY SOME INDIVIDUALS, FOR ANY PERIOD, SHORT OR LONG.
/+TR^ PRINCIPAL ...
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1?81
25
+THE PRINCIPAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THESE DEPOSITS IS THAT THEY ARE VERY SENSITIVE TO INTEREST RATE CONSIDERATIONS: IF SUCH DEPOSITS CANNOT EARN IN HONG KONG A RATE OF INTEREST AT, OR VERY CLOSE TO, THE MARKET RATE, AS OPPOSED TO THE RATE PAID BY THE BANKS UNDER THE INTEREST RATE AGREEMENT, THESE DEPOSITS MAY VERY WELL, AND SUBJECT TO THE EXCHANGE RATE CONSIDERATIONS, BE MOVED OUT OF HONG KONG, WITH CONSEQUENTIAL PRESSURE ON THE EXCHANGE RATE.
+CLEARLY, AN INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE SHOULD BE ABLE TO OFFER A MARKET RATE OF INTEREST TO THOSE WISHING TO PLACE LARGE DEPOSITS HERE, WHETHER THEY ARE CONTROLLED FROM INSIDE HONG KONG, OR FROM ELSEWHERE,* HE SAID.
BUT, HE ADDED, THIS WAS PRECISELY WHAT WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE IN HONG KONG IF THE BANKING ORDINANCE WERE AMENDED TO GIVE THE BANKS THE SOLE RIGHT TO TAKE DEPOSITS WITH AN ORIGINAL TERM TO MATURITY OF LESS THAN THREE MONTHS, WITH NO OTHER LEGISLATIVE CHANGES, AND WITH THE INTEREST RATE AGREEMENT OF THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF BANKS CONTINUING IN FORCE, AS MUST BE THE CASE.
ON THE PROPOSED MERCHANT BANK CATEGORY, SIR PHILIP SAID A SMALL NUMBER OF DTCS COULD BE LICENSED AS SUCH, IN ACCORDANCE WITH CRITERIA NOW BEING DEVELOPED:
+THEY WOULD BE PERMITTED TO TAKE DEPOSITS WITH NO LIMITATION AS TO THEIR TERM TO MATURITY, BUT THE MINIMUM SIZE OF ANY INITIAL DEPOSIT WOULD BE SET AT, SAY, $500 000 FOR ANY TERM (WHICH SUM WOULD HAVE TO BE REVISED UPWARDS FROM TIME TO TIME).*
SIR PHILIP ADDED THAT ALL OTHER DTCS WOULD BE RESTRICTED TO DEPOSITS WITH AN ORIGINAL TERM TO MATURITY OF THREE MONTHS OR MORE AND THEY WOULD, AS NOW, BE RESTRICTED TO DEPOSITS OF $50 000 OR MORE (WHICH SUM WOULD, ALSO, HAVE TO BE REVISED UPWARDS IN DUE COURSE FOR IT WAS SET AS LONG AGO AS 1976).
THE POSITION OF LICENSED BANKS IN THE MARKET, HE EXPLAINED, WOULD BE IN FUTURE AS FOLLOWS:
* THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE A MONOPOLY FOR ALL DEPOSITS OF UP TO $50 000.
* THEY WOULD ALSO HAVE THE SOLE RIGHT TO TAKE DEPOSITS WITH AN ORIGINAL TERM TO MATURITY OF LESS THAN THREE MONTHS UP TO, SAY, $500 000.,
* FOR LARGER DEPOSITS OF ANY MATURITY, THEY WOULD HAVE TO COMPETE WITH THE PROPOSED NEW CATEGORY OF MERCHANT BANKS.
* FOR DEPOSITS OF $50 000 OR MORE WITH AN ORIGINAL TERM TO MATURITY OF THREE MONTHS OR MORE, THEY WOULD HAVE TO COMPETE WITH THOSE DTCS NOT LICENSED AS MERCHANT BANKS, AS WELL AS THE LATTER IN RESPECT OF DEPOSITS OF $500 000 OR MORE.
+ 1 BELIEVE THIS APPROACH WOULD STRENGTHEN THE MONETARY SYSTEM, AND ALSO THE GOVERNMENT’S INFLUENCE OVER INTEREST RATES, wHILE LEAVING AVAILABLE TO BOTH LARGE AND SMALL DEPOSITORS A REASONABLE CHOICE OF INSTITUTIONS WITH WHOM THEIR FUNDS CAN BE PLACED,* HE SAID.
/SIR PHILIP ....
26
W JLkLAV XUUX/A A > A- ABM AW AA* A —> ,
SIR PHILIP SAID THIS APPROACH WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE ADVICE OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS WOULD HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFULLY DEVISED. HE ALSO SAID HE INTENDED TO FORWARD TO THE COUNCIL A REVIEW OF THE POLICY ON LICENSING OF BANKS UNDER THE BANK ING ORD INANCE.
SPEAKING ON TAXATION TREATMENT OF FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS, SIR PHILIP SAID HE WAS ABSOLUTELY SATISFIED THAT THERE WAS NO CASE, ON ANY GROUNDS, FOR THE TOTAL ABOLITION OF INTEREST TAX.
BUT, HE ADDED, THE FISCAL AND MONETARY ARGUMENTS HE HAD DEPLOYED IN 1973 AND 1974 AGAINST THE CONCEPT OF EXEMPTING FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS HELD IN HONG KONG MIGHT BE NO LONGER VALID IN PRESENT-DAY CIRCUMSTANCES.
HE SAID A PROPOSAL IS NOW BEING STUDIED IN WHICH INTEREST PAYABLE ON DEPOSITS DENOMINATED IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES ABOVE A CERTAIN MINIMUM SIZE, ACCEPTED BY INSTITUTIONS OF A CERTAIN STATUS (LICENSED BANKS AND THE PROPOSED MERCHANT BANKS), BE MADE EXEMPT FROM ANY WITHOLDING OBLIGATION.
♦IF THE OUTCOME OF THE EXAMINATION OF THIS PROPOSITION IS THAT THE FISCAL AND MONETARY IMPLICATIONS OF IMPLEMENTING IT ARE REASONABLY PREDICTABLE AND AT LEAST NEUTRAL, AND THE ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS PROBABLY BENEFICIAL, THEN, SUBJECT TO THE ADVICE OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, AN APPROPRIATE AMENDMENT TO THE INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THIS COUNCIL LATER THIS SESSION,+ HE SAID.
- - 0 -
HK’S TERTIARY SERVICES TO GROW WITH CHINA TRADE X * X- * X
THE RELATIVE SIZE OF THE CONTRIBUTION OF HONG KONG’S TERTIARY SERVICES SECTOR IS ENVISAGED TO CONTINUE INCREASING DUE, IN NO SMALL MEASURE, TO DEMANDS LIKELY TO AR ISE FROM THE EXPANSION OF CHINA’S INTERNATIONAL TRADE, A CONDITION AND A CONSEQUENCE OF THE FOUR MODERNISATIONS PROGRAMME.
THIS WAS STATED TODAY BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH.
SIR PHILIP NOTED THAT ADDITIONAL FACILITIES ARE BEING PROVIDED TO COPE WITH THESE DEMANDS. THESE INCLUDE THE MODERNISATION OF THE KCR WHICH WILL IMPROVE RAIL LINKS WITH CHINA BY THE END OF 1982- RECLAMATIONS IN CHEUNG SHA WAN AND WESTERN WHICH WILL ENABLE IMPROVEMENTS TO BE MADE IN THE SEA LINK FACILITIES- AND THE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE ROAD LINKS WHICH WILL TAKE LONGER TO ACHIEVE. STUDIES ARE ALSO IN PROGRESS ON OIL RELATED FACILITIES AND THERE HAVE BEEN VARIOUS EXCHANGES OF MISSIONS WITH CHINA AS PART OF A MUTUAL EFFORT TO STRENGTHEN OUR ECONOMIC LINKS GENERALLY.
HE SAID THE PROVISION OF SUCH ADDITIONAL FACILITIES WOULD ALSO CONSTITUTE A FURTHER DIVERSIFICATION OF OUR ECONOMY AND SHOULD MAKE IT LESS VULNERABLE TO DOWNTURNS IN SPECIFIC TRADES.
♦SO I ENVISAGE THAT INFRASTRUCTURAL AND INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG WILL BE COMPATIBLE WITH TRADE AND OTHER FLOWS TO, AND FROM, CHINA THROUGH HONG KONG,+ SIR PHILIP SAID.
/jTITHIN Tais
WEDNESDAY, FEBHUABY 25, 1981
27
WITHIN THE TERTIARY SERVICES SECTORS, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY ALSO ENVISAGED THAT THE FINANCIAL AND RELATED BUSINESS SERVICES SECTOR WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AS A SOURCE OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE EARNINGS IN ITS OWN RIGHT.
+BUT THIS MEANS THAT WE SHALL HAVE TO ADAPT, AND MONITOR CONTINUOUSLY, THE GROUND RULES WITHIN WHICH THE CONSTITUENT MARKETS OPERATE SO AS TO ACHIEVE A BALANCE BETWEEN THE LOW LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT REGULATION DICTATED BY PARTICIPANTS - THOUGH SOME PARTICIPANTS CAN BE AMBIVALENT IN THEIR ATTITUDES - AND THE LEVEL OF PRUDENTIAL SUPERVISION NECESSARY TO KEEP IN LINE WITH DEVELOPING INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS,* HE ADDED.
SIR PHILIP ALSO ENVISAGED THAT PARTLY AS A CONSEQUENCE OF PROTECTIONISM, THE RELATIVE SIZE OF THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR TO THE GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT WILL DECLINE FURTHER, ALTHOUGH IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE LARGEST SINGLE SECTOR OF OUR ECONOMY, PARTICULARLY IN TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT.
HE NOTED THAT HONG KONG’S RECENT EXPERIENCE WHEN NEGOTIATING BILATERAL AGREEMENTS UNDER THE MULTI-FIBRE ARRANGEMENT (MFA) INDICATES THAT THE MAJOR INDUSTRIALISED COUNTRIES ARE MOVING TOWARDS DISCRIMINATORY TREATMENT OF DIFFERENT SUPPLIERS, THEREBY BREACHING THE SPIRIT AND EVEN THE LETTER OF MFA.
HOWEVER, HE SAID, WHATEVER THE COURSE OF DEVELOPMENT OF THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR IN THE 198O’S, IT WILL NEED TO BE SUPPORTED BY AN EVEN GREATER STRESS ON TECHNICAL EDUCATION, ON AREA WHICH HE HOPED TO SEE A GREATER INVOLVEMENT OF PUBLIC FUNDS.
-----o------
FACTS AND MYTHS OF THE MFA X * X X X
THE MULTILATERAL NEGOTIATIONS FOR A SUCCESSOR ARRANGEMENT TO THE MULTI-FIBRE ARRANGEMENT (MFA) WILL BE A MAJOR PREOCCUPATION DURING THE YEAR, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH, SIR PHILIP SAID THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MFA TO HONG KONG WAS BEYOND QUESTION - OUR EXPORTS OF TEXTILES AND CLOTHING STILL ACCOUNTED FOR ABOUT 40 PER CENT OF TOTAL DOMESTIC EXPORTS, 45 PER CENT OF THE OUTPUT OF THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR AND 43 PER CENT OF EMPLOYMENT.
♦THIS DEPENDENCE, DICTATED AS IT IS BY HONG KONG’S CIRCUMSTANCE, IS VERY MUCH GREATER THAN THE DEPENDENCE OF THE ECONOMIES OF OUR MAIN MARKETS ON THEIR TEXTILES AND CLOTHING INDUSTRY,* HE SAID.
SIR PHILIP SAID THE SHORTCOMINGS OF THE MFA IN RECENT YEARS HAVE NOT BEEN SO MUCH THAT IT HAS BEEN INADEQUATE, BUT RATHER THAT, FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER, IT HAS BEEN INADEQUATELY RESPECTED.
/+N0 DOUBT ......
WEDNESDAY, FaBRUAHY 25, 1981
28
♦NO DOUBT THE ’DEVELOPED’ COUNTRIES WILL DRAW HEAVILY ON THE PRESENT STATE OF THEIR ECONOMIES AND THEIR PRESENT LEVEL OF UNEMPLOYMENT AS EXCUSES, ALTHOUGH TRADE IN TEXTILES AND CLOTHING CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR EITHER PLIGHT.+
SIR PHILIP SAID THE FALLACIES BEHIND THE WAY IN WHICH THE PRESENT MFA HAS BEEN APPLIED AS A RESULT OF THE SO-CALLED +REASONABLE DEPARTURES+ PROVISION WERE DISCLOSED IN THE PUBLICATION OF THE HONG KONG TEXTILE AND CLOTHING INDUSTRIES’ JOINT CONFERENCE, +MYTHS, FACTS AND APPLICATION+.
IT ALSO DEMOLISHED MOST EFFECTIVELY THE ARGUMENTS THAT WERE SUPPOSED TO JUSTIFY THE MFA AND UNDERLINED THE DOMINANT POSITION OF THE DEVELOPED COUNTRIES IN WORLD TRADE.
THE PUBLICATION CAME TO TWO VERY SIGNIFICANT CONCLUSIONS, SIR PHILIP SAID.
♦THE FIRST IS THAT IMPORTS HAVE NOT BEEN THE PRINCIPAL CAUSE IN THE DECLINE IN EMPLOYMENT. THE SECOND IS THAT, WHERE JOBS WERE LOST BECAUSE OF IMPORTS AS OPPOSED TO INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY, IT WAS IMPORTS FROM ’DEVELOPED’ COUNTRIES THAT ACCOUNTED FOR THE BULK OF THE LOSSES NOT IMPORTS FROM 'DEVELOPING’ COUNTRIES.*
OUR GENERAL POSTURE OVER THE COMING MONTHS, HE SAID, MUST BE ONE OF ATTACK, FOR THE ARGUMENTS ARE CERTAINLY ON OUR SIDE.
♦BUT THOSE DIRECTLY CONCERNED IN THE TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT WILL NEED TO BEAR IN MIND LORD CHALFONT’S MEMORABLE SPECIFICATION FOR A SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATOR: HE MUST HAVE, HE ONCE WROTE, ’THE PRECIOUS GIFT OF LISTENING TO HOURS OF CANT, HYPOCRISY AND BARELY CONCEALED BLACKMAIL WHILE WEARING THE EXPRESSION OF ENTRANCED SERENITY NORMALLY RESERVED FOR THE SLOW MOVEMENT OF MAHLER’S FIFTH SYMPHONY’.+
0 - -
TELEVISION TALK ON BUDGET X X X X X
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SPOKE ON THE 1981/82 BUDGET IN A TELEVISION BROADCAST THIS (WEDNESDAY) EVENING.
THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF HIS TALK:
GOOD EVENING:
THIS AFTERNOON I PRESENTED MY TENTH BUDGET TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
I WAS ABLE TO REPORT THAT 1980 WAS ANOTHER GOOD YEAR FOR THE ECONOMY WHICH GREW BY 9 PER CENT IN REAL TERMS, THAT IS TO SAY, AFTER ALLOWING FOR INFLATION. INFLATION ACCELERATED IN 1980 AND NONE OF US LIKES THIS, BUT IT IS NOT EASY TO AVOID INFLATION IN A FAST DEVELOPING AND DIVERSIFYING ECONOMY AND PARTICULARLY ONE WHICH IS SO EXPOSED TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD LIKE OURS.
/3UT LET
ttednesday, febeuahi 25, 1981
29
BUT LET US NOT FORGET THAT HONG KONG’S EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN MARKEDLY DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF MANY OTHER PLACES WHERE INFLATION HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH SLUGGISH ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT. SINCE THE RECESSION SIX YEARS AGO, OUR ECONOMY HAS INCREASED IN SIZE BY 70 PER CENT, THE AVERAGE INCOME OF THE POPULATION HAS INCREASED BY AS MUCH AS 50 PER CENT IN REAL TERMS, DESPITE THE FACT THAT OUR POPULATION INCREASED RAPIDLY, AND THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY LOW.
IT IS TRUE THAT, IN THE SECOND HALF OF 1980 THERE WAS A SHARP SLOW DOWN IN OUR EXPORT PERFORMANCE AND THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE INCREASED SOMEWHAT- AND THE IMMEDIATE OUTLOOK IS UNCERTAIN. BUT OUR TRADING PROSPECTS IN THE LATTER MONTHS OF 1981 ARE MORE PROMISING AND OUR PROSPERITY IS NOT AS DEPENDENT ON THE EXPORT OF GOODS MANUFACTURED HERE AS IT USED TO BE. SO I THINK OUR ECONOMY SHOULD ACHIEVE QUITE A RESPECTABLE GROWTH RATE IN 1981 OF PERHAPS 8 PER CENT IN REAL TERMS, AGAIN AFTER ALLOWING FOR INFLATION- AND INFLATION SHOULD EASE OFF THIS YEAR ANYWAY, BUT NOT, I REGRET, DRAMATICALLY FOR WE SHALL STILL HAVE TO LIVE WITH IMPORTED INFLATION AND OUR OWN ECONOMY WILL STILL BE FORGING AHEAD.
I WAS ALSO ABLE TO REPORT TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT OUR PUBLIC FINANCES ARE IN GOOD SHAPE- EVEN AFTER ALLOWING FOR A FURTHER LARGE INVESTMENT IN THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION, THE GOVERNMENT’S ACCOUNTS FOR 1980-81 WILL SHOW A SURPLUS OF ABOUT $6 000 MILLION OR TWICE WHAT I BUDGETTED FOR. THIS WAS NOT DUE TO ANY FAILURE TO SPEND IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR STATED INTENTIONS.
INDEED, EXPENDITURE WILL EXCEED THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE BY $1 700 MILLION. BUT REVENUE, PARTICULARLY REVENUE FROM EARNINGS AND PROFITS TAXES, STAMP DUTIES AND LAND SALES ALSO EXCEEDED MY ORIGINAL EXPECTATIONS AND VERY SUBSTANTIALLY.
THE SURPLUS OF $6 000 MILLION WILL BE ADDED TO OUR RESERVES WHICH WILL THEN STAND AT OVER $15 000 MILLION. ABOUT ONE THIRD CF THESE RESERVES HAVE TO BE EARMARKED AS COVER FOR THE LOANS RAISED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY AND OTHER POSSIBLE LIABILITIES. THE REMAINDER, ABOUT $10 000 MILLION, REPRESENTS OUR ACCUMULATED SAVINGS AND PROVIDES US WITH A VERY NECESSARY DEGREE OF SECURITY AGAINST ANY UNEXPECTED, DECLINE IN REVENUE WE MAY SUFFER, AND ANY UNFORESEEN COMMITMENTS WHICH MAY BE THRUST UPON US. OUR RESERVES COULD ALSO BE USED TO HELP FINANCE ANY PROJECTS WHICH WE MAY EMBARK UPON IN THE 1980S AND WHICH ARE REALLY TOO LARGE TO BE FINANCED FROM CURRENT REVENUE ALONE.
THAT VERY BRIEFLY IS THE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL BACKGROUND AGAINST WHICH I PREPARED THE BUDGET: THE ESTIMATES, WHICH MEMBERS CF FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL BE EXAMINING IN DETAIL NEXT WEEK, ENVISAGE EXPENDITURE OF $24 600 MILLION, A 25 PER CENT INCREASE ON EXPENDITURE IN 1980-81.
THIS IS A VERY LARGE INCREASE BUT I THINK OUR ECONOMY CAN JUST ABOUT STAND THE STRAIN. NEARLY TWO THIRDS OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE WILL BE ABSORBED BY THE RECURRENT COSTS OF OUR VARIOUS SERVICES SUCH AS THE POLICE, OUR HOSPITALS, OUR SCHOOLS, OUR SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEMES AND SO ON AND ONE THIRD WILL BE SPENT ON OUR VAST WORKS PROGRAMMES, INCLUDING HOUSING AND ROADS WHICH WILL, INCIDENTALLY, ACCOUNT FOR NO LESS THAN TWO THIRDS OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURE.
/I ECFsCT.....
WEDNESDAY, FEBEUAHY 25, 1981
30
I EXPECT REVENUE COLLECTIONS TO BE MORE THAN SUFFICIENT TO FINANCE THIS EXPENDITURE AND SO I AM AGAIN BUDGETTING FOR A SUBSTANTIAL SURPLUS, THIS TIME OF NEARLY $8 000 MILLION WHICH WILL BE TO THE BENEFIT OF THE ECONOMY, FOR THE EFFECT WILL BE ANTI-INFLATIONARY, AND OUR RESERVES WILL BE FURTHER AUGMENTED. THIS SURPLUS I AM BUDGETTING FOR IS AFTER DEDUCTING THE COST OF FIVE PROPOSED TAX CONCESSIONS WHICH I ANNOUNCED ON GROUNDS OF FISCAL EQUITY AND ON SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC GROUNDS. THESE FIVE CONCESSIONS WILL COST THE REVENUE SI 250 MILLION IN 1981-82.
THE MAIN CONCESSION I ANNOUNCED - IT IS REALLY A PACKAGE OF CONCESSIONS - IS OF INTEREST TO SALARIES TAXPAYERS WHOSE PERSONAL ALLOWANCES ARE TO BE RAISED BY NO LESS THAN 50 PER CENT: FROM $15 000 TO $22 500 FOR A SINGLE PERSON- AND FROM $30 000 TO $45 000 FOR A MARRIED PERSON. THE ALLOWANCE FOR THE FIRST CHILD IS TO BE RAISED BY 40 PER CENT: FROM $5 000 TO $7 000- AND FOR THE SECOND CHILD BY 25 PER CENT: FROM $4 000 TO $5 000- AND FOR A DEPENDENT PARENT BY 40 PER CENT: FROM $5 000 TO $7 000. THUS, FOR EXAMPLE, A SINGLE MAN WITH TWO DEPENDENT PARENTS WILL NOW NOT ENTER THE TAX NET UNTIL HE IS EARNING $36 500 A YEAR AS OPPOSED TO $25 000 AT PRESENT- AND IF HE IS EARNING, SAY, $72 000 A YEAR HE WILL PAY ONLY $4 100 IN TAX IN FUTURE, COMPARED WITH $6 750 AT PRESENT. AGAIN, A MARRIED MAN WITH TWO CHILDREN WILL NOW NOT ENTER THE TAX NET UNTIL HE IS EARNING MORE THAN $57 000 A YEAR, COMPARED WITH $39 000 AT PRESENT- AND IF HE IS EARNING, SAY, $96 000 A YEAR HE WILL PAY ONLY $4 800 IN TAX IN FUTURE, COMPARED WITH $9 250 AT PRESENT. AT THE SAME TIME, NO FEWER THAN 140 000 PERSONS WILL NOT NOW BE INCLUDED IN THE TAX NET IN 1981-82 AND ALL BUT 18 000 OF THE 255 000 TAXPAYERS WHO WILL BE IN THE NET WILL BENEFIT FROM THESE NEW ALLOWANCES TO SOME EXTENT. I MIGHT ADD, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE WHO THINK OUR SALARIES TAX SYSTEM FAVOURS THE BETTER OFF, MORE THAN HALF OF TOTAL SALARIES TAX COLLECTED WILL COME FROM THE 7 PER CENT OF TAXPAYERS ON THE STANDARD RATE OF 15 PER CENT - AS HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE.
THE SECOND CONCESSION I ANNOUNCED WAS A REDUCTION OF THE RATE OF CORPORATION PROFITS TAX BY HALF A PERCENTAGE POINT TO THE ORIGINAL RATE OF 16-1/2 PER CENT SET IN 1975.
THE THIRD CONCESSION I ANNOUNCED INVOLVES A SIMPLIFICATION CF THE RATES OF DEPRECIATION ALLOWANCES FURTHER TO ENCOURAGE MANUFACTURERS TO RE-EQUIP AND UPGRADE THEIR PLANT AND EQUIPMENT. THE PRESENT FIVE RATES WILL BE RE-GROUPED UNDER THREE RATES OF 10 PER CENT, 20 PER CENT AND 30 PER CENT AND THE INITIAL ALLOWANCE WILL BE INCREASED FROM 25 PER CENT TO 35 PER CENT.
THE FOURTH CONCESSION I ANNOUNCED WAS AN INCREASE IN THE LIMIT BELOW WHICH ESTATES ARE NOT LIABLE TO ESTATE DUTY FROM $600 000 TO $1 000 000.
FINALLY, I ANNOUNCED THAT THE LIMIT FOR THE FIXED CONCESSIONARY RATE OF STAMP DUTY OF $20 FOR CONVEYANCES Op LOW VALUE PROPERTIES IS TO BE LIFTED FROM $100 000 TO $250 000 AND THE LIMIT FOR THE CONCESSIONARY RATE OF DUTY OF 1 PER CENT IS TO EE LIFTED FROM $250 000 TO $500 000. TOGETHER THESE TWC CHANGES SHOULD BENEFIT SOME 48 000 PURCHASERS OF FLATS IN 1981-82.
/i CONOIiUDSD
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1981
31
I CONCLUDED MY SPEECH THIS AFTERNOON BY REFERRING TO A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT POLICY QUESTIONS WHICH MUST BE RESOLVED - AND, OF COURSE, RESOLVED IN A WAY BEST SUITED TO THE REALITIES OF OUR CIRCUMSTANCES AND TO OUR DEVELOPING AND DIVERSIFYING ECONOMY. IF THEY ARE SO RESOLVED, AND IF WE CONTINUE TO MANAGE OUR PUBLIC FINANCES PRUDENTLY AND IN SUCH A WAY AS TO ENCOURAGE, RATHER THAN DISCOURAGE, INDIVIDUAL EFFORT AND ENTERPRISE, THEN I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE GROWTH MOMENTUM OF OUR ECONOMY WILL BE SUSTAINED INTO THE 198OS. INDEED, THIS YEAR’S BUDGET BOTH ASSUMES THIS WILL BE THE CASE AND SEEKS TO ENSURE THAT IT WILL BE.
NO LET UP IN FIGHT AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION ft ft ft ft ft
THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR LEWIS DAVIES TODAY EXPRESSED ♦CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM* OVER THE RESULTS OF THE NEW ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION MEASURES BUT STRESSED THERE WOULD BE NO RELAXATION.
♦ANY SUGGESTION THAT WE MIGHT BE EASING UP OR START ISSUING IDENTITY CARDS TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WOULD STIMULATE A NEW INFLUX. LET ME THEREFORE BE QUITE CLEAR. THE GOVERNMENT HAS EVERY INTENTION OF MAINTAINING THIS POLICY DETERMINEDLY AND EFFECTIVELY FOR AS LONG AS THE THREAT OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION EXISTS.+ HE SAID.
SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF ZONTA CLUB OF HONG KONG TODAY, MR DAVIES SAID THERE WOULD BE NO LET UP BECAUSE WE JUST COULD NOT AFFORD IT.
♦IN 1979 AND 1980 HONG KONG LIFE AS WE KNOW IT, A LIFE EVERYONE HAS WORKED HARD TO ACHIEVE, WAS BEING SERIOUSLY THREATENED, HE SAID.
♦GIVEN THE INGENUITY AND RESOURCEFULNESS OF MANY WOULD-BE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AND, EVEN MORE SO, THOSE WHO MAKE MONEY OUT OF THEM, WE SHOULD FACE THIS THREAT AGAIN UNLESS WE REMAIN VIGILANT, RESOLUTE AND EFFECTIVE.
♦THAT WE SHALL D0,+ HE ADDED.
THE DETERRENT EFFECT OF THE MEASURES IS SHOWN BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT FIGURES. IN SEPTEMBER 1980, 23 000 CROSSED THE BORDER (OVER 13 000 WERE ARRESTED AND 10 000 REACHED BASE). IN NOVEMBER, DECEMBER AND JANUARY, THE TOTAL ARRESTS WERE 891, 716 AND 701 RESPECTIVELY.
ALTHOUGH THE NUMBER OF THOSE WHO EVADED ARREST IS NOT KNOWN, 268 HAVE BEEN DETECTED, OR HAVE GIVEN THEMSELVES UP, AND THOSE LYING LOW ARE LIKELY TO BE FOUND SOONER OR LATER.
CARRYING IDENTITY CARDS IS BECOMING A WAY OF LIFE, MR DAVIES ADDED, AND WHILE IT IS HOPED THIS WILL BECOME A HABIT, IN CASE IT IS NOT, THERE HAVE BEEN 7 500 WARNINGS BY THE POLICE, 4 000 SUMMONSES AND 300 CHARGES.
THE BURDEN ON EMPLOYERS OF HAVING TO KEEP RECORDS AND MAKE CHECKS HAS ALSO BEEN ACCEPTED WITH A REMARKABLE DEGREE OF GOODWILL AND SO FAR ONLY FOUR EMPLOYERS HAVE BEEN PROSECUTED.
/THE POLICE ...... •
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1981
32
THE POLICE ESTIMATE THAT SINCE OCTOBER 27, THEY HAVE CHECKED THE IDENTITY OF ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF A MILLION PEOPLE AND LABOUR INSPECTORS HAVE BEEN TO NEARLY 40 000 PLACES OF WORK.
♦VERY FEW SUSPECTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS HAVE BEEN FOUND IN ALL THESE OPERATIONS AND ALL THE INDICATIONS ARE THAT, SO FAR AT ANY RATE, NO ILLEGAL FRINGE NOR SUBMERGED SOCIETY OF ANY SIZE EXISTS,♦ MR DAVIES SAID.
REFERRING TO THOSE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM MAPAii cad INVESTIGATED BY THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT, MR DAVIES SAID ABOUT STAY AND 35 PER CENT HAD BEEN
65 PER CENT HAD BEEN PERMITTED TO REMOVED.
-----0------
MORE SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS FOR SALE * X * X
JHE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL HOLD ANOTHER AUCTION OF cpfciai THE C?TYSHALl'lECTUREEHALLN SATURDAY <febrUARY 28) AT 10 AM IN
A TOTAL OF 35 SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR
BIDDING. THEY AREi
HK 1949 CH 9288 AX 1 CJ 1812 CJ 2173
729 CJ 128 CH 8082 BC 3231 CJ 380
CK 1000 CK 666 CL 3 CL 10 CH 3839
CC 23 CK 5 HK 14 CH 8798 CJ 2022
CC 38 CL 2 CC 606 398 CJ 1168
CH 2683 CH 8801 CJ 328 CH 6686 CJ 162
CJ 399 CH 3233 CK 888 CJ 125 CJ 4428
SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS MUST PAY IN CASH OR BY CHEQUE IMMEDIATELY
AFTER THE BIDDING.
A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN REMINDED BIDDERS THAT THE VEHICLE REGISTRATION NUMBER WOULD BE ASSIGNED ONLY TO A VEHICLE REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDER WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF THE AUCTION.
PROCEEDS OF THE AUCTION, THE 61ST ORGANISED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SINCE MAY 1973, WILL GO TO THE GOVERNMENT LOTTERIES
FUND.
-----o-----
/33 -......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1981
33
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE IN SHA TIN AND BUS DIVERSION ON HONG KONG ISLAND * * * *
TO FACILITATE UTILITY WORKS IN SHA TIN THE KOWLOON-BOUND DOWN RAMP OF ROAD P5 LEADING ONTO ROAD T2 IN SHA TIN WILL BE TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC FROM MID-NIGHT TOMORROW (THURSDAY) TO 5 AM ON MARCH 7.
DURING THE CLOSURE, PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES AND KOWLOON-BOUND KMB ROUTES 48, 70, 70A, 70M, 71, 72, 72A, 86, 87, 88, 88A, 88B, 89 AND 170 WILL BE DIVERTED VIA ROADS P2 AND P6 BEFORE REJOINING ROAD T2.
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE SET UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
MEANWHILE ON HONG KONG ISLAND, FOUR KOWLOON-BOUND CROSS HARBOUR BUS ROUTES NOS. 112, 116, 122 AND 882 WILL BE DIVERTED TO THE NEWLY CONSTRUCTED UNNAMED ROAD BENEATH THE CANAL ROAD FLYOVER AND THE BUS LANE ON CANAL ROAD EAST WITH EFFECT FROM FRIDAY INSTEAD OF TRAVELLING VIA TIN LOK LANE, MORRISON HILL ROAD AND LEIGHTON ROAD.
AN ADDITIONAL BUS STOP WILL BE DESIGNATED AT THE UNNAMED ROAD UNDER THE CANAL ROAD FLYOVER OPPOSITE TO THE JUNCTION OF RUSSELL STREET.
- - 0 - -
PRESENTATION OF COLONIAL PRISON SERVICE MEDAL ******
THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT WILL HOLD A CEREMONIAL PARADE THIS FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 27) AT THE PARADE GROUND OF ITS STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE IN STANLEY.
DURING THE PARADE, THE COMMISSIONER OF PRISONS, MR THOMAS GARNER, WILL PRESENT CLASPS TO THE COLONIAL PRISON SERVICE MEDAL TO MEMBERS OF THE STAFF FOR THEIR EXEMPLARY SERVICE.
ON PARADE WILL BE 200 PRISON OFFICERS FROM VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT COMMANDED BY THE PRINCIPAL OF THE STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE, MR JOHN ASHWORTH.
A GROUP OF 50 DISABLED PERSONS HAS BEEN INVITED AS SPECIAL GUESTS OF THE PARADE WHICH IS ONE OF THE MAJOR EVENTS OF THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT.
/NOTE to
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1?81
34
NOTE TO EDITORSt
YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER the CEREMONIAL PARADE AND PRESENTATION OF CLASPS TO THE COLONIAL w thomasRgarner“Jt ^15HpmC2^rid?yE(februaryO27J ‘n TR‘in"*g institute
PRESS TRANSPORT WILL LEAVE THE PRISONS HEADQUARTFP^ at GUARDIAN HOUSE, 32 Ol KWAN ROAD, WAN CHAI AT 3.30 JSsSaRp!
-----0-------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES
BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1981
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
ROYAL MESSAGES TO LIFE SAVERS .................................. 1
SIR JAMES IMPRESSED WITH POLICE PROGRESS...................... 3
NEW TRUNK ROAD FOR SHA TIN ..................................... 3
MORE VOLUNTEERS OFFER HELP TO YOUNG OFFENDERS .................. 4
NEW CARGO HANDLING AREA IN WESTERN ............................. 5
LADY CATER VISITS COMMUNITY CHEST MEMBER AGENCIES IN NT .. 5
TUEN MUN PROJECT MANAGER RETIRES ............................... 6
WIDOW OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIM GETS MAXIMUM GRANTS ........... 7
ANNUAL INSPECTION AND RELICENSING OF REGISTERED TRAILERS . 7
FIGHT CRIME COMPETITIONS FOR TSUEN WAN ......................... 8
SPECIAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS FOR 'WALK FOR A MILLION' .... 8
SWIMMING SEASON STARTS SUNDAY .................................. 9
COACH SERVICE ROUTE 291 TO BE CANCELLED ........................ 9
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1981
1
ROYAL MESSAGES TO LIFE SAVERS M * *
HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN HAS SENT A MESSAGE OF WARM CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD WISHES TO THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF THE ROYAL LIFE SAVING SOCIETY WHICH CELEBRATED ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY TODAY (THURSDAY).
AND IN ANOTHER MESSAGE, HRH PRINCE MICHAEL OF KENT SAID THE HONG KONG BRANCH’S RECORD IN TRAINING LIFE SAVERS +IS GREATLY ADMIRED BY ALL THOSE WHO ARE CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY OF BEACHES AROUND THE WORLD.+
THE MESSAGES OF CONGRATULATIONS WERE READ AT THE SOCIETY’S SILVER JUBILEE DINNER BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE.
SIR MURRAY IN HIS OWN STATEMENT, SAID# +NOTHING IS MORE ELOQUENT OF YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY THAN THE 13 OOO LIVES YOU HAVE SAVED OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS. THE DEBT OWED TO YOU IS ENORMOUS.+
THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF SIR MURRAY’S SPEECH AT THE SILVER JUBILEE DINNER OF THE ROYAL LIFE SAVING SOCIETY HONG KONG BRANCH:
+1 AM COMMANDED BY HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN TO READ HER REPLY TO YOUR MESSAGE.
PLEASE CONVEY MY SINCERE THANKS TO THE PRESIDENT OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF THE ROYAL LIFE SAVING SOCIETY FOR THEIR KIND MESSAGE OF LOYAL GREETING SENT ON THE OCCASION OF THEIR SILVER JUBILEE. I WAS VERY PLEASED TO RECEIVE THIS MESSAGE AND SEND MY WARM CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD WISHES TO ALL CONCERNED ON THIS VERY SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY. I AM GREATLY LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING SOME OF YOUR MEMBERS WHEN THEY COME TO LONDON FOR THE SOCIETY’S COMMONWEALTH CONFERENCE IN JUNE. ELIZABETH R
+1 HAVE ALSO BEEN ASKED BY HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE MICHAEL OF KENT TO READ TO YOU HIS REPLY TO YOUR MESSAGE:
AS COMMONWEALTH PRESIDENT I WAS THRILLED AND DELIGHTED TO RECEIVE THE KIND MESSAGE FROM THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF THE ROYAL LIFE SAVING SOCIETY ON THE OCCASION OF THEIR SILVER JUBILEE.
FROM THE VERY START THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF THE SOCIETY HAS PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT PART IN OUR COMMONWEALTH WIDE ORGANISATION AND ITS RECORD IN TRAINING LIFESAVERS IS GREATLY ADMIRED BY ALL THOSE WHO ARE CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY OF BEACHES AROUND THE WORLD.
I SEND YOU ALL MY VERY WARMEST CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS OVER THE PAST QUARTER OF A CENTURY. YOU HAVE CERTAINLY JUSTIFIED THE GREAT FAITH LORD MOUNTBATTEN HAD IN YOU WHEN HE INITIATED THE FORMING OF THE HONG KONG BRANCH IN 1956.
I MUCH LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING REPRESENTATIVES OF YOUR BRANCH DURING OUR COMMONWEALTH CONFERENCE IN JUNE.
FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY OF SENDING YOU MY PERSONAL BEST WISHES. I HAVE THE HAPPIEST MEMORIES OF OUR MEETING IN 1974.
/+TC BOTH.....
THUBSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1981
2
+T0 BOTH OF THESE I WOULD LIKE TO ADD MY OWN CONGRATULATIONS ON THE SUCCESS OF THE HONG KONG BRANCH DURING THE 25 YEARS OF VERY ACTIVE LIFE AND MY SINCERE ADMIRATION FOR THOSE WHO HAVE WATCHED OVER AND LED IT DURING THESE YEARS.
+THE BRANCH STARTED AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME, SO THAT IT
WAS WELL ESTABLISHED AND ORGANISED FOR THE GREAT SURGE IN LEISURE AND SPORT IN THE LAST 10 YEARS. HOLIDAYS SEE PEOPLE OF ALL AGES STREAMING OUT OF THE CITY TO OUR MAGNIFICENT BEACHES AND HILLS. OUR SPORTS CENTRES, SWIMMING POOLS, COURTS AND PITCHES SEEM NEVER TO BE IDLE. THIS IS EXCELLENT. IT IS EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE PLANNED FOR.
+BUT NONE KNOW BETTER THAN LIFE-SAVERS LIKE YOU, THAT WITHOUT GUIDANCE OR PROPER CONSIDERATION FOR OTHERS, RECREATION CAN CAUSE DAMAGE OR DANGER.
+IN THE HILLS HOLIDAY-MAKERS CAN CAUSE FIRE AND EROSION OR SPOIL WITH LITTER, AND FOR THE UNWARY OR ILL-EQUIPPED DANGER CAN LURK EVEN ON A PATH ON A HILLSIDE. IT DOES NOT TAKE MUCH LITTER OR BROKEN GLASS TO SPOIL THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BEACH.
+THESE THINGS CAN BE PREVENTED BY EDUCATION AND TRAINING, SELF-RESTRAINT, AND A MEASURE OF GUIDANCE AND CONTROL. HERE THE COUNTRYPARKS MANAGEMENT SERVICE AND URBAN AND NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES AND THE SPORTS AND RECREATION SERVICES ALL PLAY VALUABLE ROLES AS DOES OUTWARD BOUND.
+BUT OF ALL SPORTS IN HONG KONG SWIMMING IS THE MOST POPULAR AND MOST ACCESSIBLE, AND HERE TOO LIES ALMOST THE GREATEST DANGER FOR THE INEXPERIENCED OR THOUGHTLESS. AND THIS IS WHERE YOU DO SUCH MAGNIFICENT WORK. YOUR REGULAR SWIMMING AND LIFE-SAVING COURSES PREVENT MANY TRAGEDIES. YOU HAVE TRAINED SOME 5 000 LIFE-SAVING INSTRUCTORS OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS. YOU HAVE DEMONSTRATED YOUR CONTINUING ENTERPRISE BY LAUNCHING A SPECIAL TRAINING COURSE IN CANOE LIFE-SAVING AND SUB-AQUA RESCUE. BUT NOTHING IS MORE ELOQUENT OF YOUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY THAN THE 13 000 LIVES YOU HAVE SAVED OVER THE LAST TWNETY-FIVE YEARS. THE DEBT OWED TO YOU IS ENORMOUS.
♦WHAT I ASK YOU TO DO IS TO REDEDICATE YOURSELVES TO THIS WORK. RISING AFFLUENCE AND INCREASING LEISURE MAKES YOUR WORK MORE NOT LESS IMPORTANT AND THE CALLS ON YOUR SERVICE WILL GROW NOT DIMINISH. AS HONG KONG EMERGES FROM SLUMS AND POVERTY INTO EXPANDING ALLUENCES AND BETTER ORDERED PROSPERITY, IT IS WELL THAT WE SHOULD NOT LOSE THE VIRTUES SO WELL DEMONSTRATED IN OUR STRINGENT PAST. HIGH AMONGST THESE HAS BEEN THE CONTRIBUTION WHICH VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS MADE BY THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF THE ROYAL LIFE SAVING SOCIETY AND THE HONG KONG LIFE GUARD CLUB SHOULD CONTINUE AND GROW IN THE YEARS AHEAD.
+1 THANK YOU FOR YOUR HOSPITALITY AND CONGRATULATE YOU ON YOUR SILVER JUBILEE AND WISH YOU CONTINUING SUCCESS.*
-----0------
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1981
3
SIR JAMES IMPRESSED WITH POLICE PROGRESS
******
SIR JAMES CRANE, HER MAJESTY’S CHIEF INSPECTOR OF CONSTABULARY, IS CONFIDENT THAT THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE IS BASED ON SOUND PRINCIPLES AND SENSIBLE PLANNING.
SHORTLY BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE FROM HONG KONG LAST (WEDNESDAY) NIGHT AFTER A 19-DAY VISIT, SIR JAMES SAID HE AND HIS TWO STAFF OFFICERS, CHIEF SUPERINTENDENTS ALFRED WALLEN AND SIDNEY PLEECE, HAD BEEN MOST IMPRESSED WITH THE PROGRESS MADE IN RECENT YEARS.
*WE WERE INVITED TO RETURN THIS YEAR BY THE GOVERNMENT TO DISCUSS WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE MATTERS RELATING TO THE MANAGEMENT, OPERATION AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE,* HE SAID.
*WE HAVE ALSO TAKEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASSESS AND FOLLOW-UP THE RESULTS OF RECOMMENDATIONS MADE ON PREVIOUS VISITS,* HE ADDED.
SIR JAMES’ VISIT WAS PRECEDED BY THAT OF HIS TWO STAFF OFFICERS WHO ARRIVED IN HONG KONG ON JANUARY 24 TO CARRY OUT PRELIMINARY STUDIES.
+SINCE MY ARRIVAL ON FEBRUARY 7, WE HAVE MET AND HELD A SERIES OF DISCUSSIONS WITH THE GOVERNOR AND SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, MEMBERS OF HIS STAFF AND WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE POLICE STAFF ASSOCIATIONS,* HE SAID.
+WE HAVE ALSO MET THE COMMISSIONER OF ICAC, THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE STANDING COMMISSION ON CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON DIRECTORATE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE.
+TALKS HAVE COVERED A WIDE RANGE OF SUBJECTS WHICH WILL BE OF IMPORTANCE TO THE CONTINUING DEVELOPMENT OF THE MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY OF THE FORCE,* HE SAID.
+THESE HAVE INCLUDED EXAMINATION OF A CONCEPT OF FORCE REORGANISATION DESIGNED TO MEET THE POLICING REQUIREMENTS OF THE FUTURE,* HE ADDED. __
- - - - 0 ----
NEW TRUNK ROAD FOR SHA TIN
* * * *
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TODAY (THURSDAY) AWARDED A $81 MILLION CONTRACT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW TRUNK ROAD BETWEEN LION ROCK TUNNEL ROAD AND YUEN CHAU KOK IN SHA TIN NEW TOWN.
THE CONTRACT WAS SIGNED BY MR KENNETH KWOK, PROJECT MANAGER OF SHA TIN NEw TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, AND REPRESENTATIVES OF KIN SHING CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.
MR KWOK SAID THE NEW TRUNK ROAD, IN ADDITION TO BEING PART OF THE NEW TERRITORIES CIRCULAR ROUTE, WOULD HELP EASE THE HEAVY TRAFFIC GENERATED BY THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TOWN.
/*IT WILL.....
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1981
4
♦IT WILL EVENTUALLY CONNECT WITH AND FORM PART OF THE COASTAL TRUNK ROAD BETWEEN SHA TIN NEW TOWN AND TAI PO NEW TOWN,* HE SAID.
WORK ON THE CONTRACT INCLUDES THE CONSTRUCTION OF 1.4 KILOMETRES OF DUAL TWO-LANE CARRIAGEWAYS WITH ASSOCIATED FLYOVERS, A FOOTBRIDGE AND STORMWATER DRAINAGE.
MR KWOK SAID THE WORK WOULD BE CARRIED OUT IN PHASES TO ALLOW EARLY COMPLETION OF ONE OF THE CARRIAGEWAYS TO EASE TRAFFIC IN THE AREA.
♦TOGETHER WITH THE LION ROCK TUNNEL AND LION ROCK TUNNEL ROAD, THE NEW TRUNK ROAD WILL BECOME A PRINCIPAL ROAD LINK BETWEEN KOWLOON AND THE EASTERN PART OF THE NEW TERRITORIES,* HE ADDED.
WORK ON THE CONTRACT WILL START EARLY NEXT MONTH AND WILL TAKE ABOUT 35 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
THE PROJECT HAS BEEN DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTION WILL BE SUPERVISED BY MAUNSELL CONSULTANTS ASIA, CONSULTING ENGINEERS TO THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
- - 0 - -
MORE VOLUNTEERS OFFER HELP TO YOUNG OFFENDERS
*****
THE VOLUNTEER SCHEME FOR PROBATIONERS RUN BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IS GAINING GREATER RESPONSE AS MORE PUBLIC-SPIRITED CITIZENS HAVE JOINED TO BEFRIEND AND HELP REFORM YOUNG OFFENDERS.
EIGHTY-NINE VOLUNTEERS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE WHO DEVOTED THEIR FREE TIME TO WORK IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT’S PROBATION OFFICERS, HAVE JUST FINISHED THEIR SERVICE.
TWENTY MORE ARE NOW DOING THEIR JOB WHICH NORMALLY LASTS FOR SIX MONTHS, AND ARRANGEMENTS ARE BEING MADE FOR ANOTHER 38 VOLUNTEERS TO HELP PROBATIONERS.
VOLUNTEERS INCLUDE STUDENTS, TEACHERS, CLERKS, SECRETARIES, WORK SUPERVISORS, BUSINESSMEN AND GOVERNMENT OFFICERS.
OF THOSE WHO HAVE FINISHED THEIR HALF-YEAR ASSIGNMENT, THE LATEST GROUP OF 28 WILL BE OFFICIALLY REWARDED FOR THEIR VOLUNTARY SERVICE AT A CEREMONY TO BE HELD SHORTLY.
THEY WILL EACH RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION FROM THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE (OPERATIONS), MRS EVELYN DOE.
UNDER THE SCHEME, INTRODUCED IN 1976 AS A COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROJECT, VOLUNTEERS SPEND THEIR FREE TIME WITH BOYS AND GIRLS PUT ON PROBATION UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF PROBATION OFF ICERS.
/they provide
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2g, 1981
5
THEY PROVIDE ASSISTANCE AND FRIENDSHIP WITHIN THEIR AREAS OF PERSONAL INTERESTS AND ABILITY* PROFESSIONALS MAY PROVIDE KNOWLEDGE IN THEIR OWN FIELD OF SPECIALTY WHILE HOUSEWIVES CAN TEACH IN MANAGING HOUSEHOLD CHORES- OTHERS MAY BECOME TUI TORS IN SCHOOLWORK OR HELP PROBATIONERS DEVELOP WHOLESOME INTEREST AND HOBBIES.
ALL VOLUNTEERS ARE AGED 21 OR ABOVE, WITH SECONDARY EDUCATION QUALIFICATION, A MATURE AND SOCIABLE PERSONALITY AND A FLAIR TO HELP OTHERS.
-----0------
NEW CARGO HANDLING AREA IN WESTERN
* * * *
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TODAY AWARDED A S3.5 MILLION CONTRACT TO WONG KEE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY FOR THE SURFACING OF A PERMANENT CARGO HANDLING AREA AT THE WESTERN RECLAMATION.
THE CONTRACT WAS SIGNED BY MR PANG HAU-CHUNG, CHIEF ENGINEER OF HIGHWAYS (HONG KONG) DIVISION OF THE PWD, AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMPANY.
THE PERMANENT CARGO HANDLING AREA WILL BE PROVIDED ON A NEWLY CONSTRUCTED BREAKWATER AND A SEAWALL ADJOINING THE BREAKWATER AT THE WESTERN RECLAMATION, WITH 800 METRES OF SEA FRONTAGE.
CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN NEXT MONTH AND WILL TAKE ABOUT 12 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
UPON COMPLETION, THE EXISTING CARGO HANDLING ACTIVITIES ALONG CONNAUGHT ROAD WEST WILL THEN BE TRANSFERRED TO THE NEW AREA TO ENABLE RECLAMATION IN THE AREA TO COMMENCE.
------o-------
LADY CATER VISITS COMMUNITY CHEST MEMBER AGENCIES IN NT
******
LADY CATER SPENT AN AFTERNOON TODAY VISITING TWO MEMBER AGENCIES OF THE COMMUNITY CHEST OF HONG KONG AT TUEN MUN IN HER CAPACITY AS PRESIDENT OF THE CHEST.
LADY CATER FIRST VISITED THE ST. SIMON HOME FOR FISHERMEN’S AND WORKMEN’S CHILDREN WHICH INCLUDED JHE TAI HING DAY NURSERY AT TAI HING ESTATE, THE CHILD WELFARE CENTRE AND HOSTEL IN TSI NG WUN ROAD.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE DEPUTY EXECUTIVE CHEST, MR G.A. HENDERSON, LADY CATER WAS P.S. TSANG GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE HOME,
DIRECTOR OF THE COMMON MET BY THE REV RICHARD AND OTHER OFFICIALS.
TY
THIS YEAR MARKS THE 27TH YEAR OF CONTINUOUS SERVICE TO BOTH THE LAND AND SEA POPULATION OF THE TUEN MUN AREA SINCE 1954 WHEN ST. SIMON STARTED AS A HOSTEL.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1981
6
WITH THE HELP OF THE GOVERNMENT AND CONTRIBUTIONS FROM VARIOUS AGENCIES AND CHURCH BODIES, ST SIMON GRADUALLY BROADENED ITS SCOPE INTO EDUCATION, SOCIAL WORK AND MEDICAL SERVICES.
LATER, LADY CATER VISITED THE YUEN LONG HOME FOR THE AGED BLIND AT ON NING ROAD WHERE SHE WAS GREETED ON ARRIVAL BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE BLIND, MR K. STUMPF, AND THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE HOME, MRS L.K. KOO.
THE HOME PROVIDES 24-HOUR RESIDENTIAL CARE TO BLIND PERSONS OVER 60 YEARS OF AGE AND ORGANISES REGULAR GROUP ACTIVITIES FOR THEM.
THE HOME NOW HOUSES A TOTAL OF 74 RESIDENTS,30 MEN AND 44 WOMEN.
-----o-----
TUEN MUN PROJECT MANAGER RETIRES
*****
MR STAN BARDEN, PROJECT MANAGER OF TUEN MUN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, WILL PROCEED ON PRE-RETIREMENT LEAVE EARLY NEXT MONTH AFTER 21 YEAR’S SERVICE WITH THE DEPARTMENT.
TO MARK HIS RETIREMENT, MR DAVID MCDONALD, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, TODAY PRESENTED MR BARDEN WITH A SOUVENIR ON BEHALF OF HIS FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES.
MR BARDEN SERVED IN MALAYA BEFORE HE CAME TO HONG KONG IN DECEMBER, 1959. HE WAS POSTED TO THE THEN ROADS OFFICE AND TRANSFERRED LATER TO THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING DIVISION AND BECAME SENIOR ENGINEER IN CHARGE OF THE TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT SURVEY UNIT.
IN 1969, HAVING ACTED AS CHIEF ENGINEER, TRAFFIC ENGINEERING, HE WAS- ATTACHED FOR FOUR AND A HALF MONTHS TO THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CONSULTANTS, WILBUR SMITH AND ASSOCIATES, IN SAN FRANCISCO, AND BECAME GOVERNMENT MASS TRANSIT ENGINEER IN 1973.
IN BOTH 1974 AND 1975 HE ACTED AS DIRECTOR OF MASS TRANSIT STUDIES.
MR BARDEN RETURNED TO HIGHWAYS OFFICE IN 1976 AS GOVERNMENT HIGHWAY ENGINEER AND IN 1978 WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AS PROJECT MANAGER (TUEN MUN) WHERE HIS KNOWLEDGE OF TRAMWAYS AND MASS TRANSIT PROVED INVALUABLE IN THE PLANNING OF THE TUEN MUN LIGHT RAIL TRANSPORT SYSTEM.
7
WIDOW OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIM GETS MAXIMUM GRANTS
* X X *
THE WIDOW OF A MAN KILLED IN A BUS ACCIDENT IN SHANGHAI STREET, KOWLOON, ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 22) HAS BEEN GIVEN MAXIMUM GRANTS UNDER THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE SCHEME.
MRS POON CHO-KAI YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY) WENT TO THE DEPARTMENT TO COLLECT THE PAYMENTS TOTALLING $18 850.
THE PAYMENTS COMPRISED A MAXIMUM DEATH GRANT OF $13 800, A MAXIMUM BURIAL GRANT OF $1 600, AND A MAXIMUM GRANT OF $3 450 TO HELP COVER BASIC LIVING EXPENSES.
MRS POON APPLIED ON MONDAY FOR QUICK CASH RELIEF UNDER THE SCHEME, AND GRANTS WERE AUTHORISED FOR PAYMENT YESTERDAY MORNING.
TWO WOMEN WHO WERE INJURED IN THE SAME ACCIDENT HAD ALSO APPLIED UNDER THE NON-MEANS TESTED +N0 FAULT* SCHEME. THEIR APPLICATIONS ARE BEING PROCESSED PENDING THEIR DISCHARGE FROM HOSPITAL.
THE SCHEME PROVIDES QUICK CASH RELIEF FOR PEOPLE INJURED, CR DEPENDANTS OF THOSE KILLED, IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT, REGARDLESS OF WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR CAUSING THE ACCIDENT.
ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SCHEME AND APPLICATIONS CAN BE MADE AT THE DEPARTMENT’S TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE SECTION ON 14TH FLOOR, WORLD TRADE CENTRE, 280 GLOUCESTER ROAD, HONG KONG (TEL: 5-779421 AND 5-79O365O).
-----o------
ANNUAL INSPECTION AND RELICENSING OF REGISTERED TRAILERS
X X X X X
OWNERS OF REGISTERED TRAILERS MANUFACTURED ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 31, 1971 AND WHOSE LICENCES EXPIRE ON OR AFTER FEBRUARY 28, 1981 ARE REMINDED THAT THEY MUST PRESENT THESE VEHICLES FOR ANNUAL EXAMINATION AT THE KOWLOON BAY VEHICLE EXAMINATION CENTRE IN HOI BUN ROAD, NGAU TAU KOK, BEFORE RELICENSING THEM AT THE HONG KONG OR KOWLOON LICENSING OFFICES.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED THAT THIS PROCEDURE WAS REQUIRED UNDER ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE.
THE PURPOSE OF THE ANNUAL EXAMINATION WAS TO ENSURE
THESE TRAILERS WERE IN SOUND MECHANICAL CONDITION AND TO HELP REDUCE THE RISK OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS.
OWNERS SHOULD APPLY FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THEIR VEHICLES AT THE KOWLOON BAY CENTRE BY COMPLETING AN APPLICATION FORM.
ON PASSING THE EXAMINATION A ROAD WORTHINESS CERTIFICATE WILL BE ISSUED WHICH SHOULD BE PRODUCED AT THE HONG KONG LICENSING OFFICE, 2 MURRAY ROAD OR THE KOWLOON LICENSING OFFICE AT PARK-IN COMMERCIAL CENTRE, DUNDAS STREET, WHEN SEEKING LICENCE RENEWAL.
ANY QUERIES CONCERNING ANNUAL INSPECTION OR RELICENSING OF REGISTERED TRAILERS MAY BE MADE TO THE KOWLOON BAY VEHICLE EXAMINATION CENTRE ON TEL. 3-7597505.
------o ------ /8 ........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1901
8
FIGHT CRIME COMPETITIONS FOR TSUEN WAN * * * *
A SERIES OF COMPETITIONS IS TO BE HELD IN TSUEN WAN AS PART OF THE FIGHT CRIME CAMPAIGN.
AMONG THESE IS A DRAMA COMPETITION TO BE HELD AT THE TOWN HALL ON MARCH 2 AND 3.
ELEVEN TEAMS HAVE ENTERED THE COMPETITION, WHICH IS DIVIDED INTO SECTIONS FOR COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
ALSO ALL LOCAL SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE BEING INVITED TO JOIN AN ESSAY COMPETITION DIVIDED INTO JUNIOR AND SENIOR SECTIONS.
AND FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS THERE WILL BE A CALLIGRAPHY COMPETITION.
ENTRIES IN THE ESSAY AND CALLIGRAPHY COMPETITIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE TSUEN WAN CULTURE AND RECREATION CO-ORDINATING ASSOCIATION OFFICE BY MARCH 14.
THE COMPETITIONS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED TO EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF FIGHTING CRIME.
THE WINNING DRAMA TEAM WILL PERFORM AT A PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY ON MARCH 21. OFFICIATING WILL BE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR LUI HAU-TUEN.
0
SPECIAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS FOR +WALK FOR A MILLION+ ******
CERTAIN TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE INTRODUCED IN KOWLOON ON SUNDAY (MARCH 1) BETWEEN 7.30 AM AND 3 PM TO FACILITATE THE +WALK FOR A MILLION*.
THESE ARRANGEMENTS ARE :
THE EAST-BOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF JUNK BAY ROAD BETWEEN LEI YUE MUN ROAD AND KAI TIN ROAD W ILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC BETWEEN 7.30 AM AND 11.30 AM-
THE SECTION OF KAI TIN ROAD BETWEEN PING TIN STREET AND LEI YUE MUN ROAD WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES, MAXICABS AND EMERGENCY VEHICLES BETWEEN 7.30 AM AND 11.30 AM. VEHICLES TO LAM TIN ESTATE SHOULD USE SAU MAU PING ROAD AND KAI TIN ROAD (SECTION NORTH OF PING TIN STREET). KMB ROUTES 15C, 15M AND 16 ON JOURNEYS TO LAM TIN ESTATE WILL BE DIVERTED VIA LEI YUE MUN ROAD AND KAI TIN ROAD-
BETWEEN 9 AM AND 3 PM, PO LAM ROAD, THE UN-NAMED ROAD LINKING SAU MAU PING ROAD TO ANDERSON ROAD AND THE SECTION OF ANDERSON ROAD FROM THE UN-NAMED ROAD TO PO LAM ROAD WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC EXCEPT EMERGENCY VEHICLES. KMB ROUTE NO. 93 WILL BE SUSPENDED DURING THESE HOURS- AND
/ALL MOTOR.....
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1981
9
ALL MOTOR VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES AND EMERGENCY VEHICLES WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM TURNING RIGHT FROM LEI YUE MUN ROAD ONTO TSUI PING ROAD BETWEEN 7.30 AM AND 11.30 AM.
ALL PARKING SPACES IN KAI LIM ROAD WILL BE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED BETWEEN 7 AM AND 3 PM.
- - - 0 -
■:vp
SWIMMING SEASON STARTS SUNDAY * * * *
LIFEGUARD AND FIRST-AID SERVICES AT ALL 28 GAZETTED BEACHES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL RESUME ON SUNDAY (MARCH 1).
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID LIFEGUARDS WILL BE ON DUTY TO SERVE BEACHGOERS BATHING AT THE BEACHES MANAGED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
MEANWHILE,, THE KWAI CHUNG SWIMMING POOL COMPLEX WILL ALSO BE OPEN TO SWIMMERS ON SUNDAY FROM 7 AM TO 9.15 AM- 9.45 AM TO NOON-1 PM TO 4 PM, AND 4.30 PM TO 6.45 PM.
THE EVENING SESSION BETWEEN 7.45 PM TO 10 PM WILL RESUME ON APRIL 1.
THE FANLING SWIMMING POOL COMPLEX, INCLUDING ITS HEATED POOL FACILITIES, WILL ALSO BE OPENED IN APRIL.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE SHA TIN JOCKEY CLUB PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL WILL BE OFFICIALLY OPENED ON APRIL 16.
-----0------
COACH SERVICE ROUTE 291 TO BE CANCELLED * * * *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THE KMB COACH SERVICE NO. 291 FROM SILVER STRAND BAY TO THE CHOI HUNG MTR STATION WILL BE WITHDRAWN ON SUNDAY, MARCH 1.
RESIDENTS IN THE CLEAR WATER BAY AREA ARE ADVISED TO MAKE
USE OF THE BUS SERVICES ON ROUTES NO. 91 (FROM TAI AU MUN TO
•' CHOI HUNG) AND NO. 91M (FROM HANG HAU TO THE DIAMOND HILL MTR STATION
VIA CHOI HUNG MTR STATION).
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED THAT THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE COACH SERVICE NO. 291 WAS DUE TO LOW PATRONAGE WHICH AVERAGED ABOUT 500 A DAY FOR BOTH JOURNEYS.
♦THIS IS ONLY ABOUT 26 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL CARRYING CAPACITY OF THE COACHES,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT AND KMB HAD TRIED TO BOOST UP THE PATRONAGE THROUGH PUBLICITY BUT NO SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT WAS ACHIEVED, HE ADDED.
------0-------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1981
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
LAND CENSUS IN MARCH ............................................ 1
NEW RULES ON ACCEPTJiCE OF ADVANTAGES ........................... 2
ST.JAP DUTY BILL 1981 PUBLISHED ................................. 3
CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES FOR JANUARY............................... 4
CONTRACTS SIGNED FOB SH.. TIN PROJECTS .......................... 6
TREMENDOUS GROWTH IN FISH CULTURE INDUSTRY ...................... 7
PRISONER RE-ADMISSION RATE LOW .................................. 8
EVIDENCE OF DIVERSIFICATION IN TEXTILES ......................... 9
NT CLEAN-UP COMMITTEE LOOKS AT PROBLEMS ON THE GROUND ........... 9
RETURN OF PARKING METERS ....................................... 10
FOUR BUILDINGS DECLARED DANGEROUS .............................. 11
NEW LEGAL AID DIRECTOR......................................... 11
FINAL CAREERS CONVENTION ....................................... 12
SHA TIN DAB MEMBERS VISIT TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL .................. 12
VOLUNTEER WORK APPRECIATED...................................... 13
SOCIAL WELFARE DIRECTOR TO OPEN PARTY FOR THE AGED ............. 14
SIX LAND LOTS FOR AUCTION ...................................... 14
RESIDBNTIAL SITE OFFERED IN KOWLOON ............................ 15
LIST OF TOWN PLANS PUBLISHED ................................... 15
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1901
LAND CENSUS IN MARCH
*****
HONG KONG’S DECENNIAL CENSUS FOR THE LAND POPULATION WILL BE CARRIED OUT FROM MARCH 6 TO 15.
THE PURPOSE OF THE CENSUS IS TO OBTAIN UP-TO-DATE BENCHMARK INFORMATION ON THE POPULATION OF HONG KONG — ITS SIZE AND DISTRIBUTION, AND A BROAD RANGE OF DEMOGRAPHIC, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS.
THIS INFORMATION IS VITAL TO ALL GOVERNMENT PLANNING, PARTICULARLY IN SUCH FIELDS AS HOUSING, EDUCATION, TRANSPORT, MEDICAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES.
CENSUS DATA ARE USED, FOR EXAMPLE, IN PROJECTING FUTURE HOUSING DEMAND, IN EVALUATING THE PROVISION OF MEDICAL SERVICES, IN DETERMINING WHERE NEW SCHOOLS ARE TO BE BUILT, AND IN BUDGETING FOR THE OLD AGE ALLOWANCE SCHEME.
THE CENSUS ALSO PROVIDES DATA NEEDED BY BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS AND RESEARCH BODIES FOR PLANNING THEIR ACTIVITIES.
AS IN PREVIOUS DECENNIAL CENSUSES, THE 1981 CENSUS WILL COVER THE ENTIRE POPULATION. WITHIN THE 1O-DAY PERIOD, ENUMERATORS FROM THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT WILL VISIT AND INTERVIEW ALL HOUSEHOLDS IN HONG KONG.
A ’TWO-PHASE’ DESIGN IS EMPLOYED FOR THE 1981 CENSUSt ALL HOUSEHOLDS WILL BE ASKED SIMPLE QUESTIONS ON AGE, SEX AND RELATIONSHIP TO HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD FOR EVERY MEMBER- MORE DETAILED QUESTIONS ON HOUSING AND RENT, AND QUESTIONS SUCH AS MARITAL STATUS, FERTILITY, ADDRESS FIVE YEARS AGO, EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, PLACE OF BIRTH AND ORIGIN, EMPLOYMENT CHARACTERISTICS, INCOME AND DISABLEMENT WILL ONLY BE ASKED OF 20 PER CENT OF HOUSEHOLDS AND THEIR MEMBERS.
HOUSEHOLDS FOR THE 20 PER CENT DETAILED ENUMERATION ARE SELECTED BY A RANDOM METHOD. A LETTER FROM THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT WILL BE SENT TO THE SELECTED HOUSEHOLDS WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS TO INFORM THEM AND TO SOLICIT THEIR CO-OPERATION.
UNDER THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS ORDINANCE, ALL PERSONAL INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM THE CENSUS MUST BE TREATED AS STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL. NEITHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS NOR PRIVATE ORGANISATIONS CAN HAVE ACCESS TO INDIVIDUAL DATA.
IN ADDITION, ALL CENSUS ENUMERATORS ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE AN OATH NOT TO DISCLOSE ANY INDIVIDUAL INFORMATION COLLECTED IN THE CENSUS TO OTHER PERSONS NOT ENGAGED IN CENSUS WORK. ALL QUESTIONNAIRES CONTAINING PERSONAL PARTICULARS WILL BE DESTROYED BEFORE MARCH 1982.
A CENSUS AND STATISTICS ORDER FOR THE OPERATION WAS APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL ON JANUARY 27 TO PROVIDE THE CENSUS WITH LEGAL BACKING.
UNDER THE ORDER, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE OBLIGED TO ANSWER THE CENSUS QUESTIONS CORRECTLY AND ACCURATELY TO THE BEST OF THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEF.
/houssholdsrs arjs .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1981
2
HOUSEHOLDERS ARE REMINDED TO CHECK CAREFULLY THE IDENTITY OF ENUMERATORS BEFORE ADMITTING THEM INTO THEIR HOMES. EACH CENSUS ENUMERATOR WILL BE CARRYING A RED SATCHEL WITH THE CENSUS LOGO AND A GREEN CENSUS OFFICER CERTIFICATE OF IDENTITY.
SHOULD THERE BE ANY DOUBT ABOUT THE ENUMERATOR’S IDENTITY, HOUSEHOLDERS CAN CALL THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT AT THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS:
FOR HOUSEHOLDERS RESIDING IN DIAL
HONG KONG ISLAND 5-435665
KOWLOON 5-435897
NEW KOWLOON 5-435767
TSUEN WAN, YUEN LONG, TUEN MUN 5-410045
FANLING, TAI PO, SHA TIN, SAI KUNG
AND ISLANDS 5-410032
NEW RULES ON ACCEPTANCE OF ADVANTAGES
* * *
THE ACCEPTANCE OF ADVANTAGES REGULATIONS WHICH CAME INTO FORCE IN 1971 HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE BY THE ACCEPTANCE OF ADVANTAGES (GOVERNOR’S PERMISSION) NOTICE 1981.
THE NOTICE, WHICH COMES INTO EFFECT TODAY, INTRODUCES NO CHANGE IN THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY ON THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY BUT CLOSES LOOPHOLES FOR ABUSE, INCREASES THE MONETARY LEVEL OF PERMITTED ADVANTAGES TO A REALISTIC LEVEL, AND REMOVES SITUATIONS ahERE HONEST CROwN SERVANTS MAY UNWITTINGLY COMMIT AN OFFENCE.
IT LISTS THE ADVANTAGES WHICH CROWN SERVANTS HAVE BEEN GIVEN PERMISSION TO SOLICIT OR ACCEPT UNDER SECTION 3 OF THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY ORDINANCE.
UNDER THE NOTICE, CROWN SERVANTS MAY SOLICIT AND ACCEPT ANY ADVANTAGE FROM A RELATION. THE DEFINITION OF RELATION IN THE NOTICE DIFFERS SLIGHTLY FROM THAT IN THE REGULATIONS IT REPLACES-FOR EXAMPLE, IT EXCLUDES GOD-PARENT AND GOD-CHILD AND IT INCLUDES FIANCE AND FIANCEE.
PREVIOUSLY, CROWN SERVANTS WERE RESTRICTED IN THE ADVANTAGES THAT THEY COULD ACCEPT FROM TRADESMEN, COMPANIES AND ASSOCIATIONS. NOw THEY CAN SOLICIT AND ACCEPT THE SAME SORTS OF ADVANTAGES THAT ARE GENERALLY AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE COURSE OF NORMAL BUSINESS, BECAUSE OF THEIR MEMBERSHIP OF AN ASSOCIATION, OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE EMPLOYMENT OF THEIR SPOUSE OR CHILDREN.
/OHS M0N3TAHY .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1981
3
THE MONETARY LEVELS OF ADVANTAGES THAT MAY BE ACCEPTED FROM CLOSE PERSONAL FRIENDS AND OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INCREASED AS FOLLOWSs
PREVIOUSLY NOW
FROM CLOSE PERSONAL FRIENDS •
(A) GIFTS ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS (E.G. CHRISTMAS, BIRTHDAYS, ETC.) $500 $1 000
(B) GIFTS ON OTHER OCCASIONS (E.G. TAXI-RIDES AND SMALL G IFTS) NOT ALLOWED $203
(O LOANS $500 OR 10% OF MONTHLY SALARY $1 000 (TO BE WITHIN DAYS) REPAID 14
FROM OTHER PEOPLE
(A) GIFTS ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS $133 $503
(B) LOANS $530 OR 10% OF MONTHLY SALARY 3500 (TO BE WITHIN DAYS) REPAID 14
THE NOTICE GIVES NO PERMISSION IN RESPECT OF SECTION 4 OF THE PREVENTION OF BRIBERY ORDINANCE, AND CROWN SERVANTS MAY BE GUILTY OF AN OFFENCE IF THEY SOLICIT OR ACCEPT ANY ADVANTAGE, EVEN ONE PERMITTED UNDER THE NOTICE, THAT IS OFFERED ON ACCOUNT OF THEIR OFFICIAL DUTIES OR POSITION.
-----0------
STAMP DUTY BILL 1981 PUBLISHED * * * * *
THE STAMP DUTY BILL 1981 WHICH CONSOLIDATES AND AMENDS THE LAa RELATING TO STAMP DUTY IS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY.
THE BILL IS DESIGNED TO SUBSTITUTE A SINGLE ORDINANCE FOR THE EXISTING TWO, NAMELY THE STAMP ORDINANCE AND THE STAMP DUTIES MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE. IT ALSO INCORPORATES THE SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION MADE UNDER THOSE ORDINANCES.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT FOLLOWING MAJOR REFORMS AND ABOLITIONS IN THE 1978 BUDGET, THE ONLY DOCUMENTS CHARGEABLE WITH STAMP DUTY HAD BEEN THOSE RELATING TO IMMOVABLE PROPERTY OR TO STOCKS AND SHARES.
/+THE BILL'S .......
FRIDAY, FEB ED AHY 27, 1281
4
+THE BILL’S MAIN PURPOSE,+ HE SAID, + IS TO TIDY UP wHAT IS LEFT OF THE STAMP DUTY LEGISLATION AFTER THAT SOMEWHAT CRUDE SURGERY IN 1978.+
THERE ARE NOW TO BE ONLY FOUR HEADS OF CHARGE, WHERE ONCE THERE WERE 53. THESE ARE HONG KONG IMMOVABLE PROPERTY (CONVEYANCES AND LEASES), HONG KONG STOCK (CONTRACT NOTES AND TRANSFERS), HONG KONG BEARER INSTRUMENTS, AND DUPLICATES AND COUNTERPARTS OF CHARGEABLE INSTRUMENTS.
THE BILL ALSO REMOVES A NUMBER OF ANOMALIES AND AMBIGUITIES WHICH HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO AFFECT THE LAW AS IT IS AT PRESENT.
FOR INSTANCE, THE BILL PROVIDES FOR THE DUTY CHARGEABLE IN RESPECT OF TRANSACTIONS IN STOCK TO APPLY TO TRANSACTIONS IN THREE COMMON TYPES OF INVESTMENT WHICH AT THE MOMENT ESCAPE DUTY ALTOGETHER, BECAUSE THEY DO NOT FALL WITHIN THE EXISTING DEFINITION OF WHAT IS CHARGEABLE. THESE ARE UNIT TRUST UNITS, DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS FOR OVERSEAS SHARES, AND WARRANTS TO SUBSCRIBE FOR SHARES.
CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS ARE MADE TO A NUMBER OF LAWS, THE MOST IMPORTANT RELATING TO THE POST OFFICE ORDINANCE.
AMENDMENTS TO THE POST OFFICE LEGISLATION ARE NECESSARY BECAUSE THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS OF THE STAMP DUTIES MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE APPLY TO BOTH REVENUE AND POSTAGE STAMPS, WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY SPLIT BETWEEN THE COLLECTOR OF STAMP REVENUE AND THE POSTMASTER GENERAL.
THE BILL SEVERS THIS HISTORICAL LINK BETWEEN THE TWO DEPARTMENTS BY MAKING SEPARATE ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION FOR REVENUE STAMPS AND POSTAGE STAMPS.
-----o------
CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES FOR JANUARY * * * *
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY PUBLISHED THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES FOR JANUARY 1981. THE CONSUMER PRICE 7nN»I?lr??^U!!ER PRICE IRDEX (B) POR J‘NUARY 1981 WERE i aiw jl (u ncorcu I IVtLi,
THREE
on IUt£°a£A?E2 PREVIOUS MONTH, CPI (A) INCREASED BY THREE
POINTS OR 1.8 PER CENT AND CPI (B) BY TWO POINTS OR 1.2 PER CENT. WHEN COMPARED WITH THE CORRESPONDING MONTH IN 1980, CPI (A) INCREASED
21 POINTS OR 14.0 PER CENT AND CPI (B) BY 20 POINTS OR 13.3 PER CENT.
n4TTHE CPI ,S BASED 0N WEIGHTS DERIVED FROM THE EXPENDITURE PATTERN OF HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN $400 AND $1 499 A MONTH AND THE CP! VB) FROM THOSE SPENDING BETWEEN $1 500 AND $2 999 A MONTH, AS DETERMINED IN THE HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE SURVEY OF 1973/74.
/the indexes .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1?81
5
THE INDEXES FOR JANUARY 1981 IN RESPECT OF THE NINE COMPONENTS OF HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE DISTINGUISHED IN THE TWO CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES, TOGETHER WITH THOSE FOR DECEMBER 1980 AND JANUARY 1980, ARE AS FOLLOWS:
CPI(A)
CPI(B)
COMPONENT
JAN 81 DEC 80 JAN 80 JAN 81 DEC 80 JAN 80
FOODSTUFFS 162 160 142 165 163 145
HOUSING 162 161 148 159 158 148
FUEL AND LIGHT 298 278 239 283 263 226
ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND 190 185 168 184 178 163
TOBACCO
CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR 127 128 117 126 127 115
DURABLE GOODS 139 138 131 134 133 127
MISCELLANEOUS GOODS 173 173 164 171 171 162
TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES 214 213 167 216 216 173
SERVICES 188 183 158 194 189 162
ALL ITEMS 171 168 150 170 168 150
THE INDEX FOR THE FOODSTUFFS COMPONENT IN BOTH CPI (A) AND
CPI (B) INCREASED BY TWO POINTS. THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF EGGS, LIVE POULTRY, PORK AND RICE, AND OF MEALS BOUGHT IN RESTAURANTS. HOWEVER, THE EFFECTS OF THESE INCREASES ON THE INDEX FOR THE FOODSTUFFS COMPONENT WERE PARTLY OFFSET BY THE SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICE OF FRESH VEGETABLES. THE EFFECTS OF THE MOVEMENTS IN THE RETAIL PRICES OF OTHER FOOD ITEMS ON THE INDEX FOR THE FOODSTUFFS COMPONENT WERE INSIGNIFICANT.
THE ONE-POINT INCREASE IN THE INDEX FOR THE HOUSING COMPONENT IN BOTH CPI (A) AND CPI (B) WAS ATTRIBUTABLE TO HIGHER CHARGES FOR MAINTENANCE SUBSCRIPTIONS IN MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS.
THE VERY SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE OF 20 POINTS IN THE INDEX FOR THE FUEL AND LIGHT COMPONENT IN BOTH CPI (A) AND CPI (B) WAS MAINLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO HIGHER PRICES FOR ELECTRICITY, KEROSENE AND LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS.
THE INDEX FOR THE ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO COMPONENT IN CPI (A) INCREASED BY FIVE POINTS AND THAT IN CPI (B) BY SIX POINTS AS A RESULT OF HIGHER PRICES FOR CIGARETTES.
THE INDEX FOR THE CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR COMPONENT IN BOTH CPI (A) AND CPI (B) DECREASED BY ONE POINT BECAUSE OF LOWER PRICES FOR SOME OUTERCLOTHING ITEMS.
FOLLOWING HIGHER PRICES FOR FURNITURE, GLASSWARE, TELEVISION AND SOUND EQUIPMENT, THE INDEX FOR THE DURABLE GOODS COMPONENT IN BOTH CPI (A) AND CPI (B) INCREASED BY ONE POINT.
THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN THE INDEX FOR THE MISCELLANEOUS GOODS COMPONENT IN EITHER CPI (A) OR CPI (B).
AS A RESULT OF HIGHER CHARGES FOR PUBLIC LIGHT BUS FARES AND DRIVING INSTRUCTORS’ FEES, THE INDEX FOR THE TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES COMPONENT IN CPI (A) INCREASED BY ONE POINT. HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF ROUNDING, THE INDEX FOR THIS COMPONENT IN CPI (B) REMAINED UNCHANGED.
/the index............
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1?81
6
THE INDEX FOR THE SERVICES COMPONENT IN BOTH CPI (A) AND CPI (B) INCREASED BY FIVE POINTS DUE TO HIGHER CHARGES FOR CINEMA ENTERTAINMENT AND HAIRDRESSING.
DETAILS OF THESE PRICE MOVEMENTS ARE GIVEN IN THE +CONSUMER PRICE INDEX REPORT+ FOR JANUARY 1981, WHICH IS NOW AVAILABLE ON SALE AT $2 A COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GROUND FLOOR, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING.
0 - -
CONTRACTS SIGNED FOR SHA TIN PROJECTS
*****
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TODAY AWARDED TWO MAJOR ENGINEERING CONTRACTS TOTALLING MORE THAN $100 MILLION TO GAMMON (HK) LIMITED.
THE CONTRACTS WERE SIGNED BY MR K.K. TANG, CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE SHA TIN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COMPANY.
THE FIRST CONTRACT, WORTH MORE THAN $63 MILLION, IS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS AND DRAINS NEAR TURRET HILL AND THE RACE-COURSE WHERE A LIGHT INDUSTRIAL AREA WILL BE DEVELOPED.
WORK ON THE CONTRACT, WHICH FORMS PART OF STAGE II OF THE NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT, ALSO INCLUDES FOOTPATHS AND CYCLE TRACKS AND A BRIDGE ACROSS SIU LEK YUEN NULLAH.
IT WILL TAKE ABOUT 18 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
THE SECOND CONTRACT, VALUED AT ABOUT $38 MILLION, IS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A FIVE-SPAN BRIDGE ACROSS SHING MUN RIVER TOGETHER WITH ASSOCIATED APPROACH ROADS.
THE 200-METRE-L0NG BRIDGE WILL CARRY A DUAL THREE-LANE CARRIAGEWAY WITH A FOOTPATH AND A CYCLE TRACK.
IT WILL FORM THE MAJOR LINK OF THE PROPOSED TOWN CENTRE AND COMMERCIAL AREAS ON THE NORTHERN SIDE OF THE RIVER, AND THE PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES ON THE SOUTHERN SIDE OF THE RIVER.
WORK ON THIS CONTRACT WILL TAKE ABOUT 24 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
THE PROJECTS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTIONS WORK WILL BE SUPERVISED BY MAUNSELL CONSULTANTS ASIA, CONSULTING ENGINEERS TO THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
/7 ..
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1981
7
TREMENDOUS GROWTH IN FISH CULTURE INDUSTRY
* * * *
TREMENDOUS GROWTH WAS RECORDED IN THE FISH CULTURE INDUSTRY IN HONG KONG OVER THE PAST 26 YEARS, THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, MR JOHN RIDDELL-SWAN SAID THIS (FRIDAY) EVENING.
MR RIDDELL-SWAN SAID THE AREA OF FISH PONDS HAD INCREASED FROM 200 HECTARES IN 1955 TO ABOUT 1 820 HECTARES LAST YEAR. DURING THE SAME PERIOD, ANNUAL PRODUCTION OF CULTURED FISH ROSE FROM 500 TONNES TO 7 000 TONNES.
♦LOCAL POND FISH PRODUCTION HAS NOW AN ANNUAL VALUE OF SOME $97 MILLION,+ HE SAID.
MR RIDDELL-SWAN WAS ADDRESSING A GATHERING AT THE 13TH TERM INAUGURATION CEREMONY OF THE HONG KONG NEW TERRITORIES FISH CULTURE ASSOCIATION IN A YUEN LONG RESTAURANT.
♦THIS ACHIEVEMENT IS ATTRIBUTABLE MAINLY TO THE HARD WORK AND EXPERTISE OF THE FISH FARMERS THEMSELVES, BUT HAND IN HAND WITH THE INDUSTRY. THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT HAS ALSO CONTRIBUTED BY PROMOTING IMPROVED CULTURE TECHNOLOGY, BY PROVIDING EFFICIENT ADVISORY SERVICES AND BY ARRANGING DEVELOPMENT CAPITAL AT LOW INTEREST RATES,* HE SAID.
TURNING TO THE ASSOCIATION, MR RIDDELL-SWAN SAID IT NOW HAD A MEMBERSHIP OF SOME 430, COMPARED WITH A MEMBERSHIP OF 30 WHEN IT WAS FORMED IN 1955.
♦THE ASSOCIATION HAS PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT CF THE LOCAL POND FISH CULTURE INDUSTRY, AND HAS SERVED AS A VALUABLE LINK BETWEEN THE INDUSTRY AND THE GOVERNMENT, ESPECIALLY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT,♦ HE ADDED.
THE GREATEST CHALLENGE TO THE INDUSTRY IN THE YEARS AHEAD WAS THE CONTINUING LOSS OF LAND SUITABLE FOR FISH CULTURE DUE TO INCREASED DEMAND FOR DEVELOPMENT, HE SAID.
MR RIDDELL-SWAN SAID: +T0 COMPENSATE FOR THIS, FARMERS WILL NEED TO ADOPT NEW TECHNIQUES TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY.
♦THESE INCLUDE THE USE OF IMPROVED CULTURE EQUIPMENT SUCH AS AERATORS AND FEEDERS, MORE INTENSIVE METHODS OF FARMING, BETTER FEEDSTUFFS, AND EFFECTIVE CONTROL OF FISH DISEASE AND FISH MORTALITY.+
GREAT ATTENTION WOULD ALSO HAVE TO BE PAID TO POST-HARVEST HANDL ING AND MARKETING.
THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT WAS GIVING CONSIDERABLE ATTENTION TO ALL OF THESE MATTERS AND HAD BEEN CONDUCTING EXPERIMENTAL WORK FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE INDUSTRY, HE SAID.
♦DESPITE THE CHALLENGE POSED BY THE SHORTAGE OF LAND FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF POND FISH CULTURE, I AM CONFIDENT THAT WITH THE CONTINUING HARD WORK OF THE POND FISH FARMERS, COUPLED WITH THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING PROVIDED BY MY DEPARTMENT, YOUR INDUSTRY WILL HAVE A VERY SUCCESSFUL FUTURE,+ MR RIDDELL-SWAN SAID.
-----0------
/8 .........
I-KIDAT, tUBKUAKT Zl, 1^01 - 8 -
PRISONER RE-ADMISSION RATE LOW * * * *
ALMOST HALF OF THE DISCHARGED PRISONERS HAD NOT BEEN RE-ADMITTED IN THE THREE YEARS FOLLOWING THEIR DISCHARGE.THE COMMISSIONER OF PRISONS, MR THOMAS GARNER, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE CEREMONIAL PARADE OF PRESENTATION OF CLASPS TO THE COLONIAL PRISON SERVICE MEDAL, MR GARNER SAID THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT HAS CONTINUED TO CONCENTRATE ON IMPROVEMENTS TO THE VARIOUS PROGRAMMES CARRIED OUT IN INSTITUTIONS AND IT IS NOW IN A MUCH BETTER POSITION TO CALCULATE THE RE-ADMISSION RATE OF EXPRISONERS USING AS A YARDSTICK A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS FOLLOWING DISCHARGE.
OF THE 6 122 PRISONERS DISCHARGED IN 1977, A TOTAL OF 2 874 OR 46.95 PER CENT WERE NOT RE-ADMITTED IN THE THREE-YEAR PERIOD ENDING DECEMBER 1980, HE SAID.
POINTING OUT THAT IN MANY RESPECTS THE AIMS OF IMPRISONMENT AS A PUNISHMENT AND DETERRENT CONFLICTED WITH THE AIM OF CORRECTION, MR GARNER SAID: +THIS MAKES OUR TASK THAT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT BUT IT IS AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND THAT SUCH WORK MUST BE DONE.+
♦HOWEVER, WE ARE MOST CERTAINLY MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND THE MORE TOOLS WE HAVE TO DO THE JOB THE BETTER WILL BE THE RESULT,♦ HE SAID.
MR GARNER EMPHASISED THAT THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT MUST STRIVE TO IMPROVE CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMMES DESPITE THE MANY PRESSURES WHICH IT MUST CONSTANTLY FACE AND THE FACT THAT FIRST PRIORITY OF THE SERVICE IS THE CARE AND SAFE CUSTODY OF THOSE WHO WERE COMMITTED TO INSTITUTIONS.
HE ALSO STRESSED THAT THE WORD ’CORRECTION’ BEST DESCRIBES THE WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT RATHER THAN THE WORD ’REHABILITATION’.
MR GARNER ALSO SAID THAT THE OUTPUT OF THE PRISON INDUSTRIES IN 1980 TOTALLED $29.8 MILLION - AN INCREASE OF 34 PER CENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
DURING THE CEREMONY TODAY, MR GARNER PRESENTED FIRST AND SECOND CLASPS TO THE COLONIAL PRISON SERVICE MEDAL TO 10 MEMBERS CF THE PR ISONS DEPARTMENT STAFF WHO HAD TOGETHER SERVED SOME 270 YEARS WITH THE DEPARTMENT.
THE RECIPIENTS INCLUDE TWO PRINCIPAL OFFICERS, ONE OFFICER, SIX ASSISTANT OFFICERS AND ONE LABOURER.
THE COLONIAL PRISON SERVICE MEDAL IS AWARDED FOR 18 YEARS EXEMPLARY SERVICE, WITH A FIRST CLASP FOR 25 YEARS AND THE SECOND CLASP FOR 30 YEARS.
ALSO TAKING PART IN THE CEREMONIAL PARADE WERE 200 PRISON OFFICERS FROM VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS UNDER THE COMMAND OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE, SENIOR SUPERINTENDENT JOHN ASHWORTH.
AMONG THE GUESTS WERE 50 DISABLED PERSONS FROM THE ABERDEEN REHABILITATION CENTRE WHO WERE ENTERTAINED TO A SERIES OF PROGRAMMES ARRANGED BY PRISON OFFICERS AS PART OF THE DEPARTMENT’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE DISABLED.
------o-------
9
rnium, ruDnUhfli
EVIDENCE OF DIVERSIFICATION IN TEXTILES * * * *
AGAINST THE DEMAND FOR DIVERSIFICATION IN THE TEXTILE AND GARMENT INDUSTRY, MR PETER TSAO, COMMISSIONER OF TRADE, TODAY QUESTIONED WHETHER WE HAVE NOT REALLY DIVERSIFIED, BECAUSE WE STILL RELY HEAVILY ON TEXTILES AND TEXTILE PRODUCES.
MR TSAO THINKS THIS IS NOT SO. +WITHIN THE TEXTILE FIELD WE HAVE MOVED UP THE MARKET IN MANY WAYS. WE HAVE DIVERSIFIED FROM THE SPINNING OF YARN AND WEAVING OF FABRICS INTO THE MANUFACTURE OF GARMENTS- AND FROM GARMENTS TO HIGH-COST GARMENTS AND FASH ION-GARMENTS,+ HE SAID.
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING OF AN AUTOMATED COMPUTER-CONTROLLED CUTTING SYSTEM AT NEIL PRYDE LTD, MR TSAO SAID THE EVENT WAS FURTHER EVIDENCE THAT THE INDUSTRY IS CONTINUING TO MOVE UP MARKET, AND THAT DIVERSIFICATION IS TAKING PLACE WITHIN THE TEXTILE FIELD.
♦OUR BATTLE CRY ON THE TRADE FRONT HAS, FOR SOME TIME, BEEN DIVERSIFICATION,* HE SAID. +AS YOU ARE AWARE, THE GOVERNMENT IS FULLY BEHIND THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIALISTS’ ATTEMPTS TO DIVERSIFY. THE GOVERNMENT SUPPORT IS ENSHRINED IN THE REPORT OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DIVERSIFICATION AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THAT COMMITTEE HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED,* MR TSAO ADDED.
THE NEW CUTTING SYSTEM, FOR USE IN THE PRODUCTION OF SAILS, IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND TO BE INSTALLED IN HONG KONG. MANUFACTURED ’N THE UNITED STATES BY GERBER GARMENT TECHNOLOGY INC., THE MACHINERY REPRESENTS THE MOST ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE FOR THE CUTTING OF GARMENTS AND OTHER TEXTILE ITEMS.
-----0------
THE BE WAGED (FR IDAY)
THE LOOK AT '
NT CLEAN-UP COMMITTEE LOOKS AT PROBLEMS ON THE GROUND *****
COMMITTEE WHICH IS ADVISING HOW THE WAR ON RUBBISH SHOULD IN THE NEW TERRITORY MADE AN EXTENSIVE FIELD VISIT THIS AFTERNOON.
COMMITTEE WAS FORMED A FEW WEEKS AGO BY THE GOVERNOR TO
HE NEW TERRITORIES ASPECTS OF THE MASSIVE ANTI-LITTER
DRIVE BEGINNING IN OCTOBER THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE OF HONG KONG.
IT IS CHAIRED BY LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, MR CHARLES YEUNG, AND COMPOSED OF OFFICIALS FROM GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND UNOFFICIALS FROM THE EIGHT NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICTS.
THE COMMITTEE HAS HELD A SERIES OF LONG MEETINGS THRASHING OUT CAMPAIGN STRATEGY AND HAS ALREADY MADE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, BUT AS ONE MEMBER SAID TODAYj +WE FELT IT WAS TIME TO GO AND HAVE A CLOSE LOOK AT THE PROBLEMS ON THE GROUND.*
THE COMMITTEE FIRST WENT TO SUNG WONG TOI GOVERNMENT WORKSHOP IN KOWLOON CITY, WHERE THE MOST MODERN VEHICLES AND MACHINES BEING USED TO CLEAN THE NEW TERRITORIES ARE ON DISPLAY.
/THE FLEET .....
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1981
10
THE FLEET AT PRESENT CONSISTS OF MORE THAN 100 VEHICLES, INCLUDING REFUSE COLLECTION TRUCKS, MECHANICAL ROAD SWEEPERS AND STREET WASHING WAGONS.
A FURTHER 80 VEHICLES WILL BE ADDED TO THE FLEET BEFORE THE CAMPAIGN IS LAUNCHED, THE COMMITTEE WAS TOLD. AMONG THE NEW VEHICLES WILL BE TWO MINI-TRUCKS DONATED BY RURAL LEADERS WHICH ARE PURPOSE BUILT FOR USE ON NARROW VILLAGE PATHS.
THE PARTY THEN VISITED A REFUSE COLLECTION POINT AT YEUNG UK ROAD, TSUEN WAN, WHERE THEY DISCUSSED WITH CLEANSING STAFF WAYS TO IMPROVE SERVICES AND HOW TO MAKE THE ENVIRONMENT OF COLLECTION POINTS MORE PLEASANT.
AFTER VISITING THE REFUSE TIP AT SIU LANG SUI, TUEN MUN, THEY LOOKED AT THE GREATLY IMPROVED CONDITION OF THE NEARBY HUNG SHU I KIU RIVER, WHICH COST GOVERNMENT OVER $100 000 TO CLEAN UP DURING AN EXERCISE LASTING SIX WEEKS.
THEY SAW THAT A THICK CRUST OF ROTTEN VEGETABLE AND ANIMAL WASTE HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM THE RIVER BOTTOM AND BANKS, AND LEARNED THAT CLEANING STAFF WORK THERE REGULARLY TO KEEP THE RIVER FREE OF POLLUTION.
FARMERS WERE URGED TO DISPOSE OF ANIMAL WASTE BY PUTTING IT INTO BARRELS PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT, INSTEAD OF FLUSHING IT INTO STREAMS. EACH DAY 12 TONNES OF PIG AND CHICKEN MANURE ARE COLLECTED BY THIS METHOD, THE GROUP WAS TOLD.
THEY LATER VISITED VARIOUS +BLACK SPOTS+ INCLUDING THE YUEN LONG NULLAH AND PAT HEUNG RIVER, AND DISCUSSED WAYS TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION.
THE PARTY RETURNED TO KOWLOON IN THE LATE AFTERNOON.
-----0------
RETURN OF PARKING METERS * * * *
PARKING METERS WILL BE REINSTATED IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS IN
PO KONG AND KOWLOON CITY ON SUNDAY (MARCH 1) AND WILL BECOME OPERATIONAL FROM 8 AM ON MONDAY (MARCH 2).
™E LOCATIONS INCLUDE NING YUEN STREET, YAN 01 STREET, HONG KEUNG STREET, NING YUEN STREET CARPARK, KING FUK STREET, SHUNG
STREET« Y,N H,NS STREET, FUK LO TSUEN ROAD, LION ROCK ROAD, NAM KOK ROAD, NGA TSIN LONG ROAD AND HAU WONG ROAD.
------o-------- .
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1981
11
FOUR BUILDINGS DECLARED DANGEROUS ******
THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TODAY DECLARED 27-29 BONHAM STRAND WEST AND 191-193 WING LOK STREET TO BE DANGEROUS.
IN A STATEMENT ISSUED THIS MORNING THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR STATED THAT THIS GROUP OF FOUR THREE-STOREY PRE-WAR BUILDINGS, CONSTRUCTED WITH LOAD-BEARING WALLS AND TIMBER FLOORS AND ROOF, HAD BEEN UNDER SURVEILLANCE SINCE 1974.
CONTINUING MOVEMENT HAD RECENTLY BEEN DETECTED IN A NUMBER •OF LOAD-BEARING WALLS ASSOCIATED WITH SEVERE STRUCTURAL CRACKING. IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, IT IS CONSIDERED THAT THERE IS A RISK OF COLLAPSE AND IT IS NECESSARY TO CLOSE AND DEMOLISH THESE BUILDINGS.
ACCORDINGLY, NOTICES OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR A CLOSURE ORDER IN VICTORIA DISTRICT COURT AT 9.30 AM ON MARCH 27, 1981 WERE POSTED TODAY.
------o-------
NEW LEGAL AID DIRECTOR
* * * *
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS HAS APPROVED THE PROMOTION OF MR B.P. CLANCY, PRINCIPAL CROWN COUNSEL IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBER, TO DIRECTOR OF LEGAL AID.
HE WILL SUCCEED MR D.F. O’REILLY MAYNE, WHO WILL BE RETIRING FROM THE SERVICE TOMORROW AFTER NEARLY 21 YEARS WITH THE GOVERNMENT.
MR CLANCY, 43, JOINED THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AS A CROWN COUNSEL IN 1967 AFTER SEVEN YEARS’ PRACTICE AS A SOLICITOR BOTH IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND HONG KONG.
HE WAS PROMOTED TO SENIOR CROWN COUNSEL IN 1972, TO ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL CROWN COUNSEL IN 1973, TO DEPUTY PRINCIPAL CROWN COUNSEL IN 1977 AND TO PRINCIPAL CROWN COUNSEL IN 1979.
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/12.......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27. 1981
- 12 -
FINAL CAREERS CONVENTION * * * *
THE FINAL OF A SERIES OF REGIONAL CAREERS CONVENTIONS ORGANISED BY THE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT ADVISORY SERVICE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF CAREERS MASTERS WILL BE HELD TOMORROW.
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING WILL BE MR J.C.H. GILLARD, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (SERVICES), MR CHENG SING-YIP, PRINCIPAL OF THE HONG KONG SZE YAP COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION WONG TAI SHAN MEMORIAL COLLEGE, AND MRS JESSIE AW, KOWLOON WEST REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ASSOCIATION.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THE CONVENTIONS PROVIDED A NEW CAREERS SERVICE TO SOME 10 000 SENIOR STUDENTS FROM 62 SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
EACH OF THE SIX CONVENTIONS WAS A TWO-DAY PROGRAMME MADE UP OF A CAREERS DISPLAY STAGED BY STUDENTS, A SERIES OF SELECTED SPECIALIST TALKS AS WELL AS FILM AND SLIDE SHOWS ON CAREERS.
♦THE STUDENTS WHO PREPARED THE DISPLAYS SHOWED BOTH INITIATIVE AND RESOURCEFULNESS. THEY VISITED OUR CAREERS INFORMATION CENTRES, TRAINING INSTITUTES AND INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL CONCERNS TO COLLECT MATERIAL FOR THEIR PROJECTS.
♦THE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF STUDENTS AND PROFESSIONALS IN THE LAST FIVE CONVENTIONS REVEALED THEIR AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF A CAREER CHOICE AND DEVELOPMENT. HEAD OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS WERE MOST HELPFUL IN PROVIDING CONVENTION VENUES AND RELATED FACILITIES AS WELL AS ENCOURAGING STUDENTS TO TAKE PART IN THE CONVENTIONS,+ SAID THE SPOKESMAN.
-----o------
SHA TIN DAB MEMBERS VISIT TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL
* * * X
MEMBERS OF SHA TIN DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD (DAB) VISITED TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL TODAY (FRIDAY) WHERE THEY RECEIVED ADVICE ON ITS MANAGEMENT AND DESIGN.
SHA TIN, WHICH IS QUICKLY DEVELOPING AS A NEW TOWN FOR 750 000 PEOPLE, WILL COMMENCE BUILDING OF ITS OWN TOWN HALL AS PART OF A $160 MILLION CULTURAL COMPLEX THIS YEAR AND DAB MEMBERS WANTED TO LEARN FROM TSUEN WAN’S EXPERIENCE. THEY ALSO WANTED TO HAVE DETAILS OF ORGANISING CULTURAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMES.
THEY VISITED TSUEN WAN AT THE INVITATION OF THE TOWN MANAGER, DR JAMES HAYES, AND WERE LED BY SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICER, DR PATRICK HASE. THEY ALSO TOURED THE MAGISTRACY BUILDING AT SHA TSUI ROAD.
THE TOWN HALL MANAGER, MR CHUNG LING-HOI, BRIEFED THE 21 DAB MEMBERS ON CULTURAL AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES TAKING PLACE IN THE HALL AND HOW IT WAS BEING PUT TO MAXIMUM USE BY LOCAL RESIDENTS AND ORGANISATIONS.
/later in ....
fbidat, febbuaht 27, 1981
13
LATER IN THE EVENING, THEY ATTENDED A CONCERT AT THE TOWN HALL BY THE HONG KONG PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA.
EARLIER DURING THE VISIT, THE DAB MEMBERS WENT TO SAM TUNG UK TO LEARN SOMETHING OF THE HISTORIC PAST OF TSUEN WAN AND THE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN RESETTLING OLD VILLAGE COMMUNITIES. THE VILLAGE SITE WAS RECENTLY DECLARED A MONUMENT AND IT IS HOPED THAT IT WILL BE RESTORED FOR MUSEUM USE EVENTUALLY.
LOCATED ON A 1.5-HECTARE SITE IN THE TOWN CENTRE, SHA TIN’S CULTURAL COMPLEX WILL COMPRISE A MULTI-PURPOSE AUDITORIUM, A LIBRARY, AN EXHIBITION AREA, LECTURE ROOMS AND OTHER FACILITIES. CONSTRUCTION WORK WILL BEGIN IN THE SUMMER AND BE COMPLETED BY MID-1984.
-----0------
NOTE TO EDITORSi
VOLUNTEER WORK APPRECIATED
H X MM
_______________ 1 BE OFFICIALLY
THANKED FOR THEIR VOLUNTARY EFFORTS IN ASSISTING THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S PROBATION STAFF REFORMING YOUNG OFFENDERS.
TWENTY-EIGHT
PUBLIC SPIRITED CITIZENS ARE
TO
THE VOLUNTEERS, INCLUDING MANAGERS, WORK SUPERVISORS, SECRETARIES, TEACHERS AND GOVERNMENT SERVANTS. “ILL RECEIVE CERTIFICATE^ OF APPRECIATION FROM THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS EVELYN DOE, ON SUNDAY (MARCH 1) AT 2.45 PM AT THE MING ROOM, 4TH FLOOR, SHERATON HOTEL, TSIM SHA TSUI.
THE RECIPIENTS RECENTLY FINISHED A SIX-MONTH ASSIGNMENT TO HELP BOYS AND GIRLS ON PROBATION UNDER THE DEPARTMENT’S VOLUNTEER SCHEME FOR PROBATIONERS.
THE PRESENTATION WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A SEMINAR FOR PROBATION OFFICERS AND VOLUNTEERS. THE SEMINAR WILL START WITH A TALK BY UNOFFICIAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, DR HO KAM-FAI.
YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY AND THE SEMINAR.
-------0 - -
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1981
14
NOTE TO ED I TORSi
SOCIAL WELFARE DIRECTOR TO OPEN PARTY FOR THE AGED ft ft ft ft
THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR SELWYN ALLEYNE, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING OF A PARTY FOR 1 OOO AGED PEOPLE IN HO MAN TIN ON SUNDAY (MARCH 1).
AT THE PARTY, ORGANISED BY THE SHUN TAK FRATERNITY ASSOCIATION, THE ELDERLY PEOPLE WILL EACH RECEIVE A RED PACKET OF $30 AND A GIFT PARCEL.
THEY WILL ALSO BE ENTERTAINED TO A CHINESE OPERA SHOW AND A VARIETY OF STALL GAMES SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR THEM.
YOU ARE WELCOME TO COVER THE PARTY AND ITS OPENING CEREMONY WHICH WILL START AT 1 PM ON SUNDAY AT THE SEAWARD WOO COLLEGE, 22 PERTH STREET, HO MAN TIN, KOWLOON.
0
SIX LAND LOTS FOR AUCTION ft ft ft ft
SIX LOTS OF CROWN LAND WILL BE OFFERED FOR SALE BY AUCTION BY THE CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
THE AUCTION WILL BE IN THE MARINA ROOM OF THE EXCELSIOR HOTEL ON MARCH 27 AT 2.30 PM.
FOUR SITES OFFERED ARE ON THE KOWLOON BAY RECLAMATION AND ARE FOR INDUSTRIAL AND/OR GODOWN PURPOSES. THEY MEASURE ABOUT 5 832, 3 700, 4 600 AND 2 700 SQUARE METRES RESPECTIVELY.
THE REMAINING TWO LOTS, IN CHAI WAN, MEASURE 5 809 AND 2 312 SQUARE METRES AND ARE FOR GODOWN PURPOSES.
FULL PARTICULARS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE PUBLIC ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, GROUND FLOOR, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES (WEST WING), HONG KONG AND AT THE CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE, 10TH FLOOR, KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 405 NATHAN ROAD.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1981
- 15 -
RESIDENTIAL SITE OFFERED IN KOWLOON
* M * *
THE CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR A RESIDENTIAL SITE FOR JOINT VENTURE DEVELOPMENT.
THE 6 228-SQUARE-METRE SITE, IS IN HO MAN TIN HILL ROAD.
UNDER THE SALE CONDITIONS, THE SUCCESSFUL TENDERER MUST BUILD FOR THE GOVERNMENT, FREE OF CHARGE, TWO RESIDENTIAL BLOCKS.
THE SIZE OF THE UNITS IN THE BLOCKS MUST BE EITHER 200 OR 240 SQUARE METRES.
THE REMAINING BLOCKS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THE SUCCESSFUL TENDERER FOR DISPOSAL IN THE OPEN MARKET IN THE USUAL WAY.
CLOSING DATE FOR TENDERS WILL BE NOON ON APRIL 24.
TENDER FORMS, TOGETHER WITH NOTICES AND CONDITIONS OF SALE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE ON THE 19TH FLOOR OF MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD AND ON THE 10TH FLOOR OF KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 405 NATHAN ROAD.
TENDER PLANS MAY BE INSPECTED AT THESE PLACES.
-----o------
LIST OF TOWN PLANS PUBLISHED
* * * *
A LIST OF PLANS PREPARED BY THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD IS PUBLISHED IN TODAY’S GAZETTE FOR THE GENERAL INFORMATION.
THE LIST, IN THREE CATEGORIES, INCLUDES PLANS APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL, PLANS REFERRED BACK TO THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD FOR AMENDMENT OR REPLACEMENT, AND DRAFT PLANS EXHIBITED BY THE TCi*N PLANNING BOARD FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION.
CERTIFIED COPIES OF THE APPROVED PLANS ARE AVAILAELE 'FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION FREE OF CHARGE AT THE LAND OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES (WEST WING).
COPIES OF APPROVED AND DRAFT PLANS MAY ALSO BE PURCHASED FROM THE CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE, 19TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING GARDEN ROAD.
THE LIST OF PLANS IS PUBLISHED TWICE YEARLY IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1?81
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES FOR JANUARY 1981 ........... 1
PRESS COVERAGE OF URBAN COUNCIL ELECTION ............. 3
SHA TIN SITE TO BE FORMED.........................
TWO MORE SCHOOLS FOR SHA TIN ....................... 5
COUNTRYSIDE AMBULANCES ............................... 6
32.5 MILLION HOME FOR THE AGED AT TAI 0........... 6
SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS SALE BY AUCTION ..............
WATER CUT IN WAH FU ESTATE ........................... 8
FIRING PRACTICE...................................
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1981
1
PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES FOR JANUARY 1981 * * * *
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY (SATURDAY) PUBLISHED THE PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES FOR HONG KONG’S MERCHANDISE TRADE IN JANUARY 1981.
THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS FOR JANUARY WAS $9 674 MILLION, MADE UP OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS AT $6 346 MILLION AND RE-EXPORTS AT *3 328 MILLION. WITH IMPORTS AT $10 685 MILLION, THE VISIBLE TRADE DEFICIT FOR JANUARY WAS $1 011 MILLION.
COMPARED WITH THE SAME MONTH IN 1980, THERE WERE THE FOLLOWING INCREASES BY VALUEi $1 349 MILLION OR 27 PER CENT FOR DOMESTIC EXPORTS- $1 281 MILLION OR 63 PER CENT FOR RE-EXPORTS- 12 630 MILLION OR 37 PER CENT FOR TOTAL EXPORTS AND $2 553 MILLION OR 31 PER CENT FOR IMPORTS.
THE VISIBLE TRADE +GAP+, THAT IS THE PROPORTION OF THE VALUE CF IMPORTS NOT COVERED BY THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS, WAS 9.5 PER CENT IN JANUARY THIS YEAR COMPARED WITH 13.4 PER CENT IN JANUARY 1980.
COMMENTING ON THE FIGURES, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE GROWTH RATE OF THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS IN JANUARY 1981 WAS HIGHER THAN THOSE RECORDED IN RECENT MONTHS. WITH THE GROWTH RATE OF RE-EXPORTS REMAINING RAPID, THE GROWTH RATE OF TOTAL EXPORTS WAS FASTER THAN THAT OF IMPORTS, CONTRIBUTING TO A NARROWING OF THE VISIBILE TRADE +GAP+.
HE STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT READING TOO MUCH INTO ONE MONTH’S STATISTICS PARTICULARLY SINCE, AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, THE FIGURES WERE AFFECTED BY THE TIMING OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR. UNLIKE 1980 WHEN THE LUNAR NEW YEAR FELL IN THE MIDDLE OF FEBRUARY, THE LUNAR NEW YEAR OF 1981 WAS IN EARLY FEBRUARY. SO THE HIGHER GROWTH RATE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS IN JANUARY MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE RESULT OF A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN SHIPMENTS DURING THE DAYS PRECEDING THE NEW YEAR HOLIDAY.
COMPARING THE STATISTICS FOR NOVEMBER 1980 TO JANUARY 1981 WITH THOSE FOR NOVEMBER 1979 TO JANUARY 1980, THE INCREASES BY VALUE WERE 16 PER CENT FOR DOMESTIC EXPORTS, 58 PER CENT FOR RE-EXPORTS, 28 PER CENT FOR TOTAL EXPORTS AND 33 PER CENT FOR IMPORTS.
THE FOLLOWING IS A COMPARATIVE TABLE OF THE PROVISIONAL MERCHANDISE TRADE FIGURES FOR JANUARYi
MERCHANDISE! DOMESTIC EXPORTS i $ 6 346 MILLION
RE-EXPORTS TOTAL EXPORTS IMPORTS TRADE BALANCE
I $ 3 328 MILLION i S 9 674 MILLION 1 $10 685 MILLION
: $ 1 011 MILLION (IN DEFICIT)
/CCHPAJRATIVE FIGUBES
SATUKDA.T, FEBRUAXT 28, 1981
2
COMPARATIVE FIGURES
LATEST 3 MONTHS NOV 1980 TO JAN 1981 NOV 1979 . TO JAN 1980 INCREASE OR DECREASE
$ MN. $ MN. S MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 18 486 15 914 + 2 572 ♦ 16.2
RE-EXPORTS 9 376 5 937 ♦ 3 439 + 57.9
TOTAL EXPORTS 27 863 21 851 ♦ 6 011 + 27.5
IMPORTS 32 854 24 661 + 8 193 + 33.2
TRADE BALANCE - 4 991 - 2 810 - 2 181
INCREASE OR
SAME MONTH LAST YEAR JAN 1981 JAN 1980 DECREASE
S MN. $ MN. $ MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 6 346 4 997 + 1 349 ♦ 27.0
(% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) (65.6%) (70.9%)
RE-EXPORTS 3 328 2 047 * 1 281 ♦ 62.6
TOTAL EXPORTS 9 674 7 044 + 2 630 ♦ 37.3
IMPORTS 10 685 8 132 + 2 553 + 31.4
TRADE BALANCE - 1 011 - 1 088 ♦ 77
INCREASE OR
LAST MONTH JAN 1981 DEC 1980 DECREASE
$ MN. S MN. $ MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 6 346 6 270 + 76 + 1.2
(% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) (65.6%) (66.8%)
RE-EXPORTS 3 328 3 120 + 208 *6.7
TOTAL EXPORTS 9 674 9 391 + 283 ♦ 3.0
IMPORTS 10 685 11 306 - 621 - 5.5
TRADE BALANCE - 1 011 - 1 915 ♦ 904
/Last 12 ......
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1981
3
LAST 12 MONTHS FEB 1980 TO JAN 1981 FEB 1979 TO JAN 1980 INCREASE OR DECREASE
$ MN. S MN. $ MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS *• 69 520 57 070 +12 450 +21.8
RE-EXPORTS 31 353 20 741 ♦10 612 + 51.2
TOTAL EXPORTS 100 872 77 811 +23 061 +29.6
IMPORTS 114 204 88 569 ♦25 635 + 28.9
TRADE BALANCE - 13 332 - 10 758 - 2 574
NOTE TO EDITORS:
PRESS COVERAGE OF URBAN COUNCIL ELECTION ft ft * ft
MEMBERS OF THE PRESS WHO WISH TO VISIT ANY OF THE 13 POLLING STATIONS OR TO BE PRESENT AT THE COUNTING OF THE VOTES ON MARCH 5 (THURSDAY), URBAN COUNCIL ELECTION DAY, MIST COMPLETE FORM 20 — DECLARATION OF SECRECY — BEFORE A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, A PRESIDING OFFICER OR THE RETURNING OFFICER.
THEY SHOULD HAVE THE FORMS WITH THEM WHEN THEY CALL AT ANY CF THE POLLING STATIONS.
COPIES OF THESE FORMS ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN THE GIS PRESS ROOM, 6TH FLOOR, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE.
FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF PRESS REPRESENTATIVES NOMINATED TO COVER THE ELECTION, THE RETURNING OFFICER, MR THOMAS TSO, WILL BE PRESENT IN THE GIS CONFERENCE ROOM, 6TH FLOOR, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, TO ADMINISTER THE DECLARATION AT 2.30 PM ON MARCH 2 (MONDAY).
THIS DECLARATION CAN BE ALTERNATIVELY ADMINISTERED BY ANY JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.
THE ATTENTION OF PRESS REPRESENTATIVES IS DRAWN TO REGULATION 29 (SEE FOOTNOTE) OF THE URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS (PROCEDURE) REGULATIONS UNDER WHICH IT IS AN OFFENCE INTER ALIA TO SPEAK TO ANY ELECTOR OR TAKE ANY PHOTOGRAPH WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF ANY POLLING STATION.
/FOOTNOTE: .......
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1981
4
FOOTNOTE 1
REGULATION 29 STATESt
29 (1) ANY PERSON OTHER THAN -
(A) THE RETURNING OFFICER OR AN ASSISTANT RETURNING OFFICER -
(B) THE PRESIDING OFFICER OR AN ASSISTANT PRESIDING OFFICER -
(C) MEMBERS OF THE STAFF OF THE PRESIDING — OFFICER -
(D) POLICE ON DUTY AT ANY POLLING STATION -
(E) A COMPANION OF A BLIND VOTER ACTING IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION 36.
WHO SPEAKS TO ANY ELECTOR WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF ANY POLLING STATION SHALL BE GUILTY OF AN OFFENCE AND SHALL BE LIABLE ON CONVICTION THEREFORE TO A FINE OF $500.
(2) ANY PERSON WHO -
(A) TAKES ANY PHOTOGRAPHS -
(B) CANVASSES - OR
(C) DISPLAYS ANY POSTER,
WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF ANY POLLING STATION SHALL BE GUILTY OF AN OFFENCE AND SHALL BE LIABLE ON CONVICTION THEREFORE TO A FINE OF $500.
(3) ANY ELECTOR WHO -
(A) TAKES ANY BALLOT PAPER, WHETHER MARKED OR UNMARKED, OUT OF THE POLLING STATION - OR
(B) DEPOSITS IN THE BALLOT BOX ANY PAPER OTHER THAN THE BALLOT PAPER GIVEN TO HIM BY THE POLL CLERK,
SHALL BE GUILTY OF AN OFFENCE AND SHALL BE LIABLE ON CONVICTION THEREFORE TO A FINE OF $500 AND TO IMPRISONMENT FOR SIX MONTHS.
/5.......
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1981
- 5 -
SHA TIN SITE TO BE FORMED
* * * *
THE TUEN MUN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS CALLING TENDERS FOR SITE FORMATION AND ROAD WORKS IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE NEW TOWN.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE OFFICE SAID THAT UNDER THE CONTRACT, ABOUT 5.3 HECTARES OF LAND WOULD BE FORMED AT HO TIN.
HE SAID, +TOGETHER WITH THE ADJACENT AREA NOW BEING DEVELOPED, THE LAND WILL ENABLE ACCOMMODATION TO BE PROVIDED FOR SOME 34 OOO PEOPLE IN PUBLIC HOUSING.*
THE CONTRACT WILL ALSO INCLUDE THE RECONSTRUCTION AND WIDENING CF A SECTION OF MING KUM ROAD BETWEEN PUI TO ROAD AND SHEK PAI TAU ROAD TO A DUAL CARRIAGEWAY AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF TWO FOOTBRIDGES FOR PEDESTRIAN CROSSING.
WORK ON THE PROJECT WILL BEGIN IN MAY AND WILL TAKE ABOUT 18 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
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TWO MORE SCHOOLS FOR SHA TIN ft ft ft ft
THE GOVERNMENT IS TO BUILD ANOTHER TWO SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN SHA TIN NEW TOWN.
TENDERS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE SCHOOLS, WHICH WILL BE BUILT ON A 8 000 SQUARE-METRE SITE IN YUEN CHAU KOK, ARE BEING INVITED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID EACH OF THE SCHOOLS, WOULD HAVE A MAIN TEACHING BLOCK, COMPRISING 24 CLASSROOMS, ADMINISTRATION OFFICES AND CHANGING ROOMS- A BLOCK OF SPECIAL ROOMS, PROVIDING FACILITIES FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNICAL SUBJECTS, A LIBRARY AND WORKSHOPS- AND SEPARATE ANCILLARY BUILDINGS AND MENIAL STAFF QUARTERS.
THERE WILL BE A COMMON BLOCK COMPRISET I NG TWO ASSEMBLY HALLS, SERVING THE TWO SCHOOLS.
WORK ON THE PROJECT, WHICH IS PART OF THE NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME, WILL START IN APRIL THIS YEAR AND IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN OCTOBER 1982, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1981
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COUNTRYSIDE AMBULANCES
*****
RESIDENTS AND PICNICKERS TO THE COUNTRYSIDE WILL BENEFIT FROM A MUCH IMPROVED SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICE (AMS), THANKS TO A GENEROUS DONATION OF TWO AMBULANCES BY AN URBAN COUNCILLOR, MR AMBROSE K.C. CHOI.
IN A CEREMONY THIS MORNING IN KOWLOON HOSPITAL, THE UNIT CONTROLLER OF AMS, DR K.L. THONG RECEIVED THE KEYS TO THE AMBULANCES FROM MR CHOI, WHO IS ALSO A LONG SERVING AND SENIOR MEMBER OF THE SERVICE.
DR THONG SAID THE TWO AMBULANCES WILL BE DEPLOYED TO SERVE THE COUNTRY PARKS AT BRIDE’S POOL IN PLOVER COVE AND PAK TAM CHUNG IN SAI KUNG.
HE SAID THE AMBULANCES WERE MODIFIED TO ENABLE AMS MEMBERS TO CARRY OUT CASUALTY CONVEYANCE AND LIGHT RESCUE WORK IN HILLY REGIONS.
IN ADDITION TO A COMPLETE SET OF STANDARD AMBULANCE EQUIPMENT AND OXYGEN APPARATUS, THE AMBULANCES ARE ALSO FITTED WITH SEARCH LIGHTS, EXTENSION CABLING FOR LIGHTING, ROPES AND GEAR.
AT PRESENT THE PLOVER COVE COUNTRY PARK IS SERVED BY A STATIC FIRST AID POST MANNED BY AMS PERSONNEL ON SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS. A SIMILAR POST WILL BE SET UP IN PAK TAM CHUNG SHORTLY.
MR CHOI HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO IMPROVING THE STANDARD OF THE SERVICE IN THE MORE REMOTE AREAS. THROUGH HIS EFFORTS, IN 1973 THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON WEST DONATED AN AMBULANCE TO AMS, WHICH IS STILL IN SERVICE ON LANTAU ISLAND.
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$2.5 MILLION HOME FOR THE AGED AT TA I 0 *****
THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION IS TO GRANT A SITE AT TAI 0 TO BUILD A $2.5 MILLION HOME FOR THE AGED.
THE 1 OOO-SQUARE-METRE SITE WILL BE GRANTED BY PRIVATE TREATY TO A NON-PROFIT-MAKING TAOIST ASSOCIATION, HING WAN KWU TONG.
THE HOME, TO BE CALLED TAI 0 HING WAN KWU TONG HOME FOR THE AGED, WILL ACCOMMODATE MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE.
CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY 1983. COSTS WILL BE MET BY THE ASSOCIATION.
THE TAI 0 RURAL COMMITTEE HAS PLEDGED ITS SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT AND WILL RAISE FUNDS TO FURNISH THE HOME.
ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICER, MR NICKY LO, DESCRIBED THE PROJECT AS ♦A MUCH NEEDED FACILITY FOR TAI 0.*
/HE SAID ......
SATUBDAI, FEBEUABY 28, 1981
7
HE SAID TAI 0 HAD A POPULATION OF OVER 10 000. OF THE 463 PEOPLE RECEIVING GOVERNMENT OLD AGE ALLOWANCES, 216 LIVED ALONE.
A PREPARATORY COMMITTEE, WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM HING
WAN KWU TONG, TAI 0 RURAL COMMITTEE, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICE, WILL BE SET UP TO MONITOR PROGRESS OF THE PROJECT.
THIS COMMITTEE WILL FORM THE BASIS OF A MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE TO OVERSEE RUNNING OF THE HOME AFTER IT IS COMPLETED.
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SPECIAL CAR NOS. SALE BY AUCTION
* * *
THIRTY-FIVE SPECIAL VEHICLE REGISTRATION NUMBERS WERE SOLD BY AUCTION THIS MORNING (SATURDAY) FOR A TOTAL OF $675 300 WHICH WILL GO INTO THE GOVERNMENT LOTTERIES FUND FOR CHARITY.
TODAY’S SALE, THE 61ST ORGANISED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SINCE MAY 1973, BROUGHT THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR CHARITY REALISED SO FAR TO $17 688 132.
AUCTION HELD AT CITY HALL SAW THE REGISTRATION NUMBER 398 FETCH THE HIGHEST PRICE OF $100 □□□.
ANOTHER NUMBER CL3 WAS SOLD AT THE SECOND HIGHEST PRICE OF $80 000 WHILE THE LOWEST PRICE WAS $1 000 EACH FOR CH8801, CH8082, CH8798, CJ2173, CH3839, CJ2022 AND CJ4428.
THE OTHER SPECIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERS WERE SOLD AT THE FOLLOWING PR ICES 1
$ $ $
HK1949 1 800 CH3233 4 000 CH6686 3 500
729 46 000 AX 1 65 000 CJ 125 9 100
CK1000 9 000 HK 14 27 000 CJ 380 15 000
CC 23 20 000 CC 606 27 000 CJ1168 2 300
CC 38 32 000 CJ 328 27 000 CJ 162 12 000
CH2683 2 600 CK 888 36 000 CJ 399 10 500
CJ1812 3 500 CH9288 2 000 BC3231 2 000
CJ 128 30 000 CL 10 33 000 CK 666 15 000
CK 5 22 000 CL 2 58 000
THE NUMBERS AUCTIONED WILL BE ASSIGNED ONLY TO VEHICLES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF THE DATE OF AUCTION.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1981
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WATER CUT IN WAN FU ESTATE * * * *
THE FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO PREMISES IN WAH FU ESTATE WILL BE INTERRUPTED FOR SEVEN HOURS FROM 11 PM ON MONDAY (MARCH 2) TO 6 AM ON TUESDAY (MARCH 3) FOR A LEAKAGE TEST.
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FIRING PRACTICE REMINDER * * *
mcmrcdq nF THE PUBLIC ARE REMINDED THAT THERE WILL BE FIRING PRACnc" ATSm HA^TSUEH/CASTLE PEAK RANGE FROM 0 AH TO 5 PH OH TUESDAY NEXT WEEK (MARCH 3).
THEY ARE WARNED NOT TO ENTER THE AREA WHEN RED FLAGS ARE FLYING.
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