DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1982
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
PRICE AND VOLUME MOVEMENTS OF EXTERNAL TRADE FOR NOVEMBER 1981 ....................................................... 1
BIG TURNOUT EXPECTED FOR SHA TIN ANTI-NARCOTICS DRIVE....... 4
PROPERTY TAX NOTES FOR NEW KOWLOON ......................... 5
ENQUIRIES OFFICE OPENED IN TUEN MUN ........................ 6
THEN MUN ROAD TO BE CLOSED FOR THREE NIGHTS ................ 6
ARTS FESTIVAL YOUTH CONCERT TO FEATURE WORLD-PREMIERE WORK .. 7
TURN MUN INDUSTRIAL SITE FOR TENDER......................... 8
SIR PHILIP TO SPEAK IN LONDON .............................. 8
TUEN MUN TO HOLD SPRING FEAST AND VARIETY SHOW FOR THE AGED . 9
ROAD SECTION TO BE WIDENED.................................. 9
KWAI CHUNG FESTIVAL ........................................ 10
WATER FIGURES .............................................. 10
TAI PO ROAD TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT ............................ 10
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1982
1
PRICE AND VOLUME MOVEMENTS OF EXTERNAL TRADE FOR NOVEMBER 1981 * * * * K
ACCORDING TO STATISTICS RELEASED TODAY (MONDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, THE PRICES OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS ROSE BY 9 PER CENT AND THOSE OF IMPORTS BY 14 PER CENT IN NOVEMBER 1981 COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1980. AS A RESULT, THE TERMS OF TRADE INDEX (EXPRESSED AS A RATIO OF THE DOMESTIC EXPORT PRICE INDEX TO THE IMPORT PRICE INDEX) DROPPED BY 4 PER CENT
THE VOLUME OF IMPORTS INCREASED BY LESS THAN 1 PER CENT WHILE THAT OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS ROSE BY 9 PER CENT. THE PRICES OF RE-EXPORTS INCREASED BY 8 PER CENT, WITH VOLUME UP BY 25 PER CENT, SO THAT FOR TOTAL EXPORTS, PRICES ROSE BY 9 PER CENT AND VOLUME ROSE BY 14 PER CENT.
FOR THE TWELVE-MONTH PERIOD TO NOVEMBER 1981 AS COMPARED WITH THE TWELVE MONTHS TO NOVEMBER 1980, THE PRICES OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS ROSE BY 9 PER CENT, THOSE OF IMPORTS BY 11 PER CENT AND THOSE OF RE-EXPORTS BY 9 PER CENT. THE VOLUME OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS ROSE BY 7 PER CENT AND THAT OF RE-EXPORTS BY 31 PER CENT, GIVING A 14 PER CENT INCREASE IN THE VOLUME OF TOTAL EXPORTS AS AGAINST A 13 PER CENT INCREASE IN THE VOLUME OF IMPORTS.
PRICES ARE BASED ON UNIT VALUES WHICH DO NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT CHANGES IN THE COMPOSITION OR QUALITY OF GOODS TRADED. CHANGES IN THE VOLUME OF TRADE ARE DERIVED FROM CHANGES IN TRADE VALUES, AFTER DISCOUNTING THE EFFECT OF PRICE CHANGES.
THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE, UNIT VALUE AND VOLUME OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS BY COMMODITY GROUP ARE SHOWN BELOWt-
CHANGES COMPARING NOVEMBER 1981 WITH NOVEMBER 1980
EXPORT VALUE EXPORT UNIT VALUE EXPORT VOLUME
CLOTHING (EXCEPT FUR) +25% ♦ 9% +15%
TEXTILE FABRICS +17% +10% ♦ 6%
TEXTILE YARN AND THREAD +30% + 9% +19%
TEXTILE MADE-UPS AND RELATED ARTICLES +26% +11% ♦ 13%
ALL TRANSISTORIZED RADIOS +15% ♦18% - 2%
ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS ♦19% + 9% + 9%
/FOOTJIiUit.........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1?62
2
FOOTWEAR +35% +19% +14%
NET AL MANUFACTURES -4% ♦ 1% - 5%
NETAL ORES AND SCRAP -40% -12% -32%
WATCHES AND CLOCKS INSIGNIFICANT CHANGE -14% +17%
COMMODITY GROUPS NOT SPECIFIED ABOVE ♦25% ♦15% + 9%
ALL COMMODITIES +19% + 9% + 9%
THE EXPORT PRICES OF MOST COMMODITY GROUPS INCREASED, FROM 9 PER CENT FOR CLOTHING TO 19 PER CENT FOR FOOTWEAR. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE EXPORT PRICES OF METAL ORES AND SCRAP, AS WELL AS WATCHES AND CLOCKS, DECLINED BY 12 PER CENT AND 14 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
CONSIDERABLE GROWTH IN THE VOLUME OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS WAS RECORDED FOR TEXTILE YARN AND THREAD (+19%), WATCHES AND CLOCKS (+17%) AND CLOTHING (+15%). HOWEVER, THE EXPORT VOLUME OF RADIOS, METAL MANUFACTURES, AS WELL AS METAL ORES AND SCRAP DECLINED BY 2 PER CENT, 5 PER CENT AND 32 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE, UNIT VALUE AND VOLUME OF IMPORTS BY END-USE CATEGORY ARE SHOWN BELOWi-
CHANGES COMPARING NOVEMBER 1981 WITH NOVEMBER 1980
IMPORT VALUE IMPORT UNIT VALUE IMPORT VOLUME
FOODSTUFFS ♦24% +22% ♦ 2%
CONSUMER GOODS ♦11% + 9% ♦ 1%
FUELS +20% ♦17% + 3%
RAW MATERIALS AND SEMIMANUFACTURES ♦12% +13% - 1%
CAPITAL GOODS +21% ♦22% 1 NSIGNIF 1 CANT CHANGE
ALL COMMODITIES +15% +14% INSIGNIFICANT CHANGE
Aith the......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1982
3
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FOODSTUFFS AND CAPITAL GOODS, THE PRICES OF WHICH JUMPED BY 22 PER CENT, THE PRICES OF IMPORTS BY END-USE CATEGORY INCREASED MODERATELY, RANGING FROM 9 PER CENT FOR CONSUMER GOODS TO 17 PER CENT FOR FUELS.
ONLY SOME MAJOR IMPORTED FOODSTUFFS ROSE IN VOLUME TERMS, THE MORE SIGNIFICANT ONES BEING SOYA BEAN OIL, PEANUT OIL AND LARD. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE IMPORT VOLUME OF TEA AND COFFEE AS WELL AS FISH AND FISH PREPARATION DECLINED.
IN THE CONSUMER GOODS CATEGORY, SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN IMPORT VOLUME WERE REGISTERED FOR TEXTILE MADE-UPS AND ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES. THE IMPORT VOLUME OF PASSENGER MOTOR CARS AND HOUSEHOLD TYPE ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES DECLINED.
IMPORTS OF FUELS ROSE BY 3 PER CENT IN VOLUME TERMS.
THE IMPORT VOLUME OF MOST RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES DECREASED. WHEREAS PURCHASES OF DYEING, TANNING AND COLOURING MATERIALS, CHEMICAL ELEMENTS AND COMPOUNDS, AS WELL AS PAPER AND PAPERBOARD ROSE SUBSTANTIALLY, DEMAND FOR YARN OF WOOL AND MIXTURES, CRUDE ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE MATERIALS, AND RAW COTTON FELL.
AS FOR CAPITAL GOODS, MAJOR INCREASES IN IMPORT VOLUME WERE RECORDED FOR OFFICE MACHINES.
THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE, UNIT VALUE AND VOLUME OF RE-EXPORTS BY END-USE CATEGORY ARE SHOWN BELOWi-
CHANGES COMPARING NOVEMBER 1981 WITH NOVEMBER 1980
RE-EXPORT VALUE RE-EXPORT UNIT VALUE RE-EXPORT VOLUME
FOODSTUFFS *73% ♦27% +36%
CONSUMER GOODS +25% - 2% +27%
FUELS +94% +27% +52%
RAW MATERIALS AND SEM1-MANUFACTURES+36% +12% +21%
CAPITAL GOODS +49% +22% +22%
ALL COMMODITIES +35% + 8% ♦25%
THE RE-EXPORT VOLUME OF ALL END-USE CATEGORIES SHOWED SIGNIFICANT INCREASES, RANGING FROM 21 PER CENT FOR RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES TO 52 PER CENT FOR FUELS.
FURTHER DETAILS ARE CONTAINED IN THE NOVEMBER 1981 ISSUE OF THE +HONG KONG TRADE INDEX NUMBERS*, AVAILABLE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT HK$2 PER COPY.
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1982
4
BIG TURNOUT EXPECTED FOR SHA TIN ANT I-NARCOTICS DRIVE *****
MORE THAN 100 000 RESIDENTS IN THE SHA TIN DISTRICT ARE EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN A WIDE VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMES DURING AN INTENSIVE, THREE-WEEK-LONG ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN TO BE HELD IN THE DISTRICT STARTING ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 7).
SIR ALBERT RODRIGUES, CHAIRMAN OF THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING OF THE CAMPAIGN AT 2 PM AT THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB SHA TIN PUBLIC SPORTS GROUND IN LION ROCK TUNNEL ROAD, SHA TIN.
THIS WAS ANNOUNCED AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY (MONDAY) BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SHA TIN DISTRICT ANT I-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE, MR WAI HON-LEUNG.
ALSO ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE WERE MR KARL STUMPF, CHAIRMAN CF THE PREVENTIVE EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY SUB-COMMITTEE OF ACAN, NR C.M. LEUNG, ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS AND DR PATRICK HASE, DISTRICT OFFICER (SHA TIN).
MR WAI SAID THE CAMPAIGN WILL START OFF WITH A +FLAG HOISTING* CEREMONY, AND THERE WILL BE AN EXCITING TELEMATCH TO HIGHLIGHT THE ACTIVITIES. TAKING PART IN THE MATCH WILL BE TEAMS FROM THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD, ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB, HK-TVB, CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, SECONDARY SCHOOLS, AREA COMMITTEES AND FOOTBALL STARS.
THERE WILL ALSO BE PERFORMANCES BY A GURKHA MILITARY BAND AND THE SHA TIN CHILDREN’S CHOIR, AS WELL AS LION AND DRAGON DANCES.
ABOUT 10 000 RESIDENTS AND STUDENTS FROM THE DISTRICT WILL ATTEND THE OPENING CEREMONY.
OTHER PROGRAMMES DURING THE CAMPAIGN PERIOD WILL INCLUDE VARIETY SHOWS, EXHIBITIONS, SEMINAR CAMPS, FILM SHOWS, SCHOOL TALKS, VISITS TO SHEK KWU CHAU TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION CENTRE AND THE TRAINING SCHOOL OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE IN TAI LAM CHUNG, A HORSE-RIDING DAY AND A DISCO-NIGHT, SPEECH AND PAINTING CONTESTS, A TABLE-TENNIS COMPETITION AND A MODEL CAR RACE.
THE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE HAS ALSO PREPARED A WIDE RANGE OF PUBLICITY MATERIAL FOR DISTRIBUTIONS.
+THE SHA TIN DISTRICT ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE HAS DEVOTED SOME FIVE MONTHS’ HARD WORK IN THE PLANNING AND ORGANISATION OF THE PROGRAMMES AND HAS MOBILISED THE MANPOWER AND RESOURCES OF ALL LEADING ASSOCIATIONS, SCHOOLS, YOUTH AND COMMUNITY CENTRES AND COMMERCIAL ORGANISATIONS IN THE DISTRICT.
+THE COMMITTEE, OF COURSE, WORKS CLOSELY WITH AND HAS FULL ASSISTANCE FROM ACAN, THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD AND VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS,* MR WAI SAID.
/DR PATRICK ....
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1982
5
DR PATRICK HASE, WHO ALSO SPOKE AT THE CONFERENCE, SAID THAT SHA TIN IS* A FAST DEVELOPING NEW TOWN ATTRACTING A LARGE MIGRATION OF URBAN DWELLERS TO THE DISTRICT.*
AMONG THESE NEW COMERS, HE POINTED OUT, THERE ARE THOSE UNFORTUNATE ONES WHO FIND THE PACE OF LIFE AND PROBLEMS TOO MUCH, SO THAT SOME OF THEM MAY TURN TO DRUGS.
♦PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE. THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS CAMPAIGN IS TO DISSUADE OUR RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY THE YOUNGER ONES, FROM EVER EXPERIMENTING WITH DRUGS AND TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO TAKE PART IN HEALTHY AND MEANINGFUL ACTIVITIES,♦ HE SAID.
MR C.M. LEUNG TOLD THE CONFERENCE THAT THIS IS THE FIRST ANT I-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN TO BE HELD IN SHA TIN.
HE ADDED THAT THE ACAN HAD PROVIDED 1150 000 TOWARDS CAMPAIGN EXPENSES WHILE THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD AND LOCAL RESIDENTS HAD DONATED A FURTHER $30 000.
MR KARL STUMPF PRAISED THE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE FOR ITS HARD WORK AND SAID THAT THE CAMPAIGN PROGRAMMES WOULD ENLIST THE ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT OF THE COMMUNITY.
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PROPERTY TAX NOTES FOR NEW KOWLOON
M * * * *
PROPERTY TAX PAYERS IN NEW KOWLOON (NORTH OF BOUNDARY STREET) SHOULD HAVE BY NOW RECEIVED DEMAND NOTES FOR TAX FOR THE YEAR OF ASSESSMENT 1981/82.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (MONDAY) THAT THE DEMAND NOTES HAD BEEN SENT TO PROPERTY TAX PAYERS - OWNERS, AGENTS OR OCCUPIERS - WHO PAID RATES ON PROPERTIES IN THE DISTRICT.
♦THOSE WHO HAVE NOT RECEIVED A DEMAND NOTE SHOULD IMMEDIATELY APPLY TO THE PROPERTY TAX SECTION OF THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT AT WINDSOR HOUSE, 17TH FLOOR, 311 GLOUCESTER ROAD, CAUSEWAY BAY, HONG KONG FOR A COPY,* HE SAID.
THE AMOUNT PAYABLE BY FEBRUARY 26 IS INDICATED ON THE DEMAND NOTE BY AN ARROW-HEAD.
♦TO AVOID QUEUEING, PROPERTY TAX PAYERS ARE URGED TO PAY BY CHEQUE OR MONEY ORDER BY POST OR BY GOING EARLY TO ANY OF THE TREASURY’S COLLECTION OFFICES LISTED ON THE BACK OF THE DEMAND NOTE,* HE POINTED OUT.
THOSE WHO WISH TO SEEK ADVICE CAN CONTACT THE PROPERTY TAX SECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT.
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1982
6
ENQUIRIES OFFICE OPENED IN TUEN MUN
* X * *
A PERMANENT COMMUNITY AFFAIRS BRANCH OFFICE (CABO) WAS OPENED IN TUEN MUN TODAY (MONDAY) TO SERVE THE RESIDENTS OF TWO LOCAL PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES AND A HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME DEVELOPMENT.
THE OFFICE IS ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF TING LUNG HOUSE IN ON TING ESTATE.
IT WILL OPEN FROM 8.45 AM TO 5.15 PM ON WEEK-DAYS AND FROM
9 AM TO 12 NOON ON SATURDAYS.
RESIDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO GO THERE TO MAKE STATUTORY DECLARATIONS, FILE COMPLAINTS, GET ANSWERS TO GENERAL ENQUIRIES AND OBTAIN GOVERNMENT PAMPHLETS AND FORMS.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SEEKING FREE LEGAL ADVICE CAN ALSO APPROACH THE BRANCH OFFICE.
A SPOKESMAN FOR TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICE SAID A TEMPORARY CABO HAD BEEN OPENED IN ON TING ESTATE OFFICE FOUR MONTHS AGO AND HAD SERVED THE THE LOCAL POPULATION WELL, BUT THERE WAS A NEED FOR A PERMANENT SITE.
HE SAID BESIDES PROVIDING FACILITIES SIMILAR TO THOSE OF A PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICES CENTRE, THE CABO WOULD ALSO ARRANGE DISTRICT-WIDE CULTURAL EVENTS AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
THE CABO OPENED TODAY IS THE SECOND IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE FIRST BEING OPENED IN MUI WO LAST SEPTEMBER. IT WILL SERVE THE 30 000 RESIDENTS OF ON TING AND YAU 01 PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES AND SIU ON COURT HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME.
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TUEN MUN ROAD TO BE CLOSED FOR THREE NIGHTS
* * * *
MOTORISTS ARE REMINDED THAT FROM 9 PM TONIGHT, THE SECTION OF TUEN MUN ROAD BETWEEN TSUEN WAN AND SHAM TSENG WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC UNTIL 5.30 AM TOMORROW.
THE SAME TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT WILL BE ENFORCED TOMORROW AND ON WEDNESDAY FOR ROAD SURFACING WORKS.
DURING THE CLOSURE PERIODS, EASTBOUND OR TSUEN WAN-BOUND TRAFFIC ON TUEN MUN ROAD WILL BE DIVERTED AT THE SHAM TSENG INTERCHANGE VIA THE SLIP ROAD ONTO CASTLE PEAK ROAD.
WESTBOUND OR TUEN MUN-BOUND TRAFFIC INTENDING TO USE TUEN MUN ROAD WILL HAVE TO USE CASTLE PEAK ROAD AND WILL ALSO BE DIVERTED VIA THE SLIP ROAD AT THE SHAM TSENG INTERCHANGE ONTO TUEN MUN ROAD.
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1982
7
ARTS FESTIVAL YOUTH CONCERT TO * * *
FEATURE WORLD-PREMIERE WORK *
THE MUSIC OFFICE TODAY ANNOUNCED DETAILS OF THE CONCERT TO BE GIVEN ON TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 9) IN THE CITY HALL CONCERT HALL AS PART OF THE 1OTH HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL. THE CONCERT WILL INCLUDE A WORLD PREMIERE OF A SPECIALLY COMMISSIONED WORK.
COMBINING FORCES WILL BE THE 73-STRONG HONG KONG YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND THE 60-MEMBER HONG KONG ISLAND YOUTH CHOIR IN A RICH AND VARIED PROGRAMME OF CHORAL AND ORCHESTRAL WORKS, CONDUCTED BY DAVID STONE.
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH’S 'FESTIVAL OVERTURE’, A BRIGHT, CHEERFUL WORK OPENS THE CONCERT AS A GESTURE OF WELCOME TO THE COMPOSER’S SON AND GRANDSON, WHO ARE ALSO TAKING PART IN THE 1982 ARTS FESTIVAL.
FOLLOWING THIS, THE FIRST PERFORMANCE WILL BE GIVEN OF HONG KONG BASED COMPOSER TIMOTHY WILSON’S WORK, ’DRUM THAT SHOOK HEAVEN’. COMMISSIONED BY THE MUSIC OFFICE FOR THIS ARTS FESTIVAL CONCERT, THE MUSIC IS SCORED FOR WESTERN ORCHESTRA AND DESCRIBES A TRADITIONAL CHINESE LEGEND IN MUSICAL SOUNDS. THE ADVENTURES OF WONG SAN, THE YOUNG FARMER, WHO FALLS IN LOVE WITH ONE OF THE IMMORTALS AND HIS FIGHT WITH THE MONKEY TROUPE ARE VIVIDLY PORTRAYED BY DRUM AND PERCUSSION PLAYING.
IN QUIET CONTRAST, THE WELL-KNOWN CHANDOS ANTHEM ’0 PRAISE THE LORD’, BY HANDEL, WILL FEATURE THE HONG KONG ISLAND YOUTH CHOIR, UNDER ITS CONDUCTOR SILAS NG. SINCE ITS FORMATION IN 1980, THE CHOIR HAS GIVEN A NUMBER OF HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL PERFORMANCES, AND MOST RECENTLY TOOK PART IN MENOTTI’S ’AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS’. MEMBERS OF THE CHOIR ARE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE AND A QUARTER OF THE SINGERS ARE CURRENTLY STUDYING MUSIC.
THE FINAL WORK IN THE CONCERT WILL BE DVORAK’S 8TH SYMPHONY, WHICH REFLECTS THE WARMTH OF HIS SALVONIC TEMPERAMENT WITH ITS LYRICAL AND TUNEFUL DANCES.
CONDUCTING THIS SPECIAL CONCERT WILL BE DAVID STONE WHO IS TODAY MUSIC CONSULTANT TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, A ROLE WHICH HAS RAPIDLY EXPANDED SINCE HIS FIRST APPOINTMENT FOUR YEARS AGO. NOW RESIDENT IN HONG KONG, MR STONE’S DISTINGUISHED CAREER AS A MUSICIAN HAS TAKEN HIM TO MORE THAN 30 COUNTRIES WHERE HE HAS APPEARED AS A SOLOIST, CONDUCTOR AND FOR TWELVE YEARS, A PRINCIPLE PLAYER WITH THE YEHUDI MENUHIN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA. IN ADDITION TO THIS CONCERT WITH THE YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND THE HONG KONG ISLAND YOUTH CHOIR, MR STONE HAS CONDUCTED THE HONG KONG JING YING CHAMBER ORCHESTRA IN CONCERT TOURS TO ISRAEL AND TO AUSTRALIA.
TICKETS FOR THIS CONCERT ON FEBRUARY 9 ARE NOW AVAILABLE FROM THE HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL BOX OFFICE AT CITY HALL AND COST $10, $5 AND $3 FOR STUDENTS.
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1982
8
TUEN MUN INDUSTRIAL SITE FOR TENDER
* * *
TENDERS ARE INVITED FOR DEVELOPMENT OF A TUEN MUN SITE INTO AN INDUSTRIAL ESTATE WITH VARIOUS ANCILLARY AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES.
THE SITE, MEASURING 2.939 HECTARES, IS LOCATED IN THE NEW TOWN AREA CLOSE TO ON TING AND YAU 01 ESTATES.
SALE CONDITIONS PERMIT A TOTAL GROSS FLOOR AREA OF 150 000 SQUARE METRES OF INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT, WHICH WILL BE CONNECTED BY PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES WITH THE ANCILLARY AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES TO BE GROUPED IN A CENTRAL SERVICES BUILDING.
IN THIS BUILDING THERE WILL BE 2 000 SQUARE METRES OF OFFICE ACCOMMODATION, A CAR PARKING AREA, A CANTEEN. A REFUSE-COLLECTION POINT, A NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICING UNIT, A PUBLIC TOILET AND A RECREATIONAL AREA INCLUDING GAMES AND CHANGING ROOMS.
IN ADDITION, THE SUCCESSFUL TENDERER WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FACILITIES INCLUDING A BANKING AREA OF 800 SQUARE METRES, A SMALL SHOPPING AREA OF 400 SQUARE METRES, A PRIVATE NURSERY OR CHILD CARE CENTRE OF 330 SQUARE METRES AND A SMALL CLINIC.
A CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION SPOKESMAN SAID THAT BY PROVIDING PARKING SPACES IN THE SERVICE CORE OF THE LOT, THE LOWER FLOORS OF VARIOUS INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR MORE INTENSIVE INDUSTRIAL USE AND LOADING AND UNLOADING.
THE CLOSING DATE FOR TENDERS IS MARCH 26.
THE SUCCESSFUL TENDERER WILL BE REQUIRED TO PROVIDE MASTER LAYOUT PLANS AND LANDSCAPING PLANS FOR APPROVAL AS NORMALLY REQUIRED FOR LARGE SCALE DEVELOPMENTS.
TENDER FORMS AND SALE CONDITIONS ARE AVAILABLE FROM CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION HEADQUARTERS AND THE EIGHT DISTRICT OFFICES.
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NOTE TO EDITORS:
SIR PHILIP TO SPEAK IN LONDON * * * *
THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, NOW VISITING LONDON, WILL ADDRESS THE OVERSEAS BANKERS’ CLUB AT THEIR ANNUAL BANQUET AT GUILDHALL TOMORROW (TUESDAY) MORNING LOCAL TIME.
SIR PHILIP WILL SPEAK ON +PUBLIC POLICY AND ECONOMIC SUCCESS*.
COPIES OF HIS SPEECH ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION FROM THE GIS PRESS BOXES, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, 5TH FLOOR.
EDITORS ARE REMINDED THAT THE SPEECH IS EMBARGOED UNTIL 5 AM TOMORROW.
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/9 .....
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1982
9
TUEN MUN TO HOLD SPRING FEAST AND VARIETY SHOW FOR THE AGED
* *
FIVE HUNDRED TUEN MUN OLD PEOPLE WILL ATTEND A SPRING FEAST AND VARIETY SHOW TO BE HELD AT THE MADAM LAU KAM LUNG SECONDARY SCHOOL OF MIU FAT BUDDHIST MONASTERY TOMORROW (TUESDAY).
THE FUNCTION HAS BEEN ORGANISED BY TUEN MUN DISTRICT RESPECT FOR THE AGED ASSOCIATION WITH PART OF THE COST BEING PROVIDED BY THE LOCAL DISTRICT BOARD.
OFFICIATING AT THE EVENT WILL BE THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR BILLY LAM, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE RURAL COMMITTEE, MR LAU WONG-FAT.
THE PROGRAMME FOR THE VARIETY SHOW WILL INCLUDE DANCING, SINGING, ACROBATIC AND MAGIC SHOWS, AND A PERFORMANCE BY THE OLD PEOPLE THEMSELVES.
WINNERS OF A RESPECT FOR THE AGED SLOGAN WRITING COMPETITION WHICH ATTRACTED 350 ENTRIES WILL RECEIVE THEIR PRIZES. THREE LOCAL SCHOOL PRINCIPALS JUDGED THE ENTRIES.
THE COMPETITION INCLUDED SECTIONS FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL AND SECONDARY SCHOOL CHILDREN, AN OPEN SECTION AND ONE FOR PEOPLE AGED 60 AND OVER.
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ROAD SECTION TO BE WIDENED
* * *
A SECTION OF CHEUNG WING ROAD, BETWEEN WO Yl HOP ROAD AND THE GYRATORY JUNCTION AT CASTLE PEAK ROAD AND KWAI CHUNG ROAD, WILL BE WIDENED SHORTLY.
A $5 MILLION CONTRACT FOR THE WORK WAS AWARDED BY THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE OF THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TODAY (MONDAY) TO WING FAI CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.
ON COMPLETION, CHEUNG WING ROAD WILL BECOME A TWO-WAY ROAD TO PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE ROUTE FOR TRAFFIC FROM TSUEN WAN TO KWAI CHUNG NORTH AND WILL THUS RELIEVE THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION AT PRESENT EXPERIENCED AT THE GYRATORY JUNCTION AND LEI MUK ROAD.
WORK ON THE PROJECT WILL TAKE ABOUT 12 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1982
10
KWAI
DETAILS OF THIS YEAR’S HELD BETWEEN FEBRUARY 6 AND CONFERENCE AT THE SUN KWONG
CHUNG FESTIVAL
* * *
KWAI CHUNG FESTIVAL, WHICH IS TO BE 21, WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT A PRESS RESTAURANT IN KWAI CHUNG AT 3.30 PM
TOMORROW (TUESDAY).
THE KWAI CHUNG DISTRICT OFFICER, MR FRED TING, AND MEMBERS CF THE FESTIVAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE WILL BE PRESENT.
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE. A GOVERNMENT VEHICLE WILL LEAVE KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER AT 2.30 PM.
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WATER FIGURES
* * *
STORAGE IN HONG KONG’S RESERVOIRS AT 9 AM TODAY (MONDAY) STOOD AT 43.5 PER CENT OF CAPACITY, OR 251.134 MILLION CUBIC METRES.
THIS IS EQUIVALENT TO 212 DAYS’ CONSUMPTION.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR THE RESERVOIRS CONTAINED 281.918 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF WATER, REPRESENTING 48.8 PER CENT OF CAPACITY.
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TAI PO ROAD TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT
* * * *
A SECTION OF TAI PO ROAD NEAR SHA TIN RAILWAY STATION WILL TEMPORARILY BE CONVERTED TO TWO-LANE TRAFFIC, BETWEEN 8 PM AND 6 AM FROM TOMORROW (TUESDAY) TO FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 5) FOR CONSTRUCTION WORK ON A RAILWAY STATION BRIDGE.
o
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1982
CONTENTS PAGE NO,
ONE WEEK LEFT FOR NOMINATIONS ................................. 1
FIRST DENTAL THERAPISTS TO GRADUATE............................ 2
SECOND TUEN HUN ROAD CARRIAGEWAY TO BE OPENED.................. 3
TAI PO HISTORY EXHIBITION OPENS ............................... 4
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF ROAD SECTION ............................. 4
FESTIVAL FOR KWAI CHUNG RESIDENTS ............................. 5
SHA TIN SPRING PARTY .......................................... 6
3770 500 IN FINES FOR LABOUR OFFENCES ......................... 6
CHINESE EDITION OF HK NARCOTICS REPORT 1980 ON SaLE
7
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1982
ONE WEEK LEFT FOR NOMINATIONS ******
WITH ONLY A WEEK TO GO BEFORE THE NOMINATION PERIOD CLOSES, POTENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR NEXT MONTH’S NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS WERE REMINDED TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT THEY SHOULD NOT DELAY COMPLETING FORMALITIES.
THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR IAN MACPHERSON, WHO WAS SPEAKING AT THE LUNCH MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF HONG KONG NORTH-WEST. SAID THE CLOSING DATE FOR NOMINATIONS IS NEXT TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 9) AND ELECTIONS WILL TAKE PLACE ON MARCH 4.
+TO DATE, OVER 60 CANDIDATES HAVE BEEN NOMINATED AND MANY MORE POTENTIAL CANDIDATES HAVE INDICATED THEIR INTEREST IN STANDING FOR ELECTION AND TAKEN THE NECESSARY FORMS AWAY FOR COMPLETION.
♦AS I GO AROUND THE NEW TERRITORIES I SENSE A LOT OF INTEREST AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IN THE WEEK REMAINING MAN'r MORE CANDIDATES WILL COMPLETE THE NOMINATION PROCESS IN ORDER TO CONTEST THE 56 ELECTED SEATS IN THE 46 NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT BOARD CONSTITUENCIES.
+NOMINATION PROCEDURES ARE SIMPLE AND CAN BE COMPLETED AT ANY NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT OFFICE,* MR MACPHERSON SAID.
BESIDES HE ADDED, ONCE A PERSON IS NOMINATED, HE OR SHE CAN START CAMPAIGNING STRAIGHT AWAY.
MR MACPHERSON SAID NOMINATIONS STARTED WITH A TRICKLE, BUT HAVE BEEN BUILDING UP.
+ NOW THAT THE HOLIDAY IS OVER, I CONFIDENTLY EXPECT THAT THERE WILL BE PEOPLE COMING FORWARD IN ALL EIGHT DISTRICTS,* HE SAID.
HE SAID DISTRICT BOARDS ARE INTENDED TO IMPROVE LOCAL ADMINISTRATION AND HAVE ALREADY DONE A GREAT DEAL IN THIS RESPECT.
+1 AM CERTAIN THAT THE INCLUSION OF ELECTED MEMBERS ON BOARDS WILL CARRY THIS WORK MUCH FURTHER FORWARD- SO, AT THE SAME TIME THAT I AM APPEALING FOR CANDIDATES TO COME FORWARD FOR NOMINATION WITHOUT DELAY, I AM ALSO APPEALING TO THE 200 000 NEW TERRITORIES VOTERS WHO REGISTERED NOT TO MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO CAST THEIR VOTES ON MARCH 4.+
MR MACPHERSON ALSO REMINDED ROTARIANS THAT ELECTIONS TO DISTRICT BOARDS IN THE URBAN AREA WILL BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 23.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1982
2
FIRST DENTAL THERAPISTS TO GRADUATE
* * * *
THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT’S DENTAL THERAPISTS TRAINING SCHOOL HAS PRODUCED ITS FIRST GRADUATES WHO WILL HELP RUN ITS SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE.
THE DENTAL SCHEME HAS BEEN IN OPERATION FOR TWO YEARS AND IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY POPULAR.
THERE ARE 80 000 PRIMARY ONE AND TWO PUPILS REGISTERED IN THE SCHEME, MORE THAN DOUBLE LAST YEAR’S 35 000.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID A SECOND SCHOOL DENTAL CLINIC WILL BE OPENED ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 8) AT ARGYLE STREET TO SERVE CHILDREN LIVING IN KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE SCHEME WAS STARTED IN OCTOBER 1980, WITH ONE SCHOOL DENTAL CLINIC AT MACLEHOSE DENTAL CENTRE, WANCHAI TO TREAT PRIMARY ONE CHILDREN IN THE FIRST YEAR.
IT WILL BE PROGRESSIVELY EXTENDED EACH YEAR TO TAKE IN PUPILS IN THE HIGHER GRADES UNTIL THEY REACH PRIMARY SIX.
THE SERVICE PROVIDES SCHOOL CHILDREN WITH ROUTINE DENTAL CARE, INCLUDING A FULL DENTAL EXAMINATION, FILLINGS, SCALING. CLEANING OF TEETH AND IF NECESSARY, EXTRACTION, AT A FEE OF S5 A YEAR.
PUPILS IN THE SCHEME ARE ATTENDED BY DENTAL THERAPISTS UNDER THE DIRECTION AND SUPERVISION OF QUALIFIED GOVERNMENT DENTISTS.
DENTAL THERAPISTS HAVE TO UNDERGO A THREE-YEAR TRAINING COURSE RUN BY THE DENTAL SERVICE OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT AT THE TANG SHIU KIN DENTAL THERAPISTS TRAINING SCHOOL.
THE SCHOOL WAS OPENED IN 1978 TO PRODUCE 30 DENTAL THERAPISTS EACH YEAR.
THE FIRST GROUP OF 31 DENTAL THERAPISTS WHO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE THREE-YEAR COURSE GRADUATED LAST OCTOBER AND HAVE BEEN ATTENDING TO CHILDREN UNDER 18.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
THE GRADUATION CEREMONY OF DENTAL THERAPISTS WILL BE HELD AT TANG SHIU KIN DENTAL THERAPISTS TRAINING SCHOOL, MACLEHOSE DENTAL CENTRE, QUEEN’S ROAD EAST, WANCHA I, ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 4) AT 2.45 PM, WITH THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR K.L. THONG AND MRS THONG OFFICIATING.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1982
- 5 -
SECOND TUEN MUN ROAD CARRIAGEWAY TO BE OPENED
* * * *
THE GOVERNMENT HIGHWAY ENGINEER, MR KWE I SEE-KAN, TODAY INSPECTED THE SECOND CARR I AGE.'/AY OF TUEN MUN ROAD BETWEEN TSUEN WAN AND SHAM TSENG WHICH WILL BE OPENED TO TRAFFIC ON THURSDAY.
THIS SECTION OF ROAD, EXTENDING JUST OVER FIVE KILOMETRES, FORMS PART OF TUEN MUN ROAD STAGE TWO NOW ABOUT 75 PER CENT COMPLETE.
THE FIRST PART OF THE 17-KILOMETRE HIGHWAY, CONSISTING OF A VIADUCT AT SHAM TSENG, WAS OPENED TO TRAFFIC IN JANUARY LAST YEAR.
+WORK ON THE REMAINDER OF THE SECOND CARRIAGEWAY, FROM SHAM TSENG TO TUEN MUN AND ON AN ELEVATED ROAD LINKING THE HIGHWAY WITH CASTLE PEAK ROAD AT TSUEN WAN IS IN PROGRESS AND IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED EARLY NEXT YEAR,* MR KWEI SAID.
MR KWEI POINTED OUT THAT AFTER THE OPENING OF THE TSUEN WAN-SHAM TSENG SECTION ON THURSDAY, THREE TRAFFIC LANES WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO MOTORISTS TRAVELLING FROM TSUEN WAN TO SHAM TSENG.
+TRAFFIC GOING EAST FROM SHAM TSENG TO TSUEN WAN WILL CONTINUE TO USE THE EXISTING FIRST CARRIAGEWAY. INITIALLY ONLY TWO OF THE THREE LANES WILL BE USED AS WORK WILL NEED TO BE CARRIED OUT TO CHANGE THE EXISTING ROAD MARKINGS ON THE OLD CARR I AGEWAY,+ HE SAID.
+IT IS EXPECTED THAT MODIFICATION WORK TO THE MARKINGS ON THE FIRST CARRIAGEWAY WILL BE COMPLETED IN A FEW WEEKS WHEN ALL THREE LANES OF THE FIRST CARRIAGEWAY BETWEEN SHAM TSENG AND TSUEN WAN WILL BE OPENED TO EASTBOUND TRAFFIC.*
WORK WOULD CONTINUE ON BOTH CARRIAGEWAYS TO PROVIDE REFLECTIVE ROAD STUDS AND CRASH BARRIERS AT APPROPRIATE LOCATIONS.
AT THE SHAM TSENG AND TSUEN WAN ENDS OF THE DUAL CARRIAGEWAY WHERE THE ROAD WILL REVERT TO A SINGLE CARRIAGEWAY FOR TWO-WAY TRAFFIC, PROMINENT SIGNS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED TO WARN MOTORISTS CF THE CHANGE.
MR KWE I APPEALED TO MOTORISTS TO FOLLOW THESE SIGNS WHILE APPROACHING SHAM TSENG OR TSUEN WAN AND TO KEEP WITHIN THE SPEED LIMIT OF 40 M.P.H.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1992
- 4 -
TAI PO HISTORY EXHIBITION OPENS
* * *
A TAI PO HISTORY EXHIBITION, WHICH INCLUDES SOME ITEMS OVER 300 YEARS OLD, WAS OPENED TODAY (TUESDAY) BY THE DISTRICT OFFICER, fR NICKY LO.
IT IS PART OF THE DISTRICT’S 18-DAY LUNAR NEW YEAR FESTIVAL AND TRACES THE HISTORY OF TAI PO - WHICH ORIGINALLY MEANT 'BIG STRIDE’ - BACK TO SUNG DYNASTY TIMES WHEN THE FIRST SETTLERS ARRIVED FROM FUJIAN PROVINCE.
IT SHOWS HOW THE TOWN HAS GROWN FROM AN AGRICULTURAL CENTRE INTO A NEW TOWN, WITH A POPULATION OF 3 000 TO 4 000 IN THE 1500’S TO A PRESENT FIGURE OF 73 000. IT ALSO LOOKS INTO THE FUTURE WHEN TAI PO WILL BE A NEW TOWN WITH 236 000 INHABITANTS.
THE EXHIBITION IS DIVIDED INTO TWO SECTIONSi ONE SHOWING PRE-1960 TAI PO AND THE OTHER SHOWING THE TOWN FROM THE 196O’S ONWARDS, WHEN MUCH OF ITS DEVELOPMENT AS A NEW TOWN HAS OCCURRED.
MR LO THANKED LOCAL VILLAGERS, RURAL LEADERS, THE URBAN COUNCIL’S MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY, FOR HELPING TO COLLECT THE ITEMS ON DISPLAY.
AMONG THE ITEMS ON SHOW ARE BOWLS AND DISHES FROM WUN YIU VILLAGE MADE DURING THE LATE MING/EARLY CHING DYNASTY PERIOD, A PORTRAIT OF A TANG CLAN ANCESTOR, AND SCHOLARS' TABLETS WHICH ARE MORE THAN 100 YEARS OLD.
THE EXHIBITION HAS BEEN ORGANISED BY TAI PO LUNAR NEW YEAR FESTIVAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE AND WILL LAST SEVEN DAYS. IT IS BEING HELD AT THE RURAL COMMITTEE OFFICE DAILY FROM 10 AM TO 4 PM.
0
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF ROAD SECTION
* * K
A SECTION OF PRINCE EDWARD ROAD NEAR EMBANKMENT ROAD WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC BETWEEN 1 AM AND 5 AM FROM THURSDAY TO SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 6), FOR DISMANTLING WORK TO BE CARRIED OUT UNDER THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY BRIDGE.
DURING THE CLOSURE, VEHICLES ALONG EASTBOUND PRINCE EDWARD ROAD WILL BE DIVERTED VIA SAI YEE STREET AND BOUNDARY STREET, AND WEST-BOUND TRAFFIC MAY USE EMBANKMENT ROAD AND BOUNDARY STREET.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1982
- 5 -
FESTIVAL FOR KWAI CHUNG RESIDENTS
*****
MORE THAN 30 ACTIVITIES ARE PLANNED FOR THE THREE-WEEK KWAI CHUNG FESTIVAL WHICH STARTS ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 6).
ACTIVITIES WILL BE STAGED IN EACH OF THE SIX KWAI CHUNG AREAS.
ABOUT $200 000 WILL BE SPENT ON THE FESTIVAL, OF WHICH $130 000 IS BEING PROVIDED BY TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BOARD AND THE REST WILL COME FROM LOCAL DONATIONS.
AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY (TUESDAY), KWAI CHUNG DISTRICT OFFICER, MR FRED TING, SAID IT ^AS AH OPPORTUNE TIME TO HOLD THE FESTIVAL, JUST A MONTH BEFORE THE NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS.
♦ WE HOPE RESIDENTS WILL APPRECIATE THE WORK DONE BY TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS AND COME FORWARD TO VOTE,+ HE SAID.
THE FESTIVAL OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE HELD AT KWAI CHUNG SPORTSGROUND AT 3 PM AND INCLUDE A TWO-HOUR PROGRAMME OF LION AND DRAOON DANCES, SINGING AND AN ORCHESTRAL PERFORMANCE.
ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE I
* A TOUR TO THE SUNG DYNASTY CITY AND SPACE MUSEUM, A PAINTING COMPETITION, A TELE-MATCH AND A VARIETY SHOW FOR SOUTH KWAI CHUNG RESIDENTS"
* A ROUND-THE-ESTATE WALK, A ROLLER-SKATING AND RADIO-CONTROLLED CAR DEMONSTRATION, AND A VARIETY SHOW FOR SHEK LEI ESTATE RESIDENTS-
* A PICNIC TO SAI KUNG, A TRIP TO THE SPACE MUSEUM, AN EXHIBITION AND A FILM SHOW FOR WEST KWAI CHUNG RESIDENTS-
* A SINGING CONTEST, A TELE-MATCH, A VARIETY SHOW AND GAMES STALLS FOR CENTRAL KWAI CHUNG RESIDENTS-
* A PARACHUTE PERFORMANCE, A FRIENDLY FOOTBALL MATCH, A TELE-MATCH, GAMES STALLS AND A VARIETY SHOW FOR NORTH KWAI CHUNG RESIDENTS- AND
* A ROUND-THE-ESTATE WALK, A CANTONESE OPERA AND A VARIETY SHOW FOR KWAI SHING ESTATE RESIDENTS.
ALSO PRESENT AT TODAY'S PRESS CONFERENCE WERE MEMBERS OF THE FESTIVAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE, DRAWN MAINLY FROM AREA COMMITTEES, LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS AND THE DISTRICT BOARD.
KWAI CHUNG HAS A POPULATION OF ABOUT 410 000.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1982
6
SHA TIN SPRING PARTY ******
MORE THAN 400 GUESTS ATTENDED A SPRING PARTY ORGANISED BY SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICE TODAY (TUESDAY).
AMONG THOSE PRESENT WERE THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR IAN MACPHERSON- THE SHA TIN RURAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, MR WAI HON-LEUNG- A LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADER, MR NG CHAN-LAM, AS WELL AS SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
THE DISTRICT OFFICER, DR PATRICK HASE, EXPRESSED HIS THANKS FOR ALL LOCAL SPONSORSHIP AND PARTICIPATION, WHICH HE SAID HAD CONTRIBUTED TO A SUCCESSFUL YEAR.
♦THE SHA TIN ARTS FORTNIGHT, WHICH WAS THE FIRST ATTEMPT OF ITS KIND IN THE DISTRICT, WAS WELL RECEIVED AND SIMILAR EVENTS WILL BE ORGANISED IN THE FUTURE,♦ HE SAID.
SHA TIN WOULD EXPERIENCE GROWTH IN THE COMING YEARj ITS POPULATION IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES WOULD INCREASE BY 40 000, A NEW HOSPITAL AT YUEN CHAU KOK WOULD BE COMPLETED, AND THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY WOULD BE ELECTRIFIED, HE SAID.
HE REMINDED GUESTS THAT NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS NEXT MONTH WOULD CLOSE NEXT TUESDAY, (FEBRUARY 9) AND URGED FULL PARTICIPATION AND SUPPORT.
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$770 500 IN FINES FOR LABOUR OFFENCES
* * * *
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TOOK OUT 915 PROSECUTIONS FOR BREACH CF LABOUR LEGISLATION IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR, AND THE FINES IMPOSED BY THE COURTS AMOUNTED TO $770 500.
MOST OF THE CASES CONCERNED BREACHES OF THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE AND ITS VARIOUS SUBSIDIARY REGULATIONS, THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE AND THE WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS (INDUSTRY) REGULATIONS.
CASES RELATED TO VIOLATIONS OF SAFETY REGULATIONS TOTALLED 284, RESULTING IN FINES OF $382 350. THESE INCLUDED 143 CASES (WITH $145 200 IN FINES) FOR BREACH OF THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (GUARDING AND OPERATION OF MACHINERY) REGULATIONS AND 115 CASES (WITH $208 800 IN FINES) FOR BREACH CF THE CONSTRUCTION SITES (SAFETY) REGULATIONS.
CASES CONCERNING BREACHES CF THE WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS (INDUSTRY) REGULATIONS ACCOUNTED FOR 543 WITH $325 050 IN FINES.
OF THE OTHER PROSECUTIONS, 12 CASES RELATED TO FAILURE TO KEEP RECORDS OF EMPLOYEES, LEADING TO $8 600 IN FINES.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1982
7
CHINESE EDITION OF HK NARCOTICS REPORT 1980 ON SALE *****
THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS HAS PUBLISHED THE CHINESE EDITION OF THE HONG KONG NARCOTICS REPORT 1980 TODAY (TUESDAY).
THE REPORT GIVES A FULL ACCOUNT OF THE CHANGING CHARACTERISTICS OF HONG KONG’S NARCOTICS SCENE AS WELL AS ALL IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE VARIOUS MAJOR ACTION PROGRAMMES BEING CARRIED OUT.
IT ALSO CONTAINS A CHAPTER ON *A DECADE OF ACHIEVEMENT 1971- 1980+, OUTLINING THE REMARKABLE DEVELOPMENTS WHICH TOOK PLACE THROUGH THESE YEARS, WHICH HAVE ATTRACTED WORLD-WIDE ATTENTION AND RECOGNITION.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE ACAN SAID THE REPORT IS AN INFORMATIVE AND HIGHLY READABLE DOCUMENT FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO ARE INTERESTED IN KNOWING MORE ABOUT THE SERIOUS AND LONG-STANDING SOCIAL PROBLEMS OF NARCOTICS TRAFFICKINGS AND ADDICTION IN HONG KONG.
THE CHINESE EDITION OF THE REPORT WILL BE ON SALE TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) AT 115 PER COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL.
THE REPORT’S ENGLISH EDITION, WHICH WAS RELEASED IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR, ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT THE CENTRE.
o
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1982
CONTENTS PAGE NO,
PLAN TO EXTEND WATER SUPPLY TO VILLAGES ....................... 1
HONG KONG ACCEPTS MFA ......................................... 2
TALKS ON FRENCH RESTRICTIONS ADJOURNED ........................ 3
FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION SEMINAR FOR TSUEN WAN EMPLOYERS........ 3
THEN MUN RESIDENTS CELEBRATE LANTERN FESTIVAL.................. 4
WATER SPORTS CENTRE............................................ 4
SHORT-TERM LAND TENANCY AVAILABLE.............................. 5
DEADLINE FOR PHOTO CONTEST EXTENDED............................ 5
LOGO SOUGHT FOR EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD ........................ 6
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1982
1
PLAN TO EXTEND WATER SUPPLY TO VILLAGES X X X * M
THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT IS TO EXTEND MAINS WATER SUPPLY TO MANY ADDITIONAL NEW TERRITORIES’ VILLAGES BY THE END OF 1984.
THE GOVERNMENT WATER ENGINEER (DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING), MR LEUNG KWOK-WAI,.SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) +DURING THE COMING fHREE YEARS THE DEPARTMENT WILL EXPAND EXISTING SUPPLY ZONES TO INCLUDE ADDITIONAL VILLAGES AT A TOTAL COST OF $77 MILLION AND BY THE END OF THE PERIOD IT IS THE INTENTION THAT ALL VILLAGES WITHIN THESE ZONES WILL BE PROVIDED WITH SUPPLY.*
FIVE-HUNDRED-AND-FIVE VILLAGES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES HAVE ALREADY BEEN PROVIDED WITH METERED SUPPLY AND 348 VILLAGES WITH STANDPIPE SUPPLY.
THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, HAS BEEN COLLECTING INFORMATION CONCERNING LOCATIONS AND SIZES OF VILLAGES SINCE APRIL LAST YEAR.
MR LEUNG POINTED OUT THAT ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A SHORTAGE OF PROFESSIONAL STAFF IN THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT EVERY EFFORT WOULD BE MADE TO CARRY OUT THE PROGRAMMES ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE.
♦HOWEVER, CONTINUOUS RECRUITMENT EXERCISES ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED BOTH LOCALLY AND OVERSEAS FOR NECESSARY PROFESSIONAL STAFF,+ HE SAID.
NEW WORKS TO EXPAND THE SUPPLY ZONES INCLUDEi-
* SAN TIN, SAN WAI — THE LAYING OF A 6OO-MM-DIAMETER MAINS ALONG CASTLE PEAK ROAD TO EXTEND SUPPLY TO VILLAGES LOCATED BETWEEN SHEUNG SHU I AND YUEN LONG.
* PAT HEUNG — THE LAYING OF 1 400-MM-DIAMETER MAINS ALONG KAM TIN ROAD AND KAM SHEUNG ROAD TO UPRATE AND TO EXTEND SUPPLY TO VILLAGES IN KAM TIN, PAT HEUNG AND SHEK KONG AREAS.
M SAI KUNG — THE LAYING OF WATER MAINS OF VARIOUS SIZES TO EXTEND SUPPLY TO VILLAGES FROM PAK TAM CHUNG TO TAI AU MUN.
* SOUTH LANTAO — THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SERVICE RESERVOIR, THE INSTALLATION OF ADDITIONAL PUMPS AND FILTERS AND THE LAYING OF WATER MAINS ALONG SOUTH LANTAO ROAD TO UP-RATE THE SUPPLY TO CHEUNG SHA AND TO EXTEND THE SUPPLY FROM SHU I HAU TO PUI 0.
MR LEUNG SAID THE DEPARTMENT WOULD SPEND $29 MILLION ON ORDERING MATERIALS FOR THE FOUR PROJECTS IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR (1982/83).
IN ADDITION, MAJOR NEW WORKS TO MEET THE FAST GROWING DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEW TERRITORIES ARE WELL IN HAND.
/these include .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1982
2
THESE INCLUDE THE EXTENSION OF METERED SUPPLY TO RESIDENTS ALONG CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD BETWEEN THE FOOTHILLS OF FEI NGO SHAN AND PIK UK FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF THE FEI NGO SHAN-TSENG LAN SHUE SUPPLY SYSTEM, THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TEMPORARY TREATMENT WORKS AT SAI KUNG, IMPROVEMENTS OF THE CHEUNG CHAU WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM, EXTENSION WORKS TO THE TAI 0 WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM AND THE LAYING OF A SUBMARINE PIPELINE TO KAT 0.
NEW WORKS ON THE LAMMA WATER SUPPLY SCHEME INCLUDE THE LAYING OF A SUBMARINE PIPELINE BETWEEN LAMMA AND HONG KONG ISLAND, THE CONSTRUCTION OF SERVICE RESERVOIRS AND THE LAYING OF DISTRIBUTION MAINS WILL BE COMPLETED IN THE MIDDLE OF 1983 WHEN MAINS WATER SUPPLY WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO 15 000 LAMMA RESIDENTS.
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HONG KONG ACCEPTS MFA
XXX
O111 HONG KONG HAS FORMALLY ACCEPTED THE PROTOCOL EXTENDING THE M0NTHSFUNTKAJULYG31EN1986FA F°R A PERI0D 0F F0UR YEARS AND SEVEN
_. *N A STATEMENT ISSUED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THIS HAD BEEN DONE THE UN,TED KINGDOM GOVERNMENT ON HONG KONG’S BEHALF IN THE THEMGATTAONEJANUARY 2|CEFTA^CE SENT T0 THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF
MFA FR0VIDES THE FRAMEWORK UNDER WHICH BILATERAL AGREEMENTS REGARD,NG INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN TEXTILES OF COTTON, MAN-MADE » BE NEGOTIATED. AT PRESENT HONG KONG HAS
BILATERAL AGREEMENTS WITH SIX OF ITS TRADING PARTNERS.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1982
3
TALKS ON FRENCH RESTRICTIONS ADJOURNED M * *
A FIRST ROUND OF CONSULTATIONS WITH THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION ON FRENCH IMPORT RESTRICTIONS HAS BEEN ADJOURNED IN GENEVA.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY. THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS, MR BILL DORWARD, SAID THIS PRELIMINARY EXCHANGE HAD BEEN TO ALLOW EACH SIDE TO CONSIDER THE OTHER’S POSITION BEFORE RESUMING THE TALKS IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS’ TIME.
THE CONSULTATIONS WERE HELD BETWEEN A HONG KONG DELEGATION LED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF TRADE, MR LAWRENCE MILLS AND A DELEGATION FROM THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION IN THE PRESENCE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEMBER STATES OF THE EEC.
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FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION SEMINAR FOR TSUEN WAN EMPLOYERS K M M K »
ABOUT 50 TSUEN WAN FACTORY AND COMPANY OWNERS ARE TO ATTEND A HALF-DAY SEMINAR AIMED AT IMPROVING THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR EMPLOYEES AND ACHIEVING BETTER PRODUCTION.
ENTITLED ^POPULATION AND FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION FOR EMPLOYERS*, THE SEMINAR IS BEING JOINTLY ORGANISED BY TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICE, TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BOARD’S INDUSTRIAL SUB-COMMITTEE AND THE CHINESE MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION AND WILL BE HELD ON FRIDAY AT THE CALIPH ROOM, AMBASSADOR HOTEL, STARTING AT 1.30 PM.
THE SEMINAR WILL STRESS TO MANAGEMENT THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION AMONG WORKERS.
THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR LUI HAU-TUEN, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING.
OTHER SPEAKERS ARE MR LAM KIN-MING, TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BOARD’S INDUSTRIAL SUB-COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN- MR CHENG KWAN-KUEN, DISTRICT SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER- MRS PEGGY LAM, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION, AND MR PAUL LEE, THE CMA’S EDUCATION OFFICER.
THE SEMINAR IS ALSO PART OF A UNITED NATIONS-FUNDED PROGRAMME ON +POPULATION AND FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION* LAUNCHED HERE IN 1980. PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAMME ARE THE CMA, THE FPA, AND THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THE OPENING CEREMONY AT 1.30 PM. ON FRIDAY.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1982
- 4 -
TUEN MUN RESIDENTS CELEBRATE LANTERN FESTIVAL ft ft ft
TUEN MUN RESIDENTS WILL CELEBRATE THE LANTERN-FESTIVAL (THE FIRST FULL MOON OF THE LUNAR YEAR) WITH A VARIETY SHOW ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 8).
THE ’TUEN MUN DISTRICT HAPPY GATHERING ON FIRST FULL MOON’ WILL BE HELD AT SHUN TAK FRATERNAL ASSOCIATION LEUNG KAU KU I COLLEGE.
OFFICIATING AT THE EVENT WILL BE THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR BILLY LAM, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE RURAL COMMITTEE, MR LAU WONG-FAT.
THE PROGRAMME HAS BEEN ORGANISED BY A COMMITTEE COMPRISING REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICE, THE COMMUNITY AND YOUTH OFFICE, LOCAL SCHOOLS AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.
PERFORMANCES WILL START AT 6.30 PM, AND INCLUDE CHINESE MUSIC, FOLK DANCES, CANTONESE POP SONG SINGING, MAGIC AND ACROBATIC SHOWS, SINGING BY THE LOCAL CHILDREN’S CHOIR AND A LUCKY DRAW. THERE WILL ALSO BE A LANTERN RIDDLE-SOLVING CONTEST.
TICKETS WHICH ARE FREE ARE AVAILABLE AT THE DISTRICT OFFICE, THE ON TING/YAU 01 ESTATE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS BRANCH OFFICE, SAM SHING ESTATE OFFICE, TAI HING COMMUNITY HALL, THE YOUNG WOMEN’S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION TUEN MUN OFFICE AND THE RURAL COMMITTEE OFFICE.
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NOTE TO EDITORSi
WATER SPORTS CENTRE ft ft ft
THE SECRETARY FOR CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION. MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, WILL OFFICIALLY LAY THE FOUNDATION STONE AT THE CHONG HING WATER SPORTS CENTRE AT THE HIGH ISLAND RESERVOIR, SAI KUNG AT 3 PM, TOMORROW (THURSDAY).
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CEREMONY WHICH WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A DEMONSTRATION OF CANOEING AND SAILING ON THE ARTIFICIAL LAKE BETWEEN THE COFFER DAM AND THE MAIN DAM OF THE RESERVOIR.
TRANSPORT TO THE CENTRE WILL BE PROVIDED AND MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE REQUESTED TO BOARD A COACH WHICH WILL BE STATIONED BEHIND THE YOUNG MEN’S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION IN MIDDLE ROAD, TSIM SHA TSUI, NOT LATER THAN 1 PM TOMORROW (FEBRUARY 4).
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1982
5
SHORT-TERM LAND TENANCY AVAILABLE
* * *
TENDERS FOR A SHORT-TERM TENANCY OF A PIECE OF CROWN LAND AT SAN PO KONG, KOWLOON ARE BEING SOUGHT BY THE CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE.
THE 8 9OO-SQUARE-METRE SITE, SITUATED AT PO KONG VILLAGE ROAD, IS FOR THE STORAGE.OF TENANT’S GOODS, VEHICLES, (INCLUDING FEEPAYING LORRY PARK) AND CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT (INCLUDING CONCRETE/ ASPHALT BATCHING).
THE TENANCY IS FOR AN INITIAL PERIOD OF ONE YEAR AND QUARTERLY THEREAFTER.
CLOSING DATE FOR TENDERS IS AT NOON ON FEBRUARY 19.
TENDER FORMS AND CONDITIONS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE, 19TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG, AND 1OTH FLOOR, KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 405 NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON.
TENDER PLANS MAY ALSO BE INSPECTED AT THESE LOCATIONS.
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DEADLINE FOR PHOTO CONTEST EXTENDED
O M
THE CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES TO THE PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION ON +NT IN 1981 IN PHOTOS* ORGANISED BY THE CULTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT NEW TERRITORIES PUBLIC LIBRARIES, HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO FEBRUARY 28.
THE COMPETITION BE ACCEPTED.
IS OPEN TO ALL AND MULTIPLE ENTRIES WILL
ENTRIES WILL BE DIVIDED INTO FOUR SECTIONS COMPRISING COLOUR AND BLACK AND WHITE CATEGORIES. THEY SHOULD BE SUBMITTED WITH AN ENTRY FORM AND A DESCRIPTION IN NOT MORE THAN 50 WORDS OF THE THEME OF THE PHOTO.
APPLICATION FORMS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT ALL NEW TERRITORIES PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND ALL ENTRIES MUST BE SENT TO THESE LIBRARIES ON OR BEFORE THE DEADLINE.
TROPHIES AND SOUVENIR PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED TO THE FIRST THREE WINNERS OF EACH GROUP.
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/6........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1982
6
LOGO SOUGHT FOR EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD * * *
THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD IS LOOKING FOR A DISTINCTIVE LOGO OF ITS OWN THROUGH AN OPEN COMPETITION IN A BID TO PROJECT ITS IMAGE.
DETAILS OF THE LOGO DESIGN COMPETITION WERE ANNOUNCED TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICE (EASTERN) SAID TODAY THAT THE COMPETITION IS AIMED AT OBTAINING A LOGO DESIGN FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD WHICH CAN REFLECT THE WORK OF THE BOARD AND THE SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EASTERN DISTRICT (FROM WESTERN EDGE OF VICTORIA PARK, EAST OF TUNG LO WAN ROAD TO THE COASTLINE OF CHAI WAN.
THE COMPETITION IS OPEN TO ALL PEOPLE LIVING IN HONG KONG, REGARDLESS OF AGE OR NATIONALITY.
A CASH AWARD WILL BE MADE FOR THE BEST THREE DESIGNS. THE FIRST PRIZE WILL BE $2 OOO, WITH 11 000 FOR THE SECOND AND 1500 FOR THE THIRD. IN ADDITION, THE FIRST THREE BEST ENTRIES WILL RECEIVE A SOUVENIR.
THE BEST ENTRY WILL BE USED FOR PRINTING ON LETTERHEADS AND IN PUBLICITY PROJECTS ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD.
ENTRIES SHOULD BE MADE ON A SHEET OF WHITE DRAWING PAPER MEASURING 30 CM BY 30 CM WITH THE NAME, SEX, AGE, IDENTITY CARD NUMBER, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF THE PARTICIPANTS WRITTEN ON THE BACK. THERE SHOULD ALSO BE A BRIEF EXPLANATORY NOTE ON THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE DESIGN. NO MORE THAN THREE COLOURS SHOULD BE USED.
THE CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES WILL BE FRIDAY, MARCH 12.
ALL ENTRIES WILL BE JUDGED BY A VETTING COMMITTEE CONSISTING OF EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS AND TWO PROFESSIONAL DESIGNERS.
DETAILS OF THE COMPETITION ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICE (EASTERN), 884 - 886 KING’S ROAD, ITS SUB-OFFICES AND ALL CITY DISTRICT OFFICES.
- 0 -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1982
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GOVERNOR WOKS OVER CLEARANCE WORK IN KWUN TONG.............. 1
CHONG HING WATER SPORTS CENTRE ............................. 2
SCHOOL DENTAL CARE SERVICE ................................. 5
POPULATION ESTIMATED AT 5 207 000 .......................... 4
APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR RESIDENTIAL COACH SERVICE ......... 5
BETTER CONDITIONS FOR WONG TAI SIN SQUATTERS ............... 6
TRAIN SERVICE REDUCED FOR ENGINEERING WORKS ................ 7
YUEN LONG SPRING PARTY ..................................... 7
OVERSEAS TRIPS FOR OUTSTANDING CYC MEMBERS ................. 8
LANTERN RIDDLE FAIR FOR THE PUBLIC ........................ 9
TSUEN WAN TOWN MANAGER TALKS ABOUT HONG KONG HISTORY ....... 1j
BIG RURAL AREA AND COUNTRYSIDE CLEAN-UP ................. 11
GOVERNOR TO VISIT TAI PO ................................... 12
BEATING THE RETREAT
12
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1982
1
GOVERNOR LOOKS OVER CLEARANCE WORK IN KWUN TONG * * * *
THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE THIS AFTERNOON (THURSDAY) VISITED KWUN TONG DISTRICT TO LOOK OVER CLEARANCE WORK BEING CARRIED OUT ON ILLEGAL STRUCTURES IN THE INDUSTRIAL AREA.
HE SAID HE WAS +VERY IMPRESSED* WITH THE WORK BEING DONE TO CLEAR THE ILLEGAL STRUCTURES.
♦THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD HAVE SET ABOUT IT IN A PRACTICAL WAY- THEY HAVE GOOD SUPPORT FROM THE DISTRICT AND THE OPERATION IS HAVING RESULTS,* SIR MURRAY SAID.
tuc THE REGI0NAL SECRETARY (CITY), MR GRAHAM BARNES-
J^L^’TY DISTR|CT COMMISSIONER FOR KWUN TONG, MR DAVID TSUI- AND
0FFICER» MR ERIC CHOI, SIR MURRAY PROCEEDED TO TSUN H01 YUEN R0AD WHERE HE SAW THE BACKLANES BEING ILLEGALLY OCCUPIED BY COOKED FOOD STALLS.
THE ,LLEGAL OCCUPATION BY THE FOOD STALLS AunTH5.YA?n^T$Ee.«AyE T0 USE THE MAIN THOROUGHFARES FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING THEIR GOODS, AND THIS HAS ADDED TO THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN THE AREA. THE OPERATION OF THE COOKED FOOD STALLS ALSO POSES HEALTH AND FIRE HAZARDS.
THE GOVERNOR WAS BRIEF BY MR IN THE DISTRICT AND BY MR CHOI ON AS ’OPERATION TORCH’ - A CAMPAIGN IN THE DISTRICT.
TSUI ON THE GENERAL SITUATION THE CLEARANCE OPERATION AS WELL TO BE OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED SOON
AIMED AT IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE DISTRICT, ’OPERATION TORCH’ HAS BEEN DRAWN UP BY THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE THROUGH THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS OF FOUR PILOT OPERATIONS CONDUCTED IN THE AREA.
THE FIRST PHASE OF ’OPERATION TORCH’ WILL BE FORMALLY STARTED ON FEBRUARY 15, WITH THE WHOLE SCHEME BEING IMPLEMENTED OVER 13 MONTHLY CLEARANCE PROGRAMMES.
SIR MURRAY ALSO MET MEMBERS OF THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD AND HAD SOME DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM ABOUT DISTRICT PROBLEMS.
THE GOVERNOR EARLIER VISITED TELFORD GARDENS IN KOWLOON BAY TO SEE THE VARIOUS FACILITIES THERE IN THE COMPANY OF MR NORMAN THOMPSON, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MTR CORPORATION AND MR BARRACLOUGH, MTR OPERATIONS DIRECTOR.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1982
2
CHONG HING WATER SPORTS CENTRE * * * *
A SECOND WATER SPORTS CENTRE - TO BE MANAGED AND OPERATED BY THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT - WILL BE READY FOR USE DURING THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS.
CONSTRUCTION WORK ON THE CENTRE, KNOWN AS THE CHONG HING WATER SPORTS CENTRE BECAUSE OF A DONATION OF ALMOST $2 MILLION FOR THE PROJECT BY THE LIU CHONG HING BANK, IS WELL ADVANCED.
AND TO MARK THE BIRTH OF THE CENTRE, THE SECRETARY FOR CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, THIS AFTERNOON INSPECTED THE PROJECT AND OFFICIALLY LAID THE FOUNDATION STONE.
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM, AND THE VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE LIU CHONG HING BANK, MR LIU LIT-FOR, WERE ALSO PRESENT AT THE CEREMONY.
IN HIS ADDRESS, MR WIGGHAM SAID THE ARTIFICIAL LAKE CREATED BY THE COFFER DAM AND THE MAIN WESTERN DAM OF THE HIGH ISLAND RESERVOIR, WAS AN IDEAL PLACE FOR TRAINING BEGINNERS IN ALL TYPES OF WATER SPORTS.
HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT’S DECISION TO BUILD THE HIGH ISLAND RESERVOIR MORE THAN A DECADE AGO HAD OTHER ADVANTAGES, IN PARTICULAR THE OPENING UP OF LARGE AREAS OF COUNTRYSIDE TO PEOPLE FROM THE URBAN AREAS.
THIS, HE CONTINUED, LED TO THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF THE SAI KUNG COUNTRY PARK.
*BUT AS FAR AS MY OWN DEPARTMENT IS CONCERNED, WE HAD SPECIAL INTERESTS- AND JUST AS WE WERE ABLE TO CONVERT THE ENGINEERS’ QUARTERS INTO THE VERY SUCCESSFUL AND POPULAR LADY MACLEHOSE HOLIDAY VILLAGE, SO ALSO ARE WE ABLE TO CONVERT THE AREA OF THIS COFFER DAM INTO A WATER SPORTS CENTRE,* MR WIGGHAM SAID.
THE COMMISSIONER SAID THAT IN RECENT YEARS, THERE HAD BEEN A HUGE INCREASE IN DEMAND FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION, PARTICULARLY FROM YOUNG PEOPLE.
+1 HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THIS CENTRE WILL BE EVERY BIT AS SUCCESSFUL AS ITS PLANNERS WOULD WISH,* HE SAID.
MR WIGGHAM THEN THANKED THE LIU CHONG HING BANK AND OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS FOR HELPING IN BRINGING THE CENTRE INTO REALITY.
THE CENTRE COVERS AN AREA OF 18.3 HECTARES AND CONSISTS OF IWO MAJOR SINGLE-STOREY BLOCKS HOUSING A DORMITORY, CHANGING FACILITIES, OFFICE SPACE AND A KITCHEN AND CANTEEN.
/OTHER FACILITIES .......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1982
- 3 -
OTHER FACILITIES INCLUDE A BOAT SHED, TWO PAGODAS,A SLIPWAY LEADING TO THE LAGOON AND A FENCE.
THE CENTRE WILL BE FULLY UTILISED BY WATER SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS AND CAMPERS FROM SAI KUNG OUTDOOR RECREATION CENTRE AND THE LADY MACLEHOSE HOLIDAY VILLAGE.
IT IS ESTIMATED THAT SOME 12 OOO DAY AND ABOUT 3 000 RESIDENTIAL CAMPERS WILL ENJOY THE CENTRE’S FACILITIES EVERY YEAR.
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SCHOOL DENTAL CARE SERVICE
* * * *
DENTAL HEALTH IN HONG KONG HAS ENTERED A NEW ERA WITH THE PROVISION OF A SCHOOL DENTAL CARE SERVICE FOR THE YOUNGER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR K.L. THONG, SAID TODAY.
ROUTINE PREVENTIVE DENTAL CARE BY DENTAL THERAPISTS AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN HAS PROVED TO BE MOST SUCCESSFUL IN MANY COUNTRIES AND HONG KONG IS NO EXCEPTION, HE SAID.
DR THONG WAS SPEAKING AT THE FIRST GRADUATION CEREMONY OF 31 DENTAL THERAPISTS WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED A THREE-YEAR COURSE AT THE TANG SHIU KIN DENTAL THERAPISTS TRAINING SCHOOL THIS AFTERNOON.
HE STRESSED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF PREVENTIVE DENTAL CARE TO YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE RECEPTIVE TO DENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION, RESULTING IN GOOD DENTAL HABITS FOR LIFE.
THE DEPARTMENT’S SCHOOL DENTAL CARE SERVICE WAS ESTABLISHED IN SEPTEMBER 1980 TO TAKE IN PRIMARY ONE CHILDREN AND IS BEING PROGRESSIVELY EXTENDED TO INCLUDE CHILDREN OF HIGHER GRADES EACH YEAR UNTIL THEY REACH PRIMARY SIX.
DR THONG POINTED OUT THAT THE SCHEME WAS EXTREMELY POPULAR AS EVIDENCED BY THE LARGE NUMBER OF SCHOOL CHILDREN TAKING PART IN THE SCHEME, WITH SOME 80 000 HAVING BEEN ENROLLED SO FAR.
THE SERVICE PROVIDES REGULAR DENTAL EXAMINATION AND SIMPLE CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT INCLUDING LIMITED ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT BY PROPERLY TRAINED DENTAL THERAPISTS UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF DENTAL OFFICERS, HE EXPLAINED.
A DENTAL THERAPISTS TRAINING SCHOOL WAS OPENED THREE YEARS AGO TO TRAIN STAFF TO MAN SCHOOL DENTAL CLINICS WHICH ARE BEING SET UP AS THE SERVICE EXPANDS.
/AT PRESENT
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1982
4
AT PRESENT THERE ARE TWO SUCH CLINICS AND SIX MORE ARE NOW BEING PLANNED FOR KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES WITHIN THE NEXT SIX YEARS.
DR THONG POINTED OUT THAT THE OBJECTIVE OF THE SERVICE IS PREVENTION AND PLANS ARE IN THE PIPELINE TO ESTABLISH A DENTAL IEALTH EDUCATION UNIT TO PROMOTE DENTAL HEALTH AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN.
THE PRINCIPAL OF THE TRAINING SCHOOL, DR P.Y. WONG, SAID DURING THE GRADUATION CEREMONY THAT THE TRAINING PROGRAMME IS GEARED TOWARDS PROVIDING A COMPREHENSIVE DENTAL CARE FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN. |
DURING THE THREE YEARS, STUDENTS HAVE TO UNDERGO TRAINING IN CLINICAL SUBJECTS INCLUDING BASIC DENTAL SCIENCES AND FIRST AID, AND OPERATIVE TECHNIQUES, AND ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO CARRY OUT MUCH CLINICAL WORK.
+AS THE TRAINING PROGRAMME IS PREVENTION ORIENTATED, SPECIAL ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO THE LATEST PREVENTION TECHNIQUES, AND THE STUDENTS REGULARLY CONDUCT DENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMME SUCH AS PUPPET SHOWS AND HEALTH TALKS TO SCHOOL CHILDREN AND OTHER INTERESTED GROUPS,* DR WONG SAID.
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POPULATION ESTIMATED AT 5 207 000
* * X *
THE ESTIMATED POPULATION OF HONG KONG AT THE END OF DECEMBER 1961 WAS 5 207 000, ACCORDING TO FIGURES RELEASED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
THE ESTIMATE SHOWS AN INCREASE OF 87 200 PEOPLE OR 1.7 PER CENT OVER THE END-0F-1980 FIGURE.
THE SLOWER RATE OF INCREASE IN 1981 WAS DUE TO THE SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN THE LEVEL OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA AS A RESULT OF THE ABOLITION OF THE REACH-BASE POLICY.
NET IMMIGRATION, THAT IS THE BALANCE OF TOTAL ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES, WHICH HAS BEEN THE MAJOR FACTOR IN THE POPULATION GROWTH IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, ACCOUNTED FOR ONLY 24 530 PEOPLE OR 28.1 PER CENT OF THE GROWTH.
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF BIRTHS IN 1981 WAS 87 431. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DEATHS WAS 24 715.
NATURAL INCREASE, THAT IS THE BALANCE OF BIRTHS AND DEATHS, AMOUNTED TO 62 716 PEOPLE OR 71.9 PER CENT OF THE POPULATION GROWTH IN 1981, AND THUS BECAME THE DOMINANT FACTOR IN TOTAL POPULATION GROWTH.
0 -
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1982
- 5 -
APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR RESIDENTIAL COACH SERVICE * * * *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT IS INVITING APPLICATIONS FOR RUNNING A NEW TYPE OF RESIDENTIAL COACH SERVICE.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (THURSDAY), A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID, +THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO SERVE THE TRANSPORT NEEDS OF OUTLYING RESIDENTIAL AREAS, ESPECIALLY PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS WITHOUT ADEQUATE BUS AND MAXICAB SERVICES.
♦APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUPPORTED BY PROSPECTIVE USERS WHO MAY BE REPRESENTED BY THE MANAGEMENT OF A RESIDENTIAL ESTATE, A COMMITTEE OF CO-OWNERS OR TENANTS, OR OTHER ORGANISATIONS.
♦OTHER FACTORS SUCH AS THE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS IN THE AREA AND THE AVAILABILITY OF SUITABLE PICKING-UP AND SETTING-DOWN POINTS WILL ALSO BE CONSIDERED,^ HE SAID.
SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WILL BE GRANTED A TWO-YEAR NONEXCLUSIVE RESIDENTIAL COACH SERVICE LICENCE, ON CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
ONE OF THE CONDITIONS IS THAT EVERY PASSENGER MUST BE PICKED UP, OR SET DOWN AT THE TERMINUS IN THE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
♦AND THE SERVICE MAY BE RESTRICTED TO PEAK HOURS DURING WHICH PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES ARE INADEQUATE,+ HE SAID.
FARES CHARGED FOR THIS SERVICE WILL NOT BE FIXED AND WILL BE NEGOTIATIABLE BETWEEN THE OPERATOR AND THE USER.
FULL DETAILS OF THE CONDITIONS WILL BE SPECIFIED IN THE ♦NOTES FOR GUIDANCE^ ATTACHED TO THE APPLICATION FORMS FOR THE LICENCE.
THESE FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED AT THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS, 32 01 KWAN ROAD- THE PUBLIC VEHICLE SECTION OF THE LICENSING OFFICE, NO. 2 MURRAY ROAD, CENTRAL- THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT’S REGIONAL OFFICE AT PARK-IN COMMERCIAL CENTRE, MONG KOKAND THE NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT OFFICES.
COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS MUST BE SUBMITTED EITHER IN PERSON OR BY REGISTERED POST TO REACH THE PUBLIC VEHICLE SECTION OF TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT, MEZZANINE FLOOR, 2 MURRAY ROAD, CENTRAL, HONG KONG, BY 5 PM ON FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 1982.
LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
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/6........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1982
6
BETTER CONDITIONS FOR WONG TAI SIN SQUATTERS * M M M M
ACTIVE STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN TO PROVIDE SHORT-TERM IMPROVEMENTS TO THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF THE ESTIMATED 60 000 SQUATTERS IN WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT, THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR STEPHEN SELBY, STATED TODAY (THURSDAY).
HE SAID THE IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDED THE PROVISION OF WATER SUPPLY, LEGAL ELECTRICITY, BETTER SANITATION AND CLEANSING, SAFER FOOTPATHS, STREET-LIGHTING, AND IMPROVED POSTAL SERVICES.
♦ALL THESE ARE BEING PREPARED BY THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD AT PRESENT,♦ HE SAID.
MR SELBY, WHO WAS SPEAKING AT THE LUNCHEON MEETING OF ROTARY CLUB OF HONG KONG NORTH, SAID THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISED THAT SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE SQUATTER AREAS WHERE IT WAS CLEAR THAT THE HOUSING PROGRAMME COULD NOT PROVIDE HOMES FOR THEM IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
♦THE GOVERNOR HAS CLEARLY STATED THAT THERE IS NO SOLUTION TO THE SQUATTER PROBLEM EXCEPT TO CLEAR SQUATTERS AND PROVIDE ADEQUATE HOUSING FOR THEMi HOWEVER, HE RECOGNISES THE REALITY OF LIFE IS THAT SO MANY PEOPLE CANNOT BE REHOUSED OVERNIGHT, AND SO SOME INTERIM MEASURES MUST BE TAKEN,+ HE SAID.
MR SELBY POINTED OUT THAT IN IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE SQUATTERS MUCH DEPENDED ON THE SETTING UP OF LOCAL ORGANISATIONS AMONG SQUATTERS, SUCH AS MAC'S (MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES) AND FIRE-WATCH TEAMS.
♦APART FROM TAKING ACTIVE STEPS TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT FOR SQUATTERS, GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE TO PERSUADE THEM THAT THEY CAN DO AS MUCH AGAIN FOR THEMSELVES BY CO-OPERATING WITH EACH OTHER AND UNITING WITH GOVERNMENT TO TACKLE COMMON PROBLEMS.* MR SELBY ADDED.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1982
- 7 -
TRAIN SERVICE REDUCED FOR ENGINEERING WORKS * * *
THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY WILL REDUCE THREE NORTHBOUND AND THREE SOUTHBOUND TRAINS DAILY AS FROM MONDAY (FEBRUARY 8) SeF0U^H^CM.ALU0* ESSENTIAL *NGlNEEBk WORKS B£
S.,0 MM iriJ^LEUNT?^L«HiRNFRAIiLtN^^T???5ENiMAN
rcoERN“»TioHE?rF™ERNSlL“??G W0RKS IR C0NNECTI0N WITH ™E
HE SAID HE WAS AWARE THAT THE REDUCTION OF THREE TRAINS EACH WAS UNAVOIDABLE INC0NVEN,ENCE’ BUT EXPLAINED THAT THE REDUCTION
+TRAINS WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CROSS AT UNIVERSITY AND FANLING STATIONS WHILE THE WORK IS BEING CARRIED OUT,+ HE EXPLAINED.
♦HOWEVER, WE HAVE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED THE PUBLIC’S INTEREST WHEN REVISING THE TIMETABLE AND EVERY EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO MINIMISE THE INCONVENIENCE TO THE PASSENGERS DURING THE MORNING AND PEAK PERIODS.+ HE SAID.
COMMUTERS ARE REQUESTED TO NOTE THE NEW TIMETABLE DISPLAYED AT ALL STATIONS.
THE EXPRESS THROUGH TRAINS BETWEEN KOWLOON AND GUANGZHOU WILL NOT BE AFFECTED.
------0-------
YUEN LONG SPRING PARTY
MORE THAN 500 PEOPLE ATTENDED A SPRING PARTY TODAY (THURSDAY) AS GUESTS OF YUEN LONG DISTRICT OFFICE.
AMONG THOSE PRESENT WERE THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR IAN MACPHERSON- HIS DEPUTY, DR RICHARD BUTLER, DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS , THE CHAIRMAN OF RURAL COMMITTEES, BANKERS SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR FUNG KWOK-KEUNG, THANKED LOCAL ORGANISATIONS FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS AND PARTICIPATION DURING THE PAST YEAR, WITHOUT WHICH, RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND DEVELOPMENTS COULD NOT HAVE BEEN SO SUCCESSFULLY CARRIED OUT.
HE ALSO PAID TRIBUTE TO THE SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT THEY HAD GIVEN TO THE DISTRICT OFFICE.
MR FUNG ALSO USED THE OPPORTUNITY TO REMIND THOSE PRESENT TO SUPPORT NEXT MONTH’S DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS WHICH TAKE PLACE THROUGHOUT THE EIGHT DISTRICTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ON MARCH 4.
THERE ARE SIX CONSTITUENCIES IN YUEN LONG DISTRICT AND ABOUT 30 000 ELECTORS. TO DATE 20 CANDIDATES HAVE BEEN NOMINATED TO CONTEST THE SIX SEATS.
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/*......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1982
8
OVERSEAS TRIPS FOR OUTSTANDING CYC MEMBERS * * * *
THE COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB (CYC) WILL THIS YEAR BE OFFERING OVERSEAS TRIPS TO AT LEAST HALF A DOZEN OF ITS MOST OUTSTANDING MEMBERS WHO GAINED MERIT AWARDS FOR ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY PROJECTS OR SERVICES.
THE AWARDS HAVE BEEN MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS DONATION FROM THE HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB (CHARITIES) LTD.
THE CLUB HAS ALSO PROVIDED THE FUNDS TO ENABLE CYC TO HOLD ITS FIRST MAJOR PARADE SINCE ITS FORMATION ON FEBRUARY 1, 1978 TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE TO TAKE PRIDE IN THEIR COMMUNITY AND TO ACCEPT ACTIVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS DEVELOPMENT.
SOME 9 000 CYC MEMBERS WILL BE TAKING PART IN THE PARADE ON SUNDAY AT THE MONG KOK STADIUM IN KOWLOON WITH THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR MICHAEL LEUNG, TAKING THE SALUTE AT A MARCH PAST.
THE DIRECTOR WILL ALSO INSPECT THE PARADE AND PRESENT 17 MEMBERS WITH THE PURPLE BADGE, THE HIGHEST AWARD UNDER THE CYC MERIT AWARD SCHEME FOR SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY.
THE CYC NOW HAS OVER 63 000 MEMBERS FROM ABOUT 540 PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS. THEIR AGE RANGED FROM 10 TO 18, AND THEIR ACTIVITIES INCLUDE VISITS, DEBATES, SEMINARS. COMPETITIONS AND EXHIBITIONS RELATING TO CONSERVATION, FIRE PREVENTION, CONSUMER EDUCATION, ANTI-CORRUPTION, ROAD SAFETY, KEEPING HONG KONG CLEAN AND ANYTHING WHICH WILL MAKE A POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
ASIDE FROM THE HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB (CHARITIES) LTD., THE CYC IS ALSO ACTIVELY SUPPORTED BY THE LIONS CLUB INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 303 AND THE HONG KONG LIFE GUARD CLUB.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
THE CYC PARADE WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1982 AT 3 PM AT THE MONG KOK STADIUM WITH THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR MICHAEL LEUNG, TAKING THE SALUTE AT A MARCH PAST.
YOUR REPRESENTATIVES ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND.
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/9........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1982
- 9 -
LANTERN RIDDLE FAIR FOR THE PUBLIC
MM*
FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS OF A SIMILAR EVENT IN OTHER YEARS, THE PUBLIC WILL AGAIN BE PRESENTED WITH A FUN-PACKED PROGRAMME OF ENTERTAINMENT IN THE FORM OF A LANTERN FAIR TO BE HELD IN EDINBURGH PLACE ON SUNDAY EVENING (FEBRUARY 7).
THE FAIR, ORGANISED BY THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES AS PART OF THE OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME TO MAKE THE 1OTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL, WILL RE-CREATE A TRADITIONAL LANTERN RIDDLE FAIR OF CENTURIES AGO AND WILL BE ILLUMINATED BY HUNDREDS OF LANTERNS AND OTHER DECORATIVE LIGHTING.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE ORGANISERS SAID, +WITH THE SUCCESSES OF PREVIOUS YEARS’ LANTERN FAIRS IN MIND, WE DECIDED TO MAKE THIS ONE EVEN LARGER.*
THE ATTRACTIONS OF THE FAIR WILL INCLUDE A SELECTION OF STALLS WHERE FORTUNE TELLING, PALM READING, CALLIGRAPHY, TRADITIONAL SWEETS, FLOUR DOLLS AND OTHER SIMILAR ITEMS WILL BE PREPARED AND OFFERED AS PRIZES TO THE PUBLIC FREE OF CHARGE.
HOWEVER, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO RECEIVE ANY OF THE ATTRACTIONS OFFERED WILL FIRST HAVE TO ANSWER CORRECTLY ONE OF THE MANY RIDDLES WHICH WILL BE DISPLAYED AROUND THE SPECIAL LANTERN RIDDLE STALL.
IN ORDER TO RECORD ALL THE FUN OF PARTICIPATING IN THE FAIR, ONE OF THE STALLS WILL OFFER TO THE PUBLIC AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THEIR PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN WITH YOUNG LADIES WEARING TRADITIONAL COSTUMES OR SITTING IN A GENUINE HONG KONG RICKSHAW.
THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE EVENING WILL BE A TRADITIONAL STAGE VARIETY SHOW. THE PROGRAMME INCLUDES CLASSICAL DANCES BY THE KIANGSU-CHEKIANG RESIDENTS (HK) ASSOCIATION, THE CHIU CHOW ASSOCIATION AND THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE. A MAGIC SHOW, ACROBATS, THE WAH SING CHINESE ORCHESTRA, SOUTHERN AND NORTHERN LION DANCES WILL ALSO BE STAGED.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, MR HILTON CHEONG-LEEN WILL BE THE GUEST OF HONOUR FOR THE EVENING. OTHER OFFICIATING GUESTS WILL INCLUDE THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SERVICES, MR B.R. JOHNSTON- COMMANDER M. BUSH RN OF HMS TAMAR AND MISS FLORA CHEONG-LEEN. THE HOST WILL BE SIR RUN RUN SHAW CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL SOCIETY. '
THE FAIR WILL COMMENCE WITH A SPECIAL PROCESSION, BRINGING MISS CHEONG-LEEN, FROM THE WESTERN END OF THE STAR FERRY CONCOURSE, AT 7 PM.
FREE ADMISSION TICKETS TO THE FAIR ARE AVAILABLE ON A FIRST-COME-FIRST-SERVED BASIS FROM THE ARTS FESTIVAL BOX OFFICE, CITY HALL LOW BLOCK, THE TOM LEE PIANO COMPANY LTD AND THE GIS PROMOTIONS SUB-DIVISION AT FIRE BRIGADE BUILDING. CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL.
/THE LANTERN
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY *+, 19&2
10
THE LANTERN FAIR IS SPONSORED BY THE HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL SOCIETY, THE MANAGEMENTS OF THE SUNG DYNASTY VILLAGE, YEE TUNG AND HARBOUR VILLAGES, AND KODAK (FAR EAST) LTD.
THE EVENT IS SCHEDULED TO CONTINUE UNTIL ABOUT 10 PM. ACCESS WILL BE FROM THE STAR FERRY END OF EDINBURGH PLACE ONLY.
NOTE TO EDITORS I
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL’S LANTERN RIDDLE FAIR IN EDINBURGH PLACE ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 7) FROM 6.45 PM TO 10 PM.
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD ASSEMBLE AT THE MAIN GATE OF HMS TAMAR BY 6.30 PM WHERE THEY WILL BE MET BY GIS OFFICERS. THERE WILL NOT BE ANY FIXED PRESS POSITIONS.
- 0
TSUEN WAN TOWN MANAGER TALKS ABOUT HONG KONG HISTORY MX*
THERE IS INCREASED PUBLIC INTEREST IN THE HISTORY OF HONG KONG AND ITS SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, THE TSUEN WAN TOWN MANAGER, DR JAMES HAYES, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
AND THE FUTURE WAS BRIGHT IN COLLECTING DETAILED AND ACCURATE MATERIAL ON THE SUBJECT, HE ADDED.
♦WE ARE AT AN EXCITING AND PRODUCTIVE STAGE IN EXPLORING THE HISTORY OF HONG KONG,+ SAID DR HAYES,WHO WAS SPEAKING AT THE WOMEN’S CORONA SOCIETY (HK BRANCH)’S LUNCHEON MEETING.
THERE WAS NOW MORE RESEARCH AND COLLECTION WORK BEING DONE AT THE TWO UNIVERSITIES AND THE POLYTECHNIC. FOR INSTANCE, HE SAID, A PROJECT AT THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY HAD ALREADY RECORDED ALL HISTORICAL TABLETS THROUGHOUT THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THERE WAS ALSO A CONTINUING SEARCH FOR ALL KINDS OF BOOKS AND MANUSCRIPT MATERIAL WHICH WOULD GIVE MORE INFORMATION ON THE HISTORY AND SOCIAL ORGANISATION OF HONG KONG AND THE NEW TERRITORIES BEFORE AND AFTER 1841.
INTERVIEWS WITH ELDERLY PEOPLE WERE ALSO BEING UNDERTAKEN, HE SAID.
DR HAYES WAS ONE OF THE ORGANISERS AND SPEAKERS AT A RECENT CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION ON HONG KONG HISTORY. THE EXHIBITION HAS BEEN ON DISPLAY AT VARIOUS PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND WILL BE SHOWN AT THE CITY HALL AND A KOWLOON LIBRARY SOON.
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/11 ........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1982
11
BIG RURAL AREA AND COUNTRYSIDE CLEAN-UP M »
MASSIVE CLEAN-UP OPERATIONS WILL BE MOUNTED IN THE VILLAGES AND COUNTRYSIDE THROUGHOUT THE NEW TERRITORIES AS PART OF THE CLEAN HONG KONG CAMPAIGN.
THE BLITZ WILL BEGIN ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 8), AND CLEANSING STAFF OF THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL STEP UP WORK AT VARIOUS VILLAGES, A SPOKESMAN OF THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
SPECIAL EFFORT WILL BE MADE IN CLEARING RUBBISH FROM STREAMS, RIVERS, NULLAHS AND POPULAR PICNIC SPOTS, HE SAID.
ATTENTION WILL ALSO BE FOCUSED ON THE DUMPING OF BUILDING RUBBLE AND THE LITTERING OF HIGHWAYS AND OPEN SPACES IN THE COUNTRYSIDE.
IN EARLIER PHASES OF THE CLEAN-UP EFFORT, CLEANSING STAFF COLLECTED MORE THAN 10 000 TONNES OF JUNK, BULKY DISCARDED ITEMS, GARBAGE AND BUILDING RUBBLE ON TOP OF THE NORMAL COLLECTION OF ABOUT 1 000 TONNES OF REFUSE A MONTH.
THE CLEAN-UP WORK HAS RESULTED IN A MARKED IMPROVEMENT IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE OF THE AREAS.
A NUMBER OF SMALL MOTOR-ASSISTED REFUSE CARRIERS HAVE BEEN USED IN VILLAGES WHICH COULD NOT BE REACHED BY CONVENTIONAL REFUSE COLLECTION VEHICLES, GREATLY FACILITATING THE CLEANING WORK. AN ADDITIONAL 28 PATHS ARE BEING BUILT IN OTHER VILLAGES TO PROVIDE ACCESS FOR THE SMALL REFUSE CARRIERS.
CLEARANCE WORK HAS ALSO BEEN UNDERTAKEN IN THE KAM TIN RIVER. SURFACE SCUM, SLUDGE AND REFUSE HAVE BEEN REMOVED AND VEGETATION CUT OVER MORE THAN 13 KILOMETRES OF THE RIVER NEAR THE PAT HEUNG AREA.
WORKERS ALSO CLEARED IRRIGATION WEIRS AND IMMEDIATE UPSTREAM STRETCHES.
THE RESULTS WERE VERY ENCOURAGING AND MORE CLEARANCE WORK WOULD BE CARRIED OUT AT OTHER RIVERS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1982
- 12 -
NOTE TO EDITORS!
GOVERNOR TO VISIT TAI PO
XXX
THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, WILL VISIT TAI PO ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 6).
DURING THE VISIT, HE WILL OPEN THE TAI MEI TUK WATER SPORTS CENTRE AND START A ROWING RACE THERE, LAY THE FOUNDATION STONE FOR THE TAI PO SPORTS ASSOCIATION LI FOOK LAM INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE, ATTEND A GALA FUN DAY AT TAI PO SPORTSGROUND AND SEE THE +TAI PO OLD AND NEW* EXHIBITION AT THE RURAL COMMITTEE OFFICE.
YOU ARE WELCOME TO COVER THE GOVERNOR’S VISIT. GOVERNMENT TRANSPORT WILL LEAVE KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER AT 1 PM AND STAFF OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION UNIT WILL ASSIST THE PRESS.
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NOTE TO EDITORSt
BEATING THE RETREAT
* X *
A CEREMONY OF THE QUEEN’S GURKHA
THE retreat BY The PIPES AND DRUMS OF _ ENGINEERS WILL BE HELD AT THE CUSTOMS AMn EXCISE TRAINING SCHOOL ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 6), AT 7.30 PM.
THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE MR DOUCi aq monAu WILL BE TAKING THE SALUTE. YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER^THE^EVENT. CPPOSI?? OCEA^CENTRE, ^CANTON'fiOAD^BETWEEN^E'iS^ND^S Mo ATKTAlULS%HUNG^^B!!reEKHJ!LTOON? T° THE ™IN'"^HOOL
SPECTATORS SHOULD BE SEATED BY 7.20 PM.
- o -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1982
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
ARBITRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL...................................... 1
6AR CHECKS by COMPUTER....................................... # # 2
SPECIALISED TRAINING FOR ACCOUNTANTS............................. 3
APPRENTICESHIP (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982 ............................. 4
EXPANDED FACILITIES AT MaN KAM TO................................. 4
STEPPED-UP ACTION AGAINST LITTERBUGS ........................... 5
FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION SEMINAR FOR NT INDUSTRIALISTS............... 6
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF ACCESS ROAD................................ 6
DISTRICT JUDGE APPOINTED........................................ ?
BikLLROOM DANCE CONTEST .............................. ?
SIR PHILIP RETURNS TOMORROW............ o
PRESS CONFERENCE ON FILM CENSORSHIP SURVEY
8
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1982
1
ARBITRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL *****
A BILL WHICH SEEKS TO AMEND THE ARBITRATION ORDINANCE TO GIVE EFFECT TO RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION IN RELATION TO COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION IS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE DESIGNED BOTH TO CREATE A SUITABLE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE CONDUCT OF LOCAL ARBITRATIONS, AND ALSO TO MAKE HONG KONG LEGALLY ATTRACTIVE AS A VENUE FOR THE CONDUCT CF INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATIONS AFFECTING INTERESTS IN THE WHOLE EAST-ASIAN REGION.
THE MAIN EFFECTS OF THE BILL ARE AS FOLLOWSi
* TO RENDER DOMESTIC ARBITRATION AWARDS MORE FINAL, AND LIMIT GROUNDS FOR APPEALS.
* TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS OF ARBITRATION, AND REDUCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DELAY. ONE EXAMPLE IS A NEW POWER TO ORDER CONSOLIDATION OF A SERIES OF ARBITRATION PROCEEDINGS ARISING OUT OF THE SAME SUBJECT MATTER.
* TO PERMIT PARTIES TO INTERNATIONAL CONTRACTS TO ARBITRATE IN HONG KONG WITHOUT THE AWARD BEING SUBJECT TO REVIEW IN THE COURTS, HERE.
* TO RECOGNISE AND ASSIST THE PROCESS OF CONCILIATION, WHICH IS A SPECIAL FEATURE OF BUSINESS IN THE EAST AND TO PROVIDE FOR RECOGNITION AND ENFORCEMENT OVERSEAS OF THESE CONCILIATION AWARDS.
* TO PERMIT COSTS OF FOREIGN LAWYERS TO BE RECOVERED.
* TO PROVIDE FOR A PROCEDURE FOR PAYMENT INTO COURT IN ARBITRATION PROCEEDINGS.
* TO PERMIT THE PRIVACY OF PARTIES TO ARBITRATION PROCEEDINGS TO BE PROTECTED BY THE HEARING OF APPEALS IN CAMERA.
* TO ALLOW JUDGES OF THE HIGH COURT AND DISTRICT COURT AND LAWYERS IN ATTORNEY GENERAL’S CHAMBERS OR ARCHITECTS AND SURVEYORS IN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS TO SIT AS ARBITRATORS IF REQUESTED (WITH THE APPROVAL IN EITHER CASE OF THE CHIEF JUSTICE OR ATTORNEY GENERAL, AS THE CASE MAY BE).
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID IF HONG KONG SUCCEEDS IN ESTABLISHING ITSELF AS AN INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION CENTRE, THERE SHOULD BE DIRECT BENEFITS TO THE ECONOMY. INDIRECT BENEFITS TO THE ECONOMY WILL ACCRUE FROM THE STRENGTHENING OF OUR TERTIARY SECTOR WITH THE EXPANSION OF SERVICE OF FACILITIES CENTRED ON OUR FINANCIAL AND BANKING INDUSTRY, HE ADDED.
o
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1982
2
CAR CHECKS BY COMPUTER n *
COMPULSORY INSPECTION OF PRIVATE CARS WAS RECENTLY INTRODUCED IN SINGAPORE AND THE AUTOMATED COMPUTER BASED SYSTEM THERE FACILITATES A MUCH GREATER THROUGHPUT OF VEHICLES THAN THE MORE TRADITIONAL METHOD.
AND THE ASSISTANT TRANSPORT COMMISSIONER, MR GARY MULLOY, FEELS THAT SUCH A SYSTEM WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO HONG KONG.
SPEAKING ON HIS RETURN FROM SINGAPORE WHICH HE VISITED WITH THREE OTHER SENIOR TRANSPORT OFFICIALS, MR MULLOY SAID THE MAIN ADVANTAGES WERE THAT A GREATER THROUGHPUT OF VEHICLES COULD EE ACHIEVED WITH REDUCED MANPOWER.
♦A MORE THOROUGH ANALYSIS OF THE INFORMATION OBTAINED IN SINGAPORE WOULD NOW BE PUT IN HAND AND IF IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT SUCH A SYSTEM SHOULD BE INTRODUCED, AMENDMENTS WOULD BE MADE TO THE PLANNING CURRENTLY IN HAND FOR NEW MOTOR VEHICLE INSPECTION CENTRES,* HE ADDED.
IN SINGAPORE, MR MULLOY AND HIS TEAM HAD WIDE RANGING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE REGISTRAR OF VEHCILES, MR LEE YEW KIM.
IT WAS ASCERTAINED THAT THE POLICY ON ISSUE OF TAXI LICENCES IN SINGAPORE IS RADICALLY DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF HONG KONG. NO LICENCE CAN BE TRANSFERRED AND NO LICENCE IS ISSUED TO AN INDIVIDUAL OWNER/DRI VER.
TAXIS ARE OWNED BY A FORM OF CO-OPERATIVE, AND INDIVIDUAL DRIVERS PAY A SORT OF RENTAL TO THAT CO-OPERATIVE FOR THE USE OF THE TAXI. THEY THEN RETAIN ALL TAKINGS BUT ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR WORK FOR THE VEHICLE.
WHEN NEW LICENCES ARE TO BE ISSUED AND THERE ARE MORE APPLICATIONS THAN LICENCES A BALLOT IS HELD.
♦THUS THE SINGAPORE SYSTEM REFLECTS A RADICALLY DIFFERENT SYSTEM DEPENDENT ON AN ORGANISATION OF MANPOWER WHICH HAS NO PARALLEL IN HONG KONG.+
♦THEREFORE THE POSSIBILITY OF EMULATING THIS ASPECT OF THE SINGAPORE TRANSPORT SYSTEM SEEMS HIGHLY UNLIKELY,♦ MR MULLOY STRESSED.
ON SEAT BELTS, THE TEAM WAS TOLD THAT WEARING OF SEAT BELTS IN ALL PRIVATE CARS MANUFACTURED AFTER 1973 FOR THE DRIVER AND FRONT SEAT PASSENGERS WAS COMPULSORY IN SINGAPORE. ANYONE NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT WAS LIABLE TO A FIXED PENALTY OF SS5O (APPROXIMATELY HK$14O).
THE TEAM OBSERVED THAT THE COMPLIANCE RATE WAS EXTREMELY HIGH AND HARDLY ANY CARS WERE SEEN WHERE THE DRIVER OR HIS FRONT SEAT PASSENGER WAS NOT WEARING A BELT. AS THIS LEGISLATION HAD BEEN IN EFFECT FOR ONLY ABOUT FOUR MONTHS IT WAS TOO EARLY TO ASSESS ITS EFFECT ON REDUCING ACCIDENTS.
/THE SINGAPORE ...
Friday, February 5, 19£2
3 -
THE SINGAPORE AUTHORITIES CONCEDED THAT AS THE MOST ACCIDENT-PRONE GROUPS WERE MOTOR-CYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS, THERE WAS NOT LIKELY TO BE A NOTICEABLE REDUCTION IN THE ACCIDENT RATE. BUT THEY HAD CONCLUDED THAT EVEN IF A FEW LIVES WERE SAVED OR SOME SERIOUS INJURIES PREVENTED THIS WOULD BE WORTHWHILE.
THE INCONVENIENCE OF WEARING SEAT BELTS WAS MINIMAL AND ONCE PEOPLE GOT USED TO WEARING THEM THEY WOULD THINK NO MORE ABOUT THEM.
MR MULLOY SAID THE ADVICE OF THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THIS QUESTION WAS TO BE SOUGHT AND SINGAPORE’S EXPERIENCE WOULD BE CITED.
♦THE SINGAPORE AUTHORITIES WERE MOST HELPFUL AND COOPERATIVE AND PROVIDED US WITH A LOT OF INFORMATION WHICH WILL BE OF VALUE IN GUIDING THESE AND OTHER ASPECTS OF HONG KONG TRANSPORT POL ICY,♦ SAID MR MULLOY.
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SPECIALISED TRAINING FOR ACCOUNTANTS
* * X *
THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF THE FUTURE PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANT SHOULD BE HIGHLY SPECIALISED AND VERY BROAD IN ORDER TO GIVE THE NECESSARY BACKGROUND REQUIRED OF AN ANALYTICAL AND FLEXIBLE EXECUTIVE WITH A CONCEPTUAL AND PRACTICAL MIND.
THIS IS ONE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE ACCOUNTANCY AND ALLIED FIELDS TRAINING BOARD OF THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL IN A REPORT ON ITS SURVEY OF THE MANPOWER REQUIREMENTS IN THE FIELDS OF ACCOUNTANCY, COMPANY SECRETARYSHIP AND ADMINISTRATION, AND ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING.
ANOTHER RECOMMENDATION MADE BY THIS TRAINING BOARD, IN RELATION TO ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING, IS THAT A SEPARATE TRAINING BODY WITH A BROAD REPRESENTATIVE MEMBERSHIP FROM COMMERCE, INDUSTRY, EDUCATION. THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COMPUTER PROFESSION SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED TO DEAL WITH PROBLEMS ARISING FROM THE CURRENT AND EXPECTED CONTINUING SHORTAGE OF COMPUTER STAFF.
THE REPORT, IN BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE, IS NOW ON SALE AT 19 A COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING. IT CONTAINS DETAILED EMPLOYMENT STATISTICS IN THE THREE SPECIALISED FIELDS AS WELL AS RECOMMENDATIONS ON MEASURES REQUIRED TO MEET THE FORECAST DEMAND FOR TRAINED STAFF IN THESE FIELDS.
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/4........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1982
4
APPRENTICESHIP (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982
*****
A BILL WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 10) SEEKING TO EFFECT THE TRANSFER OF CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THE APPRENTICESHIP ORDINANCE TO THE NEW VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL AND THE DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING.
THE TRANSFER OF RESPONSIBILITIES WAS ANNOUNCED IN DECEMBER WHEN THE GOVERNMENT REVEALED ITS PLANS FOR THE CREATION OF THE COUNCIL AND A DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING. THE PURPOSE IS TO PRESERVE THE CLOSE LINKS BETWEEN THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRIAL TRAINING AND THE PROMOTION OF APPRENTICESHIPS.
UNDER THE APPRENTICESHIP (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982, WHICH IS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY, THE MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THE ORDINANCE WILL BE TRANSFERRED FROM THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL AND THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR.
THE BILL ALSO MAKES SOME MINOR DELETIONS OF PARTS OF THE ORDINANCE WHICH ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED OR AMENDMENTS WHICH HAVE PROVED NECESSARY IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE.
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EXPANDED FACILITIES AT MAN KAM TO * * * *
ADDITIONAL SPACE AND FACILITIES FOR PROCESSING CROSS-BORDER TRAFFIC WILL BE PROVIDED AT MAN KAM TO IN ABOUT TWO YEARS TIME.
A LAND RESUMPTION NOTICE IS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY, AND SITE FORMATION WORK ON THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO START IN ABOUT THREE MONTHS’ TIME.
WHILE DETAILED PLANNING IS BEING FINALISED, THE EXPANDED FACILITIES WILL INCLUDE A NEW IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS AND EXCISE BUILDING AND VEHICLE HOLDING AND INSPECTION AREAS.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE EXPANSION WAS IN ANTICIPATION CF AN INCREASE IN CROSS-BORDER TRAFFIC WHICH WOULD RESULT FROM THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE SHENZHEN SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE AND CONTINUED GROWTH IN TRADE AND TRAFFIC WITH OTHER PARTS OF CHINA.
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1982
5
STEPPED-UP ACTION AGAINST LITTERBUGS
* * ft * *
VISITORS TO COUNTRY PARKS WILL FACE STEPPED-UP LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR LITTERING FROM THIS WEEKEND.
FIELD STAFF OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN PLACED ON FULL ALERT FOR LITTERBUGS.
♦WE ARE ABSOLUTELY FED UP WITH THIS ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR WHICH CONTINUES IN SPITE OF THE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN,^ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID.
♦THE TIME HAS COME FOR MORE VIGOROUS ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW IN ORDER TO DRIVE HOME THE MESSAGE FOR A CLEAN COUNTRYSIDE,♦ HE ADDED.
FROM THIS WEEKEND, SPECIAL ATTENTION WILL BE PAID TO THE SAI KUNG AND PLOVER COVE COUNTRY PARKS WHERE TEAMS OF PARK RANGERS AND FIELD STAFF ON ANTI-LITTER DUTY WILL PATROL.
THE SPOKESMAN WARNED THAT THIS DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY EXCUSE FOR INDISCRIMINATE LITTERING IN OTHER COUNTRY PARKS OR IN THE COUNTRYSIDE IN GENERAL.
♦IT IS EVERY VISITOR’S DUTY TO KEEP OUR COUNTRYSIDE CLEAN AND TIDY,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
ANYONE CAUGHT LITTERING INSIDE A COUNTRY PARK IS LIABLE TO A MAXIMUM FINE OF |2 OOO AND THREE MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT ON CONVICTION.
LAST YEAR MORE THAN 2 500 TONNES OF LITTER WERE COLLECTED FROM COUNTRY PARKS.
FOR ITS PART, THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT WILL BE CONTINUING TO CLEAN UP COUNTRY PARKS, PAYING SPECIAL ATTENTION TO BLACK SPOTS WHERE LITTER IS KNOWN TO BE A PERSISTENT PROBLEM.
THE SPOKESMAN SAIDi ♦WE SHALL BE ALLOCATING MORE TIME TO CLEANSING OPERATIONS, AND ADDITIONAL CASUAL LABOURERS HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED.♦
TO AVOID OVERFLOWING OF THE LITTER BINS, LITTER +STOCKADES+ OF TIMBER HAVE BEEN BUILT IN SOME COUNTRY PARKS TO HOLD A LARGER AMOUNT OF LITTER, AND AT THE SAME TIME PREVENT DOGS OR OTHER ANIMALS FROM ENTERING.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1982
6
FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION SEMINAR FOR NT INDUSTRIALISTS *****
THERE IS A GROWING NEED OF FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION AMONG INDUSTRIALISTS IN THE NEW TERR I TOR I ES, THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR LUI HAU-TUEN, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
WITH MANY NEW TOWNS BEING DEVELOPED INTO INDUSTRIAL REGIONS, A FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PROGRAMME WAS ESSENTIAL TO BOTH MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES, HE SAID.
MR LUI WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF A SEMINAR ON ^POPULATION AND FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION FOR EMPLOYERS*, ATTENDED BY ABOUT 50 TSUEN WAN INDUSTRIALISTS.
THE SEMINAR WAS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICE, TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BOARD’S INDUSTRIAL SUB-COMMITTEE AND THE CHINESE MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION.
♦A PROSPEROUS SOCIETY RELIES ON A PRODUCTIVE WORKFORCE AND A STEADY POPULATION GROWTH. FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION WILL HELP SOLVE MANY LABOUR PROBLEMS AND BRING ABOUT BETTER PRODUCTION,* SAID MR LUI.
THE CMA’S EDUCATION OFFICER, MR PAUL LEE, SAID THE POPULATION OF THE NEW TERRITORIES HAD ALMOST DOUBLED IN THE PAST DECADE.
♦FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION SHOULD ALSO PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN NT DEVELOPMENTS,* HE SAID.
OTHER SPEAKERS AT THE SEMINAR WERE THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BOARD’S INDUSTRIAL SUB-COMMITTEE'S CHAIRMAN, MR LAM KIN-MING-THE DISTRICT SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER (TSUEN WAN), MR CHENG KWAN-KUEN, AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION, MRS PEGGY LAM.
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TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF ACCESS ROAD
*****
THE ACCESS ROAD TO WITH TING KOK ROAD WILL TOMORROW (SATURDAY) FOR WATERSPORTS CENTRE.
PLOVER COVE RESERVOIR DAM FROM ITS JUNCTION BE CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC FROM 6 AM TO 6 PM THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE TAI MEI TUK
TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE PUT UP AND POLICE OFFICERS WILL BE ON DUTY TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
/7 ........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5. 1982
7
DISTRICT JUDGE APPOINTED * * * *
THE GOVERNOR HAS APPROVED THE APPOINTMENT OF MR N.G. SCRIVEN AS A DISTRICT JUDGE. THE APPOINTMENT TAKES EFFECT TODAY (FRIDAY).
BORN IN ENGLAND IN 1926, MR SCRIVEN WAS EDUCATED AT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH’S SCHOOL, BARNET AND THE UNIVERSITY OF WALES, CARDIFF. HE WAS ADMITTED AS A SOLICITOR IN JULY 1951.
HE SERVED AS A MAGISTRATE IN FIJI FROM 1973 TO 1975, PRIOR TO WHICH HE WAS A PARTNER OF A SOLICITOR’S FIRM IN ENGLAND FOR 3D YEARS.
HE JOINED THE HONG KONG JUDICIARY IN 1976 AS A MAGISTRATE.
IN 1978, HE WENT TO KENYA TO TAKE UP AN APPOINTMENT AS A HIGH COURT JUDGE, A POST WHICH HE HAS HELD UNTIL NOW.
MR SCRIVEN IS MARRIED WITH THREE CHILDREN.
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BALLROOM DANCE CONTEST
* * *
A MODERN BALLROOM DANCE CONTEST, ORGANISED BY THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT WILL BE HELD AT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH STADIUM IN WAN CHAI TOMORROW (SATURDAY) EVENING.
JOINTLY ORGANISED WITH THE HONG KONG DANCE ASSOCIATION, THE CONTEST WILL FEATURE THE WALTZ, FOXTROT, QUICK STEP, TANGO, SAMBA, RUMBA AND CHA CHA.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE RSS SAID THAT 120 CONTESTANTS WILL BE VYING FOR THE FOUR TOP HONOURS IN THE COMPETITION, WHICH WILL BE DIVIDED INTO FOUR GROUPS.
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A ....
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1982
- 8 -
NOTE TO EDITORS*
SIR PHILIP RETURNS TOMORROW * * * *
THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE. IS DUE TO AT KAI TAK TOMORROW (SATURDAY) ON CX 200
(SCHEDULED TIME OF ARRIVAL 9.15 AM) FOLLOWING A VISIT TO LONDON. ___ A PHOTOGRAPHIC FACILITY WILL SE AVAILABLE TO COVER HIS J*™™- PR*S* PH°T06RAPHERS AND CAMERAMEN WISHING TO MAKE USE CF THIS FACILITY SHOULD ASSEMBLE IN THE AIRPORT PRESS ROOM ON WE GROUND FLOOD OF THE AIRPORT TERMINAL BUILDIRS BY e?*5 AM.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
PRESS CONFERENCE ON FILM CENSORSHIP SURVEY
* X X X
THE COMMISSIONER FOR TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING, bfi NIGEL WATT, WILL GIVE A PRESS CONFERENCE IN THE GIS THEATRE, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, FIFTH FLOOR, AT 11 AM TOMORROW (SATURDAY) TO ANNOUNCE THE FINDINGS OF THE LATEST SURVEY ON FILM CENSORSHIP CONDUCTED LAST YEAR.
YOUR REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO ATTEND.
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1982
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GOVERNOR VISITS TAI PO .......................................... 1
PUBLIC SURVEY SHOWS STRONG SUPPORT FOR FILM CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM ........................................................ **■
LAND MATTERS WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE HUMAN TOUCH .......... 5
CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE STAGES BEATING THE RETREAT ........... 6
MORE PARKING METERS ............................................. 6
OPENING OF CHOI WAN SHELTERED WORKSHOP AND HOSTEL ............... 7
SHA TIN WATER SUPPLY ........................................ 7
CHINESE LANGUAGE OFFICERS VISIT SINGAPORE ...................... 8
MORE FACILITIES AT LEE WAI LEE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE ............. 8
HORTICULTURE CLASS FOR THE ELDERLY PEOPLE ....................... 9
FIRING PRACTICE
9
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1982
1 GOVERNOR VISITS TAI PO * * *
THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SPENT A CROWDED AFTERNOON IN TAI PO DISTRICT TODAY (SATURDAY) DURING WHICH HE UNVEILED A PLAQUE FOR A NEW WATER SPORTS CENTRE- STARTED A MINI-DRAGON BOAT RACELAID THE FOUNDATION STONE AND RECEIVED A CHEQUE FOR $3 MILLION FOR A SPORTS ASSOCIATION BUILDING- ATTENDED A GALA FUN DAY-VISITED A HISTORY EXHIBITION- AND HAD TEA WITH RURAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
SIR MURRAY, ACCOMPANIED BY THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR IAN MACPHERSON, AND THE DISTRICT OFFICER TAI PO, W NICKY LO, FIRST WENT TO THE TAI MEI TUK WATER SPORTS CENTRE WHERE HE UNVEILED A PLAQUE TO OFFICIALLY OPEN THE CENTRE.
HE WAS MET ON ARRIVAL BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM, WHO INTRODUCED REPRESENTATIVES OF MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS OF THE CENTRE.
AFTER THE CEREMONY, THE GOVERNOR STARTED THE MINI-DRAGON BOAT RACE AND MET PARTICIPANTS IN OTHER RACE EVENTS. HE TOURED THE CENTRE WHICH IS MANAGED BY THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT AND WHICH HAS BEEN OPERATING SINCE LAST NOVEMBER.
THE CENTRE HAS BEEN BUILT ON WHAT WAS FORMERLY A RESIDENTIAL SITE FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE PLOVER COVE WATER SCHEME CONTRACTORS.
THE PROJECT, COSTING MORE THAN $1.66 MILLION ALLOCATED FROM THE GOVERNOR’S SPECIAL FUND, WAS COORDINATED BY A COMMITTEE FORMED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF TAI PO DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE TO PROVIDE COMMON FACILITIES FOR MEMBER ASSOCIATIONS WHICH INCLUDE THE SCOUTS ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG, THE HONG KONG GIRL GUIDES ASSOCIATION, THE HONG KONG FEDERATION OF YOUTH GROUPS, THE HONG KONG SCHOOL SAILING ASSOCIATION, TAI PO BOAT CLUB, THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE CADET SCHOOL, THE HONG KONG YOUTH HOSTEL ASSOCIATION AND THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE TAI PO OFFICE.
FACILITIES AT THE WATER SPORTS CENTRE INCLUDE DORMITORIES FOR 52 CAMPERS, A WELL-EQUIPPED LECTURE ROOM, A BOAT-SHED AND SLIPWAY, CHANGING ROOMS AND A CANTEEN.
ACTIVITIES OFFERED BY THE WIND SURFING AND ROWING.
CENTRE INCLUDE CANOEING,
SAILING,
THE GOVERNOR NEXT WENT TO THE SITE ON WHICH THE TAI PO SPORTS ASSOCIATION LI FOOK LAM INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE IS BEING CONSTRUCTED TO LAY THE FOUNDATION STONE.
MEETING THE GOVERNOR WERE THE SECRETARY FOR CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, WHO IS ALSO PATRON OF TAI PO SPORTS ASSOCIATION- THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ASSOCIATION, MR STEPHEN WONG- THE VICE CHAIRMAN, MR HO YUNG-SANG, MR ALEX WAI, MR HUNG CHEUNG-HO AND MR DONALD YAP- AND THE MAIN DONOR, MR LI YIP-WANG, WHO PRESENTED SIR MURRAY WITH THE $3 MILLION CHEQUE.
/THE GOVERNOR .......
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 19&2
2
THE GOVERNOR SAID THE TAI PO SPORTS ASSOCIATION LI FOOK LAM INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE AND THE NEWLY COMPLETED TAI MEI TUK WATER SPORTS CENTRE WOULD BRING ABOUT A MAJOR IMPROVEMENT TO RECREATIONAL FACILITIES IN TAI PO.
HE SAID THE PEOPLE OF TAI PO HAD ALWAYS BEEN A LIVELY, INVOLVED AND SPIRITED COMMUNITY. THE TIMELY CONSTRUCTION OF THIS INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE BY THE TAI PO SPORTS ASSOCIATION AND THE TREMENDOUS SUPPORT GIVEN TO IT BORE THIS OUT.
♦BUT PERHAPS THE BEST INDICATOR IS THE DEEP CONCERN SHOWN BY THE TAI PO DISTRICT BOARD ON DISTRICT NEEDS AND PROBLEMS AND ITS CONSTRUCTIVE IDEAS FOR IMPROVEMENT.
♦A GOOD EXAMPLE IS THE BOARD’S PROPOSAL TO ENLARGE AND AIR-CONDITION THE HALL OF A SECONDARY SCHOOL TO PROVIDE FOR DISTRICT CONCERTS AND PERFORMANCES,+ THE GOVERNOR SAID.
HE SAID HE UNDERSTOOD THAT MR STEPHEN WONG HAD GENEROUSLY PLEDGED A DONATION OF $1.6 MILLION TO THIS PROJECT AND THAT HE WAS PLEASED TO SAY THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD ACCEPTED IT IN PRINCIPLE AND WOULD SEEK APPROVAL THIS MONTH FOR THE ADDITIONAL FUNDS REQUIRED.
♦THE WORK OF THE DISTRICT BOARD WILL BE FURTHER STRENGTHENED BY THE COMING ELECTIONS AND I FEEL CONFIDENT THAT WITH STRONG LEADERSHIP AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION THE TAI PO COMMUNITY SPIRIT WILL BE MAINTAINED AND ENHANCED AND WILL GUIDE AND MAINTAIN THE TOWN’S CHARACTER AND TRADITION THROUGH THE PERIOD OF RAPID GROWTH THAT LIES AHEAD,♦ THE GOVERNOR SAID.
HE THANKED ALL CONCERNED, ESPECIALLY THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB, MR LI, THE MAIN DONOR, MR WAI, AND OTHERS FOR THEIR GENEROUS DONATIONS. HE ALSO COMMENDED THE ASSOCIATION FOR ♦ITS VISION AND FORESIGHT IN MASTERMINDING THIS VERY WORTHWHILE PROJECT.♦
THE GOVERNOR WAS ACCOMPANIED AT THE FOUNDATION STONE LAYING BY MR MACPHERSON, MR LO, MR WONG AND MR LI.
AFTER THE CEREMONY, THE GOVERNOR SAW A MODEL OF THE CENTRE AND AN EXHIBITION OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ASSOCIATION.
FACILITIES AT THE INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE WILL INCLUDE BADMINTON AND BASKETBALL COURTS, GYMNASTIC ROOMS, A DANCING STUDIO AND BOWLING ALLEY.
THE TOTAL COST OF THE PROJECT IS ESTIMATED AT $13 MILLION, OF WHICH $11 MILLION HAS BEEN PLEDGED BY VARIOUS ORGANISATIONS AND DONORS MAINLY FROM OR CONNECTED WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
CONSTRUCTION WORK IS EXPECTED TO BE FINISHED BY THE EARLY PART OF NEXT YEAR. ON COMPLETION, THE CENTRE WILL HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST INDOOR GAMES HALLS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
/IT ‘vILL ...........
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 19*52
3
IT WILL ALSO BE THE FIRST PURPOSE-BUILT INDOOR RECREATIONAL FACILITY FOR TAI PO NEW TOWN AND WILL BE ABLE TO SERVE THE TAI PO COMMUNITY BEFORE A SECOND HOUSING ESTATE IN THE TOWN IS COMPLETED IN MID-1983.
THE TAI PO SPORTS ASSOCIATION IS A NON-PROFIT MAKING BODY INAUGURATED IN MAY, 1980, TO PROMOTE SPORTS AND RECREATION IN TAI PO.
THE ASSOCIATION OBTAINED THE SITE TO BUILD THE CENTRE IN MARCH 1981, MAKING IT JUST 24 MONTHS FROM THE TIME THE LAND WAS GRANTED TO COMPLETION OF THE CENTRE.
LATER, THE GOVERNOR ATTENDED A CHILDREN’S NEW YEAR GALA FUN DAY AT TAI PO SPORTSGROUND.
IT WAS ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG FEDERATION OF YOUTH GROUPS TAI PO LIONS YOUTH CENTRE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
THE GOVERNOR WAS MET ON ARRIVAL BY MISS NG WAI-FUN, OFFICERIN-CHARGE FOR THE CENTRE.
THE FUN DAY PROGRAMME INCLUDED GAMES STALLS, STAGE PERFORMANCES, A TELEMATCH, AN OPEN AIR CHILDREN’S PAINTING GALLERY AND AN EXHIBITION OF SCOUTING SKILLS AND WORKS.
THE GOVERNOR’S LAST STOP WAS A VISIT TO TAI PO RURAL COMMITTEE OFFICE WHERE HE HAD TEA WITH COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND VIEWED THE +TAI PO OLD AND NEW+ EXHIBITION.
THE EXHIBITION HAS BEEN JOINTLY ORGANISED BY TAI PO DISTRICT BOARD AND THE RURAL COMMITTEE. IT SHOWS THE HISTORY OF THE TOWN GOING BACK OVER SEVEN CENTURIES AND CURRENT AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENT PLANS.
LOCAL VILLAGERS, RURAL LEADERS, THE URBAN COUNCIL’S MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY ALL HELPED TO COLLECT ITEMS.
THESE INCLUDE BOWLS AND DISHES FROM WUN YIU VILLAGE MADE DURING THE LATE MING/EARLY CHING DYNASTY PERIOD- A PORTRAIT OF A TANG CLAN ANCESTOR- AND SCHOLARS’ TABLETS WHICH ARE MORE THAN 100 YEARS OLD. THE EXHIBITION CLOSES ON FEBRUARY 13, HAVING BEEN EXTENDED FOR FIVE DAYS BECAUSE OF ITS POPULARITY.
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A....
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1982
4
PUBLIC SURVEY SHOWS STRONG SUPPORT FOR FILM CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM *****
ADMISSION TO CINEMAS IN HONG KONG SHOULD BE RESTRICTED BY LAW TO PREVENT YOUNG PERSONS FROM VIEWING CERTAIN TYPES OF FILMS.
THIS IS ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL FINDINGS OF A NEW PUBLIC SURVEY DESIGNED TO ASSESS PEOPLE’S ATTITUDES TO CINEMA VIEWING, CENSORSHIP STANDARDS AND CLASSIFICATION OF FILMS.
THE SURVEY WHICH COVERED A SAMPLE OF 1 000 CHINESE VIEWERS IN A CROSS-SECTION OF AGE AND INCOMES GROUPS, WAS COMMISSIONED BY THE TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING AUTHORITY AND CONDUCTED BY INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, A COMPANY SPECIALISING IN PUBLIC OPINION AND CONSUMER RESEARCH.
THE SURVEY SHOWS THAT VIRTUALLY EVERYBODY IN HONG KONG (95 PER CENT OF THE POPULATION) CONSIDERS FILM CENSORSHIP IS IMPORTANT AND NECESSARY. IT ALSO SHOWS THAT AFTER TELEVISION, CINEMA-GOING IS THE NEXT MOST POPULAR LEISURE ACTIVITY IN HONG KONG.
THE MAJORITY OF THOSE QUESTIONED IN THE SURVEY FELT THAT PRESENT CENSORSHIP STANDARDS AND CONTROL WERE NOT ADEQUATE.
THESE FEELINGS OF INADEQUACIES IN THE PRESENT CENSORSHIP SYSTEM WERE FOR THE MOST PART ATTRIBUTED TO THE FACT THAT THERE IS CURRENTLY NO RESTRICTION ON CINEMA ADMISSION BY AGE. THE PRESENT ADVISORY +NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN* CLASSIFICATION IS NOT SERVING ITS PURPOSE - AN OPINION EXPRESSED BY 86 PER CENT OF THE SURVEY RESPONDENTS. THREE OF EVERY FOUR PEOPLE QUESTIONED BELIEVE THAT FILMS RATED +FOR ADULTS ONLY* SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO BE SEEN BY PERSONS UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE.
PRESENT CONTROL OF TRIAD LANGUAGE AND THEMES IN THE CINEMA APPEAR TO BE BROADLY ACCEPTABLE TO MORE THAN HALF OF THE POPULATION, WHEREAS THERE IS STILL MAJORITY DISSATISFACTION IN RESPECT OF THE STANDARDS OF SEX AND VIOLENCE IN FILMS.
JUST OVER HALF OF THOSE QUESTIONED ALSO SUGGEST THE TIGHTENING UP OF CONTROLS ON FILM PUBLICITY, PARTICULARLY PHOTO DISPLAYS, POSTERS AND HOARDINGS OUTSIDE CINEMAS.
THE COMMISSIONER FOR TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING, W NIGEL WATT, IN PRESENTING THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY TODAY (SATURDAY) SAID THAT HE WELCOMED THE SURVEY AND THE CLEAR INDICATION THAT HAD BEEN GIVEN THAT PEOPLE WANTED A STATUTORY FILM CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM.
MR WATT SAID THAT THE DETAILED FINDINGS OF THE SURVEY REQUIRED FURTHER STUDY AND HE WOULD BE CLOSELY EXAMINING, AS A MATTER OF URGENCY, THE NEED AND VIABILITY OF A LEGAL FILM CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM WHICH COULD RESTRICT ENTRY TO CINEMAS BY AGE.
IN THE INTERIM, THE PANEL OF FILM CENSORS WOULD BE LOOKING EVEN MORE CRITICALLY THAN THEY HAVE DONE IN THE PAST AT THE TYPE OF PUBLICITY MATERIAL WHICH SHOULD BE PERMITTED IN CINEMAS, AND AT SEXUALLY EXPLICIT OR VIOLENT FILMS DESIGNED FOR ADULT AUDIENCES.
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/5........
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1982
- 5 -
LAND MATTERS WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE HUMAN TOUCH * * * *
TSUEN WAN TOWN MANAGER, DR JAMES HAYES, TODAY (SATURDAY) ASSURED RURAL LEADERS THAT LAND ADMINISTRATION WOULD STILL BE CONDUCTED WITH A 'HUMAN TOUCH' AFTER THE SETTING UP OF THE LANDS DEPARTMENT.
+YOUR SPECIAL INTERESTS AS LANDOWNERS AND VILLAGERS AFFECTED BY DEVELOPMENT ARE FULLY RECOGNISED AND THEY WILL REMAIN LEGITIMATE OBJECTS FOR SPECIAL CONSIDERATION BY THE ADMINISTRATION AS A WHOLE,* HE ADDED.
DR HAYES WAS SPEAKING AT AN ANNUAL LUNAR NEW YEAR GATHERING CF THE THREE RURAL COMMITTEES IN TSUEN WAN.
HE SAID THE RE-ORGANISATION MIGHT HAVE GIVEN RISE TO FEARS THAT RURAL RIGHTS WOULD NOT BE AS WELL RESPECTED, AND THAT VARYING LOCAL SITUATIONS AND HUMAN FACTORS MIGHT NOT BE TAKEN SUFFICIENTLY INTO ACCOUNT. HOWEVER, HE DID NOT BELIEVE THIS WOULD BE THE CASE.
HE ADVISED RURAL LEADERS NOT TO REACT TOO STRONGLY OR TOO QUICKLY TO THE NEW SITUATION, OR BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THINGS TO GO WRONG. INSTEAD, HE SAID, THEY SHOULD APPROACH ANY PROBLEMS IN A CONSTRUCTIVE MANNER.
+TAKE YOUR PROBLEMS TO THE DEPARTMENT, KEEPING THE DISTRICT OFFICERS IN THE PICTURE. THEREBY WE CAN ENSURE THAT LAND MATTERS WILL BE TACKLED IN A WAY THAT SUITS LOCAL NEEDS, AND THAT THE 'HUMAN TOUCH’ WILL NOT BE LOST,* HE SAID.
♦IF THIS IS DONE, COMPLICATED SITUATIONS IN WHICH THERE IS OFTEN A CONFLICT BETWEEN QUITE LEGITIMATE INTERESTS ON EACH SIDE WILL CONTINUE TO BE HANDLED SUCCESSFULLY,* HE ADDED.
DR HAYES ALSO EXPLAINED THE REASONS FOR A CHANGE IN LAND ADMINISTRATION.
+THERE IS A NEED FOR GREATER CO-ORDINATION OF LAND WORK IN THE URBAN AREA AND THE NEW TERRITORIES AT POLICY-MAKING LEVEL, AND IN THE DIRECTION OF LAND WORK AS A WHOLE.
+THERE WILL BE MORE DE-CENTRALISATION AND DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY, AND THIS IS EXPECTED TO FACILITATE DAILY WOR’i IN THE DISTRICTS,* HE SAID.
HE SAID HE BELIEVED THAT THE TRANSITION WOULD BE SMOOTH AND SUCCESSFUL IF ALL PARTIES CONCERNED COULD KEEP COMMUNICATIONS OPEN.
MORE THAN 100 GUESTS AND MEMBERS OF TSUEN WAN, MA WAN AND TSING Yl RURAL COMMITTEES ATTENDED THE GATHERING.
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/6........
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1982
- 6 -
CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE * * *
STAGES BEATING THE RETREAT *
OFFICERS OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE WERE RECALLED TO THEIR TAI LAM CHUNG TRAINING SCHOOL THIS EVENING (SATURDAY) WHERE THE CEREMONY OF BEATING THE RETREAT WAS HELD.
THE CEREMONY, THE FIRST EVER HELD BY THE SERVICE, WAS PERFORMED BY THE PIPES AND DRUMS OF THE QUEEN’S GURKHA ENGINEERS. THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE, MR DOUGLAS JORDAN TOOK THE SALUTE BEFORE A LARGE NUMBER OF SPECTATORS, INCLUDING GUESTS REPRESENTING CUSTOMS SERVICES OF VARIOUS COUNTRIES. MEMBERS OF THE SERVICE GAVE A PERFORMANCE OF CHINESE TRADITIONAL DANCING AND MUSIC AS AN OVERTURE TO THE MAIN PROCEEDINGS.
BEATING THE RETREAT IS A CEREMONY BELONGING ESSENTIALLY TO THE ARMY AND ROYAL MARINES. THE ORIGIN OF THE CUSTOM IS OBSCURE, BUT THERE ARE RECORDS DATING BACK TO 1554 OF DRUMMERS BEING USED IN THE NORMAL DAILY ROUTINE TO RECALL TROOPS TO THEIR BARRACKS, FORTS OR ENCAMPMENTS AT SUNSET. A SIMILAR DRUM SIGNAL WAS USED TO ORDER TROOPS TO BREAK OFF BATTLE AND RETURN TO DEFENDED LINES.
WITH CHANGING TIMES AND MILITARY PRACTICE, BEATING THE RETREAT NO LONGER SERVES THE SAME PURPOSE. IT IS PRIMARILY USED NOWADAYS AS A PARADE CEREMONY WHERE THE REGIMENTAL BAND WITH THE CORPS OF DRUMS GIVES A MARCHING DISPLAY TO ITS OWN REGIMENTAL MUSIC WHILST CARRYING OUT INTRICATE DRILL MOVEMENTS.
THE CEREMONY MARKS A FURTHER DEVELOPMENT IN CLOSE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE GURKHA AND CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE.
THE BAND AND OTHER UNITS OF THE REGIMENTS FREQUENTLY GIVE SUPPORT TO FUNCTIONS AND PROVIDE MUSIC FOR THE PASSING-OUT PARADES OF THE SERVICE.
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MORE PARKING METERS ft ft ft
ON-STREET PARKING SPACES IN MAN FUK ROAD AND MAN WAN ROAD IN HO MAN TIN WILL BE METERED FROM 8 AM ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 8).
A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT AS THERE IS A HIGH DEMAND FOR PARKING SPACES IN KWUN TONG, WONG TAI SIN, SHAM SHU I PO AND HUNG HOM, THE SAME ARRANGEMENT WILL ALSO BE INTRODUCED IN THESE DISTRICTS SHORTLY.
n....
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1982
- 7 -
OPENING OF CHOI WAN SHELTERED WORKSHOP AND HOSTEL
X X X
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S CHOI WAN SHELTERED WORKSHOP AND HOSTEL WILL BE OFFICIALLY OPENED ON TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 9).
IT IS THE FIRST PURPOSE-BUILT SHELTERED WORKSHOP AND HOSTEL FOR THE DISABLED.
THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE (OPERATIONS), WS EVELYN DOE, THE WONG TAI SIN CITY DISTRICT COMMISSIONER, MR IAN STRACHAN, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CHOI WAN AREA COMMITTEE AND MEMBER OF THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD, MR KUT SING-KUNG, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY.
THE WORKSHOP HAS A CAPACITY OF 120 PLACES WHILE THE HOSTEL HAS 26.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SAID THE WORKSHOP AND HOSTEL PROVIDES DISABLED PEOPLE WITH GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT IN A SHELTERED ENVIRONMENT.
♦ACTIVITIES ARE ORGANISED FROM TIME TO TIME FOR THE WORKERS TO MAKE THEIR LIVES MORE SATISFYING AND INTERESTING,♦ HE SAID.
WORKERS ARE PAID EVERY MONTH ACCORDING TO THE AMOUNT OF WORK DONE. IN ADDITION, THEY RECEIVE AN INCENTIVE PAYMENT OF $5.50 PER WORKING DAY AND A FREE MEAL.
SOCIAL WORKERS IN THE WORKSHOP HELP THE SHELTERED WORKERS SOLVE THEIR PERSONAL AND FAMILY PROBLEMS.
NOTE TO EDITORS!
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE ANNEX TO BOON-YUET HOUSE, CHOI WAN ESTATE, WONG TAI SIN, AT 10.30 AM ON TUESDAY.
SHA TIN WATER SUPPLY * * *
WILL
FRESH AND SALT WATER SUPPLY TO SOME PREMISES IN BE CUT OFF FOR EIGHT HOURS FROM 9 AM TO 5 PM ON (FEBRUARY 9) FOR WATER MAINS WORK.
SHA TIN TUESDAY
PREMISES AFFECTED WILL BE THOSE LOCATED AT JAT MIN CHUEN SHA KOK ESTATE, CITY ONE SHA TIN, SIU LEK YUEN VILLAGE YUEN ’ CHAU KOK ESTATE, YUEN CHAU KOK TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA.’tsANG AND YUE SHING^OURT* Y'U HA VILLAGE’ SHA T,N WAI' T0 SHEK TSUEN
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/8........
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1982
8
CHINESE LANGUAGE OFFICERS VISIT SINGAPORE ft ft ft ft
THE CHINESE LANGUAGE DIVISION OF HOME AFFAIRS BRANCH, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, WILL SEND A TEAM OF THREE OFFICERS TO SINGAPORE ON A STUDY TOUR FOR EIGHT DAYS FROM FEBRUARY 8 TO FEBRUARY 15, 1982.
THE THREE-MAN TEAM WILL COMPRISE MR YEN SHU-TUNG, CONTROLLER CF ENFORCEMENT, MR LEUNG BO-SANG, SENIOR CHINESE LANGUAGE OFFICER, AND MR LEE CHAN-WING, CHINESE LANGUAGE OFFICER.
THE PURPOSE OF THE TOUR WILL BE TO BROADEN THE OUTLOOK OF THE HONG KONG OFFICERS ENGAGED IN THE PROMOTION OF BILINGUALISM IN OFFICIAL BUSINESS AND TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO BENEFIT FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF MULTI-LINGUAL POLICY IN A MULTI-LINGUAL SOCIETY.
AREAS OF STUDY WILL COVER THE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND THE PUBLIC, THE INTERPRETATION AND TRANSLATION SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT, THE TRAINING FACILITIES FOR GOVERNMENT INTERPRETERS AND TRANSLATORS, THE TEACHING OF LANGUAGES IN THE UNIVERSITY, THE USE OF WRITTEN CHINESE IN THE CHINESE COMMUNITY, AND OTHER RELATED ASPECTS.
THE TOUR IS BEING ARRANGED BY THE SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT AND THE OFFICIAL PROGRAMME WILL TAKE THE HONG KONG OFFICERS ON VISITS TO THE COURTS, MINISTRY OF CULTURE, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE, NEWSPAPER COMPANIES, ETC.
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MORE FACILITIES AT LEE WAI LEE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE ft ft ft ft
THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE OF THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF LEE WAI LEE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE STAGE II.
THE PROJECT INVOLVES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SIX-STOREY ANNEX TO AND AN ADDITIONAL STOREY OVER THE EXISTING LEE WAI LEE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE.
THIS WILL PROVIDE MORE TEACHING FACILITIES INCLUDING 18 CLASSROOMS, SEVEN SPECIAL ROOMS/LABORATORIES, WORKSHOPS, AND A LIBRARY.
UPON COMPLETION OF THIS DEVELOPMENT, THE INSTITUTE WILL BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE ANOTHER 470 FULL-TIME AND 1 800 PART-TIME DAYRELEASE STUDENTS. MOST OF THE PLACES WILL BE FOR COURSES TRANSFERRED FROM THE POLYTECHNIC.
WORK IS EXPECTED TO COMMENCE IN APRIL AND BE COMPLETED IN OCTOBER 1983.
- o -
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1982
9
HORTICULTURE CLASS FOR THE ELDERLY PEOPLE
x x x x
A HORTICULTURE TRAINING CLASS FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE IS CURRENTLY HELD AT FANLING TO PROMOTE POT AND GARDEN PLANTING.
IT IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE HORTICULTURE CLUB OF THE NORTH DISTRICT ARTS ADVANCEMENT ASSOCIATION AND THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
LECTURES ARE BEING HELD AT THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE FANLING SUB-OFFICE OF NORTH DISTRICT OFFICE AT JOCKEY CLUB ROAD, FANLING AT 2 PM ON EVERY SATURDAYS UNTIL MARCH 6.
ELDERLY PEOPLE ARE WELCOMED TO JOIN THE FREE TRAINING CLASS, SAID A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NTSD.
HORTICULTURE EXPERTS WILL GIVE LECTURES ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF HORTICULTURE AND CULTIVATION OF PLANTS.
PRACTICAL WORK AS WELL AS COMPETITION AND EXHIBITION WILL ALSO BE ARRANGED TO AROUSE THE INTEREST OF PARTICIPANTS.
AN EXPERIMENTAL FLOWER BED HAS BEEN SET UP AT A STRETCH OF LAND ADJACENT TO THE SUB-OFFICE OF NORTH DISTRICT OFFICE AT FANLING FOR PARTICIPANTS TO NOURISH THEIR PLANTS.
OUTSTANDING HORTICULTURAL SELECTION WILL BE SHOWN TO THE PUBLIC AT AN OPEN EXHIBITION TO BE HELD ON MARCH 7.
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FIRING PRACTICE M M M
PEAK
FROM FROM
FIRING PRACTICE WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE HA TSUEN/CASTLE RANGE FOR FIVE DAYS FROM MONDAY (FEBRUARY 8) TO FRIDAY.
THE PRACTICE TIMES AREi MONDAY FROM 9 AM TO 5 PM-8.30 AM TO 4.30 PM- WEDNESDAY FROM 8 AM TO 5 PM-8 AM TO 11 PM- AND FRIDAY FROM 8 AM TO 4.30 PM.
TUESDAY THURSDAY
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WARNED NOT TO ENTER RED FLAGS ARE FLYING.
THE AREA WHEN
- 0 -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1982
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
SIR ALBERT OPENS SHA TIN ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN ............ 1
CYC MOVEMENT - FOCAL POINT TO DEVELOPMENT OF MORAL EDUCATION 2
CHONG HING HIKING SCHEME..................................... 3
LICENSING EXERCISE FOR SAI KUNG FISHING VESSELS.............. 4
NEW ANNEX FOR CHEUNG CHAU POLICE STATION .................... 4
PRIZES FOR RURAL CLEANSING FACILITIES DESIGN ................ 5
WINNERS OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY POSTER COMPETITION ............. 6
SALT WATER STOPPAGE.......................................... 6
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1982
1
SIR ALBERT OPENS SHA TIN ANT I-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN ft ft ft ft
SIR ALBERT RODRIGUES, CHAIRMAN OF THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS, TODAY (SUNDAY) EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE INCREASING INVOLVEMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN DRUG-RELATED CRIMES.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE SHA TIN DISTRICT ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN, SIR ALBERT POINTED OUT THAT DRUG ABUSE IS ON THE RISE WORLDWIDE, WITH ADDICTS BECOMING YOUNGER AND TURNING TO STRONGER DRUGS WHICH ARE INCREASINGLY EASY TO OBTAIN.
WHILE WE CAN PROUDLY AND CONFIDENTLY CLAIM THAT WE HAVE CONTAINED THE DRUG ABUSE PROBLEM, HE SAID, THERE IS A WORRYING TREND REPORTED BY THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES THAT AN INCREASING NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE ARE BEING LED TO DRUG CRIMES.
ALTHOUGH MANY OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE BELIEVED TO BE NON-ADDICTS THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN DRUG TRAFFICKING ACTIVITIES CONSTITUTES A GREAT RISK THAT SOME OF THEM MAY EVENTUALLY BECOME ADDICTS, HE ADDED.
SIR ALBERT ALSO NOTED THAT FOLLOWING THE CONTINUOUS DECLINE FOR TEN CONSECUTIVE YEARS, THE NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE UNDER 21 ADMITTED TO BOTH VOLUNTARY AND COMPULSORY TREATMENT CENTRES IN 1981 SHOWED A SLIGHT INCREASE.
ON THE LAW ENFORCEMENT SIDE, SIR ALBERT SAID ALTHOUGH THE AUTHORITIES SEIZED MORE DRUGS IN 1981 THAN IN PREVIOUS YEARS, THE PRICES OF NARCOTIC DRUGS HAVE INCREASED AND THE NUMBER OF OFFENCES WERE ALSO INCREASING.
+THESE ARE OMINOUS SIGNS AND A CLEAR INDICATION THAT THE TRAFFICKERS WILL CONTINUE TO DEAL IN THIS TRADE OF MISERY BECAUSE THE PROFITS FROM IT ARE TREMENDOUS.
+LET US RE-CONSOL IDATE OUR EFFORTS IN THE JOINT FIGHT AGAINST NARCOTICS,* SIR ALBERT URGED.
HE SAID THAT IT IS IN THIS SPIRIT THAT THE ACAN HAS GAINED SUPPORT FROM GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND CIVIC ORGANISATIONS IN THE PAST YEARS.
+WE ALL REALISE THE IMPORTANCE OF REDUCING THE DEMAND FOR ILLICIT DRUGS BY EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY THE YOUNG PEOPLE, ABOUT THE DANGERS OF DRUG ABUSE.
♦SHA TIN IS A RELATIVELY NEW COMMUNITY WITH A HIGH PROPORTION OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND IT IS HEARTENING TO SEE THE LEADERS OF THIS NEW TOWN GIVING THEIR FULL SUPPORT IN THIS CAMPAIGN WHICH THE ACAN EACH YEAR LAUNCHES ON A DISTRICT BASIS,* SIR ALBERT SAID.
HE ALSO THANKED THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD FOR ITS GENEROUS SPONSORSHIP AND ENTHUSIASTIC PARTICIPATION.
/THS SHA TIN .......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 19&2
2
THE SHA TIN ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND TO BE HELD IN THE DISTRICT. ACAN HAD PROVIDED $150 000 TOWARDS CAMPAIGN EXPENSES WHILE THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD AND LOCAL RESIDENTS HAD DONATED A FURTHER $30 000.
NEARLY 30 ACTIVITIES WILL BE HELD DURING THE THREE-WEEK-LONG INTENSIVE CAMPAIGN. THESE INCLUDE VARIETY SHOWS, EXHIBITIONS, SEMINAR CAMPS, FILM SHOWS, SCHOOL TALKS, VISITS, A HORSE-RIDING DAY AND A DISCO-NIGHT, SPEECH AND PAINTING CONTESTS, A TABLE-TENNIS COMPETITION AND A MODEL CAR RACE. A PUBLICITY SONG HAD ALSO BEEN SPECIALLY COMPOSED FOR THE CAMPAIGN.
TODAY’S OPENING AT THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB SHA TIN PUBLIC SPORTS GROUND WAS STARTED OFF WITH A +FLAG-HOI ST ING+ CEREMONY AND WAS FOLLOWED BY AN EXCITING TELE-MATCH. THERE WERE ALSO PERFORMANCES BY A GURKHA MILITARY BAND AND THE SHA TIN CHILDREN’S CHOIR, AS WELL AS LION AND DRAGON DANCES.
THE OPENING CEREMONY WAS ALSO ATTENDED BY MR WAI HON-LEUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE- MR C.M. LEUNG, ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS- AND DR PATRICK HASE, DISTRICT OFFICER (SHA TIN).
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CYC MOVEMENT - FOCAL POINT TO DEVELOPMENT OF MORAL EDUCATION * * * *
THE COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB MOVEMENT IS THE FOCAL POINT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF MORAL EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS, SAID THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR MICHAEL LEUNG, TODAY (SUNDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE FIRST ANNUAL PARADE OF THE CYC AT THE MONG KOK STADIUM IN KOWLOON, MR LEUNG SAID THE MOVEMENT ENCOURAGED THE YOUNG TO SEE BEYOND THEMSELVES INTO A WIDER WORLD AND TO DEVELOP A SENSE OF CONCERN AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR OTHERS.
+IT IS PRACTICAL MORAL EDUCATION IN WHICH ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS. IT IS ALSO A VERY ENJOYABLE FORM OF EDUCATION, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON HEALTHY, POSITIVE ACTIVITY,* HE SAID.
THE PARADE, THE FIRST SINCE CYC WAS ESTABLISHED IN FEBRUARY 1978, WAS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE VERY GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB (CHARITIES) LTD. MR LEUNG EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT IT WOULD BECOME A REGULAR EVENT IN THE COMMUNITY CALENDAR.
THE DIRECTOR SAID THAT THE JOCKEY CLUB’S GENEROSITY WOULD ALSO ENABLE THE CYC TO ORGANISE AN OVERSEAS VISIT FOR SEVERAL OF ITS MOST OUTSTANDING MEMBERS - A PARTICULARLY VALUABLE OPPORTUNITY FOR CONCERNED MEMBERS TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH OTHER YOUTH GROUPS AND CIVIC ORGANISATIONS ABROAD.
/CYC MEMBERSHIP......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1982
- 5 -
CYC MEMBERSHIP NOW STOOD AT OVER 63 OOO FROM ABOUT 5*0 PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS. THE STUDENTS, RANGING IN AGE FROM 10 TO 18, PARTICIPATED IN ACTIVITIES INVOLVING THE COMMUNITY IN WHICH THEY MAKE A POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION.
THEIR ACTIVITIES INCLUDE VISITS, DEBATES, SEMINARS, COMPETITIONS AND EXHIBITIONS RELATING TO CONSERVATION, FIRE PREVENTION, CONSUMER EDUCATION, ANTI-CORRUPTION, ROAD SAFETY, KEEPING HONG KONG CLEAN AND ANYTHING WHICH WILL MAKE A POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION TO COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.
AT THE OCCASION, MR LEUNG ALSO PRESENTED DISTRICT COMMITTEE FLAGS TO EIGHT CYC DISTRICT COMMITTEES AND PURPLE BADGES TO 17 MEMBERS - THE TOP AWARD UNDER THE CYC MERIT AWARD SCHEME FOR ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY PROJECTS.
- 0 - -
CHONG HING HIKING SCHEME * * *
A HONG KONG-WIDE HIKING SCHEME — ORGANISED BY THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT — WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED TODAY (SUNDAY) BY LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, MR CHARLES YEUNG.
SCHEME, SPONSORED BY THE LIU CHONG HING BANK AND LASTING FOR ONE YEAR, WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN TWO STAGES.
TO MARK THE OPENING, SOME 1 500 PEOPLE THIS MORN I Nr riTuPorn TECMNfcA|P0^rMOn|R0l|NDwnN Lt?? ChEUNg GOVERNMENT SECONDARY AND WAL?NT0AMA01Cf2o^f toa?iNG TA S,N T0 TAKE PART ,N A SIX-KILOMETRE iv FiALLCnvOt I KAIL*
IN HIS OPENING ADDRESS. MR YEUNG SAID THAT HONG KONc WITm host ioe”PRECTM!1o!i.LlCTmT?PfoR’p?Jp(?!SED WAS THE
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID HIKING SCHEME WAS LAUNCHED 14 MONTHS AGO POPULAR.
THE FIRST CHONG HING
AND IT PROVED TO BE VERY
♦THE NUMBER OF ROUTES OF FROM 16 TO 32,* THE SPOKESMAN
THE COMING SCHEME HAS BEEN INCREASED SAID.
♦IT WILL BE IN TWO PHASES, WITH THE FIRST STARTING ON FEBRUARY 14 AND LASTING UNTIL ThE END OF JUNE. THE SECOND PART WILL BEGIN IN EARLY JULY AND END IN JANUARY NEXT YEAR.
♦DUE TO THE POPULARITY OF THIS ACTIVITY, WE ARE INCREASING THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS BY 100 PER CENT — FROM 5 000 TO 10 000,♦ HE SAID.
THERE WILL BE 400 HIKES ALL OF WHICH WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAYS.
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1982
- 4 -
LICENSING EXERCISE FOR SAI KUNG FISHING VESSELS * * * *
THE MARINE DEPARTMENT WILL CARRY OUT LICENSING AND INSPECTION OF FISHING VESSELS OPERATING IN HANG HAU.
A TEAM * ill tic ON BOARD A DEPARTMENT LAUNCH ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 11) \T RENNIE’S MILL FROM 10.30 AM TO 1.30 PM AND AT HANG HAJ PIER FROM 2 PM TO 4 PM.
FOR REGISTRATION PURPOSES THE FISHERMEN WILL BE REQUIRED TO PRESENT VALID DOCUMENTS SUCH AS IDENTITY CARDS, CREW BOOKS AND FISH MARKET RECEIPTS.
A NOTICE ABOUT THE REGISTRATION IS BEING POSTED AT ALL FISHING
Bases and villages.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN REMINDED OWNERS OF FISHING VESSELS THAT A VALID LICENCE IS A LEGAL REQUIREMENT UNDER THE LAW.
HE ADDED THAT FISHERMEN OPERATING IN SAI KUNG CAN ALSO REGISTER WITH THE LOCAL MARINE OFFICE AT 65 MAN NIN STREET, ON THE FIRST AND THIRD WEDNESDAYS OF EVERY MONTH.
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NEW ANNEX FOR CHEUNG CHAU POLICE STATION
*****
ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATION WILL BE PROVIDED AT THE CHEUNG CHAU POLICE STATION SHORTLY TO RELIEVE THE PRESENT OVERCROWDED CONDITIONS OF THE STATION.
THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE OF THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS NOW INVITING TENDERS FOR THE ABOVE PROJECT.
IT WiLL INVOLVE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE EXISTING SINGLE STOREY KITCHEN BY A NEW BLOCK WHICH WILL COMPRISE THE KITCHEN, A CANTEEN, RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, OFFICES, TOILETS, LOCKER ROOMS AND A NEW FITNESS TRAINING ROOM.
ALTERATIONS TO THE EXISTING TWO-STOREY BUILDING WILL ALSO BE MADE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL OFFICE SPACE AND TO IMPROVE THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT.
THE WOR’.S WILL COMMENCE IN APRIL AND ARE EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN EARLY 1983.
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/5........
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1982
- 5 -
PRIZES FOR RURAL CLEANSING FACILITIES DESIGN * * *
A GROUP OF 46 PEOPLE WILL BE AWARDED CASH PRIZES AND BOOK TOKENS TOTALLING $30 000 AT THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY OF THE RURAL CLEANSING FACILITIES DESIGN COMPETITION ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 10).
TIMED TO COINCIDE WITH THE CURRENT CLEAN HONG KONG CAMPAIGN, THE COMPETITION WAS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE NEW TERRITORIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF THE CLEAN HONG KONG CAMPAIGN AND THE NEW TERRITORIES HEUNG YEE KUK.
THE CONTEST WHICH IS DIVIDED INTO THREE SECTIONS - THE OPEN GROUP, SECONDARY SCHOOLS GROUP AND PRIMARY SCHOOLS GROUP - HAS ATTRACTED MORE THAN 310 ENTRIES.
THERE ARE GROUP - ONE IS ■DIE OTHERS ARE
THREE CATEGORIES IN THE COMPETITION FOR THE OPEN FOR DESIGNING A RURAL REFUSE COLLECTION POINT AND FOR A RURAL TOILET OR A LITTER CONTAINER.
CHAMPIONS
FROM EACH CATEGORY WILL RECEIVE $4 000 WHILE THE
FIRST RUNNERS-UP AND SECOND RUNNERS-UP WILL EACH RECEIVE $2 000 AND $1 000 RESPECTIVELY.
CONSOLATION PRIZES OF $500 WILL ALSO BE GIVEN TO EACH OF THE WINNERS IN EACH SECTION.
FOR THE SECONDARY AND PRIMARY SCHOOL GROUPS, THERE ARE TWO CATEGORIES IN THE COMPETITION. ONE IS FOR DESIGNING A RURAL REFUSE COLLECTION POINT AND THE OTHER IS FOR A LITTER CONTAINER.
BOOK TOKENS RANGING IN VALUE FROM $100 TO $500 WILL GO TO THE WINNERS OF EACH CATEGORY OF ALL GROUPS.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CLEAN HONG KONG CAMPAIGN CLEANSING FACILITIES ACTION GROUP, MR CARLOS CHEUNG HON-KAU, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONY AT THE NEW TERRITORIES HEUNG YEE KUK CONFERENCE HALL AT 47 CUMBERLAND ROAD, KOWLOON.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE PRIZE-GIVING PRESENTATION AT THE NEW TERRITORIES HEUNG YEE KUK CONFERENCE HALL AT 3 PM ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 10).
AN INFORMATION OFFICER OF THE DEPARTMENT WILL BE ON HAND TO ASS I
NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES ST THE MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1982
6
WINNERS OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY POSTER COMPETITION
x x x x
STUDENTS FROM THE TANG SHIU KIN VICTORIA TECHNICAL SCHOOL AND THE METHODIST COLLEGE HAVE WON THE FIRST PRIZES OF THE ANNUAL INDUSTRIAL SAFETY POSTER DESIGN COMPETITION ORGANISED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.
THE COMPETITION WAS DIVIDED INTO TWO SECTIONS - SECTION A OPEN TO STUDENTS FROM TECHNICAL SECONDARY SCHOOLS, POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTES AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING SCHOOLS, AND TO STUDENTS FROM NON-TECHNICAL SCHOOLS.
SECTION B OPEN
MORE THAN 240 ENTRIES FROM 30 SCHOOLS WERE SUBMITTED AND SELECTION OF THE BEST ENTRIES FOR BOTH SECTIONS WAS HELD LAST MONTH.
IN SECTION A, THE FIRST PRIZE WAS WON BY KONG CHE-WING > OF TANG SHIU KIN VICTORIA TECHNICAL SCHOOL. THE SECOND AND THIRD ® PRIZES WERE WON BY LEUNG SIU-YUEN OF KWUN TONG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE AND KWOK TING-WA OF JOCKEY CLUB GOVERNMENT TECHNICAL SCHOOL RESPECTIVELY.
IN SECTION B, THE FIRST PRIZE WAS WON BY AU-YEUNG YING-CHAI CF METHODIST COLLEGE. THE SECOND AND THIRD PRIZES WERE NOTCHED BY YEUNG MING OF TAI TUNG MIDDLE SCHOOL AND TAM NIN-YIU OF MARIA COLLEGE RESPECTIVELY.
THE FIRST PRIZE WINNERS IN BOTH SECTIONS WILL BE AWARDED $600 EACH WHILE THE SECOND AND THIRD RUNNERS-UP WILL RECEIVE $500 AND $400 RESPECTIVELY.
FIVE OTHER ENTRIES IN THE TWO SECTIONS WILL BE AWARDED CONSOLATION PRIZES OF $200 IN THE FORM OF GIFTS.
THE PRIZES WILL BE PRESENTED BY DR HO KAM-FAI, AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, AT A CEREMONY TO BE HELD AT THE KESWICH HALL OF HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC ON FEBRUARY 25.
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SALT WATER STOPPAGE
XXX
SALT WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN AREAS IN KOWLOON WILL BE CUT OFF FOR 24 HOURS FROM 10 AM ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 10) TO 10 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR WATER MAINS WORK AT TAI WAN PUMPING STATION.
AREAS AFFECTED WILL BE HUNG HOM, TO KWA WAN, MA TAU KOK, MA TAU WAI, KOWLOON TONG, KOWLOON HOSPITAL, KOWLOON CITY, WANG TAU HOM, TUNG TAU TSUEN, WONG TAI SIN, KAI TAK, SAN PO KONG, LOK FU AND TSZ WAN SHAN.
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1982
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
LAST DAY FOR NT DISTRICT BOARD NOMINATIONS .................... 1
REGIONAL SECRETARY ATTENDS TAI PO NEW YEAR PROGRAMME........ 2
SAFETY EXTRAVAGANZA TO BE HELD................................. 3
ROLLER SKATING OPEN COMPETITION ............................... 4
PTO CONTRACTS for 1981 EXCEEDED $5 100 MILLION................. 5
BIG COMMUNITY PROJECT FOR EASTERN DISTRICT .................... 6
CASH RELIEF FOR FIRE VICTIMS .................................. 7
WATER FIGURES ................................................. 7
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1982
1
LAST DAY FOR NT DISTRICT BOARD NOMINATIONS
* * *
A REMINDER THAT TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY FOR NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS WAS GIVEN BY NEW TERRITORIES REGIONAL SECRETARY, MR IAN MACPHERSON, TODAY (MONDAY).
MR MACPHERSON SAID NOMINATIONS AFTER 5 PM COULD NOT BE ACCEPTED AND URGED ANYONE THINKING OF STANDING AS A CANDIDATE TO + ACT QUICKLY+.
HE SAID 161 CANDIDATES HAD BEEN NOMINATED SO FAR, AND ALTHOUGH THIS FIGURE WAS HIGHLY SATISFACTORY, +WE WOULD LIKE TO FEEL THAT EVERYONE WHO HAS CONSIDERED STANDING FOR ELECTION HAS BEEN NOMINATED.
MR MACPHERSON SAID AS EXPECTED NOMINATIONS HAD STARTED SLOWLY, BUT THERE HAD BEEN A RUSH AS THE CLOSING DATE DREW CLOSER.
♦ WE EXPECTED A FINAL FLURRY BEFORE TOMORROW’S CLOSE,+ HE ADDED.
HE SAID A FULL LIST OF CANDIDATES WOULD BE PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE LATER THIS MONTH.
HE SAID THE MOST INTERESTING PHASE OF THE ELECTIONS, WHICH TAKE PLACE ON THURSDAY, MARCH 4, WOULD NOW BEGIN.
♦ CAMPAIGNING IS UNDERWAY AND WILL INTENSIFY AS MARCH 4 GETS NEARER,♦ MR MACPHERSON SAID.
♦ I THINK IT WILL BE AN EXCITING PERIOD+.
HE URGED ALL 200 000 REGISTERED VOTERS TO VOTE.
HE SAID TO MAKE VOTING AS CONVENIENT AS POSSIBLE, A TOTAL OF 125 POLLING STATIONS WOULD BE SET UP THROUGHOUT THE NEW TERRITORIES AND THEY WOULD OPEN AT 7 AM ON MARCH 4 AND NOT CLOSE UNTIL 10 PM.
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1982
2
REGIONAL SECRETARY ATTENDS TAI PO NEW YEAR PROGRAMME * * * *
THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR IAN MACPHERSON, AND MRS MACPHERSON, ATTENDED A LUNAR NEW YEAR RECEPTION THIS EVENING (MONDAY) AND ALSO OFFICIATED AT A CEREMONY MARKING THE CLOSING OF THE TAI PO NEW YEAR PROGRAMME.
DURING THE RECEPTION, HELD AT A LOCAL RESTAURANT, MR MACPHERSON SAID TAI PO HAD UNDERGONE CONSIDERABLE CHANGES SINCE HIS DAYS AS DEPUTY DISTRICT NEW TERRITORIES COMMISSIONER.
HE SAID A GREAT DEAL OF DEVELOPMENT WORK HAD TAKEN PLACE AND MANY MORE PEOPLE HAD MOVED INTO TAI PO, BUT DESPITE THESE CHANGES THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT OF THE TOWN HAD BEEN MAINTAINED.
+YOUR ACTIVE PARTICIPATION IN THE WORK AND ACTIVITIES OF TAI PO DISTRICT BOARD IS A GOOD CASE IN POINT,* MR MACPHERSON SAID.
+ IN FACT, IN A SHORT WHILE, I SHALL WITNESS ONE OF THIS YEAR’S LUNAR NEW YEAR PROGRAMMES IN TAI PO, WHICH I UNDERSTAND HAS BEEN ANOTHER RESOUNDING SUCCESS.*
HE SAID LOOKING AHEAD THERE WOULD BE EVEN MORE DEVELOPMENT WORK AND CHANGES TAKING PLACE IN TAI PO.
* 1 HOPE YOU WILL ALL KEEP UP YOUR SPIRIT AND HELP TO MAKE TAI PO A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE IN,* MR MACPHERSON SAID.
THE RECEPTION WAS ATTENDED BY OVER 300 GUESTS, INCLUDING LOCAL DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS, RURAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN, SCHOOL PRINCIPALS, LOCAL LEADERS AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM LOCAL ORGANISATIONS AND BUSINESSES.
THE CLOSING CEREMONY AND NEW YEAR PROGRAMME VARIETY SHOW WAS HELD AT TAI PO SPORTSGROUND AND ATTENDED BY ABOUT 5 000 PEOPLE.
THE PROGRAMME STARTED WITH A PARADE OF 200 LANTERNS AND THE SWITCHING ON OF LIGHTS BY MR MACPHERSON.
OTHER PROGRAMME EVENTS INCLUDED A LION DANCE, MODERN AND CHINESE DANCES, POP SONG SINGING, ACROBATIC AND MAGIC SHOWS.
DURING THE PROGRAMME, MRS MACPHERSON PICKED OUT FIVE SPECIAL PRIZE WINNERS AT A LUCKY DRAW, EACH OF WHOM WILL RECEIVE EITHER A WATCH OR AN ELECTRONIC CALCULATOR. THERE WERE 30 OTHER LUCKY DRAW PRIZES.
MRS MACPHERSON WAS ALSO PRESENTED WITH A LANTERN WHICH WON FIRST PRIZE IN A DESIGN COMPETITION HELD LAST MONTH.
THE COMPETITION ATTRACTED A TOTAL OF 300 ENTRIES, ALL OF WHICH WERE ON DISPLAY DURING THIS EVENING’S FUNCTION.
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/3........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1982
3
SAFETY EXTRAVAGANZA TO BE HELD * * *
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WILL STAGE A SPECTACULAR AUDIO-VISUAL PRESENTATION ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY LATER THIS MONTH AS A MAJOR EFFORT TO PROMOTE SAFETY AT WORK.
THE 11-DAY EXHIBITION, KNOWN AS ’’SAFETY EXTRAVAGANZA”, WILL BE OFFICIALLY OPENED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, AT 3 PM ON FEBRUARY 19 AT THE KESWICK HALL OF THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC.
SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE THIS (MONDAY) AFTERNOON, THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR DAVID LIN, POINTED OUT THAT THE AIM OF THE EXHIBITION, APART FROM PROVIDING VIVID AND LIVELY ENTERTAINMENT, IS TO SHOW VISITORS, ESPECIALLY EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS, THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY AT WORK.
’’SAFETY EXTRAVAGANZA” WILL BE A SPECTACULAR SOUND-ON-SLIDE SHOW WITH SPECIAL EFFECTS AND DISSOLVES, PROJECTED ONTO A HUGE, MULTI-SCREEN FROM 22 PROJECTORS CONTROLLED BY COMPUTERISED PROGRAMMES.
BY UTILISING MODERN TECHNIQUE AND MORE THAN 1 000 SLIDES, THIS 12-MINUTE SHOW WILL PROVIDE AN EXTREMELY ENTERTAINING AUDIO-VISUAL PRESENTATION, AND AT THE SAME TIME UNDERLINE THE IMPORTANCE OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY.
’’SAFETY EXTRAVAGANZA” WILL BE HELD FROM 10 AM TO 10 PM DAILY FROM FEBRUARY 20 TO 28 AND FROM 3.30 PM TO 10 PM ON FEBRUARY 19 AND 10 AM TO 6 PM ON MARCH 1.
SHOWS WILL BE HELD AT HALF-HOUR INTERVALS FOR UP TO 300 PEOPLE AT A TIME, OR MORE FREQUENTLY DURING WEEKENDS IF THERE IS A HEAVY DEMAND.
ADMISSION WILL BE FREE, BUT TICKETS WILL BE REQUIRED TO ENTER THE KESWICK HALL FOR THE SHOW IN ORDER TO ATTAIN BETTER CROWD CONTROL. THE TICKETS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT OR AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE OF THE KESWICK HALL BEFORE EACH SHOW.
IN ADDITION TO THE SHOW, A STATIC DISPLAY WITH PHOTOGRAPHS, GRAPHICS AND SAFETY EQUIPMENTS WILL BE STAGED IN A ROOM NEXT TO THE KESWICK HALL. ADMISSION IS FREE.
MR LIN STRESSED 1 ’’THE DEPARTMENT IS DETERMINED TO CREATE MORE INNOVATIVE AND IMAGINATIVE PUBLICITY ACTIVITIES IN THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR TO REDUCE THE ACCIDENT RATE. TO THIS END MORE MONEY HAS BEEN ALLOCATED FOR INDUSTRIAL SAFETY EDUCATION IN 1982/83. ’ ’
ALSO SPEAKING AT THE CONFERENCE, THE CHIEF FACTORY INSPECTOR CF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, MR CHAN SIU-LAP, STRESSED THAT THE MAIN HOPE FOR REDUCING THE ACCIDENT RATE IS IN ADEQUATE EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF EVERYONE IN INDUSTRY.
''JrilLE .AFETY .........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1982
- 4 -
’’WHILE SAFETY AND HEALTH LEGISLATION AND STRICT ENFORCEMENT ARE INDISPENSABLE IN THE PROTECTION OF WORK PEOPLE IN INDUSTRY, THE FIRST PREREQUISITE OF ACCIDENT PREVENTION IS SAFETY CONSCIOUSNESS OF ALL PEOPLE AT THE WORKPLACE.”
TO ENSURE THAT SAFETY MESSAGES ARE GIVEN THE WIDEST ATTENTION, THE GOVERNMENT HAS, FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS, BEEN MOUNTING LARGE SCALE PUBLICITY CAMPAIGNS ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY.
MR CHAN OBSERVED THAT NO HEADWAY TOWARDS REDUCTION IN INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS CAN BE MADE UNLESS ALL PEOPLE ENGAGED IN INDUSTRY,BE THEY EMPLOYERS, SUPERVISORS OR GRASSROOT WORKERS, ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY AS WELL AS FOR THOSE WHO WORKED WITH THEM.
’’MOST OF THE ACCIDENTS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY COMMON SENSE AND I HOPE THIS PRESENTATION WILL IMPART TO EACH INDIVIDUAL MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE, THE GENERAL KNOWLEDGE OF SAFETY AT WORK AND THE COMMON PRECAUTIONS TO BE ADOPTED TO MAKE HIS WORKING ENVIRONMENT SAFER,” HE CONCLUDED.
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ROLLER SKATING OPEN COMPETITION ft ft ft
ENTRIES ARE BEING INVITED FOR THE FORTHCOMING 1982 HONG KONG ROLLER SKATING OPEN COMPETITION TO BE HELD AT THE ROLLER SKATING RINK OF FANLING PLAYGROUND ON MARCH 14 (SUNDAY).
THE COMPETITION, ORGANISED BY THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND SPONSORED BY THE NORTH DISTRICT BOARD, IS DIVIDED INTO TWO SECTIONS i THE YOUTH SECTION FOR YOUNGSTERS AGED 10 TO 16, AND THE ADULT SECTION, FOR PEOPLE AGED 17 OR ABOVE.
MORE THAN 100 ENTRIES HAVE SO FAR BEEN RECEIVED FOR THE EVENT. THE CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRY WILL BE SUNDAY,FEBRUARY 21.
THERE WILL BE SIX SEPARATE CATEGORIES INCLUDING MEN’S SINGLE RACE, WOMEN’S SINGLE RACE, MIXED TEAM RACE, MEN’S FREE STYLE, WOMEN’S FREE STYLE AND MIXED DOUBLE FREE STYLE.
PEOPLE WISHING TO ENTER CAN REGISTER WITH THE RECREATION PROMOTION UNIT OF THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT ON THE 9TH FLOOR OF FOUR SEAS BUILDING, 208-212 NATHAN ROAD, TSIM SHA TSUI (TELEPHONE 3-7211769).
THEY CAN ALSO APPROACH THE TUEN MUN URBAN SERVICES OFFICE AT ’TOP COURT’, FIRST FLOOR, TAK CHING COURT, TUEN MUN- FANLING PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL- YUEN LONG STADIUM- SHA TIN JOCKEY CLUB PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL- KWAI SHING SWIMMING POOL- YEUNG UK ROAD SPORTS GROUND AT TSUEN WAN, AND THE SQUASH COURTS OF VICTORIA PARK ON HONG KONG ISLAND.
COMPLETED ENTRY FORMS MUST BE RETURNED TO THE RECREATION PROMOTION UNIT OF THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT BEFORE FEBRUARY 21.
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/5 ......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1982
5
PWD CONTRACTS FOR 1981 EXCEEDED $5 100 MILLION * * * *
THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAD A BUSY YEAR LAST YEAR. AWARDING A TOTAL OF 877 CONTRACTS — AN AVERAGE OF MORE THAN TWO CONTRACTS A DAY.
THIS SHOWED AN INCREASE OF 369 CONTRACTS WHEN COMPARED WITH THE NUMBER OF CONTRACTS AWARDED IN 1980.
THE TOTAL VALUE OF LAST YEAR’S CONTRACTS EXCEEDED $5 100 MILLION AS AGAINST 54 667 MILLION IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
MOST OF THE MAJOR CONTRACTS ARE FOR ROAD PROJECTS. THESE INCLUDE THE SHA TIN-TAI PO COASTAL HIGHWAY, PHASE ONE OF THE SECOND STAGE OF THE ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR, STAGE TWO OF THE TSUEN WAN BYPASS, TAI HANG ROAD FLYOVER, AN INTERCHANGE AT WO HOP SHEK ON TAI PO ROAD AND A DUAL CARRIAGEWAY BETWEEN YUEN LONG NEW TOWN AND AU TAU.
AMONG OTHER MAJOR CONTRACTS ARE A MULTI-PURPOSE COMPLEX AT ABERDEEN AND A 5 200-METRE LONG WATER TUNNEL RUNNING FROM TSI NG TAM IN YUEN LONG TO YAU KOM TAU IN TSUEN WAN.
IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR, THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AWARDED A TOTAL OF 79 CONTRACTS WORTH MORE THAN $726 MILLION.
THE LARGEST CONTRACT AWARDED IN THE MONTH, WORTH ABOUT $290 MILLION, WAS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SECOND STAGE OF THE TSUEN WAN BYPASS.
IT COVERS THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 2.5 KILOMETRE-LONG ELEVATED HIGHWAY, 500 METRES OF WHICH WILL BE OVER THE SEA AND THE REST OVER THE RECENTLY RECLAIMED LAND AND NATURAL GROUND.
THIS DUAL TWO-LANE HIGHWAY WILL CONNECT STAGE ONE OF THE TSUEN WAN BYPASS AT TEXACO ROAD WITH TUEN MUN ROAD AT CHAI WAN KOK.
OF THE CONTRACTS AWARDED IN DECEMBER, 38 WERE RECOMMENDED BY THE CENTRAL TENDER BOARD AND THE OTHERS BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TENDER BOARD.
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1982
- 6 -
BIG COMMUNITY PROJECT FOR EASTERN DISTRICT ft ft ft ft
A MASSIVE COMMUNITY PROJECT WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BENEFIT 100 000 RESIDENTS ON THE EASTERN PART OF HONG KONG WILL BE LAUNCHED ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 14), BY THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD.
GIVEN THE NAME +NEW YEAR EASTERN 82+, THE NINE-PROGRAMME PROJECT IS AIMED AT BUILDING UP LOCAL DISTRICT IDENTITY AND FOSTERING A GREATER SENSE OF COMMUNITY SPIRIT, A SPOKESMAN SAID.
A SUM OF $200 000 HAS BEEN EARMARKED BY THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD FOR THE ACTIVITIES, WHICH WILL START OFF WITH AN +EASTERN DISTRICT COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT DAY+ ON SUNDAY, AT THE VICTORIA PARK, STARTING AT 2 PM.
THE MAIN THEME OF THE DAY ITSELF WILL BE TO ENLIST SUPPORT FOR THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME AND FIGHTING YOUTH CRIMES.
THE REGIONAL SECRETARY (CITY), MR GRAHAM BARNES AND THE REGIONAL POLICE COMMANDER (HONG KONG ISLAND), MR LI KWAN-HA, WILL JOINTLY SET OFF TWO HUGE BALLOONS CARRYING PUBLICITY BANNERS TO MARK THE OPENING CEREMONY, BEFORE AN EXPECTED GATHERING OF 10 000 PEOPLE.
OTHER EVENTS OF THE SUNDAY AFTERNOON WILL INCLUDE PERFORMANCES BY THE FLUTE AND PIPE BAND OF THE 1ST BATTALION SCOTS GUARDS, THE CHAI WAN CHILDREN’S CHOIR, THE HONG KONG JING YING DANCE COMPANY, THE PUI SING CHINESE ORCHESTRA AND A TEKWUNDO DISPLAY BY JUNIOR POLICE CALL MEMBERS.
THERE WILL ALSO BE A SPECTACULAR STATIC DRILL BY 600 STUDENTS FROM THE ISLAMIC COLLEGE, AND 3 000 BALLOONS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO CHILDREN BY ARTISTES DRESSED IN WALT DISNEY CHARACTER COSTUMES.
♦NEW YEAR EASTERN 82+ WILL CONSIST OF NINE MAJOR ACTIVITIES WHICH WILL INCLUDE AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT EFFORT FOR THE SQUATTER AREAS, AND A CLEAN-UP OF SOME HIGH-RISE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS, AS WELL AS A MOBILE EXHIBITION ENTITLED +EASTERN DISTRICT IN PROGRESS*.
THE MAIN DISTRICT-WIDE ACTIVITIES WILL BE SUPPLEMENTED WITH A SERIES OF AREA-BASED FRINGE EVENTS ORGANISED BY LOCAL ORGANISATIONS, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.
THE WHOLE PROJECT’S ACTIVITIES WILL CONCLUDE ON THE EVENING CF MARCH 6 (SATURDAY) WITH A LARGE-SCALE CARNIVAL AT CHAI WAN PARK, FEATURING A DRAGON DANCE ALONG THE THOROUGHFARE OF CHAI WAN.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EASTERN DISTRICT COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT DAY OPENING CEREMONY TO BE HELD AT 2 PM ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 14) AT NO. 6 FOOTBALL PITCH AT VICTORIA PARK. CITY DISTRICT OFFICE (EASTERN) STAFF WILL ASSIST MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1982
7
CASH RELIEF FOR FIRE VICTIMS
* * *
GRANTS FROM THE SING TAO FAT CHOY SPECIAL AID FUND WILL BE MADE TO FIRE VICTIMS IN SHAM SHU I PO, KOWLOON CITY AND MONG KOK DISTRICTS ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 11), THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED TODAY.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID SOME 600 FIRE VICTIMS WILL BE GIVEN $50 EACH FROM THE FUND AT THREE CITY DISTRICT OFFICES ON THAT DAY BETWEEN 10 AM AND 5 PM.
FIRE VICTIMS OF PAK TIN TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA SHOULD COLLECT THEIR GRANTS FROM THE NAM SHAN CITY DISTRICT SUBOFFICE AT 21-24 NAM ON HOUSE, NAM SHAN ESTATE, WHILE VICTIMS OF SAI TAU TSUEN SQUATTER AREA MAY COLLECT THEIR GRANTS FROM THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT OFFICE AT MA TAU KOK GOVERNMENT OFFICES. VICTIMS OF ROOF-TOP STRUCTURES ON HOI HING BUILDING, KOK CHEUNG STREET, SHOULD GO TO THE MONG KOK CITY DISTRICT OFFICE AT 157 PRINCE EDWARD ROAD TO COLLECT THEIR GRANTS.
FIRE VICTIMS SHOULD BRING ALONG THEIR IDENTITY CARDS AND REGISTRATION CARDS TO COLLECT THEIR GRANTS.
THE SING TAO FAT CHOY SPECIAL AID FUND MAKES AN ANNUAL ALLOCATION TO CITY DISTRICT OFFICES TO PROVIDE CASH ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS OF NATURAL DISASTERS.
THIS YEAR THE FUND HAS BEEN BOOSTED BY SOME PRIVATE DONATIONS AND A GRANT OF $200 000 FROM THE CHINESE TEMPLES COMMITTEE.
SO FAR MORE THAN $1.1 MILLION HAVE ALREADY BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO OVER 22 600 FIRE VICTIMS.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT ON THURSDAY (FEBRUARY 11) AT THE THREE CITY DISTRICT OFFICES BETWEEN 10 AM AND 5 PM.
------o-------
WATER FIGURES
* * *
STORAGE IN HONG KONG’S RESERVOIRS AT 9 AM TODAY (MONDAY) STOOD AT 43.1 PER CENT OF CAPACITY, OR 248.873 MILLION CUBIC bETRES.
THE STORAGE IS EQUIVALENT TO 216 DAYS' CONSUMPTION.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR THE RESERVOIRS CONTAINED 277.074 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF WATER, REPRESENTING 47.9 PER CENT OF CAPACITY.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1982
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GOVERNOR TO VISIT MACAU ...................................... 1
NINE QUESTIONS FOR LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ....................... 1
PROPOSALS FOR MORE SOCIAL WORKERS ............................ 2
FIRST fCIVIC WEEK' FOR WONG TAI SIN .......................... 3
BREAKDOWN FIGURES FOR HONG KONG’S EXTERNAL TRADE IN 1981 .... 4
$79-I£ILLION ROAD CONTRACT SIGNED ............................ 8
QUARTERLY BUSINESS SURVEY REPORT ............................. 9
EQUAL JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISABLED ......................... 11
COMMISSIONER VISITS INJURED OFFICER........................... 12
AUCTION OF SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS ............................... 12
YUEN LONG ARTS FESTIVAL OPENS ON FRIDAY....................... 13
TUESD-.’f, FHBHUAHY ' )C2
1
GOVERNOR TO VISIT MACAU * * * *
THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE WILL VISIT MACAU ON MARCH 15 AT THE INVITATION OF THE GOVERNOR OF MACAU. HE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY SIR S.Y. CHUNG, THE POLITICAL ADVISER, MR ROBIN MCLAREN AND THE AIDE-DE-CAMP.
DURING THE VISIT WHICH WILL BE INFORMAL, SIR MURRAY WILL HAVE LUNCH WITH REAR-ADMIRAL ALMEIDA E COSTA. HE WILL ALSO SEE SOMETHING OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE TERRITORY AND WILL BE BRIEFED ABOUT FUTURE PLANS.
THE GOVERNOR LAST VISITED MACAU IN DECEMBER 1973.
♦HE IS PLEASED TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PAY A FURTHER VISIT BEFORE HE LEAVES HONG KONG FINALLY,+ A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE GOVERNOR WILL RETURN ON THE SAME DAY.
NINE QUESTIONS FOR LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL * * *
THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE ASKED AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING BY THE HON FRANCIS TIEN TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) WHETHER IT WILL MAKE A STATEMENT ON THE PROGRESS OF FORMAL CONSULTATIONS WITH THE EEC REGARDING FRENCH RESTRICTIONS ON IMPORTS FROM HONG KONG.
ANOTHER INDUSTRIALIST, THE HON STEPHEN CHEONG WILL ASK THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE A STATEMENT ON EFFORTS BEING MADE IN PROMOTING HONG KONG AS A BASE FOR NEW MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES, AND THE GOVERNMENT’S FUTURE STRATEGY FOR DIVERSIFICATION OF THE INDUSTRIAL BASE.
THESE WILL BE AMONG NINE QUESTIONS DEALING WITH VARIOUS SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC MATTERS TO BE ASKED BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS.
OTHER QUESTIONS WILL INCLUDE THOSE CONCERNING +SEX ESTABLISHMENTS DISGUISED AS CH INESE-STYLE NIGHTCLUBS,+ EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN AND PERSONS UNDER 15 IN LIQUOR LICENSED PREMISES AND TRANSPORT SERVICES FOR SEVERELY-HANDICAPPED PERSONS.
SEVEN BILLS WILL BE INTRODUCED FOR FIRST AND SECOND READING.
THEY AREi BANKING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982- DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982- ARBITRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982-POLICE FORCE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982- APPRENTICESHIP (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982- LEGAL AID (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982- AND HOUSING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982.
DEBATE WILL RESUME ON THREE OTHER BILLS. THEY AREi INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982, VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL BILL 1982 AND HEUNG YEE KUK (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982.
THE FOLLOWING UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS’ BILL WILL BE READ A FIRST AND SECOND TIME, WITH DEBATE TO BE ADJOURNED* THE HONG KONG AND CHINA GAS COMPANY (TRANSFER OF INCORPORATION) BILL 1982.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1982
2
PROPOSALS FOR MORE SOCIAL WORKERS * * * *
A GOVERNMENT WORKING PARTY WITH UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS HAS MADE A NUMBER OF PROPOSALS TO INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF SOCIAL WORKERS.
THE WORKING PARTY ON SOCIAL WELFARE MANPOWER WAS APPOINTED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES IN FEBRUARY LAST YEAR TO SEEK BETTER USE OF TRAINED MANPOWER AND TO RECOMMEND WAYS TO MEET EXISTING AND FUTURE SHORTFALLS.
ACCORDING TO MANPOWER PROJECTIONS, THE ACCUMULATED SHORTFALL IF UNREMEDIED WOULD REACH 460 GRADUATE AND 265 NON-GRADUATE SOCIAL WORKERS BY 1982-83, AND WOULD INCREASE TO 930 AND 1 060 WORKERS RESPECTIVELY BY 1989-90.
IN ITS REPORT, THE WORKING PARTY RECOGNISED THAT THERE WAS NO QUICK OR EASY SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM: +THE EXPANSION OF DEMAND FOR SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES HAS ARISEN ON THE ONE HAND FROM THE VERY RAPID INCREASE IN POPULATION WHICH HAS TAKEN PLACE IN HONG KONG IN RECENT YEARS, AND ON THE OTHER FROM EFFORTS TO PROVIDE THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE STANDARDS OF SERVICE. THIS HAS INEVITABLY PRODUCED A SITUATION, WHICH IS NOT UNCOMMON IN CERTAIN PROFESSIONAL FIELDS, WHERE THE DEMAND FOR TRAINED MANPOWER GREATLY EXCEEDS THE SUPPLY.+
THE WORKING PARTY BELIEVES THAT THE MEASURES IT IS NOW RECOMMENDING ARE JUSTIFIED AND SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
THE RECOMMENDATIONS AREx
* INCREASED STUDENT INTAKE: THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALLOCATE SPECIAL EARMARKED GRANTS TO THE TWO UNIVERSITIES, THE POLYTECHNIC, BAPTIST COLLEGE AND SHUE YAN COLLEGE TO INCREASE THEIR SOCIAL WORK STUDENT INTAKE-
* OPTIMUM USE OF PERSONNELx JOBS THAT DO NOT REQUIRE PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE AND THOSE THAT CAN BE FILLED BY PERSONS QUALIFIED IN RELATED DISCIPLINES SHOULD BE IDENTIFIED AND FILLED ACCORDINGLY-
* RECRUITMENT FROM OVERSEAS: CANTONESE-SPEAKING SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS OVERSEAS SHOULD BE ATTRACTED TO WORK IN HONG KONG AND GREATER USE MADE OF NON-CANTONESE SPEAKING PROFESSIONALS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE POSTS. THERE SHOULD ALSO BE IMPROVED ARRANGEMENTS AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF TO RECEIVE OVERSEAS TRAINING-
* REDUCED OR PHASED EXPANSION OF SERVICES: IN IMPLEMENTING PLANNED SOCIAL WELFARE PROJECTS AND PROGRAMMES, A MORE REALISTIC VIEW SHOULD BE TAKEN OF STAFF AVAILABILITY AND CONSIDERATION GIVEN TO RETAINING PRESENT STAFFING STANDARDS WHILE THE SHORTFALL EXISTS-
/* •••••••
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 19&2
- 3 -
M RELAXED RECRUITMENT CRITERIA* AS A TEMPORARY MEASURE, GRADUATES WITH A GENERAL DEGREE SHOULD BE RECRUITED AS SOCIAL WORKERS PROVIDING THEY RECEIVE IN-SERVICE TRAINING LEADING TO A PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION”
* REDUCED WASTAGE RATEi THE WORKING CONDITIONS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE, INCLUDING SALARIES, CAREER PROSPECTS, IN-SERVICE TRAINING AND JOB MOTIVATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS SHOULD BE REVIEWED.
IN VIEW OF THE URGENT NEED FOR ADDITIONAL TRAINED MANPOWER, THE WORKING PARTY RECOMMENDED IMMEDIATE CONSULTATION WITH THE TRAINING INSTITUTIONS IN HONG KONG SO THAT THE ADDITIONAL TRAINING FACILITIES REQUIRED COULD BE PROVIDED FOR 1982/83.
THE WORKING PARTY’S REPORT, WHICH EXPLAINS THE REASONS BEHIND THE RECOMMENDATIONS, IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. COPIES IN ENGLISH, AND A CHINESE TRANSLATION OF THE SUMMARY CHAPTER, MAY BE OBTAINED BY WRITING TO THE SECRETARY OF THE WORKING PARTY AT THE SOCIAL SERVICES BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOWER ALBERT ROAD. A FULL CHINESE TRANSLATION WILL BE AVAILABLE LATERT
COMMENTS ON THE REPORT ARE INVITED AND SHOULD BE SENT TO THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES BY APRIL 15.
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FIRST ’CIVIC WEEK’ FOR WONG TAI SIN
XXX
THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD, IN CONJUNCTION WITH GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, HAS ORGANISED A WEEK OF ACTIVITIES FROM FEBRUARY 14 TO 21 TO INFORM PEOPLE WHO LIVE OR WORK IN THE DISTRICT OF PUBLIC SERVICES WHICH NOW EXIST OR ARE BEING PLANNED TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF THEIR LIVES.
THE MAIN FEATURE OF THE WEEK WILL BE AN EXHIBITION WHICH WILL DEPICT 100 YEARS OF LIFE IN WONG TAI SIN FROM 1890 TO 1990.
OTHER ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE A SCHOOL DEBATE COMPETITION A DRAWING COMPETITION FOR YOUNGER RESIDENTS, OUTDOOR FILM SHOWS AND INDOOR VIDEO-CASSETTE DEMONSTRATIONS, AN URBAN COUNCIL-SPONSORED VARIETY SHOW AND A CARNIVAL.
THE WEEK’S ACTIVITIES WILL COST IN EXCESS OF $100 000, ABOUT 50 PER CENT BEING PROVIDED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD.
NOTE TO EDITORS :
YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND A PRESS CONFERENCE TO PUBLICISE THE WONG TAI SIN CIVIC WEEK TO BE HELD AT 2.15 PM ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11,AT THE WONG TAI SIN CITY DISTRICT OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM, SAN PO KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 4TH FLOOR. DISTRICT BOARD AMBERS AND THE AREA’S CITY DISTRICT COMMISSIONER WILL BE PRESENT AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1982
BREAKDOWN FIGURES FOR HONG KONG’S EXTERNAL TRADE IN 1981
*****
TOTAL MERCHANDISE TRADE IN 1981, VALUED AT $260 537 MILLION, SHOWED AN INCREASE OF 24 PER CENT AS COMPARED WITH 1980. DOMESTIC EXPORTS ROSE BY 18 PER CENT TO $80 423 MILLION, IMPORTS BY 24 PER CENT TC $138 375 MILLION AND RE-EXPORTS BY 39 PER CENT TO $41 739 MILLION. DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS TOGETHER SHOWED AN INCREASE OF 24 PER CENT.
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT RELEASED TODAY THE RELEVANT DETAILED TRADE STATISTICS.
THE CHANGES IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO THE TEN MAJOR OVERSEAS MARKETS WERE AS FOLLOWSi-
1981 (HK8 MN.) 1980 (HK$ MN.) INCREASE/ DECREASE (HK$ MN.) PERCENTAGE CHANGE
U.S.A. 29 200 22 591 +6 609 +29
U.K. 7 710 6 791 * 919 +14
F.R. OF GERMANY 7 048 7 384 - 336 - 5
JAPAN 2 940 2 329 ♦ 611 ♦26
CHINA 2 924 1 605 *1 319 +82
AUSTRALIA 2 710 1 941 + 769 +40
CANADA 2 355 1 782 ♦ 573 ♦32
SINGAPORE 1 732 1 791 59 - 3
NETHERLANDS 1 598 1 575 ♦ 23 * 1
FRANCE 1 483 1 407 ♦ 76 ♦ 5
DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO THE U.S. CONTINUED TO GROW.
SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN CLOTHING (BY $2 874 MILLION OR 36 PER CENT), ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES (BY $917 MILLION OR 43 PER CENT), PLASTIC TOYS AND DOLLS (BY $706 MILLION OR 43 PER CENT) AND ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS AND PARTS FOR COMPUTERS (BY $687 MILLION OR 53 PER CENT).
ON THE OTHER HAND, DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF TRANSISTORS AND DIODES, AS WELL AS OFFICE MACHINES, DECLINED (BY $56 MILLION OR 20 PER CENT, AND $77 MILLION OR 29 PER CENT, RESPECTIVELY).
/INUl-fcuASES ................
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1982
5
INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO THE UNITED KINGDOM OF CLOTHING (BY $386 MILLION OR 12 PER CENT), PLASTIC TOYS AND DOLLS (BY $225 MILLION OR 63 PER CENT), AS WELL AS ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES (BY $150 MILLION OR 46 PER CENT). DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF WATCHES AND CLOCKS DECLINED BY $91 MILLION OR 20 PER CENT.
MOST COMMODITIES EXPORTED TO THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY DECREASED IN VALUE, INCLUDING WATCHES AND CLOCKS (DECLINED BY $102 MILLION OR 16 PER CENT) AS WELL AS TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (DECLINED BY S129 MILLION OR 19 PER CENT).
THE DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES INCREASED STEADILY (BY $33 MILLION OR 13 PER CENT).
SIGNIFICANT INCREASES WERE REGISTERED IN THE DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF CLOTHING TO JAPAN (BY $419 MILLION OR 58 PER CENT), AND IN THE DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY $295 MILLION OR 13* PER CENT) AND TEXTILES (BY $246 MILLION OR 64 PER CENT) TO CHINA.
AN ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS BY MAJOR
COMMODITY DIVISION IS PRESENTED BELOWt-
1981 (HK$ MN.) 1980 (HK$ MN.) INCREASE (HK$ MN.) PERCENTAGE CHANGE
ARTICLES OF APPAREL AND CLOTHING ACCESSORIES 28 288 23 258 ♦5 030 *22
MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (MAINLY PLASTIC TOYS AND DOLLS) 13 235 11 020 +2 215 *20
PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, OPTICAL GOODS, WATCHES AND CLOCKS 8 101 7 119 + 982 *14
ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES (MAINLY TRANSISTORS AND DIODES AND HOUSEHOLD TYPE APPLIANCES) 5 812 4 490 *1 322 *29
/TELECOblb.UNICATIONS ........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1982
o
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND
EQUIPMENT 5 618 5 030 + 588 +12
TEXTILE YARN, FABRICS, MADE-UP ARTICLES AND RELATED PRODUCTS 5 302 4 535 + 767 +17
THE CHANGES IN IMPORTS SUMMARISED AS FOLLOWS!- FROM THE TEN MAJOR SOURCES ARE
1981 (HK$ MN.) 1980 (HK$ MN.) INCREASE/ DECREASE (HK$ MN.) PERCENTAGE CHANGE
JAPAN 32 130 25 644 +6 486 +25
CHINA 29 510 21 948 +7 562 +34
U.S.A. 14 442 13 210 +1 232 + 9
TAIWAN 10 762 7 961 +2 801 +35
SINGAPORE 10 627 7 384 ♦3 243 +44
U.K. 6 283 5 456 + 827 ♦ 15
REPUBLIC OF KOREA (SOUTH KOREA) 5 495 3 869 +1 626 +42
F.R. OF GERMANY 3 383 2 883 + 500 +17
SWITZERLAND 2 848 2 897 - 49 - 2
AUSTRALIA 2 005 1 698 + 307 +18
LOCAL DEMAND FOR JAPANESE GOODS REMAINED STRONG.
INCREASES WERE NOTED PARTICULARLY FOR ROAD VEHICLES (BY $918 MILLION OR 40 PER CENT), WATCHES AND CLOCKS (BY $870 MILLION OR 38 PER CENT), ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES (BY $797 MILLION OR 33 PER CENT), TEXTILES (BY $617 MILLION OR 17 PER CENT), AS WELL AS TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY $586 MILLION OR 24 PER CENT).
AS FOR IMPORTS FROM CHINA, INCREASES WERE RECORDED MAINLY IN TEXTILES (BY $1 703 MILLION OR 41 PER CENT), CLOTHING (BY $1 419 MILLION OR 62 PER CENT), VEGETABLES AND FRUIT (BY S557 MILLION OR 52 PER CENT), MANUFACTURES OF METAL (BY $329 MILLION OR 68 PER CENT) AND LIVE ANIMALS CHIEFLY FOR FOOD (BY $304 MILLION OR 19 PER CENT).
INCREASES IN IMPORTS FROM THE U.S. WERE LARGELY OF
ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES (BY $420 MILLION OR AO PER CENT), VEGETABLES AND FRUIT (BY $217 MILLION OR 28 PER CENT) AS WELL AS TOBACCO AND TOBACCO MANUFACTURES (BY $157 MILLION OR 30 PER CENT).
/ON 'irixi OTHER ...
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 19&2
7
OR 38 PER CENT
__ -r„9?LIHE OTHER HAND, DECREASES WERE GP JrApPDOrLr?U *PMENT 0THER THAN ROAD OR 43 PER AND TEXT,LE F|BRES AND v/r' 'UH VlNI
JEERED in the imports *E”'CLES (BY $349 MILLION WASTES (BY $379 MILLION
TCXTlLESN|!ROM‘TNIll!!SR^?Ei1Wf2f EM’ IMR0RIS 0F »™Lpe" W‘T£D (I? »T&
in ihportsOby°commod*tyEsect?on^TES the more important changes
1981 (HK$ MN.) 1980 (HK$ MN.) INCREASE (HK$ MN.) PERCENTAGE CHANGE
MANUFACTURED GOODS CLASSIFIED CHIEFLY BY MATERIAL (MAINLY textile products. DIAMONDS, IRON and STEEL, AND PAPER) 40 149 33 720 +6 429 +19
MACHINERY AND TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT 32 298 25 133 +7 165 +29
MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (MAINLY WATCHES AND CLOCKS, ARTICLES OF APPAREL) 23 179 17 628 +5 551 +31
FOOD AND LIVE ANIMALS CHIEFLY FOR FOOD 13 993 11 558 +2 435 +21
MINERAL FUELS. LUBRICANTS AND RELATED MATERIALS io 966 7 882 ♦3 084 +39
CHEMICALS AND RELATED PRODUCTS 9 059 7 934 +1 125 ♦ 14
(BY B3U4B0?"i;fli0NR»T73,'p4ESRR^S??EI>lJ.,sN.RF-^?0"P™
OR 69 PERCENT)? ^ifJON
CHINA
MILLION OR
/ON THE OTHER .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1982
8
ON THE OTHER HAND, DECLINES WERE REGISTERED IN RE-EXPORTS TO BELGIUM AND LUXEMBOURG (BY $72 MILLION OR 21 PER CENT) AND SWITZERLAND (BY $185 MILLION OR 30 PER CENT).
MOST COMMODITIES RE-EXPORTED THROUGH HONG KONG EXHIBITED STRONG GROWTH, THE MORE SIGNIFICANT ONES BEING TEXTILES (BY $2 671 MILLION OR 62 PER CENT), ROAD VEHICLES (BY $1 122 MILLION OR 92 PER CENT), ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES (BY $1 106 MILLION OR 56 PER CENT), TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY $841 MILLION OR 66 PER CENT), AND CLOTHING (BY $642 MILLION OR 41 PER CENT).
THE DECEMBER 1981 ISSUE OF THE +HONG KONG TRADE STATISTICS -SUMMARY*, BEING A SUMMARY REPORT ON HONG KONG’S EXTERNAL TRADE IN DECEMBER 1981, WILL SOON BE AVAILABLE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT HK$3 PER COPY.
A MORE COMPREHENSIVE REPORT, +HONG KONG EXTERNAL TRADE*, WITH A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE MONTH’S IMPORTS, EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS, WILL BE PUBLISHED IN EARLY MARCH AND WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT HK$10 PER COPY.
ENQUIRIES CONCERNING SUBSCRIPTIONS TO THESE REPORTS MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT AT BASKERVILLE HOUSE, HONG KONG (TEL. NO. : 5-214375).
------0 _------
I79-MILLI0N ROAD CONTRACT SIGNED X * *
THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TODAY (TUESDAY) AWARDED A $79-MILLI0N CONTRACT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF ANOTHER SECTION OF TRUNK ROAD FROM YUEN CHAU KOK TO THE NORTHEAST OF WO CHE ESTATE IN SHA TIN NEW TOWN.
THE CONTRACT WAS SIGNED BY MR BOSCO KEOWN, CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE SHA TIN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE AND MR D.A. MORRIS OF GAMMON (HONG KONG) LIMITED.
MR KEOWN SAID THE NEW TRUNK ROAD, FORMING MAJOR HIGHWAY NETWORK WITHIN SHA TIN NEW TOWN, THE HEAVY TRAFFIC GENERATED BY THE DEVELOPMENT TOWN.
PART OF A WOULD HELP EASE OF THE NEW
+IT WILL EVENTUALLY CONNECT WITH THE SHA TIN-TAI PO COITAL R0AD AND F0RM PART 0F THE NEW TERRITORIES CIRCULAR ROUTE, PROVIDING A MAIN ROAD LINK BETWEEN KOWLOON AND THE EASTERN PART CF THE NEW TERRITORIES,* HE SAID.
WORK ON THE CONTRACT INCLUDES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MAJOR CROSSING OVER THE SHING MUN RIVER, ONE KILOMETRE OF DUAL THREE-LANE CARRIAGEWAY SOUTH OF THE RIVER CROSSING. TWO SUBWAYS, A FOOTPATH/CYCLETRACK SYSTEM ALONGSIDE THE TRUNK ROAD AND ASSOCIATED DRAINAGE WORKS.
WORK IS EXPECTED TO TAKE ABOUT 26 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
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/9........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1982
- 9 -QUARTERLY BUSINESS SURVEY REPORT * * *
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY (TUESDAY) RELEASED THE RESULTS OF THE QUARTERLY BUSINESS SURVEY CONDUCTED IN JANUARY 1982.
ABOUT 800 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 1981. AND THEIR BUSINESS EXPECTATIONS FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1982.
RESULTS OF THE SURVEY INDICATE THAT OVERALL BUSINESS PERFORMANCE IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1981 SHOWED SOME IMPROVEMENT OVER THAT IN THE THIRD QUARTER.
IMPROVEMENTS WERE MORE MARKED FOR THE ’CONSTRUCTION’, ’WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS* AND THE 'OTHER SERVICES’ SECTORS.
FOR THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR AS A WHOLE, BUSINESS PERFORMANCE IN THE FOURTH QUARTER WAS SUSTAINED AT A LEVEL LARGELY COMPARABLE TO THAT OF THE THIRD QUARTER.
VIEWS ON THE GENERAL BUSINESS OUTLOOK FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1982 ARE QUITE VARIED AMONG FIRMS.
TAKEN SECTORALLY. FIRMS IN THE ’MANUFACTURING’ AND ’WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE. RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS’ SECTORS EXPECT DETERIORATIONS AS AGAINST THE FOURTH QUARTER POSITION WHILE THOSE IN THE ’CONSTRUCTION’ AND ’OTHER SERVICES’ SECTORS ANTICIPATE CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT.
WITHIN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, FIRMS IN THE ’WEARING APPAREL’ INDUSTRY AND ‘MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES’ REPORTED SOME IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1981 BUT PREDICT SOME DETERIORATIONS IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1982.
’FOOD, BEVERAGE AND TOBACCO’, ’PRINTING’ AND ’FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS’ INDUSTRIES HAD SIMILAR PERFORMANCE IN THE FOURTH QUARTER AS IN THE THIRD, AND EXPECTED THIS SITUATION TO CONTINUE IN FIRST QUARTER 1982.
FIRMS IN THE ’TEXTILES’ AND ’ELECTRONICS’ INDUSTRIES, WHICH ALSO REPORTED LITTLE CHANGE IN THEIR BUSINESS SITUATION IN THE FOURTH QUARTER. PREDICTED UNFAVOURABLE PROSPECTS FOR THE FIRST QUARTER. ’ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPLIANCES AND SUPPLIES’ AND ’PLASTICS’ INDUSTRIES CONSIDERED THEIR BUSINESS SITUATION TO BE WORSE IN THE FOURTH QUARTER THAN IN THE THIRD, BUT DO NOT EXPECT FURTHER SIGNIFICANT DETERIORATION.
FIRMS IN THE ’WATCHES AND CLOCKS’ INDUSTRY REPORTED DIVERGENT EXPERIENCE IN THE FOURTH QUARTER, WITH A SMALL BALANCE OF OPINION ON THE ’DOWN’ SIDE.
AS FOR BUSINESS IN THE FIRST QUARTER, THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME CONCENSUS THAT PROSPECTS ARE UNFAVOURABLE.
MILD IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS PERFORMANCE WAS REPORTED BY FIRMS IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR.
/THEY EXPECTED
TUESDAY, FEBRUaHY 9, 19c2
10 -
THEY EXPECTED TO HAVE SOME FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1982.
RESPONDENTS IN THE ’WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS’ AND ’OTHER SERVICES’ SECTOR REPORTED IMPROVED BUSINESS PERFORMANCE IN THE FOURTH QUARTER BUT SOME DETERIORATION IS PREDICTED FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1982.
THE MAIN PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1981 WERE HIGH INTEREST RATES, UNCERTAINTIES THROUGH EXCHANGE RATE FLUCTUATIONS, HIGH STAFF COSTS AND PRICE COMPETITION. HIGH INTEREST RATES WILL REMAIN THE MAJOR PROBLEM IN FIRST QUARTER 1982 BUT PROBABLY WITH LESS SIGNIFICANCE. THE OTHER PROBLEMS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE AT THE SAME LEVEL.
HOTELS REPORTED THAT THEY HAD SOME PROBLEMS IN FOURTH QUARTER 1981 BUT MANY MORE ARE EXPECTED IN THE FIRST QUARTER 1982, BASICALLY AS A RESULT OF SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED COMPETITION DUE TO THE OPENING OF A NUMBER OF NEW HOTELS.
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS 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 OF HONG KONG.
PARTICIPATING FIRMS WERE ASKED TO INDICATE WHETHER IN THEIR OPINIONS, THE GENERAL BUSINESS SITUATION AND LEVEL OF CAPACITY UTILISATION HAD ’IMPROVED*, ’REMAINED THE SAME’ OR ’DETERIORATED’ IN THE IMMEDIATELY PAST QUARTER AS COMPARED WITH THE QUARTER BEFORE.
FOR THE FORTHCOMING QUARTER, THEY INDICATED WHETHER THIS WILL ’IMPROVE’, ’REMAIN THE SAME* OR ’DETERIORATE’. THE BALANCE OF OPINIONS OF RESPONDENTS WAS TABULATED AND ANALYSED. SUBSTANTIAL MODIFICATIONS WERE MADE TO THE QUESTIONNAIRE IN THIS ROUND OF THE SURVEY. ONE OF THE MAJOR CHANGES WAS THAT RESPONDENTS WERE ASKED TO EXCLUDE THE INFLUENCE OF PURELY SEASONAL FACTORS WHEN PROVIDING THEIR VIEWS ON THE GENERAL BUSINESS SITUATION AND CAPACITY UTILISATION.
A NEW SECTION ON BUSINESS PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED AND EXPECTED BY FIRMS IN DIFFERENT ECONOMIC SECTORS WAS INCLUDED. A BREAKDOWN OF VIEWS OF FIRMS BY SIZE GROUPS WAS INTRODUCED.
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 HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO FIRMS TAKING PART IN THE SURVEY AND TO OTHER BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS.
MEMBERS OF PUBLIC MAY OBTAIN COPIES FROM GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, AT S3 PER COPY.
/11 ........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1982
11
EQUAL JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISABLED
* K * *
THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE (OPERATIONS), WS EVELYN DOE, TODAY (TUESDAY) APPEALED TO THE PUBLIC, IN PARTICULAR EMPLOYERS, TO SUPPORT THE DISABLED AND PROVIDE THEM WITH EQUAL JOB OPPORTUNITIES.
SHE WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S CHOI WAN SHELTERED WORKSHOP AND HOSTEL.
+FOR THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, THIS IS A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT AND ALSO A SOUND METHOD OF ENRICHING OUR HUMAN RESOURCES,* SHE SAID.
SINCE THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TOOK OVER FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR RUNNING VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRES FOR THE DISABLED, THE S.W.D. HAS TURNED ITS ATTENTION TO THE PROVISION OF A WIDER RANGE OF SERVICES FOR THE DISABLED.
+SHELTERED WORKSHOPS ARE NOW REGARDED AS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED,* SHE STRESSED.
ALTHOUGH THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF DISABLED PERSONS HAD ENDED, MRS DOE SAID THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE DISABLED WITH MORE AND BETTER SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FIVE-YEAR DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
BESIDES THE NINE SHELTERED WORKSHOPS RUN BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, VOLUNTARY AGENCIES HAD BEEN ENCOURAGED TO PROVIDE SIMILAR SERVICES WITH A VIEW TO ACCOMMODATING MORE SHELTERED WORKERS AND ESTABLISHING WORKSHOPS CLOSE TO THEIR HOMES, SHE SAID.
THE CHOI WAN WORKSHOP CAN ACCOMMODATE UP TO 120 DISABLED PEOPLE WHILE THE HOSTEL HAS PLACES FOR 26.
APART FROM MRS DOE, OTHER GUESTS OFFICIATING TODAY WERE THE WONG TAI SIN CITY DISTRICT COMMISSIONER, MR IAN STRACHAN, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CHOI WAN AREA COMMITTEE AND MEMBER OF THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD, MR KUT SING-KUNG.
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/12........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1982
12
COMMISSIONER VISITS INJURED OFFICER
* * * *
THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR THOMAS GARNER, TODAY (TUESDAY) VISITED ASSISTANT OFFICER LAM LING-SANG AT QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL AND WISHED HIM QUICK RECOVERY.
MR LAM SUFFERED A FRACTURED SKULL AND BROKEN ARM WHEN HE AND ANOTHER ASSISTANT OFFICER TRIED TO INVESTIGATE AN INCIDENT AMONG VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN ARGYLE STREET CAMP THREE AROUND MIDNIGHT LAST FRIDAY.
HE WAS SAID TO BE IN ^SATISFACTORY CONDITION* TODAY.
MR LAM, AGED 26, JOINED THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT IN 1978. HE IS ONE OF THE 85 OFFICERS OF THE DEPARTMENT SECONDED TO THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT TO ASSIST IN ADMINISTERING GOVERNMENT REFUGEE CAMPS.
The other officer injured in the same INCIDENT, MR SIU PO-KONG, AGED 23,was DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL AFTER TREATMENT.
------0-------
AUCTION OF SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS * * *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL HOLD ANOTHER AUCTION OF SPECIAL CAR REGISTRATION NUMBERS ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 13) AT 10 AM IN THE CITY HALL RECITAL HALL.
A TOTAL OF 36 SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR BIDDING. THEY ARE:
CR 689 CR 320 CR 329 CR 745
CP 8698 CP 1818 CS 500 3328
CR 208 CR 944 CR 966 CR 1031
CP 7932 CR 108 CR 230 CR 885
CS 678 CR 2 HK 6688 780
CR 1913 CR 801 CR 423 CR 1999
CR 228 CR 148 CR 938 CR 260
CC 99 CF 88 AE 3 CR 2866
CP 8066 CR 784 BB 1711 CR 1338
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 WILL AS cSUAL GO TO THE GOVERNMENT LOTTERIES FUND.
THE COMING AUCTION WILL BE THE 72TH ORGANISED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SINCE MAY 1973.
/13........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1982
15
YUEN LONG ARTS FESTIVAL OPENS ON FRIDAY
*****
THE SECOND YUEN LONG ARTS FESTIVAL STARTS ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 12) AND WILL LAST 16 DAYS.
THE SECRETARY FOR CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, WILL OFFICIATE AT AN OPENING CONCERT BY THE HONG KONG CHINESE ORCHESTRA AT THE LUT SAU HALL.
BESIDES THIS CONCERT, THERE WILL BE A GUITAR CONCERT ON FEBRUARY 13, A HONG KONG PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA CONCERT ON FEBRUARY 19, A PERFORMANCE BY YUEN LONG CHILDREN'S CHOIR ON FEBRUARY 22 AND AN OPEN AIR CONCERT ON FEBRUARY 27 BY THE HONG KONG YOUTH MUSIC SOCIETY CHINESE ORCHESTRA.
A HIGHLIGHT OF THE 26-EVENT PROGRAMME WILL BE THREE DAYS CF CANTONESE OPERA BY THE CHOR FllNG MING TROUPE STARTING ON FEBRUARY 25.
OTHER EVENTS WILL INCLUDE FOLK DANCING, DRAMA, PUPPET SHOWS, A VARIETY SHOW, JAPANESE FILM APPRECIATION AND A BALLET PERFORMANCE.
A CHINESE CHESS COMPETITION, A SPRING FESTIVAL SCROLL AND FLOWER EXHIBITION, A CHINESE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS EXHIBITION AND TALKS ON PHOTOGRAPHY, LITHOGRAPHY AND CHINESE PAINTING WILL ALSO BE HELD.
MOST OF THE PERFORMANCES WILL BE STAGED AT THE LUT SAU HALL, WHILE EXHIBITIONS WILL BE HELD AT YUEN LONG TOWN HALL. THE COMPETITION AND TALKS WILL TAKE PLACE AT LOCAL SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
TICKETS AT $3, $5, $10, $15 AND $20 ARE NOW ON SALE AT THE DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE LUT SAU HALL. FOR THE CANTONESE OPERA TICKETS RANGING IN PRICE FROM $15 TO $40 WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE LUT SAU HALL BOX OFFICES FROM FEBRUARY 15.
ENTRY FOR MOST EVENTS IS FREE.
THE FESTIVAL, SPONSORED BY YUEN LONG DISTRICT BOARD AT A COST OF $350 000, HAS BEEN ORGANISED BY THE FESTIVAL CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER, MR MA NING-HEI.
- o -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1982
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING: -------------- — ----------
BIG STEP TAKEN ON ELECTRICAL SAFETY....................... 1
UNOFFICIALS SUPPORT VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL BILL ..... 2
WATER CHARGES TO GO UP 20 PER CENT......................., 8
LAW. ON SEX. ESTABLISHMENTS............................... 1.0
MORE UNOFFICIAL HIMBERS FOR HOUSING AUTHORITY TO REFLECT HOUSING GROWTH IN NEW TERRITORIES ........................ 11
LEGAL AID (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982 ............................ 12
LONGER WEEKENDS........................................... 15
NEED FOR ‘WELL-TRAINED WORKFORCE STRESSED................. 15
VIABLE FRAMEWORK FOR ARBITRATIONS.........'............... 15
TALKS ON FRENCH RESTRICTION RESUME NEXT WEEK.............. 16
TICD’S INDUSTRIAL PROMOTION PROGRAMME..................... 17
AMENDMENTS TO BANKING, DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES ORDINANCES 18
MONEY LENDERS BILL ....................................... 19
OPERATION OF DESALTER .................................... 20
PLAN TO ENLARGE REHABUS SERVICE........................... 20
/GAS COMPANY ........
GAS COMPANY REGISTRATION ..................................... 21
POLICE DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES ............................... 21
EMPLOYMENT OF YOUNG WOMEN ................................ 22
INTERVIEW OF RAPE VICTIMS..................................... 22
OFFICE TERM EXTENDED ......................................... 23
• r * .r* J* .x m
■ ■ • ■" OX
NO CHANGE IN LABOUR DEPARTMENT TITLE ..................... 23
TDC ANNUAL REPORT ........................................ 24
THREE BILLS PASSED........................................ 25
GOVERNOR TO CHECK ON CLEAN UP ................................ 26
THE WEATHER IN JANUARY........................... ,*.......... . 26
COMPULSORY INSPECTION OF PRIVATE CARS ..................... 28
DISTRICT BOARD TO DISCUSS CULTURAL FACILITIES................. 28
ANTI-NARCOTICS CONCERT ........................................ 29
WORK BEGINS ON NEW ARMY BARRACKS ............................. 30
WEDNESDAY,- FEBRUARY 10, 1982
1
BIG STEP TAKEN ON ELECTRICAL SAFETY ft ft ft ft
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAS TAKEN A MAJOR STEP TO ENSURE SAFETY IN THE USE OF ELECTRICITY IN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS.
THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON J.N. HENDERSON, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) TABLED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL A COMPREHENSIVE SET OF REGULATIONS ON THE SAFE USE OF ELECTRICITY. THE REGULATIONS, KNOWN AS THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (ELECTRICITY) REGULATIONS 1982, WERE LATER APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL.
SEEKING APPROVAL OF THE REGULATIONS, MR HENDERSON POINTED OUT THAT STATISTICS OF ELECTRICAL ACCIDENTS INVOLVING EMPLOYEES SHOWED THAT THE STANDARD OF ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE IN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS WAS OFTEN LOW.
LAST YEAR, 11 PEOPLE DIED AS A RESULT OF ELECTROCUTION AND THERE WERE 152 NON-FATAL INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS INVOLVING ELECTRICITY.
HITHERTO, THERE HAD NOT BEEN A SINGLE, COMPREHENSIVE SET OF REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE SAFE USE OF ELECTRICITY IN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS. SOME MEASURES FOR THE PREVENTION OF HAZARDS ARISING FROM THE USE OF ELECTRICITY IN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS HAD BEEN CONTAINED IN DIFFERENT ITEMS OF SAFETY LEGISLATION AND HAD BEEN RESTRICTED TO CERTAIN AREAS.
+THE REGULATIONS NOW TABLED BEFORE THIS COUNCIL ARE BASED BROADLY ON THE ELECTRICITY REGULATIONS MADE UNDER THE UK FACTORIES ACT. THEY PRESCRIBE GENERAL REQUIREMENTS TO ENSURE SAFETY IN THE USE OF ELECTRICITY IN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAK INGS,+ MR HENDERSON NOTED.
MR HENDERSON SAID THAT THE REGULATIONS PLACED ON THE PROPRIETOR OF AN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKING THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENSURING THAT HIS ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS AND APPARATUS ARE IN SAFE WORKING ORDER.
THEY ALSO DEAL WITH, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE INSULATION AND THE SAFEGUARDING OF CONDUCTORS, THE CONSTRUCTION OF SWITCHES AND SWITCHBOARDS, SWITCH FUSES, CIRCUIT BREAKERS AND INSULATING LINKS, MEANS OF ISOLATING VOLTAGE AND MEANS OF PREVENTING ELECTRICAL SHOCK AND FIRE.
AS PROPRIETORS MAY NEED TIME TO MAKE THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS AND MODIFICATIONS IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THE REGULATIONS, Mi HENDERSON PROPOSED THAT THE REGULATIONS SHOULD COME INTO OPERATION IN SIX MONTHS, PROBABLY FROM SEPTEMBER 1 THIS YEAR BY NOTIFICATION IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
IN THE MEANTIME, THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WOULD LAUNCH A PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN FOR THE GENERAL EDUCATION OF WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS ON THE CONTENTS OF THE REGULATIONS.
/PROPRIETORS WOULD .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 19$2
2
PROPRIETORS WOULD ALSO BE ABLE TO FIND USEFUL INFORMATION ON HOW TO ACHIEVE PROPER COMPLIANCE WITH THE REGULATIONS IN PUBLICATIONS SUCH AS THE REGULATIONS OF THE INSTITUTION OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS AND IN THE POWER COMPANIES’ SUPPLY RULES, MR HENDERSON ADDED.
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION, MR S.L. CHEN SAID THAT WHETHER OR NOT THE OBJECTIVES UNDERLINED BY THE NEW REGULATIONS WOULD BE ACHIEVED DEPENDED A GREAT DEAL ON THE WORK AND THE QUALITY OF THE ^COMPETENT PERSONS* DEFINED IN THE REGULATIONS.
HE SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ESTABLISH THE NUMBER OF +COMPETENT PERSONS* AT PRESENT AVAILABLE IN HONG KONG AND WHETHER THE NUMBER WAS ADEQUATE FOR PROVIDING THE NECESSARY SERVICE.
+T0 THIS END, I FURTHER SUGGEST THAT PERHAPS THE GOVERNMENT MIGHT WISH TO CONSIDER ESTABLISHING AN OFFICIAL REGISTER OF PERSONS WHO ARE QUALIFIED TO PERFORM THE FUNCTIONS RELEVANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS LAID DOWN BY THE NEW REGULATIONS.*
MR CHEN ALSO CALLED FOR A TRADE TEST CENTRE TO ASSESS THE COMPETENCE OF SUCH PERSONS.
+IF GOVERNMENT IS WILLING TO CONSIDER ESTABLISHING SUCH FACILITIES WHEREBY PERSONS IN POSSESSION OF THE NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL COULD GET QUALIFIED, I AM SURE THE TWO POWER COMPANIES WHERE THE EXPERTISE LIES WOULD BE ONLY TOO WILLING TO ASSIST,* HE SAID.
------o-------
UNOFFICIALS SUPPORT VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL BILL * * * *
ELEVEN UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS SPOKE DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL BILL WHICH AIMS AT IMPROVING INDUSTRIAL TRAINING AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION.
THE BILL, WHICH WAS PASSED TODAY ALSO ENVISAGES A NEW DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT THROUGH WHICH THE COUNCIL WILL DISCHARGE ITS FUNCTIONS.
LEADING THE DEBATE WAS DR THE HON FRANCIS TIEN, CONVENER OF AN AD HOC GROUP OF UNOFFICIALS FORMED TO STUDY THE BILL. DR TIEN SAID « WAS GRATIFIED TO SEE THE ENACTMENT OF A BILL WHICH SEEKS TO ESTABLISH A STATUTORY BODY WITH THE MEANS TO ENSURE A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM OF INDUSTRIAL TRAINING GEARED TO THE DEVELOPING NEEDS OF HONG KONG’S ECONOMY.
THE NEED FOR SUCH A BODY IS STRONGLY BROUGHT HOME BY +A CURSORY GLANCE AT THE PRESENT ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES FACED BY THE UNITED KINGDOM,* HE SAID, ADDING ^REALISATION HAS NOW COME THERE THAT VOCATIONAL TRAINING IS THE BEST WAY FORWARD FOR THAT FALTERING ECONOMY.*
/HE NOTED .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1982
HE NOTED THAT THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL, WHEN ESTABLISHED, WOULD NOT ONLY CARRY OUT THE CURRENT ADVISORY FUNCTIONS CF THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL, BUT ALSO THE EXECUTIVE ROLE WHICH WOULD INVOLVE THE FUTURE MANAGEMENT OF THESE AND POSSIBLY OTHER TRAINING SCHEMES.
♦THIS IS A TASK AT THE SAME TIME DAUNTING AND CHALLENGING, FOR THE NEW VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL MUST ENSURE, THROUGH A STEADY SUPPLY OF TRAINED MANPOWER, THAT HONG KONG’S COMMERCE, INDUSTRY AND SPECIALISED SERVICES ARE PROPERLY CATERED FOR.+
DR TIEN SUGGESTED THAT A BROADLY-BASED ELEMENT OF PERSONS WITH SUBSTANTIAL GENERAL BUSINESS AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE SHOULD BE APPOINTED TO THE COUNCIL.
THE EXPERIENCE OF THE TWO EXISTING TRAINING AUTHORITIES COULD BE PUT INTO GOOD USE. HE BELIEVED THE NEW TRAINING CENTRES SHOULD BE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE INDUSTRIES FOR WHICH THEY WOULD BE ESTABLISHED, AND TO THAT END, THE RESPECTIVE TRAINING BOARDS MUST BE GIVEN THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR DIRECTING THE OPERATION OF THE TRAINING CENTRES.
DR TIEN ALSO PRAISED THE CONTRIBUTION MADE BY THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL WHICH WILL +RETIRE INTO HISTORY^ WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL.
QUOTING SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL, HE REMINDED MEMBERSi +THIS IS NOT THE END. IT IS NOT EVEN THE BEGINNING OF THE END. BUT IT IS PERHAPS THE END OF THE BEG INN I NG.+
THE HON ALEX WU COMMENDED THE GOVERNMENT FOR MOVING SWIFTLY TO IMPLEMENT IN SUCH AN ♦I MAG I NAT IVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE MANNER* THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE TO REVIEW POST-SECONDARY AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION.
HE HOPED THAT THE NEW COUNCIL AND DEPARTMENT +WILL BE AS BUSINESSLIKE IN ACTION*.
TO SOME EXTEND, HE SAID, THEIR SUCCESS WILL DEPEND ON THE EXECUTIVE STRUCTURE THROUGH WHICH THE COUNCIL WILL OPERATE, AND HE HOPED THAT THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION WOULD CLARIFY THE EXACT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COUNCIL AND THE DEPARTMENT.
♦I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HIS ASSURANCES THAT THE BENEFITS OF MERGING ELEMENTS OF THE LABOUR AND EDUCATION DEPARTMENTS WILL BE D*REpTLY !^!DENT ,N 1ERMs 0F W0RK 0N THE ground RATHER THAN IN ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANISATION.
♦WE DO NOT NEED ANOTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT UNLESS IT CAN DO WHAT HAS NOT BEEN DONE WELL ENOUGH BEFORE, DO IT MORE EFFICIENTLY THAN WAS POSSIBLE UNDER THE EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS AND EXERCISE FREEDOM OF ACTION WHEN NEW OPPORTUNITIES PRESENT THEMSELVES,♦ HE STRESSED.
THE REV THE HON JOYCE BENNETT SAID SHE SUPPORTED THE BILL ♦BECAUSE IT RATIONALISES OUR TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING AT THE OPERATIVE, CRAFTSMAN, TECHNICIAN AND TECHNOLOGIST
/SHE URGED .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1982
4
SHE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO ALSO RATIONALISE TEACHER TRAINING AT THE NON-GRADUATE LEVEL WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS SINCE +THE CHANGES TO THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S TECHNICAL EDUCATION DIVISION WILL FURTHER ISOLATE THE HONG KONG TECHNICAL TEACHERS’ COLLEGE+.
♦WE NEED TO UNIFY THE FOUR COLLEGES AT PRESENT RESPONSIBLE FOR TEACHING TRAINING,+ SAID MISS BENNETT. +THIS WILL GREATLY IMPROVE OUR EFFICIENCY IN THIS SPHERE, TOO.+
APART FROM WASTING A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY IN THIS RESPECT AT THE MOMENT, SHE SAID, +WE ARE FRUSTRATING THE AMBITIONS OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE DESIROUS OF TEACHING SUBJECTS LEARNT AT THE TECHNICAL TEACHERS’ COLLEGE AND ONE OF THE OTHERS.
♦I CAN INSTANCE THOSE WISHING TO TEACH ACCOUNTS AND BOOKKEEPING - THE COURSES FOR WHICH ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE TECHNICAL TEACHERS’ COLLEGE - AND IN ADDITION DRESSMAKING FOR WHICH THE STUDENTS HAVE TO STUDY AT SIR ROBERT BLACK COLLEGE OF EDUCAT ION,♦ SHE ADDED.
THE HON S.L. CHEN DID NOT CONSIDER THAT A NEW GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED AND PLACED UNDER THE COUNCIL BECAUSE 1
* IT MEANS SUBSTANTIAL ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE"
M A NEW GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT WOULD BE UNDER THE SAME CONSTRAINTS AS ALL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND WOULD NOT CONTRIBUTE ANYTHING TOWARDS ENHANCING THE FLEXIBILITY IN THE WAY THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DIVERSIFICATION HAD IN MIND-AND
* THE COUNCIL WHICH IS EMPOWERED TO EMPLOY AND REMUNERATE ITS OWN STAFF, WILL HAVE UNDER ITS CONTROL A MIXTURE OF CIVIL SERVANT AND NON-CIVIL SERVANT STAFF.
♦THE LONGER-TERM OBJECTIVE MUST BE FOR THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL AND ITS EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT TO BECOME WHOLLY DETACHED FROM GOVERNMENT AND FUNCTION ALONG THE LINES OF THE POLYTECHNIC COUNCIL AND THE POLYTECHNIC,* HE SAID.
♦FOR FEW WILL DENY THAT THE POLYTECHNIC WAS ABLE TO ACHIEVE ITS FLEXIBILITY ONLY AFTER IT WAS DETACHED FROM GOVERNMENT.♦
AS AN INTERIM ARRANGEMENT, MR CHEN SUGGESTED THAT THE SECRETARIAT OF THE NEW COUNCIL MIGHT BE CONSTITUTED PARTLY BY STAFF FROM THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND PARTLY FROM THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.
♦RATHER THAN FORMING A NEW DEPARTMENT, SUCH STAFF CAN REMAIN ADMINISTRATIVELY IN THESE DEPARTMENTS BUT FUNCTIONALLY THEY WILL WORK TO AND BE UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL IN THE SAME WAY THAT THE UMELCO OFFICE IS BOTH THE SECRETARIAT AND EXECUTIVE ARM OF THE UMELCO,+ HE SAID.
THE HON WONG LAM SAID THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL, SHOULD PAY MORE ATTENTION TO COURSES OF SHORTER DURATION.
HE POINTED OUT THAT MOST EXISTING VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMMES PLACE EMPHASIS ON RELATIVELY LONG AND SOPHISTICATED COURSES.
/ALTHOUGH THIS .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1C, 1982
- 5 -
ALTHOUGH THIS APPEARS TO BE REASONABLE, HE SAID, THERE IS STILL ROOM FOR DISCUSSION.
♦TAKING FOR INSTANCE, FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO WISH TO BE DRIVERS CF CONTAINER-TRACTORS OR PUBLIC OMNIBUSES, OR TO TAKE UP JOBS OF A SIMILAR NATURE, THEY FIND IT DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN FORMAL TRAINING IN THESE FIELDS.
♦BUT THESE KINDS OF TRADES CERTAINLY PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG’S COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY,+ HE SAID.
DR THE HON RAYSON HUANG REFERRED TO A CLAUSE IN THE BILL RELATING TO THE TRAINING OF OPERATIVES, CRAFTSMEN, TECHNICIANS AND TECHNOLOGISTS BY THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE TERM +TECHNOLOGIST+ IS GENERALLY REFERRED TO AS PROFESSIONALLY QUALIFIED PEOPLE.
♦THEIR EDUCATION AND TRAINING ARE, OF COURSE, THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE UNIVERSITIES AND THE POLYTECHNIC, AND THESE INSTITUTIONS ARE UNDER THE AEGIS OF THE UNIVERSITIES AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE,+ SAID DR HUANG.
TO AVOID CONFUSION AND DUPLICATION OF EFFORT, THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PROPOSED COUNCIL IN THIS AREA SHOULD BE CLEARLY SPECIFIED.
DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI WARNED THAT THE SETTING UP OF THE COUNCIL MUST NOT RESULT IN PRODUCING MERELY +HUMAN ROBOTS* IN MEETING THE SHORT-TERM INDUSTRIAL MANPOWER NEEDS.
♦THE COUNCIL MUST DO ALL IT CAN TO PRODUCE EDUCATED, SKILLED AND VERSATILE WORKERS CAPABLE OF FLEXIBLY ADJUSTING THEMSELVES TO THE CHALLENGES OF RAPIDLY CHANGING TECHNOLOGY.
♦I THEREFORE ECHO THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION’S SENTIMENTS THAT A FAIR PROPORTION OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE EDUCATIONAL. IN ADDITION TO THE INDUSTRIAL, FIELD SHOULD BE APPOINTED TO THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL,+ HE SAID.
DR HO SUGGESTED THAT PLANNERS OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING, ESPECIALLY AT THE TECHNICIAN AND TECHNOLOGIST LEVELS, SHOULD FINELY BALANCE THE TRAINING CONTENTS BY INCORPORATING BROAD PRINCIPLES AND CONCEPTS, TO INFUSE IN THE STUDENTS AND TRAINEES AN ESSENTIAL ABILITY TO THINK, JUDGE AND MAKE APPROPRIATE DECISIONS.
WITH THESE QUALITIES, HE SAID, OUR WORKFORCE WOULD BE BETTER ABLE TO ADAPT AND RESPOND QUICKLY TO NEW DEVELOPMENTS AND REQUIREMENTS OF INDUSTRY.
HE WAS ALSO CONCERNED OVER THE INADEQUACIES OF FACILITIES FOR VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR THE DISABLED.
♦ONLY THE LEE WAI LEE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, OUT OF THE EXISTING FIVE INSTITUTES, HAS BEEN DESIGNED WITH THE NEEDS OF HANDICAPPED STUDENTS IN MIND, AND ONLY A SMALL NUMBER OF PLACES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SUCH STUDENTS,+ HE SAID.
/+! URGE .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1C, 1982
6
+l URGE THAT MORE OF THESE FACILITIES SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE PLANNING AND DESIGN OF THE NEW INDUSTRIAL TRAINING CENTRES AND INSTITUTES, WITH PARTICULAR CARE THAT EASY ACCESS IS PROVIDED FOR THE PHYSICALLY HAND(CAPPED.+
THE HON ALLEN LEE STRESSED THAT HONG KONG TO DELAY INDUSTRY-WIDE TRAINING PROGRAMMES ANY
COULD NOT AFFORD LONGER.
HONG KONG MUST UPGRADE ITS PRODUCTS AND PROVIDE ADEQUATE TRAINING TO ITS LABOUR FORCE IN ORDER TO COMPETE. +OUR COMPETITORS HAVE IN THE PAST FEW YEARS IMPROVED THEIR QUALITY OF PRODUCTS AND THEIR INCREASE IN THE MARKET SHARE HAS SURPASSED OURS EVEN THOUGH WE STILL ENJOY A RESPECTABLE GROWTH RATE,* HE SAID.
+IT IS INEVITABLE HONG KONG MUST STAY AHEAD IN OUR EXPORTS AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.+
IN ADDITION TO COMPETITION NOW AFFECTED BY CHINA’S MODERN I
, MR LEE ADDED, HONG KONG IS ALSO ZATION PROGRAMMES.
+THERE ARE ALREADY MANY HONG KONG MANUFACTURERS ENTERING VARIOUS MANUFACTURING PROGRAMMES ACROSS
THE BORDER
BOTH Wa’tT TH‘T THESE *CTIV,T'ES ‘SE G00D F<W
+HOWEVER, WE MUST THINK ABOUT THE ANSWER LIES IN BETTER QUALITY, HE SAID.
WHAT WE ARE GOING TO MANUFACTURE. MORE ADVANCED PRODUCTS,*
THE HON WONG PO-YAN FELT THAT ONE OF THE MAIN DUTIES OF THE NEW COUNCIL SHOULD BE TO ENSURE THAT A FINE BALANCE IS ACHIEVED AMONG THE SHORT, MEDIUM AND LONG TERM OBJECTIVES FOR THE BENEFIT OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY.
AT THE SAME TIME, HE SAID, CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO PROVIDE INDUSTRIOUS, EDUCATED AND VERSATILE WORKERS WITH A SOUND AND SOLID BASE FOR SELF-ACTUATION.
MR WONG STRESSED THAT WHILE THE WHOLE WORLD AND OUR NEIGHBOURING COMPETITORS ARE MOVING AHEAD QUICKLY, HONG KONG SIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD TO LAG BEHIND.
*NOW, IN ORDER TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE TO SURVIVE, AND TO MAKE OUR DIVERSIFICATION AND MOVE UP-MARKET VIABLE, OUR WORKERS MUST BE TRAINED TO ENHANCE THEIR TECHNOLOGICAL CAPABILITY AND BROADEN THEIR HORIZONS WITH THE ABILITY TO USE, AND USE WELL, NOT ONLY THEIR HANDS BUT ALSO THEIR BRAINS IN THEIR JOBS, TO IMPROVE THE DESIGNS AND EFFECT IVENESS*OF 'THE IR MACHINES,* HE SAID.-
+IN SHORT, WE MUST NOW AIM TO TRAIN OUR WORKERS TO BE HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE, INNOVATIVE AND ADAPTIVE, TO MEET THE INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL REQUIREMENTS TODAY, AS WELL AS THE CHALLENGES OF TOMORROW.*
THE HON CHAN KAM-CHUEN CONSIDERED THAT PARENTS IN HONG KONG ARE TOO OBSESSED WITH SECURING PROFESSIONAL OR UNIVERSITY EDUCATION FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
IT MAY BE A NOBLE GOAL, HE SAID, BUT SOME CHILDREN MAY BE BETTER WITH THEIR HANDS WHILE OTHERS MAY HAVE ARTISTIC TALENTS OR A TECHNICAL BENT.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 19&2
7
... *E E0R.IHESE AND VARIOUS OTHER REASONS THEY DO NOT GO INTO A UNIVERSITY, IT IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD,* HE SAID. +IN FACT MANY WHO HAVE AN INTEREST IN AND LEARNED A TRADE, WOULD LEAD A SUCCESSFUL AND HAPPY LIFE.
+THEIR OPPORTUNITIES TO CLIMB UP THE SOCIAL LADDER ARE EQUAL IN A FREE SOCIETY LIKE HONG KONG, AND MANY AN ENTERPRISING INDUSTRIALISTS TODAY WERE BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS, WHO HAD WORKED THEIR WAY FROM THE RANKS TO THE TOP.*
MR CHAN THOUGHT THAT VOCATIONAL TRAINING BENEFITS SOCIETY AS A WHOLE BY PROVIDING THE MEANS TO EMPLOYMENT, STABILITY AND AFFLUENCE.
+D0 WE REQUIRE HOUSING, TRANSPORT, CATERING, CLOTHING, REPAIR AND OTHER SERVICES?* HE ASKED. +THESE BASIC REQUIREMENTS OF OUR EVERYDAY LIFE ARE CATERED FOR AND MAINTAINED MORE EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY AS A RESULT OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING.*
HE ALSO SUGGESTED THAT VOCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAMMES SHOULD BE SUPPLEMENTED BY AN APPROPRIATE INJECTION OF CONCEPTS ON COMMUNITY SPIRIT, CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY AS WELL AS INDUSTRIAL SAFETY, SO AS TO PRODUCE SKILFUL AND RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS.
THE HON STEPHEN CHEONG URGED THE GOVERNMENT +T0 LOOK VERY CAREFULLY INTO THE COST ELEMENTS INVOLVED* IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW DEPARTMENT AS DESCRIBED BY THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION WHEN HE INTRODUCED THE BILL.
♦IF A NEW DEPARTMENT DOES COST MORE BUT DOES NOT BRING WITH IT THE DESIRED ADDITIONAL BENEFITS COMMENSURATE WITH THE ADDITIONAL COST, OR WORSE STILL, AS MR S.L. CHEN HAD ALREADY SUGGESTED, IF HAVING A NEW DEPARTMENT WOULD BE LIABLE TO HINDER PROGRESS OF THE VTC TOWARDS THE DEGREE OF AUTONOMY IT REQUIRES, THEN IT WOULD BE UNWISE TO EMBARK ON SUCH A VENTURE HASTILY,* HE ARGUED.
♦AFTER ALL, IN THE LIGHT OF THE PRESENT FORECAST OF PROLONGED UNFAVOURABLE WORLD ECONOMIC CLIMATE, ANY DEGREE OF GROWTH IN THE RATE OF GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE MUST BE WATCHED VERY CAREFULLY AND WEIGHED AGAINST ALL OTHER POSSIBLE COST-SAVING OPTIONS SO THAT THE COST EFFECTIVENESS OF ANY NEW VENTURE MUST NOT BE LOST SIGHT OF.*
MR CHEONG SAID HE BELIEVED THE FUTURE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF THE VTC WILL DEPEND TO A LARGE EXTENT ON THE DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING.
IT IS OF UTMOST IMPORTANCE, THEREFORE, THAT THE PERSON APPOINTED TO THE POST MUST HAVE CONSIDERABLE PROFESSIONAL STATURE AND BE CAPABLE OF PROVIDING THE PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP REQUIRED, HE SAID.
♦HE NEEDS TO BE A WELL-QUALIFIED SPECIALIST AND MUST HAVE EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN BOTH TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING.
♦INDEED UNLESS HE IS THUS QUALIFIED, HE WILL HAVE AN UPHILL BATTLE IN HARNESSING THE EFFORTS OF ALL CONCERNED TO FULFILL THE TREMENDOUS HOPES OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE,* MR CHEONG SAID.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1982
8
WATER CHARGES TO GO UP 20 PER CENT M * *
WATER CHARGES WILL GO UP BY 20 PER CENT FROM APRIL 1 THIS YEAR.
ANNOUNCING THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, THE SfaCREiAkt FQk LANDS. AND WORKS, THE HON DAV |,D MCDONALD, SA.ID THAT AN INCREASE IN THE CHARGE FOR WATER WAS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO MEET IN SOME MEASURE THE ADDITIONAL COST OF OPERATING THE WATERWORKS.
♦TH. SE ADDITIONAL COSTS ARISE PRIMARILY FROM THE SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION OF WATER, THE PRINCIPAL FACTORS BEING THE INCREASED VOLUME OF WATER REQUIRING PUMPING AND THE ASSOCIATED INCREASE IN PUMPING COSTS- THE INCREASE IN SALARIES ARISING FROM AN EXPANDING SERVICE AND REVISIONS IN SALARY IN THE INTERVENING PERIOD- AND THE COST OF ADDITIONAL QUANTITIES OF WATER FROM CHINA COUPLED WITH THE NEW RATE WHICH BECOME EFFECTIVE ON JANUARY 1, 1982,+ HE SAID.
♦THESE FACTORS HAVE RESULTED IN THE IN-YEAR PRODUCTION COSTS INCREASING FROM $9.5 PER UNIT IN 1979/80 TO $13.3 PER UNIT IN 1982/63, AN INCREASE OF 40 PER CENT.+
THE NEW CHARGES AREi
DOMESTIC CHARGES
UNITS PER 4-MONTH BILLING PERIOD CHARGE PER UNIT
PRESENT $ RATE NEW RATE $
0-4 NIL NIL
5-8 3 3.6
9-14 5.5 6.6
15 - 20 8.5 10.2
OVER 20 12 14.4
TRADE SUPPLIES 5.5 6.6
SHIPPING SUPPLIES
NON OCEAN-GOING SHIPPING 5.5 6.6
OCEAN-GOING SHIPPING 12 14.4
CONSTRUCTION SUPPLIES 8.5 10.2
/PREPAID SUPPLIES
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1982
9
PREPAID SUPPLIES 5.5
FLUSHING SUPPLIES
SALT WATER FREE
FRESH WATER 3
LESS A DEDUCTION PER DWELLING
FOR EACH 4-MONTH BILLING
PERIOD FOR FRESH WATER USED FOR FLUSHING 20
6.6
FREE
3.6
24
MR MCDONALD SAID: +THE EFFECT OF THESE NEW CHARGES ON DOMESTIC CONSUMERS IS LIKELY TO BE MINIMAL. ABOUT 20 PER CENT CF CONSUMERS WILL CONTINUE TO PAY NO WATER CHARGES AND ANOTHER 65 PER CENT WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY LESS THAN $1 PER WEEK EXTRA.*
WITH REGARD TO TRADE CONSUMERS, HE ADDEDi +SOME RELIEF WILL BE GIVEN TO INDUSTRIES WHERE THE COST OF WATER REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT PROPORTION OF THEIR TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES AND WHERE HARDSHIP MIGHT ARISE AS A RESULT OF THE IMPOSITION OF THE NEW RATES.*
MR MCDONALD POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT INTENDED TO CONTINUE FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR ONLY A CONCESSIONARY TARIFF.
THIS WILL BE THE CURRENT CHARGE OF S5.5O PER UNIT FOR CONSUMPTION IN EXCESS OF 6 000 UNITS PER FOUR-MONTHLY BILLING PERIOD AND WILL GIVE THOSE WHO QUALIFY FOR IT TIME WITHIN WHICH TO INTRODUCE, IF THEY SO WISH, MEASURES TO HELP THEM ECONOMIZE IN THEIR USE OF WATER.
HE RECALLED THAT THE CHARGES FOR WATER WERE LAST REVISED IN 1979.
+IN SETTING THE LEVEL OF THE CHARGES AT THAT TIME THE GOVERNMENT HAD REGARD TO THE +N0 SUBSIDY* PRINCIPLE WHICH IS THE BASIS ON WHICH IT SEEKS TO MANAGE PUBLIC UTILITY TYPE UNDERTAKINGS,* HE SAID.
♦IN OTHER WORDS, CHARGES FOR WATER ARE AIMED AT RECOVERING THE FULL COST OF THE WATERWORKS OPERATION, INCLUDING THE COST OF THE CAPITAL EMPLOYED.*
/HOWEVER, HE .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 19&2
10
HOWEVER, HE EMPHASISED THAT THE COST OF OPERATING THE DESALTER WAS EXCLUDED, AS THIS WAS A STRATEGIC AND STANDBY FACILITY AND WAS NOT A COMPONENT OF THE NORMAL WATER SUPPLY OPERATION.
A REVIEW OF THE OPERATING COSTS OF THE WATERWORKS INDICATES THAT THE FORECAST EXPENDITURE FOR 1982/83 WILL EXCEED THE EXPENDITURE IN 1979/80 BY 128 PER CENT. THIS COMPARES WITH AN INCREASE IN REVENUE OVER THE SAME PERIOD OF ONLY 66 PER CENT.
THIS REVISION, MR MCDONALD SAID, HAD BEEN CARRIED OUT AND HAD HAD REGARD TO THE NEED TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE IMPACT OF INCREASED WATER CHARGES ON CONSUMERS AND THE NEED TO ENCOURAGE THE CONSERVATION OF WATER.
REFERRING TO THE INCREASE IN COST, HE SAID IT WOULD ONLY l€ET IN PART THE DEFICIT IN THE OPERATING ACCOUNTS, REFLECTING GOVERNMENT’S CONCERN AT THE POSSIBLE INFLATIONARY CONSEQUENCES OF FULL ECONOMIC CHARGES.
THE NEW RATES OF CHARGE WILL, IN RESPECT OF WATER CONSUMED ON OR AFTER APRIL 1. 1982 BE REFLECTED IN THE FIRST BILLS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF METER READINGS TAKEN ON OR AFTER AUGUST 1, 1982.
------o-------
LAW ON SEX ESTABLISHMENTS
* * *
THE GOVERNMENT HOPED THAT BY JUNE IT WOULD BE ABLE TO DECIDE WHETHER LEGISLATION DEALING WITH SEX ESTABLISHMENTS NEEDED TO BE AMENDED, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON JOHN GRIFFITHS SAID AT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
IN HIS REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HO KAM-FAI, MR GRIFFITHS REFERRED TO THE DIFFICULTY IN SOME CASES OF PROVING IN COURT WHETHER PREMISES WERE USED +WHOLLY OR MAINLY+ BY TWO OR MORE WOMEN FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROSTITUTION, OR USED IN CONNECTION WITH THE ORGANISING OR ARRANGING OF PROSTITUTION.
HOWEVER, FOLLOWING A DECISION BY THE COURT OF APPEAL IN AUGUST LAST YEAR, PROSPECTS OF SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION IN SUCH CASES WAS ENHANCED.
PROSECUTIONS WERE THEREFORE BEING MONITORED, IN COOPERATION WITH THE POLICE, TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE POSITION IN THE LIGHT OF THE NEW LEGAL DEFINITION HAD BEEN IMPROVED IN PRACTICE, HE SAID.
/n .....
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1982
11
MORE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS FOR HOUSING AUTHORITY TO REFLECT HOUSING GROWTH IN NEW TERRITORIES *****
THE HOUSING ORDINANCE IS TO BE AMENDED TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
This Was ANNOUNCED TODAY BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON DONALD LIAO, WHEN HE MOVED THE SECOND READING OF THE HOUSING AMENDMENT BILL 1982 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
HE SA IDi +SECTION 3 OF THE ORDINANCE EMPOWERS THE GOVERNOR TO APPOINT UP TO 13 UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, OF WHOM EIGHT SHALL BE URBAN COUNCILLORS. HOWEVER, IN VIEW OF THE SHORTAGE OF DEVELOPABLE LAND IN THE URBAN AREA, AN INCREASING AMOUNT OF THE AUTHORITY’S HOUSING PRODUCTION IS NOW CENTRED IN AND AROUND THE NEW TOWNS AND THIS TREND WILL CONTINUE.
♦ IT IS, THEREFORE, NECESSARY TO CONSIDER APPROPRIATE REPRESENTATION ON THE AUTHORITY OF NEW TERRITORIES’ INTERESTS IN ADDITION TO THOSE OF THE URBAN AREA. FURTHERMORE, DISTRICT BOARDS ARE NOW BEING FORMED AND SOME HAVE ALREADY STARTED TO FUNCTION.
♦ TO TIE IN WITH THIS DEVELOPMENT, IT IS CONSIDERED THAT THERE SHOULD ALSO BE REPRESENTATION ON THE AUTHORITY OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF DISTRICT BOARDS.
♦ IN ORDER TO REFLECT THESE CHANGES, IT IS NECESSARY TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE FOR AN INCREASED NUMBER OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS ON THE AUTHORITY.
♦ WHILE THERE WILL NO LONGER BE SPECIFIC REFERENCE IN THE ORDINANCE TO URBAN COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP, IT IS PROPOSED THAT THE PRESENT CLOSE LIAISON BETWEEN THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND THE URBAN COUNCIL SHOULD BE MAINTAINED, AND IT IS NOT INTENDED FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE THAT THE NUMBER OF URBAN COUNCILLORS ON THE AUTHORITY SHOULD BE VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE PRESENT.♦
THE BILL ALSO PROPOSES REVISED LEGISLATION CONCERNING THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME TO GIVE LEGAL EFFECT TO THE NEW SALES FORMULA, WHICH EXCLUDES THE VALUE OF THE LAND BUT INTRODUCES FAR TIGHTER RESTRICTIONS ON RE-SALE.
SPEAKING ON THE RESTRICTIONS, MR LIAO SAIDi +FLATS PRODUCED UNDER THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEMES ARE INTENDED FOR ONE PURPOSE ONLY — TO PROVIDE HOMES FOR THE PEOPLE ELIGIBLE FOR THEM. IT IS NOT THE INTENTION TO GIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPECULATIONS, OR TO PROVIDE SUCH HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WHO FALL OUTSIDE THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA. FOR THIS REASON, REALISTIC SANCTIONS ARE PROVIDED AGAINST ABUSES.+
THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR MAKING A FALSE DECLARATION WOULD BE INCREASED TO A FINE OF $200 000 AND ONE YEAR’S JAIL.
/MR LIAO .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1982
12 -
MR LIAO SAID THAT AUTHORISED STAFF WOULD BE EMPOWERED TO CHECK ON THE OCCUPANCY OF THE FLATS TO GUARD AGAINST IRREGULARITIES, AND IF BREACHES WERE FOUND THE OFFENDER WOULD BE LIABLE TO A FINE OF |200 000 AND ONE YEAR’S JAIL.
THESE SAFEGUARDS WOULD ALSO APPLY TO FLATS SOLD UNDER THE PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEME AND THE MIDDLE-INCOME HOUSING SCHEME, SAID MR LIAO.
OTHER IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS PROPOSED ARE*
* TO ALLOW ACTION TO BE TAKEN ON THE SPOT AGAINST VEHICLES ILLEGALLY PARKED IN AUTHORITY CARPARKS OR ON ESTATE ROADS.
* TO EXTEND TO 15 DAYS THE PERIOD IN WHICH APPEALS CAN BE MADE AGAINST NOTICES TO QUIT PREMISES, AND TO PERMIT AUTHORISED OCCUPANTS TO LODGE SUCH AN APPEAL IF THE TENANT IS UNABLE TO DO SO PERSONALLY.
-------o------
LEGAL AID (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982 ft * ft *
A BILL TO MAKE LEGAL AID AVAILABLE IN CIVIL APPEALS TO THE PRIVY COUNCIL WAS READ A SECOND TIME IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THE LEGAL AID (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982 AIMS AT PROVIDING LEGAL AID + IN A MANNER SIMILAR TO CIVIL PROCEEDINGS IN HONG KONG,* THE LAW DRAFTSMAN, THE HON G. NAZARETH SAID, IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL.
~,-r PRESENT, PEOPLE WHO WISH TO APPEAL TO THE PRIVY COUNCIL
BUT ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD THE HIGH COSTS, CAN DO SO ONLY ON GROUNDS iwrCH AN APPELLAMT M”ST NOT'POSSESS MORE THAN 100 §
rUUNDo OltKLINka*
s ^T,?Ht°c^?sTpSNaWH?HEQUS^^CR{s UMUKELV
“uper"ss(^%M)J: m:ioh por leave to appe*l ,n porh‘
«m-.PE!JM,SSI0N W0ULD N0T BE GIVEN To EVERYONE who wishes to APPEAL TO THE PRIVY COUNCIL OR TO OPPOSE SUCH AN APPEAL.
™EPE are plans to extend legal aid for appeals to the privy
COUNCIL IN CRIMINAL CASES AS WELL, HE SAID.
o
/13........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1982
- 13 _
LONGER WEEKENDS * * *
—dt.THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY APPROVED A MOTION TO REGROUP
g5J?'to^|R^EEKHKrS T° THE PUBL'C TO
- KEGkujPING FOLLOWS A REVIEW OF BOTH GENERAL AND STATUTORY HOLIDAYS CONDUCTED RECENTLY.
•rue JJ ?OVIMS THE LOTION, THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON ERIC >0 SAID THAT VIEWS HAD BEEN SOUGHT FROM EMPLOYERS EMPLOYEES UNIONS AMD ASSOCIATIONS, THE DISTRICT BOARDS?
CITY DISTRICT COMMITTEES AND OTHER LOCAL ORGANISATIONS, AS WELL AS THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD.
♦ACCORDINGLY, IT IS NOW PROPOSED THAT THE BIRTHDAY OF HER MAJESTY THE CiUtEN SHOULD BE CELEBRATED ON THE SECOND SATURDAY IN JUNE, WHICH IS HER MAJESTY’S OFFICIAL BIRTHDAY, AND TO MOVE TO Tit MONDAY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING, THE HOLIDAY NOW ENJOYED ON THE FIRST WEEKDAY IN JULY.
-rue et!LIS S,M,LARI Y PROPOSED THAT THE HOLIDAY NOW ENJOYED ON THE FIRST MONDAY lh AUGUST SHOULD BE MOVED TO THE SATURDAY PRECEDING LIBERATION DAY WHICH IS CELEBRATED ON THE LAST MONDAY IN AUGUST,+ HE SAID.
eeoT.uL™ IHESE CHANSES IT IS POSSIBLE THAT IN FUTURE TUEN NG £0ULD FALL 0N THE DAY 0N WH,CH HER MAJESTY’S BIRTHDAY ln<ee£T’-r0R THE M0NDAY IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING. WHEN THIS «Jee^JHE S0VERN°R MAY 0RDER THAT THE WEEK DAY IMMEDIATELY
cccT?b*?WING’ BE OBSERVED AS THE GENERAL HOLIDAY lutN NS rtSTIVAL.
TURNING TO STATUTORY HOLIDAYS, MR HO SAID +MANY WORKERS ff^CIALLY WOMSN W0RKERS PREFERRED TO hIvE THE'mId-IuTuSn ’ [^iSTnVvL DAY’ RATHER THAN THE DAY FOLLOWING, AS a STATUTORY rOL I.DAY. 4
JI ,S therefORE PROVIDED THAT WHEN THE DAY FOLLOWING THE ele~^UTUMN FESTIVAL FALLS ON A SUNDAY, THEN THE MID-AUTUMN FES'*Y A'-?AY ,TSELF WILL BE CELEBRATED AS A HOLIDAY, INSTEAD OF THE WEEK DAY NEXT FOLLOWING AS AT PRESENT.
xui +s’M|i 1RLY, IN A YEAR WHEN EITHER THE FIRST, SECOND OR THIRD D.-.Y U- THE LUNAR NEW YEAR FALLS ON A SUNDAY, THEN LUNAR NEW YEAR'S EVE WILL BECOME A HOLIDAY INSTEAD OF THE FOURTH DAY OF LUNAR NEW YEAR AS AT PRESENT.
♦A BILL WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO COUNCIL LATER IN THE SESSION TO AMEND THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE CHANGES UTLiNED IN REGARD TO THE MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL AND LUNAR NEW YEAR STATUTORY HOLIDAYS, AND TO ADD ONE ADDITIONAL FLOATING HOLIDAY TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF STATUTORY HOLIDAYS TO 11 DAYS /ITT EFFECT FROM 1983,+ HE SAID.
/GENERAL HOLIDAYS........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY -|Q, 1982
- 14 -
GENERAL HOLIDAYS FOR 1983
EVERY SUNDAY ...................
THE Fir!ST WEEK-DAY IN JANUARY .. THE DAY PRECEDING LUNAR NEW YEAR THE SLJOI'D L Y OF L^NAR NEW YEAR THE Th .1 DAY OF LUNAR NEW YEAR GOOD FRIDAY THE DAf FOLLOWING GOOD FRIDAY EASTER MONDAY CHING MING FESTIVAL THE BIRTHD < OF HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN
THE MONDAY FOLLOWING THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY
TUEN NG (DRAGON BOAT) FESTIVAL
THE SATURDAY PRECEDING THE LAST MONDAY IN AUGUST
THE LAST MONDAY IN AUGUST, WHICH SHALL BE LIBERATION DAY
THE DAY FOLLOWING THE CHINESE MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL
CHUNG YEUNG FESTIVAL THE FIRST WEEK-DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS DAY
THE SECOND WEEK-DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS DAY
SATURDAY, JANUARY 1 SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15 FRIDAY, APRIL 1 SATURDAY, APRIL 2
MONDAY, APRIL 4 TUESDAY, APRIL 5
SATURDAY, JUNE 11
MONDAY, JUNE 13 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27
MONDAY, AUGUST 29
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14
MONDAY, DECEMBER 26
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27
/15 ....
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1932
15
NEED FOR WELL-TRAINED WORKFORCE STRESSED * * *
THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION THE HON KENNETH TOPLEY. IN WINDING UP THE DEBATE ON THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL BILL 1982, SAID HONG KONG’S CONTINUED PROSPERITY DEPENDS ON A COMBINATION OF MANY FACTORS.
BUT AN EDUCATED AND WELL-TRAINED WORKFORCE IS NOT THE LEAST IMPORTANT AMONG THEM, HE ADDED.
HE AGREED THAT IN SOCIAL TERMS, IT IS RIGHT THAT TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING BE DEVELOPED TOGETHER FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE YOUNGER GENERATION.
IN HIS SPEECH, MR TOPLEY ALSO REFERRED TO AN AMENDMENT WHICH HE WOULD BE PROPOSING AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE THAT CLAUSE 10 OF THE BILL BE DELETED.
AS DRAFT, HE SAID, THE CLAUSE WOULD REQUIRE THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL TO DISCHARGE ITS FUNCTIONS THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING.
_ +THUS, THE CLAUSE ATTEMPTED TO ESTABLISH A DIRECT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COUNCIL AND THE DEPARTMENT.
♦HOWEVER, THE FUNCTIONS OF THE COUNCIL ARE SPECIFIED IN CONSIDERABLE DETAIL IN CLAUSE 6 AND ARE INTENDED TO GIVE THE COUNCIL A CONSIDERABLE DEGREE OF AUTONOMY.
♦HOWEVER, WHEN TAKEN TOGETHER, CLAUSE 6 AND 10 WOULD SEEM TO THWART THIS INTENTION AND TO FETTER THE COUNCIL TO AN UNACCEPTABLE EXTENT- IN FACT, TAKING AWAY FROM THE COUNCIL THE VERY INDEPENDENCE WHICH THE BILL STRIVES TO CREATE.♦
MR TOPLEY SAID IT HAD BECOME APPARENT THAT CLAUSE 10 SERVED NO FUNDAMENTAL PURPOSE AND COULD EASILY BE OMITTED.
THE LINK BETWEEN THE COUNCIL AND DEPARTMENT THROUGH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WILL BE SUFFICIENT, HE ADDED.
- - 0 - -
VIABLE FRAMEWORK FOR ARBITRATIONS M M M
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON JOHN GRIFFITHS TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT IF THE ARBITRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982 IS ENACTED AND PASSED INTO LAW, IT WILL PROVIDE A SATISFACTORY AND VIABLE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR ARBITRATIONS.
IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WILL HELP ACHIEVE THE OBJECTIVE OF PROVIDING SUITABLE FACILITIES FOR INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION BY WAY OF PUBLICITY.
/HOWEVER, IT .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 198?
16
HOWEVER, IT IS THOSE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHO MUST FROM NOW ON CARRY THE MATTER FORWARD SO AS TO ENSURE THAT THE NEEDS OF THOSE SEEKING TO ARBITRATE IN HONG KONG, BOTH LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL PARTIES, ARE MET, HE ADDED.
MR GRIFFITHS SAID THIS WILL INVOLVE DISCUSSION BETWEEN LOCAL BODIES CONCERNED WITH ARBITRATION, SUCH AS THE HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF THE INSTITUTE OF ARBITRATORS, THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE LAW SOCIETY, THE BAR AND OTHER BODIES TO CONSIDER HOW THE PRESENT SHORTAGE OF TRAINED ARBITRATORS CAN BEST BE CURED AND THE OTHER NECESSARY SERVICES AND FACILITIES PROVIDED.
IT WILL ALSO BE NECESSARY TO CONSIDER AGREEING AND DRAFTING THE RULES UNDER WHICH HONG KONG ARBITRATIONS ARE TO BE CONDUCTED, AND TO ADOPT SUITABLE CLAUSES FOR INCORPORATION IN CONTRACTS WHERE THE PARTIES WISH TO NOMINATE HONG KONG AS THE PLACE FOR ARBITRATION IF CONTRACTUAL DIFFERENCES AND DISPUTES ARISE.
♦THERE REMAINS MUCH TO BE DONE. BUT I AM CONFIDENT MYSELF THAT THE NEED IS THERE, AND THAT HONG KONG CAN AND WILL IN DUE COURSE MEET IT,+ HE SAID.
- o - -
TALKS ON FRENCH RESTRICTION RESUME NEXT WEEK * * * *
THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS TMF mam rii i DORWARD TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT*THE SEQUENCE or dctuccaJu CONSULTATIONS CONDUCTED UNDER THE GATT PROCEDURES KONG AND THE EEC COMMISSION ON FRENCH IMPORT RESTRICTIONS WOULD BE DETERMINED BY WHETHER OR NOT HONG KONG RECEIVED EARLY SATISFACTION FOR ITS COMPLAINT.
_REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON FRANCIS TIEN. MR DORWARD SAID IcdI Joct-F ROUND OF CONSULTATIONS HELD IN GENEVA LAST WEEK m^5t 5?SNTIALLY MORATORY AND WERE DUE TO BE RESUMED IN PARIS Nt Al W11K •
WE ARE SEEKING IS THE REMOVAL OF DISCRIMINATORY IMPORT ma,ntained ON NINE CATEGORIES OF HONG KONG PRODUCTS S^JRARY !N 0UR VIEW» T0 THE PROVISIONS OF THE GATT. EIGHT OF SaDUALLYEREDUCEDS*DUE °F * 0NCE LARGER number WHICH HAD BEEN
Keu RAINING EIGHT, THE NUMBER REMAINING SINCE 1977, HAVE Jueu ™ENTY YEARS, DESPITE REPEATED ATTEMPTS £ *AHY LEVELS TO HAVE THEM REMOVED. THE NINTH WAS IMPOSED IN
E'MIT WAS UN,LATERALLY PLACED ON QUARTZ WATCHES, BACK SHARPLY ON POTENTIAL EXPORTS WHICH HAD
REACHED ROUGHLY $240 MILLION IN VALUE OR 17 PER CENT OF TOTAL DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO FRANCE IN 1980,+ SAID MR DORWARD.
0 - - - -
/17........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1982
17
TICD’S INDUSTRIAL PROMOTION PROGRAMME X * X
THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS, THE HON BILL DORWARD SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT ACTIVE ENQUIRIES FROM POTENTIAL OVERSEAS INDUSTRIAL INVESTORS RESULTING PPOM THE DEPARTMENT’S VARIOUS OVERSEAS ACTIVITIES were, now RUNNING AT BETWEEN SIX AND SEVEN HUNDRED A YEAR -THREE TIMES WHAT THEY WERE ONLY FOUR YEARS AGO.
IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS BY THE HON STEPHEN CHEONG REGARDING PROGRESS OF THE GOVERNMENT’S EFFORTS IN PROMOTING HONG KONG AS A BASE FOR NEW MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES, MR DORWARD SAIDi ♦THE LAST TWO YEARS HAVE SEEN A CONSIDERABLE REFINEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRIAL PROMOTION EFFORTS. THE SUCCESS OF THESE WILL BE HARD TO MEASURE BECAUSE OF THE TIME LAG BETWEEN AROUSING INITIAL INTEREST AND THE COMMENCEMENT OF PRODUCTION, WHICH CAN VARY FROM ONE TO FIVE YEARS- AND THE VARIOUS WAYS THE RESULTS CAN SHOW, WHICH INCLUDE NEW INDUSTRIES, JOINT VENTURES, LICENSING ARRANGEMENTS, SUB-CONTRACTING OR SALE OF TECHNOLOGY.♦
COMMENTING ON THE INCREASE IN INTEREST SHOWN BY OVERSEAS INDUSTRIALISTS DESPITE WIDESPREAD ECONOMIC RECESSION, MR DORWARD SAID THAT IT WAS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE MORE FOCUSED AND PROFESSIONAL APPROACH TO INDUSTRIAL PROMOTION WHICH TICD HAD BEEN ADOPTING IN RECENT YEARS.
♦THIS HAS BEEN BASED ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SOUND DATA BASE, THE RECRUITMENT OF TECHNICALLY COMPETENT MEN TO DO FIELD PROMOTION AND THE CREATION OF ADEQUATE BACK-UP FACILITIES TO SUPPORT THEM.+ HE ADDED.
OUTLINING THE DEPARTMENT’S INDUSTRIAL PROMOTION PROGRAMME, W DORWARD SA IDs +OVERSEAS PROMOTION HAS SO FAR BEEN CONDUCTED BY DELEGATIONS SENT OUT FROM HONG KONG. A RESIDENT INDUSTRIAL PROMOTION OFFICER HAS NOW BEEN APPOINTED IN TOKYO, HOWEVER, WHERE OUR OFFICE WILL FORMALLY OPEN NEXT MONTH. BEFORE THE END OF JUNE WE SHALL HAVE THREE SIMILAR OFFICERS, SELECTED FOR THEIR TECHNICAL AND LANGUAGE QUALIFICATIONS, LOCATED PERMANENTLY IN EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES.
♦A ’ONE STOP FACILITY’ HAS BEEN SET UP IN THE DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRY. THIS IS STAFFED BY SELECTED OFFICERS AND LINKS NINETEEN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS. IT PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE AND RAPID SERVICE TO POTENTIAL INVESTORS ON SUCH SUBJECTS AS LAND, PREMISES, LABOUR, TAXATION. EDUCATION, TECHNOLOGY AND TECHNICAL BACK UP SERVICES,+ MR DORWARD SAID.
/INVESTMENT PROMOTIONAL
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 19&2
- 18 -
INVESTMENT PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES ARE CO-ORDINATED THROUGH AN INDUSTRIAL PROMOTION COMMITTEE WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED FOLLOWING THE REPORT OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DIVERSIFICATION. IT IS CHAIRED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF INDUSTRY AND CONSISTS OF SENIOR EXECUTIVES OF THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL. THE CHINESE MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION, THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES, THE HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE AND THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION.
+THE ACCELERATION OF OVERSEAS ACTIVITY IS NOT DEFLECTING US FROM CONDUCTING APPROPRIATE PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES IN HONG KONG ITSELF- AND THE SERVICES I HAVE MENTIONED ARE, OF COURSE, AVAILABLE EQUALLY TO LOCAL OR OVERSEAS INDUSTRIALISTS,* HE CONCLUDED.
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AMENDMENTS TO BANKING, DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES ORDINANCES
******
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE BANKING AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES ORDINANCES ARE INTENDED TO ENABLE HONG KONG FULLY TO ACCEPT THE INTERNATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY WHICH ACCOMPANIES ITS POSITION AS ONE OF THE LARGEST FINANCIAL CENTRES IN THE WORLD, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY THE HON JOHN BREMRIDGE SAID.
IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BANKING (AMENDMENT) BILL AND THE DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) BILL, MR BREMRIDGE SAIDt +THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THIS RESPONSIBILITY IS THE DUTY OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, ACTING IN THE INTERESTS OF DEPOSITORS AROUND THE WORLD, TO SUPERVISE THE ACTIVITIES BOTH OUTSIDE AND INSIDE HONG KONG OF BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES WHICH ARE INCORPORATED IN HONG KONG.*
MR BREMRIDGE SAID HONG KONG, THOUGH NOT A MEMBER, FULLY SUPPORTS THE WORK AND OBJECTIVES OF THE COMMITTEE ON BANKING REGULATIONS AND SUPERVISORY PRACTICES SET UP BY THE CENTRAL BANK GOVERNORS OF THE GROUP OF 10 COUNTRIES AND SWITZERLAND IN 1974.
HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT ENTIRELY ACCEPTS THE PRINCIPAL TENET OF THE CONCORDAT DRAWN UP BY THE COMMITTEE AND ENDORSED BY THE CENTRAL BANK GOVERNORS IN 1975, WHICH STATES THAT THE SUPERVISION OF THE SOLVENCY OF A BANK’S OFFICES OUTSIDE ITS COUNTRY OF INCORPORATION RESTS FIRST OF ALL WITH THE BANKING SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY IN THAT COUNTRY OF INCORPORATION.
THE CONCORDAT ALSO EMPHASISES THE NEED FOR PRACTICAL CO-OPERATION AND EXCHANGES OF INFORMATION BETWEEN THE SUPERVISORS IN THE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES IN WHICH AN INTERNATIONAL BANK MAINTAINS BRANCHES, SUBSIDIARIES, OR JOINT VENTURES.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID THE TWO BILLS BEFORE THE COUNCIL CONTAIN PROPOSALS TO ENABLE THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING TO OBTAIN FROM LOCALLY INCORPORATED BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES SUCH INFORMATION AS HE REQUIRES ABOUT THE ACTIVITIES OF THEIR BRANCHES OUTSIDE HONG KONG, AND ABOUT ALL THEIR SUBSIDIARIES AND ASSOCIATES.
/+THH BILLS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1982
19
♦THE BILLS COVER THE EXAMINATION BY THE COMMISSIONER OF OVERSEAS BRANCHES OF THESE BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES (IN THE SAME WAY AS HE NOW EXAMINES THEIR BRANCHES IN HONG KONG)" AND ALSO THE EXAMINATION BY OVERSEAS SUPERVISORY AUTHORITIES OF THE HONG KONG BRANCHES OF BANKS OR DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES INCORPORATED IN THEIR COUNTRIES,♦ MR BREMRIDGE SAID.
THE BILLS ALSO COVER THE SUPERVISION BY THE COMMISSIONER OF REPRESENTATIVE OFFICES ESTABLISHED OVERSEAS BY HONG KONG-INCORPORATED BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES, OR ESTABLISHED IN HONG KONG BY OVERSEAS BANKS.
♦THE GATHERING OF INFORMATION BY THE COMMISSIONER IS NOT AN END IN ITSELF, BUT A MEANS TO AN END,+ HE ADDED.
♦WHEN THE COMMISSIONER HAS AN ADEQUATE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT LOCALLY INCORPORATED BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES ARE DOING OVERSEAS, OR THROUGH THEIR SUBSIDIARIES OR ASSOCIATES, THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE ABLE TO DEVELOP, AND THEN TO SEEK THE POWERS TO IMPLEMENT, A SYSTEM OF ON-GOING BALANCE-SHEET RATIO CONTROLS BASED ON CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - A CONCEPT WHICH IS BEING MUCH DISCUSSED IN THE COOKE COMMITTEE AND ELSEWHERE.
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MONEY LENDERS BILL * * *
THE
__ .. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) PASSED A RESOLUTION ta BANKS CONSIDERED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING
ADEQUATELY SUPERVISED BY THE BANKING AUTHORITY OF THEIR
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN, MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL UNION OF CREDIT and f'|NANC,|’nGT30D?ESER?n(THF f^rst 0THER G0VERNMENT EXPORT
rcniLwc ??2’EhJN THE F,RST SCHEDULE To THE MONEY LENDERS \*\U I NANUC UAr. loj.
IN THE FIRST SCHEDULE TO THE ORDINANCE ARE +EXEMPTED PERSONS* AND ♦EXEMPTED LOANS+ TO WHICH PARTS I I AND I I I OF THE ORDINANCE AND TRANSACTIONS OTHER THAN INTEREST RATES AND £autoaiS D0 N0T APPLY» BECAUSE THEY ARE ALREADY SUBJECT TO ADEQUATE CONTROL•
^EXEMPTED PERSONS+ ARE banks licensed in HONG KONG. 2ycMoIZlA^*^C0’?PANIES’ CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES AND CREDIT UNION-t^f^TED LOANS+ INCLUDE LOANS MADE WITHIN A COMPANY, MORTGAGES AND LOANS MADE BY COMPANIES IN THE COURSE OF THEIR BUSINESS.
THE MOTION, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES. JEAFFRESON SAID THE ORGANISATIONS WHICH HE PROPOSED FIRST SCHEDULE ARE PROPERLY CONTROLLED AND DO NOT LENDERS ORDINANCE* C0NTR0LLED UNDER PARTS N AND ”1 OF THE MONEY
SAME fiRn?ipAD2fD ^£A0AMS BET*EEN COMPANIES OF THE
oAMt GROoj M«. JEAFFRESON SAID 1 WAS CONSIDERED WOT nptpqqady Ta
PROTECT COMPANIES AGAINST THEIR OWN CLOSt RELATIVES? NECESSARY T0
JANUARY 6°TH»’ THE S^^^HAbTe BY
iHEKlHcloEN?ENOF°iLOAHr 8E,! ■’AL‘-Y ‘® 01*।"*SHIM
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/20 .
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1982
20
OPERATION OF DESALTER
* * *
THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON DAVID MCDONALD ASSURED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT THE OPERATION OF THE DESALTER WOULD BE SUSPENDED AS SOON AS IT COULD BE DONE WITHOUT ADVERSELY AFFECTING THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN A REASONABLE LEVEL OF SUPPLY.
HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON WONG LAM.
MR MCDONALD SAID, ♦ALTHOUGH WE ARE APPROACHING THE RAINY SEASON, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE WHEN IT WILL COMMENCE NOR HOW MUCH RAINFALL OR YIELD WILL BE RECEIVED SUBSEQUENTLY.♦
♦BEARING IN MIND THESE UNKNOWN FACTORS AND THE PRESENT COMPARATIVELY LOW LEVEL OF STORAGE IT WOULD NOT BE PRUDENT TO SUSPEND THE OPERATION OF THE DESALTER AT THIS TIME.+
♦HOWEVER,♦ HE ADDED, ♦THE SITUATION IS BEING CLOSELY MONITORED AND A REVIEW IS PLANNED FOR LATE APRIL, OR EARLIER IF CIRCUMSTANCES WARRANT IT, TO DETERMINE THE SUPPLY AND DESALTER ARRANGEMENTS TO BE FOLLOWED THEREAFTER.♦
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PLAN TO ENLARGE REHABUS SERVICE
* * ft
THE GOVERNMENT IS PLANNING TO SUBVENT AN ADDITIONAL THREE BUSES FROM APRIL THIS YEAR TO EXPAND THE REHABUS SCHEME FLEET FROM 11 TO 14 BUSES, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, THE HON S.E. ALLEYNE TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON PETER C. WONG, MR ALLEYNE SAID THAT THERE WERE 50 PEOPLE ON THE WAITING LIST AT THE END OF DECEMBER LAST YEAR.
♦THE REHABUS PROVIDES SERVICES ON SCHEDULED ROUTES PRIMARILY TO ASSIST SEVERELY PHYSICALLY DISABLED PEOPLE WHO ARE UNABLE TO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO REACH THEIR PLACES OF WORK, VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRES OR SHELTERED WORKSHOPS,♦ MR ALLEYNE SAID.
♦THE REHABUS ALSO PROVIDES A ’DIAL-A-RIDE’ SERVICE THROUGH WHICH DISABLED PEOPLE OR GROUPS AND ORGANISATIONS CAN CHARTER A BUS EITHER FOR SPECIFIC TASKS LIKE ATTENDING MEDICAL TREATMENT OR FOR RECREATIONAL OUTINGS AND SOCIAL GATHERINGS.
♦OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS NEARLY 2 500 REQUESTS FOR THE DIAL-A-RIDE SERVICE WERE RECEIVED,* HE SAID.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1982
21
GAS COMPANY REGISTRATION * * M *
A BILL WAS INTRODUCED TO TRANSFER THE COMPANY REGISTRATION OF A LOCAL GAS COMPANY BACK TO HONG KONG.
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE HONG KONG AND CHINA GAS COMPANY (TRANSFER OF INCORPORATION) BILL, THE MON ROGER LOBO EXPLAINED ITS MAIN PURPOSE IS TO ENABLE THE HONG KONG AND CHINA GAS COMPANY LIMITED, A COMPANY INCORPORATED IN ENGLAND, TO TRANSFER ITS CORPORATE REGISTRATION TO HONG KONG AND TO BE TREATED AS A COMPANY INCORPORATED UNDER THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE.
THE BILL ALSO PROVIDES FOR CERTAIN ALTERATIONS TO THE SHARE CAPITAL AND THE MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION OF THE COMPANY TO TAKE EFFECT UPON THE TRANSFER OF ITS CORPORATE REGISTRATION.
THE TRANSFER OF ITS CORPORATE REGISTRATION.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
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POLICE DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES * * * *
A BILL TO IMPROVE AND SIMPLIFY THE LAW GOVERNING THE DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES AND AWARDS OF THE POLICE FORCE WAS READ A SECOND TIME IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY.
MOVING THE MOTION FOR THE SECOND READING OF THE POLICE FORCE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON LEWIS DAVIES, SAID EXPERIENCE HAD SHOWN THAT FOUR MATTERS OF POLICE DISCIPLINE REQUIRED CHANGE.
AMONG THEM IS A PROVISION FOR THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE TO ACCEPT LESS THAN ONE MONTH’S NOTICE OR A LESSER AMOUNT OF SALARY IN LIEU OF NOTICE FROM A NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER OR CONSTABLE WHO WISHED TO RESIGN. SIMILAR PROVISIONS WERE ALSO MADE IN THE AMENDING LEGISLATION FOR INSPECTORS.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1982
22
EMPLOYMENT OF YOUNG * * *
WOMEN
IT IS LIKELY THAT GIRLS BETWEEN 15 ALMOST ENTIRELY PROHIBITED FROM WORKING PREMISES, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS SAID AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
AND 18 WILL SHORTLY BE IN LIQUOR-LICENSED , THE HON D.C. BRAY,
AT PRESENT GIRLS IN THE AGE GROUP MAY WORK FROM 6 AM TO 8 PM ^mS^^SIABL,SHMENTS’ MR BRAY SA,D> FLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE nUN MAR IA TAM.
SOME INDIVIDUAL EXCEPTIONS MAY BE POSSIBLE, FOR INSTANCE IN SOME ORDINARY RESTAURANTS, BUT THEY WILL BE FEW HE SAID.
IT IS ALREADY UNLAWFUL TO EMPLOY CHILDREN UNDER 15 IN PREMISES, MR BRAY POINTED OUT, ALSO IN REPLY TO A QUESTION MISS TAM.
LICENSED BY
- o -
INTERVIEW OF RAPE VICTIMS * * * M
THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE DOES ENSURE THAT ALL
FEMALES
WHO ALLEGE THEY ARE RAPE VICTIMS ARE INTERVIEWED BY WOMEN POLICE SO FAR AS IS POSSIBLE, AND CIRCUMSTANCES ALLOW, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY THE HON LEWIS DAVIES SAID TODAY.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE REV HON JOYCE BENNETT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR DAVIES SAID THAT WHENEVER A FEMALE MAKES A REPORT OF RAPE TO ANY POLICE FORMATION, THE DUTY OFFICER IS REQUIRED TO SUMMON A WOMAN OFFICER, PREFERABLY AN INSPECTOR, TO RECEIVE THE REPORT IN A SEPARATE ROOM.
-rue J.H^9NlrLE?CEPT,0NS T0 TH,S procedure occur, he said, where
we KZX™ scene of ‘n ,LLE6ED rare either by
*,N SUCH CASES ,T ,S ESSENTIAL TO ESTABLISH AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE WHETHER THE ALLEGED ASSAILANT MAY STILL BE IN THE VICINITY.
S00N AS THE ALLEGED VICTIM HAS BEEN QUESTIONED SHE IS TAKEN TO THE NEAREST POLICE FORMATION WHERE SHE CAN BE INTERVIEWED BY A WOMAN POLICE OFFICER,* MR DAVIES ADDED.
- 0 -
/23
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1982
25
OFFICE TERM EXTENDED * * * *
THE HEUNG YEE KUK (AMENDMENT) BILL WHICH SEEKS TO EXTEND THE TERM OF OFFICE OF KUK MEMBERS TO THREE YEARS WAS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
SPEAKING AT ITS SECOND READING, MR CHEUNG YAN-LUNG QUOTED THE THEN GOVERNOR, SIR HENRY BLAKE, AS SAYING IN HIS PROCLAMATION OF 1899« +THE MOST RESPECTED OF YOUR ELDERS WILL BE CHOSEN TO ASSIST IN THE MANAGEMENT OF YOUR VILLAGE AFFAIRS, TO SECURE PEACE AND GOOD ORDER AND THE PUNISHMENT OF EVIL-DOERS.+
HIS WORDS BECAME REALITY IN 1959 WITH THE FORMAL INSTITUTION OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK, HE SAID.
♦MANY OF US CONSIDER THAT SIR HENRY’S WORDS ARE THE FOUNDATION UPON WHICH THE HEUNG YEE KUK WAS BUILT.
♦LIKE ITS FOUNDATION, THE KUK IS OF SOLID CONSTRUCTION.
+BUT TO PERFORM ITS DUTIES, THE KUK MUST ADAPT ITSELF TO CHANGING NEEDS IN CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES.+ MR CHEUNG SAID.
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NO CHANGE IN LABOUR DEPARTMENT TITLE * * * *
THE TITLE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED BECAUSE IT IS THE MOST SUCCINCT DESCRIPTION OF ITS ACTIVITIES, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON J.N. HENDERSON, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
NOTING THAT THE TITLE WAS WIDELY KNOWN AND ACCEPTED BY THE PUBLIC, HE ADDED THAT HE SAW NO COMPELLING REASON TO INSTITUTE A CHANGE.
MR HENDERSON WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ALEX WU, WHO ASKED WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT CONSIDERED THAT THE TITLE OF THE DEPARTMENT ACCURATELY REFLECTED ITS FUNCTIONS IN THE LIGHT OF CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES.
THE PRESENT FUNCTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT, HE ADDED, ENCOMPASSED A WIDE VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES, RANGING FROM THE BETTER-KNOWN ONES CF LABOUR LEGISLATION, LABOUR RELATIONS, EMPLOYMENT SERVICES AND INDUSTRIAL HEALTH AND SAFETY, TO THE RATHER LESSER-KNOWN ONES OF AIR POLLUTION CONTROL AND STORAGE AND DELIVERY OF EXPLOSIVES.
THESE ACTIVITIES WERE MAINLY CONNECTED WITH THE CONDITIONS, THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE OF LABOUR, AND THE OVERALL AIM WAS TO MAINTAIN AND ADVANCE +LABOUR STANDARDS* IN A MANNER APPROPRIATE TO THE SOCIAL, ECOWMIC AND CULTURAL CIRCUMSTANCES IN HONG KONG.
IN RECENT YEARS HE WAS UNABLE TO RECALL SUGGESTIONS FROM ANY QUARTER THAT THE NAME OF THE DE°APTMENT SHOULD BE CHANGED, W HENDERSON ADDED.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1982
2k
TDC ANNUAL REPORT ft * ft
GROWING PROTECTIONISM AND THE CURRENT WEAK ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN THE MAJOR MARKETS HAVE PLACED CONSIDERABLE PRESSURES ON OUR BUSINESSMEN AND THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL TO MAINTAIN HONG KONG’S EXPORT PERFORMANCE, THE HON WONG PO-YAN SAID.
HOWEVER, BY CAREFUL SELECTION OF PRODUCTS AND VENUES OF THE TOC’S EXPORT PROMOTIONS PROGRAMME, THE COUNCIL HAS ENSURED THAT THE +MADE IN HONG KONG* LABEL NOW STANDS FOR QUALITY AND REACHES THE RIGHT MARKETS.
SPEAKING AT THE TABLING OF THE 15TH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE HONG KONG TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, MR WONG SAIDt *AS SUCH, THE TOC HAS PLACED GREAT EMPHASIS ON SPECIALISED TRADE FAIRS AND IN MORE INNOVATIVE MARKETING APPROACHES.
+HONG KONG’S PARTICIPATION IN THE SWISS INDUSTRIES FAIR IN BASLE TO PROMOTE WATCHES AND JEWELLERY, AND THE TDC’S JOINT EFFORTS WITH THE JAPANESE CHAIN STORES GROUP TO EXPAND EXPORTS TO JAPAN ARE JUST TWO SUCH EXAMPLES.*
MR WONG NOTED THAT THE 63 MAJOR OVERSEAS TRADE PROMOTIONS MOUNTED BY THE TDC DURING THE YEAR CONTRIBUTED TO A LARGE EXTENT TO HONG KONG’S CONTINUED TRADE GROWTH.
THE SCALE OF THESE PROMOTIONS MEANT THAT SOMEWHERE IN THE WORLD - MORE THAN TWICE A WEEK, EVERY WEEK OF THE YEAR - THERE WAS A GROUP OF HONG KONG BUSINESSMEN SELLING GOODS *MADE IN HONG KONG*, HE SAID.
IN FACT, OVER 5 000 HONG KONG COMPANIES HAVE TAKEN PART IN THE TOC’S OVERSEAS PROMOTIONS SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE PROGRAMME IN 1966.
BUT THE COUNCIL’S WORK WAS NOT LIMITED TO PURE PRODUCT EXPOSURE, ADDED MR WONG.
*IN ORDER TO ENSURE FUTURE SUCCESS IN DEVELOPING ITS OVERSEAS PROMOTIONS, THE COUNCIL MAINTAINS HIGH-LEVEL CONTACTS WITH BUSINESS COMMUNITIES ABROAD.
*OVER 116 000 DIRECT TRADE ENQUIRIES HAD BEEN HANDLED BY THE COUNCIL’S STAFF DURING THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW AND THE TDC PUBLICITY DEPARTMENT DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 1.3 MILLION PUBLICATIONS IN SEVEN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES TO OVER 170 COUNTRIES WORLD-WIDE.
*IN ADDITION, TDC MISSIONS LED BY ITS CHAIRMAN, SIR YUET-KEUNG KAN, VISITED COUNTRIES IN WESTERN EUROPE, THE U.S.A., MEXICO, AFRICA, JAPAN AND THE MIDDLE EAST,* HE SAID.
/HR WNG.........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1982
- 25 -
MR WONG ALSO REPORTED THAT THE COUNCIL WAS STEADILY EXPANDING INTO MARKETS WHICH SHOWED A GOOD GROWTH POTENTIAL.
THREE NEW OFFICES WERE OPENED IN OSAKA, MARSEILLE AND NAIROBI LAST YEAR, BRINGING TO 24 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF HONG KONG’S MAJOR OVERSEAS TRADE REPRESENTATION THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
IN ADDITION, THE COUNCIL’S FIRST LOCAL BRANCH OFFICE WAS ESTABLISHED IN TSUEN WAN LAST YEAR TO SERVICE THE RAPIDLY-DEVELOPING INDUSTRIAL ZONES THERE, MR WONG SAID.
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THREE BILLS PASSED * * *
THREE BILLS WERE PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THEY ARE THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982, THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL BILL 1982 AND THE HEUNG YEE KUK (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1982
26 -
NOTE TO EDITORSi
GOVERNOR TO CHECK ON CLEAN UP * X X
THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE WILL BE LOOKING OVER CLEAN-UP OPERATIONS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 13).
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT.
THE GOVERNOR WILL ARRIVE AT THE ENTRANCE OF WANG TOI SHAN TSUEN IN YUEN LONG AT 10.30 AM.
THE CLEAN HONG KONG CAMPAIGN PUBLICITY UNIT WILL PROVIDE TRANSPORT FOR MEMBERS OF THE PRESS FROM THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES CAR PARK AT 8.30 AM ON SATURDAY, AND REPRESENTATIVES WHO WISH TO USE THIS TRANSPORT ARE REQUESTED TO CONTACT M*S EVA LAM BY FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 12) AT 5-217121 EXT. 43.
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THE WEATHER IN JANUARY M M M
JANUARY WAS WARMER AND DRIER THAN USUAL, ACCORDING TO THE MONTH’S WEATHER SUMMARY ISSUED BY THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THE MEAN TEMPERATURE OF 16.9 DEGREES CELSIUS WAS 1.3 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL, WHILE THE MEAN MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 15.1 DEGREES IS THE 10TH HIGHEST ON RECORD FOR JANUARY.
THE MONTH’S TOTAL RAINFALL WAS 16 MM, WHICH WAS 10.9 MM BELOW NORMAL.
THE WEATHER FOR THE FIRST 10 DAYS WAS MAINLY FINE. HOWEVER WINDS TURNED NORTHERLY ON JANUARY 4 AND IT BECAME SLIGHTLY COOLER THE NEXT DAY. THERE WERE NORTHERLY WINDS AND COOLER WEATHER AGAIN ON JANUARY 7 TO 9.
IT BECAME CLOUDY WITH TRACES OF RAIN ON JANUARY 11 AND 12. AS A COLD FRONT APPROACHED FROM THE NORTH, THERE WAS RAIN ALL DAY ON JANUARY 13 AND THE FOLLOWING MORNING.
WINDS TURNED NORTHERLY IN THE EVENING OF JANUARY 14 AND THE WEATHER BECAME COOLER IN THE FOLLOWING FIVE DAYS.
APART FROM A CLOUDY DAY ON JANUARY 17 AND A TRACE OF RAIN DURING THE NIGHT, WEATHER BETWEEN JANUARY 15 AND 20 WAS FINE.
/WDATHS? COi.DITICrS..........
, FEBRUARY 10, 1982
- 27 -
WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE VERY DRY ON JANUARY 18 AND 19. THE TEMPERATURE ON JANUARY 19 FELL TO 11.5 DEGREES WHICH WAS THE LOWEST OF THE MONTH.
A DISTURBANCE IN THE EASTERLIES CAUSED RAIN BETWEEN JANUARY 21 AND 23 AND THERE WAS SOME COASTAL FOG ON JANUARY 23.
THE WEATHER BECAME FINE AND SUNNY ON JANUARY 24 AND 25 APART FROM SOME MORE COASTAL FOG IN THE MORNING OF JANUARY 25. THE MONTH’S HIGHEST TEMPERATURE OF 24.6 DEGREES WAS RECORDED ON JANUARY 25.
ON JANUARY 26, A WEAK COLD FRONT PASSED SOUTH ACROSS HONG KONG AND BROUGHT TRACES OF RAIN. IT BECAME CLOUDY AND COOLER UNTIL JANUARY 29 WHEN EASTERLY WINDS STRENGTHENED OFFSHORE EARLY IN THE MORNING. HOWEVER, THE WEATHER BECAME FINE AND SUNNY AGAIN ON JANUARY 30 AND 31.
DURING THE MONTH NO AIRCRAFT WERE DIVERTED FROM HONG KONG DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER AND NO THUNDERSTORM OR HEAVY RAIN WARNINGS WERE ISSUED.
THE YELLOW FIRE DANGER WARNING WAS ISSUED ON JANUARY 3, 5-10, 11, 15-16, 18, 20-21, 24-28 AND 30-31 WHILE THE RED FIRE DANGER WARNING WAS EFFECTIVE ON JANUARY 10-11, 16-17 AND 18-20.
THE ONLY SIGNAL HOISTED DURING THE MONTH WAS THE STRONG MONSOON SIGNAL WHICH WAS RAISED AT 12.05 AM ON JANUARY 29 BUT IT WAS LOWERED AT 6 AM THE SAME MORNING.
THE MONTH’S FIGURES AND DEPARTURES FROM NORMAL WEREi
SUNSHINE 169.7 HOURS- 16.2 HOURS ABOVE NORMAL
RAINFALL 16.0 MM - 10.9 MM BELOW NORMAL
CLOUDINESS 57 PER CENT- 2 PER CENT BELOW NORMAL
RELATIVE HUMIDITY 70 PER CENT- 1 PER CENT BELOW NORMAL
frEAN MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE 19.3 DEGREES CELSIUS- 0.6 DEGREE CELSIUS ABOVE NORMAL
MEAN TEMPERATURE 16.9 DEGREES CELSIUS- 1.3 DEGREES CELSIUS ABOVE NORMAL
MEAN MINIMUM TEMPERATURE 15.1 DEGREES CELSIUS- 1.9 DEGREES CELSIUS ABOVE NORMAL
bEAN DEW POINT 11.2 DEGREES CELSIUS- 1.4 DEGREES CELSIUS ABOVE NORMAL
TOTAL EVAPORATION 100.0 MM - 6.9 MM BELOW NORMAL
THE MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 24.6 DEGREES WAS RECORDED ON JANUARY 25 AND THE MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 11.5 DEGREES WAS RECORDED ON JANUARY 19.
/28......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1982
- 28 -
COMPULSORY INSPECTION OF PRIVATE CARS ft ft ft
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TODAY (WEDNESDAY)REMINDED OWNERS OF CARS MANUFACTURED BEFORE JANUARY 1, 1971, THAT A VALID CERTIFICATE OF ROADWORTHINESS MUST ACCOMPANY ANY APPLICATION FOR A VEHICLE LICENCE IF THE COMMENCEMENT DATE OF THE NEW LICENCE IS ON OR AFTER JUNE 1, 1982.
A CERTIFICATE OF ROADWORTHINESS WILL BE VALID IF IT HAS BEEN ISSUED DURING THE FOUR MONTHS PRECEDING THE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF THE NEW LICENCE.
AN EXPLANATORY BOOKLET AND APPLICATION FORMS FOR APPOINTMENT CAN BE OBTAINED AT ANY OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT LICENSING OFFICES OR VEHICLE INSPECTION CENTRE.
♦OWNERS ARE ADVISED TO MAKE AN EARLY APPOINTMENT AS BOOKINGS ARE EXPECTED TO BE HEAVY AS THE DEADLINE APPROACHES,♦ A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
------c-------
DISTRICT BOARD TO DISCUSS CULTURAL FACILITIES ft ft ft ft
WAYS OF RELIEVING THE ACUTE SHORTAGE OF CULTURAL AND SPORTS FACILITIES IN THE DENSELY-POPULATED SHAM SHU I PO DISTRICT IN THE SHORT-TERM WILL BE SOUGHT DURING THE THIRD SHAM SHU I PO DISTRICT BOARD MEETING AT THE CMA PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOL ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON (FEBRUARY 12).
BOARD MEMBERS WILL GIVE ADVICE ON THE SITE AND FACILITIES FOR A CULTURAL COMPLEX, THE UPGRADING OF FACILITIES IN SCHOOL HALLS AND THE PROVISION OF SPORTS FACILITIES IN SPECIFIC PLACES.
THE B0ARD WILL ALS0 DISCUSS PLANS FOR THE BUILDING OF A PERMANENT CONCRETE STAIRCASE AT PAK WAN STREET, THE PROVISION ^.^•RE~FIGHT,NG equipment for squatter areas and the EXISTING POSTAL FACILITIES IN THE DISTRICT.
nicTOTi!£ PROGRESS REPORTS OF THE VARIOUS COMMITTEES OF THE DISTRICT BOARD WILL ALSO BE DISCUSSED.
THERE WILL ALSO BE THE MEMBERS’ FINAL ENTRIES FOR THE SHAM SHU I
VETTING OF THE WINNING DESIGN COMPETITION.
PO DISTRICT LOGO
NOTE TO ED ITORSi
THE THIRD MEETING BE AN OPEN MEETING AND
OF
THE SHAM SHU I PO
DISTRICT BOARD WILL
THE PRESS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND. IT
WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE ..... . ...---------...... „Rri
STREET, SHAM SHU I PO ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 12) AT 2.30 PM. STAFF OF THE SHAM SHUI PO CITY DISTRICT OFFICE WILL ASSIST THE PRESS.
CMA PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOL
298 NAM CHEONG
/29........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1982
29
ANTI-NARCOTICS CONCERT * * * *
A PACKED GATHERING OF 2 000 DANCED TO THE TUNE OF AN ANTINARCOTICS POP CONCERT HELD THIS EVENING (WEDNESDAY) AT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH STADIUM, WAN CHAI.
THE CONCERT ENTITLED +TREASURE THE PRIME YEARS OF YOUR LIFE, EASTERN - 82 ANTI-NARCOTICS CONCERT* WAS ORGANISED BY THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS AS PART OF ITS PREVENTIVE EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY PROGRAMME FOR THIS YEAR AND PRODUCED BY COMMERCIAL RADIO II. IT WAS SPONSORED BY THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NARCOTICS DIVISION SAID THE OBJECTIVES CF THE CONCERT WERE TO PREVENT YOUNG PEOPLE FROM EXPERIMENTING WITH NARCOTIC DRUG'S", AS WELL AS TO PROMOTE THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME.
POP CONCERTS HAD PROVED TO BE AMONG THE MOST EFFECTIVE VEHICLES FOR REACHING THE PUBLIC, ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
PERFORMING AT THE TWO-HOUR CONCERT WERE SEVERAL OF HONG KONG’S YOUNG POP SINGERS, INCLUDING DANNY CHAN, LESLIE CHEUNG, RUTH CHEN, TERENCE CHOI AND FOUR POPULAR COMMERCIAL RADIO DISC-JOCKEYS.
MISS WINNIE YU, SERVED AS COMPERE AT THE CONCERT.
THE CONCERT WAS BROADCAST LIVE ON COMMERCIAL RADIO II.
AN ANT I-NARCOTICS EXHIBITION WAS HELD AT THE LOBBY OF QUEEN ELIZABETH STADIUM BEFORE THE CONCERT BEGAN.
ADMISSION WAS BY FREE TICKETS, EARLIER DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICE (EASTERN) AND THE TOM LEE PIANO CO., WHO SUPPLIED THE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS AND PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM.
MR CHARLES GATELY, CITY DISTRICT COMMISSIONER (EASTERN) PERFORMED A +SWITCH-ON+ CEREMONY TO MARK THE OPENING OF THE CONCERT.
THE ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS, MR C.M. LEUNG, ALSO ATTENDED THE CONCERT AND PRESENTED SOUVENIRS TO PERFORMING ARTISTS AND SPONSORS.
GUESTS ATTENDING THE CONCERT INCLUDED THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTC‘5 AND EXCISE, MR DOUGLAS JORDAN, OFFICIAL AND UNOFFICIAL l€ <-S OF THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD, REPRESENTATIVES CF VARIOUS GOVE?' ''F T DEPARTMENTS, VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY LEADERS CF THE EASTERN DISTRICT.
MISS MARIA TAM AND MISS DEBRA CHOW, NEWLY-APP 31NTED ACAN MEMBERS, AL.. ATTENDED.
- 0 -
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1982
- 50 -
WORK BEGINS ON NEW ARMY BARRACKS ft ft ft ft
WORK HAS BEGUN ON SITE FORMATION FOR THE NEW ARMY BARRACKS ON THE CLEARWATER BAY PENINSULA.
KOH IMA BARRACKS WILL ACCOMMODATE THE FIFTH BATTALION OF THE HONG KONG GARRISON FOR WHICH PROVISION WAS MADE IN THE DEFENCE COSTS AGREEMENT CONCLUDED IN OCTOBER, 1980.
IT WILL PROVIDE QUARTERING FOR 700 MEN AND THEIR DEPENDENTS AS WELL AS OFFICE ACCOMMODATION, A TRANSPORT DEPOT AND OTHER BARRACKS FACILITIES.
THE SITE OF THE BARRACKS, SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED IN 1986, IS LOCATED OFF CLEARWATER BAY ROAD.
THE 41-HECTARE SITE OF MAINLY CROWN LAND CONSISTS OF BROKEN, SLOPING GROUND BETWEEN THE VILLAGE OF TAI PO TSAI AND THE SEA.
IT INCLUDES SOME PLOTS OF PRIVATE LAND WHICH WILL BE RESUMED, AND ANCESTRAL GRAVES OF THE VILLAGE.
AS ANNOUNCED IN OCTOBER LAST YEAR, THE GOVERNMENT WILL BUILD A NEW BURIAL GROUND TO ACCOMMODATE THE GRAVES AND WILL FORM A NEW RIDGE TO REPLACE AN EXISTING ONE WHICH WILL BE LEVELLED DURING THE SITE FORMATION WORKS.
ALSO LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE VILLAGE AT PRESENT IS ERSKINE TRAINING CAMP.
THE CAMP WILL BE CLOSED IN ABOUT TWO OR THREE YEARS’ TIME AS CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW BARRACKS NEARS COMPLETION.
NO DECISION HAS BEEN MADE YET ON THE USE OF THE LAND WHEN IT IS VACATED BUT IT IS LIKELY THAT COMMUNITY FACILITIES SUCH AS A SCHOOL AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, WHICH ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY IN THE DEVELOPING SAI KUNG DISTRICT, WILL BE PROVIDED.
-------o----------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL 5-233191
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1982
contents rage no.
MONEY SUPPLY AND FINANCIAL STATISTICS: DECELSER 1981 .......... 1
548 K PAID OUT TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS .................... 4
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT IN OLD PEAK ROAD .......................... 4
FIRST EVER WONG TAI SIN CIVIC WEEK ............................ 5
GOVERNOR TO ATTEND SCHOOL FUNCTION ............................ 6
16 000 NEW COMPANIES ON REGISTER......'........................ 7
DISTRICT BOARD BRIEFED ON ROAD SAFETY ......................... 7
BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT FOR TSUEN WAN WORKERS ................... 8
SHA TIN MARKET STALLS FOR AUCTION ............................. 8
VALENTINE'S DAY CONCERT
9
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1982
1
MONEY SUPPLY AND FINANCIAL STATISTICS* DECEMBER 1981 *****
THE MONEY SUPPLY AND FINANCIAL STATISTICS FOR DECEMBER 1981 ARE PUBLISHED TODAY.
THERE WAS AN INCREASE DURING THE MONTH IN THE GROWTH RATES OF THE MONEY SUPPLY, ON ALL DEFINITIONS, AND OF LOANS FOR USE IN HONG KONG BY BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES TOGETHER.
THE INCREASE WAS PARTLY ON SEASONAL GROUNDS, REFLECTING THE INFLUENCES OF CHRISTMAS AND THE NEW YEAR AND THE CREDITING OF HALF-YEARLY INTEREST TO SAVINGS ACCOUNTS WITH BANKS- AND THERE WAS ALSO A DEMAND FOR CREDIT TO COVER PAYMENTS IN RESPECT OF FIVE CAPITAL ISSUES ON THE STOCK EXCHANGES.
IN 1981, THE MONEY SUPPLY ON THE BROADEST DEFINITIONS, TOTAL M3, ROSE BY 27 PER CENT, WHILE HK$M3 ROSE BY 21 PER CENT.
LOANS FOR USE IN HONG KONG BY BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES ROSE BY 45 PER CENT.
COMPARABLE FIGURES FOR 1980 ARE NOT AVAILABLE IN THE NEW SERIES OF MONETARY STATISTICS. ON THE ORIGINAL SERIES OF STATISTICS THE GROWTH OF THE MONEY SUPPLY, M3, FELL FROM 40 PER CENT IN 1980 TO 29 PER CENT IN 1981, WHILE THE GROWTH OF LOANS IN HONG KONG BY BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES FELL FROM 64 PER CENT IN 1980 TO 41 PER CENT IN 1981.
THE QUARTERLY ANALYSIS OF LOANS AND ADVANCES IN HONG KONG BY SECTOR (IN THE ORIGINAL SERIES OF STATISTICS) SHOWS THAT LOANS TO FIRMS IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR GREW BY 35 PER CENT IN 1981, FOLLOWING AN INCREASE OF 41 PER CENT DURING 1980. LOANS TO THE TRANSPORT AND TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT SECTOR ROSE BY ONLY NINE PER CENT, WELL DOWN FROM A RISE OF 48 PER CENT IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
THE GROWTH OF LOANS AND ADVANCES TO FIRMS IN THE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY FELL FROM 94 PER CENT IN 1980 TO 75 PER CENT IN 1981, WHILE THE GROWTH OF LOANS TO INDIVIDUALS TO PURCHASE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY WAS ALMOST UNCHANGED AT 33 PER CENT IN 1981, AS COMPARED TO 35 PER CENT IN 1980.
TABLE 1 (BOXED) SETS OUT THE DETAILED FIGURES FOR DECEMBER 1981, AND FOR EARLIER MONTHS, FROM THE NEW SERIES OF STATISTICS NOW BEING COLLECTED UNDER THE MONETARY STATISTICS ORDINANCE 1980. THE NEW SERIES IS BEING PUBLISHED EACH MONTH.
TABLE 2 (BOXED) SETS OUT THE FIGURES FOR DECEMBER 1981 FROM THE ORIGINAL SERIES OF MONEY AND BANKING FIGURES, COLLECTED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING/COMMISSIONER OF DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES (THIS IS THE LAST MONTH FOR WHICH THIS SERIES WILL BE PUBLISHED). TABLE 3 (BOXED) SETS OUT SOME SELECTED FIGURES FROM THE QUARTERLY ANALYSIS OF LOANS AND ADVANCES IN HONG KONG BY SECTOR.
SOME FIGURES FOR PREVIOUS MONTHS IN THE NEW SERIES HAVE BEEN REVISED.
/money supply ...
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1982
2
MONEY SUPPLY - NEW SERIES
THE MONEY SUPPLY ON THE BROADEST DEFINITIONS IN THE NEW SERIES ROSE IN DECEMBER, WITH M3 - TOTAL UP BY 2.8 PER CENT AND HK$M3 UP BY THREE PER CENT, FOLLOWING THE INCREASES OF 0.8 PER CENT AND 0.4 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY IN NOVEMBER. THE PRINCIPAL FACTOR HERE WAS A 10.2 PER CENT INCREASE IN SAVINGS ACCOUNTS WITH BANKS, REFLECTING THE CREDITING OF HALF-YEARLY INTEREST TO DEPOSITORS. THERE WAS ALSO THE USUAL SEASONAL INCREASE IN THE CURRENCY IN CIRCULATION.
IN THE FOURTH QUARTER M3 - TOTAL ROSE BY 5.2 PER CENT, COMPARED WITH A RISE OF 0.8 PER CENT IN THE THIRD QUARTER, WHILE rt(SM3 ROSE BY 4.6 PER CENT, AFTER A FALL OF 0.4 PER CENT IN THE THIRD QUARTER.
LOANS FOR USE IN HONG KONG - NEW SERIES
LOANS BY BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES FOR USE IN HONG KONG ROSE IN DECEMBER BY 4.1 PER CENT, AGAINST AN INCREASE OF 2.8 PER CENT IN NOVEMBER. IN THE FOURTH QUARTER, TOTAL LOANS FOR USE IN HONG KONG GREW BY 8.1 PER CENT, COMPARED WITH AN INCREASE OF 6.5 PER CENT IN THE PREVIOUS QUARTER.
LOANS BY BANKS FOR USE IN HONG KONG ROSE IN DECEMBER BY FOUR PER CENT, AFTER RISING BY THREE PER CENT IN NOVEMBER, AND LOANS BY DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES ROSE BY 4.2 PER CENT, FOLLOWING A RISE OF 2.3 PER CENT IN THE PREVIOUS MONTH. IN THE FOURTH QUARTER, THE GROWTH RATE OF LOANS BY BANKS FOR USE IN HONG KONG, AT 7.3 PER CENT, WAS UP FROM THAT OF 4.7 PER CENT IN THE PREVIOUS QUARTER, BUT THE GROWTH OF LOANS BY DTCS FOR USE IN HONG KONG, AT 10 PER CENT, WAS DOWN FROM THAT OF 11.5 PER CENT IN THE THIRD QUARTER.
FOREIGN ASSETS
THE NET IDENTIFIABLE FOREIGN ASSETS OF ALL BANKS (CALCULATED FROM THE ORIGINAL SERIES OF STATISTICS) FELL IN DECEMBER BY $2 595 MILLION BUT THOSE OF DTCS ROSE BY $83 MILLION, INDICATING A NET OUTFLOW OF FUNDS FROM THE HONG KONG MONETARY SECTOR OF $2 512 MILLION, COMPARED WITH A NET OUTFLOW OF $1 256 MILLION IN THE PREVIOUS MONTH. IN THE FOURTH QUARTER THE NET OUTFLOW OF FUNDS FROM HONG KONG AMOUNTED TO $3 073 MILLION, AFTER A NET INFLOW OF $1 840 MILLION IN THE THIRD QUARTER.
OVER THE. WHOLE OF 1981 THERE WAS A NET OUTFLOW OF FUNDS TOTALLING $1 663 MILLION COMPARED WITH A NET OUTFLOW OF $4 396 MILLION IN 1980.
BALANCE SHEET RATIOS
THE AVERAGE LIQUIDITY RATIO (AS DEFINED IN S. 18 OF THE BANKING ORDINANCE) FOR ALL BANKS IN HONG KONG ROSE IN DECEMBER TO 55.5 PER CENT FROM 54.3 PER CENT IN NOVEMBER. THE RATIO OF THEIR LOANS FOR USE IN HONG KONG TO THEIR DEPOSITS FELL TO 99 PER CENT AT THE END OF DECEMBER FROM 99.7 PER CENT AT THE END OF NOVEMBER.
THE AVERAGE LIQUIDITY RATIO (AS DEFINED IN S. 24A OF THE DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES ORDINANCE) FOR ALL DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES ROSE TO 46 PER CENT IN DECEMBER FROM 44.8 PER CENT IN NOVEMBER. THE RATIO OF THEIR LOANS FOR USE IN HONG KONG TO THEIR DEPOSITS ROSE TO 67.7 PER CENT AT THE END OF DECEMBER FROM 63.9 PER CENT AT THE END OF NOVEMBER.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1?82
3
QUARTERLY ANALYSIS OF LENDING IN HONG KONG BY SECTOR
IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1981, LOANS AND ADVANCES EXTENDED BY BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES (CALCULATED FROM THE ORIGINAL SERIES OF STATISTICS) TO THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR INCREASED BY 2*5 PER CENT’ AFTER A 5’3 PER CENT RISE IN THE THIRD QUARTER. LOANS TO THE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION SECTOR EXPANDED BY 13.2 PER CENT, COMPARED WITH AN INCREASE OF 9.7 PER CENT IN THE PREVIOUS QUARTER. LOANS TO THE TRANSPORT AND TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT thirdRquart4Y 7,1 PER CENT’ AFTER A FALL 0F 7,9 PER CENT IN THE
BORROWING by individuals to purchase residential property ROSE BY 0.4 PER CENT IN THE FOURTH QUARTER, DOWN FROM A RISE OF 12.6 PER CENT IN THE THIRD QUARTER. BORROWING BY INDIVIDUALS FOR OTHER PURPOSES ROSE BY 12.8 PER CENT, AFTER INCREASING BY 10.5 PER CENT IN THE PREVIOUS QUARTER.
NUMBER OF REPORTING INSTITUTIONS
THE NUMBER OF REPORTING BANKS ROSE BY TWO IN DECEMBER TO 121. THE NUMBER OF REPORTING DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES INCREASED BY ONE TO 350.
THE DEFINITIONS OF THE MONEY SUPPLY
ORIG INAL SER IES
Ml NOTES AND COINS WITH THE PUBLIC, PLUS DEMAND DEPOSITS,
OTHER THAN FROM BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES, WITH LICENSED BANKS.
M2 Ml PLUS SAVINGS AND TIME DEPOSITS, OTHER THAN FROM
BANKS AND DTCS, WITH LICENSED BANKS.
M3 M2 PLUS DEPOSITS, OTHER THAN FROM BANKS AND DTCS, WITH
DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES.
NEW SERIES
Ml - TOTAL NOTES AND COINS WITH THE PUBLIC, PLUS CUSTOMERS’ DEMAND DEPOSITS WITH LICENSED BANKS.
M2 - TOTAL Ml PLUS CUSTOMERS’ SAVINGS AND TIME DEPOSITS WITH LICENSED BANKS, PLUS NEGOTIABLE CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT ISSUED BY LICENSED BANKS AND HELD OUTSIDE THE MONETARY SECTOR.
M3 - TOTAL M2 PLUS CUSTOMERS’ DEPOSITS WITH DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES PLUS NEGOTIABLE CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT ISSUED BY DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES AND HELD OUTSIDE THE MONETARY SECTOR.
HK$M1) NOTES AND COINS PLUS THE HONG KONG DOLLAR -
HK$M2) DENOMINATED ELEMENT OF TK DIFFERENT CATEGORIES
HKJM3) OF DEPOSIT AND NEGOTIABLE CD AS APPROPRIATE. -------------------------------0--------
/4......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1982
4
$48 M PAID OUT TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS
* * *
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAS PAID OUT OVER $48 MILLION UNDER THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE (TAVA) SCHEME SINCE ITS IMPLEMENTATION IN MAY,1979.
OF A TOTAL OF 13 752 APPLICATIONS RECEIVED, PAYMENTS HAVE BEEN AUTHORISED FOR 11 703 CASES.
THE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT’S TAVA SECTION, MR SIU KING-CHIU, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) ANOTHER $512 000 IN AUTHORISED PAYMENTS WAS NOW AWAITING COLLECTION.
HE SAID 996 PAYMENTS WERE MADE TO CASES INVOLVING DEATH AND 10 444 PAYMENTS TO CASES INVOLVING INJURIES. SINCE JANUARY 6, THE SEVEN-DAY SICK LEAVE RULE FOR INJURY CASES HAS BEEN LOWERED TO A THREE-DAY REQUIREMENT.
PAYMENTS FOR DEATH GRANTS AMOUNTED TO NEARLY $8.3 MILLION, WHILE INJURY PAYMENTS TOTALLED $39.7 MILLION, OF WHICH $10.8 MILLION WAS PAID AS FURTHER GRANTS TO THOSE WHO SUBSEQUENTLY REQUIRED EXTENDED SICK LEAVE, HE SAID.
MR SIU SAID THE HIGHEST PAYMENT SO FAR WAS $32 900 IN ONE FATAL CASE, WHILE OTHER PAYMENTS RANGED FROM $800 TO $26 100.
♦AT PRESENT, 380 APPLICATIONS ARE BEING PROCESSED AND THE APPLICANTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO RECEIVE PAYMENTS SHORTLY,+ HE SAID.
THE TAVA SCHEME, WHICH IS NON-MEANS-TESTED, PROVIDES QUICK CASH RELIEF FOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS OR THEIR DEPENDENTS REGARDLESS OF WHO WAS AT FAULT IN CAUSING THE ACCIDENT.
UNDER THE SCHEME, TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS MUST HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO THE POLICE. PEOPLE INVOLVED CAN APPLY WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF THE ACCIDENT AT THE DEPARTMENT’S TAVA SECTION AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTRE, 14TH FLOOR, 280 GLOUCESTER ROAD.
ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE BY CALLING 5-779421 AND 5-7903650.
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TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT IN OLD PEAK ROAD
* X X
DAAr WhS!EC--°nr°n 0LD PEAK R0AD BETWEEN HORNSEY ROAD AND ROBINSON (FEBRUARY f^RFA0°uUlTcO°uA i!^Y SOUTHBOUND FROM 10 AM ON MONDAY (FtBRUARY 15) FOR WATER MAINS WORK TO BE CARRIED OUT.
raAn >L'<T’'FR--r’NORTHBOUND VEHICLES ALONG OLD PEAK ROAD a . _L DI^RTuD VIA HCRKStY ROAD, GLENEALY AND ROBINSON ROAD.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1982
FIRST EVER WONG TAI SIN CIVIC WEEK
XXX*
THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD, IN CONJUNCTION WITH GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, HAS ORGANISED A WEEK OF ACTIVITIES FROM FEBRUARY 14 TO 21 TO INFORM RESIDENTS IN THE DISTRICT OF THE PUBLIC SERVICES WHICH NOW EXIST OR ARE PLANNED TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF THEIR LIVES.
THE MAIN FEATURE OF THE WEEK WILL BE AN EXHIBITION WHICH WILL DEPICT 100 YEARS OF LIFE IN WONG TAI SIN FROM 1890 TO 1990.
OTHER ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE A SCHOOL DEBATE COMPETITION, A DRAWING COMPETITION FOR YOUNGER RESIDENTS, OUTDOOR FILM SHOWS AND INDOOR VIDEO-CASSETTE DEMONSTRATIONS, AN URBAN COUNCIL SPONSORED VARIETY SHOW AND A CARNIVAL. THE WEEK’S ACTIVITIES WILL COST IN EXCESS OF $100 000, ABOUT 50 PER CENT BEING PROVIDED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD.
PARTLY BY ACCIDENT, AND PARTLY BY DESIGN, THERE EXISTS AN EXCELLENT PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORD OF THE AREA NOW CALLED WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT COVERING EACH DECADE FROM 1890 TO THE PRESENT DAY.
THE NAME WONG TAI SIN, TAKEN FROM A MAJOR TEMPLE IN THE AREA, WAS APPLIED TO THE PRESENT DISTRICT WHEN THE DISTRICT POLICE STATION WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE EARLY 1960S. BEFORE THAT, THE DISTRICT WAS THE RURAL HINTERLAND MOST ACCESSIBLE FROM KOWLOON WALLED CITY. THIS EXPLAINS WHY THE DISTRICT WAS OFTEN PHOTOGRAPHED AT THE TURN OF THE CENTURY AS +COUNTRYSIDE AROUND KOWLOON CITY+.
THE OTHER LUCKY ACCIDENT FOR THE LOCAL HISTORIAN WAS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE AIRPORT AT THE END OF THE 1920S IN THE AREA NOW COVERED BY SAN PO KONG. FROM THEN ON THE DISTRICT WAS REGULARLY PHOTOGRAPHED FROM THE AIR.
AS AN AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY DEPENDENT ON RICE AND FISH FARMING UP UNTIL THE 195OS, THERE IS LITTLE TO TELL OF THE EVENTS WHICH OCCURRED OVER THE HUNDREDS OF YEARS BETWEEN THE EARLIEST OCCUPATION OF THE AREA IN THE EARLY HAN DYNASTY UNTIL KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES WERE LEASED TO BRITAIN. BUT THE ACCIDENTS CF FATE WHICH LED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DISTRICT FROM AN AGRICULTURAL BACKWATER TO A BUSTLING RESIDENTIAL AND INDUSTRIAL AREA WITH ALL ITS PROBLEMS ARE DRAMATICALLY PORTRAYED IN THE EXHIBITION.
THE MAIN PART OF THE EXHIBITION CONSISTS OF DISPLAYS ILLUSTRATING PRESENT-DAY LIFE IN THE DISTRICT PORTRAYED THROUGH EXHIBITS BY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS SHOWING THE ASPECTS OF LIFE IN WONG TAI SIN EACH DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR.
AND THE EXHIBITION DOES NOT STOP WITH THE PRESENT! MODELS AND ARTISTS’ IMPRESSIONS WILL SHOW VISITORS HOW THE DISTRICT WILL DEVELOP IN THE FUTURE, AND HOW GOVERNMENT, THE DISTRICT BOARD AND THE URBAN COUNCIL WILL FACE THE LEGACY OF PROBLEMS HISTORY HAS BEQUEATHED.
THE EXHIBITION WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FROM 5 PM ON SUNDAY FEBRUARY 14) AND BETWEEN 11 AM AND 8 PM DAILY UNTIL SATURDAY FEBRUARY 20).
/it ..'ILL...............
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1962
- 6 -
IT WILL BE HOUSED IN THE FUNG MING HALL OF THE WONG TAI SIN (SIK SIK YUEN) TEMPLE, TWO MINUTES’ WALK FROM WONG TAI SIN MTR STATION AND CHUK YUEN BUS TERMINUS.
APART FROM THE EXHIBITION THERE WILL BE A NUMBER OF MAJOR EVENTS TAKING PLACE DURING THE CIVIC WEEK.
AN INTER-SCHOOL DEBATING COMPETITION WILL BE HELD, AIMED AT AROUSING INTEREST IN DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION. THE THEME OF THE DEBATES WILL BE +SHOULD VIDEO GAMES BE BANNED?*.
A DRAWING COMPETITION WILL BE HELD FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, THE THEME BEING DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION. THE WINNING ENTRIES WILL BE EXHIBITED AT THE CIVIC WEEK EXHIBITION.
FILMS SHOWING GOVERNMENT SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT WILL BE SHOWN OUTDOORS IN HOUSING ESTATES AND SQUATTER AREAS IN THE DISTRICT EVERY EVENING FROM 8 PM.
THE URBAN COUNCIL WILL SPONSOR A VARIETY SHOW AT MORSE PARK ON FEBRUARY 20 AT 7.30 PM.
FINALLY, THE CIVIC WEEK WILL CLOSE WITH A CARNIVAL AND A POP CONCERT IN MORSE PARK ON FEBRUARY 21.
THE WEEK IS TO BE FORMALLY OPENED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, MR HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 14) AT 3 PM. SIR SHIU-KIN TANG, MR GRAHAM BARNES, REGIONAL SECRETARY (CITY) AND MR WONG WAN-TIN, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 21).
-----0------
NOTE TO EDITORS!
GOVERNOR TO ATTEND SCHOOL FUNCTION
KOK
THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, WILL VISIT NORTH DISTRICT TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AFTERNOON AND ATTEND THE GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS OF FUNG KAI PUBLIC SCHOOL, SHEUNG SHU I.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THIS FUNCTION.
A GOVERNMENT VEHICLE WILL LEAVE KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER AT 2.15 PM TO TAKE THE PRESS TO SHEUNG SHU I. STAFF FROM THE PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION WILL BE PRESENT TO ASSIST MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES.
-.--o----
/7 ........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1982
7
16 000 NEW COMPANIES ON REGISTER * * *
•act vrJSLYn^ 000 NEW COMPANIES WERE INCORPORATED IN HONG KONG brrTci!^’c?R,NGING THE T0TAL 0N THE RESISTER TO 96 000, THE RES15TRAR GENERAL, MR P. JACOBS TOLD STUDENTS OF THE HANG SENG SCHOOL OF COMMERCE AT SHA TIN THIS AFTERNOON (THURSDAY).
THIRTY YEARS AGO, THERE WERE ONLY 2 356 COMPANIES ON THE REG1STER ™E DEPARTMENT WAS ESTABLISHED IN ITS PRESENT oA ID •
FORM, HE
THE ANNUAL REVENUE COLLECTED AT THAT TIME — IN 1950 _____
j1cJb?°?ai$ND LAST YEAR IT CAME T° JUST 0VER^315 » Hn uACvDu OAIDa
MILLION,
COMMENTING ON THE FIGURES, MR JACOBS SAID, +THE COMPANIES REGISTRY HAS BEEN VERY BUSY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.+ TITI eHacStuc IcATci!nl:IKE THAT 0F MANY 0THER DEPARTMENTS, THE 5 ™e%oJKHEo?E?i!EST?e‘?*St’S DEPARTMENT SIVES N0
WENT 0N T0 DESCRIBE THE WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT, THE LAND 0FFICE» THE COMPANIES REGISTRY, THE TRADE MARKS AND PATENTS REGISTRY, THE INSURANCE OFFICE AND THE OFFICIAL RECEIVER’S OFFICE.
- o - -
DISTRICT BOARD BRIEFED ON ROAD SAFETY * * * *
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE STANDING CONFERENCE ON ROAD SAFETY ATTENDED THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT BOARD MEETING AT THE 01 MAN COMMUNITY HALL AT 01 MAN ESTATE TODAY (THURSDAY), TO DESCRIBE THE WORK OF THE CONFERENCE TO BOARD MEMBERS.
IT WAS THE SECOND OF A PLANNED SERIES OF VISITS TO DISTRICT BOARDS BY MEMBERS OF THE SCRS.
IN THE VISITING GROUP WERE MR R. SMALLSHAW, CHIEF STAFF OFFICER, TRAFFIC, ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE- MR Y.C. YEUNG, SENIOR ENGINEER, ROAD SAFETY DIVISION, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT- MR PATRICK SHEK, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (DISTRICT SERVICES), CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION- AND MR MICHAEL LEUNG, CHIEF STAFF INSPECTOR, ROAD SAFETY SECTION, ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE.
THEY WERE INTRODUCED TO THE BOARD MEMBERS BY THE CHAIRMAN, MR L.S. LEE.
THE SCRS IS AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL WORKING GROUP SET UP TO CO-ORDINATE ROAD SAFETY ACTIVITIES AND TO ESTABLISH FUTURE GUIDELINES.
THE CHAPMAN OF THE CONFERENCE, MR PETER MOOR, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, RECENTLY ADVISED THE PUBLIC THAT ROAD SAFETY ISSUES COULD BE RAISES THROUGH DISTRICT BOARDS.
0
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1982
8
BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT FOR TSUEN WAN WORKERS
* * *
A MONTH-LONG BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT FOR TSUEN WAN FACTORY WORKERS WILL START TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
FIFTEEN TEAMS FORMED BY WORKERS OF LOCAL FACTORIES AND COMPANIES WILL TAKE PART IN THE COMPETITION, THE FIRST SUCH EVENT HELD IN THE DISTRICT.
THE 15 TEAMS HAVE ALREADY BEEN GROUPED INTO THREE DIVISIONS BY BALLOT.
THEY WILL PLAY 45 MATCHES, INCLUDING SEMI-FINALS AND THE FINAL, AND THE WINNING TEAM WILL BE AWARDED A CUP AND THE FINALISTS A TROPHY EACH.
SIX TEAMS WILL COMPETE AT TOMORROW’S OPENING WHICH WILL BE HELD AT THE OSMAN RAMJU SADICK INDOOR GAMES HALL STARTING AT 7.30 PM.
KWAI CHUNG DISTRICT OFFICER, MR FRED TING, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BOARD’S INDUSTRIAL SUB-COMMITTEE, LAM KIN-MING, WILL OFFICIATE.
THE TOURNAMENT HAS BEEN ORGANISED BY TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BOARD AND THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT TO PROMOTE SPORTING ACTIVITIES AMONG WORKERS IN THE DISTRICT.
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SHA TIN MARKET STALLS FOR AUCTION
* * *
ELEVEN MINI-STALLS AND MARKET STALLS IN THE SHA TIN MARKET WILL BE PUT UP FOR PUBLIC AUCTION ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 15), A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY.
THE AUCTION WHICH WILL START AT 10.45 AM WILL BE HELD AT THE LEK YUEN COMMUNITY HALL AT LEK YUEN ESTATE, SHA TIN.
SEVEN OF THE STALLS ARE MINI-STALLS FOR SELLING WET GOODS. THE OTHERS ARE TWO FISH STALLS, ONE TRADESMAN STALL AND A NEWSPAPER STALL.
THE UPSET RENTAL WILL RANGE FROM $720 TO $3 000.
SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS CAN START BUSINESS ON MARCH 1 FOR A CONTRACT PERIOD OF THREE YEARS.
ONuY PERSONS AGED 21 OR ABOVE CAN TAKE PART IN THE AUCTION AND POTENTIAL BIDDERS ARE REQUESTED TO BRING ALONG THEIR IDENTITY CARDS AND FIVE PHOTOGRAPHS.
FOR FURTHER DETAILS ON THE AUCTION, THE HAWKERS AND MARKETS SECTION OF SHA TIN URBAN SERVICES OFFICE MAY BE CONTACTED BY TELEPHONING 0-623467.
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1982
3
VALENTINE’S DAY CONCERT * * * *
AN OPEN-AIR CONCERT WILL BE HELD FOR THE PUBLIC IN CENTRAL DISTRICT ON SUNDAY, VALENTINE’S DAY.
IT IS ONE OF THE ITEMS IN THE OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME OF THE 1OTH ANNIVERSARY HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL, AND IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES AND RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG.
IT WILL BE HELD IN THE PEDESTRIAN ZONE AT THE JUNCTION OF CHATER ROAD AND ICE HOUSE STREET, BEGINNING AT 2 PM.
DISC JOCKEYS FROM RTHK, INCLUDING RAY CORDEIRO, LEN TRACEY AND GERRY JOSE WILL BE THE MASTERS OF CEREMONY AT THE CONCERT.
MUSIC WILL BE PROVIDED BY THREE BANDS, THE +JAMESTOWN 6+, THE +ELEMENTS+ AND THE ♦INNERSOUND+, AND SINGERS WILL INCLUDE CHRIS WONG, MARIA WOO, MARIA FLORES, CHRISTINE FLORES AND CARMEN WONG.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE VALENTINE’S DAY CONCERT TO BE HELD AT THE JUNCTION OF CHATER ROAD AND ICE HOUSE STREET IN CENTRAL ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 14), BEGINNING AT 2 PM. GIS OFFICERS WILL BE AT THE PEDDER STREET END OF CHATER ROAD TO ASSIST.
- - 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1982
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GOVERNOR ATTENDS NT SCHOOL GOLDIN JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS .. 1
KEEN ELECTION FORECAST FOR YUEN LONG .................... 3
CENTRAL PRIME SITE SOLD ................................. 4
WARNING AGAINST PARKING IF FRONT OF FIRE HYDRANTS ....... 5
APPOINTMENTS TO PERFORMING ARTS COUNCIL ................. 6
MORE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES PLANNED .................... 7
CAREERS DISPLAY BY CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT ..... 8
TSUKI WAN TO HAVE MORE TOWN OFFICERS .................... 9
RSS SPORTS VARIETY NIGHT................................. 9
BIG KWUN TONG CLEAN UP STARTS SOON ..................... 10
INDIAN SAROD PLAYER FOR RECITAL ......................... H
CLOSURE OF PRINCE EDWARD ROAD SECTION .................. 11
TIMPORARY CLOSURE OF CARRIAGEWAY ....................... 12
CARNIVAL AND VaRIETY SHOW IN KWUN TONG ................. 1P
MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT PARTY FOR STAFF
13
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1982
1
GOVERNOR ATTENDS NT SCHOOL GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS * * *
THE NORTHERN NEW TERRITORIES IS BEING CHANGED BY DEVELOPMENT TO ACCOMMODATE HONG KONG’S GROWING POPULATION. THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
SIR MURRAY WAS SPEAKING AT THE GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS CF FUNG KAI PUBLIC SCHOOL, SHEUNG SHU I.
HE SAID THE FIRST PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE IN NORTH DISTRICT WOULD BE OPENING SHORTLY IN SHEK WU HUI.
♦NEWCOMERS, MANY OF WHOM HAVE NO PREVIOUS CONNECTION WITH THE IEW TERRITORIES, WILL BEGIN TO MOVE INTO THIS DISTRICT IN THEIR THOUSANDS,♦ SIR MURRAY SAID.
♦THE CHALLENGE IS TO MAKE THESE PEOPLE FEEL THAT THEY TOO BELONG TO FANLING OR SHEUNG SHU I, THAT THESE TOWNS ARE THEIR HOME AS WELL AS YOURS.
♦WE MUST STRIVE TO ENSURE THAT THE NEW TOWN HAS A DISTRICT CHARACTER, AND PRESERVE THE BEST OF THE PAST WHILE BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE.♦
THE GOVERNOR SAID A FINE. WELL ESTABLISHED SCHOOL SUCH AS FUNG KAI COULD HELP A GREAT DEAL IN THIS EFFORT BY CONSCIOUSLY MAINTAINING ITS TRADITIONS AND HIGH STANDARDS, AND COPING WITH THE CHANGES AS THEY CAME.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SCHOOL BOARD, MR LIU YUN-SUM, SPOKE OF HOW THE SCHOOL HAD GROWN FROM A VILLAGE SCHOOL OF SOME 80 PUPILS INTO A WELL-EQUIPPED SCHOOL WITH 180 TEACHERS AND 4 400 KINDERGARTEN, PRIMARY AND SECONDARY STUDENTS.
THE SCHOOL, CONSISTING OF FOUR BLOCKS, HAS A TOTAL AREA CF 111 500 SQUARE METRES. THERE ARE 83 CLASSROOMS, A 400-METRE RUNNING TRACK, FOUR SOCCER PITCHES, SEVEN BASKETBALL COURTS AND ONE HANDBALL COURT.
MR LIU TOLD THE GUESTS THAT TO CELEBRATE THE GOLDEN JUBILEE, A MEMORIAL HALL HAD BEEN BUILT TO PRESERVE A RECORD OF ALL WHO HAD CONTRIBUTED SO GENEROUSLY TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SCHOOL.
TO COMMEMORATE THE EVENT, THE GOVERNOR UNVEILED A PLAQUE IN THE MEMORIAL HALL AND PLANTED A TREE NEARBY.
EARLIER THE GOVERNOR VISITED SHA TAU KOK. HE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE SECRETARY FOR CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR IAN MACPHERSON, THE DISTRICT POLICE COMMANDER (NT), W MIKE ILLINGWORTH, THE GURKHA FIELD FORCE COMMANDER, BRIGADIER R.M. LLEWELLYN, AND OTHER SENIOR OFFICIALS.
HE WAS BRIEFED BY THE PROJECT MANAGER, TAI PO AND FANLING NEW TOWNS, MR JEFF THOMAS, ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SHA TAU KOK, AND BY THE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT FRONTIER, MR JOHN GREENE.
THE GOVERNOR ALSO WENT TO NORTH DISTRICT SUB-OFFICE IN FANLING FOR A BRIEFING ON FANLING AND SHEK WU HUI DEVELOPMENT BY THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR PETER JOHNSON, AND MR THOMAS.
/APAST PROb.....
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 19&2
2
APART FROM CHOI YUEN ESTATE, BEING BUILT AS PART OF FANLING/ SHEK WU HUI AND WHICH IS TO OPEN SOON, THREE OTHER ESTATES, INCLUDING A HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME, ARE SOON TO BE BUILT IN NORTH DISTRICT. ALTOGETHER THEY WILL ACCOMMODATE 83 OOO PEOPLE AND WILL BE LINKED TO KOWLOON BY A FAST ELECTRIC TRAIN SERVICE IN THE SUMMER OF 1983.
THERE ARE 15 PRIMARY AND SIX SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT. IWO PRIMARY AND TWO SECONDARY SCHOOLS ARE NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
A TOTAL OF 33 HECTARES OF LAND HAS BEEN RESERVED FOR DISTRICT OPEN SPACE AND MAJOR RECREATIONAL PROJECTS INCLUDE THE NEWLY COMPLETED SQUASH COURTS IN FANLING, A CULTURAL COMPLEX, A SPORTS COMPLEX, A SWIMMING POOL, AN INDOOR GAMES HALL AND A TOWN PARK.
THE NEW TOWN, WHEN COMPLETED, WILL PROVIDE HOUSING FOR 172 000 PEOPLE.
FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH t
+1 AM VERY HAPPY TO BE WITH YOU TO-DAY TO CELEBRATE THE GOLDEN JUBILEE OF THE FUNG KAI PUBLIC SCHOOL.
♦IF CHAIRMAN LUI HAD NOT DRAWN OUR ATTENTION TO THE HUMBLE ORIGINS OF THE SCHOOL AND THE HARDSHIPS IT FACED IN THE PAST, NO ONE WOULD HAVE GUESSED THEM, FOR I SEE A FLOURISHING, CONFIDENT SCHOOL TO-DAY. SUSPICION AT THE SCHOOL’S FOUNDING, SHORTAGE OF MONEY, THE DISRUPTION AND DIFFICULTIES OF WAR, ALL THESE OBSTACLES WERE OVERCOME THROUGH THE LOYALTY OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND THE DEDICATION OF ITS LEADERS.
♦NOW A DIFFERENT CHALLENGE FACES THE SCHOOL. ALL AROUND US THE NORTHERN NEW TERRITORIES IS BEING CHANGED BY DEVELOPMENT TO ACCOMMODATE HONG KONG’S GROWING POPULATION.
♦THE FIRST PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE IN THIS DISTRICT WILL BE OPENING SHORTLY IN SHEK WU HUI. NEWCOMERS, MANY OF WHOM HAVE NO PREVIOUS CONNECTION WITH THE NEW TERRITORIES, WILL BEGIN TO MOVE INTO THIS DISTRICT IN THEIR THOUSANDS.
♦THE CHALLENGE IS TO MAKE THESE PEOPLE FEEL THAT THEY TOO BELONG TO FANLING OR SHEUNG SHU I, THAT THESE TOWNS ARE THEIR HOME AS WELL AS YOURS.
♦WE MUST STRIVE TO ENSURE THAT THE NEW TOWN HAS A DISTRICT CHARACTER, AND PRESERVE THE BEST OF THE PAST WHILE BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE.
♦A FINE, WELL-ESTABLISHED SCHOOL SUCH AS FUNG KAI CAN HELP A GREAT DEAL IN THIS EFFORT BY CONSCIOUSLY MAINTAINING ITS TRADITIONS AND HIGH STANDARDS, AND COPING WITH THE CHANGES AS THEY COME.
♦ THE LIU CLAN IS RIGHTLY PROUD OF FUNG KAI PUBLIC SCHOOL’S FIRST FIFTY YEARS. I AM SURE THAT THE SCHOOL WILL CONTINUE TO JUSTIFY THIS PRIDE IN THE YEARS TO COME.
+ FINALLY, I WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR+.
/3........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1982
5
KEEN ELECTION FORECAST FOR YUEN LONG * * * *
ALL SEATS IN THE SIX YUEN LONG CONSTITUENCIES WILL BE KEENLY CONTESTED WHEN THE NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS TAKE PLACE ON MARCH 4, THE SECRETARY FOR CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
MR AKERS-JONES WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE SECOND YUEN LONG ARTS FESTIVAL.
HE SAID HE WAS SURE THE PEOPLE OF THE DISTRICT WOULD COME FORWARD TO CHOOSE THOSE WHO THEY BELIEVED COULD BEST HELP THEM TO KEEP UP THE MOMENTUM OF COMMUNITY LIFE AND TO FACE AND SOLVE FUTURE PROBLEMS.
♦THE DISTRICT BOARD DEPENDS ON THE SUPPORT OF ALL THE PEOPLE AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT SUCCESSFUL IN THE ELECTIONS HAVE THE SAME RESPONSIBILITY, AS DOES EVERY RESIDENT IN YUEN LONG, TO PRESS FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO LIFE IN THE DISTR ICT,♦ HE SAID.
MR AKERS-JONES SAID THE FIRST VERY SUCCESSFUL FESTIVAL TOOK PLACE LAST YEAR, THE RESULT OF IMAGINATION, DRIVE AND COOPERATION FOR WHICH YUEN LONG WAS WELL-KNOWN.
THIS YEAR THE DISTRICT BOARD AND LOCAL LEADERS HAD ONCE AGAIN GIVEN FULL SUPPORT TO THE ARTS FESTIVAL TO PRODUCE A SPLENDID 16-DAY PROGRAMME OF GREAT VARIETY.
♦APART FROM PROMOTING THE ARTS, THE LOCAL COMMUNITY HAS WORKED TOGETHER WITH THE GOVERNMENT TO PRODUCE AND MANAGE A WIDE RANGE OF FACILITIESi THE TOWN HALL, THE SPORTS ASSOCIATION, THE YUEN LONG STADIUM, THE LUT SAU HALL, AND THE SWIMMING POOL IN THE SUMMER OF THIS YEAR,+ HE SAID.
THIS ZEAL AND INTEREST WAS DEMONSTRATED BY LOCAL RESIDENTS IN THE FORTHCOMING DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS.
HE CONGRATULATED THE SECOND YUEN LONG ARTS FESTIVAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND WISHED THE YUEN LONG COMMUNITY 16 DAYS OF DELIGHT AND ENJOYMENT.
THE 26-EVENT PROGRAMME INCLUDE CONCERTS, CANTONESE OPERA, FOLK DANCING, DRAMA, PUPPET SHOWS, A VARIETY SHOW, JAPANESE FILM APPRECIATION, A BALLET PERFORMANCE, A CHESS COMPETITION, EXHIBITIONS AND TALKS.
THEY WILL BE HELD AT THE LUT SAU HALL, YUEN LONG TOWN HALL OR LOCAL SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
ENTRY TO MOST EVENTS IS FREE.
THE FESTIVAL, WHICH IS SPONSORED BY THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT BOARD AT A COST OF $350 000, IS EXPECTED TO BE ATTENDED BY 25 000 PEOPLE THIS YEAR.
ALSO ATTENDING TODAY’S OPENING WERE FESTIVAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, MR MA NING-HEI- THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR FUNG KWOK-KEUNG- AND LOCAL LEADERS.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1982
CENTRAL PRIME SITE SOLD * * *
THE GOVERNMENT TODAY AWARDED A TENDER FOR A METRE SITE IN CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL, INLAND LOT MULBERRY LAND CO. LTD., A WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY LAND COMPANY LTD.
13 400-SQUARE-NO. 8668, TO OF THE HONG KONG
ANNOUNCING THIS, THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT LAND AGENT, MR P.A. WARD, SAID THAT THREE TENDERS WERE RECEIVED FOR THIS PRIME SITE.
HE SAID i +UNDER THE DEVELOPMENT CONDITIONS, THE SUCCESSFUL TENDERER IS REQUIRED TO BUILD A BUS AND PUBLIC LIGHT BUS TERMINUS AT GROUND LEVEL, COVERED BY A TWO-STOREY PODIUM CONTAINING PREMISES FOR THE UNIFIED STOCK EXCHANGE, AN OPEN PEDESTRIAN PLAZA AND COMMERCIAL ACCOMMODATION.
♦ABOVE THE PODIUM, OFFICE ACCOMMODATION CAN BE BUILT UP TO A TOTAL HEIGHT OF 182.5 METRES ABOVE PRINCIPAL DATUM.+
IN VIEW OF THE PRESENCE OF THE CENTRAL BUS TERMINUS AND A PLB TERMINUS ON THE SITE, MR WARD SAID, SPECIAL MEASURES WERE IMPOSED IN THE TENDER CONDITIONS TO ENSURE THAT EXISTING TRANSPORT FACILITIES WOULD BE MAINTAINED AND INCONVENIENCE TO THE PUBLIC WOULD BE MINIMISED DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD.
HE ADDED i +THE DEVELOPER IS REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN THE PLB TERMINUS UNTIL THE NEW PLB TERMINUS IS COMPLETED, ALTHOUGH HE MIGHT MAKE ARRANGEMENTS, WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, TO MOVE THE TERMINUS AROUND WITHIN THE SITE AS CONSTRUCTION PROGRESSES.*
MR WARD SAID THAT THE BUS TERMINUS WOULD BE BUILT IN TWO STAGES, AND THE DEVELOPER WOULD NOT BE GIVEN POSSESSION OF THE PORTION OF THE SITE CONTAINING THE CENTRAL BUS TERMINUS UNTIL HE HAD COMPLETED CONSTRUCTION OF PART OF THE NEW BUS TERMINUS ON THE ADJACENT SITE.
♦UNDER THE TENDER CONDITIONS, THE NEW PLB TERMINUS AND PART OF THE CENTRAL BUS TERMINUS SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 30, 1984, AND THE BALANCE OF THE CENTRAL BUS TERMINUS BY MARCH 31, 1986 HE SAID.
THE SUCCESSFUL TENDERER BID $4 755 000 000 FOR THE SITE.
SIXTY PER CENT OF THIS SUM IS PAYABLE WITHIN THREE MONTHS OF THE AWARD OF TENDER AND THE REMAINING FORTY PER CENT IS PAYABLE WHEN POSSESSION OF THE CENTRAL BUS TERMINUS SITE IS GIVEN TO THE SUCCESSFUL TENDERER IN 2-1/2 YEARS’ TIME.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1982
5
WARNING AGAINST PARKING IN FRONT OF FIRE HYDRANTS
* * ft *
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) WARNED THAT VEHICLES ILLEGALLY PARKED IN FRONT OF FIRE HYDRANTS COULD ENDANGER MANY LIVES IF A FIRE OCCURRED.
THE WARNING WAS ISSUED AS THE RESULT OF A NO. 4 ALARM FIRE IN LAM TIN EARLY THIS YEAR WHEN FIRE FIGHTING OPERATIONS WERE DELAYED BECAUSE THE NEAREST FIRE HYDRANT WAS OBSTRUCTED BY PARKED VEHICLES.
WHEN THE FIREMEN ARRIVED, THEY FOUND TWO CARS AND A LORRY PARKED IN FRONT OF THE FIRE HYDRANT, BLOCKING IT COMPLETELY.
FURTHERMORE, THE CARS, WAS FITTED WITH THE VEHICLES COULD BE
LORRY, WHICH WAS PARKED CLOSE TO THE TWO A BRAKE LOCK AND CONSEQUENTLY, NONE OF REMOVED, HE SAID.
THE FIREMEN WERE FORCED TO USE WATER FROM A HYDRANT OVER 200 METRES AWAY.
THE LOSS OF TIME CONTRIBUTED TO THE SPREAD OF THE FIRE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WHICH HAS BECOME QUITE COMMON IN THE TERRITORY, HE SAID.
DRIVERS SHOULD NOT PARK THEIR CARS ANYWHERE NEAR A FIRE HYDRANT, HE WARNED.
♦WE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO A FIRE HYDRANT WITHOUT HINDRANCE AT ANY TIME, SO THAT WE CAN PUT OUT FIRES AS SPEEDILY AS POSSIBLE. TWO SECONDS WORTH OF CONSIDERATION COULD SAVE LIVES,+ HE SAID.
THE GOVERNMENT IS CONSIDERING THE INTRODUCTION OF A ROAD MARKING IN THE VICINITY OF FIRE HYDRANTS TO CAUTION DRIVERS NOT TO PARK THERE.
ANY VEHICLE ILLEGALLY PARKED IN FRONT OF A FIRE HYDRANT IS LIKELY TO BE TOWED AWAY BY THE POLICE WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE TO ITS OWNER.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1982
6
APPOINTMENTS TO PERFORMING ARTS COUNCIL
* KK K
APPOINTMENTS TO THE COUNCIL FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS HAVE BEEN MADE BY THE GOVERNOR FOR A TWO-YEAR PERIOD.
THE COUNCIL, UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE HON ALEX WU, WILL ADVISE THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS ON HOW THE GOVERNMENT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PERFORMING ARTS IN HONG KONG.
MEMBERSHIP IS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE SECRETARY FOR CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION, THE COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE AND THE DIRECTOR OF URBAN SERVICES WILL MAKE UP THE OFFICIAL MEMBERSHIP WHILE THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL BE THE HON W.C.L. BROWN, THE HON SELINA CHOW, THE CHAIRMAN, URBAN COUNCIL OR HIS REPRESENTATIVE, SIR RUN RUN SHAW, MR LEO T.H. LEE, MR MICHAEL STEVENSON, DR P.P. CHIU, MR CHUNG KING-FAI, PROFESSOR DAVID GWILT, DR RICHARD HO AND MRS CHRISTINE LIAO.
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM SAID THE COUNCIL WAS SET UP IN VIEW OF THE RAPID GROWTH OF PERFORMING ARTS ACTIVITIES WHICH UNDERLINES THE NEED FOR GOVERNMENT TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE ACTIVITIES OF THE VARIOUS BODIES INVOLVED, IN ORDER TO AVOID DUPLICATION OF EFFORT AND WASTAGE OF RESOURCES.
+IF WE ARE TO BE EFFECTIVE IN OUR SUPPORT OF THE PERFORMING ARTS, WE SHALL NEED TO BE ADVISED ON NEEDS AND HOW GOVERNMENT CAN HELP MEET THESE NEEDS,+ HE EXPLAINED. +AT THE SAME TIME,+ HE SAID, +THE COUNCIL WILL PROVIDE AN EXCELLENT FORUM FOR THE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS AND INFORMATION.+
MR WIGGHAM ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED IN THE PROMOTION OF THE PERFORMING ARTS, SO IT IS IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT AN OVERALL VIEW IS TAKEN OF ALL GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES IN THIS FIELD, WHEN FORMULATING PROPOSALS FOR SUPPORT OF THE PERFORMING ARTS.
THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE COUNCIL AREt
A) TO ADVISE HOW GOVERNMENT’S ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF THE PERFORMING ARTS CAN BE IMPROVED AND EXPANDED, IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE.
B) TO ENSURE THAT THE USE OF GOVERNMENT RESOURCES ALLOCATED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PERFORMING ARTS IS MAXIMISED AND MEETS THE NEEDS OF THIS DEVELOPMENT.
/(.TO ..........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 198?
7
C) TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO GOVERNMENT ON ANY SPECIAL SERVICES AND FACILITIES REQUIRED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PERFORMING ARTS.
D) TO KEEP UNDER REVIEW NEEDS IN THIS FIELD AND PROGRESS MADE.
E) TO ESTABLISH SUB-COMMITTEES TO ASSIST IN THE FULFILMENT OF THE TERMS OF REFERENCE, AND TO APPOINT TO SUCH SUB-COMMITTEES PERSONS NOT NECESSARILY MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
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MORE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES PLANNED
M * * M
EXISTING FACILITIES IN SCHOOL HALLS AND RECREATIONAL GROUNDS SHOULD BE IMPROVED, AS A STOP-GAP MEASURE TO HELP EASE THE ACUTE SHORTAGE OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES IN THE DISTRICT, THE SHAM SHU I PO DISTRICT BOARD SUGGESTED IN ITS THIRD MEETING TODAY.
THIS WORK WILL INCLUDE UPGRADING THE EXISTING FACILITIES IN COMMUNITY HALLS AND SCHOOL HALLS FOR ORGANISING ACTIVITIES AND STAGING PERFORMANCES, AS WELL AS ADDING FIELD FACILITIES TO SOME OF THE EXISTING RECREATIONAL GROUNDS.
SEVERAL LONG-TERM PROJECTS ARE PLANNED TO PROVIDE AMENITY AREAS, RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS GROUNDS TO THIS DEVELOPED AND DENSELY-POPULATED DISTRICT.
MEMBERS ALSO ADVISED ON THE FACILITIES NEEDED FOR A PROPOSED WHICH WOULD BE SIMILAR IN SCALE
MOST SUITABLE SITE AND THE VARIOUS CULTURAL COMPLEX FOR WEST KOWLOON TO THE TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL.
IN THE AREA OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT, THE BOARD ENDORSED BUILDING A PERMANENT STAIRCASE ON THE SLOPE ADJOINING PAK WAN STREET AND PUI TAK STREET TO REPLACE THE EXISTING ROUGH AND UNSAFE WOODEN STEPS, WHICH WILL PROVIDE A SHORT-CUT BETWEEN PAK TIN AND SHEK KIP MEI.
THE BOARD ALSO APPROVED THE PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT FOR THE EXISTING SQUATTER AREA FIRE-WATCH TEAMS IN THE DISTRICT, SO AS TO REINFORCE THE FIRE-WATCH TEAMS AND ASSIST THEM IN COMBATING FIRES, THUS MINIMISING THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF LIVES AND PROPERTIES OF THE SQUATTERS.
MEMBERS ALSO DISCUSSED WAYS OF IMPROVING PRESENT POSTAL FACILITIES AND SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT, AND VETTED THE FINAL SHORTLISTED ENTRIES FOR THE SHAM SHU I PO DISTRICT BOARD LOGO DESIGN COMPETITION.
A DISCUSSION WAS ALSO HELD ON THE LAWS ON HOMOSEXUALITY IN HONG KONG.
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1982
8
CAREERS DISPLAY
BY CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT * * * *
MORE AND MORE STUDENTS ARE INTERESTED IN TODAY’S MODERN CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, AND THEIR ENTHUSIASM WAS REFLECTED BY THEIR KEEN PARTICIPATION IN TODAY’S (FRIDAY) STATIC DISPLAY OF THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AT THE CAREERS EXHIBITION AT CARMEL ENGLISH SCHOOL IN HO MAN TIN.
THE EXHIBITION, JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT ADVISORY SERVICE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF CAREERS MASTERS, IS MOUNTED BY THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, OTHER DISCIPLINARY SERVICES AND 11 SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN NORTH KOWLOON DISTRICT.
THE DISPLAY LASTS FOR TWO DAYS, AND THE OPENING HOURS FOR TOMORROW (SATURDAY) WILL BE FROM 9 AM TO 3.30 PM.
THE NEWLY RETITLED CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THROUGH COLOURFUL PHOTOGRAPHS, INTRODUCED TO THE STUDENTS THE MEANINGFUL AND VARIED WORK OF THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES AND ITS EXCELLENT STAFF WELFARE FACILITIES.
MANY STUDENTS WHO WERE ATTRACTED BY SUCH A DISPLAY MADE ENQUIRIES AT THE STAND ON THE CHALLENGING AND WORTHWHILE CAREER, WITH CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS ON HAND ANSWERING QUESTIONS AND DISTRIBUTING INFORMATION LEAFLETS.
THROUGH THE EXHIBITION, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, PARTICULARLY STUDENTS IN THE UPPER FORMS, WILL HAVE A BETTER IDEA AND GENERAL KNOWLEDGE ON THE CURRENT ROLES AND FUNCTIONS UNDERTAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT.
THE STARTING SALARY FOR AN ASSISTANT OFFICER II IS FROM $2 215 TO $2 450 DEPENDING ON THEIR ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION.
INTERESTED PERSONS CAN OBTAIN THEIR APPLICATION FORMS
FROM CITY DISTRICT OFFICES, PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICES CENTRES OF DISTRICT OFFICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE LOCAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, AND THE FOUR RECRUITMENT CENTRES OF THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THEY ARE i THE STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE IN STANLEY, LAI CHl KOK RECEPTION CENTRE IN BUTTERFLY VALLEY ROAD, TAI LAM CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION AT 16-1/2 MILESTONE CASTLE PEAK ROAD AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES HEADQUARTERS RECRUITMENT OFFICE AT 01 KWAN COURT, 01 KWAN ROAD, WAN CHAI.
THEY CAN ALSO TELEPHONE THE DEPARTMENT’S RECRUITMENT OFFICE AT 5-8916559 FOR DETAILS.
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/9.........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1982
9
TSUEN WAN TO HAVE MORE TOWN OFFICERS
* * * *
TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICE WILL HAVE MORE TOWN OFFICERS TO CARRY OUT THE WORK OF ITS VARIOUS SUB-DISTRICTS.
FROM TODAY (FRIDAY), THE THREE ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICERS/ ADMINISTRATION WILL BE RETITLED TOWN OFFICERS, BRINGING THE NUMBER OF SUCH OFFICERS TO FIVE.
THESE OFFICERS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR EACH OF THE GEOGRAPHICAL SUB-DISTRICTS, KWAI CHUNG EAST, KWAI CHUNG WEST, TSUEN WAN EAST, TSUEN WAN WEST AND TSI NG Yl.
THEIR WORK INCLUDES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, LIAISON AND TOWN MANAGEMENT.
♦WITH THIS NEW ARRANGEMENT THE LINE OF COMMAND AND RESPONSIBILITY WILL BE CLEARER. THIS WILL ALSO RESULT IN BETTER USE OF STAFF RESOURCES WITHIN EACH SUB-DISTRICT,+ A DISTRICT OFFICE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE TOWN OFFICERS AREi MISS ANJU MAKHIJA FOR KWAI CHUNG WEST, MR Y.T. LAM FOR KWAI CHUNG EAST, MR PARRISH NG FOR TSUEN WAN EAST, MR FRANKIE LUI FOR TSUEN WAN WEST, AND MR W.P. TAM FOR TSING Yl.
PREVIOUSLY, THERE WERE TWO TOWN OFFICERS SERVING KWAI CHUNG AND TSUEN WAN. THEY WERE RECRUITED IN 1976 TO ASSIST THE TOWN MANAGER IN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS WORK.
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RSS SPORTS VARIETY NIGHT * * *
THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT IS ORGANISING 40 SPORTING EVENTS TO MARK THE SILVER JUBILEE OF THE FESTIVAL OF SPORTS.
THE SPORTS BONANZA WILL KICK-OFF ON TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 16) EVENING AT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH STADIUM, WAN CHAI, WHERE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WILL ENJOY HOCKEY, SOCCER An6 SHUTTLECOCK DEMONSTRATIONS — ALL ORGANISED BY THE DEPARTMENT’S RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE.
DURING THE MONTH-LONG FESTIVAL OTHER ACTIVITIES ARE ALSO PLANNED TO TAKE PLACE AT VARIOUS VENUES THROUGHOUT HONG KONG.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID FREE TICKETS FOR ADMISSION TO THE +SPORTS VARIETY NIGHT+ WHICH STARTS AT 7.30 PM ON TUESDAY CAN BE COLLECTED FROM THE RSS HEADQUARTERS AND ITS DISTRICT
OFF ICE.
/the fsstivhl .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1982
10
THE FESTIVAL OF SPORTS IS AN ANNUAL EVENT SUPPORTED AND CO-ORDINATED BY THE AMATEUR SPORTS FEDERATION AND OLYMPIC COMMITTEE OF HONG KONG.
««EVERY YEAR’ THE GOVERNMENT, THROUGH THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION OF SPORTS, PROVIDES FUNDS FOR THE FESTIVAL.
THIS YEAR THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORTS HAS ALLOCATED >250 000 FOR THE FESTIVAL — MORE THAN TWICE THE AMOUNT GIVEN LAST YEAR.
-------o----------
BIG KWUN TONG CLEAN UP STARTS SOON ft ft ft ft
THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE WILL BE LAUNCHING PHASE ONE OF 'OPERATION TORCH’ - A MAJOR EXERCISE TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC, HYGIENE AND FIRE SAFETY IN THE KWUN TONG INDUSTRIAL AREA - ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 15) AT 9.30 AM IN THE REAR LANE BETWEEN HOW MING STREET AND TSUN YIP STREET.
ABOUT 150 PEOPLE WILL BE INVOLVED IN CLEARING SOME 15 LARGE ILLEGAL STRUCTURES FROM THE LANE.
THE WORK WILL BE THE FIRST OF A THIRTEEN-STAGE CLEARANCE EFFORT IN KWUN TONG TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT. THE ENTIRE ’OPERATION TORCH’ WILL TAKE 13 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
’OPERATION TORCH’ IS SUPPORTED BY THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD, AND IS BEING JOINTLY UNDERTAKEN BY THE POLICE, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HOUSING DEPARTMENT, URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND CO-ORDINATED BY THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE LAUNCHING OF PHASE ONE OF ’OPERATION TORCH’ ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 15), AT 9.30 AM IN THE REAR LANE BETWEEN HOW MING STREET AND TSUN YIP STREET IN KWUN TONG.
- o -
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1982
11
INDIAN SAROD PLAYER FOR RECITAL * * *
INDIAN SAROD PLAYER, USTAD AMJAD AL I KHAN, WILL BE THE SPECIAL GUEST ARTIST IN A PROGRAMME OF INDIAN AND CHINESE MUSIC TO BE GIVEN ON MARCH 2 AT 8 PM IN THE SHOUSON THEATRE.
RECIPIENT OF A UNESCO AWARD AT THE INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FORUM IN 1971, HE IS TODAY CONSIDERED THE FOREMOST EXPONENT AND INTERPRETER OF THE INDIAN SAROD.
BORN IN GWALIOR IN 1945, HE BEGAN STUDYING THE INSTRUMENT FROM THE AGE OF FIVE UNDER THE TUTELAGE OF HIS FATHER, A LEADING MUSICIAN. IN HIS TEENS HE BECAME A NATIONAL CELEBRITY AND TODAY IS DEDICATED TO BRINGING THE CENTURIES-OLD TRADITIONAL MUSIC OF INDIA TO AUDIENCES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
HIS PROGRAMME WILL CONSIST OF RAGA MUSIC, ACCOMPANIED BY THE TABLA, A TWO-PIECE PERCUSSIVE DRUM, AND THE TANPURA, A DRONE INSTRUMENT TUNED TO THE KEYNOTES OF THE RAGA.
FOLLOWING AMJAD KHAN’S RECITAL, ONE OF HONG KONG’S LEADING CHENG PLAYERS, MISS LIU LI-CHUAN, WILL PRESENT A PROGRAMME CF FIVE WORKS. THESE INCLUDE A MIXTURE OF TRADITIONAL FOLK-TUNES FROM VARIOUS CHINESE PROVINCES IN ADDITION TO HER OWN COMPOSITIONS.
MISS LIU HAS TOURED THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA AS A SOLOIST.
SHE IS WELL-KNOWN AS AN ORCHESTRAL DIRECTOR AND LED THE COMBINED YOUTH ORCHESTRAS OF SINGAPORE AND HONG KONG DURING THE 1979 ASIAN YOUTH MUSIC CAMP.
SHE HAS COMPOSED MANY WORKS FOR CHINESE INSTRUMENTS AND HAS BEEN ACTIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH THE MUSIC OFFICE OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT SINCE HER ARRIVAL IN HONG KONG IN 1978.
TICKETS FOR THIS CONCERT ARE AT $10, $20 AND $30 AND ARE ON SALE FROM THE ARTS CENTRE BOX OFFICE AND FROM THE SCMP BOOKSHOPS AT 107 WORLDWIDE HOUSE, AND 313 OCEAN CENTRE. POSTAL BOOKING IS ALSO AVAILABLE AND FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED BY TELEPHONING THE ARTS CENTRE BOX OFFICE (5-280626) BETWEEN 9.30 AM AND 9.30 PM.
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CLOSURE OF PRINCE EDWARD ROAD SECTION * * *
CUB1 A SECTI0N PRINCE EDWARD ROAD NEAR ITS JUNCTION WITH EMBANKMENT ROAD WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC BETWEEN 1 AM AND 5 AM FOR SIX CONSECUTIVE MORNINGS FROM MONDAY (FEBRUARY 15) FOR CONSTRUCTION WORK OF THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILwAY BRIDGE
DURING THE CLOSURE, EASTBOUND SAI YEE STREET AND BOUNDARY STREET EMBANKMENT ROAD AND BOUNDARY STREET
TRAFFIC WILL BE DIVERTED VIA AND WESTBOUND TRAFFIC MAY USE
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1982
12
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF CARRIAGEWAY * * *
A WESTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY IN THE SECTION OF LAI CHI KOK ROAD NEAR ITS JUNCTION WITH KWAI CHUNG ROAD WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FOR SIX CONSECUTIVE NIGHTS BETWEEN 9 PM AND 4 AM FROM MONDAY (FEBRUARY 15) FOR ROAD MAINTENANCE WORK.
DURING THE CLOSURE, TRAFFIC HEADING FOR MEI FOO SUN CHUEN WILL BE DIVERTED TO THE NEIGHBOURING CARRIAGEWAY.
KWAI CHUNG-BOUND TRAFFIC ON THE WESTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF LAI CHI KOK INTERCHANGE WILL BE DIVERTED AT LAI CHI KOK FIRE STATION TO LAI CHI KOK ROAD BEFORE JOINING KWAI CHUNG ROAD.
IN ADDITION, THE BUS STOP IN THE ROAD SECTION WILL BE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED.
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CARNIVAL AND VARIETY SHOW IN KWUN TONG
XXX
A CARNIVAL FOR CHILDREN AND A VARIETY SHOW WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 14) IN KWUN TONG TO PROMOTE INTEREST IN COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.
THE EVENTS ARE BEING JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE KWUN TONG CITY DISTRICT OFFICE AND EAST NGAU TAU KOK AREA COMMITTEE, TOGETHER WITH MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES IN THE UPPER NGAU TAU KOK ESTATE AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IN THE DISTRICT.
THEY WILL BE HELD IN THE NUMBER FOUR PLAYGROUND OF UPPER NGAU TAU KOK ESTATE, WITH THE CARNIVAL FOR CHILDREN STARTING AT 2 PM AND LASTING UNTIL 5 PM AND THE VARIETY SHOW STARTING AT 7 PM.
THE CARNIVAL WILL INCLUDE A FUN FAIR FOR THE CHILDREN, AND THE VARIETY SHOW WILL INCLUDE LION DANCES, KUNG FU DISPLAYS AND SINGING.
THE EVENTS WILL BE OPEN TO ALL RESIDENTS IN THE AREA.
AMONG THOSE OFFICIATING AT THE CEREMONIES WILL BE THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICER, KWUN TONG, MR PETER PANG, AND KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER, MR CHAN KANG-CHOW.
/U.....
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1982
- 13 -
MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT PARTY FOR STAFF * * * *
STAFF OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THEIR CHILDREN **LEBE TREATED TO FREE DRINKS, GAMES AND ENTERTAINMENT AT A PARTY TO BE HELD ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 14).
CHILDREN’S PARTY IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE STAFF SOCIETY AND THE STAFF DEVELOPMENT AND RELATIONS UNIT OF THE DEPARTMENT AND WILL BE HELD IN THE SPORTS FIELD OF KOWLOON HOSPITAL FROM 1 PM TO 5 PM.
THERE WILL
_ ---- BE MANY PRIZE-GIVING GAMES STALLS, AS WELL AS
PERFORMANCES OF MARTIAL ARTS, LION DANCES, MAGIC AND ACROBATIC SHOWS, MUSIC BY THE AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICE COMBO, AND A MARCH DISPLAY BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE BAND.
THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY’S EVENT WILL BE ATTRACTIVE PRIZES.
A LUCKY DRAW WITH
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT’S STAFF PARTY WHICH WILL BE HELD ON THE LAWN BY THE ENTRANCE TO THE ■/.EST WING OF KOWLOON HOSPITAL, ARGYLE STREET, BETWEEN 1 PM AND 5 PM ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 14).
- 0 -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1?, 1982
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
NEW TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN MID-LEVELS........................ 1
TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF PEAK TRAM SERVICE .................... 1
HK/US TEXTILE TALKS RECESS ................................... 2
KENNEDY ROAD SITE FOR SALE ................................... 2
MORE MONEY HELP FOR FISHERFOLK ............................... 3
TALKS ON AIR SERVICES ........................................ 5
SCHOOL CHILDREN HELP IN CLEAN UP ............................. 4
WONG TAI SIN CIVIC WEEK ...................................... 4
SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS SOLD BY AUCTION .......................... 5
TUEN MUN INDUSTRIAL BOOKLET PUBLISHED ........................ 6
MENTAL HEALTH EXHIBITION AT WONG TAI SIN ..................... 7
REMOVAL OF OFFICES ........................................... 8
SHA TIN COOKED FOOD STALLS FOR AUCTION ....................... 8
TUEN MUN SPORTSGROUND OPEN TO JOGGERS......................... 9
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1982
1
NEW TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN MID-LEVELS
* * * *
NEW TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE INTRODUCED IN THE MID-LEVELS AREA FROM 10 AM ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 15) TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC CIRCULATION.
THEY AREi
* THE SECTION OF BUS-ONLY LANE ON PARK ROAD AND ROBINSON ROAD BETWEEN BREEZY PATH AND CASTLE ROAD WILL BE RE-OPENED TO ALL
* THE EXISTING PRIVATE LIGHT BUSES CLEARWAY RESTRICTION ON THE SECTION OF PARK ROAD AND ROBINSON ROAD BETWEEN BREEZY PATH £ASTL£ R0AD W,LL BE REPLACED by peak hour urban clearway RESTRICTION.
X THE BUS-ONLY LANES IN MID-LEVELS AREA WILL BE IN OPERATION FROM 7 AM TO 8 PM DAILY.
* URBAN CLEARWAY RESTRICTION WILL BE IMPOSED ON THE SECTION OF OLD BAILEY STREET BETWEEN CAINE ROAD AND CHANCERY LANE FROM 7 AM TO 10 AM AND FROM 4 PM TO 7 PM DAILY.
TRAFFIC SIGNS AND CARRIAGEWAY MARKINGS WILL BE PUT UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
--------o----------
TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF PEAK TRAM SERVICE
K * *
PEAK TRAM SERVICE WILL BE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED FROM 12.15 AM ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 15) TO 7 AM ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 24) FOR OVERHAULING WORK.
A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT OTHER PUBLIC TRANSPORT WILL RUN ADDITIONAL SERVICES DURING THIS PERIOD.
CMB ROUTE 15, FROM THE PEAK TO CENTRAL, WILL OPERATE AT ID-MINUTE FREQUENCIES DURING PEAK PERIODS AND EVERY 15 TO 20 MINUTES DURING OFF-PEAK HOURS.
MAXICAB ROUTE NO. 1 AND 2, ALSO OPERATING BETWEEN CENTRAL AND THE PEAK AREA, WILL SERVE AT MORE FREQUENT INTERVALS.
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/2 .......
SATURDAY, FRBRUARY 13, 1982
2
HK/US TEXTILE TALKS RECESS ft ft ft
♦THE TALKS IN WASHINGTON BETWEEN HONG KONG AND THE UNITED STATES ON A NEW TEXTILE ARRANGEMENT RECESSED ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 12),+ MR BILL DORWARD, DIRECTOR OF TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
MR DORWARD SAID THAT HE HAD RECEIVED A REPORT FROM THE HONG KONG DELEGATION THAT THE TWO SIDES HAD DECIDED THAT A TEMPORARY RECESS WAS NECESSARY TO ALLOW THEM TO TAKE STOCK OF THE POSITION REACHED SO FAR.
ACCORDING TO MR DORWARD WHILE THERE HAD BEEN A MEASURE OF PROGRESS, MR LAWRENCE MILLS, COMMISSIONER OF TRADE, HAD REPORTED FROM WASHINGTON THAT THE SCOPE AND NATURE OF THE US PROPOSALS WERE SUCH AS TO MAKE IT NECESSARY TO CONSULT THE TEXTILES ADVISORY BOARD FURTHER.
THE TALKS ARE PROVISIONALLY SCHEDULED TO RESUME ON MARCH 11.
------o-------
KENNEDY ROAD SITE FOR SALE ft ft ft
THE CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE IS KENNEDY ROAD FOR SALE BY TENDER.
OFFERING A SITE AT
THE SITE, WITH AN AREA OF ABOUT 801 SQUARE METRES. IS FOR PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES.
IT COVERS A BUILDING COVENANT OF 112.3 MILLION WHICH SHOULD BE DEVELOPED BEFORE JUNE 30, 1985.
UNDER THE SALES CONDITIONS, THE SUCCESSFUL TENDERER FOR THIS SITE MUST ALSO BUILD FOR THE GOVERNMENT, FREE OF CHARGE, TWO RESIDENTIAL BLOCKS ON ANOTHER SITE IN ALBANY ROAD.
THE CLOSING DATE FOR TENDERS IS MARCH 26, 1982.
TENDER FORMS, WITH NOTICES AND CONDITIONS OF SALE, MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE ON THE 19TH FLOOR OF MURRAY BUILDING AND ON THE 10TH FLOOR OF KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 405 NATHAN ROAD.
/3........
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1982
3
MORE MONEY HELP FOR FISHERFOLK
XXX
FURTHER FINANCIAL HELP HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THE FAMILY OF THREE ABERDEEN FISHERMEN WHO DIED RECENTLY IN A SHOOTING INCIDENT ABOUT 500 NAUTICAL MILES SOUTH OF HONG KONG.
A SUM OF $10 000 HAS BEEN ALLOCATED TO THE FAMILY FROM THE TANG SHIU-KIN/HO TIM CHARITABLE FUND, WHICH IS ADMINISTERED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.
THE CASH IS ON TOP OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AMOUNTING TO $10 180 PAID OUT BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TO THE FAMILY ON THURSDAY.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SWD SAID TODAY THAT THE CASE IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE DEPARTMENT’S EFFORTS TO REACH OUT TO THOSE IN NEED OF HELP.
♦AS SOON AS WE HEARD ABOUT THE CASE, OUR FIELD STAFF TOOK THE INITIATIVE TO CONTACT THE FAMILY AND OFFER WHATEVER ASSISTANCE WE COULD,♦ HE SAID.
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TALKS ON AIR SERVICES
xxx
THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION, MR NORMAN LATHAM, LEFT TODAY (SATURDAY) TO REPRESENT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AT AIR SERVICES NEGOTIATIONS TO BE HELD IN COLOMBO BETWEEN UK AND SRI LANKA AERONAUTICAL AUTHORITIES.
THE DISCUSSIONS WILL COVER, AMONG OTHER THINGS, A REVIEW OF FREQUENCY AND CAPACITY IN THE SERVICES BETWEEN HONG KONG AND COLOMBO.
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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1982
- 4 -
SCHOOL CHILDREN HELP IN CLEAN UP * * *
ONE HUNDRED CHILDREN FROM SHA TIN, ARMED WITH BROOMS WENT ON A BIG CLEANING OPERATION IN THE FO TAN INDUSTRIAL AREA TODAY (SATURDAY).
THE CHILDREN FROM THE LITTLE FLOWER PRIMARY (AM) SCHOOL, COLLECTED AND REMOVED A LARGE QUANTITY OF REFUSE AND JUNK FROM VARIOUS BLACKSPOTS DURING AN HOUR-LONG OPERATION WITH BACK-UP SERVICE PROVIDED BY ABOUT 50 CLEANSING WORKERS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THE VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE SHA TIN CLEAN HONG KONG CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE, MR LAU HON-KIT, PRESENTED SOUVENIR BANNERS TO THE CHILDREN AT A CEREMONY JUST BEFORE THE CLEAN-UP WORK STARTED.
HE ALSO PRAISED THE STUDENTS FOR THEIR HELP IN THE CAMPAIGN.
AT THE SAME TIME, ABOUT 20 MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE CALLED ON A NUMBER OF INDUSTRIALISTS TO SPREAD THE CLEAN HONG KONG CAMPAIGN MESSAGE.
ALSO TAKING PART IN TODAY’S EVENT WERE THE URBAN SERVICES OFFICER OF SHA TIN, MR IP SHING-WAI, THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER OF SHA TIN, MR CHENG LUK-SHAN, AND THE DEPUTY URBAN SERVICES OFFICER OF SHA TIN, MR WONG KOON-CHUNG.
------o-------
WONG TAI SIN CIVIC WEEK M K K
MR HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE WONG TAI SIN CIVIC WEEK AT THE FUNG MING HALL OF THE WONG TAI SIN TEMPLE AT 3 PM TOMORROW (SUNDAY).
THE MAIN AIM OF THE CIVIC WEEK IS TO AROUSE A GREATER SENSE OF CIVIC-MINDEDNESS AMONG PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND WORK IN WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT. THE CIVIC WEEK IS TIMED TO LEAD ON TO THE REGISTRATION OF ELECTORS IN THE URBAN AREA.
APART FROM AN EXHIBITION, OTHER EVENTS DURING THE WEEK INCLUDE A DRAWING COMPETITION, INTER-SCHOOL DEBATES, CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND A VARIETY SHOW PRESENTED BY THE URBAN COUNCIL.
THE CIVIC WEEK WILL CLOSE IN THE FORM OF A CARNIVAL ON FEBRUARY 21.
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/5........
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1982
- 5 -
SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS SOLD BY AUCTION * * *
THIRTY-SIX SPECIAL VEHICLE REGISTRATION NUMBERS WERE SOLD BY AUCTION THIS MORNING (SATURDAY) FOR A TOTAL OF $427 800 WHICH WILL GO INTO THE GOVERNMENT LOTTERIES FUND FOR CHARITY PURPOSES.
THE AUCTION HELD AT RECITAL HALL OF THE CITY HALL, 8TH FLOOR, SAW THE REGISTRATION NUMBER 780 FETCH THE HIGHEST PRICE OF $63 000.
ANOTHER NUMBER CF88 WAS SOLD AT THE SECOND HIGHEST PRICE OF $50 000 WHILE THE LOWEST PRICE WAS $1 000 FOR CP8698, CR1913, CR944, CR745, CR885, CR1999, CR260, AND CR2866.
THE OTHER SPECIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERS WERE SOLD AT THE FOLLOWING PR ICESi
CR689 2 000 CR108 13 000 CR938 4 000
CR208 3 000 CR2 21 000 AE3 45 000
CP7932 2 000 CR801 8 500 BB1711 2 500
CS678 12 000 CR148 6 500 3328 39 000
CR228 8 000 CR784 1 500 CR1031 1 500
CC99 41 000 CR329 6 000 CR1338 6 000
CP8066 1 300 CS500 15 000 CR320 2 500
CR966 3 000 CP1818 13 000 CR230 3 000
HK6688 45 000 CR423 1 500
SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY IN CASH OR BY CHEQUE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE BIDDING.
THE NUMBERS AUCTIONED WILL BE ASSIGNED ONLY TO VEHICLES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS WITH 12 MONTHS OF THE DATE OF AUCTION.
TODAY’S SALE, THE 72ND ORGANISED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SINCE MAY 1973, BROUGHT THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR CHARITY REALISED SO FAR TO $23 614 332.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1962
- 6 -
TUEN MUN INDUSTRIAL BOOKLET PUBLISHED * * K
A 24—PAGE BOOKLET ON INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT IN TUEN MUN HAS BEEN PUBLISHED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD'S COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY SUB-COMMITTEE.
IT IS A Bl-LINGUAL PUBLICATION AND CONTAINS INFORMATION ON THE NEW TOWN’S EXISTING INDUSTRIES, COMMUNICATIONS, AVAILABILITY OF LAND, LABOUR SUPPLY, PROVISION OF SUPPORTING SERVICES, AND ACCOMMODATION AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.
THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR BILLY LAM, WHO IS ALSO CHAIRMAN OF THE DISTRICT BOARD, SAYS IN AN INTRODUCTION THAT THE BOOKLET HELPS TO OUTLINE THE TOWN’S ATTRACTIONS TO INVESTORS.
TUEN MUN IS ONE OF THE FASTEST DEVELOPING OF THE NEW TOWNS. IT NOW HAS 130 000 PEOPLE, BUT IS EXPECTED TO HAVE MORE THAN HALF A MILLION PEOPLE BEFORE THE END OF THIS DECADE.
TUEN MUN COULD PROVIDE 1 772.6 HECTARES OF DEVELOPMENT AREA, OF WHICH MORE THAN 11 PER CENT IS DESIGNATED FOR INDUSTRIAL USE, HE SAYS.
THERE IS PLENTY OF ROOM FOR EXPANSION IN EVERY DIRECTION AND THE POTENTIAL OF TUEN MUN BECOMING THE INDUSTRIAL HUB OF THE NORTH WESTERN NEW TERRITORIES IS UNQUESTIONABLE.
THE SUPPLY OF INDUSTRIAL LAND IS PLENTIFUL AND THE MARKET PRICE IS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN IN THE URBAN AREA AND OTHER NEW TERRITORIES NEW TOWNS.
THE BOOKLET QUOTES THE PRICE OF INDUSTRIAL LAND IN TUEN MUN IN NOVEMBER, 1981, AT *6 000 PER SQUARE METRE, COMPARED TO *8 000 TO $14 000 IN URBAN KOWLOON AND HONG KONG- THE FLATTED FACTORY PRICE AT *2 000 PER SQUARE METRE COMPARED TO 13 200 TO *5 300-AND RENTS FOR FLATTED FACTORY SPACE AT 117 PER SQUARE METRE ' PER MONTH COMPARED TO *25 TO *50.
IT SAYS AS MOST OF THE RESIDENTS IN THE MAJOR HOUSING ESTATES IN TUEN MUN CAME FROM THE URBAN AREAS THEY INEVITABLY BROUGHT WITH THEM THE SKILL AND RESOURCEFULNESS WHICH HAD PROVED TO BE SO ESSENTIAL AND USEFUL IN INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE URBAN AREAS.
♦THERE IS, THEREFORE, NO LACK OF SKILLED MANPOWER SUPPLY IN TUEN MUN.+ THE BOOKLET STATES.
THE NEW TOWN IS WELL LINKED WITH OTHER PARTS OF THE TERRITORY BOTH BY LAND AND SEA TRANSPORT.
FOR EXAMPLE, IT ONLY TAKES 30 MINUTES TO REACH THE KWAI CHUNG CONTAINER PORT VIA THE SIX-LANE MODERN HIGHWAY, AND THE SAME JOURNEY TIME TO REACH CENTRAL HONG KONG BY THE HOVERFERRY SERVICE. WHEN THE TSUEN WAN MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY STATION OPENS IN MAY, IT WILL TAKE ONLY 20 MINUTES TO GET TO TUEN MUN.
/THE BOOKLET
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1J, 1982
7
THE BOOKLET ALSO NOTES THAT A 27-KILOMETRE LONG INTERNAL LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEM, WHICH HAS A CAPACITY OF 30 OOO PASSENGERS PER HOUR AND LINKS WITH YUEN LONG, IS EXPECTED TO BECOME FULLY OPERATIONAL BY 1986.
OTHER ATTRACTIONS WILL INCLUDE THE PROVISION OF SUPPORT FACILITIES AND LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL AREAS FOR MANAGERIAL AND SUPERVISORY STAFF.
RECREATIONAL FACILITIES ARE ADEQUATE AND MANY OTHERS ARE EITHER BEING BUILT OR UNDER ACTIVE PLANNING TO KEEP PACE WITH THE POPULATION GROWTH.
THE BOOKLET WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO MANUFACTURERS, DEVELOPERS AND TRADE ASSOCIATIONS, AS WELL AS DURING TRADE FAIRS AND SEMINARS.
THE COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY SUB-COMMITTEE, FORMED LAST JUNE, HAS 14 UNOFFICIAL AND 10 OFFICIAL MEMBERS.
ANYONE INTERESTED IN OBTAINING THE BOOKLET OR DETAILS OF INVESTMENT OPPORTUNIT IES IN TUEN MUN IS INVITED TO CONTACT THE DISTRICT BOARD SECRETARY AT THE DISTRICT OFFICE.
--------0----------
MENTAL HEALTH EXHIBITION AT WONG TAI SIN » M O
AN EXHIBITION TO PROMOTE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF MENTAL HEALTH WILL BE MOUNTED BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT AT THE ASSEMBLY HALL, WONG TAI SIN COMMUNITY CENTRE, FROM TUESDAY TO FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 16 TO 19), BETWEEN 10 AM AND 4 PM DAILY.
THE EXHIBITION IS TO ILLUSTRATE, THROUGH AUDIO-VISUAL MATERIALS, THE CAUSES OF MENTAL ILLNESSES, AND TO INFORM THE PUBLIC ON THE AVAILABILITY OF TREATMENT FACILITIES AND REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR THE MENTALLY ILL.
IT IS PART OF THE DEPARTMENT’S CAMPAIGN WHICH BEGAN LAST YEAR IN SUPPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF DISABLED PERSONS.
VISITORS TO THE EXHIBITION WILL BE HANDED TWO PAMPHLETS ENTITLED +THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN HONG KONG* AND +DEALING WITH STRESS*.
NOTE TO EDITORS!
THE EXHIBITION WILL BE OPENED BY THE CITY DISTRICT COMMISSIONER (WONG TAI SIN), MR I.R. STRACHAN, MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT BOARD, DR CONRAD LAM AND MRS NG CHOW MAY-LIN AT 11.30 AM ON TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 16).
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT.
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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1982
- 8 -
REMOVAL OF OFFICES * * *
FOUR SECTIONS OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT WILL OPERATE FROM NEW OFFICES ON THE NINTH FLOOR OF THE NEW WORLD CENTRE, 18-24 SALISBURY ROAD, TSIM SHA TSUI FROM MONDAY (FEBRUARY 15).
THEY ARE THE ENGINEERING DIVISION, THE CO-OPERATIVE AND CREDIT UNION SECTION, THE CROP ASSESSMENT AND CERTIFICATION SECTION AND THE HERBARIUM.
THE TELEPHONE NUMBER OF THESE DIVISIONS IS 3-699671.
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SHA TIN COOKED FOOD STALLS FOR AUCTION M K M M
TWELVE STALLS AT FO TAN EAST COOKED FOOD CENTRE AND FO TAN WEST COOKED FOOD CENTRE IN SHA TIN WILL BE PUT UP FOR PUBLIC AUCTION ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 15).
THE AUCTION WILL BE HELD AT THE LEK YUEN COMMUNITY HALL AT LEK YUEN ESTATE, SHA TIN, AND WILL START AT 10.15 AM, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
THE UPSET RENTAL FOR EACH OF THE SIX STALLS AT FO TAN EAST COOKED FOOD CENTRE IS $3 200 WHILE THE PRICE FOR EACH OF THE OTHER SIX AT FO TAN WEST COOKED FOOD CENTRE IS S3 800.
EACH STALL IS EQUIPPED WITH ITS OWN WORKING AREA, AND WITH A WATER TAP, SINK AND BASIN.
ALL PARTITION WALLS AND FLOOR SURFACES ARE PAVED WITH GLAZED AND MOSAIC TILES.
THERE IS A COMMUNAL MECHANICAL EXHAUST SYSTEM WITH GREASE FILTERS TO INDIVIDUAL HOODS FOR DISPOSAL OF COOKING FUME.
SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS CAN START OPERATING THEIR BUSINESSES ON MARCH 1 FOR A CONTRACT PERIOD OF THREE YEARS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
ONLY PERSONS AGED 21 OR ABOVE CAN TAKE PART IN THE AUCTION, AND POTENTIAL BIDDERS ARE REQUESTED TO BRING ALONG THEIR IDENTITY CARDS AND FIVE PHOTOGRAPHS TO THE AUCTION VENUE.
INTERESTED PERSONS SHOULD CONTACT THE HAWKERS AND MARKETS SECTION OF SHA TIN URBAN SERVICES OFFICE ON TELEPHONE 0-623467 FOR FURTHER DETAILS.
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/9.........
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1988
9
TUEN MUN SPORTSGROUND OPEN TO JOGGERS *****
FROM MONDAY (FEBRUARY 15), JOGGERS AT TUEN MUN NEW TOWN CAN MAKE USE OF THE TUEN MUN TANG SHIU KIN SPORTSGROUND IN THE EARLY MORNING AND LATE AFTERNOON WITHOUT PAYING ENTRANCE CHARGES.
TAI CHI AND ALL OTHER PHYSICAL FITNESS AS WELL AS INDIVIDUAL ATHLETIC TRAINING COURSES MAY ALSO BE HELD AT THE SPORTSGROUND WITHOUT ADVANCE BOOKING DURING THE TWO SPECIFIC PERIODS.
THE OPENING HOURS WILL BE 7 AM TO 9 AM IN THE MORNING AND 5 PM TO 6.30 PM IN THE AFTERNOON, SAID A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THE SPORTSGROUND WILL BE OPEN TO ALL PEOPLE SIX DAYS A WEEK, EXCEPT FRIDAY FOR MAINTENANCE WORK AND WHEN THERE IS A BOOKING FOR EXCLUSIVE USE.
HOWEVER, NO BALL GAMES ARE ALLOWED DURING THE TWO SPECIAL SESSIONS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
PEOPLE WHO ENTER THE SPORTSGROUND ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR PROPER SPORTS SHOES. SO AS TO MINIMISE DAMAGE TO THE ALL-WEATHER SYNTHETIC TRACK AND TURF.
JOGGERS OR ANY PEOPLE ENTERING THE SPORTSGROUND MAY BE ASKED BY ATTENDANTS TO WRITE DOWN THEIR NAMES AND IDENTITY CARD NUMBERS AT THE ENTRANCE, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1982
CONTENTS PAGE NO,
TSUEN WAN COMMUNITY BIDS FAREWELL TO HAYES .................... 1
SHA TIN HOSPITAL SITE........................................ 2
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF TONG SHUT ROAD ........................... 2
GAS SAFETY REPORT ON SALE..................................... 3
PEDESTRIAN FOOTBRIDGE ........................................ 3
FORTY-THREE NT BATHING SHEDS FOR HIRE ......................... 4
WATER SUPPLIES STAFF AND CHILDREN ENJOY FAIR .................. 5
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1982
1
TSUEN WAN COMMUNITY BIDS FAREWELL TO HAYES * * * *
TSUEN WAN COMMUNITY LEADERS GAVE A FAREWELL PARTY TO THEIR OUTGOING TOWN MANAGER, DR JAMES HAYES, TONIGHT (SUNDAY) AND PRESENTED HIM WITH A ’KEY OF TSUEN WAN’ AS A MARK OF THEIR RESPECT.
THE KEY SYMBOLISES AN HONOUR CONFERRED ON DR HAYES AS ’THE FIRST HONOURABLE CITIZEN OF TSUEN WAN’.
♦THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE AWARDED SUCH A HIGH HONOUR TO A CIVIL SERVANT AND WE THINK DR HAYES WELL DESERVES IT,+ SAID MR CHAN PO-FONG, CHAIRMAN OF A COMMITTEE WHICH ORGANISED TONIGHT’S FAREWELL.
THE PARTY WAS ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 1 OOO COMMUNITY LEADERS AND GUESTS. AMONG THEM WERE THE SECRETARY FOR CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES- THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR IAN MACPHERSON- AND THE NEW TSUEN WAN TOWN MANAGER, MR HAMISH MACLEOD.
DURING HIS SEVEN YEARS IN TSUEN WAN, DR HAYES SAID HE HAD ALWAYS EMPHASISED TO LOCAL LEADERS THE UNITY OF POPULATION AND THAT UNITY WAS STRENGTH.
♦I CAN SAY WITH CONFIDENCE THAT WE HAVE AN ENLIGHTENED INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY WHICH WELCOMES AND HELPS NEWCOMERS TO SETTLE DOWN IN THE NEW TOWN,* HE SAID.
♦WHAT MATTERS IS NOT WHERE YOU CAME FROM AND HOW LONG YOU HAVE BEEN IN TSUEN WAN, BUT HOW MUCH YOU ARE DOING FOR TSUEN WAN.
♦IN THIS REGARD, THE ORGANISATION OF THE TSUEN WAN COMMUNITY FOR MORE INTEGRATION AND A LOCAL IDENTITY IS PROCEEDING AT A FAST PACE,+ HE ADDED.
HE SAID THERE WERE TWO ESSENTIAL INGREDIENTS FOR FUTURE SUCCESS.
♦FIRSTLY, THE DISTRICT BOARD MUST LEAD THE WAY. IT MUST STICK CLOSE TO THE PEOPLE AND MUST DERIVE ITS STRENGTH FROM THEM, THOUGH LIKE THE GOVERNMENT IT MUST LEARN TO SAY ’NO’ AS WELL AS ’YES’.
♦SECONDLY, IT IS VITAL THAT SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICERS IN TSUEN WAN REMAIN ALERT AND RESPONSIVE, AND ARE NOT AFRAID TO RECOMMEND CHANGE WHEN IT SEEMS TO BE NECESSARY.
♦IN THIS WAY, THE TOWN WILL RETAIN ITS VITALITY AND NOURISH ITS STRENGTH,♦ HE SAID.
DR HAYES ALSO CALLED FOR A SINGLE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY FOR ROUTINE SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT.
♦DEPARTMENTS HAVE BECOME TOO BIG AND THEIR DUTIES TOO FRAGMENTED TO PERMIT THE DEGREE OF DECISION AND FLEXIBILITY THAT IS REQUIRED NOWADAYS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL,♦ HE SAID.
/♦ONE PLAGE ....
SUNDAY, FEBHUaHY 14, 1982
2
♦ONE PLACE IS NOT NECESSARILY LIKE ANOTHER, AND IF OFFICERS IN TSUEN WAN ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING OVER THEIR SHOULDERS TO KOWLOON OR HONG KONG ISLAND FOR AUTHORISATION AND INSPIRATION, THEY WILL LOSE THE INTEREST OF LOCAL LEADERS AND THE SUPPORT OF THE LOCAL POPULATION.
+A PROMPT RESPONSE IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT AT THE PRESENT TIME WHEN, AFTER THE BOARD ELECTIONS IN MARCH, WE SHALL ENTER THE FIRST PERIOD OF WORKING UP THE RECONSTITUTED BOARD,+ HE SAID.
DR HAYES WILL TAKE UP A NEW POST AS DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR LATER THIS MONTH.
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SHA TIN HOSPITAL SITE
UX
CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION ISSUED A REMINDER I°DAY (SUNDAV) THAT APPLICATIONS FOR A SHA TIN SITE, TO BE DEVELOPED AS A PRIVATE HOSPITAL, WILL CLOSE ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 19).
THE L™ ’oS'TtS^'"6 1‘922 HECTARES- IS S'TU‘TED CL0SE T°
mil. nU?DoLS™EJ'0ND,T,0NS THE PURCHASER WILL BE REQUIRED TO wiTM?MAF?S? J?aS°”BED H0SPITAL AND STAFF QUARTERS TO BE COMPLETED wiiniN rIvt YcARS.
RF rn^in«fn°FFERING PREMIUM 0F LESS THAN $30 MILLION WILL NOT
DC UUNdllltntUa
Alin AND TENDER NOTICES ARE AVAILABLE FROM CITY
nA T^TTERR!JGR,£S MINISTRATION HEADQUARTERS AND THE EIGHT
U I o I K I U I Ur r I C E S •
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TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF TONG SHU I ROAD
* * *
A SECTION OF THE NORTHBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF TONG SHU I ROAD BETWEEN KING’S ROAD AND CHUN YEUNG STREET WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS FROM 10 AM ON TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 16) FOR ROAD WORKS.
SIGNS WILL BE PUT UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
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/3 .....
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1982
3
GAS SAFETY REPORT ON SALE * * *
THE SUMMARY VOLUME OF THE REPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT’S GAS SAFETY CONSULTANTS IS NOW ON SALE TO THE PUBLIC.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS REPRINTED THE SUMMARY VOLUME AND IT IS ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE GPO BUILDING, AT $19 A COPY.
COPIES OF ALL FOUR VOLUMES OF THE REPORT ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR CONSULTATION BY THE PUBLIC, PARTICULARLY FOR PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE DETAILS OF GAS ENGINEERING SAFETY, IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES AND DISTRICT OFFICES, AND IN THE LIBRARIES OF RELEVANT TECHNICAL BODIES.
TRANSLATION OF ALL OF THE REPORT INTO CHINESE, A MAJOR TASK INVOLVING COINING OF NEW PHRASES FOR SOME OF THE MORE TECHNICAL ASPECTS, IS IN HAND AND A FURTHER ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE MADE WHEN A CHINESE VERSION IS AVAILABLE.
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PEDESTRIAN FOOTBRIDGE
KKK
THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE OF THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PEDESTRIAN FOOTBRIDGE ACROSS KWUN TONG ROAD AT ITS JUNCTION WITH TSUN YIP LANE.
THE SCHEME FORMS PART OF THE PLAN FOR IMPROVING TRAFFIC CONDITIONS IN KWUN TONG ROAD.
THE FOOTBRIDGE, UPON COMPLETION, WILL REPLACE THE PRESENT IRAFFIC-SIGNAL-CONTROLLED PEDESTRIAN CROSSING AT KWUN TONG ROAD NEAR HONG NING ROAD WHICH IS NOW RUNNING TO CAPACITY.
AND, IT WILL PROVIDE A SAFE CROSSING FACILITY FOR PEDESTRIANS BY SEPARATING THEM FROM THE VEHICULAR TRAFFIC IN KWUN TONG ROAD.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE SAID THAT DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD, DISTURBANCE TO NORMAL TRAFFIC FLOW IN BOTH DIRECTIONS IN KWUN TONG ROAD WOULD BE MINIMAL.
WORK IS EXPECTED TO START IN MAY AND TAKE ABOUT 10 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1982
4
FORTY-THREE NT BATHING * * *
SHEDS FOR HIRE *
FORTY-THREE BATHING SHEDS LOCATED ON VARIOUS BEACHES ALONG CASTLE PEAK ROAD IN THE NEW TERRITORIES ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR HIRE FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS, STARTING APRIL 1.
OF THE SHEDS, 30 WILL BE ALLOCATED TO APPLICANTS BY BALLOT WHILE THE OTHER 13 WILL BE OFFERED BY PUBLIC AUCTION TO BE HELD AT THE LECTURE ROOM OF THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS AT 8TH FLOOR, GOLDEN GATE COMMERCIAL BUILDING, 136-138 AUSTIN ROAD, TSIM SHA TSUI, AT 11 AM ON MARCH 18 (THURSDAY).
THERE ARE TWO CATEGORIES OF BATHING SHEDS - THE LARGE ONE bEASURING ABOUT 56 SQUARE METRES AND THE SMALLER ONE OF ABOUT 28 SQUARE METRES, SAID A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NTSD.
ONLY REGISTERED COMPANIES, CLUBS, ASSOCIATIONS OR ORGANISED GROUPS WILL BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE BALLOT.
BALLOT APPLICATION FORMS WHICH COST $40 EACH WILL BE OBTAINABLE IN PERSON FROM FEBRUARY 22, BETWEEN 9 AM TO 12 NOON AND 2 PM TO 3 PM AT THE ACCOUNTS OFFICE OF THE NTSD HEADQUARTERS ON THE 5TH FLOOR OF GOLDEN GATE COMMERCIAL BUILDING NOT LATER THAN MARCH 8 (MONDAY).
THEY ARE ALSO OBTAINABLE BY POST FROM THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SECTION OF THE NTSD HEADQUARTERS AT THIRD FLOOR, AUSTIN CENTRE, 19-23 AUSTIN AVENUE, TSIM SHA TSUI.
COMPLETED FORMS MUST BE RETURNED TO THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SECTION OF THE NTSD HEADQUARTERS ON OR BEFORE 1 PM ON MARCH 11.
A COPY OF BUSINESS REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE OR A CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION ISSUED BY THE REGISTRAR OF SOCIETIES, THE REGISTRAR CF TRADE UNIONS OR THE COMPANIES REGISTRY OF THE REGISTRAR GENERAL’S OFFICE SHOULD BE ENCLOSED WITH THE COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS.
FURTHERMORE, THE APPLICATION FORMS MUST BE SIGNED BY THE MANAGER, OR THE CHAIRMAN, OR THE SECRETARY OF THE BODY CONCERNED.
CLUBS AND ASSOCIATIONS CURRENTLY HOLDING ANNUALLY-RENEWABLE PERMITS FOR BATHING SHEDS ON URBAN OR NEW TERRITORIES BEACHES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO APPLY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE ANNUAL PERMIT FEE IS $2 250 FOR A SMALL BATHING SHED AND $2 770 FOR A LARGER ONE.
ONLY PERSONS AGED OVER 21 CAN TAKE PART IN THE PUBLIC AUCTION ON MARCH 18, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
FURTHER DETAILS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE RECREATION AND AMENITIES SECTION OF THE NTSD HEADQUARTERS ON TELEPHONE 3-678715.
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1982
5
WATER SUPPLIES STAFF AND CHILDREN ENJOY FAIR *****
MORE THAN 4 500 CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS HAD AN AFTERNOON OF FUN AND GAMES AT THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT’S 20TH ANNUAL LUNAR NtW YEAR CHILDREN’S FUN FAIR TODAY (SUNDAY).
THE FUN FAIR, ORGANISED FOR CHILDREN OF THE WATERWORKS STAFF, WAS HELD AT THE WAH YAN COLLEGE.
THE DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, MR WILLIAM TUCKER, OFFICIATED AT THE OPENING OF THE FUN FAIR.
THE PROGRAMME INCLUDED SONGS AND DANCES, ACROBATIC AND MAGIC SHOWS, LION DANCES AND BAND PERFORMANCES. THE +CANNON BALL EXPRESS* WAS THERE AS IN PREVIOUS YEARS TO TAKE CHILDREN ROUND THE FUN FAIR GROUNDS.
SIXTEEN GAMES STALLS WERE ORGANISED BY VARIOUS DIVISIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT.
MR TUCKER PRESENTED THE HONG KONG WATERWORKS MERIT AWARD TO FOUR STAFF MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR NOTEWORTHY PERFORMANCE OF DUTIES.
THE AWARD TAKES THE FORM OF A SILVER MEDAL INCORPORATING THE WATERWORKS CREST AND IS PRESENTED ANNUALLY TO OFFICERS OF THE RANKS OF WORKS SUPERVISOR AND BELOW WHO HAVE SHOWN THEMSELVES TO BE WORTHY OF SPECIAL RECOGNITION ON THE BASIS OF GENERAL MERIT AND ATTENTION TO DUTIES OR ON THE BASIS OF CONDUCT OR PERFORMANCE.
THE RECIPIENTS WERE MR AU BUN AND MR CHOW CHUNG-MAN OF THE NECHANICAL DIVISION (OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE), MR SHIU KWOK-ON CF THE LOK ON PAI DIVISION AND MR LAM DA I-SUN OF THE CONSTRUCTION DIVISION.
MR TUCKER ALSO PRESENTED LONG-SERVICE CERTIFICATES TO RECENTLY RETIRED OFFICERS WHO TOGETHER SERVED 170 YEARS WITH THE DEPARTMENT.
THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT WATER ENGINEER, MR TOM TOMLINSON, CHAIRMAN OF THE WATERWORKS WELFARE FUND COMMITTEE, ORGANISER OF THE FUN FAIR, AND MRS TOMLINSON, ALSO OFFICIATED AT THE CEREMONY.
MR LIU YAN-BUN, SENIOR ENGINEER (RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT) OF THE DEPARTMENT, WAS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FUN FAIR ORGANISING COMMITTEE.
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
MONDAY, .FEBRUARY 15, 1982
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
HONG KONG AWARE OF TRANSPORT AND TRAFFIC PROBLEMS, GOVERNOR SAYS ................................................... 1
HONG KONG'S TRANSPORT EXPERIENCE ............................. 1
SENSIBLE LAW SHOULD HAVE COMMUNITY INPUT, A.G. SAYS ............ U
URBAN COUNCIL PUBLIC LIBRARIES GAIN WORLD PRESTIGE ............. 5
MONTHLY SURVEY OF EMPLOYMENT, PAYROLL AND ORDERS-ON-HAND EDR DECEMBER 1981 .................................................. 7
ABERDEEN TO AP LEI CHAU FERRY SERVICE FaRES................... 10
EMPLOYERS REMINDED TO CHECK VR CARDS ........................ 10
SHA TIN MARKET STALLS LEASED.......................-........• 11
ACCIDENT FREE AWARDS FOR NTSD DRIVERS ......................... 11
LIFE GUARDS WANTED FOR GAZETTED BEACHES ................. .. 12
EXHIBITION OF 'PERFORMING ARTS' BOOKS ......................... 12
DISTRICT BOARD ESSAY COMPETITION FOR TSUEN WAN STUDENTS .... 15
SALT WATER MAINS WORK
15
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1982
HONG KONG AWARE OF TRANSPORT AND TRAFFIC PROBLEMS, GOVERNOR SAYS * * * *
HONG KONG WAS ACUTELY CONSCIOUS OF ITS TRANSPORT AND TRAFFIC DEFICIENCIES BUT THE SITUATION SHOULD IMPROVE DRAMATICALLY IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, TOLD A GATHERING OF TRANSPORT EXPERTS THIS MORNING.
IN HIS SPEECH BEFORE DECLARING OPEN THE CONFERENCE ON ♦TRANSPORT INTO THE 80’S+, BEING HELD HERE BY THE UK DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND THE UK INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS, SIR MURRAY SAID HONG KONG’S TRANSPORT AND TRAFFIC WAS UNTIL RECENTLY +STILL RATHER BETTER* IN COMPARISON WITH OTHER BIG CITIES, BUT TRAFFIC HAS TEMPORARILY OUTSTRIPPED CONSTRUCTION.
+WE CAN NOW ONLY CLAIM TO BE A LITTLE WORSE,* HE SAID.
HONG KONG, MEANWHILE, LOOKED FORWARD TO TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE DISTINGUISHED GATHERING OF EXPERTS FOR ADVICE WHICH WAS FREE, SIR MURRAY TOLD THEM.
HONG KONG TRANSPORT POLICY DIFFERED FROM THAT OF MOST WESTERN ECONOMIES IN TWO WAYS, THE GOVERNOR SAID.
+FIRST, FOR REASONS OF SPACE AND PASSENGER VOLUME, WE MUST ENCOURAGE THE USE OF PUBLIC RATHER THAN PRIVATE TRANSPORT- AND SECOND, IN LINE WITH OUR ECONOMIC PHILOSOPHY, PUBLIC TRANSPORT IS IN THE HANDS OF PRIVATE ENTERPRISE AND, THOUGH UNDER A DEGREE OF GOVERNMENT CONTROL, IS EXPECTED TO OPERATE PROFITABLY WITHOUT SUBSIDY.
+THIS IT DOES, EVEN WITH FARES WHICH ARE GENERALLY ONLY ONE-THIRD OF THOSE IN LONDON,* SIR MURRAY SAID.
THE GOVERNOR SAID HONG KONG WAS HONOURED TO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN FOR THE EXCITING CONFERENCE. HE WELCOMED THE VISITORS AND WISHED THEM A PLEASANT AND INTERESTING STAY HERE, AND THE CONFERENCE SUCCESS.
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HONG KONG’S TRANSPORT EXPERIENCE * * * *
HONG KONG’S TRAFFIC CONGESTION PROBLEMS ARE AT LEAST POTENTIALLY MORE ACUTE THAN OTHER LARGE CITIES BECAUSE OUR POPULATION IS MORE CONCENTRATED AND DENSE AND BECAUSE THE INTERLAND IS LIMITED BOTH IN EXTENT AND IN TERRAIN, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR ALAN SCOTT TOLD A CONFERENCE OF TRANSPORT EXPERTS TODAY.
IN A PAPER ON HONG KONG’S TRANSPORT EXPERIENCE PRESENTED AT THE FIRST SESSION OF THE +TRANSPORT INTO THE 80S* CONFERENCE AT THE REGENT HOTEL, MR SCOTT SAID FROM STUDIES COMMISSIONED TO EXAMINE THE PROBLEM, THERE EMERGED THREE OBJECTIVES, +ALL EASY TO SET OUT, BUT FOR VARIOUS REASONS DIFFICULT TO CARRY OUT IN PRACTICE!
/♦ SXPANSION CF.........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1982
2
* EXPANSION OF THE ROAD SYSTEM, INCLUDING TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT MEASURES-
* EXPANSION AND IMPROVEMENT OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT, PARTICULARLY OFF-ROAD PUBLIC TRANSPORT- AND
* RESTRAINTS ON THE MORE INEFFICIENT USERS OF ROAD SPACE, PARTICULARLY PRIVATE VEHICLES AND TAXIS AND ALSO, POSSIBLY, THE MORE INEFFICIENT GOODS VEHICLES.
♦ IN GENERAL, THE FIRST AIM IS APPLAUDED UNTIL ITS COST RUNS INTO COMPETITION WITH OTHER DESIRED PROGRAMMES OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE. THE SECOND IS ACCLAIMED UNTIL THE COSTS OF DEVELOPMENT REQUIRE HIGHER FARES ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT. THE THIRD IS BITTERLY RESISTED BY EXISTING CAR OWNERS, POTENTIAL CAR OWNERS AND BY THOSE WHO USE TAXIS IN PREFERENCE TO PUBLIC TRANSPORT OR PRIVATE CARS,* MR SCOTT SAID.
HE OUTLINED THE DEVELOPMENTS THAT WERE TAKING PLACE I
THE ROAD PROGRAMME
SOME $1 200 MILLION WILL HAVE BEEN SPENT THIS FINANCIAL YEAR ON ROADS AND OTHER HIGHWAY PROJECTS, IN ADDITION TO $2 000 MILLION BEING SPENT ON THE MTR AND $800 MILLION ON KCR MODERNISATION AND ELECTRIFICATION. EVEN SO, BECAUSE OF RAPID GROWTH IN RECENT YEARS OF GOVERNMENT PROGRAMMES AND HIGHER PRIORITIES FOR SUCH PROGRAMMES AS HOUSING AND NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT, THE ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMME HAS BEEN FALLING BEHIND THE ASSUMPTIONS MADE IN THE COMPREHENSIVE TRANSPORT STUDY.
IN THE AREA OF TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT, THE COMPUTERISED AREA TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM IN WEST KOWLOON IS ESTIMATED TO HAVE INCREASED THE ROAD CAPACITY THERE BY ABOUT EIGHT PER CENT AND PLANS ARE IN HAND TO EXTEND THE SYSTEM TO THE REST OF KOWLOON AND TO HONG KONG ISLAND. THERE IS ALSO A PLAN TO ESTABLISH A SEGREGATED ROAD NETWORK LINKED TO A SOPHISTICATED CONTROL CENTRE.
STUDIES ARE IN HAND TO INTRODUCE A SERIES OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT PRIORITY SCHEMES INCLUDING BUS-ONLY LANES. SUCH A SCHEME HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN THE MID-LEVELS AND A REVISED ONE IS BEING PROPOSED FOR THE NORTH-EASTERN CORRIDOR OF HONG KONG ISLAND.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
THE INTEGRATED NETWORK OF THE MTR AND THE KCR COULD BE CATERING FOR SOMETHING LIKE THREE MILLION PASSENGERS A DAY, CFF-ROAD, BY THE LATE 1980S. WHEN COMPLETED, ON PRESENT PLANS BY 1986, THE NETWORK WILL HAVE OVER 70 KILOMETRES OF LINE, WITH TRANSPORT INTERCHANGES AT THE MAIN STATIONS AND LINKING ALL THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED AREAS IN HONG KONG ISLAND, KOWLOON, THE LARGE INDUSTRIAL TOWN OF TSUEN WAN/KWAI CHUNG AND THE THREE NEW TOWNS OF SHA TIN, TAI PO AND FANLING IN THE EASTERN NEW TERRITORIES.
/IN THE .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1962
- 3 -
IN THE WESTERN NEW TERRITORIES, THERE ARE PLANS TO PROVIDE TUEN MUN NEW TOWN WITH A NEW AND MODERN TRAMWAY OR LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEM, TOGETHER WITH A LINK TO THE NEARBY SMALLER NEW TOWN OF YUEN LONG. THE OPERATOR WILL BE ALLOWED TO RUN BUSES BEFORE THE SYSTEM IS INSTALLED AND THE BUSES WILL ASSUME A COMPLEMENTARY ROLE AFTER IT OPENS.
THE FERRIES, WHICH CARRY SOME HALF A MILLION PASSENGERS A DAY, WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE THEIR SERVICES WHEREVER POSSIBLE.
AS REGARDS FRANCHISED BUSES AND PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES, WITH INCREASING POPULATION AND GROWING INCOMES, THE PREDICTION IS THAT BY THE LATE 198OS AND EARLY 1990S, EVEN IF THE NEW OFF-ROAD MODES ARE CARRYING OVER THREE MILLION PASSENGERS A DAY, THEY WILL PROBABLY STILL NEED TO TRANSPORT AT LEAST THE FIVE MILLION PASSENGERS (FRANCHISED BUSES ABOUT 3.35 MILLION, PLB’S 1.5 MILLION) THEY CARRY TODAY.
♦SO IT WILL STILL BE NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT NOT ONLY ARE SUFFICIENT VEHICLES AVAILABLE TO MEET THE TASK, BUT ALSO THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO MOVE QUICKLY ENOUGH ON THE ROADS TO DO THEIR JOB WITH REASONABLE EFFICIENCY. THE PROBLEM OF INCREASING ROAD CONGESTION, THEREFORE, REMAINS THE MOST URGENT PROBLEM FOR OUR TRANSPORT PLANNERS,* MR SCOTT SAID.
RESTRAINTS
THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES IN HONG KONG, AT MORE THAN 300 000 VEHICLES OR 285 PER KILOMETRES OF ROAD, IS MORE THAN ANY OTHER TERRITORY IN THE WORLD INCLUDING EVEN MONACO AT ABOUT 200 VEHICLES PER KILOMETRE. IN RECENT YEARS, TOTAL VEHICLES NUMBERS HAVE BEEN INCREASING BY ABOUT 12 PER CENT A YEAR AND PRIVATE CARS AND TAXIS BY OVER 14 PER CENT.
♦ALREADY, DESPITE ALL EFFORTS AT MANAGEMENT, PARTS OF THE ROAD SYSTEM, INCLUDING THE VITAL CROSS-HARBOUR LINK, FACE VERY SEVERE TRAFFIC CONGESTION FOR A CONSIDERABLE PART OF THE DAY,+ MR SCOTT SAID.
IF VEHICLE NUMBERS AND VEHICLE USAGE CONTINUE TO RISE AT ANYTHING NEAR THE CURRENT RATE, THE SITUATION WILL INEVITABLY WORSEN - AND IN SOME AREAS MAY APPROACH PERIODIC TOTAL CONGESTION.
THE PROBLEM WAS DEEPLY CONSIDERED BY THE COMPREHENSIVE TRANSPORT STUDY WHICH ESTIMATED THAT WITH NO FURTHER RESTRAINTS, THERE WOULD BE 400 000 PRIVATE CARS IN HONG KONG BY 1991, BUT ASSUMING A VERY CONSIDERABLE INCREASE IN LICENCE FEES AND OTHER MEASURES, THIS FIGURE COULD BE KEPT DOWN TO SOME 280 000 CARS.
HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF MORE RAPID GROWTH IN INCOMES IN RECENT YEARS THAN THAT ASSUMED IN THE STUDY, THE NUMBERS OF PRIVATE CARS ARE ALREADY ABOVE THE UNRESTRAINED GROWTH LINE AND THE NUMBER OF TAXIS LICENSED AND THE NUMBERS OF GOODS VEHICLES ARE HIGHER THAN WERE ASSUMED, WHILE THE ACTUAL ROAD CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMME HAS NOT FOLLOWED THE ASSUMPTIONS.
MONDAY, F3BHUAXY 15, 1982
4
WHILE THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT TECHNICAL MEASURES EXIST TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM, WHETHER BY PRICING MECHANISMS OR BY CONTROLS OR BY A COMBINATION OF THE TWO, +THE REAL PROBLEMS LIE IN GAINING ACCEPTANCE OF THE NEED TO ACT NOW, TO TAKE MEASURES WHICH WILL UNDOUBTEDLY INCONVENIENCE ONE SECTION OF THE POPULATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE MOBILITY OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE AND FOR THE CONTINUING EFFICIENT WORKING OF THE ECONOMY.
*THE SUCCESS STORY THAT IS HONG KONG WILL MAKE IT PARADOXICALLY MORE DIFFICULT, BECAUSE THE ADAPTABILITY AND SURVIVORSHIP OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE COMMUNITY HAVE SO OFTEN MADE GREAT PROBLEMS SEEM SMALL, AND DRASTIC MEASURES UNNECESSARY.* MR SCOTT SAID.
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SENSIBLE LAW SHOULD HAVE COMMUNITY INPUT, A.G. SAYS * * * *
SENSIBLE LAW SHOULD NOT BE LEFT ENTIRELY IN THE HANDS OF LAWYERS, BUT SHOULD ALSO HAVE AN INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY ITSELF, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR JOHN GRIFFITHS, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
♦LAW SHOULD NOT BE A MYSTERY. IT IS THE FRAME WHICH HOLDS UP SOCIETY IN WHICH WE LIVE.
♦THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE WHEN CONSTRUCTING OR REPAIRING THAT FRAME FOR DRAWING ON THE EXPERIENCE, COMMON SENSE AND ABILITY OF MEN AND WOMEN OF AFFAIRS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THE SOCIETY IN WHICH THEY LIVE,* HE SAID.
MR GRIFFITHS, WHO IS ALSO CHAIRMAN OF THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION, WAS SPEAKING AT A COCKTAIL PARTY GIVEN THIS AFTERNOON FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE VOLUNTARILY GIVING THEIR SERVICES TO THE VARIOUS SPHERES OF WORK OF THE COMMISSION.
MR GRIFFITHS SAID HE WISHED ALSO TO RECORD PUBLICLY HIS APPRECIATION OF THE INDIVIDUAL EFFORTS OF ALL COMMISSION MEMBERS.
THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION WAS SET UP WITH TWO PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVES, HE POINTED OUT.
♦FIRST, WE WANTED TO OBTAIN PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS TO REAL PROBLEMS. THE ONLY WAY TO DO THIS IS TO OBTAIN THE HELP OF THOSE WITH DETAILED EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE FIELD BEING STUDIED.
♦SECOND, IT WAS ESSENTIAL THAT THE VIEWS AND FEELING OF OUR COMMUNITY SHOULD BE REPRESENTED AND TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN SOLUTIONS WERE PROPOSED,* HE SAID.
IT WAS FELT THAT THE BEST WAY OF TACKLING LAW REFORM SUBJECTS IS TO HAVE The PROBLEMS RESEARCHED originally BY A SUB-COMMITTEE. CHAIRED BY A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION ITSELF, BUT WITH OTHER MEMBERS EITHER SPECIALISTS IN THE SUBJECT OR REPRESENTATIVE OF INTERESTED GROUPS IN THE COMMUNITY.
/all otJB-COMcITTES.........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1982
5
ALL SUB-COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE SPECIALISTS, MR GRIFFITHS SAID. AT THE SAME TIME MR GRIFFITHS ANNOUNCED THE RECENT APPOINTMENT OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON THE NINTH TOPIC, CONCERNING INSURANCE.
THE SUB-COMMITTEE WILL BE CHAIRED BY PROFESSOR PETER WILLOUGHBY OF THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY, WITH MR JUSTICE BARKER AS VICE-CHAIRMAN.
OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE ARE: MISS OPHELIA CHEUNG OF THE CONSUMER COUNCIL, MR M.N. SOMERVILLE OF JARDINE INSURANCE UNDERWRITING, MR ANDREW HICKS OF THE SCHOOL OF LAW AT HONG KONG UNIVERSITY, MR GRAHAM CHENG OF TASKING PETROLEUM, MR BARRY WILCOX OF THE REGISTRAR GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT, MISS JACKIE ASHCROFT OF THE LEGAL AID DEPARTMENT, MR HENRY LITTON Q.C., MR YAO KANG OF SWIRE INSURANCE LTD, MR CLARENCE CHENG FROM JOHNSON STOKES AND MASTER, AND MR THOMAS T.C. CHAN FROM K.H. WONG AND CO.
THE OTHER EIGHT SUB-COMMITTEES ARE DEALING WITH: CONTEMPT OF COURT, POLICE CONFESSION, COMMUNITY SERVICE ORDERS, HOMOSEXUALITY, ARBITRATION, BILLS OF EXCHANGE, CIVIL EVIDENCE AND CONTRIBUTION.
MR GRIFFITHS SAID THE COMMISSION WAS SEEKING, AT THE END OF THE ROAD, WORKABLE SOLUTIONS AND PRACTICAL ANSWERS - NOT THE ADOPTION OF ARCANE LEGAL THEORIES.
HE THANKED THE COMMISSION MEMBERS FOR THEIR EFFORTS AND ADDED: + l AM CONFIDENT THAT THIS MARVELLOUS CO-OPERATIVE EFFORT BY ALL OF YOU HAS ALREADY BEGUN TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO OBTAINING A FAIR AND SATISFACTORY FRAMEWORK OF LAWS TO GOVERN OUR SOCIETY IN HONG KONG, WHICH IS THE AIM OF OUR LAW REFORM COMMISSION.*
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URBAN COUNCIL PUBLIC LIBRARIES GAIN WORLD PRESTIGE ******
BARELY 20 YEARS AFTER THE URBAN COUNCIL PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICE WAS LAUNCHED, IT HAS INCREASED BY 30 TIMES ITS NUMBERS OF REGISTERED BORROWERS AND BOOKS BORROWED.
IT HAS ALSO GAINED INTERNATIONAL PRESTIGE BY HAVING ITS MAIN LIBRARY AT THE CITY HALL DESIGNATED A UNITED NATIONS DEPOSITORY LIBRARY IN RECOGNITION OF ITS ROLE AS A MAJOR bETROPOL I TAN LIBRARY.
BUT IT IS NOT RESTING ON ITS LAURELS. ITS FUTURE PLANS INCLUDE AMBITIOUS PROGRAMMES TO INTRODUCE NEW SERVICES AND EXPAND EXISTING FACILITIES.
MR ALEX NG, CHIEF LIBRARIAN, SAID THAT THE COUNCIL EXPECTS TO OPEN THE ARTS LIBRARY IN 1983/84 IN THE TSIM SHA TSUI CULTURAL COMPLEX.
/THIS 9 30-SQUARE-METRE.......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1962
6
THIS 930-SQUARE-METRE REFERENCE LIBRARY WILL HAVE A BASIC STOCK OF ABOUT 50 000 BOOKS IN CHINESE AND ENGLISH, 5 000 MUSICAL SCORES, 3 000 GRAMOPHONE RECORDS AND CASSETTES, 500 AUDIO-VISUAL PACKS, 200 REELS OF MICROFILMS AND 100 VIDEOCASSETTES.
+THE COLLECTION WILL GIVE EQUAL EMPHASIS TO THE VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS. THIS MOVE IS ALSO A NATURAL EXTENSION OF OUR SUCCESS WITH THE FIRST MUSIC LISTENING LIBRARIES IN THE CITY HALL, YAU MA TEI AND KWUN TONG PUBLIC LIBRARIES,* SAID MR NG.
TWO OTHER MAJOR GOALS OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICE ARE THE INTRODUCTION OF ELECTRONIC DATA-PROCESS I NG SYSTEMS IN 1983/84 AND THE BUILDING OF ONE DISTRICT LIBRARY FOR EVERY 200 000 RESIDENTS IN THE URBAN AREA.
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICE IS ALSO INVOLVED IN A WIDE RANGE OF LIBRARY EXTENSION ACTIVITIES EACH YEAR. THESE INCLUDE THE CHINESE LITERARY WEEK, URBAN COUNCIL ARTS AWARD FOR CREATIVE WRITING IN CHINESE AND CREATIVE WRITING FOR CHILDREN, CHILDREN’S BOOK EXHIBITION, CHILDREN’S DRAMA COMPETITION, CAREER TALKS AND EXHIBITION, INTEREST GROUPS AND SUBJECT TALKS AND EXHIBITIONS.
ABOUT 1 150 000 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN SUCH ACTIVITIES LAST YEAR.
MR NG ALSO REVEALED THAT THE NEXT PUBLIC LIBRARY WILL BE OPENED AT TELFORD GARDENS IN KOWLOON BAY IN MID-1982, BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF STATIC LIBRARIES OPERATED BY THE URBAN COUNCIL TO 13.
THE COUNCIL ALSO OPERATES TWO MOBILE LIBRARIES ON THE HONG KONG ISLAND AND IN KOWLOON SERVING AREAS OF POCKETS OF POPULATION WHERE THERE ARE NO PUBLIC LIBRARY FACILITIES.
♦THERE ARE ALSO PLANS TO BUILD SMALL STATIC LIBRARIES OF BETWEEN 100 TO 150 SQUARE METRES TO SUPPORT DISTRICT LIBRARIES IN DENSELY-POPULATED AREAS. AND IT IS ALSO EXPECTED THAT A NEW DISTRICT LIBRARY WILL BE COMPLETED IN THE NEW ABERDEEN MARKET COMPLEX IN 1982/83 AND ANOTHER ONE IN THE NEW TO KWA WAN MARKET COMPLEX IN 1983/84,+ MR NG ADDED.
MR NG BELIEVES THAT MODERN LIBRARIES +MUST NOT BE JUST DEPOSITORIES OF KNOWLEDGE*.
+ASIDE FROM PROVIDING FACILITIES NECESSARY FOR THE PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE AND RESEARCH AND MEETING PEOPLE’S CULTURAL NEEDS, THEY MUST ALSO ORGANISE ACTIVITIES TO HELP FOSTER INTEREST AND ABILITY IN FIELDS HITHERTO UNKNOWN TO READERS,* HE SAID.
AN EXAMPLE OF SUCH ACTIVITIES IS THE BLOCK LOAN OF BOOKS MADE TO INSTITUTIONS FOR THE DISABLED TO HELP MARK 1981 AS THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF DISABLED PERSONS.
/+AN ATTEMPT .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1982
7
♦AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO HELP THE HANDICAPPED GAIN CONFIDENCE IN THEMSELVES THROUGH ACTIVE SOCIAL PARTICIPATION AND SERVING OTHERS. LAST SUMMER, 14 STUDENTS FROM THE CANOSSIAN SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF TOOK PART IN THE COUNCIL’S VOLUNTARY LIBRARY SERVICE SCHEME. TOGETHER WITH STUDENTS FROM THE SACRED HEART CANOSSIAN COLLEGE AND HONG KONG WAH YAN COLLEGE, THEY WORKED IN FOUR LIBRARIES AND FOUND THE EXPERIENCE BOTH PROFITABLE AND ENJOYABLE. CERTIFICATES OF VOLUNTARY SERVICE WERE AWARDED TO THEM FOR THEIR SATISFACTORY SERVICE IN THE LIBRARIES,+ MR NG SAID.
THE TOTAL LIBRARY COLLECTION OF THE URBAN COUNCIL PUBLIC LIBRARIES NOW INCLUDES 1 070 000 VOLUMES OF BOOKS, 2 300 NEWSPAPERS AND PERIODICALS, 3 700 REELS OF MICROFILMS, 680 VIDEO-CASSETTES, 1 500 SETS OF SLIDES AND 11 400 GRAMOPHONE RECORDS AND CASSETTES. THE LIBRARY COLLECTION IS EXPANDING.
REFERENCE MATERIALS ON HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES ARE STOCKED AT THE CITY HALL REFERENCE LIBRARY TO FACILITATE THE PROFESSIONAL AND COMMERCIAL COMMUNITY WHILE WORKS ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INDUSTRIAL SUBJECTS ARE KEPT AT THE YAU MA TEI REFERENCE LIBRARY.
THE CITY HALL LIBRARY, THE FIRST OF THE URBAN COUNCIL PUBLIC LIBRARIES, WAS FIRST OPENED IN MARCH 1962. LIBRARY USAGE HAS SINCE INCREASED FROM 150 000 BOOKS BORROWED FOR HOME-READING IN 1962 TO 4 300 000 LAST YEAR, AND THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED BORROWERS FROM 30 000 TO 920 000 IN THE SAME PERIOD.
MORE THAN SIX MILLION BOOKS WERE ALSO READ WITHIN THE LIBRARY PREMISES LAST YEAR.
MR NG SAID THE USAGE OF THE URBAN COUNCIL’S PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM IS HEAVY AND COMPARES VERY FAVOURABLY WITH OTHER MAJOR METROPOLITAN LIBRARIES.
-----o-----
MONTHLY SURVEY OF EMPLOYMENT, PAYROLL AND ORDERS-ON-HAND FOR DECEMBER 1981
* * * *
ct,tJ^^ENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY RELEASED
FR0M THE MONTHLY SURVEY FOR DECEMBER 1981 WHICH WAS CONDUCTED ON AN UPDATED AND ENLARGED PANEL OF THE 200 LARGEST ^7FFfNT4pJTFMR«P<o™S OHOSEN BY REFERENCE TO THEIR EMPLOYMENT nrluL *^^E^TEMBER 1979» AS WELL AS A PANEL OF THE 43 LARGEST COMPANIES IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND SELECTED SERVICES SECTORS.
AS THE SAMPLE WAS NOT DRAWN ON A RANDOM BASIS THE RESULTS ™ET2E"EcJwSy°iNC?SENalH0R? ‘SSESSMENT °F DEVELOPMENTS
/accokdikg to ......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1982
8
ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURERS SURVEYED, EMPLOYMENT REMAINED STABLE IN THE FOOD AND DRINKS, WEARING APPAREL AND TEXTILES INDUSTRIES BUT DROPPED IN THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY AND ALSO TO A LESSER EXTENT IN THE FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS AND ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES WHEN COMPARED WITH THE PRECEDING MONTH.
PAYROLL AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS FOR MANUFACTURING ROSE SUBSTANTIALLY FOLLOWING THE AWARD OF YEAR-END BONUSES AND DOUBLE PAY MAINLY TO OFFICE STAFF IN A NUMBER OF FACTORIES. PAYROLL AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS ALSO INCREASED IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND SERVICES SECTORS FOR THE SAME REASON. THE INCREASE WAS PARTICULARLY SUBSTANTIAL IN BANKS AND HOTELS.
THE VOLUME OF ORDERS HELD BY THE MANUFACTURERS SURVEYED IN DECEMBER 1981 DECREASED SLIGHTLY AS COMPARED WITH THE PRECEDING MONTH. FEWER ORDERS WERE RECEIVED IN THE WEARING APPAREL AND FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES, WHEREAS MORE ORDERS WERE RECEIVED IN THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY.
THE PERCENTAGE CHANGES IN EMPLOYMENT, PER CAPITA EARNINGS AND ORDERS-ON-HAND FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS ARE SHOWN IN THE ACCOMPANYING TABLE.
THE SURVEY REPORT FOR DECEMBER 1981 IS NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE, AT $1 PER COPY. ENQUIRIES ON THE SURVEY RESULTS MAY BE MADE TO THE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT (AT 3-7221914).
A. EMPLOYMENT AND EARNINGS
PERSONS ENGAGED BY
THE COMPANIES SURVEYED PER CAPITA EARNINGS PER CAPITA EARNINGS FOR
(% CHANGE OVER THE PRECEDING MONTH)
INDUSTRY/SERVICE OCT. NOV. DEC. OCT. NOV. DEC. DEC. 1981
1981 1981 1981 1981 1981 1981 (HKS)
MANUFACTURING -1 -1 -1 X -2 14 2 169
— ——
FOOD AND DRINKS -1 -3 X -8 -4 8 2 752
WEARING APPAREL, EXCEPT FOOTWEAR 1 -1 * * 1 14 1 967
TEXTILES, EXCEPT WEARING APPAREL -5 * * -3 -4 15 2 126
PLASTIC PRODUCTS -3 -1 -4 6 -5 26 2 116
FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS 1 -1 -1 -2 X 9 1 861
/iLdOTRlAL AND........
MONDAY, FEBRU/JtY 15, 1982
3
ELECTRICAL AND -1 ft ft -1 3 1 -1 -2 4
ELECTRONIC ’ '
PRODUCTS ’-I -1 9 1 905
OTHERS 1 -1 15 3 020
CONSTRUCTION -1 1 4 3 092
SERVICES 1 1 ft 2 -2 25 4 137
—■ —— £
BANKS 1 1 1 ft ft 57 4 685
HOTELS * ft ft ft ft 65 3 294
PUBLIC UTILITIES 2 1 * 3 -5 9 3 632
OTHERS 1 ft ft 1 B. ORDERS-ON-HAND IN MANUFACTURING (% CHANGE OVER -2 10 5 241 ORDERS-ON-HAND
INDUSTRY THE PRECEDING OCT. NOV. 1981 1981 MONTH) DEC. 1981 (IN TERMS OF MONTHS) FOR DEC. 1981
WEARING APPAREL, EXCEPT
FOOTWEAR TEXTILES, EXCEPT WEARING 2 -2 -2 4.7
APPAREL ft —4 ft 2.2
PLASTIC PRODUCTS 3 ft 3 3.3
FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC -3 3 -3 3.2
PRODUCTS -2 -2 ft 4.7
OTHERS ft -3 ft 3.6
ALL ABOVE INDUSTRIES ft CHANGE OF LESS THAN 0.5% ft ft -2 4.0
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/10 .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1982
10
ABERDEEN TO AP LEI CHAU FERRY SERVICE FARES
*****
FERRY FARES BETWEEN ABERDEEN AND AP LEI CHAU WILL BE RAISED FROM WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 17), A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
THE ADULT FARE WILL BE INCREASED FROM 40 CENTS TO 50 CENTS AND FROM 20 CENTS TO 30 CENTS FOR CHILDREN.
IN ADDITION, STUDENT MONTHLY TICKETS WILL BE RAISED FROM $12 TO $15 WHILE ’FACTORY-GIRL’ MONTHLY TICKETS WILL GO UP FROM $24 TO $30 FROM MARCH 1.
HOWEVER, THERE WILL BE NO CHANGE IN FREIGHT CHARGES.
+THE FARE INCREASE IS DUE TO A RISE IN OPERATIONAL COSTS,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
--------o ----------
EMPLOYERS REMINDED TO CHECK VR CARDS
* * * *
EMPLOYERS WISHING TO EMPLOY VIETNAMESE REFUGEES ARE REMINDED THAT THEY MUST CHECK THE LATTER’S REFUGEE CARDS TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE LAWFULLY EMPLOYABLE.
AND THOSE ALREADY EMPLOYING VIETNAMESE REFUGEES ARE REQUIRED TO CHECK THE REFUGEE CARDS EVERY PAY DAY TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR EMPLOYABLE STATUS HAS NOT CHANGED.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT UNDER THE IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1981, A VIETNAMESE REFUGEE IS LAWFULLY EMPLOYABLE ONLY IF HIS REFUGEE CARD DOES NOT PROHIBIT HIM FROM TAKING EMPLOYMENT.
THE WORDS +EMPLOYMENT NOT PERMITTED* WOULD BE CLEARLY MARKED IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE ON BOTH SIDES OF A REFUGEE CARD IF THE HOLDER IS PROHIBITED FROM TAKING EMPLOYMENT, HE SAID.
REFUGEE CARDS ARE ISSUED BY THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT AS A TEMPORARY DOCUMENT OF PROOF OF IDENTITY, PENDING THE REFUGEE’S PERMANENT RESETTLEMENT OVERSEAS.
THE SPOKESMAN REMINDED EMPLOYERS THAT CAMP PASSES, ISSUED BY THE VARIOUS CAMPS, CANNOT BE REGARDED AS REFUGEE CARDS.
EMPLOYERS SHOULD THEREFORE INSIST ON SEEING THE REFUGEE CARDS BEFORE DECIDING ON WHETHER OR NOT TO EMPLOY A VIETNAMESE REFUGEE.
THE SPOKESMAN ALSO REMINDED EMPLOYERS THAT THEY ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO CHECK THE REFUGEE CARD EVERY PAY DAY TO MAKE SURE THEIR VIETNAMESE REFUGEE EMPLOYEES REMAIN LAWFULLY EMPLOYABLE.
ANY EMPLOYER WHO EMPLOYS A VIETNAMESE REFUGEE WHO IS NOT PERMITTED TO WORK RISKS A MAXIMUM FINE OF $50 000 AND ONE YEAR’S IMPRISONMENT.
- 0
/11
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1982
11
SHA TIN MARKET STALLS LEASED
X X X
ALL ELEVEN MINI-STALLS AND MARKET STALLS AT SHA TIN MARKET WERE LEASED AT ABOVE THE UPSET PRICE AT A PUBLIC AUCTION TODAY (MONDAY).
THE AUCTION, ORGANISED BY THE URBAN SERVICES OFFICE OF SHA TIN, WAS HELD AT THE LEK YUEN COMMUNITY HALL AT LEK YUEN ESTATE, SHA TIN.
MOST OF THE STALLS FETCHED UNEXPECTEDLY HIGH PRICES, SAID A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THE TOP PRICE FOR SEVEN MINI-STALLS SELLING WET GOODS WAS 15 350 AND THE LOWEST WAS fl 760. THE UPSET PRICE WAS $750.
BIDDERS OFFERED f5 500 AND $5 200 TO RENT TWO STALLS SELLING FISH, COMPARED WITH THE UPSET RENTAL OF f2 000.
THE TRADESMAN’S STALL AND THE NEWSPAPER STALL, WERE LEASED FOR A MONTHLY RENTAL OF $2 200 AND $5 150 RESPECTIVELY, AGAINST THE UPSET PRICES OF f720 AND f3 000.
SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS CAN START OPERATING THEIR BUSINESS ON MARCH 1 FOR A CONTRACT PERIOD OF THREE YEARS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
------o-------
ACCIDENT FREE AWARDS FOR NTSD DRIVERS * * * *
THIRTY-SEVEN DRIVERS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT WERE AWARDED ACCIDENT FREE CERTIFICATES FOR THEIR CAREFUL DRIVING DURING THE LAST THREE TO FIVE YEARS.
THIRTY-THREE OF THEM WERE COMMENDED FOR DRIVING REFUSE COLLECTION VEHICLES, STREET WASHING VEHICLES, MECHANICAL STREET SWEEPERS AND OTHER VEHICLES WITHOUT CAUSING TRAFFIC ACCIDENT DURING THE LAST FIVE YEARS WHILE THE OTHER FOUR WERE FOR THREE YEARS.
THEY RECEIVED THEIR AWARDS FROM THE DIRECTOR OF NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES, MR JIMMY SWEETMAN, IN A PRESENTATION CEREMONY TODAY AT THE KOWLOON REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
PRESENTING THE CERTIFICATES, MR SWEETMAN COMMENDED THE DRIVERS FOR THEIR ACCIDENT FREE RECORDS DURING THE SPECIFIED PERIOD.
MR SWEETMAN ALSO EXPRESSED HIS HOPE THAT THE DRIVERS WOULD CONTINUE THEIR GOOD DRIVING PRACTICE.
------o-------
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1982
12 -
LIFE GUARDS WANTED FOR GAZETTED BEACHES
XXX
THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT ARE RECRUITING LIFE GUARDS FOR DUTY AT GAZETTED BEACHES AND SWIMMING POOLS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, WHICH IS HANDLING THE RECRUITMENT EXERCISE, SAID TODAY (MONDAY) THAT THE POSTS WERE OPEN TO BOTH MEN AND WOMEN.
APPLICANTS SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST PRIMARY 6 EDUCATION AND HOLD A BRONZE MEDALLION CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY THE ROYAL LIFE GUARD SOCIETY AND A VALID FIRST AID CERTIFICATE.
THE STARTING SALARY FOR THE POST IS $2 040 A MONTH.
THOSE INTERESTED IN THE POST MAY APPROACH ANY BRANCH OFFICE OF THE LOCAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.
ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE ON TELEPHONES 3-666615, 3-695525 AND 5-270515.
-----0------
EXHIBITION OF 'PERFORMING ARTS’ BOOKS * * * *
AN EXHIBITION OF BOOKS ON ’PERFORMING ARTS’ WILL BE HELD IN THE YUEN LONG PUBLIC LIBRARY FROM FEBRUARY 18 TO 27.
THE EXHIBITION IS ORGANISED BY THE CULTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT’S NEW TERRITORIES PUBLIC LIBRARIES TO MARK THE SECOND YUEN LONG ARTS FESTIVAL.
IT WILL FEATURE ABOUT 300 VOLUMES OF BOOKS ON MUSIC, OPERA, THEATRE, CINEMA, BALLET AND DANCE.
MANY AUTHORITATIVE WORKS SUCH AS THE HARVARD DICTIONARY OF MUSIC, THE NEW GROVE DICTIONARY OF MUSIC, KOBBE’S COMPLETE OPERA BOOK, MCGRAW-HILL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF DRAMA WILL BE INCLUDED.
CATALOGUES OF THE BOOKS EXHIBITED WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE LIBRARY DURING THE EXHIBITION.
-----0------
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1982
13
DISTRICT BOARD ESSAY COMPETITION FOR TSUEN WAN STUDENTS * * *
SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN TSUEN WAN ARE BEING INVITED TO TAKE PART IN AN ESSAY COMPETITION IN CONNECTION WITH THE FORTHCOMING DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS.
THE COMPETITION, WHICH AIMS TO PROMOTE A SENSE OF BELONGING AMONG LOCAL STUDENTS, HAS BEEN ORGANISED BY TSUEN WAN CULTURE AND RECREATION CO-ORDINATING ASSOCIATION AND THE LOCAL DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMUNITY AND INFORMATION SUB-COMMITTEE.
IT WILL BE DIVIDED INTO JUNIOR (FORM 1 - FORM 4) AND SENIOR (FORM 5 - FORM 7) SECTIONS.
THE TOPIC CHOSEN FOR THE JUNIORS IS +THE IMPORTANCE OF DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS*, WHILE FOR THE SENIORS THE TOPIC IS +THE MEANING OF SETTING UP DISTRICT BOARDS AND PEOPLE’S EXPECTATION OF THEM*.
ENTRIES OF NOT MORE THAN 2 OOO WORDS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE OFFICE OF THE CO-ORDINATING ASSOCIATION AT CHUNG ON STREET, TSUEN WAN, BEFORE FEBRUARY 27.
THE FIRST THREE WINNERS WILL RECEIVE PRIZES OF $400, $300 AND $200.
THE ASSOCIATION IS ALSO ORGANISING A DEBATE FOR FORM 3 AND FORM 4 STUDENTS WHO HAVE TO SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATIONS TO THE ASSOCIATION OFFICE BY NOT LATER THAN THIS FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 19).
PRELIMINARIES WILL TAKE PLACE ON FEBRUARY 27, MARCH 6, MARCH 13 AND MARCH 20 AT THE COTTON SPINNERS ASSOCIATION PRE-VOCATIONAL SCHOOL, KWAI SHING CIRCUIT.
THE FINALS WILL BE HELD AT TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL ON MARCH 27.
THERE ARE FOUR TOPICS FOR DEBATE.
THE FIRST FOUR WINNERS WILL BE AWARDED BOOK TOKENS TO THE VALUE OF $1 000, $800, $600 AND $400.
------Q ------
SALT WATER MAINS WORK
X X X
SALT WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN AREAS IN THE KOWLOON EAST DISTRICT WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR 24 HOURS FROM 8 AM ON THURSDAY TO 8 AM ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 18-19) TO FACILITATE MAINS WORK AT JORDAN VALLEY NEAR SHAM WAN SHAN PUMPING HOUSE.
AREAS AFFECTED WILL BE KWUN TONG, LAM TIN, SAU MAU PING, NGAU TAU KOK, JORDAN VALLEY, NGAU CHI WAN, SAN PO KONG, KOWLOON BAY AND PING SHEK IN KOWLOON EAST.
0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
SUPPLEMENT
SPEECH BY H.E. THE GOVERNOR AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE TRANSPORT CONFERENCE ON "TRANSPORT INTO THE 80s" ON iONBAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1982_____________
Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Hong Kong is honoured to have been ohosen by the UK-Department of Transport and the UK-Institute of Civil Engineers for this exciting conference and I am delighted to be invited to open it.
First of all I welcome the visiting participants and wish them a pleasant and interesting stay here.
Modern Hong Kong has grown to its present stature inspite of great difficulties largely arising out of a massive influx of population. These difficulties have left scars still to be seen, for instance the squatters and the overcrowding. But problems are being tackled, often dramatically, and the visible combination of the challenge of the problems and the economic and social response to them makes Hong Kong a fascinating and impressive place for most visitors.
You are transport experts. Well our public transport system includes buses, trains, trams, ferries, a wide range of smaller vehicles and even a funicular tram and a cable car. 7*5ni passenger journeys are made each day. The modes range from the sleekly modem to the interestingly antique. I am afraid that if you have come expecting rickshaws and sedan chairs you will be disappointed, but many of the old stone paths built centuries ago for traditional foot-borne transport still exist, though now maintained for hirers, and I hope you will see junks under sail in the harbour.
In Hong Kong we have the usual combination of most big cities of high urban density and huge daily passenger loads. Our case is
♦ •omplicated by division of the conurbation .by both harbour and mountains.
/The problems ..
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House. Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191
2
These problems have been compounded by the rapid construction of new towns outside the old urban area which require massive expansion and extension of our transport systems. At the same time equally rapid growth in wealth has resulted in the number of private cars nearly doubling in 5 years. While desirable enough in itself, as you can imagine this has caught out the adequacy of our road system whose development rias in any case been delayed.
While comparatively recently Hong Kong’s transport and traffic in comparison to most other big cities was still rather better, traffic has temporarily outstripped construction and we can now only claim to be little worse. You will hear what is being done, and the situation should improve dramatically over the next 4 years. Meanwhile we are acutely conscious of our deficiencies and look forward to taking advantage of such a distinguished gathering of experts for advice which is free.
Hong Kong is of course a very large market for imported goods and expertise. Much of the development of our transport systems has been carried out by consultants, project managements and contractors from overseas enterprises both great and small, many of whom are represented at this Conference. We are glad to see old friends, and to welcome new ones.
In two ways, our transport policy differs from most Western economies:: first, for reasons of space and passenger volume, we must encourage the use of public rather than private transport; and second, in line with our economic philosophy, public transport is in the hands of private enterprise and, though under a degree of Government control, is expected to operate profitably without subsidy. This it does, even with fares which are generally only one-third of those in London.
I must beware of starting to speak of the economic and social policies on which Hong Kong has thrived - I could go on for hours, and I know you wish to get down to discussing the finer points of modem transport systems. I will therefore conclude by saying how much I hope your Conference will .be a success, and that delegates will look back on their stay in Hong Kong with interest and pleasure and a sense of having been truly wIccea. *
I have great pleasure in declaring open the Conference on ’’Transport into the 80s”.
- 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL 5-233191
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1982
CONTENTS
PAGE NO,
INTERESTS OF NT PEOPLE PROTECTED BY NTA ..................
TAI PO FIRE PREVWION COMMITTEE VISITS SQUATTER ARRAS.........
NARCOTICS SEIZURES UP 25 PER CW ........................
CENTRAL AND WESTERN CDC WINDS UP ...................
ADVICE GIVEN ON MENTAL HEALTH.......................
WATER STORAGE ...........................
BALLET SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED ........................
PARTY FOR CHILDREN ......................
DEATH SENTENCE COMfUTED..................
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1982
1
INTERESTS OF NT PEOPLE PROTECTED BY NTA * * * *
ONE OF THE PRIMARY ROLES OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, NOW THE NT REGIONAL WING OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS AND FURTHER THE LEGITIMATE ASPIRATIONS OF THE NT INDIGENOUS PEOPLE SO FAR AS THIS HAS BEEN WITHIN ITS POWER.
ADDRESSING THE NEW TERRITORIES HEUNG YEE KUK SPRING FESTIVAL PARTY THIS EVENING (TUESDAY), THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR IAN MACPHERSON, SAID THE ADMINISTRATION HAD ACTED ON THE ONE HAND AS AN INTERPRETER OF GOVERNMENT POLICY, AND ON THE OTHER AS AN ADVOCATE FOR THE NT PEOPLE.
+IT HAS BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE CONSTANT CONCERN OF THIS ADMINISTRATION TO TRY TO ENSURE THAT THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INTERESTS ARE KEPT REASONABLY BALANCED- THIS HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF ALL OUR ENDEAVOURS, AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THERE WILL BE NO ABDICATION OF THIS RESPONSIBILITY AS A RESULT OF THE ORGANISATIONAL CHANGES WHICH HAVE TAKEN PLACE OR ARE ABOUT TO TAKE PLACE - I REFER OF COURSE TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION WITH EFFECT FROM DECEMBER 1. 1981 AND OF THE LANDS DEPARTMENT WITH EFFECT FROM APRIL 1, 1982,+ MR MACPHERSON SAID. ’ ’
mat e«IHLEiTENT T0 WHICH WE HAVE SUCCEEDED IN OUR TASK IS PERHAPS NOT FOR ME TO JUDGE BUT I VENTURE TO SUGGEST THAT THE PROGRESS WE SEE ALL AR0UND us ,n THE NT INDICATES THAT WE HAVE NOT TOTALLY FAILED.
,«w.aaH0WEVER» WE W,LL CERTAINLY CONTINUE TO LOOK TO THE KUK FOR A°V £E WHICH WE HAVE POUND USEFUL IN THE FORMULATION OF GOVERNMENT POLICIES.+
, _ u,!1? MACPHERSON SAID IN THE PAST NINE MONTHS NO LESS THAN HAD received WATER SUPPLY AND DURING THE NEXT YEAR TO°BENEFIIT V LLAQES IN 15 AREAS THROUGHOUT THE NT COULD EXPECT
FURTHERMORE, THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT AIMED TO INTRODUCE A SUPPLY TO MOST NT VILLAGES WITHIN THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
ON HOUSING, MR MACPHERSON SAID HE WAS ENCOURAGED TO FIND THAT THE RECONVENED JOINT WORKING GROUP WAS PREPARED TO TAKE A CONSTRUCTIVE AND IN-DEPTH LOOK AT THE SUCCESSES AND FAILURES OF THE SMALL HOUSE POLICY AND THAT IT WOULD NOT EXCLUDE NEW THINKING FROM ITS DELIBERATIONS.
+ON THE QUESTION OF LAND EXCHANGE ENTITLEMENTS, THE GOVERNMENT IS AS YOU KNOW GIVING URGENT CONSIDERATION TO THIS PROBLEM. THE HEUNG YEE KUK WILL SHORTLY BE CONSULTED AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PRACTICAL AND SENSIBLE SUGGESTIONS,+ HE SAID.
+SO LET US HOPE THAT IN A SPIRIT OF SINCERITY AND COOPERATION WE CAN CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER TO FACE THE CHALLENGES OF THE FUTURE.+
/he said .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1982
2
HE SAID THIS SPIRIT WOULD BE ESSENTIAL IN THE JOINT EFFORTS TO KEEP PACE WITH THE NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE PEOPLE OF THE NT, AND ALL MUST BE CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED CONTINUOUSLY TO ADAPT TO THE CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES, PARTICULARLY SINCE THE EARLY 70S, TO WHICH RAPID ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTS GAVE RISE.
+WE WILL, THEREFORE, NEED TO LOOK AT OLD POLICIES IN THE LIGHT OF CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES IN ORDER TO REACH PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS.
♦I AM SURE YOU WILL AGREE WITH ME THAT ONLY WITH SUCH THOUGHT IN MIND WILL WE BE ABLE TO OVERCOME PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES DURING THIS RAPIDLY DEVELOPING PERIOD IN THE NT,+ MR MACPHERSON SAID.
ATTENDING THE PARTY WERE 600 GUESTS, INCLUDING THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK, MR LAU WONG-FAT, OTHER KUK MEMBERS, VILLAGE REPRESENTATIVES AND SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.
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TAI PO FIRE PREVENTION COMMITTEE VISITS SQUATTER AREAS M * X *
MEMBERS OF TAI PO DISTRICT FIRE PREVENTION CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE VISITED THREE SQUATTER AREAS IN THE DISTRICT TODAY (TUESDAY) TO SEE THE MEASURES BEING TAKEN BY OCCUPIERS TO PREVENT FIRE.
THE VISIT WAS ALSO AIMED AT IDENTIFYING AREAS WHERE IMPROVEMENTS COULD BE MADE.
THEY WENT TO PLUMMER VILLAGE, KWONG TAU SHAN SUN TSUEN AND SAM MUN TSAI SUN TSUEN, DISTRIBUTING FIRE-PREVENTION LEAFLETS TO THE RESIDENTS.
THEY ALSO SAW PROGRESS ON ERECTION OF WARNING SIGNBOARDS.
THE THREE SQUATTER AREAS HOUSE ABOUT 6 500 PEOPLE.
THE COMMITTEE IS CHAIRED BY AN UNOFFICIAL, MR TANG PUI-TAT. IT COMPRISES 15 OTHER UNOFFICIALS AND SEVEN OFFICIALS FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICE, THE POLICE AND THE FIRE SERVICES AND AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENTS.
ALSO AS PART OF ITS FIRE PREVENTION ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT TAI PO DISTRICT, THE COMMITTEE ORGANISED A FIRE-PREVENTION QUIZ COMPETITION LAST MONTH FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS WHICH ATTRACTED MORE THAN 900 ENTRIES. WINNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED INDIVIDUALLY ABOUT PRIZE COLLECTION.
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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1982
3
NARCOTICS SEIZURES UP 25 PER CENT
X M * M
VIGILANCE BY HONG KONG’S ANTI-NARCOTICS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTS RESULTED IN A 25 PER CENT INCREASE IN NARCOTICS SEIZURES LAST YEAR, THE HEAD OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE’S INVESTIGATION BUREAU, MR K.S. TONG SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
ADDRESSING THE CITY LIONS’ CLUB LUNCHEON MEETING, MR TONG REVIEWED ASPECTS OF THE DRUG TRAFFICKING SCENE IN HONG KONG DURING 1981.
THE BUMPER HARVEST IN THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE HAD BROUGHT DOWN THE PRICE OF NARCOTICS AND CAUSED THE TRAFFICKERS TO WORK OUT NEW SMUGGLING TACTICS, HE SAID.
MR TONG SAID THAT NO. 4 HEROIN, WHICH HAD NOT BEEN DISCOVERED IN MANY YEARS, HAD ONCE AGAIN FOUND ITS WAY INTO HONG KONG.
♦LAST YEAR’S FIND OF A HUGE QUANTITY WAS THE FIRST SINCE 1973, WHEN THE SERVICE SMASHED A LARGE NO. 4 HEROIN MANUFACTURING CENTRE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
+TRAFFICKERS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO BE USING DIVERSIFIED-ROUTE METHODS TO SMUGGLE NARCOTICS INTO HONG KONG VIA THE PHILIPPINES, TAIWAN AND MACAU, AND SOME OTHER NEIGHBOURING AREAS AS TRANSIT PORTS,+ HE SAID.
SMUGGLING OF FAKE OPIUM FROM CHINA WAS DISCOVERED LAST YEAR -TWO CASES IN HONG KONG AND ONE IN MACAU. MR TONG EXPLAINED THAT FAKE OPIUM WAS MANUFACTURED FROM HERBS, AND ITS COLOUR AND ODOUR WERE SIMILAR TO REAL OPIUM.
♦FOR MANY YEARS, HONG KONG HAS BEEN A PLACE WHICH DID NOT HAVE DRUG EXPORTS. HOWEVER, THE BIG SEIZURES LAST YEAR AT THE AIRPORT FROM TWO EUROPE-BOUND PASSENGERS, HAS ONCE AGAIN PUT HONG KONG INTO DISREPUTE,+ HE SAID.
IN THE FIRST CASE, THE POLICE NARCOTICS BUREAU SEIZED 1.5 KILOGRAMS OF NO. 3 HEROIN IN THREE SALTED-FISH BELONGING TO A FEMALE PASSENGER. IN AUGUST, CUSTOMS SEIZED 1.53 KILOGRAMS OF NO. 3 HEROIN FROM THE LUGGAGE OF A PASSENGER WHO WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE FOR AMSTERDAM.
♦THESE WERE ONLY ISOLATED INCIDENTS. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT ORGANISED SYNDICATES HAVE ONCE AGAIN BEEN ESTABLISHED IN HONG KONG TO CARRY OUT DRUG-EXPORT ACTIVITIES,+ HE EMPHASISED.
THE PRICE OF NARCOTICS IN HONG KONG, MR TONG SAID, WAS DETERMINED BY SUPPLY AND THE PRICE AT THE SUPPLYING SOURCES.
/at THjS............
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1982
- 4 -
AT THE END OF 1980, THE WHOLESALE PRICE OF RAW OPIUM IN THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE AREA WAS $2 240 A KILOGRAM COMPARED TO $500 AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, A DECREASE OF 78 PER CENT. THE PRICE OF NO. 3 HEROIN IN CHING-MAI DECLINED BY 40 PER CENT DURING 1981.
IN HONG KONG THE WHOLESALE PRICE OF RAW OPIUM DECLINED BY 12 PER CENT FROM $19 800 A KILOGRAM IN AUGUST 1980 TO $17 500 IN DECEMBER 1981, AND THE WHOLESALE PRICE OF NO. 3 HEROIN DROPPED BY 54 PER CENT FROM $137 780 A KILOGRAM IN AUGUST 1980 TO $63 800 IN DECEMBER 1981, HE SAID.
MR TONG ALSO DETAILED VARIOUS METHODS TRAFFICKERS EMPLOYED AND HOW THE OCEAN-GOING VESSELS WERE BEING USED TO SMUGGLE HUGE QUANTITIES OF NARCOTICS.
A VERY CLOSE WATCH WOULD BE KEPT BY THE CUSTOMS SERVICE AGAINST ALL SMUGGLING ATTEMPTS, HE SAID.
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CENTRAL AND WESTERN CDC WINDS UP
M M M
THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN CITY DISTRICT COMMITTEE WHICH HAS REPRESENTED THE VIEWS OF THE DISTRICT FOR THE PAST YEARS IS WINDING UP TO MAKE WAY FOR THE DISTRICT BOARD NEXT MONTH.
AT ITS FINAL MEETING TODAY (TUESDAY). THE CITY DISTRICT COMMISSIONER, MR TONY CLARK, THANKED ALL THE MEMBERS FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION OVER THE YEARS AND PRESENTED THEM WITH LETTERS OF APPRECIATION.
CITY DISTRICT COMMITTEES (CDC’S) WERE SET UP IN ALL URBAN DISTRICTS IN THE LATE 196O’S TO BRING TOGETHER NOMINATED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE LIVING AND WORKING IN THE DISTRICTS WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE AREAS.
*THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN AN UNDOUBTED SUCCESS,* SAID MR CLARK XT'™?*1! S0 ,H CENTRAL AND WESTERN WHERE CDC MEETINGS HAVE SEEN SOME FORTHRIGHT AND VERY ENCOURAGING DEBATE ACROSS THE TABLE.* „ lu„HE *AS GRATIFIED THAT THE SYSTEM WAS NOT BEING SCRAPPED BUT W,TH THE FORMATION OF DISTRICT BOARDS WHICH WILL nJiiSr RESP0NSE 0N THE GOVERNMENT SIDE AND AN
ELEMENT OF ELECTED REPRESENTATION ON THE UNOFFICIAL SIDE.
THAT CEHTRAL AND WESTERN HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE HEART OF HONG KONG.
—A ’S THE SEAT 0F GOVERNMENT, THE CENTRE OF THE BUSINESS AND SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE IMPORTATION
AND DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD FOR THE TERRITORY.
*!?H£LG2ES °” HERE AFFECTS EVERYBODY, SO THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN CDC HAS HAD AN EXTREMELY USEFUL ROLE TO PLAY. **
**F ICT ®°ARD ,S HALF AS EFFECTIVE AS THE CITY
DISTRICT COMMITTEE,* HE ADDED, *IT WILL BE A RESOUNDING SUCCESS.*
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/5
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1982
5.
ADVICE GIVEN ON MENTAL HEALTH
X * K
THE KEY TO SOUND MENTAL HEALTH LIES IN STRIKING A BALANCE BETWEEN WORK AND LEISURE AND MAINTAINING A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH FAMILY NIEMBERS AND FRIENDS.
THE ADVICE WAS GIVEN BY DR S.C. LEUNG, HEAD OF THE CENTRAL HEALTH EDUCATION UNIT OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE MENTAL HEALTH EXHIBITION HELD AT THE ASSEMBLY HALL OF WONG TAI SIN COMMUNITY CENTRE TODAY (TUESDAY).
THE EXHIBITION IS PART OF THE DEPARTMENT’S PROGRAMME STARTED LAST YEAR TO PROMOTE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF MENTAL HEALTH.
DR LEUNG POINTED OUT THAT MORE AND MORE PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WERE UNDER STRESS AND STRAIN, A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THE HIGHLY INDUSTRIALISED AND ADVANCED SOCIETIES DUE TO KEEN COMPETITION, CROWDEDNESS, POLLUTION AND PARTICULARLY, A GROWING LACK OF INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION.
EXPLAINING THE ROLE TO BE PLAYED BY FAMILY MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF MENTAL PATIENTS, SHE SAID THAT ACCEPTANCE AND ENCOURAGEMENT ON THEIR PART WOULD HELP PATIENTS REHABILITATE AND INTEGRATE INTO SOCIETY.
ON THE OTHER HAND, SHE SAID IT WAS EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THE NATURE OF MENTAL ILLNESS AND TO SEEK EARLY TREATMENT.
♦ONLY BY EARLY TREATMENT OF MENTAL ILLNESS, SUCCESSFUL REHABILITATION AND PROMOTION OF MENTAL HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY CAN MENTAL DISEASE BE EFFECTIVELY CONTROLLED,+ SHE ADDED.
THE EXHIBITION WAS OPENED BY THE WONG TAI SIN CITY DISTRICT COMMISSIONER, MR I.R. STRACHAN AND MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT BOARD, DR CONRAD LAM AND NFS NG CHOW MAY-LIN.
THE EXHIBITION WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC EVERY DAY BETWEEN 10 AM AND 4 PM FROM TODAY TO FRIDAY.
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WATER STORAGE
XXX
STORAGE IN HONG
OTAAH KONG’S RESERVOIRS AT 9 AM TODAY (TUESDAY)
2$2LATr-42,7 PER CENT 0F CAPACITY, OR 246.520 MILLION CUBIC METRES, EQUAL TO 216 DAYS’ CONSUMPTION.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR THE RESERVOIRS CONTAINED 272 72^ MILLION CUBIC METRES OF WATER, REPRESENTING 47.2 PER CENT OF CAPACITyI
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/6 ........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1982
6
BALLET SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED
M K M
THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT WHICH ORGANISES AND PROVIDES COURSES ON INTRODUCTORY BALLET FOR HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN THROUGHOUT HONG KONG HAS BEEN OFFERED SUPPORT BY A LEADING HONG KONG BALLET SCHOOL.
THE JEAN WONG BALLET SCHOOL HAS OFFERED A NUMBER OF SCHOLARSHIPS TO TALENTED STUDENTS BEING TRAINED BY THE DEPARTMENT’S RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE.
AS A RESULT OF THE OFFER OF SCHOLARSHIPS, SOME 300 APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED FROM STUDENTS UNDERGOING ELEMENTARY BALLET CLASSES IN RSS CENTRES THROUGHOUT HONG KONG.
♦AND MORE APPLICATIONS ARE POURING IN,+ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
♦THE OFFER OF THE SCHOLARSHIP HAS BEEN MADE IN THE SPIRIT OF THE 1982 ARTS FESTIVAL,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE ONE-YEAR SCHOLARSHIP IS ELIGIBLE TO BOYS AND GIRLS AGED BETWEEN NINE AND 12. EACH IS WORTH ABOUT $2 700 IN LESSONS HELD THREE TIMES A WEEK EITHER ON HONG KONG ISLAND OR IN KOWLOON.
♦IT IS RENEWABLE AT THE END OF THE YEAR, DEPENDING ON PROGRESS MADE BY THE STUDENT,♦ THE SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED.
THE SELECTION OF A SUITABLE APPLICANT WILL BE MADE BY A PANEL OF SIX JUDGES I TWO FROM THE RSS, TWO FROM THE SCHOOL, AN ARTIST FROM NEW YORK’S JOFFREY BALLET COMPANY WHICH WILL BE PERFORMING HERE IN CONNECTION WITH THE ARTS FESTIVAL, AND A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE ARTS FESTIVAL.
THE RSS STARTED ELEMENTARY BALLET CLASSES IN THE SUMMER OF 1980 DURING WHICH 120 STUDENTS WERE TRAINED.
TODAY, THE SERVICE IS RUNNING 28 INTRODUCTORY BALLET CLASSES AT VARIOUS CENTRES THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.
THERE ARE SOME 800 PUPILS STUDYING BALLET FOR A FEE OF 13 EACH PER COURSE.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1982
7
PARTY FOR CHILDREN * * *
THE ANNUAL CHILDREN’S PARTY OF THE GOVERNMENT SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 21) AT THE DEPARTMENT’S COMPOUND, OIL STREET, NORTH POINT.
OVER 1 500 CHILDREN ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND THE PARTY, WHICH WILL START AT 1 PM.
THE PROGRAMME WILL INCLUDE VARIOUS SIDE-SHOWS, AND A MERRY-GO-ROUND, AS WELL AS A CHILDREN’S DRAWING COMPETITION, GAMES STALLS, A MAGIC AND ACROBATIC SHOW, AND A SHOOTING GALLERY.
THE DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT SUPPLIES, MR R. KILVERT, WILL PRESENT SPORTS TROPHIES AND BANNERS TO THE WINNERS OF THE DEPARTMENT’S SPORTS EVENTS.
MRS A.H. HSU, WIFE OF THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR, WILL PRESENT PRIZES TO WINNERS OF THE CHILDREN’S DRAWING COMPETITION.
THE PARTY WILL END AT 5 PM, WITH A LUCKY DRAW.
NOTE TO EDITORS!
.YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE ANNUAL CHILDREN’S PARTY OF THE GOVERNMENT SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT, WHICH WILL BE HELD AT THE GSD COMPOUND, OIL STREET, NORTH POINT, FROM 1 TO 5 PM ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 21).
- - 0 - -
DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED
* M M
THE GOVERNOR, AFTER TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, HAS DECIDED THAT THE DEATH SENTENCE PASSED ON LAW WING-HONG ON DECEMBER 15, I960 SHOULD BE COMMUTED TO IMPRISONMENT OF 25 YEARS.
LAW WAS FOUND GUILTY OF THE MURDER OF A WOMAN, WONG SIU-LING, IN YU CHAU STREET, KOWLOON ON MARCH 9, 1980.
- o - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
'WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1982
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GARMENT MANUFACTURERS URGED TO EXPLORE JAPANESE MARKET .......... 1
APPOINTMENT OF POSTMASTER GENERAL.............................. 2
MORE PUBLIC SPIRITED RESIDENTS FOR DISTRICT BOARDS .............. 2
MR ROBERT FELL TO STAY ON ..................................... 4
WARNING ON MISUSE OF STUDENT TRAVEL CARD ........................ 4
CHANCE FOR TEACHERS TO ACHIEVE +QUALIFIEI>4- STATUS.............. 5
HUNDREDS DRAWN TO PHOTOGRAPHIC DISPLAY ABOUT HONG KONG .......... 6
MACAU PRISONS CHIEF VISITS CORRECTIONAL SERVICES ................ 6
PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE TO OPEN FOUR MORE URBAN OFFICES .......... 7
BOARD TO LOOK OVER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS..............e. 8
FRESH WATER MAINS WORK
8
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1?, 1982
GARMENT MANUFACTURERS URGED TO EXPLORE JAPANESE MARKET
X X * X
THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS, MR BILL DORWARD TODAY (WEDNESDAY) URGED HONG KONG GARMENT MANUFACTURERS TO MAKE A SERIOUS AND DETERMINED EFFORT TO DEVELOP EXPORTS TO JAPAN.
ADDRESSING THE SPRING DINNER OF THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG GARMENT MANUFACTURERS, MR DORWARD SAID THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE JAPANESE MARKET - THE LAST MAJOR ONE WHERE HONG KONG WAS NOT REQUIRED TO EXERCISE EXPORT RESTRAINT - WOULD BE INSURANCE AGAINST THE THREATENING CLOUD OF PROTECTIONISM HANGING OVER HONG KONG’S MAJOR NEGOTIATIONS THIS YEAR.
♦ IT WAS GRATIFYING TO SEE GARMENT EXPORTS TO JAPAN PUT ON A HEALTHY GROWTH LAST YEAR. BUT THE FIGURE OF 60 PER CENT IS LESS IMPRESSIVE WHEN ONE LOOKS AT THE VALUE - $1 125 MILLION - AS COMPARED WITH THE $10 700 MILLION EARNED FROM GARMENT EXPORTS TO THE UNITED STATES,+ HE SAID.
COMMENTING ON A REPETITION OF REASONS FREQUENTLY GIVEN FOR HONG KONG’S RELATIVELY POOR PERFORMANCE IN JAPANESE MARKET, M? DORWARD SAID, +AS THE WORLD’S LARGEST GARMENT EXPORTERS, IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE HOW WE CAN BE DOING SO MUCH WRONG IN JAPAN WHEN WE ARE OBVIOUSLY DOING SOMETHING RIGHT IN THE REST OF THE WORLD.*
HE RECOMMENDED GARMENT MANUFACTURERS TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO THIS PUZZLE IN THEIR EFFORTS TO DEVELOP EXPORTS TO JAPAN.
ON THE FORTHCOMING BI-LATERAL NEGOTIATIONS, MR DORWARD CAUTIONED THAT HONG KONG NEGOTIATORS WILL BE FACED IN 1982 WITH POLITICALLY POWERFUL DEMANDS AND THREATS BASED ON POLICIES WHICH, SAID MR DORWARD, WERE OPENLY HOSTILE TO OUR PAST SUCCESS AND WHICH ACTUALLY SOUGHT TO DAMAGE OUR INTERESTS, NOT BECAUSE WE WERE THE CAUSE OF THEIR PROBLEMS BUT RATHER AS AN ACT OF POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY IN THE FACE OF DOMESTIC PRESSURES.
REVIEWING THE GARMENT INDUSTRY’S PERFORMANCE OVER THE PAST YEAR, MR DORWARD REMARKED THAT EMPLOYMENT IN THE INDUSTRY GREW BY ABOUT 2.5 PER CENT- ELECTRICITY CONSUMED BY THE GARMENT SECTOR ROSE BY ABOUT 10 PER CENT OVER THE YEAR BEFORE, WHEN THE AVERAGE RISE FOR ALL INDUSTRY WAS ONLY ABOUT THREE PER CENT.
QUOTA UTILISATION FOR GARMENTS REACHED 92 PER CENT AND 79 PER CENT FOR THE USA AND EEC RESPECTIVELY IN 1981 AS COMPARED WITH 87 PER CENT AND 83 PER CENT IN 1980.
♦THIS IS ALTOGETHER A REMARKABLE PERFORMANCE IN A DIFFICULT YEAR AND IS A TRIBUTE TO ALL CONCERNED IN THE INDUSTRY WHICH HAS ACHIEVED THE STATUS OF WORLD LEADER IN EXPORTS OF FINISHED GARMENTS,* HE SAID.
*IT IS AN EVEN MORE REMARKABLE PERFORMANCE WHEN IT IS REMEMBERED THAT TWO THIRDS OF OUR TEXTILE EXPORTS ARE SUBJECT TO QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS AND THEIR GROWTH IN VOLUME TERMS IS THEREFORE VERY LIMITED. FOR MOST OF THE MAJOR CATEGORIES OF GARMENTS IT IS ABOUT TWO OR THREE PER CENT A YEAR. FOR WOOL PRODUCTS TO THE UNITED STATES, IT HAS NEVER BEEN MORE THAN ONE PER CENT,* MR DORWARD CONCLUDED.
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"PiY. FEBRUARY 17, 1982
APPOINTMENT OF POSTMASTER GENERAL * * *
THE GOVERNOR HAS APPROVED THE APPOINTMENT OF MR HUGH ARDLEY TO SUCCEED MR ARTHUR HEATHCOTE AS POSTMASTER GENERAL WHEN MR HEATHCOTE RETIRES IN DECEMBER 1982.
AFTER 27 YEARS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM CIVIL SERVICE, MR ARDLEY WAS POSTED TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ON ATTACHMENT IN FEBRUARY 1973 AND WORKED IN THE FINANCE AND ECONOMIC SERVICES BRANCHES UNTIL HIS RETURN TO THE UK IN AUGUST 1975.
HE THEN JOINED THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IN AUGUST 1976 AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER STAFF GRADE C AND WAS PROMOTED TO HIS PRESENT RANK OF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER STAFF GRADE B IN SEPTEMBER 1978.
FROM 1976 UNTIL AUGUST 1981, HE WAS DEPUTY SECRETARY (MANAGEMENT) IN THE ADMINISTRATION BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, AND SINCE OCTOBER 1981 HE HAS BEEN ON ATTACHMENT TO TRANSPORT BRANCH FOR SPECIAL DUTIES CONNECTED WITH THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE KOWLOON CANTON RAILWAY FROM A GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT INTO A PUBLIC CORPORATION.
MR HEATHCOTE JOINED THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AS CHIEF CONTROLLER OF POSTS IN FEBRUARY 1973, AFTER WORKING IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, NYASALAND, NIGERIA AND LESOTHO.
HE WAS APPOINTED DEPUTY POSTMASTER GENERAL IN MARCH 1977 AND POSTMASTER GENERAL IN JANUARY 1980. MR HEATHCOTE WAS AWARDED THE OBE IN 1969.
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MORE PUBLIC SPIRITED RESIDENTS FOR DISTRICT BOARDS M * *
THE INTRODUCTION OF ELECTED MEMBERS INTO DISTRICT BOARDS WILL INVOLVE MORE CAPABLE AND PUBLIC-SPIRITED RESIDENTS INTO THIS EFFECTIVE AND PROGRESSING MACHINERY, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR IAN MACPHERSON, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MR MACPHERSON WAS SPEAKING AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF A COMMUNITY AFFAIRS BRANCH OFFICE (CABO) TO SERVE ON TING AND YAU 01 ESTATES IN TUEN MUN.
HE SAID HE WAS GREATLY ENCOURAGED TO KNOW THAT 20 CANDIDATES WOULD STAND FOR ELECTION IN TUEN MUN AND HE CALLED ON ALL REGISTERED ELECTORS TO COME FORWARD ON MARCH 4 TO VOTE FOR THE RIGHT PERSON TO SERVE THEM.
♦TUEN MUN IS DEVELOPING AT A REMARKABLY RAPID PACE,* W MACPHERSON SAID. +THIS YEAR ALONE, THE POPULATION WILL INCREASE FROM 140 000 TO 200 000, MOST OF WHOM WILL BE LIVING IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES, LIKE ON TING AND YAU 01.♦
/MR MACPHERSON .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1982
MR MACPHERSON SAID AMID SUCH RAPID PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT AND SHARP INCREASE OF POPULATION, IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT EVERY EFFORT BE MADE TO ENSURE THAT NEWLY-ARRIVED RESIDENTS WOULD ADJUST TO A NEW ENVIRONMENT AND INTEGRATE WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AS EASILY AND CONVENIENTLY AS POSSIBLE.
♦ THE OPENING OF THIS OFFICE WILL, I BELIEVE, CERTAINLY BE OF GREAT ASSISTANCE IN THIS PROCESS,♦ HE SAID.
IT WOULD PROVIDE THE BEST BASE FOR THE DISTRICT OFFICE TO REMAIN CLOSE TO THE NEWCOMERS, TO LEARN OF THEIR NEEDS AND WISHES, AND TO BUILD UP GOOD RAPPORT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE.
THE RAPID PACE OF INTAKE OF RESIDENTS AT A RATE OF 200 TO 300 PER DAY ALSO CALLED FOR TIMELY PROVISION OF VARIOUS SERVICES, IN PARTICULAR SCHOOLS. KINDERGARTENS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, FOR A YOUNG POPULATION MOST OF WHOM WERE YOUNG FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN.
♦ I AM GLAD TO LEARN THAT THROUGH THE CO-ORDINATION OF THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE ACTING ON THE SOUND ADVICE OF THE DISTRICT BOARD ALL THESE FACILITIES ARE BEING STEADILY AND RAPIDLY PROVIDED TO MATCH THE INTAKE OF RESIDENTS,♦ HE SAID.
FOR A NEW COMMUNITY LIKE TUEN MUN, RESIDENTS’ PARTICIPATION AND INVOLVEMENT WAS INDISPENSABLE IN BUILDING UP A HAPPY, COHESIVE AND HARMONIOUS COMMUNITY.
MR MACPHERSON SAID HE WAS SURE THAT THE SETTING UP OF THE FIRST CABO WOULD USHER IN A NEW ERA IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN THIS FAST EXPANDING TOWNSHIP.
THE OFFICE, WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF TING LUNG HOUSE IN ON TING ESTATE, WILL OPEN FROM 8.45 AM TO 5.15 PM ON WEEK-DAYS AND FROM 9 AM TO 12 NOON ON SATURDAYS.
RESIDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO GO THERE TO MAKE STATUTORY DECLARATIONS, FILE COMPLAINTS, GET ANSWERS TO GENERAL ENQUIRIES AND OBTAIN GOVERNMENT PAMPHLETS AND FORMS.
ALSO ATTENDING TODAY’S OPENING WAS THE DISTRICT OFFICER, NR BILLY LAM, WHO REVEALED THAT TWO OTHER CABOS WERE PLANNED FOR THE DISTRICT, ONE AT TAI HING ESTATE AND THE OTHER AT BUTTERFLY ESTATE.
THE FIRST CABO IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WAS OPENED AT MUI WO LAST SEPTEMBER.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1982
4
MR ROBERT FELL TO STAY ON
XXX
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT NEWS HAD BEEN RECEIVED FROM LONDON THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE HAD AGREED TO RELEASE MR ROBERT FELL TO ENABLE HIM TO CONTINUE SERVING AS HONG KONG’S COMMISSIONER FOR SECURITIES AND COMMISSIONER FOR COMMODITIES TRADING ON A LONGER TERM BASIS.
THE SPOKESMAN CONFIRMED THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAD INVITED MR FELL TO CONTINUE SERVING IN HIS PRESENT CAPACITY ON A LONGER TERM BASIS. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FORMALITIES AND PROCEDURES THAT HAVE TO BE COMPLETED, BUT IT IS EXPECTED THAT A FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE MADE SHORTLY.
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WARNING ON MISUSE OF STUDENT TRAVEL CARD
*****
A STUDENT WHO TRANSFERRED HIS CONCESSIONARY TRAVEL CARD TO ANOTHER PERSON HAD HIS PASS WITHDRAWN BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT RECENTLY.
SIX OTHERS WHO BREACHED THE CONDITIONS OF ISSUE AND USE OF THE STUDENT TRAVEL CARD, WERE GIVEN WARNING LETTERS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY THAT MORE SEVERE ACTION WILL BE TAKEN AGAINST FUTURE CASES.
HE REMINDED THE PUBLIC THAT IT WAS AN OFFENCE TO PAY STUDENT CONCESSIONARY FARES WITHOUT A VALID STUDENT TRAVEL CARD, AND EMPHASISED THAT IT WAS SIMPLE FOR STUDENTS TO OBTAIN THESE PASSES.
♦ ALL STUDENTS AGED FROM 12 TO 25 AND WHO ARE ENROLLED IN FULL TIME COURSES CAN APPLY FOR THE CARD AT ANY TIME THROUGH THEIR SCHOOLS DURING THE COURSE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR,* HE SAID.
LATEST FIGURES SHOW THAT 448 002 SUCH CARDS HAD BEEN ISSUED.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1982
CHANCE FOR TEACHERS TO ACHIEVE +QUALIFIED+ STATUS *****
A NEWLY STRUCTURED THREE-YEAR PART-TIME IN-SERVICE TRAINING COURSE FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS IS BEING CONDUCTED THIS SEPTEMBER AT GRANTHAM COLLEGE OF EDUCATION.
THE COURSE WILL CATER FOR TEACHERS EMPLOYED IN AIDED OR PRIVATE PRIMARY SCHOOLS WHO, ALTHOUGH SUITABLY QUALIFIED ACADEMICALLY, DO NOT POSSESS THE PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS TO MAKE THEM ELIGIBLE FOR CLASSIFICATION AS +QUALIFIED TEACHERS.*
OTHER TEACHERS SUCH AS PART-TIME, SUPPLY, SECONDARY SCHOOL, KINDERGARTEN AND EVENING CLASS TEACHERS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE COURSE, AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
CLASSES WILL BE CONDUCTED IN CANTONESE AND NO TUITION FEES ARE PAYABLE, HE SAID.
CONTENTS OF THE COURSE WILL INCLUDE LECTURES, TUTORIALS AND SUPERVISION OF TEACHING OVER THREE ACADEMIC YEARS, AT THE END OF WHICH CERTIFICATES ACCORDING QUALIFIED TEACHERS STATUS ARE AWARDED TO THOSE WHO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE COURSE.
TRAINEES WILL BE REQUIRED TO ATTEND THREE TWO-HOUR SESSIONS PER WEEK FROM 4.30 PM TO 6.30 PM ON TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS AND FRIDAYS.
APPLICANTS SHOULD BE FULL-TIME PERMITTED OR REGISTERED TEACHERS IN AIDED OR PRIVATE SCHOOLS, OR GRADUATES OF HONG KONG BAPTIST COLLEGE FROM 1970 ONWARDS, HONG KONG SHUE YAN COLLEGE (POST SECONDARY SECTION) FROM 1976 ONWARDS, OR LINGNAN COLLEGE FROM 1979 ONWARDS.
FINAL YEAR STUDENTS OF THE THREE ABOVE MENTIONED POSTSECONDARY COLLEGES ARE ALSO ELIGIBLE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED OF APPLICANTS ARE FIVE SUBJECTS AT GRADE E OR ABOVE, INCLUDING CHINESE LANGUAGE IN THE HONG KONG CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION- OR ITS EQUIVALENT.
APPLICATION FORMS AND GUIDANCE NOTES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, LEE GARDENS, THIRD FLOOR, HYSAN AVENUE, HONG KONG, AND GRANTHAM COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, 42 GASCOIGNE ROAD, KOWLOON.
COMPLETED FORMS IN DUPLICATE, TOGETHER WITH PHOTO COPIES OF THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS, SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION JOINT SELECTION BOARD AND FORWARDED TO GRANTHAM COLLEGE CF EDUCATION BY 5 PM ON MARCH 5.
TEACHERS SHOULD SUBMIT THEIR FORMS THROUGH HEADS OF SCHOOLS, AND FINAL YEAR STUDENTS OF THE THREE POST-SECONDARY COLLEGES THROUGH THEIR PRESIDENTS.
GRADUATES OF THE THREE COLLEGES SHO( 0 SUBMIT THE FORMS IN PERSON, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
♦APPLICATIONS FORWARDED BY POST, LATE OR INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE PROCESSED,* HE SAID.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1982
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HUNDREDS DRAWN TO PHOTOGRAPHIC DISPLAY ABOUT HONG KONG
*****
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ATTRACTED DAILY BY A DISPLAY OF COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHS ABOUT LIFE IN HONG KONG, HELD AT THE REDDER STREET ARCADE OF THE LANDMARK IN CENTRAL.
THE PHOTOGRAPHS IN THE +THIS IS HONG KONG* DISPLAY IN CENTRAL HAVE BEEN CHOSEN FROM PHOTOGRAPHS APPEARING IN THE HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT OVER THE YEARS AND EXHIBITED LAST OCTOBER AT THE +HONG KONG IN LONDON SHOW* HELD AT THE BARBICAN.
THE DISPLAY IS PRESENTED BY THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES AS ONE OF THE OUTDOOR PROGRAMMES OF THE TENTH HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL, AND WILL LAST UNTIL FEBRUARY 27.
IT CONSISTS OF 24 HIGH QUALITY COLOUR PRINTS FROM TRANSPARENCIES TAKEN BY GIS STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS.
PEOPLE AT WORK, DOING EXERCISES, OR PERFORMING DANCES ARE AMONG THOSE FEATURED IN THE DISPLAY, WHICH AIMS ALSO AT SHOWING THAT TRADITIONAL CHINESE ARTS AND CUSTOMS ARE STILL RETAINED WHILE THIS CITY RAPIDLY DEVELOPS.
LANDSCAPE PICTURES WHICH ARE ALSO ON SHOW VIVIDLY ILLUSTRATE HONG KONG’S NATURAL BEAUTY WHICH GAVE RISE TO HONG KONG’S LABEL AS +THE PEARL OF THE ORIENT.*
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MACAU PRISONS CHIEF VISITS CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
* * *
THE DIRECTOR OF PRISONS CENTRAL, MACAU, DR CORDEIRO DIAS, ARRIVED IN HONG KONG TODAY (WEDNESDAY) FOR AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR THOMAS GARNER, AT THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS IN WAN CHAI.
DR DIAS HAD TALKS WITH MR GARNER ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THE SERVICES’ PROGRAMMES.
HE ALSO VISITED STANLEY PRISON AND THE DEPARTMENT’S STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE.
/7........
WEDNESDAY, FEBHUaHY 17, 1982
7
PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE TO OPEN FOUR MORE URBAN OFFICES * * * *
PLANS ARE BEING MADE TO SET UP FOUR MORE PUBLIC ENQUIRY OFFICES IN THE URBAN AREAS DURING THE NEXT (1982/83) FINANCIAL YEAR IN ADDITION TO THE 31 ENQUIRY COUNTERS ALREADY IN EXISTENCE.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (WEDNESDAY), A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION SAID THIS WAS BEING MADE IN VIEW OF THE GROWING DEMAND FOR PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICES.
HE REVEALED THAT DURING THE YEAR, 6 791 966 CALLERS VISITED THE VARIOUS PUBLIC ENQUIRY COUNTERS AS COMPARED WITH 5 223 666 IN 1980, AN INCREASE OF WELL OVER 30 PER CENT.
THE EXISTING 31 PUBLIC ENQUIRY COUNTERS LAST YEAR PROVIDED VARIOUS SERVICES, SUCH AS DISTRIBUTING GOVERNMENT FORMS AND INFORMATION LEAFLETS, ADMINISTERING STATUTORY DECLARATIONS, PROVIDING INFORMATION ON GOVERNMENT SERVICES, RENDERING ASSISTANCE IN SOLVING PERSONAL PROBLEMS, DEALING WITH COMPLAINTS AND ARRANGING REFERRALS WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS DIFFICULT AND COMPLEX AND REQUIRED EXPERT ADVICE.
IN 1981, SOME 2 224 000 ENQUIRIES WERE HANDLED. INFORMATION MOST FREQUENTLY SOUGHT CONCERNED JOB VACANCIES, THE LOCATION, TELEPHONE NUMBER AND OPENING HOURS OF GOVERNMENT OFFICES, RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICES, APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION TO THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC AND APPLICATION FOR PUBLIC HOUSING.
IN THIS SAME PERIOD, 4 293 355 FORMS AND INFORMATION LEAFLETS WERE DISTRIBUTED. THOSE IN GREATEST DEMAND WERE APPLICATION FOR INCLUSION IN A REGISTER OF ELECTORS (DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION), APPLICATION FORMS FOR GOVERNMENT JOBS, HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME APPLICATION FORMS, +WALK FOR MILLION* SPONSOR FORMS AND GENERAL CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION PRIVATE CANDIDATES ENTRY FORMS.
DURING THE YEAR* 274 548 PERSONAL CASES WERE HANDLED. OF THESE, 93 PER CENT WERE REQUESTS FOR STATUTORY DECLARATION SERVICE, APPLICATIONS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS, APPLICATIONS FOR HOUSING AND CLAIMING THE LOSS OF DOCUMENTS.
SOME 2 600 CASES UNDER THE FREE LEGAL ADVICE SCHEME WERE TACKLED BY LAW SOCIETY’S SOLICITORS IN THE FOUR CITY DISTRICT OFFICES IN WAN CHAI, EASTERN, WONG TAI SIN AND MONG KOK. THE SCHEME WHICH IS ADMINISTERED BY THE HONG KONG LAW SOCIETY AND FINANCED BY THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN OPERATING IN CDOS SINCE NOVEMBER 1978.
ANOTHER SERVICE BEING PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC AT PUBLIC ENQUIRY COUNTERS IS THE +RENT OFFICER SCHEME* WHICH IS AIMED AT ASSISTING THE LANDLORDS, TENANTS AND SUB-TENANTS WISHING TO DISCUSS THEIR TENANCY PROBLEMS WITH THE RENT OFFICERS.
DURING THE YEAR, 14 919 CALLERS MADE USE OF THE SERVICE AND DISCUSSED THEIR PROBLEMS WITH THE RENT OFFICERS WITHIN 10 CDOS IN THE URBAN AREA.
0 -
/&
JitDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1982'
8
BOARD TO LOOK OVER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS
*****
MEMBERS OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD WILL TOUR POK FU LAM VILLAGE AND WAH FU ESTATE ON SATURDAY MORNING (FEBRUARY 20) TO LOOK OVER THE AREA’S LATEST ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
THIS IS PART OF A SERIES OF FAMILIARISATION TOURS AIMED AT ENABLING DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS TO GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE VARIOUS FEATURES OF THE DISTRICT.
DURING THE TOUR, THE DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WILL BE SHOWN A SITE IN POK FU LAM VILLAGE DESIGNATED FOR DEVELOPMENT AS A SITTING-OUT AREA. THEY WILL ALSO INSPECT A NEW FLUSH TOILET IN THE VILLAGE.
FOLLOWING THIS. THEY WILL TAKE A LOOK AT A BOX CULVERT BESIDES CLAYMORE AVENUE AND EXAMINE RESURFACING WORK BEING CARRIED OUT IN THE VICINITY TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT.
THE DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WILL ALSO TOUR WAH FU ESTATE AND VISIT A FAMILY RESIDING THERE.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT WHICH WILL LAST FROM 9 AM TO 12.15 PM. MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES COVERING THE EVENT SHOULD ARRIVE AT 9.15 AM AT THE POK FU LAM VILLAGE KAIFONG WELFARE ASSOCIATION. STAFF OF THE SOUTHERN CITY DISTRICT OFFICE WILL ASSIST THE MEDIA.
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FRESH WATER MAINS WORK * * * *
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO PREMISES OFF FOR NINE HOURS FROM 9 AM TO 6 PM FACILITATE WATER MAINS CONNECTION.
IN SHEUNG SHU I WILL BE TURNED ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 19) TO
AFFECTED BY THE SHUT OFF WILL BE a ALL PREMISES ALONG TAI PO ROAD BETWEEN KOWLOON HANG AND SHEUNG SHU I CROSS ROAD? CASTLE f*** *0AE <SA* T,N SECTION) BETWEEN SHEUNG SHU I CROsI ROAD AND MA CHAU» FAN KAM R0AD BETWEEN SHEUNG SHU I CROSS ROAD AND CHIU KENG VILLAGE, JOCKEY CLUB ROAD BETWEEN FANLING ROUNDABOUT AND AVENUE INCLUDING SHEK WU HUI, MAN KAM TO ROAD, SHA TAU KOK ROAD BETWEEN FANLING ROUNDABOUT AND SHA TAU KOK MARKET INCLUDING LUEN WO HUI AND PING CHE ROAD IN TA KWU LING.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL 5-233191
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1982
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
AREA TRAFFIC CONTROL FOR HK ISLAND ............................ 1
SPECIAL ETV PROGRAMME ON SAFETY EDUCATION ..................... 2
SHA TIN COOKED FOOD STaLLS FOR LEASE........................... 2
INAUGURATION OF WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD........................ 3
TENDERS INVITED FOR MORE URBAN AND NT TAXI LICENCES............ 4
SEVEN NT SITES FOR AUCTION .................................... 4
CONTRACT AWARDED FOR QUEENSWAY FLYOVER ........................ 5
CHIEF SECRETARY LOOKS OVER FIRE SERVICES ...................... 6
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF KWAI FOO ROAD ............................ $
SYDNEY CONSERVATORIUM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ...................... 7
FINAL JUDGING OF TELE-MATCH DESIGNS ........................... q
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1982
1
AREA TRAFFIC CONTROL FOR HK ISLAND
* * *
THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE OF THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS TO EXTEND THE AREA TRAFFIC CONTROL (ATC) SYSTEM TO THE NORTH-EAST PART OF HONG KONG ISLAND FOLLOWING ITS SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION IN WEST KOWLOON.
AS PART OF AN INITIAL EXPANSION TO PROVIDE ATC FACILITIES ON THE ISLAND, A I1O-MILLION CONTRACT WAS SIGNED TODAY. THE CONTRACT IS FOR THE SUPPLY AND INSTALLATION OF EQUIPMENT TO ENHANCE THE EXISTING KOWLOON SYSTEM.
THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT HIGHWAY ENGINEER, MR HAROLD BEATON. SIGNED ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT AND MR JIM LUCK, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF GEC TRAFFIC AUTOMATION LTD. OF ENGLAND, WHICH SUPPLIED THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT FOR THE KOWLOON SYSTEM, SIGNED FOR THE COMPANY.
MR BEATON SAID THAT BECAUSE THE INITIAL ISLAND SYSTEM WOULD USE THE SAME TYPE OF EQUIPMENT WHICH HAD PROVED SUCCESSFUL IN KOWLOON, IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO BRING THE ADVANTAGES OF ATC TO THE EASTERN HALF OF HONG KONG ISLAND IN THE SHORTEST POSSIBLE TIME.
THE HONG KONG INITIAL SYSTEM IS SCHEDULED TO BE CONTROLLING TRAFFIC BY THE MIDDLE OF 1983.
MR BEATON SAIDi *THE HONG KONG ISLAND SCHEME IS PART OF THE DEPARTMENT’S LONG TERM PLAN TO USE THE MOST UP-TO-DATE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING AIDS TO KEEP THE TERRITORY’S TRAFFIC MOVING.
+PLANNING HAS ALSO BEGUN FOR AN AREA TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM TO COVER THE WHOLE OF HONG KONG ISLAND.*
THE INITIAL ISLAND SYSTEM EQUIPMENT, TO CONTROL 80 TRAFFIC SIGNALS, WILL BE INSTALLED IN THE EXISTING COMPUTER CENTRE AT THE KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, NATHAN ROAD, AND LINKED TO THE ISLAND BY A CABLE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM.
WITH THE OPENING OF THE WEST KOWLOON SYSTEM IN 1977, THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT BECAME THE FIRST USER OF A COMPUTER-CONTROLLED AREA TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM IN SOUTH EAST ASIA.
MR BEATON SAID THAT THE FLEXIBILITY OF SUCH SYSTEMS WAS PARTICULARLY USEFUL WHEN THE ROAD NETWORK AND TRAFFIC PATTERNS WERE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
AS AN EXAMPLE, HE SAID, MONG KOK WAS KNOWN TO BE AN AREA OF HEAVY TRAFFIC FLOW, BUT SUBSTANTIAL TRAFFIC JAMS WERE RARE, AND TRAFFIC USUALLY FLOWED FREELY.
THE TRAFFIC CONTROL AND SURVEILLANCE DIVISION OF THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE WILL SUPERVISE THE CONTRACT.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1982
- 2 -
SPECIAL ETV PROGRAMME ON SAFETY EDUCATION * * *
THE NEED TO BRING HOME A SAFETY MESSAGE TO ALL PUPILS, ESPECIALLY IN THE USAGE OF GAS AND ELECTRICITY, HAS BEEN RECOGNISED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, AND A SPECIAL ETV PROGRAMME HAS BEEN PRODUCED TO SUPPLEMENT SAFETY EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS.
THE 2O-MINUTE CANTONESE PROGRAMME, ENTITLED +HIDDEN DANGER*, IS DIRECTED MAINLY AT UPPER PRIMARY AND JUNIOR SECONDARY PUPILS. IT IS PRODUCED WITH THE ADVICE OF EXPERTS FROM THE GAS AND ELECTRICITY COMPANIES.
AS A RESULT OF SEVERAL DEATHS IN PREVIOUS WINTERS DUE TO GAS POISONING INVOLVING PUPILS WHILE TAKING BATHS, THE DEPARTMENT FELT IT COULD FURTHER CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THE GOVERNMENT EFFORT TO BRING HOME A SAFETY MESSAGE TO PUPILS.
♦WITH THE CO-OPERATION OF SCHOOLS, IT IS EXPECTED THAT AT LEAST 5OO 000 PUPILS WILL SEE THIS PROGRAMME DURING SCHOOL HOURS,♦ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID.
HE ADDED THAT A CIRCULAR HAS BEEN SENT OUT DRAWING THE ATTENTION CF ALL HEADS OF SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS TO THE TRANSMISSION SCHEDULE.
♦SCHOOLS CAN VIDEO-TAPE THE PROGRAMME AND SHOW IT DURING APPROPRIATE LESSONS,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE PROGRAMME, ASIDE FROM ALERTING PUPILS TO BE CAREFUL ESPECIALLY IN THE USE OF GAS AND ELECTRICITY, ALSO PROVIDES MANY SAFETY HINTS AND ENDS WITH A GENERAL MESSAGE THAT MANY ACCIDENTS COULD BE AVOIDED IF PROPER PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES WERE TAKEN.
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SHA TIN COOKED FOOD STALLS FOR LEASE * * *
EIGHT STALLS AT FO TAN WEST COOKED FOOD CENTRE IN SHA TIN
WILL BE PUT UP FOR LEASE BY PUBLIC AUCTION ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 22).
THE AUCTION WILL BE HELD AT THE LEK YUEN COMMUNITY HALL, LEK YUEN ESTATE, SHA TIN AT 10.15 AM.
THE UPSET PRICE FOR EACH OF THE 27-SQUARE-METRE STALLS IS $3 800, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS CAN START OPERATING THEIR BUSINESS ON MARCH 1 FOR THREE YEARS.
ONLY PERSONS AGED 21 OR ABOVE CAN TAKE PART IN THE AUCTION AND POTENTIAL BIDDERS SHOULD BRING ALONG THEIR IDENTITY CARDS AND FIVE PHOTOGRAPHS TO THE AUCTION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
INTERESTED PERSONS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE HAWKERS AND MARKETS SECTION OF SHA TIN URBAN SERVICES OFFICE AT TELEPHONE 0-623467 FOR FURTHER DETAILS.
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1982
- 3 -
INAUGURATION OF WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD * * * *
A CEREMONY TO MARK THE INAUGURATION OF THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD WILL BE HELD AT 10 AM ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 20) AT WAH YAN COLLEGE IN WAN CHAI.
THE SECRETARY FOR THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES WILL ADDRESS THE MEETING.
MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT BOARD - THE THIRD TO BE SET UP ON HONG KONG ISLAND FOLLOWING EASTERN AND SOUTHERN DISTRICTS -COME FROM A WIDE CROSS-SECTION OF SOCIETY. THEY COMPRISE SIX EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS, 12 APPOINTED UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS AND TWO URBAN COUNCILLORS.
PRIOR TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD, A WAN CHAI DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE WAS FORMED IN AUGUST LAST YEAR TO PROVIDE A FORUM FOR INTER-DEPARTMENTAL CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION.
DURING THE PAST FEW MONTHS, THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE WORKING THROUGH ITS THREE SUB-COMMITTEES - ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT, TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT, AND COMMUNITY BUILDING - HAS ENDEAVOURED TO IDENTIFY DISTRICT NEEDS AND PROBLEMS AND INITIATED A NUMBER OF PROPOSALS, INCLUDING FACILITIES IN SQUATTER AREAS, PEDESTRIAN I SAT ION SCHEME, ESTABLISHMENT OF DISTRICT ORGANISATIONS AS WELL AS RECREATION AND SPORTS PROJECTS.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
YOU ARE . INVITED TO COVER THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD AT THE WAH YAN COLLEGE, 281 QUEEN’S ROAD EAST, WAN CHAI, HONG KONG AT 10 AM ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 20).
MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT BOARD WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW AFTER THE MEETING.
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1982
4
TENDERS INVITED FOR MORE’URBAN AND NT TAXI LICENCES X X * X *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL BE INVITING TENDERS FOR A FURTHER 300 URBAN TAXI LICENCES AND 150 NEW TERRITORIES TAXI LICENCES.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (THURSDAY), A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TENDER FORMS FOR THE 450 TAXI LICENCES WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION TOMORROW FROM EITHER THE HONG KONG LICENSING OFFICE ON THE MEZZANINE FLOOR OF THE MURRAY ROAD MULTI-STOREY CAR PARK, CENTRAL, OR THE KOWLOON LICENSING OFFICE ON THE 9TH FLOOR OF THE PARK-IN COMMERCIAL CENTRE AT 56 DUNDAS STREET, MONG KOK.
GREEN TENDER FORMS WILL BE USED FOR URBAN TAXI LICENCES AND BLUE FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES.
♦PROSPECTIVE TENDERERS CANNOT USE ANY OTHER FORM ISSUED PREVIOUSLY,+ THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED.
TENDERERS MUST DEPOSIT $25 000 WITH THE DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING SERVICES FOR EACH URBAN TAXI LICENCE AND |15 000 FOR EACH NEW TERRITORIES TAXI LICENCE.
THE TENDERER MAY SUBMIT ONE TENDER FORM FOR ANY NUMBER OF TAXI LICENCES NOT EXCEEDING 300 FOR THE URBAN AREA AND 150 FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES.
A PUBLIC BALLOT MAY BE HELD TO DETERMINE THE ACCEPTANCE CF TENDERERS WHO OFFER THE SAME UNIT PREMIUM.
COMPLETED TENDER FORMS, TOGETHER WITH ORIGINAL DEPOSIT RECEIPTS, MUST BE SUBMITTED IN DUPLICATE IN SEALED ENVELOPES, ADDRESSED TO THE SECRETARY, CENTRAL TENDER BOARD, AND PLACED IN THE TENDER BOX, IN THE ENTRANCE HALL ON THE GROUND FLOOR CF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES (MAIN WING), LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG, BEFORE NOON ON FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 1982.
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SEVEN NT SITES FOR AUCTION
* * X
THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION IS TO AUCTION SEVEN SITES NEXT MONTH.
THE AUCTION WILL BE HELD AT THE SHOUSON THEATRE OF THE ARTS CENTRE ON MARCH 18.
TWO SITES IN SAI KUNG ARE FOR LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, WHILE THE REMAINING FIVE, ONE ON TSI NG Yl, TWO IN TUEN MUN AND TWO IN YUEN LONG, ARE FOR INDUSTRIAL/GODOWN USE.
/THE SAI KUNG ......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1982
5 -
THE SAI KUNG SITES, ONE LOCATED IN SHA HA AND THE OTHER NEAR PIK UK AU, MEASURE 1 380 SQUARE METRES AND 6 050 SQUARE METRES. THE BUILDING COVENANT FOR THE SMALLER SITE IS $1.3 MILLION AND FOR THE OTHER,$10 MILLION. BOTH ARE TO BE COMPLETED WITHIN FOUR YEARS.
MEASURING 3 038 SQUARE METRES AND 6 860 SQUARE METRES, THE TUEN MUN SITES ARE SITUATED IN SHEK PAI TAU. THEY HAVE A MAXIMUM PLOT RATIO OF 9.5 AND FOUR-YEAR BUILDING COVENANTS OF $28.62 MILLION AND $62.56 MILLION.
BOTH THE YUEN LONG SITES ARE IN THE INDUSTRIAL AREA MEASURING 2 698 SQUARE METRES AND 1 217 SQUARE METRES. THE PLOT RATIOS ARE FIVE AND THE BUILDING COVENANTS ARE $12.95 MILLION AND $5.84 MILLION, ALSO TO BE FULFILLED WITHIN FOUR YEARS.
THE REMAINING INDUSTRIAL/GODOWN SITE IS ON TSI NG Yl MEASURING 2 550 SQUARE METRES. THE PURCHASER WILL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT WITHIN FOUR YEARS. THE BUILDING COVENANT IS $18.6 MILLION AND THE PLOT RATIO 9.5.
PARTICULARS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE ARE NOW AVAILABLE FROM CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION HEADQUARTERS AND THE EIGHT DISTR ICT OFFICES.
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CONTRACT AWARDED FOR QUEENSWAY FLYOVER
* * * *
A FLYOVER IS TO BE BUILT ACROSS QUEENSWAY SHORTLY TO PROVIDE ROAD CONNECTIONS TO FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS WITHIN THE FORMER VICTORIA BARRACKS.
THE PROJECT, WHICH FORMS THE FIRST STAGE OF A GRADE-SEPARATED INTERCHANGE AND ASSOCIATED ROAD WORKS FOR THE VICTORIA BARRACKS DEVELOPMENT SCHEME, WILL INCLUDE A GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDING, THE NEW SUPREME COURT AND OTHER PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS.
COSTING $15.3 MILLION, THE WORK HAS BEEN CONTRACTED TO LEADER CIVIL ENGINEERING CORPORATION LTD.
IT CONSISTS OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF A TWO-LANE ROAD BRIDGE AND SLIP ROADS, BOX CULVERT, RETAINING WALLS AND OTHER ANCILLARY WORKS.
THE CONTRACT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION WORK WAS SIGNED TODAY (THURSDAY) BY MR PANG HO-CHE, ACTING CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE, AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF LEADER CIVIL ENGINEERING CORPORATION LTD.
WORK WILL START IN EARLY MARCH AND TAKE ABOUT 18 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
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/6.......
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1982
6
CHIEF SECRETARY LOOKS OVER FIRE SERVICES * * * *
THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE.SPENT MUCH OF TODAY (THURSDAY) LOOKING OVER THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND ITS MODERN FIRE-FIGHTING AND RESCUE FACILITIES.
AT MID-DAY, SIR PHILIP ACCOMPANIED BY THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES, MR FEDERICK WATSON AND THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR, MR ROBERT HOLMES, HAD LUNCH WITH OTHER SENIOR OFFICERS OF THE DEPARTMENT AT THE OFFICERS MESS.
SIR PHILIP BEGAN THE TOUR WITH A VISIT TO THE TSIM SHA TSUI FIRE STATION WHERE HE WAS SHOWN THE LATEST FIRE APPLIANCES AND RESCUE EQUIPMENT BY THE KOWLOON CHIEF FIRE OFFICER, MR ANTHONY CONWAY.
HE ALSO VISITED THE FIRE SERVICES’ MOBILISING AND COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE BEFORE TOURING THE TSIM SHA TSUI GYMNASIUM AND THE KOWLOON WORKSHOP.
HE THEN INSPECTED THE NEW FIRE BOAT 'NO. 6’ AND ENDED HIS TOUR WITH A VISIT TO THE FIRE PROTECTION BUREAU IN ASIAN HOUSE, WAN CHAI. THERE HE WAS BRIEFED AND SHOWN AROUND BY THE CHIEF FIRE OFFICER OF THE BUREAU, MR JOHN MARCH.
- o -
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF KWAI FOO ROAD * * *
A SECTION OF KWAI FOO ROAD IN KWAI CHUNG NEAR ITS JUNCTION WITH HING FONG ROAD WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC BETWEEN 1.30 AM TO 5.30 AM FOR FOUR CONSECUTIVE MORNINGS FROM SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 20) FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A FOOT-BRIDGE.
DURING THE CLOSURE, THE FOLLOWING TRAFFIC DIVERSIONS WILL BE
IMPLEMENTED!
* EASTBOUND VEHICLES WILL BE DIVERTED VIA HING FONG ROAD, KWAI FUK ROAD, CONTAINER PORT ROAD AND KWAI CHUNG ROAD.
* WESTBOUND VEHICLES WILL BE DIVERTED VIA KWAI CHUNG ROAD, KWAI ON ROAD AND HING FONG ROAD.
* SOUTHBOUND VEHICLES HEADING FOR KWAI CHUNG POLICE STATION WILL BE DIVERTED VIA KWAI FUK ROAD, CONTAINER PORT ROAD, KAI WAN STREET, KWAI CHUNG ROAD AND KWAI FOO ROAD.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY^ 18,
1982
7
SYDNEY CONSERVATOR I UM * * *
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA *
THE 55-MEMBER STRONG SYDNEY CONSERVATOR I UM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WILL VISIT HONG KONG IN MARCH AND WILL PRESENT A CONCERT ON SATURDAY, MARCH 6, AT 8 PM AT THE BAPTIST COLLEGE, ACADEMIC COMMUNITY HALL.
IT IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS ORCHESTRA, WHOSE MEMBERS ARE MAINLY STUDENTS OF THE NEW SOUTH WALES STATE CONSERVATOR I UM OF MUSIC, HAS TOURED ABROAD. THESE ARE AMONG THE FINEST YOUNG PLAYERS IN AUSTRALIA AND MANY WINNERS OF THE ABC CONCERTO COMPETITIONS HAVE COME FROM THEIR RANKS.
THE ORCHESTRA NOT ONLY PERFORMS FREQUENTLY IN SYDNEY BUT ALSO UNDERTAKES ANNUAL TOURS OF THE LARGER NEW SOUTH WALES COUNTRY CENTRES. ITS REPERTOIRE INCLUDES THE MAIN STREAM SYMPHONIC AND CONCERTO LITERATURE AS WELL AS MANY OPERATIC AND CHORAL WORKS GIVEN WITH THE COLLABORATION OF THE CONSERVATOR I UM CHOIR.
IN 1981, THE ORCHESTRA HAS PERFORMED AN ALL BARTOK PROGRAMME, AND THREE CONCERT I PROGRAMME, BERLIOZ +DAMNATION OF FAUST*, AND OPENED THE SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL PIANO COMPETITION.
UNDER ITS RESIDENT CONDUCTOR, DR RONALD SMART, THE ORCHESTRA HAS DRAWN CONSISTENTLY HIGH PRAISE FROM THE CRITICS, AND THE PERFORMANCE OF WALTON’S +BELSHAZZAR’S FEAST* WAS LISTED AS ONE OF THE TOP CONCERTS OF 1978.
THE PROGRAMME FOR THE CONCERT ON MARCH 6 WILL INCLUDE DON BANKS’ +DRAMATIC MUSIC*, FRANZ LISZT’S *LES PRELUDES - SYMPHONIC POEM*, (TO BE JOINTLY PERFORMED WITH THE HONG KONG YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA) FELIX MENDELSSOHN’S +VIOLIN CONCERTO IN E MINOR, OP. 64* AND JEAN SIBELIUS’ +SYMPHONY NO. 2 IN D, OP. 43*. MR CHRISTOPHER KIMBER, CHAIRMAN OF THE STRING DEPARTMENT AND SENIOR LECTURER IN STRINGS AT THE NEW SOUTH WALES CONSERVATOR I UM, SYDNEY, WILL BE SOLOIST AT THE COMING CONCERT.
THIS CONCERT WILL BE PRESENTED BY THE MUSIC OFFICE OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT.
TICKETS AT $15, $10 AND $5 ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY HALL BOX OFFICE AND THE HONG KONG MUSIC CENTRE OF THE MUSIC OFFICE (9/F, HONG KONG ARTS CENTRE, 2 HARBOUR ROAD, HONG KONG). FOR ENQUIRY, PLEASE CALLi 5-283257.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1982
- 8 -FINAL JUDGING OF TELE-MATCH DESIGNS ******
FIFTEEN ENTRIES TO A TELE-MATCH DESIGN COMPETITION LAUNCHED TO PUBLICISE FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION HAVE BEEN SHORT-LISTED FOR FINAL SELECTION TO BE HELD AT MUNSANG COLLEGE IN KOWLOON CITY ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 21).
THE COMPETITION IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB AND CARITAS.
THE SHORT-LISTED GROUPS WILL BE REQUIRED TO PUT ON A DEMONSTRATION OF THEIR DESIGN BEFORE A PANEL OF FIVE JUDGES.
THE JUDGES WILL BE MISS JOYCE CHANG, PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANT OF CARITAS- MRS LOUIS MOK, DEPUTY CHIEF INSPECTOR OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT- MR DAVID MAK, SENIOR RECREATION AND SPORT OFFICER- MR KWOK NAI—SIK, CHIEF SOCIAL WORK OFFICER (OPERATIONS) OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT- AND MR KWOK WING-CHEONG, A PROMINENT LOCAL LEADER OF SHAM SHU I PO DISTRICT.
THE DESIGN COMPETITION IS DIVIDED INTO THREE SECTIONS ACCORDING TO THE SIZE OF THE TARGET TEAMS.
FIVE ENTRIES FROM EACH OF THE THREE SECTIONS HAVE BEEN CHOSEN FOR FINAL ADJUDICATION.
ON SUNDAY, THE JUDGES WILL PICK TWO WINNING DESIGNS FROM EACH SECTION. THE WINNERS WILL RECEIVE A PRIZE VALUED AT $500. THE UNSUCCESSFUL FINALISTS WILL EACH RECEIVE A CONSOLATION PRIZE VALUED AT $300.
THE SIX WINNING DESIGNS WILL BE USED IN ORGANISING REGIONAL GAMES COMPETITIONS, CULMINATING IN A TERRITORY-WIDE FINAL TO BE HELD AT QUEEN ELIZABETH STADIUM ON MAY 16.
THE COMPETITION IS AIMED AT PROMOTING THE FIFTH FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN, WHICH HAS AS ITS THEME *THE ADOLESCENT AND THE FAMILY*.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE FINAL JUDGING FOR THE DESIGN COMPETITION, WHICH WILL BE HELD AT MUNSANG COLLEGE, 8 DUMBARTON ROAD, KOWLOON CITY, AT 2.30 PM ON SUNDAY.
- 0 -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 198?
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
MORE STRESS NOW ON QUALITY OF EDUCATION .................... 1
INDUSTRIAL SAFETY IS COMBINED EFFORT, SIR PHILIP SAYS....... 2
NEW REGULATIONS ON TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY................. *+
GAS SAFETY STAFF TO BE SELECTED ............................ 5
KOWLOON AREA TRAFFIC CONTROL TV SYSTEM ..................... 6
MORE PLACES DESIGNATED FOR PUBLIC MEETINGS................. 7
COURSES ON TEACHING AIDS.................................... 8
MEDALS FOR FIRE OFFICERS.................................... 9
UPGC TO FINANCE BAPTIST COLLEGE............................. 10
KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT BOARD ISSUES MANIFESTO .............. 10
NEW LAW ON ROADWORKS PROPOSED............................... 11
EIGHT NT SITES FOR LETTER A/B TENDER ....................... 1}
FREE CONCERTS OFFERED BY MUSIC OFFICE ...................... 14
YUEN LONG SITE FOR TENDER ............................. 15
FIRING PRACTICE NOTICE
15
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1982
1
MORE STRESS NOW ON QUALITY OF EDUCATION
* * * *
THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES THE NEED TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
PLANS ARE IN HAND TO REDUCE CLASS SIZES IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND TO INTRODUCE NEW SYLLABUSES INTO SECONDARY SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE A WIDER AND MORE INTERESTING CHOICE FOR STUDENTS WITH A BROADER SPAN OF ABILITY, HE SAID.
SIR MURRAY WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE NEW LA SALLE COLLEGE.
♦ I REALISE THAT THESE IMPROVEMENTS HAVE FOR LONG BEEN URGED BY THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR AND AM GLAD THEIR WISHES CAN NOW BE MET AND SO CONTRIBUTE TO THE IMPROVED QUALITY OF EDUCATION SO RIGHTLY SOUGHT,♦ SIR MURRAY SAID.
THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE LAST DECADE HAD BEEN TO ACHIEVE ADEQUATE QUANTITY AND THIS WAS LARGELY BEHIND US WITH FREE, COMPULSORY PRIMARY AND JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION AND SUBSIDISED PLACES IN SENIOR SECONDARY FORMS.
♦ IT IS THEREFORE TIME TO TACKLE QUALITY,♦ SIR MURRAY SAID.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
THE FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECHI
♦ BROTHER SUPERIOR GENERAL, BROTHER RAPHAEL, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
♦I AM DELIGHTED TO OPEN THIS SPLENDID, NEW SCHOOL BUILDING FOR LA SALLE COLLEGE IN ITS GOLDEN JUBILEE YEAR.
♦FIFTY YEARS AGO BROTHER AIMAR OPENED LA SALLE COLLEGE ON THIS SITE. TO-DAY THE OLD COLLEGE BUILDING HAS BEEN REPLACED BY WHAT YOU NOW SEE AROUND YOU - ONE OF THE BEST EQUIPPED AND MOST MODERN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN HONG KONG AND I CONGRATULATE THE BROTHERS OF THE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS.
♦THE CHRISTIAN BROTHERS HAVE BEEN TEACHING IN HONG KONG FOR OVER A CENTURY. IN THAT TIME, THEY HAVE EARNED A REPUTATION FOR EXCELLENCE AND FOR A STYLE OF EDUCATION WHICH UPHOLDS TRADITIONAL VALUES BUT IS FLEXIBLE TO THE NEEDS OF SOCIETY. THIS NEW BUILDING IS A FINE EXAMPLE OF HOW THE ORDER ADAPTS TO MODERN NEEDS. THE UP-TO-DATE EQUIPMENT AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES SHOW THAT SIGHTS HAVE BEEN SET HIGH FOR THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION AT LA SALLE COLLEGE IN THE YEARS TO COME.
♦YOUR GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES THE NEED TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY CF EDUCATION.
/+TEE MAIN .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1982
2
♦THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE LAST DECADE HAS BEEN TO ACHIEVE ADEQUATE QUANTITY. THIS IS LARGELY BEHIND US WITH FREE, COMPULSORY PRIMARY AND JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION, AND SOME 72 PER CENT OF THE RELEVANT AGE GROUP ALREADY WITH SUBSIDISED PLACES IN SENIOR SECONDARY FORMS, AND WITH THE PERCENTAGE RISING TO 90 PER CENT BY 1984.
♦IT IS THEREFORE TIME TO TACKLE QUALITY. PLANS ARE IN HAND TO REDUCE CLASS SIZES IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS, AND TO INTRODUCE NEW SYLLABUSES INTO SECONDARY SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE A WIDER AND MORE INTERESTING CHOICE FOR STUDENTS WITH A BROADER SPAN OF ABILITY.
♦SOME MORE TEACHERS AND BETTER EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES WILL BE NEEDED AND ARE BEING PROVIDED. MORE TEACHERS FOR LANGUAGE TEACHING ARE BEING PROVIDED THIS YEAR, AND MORE TEACHERS FOR CAREER COUNSELLING, REMEDIAL TEACHING AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES OVER THE FOLLOWING TWO YEARS AS THEY BECOME AVAILABLE.
♦I REALISE THAT THESE IMPROVEMENTS HAVE FOR LONG BEEN URGED BY THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR AND AM GLAD THEIR WISHES CAN NOW BE MET AND SO CONTRIBUTE TO “
SO RIGHTLY SOUGHT. I HOPE THEY THE WORK OF REBUILT LA SALLE.
THE IMPROVED QUALITY OF EDUCATION WILL GIVE ADDED ENCOURAGEMENT TO
♦I NOW HAVE GREAT PLEASURE
.. ^lie> ------- ,N DECLARING OPEN THIS NEW
LA SALLE COLLEGE AND WISH THE COLLEGE ALL SUCCESS.+
------0-------
INDUSTRIAL SAFETY IS COMBINED EFFORT, SIR PHILIP SAYS N * M
THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACCIDENT PREVENTION MUST REST WITH THOSE WHO CREATED THE RISKS AND THOSE WHO WORKED WITH THEM, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
OFFICIATING THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT’S ♦SAFETY EXTRAVAGANZA* IN THE KESWICK HALL OF THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC THIS AFTERNOON, SIR PHILIP SAID THAT GOVERNMENT, EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES ALL HAD THEIR RESPECTIVE ROLES TO PLAY.
EMPLOYERS, HE SAID, MUST ACCEPT THAT ACCIDENT PREVENTION IS AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT OF EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT AND BE RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPLYING WITH SAFETY LEGISLATION, FOR PROVIDING A SAFE WORKING ENVIRONMENT AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND FOR SUPERVISING AND INCULCATING IN THEIR EMPLOYEES THE HABIT OF OBSERVING SAFE WORKING PRACTICES.
THE GOVERNMENT, HE SAID, HAD A RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROMOTING INDUSTRIAL SAFETY.
EMPLOYEES, ON THE OTHER HAND, MUST ABIDE BY SAFETY RULES AND USE THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT PROVIDED FOR THEY.
/SIR PHILIP ......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 19&2
3
SIR PHILIP POINTED OUT THAT THE SAFETY SUB-COMMITTEES SET UP BY THE TRIPARTITE COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND ACCIDENT PREVENTION OF THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REPRESENTATIVES OF GOVERNMENT, EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES TO WORK TOGETHER IN PROMOTING IMPROVED SAFETY MEASURES IN SOME PARTICULAR INDUSTRIES.
NO INDUSTRIAL SAFETY PROGRAMME WAS LIKELY TO SUCCEED WITHOUT THE ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT OF ALL THOSE WHO HAD A DEGREE OF RESPONSIBILITY IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, HE SAID.
GOVERNMENT’S EFFORTS HAD, THEREFORE, BEEN CENTRED ON THREE MAIN AREAS — THE IMPROVEMENT OF SAFETY LEGISLATION, STRICTER ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW AND INTENSIFICATION OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY TRAINING AND PUBLICITY PROGRAMMES.
IN THE LEGISLATIVE FIELD, HE ADDED, THE PENALTIES FOR BREACHES OF SAFETY LAWS HAD BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED AND NEW SAFETY REGULATIONS HAD BEEN ENACTED.
IN AN ADVANCED STAGE OF PREPARATION WERE NEW SAFETY LAWS DEALING WITH THE PROTECTION OF WORKERS’ HEARING AND THE COMPULSORY EMPLOYMENT OF SAFETY OFFICERS IN CERTAIN HAZARDOUS INDUSTRIES.
ALSO, NEW LEGISLATION IS BEING PREPARED TO IMPROVE SAFETY MEASURES FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WORKING AT HEIGHT.
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAD ALSO DOUBLED THE STRENGTH OF ITS FACTORY INSPECTORATE AND REINFORCED THE EDUCATIONAL COURSES OFFERED BY ITS INDUSTRIAL SAFETY TRAINING CENTRE.
IN ADDITION, THE DEPARTMENT HAD INTENSIFIED ITS PUBLICITY PROGRAMMES TO PROMOTE SAFETY AWARENESS AND ENHANCE SAFETY SENSE AMONG EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES IN INDUSTRY, COVERING A WIDE RANGE CF EDUCATIONAL AND PUBLICITY ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING SEMINARS, CONFERENCES, TELEVISION PROGRAMMES, POSTERS, BOOKLETS AND COMPETITIONS.
IN CONCLUSION, SIR PHILIP EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE +SAFETY EXTRAVAGANZA* WOULD ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO JOIN IN THE MOVEMENT FOR MAKING SAFETY A WAY OF LIFE IN HONG KONG.
SIR PHILIP LATER DECLARED THE AUDIO-VISUAL SHOW OPEN BY PERFORMING A *SWITCH ING-ON+ CEREMONY.
THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR J.N. HENDERSON, IN HIS OPENING REMARKS, SAID HE HOPED THAT THE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY EXHIBITION WOULD NOT ONLY PROVIDE FREE ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG BUT WOULD ALSO INCREASE THEIR AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY.
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT INTENDED TO RE-STAGE THE EXHIBITION IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS IN AREAS WITH LARGE CONCENTRATIONS OF WORKERS, SUCH AS KWUN TONG, WONG CHUK HANG, TSUEN WAN AND TUEN MUN IN THE HOPE THAT AS MANY WORKERS AS POSSIBLE WOULD BE AwaRE OF SAFETY MEASURES.
Al SINCSR2LY.........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 19&2
4
+l SINCERELY HOPE THAT SOME OF THE REAL-LIFE ACCIDENT SITUATIONS WHICH WILL SHORTLY UNFOLD BEFORE YOUR EYES WILL CREATE UNFORGETTABLE IMPRESSIONS ON BOTH WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO BE MORE SAFETY CONSCIOUS,* HE ADDED.
ALSO SPEAKING AT THE OPENING, THE DIRECTOR OF THE POLYTECHNIC, DR K.C. LEGG, SAID THAT THE POLYTECHNIC’S CO-SPONSORSHIP OF THIS EVENT UNDERLINED THE EMPHASIS IT PLACED ON SAFETY.
THE POLYTECHNIC FOLLOWED A POSITIVE POLICY IN ENSURING THAT ITS STUDENTS WERE MADE AWARE OF THE PRACTICAL AND THEORETICAL ASPECTS OF GOOD SAFETY PRACTICE, HE SAID.
AS POLYTECHNIC GRADUATES WERE IN THE MAIN EMPLOYED IN THE MANAGERIAL AND SUPERVISORY POSTS, THEY WOULD BE IN A POSITION TO INFLUENCE THE INTRODUCTION AND CONTINUATION OF SAFETY MEASURES
AND PRACTICES.
+IN THE LONGER TERM, THIS SAFETY EDUCATION WILL UNDOUBTEDLY PROVIDE A MULTIPLYING EFFECT OF SPREADING THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY AMONGST WORKERS,* HE ADDED.
♦SAFETY EXTRAVAGANZA* IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC DAILY FROM 10 AM TO 10 PM UNTIL FEBRUARY 28. ON THE FINAL DAY, THAT IS, MARCH 1, IT WILL OPEN FROM 10 AM TO 6 PM.
ADMISSION IS FREE.
---------------------o------- NEW REGULATIONS ON TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY X X X X
THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL HAS APPROVED NEW REGULATIONS GOVERNING TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY FOLLOWING THE ENACTMENT LAST YEAR OF THE OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1981.
THE NEW REGULATIONS, PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY) SERVE TO AMEND THE FORM OF CERTIFICATES ISSUED UNDER THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE AND RELATE ONLY TO THE FURNISHING OF INFORMATION TO THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT ON CASES CF TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY.
THE ORDINANCE, WHICH WAS AMENDED IN FEBRUARY 1981, DID NOT INTRODUCE ANY RADICAL CHANGE BUT MERELY SPECIFIED CERTAIN OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH AN ABORTION MAY BE CARRIED OUT LEGALLY IN APPROVED HOSPITALS OR CLINICS.
UNDER THE NEW REGULATIONS, NEW FORMS ARE TO BE ISSUED TO MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS REPLACING THE EXISTING FORMS TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF NEw GROUNDS FOR TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY PROVIDED IN THE AMENDED ORDINANCE.
/ONE OF THS .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1982
- 5 -
ONE OF THE NEW PROVISIONS IN THE OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1981 IS THAT A LEGAL ABORTION MAY BE CARRIED OUT WHEN TWO DOCTORS ARE OF THE OPINION THAT THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL RISK OF THE FOETUS BEING ABNORMAL.
ALSO, IN CONSIDERING WHETHER TO TERMINATE A PREGNANCY, THE MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS MAY TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE FACT THAT THE PREGNANT WOMAN IS UNDER THE AGE OF 16.
ANOTHER SITUATION IN WHICH A LEGAL ABORTION MAY BE PERFORMED IS IN CASES WHERE THE PREGNANCY IS A RESULT OF INCEST, RAPE, OR RAPE-RELATED OFFENCES PROVIDED THAT THE WOMAN CONCERNED HAS MADE A REPORT TO THE POLICE THAT SHE WAS A VICTIM OF INCEST OR RAPE WITHIN THREE MONTHS AFTER THE ALLEGED OFFENCE.
UNDER THE ORDINANCE, NO ABORTION SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT WHERE THE PREGNANCY IS MORE THAN 24 WEEKS DURATION EXCEPT IN CASES WHERE IT IS NECESSARY TO DO SO TO SAVE THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER.
------o-------
GAS SAFETY STAFF TO BE SELECTED *****
THE CREATION OF A GAS STANDARDS ORGANISATION WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT WILL COME ONE STEP CLOSER NEXT WEEK, WHEN INTERVIEWS WILL BE HELD WITH CANDIDATES FOR THE THREE KEY POSTS. THESE ARE A GAS ADVISER AND TWO SUPPORTING POSTS OF CHIEF ENGINEER.
AN INTERVIEW BOARD HEADED BY MR GRAHAM OSBORNE, THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEER WHO IS ACTING AS TEMPORARY GAS ADVISER, WILL LEAVE FOR LONDON TONIGHT (FRIDAY).
THE CANDIDATES ARE FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, CANADA, NETHERLANDS, NORWAY AND NEW ZEALAND.
THE SETTING UP OF A NEW ORGANISATION TO IMPLEMENT THE UPGRADING OF GAS SAFETY STANDARDS WAS RECOMMENDED BY CONSULTANTS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO CONDUCT A REVIEW OF ALL SAFETY ASPECTS OF TOWNGAS AND LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM-GAS OPERATIONS IN HONG KONG.
FOLLOWING THE RECEIPT OF THE CONSULTANTS’ PRELIMINARY REPORT THE GOVERNMENT BEGAN AN INTERNATIONAL RECRUITMENT EXERCISE FOR GAS ENGINEERS LAST SEPTEMBER BY PLACING ADVERTISEMENTS IN RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE RESPONSE WAS ENCOURAGING AND THE APPLICANTS WERE SHORTLISTED TO SOME 20 FOR INTERVIEW AND FINAL SELECTION.
ALL EXCEPT ONE OF THE INTERVIEWS WOULD TAKE PLACE IN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE IN LONDON, AND THE THREE POSTS WERE EXPECTED TO BE FILLED BY THE MIDDLE OF THIS YEAR, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
•-------q-------
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1982
6
KOWLOON AREA TRAFFIC CONTROL TV SYSTEM * * *
A CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION (CCTV) SYSTEM HAS BEEN INSTALLED, ENABLING THE TRAFFIC SITUATION AT MORE THAN 50 KEY SIGNALISED JUNCTIONS IN WEST KOWLOON TO BE VIEWED FROM KOWLOON AREA TRAFFIC CONTROL (ATC) COMPUTER CENTRE.
DISCLOSING THIS TODAY, MR LEE KWOK-HUNG, CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE TRAFFIC CONTROL AND SURVEILLANCE DIVISION, OF THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE, SAID« *THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS AT THESE JUNCTIONS ARE CONNECTED TO THE ATC COMPUTER AND THE SIGNAL TIMINGS CAN BE ALTERED REMOTELY BY THE COMPUTER.
♦THE ABILITY TO SEE AND MONITOR THE SITUATION WILL ENABLE THE COMPUTER OPERATORS TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO MINIMISE TRAFFIC PROBLEMS AS THEY AR ISE.+
THE CCTV SYSTEM CONSISTS OF 10 CAMERAS ON MASTS RANGING IN HEIGHT FROM SEVEN METRES TO 15 METRES. EACH CAMERA IS CONNECTED BY CABLE TO THE MAIN ATC COMPUTER CONTROL ROOM IN THE KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, NATHAN ROAD, AND CAN BE REMOTELY CONTROLLED.
MR LEE SAID THAT EACH CAMERA COULD BE TURNED HORIZONTALLY AND TILTED UP AND DOWN- A POWERFUL ZOOM LENS ALLOWED THE OPERATOR TO TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT TRAFFIC PROBLEM SPOTS.
♦FOR EXAMPLE, THE CAMERA AT THE NATHAN ROAD/SALISBURY ROAD JUNCTION CAN BE TURNED NORTHWARD BY REMOTE CONTROL TO VIEW TRAFFIC ON NATHAN ROAD AS FAR AS HAIPHONG ROAD- EASTWARD TO VIEW SALISBURY ROAD AS FAR AS CHATHAM ROAD- AND WESTWARD TO VIEW SALISBURY ROAD AS FAR AS CANTON ROAD,+ HE EXPLAINED.
THE 10 CAMERAS ARE AT THESE JUNCTIONSi
NATHAN ROAD/SALISBURY ROAD, JORDON ROAD/FERRY STREET, WATERLOO ROAD/FERRY STREET, TONG MEI ROAD/MONG KOK ROAD, TONG MEI ROAD/LAI CHI KOK ROAD, LAI CHI KOK ROAD/YEN CHOW STREET, YEN CHOW STREET/ CASTLE PEAK ROAD, SAI YEE STREET/PRINCE EDWARD ROAD, NATHAN ROAD/ GASCOIGNE ROAD, NATHAN ROAD/ARGYLE STREET.
♦POLICE KOWLOON TRAFFIC HEADQUARTERS IN ARGYLE STREET ALREADY HOUSES A SECONDARY ATC COMPUTER CONTROL TERMINAL, AND AN AUXILIARY CCTV CONTROL CONSOLE HAS BEEN INSTALLED THERE. OUTSIDE NORMAL WORKING HOURS, CONTROL OF ATC FACILITIES IS PASSED TO TRAFFIC HEADQUARTERS, ENABLING 24-HOUR COVERAGE OF TRAFFIC.
♦THE CCTV SYSTEM HAS AN ULTIMATE EXPANSION CAPACITY OF 20 CAMERAS. EXPANSION OF THE CCTV SYSTEM IS PLANNED TO BEGIN WHEN THE KOWLOON ATC SYSTEM IS EXPANDED,♦ HE SAID.
THE SYSTEM WAS INSTALLED BY GEC (HONG KONG) LTD. AT A COST OF ABOUT $3.4 MILLION FOR ELECTRICAL WORKS, AND HAS TAKEN TWO YEARS TO DESIGN, MANUFACTURE AND INSTALL.
/WORK HAS ALSO .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1^82
WORK HAS ALSO BEGUN TO EXPAND THE WEST KOWLOON ATC SYSTEM TO COVER THE WHOLE OF THE KOWLOON PENINSULA AS FAR EAST AS THE AIRPORT.
♦WHEN THE PROJECT IS COMPLETED, ABOUT 230 JUNCTIONS WILL BE COMPUTER CONTROLLED, COMPARED WITH THE PRESENT 130. THE ATC SYSTEM ALLOWS SIGNAL TIMINGS AT JUNCTIONS TO BE AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED FROM THE COMPUTER CENTRE.
♦THE COMPUTER SELECTS FIXED SIGNAL TIMING PLANS FROM ITS NEMORY ACCORDING TO A TIMETABLE FOR EACH LOCATION. IF TRAFFIC CONDITIONS ARE ABNORMAL, THE COMPUTER OPERATOR CAN ADJUST TIMINGS TO SUIT THE SITUATION,♦ HE SAID.
THE ATC COMPUTER ALSO MONITORS THE SYSTEM FOR FAULTS AND REPORTS THEM TO THE OPERATOR. THE COMPUTER MEMORY CONTAINS SPECIAL PLANS WHICH OVERRIDE NORMAL TIMINGS AND GIVE GREEN SIGNAL PRIORITY TO FIRE ENGINES.
♦IF THE COMPUTER CONTROLLING TRAFFIC BREAKS DOWN, A BACK-UP COMPUTER IMMEDIATELY TAKES OVER, THUS AVOIDING TRAFFIC DISRUPTION,* MR LEE SAID.
THE ATC EXPANSION IN KOWLOON IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY EARLY NEXT YEAR AT A TOTAL COST OF ABOUT 138 MILLION.
THE WEST KOWLOON ATC SYSTEM WAS INSTALLED IN 1977 AND INITIALLY CONTROLLED 83 JUNCTIONS. A STUDY IN 1978 SHOWED THAT THE SYSTEM SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED TRAFFIC DELAYS.
-------o----------
MORE PLACES DESIGNATED FOR PUBLIC MEETINGS * * *
THE GOVERNMENT HAS INCREASED TO 19 THE DESIGNATED UNDER THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE WHILE THEY STILL REQUIRE PRIOR NOTIFICATION PUBLIC MEETINGS MAY ROUTINELY BE HELD.
NUMBER OF AREAS AS PLACES WHERE, TO THE POLICE,
THE ADD,T|ONAL PUBLIC AREAS ARE ALL IN THE NEW TERRITORIES
campaign USE BY DISTRICT b0"'i‘ CANDII>ATES ™
NEW PUBLIC AREAS ARE SET OUT UNDER THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE (DESIGNATED PUBLIC AREAS) ORDER 1982 PUBLISHED TODAY. THEY ARE LOCATED AT:
ISLANDS DISTRICT: THE OPEN SPACE IN FRONT OF PAK TAI TEMPLE ON CHEUNG CHAU-
NORTH DISTRICT: SHEK WU HUI PLAYGROUND, LUEN WO HUI
PLAYGROUND, FANLING RECREATION GROUND, TA KWU LING PLAYGRCU'D-
/TAI PO DISTRICT:
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1982
8
TAI PO DISTRICT: TAI PO PUBLIC PLAYGROUND AT HEUNG SZE WUI STREET, TAI YUEN ESTATE TEMPORARY MINISOCCER PITCH IN AREA NO. 4-
TSUEN WAN DISTRICT: TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL GARDEN, WO Yl HOP ROAD SPORTS GROUND, KWAI CHUNG SPORTS GROUND, CHEUNG CHING ESTATE PLAYGROUND-
YUEN LONG DISTRICT: YUEN LONG STADIUM, SHEUNG TSUEN PARK AT THE JUNCTION OF KAM TIN ROAD AND KAM SHEUNG ROAD.
FURTHER DETAILS CONCERNING THE LOCATION OF THESE AREAS AND THE PROVISIONS GOVERNING THE HOLDING OF PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PROCESSIONS ARE OBTAINABLE FROM CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT OFFICES.
------o-------
COURSES ON TEACHING AIDS M * *
THE VISUAL EDUCATION SECTION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL BE RUNNING FOUR HALF-DAY COURSES NEXT MONTH TO ACQUAINT TEACHERS WITH AUDIO-VISUAL PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT AND VARIOUS TECHNIQUES ON THE PRODUCTION OF EDUCATIONAL MEDIA.
A SEMINAR WILL BE HELD IN EACH COURSE ON THE BASIC SKILLS IN THE USE OF AUDIO-VISUAL MATERIALS AND AIDS, AND THE PRINCIPLES AND THE METHODS OF THEIR EFFECTIVE UTILISATION.
DEMONSTRATIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED ON THE USE OF PHOTOGRAPHIC FACILITIES SUCH AS MAKING SLIDES FROM BOOKS AND SKETCHES, REPROGRAPHIC FACILITIES SUCH AS TRANSPARENCY MAKING, PICTURE PRESERVATION, GRAPHIC, SCREEN PRINTING, POLYSTYRENE FOAM AND PLASTIC MODEL MAKING, HIGH SPEED CASSETTE TAPE COPYING AND BOOK BINDING.
ALL COURSES WILL BE HELD AT THE MEDIA PRODUCTION SERVICES UNIT AT 182 CANTON ROAD, FIRST FLOOR, TSIM SHA TSUI, KOWLOON.
THE TWO COURSES ON MARCH 15 AND 26 WILL BE HELD FROM 9 AM TO 12 NOON, WHILE THE OTHER TWO ON MARCH 19 AND 22 WILL BE HELD FROM 2 PM TO 5 PM.
SCHOOL HEADS ARE REQUESTED TO NOMINATE TEACHERS TO ATTEND THESE COURSES AND TO SEND IN THEIR NOMINATIONS BEFORE FEBRUARY 26 TO THE SENIOR INSPECTOR (VISUAL EDUCATION), VISUAL EDUCATION SECTION, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, THIRD FLOOR, LEE GARDENS, CAUSEWAY BAY, HONG KONG.
THE MAXIMUM ENROLMENT TO EACH COURSE IS 30 AND ACCEPTANCE WILL BE ON A FIRST-COME-FIRST-SERVED BASIS.
ENQUIRIES MAY BE MADE AT THE VISUAL EDUCATION SECTION ON 5-778311 EXT. 230.
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/9 .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1982
- 9 -
MEDALS FOR FIRE OFFICERS * * *
A TOTAL OF 198 OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT WERE TODAY (FRIDAY) PRESENTED WITH LONG SERVICE MEDALS AND CLASPS.
THE PRESENTATIONS WERE MADE AT VARIOUS FIRE COMMANDS, INCLUDING THE AMBULANCE SERVICE AND THE FIRE PROTECTION BUREAU, BY THEIR RESPECTIVE CHIEF FIRE AND AMBULANCE OFFICERS.
AT FIRE SERVICES HEADQUARTERS IN NORTH POINT, THE CHIEF FIRE OFFICER, MR BRIAN FENDER, PRESENTED THE COLONIAL FIRE BRIGADE LONG SERVICE MEDAL TO AN ASSISTANT DIVISIONAL OFFICER, TWO PRINCIPAL FIREMEN, EIGHT SENIOR FIREMEN AND NINE FIREMEN, WHO HAVE COMPLETED 18 YEARS’ SERVICE.
MR FENDER ALSO PRESENTED FOUR PRINCIPAL FIREMEN AND A FIREMAN WITH THE FIRST CLASP TO THEIR MEDALS, FOR 25 YEARS’ SERVICE. A PRINCIPAL FIREMAN AND A FIREMAN RECEIVED SECOND CLASP FOR 30 YEARS’ SERVICE.
ON HONG KONG ISLAND, TWO ASSISTANT DIVISIONAL OFFICERS, AND 57 OTHER RANKS WERE PRESENTED WITH MEDALS AND CLASPS BY ACTING CHIEF FIRE OFFICER, MR JOHN BREDBURY.
IN KOWLOON, CHIEF FIRE OFFICER, MR ANTHONY CONWAY PRESENTED LONG SERVICE MEDALS TO TWO PRINCIPAL FIREMEN, 15 SENIOR FIREMEN AND 26 FIREMEN. SIX PRINCIPAL FIREMEN EACH WITH 25 YEARS’ SERVICE RECEIVED FIRST CLASP TO THEIR MEDALS, WHILE ANOTHER PRINCIPAL FIREMAN, WITH 30 YEARS’ SERVICE RECEIVED SECOND CLASP.
IN THE NEW TERRITORIES COMMAND, 20 SENIOR FIREMEN AND 18 FIREMEN RECEIVED LONG SERVICE MEDALS FROM THE CHIEF FIRE OFFICER, MR FRED JACKSON. TWO PRINCIPAL FIREMEN RECEIVED FIRST CLASP TO THEIR MEDALS FOR 25 YEARS’ SERVICE.
CHIEF FIRE OFFICER MR JOHN MARCH OF THE FIRE PROTECTION BUREAU WHO EARLIER RECEIVED THE FIRST CLASP TO HIS MEDAL FOR 25 YEARS’ SERVICE, PRESENTED LONG SERVICE MEDALS TO TWO SENIOR STATION OFFICERS, ONE STATION OFFICER, SIX SENIOR FIREMEN AND ONE FIREMAN.
CHIEF AMBULANCE OFFICER MR HARRY KENYON RECEIVED THE SECOND CLASP TO HIS MEDAL ON COMPLETION OF 30 YEARS’ SERVICE. HE ALSO PRESENTED LONG SERVICE MEDALS TO ONE AMBULANCE OFFICER, THREE PRINCIPAL AMBULANCEMEN, TWO SENIOR AMBULANCEMEN AND TWO AMBULANCEMEN.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1982
1C
UPGC TO FINANCE BAPTIST COLLEGE ft * ft ft
THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED THAT THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE (UPGC) SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ADVISING ON THE FUTURE FINANCING NEEDS OF THE HONG KONG BAPTIST COLLEGE.
GOVERNMENT FUNDS TO THE COLLEGE WILL BE CHANNELLED THROUGH THE UPGC WITH EFFECT FROM THE 1984-85 ACADEMIC YEAR OR EARLIER IF THE UPGC FEEL THAT THEY ARE READY TO TAKE ON THIS ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITY. IN THE MEANTIME, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE CONTROLLING OFFICER FOR GOVERNMENT FUNDS PAID TO THE COLLEGE.
THIS DECISION WAS CONVEYED IN A LETTER SENT TODAY TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE BAPTIST COLLEGE. DR DANIEL TSE, BY THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION, MR KENNETH TOPLEY.
THE UPGC WILL CONSIDER THE ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT PLANS PREPARED BY THE COLLEGE AND ADVISE THE GOVERNMENT ON THE FUNDS NEEDED TO CARRY OUT THESE PLANS.
A TEAM FROM THE UK COUNCIL FOR NATIONAL ACADEMIC AWARDS (CNAA) RECENTLY COMPLETED A VALIDATION OF COURSES AT THE BAPTIST COLLEGE. THE CNAA’S REPORT WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE UPGC.
IN THE 1981-82 ACADEMIC YEAR, THE BAPTIST COLLEGE RECEIVED
A RECURRENT GRANT FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF APPROXIMATELY $18.8 MILLION. A $25 MILLION GRANT HAS ALSO BEEN PAID FOR THE PURCHASE OF STAFF QUARTERS. GRANTS AND LOANS ARE ALSO MADE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS AT THE COLLEGE TO HELP THEM TO MEET THE COST OF FEES AND LIVING EXPENSES.
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KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT BOARD ISSUES MANIFESTO ft ft ft ft
TO PERSUADE ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS OF KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT TO REGISTER AS DISTRICT BOARD VOTERS, THE DISTRICT BOARD HAS ISSUED A MANIFESTO WHICH DESCRIBES THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME IN KOWLOON CITY AND SUGGESTS AN ACTION PROGRAMME FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DISTRICT BOARD SAID RECENT SURVEYS INDICATED THAT OVER 80 PER CENT OF THE PUBLIC NOW KNOW ABOUT THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME.
THE TASK AHEAD WAS TO TRANSLATE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SCHEME INTO COMPLETED REGISTRATION FORMS AND THIS COULD ONLY BE ACHIEVED IF THE PUBLIC’S ENTHUSIASM WAS AROUSED, HE SAID.
IT WAS FELT THAT THE MANIFESTO WOULD GREATLY HELP TO ACHIEVE THIS TASK.
COPIES OF THE MANIFESTO ENTITLED +A BETTER KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT* MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT OFFICE, 1, MA TAU KOK ROAD, KOWLOON (3-7110171) AND AT THE CITY DISTRICT SUB-OFFICES AT 32, WUHU STREET (3-632215) AND AT BLOCK 8, HO MAN TIN ESTATE (3-7129181).
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1982
11
NEW LAW ON ROADWORKS PROPOSED *****
THE GOVERNMENT HAS PUBLISHED A BILL TO REPLACE THE EXISTING STREETS (ALTERATION) ORDINANCE WITH A COMPREHENSIVE NEW ORDINANCE.
IF APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE BILL WILL PROVIDE IN ONE ORDINANCE ALL THE STATUTORY POWERS REQUIRED FOR THE PURPOSE CF EXECUTING ANY ROADWORKS. THE BILL GIVES RIGHTS OF OBJECTION TO ANY PROPOSED ROADWORKS AND PROVIDES FOR RIGHTS OF COMPENSATION.
ALTHOUGH THE BILL IS BEING PUBLISHED NOW AND IS EXPECTED TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON MARCH 10, THE GOVERNMENT WILL THEN PROPOSE THAT THE SECOND READING DEBATE BE DEFERRED TO LATER IN THE COUNCIL’S CURRENT SESSION. A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE REASON FOR THIS WAS TO ALLOW AMPLE TIME FOR THE UNOFFICIALS TO STUDY ITS PROVISIONS AND FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL WHEN CONSIDERING AN OBJECTION UNDER THE EXISTING STREETS (ALTERATION) ORDINANCE HAD ASKED THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL TO CHAIR A WORKING PARTY TO REVIEW THE EXISTING LEGISLATION. THIS REVIEW IDENTIFIED A NUMBER OF SERIOUS DEFICIENCIES IN THE PRESENT ORDINANCE, INCLUDINGt-
* THE EXISTING ORDINANCE DEALS ONLY WITH +ALTERATIONS* TO EXISTING STREETS, AND DOES NOT COVER NEW ROAD PROJECTS WHERE AN EXISTING STREET IS NOT AFFECTED.
* NO PROCEDURE IS PRESCRIBED FOR ALTERING A SCHEME ONCE GAZETTED, NOR FOR WITHDRAWING A SCHEME.
* THE MEANING OF CERTAIN KEY DEFINITIONS IN THE ORDINANCE IS UNCERTAIN. CONSEQUENTLY, IT IS NOT ALWAYS CLEAR WHETHER A PERSON WHO IS AFFECTED BY ROADWORKS IS ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION NOR THE BASIS OF ASSESSING COMPENSATION.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE WORKING PARTY HAD FOUND THAT THE DEFECTS AND DEFICIENCIES OF THE EXISTING LEGISLATION WERE SO NUMEROUS AND IMPORTANT THAT THE ORDINANCE WAS INCAPABLE OF RECTIFICATION BY AMENDMENT. THEY HAD REPORTED TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL THAT IN THEIR VIEW THE ONLY SENSIBLE COURSE WAS TO DRAFT AFRESH A COMPREHENSIVE CODE RELATING TO ROADWORKS. THEY HAD APPROACHED THIS TASK IN THE LIGHT OF TWO BASIC CONCEPTS. FIRST, THAT THE NEW BILL SHOULD EMBODY A COMPREHENSIVE CODE THAT WOULD SO FAR AS PRACTICABLE BE SELF-CONTAINED FOR ALL NECESSARY MATTERS RELATING TO OR ARISING FROM THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROADWORKS OF ALL SORTS INCLUDING TUNNELS, AND SHOULD EMBRACE ALSO THE REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF EXISTING ROADWORKS. SECONDLY THAT WITH REGARD TO COMPENSATION A REASONABLE BALANCE SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED BETWEEN SERVING THE PUBLIC INTEREST IN ITS NEED FOR THE PROVISION AND MAINTENANCE OF AN ADEQUATE ROAD SYSTEM ON THE ONE HAND, AND ON THE OTHER IN GIVING FAIR COMPENSATION WHERE A PERSON HAS SUFFERED DAMAGE DIRECTLY FROM THE CARRYING OUT OF ROADWORKS. THE WORKING PARTY HAD RECOMMENDED THAT NO COMPENSATION SHOULD BE PAID FOR ANY PREJUDICE CLAIMED TO ARISE FROM THE USE OF ANY ROADWORKS AFTER COMPLETION, OR FROM THEIR EXISTENCE AS SUCH ONCE CONSTRUCTED.
/THE BILL, ........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 19&2
12
THE BILL, WHICH HAS BEEN DRAFTED ON THE ADVICE OF THE WORKING PARTY -
(A) PROVIDES IN ONE ENACTMENT ALL OF THE STATUTORY POWERS THAT MAY BE NEEDED (AT ANY STAGE) FOR THE PURPOSES OF CARRYING OUT NECESSARY ROADWORKS}
(B) GIVES RIGHTS OF OBJECTION AND PROVIDES FOR THOSE OBJECTIONS TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL ;
(C) REQUIRES THE GIVING OF AMPLE PUBLIC NOTICE OF PROPOSED ROADWORKS, RIGHTS OF OBJECTION AND THE POWER TO CLAIM COMPENSATION;
(D) GIVES FAIR RIGHTS TO COMPENSATION WHERE PEOPLE ARE DETRIMENTALLY AND DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROADWORKS FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT OR THE EXERCISE OF STATUTORY POWERS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH; AND
(E) EMPOWERS THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL, WHEN AUTHORIZING ROADWORKS, TO IMPOSE CONDITIONS SO AS TO AMELIORATE OR AVOID NUISANCE ARISING FROM THE ROADWORKS OR THEIR USE.
AN IMPORTANT AIM OF THE BILL IS TO INTRODUCE CERTAINTY AS TO THE PRECISE SCOPE OF CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION FLOWING FROM ROADWORKS IN PLACE OF THE PRESENT UNCERTAINTY UNDER THE EXISTING ORDINANCE. TO THIS END THE BILL SETS OUT CLEARLY AND EXHAUSTIVELY ALL RIGHTS FOR COMPENSATION THAT MAY FLOW FROM THE CARRYING OUT CF ROADWORKS AUTHORIZED UNDER IT.
THE BILL GIVES THE LANDS TRIBUNAL JURISDICTION TO HEAR AND DETERMINE ALL CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION UNDER THE BILL WHICH THE PARTIES HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO AGREE.
THE BILL WILL APPLY TO ALL NEW ROADWORKS EXCEPT THOSE ALREADY GAZETTED AND AUTHORISED UNDER THE EXISTING ORDINANCE EVEN THOUGH NOT YET STARTED.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 19&2
- U -
EIGHT NT SITES FOR LETTER A/B TENDER
*****
APPLICATIONS ARE INVITED FROM REGISTERED OWNERS OF LAND EXCHANGE ENTITLEMENTS (LETTER A/B) FOR EIGHT NEW TERRITORIES SITES.
THE SITES, VARYING FROM 370 SQUARE METRES TO 6 100 SQUARE bETRES IN AREA, ARE LOCATED IN TAI PO, TUEN MUN, SHA TIN AND YUEN LONG.
FOUR SITES, TWO IN TAI PO, ONE IN TUEN MUN AND ONE IN YUEN LONG, ARE FOR COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES.
THE TAI PO SITES, WITH FOUR-YEAR BUILDING COVENANTS OF $61.5 MILLION AND $31 MILLION, MEASURE 6 078 SQUARE METRES AND 3 127 SQUARE METRES.
THE TUEN MUN LOT, MEASURING 3 594 SQUARE METRES, HAS A BUILDING COVENANT OF $49 MILLION TO BE COMPLETED IN FOUR YEARS.
THE REMAINING COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL SITE IS IN YUEN LONG AND MEASURES 370 SQUARE METRES. THE BUILDING COVENANT IS $4.8 MILLION TO BE FULFILLED WITHIN THREE YEARS.
TWO OTHER YUEN LONG SITES, SITUATED IN FUNG CHEUNG ROAD, ARE FOR DEVELOPMENT AS SERVICE INDUSTRY WORKSHOPS. THEY MEASURE 930 SQUARE METRES AND 600 SQUARE METRES AND THE BUILDING COVENANTS ARE $4.47 MILLION AND $2.88 MILLION, BOTH TO BE COMPLETED IN THREE YEARS.
ONE SHA TIN SITE, MEASURING 3 956 SQUARE METRES, IS FOR USE AS A PUBLIC LORRY PARK AND GODOWN EXCLUDING THE STORAGE OF DANGEROUS GOODS. IT HAS A FOUR-YEAR BUILDING COVENANT OF $36.08 MILLION.
ALSO FOR TENDER IS A GODOWN SITE IN YUEN LONG INDUSTRIAL AREA WITH A FOUR-YEAR BUILDING COVENANT OF $30.1 MILLION. IT MEASURES 3 300 SQUARE METRES.
APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION HEADQUARTERS BEFORE MARCH 12.
CONDITIONS ARE AVAILABLE FROM CNTA HEADQUARTERS AND THE EIGHT DISTRICT OFFICES.
c
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1982
_ 14 -
FREE CONCERTS OFFERED BY MUSIC OFFICE
* * *
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL BE ABLE TO ENJOY A SERIES OF FREE CONCERTS TO BE PRESENTED BY THE MUSIC OFFICE, RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.
MR CHAN HO—CHOI, AN EXPERT IN HI-FI MUSIC WILL PRESENT THREE HI-FI CONCERTS STARTING FROM TOMORROW (SATURDAY).
TOMORROW’S CONCERT WILL BE HELD AT THE CHIU CHOW CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HEAD OFFICE, 81-85 DES VOEUX ROAD WEST, 10/F., AND WILL FOCUS ON +POPULAR CHINESE AND WESTERN MUSIC*.
THE SUNDAY CONCERT WILL BE ON ^CLASSICAL MUSIC IN POP FORMS* AND WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE WAH FU ESTATE COMMUNITY HALL.
♦GEMS OF TCHAIKOVSKY* WILL BE FEATURED IN THE CONCERT ON MONDAY, AT THE MUSIC OFFICE HEAD OFFICE, 9/F., HONG KONG ARTS CENTRE.
ALL THREE CONCERTS WILL START AT 8 PM AND TICKETS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM ALL MUSIC CENTRES OF THE MUSIC OFFICE AS WELL AS EASTERN, CENTRAL AND WESTERN, AND SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICES.
ALSO ON SATURDAY, STARTING AT 5.30 PM, TRAINEES OF THE MUSIC OFFICE’S EAST KOWLOON MUSIC CENTRES WILL PERFORM AT A CONCERT AT THE SCHOOL HALL OF DELIA MEMORIAL SCHOOL, YUET WAH STREET, KWUN TONG.
PROGRAMME FOR THE CONCERT INCLUDE CHINESE AND WESTERN SOLO AND ENSEMBLE ITEMS.
THERE WILL ALSO BE GUEST PERFORMANCES BY THE CHINESE ORCHESTRA OF DELIA MEMORIAL SCHOOL AND THE HARMONICA BAND OF MONG MAN WAI COLLEGE.
ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS WILL BE A DEMONSTRATION BY MR CHAN KI-CHAM, AN INSTRUCTOR FROM THE MUSIC OFFICE.
MR MAK WAI-YING, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT CULTURE AND RECREATION PROMOTION ASSOCIATION WILL BE THE OFFICIATING GUEST.
TICKETS FOR THIS CONCERT ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT ALL MUSIC OFFICE MUSIC CENTRES.
ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE AT 5-283257.
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/15........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1982
- 15 -
YUEN LONG SITE FOR TENDER * * *
TENDERS ARE INVITED FOR A SITE IN YUEN LONG FOR DEVELOPMENT FOR ICE MAKING AND AS A COLD STORE.
THE SITE, MEASURING 1 852 SQUARE METRES, IS SITUATED IN THE INDUSTRIAL AREA.
THE BUILDING COVENANT IS |9 MILLION TO BE COMPLETED IN FOUR YEARS AND THE PLOT RATIO IS FIVE.
CONDITIONS SPECIFY THAT THE COLD STORE SHOULD PRODUCE 50 TONNES OF ICE A DAY BETWEEN OCTOBER AND APRIL AND 100 TONNES A DAY BETWEEN MAY AND SEPTEMBER.
APPLICATIONS CLOSE ON MARCH 12.
PARTICULARS ARE AVAILABLE FROM NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION HEADQUARTERS AND THE EIGHT DISTRICT OFFICES.
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FIRING PRACTICE NOTICE KM*
FIRING PRACTICE WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE HA TSUEN AND CASTLE PEAK RANGE ON FIVE DAYS NEXT MONTH.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WARNED NOT TO ENTER THE AREA WHEN THE RED FLAG IS FLYING DURING THE TIMES OF PRACTICE.
THE PRACTICE TIMES
DAY
MARCH 2 (TUESDAY)
MARCH 3 (WEDNESDAY)
MARCH 10 (WEDNESDAY)
MARCH 11 (THURSDAY)
MARCH 18 (THURSDAY)
ARE:
TIME
9 AM - 5.30 PM
8.30 AM - 4.30 PM
9 AM - 11 PM
8 AM - 4 PM
9 AM - 4.30 PM
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1982
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
CONFIDENCE IN DISTRICT BOARD CONTRIBUTION....................... 1
MORE FAMILIES WILL BENEFIT FROM FEE AID SCHEME.................. 2
URBAN CLEARWAY IN WING LOK STREET .............................. 3
FURTHER TALKS ON FRENCH TRADE RESTRICTIONS...................... 4
LABOUR RELATIONS CONFERENCE OPENS .............................. 5
SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOaRD MEMBERS TOUR POK FU LAM VILLAGE AND WAH FU ESTATE................................................... ?
FINALISTS FOR FIGHT YOUTH CRIME DRAMA COMPETITION SELECTED .. 8
VISIT OP ESCAP CHIEF SECRETARY.................................. 9
NEW LEASE OF LIFE GIVEN TO TWO BEACHES.......................... 9
NT BADMINTON LEAGUE WINNERS RECEIVE CUPS....................... 10
KOWLOON MAXICAB ROUTE 12 TO IMPROVE SERVICE.................... 10
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2Q, 1982
CONFIDENCE IN DISTRICT BOARD CONTRIBUTION * * * *
THE SECRETARY FOR THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, DAVID AKERS-JONES TODAY (SATURDAY) EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE THAT BY WORKING CLOSELY TOGETHER WITH THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD AND ITS COMMITTEES WILL MAKE A POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION TO THE LIVES OF THE LOCAL PEOPLE.
PRESIDING AT THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD, MR AKERS-JONES SAID HE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE BOARD HAD A PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT TASK.
HE SAID IT WAS BECAUSE THAT THE WAN CHAI OF TODAY WAS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE WAN CHAI PLANNED VERY MANY YEARS AGO FOR LOW RISE BUILDING AND A SMALL POPULATION.
♦NOW WITH ALMOST THREE QUARTERS OF THE OLD BUILDINGS DEVELOPED TO OVER 15 STOREYS AND WITH ALMOST A QUARTER OF A MILLION PEOPLE CONCENTRATED IN A SMALL AREA, STRESSES ON RESIDENTS AND DEMANDS FOR FACILITIES ARE EXTREMELY SEVERE,+ HE SAID.
IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, HE SAID, IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO ESTABLISH THE PART WHICH THE BOARD SHOULD PLAY.
MR AKERS-JONES THEN WENT ON TO SUGGEST SOME PRACTICAL STEPS FOR THE BOARD TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY BUILDING, TOWN PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT, TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT AND OTHER FACILITIES IN THE DISTRICT.
ON COMMUNITY BUILDING, HE SAID THE BOARD SHOULD EXAMINE THE WHOLE REALM OF THE COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT AND THEN TO RECOMMEND IMPROVEMENTS SINCE SOME ORGANISATIONS MIGHT HAVE OUTLIVED THEIR USEFULNESS, SOME MIGHT NEED TO CHANGE AND EXPAND THEIR ACTIVITIES AND THERE MIGHT BE A NEED FOR NEW ORGANISATIONS.
AS REGARDS TOWN PLANNING, HE ADVISED THE MEMBERS TO INVITE GOVERNMENT PLANNERS TO EXPLAIN TO THEM HOW THE PRESENT PLAN WAS TO BE IMPLEMENTED AND TO CONTRIBUTE THEIR OWN IDEAS TO THE PROCESS OF MAKING GOOD DEFICIENCIES.
IT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT THE MANY EXISTING FACILITIES IN THE DISTRICT ARE USED TO CAPACITY BY DAY AND NIGHT, HE SAID. THIS REQUIRES A SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CLOSE LINKS WITH EXISTING BODIES AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, HE ADDED.
THE 12 UNOFFICIALS APPOINTED ARE I MR CHAM SIU-LEUN, MR CHENG HOK-YIN, MR CHU WING-KEE, MR HO FOOK-CHU, MR HO YUK-WING, MR LEE KON, MR LEE WAN-YUEN, MR LO WAI-MAN, MR NG SAI-YING, MISS NG SUI-HING, MRS WAN LEE TSZ-HUEN AND MR YAN KOW. TWO URBAN COUNCILLORS, MR HILTON CHEONG-LEEN AND MR F.K. HU ALSO SIT ON THE BOARD.
THEY WILL SERVE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30, 1982.
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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1982
2
MORE FAMILIES WILL BENEFIT FROM FEE AID SCHEME
* * M M
THE NEW FEE ASSISTANCE SCHEME WHICH THE GOVERNMENT IS INTRODUCING IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR FOR PRE-PRIMARY SERVICES IS DESIGNED TO ENABLE MORE FAMILIES TO BENEFIT FROM LOW-COST DAY NURSERY SERVICES AND, IF NECESSARY, TO RECEIVE GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE TO PAY THE FEES CHARGED BY NURSERIES.
THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR SELWYN ALLEYNE, SAID THIS TODAY (SATURDAY) WHEN HE OFFICIATED AT THE OPENING OF THE ON NING DAY NURSERY OF THE TSUNG TSIN MISSION AT SHUN LEE ESTATE.
♦THE ASSISTANCE,+ HE SAID, +WILL BE PAID ON A SLIDING SCALE, THE EFFECT OF WHICH WILL BE THAT PARENTS WHO ARE PRESENTLY ELIGIBLE TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO SUBVENTED DAY NURSERIES WILL NOT, UNDER THE NEW SYSTEM, HAVE TO PAY MORE THAN THEY WOULD UNDER THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS.+
THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SLIDING SCALE WILL ENABLE BETTER OFF FAMILIES TO ALSO RECEIVE SOME ASSISTANCE WITH DAY NURSERY FEES.
MR ALLEYNE SAID FEE ASSISTANCE WOULD ALSO BE AVAILABLE TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES WHO WISHED TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO KINDERGARTENS.
THUS, THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS REFLECTED +A MUCH MORE CONSISTENT APPROACH, ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT, TO ENCOURAGING THE DEVELOPMENT OF GOOD QUALITY PRE-PRIMARY CARE AND EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN.*
IN DUE COURSE, THE DIRECTOR SAID, IT WAS INTENDED THAT DAY NURSERIES WOULD PROVIDE SERVICES TO TWO AND THREE-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN ONLY, WHILE FOUR AND FIVE-YEAR-OLDS WOULD ATTEND KINDERGARTENS, SOME OF WHICH WOULD PROVIDE FULL DAY CARE FOR THOSE WHO NEEDED IT.
HE STRESSED, HOWEVER, THAT +THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT INTEND TO BAR THE ADMISSION OF FOUR AND FIVE-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN TO DAY NURSERIES UNTIL IT IS SATISFIED THAT SUFFICIENT PLACES EXIST IN FULL DAY KINDERGARTENS TO MEET THE NEED FOR FULL DAY CARE FOR THIS AGE GROUP.*
MR ALLEYNE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS COMMITTED TO PROMOTING THE EXPANSION OF DAY NURSERY SERVICES TO MEET THE FULL DEMAND FROM PARENTS WHO HAD A NEED TO PLACE THEIR CHILDREN IN FULL DAY CARE.
AT PRESENT, ENTRY TO SUBVENTED DAY NURSERIES IS LIMITED TO THE CHILDREN OF FAMILIES WHOSE INCOME IS NO MORE THAN 30 PER CENT IN EXCESS OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE LEVEL (ROUGHLY $1 800 A MONTH FOR A FOUR-MEMBER FAMILY).
/+THIS STRICT .......
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1982
♦THIS STRICT INCOME ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.♦ HE SAID, +MEANS THAT MANY FAMILIES WHO NEED TO PLACE THEIR CHILDREN IN DAY NURSERIES ARE EXCLUDED FROM SUBVENTED DAY CARE CENTRES BUT ARE, NEVERTHELESS, UNABLE TO PAY THE MUCH HIGHER FEES CHARGED BY PRIVATE CENTRES.+
MR ALLEYNE NOTED THAT VOLUNTARY AGENCIES FELT SOME CONCERN AT THE EFFECT OF THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS ON THEIR OPERATIONS.
HE ASSURED ALL AGENCIES NOW RUNNING SUBVENTED DAY NURSERIES THAT THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WOULD DO ALL IT COULD TO ENSURE THAT THE TRANSITION FROM THE PRESENT SUBVENTION SYSTEM TO THE NEW FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS WOULD BE AS SMOOTH AS POSSIBLE.
♦WITH THE CO-OPERATION OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES,* HE WENT ON, ♦I AM SURE THAT WE CAN EMBARK ON THIS NEW PHASE OF DEVELOPMENT OF DAY NURSERY SERVICES WITH THE MINIMUM OF PROBLEMS ON ALL SIDES.+
HE HOPED THAT AGENCIES OR OPERATORS WOULD FEEL FREE TO APPROACH STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD THEY HAVE ANY QUERIES OR POINTS THEY WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY FURTHER.
THE ON NING DAY NURSERY, OPENED TODAY, IS THE FOURTH TO BE ESTABLISHED BY THE TSUNG TSIN MISSION, PROVIDING MORE THAN 160 PLACES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AT SHUN LEE ESTATE.
IT HAS BEEN FITTED OUT WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF AN OVERSEAS DONATION OF $200 000 AND A GRANT OF $500 000 FROM THE LOTTERIES FUND.
- - 0 - -
URBAN CLEARWAY IN WING LOK STREET ft * * *
A SECTION OF WING LOK STREET BETWEEN DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL AND RUMSEY STREET WILL BE DESIGNATED AS AN URBAN CLEARWAY FROM 10 AM ON MONDAY (FEBRUARY 22).
ALL VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS AND GOODS WITHIN THE CLEARWAY FROM 7 AM TO 10 AM AND FROM 4 PM TO 7 PM DAILY.
- 0 - -
/4 .
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1982
4
FURTHER TALKS ON FRENCH TRADE RESTRICTIONS * * *
A FURTHER ROUND OF TALKS REGARDING THE RESTRICTIONS MAINTAINED BY FRANCE ON IMPORTS FROM HONG KONG IS LIKELY TO BE HELD IN HONG KONG IN MID-APRIL.
THIS WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY (SATURDAY) BY THE COMMISSIONER OF TRADE, MR LAWRENCE MILLS, ON HIS RETURN TO HONG KONG FROM EUROPE.
♦ WE HELD TWO ROUNDS OF CONSULTATIONS UNDER ARTICLE XXIII OF THE GENERAL AGREEMENT OF TARIFFS AND TRADE WITH THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION AND FRENCH OFFICIALS IN GENEVA AND PARIS,* HE SAID.
♦ AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE FRENCH HAVE AGREED TO LIFT THE QUOTA ENTIRELY ON ONE SMALL ITEM (SOYA SPROUTS), AND TO USE THE QUOTA SYSTEM ON FOUR OTHER GROUPS OF PRODUCTS - PARTS FOR TOYS, PLEASURE BOATS, OPTICAL MICROSCOPES AND SPARE PARTS FOR RADIO RECEIVERS -SOLELY FOR SURVEILLANCE PURPOSES. IN OTHER WORDS, IMPORT LICENCES WILL BE FREELY ISSUED FOR THESE PRODUCTS. THE QUOTAS ON SOME KNITWEAR HAVE BEEN DOUBLED AND THOSE ON CERTAIN OTHER CLOTHING INCREASED BY 50 PER CENT. THE GARMENTS CONCERNED IN EACH CASE ARE MADE OF MATERIALS NOT COVERED BY THE MFA. THIS SHOULD PROVIDE SOME ALLEVIATION FOR OUR SILK GARMENT INDUSTRY,+ MR MILLS SAID.
♦ HOWEVER, ON WHAT WE MIGHT CALL THE HARD CORE ITEMS, CONSIDERABLE DIFFICULTIES REMAIN AND WE SHALL HAVE TO CONSIDER THESE FURTHER. NONETHELESS, THE FRENCH HAVE INCREASED THE QUOTA FOR RADIOS BY ABOUT FIVE PER CENT TO 180’000 PIECES WHILST THE QUOTA FOR TOYS HAS BEEN INCREASED FROM THE PUBLISHED FIGURE OF 15 MILLION FRENCH FRANCS TO 22 MILLION FRENCH FRANCS,+ MR MILLS SAID.
♦ AS WE ANTICIPATED, THE MOST DIFFICULT AREA WAS QUARTZ WATCHES. THE FRENCH WERE NOT ABLE TO CHANGE OR REMOVE THE QUOTA AT THIS STAGE BUT WERE PREPARED TO DISCUSS THE QUESTION FURTHER. WE HAVE AGREED TO DO THIS,+ MR MILLS ADDED.
♦HONG KONG’S OBJECTIVE IN THESE TALKS WAS TO PERSUADE THE FRENCH TO LIFT THE RESTRICTIONS ON IMPORTS FROM HONG KONG ALTOGETHER,* MR MILLS SAID. +WE DID NOT SUCCEED, BUT THE FRENCH HAVE TAKEN SOME STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND THIS LEADS US TO THINK THAT A FURTHER ROUND OF TALKS WOULD BE USEFUL. WE HAVE THEREFORE TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED A FURTHER ROUND OF ARTICLE XXIII CONSULTATIONS FOR MID-APRIL IN HONG KONG.+
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/5 .......
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1982
5
LABOUR RELATIONS * *
CONFERENCE OPENS *
IN THE FACE OF EXTERNAL PRESSURES AND ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTIES THERE IS AN INCREASING NEED FOR BOTH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES TO RECOGNISE THEIR MUTUAL DEPENDENCE AND TO CO-OPERATE WITH EACH OTHER.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR J.N. HENDERSON, THIS (SATURDAY) MORNING AT THE OPENING OF A LABOUR RELATIONS CONFERENCE HELD BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AT THE HOLIDAY INN HOTEL.
THE CONFERENCE, ATTENDED BY ABOUT 250 PEOPLE, WAS ONE OF THE FUNCTIONS OF A YEAR-LONG LABOUR AND STAFF RELATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT STARTED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT LAST YEAR UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME. ANOTHER FUNCTION OF THE PROJECT WAS A SERIES OF FIVE LABOUR RELATIONS WORKSHOPS FOR EMPLOYEES.
MR HENDERSON REMINDED THE 250 PEOPLE ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE THAT THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF GOOD LABOUR RELATIONS WAS TO HELP BRING ABOUT INDUSTRIAL PEACE AND SOCIAL STABILITY, AND IT SHOULD BE ACHIEVED AS FAR AS POSSIBLE BY HARMONIOUS ACCORD RATHER THAN BY ARID DIVERSIVENESS.
IN The YEARS AHEAD, WHILST CONTINUING TO WORK FOR RAPID ECONOMIC GROWTH, EFFORTS MUST ALSO BE MADE TO MAKE HONG KONG A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE IN.
MR HENDERSON THEN LISTED SOME OF THE FACTORS THAT WOULD HELP ACHIEVE THESE ♦TWIN OBJECTIVES^.
HE HAD NO DOUBT THAT EMPLOYERS WOULD CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR GREATER PROFITS AND WORKERS FOR INCREASING WAGES.
BUT BEYOND PROFITS FOR THE EMPLOYERS, HE POINTED OUT, THERE WERE ALWAYS THE WIDER DIMENSIONS OF THE WORK FORCE'S SAFETY AND WELFARE, THE COMMUNITY’S WELL-BEING AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
AND BEYOND INCREASING WAGES AND IMPROVING TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT FOR THE EMPLOYEES, THERE WAS A GROWING NEED TO IMPROVE QUALITY BOTH IN THE PRODUCT ITSELF AND IN THE WORKING SITUATION, TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY AND TO ENDEAVOUR, WITH THE EMPLOYERS, TO MEET DEADLINES AND OTHER BUSINESS COMMITMENTS.
♦IN OTHER WORDS,♦ HE SAID, ♦ IN THE FACE OF EXTERNAL PRESSURES AND ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTIES THERE IS AN INCREASING NEED FOR BOTH SIDES OF INDUSTRY TO RECOGNISE THEIR MUTUAL DEPENDENCE AND THE COVERGENCE OF THEIR INTERESTS AND TO OVERCOME SUCH DIFFICULTIES BY WORKING TOGETHER.♦
IN THIS CONNECTION, MR HENDERSON EXTENDED A PLEA TO A MINORITY OF EMPLOYERS WHO HAD LATELY BEEN RATHER VOCAL IN THEIR CONCERN ABOUT SOME ITEMS OF LABOUR LEGISLATION.
/IN HONG .......
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1982
- 6 -
IN HONG KONG, HE SAID, THERE WAS A NEED TO STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS THE ASPIRATIONS OF THE POPULATION TO AVOID LOP-SIDED DEVELOPMENT. IT WAS ALSO ESSENTIAL TO ENSURE STEADY PaOWTH. INDUSTRIAL PEACE AND THE PROSPERITY THAT THE ECONOMY NEEDED TO ENABLE THE QUALITY OF LIFE TO BE IMPROVED.
ON ITS PART, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE THE POLICY OF INVOLVEMENT IN THE SAFETY. HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THE WORKFORCE, BUT WOULD CONTINUE ALSO TO AVOID CUMBERSOME REGULATIONS AND UNDUE INTERFERENCE IN LABOUR MATTERS.
♦this policy has stood us in good stead in the past and i am SURE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE,* MR HENDERSON NOTED.
SPEAKING AT THE CONFERENCE. THE CHIEF LABOUR OFFICER (LABOUR RELATIONS) OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, MR DONALD CHAN, TRACED THE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE LABOUR RELATIONS SCENE FROM THE 195O*S TO THE 197O’S, OUTLINED THE GOVERNMENT'S ROLES IN PROMOTING HARMONIOUS LABOUR" RELATIONS AND SPOKE OF SOME OF THE FACTORS THAT WOULD AFFECT LABOUR RELATIONS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
HE POINTED OUT THAT LABOUR RELATIONS IN HONG KONG HAD BEEN QUIET, PEACEFUL AND HARMONIOUS, A RECORD THAT ALL PARTIES CONCERNED COULD BE PROUD OF.
TURNING TO THE FUTURE, MR CHAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE THE POLICY OF KEEPING LABOUR STANDARDS COMPARABLE TO THE BEST OF NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES.
THE LEGISLATIVE THRUST WOULD BE IN THE AREA OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH, EMPLOYEES’ COMPENSATION INSURANCE, ASSESSING INJURIES AND PROCESSING COMPENSATION CLAIMS, AND SICKNESS AND DEATH BENEFITS.
MR CHAN’S SUGGESTION TO EMPLOYERS IN THE CHAFING—T&ENDS OF LABOUR RELATIONS WAS SIMPLY ♦BEING WILLING TO TRY NEW PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT DEVICES^ AND ♦CONSULT YOUR STAFF MORE+.
HE TOLD THE MEETING i ^IDENTIFY THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE STAFF OF YOUR INDUSTRY AND YOUR ORGANISATION AND THEN FIND THE RIGHT MIX OF APPROACH TO LABOUR RELATIONS. YOU MUST ENSURE THAT YOUR ATTITUDES AND STRUCTURAL RESPONSES ARE FLEXIBLE AND ADAPTABLE TO MEET THE CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES.♦
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/7 ........
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1982
7
SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS TOUR POK FU LAM VILLAGE AND WAH FU ESTATE ft ft ft ft
MEMBERS OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD TOURED POK FU LAM VILLAGE AND WAH FU ESTATE THIS (SATURDAY) MORNING TO SEE SOME OF THE LATEST ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS MaDE BY THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD AND THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE CITY DISTRICT COMMISSIONER FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT, MR K.C. KWONG AND THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICER, MISS LOLLY CHIU, THE GROUP WAS FIRST MET BY OFFICE BEARERS OF THE POK FU LAM VILLAGE KAIFONG WELFARE ASSOCIATION.
THE GROUP TOOK AN OVERALL VIEW OF THE VILLAGE FROM THE ROOF-TOP OF THE ASSOCIATION’S BUILDING AND WAS SHOWN A SITE DESIGNATED FOR DEVELOPMENT AS A SITTING-OUT AREA.
THE WHOLE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, FUNDED BY THE SDB, COSTS MORE THAN $44 000 AND IS DUE TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF FEBRUARY.
THE BOARD MEMBERS THEN INSPECTED A NEW FLUSH TOILET, WHICH IS ONE OF THREE BEING INSTALLED IN THE VILLAGE TO REPLACE THE OLD STYLE DRY PUBLIC LATRINES.
NEXT THEY STOPPED AT CLAYMORE AVENUE TO LOOK OVER A BOX CULVERT THERE.
THE BOARD MEMBERS ALSO INSPECTED THE RESURFACING WORK OF THE MAIN FOOTPATH WHICH LEADS TO THE VILLAGE AND THE SURFACING OF AN AREA OUTSIDE AN EXISTING FIBRE-GLASS TOILET.
THE TWO PROJECTS ARE BEING FUNDED BY THE SDB AND COST ABOUT $19 000 IN ALL.
THE GROUP THEN PROCEEDED TO WAH FU ESTATE AND WAS BRIEFED BY THE ESTATE’S HOUSING MANAGER ON THE SPOT ON RECENT DEVELOPMENTS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THE RESIDENTS.
THIS INCLUDED A LARGE-SCALE ELECTRICITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT TO INCREASE LOADING CAPACITY IN MARCH THIS YEAR. UPON COMPLETION OF THIS PROJECT, IT IS EXPECTED THAT ABOUT HALF THE RESIDENTS IN THE ESTATE WOULD BE ABLE TO INSTALL THEIR OWN AIR-CONDITIONERS.
THE BOARD MEMBERS ALSO LEARNT THAT A NEW SUB-OFFICE OF THE SOUTHERN CITY DISTRICT OFFICE WILL BE OPENED IN THE AREA BY THE MIDDLE OF THIS YEAR TO PROVIDE MORE SERVICES TO THE RESIDENTS.
THE BOARD MEMBERS THEN VISITED A FAMILY LIVING IN THE ESTATE AND STAYED THERE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES.
THEIR LAST STOP WAS AT THE WAH FU ESTATE RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION TO VISIT OFFICIALS OF THE ASSOCIATION. THE ASSOCIATION HAS IN THE PAST CONTRIBUTED MUCH TO COMMUNITY WORK IN ORGANISING VARIOUS CULTURAL, RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES FOR RESIDENTS IN WAH FU ESTATE.
0 -
/e
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1982
£8?1 .OS Y?AU
- 8.
FINALISTS FOR FISHT YOUTH CRIME DRAMA COMPETITION SELECTED
*****
DRAMA TEAMS FROM HO LAP COLLEGE, MU KUANG ENGLISH SCHOOL AND BUDDHIST SIN TAK COLLEGE HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO ENTER THE GRAND FINAL OF THE FIGHT YOUTH CRIME DRAMA COMPETITION TO BE HELD ON MARCH 13, 1982 AT THE CITY HALL THEATRE.
THIS WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY (SATURDAY) AT THE TSUEN WAN PUBLIC HO CHUEN YIU MEMORIAL COLLEGE WHERE THE LAST OF THE THREE SEMI-FINAL SESSIONS WAS HELD.
TWO SEMI-FINALS HAD BEEN HELD AT THE SCHOOL HALLS OF QUEEN’S COLLEGE AND QUEEN ELIZABETH SCHOOL EARLIER THIS MONTH.
THE COMPETITION IS ONE OF THE MAJOR FUNCTIONS ORGANISED BY THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES FOR THE FIGHT YOUTH CRIME CAMPAIGN 1981/82. IT IS HOPED THAT THROUGH SUCH HEALTHY RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMES, THE +FIGHT CRIME* MESSAGE COULD BE PUT ACROSS EFFECTIVELY TO YOUNGSTERS IN HONG KONG.
♦THE STANDARD OF THE 15 TEAMS COMPETING AT THE SEMI-FINALS IS, ON THE AVERAGE, VERY HIGH AND THE STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO SHOW THEIR CREATIVITY AND TEAM SPIRIT IN THEIR STAGE PERFORMANCES,+ SAID MR JAMES MARK, ADVISER AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ADJUDICATING PANEL.
♦THE PLAYS, THOUGH PRESENTED IN DIFFERENT FORMATS, ARE ABLE TO DEPICT THE YOUTH CRIME PROBLEM AND PUT ACROSS THE +FIGHT CRIME+ MESSAGE TO THE AUDIENCE,+ HE ADDED.
CASH PRIZES OF $3 000, $2 000 AND $1 000, DONATED BY THE SHELL COMPANY OF HONG KONG LTD., ARE TO BE AWARDED TO WINNERS. AT THE GRAND FINAL OF THE COMPETITION. THE THIRD AND FOURTH RUNNERS-UP WILL EACH RECEIVE A CONSOLATION PRIZE OF $500.
THE GRAND FINAL IS EXPECTED TO ATTRACT AN AUDIENCE OF MORE THAN 430, INCLUDING REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE 52 SECONDARY SCHOOLS WHICH INITIALLY ENTERED THIS DRAMA COMPETITION.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1982
9
VISIT OF ESCAP CHIEF SECRETARY IO*
■rue cvcriiTiVF SECRETARY OF THE UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC AND
ON THE INVITATION OF THE GOVERNMENT.
MR KI BRI A WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY HIS WIFE, HIS SPECIAL ASSISTANT AND SECRETARY OF THE COMMISSION, MR ENAM A. CHAUDHURY AND CHIEF OF THE UNITED NATIONS AND ESCAP INFORMATION SERVICE, MR HSU SHIH-CHING.
THEY WILL ARRIVE IN HONG KONG (FEBRUARY 22) MORNING FOLLOWING AN WILL LEAVE ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.
FROM SHANGHAI ON MONDAY OFFICIAL VISIT TO CHINA, AND
MR KIBRIA’S ITINERARY ON THE GOVERNOR SIR MURRAY AND TUEN MUN NEW TOWNS.
IN HONG
KONG INCLUDES A COURTESY CALL
MACLEHOSE AND A VISIT TO TSUEN WAN
- - 0
NEW LEASE OF LIFE GIVEN TO TWO BEACHES * * * *
THIRTY PRIMARY STUDENTS TODAY (SATURDAY) SPENT THEIR HOLIDAY CLEANING UP TWO POPULAR BEACHES ON MA WAN ISLAND — SHA LAU TONG ON THE EAST COAST AND TUNG WAN BEACH.
LED BY FOUR TEACHERS, THE PUBLIC-SPIRITED YOUNGSTERS WHO CAME FROM MA WAN FONG YUEN SCHOOL, STARTED WITH SHA LAU TONG BEACH BEFORE PROCEEDING TO TUNG WAN BEACH.
THEY SPENT THE WHOLE DAY CLEARING UP THE REFUSE LEFT BEHIND BY HOLIDAY MAKERS.
THE CHILDREN’S EFFORT WAS PART OF THE STUDENTS COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE CURRENT CLEAN HONG KONG CAMPAIGN.
DURING THE EXERCISE THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT PROVIDED BACK-UP SERVICES.
ALSO TAKING PART IN THE CLEAN-UP WERE THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT) OF NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES, MR JOHN TELFORD, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (SOUTH REGION), hR JAMES WILSON, THE CHAIRMAN OF MA WAN RURAL COMMITTEE, MR CHAN KWONG-CHUEN, AND THE URBAN SERVICES OFFICER OF TSUEN WAN, MR LI TIN-MING.
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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1982
10
NT BADMINTON LEAGUE WINNERS RECEIVE CUPS ft ft ft ft
CUPS TO WINNERS OF THE FIRST NEW TERRITORIES INTER-DISTRICT BADMINTON LEAGUE WERE PRESENTED TODAY (SATURDAY) BY REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR IAN MACPHERSON, AND MRS MACPHERSON.
THE WINNERS OF THE MEN’S TITLE WERE THE TSUEN WAN TEAM WHICH WON ALL 10 MATCHES PLAYED.
THE WOMEN’S TITLE WENT TO TAI PO, WHICH LOST ONLY ONE OF ITS ID MATCHES.
THE RUNNERS-UP IN BOTH SECTIONS WERE TEAMS FROM SHA TIN AND YUEN LONG.
THE LEAGUE, WHICH INVOLVED A TOTAL OF 120 PLAYERS FROM SIX OF THE EIGHT NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICTS, WAS LAUNCHED LAST OCTOBER.
BADMINTON IS ONE OF SEVERAL SPORTS LEAGUES PROMOTED BY THE NEW TERRITORIES INTER-DISTRICT SPORTS COMPETITION CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE.
THE FAST-GROWING GAME OF SQUASH IS THE LATEST LEAGUE THE COMMITTEE IS PROMOTING.
ALSO OFFICIATING AT TODAY’S PRESENTATION WERE THE CHAIRMAN CF THE CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE, MR DAVID CHIU YIM-SHUN, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF TAI PO SPORTS ASSOCIATION, MR STEPHEN WONG.
KOWLOON MAXICAB ROUTE 12 TO IMPROVE SERVICE ft ft ft ft
KOWLOON PLB MAXICAB SERVICE NO. 12 WILL HAVE MORE FREQUENT SERVICES FROM MONDAY (FEBRUARY 22).
THE ROUTE, FROM PAK TIN TO TAI TUNG SUN CHUEN, WILL OPERATE AT 7 OR 8 MINUTE FREQUENCIES DURING PEAK PERIODS AND EVERY 15 TO 20 MINUTES DURING OFF PEAK HOURS.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SUNDAY, FEBRUaRY 21, 1982
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
TSUEN WAN DB CANDIDATES TO MEET VOTERS ...................... 1
BRIGHT FUTURE FOR TECHNICAL INSTITUTE GRADUATES ............. 2
MORE EQUIPMENT FOR FIRE FIGHTING ............................ 3
HK/CANADA TEXTILE NEGOTIATIONS .............................. 3
FIRST CONTROL-LINE MODEL AIRCRAFT SHOW ...................... 4
THINKING DAY FOR NT GIRL GUIDES ............................. 5
FIRING PRACTICE ............................................. 5
ANTI-YOUTH CRIME AND DRUGS CONCERT HELD IN NORTH DISTRICT ... 6
URBAN CLEARWAY IN KING'S ROAD
6
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1982
1
TSUEN WAN DB CANDIDATES TO MEET VOTERS * * * *
A SERIES OF FORUMS IS BEING ORGANISED FOR TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BOARD CANDIDATES TO MEET THEIR VOTERS.
ALTOGETHER, NINE FORUMS WILL BE HELD IN EACH OF THE CONSTITUENCIES BEGINNING NEXT WEEK.
EACH CANDIDATE WILL GIVE A THREE-MINUTE TALK TO BE FOLLOWED BY A QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION.
FOR THE ELECTION, TSUEN WAN HAS BEEN DIVIDED INTO 10 CONSTITUENCIES. EXCEPT FOR TSUEN WAN RURAL, WHICH ONLY HAS ONE CANDIDATE WHO IS AUTOMATICALLY ELECTED, THE OTHER CONSTITUENCIES HAVE FROM TWO TO SIX CANDIDATES.
IN ALL, THERE ARE 36 CANDIDATES FOR THE 10 SEATS.
THE LOCATIONS AND TIMINGS OF THE FORUMS AREi
KWAI CHUNG WEST:
TSUEN WAN EASTi
KWAI CHUNG SOUTH:
KWAI CHUNG EAST:
TSI NG YI :
KWAI CHUNG NORTH:
KWAI SHING:
CHUEN YUEN COLLEGE IN KWAI CHUNG ESTATE BETWEEN 8 PM AND 10 PM ON FEBRUARY 22 ;
ST. FRANCIS XAVIER’S SCHOOL BETWEEN 8 PM AND 10 PM ON FEBRUARY 26 ,
ASBURY METHODIST PRIMARY SCHOOL IN LAI KING ESTATE BETWEEN 2 PM AND 5 PM ON FEBRUARY 27;
SHEK LEI ESTATE COMMUNITY CENTRE BETWEEN 7 PM AND 9 PM ON FEBRUARY 27;
CHAN LAI SAU CHUN MEMORIAL SCHOOL IN CHEUNG CHING ESTATE BETWEEN
8 PM AND 10 PM ON FEBRUARY 27 ;
SHEK YAM COMMUNITY HALL BETWEEN 1 PM AND 4 PM ON FEBRUARY 28 ;
NMS KWAI SHING LUTHERAN PRIMARY SCHOOL BETWEEN 2 PM AND 5 PM ON FEBRUARY 28 ;
KWAI CHUNG CENTRAL: KWAI FONG COMMUNITY HALL BETWEEN
7.30 PM AND 9.30 PM ON FEBRUARY 28 ; AND
TSUEN WAN WEST:
PRINCESS ALEXANDRA COMMUNITY CENTRE BETWEEN 8 PM AND 10 PM ON MARCH 1.
THE FORUMS ARE BEING ORGANISED BY TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMUNITY AND INFORMATION SUB-COMMITTEE AND WILL BE CHAIRED BY TOWN OFFICERS FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICE.
TSUEN WAN HAS THE LARGEST NUMBER OF CONSTITUENCIES AND ALMOST ONE THIRD OF THE REGISTERED VOTERS.
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/2......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1982
2
BRIGHT FUTURE FOR TECHNICAL INSTITUTES GRADUATES * * * *
GRADUATES OF TECHNICAL INSTITUTES ARE WELL ACCEPTED BY INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE AND IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS THEIR AVERAGE SALARIES HAVE RISEN BY 135 TO 214 PER CENT, ACCORDING TO THE FINDINGS^OF A TRACER STUDY CONDUCTED AMONG FULL-TIME GRADUATES OF
..... Q^?T2NNARES WERE SENT T0 THE 1 013 GRADUATES OF MORRISON HILL, KWAI CHUJ1G AND KWUN TONG TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND OF THESE 521 RESPONDED, AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
ACCORDING TO THE RETURNS 94.5 PER CENT OF THE RESPONDENTS !*?£L2YED AT THE TIME 0F THE SURVEY, HE SAID, AND THE REMAINDER WERE EITHER LOOKING FOR SATISFACTORY JOBS OR PURSUING FULL-TIME STUDIES.
OVER 40 PER CENT OF THE RESPONDENTS WERE EMPLOYED IN INDUSTRY, SOME 20 PER CENT IN COMMERCE, AND THE REST IN PUBLIC UTILITIES AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
MORE THAN 80 PER CENT REGARDED THE COURSES THEY ATTENDED AT THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AS RELEVANT TO THEIR PRESENT JOBS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE FINDINGS SHOWED THAT IN 1977 THE AVERAGE SALARY OF TECHNICIAN GRADUATES WAS $1 002, AND THAT FOR POST-FORM 5 COMMERCIAL GRADUATES WAS $766.
+THEIR SALARIES HAVE RISEN TO $3 074 AND $2 406 RESPECTIVELY IN 1981, REPRESENTING INCREASES OF 207 AND 214 PER CENT OVER FIVE YEARS,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE SALARIES FOR CRAFT GRADUATES AND POST-FORM 3 GRADUATES HAVE ALSO RISEN BY 135 AND 141 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY IN THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD, HE SAID.
SINCE THEIR GRADUATION IN 1977, SOME 13 PER CENT OF THE RESPONDENTS HAVE EITHER COMPLETED OR ARE STILL PURSUING FURTHER FULL-TIME STUDY IN THE UNIVERSITIES, THE POLYTECHNIC, TECHNICAL INSTITUTES, SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS.
ALSO, SOME 70 PER CENT HAVE EITHER COMPLETED OR ARE STILL PURSUING PART-TIME STUDY IN THESE INSTITUTIONS, AND THE MOST POPULAR MODES OF STUDY ARE PART-TIME DAY-RELEASE AND EVENING COURSES.
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1982
3
MORE EQUIPMENT FOR FIRE FIGHTING * * *
THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL SOON HAVE ADDITIONAL FIRE FIGHTING APPLIANCES ADDED TO ITS MODERN FLEET.
THE APPLIANCES, CONSISTING OF FOUR PUMP SNORKELS AND FOUR MAJOR PUMPING APPLIANCES, ARE VALUED AT ABOUT $7 MILLION. THEY ARE EXPECTED TO ARRIVE FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM AND BECOME OPERATIONAL IN APRIL THIS YEAR.
THE DEPARTMENT HAS ALSO PLACED AN ORDER FOR THREE ADDITIONAL PUMP SNORKELS VALUED AT $3 MILLION AND THEY ARE DUE TO ARRIVE LATER THIS YEAR.
MEANWHILE, THE DEPARTMENT HAS ALREADY TAKEN DELIVERY OF TWO PUMP SNORKELS THIS YEAR AND THEY ARE AT PRESENT BEING FITTED OUT WITH EQUIPMENT AT THE FIRE SERVICES’ WORKSHOPS IN TSIM SHA TSUI AND KWAI CHUNG.
A FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE NEW APPLIANCES ARE PARTLY FOR REPLACEMENTS, BUT ALSO TO MEET WITH THE DEPARTMENT’S EXPANSION PROGRAMME.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT A MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL ENGINEER FROM THE DEPARTMENT, MR PATRICK LAI HAS LEFT FOR BRITAIN TO INSPECT AND COMMISSION THE NEW APPLIANCES BEFORE THEY ARE DELIVERED TO HONG KONG.
MR LAI IS EXPECTED TO BE IN BRITAIN FOR TWO WEEKS.
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HONG KONG/CANADA TEXTILE NEGOTIATIONS
* * *
NEGOTIATIONS WILL BEGIN IN HONG KONG TOMORROW (MONDAY) ON A NEW TEXTILE AGREEMENT BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CANADA.
THE DISCUSSIONS WILL EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF CONCLUDING A LONG TERM AGREEMENT TO SUCCEED THE EXISTING ONE-YEAR INTERIM ARRANGEMENT WHICH CAME INTO FORCE ON JANUARY 1, 1982.
THE HONG KONG DELEGATION WILL BE LED BY THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF TRADE, MR JUSTIN YUE, AND THE CANADIAN DELEGATION BY THE CANADIAN CHIEF TEXTILES NEGOTIATOR, MR DOUG ARTHUR.
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1982
- 4 -
FIRST CONTROL-LINE MODEL AIRCRAFT SHOW * * * *
A TEAM OF CONTROL-LINE MODEL AIRCRAFT 'PILOTS’ FROM GUANGDONG, CHINA. WILL VISIT HONG KONG AND DEMONSTRATE THEIR HIGH TECHNIQUE IN TWO SHOWS DURING THE WEEKEND.
THE 11-MEMBER VISITING TEAM WILL PILOT THEIR SOPHISTICATED CONTROL-LINE MODELS AND PERFORM STUNTS, COMBAT. SPEED FLYING. PATTERN FLYING, TEAM RACING AND ACROBATICS.
THE FIRST SHOW WILL BE HELD AT FANLING SPORTSGROUND ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 27) AND THE OTHER SHOW AT TUEN MUN TANG SHIU KIN SPORTSGROUND ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 28) STARTING 2.30 PM.
THE EVENT, JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG MODELLERS CLUB AND THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT, IS AIMED AT PROMOTING POPULAR ACTIVITIES AT PUBLIC SPORTSGROUNDS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
APART FROM THE CONTROL-LINE MODEL, LOCAL ENTHUSIASTS WILL ALSO DEMONSTRATE THEIR TECHNIQUE IN RADIO-CONTROLLING BUGGIES AND HELICOPTERS TO HIGHLIGHT THE EVENT. AT THE END OF THE SHOW, THERE WILL BE COMPETITIONS FOR THE BEST MODELS IN SEPARATE EVENTS.
RADIO-CONTROLLED MODEL ENTHUSIASTS CAN BRING ALONG THEIR HOME MADE MODELS OR ANY KIND OF MODELS WHILE ATTENDING THE SHOWS TO EARN VALUABLE SOUVENIR CUPS.
ENTRIES WILL BE JUDGED BY A PANEL OF ADJUDICATORS COMPRISING THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (NORTH REGION) OF NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES, MR BOWEN LEUNG, AND THE CHAIRMEN OF LOCAL RURAL COMMITTEES.
THE CHAIRMAN OF HEUNG YEE KUK, MR LAU WONG-FAT, HAS AGREED TO DONATE THREE CUPS TO THE WINNERS WHILE THE OTHERS WILL BE PRESENTED BY NTSD.
NOTE TO EDITORS i
A PRESS CONFERENCE TO INTRODUCE THE MEMBERS OF THE CHINESE TEAM WILL BE HELD AT THE GRAND RESTAURANT, KOWLOON RAILWAY STATION, HUNG HOM, AT 3.30 PM ON FEBRUARY 25 (THURSDAY).
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO COVER THE EVENT.
AN INFORMATION OFFICER OF THE NTSD WILL BE PRESENT TO ASSIST THE PRESS.
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1982
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THINKING DAY FOR NT GIRL GUIDES ft ft ft ft
YOUNG PEOPLE IN HONG KONG ARE GROWING UP AT A TIME OF GREAT CHANGE, THE SECRETARY FOR CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
MR AKERS-JONES WAS ADDRESSING 6OO GIRL GUIDES AT THE NEW TERRITORIES EAST GIRL GUIDES DAY AT TAI PO PLAYGROUND.
HE SAID THERE WERE NEW HOUSING ESTATES, NEW TOWNS, NEW RAILWAYS, NEW ROADS-, CHANGES IN THE ECONOMY, CHANGES IN EMPLOYMENT; NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR EDUCATION AND TRAVEL; AND THE IMPACT OF NEW IDEAS AND TECHNOLOGIES.
+IN THIS WORLD OF MOVEMENT AND CHANGE IT IS MOST NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN AND STRENGTHEN THE LINKS WHICH HOLD THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER,* HE SAID. ;
BELONGING TO THE GUIDES, THE SCOUTS, OR OUR OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS PROVIDED AN ESSENTIAL STABILITY AND IN TURN A SENSE OF BELONGING TO THE COMMUNITY OF HONG KONG AND RESPONSIBILITY TO OTHERS.
MR AKERS-JONES SAID HE WAS GLAD TO KNOW THAT THE GUIDE MOVEMENT HAD A DEVELOPMENT PLAN TO EXPAND MEMBERSHIP AND TO SEEK THE SUPPORT OF LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS IN EACH DISTRICT, THUS BRINGING TRAINING IN LEADERSHIP AND SKILLS TO MORE AND MORE OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE IN WHAT WAS ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING PLACES IN THE WORLD.
MR AKERS-JONES ATTENDED TODAY’S EVENT IN HIS CAPACITY AS PRESIDENT OF THE HONG KONG GIRL GUIDES NT LOCAL ASSOCIATION.
THE EVENT, WHICH CELEBRATED THE JOINT BIRTHDAYS OF LORD AND LADY BADEN-POWELL, FOUNDERS OF SCOUTING AND GUIDING, IS KNOWN AS THINKING DAY.
IT IS ON THIS DAY THAT PROMISES ARE RENEWED AND THE TRADITIONAL $1 DONATION COLLECTED.
ALSO OFFICIATING TODAY WERE THE DEPUTY CHIEF COMMISSIONERS OF THE GIRL GUIDES ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG, MRS JANE AKERS-JONES AND MISS KATIE HOi THE PRESIDENT OF THE HONG KONG GIRL GUIDES TAI PO DISTRICT ASSOCIATION, MR LIU YUN-SUM ; THE PRESIDENT OF THE SHA TIN DISTRICT ASSOCIATION, MR NG CHAN-LAM; THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TAI PO DISTRICT ASSOCIATION, MR LAW CHAK-TONG ; AND THE CHAIRMAN CF THE SHA TIN DISTRICT ASSOCIATION, MRS LETICIA WAI.
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FIRING PRACTICE * ft ft
FIRING PRACTICE WILL TAKE PLACE AT HA TSUFM AMD cacti r dciv range ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 26) FROM 8 AM TO 1! PM. PEAK
ON TM?fM?AYS 0F THE PUBL,C ARE warned not to enter THE area
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/6........
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1982
6
ANTI-YOUTH CRIME AND DRUGS CONCERT HELD IN NORTH DISTRICT * * *
MORE THAN 5 OOO YOUNG PEOPLE ATTENDED AN OPEN AIR CONCERT ORGANISED BY NORTH DISTRICT FIGHT YOUTH CRIME AND ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE TODAY (SUNDAY).
THE CONCERT WAS HELD AT FANLING RECREATION GROUND.
THE TWO-AND-A-HALF-HOUR PROGRAMME, PRESENTED BY COMMERCIAL RADIO, INCLUDED PERFORMANCES BY THE TRINITY FOLK GROUP AND WELL-KNOWN SINGERS, JOHNNY YIP, MARIA WOO, BRENDA LO AND TERENCE CHOI.
IT ALSO INCLUDED A CEREMONY MARKING CLOSING OF THE DISTRICT’S FIGHT YOUTH CRIME AND ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN 1981/82 AND GOOD CITIZEN AWARDS TO MR TAM MING-WAH, MR MO KWEN-WAI AND MR WONG WING-HON.
ATTENDING WERE NORTH DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, MR CHEUNG YAN-LUNG; THE COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS, MR PETER LEE; THE DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT FRONTIER, MR JOHN GREENE, THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MR DAVID WILMSHURST; AND LOCAL LEADERS.
FOR 1981/82 THE FIGHT CRIME AND THE ANTI-NARCOTICS COMMITTEES OF NORTH DISTRICT ORGANISED MANY ACTIVITIES IN TA KWU LING, SHEUNG SHU I, FANLING AND SHA TAU KOK.
THEY INCLUDED AN INTER-SCHOOL TELE-MATCH, A VARIETY SHOW, EXHIBITIONS, A SPEECH CONTEST, A SINGING CONTEST, A FOOTBALL COMPETITION, TALKS, A SEMINAR AND A VISIT TO TAI LAM CHUNG CUSTOMS AND EXCISE TRAINING SCHOOL.
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URBAN CLEARWAY IN KING’S ROAD * * *
A SECTION OF WESTBOUND KING’S ROAD NEAR ITS JUNCTION WITH THE EASTERN ARM OF SHIPYARD LANE WILL BE DESIGNATED AS AN URBAN CLEARWAY FROM 10 AM ON TUESDAY (FEBRUARY 23).
ALL VEHICLES, EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES, WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS AND GOODS WITHIN THE CLEARWAY FROM 7 AM TO 10 AM AND FROM 4 PM TO 7 PM DAILY. PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS ALSO FROM 7 AM TO 12 MIDNIGHT DAILY.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL 5-233191
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1982
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
BUDGET DAY ON WEDNESDAY ....................................... 1
NEAR NORMAL RAINFALL EXPECTED THIS YEAR ....................... 1
SEVEN NEW DISTRICT JUDGES NAMED................................ 2
LOW-COST EVENING MEDICAL CARE FOR KWUN TONG RESIDENTS........ 5
US IS HK’S LARGEST TRADING PARTNER, VISITORS TOLD.............. 4
TEACHERS TO DISCUSS TEACHING OF ETHICS......................... 5
MORE EQUIPMENT FOR CSD......................................... 6
LEAFLETS ON DB CANDIDATES BEING DISTRIBUTED ................... 6
PIONEER SOCIETY HELPS FARMERS ................................. 7
BALLET COURSES IN SHA TIN ..................................... 8
MORE MARKETS FOR NEW TERRITORIES .............................. 9
CHINESE MUSIC AND DANCE AT ARTS CENTRE........................ 10
WATER STORAGE.................................................. H
+SAFETY EXTRAVAGANZA+ DRAWS CROWDS ........................... 11
FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN GETS BOOST..................... 12
PENG CHAU MINI-SOCCER PITCH BEING REBUILT .................... 12
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1982
BUDGET DAY ON WEDNESDAY * * * *
HONG KONG’S BUDGET FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1982-83 WILL BE PRESENTED TO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY (FEBRUARY 24).
THE PROCEEDINGS WILL START AT 2.30 PM WHEN THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN BREMRIDGE MOVES THE FIRST AND SECOND READINGS OF THE APPROPRIATION BILL 1982 AND OUTLINES HONG KONG’S ESTIMATED REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE FOR 1982-83.
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 24 AND 25 WHEN UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON THE BUDGET PROPOSALS.
OFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL REPLY TO POINTS RAISED UNOFFICIAL COLLEAGUES ON APRIL 14. IF NECESSARY. CONTINUE THE FOLLOWING DAY. ’
THIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE COMMITTEE STAGE READING OF THE BILL ON MAY 5.
BY THEIR
THE DEBATE WILL
AND THIRD
COVERED BY ™E PR0CEEDINGS WILL BE COMPREHENSIVELY
UUVtnty BY Trit MASS MEDIA,
nn«.nIf!JINANCIAL SECRETARY’S SPEECH ON WEDNESDAY WILL BE BROADCAST LIVE OVER RTHK’S RADIO 1 (CHINESE) AND RADIO 3 (ENGLISH).
RT^K WILL ALS0 BROADCAST LIVE THE OTHER BUDGET SITTINGS ON 221^PRIL/14’ 15 (IF NECESSARY) AND MAY 1 ON RADIO 1 (CHINESE) AND RADIO 3 (ENGLISH).
THE BUDGET SITTINGS WILL ALSO BE COVERED CASTS AND BULLETINS OF RTHK, COMMERCJAL RADIO
IN NORMAL NEWS HK-TVB AND RTV.
o
NEAR NORMAL RAINFALL EXPECTED THIS YEAR * * *
THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY TODAY (MONDAY) ISSUED THE RESULTS OF ITS INVESTIGATION INTO 1982 RAINFALL.
OF THE VARIOUS STATISTICAL METHODS EMPLOYED, THE METHOD WHICH HAS BEEN MOST SUCCESSFUL IN RECENT YEARS SUGGESTS THAT THE RAINFALL IN 1982 WILL BE NEAR NORMAL.
THE METHOD INDICATES THAT THE RAINFALL FOR THE PERIOD MAY
TO OCTOBER THIS YEAR WILL BE IN THE RANGE 1 700 TO 2 200 MILLIMETRES AND THE RAINFALL FOR THE YEAR WILL BE IN THE RANGE 2 000 TO 2 500 MILLIMETRES.
0
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1982
2
SEVEN NEW DISTRICT JUDGES NAMED *****
SEVEN NEW DISTRICT JUDGES HAVE BEEN APPOINTED, WITH EFFECT FROM TODAY (MONDAY).
THEY ARE MR FRANCIS WILLIAM BLACKWELL, MR JOHN GRAHAM ROY, MR ARTHUR LEONG SHIU-CHUNG, MR EDWARD STEPHEN YANNE, MR THOMAS MITCHELL GALL, MR BERNARD JOSEPH MOYLAN AND MR JOHN BAILY.
JUDGE BLACKWELL WAS BORN IN ENGLAND IN 1926 AND EDUCATED AT DULWICH COLLEGE. HE WAS ADMITTED AS A SOLICITOR IN 1954 AND WAS IN PRIVATE PRACTICE IN ENGLAND UNTIL 1971. HE JOINED THE JUDICIARY AS A MAGISTRATE IN 1972. HE WAS PROMOTED PRINCIPAL MAGISTRATE IN 1977 AND APPOINTED ASSISTANT REGISTRAR, SUPREME COURT, IN 1979. HE HAS SAT AS A TEMPORARY ADDITIONAL DISTRICT JUDGE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
JUDGE ROY WAS BORN IN NEW ZEALAND IN 1930 AND EDUCATED AT SOUTHLAND BOYS HIGH SCHOOL AND OTAGO UNIVERSITY. HE WAS ADMITTED AS A BARRISTER AND SOLICITOR IN NEW ZEALAND IN 1955. HE SPENT SEVERAL YEARS IN PRIVATE PRACTICE UNTIL HE JOINED THE JUDICIARY IN HONG KONG AS A MAGISTRATE IN 1976. HE WAS PROMOTED ASSISTANT REGISTRAR OF THE SUPREME COURT IN I960. HE HAS SAT AS TEMPORARY ADDITIONAL DISTRICT JUDGE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
JUDGE LEONG WAS BORN IN HONG KONG IN 1936 AND EDUCATED AT WAH YAN COLLEGE. HE JOINED GOVERNMENT IN 1954 AND SERVED IN SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS UNTIL 1963 WHEN HE WENT TO LONDON TO QUALIFY FOR THE BAR. HE WAS CALLED TO THE BAR OF MIDDLE TEMPLE IN 1965. HE BECAME ASSISTANT CROWN COUNSEL IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT IN 1966 AND CROWN COUNSEL IN 1969. HE WAS APPOINTED MAGISTRATE IN 1973 AND PRESIDING OFFICER OF THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL IN 1978. HE HAS SAT AS TEMPORARY ADDITIONAL DISTRICT JUDGE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
JUDGE YANNE WAS BORN IN HONG KONG IN 1922 AND EDUCATED AT KING’S COLLEGE, ST. STEPHEN’S COLLEGE AND THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG. HE WAS ADMITTED AS A SOLICITOR IN HONG KONG IN 1962. HE SPENT SOME YEARS IN PRIVATE PRACTICE UNTIL HE JOINED THE JUDICIARY AS A MAGISTRATE IN 1972. HE WAS APPOINTED PRINCIPAL MAGISTRATE IN 1977. HE HAS SAT AS TEMPORARY ADDITIONAL DISTRICT JUDGE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
JUDGE GALL WAS BORN IN AUSTRALIA IN 1942. HE WAS ADMITTED AS A BARRISTER AND SOLICITOR OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA IN 1966. HE WAS IN PRIVATE PRACTICE IN AUSTRALIA UNTIL 1973 WHEN HE JOINED THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AS CROWN COUNSEL IN THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT. HE WAS PROMOTED SENIOR CROWN COUNSEL IN 1976 AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL CROWN COUNSEL IN MARCH 1981.
JUDGE MOYLAN WAS BORN IN AUSTRALIA IN 1939 AND EDUCATED AT ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGE, BRISBANE AND THE UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND. HE WAS ADMITTED AS A BARRISTER IN 1963. HE SPENT SEVERAL YEARS IN THE OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR GENERAL, BRISBANE, BEFORE JOINING THE JUDICIARY IN HONG KONG AS A MAGISTRATE IN 1973. HE WAS PROMOTED SENIOR MAGISTRATE IN 1979. HE HAS SAT AS TEMPORARY ADDITIONAL DISTRICT JUDGE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
/JUDGi DAILY .......
MONDAY, FSBHUARY 22, 1982
3
AT
HE
B0RN IN ,RELAND >N 1930 AND EDUCATED CHRISTIAN BROTHERS SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN.
A SOLICITOR IN IRELAND IN 1954. HE WAS IN PRIVATE ,reland from 1954 UNTIL 1962 WHEN HE BECAME RESIDENT BAHAMAS’ HE COINED THE JUDICIARY IN HONG KONG A$ A MAGISTRATE IN 1972 AND WAS PROMOTED SENIOR MAGISTRATE IN KAS SAT AS TEMP0RARY ADDITIONAL DISTRICT JUDGE ON SEVERAL XL Ab IONS.
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LOW-COST EVENING MEDICAL CARE FOR KWUN TONG RESIDENTS * * * * *
THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD HAS APPROVED A PROPOSAL TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL EVENING OUTPATIENT SERVICES ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS TO MEET THE DEMAND FOR MEDICAL SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT.
DURING THE BOARD’S 8TH MEETING HELD THIS (MONDAY) AFTERNOON, MEMBERS WERE TOLD THAT THE SCHEME WILL BE SELF-SUPPORTING.
VOLUNTARY SERVICES WILL BE RENDERED BY DOCTORS AND OTHER STAFF, AND THE COMMUNITY HEALTH PROJECT CLINIC PREMISES WILL BE USED FREE OF RENT, MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR LOW FEES TO BE CHARGED FOR THE EVENING OUTPATIENT SERVICES TO COVER RECURRENT EXPENSES.
THE SCHEME WILL BE FIRST LAUNCHED IN YAU TONG AND MAY EXTENDED TO LAM TIN AND SAU MAU PING.
BE
IN THE AREA OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT, THE BOARD RESOLVED TO SET UP A MONITORING GROUP ON THE JORDAN VALLEY CONTROLLED TIP PROJECT, TO ENSURE THAT ITS OPERATION IS PROPERLY CONTROLLED IN THE INTEREST OF RESIDENTS.
THE JORDAN VALLEY CONTROLLED TIP IS INTENDED TO REPLACE MA YAU TONG CENTRAL IN MID-1984 AND WILL OPERATE FOR A PERIOD OF FOUR YEARS.
MEMBERS WERE GIVEN ASSURANCE BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT THAT THE BEST AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY WILL BE USED TO CONTROL ITS OPERATION PROPERLY SO AS TO ELIMINATE NUISANCE AS ’TECHNICALLY AS POSSIBLE’.
MEMBERS ALSO DISCUSSED WITH A HOUSING DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL THE PROGRESS OF VARIOUS MEASURES TO COMBAT FIRE AND LANDSLIP DANGERS, AND TO IMPROVE AMENITY FACILITIES IN SQUATTER AREAS IN KWUN TONG.
DURING THE MEETING, MEMBERS’ ADVICE WAS ALSO SOUGHT ON THE FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING A MULTI-STOREY CARPARK ON THE YUET WAH STREET BUS TERMINUS SITE TO ALLEVIATE THE ACUTE SHORTAGE OF PARKING FACILITIES IN KWUN TONG TOWN CENTRE. AN ALTERNATIVE SITE IN HIP WO STREET WAS ALSO CONSIDERED FOR THE CARPARK DEVELOPMENT.
THE BOARD DISCUSSED A WIDE VARIETY OF OTHER MATTERS AS WELL, INCLUDING A LOGO DESIGN COMPETITION FOR THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD.
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/4 .......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1982
4
US IS HK’S LARGEST TRADING PARTNER, VISITORS TOLD * * * *
GIVEN HONG KONG’S FREE MARKET ENVIRONMENT AND TRADITIONAL RELIANCE ON MARKET FORCES, IT WAS PERHAPS INEVITABLE THAT THE UNITED STATES, AS THE DOMINANT WORLD ECONOMY AND LARGEST SINGLE CONSUMER MARKET, SHOULD BE OUR LARGEST TRADING PARTNER, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR JOHN BREMRIDGE, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
WELCOMING A MARKETING MISSION TO HONG KONG BY THE AMERICAN TEXTILE MANUFACTURERS INSTITUTE AT A LUNCH GIVEN BY HONG KONG GARMENT MANUFACTURERS, MR BREMRIDGE SAID: +THE TOTAL VALUE OF THIS TWO-WAY TRADE IN 1981 AMOUNTED TO OVER US$8.5 BILLION, WHICH REPRESENTED ABOUT 19 PER CENT OF HONG KONG’S TRADE WITH THE WORLD. THE UNITED STATES IS HONG KONG’S LARGEST MARKET. YOU TOOK 36 PER CENT OF OUR EXPORTS IN 1981. AND THE UNITED STATES IS THE THIRD LARGEST SOURCE OF IMPORTS, SUPPLYING 10 PER CENT OF THEM IN 1981.♦
STRESSING THAT TEXTILES AND GARMENTS HAVE BEEN A MAINSTAY OF HONG KONG’S EXPORT-ORIENTED ECONOMY, AND THAT 35 PER CENT OF OUR EXPORTS TO THE US COMPRISED TEXTILES AND GARMENTS, NR BREMRIDGE SAID THAT IN RECENT YEARS A DETERMINED EFFORT HAD BEEN MADE TO ENCOURAGE OTHER INDUSTRIES TO DEVELOP AND EXPAND.
♦BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE BELIEVE THAT EXISTING INDUSTRIES SHOULD BE EXPECTED OR ENCOURAGED TO WITHER AND DIE AWAY. RATHER IT MEANS TRYING TO AVOID KEEPING TOO MANY OF OUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET. AS THE TOY AND ELECTRONIC INDUSTRIES HAVE DEVELOPED IN HONG KONG, THE GARMENT INDUSTRY IN PARTICULAR HAS NEVERTHELESS KEPT PACE.+
ONE OF THE KEY FACTORS WHICH MADE THIS ACHIEVEMENT POSSIBLE WAS HONG KONG’S FREE MARKET, WHICH EXPOSED ITS INDUSTRY TO THE FULL FORCE OF COMPETITION.
♦WE ARE ABOUT THE LARGEST, AND UNQUESTIONABLY THE FREEST, MARKET IN THE WORLD FOR THE PRODUCTS OF YOUR INDUSTRY. AND WE INTEND TO STAY THAT WAY,+ SAID MR BREMRIDGE.
THERE WAS MUCH COMMON GROUND BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND HONG KONG IN THE FIELD OF TRADE POLICY, AND THE UNITED STATES HAD TAKEN THE LEAD IN THE GENERAL LIBERALISATION OF POST-WAR WORLD TRADE.
♦WE HAVE BENEFITED CONSIDERABLY FROM THIS, ALTHOUGH, I BELIEVE, NOT TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE UNITED STATES. OUR SHARE OF THE US MARKET IS SIGNIFICANT IN HONG KONG TERMS, BUT NOT IN US TERMS. WE ARE THE WORLD’S LARGEST EXPORTER OF FINISHED GARMENTS, AND YET OUR SHARE OF THE US DOMESTIC MARKET FOR TEXTILES AND GARMENTS COMBINED IS ONLY 1.5 PER CENT.
♦ON AN OVERALL BASIS, LESS THAN TWO PER CENT BY VALUE OF US IMPORTS FROM THE WORLD CAME FROM HONG KONG IN 1981. AT THE SAME TIME, WE ARE THE WORLD’S LARGEST IMPORTER OF YARNS AND FABRICS. IN 1980, HONG KONG’S IMPORTS OF YARNS AND FABRICS WERE WORTH ABOUT US$2.5 BILLION, OF WHICH IMPORTS FROM THE UNITED STATES TOOK ONLY 1.8 PER CENT,+ STRESSED MR BREMRIDGE.
/+CONSISTSNT ..I TH......
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 196
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♦CONSISTENT WITH ITS FREE MARKET PHILOSOPHY, HONG KONG GIVES FULL AND ABSOLUTELY OPEN ACCESS TO ITS OWN MARKET. INDEED, AS IS CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED BY THE INDUSTRY TO INDUSTRY DIALOGUE WHICH HAS LED TO YOUR MISSION HERE THIS WEEK, HONG KONG IS PREPARED TO GO FURTHER BY ACTIVELY ENCOURAGING THE DEVELOPMENT OF TWO-WAY TRADE, WHICH REFLECTS OUR MUTUAL BELIEF THAT MOST ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES ARE BETTER ADDRESSED BY INCRE'SING INTERNATIONAL TRADE THAN BY RESTRICTING IT,+ HE ADDED.
MR BREMRIDGE SAIDi +WE IN HONG KONG ARE DEDICATED TO THE PROPOSITION THAT TRADE IS MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL- AND THAT BILATERAL BALANCING, WHETHER BY SECTOR OR COUNTRY, IS NOT AN OBJECTIVE TO BE SOUGHT BY ANY DEVICE OTHER THAN THE NATURAL PLAY OF MARKET FORCES.
♦THIS IS NOT A DOGMATIC POSITION, BUT RATHER ONE ARRIVED AT BY EXPERIENCE AFTER AN ASSESSMENT OF OUR OWN BEST INTERESTS.*
♦I CONFIDENTLY LOOK FORWARD TO A HEALTHY HONG KONG TEXTILE AND GARMENT INDUSTRY FOR MANY YEARS TO COME- AND FOR IT TO CONTINUE TO PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN HONG KONG’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. IN TURN THE INDUSTRY AND THOSE WHO WORK IN IT CAN LOOK TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO DO ITS BEST TO DEFEND ITS INTERESTS,♦ MR BREMRIDGE SAID.
TEACHERS TO DISCUSS TEACHING OF ETHICS *****
A SEMINAR IN CANTONESE WILL BE HELD NEXT MONTH TO ACQUAINT TEACHERS WITH SOME SUGGESTED APPROACHES TO MORAL EDUCATION AND THE USE OF RELATED AUDIO-VISUAL MATERIALS.
♦TEACHERS OF ETHICAL EDUCATION AND TEACHERS CONCERNED WITH ASPECTS OF MORAL EDUCATION ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND,♦ AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE SEMINAR WILL BE HELD IN THE MORNING OF MARCH 20 AT THE ADVISORY INSPECTORATE TEACHING CENTRES, 4 PAK FUK ROAD, FIFTH FLOOR, ROOMS 29-30, NORTH POINT, HONG KONG.
HEADS OF SCHOOLS WISHING TO NOMINATE THEIR TEACHERS TO ATTEND THE SEMINAR SHOULD SEND IN THEIR NOMINATIONS BEFORE MARCH 3 TO THE INSPECTOR (RELIGIOUS/ETHICAL EDUCATION), ADVISORY INSPECTORATE, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, LEE GARDENS, FIFTH FLOOR, HYSAN AVENUE, HONG KONG.
ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE BY CONTACTING THE INSPECTOR (RELIGIOUS/ ETHICAL EDUCATION) ON 5-774001 EXT. 43.
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1982
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MORE EQUIPMENT FOR CSD
* * M
ALL INSTITUTIONS ADMINISTERED BY THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL, IN FUTURE, BE BETTER EQUIPPED WITH READING MATERIAL AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING FACILITIES BECAUSE OF A GENEROUS DONATION OF $141 400 FROM THE HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB (CHARITIES) LTD., A SPOKESMAN FOR CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
THE DONATION HAS BEEN PROVIDED FOR THE PURCHASE OF REFERENCE BOOKS FOR LIBRARIES IN ALL INSTITUTIONS, CHINESE TYPEWRITERS FOR VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND VARIOUS KINDS OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.
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LEAFLETS ON DB CANDIDATES BEING DISTRIBUTED
* * *
LEAFLETS INTRODUCING CANDIDATES FOR THE FORTHCOMING NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED TO REGISTERED ELECTORS.
THE LEAFLETS, PRINTED BY GOVERNMENT WITHOUT CHARGE TO CANDIDATES, CONTAIN A PHOTOGRAPH AND A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CANDIDATES.
A SEPARATE LEAFLET HAS BEEN PREPARED FOR EACH CONSTITUENCY AND, BESIDES PICTURES OF THE CANDIDATES, IT ALSO CONTAINS EXPLANATORY NOTES FOR ELECTORS.
THE LEAFLETS ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED BY THE EIGHT DISTRICT OFFICES AND THE CANDIDATES THEMSELVES.
♦BY READING THE LEAFLETS, VOTERS WILL HAVE AN IDEA OF THE BACKGROUND OF THE CANDIDATES AND THIS WILL HELP THEM WHEN CASTING THEIR VOTE ON MARCH 4,+ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION SAID.
BESIDES THE LEAFLETS, A CANDIDATE CAN SEND ONE ITEM OF ELECTION COMMUNICATION FREE OF POSTAGE TO EACH ELECTOR IN THE CONSTITUENCY FOR WHICH HE SEEKS ELECTION.
HE CAN ALSO SPEND UP TO S10 000 FOR HIS CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES.
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1982
PIONEER SOCIETY HELPS
******
FARMERS
THE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG’S FIRST CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY, ESTABLISHED SOME 30 YEARS AGO AT FANLING, IS A STORY OF RAGS TO RICHES.
IT WAS IMMEDIATELY AFTER WORLD WAR II THAT A SMALL GROUP OF AO FARMERS FROM FANLING GATHERED TOGETHER AND RESPONDED TO THE IDEA OF FORMING MARKETING CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES AS INSTRUMENTS FOR IMPROVED MARKETING AND FOR IMPROVING THEIR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC STATUS.
TODAY THERE ARE MORE THAN 400 SUCH SOCIETIES IN HONG KONG WITH SOME 22 000 MEMBERS, A SHARE CAPITAL OF $1.8 MILLION AND DEPOSITS EXCEEDING $6.5 MILLION.
TRIBUTE *AS PAID TO THE FANLING VEGETABLE CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY TODAY (MONDAY) BY THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, MR JOHN RIDDELL-SWAN WHO NOTED THE SOCIETY STILL HAD 31 OF ITS FOUNDERS AMONG ITS 1 045 MEMBERS.
IT WAS A MEASURE OF THE SOCIETY’S DEVELOPMENT AND STRENGTH, SAID MR RIDDELL-SWAN, THAT BESIDES ITS INCREASED MEMBERSHIP, ITS ANNUAL TURNOVER HAD INCREASED FROM $320 000 IN THE FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION IN 1951 TO $12 MILLION LAST YEAR. AND ITS VEGETABLE COLLECTING DEPOTS INCREASED FROM ONE TO EIGHT.
♦WHILE FURTHERING THE BUSINESS INTERESTS OF ITS MEMBERS, THE SOCIETY HAS NOT NEGLECTED THEIR WELFARE AND HAS ESTABLISHED LOAN FUNDS FOR FAMILY NEEDS AND HAS ACTIVELY ENCOURAGED REAL CO-OPERATION AMONG INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS FOR MUTUAL BENEFIT,* HE SAID.
THE SOCIETY WAS ALSO AMONG THE FIRST TO SET UP A PROVIDENT FUND SCHEME FOR ITS MEMBERS.
THE COMMENTS FROM MR RIDDELL-SWAN WERE MADE AT THE OPENING OF THE SOCIETY’S NEW PREMISES AT MA SZE PO.
THE SOCIETY’S CHAIRMAN, MR FUNG KWONG BRIEFLY OUTLINED DEVELOPMENTS : THE SOCIETY WAS ESTABLISHED WITH THE HELP OF THE FORMER CO-OPERATIVE DEPARTMENT; AND ITS PREMISES AT ON LOK VILLAGE HAD AN AREA OF 200 SQ. FT.
♦SUBSEQUENTLY,* SAID MR FUNG, +UNDER THE CLOSE SUPERVISION OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT AND THE BRILLIANT LEADERSHIP OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES OVER THE YEARS, OUR SOCIETY EXPANDED AND THE PREMISES WERE ALSO EXTENDED TO 3 000 SQ. FT.+
LAST YEAR THE VILLAGE WAS RESUMED BY GOVERNMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT. wITH ASSISTANCE BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT AND THE DISTRICT OFFICE (NORTH), THE SOCIETY WAS GRANTED MORE THAN 1 400 SQ. FT. OF LAND AT MA SZE PO AND $112 500 EX-GRATIA PAYMENT FOR CONSTRUCTION COSTS. IT ALSO RECEIVED 853 000 SUBSIDY FROM THE VEGETABLE MARKETING ORGANISATION.
MONDAY, F3BRUaaY 198^
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SAID MR RIDDELL-SWAN : *IN THE 30-ODD YEARS THAT THE SOCIETY HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE, FARMING IN HONG KONG HAS MOVED FROM A SUBSISTENCE TYPE OF OCCUPATION TO A CASH INTENSIVE BUSINESS. GENERAL LIVING CONDITIONS FOR FARMERS HAVE IMPROVED AND MANY OF THEIR SOCIAL ASPIRATIONS HAVE BEEN REALISED.*
DURING THIS PERIOD THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT HAS WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT AND TOGETHER THEY HAD PLAYED A MAJOR PART IM THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LOCAL AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY.
+ IT IS NOTEWORTHY,* SAID MR RIDDELL-SWAN, +THAT ALL THIS HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED AGAINST A BACKGROUND OF STEADY LOSS OF FARM LAND TO DEVELOPMENT, AND IT IS A TRIBUTE TO LOCAL FARMING THAT DESPITE THIS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO KEEP STEADY THE PROPORTION CF LOCAL FARM PRODUCE ON THE HONG KONG MARKET DESPITE EVER INCREASING DEMAND.*
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BALLET COURSES IN SHA TIN
* X X *
THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD HAS APPROVED MORE THAN $9 OOO TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT FOR TWO LOCAL CHILDREN’S BALLET CLUBS AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF ITS RECREATION AND SPORTS SUB-COMMITTEE.
ITEMS TO BE PURCHASED INCLUDE MIRRORS AND BARS WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL FOR BALLET PRACTICE.
ONE OF THE CLUBS IS ORGANISED BY LEK YUEN ESTATE COMMUNITY HALL. IT STARTED LAST NOVEMBER AND HOLDS ONE-HOUR TRAINING SESSIONS EACH WEDNESDAY EVENING.
IT HAS PROVED SO POPULAR THAT THE NUMBER OF CLASSES HAS BEEN INCREASED FROM ONE TO THREE AND THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS ATTENDING HAS GROWN FROM 25 TO 78. THE AGE RANGE IS FOUR YEARS TO NINE YEARS.
MISS CH IK YUEN-HAN, A STUDENT OF THE HONG KONG ACADEMY OF ARTS, WHO WILL GRADUATE FROM A BALLET TEACHING CERTIFICATE COURSE NEXT ACADEMIC YEAR, IS THE TUTOR.
THE OTHER COURSE IS BEING ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICE WO CHE CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRE AND IS FOR UP TO 20 CHILDREN AGED FROM SIX TO 12.
IT WILL START NEXT MONTH AT THE PODIUM LEVEL OF WO CHE COMMERCIAL COMPLEX.
™E recreation and sports sub-committee is actively organising ACTIVITIES IN SHA TIN DISTRICT. IT RECEIVED 8380 000 FROM THE DISTRICT BOARD FOR 1981/82.
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1962
- 9 -
MORE MARKETS FOR NEW TERRITORIES ******
THE GOVERNMENT IS TO EMBARK ON A MULT I-MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT TO BUILD MORE THAN 30 MODERN MARKETS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS TO KEEP PACE WITH THE RAPIDLY DEVELOPING NEW TOWNS.
THE AIM IS ALSO TO ACCOMMODATE UNLICENSED ON-STREET HAWKERS, ENABLING AT THE SAME TIME MORE EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT ACTION TO BE CARRIED OUT AGAINST ILLEGAL HAWKERS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID.
FREEING THE STREETS FROM HAWKER OBSTRUCTION WILL PROVIDE A BETTER LIVING ENVIRONMENT FOR THE RESIDENTS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
TWO NEW MARKETS WERE OPENED BY THE NTSD IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS — THE $14 MILLION TSUEN WAN MARKET AND THE $4 MILLION KWONG CHOI MARKET IN TUEN MUN.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID FIVE MORE NEW MARKETS ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN OPERATION LATER THIS OR EARLY NEXT YEAR.
IN KWAI CHUNG, CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY ON A NEW MARKET AT WING FONG STREET AND SHEK YAM ROAD.
WORK ON THE WING FONG STREET MARKET WILL BE COMPLETED IN AUGUST, AND ON THE OTHER BY EARLY NEXT YEAR.
TWO MODERN MARKETS AT TUEN MUN ARE ALSO UNDER CONSTRUCTION — THE YAN 01 MARKET AT SAN HUI WILL BE READY IN OCTOBER AND THE OTHER BEING BUILT NEAR TO CHI LOK FA YUEN IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED EARLY NEXT YEAR.
AT SAI KUNG, CONSTRUCTION HAS STARTED ON A MARKET AT TUI MIN HOI, WHICH WILL BE READY TOWARDS THE END OF THIS YEAR.
IN YUEN LONG, PILING WORK HAS BEEN COMPLETED ON THE S61-MILLI0N, MULTI-STOREY MARKET COMPLEX COMPRISING 420 MARKET STALLS, DISTRICT LIBRARY, TWO SQUASH COURTS AND OFFICES FOR LOCAL URBAN SERVICES OFFICE AND OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE SUPERSTRUCTURE OF THE MARKET, THE FIRST CF ITS KIND, WILL TAKE TWO YEARS TO COMPLETE.
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,10 ........
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1982
10
CHINESE MUSIC AND DANCE AT ARTS CENTRE * * * *
*LEGEND+, A CHINESE MUSIC PIECE DEPICTING THE STORY OF YOUNG HERO NIE ZHENG WHO LEARNED TO MASTER THE KU-CHIN SO AS TO ENTER THE IMPERIAL PALACE TO ASSASSINATE THE KING OF HAN WHO EXECUTED HIS FATHER WILL BE PERFORMED IN +AN EVENING OF CHINESE MUSIC AND DANCE* NEXT MONTH.
THE PROGRAMME, FEATURING THE HONG KONG JING YING, IS JOINTLY PRESENTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COUNCIL IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT AND THE HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL.
THE HONG KONG JING YING, COMPRISING OUTSTANDING YOUNG MUSICIANS AND DANCERS FROM HONG KONG, WILL PERFORM SOLO AND ENSEMBLE ITEMS AS WELL AS CHINESE CLASSICAL AND FOLK DANCES AT 8 PM ON MARCH 3 AT THE SHOUSON THEATRE, HONG KONG ARTS CENTRE.
LEADING THE HONG KONG JING YING CHINESE ENSEMBLE IN PRESENTING THE +LEGEND+ WILL BE RENOWNED ER-HU PLAYER TONG LEUNG-TAK AND PIPA SOLOIST CHAN MAN-CHONG.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE +NIGHT THOUGHTS*, WHICH CAPTURES THE FEELINGS OF SOLDIERS CAMPING IN THE WILDERNESS FAR FROM HOME.
+SONG OF THE HERDSMAN* WHICH PORTRAYS THE UNTAMED SPIRIT OF THE MONGOLIAN HERDSMAN WILL ALSO BE PERFORMED.
ANOTHER ATTRACTION WILL BE DOMING LAM’S *CONTRAST+ A WORK WHICH WAS COMMISSIONED BY THE MUSIC OFFICE TO COMMEMORATE THE HONG KONG JING YING CHAMBER ORCHESTRA’S FIRST VISIT TO AUSTRALIA IN AUGUST 1981.
IN A UNIQUE WAY, THE MUSIC PICKS OUT THE CONTRASTING SPIRIT AND CHARACTERISTICS OF CHINESE AND WESTERN ORCHESTRA AND TRULY REPRESENTS THE SPIRIT OF HONG KONG WHICH EMBRACES THE HERITAGE OF EAST AND WEST.
ON THE DANCE SIDE, THE JING YING CHINESE DANCE ENSEMBLE WILL PRESENT A COLOURFUL PROGRAMME OF CHINESE CLASSICAL AND FOLK DANCES.
IN ADDITION TO FAN DANCE AND RIBBON DANCE, WHICH ARE CLASSICAL DANCES OF THE TANG DYNASTY, THERE WILL BE A PAS DE DEUX *MERMAIDS+ FEATURING THE HAPPY GRACEFUL MOVEMENT OF FISHES.
OTHER DELIGHTFUL ITEMS ARE SHAWL DANCES AND SPRING IN TIAN SHAN, CHOREOGRAPHED BY NG KA-MAN.
TICKETS FOR THE PROGRAMME ARE PRICED AT $10, $20 AND $30 AND MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE ARTS CENTRE BOX OFFICE, AND SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST BOOKSHOPS AT 107 WORLDWIDE HOUSE AND 313 OCEAN CENTRE. POSTAL BOOKING IS ALSO AVAILABLE AND FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED BY TELEPHONING THE ARTS CENTRE BOX OFFICE (5-280626) BETWEEN 9.30 AM AND 9.30 PM.
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/m .....
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1982
11
WATER STORAGE * * *
STORAGE IN HONG KONG’S RESERVOIRS AT 9 AM TODAY (MONDAY) STOOD AT 42.2 PER CENT OF CAPACITY, OR 243.812 MILLION CUBIC METRES.
THIS IS ABOUT 215 DAYS’ CONSUMPTION.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR, THE RESERVOIRS CONTAINED 267.710 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF WATER, REPRESENTING 46.3 PER CENT OF CAPACITY.
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♦SAFETY EXTRAVAGANZA* DRAWS CROWDS
* X * X
+SAFETY EXTRAVAGANZA*, A SOUND-ON-SLIDE PRESENTATION ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY BEING HELD IN THE KESWICK HALL OF THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN WELL RECEIVED BY VISITORS.
SINCE ITS OPENING LAST FRIDAY, THE 12-MINUTE AUDIO-VISUAL SHOW HAS ATTRACTED OVER 8 000 VISITORS.
THE VISITORS WERE IMPRESSED WITH THE SHOW’S SOUND AND LIGHTING EFFECTS AND THE SIMPLE AND CONCISE MESSAGE IT CONVEYS.
COMMENTED A 24-YEAR-OLD PLASTIC WORKER, MR CHAN MAN-TAKi +THE COMBINATION OF IMAGES WITH SPECIAL EFFECTS AND THE INTERPLAY OF SOUND AND LIGHTING IS VERY ENTERTAINING.*
APART FROM BEING ENTERTAINING, THE SHOW CONVEYED A SIMPLE MESSAGE -- +YOUR LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL; DON’T WRECK IT BY BEING CARELESS IN YOUR PLACE OF WORK*, HE SAID.
VISITORS CAN ALSO TAKE PART IN AN INDUSTRIAL SAFETY QUIZ ORGANISED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SHOW.
THE VISITORS CAN OBTAIN HINTS FROM TWO +QUESTION AND ANSWER* MACHINES WHICH FORM PART OF A STATIC DISPLAY OF PHOTOGRAPHS AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND TICK THE CORRECT ANSWER ON THE STUBS OF THEIR ADMISSION TICKETS.
THE WINNING TICKETS WILL BE DRAWN AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE SHOW AND WILL BE ADVERTISED IN THE LOCAL PRESS ON MARCH 10.
THE TWO MAIN PRIZES ARE A THREE-IN-ONE MUSIC CENTRE AND A REFRIGERATOR. IN ADDITION, THERE WILL BE 60 CONSOLATION PRIZES, INCLUDING CAMERAS DONATED BY KODAK AND HOME PRODUCTS CONTRIBUTED BY 3M FAR EAST LTD.
THE SHOW OPENS DAILY FROM 10 AM TO 10 PM UNTIL FEBRUARY 28. THE OPENING HOURS ON THE FINAL DAY, MARCH 1, WILL BE FROM 10 AM TO 6 PM.
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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1982
12
FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN GETS BOOST
* * *
THIS YEAR’S FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN WAS GIVEN A BOOST TODAY (MONDAY) WHEN A SHAM SHU I PO COMMUNITY LEADER MADE A GENEROUS DONATION FOR USE IN THE TERRITORY-AIDE TELE-MATCH DESIGN AND GAMES COMPETITION.
+THE DONATION BY MR KWOK WING-CHEONG IS AN ENCOURAGING SIGN OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE CAMPAIGN,+ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE COMPETITION WAS AIMED AT AROUSING PUBLIC AWARENESS TOWARDS THE IMPORTANCE OF CO-OPERATION AMONG FAMILY MEMBERS AND TOWARDS THE ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY OF INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS IN THE FAMILY THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN THE COMPETITION.
THE TELE-MATCH COMPETITION IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT’S RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB AND CARITAS.
AT A CEREMONY AT THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS TODAY, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR SELWYN ALLEYNE, WAS PRESENTED WITH A CHEQUE BY MR KWOK.
MR KWOK IS A MEMBER OF THE SHAM SHU I PO DISTRICT BOARD AND MANY COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS IN THE DISTRICT.
MR KWOK DID NOT WISH THE AMOUNT OF HIS DONATION TO BE MADE KNOWN.
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PENG CHAU MINI-SOCCER PITCH BEING REBUILT
X X X
THE MINI-SOCCER PITCH ON PENG CHAU ISLAND IS BEING REBUILT AT A COST OF $200 000 PROVIDED BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB.
THE PITCH, SITUATED ON THE PEAK OF PAK WAN, OCCUPIES AN AREA OF ABOUT 2 400 SQUARE METRES.
IT HAS BEEN IN REGULAR USE FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND AS A RESULT THE SURFACE HAS BECOME ROUGH. IT IS TO BE RE-SURFACED WITH CONCRETE, AND WILL BE USED BY LOCAL SCHOOLS AND ORGANISATIONS FOR SEVEN-A-SIDE MATCHES, AS WELL AS FOR RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES.
RE-SURFACING WORK WILL START AT THE END OF NEXT MONTH AND TAKE ABOUT THREE MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
A CHANGING ROOM WITH SHOWERS IS ALSO BEING CONSTRUCTED AS PART OF THE PROJECT, AT A COST OF NEARLY $130 030 TO BE PAID FROM THE ISLAND DISTRICT LOCAL PUBLIC WORKS VOTE.
THE PROJECTS ARE BEING SUPERVISED BY ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICE WORKS SECTION.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1982
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
KEEPING THE PUBLIC INFORMED ............................. 1
BUDGET TALK ON TELEVISION ............................... 2
MID-LEVELS STATUTORY MORATORIUM EXTIUDED ................ 3
BUDGET DAY DEBUT FOR NEW YEARBOOK ....................... 4
JAPAN MAINTAINS DISCRIMINATIONS AGAINST HONG KONG ....... 5
CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES FOR JANUARY 1982 ................. 6
PROHIBITED ZONE AT STANLEY VILLAGE BUS TERMINUS ......... 7
DIRECT PUBLIC TRANSPORT COMPLAINTS RISE.................. 8
SIXTH MANPOWER SURVEY OF THE PRINTING INDUSTRY ......... 9
international music COUNCIL SYMPOSIUM IN HONG KONG ...... 10
YWCA PRAISED FOR DIVERSIFIED SERVICES ................... 12
VOTING PROCEDURES FOR DB ELECTIONS OUTLINED........ 13
-t.ET.EO.TTOi! AMBASSADOR SCHIMEi- UNDER REVIEW ......... 14
FRESH WATER TAPS OFF .................................... 14
CHILDREN'S CREATIVE WRITING WANTED FOR ANTHOLOGY ........ 15
DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED ................................. 15
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1982
1
KEEPING THE PUBLIC INFORMED
M * * *
A CONSTANT FLOW OF INFORMATION IS PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC TO ENABLE THOSE INTERESTED TO UNDERSTAND GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND ACTIVITIES, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR DENIS BRAY TOLD ROTARIANS AT A LUNCHEON MEETING TODAY (TUESDAY).
♦PEOPLE NOWADAYS EXPECT TO BE KEPT INFORMED AND TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EVENTS WHICH ARE HAPPENING AROUND THEM. THEY ALSO EXPECT TO QUESTION WHERE THEY THINK THERE IS ROOM FOR ARGUMENT AND DEBATE,♦ bR BRAY SAID.
INFORMATION IS PROVIDED IN A NUMBER OF WAYS — THROUGH PRESS RELEASES, INTERVIEWS, PRESS BRIEFINGS AND CONFERENCES, BUT ALSO PUBLICATIONS.
AS A RESULT, THE GOVERNMENT IS ONE OF THE MOST, IF NOT THE MOST, PROLIFIC PUBLISHERS IN HONG KONG. LAST MONTH ALONE, IT PUBLISHED 6A NEW TITLES, WITH TOPICS RANGING FROM IMPORT AND EXPORT TRADE FIGURES TO EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION BOOKLETS.
OF THE PUBLICATIONS, THE HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT WHICH WILL BE ON SALE NEXT WEEK IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AND MOST WIDELY READ, HE SAID.
THE ANNUAL REPORT IS AN IMPORTANT GOVERNMENT DOCUMENT SERVING TWO MAIN PURPOSES, MR BRAY SAID.
♦FIRSTLY, IT IS SUBMITTED TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS AS AN ACCOUNT OF THE YEAR’S ACTIVITIES IN HONG KONG.
♦SECONDLY, IT IS SOLD IN HONG KONG AND ABROAD AS AN IMPORTANT EDUCATIONAL AND PUBLICITY DOCUMENT. ITS USEFULNESS AS A WORK OF REFERENCE HAS ALREADY BEEN WIDELY RECOGNISED,* MR BRAY SAID.
THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT. MR BRAY EXPLAINED, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COMPILING AMD EDITING THE REPORT.
THE FIRST CHAPTER OF THE REPORT WHICH IS DEVOTED TO A SPECIAL REVIEW OF THE PAST YEARS, IS THIS YEAR WRITTEN BY JOURNALIST, MR GRAHAM JENKINS. IN THIS CHAPTER, MR JENKINS PROVIDES A PERSONAL VIEW OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WHOM HE CONSIDERS TO BE HONG KONG’S GREATEST ASSET, MR BRAY SAID.
♦BACKED BY FINDINGS OF THE LATEST 1981 POPULATION CENSUS, AND COUPLED WITH MR JENKINS’ OWN DISTINCTIVE STYLE OF WRITING, THE REVIEW CHAPTER PROVIDES SOME UNIQUE INSIGHTS INTO THE COMMUNITY THAT IS HONG KONG THROUGH HIS LONG YEARS OF ASSOCIATION HERE,+ bR BRAY SAID.
/♦IT IS........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1982
2
♦ IT IS AT ONCE READABLE, INFORMATIVE AND VERY HUMAN.
♦ I FOUND THIS CHAPTER MOVING. GRAHAM JENKINS IS CLEARLY WRITING ABOUT A HONG KONG HE ADMIRES.
♦ HIS PERSONAL REFLECTIONS AS MUCH AS THE CAREFULLY QUOTED STATISTICS REFLECT AN HONEST APPRECIATION OF THE PEOPLE HE HAS COME TO KNOW SO WELL. DO READ THIS,+ MR BRAY TOLD THE ROTARIANS.
THE ANNUAL REPORT IS WELL ILLUSTRATED, AND CONTAINS 100 EXCELLENT COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHS.
PRODUCED IN SEPARATE ENGLISH AND CHINESE EDITIONS, IT HAS BECOME THE BEST SELLING GOVERNMENT PUBLICATION.
THE REPORT IS DELIBERATELY SOLD AT A LOW PRICE OF >24, AND IS OBTAINABLE AT ALL LEADING BOOKSELLERS. ABOUT 10 PER CENT GO TO SCHOOLS AS TEXTBOOKS AND 5 PER CENT ARE SENT OVERSEAS, MR BRAY SAID.
THE 1982 REPORT WILL BE ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE FROM FRIDAY, MARCH 5, AND COPIES WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE AT COMMERCIAL BOOKSHOPS AND DISTRICT OFFICES A FEW DAYS LATER.
OTHER PUBLICATIONS RECENTLY PUT OUT IN FULL COLOUR INCLUDED ONE ON THE HISTORY AND TYPE OF TEMPLES OF HONG KONG, A HANDSOMELY ILLUSTRATED BOOK ON BUTTERFLIES, AND A BOOK ON THE STORY OF GOVERNMENT HOUSE, ALL IN THE ’THIS IS HONG KONG SERIES.’ THERE WERE BOOKS ALSO ON COUNTRY PARKS, RURAL ARCHITECTURE, ANIMALS AND MARINE FISHES AND A SERIES OF NATURE TRAIL PAMPHLETS, MAKING UP THE SERIES ON +HONG KONG’S COUNTRYSIDE AND ANIMALS.♦
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BUDGET TALK ON TELEVISION
* * *
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN BREMRIDGE WILL GIVE A TELEVISION TALK ON HIS 1982/83 BUDGET TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) EVENING.
THE TALK WILL BE BROADCAST ON TVB PEARL AT 7.30 PM AND ON RTV-2 AT 8.40 PM.
A CHINESE VERSION OF THE TALK WILL BE PRESENTED BY MR JOSEPH YAM, PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY (ECONOMIC SERVICES) AT 6.55 PM ON RTV-1 AND AT 7 PM ON TVB JADE ON THE SAME DAY.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1982
3
MID-LEVELS STATUTORY MORATORIUM EXTENDED ft * * ft
THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO EXTEND THE STATUTORY MORATORIUM ON BUILDING DEVELOPMENT IN THE MID-LEVELS FOR A FURTHER FOUR MONTHS.
A RESOLUTION SEEKING THE EXTENSION OF THE TEMPORARY RESTRICTION OF BUILDING DEVELOPMENT (MID-LEVELS) ORDINANCE UNTIL JULY 31 WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON MARCH 10.
THE ORDINANCE WAS ENACTED IN MAY 1979 TO ENABLE A DETAILED GEOTECHNICAL SURVEY TO BE CARRIED OUT TO ESTABLISH WHAT RESTRICTIONS AND CONTROLS WERE NEEDED FOR FUTURE BUILDING WORKS IN THE AREA. THE ORDINANCE WAS DUE TO EXPIRE ON DECEMBER 31, 1981.
FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF THE SURVEY, THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED IN DECEMBER THAT THE TEMPORARY RESTRICTION ON BUILDING DEVELOPMENT WOULD PROBABLY BE LIFTED THIS YEAR BUT THAT NEW WORKS WOULD BE SUBJECT TO GEOTECHNICAL CONTROLS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY CF HILLSIDES AFFECTED.
THE ORDINANCE WAS EXTENDED UNTIL MARCH 31 TO ENABLE NEW REGULATIONS AND AMENDMENTS TO THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE TO BE INTRODUCED SO THAT THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE WOULD BE ABLE TO EXERCISE THE APPROPRIATE GEOTECHNICAL CONTROLS.
THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS SAID THEN THAT THE EXTENSION WAS NECESSARY TO ALLOW TIME FOR INTER-DEPARTMENTAL CONSULTATIONS, DRAFTING OF THE NEW LEGISLATION, CONSIDERATION BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND DEBATE BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
IN HIS SPEECH PROPOSING THE RESOLUTION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON DECEMBER 9, HE SAID THE STATUTORY MORATORIUM WOULD HAVE TO REMAIN IN FORCE FOR A FURTHER PERIOD OF AT LEAST THREE MONTHS AND HE HOPED THAT IT WOULD PROVE POSSIBLE TO HAVE THE NEW REGULATIONS MADE AND TO INTRODUCE THE AMENDING BILL IN TIME FOR ITS ENACTMENT WITHIN THIS PERIOD.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID, BECAUSE OF THE COMPLEXITY OF THE NEW LEGISLATION, MORE TIME WAS REQUIRED TO COMPLETE THE DRAFTING PROCESS AND FOR THE PROPOSALS TO BE CONSIDERED PROPERLY BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, GIVEN THE CONSTRAINTS IMPOSED BY THE BUDGET SITTINGS.
/the peoposed .......
TUESDAY, FEBHUARY 23, 1982
4
THE PROPOSED RESTRICTIONS AND GEOTECHNICAL CONTROLS ON FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE MID-LEVELS ARE DESIGNED TOi
ft IMPROVE CONTROL OF BUILDING OPERATIONS TO SAFEGUARD THE STABILITY OF ADJACENT GROUND.
ft LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF EXCAVATION Dt - ING THE CARRYING OUT OF BUILDING WORK.
* REQUIRE THAT BUILDING WORKS BE CARRIED OUT IN A PARTICULAR SEQUENCE.
* ENABLE DUE CONSIDERATION TO BE GIVEN TO THE EFFECT ON STABILITY OF THE FOUNDATION SYSTEM ADOPTED.
ft IMPOSE REQUIREMENTS FOR GROUND WATER DRAINAGE AND WORKS.
* ENABLE THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TO REQUIRE A PERFORMANCE REVIEW TO SHOW THAT THE GEOTECHNICAL DESIGN ASSUMPTIONS UPON WHICH THE BUILDING WORKS HAVE BEEN BASED ARE VALID.
THE NEW LEGISLATION IS EXPECTED TO COME INTO FORCE ON AUGUST 1.
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BUDGET DAY DEBUT FOR NEW YEARBOOK * ft * * ft
THE 1982 EDITION OF THE HONG KONG YEARBOOK, COMPILED BY THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES, WILL BE ISSUED TO MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AT THE END OF TOMORROW’S BUDGET DAY MEETING.
BULK SUPPLIES FOR SALE TO THE PUBLIC ARE NOW BEING BOUND AND AN INITIAL STOCK WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE ON FRIDAY, MARCH 5.
DURING THE FOLLOWING WEEK THE YEARBOOK WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE FROM LEADING BOOKSHOPS, CITY DISTRICT OFFICES AND DISTRICT OFFICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE COMBINED PRINT-RUN FOR EDITIONS IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE HAS BEEN RAISED TO 50 000 COPIES THIS YEAR TO SATISFY GROWING PUBLIC DEMAND.
♦THE PRACTICE OF HAVING THE NEW YEARBOOK AVAILABLE FOR BUDGET DAY RESTORES AN OLD TRADITION AND WE CONSIDER IT IS WORTHWHILE STRIVING TO OBSERVE THIS,+ A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE 1982 EDITION PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES AND DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG DURING THE PAST YEAR AND CONTAINS A SPECIAL REVIEW CHAPTER BY A PROMINENT LOCAL JOURNALIST, MR GRAHAM JENKINS, WHO GIVES HIS PERSONAL VIEWS ON HONG KONG’S MOST IMPORTANT ASSET, ITS PEOPLE, AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF THE 1981 CENSUS.
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/5 .....
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1982
- 5 -
JAPAN MAINTAINS DISCRIMINATIONS AGAINST HONG KONG * * *
THE DISCRIMINATIONS MAINTAINED BY JAPAN AGAINST HONG KONG UNDER THE JAPANESE GENERALISED SCHEME OF PREFERENCES ARE TO CONTINUE FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER YEAR.
ALTHOUGH HONG KONG IS INCLUDED AS A BENEFICIARY UNDER THE JAPANESE GENERALISED SCHEME OF PREFERENCES, HONG KONG ALONE IS EXCLUDED FROM PREFERENCE IN RESPECT OF FIVE PRODUCT CATEGORIES -TRAVEL GOODS, ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS, GLASS BEADS, IMITATION JEWELLERIES AND TOYS.
EXPRESSING HIS DEEP DISAPPOINTMENT AT THE NEWS, THE COMMISSIONER OF TRADE, MR LAWRENCE MILLS SAID, + IN OUR VIEW THE EXCLUSIONS, AGAINST WHICH WE HAVE MADE REPRESENTATIONS OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS, ARE DISCRIMINATORY IN NATURE. ALTHOUGH THE JAPANESE HAVE ARGUED THAT REMOVAL OF EXCLUSIONS WOULD LIKELY GIVE RISE TO SPECIAL SOCIAL PROBLEMS FOR THE JAPANESE INDUSTRIES CONCERNED, WE FIND IT DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT THE ARGUMENT, AS IT SUGGESTS THAT HONG KONG IS RESPONSIBLE FOR , OR THE CAUSE OF, THE SPECIAL SOCIAL PROBLEMS.
♦STATISTICS HAVE SHOWN THAT HONG KONG'S SHARE OF THE JAPANESE IMPORT MARKET IN RESPECT OF THE FIVE PRODUCT CATEGORIES DROPPED FROM 28.7 PER CENT IN 1972 TO 13.2 PER CENT IN JANUARY TO NOVEMBER, 1981.
♦AT A TIME WHEN JAPAN IS OSTENSIBLY TRYING TO LIBERALISE TRADE, IT IS AN ANOMALY TO MAINTAIN THIS DISCRIMINATIONS AGAINST HONG KONG.INDEED, THE EXCLUSIONS HAVE ENABLED OUR COMPETITORS TO INCREASE THEIR SHARE OF IMPORTS INTO JAPAN,+ HE SAID.
♦MOREOVER, THE MAINTENANCE BY JAPAN OF THESE EXCLUSIONS WOULD RESULT IN A FURTHER TILTING OF THE TRADE BALANCE IN JAPAN’S FAVOUR WHICH, IN 1981. EXCEEDED HK|26 000 MILLION WHILE HONG KONG DOES NOT SEEK TO REDUCE IMPORTS FROM JAPAN. HONG KONG’S ECONOMY DEPENDS ON ITS ABILITY TO EXPORT, AND THAT ABILITY DIRECTLY AFFECTS ITS ABILITY TO IMPORT,♦ ADDED MR MILLS.
THE EXCLUSIONS WERE DISCUSSED AT THE JOINT MEETING OF THE HONG KONG/JAPAN AND JAPAN/HONG KONG BUSINESS COOPERATION COMMITTEES LAST FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19. THE HONG KONG COMMITTEE ASKED THE JAPAN COMMITTEE TO URGE THEIR GOVERNMENT TO REMOVE THE REMAINING DISCRIMINATIONS.
IN 1981, HONG KONG’S DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF THE FIVE PRODUCT CATEGORIES TO JAPAN WERE VALUED AT HK$243 MILLION OR 8.3 PER CENT OF HONG KONG’S TOTAL DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO JAPAN.
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/6 .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1982
6
CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES FOR JANUARY 1982 « K *
THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A) AND THE CONSUMER PRICE FOR JANUARY 1982 WERE BOTH 125, EACH BEING TWO POINTS OR CENT HIGHER THAN THAT FOR THE PRECEDING MONTH, ACCORDING FIGURES PUBLISHED TODAY (TUESDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATI DEPARTMENT.
INDEX (B) 1.6 PER TO STICS
WHEN COMPARED WITH JANUARY, 1981, BOTH THE CPI (A) AND CPI (B) INCREASED BY 15 POINTS OR 13.6 PER CENT.
I tnuTD^lNf pood pr,ces> hairdressing charges and public
LIGHT BUS FARES WERE RAISED BECAUSE OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR. INCREASES WERE ALSO RECORDED IN THE RENT OF PRIVATE DWELLINGS. IN CIGARETTE PRICES AND IN ELECTRICITY CHARGES DURING THE MONTH.
AC cn Irn £?JJA) AND CP1 (B) ARE based 0N THE EXPENDITURE PATTERNS OF 50 PER CENT AND 30 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY, OF URBAN HOUSEHOLDS IN HONG KONG, WHICH WERE DERIVED FROM THE 1979/80 HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE SURVEY. AT THAT TIME, THE CPI (A) REFERRED TO HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN $1 000 AND $3 499 A MONTH AND THE CPI (B) SPENDING BETWEEN $3 500 AND $6 499 A MONTH.
ornwJrE.JNDEXES F0R JANUARY 1982 IN RESPECT OF THE NINE COMMODITY/ SERVICE SECTIONS IN THE TWO CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES ARE GIVEN BELOW, TOGETHER WITH THOSE FOR
(OCTOBER 1979 CPI (A)
DECEMBER 1981 AND JANUARY 1981.
TO SEPTEMBER 1980 AVERAGE - 100) CPI (B)
SECTION JAN. 81 DEC. 81
FOODSTUFFS 110 124
HOUSING 109 119
FUEL AND LIGHT 122 131
ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO (FOR HOME CONSUMPTION) 107 118
CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR 109 124
DURABLE GOODS 103 108
MISCELLANEOUS GOODS 106 119
TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES 114 135
SERVICES 113 127
ALL ITEMS 110 123
JAN. 82 JAN. 81 DEC. 81 JAN. 82
127 110 124 127
121 109 119 121
136 123 131 136
123 107 117 122
123 109 125 123
108 104 110 109
119 106 116 117
137 114 133 134
131 113 126 131
125 110 123 125
/the index .
TUESDAY, FEBSUARY 23, 1982
7
THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS INCREASED BY THREE POINTS IN BOTH CPI (A) AND CPI (B). RISES WERE RECORDED IN THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF LIVE POULTRY, FRESH FRUITS, PORK, FRESH-WATER FISH AND MEALS BOUGHT IN RESTAURANTS. THE EFFECT OF MOVEMENTS IN THE RETAIL PRICES OF OTHER FOOD ITEMS ON THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS WAS INSIGNIFICANT.
THE INDEX FOR HOUSING INCREASED BY TWO POINTS IN BOTH CPI (A) AND CPI (B) AS HIGHER RENT WAS PAID FOR PRIVATE DWELLINGS.
HIGHER CHARGES FOR ELECTRICITY CAUSED THE INDEX FOR FUEL AND LIGHT TO INCREASE BY FIVE POINTS IN BOTH CPI (A) AND CPI (B).
THE FIVE-POINT INCREASE IN THE INDEX FOR ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO (FOR HOME CONSUMPTION) WAS ATTRIBUTABLE TO HIGHER PRICES FOR CIGARETTES.
THE INDEX FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR DECREASED BY ONE POINT IN CPI (A) AND BY TWO POINTS IN CPI (B) AS A RESULT OF LOWER PRICES FOR OUTERCLOTHING.
THE INDEX FOR TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES INCREASED BY TWO POINTS IN CPI (A) AND BY ONE POINT IN CPI (B) BECAUSE OF HIGHER FARES CHARGED BY PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES DURING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR.
THE INDEX FOR SERVICES INCREASED BY FOUR POINTS IN CPI (A) AND BY FIVE POINTS IN CPI (B) OWING TO HIGHER CHARGES FOR PACKAGE TOURS AND TO THE TRADITIONAL INCREASE IN HAIRDRESSING CHARGES DURING THE FORTNIGHT BEFORE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR.
PRICE MOVEMENTS IN OTHER SECTIONS WERE INSIGNIFICANT.
DETAILS OF THESE PRICE MOVEMENTS ARE GIVEN IN THE +CONSUMER PRICE INDEX REPORT* FOR JANUARY 1982, WHICH IS NOW AVAILABLE AT $3 PER COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, CONNAUGHT PLACE, HONG KONG.
PROHIBITED ZONE AT STANLEY VILLAGE BUS TERMINUS ft ft ft ft ft
THE STANLEY VILLAGE BUS TERMINUS WILL BE DESIGNATED AS A PROHIBITED ZONE FROM FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 26).
ALL VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSIES WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING THE AREA.
-----o------
/8 ........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1982
8
DIRECT PUBLIC TRANSPORT COMPLAINTS RISE ft * ft ft *
THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS TODAY ENDORSED THE TRANSPORT COMPLAINTS UNIT’S QUARTERLY REPORT FOR THE OCTOBER TO DECEMBER PERIOD.
GOOD PUBLIC SUPPORT IS ENCOURAGING AS DIRECT COMPLAINTS ADDRESSED TO THE UNIT ROSE TO 1 411, AN INCREASE OF 36 PER CENT OVER THE PREVIOUS QUARTER, ACCORDING TO THE UNIT’S EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, hR JAMES KWAN.
♦ AS IN PREVIOUS QUARTERS, THE TWO MAJOR BUS COMPANIES GET THE BIGGEST SHARE OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES -251 AND 348 FOR CMB AND KMB RESPECTIVELY.
♦ IN THIS QUARTER, MORE PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE FERRY SERVICES, FOR EXAMPLE THE CHEUNG CHAU TO HONG KONG FERRY SERVICE AND THE AUTOMATIC TURNSTILES RECENTLY INSTALLED BY THE ’STAR’ FERRY.
♦TRAFFIC CONGESTION IS NOW ANOTHER COMMON SUBJECT OF COMPLAINT. THE MORE COMMONLY KNOWN LOCATIONS ARE THE JUNCTIONS AT KING’S ROAD/ KAM HONG STREET AND BLUE POOL ROAD/TAI HANG ROAD ON HONG KONG ISLAND; HOI YUEN ROAD/HING YIP STREET IN KWUN TONG; CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD AT ITS JUNCTION WITH LUNG CHEUNG ROAD NEAR PING SHEK ESTATE; LUNG CHEUNG ROAD BETWEEN SHATIN PASS ROAD AND HAMMER HILL ROAD; AND THE TUEN MUN CIRCUIT AND PUI TO ROAD IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
♦ THE LACK OF PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES ACROSS NEW CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD NEAR CHOI WAN ESTATE AND ACROSS YUEN WO ROAD NEAR KLASSE GRAND DEPARTMENT STORE IN SHA TIN ARE ALSO THE SUBJECT OF REPEATED COMPLAINTS,♦ HE SAID.
IN HIS REPORT, MR KWAN ALSO HIGHLIGHTS KMB’S COMMENTS ON THE TRANSPORT COMPLAINTS UNIT’S ANNUAL REPORT 1980/81 ISSUED IN OCTOBER LAST YEAR.
♦ KMB POINTS OUT THAT IT HAS RECEIVED MUCH MORE COMPLAINTS ON ITS OWN DRIVER. WHILE ONLY 257 COMPLAINTS WERE RECORDED BY THE TRANSPORT COMPLAINTS UNIT IN 1980/81 AGAINST DRIVERS OF BOTH CMB AND KMB, THE LATTER RECEIVED 1 614 COMPLAINTS ITSELF DURING THE SAME PERIOD AND DISMISSED 325 DRIVERS AS A RESULT.♦
MR KWAN IS HAPPY TO NOTE FROM KMB’S REPORT THAT THESE FIGURES HAVE DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE GOOD SERVICE BONUS SCHEME IN JUNE LAST YEAR.
♦ KMB’S OWN RECORD ALSO REVEALS THAT TRAFFIC CONGESTION ACCOUNTS FOR 69.6 PER CENT OF THE MISSING BUS TRIPS.
♦ ILLEGAL PARKING CONSTITUTES 77 PER CENT OF THE CASES REFERRED BY THE UNIT TO THE POLICE. HOWEVER, THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE REITERATES THAT LASTING EFFECTS ON ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST ILLEGAL PARKING CANNOT BE EXPECTED AS LONG AS LEGAL PARKING SPACES ON AND OFF STREET CONTINUE TO FALL FAR BEHIND VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS,* HE SAID.
/MH KWAN ....
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1982
- 9 -
MR KWAN IS ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE DELAY IN THE PROVISION CF FRANCHISED BUS SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS OF THE ALLWAY SARDENS IN TSUEN WAN.
♦THE BUS COMPANY SHOULD HOWEVER NOT BE BLAMED IN THIS CASE AS REPEATED DELAYS IN COMPLETION OF THE ROAD NETWORK FOR BUS OPERATION IS THE REAL CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM,+ HE SAID.
------o-------
SIXTH MANPOWER SURVEY OF THE PRINTING INDUSTRY
*****
A MANPOWER SURVEY OF THE PRINTING INDUSTRY WILL BE CARRIED OUT NEXT MONTH TO COLLECT UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON MANPOWER AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS OF THE INDUSTRY.
THE SURVEY - THE SIXTH IN A SERIES - WILL BE CONDUCTED FROM MARCH 8 TO 27 BY THE PRINTING INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD OF THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, MR ALEX WU, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT BASED ON THE SURVEY FINDINGS, THE BOARD WOULD MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON MANPOWER TRAINING FOR THE PRINTING INDUSTRY.
QUESTIONNAIRES AND EXPLANATORY LETTERS WERE SENT TODAY TO ALL ESTABLISHMENTS TO BE COVERED IN THE SURVEY. EMPLOYERS WERE REQUESTED TO SUPPLY THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION ON EACH OF THE PRINCIPAL JOBS IN THE INDUSTRYt
(I) THE NUMBER OF WORKERS AT PRESENT EMPLOYED,
(II) THE NUMBER OF WORKERS AT PRESENT UNDER TRAINING,
(III) THE NUMBER OF EXISTING VACANCIES, AND
(IV) A FORECAST OF THE ADDITIONAL NUMBER OF WORKERS IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.
DURING THE SURVEY OFFICERS FROM THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS ^PARJMENT W0ULD CALL AT THE ESTABLISHMENTS TO COLLECT THE COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRES AND TO ASSIST THE EMPLOYER IN COMPLETING THE QUESTIONNAIRES.
MR WU SAID THE INFORMATION COLLECTED WOULD BE HANDLED IN STRICT CONFIDENCE AND WOULD BE PUBLISHED ONLY IN THE FORM OF STATISTICAL SUMMARIES WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ANY INDIVIDUAL ESTABLISHMENT.
♦AS THE INFORMATION TO BE COLLECTED FROM THIS SURVEY IS OF VITAL IMPORTANCE FOR FORMULATING MEANINGFUL TRAINING PLANS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE INDUSTRY, THOSE COVERED IN THE SURVEY ARE REQUESTED TO OFFER THEIR CO-OPERATION,+ HE ADDED.
-----0------
/10 .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1982
10
INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COUNCIL SYMPOSIUM IN HONG KONG
******
THE INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COUNCIL OF UNESCO, TOGETHER WITH THE 1DTH HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL AND THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT WILL BE HOLDING A FOUR-DAY CONFERENCE FROM MARCH 1 TO 4.
THE SYMPOSIUM WILL BE THE FIRST OF ITS KIND TO BE HELD IN HONG KONG AND WILL DEAL WITH ASPECTS OF EAST-WEST EXCHANGE IN MUSIC AND THE PERFORMING ARTS.
THE I.M.C. IS A WORLD-WIDE UNESCO NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATION WHICH HAS BEEN AN INTEGRATING FORCE IN INTERNATIONAL MUSIC LIFE SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1949. ACTIVE IN 70 COUNTRIES, THE I.M.C. HAS A FAR-REACHING CHARTER WHICH FUNCTIONS OUTSIDE OF NATIONAL OR CULTURAL LIMITATIONS AND HAS PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN ESTABLISHING LINKS AND CULTURAL EXCHANGES BETWEEN COUNTRIES, REGIONS, INSTITUTIONS AND ORGANISATIONS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.
DELEGATES ATTENDING THE SYMPOSIUM WILL BE COMING FROM CANADA, THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, INDIA, HOLLAND, ITALY, DENMARK, JAPAN AND WILL INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES FROM MAJOR INTERNATIONAL ARTS CENTRES, FESTIVALS, BROADCASTING AUTHORITIES, THE MEDIA, AND MUSIC AND ARTS INSTITUTIONS.
AMONGST THE 40 DELEGATES PART ICIPAT1NG WILL BE THE FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE I.M.C., PROFESSOR SIR FRANK CALLAWAY, THE PRINCIPAL OF LONDON’S GUILDHALL SCHOOL OF MUSIC AND DRAMA, MR JOHN HOSIER, DIRECTOR OF THE HOLLAND FESTIVAL, MR FRANS DE RUITER, PRESIDENT OF THE LINCOLN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS (NEW YORK) MR JOHN MAZZOLA, AND THE SPECIAL ADVISER TO THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF UNESCO, JACK BORNOFF.
PRESIDENT OF THE FOUR-DAY SYMPOSIUM WILL BE MR ALEX S.C. WU, UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. ALL FOUR WORKING SESSIONS WILL BE HELD IN THE RECITAL HALL OF THE HONG KONG ARTS CENTRE, WHICH IS ALSO SUPPORTING THE EVENT. IN ADDITION TO PARTICIPANTS FROM LOCAL CULTURAL ORGANISATIONS, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THE SESSIONS.
THE OPENING PAPER ENTITLED +THE ROLE OF FESTIVALS, ARTS AND EDUCATIONAL CENTRES AND THE MASS MEDIA IN CULTURAL EXCHANGE* WILL BE PRESENTED ON MARCH 1 AT 9.15 AM BY MR BORNOFF. THIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY *’LIVE’ EXCHANGES AND TOURING CIRCUITS* WITH MR DARWIN CHEN, DIRECTOR OF CULTURAL SERVICES, URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AS SPEAKER.
AS IN THE THREE SUCCEEDING SESSIONS, A ROUND-TABLE DISCUSSION WILL FOLLOW EACH PAPER WITH A PANEL DRAWN FROM LOCAL AND OVERSEAS DELEGATES, WITH ALL THE PROCEEDINGS RECORDED BY RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG.
THE SECOND MAJOR DISCUSSION TOPIC WILL BE THE ^EDUCATIONAL ROLE OF VISITING ARTISTS*, IN WHICH MR PETER BRINSON. DIRECTOR OF THE CALCUSTE GULBENKIAN FOUNDATION, LONDON, WILL GIVE THE ADDRESS. THIS SESSION WILL BEGIN AT 9 AM ON TUESDAY, MARCH 2, TO BE FOLLOWED BY A PANEL DISCUSSION WHICH IS EXPECTED TO LAST UNTIL 1 PM.
/CHAIRING the........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1982
11
CHAIRING THE THIRD SYMPOSIUM PAPER ON +THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE MEDIA*, ALSO ON TUESDAY, MARCH 2, AT 2 PM, WILL BE MR ANTONY DEAN, DIRECTOR OF THE RADIO PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF THE EUROPEAN BROADCASTING UNION. THIS TOPIC WILL INCLUDE DISCUSSION ON RADIO AND TELEVISION, RECORDINGS, FILMS AND TAPES, THE PRESS AND PUBLICATIONS AND THEIR RELATIVE IMPORTANCE TO THE PERFORMING ARTS WORLD. THE SPEAKER WILL BE MR NARAYANA MENON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL CENTRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, BOMBAY.
THE FOURTH SESSION OF THE SYMPOSIUM WILL BE HELD AT 9 AM ON MARCH 3, AND WILL TURN ITS ATTENTION TO +SPONSORSHIP+, AND THE IMPLICATIONS OF GOVERNMENTAL, INSTITUTIONAL, COMMERCIAL AND PRIVATE FUNDING OF THE ARTS. THE PRESIDENT OF THE LINCOLN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, MR JOHN MAZZOLA, WILL BE THE SPEAKER, WITH MR LYON ROUSSELL OF THE BRITISH COUNCIL, LONDON, IN THE CHAIR.
DURING THE FINAL SESSION, THE CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS MADE DURING THE COURSE OF THE PRECEDING SESSIONS WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE DELEGATES.
AS A COROLLARY TO THE SYMPOSIUM, THREE CONCERTS WILL BE GIVEN IN THE SHOUSON THEATRE OF THE ARTS CENTRE, WHICH WILL ILLUSTRATE THE OVERALL THEME OF THE SYMPOSIUM.
THE PROGRAMMES WILL REPRESENT BOTH WESTERN AND EASTERN CONCEPTS AND WILL FEATURE ARTISTS FROM IRAQ, INDIA AND HONG KONG. THE MUSIC OF THE CHINESE PIPA WILL BE HEARD ALONGSIDE THE ARABIC LUTE IN THE RECITAL PROGRAMME SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 1, WHILST THE CAPTIVATING SOUND OF THE INDIAN SAROD WILL CONTRAST WITH THE BELLOW TONES OF THE CHINESE CHENG ON MARCH 2. AN IMAGINATIVE PROGRAMME OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE DANCE AND MUSIC WILL BE PRESENTED ON MARCH 3, AS THE THIRD PRESENTATION IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE SYMPOSIUM.
TICKETS FOR ALL THREE EVENING PERFORMANCES ARE OBTAINABLE FROM THE ARTS CENTRE BOX OFFICE.
ENQUIRIES REGARDING SYMPOSIUM CO-ORDINATION MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE SYMPOSIUM SECRETARIAT, RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT, C.G.O., WEST WING, TELEPHONE 5-951854 AND PRESS ENQUIRIES TO 5-951872.
NOTE TO EDITORS!
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND YOUR REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE INTERNATIONAL MUSIC COUNCIL SYMPOSIUM ON EAST-WEST EXCHANGE IN MUSIC AND THE PERFORMING ARTS.
THE OPENING SESSION WILL BE HELD AT 9.15 AM ON MARCH 1 (MONDAY) IN THE RECITAL HALL OF THE HONG KONG ARTS CENTRE.
-------o--------
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1982
12
YWCA PRAISED FOR DIVERSIFIED SERVICES ft It * *
TODAY’S OPENING OF THREE NEW WELFARE PREMISES OF THE YOUNG WOMEN’S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION IN WESTERN DISTRICT IS A GOOD ILLUSTRATION OF THE DIVERSIFIED SERVICES BEING RENDERED BY THE HONG KONG YWCA, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR SELWYN ALLEYNE, SAID THIS AFTERNOON (TUESDAY).
THE NEW PREMISES ARE THE SAI WAN SOCIAL CENTRE FOR THE ELDERLY, THE WESTERN OUTREACHING SOCIAL WORK OFFICE, BOTH LOCATED IN SAI WAN ESTATE, AND THE NEW CONTAINER-TYPE MOBILE OFFICE OF THE MOUNT DAVIS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT OFFICE IN VICTORIA ROAD NEAR THE HOI PONG VILLAGE, A SQUATTER AREA.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY, MR ALLEYNE SAID THAT AS DEMAND FOR THE SERVICE OF THE YWCA KENNEDY TOWN SOCIAL SERVICE CENTRE GREW OVER THE YEARS, IT HAD BECOME NECESSARY FOR THE CENTRE TO ACQUIRE ADDITIONAL PREMISES FOR THE OPERATION OF ITS NEW SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES.
♦THE REPROVISIONING OF THE ASSOCIATION’S WESTERN OUTREACHING SOCIAL WORK TEAM AND THE SOCIAL CENTRE FOR THE ELDERLY TO SAI WAN ESTATE IS THEREFORE A TIMELY MOVE AND ONE WHICH WOULD NO DOUBT FACILITATE THE WORK OF THE ASSOCIATION IN THE DISTRICT AS WELL AS BENEFIT THE RESIDENTS IN SAI WAN ESTATE AND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD,♦ HE SAID.
REFERRING TO THE SAI WAN SOCIAL CENTRE FOR THE ELDERLY, MR ALLEYNE SAID ONE OF THE MAIN PROBLEMS OF OLD AGE WAS LONELINESS, BECAUSE IT DEPRESSED THE PERSON AND DAMAGED MENTAL HEALTH.
♦IT IS THEREFORE OUR DESIRE AND RESPONSIBILITY,♦ HE SAID, ♦TO HELP OUR ELDER CITIZENS RETAIN A VARIED, ACTIVE SOCIAL LIFE.+
HE EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE NEW SOCIAL CENTRE ♦CAN BE AN ENJOYABLE PLACE FOR THE ELDERLY RESIDENTS TO MEET OTHER PEOPLE AND TO MAKE GOOD USE OF THEIR LEISURE TIME+.
MR ALLEYNE DESCRIBED THE YWCA WESTERN OUTREACHING TEAM AND THE MOUNT DAVIS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TEAM AS +TWO ATTEMPTS TO INTEGRATE OUR YOUNGER CITIZENS INTO A BETTER, HEALTHIER COMMUNITY^.
♦I UNDERSTAND THAT THE YWCA WESTERN OUTREACHING TEAM HAS BEEN DOING GOOD WORK HERE SINCE THE TEAM WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1979, AND I SINCERELY HOPE THAT ITS STAFF WOULD BE ABLE TO ENJOY MORE SPACIOUS OFF ICE,♦ HE SAID.
REFERRING TO THE MOUNT DAVIS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TEAM, THE DIRECTOR SAID THAT OWING TO DIFFICULTIES IN SECURING A PROPER OFFICE IN THE DISTRICT, THE TEAM HAD BEEN FORCED TO USE THE YWCA KENNEDY TOWN SOCIAL SERVICE CENTRE IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS.
/however, despite ........
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1982
- 13 -
HOWEVER, DESPITE THE LACK OF A PROPER OFFICE ON SITE, MUCH HAD BEEN DON^ BY THE TEAM IN CO-OPERATION WITH THE RESIDENTS TO BRING ABOUT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE AREA.
♦I AM HAPPY AND CONFIDENT THAT WITH THE NEW MOBILE OFFICE WHICH THE TEAM HAS NOW ACQUIRED WITH A LOTTERIES FUND GRANT, THE TEAM WOULD BECOME MORE ACCESSIBLE TO THE RESIDENTS WITH WHOM THEY WORK AND THAT LIAISON AND CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO CAN BE STRENGTHENED,♦ MR ALLEYNE SAID.
------0-------
VOTING PROCEDURES FOR DB ELECTIONS OUTLINED * * * *
DETAILS OF VOTING PROCEDURES FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS ON MARCH 4 WERE OUTLINED TODAY (TUESDAY) BY A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION.
QUOTING FROM THE ELECTORAL PROVISION (PROCEDURE) REGULATIONS 1981, THE SPOKESMAN SAID A VOTER COULD NOT VOTE FOR MORE THAN ONE CANDIDATE IF THE CONSTITUENCY IN WHICH HE LIVES IS TO BE REPRESENTED BY ONE MEMBER ONLY.
♦HOWEVER,♦ HE SAID, +THOSE WHO LIVE IN A DOUBLE MEMBERSHIP CONSTITUENCY CAN VOTE FOR TWO CANDIDATES,+ POINTING OUT THAT CONSTITUENCIES TO BE REPRESENTED BY TWO ELECTED MEMBERS INCLUDE ALL THOSE IN SHA TIN AND TUEN MUN, PLUS TAI PO CENTRAL AND TAI PO SOUTH.
VOTERS SHOULD GO TO THE POLLING STATION SPECIFIED ON THE POLL CARD SENT TO THEM EARLIER AT ANY TIME BETWEEN 7 AM AND 10 PM ON ELECTION DAY.
AFTER SHOWING HIS IDENTITY CARD TO POLLING STATION STAFF, HE WILL BE GIVEN A BALLOT PAPER ON WHICH HE SHOULD WRITE A CROSS ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, OPPOSITE THE NAME OF THE CANDIDATE FOR WHOM HE WISHES TO VOTE.
HE SHOULD THEN FOLD IT AND PLACE IT IN THE BALLOT BOX.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID IF A VOTER SPOILS A BALLOT PAPER BY MISTAKE. HE CAN RETURN IT TO THE PRESIDING OFFICER WHO WILL GIVE HIM ANOTHER ONE.
HE SAID A BALLOT PAPER WOULD BE DECLARED VOID IF A VOTER VOTED FOR MORE THAN ONE CANDIDATE IN A SINGLE MEMBER CONSTITUENCY, OR PLACED ANY MARK ON THE PAPER BY WHICH HE COULD BE IDENTIFIED AFTERWARDS.
POSTERS CONTAINING ELECTORAL REGULATIONS WILL BE PUT UP IN POLLING STATIONS ON ELECTION DAY TO HELP GUIDE VOTERS.
- 0 ----------
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1982
14
♦ELECTION AMBASSADOR SCHEME* UNDER REVIEW
IM*
THF WSeS°npE?«CuA1W.,.t!;e?!eHELD 0N SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 28), TO REVIEW ™£*ORK °F THE VOLUNTEERS WHO HELPED TO REGISTER SOME 20 000 SFPtJmJ? KWUN T0NG F0R THE D,STR,CT BOARD ELECTIONS IN MARCH AND OCr I triDt K •
TnNoJMSnCiONn?!A?!Se»t25QiNISED BY THE C,TY DISTRICT OFFICE (KWUN AN$ TRY T0 1MPR0VE THE REGISTRATION METHODS 400 VOLUNTEERS IN THE SEPTEMBER TO OCTOBER 1981
REGISTRATION CAMPAIGN UNDER THE ELECTION AMBASSADOR SCHEME.
„YRE VOLUNTEERS ARE MADE UP OF MUTUAL AID COMMITTFF mfmrfbc AND YOUTHS FROM VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY CENTRES.
u. ,»IW^C,TY DISTRICT OFFICERS (KWUN TONG). MR PETER PAMr Akin APPRECMTIOH' TO THE^VOLU HTEERS ’CCAS'°"
THE CONFERENCE WILL START AT 2.30 PM, ON SUNDAY AT LEUNG SHEK CHEE COLLEGE, HIU KWONG STREET, KWUN TONG. THERE WILL ALSO BE A RECEPTION FOR THE VOLUNTEERS.
FURTHER INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM MISS HELENA CHAN OF THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICE AT 3-A16315 EXT. 301.
-----0------
FRESH WATER TAPS OFF * * *
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO PREMISES IN TSUEN WAN WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR 10 HOURS FROM 9 PM ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 26) TO 7 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY TO FACILITATE WATER MAINS CONNECTION.
THE AFFECTED AREA IS BOUNDED BY CASTLE PEAK ROAD, AND THE WEST SIDE OF ON YUK ROAD TO END OF TING KAU MILE STONE 11-1/2, INCLUDING SOUTH SEA TEXTILE MFG AND AMOY CANNING CORP (HK) LTD.
o --------
/15 .......
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1982
15
CHILDREN’S CREATIVE WRITING WANTED FOR ANTHOLOGY * * *
ALL HONG KONG PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS ARE URGED TO SUPPORT THE COMPILATION OF AN ANTHOLOGY OF HONG KONG CHILDREN’S CREATIVE WRITING BY THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF THE INTERNATIONAL READING ASSOCIATION.
♦SCHOOL HEADS WHO WISH TO HAVE THEIR SCHOOLS REPRESENTED IN THE ANTHOLOGY SHOULD SELECT WHAT THEY CONSIDER TO BE THE BEST PIECES OF CREATIVE WRITING IN BOTH CHINESE AND ENGLISH, PROSE AND VERSE, PRODUCED BY THEIR PUPILS AND TO SEND THEM TO THE IRA (H.K. BRANCH),* AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
ALL ITEMS SUBMITTED SHOULD BE ORIGINAL PIECES OF WRITING BY PAST OR PRESENT PUPILS OF THE SCHOOL, AND ITEMS FROM PRESENT AND PAST ISSUES OF SCHOOLS MAGAZINES MAY BE INCLUDED, HE SAID.
THE ASSOCIATION WILL RESERVE THE RIGHT TO DECIDE WHICH ITEMS ARE TO BE INCLUDED IN THE ANTHOLOGY.
NO FEE IS PAYABLE IN RESPECT OF ITEMS SUBMITTED, AND COPYRIGHT WILL BE INVESTED IN THE IRA (H.K. BRANCH), HE SAID.
ALL SUBMISSION SHOULD BE SENT BEFORE APRIL 30, TO MR R.K. TONGUE, C/0 EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, 5TH FLOOR, LEE GARDENS, HYSAN AVENUE, HONG KONG.
--------o - - - -
DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED * K M
THE GOVERNOR, AFTER TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, HAS DECIDED THAT THE DEATH SENTENCE PASSED ON LI YUNG-KWAI ON FEBRUARY 20, 1981 SHOULD BE COMMUTED TO IMPRISONMENT FOR 25 YEARS.
LI WAS FOUND GUILTY OF THE MURDER OF TONG KING-WOOD IN PAK TAI STREET, KOWLOON ON JULY 20, 1980.
-----o------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1982
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
BUDGET SPEECH TAX CONCESSIONS TO BENEFIT 300 000 .......................... 1
CONCESSIONS ON INTEREST TAX EFFECTIVE TOMORROW .............. 2
TAX INCENTIVES TO BOOST INVESTMENT........................... 4
RELIEF IN ESTATE DUTY........................................ 5
8 PER CENT GROWTH IN GDP TIPPED ............................. 5
$11 BILLION FOR PUBLIC WORKS AND LAND ACQUISITIONS......... 7
$1.6 BILLION TO BE SPENT ON HIGHWAYS ........................ 8
PUBLIC EXPENDITURE MUST KEEP PACE WITH GDP - FS.............. 9
NEW DEPARTMENT TO COMBINE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING ........................................ 11
$4.1 BILLION FOR MORE HOUSING ........................«... 12
BETTER CARE FOR AGED, HANDICAPPED AND YOUNG................. 13
HOSPITAL OVERCROWDING EASED ................................ 15
POLICE STRENGTH TO BE INCREASED BY 1 000 ................... 16
NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT ....................................... 17
REVENUE TO REACH $39-7 BILLION IN 1982-83 .................. 17
$6.3 BILLION SURPLUS TIPPED FOR 1982-83 .................... 19
$7.7 BILLION SURPLUS FOR 1981-82 ........................... 21
FS HOPES TO REVIEW SEPARATE TAXATION FOR WORKING WIVES NEXT YEAR................................................... 22
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL POLICIES OUTLINED ................... 23
SIR MURRAY'S MONUMENT: A DECADE OP PROGRESS ................ 24
HONG KONG IS DOING WELL, SAYS FS ........................... 24
TELEVISION TALK ON BUDGET ................................ 28
SIR SHIU-KH'I PLEDGES $5 MILLION TOWARDS GOVERNMENT MEDICAL PROJECT .............................................. • • .... 31
GREAT CHANGES IN NEW TERRITORIES, SAIS MACPHERSON ............ 32
BUILDING IN DANGEROUS CONDITION .............................. 33
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1982
1
TAX CONCESSIONS TO BENEFIT 300 000
* * * * *
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN BREMRIDGE, IN HIS FIRST BUDGET, HAS PROPOSED CONSIDERABLE CONCESSIONS IN THE PERSONAL TAXATION WHICH WILL BENEFIT ABOUT 300 000 TAXPAYERS.
THE NEW ALLOWANCES AREi
* AN INCREASE IN THE LEVEL OF PERSONAL ALLOWANCES FROM $15 000 TO $20 500 FOR SINGLE PERSONS AND FROM $30 000 TO $41 000 FOR MARRIED COUPLES-
* AN INCREASE IN THE CHILD ALLOWANCES FROM $7 000 TO $8 000 FOR THE FIRST CHILD AND FROM $5 000 TO $5 500 FOR THE SECOND CHILD. ALLOWANCES FOR THE THIRD TO NINTH CHILDREN WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED- AND
* AN INCREASE IN THE DEPENDENT PARENT ALLOWANCE FROM $7 000 TO $8 000.
THE PRESENT SUPPLEMENTARY PERSONAL ALLOWANCES OF $7 500 FOR A SINGLE PERSON AND $15 000 FOR A MARRIED PERSON WI-LL REMAIN UNCHANGED, AND THE AVAILABLE CLAW-BACK MECHANISM WILL CONTINUE TO BE ZERO RATED. TAKEN TOGETHER THE BASIC PERSONAL ALLOWANCE PLUS SUPLEMENTARY ALLOWANCE, THE TAX THRESHOLD FOR A SINGLE PERSON WILL BE INCREASED FROM $22 500 TO $28 000 AND FROM $45 000 TO $56 000 FOR A MARRIED COUPLE. THE NEW ALLOWANCES WILL BE, THEREFORE, VERY NEARLY 25 PER CENT HIGHER THAN THE PRESENT LEVELS FIXED A YEAR AGO.
THESE INCREASED ALLOWANCES WILL KEEP AN ESTIMATED 92 000 PEOPLE, WHO WOULD OTHERWISE BE BROUGHT INTO THE TAX NET, OUT OF IT. THEY COMPRISED 52 000 TAXPAYERS WHO WERE PREVIOUSLY LIABLE TO TAX AND 40 000 OTHERS WHO WOULD HAVE BECOME LIABLE IN 1982-83 WITHOUT THESE CONCESSIONS.
ABOUT 218 000 WILL REMAIN IN THE TAX NET. OF THESE SOME 205 000 WILL BENEFIT BY WAY OF REDUCED LIABILITY.
UNDER THE PROPOSED CONCESSIONS, THE TAX LIABILITY OF A SINGLE PERSON WITH AN ANNUAL INCOME OF $36 000 WILL BE REDUCED FROM $850 TO $400, A SAVING OF $450 OR 52.9 PER CENT.
FOR A MARRIED COUPLE WITH NO CHILDREN EARNING $96 000 A YEAR, THEIR TAX LIABILITY WILL BE REDUCED FROM $7 750 TO $5 000, A SAVING OF $2 750 OR 35.5 PER CENT. THE TAX SAVING FOR A MARRIED COUPLE WITH TWO CHILDREN AT THE SAME INCOME LEVEL WILL BE $2 325 OR 48.4 PER CENT.
UNDER THE NEW ALLOWANCES, THE INCOME LEVELS AT WHICH SALARIES TAXPAYERS ENTER THE STANDARD RATE ZONE WILL BE RAISED FROM $106 250 TO $120 000 FOR A SINGLE PERSON AND FROM $162 500 TO $190 000 FOR A MARRIED COUPLE WITH NO CHILDREN.
/COMPARED WITH .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1982
2
COMPARED WITH TAX LIABILITY OF OTHER COUNTRIES IN THIS REGION AND UK,TAX PAYABLE IN HONG KONG IS THE LOWEST. FOR EXAMPLE, A MARRIED COUPLE WITH NO CHILDREN EARNING $60 000 A YEAR WILL PAY $200 IN TAX IN HONG KONG WITH AN EFFECTIVE TAX RATE OF 0.3 PER CENT WHILE THEIR TAX LIABILITY IN SINGAPORE WILL BE $4 341 (7.2% OF THEIR INCOME)- $6 008 IN MALAYSIA (10%) AND $11 052 IN UK (18.4%).
IF APPROVED, THE NEW ALLOWANCES WILL BE APPLICABLE TO FINAL SALARIES TAX ASSESSMENTS AND ALSO FOR PERSONAL ASSESSMENTS FOR 1981-82 AND TO PROVISIONAL SALARIES TAX FOR 1982-83.
THE COST TO THE REVENUE IN 1982-83, AFTER ALLOWING FOR THE TWO-INSTALMENT SYSTEM FOR THE PAYMENT OF PROVISIONAL SALARIES TAX, WILL BE $509 MILLION, EQUIVALENT TO A 22 PER CENT OF THE ESTIMATED REVENUE FROM THE PERSONAL TAXATION. THE COST IN A FULL YEAR IS ESTIMATED TO BE AT $316 MILLION AT PRESENT LEVELS OF CHARGEABLE INCOME.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
EXAMPLES OF SALARIES TAX PAYABLE UNDER THE PROPOSED CONCESSIONS ARE SHOWN IN APPENDICE E AND F OF THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S BUDGET SPEECH- THE INCOME LEVELS AT WHICH SALARIES TAXPAYERS ENTER THE STANDARD RATE ZONE ARE IN APPENDIX G WHILE THE COMPARISON OF TAX PAYABLE IN HONG KONG, SINGAPORE, MALAYSIA AND UK IS CONTAINED IN APPENDIX H.
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CONCESSIONS ON INTEREST TAX EFFECTIVE TOMORROW * * * *
WITH EFFECT FROM TOMORROW (THURSDAY), INTEREST PAID OR CREDITED ON FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS PLACED WITH LICENSED BANKS AND REGISTERED AND LICENSED DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES WILL BE EXEMPT FROM INTEREST TAX WHILE THE INTEREST TAX ON HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS WITH THESE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS WILL BE REDUCED FROM 15 TO 10 PER CENT UNDER AN ORDER SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR THIS (WEDNESDAY) MORNING.
THESE CONCESSIONS WERE ANNOUNCED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN BREMRIDGE IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH TODAY.
MR BREMRIDGE SAID INTEREST ON OTHER FORMS OF INDEBTEDNESS SUCH AS MORTGAGES AND PRIVATE LOANS WOULD CONTINUE TO ATTRACT LIABILITY TO TAX AT THE STANDARD RATE OF 15 PER CENT, OR 16-1/2 PER CENT IN THE CASE OF THE PROFITS OF CORPORATIONS WHICH RECEIVED SUCH INTEREST AS PART OF THEIR TRADING PROFITS.
THE COST TO REVENUE OF EXEMPTING FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS AND OF REDUCING THE INTEREST RATE ON HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS IS ESTIMATED TO BE $400 MILLION IN 1982-83, SUBJECT ALWAYS TO THE INFLUENCES WHICH VARIATIONS IN INTEREST RATES FROM TIME TO TIME AND IN THE VOLUMES OF DEPOSIT BUSINESS TRANSACTED MIGHT HAVE ON REVENUE YIELDS.
BKBMIDGE.......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1982
- 3 -
MR BREMRIDGE SAID HE DECIDED AGAINST IMPOSING A MINIMUM LEVEL ON FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS AS ANY SUCH LIMITATION WOULD NECESSARILY HAVE HAD TO BE ARBITRARY. IF SET TOO HIGH IT WOULD HAVE VITIATED THE OBJECTIVES OF THE EXEMPTION AND IF SET TOO LOW IT COULD HAVE BEEN READILY CIRCUMVENTED, FOR INSTANCE BY GROUPS CF DEPOSITORS JOINING TOGETHER TO MEET THE STIPULATED MINIMUM.
♦FURTHERMORE A MINIMUM LEVEL OF DEPOSITS WHICH WAS PITCHED HIGH WOULD BE OPEN TO CRITICISM ON GROUNDS OF EQUITY - HELPING ONLY THE RICH INVESTORS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE MAN IN THE STREET.*
MR BREMRIDGE SAID ACCORDING TO A REPORT PREPARED BY THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF BANKS, THE GENERAL CONSENSUS OF ITS MEMBERS WAS IN FAVOUR OF A TAX EXEMPTION FOR FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS. +THESE SUBMISSIONS ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBABLE FISCAL CONSEQUENCES OF REPEAL, BUT TOOK THE VIEW THAT IN THE CONTEXT CF OUR BUDGETARY SITUATION, WE COULD AFFORD THE LOSS IN YIELDS FROM INTEREST TAX. THEY ALSO ARGUED THAT THE MONETARY AND ECONOMIC ADVANTAGES, IN PARTICULAR THE ENHANCEMENT OF HONG KONG*S POSITION AS AN INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE, COULD WELL OUTWEIGH THE FISCAL LOSSES- AND THAT SUCH LOSSES WOULD IN PART AT LEAST BE OFFSET BY INCREASED PROFITS TAX YIELDS FROM FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.
♦AFTER LONG INTERNAL DEBATE AND MUCH HEARTSEARCHING WE HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE ARGUMENTS FOR A PARTIAL REPEAL OF THE INTEREST TAX ON PRAGMATIC AND ECONOMIC GROUNDS OUTWEIGH THE FISCAL ARGUMENTS FOR ITS RETENTION. THE GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS THAT THE CONTINUING GROWTH OF HONG KONG AS AN INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE IS WORTHY OF ENCOURAGEMENT,♦ HE SAID.
*
HAVING DECIDED TO EXEMPT SUCH INTEREST TAX, MR BREMRIDGE SAID, THERE REMAINED THE PROBLEM THAT THE HONG KONG DOLLAR WOULD BE IN DANGER IF DEPOSITORS BEGAN SIGNIFICANTLY TO MOVE ACROSS THE EXCHANGES OUT OF LOCAL DOLLAR DEPOSITS INTO FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS.
HE SAID IT WAS NOW A RELATIVELY SIMPLE MATTER FOR AN INVESTOR TO MINIMISE HIS EXCHANGE RISKS AT SMALL COST BY ENTERING INTO WHAT WAS KNOWN IN THE TRADE AS A +SWAP+ TRANSACTION - THAT WAS THE COINCIDENTAL PURCHASE AND RESALE OF THE FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSIT. THIS PRACTICE WAS CLEARLY MUSHROOMING.
MR BREMRIDGE SAID BY REDUCING THE INTEREST TAX ON HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS TO 10 PER CENT, THE TAX ADVANTAGES OF MOVING INTO FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS WOULD USUALLY BE SMALL AND A SWITCH COULD WELL BE DISADVANTAGEOUS WHEN MEASURED AGAINST THE COSTS CF COVERING EXCHANGE RISKS.
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A....
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1982
- 4 -
TAX INCENTIVES TO BOOST INVESTMENT
* * * *
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN BREMRIDGE HAS PROPOSED TWO TAX CONCESSIONS WHICH OFFER INCENTIVES FOR INVESTMENT TO THE BUSINESS SECTOR AND IN PARTICULAR TO MANUFACTURERS.
IN HIS BUDGET, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY PROPOSED THAT THE INITIAL ALLOWANCE FOR EXPENDITURE INCURRED ON THE PROVISION OF QUALIFYING PLANT AND EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE INCREASED FROM 35 PER CENT TO 55 PER CENT.
HE ALSO PROPOSED THAT THE GRANT OF INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS ALLOWANCES, WHICH ARE AT PRESENT COMPUTED BY REFERENCE TO THE COST CF CONSTRUCTION ONLY, SHOULD BE COMPUTED BY REFERENCE TO THE NET PRICE PAID BY THE PURCHASER.
IN PUTTING FORWARD HIS PROPOSALS, MR BREMRIDGE SAID HE WAS WELL AWARE OF THE DIFFICULTIES CURRENTLY BEING EXPERIENCED FOR EXAMPLE BY MANY IN THE SPINNING, WEAVING, DYEING AND FINISHING SECTORS.
HE SAID HE BELIEVED THAT IF OUR INDUSTRY IS TO REMAIN FLEXIBLE AND COMPETITIVE, MANUFACTURERS SHOULD BE FURTHER ENCOURAGED TO EXPAND THEIR INVESTMENT IN NEW CAPITAL EQUIPMENT.
IT IS ALSO DESIRABLE, HE SAID THAT NEW PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, AND PARTICULARLY THE WORKERS WHO OPERATE THE MACHINES, SHOULD BE ACCOMMODATED IN MODERN AND EFFICIENT PREMISES.
MR BREMRIDGE SAID THE NEW INITIAL ALLOWANCE FOR EXPENDITURE ON PLANT AND EQUIPMENT WILL APPLY TO BOTH FINAL PROFITS TAX ASSESSMENTS FOR 1981-82 AND PROVISIONAL PROFITS TAX FOR 1982-83.
THE COST TO THE REVENUE OF THIS INCREASED ALLOWANCE WILL BE $354 MILLION IN 1982-83 AND $180 MILLION IN A +FULL+ YEAR.
THE NEW INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS ALLOWANCES, ALSO APPLICABLE TO BOTH FINAL PROFITS TAX ASSESSMENTS FOR 1981-82 AND PROVISIONAL PROFIT TAX FOR 1982-83, WILL MEAN THE COST TO THE REVENUE OF $66 MILLION IN 1982-83 AND $34 MILLION IN A ♦FULL* YEAR.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1982
5
RELIEF IN ESTATE DUTY * * *
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN BREMRIDGE, AMONG HIS PACKAGE OF TAX CUTS IN HIS FIRST BUDGET SPEECH, HAS PROPOSED THREE CONCESSIONS IN THE ESTATE DUTY WHICH HE SAYS IS IN LINE WITH HONG KONG’S LOW TAX PHILOSOPHY.
THE CONCESSIONS AREi
* THE EXEMPTION LIMIT ON ESTATE DUTY WILL BE INCREASED FROM $1 MILLION TO $2 MILLION-
* NEW RATES FOR ESTATE DUTY FROM 10 PER CENT FOR $2 MILLION, RISING BY TWO PERCENTAGE POINTS FOR EVERY EXTRA $500 000 TO THE MAXIMUM RATE OF 18 PER CENT FOR $4 MILLION AND ABOVE- AND
* EXEMPTION FROM DUTY ALTOGETHER THE PRINCIPAL MATRIMONIAL HOME OF THE DECEASED WHO HAS LEFT A SURVIVING SPOUSE.
ON THE FIRST CONCESSION, MR BREMRIDGE SAID THE INCREASE MIGHT AT FIRST SIGHT SEEM SOMEWHAT GENEROUS, BUT IT RECOGNISED THAT ASSET VALUES HAD CONTINUED TO RISE AND WAS CONSISTENT WITH OUR LOW TAX PHILOSOPHY.
THE NEW RATES FOR THE ESTATE DUTY WERE TO KEEP THE CONCEPT CF GRADUALITY IN TAXATION WHILE THE LAST RELIEF ACKNOWLEDGED THE CLAIM THAT SOMETIMES THERE COULD BE HARDSHIP FOR THE SURVIVING SPOUSE BECAUSE THE HOME WAS SUBJECT TO DUTY. +WHILE I KNOW OF NO CASE WHERE A WIDOW HAS BEEN OBLIGED TO SELL THE HOME IN ORDER TO PAY THE DUTY, IT SEEMS LOGICAL IN THE CONTEXT OF OUR LOW TAX PHILOSOPHY TO EXCLUDE IT FROM CHARGE.*
THE COST TO THE REVENUE OF THESE THREE CONCESSIONS WILL BE ABOUT $42 MILLION IN 1982-83 AND $52 MILLION IN THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
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8 PER CENT GROWTH IN GDP TIPPED
* * *
HONG KONG’S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT WILL GROW BY EIGHT PER CENT IN REAL TERMS IN 1982, MADE UP OF GROWTH RATES OF SEVEN PER CENT FOR BOTH PRIVATE AND GOVERNMENT CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURE AND OF 16 PER CENT FOR GROSS DOMESTIC FIXED CAPITAL FORMATION.
THE FORECAST WAS MADE BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN BREMRIDGE IN HIS BUDGET PRESENTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
MR BREMRIDGE SAID ALTHOUGH THE FORECAST GROWTH RATE IN REAL TERMS FOR THE GDP IS LOWER THAN OUR ACTUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN RECENT YEARS, IT IMPLIES A GREATER INCREASE IN THE GROWTH RATE OF OUTPUT PER PERSON EMPLOYED THAN LAST YEAR.
/♦THIS IS THE .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1982
6
♦THIS IS THE RESULT OF THE GROWTH RATE OF THE LABOUR FORCE RETURNING TO AROUND TWO PER CENT TO THREE PER CENT AS THE EFFECTS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION SUBSIDE,* HE SAID.
FURTHERMORE THE GDP FORECAST^ ALLIED WITH A FORECAST GROWTH RATE OF 1.? PER CENT IN THE POPULATION, IMPLIES A GROWTH RATE OF SIX PER CENT IN PER CAPITA GDP, ONLY SLIGHTLY LESS THAN THE SEVEN PER CENT FOR 1981.
THIS MEANS THAT +PER CAPITA GDP AT CURRENT PRICES WILL HAVE REACHED THE IMPRESSIVE FIGURE OF $30 370, WHICH IS 16 PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN 1981, MR BREMRIDGE POINTED OUT.
♦AS THE DEPRESSIVE EFFECT OF IMMIGRATION ON WAGE INCREASES SHOULD CONTINUE TO SUBSIDE, THERE IS EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT OUR LOWER PAID WORKERS WILL ENJOY THEIR FAIR SHARE OF THIS EXPECTED INCREASE IN PROSPERITY,+ HE SAID.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY ALSO FORECAST THAT THE GROWTH RATES FOR DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORT WILL BE SEVEN PER CENT AND 20 PER CENT, GIVING A FORECAST OF 11 PER CENT FOR TOTAL EXPORTS IN 1982.
THE FORECAST FOR IMPORTS IS 12 PER CENT AND FOR NET EXPORT CF SERVICES FIVE PER CENT.
MR BREMR IDGE EXPECTED THE RATE OF INCREASE OF THE GDP DEFLATOR, A GENERAL MEASURE OF INFLATION, TO SLOW DOWN TO NINE PER CENT COMPARED WITH 10 PER CENT IN 1981- AND THE RATE OF INCREASE IN CONSUMER PRICES TO SLOW DOWN TO 12 PER CENT COMPARED WITH 15 PER CENT.
♦SHOULD THIS FORECAST ACTUALLY BE BORNE OUT, IT WILL BE ASSOCIATED WITH A FAIR MEASURE OF STABILITY,♦ HE SAID.
♦THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY SIGNIFICANT IMBALANCE BETWEEN AGGREGATE DEMAND AND SUPPLY, AND THUS THE VISIBLE TRADE GAP SHOULD NOT WIDEN APPRECIABLY.
♦THE GROWTH RATE OF DOMESTIC DEMAND SHOULD NOT BE SO RAPID AS TO PRE-EMPT ADEQUATE RESOURCES GOING TO THE EXPORT SECTOR. CONSEQUENTLY DOMESTIC EXPORTS SHOULD PLAY AN INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT PART IN PROVIDING THE IMPETUS TO ECONOMIC GROWTH.+
MR BREMRIDGE SAID THE PUBLIC SECTOR SHOULD STILL BE COMMANDING AN INCREASING SHARE OF THE ECONOMY’S RESOURCES, BUT THE EXTENT OF THE INCREASE SHOULD BE LESS THAN IN 1981.
THE GROWTH RATE OF INVESTMENT SHOULD BE REASONABLY RAPID, BUT IN RESPECT OF BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION, BECAUSE THERE IS SOME SPARE CAPACITY AT PRESENT THE GROWTH SHOULD NOT BE SO FAST AS TO CREATE UNDUE PRESSURE ON COSTS.
♦BUT WITH THE PUBLIC SECTOR’S SHARE OF THIS INDUSTRY’S OUTPUT INCREASING WHEN PRIVATE SECTOR DEMAND IS ALSO GROWING, WE SHALL HAVE TO LOOK OUT FOR SIGNS OF SUCH PRESSURE DEVELOPING,+ HE SAID.
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/7........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1982
7
111 BILLION FOR PUBLIC WORKS AND LAND ACQUISITIONS ft ft ft ft ft
THE CAPITAL WORKS RESERVE FUND, SET UP THIS JANUARY, WILL HAVE, IF APPROVED, 111 BILLION TO BE SPENT ON PUBLIC WORKS AND LAND ACQUISITION.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN BREMRIDGE, CALLED FOR THIS MONEY TO BE TRANSFERRED FROM THE DRAFT EXPENDITURE ESTIMATES.
PUBLIC WORKS WOULD ACCOUNT FOR |6.7 BILLION, AN INCREASE OF 11.6 BILLION OR 32 PER CENT OVER THE 1981-82 REVISED ESTIMATE AND LAND ACQUISITIONS, $1.7 BILLION.
THE SURPLUS FROM THE FUND WOULD BE ABOUT $2.6 BILLION, MR BREMRIDGE SAID.
HE SAID THE OUTSTANDING COMMITMENT ON PROJECTS IN HAND ON APRIL 1 LAST YEAR WAS NEARLY $23 BILLION AND THAT THIS INCREASED BY OVER $7 BILLION BECAUSE OF NEW PROJECTS DURING 1981-82.
WORK SCHEDULED DURING 1982-83 ON NEW PROJECTS WOULD TOTAL ABOUT $3 BILLION, HE SAID.
+AFTER ALLOWING FOR ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE ON OTHER CONTINUING PROJECTS DURING 1982-83, THE OUTSTANDING COMMITMENT AT APRIL 1, 1983 WILL BE NO LESS THAN $18 BILLION, BUT WILL CERTAINLY BE MUCH HIGHER AS FURTHER NEW WORKS ARE APPROVED DURING THE YEAR,* HE SAID.
MR BREMRIDGE PROPOSED TO SPEND $6.4 BILLION ON TRANSPORT, ROADS, CIVIL ENGINEERING AND LAND. THIS AMOUNT, HE ADDED, WOULD BE 17 PER CENT OF TOTAL CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNT EXPENDITURE, COMPARED WITH $1 BILLION OR 11 PER CENT IN 1977-78.
ON LAND PRODUCTION, HE SAID THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON LAND SUPPLY WOULD PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO IMPROVING THE METHODOLOGY OF LAND PRODUCTION FORECASTS- SETTING TARGETS FOR THE SUPPLY OF LAND FOR ALL USES (OTHER THAN FOR PUBLIC HOUSING WHICH HAS PRIORITY AND FOR WHICH THE SUPPLY IS GEARED TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY’S REQUIREMENTS), BASED ON DEMAND RATHER THAN PRODUCTION OF NEW LAND ESTIMATES- REVIEWING PROGRESS OF PLANS TO PRODUCE MORE LAND IN THE 80S AT MA ON SHAN, AS AN EXTENSION TO SHA TIN NEW TOWN, AND AT JUNK BAY, AND, EXAMINING THE EFFECTS OF TEMPORARY USES OF LAND AND OF SQUATTING UPON THE PROVISION OF LAND FOR DEVELOPMENT.
HE ALSO SAID GROSS LAND PRODUCTION IN 1982-83 WAS EXPECTED TO BE 644 HECTARES, COMPARED WITH 632 HECTARES THIS YEAR (EXCLUDING 27 HECTARES AND 40 HECTARES RESPECTIVELY FOR LAND FORMED BY OR FOR THE INDUTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION).
THE LAND PRODUCTION FORECAST FOR 1983-84 IS 852 HECTARES- FOR 1984-85, 729 HECTARES AND, 1985-86, 622 HECTARES.
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/8........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1982
8
$1.6 BILLION TO BE SPENT ON HIGHWAYS * * *
OVER $1.6 BILLION OUT OF THE $11 BILLION PROPOSED FOR THE CAPITAL WORKS RESERVE FUND HAS BEEN EARMARKED FOR IMPROVING HIGHWAYS IN 1982-83, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WAS TOLD TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN PROPOSING THIS, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON
JOHN BREMRIDGE, SAID THE AIM OF ROAD DEVELOPMENT WAS TO PROVIDE A HIGHWAYS NETWORK THAT WOULD PERMIT THE FREE AND RAPID MOVEMENT OF VEHICULAR TRAFFIC TO AND FROM ANY PART OF THE TERRITORY WITH SAFETY AND ECONOMY.
♦TO THIS END, EIGHT MAIN TRUNK ROUTES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AND A LARGE NUMBER OF PROJECTS HAVE EITHER BEEN STARTED OR ARE BEING PLANNED TO IMPROVE THESE ROUTES,+ HE SAID.
THE ROUTES ARE NAMED FROM 1 TO 8, WITH ROUTE 5 BEING A PROPOSED ROUTE FROM SHA TIN TO TSUEN WAN FOR WHICH A FEASIBILITY STUDY HAS JUST BEEN COMPLETED.
ROUTE 1, HE SAID, WOULD BE FROM ABERDEEN TO THE SHA TIN-NORTH TAI PO COASTAL ROAD VIA THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL, THE CANAL ROAD FLYOVER TO THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL, AND THEN TO WO HOP SHEK FROM PRINCESS MARGARET ROAD, WATERLOO ROAD, THE LION ROCK TUNNEL, ROAD T1 THROUGH SHA TIN.
THE PROVISION OF $291 MILLION IN 1982-83 WOULD BE MAINLY FOR THE COMPLETION OF THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL, THE WONG NE I CHUNG GAP ROAD-STUBBS ROAD FLYOVER, THE SHA TIN TO NORTH TAI PO COASTAL TRUNK ROAD AND THE NEW TERRITORIES TRUNK ROAD IMPROVEMENTS.
ROUTE 2 ($288 MILLION), STARTS FROM THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL WESTWARDS VIA TSUEN WAN AND TUEN MUN TO YUEN LONG AND FANLING.
THE ROUTE FOLLOWS GASCOIGNE ROAD AND TONG MEI ROAD FIRST, AND THEN PROCEEDS ALONG THE COAST THROUGH YAU MA TEI, SHAM SHU I PO AND LAI CHI KOK (THE WEST KOWLOON CORRIDOR) TO JOIN THE TSUEN WAN BYPASS.
IT THEN CONTINUES VIA THE BYPASS, THE TUEN MUN HIGHWAY AND CASTLE PEAK ROAD TO TUEN MUN AND YUEN LONG, CONTINUING VIA AU TAU AND MAI PO TO JOIN ROUTE 1 AT THE SOUTHERN END OF THE FANLING BYPASS.
ROUTE 3 ($76 MILLION), STARTS FROM THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL VIA THE WUHU INTERCHANGE AND CHATHAM ROAD TO THE AIRPORT TUNNEL AND THEN ACROSS KOWLOON BAY RECLAMATION TO LEI YUE MUN VIA KWUN TONG ROAD.
ROUTE 4 ($45 MILLION) STARTS FROM LAI CHI KOK VIA CHING CHEUNG AND LUNG CHEUNG ROADS, PAST THE SOUTHERN ENTRANCE TO THE LION ROCK TUNNEL TO JOIN KWUN TONG ROAD AT PING SHEK AND THEN TO JOIN ROUTE 3 AT NGAU TAU KOK.
/ROUTE 6 .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1982
9
ROUTE 6 ($10 MILLION) IS FROM THE INTERCHANGE NORTH OF MEI FOO SUN CHUEN VIA CASTLE PEAK ROAD THROUGH TSUEN WAN TO JOIN ROUTE 2 AT THE EASTERN END OF THE TUEN MUN HIGHWAY.
ROUTE 7 ($15 MILLION), IS FROM ABERDEEN WESTWARDS VIA KELLETT BAY, TELEGRAPH BAY AND SANDY BAY TO JOIN CONNAUGHT ROAD AT THE WESTERN RECLAMATION, AND THEN VIA CONNAUGHT ROAD, HARCOURT ROAD AND GLOUCESTER ROAD TO VICTORIA PARK.
THE $15 MILLION PROVISION FOR 1982-83 WOULD BE MAINLY FOR THE INVESTIGATION AND DETAILED DESIGN OF THE ELEVATED ROAD ALONG CONNAUGHT ROAD AND THE FEASIBILITY STUDY AND PRELIMINARY DESIGN OF THE ROAD FROM KENNEDY TOWN TO ABERDEEN.
ROUTE 8 ($345 MILLION), IS FROM VICTORIA PARK TO CHAI WAN VIA THE HONG KONG ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
MR BREMRIDGE SAID ANOTHER $551 MILLION WOULD BE NEEDED FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO SECONDARY ROUTES, MISCELLANEOUS MINOR ROADWORKS AND ROADS WITHIN NEW TOWN LAYOUTS.
HE SAID THE AREA TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF EXISTING ROADS BY IMPROVING TRAFFIC FLOW WAS ALREADY OPERATING SUCCESSFULLY IN WEST KOWLOON AND WAS BEING EXTENDED TO COVER EAST KOWLOON AND THE NORTHERN PART OF HONG KONG ISLAND.
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PUBLIC EXPENDITURE MUST KEEP PACE WITH GDP - FS
*****
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN BREMRIDGE, TODAY UNDERLINED THE NEED FOR FIRM BUT SENSITIVE RESTRAINT OF THE GROWTH CF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE.
MERELY THROWING MONEY AT PROBLEMS SOLVES NOTHING IN THE LONG RUN HE SAID, STRESSING THAT IN THE FUTURE HONG KONG SHOULD TRY TO KEEP THE GROWTH RATE IN PUBLIC SPENDING DOWN TO THAT OF THE GDP.
FOR THE COMING YEAR, MR BREMRIDGE HAS BUDGETTED FOR A 10.7 PER CENT INCREASE IN REAL TERMS IN PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE.
THE TOTAL EXPENDITURE ON CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNT FOR THE NEW FISCAL YEAR WILL BE NO LESS THAN $37.7 BILLION, AN INCREASE IN MONEY TERMS OF $6.8 BILLION, OR 22 PER CENT OVER THE REVISED ESTIMATE FOR 1981-82.
HE SAID THE GROWTH RATE OF 10.7 PER CENT ENVISAGED FOR 1982-83 THOUGH LARGE, REPRESENTED A SIGNIFICANT SLOWING DOWN IN THE GROWTH RATE OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR.
/+THIS IS STILL .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2< 1962
10
♦THIS IS STILL ARGUABLY ON THE HIGH SIDE THOUGH IT DOES INCLUDE CONSIDERABLE CONTINGENCIES, BUT CERTAINLY IT IS TRENDING THE RIGHT WAY - IF INDEED IT IS ACCOMPLISHED.*
HE HOPED THAT MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WOULD ACCEPT THE OVERALL NEED FOR FIRM THOUGH SENSITIVE RESTRAINT OF THE GROWTH CF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE, BEARING IN MIND THAT RESTRAINT DID NOT MEAN PETTY-MINDED MEANNESS. NOR WAS HE SEEKING REDUCTIONS EXCEPT WHERE THERE WAS CLEAR WASTE OR PROGRAMMES CHANGE OR END.
+ l CANNOT ACCEPT INCREASED OVERALL EXPENDITURE, FOR I MUST EMPHASISE MY BELIEF THAT A THRIFTY USE OF RESOURCES AND A CORRECT ALLOCATION OF PRIORITIES REPRESENT THE PRUDENT APPROACH. MERELY THROWING MONEY AT PROBLEMS SOLVES NOTHING IN THE LONG RUN,* HE SAID.
MR BREMRIDGE NOTED THAT THE GROWTH RATE FOR PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE FOR 1981-82 WAS 21.8 PER CENT IN REAL TERMS AND THIS WAS QUITE DIFFERENT FROM LAST YEAR’S BUDGET FORECAST FOR AN EASING BACK IN THE INCREASE IN EXPENDITURE IN REAL TERMS ON CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNT FROM 21.4 PER CENT IN 1980-81 TO 12.8 PER CENT IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR.
HE EXPLAINED THAT THIS WAS DUE TO THE FACT THAT EXPENDITURE HAD BEEN BOOSTED BY THE NEED TO OPERATE THE DESALTER AND THE INCREASED COSTS OF LAND ACQUISITION. NEITHER COULD BE ANTICIPATED, AND NEITHER COULD BE OFFSET AGAINST OTHER SAVINGS.
NEVERTHELESS, HE SAID, IT WAS CLEAR THAT IN ANY GROWING ECONOMY IT WAS APPROPRIATE THAT PUBLIC EXPENDITURE SHOULD INCREASE, FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH INEVITABLY ENCOURAGED AND REQUIRED SOME GROWTH OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR.
HE STRONGLY BELIEVED THAT IN HONG KONG, FOR THE FUTURE, FIRSTLY WE SHOULD TRY TO KEEP THIS GROWTH RATE IN PUBLIC EXPENDITURE DOWN TO THE GROWTH RATE OF THE GDP, AND SECONDLY, EVEN IF THIS WAS NOT FEASIBLE OR APPROPRIATE EVERY YEAR THAT THE TREND SHOULD BE CLEARLY THIS WAY INCLINED.
+A TREND OF UNRESTRAINED GROWTH IN THE RELATIVE SIZE OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR WOULD BE DEPLORABLE, FOR IT WOULD INEVITABLY AFFECT OUR EXCHANGE RATE, INFLATION AND BASIC CREDIBILITY IN HONG KONG,* MR BREMRIDGE SAID.
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/11 ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1982
11
NEW DEPARTMENT TO COMBINE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING
*****
A NEW ^TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING DEPARTMENT* IS BEING SET UP TO SERVE AS THE EXECUTIVE ARM OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL TO BE ESTABLISHED BY ORDINANCE THIS YEAR, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN BREMRIDGE, SAID IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH.
THE DEPARTMENT WILL COMBINE THE IMPORTANT FIELDS OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING UNDER ONE AUTHORITY.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY ESTIMATED THAT EXPENDITURE ON THE WHOLE FIELD OF EDUCATION WOULD AMOUNT TO $4.7 BILLION FOR THE 1982-83 YEAR.
THE LARGEST SINGLE SUM OF $1 640 MILLION WILL BE SPENT ON SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND TECHNICAL INSTITUTES, IN PURSUIT OF THE OBJECTIVE OF INCREASING DURING THE 1980’S THE NUMBER OF PLACES IN SCHOOLS, TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND ADULT EDUCATION CENTRES TO MEET THE FULL DEMAND FROM FORM III LEAVERS SUITABLE FOR THE KIND OF COURSES PROVIDED, HE SAID.
SINCE SEPTEMBER 1980, SUBSIDISED PLACES IN FORM I TO I I I OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE TO MEET THE FULL DEMAND AT THIS LEVEL.
IN SEPTEMBER 1981 THERE WERE 57 255 SUBSIDISED FORM IV PLACES IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS, AND THE FIGURE IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE TO 57 635 PLACES BY THIS SEPTEMBER.
THERE WILL ALSO BE INCREASES IN FULL-TIME PLACES ON CRAFT AND DIPLOMA COURSES, AS WELL AS IN PART-TIME DAY COURSES, IN THE FIVE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES.
DRAFT ESTIMATES OF $1 297 MILLION EARMARKED FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS FOR THE YEAR.
+FREE AND UNIVERSAL PRIMARY SCHOOLING HAS BEEN AVAILABLE SINCE 1971 AND THERE IS A SURPLUS OF PLACES IN SOME PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN OLDER PARTS OF THE URBAN AREA,* HE SAID.
GOVERNMENT’S POLICY HOWEVER, WAS THAT NO CHILD SHOULD HAVE TO TRAVEL AN UNREASONABLE DISTANCE TO ATTEND PRIMARY SCHOOL AND NINE NEW PRIMARY SCHOOLS ARE EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN 1982-83 IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES IN THE NEW TOWNS AND OTHER DEVELOPING AREAS, MR BREMRIDGE SAID.
SOME 132 MILLION, WILL BE SPENT (AGAINST $24 MILLION) MAINLY IN ASSISTING POST SECONDARY COLLEGES III RESTRUCTURING THEIR COURSES TO PROVIDE PLACES IN THE FORM VI AND POST FORM VI LEVELS. THE BAPTIST COLLEGE AND THE LINGNAN COLLEGE HAD OPTED FOR SUCH ASSISTANCE, HE SAID.
AT THE TERTIARY LEVEL, $1 110 MILLION WILL BE PROVIDED FOR UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC EDUCATION, AS AGAINST $943 MILLION IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
/the funds..........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2U, 1982
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THE FUNDS, WHILE TAKING ACCOUNT OF STUDENT GROWTH RATE OF ABOUT THREE PER CENT TO FOUR PER CENT IN THE UNIVERSITIES, ALSO PROVIDE FOR THE START OF DEGREE COURSES IN SOCIAL WORK, BUILDING SERVICES ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER STUDIES, APPLIED SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS AT THE POLYTECHNIC, AND FOR SOME ENROLMENT OF SOME 230 PART-TIME STUDENTS FOR DEGREE COURSES AT THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY, HE SAID. A
THEY ALSO INCLUDE EXPENSES IN CONNECTION WITH THE DEVELOPMENT CF A NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL AT THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY AND THE NEW DENTAL SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, FOR WHICH GRANTS CF $51 MILLION EACH HAD BEEN PROVIDED.
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE AT THE THREE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS WILL REMAIN AT A HIGH LEVEL OF $260 MILLION AS WORK CONTINUES ON MAJOR BUILDING PLANS.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR STUDENTS AT THE POST SECONDARY LEVEL AND TERTIARY LEVEL, WHICH HAS BEEN IMPROVED, WILL COME TO ABOUT $164 MILLION, AGAINST $134 MILLION PREVIOUSLY, MR BREMRIDGE SAID.
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$4.1 BILLION FOR MORE HOUSING * * *
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN BREMRIDGE, HAS PROVIDED 4.1 BILLION DOLLARS IN HIS BUDGET FOR CONSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC HOUSING IN 1982-83, INCLUDING TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS.
THE FIGURE DOES NOT INCLUDE THE VALUE OF LAND USED BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY FOR RENTAL HOUSING AND FOR FLATS BUILT UNDER THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME TO BE SOLD FROM 1982.
THE EXPENDITURE IS 200 MILLION DOLLARS MORE THAN THE 3.9 BILLION DOLLARS SPENT IN 1981-82 FOR THE SAME PURPOSE.
HE SAID PRODUCTION IN THE FOUR YEARS 1982-83 TO 1985-86 WILL AMOUNT TO 148 900 FLATS UNDER THE GOVERNMENT’S PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME EXCEEDING PRODUCTION IN THE PREVIOUS FOUR YEARS, 1978-79 TO 1981-82, BY 31 429 FLATS.
♦THESE PRODUCTION FIGURES DO NOT INCLUDE 2 454 HOUSING SOCIETY FLATS AND 19 450 HOME OWNERSHIP (PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION AND MIDDLE INCOME HOUSING) SCHEME FLATS EXPECTED TO COME ON STREAM DURING THE SAME FOUR-YEAR PERIOD, ACHIEVING AN AVERAGE COMPLETION RATE OF 42 700 A YEAR OR 170 804 IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS,♦ W BREMRIDGE NOTED.
AS REGARDS THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID THAT 22 100 FLATS OUT OF A TOTAL OF ABOUT 27 800 FLATS IN
THE FIRST FOUR PHASES WILL HAVE BEEN COMPLETED BY THE END OF
1982-83.
♦IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT PURCHASERS OF THE 8 413 FLATS IN
PHASES IVA AND IVB OF THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME TO BE SOLD IN
1982-83 HAVE ACCESS TO ADEQUATE MORTGAGE FINANCE.
/+! SHALL .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1982
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♦I SHALL SHORTLY BE WRITING TO OVER 400 FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS SEEKING THEIR PARTICIPATION IN PROVIDING THE 1.4 BILLION DOLLARS REQUIRED,* HE DISCLOSED.
+MY SIMILAR INVITATION IN RESPECT OF PHASES I IB, IHA AND I I IB OF THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME AND THE SECOND STAGE OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEME HAS RAISED 1.2 BILLION FROM 46 BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES.
+NEW MORTGAGE TERMS HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATED WHICH SHOULD PROVIDE THE BASIS FOR EVEN WIDER PARTICIPATION IN THE COMING PHASES WHILE PRESERVING A PREFERENTIAL ELEMENT FOR HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME PURCHASERS,* HE SAID.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY ALSO SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THE ANNUAL PUBLIC HOUSING TARGET OF PRODUCTION OF 35 000 FLATS HAS NOW BEEN ACHIEVED, AND WILL AT LEAST BE MAINTAINED, THE LENGTH OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY’S WAITING LIST HAS REMAINED DISAPPOINTINGLY STATIC IN RECENT YEARS.
+IT IS LIKELY TO REMAIN SO FOR SOME TIME IN VIEW OF CONTINUING CLEARANCE, THE INCREASING NUMBERS OF ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS, AND OTHER FACTORS,* HE SAID.
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BETTER CARE FOR AGED, HANDICAPPED AND YOUNG * * * *
THE GOVERNMENT IS TO SPEND $1 317.3 MILLION FOR SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMMES IN 1982-63, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 1170.6 MILLION OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN BREMRIDGE, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
OVER HALF OF THE INCREASE - $95.4 MILLION - WILL GO TOWARDS SOCIAL WELFARE SUBVENTION, BRINGING SUBVENTION FOR 1982-83 TO THE 300-MILL I ON-DOLLAR MARK FOR THE FIRST TIME. IT WAS >204.6 MILLION IN 1981-82.
THE AGED, HANDICAPPED AND YOUNG HAVE BEEN SINGLED OUT TO RECEIVE BETTER CARE THAN EVER UNDER THE NEW BUDGET WHICH, AMONG OTHER THINGS, PROVIDES FOR A TOTAL OF 13 766 PLACES IN DAY CARE CENTRES, 2 470 MORE THAN THE PREVIOUS YEAR- 690 PLACES FOR THE ELDERLY IN CARE AND ATTENTION HOMES, OR 315 MORE THAN IN 1981-82-AND 528 PLACES FOR SPECIAL CHILD CARE (REHABILITATION) CENTRES -AN INCREASE OF 108 PLACES.
MR BREMRIDGE SAID +A LARGE PROPORTION OF RECURRENT EXPENDITURE WILL CONTINUE TO BE CHANNELLED THROUGH SOCIAL WELFARE SUBVENTION TO VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.*
FOR EXAMPLE, REHABILITATION SERVICES PROVIDED THROUGH THE SUBVERTED VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WILL BE EXPANDED AND IMPROVED. TOWARDS THIS END, A TOTAL PROVISION OF $38 MILLION IS MADE, COMPARED WITH 26 MILLION DOLLARS IN 1981-82, TO INCREASE SPECIAL CHILD CARE CENTRE PLACES FOR DISABLED PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN, SHELTERED WORKSHOP PLACES FOR DISABLED ADULTS, AND FOR MILDLY DISABLED PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN IN ORDINARY CHILD CARE CENTRES.
/MR BREMRIDGE........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1982
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MR BREMRIDGE NOTED THAT IN OCTOBER 1981 A REVISED SUBVENTION SYSTEM WAS APPROVED UNDER WHICH THE SOCIAL SERVICES AND FACILITIES PROVIDED BY ORGANISATIONS AND TRUSTS WILL BE CLASSIFIED AS CATEGORY I OR CATEGORY II DEPENDENT ON THEIR NATURE (MOST SERVICES WILL BE IN CATEGORY I).
♦IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO SET STANDARD COSTS AND, IN THE MEANTIME, WITH EFFECT FROM APRIL 1982, CATEGORY I SERVICES WILL RECEIVE SUBVENTION AT 100 PER CENT OF THEIR EXISTING RECOGNISED EXPENDITURE, ADJUSTED FOR PRICE ---------------
THEIR INCOME EXCEPT FEES.*
INCREASES BUT DISREGARDING ALL
♦CATEGORY II SERVICES WILL DETERMINED ON THE AVERAGE LEVEL
RECEIVE EITHER A FIXED PERCENTAGE
„ „ , - — OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT GIVEN TO A
PARTICULAR SERVICE (ADJUSTED FOR PRICE INCREASES BUT DISREGARDING ALL INCOME EXCEPT FEES) OR AN APPROPRIATE ARBITRARY LUMP SUM,+ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID.
HE ESTIMATED THE ADDITIONAL COST IN 1982 OF INTRODUCING THE NEW SYSTEM AT >31.33 MILLION. ♦AFTER ALLOWING FOR THIS AND THE EXPANSION OF SUCH SERVICES, PROVISION OF >289 MILLION IS INCLUDED IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES (INCLUDING >38 MILLION FOR REHABILITATION SERVICES) COMPARED WITH >192 MILLION IN 1981-82 (OF WHICH >26 MILLION WAS FOR REHABILITATION SERVICES).♦
MR BREMRIDGE ALSO REVEALED THE INTRODUCTION OF A NON-MEANS-TESTED DEATH GRANT. +THE DRAFT ESTIMATES INCLUDE PROVISION OF >309 MILLION FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE (COMPARED WITH >303.5 MILLION IN 1981-82) AND >468 MILLION FOR SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCES (COMPARED WITH >416 MILLION IN 1981-82). INCLUDED IN THIS LATTER FIGURE IS >5 MILLION FOR A NON-MEANS-TESTED DEATH GRANT WHICH WILL BE INTRODUCED WITH EFFECT FROM APRIL 1, 1982.♦
THIS WILL BE PAYABLE TO THE DEPENDENT SURVIVORS OF PERSONS WHO DIE IN EMPLOYMENT IF THE DECEASED ARE NOT COVERED BY THE TERMS OF THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE OR IF THE SURVIVORS ARE NOT IN RECEIPT OF ANY OTHER FORM OF COMPENSATION OF EX-QRATIA ASSISTANCE.
THE BUDGET ALSO PROVIDES FOR 19 FULL-TIME AND 19 PART-TIME CENTRES +AS PART OF A CONCERTED PROGRAMME TO PREVENT SERIOUS DISABILITY BY THE DETECTION OF ABNORMALITIES AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE,♦ MR BREMRIDGE SAID. ’
THE RECURRENT EXPENDITURE ON SPECIAL EDUCATION IS ESTIMATED AT >166 MILLION COMPARED WITH THE REVISED ESTIMATE FOR 1981-82 OF >129 MILLION.
ON MEDICAL REHABILITATION, PRIORITIES ARE THE IMPROVEMENT OF SERVICES FOR THE MENTALLY ILL, MORE HOSPITAL BEDS FOR THE MENTALLY RETARDED AND THE SETTING UP OF MEDICAL REHABILITATION CENTRES DESIGNED TO PROVIDE INTENSIVE IN-PATIENT SERVICES. THE FIRST OF THREE GOVERNMENT MEDICAL REHABILITATION CENTRES WILL BE LOCATED IN THE PRINCE OF WALES HOSPITAL.
AN ESTIMATED >120 MILLION IS BEING PROVIDED FOR THE MEDICAL REHABILITATION SERVICES OPERATED BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, COMPARED WITH A REVISED ESTIMATE FOR 1981-82 OF >107 MILLION.
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/15........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1982
’I
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A''
HOSPITAL OVERCROWDING EASED
******
THE INTEGRATION OF GOVERNMENT AND SUBVERTED MEDICAL SERVICES WITHIN THE REGIONAL SYSTEM HAS EASED OVER-CROWDING IN THE MAIN GOVERNMENT REGIONAL HOSPITALS AND IMPROVED THE UTILISATION OF BEDS IN THE SUBVENTED HOSPITALS.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN EREMRIDGE, IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH TODAY.
HE ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN 1982-83 TO BE $1 369.8 MILLION, AND EXPENDITURE ON MEDICAL SUBVENTIONS TO BE $775.8 MILLION.
♦ADDITIONAL SENIOR STAFF HAD BEEN PROVIDED IN THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO COMPLETE THE PROCESS OF REGIONALISATION AND TO RATIONALISE THE ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE AT HEADQUARTERS.
♦TO ENABLE SUBVENTED HOSPITALS TO ASSUME A GREATER ROLE IN THE TREATMENT OF ACUTE HOSPITAL CASES, DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES ARE UNDER WAY IN THE CARITAS, POK 01 AND YAN CHAI HOSPITALS, REQUIRING CAPITAL SUBVENTION OF SOME $36 MILLION IN 1982-83,♦ HE SAID.
IN ADDITION TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF GENERAL AND SPECIALIST HOSPITALS, 12 NEW CLINICS AND POLYCLINICS WERE INCLUDED IN THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME, AND THREE PROJECTS WERE DUE FOR COMPLETION IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR, HE SAID.
ON HOSPITAL BEDS, MR BREMRIDGE NOTED THAT THE RATIO OF 5.5 HOSPITAL BEDS PER 1 000 POPULATION SHOULD BE REGARDED AS A DESIRABLE STANDARD FOR LONG TERM PLANNING.
THE FORMULA FOR DETERMINING THIS RATIO WAS CONSTANTLY BEING REFINED, HE SAID.
♦BY THE END OF 1981-82, THERE WILL BE SOME 22 500 BEDS IN GOVERNMENT, SUBVENTED AND PRIVATE HOSPITALS. WITH SOME 300 MORE BEDS TO BE PROVIDED IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES, ABOUT 81 PER CENT OF REQUIREMENTS WILL BE MET.
MR BREMRIDGE ALSO REPORTED THAT FIVE OTHER CLINICS, IN ADDITION TO THE EXISTING TWO SCHOOL DENTAL CLINICS, WERE PLANNED EXTENDING THE SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE PROGRESSIVELY TO COVER ALL PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN.
TWO EXISTING SCHOOL DENTAL CLINICS NOW PROVIDE TREATMENT FOR CHILDREN IN PRIMARY ONE, AND IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR, THEY WILL COVER CHILDREN UP TO PRIMARY THREE, HE ADDED.
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/16........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1982
16
POLICE STRENGTH TO BE INCREASED BY 1 OOO X * * *
THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND IN 1982-83, WITH A NET INCREASE OF ABOUT 1 000 DISCIPLINED PERSONNEL TO ABOUT 22 920.
THIS IS PROVIDED IN THE BUDGET ESTIMATES, WHICH ALLOCATES $2 513 MILLION FOR LAW AND ORDER, COMPARED WITH THE REVISED ESTIMATE OF $2 155 MILLION FOR 1981-82. THE POLICE FORCE INCLUDING THE ROYAL AUXILIARY POLICE FORCE, WILL REQUIRE $1 682 MILLION.
A MAJOR EFFORT CONTINUED TO BE REQUIRED OF THE POLICE FORCE IN DETERRING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION BY BOTH LAND AND SEA, AND THE EXPANSION OF THE MARINE POLICE FLEET CONTINUED IN 1981-82, WITH 12 LAUNCHES DELIVERED. A FURTHER 15 LAUNCHES AT A COST OF 3192 MILLION WILL BE ORDERED THIS YEAR.
ON IMMIGRATION, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY NOTED THAT PASSENGER TRAFFIC ENTERING AND LEAVING HONG KONG AMOUNTED TO 24 MILLION LAST YcAR WITH LEGAL IMMIGRATION FROM CHINA REMAINING STEADY AT 55 000. I*R BREMRIDGE SAID A NEW TEMPORARY PASSENGER TERMINAL WOULD COME INTO USE AT LO WU, AND AN IMPROVED COMPUTERISED INDEX FOR IMMIGRATION RECORDS WOULD BE IN OPERATION IN 1982-83.
PREPARATION WAS ALSO UNDER WAY TO REPLACE THE EXISTING 4.5 MILLION IDENTITY CARDS IN STAGES WITH A MORE SECURE CARD, SUPPORTED BY A NEW COMPUTERISED RECORDS SYSTEM. WHILE THE CRIME RATE WAS CONTAINED IN 1981 THE NUMBER OF PRISONERS INCREASED, AND $120 MILLION WAS NEEDED IN 1982-83 FOR CAPITAL EXPENDITURE ON BUILDINGS AND INSTALLATIONS, HE SAID.
MR BREMRIDGE ESTIMATED THAT $140 MILLION, COMPARED WITH $15 MILLION IN 1981-82, WOULD BE SPENT ON THE JUDICIARY’S BUILDINGS AND INSTALLATIONS, NOTABLY THE NEW SUPREME COURT BUILDING AND THE DISTRICT COURT AND MAGISTRACY BUILDING ON THE WAN CHAI RECLAMATION.
HE NOTED THAT TWO POSTS FOR HIGH COURT JUDGES, THREE POSTS FOR JUSTICES OF THE APPEAL COURT AND SEVEN POSTS FOR DISTRICT COURT JUDGES WERE CREATED IN 1981-82.
THE DRAFT ESTIMATES PROVIDE FOR TOTAL EXPENDITURE OF $1 948 MILLION ON DEFENCE IN 1982-83, COMPARED WITH THE REVISED ESTIMATE OF $1 553 MILLION FOR 1981-82.
WORKS SERVICES FOR BOTH CAPITAL WORKS AND MAINTENANCE UNDER PROVISIONS OF THE DEFENCE COSTS AGREEMENT WOULD TOTAL $228 MILLION. THIS SUM INCLUDED ABOUT $95 MILLION FOR WORK ON NEW BARRACKS FOR A FIFTH BATTALION PROVIDED UNDER THE DEFENCE COSTS AGREEMENT MADE EFFECTIVE SINCE APRIL 1, 1981 FOR A PERIOD OF SEVEN YEARS.
THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT’S 75 PER CENT CONTRIBUTION TO CAPITAL COSTS IN 1982-83 WOULD BE $175 MILLION.
OTHER PROVISIONS IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES INCLUDE $199 MILLION FOR THE REPROVISIONING OF LYEMUN AND SHAM SHU I PO BARRACKS, $4.5 MILLION FOR CONSTRUCTION OF FACILITIES FOR IMPROVED MARITIME COMMUNICATIONS AND $6.4 MILLION FOR EXPENDITURE ON AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE FOR THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY AIR FORCE.
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/17 ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1982
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NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT * * *
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN BREMRIDGE, ANNOUNCED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT #4 573.9 MILLION WILL BE PROVIDED FROM THE CAPITAL WORKS RESERVE FUND FOR THE CONTINUING DEVELOPMENT CF THE NEW TOWNS AND RURAL NEW TERRITORIES IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR.
OF THE SUM, $1 249 MILLION WILL BE FOR LAND ACQUISITION.
♦WHILE THE MAIN THRUST CONTINUES TO BE IN THE DIRECTION OF LAND PRODUCTION FOR HOUSING, INCREASED EMPHASIS WILL CONTINUE TO BE PLACED ON THE PRODUCTION OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES TO CATER FOR THE NEEDS OF THE GROWING POPULATIONS OF THE NEW TOWNS,* HE SAID IN PRESENTING HIS BUDGET.
THIS IS IN LINE WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF DEVELOPING THE NEW TOWNS AT TSUEN WAN, SHA TIN, TUEN MUN, TAI PO AND FANLING, YUEN LONG AND JUNK BAY INTO SELF-CONTAINED COMMUNITIES.
THE TOTAL POPULATION OF THESE NEW TOWNS, TOGETHER WITH OTHER RURAL TOWNSHIPS IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE BY 176 OOO PEOPLE IN 1982-83 TO 1 432 000, OR 50 PER CENT OF FULL DEVELOPMENT, HE SAID.
LAND PRODUCTION DURING THE SAME PERIOD IS ESTIMATED AT 282 HECTARES. THIS WILL INCREASE THE TOTAL PRODUCTION TO 2 611 HECTARES, REPRESENTING 55 PER CENT OF FULL DEVELOPMENT.
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REVENUE TO REACH $39.7 BILLION IN 1982-83 * * *
TOTAL REVENUE COLLECTIONS FOR 1982-83 IS EXPECTED TO AMOUNT TO $39.7 BILLION, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN BREMRIDGE TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON.
BUT ON AN ANALYTICALLY ADJUSTED BASIS THE TOTAL WOULD BECOME $39.2 BILLION, COMPRISING RECURRENT REVENUE OF $26.6 BILLION AND CAPITAL REVENUE OF $12.6 BILLION, HE SAID.
+THE ESTIMATE OF RECURRENT REVENUE AT $26.6 BILLION IS AN INCREASE OF $2.2 BILLION, OR NINE PER CENT, ON THE REVISED ESTIMATE CF 1981-82,* HE SAID.
HE EXPECTED $12.5 BILLION FROM EARNINGS AND PROFITS TAXES, AN INCREASE OF $1.7 BILLION, OR 16 PER CENT, ON THE REVISED 1981-82 ESTIMATE.
/I AM ASSUMING
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1982
18
♦ I AM ASSUMING THAT TOTAL PROFITS ASSESSABLE TO PROFITS TAX IN 1982-83 WILL BE AROUND 20 PER CENT HIGHER THAN PROFITS ASSESSED TO TAX IN 1981-82, AND THAT THERE WILL BE LITTLE CHANGE IN HOLD-OVER ORDERS, SO PROVIDING A YIELD OF $8.5 BILLION,* MR BREMRIDGE SAID.
SALARIES TAX ESTIMATED AT $2.2 BILLION WOULD BE 20 PER CENT HIGHER THAN THIS YEAR’S REVISED ESTIMATE AND WOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE NUMBER OF TAXPAYERS COMING INTO THE TAX NET AND HIGHER EARNINGS.
EXPECTING +HIGHISH+ INTEREST RATES, MR BREMRIDGE ESTIMATED $950 MILLION OUT OF INTEREST TAX AND $840 MILLION IN PROPERTY TAX. TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE NEW ASSESSABLE VALUES AND .ASSUMING A MODERATE GROWTH IN PROPERTIES CHARGEABLE TO TAX.
BUT INDIRECT TAXATION AT $5.5 BILLION WOULD BE $646 MILLION OR 10 PER CENT LESS THAN THIS YEAR’S REVISED ESTIMATE OF $6.2 BILLION.
MR BREMRIDGE STATED TWO REASONS FOR THISi
* THE EXPECTED YIELD FROM GENERAL RATES IS ONLY $691 MILLION FOLLOWING THE RECENT DECISION TO REDUCE THE PERCENTAGE CHARGE ON THE URBAN AREAS FROM 7-1/2 PER CENT TO 3-1/2 PER CENT, AND TO DOUBLE THE PERCENTAGE CHARGE FOR URBAN COUNCIL RATES FROM FOUR PER CENT TO EIGHT PER CENT. ♦THIS HAS MEANT A REDUCTION IN THE YIELD FROM GENERAL RATES, AND A CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN THE YIELD FROM URBAN COUNCIL RATES OF $459 MILLION IN 1982-83,+ HE EXPLAINED.
* $1.7 BILLION FROM STAMP DUTIES, A REDUCTION OF $495 MILLION OR 22 PER CENT ON THIS YEAR’S REVISED ESTIMATE.
HE SAID THIS SEEMED PRUDENT BECAUSE THE LATTER WAS NO LESS THAN 96 PER CENT HIGHER THAN THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE, DUE TO THE TURNOVER RECORDED ON THE STOCK EXCHANGES LAST YEAR.
ESTIMATING A YIELD OF $8.6 BILLION FROM ALL OTHER RECURRENT REVENUE, MR BREMRIDGE FORECAST $12.6 BILLION FROM CAPITAL REVENUE, AN INCREASE OF $2.2 BILLION OR 21 PER CENT ON THE 1981-82 REVISED ESTIMATE.
HE SAID LAND TRANSACTIONS WERE EXPECTED TO BRING IN $12.5 BILLION OUT OF THE TOTAL CAPITAL REVENUE AND WOULD COMPRISE $9.2 BILLION FROM THE SALE OF 91 HECTARES OF LAND, $2.5 BILLION FROM PRIVATE TREATY GRANTS AND $691 MILLION FROM MODIFICATIONS AND RE-GRANTS.
♦THE CONTINUED EXPANSION OF THE LAND SALES PROGRAMME BY PUBLIC AUCTION AND TENDER FROM 63 HECTARES IN 1980-81 AND 86 HECTARES IN 1981-82 TO 91 HECTARES IN 1982-83 UNDERLINES THE GOVERNMENT’S DETERMINATION TO DISPOSE OF LAND AT A FAIR MARKET PRICE FOR DEVELOPMENT AS SOON AS IT IS AVAILABLE, EVEN DURING A PERIOD WHEN PRICES ARE FALLING,♦ HE SAID.
/THE INCREASED .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY ?<♦, 1982
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♦THE INCREASED AREA OF LAND TO BE SOLD IN 1982-03 IS, OF COURSE, A REFLECTION OF THE CONTINUED INCREASE IN EXPENDITURE ON DEVELOPMENT WORKS.+
ON THE LONGER TERM OUTLOOK FOR LAND SALES, HE SAID THAT EVEN THOUGH SALES FOR VARIOUS REASONS TENDED TO LAG BEHIND LAND PRODUCTION, THE FORECAST WAS THAT AT LEAST 100 HECTARES WOULD BE SOLD IN EACH OF THE THREE-YEAR FORECAST PERIOD 1983-64 TO 1985-86.
♦TOGETHER WITH PRIVATE TREATY GRANTS AND MODIFICATIONS AND REGRANTS, THE POTENTIAL REVENUE YIELDS ARE HIGH ENOUGH TO SUGGEST THAT THE FINANCING OF THE CAPITAL ACCOUNT IN THE FORECAST PERIOD WILL CONTINUE TO BE LESS DEPENDENT ON THE SURPLUS ON RECURRENT ACCOUNT THAN IN PREVIOUS YEARS.
♦I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THIS SUBJECTIVE VIEW WILL BE RAISED IN THE DEBATE TO COME,+ HE SAID.
MR BREMRIDGE ADDED THAT DESPITE THE CURRENT CYCLICAL DOWNTURN « HAS COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN THE LONG-TERM PROSPECTS OF THE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS.
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$6.3 BILLION SURPLUS TIPPED FOR 1982-83 * * * * *
A SURPLUS OF $6.3 BILLION IS FORECAST IN THE BUDGET FOR 1982-83.
DCV, *S ®ASED 0N THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ADJUSTED TOTAL YEAR ESTIMATED AT $39.2 BILLION AND TOTAL EXPENDITURE OF $32.9 BILLION INCLUDING THE NEW CAPITAL WORKS RESERVE FUND. ciu*J^1SEvJl!‘G t!,S DRAFT ESTIMATES FOR EXPENDITURE IN THE COMING e!^N£’ALeY!AR» .THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN BREMRIDGE WAS BE,NG SOUGHT FOR RECURRENT EXPENDITURE, bs!“I"Je?ised estimate/ ,2-8 BILLI0N 0R 17 PE" CENT 0N THE
PER CENT 0F RECURRENT EXPENDITURE, CIVlf SErJIJe SALLIES* ™E PAST F'VE YEARSp W°ULD BE F°R ikhai +DoL>TLJ6uLrlLLI0N THE PROVISION THUS SOUGHT AS IS OUR AL^ANCE F0R THE C0ST °F ANY REVISION OF CI^VIL SERVICE SALARIES THAT MAY BE AGREED IN 1982-83,+ HE POINTED
Annu-Jo! APPROVED ESTABLISHMENT WOULD BE 137 838 POSTS, OF WHICH ABOUT 89 PER CENT WOULD LIKELY BE FILLED ON APRIL 1, 1982.
/+THE VACANCY .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1982
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+THE VACANCY RATIO OF 11 PER CENT IS SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN THE HISTORICAL RATIO, REFLECTING THE SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE APPROVED ESTABLISHMENT DURING 1981-82 OF OVER 12 000 POSTS, OR 9.5 PER CENT,* HE SAID, ADDING THAT PROVISION HAS BEEN MADE FOR 16 500 POSTS IN 1982-83.
REFERRING TO THE SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE CIVIL SERVICE, M? BREMRIDGE SAID PARTICULAR ATTENTION WOULD BE PLACED DURING THE COMING YEAR ON THE MOST EFFECTIVE USE OF AVAILABLE STAFF RESOURCES.
HE IS ASKING FOR $3.8 BILLION FOR DEPARTMENTAL OTHER CHARGES, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT INCREASED PRICES, PARTICULARLY ELECTRICITY, FUEL AND TRANSPORTATION.
+BUT IT ALSO INCLUDES PROVISION FOR STAFF-RELATED EXPENSES SUCH AS TRAINING AND QUARTERING, WHICH WERE PREVIOUSLY CLASSIFIED MISCELLANEOUS EXPENDITURE,* HE SAID.
MR BREMRIDGE ALSO EXPLAINED THAT THESE CHARGES ACCOUNTED FOR 20 PER CENT OF RECURRENT EXPENDITURE, SUBSTANTIALLY MORE THAN THE PROPORTION OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS OF 15 PER CENT.
ALL OTHER RECURRENT EXPENDITURE, HE SAID, AMOUNTED TO $9 BILLION, INCLUDING $600 MILLION FOR ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS WHICH MIGHT ARISE DURING THE YEAR.
ON CAPITAL ACCOUNT, HE SAID THE PROVISION BEING SOUGHT OF $16 BILLION INCLUDED A TRANSFER OF $11 BILLION TO THE NEW CAPITAL WORKS RESERVE FUND, BUT WOULD EXCLUDE ESTIMATED PUBLIC WORKS NONRECURRENT EXPENDITURE OF $8.4 BILLION WHICH WOULD BE CHARGED TO THE FUND.
+FOR COMPARATIVE PURPOSES, THE PROVISION SOUGHT WOULD OTHERWISE BE $13.4 BILLION, WHICH WOULD REPRESENT AN INCREASE OF $3 BILLION OR 29 PER CENT ON THE REVISED ESTIMATE FOR 1981-82,+ HE SAID.
MR BREMRIDGE ALSO PROPOSED TRANSFERRING $2.4 BILLION TO THE DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND FOR ON-LENDING TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, AND $638 MILLION TO SUBVENTIONS AND THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECH GRANTS COMMITTEE, COMPARED WITH $408 MILLION FOR 1981-82.
HE IS ALSO SEEKING $2 BILLION FOR ALL OTHER COMPONENTS OF THE CAPITAL ACCOUNT, INCLUDING $700 MILLION FOR UNFORESEEN COMMITMENTS.
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/21 ........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1982
21
87.7 BILLION SURPLUS FOR 1981-82 * * * *
REVISED ESTIMATES OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE ON GENERAL REVENUE ACCOUNT FOR 1981-82 WILL RESULT IN A SURPLUS OF $7.7 BILLION, DERIVED FROM $34.8 BILLION IN REVENUE AND $27.1 BILLION IN EXPENDITURE, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN BREMRIDGE, REPORTED TODAY.
THIS WAS JUST THREE PER CENT BELOW THE $7.9 BILLION SURPLUS BUDGETED, BUT WAS ACHIEVED DESPITE A REVISED ESTIMATE OF EXPENDITURE OF $2.5 BILLION, OR 10 PER CENT, IN EXCESS OF APPROVED ESTIMATE, HE SAID.
♦WITH THE TRANSFER OF THE 1981-82 SURPLUS TO THE GENERAL REVENUE BALANCE OUR FISCAL RESERVES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1982-83 WILL BE ABOUT $23 BILLION,♦ MR BREMRIDGE SAID.
AFTER ALLOWING (ON THE BASIS OF A GEARING OF THREE) $6.5 BILLION AS COVER FOR FORMAL CONTINGENT LIABILITIES OF AROUND $19.5 BILLION BY MARCH 31, 1986, THE LAST YEAR OF THE NEW FORECAST PERIOD, THE +FREE+ FISCAL RESERVES WILL BE AROUND $16.5 BILLION, MR BREMRIDGE SAID.
THE REVISED INCREASE OF ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE OF $2.5 BILLION WAS MADE UP BY $1.5 BILLION ON RECURRENT ACCOUNT, DUE TO CIVIL SERVICE SALARY REVISIONS AND ADJUSTMENTS AND THEIR CONSEQUENCES FOR SALARIES OF STAFF FOR SUBVENTED ORGANISATIONS, AND BY THE NEED TO OPERATE THE DESALTER, AND $960 MILLION ON CAPITAL ACCOUNT FOR PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME, AND BY INCREASES IN LAND RESUMPTION AND CLEARANCE COSTS, HE SAID.
MR BREMRIDGE SAID THE REVISED ESTIMATE OF REVENUE WAS $2.2 BILLION (OR SEVEN PER CENT) HIGHER THAN THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE, DERIVED ENTIRELY ON RECURRENT ACCOUNT REVENUE WHICH WAS UP BY $3.8 BILLION, AGAINST A CAPITAL REVENUE DECREASE OF $1.6 BILLION.
THE INCREASE IN RECURRENT ACCOUNT WAS DERIVED MAINLY FROM EARNINGS AND PROFITS TAX, UP BY $1.9 BILLION, OR 21 PER CENT, AND FROM STAMP DUTIES, UP BY $1.1 BILLION.
MR BREMRIDGE EXPLAINED THAT THE SHORTFALL IN CAPITAL REVENUE RESULTED FROM LOWER THAN EXPECTED LAND PRICES.
♦THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE ENVISAGED REVENUE OF $9.8 BILLION FROM THE SALE OF 79 HECTARES OF LAND. THE REVISED ESTIMATE INCLUDES $8.1 BILLION FROM THE SALE OF 86 HECTARES OF LAND.
♦CRITICS WHO ALLEGE DESPITE SUCH REPEATED PROOF TO THE CONTRARY THAT THE GOVERNMENT ADOPTS A HIGH LAND PRICE POLICY WILL ANYWAY BE PLEASED TO NOTE THAT THE ACTUAL SALE OF 86 HECTARES CF LAND OWNED BY THE COMMUNITY HAS EXCEEDED THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATE OF 79 HECTARES,+ HE SAID.
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/22........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1982
22
FS HOPES TO REVIEW SEPARATE TAXATION FOR WORKING WIVES NEXT YEAR *****
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN BREMRIDGE HOPES TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THE ISSUE OF SEPARATE TAXATION FOR MARRIED WOMEN NEXT YEAR AS ON PRAGMATIC GROUNDS, FURTHER TAX CHANGES THIS YEAR ARE NOT POSSIBLE.
HE DESCRIBED THE ISSUE AS CONTENTIOUS AND IT HAD CAUSED HIM SLEEPLESS NIGHTS.
HOWEVER, HE WAS FORTIFIED BY TWO OTHER CONSIDERATIONS. FIRSTLY THE COST OF REVENUE OF SEPARATE TAXATION FOR MARRIED WOMEN WOULD BE ABOUT $200 MILLION PER ANNUM. IT WOULD NOT BE PRUDENT TO ADD THIS CONSIDERABLE SUM TO THIS YEAR’S TOTAL TAX CUTS, AND IT WOULD THEREFORE BE NECESSARY TO SACRIFICE OTHERS OF HIS PROPOSALS TO MAKE ROOM FOR BENEFITS OF MARRIED WOMEN. +1 DO NOT THINK IT SENSIBLE THAT MY OVERALL RELIEFS SHOULD THUS BE DISTORTED,* HE ADDED
SECONDLY, AND FORTUITOUSLY, THE COMMISSIONER FOR INLAND REVENUE HAD TOLD HIM THAT BECAUSE OF THE CONSIDERABLE CHANGES PROPOSED THIS YEAR AND THE COMPUTER SOFTWEAR PROBLEMS INHERENT IN A SYSTEM OF SEPARATE ASSESSMENT, HIS DEPARTMENT COULD NOT COPE WITH SUCH A CHANGE.
MR BREMRIDGE SAID WITHOUT MAKING ANY PROMISES OR COMMITMENTS AND ABSOLUTELY DEPENDENT ON THE SITUATION AS IT THEN EXISTED, HE HOPED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ANOTHER LOOK AT THE ISSUE NEXT YEAR WITH A VIEW TO SOME MOVEMENT.
ON 0THER TAXATION MATTERS, HE REFUTED ALLEGATIONS THAT THE LEGISLATION ENABLED THE COMMISSIONER OF INLAND REVENUE 12 GHARGE GAPITAL GAINS T0 TAX* HE SA,D THE COMMISSIONER HAD ASSURED HIM THAT HE HAD NEVER DONE SO AND HAD NOT THE SLIGHTEST INTENTION OF TRYING TO DO SO. HE DID CONCEDE THAT THERE WERE OCCASIONS WHEN HE S0UGHT T0 TAX AS INCOME WHAT THE TAXPAYER PREFERRED TO THINK OF AS A CAPITAL PROFIT. + BUT THERE ARE RE^EDJES TROUGH THE APPEAL PROCESS, IF THE COMMISSIONER’S VIEW IN SUCH A CASE SEEMS INCORRECT.*
tuat Mcv2amtaJ.?GEaALS0 desCRIBED AS A MISINTERPRETATION OF THE LAW THAT +EXECUTORS OF DECEASEDS’ ESTATES ARE IN SOME JEOPARDY IN THAT T2L22M^SS,ONER C0ULD SUCCESSFULLY RECOVER FROM THE PERSONAL n?2EM2T°2cI^E-r£X!2lJTOR TAXES OWED BY THE DECEASED.* THE DEPARTMENT DID NOT SEEK TO RECOVER TAXES IN DEFAULT IN THIS WAY,HE ADDED.
HOWEVER, MR BREMRIDGE HAD TAKEN DUE NOTE OF THESE tE2.R,22^AL!.ONS AND IF AT S0ME CONVENIENT TIME IN THE FUTURE IT WAS ^c222HLuotT any 0F THEM HAD mer,t» OR that THERE WAS INDEED SOME 2r2^.D2UBT AS T0 THE PR0PER INTERPRETATION OF THE EXISTING LEGISLATION, STEPS WOULD BE TAKEN TO PUT MATTERS RIGHT.
iMroe»L«L22 N0TED THAT WHILE THERE WERE SEVERAL SOURCES OF INCREASED OR ADDITIONAL REVENUE FAIRLY OPEN, WITH TOBACCO AND ALCOHOL ONLY AMONG THE MORE OBVIOUS, HE DID NOT BELIEVE THAT IT ™°??,^clbLAPPR0PRIATE F0R THE GOVERNMENT TO RAISE TAXATION cy2LnLr222A2™. DID N0T NEED THE M0NEY EITHER FOR ITS IMMEDIATE 2c22o2JIURE REQUIREMENTS OR IN ORDER FURTHER TO STRENGTHEN PRUDENT RESERVES•
/WHILE FOR
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2A, 1982
25
WHILE FOR YEARS IT HAD BEEN ARGUED IN HONG KONG THAT IN NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES TAXATION SHOULD BE FISCAL IN NATURE THERE MIGHT HAVE TO BE EXCEPTIONS. HIGHER TAXES ON MOTOR VEHICLES AND DUTIES ON PETROL WERE POSSIBLE EXAMPLES.
♦THERE ARE OTHERS. COMMON SENSE IN SUCH CASES MAY INDICATE THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER NOT ONLY ITS FISCAL REQUIREMENTS BUT ALSO THE POTENTIAL OF TAXATION AS A SUPPLEMENTARY MEANS OF ACHIEVING OTHER POLICY ENDS,* HE SAID.
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ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL POLICIES OUTLINED
* * *
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HEALTHY AND GROWING ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CHINA AND A POLICY DIRECTED TOWARDS THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST ARE THE TWO MAIN THEMES WHICH UNDERLINE GOVERNMENT’S ECONOMIC, FISCAL AND MONETARY POLICIES.
IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH TODAY, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN BREMRIDGE, SAID WE IN HONG KONG ADMIRE THE PROGRESS WHICH CHINA HAS MADE IN MODERNISING HER ECONOMY- AND WE ARE A BENEFICIARY, AND AT THE SAME TIME ARE FORTUNATELY PLACED IN BEING ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROGRESS.
HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT’S GENERAL POLICIES MUST REFLECT THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR MUTUAL BENEFIT - AND NOT LEAST TOWARDS THE SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE JUST NORTH OF THE BORDER.
SECOND, OUR ENTREPRENEURS AND INDUSTRIALISTS ARE NIMBLE ON THEIR FEET, ADEPT AT SEEKING AND TURNING TO GOOD ACCOUNT NEW OPPORTUNITIES, MOTIVATED BY THE PROFITS THAT ARISE FROM FREE MARKETS OPEN TO ALL THE TALENTS, AND UNFETTERED BY HEAVY TAXATION.
THEY ARE WELL SERVED BY OUR LABOUR FORCE, WHICH ALSO IS HARD WORKING AND HIGHLY MOTIVATED. THUS IN OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY THE SUCCESSFUL PROSPER.
MR BREMRIDGE SAID THE UNSUCCESSFUL ARE NOT CARRIED BY GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY. ♦ AS A COMMUNITY WE CANNOT AFFORD TO CARRY INDUSTRIAL OR COMMERCIAL FAILURES,* HE SAID.
IN SHARP CONTRAST, HOWEVER, WE SET A NET OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO CATCH THOSE INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS WHO THROUGH MISFORTUNE OR DISABILITY CANNOT MAKE THEIR FAIR WAY IN SOCIETY.
♦IT SHOULD BE CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD THAT THE WHOLE LONG-TERM PURPOSE OF OUR POLICY OF THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE CREATION OF WEALTH IS NOT TO ENABLE THE RICH TO GET RICHER BUT RATHER TO ACHIEVE AN IMPROVING STANDARD OF LIFE IN ALL ITS ASPECTS FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY,* HE SAID.
MR BREMRIDGE ALSO SAID THE GOVERNMENT MUST CONTINUALLY SEEK TO STRENGTHEN THE BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE THAT IS NEEDED TO SUPPORT A MANUFACTURING AND SERVICES-BASED ECONOMY THAT IS ALWAYS DEVELOPING AND CHANGING.
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/24 ..........................................
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1982
- 24 -
SIR MURRAY’S MONUMENTi A DECADE OF PROGRESS X X X X
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN BREMRIDGE TODAY PAID TRIBUTE TO SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH, WHICH IS THE 11TH SIR MURRAY HAS LISTENED TO IN HONG KONG.
MR BREMRIDGE SAID IN THESE YEARS OF SIR MURRAY’S GOVERNORSHIP HONG KONG HAS EXPERIENCED REMARKABLE GROWTH OFTEN IN THE FACE OF GENERAL ADVERSITY AND THE OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS OVER THE PAST DECADE WAS A MONUMENT TO HIM.
IN REAL TERMS, HE NOTED, HONG KONG’S TOTAL EXPORTS HAVE INCREASED BY 182 PER CENT, GDP BY 162 PER CENT, AND PER CAPITA GDP BY 106 PER CENT DESPITE A POPULATION INCREASE OF 1.1 MILLION AND WE STILL HAVE NO SERIOUS UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM.
♦THESE FIGURES ARE SIGNIFICANT, BUT THEY ONLY HERALD THE GENERAL IMPROVEMENTS IN HONG KONG THAT YOUR GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN ABLE TO INTRODUCE AS A RESULT OF GROWING PROSPERITY.
♦THERE HAVE BEEN TWO OVER-RIDING FACTORS - YOUR OWN DETERMINATION TO IMPROVE THE LOT OF THE AVERAGE MAN AND WOMAN, AND YOUR ADOPTION OF POLICIES LEADING TO THE CREATION OF THE WEALTH ON WHICH SOCIAL PROGRESS DEPENDS.
♦IN HOUSING, HEALTH, EDUCATION, SOCIAL WELFARE, RECREATION, LAW AND ORDER, TRANSPORT AND MANY OTHER FIELDS THESE PAST 10 YEARS HAVE SEEN OUTSTANDING IMPROVEMENT IN THE LIVING STANDARDS OF OUR PEOPLE.
♦WHAT HAS BEEN DONE - WHICH ALL CAN SEE - STANDS AS YOUR MONUMENT,♦ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID.
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HONG KONG IS DOING WELL, SAYS FS
X X X X
HONG KONG’S ECONOMY DID AS WELL IN 1981 AS COULD REASONABLY BE EXPECTED, AND THERE WAS ALSO A MARKED TREND TOWARDS ECONOMIC STABILITY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN BREMRIDGE SAID.
HOWEVER, HE FULLY REALISED THAT 1981 MEANT FOR SOME INDUSTRIALISTS AND MERCHANTS RISING PRICES, FLUCTUATING EXCHANGE RATES, CONTINUING INFLATION, DIFFICULT MARKETS, GROWING PROTECTIONISM, THIN PROFIT MARGINS, AND ALL THE PROBLEMS OF ADJUSTMENT THAT NEW TECHNOLOGIES BRING.
t
♦THEY TRULY HAVE MY SYMPHATHY. I ACCEPT THAT SOME HAVE HAD AND WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS': THIS SITUATION IS NOT UNIQUE TO HONG KONG. BUT f AM SURE THAT THE FITTEST WILL SURVIVE,♦ HE SAID.
/MR BREMRIDGE........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2<+, 1982
25
MR BREMRIDGE ALSO SAID THAT IT IS ONLY ONE OF THE MANY DAMNATIONS OF INFLATION THAT IT BRINGS WITH IT UNDERSTANDABLE PUBLIC SCRATCH I NESS AT CONSTANTLY RISING PRICES.
NEVERTHELESS IN A SITUATION IN WHICH OVERSEAS PRICES ARE RISING, THE HONG KONG DOLLAR HAS DEPRECIATED AND CREDIT EXPANSION HAS BEEN RAPID, SOME INCREASES IN DOMESTIC PRICES ARE INEVITABLE, « ADDED.
♦THERE IS HOWEVER ALWAYS SCOPE FOR THE INTERVENTION OF OTHER FACTORS THAT TEND TO KEEP PRICES DOWN, FOR INSTANCE ECONOMIES OF SCALE, USE OF COAL INSTEAD OF OIL, MANAGEMENT EFFICIENCY, CHEAPER OR ALTERNATIVE RAW MATERIALS, GREATER PRODUCTIVITY, AND SO ON.
♦WE ARE FORTUNATE IN HONG KONG THAT BECAUSE PRODUCTIVITY IS RISING REAL WAGE LEVELS ARE NOW AGAIN INCREASING EVEN FOR UNSKILLED LABOUR, THOUGH IT IS A CLOSE RUN THING.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID ALTHOUGH THE FIGHT AGAINST INFLATION IS A PRIORITY FOR THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AS FOR EVERY OTHER GOVERNMENT IN THE WORLD, WE HAVE NO PANACEA.
♦THE GENERAL COURSE WE MUST CONTINUE TO TAKE IS OBVIOUS, BUT PARTICULAR CORRECTIONS MUST REFLECT HONG KONG CIRCUMSTANCES AND HONG KONG STYLE. ALL OF US HAVE OUR OWN PREDILECTIONS. GIVEN THE CHOICE, MINE INCLUDE A CONSCIOUS BIAS TOWARDS REASONABLY FULL EMPLOYMENT,♦ MR BREMRIDGE SAID.
REVIEWING OF OUR ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE LAST YEAR, MR BREMRIDGE SAID AMONG THE MORE OBVIOUS FEATURES WAS THE GOOD PERFORMANCE OF OUR DOMESTIC EXPORTS.
ALTHOUGH THE GROWTH RATE IN REAL TERMS OF 7.6 PER CENT IN 1981 REPRESENTED A CONSIDERABLE SLOWING DOWN COMPARED WITH 11 PER CENT IN 1980, IT WAS NEVERTHELESS ACHIEVED AGAINST A BACKGROUND OF UNFAVOURABLE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS IN ALL OUR MAJOR MARKETS.
♦MOREOVER THE GROWTH RATE OF OUR DOMESTIC EXPORTS WAS CLEARLY ACCELERATING THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, REVERSING THE DECELERATING TREND DURING 1980 WHICH HAD CAUSED CONCERN,♦ HE SAID.
HOWEVER, MR BREMRIDGE SAID IT WAS CLEAR THAT IN 1981 THE IMPETUS TO ECONOMIC GROWTH CAME MORE FROM DOMESTIC DEMAND THAN FROM EXPORTS.
PRIVATE CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURE GREW BY 10 PER CENT IN REAL TERMS- GOVERNMENT CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURE (INCREASED BY THE FRONT END LOADING OF OUR CONTRIBUTION UNDER THE REVISED DEFENCE COSTS AGREEMENT) GREW BY 25 PER CENT- AND OVERALL INVESTMENT GREW BY 13 PER CENT.
BUT AT 11 PER CENT THE GROWTH RATE OF DOMESTIC DEMAND WAS NOT SO RAPID AS TO HAVE CREATED ANY IMBALANCE BETWEEN DEMAND FOR OUR DOMESTIC RESOURCES AND THE SUPPLY OF THEM, HE SAID.
♦THE GROWTH RATE OF TOTAL FINAL DEMAND (EXCLUDING RE-EXPORTS) AT NINE PER CENT WAS ACTUALLY LESS THAN THE GROWTH RATE OF THE GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT AT 10 PER CENT AND SO IMPORTS WERE NOT BEING SUCKED IN AT A DISPROPORTIONATELY RAPID RATE.
/+THE GROWTH .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2U, 1982
26
♦THE GROWTH RATE OF RETAINED IMPORTS IN 1981 WAS ONLY ABOUT SEVEN PER CENT. AFTER ALLOWING FOR RE-EXPORTS THE GROWTH RATE OF TOTAL EXPORTS AT 13 PER CENT WAS HIGHER THAN THE GROWTH RATE OF IMPORTS AT 12 PER CENT AND THE VISIBLE TRADE GAP IN 1981 OF 11.7 PER CENT WAS SLIGHTLY LOWER THAN THAT IN 1980 AT 12 PER CENT.+
THIS OVERALL SITUATION THUS COMPARED REASONABLY WELL WITH THAT IN 1980, MR BREMRIDGE POINTED OUT.
HE ALSO SAID THAT DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR THERE WAS ALSO A CLEAR TENDENCY FOR THE IMPETUS TO ECONOMIC GROWTH TO SHIFT BACK TO DOMESTIC EXPORTS.
THE YEAR-ON-YEAR GROWTH RATE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS ACCELERATED FROM RATHER LESS THAN SIX PER CENT IN REAL TERMS IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR TO ABOUT 10 PER CENT IN THE SECOND HALF, WHILE THE GROWTH RATE OF CONSUMER DEMAND SLOWED DOWN SHARPLY AS INDICATED BY THE MARKED FALL IN THE GROWTH RATE OF RETAINED IMPORTS OF CONSUMER GOODS.
REFLECTING THIS DEVELOPMENT, UP UNTIL ABOUT AUGUST THE VISIBLE TRADE GAP WAS ON A WIDENING TREND AND CONCERN WAS GROWING ABOUT THE OVERALL DOMESTIC ECONOMIC SITUATION IN THE FACE OF RECESSION IN OUR MAJOR MARKETS AND THE PERSISTENTLY HIGH INFLATION RATE, WHICH AFFECTED ATTITUDES ADVERSELY AND NOT LEAST IN THE FOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKET.
IN CONSEQUENCE THE HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPRECIATED SHARPLY DURING THE THIRD QUARTER! THE TRADE WEIGHTED EXCHANGE RATE INDEX DROPPED FROM 90.7 ON JUNE 5, THE HIGHEST POINT FOR THE YEAR, TO 81.1 BY SEPTEMBER 23, THE LOWEST POINT FOR THE YEAR. AGAINST THE U.S. DOLLAR THE HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPRECIATED BY 20 PER CENT OVER THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF THE YEAR.
♦BUT AS THE INTEREST RATE DIFFERENTIAL MOVED IN FAVOUR OF THE HONG KONG DOLLAR IN EARLY OCTOBER AND AS THE VISIBLE TRADE GAP NARROWED IN RESPONSE TO A SLOWING DOWN IN THE GROWTH RATE OF IMPORTS, THE EXCHANGE RATE RECOVERED,♦ HE SAID.
THE NET DEPRECIATION IN THE YEAR AGAINST THE US DOLLAR WAS 10.7 PER CENT. IN TERMS OF THE TRADE-WEIGHTED EXCHANGE RATE INDEX THE DEPRECIATION WAS ONLY 2.6 PER CENT.
MR BREMRIDGE SAID THESE WIDE FLUCTUATIONS IN THE EXCHANGE RATE INTER ALIA INEVITABLY AFFECTED DOMESTIC PRICES.
HE SAID ALTHOUGH THE PROPERTY AND LAND MARKETS, WHICH WERE CHARACTERISED GENERALLY BY FALLING PRICES, WERE NO LONGER STIMULATING PRICES GENERALLY, THE RATE OF INFLATION AS MEASURED BY THE CONSUMER PRICE INDICES REMAINED HIGH AT 15 PER CENT.
♦BUT REFLECTING AN ECONOMY ADJUSTING AUTOMATICALLY THROUGH THE MARKET MECHANISM IN FAVOUR OF EXPORT COMPETITIVENESS, THE RATE OF INCREASE IN THE GDP DEFLATOR WAS LESS AT 10 PER CENT, A CONSIDERABLY SLOWING DOWN ON THE INCREASE IN 1980 OF 13 PER CENT.
/ANOTHER FACTOR
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1982
27
ANOTHER FACTOR WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO DOMESTIC INFLATIONARY PRESSURES WAS THE CONTINUED GROWTH OF LOANS AND ADVANCES FOR USE IN HONG KONG, DESPITE MAINTENANCE OF THE BEST LENDING RATE AT HISTORICALLY HIGH LEVELS, MR BREMRIDGE SAID.
FOR THE YEAR AS A WHOLE, HE SAID, LOANS AND ADVANCES FOR USE IN HONG KONG GREW BY 45 PER CENT AND THE MONEY SUPPLY M3 GREW BY 27 PER CENT.
+PART OF THE RAPID EXPANSION IN DOMESTIC CREDIT WAS ATTRIBUTED TO THE LEVEL OF MONEY MARKET RATES, WHICH WERE AT TIMES LOW IN RELATION TO THE BEST LENDING RATE. AND AT TIMES BOTH RATES WERE LOW IN RELATION TO THE RATE OF INFLATION.
♦ THUS BORROWERS WERE ABLE TO RESORT TO LENDING FACILITIES ARRANGED ON A LESS EXPENSIVE COST-OF-FUNDS (HIBOR) BASIS, WHICH FRUSTRATED IN PART THE RESTRAINT ON BORROWING WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN EXERTED BY THE RELATIVELY HIGH BEST LENDING RATE.*
CONSEQUENTLY, MR BREMRIDGE SAID, AN EXPERIMENTAL SCHEME WAS IMPLEMENTED IN NOVEMBER TO ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO INTERVENE IN THE MONEY MARKET THROUGH THE EXCHANGE FUND IN AN ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE THE LEVEL OF MONEY MARKET RATES.
♦ IT IS TOO EARLY TO ASSESS THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE SCHEME HAS YET PLAYED A PART IN CURBING THE UNTOWARD EXPANSION OF DOMESTIC CREDIT. CERTAINLY IT IS NOT A CURE-ALL, AND I DO NOT RULE OUT THE INTRODUCTION OF ADDITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS IF OTHER EFFICIENT AND EQUITABLE MEASURES CAN BE DEVISED.*
HOWEVER, MR BREMRIDGE SAID THE GROWTH RATE OF THE MONETARY AGGREGATES DID SLOW DOWN DURING THE YEAR. LOANS AND ADVANCES FOR USE IN HONG KONG ROSE BY 26 PER CENT IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR AND BY 15 PER CENT IN THE SECOND HALF. SIMILARLY M3 ROSE BY 20 PER CENT IN THE FIRST HALF AND BY ONLY SIX PER CENT IN THE SECOND HALF.
ON THE LABOUR MARKET, EMPLOYMENT GREW SUBSTANTIALLY AND THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE. WHICH HAD BEEN INCREASING CONTINUOUSLY SINCE MARCH 1979 UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF IMMIGRATION, ALSO STABILISED.
♦ IN FACT BETWEEN MARCH AND SEPTEMBER THERE WAS A FALL IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FROM 4.1 PER CENT TO 3.6 PER CENT WHILE EMPLOYMENT IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR HIT AN ALL TIME HIGH. IN SOME SECTORS THERE DEVELOPED LABOUR SHORTAGES, AND REAL WAGES BEGAN TO MOVE UP AGA IN,+ MR BREMRIDGE SAID.
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Z28........
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1982
28
TELEVISION TALK ON BUDGET
* * * M
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN BREMRIDGE, SPOKE ON THE 1982/83 BUDGET IN A TELEVISION BROADCAST THIS (WEDNESDAY) EVENING.
THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF HIS TALK»
GOOD EVENING,
+1 WANT TO TELL YOU BRIEFLY ABOUT THE BUDGET FOR 1982/83 WHICH I INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON.
+1981 WAS MARKED BY THE STILL CONTINUING RECESSION IN OUR MAIN OVERSEAS MARKETS. IT IS GOOD, THEREFORE, THAT IN REAL TERMS OUR DOMESTIC EXPORTS INCREASED BY 7.6 PER CENT, RE-EXPORTS BY 24 PER CENT, AND THUS TOTAL EXPORTS BY 12 PER CENT. OUR ECONOMY GREW AGAIN IN REAL TERMS BY 10 PER CENT. UNEMPLOYMENT WAS FALLING, AND REAL WAGES WERE BEGINNING TO MOVE UP. NEVERTHELESS, I AM CONCERNED AT THE CURRENT LEVEL OF INFLATION WHICH BASED ON CONSUMER PRICE INDICES IS 15 PER CENT.
♦I BELIEVE THAT THIS BACKGROUND REFLECTS TWO MAIN THEMES. FIRST IS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HEALTHY AND GROWING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CHINA. OUR GENERAL POLICIES MUST REFLECT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MUTUAL BENEFIT, AND NOT LEAST TOWARDS THE SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE JUST NORTH OF OUR BORDER. SECOND, OUR ENTREPRENEURS, INDUSTRIALISTS AND THE LABOUR FORCE NEED TO CONTINUE TO BE WELL MOTIVATED AND UNFETTERED BY HEAVY TAXATION. IN OUR COMMUNITY THE SUCCESSFUL PROSPER. THE UNSUCCESSFUL ARE NOT CARRIED BY GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY. WE CANNOT LET OUR HEARTS RULE OUR HEADS.
+IN SHARP CONTRAST HOWEVER WE SET A NET OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO CATCH THOSE INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS WHO CANNOT MAKE THEIR FAIR WAY IN SOCIETY. THE WHOLE LONG-TERM PURPOSE OF OUR POLICY IS NOT TO ENABLE THE RICH TO GET RICHER BUT TO ACHIEVE AN IMPROVING STANDARD OF LIFE IN ALL ITS ASPECTS FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY. BUT WE MUST FIRST HAVE MONEY BEFORE WE CAN ARGUE HOW BEST TO SPEND IT.
+1 AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SIZE OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR, AND I AM DETERMINED TO CUT BACK ITS GROWTH APPROXIMATELY TO THE LEVEL OF THE GROWTH OF THE ECONOMY. PUT SIMPLY GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE REQUIRES USE OF RESOURCES WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE BE BETTER USED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR INCLUDING IN PARTICULAR THE PRODUCTION OF THOSE EXPORTS ON WHICH HONG KONG DEPENDS. A GOOD GOVERNMENT MUST THEREFORE EXERCISE THRIFT AT ALL TIMES, AND ON THE WHOLE LESS GOVERNMENT TENDS TO BE MORE EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT.
+THE BUDGETARY SURPLUS FOR 1981/82 WAS ESTIMATED TO BE $7.9 BILLION AND WILL IN FACT BE $7.7 BILLIO:..
/+AGAINST THIS .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1982
29
♦AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND I BELIEVE THAT IT REMAINS PRUDENT AGAIN TO REDUCE TAXATION. THIS IS POSSIBLE DESPITE ENORMOUS SPENDING ON HOUSING AND PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS GENERALLY. IN FACT ON APRIL 1, 1982 OUTSTANDING COMMITMENTS FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME WILL AMOUNT TO AT LEAST $23 BILLION. SO FAR AS THE VITALLY IMPORTANT PUBLIC HOUSING RENTAL PROGRAMMES ARE CONCERNED THE FORECAST OF PRODUCTION IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS IS 148 900 FLATS, WHICH IS A CONSIDERABLE INCREASE ON THE LAST FOUR YEARS. THIS FIGURE DOES NOT INCLUDE HOUSING SOCIETY, HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME, AND PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION FLATS. THUS TOTAL PUBLIC SECTOR PRODUCTION SHOULD AVERAGE 42 700 PER YEAR.
♦BUT TO RETURN TO THE TAX POSITION. I DO NOT THINK THAT IT IS GENERALLY APPROPRIATE FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO RAISE TAXES WHEN IT DOES NOT NEED THE MONEY EITHER FOR ITS IMMEDIATE EXPENDITURE REQUIREMENTS OR IN ORDER FURTHER TO STRENGTHEN PRUDENT RESERVES.
+1 HAVE THUS MADE PROPOSALS FOR TAX CONCESSIONS IN FOUR MAJOR AREAS. THE FIRST IS DESIGNED TO HELP INDUSTRIALISTS. IT IS CLEARLY IMPORTANT TO ENCOURAGE THE EXPANSION OF INVESTMENT IN NEW EQUIPMENT. I THEREFORE PROPOSE TO INCREASE CONSIDERABLY THE INITIAL DEPRECIATION ALLOWANCE FROM 35 PER CENT TO 55 PER CENT. I PROPOSE ALSO TO AMEND CURRENT LEGISLATION ON THE INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS ALLOWANCE TO INCLUDE THE DEVELOPER’S PROFIT ELEMENT. THIS WILL PROMOTE INVESTMENT IN ACCOMMODATION FOR PLANT, EQUIPMENT AND NOT LEAST THE WORKERS WHO OPERATE THE MACHINES, IN MODERN AND EFFICIENT FACTORY PREMISES.
♦THE SECOND AREA INVOLVES THE CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE OF INTEREST TAX. I PROPOSE TO EXEMPT FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS PLACED WITH LICENSED BANKS AND REGISTERED AND LICENSED DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES FROM INTEREST TAX. I PROPOSE ALSO TO REDUCE THE RATE OF INTEREST TAX ON HONG KONG DOLLAR TIME DEPOSITS WITH BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES FROM THE PRESENT 15 PER CENT TO 10 PER CENT. THE OUTCOME WILL NEED TO BE STUDIED CAREFULLY, AND WE MAY HAVE TO VARY OUR APPROACH LATER. I BELIEVE THAT THESE MOVES WILL PROMOTE THE GROWTH OF HONG KONG AS A FINANCIAL CENTRE.
♦MY THIRD AREA INVOLVES PERSONAL TAXATION. I PROPOSE FIRSTLY AN INCREASE IN THE LEVEL OF PERSONAL ALLOWANCES FROM $15 000 TO $20 500 FOR SINGLE PERSONS, AND FROM $30 000 TO $41 000 FOR MARRIED PERSONS. THE EXISTING SUPPLEMENTARY PERSONAL ALLOWANCES WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED. CONSEQUENTLY THERE WILL BE NO LIABILITY TO TAX FOR A SINGLE PERSON ON A SALARY BELOW $28 000 A YEAR, AND FOR A MARRIED COUPLE WITHOUT CHILDREN BELOW $56 000. SECONDLY I PROPOSE AN INCREASE IN THE CHILD ALLOWANCE FROM $7 000 TO $8 000 FOR THE FIRST CHILD AND FROM $5 000 TO $5 500 FOR THE SECOND CHILD. THIRDLY I PROPOSE AN INCREASE IN THE DEPENDENT PARENT ALLOWANCE FROM $7 000 TO $8 000. I BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE FEW OTHER PLACES IN THE WORLD IN WHICH TAX THRESHOLDS ARE SO HIGH THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE ARE EXCLUDED FROM DIRECT TAX.
/+MY FOURTH AREA .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1982
y>
♦MY FOURTH AREA RELATES TO ESTATE DUTY. FIRSTLY I PROPOSE TO RAISE THE EXEMPTION LIMIT FROM Si MILLION TO $2 MILLION. SECONDLY I PROPOSE TO INTRODUCE A NEW SCHEDULE RANGING FROM 10 °NESI*TES between *2 MILLION AND S2.5 MILLION TO 18 PER ?NT ABOVE $4 MILLION. THIRDLY I PROPOSE TO EXEMPT FROM DUTY ALTOGETHER THE PRINCIPAL MATRIMONIAL HOME WHEN THE DECEASED LEAVES A SURVIVING SPOUSE.
♦THE COST TO THE REVENUE OF MY TAX CONCESSIONS WILL BE NEARLY $1.4 BILLION. AS A RESULT OF THIS AND OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CAPITAL WORKS RESERVE FUND I ESTIMATE THAT THE SURPLUS FOR NEXT YEAR WILL BE ABOUT $2.3 BILLION. THIS IS SUBJECT TO SOME MARGIN OF ERROR IN THE LIGHT OF FUTURE ESTIMATED LAND SALES PRICES, NOT LEAST BECAUSE SOME OF THE SITES ARE VERY LARGE.
♦LET ME TURN NOW BRIEFLY TO WHERE I THINK OUR ECONOMY WILL GO IN 1982. I MUST REMIND YOU THAT THE WORLD IS IN AN UNSETTLED STATE, AND THAT OUR VARIOUS OVERSEAS MARKETS ARE UNPREDICTABLE. I BELIEVE, HOWEVER, THAT OUR DOMESTIC EXPORTS WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AT SEVEN PER CENT IN REAL TERMS AND THE GDP AT EIGHT PER CENT, THAT THE RATE OF INCREASE IN THE GDP DEFLATOR WILL DROP TO NINE PER CENT, THAT THE RATE OF INFLATION AS PORTRAYED BY THE CONSUMER PRICE INDICES WILL FALL TO 12 PER CENT, THAT GDP PER HEAD WILL EXCEED $30 000 - A CONSIDERABLE FIGURE BY WORLD STANDARDS - AND THAT OUR EMPLOYMENT SITUATION WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE.
+LET ME ADD FINALLY THAT I AM VERY AWARE OF THE DANGERS OF ATTEMPTING TO FORECAST THE FUTURE. TO SOME EXTENT WHAT I HAVE INDICATED REPRESENTS ONLY GUESS WORK, BUT LEAST BECAUSE IT IS SO DEPENDENT ON FACTORS WHICH ARE TOTALLY OUTSIDE OUR CONTROL. BUT IT IS AN INTELLIGENT FORECAST BASED ON ALL INFORMATION AVAILABLE, AND I HOPE THAT IT MAY BE ACCOMPLISHED.*
- - 0 - -
/J1
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1982
- 31 -
SIR SHIU-KIN PLEDGES 85 MILLION TOWARDS GOVERNMENT MEDICAL PROJECT *****
LOCAL PHILANTHROPIST SIR SHIU-KIN TANG HAS PLEDGED TO DONATE $5 MILLION TOWARDS A GOVERNMENT MEDICAL PROJECT TO MARK HIS 81ST BIRTHDAY TOMORROW.
THE MONEY WILL BE USED AS PART OF THE CONSTRUCTION COST FOR EXPANDING THE TANG SHIU KIN HOSPITAL AT MORRISON HILL.
SIR SHIU-KIN HAS, OVER THE YEARS, DONATED MORE THAN $8 MILLION TOWARDS THE CONSTRUCTION OF MANY MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS THE TANG CHI NGONG SPECIALIST CLINIC AND THE MACLEHOSE DENTAL CENTRE.
TANG SHIU KIN HOSPITAL WAS BUILT IN 1969 WITH A 82 MILLION DONATION FROM SIR SHIU-KIN, WHICH WAS EQUIVALENT TO 50 PER CENT OF THE BUILDING COST. SINCE THEN THE HOSPITAL HAS BEEN PROVIDING A COMPREHENSIVE CASUALTY SERVICE TO RESIDENTS IN THE EASTERN PART OF HONG KONG ISLAND.
THE CASUALTY DEPARTMENT HAS A COMPLEMENT OF 80 BEDS, AN OPERATING THEATRE, X-RAY AND OTHER FACILITIES.
THE WORKLOAD OF THE HOSPITAL HAS INCREASED CONSIDERABLY OVER THE YEARS AS REFLECTED BY THE INCREASING NUMBER OF CASUALTY CASES HANDLED. IN 1981 THE HOSPITAL DEALT WITH NEARLY 120 000 CASES, ALMOST THREE TIMES MORE THAN IN THE FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION.
TO MEET THE INCREASING DEMAND FOR CASUALTY AND OTHER SERVICES ON THE EASTERN PART OF HONG KONG, THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS INCLUDED IN ITS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME AN EXTENSION OF THE HOSPITAL.
THE PLAN ENVISAGES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW WING TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL 3 000 SQUARE METRES OF FLOOR SPACE TO ACCOMMODATE MORE BEDS, OPERATING THEATRE FACILITIES, NEW X-RAY FACILITIES, PHYSIOTHERAPY AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY DEPARTMENTS AND A PATHOLOGICAL LABORATORY.
THE NEW WING WILL ALSO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATION FOR DOCTORS AND NURSES AND MINOR STAFF.
THE TOTAL BUILDING COST OF THE PROJECT IS ESTIMATED, AT CURRENT DAY PRICES, TO BE IN THE REGION OF 825 MILLION AND IS SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION BY 1984/85.
IN ADDITION, SIR SHIU-KIN HAS ALSO DONATED 81 MILLION TO BAPTIST COLLEGE AND 50 000 HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI BANK SHARES AND 50 000 HONG KONG LAND SHARES TO PO LEUNG KUK SO THAT THE ACCRUING INTERESTS EVERY YEAR FROM THESE SHARES COULD BE USED FOR THE WELFARE OF THE ORGANISATION.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1982
- 52 -
GREAT CHANGES IN NEW TERRITORIES, SAYS MACPHERSON * * * *
GREAT CHANGES HAVE BEEN, AND ARE, TAKING PLACE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR IAN MACPHERSON, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MR MACPHERSON, WHO WAS SPEAKING AT A NEW TERRITORIES BRANCH OF THE HONG KONG LIFE GUARD CLUB (HKLGC) PRESENTATION CEREMONY, SAID DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TOWNS HAD LED TO DRAMATIC INCREASES IN POPULATION.
♦MOREOVER THE POPULATION OF HONG KONG AS A WHOLE HAS INCREASED AND HAS BECOME MUCH MORE MOBILE, AND MUCH MORE ADVENTUROUS IN TERMS OF RECREATIONAL NEEDS,+ HE SAID.
♦THIS COMBINATION OF CIRCUMSTANCES HAD RESULTED IN CONSIDERABLE DEMANDS BEING PLACED ON THE RESOURCES OF THE GOVERNMENT AND BODIES SUCH AS THIS CLUB, AND HAD MEANT THAT WE HAD ALL HAD TO BE ON OUR TOES IN CONSTANTLY ADAPTING TO A RAPIDLY CHANGING AND EVOLVING SCENE.
♦ AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE ALL BEEN CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE RECREATIONAL PURSUITS AND OUTLETS FOR THE EXPANDING POPULATION OF THE NEW TERRITORIES,♦ MR MACPHERSON SAID.
♦ IN THIS PROCESS A VERY CONSIDERABLE EMPHASIS HAD BEEN PLACED ON THE USE OF OUR WATERS FOR RECREATION.
♦ I AM, THEREFORE, AS REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES AND HONORARY PRESIDENT OF YOUR NEW TERRITORIES BRANCH, PLEASED TO NOTE THAT THE ACTIVITIES OF THE CLUB HAVE EXPANDED QUICKLY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS TO MEET THE CHALLENGE WHICH FACES US.
♦ THE CREATION OF LIFE SAVING ORGANISATIONS, UNDER YOUR AEGIS, HAS BEEN AN ESSENTIAL INGREDIENT IN OUR ABILITY TO MEET THE CHALLENGE.
♦ I AM ALSO PARTICULARLY GLAD TO NOTE THAT THE INCREASING NUMBER OF NEW TERRITORIES BASED LIFE SAVING TEAMS, AND THE CONSEQUENT MOVE AWAY FROM GUARDS BEING SENT OUT FROM THE URBAN AREAS,♦ HE SAID.
MR MACPHERSON PAID TRIBUTE TO THE HKLGC, AND TO THE NEW TERRITORIES BRANCH IN PARTICULAR, FOR ITS STRENUOUS EFFORTS, AND ALSO TO THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED FOR THEIR SENSE OF CIVIC DUTY IN VOLUNTEERING TO MEET THIS NEED.
HE SAID MEMBERS OF THE BRANCH, BY THEIR VERY PRESENCE, REASSURED SWIMMERS AT BEACHES, AND IN SOME INSTANCES HAD MORE SPLENDID INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO WATER SAFETY.
MR MACPHERSON PRESENTED INSIGNIA TO EIGHT OFFICE BEARERS, INCLUDING THE PRESIDENT, MR CHAN KANG-FOUT.
/HE ALSO .......
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1982
35
HE ALSO PRESENTED RESCUE DEPARTMENT LIFE GUARDS, THREE HKLGC HONORARY LIFE GUARDS.
STARS TO 10 NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND SIX
OCEAN RESCUE AWARDS WERE
AC -rue . ------- ---- PRESENTED BY MR MACPHERSON TO A
mallen- and to * ma ch'-keumg
awaa MEMBERSH,P OF THE NEW TERRITORIES BRANCH OF THE HKLGC IS OVER 1 000.
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BUILDING IN DANGEROUS CONDITION
M * M
THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TODAY (WEDNESDAY) DECLARED NO. 574 CANTON ROAD, KOWLOON TO BE IN A DANGEROUS CONDITION.
IN A STATEMENT ISSUED THIS MORNING, THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR SAID THAT THIS 4 STOREY PRE-WAR BUILDING, CONSTRUCTED OF LOAD-BEARING BRICKWALLS AND TIMBER FLOORS AND ROOF, HAD BEEN UNDER SURVEILLANCE SINCE 1973.
RECENT INSPECTION HAS REVEALED THAT THERE IS RAPID DETERIORATION IN THE TIMBER ROOF, FLOORS AND STAIRCASES AND THE LOAD-BEARING WALLS ARE FRACTURED. THERE IS A RISK OF ROOF-COLLAPSE AND IT IS THEREFORE NECESSARY TO CLOSE AND DEMOLISH THIS BUILDING.
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR A CLOSURE ORDER IN KOWLOON DISTRICT COURT AT 9.30 AM ON MARCH 24,1982 WAS POSTED TODAY.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1982
nQNTWS PAGE NO.
LOCAL LEADERS PRAISED FOR C01MUNITY WORK BY GOVERNOR......... 1
DISTRICT BOARDS WORTHWHILE, ZONTA CLUB TOLD.................. 2
TUEN MUN DB CANDIDATES TO HOLD FORUMS........................ 4
APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONER FOR SECURITIES .................. 4
SIR JACK CATER TO RECEIVE HONORARY DEGREE.................... 5
VISITORS WELCOME AT TECHNICAL INSTITUTE OPEN DAY............. 5
REVIEW OF THE OUTWARD PROCESSING ARRANGEMENT SCHEME.......... 6
SUSPENSION OF AIR-PARCEL SERVICE TO FRANCE................... 6
SAFETY CONSCIOUSNESS IN YOUNGER GENERATION .................. 7
TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT OF CIVIL M\tGINEERING GRADUATES..... 8
FISHERMEN WARNED OF FOG CONDITIONS........................... 9
RESTRICTION TEMPORARILY LIFTED............................... 9
GUANGDONG MODEL PLANE TEAM ARRIVES........................... 10
BUDGET PUBLICATIONS ON SALE...............,.................. 10
VOLUNTEERS TO BE THANKED .................................... 11
RETIREMENT SOUVENIR FOR PWD SURVEYOR ........................ 11
TENANCY AVAIIuiBLE AT KAI TAK LOT ........................... 12
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1982
1
LOCAL LEADERS PRAISED FOR COMMUNITY WORK BY GOVERNOR *****
LOCAL LEADERS WERE TODAY (THURSDAY) PRAISED BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE BETTERMENT OF HONG KONG.
THEY HAD ALSO GREATLY IMPRESSED HIM, THROUGHOUT HIS TEN YEARS IN OFFICE, BY THE QUALITY OF THEIR ADVICE AND THEIR HELP TO DISTRICT OFFICERS, THE GOVERNOR SAID.
SIR MURRAY WAS SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL RECEPTION GIVEN BY THE REGIONAL SECRETARY (HONG KONG AND KOWLOON) AT THE CITY HALL RESTAURANT, FOR ABOUT 1 OOO GUESTS WHO INCLUDED REPRESENTATIVES OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, CITY DISTRICT COMMITTEES, DISTRICT BOARDS, AREA COMMITTEES, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AS WELL AS KAI FONG LEADERS.
SIR MURRAY WALKED AROUND AND MET THE GUESTS, AND ALSO PROPOSED A TOAST FOR THE OCCASION.
PRESENT TO RECEIVE THE GUESTS WERE THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR D.C. BRAY- THE SECRETARY FOR CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, MR D. AKERS-JONES, AND THE REGIONAL SECRETARY (HONG KONG AND KOWLOON).
IN PROPOSING A TOAST, SIR MURRAY SAIDi
♦ I AM DELIGHTED TO BE HERE TODAY TO CELEBRATE THE YEAR OF THE DOG, AND TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY A FEW WORDS OF BOTH GREETING AND FAREWELL.
♦ ALL HERE HAVE MADE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE WELL-BEING AND SUCCESS OF OUR COMMUNITY. MANY HAVE SACRIFICED A GREAT DEAL OF TIME IN SERVICE TO OTHERS AND HAVE HELPED IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN HONG KONG.
♦ THROUGHOUT MY 10 YEARS OF OFFICE I HAVE BEEN GREATLY IMPRESSED BY LOCAL LEADERS OLD AND YOUNG, THE QUALITY OF THEIR ADVICE, THE VALUE OF THEIR HELP TO DISTRICT OFFICERS, AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE BETTERMENT OF HONG KONG.
♦ THE CONSTRUCTIVENESS OF LOCAL CONCERN WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OF LOCAL AFFAIRS WAS ONE OF THE FACTORS POINTING TO THE NEED FOR THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION NOW BEING INTRODUCED, IN WHICH SO MANY OF YOU PLAY A PART.
♦THE FACT IS THAT WITHOUT THE HELP AND ADVICE OF LOCAL LEADERS - AND I MEAN LOCAL LEADERS IN ALL WALKS OF LIFE - HONG KONG CANNOT BE ADMINISTERED IN AN ACCEPTABLE WAY- AND AN ACCEPTABLE ADMINISTRATION BASED ON A SOUND ECONOMY OFFERS THE BEST POSSIBLE BASIS FOR HONG KONG’S FUTURE. I THANK YOU ALL FOR THE CONTRIBUTION YOU MAKE TO IT.
♦FINALLY, I WOULD ASK YOU TO RAISE YOUR GLASSES AND DRINK TO THE CONTINUING SUCCESS AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG IN THE YEAR OF THE DOG.+
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2>,
2
DISTRICT BOARDS WORTHWHILE, ZONTA CLUB TOLD *****
THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR IAN MACPHERSON, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) HE HAD BEEN TAKING A ♦VERY CRITICAL LOOK* AT THE CURRENT ACTIVITIES AND PERFORMANCE CF NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT BOARDS.
MR MACPHERSON, WHO WAS TALKING TO ZONTA CLUB MEMBERS, SAID HE HAD BEEN LOOKING AT THE BOARDS ON THE EVE OF THE ELECTIONS TO SEE WHETHER THEY WERE DOING GOOD AND CONSTRUCTIVE WORK OR WHETHER, AS SOME WOULD HAVE IT, THEY WERE A WASTE OF EVERYONE’S TIME.
♦LET ME QUOTE TO YOU EXCERPTS FROM REPORTS I HAVE BEEN RECEIVING IN SUPPORT OF MY CONTENTION THAT THE BOARDS ARE MAKING A CONSTRUCTIVE AND WORTHWHILE CONTRIBUTION TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF OUR DISTRICTS,+ HE SAID.
♦FIRST EXCERPT - AND I SHOULD PERHAPS SAY THAT THIS IS TAKEN FROM AN INTERNAL REPORT NOT INTENDED FOR PUBLICATION* ’THIS DISTRICT BOARD COMPRISES EIGHT OFFICIALS AND 11 UNOFFICIALS. IT USUALLY MEETS TWO WEEKS AFTER ITS CORRESPONDING DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND HAS MET FIVE TIMES SINCE APRIL, 1981. THE ATTENDANCE RATE IS HIGH.
'REPRESENTATION ON THE BOARD HAS IMPROVED SINCE MR X, AN INDUSTRIALIST, AND MR Y, A SOCIAL WORKER, WERE APPOINTED. HOWEVER SOME SECTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY ARE NOT REPRESENTED AND THE BALANCE OF REPRESENTATION WILL HAVE TO BE KEPT UNDER REVIEW WHEN ELECTED MEMBERS BEGIN SERVING ON THE BOARD.
’THE UNOFFICIALS ARE ACTIVE AT MEETINGS AND FORTHCOMING WITH THEIR VIEWS. BEING HIGHLY EDUCATED THEY ARE NOT PAROCHIAL IN THEIR VIEWS AND WIDER ISSUES ON A HONG KONG-WIDE BASIS CAN BE MEANINGFULLY DISCUSSED. THE BOARD HAS BECOME THE SOUNDING BOARD OF LOCAL OPINION ON ISSUES LARGE AND SMALL AFFECTING THE DISTRICT AS A WHOLE.
’OUTSIDE THE BOARD, EACH UNOFFICIAL MEMBER SERVES ON AT LEAST ONE SUB-COMMITTEE OF HIS OWN CHOICE. THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE WORK OF LOCAL BOARDS AND COMMITTEES IS VALUABLE AND THEIR CHAIRMANSHIP OF AREA COMMITTEES AND COMMUNITY HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES AND SO ON IS AN EFFECTIVE BRIDGE BETWEEN THE BOARD AND VARIOUS LOCAL COORDINATING BODIES.
’AS REGARDS THE OFFICIAL MEMBERS, THEY ADEQUATELY REPRESENT THEIR DEPARTMENTS AND MOST ARE RESPONSIVE TO THE VIEWS OF THE BOARD AND COOPERATE WITH THE UNOFFICIALS TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO DISTRICT SERVICES’.♦
MR MACPHERSON GAVE DETAILS OF A REPORT ON A SECOND BOARD WHICH SAID, ON THE WHOLE, PUBLIC RESPONSE TO THE BOARD HAD BEEN FAVOURABLE IN THE PAST YEAR AND GOOD SUPPORT WAS RECEIVED FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY WHICH WAS BECOMING MORE AWARE OF THE GROWING IMPORTANCE OF THE DISTRICT BOARD AS A CONSULTATIVE BODY IN THE DISTRICT.
HE FOUND THESE TWO EXTRACTS FROM OBJECTIVE REPORTS ENCOURAGING FOR THE FUTURE, MR MACPHERSON SAID.
/HE SAID
Thursday, February 25, 1982
5
HE SAID TWO OTHER ASPECTS OUGHT TO BE MENTIONED, ONE BEING THE COMING TOGETHER OF THE TRADITIONAL REPRESENTATIVES OF THE RURAL NEW TERRITORIES PEOPLE, THE RURAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN WHO WERE PROVIDED WITH SEATS ON THE DISTRICT BOARDS, AND THE APPOINTED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MORE RECENT ARRIVALS.
THE OTHER WAS THE FACT THAT UNOFFICIAL DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WERE BEGINNING TO MAKE A POINT OF MAKING THEMSELVES AVAILABLE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE DISTRICT TO DISCUSS THEIR PROBLEMS.
+NOW WE ARE OF THE DISTRICTS EFFECTIVENESS OF FURTHER IMPROVED
ABOUT TO ADD ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE TO THE BOARDS AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THF THE DISTRICT BOARD AS AN ADVISORY BODY WILL BE
FOR IN THIS WAY THE VIEWS OF THE LOCAL PEOPLE IN SO FAR AS DISTRICT AFFAIRS ARE CONCERNED MUST BE BETTER REPRESENTED,* MR MACPHERSON SAID.
+AS YOU KNOW ALL BUT TWO OF THE 56 SEATS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT BOARD CONSTITUENCIES WILL BE CONTESTED. SOME OF THEM BY AS MANY AS FIVE OR SIX CANDIDATES, SO ELECTION CAMPAIGNS ARE IN FULL SWING AND THERE IS SOMETHING OF AN ELECTION FEVER IN THE AIR, AS NOT ONLY THE DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS BUT ALSO THE TRADITIONAL RURAL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS ARE TAKING PLACE.*
THERE WERE POSTERS AND BANNERS PUT UP BY MANY OF THE 174 CANDIDATES URGING THEIR CONSTITUENTS TO TURN OUT TO VOTE FOR THEM ON MARCH 4.
POLLING CARDS HAD NOW BEEN SENT OUT TO VOTERS TELLING THEM WHICH OF THE 125 POLLING STATIONS TO GO TO AND BOTH CANDIDATES AND VOTERS WERE BEING BRIEFED ON THE VERY SIMPLE VOTING PROCEDURES.
CANDIDATES CAME FROM VARIOUS WALKS OF LIFE AND AGES INCLUDING FACTORY WORKERS, BANK CLERKS, TAXI AND PLB OPERATORS, SOCIAL WORKERS, HOUSEWIVES, BUSINESS MEN AND JOURNALISTS.
+IF ELECTED, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO REPRESENT THE INTERESTS OF THE WOMEN IN THE DISTRICTS,* MR MACPHERSON SAID.
+IT IS OF COURSE MAINLY UP TO THE CANDIDATES TO GET
THE VOTERS TO TURN OUT AND VOTE, THE GOVERNMENT’S ROLE IS TO MAKE IT AS SIMPLE AND CONVENIENT AS POSSIBLE,* HE SAID.
TO THIS END 125 POLLING STATIONS HAD BEEN SET UP AND WOULD REMAIN OPEN FROM 7 AM TO 10 PM ON MARCH 4.
ALL THE REGISTERED ELECTOR HAD TO DO WAS TURN UP AND PRESENT HIS IDENTITY CARD TO THE PRESIDING OFFICER AND PUT A CROSS AGAINST THE CANDIDATE OF HIS CHOICE ON HIS BALLOT PAPER WHILE HE WAS INSIDE THE POLLING BOOTH AND PUT IT IN THE EALLOT BOX FOR COUNTING.
♦WE ARE CONFIDENT OF A GOOD TURNOUT IN THE NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS AND NO DOUBT THE URBAN DISTRICTS, WHOSE ELECTIONS ARE DUE IN SEPTEMBER, WILL BE WATCHING,* NR MACPHERSON SAID.
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1982
- 4 -
TUEN MUN DB CANDIDATES TO HOLD FORUMS * * * *
TWENTY CANDIDATES FOR THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS WILL ATTEND OPEN FORUMS TOMORROW (FRIDAY) TO MEET THEIR VOTERS.
THEY ARE COMPETING FOR EIGHT SEATS IN THE NORTH EAST, NORTH WEST, SOUTH EAST AND SOUTH WEST CONSTITUENCIES.
A SEPARATE FORUM, CHAIRED BY AN OFFICIAL FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICE, WILL BE HELD FOR EACH CONSTITUENCY.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DISTRICT OFFICE SAID ALL 25 500 REGISTERED VOTERS IN THE DISTRICT WERE WELCOME TO ATTEND.
BY THEHCANDIDATES QUESTI0NS AFTER BRIEF INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
THE LOCATIONS AND TIMES OF THE FORUMS ARE i
NORTH EASTj - HOH FUK TONG COLLEGE STARTING AT 7.15 PM.
NORTH WESTi - BUDDHIST LAU TING SANG PRIMARY SCHOOL STARTING AT 7.40 PM.
SOUTH EAST« - TUNG WAH GROUP TANG SHIU KIN PRIMARY SCHOOL STARTING AT 8 PM.
SOUTH WESTi - ISLAMIC PRIMARY SCHOOL STARTING AT 8.30 PM.
FROM APRIL TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD WILL CONSIST OF 24 MEMBERS, INCLUDING THE DISTRICT OFFICER AS CHAIRMAN, EIGHT ELECTED MEMBERS, EIGHT APPOINTED UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, SIX OFFICIAL MEMBERS AND THE CHAIRMAN OF TUEN MUN RURAL COMMITTEE.
- 0 ---------
APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONER FOR SECURITIES
* X X
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS HAS APPROVED THE APPOINTMENT OF MR ROBERT FELL AS COMMISSIONER FOR SECURITIES AND COMMODITIES TRADING WITH EFFECT FROM APRIL 1.
MR FELL WAS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE STOCK EXCHANGE IN LONDON. HE HAS BEEN ON SECONDMENT TO HONG KONG AS THE COMMISSIONER FOR SECURITIES AND COMMODITIES TRADING SINCE NOVEMBER 15, 1981.
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/5........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1982
- 5 -
SIR JACK CATER TO RECEIVE HONORARY DEGREE ft ft ft
SIR JACK CATER, HONG KONG'S COMMISSIONER IN LONDON, IS SCHEDULED TO ARRIVE HERE ON SATURDAY TO ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG’S 115TH CONGREGATION FOR THE CONFERMENT OF HONORARY DEGREES IN THE LOKE YEW HALL ON MARCH 4.
SIR JACK WILL RECEIVE AN HONORARY DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF SOCIAL SCIENCES.
DURING HIS STAY HERE, SIR JACK WILL CALL ON THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, AND HAVE MEETINGS WITH SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AS WELL AS UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS.
NOTE TO EDITORS!
A PHOTOGRAPHIC FACILITY WILL BE ARRANGED AT THE AIRPORT TO COVER SIR JACK’S ARRIVAL ON SATURDAY ON FLIGHT CX2OO, ETA 9.15 AM. PHOTOGRAPHERS AND CAMERAMEN ASSIGNED TO COVER THE EVENT SHOULD ASSEMBLE IN THE PRESS ROOM ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE TERMINAL BUILDING AT 9 AM. HOWEVER, MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE ADVISED TO CHECK WITH CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS IN CASE THE FLIGHT ARRIVES EARLIER.
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VISITORS WELCOME AT TECHNICAL INSTITUTE OPEN DAY ft ft ft
™E LEE WAI LEE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE IN KOWLOON WILL BE HOLDING JjMn2o!^JAiuJ0M0RR0W <FRIDAY) AFTERNOON AND ON SATURDAY, AND wctwtc THE PUBL,C ARE WELCOME TO SEE THE FACILITIES IN THE
VISITORS WILL BE ABLE TO TOUR THE WORKSHOPS. LABORATORIES AND HJ«TIthtc00.3 CATER,NG TO THE VARIOUS DISCIPLINES OFFERED BY THE -J1STHIF’ .ioS.i1-80 THE C0MPUTER CENTRE LINKED TO THE FOUR OTHER TErw! EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE HONG KONG
icUHNIGAL TEACHERS COLLEGE.
TWO OF THE DISCIPLINES, DESIGN AND INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY. £E ™E LEE WAI LEE technical INSTITUTE, AND
COURSES OFFERED INCLUDE FOOTWEAR, THREE-DIMENSIONAL DESIGN, ^*E^ERY. CLOCK AND WATCH rEPAIR, SPECTACLE OPTICS, MODELLING
DISPLAY, FABRIC AND FASHION DESIGN, AND GnArnlG DESIGN.
wc ^u!<SnT^LWlLL ALS0 BE ABLE T° SEE THE facilities offered in THE CHILD CARE TEACHING ROOM, ANOTHER FEATURE OF THE INSTITUTE.
LEE WAI LEE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE IS LOCATED AT 30 RENFREW ROAD THE H0URS 0F THE 0PEN DAY ARE FROM 2 PM TO 5 PM ’ ON FRIDAY (FEBRUARY 26)- AND FROM 10 AM TO 5 PM ON SATURDAY.
------o-------
/6........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1982
6
REVIEW OF THE OUTWARD PROCESSING ARRANGEMENT SCHEME ft ft ft ft
A SCHEME TO ALLOW GOODS TO BE PARTIALLY MANUFACTURED OUT OF HONG KONG WITHOUT LOSING HONG KONG ORIGIN STATUS HAS BEEN RUNNING SUCCESSFULLY FOR THE PAST 12 MONTHS.
COMMENTING ON THE SCHEME, KNOWN AS THE OUTWARD PROCESSING ARRANGEMENT, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT DURING THE YEAR IT HAD BEEN IN OPERATION, THE VALUE OF GOODS WHICH HAD BEEN EXPORTED UNDER CERTIFICATES OF HONG KONG ORIGIN, AFTER HAVING BEEN PARTIALLY MANUFACTURED ABROAD, AMOUNTED TO $27 MILLION.
♦ AT PRESENT WE HAVE 52 COMPANIES - WHOSE PRODUCTS INCLUDE TOYS, GARMENTS, METALWARE AND ELECTRONIC GOODS - REGISTERED UNDER THE SCHEME,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID. +BUT WE FEEL OTHERS WILL WISH TO PARTICIPATE AS ITS ADVANTAGES BECOME MORE WIDELY KNOWN.♦
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THE OUTWARD PROCESSING ARRANGEMENT ALSO HELPED THE IMPORTATION OF GOODS MARKED AS BEING OF HONG KONG ORIGIN.
♦ IF THE GOODS ARE REGISTERED UNDER THE SCHEME BEFORE THEY ARE SENT FOR PROCESSING OVERSEAS,♦ HE SAID, +THEY WILL BE SUBJECT ONLY TO BRIEF CUSTOMS FORMALITIES ON RE-IMPORTATION, EVEN THOUGH THEY CARRY HONG KONG ORIGIN MARKINGS.
♦ WITHOUT REGISTRATION, HOWEVER, THESE GOODS WOULD BE LIABLE TO DETENTION WHILE ENQUIRIES WERE BEING MADE, CAUSING INCONVENIENCE TO THE MANUFACTURER.♦
THE TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT WOULD WELCOME ENQUIRIES FROM THE TRADE ON THE OUTWARD PROCESSING ARRANGEMENTS. THESE SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO MR R.C.H. WONG, SENIOR INDUSTRY OFFICER, OUTWARD PROCESSING UNIT, ROOM 1329, OCEAN CENTRE, CANTON ROAD, KOWLOON (TEL. NO.i 3-7222470), WHO CAN PROVIDE FULL DETAILS OF THE SCHEME WHICH ARE CONTAINED IN CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN CIRCULAR NO. 2/81.
-------o----------
SUSPENSION OF AIR-PARCEL SERVICE TO FRANCE ft ft ft
AIR-PARCEL SERVICE FROM HONG KONG TO FRANCE HAS BEEN SUSPENDED TEMPORARILY DUE TO AN INDUSTRIAL DISPUTE OF CUSTOMS OFFICERS AT THE AIR PARCEL OFFICE THERE, THE POSTMASTER GENERAL ANNOUNCED TODAY.
HOWEVER, OTHER POSTAL SERVICES TO FRANCE ARE NOT AFFECTED, HE SAID.
-----0------
/7........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1982
7
SAFETY CONSCIOUSNESS IN YOUNGER GENERATION K HI X
WHILE SAFETY IS EVERYONE’S BUSINESS, IT IS ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT THAT SAFETY CONSCIOUSNESS SHOULD BE INSTILLED IN THE YOUNGER GENERATION.
THIS WAS STATED BY AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI, WHEN HE PRESENTED PRIZES TO WINNERS OF AN INDUSTRIAL SAFETY POSTER DESIGN COMPETITION AT THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC TODAY (THURSDAY).
DR HO POINTED OUT THAT THE FACT THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAD EXPANDED THE SCOPE OF THE COMPETITION AND HAD INCREASED THE NUMBER OF PRIZES CLEARLY INDICATED THE IMPORTANCE GOVERNMENT ATTACHED TO THE PROMOTION OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY.
THE COMPETITION NOT ONLY AIMED AT AROUSING THE INTEREST OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN INDUSTRIAL SAFETY BUT ALSO THE AWARENESS OF THOSE WORKING IN INDUSTRY OF THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY AT WORK, HE ADDED.
DR HO WAS DELIGHTED THAT MANY STUDENTS HAD SHOWN A KEEN INTEREST IN THE COMPETITION.
HE TOLD THE PRIZE WINNERSi ♦YOUR PARTICIPATION HAS NOT ONLY SHOWN YOUR CREATIVE TALENTS IN ART AND GRAPHIC DESIGN BUT HAS 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 MESSAGE OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY.♦
DR HO ALSO NOTED THAT THE STANDARD OF THE ENTRIES IN THE COMPETITION THIS YEAR WAS EXCEEDINGLY HIGH.
THE COMPETITION WAS DIVIDED INTO TWO SECTIONS - SECTION A OPEN TO STUDENTS FROM TECHNICAL SECONDARY SCHOOLS, POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTES AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING SCHOOLS, AND SECTION B OPEN TO STUDENTS FROM NON-TECHNICAL SCHOOLS.
IN SECTION A, THE FIRST PRIZE WAS WON BY KONG CHE-WING OF TANG SHIU KIN VICTORIA TECHNICAL SCHOOL, WHILE THE SECTION B WINNER WAS AUYEUNG YING-CHAI OF METHODIST COLLEGE. EACH WAS AWARDED A CASH PRIZE OF $600.
- 0 ---------
/8........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1982
8
TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING GRADUATES * * * * *
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, MR NICKY CHAN, SAID TODAY THAT CIVIL ENGINEERS NEEDED A WIDE RANGE OF GENERAL SKILLS IN ADDITION TO THEIR PROFESSIONAL TRAINING IF THEIR WORK WAS TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY.
SPEAKING AT A SEMINAR ON +INTEGRATION, TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT CF HONG KONG UNIVERSITY CIVIL ENGINEERING GRADUATES*, HE SAID THAT ALONG WITH THEIR ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS, CIVIL ENGINEERS NEEDED TO DEVELOP INITIATIVE, SELF-RELIANCE, ORIGINALITY OF THOUGHT AND GOOD JUDGEMENT.
♦GOOD JUDGEMENT, GENERALLY, COMES WITH EXPERIENCE AND MATURITY. NEVERTHELESS, IT IS AS WELL TO BE CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED TO EXERCISE THIS CHARACTERISTIC RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING,♦ MR CHAN SAID.
♦ASPECTS OF COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENT ARE RECEIVING A
GREAT DEAL OF ATTENTION TODAY, NOT ONLY IN HONG KONG, BUT THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. CLEARLY, THE EXERCISE OF JUDGEMENT IN RELATION TO ENGINEERING SCHEMES AND THEIR EFFECT ON THE COMMUNITY IS ESSENTIAL TO A PROFESSIONAL ENG I NEER.+
MR CHAN SAID THAT THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WAS ONE OF THE FEW ORGANISATIONS IN HONG KONG ABLE TO OFFER CIVIL ENGINEERING GRADUATE TRAINING UNDER A SCHEME APPROVED BY THE INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS.
THE PWD IS NOW TRAINING 90 CIVIL ENGINEERING GRADUATES, AND COMPETITION FOR PLACES IN THE SCHEME WAS KEEN.
♦LAST YEAR A TOTAL OF 344 APPLICATIONS WAS RECEIVED. OF THESE 251 APPLICANTS WERE INTERVIEWED AND THE REQUIRED 30 GRADUATES RECRUITED,♦ HE SAID.
THE GRADUATES, HE ADDED, GAINED A VARIETY OF PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE BY WORKING IN PWD OFFICES INVOLVED WITH CIVIL ENGINEERING! THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE, CIVIL ENGINEERING OFFICE, RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, GEOTECHNICAL CONTROL OFFICE, WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT AND THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
MR CHAN SAID THAT THE AMOUNT BY WHICH A GRADUATE BENEFITTED FROM PWD TRAINING DEPENDED ON WILLINGNESS TO LEARN.
♦A GRADUATE SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID TO ASK THE ADVICE OF THE ENGINEER, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HIS DAILY ACTIVITIES, ON MATTERS WITH WHICH HE IS UNFAMILIAR OR UNCERTAIN. HE WILL LEARN A GREAT DEAL BY ASKING QUESTIONS, AND WILL ALSO BE LIABLE TO MAKE FEWER MISTAKES,+ HE SAID.
MR CHAN SAID THAT FROM THIS YEAR, RECRUITMENT OF HONG KONG UNIVERSITY CIVIL ENGINEERING GRADUATES WOULD NOT BE CONFINED TO FILLING VACANCIES IN THE APPROVED TRAINING SCHEME, AND GRADUATES WOULD ALSO BE RECRUITED DIRECTLY TO ASSISTANT ENGINEER RANK.
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/9........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1982
- 9 -
FISHERMEN WARNED OF FOG CONDITIONS * * * *
THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT TODAY (THURSDAY) ADVISED FISHERMEN TO TAKE ALL PRECAUTIONS NECESSARY TO IDENTIFY THEIR VESSELS DURING THE FOG SEASON.
ALL VESSELS, SAID A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT, MUST EXHIBIT SIDELIGHTS AND STERNLIGHTS, SHOULD MAKE SOUND SIGNALS WHETHER UNDERWAY OR NOT, AND SHOULD IDEALLY BE FITTED WITH RADAR REFLECTORS.
THE PRECAUTIONS ARE LISTED IN A DEPARTMENTAL LEAFLET — EXPLANATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL REGULATIONS FOR PREVENTING COLLISIONS AT SEA — WHICH IS AVAILABLE TO FISHERMEN FREE OF CHARGE FROM THE WHOLESALE FISH MARKETS.
♦SOUND SIGNALS PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN NAVIGATING IN RESTRICTED VISIBILITY AREAS OR FOGGY WEATHER. THE VESSEL SHOULD SOUND AT INTERVALS OF NOT MORE THAN TWO MINUTES, ONE PROLONGED BLAST. A VESSEL UNDERWAY BUT STOPPED SHOULD SOUND AT INTERVALS OF NOT MORE THAN TWO MINUTES, TWO PROLONGED BLASTS, AND A VESSEL AT ANCHOR SHOULD SOUND RAPIDLY FOR ABOUT FIVE SECONDS WITHIN EVERY MINUTE,* SAID THE SPOKESMAN.
RADAR AND RADAR REFLECTORS WERE THE IDEAL MEDIUM FOR PREVENTING COLLISIONS IN POOR VISIBILITY. ALTHOUGH RADAR COULD EASILY PICK-UP LARGE AND IN PARTICULAR METAL OBJECTS, THERE WERE LIMITATIONS IN DETECTING SMALLER WOODEN CRAFT.
♦FOR THIS REASON,* SAID THE SPOKESMAN, +REFLECTORS SHOULD BE FITTED TO ALL CRAFT TO INCREASE RADAR RESPONSE.*
HE ADDED THAT INFORMATION ON RADAR AND REFLECTORS COULD BE OBTAINED FROM THE DEPARTMENT’S LIAISON OFFICERS.
-------o - - - -
RESTRICTION TEMPORARILY LIFTED * * *
THE EXISTING PLB PROHIBITION IN JORDAN VALLEY NORTH ROAD WILL BE TEMPORARILY RESCINDED FROM 10 AM ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 27).
UNDER THIS ARRANGEMENT, WESTBOUND PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES ALONG THE URBAN CLEARWAY IN NGAU TAU KOK ROAD MAY STOP FOR PASSENGERS AT JORDAN VALLEY NORTH ROAD.
- - - - 0 ----------
/10........
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1982
- 10 -
GUANGDONG MODEL PLANE TEAM ARRIVES * * *
IT WAS PARTICULARLY THRILLING TO HAVE THE GUANGDONG CONTROL-LINE MODEL AIRCRAFT TEAM COME TO HONG KONG TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR SKILLS, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (NORTH REGION) OF NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES, MR BOWEN LEUNG SAID TODAY.
SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE HELD ON ARRIVAL OF THE TEAM TODAY AT THE KOWLOON RAILWAY STATION, MR LEUNG SAID AS FAR AS HE KNEW, IT WILL BE THE FIRST SUCH PERFORMANCE TO BE PUT UP IN HONG KONG.
♦ I AM SURE IT WILL BRING MUCH PLEASURE TO THE SPECTATORS AS WELL AS THE PARTICIPANTS,* HE SAID.
MR LEUNG SAID THAT THE PUBLIC HAD SHOWN GREAT INTEREST IN THE EVENT, AND SOME 7 000 TICKETS FOR THE PERFORMANCE WERE ALL QUICKLY TAKEN UP.
THE PERFORMANCE OF MODEL AIRCRAFT IS IN ITSELF BOTH A SPORT AND AN ART AND THE VISIT OF THE GUANGDONG TEAM WILL ADD MUCH COLOUR TO THE EVENT, MR LEUNG SAID.
MEMBERS OF THE VISITING TEAM, LED BY MR ZHANG WEN-ZHENG, DESCRIBED TO PRESS REPRESENTATIVES THE VARIOUS EVENTS THAT WILL BE PUT ON.
ONE SHOW WILL BE HELD AT THE FAN LING RECREATION GROUND ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 27) AND ANOTHER AT TUEN MUN TANG SHIU KIN PLAYGROUND ON SUNDAY.
THE VISIT IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG MODELLERS CLUB AND THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
-----o------
BUDGET PUBLICATIONS ON SALE
X K * K
FIVE BUDGET PUBLICATIONS WERE PUT ON SALE FROM TODAY (THURSDAY) AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GPO BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE.
THE PUBLICATIONS — THE 1981 ECONOMIC BACKGROUND (IN SEPARATE ENGLISH AND CHINESE VERSIONS) AT $14 PER COPY, DRAFT ESTIMATES 1982-83 (IN A SET OF THREE PUBLICATIONS — REVENUE ESTIMATES, SUPPORTING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND STATISTICAL APPENDICES, AND ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE) AT $250 PER SET, ESTIMATES OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 1983 (REPORT OF THE PUBLIC WORKS SUB-COMMITTEE OF FINANCE COMMITTEE 1981) AT $200 PER COPY, AND ESTIMATES OF GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT 1966 TO 1980 AT $7 PER COPY — PROVIDE VALUABLE REFERENCE MATERIAL FOR ALL INTERESTED IN DETAILS OF THE BUDGET.
-----o----
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1982
11
VOLUNTEERS TO BE THANKED * * *
TWENTY-FIVE PUBLIC-SPIRITED CITIZENS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE WILL BE OFFICIALLY THANKED FOR THEIR VOLUNTARY EFFORTS TO ASSIST THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S PROBATION STAFF DURING THE YEAR 1980-81.
THE VOLUNTEERS WILL EACH RECEIVE A CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION FROM THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE (OPERATIONS), MRS EVELYN DOE, AT A CEREMONY TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 27) AT THE SHERATON HOTEL.
THE VOLUNTEERS HAVE FINISHED THEIR SIX-MONTH ASSIGNMENT TO HELP BOYS AND GIRLS PUT ON PROBATION UNDER THE DEPARTMENT’S VOLUNTEER SCHEME FOR PROBATIONERS.
AN UNOFFICIAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, MISS MARIA TAM WILL SPEAK ON +REHABILITATION OF OFFENDERS — COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT*.
NOTE TO ED I TORSt
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT. THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY WILL BE HELD AT THE MING ROOM, SHERATON HOTEL, FOURTH FLOOR, TSIM SHA TSUI, ON SATURDAY (FEBRUARY 27), FROM 2.30 PM TO 4.30 PM.
- - - - 0 ----
RETIREMENT SOUVENIR FOR PWD SURVEYOR ft * ft
MR J.M. TRICKETT, CHIEF QUANTITY SURVEYOR OF BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WILL PROCEED ON PRE-RETIREMENT LEAVE NEXT MONTH AFTER 24 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE GOVERNMENT.
TO MARK HIS RETIREMENT, MR JOHN AITKEN, DIRECTOR OF BUILDING DEVELOPMENT, TODAY PRESENTED HIM WITH A SOUVENIR ON BEHALF OF HIS COLLEAGUES.
MR TRICKETT JOINED THE PWD AS QUANTITY SURVEYOR IN SEPTEMBER 1958 AND WAS PROMOTED TO SENIOR QUANTITY SURVEYOR IN JANUARY 1966 AND TO THE PRESENT RANK OF CHIEF QUANTITY SURVEYOR IN JULY 1976.
DURING HIS CAREER WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, MR TRICKETT SPECIALISED IN THE FIELD OF FORECASTING AND MONITORING EXPENDITURE ON BUILDING PROJECTS UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1982
12
TENANCY AVAILABLE AT KAI TAK LOT ft ft ft ft
TENDERS ARE BEING SOUGHT BY THE CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE FOR THE SHORT-TERM TENANCY OF A LOT AT KAI TAK AIRPORT.
THE LOT MEASURES ABOUT 820 SQUARE METRES AND IS FOR OPEN STORAGE OF SUCH GOODS, VEHICLES AND MACHINERY RELATED TO AIRPORT ACTIVITIES AS THE AIRPORT MANAGER MAY APPROVE.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE SAID THAT APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED ONLY FROM COMPANIES, FIRMS OR INDIVIDUALS WHOSE BUSINESS IS RELATED TO AIRPORT ACTIVITIES.
THE TENANCY WILL BE INITIALLY FOR ONE YEAR, AND THEREAFTER ON A QUARTERLY BASIS. THE DEADLINE FOR ACCEPTANCE OF TENDERS IS NOON ON MARCH 12.
TENDER FORMS, WITH NOTICES AND CONDITIONS, MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, 19TH FLOOR, OR KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 405 NATHAN ROAD, 10TH FLOOR.
TENDER PLANS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THESE OFFICES.
-----o-----
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1982
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES FOR JANUARY 1982 .................. 1
POLLUTION CONTROLS FOR TOLO HARBOUR.......................... 3
FS TO VISIT CHINA............................................ 5
VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS..................... 6
NT VOTERS ENCOURAGED TO GO TO POLLS ......................... 7
FINAL STAGE OF OVERALL REVIEW OF EDUCATION .................. 8
ROLE OF OUT-PATIENT CLINICS IN HEALTH CARE................... 9
FAR EAST CORRECTIONAL CHIEFS STUDY HONG KONG SYSTEM.......... 10
PROPOSALS FOR ALTERATION OF THE VALUATION LIST .............. 11
DISTRICT BOARD TO HOLD INAUGURAL MEETING..................... 11
MORE GRANTS FOR TRAINING SOCIAL WORKERS...................... 13
APPLICATIONS TO GOVERNMENT AND AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS......... 13
NO SPECIAL TRAINS TO SHA TIN RACECOURSE TOMORROW............. 14
KOWLOON URBAN COACH ROUTE 211 TO SUSPEND SERVICE............. 14
EDUCATIONIST RETIRES AFTER 25 YEARS OF SERVICE............... 15
SHA TIN ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN CONCERT ..................... 15
104-YEAR OLD MADAM LAU TO ATTEND FEAST FOR ELDERLY........... 16
TWO BUILDINGS TO BE RESUMED.................................. 16
THREE LOTS OF CROW LAND SOLD................................. 17
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF MOUNT PARKER RCVJ)...................... 17
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1982
1
provisional Trade figures for January 1982 * M M M ----
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY PUBLISHED THE PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES FOR RONG KONG'S VISIBLE TRADE IN JANUARY 1982. ,
THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS FOR JANUARY WAS $9 558 MILLION. MADE UP OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS AT >6 239 MILLION AND RE-EXPORTS AT S3 319 MILLION, WITH IMPORTS AT S1O 023 MILLION, THE VISIBLE TRADE DEFICIT FOR JANUARY WAS >465 MILLION.
AS THE LUNAR NEW YEAR IN 1982 FELL IN JANUARY AND THAT IN 1981 FELL IN FEBRUARY, IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT THE PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES FOR JANUARY THIS YEAR SHOWED DECREASES WHEN COMPARED WITH FIGURES FOR THE SAME MONTH IN 1981.
THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS DECREASED BY >116 MILLION OR 1.2 PER CENT, COMPRISING DECREASES OF $106 MILLION OR 1.7 PER CENT FOR DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND $9 MILLION OR 0.3 PER CENT FOR RE-EXPORTS.
THE VALUE OF IMPORTS ALSO. DECREASED BUT BY A RELATIVELY MORE SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF >663 MILLION OR 6.2 PER CENT.
THE VISIBLE TRADE ♦GAP+, THAT IS THE PROPORTION OF THE VALUE OF IMPORTS NOT COVERED BY THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS, AT 4.6 PER CENT, SHOWED A SIGNIFICANT NARROWING WHEN COMPARED WITH 9i5 PER CENT IN JANUARY 1981.
PUTTING THE JANUARY TRADE STATISTICS INTO CONTEXT, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE VALUES OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDING JANUARY 1982 SHOWED INCREASES OF 14 PER CENT AND 19 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY WHEN COMPARED WITH THE VALUES IN THE THREE MONTHS ENDING JANUARY 1981.
THE CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS WAS 16 PER CENT, MUCH FASTER THAN THE INCREASE IN THE VALUE OF IMPORTS, AT 8 PER CENT. THUS THE VISIBLE TRADE +GAP+ CONTINUED TO BE ON A NARROWING TREND. AT 9.2 PER CENT IN THE THREE MONTHS ENDING JANUARY 1982, IT WAS SIGNIFICANTLY SMALLER THAN IN THE THREE MONTHS ENDING JANUARY 1981, AT 15.2 PER CENT.
THE SPOKESMAN, HOWEVER, CAUTIONED THAT THE RELATIVELY SLOW GROWTH RATES OF IMPORTS RECORDED IN RECENT MONTHS WERE WIDE-SPREAD AMONG DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF IMPORTS, INCLUDING RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES. THIS MAY HAVE IMPLICATIONS FOR HONG KONG’S EXPORT PERFORMANCE IN THE COMING MONTHS.
EXTENDING THE PERIOD OF COMPARISON TO THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDING JANUARY THIS YEAR WITH THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDING JANUARY 1981, THERE WERE THE FOLLOWING INCREASES BY VALUE I >10 797 MILLION OR 16 PER CENT FOR DOMESTIC EXPORTS- >10 378 MILLION OR 33 PER CENT FOR RE-EXPORTS- $21 175 MILLION OR 21 PER CENT FOR TOTAL EXPORTS AND >23 509 MILLION OR 20.6 PER CENT FOR IMPORTS.
/trade figures ...
JBIDAY, FKBBUABY 26, 1982
2
TRADE FIGURES FOR JANUARY, 1982
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT HAS RELEASED THE FOLLOWING PROVISIONAL MERCHANDISE TRADE FIGURES FOR JANUARYi-
MERCHANDISEl COMPARATIVE FIGURES DOMESTIC EXPORTS I $ 6 239 MILLION
RE-EXPORTS TOTAL EXPORTS IMPORTS TRADE BALANCE i S 3 319 MILLION 558 MILLION 023 MILLION
1 i S 9
i S10
1 s 465 MILLION (IN DEFICIT)
I
NOV. 1981 NOV. 1980
TO TO INCREASE OR
LATEST 3 MONTHS JAN. 1982 JAN. 1981 DECREASE
S MN. 1 MN. S MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 21 047 18 486 ♦ 2 561 *13.9
RE-EXPORTS 11 157 9 376 ♦ 1 780 *19.0
TOTAL EXPORTS 32 204 27 863 ♦ 4 341 *15.6
IMPORTS 35 486 32 854 ♦ 2 632 ♦ 8.0
TRADE BALANCE - 3 282 - 4 991 ♦ 1 709 INCREASE OR
SAME MONTH LAST YEAR JAN. 1982 JAN. 1981 DECREASE
S MN. 1 MN. $ MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 6 239 6 346 - 106 - 1.7
(% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) (65.3%) (65.6%)
RE-EXPORTS 3 319 3 328 9-0.3
TOTAL EXPORTS 9 558 9 674 - 116 - 1.2
IMPORTS 10 023 10 685 - 663 - 6.2
TRADE BALANCE - 465 - 1 011 ♦ 546 /UST.1CNTH
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1982
3
INCREASE OR
LAST MONTH JAN. 1982 DEC. 1981 DECREASE
$ MN. $ MN. 1 MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS (% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) 6 239 (65.3%) 7 798 (66.6%) - 1 559 -20.0
RE-EXPORTS 3 319 3 902 - 583 -15.0
TOTAL EXPORTS 9 558 11 700 - 2 142 -18.3
IMPORTS 10 023 13 017 - 2 994 -23.0
TRADE BALANCE - 465 FEB. 1981 - 1 317 FEB. 1980 ♦ 852
TO TO INCREASE OR
LAST 12 MONTHS JAN. 1982 JAN. 1981 DECREASE
$ MN. 1 MN. 1 MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 80 317 69 520 ♦10 797 +15.5
RE-EXPORTS 41 730 31 353 ♦10 378 +33.1
TOTAL EXPORTS 122 047 100 872 ♦21 175 +21.0
IMPORTS 137 712 114 204 ♦23 509 +20.6
TRADE BALANCE -15 665 £ > - - 0 -13 332 - 2 333 4
POLLUTION CONTROLS FOR TOLO HARBOUR
"ARB0UR WAS T0DAT DECLARED HONG KONG’S FIRST WATER
UUniKvL ZONg«
uuiruTiJL?S?lR WAS MADE UNDER THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE iCht?£tcT^ * MEANS TO INTRODUCE CONTROLS ON DISCHARGES OF
lXaccfptIri rNi WHERE WATER POLLUTION IS IN DANGER OF REACHING UNAUVtrIAdLc LEVELS.
PFFcrT ™V*Rn»vN™S^K^MAN SAID THE CONTROLS WOULD COME INTO ^fECT 0N A DAY to be appointed by the governor, after water 0BJECT,VES *SRE DEFINED AND THE NECESSARY REGULATIONS
AmKecD.
™ue-rT!!£-r?£OlfE£!?AN SAID THE T0L0 HARBOUR WATER CONTROL ZONE' A MAJ0R NATURAL RESOURCE' FOR THE DEVELOP I NG NEW
H**’™ ES» W,TH THE POTENTIAL TO ACCOMMODATE SUBSTANTIAL
S!?1?E$!T*AL AND ‘HDUSTRIAL EXPANSION AND TO PROVIDE A SIGNIFICANT resource, however, the waters within this ZONE ARE ££?!NTLY AT RISK OF SEVERE POLLUTION, OWING TO ITS SPECIAL PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS.
/TOLO HABBOUH
FBIDAY, FEBHUAHY 26, 1982
4
TOLO HARBOUR IS A LARGE AND ALMOST LAND-LOCKED BODY OF WATER WITH A NARROW OUTLET TO THE SEA AND CONSEQUENT LOW TIDAL CLEANSING ACTION. THIS HAS BEEN EXACERBATED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF SHING KIN AND PLOVER COVE RESERVIORS, AS THE MAJORITY OF RAIN WATER WHICH USED TO FLOW ALONG STREAM COURSES INTO TOLO HARBOUR IS NOW DIVERTED TO THE TWO STORAGE RESERVIORS. IN ADDITION, THE CONSTRUCTION OF PLOVER COVE RESERVIOR HAS DEDUCED SIGNIFICANTLY THE AREA OF TOLO HARBOUR, WITH A CONSEQUENT REDUCTION IN THE TIDAL EXCHANGE VOLUME.
THE LAND AROUND TOLO HARBOUR IS ALSO THE SCENE OF SOME OF HONG KONG’S MOST RAPID URBANISATION, WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF MAJOR RESIDENTIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ESTATES ALONG ITS SHORES.
♦IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THE MAXIMUM ECONOMIC BENEFIT FROM THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS LARGE AND IMPORTANT AREA, IT 'IS ESSENTIAL THAT ITS ATTRACTIVENESS AS A PLACE TO LIVE AND WORK IS MA INTA I NED,♦ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
WITH A VIEW TO LESSENING THE EFFECT OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS ON THE WATER QUALITY OF TOLO HARBOUR, THE PLANNED NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENTS WOULD ALL HAVE THEIR OWN INTEGRATED SEWERAGE AND SEWAGE TREATMENT SYSTEMS, HE EXPLAINED.
IN ADDITION, STEPS HAVE ALREADY BEEN TAKEN TO ESTABLISH SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS FOR THE NEW INDUSTRIAL ESTATES IN THE AREA. THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THE PROBLEM OF THE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL OF AGRICULTURAL WASTE WAS ALSO RECEIVING URGENT ATTENTION SINCE THIS WAS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO THE POLLUTION OF THE STREAMS AND RIVERS IN THE AREA.
♦THE DECLARATION OF TOLO HARBOUR AS A WATER CONTROL ZONE WILL FORM AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THESE MEASURES TO COMBAT WATER POLLUTION IN THIS PART OF THE NEW TERRITORIES,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE NEXT STEP TO BE TAKEN WILL BE TO DEFINE WATER QUALITY OBJECTIVES, WHICH WILL BE ESTABLISHED UNDER THE ORDINANCE BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS. THESE OBJECTIVES DESCRIBE IN DETAIL THE ACCEPTABLE QUALITY OF THE WATER IN THE ZONE IN TERMS OF THE PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WATER OR LEVELS OF CERTAIN SUBSTANCES WHICH HAVE TO BE MAINTAINED TO PROTECT THE WATERS.
CONTROLS IN THE FORM OF LICENSING ARE THEN IMPOSED TO ENSURE THAT DISCHARGES OF POLLUTANTS ARE LIMITED. FROM THE FIRST APPOINTED DAY. ANYONE ALREADY DISCHARGING POLLUTANTS DURING THE PRECEDING 12 MONTHS MAY BE EXEMPTED FROM LICENSING CONTROLS, BUT NEW DISCHARGES OR DEPOSITS WILL HAVE TO BE LICENSED. FROM A SECOND DAY TO BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, EACH NON-EXEMPT OR UNLICENSED DISCHARGE CF THE TYPES SPECIFIED WILL CONSTITUTE AN OFFENCE.
THE IMMEDIATE EFFECT OF THESE MEASURES, THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED, WAS THAT THEY WOULD STABILISE THE SITUATION AND PREVENT FURTHER DETERIORATION OF THE WATER QUALITY.
/♦AS THE........
FHIDAY, FBBBUABY 26, 1982
- 5' -
♦AS THE NATURAL PROCESSES OF INDUSTRIAL CHANGE. EXPANSION AND REGENERATION OCCUR, EXISTING EMITTERS WILL GRADUALLY LOSE THEIR EXEMPTIONS AS THEY CHANGE THE NATURE OR EXTENT OF THEIR EMISSIONS AND AS OLD UNDERTAKINGS ARE REPLACED BY NEW,+ HE SAID.
♦THUS IMPROVEMENTS MAY BE ACHIEVED IN THE LONGER TERM.+
THE ORDER PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY ALSO DESIGNATES THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS (TO BE REPLACED BY THE DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT AFTER APRIL 1) AND THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES AS THE AUTHORITIES FOR THE TOLO HARBOUR WATER CONTROL ZONE.
AS REQUIRED BY THE ORDINANCE, THE DECLARATION WAS MADE ONLY AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
MAPS WHICH DEPICT THE ZONE IN DETAIL ARE DEPOSITED WITH THE LAND OFFICE FOR INSPECTION BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
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FS TO VISIT CHINA
HMM
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR JOHN BREMRIDGE AND THE SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS, MR DOUGLAS BLYE WILL VISIT CHINA FROM MARCH 6 TO 14 AT THE INVITATION OF MR BU MING, CHAIRMAN AND PRESIDENT OF THE BANK OF CHINA.
THEY WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE POLITICAL ADVISER, MR ROBIN MCLAREN AND MR Y.P. CHENG, THE CHIEF GOVERNMENT INTERPRETER.
MRS BREMRIDGE, MRS BLYE AND MRS MCLAREN WILL ALSO TAKE PART IN THE VISIT.
THE GROUP WILL SPEND THREE DAYS IN PEKING FOR TALKS WITH THE BANK OF CHINA AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS. THEY WILL ALSO VISIT SHANGHAI AND HANGZHOU.
MR BREMRIDGE’S PREDECESSOR AS FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, VISITED CHINA IN MAY, 1980.
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/6........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1982
6
VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS * ft * M
THE GOVERNOR HAS APPOINTED MR FRANCIS TIEN AS CHAIRMAN OF THE NEWLY-CREATED VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL. SEVENTEEN OTHER UNOFFICIALS AND FOUR OFFICIALS HAVE ALSO BEEN APPOINTED.
THE UNOFFICIALS ARE MR ALEX WU, WHO IS ALSO THE COUNCIL'S DEPUTY CHAIRMAN, MR D.R.Y. BLUCK, MR K.C. CHAN, MR S.L. CHEN, DR HO KAM-FAI, MR ALLEN LEE, MR PETER LEE, DR KEITH LEGG, MR H.W. MAK, MR S.K. NGA I, MR C.H. PANG, MISS T. SHAK, MR H.C. TANG, DR DANIEL TSE, MR T. WELSH, MR GEOFFREY M.T. YEH AND DR E.C.M. YOUNG.
THE OFFICIALS ARE THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR AND THE DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING.
MR TIEN, AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HAS BEEN CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL SINCE 1975.
HE IS ALSO CHAIRMAN OF THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD OF THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL. THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY TRAINING AUTHORITY AND THE EXTRA-MURAL STUDIES ADVISORY BOARD OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG.
MR TIEN IS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, THE COURT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG AND THE COUNCILS OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG AND THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ALSO ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT MR MORRIS MORGAN HAD BEEN APPOINTED AS THE FIRST DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING. HE WILL ALSO BE THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL, AND UNTIL THE NEW DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING IS ESTABLISHED ON APRIL 1 HE WILL CONTINUE WORK WITHIN THE EDUCATION BRANCH.
MR MORGAN, AN ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER STAFF GRADE Bl, HAS SERVED IN A NUMBER OF SENIOR POSTS AND HAS WIDE EXPERIENCE IN BOTH THE EDUCATION, LABOUR AND SOCIAL WELFARE FIELDS. HE WAS THE FIRST SECRETARY FOR THE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION (1964-5) AND HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF THE INDUSTRIAL TRAINING ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL AT VARIOUS TIMES.
THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO PROMOTE AND COORDINATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE TO MEET THE INCREASING NEEDS OF HONG KONG FOR WELL-TRAINED MANPOWER. IT WILL THEN INSTITUTE AND OPERATE TRAINING SCHEMES AS WELL AS ADVISE THE GOVERNOR ON THE NEW MEASURES REQUIRED.
THE COUNCIL WILL TAKE OVER THE OPERATION OF THE EXISTING TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND WILL ESTABLISH NEW TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING CENTRES.
/THE vocational........
FHLD1Y, FKBBUABY 26, 1982
7
THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL SUPERSEDES AND TAKES OVER THE ADVISORY FUNCTIONS PERFORMED BY THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL. UNLIKE ITS PREDECESSOR, THE NEW COUNCIL IS A STATUTORY BODY WITH POWER TO DEPLOY GOVERNMENT FUNDS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING.
THE NEW DEPARTMENT WILL BE FORMED BY MERGING THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION DIVISION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WITH THE INDUSTRIAL TRAINING BRANCH OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.
THE DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING WILL ALSO HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES RELATING TO THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING OF THE DISABLED AND TO APPRENTICESHIPS.
--------o - - - -
NT VOTERS ENCOURAGED TO GO TO POLLS ft ft * ft ft ft
ABOUT 100 TEMPORARY COMMUNITY ORGANISERS (TCO’S) ARE BEING EMPLOYED BY NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT OFFICES TO ENCOURAGE VOTING IN NEXT THURSDAY’S NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS.
THE TCO’S HAVE BEEN MAKING DOOR-TO-DOOR CALLS SINCE MID-JANUARY ON REGISTERED VOTERS IN HOUSING ESTATES AND VILLAGES OF THE EIGHT NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICTS.
THEIR ROLE IS TO INFORM ELECTORS ABOUT VOTING TIMINGS, LOCATIONS OF POLLING STATIONS AND VOTING PROCEDURES.
THEY ALSO EXPLAIN THE FUNCTION CONSTITUENCY-BASED ELECTORAL SYSTEM.
OF DISTRICT BOARDS AND THE
PAMPHLETS ON THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME AND VOTING PROCEDURE ARE DISTRIBUTED DURING THE VISITS.
THE TCO’S ARE EITHER STUDENTS, TEACHERS, CLERICAL STAFF OR EMPLOYEES OF PUBLIC UTILITY COMPANIES.
LAST YEAR, TCO’S WERE EMPLOYED TO ENCOURAGE NEW TERRITORIES RESIDENTS TO REGISTER AS VOTERS.
ON MARCH 4, 125 POLLING STATIONS WILL BE SET UP IN THE 46 NEW TERRITORIES CONSTITUENCIES. EACH STATION WILL OPEN AT 7 AM AND CLOSE AT 10 PM WHEN VOTE COUNTING WILL BEGIN.
A TOTAL OF 174 CANDIDATES WILL COMPETE FOR 56 SEATS ON THE EIGHT DISTRICT BOARDS.
THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 200 000 REGISTERED ELECTORS IN THE »W TERRITORIES.
ELECTIONS IN THE URBAN AREA TAKE PLACE ON SEPTEMBER 23.
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/8 ........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1982
8
FINAL STAGE OF OVERALL REVIEW OF EDUCATION ******
THE PANEL OF VISITORS CONDUCTING THE OVERALL REVIEW OF THE HONG KONG EDUCATION SYSTEM WILL RETURN TO HONG KONG AT THE END OF MARCH FOR A CONCLUDING EXAMINATION OF OUR EDUCATION POLICIES.
THE VISITORS HAVE BEEN STUDYING THE REPRESENTATIONS THEY RECEIVED BEFORE AND DURING THEIR FIRST VISIT TO HONG KONG LAST OCTOBER WHEN THEY SPENT TWO WEEKS MEETING WITH A WIDE VARIETY OF PERSONS AND GROUPS INCLUDING MANY WHO RESPONDED TO PRESS ADVERTISEMENTS INVITING COMMENTS ON THE EDUCATION SYSTEM.
THE HIGHLIGHT OF THEIR FINAL VISIT WILL BE TWO PLENARY SESSIONS AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CHAMBER WHICH WILL PROVIDE A LIVELY FORUM FOR DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE PANEL OF VISITORS AND HONG KONG PART IC I PANTS.
THESE SESSIONS WILL BE CHAIRED BY MR GEORGE PAPADOPOULOS, DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR EDUCATION OF THE ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT (OECD), AND WILL BE ATTENDED BY MR ARTHUR MADDOCKS, UNITED KINGDOM PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE UK DELEGATION TO THE OECD, HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND AN INVITED PUBLIC AUDIENCE INCLUDING THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS WHO HAD MADE REPRESENTATIONS TO THE PANEL.
IN ORDER TO ADD FURTHER OBJECTIVITY AND BREADTH TO THIS FINAL ASSESSMENT, OVERSEAS REPRESENTATIVES SPECIALISING IN DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF EDUCATION IN SEVERAL COUNTRIES FROM BOTH WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE REGION WILL ALSO TAKE PART IN THE PLENARY SESSIONS. THESE OTHER OVERSEAS PARTICIPANTS WILL BE I
ROYAL PROFESSOR UNGKU A AZIZ, VICE CHANCELLOR, UNIVERSITY OF MALAYA; MR CHAN KAI-YAU, DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, SINGAPORE; W ERNST GOLDSCHMIDT, UNDER SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, DENMARK ; MR JAMES S HRABI, ASSOCIATE DEPUTY MINISTER, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, ALBERTA, CANADA; MR AKIO NAKAJIMA, DIRECTOR, UPPER SECONDARY EDUCATION DIVISION, MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, JAPAN.
DURING THESE PLENARY SESSIONS, THE PARTICIPANTS WILL HEAR THE FINDINGS AND OBSERVATIONS OF THE PANEL OF VISITORS ON OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM. THEY WILL ALSO HEAR COMMENTS FROM GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ON THE FINDINGS AND THERE WILL ALSO BE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE INVITED AUDIENCE TO EXPRESS THEIR OWN VIEWS.
AFTER THIS VISIT, THE PANEL OF VISITORS WILL COMPLETE THEIR REPORT AND SUBMIT IT TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.
THE OVERALL REVIEW OF EDUCATION HAS BEEN ORGANISED WITH THE GUIDANCE AND ADVICE OF MEMBERS OF THE SECRETARIAT OF THE OECD.
THE PANEL OF VISITORS ARE I
SIR JOHN LLEWLLYN, FORMER VICE-CHANCELLOR OF EXETER UNIVERSITY AND DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE BRITISH COUNCIL-
/DH GBEG .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1982
9
DR GREG HANCOCK, CHIEF EDUCATION OFFICER, AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY SCHOOLS AUTHORITY-
DR KARL ROELOFFS, SECRETARY-GENERAL, FEDERAL GERMAN ACADEMIC EXCHANGE SERVICE-
PROFESSOR MICHAEL W KIRST, PROFESSOR OF EDUCATION AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, STANFORD UNIVERSITY.
THE PANEL IS ASSISTED BY TWO SPECIAL ADVISERS, Ml Q. W. LEE AND MR JAMES MCHUGH.
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ROLE OF OUT-PATIENT CLINICS IN HEALTH CARE * * * *
IN THE
GOVERNMENT OUT-PATIENT CLINIC IS THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENCE WHOLE PROCESS OF DELIVERY OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE WHICH IS SAFEGUARD PUBLIC HEALTH AND PREVENT EPIDEMICS, A SENIOR MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT OFFICIAL SAID TODAY.
rMfr/nJ £9RJ^I0NE WH0 C0MES AND dEm*NDS A MEDICAL CHECK-UP JUST BECAUSE HE DOES NOT EAT WELL OR SLEEP WELL ♦ SAID DR LAWRENCE LAI, REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF KOWLOON. *
Tur BPEAKING 0N THE R0LE AND BASIC RESPONSIBILITY OF
SuN TONG THIS ?5ftT2rAUTHORITY * TALK T° THE R0TARY CLUB 0F nwvn lunu inio tVfcrilNb.
MiTMn!?TC0!!THe0EL.T!!ALT!!5 OBLIGATION OF ANY GOVERNMENT HEALTH PROVIDE A BASIC PRIMARY HEALTH CARE ™J*FE6UARD PUBLIC HEALTH AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE OAVL LIVcS.
SERVICES, HE SAID, CONSIST OF PREVENTION AND .O^ROL °L,iP DEM ICS THROUGH GENERAL AND SPECIALIST OUT-PATIENT SjnNpDAVic^nt!OIiJOcU?LeEALTH THROUGH HEALTH EDUCATION ACTIVITIES AND PROVISION OF EMERGENCY FACILITIES THROUGH HOSPITALS.
._._DR LAI SAID THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE POLICY OF THE HONG KONG’S HEALTH DEVELOPMENT WHICH IS GEARED TOWARDS A BALANCED
PROVISION OF PREVENTIVE AND CURATIVE SERVICES.
THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT. HE SAID. HAS BEEN EMINENTLY nue?ui$FUL ।N ACHIEVING THESE OBJECTIVES DESPITE HONG KONG’S RATHER UNFAVOURABLE GEOGRAPHICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION.
„HE POINTED OUT, HOWEVER, THAT THE BASIC ROLE OF THE DEPARTMENT SUBTLY OVER THE YEARS WITH THE CHANGE IN THE PATTERN
OF DISEASES.
Cerc^S2M?!yH,CABLE DISEASES ARE NO LONGER AN IMMEDIATE THREAT, AND THE SuvCIL2LURI^N,SAT,0K AND industrialisation HAVE BROUGHT ABOUT MANY DEGENERATIVE DISEASES, HE SAID.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1982
10
AS A RESULT, THE DEPARTMENT IS EXPECTED NOT ONLY TO PERFORM ITS TRADITIONAL AND OBLIGATORY ROLE OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES, BUT ALSO TO TAKE ON THE VERY EXPENSIVE AND SOPHISTICATED SECONDARY AND TERTIARY SERVICES.
THIS, SAID DR LAI, HAS A SIGNIFICANT EFFECT OF STARTING A VICIOUS CYCLE OF PROVIDING SOPHISTICATED AND EXPENSIVE SERVICES WHICH IN TURN GENERATE INSATIABLE DEMAND FOR MORE OF SUCH SERVICES.
♦WE ARE NOW IN A SITUATION WHERE THE MORE HOSPITALS AND CLINICS WE BUILD AND PROVIDE, THE GREATER IS THE DEMAND BY THE PUBLIC. THERE IS SIMPLY NO END TO THE INSATIABLE PUBLIC DEMAND FOR SERVICES WHICH ARE COMPREHENSIVE, EASILY ACCESSIBLE AND PRACTICALLY FREE,+ HE ADDED.
DR LAI STRESSED THAT THE GOVERNMENT GENERAL OUT-PATIENT CLINIC SERVES THREE MAIN FUNCTIONS!
A) TO DETECT ACUTE CASES IN ORDER THAT THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF TREATMENT, SUCH AS SPECIALIST CONSULTATION AND HOSPITALISATION CAN BE APPLIED,
B) TO DETECT AND ISOLATE CASES OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES FOR TREATMENT SO THAT EPIDEMICS CAN BE PREVENTED , AND
C) TO PROVIDE A BASIC HEALTH SERVICE.
- 0 - -
FAR
EAST CORRECTIONAL CHIEFS STUDY HONG KONG SYSTEM * * * *
THREE
eae-r DEPUTY HEADS OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES IN THE
FAR EAST SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT THEY WERE VERY IMPRESSED BY THE VARIOUS PROGRAMMES FOR OFFENDERS PROVIDED BY THE HONG KONG CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THE THREE VISITORS, MR VICHITR THONGKAM, DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THAILAND’S DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, MR E.O. THOMPSON SINGAPORE’S DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PRISONS, AND MR SULAIMAN BIN HAJI ”AtAYf'A’? $E^IY D,RECT0R ®ENERAL OP PRISONS, HAD ARRIVED ON TUESDAY FOR A THREE-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT.
THEY VISITED A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF INSTITUTIONS AND HAD TALKS W,TH THE COMMISSIONER OF
CORRECTIONAL SERVICES -----------
MR THOMAS GARNER, AND OTHER SENIOR OFFICERS.
*FTER THE VISITS, THE DELEGATES SAID THEY WERE IMPRESSED BY ™E EFF’0’ENT MANAGEMENT of the institutions and the correctional PROGRAMMES FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS.
THERE WAS MUCH THEY COULD LEARN FROM THE CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMMES IN HONG KONG, THEY REMARKED.
THE VISITORS WILL LEAVE FOR MANILA THIS (FRIDAY) EVENING TO CONTINUE THEIR FAR EAST STUDY TOUR.
- 0 -
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1982
- 11 -
PROPOSALS FOR ALTERATION OF THE VALUATION LIST ft ft * *
NOTICE IS GIVEN IN TODAY’S GAZETTE REMINDING THE PUBLIC THAT ANY PERSON WHO DISAGREES WITH THE ENTRY OR OMISSION OF A TENEMENT FROM A VALUATION LIST, OR THE RATEABLE VALUE ASSESSED, MAY DURING MARCH SERVE ON THE COMMISSIONER OF RATING AND VALUATION A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE LIST FOR THE YEAR COMMENCING APRIL 1.
FORMS FOR THIS PURPOSE ARE OBTAINABLE FROM THE DEPARTMENT’S OFFICE AT HENNESSY CENTRE, 500 HENNESSY ROAD, CAUSEWAY BAY, HONG KONG AND ALSO FROM CITY DISTRICT OFFICES IN THE URBAN AREAS AND DISTRICT OFFICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
SUCH PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED UNTIL MARCH 1 AND MUST BE RECEIVED ON OR BEFORE MARCH 31.
COMMENTING ON THIS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THE RATEABLE VALUES IN THE LIST HAVE NOT BEEN CHANGED SINCE 1977 EXCEPT IN CASES WHERE THERE WERE ALTERATIONS OR ADDITIONS TO THE PROPERTY OR AS A RESULT OF A PREVIOUS PROPOSAL OR APPEAL.
PERSONS DISSATISFIED WITH THEIR ASSESSMENTS AND INTENDING TO LODGE A PROPOSAL SHOULD FIRST GET IN TOUCH WITH THE VALUER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE AREA IN WHICH THE PREMISES ARE SITUATED, WHEN ASSISTANCE WILL GLADLY BE GIVEN, HE SAID.
HE EMPHASISED THAT. NOTWITHSTANDING THE LODGING OF A PROPOSAL OR AN APPEAL, RATES MUST BE PAID BY THE DUE DATE. IN THE CASE OF RATE DEMANDS FOR THE SECOND QUARTER OF THIS YEAR, IT MEANS THAT PAYMENT MUST BE MADE BY THE END OF APRIL, HE SAID.
DISTRICT BOARD TO HOLD INAUGURAL MEETING ft ft ft ft
lnuljJRE R?^E OF UNOFFICIAL PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION* WILL BE THE SUBJECT OF AN ADDRESS BY DR THE HON SIR SZE-YUEN CHUNG. SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE
^IHL,NlufiyRAL MEETING OF THE MONG KOK DISTRICT BOARD Sunni uam °M ^DAY (MARCH 1) AT 3 PM AT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH OUnUUL MALL.
1D .J£LM0NG K0K D’STRICT BOARD WILL BE THE EIGHTH IP IN THE URBAN AREA AND WILL COMPRISE 14 APPOINTED AMBERS, TWO URBAN COUNCILLORS AND SEVEN EX-OFFICIO
ONE TO BE SET UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS.
hrwa BY THE CITY DISTRICT COMMISSIONER FOR
52?dhK2EAuAm?JIS.MEMBERS W,LL SERVE F0R SEVEN MONTHS ON THE BOARD FROM MARCH 1 UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30.
SPEECH OF WELCOME BY THE BOARD CHAIRMAN, Sel’.eER?D W0?G4 AND THE ADDRESS BY SIR SZE-YUEN, THE BOARD WILL DISCUSS A VARIETY OF MATTERS.
/MATTms TO......
FRIDAY, FIBRDARY 26, 1982
- 12
MATTERS TO BE DISCUSSED DURING THE MEETING WILL ALSO INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN *OPEN SPACE* SITE MEASURING ABOUT 7 OOO SQUARE METRES IN THE AREA AS WELL AS A REVIEW OF WORKS CARRIED OUT BY THE MONG KOK DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, FORMED LAST OCTOBER TO CO-ORDINATE WORKS BETWEEN VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS IN SERVING DISTRICT NEEDS.
SLIDE FILMS OF THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE’S EFFORTS ON TRAFFIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS IN MONG KOK DURING THE PAST FEW MONTHS WILL ALSO BE SHOWN.
THESE WORKS INCLUDED THE LAUNCHING OF CLEARANCE PROJECTS TO REMOVE ILLEGAL STRUCTURES FROM SOME REAR LANES AS WELL AS VARIOUS MEASURES PROPOSED BY THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO IMPROVE THE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS IN THE AREA.
AMONG ITS OTHER WORKS, THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE HAS ALSO NEGOTIATED WITH THE CHINA LIGHT AND POWER CO. LTD. TO PROVIDE PROPER ELECTRICITY SUPPLY TO THE TUNG CHOI STREET HAWKER PERMITTED PLACE, WHICH HAS 960 DESIGNATED PITCHES.
THE COMMITTEE HAS ALSO ARRANGED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A TEMPORARY LORRY PARK AT THE JUNCTION OF ANCHOR STREET AND BEECH STREET, WHICH WILL SOON BEGIN.
THE MONG KOK DISTRICT BOARD’S SEVEN EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS ARE I WILFRED WONG, MR T.K. CHOY, MR EDWIN LI, MR LI YUEN-TING, W T.S. KHU, MRS R. GOODSTADT AND MRS LORAN MAO.
THE 14 APPOINTED UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS SERVING ON THE BOARD AREi MR CHAN HON-CHUNG, MR CHAN KWOK-KIT, MR JACOB CHAN LAI-SANG, MR CHO SHIU-CHUNG, MRS STELLA CHAU SO YUEN-YEE, MR HUNG WAI-MAN, MR LAU CH I-MAN, MR LAU TAK-KEI, MR RONALD LEUNG DING-BONG, MR LO TAK, MR POON CHEUNG, THE HON ANDREW SO KWOK-WING, MR TAI MAN-BUN AND MR CLEMENT TAO KWOK-LAU.
THE TWO URBAN COUNCILLORS ARE MRS SELINA CHOW AND MR EDMUND CHOW.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE MONG KOK DISTRICT BOARD WILL BE HELD ON MONDAY (MARCH 1) STARTING AT 3 PM AT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH SCHOOL HALL IN SAI YEE STREET.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT.
COPIES OF BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES OF THE 14 APPOINTED UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE MONG KOK DISTRICT BOARD MAY BE COLLECTED FROM 6IS PRESS BOXES LATER TODAY.
/13
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1982
13
MORE GRANTS FOR TRAINING SOCIAL WORKERS ft * ft ft
THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE TODAY EXPRESSED HIS THANKS TO THE HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB (CHARITIES) LTD FOR A GENEROUS DONATION CF S2 MILLION TO THE SOCIAL WORK TRAINING FUND.
THIS GRANT WILL ENABLE THE FUND TO APPROVE A MUCH LARGER NUMBER OF TRAINING GRANTS TO SOCIAL WORKERS THIS YEAR.
IT IS THE LARGEST BOOST TO THE FINANCES OF THE FUND SINCE IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1961 WITH A WORLD REFUGEE YEAR DONATION.
DURING THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR, THE FUND PROVIDED ASSISTANCE OF $229 OOO TO ENABLE SOCIAL WORKERS TO ACQUIRE FORMAL SOCIAL WORK QUALIFICATIONS, TO UNDERTAKE POST-GRADUATE STUDIES AND TO EXCHANGE VIEWS WITH THEIR PROFESSIONAL COUNTERPARTS ABROAD.
TWENTY-FOUR GRANTS WERE MADE DURING THE LAST YEAR, BUT OWING TO ITS LIMITED INCOME THE FUND WAS UNABLE TO APPROVE MANY OTHER DESERVING APPLICATIONS.
THE FUND WILL NOW BE ABLE TO MAKE AN EVEN GREATER CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS INCREASING THE SUPPLY OF TRAINED SOCIAL WORKERS AND GENERALLY IMPROVING STANDARDS IN THE PROFESSION.
- - 0 - -
APPLICATIONS TO GOVERNMENT AND AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS ft ft ft ft
APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION TO GOVERNMENT AND AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS WILL BE INVITED BETWEEN MARCH 1 AND 15, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY.
. DURING THIS TWO-WEEK PERIOD, APPLICATION FORMS FOR PRIMARY 1 TO BE DISTRIBUTED AT THE VARIOUS SCHOOLS ON THE PRODUCTION
OFBIRTH CERTIFICATES OR OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS, THE SPOKESMAN°N
♦CHILDREN NEED NOT ACCOMPANY THEIR PARENTS,♦ HE SAID.
MABru’?IERV,EWS F0R adm,SSION TO PRIMARY 1 WILL TAKE PLACE ON HAnUn 1O.
♦NO FORMAL TESTS WILL BE HELD,+ THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
march8wECT,0N °F PRIMARY 2 TO 6 APPLICANTS WILL BE HELD ON riAnvn •
RIGHT AGE OF ENTRY TO PRIMARY 1 IS FULLY SIX ON BETWEENETH£’ag?s2of ??YEIun’/?uTSS,$NeW,LL BE 0PER TO’'CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF SIX AND EIGHT,♦ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
0
/14........
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1982
- 14 -
NO SPECIAL TRAINS TO SHA TIN RACECOURSE TOMORROW * * * ft
SPECIAL TRAINS TO SHA TIN RACECOURSE WILL BE CANCELLED FOR ONE DAY TOMORROW (SATURDAY) TO FACILITATE ENGINEERING WORKS IN MONG KOK AND HUNG HOM.
THE WORKS WILL ALSO SLIGHTLY AFFECT NORMAL TRAIN SERVICES, AS ONE NORTHBOUND AND ONE SOUTHBOUND TRAIN SERVICE WILL BE REDUCED ON THAT DAY.
ANNOUNCING THESE TEMPORARY MEASURES TODAY, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE KCR SAID THE ENGINEERING WORKS IN THE TWO AREAS WERE NECESSARY FOR THE FIRST-PHASE OF ELECTRIFICATION OF THE RAILWAY BETWEEN KOWLOON AND SHA TIN IN MAY.
HOWEVER, REGULAR TRAIN SERVICES WILL RETURN TO NORMAL AND SPECIAL TRAINS WILL RESUME RUNNING TO THE RACECOURSE ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 28).
COMMUTERS SHOULD NOTE THE TEMPORARY TIMETABLE DISPLAYED AT ALL STATIONS.
THE THROUGH TRAINS BETWEEN KOWLOON AND GUANGZHOU WILL NOT BE AFFECTED.
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KOWLOON URBAN COACH ROUTE 211 TO SUSPEND SERVICE ft ft ft ft
KOWLOON URBAN COACH ROUTE 211 WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 28), A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
THE DECISION WAS REACHED BECAUSE THE ROUTE HAS BEEN OPERATING AT SUBSTANTIAL LOSSES AS A RESULT OF COMPETITION FROM THE MTR, . WHICH PROVIDES A SIMILAR SERVICE.
THE CANCELLATION OF THE ROUTE, WHICH OPERATES BETWEEN TSIM SHA TSUI AND YUET WAH STREET IN KWUN TONG, WAS ENDORSED BY THE KMB REVIEW ROUTE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME SUB-GROUP, HEADED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT. OTHER MEMBERS COMPRISED OFFICIALS OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, TRANSPORT BRANCH AND ECONOMIC SERVICES BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, UNOFFICIALS OF TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND THE KMB COMPANY.
AS FROM SUNDAY, COMMUTERS FROM TSIM SHA TSUI TO KWUN TONG CAN MAKE USE OF THE MTR SERVICE AT A FARE OF $2.20, SLIGHTLY CHEAPER THAN THE ROUTE 211 COACH FARE, WHICH WAS FIXED AT $2.50.
PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES OPERATING BETWEEN KWUN TONG AND JORDAN ROAD WILL ALSO PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE SERVICE, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1982
15
EDUCATIONIST RETIRES AFTER 25 YEARS OF SERVICE ft ft * ft
THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (FURTHER), MR A.J. REEVE IS RETIRING AFTER 25 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE DEPARTMENT.
MR REEVE JOINED THE GOVERNMENT AS AN EDUCATION OFFICER IN 1957 AND WAS PROMOTED TO HIS PRESENT RANK IN 1979.
THROUGH HIS CAREER IN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, MR REEVE HAS PROVED TO BE A CAPABLE TEACHER AND AN EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATOR. HIS COMPETENT MANNER HAS COMMANDED THE RESPECT AND CO-OPERATION OF ALL THOSE WHO HAVE COME INTO CONTACT WITH HIM.
IN A CEREMONY TODAY (FRIDAY), THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR MICHAEL LEUNG PRESENTED MR REEVE WITH A TELEVISION SET AS A KMENTO ON BEHALF OF HIS COLLEAGUES IN THE DEPARTMENT.
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SHA TIN ANT I-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN CONCERT ft ft ft ft ft ft
THE THREE-WEEK-LONG ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN BEING CARRIED T’N DISTRICT WILL END ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 28)
* £0NCERT AT CARITAS MARDEN HALL, MAN LAI ROAD, SHA TIN STARTING AT 8 PM.
PERFORMING AT THE CONCERT WILL BE SEVERAL OF HONG KONG’S TOP SINGERS, INCLUDING JOHNNY YIP, PHILIP CHAN, PANG KIN-SUN, ROWENA CORTES, BRENDA LO AND TINA LAU.
GUESTS ATTENDING THE FUNCTION WILL INCLUDE MR WAI HON-LEUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE SHA TIN ANTl-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE; MR PETER LEE, COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS; DR PATRICK HASE, DISTRICT OFFICER, SHA TIN; AND MR NG CHAN-LAM, VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE.
THE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE HAS ALSO ORGANISED A PAINTING COMPETITION FOR CHILDREN IN THE DISTRICT. THE FUNCTION WILL BE HELD TOMORROW (SATURDAY) AT 3 PM IN WO CHE ESTATE, SHA TIN.
_ T°M°RR°W (SATURDAY), THE SHAM SHU I PO DISTRICT ANT l-NARCOT ICS COMMITTEE WILL HOLD A SEMINAR FROM 11 AM AT THE CHINESE MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION PRE-VOCATIONAL TRAINING SCHOOL, 298 NAM CHEONG STREET, SHAM SHU I PO.
THE COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS, MR PETER LEE WILL ADDRESS THE SEMINAR.
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/16 .......
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1982
16
104-YEAR OLD MADAM LAU TO ATTEND FEAST FOR ELDERLY * * *
MADAM LAU CHUN, WHO IS 104 YEARS OF AGE AND A RESIDENT OF NORTH DISTRICT, WILL BE THE OLDEST PERSON PRESENT AT A FEAST FOR THE ELDERLY BEING HELD IN THE DISTRICT ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 28).
TWO NEXT ELDEST GUESTS WILL BE MR HAU YAU-KAM, AGED 96, AND W? CHU LAM-KEI, AGED 95.
OFFICIATING WILL BE THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR PETER JOHNSON, AND LOCAL LEADERS, MR CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, AND MR LIU YUN-SUM.
THE FUNCTION HAS BEEN ORGANISED BY NORTH DISTRICT CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE FOR ELDERLY ACTIVITIES, WHOSE CHAIRMAN IS DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER, MR CHEUNG KUEN.
BEFORE THE FEAST, MEMBERS OF NORTH DISTRICT ARTS ADVANCEMENT COMMITTEE AND THE POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICE WILL JOINTLY STAGE A ONE-HOUR PROGRAMME OF ENTERTAINMENT.
GOLD MEDALS DONATED BY A BANK WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE 12 OLDEST PEOPLE PRESENT AND ALL GUESTS WILL RECEIVE A GIFT.
THE DISTRICT BOARD HAS PROVIDED $15 000 TOWARDS THE COST OF THE FEAST, WHILE THE BALANCE OF $31 000 WILL BE MET BY LOCAL DONATIONS.
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TWO BUILDINGS TO BE RESUMED
XXX
TWO POST-WAR SIX-STOREY BUILDINGS AT SHEUNG WAN WILL BE RESUMED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ISLAND LINE UNDER THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY (LAND RESUMPTION AND RELATED PROVISIONS) ORDINANCE.
THEY ARE NO. 129 CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL AND 257 DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL.
THE SITE IS REQUIRED FOR BUILDING THE SHEUNG WAN STATION CONCOURSE.
ABOUT 70 PEOPLE INCLUDING SIX COMMERCIAL TENANTS WILL BE AFFECTED. DOMESTIC TENANTS WILL BE OFFERED REHOUSING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT’S POLICY.
STATUTORY COMPENSATION WILL BE PAID TO THOSE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE.
0
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1982
- 17 -
THREE LOTS OF CROWN LAND SOLD * ft * ft
THREE LOTS OF CROWN LAND AND ONE FLAT WERE SOLD AT AN AUCTION CONDUCTED BY THE CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE IN THE MARINA ROOM CF THE EXCELSIOR HOTEL TODAY (FRIDAY).
A PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL SITE IN SOUTH BAY ROAD, MEASURING 5 500 SQUARE METRES WAS SOLD TO STAR LAND INVESTMENT COMPANY LIMITED FOR 1113 MILLION OR $20 545.45 PER SQUARE METRE.
THE OTHER TWO LOTS IN KOWLOON BAY RECLAMATION ARE FOR INDUSTRIAL AND/OR GODOWN PURPOSES.
THE SITE MEASURING 2 796 SQUARE METRES WAS SOLD TO BYRICH COMPANY LIMITED FOR $23 MILLION OR $8 226.04 PER SQUARE METRE.
THE SITE MEASURING 2 645 SQUARE METRES WAS SOLD TO LECOMPTE ENTERPRISES LIMITED FOR $18 MILLION OR $6 805.30.
IN THE SAME AUCTION, FLAT B ON THE 9TH FLOOR OF 41-63 OAK STREET AND 57-63, ANCHOR STREET, MEASURING 49.5 SQUARE METRES WAS SOLD TO HO NUI YEE FOR $120 000 OR $2 424.24 PER SQUARE METRE.
BEFORE THE AUCTION, MR N.P. BURLEY, ACTING GOVERNMENT LAND AGENT, ANNOUNCED THE NECESSARY WITHDRAWAL OF THE SALE OF THE LOT ---- ---- LINK DUE TO CERTAIN AMENDMENTS TO THE LEASE CONDITIONS TO BE MADE AND IT IS NOW PLANNED TO SELL THE LOT AGAIN
AT BLACK’S WHICH HAVE IN APRIL.
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TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF MOUNT PARKER ROAD ft ft ft ft
A SECTION OF MOUNT PARKER ROAD BETWEEN QUARRY BAY STREET AND THE ACCESS ROAD TO MOUNT PARKER RADAR STATION WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM 9 AM TO 1 PM ON SUNDAY (FEBRUARY 28) FOR A CROSS COUNTRY RACE ORGANISED BY THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD AND RECREATION AND CULTURAL SERVICES.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1982
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
NARCOTICS CHIEF CALLS FOR GREATER ANTI-DRUG EFFORTS ........ 1
SHA TIN DB MEMBERS PROVIDING NEW SERVICE TO PUBLIC ......... 2
CHANCE URGED FOR EX-MENTAL PATIENTS ........................ J
BIG SUPPORT FOR YOUTH WELFARE SERVICES...................... 4
SUPPORT FOR PROBATION WORK URGED............................ 5
NEW REST GARDEN FOR HILL ROAD............................... 5
NEW FAMILY HEALTH CENTRE ................................... 6
NEW MAXICAB ROUTES IN SAI KUNG COUNTRY PARKS ............... 6
LIFEGUARD SERVICES TO RESUME AT NT BEACHES ................. 7
GOVERNOR TO VISIT NEW TERRITORIES .......................... 7
YOUNG SYDNEY MUSICIANS TO PERFORM HERE ..................... 8
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT IN KWAI HEI STREET ..................... 8
FIRING PRACTICE ............................................ 9
CROWN LAND FOR AUCTION .................... q
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1982
1
NARCOTICS CHIEF CALLS FOR GREATER ANTI-DRUG EFFORTS
, _THE COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS MR PETER LEE TODAY (SATURDAY) CALLED ON TEACHERS, PARENTS AND OTHERS TO REDOUBLE THEIR EFFORTS^ IN EDUCATING YOUNG PEOPLE ON THE EVILS OF DRUG ADDICTION
IN AN OPENING SPEECH TO THE SHAM SHUI PO ANTI-NARCOTICS SEMINAR ORGANISED BY THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT ANT I-NARCOTICS COMMITTEE, MR LEE SAID THAT ALTHOUGH CONTINUOUS PROGRESS WAS MADE IN THE BATTLE AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKING AND ABUSE IN HONG KONG FROM 1974 TO 1980, THERE WAS A SHARP REVERSAL AS A RESULT OF THE SUDDEN INFLUX OF DRUGS INTO HONG KONG LAST YEAR.
THIS INFLUX LED TO FREELY AVAILABLE ON THE
THE HALVING OF THE PRICE OF HEROIN, +NOW STREETS OF THIS TERRITORY.*
♦THE NUMBER OF THOSE CHARGED WITH MINOR DRUG OFFENCES HAS RISEN BY 37 PER CENT, THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREASE OF 19 PER CENT IN THE NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS FIRST REPORTED TO THE CENTRAL REGISTRY OF DRUG ABUSE IN 1981 AS COMPARED TO 1980.
♦THE NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE AGED BETWEEN 15 AND 19 YEARS OLD WHO WERE FIRST REPORTED TO THE CENTRAL REGISTRY LAST YEAR WAS 571, WHICH WAS MORE THAN DOUBLE THOSE REPORTED IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR,* THE COMMISSIONER REPORTED.
WARNING THAT DRUG TRAFFICKERS WILL STOP AT NOTHING IN THEIR PURSUIT OF THE ENORMOUS PROFITS INVOLVED, MR LEE CALLED FOR A REDOUBLING OF ALL EFFORTS AND MOBILISATION OF ALL RESOURCES TO WARN THE COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY THE YOUNG PEOPLE, OF THE DANGERS OF ADDICTION TO DRUGS.
♦CHILDREN WHO ARE ENCOURAGED AND ASSISTED TO DEVELOP HEALTHY MINDS AND BODIES ARE MUCH LESS LIKELY, AS THEY GROW OLDER, TO SEEK ESCAPE IN DRUGS FROM THE PRESSURES OF LIFE AND RESPONSIBILITY.
♦SENSIBLE GUIDANCE IN THE CHILDREN’S FORMATIVE YEARS CAN GO A LONG WAY TO DEVELOP THEIR PERSONALITIES AND RESPONSIBLE ATTITUDES TOWARDS SOCIETY AS A WHOLE,♦ HE SAID.
TOWARDS THIS PUBLIC EDUCATION GOAL, A DRUG EDUCATION LIAISON CENTRE WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE NARCOTICS DIVISION TO HELP SCHOOLS ORGANISE TALKS AND DISCUSSIONS.
IT HAS ALSO EDUCATIONAL SLIDES, FILMS AND VARIOUS INFORMATION SHEETS AND REFERENCE MATERIALS FOR THIS PURPOSE AND SCHOOLS ARE ENCOURAGED TO MAKE USE OF THESE RESOURCES, MR LEE SAID.
ABOUT 100 SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS ATTENDED THE SEMINAR.
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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1982
- 2 -
SHA TIN DB MEMBERS PROVIDING NEW SERVICE TO PUBLIC *****
MEMBERS OF SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD WILL START MEETING THE PUBLIC AND RECEIVING SUGGESTIONS AND COMPLAINTS FROM TUESDAY (MARCH 2).
THE SERVICE WILL BE PROVIDED ONCE A WEEK ON TUESDAY EVENINGS FROM 7 PM - 9 PM AT THE LEK YUEN SUB-OFFICE OF SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICE.
TWO UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS AND ONE OFFICIAL MEMBER WILL BE ON DUTY WITH SUPPORTING STAFF FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICE.
RESIDENTS, OR THOSE WHO WORK IN THE DISTRICT WISHING TO SEE THE MEMBERS, SHOULD FIRST APPROACH LEK YUEN SUB-OFFICE WHERE AN APPOINTMENT WILL BE MADE AND THE NATURE OF THE CASE NOTED.
APPOINTMENTS CAN BE MADE EITHER IN PERSON OR BY TELEPHONE DURING OFFICE HOURS. THE TELEPHONE NUMBER IS 0-619571.
ANY SUGGESTION OR COMPLAINT WILL BE RECORDED AND PUT TO THE APPROPRIATE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT FOR ACTION.
FOLLOW-UP ACTION WILL BE JOINTLY HANDLED BY THE MEMBERS AND THE DISTRICT BOARD SECRETARIAT. THE OUTCOME WILL BE NOTIFIED LATER.
A DISTRICT BOARD SPOKESMAN SAID THE NEW SERVICE WOULD HELP AMBERS UNDERSTAND DISTRICT PROBLEMS MORE FULLY AND ENABLE THE PUBLIC TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME.
THE SERVICE WILL BE REVIEWED AFTER A FEW MONTHS, AND CONSIDERATION GIVEN TO EXTENDING IT.
A SIMILAR SYSTEM, SET UP IN TSUEN WAN EARLIER THIS MONTH, IS PROVING SATISFACTORY.
AT PRESENT, SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD HAS 11 UNOFFICIAL AND EIGHT OFFICIAL MEMBERS, WHO WILL BE ON DUTY ON A ROSTER BASIS.
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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1982
3
CHANCE URGED FOR EX-MENTAL PATIENTS
*****
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF HALFWAY HOUSES FOR EX-MENTAL PATIENTS WILL DEPEND ON THE ATTITUDE OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEIR WILLINGNESS TO GIVE EX-PATIENTS A CHANCE TO INTEGRATE, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR SELWYN ALLEYNE, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION’S NEW CHOI WAN HALFWAY HOUSE, HE SAID THAT FOR A HALFWAY HOUSE TO BE EFFECTIVE, CONCERTED EFFORTS ON THE PART OF BOTH THE IN-HOUSE STAFF AND REHABILITATION WORKERS IN THE HOSPITALS OR CLINICS WAS REQUIRED.
+THE GOVERNMENT, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR, IS NOW REVIEWING THE STAFFING STANDARD OF HALFWAY HOUSES FOR EX-MENTAL PATIENTS, AND IT IS HOPED THAT FIRM RECOMMENDATIONS CAN BE PUT TO THE REHABILITATION DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE IN TIME FOR IMPLEMENTATION LATER THIS YEAR,+ HE SAID.
MR ALLEYNE SAID THAT THE HALFWAY HOUSE WAS INTENDED TO PROVIDE SHORT-TERM ACCOMMODATION FOR EX-MENTAL PATIENTS WHO HAD NO HOMES OR COULD NOT, FOR SOME REASON, RETURN TO LIVE WITH THEIR FAMILIES.
♦MORE SPECIFICALLY,* HE WENT ON, +THE AIM OF THIS FORM OF CARE IS TO HELP PEOPLE TO ACHIEVE A REASONABLY STABLE PATTERN OF LIFE AND TO DEVELOP THE CAPACITY TO COPE WITH THE VARIOUS PRESSURES OF DAILY LIVING.
♦IT SHOULD SERVE AS A BRIDGE BETWEEN HOSPITAL AND COMMUNITY LIFE SO THAT EX-PATIENTS CAN GRADUALLY REACH THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF FUNCTIONING THAT THEY ARE CAPABLE OF ATTAIN ING.+
WITH THE PROVISION OF BOARD AND LODGING AND SOCIAL WORK COUNSELLING, MR ALLEYNE SAID, THE HALFWAY HOUSE OFFERS THE RESIDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ORGANISE THEIR DAILY LIFE UNDER SUPERVISION AND WITH THE SUPPORT OF FELLOW RESIDENTS.
THE CHOI WAN HALFWAY HOUSE HAS CAPACITY FOR 30 EX-PATIENTS.
A GRANT OF $273 000 WAS MADE FROM THE LOTTERIES FUND TO MEET THE RENOVATION AND FITTING-OUT EXPENSES.
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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1982
4
BIG SUPPORT FOR YOUTH WELFARE SERVICES
* * * *
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR HAVE PLACED TREMENDOUS RESOURCES INTO DEVELOPING SERVICES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO HELP THEM GROW INTO RESPONSIBLE ADULTS.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE (SUBVENTION), MISS J.A. WILLIS, WHEN SHE OFFICIATED AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE SALVATION ARMY TAI YUEN CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRE IN TAI PO TODAY (SATURDAY).
♦THE POLICY IS TO PROVIDE A CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRE FOR A POPULATION OF 20 000 AND TO EXPAND THIS SERVICE AT THE RATE OF 11 NEW CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRES PER ANNUM,+ SHE SAID.
THERE ARE NOW MORE THAN 200 SUBVENTED CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRES.
♦SUBJECT TO THE VOTING OF THE NECESSARY FUNDS BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, OVER $41 MILLION WILL BE ALLOCATED IN 1982-83 AS SUBVENTIONS TO VOLUNTARY AGENCIES OPERATING CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRES,♦ SHE ADDED.
THE SUBVENTION REPRESENTED A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES AND THIS REFLECTED THE IMPORTANCE OF SERVICES RENDERED BY CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRES.
IN A COMPLEX AND MODERN SOCIETY WHERE LIFE MOVED AT SUCH A RAPID PACE, MISS WILLIS SAID, YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY HAD MORE PROBLEMS AND PRESSURES TO FACE. TRADITIONAL VALUES AND BELIEFS WHICH WE HELD DEAR WERE BEING QUESTIONED, AND THE YOUNG GENERATION WOULD FACE THESE CHALLENGES AND TEST MANY TIMES AS THEY GREW INTO ADULTHOOD, SHE SAID.
MISS WILLIS REMINDED YOUTH WORKERS TO PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO TWO ASPECTS OF THEIR WORK.
IT WAS ESSENTIAL FOR THEM TO PAY PERSONAL ATTENTION TO THEIR MEMBERS AND THE SOCIAL ELEMENT OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES, AND TO MAKE THE PROGRAMMES ATTRACTIVE TO THE CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS, SHE SAID.
THE NEW CENTRE WILL SERVE AS A FOCAL POINT FOR YOUNG PEOPLE LIVING IN TAI YUEN ESTATE AND ITS VICINITY TO COME TOGETHER AND TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS.
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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1982
5
SUPPORT FOR PROBATION WORK URGED
KM*
THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE (OPERATIONS), hFS EVELYN DOE, TODAY (SATURDAY) APPEALED TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC NOT TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST PROBATIONERS.
THE COMMUNITY SHOULD SUPPORT PROBATION WORK BY JOINING AS VOLUNTEERS TO HELP, SHE ADDED.
MRS DOE WAS SPEAKING AT A CEREMONY HELD AT THE SHERATON HOTEL IN WHICH SHE PRESENTED CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION TO 25 PUBLIC-SPIRITED CITIZENS WHO HAD HELPED YOUNG OFFENDERS UNDER THE DEPARTMENT’S VOLUNTEER SCHEME FOR PROBATIONERS.
♦ALTHOUGH THE VOLUNTEERS COME FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, THEY HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON — THE DESIRE TO HELP OTHERS AND TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY,♦ SHE SAID.
♦THEY HAVE SACRIFICED THEIR LEISURE TIME TO PROVIDE APPROPRIATE ASSISTANCE AND GUIDANCE TO INDIVIDUAL PROBATIONERS ACCORDING TO THEIR NEEDS.♦
THE VOLUNTEERS ASSIST PROBATIONERS WITH THEIR HOMEWORK AND FINDING JOBS, ADVISING THEM ON HOW TO USE THEIR FREE TIME PROPERLY, AND ENCOURAGING THEM TO SEEK MEANINGFUL ENTERTAINMENT AND TO CULTIVATE HEALTHY PURSUITS.
MRS DOE POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS EVIDENT FROM PREVIOUS CASES THAT PROBATIONERS WERE ABLE TO GRADUALLY REGAIN CONFIDENCE AND LEAD NORMAL AND LAW-ABIDING LIVES AGAIN UNDER THE GUIDANCE AND HELP OF PROBATION OFFICERS AND VOLUNTEERS WORKING TOGETHER.
PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE VOLUNTEERS, SHE SAIDi +THEIR SERVICES HAVE BEEN MOST VALUABLE, NOT ONLY TO THE PROBATIONERS THEMSELVES, BUT ALSO TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.♦
NEW REST GARDEN FOR HILL ROAD ft ft ft
A NEW REST GARDEN WILL BE CONSTRUCTED SHORTLY AT HILL ROAD, WESTERN DISTRICT TO PROVIDE RESIDENTS WITH MORE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.
TENDERS FOR THE PROJECT ARE BEING INVITED BY THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE OF BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
THE REST GARDEN, OCCUPYING AN AREA OF 2 000 SQUARE METRES, WILL HAVE A CHINESE PAVILION, A WALKING TRACK AND A TOILET WITH UNISEX CUBICLE FOR THE DISABLED.
EXISTING TREES AND PLANTS IN THE AREA WILL BE MAINTAINED.
WORK ON THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO START IN MID-APRIL AND TAKE ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1982 '
6
NEW FAMILY HEALTH CENTRE * * * *
A NEW FAMILY HEALTH CENTRE AT NGAU TAU KOK. THE 41ST RUN BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WILL BEGIN SERVING THE PUBLIC ON MONDAY (MARCH 1).
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID IT IS THE FIRST OF FOUR CENTRES TO BE OPENED IN THE EAST KOWLOON REGION WITHIN TWO YEARS TO IMPROVE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH FACILITIES IN THE AREA.
THE OTHER THREE CENTRES WILL BE OPENED AT CHA KOW LING, LAM TIN ESTATE AND SHUN LEE ESTATE.
THE NEW FACILITIES HAVE BEEN PLANNED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GROWING DEMAND FOR HEALTH SERVICES IN THE REGION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE FAMILY HEALTH CENTRE, ATTACHED TO THE NGAU TAU KOK JOCKEY CLUB CLINIC AT TING ON STREET, WILL OCCUPY THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE CLINIC COMPLEX. IT WILL PROVIDE AN EXTENSIVE RANGE OF MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SERVICES, INCLUDING ANTE-NATAL AND POST-NATAL HEALTH CARE FOR WOMEN, A COMPREHENSIVE OBSERVATION SCHEME FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILY PLANNING.
A MATERNITY WARD WITH 24 BEDS ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE CLINIC BUILDING WILL BE OPENED ON MARCH 8.
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NEW MAXICAB ROUTES IN SAI KUNG COUNTRY PARKS
III
A NUMBER OF NEW TERRITORIES MAX ICAB ROUTES WILL OPERATE IN SAI KUNG COUNTRY PARKS FROM MONDAY (MARCH 1).
THEY AREi
* ROUTE 6, FROM LADY MACLEHOSE HOLIDAY VILLAGE TO PAK TAM CHUNG AT 4-M INUTE FREQUENCIES IN EACH DIRECTION BETWEEN 12 NOON AND 2 PM AT A FARE OF 70 CENTS.
* ROUTE 7, FROM LADY MACLEHOSE HOLIDAY VILLAGE TO HOI HA HOURLY IN EACH DIRECTION BETWEEN 8 AM AND 11 AM AT A FARE OF 11.50.
* ROUTE 8, FROM LADY MACLEHOSE HOLIDAY VILLAGE TO WONG SHEK PIER HOURLY IN EACH DIRECTION BETWEEN 8 AM AND 11 AM AT A FARE OF $1.50.
* ROUTE 9, FROM LADY MACLEHOSE HOLIDAY VILLAGE TO SAI KUNG HALF-HOURLY IN EACH DIRECTION BETWEEN 7 AM AND 9 AM AND BETWEEN 7 PM AND 9 PM AT A FARE OF $2.00.
IN ADDITION, TRIPS BETWEEN FIXED LOCATIONS WITHIN SAI KUNG COUNTRY PARKS CAN ALSO BE ARRANGED ON A CONTRACT HIRE BASIS, WITH CHARGES NEGOTIABLE BETWEEN THE OPERATOR AND THE HIRER.
HOWEVER, THE CONTRACT HIRE SERVICE WILL NOT GO BEYOND PO TUNG ROAD AT ITS JUNCTION WITH MAN NIN STREET.
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/7 .....
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1982
7
LIFEGUARD SERVICES TO RESUME AT NT BEACHES ft ft ft ft
LIFEGUARD AND FIRST AID SERVICES WILL RESUME ON MONDAY (MARCH 1) AT ALL 28 GAZETTED BEACHES AND BUTTERFLY BEACH IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND OUTLYING ISLANDS.
THE SERVICES WILL BE PROVIDED AT THESE BEACHES FROM 9 AM TO 6 PM DAILY, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
SWIMMERS ARE URGED TO STAY WITHIN THE SAFE AREAS WHICH ARE CLEARLY MARKED BY BUOY LINES.
THE KWAI SHING SWIMMING POOL AND THE SHA TIN JOCKEY CLUB PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL WILL BE RE-OPENED TO THE PUBLIC ALSO ON MONDAY.
THE OPENING HOURS OF THE TWO SWIMMING POOLS ARE AS FOLLOWS*
7.00 AM TO 9.15 AM
9.45 AM TO 12 NOON
1.00 PM TO 4.00 PM
4.30 PM TO 6.45 PM
THE EVENING SESSION FROM 7.45 PM TO 10.00 PM WILL RESUME ON APRIL 1.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE FAN LING SWIMMING POOL WILL REMAIN CLOSED FOR ABOUT TWO MORE MONTHS UNTIL WORK ON THE STRUCTURE SUPPORTING AN *AIR BUBBLE* FOR THE HEATED POOL HAS BEEN COMPLETED.
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NOTE TO EDITORS*
GOVERNOR TO VISIT NEW TERRITORIES ft ft ft
THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, WILL VISIT THE NEW TERRITORIES ON MONDAY (MARCH 1) DURING WHICH HE WILL LAY THE FOUNDATION STONE FOR TUEN MUN AND SHA TIN TOWN HALLS AND OFFICIALLY OPEN NORTH DISTRICT COMMUNITY CENTRE AND TOWN HALL AT SHEUNG SHU I.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE FUNCTIONS. GOVERNMENT TRANSPORT WILL LEAVE KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER AT 9 AM. STAFF OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES INFORMATION UNIT WILL ASSIST.
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/£ ........
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1982
8
YOUNG SYDNEY MUSICIANS TO PERFORM HERE ft ft ft ft
FIFTY-FOUR MEMBERS OF THE SYDNEY CONSERVATOR I UM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ARRIVED IN HONG KONG BY AIR YESTERDAY (FRIDAY) AND LEFT IN THE AFTERNOON FOR CHINA TO GIVE A NUMBER OF PERFORMANCES IN THE FRIENDSHIP THEATRE AND THE CULTURE PARK IN GUANGZHOU, CHINA.
THE YOUNG MUSICIANS, RANGING IN AGE FROM 17 TO 23 AND STUDENTS OF THE NEW SOUTH WALES STATE CONSERVATOR I UM OF MUSIC, WILL RETURN TO HONG KONG ON THURSDAY (MARCH 4). AT THE INVITATION OF THE MUSIC OFFICE, RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT, THEY WILL GIVE A CONCERT AT THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY HALL NEXT SATURDAY (MARCH 6) AT 8.00 PM.
LED BY ITS RESIDENT CONDUCTOR, DR RONALD SMART, AND SOLOIST NR CHRISTOPHER KIMBER, THE ORCHESTRA HAS WON WIDE ACCLAIM.
ITS PERFORMANCE OF WALTON’S +BELSHAZZAR’S FEAST+ IN 1978 WAS LISTED AS ONE OF THE TOP CONCERTS IN AUSTRALIA IN THAT YEAR.
AT THE COMING CONCERT ON MARCH 6, THE ORCHESTRA WILL PERFORM WORKS BY DON BANKS (+DRAMATIC MUSIC*), FRANZ LISZT (LES PRELUDES-SYMPHONIC POEM), FELIX MENDELSSOHN (VIOLIN CONCERTO IN E MINOR, OP.64) AND JEAN SIBELIUS (+SYMPHONY NO.2 IN D, 0P.43+).
THE HONG KONG YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WILL JOINTLY PERFORM WITH THIS VISITING GROUP IN FRANZ LISZT’S ITEM *LES PRELUDES-SYMPHONIC POEM*.
TICKETS AT $15. $10, $5 ARE AVAILABLE AT THE MUSIC OFFICE (HK ARTS CENTRE,9/fJ AND THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY HALL BOX OFFICE. FOR ENQUIRY PLEASE CALL 5-283257.
- - - - 0 -----------
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT IN KWAI HEI STREET ft ft ft
A SECTION OF KWAI HEI STREET IN KWAI CHUNG BETWEEN ITS TWO JUNCTIONS WITH KWAI LOK STREET WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE WAY NORTH-WEST-BOUND FROM 10 AM ON MONDAY (MARCH 1) FOR ABOUT 1-1/2 MONTHS FOR CONNECTING SEWAGE PIPES.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1982
9
FIRING PRACTICE ft ft *
FIRING PRACTICE WILL BE HELD AT HA TSUEN AND CASTLE PEAK RANGE ON THE FOLLOWING DAYS AND TIMESi
DAY TIME
MARCH 2 (TUESDAY) 9 AM - 5.30 PM
MARCH 3 (WEDNESDAY) 8.30 AM - 4.30 PM
MEMBERS THE RED FLAG
OF THE PUBLIC ARE WARNED NOT TO ENTER THE AREA WHEN IS FLYING.
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CROWN LAND FOR AUCTION ft ft ft
TWO LOTS OF CROWN LAND IN THE KOWLOON BAY RECLAMATION WILL BE OFFERED FOR SALE BY AUCTION BY THE CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE ON MARCH 19, AT THE SHOUSON THEATRE OF THE HONG KONG ARTS CENTRE, STARTING AT 2.30 PM.
THE SITES ARE FOR INDUSTRIAL AND/OR GODOWN PURPOSES AND MEASURE ABOUT 3 509 AND 1 696 SQUARE METRES.
PARTICULARS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE PUBLIC ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES (WEST WING), GROUND FLOOR, HONG KONG AND THE CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE, KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 405 NATHAN ROAD, 10TH FLOOR, KOWLOON.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1982
CONTENTS PAGE NO,
PRICE AND VOLUME MOVEMENTS OE EXTERNAL TRADE FOR 1981 1
TENDER FOR PUMPING MAIN ........................
CALL TO VOTE IN ISLANDS DISTRICT ..................... 4
NEW PARKING METERS VERY SUCCESSFUL ........................ 5
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONS TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION ............ 5
FIGHTING YOUTH CRIME IMPORTANT ISSUE IN TUEN MUN 6
NEW EFFORT FOR CLEANER CHEUNG CHAU .......................... 7
SHA TIN ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN CLOSES .................... 7
SHA TIN CHARITY WALK .... Q
................................ o
CLEARWATER BAY ROAD IMPROVEMENT ... Q
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1982
1
PRICE AND VOLUME MOVEMENTS OF EXTERNAL TRADE FOR 1981 *****
THE PRICES OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS ROSE BY 9 PER CENT AND THOSE CF IMPORTS BY 11 PER CENT IN 1981 OVER 1980, ACCORDING TO STATISTICS RELEASED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
AS A RESULT, THE TERMS OF TRADE INDEX (EXPRESSED AS A RATIO CF THE DOMESTIC EXPORT PRICE INDEX TO THE IMPORT PRICE INDEX) DROPPED BY 2 PER CENT,
THE VOLUME OF IMPORTS INCREASED BY 11 PER CENT WHILE THAT OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS ROSE BY 8 PER CENT.
THE PRICES OF RE-EXPORTS INCREASED BY 8 PER CENT, WITH VOLUME UP BY 28 PER CENT, SO THAT FOR TOTAL EXPORTS, PRICES ROSE BY 9 PER CENT AND VOLUME ROSE BY 14 PER CENT.
PRICES ARE BASED ON UNIT VALUES WHICH DO NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT CHANGES IN THE COMPOSITION OR QUALITY OF GOODS TRADED.
CHANGES IN THE VOLUME OF TRADE ARE DERIVED FROM CHANGES IN TRADE VALUES, AFTER DISCOUNTING THE EFFECT OF PRICE CHANGES.
THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE, UNIT VALUE AND VOLUME OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS BY COMMODITY GROUPS ARE SHOWN BELOWt-
• CHANGES COMPARING 1981 WITH 1980
EXPORT VALUE EXPORT UNIT VALUE EXPORT VOLUME
CLOTHING (EXCEPT FUR) *21% ♦10% ♦10%
TEXTILE FABRICS ♦20% ♦ 7% ♦11%
TEXTILE YARN AND THREAD ♦13% ♦ 9% ♦ 3%
TEXTILE MADE-UPS AND RELATED ARTICLES ♦10% ♦12% - 2%
ALL TRANSISTORISED RADIOS ♦ 4% ♦12% - 7%
ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS ♦21% ♦14% ♦ 6%
FOOTWEAR ♦34% ♦ 6% +26%
METAL MANUFACTURES - 2% ♦ 6% - 7%
METAL ORES AND SCRAP -20% - 5% -16%
WATCHES AND CLOCKS ♦13% -10% ♦26%
COMMODITY GROUPS NOT SPECIFIED ABOVE ♦20% ♦14% ♦ 6%
ALL COMMODITIES ♦18% ♦ 9% ♦ 8%
/THE EXPORT
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1982
2
THE EXPORT PRICES OF MOST COMMODITY GROUPS INCREASED, FROM 6 PER CENT FOR FOOTWEAR AND METAL MANUFACTURES TO 14 PER CENT FOR ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS.
ON THE OTHER HAND, THE EXPORT PRICES OF METAL ORES AND SCRAP, AS WELL AS WATCHES AND CLOCKS, DECLINED BY 5 PER CENT AND 10 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
CONSIDERABLE GROWTH IN THE VOLUME OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS WAS RECORDED FOR FOOTWEAR AS WELL AS WATCHES AND CLOCKS (+26 PER CENT FOR BOTH CATEGORIES). HOWEVER, THE EXPORT VOLUME OF TEXTILE ^2E-UPS’ RAD,OS> METAL MANUFACTURES, AS WELL AS METAL ORES AND SCRAP DECLINED BY 2 PER CENT, 7 PER CENT, 7 PER CENT AND 16 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE, UNIT VALUE AND VOLUME OF IMPORTS BY END-USE CATEGORY ARE SHOWN BELOWi-
CHANGES COMPARING 1981 WITH 1980
IMPORT VALUE IMPORT UNIT VALUE IMPORT VOLUME
FOODSTUFFS +22% +19% + 2%
CONSUMER GOODS +25% + 6% +19%
FUELS +40% +29% + 8%
RAW MATERIALS AND SEMIMANUFACTURES ♦20% ♦10% +10%
CAPITAL GOODS +26% ♦12% ♦13%
ALL COMMODITIES +24% +11% +11%
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FUELS, THE PRICES OF WHICH JUMPED BY
29 PER CENT, THE PRICES OF IMPORTS BY END-USE CATEGORY INCREASED MODERATELY, RANGING FROM 6 PER CENT FOR CONSUMER GOODS TO 19 PER CENT FOR FOODSTUFFS.
ONLY SOME MAJOR IMPORTED FOODSTUFFS ROSE IN VOLUME TERMS, THE MORE SIGNIFICANT ONES BEING LIVE POULTRY AND VEGETABLES. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE IMPORT VOLUME OF SOYA BEAN OIL, PEANUT OIL AND LARD, AS WELL AS TEA AND COFFEE, DECLINED.
IN THE CONSUMER GOODS CATEGORY, SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN IMPORT VOLUME WERE REGISTERED FOR CLOTHING, TEXTILE MADE-UPS AND FOOTWEAR. THE IMPORT VOLUME OF PASSENGER MOTOR CARS FELL.
IMPORTS OF FUELS ROSE BY 8 PER CENT IN VOLUME TERMS.
THE IMPORT VOLUME OF MOST RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES ROSE, AMONG WHICH THE PURCHASES OF FABRICS OF MAN-MADE FIBRES, WOOL AND OTHER ANIMAL HAIR, AND YARN OF MAN-MADE FIBRES INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY. THE IMPORT VOLUME OF COTTON YARN AND THREAD, YARN CF WOOL AND MIXTURES, AND RAW COTTON DECLINED.
/AS FOR CAPITAL ...
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1982
5
AS FOR CAPITAL GOODS, MAJOR INCREASES IN IMPORT VOLUME WERE RECORDED FOR OFFICE MACHINES AND ELECTRICAL MACHINERY.
THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE, UNIT VALUE AND VOLUME OF RE-EXPORTS BY END-USE CATEGORY ARE SHOWN BELOW:-
CHANGES COMPARING 1981 WITH 1980
RE-EXPORT RE-EXPORT RE-EXPORT
VALUE UNIT VALUE VOLUME
FOODSTUFFS +61% ♦169b +38%
CONSUMER GOODS +32% + 1% +30%
FUELS +41% +31% + 7%
RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES +42% +12% +27%
CAPITAL GOODS +45% +17% +24%
ALL COMMODITIES +39% + 8% +28%
THE CHANGES IN RE-EXPORT VOLUME VARIED AMONG THE FIVE END-USE CATEGORIES, RANGING FROM A 7 PER CENT INCREASE FOR FUELS TO A 38 PER CENT INCREASE FOR FOODSTUFFS.
FURTHER DETAILS ARE CONTAINED IN THE DECEMBER 1981 ISSUE OF THE +HONG KONG TRADE INDEX NUMBERS+, AVAILABLE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT HKS2 PER COPY.
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TENDER FOR PUMPING MAIN
X X X X
THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE LAYING OF A PUMPING MAIN ALONG LIN MA HANG ROAD AND PING CHE ROAD TO PUMP FLOOD WATER FROM RIVER GANGES TO PLOVER COVE RESERVOIR.
THIS CONTRACT FORMS PART OF THE RIVER GANGES CATCHMENT SCHEME.
WORK IS EXPECTED TO COMMENCE IN APRIL AND WILL TAKE ABOUT 12 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1982
- 4 -
CALL TO VOTE IN ISLANDS DISTRICT * * * *
WITH ONLY A FEW DAYS TO GO BEFORE THE NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS ARE HELD, ISLAND DISTRICT OFFICER, MR RICKY FUNG, TODAY (SUNDAY) APPEALED TO ALL ELIGIBLE VOTERS OF THE DISTRICT TO VOTE ON POLLING DAY ON THURSDAY (MARCH 4).
+THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY, DON’T GIVE UP YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE,+ HE URGED.
HE SAID HE HOPED RESIDENTS WOULD COME FORWARD TO CHOOSE THOSE THEY BELIEVED COULD REPRESENT THEIR OPINIONS ON THE DISTRICT BOARD.
♦THROUGH THE CANDIDATES YOU ELECT, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE A SAY IN HOW PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT CAN BE IMPROVED, HOW THE ENVIRONMENT CAN BE MADE BETTER,♦ MR FUNG SAID.
HE SAID THERE WOULD BE A TOTAL OF 15 POLLING STATIONS SET UP IN THE FIVE CONSTITUENCIES OF ISLANDS DISTRICT AND POLLING HOURS WOULD BE THE SAME AS IN THE OTHER SEVEN DISTRICTS (7 AM - 10 PM).
HE REMINDED VOTERS THAT THEY SHOULD BRING THEIR IDENTITY CARDS OR DRIVING LICENCES WITH THEM AND VOTE ONLY AT THE POLLING STATION INDICATED ON THEIR POLL CARDS.
♦VOTERS WILL BE GIVEN EVERY POSSIBLE ASS I STANCE,+ HE SAID.
THE LOCATIONS OF POLLING STATIONS AREi
CHEUNG CHAU EAST CONSTITUENCY* CHEUNG CHAU GOVERNMENT MIDDLE SCHOOL.
CHEUNG CHAU NORTH CONSTITUENCY* CHEUNG CHAU KWOK MAN SCHOOL.
LAMMA AND PO TOI CONSTITUENCY* NORTHERN LAMMA SCHOOL- SOUTH LAMMA COMMUNITY CENTRE- AND PO TOI VILLAGE OFFICE.
LANTAU AND ASSOCIATED ISLANDS MUI WO RECREATION CENTRE- BUI 0 CONSTITUENCY* SCHOOL- TONG FUK VILLAGE OFFICE
PO LIN MONASTERY’S GENERAL OFFICE- WING CHOR SCHOOL- SHA LO WAN VILLAGE OFFICE- SAN TAU VILLAGE OFFICE AND COMMUNITY CENTRE- TUNG CHUNG PUBLIC SCHOOL- AND PAK MONG SCHOOL.
PENG CHAU CONSTITUENCY* PENG CHAU CHI YAN PUBLIC SCHOOL
DIRECTIONAL SIGNS WILL BE SET UP IN THE VARIOUS CONSTITUENCIES TO GUIDE VOTERS TO POLLING STATIONS.
VOTERS WHO HAVE ANY ENQUIRIES ABOUT VOTING PROCEDURES SHOULD TELEPHONE ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICE ON 5-409207, 5-409934 OR 5-409225.
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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1982
5
NEW PARKING METERS VERY SUCCESSFUL
X X X X
THE NUMBER OF FOREIGN COINS AND OTHER FAKE OBJECTS PUT INTO PARKING METERS HAS DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE THE INSTALLATION CF THE NEW DUNCAN METERS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
THE SUCCESS OF THESE NEW METERS CAN ALSO BE GAUGED BY THE FACT ■THAT THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING JAMMED OR DEFECTIVE SETS HAS DROPPED FROM 2 059 IN JANUARY 1981 TO ONLY 670 LAST DECEMBER.
ADDITIONALLY, THESE METERS HAVE PROVED MORE THIEF-PROOF. NO COIN BOXES WERE REPORTED MISSING DURING THE PAST THREE MONTHS.
IN TERMS OF REVENUE. OVER $3.2 MILLION WAS COLLECTED LAST DECEMBER. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT ONLY 0.2 PER CENT OF REVENUE WAS LOST BECAUSE OF PEOPLE TRYING TO BUY TIME WITH FOREIGN OBJECTS.
ALL THE OLD VENNER METERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED SINCE THE CONVERSION PROGRAMME STARTED IN JULY LAST YEAR. ON HONG KONG ISLAND 3 009 NEW METERS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED AND IN KOWLOON, 5 955 HAVE BEEN SUBSTITUTED.
IN THE NEW TERRITORIES 4 000 NEW METERS WILL BE INSTALLED BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.
THE SPOKESMAN WARNED THAT IT IS A CRIMINAL OFFENCE TO TAMPER WITH PARKING METERS.
♦RECENTLY, FOUR MEN WERE GIVEN SUSPENDED JAIL SENTENCES FOR INSERTING METAL DISCS INTO PARKING METERS,♦ HE SAID.
HE ALSO EMPHASISED THAT POLICE WILL CONTINUE THEIR EFFORTS TO PREVENT PEOPLE TAMPERING WITH PARKING METERS.
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SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONS TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION
*
STAFF FROM THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND TEACHERS OF AIDED PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS WILL TAKE PART IN SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONS TO BE HELD ON MARCH 30 TO FURTHER IMPROVE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES.
♦SIMILAR DISCUSSIONS IN PREVIOUS YEARS HAVE PROVED TO BE A VALUABLE CHANNEL OF CONSULTATION, AND TEACHER REPRESENTATIVES TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS FREELY THE VIEWS OF THEIR COLLEAGUES ON VARIOUS TOPICS OF CONCERN,♦ AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE REPRESENTATIVES WERE GIVEN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF CURRENT EDUCATIONAL POLICIES AND THEIR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT IN THE LIGHT OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN VARIOUS WHITE PAPERS ON EDUCATION.
RELEVANT SUGGESTIONS WERE ALSO CONVEYED TO THE HEADS OF SCHOOLS AND TO OTHER CONCERNED PARTIES AS APPROPRIATE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
/AS IN PREVIOUS........
SUNDAY, FEBHUABY 28, 1982
6
AS IN PREVIOUS YEARS THE DISCUSSIONS TO BE HELD ON MARCH 30 WILL BE CONDUCTED IN CANTONESE, AND EACH GROUP WILL BE CHAIRED BY A SENIOR OFFICER OF THE DEPARTMENT, HE SAID.
TEACHER REPRESENTATIVES ARE REQUESTED TO PROPOSE ANY TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION AND FORWARD THEM TO THE SENIOR EDUCATION OFFICER
(SCHOOLS).
A SEPARATE LETTER LISTING THE TIME AND VENUE OF THE DISCUSSION SESSION WILL BE SENT TO THEM AT A LATER DATE.
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FIGHTING YOUTH CRIME- IMPORTANT ISSUE IN TUEN MUN M M M
FIGHTING YOUTH CRIME IS BECOMING AN IMPORTANT ISSUE IN A FAST DEVELOPING NEW TOWN LIKE TUEN MUN, THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR BILLY LAM, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
MR LAM WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT FIGHT YOUTH CRIME CARNIVAL.
+TUEN MUN IS DEVELOPING AT A REMARKABLY RAPID PACE,+ HE SAID.
♦THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE MOVING IN ARE YOUNG.
♦IT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT TO PREVENT THEM FROM GOING ASTRAY AS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH SERVICES SUCH AS SCHOOLS, TRANSPORT AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.+
QUOTING THE LATEST STATISTICS ON CRIME IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR LAM SAID THE OVERALL NUMBER OF REPORTED CRIMES HAD DECLINED FROM 1 664 CASES IN DECEMBER TO 1 629 CASES IN JANUARY, A DECREASE OF 35 CASES.
BUT CASES OF A MORE SERIOUS NATURE, HE SAID, HAD INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY DURING THE SAME PERIOD. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SUCH CASES HAD RISEN IN THE NEW TERRITORIES BY 68, WHILE THE INCREASE IN TUEN MUN HAD BEEN FROM 150 TO 159 CASES.
♦IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE LAW AND ORDER SITUATION IN OUR DISTRICT DESERVES MORE ATTENTION,+ MR LAM SAID.
♦THIS IS NO LONGER MERELY A POLICE MATTER; IT IS TIME FOR ALL RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN CRIME FIGHTING AND TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS BUILDING UP A HAPPY, COHESIVE AND HARMONIOUS COMMUNITY,! HE SAID.
THE FOUR-HOUR CARNIVAL, ORGANISED BY TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD, THE DISTRICT’S JUNIOR POLICE CALL AND TUEN MUN FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE WAS SPONSORED BY LOCAL LEADERS AND INCLUDED PERFORMANCES BY TELEVISION STARS AND WELL-KNOWN SINGERS.
ALSO ATTENDING WERE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK, MR LAU WONG-FATl THE DISTRICT POLICE SUPERINTENDENT, MR JIM HURST; THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CARNIVAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE, MR LIU TSZ-YUEN; AS WELL AS DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS AND LOCAL LEADERS.
0
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1982
7
NEW EFFORT FOR CLEANER CHEUNG CHAU
* > >
TONS OF HOUSEHOLD REFUSE ON CHEUNG CHAU ARE NOW BEING MOVED OUT BY BARGE TO THE KWAI CHUNG INCINERATOR IN AN EXPERIMENTAL SCHEME TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT Oc THE ISLAND.
♦THE- ISLAND CAN BECOME A SMOKE-FREE AREA IF THE NEW STEPS BEING TAKEN ARE SUCCESSFUL,* A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
THE JOB OF MOVING BY BARGE HALF OF THE HOUSEHOLD REFUSE ON CHEUNG CHAU TO A TRANSFER STA'ION IN TSI NG Yl, AND FROM THERE BY LORRY FOR INCINERATION AT THE KwAI CHUNG PLANT STARTED LAST .MONTH, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE DAILY OUTPUT OF RUBBISH ON CHEUNG CHAU IS ABOUT 11 TONNES.
IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, THE NTSD HAS RELIED ON A SMALL RURAL TYPE OF INCINERATOR ON THE ISLAND TO BURN ALL OF THE REFUSE.
♦WITH 40 000 RESIDENTS ON THE ISLAND, WE HAVE REACHED THE POINT WHERE WE MUST IMPROVE ON OUR TECHNIQUES,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE REMOVAL BY BARGES HELPS TO CUT-OUT SMOKE POLLUTION ON THE ISLAND.
♦BU’- IT IS LABOUR INTENSIVE'AND COUPLED WITH HIGH TRANSPORT COSTS, IT BECOMES AN EXPENSIVE OPERATION,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
TO SAVE ON COSTS, THE NTSD WILL THEREFORE BE LOOKING AT A VARIETY OP TECHNIQUES AND EQUIPMENT TO HELP STREAMLINE THE HANDLING AND TRANSPORT ARRANGEMENTS INCLUDING PULVERISATION, SHREDDING, BALING COMPACTION AND CONTAINERISATION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
♦LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PILOT SCHEME ON CHEUNG CHAU WILL ENABLE US TO DEVELOP A LONG-TERM STRATEGY FOR WASTE DISPOSAL FOR THE OUTLYING ISLANDS.
♦WHATEVER APPROACH WE DECIDE TO ADOPT WILL PROBABLY BE A COMBINATION OF VARIOUS DISPOSAL METHODS, SO THAT OPERATIONAL FLEXIBILITY CAN BE MAINTAINED AND THERE IS NOT TOO GREAT A RELIANCE ON ANY SINGLE SYSTEM,+ HE SAID.
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SHA TIN ANT I-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN CLOSES N * * H
CAR ITAS MARDEN
SOME 1 000 RESIDENTS OF SHA TIN DISTRICT WERE THIS (SUNDAV) EVENING ’REATED TO A TWO-HOUR POP CONCERT in THE ‘ “ HAuL, SHA TIN.
The CONCERT MARKED THE END OF THE INTENSIVE ANT I-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN vOINTl* ORGANISED Bv THE ANT I-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE AND THE ACTION NARCOTIcs.
’HREE-wEEK SHA TIN COMMITTEE AGAINST
THE SHA TIN ...
bUMUY, FKBBUARY 28, 1982
8
THE SHA TIN ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN, WHICH WAS OPENED ON FEBRUARY 7 BY SIR ALBERT RODRIGUES, CHAIRMAN OF ACAN, IS THE FIRST CF ITS KIND TO BE HELD IN THE DISTRICT. ACAN PROVIDED $150 000 TOWARDS CAMPAIGN EXPENSES WHILE THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD AND LOCAL RESIDENTS DONATED A FURTHER $30 000.
UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF MR WAI HON-LEUNG, THE SHA TIN ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE ORGANISED NEARLY 30 EDUCATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT ACTIVITIES FOR THE 150 000 RESIDENTS DURING THE CAMPAIGN PERIOD, INCLUDING VARIETY SHOWS, EXHIBITIONS, SEMINAR CAMPS, FILM SHOWS, SCHOOL TALKS, AND A DISCO-NIGHT.
A MASSIVE ANT I-DRUG PUBLICITY EFFORT WAS CARRIED OUT IN THE DISTRICT, AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF OPEN LETTERS, BANNERS, POSTERS, LEAFLETS AND BOOKMARKS WERE DISTRIBUTED.
TONIGHT’S CONCERT WAS PRODUCED BY NTN PRODUCTIONS, SPONSORED BY TOM LEE PIANO CO. LTD. AND SOUNDS UNLIMITED.
PERFORMING IN THE CONCERT WERE SEVERAL HONG KONG’S TOP SINGERS, INCLUDING JOHNNY YIP, PHILIP CHAN, PANG KIN-SUN, ROWENA CORTES, BRENDA LO AND TINA LAU.
GUESTS ATTENDING THE CONCERT INCLUDED MR WAI HON-LEUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE: MR NG CHAN-LAM, VICE-PRESIDENT CF THE CAWOAIGN COMMITTEE; MR PETER LEE, COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTIC ■ AND DR PATRICK HASE, DISTRICT OFFICER, SHA TIN.
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SHA TIN CHARITY WALK
* * *
THE LAST Or THE NEW TERRITORIES COMMUNITY CHEST WALKS FOR 1981/82 . STARTED BY THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR THE NEW
TERROPIE;, MR IAN MACPHERSON, AT SHA TIN TODAY (SUNDAY).
SOME 2 500 PEOP-E TOOK PART IN THE 12-KILOMETRE WALK WHICH BEGAN AND ENDED AT THE ROVAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB PUBLIC SPORTSGROUND.
AMONG THOSE OFFICIATING AT THE RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY WERE THE DISTRICT POLICE COMMANDER (NEW TERRITORIES), MR MIKE ILLINGWORTH; THE DISTRICT OFFICER, DR PATRICK HASE; THE VICE-CHANCELLOR OF HONG KONG CHINESE UNIVERSITY, DR MA LIN; AND LOCAL LEADERS.
THE TARGET FOR THE WALK IS $150 000.
SO R, THE COMMUNITY CHEST HAS HELD FOUR WALKS IN THE NEW TERRITOR AND RAISED OVER $2.4 MILLION. MORE THAN 13 000 PEOPLE HAVE TAKEI. ART.
LAST YEAR, EIGHT OF THE 111 CHEST WALKS WERE HELD IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND $2.41 MILLION VAS RAISED.
A KOWLOON WALK WILL TAKE PLACE ON MARCH 7.
__ _ - 0 ------
, /9......
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1982
9
CLEARWATER BAY ROAD IMPROVEMENT * * * *
THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE OF THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE WIDENING OF A SECTION OF CLEARWATER BAY ROAD BETWEEN HIRAM'S HIGHWAY AND HANG HAU ROAD.
THE PROJECT FORMS THE FINAL PART OF AN OVERALL SCHEME TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS IN CLEARWATER BAY ROAD BETWEEN ANDERSON ROAD AND HANG HAU ROAD.
THE WORK INVOLVES THE WIDENING OF THE EXISTING CARRIAGEWAY BETWEEN HIRAM’S HIGHWAY AND SHAW’S STUDIO WITH FOOTPATHS ON EITHER SIDE AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF A CLIMBING LANE AND A FOOTPATH FOR THE SECTION BETWEEN SHAW’S STUDIO AND HANG HAU ROAD.
WORK WILL COMMENCE IN MAY AND TAKE 18 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.