DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 1984
CONTENTS PaGE HO.
TRADE MINISTER ARRIVES ........................................ -j
SIR PHILIP LOOKS INTO YUEN LONG DEVELOPMENT .................... 1
NEW TOWN RESIDENTS AFTER MORE RECREATION ....................... 2
TRAINING IS VITAL FOR SEAFARERS ................................ 4
'OPEN DAYS’ AT TECHNICAL INSTITUTES ............................ 4
JAPANESE OFFICIALS SEE PRISON FACILITIES ....................... 5
DRAGON BOAT EYE-DOTTING ........................................ 6
YUEN LONG SITE FOR RENT......................................... 6
FREE SALT WATER FOR FLUSHING ................................... 7
TRAFFIC DIVERSION .............................................. 7
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF NAM CHEONG STREET ......................... 7
PROHIBITED ZONE FOR GOODS VEHICLES ............................. 7
FHURSDAY, MARCH 1, 1984
1
TRADE MINISTER ARRIVES * * *
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRADE, MR PAUL CHANNON ARRIVED IN HONG KONG THIS (THURSDAY) MORNING FOR A THREE-DAY VISIT.
HE WAS MET AT THE AIRPORT BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, AND THE SENIOR BRITISH TRADE COMMISSIONER, MR CHRISTIAN ADAMS.
DURING HIS STAY IN HONG KONG, MR CHANNON WILL MEET STAFF OF THE BRITISH TRADE COMMISSION AND SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS INCLUDING THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, MR PIERS JACOBS, AND THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR E.P. HO.
HE WILL ALSO MEET MEMBERS OF UMELCO AND THE HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND VISIT THE CASTLE PEAK POWER STATION, THE KWAI CHUNG CONTAINER TERMINAL AND THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY.
MR CHANNON WILL GIVE A PRESS CONFERENCE TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AND IS DUE TO LEAVE HONG KONG FOR SEOUL ON SUNDAY (MARCH 4).
NOTE TO EDITORSi
YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND A PRESS CONFERENCE TO BE GIVEN BY MR CHANNON IN THE 6 IS THEATRE AT 4.45 PM TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
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SIR PHILIP LOOKS INTO YUEN LONG DEVELOPMENT
IKI
THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SPENT THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON IN YUEN LONG LOOKING INTO DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS FOR THE NORTH-WEST NEW TERRITORIES.
THE PROPOSED PROJECTS INCLUDE WORK ON A NEW TOWN AT TIN SHU I WAI, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF A LIGHT RAIL LINK TO SERVE YUEN LONG AND TUEN MUN WHICH IS NOW BEING STUDIED BY THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION.
SIR PHILIP ALSO DISCUSSED WITH MEMBERS OF THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE ABOUT MEASURES UNDERTAKEN TO IMPROVE THE WATER QUALITY OF THE YUEN LONG NULLAH AND THE SHAN PUI RIVER.
THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR JAMES WILSON, SAID A RIVER PLAN «AS NOW BEING DRAFTED ON HOW THE STATE OF THE NULLAH COULD BE IMPROVED.
/♦THE PLAN ......
THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 1984
2
+THE PLAN WILL MAKE IT EASIER TO COORDINATE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF DIFFERENT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS OVER WATERCOURSE MANAGEMENT, SUCH AS FLOOD PREVENTION, AGRICULTURAL WASTE CONTROL AND SEWAGE TREATMENT*, HE SAID.
+ YUEN LONG IS THE LARGEST FLAT AREA IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND THE DISTRICT BOARD HAS HIGHLIGHTED THIS AS AN AREA WHICH NEEDS BETTER COORDINATION AND GREATER EFFORTS ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT, AND WE ARE GIVING HIGH PRIORITY TO THE WORK.
+DETAILS OF THE RIVER PLAN WILL BE AVAILABLE WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS*.
SIR PHILIP LATER VISITED A MODERN PIG-BREEDING FARM IN PING SHAN WHERE NEW WASTE TREATMENT EQUIPMENT IS BEING INSTALLED.
0 -
NEW TOWN RESIDENTS AFTER MORE RECREATION M * * *
RECREATIONAL OUTLETS AND CULTURAL PURSUITS HAVE BEEN IN MUCH HEATER DEMAND AMONG RESIDENTS MOVING INTO NEW TOWNS OVER THE YEARS.
THIS VIEW WAS STATED TODAY (THURSDAY) BY THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR PLANNING, OF THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, LO CHAI-WAN, IN A SPEECH TO THE LIONS CLUB OF HONG KONG HARBOUR.
GOVERNMENT, HE SAID, HAD RESPONDED BY CONSTRUCTING VARIOUS COMMUNITY FACILITIES. IT HAD BUILT THE TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL AND CHIU LUT SAU HALL IN YUEN LONG FOR STAGING CULTURAL AND ARTISTIC PERFORMANCES; COMPLETED SWIMMING COMPLEXES IN KWAI CHUNG, FANLING AND YUEN LONG; AND PROVIDED INDOOR GAMES HALLS IN KWAI CHUNG NORTH AND KWAI CHUNG SOUTH.
ALTOGETHER, IT HAD COMPLETED SOME 108 PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS, SIX POLICE STATIONS, SIX FIRE AND AMBULANCE STATIONS, 12 HOSPITALS AND CLINICS, 18 COMMUNITY HALLS AND 205 HECTARcS OF OPEN SPACE RECREATION GROUNDS.
+T0 CONSTRUCT HOUSING ESTATES IS NOT ENOUGH. THESE NEW COMMUNITIES HAVE TO BE CONNECTED UP WITH ONE ANOTHER AND WITH THE EXISTING URBAN AREAS TO PROVIDE FREE MOVEMENT FOR BOTH PASSENGERS AND GOODS,* HE SAID.
TUEN MUN ROAD HAD BEEN COMPLETED TO PROVIDE A SECOND AND BETTER TRUNK ROUTE TO TUEN MUN AND YUEN LONG; TAI PO ROAD HAu BEEN WIDENED AND STRAIGHTENED AT SECTIONS; A NEW COASTAL ROAD WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION; THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY’S TSUEN wAN EXTENSION HAD BEEN COMPLETED! AND THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY HAD BEEN ELECTRIFIED.
/MR LO
THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 1984
3 -
MR LO SAID THESE PROVIDED EFFICIENT AND FAST CONNECTIONS MI TH THE ESTABLISHED CENTRES SO THAT THE NEW COMMUNITIES wERE NO LONGER ISOLATED AND BECAME INTEGRATED PARTS OF THE URBAN SYSTEM.
+TO EFFECT ALL THESE IMPROVEMENTS, MORE THAN $16 BILLION HAS BEEN SPENT,+ HE ADDED.
REVIEWING THE EARLY DAYS OF DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TERRITORIES, W LO SAID GOVERNMENT EFFORT WAS LIMITED AS DEVELOPMENT HADTO COMPETE FOR PUBLIC FUNDS ALONG WITH OTHER PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS REQUIRED FOR THE EXISTING URBAN AREAS.
♦OBVIOUSLY, NEW TOWN ITEMS DID NOT COMMAND VERY HIGH PRIORITY BECAUSE THE POPULATION THERE WAS MUCH SMALLER THAN IN THE TEEMING URBAN AREAS,+ HE SAID.
THEN. IN 1972, GOVERNMENT EMBARKED ON THE 10-YEAR PUBLIC HOUSING TARGET AND DECLARED AS ITS COMMITTED AIM TO ACCOMMODATE 1.8 MILLION PEOPLE WITH THE NEXT 10 YEARS.
THE THEN PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT SET UP THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO COORDINATE THE PLANNING, ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURAL WORKS NEEDED TO ACHIEVE THE TARGET.
♦CENTRAL GOVERNMENT ALSO MADE SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR FUNDING IMIS WORK IN THE FORM OF COMMITTED AND CONTINUED INVESTMENT WITHIN THE OVERALL CONTEXT OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES. NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT HAD ITS OWN VOTE AND THUS THE STIFF COMPETITION FOR PRIORITY WITH ITS URBAN COUNTERPARTS WAS REDUCED,+ MR LO SAID.
TEAMS OF TOWN PLANNERS, ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS WERE FORMED AND CHARGED WITH THE TASK OF DEVELOPING THE SELECTED TOWNS OF TSUEN WAN-KWAI CHUNG-TSING Yl, TUEN MUN, SHA TIN, TAI PO-FANLING-SHEK WU HUI, YUEN LONG, SELECTED PARTS OF ISLANDS DISTRICT AND LATER ON JUNK BAY AND MA ON SHAN, HE ADDED.
LOOKING AHEAD, MR LO SAID THERE WAS A NEED FOR MORE LIAISON WITH LOCAL DISTRICT BOARDS TO ENSURE THAT THE WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT TRULY REFLECTED LOCAL REQUIREMENTS.
HE SAID PUBLIC EXPENDITURE ON NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT COULD FORM ONLY PART OF THE INGREDIENTS, ALTHOUGH A SIGNIFICANT PORTION.
♦IT WILL TAKE THE LEAD AND SET THE STAGE BY WAY OF EXAMPLE TO ENCOURAGE PRIVATE INVESTMENT.
♦THE CONSTRUCTION OF INDUSTRIAL PREMISES, COMMERCIAL CENTRE^ AND OFFICE BLOCKS, SHOPS AND OTHER RETAIL AND WHOLESALE OUTLETS, AND DOMESTIC PREMISES TO PROVIDE VARIETIES IN ACCOMMODATION TO ATTRACT MANAGERIAL AND SUPERVISORY STAFF AND THEIR FAMILIES a ILL HAVE TO DEPEND ON THE PRIVATE SECTOR,+ HE SAID.
IN AN ENTERPRISE OF THE SCALE SUCH AS NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG, THE COOPERATION AND WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE BY ALL CONCERNED WAS +AN ABSOLUTE NECESSITY+, HE ADDED.
THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 1984
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TRAINING IS VITAL FOR SEAFARERS
iil
MANPOWER TRAINING IS VITAL FOR HONG KONG IF IT IS TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE AMONG THE MARITIME NATIONS, MR FRANK CHAO, CHAIRMAN OF THE MERCHANT NAVY TRAINING BOARD OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL SAID TODAY.
A SURVEY TO DETERMINE THE MANPOWER NEEDS AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MERCHANT NAVY IS DUE TO START TOMORROW (THURSDAY) AND WILL LAST TILL MARCH 31.
FINDINGS OF SIMILAR SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE MARINE DEPARTMENT IN 1980 INDICATE THAT THERE WILL BE AN INCREASING DEMAND OF HONG KONG OFFICERS AND RATINGS BY THE MERCHANT NAVY UP TO 1985.
+HOWEVER, LOCAL SEAFARERS MUST BE WELL TRAINED AND QUALIFIED IN ORDER TO COMPETE AGAINST THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN THE REGION,+ W CHAO SAID.
BASED ON THE FINDINGS IN 1980, THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL HAS SET UP A TEMPORARY TRAINING CENTRE AT LITTLE SAI WAN.
♦THE STATISTICAL DATA COLLECTED IN THE COMING SURVEY WILL BE ESSENTIAL FOR THE BOARD TO FORMULATE RELATED TRAINING MEASURES,+ hR CHAO SAID.
THE MANPOWER SURVEY IS ALSO TO ASCERTAIN MANPOWER REQUIREMENTS OF THE MERCHANT NAVY UP TO 1990.
A TOTAL OF 63 COMPANIES WILL BE COVERED IN THE SURVEY, AND OFFICERS FROM THE MARINE DEPARTMENT WILL VISIT THEM DURING THE SURVEY PERIODS TO ASSIST AND COLLECT COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRES.
MR CHAO URGED EMPLOYERS TO CO-OPERATE IN SUPPLYING ACCURATE DATA AND STRESSED THAT THE INFORMATION COLLECTED WOULD BE HANDLED IN STRICT CONFIDENCE.
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’OPEN DAYS’ AT TECHNICAL INSTITUTES
* * * *
THE FIVE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES UNDER THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL WILL BE HOLDING THEIR OPEN DAYS SHORTLY.
ON THESE OCCASIONS, ALL WORKSHOPS, LABORATORIES AND CLASSROOM© WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC SO THAT THEY MAY HAVE A CLOSER LOOK AT TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND THE WORKS OF THE STUDENTS, A COUNCIL SPOKESMAN SAID.
TMORROW (FRIDAY) AND ON SATURDAY, THE LEE WAI LEE INSTITUTE WILL FEATURE A CRAFT SKILLS COMPETITION IN ITS TWO OPEN DAYb.
/and the .......
THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 1964
- 5 -
AND THE MORRISON HILL INSTITUTE WILL ALSO BE HOLDING TWO OPEN DAYS, ON MARCH 3 AND 5.
ON WEDNESDAY (MARCH 7), THE KWAI CHUNG INSTITUTE WILL BE ORGANISING ANOTHER SKILLS COMPETITION IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING FOR ITS OPEN DAY.
STUDENTS FROM NEARBY AREAS WILL BE INVITED TO ATTEND CAREERS TALKS HELD AT KWAI CHUNG ON THAT DAY.
+THE IDEA IS TO ENABLE FORM THREE LEAVERS TO UNDERSTAND BETTER THE NATURE OF COURSES OFFERED BY TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND CAREER PROSPECTS IN INDUSTRIES,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE HAKING WONG INSTITUTE WILL HOLD ITS OPEN DAY ON MARCH 9.
AND ON MARCH 16 (FRIDAY), THE KWUN TONG INSTITUTE WILL BE HOLDING ITS OPEN DAY, FEATURING ITS ANNUAL FASHION SHOW.
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JAPANESE OFFICIALS SEE PRISON FACILITIES *****
TWO OFFICIALS FROM JAPAN’S MINISTRY OF JUSTICE VISITED THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT TODAY (THURSDAY) TO SEE ITS STAFF TRAINING FACILITIES AND PRISON INDUSTRIES.
AFTER A DISCUSSION WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR THOMAS GARNER, ON THE WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT, W TERUMI OBATA, CORRECTIONAL SPECIALIST FROM JAPAN’S BUREAU OF CORRECTIONS, IN CHARGE OF PRISON INDUSTRY AND MR MASAKAZU YASUKI, PROFESSOR, TRAINING INSTITUTE FOR CORRECTIONAL PERSONNEL, WENT TO THE DEPARTMENT’S STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE AT STANLEY.
THERE THEY WERE BRIEFED ON THE VARIOUS STAFF TRAINING PROGRAMMES AND SHOWN THE TRAINING FACILITIES.
THEY NEXT TOURED STANLEY PRISON AND SAW PRISONERS WORKING IN THE GARMENT-MAKING, CARPENTRY, SILK-SCREENING, PRINTING, ENVELOPE-MAKING, SHOE-MAKING, AND RADIO AND TELEVISION REPAIR WORKSHOPS.
THE VISITORS THEN WENT TO TAI TAM GAP CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION FOR GIRLS, WHERE THEY SAW YOUNG OFFENDERS RECEIVING VOCATIONAL TRAINING, AND ATTENDING EDUCATIONAL CLASSES.
TOMORROW, THEY WILL VISIT THE NEWLY-BUILT SHEK PIK hRISOK, SHA TSUI DETENTION CENTRE AND THE PIK UK PRISON LAUNDRY.
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/6........
THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 1984
6
NOTE TO EDITORS:
DRAGON BOAT EYE-DOTTING * *
THE EYE-DOTTING AND LAUNCHING OF TWO NEW FIBRE-GLASS DRAGON BOATS WILL TAKE PLACE NEAR THE SHA TIN FLOATING RESTAURANT ON SUNDAY (MARCH 4).
THE CEREMONY WILL BE PERFORMED BY THE SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR DONALD TSANG, THE CHAIRMAN OF SHA TIN SPORTS ASSOCIATION, MR ROGER LAU, AND THE CHAIRMAN AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF SUN HUNG KAI PROPERTIES LIMITED, MR KWOK TAK-SENG.
THE TWO BOATS ARE AMONG THE 13 FIBRE-GLASS DRAGON BOATS DONATED TO THE SHA TIN SPORTS ASSOCIATION BY SUN HUNG KAI PROPERTIES LIMITED AT A COST OF $420 000.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EYE-DOTTING CEREMONY AT 12.30 PM. A GOVERNMENT VEHICLE WILL LEAVE KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER AT 12 NOON FOR SHA TIN.
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YUEN LONG SITE FOR RENT * *
A 400-SQUARE-METRE SITE IN YUEN LONG IS BEING OFFERED ON SHORT-TERM TENANCY BY THE LANDS DEPARTMENT.
THE SITE, SITUATED IN THE TUNG TAU INDUSTRIAL AREA, IS TO BE USED FOR STORING AND REPAIRING GOODS.
IT CAN ALSO BE USED FOR REPAIRING, MAINTAINING AND SPRAYING MOTOR VEHICLES.
THE INITIAL TENANCY IS TWO YEARS, WHICH CAN BE RENEWED QUARTERLY AFTERWARDS.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING TENDERS IS MARCH 16.
TENDER FORMS, NOTICES AND CONDITIONS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, YUEN LONG, THE LANDS DEPARTMENT, MURRAY BUILDING, 5TH FLOOR, GARDEN ROADl AND THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, KOWLOON WEST, YAU MA TEI CAR PARK BUILDING, 10TH FLOOR, 250 SHANGHAI STREET, KOWLOON.
THE TENDER PLAN MAY ALSO BE INSPECTED AT THESE LOCATIONS.
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/? .......
THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 1984
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FREE SALT WATER FOR FLUSHING
III
FROM TODAY (THURSDAY) TUEN MUN NEW TOWN WILL BE PROVIDED wI TH SALT WATER INSTEAD OF RAW WATER FOR FLUSHING PURPOSES, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED.
THE CHANGEOVER NOW MEANS THAT CONSUMERS WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO PAY FOR THE FLUSHING WATER, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
IT HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY THE RECENT COMPLETION OF A SALT WATER PUMPING STATION NEAR BUTTERFLY BEACH, CASTLE PtAK, WHICH WILL BE COMMISSIONED TODAY.
THE RAW WATER PREVIOUSLY SUPPLIED TO TUEN MUN NEW TOWN WAS DRAWN FROM TAI LAM CHUNG RESERVOIR.
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TRAFFIC DIVERSION * * *
THE UP-RAMPS OF CHI FU INTERCHANGE LEADING FROM POK FU LAM ROAD TO CHI FU FA YUEN WILL BE CLOSED FROM 10 AM TO 7 PM ON SATURDAY (MARCH 3) FOR WORKS TO BE CARRIED OUT.
TRAFFIC ON POK FU LAM ROAD HEADING FOR CHI FU FA YUEN WILL BE DIVERTED VIA POK FU LAM GARDENS INTERCHANGE. BUSES ON CMB ROUTES 44 AND 45 BOUND FOR CENTRAL AND ROBINSON ROAD RESPECTIVELY WILL NOT OPERATE VIA CHI FU FA YUEN.
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TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF NAM CHEONG STREET
*****
FROM MARCH 3 (SATURDAY) TO MARCH 13, THE SECTION OF NAM CHEONG STREET BETWEEN BERWICK STREET AND WOH CHAI STREET WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC FROM 1 AM TO 5 AM TO FACILITATE WORK ON THE SHEK KIP MEI ESTATE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT.
DURING THE CLOSURE, MOTORISTS HEADING FOR LUNG CHEUNG ROAD ARE ADVISED TO USE BERWICK STREET, SHEK KIP MEI STREET AND aOH CHAI STREET.
PROHIBITED ZONE FOR GOODS VEHICLES * * * *
FROM 10 AM ON SATURDAY (MARCH 3), THE SECTION OF ARRIVALS ROAD BETWEEN ITS JUNCTIONS WITH CONCORDE ROAD AND AIRPORT DRIVE NO. 1 WILL BE MADE A PROHIBITED ZONE WHERE NO GOODS VEHICLES OTHER THAN THOSE AUTHORISED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT -AY ENTER.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
CONTENTS
PAGE NO
NEW NT TAXI BOUNDARY EFFECTIVE SUNDAY
MONETISED LETTERS B VALUES DETAILED
BILL PROVIDES FOR FOREIGN EXCHANGE
STUDINTS URGED TO SUPPORT DB ELECTIONS
JETTY PLANNED FOR CHINa WATER SCHEME
NEW RATES FOR RESUMED LaND ANNOUNCED
NEW COLONEL FOR REGIMENT
FREE MEDICaL SCHEME FOR OLD FOLK
NELL CEREMONY FOR RO DIRECTOR
more Handicapped people in sports
PRESS CONFERENCE
WAN CHAI TAPS OFF
TaI HANG WATER MAINS WORK
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
I.D. Card SCHEME ENTERING PHASE TEN
FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 1984
SCHOOL MEETS SPECIAL DEMAND - HAYE
FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 1984
1 -
NEW NT TAXI BOUNDARY EFFECTIVE SUNDAY * * * *
THE PERMITTED AREA OF OPERATION FOR THE NEw TERRITORIES TAXIS WILL BE EXTENDED FROM SUNDAY (MARCH 4), A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY.
THE APPROVAL FOR THIS WAS GIVEN BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IN JANUARY.
THE BOUNDARY EXTENSION WILL PERMIT NEW TERRITORIES TAXIS TO GO AS FAR AS THE TSUEN WAN MTR STATION, SHUN LEE ESTATE, AND THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY.
TAXIS TRAVELLING TO TSUEN WAN MTR STATION SHOULD GO VIA TUEN MUN ROAD, CASTLE PEAK ROAD AND SAI LAU KOK ROAD- OR VIA ROUTE TWISK, TSUEN KAM INTERCHANGE, WAI TSUEN STREET, SAI LAU KOK ROAD, THE UNNAMED ROAD LINKING SAI LAU KOK ROAD AND CASTLE PEAK ROAD, CASTLE PEAK ROAD AND SAI LAU KOK ROAD.
AND TAXIS TO SHUN LEE ESTATE WILL HAVE TO TRAVEL ALONG CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD, NEW CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD, THE SLIP ROAD LINKING NEW CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD AND SHUN LEE TSUEN ROAD, SHUN LEE TSUEN ROAD, SHUN KING STREET AND LEE ON ROAD.
AND THE ROUTE TO THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY WILL BE ALONG TAI PO ROAD.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID :
+TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE ERECTED TO GUIDE AND CHANNEL NEW TERRITORIES TAXIS ALONG THESE ROUTES.
+ALL NEW TERRITORIES TAXIS WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING THE SIDE ROADS LEADING OFF FROM THESE ROUTES.
+NEW TERRITORIES TAXI CLEARWAY RESTRICTIONS WILL BE INTRODUCED ALONG THE ROUTES LEADING TO THE TSUEN WAN MTR STATION AND TO SHUN LEE ESTATE.
+WITHIN THE CLEARWAY RESTRICTED ZONES, ALL TAXI DRIVERS WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM PICKING UP OR SETTING DOWN PASSENGERS, OR LOADING OR UNLOADING GOODS.
+A TAXI STAND WILL BE PROVIDED AT THE TSUEN WAN MTR STATION AND AT LEE ON ROAD IN SHUN LEE ESTATE. PICKING UP OR SETTING DOWN OF PASSENGERS IS ALSO PERMITTED WITHIN THE 'NO WAITING’ ZONE NEAR THE TAXI STAND AT LEE ON ROAD.+
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FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 1984
2 -
MONETISED LETTERS B VALUES DETAILED * * * *
THE GOVERNMENT, WHICH ANNOUNCED AT THE END OF NOVEMBER LAST YEAR THAT IT WAS +MONETISING+ LAND EXCHANGE ENTITLEMENTS (LETTERS B), GAVE DETAILS TODAY (FRIDAY) OF THE CURRENCY VALUES OF ENTITLEMENTS.
A LANDS DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID GIVING THE ENTITLEMENTS A CASH VALUE wAS INTENDED TO REDUCE THE GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE 15 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF BUILDING LAND FOR THEIR REDEMPTION.
HE SAID THEY COULD NOW BE USED TO PAY FOR NEW TERRITORIES LAND BOUGHT AT AUCTION OR BY TENDER.
THEY COULD ALSO BE USED AS CASH PAYMENT IN NEW TERRITORIES LAND-RELATED TRANSACTIONS, SUCH AS MODIFICATIONS, EXCHANGES, PRIVATE TREATY GRANTS, LICENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE FEES, BUILDING COVENANT PREMIUMS, SHORT TERM TENANCIES AND WAIVERS, FOREBEARANCE FEES AND EXTENSIONS.
THE VALUES RANGE FROM A HIGH OF $259.90 PER SQUARE FOOT OF AGRICULTURAL LAND FOR WHICH A LETTER B WAS ISSUED IN JANUARY, I960 TO A LOW OF $19.00 WHERE THE LETTER B WAS ISSUED A YEAR AGO.
FOR BUILDING LAND THE RATES RANGE FROM $647.20, PLUS THE SURRENDER VALUE, TO THE SURRENDER VALUE ONLY.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE CURRENCY VALUE FIGURES HAD BEEN ARRIVED AT AFTER TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE CURRENT PRICES OF VARIOUS TYPES OF LAND IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES AND THE DIFFERENT STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT IN TSUEN WAN, SHA TIN AND TUEN MUN NEW TOWNS.
HE SAID THE NEW SYSTEM WOULD COME INTO OPERATION FROM APRIL 1 AND BE REVISED AT SIX-MONTH INTERVALS.
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FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 1984
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BILL PROVIDES FOR FOREIGN EXCHANGE * * *
THE GOVERNMENT IS PROPOSING TO AMEND THE EXCHANGE FUND ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE IN EXPLICIT TERMS FOR PAYMENT AND REDEMPTION IN RELATION TO CERTIFICATES OF INDEBTEDNESS TO BE MADE IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE GOVERNMENT ALSO PROPOSES TO PROVIDE FOR A MINOR CHANGE IN THE MANNER IN WHICH RESOLUTIONS TO AMEND THE EXCHANGE FUND AGGREGATE BORROWING LIMIT ARE PROPOSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
THE PROPOSALS ARE CONTAINED IN THE EXCHANGE FUND (AMENDMENT) BILL 1Q84, PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN RECALLED TODAY THAT IN ORDER TO STABILISE THE EXCHANGE RATE, CERTIFICATES OF INDEBTEDNESS HAD, SINCE OCTOBER 17, 1983, BEEN ISSUED AND REDEEMED AGAINST US DOLLARS AT A FIXED RATE OF HK&7.8O TO US$1. THESE CERTIFICATES ARE ISSUED TO THE NOTE-ISSUING BANKS UNDER SECTION 4 OF THE EXCHANGE FUND ORDINANCE AND ARE HELD AS COVER FOR THEIR NOTE ISSUES.
PRIOR TO THESE MEASURES, THE SPOKESMAN CONTINUED, SUCH CERTIFICATES WERE ISSUED AND REDEEMED AGAINST HONG KONG DOLLARS. ALTHOUGH THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS WERE NOT CONSIDERED TO BE CONTRARY TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCE, THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT, IF ENACTED, WOULD REMOVE ALL DOUBT. ACCORDINGLY, IT WAS PROPOSED THAT SUBSECTIONS (1) AND (2) OF SECTION 4 BE AMENDED SO AS TO PROVIDE EXPRESSLY THAT ISSUES AND REDEMPTIONS OF CERTIFICATES OF INDEBTEDNESS MIGHT BE TRANSACTED NOT ONLY IN HONG KONG DOLLARS BUT ALSO IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE AND AT SUCH RATE OF EXCHANGE AS MIGHT BE DETERMINED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY.
THE OPPORTUNITY WAS ALSO BEING TAKEN TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE BY REMOVING AN UNNECESSARY REQUIREMENT THAT RESOLUTIONS TO AMEND THE EXCHANGE FUND BORROWING LIMIT MUST BE PROPOSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BY THE GOVERNOR HIMSELF, HE ADDED.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE BILL WAS EXPECTED TO BE PRESENTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR FIRST AND SECOND READING ON MARCH 14, AND TO GO THROUGH THE REMAINING LEGISLATIVE STAGES ON APRIL 18.
ANYONE WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ON ITS PROVISIONS MAY WRITE TO UMELCO, AT SWIRE HOUSE, 12TH FLOOR, CHATER ROAD, OR TO THE SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS, AT ADMIRALTY CENTRE, TOWER II, 18 HARCOURT ROAD, WAN CHAI.
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/4 ........
FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 1984
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STUDENTS URGED TO SUPPORT DB ELECTIONS *****
POST-SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE TODAY URGED BY THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, TO ENCOURAGE THEIR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES TO VOTE IN NEXT YEAR’S DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS AND TO HELP IN THE REGISTRATION OF ELECTORS.
BY DOING SO, HE SAID, STUDENTS COULD + HELP TO ENSURE THAT THESE ELECTIONS ARE A SUCCESSFUL EXPRESSION OF PUBLIC SUPPORT AND INVOLVEMENT* AND + SHOW THEIR LOVE FOR HONG KONG*.
MR AKERS-JONES MADE THE APPEAL AT THE OPENING OF THE BAPTIST WEEK ’84 ORGANISED FOR STUDENTS OF THE BAPTIST COLLEGE.
HE SAID THAT THE DISTRICT BOARDS, THE BEGINNING OF A NEW PHASE IN THE POLITICAL LIFE OF HONG KONG, WILL HAVE BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR NEARLY THREE YEARS NEXT YEAR.
+IN OUR SYSTEM OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ALL WHO HAVE LIVED IN HONG KONG LONG ENOUGH TO BELONG TO OUR COMMUNITY HAVE THE RIGHT TO REGISTER AND TO VOTE,+ HE SAID.
+TO VOTE IN THESE ELECTIONS IS TO ENABLE PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG.
+A VOTE IS A SMALL THING BUT IT SHOWS THAT THE INDIVIDUAL VOICE, HOWEVER SMALL, IS OF VALUE AND IN THE ACT OF VOTING THE VOTER HAS COMMITTED HIMSELF TO HONG KONG AND ITS WAY OF LIFE.
+IT IS A SMALL GESTURE OF GREAT SIGNIFICANCE TO US ALL.+
MR AKERS-JONES RECALLED THAT HE HAD ALSO SPOKEN ON THE GROWING FEELING OF IDENTITY AND SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG TO STUDENTS OF THE BAPTIST COLLEGE SOME FIVE YEARS AGO.
♦MUCH HAS HAPPENED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. HONG KONG HAS CONTINUED WITH ITS PHYSICAL BUILDING DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES.
+BUT IN THE FIELD OF COMMUNITY BUILDING, THE CHANGE WHICH AFFECTS EVERY ONE OF US WAS THE DECISION IN 1982 TO GIVE ALL RESIDENTS OF HONG KONG OVER THE AGE OF 21 THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE AND TO VOTE IN DISTRICT ELECTIONS.
+NEARLY A MILLION PEOPLE REGISTERED AND SEVERAL HUNDRED THOUSAND TOOK THE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE IN THE SUBSEQUENT ELECTIONS.*
DESCRIBING THIS AS A GOOD START, MR AKERS-JONES ADDED THAT NEXT YEAR’S ELECTIONS WOULD ONCE MORE PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HONG KONG PEOPLE TO JOIN HANDS WITH THE GOVERNMENT.
-----o------
A ...
FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 1984
- 5 -jetty planned for china water scheme * M * *
the government is proposing to build a jetty on harbour ISLAND FOR the SCHEME TO INCREASE WATER SUPPLY FROM CHINA.
IT WILL PROVIDE ACCESS TO TWO PUMPING STATIONS BEING BUILT AS PART OF THE SCHEME AT HARBOUR ISLAND AND TAI MEI TUK.
IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE FACILITIES FOR BARGES BEING USED FOR DREDGING FOR THE SUBMARINE PIPELINE TO BE LAID FROM HARBOUR ISLAND TO SAI 0.
THIS WILL BE 2.4 KILOMETRES LONG AND IS ALSO PART OF THE CHINA WATER SCHEME.
WORK ON LAYING IT WILL START IN NOVEMBER AND FINISH TWO YEARS LATER.
BUILDING THE JETTY WILL BEGIN IN JULY AND INVOLVE DREDGING AND RECLAIMING 1.4 HECTARES OF FORESHORE AND SEABED UNDER THE PUBLIC RECLAMATIONS AND WORKS ORDINANCE.
THE PIPELINE PROJECT INVOLVES DREDGING AND REFILLING 14.1 HECTARES OF FORESHORE AND SEABED.
THE EXTENT OF THE AREA AFFECTED BY BOTH PROJECTS IS DESCRIBED IN A NOTICE IN TODAY’S (FRIDAY’S) GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
THE NOTICE, TOGETHER WITH A PLAN, CAN BE SEEN ON NOTICE BOARDS POSTED NEAR THE SITE. THE PLAN CAN ALSO BE SEEN AT:
* THE LANDS DEPARTMENT, 5TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONGJ AND Q
* TAI PO DISTRICT OFFICE, TAI PO GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDING, TING KOK ROAD, TAI PO MARKET, NEW TERRITORIES.
OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSAL AND CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION SHOULD REACH THE DIRECTOR OF LANDS BY MAY 2.
THE SCHEME TO INCREASE WATER SUPPLIES FROM CHINA IS BEING CARRIED OUT IN THREE STAGES COSTING $724.5 MILLION, $725 MILLION AND $300 MILLION.
IT STARTED IN 1981 AND WILL BE COMPLETED IN 1992, BY WHICH TIME THE AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL WATER BEING PROVIDED WILL TOTAL 620 MILLION CUBIC METRES PETO-ANNUM.
i -----0--------
/6........
FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 1984
6
NEW RATES FOR RESUMED LAND
*****
ANNOUNCED
FOR AGRICULTURAL AND
THE NEW RATES OF EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCE
BUILDING LAND RESUMED BY THE GOVERNMENT *ERE PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
THEY COME INTO EFFECT ON APRIL 1 AND WILL BE OPERATIVE FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS.
THE RATE FOR AGRICULTURAL LAND RESUMED WITHIN THE NEw TOWN DEVELOPMENT AREAS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES AND IN THE URBAN AREAS OF HONG KONG AND KOWLOON WILL NOW BE $40.80 PER SQUARE FOOT, DOWN FROM $45.60 WHICH HAS BEEN THE RATE FOR THE PAST 12 MONTHS.
THE RATE FOR BUILDING LAND RESUMED WITHIN THE NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT AREAS WILL BE $66 PER SQUARE FOOT, COMPARED WITH $78 PREVIOUSLY.
THE RATES FOR LAND RESUMED OUTSIDE THE DEVELOPMENT AREAS _ OF THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL BE THE APPROPRIATE PERCENTAGE OF THE BASIC RATES OF $34 PER SQUARE FOOT FOR AGRICULTURAL LAND AND $55 FOR BUILDING LAND.
THESE RATES HAVE BEEN $38 AND $65 RESPECTIVELY SINCE APR IL 1, 1983.
A LANDS DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE LOWER RATES REFLECTED THE DROP IN LAND VALUES WHICH HAD TAKEN PLACE IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS.
- - 0
I.D. CARD SCHEME ENTERING * * * * *
PHASE TEN
THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED THE NEW I.D. CARD ISSUE SCHEME WILL ENTER MARCH 12.
TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT ITS TENTH PHASE ON
WITHIN THE FIVE WEEKS BETWEEN THE COMMENCEMENT DATE AND APRIL 19, MEN BORN IN 1948, 1949 AND 1965 WILL BE REQUIRED TO CHANGE THEIR EXISTING IDENTITY CARDS FOR NEW ONES.
APPLICANTS SHOULD BRING ALONG THEIR OLD CARDS WHEN THEY APPROACH ANY ONE OF THE EIGHT ISSUE OFFICES WHICH WILL BE OPEN
FROM 8 AM TO 9.30
PM, FROM MONDAYS TO SATURDAYS.
A DEPARTMENT VISIT THE OFFICES ONE SHOULD TRY TO
SPOKESMAN SAID, +MOST APPLICANTS CHOOSE TO BETWEEN 3 PM AND 8 PM. TO AVOID THE RUSH, COME IN THE MORNING OR AT WEEKENDS.+
THOSE WHO WISH TO USE THE MAIL-IN APPOINTMENT SERVICE MAY OBTAIN APPLICATION FORMS FROM ANY DISTRICT OFFICE OR IMMIGRATION OFF ICE.
MEANWHILE, THERE ARE ONLY BORN IN 1950 AND 1951 TO APPLY PHASE WILL END ON MARCH 13.
SEVEN WORKING DAYS LEFT FOR MEN FOR NEW CARDS. THE CURRENT
- - 0 - -
11
FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 1984
7 -
NEW COLONEL FOR REGIMENT
*****
MR JOHN RULE HEYWOOD, OBE, ED, JP, HAS BEEN APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR TO SUCCEED DR SOLOMON BARD, OBE, ED, JP, AS HONORARY COLONEL OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT (THE VOLUNTEERS) ON MARCH 1, 1984.
DR BARD RETIRES AFTER A LONG ASSOCIATION WITH THE REGIMENT AND AFTER HAVING HELD THE POSITION FOR TWO YEARS.
MR HEYWOOD WAS COMMISSIONED IN 1955 AND ROSE TO THE RANK OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL IN 1973. HE WAS THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE REGIMENT FROM OCTOBER 1973 TO APRIL 1976.
MR HEYWOOD SERVED IN THE REGIMENT FOR MORE THAN TWENTY YEARS AND DURING THIS TIME WAS AWARDED THE EFFICIENCY DECORATION IN 1966, A FIRST CLASP TO ED IN 1972 AND THE OBE FOR HIS DISTINGUISHED MILITARY SERVICE IN 1976.
MR HEYWOOD IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, STAFF GRADE +B+ WITH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND IS AT PRESENT SERVING AS THE DIRECTOR OF NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES.
-----o------
FREE MEDICAL SCHEME FOR OLD FOLK * * *
A 10-DAY FREE MEDICAL SCHEME FOR ABOUT 800 OLD PEOPLE IN MONG KOK WILL BEGIN ON MONDAY (MARCH 5).
FROM 2 PM TO 4 PM AND 6 PM TO 8 PM DAILY, THERE WILL BE DOCTORS AT THE CHAN HING COMMUNITY SERVICES CENTRE TO GIVE ADVICE AND FREE MEDICAL CHECK-UPS TO THE OLD PEOPLE.
MORE THAN 30 DOCTORS, VOLUNTEERS FROM FIVE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, AND NURSES FROM THE KWONG WAH HOSPITAL WILL TAKE PART IN THE SCHEME.
THE MEDICAL SCHEME IS PART OF THE PROGRAMME OF THE MONG KOK ELDERLY CAMPAIGN ORGANISED BY THE LOCAL DISTRICT BOARD.
AN OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE HELD AT 2 PM TOMORROW (SATURDAY) AT THE CHAN HING COMMUNITY SERVICES CENTRE.
AFTER THE CEREMONY THERE WILL BE A FILM AND SLIDE SHOW ON HEALTH ADVICE FOR THE OLD PEOPLE AND MEDICAL CHECK-UPS BY THE DOCTORS.
/OFFICIATING AT .......
FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 1964
- 8 -
OFFICIATING at the ceremony will be the district officer, MR WILFRED WONG, ADVISOR OF THE FREE MEDICAL SCHEME, MR RONALD LEUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE ELDERLY CAMPAIGN STEERING COMMITTEE, MR CHO SHIU-CHUNG, AND CHAIRMAN OF THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE, MR CHOI FOOK-CHI.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE MONG KOK FREE MEDICAL SCHEME AT 2 PM TOMORROW (SATURDAY) AT THE CHAN HING COMMUNITY SERVICES CENTRE IN FUK TSUEN STREET, TAI KOK TSUI .
------0--------
SCHOOL MEETS SPECIAL DEMAND - HAYE * * * *
THE NEEDS OF THE MINORITY SHOULD BE RECOGNISED, ACCEPTED AND MET IN A TRULY DEMOCRATIC EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR COLVYN HAYE, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF ST. STEPHEN’S COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL EXTENSION, MR HAYE SAID THAT EVEN WITH THE PROVISION OF FREE, UNIVERSAL EDUCATION THERE WERE ALWAYS GROUPS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS.
+ST.STEPHEN’S COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL, AS THE ONLY INDEPENDENT BOARDING PREPARATORY SCHOOL IN HONG KONG, FOLLOWING AN ANGLO-CHINESE CURRICULUM IN WHICH BOTH THE ENGLISH AND THE CHINESE LANGUAGES ARE GIVEN EQUAL EMPHASIS, IS CLEARLY AN INSTITUTION WHICH IS CATERING FOR JUST SUCH A SPECIAL, MINORITY NEED.
+INDEED IT HAS BEEN DOING SO FOR MANY YEARS, AND, AS EVIDENCED BY ITS HIGH REPUTATION IN OUR COMMUNITY, HAS BEEN DOING SO WITH MUCH SUCCESS,+ HE SAID.
THE EXTENSION WOULD ENABLE THE SCHOOL TO MAKE ITS EDUCATION AVAILABLE TO MORE CHILDREN IN HONG KONG AND TO MEET A RECOGNISED DEMAND.
MR HAYE SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN ABLE TO MAKE PROGRESS IN THE QUALITY OF PRIMARY EDUCATION, WHICH HAD BEEN FREE AND COMPULSORY FOR ALL CHILDREN MORE THAN 10 YEARS AGO.
+CLASS SIZES HAVE BECOME SMALLER, A MAJOR IMPROVEMENT, AND THE CURRICULUM HAS BECOME MUCH MORE CHILD- AS OPPOSED TO SUBJECT-CENTRED.
/♦THE TEACHER .......
FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 1984
9 -
+THE TEACHER TO CLASS RATIO HAS BEEN IMPROVED AND SCHOOLS ARE NOW MORE ABLE TO OFFER MORE STIMULATING EXTRA-CURRICULAR PROGRAMMES AND MORE REMEDIAL HELP TO INDIVIDUAL PUPILS.
+IN BRIEF, THERE HAS BEEN AN OVERALL BRIGHTENING, AN INCREASED SENSE OF PURPOSE AND, I BELIEVE, A MUCH GREATER AWARENESS OF THE VALUE OF THE WORK IN OUR PRIMARY SCHOOL SECTOR,+ HE SAID.
BUT HE WAS NOT COMPLACENT ABOUT THE PROVISION OF PRIMARY EDUCATION, MR HAYE SAID.
+l FULLY REALISE THAT THERE IS STILL ROOM FOR MUCH IMPROVEMENT BUT I KNOW THAT ALL OF US CONCERNED WITH PRIMARY EDUCATION ARE CONTINUING TO WORK FOR THAT IMPROVEMENT; AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK THAT WE CAN BE PROUD OF OUR ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE,* HE SAID.
-------0 - -
FAREWELL CEREMONY FOR RO DIRECTOR *****
THE DIRECTOR OF ROYAL OBSERVATORY, MR J.E. PEACOCK IS TO RETIRE FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE ON APRIL 3, AFTER SERVING IN THE GOVERNMENT FOR 34 YEARS.
HE WILL PROCEED ON PRE-RETIREMENT LEAVE ON MARCH 15.
TO MARK THE OCCASION, STAFF MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY TODAY (FRIDAY) BID FAREWELL TO MR PEACOCK AT A DINNER RECEPTION AT THE MARIGOLD RESTAURANT AND NIGHTCLUB. HE WAS PRESENTED A SILVER TRAY AS RETIREMENT GIFT BY THE DIRECTOR DESIGNATE, W PATRICK SHAM PAK ON BEHALF OF HIS COLLEAGUES.
MR PEACOCK WAS BORN IN FEBRUARY 1927. HE JOINED THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY AS SCIENTIFIC OFFICER IN 1950 AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY PROMOTED TO SENIOR SCIENTIFIC OFFICER IN 1963 AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR IN 1965. SINCE THEN, HE HAD ACTED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AS DIRECTOR OF THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY.
HE wAS PROMOTED TO DIRECTOR IN 1981.
MR PEACOCK WAS APPOINTED A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE IN 1968 AND WAS AWARDED THE OBE IN 1984.
HE IS MARRIED WITH THREE CHILDREN.
- - - - 0
/1O .......
FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 1984
- 10 -
MORE HANDICAPPED PEOPLE IN SPORTS
* * *
MORE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PEOPLE ARE TAKING PART IN SPORTS ACTIVITIES AND COMPETITIONS EVERY YEAR, THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND SPORTS, MR DICKEN YUNG, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
LAST YEAR, MORE THAN 7 000 MENTALLY HANDICAPPED MEN AND WOMEN TOOK PART IN SUCH EVENTS AS SWIMMING, TRACK AND FIELD, SOCCER, BASKETBALL AND BADMINTON, HE SAID.
MR YUNG WAS SPEAKING IN HIS CAPACITY AS PRESIDENT OF THE HONG KONG SPORTS ASSOCIATION FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED, AT A LIONS CLUB LUNCHEON MEETING.
HE SAID THAT WHEN THE ASSOCIATION WAS FOUNDED IN 1978, ONLY SEVERAL HUNDRED MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS WERE ACTIVE IN SPORTS.
BUT THE NUMBERS WERE INCREASING EVERY YEAR.
♦ THIS IS INDEED A GOOD SIGN AS IT IS OUR AIM TO GET AS MANY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS AS POSSIBLE TO BE ACTIVE IN SPORTS,+ HE STRESSED.
ONE YEAR AFTER THE ASSOCIATION WAS FORMED, A GROUP OF 12 MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS TOOK PART AT THE FIFTH INTERNATIONAL SPECIAL OLYMPICS, WINNING 18 MEDALS.
AND IN THE 1983 SPECIAL OLYMPICS, 16 ATHLETES TOOK PART, BRINGING BACK 11 GOLD, FOUR SILVER AND FOUR BRONZE MEDALS.
MR YUNG SAID THE ASSOCIATION PLAYS AN ACTIVE ROLE IN ENCOURAGING NATIONS IN THE ASIAN-PACIFIC REGION TO ESTABLISH SPORTS PROGRAMMES FOR THEIR MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PEOPLE.
GIVING AN EXAMPLE OF THIS, HE SAID THE ASSOCIATION HOSTED A LEADERSHIP TRAINING CONFERENCE LAST YEAR FOR MORE THAN 73 DELEGATES FROM EIGHT COUNTRIES.
0 --------
/11 ........
11
NOTE TO EDITORS:
PRESS CONFERENCE * * *
FRIDAY, MARCH
1984
A PRESS CONFERENCE ON +ANTI-OVERLOAD I NG OF BUSES EDUCATIONAL EXERCISE* WILL BE HELD ON MONDAY (MARCH 5) AT THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS, GUARDIAN HOUSE, 32 01 KWAN ROAD, WAN CHAI.
3 PM IN 6TH FLOOR,
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT, THE ROYAL THE KOWLOON MOTOR BUS COMPANY AND THE
HONG KONG POLICE FORCE, CHINA MOTOR BUS COMPANY
WILL BE PRESENT.
YOU ARE INVITED TO
COVER THE EVENT.
WAN CHAI TAPS OFF * * *
- - 0 - -
FRESH WATER SUPPLY
TO SOME PREMISES IN WAN CHAI WILL BE
TURNED OFF FROM 11 PM ON MONDAY (MARCH 5) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR A LEAKAGE TEST.
PREMISES AFFECTED ARE BOUNDED BY KENNEDY ROAD FROM
BOWEN DRIVE TO QUEEN’S ROAD EAST, MONMOUTH TERRACE, SIK ON STREET, SHIP STREET, HAU FUNG LANE, SCHOONER
SAU WA FONG STREET AND
TERRACE
FUNG WONG
- - 0 - -
TAI HANG WATER MAINS WORK * *
FRESH FROM 10 PM WORK.
WATER SUPPLY TO PREMISES IN TAI HANG WILL ON MONDAY (MARCH 5) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING
BE SUSPENDED
DAY FOR MAINS
AFFECTED WILL BE: PREMISES ALONG TAI HANG ROAD BETWEEN NE* METHOD COLLEGE AND TAI HANG DRIVE, YIK KWAN AVENUE, LI KWAN AVENUE, FUK KWAN AVENUE, LAI TAK TSUEN ROAD, wANG FUNG TERRACE, TAI HANG DRIVE AND CHUN FAI ROAD.
- - 0 - -
©
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 1984
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
SCHOOLS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN ASSESSMENT SYSTEM ............ 1
PARENTS URGED TO HAVE MORE CONTACTS WITH CHILDREN .............. 1
PARKING METERS FOR MID-LEVELS .................................. 2
DRIVERS GET ACCIDENT-FREE CERTIFICATES ......................... 2
CORRECTIONAL SERVICES MAKES DONATIONS .......................... 3
NOODLES AND EDIBLE OIL GO METRIC ............................... 3
FIRING PRACTICE AT HA TSUEN - CASTLE PEAK ...................... 4
POTTED PLANTS EXHIBITION IN TSUEN WAN .......................... 4
DB TO DISCUSS HARBOUR RECLAMATION STUDY ........................ 5
NORTH DISTRICT BOARD TO HOLD MEETING .......................... 6
LOCmL OPEN SPACE FDR KWxI ChUNG bOUTH .......................... 6
LIFT' TENDERS FOR KWU TUNG MARKET............................... 7
AVIATION OFFICIAL IN U.K. COURSE ............................... 7
SEMINAR FOR SPORTS INSTRUCTORS ................................. 7
URBAN CLEARWAY RESTRICTION ..................................... 8
TRADE MINISTER LEAVING TOMORROW ................................ 8
SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 19»t 1 -
SCHOOLS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN ASSESSMENT SYSTEM *****
SCHOOLS WISHING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 1985 JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION ASSESSMENT SYSTEM SHOULD APPLY TO THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ON OR BEFORE MARCH 30 THIS YEAR, AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
+PRIVATE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS WHICH ARE NOT IN THE BOUGHT PLACE SCHEME AND WHICH CHOOSE NOT TO PARTICIPATE ARE REMINDED THEY MUST NOTIFY PARENTS THAT THEIR CHILDREN WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR ALLOCATION TO SUBSIDISED FORM 4 PLACES,+ HE SAID.
IT IS EXPECTED THAT ALL GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS, AIDED SCHOOLS, NON-PROFIT-MAKING PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND INDEPENDENT PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN THE BOUGHT PLACE SCHEME WILL PARTICIPATE NEXT YEAR.
SCHOOLS WHICH PARTICIPATED THIS YEAR ARE REQUESTED TO NOTIFY THE DEPARTMENT IF THEY WISH TO CONTINUE TO DO SO IN 1985.
STUDENTS WHO WISH TO TAKE THE +SCALING TEST* UNDER THE SCHEME MUST MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THEIR IDENTITY CARDS BEFORE SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR AS THEIR I.D. NUMBERS WILL BE PRINTED ON THEIR JUNIOR CERTIFICATES OF EDUCATION.
------o-------
PARENTS URGED TO HAVE MORE CONTACTS WITH CHILDREN * * * *
THE OBJECTIVE OF A CHILD CARE CENTRE IS TO HELP PARENTS BRING UP THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN AND NOT TO TAKE OVER THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FAMILY EDUCATION, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE (OPERATIONS), MRS EVELYN DOE, STRESSED TODAY (SATURDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE CHRISTIAN AND MISSIONARY ALLIANCE’S CHAK ON CHILD CARE CENTRE IN SHAM SHUI PO, SHE SAID THAT IT WOULD BE THE PARENTS AND THE FAMILY WHO WOULD HAVE THE MOST PROFOUND INFLUENCE ON YOUNG CHILDREN.
SHE URGED PARENTS TO HAVE MORE PERSONAL CONTACTS WITH THEIR CHILDREN TO GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR PROGRESS IN THE CHILD CARE CENTRE AND THEIR INTERESTS.
+CLOSE LIAISON AND COOPERATION BETWEEN THE PARENTS AND CHILD CARE WORKERS WILL ALSO HAVE POSITIVE EFFECT ON THE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT OF A CHILD,* SHE SAID.
THERE ARE 14 SUBVENTED DAY NURSERIES IN SHAM SHUI PO, PROVIDING A TOTAL OF 1 650 PLACES.
ANOTHER FOUR WITH 290 PLACES ARE PLANNED TO MEET THE GROWING DEMAND FOR SUCH SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT.
MRS DOE SAID THAT OVER THE PAST 20 YEARS, THE CHRISTIAN AND MISSIONARY ALLIANCE HAD BEEN PROVIDING A VARIETY OF WELFARE SERVICES FOR THE LOCAL PEOPLE, INCLUDING SCHOOLS, YOUTH CENTRES, SOCIAL CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY, STUDY ROOMS AND NURSERIES.
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/2.......
SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 1984
2 -
PARKING METERS FOR MID-LEVELS
*****
A TOTAL OF 103 PARKING METERS ARE BEING INSTALLED AT MIDLEVELS TO REGULATE THE USE OF ON-STREET PARKING SPACES THERE.
THE NEW METERS AT BOWEN ROAD, MACDONNELL ROAD, HORNSEY ROAD, MAY ROAD, CASTLE ROAD AND COOMBE ROAD WILL BE OPERATIONAL FROM 8 AM ON MONDAY (MARCH 5).
-----0-------
DRIVERS GET ACCIDENT-FREE CERTIFICATES *****
THIRTY-FOUR DRIVERS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT TODAY (SATURDAY) RECEIVED ACCIDENT-FREE CERTIFICATES FOR DRIVING.
PRESENTING THE CERTIFICATES AT KO SHAN THEATRE, THE DIRECTOR OF NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES, MR JOHN HEYWOOD, SAID THAT FRUSTRATION CAUSED BY SLOW-MOVING TRAFFIC WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM WHICH COULD LEAD TO AGGRESSIVE DRIVING AND THUS TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS.
THIRTY OF THE RECIPIENTS HAD AN ACCIDENT-FREE RECORD FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS AND FOUR FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
URGING DRIVERS TO BE DEFENSIVE IN THEIR DRIVING TO AVOID ACCIDENTS, HE SAID, +1 AM REMINDED OF A NOTICE TO DRIVERS WHICH WAS DISPLAYED NEAR THE EXIT OF THE ARMY BARRACKS AT SEK KONG WHERE I ONCE LIVED. IT READ ’IT IS BETTER TO BE 30 MINUTES LATE IN THIS WORLD THAN 30 YEARS EARLY IN THE NEXT’.+
THE DEPARTMENT HAS A FLEET OF 400 VEHICLES OF VARIOUS TYPES, RANGING FROM REFUSE COLLECTION AND STREET-WASHING VEHICLES TO GULLY EMPTIERS AND MECHANICAL SUCTION SWEEPERS.
ON THIS FLEET OF EXPENSIVE VEHICLES, MR HEYWOOD SAID THAT THEIR USE WAS REGULARLY REVIEWED TO ENSURE THAT THE TAXPAYERS’ MONEY WAS EFFICIENTLY EMPLOYED.
+IN THESE TIMES WHEN THE TERRITORY’S BUDGET IS IN DEFICIT, IT IS IN ALL OUR INTERESTS TO USE EXPENSIVE VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT IN THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE MANNER.
+1 THEREFORE APPEAL TO THE DRIVERS FOR THEIR CONTINUED GOOD COOPERATION IN HELPING MANAGEMENT TO IMPLEMENT CHANGES WHICH ARE BEING PROPOSED FOR THIS PURPOSE,♦ HE SAID.
0 - -
Z3........
SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 1984
- 3 -
CORRECTIONAL SERVICES MAKES DONATIONS
* * * *
THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS RECENTLY DONATED PART OF THE PROCEEDS OF ITS 31ST AUTUMN FAIR TO VARIOUS CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS.
THE RECIPIENTS INCLUDED THE HONG KONG DISCHARGED PRISONERS AID SOCIETY, FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG, THE SALVATION ARMY, HONG KONG SEA SCHOOL, WORLD RELIEF, PRISONERS* FRIENDS’ ASSOCIATION AND HONG KONG ARMY DOG UNIT.
THE DONATION WAS PART OF THE DEPARTMENT’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO VARIOUS COMMUNITY SERVICES IN HONG KONG.
THE CHAIRMAN AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT’S SPORTS ASSOCIATION WHICH ORGANISED THE FAIR, OFFICIATED AT THE CHEQUE PRESENTATION CEREMONY HELD RECENTLY AT THE DEPARTMENT’S HEADQUARTERS.
DURING THE CEREMONY, THE RECIPIENTS THANKED THE DEPARTMENT FOR ITS DONATION AND SUPPORT.
------0-------
NOODLES AND EDIBLE OIL GO METRIC * * * *
THE METRICATION COMMITTEE ANNOUNCED TODAY (SATURDAY) THAT INSTANT NOODLES WILL BE SOLD IN METRIC UNIT PACKAGES FROM NOW ON.
THE WEIGHT OF EACH NOODLE PACKAGE WILL BE MEASURED BY ’GRAM* INSTEAD OF CATTY OR POUND.
+AT THE SAME TIME, MANUFACTURERS OF EDIBLE OIL ARE ACTIVELY SUPPORTING THE METRICATION CAMPAIGN. THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF PRODUCING ’KILOGRAM’ CONTAINERS TO REPLACE THE NON-METRIC ONES + SAID A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COMMITTEE.
TO REMIND CONSUMERS AND MEMBERS OF THE PREPACKAGED FOODS AND DRINKS TRADE OF THE CHANGE-OVER FOR THESE TWO ITEMS POSTERS HAVE BEEN PRODUCED FOR DISPLAY AT PROMINENT POSITIONS IN SUPERMARKETS, HOUSING ESTATES, DISTRICT OFFICES AND GOVERNMENT POSTER SITES.
THE PREPACKAGED FOODS AND DRINKS WORKING GROUP, FORMED IN SEPTEMBER 1981 UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE CONSUMER GOODS ANl)i SERVICES SECTOR COMMITTEE OF THE METRICATION COMMITTEE, HAS BEEN PROMOTING AND COORDINATING THE METRIC CONVERSION PROGRAMME OF THE \ FOODS AND DRINKS TRADE IN HONG KONG.
♦WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE TRADE, IT IS HOPED THAT THE FOUR MAJOR TYPES OF PREPACKAGED FOODS, NAMELY RICE, EDIBLE OIL, NOODLES AND SUGAR, WILL COMPLETE THE ’GO METRIC’ PROGRAMME BY THE END OF THIS YEAR,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
------0-------
\
SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 1984
FIRING PRACTICE AT HA TSUEN - CASTLE PEAK
*****
FIRING PRACTICE WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE HA TSUEN - CASTLE PEAK RANGE FOR FOUR DAYS NEXT WEEK.
THE PUBLIC ARE WARNED NOT TO ENTER THE AREA WHEN RED FLAGS ARE
HOISTED.
THE DATES AND TIMES OF THE PRACTICE ARE:
DATE
MARCH 5 (MONDAY)
TIME
8 AM - 11 PM
MARCH 6 (TUESDAY)
8 AM - 11 PM
MARCH 7 (WEDNESDAY)
8 AM - 5 PM
MARCH 9 (FRIDAY)
8 AM - 5 PM
- - 0 - -
POTTED PLANTS EXHIBITION IN TSUEN WAN *****
A THREE-DAY EXHIBITION ON POTTED PLANTS WILL BE HELD IN THE TSUEN WAN GOVERNMENT SECONDARY SCHOOL FROM FRIDAY (MARCH 9).
ON DISPLAY WILL BE ALL ENTRIES FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES STUDENTS POTTED PLANT COMPETITION 1984. RESULTS OF THE CONTEST WILL BE ANNOUNCED AND PRIZES PRESENTED AT THE SCHOOL ON THE SAME DAY.
BOTH THE COMPETITION AND THE EXHIBITION ARE JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE CLEAN HONG KONG COMMITTEE’S MEI FA (BEAUTIFICATION) GROUP, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT, WITH THE ROTARY CLUB OF THE NEW TERRITORIES AS THE SPONSOR.
SOME 400 PLANTS HAVE BEEN ENTERED FOR THE COMPETITION BY 26 PRIMARY AND 25 SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE COMPETITION IS DIVIDED INTO SEVEN SECTIONS. THERE IS ALSO A FLOWER ARRANGEMENT CONTEST FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS.
BOOK COUPONS WORTH A TOTAL OF $10 000 WILL BE AWARDED TO THE TOP THREE WINNERS FOR EACH CATEGORY. IN ADDITION THERE WILL BE 10 MERIT PRIZES.
AN OPENING CEREMONY FOR THE EXHIBITION, ACCOMPANIED BY PRIZE PRESENTATION, WILL BE HELD ON FRIDAY.
/OFFICIATING AT
5
SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 1984
OFFICIATING AT THE CEREMONY WILL BE MR CHARLES YEUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE CLEAN HONG KONG COMMITTEE’S NEW TERRITORIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE; MR WISDOM KWOK, PRESIDENT OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF THE NEW TERRITORIES; MR JOHN HEYWOOD, DIRECTOR OF NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES; MR PETER NG KWOK-TAI, DEPUTY REGIONAL SECRETARY (NEW TERRITORIES); MR J.W. WHOLEY, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT; AND MRS RUBY LAU, DEPUTY CHIEF INSPECTOR OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CEREMONY WHICH WILL BE HELD AT THE TSUEN WAN GOVERNMENT SECONDARY SCHOOL AT HOI PA STREET, TSUEN WAN, STARTING AT 2.30 PM ON FRIDAY (MARCH 9).
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DB TO DISCUSS HARBOUR RECLAMATION STUDY * * * * *
TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WILL BE BRIEFED ON THE HARBOUR RECLAMATIONS AND URBAN GROWTH STUDY AT THEIR MEETING ON TUESDAY (MARCH 6) AFTERNOON.
THE BRIEFING WILL BE MADE BY A GOVERNMENT TOWN PLANNER OF THE LANDS DEPARTMENT, DR K.S. PUN.
THE STUDY ON THE POTENTIAL OF FURTHER RECLAMATIONS ALONG THE HARBOUR AREA WAS CONDUCTED IN LATE 1982.
AT THE MEETING, MEMBERS WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE PRIORITIES OF PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS DUE TO COMMENCE IN THE DISTRICT IN 1985 - 1986.
MEMBERS WILL STUDY THE PROPOSALS FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY RECENTLY.
THE PROPOSALS WILL ALSO BE DISCUSSED BY THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS AT THEIR MEETING ON MONDAY (MARCH 5) MORN ING.
NOTE TO EDITORS,
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE WELCOME TO COVER:
(1) THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT BOARD MEETING AT 10 AM ON MONDAY (MARCH 5) IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE BOARD’S SECRETARIAT ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF AMOY PLAZA, 77 NGAU TAU KOK ROAD; AND
(2) THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BOARD MEETING AT 2.30 PM ON TUESDAY (MARCH 6) IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE KWAI CHUNG SUB-DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS ON THE 10TH FLOOR OF KWAI HING GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 166-174 HING FONG ROAD.
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/6......
SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 1984
6
NOTE TO EDITORS:
NORTH DISTRICT BOARD TO HOLD MEETING
* * * *
THE NORTH DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WILL HOLD A SPECIAL MEETING ON MONDAY (MARCH 5) TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSALS FOR THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY RECENTLY.
THE MEETING WILL BE HELD AT 2.30 PM IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE TAI PO DISTRICT BOARD SECRETARIAT ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF THE TAI PO COMMERCIAL CENTRE IN KWONG FUK ROAD.
YOU ARE WELCOME TO COVER THE MEETING.
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LOCAL OPEN SPACE FOR KWAI CHUNG SOUTH
* * * *
WORK WILL START IN MAY ON BUILDING AN OPEN SPACE AT KWAI CHUNG SOUTH.
TENDERS FOR THE PROJECT ARE BEING INVITED BY THE TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE OF THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
THE OPEN SPACE WILL BE READY BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
IT WILL OCCUPY AN AREA OF ABOUT 7 700 SQUARE METRES AT THE JUNCTION OF KWAI HOP STREET AND KWAI SHING CIRCUIT, A LOCATION WITHIN EASY REACH OF KWAI SHING, KWAI CHUNG AND KWAI HING ESTATE WHERE 110 000 PEOPLE LIVE.
FACILITIES TO BE PROVIDED INCLUDE TWO SITTING-OUT AREAS, A CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND, A BASKETBALL-CUM-VOLLEYBALL COURT, AND SEATING AND PLANTS.
THE WHOLE SITE WILL BE LANDSCAPED.
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SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 1984
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LIFT TENDERS FOR KWU TUNG MARKET
* * * * X
TENDERS ARE BEING INVITED FOR INSTALLING A GOODS LIFT AND TWO ESCALATORS AT A NEW MARKET BUILDING AT KWU TUNG IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE TWO-STOREY MARKET WILL ACCOMMODATE SHOP OPERATORS WHOSE PREMISES ARE ON LAND REQUIRED FOR IMPROVEMENT WORK TO THE NEW TERRITORIES CIRCULAR ROAD BETWEEN AU TAU AND FAN KAM.
IT WILL BE BUILT ON A 5 OOO-SQUARE-METRE SITE-ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE EXISTING 01 WAH SCHOOL.
WORK ON THE MARKET IS EXPECTED TO START IN EARLY APRIL AND TAKE ONE YEAR TO COMPLETE.
THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS CALLING FOR THE TENDERS.
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AVIATION OFFICIAL IN U.K. COURSE
* * *
MR P.J. BIRKETT, DEPUTY CONTROLLER (OPERATIONS) OF THE AVIATION SAFETY DIVISION, CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT, WILL BE ATTENDING AN AVIATION SAFETY COURSE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM ORGANISED BY THE CRANFIELD COLLEGE OF AERONAUTICS.
THE FIVE-DAY COURSE WHICH PLACES EMPHASIS ON AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT PREVENTION IS BEING ATTENDED BY DELEGATES FROM ALL AREAS OF AVIATION ACTIVITY.
AREAS COVERED WILL INCLUDE SAFETY REGULATIONS, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL, ORGANISATION AND MANAGEMENT, FLIGHT RECORDERS, DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS, THE OPERATIONS MANUAL, THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE, HUMAN ERRORS, CLASSIC FAILURES AND OTHERS.
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NOTE TO EDITORS:
SEMINAR FOR SPORTS INSTRUCTORS
« * * *-«-
THE RECREATION AND SPORTS SERVICE OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT WILL BE HOLDING A SEMINAR FOR INSTRUCTORS AT THE HARBOUR VIEW HOLIDAY INN IN TSIM SHA TSUI EAST TOMORROW (SUNDAY).
THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND SPORTS, MR DICKEN YUNG, AND TWO OTHER SENIOR STAFF MEMBERS WILL SPEAK AT THE SEMINAR.
/ABOUT JOO .....
SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 19$*
- 8 -
ABOUT 300 INSTRUCTORS IN RECREATION AND SPORTS ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND.
FOLLOWING AN OPEN FORUM, RSS SERVICE AWARDS WILL BE PRESENTED TO OUTSTANDING VOLUNTARY INSTRUCTORS IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR SERVICES.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SEMINAR WHICH WILL BE HELD IN THE ACADEMY HALL OF THE HOTEL STARTING AT 9 AM.
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URBAN CLEARWAY RESTRICTION
* * *
FROM 10 AM ON MONDAY (MARCH 5), THE NEWLY OPENED SECTION OF ROAD D5 BETWEEN ROAD DI AND ROAD L2 IN FANLING WILL BE DESIGNATED AN URBAN CLEARWAY RESTRICTED ZONE FROM 7 AM TO MIDNIGHT DAILY.
WITHIN THIS ZONE, ALL VEHICLES OTHER THAN FRANCHISED BUSES AND THOSE AUTHORISED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM PICKING UP OR SETTING DOWN PASSENGERS, OR FROM LOADING OR UNLOADING OF GOODS.
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NOTE TO EDITORSi
TRADE MINISTER LEAVING TOMORROW
* * *
THE MINISTER FOR TRADE, MR PAUL CHANNON, WILL LEAVE HONG KONG FOR SEOUL TOMORROW (SUNDAY) AFTER A THREE-DAY VISIT.
HE WILL BE TRAVELLING ON FLIGHT KE 618, ETD 1 PM.
A FACILITY HAS BEEN ARRANGED FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS AND CAMERAMEN TO COVER HIS DEPARTURE. THOSE ASSIGNED TO COVER THE EVENT SHOULD ASSEMBLE IN THE AIRPORT PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM NOT LATER THAN 12 NOON.
GIS OFFICERS WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST.
/I
i
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
SUNDAY, MARCH 4, 1?84
PAGE NO
CONTENTS
GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT GROWS HALF MILLION PLANTS
REC EL VhD
ARTS FESTIVAL WELL
HELP IN SPORTS STRESSED
OF VOLUNTEER
VALUE
BOARD
TOUR FOR LIAISON OFFICERS
STUDY
COURTHOUSE TO BE BUILT IN SHA TIN
PRESS CONFERENCE TO ANNOUNCE CONTEST RESULTS
500 MJSIC TRAINEES TO GIVE GALA CONCERT
SEMINARS ON REVISED GEOGRAPHY SYLLABUS
PERMANENT COOKED FOOD MARKET IN YUEN LONG
FOUR HOUSES TO BE SOLD
NULLAH COLUtfJS TO BE STREAMLINED
HAPPY VALLEY WATER MAINS WORK
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL 5-233191
SOLVE RESIDENTS' PROBLEMS
SUNDAY, MARCH 4, 1984
- 1 -
GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT GROWS HALF MILLION PLANTS *****
THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT PLANTED SOME 500 000 PLANTS LAST YEAR AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN THE NEW TOWNS AND RURAL AREAS.
THE PLANTS INCLUDED TREES, SHRUBS, CREEPERS AND FLOWERS, MOST OF WHICH HAD GROWN WELL, AN NTSD SPOKESMAN SAID.
IN ADDITION, VARIOUS LANDSCAPING PROJECTS DEVELOPED BY THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT’S ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE, THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE HAVE BEEN HANDED OVER TO THE NTSD FOR MAINTENANCE.
TO MAINTAIN THESE PROJECTS, THE NTSD HAS SPECIALISTS IN LANDSCAPE DESIGN, PLANT NURSERY MANAGEMENT, HORTICULTURE AND OTHER RELATED FIELDS.
MEANWHILE, TWO PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITIONS ON LANDSCAPE WORKS WILL BE HELD THIS MONTH.
THE FIRST EXHIBITION WILL BE STAGED AT THE SILVER BALLROOM CF THE SHERATON HOTEL IN TSIM SHA TSUI FROM TUESDAY (MARCH 6) TO SATURDAY (MARCH 10). THE EVENT, WITH THE NTSD AND OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AS PARTICIPANTS, COINCIDES WITH THE 3RD EASTERN REGIONAL CONFERENCE ORGANISED BY THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS.
THE SECOND EXHIBITION WILL BE HELD FROM SATURDAY (MARCH 10) 70 TUESDAY (MARCH 13) BY THE NTSD AT THE FANLING RECREATION GROUND IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NORTH DISTRICT FLOWER SHOW.
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ARTS FESTIVAL WELL RECEIVED * * *
A RECORD HIGH OF MORE THAN 100 000 RESIDENTS ATTENDED THIS YEAR’S SHAM SHUI PO ARTS FESTIVAL FEATURING OVER 50 CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR SYLVESTER TSE, SAID THIS (SUNDAY) EVENING.
SPEAKING AT THE FESTIVAL’S CLOSING CEREMONY, MR TSE SAID THE THREE-WEEK PROGRAMME INCLUDED POPULAR AND CLASSICAL MUSIC, FOLK SONGS, CHOIR SINGING, CANTONESE OPERAS, FILMS, MODERN DANCES, CALLIGRAPHY AND PAINTINGS, PUPPET THEATRES, PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITIONS, CHESS COMPETITIONS AND VARIETY SHOWS.
+THIS HAS MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT AGES TO CHOOSE THE EVENTS SUITED TO THEIR TASTES.
♦FURTHERMORE, ALL THE PERFORMANCES HAD BEEN WELL PLANNED, AND MANY OF THEM WERE FIRST-CLASS PRODUCTIONS BY RENOWNED PERFORMING GROUPS,♦ HE SAID.
/THE FESTIVAL .......
SUNDAY, MAUCH 4, 1984
- 2 -
THE FESTIVAL EXPENSES, TOTALLING MORE THAN $900 000, WERE MET BY THE LOCAL DISTRICT BOARD, THE URBAN COUNCIL AND LOCAL DONATIONS.
+THE SUCCESS OF THE ARTS FESTIVAL PROVES ONCE AGAIN THAT PROMOTING ART AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES IN THE DISTRICT IS ESSENTIAL.
+AS SHAM SHU I PO IS A DENSELY-POPULATED DISTRICT, THESE ACTIVITIES MAY BE THE BEST OUTLETS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO BUILD UP A GOOD CHARACTER.
+MOREOVER, COMMUNITY SPIRIT IS FURTHER ENHANCED THROUGH RESIDENTS’ PARTICIPATION AND CO-OPERATION IN ORGANISING THESE ACTIVITIES,* MR TSE SAID.
THE CEREMONY WAS FOLLOWED BY A TWO-HOUR FOLK CONCERT WITH PERFORMANCES BY LOCAL SINGERS MR ALBERT AU AND MISS AGNES CHAN.
ALSO PRESENT AT TONIGHT’S CEREMONY WERE THE DEPUTY
DIRECTOR OF BROADCASTING, MR HAROLD KW0K1 THE DIRECTOR OF CULTURAL SERVICES, MR DARWIN CHENS AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FESTIVAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, MR KWOK CHEONG.
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VALUE OF VOLUNTEER HELP IN SPORTS STRESSED
* # * H
THE IMPORTANCE OF VOLUNTEERS IN HELPING PROMOTE SPORTS AND RECREATION FOR THE MASSES WAS STRESSED TODAY (SUNDAY) AT A SEMINAR ORGANISED BY THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT.
MORE THAN 300 PART-TIME INSTRUCTORS IN RECREATION AND SPORTS ATTENDED THE SEMINAR HELD AT A TSIM SHA TSUI EAST HOTEL.
THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND SPORTS, MR DICKEN YUNG, SAID THAT SPORTS AND RECREATION, LIKE THE SOCIAL SERVICE, DEPENDED HEAVILY ON THE PARTICIPATION AND ASSISTANCE OF VOLUNTEERS.
HE SAID CONTRIBUTION BY VOLUNTEERS ENABLED THE RECREATION AND SPORTS SERVICE (RSS), FOUNDED IN 1974, TO ORGANISE RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES FOR MASS PARTICIPATION.
CITING ANOTHER EXAMPLE, HE SAID THE MANY SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS UNDER THE CENTRAL CO-ORDINATING BODY OF THE AMATEUR SPORTS FEDERATION AND OLYMPIC COMMITTEE OF HONG KONG WERE RUN BY VOLUNTEERS.
IN SOME COUNTRIES IN EUROPf/ AND AMERICA, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE OFFER VOLUNTARY SERVICE IN SPORTS, HE SAID.
/+ALTH0UGH WE.....
SUNDAY, UAECH 4, 1964
- 3 -
♦ALTHOUGH WE HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, THERE IS STILL AMPLE ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT,+ HE ADDED.
ANOTHER SPEAKER AT THE SEMINAR, THE CHIEF RECREATION AND SPORT OFFICER (DISTRICT OPERATIONS), MR RAYMOND CHAN, SAID THE PART-TIME INSTRUCTORS OF THE RSS PLAYED THE PART OF +AMBASSADORS+ BY OFFERING THEIR SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC.
HE ALSO EXHORTED TEACHERS AND TRAINERS TO STEP UP IMPROVING THEIR OWN SKILL SO AS TO KEEP ABREAST WITH PROGRESS.
MR CHAN SAID THEIR ROLE WAS IMPORTANT BECAUSE VERY OFTEN TALENT WAS DISCOVERED AMONG THE THOUSANDS WHO TOOK PART IN ACTIVITIES SUPERVISED BY THEM.
A SENIOR RECREATION AND SPORT OFFICER, MR TSIN YAN-PUI, SAID THAT INSTRUCTORS, LIKE SCHOOL TEACHERS, ARE INDISPENSABLE.
HE SAID THAT IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR, THE RSS HAS EMBARKED ON A PROGRAMME TO TRAIN MORE PART-TIME INSTRUCTORS IN AN EFFORT TO MOBILISE MASS SPORTS MOVEMENT IN HONG KONG.
LAST YEAR, WITH THE SUPPORT OF VARIOUS SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS, THE RSS ORGANISED 80 TRAINING PROGRAMMES AND 30 SEMINARS FOR THE INSTRUCTORS, HE SAID.
SINCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE RSS, MORE THAN 34 000 PROJECTS HAD BEEN ORGANISED ATTRACTING ABOUT FOUR MILLION PARTICIPANTS.
FOLLOWING THE SEMINAR, MR YUNG, PRESENTED THE RSS SERVICE AWARD TO 21 MEN AND WOMEN VOLUNTEER INSTRUCTORS.
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BOARD MEMBERS HELP SOLVE RESIDENTS’ PROBLEMS
* * *
EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS HAVE HELPED SOLVE MORE THAN 90 PER CENT OF THE 72 CASES THEY RECEIVED THROUGH THE +MEET-THE-PUBLIC+ SESSIONS, A BOARD SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
FOR THE SIX-MONTH PERIOD ENDING LAST DECEMBER, HE SAID, A TOTAL OF 27 SESSIONS WAS HELD DURING WHICH UNOFFICIAL BOARD MEMBERS RECEIVED 72 CASES.
SIXTY-SIX CASES, OR MORE THAN 90 PER CENT, HAD BEEN SATISFACTORILY DEALT WITH.
♦A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF CASES WAS ON HOUSING PROBLEMS, BUT QUITE A NUMBER CONCERNING SUCH MATTERS AS TENANCY AND HOUSEHOLD DISPUTES, TAXATION, RELOCATION OF TRAFFIC SIGNS AS WELL AS COMPLAINTS ABOUT HAWKER AND NOISE NUISANCE, WERE RECORDED,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
/♦THIS INDICATES .......
SUNDAY, MAHCH 4, 1984
- 4 -
I
4-TH IS INDICATES THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THE ’MEET-THE-PUBLIC’ SCHEME AND ARE PREPARED TO APPROACH BOARD MEMBERS FOR ASSISTANCE WHEN THEY HAVE A PROBLEM.+
SESSIONS. WITH TWO BOARD MEMBERS ON DUTY, ARE BEING HELD EVERY FRIDAY FROM 7.30 PM TO 9.30 PM IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT MAIN CFFICE, ITS SUB-OFFICES IN CAUSEWAY BAY, CHAI WAN AND SHAU KEI WAN ON A ROTATION BASIS.
RESIDENTS WISHING TO SEEK ADVICE ON MATTERS RELATING TO GOVERNMENT SERVICES, EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON DISTRICT PROBLEMS, AND GIVE SUGGESTIONS ARE WELCOME TO MAKE USE OF THE SCHEME.
APPOINTMENTS CAN BE MADE IN PERSON AT ANY OF THE OFFICES OR BY TELEPHONE (5-630181) DURING OFFICE HOURS.
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STUDY TOUR FOR LIAISON OFFICERS
* * *
SIX LIAISON OFFICERS FROM DISTRICT OFFICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES LEFT FOR SINGAPORE THIS (SUNDAY) AFTERNOON ON A ONE-WEEK STUDY TOUR.
THE GROUP WILL VISIT VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND ORGANISATIONS TO STUDY THEIR WORK AND FUNCTIONS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION SAID, +THE OBJECTIVE OF THE TOUR IS TO ENABLE LIAISON OFFICERS TO GAIN FIRST-HAND KNOWLEDGE OF THE SINGAPORE GOVERNMENT’S EFFORTS IN FOSTERING COMMUNITY SPIRIT AND CULTIVATING A SENSE CF BELONGING AMONG ITS RESIDENTS.
♦ IN VIEW OF THE HEAVY INVOLVEMENT OF LIAISON OFFICERS IN COMMUNITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES, ESPECIALLY IN THE FORTHCOMING DISTRICT BOARD’S REGISTRATION AND ELECTIONS, THE EXPERIENCE GAINED FROM THE TOUR WILL BE INVALUABLE TO THEIR WORK.+
THE PROGRAMME FOR THE GROUP, ARRANGED WITH THE ASSISTANCE CF THE SINGAPORE COMMISSION IN HONG KONG, WILL INCLUDE VISITS TO THE PEOPLE’S ASSOCIATION, COMMUNITY CENTRES, THE CITY DISTRICT SECRETARIAT, THE NATIONAL YOUTH LEADERSHIP TRAINING INSTITUTE AND THE ELECTION DEPARTMENT.
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/5 ........
SUNDAY, MARCH 4, 1984
- 5 -
COURTHOUSE TO BE BUILT IN SHA TIN
* * *
THE FIRST STEP IN BUILDING A COURTHOUSE AT SHA TIN HAS JUST BEEN TAKEN WITH THE SIGNING OF A PILING CONTRACT BETWEEN THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE OF THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND GAMMON (HONG KONG) LIMITED.
THE EIGHT-STOREY BUILDING WILL OCCUPY A 3 51O-SQUARE-METRE SITE CLOSE TO THE TOWN PARK AND THE CULTURAL COMPLEX, BOTH OF WHICH ARE NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
THERE WILL BE A TOTAL OF EIGHT COURTROOMS, INCLUDING TWO DISTRICT COURTS, ONE PLEA COURT, THREE MAGISTRATES’ COURTS, ONE JUVENILE COURT AND ONE SMALL CLAIMS COURT.
OTHER FACILITIES WILL INCLUDE A PRESS ROOM, TWO LIBRARIES, JUDGES’ AND MAGISTRATES’ CHAMBERS, A LEGAL AID REGISTRY, A SOLICITORS’ ROOM, A TEMPORARY CUSTODIAL AREA AND A CANTEEN.
CAR PARKING SPACES WILL BE PROVIDED ON THE GROUND FLOOR AREA WHICH WILL BE LANDSCAPED.
THE TOTAL FLOOR AREA WILL BE 12 550 SQUARE METRES.
WORK ON THE PILING CONTRACT, WHICH IS VALUED AT $7.1 MILLION, WILL BEGIN IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS MONTH AND BE COMPLETED IN FIVE MONTHS.
THE COURT BUILDING WILL BE READY BY SEPTEMBER, 1986.
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NOTE TO EDITORS:
PRESS CONFERENCE TO ANNOUNCE CONTEST RESULTS * * * *
THE RESULTS OF THE +SAFETY SLOGAN COMPETITION* AND +SAFETY FACTORY COMPETITION* WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TO BE HELD ON MONDAY (MARCH 5) AT 3 PM, AT THE CHUNG SHAN HALL, PRINCESS TSUI HANG VILLAGE RESTAURANT, MIRAMAR HOTEL.
THE COMPETITIONS ARE AMONG VARIOUS EVENTS HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE +TEXTILE INDUSTRY SAFETY DAY* JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY SAFETY SUB-COMMITTEE AND THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BOARD.
SPEAKING AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE WILL BE DR J.W. HAYES, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, AND MR ROBERT LAI, CHAIRMAN OF THE SAFETY DAY ORGANISING SUB-COMMITTEE.
PRIZES WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE WINNERS AT A GALA NIGHT TO BE HELD ON MARCH 15 AT THE TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL. WINNERS OF THE THIRD COMPETITION, THE +SAFETY QUIZ* WILL BE DECIDED BY A LUCKY DRAW THE SAME NIGHT.
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, /6......
SUNDAY, MARCH 4, 1984
- 6 -
500 MUSIC TRAINEES TO GIVE GALA CONCERT *****
FIVE HUNDRED MUSIC OFFICE TRAINEES WHO HAVE COMPLETED ONE YEAR OF HARD WORK WILL BE SHOWING THEIR TALENTS IN A GALA CONCERT ON MARCH 18 IN THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY HALL.
THE TRAINEES, WHO ARE BETWEEN SEVEN AND 23 YEARS OF AGE, HAD BEEN ATTENDING THE FULL-SCALE INSTRUMENTAL TRAINING PROGRAMME RUN BY THE MUSIC OFFICE, RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT.
THE CONCERT PROGRAMME WILL INCLUDE PERFORMANCES BY THE HONG KONG CHILDREN'S SYMPHONIC BAND, THE CHINESE FOLK SINGING CHILDREN’S ENSEMBLE, AND THE MUSIC OFFICE TRAINEES' CHINESE ORCHESTRA.
THE MUSIC OFFICE RUNS NEARLY 650 CLASSES ON VARIOUS TYPES OF ORCHESTRAL INSTRUMENTS, INVOLVING OVER 3 000 TRAINEES.
TRAINEES ARE RECRUITED EVERY YEAR AND THE SCHEME IS MEETING WITH GOOD PUBLIC RESPONSE.
THE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC TRAINING PROGRAMME IS AIMED AT IMPORTING SOME BASIC MUSICAL SKILL, AND FOR THOSE TRAINEES SHOWING GOOD MUSICAL TALENT, ORCHESTRAL TRAINING AS WELL, A MUSIC OFFICE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THERE ARE AT PRESENT 23 ORCHESTRAS, BANKS AND CHOIRS UNDER THE MUSIC OFFICE WI TH A TOTAL MEMBERSHIP OF OVER 1 300 YOUNG PEOPLE.
THE ANNUAL TRAINEES’ GALA IS AN IMPORTANT EVENT IN THE MUSICAL CALENDAR OF THE MUSIC OFFICE, AS IT MARKS THE PROGRESS OF THE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC TRAINING PROGRAMME.
A PRESENTATION CEREMONY WILL ALSO BE HELD ON THAT DAY WHEN 264 OUTSTANDING TRAINEES, ORCHESTRAL, CHOIR AND BAND MEMBERS WILL RECEIVE CERTIFICATES OF MERIT OR OUTSTANDING AWARDS AS A TOKEN OF ENCOURAGEMENT.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC TRAINING PROGRAMME HAS HELPED TO UNEARTH AND DEVELOP YOUNG MUSICAL TALENT.
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SUNDAY, MARCH 4, 1984
- 7 -
SEMINARS ON REVISED GEOGRAPHY SYLLABUS * * *
THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL HOLD THREE IDENTICAL SEMINARS ON THE REVISED GEOGRAPHY SYLLABUS FOR JUNIOR SECONDARY GEOGRAPHY TEACHERS IN APRIL.
ORGANISED BY THE GEOGRAPHY SECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT’S ADVISORY INSPECTORATE, THE SEMINARS ARE DESIGNED TO FAMILIARISE TEACHERS WITH THE REVISED SYLLABUS AND TO ASSIST THEM IN ITS IMPLEMENTATION.
THESE SEMINARS, EACH LASTING THREE HOURS, WILL BE HELD ON APRIL 26 AND 27 AT THE GRANTHAM COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AT GASCOIGNE ROAD, KOWLOON.
INSPECTORS OF THE GEOGRAPHY SECTION, LECTURERS OF COLLEGES OF EDUCATION AND TEACHERS WHO ARE IMPLEMENTING THE REVISED SYLLABUS IN THEIR SCHOOLS WILL GIVE SHORT TALKS IN CANTONESE.
OWING TO LIMITED ACCOMMODATION, EACH SCHOOL MAY NOMINATE NOT MORE THAN TWO TEACHERS TO ATTEND THE SEMINARS AND ONE SHOULD PREFERABLY BE THE CONVENOR OF GEOGRAPHY.
NOMINATIONS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED BY HEADS OF SCHOOLS TO THE SENIOR INSPECTOR (GEOGRAPHY), ADVISORY INSPECTORATE, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, 5/F, HYSAN AVENUE, HONG KONG, ON OR BEFORE MARCH 21, 1984.
ENQUIRIES MAY BE MADE WITH THE GEOGRAPHY SECTION ON TELEPHONE 5-8392493 OR 5-8392495.
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PERMANENT COOKED FOOD MARKET IN YUEN LONG * * *
A COOKED FOOD MARKET IS TO BE CONSTRUCTED AT KIN YIP STREET, YUEN LONG, AND BE READY BY NOVEMBER.
IT IS BEING BUILT TO ACCOMMODATE THE COOKED FOOD HAWKERS TRADING AT THE SIDE OF HOP YICK PRIVATE MARKET IN YAU SAN STREET AND AT HONG CHONG TEMPORARY BAZAAR.
THE NEW MARKET WILL HAVE 12 COOKED FOOD STALLS, TWO FRUIT STALLS, AN OFFICE, TOILET AND STOREROOMS.
THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE PROJECT. THESE SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE CHAIRMAN, CENTRAL TENDER BOARD, AND PLACED IN THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT TENDER BOX IN THE LIFT LOBBY ON THE LOWER GROUND FLOOR OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES (EAST WING), LOWER ALBERT ROAD, BEFORE 12 NOON ON FRIDAY, MARCH 23.
TENDER FORfIS AND FURTHER PARTICULARS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE, BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, MURRAY BUILDING, 13TH FLOOR, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG.
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SUNDAY, MARCH 4, 1984
- 8 -
FOUR HOUSES TO BE SOLD * * * *
FOUR HOUSES IN NGAU CHI WAN VILLAGE, EACH WITH A SITE AREA OF 56 SQUARE METRES, ARE BEING OFFERED FOR SALE BY TENDER BY THE LANDS DEPARTMENT.
THEIR GROSS FLOOR AREA IS ABOUT 110 SQUARE METRES EACH.
THE UPPER FLOOR IS PARTITIONED TO PROVIDE TWO BEDROOMS, A S ITTING/DINI NG ROOM, A KITCHEN, A TOILET, AND A COVERED BALCONY.
THE LEASES SPECIFY THAT THE HOUSES ARE FOR NON-1NDUSTRI AL USE.
THEY CANNOT BE USE AS A GODOWN OR A CINEMA, OR FOR THE REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE OF MOTOR VEHICLES.
NGAU CHI WAN VILLAGE IS LOCATED CLOSE TO CHOI HUNG MTR STATION.
THE LANDS DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED A YEAR AGO THAT 22 HOUSES IN THE VILLAGE WOULD BE PUT UP FOR SALE, 14 OF WHICH HAVE SO FAR BEEN SOLD.
THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING TENDERS IS MARCH 31.
TENDER FORMS, NOTICES AND CONDITIONS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE LANDS DEPARTMENT, MURRAY BUILDING, 5TH FLOOR, GARDEN ROAD; THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, KOWLOON WEST, YAU MA TEI CAR PARK BUILDING, 10TH FLOOR, 250 SHANGHAI STREET, KOWLOON I AND THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICES OF SHA TIN, TAI PO, NORTH, YUEN LONG, TSUEN WAN, TUEN MUN, SAI KUNG AND ISLANDS.
TENDER PLANS MAY ALSO BE INSPECTED AT THESE LOCATIONS.
0 -
NULLAH COLUMNS TO BE STREAMLINED
XII
COLUMNS IN KWAI CHUNG NULLAH, WHICH SUPPORT KWAI CHUNG ROAD, ARE TO BE STREAMLINED TO SPEED UP WATER FLOW.
THE WORK INVOLVES CHANGING THEIR SHAPE FROM SQUARE TO TR IANGULAR.
WITH THE RESULTING INCREASE IN THE RATE OF WATER FLOW THE DANGER OF FLOODING WILL BE LESS.
THE 16-METRE-WIDE NULLAH RUNS 2.7 KILOMETRES FROM THE KWAI CHUNG ROAD - CASTLE PEAK ROAD INTERSECTION TO KWAI CHUNG CREEK.
THE TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE IS INVITING TENDERS TO CARRY OUT THE WORK WHICH IS EXPECTED TO START IN MAY AND TAKE 20 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
, ------0-------
/9 .....
SUNDAY, MARCH 4, 1984
HAPPY VALLEY WATER MAINS WORK * * * *
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO SOME PREMISES IN HAPPY VALLEY WILL BE TURNED OFF FROM 10 AM TO 4 PM ON WEDNESDAY (MARCH 7) FOR MAINS WORK.
THE AFFECTED PREMISES ARE: 4-23 LOK KING TERRACE AND 4-23 BROADWOOD ROAD.
0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
CONTENTS
PAG.
GOVERNOR AFFIRMS FAITH IN HK INDUSTRIALISTS
1983 EXPORT VOLUME UP 15 PER CENT
21 LAND
SITES FOR SALE IN NEXT SIX MONTHS
SAFETY
HELP VITAL IN SAFETY EFFORIM-
+PUBLIC
SCHOOLS
TO GET REPLACEMENT PLAYGROUNDS
+AVIATIQN+ STAMPS ON SALE WEDNESDAY
AMENITY AREA FOR CENTRAL
WONG CHUK HANG LEAKAGE TEST
WATER FIGURES
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
ON BUSES' PUBLICITY DRIVE STARTING SOON
BETTER MANAGEMENT’ SEMINAR ARRANGED
MONDAY, MARCH 5, 1984
'CXL**, MARCr z, l-:-
1
GOVERNOR AFFIRMS FAITH IN HK INDUSTRIALISTS *****
THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDwARD YOUDE, SAID TODAY (MONDAY) THAT HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT LOCAL MANUFACTURERS WOULD CONTINUE TO PLAN ENERGETICALLY TO MEET THE DEMANDS ON INDUSTRY IN ADAPTING TO THE USE OF MORE SOPHISTICATED TECHNOLOGY, AND IN WORKING FOR THE CONTINUING PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG.
INDUSTRIALISTS’ FAITH IN THE FUTURE IS ESSENTIAL NOW BECAUSE THE HEALTH OF THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY TOMORROW MUST NECESSARILY DEPEND ON INVESTMENTS MADE TODAY, SIR EDWARD SAID.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE HONG KONG CHINESE MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION’S NEW HEADQUARTERS BUILDING IN CENTRAL, SIR EDWARD SAID, +THIS FINE NEW OFFICE BUILDING WHICH OPENS TODAY VIVIDLY DEMONSTRATES THE CMA’S FIRM CONFIDENCE IN O'JP FUTURE. I WELCOME THIS KIND O'7 COMMITMENT.+ i
THE CMA’S MEMBERSHIP OF 2 800 ENTREPRENEURS REPRESENTED THE FULL RANGE OF MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY, HE SAID.
EXPLAINING THAT MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY WAS THE BACKBONE CF THE HONG KONG ECONOMY, THE GOVERNOR SAID THE GOVERNMENT’S ECONOMIC POLICY OF MINIMUM INTERFERENCE WITH THE WORKINGS OF THE MARKET PLACE WAS WELL-KNOWN.
♦BUT AN ESSENTIAL, THOUGH MUCH LESS WELL RECOGNISED, ELEMENT OF THIS POLICY IS THE PROVISION BY GOVERNMENT OF AN EFFICIENT INFRASTRUCTURE IN WHICH TRADE AND INDUSTRY CAN FLOUR ISH.
♦IN PURSUING THAT END, THE GOVERNMENT REGARDS CONSULTATION WITH SUCH INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS AS THE CMA AS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE,+ HE ADDED.
SIR EDWARD NOTED THAT THE CMA REGULARLY PROVIDED MEMBERS FOR CONSULTATIVE BODIES APPOINTED BY GOVERNMENT, AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THESE HAD BEEN THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DIVERSIFICATION. THE COMMITTEE HAD BEEN APPOINTED IN 1977 TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE MODIFICATION OF EXISTING POLICIES OR THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW POLICIES MIGHT FACILITATE THE PROCESS CF DIVERSIFICATION OF THE ECONOMY, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR.
+THE COMMITTEE PUT FORWARD 47 RECOMMENDATIONS. ALL HAD FUNDAMENTAL AND FAR-REACHING IMPLICATIONS FOR THE ECONOMY. ALL EXCEPT ONE WERE ACCEPTED BY THE GOVERNMENT. OF THESE, 35 HAVE ALREADY BEEN IMPLEMENTED. ACTION IS BEING TAKEN ON THE OTHER 11,+ SIR EDWARD SAID.
/REVIEWING THE........
MONDAY, MARCH j, 1?84
2
REVIEWING THE PROGRESS OF THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, SIR EDWARD SAID: + THE GOVERNMENT, THROUGH THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT, RESPONDED PROMPTLY TO THE COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATIONS BY SETTING UP IN 1982 FOUR OVERSEAS INDUSTRIAL PROMOTION OFFICES: IN LONDON. TOKYO, SAN FRANCISCO AND STUTTGART. THESE OFFICES HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD TO ENCOURAGE OVERSEAS BUSINESSMEN TO SET UP MANUFACTURING FACILITIES IN HONG KONG, OR TO ENTER INTO LICENSING OR JOINT VENTURE ARRANGEMENTS WITH LOCAL BUSINESSMEN TO MANUFACTURE THEIR PRODUCTS HERE.
+JUDGING FROM THE NUMBER OF FOREIGN MANUFACTURERS WHO HAVE BEEN ATTRACTED TO HONG KONG OR WHO HAVE EXPANDED THEIR OPERATIONS, THIS INITIATIVE HAS PAID GOOD DIVIDENDS,+ HE SAID.
THESE OVERSEAS OFFICES ARE BACKED UP BY THE ONE-STOP UNIT IN THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT, WHICH PROVIDES A FOCAL POINT WHERE ALL QUERIES FROM BOTH OVERSEAS AND LOCAL BUSINESSMEN ON INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES CAN BE ANSWERED. IN 1983, THE UNIT HANDLED SOME 500 QUERIES, WHICH INDICATES THE ENCOURAGING LEVEL OF INTEREST IN WHAT HONG KONG HAS TO OFFER.
+THESE PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES ARE AIMED NOT ONLY AT ATTRACTING NEW INVESTMENT FOR ITS OWN SAKE: THEY ALSO SEEK TO BROADEN OUR INDUSTRIAL BASE BY ATTRACTING TO HONG KONG NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND IMPROVED TECHNIQUES,* HE ADDED.
SIR EDWARD SAID OTHER PERCEPTIVE RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE COMMITTEE TO IMPROVE SUPPORT AND TECHNICAL BACK-UP SERVICES TO INDUSTRY INCLUDED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A STANDARD AND CALIBRATION LABORATORY, WHICH WILL START OPERATIONS THIS SUMMER, AND THE LABORATORY ACCREDITATION SCHEME, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO ACCREDIT ITS FIRST LABORATORIES LATER THIS YEAR.
A MORE DIRECT FORM OF SUPPORT HAS ALSO BEEN GIVEN, THROUGH THE WORK OF THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE, TO TECHNICAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT WORK, THE TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY, AND THE DISSEMINATION OF TECHNICAL INFORMATION. THE CENTRE’S MICRO-PROCESSOR LABORATORY HAS DEVELOPED A NUMBER OF SYSTEMS-BEING USED SUCCESSFULLY IN MANUFACTURING PROCESSES.
IN LINE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, RESEARCH PROJECTS RELATED TO ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURING PROCESSES AND COMPUTER DEVELOPMENT TECHNIQUES WERE BEING CARRIED OUT IN THE TWO UNIVERSITIES AND THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC. THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE HAD ALSO ORGANISED STUDIES OF THE METAL AND LIGHT ENGINEERING INDUSTRY AND OF THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY.
♦THE RESULTS OF ALL THESE STUDIES ARE NOW BEING EXAMINED, ALONG WITH THE FINDINGS OF A TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER STUDY AND OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS AIMED AT MAKING THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE TO OUR MANUFACTURERS, SO THAT THEY CAN BRANCH OUT INTO THE PRODUCTION OF A WIDER RANGE OF HIGH TECHNOLOGY GOODS,4-F£ SAID.
/+THE PUEPOSE ......
MONDAY, MARCH 5, 1984
♦THE PURPOSE OF THIS WORK IS TWO-FOLD. FIRST, THE AVAILABILITY OF INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED STANDARDS AND TESTING FACILITIES WILL IMPROVE THE ACCEPTABILITY OF OUR PRODUCTS WORLDWIDE. SECOND, IT WILL ENABLE HONG KONG’S INDUSTRIALISTS TO ENTER THE EXPANDING MARKETS FOR MORE SOPHISTICATED CONSUMER AND INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS OF A HIGH QUAL ITY.
♦TO DO THIS, AND TO MAINTAIN OUR EDGE IN THE FACE OF INCREASINGLY STIFF COMPETITION FROM OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE REGION, INDUSTRIALISTS MUST BE PREPARED TO INVEST IN THESE NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND MASTER THEIR APPLICATION. THEIR PAST WILLINGNESS TO REINVEST CONSISTENTLY IN NEW AND MORE MODERN PLANT AND EQUIPMENT HAS PAID HANDSOME DIVIDENDS, AS EVIDENCED BY OUR PHENOMENAL GROWTH RATE OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS,+ HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR ALSO NOTED THE IMPORTANCE OF MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY TO HONG KONG. +IT IS THE BACKBONE OF OUR ECONOMY, AND ACCOUNTS FOR AN ESTIMATED 25 PER CENT OF OUR GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT. IT IS AN IMPORTANT FOREIGN EXCHANGE EARNER.
+IN 1982, THE VALUE OF HONG KONG’S DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF MANUFACTURED GOODS AMOUNTED TO $83 BILLION OR SOME 30 PER CENT OF TOTAL TRADE IN THAT YEAR. THE FIGURE FOR 1983 WAS $104 BILLION, OR 31 PER CENT OF TOTAL TRADE. MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY IS ALSO OUR LARGEST EMPLOYERS ACCOUNTING FOR SOME 35 PER CENT OF TOTAL EMPLOYMENT.+
SIR EDWARD SAID THE CMA WAS ONE OF THE OLDEST AND LARGEST INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATIONS IN HONG KONG.
FOUNDED IN 1934, ITS EXPANSION MIRRORED THE DRAMATIC GROWTH IN HONG KONG’S ECONOMY IN THE PAST FOUR DECADES.
+IT ALSO BEARS TESTIMONY TO THE CMA’S ENERGETIC ROLE IN REPRESENTING THE INTEREST OF LOCAL INDUSTRIES,+ THE GOVERNOR SAID.
------0-------
1983 EXPORT VOLUME UP 15 PER CENT * * * *
PRICES OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS, RE-EXPORTS AND TOTAL EXPORTS ALL ROSE, ON AVERAGE, BY 10 PER CENT IN 1983 AS COMPARED w I TH 1982, ACCORDING TO FIGURES RELEASED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
PRICES OF IMPORTS ROSE BY 12 PER CENT.
AS A RESULT, THE TERMS OF TRADE INDEX (EXPRESSED AS A RATIO CF THE TOTAL EXPORT PRICE INDEX TO THE IMPORT PRICE INDEX) FELL BY TWO PER CENT.
/THE VOLUME .......
MONDAY, MARCH 5, 19&4
- 4 -
THE VOLUME OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS ROSE BY 14 PER CENT AND 15 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY, SO THAT THE VOLUME OF TOTAL EXPORTS INCREASED BY 15 PER CENT. MEANWHILE, THE VOLUME OF IMPORTS INCREASED BY 10 PER CENT, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID.
HE EXPLAINED ALSO THAT 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 IN TABLE 1.
AS SEEN FROM TABLE 1, THE EXPORT PRICES OF ALL COMMODITY GROUPS INCREASED, FROM TWO PER CENT FOR RADIOS OF ALL KINDS TO 22 PER CENT FOR METAL ORES AND SCRAP.
THE DOMESTIC EXPORT VOLUME IN NEARLY ALL COMMODITY GROUPS INCREASED. THE MORE SIGNIFICANT ONES BEING METAL ORES AND SCRAP (+142%) ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS (+58%), TEXTILE YARN AND THREAD (+40%) TEXTILE FABRICS (+29%) AND DOMESTIC ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES (+27%)'. HOWEVER, A SLIGHT DECREASE WAS RECORDED FOR FOOTWEAR (-2%).
THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE, UNIT VALUE AND VOLUME OF IMPORTS BY END-USE CATEGORY ARE SHOwN IN TABLE 2.
AS PRESENTED IN TABLE 2, IMPORT PRICES OF ALL END-USE CATEGORIES INCREASED. RANGING FROM NINE PER CENT FOR FUELS TO 14 PER CENT FOR CONSUMER GOODS.
MANY OF THE MAJOR IMPORTED FOODSTUFFS INCREASED IN VOLUME TERMS, THE MORE SIGNIFICANT ONES BEING TEA AND COFFEE, SOYA BEAN OIL, PEANUT OIL AND LARD, SUGAR, WHEAT AND FLOUR, AS WELL AS MEAT AND MEAT PREPARATIONS. HOWEVER, THE IMPORT VOLUME OF VEGETABLES, LIVE POULTRY AND BOVINE ANIMALS DECREASED MODERATELY.
IN THE CONSUMER GOODS CATEGORY, SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN IMPORT VOLUME WERE REGISTERED FOR WATCHES, RADIOS, TELEVISION SETS, GRAMOPHONES, RECORDS, TAPE RECORDERS AND AMPLIFIERS, CAMERAS, FLASHLIGHT APPARATUS AND SUPPLIES FOR PHOTOGRAPHY, CLOTHING AND HOUSEHOLD TYPE ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES. HOWEVER, SLIGHT DECREASES WERE RECORDED FOR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, TOBACCO MANUFACTURES AND PASSENGER MOTOR CARS.
THE IMPORT VOLUME OF MOST RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTuRco ROSE, AMONG WHICH SILK FABRICS, THERMIONIC CATHODE VALVES AND TUBES, DIODES, TRANSISTORS AND ELECTRICAL MICROCIRCUITS, MANMADE FIBRES, YARN OF WOOL AND MIXTURES, CRUDE ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE MATERIALS, COTTON YARN AND THREAD, WOOL AND OTHER ANIMAL HAIR, AND PLASTIC MOULDING MATERIALS ROSE SUBSTANTIAL. HOWEVER, THE IMPORT VOLUME OF WOOD, LUMBER AND CORK, AND CLAY AND REFRACTORY CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, BUILDING MATERIALS, EXCEPT GLASS, DROPPED MODERATELY.
IMPORTS CF FUELS DROPPEd'bY SEVEN PER CENT IN VOLUME TERnS.
/IN THE ........
MONDAY, MARCH 5, 1984
5
IN THE CAPITAL GOODS CATEGORY, THE IMPORT VOLUME OF OFFICE MACHINES, ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, TEXTILE MACHINERY AND SCIENTIFIC MEDICAL, OPTICAL, MEASURING AND CONTROLLING INSTRUMENTS AND APPARATUS INCREASED, WHILE THE IMPORT VOLUME OF TRANSPORT
EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY DECREASED.
THE CHANGES IN THE BY END-USE CATEGORY ARE
OTHER THAN TEXTILE AND ELECTRICAL TYPES
VALUE, UNIT VALUE AND VOLUME OF RE-EXPORTS SHOWN IN TABLE 3.
AS DEPICTED IN TABLE 3, THE RE-EXPORT VOLUME OF ALL END-USE CATEGORIES INCREASED, RANGING FROM 10 PER CENT FOR FOODSTUFFS TO 17 PER CENT FOR RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES.
FURTHER DETAILS ARE OF THE +HONG KONG TRADE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CONTAINED IN THE DECEMBER 1983 1 INDEX NUMBERS+, AVAILABLE AT THE CENTRE AT HK$2 PER COPY. SSUE
TABLE 1 : CHANGES COMPARING 1983 WITH 1982 OF BY COMMODITY GROUP DOMEST IC EXPORT^
COMMODITY GROUP EXPORT VALUE EXPORT UNIT VALUE EXPORT VOLUME
CLOTHING (EXCEPT FUR) + 19% + 12% + 6%
TEXTILE FABRICS + 49% + 8% + 29%
TEXTILE YARN AND THREAD + 49% + 6% + 49%
TEXTILE MADE-UPS AND RELATED ARTICLES + 31% + 16% + 13?
RADIOS OF ALL KINDS + 2% + 2% INS IGNIFICANT
ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS + 72% + 8% + 58%
FOOTWEAR + 4% + 6% - 2%
>ETAL MANUFACTURES + 22% + 7% + 15'/-
METAL ORES AND SCRAP + 194% + 22% + 142?p
WATCHES AND CLOCKS + 15% + 3% + 12c
TRAVEL GOODS, HANDBAGS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES + 13% + 11% + 1%
DOMESTIC ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES + 35% + 6% +
ALL COMMODITIES + 26% + 19% + 14%
/TAELE ■ :
MONDAY, MAfiCH 5, 1?t>4
6 -
TABLE 2 : CHANGES COMPARING 1983 END-USE WITH 1982 OF CATEGORY IMPORTS BY
END-USE CATEGORY IMPORT VALUE IMPORT UNIT VALUE IMPORT VOLUME
FOODSTUFFS + 18% + 12% + 5%
CONSUMER GOODS + 21% + 14% + 6%
RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES + 33% + 11% + 20%
FUELS + 1% + 9% - 7%
CAPITAL GOODS + 13% + 12% + 1%
ALL COMMODITIES + 23% + 12% + 10%
TABLE 3 : CHANGES COMPARING 1983 Wl BY END-USE TH 1982 OF CATEGORY RE-EXPORTS
END-USE CATEGORY RE-EXPORT VALUE RE-EXPORT UNIT VALUE RE-EXPORT VOLUME
FOODSTUFFS + 24% ♦ 13% + 10%
CONSUMER GOODS + 26% + 10% + 14%
RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES + 27% + 9% + 17%
FUELS + 29% + 15% ♦ 12%
CAPITAL GOODS + 29% + 12% + 15?
ALL COMMODITIES + 27% + 10% + 15°
0
/7 ........
MONDAY, MARCH 5, 1984
I
21 LAND SITES FOR SALE IN NEXT SIX MONTHS * * * 4
THE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO OFFER 21 SITES FOR SALE IN THE URBAN AREA AND NEW TERRITORIES IN THE SIX MONTHS BEGINNING APRIL 1, THE DIRECTOR OF LANDS, MR JOHN TODD, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
THIS COMPARES WITH A FIGURE OF 53 SITES FOR THE OCTOBER -MARCH PERIOD.
MR TODD SAID THE SITES IN THE PROVISIONAL LAND SALES FORECAST TOTALLED 17.3 HECTARES, WITH A FURTHER 28 HECTARES AVAILABLE ON THE APPLICATION LIST.
TWO SITES FOR COMMERCIAL AND/OR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE URBAN AREA WHICH ARE LIKELY TO BE OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO DEVELOPERS ARE IN SCIENCE MUSEUM ROAD, TSIM SHA TSUI, AND CANTON ROAD.
BOTH ARE TO BE OFFERED FOR SALE BY TENDER.
THE CANTON ROAD SITE COVERING 2.4 HECTARES IS TO INCLUDE A FERRY TERMINAL COMPLEX IN THE PODIUM WHICH IS TO BE HANDED BACK TO THE GOVERNMENT WHEN COMPLETED.
THREE NEW TOWN CENTRE SITES ARE TO BE OFFERED DURING THE PERIOD.
THEY ARE AT YUEN LONG, TUEN MUN AND TSUEN WAN, THE LATTER BEING CLOSE TO THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY STATION.
ONE UNUSUAL SITE IS FOR A FLOATING RESTAURANT ON THE SHING MUN RIVER AT SHA TIN.
TWO SITES IN THE URBAN AREA REQUIRE THE PURCHASER TO PROVIDE PARKING FACILITIES IN THE DEVELOPMENT.
THEY ARE AT SING WOO ROAD, HAPPY VALLEY, AND KWONG CHEUNG STREET, KOWLOON.
TWO RESIDENTIAL SITES IN TAI PO AND SHA TIN ARE FOR DEVELOPMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEME.
THE SHA TIN SITE COVERS ABOUT SEVEN-AND-A-HALF HECTARES OF the MA ON SHAN DEVELOPMENT PROJECT.
THEY ARE BOTH FOR SALE BY TENDER.
DUE TO LOW DEMAND FOR INDUSTRIAL SITES ONLY FOUR WILL EE OFFERED FOR SALE DURING THE PERIOD, THREE OF WHICH ARE IN 'id URBAN AREA.
/MH TODD .......
MONDAY, MARCH 5, 1984
8
MR TODD REAFFIRMED GOVERNMENT’S INTENTION TO REDEEM OUTSTANDING LAND EXCHANGE ENTITLEMENTS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
HE SAID AN INCREASING NUMBER OF SITES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WOULD THEREFORE BE OFFERED FOR SALE UNDER THE PRESENT +VINTAGE+ SYSTEM WITH THE ALTERNATIVE OF TENDERING MONETISED LETTER B ON A CASH EQUIVALENT BASIS.
PROSPECTIVE TENDERS WILL ALSO BE GIVEN THE OPTION OF PAYING THE PREMIUM FOR THE SCIENCE MUSEUM ROAD SITE BY MONETISED LETTER B.
THIS IS ONE OF THE MAJOR URBAN SITES WHICH THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID WOULD BE SUITABLE TO PROVIDE AN INCENTIVE FOR LETTER B HOLDERS TO SURRENDER THEIR ENTITLEMENTS IN THIS MANNER.
MR TODD SAID IN ADDITION TO THE 21 SITES ON THE PROVISIONAL SALES FORECAST THERE WERE MORE THAN 50 SITES ON THE APPLICATION LIST WHICH COULD BE PROCESSED FOR SALE BY AUCTION OR TENDER WHERE GENUINE INTEREST WAS EXPRESSED.
A PROSPECTIVE PURCHASER SHOULD INITIALLY APPROACH EITHER
THE CHIEF ESTATE SURVEYOR/DISPOSAL IN LANDS DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS Cfi THE LANDS OFFICE IN THE DISTRICT WHERE A SITE WAS LOCATED, HE SAID.
MR TODD POINTED OUT THAT THE APPLICATION LIST INCLUDED SITES FOR WHICH THERE WAS LITTLE DEMAND IN THE PRESENT MARKET OR WHICH HAD BEEN OFFERED UNSUCCESSFULLY IN THE PAST.
A LARGE PROPORTION WERE FOR INDUSTRIAL USE OR FOR LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
HE SAID DUE TO THE DICTATES OF THE MARKET AND THE GOVERNMENT’S FLEXIBLE APPROACH IT WAS LIKELY THAT THE APPLICATION LIST, INTRODUCED A YEAR AGO, WOULD REMAIN A FEATURE OF THE LAND SALES PROGRAMME IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
MR TODD EMPHASISED THAT THE SALE PROGRAMME WAS PROVISIONAL AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE, AND DETAILS WOULD BE PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE AND MAJOR NEWSPAPERS.
COPIES OF THE LAND SALES FORECAST ARE AVAILABLE FROM LANDS DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS, MURRAY BUILDING, THIRD FLOOR, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG= OR AT ANY OF THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICES THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.
PLANS SHOWING THE LOCATION OF THE VARIOUS LOTS CAN ALSO BE INSPECTED AT THESE OFFICES.
- - - - 0-----------
MONDAY, MARCH 5, 198^
- 9 -
’SAFETY ON BUSES’ PUBLICITY DRIVE STARTING SOON * * * * *
A TWO-WEEK PUBLICITY EXERCISE W ILL BE LAUNCHED NEXT MONDAY (MARCH 12) TO EDUCATE BUS PASSENGERS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF COURTESY AND SAFETY ON BUSES.
THE EXERCISE, CO-ORDINATED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT, IS A JOINT EFFORT BY CMB, KMB AND THE POLICE TO IMPROVE THE GENERAL OPERATING ENVIRONMENT BY URGING PASSENGERS TO BE PATIENT AND CONSIDERATE WHEN AWAITINu AND BOARDING BUSES AND NOT TO OVERLOAD THEM.
ANNOUNCING THIS AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY (MARCH 5), THE ACTING ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT (HONG KONG AND ISLANDS), MRS DOROTHY CHAN SAID ONLY WITH THE SUPPORT AND CO-OPERATION OF THE PUBLIC , COULD THIS EFFORT BE A SUCCESS.
MRS CHAN POINTED OUT THAT APART FROM THE OBVIOUS RISKS OF AN OVER-LOADED BUS, DELAYS AND BREAKDOWNS FREQUENTLY RESULT.
♦ RIDING ON BUSES NEED NOT BE AN UNPLEASANT, UNCOMFORTABLE AND STIFLING EXPERIENCE IF COMMUTERS SIMPLY EXERCISE A LITTLE PATIENCE AND DISCIPLINE BY CATCHING THE NEXT BUS.
♦ BUS CAPACITY IS RAPIDLY CATCHING UP WITH DEMAND DUE TO EXPANSION OF THE KMB AND CMB FLEET.
+THE LONG-STANDING PROBLEM OF BUS OVERLOADING SHOULD NOT BE ACCEPTABLE, BOTH IN TERMS OF SAFETY AND PASSENGER COMFORT, PARTICULARLY, IN VIEW OF MUCH IMPROVED SERVICES AND REDUCED CONGESTION ON ROADS,* SHE SAID.
DURING THIS EXERCISE, POSTERS AND STICKERS PRODUCED BY BOTH FRANCHISED BUS COMPANIES WILL BE DISPLAYED AT TERMINI, BUS STOPS AND ON THE VEHICLES WITH THE MESSAGE - + A SAFER JOURNEY IS WORTH WAITING FOR - CATCH THE NEXT BUS+.
THE TWO BUS COMPANIES WILL DEPLOY MORE STAFF AT BUS STOPS TO HELP PUT ACROSS THE COURTESY AND SAFETY MESSAGE TO THE PASSENGERS.
IN SUPPORTING THE EXERCISE, THE POlICE WILL BE BROADCAST| ,4 o THE BUS SAFETY THEME ALONG THE MORE BUSY ROUTES FROM MARCH 12 FOR TWO WEEKS.
KMB AND CMB WILL ALSO BE PUTTING ADDITIONAL REGULATORS AsJ INSPECTORS TO CONTROL PASSENGERS ON THElR MORE CROWDED ROUTES.
-------- 0 - - - -
/1O......
MONDAY, MARCH 5, 1^84 .
IO-' -
♦PUBLIC HELP VITAL IN SAFETY EFFORT* * * * *
THE ESSENCE OF SAFETY PROMOTION LIES NOT ONLY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT BUT ALSO IN EDUCATION AND THE WILLING CO-OPERATION OF ALL CONCERNED, THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, DR J.w. HAYES SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
DR HAYES, WHO IS ALSO CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND ACCIDENT PREVENTION OF THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD, WAS SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TO ANNOUNCE DETAILS OF A +TEXTILES INDUSTRY SAFETY DAY+ JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE TEXTILES INDUSTRY SAFETY SUB-COMMITTEE AND THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BOARD.
HE SAID +SAFETY DAY+ WAS A MEANINGFUL EVENT AND wAS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND ORGANISED FOR THE TEXTILES INDUSTRY IN HONG KONG TO PROMOTE SAFETY AT WORK IN THE INDUSTRY.
IT ALSO SIGNIFIED THE EFFORT BY THE GOVERNMENT, EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS TOWARDS ACHIEVING THE COMMON GOAL OF PROMOTING SAFETY AND PREVENTING ACCIDENTS.
JUDGING FROM THE GOOD EFFORT PUT IN BY THE ORGANISERS AND THE STRONG SUPPORT AND ACTIVE PARTICIPATION RECEIVED FROM ALL SIDES, THE SAFETY DAY FUNCTION HAD FULLY ACHIEVED ITS OBJECTIVE, HE SAID.
♦ I AM ALSO CONFIDENT THAT BY KEEPING UP OUR EFFORT SUFFICIENT IMPETUS WILL BE GENERATED WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY MAKE SAFE WORKING JUST A WAY OF LIFE,* HE ADDED.
ALSO SPEAKING AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE WAS MR ROBERT La I, CHAIRMAN OF THE SAFETY DAY ORGANISING SUB-COMMITTEE. HE SAID THAT THE SAFETY DAY CONSISTED MAINLY OF THREE COMPETITIONS AND WOULD CONCLUDE WITH A GALA NIGHT TO BE HELD ON MARCH 15, AT 8 PM AT THE TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL.
THE COMPETITIONS WERE KNOWN AS: +SAFETY SLOGAN*, +SAFETY FACTORY* AND +SAFETY QUIZ*, AND WERE OPEN TO ALL FACTORIES AND WORKERS IN THE TEXTILES INDUSTRY.
THE FIRST TWO COMPETITIONS WERE wON BY MR YAU KIN-FAT OF ISLAND DYEING AND PRINTING COMPANY LIMITED AND THE FIRST NATIONAL TRADING COMPANY LIMITED RESPECTIVELY, WHILE WINNERS OF THE +SAFETY QUIZ* WILL BE DECIDED BY A LUCKY DRAW AT THE GALA NIGHT.
FOR THE GALA NIGHT, MR LAI SAID IT WOULD FEATURE LOCAL SINGERS AS WELL AS A +POLY DESIGN HALF AN HOUR* FAShIvW GARMENTS DESIGNED BY STUDENTS OF THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC.
ALSO REVEALED THAT FOUR TEXTILE FACTORIES, IN SUPPORT OF THE SAFETY DAY, WOULD ALSO BE MAKING SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS T ORGANISE THEIR OWN SAFETY DAY ACTIVITIES IN THEIR FACTORIES ON MARCH 15 TO BRING HOME TO THEIR EMPLOYEES THE IMPORTANCE CF SAFETY AT WORK.
THE FACTORIES ARE KOWLOON TEXTILE INDUSTRIES LIMITED, ISLAND DYEING AND PRINTING COMPANY LIMITED, CENTRAL TEXTILES (nONG NG; LIMITED, AND WINSOR INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION LIMITED.
AS POPULAR SHOW OF
MONDAY, MARCH 5, 1984
- 11 -
SCHOOLS TO GET REPLACEMENT PLAYGROUNDS * * * *
A SUM OF ABOUT $4.8 MILLION HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR REPLACEMENT COVERED PLAYGROUNDS IN EIGHT PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN TUEN MUN AND SHA TIN.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY THAT CONSTRUCTION OF THE PLAYGROUNDS - FIVE IN TUEN MUN AND THREE IN SHA TIN - *ILL START SHORTLY AND IS LIKELY TO BE COMPLETED IN SIX MONTHS.
THREE OF THE SCHOOLS ARE IN ON TING ESTATE, TUEN MUN, AND ONE EACH IN YAU Ol AND WU KING ESTATES, ALSO IN TUEN MUN. -THE OTHER THREE SCHOOLS ARE IN LUNG HANG, SUN TSUI AND CHUN SHEK ESTATES IN SHA TIN.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE ORIGINAL COVERED PLAYGROUNDS OF THESE SCHOOLS HAD BEEN CONVERTED INTO CLASSROOMS TO PLACE THE LARGE NUMBER OF THE 6-11 AGE GROUP IN THE LOCALITY.
♦ THE REPLACEMENT PLAYGROUNDS WILL BE USED TO CONDUCT PHYSICAL EDUCATION LESSONS, FOR PLAY DURING RECESS, AND FOR ASSEMBLY PURPOSE BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL, PARTICULARLY ON RAINY DAYS.+ HE SAID.
IN ADDITION TO THESE EIGHT SCHOOLS, THE GOVERNMENT ALSO PLANS TO PROVIDE REPLACEMENT PLAYGROUNDS IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS WHERE THEIR COVERED PLAYGROUNDS WILL BE CONVERTED INTO CLASSROOMS TO MEET A SHORT-TERM DEMAND.
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THE SDUGATION DEPARTMENT WAS ALSO CONSIDERING ALTERNATIVES TO TACKLE THE SHORTAGE OF PRIMARY PLACES IN THE NEW TOWNS, RESULTING FROM A CHANGE IN THE POPULATION PATTERN.
♦ ONE SOLUTION IS USING SECONDARY SCHOOLS TEMPORARILY AS PRIMARY SCHOOLS. ANOTHER IS TO BUILD +FLEXI-SCHOOLS+ WHICH CAN BE USED AS PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN THE FIRST INSTANCE AND THEN COVERTED INTO SECONDARY SCHOOLS AS THE AGE STRUCTURE OF THE POPULATION CHANGES,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
MEANWHILE, HE NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS SINCE LAST YEAR ADOPTED A REVISED PLANNING STANDARD IN-THE PROVISION OF PRIMARY SCHOOL PLACES WHICH TAKES INTO ACCOUNT LOCAL VARIATIONS IN THE AGE DISTRIBUTION OF THE POPULATION.
IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE NEW STANDARD WILL MORE ACCURATELY GAUGE PRIMARY SCHOOL PLACES REQUIREMENT IN THE NEW TOWNS.
JO*.1
, 12 .......
MONDAY, MARCH 5, 198A
- 12 -
+AVIATION+ STAMPS ON SALE WEDNESDAY * * *
STAMP COLLECTORS ARE REMINDED THAT A SPECIAL STAMP ISSUE WITH THE THEME +AVIATION IN HONG KONG+, WILL BE ON SALE AT ALL POST OFFICES ON WEDNESDAY (MARCH 7).
IN ADDITION TO A SPECIALLY DESIGNED FIRST DAY COVER, A SET OF POSTCARDS BEARING ENLARGED REPRODUCTIONS OF THE STAMPS HAVE BEEN ON SALE AT ALL POST OFFICE COUNTERS SINCE FEBRUARY 22.
THESE POSTCARDS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THE FIRST TIME BY THE HONG KONG POST OFFICE AND HAVE BEEN VERY FAVOURABLY RECEIVED BY THE PUBLIC, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE POST OFFICE SAID TODAY.
CONGESTION IS THEREFORE EXPECTED AT ALL POST OFFICES WHEN THE FIRST DAY COVERS AND POSTCARDS ARE PRESENTED FOR HANDSTAMPING ON WEDNESDAY, HE SAID.
STAFF WILL BE INCREASED AT THE POST OFFICES TO COPE WITH THE RUSH, BUT PEOPLE WISHING TO TRANSACT NORMAL BUSINESS SHOULD, IF POSSIBLE, DO SO ON THE DAY BEFORE, HE SAID.
HOWEVER, TO HELP CUSTOMERS WHO WILL BE TRANSACTING NORMAL BUSINESS, SPECIAL COUNTERS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE FOLLOWING POST OFFICES:
POST OFFICE ON HONG KONG ISLAND
GENERAL POST OFFICE CAUSEWAY BAY HENNESSY ROAD MORRISON HILL NORTH POINT QUEEN’S ROAD SHEUNG WAN
POST OFFICE IN KOWLOON AND NEW TERRITORIES
KOWLOON CENTRAL CHEUNG SHA WAN GILLIES AVENUE KOWLOON CITY KWUN TONG MONG KOK SHAM SHU I PO TSIM SHA TSUI TSUEN WAN
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MONDAY, MARCH 5, 1984
- 13 -
NOTE TO EDITORS:
'BETTER MANAGEMENT’ SEMINAR ARRANGED
* * * *
A SEMINAR ON +BETTER MANAGEMENT, PRODUCTION AND MARKETING*, FOR FACTORY OWNERS IN TSUEN wAN WILL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY (MARCH 7)
GUEST SPEAKERS WILL INCLUDE MR TAM WING-PONG, THE DISTRICT OFFICER FOR KWAI CHUNG AND TSING Yl, MR CHIU KAM-LING OF THE HONG KONG TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL’S TSUEN WAN OFFICE, AND MR ANDY NG OF THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE.
THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, WILL SPEAK AT THE END OF THE SEMINAR.
THE SEMINAR, JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE LOCAL DISTRICT BOARD, THE HONG KONG TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL’S TSUEN WAN OFFICE, AND THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE, WILL START AT 2.30 PM IN THE CULTURAL ACTIVITIES HALL OF TSUEN wAN TOWN HALL.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SEMINAR.
- - - 0 --------
AMENITY AREA FOR CENTRAL
* * * *
THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS TO TURN A VACANT 49-SQUARE-METRE SITE AT THE STAR FERRY CONCOURSE IN CENTRAL INTO AN AMENITY AREA.
. THE SITE WAS FORMERLY A RECRUITMENT CENTRE FOR THE POLICE AND CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THE PROJECT INCLUDES CONSTRUCTION OF CONCRETE BENCHES AND RAILINGS, AND PROVISION OF FLOWER BEDS, LIGHTING AND LAwNS AND IS INTENDED TO MEET THE PUBLIC NEED FOR LOCAL PASSIVE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.
WORK WILL BEGIN IN MAY AND TAKE FOUR MONTHS TO FINISn.
TENDERS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE CHAIRMAN, PUBLIC .,ORKS TENDER BOARD, AND PLACED IN THE PUBLIC WORKS TENDER BOX IN THE MAIN ENTRANCE OF MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG, BEFORE 12 NOON ON MARCH 23.
FORMS AND FURTHER PARTICULARS MAY EE OBTAINED FROM THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE, BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, 'iURrtAi BUILDING, 13TH FLOOR, GARDEN ROAD, KONG.
- * • 9 - v
/14 .....
MONDAY, MARCH 5, 1984
- 14 -
WONG CHUK HANG LEAKAGE TEST * * *
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO SOME PREMISES IN WONG CHUK HANG WILL BE TURNED OFF FROM 11 PM ON THURSDAY (MARCH 8) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR LEAKAGE TESTS.
THE AFFECTED PREMISES ARE BOUNDED BY NAM LONG SHAN ROAD, WELFARE ROAD, POLICE SCHOOL ROAD, SHUM wAN ROAD, INCLUDING wONG CHUK HANG ESTATE AND POLICE TRAINING SCHOOL.
- 0 -
WATER FIGURES * * *
STORAGE IN HONG KONG’S RESERVOIRS AT 9 AM TODAY (MONDAY)
STOOD AT 81.0 PER CENT OF CAPACITY OR 474.936 MILLION CUBIC METRES
THIS TIME LAST YEAR THE RESERVOIRS CONTAINED 439.560
MILLION CUBIC METRES OF WATER, REPRESENTING 75.0 PER CENT OF
CAPAC ITY.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN — SUPPLEMENT
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE HONG KONG TEL 5 233191
SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLEUCY TEE GOVERNOR SIR EDWARD YOUDE GC1C MBE AT THE OPINING CEREMONY OF THE N37 HONG KONG CHINESE MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION'S BUILDING IN CENTRAL
________ON MONDAY, MARCH 5 1984 AT 2.30 PM________
Mr Ngai, Ladies and Gentlemen,
"It gives me great pleasure to be here this afternoon for the opening of the new Headquarters Building of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong.
"The CMA is one of the oldest and largest industrial associations in Hong Kong. From the handful of far-sighted entrepreneurs who first founded it in 1934» membership has grown over the years to some 2,800 now, representing the full range of our manufacturing industry. This expansion mirrors the dramatic growth in Hong Kong's economy in the past four decades. It also bears testimony to the CHA's energetic role in representing the interests of local industries.
"The importance of manufacturing industry to Hong Kong must be clear to us ail. It is the backbone of our economy, and accounts for an estimated 25^ of our Gross Domestic Product. It is an important foreign exchange earner. In 1982, the value of Hong Kong’s domestic exports of manufactured goods amounted to $83 billion or some 30/j of total trade in that year. The figure for 1983 was J1O4 billion, or 31/ of total trade. Manufacturing industry is also our largest employer : accounting for some 3?/ of total employment.
"The Government's economic policy of mini mum interference with the workings of the market place is well-known. But an essential, though much less well recognised, element of this policy is the provision by Government of an efficient infrastructure in which trade and industry oan flourish.
/"In pursuing .......
2
"In pursuing that end, the Government regards consultation with such industrial organisations as the C1SA as of great importance. The CISh. has regularly provided members for consultative bodies appointed by Government. One of the most important of these in recent years has been the Advisory Committee on Diversification. The Committee was appointed in 1977 in recognition of the need to broaden Hong Kong's industrial base, to determine whether, with particular reference to the manufacturing sector, the modification of existing policies or the introduction of new policies might facilitate the process of diversification of the economy. The Committee put forward 47 recommendations. All had fundamental and far-reaching implications for the economy. All except one were accepted by the Government. Of these, 35 have already been implemented. Action is being taken on the other 11.
"It is fitting on an occasion like this to review the progress made in pursuit of those recommendations. Industrial investment promotion involves alerting overseas industrialists tc the exceptional opportunities which Hong Kong offers as a manufacturing base. The Government, through the Industry Department, responded promptly to the Conmittee's recommendations by setting up in 1982 four overseas industrial promotion offices : in London, Tokyo, San Francisco and Stuttgart. These offices have been working hard to encourage overseas businessmen tc set up manufacturing facilities in Hong Kong, or to enter into licensing or joint venture arrangements with local businessmen to manufacture their products here. Judging from the number of foreign manufacturers who have been attracted to Hong Kong or who have expanded their operations, this initiative has paid good dividends. These overseas offices are backed up by the One-Stop Unit in the Industry Department, which provides a focal point where all queries from both overseas and local businessmen on industrial activities can be answered. In 1933, the Unit handled some 500 queries, which indicates the encouraging level of interest in what Hong Kong has tc offer. These promotional activities are aimed not only at attracting new investment for its own sake : they also seek to broaden our industrial base by attracting to Hong Kong new technologies and improved techniques.
/"The Advisory .......
3
<
f
"The Advisory Committee on Diversification also made a number of perceptive recommendations designed to improve support and technical back-up services to industry. Action taken to implement these includes the establishment of a Standard and Calibration Laboratory, which will start operations this summer, and the Laboratory Accreditation Scheme, whioh is expected to accredit its first laboratories later this year. A more direct form of support has also been given, through the work of the Ilong Kong Productivity Centre, to technical research and development work; the transfer of technology; and the dissemination of technical information. The Centre's micro-processor laboratory has developed a number of systems which are being used successfully in manufacturing processes.
"In line with the recommendation of the Advisory Committee, research projects related to electronics manufacturing processes and computer development techniques are being carried out in the two universities and the Hong Kong Polytechnic. The Hong Kong Productivity Centre has also organised studies of the metal and light engineering industry and of the electronics industry. The results of all these studies are now being examined, along with the findings of a technology transfer study and other recommendations aimed at making the latest technology available to our manufacturers, so that they can branch out into the production of a wider range of high technology goods.
"The purpose of this work is two-fold. First, the availability of internationally recognised standards and testing facilities will improve the acceptability of our products worldwide. Second, it will enable Hong Kong's industrialists to enter the expanding markets for more sophisticated consumer and industrial products of a high quality. To do this, and to maintain our edge in the face of increasingly stiff competition from other countries in the region, industrialists must be prepared to invest in these new technologies and master their application. Their past willingness to reinvest consistently in new and more modem plant and equipment has paid handsome dividends, as evidenced by our phenomenal growth rate over the past 30 years. Similar faith in the future is essential now because the health of our manufacturing industry tomorrow must necessarily depend on investments made today.
/"This fine .......
- 4 -
"This fine new office building which opens today vividly demonstrates the CMA's firm confidence in our future. I welcome this kind of commitment. I am confident that local manufacturers will continue to plan energetically to meet the demands on industry in adapting to the use of more sophisticated technology, and in working for the continuing prosperity of Hong Kong.
"I now have much pleasure in declaring the new CMA building open; and I wish the Association continued success in the future."
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL. 5-233191
TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 1984
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
HK DOLLAR DEPOSITS CONTINUE GROWTH ............................ 1
HONG KONG WINS TOP AWARDS FOR ANTI-COUNTERFEITING FIGHT...... 3
FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETINGS ..................................
NSV CONTROL POINT FOR MAN KAM TO .............................. 5
FULL WELFARE SERVICES PLEDGED FOR HOUSING ESTATES ............. 6
YOUNG TALENT SOUGHT FOR ANTI-NARCOTICS EFFORT.................. 6
SALARIES COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS .............................. 7
PRINTING MANPOWER SURVEY UNDERWAY.............................. 8
SOUTHERN DISTRICT INDUSTRIALISTS FORM GROUP ................... 8
KING'S COLLEGE HOLDING OPEN DAY................................ 9
SOUTH BAY MAINS WORK........................................... 9
TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 1984
- 1 -
HK DOLLAR DEPOSITS CONTINUE GROWTH * * * *
FOR THE FOURTH CONSECUTIVE MONTH FOLLOWING THE STABILISATION OF THE EXCHANGE RATE, HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS RECORDED SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH IN JANUARY, MONETARY STATISTICS SHOW.
PART OF THE GROWTH IN JANUARY REFLECTED THE CREDITING OF LUNAR NEW YEAR BONUSES AND ADVANCE PAYMENT OF SALARIES AT THE END OF THE MONTH. FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS RECORDED ONLY RELATIVELY MODEST GROWTH, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.
THE MONEY SUPPLY ON ALL DEFINITIONS INCREASED DURING THE MONTH. REFLECTING RECENT TRENDS IN THE GROWTH OF DEPOSITS, INCREASES IN THE HONG KONG DOLLAR COMPONENTS WERE MORE RAPID THAN THOSE OF THE FOREIGN CURRENCY COMPONENTS.
LOANS TO FINANCE HONG KONG’S VISIBLE TRADE FELL, WHILE LOANS FOR USE IN HONG KONG INCREASED ONLY MARGINALLY.
DEPOSITS
HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS ROSE STRONGLY BY 5.1 PER CENT IN JANUARY FOLLOWING AN INCREASE OF 4.0 PER CENT IN DECEMBER 1983.
IN THR THREE MONTHS TO JANUARY, THESE INCREASED BY 16.2 PER CENT, AND OVER THE TWELVE MONTHS TO JANUARY THE INCREASE WAS 17.1 PER CENT. FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS GREW BY 0.9 PER CENT IN JANUARY, LESS THAN THE 2.4 PER CENT RISE IN DECEMBER. IN THE THREE MONTHS TO JANUARY, THESE INCREASED BY 2.1 PER CENT, WHILE THE INCREASE OVER THE TWELVE MONTHS WAS 35.8 PER CENT.
THESE FIGURES SHOW CLEARLY A RETURN OF CONFIDENCE TO THE HONG KONG DOLLAR. THE ABOLITION OF INTEREST WITHHOLDING TAX ON HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS WITH FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS WAS ALSO A FACTOR, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
HONG KONG DOLLAR MONEY SUPPLY
HONG KONG DOLLAR MONEY SUPPLY ON ALL DEFINITIONS INCREASED IN JANUARY. HK$M1 ROSE BY A RAPID 17.8 PER CENT, FOLLOWING AN INCREASE OF 2.2 PER CENT IN DECEMBER. THIS REFLECTED A SHARP INCREASE IN THE PUBLIC’S HOLDING OF HONG KONG DOLLAR CASH ON APPROACHING LUNAR NEW YEAR. HK$M2 AND HK$M3 ROSE BY 7.6 PER CENT AND 6.8 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY, FASTER THAN THE CORRESPONDING INCREASES IN DECEMBER, OF 3.6 PER CENT AND 4.0 PER CENT.
IN THE THREE MONTHS TO JANUARY, HK$M1 ROSE BY 19.8 PER CENT, HKSM2 BY 16.7 PER CENT AND HK$M3 BY 17.2 PER CENT. OVER THE TWELVE MONTHS, THE CORRESPONDING GROWTH RATES WERE 21.8 PER CENT, 19.9 PER CENT AND 18.2 PER CENT.
/TOTAL MONEY .......
TUESDAY, MABCH 6, 1984
- 2 -
TOTAL MONEY SUPPLY
TOTAL Ml GREW BY 16.4 PER CENT, MUCH FASTER THAN THE 1.9 PER CENT INCREASE IN DECEMBER. TOTAL M2 ROSE BY 4.3 PER CENT AND TOTAL M3 ROSE BY 4.0 PER CENT, FOLLOWING THE RESPECTIVE INCREASES IN DECEMBER OF 3.1 PER CENT AND 3.3 PER CENT. IN THE THREE MONTHS TO JANUARY, TOTAL Ml ROSE BY 18.6 PER CENT, TOTAL M2 BY 8.8 PER CENT AND TOTAL M3 BY 10.0 PER CENT. OVER THE TWELVE MONTHS, THE CORRESPONDING GROWTH RATES WERE 24.3 PER CENT, 25.0 PER CENT AND 25.1 PER CENT.
LOANS AND ADVANCES
LOANS TO FINANCE HONG KONG’S VISIBLE TRADE FELL BY 1.0 PER CENT IN JANUARY, FOLLOWING AN INCREASE OF 2.1 PER CENT IN DECEMBER. IN THE THREE MONTHS TO JANUARY, LOANS TO FINANCE VISIBLE TRADE GREW BY 0.1 PER CENT AND OVER THE TWELVE MONTHS AN INCREASE OF 10.6 PER CENT WAS RECORDED. LOANS IN THE FORM OF BANK ACCEPTANCES AND BILLS OF EXCHANGE TO FINANCE EXPORTS FROM HONG KONG, HOWEVER, GREW BY 10.9 PER CENT OR $1.0 BILLION IN JANUARY. OTHER LOANS FOR USE IN HONG KONG ROSE BY 0.1 PER CENT, AGAINST A DECLINE OF 2.3 PER CENT IN DECEMBER. IN THE THREE MONTHS TO JANUARY THESE LOANS FELL BY 1.4 PER CENT AND OVER THE TWELVE MONTHS THEY ROSE BY 9.7 PER CENT.
FOREIGN CURRENCY POSITION
POSSIBLY REFLECTING A CONTINUING DECLINE IN SWAP FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS, THE NET SPOT FOREIGN CURRENCY LIABILITIES OF THE MONETARY SECTOR FELL FURTHER TO $12.5 BILLION AT THE END OF JANUARY FROM $14.5 BILLION AT THE END OF DECEMBER. BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES RECORDED NET SPOT FOREIGN CURRENCY LIABILITIES OF $9.3 BILLION AND $3.2 BILLION RESPECTIVELY. STATISTICS COLLECTED (ON THE BASIS OF SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS) BY THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES SHOWED THAT AT THE END OF JANUARY, THE MONETARY SECTOR HAD NET SPOT FOREIGN CURRENCY LIABILITIES OF $11.9 BILLION WHICH WAS MORE THAN COVERED BY NET FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY ASSETS OF $38.7 BILLION.
LIQUIDITY RATIOS
THE AVERAGE LIQUIDITY RATIO (AS DEFINED IN S. 18 OF THE BANKING ORDINANCE) FOR ALL BANKS FELL TO 49.6 PER CENT FROM 51.1 PER CENT IN DECEMBER. THE AVERAGE LIQUIDITY RATIO (AS DEFINED IN S. 24A OF THE DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES ORDINANCE) FOR ALL DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES FELL TO 57.6 PER CENT FROM 60.1 PER CENT IN DECEMBER.
NUMBER OF REPORTING INSTITUTIONS
THE NUMBER OF LICENSED BANKS IN OPERATION WAS UNCHANGED AT 134. THE NUMBER OF LICENSED DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES ALSO REMAINED UNCHANGED AT 30.
THE NUMBER OF REPORTING REGISTERED DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES, HOWEVER, FELL BY TWO TO 317 BECAUSE ONE DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANY REGISTRATION WAS REVOKED ON REQUEST BY THE COMPANY ITSELF, WHILE ANOTHER ONE WAS SUSPENDED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES.
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/3......
TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 1984
- 3 -
HONG KONG WINS TOP AWARDS FOR ANT I-COUNTERFEITI NG FIGHT ******
AS A RESULT OF INTENSIVE SEARCH-AND-RAID OPERATIONS OVER THE YEARS, HONG KONG HAS LARGELY ELIMINATED MUSIC AND BOOK PIRACY.
♦FOR THIS SUCCESS, HONG KONG HAS EARNED TOP AWARDS FROM MAJOR INTERNATIONAL RECORDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS, SUCH AS THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF PRODUCERS OF PHONOGRAMS AND VIDEOGRAMS WHICH REPRESENTS SOME 500 RECORDING COMPANIES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, AND THE RECORDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA,* SAID MR W.Y. SUEN, COMMANDER OF THE COPYRIGHT DIVISION OF THE CUSTOMS INVESTIGATION BUREAU, CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT.
+ALSO, HONG KONG HAS OFTEN BEEN NAMED ’A MOST SUCCESSFUL AREA’ IN COMBATING BOOK AND MUSIC PIRACY AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES, AND IS BEING HELD UP AS AN EXAMPLE TO OTHER COUNTRIES,* MR SUEN ADDED.
LATEST REPORTS FROM THE LOCAL MUSIC INDUSTRY POINT OUT THAT MUSIC RECORDS AND CASSETTE TAPES NOW ON SALE IN THE LOCAL MARKET ARE LEGITIMATE PRODUCTS.
TEN YEARS AGO, THE LOCAL RECORDING INDUSTRY ESTIMATED THERE WAS ONLY ONE LEGITIMATE COPY OUT OF EVERY 50 MUSICAL CASSETTE TAPES SOLD HERE. THE PIRATES’ PROFIT MARGIN COULD BE AS HIGH AS 200 PER CENT AS THEY DID NOT PAY ANY PROMOTION COSTS OR ROYALTIES.
REFERRING TO RECENT ALLEGATIONS THAT PIRATED TEXT BOOKS FROM HONG KONG HAD BEEN SEIZED IN NIGERIA, MR SUEN SAID, +AFTER INVESTIGATIONS, WE FOUND THAT THE BOOKS HAD TRANSITED THROUGH HONG KONG AND HAD NEVER TOUCHED SHORE HERE. HONG KONG HAS NEVER BEEN AN ENTREPOT FOR SUCH BOOKS.*
RIGHT NOW, THE DIVISION IS FOCUSSING ITS ATTENTION ON A NEW PROBLEM — PIRACY OF CINEMA FILMS AND TELEVISION PROGRAMMES.
WITH THE ADVANCE OF VIDEO TECHNOLOGY, VIDEO TAPES AND TELEVISION PROGRAMMES CAN NOW BE EASILY COPIED AT A LOW COST.
IN LATE 1979, A MARKET SURVEY REVEALED THAT POPULAR FOREIGN MOVIES AND TELEVISION PROGRAMMES WERE BEING SOLD UNDER THE COUNTER.
THE DIVISION HAS BEEN TACKLING THE PROBLEM RIGHT AT THE SOURCE.
SO FAR IT HAS CRACKED DOWN ON 28 MANUFACTURING CENTRES AND SEIZED $2.5 MILLION WORTH OF EQUIPMENT AND PIRATED VIDEO TAPES.
IT IS ALSO MAINTAINING CLOSE CONTACT WITH TWO LARGE FILM UNIONS — THE MOTION PICTURE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA AND THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF PRODUCERS OF PHONOGRAMS AND VIDEOGRAMS.
INTENSIVE INVESTIGATIONS AND TOUGH ACTIONS BEING TAKEN HAVE FORCED THESE NEW PIRATES TO OPERATE ON A SMALLER SCALE AND TAKE GREATER PRECAUTIONS.
/+PIBA.TKD VIDEO..........
TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 1984 •
- 4 -
+PIRATED VIDEO TAPES HAVE DISAPPEARED FROM SHOP SHELVES.
BUT OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS, WE HAVE UNCOVERED SUCH TAPES IN VARIOUS CONCEALED PLACES, USUALLY WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE OF VIDEO SHOPS,+ MR SUEN SAID.
SOME VIDEO CLUBS HAVE ALSO BEEN USED TO CARRY OUT THE ILLICIT TRADE.
EFFECTIVE COPYRIGHT LEGISLATION AND THE GOVERNMENT’S DETERMINATION TO COMBAT THE CRIME WERE CITED BY MR SUEN AS SOME CF THE FACTORS BEHIND THE SUCCESS OF HONG KONG’S OVERALL ANTI-PIRACY OPERATIONS.
EMPOWERED BY THE LEGISLATION TO ENTER AND SEARCH PREMISES, AND SEIZE ANY INFRINGING ARTICLES, THE DIVISION’S INVESTIGATORS CAN WORK EFFECTIVELY.
ON CONVICTION, PEOPLE POSSESSING INFRINGING COPIES FOR BUSINESS PURPOSES ARE LIABLE TO A FINE OF $1 OOO FOR EACH COPY, AND IMPRISONMENT FOR ONE YEAR.
POSSESSION OF PLATES FOR PRODUCING INFRINGING COPIES IS PUNISHABLE BY A FINE OF UP TO S50 000 AND IMPRISONMENT OF UP TO TWO YEARS.
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NOTE TO EDITORS:
FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETINGS
* H *
THE FOLLOWING WILL BE BOXED WITH RELATION TO THE SPECIAL ETINGS OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE TO EXAMINE THE DRAFT ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE 1984-85.
TUESDAY, MARCH 6
1. COPIES OF 86 ORAL QUESTIONS TO BE RAISED ON WEDNESDAY.
2. COPIES OF SIX QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN REPLY ON WEDNESDAY.
3. AN ADVANCE STORY ON THE WEDNESDAY MEETING.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7
1. COPIES OF THE ORAL QUESTIONS TO BE RAISED ON THURSDAY.
2. COPIES OF THE QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN REPLY ON THURSDAY.
3. COPIES OF THE SIX WRITTEN REPLIES RELATING TO WEDNESDAY.
4. AN ADVANCE STORY ON THE THURSDAY MEETING.
/THURSDAY, MARCH 8.........
1 TUESDAY, MABCH 6, 19&4
- 5 -
THURSDAY, MARCH 8
1. COPIES OF THE ORAL QUESTIONS TO BE RAISED ON FRIDAY.
2. COPIES OF THE QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN REPLY ON FRIDAY.
3. COPIES OF THE WRITTEN REPLIES RELATING TO THURSDAY.
4. AN ADVANCE STORY ON THE FRIDAY MEETING.
FRIDAY, MARCH 9
1. COPIES OF THE ORAL QUESTIONS TO BE RAISED ON MONDAY.
2. COPIES OF QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN REPLY ON MONDAY.
3. COPIES OF THE WRITTEN REPLIES RELATING TO FRIDAY.
4. AN ADVANCE STORY ON THE MONDAY MEETING.
MONDAY, MARCH 12
1. COPIES OF THE WRITTEN REPLIES RELATING TO MONDAY. ----------------------------------o-------
NEW CONTROL POINT FOR MAN KAM TO
M H M M
SITE FORMATION WORK FOR A REPLACEMENT BORDER CONTROL POINT AT MAN KAM TO WILL START SHORTLY.
A $4.3 MILLION CONTRACT WAS AWARDED TODAY (TUESDAY) TO YEU SHING CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LIMITED BY THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE CF THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
WORK ON THE CONTRACT WILL COMMENCE THIS MONTH AND TAKE FOUR MONTHS TO COMPLETE, FOLLOWING WHICH A START WILL BE MADE ON BUILDING THE SUPERSTRUCTURE UNDER A SEPARATE CONTRACT.
THE NEW BORDER CONTROL POINT WILL BE BUILT ON A 160 OOO-SQUARE METRE SITE, NEAR THE EXISTING CONTROL POINT, TO COPE WITH INCREASED CROSS-BORDER TRAFFIC AT MAN KAM TO.
IT WILL BE SERVICED BY A NEW ROAD NOW BEING BUILT.
THE CONTROL POINT WILL CONSIST OF A TWO-STOREY MAIN TERMINAL BUILDING FOR POLICE, IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS OFFICERS.
THERE WILL ALSO BE AN ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE HALL AND TWO CARGO EXAMINATION BLOCKS WITH A VEHICLE EXAMINATION PIT.
THE TERMINAL BUILDING WILL OCCUPY A 2 500-SQUARE-METRE SITE.
THE BORDER POINT WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING POINT wHEN IT IS COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER, 1985.
TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 1984
6
FULL WELFARE SERVICES PLEDGED FOR HOUSING ESTATES * * *
THE GOVERNMENT REMAINS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING A FULL RANGE OF SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE YAN CHAI HOSPITAL WING LUNG CHILD CARE CENTRE IN CHOI YUEN ESTATE, SHEUNG SHU I, HE SAID A SOCIAL CENTRE FOR THE ELDERLY WOULD OPEN SHORTLY IN THE ESTATE, IN ADDITION TO A HOSTEL FOR THE ELDERLY AND A CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRE WHICH HAD BEEN IN OPERATION.
+THE YAN CHAI HOSPITAL WING LUNG CHILD CARE CENTRE ADDS ANOTHER IMPORTANT LINK TO THE CHAIN OF WELFARE PROVISIONS FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS,* MR CHAMBERS SAID.
+THE CENTRE WILL PROVIDE NOT ONLY A PLACE WHERE YOUNG CHILDREN ARE PROPERLY LOOKED AFTER WHILE THEIR PARENTS ARE AT WORK, BUT ALSO A CARING AND STIMULATING ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THE CHILDREN CAN GROW AND DEVELOP,* HE ADDED.
THE CENTRE, WITH A CAPACITY FOR 150 CHILDREN. HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY A GRANT OF $498 000 FROM THE LOTTERIES FUND AND A DONATION OF $350 000 FROM THE WU YEE SUN AND WU JIEH YEE CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONS.
THE YAN CHAI HOSPITAL RUNS FIVE CHILD CARE CENTRES IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES IN TSUEN WAN, TUEN MUN AND SHEUNG SHU I, PROVIDING A TOTAL OF 550 DAY CARE PLACES.
THESE CENTRES, MR CHAMBERS POINTED OUT, WERE NOT ONLY AN ESSENTIAL SOCIAL PROVISION FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THESE NEW TOWNS WHERE THE POPULATION INCLUDED A HIGH PROPORTION OF YOUNG CHILDREN, BUT ALSO SIGNIFIED THE READINESS OF THE HOSPITAL TO TAKE ON AN INCREASING ROLE IN THE PROVISION OF WELFARE SERVICES.
-----o------
YOUNG TALENT SOUGHT FOR ANTI-NARCOTICS EFFORT * * * *
YOUNG PEOPLE ARE BEING URGED TO APPLY FOR FINANCIAL HELP IN A SCHEME AIMED AT ENCOURAGING THEM TO DESIGN, PLAN AND IMPLEMENT ANT I-NARCOTICS EDUCATIONAL AND PUBLICITY PROJECTS.
THE 1984-85 +YOUTH AGAINST DRUGS SCHEME* RUN BY THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS IS OPEN TO ALL YOUTHS WHO ARE 15 AND ABOVE, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NARCOTICS DIVISION, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, EXPLAINED TODAY.
+APPLICANTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO FORM GROUPS OF 10 OR MORE MEMBERS, AND ALL MUST BE RECOMMENDED BY THEIR SCHOOLS, YOUTH CENTRES, COMMUNITY CENTRES OR EMPLOYERS,* HE SAID.
/+EACH SUCCUL .•••«••
TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 19&4
- 7 -
+EACH SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION WILL RECEIVE A SUM OF MONEY UP TO A MAXIMUM OF S3 OOO A PROJECT, TO COVER EXPENSES. +
THE SCHEME IS PART OF ACAN’S PREVENTIVE EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY PROGRAMME FOR 1984-85.
+IN PLANNING, ORGANISING AND RUNNING THESE ACTIVITIES, THE PARTICIPANTS WILL BE DEVOTING MUCH EFFORT AND TIME TO LEARN ABOUT THE DRUG ABUSE PROBLEM, AS WELL AS EXERCISING THEIR IMAGINATION AND CREATIVITY TO PROMOTE THE ANTI-NARCOTICS bESSAGE,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE +YOUTH AGAINST DRUGS SCHEME* WAS STARTED IN AUGUST 1981, AND HAS RECEIVED ENTHUSIASTIC RESPONSE.
IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, 36 PROJECTS ORGANISED BY DIFFERENT YOUTH GROUPS WHO WERE SELECTED FROM HUNDREDS OF APPLICATIONS, WERE IMPLEMENTED.
A VARIETY OF ANT I-NARCOTICS PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES
WERE INCLUDED IN THESE PROJECTS, SUCH AS A SEMINAR, EXHIBITIONS, GAMES DAY, TELEMATCH, CAMPING, CONCERT, DRAMA, FILM SHOW, HIKING, MASS JOGGING AND VARIOUS COMPETITIONS.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID, *IN VIEW OF THE GREAT RESPONSE TO THE SCHEME, ACAN HAS DECIDED TO CONTINUE TO RUN IT, AND IS APPEALING TO YOUNG PEOPLE TO JOIN IN THE FIGHT AGAINST NARCOTICS.*
APPLICATION FORMS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM ALL DISTRICT OFFICES, AND ENQUIRIES MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE DRUG EDUCATION-LIAISON CENTRE CF THE NARCOTICS DIVISION AT TEL. NO. 5-295140
-----Q------
SALARIES COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS
* * *
THE GOVERNOR HAS MADE THE FOLLOWING REAPPOINTMENTS TO THE STANDING COMMISSION ON CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE:
* THE HON S.L. CHEN, CBE, JP, FOR ONE YEAR FROM JANUARY 24, 1984;
* MR B.A. PEMBERTON, FOR TWO YEARS FROM JANUARY 24, 1984; AND
* MRS ALICE LAM, FOR TWO YEARS FROM MARCH 10, 1984.
THE GOVERNOR HAS ALSO APPOINTED MISS THERESE CHAN HUNG-CHUN, M? VINCENT KO HON-CHIU AND MR STANLEY G. ELLIOTT TO BE MEMBERS OF THE STANDING COMMISSION FOR TWO YEARS FROM MARCH 1, 1984.
/MISS CHAN .......
TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 1984
- 8 -
MISS CHAN IS THE PRODUCTION DIRECTOR OF THE BRITISH-AMERICAN TOBACCO CO (HK) LIMITED.
MR KO IS A SOLICITOR AND IS AN APPOINTED MEMBER OF THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT BOARD.
MR ELLIOTT IS A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER AND A PARTNER OF SCOTT-WILSON KIRKPATRICK AND PARTNERS.
IT WAS ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT MR GALLANT Y.T. HO, JP RETIRED FROM THE STANDING COMMISSION ON JANUARY 23, AFTER SERVING AS A [MEMBER FOR FIVE YEARS SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN JANUARY 1979.
-----o------
PRINTING MANPOWER SURVEY UNDERWAY
* * *
THE MANPOWER SURVEY OF THE PRINTING INDUSTRY, WHICH BEGAN LAST WEEK, WILL BE COMPLETED BY MARCH 23.
CARRIED OUT BY THE PRINTING INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL, THE SURVEY IS ESSENTIAL FOR FORMULATING MANPOWER TRAINING PLANS FOR THE INDUSTRY, MR ALEX WU, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, SAID.
AS THERE HAVE BEEN RAPID DEVELOPMENTS IN PRINTING TECHNOLOGY IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, IT IS NECESSARY FOR .THE PRINTING INDUSTRY TO UPGRADE ITS WORK FORC.i TO COPE WITH THE CHANGES, HE ADDED.
HE URGED EMPLOYERS TO COOPERATE BY GIVING ACCURATE INFORMATION, AND GAVE ASSURANCE THAT ALL DATA COLLECTED WOULD BE HANDLED IN STRICT CONFIDENCE AND PUBLISHED ONLY IN STATISTICAL SUMMARIES.
THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING DEPARTMENT, CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT AND THE GOVERNMENT DATA PROCESSING AGENCY ARE ALSO HELPING WITH THE SURVEY.
-----0-----
SOUTHERN DISTRICT INDUSTRIALISTS FORM GROUP
* * * *
AN ASSOCIATION FOR INDUSTRIALISTS IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT HAS RECENTLY BEEN SET UP WITH THE HELP OF THE LOCAL DISTRICT OFFICE.
THE OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSOCIATION, AND THE SERVICES IT WILL PROVIDE WILL BE ANNOUNCED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ASSOCIATION’S ORGANISING COMMITTEE, MR DENNIS TING, AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON.
/the district .......
TUESDAY, MAHCB 6, 1?84
- 9 -
THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR K.C. KWONG, WILL ALSO BE PRESENT TO TALK ON THE ROLE OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE IN LIAISING WITH THE ASSOCIATION.
THERE ARE ABOUT 800 FACTORIES IN THE DISTRICT, MOST OF THEM IN WONG CHUK HANG, TIN WAN AND ABERDEEN.
NOTE TO EDITORS*
YOU ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THE PRESS CONFERENCE TO BE HELD AT 2.30 PM IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICE ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF MEI FUNG COURT IN ABERDEEN CENTRE.
- - 0-------
KING’S COLLEGE HOLDING OPEN DAY * * * *
KING’S COLLEGE AT 63A BONHAM ROAD. HONG KONG, WILL HOLD ITS OPEN DAY ON THURSDAY (MARCH 8) AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO VISIT THE SCHOOL BETWEEN 9 AM AND 5 PM
VISITORS WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO SEE AN EXHIBITION OF THE WORK OF STUDENTS, INCLUDING PROJECTS IN SCIENCE, COMPUTER, GEOGRAPHY, HISTORY, ENGLISH, CHINESE, ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO VISIT KING’S COLLEGE AT 63A BONHAM ROAD, +OPEN DAY+ ON THURSDAY ( MARCH 8 ) BETWEEN 9 AM AND 5 PM.
------0-------
\ •
SOUTH BAY MAINS WORK
* * *
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO SOUTH BAY CLOSE AND PREMISES NO. 101-125 ON REPULSE BAY ROAD WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 10 PM ON FRIDAY (MARCH 9) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR MAINS WORK
---0------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, MARCH ?, 1984
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
FINANCE COMMITTEE FUNCTION EXPLAINED ..................... 1
EDUCATION COMMISSION BEING SET UP ........................ 1
INDUSTRIALISTS URGED TO INVEST IN NEW TECHNOLOGY ......... 4
HONG KONG ON SHOW IN BRITAIN ............................. 5
+SMALL INDUSTRIES VITAL TO ECONOMY+ ...................... 6
AIRPORT ADOPTS NEW COMPUTER SYSTEM ....................... 7
DELEGATES DISCUSS URBAN GROWTH AND NATURE ................ 8
NEW INDUSTRIAL GROUP FORMED ............................. 11
SITE OFFERED FOR SHORT-TERM TENANCY ..................... 12
FLOWER SHOW ............................................. 12
PLB PROHIBITION ZONE .................................... 12
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 1984
FINANCE COMMITTEE FUNCTION EXPLAINED ft ft ft ft
IN EXAMINING THE DRAFT ESTIMATES OF THE EXPENDITURE, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MUST SATISFY THEMSELVES THAT THE VOTE PROVISION SOUGHT UNDER EACH HEAD AND SUBHEAD CAN BE PROPERLY JUSTIFIED, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN HIS INTRODUCTORY REMARKS AT THE FIRST PUBLIC MEETING
OF THE COMMITTEE, SIR PHILIP SAIDi
♦THIS EXAMINATION DOES NOT, OF COURSE, PRECLUDE FURTHER QUESTIONS BEING ASKED OR POINTS MADE DURING THE COMMITTEE STAGE OF THE APPROPRIATION BILL.*
THE STANDING ORDERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WERE AMENDED TO PROVIDE FOR THE EXAMINATION TO BE HELD IN PUBLIC, BUT THE RULES GOVERNING THE PROCEEDINGS WILL BE LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM THOSE OF PREVIOUS YEARS, HE SAID.
FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND THE PRESS PRESENT, SIR PHILIP OUTLINED THE RULES AS FOLLOWS:
ft ALL UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL ARE MEMBERS OF FINANCE COMMITTEE AND RECEIVE COPIES OF THE DRAFT ESTIMATES TWO WEEKS BEFORE BUDGET DAY, WITH THE EXAMINATION STARTING A WEEK AFTER THAT DAY.
ft DURING THE THREE INTERVENING WEEKS, MEMBERS FORM THEMSELVES INTO WORKING GROUPS TO STUDY THE EXPENDITURE PROPOSALS FOR THE FORTHCOMING FINANCIAL YEAR AS SET OUT IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES.
ft EACH OF THESE WORKING GROUPS DEVELOPS TWO SETS OF QUESTIONS: FIRST, THOSE FOR WHICH THEY REQUIRE WRITTEN REPLIES FROM THE CONTROLLING OFFICERS OF THE HEADS OR SUBHEADS OF EXPENDITURE TO WHICH THEY RELATE, AND SECOND, THOSE FOR WHICH THEY REQUIRE THE CONTROLLING OFFICERS TO APPEAR BEFORE THEM IN FINANCE COMMITTEE TO GIVE ORAL REPLIES.
------0-------
EDUCATION COMMISSION BEING SET UP ft ft ft ft
FOLLOWING CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF THE LLEWELLYN REPORT, AN EDUCATION COMMISSION IS BEING SET UP TO CO-ORDINATE, CONSOLIDATE AND GIVE ADVICE ON EDUCATION POLICY IN HONG KONG.
THE COMMISSION HAS BEEN GIVEN THE IMMEDIATE TASK OF CONSIDERING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE OTHER MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE PANEL CF VISITORS, ON WHICH SOME PROGRESS HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE, AND TO GIVE THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL ITS VIEWS WITHIN SIX MONTHS.
THEREAFTER, IT WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS REPORTS TO THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL ON DETAILS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMME, PRIORITIES, PHASING AND FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS.
/THE GOVERNOR ....
WEDNESDAY, MAUCH 7, 1984
- 2 -
THE GOVERNOR HAS APPOINTED MR Q.W. LEE AS CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION. MR LEE, FOR MANY YEARS AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND LATER, EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, HAS HAD VAST EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE IN EDUCATION THROUGH INVOLVEMENT IN VARIOUS ASPECTS OF ITS DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG.
HE WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION FROM 1976 TO 1983, MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE TO REVIEW POST-SECONDARY AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION, CHAIRMAN OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OF THE UNIVERSITIES AND POLYTECHNIC COMPUTER CENTRE, AND ARE OF THE TWO ADVISERS TO THE PANEL OF VISITORS. CURRENTLY, HE IS CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, MEMBER OF THE COURT OF THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY, MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL OF THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC AND OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY POLYTECHNIC, AND VICE-CHAIRMAN AND SUPERVISOR OF THE HANG SENG SCHOOL OF COMMERCE.
IN ADDITION TO THE CHAIRMAN, TEN UNOFFICIALS ARE ON THE COMMISSION. THEY ARE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE (MR JUSTICE YANG), THE CHAIRMAN OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL (DR FRANCIS TIEN), THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION (AT PRESENT THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, WHO WILL BE REPLACED BY AN UNOFFICIAL WHEN HIS TERM OF OFFICE EXPIRES ON JUNE 30. INITIALLY THE VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, DR DANIEL LAM, WILL BE INVITED), THREE PERSONS OF HIGH STANDING IN THE COMMUNITY, AND FOUR EDUCATORS.
THESE OTHER APPOINTMENTS BY THE GOVERNOR WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON, AFTER CONSULTATION AND THE COMPLETION OF FORMALITIES.
THREE SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ALSO SIT ON THE COMMISSION. THEY ARE THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, WHO ALSO SERVES AS VICE-CHAIRMAN, THE DEPUTY FINANCIAL SECRETARY, AND THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION.
THE COMMISSION WILL BE SERVICED BY THE EDUCATION AND MANPOWER BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, WHICH WILL BE STRENGTHENED TO IMPROVE ITS CAPABILITIES IN PROVIDING RESEARCH, PLANNING, AND STATISTICAL SUPPORT.
COMMENTING ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMISSION, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT IT WOULD FIT INTO THE NORMAL CONSTITUTIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK AND IT WOULD NOT IN ANY WAY DEROGATE FROM THE STANDING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION, THE UPGC AND VTC, OR THE AUTONOMY OF THE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS.
ITS MEMBERSHIP IS IN LINE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION BY THE PANEL OF VISITORS, WITH THE REINFORCEMENT OF EDUCATORS, WHICH WAS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND ENDORSED BY PUBLIC COMMENTS.
IT IS TO PROVIDE THE GOVERNOR WITH CONSOLIDATED ADVICE ON THE NEEDS OF THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AS A WHOLE, THEIR PRIORITIES, AND THE MOST EQUITABLE AND PRACTICABLE RESPONSES TO THEM.
/THE COMMISSION .......
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 1981*
- 5 -
THE COMMISSION WILL CO-ORDINATE BUT NOT DIRECT THE WORK OF THE THREE MAJOR ADVISORY BODIES ON EDUCATION, HE SAID.
THE FULL TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE COMMISSION AREi
♦THE EDUCATION COMMISSION IS ESTABLISHED TO SUBMIT TO THE GOVERNOR CONSOLIDATED ADVICE ON THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AS A WHOLE IN THE LIGHT OF THE NEED OF THE COMMUNITY. FOR THIS PURPOSE THE COMMISSION WILL HAVE THE FOLLOWING TERMS OF REFERENCE -
(A) TO DEFINE OVERALL EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES, FORMULATE EDUCATION POLICY, AND RECOMMEND PRIORITIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION HAVING REGARD TO THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE;
(B) TO CO-ORDINATE AND MONITOR THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATION AT ALL LEVELS; AND
(C) TO INITIATE EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH.
IN CARRYING OUT THESE TASKS, THE COMMISSION SHOULD CO-ORDINATE BUT NOT SEEK TO DIRECT THE WORK OF THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL.
♦THE COMMISSION WILL BE SERVICED BY THE EDUCATION AND MANPOWER BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT.*
MAJOR ISSUES ARISING FROM RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE PANEL OF VISITORS WILL RECEIVE THE FIRST ATTENTION OF THE COMMISSIONi FUTURE OF THE JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL ASSESSMENT; POLICY ON THE MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION; IMPROVEMENTS TO TEACHER TRAINING; DISTANCE LEARNING; AND FINANCING OF EDUCATION.
MEANWHILE, GOVERNMENT ACTION HAS ALREADY BEEN, OR IS BEING, TAKEN ON SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS. SUCH ACTION INCLUDES THE STEPPING-UP OF IN-SERVICE TRAINING FOR TEACHERS PROVIDED BY THE INSTITUTE OF LANGUAGE IN EDUCATION AND THE ADVISORY INSPECTORATE, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SUBJECT RESOURCE CENTRES.
A WORKING PARTY IS CONSIDERING THE DETAILED ACCOMMODATION AND RESOURCES REQUIREMENTS OF AN INSTITUTE FOR THE TRAINING OF KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS AND CHILD CARE CENTRE WORKERS, AND APPROVAL HAS RECENTLY BEEN GIVEN FOR A SCHEME OF INTENSIVE REMEDIAL TEACHING SERVICES FOR SPECIAL GROUPS.
IN THE FIELD OF CONTINUING EDUCATION, THE NUMBER OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IN RECEIPT OF GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION TO ASSIST THEM IN OPERATING ADULT EDUCATION COURSES HAS INCREASED FROM 28 IN 1982 TO 35 IN 1983 WITH A CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS FROM 47 IN 1982 TO 73 IN 1983. THE UPGC IS EXAMINING THE CASE FOR ESTABLISHING AN OPEN UNIVERSITY TYPE OF INSTITUTION IN HONG KONG. ITS REPORT IS EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE IN APRIL THIS YEAR.
------o - - —
A.......
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 1984
- *+ -
INDUSTRIALISTS URGED TO INVEST IN NEW TECHNOLOGY * * * *
THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR E.P. HO TODAY (WEDNESDAY) CALLED ON INDUSTRIALISTS TO INVEST IN NEW TECHNOLOGY TO RESPOND TO CHANGING MARKETS.
ADDRESSING THE ANNUAL DINNER OF THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES, MR HO RECALLED THAT THOSE WHO HAD PROSPERED IN THE LAST COUPLE OF DECADES WITH HONG KONG’S INDUSTRIALISATION WERE THOSE WITH VISION WHO HAD PLANNED AND INVESTED FOR THE FUTURE.
♦ THE SAME PHILOSOPHY STILL HOLDS GOOD TODAY. THOSE WHO WISH TO SHARE IN OUR FUTURE GROWTH MUST BE PREPARED TO RESPOND TO CHANGING MARKETS AND, IN PARTICULAR, BY INVESTING IN NEW TECHNOLOGY,♦ HE SAID.
THE GOVERNMENT, SAID MR HO, WOULD CONTINUE TO PROVIDE INFRASTRUCTURAL SUPPORT TO INDUSTRY THROUGH DIRECT SERVICES AS WELL AS INDIRECTLY THROUGH THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, THE EXPORT CREDIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE AND THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES.
IN PARTICULAR, HE SAID, THE GOVERNMENT’S STANDARDS AND CALIBRATION LABORATORY WOULD OPEN FOR BUSINESS SHORTLY AND WORK ON LABORATORY ACCREDITATION WAS PROGRESSING STEADILY.
♦ THESE DEVELOPMENTS TOGETHER WITH THE CONSULTANCY AND RESEARCH PROJECTS RECOMMENDED BY THE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT BOARD ARE ALL INTENDED TO ASSIST IN THE PROCESS OF UPGRADING TECHNOLOGY AND QUALITY CONTROL IN HONG KONG’S INDUSTRIES, SO THAT OUR PRODUCTS CAN MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE THEIR SHARE OF INCREASINGLY COMPETITIVE WORLD MARKETS,♦ MR HO SAID.
COMMENTING ON A PROPOSAL BY MR H.C. TANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES, THAT THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT’S FOUR OVERSEAS OFFICES SHOULD GATHER INFORMATION ON THE MARKETS CF THE REGIONS IN WHICH THEY OPERATE AND DRAW UP TREND REPORTS FOR USE IN HONG KONG, MR HO SAID THAT THE SUGGESTION DESERVED EXAMINATION IN DEPTH.
HOWEVER, EACH OF THESE OFFICES HAD A SMALL STAFF, HE SAID, EMPHASISING THAT THE MAIN THRUST OF THEIR WORK MUST CONTINUE TO BE AIMED AT ATTRACTING OVERSEAS INVESTORS TO HONG KONG.
BUT THE INFORMATION THEY GLEANED COULD WELL SUPPLEMENT THE MARKET RESEARCH DONE BY THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, HE ADDED.
♦ I WELCOME THIS AND ANY OTHER SUGGESTION FOR MAKING THESE OFFICES EVER MORE EFFECTIVE IN PROMOTING OUR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND IN MAKING HONG KONG’S SMALL NUMBER OF OVERSEAS POSTS INTO A CO-ORDINATED AND COST EFFECTIVE NETWORK.
♦ I ENTIRELY AGREE WITH YOUR AIM THAT WE SHOULD ALL PULL TOGETHER IN A MORE ORDERLY AND STRUCTURED FASH ION,♦ HE SAID.
-------o---------
/5........
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 1984
- 5 -
HONG KONG ON SHOW IN BRITAIN * * *
THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE WILL LAUNCH ITS LATEST PROMOTION IN BRITAIN NEXT WEEK WHEN THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF FOUR *GALA* EVENTS IN LONDON AND THREE OTHER CITIES WILL BE l€LD.
THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT’S +PROJECT 84+ WILL COINCIDE WITH A STORE-WIDE PROMOTION OF HONG KONG GOODS BY HARRODS AND A FESTIVAL OF HONG KONG FILMS BY THE BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE.
THE EVENTS WILL SHOW THE MANY FACETS OF LIFE IN HONG KONG, ITS ECONOMIC GROWTH, ITS PRODUCTS AND ITS ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE ARTS AND CINEMA.
THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE EVENTS ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE WILL BE A GALA EVENING AT THE GUILDHALL, IN THE CITY OF LONDON, ON MARCH 13.
THE INVITED AUDIENCE OF OVER 800 WILL BE TREATED TO A MULTI-SCREEN AUDIO-VISUAL SPECTACULAR SHOWING HOW HONG KONG HAS DEVELOPED OVER THE PAST THREE DECADES.
WHILE THE AUDIO-VISUAL PRESENTATION WILL EMPHASISE HONG KONG’S ECONOMIC SUCCESSES, IT WILL ALSO ILLUSTRATE THE OTHER ASPECTS OF PRESENT DAY HONG KONG.
THE GUESTS INVITED TO THE GALA EVENING INCLUDE MINISTERS AND MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, LEADERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, CIVIC DIGNITARIES, SENIOR MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES AND OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS.
THEY WILL ALSO BE ENTERTAINED TO A PROGRAMME OF DANCE AND MUSIC BY ARTISTES OF THE HONG KONG DANCE COMPANY AND HONG KONG CHINESE ORCHESTRA, VISITING BRITAIN SPECIALLY FOR THESE ■♦GALA* EVENTS, BY COURTESH OF THE URBAN COUNCIL.
FOLLOWING THE PRESENTATION IN LONDON, SIMILAR GALA EVENINGS WILL BE HELD FOR INVITED AUDIENCES IN CARDIFF, NEW CASTLE AND GLASGOW BETWEEN MARCH 15 AND 22. THE HONG KONG COMMISSIONER AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR VISITS TO THESE CITIES TO DISCUSS WITH BUSINESSMEN THE OPPORTUNITIES AWAITING THEM IN HONG KONG. THEY WILL ALSO BE MEETING CIVIC LEADERS AND MEMBERS OF THE CHINESE COMMUNITY AND THE MEDIA.
IN LONDON, THE BEST OF HONG KONG’S PRODUCTS ARE NOW ON DISPLAY AND ON SALE IN VIRTUALLY EVERY DEPARTMENT OF HARRODS, ONE OF THE LARGEST AND BEST KNOWN STORES IN THE WORLD. *WINDOW ON HONG KONG*, THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS AND AMBITIOUS PROMOTION EVER TO BE STAGED BY HARRODS, WAS ORGANISED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL. THIS IS ONLY THE FOURTH TIME IN 20 YEARS THAT HARRODS HAS MOUNTED A PROMOTION OF SUCH MAGNITUDE AND THE FIRST FEATURING MERCHANDISE FROM A FAR EAST ECONOMY.
/Ninetee;. hong .........
WEDNESDAY, MARCH ?, 1984
6
NINETEEN HONG KONG FILMS WILL Bg^SHOWN AT THE NATIONAL FILM THEATRE IN THE FESTIVAL ORGANISED BY THE BRIT SH FILM INSTITUTE. THE HONG KONG COMMISSIONER, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE, WILL HOST A GALA PREMIERE TOMORROW (MARCH 8) WHEN AN AWARD-WINNING RADIO TELEVISION PRODUCTION, ♦THE YOUNG CONCUBINE+, WILL BE GIVEN ITS FIRST SCREENING IN
IN ADDITION TO THE VARIOUS FUNCTIONS, SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS ON HONG KONG WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE NEWSPAPERS CF THE CITIES TO BE VISITED AS PART OF ♦PROJECT 84+.
♦SMALL INDUSTRIES VITAL TO ECONOMY+ * * * *
THE VITAL ROLE OF SMALL SCALE INDUSTRIES IN THE ECONOMY OF HONG KONG WAS STRESSED TODAY BY THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT
ADMINISTRATION, MR
DAVID AKERS-JONES
♦THEY SUPPORT OUR EXPORT MARKETS THOUSAND WORKERS,♦
OTHER INDUSTRIES, THEY SUPPLY GOODS DIRECT TO AND THEY PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT TO MANY HUNDRED HE SAID.
HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE END OF A SEMINAR ON +INCREASING PROFITS THROUGH BETTER MANAGEMENT, PRODUCTION AND MARKETING* FELD IN TSUEN WAN.
THE SEMINAR WAS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND ORGANISED JOINTLY BY THE HONG KONG TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE AND THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BOARD.
MR AKERS-JONES SAID IT WAS OF PARTICULAR SIGNIFICANCE THAT THE SEMINAR WAS HELD IN TSUEN WAN BECAUSE IT IS THE OLDEST INDUSTRIAL NEW TOWN IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND IS ONE OF THE
MOST IMPORTANT INDUSTRIAL CENTRES IN
HONG KONG.
+1 AM ENCOURAGED AN ACTIVE INTEREST IN INDIRECTLY AFFECT THE DISTRICT,+ HE SAID.
THAT TSUEN WAN THIS IMPORTANT
WELL-BEING
DISTRICT BOARD HAS TAKEN AREA WHICH DIRECTLY AND
OF ALL RESIDENTS IN THE
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♦THE THREE SPEAKERS AT THIS TO HELP SMALL INDUSTRIES IMPROVE
SEMINAR HAVE EXAMINED WAYS THEIR PROFITABILITY THROUGH
BETTER FACTORY MANAGEMENT, PRODUCTION METHODS AND MARKETING TECHNIQUE.
♦THE METHODS THEY SUGGESTED MAY NOT BE THE ANSWER TO ALL THE PROBLEMS FACED BY SUCH FACTORIES IN HONG KONG, BUT THEY PROVIDE A POINTER FOR ALL WHO ARE HERE TODAY, AND PROMPT YOU TO TAKE ANOTHER CRITICAL LOOK AT YOUR OWN FACTORY ESTABLISHMENT TO SEE WHAT IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE MADE,* HE TOLD PARTICIPANTS AT THE SEMINAR.
/HE ALSO
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 1984
7
HE ALSO URGED FACTORY OWNERS TO USE THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE AND TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BOARD WHICH +ARE MOST WILLING TO HELP IN WHATEVER WAY THEY CAN.*
THE DISTRICT OFFICER FOR KWAI CHUNG AND TSI NG Yl, MR TAM WING-PONG, ONE OF THE THREE SPEAKERS AT THE SEMINAR, SAID THAT
FACTORY SAFETY, FACTORY
OWNERS AND MANAGERS SHOULD LOOK INTO SUCH PROBLEMS AS POLLUTION, FACILITIES FOR EMPLOYEES, AND GET BETTER MANAGEMENT.
HE
FELT THAT THE PROPER HANDLING OF THESE PROBLEMS WOULD
RESULT IN HIGHER PRODUCTIVITY, BETTER MORALE AMONG WORKERS AND BETTER PROFITS.
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AIRPORT ADOPTS NEW COMPUTER SYSTEM * * * *
THE NEW COMPUTERISED AUTOMATIC MESSAGE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (AMDS) AT THE AEROFIXED CENTRE AT HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WAS INAUGURATED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY MR TREVOR THORPE, DIRECTOR CF CIVIL AVIATION.
IN A BRIEF CEREMONY, MR THORPE PRESSED A BUTTON, AUTOMATICALLY SENDING OUT A PREPARED MESSAGE ON THE SYSTEM’S AEROFIXED TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK TO AVIATION CHIEFS IN NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES TO SIGNIFY THE INAUGURATION.
THE AEROFIXED CENTRE HANDLES TELEGRAPHIC MESSAGES PRIMARILY CONCERNING FLIGHT SAFETY, METEOROLOGY AND OTHER ASPECTS ESSENTIAL FOR AIR OPERATION.
THE COMPUTERISED AMDS WITH ITS $1O-MILLION HARDWARE HANDLES THESE MESSAGES EFFICIENTLY, REPLACING A 2O-YEAR-OLD SYSTEM WHICH EMPLOYED MAINLY ELECTROMECHANICAL SWITCHING DEVICES AND STORAGE ELEMENTS IN THE FORM OF FERRITE CORES.
THE NEW EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN PUT ON TESTING SINCE LAST NOVEMBER.
SPEAKING AT THE CEREMONY, MR THORPE SAID THE FUNCTION OF THE AEROFIXED CENTRE WAS TO SUPPORT AIR OPERATIONS TO ENSURE SAFE AND FAST AIR TRAVEL.
+TO MEET THIS PURPOSE, THE COMPUTERISED AMDS INCORPORATES A NUMBER OF SPECIAL FEATURES WHICH REPRESENT SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS OVER THE OLD SYSTEM WHICH IS BECOMING OBSOLETl WITH TIME,+ HE SAID.
ATHEY INCLUDE
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 1984
/- 8 -
♦THEY INCLUDE A NUMBER OF AUTOMATIC FUNCTIONS WHICH DETECT NESSAGE ERRORS AND GENERATE SERVICES MESSAGES; RETRIEVE MESSAGES FOR REPETITION; TRANSFER MESSAGES TO TAPES IN THE EVENT OF TRAFFIC OVERFLOW ON A HEAVILY LOADED ROUTE; AND AT A LATER STAGE COMPILE AND DISTRIBUTE OPERATIONAL METEOROLOGICAL (OPMET) BULLETINS AS WELL AS FLIGHT PLANS AND DEPARTURE MESSAGES,+ MR THORPE SAID.
WITH A THROUGHPUT CAPACITY OF 3 600 MESSAGES PER HOUR OR ABOUT 54 000 MESSAGES PER DAY, THE NEW AMDS SHOULD HAVE A PLANNED OPERATIONAL LIFE OF 15 YEARS.
THE AEROFIXED CENTRE IS CURRENTLY HANDLING ABOUT 15 000 MESSAGES A DAY.
PHASE II OF THE INSTALLATION PROGRAMME WHICH ENABLES THE DISPATCHING OF OPMET BULLETINS ON AN AUTOMATIC BASIS WILL BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.
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DELEGATES DISCUSS URBAN GROWTH AND NATURE ft ft ft ft ft
THE DICHOTOMY BETWEEN THE NEED FOR DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS MUST BE RECONCILED, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, W NICKY CHAN, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MR CHAN WAS MAKING THE OPENING ADDRESS AT THE THIRD EASTERN REGIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS, ENTITLED *URBAN EXPLOSION IN ASIA,+ AT THE SHERATON HOTEL.
HE SAID HIS STAFF AND HE SHARED THE FEDERATION’S BELIEF THAT RAPID EXPANSION OF POPULATION AND OF BUILT-UP AREAS COULD BE ACHIEVED WITHOUT DEBASING THE QUALITY OF THE ENVIRONMENT, AND THAT EXPANSION COULD OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY TO BLEND TOGETHER THE WORKS OF NATURE AND MAN TO ENRICH OUR SURROUNDINGS.
+IT IS OFTEN THE CASE, HOWEVER, THAT THE GOOD INTENTIONS OF GOVERNMENTS TO PROVIDE THEIR PEOPLE WITH ADEQUATE LIVING CONDITIONS ARE FRUSTRATED BY THE WELL-INTENTIONED ENVIRONMENTALIST, WHO BELIEVES THAT ANY DEVELOPMENT MUST BE ACHIEVED WITHOUT DISTURBING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT,* MR CHAN SAID.
♦IN MY OPINION, SUCH A VIEWPOINT IS UNREALISTIC AND THE DICHOTOMY BETWEEN THE NEED FOR DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS MUST BE RECONCILED IF THE PROVERTY AND SQUALOR OF URBAN SLUMS, SHANTY TOWNS AND SQUATTER AREAS SO PREVALENT IN THE CITIES OF MOST DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ARE TO BE ERADICATED WITHIN A REASONABLE time-scale.
/♦I FIliMLY ..........
i/E.'ls’ESDAY, MARCH 7, 1984
- 9 -
♦I firmly believe that some change to the natural environment is both unavoidable and justifiable when considered against the MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEM.+
HE SAID HONG KONG WAS ACHIEVING A HIGH STANDARD OF REGARD FOR THE NATURAL AND BUILT ENVIRONMENTS. DUE CONSIDERATION WAS GIVEN TO THIS IN PLANNING, AND THERE HAD BEEN AN OVERALL BETTERMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
MR CHAN SAID, GOVERNMENT EMPLOYED EXTENSIVE IN-HOUSE TEAMS OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS, ARCHITECTS, TOWN PLANNERS, SURVEYORS AND, MORE RECENTLY, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS.
ADDITIONALLY. GOVERNMENT MADE CONSIDERABLE USE OF HONG KONGBASED CONSULTANT FIRMS OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS, LANDSCAPE PLANNER'S AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGNERS WITH LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE OR SPECIALIST EXPERTISE FOR SPECIFIC PROJECTS.
THE CHALLENGE IMPOSED BY URBAN EXPLOSION IN ASIA WAS GREAT AND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE LANDSCAPE PROFESSION IN THIS CONTEXT WAS CONSIDERABLE.
MR CHAN SAID THE THEME CHOSEN FOR THE CONFERENCE RAISED FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES RELATING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NATURAL AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT.
IT WAS ALSO HIGHLY TOPICAL, COMING AT A TIME WHEN THE REGION HAD BECOME A WORLD FOCUS OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT.
♦THE PRESSURE FOR CHANGE IS INDEED INTENSE AND ACCOMMODATING THIS PRESENTS FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS - AND OPPORTUNITIES - FOR THE POLITICIANS, ADMINISTRATORS AND PROFESSIONS CHARGED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR DECISION MAKING, ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT IN ALL ITS FORMS,♦ HE SAID.
MR CHAN SAID REPRESENTATION AT THE CONFERENCE INCORPORATED A WIDE RANGE OF SOCIAL, CULTURAL, POLITICAL AND PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUNDS BROUGHT TOGETHER BY A DEEPLY-FELT CONCERN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
THIS PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO CROSS-FERTILISE EXPERIENCE AND IDEAS.
IT ALSO PROVIDED A MEANS OF IMPROVING UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHALLENGE TO THE ENVIRONMENT IMPLIED BY URBAN EXPLOSION IN ASIA.
MR CHAN SAID THE HONG KONG EXPERIENCE WOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF PARTICULAR ATTENTION.
♦W€ ARE, I HOPE, JUSTIFIABLY PROUD OF OUR SUCCESSES.
♦BUT HONG KONG WAS ALSO AWARE OF THE NEED TO FIND EVEN BETTER WAYS OF SATISFYING THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ASPIRATIONS OF THE PEOPLE WHICH WOULD AT THE SAME TIME RESULT IN THE BEST OVERALL ENHANCEMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
AI HAVE ........
WEDNESDAY, HARCH 7, 19&*
10 -
+| HAVE NO DOUBT AT ALL THAT THOSE PRACTISING HERE IN HONG KONG VALUE AND WILL WELCOME CRITICAL COMMENT AND NEW IDEAS EMANATING FROM EXPERIENCE ELSEWHERE.
♦AT THE SAME TIME I AM SURE THAT WE HAVE VERY MUCH TO OFFER FROM OUR PARTICULAR PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE HERE WHICH CAN CONTRIBUTE TO AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROBLEMS.+
MR CHAN SAID HE SPOKE WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND INTEREST OF ONE DEEPLY INVOLVED IN BOTH THE MAJOR ISSUES AND PRACTICAL PROBLEMS FACED BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT LANDS AND WORKS BRANCH, WHICH WAS CENTRALLY CONCERNED WITH THE FUTURE OF THE BUILT AND NATURAL ENV IRONMENT.
HE SAID URBAN EXPLOSION IN HONG KONG HAD BEEN BASED PARTICULARLY UPON 1
MASSIVE POPULATION GROWTH IN THE PAST TWO DECADES, LARGELY THE RESULT OF IMMIGRATION; AND
TRADE AND RAPID ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, FOUNDED UPON THOSE WHO LIVED AND WORKED HERE, OUR GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION, OUR HISTORY AND OUR POL ITICAL/ECONOMIC PHILOSOPHY.
THE INITIALLY - AND IMMENSE - PROBLEM WAS TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT HOUSING FOR THOSE WANTING TO LIVE HERE, TOGETHER WITH THE SUPPORTING INFRASTRUCTURE! ROADS, PUBLIC TRANSPORT, SCHOOLS, BASIC RECREATION AND OTHER FACILITIES.
THE GOVERNMENT’S CONCERN WITH THE ENVIRONMENT BEING CREATED THROUGH THIS PROCESS WAS EXPRESSED AT A RELATIVELY EARLY STAGE AND, IN THE NEW TOWNS, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS WERE SOON TO BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE PLANNING PROCESS INVOLVED, HE SAID.
IN THE URBAN AREAS, CONCERN WITH THE ENVIRONMENT BEING EVOLVED AROSE AT A LATER STAGE- MUCH REMAINED TO BE IMPROVED AND MUCH WOULD NEED ATTENTION.
HE SAID THAT CERTAIN LONGER TERM EFFECTS OF THE SPEED AND SCALE OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT UPON THE ENVIRONMENT WERE ONLY NOW BEING FULLY RECOGNISED, AND HE MENTIONED AS EXAMPLES THE RAPID DECLINE OF DOMESTIC AGRICULTURE, THE INTENSIVE USE OF THE MORE ACCESSIBLE COUNTRY PARKS AND THE LACK OF VARIETY AND STIMULUS IN MUCH OF THE ’STREETSCAPE’.
THESE WERE ALL MATTERS TO WHICH THE GOVERNMENT WAS GIVING CAREFUL ATTENTION, HE SAID.
THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS WAS ESTABLISHED AT CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND IN 19^8 AND ITS MEMBERSHIP NOW INCLUDES OVER 35 NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS.
DELEGATES FROM EIGHT COUNTRIES ARE ATTENDING THE MEETING, WHICH WILL LAST UNTIL SATURDAY.
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 1984
11
NEW INDUSTRIAL GROUP FORMED * * * *
THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT INDUSTRIALISTS ASSOCIATION, FORMED TODAY. WOULD REFLECT THE VIEWS AND NEEDS OF THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR TO THE DISTRICT BOARD AND GOVERNMENT, ITS ORGANISING COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, MR DENNIS TING SAID.
SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE, MR TING SAID THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSOCIATION, APART FROM PROMOTING INDUSTRY, WAS TO PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF FACTORY OPERATORS AND THEIR WORKERS.
♦THE ASSOCIATION WILL ALSO CONDUCT RESEARCH, TOGETHER WITH FACTORY OPERATORS, INTO PROBLEMS OF INDUSTRIES AND THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR FOR POSSIBLE IMPROVEMENT MEASURES,♦ HE SAID.
SERVICES BEING PLANNED BY THE ASSOCIATION, WHICH WAS FORMED WITH THE HELP OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICE, WOULD INCLUDE THE PROVISION OF A CENTRALISED FACILITY TO ENABLE MEMBER FACTORIES TO DISPOSE OF INDUSTRIAL WASTE MORE EFFICIENTLY, MR TING SAID.
MR TING SAID THAT THERE HAD BEEN ENCOURAGING INITIAL RESPONSE TO THE MEMBERSHIP RECRUITMENT DRIVE, AND THAT HE EXPECTED THE ASSOCIATION WOULD SOON HAVE 100 MEMBERS.
ALSO SPEAKING AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY, DISTRICT OFFICER. MR K.C. KWONG, SAID THAT THE ASSOCIATION WOULD PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL EFFECTIVE CHANNEL FOR THE DISTRICT BOARD AND THE GOVERNMENT TO COMMUNICATE WITH INDUSTRIALISTS IN THE DISTRICT.
♦IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE A FORUM FOR THE INDUSTRIALISTS TO DISCUSS ISSUES OR PROBLEMS OF COMMON INTEREST, AND A CHANCE TO POOL TOGETHER THEIR EFFORTS TO SOLVE SUCH PROBLEMS,* MR KWONG SAID.
OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION WILL BE INAUGURATED AT A CEREMONY AT 7.30 PM ON FRIDAY (MARCH 9) AT THE BLUE OCEAN RESTAURANT ON SHAM WAN ROAD.
THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM, AND THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, DR JAMES HAYES, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE CEREMONY.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY ON FRIDAY (MARCH 9).
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/12........
■WETTWE^UflTY, MAK UH f, 1^04
- 12 -
SITE OFFERED FOR SHORT-TERM TENANCY M * M *
A 5 200-SQUARE-METRE SITE AT THE JUNCTION OF LOK SIN ROAD AND CARPENTER ROAD, KOWLOON, IS BEING OFFERED ON A SHORT-TERM TENANCY BY THE LANDS DEPARTMENT.
IT IS FOR USE AS A FEE-PAYING CAR PARK FOR PRIVATE MOTOR VEHICLES AND GOODS VEHICLES.
THE INITIAL TENANCY IS FOR THREE YEARS, WHICH CAN BE RENEWED FOR THREE-MONTHLY PERIODS AFTERWARDS.
THE CLOSING DATE FOR THE TENDERS IS MARCH 23.
TENDER FORMS, NOTICES AND CONDITIONS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE LANDS DEPARTMENT, MURRAY BUILDING, 5TH FLOOR, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG; AND THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, KOWLOON EAST, YAU MA TEI CAR PARK BUILDING, LOTH FLOOR, 250 SHANGHAI STREET, KOWLOON.
THE TENDER PLAN MAY ALSO BE INSPECTED AT BOTH LOCATIONS.
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NOTE TO EDITORSi
FLOWER SHOW M * *
MORE THAN 80 SPECIES OF FLOWERS WILL BE ON DISPLAY AT THE EIGHTH ANNUAL NORTH DISTRICT FLOWER SHOW TO BE HELD IN FANLING PLAYGROUND BETWEEN MARCH 10 AND 13.
LADY YOUDE, WIFE OF THE GOVERNOR, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING AT 11.30 AM ON SATURDAY (MARCH 10).
YOU ARE WELCOME TO COVER THE CEREMONY. A GOVERNMENT VAN WILL LEAVE KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER FOR FANLING AT 10.15 AM.
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PLB PROHIBITION ZONE K K * M
FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (MARCH 9), ALL PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES EXCEPT THOSE AUTHORISED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT, WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM USING THE SECTION OF TSUEN WAN MARKET STREET BETWEEN KWAI MUN HAU STREET AND YAN CHAI STREET.
- - 0
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 198^
PAGE NO
CONTENTS
INEQUITIES IN LAW FOR WOMEN TO BE STUDIED
EASTERN HOSPITAL TO START SOON
SITE FORMATION FOR
INDEX RISES
RETAIL SALES VALUE
DISCUSS LOCAL ADMINISTRATION
DISTRICT BOARDS TO
WORKS SIGNED
CONTRACT ON WATER TREATMENT
DRIEST FOUR-MONTH PERIOD ON
RECORD
OLD FOLK
ENTERTAINMENT ORGANISED FOR
COURSES OFFERED ON USE OF AUDIO-VISUAL EQUIPMENT
SLIP ROAD CLOSURE EXTENDED
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
STUDENTS’ POTTED PLANTS ON SHOW
PATIENTS’ PREFERENCE A FACTOR IN HOSPITAL OCCUPANCY: THONG
THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 1984
1
INEQUITIES IN LAW FOR WOMEN TO BE STUDIED * * * *
A FEW SPECIFIC AREAS IN THE LAW CONCERNING WOMEN NEEDED TO BE LOOKED AT, EVEN THOUGH THE GLARING INEQUITIES OF THE PAST HAVE BEEN LARGELY ELIMINATED, THE ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL, ffi GERALD NAZARETH, SAID TODAY.
THESE AREAS INCLUDED THE PROBLEM OF BATTERED WOMEN, ♦AFFILIATION PROCEEDINGS,* WHICH ARE THE LEGAL ACTION WHICH AN UNMARRIED WOMAN EXPECTING A CHILD CAN TAKE AGAINST THE FATHER, AND THE LAW OF DIVORCE, MR NAZARETH SAID.
SPEAKING TO THE ZONTA CLUB OF KOWLOON THIS AFTERNOON, W NAZARETH SAID ALSO THAT THE LAW HAD TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND THERE WERE OTHER RESPECTS IN WHICH THE LAWS RELATING TO WOMEN HAD TO BE REFINED.
ON THE QUESTION OF BATTERED WOMEN, HE SAID THAT THE REMEDIES WERE TWO-FOLD — SELF HELP, AND REMEDIES PROVIDED BY LAW.
SELF HELP, HE SAID, DID NOT SEEM TO BE PARTICULARLY EFFECTIVE.
AS FOR THE LAW, THE FIRST OF THE REMEDIES AVAILABLE WAS TO MAKE A COMPLAINT TO THE POLICE WITH A VIEW TO THEIR TAKING CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE HUSBAND.
♦THE DIFFICULTY HERE IS THAT THE POLICE LIKE THE REST OF US ARE LIKELY TO BE DISINCLINED TO INTERVENE IN WHAT ALL OF US ARE APT TO SEE AS A DOMESTIC DISPUTE. AND IF THEY DO NOT INTERVENE AND PROSECUTE, THE ALTERNATIVE WOULD HAVE TO BE A PRIVATE PROSECUTION OR A CIVIL SUIT FOR ASSAULT.
♦THIS IS NOT A PARTICULARLY EASY COURSE FOR A WIFE TO RESORT TO. IT IS LIKELY TO PROVE EXPENSIVE AND PROTRACTED AND THE RESULT SHORT-LIVED.
♦AFTER PAYING HIS FINE OR DAMAGES OR PERHAPS EVEN SERVING A SHORT TERM OF IMPRISONMENT, THE HUSBAND WOULD BE FREE TO GO BACK AND RESUME WHERE HE HAD LEFT OFF,+ MR NAZARETH SAID.
A COURT INJUNCTION, COULD ALSO BE SOUGHT, REQUIRING THE HUSBAND UNDER PAIN OF IMPRISONMENT TO STOP BATTERING HIS WIFE. BUT THE DRAWBACK WAS THAT AN INJUNCTION COULD ONLY BE APPLIED FOR IF THE WIFE HAD FIRST COMMENCED LEGAL PROCEEDINGS FOR DIVORCE OR SEPARATION.
♦AND WHAT MOST WIVES WANT IS NOT ANYTHING THAT DRASTIC BUT ONLY AN END TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,♦ HE SAID.
IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, HE SAID THE COMBINED EFFECT OF THE MATRIMONIAL HOMES ACT 1967 AND OF THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND MATRIMONIAL PROCEEDINGS ACT 1976 HAD BEEN TO ENABLE WIFE TO APPLY TO A COURTi
M FIRST TO ENABLE HER TO OCCUPY THE MATRIMONIAL HOME REGARDLESS OF WHETHER SHE HAS ANY LEGAL TITLE OR SHARE TO IT.
/X SECOND TO .......
THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 198k
2
M SECOND TO EXCLUDE THE OFFENDING HUSBAND FROM THE MATRIMONIAL HOME REGARDLESS OF WHETHER HE OWNS IT AND,
M THIRD TO RESTRAIN THE OFFENDING HUSBAND FROM MOLESTING HER OR THE CHILDREN OF THE FAMILY EVEN IF THERE ARE NO MATRIMONIAL PROCEEDINGS PENDING.
THESE EFFECTIVE REMEDIES TENDED TO PROVIDE A LONG TERM SOLUTION, BUT WERE NOT YET APPLICABLE TO HONG KONG.
♦ I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT IT IS TIME THAT WE GAVE SERIOUS CONSIDERATION TO ADOPTING THEM.
♦ IN FACT, THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT HAS ALREADY GIVEN CONSIDERATION TO THIS AND EXAMINED THE IMPLICATIONS.
♦ THE MATTER NOW HAS TO BE CONSIDERED BY THE OTHER BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT CONCERNED,♦ MR NAZARETH SAID.
♦ AFFILIATION PROCEEDINGS*, MR NAZARETH SAID WAS GIVEN TO THE LEGAL ACTION THAT AN UNMARRIED WOMAN WHO HAS OR IS EXPECTING A CHILD COULD TAKE AGAINST THE FATHER.
♦ THE OBJECT IS TO GET THE COURT TO DECLARE HIM TO BE THE FATHER AND TO ORDER HIM TO PAY FOR THE CHILD’S MAINTENANCE.
♦ OUR LEGISLATION PROVIDES THAT THE MAXIMUM THAT THE FATHER CAN BE ORDERED TO PAY IS $500 PER WEEK. THIS CAN BE ENTIRELY INADEQUATE WHERE THE PARTIES COME FROM A REASONABLY WELL-OFF BACKGROUND OR WHERE THE CARE THE CHILD NEEDS PREVENTS THE MOTHER FROM WORK I NG,+ HE SAID.
IN A RECENT HIGH COURT CASE, HE SAID, THE JUDGE CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT A WEALTHY FATHER WAS DELIBERATELY RESTRICTING HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO HIS CHILD’S MOTHER, WITH WHOM HE HAD FALLEN OUT, TO OBTAIN CUSTODY OF THE CHILD. THE JUDGE FELT HE WAS NOT ABLE TO AWARD AN AMOUNT OF MAINTENANCE THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN JUST AND THAT THE FATHER COULD WELL AFFORD, BECAUSE OF THE $500 LIMIT.
♦THAT LIMIT NEEDS. IN MY VIEW, TO BE REMOVED AND WE HAVE ALREADY EMBARKED UPON THE PROCESS OF REPLACING IT WITH A PROVISION THAT WOULD ENABLE THE COURTS TO AWARD SUCH AMOUNTS AS WOULD BE REASONABLE HAVING REGARD TO THE MEANS OF THE PARENT,* W NAZARETH SAID.
WITH REGARD TO THE LAW OF DIVORCE. DEVELOPMENT RELATED TO THE RESTRICTION CONTAINED IN THE MATRIMONIAL CAUSES ORDINANCE ON PETITIONS FOR DIVORCE BEING PRESENTED IN THE FIRST THREE YEARS OF MARRIAGE.
FOLLOWING THE UNITED KINGDOM PRECEDENT FROM WHICH IT WAS DERIVED, IT ONLY ALLOWED A PETITION TO BE PRESENTED DURING THIS PERIOD IN THE CASE OF EXCEPTIONAL HARDSHIP OR EXCEPTIONAL DEPRAVITY ON THE PART OF THE OTHER PARTNER, HE SAID.
/THE ENGLISH .......
THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 1$84
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THE ENGLISH LAW COMMISSION, HE SAID, HAD RECENTLY QUESTIONED WHETHER THE RESTRICTION IN ITS PRESENT FORM SERVED ANY USEFUL SOCIAL PURPOSE.
♦IT CONCLUDED THAT A RESTRICTION ON PETITIONS FOR DIVORCE IN THE EARLY YEARS OF MARRIAGE SHOULD BE RETAINED, AND WENT ON TO RECOMMEND THAT THE PRESENT RESTRICTION SHOULD BE REPLACED BY AN ABSOLUTE BAR ON PETITIONS FOR ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE OF MARRIAGE.
♦THIS IS ANOTHER MATTER THAT PERHAPS WE OUGHT TO LOOK AT HERE, AND CONSIDERATION IS BEING GIVEN AS TO WHETHER IT IS AN APPROPRIATE MATTER FOR THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION TO EXAMINE,* F£ SAID.
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PATIENTS’ PREFERENCE A FACTOR IN HOSPITAL OCCUPANCYi THONG * X X *
PATIENTS’ PREFERENCE FOR CERTAIN HOSPITALS WAS ONE OF THE MAIN FACTORS AFFECTING OCCUPANCY RATES IN SOME SUBVENTED HOSPITALS, THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR K.L. THONG, SAID TODAY.
ANOTHER FACTOR WAS THE NATURE OF THE SERVICES BEING PROVIDED, OWING TO THE CHANGING PATTERN OF DISEASES, HE EXPLAINED.
DR THONG WAS REPLYING, IN WRITING, TO A QUESTION AT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING TODAY, CONCERNING THE FACTORS PREVENTING SUBVENTED HOSPITALS, SUCH AS THE HONG KONG BUDDHIST HOSPITAL, THE ALICE HO MUI LING NETHERSOLE HOSPITAL AND THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS, FROM IMPROVING THEIR BED OCCUPANCY RATE, SO THAT THE PRESSURE ON GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS COULD BE RELIEVED.
DR THONG SAID, HOWEVER, THAT MEASURES WERE BEING TAKEN IN SOME CASES TO REDISTRIBUTE THOSE BEDS WHICH HAVE A LOW OCCUPANCY RATE TO SPECIALTIES WHICH HAVE A HIGHER DEMAND, SUCH AS IN THE HONG KONG BUDDHIST HOSPITAL AND THE KWONG WAH HOSPITAL.
ANOTHER MEASURE, HE SAID, WAS TO CHANGE THE USE OF CERTAIN WARDS TO OTHER USES, SUCH AS IN THE DUCHESS OF KENT CHILDREN’S ORTHOPAEDIC HOSPITAL.
DR THONG ALSO EXPLAINED THAT IN GENERAL, SUBVENTED HOSPITALS, ASIDE FROM THE UNITED CHRISTIAN HOSPITAL, THE CARITAS MEDICAL CENTRE AND THE KWONG WAH HOSPITAL, ARE DISTRICT HOSPITALS WHICH ARE NOT DESIGNED TO DEAL WITH VERY ACUTE CASES REQUIRING SOPHISTICATED FACILITIES FOUND IN GOVERNMENT REGIONAL HOSPITALS.
♦ THUS,* HE SAID + AMONG THE SUBVENTED HOSPITALS THEMSELVES, THE OCCUPANCY RATES DIFFER.
♦ IN THE THREE SUBVENTED HOSPITALS WHICH I HAVE JUST MENTIONED, THE OCCUPANCY RATES RANGE FROM 75 PER CENT TO 90 PER CENT, WHICH ARE CONSIDERED TO BE QUITE SATISFACTORY.♦
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A.......
THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 1984
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SITE FORMATION FOR EASTERN HOSPITAL TO START SOON * * *
ALL SITE TESTS AND INVESTIGATIONS FOR THE EASTERN HOSPITAL HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND SITE FORMATION SHOULD BE ABLE TO START IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR.
THIS WAS SAID BY THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR K.L. THONG, AT TODAY’S SPECIAL PUBLIC EXAMINATION OF THE DRAFT ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR 1984-85.
PILING AND CONSTRUCTION WILL THEN BE ABLE TO GET UNDEFT WAY IN THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR, HE ADDED.
ANSWERING A QUESTION ON THE PROGRESS OF THE HOSPITAL, DR THONG SAID THE PROJECT WAS FIRST INCLUDED IN THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME IN 1981 AND UPGRADED TO CATEGORY B IN APRIL THE NEXT YEAR.
IN AUGUST OF 1983 IT WAS FURTHER UPGRADED TO CATEGORY AB.
THREE MONTHS LATER THE PUBLIC WORKS PRIORITY COMMITTEE ACCEPTED THAT THE SITE FORMATION PART OF THE PROJECT SHOULD BE UPGRADED TO CATEGORY A LATER THIS YEAR TO ENABLE WORK TO START.
♦ THE FINAL DECISION FOR THIS UPGRADING RESTS, OF COURSE, WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS SUB-COMMITTEE OF THIS (FINANCE) COMMITTEE, DR THONG EXPLAINED.
--------------0---------------i-
RETAIL SALES VALUE INDEX RISES MM*
THE VALUE OF RETAIL SALES FOR THE RETAIL TRADE SECTOR IN DECEMBER 1983 WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 15 402 MILLION, ACCORDING TO THE PROVISIONAL SURVEY RESULTS.
AT 159, THE OVERALL RETAIL SALES VALUE INDEX INCREASED BY ID POINTS OR 7 PER CENT OVER NOVEMBER 1983, AND BY 19 POINTS OR 14 PER CENT OVER DECEMBER 1982.
THE OVERALL RETAIL SALES VOLUME INDEX, AT 113, WAS 7 POINTS OR 7 PER CENT UP ON NOVEMBER 1983, AND 1 POINT OR 1 PER CENT UP ON DECEMBER 1982.
COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1983, RETAIL SALES OF CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND ALLIED PRODUCTS ROSE BY 11 PER CENT AND THOSE OF FUELS BY 3 PER CENT IN BOTH VALUE AND VOLUME TERMS. RETAIL SALES OF FOODSTUFFS, ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO INCREASED BY 9 PER CENT IN VALUE TERMS, THOSE OF CONSUMER DURABLES BY 7 PER CENT, AND THOSE OF OTHER CONSUMER GOODS BY 5 PER CENT. THEIR CORRESPONDING INCREASES IN VOLUME TERMS WERE 10 PER CENT, 6 PER CENT AND 4 PER CENT.
/COMPARED WITH .......
thubsday, march 8, 1984
- 5 -
COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1982, RETAIL SALES OF CONSUMER DURABLES ROSE BY 19 PER CENT IN VALUE TERMS, THOSE OF FUELS BY 17 PER CENT, THOSE OF FOODSTUFFS, ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO BY 14 PER CENT, THOSE OF OTHER CONSUMER GOODS BY 12 PER CENT, AND THOSE OF CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND ALLIED PRODUCTS BY 9 PER CENT. IN VOLUME TERMS, SALES INCREASED BY 3 PER CENT FOR CONSUMER DURABLES, 2 PER CENT FOR FOODSTUFFS, ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO, 2 PER CENT FOR FUELS AND 1 PER CENT FOR OTHER CONSUMER GOODS. BUT SALES OF CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND ALLIED PRODUCTS IN VOLUME TERMS DROPPED BY 2 PER CENT.
ANALYSED BY SELECTED TRADES, RETAIL SALES AT DEPARTMENT STORES AND SUPERMARKETS AND OF MOTOR VEHICLES INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY IN BOTH VALUE AND VOLUME TERMS WHEN COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1983. WHEN COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1982, RETAIL SALES AT SUPERMARKETS INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY IN VALUE TERMS BUT TO A LESSER EXTENT IN VOLUME TERMS. DEPARTMENT STORES SHOWED AN INCREASE IN SALES VALUE BUT A MARGINAL DECLINE IN SALES VOLUME. RETAIL SALES OF MOTOR VEHICLES INCREASED IN VALUE TERMS BUT DECREASED MODERATELY IN VOLUME TERMS.
TABLE 1 PRESENTS THE REVISED FIGURES FOR NOVEMBER 1983 AND THE PROVISIONAL FIGURES FOR DECEMBER 1983 OF TOTAL RETAIL SALES.
TABLE 2 SHOWS THE VALUE AND VOLUME INDEXES OF RETAIL SALES BY MAJOR TRADE GROUPS AND SELECTED TRADES (WHICH FORM PART OF THE RELEVANT MAJOR TRADE GROUPS), WITH AVERAGE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES IN 1980 TAKEN AS 100.
COMPARISONS OF THE DECEMBER 1983 RESULTS WITH THOSE OF NOVEMBER 1983 AND DECEMBER 1982 ARE ALSO GIVEN.
ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SURVEY RESULTS MAY BE MADE WITH THE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ON TEL. 3-7216024.
TABLE 1 i TOTAL RETAIL SALES
TOTAL RETAIL SALES FOR DECEMBER 1983 (PROVISIONAL - HK$5 402 FIGURE) MILLION
FOR NOVEMBER 1983 (REVISED - HK$5 360 FIGURE) MILLION
/Table 2 : .......
THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 1984
6
TABLE 2 i VALUE AND VOLUME FOR NOVEMBER AND INDEXES OF RETAIL SALES DECEMBER 1983
(MONTHLY AVERAGE OF 1980 - 100)
ITEM INDEX OF RETAIL SALES NOV. 1983 DEC. 1983 DEC. 1983 COMPARED WITH NOV. 1983 DEC. 1983 COMPARED WITH DEC. 1982
(REVISED FIGURES) (PROVISIONAL POINTS FIGURES) % POINTS %
(A) FOR ALL RETAIL TRADES VALUE VOLUME 149 106 159 113 10 7 7 7 19 1 14 1
(B) BY MAJOR TRADE GROUPS
FOODSTUFFS, ALCOHOLIC DR INKS AND VALUE TOBACCO VOLUME 149 99 163 109 14 10 9 10 20 2 14 2
FUELS VALUE VOLUME 192 122 197 126 5 4 3 3 29 3 17 2
CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR I
AND ALLIED PRODUCTS VALUE VOLUME 168 117 187 130 19 13 11 11 15 -3 9 -2
CONSUMER DURABLES VALUE VOLUME 122 93 130 99 8 6 7 6 21 3 19 3
OTHER CONSUMER GOODS VALUE VOLUME 154 112 161 117 7 5 5 4 17 1 12 1
/ (C) BY_SELECTED ...
THURSDAY,
MARCH
8, 1984
7
(C) BY SELECTED TRADES
SUPER- VALUE 215 253 38 18 61 32
MARKETS VOLUME 136 159 23 17 12 8
MOTOR VALUE 51 60 9 18 5 9
VEHICLES VOLUME 32 37 5 16 -3 -8
DEPARTMENT VALUE 153 188 35 23 15 9
STORES VOLUME 112 137 25 22 -3 -2
NOTES i 1. ♦FOODSTUFFS, ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO*
INCLUDES +SUPERMARKETS+
♦CONSUMER DURABLES* INCLUDES +MOTOR VEHICLES*
2
3
♦OTHER CONSUMER GOODS* INCLUDES ♦DEPARTMENT STORES+.
- - o - -
DISTRICT
BOARDS TO DISCUSS ft ft ft
LOCAL ADMINISTRATION ft.
DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS OF YUEN LONG AND SOUTHERN DISTRICT WILL DISCUSS THE PROPOSALS FOR THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION AT THEIR MEETINGS TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
IN THE MORNING, YUEN LONG DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE LAYOUT PLANS FOR KAM TIN. LAU FAU SHAN, SHA TIN AND THE TAI TONG RECREATIONAL PRIORITY AREA AT THEIR MEETING.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA WILL INCLUDE THE HORMONE-INJECTED CHICKEN ISSUE AND PROGRESS REPORTS FROM THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE.
IN THE AFTERNOON, THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WILL DISCUSS PROPOSALS TO HELP SOLVE THE CONFLICT AMONG DIFFERENT WATER-SPORTS ACTIVITIES IN THE SHALLOW WATER ON THE STANLEY EAST BEACH. -
BOARD MEMBERS WILL ALSO DISCUSS THIS YEAR’S DISTRICT STRATEGY AND THE BOARD'S BUDGET FOR 1984-85.
NOTE TO EDITORS!
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER!
/(1) THE YUEJi
THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 1984
- 8
(1) THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT BOARD MEETING AT 10 AM TOMORROW (FRIDAY) IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM ON THE FOURTH FLOOR OF THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT BRANCH OFFICES BUILDING; AND
(2) THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD MEETING AT 2.30 PM THE SAME DAY IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF MEI FUNG COURT IN ABERDEEN CENTRE.
A GOVERNMENT VEHICLE WILL LEAVE KOWLLON PUBLIC PIER AT 9 AM SHARP FOR YUEN LONG.
—. -'o - - - -
CONTRACT ON WATER TREATMENT WORKS SIGNED
* * *
WORK TO INCREASE THE OUTPUT OF THE TUEN MUN WATER TREATMENT PLANT AT FU TEI WILL START TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
A 117.6-MILL ION CONTRACT HAS BEEN AWARDED BY THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT TO GAMMON (HONG KONG) LIMITED TO BOOST THE PLANT'S CAPACITY BY 150 000 CUBIC METRES PER DAY TO 273 000 CUBIC METRES.
THE CONTRACT FOR THE CIVIL ENGINEERING WORKS WILL TAKE 21 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
THE EXPANSION IS NECESSARY BECAUSE OF THE ANTICIPATED POPULATION GROWTH IN TUEN MUN AND YUEN LONG OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
THE CONTRACT WAS SIGNED BY MR LEE GUN-CHEUNG, CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT, AND MR DAVID MORRIS, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF GAMMON (HONG KONG) LIMITED.
------0-------
DRIEST FOUR-MONTH PERIOD ON RECORD M X * M K
THE PERIOD FROM LAST NOVEMBER TO FEBRUARY WAS THE DRIEST ON RECORD FOR ANY FOUR CONSECUTIVE MONTHS, ACCORDING TO THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY'S MONTHLY REPORT.
THE RAINFALL DURING THIS PERIOD WAS 13.6 MM, WHILE FEBRUARY'S RAINFALL OF 2.7 MM WAS ONLY SIX PER CENT OF THE NORMAL AMOUNT.
/FEBRUARY WAS .......
THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 1984
9
FEBRUARY WAS ALSO COOLER THAN USUAL. A SURGE OF THE WINTER MONSOON ARRIVED ON FEBRUARY 5, AND TEMPERATURES DROPPED STEADILY REACHING A MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF SEVEN DEGREE CELSIUS IN THE MORNING OF FEBRUARY 7.
DURING THE SAME MORNING, MINIMUM TEMPERATURES OF -2. DEGREE CELSIUS AND 0 DEGREE CELSIUS WERE RECORDED AT TAI MO SHAN AND TATE’S CAIRN RESPECTIVELY.
THE MONTH WAS ALSO CLOUDIER THAN USUAL, WITH SOME DRIZZLE AND LIGHT RAIN FROM TIME TO TIME. MIST PATCHES DEVELOPED IN THE MORNING OF FEBRUARY 17 AND WERE DISPERSED IN THE EVENING BY A WEAK SURGE OF THE WINTER MONSOON.
WIDESPREAD FOG DEVELOPED ON FEBRUARY 22, REDUCING THE VISIBILITY AT THE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO 300 METRES AND AT WAGLAN ISLAND TO 100 METRES THE FOLLOWING MORNING.
SOME
WITH
RESULT, NINE AIRCRAFT WERE DIVERTED FROM HONG KONG AND FERRY SERVICES WERE SUSPENDED.
THE FOG DISPERSED IN THE MORNING OF FEBRUARY 24
THE WEATHER BECAME SUNNY IN THE AFTERNOON OF FEBRUARY 23, A MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 24.8 DEGREE CELSIUS, THE HIGHEST
OF THE MONTH
A SURGE OF THE WINTER MONSOON IN THE EVENING OF FEBRUARY 28 BROUGHT STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS IN SOME PLACES, AND TEMPERATURES FELL BELOW 10 DEGREE CELSIUS THE FOLLOWING MORNING.
THERE WERE NO TROPICAL CYCLONES OVER THE WESTERN NORTH PACIFIC AND THE SOUTH CHINA SEA DURING THE MONTH.
FROST WARNINGS WERE ISSUED FROM FEBRUARY 6 TO 8
THE YELLOW FIRE DANGER WARNING WAS IN EFFECT ON 12 DAYS IN FEBRUARYi 2 TO 6, 12, 13, 18, 19 AND 25 TO 27.
THE RED FIRE DANGER WARNING WAS ISSUED FROM FEBRUARY 6 TO 9 AND ON FEBRUARY 29.
SIGNALS
HOISTED DURING THE MONTH WERE AS
FOLLOWSi
WEATHER SYSTEM
DATE AND TIME OF HOISTING
DATE AND TIME OF LOWERING
SIGNAL
WINTER MONSOON STRONG MONSOON FEBRUARY 11 PM 5 FEBRUARY 1.40 PM
WINTER STRONG FEBRUARY 6 FEBRUARY
MONSOON MONSOON 9.30 PM 9.05 AM
WINTER STRONG FEBRUARY 17 FEBRUARY
MONSOON MONSOON 9.05 PM 5.30 AM
6
18
/WINTER monsoon
7
THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 1?84
10
WINTER STRONG FEBRUARY 28 FEBRUARY 28
MONSOON MONSOON 2 AM 10.05 AM
WINTER STRONG FEBRUARY 28 FEBRUARY 29
MONSOON MONSOON 8.15 PM 6 AM
NORMAL WEREi
AND DEPARTURES
FROM
MONTH’S FIGURES
THE
SUNSHINE
RAINFALL
CLOUDINESS
RELATIVE HUMIDITY
KAN
KAN
KAN
KAN
53.6 HOURS
2.7 MM
87%
76%
MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE
16.8 DEGREE CELSIUS
TEMPERATURE
14.5 DEGREE CELSIUS
MINIMUM TEMPERATURE
12.8 DEGREE CELSIUS
DEW POINT
10.1 DEGREE CELSIUS
TOTAL EVAPORATION
MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE FEBRUARY 23.
MINIMUM TEMPERATURE FEBRUARY 7.
OF
OF
ENTERTAINMENT
MORE THAN 1 200 ELDERLY WILL BE TREATED TO TWO HOURS YEAR FEAST TOMORROW (FRIDAY)
79.6 MM
24.6 DEGREE
55.1 HOURS BELOW NORMAL
39.2 MM BELOW
16% MORE THAN
2% LOWER THAN
NORMAL
NORMAL
NORMAL
2.0 DEGREE CELSIUS BELOW NORMAL
1.4 DEGREE CELSIUS BELOW NORMAL
0.9 DEGREE CELSIUS BELOW NORMAL
1.6 DEGREE CELSIUS BELOW NORMAL
5.2 MM BELOW NORMAL
CELSIUS WAS RECORDED ON
7.0 DEGREE CELSIUS WAS RECORDED ON
- - o -
ORGANISED FOR OLD FOLK X X X X
PEOPLE AT THE AGE OF OF ENTERTAINMENT AND
65 OR ABOVE A LUNAR NEW
ORGANISED BY THE EASTERN DISTRICT RECREATION
AND SPORTS
ADVANCEMENT ASSOCIATION, THE EVENT IS AIMED AT FOSTERING THE TRADITIONAL VIRTUE OF RESPECT FOR THE ELDERLY,
THE PROGRAMME WILL ALSO INCLUDE A CANTONESE OPERA AND SINGING PERFORMANCES BY SOME OF THE PARTICIPANTS.
THE THREE OLDEST PARTICIPANTS WILL BE AWARDED GOLD PLATES BY THE ASSOCIATION.
. /THE 10
THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 1984
- 11
THE 10 AREA COMMITTEES IN EASTERN DISTRICT AND OTHER ORGANISATIONS HAVE HELPED IN INVITING PARTICIPANTS WHO ARE MAINLY FROM THE DISTRICT.
THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR LUI HAU-TUEN, AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION, MR SIU MING, WILL PRESENT SOUVENIRS TO THE PARTICIPANTS.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT WHICH WILL START AT 6.30 PM IN THE METROPOLITAN RESTAURANT AT 436 KING’S ROAD.
- 0-------------
COURSES OFFERED ON USE OF AUDIO-VISUAL EQUIPMENT ft ft ft ft
THE VISUAL EDUCATION SECTION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL HOLD A SERIES OF IDENTICAL HALF-DAY COURSES IN CANTONESE ON THE USE OF COMMON AUDIO-VISUAL EQUIPMENT FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS BETWEEN APRIL AND JUNE.
THE COURSES ARE TO ACQUAINT SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS WITH THE BASIC TECHNIQUES OF HANDLING AND MAINTAINING VARIOUS COMMON AUDIO-VISUAL EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE IN SCHOOLS, SUCH AS FILM, SLIDE, OVERHEAD AND FILMLOOP PROJECTORS.
THE COURSES WILL BE HELD AT EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS, 3RD FLOOR, LEE GARDENS, HYSAN AVENUE, CAUSEWAY BAY, HONG KONG, FROM APRIL 5 TO JUNE 8.
OWING TO LIMITED FACILITIES, EACH SCHOOL MAY NOMINATE ONLY ONE TEACHER TO ATTEND ONE OF THE COURSES. APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED ON A FIRST-COME-FIRST-SERVED BASIS.
SECONDARY SCHOOL HEADS WISHING TO NOMINATE THEIR TEACHERS TO ATTEND THE COURSES SHOULD SUBMIT APPLICATIONS TO THE SENIOR INSPECTOR (VISUAL EDUCATION), VISUAL EDUCATION SECTION, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, 3RD FLOOR, LEE GARDENS, CAUSEWAY BAY, HONG KONG ON OR BEFORE MARCH 16, 1984.
ENQUIRIES CONCERNING THE COURSES MAY BE MADE AT THE VISUAL EDUCATION SECTION ON 5-8392359.
o
/12........
THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 1984
- 12 -
STUDENTS’ POTTED PLANTS ON SHOW * * *
SOME 400 POTTED PLANTS PREPARED BY STUDENTS FROM 51 SECONDARY
DAYS FROM TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AFTERNOON.
sifiBsSsaSisra
IT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
tuc rnjiPETITIQN WAS SPONSORED BY THE ROTARY CLUB OF
TODAY.
tuc aim iq ta QTRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF BEAUTIFYING THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND HONG KONG AS A WHOLE.
ANNUALS, CACTI,
THE POTTED PLANTS INCLUDE AFRICAN VIOLETS, CHRYSANTHEMUMS, FERNS, FOLIAGE PLANTS AND SUCCULENT PLANTS.
TOMORROW.
BOOK TOKENS TOTALLING $10 000 WILL BE AWARDED TO WINNERS AT A CEREMONY STARTING AT 2.30 PM TOMORROW.
NOTE TO EDITORS!
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO STUDENTS POTTED PLANT COMPETITION GOVERNMENT SECONDARY SCHOOL AT HOI 2.30 PM TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
COVER THE NEW TERRITORIES AND EXHIBITION AT TSUEN WAN PA STREET, TSUEN WAN, AT
- - 0 -
SLIP ROAD CLOSURE EXTENDED
* *
THE CLOSURE OF THE SLIP ROAD
TO THE CAR PARK NEAR ST. FURTHER 40 DAYS, PENDING GARDEN ROAD.
JOSEPH'S
OFF COTTON TREE DRIVE LEADING CHURCH WILL CONTINUE FOR A
THE COMPLETION OF ROAD WIDENING WORK AT
VEHICLES PROCEEDING
TO THE CAR PARK WILL BE DIVERTED VIA
KENNEDY ROAD WESTBOUND, WHERE THEY WILL BE ALLOWED TO TURN RIGHT INTO THE SLIP ROAD LEADING TO THE CAR PARK.
- - o - -
©
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 1984
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
CONSULTATION WITH PEOPLE WIDENED ................................. 1
MORE SOCIAL CENTRES PLANNED FOR ELDERLY .......................... 2
HIGHWAY CODE TO GUIDE ALL ROAD USERS ............................. 3
ELIGIBLE VOTERS URGED TO REGISTER ................................ 4
NEW CROP POTENTIAL EXPLORED ...................................... 5
MARKET AND INDOOR GAMES HALL COMPLEX BEING BUILT ................. 6
MORE SCHOOL PLACES FOR NORTH DISTRICT ............................ 6
PRESS COVERAGE OF LEGCO MARCH 14.................................. 7
LATEST REPORT ON LABOUR FORCE SURVEY OUT ......................... 7
TECHNICAL TEaCHERS' COURSE OFFERED ............................... 8
STUDENTS URGED TO HELP BEAUTIFY ENVIRONMENT ...................... 8
SUNDAY FAMILY CARNIVAL AT CHaTER ROAD ............................ 9
ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNG AND OLD..................................... 10
LOW-COST DENTAL SERVICE.......................................... 10
JOINT OPERATION ................................................. 11
D'AGUILAR STREET SECTION TO BE WIDENED .......................... 11
TRAM TRACK WORK aT SHAU KEI WAN 1?OAD............................ 11
ROAD CLOSURE IN TUEN MUN ........................................ 12
LEAKAGE TESTS IN WAN CHAI ....................................... 12
FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 1984
CONSULTATION WITH PEOPLE WIDENED * K M *
WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME, THE GOVERNMENT HAS INTENSIFIED CONSULTATION WITH ALL SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, BARRIE WIGGHAM, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
HE SAID THIS WOULD ENSURE THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICIES AND THE PROVISION OF PUBLIC SERVICES AND FACILITIES WOULD BETTER FEET LOCAL CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS.
MR WIGGHAM WAS SPEAKING AT THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT INDUSTRIALISTS ASSOCIATION WHICH HAS JUST BEEN SET UP UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE.
HE SAID THE 8OO-PLUS FACTORIES AND THEIR 25 000 WORKERS IN SOUTHERN CONSTITUTED A UNIQUE AND IMPORTANT SECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY IN THE DISTRICT.
♦THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD AND THE DISTRICT OFFICE HAVE ALWAYS PLACED MUCH EMPHASIS ON ESTABLISHING CLEAR CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THIS PARTICULAR SECTOR,+ HE SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT RAPID DEVELOPMENTS IN SOUTHERN DISTRICT IN RECENT YEARS HAD ADDED TO THE ALREADY EXCELLENT CONDITIONS THERE FOR THE STEADY DEVELOPMENT OF ITS INDUSTRIES.
THESE DEVELOPMENTS INCLUDE THE OPENING OF THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL, IMPROVEMENT OF THE ROAD NETWORK AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, THE COMPLETION OF WELL-EQUIPPED INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS AND THE POPULATION INCREASE, PROVIDING A LOCAL LABOUR SUPPLY TO INDUSTRIES.
♦ HOWEVER, THE PROCESS OF CHANGE PARTICULARLY IN A PLACE LIKE HONG KONG IS NEVER END ING,♦ MR WIGGHAM SAID.
♦ IN ORDER THAT THESE CHANGES CAN BETTER MEET THE NEEDS OF THE DISTRICT, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COMMUNITY BE IMPROVED, AND THE PROVISION OF SERVICES AND FACILITIES BETTER COORDINATED.
♦ I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT. WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT INDUSTRIALISTS ASSOCIATION, AND THROUGH CLOSER LIAISON BETWEEN THE DISTRICT BOARD AND LOCAL INDUSTRIALISTS, THE BOARD WILL BENEFIT FROM THE PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE AND OPINIONS OF INDUSTRIALISTS, AND THUS HELP FIND SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS FACED BY THE LOCAL PEOPLE.
♦ AT. THE SAME TIME. THE ASSOCIATION CAN PROVIDE A GOOD COMMUNICATION CHANNEL BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE FACTORIES AND WORKERS, SO THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND THE PROVISION OF SERVICES AND FACILITIES CAN BE CARRIED OUT MORE SMOOTHLY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY,* W WIGGHAM ADDED.
THE INAUGURATION WAS FOLLOWED BY A PRIZE-PRESENTATION CEREMONY FOR A LOGO DESIGN COMPETITION HELD BY THE ASSOCIATION LAST MONTH.
/ALSO PRESENT .......
FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 1984
- 2 -
ALSO PRESENT AT TODAY'S CEREMONY WERE THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR K.C. KWONG, AMD THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, m JIMMY HAYES.
----0--------
MORE SOCIAL CENTRES PLANNED FOR ELDERLY MM
THE GOVERNMENT AIMS TO TRY AND OPEN 12 NEW SOCIAL CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY EACH YEAR, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE (DEVELOPMENT), MRS ELIZABETH BOSHER, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE LAI KING BAPTIST CHURCH ERADBURY SOCIAL CENTRE FOR THE ELDERLY, SHE SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY WAS TO PROVIDE ONE SOCIAL CENTRE FOR EVERY 3D 000 PEOPLE, ALTHOUGH THIS RATIO WAS APPLIED FLEXIBLY WHERE THE POPULATION WAS SCATTERED.
MOST SOCIAL CENTRES ARE IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES OR IN MULTI-SERVICE CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY, WHERE OTHER SERVICES SUCH AS CANTEENS, HOME HELP, DAY CARE AND COUNSELLING ARE PROVIDED.
THERE ARE NOW 87 SOCIAL CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY.
♦ WHAT IS REASSURING FOR US IN THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WHO HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR CO-ORDINATING THE EXPANSION OF THIS SERVICE, IS TO SEE SO MANY NEW WELFARE BODIES AND ASSOCIATIONS WILLING TO COME FORWARD TO PROVIDE THIS SERVICE,♦ MRS BOSHER SAID.
THERE ARE ALREADY 38 AGENCIES RUNNING SOCIAL CENTRES. THEY INCLUDE CHURCHES, VOLUNTARY WELFARE AGENCIES, KAIFONG ASSOCIATIONS, WOMEN'S GROUPS AND OTHER LOCAL OR RELIGIOUS AFFILIATED ORGANISATIONS.
♦ IT SAYS A GREAT DEAL OF THE WILLINGNESS OF THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN PROVIDING FOR ITS OLD PEOPLE THAT THIS SERVICE CONTINUES TO ATTRACT SUCH A WIDE LEVEL OF SUPPORT AMONG SO MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF COMMUNITY ORGAN ISATIONS,♦ l«S BOSHER SAID.
NOTING THAT SOCIAL CENTRES WERE NOT AMONG THE WELFARE SERVICES ATTRACTING 100 PER CENT FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE GOVERNMENT, MRS BOSHER SAID THIS HAD BEEN INTERPRETED BY SOME AS MEANING THAT THE GOVERNMENT LAID LESS IMPORTANCE ON THIS SERVICE THAN ON OTHER SERVICES FOR OLD PEOPLE.
SHE SAID THIS WAS A WRONG INTERPRETATION.
♦ A RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT MUST ESTABLISH PRIORITIES FOR THE ALLOCATION OF SCARCE RESOURCES AND IN SO DOING TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE WILLINGNESS AND ABILITY OF THE COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT CERTAIN SERVICES MORE EASILY THAN OTHERS.♦
SHE SAID MANY WELFARE SERVICES, PARTICULARLY THOSE REQUIRING THE BUILDING OF COSTLY FACILITIES AND A LARGE COMPLEMENT OF TRAINED STAFF TO OPERATE THEM, WERE BEYOND THE MEANS OF SMALL VOLUNTARY WELFARE ASSOCIATIONS.
FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 1984
5
♦QUITE RIGHTLY, THEREFORE, THE GOVERNMENT HAS ACKNOWLEDGED ITS RESPONSIBILITY TO MEET, IN FULL. THE COST OF THESE VITAL SERVICES;* SHE SAID. *WHER$ THE COmAuNITY CAN AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY SHOWS IT$ WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH THE GOVERNMENT TO MEET ITS PLANNING OBJECTIVES, THIS SHOULD BE GIVEN EVERY ENCOURAGEMENT AND RECOGNITION.*
MRS BOSHER NOTED THAT ORIGINALLY SOCIAL CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY WERE INTENDED TO CATER ONLY FOR THE RECREATIONAL NEEDS OF OLD PEOPLE.
♦HOWEVER THIS OBJECTIVE HAS SUBSEQUENTLY BEEN BROADENED TO GIVE THEM A WIDER ROLE,* SHE SAID.
UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF TRAINED SOCIAL WORKERS, SOCIAL CENTRES NOW PROVIDE A RANGE OF CAREFULLY BALANCED PROGRAMMES DESIGNED TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOCIAL CONTACT AND FRIENDSHIP AND ALSO TO ENCOURAGE OLD PEOPLE TO REMAIN SOCIALLY AWARE AND INVOLVED IN THE LIFE OF THE COMMUNITY.
INFORMAL HEALTH AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION IS ALSO PROVIDED IN MANY CENTRES.
THE LAI KING BAPTIST CHURCH BRADBURY SOCIAL CENTRE FOR THE ELDERLY WAS BUILT WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF A DONATION FROM THE BRADBURY TRUST FUND, WHICH HAS MET IN FULL THE CAPITAL COSTS OF FITTING OUT AND FURNISHING THE CENTRE.
SOME 70 PER CENT OF THE RECURRENT OPERATING EXPENSES OF THE CENTRE ARE PROVIDED ROM GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION THROUGH THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND THE BALANCE WILL BE RAISED BY THE SPONSORING AGENCY.
- - o - -
HIGHWAY CODE TO GUIDE ALL ROAD USERS
*****
THE GOVERNMENT IS GUIDANCE FOR ALL USERS AND PASSENGERS AS WELL
REVISING THE HIGHWAY CODE TO INCLUDE OF THE ROAD - PEDESTRIANS, CYCLISTS AS MOTORISTS.
AS A FIRST STEP AHD TO HIGHLIGHT THIS CHANGE IN EMPHASIS THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES THAT THE HIGHWAY CODE SHOULD BE RE-NAMED +THE ROAD USERS' CODE*.
THIS CHANGE IN THE ENGLISH TITLE IS PROVIDED FOR IN THE ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984 PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (MARCH 9). THE TITLE IN CHINESE ALREADY REFLECTS THE CONCEPT OF GIVING GUIDANCE TO ALL ROAD USERS.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE OBJECTIVE OF REVISING THE PRESENT CODE, WHICH IS ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ADDRESSED TO DRIVERS.. IS TO IMPROVE SAFETY ON THE ROAD. THEREFORE THE REVISED CODE WOULD INCLUDE CHAPTERS FOR PEDESTRIANS, PASSENGERS, CYCLISTS AND PARENTS OF YOUNG CHILDREN. IT WILL ALSO REFLECT THE PROVISIONS OF THE NEW ROAD TRAFFIC LEGISLATION WHICH WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN AUGUST 1984.
/THE SPOKESMAN
FRIDAY, MABCH 9, 1984
4
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THE REVISED CODE HAD BEEN ENDORSED IN PRINCIPLE BY THE ROAD SAFETY COUNCIL AND THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE. IT WOULD ALSO NEED TO BE PRESENTED TO THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS.
THE BILL FOR THE CHANGE IN TITLE WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR FIRST AND SECOND READINGS ON WEDNESDAY (MARCH 14), AND WILL PROCEED THROUGH THE REMAINING LEGISLATIVE STAGES ON APRIL 18.
ANYONE WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ON THE BILL MAY WRITE TO UMELCO, AT SWIRE HOUSE, 12TH FLOOR, CHATER ROAD, OR TO THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, AT ST. JOHN’S BUILDING, 7TH FLOOR, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG.
------o-------
ELIGIBLE VOTERS URGED TO REGISTER M M
THE GOVERNMENT HAS TRIED TO EXPLAIN ITSELF MORE TO THE PEOPLE AND TO MAKE ITSELF MORE ACCESSIBLE AND INVOLVED AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, W DAVID AKERS-JONES SAID TONIGHT.
SPEAKING AT THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION DINNER OF THE PO ON COMMERCIAL ASSOCIATION, HE STRESSED THAT PEOPLE, TOO, HAD BEEN ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCESS.
♦DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION PROVIDES THE PLATFORM FOR VARIOUS ELEMENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO FACE OUR PROBLEMS TOGETHER, TO DEVELOP OUR OWN PARTICULAR POPULAR SOLUTIONS TO THEM AND TO CREATE A FULLER AND RICHER LIFE FOR OUR PEOPLE.+
HE ADDED THAT THERE WAS NONETHELESS AN IMPORTANT PART TO BE PLAYED BY TRADITIONAL ORGANISATIONS SUCH AS THE PO ON COMMERCIAL ASSOCIATION.
♦ IN A COMMUNITY WHERE CHANGE AND MOVEMENT IS CONSTANTLY TAKING PLACE, THE NEED FOR STABILISING INFLUENCES OF KINSHIP AND FAMILY AND THE NEED FOR ROOTS IS MOST NECESSARY,♦ HE SAID.
♦ YOUR ASSOCIATION HAS SERVED THE COMMUNITY PARTICULARLY IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION. I WOULD ASK YOU NOW TO EXTEND THIS SPIRIT BY ENCOURAGING YOUR MEMBERS AND THEIR FRIENDS TO REGISTER AS VOTERS AND TO VOTE.
♦ A VOTE IS A SMALL THING BUT IT IS AN INDICATION OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL'S COMMITMENT TO HONG KONG. IT IS A SMALL GESTURE OF GREAT SIGNIFICANCE TO ALL OF US.+
------0-------
/5........
FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 1984
- 5 -
NEW CROP POTENTIAL EXPLORED ft ft ft ft ft
THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT IS CONTINUING TO EXPLORE THE POTENTIAL OF NEW CROPS AND TO DEVELOP IMPROVED VARIETIES OF EXISTING CROPS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE FARMERS.
SPEAKING AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE 32ND TERM COMMITTEE OF THE FEDERATION OF VEGETABLE MARKETING CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES THIS (FRIDAY) EVENING, THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES. DR JOHN RIDDELL-SWAN, SAID THAT ONE EXAMPLE OF THIS WAS THE DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH-YIELDING, GOOD-QUALITY STRAIN OF MUSHROOM NOW BEING MADE AVAILABLE IN LARGE QUANTITIES TO FARMERS.
HE POINTED OUT THAT 76 PER CENT OF THE STRAW MUSHROOMS CONSUMED IN HONG KONG IS NOW GROWN LOCALLY.
DR RIDDELL-SWAN SAID, THE DEPARTMENT HAD ALSO REORGANISED AND STRENGTHENED ITS TECHNICAL FIELD SERVICES BY REDEPLOYING STAFF.
♦AGRICULTURAL POLLUTION CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM, BUT THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT HAS HAD CONSIDERABLE SUCCESS WITH PILOT AGRICULTURAL WASTE DISPOSAL PROJECTS IN PAT HEUNG AND PAI MIN KOK AND WITH THE PIG MANURE COMPOSTING SCHEME AT NGAU TAM MEI.
♦THESE PROJECTS HAVE GREATLY IMPROVED THE ENVIRONMENT OF THESE AREAS AND THE COMPOSTED MANURE DERIVED FROM THEM IS PROVING POPULAR,+ HE SAID.
HE SAID 1983 WAS NOT VERY GOOD FOR VEGETABLE FARMERS, AS JANUARY TO JUNE WAS THE WETTEST SIX-MONTH PERIOD SINCE 1889. DEPRESSED VEGETABLE PRODUCTION WAS FOLLOWED BY A DESTRUCTIVE TYPHOON—TYPHOON ELLEN —IN SEPTEMBER, WHICH DAMAGED MORE THAN 1 500 HECTARES OF CROPS.
♦THIS, TOGETHER WITH PERIODIC SLUMPS IN VEGETABLE PRICES, COUPLED WITH INCREASED INPUT COSTS AND FURTHER LAND LOSSES, DID LITTLE TO HELP THE ECONOMICS OF VEGETABLE PRODUCTION,+ HE SAID.
HOWEVER, FARMERS RESPONDED WELL TO THE DIFFICULTIES SO THAT PRODUCTION FELL BY ONLY 1.3 PER CENT.
HE SAID THAT PRODUCTION PER UNIT OF LAND AVAILABLE FOR FARMING ACTUALLY INCREASED BY FIVE PER CENT, AND SALES OF LOCALLY-PRODUCED VEGETABLES THROUGH THE VEGETABLE MARKETING ORGANISATION INCREASED BY 6.6 PER CENT TO MORE THAN 60 700 TONNES, VALUED AT >187 MILLION.
SIXTY-EIGHT PER CENT OF THIS, HE ADDED, CAME FROM MEMBERS OF THE VEGETABLE MARKETING CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES.
LAST YEAR, STAFF OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT MADE MORE THAN 70 000 VISITS TO CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES AND INDIVIDUAL FARMERS TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND ADVICE.
IN ADDITION, 2 640 LOANS AMOUNTING TO |26.8 MILLION WERE MADE TO FARMERS PROVIDING CAPITAL FOR DEVELOPMENT.
------o------- z.
FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 1984
MARKET AND INDOOR GAMES HALL COMPLEX BEING BUILT * * * * *
THE FIRST MARKET-AND-INDOOR-GAMES HALL COMPLEX IN HONG KONG TO INCLUDE AN AUDITORIUM BLOCK IS TO BE BUILT AT N6AU CHI WAN.
THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE OF THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) AWARDED A $45-MILLI0N CONTRACT TO
COMPANY
WANG CHONG CONSTRUCTION
THE MARKET COMPLEX SITE AT CLEAR WATER BAY RAILWAY STATION.
WILL ROAD
BE BUILT ON A 4 ABOVE CHOI HUNG
000 SQUARE-METRE MASS TRANSIT
THE PROJECT INCLUDES IN
ADDITION TO THE
MARKET A SIX-STOREY
MAIN BUILDING WHICH WILL BE LINKED BY ESCALATORS TO THE MARKET
THE UPPER FLOORS OF THIS MAIN BUILDING WILL PROVIDE TWO LIBRARIES, OFFICES AND SPACE FOR CULTURAL ACTIVITIES.
THERE WILL BE A LECTURE HALL, FOUR MUSIC PRACTICE ROOMS, A PAINTING STUDIO AND AN EXHIBITION HALL, AS WELL AS A COOKED FOOD CENTRE WITH 17 STALLS.
THE LINES TO THE MAIN
THE A REFUSE TOILETS. VICINITY
430-SEAT AUDITORIUM, WHICH WILL BE DESIGNED ON SIMILAR THE CITY HALL AUDITORIUM, WILL BE BUILT ADJACENT TO BUILDING.
TWO-STOREY COLLECTION IT WILL BE
MARKET BUILDING WILL ACCOMMODATE 400 STALLS CHAMBER, AN ICE STORE, OFFICES AND PUBLIC OPERATED BY ELIGIBLE HAWKERS FROM THE
WHO HAVE BEEN SURVEYED BY THE URBAN SERVICES
DEPARTMENT
RAMPS WILL BE CONSTRUCTED TO HELP DISABLED PEOPLE ENTER IT.
A FOOTBRIDGE WILL ALSO BE BUILT TO CONNECT PING SHEK ESTATE AND THE MARKET AT THE FIRST FLOOR LEVEL.
THE INDOOR GAMES HALL WILL OCCUPY MORE THAN 720 SQUARE METRES ON TOP OF A PODIUM AND HAVE A STANDARD VOLLEYBALL OR BASKETBALL COURT AND FOUR BADMINTON COURTS.
THERE WILL ALSO BE FACILITIES FOR GYMNASTIC ACTIVITIES
WORK ON THE PROJECT WILL START IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS MONTH AND BE COMPLETED IN MID-1986.
- - o - -
MORE SCHOOL PLACES FOR NORTH DISTRICT
MORE THAN 1 000 URGENTLY-NEEDED SECONDARY SCHOOL PLACES WILL BE ADDED TO NORTH DISTRICT UPON FULL COMPLETION OF THE KAP YAN DIRECTORS* COLLEGE. RUN BY THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSP ITALS, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR NEW TERRITORIES, MR IAN MACPHERSON, SAID
TODAY (FRIDAY)
—/THE COLLEGE
raiDAl, MAUCH 9, 1984
- 7 -
THE COLLEGE AT CHOI YUEN ESTATE IN SHEUNG SHU I IS NOW OPERATING 24 CLASSES FROM FORM I TO FORM V. WHEN COMPLETED, IT WILL HAVE FULL FACILITIES FOR 1 160 PLACES, WITH CLASSES UP TO FORM VI LEVEL OFFERING BOTH SCIENCE AND ARTS STREAMS.
MR MACPHERSON WAS SPEAKING AT THE RE-NAMING CEREMONY OF THE SCHOOL. PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS NO. 11 COLLEGE.
THE SCHOOL WAS RE-NAMED TO MARK THE GENEROSITY OF THE TUNG WAH BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF 1974-75 - THE YEAR OF KAP YAN - WHO DONATED A CONSIDERABLE SUM TO THE DEVELOPMENT FUND OF TUNG WAH.
PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE GROUP’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COMMUNITY, HE SAID THAT. IN EDUCATION ALONE, THE GROUP HAD ESTABLISHED 11 SECONDARY SCHOOLS, 15 PRIMARY SCHOOLS, FOUR KINDERGARTENS AND ONE SPECIAL SCHOOL, PROVIDING PLACES FOR 22 515.
THERE WERE STILL MANY NEW SCHOOL PROJECTS TO BE COMPLETED WITHIN THE NEXT TWO YEARS, HE SAID.
----- 0 - - - -
NOTE TO EDITORS!
PRESS COVERAGE OF LEGCO MARCH 14
* MM *
BECAUSE OF LIMITED SEATING CAPACITY, SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE MADE FOR MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING ON WEDNESDAY (MARCH 14).
SEATS WILL BE RESERVED AND MEDIA ORGANISATIONS WISHING TO COVER THE MEETING ARE REQUESTED TO TELEPHONE THE NAMES OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES TO THE GIS DUTY OFFICER NOT LATER THAN 12 NOON ON MONDAY (MARCH 12).
REPORTERS WILL BE LIMITED TO ONE FOR EACH ORGANISATION AND CAMERA CREW TO TWO FOR EACH STATION.
SPECIAL PASSES AND LAPEL BADGES WILL BE ISSUED BY GIS TO MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES WITH RESERVED SEATS ON WEDNESDAY (MARCH 14) MORNING. ANYONE WITHOUT THESE PASSES AND LAPEL BADGES WILL NOT BE ADMITTED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CHAMBER.
SHORTLY BEFORE THE MEETING STARTS, THERE WILL BE A FACILITY FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS TO TAKE PICTURES INSIDE THE CHAMBER. HOWEVER, THEY MUST LEAVE AT 2.30 PM SHARP, WHEN THE MEETING STARTS.
------o-------
LATEST REPORT ON LABOUR FORCE SURVEY OUT X * * *
THE REPORT ON THE GENERAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY FOR OCTOBER -DECEMBER 1983 IS NOW AVAILABLE.
/IT COWTAUIS .......
FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 1984
8
IT CONTAINS STATISTICS ON EMPLOYMENT, UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT FOR THE QUARTER.
IT ALSO PROVIDES A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE LABOUR FORCE CHARACTERISTICS, INCLUDING THEIR AGE AND SEX STRUCTURE,
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT HOURS WORKED PER WEEK,
ACTIVITY STATUS, OCCUPATION, INDUSTRY, EMPLOYMENT EARNINGS AS WELL AS THE DURATION UNEMPLOYED.
OF UNEMPLOYMENT
OF THE
CAN BE
THE REPORT CENTRE. GENERAL
OBTAINED FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS
POST OFFICE BUILDING AT 17 PER COPY
0 - -
TECHNICAL TEACHERS* COURSE OFFERED MM#
THE HONG KONG TECHNICAL TEACHERS* COLLEGE WILL ORGANISE A ONE-YEAR FULL-TIME TECHNICAL TEACHER TRAINING COURSE IN SEPTEMBER FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE SOME YEARS OF INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE AND ARE INTERESTED IN TAKING UP TEACHING AS A PROFESSION.
SUBJECTS OFFERED WILL INCLUDE BOTH TECHNICAL COURSES AND COMMERCIAL STUDIES. THE TUITION FEE FOR THE COURSE IS $800, PAYABLE IN 10 MONTHLY INSTALMENTS.
INDUCEMENT GRANTS OF BETWEEN $1,650 AND $2 500 A MONTH WILL BE GIVEN TO THOSE TAKING THE COURSE, BASED ON THEIR POSTQUALIFICATION INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE.
THOSE COMPLETING THE COURSE MAY APPLY FOR TEACHING POSTS IN PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOLS,
APPLICANTS FOR TECHNICAL COURSES MUST POSSESS EITHER A
HIGHER DIPLOMA, ORDINARY DIPLOMA, HIGHER CERTIFICATE OR EQUIVALENT QUALIFICATION AWARDED BY THE TECHNICAL COLLEGE, POLYTECHNIC, TECHNICAL INSTITUTES OR AN EQUIVALENT EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENT (NEITHER ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING OR MECHANICAL ENGINEERING.
HOLDERS OF HIGHER CERTIFICATE IN COMMERCIAL COURSE OR SECRETARIAL-COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATE OR EQUIVALENT QUALIFICATION MAY APPLY FOR THE COMMERCIAL COURSE.
APPLICATION FORMS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FROM THE HONG KONG
TECHNICAL TEACHERS’ HONG KONG, AND THEY BEFORE MARCH 21.
COLLEGE AT 373 QUEEN’S ROAD EAST, WAN CHAI MUST BE RETURNED TO THE COLLEGE ON OR
- - 0 - -
STUDENTS
URGED TO HELP BEAUTIFY ENVIRONMENT M * M *
♦CLEAN HONG KONG AND BEAUTIFY THE ENVIRONMENT* ARE NOT JUST SLOGANS BUT A DAILY COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY, MR CHARLES YEUNG SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
/SPEAKING AT
FRIDAY. MARCH 9, 1984
9
SPEAKING AT THE PRIZE-GIVING AND OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 1984 NEW TERRITORIES STUDENTS POTTED PLANTS COMPETITION AND EXHIBITION AT THE TSUEN WAN GOVERNMENT SECONDARY SCHOOL TODAY, YEUNG SAID THE EVENT WAS OF GREAT SIGNIFICANCE TO ALL STUDENTS TAKING PART.
MR YEUNG. WHO IS CHAIRMAN OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ADVISORY
COMMITTEE OF THE CLEAN HONG KONG COMMITTEE, SAID THE CF THE ENVIRONMENT STARTED AT HOME - WITH THE POTTED THE FIRST STEP.
HE PAID TRIBUTE TO CHILDREN MAKE THE EVENT
THE TEACHERS AND PARENTS WHO A SUCCESS.
BEAUTIFICATION PLANTS AS
HELPED THE
MR YEUNG LATER CUT
THE RIBBON TO MARK THE OPENING
CF THE COMPETITION AND EXHIBITION, WHICH WERE JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE MEI FA WORKING GROUP OF THE CLEAN HONG KONG COMMITTEE, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT
ALSO TAKING PART IN THE RIBBON-CUTTING WERE THE PRESIDENT OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF NEW TERRITORIES, MR WISDOM KWOK, THE DIRECTOR OF NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES, MR JOHN HEYWOOD, THE DEPUTY REGIONAL SECRETARY (NEW TERRITORIES), MR PETER NG KWOK-TAI, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, W JOHN WHOLEY, AND THE DEPUTY CHIEF INSPECTOR OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, MRS RUBY LAU.
WINNERS FROM AMONG THE 400 ENTRIES FROM 51 SECONDARY AND PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WERE PRESENTED WITH BOOK TOKENS TOTALLING S10 000. THE PRIZES WERE CONTRIBUTED BY THE ROTARY CLUB OF NEW TERRITORIES.
ALL ENTRIES ARE ON DISPLAY AT THE SCHOOL OVER THE WEEKEND
- - 0 - -
SUNDAY FAMILY CARNIVAL AT CHATER ROAD * * * *
THE CHATER ROAD PEDESTRIAN PRECINCT IN CENTRAL WILL BECOME A MINI GAMELAND ON SUNDAY (MARCH 11) WHEN A MAJOR +FAMILY CARNIVAL* IS HELD THERE TO ENTERTAIN THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN AND PARENTS.
THE ANNUAL CARNIVAL, THE SEVENTH SINCE 1977, IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN AND ISLANDS DISTRICTS’ ----------------------------------- ------ WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND
COMMUNITY AND YOUTH OFFICES OF THE SOCIAL THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES, WITH ORGANISATIONS.
A NUMBER OF VOLUNTARY
IT AIMS TO AROUSE AN AWARENESS AMONG THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY LIFE HARMONY.
CHILDREN AND PARENTS OF
THE REGIONAL OFFICER (HONG KONG) OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, MRS ROSE GOODSTADT, WILL START OFF THE CEREMONY AT 2 PM.
/'THE CERH40NY
FRIDAI, MARCH 9, 1984
10
THE CEREMONY WILL BE FOLLOWED BY STAGE PERFORMANCES AND GAME ACTIVITIES WHICH WILL LAST UNTIL 4.30 PM.
THERE WILL ALSO BE GAMES STALLS, AND AN EXHIBITION ON MARRIAGE FAMILY LIFE INFORMATION, A CROSS WORD PUZZLE BOOTH, AND A PHOTOGRAPHY COUNTER WHERE PARTICIPANTS MAY TAKE A FAMILY PHOTOGRAPH AT NO CHARGE.
- - 0 - -
ACTIVITIES FOR * *
YOUNG * *
AND OLD
Yl WILL BE TREATED TO A
TSI NG
YOUNGSTERS AND OLD PEOPLE ON
VARIETY SHOW AND A DINNER PARTY TOMORROW (SATURDAY)
A VARIETY SHOW FOR ABOUT 2 000 YOUNGSTERS WILL START AT 1.30 PM AT THE CHEUNG CHING ESTATE MINI SOCCER PITCH.
IN THE EVENING, A DINNER PARTY FOR 600 OLD PEOPLE WILL BE HELD AT THE CHEUNG HONG RESTAURANT IN CHEUNG HONG ESTATE STARTING AT 7 PM.
ORGANISED BY THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICE, TSING Yl RURAL COMMITTEE AMD LOCAL ORGANISATIONS, THE TWO FUNCTIONS ARE AIMED AT PROMOTING A SENSE OF +RESPECT FOR THE AGED AND CARE FOR THE YOUNG*.
THE DISTRICT OFFICER FOR KWAI CHUNG AND TSING Yl, MR TAM
, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE DINNER PARTY AND THE ASSISTANT OFFICER FOR TSING Yl, MR B.J. IRELAND, AT THE VARIETY
WING-PONG DISTRICT SHOW.
- - 0
LOW-COST DENTAL SERVICE * ***
THE A DENTAL AFTERNOON
EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR LUI HAU-TUEN, WILL OPEN CLINIC IN HING MAN ESTATE, CHAI WAN ON MONDAY (MARCH 12)
THE CLINIC IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND SET UP IN THE DISTRICT BY THE PROJECT CONCERN - AN INTERNATIONAL NON-PROFIT MAKING ORGANISATION - AND AIMS AT PROVIDING LOW-COST DENTAL SERVICE.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY AT 2.30 PM IN ROOM 408 IN THE COMMERCIAL CENTRE OF HING MAN ESTATE.
o - -
f FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 1984
11
JOINT OPERATION * * * *
A JOINT OPERATION ON FACTORY BUILDINGS WILL BE CARRIED OUT BY THE WEST DIVISION OF THE HONG KONG FIRE COMMAND AND THE HONG KONG REGIONAL OFFICE OF THE FIRE PROTECTION BUREAU IN THE ABERDEEN AREA ON MONDAY (MARCH 12).
PRESS REPRESENTATIVES WISHING TO COVER THE OPERATION SHOULD BE AT ABERDEEN FIRE STATION BEFORE 9.15 AM ON MONDAY (MARCH 12). A FIRE SERVICES INFORMATION OFFICER WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST.
- 0 -
D'AGUILAR STREET SECTION TO BE WIDENED * * * *
A SHORT UPPER SECTION OF D’AGUILAR STREET, CENTRAL, IS TO BE WIDENED TO ALLOW EMERGENCY VEHICLES TO ENTER.
TENDERS ARE BEING INVITED BY THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO UNDERTAKE THE WORK, WHICH WILL START IN MAY AND TAKE NINE MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
AS PART OF THE PROJECT, THE LEVEL OF THE REST OF D*AGUILAR STREET IS TO BE RAISED SO THAT IT WILL BE THE SAME AS THAT OF LAN KWAI FONG AND WING WAH LANE, BOTH OF WHICH CONNECT WITH D’AGUILAR STREET.
BENCHES AND FLOWER BEDS WILL BE PROVIDED IN BOTH THOSE STREETS TO HELP BEAUTIFY THE AREA.
TENDER FORMS AND FURTHER PARTICULARS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF ENGINEER. HIGHWAYS (HK) DIVISION, ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, 9TH FLOOR, HENNESSY CENTRE, 500, HENNESSY ROAD, HONG KONG.
------0-------
TRAM TRACK WORK AT SHAU KEI WAN ROAD
*****
TRAM SERVICES IN SHAU KEI WAN WILL START LATER THAN USUAL ON SUNDAY (MARCH 11) MORNING TO ALLOW FOR TRAM TRACK WORK AT SHAU KEI WAN ROAD.
THE FIRST TRAMS FROM SHAU KEI WAN WILL DEPART FOR WESTERN MARKET AND HAPPY VALLEY AT ABOUT 8.14 AM, WHILE THOSE FROM WESTERN MARKET AND HAPPY VALLEY WILL DEPART FOR SHAU KEI WAN AT ABOUT 7.40 AM.
BEFORE 7.40 AM, TRAM SERVICES FROM WESTERN MARKET WILL OPERATE UP TO QUARRY BAY ONLY.
“----0 ------ /12....................
FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 1984
12
ROAD CLOSURE IN TUEN MUN
M
MMM
TSI NG WUN ROAD IN TUEN MUN 1.30 AM AND 5.30 AM FROM SUNDAY FACILITATE CONSTRUCTION WORK.
WILL BE CLOSED TO TO TUESDAY (MARCH
TRAFFIC BETWEEN 11 TO 13) TO
DURING THE CLOSURE, TRAFFIC WILL BE DIVERTED
TUEN MUN HEUNG SZE WU I ROAD AND STAGE 1 OF ROAD
P3
VIA PUI TO ROAD
- - 0 - -
LEAKAGE TESTS IN WAN CHAI M M M
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO SOME TURNED OFF FROM 11 PM ON MONDAY DAY FOR LEAKAGE TESTS.
PREMISES IN WAN (MARCH 12) TO 6
CHAI WILL BE AM THE FOLLOWING
THE SUSPENSION WILL AFFECT
O'BRIEN ROAD, HENNESSY ROAD FLEMING ROAD.
PREMISES BOUNDED BY LOCKHART ROAD FENWICK STREET, JOHNSTON ROAD AND
ALSO AFFECTED WILL BE PREMISES AT 156-258 HENNESSY ROAD, 1-31 AND 93-149 THOMSON ROAD, AND 25-61 AND 183-211 JOHNSTON ROAD
. - 0 -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
1984
CONTENTS
PAGE NO
MORE BAY-CARE CENTRES FOR MENTALLY RETARDED
RARE SPECIES AT FLOWER SHOW
PART-TIME LIFEGUARDS NEEDED
WOMEN VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT FOR
AUXILIARY AIR FORGE
SQUASH AND TENNIS COURTS FOR MORSE PARK
TOPPING CEREMONY FOR SPORTS CENTRE
CLEARWAY RESTRICTION
FIRING PRACTICE WARNING
ROAB WORK AT TUNNEL EXIT
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
TENTH PHASE OF NEW I.B. CARB SCHEME STARTING MONBAY
SATURDAY, MARCH
RESTRICTED ZONE TO BE EXTENDED
SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1984
- 1 -
TENTH PHASE OF NEW I.D. CARD SCHEME STARTING MONDAY M M
MEN BORN IN 1948 AND 1949 SHOULD APPLY FOR NEW IDENTITY CARDS DURING THE 10TH PHASE OF THE NEW I.D. CARD ISSUE SCHEME WHICH BEGINS ON MONDAY (MARCH 12).
MEN BORN IN 1965 WHO ARE STILL HOLDING THE OLD I.D. CARDS ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO APPLY DURING THE COMING PHASE.
♦IT IS ESTIMATED THAT ABOUT 39 000 MEN IN THIS AGE GROUP HAVE ALREADY BEEN ISSUED WITH NEW CARDS, LEAVING ONLY ABOUT 11 000 STILL HOLDING OLD CARDS,♦ AN IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
AFTER THE 10TH PHASE, THE NEW I.D, CARD ISSUE SCHEME WILL K TARGETED AT THE FEMALE. POPULATION.
♦THE TURN FOR MEN BORN IN 1947 OR BEFORE WILL BEGIN IN 1985,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
BETWEEN MARCH 12 AND APRIL 19, THE EIGHT ISSUE OFFICES WILL BE OPEN FROM 8 AM TO 9.30 PM, MONDAYS THROUGH SATURDAYS.
APPLICANTS ARE URGED TO VISIT THESE OFFICES IN THE MORNING OR AT WEEKENDS TO AVOID THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING RUSH.
ANYONE WHO WISHES TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT IN ADVANCE SHOULD FILL IN AN APPLICATION FORM AND RETURN IT TO THE ISSUE OFFICE OF HIS CHOICE AT LEAST 10 DAYS BEFORE THE END OF THE PHASE.
APPOINTMENTS CAN BE MADE FOR ANY TIME BETWEEN 10 AM AND 5.30 PM ON ANY WORKING DAY OTHER THAN MONDAYS.
THE FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT ALL DISTRICT OFFICES AND IMMIGRATION OFFICES.
-----o - - - -
MORE DAY-CARE CENTRES FOR MENTALLY RETARDED * M * * *
TWENTY-THREE DAY-CARE CENTRES FOR MENTALLY RETARDED PEOPLE ARE PLANNED FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, PROVIDING AN ADDITIONAL 1 900 PLACES, THE REGIONAL SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER (HONG KONG), MRS ROSE GOODSTADT, SAID THIS (SATURDAY) MORNING.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE KOWLOON UNION CHURCH'S WAI CHI CENTRE AT NAM SHAN ESTATE, SHE SAID IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT ABOUT 4 000 MENTALLY RETARDED YOUNG PERSONS WOULD NEED THIS TYPE OF DAYCARE ON A LONG-TERM BASIS.
t
AT PRESENT, THERE ARE ONLY 11 SUCH CENTRES OFFERING ABOUT 600 PLACES.
f .
/+WE HAVE .....
SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1984
- 2 -
♦WE HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO BEFORE WE COME ANYWHERE NEAR ADEQUATE PROVISION OF PLACES,♦ SHE SAID.
SHE SAID THAT BOTH GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WERE VERY MUCH COMMITTED TO THIS WORK.
♦EVEN IF ALL NEW PROJECTS PROCEED ACCORDING TO PLAN, BY 1989, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PLACES WILL BE SUFFICIENT FOR ONLY 60 PER CENT OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO NEED THEIR PROGRAMMES,+ SHE SAID.
MRS GOODSTADT SAID SHE HOPED THAT THE COMMUNITY WOULD RECOGNISE THE NEEDS OF THIS SPECIAL GROUP AND, IN CLOSE COOPERATION WITH THE GOVERNMENT, STRIVE TO PROVIDE FACILITIES SO ESSENTIAL FOR THEIR WELL-BEING.
SHE SAID THAT FOR THE MENTALLY RETARDED, ESPECIALLY THOSE AT THE MORE SEVERE END OF THE SCALE, FORMAL LEARNING HAD TO BE EXTENDED MUCH LONGER.
♦AS THEY REACH ADULTHOOD, THEY HAVE TO BE TAUGHT SOCIAL SKILLS, COMMUNICATION, WORK HABITS, FOR EXAMPLE, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT PART OF THE STORE OF ABILITIES ACQUIRED IN CHILDHOOD OR AT SCHOOL,+ SHE SAID.
♦THIS IS NOT A PHENOMENON UNIQUE TO HONG KONG.+ SHE SAID, +IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE UNITED STATES, FOR EXAMPLE, DAY TRAINING CENTRES ARE PROVIDED FOR THE SEVERELY HANDICAPPED ADULTS.+
♦OUR AIM IN SUCH CENTRES IS TO HELP THE YOUNG PERSON TO REACH MAXIMUM INDEPENDENCE AND SELF-RELIANCE, GOALS MORE EASILY REACHED IN A DAY CENTRE RATHER THAN IN AN INSTITUTIONAL SETTING,+ SHE ADDED.
MRS GOODSTADT SAID THAT OF EQUAL IMPORTANCE TO MENTALLY RETARDED ADULTS WERE SHELTERED WORKSHOPS, AND THE GOVERNMENT WAS COMMITTED TO THEIR RAPID EXPANSION.
THERE ARE NOW 24 SHELTERED WORKSHOPS OFFERING ABOUT 2 □□□ PLACES TO THE DISABLED, ABOUT 70 PER CENT OF WHOM ARE MENTALLY RETARDED.
THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WILL SEE THIS NUMBER SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED SO THAT BY 1989, THERE WILL BE ABOUT 5 000 ADULT MENTALLY RETARDED PERSONS IN WORK ACTIVITY CENTRES AND SHELTERED WORKSHOPS.
♦THIS RECORD IS ONE OF WHICH ANY COMMUNITY SHOULD BE PROUD. TO ENSURE THAT OUR AMBITIOUS PLANS CAN BE IMPLEMENTED, WE NEED MANY MORE DEDICATED AGENCIES AND PROFESS, I ON AL S AS WELL AS VOLUNTEERS,♦ MRS GOODSTADT SAID.
THE WAI CHI CENTRE, WHICH SERVES 50 TRAINEES, WAS DECORATED AND EQUIPPED WITH THE HELP OF A S860 000 GRANT FROM THE LOTTERIES FUND. THE RECURRENT EXPENDITURE IS MET IN FULL BY SUBVENTIONS FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.
- o - - -
/3........
SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1934
- 3 -
RARE SPECIES AT FLOWER SHOW I * * *
ONE OF THE BIGGEST FLOWER SHOWS IN HONG KONG WAS OPENED TODAY (SATURDAY) AT FANLING PLAYGROUND BY LADY YOUDE. WIFE OF THE pOVERNOR.
THE EIGHTH ANNUAL NORTH DISTRICT FLOWER SHOW, SPONSORED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD, FEATURES A WIDE RANGE OF LOCAL AND OVERSEAS FLOWERS.
THE MAIN ATTRACTIONS ARE AFRICAN VIOLETS, SOME OF WHICH ARE EITHER RARE OR NEW SPECIES.
OTHER SPECIAL FLOWERS INCLUDE CHINESE ORCHIDS, AZALEAS AND BONSAIS, HAWAIIAN ORCHIDS AND THE NATIONAL FLOWERS OF AUSTRALIA AND PAPUA NEW GUINEA.
ALSO ON DISPLAY ARE OVER 1 000 ENTRIES TO COMPETITIONS UNDER SEVEN CATEGORIESi CUT FLOWERS, SCENTED CUT FLOWERS, POT PLANTS, MINIATURE POT PLANTS, AFRICAN VIOLETS, ORCHIDS AND BONSAI-TYPE PLANTS.
IN ADDITION, THERE ARE EXHIBITS PROVIDED BY 20 ORGANISATIONS, INCLUDING THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, THE KADOORIE EXPERIMENTAL AND EXTENSION FARM, THE CHING CHUNG KOO TAOIST MONASTERY AND LOCAL FLOWER FARMS.
THE SHOW IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC DAILY FROM 10 AM TO 6 PM UNTIL TUESDAY (MARCH 13).
TALKS ON BONSAI, IKEBANA AND POT PLANT CULTIVATION WILL BE GIVEN DAILY AT THE SHOW.
VISITORS WILL BE GIVEN A BOOKLET CONTAINING DETAILS OF THE EXHIBITS AND ARTICLES ON THE TECHNIQUES OF FLOWER PLANTING.
THE SHOW IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE NORTH DISTRICT OFFICE, THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE TAI PO AND FANLING DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, NORTH DISTRICT ARTS ADVANCEMENT ASSOCIATION, HONG KONG BONSAI TYPE PLANTS ASSOCIATION, HONG KONG AFRICAN VIOLETS SOCIETY, HONG KONG FLOWER CLUB AND THE HONG KONG BRANCH, IKEBANA INTERNATIONAL.
- - - - 0
/4........
SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1984
- 4 -
PART-TIME LIFEGUARDS NEEDED X X M
YOUNG PEOPLE HOLDING APPROVED LIFESAVING QUALIFICATION ARE NEEDED TO SERVE AS PART-TIME LIFEGUARDS IN THE COMING SWIMMING SEASON.
THEY WILL BE PUT ON DUTY AT GAZETTED PUBLIC BEACHES AND SWIMMING POOL COMPLEXES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID.
THEY WILL BE EMPLOYED ON SHORT-TERM CONTRACT TERMS AT A MONTHLY SALARY OF $2 480, HE SAID.
THE NTSD IS LOOKING FOR ABOUT 100 PART-TIME LIFEGUARDS WHO MUST HOLD AT LEAST THE ROYAL LIFE-SAVING SOCIETY BRONZE MEDALLION, BE UNDER 35, HAVE STRONG PHYSIQUES AND GOOD EYESIGHT WITHOUT WEARING SPECTACLES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO THOSE WHO HAVE HIGHER LIFE SAVING QUALIFICATIONS AND ACTUAL EXPERIENCE.
APPLICATION FORMS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM ALL DISTRICT OFFICES.
-----o------
WOMEN VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT FOR AUXILIARY AIR FORCE
* X * * M
THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY AIR FORCE IS LOOKING FOR YOUNG WOMEN VOLUNTEERS TO BE TRAINED AS AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS.
THE RECRUITMENT EXERCISE TO BE LAUNCHED SHORTLY, WILL BE THE FIRST EVER CONDUCTED BY THE FORCE FOR WOMEN VOLUNTEERS SINCE THE END OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE FORCE SAID THAT THE RECRUITS WILL BE REQUIRED TO UNDERGO TRAINING DURING WEEKENDS. THEIR MAIN DUTY WILL BE TO PROVIDE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SERVICES AT ROYAL AIR FORCE SHEK KONG DURING SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS.
♦CANDIDATES WILL BE CAREFULLY SELECTED AND ONE OF THE PRIME CONSIDERATIONS IS WHETHER THEY HAVE A KEEN INTEREST IN AVIATION AND CAN PUT IN THE NECESSARY TRAINING TIME AND EFFORT TO ATTAIN THE HIGH STANDARD OF PROFICIENCY REQUIRED FOR THE POST,* HE SAID.
APPLICANTS MUST BE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 30, MEDICALLY FIT AND HAVE A GOOD COMMAND OF SPOKEN AND WRITTEN ENGLISH.
THEY MUST ALSO HAVE PASSED AT LEAST FIVE SUBJECTS, INCLUDING ENGLISH LANGUAGE (SYLLABUS B) AT GRADE C IN THE HONG KONG CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION OR AN EQUIVALENT EXAMINATION, AS WELL AS FOUR OTHER SUBJECTS AT GRADE E OR ABOVE.
APPLICANTS SHOULD SUBMIT PERSONAL DETAILS AND PHOTOGRAPHS TO THE COMMANDING OFFICER, ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY AIR FORCE. HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, AIRPORT TUNNEL EAST EXIT, KOWLOON.
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/5 .....
SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1984
- 5 -
SQUASH AND TENNIS COURTS FOR MORSE PARK * * * *
t WORK WILL START IN MAY ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF THREE SQUASH COURTS AND SIX TENNIS COURTS AT MORSE PARK IN WONG TAI SIN.
THEY WILL BE BUILT ON THE SITE OF TWO FORMER MINI-SOCCER PITCHES AND WILL BE READY BY FEBRUARY, 1985.
THE SQUASH COURTS WILL BE AIR-CONDITIONED AND INCLUDE STANDS FOR 120 SPECTATORS.
THE TENNIS COURTS WILL BE FLOODLIT FOR USE IN THE EVENING.
A SERVICE BUILDING PROVIDING SOLAR-HEATED CHANGING ROOMS, TOILETS AND A STOREROOM IS INCLUDED IN THE PROJECT.
TENDERS ARE BEING INVITED BY THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
THEY SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CENTRAL TENDER BOARD AND PLACED IN THE SECRETARIAT TENDER BOX IN THE LIFT LOBBY ON THE LOWER GROUND FLOOR OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, EAST WING, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, BEFORE 12 NOON ON FRIDAY, MARCH 30.
TENDER FORMS AND FURTHER PARTICULARS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE, BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, MURRAY BUILDING, 13TH FLOOR, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG.
0 - - - -
MORE SEWERS FOR TAI 0 * * *
ADDITIONAL SEWERS WILL BE BUILT AT TAI 0, LANTAU, TO SERVE EXISTING AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE TOWN.
THESE INCLUDE LUNG TIN ESTATE, TAI 0 FIRE STATION, A SECONDARY SCHOOL AND A PROPOSED PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE PROJECT.
THE CONTRACT WILL ALSO INCLUDE PREPARATORY EARTH-FILLING WORK FOR ABOUT A HECTARE OF LAND NORTH OF TA I 0 PRIOR TO SITE FORMATION WORK.
IN ADDITION, A 4Q-METRE-L0NG TRIAL SEAWALL WILL BE CONSTRUCTED ON THE SOUTHERN BANK OF THE TAI 0 RIVER CHANNEL TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FLOODING.
IT WILL BE USED FOR DESIGN TESTING AND FORM PART OF A PERMANENT SEAWALL TO BE BUILT AT A LATER STAGE.
WORK ON THE WHOLE PROJECT WILL BEGIN IN MAY AND TAKE 18 MONTHS TO FINISH.
/o......
SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1904
- 6 -
NOTE TO EDITORS!
TOPPING CEREMONY FOR SPORTS CENTRE
*****
THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM, WILL PERFORM THE TOPPING CEREMONY FOR MONG KOK’S FIRST MULTI-PURPOSE BUILDING ON MONDAY (MARCH 12) AFTERNOON.
THE BUILDING IS THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB MONG KOK DISTRICT CULTURAL, RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS ASSOCIATION’S LIM POR YEN CENTRE.
THE CENTRE WILL HAVE A GYMNASTIC HALL, TWO SQUASH COURTS, A FITNESS TRAINING CENTRE, A MULTI-PURPOSE HALL, A DANCING ROOM AND FOUR MUSIC ROOMS.
YOU ARE WELCOME TO COVER THE TOPPING CEREMONY AT 3 PM AT THE CHAN HING COMMUNITY SERVICES CENTRE AT 45 FUK TSUN STREET, TAI KOK TSUI.
--------o--------
CLEARWAY RESTRICTION * * *
FROM 10 AM ON MONDAY (MARCH 12), THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS OF HIP WO STREET WILL BE DESIGNATED RESTRICTED ZONES FROM 7 AM TO ID AM AND FROM 4 PM TO 7 PM DAILY i
* THE SOUTHBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF HIP WO STREET FROM A POINT ABOUT 55 METRES NORTH OF ITS SOUTHERN JUNCTION WITH YUET WAH STREET TO A POINT ABOUT 250 METRES SOUTH OF THE SAME JUNCTION.
* THE NORTHBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF HIP WO STREET FROM A POINT ABOUT 65 METRES NORTH OF ITS JUNCTION WITH MUT WAH STREET TO A POINT ABOUT 110 METRES SOUTH OF THE SAME JUNCTION.
WITHIN THE RESTRICTED ZONES, ALL MOTOR VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES AND THOSE AUTHORISED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM PICKING UP OR SETTING DOWN PASSENGERS AND LOADING OR UNLOADING GOODS.
------o - - - -
n....
SATURDAY, MARCH 10, 1984
(FIRING PRACTICE WARNING
MM*
FIRING PRACTICE WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE HA TSUEN - CASTLE BEAK RANGE FOR TWO DAYS NEXT WEEK.
THE PUBLIC ARE WARNED NOT TO ENTER THE AREA WHEN RED FLAGS ARE HOISTED.
THE PRACTICE WILL BE HELD ON MONDAY (MARCH 12) AND THURSDAY (MARCH 15) FROM 8 AM TO 5 PM.
- 0 ---------
RESTRICTED ZONE TO BE EXTENDED M M M M
FROM 10 AM ON MONDAY (MARCH 12), THE EXISTING DAILY RESTRICTION ON SAN MA TAU STREET WILL BE EXTENDED EASTWARDS TO ITS JUNCTION WITH WAI KING STREET.
WITHIN THE ZONE, ALL MOTOR VEHICLES EXCEPT THOSE AUTHORISED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM PICKING UP OR SETTING DOWN PASSENGERS, OR FROM LOADING OR UNLOADING GOODS DURING THE RESTRICTION HOURS.
THESE HOURS ARE FROM 7 AM TO 10 AM AND FROM 4 PM TO 7 PM.
---0----
ROAD WORK AT TUNNEL EXIT M M M
FROM 11 PM ON MONDAY (MARCH 12) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE ROAD LEADING FROM THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL TO CAUSEWAY BAY WILL BE CLOSED TO ‘TRAFFIC FOR ROAD WORK.
DURING THE CLOSURE, TRAFFIC WILL BE DIVERTED VIA THE EXIT ROAD LEADING TO NORTH POINT.
- 0
I
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
sundhY, March n, 1984
CONTENTS Page NO.
QUEEN'S COMMONWEALTH DAY MESSAGE 1984 ........................... 1
V/iLUE OF Family life EDUCATION stressed ........................ 1
APPLICATIONS FOR DB FUNDS OPEN .................................. 2
EMPLOYERS REMINDED ABOUT COMPULSORY INSURANCE ................... 3
CONTAINER TERMINAL TO BE EXPANDED ............................... 4
REFRESHER COURSE FOR TEACHERS ...............................
BOATYARDS TO BE BUILT IN TAI PO ................................. 5
SEVENTH PRIMARY SCHOOL FOR ESTATES .............................. 6
FOOD-BAZAAR TO HaVE FIRE-FIGHTING SYSTH-l ...................... 7
FOOTBRIDGE FOR CaSTLE PEAK ROAD................................ 7
CHINESE MUSIC AND FOLK SONGS NIGHT .............................. 8
JAPANESE DINNER TREAT FOR CHILDREN .............................. 8
SUNDAY. MARCH 11, 1984
1
QUEEN'S
COMMONWEALTH ft ft ft
DAY MESSAGE *
1904
FOLLOWING IS THE THE QUEEN. AS HEAD OF
COMMONWEALTH
THE COMMONWEALTHi
DAY MESSAGE
BY HER MAJESTY
♦COMMONWEALTH DAY REMINDS US IN A SPECIAL
WAY THAT WE ARE
EQUAL PARTNERS IN A UNIQUE ORGANISATION, A VOLUNTARY ASSOCIATION CF FORTY-NINE INDEPENDENT NATIONS, RICH AND POOR, LARGE AND SMALL OLD AND NEW, CONTAINING OVER A QUARTER OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION.
♦IN A WORLD BEWILDERING IN ITS COMPLEXITY, THE COMMONWEALTH PROVIDES A FOCUS, A LINK, AND A FORUMt A FOCUS TOWARDS WHICH ALL ITS MEMBERS CAN LOOK FOR UNDERSTANDING AND SUSTENANCE । A LINK WHICH UNITES US IN THE COMMON PURPOSE OF PRESERVING OUR PRECIOUS HUMAN FREEDOMS? AND A FORUM WHERE SERIOUS ATTEMPTS ARE MADE TO RESOLVE OUR DIFFICULTIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHICH BESET THE WORLD'S POOR, THE HUNGRY AND THE SICK.
♦I HAVE SPOKEN OFTEN IN THE PAST OF THE NEED FOR UNDERSTANDING AND GOODWILL TO GUIDE AND STIMULATE PEOPLE TOWARDS HELPING ONE ANOTHER. THE CHANGING PROBLEMS WHICH FACE US ALL CAN ONLY BE TACKLED BY PRACTICAL CO-OPERATION OVER THE WHOLE RANGE OF HUMAN AFFAIRS, AND FOR THIS THE COMMONWEALTH HAS AN UNUSUAL CAPACITY, AS I SAW YET AGAIN LAST YEAR IN VISITS TO COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES AND
AT THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING
IN DELHI
♦ALL OF US WHO MUST GUIDE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE FORMATIVE YEARS MUST GIVE THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO
THROUGH THEIR LEARN ABOUT THE
COMMONWEALTH, ITS SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND ITS VALUES AND POSSIBILITIES. IF THE COMMONWEALTH IS ABOUT ANYTHING AT ALL, IT IS SURELY ABOUT COMPASSION AND SERVICE. BECAUSE THE YOUNG LOVE A CHALLENGE, THEY SHOULD BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE UP TO THE COMMONWEALTH IDEALS OF FRIENDSHIP AND UNDERSTANDING BY HELPING THOSE LESS FORTUNATE THAN THEMSELVES. TOMORROW’S COMMONWEALTH WILL
BE IN THEIR HANDS
LET US HELP THEM TO PREPARE FOR IT.+
- - 0 -
VALUE
OF FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION STRESSED ft ft ft
ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION AND IS PLANNING TO INCLUDE IT IN THE SENIOR FORM CURRICULUM, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S HONG KONG REGIONAL OFFICER, MRS ROSE GOODSTADT, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
THE GOVERNMENT
MRS GOODSTADT WAS SPEAKING TO CHILDREN AND PARENTS IN A +FAMILY CARNIVAL+ HELD AT CHATER ROAD PEDESTRIAN PRECINCT TO AROUSEYTHEIR AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF A HARMONIOUS FAMILY
SHE SAIDi ♦FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION IS A CONTINUOUS PROCESS TO INSTIL IN FAMILY MEMBERS USEFUL KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THEIR GROWING UP BEHAVIOUR, HUMAN RELATIONSHIP AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES.
/+MANI SOCIAL
SUNDAY, MARCH 11, 1984
♦MANY SOCIAL TRAGEDIES, SUCH AS DIVORCE, CHILD ABUSE AND YOUTH CRIME, CAN BE AVOIDED IF PEOPLE KNOW MORE ABOUT FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION.+
MRS GOODSTADT STARTED OFF THE EVENT WHICH ATTRACTED MANY PEOPLE, YOUNG AND OLD. ACCOMPANIED BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ORGANISING BODIES, INCLUDING MR THOMAS MULVEY, DIRECTOR OF HONG KONG FAMILY WELFARE SOCIETY AND DR RAMON RUIZ, CHAIRMAN OF HONG KONG CATHOLIC MARRIAGE ADVISORY COUNCIL, SHE TOURED THE GAME STALLS, SAW THE FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION EXHIBITS ON DISPLAY AND JOINED THE CHILDREN IN SOME OF THE GAMES.
ON THE STAGE, PROFESSIONAL SINGERS AND LOCAL VOLUNTARY GROUPS, INCLUDING RAIMONDI COLLEGE CHOIR, YWCA INSTRUMENTAL GROUP AND CARITAS PERSEVERANCE-BANDELI ON GROUPS, ENTERTAINED THE PARTICIPANTS WITH CHINESE TRADITIONAL MUSIC AND FOLK SONGS.
THE FAMILY CARNIVAL WAS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN AND ISLANDS DISTRICTS’ YOUTH AND COMMUNITY CENTRES OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES AS PART OF THE FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PUBLICITY PROGRAMME.
- 0 - -
APPLICATIONS FOR DB FUNDS OPEN
LOCAL ORGANISATIONS IN EASTERN DISTRICT MAY NOW APPLY TO THE DISTRICT BOARD FOR FUNDS TO SUBSIDISE THEIR COMMUNITY BUILDING PROJECTS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE BOARD SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
♦THERE IS NO SET LIMIT ON THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS APPLIED FOR, THOUGH APPLICATIONS WILL BE VETTED BY THE COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE OF THE DISTRICT BOARD AND THE AMOUNT OF GRANT WILL DEPEND ON THE FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR THE PURPOSE,+ HE SAID.
♦FOR ENTERTAINMENT, RECREATIONAL, CULTURAL AND FESTIVE ACTIVITIES, IT IS ALSO EXPECTED THAT THE ORGANISERS WILL SHOULDER PART OF THE COSTS.+
APPLICATIONS FROM LOCAL ORGANISATIONS WILL BE INVITED TWICE A YEAR.
♦THOSE WISHING TO ORGANISE FUNCTIONS IN THE FIVE-MONTH PERIOD ENDING IN SEPTEMBER SHOULD SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATIONS ID THE DISTRICT BOARD SECRETARIAT BEFORE MARCH 31.
♦APPLICATIONS WILL AGAIN BE CALLED FOR IN EARLY AUGUST FOR PROJECTS PLANNED FOR THE MONTHS BETWEEN OCTOBER AND FEBRUARY NEXT YEAR,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
APPLICATION FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICE AT 880-886 KING’S ROAD THE CAUSEWAY BAY SUB-OFFICE AT 9-11 WING HING STREET THE SHAU KEI WAN SUB-OFFICE AT 243 SHAU KEI WAN ROAD AND THE CHAI WAN SUB-OFFICE AT BLOCK 2 OF HING WAH ESTATE.
SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WILL BE NOTIFIED IN WRITING BY THE BOARD’S SECRETARIAT NOT LATER THAN MAY 1984.
- - 0 - -
SUNDAY, MARCH 11, 1984
- 3 -
EMPLOYERS REMINDED ABOUT COMPULSORY INSURANCE
* * * *
EMPLOYERS WERE REMINDED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT THE LEGISLATION ON COMPULSORY INSURANCE FOR EMPLOYEES HAS BEEN IN FORCE SINCE JANUARY THIS YEAR.
THIS MEANS THAT AN EMPLOYER MUST TAKE OUT AN INSURANCE POLICY IN RESPECT OF ALL HIS EMPLOYEES FOR THE FULL AMOUNT OF HIS LIABILITIES FOR BOTH COMPENSATION UNDER THE EMPLOYEES’ COMPENSATION ORDINANCE AND COMMON LAW DAMAGES FOR INJURIES AND DEATH AS A RESULT OF AN ACCIDENT AT WORK.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT WARNED THAT ANY EMPLOYER WHO FAILS TO TAKE OUT AN INSURANCE POLICY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCE COMMITS AN OFFENCE AND IS LIABLE TO A FINE OF $50 000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR TWO YEARS.
UNDER THE ORDINANCE, THE INSURANCE POLICY MUST BE ISSUED BY AN INSURER AUTHORISED BY THE INSURANCE AUTHORITY TO CARRY ON ACCIDENT INSURANCE BUSINESS IN HONG KONG, HE SAID.
♦THIS IS TO ENSURE THAT THE INJURED EMPLOYEE CAN RECOVER IN HIS OWN NAME DIRECTLY FROM THE INSURERS ANY AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION WHICH HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ENTITLED TO CLAIM AGAINST HIS EMPLOYER,* SAID.
EMPLOYERS WHO HAVE TAKEN OUT INSURANCE POLICIES FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES MUST ALSO DISPLAY THEIR NOTICES OF INSURANCE AT A CONSPICUOUS PLACE IN THEIR WORK PREMISES. THE PENALTY FOR FAILING TO PUT UP THE NOTICE IS $10 000.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID AUTHORISED OFFICERS OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT MAY ENTER AND INSPECT PREMISES, OTHER THAN DOMESTIC PREMISES, TO ENSURE THAT EMPLOYERS HAVE TAKEN OUT THE INSURANCE POLICIES AND THAT THE NOTICES ARE DISPLAYED.
HE URGED EMPLOYERS WHO HAVE ANY ENQUIRIES TO CONTACT THE EMPLOYEES’ COMPENSATION UNIT OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT ON 5-7955927, 3-688466, OR 0-467776.
EMPLOYERS MAY ALSO SEEK ADVICE FROM THE INSURANCE AUTHORITY CF THE REGISTRAR GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT IF THEY WISH.
0 -
A....
SUNDAY, MARCH 11, 1984
- 4 -
CONTAINER TERMINAL TO BE EXPANDED
* * *
THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO RECLAIM OVER 15 HECTARES OF FORESHORE AND SEABED AT THE MOUTH OF LAI CHI KOK BAY AS PART OF THE PROGRAMME TO EXPAND THE CONTAINER TERMINAL.
THE ADDITIONAL LAND, AT THE SOUTH OF CONTAINER TERMINAL NO. 4, WILL BE USED MAINLY FOR TRADES RELATED TO THE CONTAINER INDUSTRY.
IT WILL ALSO BE USED TO BUILD ACCESS ROADS AND DRAINAGE.
THE RECLAMATION WILL BE CARRIED OUT UNDER THE PUBLIC RECLAMATIONS AND WORKS ORDINANCE.
AT THE SAME TIME THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO GRANT A LEASE FOR ABOUT 27 HECTARES OF FORESHORE AND SEABED NEXT TO THE RECLAMATION.
THE LESSEE WILL BE PERMITTED TO RECLAIM THE AREA AND CONSTRUCT AND USE A CONTAINER TERMINAL.
THE EXTENT OF AREAS AFFECTED IS DESCRIBED IN NOTICES IN THE LATEST GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSAL AND CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION SHOULD REACH THE DIRECTOR OF LANDS WITHIN TWO MONTHS.
THE NOTICES AND PLANS CAN BE SEEN ON BOARDS NEAR THE SITE.
THE PLANS CAN ALSO BE SEEN AT THE LANDS DEPARTMENT, 5TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG; OR AT THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICE, FOU WAH CENTRE, 210 CASTLE PEAK ROAD, 2ND FLOOR, TSUEN WAN, NEW TERRITORIES.
------o-------
REFRESHER COURSE FOR TEACHERS M M M M
SECONDARY SCHOOL HEADS ARE INVITED TO NOMINATE TEACHERS TO ATTEND A REFRESHER TRAINING COURSE AT NORTHCOTE COLLEGE OF
\ THE COURSE, WHICH WILL BE CONDUCTED ON A BLOCK-RELEASE BASIS,
IS TO ACQUAINT SERVING TEACHERS WITH CONTEMPORARY METHODS AND APPROACHES IN TEACHING IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
IT WILL BE SUBJECT BASED AND HELD OVER SEVEN CONSECUTIVE WEEKS.
/THE CURRICULUM .......
«
SUNDAY, MARCH 11, 1984
- 5 -
THE CURRICULUM WILL COMPRISE A CORE OF STUDY AND AN ELECTIVE COURSE. THE CORE COURSES INCLUDE TOPICS IN EDUCATION, EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY, ASSESSMENT AND STATISTICAL METHODS IN EDUCATION, AND MICROCOMPUTERS IN THE CLASSROOM.
THE ELECTIVE SUBJECTS INCLUDE ENGLISH, MATHEMATICS AND CHINESE.
PARTICIPANTS WILL BE EXPECTED TO COMPLETE PROJECTS AND ASSIGNMENTS AND TAKE AN ACTIVE PART IN SEMINARS AND TUTORIALS.
THERE WILL BE NO WRITTEN TESTS OR EXAMINATIONS. BUT A CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE WILL BE ISSUED FOR SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE.
HEADS OF SCHOOLS MAY NOMINATE UP TO FIVE NON-GRADUATE TEACHERS OF ANY RANK WHO HAVE COMPLETED THEIR INITIAL TRAINING FIVE YEARS AGO AND WHO ARE TEACHING THEIR ELECTIVE SUBJECTS IN FORMS I TO III.
PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO TEACHERS WHO HAVE NOT ATTENDED ANY COURSE SINCE THEIR INITIAL TRAINING IN A COLLEGE OF EDUCATION.
A REPLACEMENT TEACHER OF CERTIFICATED MASTER OR MISTRESS RANK MAY BE EMPLOYED ON A TEMPORARY BASIS BY A GOVERNMENT OR AN AIDED SCHOOL FOR THE BLOCK PERIOD TO REPLACE THE TEACHER UNDERGOING TRAINING. THE SERVICE OF THE REPLACEMENT TEACHER WILL COUNT FOR PROMOTION AND INCREMENTAL PURPOSE.
SCHOOL HEADS MAY SUBMIT THEIR NOMINATIONS TO THE SENIOR EDUCATION OFFICER (FURTHER EDUCATION), EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, LEE GARDENS, 2/F, HYSAN AVENUE, CAUSEWAY BAY, HONG KONG ON OR BEFORE APRIL 18.
ENQUIRIES CONCERNING THE COURSE MAY BE DIRECTED TO NORTHCOTE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AT TEL. 5-871281 AND QUERIES ABOUT REPLACEMENT TEACHERS TO THE DISTRICT EDUCATION OFFICER CONCERNED.
-----o------
BOATYARDS TO BE BUILT IN TAI PO M X X M
A SITE AT TAI PO IS TO BE DEVELOPED INTO YARDS TO BUILD AND REPAIR FISHING BOATS.
IT COVERS 2 625 SQUARE METRES OF FORESHORE AND SEA BED OFF TING KOK ROAD NEAR YIM TIN TSAI.
THE LEASE WILL BE FOR SEVEN YEARS, RENEWABLE FOR THREE YEAR PERIODS AFTERWARDS.
THE EXTENT OF THE AREA AFFECTED IS DESCRIBED IN A NOTICE IN THE LATEST GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
/THE NOTICE ....
SUNDAY, MARCH 11, 1984
6 -
THE NOTICE WITH A PLAN CAN BE SEEN ON BOARDS POSTED NEAR THE SITE. THE PLAN CAN ALSO BE SEEN ATi
* THE LANDS DEPARTMENT, MURRAY BUILDING, 5TH FLOOR, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG ; AND
* THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE (TAI PO), TAI PO GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING, TING KOK ROAD, TAI PO.
OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSAL AND CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION SHOULD REACH THE DIRECTOR OF LANDS WITHIN TWO MONTHS FROM MARCH 9.
-----0-------
SEVENTH PRIMARY SCHOOL FOR ESTATES * * * *
A $i-MILLION PILING CONTRACT HAS BEEN AWARDED IN CONNECTION WITH CONSTRUCTION OF THE SEVENTH PRIMARY SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN LIVING AT ON TING AND YAU Ol ESTATES, TUEN MUN.
THE CONTRACT HAS BEEN AWARDED BY THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE OF THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO GUANGDONG WATER CONSERVANCY AND HYDRO-POWER ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT COMPANY LIMITED.
WORK ON THE CONTRACT WILL BEGIN SHORTLY AND TAKE THREE MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
THEN, WORK ON BUILDING THE SUPERSTRUCTURE WILL START UNDER A SEPARATE CONTRACT AND THE SCHOOL IS EXPECTED TO BE READY BY SUMMER NEXT YEAR.
THE SCHOOL WILL BE BUILT ON A 0.39-HECTARE SITE ON RECLAIMED LAND IN THE VICINITY OF YAU Ol ESTATE AND THE TEMPORARY HOVERFERRY PIER.
THE SIX-STOREY BUILDING WILL HAVE 24 CLASSROOMS AND AN ASSEMBLY HALL.
THERE WILL ALSO BE A COVERED PLAY AREA AND AN EXTERNAL PLAY AREA WITH BASKETBALL AND VOLLEYBALL COURTS.
THE TWO ESTATES HAVE A COMBINED POPULATION OF 60 000.
THERE ARE 39 SCHOOLS, EITHER EXISTING OR UNDER CONSTRUCTION, IN TUEN MUN WHICH NOW HAS 190 000 RESIDENTS.
------o - - —
/7......
SUNDAY, MARCH 11, 1984
- 7 -
FOOD-BAZAAR TO HAVE FIRE-FIGHTING SYSTEM
* * *
A $63 000 CONTRACT HAS BEEN AWARDED BY THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE OF THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT FOR A VENTILATION AND FIRE-FIGHTING SYSTEM IN A COOKED FOOD BAZAAR AT KWUN TONG.
THE TWO-STOREY STRUCTURE IN TSUN YIP STREET WILL HAVE 56 COOKED FOOD STALLS AND IMPROVED EATING FACILITIES FOR LOCAL WORKERS.
THE BAZAAR WILL BE PROVIDED WITH TOILETS, A REFUSE COLLECTION CHAMBER, STOREROOMS, OFFICE SPACE AND A ROOF-TOP SITTING-OUT AREA.
WORK ON THE PROJECT WILL BE COMPLETED IN OCTOBER, WHEN THE BAZAAR IS READY FOR USE.
THE CONTRACT WAS AWARDED TO ARNHOLD AND COMPANY LIMITED.
------0-------
FOOTBRIDGE FOR CASTLE PEAK ROAD
HMM
A TEMPORARY STEEL FOOTBRIDGE WILL BE BUILT ACROSS CASTLE PEAK ROAD NEAR CHUNG SHAN TERRACE TO IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IN THE AREA.
AT PRESENT IT IS DIFFICULT TO CROSS THE ROAD BECAUSE OF FAST TRAFFIC MOVEMENT.
THE BRIDGE WILL BE 21 METRES LONG AND 2.1 METRES WIDE.
WORK WILL START IN MID-1984 AND TAKE SIX MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
IT WILL REQUIRE THE REPOSITIONING OF SOME UTILITY FACILITIES.
PLANS TO BUILD A PERMANENT FOOTBRIDGE AT THE LOCATION WILL BE CONSIDERED LATER WHEN DETAILS OF A PROPOSED ROAD PROJECT IN THE AREA ARE FINALISED.
A PLAN SHOWING THE EXTENT OF THE PROPOSED WORK CAN BE SEEN AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:
CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, CENTRAL ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING, MAIN ENTRANCE LOBBY, HONG KONG;
TSUEN WAN DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, TSUEN WAN STATION MULTI-STOREY CAR PARK BUILDING, 10TH FLOOR, 174-208, CASTLE PEAK ROAD, TSUEN WAN; AND
TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICE, FOU WAH CENTRE, 2ND FLOOR, 210, CASTLE PEAK ROAD, TSUEN WAN.
ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSAL MUST REACH THE SECRETARY FCR LANDS AND WORKS BEFORE MAY E.
------o-------
/8......
*
K
SUNDAY, MARCH 11, 1984
- 8 -
CHINESE MUSIC AND FOLK SONGS NIGHT * * *
THE MUSIC OFFICE OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT HELD A CHINESE MUSIC AND FOLK SONGS NIGHT AT THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY HALL THIS (SUNDAY) EVENING.
THE EVENT PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE RECEIVING ORCHESTRAL TRAINING IN THE MUSIC OFFICE TO PERFORM BEFORE THE PUBLIC.
TAKING PART IN TONIGHT’S PERFORMANCES WERE THE HONG KONG YOUTH CHINESE ORCHESTRA, THE MUSIC OFFICE TRAINEES’ CHINESE ORCHESTRA, THE TSUEN WAN CHINESE ORCHESTRA, THE EAST KOWLOON YOUTH CHINESE ORCHESTRA, THE WEST KOWLOON YOUTH CHINESE ORCHESTRA, THE ISLAND YOUTH CHINESE ORCHESTRA AND THE CHINESE FOLK SINGING CHILDREN'S ENSEMBLE.
------o-------
NOTE TO EDITORS*
JAPANESE DINNER TREAT FOR CHILDREN x n
SIXTY-EIGHT CHILDREN FROM THE PO LEUNG KUK WILL BE TREATED TO A JAPANESE DINNER AT A RESTAURANT IN CAUSEWAY BAY TOMORROW (MONDAY).
THE EVENT IS ORGANISED BY THE CAUSEWAY BAY NORTH AREA COMMITTEE AND SPONSORED BY THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD.
THERE WILL BE GAMES AND ENTERTAINMENT BEFORE THE DINNER, AND GIFT PACKETS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE PARTICIPANTS.
THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER (CAUSEWAY BAY/NORTH POINT), bR FREDERICK TONG, WILL ATTEND THE FUNCTION.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT WHICH WILL START AT 5 PM AT THE SUISHAYA RESTAURANT IN LEIGHTON ROAD.
-----0--------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
1984
CONTENTS
PAG.
TIME 7/ELL SPENT
TAG CONSIDERS PROPOSALS ON TAXIS
ELECTRICAL GENERATING CAPACITY TO DOUBLE
JANUARY MERCHANDISE TRaDE RISES SHARPLY
MOBILE SERVICE FOR ID C.kRD SCHEME
RESIDENTS URGED TO VOTE
VISIT PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE
DB MEMBERS TO
FOR MONG KOK READY SOON
SPORTS CENTRE
BE BUILT AT KOWLOON CITY
PLAYGROUND TO
WOMAN'S SHELTER OPENING
WORK STARTS ON AP LEI CELJJ ACCESS
ROAD
TRAFFIC MEASURES FOR NGnU TAU KOK
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE IN SHA TIN
WAN CHAI WATER WORKS
WATER FIGURES
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
Monday, march
MUSIC OFFICE TO STaGE aNNUaL TRAINEES' GALA
SPEEDPOST SERVICE EXTENDED
MONDAY, MARCH 12, 1984
1
TIME WELL SPENT M * * M
THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID HE WAS SURE THAT MEMBERS OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE REGARDED ITS FOUR OPEN MEETINGS AS TIME WELL SPENT.
SIR PHILIP WAS SPEAKING AT THE END OF THE LAST OF THE FOUR MEETINGS TODAY (MONDAY). HE SAID THAT 41 CONTROLLING OFFICERS HAD APPEARED BEFORE THE COMMITTEE TO ANSWER 265 NOTIFIED QUESTIONS AND THEY ALSO REPLIED TO SUPPLEMENTARIES. IN ADDITION 185 WRITTEN
REPLIES OVER 16
HAD BEEN GIVEN. THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WAS IN SESSION FOR HOURS.
- - 0 -
TAC CONSIDERS PROPOSALS * * * *
THE
TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AT
CONSIDERED VARIOUS PROPOSALS TO IMPLEMENT IN THE 1983 TAXI REVIEW.
ON TAXIS
ITS MEETING TODAY, THE RECOMMENDATIONS
THESE PROPOSALS, TOGETHER WITH THE REVIEW, WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE DISTRICT BOARDS, TAXI ASSOCIATIONS AND THE FINANCE HOUSES ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG, WHOSE MEMBERS PROVIDE FINANCING FOR THE MAJORITY OF TAXIS, TO OBTAIN THEIR COMMENTS,
IT IS ALSO INTENDED THAT THE GENERAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY SHOULD INCLUDE QUESTIONS ON TAXI USAGE. ADDITIONALLY, PUBLIC OPINION AS REFLECTED IN THE MEDIA, WILL BE CLOSELY MONITORED.
THIS PUBLIC CONSULTATION PROCESS IS EXPECTED TO START
SHORTLY
VARIOUS SURVEYS
PUBLIC RESPONSE, TOGETHER WITH THE RESULTS OF THE
THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE TAC AND, AFTERWARDS
ANY LEGISLATION REQUIRED WOULD BE INTRODUCED INTO AND DEBATED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BEFORE THE END OF ITS CURRENT SESSION IN JULY.
- - 0
ELECTRICAL GENERATING CAPACITY TO DOUBLE * * * *
ELECTRICAL GENERATING CAPACITY IN HONG KONG SHOULD DOUBLE BY THE EARLY 1990'S, THE DIRECTOR OF ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES, MR GRAHAM OSBORNE, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
MR OSBORNE WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF ♦ELENEX 84+ THE FIRST HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING SHOW.
IT IS BEING HELD AT THE HONG KONG EXHIBITION CENTRE UNTIL THURSDAY AND HAS ATTRACTED PRODUCTS FROM OVER 60 PARTICIPANTS.
/he sub
MONDAY, MARCH 12, 1984
- 2 -
HE SAID HONG KONG’S TOTAL GENERATING CAPACITY IN 1945 WAS IDO MEGAWATTS, AND THIS INCREASED TO 400 MEGAWATTS 20 YEARS LATER.
♦BUT IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE LATE 196O’S AND EARLY 1970’S WHEN, FUELED BY A POPULATION AND ECONOMIC GROWTH, HONG KONG’S ELECTRICAL GENERATING CAPACITY BEGAN ITS PHENOMENAL EXPANSION.
♦ALTHOUGH THIS WAS LED BY INDUSTRY, IT IS IMPORTANT TO -ECALL THAT DOMESTIC DEMAND FOR ELECTRICITY GREW IN AN EQUALLY DRAMATIC FASHION, REFLECTING INCREASING LIVING STANDARDS,* b€ SAID.
BY 1968, CAPACITY HAD INCREASED TO ABOUT 800 MEGAWATTS AND, WAS NOW JUST OVER 5 000 MEGAWATTS.
♦THE GROWTH OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY AND THE TENDENCY TO MAXIMISE LAND USE IN HONG KONG WERE THE MAJOR CAUSES OF THIS GROWTH IN DEMAND,♦ MR OSBORNE SAID.
THE INSTALLATION OF LIGHTING FOR DECORATION AND ILLUMINATION, THE INSTALLATION OF ESCALATORS AND LIFTS IN HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS, THE PROVISION OF ADEQUATE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS (INCLUDING STANDBY GENERATORS), THE GROWTH OF INTERNAL COMMUNICATION AND SECURITY SYSTEMS AND, MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, THE WIDE-SPREAD INTRODUCTION OF AIR-CONDITIONING HAD ALL CONTRIBUTED TO THIS REMARKABLE GROWTH.
WHAT WAS FREQUENTLY OVERLOOKED, HOWEVER, WAS THE INCREASING DEMAND FROM RECREATIONAL FACILITIES. .
THE ISOLATED FOOTBALL PITCHES OF THE PAST, WHICH COULD BE USED ONLY DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS, HAD GIVEN WAY TO LARGE, MULTI-PURPOSE INDOOR AND OUTDOOR FACILITIES, WHICH CATERED FOR THE RECREATIONAL NEEDS OF OUR THRIVING, METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY.
THE GOVERNMENT NOW PROVIDED FOOTBALL PITCHES, BASKET-BALL, TENNIS AND SQUASH COURTS AND SWIMMING FACILITIES TO THE HIGHEST INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS.
THESE INVOLVED FLOODLIGHTING, COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, ELECTRONIC SCOREBOARDS AND TELE-VISUAL FACILTIES, AND, TAKEN TOGETHER, PLACED AN INCREASING DEMAND ON OUR POWER SUPPLY -AS WELL AS ON OUR CAPACITY FOR TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION.
FINALLY, COMPUTERISATION IN BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS, AUTOMATION IN MANUFACTURING AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF TWO MODERN, HIGH-SPEED, ELECTRIC RAIL SYSTEMS, WERE AMONG THE MOST RECENT DEVELOPMENTS TO HAVE PLACED FURTHER DEMANDS ON THE SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY.
OVERALL, THE ANNUAL CONSUMPTION OF UNITS OF ELECTRICITY PER PERSON IN HONG KONG HAD INCREASED BY OVER 50 PER CENT IN THE LAST 10 YEARS.
THIS CONSUMPTION WAS ROUGHLY EQUIVALENT TO THAT OF SINGAPORE, BUT WAS ONLY 60 PER CENT OF THE PER-CAPITA CONSUMPTION IN JAPAN, SO IT COULD NOT BE SAID THAT WE WERE EXTRAVAGANT IN OUR USE OF ELECTRICITY.
/+NOH CAN .......
MONDAY, MANCE 12, 19&4
r- 3 -
♦ NOR CAN IT BE SAID THAT THE INCREASE IN DEMAND AND PER-CAPITA CONSUMPTION HAS TAKEN PLACE AT ANY SACRIFICE IN COST,+ MR OSBORNE SAID.
IN MAY, 1983, A SURVEY CARRIED OUT BY THE LOCAL ELECTRICITY SUPPLY INDUSTRIES SHOWED THAT HONG KONG HAD THE LOWEST COMMERCIAL CHARGE FOR ELECTRICITY IN THE REGION.
IT ALSO SHOWED THAT IT HAD THE SECOND LOWEST INDUSTRIAL CHARGE IN THE REGION, BEHIND TAIWAN, BUT WAS CHEAPER THAN JAPAN, KOREA, MALAYSIA, THE PHILIPPINES, SINGAPORE AND THAILAND.
DOMESTIC CONSUMERS IN HONG KONG WERE FOUND TO PAY THE THIRD LOWEST RATE IN THE REGION, BEHIND ONLY THAILAND AND TAIWAN.
♦ THEREFORE, I THINK IT IS FAIR TO SAY THAT THE GROWTH IN HONG KONG'S GENERATING CAPACITY HAS BEEN BOTH SWIFT AND PRUDENT,* OSBORNE SAID.
HE SAID ALMOST 40 PER CENT OF THE PRESENT GENERATING CAPACITY OF 5 000 MEGAWATTS WAS COMPLETED IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS AT A COST OF $12 BILLION.
IN THE COMING YEAR, TWO NEW 350 MEGAWATT COAL-FIRED GENERATING UNITS WERE SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED AT A TOTAL COST CF SOME $6 BILLION.
THIS WOULD BE FOLLOWED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF FOUR 660 MEGAWATT COAL-FIRED UNITS, AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF S18 BILLION.
♦ BY THE EARLY 199O’S, THE GENERATING CAPACITY IN HONG KONG SHOULD AGAIN HAVE DOUBLED, TO ABOUT 10 000 MEGAWATTS,* MR OSBORNE SAID.
♦ THIS ADDITIONAL CAPAPCITY WILL ENSURE THAT HONG KONG IS ABLE TO MEET THE GROWING DEMANDS OF ITS DOMESTIC AND INDUSTRIAL CONSUMERS IN THE YEARS AHEAD.*
HE SAID SOME HAD QUESTIONED THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL GENERATING CAPACITY, BUT SUGGESTED THAT THE PROVISION OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY TO ANY COMMUNITY WAS A USEFUL INDEX OF ITS ECONOMIC PROSPERITY.
♦ GIVEN THE RELATIVE POSITION OF HONG KONG IN THE ENERGY CONSUMPTION TABLE FOR THE REGION, IT IS CLEAR THAT THERE WILL BE INCREASING DEMAND FOR ELECTRICITY IN THE YEARS AHEAD,♦ l£ SAID.
♦ THE GOVERNMENT, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE TWO POWER COMPANIES, IS CONTINUING TO PLAN FOR SUFFICIENT CAPACITY TO ENABLE HONG KONG TO EXPLOIT ITS ECONOMIC POTENTIAL TO THE FULL AND IN THIS RESPECT I ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPORTANT ROLE PLAYED BY MEMBERS OF YOUR ASSOCIATION IN ENSURING THE ELECTRICITY, AS PROVIDED BY THE POWER COMPANIES, REACHES THE CONSUMER IN A SAFE AND PROPER MANNER.♦
/the exhibition, ........
MONDAY, MABCH 12, 1984
4
THE EXHIBITION, HE SAID, WAS ONE INDICATION THAT HONG KONG REMAINED AT THE FOREFRONT OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY.
IT IS SPONSORED BY THE HONG KONG AND KOWLOON ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS' ASSOCIATION. BESIDES HONG KONG, THERE ARE PARTICIPANTS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM, FRANCE, WEST GERMANY, DENMARK AND BULGARIA.
- - 0 - -
JANUARY MERCHANDISE TRADE RISES SHARPLY * * * *
TOTAL MERCHANDISE TRADE FOR JANUARY 1984, VALUED AT $32 666 MILLION, INCREASED BY 51 PER CENT AS COMPARED WITH
JANUARY 1983, BY THE CENSUS
ACCORDING TO SUMMARY TRADE FIGURES RELEASED TODAY AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
DOMESTIC
IMPORTS BY 38
PER CENT TO $5 976 TOGETHER INCREASED
EXPORTS ROSE BY 68 PER CENT TO $10 791 MILLION, PER CENT TO $15 899 MILLION AND RE-EXPORTS BY 61
MILLION. DOMESTIC BY 65 PER CENT.
EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS
COMMENTING ON
THESE COMPARATIVE
SPOKESMEN SAID THAT TRADE STATISTICS
FIGURES, A GOVERNMENT FOR THE BEGINNING MONTHS
OF THE YEAR ARE, AS USUAL, INFLUENCED BY THE TIMING OF THE CHINESE NEW YEAR.
♦IT IS EXPECTED THAT SOME OF THE INCREASE IN DOMESTIC
EXPORTS IN JANUARY 1984 REFLECTED INCREASED THE CHINESE NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS.
SHIPMENTS PRIOR TO
♦THIS POINT SHOULD BE BORNE IN MIND IN STATISTICS,♦ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
INTERPRETING SUCH
THE CHANGES IN DOMESTIC MARKETS ARE SHOWN IN TABLE 1
EXPORTS TO THE
TEN
AT THE END OF THIS
MAJOR
PRESS
OVERSEAS RELEASE.
DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO THE VALUE. SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES
UNITED STATES ROSE
BY 87
PER CENT IN
WERE RECORDED IN CLOTHING (BY $976
MILLION OR 98 PER CENT), TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY $232 MILLION OR 121 PER CENT) AND ELECTRICAL MACHINERY APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES AND ELECTRICAL PARTS THEREOF (BY $226 MILLION OR 80 PER CENT). ?? THE 9THER HAND> decreases WERE RECORDED IN TRANSISTORS AND DIODES (BY $15 MILLION OR 71 PER CENT) AND WATCHES AND CLOCKS (BY $8 MILLION OR FOUR PER CENT).
MOST COMMODITIES EXPORTED TO THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY INCREASED IN VALUE, INCLUDING CLOTHING (BY $229 MILLION OR 67 PER CENT), TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND
REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY CENT) AND OFFICE MACHINES AND AUTOMATIC (BY $22 MILLION OR 226 PER CENT).
SOUND RECORDING AND $24 MILLION OR 66 PER DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT
/INC REASES IN
MONDAY, MABCH 12, 19&4
- 5 -
INCREASES IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO THE UNITED KINGDOM WERE REGISTERED FOR CLOTHING (BY $133 MILLION OR 68 PER CENT). OFFICE MACHINES AND AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT (BY $72 MILLION OR 1 403 PER CENT), TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY $31 MILLION OR 153 PER CENT, AND TEXTILES (BY $26 MILLION OR 76 PER CENT).
SIGNIFICANT INCREASES WERE REGISTERED IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO CHINA OF TEXTILES (BY $71 MILLION OR 86 PER CENT) AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY $55 MILLION OR 137 PER CENT); AND IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO JAPAN OF CLOTHING (BY $69 MILLION OR 130 PER CENT).
THE CHANGES IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS BY MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS ARE PRESENTED IN TABLE 2.
THE CHANGES IN IMPORTS FROM THE TEN MAJOR SOURCES ARE SUMMARISED IN TABLE 3.
DEMAND FOR IMPORTED GOODS FROM CHINA REMAINED STRONG. INCREASES WERE RECORDED MAINLY IN TEXTILES (BY $575 MILLION OR 119 PER CENT), CLOTHING (BY $289 MILLION OR 75 PER CENT), TEXTILE FIBRES (OTHER THAN WOOL TOPS) AND THEIR WASTES (BY $76 MILLION OR 160 PER CENT), VEGETABLES AND FRUIT (BY $63 MILLION OR 34 PER CENT). AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY $56 MILLION OR 189 PER CENT).
AS FOR IMPORTS FROM JAPAN, INCREASES WERE NOTED FOR ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES, AND ELECTRICAL PARTS THEREOF (BY $153 MILLION OR 57 PER CENT), AND TEXTILES (BY $114 MILLION OR 43 PER CENT). HOWEVER, DECREASES WERE REGISTERED FOR ROAD VEHICLES (INCLUDING AIR CUSHION VEHICLES)(BY $17 MILLION OR SEVEN PER CENT). AND FISH, CRUSTACEANS AND MOLLUSCS, AND PREPARATIONS THEREOF (BY $4 MILLION OR 15 PER CENT).
INCREASES IN IMPORTS FROM THE UNITED STATES WERE MOSTLY OF ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES, AND ELECTRICAL PARTS THEREOF (BY $213 MILLION OR 159 PER CENT), TEXTILE FIBRES (OTHER THAN WOOL TOPS) AND THEIR WASTES (BY $58 MILLION OR 523 PER CENT), AND TOBACCO AND TOBACCO MANUFACTURES (BY $42 MILLION OR 59 PER CENT). ON THE OTHER HAND, DECREASES WERE REGISTERED IN IMPORTS OF CRUDE ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE MATERIALS (BY $ 15 MILLION OR 44 PER CENT), AND GENERAL INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT, AND MACHINE PARTS (BY $14 MILLION OR 31 PER CENT).
DECREASES WERE REGISTERED IN IMPORTS FROM TAIWAN OF NON-METALLIC MINERAL MANUFACTURES (BY $7 MILLION OR 18 PER CENT) AND IN IMPORTS FROM SINGAPORE OF WATCHES AND CLOCKS (BY $4 MILLION OR NINE PER CENT). HOWEVER, IMPORTS OF TEXTILES FROM TAIWAN INCREASED (BY $153 MILLION OR 57 PER CENT); AND IMPORTS OF PETROLEUM, PETROLEUM PRODUCTS AND RELATED MATERIALS FROM SINGAPORE ALSO INCREASED (BY $105 MILLION OR 26 PER CENT).
TABLE 4 ILLUSTRATES THE CHANGES IN IMPORTS BY MAJOR COMMODITY SECTIONS.
/INC REUSES WERE.......
MONDAY, MARCH 12, 19&4
6
INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN RE-EXPORTS TO CHINA (BY $1 021 MILLION OR 169 PER CENT), UNITED STATES (BY $440 MILLION OR 85 PER CENT), TAIWAN (BY *171 MILLION OR 91 PER CENT), JAPAN (BY *130 MILLION OR 70 PER CENT), REPUBLIC OF KOREA (SOUTH KOREA) (BY $112 MILLION OR 80 PER CENT), SINGAPORE (BY $49 MILLION OR 14 PER CENT), DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF KOREA (BY $47 MILLION OR 3$8 PER CENT) AND CANADA (BY $41 MILLION OR 103 PER CENT). ON THE OTHER HAND, DECLINES WERE REGISTERED IN RE-EXPORTS TO INDONESIA (BY $86 MILLION OR 20 PER CENT) AND NIGERIA (BY 65 MILLION OR 77 PER CENT). THE CHANGES IN RE-EXPORTS TO THE TEN MAJOR MARKETS ARE GIVEN IN TABLE 5.
MOST COMMODITIES RE-EXPORTED THROUGH HONG KONG EXHIBITED STRONG GROWTH, THE MORE SIGNIFICANT ONES BEING TEXTILES (BY $452 MILLION OR 105 PER CENT), ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES, AND ELECTRICAL PARTS THEREOF (BY $300 MILLION OR 111 PER CENT), CLOTHING (BY $244 MILLION OR 81 PER CENT) AND MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (BY $141 MILLION OR 77 PER CENT). DECREASES WERE REGISTERED IN THE RE-EXPORTS OF OIL SEEDS AND OLEAGINOUS FRUIT (BY $22 MILLION OR 58 PER CENT), NON-FERROUS METALS (BY $11 MILLION OR 17 PER CENT) AND METALLIFEROUS ORES AND I^ETAL SCRAP (BY $11 MILLION OR 52 PER CENT). THE CHANGES IN REEXPORTS BY MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS ARE GIVEN IN TABLE 6.
THE JANUARY 1984 ISSUE OF THE +HONG KONG TRADE STATISTICS -SUMMARY* WILL SOON BE AVAILABLE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT HK$5 PER COPY. A MORE COMPREHENSIVE REPORT. +HONG KONG EXTERNAL TRADE*. WITH A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF IMPORTS, EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS IN JANUARY 1984 WILL BE AVAILABLE IN EARLY APRIL 1984, AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT HKS1O PER COPY.
ENQUIRIES CONCERNING SUBSCRIPTIONS TO THESE REPORTS MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT AT BASKERVILLE (TEL. NO. 1 5-214375). ENQUIRIES CONCERNING MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS
HOUSE. HONG KONG TRADER STATISTICS DEPARTMENT (TEL.
TABLE
NO. 1 5-444436).
t DOMESTIC EXPORTS BY TEN MAJOR MARKETS
PERCENTAGE
MAJOR MARKETS JAN. 1984 ($ MN) JAN. 1983 ($ MN) INCREASE ($ MN) CHANGE ( % )
1 U.S.A. 4 753 2 536 +2 217 *87
F.R. OF GERMANY 889 548 + 341 +62
U.K. 791 437 * 353 +81
CHINA 670 352 + 317 ♦90
JAPAN 369 230 + 139 + 60
AUSTRALIA 359 188 * 171 +91
/CANADA
MONDAY, MARCH 12, 1984 I
- 8 -
I U.S.A. 1 628 1 206 ♦ 422 ♦35
I TAIWAN 1 242 858 + 384 +45
1 SINGAPORE 946 723 * 222 +31
1 U,K* 728 565 + 163' ♦29
1 ".PUBLIC OF KOREA 1 (SOUTH KOREA) 459 296 ♦ 163 +55
1 F.R. OF GERMANY 401 311 + 89 +29
1 AUSTRALIA 283 178 + 105 +59
1 SWITZERLAND 249 206 ♦ 43 ♦21
1 TABLES 4 : IMPORTS BY COMMODITY SECTIONS
I COMMOD 1TY | SECTIONS JAN. 1984 ($ MN) JAN. 1983 (S MN) INCREASE ($ MN) PERCENTAGE CHANGE ( % ) j
1 MANUFACTURED GOODS 1 CLASSIFIED CHIEFLY 1 BY MATERIAL (MAINLY I TEXTILE PRODUCTS, I DIAMONDS, IRON AND STEEL, AND PAPER) 4 513 c 2 910 *1 603 +55 I
MACHINERY AND TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT 3 643 2 507 +1 137 +45 I
MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (MAINLY WATCHES AND CLOCKS, ARTICLES OF APPAREL) ■> X 2 616 1 999 ♦ 617 +31
FOOD AND LIVE ANIMALS CHIEFLY FOR FOOD 1 808 1 514 + 294 + 19 I
CHEMICALS AND RELATED PRODUCTS, N.E.S. 1 182 868 ♦ 314 +36 I
MINERAL FUELS, LUBRICANTS AND RELATED MATERIALS 948 938 + 10 ♦ 1 1
/table 5
1 * 1 • - 9 - MONDAY, MABCH 12, 1984
| TABLES 5 i RE-EXPORTS BY TEN MAJOR MARKETS
MAJOR MARKET S JAN. 1984 ($ MN) JAN. 1983 (S MN) INCREASE/ DECREASE (S MN) PERCENTAGE CHANGE ( % ) |
CHINA 1 623 602 II ♦1 021 ♦169
U.S.A. 959 519 ♦ 440 ♦85
SINGAPORE 400 351 ♦ 49 +14
TAIWAN 358 187 ♦ 171 ♦91
INDONESIA 342 427 - 86 -20
JAPAN 315 185 + 130 ♦70
REPUBLIC OF KOREA (SOUTH KOREA) 251 139 + 112 +80
MACAU 163 138 + 25 + 18
AUSTRALIA 124 51 + 74 ♦ 145
THAILAND 119 83 * 35 +42
TABLES 6 i RE-EXPORTS BY MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS
COMMODITY | DIVISIONS JAN. 1984 ($ MN) JAN. 1983 (S MN) 1 INCREASE ($ MN) PERCENTAGE CHANGE ( % ) |
TEXTILE YARN, FABRICS, MADE-UP ARTICLES AND RELATED PRODUCTS 881 429 ♦ 452 ♦105
ELECTRICAL MACHINERY APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES 572 272 + 300 ♦ 111
ARTICLES OF APPAREAL AND CLOTHING ACCESSORIES 546 302 + 244 +81
MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES 324 183 ♦ 141 ♦77
PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES AND OPTICAL GOODS, WATCHES AND CLOCKS 293 274 ♦ 18 + 7
NON-METALLIC MINERAL MANUFACTURES 280 150 ♦ 131 ♦87
■ - - 0 /10
MONDAY, MARCH 12, 1984
- 10 -
MOBILE SERVICE FOR ID CARD SCHEME * K * *
THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (MONDAY) THAT A MOBILE SERVICE FOR APPLICANTS OF NEW I.D. CARDS WILL BE INTRODUCED FOR THE SECOND TIME IN SAI KUNG, MUI WO, LAMMA AND CHEUNG CHAU. T
MEN BORN IN 1948, 1949 AND 1965 WHO LIVE OR WORK IN THESE AREAS MAY USE THE SERVICE BETWEEN MARCH 26 AND APRIL 7.
THOSE BORN BETWEEN 1950 AND 1959 WHO HAVE NOT YET OBTAINED THEIR NEW CARDS MAY ALSO USE THE SERVICE.
♦THE PURPOSE OF THE SERVICE IS TO SAVE RESIDENTS IN REMOTE AREAS THE TROUBLE OF HAVING TO TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES TO GET THEIR NEW CARDS,+ A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
♦WHEN THE SERVICE WAS FIRST INTRODUCED LAST OCTOBER, IT WAS WELL RECEIVED BY LOCAL RESIDENTS,* HE POINTED OUT.
MOBILE TEAMS WILL OPERATE FROM FOUR LOCATIONS AT DIFFERENT PER IODS:
MARCH 26 - APRIL 1 MUI WO COMMUNITY AFFAIRS BRANCH OFFICE, . SOUTH LANTAO ROAD,
MUI WO
APRIL 2 - APRIL 7 NORTH LAMMA RURAL COMMITTEE OFFICE, YUNG SHU WAN MAIN STREET, NORTH LAMMA
MARCH 26 - APRIL 6 CHEUNG CHAU FIELD OFFICE, KWAN YAM WAN ROAD, CHEUNG CHAU
MARCH 26 - APRIL 6 SAI KUNG DISTRICT BRANCH OFFICE, MAN NIN STREET, SAI KUNG.
- 0---------
RESIDENTS URGED TO VOTE
K M H H
CHAI WAN RESIDENTS WERE URGED TODAY (MONDAY) TO TURN OUT TO REGISTER AS VOTERS IN AUGUST, SO THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO VOTE IN NEXT YEAR’S DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS.
MAKING THE CALL, THE EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR LUI HAU-TUEN, SAID LOCAL PEOPLE SHOULD ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE NEEDS OF THEIR DISTRICTS
HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF A DENTAL CLINIC RUN BY PROJECT CONCERN HONG KONG AT HING MAN ESTATE.
/THE LOW .......
11
MONDAY, MAJBCH 12, 1984
THE LOW COST DENTAL CARE PROVIDED BY THE NEW CLINIC, HE SAID, WAS A WORTHWHILE COMMUNITY SERVICE AND A GREAT CONTRIBUTION TO COMMUNITY BUILDING.
♦A COMMUNITY SPIRIT IS HIGHLY IMPORTANT FOR CHAI WAN WHICH IS UNDER RAPID DEVELOPMENT,* HE ADDED.
LOCATED AT ROOM 408 IN THE COMMERCIAL CENTRE OF HING MAN ESTATE, THIS IS THE SEVENTH CLINIC SET UP BY PROJECT CONCERN IN HONG KONG, OFFERING LOW-COST DENTAL SERVICE TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES.
DURING ITS INITIAL STAGE OF OPERATION, THE CLINIC WILL OFFER FREE DENTAL SERVICE TO ABOUT 200 CHILDREN IN CHAI WAN.
IT WILL OPEN FROM 9 AM TO 12 NOON AND FROM 7 PM TO 9.30 PM DURING WEEKDAYS, AND FROM 9 AM TO 12 NOON ON SATURDAYS.
- - 0
SPEEDPOST SERVICE EXTENDED * * *
FROM THURSDAY (MARCH 15), THE SPEEDPOST SERVICE WILL BE EXTENDED TO QATAR AND LUXEMBOURG, THE POST OFFICE ANNOUNCED TODAY.
THIS NOW MEANS THAT 25 COUNTRIES ARE INCLUDED IN THE SPEEDPOST NETWORK SERVED FROM HONG KONG, A POST OFFICE SPOKESMAN SAID.
SPEEDPOST ITEMS ARE FOR TRANSMISSION TO ALL AREAS IN QATAR AND LUXEMBOURG.
♦ITEMS POSTED IN HONG KONG WILL BE DELIVERED TO THE ADDRESSEES ON THE NEXT WORKING DAY. BOTH +CONTRACT+ AND ♦ON DEMAND+ SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE+, HE SAID.
THE MAXIMUM WEIGHT LIMIT PER ITEM
RATES ARE AS FOLLOWS 1
ITEMS WEIGHING UNDER 250 G
ITEMS WEIGHING BETWEEN 250 G AND 500 G
EACH SUBSEQUENT ADDITIONAL 500 G
IS
15 KG
AND THE POSTAGE
QATAR
LUXEMBOURG
$60
$72
$71
$90
$15
$23
♦THE SPEEDPOST SERVICE IS A FAST
AND
RELIABLE
MEANS FOR
FORWARDING BUSINESS DOCUMENTS, SAMPLES AND MERCHANDISE OVERSEAS. CUSTOMERS REQUIRING MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SERVICE SHOULD CONTACT THE POSTAL SERVICES REPRESENTATIVES ON 5-2671108,+ HE SAID.
0 - -
MONDAY, MARCH 12, 1934
- 12 -
MUSIC OFFICE TO STAGE ANNUAL TRAINEES' GALA
*****
THE 1984 ANNUAL TRAINEES’ GALA, ORGANISED BY THE MUSIC OFFICE CF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT, WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAY (MARCH 18) AT THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY HALL.
THE DEAN OF MUSIC OF THE HONG KONG ACADEMY FOR PERFORMING ARTS, MR ANGUS WATSON, WILL OFFICIATE AT A rRESENTATION CEREMONY DURING WHICH 264 OUTSTANDING MUSIC TRAINEES WILL RECEIVE CERTIFICATES OF MERIT OR AWARDS IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS.
THE COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR PATRICK WILLIAMSON, THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, NR CLIVE OXLEY AND THE MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR, MR BENJAMIN TANG WILL ALSO ATTEND.
THE ANNUAL TRAINEES’ GALA IS ONE OF THE MAJOR EVENTS ON THE MUSICAL CALENDAR OF THE MUSIC OFFICE. DURING THE GALA ABOUT 500 TRAINEES IN DIFFERENT INSTRUMENTAL STREAMS ARE PROVIDED WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM BEFORE THEIR PARENTS AND THE PUBLIC.
NOTE TO EDITORS!
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER BOTH THE 1984 ANNUAL TRAINEES’ GALA AND THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY ON SUNDAY (MARCH 18), STARTING AT 4 PM. INTERVIEWS OF TRAINEES CAN BE ARRANGED AFTER THE CEREMONY.
------0-------
NOTE TO EDITORSi
DB MEMBERS TO VISIT PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE * * * *
MEMBERS OF THE INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE OF THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD WILL VISIT THE TRAINING BRANCH OF THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE ON WEDNESDAY (MARCH 14) AFTERNOON.
THE VISIT IS TO ENABLE COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CENTRE, INCLUDING ELECTRONIC SERVICES, METALS DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION.
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES WISHING TO COVER THE VISIT SHOULD ARRIVE AT THE CENTRE AT 2.15 PM ON THE 13TH FLOOR, BANK CENTRE 636 NATHAN ROAD, MONG KOK.
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/13......
MONDAY, MARCH 12, 1984
- 13 -
SPORTS CENTRE FOR MONG KOK READY SOON * * N M
A NEW CULTURAL AND SPORTS CENTRE FOR MONG KOK RESIDENTS WILL BE READY IN A FEW MONTHS, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
FACILITIES AT THE CENTRE WILL INCLUDE A GYMNASTIC HALL, TWO SQUASH COURTS, A FITNESS TRAINING CENTRE, A MULTI-PURPOSE HALL, A DANCE FLOOR AND FOUR MUSIC ROOMS.
MR WIGGHAM WAS SPEAKING AT THE TOPPING CEREMONY OF THE LIM POR YEN CENTRE - A JOINT PROJECT OF THE MONG KOK DISTRICT CULTURAL, RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS ASSOCIATION AND THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB.
HE SAID THE ASSOCIATION HAD BEEN PLAYING A MAJOR PART IN CONTRIBUTING TO THE ENRICHMENT OF THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF RESIDENTS IN MONG KOK SINCE ITS FORMATION IN 1971.
♦IT HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN PROVIDING A VARIETY OF CULTURAL, RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF DIFFERENT AGES AND INTERESTS,* HE SAID.
THESE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE VARIOUS ANNUAL SWIMMING COMPETITIONS AND THE ATHLETIC MEET IN THE DISTRICT, AND THE MANY PERFORMANCES OF THE MONG KOK CHILDREN’S CHOIR.
MR WIGGHAM SAID THE ASSOCIATION J4AD NEVER LOST SIGHT OF THE IDEA OF BUILDING A CULTURAL AND SPORTS CENTRE OF ITS OWN, AND THE $3 MILLION FROM JOCKEY CULB HAD HELPED +TURN THE ASSOCIATION’S ENDEAVOUR INTO REALITY*.
HE ALSO THANKED MR LIM POR-YEN AND MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION AS WELL AS VARIOUS LOCAL ORGANISATIONS FOR THEIR GENEROUS SUPPORT.
♦LET OUR YOUNG PEOPLE DEVELOP THEIR CULTURAL AND SPORTS POTENTIAL IN AND THROUGH THE CENTRE,+ HE SAID.
------0 - - - -
PLAYGROUND TO BE BUILT AT KOWLOON CITY * * * *
A PLAYGROUND IS TO BE BUILT AT THE JUNCTION OF CARPENTER ROAD AND SHEK KU LUNG ROAD, KOWLOON CITY, COVERING 1.35 HECTARES.
IT WILL HAVE FOUR TENNIS COURTS, TWO VOLLEY BALL-AND -BADMINTON COURTS AND TWO MINI-SOCCER PITCHES, AND WILL INCLUDE A TWO-STOREY SERVICE BUILDING WITH CHANGING ROOMS, TOILETS, AND A REFRESHMENT KIOSK.
THE WHOLE SITE AREA WILL BE LANDSCAPED.
WORK IS EXPECTED TO START IN MAY AND BE COMPLETED IN ID MONTHS.
TENDERS FOR THE PROJECT ARE BEING INVITED BY THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE OF THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
MONDAY, MARCH 12, 1984 - 14 -
NOTE TO EDITORSi
WOMEN’S SHELTER OPENING * M * *
THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR DAVID JEAFFRESON, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING OF A SALVATION ARMY WOMEN’S SHELTER AT 3 PM TOMORROW (TUESDAY).
THE SHELTER, KNOWN AS THE SALVATION ARMY NAM MING HAVEN FOR WOMEN, IS SITUATED ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF NAM MING HOUSE, NAM SHAN ESTATE, SHEK KIP MEI, KOWLOON.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY.
---------0-------
WORK STARTS ON AP LEI CHAU ACCESS ROAD * * *
CONSTRUCTION OF AN ACCESS ROAD ON AP LEI CHAU ISLAND HAS STARTED AND WILL BE COMPLETED IN 12 MONTHS.
THE ROAD WILL BE JUST OVER 600 METRES LONG AND 7.3 METRES WIDE, AND WILL SERVE THE SHELL OIL DEPOT AND THE INDUSTRIAL AREA IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE ISLAND.
A CONTRACT, VALUED AT $3.85 MILLION, HAS BEEN SIGNED BETWEEN THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE AND WING MOU CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LIMITED.
THERE WILL BE A TWO-METRE WIDE PEDESTRIAN FOOTPATH ON EACH SIDE.
THE PROJECT HAS BEEN DESIGNED BY THE HIGHWAYS (HONG KONG) DIVISION OF THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE, ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
- - 0 - -
/15 .......
MONDAY, MARCH 12, 1984
15
TRAFFIC MEASURES FOR NGAU TAU KOK ft ft ft ft ft
SPECIAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IN FORCE KOK FROM 1 AM TO 5.15 AM ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY TO FACILITATE CONSTRUCTION WORK.
IN NGAU TAU (MARCH 14 AND 15)
THE MEASURES ARE AS FOLLOWSi
ft
THE SECTION OF NGAU TAU KOK ROAD BETWEEN NGAU TAU KOK FIRST STREET AND THE UNNAMED ROAD NEAR BLOCK 1 OF LOWER NGAU TAU KOK ESTATE WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL VEHICULAR TRAFFIC.
EASTBOUND TRAFFIC ON NGAU TAU KOK ROAD WILL BE DIVERTED TO TRAVEL VIA ON TAK ROAD AND ON SHIN ROAD.
WESTBOUND TRAFFIC WILL BE D|VERTED TO TRAVEL VIA ELEGANCE ROAD AND KWUN TONG ROAD OR ALTERNATIVELY SHIN ROAD AND ON TAK ROAD.
VIA ON
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE IN SHA TIN * * ft ft ft
FROM 1
SECTION AM TO 6
FACILITATE ROAD WORK
OF YUEN WO ROAD IN SHA TIN WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC AM ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY (MARCH 13 AND 14) TO
*
*
- - 0 - -
THE SECTION LIES BETWEEN YUEN WO ROAD’S JUNCTIONS WITH FO TAN
ROAD AND THE SLIP ROAD
LINKING YUEN WO ROAD TO TAI PO ROAD
MOTORISTS TO YUEN ARE ADVISED TO USE SHA
WO ROAD FROM TAI PO ROAD AND VICE VERSA TIN RURAL COMMITTEE ROAD.
- - 0 - -
WAN CHAI WATER WORKS ft ft ft ft
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN AREAS IN WAN CHAI WILL BE TURNED OFF FROM 11 PM ON THURSDAY (MARCH 15) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR LEAKAGE TESTS.
THE AFFECTED PREMISES ARE BOUNDED BY QUEEN’S ROAD EAST LUN FAT STREET, JOHNSTON ROAD AND LEE TUNG STREET.
- - 0 - -
WATER FIGURES ft ft *
STORAGE IN HONG KONG’S RESERVOIRS AT 9 AM TODAY (MONDAY) STOOD AT 79.1 PER CENT OF CAPACITY OR 463.658 MILLION CUBIC J€TRES.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR THE RESERVOIRS CONTAINED 436.167 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF WATER, REPRESENTING 74.4 PER CENT OF CAPACITY.
- - 0 - -
©
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
TUESDAY, MARCH 1J, 1984
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
MOTION ON HONG KONG'S FUTURE BEFORE LEGCO ...................... 1
SPECIAL PRESS PASSES FOR LEGCO MEETING ......................... 2
COMMENTS ON PROPOSALS 'MORE THaN WELCOME' ...................... 3
FOU.i DL fiEMBERS APPOINTED TO TaC ............................. 5
CHANGES IN CONSTITUENCY BOUNDARIES PROPOSED .................... 6
DB TO DISCUSS PROPOSED ADMINISTRATION CHANGES .................. 7
NT CHIEF VISITS YUEN LONG ...................................... 8
two Labour mp's to visit hong kong ........................... 8
CLOSE COOPERATION WITH DISTRICT SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS ............ 9
BANKING SYMPOSIUM ARRANGED FOR CaREERS MASTERS ................ 10
TEXTILE CONTROL FORMS REVISED ................................. 10
SALVATION ARMY PRAISED FOR WORK ............................... 10
LO WU STATION TO BE FULLY AIR CONDITIONED ..................... 11
ROaDS TO BE CLOSED FOR WORKS................................... 11
WATER MAINS WORK IN KWUN TONG aND SAI KUNG .................... 12
SALT WATER STATION WORKS ...................................... 1?
NO RIGHT TURNS ................................................ 1?
TALK ON CUSTOMS WORK .......................................... 1?
ILLEGAL STRUCTURES TO BE CLEaRED .............................. 14
TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 1984
- 1 -
MOTION ON HONG KONG’S FUTURE BEFORE LEGCO
* * * * *
AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER’S MOTION ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG WILL BE MOVED BY THE HON ROGER LOBO IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).
THE MOTION READSi +THIS COUNCIL DEEMS IT ESSENTIAL THAT ANY PROPOSALS FOR THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG SHOULD BE DEBATED IN THIS COUNCIL BEFORE ANY FINAL AGREEMENT IS REACHED.*
TWO OTHER MOTIONS WILL BE MOVED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, DEALING WITH THE ISSUE OF GOVERNMENT BONDS AND A VOTE ON ACCOUNT.
SIR JOHN WILL SEEK APPROVAL FOR THE ISSUE OF $1-BILLION GOVERNMENT BONDS UNDER THE LOANS (GOVERNMENT BONDS) ORDINANCE.
HE WILL ALSO BE SEEKING APPROVAL FOR FUNDS ON ACCOUNT, TO ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO CARRY ON EXISTING SERVICES BETWEEN THE START OF THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR ON APRIL 1 AND THE ENACTMENT OF THE APPROPRIATION BILL.
IN ADDITION, THE COUNCIL WILL DEAL WITH A NUMBER OF BILLS, AS WELL AS QUESTIONS BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS.
FOUR NEW BILLS WILL BE INTRODUCED, WITH DEBATE TO BE ADJOURNED TO APRIL 18.
THEY ARE I
* THE EXCHANGE FUND (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984, DEALING WITH PAYMENT AND REDEMPTION IN RELATION TO CERTIFICATES OF INDEBTEDNESS TO BE MADE IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE;
* THE ARBITRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984, PROPOSING TO PROMOTE HONG KONG AS AN ARBITRATION CENTRE;
* THE ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984, REPLACING THE THE TITLE +HIGHWAY CODE* WITH +ROAD USERS’ CODE*; AND
* THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984, PROVIDING FOR INCREASED PAID SICK LEAVE FOR WORKERS.
DEBATE WILL RESUME ON THE FOLLOWING FOUR BILLS WHICH ARE DUE FOR COMMITTEE STAGE AND FINAL READING i
* THE FIXED PENALTY (TRAFFIC CONTRAVENTIONS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984, AND THE FIXED PENALTY (CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984, BOTH AIMED AT IMPROVING THE FIXED PENALTY PROCEDURE;
* THE PEAK TRAMWAY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984, DEALING WITH THE COMPANY’S PERMIT FEE. AND
* THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984, DEALING WITH POWER TO SET ASIDE AN ORDER MADE IN THE ABSENCE OF A DEFENDANT, AND TO DISPOSE OF CERTAIN CLAIMS.
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/2......
TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 1984
- 2 -
NOTE TO EDITORS!
SPECIAL PRESS PASSES FOR LEGCO MEETING * * * *
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES WHO HAVE RESERVED SEATS TO COVER ^MORROW’S (WEDNESDAY) LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING SHOULD COLLECT THEIR SPECIAL PASSES AND LAPEL BADGES FROM THE GIS DUTY OFFICER TOMORROW MORNING.
THESE PASSES AND BADGES WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM 10.30 AM ONWARDS.
ALL SEATS IN THE CHAMBER WILL BE NUMBERED AND RESERVED AND JOURNALISTS COVERING THE SESSION MUST STAY IN THE SEATS ALLOCATED TO THEM. THE NUMBER OF THE SEAT ALLOCATED WILL BE SHOWN IN THE SPECIAL ADMISSION PASS.
ANYONE WITHOUT A LAPEL BADGE AND A PASS WILL NOT BE ADMITTED INTO THE COUNCIL CHAMBER.
ANYONE LEAVING THE CHAMBER WHILE THE MEETING IS STILL IN PROGRESS WILL HAVE TO SURRENDER HIS PASS AND LAPEL BADGE. THESE WILL BE RE-ALLOCATED IF REQUIRED.
PHOTOGRAPHERS AND CAMERAMEN WILL BE ALLOWED INSIDE THE CHAMBER TO TAKE PICTURES AND FILM FROM 2.15 PM TO 2.25 PM. THEY MUST LEAVE THE CHAMBER AT 2.25 PM SHARP BEFORE THE SESSION STARTS. NO PHOTOGRAPHY WILL BE ALLOWED INSIDE THE CHAMBER ONCE THE MEETING HAS STARTED.
SPECIAL PHOTOGRAPHERS’ BADGES WILL BE NEEDED TO GAIN ADMISSION INTO THE CHAMBER FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHIC FACILITY. SIMILARLY, TELEVISION CAMERAMEN AND SOUNDMEN WILL NEED BADGES TO GET INTO THE TELEVISION BOOTHS ADJACENT TO THE CHAMBER.
THESE BADGES WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION FROM THE GIS DUTY OFFICER FROM 10.30 AM ONWARDS TOMORROW.
BECAUSE OF EXTREMELY LIMITED SPACE, PHOTOGRAPHERS WILL HAVE TO LEAVE THE CHAMBER PREMISES IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE PHOTOGRAPHIC FACILITY. NO STANDING WILL BE ALLOWED OUTSIDE THE CHAMBER OR AT THE STAIRCASE.
----o--------
/5........
TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 1984
- 3 -
COMMENTS ON PROPOSALS ’MORE THAN WELCOME* * * ft *
PUBLIC DEBATE ON THE PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES TO BE LIVELY AND INTERESTING, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR NEW TERRITORIES, MR IAN MACPHERSON, SAID THIS .SDAY) EVENING.
MANY NEW IDEAS AND THOUGHTFUL PROPOSALS HAVE BEEN PUT FORWARD, ADDED.
♦WE ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO ALL OPINIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED - THESE WILL BE COLLATED, CONSOLIDATED AND REFLECTED TO THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT SO THAT INFORMED FINAL DECISIONS CAN BE TAKEN,♦ HE SAID.
MR MACPHERSON WAS SPEAKING AT A REGULAR GATHERING OF THE LIONS CLUB OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.
HE STRESSED THAT WHILE THE PROPOSED REGIONAL COUNCIL FOR THOSE AREAS NOT COVERED BY THE URBAN COUNCIL HAD ATTRACTED MOST ATTENTION IN THE CURRENT PUBLIC DEBATE, THE OTHER PROPOSALS WERE OF NO LESS SI GN IFICANCE.
THESE OTHER PROPOSALS ARE1 FOR AN INCREASE IN THE SIZE OF ELECTED ELEMENT TO STRENGTHEN THE REPRESENTATIVE STATUS OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS- FOR THE SETTING UP OF MORE BOARDS IN SOME LARGE AND COMPLEX DISTRICTS- AND FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE URBAN MANAGEMENT ROLE OF DISTRICT BOARDS TO ASSIST IN AND PROMOTE THE USE OF CERTAIN LOCAL COM! ,NITY FACILITIES.
REFERRING TO THE PROPOSED REGIONAL COUNCIL, MR MACPHERSON SAID IT WAS A PITY THAT THE ISSUE HAD BEEN PORTRAYED AS A STRUGGLE BETWEEN THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE HEUNG YEE KUK.
HE ADDED THAT THE CONSULTATION RANGED MUCH MORE WIDELY THAN THE HEUNG YEE KUK AND INVOLVED ALL THE 18 DISTRICT BOARDS AND MANY OTHER ORGANISATIONS WHICH SPEAK FOR A CROSS-SECTION OF ALL THE PEOPLE.
♦YOU WILL NOTE THAT I HAVE ALL THE TIME REFERRED TO THE REGIONAL COUNCIL, NOT TO THE NEW TERRITORIES COUNCIL AND CERTAINLY NOT TO THE ’NORTH’ COUNCIL,* HE SAID.
HE SAID THERE WAS ♦CLEAR LOGIC AND OBVIOUS MERIT+ IN RECOGNISING THE FACT THAT THE NEW TERRITORIES - NOW WITH 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE AND REACHING WELL OVER TWO MILLION BY 1988 - WAS READY FOR ITb OWN LOCAL COUNCIL AS A VIABLE LOCAL ADMINISTRATION UNIT IN PURELY PRACTICAL, LET ALONE POLITICAL TERMS.
THE NEW COUNCIL, IF ESTABLISHED, WOULD PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE AREA TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE SERVICES AND FACILITIES IN THE DISTRICTS.
/♦NO DOUBT ........
TUESDAY, MARCH 1J, 198^
A
♦ NO DOUBT THEY WILL MAKE MISTAKES FOR THEY DO NOT HAVE THE EXPERIENCE OF THEIR URBAN NEIGHBOURS, BUT THEY WILL QUICKLY LEARN BY SUCH MISTAKES,* HE SAID.
♦ NO DOUBT THERE WILL BE ADDITIONAL OVERHEAD COSTS BUT THE JUDGEMENT TO BE MADE IS WHETHER SUCH ADDITIONAL COSTS ARE ACCEPTABLE IN ENSURING A SATISFACTORY REPRESENTATIVE SYSTEM.
♦ BUT WHAT WE MUST FOCUS ON IS ARRIVING AT THE BEST AND MOST ACCEPTABLE ARRANGEMENT FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE AREA.*
TURNING TO THE PROPOSED INCREASE IN ELECTED ELEMENT ON THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND THE APPOINTMENT OF UNOFFICIAL CHAIRMAN, W MACPHERSON SAID THIS WAS A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION.
♦ DISTRICT BOARDS HAVE PROVEN THEMSELVES TO BE NOT ONLY A VALUABLE DISTRICT ADVISORY BODY, BUT ALSO AN IMPORTANT LINK IN THE BOARD CONSULTATIVE MACHINERY THAT GOVERNMENT HAS RELIED ON IN SEEKING TO PURSUE THE AIM OF ADMINISTRATION BY CONSENSUS.
♦ ALL INDICATIONS ARE THAT THE DISTRICT BOARD SYSTEM HAS WORKED WELL AND THAT THERE IS ROOM FOR THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME SO AS TO ENSURE THAT IT WILL CONTINUE TO SUIT HONG KONG’S EVOLV I.NG NEEDS AND CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES. ♦
ON THE MANAGEMENT OF LOCAL COMMUNITY FACILITIES, HE POINTED OUT THAT THERE WERE A NUMBER OF ISSUES WHICH GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE TO EXAMINE IN GREATER DETAIL BEFORE MAKING A DECISION.
FOR INSTANCE, WHETHER IT WOULD BE DESIRABLE FOR THE BOARDS TO TAKE ON THE EXECUTIVE DUTIES, OR LIMIT THEIR MANAGEMENT ROLE TO ADVISORY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES ONLY.
ANOTHER QUESTION TO BE EXAMINED WAS WHETHER THE BOARDS’ MANAGEMENT ROLE WOULD CONFLICT WITH THE NEW REGIONAL COUNCIL WHICH, IF MODED ALONG THE URBAN COUNCIL LINE, WOULD ALSO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF SUCH FACILITIES AS TOWN HALLS AND SWIMMING POOLS.
AS FOR THE SETTING UP OF MORE BOARDS FOR LARGE AND COMPLEX DISTRICTS, MR MACPHERSON SAID THE PROPOSAL WAS BEING EXAMINED IN DETAIL, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE VIEWS OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS CONCERNED AND OTHER LOCAL PUBLIC OPINION.
♦ THESE PROPOSALS ARE DESIGNED FOR THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLE AND IT IS NOT GOVERNMENT’S INTENTION TO PROCEED WITH THEM UNLESS THEY COMMAND SUPPORT.
♦ THE DOOR FOR PUBLIC CONSULTATION IN RESPECT OF THESE PROPOSALS IS STILL WIDE OPEN AND FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THESE PROPOSALS ARE MORE THAN WELCOME,* HE SAID.
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/5......
TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 1984 - 5 -
FOUR DB MEMBERS APPOINTED TO TAC *****
THE GOVERNOR HAS APPOINTED FOUR DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS TO THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR A TERM OF TWO YEARS FROM A°' !L 1, 1984.
THEY ARE; MR CARL TONG KA-WING, ELECTED MEMBER OF CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT BOARD I DR CONRAD LAM KUI-SHiNG, ELECTED MEMBER OF WONG TAI SIN DI STR CT BOARD; MR ALFRED TSO SHIU-WAI, ELECTED MEMBER OF TUEN MU. SuTRICT BOARD; AND MR LIU CHING-LEUNG, APPOINTED MEMBER OF NORTn D.ZTRICT BOARD.
THE NEW MEMBERS REPLACE MRS GRACE HO AND MR STEPHEN WONG YUEN-CHEUNG WHO WILL BE RETIRING FROM THE TAC AFTER MORE THAN ID YEARS* SERVICE.
THEY ALSO FILL TWO EXISTING VACANCIES ON THE COMMITTEE BROUGHT ABOUT FIRST BY THE RESIGNATION OF MISS MARIA TAM AFTER FER APPOINTMENT TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, AND SECOND BY THE LAPSE OF THE POST OF CONTROLLER OF RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT, WHO WAS APPOINTED TO THE COMMITTEE IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROCESS OF THE MODERNISATION OF THE KOWLOON CANTON RAILWAY.
AT YESTERDAY’S TAC MEETING, THE CHAIRMAN, MR GERALD FORSGATE, PAID TRIBUTE TO THE RETIRING MEMBERS, MRS HO AND MR WONG.
♦IN THE COURSE OF MORE THAN A DECADE, THEIR EXPERIENCE AND WISE ADVICE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO BEAR ON A WIDE RANGE OF TRANSPORT ISSUES WHICH ARE OFTEN COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT. THEIR VALUABLE SERVICE HAS BEEN DEEPLY APPRECIATED,♦ HE SAID.
ON THE NEW APPOINTMENTS, HE SAID, ♦THEY ARE ALL MEMBERS OF DISTRICT BOARDS AND WILL, I AM SURE, BRING MOST USEFUL KNOWLEDGE FROM THEIR CONTACTS WITH MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE.*
MR TONG, A CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT, HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF THE MID-LEVELS (CENTRAL) AREA COMMITTEE SINCE 1982. HE IS A MEMBER OF THE BOYS’ AND GIRLS’ CLUBS ASSOCIATION STAFF AND TRAINING SUB-COMMITTEE.
A MEDICAL PRACTITIONER, DR LAM IS THE HONORARY MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT OF OUR LADY OF MARYKNOLL HOSPITAL. HE IS A KMBER OF THE COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICE JOINT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE.
MR TSO IS AN ESTATE SURVEYOR. HE IS A COUNCILLOR OF HEUNG YEE KUK REPRESENTING TUEN MUN, A DIRECTOR OF YAN Ol TONG COMMUNITY AND INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE, THE NATIONAL SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE HK JUNIOR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN 1982 AND THE PRESIDENT OF YUEN LONG JAYCEES IN 1981.
MR LIU, A MERCHANT, IS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN NEW TERRITORIES COMMUNITY AFFAIRS. HE IS THE CHAIRMAN OF SHEUNG SHU I RURAL COMMITTEE, A MEMBER OF THE CLEAN HONG KONG NEW TERRITORIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE CHINESE PERMANENT CEMETERIES BOARD OF MANAGEMENT.
/THE NEW ....
TUESDAY, MARCH 1J, 1984
6
THE NEW APPOINTMENTS WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE ON FRIDAY (MARCH 16).
THE COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP WILL COMPRISE 12 UNOFFICIAL AND SIX OFFICIAL MEMBERS. THE 12 UNOFFICIALS INCLUDE THREE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TWO URBAN COUNCIL, FOUR DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS, ONE FROM A PROMINENT INTEREST GROUP, A LECTURER IN TRANSPORT STUDIES, AND ONE CONNECTED WITH THE TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.
existing committee members re-appointed are -
MR CHAN PAK-KEUNG
THE HON STEPHEN CHEONG MR HOWARD YOUNG.
THE HON F K HU
MR STEPHEN CHENG
THE HON CHAN KAM-CHUEN
MISS ANNA WU, AND
- o
CHANGES IN CONSTITUENCY BOUNDARIES PROPOSED * * * * *
TWO DISTRICT BOARD CONSTITUENCY BOUNDARIES IN KOWLOON CITY WILL NEED TO BE REVISED TO TIE IN WITH THE RECENTLY PROPOSED DOUBLING OF
ELECTED MEMBERS ON THE BOARDS JONES, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR GORDON
♦THIS WILL ALSO ACHIEVE A THE CONSTITUENCIES AND JUSTIFY
MORE EVEN POPULATION SPREAD BETWEEN THE CREATION OF TWO ELECTED SEATS
IN EACH CONSTITUENCY SHOULD THE PROPOSAL BE ADOPTED,♦ HE SAID.
THE TWO CONSTITUENCY BOUNDARIES IN QUESTION ARE THOSE BETWEEN THE HO MAN TIN NORTH AND SOUTH CONSTITUENCIES AND THE TO KWA WAN NORTH AND SOUTH CONSTITUENCIES.
AT PRESENT, KOWLOON CITY IS DIVIDED INTO EIGHT DISTRICT BOARD CONSTITUENCIES WHICH EACH HAVING ONE SEAT.
THE POPULATION IN EACH OF THE EIGHT CONSTITUENCIES ARE AS FOLLOWS t KOWLOON CITY AND SAI TAU, 62 366; KOWLOON TONG AND MA TAU WAI, 65 115; HO MAN TIN NORTH, 34 252; HO MAN TIN SOUTH, 77 528; TO KWA WAN NORTH, 45 422; TO KWA WAN SOUTH, 91 817; HUNG HOM NORTH, 44 098 AND HUNG HOM SOUTH, 59 175.
MR JONES SAID THAT BASED ON THE PROPOSED CRITERION OF ONE ELECTED SEAT FOR A POPULATION OF 25 000 PEOPLE, THERE WOULD BE TWO CONSTITUENCIES - HO MAN TIN SOUTH AND TO KWA WAN SOUTH - BEING
ENTITLED TO AT LEAST THREE SEATS, WHEREAS ALL THE CONSTITUENCIES WOULD HAVE ONLY TWO SEATS WITH THE MAN TIN NORTH, WHICH WOULD HAVE ONLY ONE SEAT.
OTHER EXCEPTION OF HO
♦AS A RESULT, THERE WILL BE AN UNEVEN SPREAD THE CONSTITUENCIES.
OF SEATS AMONG
♦FURTHERMORE, IT WILL NOT BE EQUITABLE FOR EACH OF THE EXISTING CONSTITUENCIES TO HAVE TWO SEATS WITHOUT HAVING REGARD TO POPULATION, AS THIS WILL RESULT IN THE RESIDENTS OF SOME CONSTITUENCIES BEING OVER-REPRESENTED ON THE DISTRICT BOARD WHEREAS THE RESIDENTS OF OTHER CONSTITUENCIES WILL BE UNDER-REPRESENTED,♦ HE SAID.
/THE EFFECT
TUESDAY, MARCH 1J, 1984
- 7 -
THE EFFECT OF THE PROPOSED BOUNDARY CHANGE BETWEEN HO MAN TIN NORTH AND SOUTH CONSTITUENCIES WILL BE TO EXCISE THE HO MAN TIN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE, WITH A POPULATION OF ABOUT 22 OOO, AND THE RESIDENTIAL AREA AROUND SHEK KU AND KING TAK STREETS, WITH AN APPROXIMATE POPULATION OF 1 000, FROM HO MAN TIN SOUTH AND INCLUDE IT IN HO MAN TIN NORTH.
AS A RESULT, HO MAN TIN SOUTH AND HO MAN TIN NORTH WILL HAVE POPULATIONS OF 54 500 AND 57 000 RESPECTIVELY.
ANOTHER PROPOSED REVISION WILL BE TO TRANSFER THE PART OF THE EXISTING TO KWA WAN SOUTH CONSTITUENCY EAST OF TO KWA WAN ROAD, WITH ABOUT 30 000 PEOPLE, TO TO KWA WAN NORTH.
LIKEWISE, THE AREA IN TO KWA WAN NORTH CONSTITUENCY BOUNDED BY MA TAU KOK ROAD, KOWLOON CITY ROAD, MA HANG CHUNG ROAD AND MA TAU CHUNG ROAD, WITH ABOUT 8 500 PEOPLE, WILL BE ABSORBED INTO TO KWA WAN SOUTH CONSTITUENCY.
CONSEQUENTLY, TO KWA WAN NORTH WILL HAVE 66 500 PEOPLE AND TO KWA WAN SOUTH 69 500 PEOPLE.
♦THE PROPOSED REVISIONS OF THE TWO CONSTITUENCY BOUNDARIES WILL BE DISCUSSED AT THE COMING DISTRICT BOARD MEETING ON THURSDAY,♦ MR JONES SAID.
------o-------
DB TO DISCUSS PROPOSED ADMINISTRATION CHANGES ******
KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WILL COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED CHANGES IN LOCAL ADMINISTRATION AT THEIR MEETING ON THURSDAY (MARCH 15) AFTERNOON.
THEY WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE PROPOSED REVISION OF TWO DISTRICT BOARD CONSTITUENCY BOUNDARIES IN THE DISTRICT TO TIE IN WITH THE PROPOSED DOUBLING OF ELECTED SEATS ON THE BOARD.
THE PROVISION OF A COMMUNITY CENTRE, COUNSELLING FOR STUDENTS, AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE HUNG HOM URBAN COUNCIL COMPLEX WILL ALSO BE DISCUSSED AT THE MEETING.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA WILL INCLUDE DISCUSSION ON THE INSTALLATION OF ALUMINIUM-FRAMED SHUTTERS IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES, AND PROGRESS REPORTS OF THE BOARD’S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT, COMMUNITY BUILDING AND TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEES
TEN SEATS WILL BE RESERVED FOR THE PUBLIC. ANYONE INTERESTED SHOULD CONTACT THE SECRETARY, MR KWAN WAI-HAY, AT 3-7110171.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE WELCOME TO COVER THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT BOARD MEETING AT 2.15 PM ON THURSDAY (MARCH 15) IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE AT 141-143 KAU PUI LUNG ROAD.
TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 1984
8
NT CHIEF VISITS YUEN LONG * * * *
THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR NEW TERRITORIES, MR IAN MACPHERSON, SPENT A DAY IN YUEN LONG TODAY (TUESDAY), MEETING LEADERS OF FOUR RURAL COMMITTEES TO DISCUSS LOCAL PROBLEMS.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR JAMES WILSON, HE ALSO VISITED AREAS OF WHICH DRAFT LAYOUT PLANS HAD BEEN TABLED FOR DISCUSSION AT RECENT DISTRICT BOARD MEETINGS.
IN PAT HEUNG, MR MACPHERSON WAS BRIEFED ON THE WANG TOI SHAN VILLAGE CONTRACT CLEANSING SCHEME, UNDER WHICH THE GOVERNMENT HIRED A PRIVATE COMPANY TO HANDLE CLEANSING JOBS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE SCHEME, WHICH BEGAN IN MAY 1982, HAS PROVED A SUCCESS BECAUSE THE CONTRACTOR IS A COMPANY FORMED BY LOCAL VILLAGERS, WHO, WITH THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE AREA, CAN RESPOND DIRECTLY TO LOCAL NEEDS.
MR MACPHERSON LATER SAW A NUMBER OF HISTORICAL BUILDINGS, INCLUDING THE TANG CHING LOK ANCESTRAL HALL AND l-TAI STUDY HALL IN KAM TIN; NAM PIN WAI AND SAI PIN WAI IN SHAP PAT HEUNG, AND TAI FU TAI AND MAN LUNG FUNG CHI IN SAN TIN.
DURING THE TOUR, LOCAL LEADERS TOLD MR MACPHERSON ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THEIR FAMILIES.
------o-------
TWO LABOUR MP’S TO VISIT HONG KONG 34 * *
THE DEPUTY SHADOW FOREIGN SECRETARY, MR G.I.M. ROBERTSON, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PARLIAMENTARY LABOUR PARTY FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, MR T. CLARKE, WILL ARRIVE IN HONG KONG TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) FOR A NINE-DAY VISIT.
THE PURPOSE OF THE VISIT, THE FIRST FOR THE TWO MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, IS TO ENSURE THAT WHEN QUESTIONS ABOUT HONG KONG ARE RAISED IN PARLIAMENT, THEY WILL HAVE ACCURATE INFORMATION ON WHICH TO BASE THEIR COMMENTS, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY.
MR ROBERTSON HAS BEEN AN MP SINCE 1978, AND MR CLARKE SINCE 1982.
DURING THEIR STAY, THEY WILL MEET THE GOVERNOR, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS AND THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, AS WELL AS OTHER SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.
THEY WILL ALSO MEET UMELCO, THE URBAN COUNCIL, DISTRICT BOARDS AND COMMUNITY GROUPS, AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
/THE .'WO.....
TUESDAY, MARCH 1J, 1984
- 9 -
THE TWO MP’S WILL LOOK AT DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND VISIT VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
ANY PERSON WISHING TO MEET THEM SHOULD CALL TELEPHONE NUMBER *-901977, EXTENT I ON 281, TO ARRANGE FOR AN APPOINTMENT.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MR ROBERTSON AND MR CLARKE WILL GIVE A PRESS CONFERENCE ON MARCH 22 (THURSDAY), IN THE GIS THEATRE, AT 11 AM. A REMINDER WILL BE ISSUED CLOSER TO THE DATE.
0 - -
CLOSE COOPERATION WITH DISTRICT SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS *****
THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT COOPERATES CLOSELY WITH DISTRICT SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS IN THE PROVISION OF ACTIVITIES SUITED TO THE NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE VARIOUS DISTRICTS.
THIS WAS SAID THIS (TUESDAY) EVENING BY THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND SPORT, MR DICKEN YUNG, AT THE QUARTERLY MEETING OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT RECREATION AND SPORTS ASSOCIATION.
MR YUNG SAID THE DEPARTMENT’S 19 DISTRICT OFFICES THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY PLAYED AN ACTIVE ROLE IN ORGANISING ACTIVITIES AND KEPT CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE DISTRICTS’ COMMUNITY LEADERS.
THESE OFFICES ORGANISE AND CO-ORGANISE AN AVERAGE OF MORE THAN 600 PROJECTS A MONTH, INCLUDING DISTRICT SPORTS FESTIVALS AND TRAINING SCHEMES.
HE SAID THAT THE DEPARTMENT ALONE COULD NOT MEET THE DEMANDS OF THE COMMUNITY NOR WOULD IT EVER AIM TO DO SO.
+THIS IS WHY IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO WORK HAND-IN-HAND WITH DISTRICT SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS, NATIONAL BODIES OF SPORTS AND VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS,* HE SAID.
ALSO ATTENDING THE MEETING WERE MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT’S SPORTS COUNCIL AND THE DISTRICT OFFICER OF SOUTHERN DISTRICT, MR K.C. KWONG.
THE MEETING DISCUSSED VARIOUS SPORTS PROGRAMMES OUTLINED FOR 1984.
AMONG THE HIGHLIGHTS WILL BE A YEAR-LONG SCHEME TO TRAIN ATHLETES FOR THE DISTRICT + IRON MAN* AND +IRON WOMAN* CONTESTS TO BE HELD EARLY NEXT YEAR.
__________________________- - - - 0 ---------------------/m_______
10
TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 1984
BANKING SYMPOSIUM ARRANGED FOR CAREERS MASTERS * * * *
ABOUT 250 CAREERS MASTERS ARE BEING INVITED TO TAKE PART IN A TWO-HOUR SYMPOSIUM ORGANISED BY THE BANKING TRAINING BOARD
CF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING
COUNCIL
THE SYMPOSIUM WILL BE BANK HEAD OFFICE BUILDING, FROM 9.30 AM TO 11.30 AM.
HELD AT THE AUDITORIUM OF HANG SENG CENTRAL; ON SATURDAY (MARCH 24)
ITS AIM IS TO IMPART INFORMATION ON CAREERS TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AND PROSPECTS IN BANKING TO CAREERS MASTERS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRAINING BOARD SAID.
♦LIKEWISE, CAREERS AND GUIDANCE CONCERNING LEAVERS,♦ THE SPOKESMAN
MASTERS WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE COUNSEL CAREERS IN BANKING TO SECONDARY SCHOOL SAID.
A PANEL OF BANKING
PRACTITIONERS WILL SPEAK ON SUCH SUBJECTS AS TECHNOLOGY IN CONNECTION WITH TRAINING IN BANKS, DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES AND THE STRUCTURE OF A BANK.
ADMISSION TO THE SYMPOSIUM IS FREE. FOR RESERVATION PLEASE CONTACT THE SECRETARY OF THE TRAINING BOARD ON 5-8932341 EXT. 255 DURING OFFICE HOURS.
- - 0 - -
TEXTILE CONTROL FORMS REVISED * * M
SEVEN REVISED FORMS FOR TEXTILE CONTROLS PURPOSES WILL BE BROUGHT INTO USE FROM APRIL 1, THE TRADE DEPARTMENT HAS ANNOUNCED TODAY.
THE REVISED FORMS WILL BE ON SALE FROM MARCH 19 AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, AND THE DEPARTMENT’S OFFICES AT CANTON ROAD AND ASIAN HOUSE.
DETAILS OF THE REVISED FORMS ARE PUBLISHED IN NOTICE TO EXPORTERS, ALL SERIES, OF MARCH 12.
COPIES OF THE NOTICE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DEPARTMENT’S ENQUIRIES SECTION, COUNTER 31, 15TH FLOOR, OCEAN CENTRE, CANTON ROAD, KOWLOON.
- 0 -
SALVATION ARMY PRAISED FOR WORK M M * M M
THE SALVATION ARMY WAS PRAISED TODAY BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR DAVID JEAFFRESON, FOR TAKING CARE OF WOMEN IN URGENT NEED OF TEMPORARY HOUSING.
/THE FaCT .
TUESDAY, MARCH 1J, 1984
11
THE FACT THAT THE SALVATION ARMY HAD PROVIDED TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR MORE THAN 300 WOMEN DURING THE LAST 10 YEARS WAS A FURTHER ILLUSTRATION OF ITS CONTINUING VALUABLE SERVICE TO THE HONG kONG COMMUNITY, HE SAID, OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY CF THE ♦SALVATION ARMY NAM MING HAVEN FOR WOMEN* IN SHEK KIP MEI.
THE +HAVEN+, HE ADDED, DERIVED ITS ORIGIN FROM THE WAN CHAI WOMEN’S SHELTER, WHICH THE SALVATION ARMY OPENED IN 1974 AND WHICH PROVIDED TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR UP TO 24 ELDERLY WOMEN IN URGENT NEED OF ACCOMMODATION.
THE REPROVISIONING OF THE WAN CHAI SHELTER TO NAM MING HOUSE WITH ITS INCREASED FACILITIES WAS A MOST WELCOMED MOVE TOWARDS MEETING THE DEFICIENCY OF SUITABLE SHORT-TERM ACCOMMODATION FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE, HE SAID.
IN THE +HAVEN+, EMERGENCY SHELTER COULD NOW BE PROVIDED FOR 42 WOMEN AT ANY ONE TIME IN SURROUNDINGS WHICH WERE MUCH MORE BENEFICIAL AND ATTRACTIVE THAN THOSE OF THE ORIGINAL SHELTER, HE NOTED.
------o-------
LO WU STATION TO BE FULLY AIR CONDITIONED * * * *
LO WU STATION WILL BE FULLY AIR-CONDITIONED BY THE SUMMER.
THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS AWARDED A ftl.56 MILLION CONTRACT TO SHUN HING ELECTRONIC WORKS AND ENGINEERING COMPANY LIMITED TO INSTALL A CENTRAL AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM.
THE WORK HAS ALREADY STARTED AND WILL BE COMPLETED BY JUNE.
AT PRESENT, ONLY SOME OF THE STATION’S OFFICES ARE AIR-CONDITIONED.
OTHER FACILITIES, INCLUDING THE MAIN EXAMINATION HALL AND THE IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS POSTS, ARE COOLED BY FANS.
THE CONTRACT WAS SIGNED BY THE GOVERNMENT ENGINEER-RAILWAY, l-R LEUNG MIN-SUN, AND MR ANDREW CHEUNG OF SHUN HING.
------O-------
ROADS TO BE CLOSED FOR WORKS * * * * *
A NUMBER OF ROADS IN CHAI WAN, CHI FU FA YUEN AND WAN CHAI wlLL BE CLOSED TO ALLOW WORKS TO BE CARRIED OUT.
CHAI WAN ROAD WESTBOUND BETWEEN ITS EASTERN JUNCTION WITH WAN TSUI ROAD AND A POINT 120 METRES WEST OF THE SAME JUNCTION WILL BE CLOSED FROM MIDNIGHT TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY.
/BOTH EASTBlUND ....
TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 198A
12 -
BOTH EASTBOUND AND WESTBOUND SECTIONS OF THE SAME ROAD BETWEEN ITS TWO JUNCTIONS WITH WAN TSUI ROAD WILL BE CLOSED FROM MIDNIGHT ON THURSDAY (MARCH 15) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY.
DURING THE CLOSURE, TRAFFIC WILL BE DIVERTED VIA WAN TSUI ROAD ■ W HONG MAN STREET.
AT CHI FU INTERCHANGE, THE DOWN-RAMP LEADING FROM CHI FU ROAD TO POK FU LAM ROAD SOUTHBOUND WILL BE CLOSED FROM 10 AM ON MARCH 15 UNTIL MARCH 29.
DURING THE CLOSURE, TRAFFIC WILL BE DIVERTED VIA POKFULAM GARDENS INTERCHANGE.
BUSES ON CMB ROUTES 44 AND 45 BOUND FOR WAH FU (SOUTH) WILL OPERATE VIA CHI FU INTERCHANGE, CHI FU ROAD, POKFULAM GARDENS INTERCHANGE AND POK FU LAM ROAD.
IN WAN CHAI, THE EXIT ROAD LEADING FROM THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL TO NORTH POINT WILL BE CLOSED FROM 11 PM ON THURSDAY (MARCH 15) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY.
MOTORISTS WILL HAVE TO USE THE EXIT ROAD LEADING TO CAUSEWAY BAY DURING THE CLOSURE.
THE CLOSURE WILL BE REPEATED FROM 11 PM ON FRIDAY (MARCH 16) UNTIL 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY.
------o--------
WATER MAINS WORK IN KWUN TONG AND SAI KUNG * * * *
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO SOME PREMISES IN KWUN TONG AND SAI KUNG WILL BE TURNED OFF FROM 10 AM TO 4 PM ON FRIDAY (MARCH 16) FOR MAINS WORK.
IN KWUN TONG, THE AFFECTED AREAS ARE LAM TIN ESTATE, SAU MAU PING ESTATE, SHUN LEE TSUEN, SHUN ON ESTATE, SHUN TIN ESTATE, SHUN CHI COURT, CHOI WAN ESTATE, UPPER NGAU TAU KOK ESTATE AND ALL PREMISES ALONG HIU KWONG STREET, HONG NING ROAD, KUNG LOK ROAD, HONG LEE ROAD AND THE SECTION OF HIP WO STREET BETWEEN SAU MAU PING ROAD AND HIU KWONG STREET.
IN SAI KUNG, THE SUSPENSION WILL AFFECT ALL PREMISES ALONG CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD BETWEEN HIRAM’S HIGHWAY AND MANG KUNG UK, INCLUDING SILVER STRAND, HANG HAU, SHAW’S STUDIO AND BAY SIDE.
IT WILL ALSO AFFECT ALL VILLAGES ALONG HIRAM’S HIGHWAY, INCLUDING THOSE FROM THE HIGHWAY TO HO CHUNG; AND ALL VILLAGES ALONG PO LAM ROAD AND IN RENNIE’S MILL AND MA YAU TONG.
------o-------
/1?.......
TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 1984
- 15 -
SALT WATER STATION WORKS * * *
SALT WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN PREMISES IN TSUEN WAN, KWAI CHUNG AND CHAI WAN KOK WILL BE SUSPENDED FOR EIGHT HOURS FROM 9.’’Cl AM ON FRIDAY (MARCH 16) TO ALLOW WORK TO BE CARRIED OUT A' TSUEN WAN CENTRAL SALT WATER PUMPING STATION.
THE SUSPENSION WILL AFFECT ALL PREMISES AT TSUEN WAN, KWAI CHUNG AND CHAI WAN KOK AREAS EXCEPT LAI KING ESTATE, LAI YIU ESTATE AND CHO YIU ESTATE.
------0-------
NO RIGHT TURNS * 1
TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW, RIGHT TURNS FROM CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD NORTHBOUND INTO HING WAH STREET EASTBOUND WILL NOT BE ALLOWED FROM 10 AM ON THURSDAY (MARCH 15).
------0--------
NOTE TO EDITORS:
TALK ON CUSTOMS WORK
* * *
MR K.S. TONG, HEAD OF THE CUSTOMS INVESTIGATION BUREAU OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT, WILL ADDRESS THE LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON WEST TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) AT THE CONVENTION, CENTRE, MlRAMA HOTEL, NEW WING, NATHAN ROAD.
MR TONG WILL BE SPEAKING IN CHINESE ABOUT THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT'S WORK AGAINST PIRATED CASSETTE TAPES IN HONG KONG. THE SPEECH WILL BE DELIVERED AT ABOUT 1.20 PM.
A SUMMARY OF THE SPEECH WILL BE PREPARED FOR GENERAL RELEASE AFTERWARDS.
- 0
"14..........
TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 1984
NOTE TO ED I TOR Si
ILLEGAL STRUCTURES * * * *
TO
BE CLEARED
PING SHING LANE AND TSZ
ON
MORE THAN 20 ILLEGAL STRUCTURES
LOI LANE IN KWUN TONG TOWN CENTRE WILL BE CLEARED ON THURSDAY
(MARCH 15).
THE OPERATION IS PART OF A MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT CLEARANCE PROGRAMME, ENTITLED +OPERATION FAR FLING+, INITIATED BY THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE LAST DECEMBER WITH FULL SUPPORT FROM THE LOCAL DISTRICT BOARD.
THURSDAY’S CLEARANCE WILL BE A JOINT EFFORT OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE. THE POLICE AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING HOUSING, LANDS, FIRE SERVICES, CITY SERVICES, LABOUR, SOCIAL WELFARE AND THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE.
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES WISHING TO COVER THE CLEARANCE SHOULD ASSEMBLE AT 9.45 AM AT PING SHING LANE (A SIDE LANE OF YUET WAH STREET) IN KWUN TONG TOWN CENTRE.
- - 0 - -
1
I
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED 8Y GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1984
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING;
•’INSTRUCTIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE’’, SAYS H.E................. 1
DEBATE CM THE FUTURE ...................................... 1
ACCOUNTING SYSTEM STRENGTHENED ............................ 4
GOOD PROGRESS CM WORK FOR BOND ISSUE ...................... 5
BILL PROVIDES FOR PAYMENT IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE.............. 6
SEVERANCE PAY BILL SEEN AS ’REASONABLE COMPROMISE' ........ 7
PROBE INTO BLACKOUT WILL BE DISCLOSED ..................... 8
BILL TO UPDATE ARBITRATION LEGISLATION .................... 9
EEC STUDY COMPLICATES WnTCH QUOTA ISSUE ................... 10
BILL PUTS EMPHASIS ON ROAD USERS .......................... 11
TRAFFIC LIGHTS FOR 'PROBLEM JUNCTION' ..................... 11
PLB LIMITATION EXTENDED ................................... 12
PROPOSAL QUESTIONED ON PRINCIPLE .......................... 12
FIRE-WATCH TEAMS ENCOURAGED ............................... 13
FUNDS CM ACCOUNT APPROVED ................................. 1J
FOUR BILLS PASSED ......................................... 1J
TALKS ON FUTURE OF HONG KONG MOVING STEADILY: LUCE............ 14
GOVERNOR LEAVES FOR PEKING TOMORROW .......................... 15
MUSICAL WORKS PIRACY 'AIMOST WIPED OUT' ...................... 16
PLANS TO DOUBLE CHILD CARE PLACES IN TUEN MUN ................ 18
DB TO DISCUSS INDUSTRIAL SURVEY .............................. 18
GALA NIGHT ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY .............................. 19
PEAK TRaM NIGHT WORK ......................................... 20
FANLING PROHIBITED ZONES ..................................... 20
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1984
1
♦ INSTRUCTIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE*. SAYS H.E * * *
TODAY’S LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DEBATE ON THE FUTURE WAS DFSCRiRrn BY THE GOVERNOR. SIR EDWARD YOUDE, AS ♦ BOTH INSTRUCTIVE AND£SCRlBED
INSTRUCTIVE AND
CONSTRUCTIVE*
SIR EDWARD MADE THE COMMENT AS HE LEFT
AFTER THE DEBATE
- - 0 - -
DEBATE ON THE FUTURE M K M
FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF THE SPEECH BY
THE CHIEF SECRETARY
SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY),
SIR
♦I HAVE LISTENED TO THE DEBATE WITH CLOSE ATTENTION AND VERY GREAT INTEREST. I WISH TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THOSE MEMBERS WHO HAVE SPOKEN FOR THE DEEP SERIOUSNESS AND GREAT SENSE OF DUTY AND RESPONSIBILITY WHICH THEY HAVE SHOWN IN APPROACHING AN ISSUE
WHICH AFFECTS THE ENTIRE FUTURE OF HONG KONG AND AND IS OF VITAL CONCERN TO US ALL.
OF ITS PEOPLE
♦AS MR LOBO SAID, IT IS NOW 18 MONTHS SINCE MS THATCHER, VISITED CHINA AND A COMMUNIQUE WAS STATED THAT THE LEADERS OF BOTH COUNTRIES AGREED TALKS THROUGH DIPLOMATIC CHANNELS, FOLLOWING HER
THE PRIME MINISTER ISSUED WHICH TO ENTER INTO VISIT. WITH THE
COMMON AIM OF MAINTAINING THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG. IT IS EIGHT MONTHS SINCE THE SECOND PHASE OF THE TALKS BEGAN. THERE HAVE BEEN NINE ROUNDS OF TALKS IN THE SECOND PHASE. THE TENTH ROUND WILL TAKE PLACE ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY OF THIS WEEK. IT HAS BEEN OFFICIALLY REVEALED THAT THE TALKS ARE PROCEEDING STEADILY AND MAKING PROGRESS AND THAT THEY ARE BEING SUPPLEMENTED BY INFORMAL CONTACTS BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES. THEY ARE KNOWN TO BE COVERING DETAILED GROUND. ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS THE EXPRESSED INTENTION OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO ANNOUNCE THEIR POLICIES AND GUIDELINES IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR. INEVITABLY, ALL THESE DEVELOPMENTS HAVE CREATED IN HONG KONG AN AIR OF EXPECTATION AND GIVEN RISE TO A CALL FOR MORE TO BE MADE KNOWN OF WHAT THE FUTURE HAS IN STORE. AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND, IT IS ENTIRELY NATURAL AND UNDERSTANDABLE THAT UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHOULD WISH TO RAISE THIS ISSUE OF THE FUTURE IN THE TERMS OF THE MOTION WHICH IS NOW BEFORE US.
HAS
WEDNESDAY, MABCH 14, 1984
2
♦THERE HAS BEEN MUCH DISCUSSION IN THE PRESS AND ELSEWHERE ABOUT THIS MOTION. AS A NUMBER OF MEMBERS HAVE POINTED OUT, IT IS A PROCEDURAL MOTION, PROPERLY CONSTITUTED, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STANDING ORDERS OF THIS COUNCIL. IT DOES NOT SEEK TO BREACH THE CONFIDENTIALITY OF THE TALKS BY SEEKING DETAILED INFORMATION NOW ABOUT THEIR CONTENT AND PROGRESS. NOR DOES IT SEEK TO LAY ’"'OWN IN ADVANCE WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THE NEGOTIATIONS SHOULD BE. WHAT UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS ARE SEEKING, THROUGH THIS MOTION, IS SIMPLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS ANY PROPOSALS FOR THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG IN THIS COUNCIL BEFORE ANY FINAL AGREEMENT IS REACHED BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS.
♦I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHY THERE SHOULD BE ANY QUARREL WITH THAT PROPOSITION. IT IS FULLY ACCEPTED THAT THE CONDUCT OF THE TALKS IN PEKING IS A MATTER FOR THE TWO GOVERNMENTS. AT THE SAME TIME, BRITISH MINISTERS HAVE REPEATEDLY STRESSED THAT THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WILL BE TAKEN FULLY INTO ACCOUNT. THEY HAVE ALSO FORMALLY STATED THAT THEIR AIM IS TO SEEK A SETTLEMENT WHICH WILL BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT, TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
♦AS PART OF THE CONTINUING PROCESS OF CONSULTATION YOU, SIR, AND THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, HAVE VISITED LONDON FOR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PRIME MINISTER, THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS, SIR GEOFFREY HOWE, AND OTHER MINISTERS THREE TIMES IN THE PAST EIGHT MONTHS- AND MINISTERS HAVE REITERATED THE IMPORTANCE WHICH THEY ATTACH TO KEEPING THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL INFORMED AND TO RECEIVING ITS ADVICE.
♦DURING THESE VISITS TO LONDON, THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE THEIR VIEWS, AND THOSE OF THEIR UNOFFICIAL COLLEAGUES IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, DIRECTLY KNOWN TO BRITISH MINISTERS. THEY HAVE DONE SO AGAINST A BACKGROUND OF WIDE AND INTENSE PUBLIC DEBATE ON MANY ASPECTS OF THE ISSUE OF THE FUTURE, AND IN FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THE OPINIONS AND CONCERNS CONVEYED TO THEM BY INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS THROUGH THE MANY CHANNELS OPEN TO THEM. THE MINISTER OF STATE AT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE WITH SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG, MR RICHARD LUCE, HAS ALSO VISITED HONG KONG TWICE IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS AND HAS BEEN ABLE TO HEAR AT FIRST HAND THE VIEWS OF A WIDE CROSS-SECTION OF PEOPLE. AS MEMBERS ARE AWARE, THE SECRETARY OF STATE HIMSELF HOPES TO VISIT HONG KONG IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
/+THERE CAN........
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1984
- 3
♦THERE CAN BE LITTLE DOUBT ABOUT THE GENERAL WISHES OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. AS YOU, SIR, PUT IT IN YOUR LUNAR NEW YEAR MESSAGE ONLY A FEW WEEKS AGO, IT IS OUR BELIEF THAT WHAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WISH TO SEE IS, IN ESSENCE, THE CONTINUATION OF THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF OUR SOCIETY AND AN ASSURANCE THAT THCY WILL CONTINUE. OR AS MR LOBO PUT IT EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON, THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WISH TO SEE THE MAINTENANCE OF THEIR PRESENT LIFE-STYLE AND CONTINUITY IN THE SYSTEMS WHICH PRESERVE THEIR PRESENT FREEDOMS. THAT IS THE OUTCOME WHICH THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WISH TO SEE FROM THE TALKS NOW BEING CONDUCTED IN PEKING. OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS MANY PEOPLE, IN MANY FORUMS, HAVE SPOKEN OUT IN ELABORATION OF THAT MESSAGE. UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS HAVE DONE SO. THEY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUE OF HONG KONG'S FUTURE BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THIS COUNCIL. THIS DEBATE HAS GIVEN THEM A FURTHER OPPORTUNITY TO ADD THEIR VIEWS TO THOSE EXPRESSED BY MANY OTHERS ON THE FACTORS WHICH THEY BELIEVE MUST BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IF THE EVENTUAL ARRANGEMENTS ARE TO SERVE THE BEST INTERESTS OF HONG KONG.
♦DURING HIS RECENT VISIT, THE MINISTER OF STATE REMINDED US THAT, ON THE BRITISH SIDE, ANY AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE TWO GOVERNMENTS WOULD HAVE TO GO TO PARLIAMENT FOR ENDORSEMENT. OTHER PARLIAMENTARY VISITORS HAVE RECALLED THAT PARLIAMENT CANNOT BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED. IN CONSIDERING THE AGREEMENT, PARLIAMENT WILL, AS MR LUCE MADE CLEAR, WISH TO KNOW THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ON IT. IN CONSEQUENCE, THOSE VIEWS, EXPRESSED IN A VARIETY OF WAYS, INCLUDING THROUGH THIS COUNCIL, WILL BE AN IMPORTANT FACTOR FOR PARLIAMENT WHEN IT COMES TO ASSESS ThE ARRANGEMENTS AS A WHOLE. IN THE LIGHT OF THIS. IT SEEMS INCONCEIVABLE THAT PARLIAMENT WILL NOT WISH TO KNOW, WHEN THE TIME COMES, WHAT VIEWS HAVE BEEN EXPRESSED IN THIS COUNCIL.
♦IT IS PERHAPS APPROPRIATE FOR ME AT THIS POINT IN THE DEBATE TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THE RECORD OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND ITS PLACE IN THE GOVERNANCE OF HONG KONG. THIS COUNCIL'S DELIBERATIONS HAVE PROVIDED HONG KONG WITH A BODY OF LAWS FOR THE GOOD GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG AND THOSE DELIBERATIONS HAVE MADE A VITAL CONTRIBUTION, OVER THE YEARS, TO THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY WHICH THOSE WHO LIVE HERE ENJOY TODAY. THROUGH DEBATES, QUESTIONS AND MOTIONS, MEMBERS HAVE REFLECTED AND ARTICULATED THE CONCERNS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ON MANY ISSUES, ON MANY OCCASIONS.
♦MEMBERS HAVE TODAY SPOKEN ON THE ISSUE OF THE FUTURE. THEY HAVE SHOWN, ONCE AGAIN, THAT THEY SPEAK CAREFULLY AND RESPONSIBLY. THEY HAVE DEMONSTRATED THAT THEIR AIM IS TO MAKE A CONSTRUCTIVE CONTRIBUTION TO THE ACHIEVEMENT OF AN OBJECTIVE WHICH IS SHARED BY ALL, THAT IS TO SAY, ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FUTURE WHICH WILL SATISFY BRITAIN AND CHINA AND WHICH WILL, AT THE SAME TIME, CARRY CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG. MEMBERS HAVE SPOKEN WITH A DEEP SENSE OF COMMITMENT TO THE WELL-BEING OF HONG KONG. I CANNOT BELIEVE, THEREFORE, THAT THE DEBATE FOR WHICH THIS MOTION CALLS WILL, WHEN IT TAKES PLACE, DO OTHER THAN HELP, AND CERTAINLY IT WILL NOT HINDER, THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THAT OBJECTIVE.
♦FOR ALL THESE REASONS, SIR, OFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL VOTE IN FAVOUR OF THIS MOT ION.♦
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1984
- 4 -
ACCOUNTING SYSTEM STRENGTHENED .
* * * *
THE DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING SERVICES WILL REVIEW CONTINUALLY THE NEED FOR ACCOUNTANTS IN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND SEEK THE CREATION OF ADDITIONAL POSTS WHERE NEEDS ARE IDENTIFIED, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
GIVING EXAMPLES, SIR PHILIP SAID THE ACCOUNTING STAFF IN THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT WERE GREATLY STRENGTHENED LAST YEAR AND MORE RECENTLY SENIOR TREASURY ACCOUNTANTS WERE POSTED TO THE LANDS AND THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENTS.
AND CONSIDERATION WAS BEING GIVEN TO THE FURTHER STRENGTHENING OF THE ACCOUNTING STAFF IN THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT AND TO THE APPOINTMENT OF AN ACCOUNTANT IN THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, SIR PHILIP SAID.
THE CHIEF SECRETARY WAS SPEAKING ON THE GOVERNMENT MINUTE IN RESPONSE TO THE SIXTH REPORT OF THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE ON THE ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR 1982-83.
THE MINUTE, TABLED TODAY, REPORTED THE ACTION TAKEN, OR WAS ABOUT TO BE TAKEN, BY THE ADMINISTRATION ON THE CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS CONTAINED IN THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE REPORT.
SIR PHILIP RECALLED THAT THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PAC, THE HON S.L. CHEN, HAD EARLIER SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD SECOND MORE COST ACCOUNTANTS FROM THE TREASURY TO DEPARTMENTS +TO ADVISE CONTROLLING OFFICERS AND PROMOTE AWARENESS OF WAYS TO MEASURE COST-BENEFITS AND IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY AND EFFICIENCY*.
TREASURY ACCOUNTANTS WERE ALREADY ON THE STAFF OF A NUMBER OF THE LARGER DEPARTMENTS, SIR PHILIP SAID.
THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ALSO BE CONSIDERING ANOTHER SUGGESTION THAT EACH NEW HEAD OF DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE ISSUED A LETTER LAYING DOWN HIS PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITIES.
HOWEVER, SIR PHILIP STRESSED THAT CONTROLLING OFFICERS ARE, IN FACT, INFORMED IN VERY PRECISE TERMS OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES, THROUGH THE FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING REGULATIONS MADE UNDER THE PROVISION OF THE PUBLIC FINANCE ORDINANCE.
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/5 ........
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1984
- 5 -
GOOD PROGRESS ON WORK FOR BOND ISSUE
* * * #
TO BENEFIT FROM PREVAILING LOW INTEREST RATES, PREPARATIONS BEGAN A FEW WEEKS AGO ON THE PROPOSED ISSUE OF GOVERNMENT BONDS OF UP TO $1 BILLION AND WORK HAS PROGRESSED SATISFACTORILY, THE F MANCI AL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, TOLD THE -cGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
SIR JOHN PROPOSED THAT THE BONDS BE OFFERED FOR SALE ON MARCH 30, 1984, WITH TENDERS CLOSING ON APRIL 9.
HE WAS MOVING A MOTION SEEKING AUTHORITY TO RAISE THE LOAN IN HONG KONG UNDER THE LOANS (GOVERNMENT BONDS) ORDINANCE.
THE ISSUE WILL BE IN THE FORM OF FIXED-RATE HONG KONG DOLLAR DENOMINATED BEARER BONDS WITH A TERM OF FIVE YEARS.
THEY WILL HAVE A FACE VALUE OF $50 000, WITH INTEREST PAYABLE HALF YEARLY.
♦IT IS, HOWEVER, PREMATURE TO DECIDE NOW ON THE COUPON AND THE MINIMUM TENDER PRICE, WHICH SHOULD, FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. BE DETERMINED AT THE LATEST POSSIBLE MOMENT,♦ SIR JOHN SAID.
IN CONSIDERING TENDERS, THOSE WITH THE HIGHEST OFFERED PRICES WOULD BE ACCEPTED TO THE EXTENT REQUIRED TO ATTAIN THE AMOUNT BEING RAISED, HE SAID.
♦THIS IS SUBJECT, AS ALWAYS, TO THE PROVISIONS THAT THE GOVERNMENT RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ACCEPT OR REJECT ANY OR ALL TENDERS IN WHOLE OR IN PART AND THAT NO TENDER WILL BE CONSIDERED WHERE THE PRICE OFFERED IS LESS THAN THE MINIMUM PRICE,♦ SIR JOHN ADDED.
THE ISSUE PRICE WILL BE THE PRICE OF THE LOWEST TENDER OR TENDERS ACCEPTED IN WHOLE OR IN PART, HE EXPLAINED.
AS AN EXAMPLE, HE SAID, +LET US SUPPOSE THAT $500 MILLION WORTH OF BONDS ARE TENDERED AT, SAY, 105 PER CENT OF THE FACE VALUE, $500 MILLION AT 104 PER CENT AND $500 MILLION AT 103 PER CENT.
♦AS WE ONLY NEED $1 000 MILLION, THOSE'WHO TENDERED AT 105 AND 104 WOULD RECEIVE A FULL ALLOCATION AND TENDERS PRICED AT 103 WOULD BE REJECTED. ALL SUCCESSFUL TENDERERS WOULD PAY FOR THE BONDS AT THE LOWEST ACCEPTED PRICE OF 104.♦
IT IS INTENDED THAT THE BONDS WILL BE SPECIFIED AS LIQUID ASSETS UNDER THE BANKING AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES ORDINANCES.
INTEREST PAYMENTS AS WELL AS PROFITS ON THE SALE OF THE BONDS WILL BE EXEMPT FROM PROFITS TAX AND INTEREST TAX.
/+! PROPOSE ......
WEDNESDAY, MAUCH 14, 1984
- 6 -
♦I PROPOSE THAT THE NET PROCEEDS OF THE BOND ISSUE AFTER DEFRAYING EXPENSES, SHOULD BE CREDITED TO THE GENERAL REVENUE IN THE FIRST INSTANCE FOR SUBSEQUENT TRANSFER TO THE CAPITAL WORKS RESERVE FUND FOR THE PURPOSE OF PRODUCTIVE CAPITAL INVESTMENT.
♦THE ISSUE WILL PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG,+ SIR JOHN SAID.
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BILL PROVIDES FOR PAYMENT IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE H X M M M
THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE EXCHANGE FUND (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984 IS TO PROVIDE IN EXPLICIT TERMS FOR PAYMENT AND REDEMPTION IN RELATION TO CERTIFICATES OF INDEBTEDNESS TO BE MADE IN rOREIGN EXCHANGE, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JOHN i RIDGE SAID TODAY.
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, HE SAID THAT SINCE THE INTRODUCTION ON OCTOBER 17, 1983 OF MEASURES TO STABILISE THE EXCHANGE VALUE OF THE- HONG KONG DOLLAR, CERTIFICATES OF INDEBTEDNESS HAVE BEEN ISSUED AND REDEEMED AGAINST US DOLLARS AT A FIXED RATE OF HK$7.80 TO US$1.
♦ THESE CERTIFICATES ARE ISSUED TO THE NOTE-ISSUING BANKS UNDER SECTION 4 OF THE EXCHANGE FUND ORDINANCE AND THEY ARE HELD BY THEM AS COVER FOR THEIR NOTE ISSUES.
♦ PRIOR TO OCTOBER 17, 1983 SUCH CERTIFICATES WERE ISSUED AND REDEEMED AGAINST HONG KONG DOLLARS.
♦ ALTHOUGH THE NEW PRICING ARRANGEMENTS ARE NOT EXPRESSLY PROVIDED FOR IN THE EXCHANGE FUND ORDINANCE, THEY ARE NOT CONSIDERED TO BE CONTRARY TO THE PROVISIONS OF THAT ORDINANCE.
♦NEVERTHELESS, IN ORDER TO REMOVE ANY DOUBTS, IT IS PROPOSED THAT SUBSECTIONS (1) AND (2) OF SECTION 4 BE AMENDED SO AS TO PROVIDE IN EXPLICIT TERMS THAT ISSUES AND REDEMPTIONS OF CERTIFICATES OF INDEBTEDNESS MAY BE TRANSACTED NOT ONLY IN HONG KONG DOLLARS BUT ALSO IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE AND AT SUCH A RATE OF EXCHANGE AS MAY BE DETERMINED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY,+ HE SAID.
FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, SIR JOHN ADDED, HE SHOULD STRESS THAT THE CERTIFICATES WOULD CONTINUE TO BE DENOMINATED IN HONG KONG DOLLARS.
THE BILL ALSO PROPOSED THAT THE ORDINANCE BE AMENDED BY REMOVING THE UNNECESSARY REQUIREMENT UNDER SECTION 3(5) THAT RESOLUTIONS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO AMEND THE EXCHANGE FUND BORROWING LIMIT MUST BE PROPOSED BY THE GOVERNOR.
THESE AMENDMENTS REQUIRED THE APPROVAL OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE, WHICH HAD BEEN OBTAINED.
THE DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED TO APRIL 18.
* WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1984
- 7 -SEVERANCE PAY bill SEEN AS 'REASONABLE COMPROMISE* * # * *
THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON RON BRIDGE, EXPRESSED THE HOPE TODAY THAT THE PROPOSED LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS ON SEVERANCE PAY WOULD BE ACCEPTED BY BOTH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES AS A REASONABLE COMPROMISE BETWEEN THEIR CONFLICTING INTERESTS.
MR BRIDGE WAS SPEAKING AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984.
THE BILL SEEKS TO INCREASE THE RATE OF SEVERANCE PAY FROM ONE-HALF TO TWO-THIRDS OF A MONTH’S WAGE FOR EVERY YEAR OF SERVICE FOR MONTHLY-RATED EMPLOYEES AND FROM 13 DAYS’ TO 18 DAYS’ WAGES FOR TIME AND PIECE-RATED EMPLOYEES, SUBJECT TO A QUALIFYING PERIOD OF TWO YEARS’ SERVICE AND A MAXIMUM PAYMENT NOT EXCEEDING 12 MONTHS’ PAY.
IT ALSO SEEKS TO EXTEND THE LENGTH OF TIME ALLOWED FOR MAKING CLAIMS FROM ONE MONTH TO THREE MONTHS.
MR BRIDGE SAID THE PROPOSALS WOULD TAKE HONG KONG ANOTHER STEP FORWARD TOWARDS THE GOVERNMENT’S PUBLICLY STATED GOAL OF ACHIEVING A LEVEL OF LEGISLATION GOVERNING SAFETY, HEALTH AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT AT LEAST BROADLY EQUIVALENT TO THE BEST IN NEIGHBOURING ASIAN COUNTRIES.
HE SAID ALTHOUGH THE PROPOSAL TO EXTEND THE TIME LIMIT FOR CLAIMS WAS UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORTED BY THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD, THE PROPOSAL TO INCREASE THE RATE OF SEVERANCE PAY HAD MET WITH MIXED REACTIONS.
♦EMPLOYERS’ REPRESENTATIVES WOULD PREFER TO SEE THE RATE REMAIN UNCHANGED. EMPLOYEES’ REPRESENTATIVES NOT ONLY SUPPORT THE INCREASED RATES OF SEVERANCE PAY PROPOSED IN THE BILL, BUT WOULD LIKE TO SEE FURTHER CHANGES SO AS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES ENTITLED TO IT.+
MR BRIDGE SAID IT WOULD BE UNREALISTIC TO EXPECT THE PROPOSALS TO BE WELCOMED UNRESERVEDLY BY EITHER GROUP, BUT STRESSED THAT THE BILL +REPRESENTS A COMPROMISE BETWEEN THESE TWO SETS OF VIEWS.+
HE ADDEDi ♦AS MR T.S. LO SAID IN THIS COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 12 LAST YEAR, IN THE LONGER TERM THE INTERESTS OF THE TWO GROUPS DO NOT CONFLICT BUT ARE IDENTICAL.+
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED TO APRIL 18.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1984
- 8 -
PROBE INTO BLACKOUT WILL BE DISCLOSED
* * *
CHINA LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY WILL ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS OF ITS INVESTIGATION INTO THE MARCH 4 BLACKOUT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
♦ BUT AN INVESTIGATION OF THIS NATURE MUST TAKE SOME T|ME,+ HE EXPLAINED, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON YEUNG PO-KWAN.
MR JACOBS ALSO SAID THAT THE COMPANY HAD ENGAGED CONSULTANTS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE UNITED STATES TO HELP IDENTIFY MEASURES THAT CAN BE TAKEN TO PREVENT A RECURRENCE OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS, THOUGH IT HAD THE NECESSARY EXPERTISE TO CARRY OUT SUCH AN INVESTIGATION.
DEALING WITH THE QUERY CONCERNING SECURITY MEASURES DURING A POWER FAILURE, MR JACOBS SAID THAT,,LIKE IN ANY EMERGENCY, THE POLICE WOULD BE DEPLOYED TO ENSURE THERE IS NO BREAKDOWN OF ORDER.
AND THE TRAFFIC POLICE, HE SAID, WOULD PROCEED TO MAJOR INTER-CHANGES AND JUNCTIONS TO SECURE AS FAR AS POSSIBLE A SMOOTH FLOW OF TRAFFIC.
♦ IF A MAJOR POWER FAILURE WERE TO OCCUR DURING THE HOURS OF DARKNESS, ADDITIONAL MEMBERS OF THE POLICE FORCE WOULD BE DEPLOYED AS NECESSARY,♦ HE SAID.
MR JACOBS EXPLAINED THAT THE FIRE SERVICES COMMUNICATION CENTRE, WHICH IS MANNED 24 HOURS A DAY, IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING ADEQUATE FIRE AND AMBULANCE COVER THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY DURING ANY EMERGENCY.
♦ FIRE APPLIANCES EQUIPPED WITH LIFT KEYS WILL COPE WITH ANY INCIDENTS INVOLVING PEOPLE TRAPPED IN LIFTS.
♦ ACTION IS NOW IN HAND TO PROVIDE FIRE STATIONS AT STRATEGIC LOCATIONS WITH ADDITIONAL LIFT KEYS SO AS TO ENHANCE THEIR CAPABILITY TO MEET ANY SUDDEN DEMAND FOR LIFT RESCUE,+ MR JACOBS SAID.
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/9 .......
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1984
- 9 -
bill to update arbitration legislation
* * * *
THE PURPOSE OF THE ARBITRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1994 IS TO IMPROVE LEGISLATION ON ARBITRATION STILL FURTHER BY MAKING TWO AMENDMENTS TO THE MAIN ORDINANCE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON MICHAEL THOMAS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THE BILL ALSO FORMS PART OF THE EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH AN INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION CENTRE IN HONG KONG TO SERVE LOCAL BUSINESS NEEDS AS WELL AS TO ATTRACT TO HONG KONG ARBITRATIONS BETWEEN DISPUTING PARTIES TO BUSINESS VENTURES THROUGHOUT THE REGION, MR THOMAS SAID.
MUCH PROGRESS WAS BEING MADE IN THIS DIRECTION BY THE STEERING COMMITTEE WHICH HAD BEEN AT WORK SINCE 1982, HE SAID IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL.
♦ I AM HOPEFUL THAT BEFORE LONG THERE WILL BE TANGIBLE RESULTS THAT WILL ADD TO HONG KONG’S IMPORTANCE AS A FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL CENTRE,♦ MR THOMAS ADDED.
THE FIRST AMENDMENT UNDER THE BILL GIVES ARBITRATORS WIDER POWERS TO AWARD INTEREST-ON SUMS AWARDED AT THE CONCLUSION OF AN ARBITRATION AND TO AWARD INTEREST ON SUMS THAT HAVE BEEN PAID AFTER THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE ARBITRATION BUT BEFORE THE FINAL AWARD.
THE SECOND AMENDMENT CURES A MINOR DEFECT WHICH EXISTS IN CASES WHERE THIRD PARTIES HAVE FAILED TO APPOINT OR CONCUR IN THE APPOINTMENT OF AN ARBITRATOR TO COMPLETE THE COMPOSITION OF THE AGREED TRIBUNAL.
MR THOMAS EXPLAINED THAT IT WOULD FRUSTRATE THE INTENTION OF THE PARTIES IF THE COURT DID NOT HAVE POWER IN THESE PARTICULAR CASES TO SUPPLY AN ARBITRATOR TO ENABLE THE ARBITRATION TO PROCEED.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED TO APRIL 18.
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/10 .......
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1984
- 10 -
EEC STUDY COMPLICATES WATCH QUOTA ISSUE * * * * M
THE POSITION REGARDING THE QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY FRANCE ON HONG KONG QUARTZ WATCHES HAS BEEN COMPLICATED BY AN EEC STUDY TO DETERMINE WHETHER THERE IS A CASE FOR PROTECTION CF THE WATCH INDUSTRY IN THE EEC.
THIS WAS STATED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, THE HON E.P. HO, AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON FRANCIS TIEN.
♦ THE STUDY STARTED IN OCTOBER 1983 AND A PRELIMINARY REPORT HAS BEEN ISSUED TO MEMBER STATES FOR COMMENT. HONG KONG DOES NOT CONSIDER THAT A CASE EXISTS FOR PROTECTION FOR FRANCE OR ELSEWHERE IN THE EEC. IN THIS CONNECTION, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE IN BRUSSELS IS IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE COMMISSION AND HAVE PRESENTED IN DETAIL HONG KONG’S VIEWS ON THE MATTER.
♦ I ALSO RAISED THIS ISSUE WITH THE MINISTER FOR TRADE, THE RT HON PAUL CHANNON ON MARCH 1, 1984, WHEN HE WAS IN HONG KONG. AT PRESENT WE ARE CLOSELY MONITORING THE SITUATION,+ SAID MR HO.
SINCE THE ADOPTION BY THE GATT COUNCIL OF THE RECOMMENDATION BY THE CONTRACTING PARTIE'S THAT FRANCE SHOULD TERMINATE THE RESTRICTIONS ON EIGHT HONG KONG PRODUCTS INCLUDING QUARTZ WATCHES, FRANCE HAS LIBERALISED IMPORTS OF THREE PRODUCTS, RETAINED ONE ITEM UNDER DISCRIMINATORY SURVEILLANCE THOUGH THERE IS NO FORMAL QUOTA LIMIT, AND INCREASED THE QUOTAS FOR TWO OTHERS.
♦ THIS IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH AS THE ITEMS LIBERALISED CONSTITUTE ONLY 1.5 PER CENT OF TRADE IN ALL EIGHT ITEMS.
♦ ACCORDINGLY, ACTION HAS BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE TAKEN TO PRESS FRANCE TO IMPLEMENT THE CONTRACTING PARTIES’ RECOMMENDATION IN FULL. FOR INSTANCE, THE HONG KONG REPRESENTATIVE HAS RAISED THIS ISSUE AT THREE SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS OF THE GATT COUNCIL — ON OCTOBER 3 AND NOVEMBER 1, 1983 AND FEBRUARY 7, 1984 ~ AND WE ARE ENCOURAGED BY THE SUPPORT WE HAVE RECEIVED WITHIN THE GATT COUNCIL,♦ W HO SAID.
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/11.........
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1984
11
BILL PUTS EMPHASIS ON ROAD USERS X X *
THE ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984 PROPOSES TO CHANGE THE TITLE OF THE +HIGHWAY CODE* IN THE MAIN ORDINANCE TO +ROAD USERS’ CODE* TO REFLECT A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE OF EMPHASIS IN ITS
CONTENTS, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON ALAN SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
SCOTT,
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, MR SCOTT TITLE +HIGHWAY CODE+ IN SECTION 109 OF THE ORDINANCE EXCLUSIVELY ADDRESSED TO DRIVERS.
SAID THE PRESENT IS ALMOST
♦HOWEVER, THE MAJORITY OF ROAD USERS IN HONG KONG ARE PEDESTRIANS AND PASSENGERS! AND SOME 34 PER CENT AND 31 PER CENT OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS RESPECTIVELY INVOLVE THESE TWO GROUPS. CYCLISTS ALSO ARE A VULNERABLE GROUP,* MR SCOTT POINTED OUT.
THE BILL SEEKS TO CHANGE +HIGHWAY CODE* TO +ROAD USERS’ CODE* SO THAT THE REVISION WILL HAVE CHAPTERS FOR PEDESTRIANS, PASSENGERS CYCLISTS, THE PARENTS OF YOUNG CHILDREN AS WELL AS DRIVERS.
IT WILL ALSO REFLECT THE PROVISIONS OF THE NEW ROAD TRAFFIC LEGISLATION WHICH. IS TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN AUGUST THIS YEAR, MR SCOTT SAID.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED TO APRIL 18
- - - 0 - -
TRAFFIC LIGHTS FOR ’PROBLEM JUNCTION* * * * *
TRAFFIC LIGHTS ARE OF POTTINGER STREET AND TRANSPORT, THE HON ALAN
TO BE INSTALLED AT THE +PROBLEM JUNCTION* QUEEN’S ROAD CENTRAL, THE SECRETARY FOR SCOTT, SAID TODAY.
+WORK IS SCHEDULED
TO BEGIN LATER THIS MONTH, AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED WITHIN ABOUT THREE MONTHS,* HE SAID,- IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON K.C. CHAN.
+THIS JUNCTION, FOLLOWING THE INTRODUCTION OF THE CENTRAL TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SCHEME OVER THE PAST 18 MONTHS, HAS BEEN NOTED AS A PROBLEM,* MR SCOTT ADDED.
0
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1984
12
PLB LIMITATION EXTENDED
K 8. K
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) EXTENDED FOR TWO YEARS UNTIL APRIL 10, 1986, THE PERIOD DURING WHICH THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES WHICH MAY BE LICENSED AS PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES, IS LIMITED
MOVING THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE (CHAPTER 220), THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON ALAN SCOTT, SAID THE PERMISSIBLE NUMBER OF PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES WOULD REMAIN AT 4 350 AS ORDERED BY THE
GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 8
1980
- 0 - -
PROPOSAL QUESTIONED ON PRINCIPLE * * * *
IT IS WRONG IN PRINCIPLE TO SAFEGUARD THE PROFITABILITY OF A PRIVATE ENTERPRISE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE PUBLIC PURSE PARTICULARLY AT A TIME WHEN GOVERNMENT IS BORROWING IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE ENDS MEET, THE HON S.L. CHEN SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON THE PEAK TRAMWAY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984, MR CHEN SAID: +THE BILL SEEKS TO SET THE ANNUAL PERMIT FEE FOR THE YEAR AT $1 000 WHICH, BY COMPARISON, IS A VERY SUBST ANT I AL- REDUCT ION FROM WHAT IS OTHERWISE PAYABLE BY THE PEAK TRAMWAY COMPANY, AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE TOLLS RECEIVED DURING 1983.*
HE NOTED THAT THE REASON FOR THIS AMENDMENT, AS GIVEN BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, WAS +T0 ENABLE THE COMPANY TO AVOID MAKING A LOSS ON ITS OPERATIONS*.
♦SURELY THERE MUST BE OTHER WAYS TO AVOID MAKING A LOSS THOUGH THIS IS NOT A SUBJECT FOR THIS DEBATE, BUT | WOULD EXPECT THE COMPANY, BEFORE SEEKING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, TO ASK ITSELF WHETHER ITS OPERATIONS ARE EFFICIENT AND WHETHER THE FARES ARE SET AT THE RIGHT LEVEL,* HE SAID.
WITH THE REDUCED PERMIT FEE, MR CHEN SAID, HE BELIEVED THE PEAK TRAMWAY COMPANY WOULD MAKE A MODEST PROFIT FOR THE YEAR.
♦IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT DISCUSSIONS ARE IN PROGRESS WITH THE COMPANY, AS ADVISED BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT TO ESTABLISH A NEW FORMULA WHICH WOULD AVOID FUTURE AD HOC REDUCTION OF THE ANNUAL PERMIT FEE, I AM PREPARED TO SUPPORT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS THE SIXTH AND THE LAST TIME FOR AN AD HOC REDUCTION,+ HE STRESSED.
- - 0 - -
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1984
13 -FIRE-WATCH TEAMS ENCOURAGED * * *
IT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS IN SQUATTER AREAS TO SET UP FIRE-WATCH TEAMS, THE HON DAVID AKERS-JONES, SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SAID TODAY.
♦THERE ARE NOW 144 SUCH TEAMS IN SQUATTER AREAS,♦ HE ADDED.
MR AKERS-JONES WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHAN YING-LUNG, ABOUT THE ^FORMATION, TRAINING, OPERATION AND WELFARE+ OF SUCH TEAMS.
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FUNDS ON ACCOUNT APPROVED * * * *
A MOTION BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JOHN EREMRIDGE, SEEKING FUNDS ON ACCOUNT TO ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO CARRY ON EXISTING SERVICES BETWEEN THE START OF THE NEW FINANCIAL YEAR ON APRIL 1 AND THE ENACTMENT OF THE APPROPRIATION BILL, WAS APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
------0
FOUR BILLS PASSED * * *
FOUR BILLS, THE FIXED PENALTY (TRAFFIC CONTRAVENTIONS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984, THE FIXED PENALTY (CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984, THE PEAK TRAMWAY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984 AND THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984, WERE PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
FOUR OTHER BILLS WERE INTRODUCED AND READ A SECOND TIME, AND DEBATE ON THEM WAS ADJOURNED TO APRIL 18.
THEY AREi THE EXCHANGE FUND (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984, THE ARBITRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984, THE ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984 AND THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984.
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/14........
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1984 •
- 14
TALKS ON FUTURE OF HONG KONG MOVING STEADlLYi LUCE * * * * *
THE FOREIGN OFFICE MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR HONG KONG, M? RICHARD LUCE, SAID YESTERDAY (MARCH 13) THAT THE TALKS ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG WERE MOVING STEADILY AND THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WAS CONFIDENT THAT THE ARRANGEMENTS WOULD SUCCEED FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
MR LUCE WAS SPEAKING AT THE GUILDHALL IN LONDON AT THE LAUNCHING OF A SERIES OF GALA EVENINGS BEING STAGED BY THE HDNG KONG GOVERNMENT IN BRITAIN THIS MONTH.
COMMENTING ON HIS VISITS TO HONG KONG, MR LUCE SAID THE STRONGEST WISH HE HAD DETECTED ON THE PART OF THE PEOPLE OF HDNG KONG WAS FOR THE GREATEST DEGREE OF CONTINUITY IN THEIR WAY OF LIFE AND FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THEIR PROSPERITY AND THEIR STABILITY.
HE SAID THE BRITISH AND CHINESE GOVERNMENTS HAD A COMMON OBJECTIVE TO THAT END AND THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WAS
WORKING VERY HARD FOR THE BEST DEAL FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
MR LUCE TOLD THE GUESTS AT THE GALA EVENING THAT HONG KONG
WAS AS VIBRANT AND AS DYNAMIC AS EVER.
♦IN THE LAST PART OF 1983, THERE WAS A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN EXPORTS FROM HONG KONG TO OTHER COUNTRIES AND THERE IS A VERY HEAVY INVESTMENT PROGRAMME ON THE PART OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE, IN PUBLIC WORKS AND IN SOCIAL PROGRAMMES, WHICH IN ITSELF IS A MARK OF THE CONFIDENCE OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IN THEIR PEOPLE AND IN HONG KONG'S FUTURE.+
HE SAID THE TRADING AS WELL AS THE CULTURAL LINK BETWEEN BRITAIN AND HONG KONG WAS STRONG AND THAT THEY WERE VERY IMPORTANT TRADING PARTNERS. .
♦HONG KONG'S EXPORTS TO BRITAIN IN 1983 WENT UP BY 19 PER CENT. BRITAIN'S EXPORTS TO HONG KONG INCREASED ANNUALLY BY AN AVERAGE OF 15 PER CENT SINCE 1979,+ HE POINTED OUT.
+HONG KONG THEREFORE IS A MAJOR MARKET FOR BRITAIN, IN AREAS SUCH AS TRANSPORT AND ENERGY.+
MR LUCE ADDED THAT BRITAIN AND HONG KONG WERE SEEKING TO STRENGTHEN THE TWO-WAY COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL AND CULTURAL LINKS.
THE GALA EVENING WAS HOSTED BY THE HONG KONG COMMISSIONER, SIR JACK CATER AND UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, MISS LYDIA DUNN.
/IN ATTENDANCE........
WEDNESDAY, MABCH 14, 1984
- 15 -
IN ATTENDANCE WAS THE LORD MAYOR OF the CITY of LONDON, LADY DONALDSON. THE OTHER GUESTS INCLUDED MINISTERS AND MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, leaders OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, CIVIC DIGNITARIES, SENIOR MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES AND OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS.
FOLLOWING A RECEPTION, THE GUESTS ATTENDED A STAGE PRESENTATION IN THE GREAT HALL OF THE GUILDHALL.
THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE SHOW WAS A MULTI-SCREEN AUDIO-
VISUAL SPECTACULAR SHOWING HOW HONG KONG HAS DEVELOPED OVER THE PAST THREE DECADES, ILLUSTRATING ITS ECONOMIC SUCCESSES AS WELL AS OTHER ASPECTS OF PRESENT DAY LIFE IN THE TERRITORY.
THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A PROGRAMME OF MUSIC AND DANCE PERFORMED BY VISITING ARTISTES OF THE URBAN COUNCIL’S HONG KONG DANCE COMPANY AND HONG KONG CHINESE ORCHESTRA.
SIMILAR GALA EVENINGS WILL BE HELD OVER THE NEXT NINE DAYS FOR INVITED AUDIENCES IN CARDIFF, NEWCASTLE AND GLASGOW, WHERE THE HONG KONG COMMISSIONER AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE IN LONDON WILL ALSO MEET WITH BUSINESSMEN, CIVIC LEADERS, MEMBERS OF THE CHINESE COMMUNITY AND THE MEDIA.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
GOVERNOR LEAVES FOR PEKING TOMORROW M M M
THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, LEAVES HONG KONG TOMORROW (THURSDAY) TO CONTINUE TO TAKE PART IN THE SI NO-BRITISH TALKS ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.
SIR EDWARD WILL BE TRAVELLING ON FLIGHT BA 03, ETD 11 AM.
A FACILITY HAS BEEN ARRANGED FOR MEDIA PHOTOGRAPHERS AND CAMERAMEN TO COVER SIR EDWARD’S DEPARTURE. THOSE ASSIGNED TO COVER THE EVENT SHOULD ASSEMBLE IN THE AIRPORT PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM NOT LATER THAN 9.45 AM.
GIS OFFICERS WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST.
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1984
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MUSICAL WORKS PIRACY ’ALMOST WIPED OUT’ *****
PIRACY OF MUSICAL WORKS HAS BEEN ALMOST WIRED OUT IN HONG KONG, THE HEAD OF THE CUSTOMS INVESTIGATION BUREAU, MR K.S. TONG TOLD THE LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON WEST TODAY.
THIS WAS SHOWN BY A FINDING OF THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF PRODUCERS OF PHONOGRAMS AND VIDEOGRAMS (IFPI) THAT ABOUT 98 PER CENT OF THE RECORDS AND TAPES ON SALE ARE LEGITIMATE PRODUCTS, HE EXPLAINED.
+HONG KONG HAS ALWAYS BEEN SINGLED OUT AS A PLACE WITH REMARKABLE SUCCESSES IN THE FIELD OF COPYRIGHT PROTECTION,* W TONG SAID.
♦IN JANUARY 1980, THE IFPI AND THE RECORDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA (RIAA) EACH PRESENTED AN HONORARY GOLD DISC TO THE COPYRIGHT DIVISION OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT IN RECOGNITION OF ITS OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS.
AND A NUMBER OF COMPANIES AND ORGANISATIONS, INCLUDING OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, COLLIER MACMILLAN INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHER, SONY CORPORATION OF JAPAN, THE MOTION PICTURE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA (MPAA) HAD ALSO EXPRESSED THEIR APPRECIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT FOR ITS SUCCESSFUL OPERATIONS AGAINST PIRACY TO PROTECT THEIR INTERESTS, HE SAID.
OUTLINING THE DEPARTMENT’S WORK IN COMBATING MUSIC PIRACY SINCE 1973, WHEN IT TOOK OVER THE COPYRIGHT PROTECTION RESPONSIBILITIES FROM THE HONG KONG POLICE, MR TONG SAID THAT BETWEEN 1974 AND 1977, THE DEPARTMENT HAD SMASHED 41 PIRATED TAPE MANUFACTURING CENTRES AND SEIZED LARGE QUANTITIES OF LABELS AND RECORDING EQUIPMENT WORTH SOME $3.5 MILLION, MORE THAN 300 PERSONS HAD BEEN CONVICTED AS A RESULT OF PROSECUTIONS.
+HOWEVER, INVESTIGATIONS IN 1977 FOUND THAT HONG KONG HAD ABOUT 150 HAWKERS AND RETAILERS SELLING PIRATED TAPES, INDICATING THAT THE SITUATION WAS STILL SERIOUS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE DIVISION STRENGTHENED ITS ESTABLISHMENT FROM SEVEN TO 41 OFFICERS IN 1978, IN READINESS TO LAUNCH A TERRITORY WIDE OPERATION CODENAMED THE ’SHILLING BAZAAR’.
+THE ’SHILLING BAZAAR’ WAS AIMED AT LOCATING AND ARRESTING HAWKERS AND RETAILERS ENGAGED IN THIS TRADE. WE BELIEVED THIS OPERATION WOULD IN TURN SMASH THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ILLEGAL MANUFACTURERS,* HE ADDED.
TO REINFORCE THE OPERATIONS, A PUBLICITY DRIVE WAS LAUNCHED IN MARCH 1978 TO ISSUE WARNINGS TO TRADERS THROUGH THE MASS MEDIA, TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS AND TRADE UNIONS TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO THEM THAT SELLING PIRATED TAPES WAS AN OFFENCE. BY THE MIDDLE OF THAT YEAR INFRINGING COPIES HAD VANISHED ALMOST COMPLETELY FROM THE MARKET, MARKING A DECISIVE VICTORY IN THE BATTLE AGAINST MUSIC PIRACY.
/DDE TO ......
WEDNESDAY, 1UBCH 14, 19©4
- 17 -
DUE TO TIGHT SURVEILLANCE BY THE DEPARTMENT, SOME UNSCRUPULOUS TRADERS ONCE RESORTED TO MANUFACTURING AND IMPORTING COUNTERFEIT TAPES WHICE COPIED BOTH THE PACKAGING AND THE MUSICAL PRODUCTION OF THE ORIGINAL WORK.
♦EVEN THE AGENTS OF THOSE BRAND NAMES BEING INFRINGED FOUND IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DIFFERENTIATE THE FAKE FROM THE REAL ONES. A SERIES OF INVESTIGATIONS BY THE DEPARTMENT EVENTUALLY LED TO THE CRACK DOWN ON TWO MANUFACTURING CENTRES AND THESE COUNTERFEITING ACTIVITIES ALSO CAME TO AN END,* MR TONG SAID.
IN 1978, HE SAID, INVESTIGATORS ALSO DISCOVERED THAT SOME GENUINE TAPES WERE BEING IMPORTED ILLEGALLY INTO HONG KONG WITHOUT THE PERMISSION OF THE HONG KONG SOLE AGENTS WHO OWNED THE COPYRIGHTS. THIS MALPRACTICE WAS BEING ERADICATED AFTER THE DEPARTMENT HAD STEPPED UP CHECKS AT CARGO AND PASSENGER ENTRY POINTS.
TURNING TO THE PRESENT MARKET SCENE, MR TONG POINTED OUT THAT RECENTLY THERE WERE RECORDED TAPES SOLD AT $5 TO $6 PER COPY WHICH WERE NOT PIRATED COPIES.
♦THEY ARE MERELY ’SOUND-ALIKE’ TAPES — THE WORK OF SOME NEW OR NOT-YET-ESTABLI SHED SINGERS IMITATING THE ORIGINAL ARTISTS OF POP SONGS AND FAMOUS TV THEME SONGS.
•
♦COMPANIES WHICH PRODUCE THESE TAPES CAN SELL THEM LEGALLY AFTER THEY HAVE PAID ROYALTIES TO THE COMPOSERS’ AND AUTHORS’ SOCIETY OF HONG KONG (CASH),+ MR TONG EXPLAINED.
HOWEVER, HE WARNED THAT 'RECORDING SERVICES* PROVIDED BY SOME RECORD COMPANIES WERE ILLEGAL.
♦IN THESE DEALS, CUSTOMERS PROVIDE TAPES AND THE RECORD COMPANIES RECORD THE SONGS CHOSEN BY THE CUSTOMERS AT A CHARGE OF 50 CENTS TO 12 FOR EACH SONG RECORDED.*
♦THIS IS PIRACY. THE COPYRIGHT PROTECTION UNIT IS CONSIDERING APPROPRIATE WAYS TO CURB THESE ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES,♦ HE STRESSED.
ANY PERSON FOUND GUILTY OF POSSESSING INFRINGING COPIES CF WORK FOR TRADE IS LIABLE TO A FINE OF $1 000 IN RESPECT OF EACH INFRINGING COPY AND TO IMPRISONMENT OF 12 MONTHS, AND IF FOUND GUILTY OF POSSESSING ANY PLATE USED OR INTENDED TO BE USED FOR MAKING INFRINGING COPY OF WORK, IS LIABLE TO A FINE OF $50 000 AND IMPRISONMENT OF TWO YEARS, MR TONG SAID.
/IB .......
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i
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1984
18
PLANS TO DOUBLE CHILD CARE PLACES IN TUEN MUN
* *
*
THERE ARE PLANS TO DOUBLE THE PLACES IN THE FAST DEVELOPING TUEN
EXISTING NUMBER OF CHILD CARE MUN NEW TOWN IN THE NEXT THREE
YEARS, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE PO LEUNG KUK BUTTERFLY BAY NURSERY IN TUEN MUN, HE SAID THE PLANNED INCREASE WOULD BE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE GROWING POPULATION IN TUEN MUN.
AT PRESENT THERE ARE OVER 1 300 PLACES IN 12 CHILD CARE CENTRES IN THE NEW TOWN.
♦THE INCREASE WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.+ HE STRESSED.
HE THANKED THE AGENCIES FOR THEIR COMBINED THE TARGETS.
MR CHAMBERS SAID THE DEMAND FOR CHILD CARE HOUSING ESTATES WAS ALWAYS HIGH.
THE COOPERATION OF
EFFORTS IN ACHIEVING
PLACES IN NEW
THE NEW NURSERY, LOCATED IN THE BUTTERFLY ESTATE COMMUNITY CENTRE, PROVIDES CARE FOR 100 CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF TWO AND SIX.
HE SAID THAT TWO MORE NURSERIES WOULD BE ESTABLISHED IN BUTTERFLY ESTATE WITHIN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.
MR CHAMBERS PAID TRIBUTE TO PO LEUNG KUK FOR ITS CONTRIBUTION TO THE EXPANSION OF LOCAL WELFARE SERVICES.
THESE SERVICES INCLUDE NURSERIES, CRECHES, HOMES FOR YOUNG GIRLS AND WOMEN, AS WELL AS HOMES AND SHELTERED WORKSHOPS FOR THE NTALLY HANDICAPPED.
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DB TO DISCUSS INDUSTRIAL SURVEY *****
TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WILL DISCUSS A INDUSTRIAL SURVEY AT THEIR MEETING ON FRIDAY (MARCH
REPORT ON AN 16) MORNING.
ENTITLED ♦INDUSTRIES AND WORKERS - PRESENT AND
FUTURE OUTLOOK+
THE SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED BY THE TUEN MUN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE LOCAL DISTRICT OFFICE LAST YEAR
AN ENGINEER OF THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE, MR SIU SAU-CHING. WILL BRIEF MEMBERS ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW THREE-CELL BOX CULVERT AT CASTLE PEAK ROAD TO REPLACE THE SUB-STANDARD BRIDGES AT TAI LAM CHUNG WHICH WERE BUILT BEFORE THE SECOND WORLD WAR.
/at the
I
<EDN3SDAY, MABCH 14, 1984
- 19 -
AT THE MEETING, BOARD MEMBERS WILL ALSO BE BRIEFED ON THE LAND SALE PROGRAMME IN 1984-85 AND ON PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEW TOWN.
/
THE POLLUTION CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT OF WATERCOURSES IN THE DISTRICT WILL ALSO BE DISCUSSED.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA WILL INCLUDE INCREASED ALLOCATION FOR "HE CONSTRUCTION OF A SITTING-OUT AREA NEAR CASTLE PEAK BAY, A REPORT BY A WORKING GROUP ON THE PROPOSED SETTING UP OF THE THIRD UNIVERSITY IN TUEN MUN, AND PROGRESS REPORTS OF THE BOARD’S COMMITTEES.
SOME SEATS WILL BE RESERVED FOR THE PUBLIC ON A FIRST-COME-FIRST-SERVED BASIS, AND THOSE WISHING TO ATTEND SHOULD CONTACT THE BOARD’S SECRETARIAT AT TELEPHONE 0-843801.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE WELCOME TO COVER THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD MEETING AT 10 AM ON FRIDAY (MARCH 16) IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE DISTRICT BOARD’S SECRETARIAT ON THE NINTH FLOOR OF FOO YICK COMMERCIAL BUILDING IN SAN ON CIRCUIT.
A GOVERNMENT VEHICLE, AM 5797, WILL LEAVE KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER AT 9 AM SHARP FOR TUEN MUN.
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NOTE TO EDITORS:
GALA NIGHT ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY *****
THE GALA NIGHT OF THE ^TEXTILES INDUSTRY SAFETY DAY* WILL BE hELD AT THE AUDITORIUM OF TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL, AT 8 PM TOMORROW (THURSDAY) EVENING.
THE SAFETY DAY IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE TEXTILES INDUSTRY SAFETY SUB-COMMITTEE AND THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BOARD.
DR J.W. HAYES, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR- DR T.K. ANN. HONORARY PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES-MR ADOLF HSU, DISTRICT COMMISSIONER, TSUEN WAN- AND MR LAM KIN-MING, CHAIRMAN OF THE TSUEN WAN INDUSTRIAL COMMITTEE OF THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BOARD WILL OFFICIATE AT THE CEREMONY.
THE GALA NIGHT WILL BE HIGHLIGHTED BY A VARIETY SHOW FEATURING LOCAL SINGERS KEN CHOI, PAO TSUI-MEI AND WONG YEE-KA AS WELL AS A +POLY DESIGN HALF AN HOUR+ FASHION SHOW BY THE SWIRE SCHOOL OF FASHION DESIGN OF THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE FUNCTION.
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I
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1964
- 20 -
PEAK TRAM NIGHT WORK * * * /
THE LAST TRAMCAR FROM THE UPPER AND LOWER PEAK TRAM TERMINUS WILL LEAVE AT 10 PM TOMORROW (THURSDAY), TO ALLOW WORKS TO BE CARRIED OUT.
EARLY MORNING SERVICES ON THE FOLLOWING DAY WILL COMMENCE AT ABOUT 7 AM AS USUAL.
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FANLING PROHIBITED ZONES M M M
FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (MARCH 16), ALL PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES EXCEPT THOSE AUTHORISED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING THE INTERIM FORECOURT OF FANLING KCR STATION.
AND ALL VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED PUBLIC OMNIBUSES AND THOSE AUTHORISED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING THE TWO DEPARTURE BAYS IN THE NORTHERN SECTION OF THE FORECOURT.
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I
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 1984
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GOVERNOR LEAVES FOR PEKING ..................................... 1
SIR PHILIP VISITS POLYTECHNIC .................................. 1
FREE ECONOMY HELPS IN SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ....................... 2
REFLECT ON ACHIEVEMENTS, PEOPLE URGED .......................... 3
NEW HOMES FOR TIN SHU I WAI RESIDENTS .......................... 5
CHING MING FESTIVAL TRAFFIC PLAN ............................... 6
UNEMPLOYMENT kaTE DECLINES ..................................... 8
SCHOOLS, TEACHERS' VITAL ROLE STRESSED ......................... 9
LEGAL AID SCHEME EXPANDS RAPIDLY .............................. 10
CAREON FILTERS FOR REFUSE COLLECTION POINTS ................... 11
ROAD CLOSURE IN CAUSEWAY BAY jJID WAN CHal .................... 12
PRESS OPEN DaY AT CAS TRAINING CENTRE ........................ 12
management training conference ................................ 13
MOVE TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW................................. 14
SPECLAL BUS SERVICE FOR WALDORF G. Ji DEN ..................... 14
TAI PO PUBLIC SCHOOL OPENING ................................. 14
AWARDS FOR CRAFT TECHNICIANS .................................. 15
THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 1984
1
GOVERNOR LEAVES FOR PEKING * * * *
THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, LEFT FOR PEKING THIS (THURSDAY) MORNING TO CONTINUE TO TAKE PART IN THE SINO-BRITISH TAL' S ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.
HE WAS SEEN OFF AT THE AIRPORT BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, SIR SZE-YUEN CHUNG, THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR ROGER LOBO, AND THE VICE-CHIEF EDITOR OF THE XINHUA NEWS AGENCY (HONG KONG BRANCH), MR TAN GAN.
ACCOMPANYING THE GOVERNOR WERE THE POLITICAL ADVISER, W ROBIN MCLAREN, AND THE GOVERNMENT CHIEF INTERPRETER, W Y.P. CHENG.
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SIR PHILIP VISITS POLYTECHNIC
* X * X X
THE DEPUTY TO THE GOVERNOR, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, TODAY (THURSDAY) VISITED THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC’S CAMPUS IN HUNG HOM TO LOOK AT THE INSTITUTE’S LATEST PROGRAMMES AND FACILITIES.
AMONG THE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES IS AN APPLIED RESEARCH PROJECT AIMED AT SUPPORTING THE MANUFACTURE OF HIGH TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS AND A PLAN TO PROMOTE SELF-STUDY FOR STUDENTS.
DR KEITH LEGG, DIRECTOR OF THE POLYTECHNIC, TOLD SIR PHILIP THAT THE RESEARCH PROGRAMME, ENTITLED COMPUTER-AIDED DESIGN OF ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS, WAS STARTED AFTER THE POLYTECHNIC RECENTLY RECEIVED $1.79 MILLION FROM THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD.
ON THE SELF-STUDY PROGRAMME, DR LEGG SAID SPECIAL EMPHASIS IS BEING PLACED ON IMPROVING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE TEACHING AND LEARNING PROCESS.
THIS IS ACHIEVED THROUGH THE USE OF EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES PROVIDED BY THE EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY UNIT, HE SAID.
STUDY PACKAGES AND SELF-LEARNING PROGRAMMES, TO BE PHASED INTO ALL ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES WHERE SUITABLE, ARE BEING PRODUCED TO IMPROVE THE LEARNING PROCESS.
THE UNIT ALSO WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE STUDENT AFFAIRS UNIT IN THE ORGANISATION OF STUDY SKILLS PROGRAMMES FOR STUDENTS, DR LEGG ADDED.
SIR PHILIP ALSO VISITED THE INDUSTRIAL CENTRE WHERE PRACTICAL AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING IS BEING PROVIDED FOR SEVERAL THOUSAND STUDENTS EACH YEAR.
THE PRIME OBJECTIVE OF THE CENTRE IS TO PROVIDE INTEGRATED THEORECTICAL AND PRACTICAL TRAINING WITH THE MAIN EMPHASIS ON REAL LIFE INDUSTRIAL SITUATIONS, DR LEGG EXPLAINED.
/SIR PHILIP ....
2
I'iiUKijUAl, ruutun
SIR PHILIP LATER VISITED THE COMMUNITY CENTRE OPENED OFFICIALLY BY HIM IN 1978 AND THE LIBRARY WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST COLLECTIONS OF SCIENTIFIC, ENGINEERING AND BUSINESS MATERIALS IN THE FAR EAST WITH AN ACCUMULATED SIZE OF HALF A MILLION VOLUMES.
BESIDES MEETING SENIOR STAFF AND HEADS OF VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS SIR DHILIP TALKED TO STUDENTS UNION OFFICIALS.
HE WAS HAPPY TO LEARN THAT TWO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNION ^E SERVING AS FULL MEMBERS ON THE ACADEMIC BOARD CONTRIBUTING TO THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE POLYTECHNIC.
THE UNION IS ALSO REPRESENTED IN A NUMBER OF POLYTECHNIC COMMITTEES AND WORKING PARTIES, THE STUDENT OFFICIALS SAID.
- - 0 - -
FREE ECONOMY HELPS IN ft ft ft
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT *
HONG KONG’S ECONOMIC SYSTEM,
THE MINIMUM INTERFERENCE WITH ...
TOGETHER WITH AN EFFICIENT BUREAUCRACY AND LOW TAXATION, HAS ENABLED THE TERRITORY TO KEEP UP IMPROVEMENT ON VARIOUS FRONTS. THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES. SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
♦IT IS FROM THIS SIMPLE BUT STRONG MECHANISM THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONTINUE STEADILY WITH PROGRAMMES OF SOCIAL IMPROVEMENT. WELFARE AND EDUCATION, AND TO BUILD PUBLIC HOUSING FOR WELL OVER A MILLION PEOPLE,* HE SAID.
SPEAKING AT THE 13TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE KAM NGAN STOCK EXCHANGE. MR AKERS-JONES SAID HONG KONG HAD AN ECONOMIC SYSTEM THAT WAS +PERHAPS THE LEAST INTERFERED WITH IN THE WORLD.*
♦COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY OPERATE FREELY WITHIN A FIRM AND DEPENDABLE SYSTEM OF LAW.
♦OUR SYSTEM OF MINIMUM INTERFERENCE WITH COMMERCIAL DECISIONS IS BACKED BY AN EFFICIENT BUREAUCRACY, WHILE LOW TAXATION PROVIDES AN INCENTIVE TO ENCOURAGE ENTERPRISE WHOSE
REWARD IS PROSPERITY,* HE
SAID
MR AKERS-JONES ADDED IN THE PAST 13 YEARS HAD, REMARKABLE IN HONG KONG’S
THAT THE PACE AND DIMENSION OF CHANGE BY ANY MEASURE, BEEN THE MOST HISTORY.
HONG KONG HAS NOW BECOME THE THIRD AMONG THE WORLD’S FINANCIAL CENTRES AND THE SECOND LARGEST TRADING PORT IN THE WORLD.
♦CERTAINLY THIS DEGREE OF SUCCESS OWES MUCH TO HARD WORK AND ENTERPRISE, AND AN ABILITY AND SENSITIVITY TO OPPORTUNITIES TO DO BUSINESS AROUND THE WORLD,* HE SAID.
MR AKERS-JONES ALSO PAID TRIBUTE TO THE KAM NGAN STOCK EXCHANGE WHICH HAD CONTRIBUTED GREATLY TO THIS *ECONOMIC MIRACLE* AND HOPED IT WOULD CONTINUE TO DO SO.
— o —
THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 1984
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REFLECT ON ACHIEVEMENTS, PEOPLE URGED * * * *
HONG KONG PEOPLE LEAD SUCH BUSY LIVES THAT THEY SELDOM HAVE TIME TO REFLECT ON HOW FAR THEY HAVE COME.
REMARKING ON THIS POINT IN A SPEECH TO THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON TODAY, THE DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SERVICES, MR PETER TSAO, SAID, +PERHAPS WE SHOULD, NOW AND THEN, REGAIN OUR SENSE OF PERSPECTIVE - WHEN DOUBTS AND MISGIVINGS THREATEN TO CLOUD OUR JUDGEMENT OR WHEN THE PROBLEMS OF THE MOMENT OBSCURE THE MANY OTHER PROBLEMS WE HAVE SURMOUNTED IN THE PAST.*
POINTING TO THE HISTORY CHAPTER OF +HONG KONG 1984+, THE NEWLY PUBLISHED YEAR BOOK PRODUCED BY HIS DEPARTMENT, MR TSAO SAID, + IT IS SALUTARY TO LOOK BACK ON OCCASIONS WE NOW SEEM IN DANGER OF FORGETTING, WHEN THE SHADOWS ON OUR HORIZON LOOMED AS LARGE, IF NOT LARGER, THAN THEY DO NOW.+
FEW CITIES HAD FACED SUCH ADVERSITY AS HONG KONG HAD DONE OVER THE PAST 40 YEARS. FEWER STILL HAD EMERGED FROM THE FIRES WITH THE VIGOUR AND RESILIENCE THAT HONG KONG HAD FORGED THERE.
THE YEAR BOOK, HE SAID, CONSISTENTLY HEADED HONG KONG’S BEST-SELLER LIST BECAUSE IT WAS THE BEST REFERENCE BOOK AVAILABLE ON ♦ THIS MARVELLOUS AND UNIQUE COMMUNITY IN WHICH w£ LIVE*.
♦ IF WE TAKE THE TIME AND EFFORT TO EXCAVATE THE FACTS,♦ HE SAID, +IT IS A MINE OF INFORMATION WHICH I AM SURE WILL GREATLY ENRICH OUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT MAKES THIS PLACE TICK.
♦ AND I LIKE TO BELIEVE THAT THE SUCCESS AND POPULARITY OF THIS PUBLICATION HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE PRIDE WE TAKE IN THIS GREAT COLLECTIVE ACHIEVEMENT THAT IS HONG KONG.
♦ WE ALL HAVE A VERY HUMAN DESIRE TO READ ABOUT OURSELVES ON THE PRINTED PAGE, AND IN THIS BOOK WE CAN. FOR IT IS, IN A VERY REAL SENSE, OUR STORY. WITHOUT THE CONTRIBUTION WHICH EACH OF US HAS MADE TO THE WHOLE, HONG KONG WOULD NOT BE WHAT IT IS.+
MR TSAO COMMENTED THAT HONG KONG DID NOVREADILY SUBMIT TO EXAMINATION AND EXPLANATION. ♦INDEED,♦ HE ADDED, +THERE IS A DANGER THAT WE MAY THINK WE KNOW ALL ABOUT IT WHEN WE HAVE HARDLY BEGUN TO UNDERSTAND.♦
HE HAD A WORD OF CAUTION FOR *THE OUTSIDER WHO THINKS HE CAN COME HERE AND LEARN IT ALL IN SOME KIND OF ’CRASH’ COURSE.*
/+IT DOESN'T .......
THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 1984
4
♦ IT DOESN’T WORK,+ HE SAID.
MR TSAO’S ADVICE TO THE STUDENT OF HONG KONG AFFAIRS WAS, FIRST Y TO LEARN ABOUT IT FROM THE INSIDE, AND BE PREPARED FOR A 1 ' ,3 HARD AND ENDLESS PROCESS OF ASSIMILATION.
♦THERE IS NO BETTER PLACE TO START,+ HE ADDED, +THAN TO AVOID THE OPINIONS AND GET DOWN TO THE FACTS, AND NO BETTER PLACE TO BEGIN THAN THIS BOOK.+
HE SAID THAT +HONG KONG 1984+ WOULD GO ON SALE TODAY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AND AT LEADING BOOKSHOPS, PRICED AT $32 PER COPY.
IF THE PRICE SOUNDED +BARGAIN-BASEMENT+ IT WAS BECAUSE IN THIS CASE GOVERNMENT HAD THE EDGE OVER THE COMMERCIAL PUBLISHERS BY MAKING THE BOOK AVAILABLE AT WELL BELOW THE GOING MARKET RATE.
+WHY7+ HE ASKED, +BECAUSE WE ARE LESS INTERESTED IN MAKING A PROFIT THAN IN GETTING THIS BOOK INTO AS MANY HANDS AS POSSIBLE. IT IS THE BUSINESS OF MY DEPARTMENT TO INFORM, AND THE ANNUAL REPORT IS AN INDISPENSABLE .TOOL FOR DOING JUST THAT.+
THE LATEST EDITION CONTAINS 22 CHAPTERS SPREAD OVER 325 PAGES, PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF HONG KONG’S TRADE AND INDUSTRY, FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC SITUATION, EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, HOUSING, SOCIAL WELFARE, LAW AND ORDER AND OTHER TOPICS OF PUBLIC INTEREST.
IN ADDITION TO THE THOUSANDS OF FACTS, FIGURES AND STATISTICS, THE REPORT INCLUDED 10 TOP-QUALITY PICTURE SECTIONS FOCUSING ON CHOSEN THEMES OR SPECIAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR, REFLECTING SIGNIFICANT ASPECTS OF HONG KONG’S DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERISTICS.
THE REVIEW CHAPTER, UNDER THE HEADING +EDUCATION AT THE CROSSROADS*, HAD BEEN CONTRIBUTED BY EDUCATION EXPERTS TO TIE IN WITH THE RECENT - AND CONTROVERSIAL - LLEWELLYN REPORT.
TO MEET RISING DEMAND, IT HAD BEEN NECESSARY TO RAISE THE PUBLICATION’S PRINT RUN EACH YEAR. FROM 30 000 COPIES FOR THE 1976 EDITION, THIS HAD NOW RISEN TO 43 000 COPIES FOR 1984, OF WHICH 32 000 COPIES WERE IN ENGLISH AND 11 000 IN CHINESE.
0
/5........
THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 1934
- 5 -
NEW HOMES FOR TIN SHU I WAI RESIDENTS * * * *
REHOUSING ARRANGEMENTS ARE BEING FINALISED FOR ABOUT HALF OF THE 200—PLUS FAMILIES INVOLVED IN THE COMING TIN SHU I WAI CLEARANCE, WHIC^ WILL PAVE THE WAY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW TOWN THERE, THC JEN LONG DISTRICT OFFICER, MR JAMES WILSON, SAID TODAY " .JRSDAY).
HE SAID THAT MORE THAN 40 FAMILIES HAD ALREADY PAID RENTS FOR THEIR NEW HOMES, MAINLY IN PUBLIC HOUSING FLATS.
MR WILSON ALSO APPEALED TO OTHER FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED TO MAKE EARLY DECISIONS ON OFFERS OF REHOUSING OR ALLOWANCE PAYMENTS SO THAT THEIR APPLICATIONS COULD BE PROCESSED BY THE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY.
♦WORK ON THE TIN SHU I WAI PROJECT WILL START NEXT MONTH.
♦WHEN FULLY DEVELOPED, THE NEW TOWN WILL PROVIDE HOMES AND EMPLOYMENT FOR SOME 135 000 PEOPLE, AND THE FIRST PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES WILL BEGIN TO TAKE IN TENANTS IN MID-1989,+ HE SAID.
MR WILSON POINTED OUT THAT THE CLEARANCE, WHICH WILL BEGIN LATER THIS MONTH, INVOLVES. UNLEASED CROWN LAND ONLY, AND ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION WILL BE OFFERED TO ELIGIBLE FAMILIES ACCORDING TO CRITERIA SET BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
IN ADDITION, EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES WILL ALSO BE MADE TO ELIGIBLE FARMERS AND BUSINESS OPERATORS.
MR WILSON STRESSED THAT FAMILIES OR INDIVIDUALS WITH PARTICULAR PROBLEMS COULD APPROACH THE DISTRICT OFFICE FOR ASSISTANCE.
♦ TO THIS END, A SPECIAL UNIT COMPRISING OFFICIALS FROM VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED IN THE CLEARANCE HAS BEEN SET UP TO GIVE EVERY ASSISTANCE TO RESIDENTS,♦ HE SAID.
♦ IN FACT, THIS UNIT HAS BEEN MEETING FAMILIES PRACTICALLY EVERY DAY IN THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS TO DISCUSS INDIVIDUAL PROBLEMS AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO DO S0.+
FOR GENUINE FARMERS WHO WISH TO CONTINUE FARMING ELSEWHERE IN YUEN LONG, MR WILSON SAID HIS OFFICE WAS ALWAYS PREPARED TO HELP THEM.
♦ IF THEY CAN LEASE OR BUY PRIVATE FARM LAND, THEY CAN APPLY TO THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE FOR A TEMPORARY FARM LICENCE WHICH WILL ALSO ALLOW THEM TO BUILD A TEMPORARY HOUSE PROVIDED THEY AGREE TO GIVE UP THEIR PUBLIC HOUSING ENTITLEMENT. ABOUT 63 SUCH APPLICATIONS ARE BEING INVESTIGATED,♦ HE SAID.
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/6........
THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 1984
- 6 -
CHING MING FESTIVAL TRAFFIC PLAN ft ft * *
SPECIAL TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN TIE NEW TERRITORIES FOR THE CHING MING FESTIVAL ON MARCH 18, 25, A^ *PRIL 1, ALL SUNDAYS, APRIL 4, (FESTIVAL DAY), AND APRIL 8, 15, . 22, ALL SUNDAYS.
THE ARRANGEMENTS ARE:
* WO HOP SHEK ROAD WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC, EXCEPT HEARSES AND EMERGENCY VEHICLES, BETWEEN 4 AM AND 8 PM.
ft THE SERVICE ROAD BETWEEN HO KA YUEN ACCESS ROAD AND WO HOP SHEK ROAD, WO HOP SHEK CONNECTION (SOUTHBOUND) BETWEEN NORTHEAST SLIP ROAD AND WO HOP SHEK ROAD, AND THE SLIP ROAD FROM TAI PO ROAD TO WO HOP SHEK ROUNDABOUT, WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC EXCEPT KMB BUSES, EMERGENCY VEHICLES AND HEARSES.
ft BETWEEN 6 AM AND 6 PM, FANLING PLAYGROUND ROAD LEADING FROM TAI PO ROAD TO FANLING KCR STATION FORECOURT AND PAK FUK TSUEN WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC EXCEPT KMB BUSES, EMERGENCY VEHICLES. AND RESIDENTS WHO REQUIRE LOCAL ACCESS.
ft THE FANLING KCR STATION FORECOURT ACCESS AT ROAD D5 WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL VEHICLES EXCEPT KMB BUSES AND EMERGENCY VEHICLES.
ft NO TRAFFIC WILL BE ALLOWED TO ENTER MAN KAM TO ROAD AT ITS JUNCTION WITH SAN FUNG AVENUE IN SHEUNG SHU I FROM 6 AM TO 6 PM EXCEPT BUSES, EMERGENCY VEHICLES AND THOSE WITH CLOSED ROAD PERMITS. THE SAME PROHIBITION WILL ALSO BE IMPOSED ON LO WU STATION ROAD.
ft THE ACCESS ROADS TO TSUEN WAN CEMETERY WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL VEHICULAR TRAFFIC, EXCEPT HEARSES AND EMERGENCY VEHICLES, FROM 8 AM TO 7 PM ON APRIL 1 AND 4, AND ON ANY OTHER DAYS DURING THE FESTIVAL PERIOD IF THE TRAFFIC SITUATION SO REQUIRES.
ft TWO-WAY TRAFFIC WILL BE MAINTAINED ON TAI PO ROAD THROUGHOUT THE FESTIVAL PERIOD. HOWEVER, THE FOLLOWING PROHIBITIONS WILL BE IMPOSED TO GOODS VEHICLES OVER 2-1/2 TONS:
/SECTION OF .......
THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 198U
- 7 -
SECTION OF TAI PO ROAD TRAFFIC DIRECTION PROHIBITION PERIOD
BETWEEN FANLING BOTH DIRECTIONS 6 AM - 6 PM
ROUNDABOUT AND LAM KAM ROAD
BETWEEN LAM KAM ROAD NORTH-BOUND 6 AM - 12 NOON
AND SHA TIN RACE
COURSE
BETWEEN LAM KAM ROAD SOUTH-BOUND 12 NOON - 6 PM
AND SHA TIN RACE COURSE
* MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE ADVISED TO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO GO TO THE CEMETERIES, AS THERE WILL BE NO PARKING FACILITIES AVAILABLE IN THE VICINITY OF WO HOP SHEK, AND PARKING SPACES IN SHEUNG SHUI, FANLING AND AROUND TSUEN WAN CEMETERY ARE EXTREMELY LIMITED. VEHICLES PARKED ILLEGALLY ON THE ROAD OR PAVEMENT MAY BE TOWED AWAY WITHOUT WARNING.
* PRIVATE CARS AND COACHES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO SET DOWN OR PICK UP PASSENGERS WITHIN ONE KILOMETER ON TAI PO ROAD ON EITHER SIDE OF WO HOP SHEK ROAD, TAXIS WILL ONLY BE ALLOWED TO' SET DOWN PASSENGERS AT DESIGNATED LOCATIONS AND WAITING WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.
* THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION WILL NOT OPERATE SPECIAL TRAINS TO WO HOP SHEK CEMETERY. TRAIN SERVICES AT FANLING WILL BE STRENGTHENED TO 7.5-MINUTE FREQUENCY FROM 7 AM TO 9.45 AM AND FROM 4 PM TO 7 PM, AND AT 10-MINUTE FREQUENCY DURING OFF-PEAK HOURS.
M SPECIAL SHUTTLE BUS SERVICE ROUTE 7OR WILL OPERATE BETWEEN FANLING KCR STATION AND WO HOP SHEK AT EVERY THREE MINUTES WITH A SINGLE FARE OF 80 CENTS.
* GRAVE-SWEEPERS WISHING TO GO TO SANDY RIDGE CAN EITHER USE THE REGULAR BUS SERVICE ROUTE 73K, PLYING BETWEEN SHEUNG SHUI AND SAN UK LING, OR THE TRAIN SERVICE TO LO WU.
X GRAVE-SWEEPERS ARE ADVISED NOT TO USE THE VILLAGE FOOTPATHS SOUTH OF THE FANLING STATION, AS THESE ARE NOW PART OF A CONSTRUCTION SITE AND ARE NOT SAFE FOR PUBLIC USE. IF PASSENGERS WISH TO WALK TO THE CEMETERY, THEY ARE ADVISED TO FOLLOW THE PEDESTRIAN ROUTE FROM FANLING KCR STATION TO FANLING PLAYGROUND ROAD, FANLING ROUNDABOUT, TAI PO ROAD, WO HOP SHEK INTERCHANGE AND WO HOP SHEK ROAD. APPROPRIATE SIGNS WILL BE ERECTED TO GUIDE PEDESTRIANS.
* SEVERE TRAFFIC CONGESTION WILL OCCUR ON TAI PO ROAD DURING THE FESTIVAL. VISITORS ARE ADVISED TO VISIT THE CEMETERIES EARLY OR ON NON-FESTIVAL DAYS. THOSE GOING TO THE NORTHERN PART OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO USE ROUTE TwISK AND FAN KAM ROAD OR CASTLE PEAK ROAD AND TUEN MUN HIGHWAY AS ALTERNATIVE ROUTES, IN ORDER TO ALLEVIATE THE CONGESTION ON TAI PO ROAD.
THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 1994
8
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DECLINES * * M *
THE UNEMPLOYMENT SITUATION IMPROVED SOMEWHAT UNDEREMPLOYMENT SITUATION REMAINED STABLE, IN THE
WHILE THE THREE MONTHS
FROM NOVEMBER 1983 TO JANUARY THIS YEAR, ACCORDING TO LABOUR FORCE STATISTICS RELEASED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTIC*
DEPARTMENT.
THE SEASONALLY ADJUSTED UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR THE PERIOD WAS 3.7 PER CENT, WHICH COMPARES FAVOURABLY WITH THE RATE GF 4.1 PER CENT RECORDED BOTH FOR THE PREVIOUS QUARTER ENDING OCTOBER 1983 AND FOR THE QUARTER ENDING DECEMBER 1983 RATE FOR THE QUARTER ENDING JANUARY 1983 WAS 4.3 PER CEN7
THE NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS IN THE QUARTER EWING JANUARY 1984 WAS PROVISIONALLY ESTIMATED TO BE 96 000, ZAS COMPARED WITH 104 600 FOR THE QUARTER ENDING OCTOBER 1983, ANB 106 700 FOR THE SAME QUARTER OF LAST YEAR.
THE UNDEREMPLOYMENT RATE FOR NOVEMBER ,1983 - JANUARY 1984 WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 1.5 PER CENT WHILE THAT FOR AUGUST - OCTOBER 1983 WAS 1.6 PER CENT. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE TWO RATES IS NOT STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT.
THE PROVISIONAL ESTIMATE OF THE NUMBER OF UNDEREMPLOYED PERSONS WAS 39 000 FOR THE QUARTER ENDING JANUARY 1984, AS FOR THE PREVIOUS QUARTER ENDING OCTOBER
COMPARED WITH 40 900 1983.
CONSISTENT WITH LABOUR ORGANISATION,
THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL PERSONS WHO WORKED LESS THAN 35 HOURS A WEEK WERE REGARDED AS UNDEREMPLOYED ONLY IF THEY WERE SEEKING MORE WORK OR WERE NOT SEEKING MORE WORK BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED
MORE WORK WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
IN COMMENTING UPON THESE FIGURES, THE COMMISSIONER FOR CENSUS AND STATISTICS SAID THAT BECAUSE THE PROPORTION OF FIRST-TIME JOB-SEEKERS (E.G. PEOPLE WHO HAVE JUST LEFT SCHOOL) VARIES FROM MONTH TO MONTH, THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATES WHICH HAD BEEN SEASONALLY ADJUSTED FOR THE VARIATION IN FIRST-TIME JOBSEEKERS SHOULD BE USED IN MAKING COMPARISONS OVER TIME. THE UNADJUSTED UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR THE QUARTER ENDING JANUARY 1984 WAS 3.8 PER CENT.
THE UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT STATISTICS WERE OBTAINED FROM A CONTINUOUS GENERAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT. THIS QUARTERLY SURVEY COVERS SAMPLE-SIZE OF SOME 15 000 HOUSEHOLDS OR 55 000 PERSONS, SELECTED SCIENTIFICALLY TO REPRESENT THE LAND BASED CIVILIAN NON-INSTITUTIONAL POPULATION IN HONG KONG. PERSONAL AND LABOUR FORCE DATA WERE OBTAINED IN THE SURVEY BY INTERVIEWING EACH INDIVIDUAL MEMBER IN THE HOUSEHOLD SAMPLED.
DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE LABOUR FORCE CHARACTERISTICS IS GIVEN IN THE REPORT ON THE GENERAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY WHICH IS PUBLISHED FOUR TIMES A YEAR. THE NEXT REPORT COVERING THE QUARTER ENDING MARCH 1984 SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AROUND JUNE 20, 1984.
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/9
THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 1934
- 9 -
SCHOOLS, TEACHERS’ VITAL ROLE STRESSED * X M *
SCHOOL PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN NURTURING A CHILD’S SENSE CF BELONGING FOR A COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY IN DEVELOPING AREAS LIKE THE NEW TOWNS, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR COLVYN HAYE, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE PO LEUNG KUK LEUNG CHOW SHUN KAM PRIMARY SCHOOL IN TUEN MUN, MR HAYE SAID SCHOOL FORMED A CENTRAL PART OF MOST CHILDREN’S LIVES.
♦ IT IS, THEREFORE, VERY LIKELY THAT THIS SCHOOL IS WHERE THE NEW YOUNG RESIDENTS OF TUEN MUN WILL BE INITIATED INTO THE LIFE OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY,+ HE ADDED.
MR HAYE ALSO REFERRED TO THE BIG RESPONSIBILITIES OF TEACHERS IN THE NEW TOWNS AND SAID THAT IN ADDITION TO IMPARTING KNOWLEDGE ♦IN A STIMULATING AND LASTING MANNER*, AND SETTING EXAMPLES IN THEIR PERSONAL CONDUCT, THEY HAD ALSO TO HELP THEIR STUDENTS SETTLE DOWN AND DEVELOP A SENSE OF BELONGING IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY.
♦ THEY DID THIS FIRST THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL ACTIVITIES AND THEN IN INCREASING INVOLVEMENT, AS THE SCHOOL DEVELOPED AND MATURED, IN THE COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.
♦ A SENSE OF BELONGING DEVELOPED IN AND FOR THE SCHOOL WILL EXTEND TO A SENSE OF BELONGING FOR THE COMMUNITY,♦ HE CONCLUDED.
HE PRAISED THE PO LEUNG KUK FOR ITS SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS SOCIAL SERVICES, ESPECIALLY IN THE CARE AND EDUCATION
• CF THE YOUNG IN HONG KONG.
IT HAD BEEN PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL SERVICES ON VARIOUS LEVELS AND FACETS, WITH ITS FIVE SECONDARY SCHOOLS, NINE PRIMARY SCHOOLS, THREE SPECIAL SCHOOLS AND FIVE KINDERGARTENS.
IN THE NEW TOWNS, THE PO LEUNG KUK HAD ALSO BEEN PLAYING AN INCREASINGLY SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN EDUCATION FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, MR HAYE SAID.
♦HERE IN TUEN MUN, THE PO LEUNG KUK HAS ALREADY MADE ITS MARK WITH THE PO LEUNG KUK CENTENARY COLLEGE, THE PO LEUNG KUK NO. 5 PRIMARY SCHOOL AND THE NEWLY OPENED PO LEUNG KUK SIU HONG COURT KINDERGARTEN,♦ HE SAID.
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/1O
THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 1984
10 -
LEGAL AID SCHEME EXPANDS RAPIDLY * * * *
MORE PEOPLE ARE BENEFITING FROM THE INCREASINGLY EFFECTIVE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE LEGAL AID DEPARTMENT.
LAST YEAR THE DEPARTMENT GRANTED LEGAL AID TO OVER 6 800 CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LITIGATION APPLICANTS, A TENFOLD INCREASE SINCE THE LEGAL AID SCHEME WAS INTRODUCED IN 1967.
THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF LEGAL AID, MR PATRICK MOSS, ATTRIBUTED THIS RAPID INCREASE TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SCHEME AND THE PUBLIC'S GROWING AWARENESS OF THE SERVICES AVAILABLE.
IN THE SAME YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT RECOVERED A RECORD AMOUNT OF OVER $45 MILLION IN DAMAGES FOR LEGALLY AIDED PERSONS.
♦ WITHOUT LEGAL AID, MANY OF THESE PEOPLE MIGHT NOT HAVE RECEIVED ANY COMPENSATION FOR THE WRONGS THEY SUFFERED,* HE SAID.
IN THE 1983-84 FINANCIAL YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE SPENT MORE THAN $13 MILLION ON CIVIL CASES AND $18 MILLION ON CRIMINAL TRIALS AND APPEALS.
FROM JANUARY 1, THE SCOPE OF LEGAL AID IN CRIMINAL CASES HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO COVER-COMM ITTAL PROCEEDINGS IN THE MAGISTRATE S COURTS.
♦ WITH THIS EXTENSION, DEFENDANTS .CHARGED WITH SERIOUS OFFENCES CAN NOW BE LEGALLY REPRESENTED AND ADVISED BY LAWYERS FROM THE DEPARTMENT AT AN EARLY STAGE OF THE PRELIMINARY PROCEEDINGS IN THE MAGISTRATE’S COURTS.
♦ IN THE PAST, THEY COULD ONLY APPLY FOR LEGAL AID AFTER THEIR CASES HAD BEEN TRANSFERRED TO THE HIGH COURT,* EXPLAINED MR MOSS.
LEGAL AID IS AVAILABLE TO ANYONE WITH LIMITED MEANS WHO CAN SHOW THAT HE HAS REASONABLE GROUNDS TO COMMENCE, DEFEND OR CONTINUE LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IN THE DISTRICT COURTS OR THE HIGH COURT, AND COMMITTAL PROCEEDINGS IN THE MAGISTRACIES.
IT COVERS AN INCREASING VARIETY OF CASES, RANGING FROM TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES AT WORK TO NON-PAYMENT OF WAGES AND TENANCY AND CONTRACT DISPUTES.
AN APPLICANT FOR LEGAL AID MUST PROVE THAT AFTER DEDUCTION OF ALLOWANCES, HIS INCOME DOES NOT EXCEED $1 500 PER MONTH AND HIS CAPITAL $15 □□□.
THE ALLOWANCES INCLUDE RENTS AND RATES PAID AND A CAPITAL VALUE CF NOT MORE THAN $300 000 FOR AN OWNER-OCCUPIED RESIDENCE.
/ALSO INCLUDED ......
THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 19^
ALSO INCLUDED ARE PERSONAL ALLOWANCES FOR THE APPLICANT AND HIS DEPENDANTS WHICH HAVE RECENTLY BEEN RAISED BY 13 PER CENT IN LINE WITH THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RATES.
WHILE APPLICATION FOR LEGAL AID IS FREE OF CHARGE, A SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT MAY BE REQUIRED TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS HIS LEGAL COSTS, DEPENDING ON HIS FINANCIAL MEANS. BUT AN APPLICANT WHOSE MONTHLY INCOME AFTER ALLOWANCES DOES NOT EXCEED $750 AND WHOSE ASSETS AFTER ALLOWANCES ARE LESS THAN $5 000 WILL BE GIVEN LEGAL AID FREE OF CHARGE.
SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS FOR LEGAL AID MAY EITHER CHOOSE A LAWYER FROM THE LIST OF SOLICITORS AND BARRISTERS IN PRIVATE PRACTICE WHO UNDERTAKE LEGAL AID CASES OR MAY HAVE THE SERVICES OF ONE OF THE DEPARTMENT'S 45 LAWYERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCED IN HANDLING SUCH CASES.
APPLICATIONS FOR LEGAL AID SHOULD BE MADE AT THE DEPARTMENT’S HEADQUARTERS AT SINCERE BUILDING, 5TH FLOOR, 173 DES VOEUX ROAD, CENTRAL, HONG KONG OR AT ITS BRANCH OFFICE AT RITZ BUILDING, STH FLOOR, 625 NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON.
- 0 - -
CARBON FILTERS FOR REFUSE COLLECTION POINTS if*
TWO CONTRACTS FOR INSTALLING CARBON FILTERS IN REFUSE COLLECTION POINTS AT MONG KOK AND LEI YUE MUN HAVE BEEN AWARDED BY THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE OF THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTME
THE FILTERS ARE DESIGNED TO CONTROL THE FOUL AIR GENERATED BY RUBBISH.
ONE OF THE CONTRACTS, VALUED AT $124 000, WAS AWARDED TO AMERICAN ENGINEERING CORPORATION (HONG KONG) LIMITED.
IT IS FOR THE FILTER SYSTEM AT THE MONG KOK REFUSE COLLECTION POINT NOW BEING BUILT ON A 150-SQUARE-METRE SITE AT PORTLAND STREET.
THE PROJECT ALSO INCLUDES A PUBLIC TOILET AND A TOILET FOR THE DISABLED.
THE OTHER CONTRACT, VALUED AT $117 000, WAS AWARDED TO WESTCO AIR-CONDITIONING LIMITED. IT IS FOR THE PROJECT AT THE LEI YUE MUN COLLECTION POINT WHICH IS BEING BUILT AT YAN YUE WAI ON A 216-SQUARE-METRE SITE.
FACILITIES TO BE PROVIDED AT BOTH REFUSE COLLECTION POINTS INCLUDE REFUSE COLLECTION AREAS, LOADING BAYS, ROLL-CALL ROOMo, OFFICES AND STOREROOMS.
WORK ON THE TWO PROJECTS STARTED RECENTLY AND WILL BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
- C - -
THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 1984
- 12
ROAD CLOSURE IN CAUSEWAY BAY AND WAN CHAI *****
A NUMBER OF ROAD SECTIONS IN CAUSEWAY BAY AND WAN CHAI WILL BE TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO FACILITATE ROAD WORKS.
IN CAUSEWAY BAY, THE EASTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF VICTORIA PARK ROAD BETWEEN ITS FLYOVER AND HING FAT STREET WILL BE CLOSED BETWEEN 11 PM TOMORROW (MARCH 16) AND 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY.
AT THESE HOURS, THE NORTH POINT EXIT FROM THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL WILL BE CLOSED.
DURING THE CLOSURE, TRAFFIC WILL BE DIVERTED VIA VICTORIA PARK ROAD FLYOVER, GLOUCESTER ROAD WESTBOUND, CLEVELAND STREET, KINGSTON STREET, GLOUCESTER ROAD SOUTHBOUND AND CAUSEWAY ROAD.
THE MEASURES WILL BE REPEATED ON THE NIGHTS OF MARCH 17, 20 AND 21.
MEANWHILE, FROM 8 AM ON SATURDAY (MARCH 17) TO 10 PM ON MONDAY (MARCH 19), WING FUNG STREET WEST AND THE SECTION OF MONMOUTH PATH BETWEEN QUEEN’S ROAD EAST AND STAR STREET WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC.
DURING THIS PERIOD, WING FUNG STREET AND THE SECTION OF STAR STREET BETWEEN WING FUNG STREET AND MONMOUTH PATH WILL BE REROUTED TWO WAYS.
INNER GLOUCESTER ROAD WESTBOUND BETWEEN FLEMING ROAD AND LUARD ROAD WILL BE CLOSED FROM 8 PM TO 11 PM ON SATURDAY (MARCH 17) AND FROM 8 PM ON SUNDAY (MARCH 18) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY.
DURING THE PERIODS, THE SLIP ROAD CONNECTING INNER GLOUCESTER ROAD WESTBOUND WITH THE WESTBOUND MAIN CARRIAGEWAY OF GLOUCESTER ROAD WILL ALSO BE CLOSED.
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NOTE TO EDITORS:
PRESS OPEN DAY AT CAS TRAINING CENTRE
* * * *
THE CIVIL AID SERVICES’ NEW CADET TRAINING CENTRE IN TO K‘*A WAN WILL BE OPEN TO THE PRESS ON SUNDAY (MARCH 18) MORNING.
THE NEW TRAINING CENTRE, LOCATED AT THE FORMER MA TAU wEI VIETNAMESE REFUGEE CAMP, ALSO SERVES AS A RECRUITING OFFICE FOR THE CAS.
/IT ACCOMMODATES .......
THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 1984
- 13 -
IT ACCOMMODATES A CADET FIBRE-GLASSING CANOE WORKSHOP, A CARPENTRY WORKSHOP, STUDY ROOMS, A CADET CAREER COUNSELLING UNIT, A SPORTS AND RECREATION UNIT AND A SOCIAL CLUB.
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THE CAS’ RECRUITMENT AND CAREER COUNSELLING PROGRAMMES AS WELL AS THE TRAINING OF CADETS IN ITS FIBRE-GLASSING AND CARPENTRY WORKSHOPS.
THE CAS CADET CORPS, ESTABLISHED IN 1968, AIMS TO TRAIN YOUNG PEOPLE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 12 AND 18 TO BECOME GOOD CITIZENS BY DEVELOPING THEIR PERSONALITIES, PERSONAL TALENTS, PHYSICAL STRENGTH AND SENSE OF COOPERATION. IT NOW HAS MORE THAN 2 600 CADETS.
THE CADET CORPS OFFERS TO ITS MEMBERS A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES SUCH AS CAMPING, BOATING, WORK PROJECTS, COMMUNITY SERVICES AND SKILL TRAINING COURSES.
THE CADET COMMANDANT, MR HOWARD YOUNG, AND OTHER SENIOR CAS OFFICERS WILL BE PRESENT TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
YOU ARE INVITED TO VISIT THE CAS NEW CADET TRAINING CENTRE AT 464 MA TAU WEI ROAD ON SUNDAY (MARCH 18) AT 11.30 AM.
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NOTE to EDITORS:
MANAGEMENT TRAINING CONFERENCE * * # * *
THE 1984 CO-ORDINATION CONFERENCE ON MANAGEMENT TRAINING WILL BE HELD ON FRIDAY (MARCH 16) IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM, HONG KONG MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, 3/F, MANAGEMENT HOUSE, 26 CANAL ROAD WEST, HDNG KONG.
THE CONFERENCE lS ORGANISED BY THE COMMITTEE ON MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISORY TRAINING (CMST) OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL AND THE HONG KONG MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION.
DR FRANCIS TIEN, CHAIRMAN OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY.
MR PETER F. BARRETT, CHAIRMAN OF THE CMST WILL INTRODUCE THE K)NG KONG MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT CENTRE WHICH IS BEING ESTABLISHED AND WILL BE MANAGED BY THE CMST.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE CONFERENCE AT 9.15 AM. MR PETER F. BARRETT WILL ANSWER QUESTIONS ON THE CENTRE AFTER THE CEREMONY.
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./14........
THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 1984
14
MOVE TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW
* * * *
NEW CLEARWAY AND LEARNER DRIVER PROHIBITION MEASURES WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN SAI YING PUN, QUARRY BAY AND HO MAN TIN TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW IN THE DISTRICTS.
FROM 10 AM TOMORROW (MARCH 16), THE EXISTING URBAN CLEARWAY AT THE NORTHERN CARRIAGEWAY OF FIRST STREET IN SAI YING PUN WILL BE EXTENDED TO A POINT ABOUT 30 METRES WEST OF EASTERN STREET.
WITHIN THE ROAD SECTION, NO MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS BETWEEN 5 PM AND 8 PM DAILY.
FROM 10 AM ON SATURDAY (MARCH 17), KING’S ROAD EASTBOUND BETWEEN HOUSE NO. 945 AND FINN IE STREET WILL BE DESIGNATED AS URBAN CLEARWAY FROM 7 AM TO MIDNIGHT DAILY FOR ABOUT FIVE MONTHS.
IN HO MAN TIN, THE UNNAMED ROAD BETWEEN SHEUNG SHING STREET AND TIN KWONG ROAD POLICE MARRIED QUARTERS WILL BE DESIGNATED AS PROHIBITED ZONE FOR LEARNER DRIVERS FROM 10 AM ON SATURDAY (MARCH 17).
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SPECIAL BUS SERVICE FOR WALDORF GARDEN ft * * * *
FROM FRIDAY (MARCH 16), KMB WILL SEND AN EXTRA EMPTY BUS AND ANOTHER SEMI-EMPTY ONE ON ROUTE 66 AT 7.35 AM AND AT 8 AM TO SERVE THE MORNING PEAK DEMAND AT WALDORF GARDEN, TUEN MUN.
THE ROUTE OPERATES VIA TUEN MUN ROAD, CASTLE PEAK ROAD, KWAI CHUNG ROAD, CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD AND NATHAN ROAD TO TAI KOK TSUI FERRY. THE FARE IS $3.
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NOTE TO EDITORS*
TAI PO PUBLIC SCHOOL OPENING ft ft ft ft
THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR NEW TERRITORIES, MR IAN MACPHERSON, WILL OPEN THE TAI PO PUBLIC SCHOOL AT KWONG FUK ESTATE AT 10 AM ON SATURDAY (MARCH 17).
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING.
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/-»5......
15
NOTE TO EDITORS:
AWARDS FOR CRAFT * * *
THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 1984
TECHNICIANS
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, MR HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, WIL' PRESENT CERTIFICATES AND AWARDS TO 96 CRAFT AND TECnNiCiAN APPRENTICES WHO HAVE COMPLETED FOUR YEARS TRA!NI NG UNDER THE GOVERNMENT APPRENTICE TRAINING SCHEME, AT THE MORR1 SON Hl Lu TECHNICAL INSTITUTE TOMORROW (FRIDAY), STARTING AT 5.33 . M.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT.
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©
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES
BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 19©4
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
HONG KONG DRUMS AND CYMBALS AT CARDIFF CIVIC CENTRE............. 1
QUEEN'S GALLANTRY MEDALS FOR FIRE OFFICERS ..................... 2
ARBITRATION CENTRE NEEDED IN HONG KONG - AG .................... 3
APPRENTICES TOLD OF ROLE IN FUTURE.............................. 3
NEW MANAGEMENT TRAINING CENTRE BUNG SET UP ..................... 5
WEST KOWLOON CORRIDOR PROJECT TO START SOON .................... 6
HAYE PRAISES TEACHERS FOR PROMOTING SPORTS ..................... 7
CORRECTIONAL SERVICES WELFARE FUND GETS >1 MILLION BOOST .... 7
YOUNG MUSICIAN OFF FOR AUSTRALIAN STUDIES ...................... 8
800 TAKING PART IN ATHLETIC FINALS ............................. 8
HEALTHY CHILDREN TO COMPETE .................................... 9
KENNEDY ROAD SECTION TO BE REALIGNED............................ 9
SUNDAY TRAMS START LATER ...................................... 10
PLB RESTRICTION ............................................... 10
TAPS OFF ...................................................... 1°
FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 1984
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HONG KONG DRUMS AND CYMBALS AT CARDIFF CIVIC CENTRE ********
SEVERAL HUNDRED INFLUENTIAL MEMBERS OF THE WELSH COMMUNITY WERE TREATED TO A RARE PERFORMANCE OF CHINESE DANCE AND MUSIC YESTERDAY (MARCH 15) WHEN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT STAGED A GALA EVENING IN CARDIFF.
THE PRESENTATION WAS THE FIRST IN A SERIES BEING STAGED IN THE REGIONS AS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT’S LATEST PROMOTION OF HONG KONG IN BRITAIN. THE PROMOTION WAS LAUNCHED WITH A GALA EVENING IN LONDON THREE DAYS AGO.
THE SOUND OF DRUMS AND CYMBALS RANG THROUGH THE CITY HALL IN CARDIFF’S CIVIC CENTRE AND BRIGHT COLOURS FILLED THE STAGE AS THE SHOW WAS OPENED WITH A NORTHERN LION DANCE. THIS AND OTHER ORIGINAL WORKS BASED ON HISTORICAL CHINESE THEMES WERE PERFORMED BY 14 ARTISTES OF THE URBAN COUNCIL'S HONG KONG DANCE COMPANY VISITING BRITAIN SPECIALLY FOR THE GALA EVENTS. THE AUDIENCE WAS ALSO GIVEN A TASTE OF TRADITIONAL CHINESE MUSIC IN THE FORM OF A PIPA SOLO AND ER-HU SOLO PERFORMED BY TWO MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG CHINESE ORCHESTRA.
THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE SHOW WAS A MULTI-SCREEN AUDIO VISUAL SPECTACULAR SHOWING THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AT WORK AND AT PLAY. IT ILLUSTRATED, AMONG OTHER THINGS, HOW HONG KONG HAS DEVELOPED OVER THE PAST THREE DECADES AND THE IMPORTANCE OF BRITAIN AS A TRADING PARTNER WITH HONG KONG.
THE GALA EVENING WAS ATTENDED BY THE LORD MAYOR OF CARDIFF, WS OLWEN WATKIN. AT A RECEPTION THE HONG KONG COMMISSIONER, SIR JACK CATER, AND MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE IN LONDON ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET CIVIC DIGNITARIES, BUSINESSMEN, SENIOR MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES AND OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS IN WALES.
THE WELSH HAD FURTHER OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT HONG KONG THROUGH A SPECIAL SIX-PAGE SUPPLEMENT PUBLISHED BY THE CARDIFF NEWSPAPER, THE WESTERN MAIL.
SIMILAR GALA EVENINGS WILL BE HELD IN NEWCASTLE AND GLASGOW NEXT WEEK.
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FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 1984
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QUEEN’S GALLANTRY MEDALS FOR FIRE OFFICERS ft ft ft
TWO HONG KONG FIRE OFFICERS AND A FIREMAN HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE QUEEN’S GALLANTRY MEDAL — ONE POSTHUMOUSLY — FOR THEIR RESCUE WORK DURING TYPHOON ELLEN ON SEPTEMBER 9 LAST YEAR.
AND THREE FIREMEN HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE QUEEN’S COMMENDATION FOR BRAVE CONDUCT DURING THE SAME OPERATION.
THE POSTHUMOUS GALLANTRY MEDAL WAS AWARDED TO SENIOR STATION OFFICER CHIU SHING-CHOW. WHO WAS KILLED IN THE OPERATION. THE TWO OTHERS RECEIVING THE GALLANTRY AWARD ARE PROBATIONARY STATION OFFICER CHEUNG WAI-LEUNG, WHO LOST HIS LEFT LEG DURING THE RESCUE ACTION, AND SENIOR FIREMAN LEUNG SIU-LIN.
RECEIVING THE QUEEN’S COMMENDATION FOR BRAVE CONDUCT ARE THREE FIREMEN MA SHUI-LUN, CHIU KWOK-YIN AND LI KEI-KIT.
THE RESCUE OPERATION TOOK PLACE AT HOI PONG VILLAGE IN MOUNT DAVIS, AND SENIOR STATION OFFICER CHIU WAS LEADING A PARTY OF OFFICERS WHO HAD RESPONDED TO REPORTS THAT A NUMBER OF WOODEN HUTS HAD COLLAPSED IN A LANDSLIDE AND THAT PEOPLE WERE TRAPPED IN THE EARTH AND DEBRIS.
DESPITE THE STRONG WINDS AND IMMINENT RISK OF FURTHER LANDSLIPS AND COLLAPSES, THE PARTY CONTINUED WITH THE RESCUE WORK AND MANAGED TO PULL OUT A 77-YEAR-OLD WOMAN.
HOWEVER, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CARRY THE WOMAN TO SAFETY, OFFICER CHIU WAS SWEPT, TOGETHER WITH THE WOMAN, INTO THE SEA. HIS BODY WAS RECOVERED LATER THAT DAY, WHILE THE WOMAN’S WAS RECOVERED TWO DAYS LATER. OTHER PEOPLE BURIED IN THE LANDSLIDE WERE RESCUED BY OTHER FIREMEN.
RECIPIENTS WERE NOTIFIED OF THE AWARDS TODAY BY THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES, MR FREDERICK WATSON, WHO PRESENTED THEM WITH LETTERS FROM THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE.
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FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 1984
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ARBITRATION CENTRE NEEDED IN HONG KONG - AG * * *
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR MICHAEL THOMAS, THIS (FRIDAY) EVENING ADVOCATED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION CENTRE IN HONG KONG.
AND HE SAW THE ESTABLISHMENT AS COMMON CAUSE AMONG PROFESSIONS IN HONG KONG.
ADDRESSING THE ANNUAL DINNER OF THE HONG KONG IMxfifUTION CF ENGINEERS, MR THOMAS NOTED THAT ENGINEERS AND LAWYERS HAD A JOINT PROFESSIONAL INTEREST IN THE PURSUIT OF ARBITRATION.
HONG KONG HAD ABOUT THE BEST AND MOST COMPREHENSIVE SET OF ARBITRATION LAWS IN THE WORLD, AND THE NEED NOW WAS TO PUSH THE ARBITRATION CENTRE PROJECT INTO A REALITY.
♦GOVERNMENT HAS OFFERED AT THE OUTSET TO MAKE AVAILABLE SUITABLE PREMISES RENT FREE. IF THE PROFESSIONS AND THOSE WHO WISH TO SEE ADEQUATE FACILITIES AVAILABLE FOR EFFICIENT ARBITRATION WILL PROVIDE THE FUNDS NEEDED TO GET THE PROJECT OFF THE GROUND,♦ HE ADDED.
ANOTHER COMMON CAUSE-AMONG THE PROFESSIONS IN HONG KONG WAS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROFESSIONAL CENTRE AS PROPOSED BY THE INSTITUTION’S PRESIDENT, MR THOMAS CONTINUED.
DESCRIBING THE PROPOSED CENTRE AS A REAL STEP FORWARD, W THOMAS SAID IT WOULD ENABLE PROFESSIONALS TO PLAY A MORE IMPORTANT PART IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC LIFE OF THE TERRITORY.
HE NOTED THAT UNLIKE THE ENGINEERING PROFESSION IN BRITAIN WHICH HAS BEEN FRAGMENTATED INTO MANY RIVAL INSTITUTIONS, THE PROFESSION IN HONG KONG HAD SHOWN ENTERPRISE IN ADVOCATING UNITY AND A COMMON CAUSE.
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APPRENTICES TOLD OF ROLE IN FUTURE MM*
A GROUP OF APPRENTICES GRADUATING FROM A FOUR-YEAR GOVERNMENT TRAINING SCHEME WERE DESCRIBED TODAY (FRIDAY) AS THE ♦NEW WAVE* CF TALENTED YOUNG PEOPLE ON WHOSE SKILLS HONG KONG WOULD BE DEPENDING IN THE FUTURE.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, MR HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, WAS SPEAKING AT THE GRADUATION OF 96 CRAFT AND TECHNICIAN APPRENTICES FROM A TRAINING SCHEME JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT AND THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HELD AT MORRISON HILL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE.
/MB CHEONG-LEHI
FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 1984-
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MR CHEONG-LEEN SAID THE APPRENTICES HAD A REMARKABLE FOUNDATION ON WHICH TO BUILDi PREVIOUS GENERATIONS HAD BY THEIR INGENUITY AND INITIATIVE TURNED HONG KONG INTO THE BUSTLING, THRIVING AND DYNAMIC PLACE IT HAD BECOME.
HE URGED THEM *NOT TO SELL THEMSELVES SHORT, AS THEY HAD AN ♦IMPORTANT PART IN SHAPING THE DESTINY OF HONG KONG IN THE FUTURE.*
♦I AM CONFIDENT THAT YOU WILL STRIVE TO MAINTAIN THE FINE EXAMPLE SET BY YOUR PREDECESSORS, AND BY YOUR HARD WORK AND INITIATIVE MAKE YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE CONTINUING SUCCESS SSTORY OF HONG KONG AS WE HEAD FOR THE TURN OF THE CENTURY,* MR CHEONG-LEEN SAID.
HE PRESENTED CERTIFICATES TO THE GRADUATING APPRENTICES AND THE BROWN CUP TO THE BEST TECHNICIAN APPRENTICES, MR CHAN SUI-KEUNG, OF THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION, AND MR WONG SIU-FAI, OF THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AND THE LAISHLEY CUP TO THE TOP CRAFT APPRENTICE, MR WONG SHU-KEUNG, OF THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THE HOWES PLAQUE WAS PRESENTED FOR THE FIRST TIME TO THE BEST FIRST-YEAR APPRENTICE OF THE TRAINING COURSE, MR CHAN KAI-CHOR.
ABOUT 1 250 TECHNICIAN AND CRAFT APPRENTICES HAVE GRADUATED FROM THE GOVERNMENT APPRENTICES TRAINING SCHEME SINCE IT WAS INAUGURATED IN SEPTEMBER, 1969.
APPRENTICES RECEIVE FOUR YEARS THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL TRAINING AS CRAFTSMEN OR TECHNICIANS IN THE ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL AND ELECTRONIC FIELDS.
TECHNICIAN APPRENTICES EARN FROM $1 490 TO |1 980 PER MONTH, WHILE CRAFT APPRENTICES GET $1 100 TO Si 490.
TECHNICAN APPRENTICES ATTEND A SIX-MONTH BASIC TRAINING COURSE AFTER WHICH THEY ARE DEPLOYED TO VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND WORKSHOPS TO GAIN PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE.
CRAFT APPRENTICES UNDERGO A SIX-MONTH FULL-TIME COURSE AT TECHNICAL INSTITUTES BEFORE THEIR BASIC TRAINING. ON COMPLETING THIS, THEY ALSO WORK IN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS OR WORKSHOPS.
ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT ALL APPRENTICES WHO COMPLETE TRAINING WILL BE EMPLOYED BY THE GOVERNMENT, ARTISAN AND WORKS SUPERVISOR POSTS ARE MOSTLY FILLED BY THESE YOUNG PEOPLE.
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FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 1984
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NEW MANAGEMENT TRAINING CENTRE BEING SET UP * * * *
A MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT CENTRE IS BEING ESTABLISHED FOR THE PROMOTION OF MANAGEMENT TRAINING IN HONG KONG, DR FRANCIS TIEN, CHAIRMAN OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL (VTC) ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY).
♦THE VTC HAS RECOGNISED THAT THERE IS AN OVERRIDING NEED TO UPDATE AND EXPAND MANAGEMENT TRAINING IF HONG KONG’S INDUSTRIES ARE TO DIVERSIFY SUCCESSFULLY INTO NEW PROCESSES, PRODUCTS AND MARKETS,+ DR TIEN SAID.
SPEAKING TO SOME 50 REPRESENTATIVES FROM 18 MANAGEMENT TRAINING INSTITUTIONS AT THE 1984 CO-ORDINATION CONFERENCE ON MANAGEMENT TRAINING, DR TIEN EXPLAINED THAT THE CENTRE WOULD START IN SEPTEMBER AND WOULD CARRY OUT THE WORK OF RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, CO-ORDINATION AND PROMOTION FOR MANAGEMENT TRAINING.
DR TIEN CALLED UPON MANAGEMENT SCHOLARS AND PRACTITIONERS TO SUPPORT THE MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT CENTRE, SO THAT COMMON OBJECTIVES AND AREAS OF CO-OPERATION COULD BE ESTABLISHED TO h€ET HONG KONG’S NEEDS FOR MANAGEMENT EDUCATION AND TRAINING.
♦IN RECENT YEARS, WE-HAVE WITNESSED CONSIDERABLE IMPROVEMENT AND EXPANSION IN MANAGEMENT EDUCATION AND TRAINING FACILITIES BUT, AT PRESENT, THE BULK OF MANAGEMENT COURSES AIM AT STUDENTS AND POTENTIAL MANAGERS AND ONLY A FEW CATER SPECIFICALLY FOR PRACTISING MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS. OUR JOINT AIM MUST BE TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION,♦ HE SAID.
THE 1984 CO-ORDINATION CONFERENCE ON MANAGEMENT TRAINING wAS ORGANISED BY THE COMMITTEE ON MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISORY TRAINING (CMST) OF THE VTC WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE HONG KONG MANAGEMENT ASSOCATION, TO PROVIDE A FORUM FOR MANAGEMENT EDUCATION AND TRAINING INSTITUTIONS AND PROFESSIONAL BODIES TO FOSTER BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF EACH OTHER’S ACTIVITIES.
AT THE CONFERENCE, DR TIEN ALSO INTRODUCED THE CENTRE DIRECTOR, DR R.I. TRICKER.
DR TRICKER, A GRADUATE OF OXFORD AND HARVARD UNIVERSITIES, IS CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT AND A COUNCIL MEMBER SOF THE INSTITUTE CF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS.
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FRIDAY, MARCH 16,‘ 1984
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WEST KOWLOON CORRIDOR PROJECT TO START SOON # K K K
AN ELEVATED ROAD FORMING STAGE I I I OF THE WEST KOWLOON CORRIDOR WILL BE BUILT IN CHEUNG SHA WAN.
IT WILL BE ONE-AND-A-HALF KILOMETRES LONG, RUNNING FROM YEN CHOW STREET TO LAI CHI KOK ROAD NEAR CHEUNG MOU STREET, AND WILL PASS OVER RECENTLY-RECLAIMED LAND ON CHEUNG SHA WAN WATERFRONT.
A GROUND LEVEL ROAD WILL ALSO BE BUILT TO DIRECT EASTBOUND TRAFFIC ON TO STAGE II OF THE CORRIDOR.
IT WILL BE 350 METRES LONG, RUNNING FROM TONKIN STREET TO KIU KIANG STREET, NEAR WHICH A PEDESTRIAN SUBWAY WILL BE LOCATED.
EXISTING ROADS WITHIN THE PROJECT LIMIT WILL BE RECONSTRUCTED AND MODIFIED, AND ASSOCIATED DRAINAGE AND UTILITIES ALTERATION WORKS WILL BE CARRIED OUT.
THE WEST KOWLOON CORRIDOR WILL PROVIDE A MAJOR HIGH-CAPACITY TRAFFIC ROUTE IN WEST AND NORTHWEST KOWLOON.
IT IS AN ELEVATED DUAL CARRIAGEWAY, FREE FROM TRAFFIC SIGNAL CONTROL, RUNNING FROM GASCOIGNE ROAD TO LAI CHI KOK VIA YAU MA TEI, MONG KOK, TAI KOK TSUI AND CHEUNG SHA WAN.
STAGES I AND I I OF THE CORRIDOR HAVE ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED AND ARE OPEN TO TRAFFIC. WORK ON STAGE III WILL START LATER THIS YEAR AND BE COMPLETED BY MID-1987.
A PLAN SHOWING THE EXTENT OF THE PROPOSED WORK WHICH IS GAZETTED TODAY CAN BE SEEN AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONSi
* CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, CENTRAL ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING MAIN ENTRANCE, HONG KONG;
* DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE (KOWLOON WEST), YAU MA TEI CAR PARK BUILDING, 10TH FLOOR, 250, SHANGHAI STREET^ KOWLOON; AND
* SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT OFFICE, GROUND FLOOR, 37-39, TONKIN STREET, SHAM SHUI PO, KOWLOON.
OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSAL MUST BE IN WRITING TO THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS BEFORE MAY 15.
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FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 1984
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HAYE PRAISES TEACHERS FOR PROMOTING SPORTS
1 < X
IT IS ENCOURAGING TO SEE SO MANY PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS GIVING UP SO MUCH OF THEIR TIME TO PROMOTE INTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES FOR OUR YOUNGSTERS. THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR COLVYN HAYE, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE FINAL OF DIVISION ONE INTER-SCHOOL ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS AT THE WAN CHAI SPORTS GROUND, MR HAYE NOTED THAT THESE ACTIVITIES WERE AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE YOUNG.
♦THEY ARE DOING MUCH TO RAISE STANDARDS AND TO NUTURE THE TALENT ON WHICH FUTURE SPORTING AND ATHLETIC PROWESS WILL DEPEND,* THE DIRECTOR ADDED.
THIS YEAR, A RECORD OF 626 TEAMS FROM OVER 150 SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THE URBAN AREA OF HONG KONG AND KOWLOON TAKE PART IN THE CHAMPIONSHIPS. MORE THAN 12 500 STUDENTS HAVE COMPLETED IN THE VARIOUS TRACK AND FIELD EVENTS.
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CORRECTIONAL SERVICES WELFARE FUND GETS $1 MILLION BOOST
*****
THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT STAFF WELFARE FUND HAS BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY BOOSTED WITH A DONATION OF ONE MILLION DOLLARS FROM SIR SHIU-KIN TANG AND MR STANLEY HO.
THE DONATION, THE LARGEST SINGLE SUM RECEIVED BY THE DEPARTMENT, WAS CONTRIBUTED BY SIR SHIU-KIN AND MR HO IN SUPPORT OF THE GOOD WORK OF ITS STAFF.
AT THE OFFICERS’ CLUB IN STANLEY LAST NIGHT, THE COMMISSIONER CF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR THOMAS GARNER, RECEIVED ON BEHALF CF THE FUND, TWO CHEQUES FOR THE AMOUNT FROM SIR SHIU-KIN.
MR GARNER, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF ALL THE STAFF, THANKED SIR SHIU-KIN FOR THE DONATION, AND STRESSED THAT IT WOULD PUT TO ♦VERY GOOD USE FOR THE WELFARE OF THE STAFF*.
MR GARNER SAID THAT THE WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT IN THE PUBLIC EYE, THOUGH MANY OF THE STAFF HAD TO FACE DAILY RISKS AND STRESS IN DEALING WITH OFFENDERS.
♦SO THAT WHEN THE WORK YOU DO IS RECOGNISED AS IT IS TODAY, YOU KNOW IT IS DONE BY A PERSON WITH UNDERSTANDING,* HE SAID
IN APPRECIATION OF THE SUPPORT, SIR SHIU-KIN WAS APPOINTED A LIFE MEMBER OF THE OFFICERS’ CLUB - AN HONOUR THE DEPARTMENT BESTOWED ONLY *0N PEOPLE WHO ARE SPECIAL TO THE DEPARTMENT*.
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FRIDAY, MARCH 16/ 1964
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YOUNG MUSICIAN OFF FOR AUSTRALIAN STUDIES * ft ft *
A TALENTED YOUNG MUSICIAN LEAVES HONG KONG TODAY (FRIDAY) TO FURTHER HIS MUSICAL STUDIES IN AUSTRALIA.
HE IS 21-YEAR-OLD MR CHAN KAM-BIU, A GRADUATE OF THE HONG KONG CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC, WHO HAS GAINED VALUABLE ORCHESTRAL EXPERIENCE FROM THE MUSIC OFFICE OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT AS THE LEADER OF THE YOUTH CHINESE ORCHESTRA AND FIRST VIOLINIST OF THE YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (A).
MR CHAN WILL ATTEND A FOUR-YEAR BACHELOR OF MUSIC COURSE AT THE NEW SOUTH WALES STATE CONSERVATOR I UM OF MUSIC THROUGH A SCHOLARSHIP OFFERED BY THE HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB (CHARITIES) LTD.
A MUSIC OFFICE SPOKESMAN SAID MR CHAN HAS SHOWN CONSIDERABLE POTENTIAL AS A COMPOSER, HAVING WON FIRST PRIZE IN THE COMPOSITION CATEGORY FOR CHINESE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS OF THE HONG KONG YOUNG MUSIC MARKERS’ TALENT QUEST IN 1981 AND 1982-83.
UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAMME, MR CHAN ALSO PARTICIPATED WITH LOCAL YOUTH ORCHESTRAS IN A NUMBER OF OVERSEAS TOURS TO EUROPE, THE UNITED KINGDOM AND AUSTRALIA, ORGANISED BY THE MUSIC OFFICE.
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NOTE TO EDITORSi
800 TAKING PART IN ATHLETIC FINALS ft ft ft ft ft
MORE THAN 800 ATHLETES WILL MEET AT THE WAN CHAI STADIUM ON SUNDAY (MARCH 18) TO TAKE PART IN THE FINAL MEET OF THE FIRST FIVE-STAR ATHLETIC AWARD SCHEME, ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG AMATEUR ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION AND THE RECREATION AND SPORTS SERVICE OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT.
SOME 12 600 PEOPLE FROM VARIOUS DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY ORIGINALLY TOOK PART IN THE ATHLETIC SCHEME, WHICH BEGAN SIX MONTHS AGO.
THE SCHEME IS AIMED AT GIVING PEOPLE A CHANCE TO IMPROVE THEIR ATHLETIC ABILITY THROUGH GRADING, FROM ONE-STAR TO FIVE-STAR.
THE MOST PROMISING OF THEM WILL RECEIVE FURTHER TRAIN! UNDER COACHES FROM THE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION AND THE JUBILEc SPORTS. CENTRE.
YOU ARE WELCOME TO COVER THE EVENT AT THE WAN CHAI STADIUM STARTING AT 9 AM.
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FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 1984
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NOTE TO EDITORSi
HEALTHY CHILDREN TO COMPETE M * *
THE EASTERN DISTRICT HEALTHY CHILDREN COMPETITION WILL BE HELD TOMORROW (SATURDAY), STARTING AT 2.30 PM, IN THE DR SEAKER CHAN’S MEMORIAL HALL AT 210 JAVA ROAD.
THE COMPETITION IS SPONSORED BY THE LOCAL DISTRICT BOARD AND ORGANISED BY THE MING WAH DAI HA AND LAI TAK TSUEN YIN NGA I SOCIETIES.
OF THE 300 ENTRIES FOR THE COMPETITION, 15 PARTICIPANTS HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO CONTEST IN EACH OF THE THREE SECTIONS. THE WINNER OF EACH SECTION WILL COMPETE IN A TERRITORY-WIDE CONTEST ON MOTHER’S DAY (MAY 13).
ADJUDICATORS WILL COMPRISE BOARD MEMBERS MR CHAN YING-LUN, MADAM CHRISTINA TING, MRS BETTY YUNG, MR PAUL YIN, AND MR TO BOON-MAN AND THE CHAIRPERSONS OF THE TWO SOCIETIES.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT.
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KENNEDY ROAD SECTION TO BE REALIGNED
III
A SECTION OF KENNEDY ROAD IS TO BE REALIGNED TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS.
THE PROJECT INCLUDES CONSTRUCTION OF 60 METRES OF NEW ROAD AND TWO FOOTPATHS NEAR THE ROAD’S JUNCTION WITH WAN CHAI GAP ROAD.
AS A RESULT OF THE WORK, A SHARP BEND WILL BE ELIMINATED. HOWEVER, A SECTION OF WAN CHAI GAP ROAD BETWEEN KENNEDY ROAD AND BOWEN ROAD, WILL BE PERMANENTLY CLOSED TO VEHICLES, AND TEMPORARY TRAFFIC DIVERSIONS MAY BE NECESSARY WHILE THE WORK IS BEING CARRIED OUT.
TO PROVIDE ACCESS FOR PEDESTRIANS, A TEMPORARY FOOTBRIDGE WILL BE CONSTRUCTED AT THE JUNCTION OF WAN CHAI GAP ROAD AND KENNEDY ROAD.
A NOTICE CONCERNING THE PROPOSAL IS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE UNDER THE ROADS (WORKS, USE AND COMPENSATION) ORDINANCE TODAY (FRIDAY).
OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSAL SHOULD REACH THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS BY NOT LATER THAN MAY 15.
FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 1984
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THE PLANS CAN BE INSPECTED AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS;
* CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING, MAIN ENTRANCE LOBBY;
* DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, HONG KONG NORTH, 25, HARBOUR ROAD, 12TH FLOOR, HONG KONG; AND
* WAN CHAI DISTRICT OFFICE, TUNG WAH MANSION, 201, HENNESSY ROAD, GROUND, 1ST AND 8TH FLOORS, HONG KONG.
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SUNDAY TRAMS START LATER
* * * *
TRAM SERVICES IN SHAU KEI WAN WILL START LATER THAN USUAL ON SUNDAY (MARCH 18) MORNING TO ALLOW TRAM TRACK WORK AT SHAU KEI WAN ROAD.
THE FIRST TRAMS FROM SHAU KEI WAN WILL DEPART FOR WESTERN MARKET AND HAPPY VALLEY AT ABOUT 8.13 AM, WHILE THOSE FROM WESTERN MARKET AND HAPPY VALLEY WILL DEPART FOR SHAU KEI WAN AT ABOUT 7.35 AM.
BEFORE THOSE TIMES, TRAM SERVICE FROM WESTERN MARKET WILL OPERATE UP TO QUARRY BAY ONLY.
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PLB RESTRICTION * * *
FROM 10 AM ON MONDAY (MARCH 19), THE SOUTHERN SIDE OF JARDINE’S BAZAAR FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH HENNESSY ROAD TO A POINT ABOUT 45 METRES EAST OF THE SAME JUNCTION WILL BE DESIGNATED AS URBAN CLEARWAY FOR PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES 24 HOURS DAILY.
NO PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO PICK UP OR SET DOWN PASSENGERS WITHIN THE RESTRICTED ZONE.
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TAPS OFF * * M
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN AREAS IN WONG CHUK HAN\a WILL BE TURNED OFF FROM 11 PM ON MONDAY (MARCH 19) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR LEAKAGE TEST.
THE AFFECTED PREMISES ARE BOUNDED BY 1 TO 63 WONG CHUK HA..G ROAD, YIP KAN STREET AND TONG BIN LANE.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SATURDAY, MARCH 1?, 1984
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GOVERNOR RETURNING TOMORROW ..................-................... 1
PERSUASION MORE POWERFUL THAN COMPULSION - BRAY .................. 1
MORE SCHOOLS IN TAI PO PLANNED ................................... 2
ATHLETIC TRAINING SCHEME TO START SOON ........................... 3
268 CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS PROMOTED ............................. 4
VILLAGERS URGED TO BOIL WELL WATER BEFORE DRINKING................ 5
DEAN OF MUSIC VISITS MUSIC CENTRES ............................... 5
DENTAL HEALTH WEEK IN TSUEN WAN .................................. 6
SEMINARS AND EXHIBITION ON PRIMARY SCIENCE ....................... 6
NEW BUS TERMINUS FOR BRAEMAR HILL ROAD ........................... 7
SHORTER CLEARWAY HOURS AT MORETON TEERaCE ........................ 8
CONSTRUCTION WORK ON TAKU STREET ................................. 8
RIGHT-TURN BAN ................................................... 8
SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 1984
NOTE TO EDITORS:
1
GOVERNOR RETURNING TOMORROW
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THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, WILL RETURN TO HONG KONG luMORROW (SUNDAY) AFTER ATTENDING ANOTHER TWO DAYS OF SINO-BRITISH TALKS ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.
SIR EDWARD WILL BE TRAVELLING ON FLIGHT CA 101, ETA 11.45 AM
A FACILITY HAS BEEN LAID ON FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS AND CAMERAMEN TO COVER SIR EDWARD'S RETURN. MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES WISHING TO MAKE USE OF THE FACILITY ARE REQUESTED TO ASSEMBLE IN THE AIRPORT PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM NOT LATER THAN 10.45 AM.
GIS OFFICERS WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST.
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PERSUASION MORE POWERFUL THAN COMPULSION - BRAY ft ft * ft
THE POWER OF PERSUASION IS GREATER THAN THAT OF COMPULSION IN CONSUMER PROTECTION AND EDUCATION, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR DENIS BRAY, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
SPEAKING ON THE GOVERNMENT’S ROLE IN CONSUMER PROTECTION AT A SEMINAR ON CONSUMER RIGHTS, MR BRAY SAID THAT HONG KONG WAS A FREE ECONOMY MARKET WITH MINIMUM GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION.
♦WITHIN THIS ENVIRONMENT OF A FREE SOCIETY AND A FREE ECONOMY, GOVERNMENT SEEKS TO ASSIST THE CONSUMER COUNCIL BY WAY CF A SUBVENTION,* HE SAID.
THE PROPOSED SUBVENTION FOR 1984-85, AT $10.1 MILLION, IS A FOURFOLD INCREASE OVER THE $2 MILLION ALLOTTED TO THE COUNCIL WHEN IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1974.
♦THIS INCREASE DEMONSTRATES A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN THE ABILITY OF THE COUNCIL IN SERVING THE PUBLIC AND IN THE ABILITY OF THE COUNCIL. ACTIVELY SUPPORTED BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC, TO FUND SOME OF ITS ACTIVITIES IN RESPONSE TO POPULAR DEMAND, SUCH AS THE ISSUE OF CHO ICE,♦ HE SAID.
MR BRAY RECALLED THAT THE COUNCIL WAS SET UP IN RESPONSE TO THREE NEEDS IDENTIFIED BY THE GOVERNMENTi
(1) THE NEED FOR THE BUILDING UP AND THE MAINTENANCE OF A STOREHOUSE OF INFORMATION ON PRICES OF A SELECTED RANGE OF COMMODITIES j
(2) THE NEED FOR AN ORGANISATION WHICH COULD ACT AS A CLEARING HOUSE FOR COMPLAINTS AND DRAWING ATTENTION TO WHAT WERE CLEAR CASES OF PROFITEERING ; AND
/(Ji THE NEED ....
SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 1984
- 2 -
(3) THE NEED FOR A BODY TO BE SET UP WHICH COULD BE A SOUNDING BOARD FOR CONSUMER OPINIONS TO ARRIVE AT A REASONABLE IDEA OF WHAT PEOPLE REGARDED AS UNSCRUPULOUS PRACTICE.
♦IT IS THROUGH THE INDIRECT HELP OF GOVERNMENT IN SUBSIDISING ouME OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE COUNCIL, THAT THE COUNCIL IS ABLE TO BE MOST EFFECTIVE IN CONSUMER PROTECTION AND IN EDUCATING THE PUBLIC THROUGH THE DISSEMINATION OF REGULAR, IMPARTIAL AND OBJECTIVE INFORMATION AND VIEWPOINTS,* HE SAID.
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MORE SCHOOLS IN TAI PO PLANNED * * * *
THERE ARE PLANS TO BUILD NINE PRIMARY AND EIGHT SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN TAI PO BY 1990 TO MEET THE DEMAND FOR EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR NEW TERRITORIES, W IAN MACPHERSON, SAID THIS (SATURDAY) MORNING.
OF THESE, A PRIMARY SCHOOL IN KWONG FUK ESTATE WILL BE COMPLETED IN JULY THIS YEAR AND IS EXPECTED TO START OPERATION IN SEPTEMBER.
MR MACPHERSON WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE TAI PO PUBLIC SCHOOL IN KWONG FUK ESTATE.
HE SAID TAI PO WAS UNDERGOING RAPID DEVELOPMENT, AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF AN OLD MARKET TOWN INTO A NEW TOWN WAS ACCOMPANIED BY AN INFLUX OF RESIDENTS FROM OUTSIDE THE DISTRICT.
KWONG FUK ESTATE, FOR INSTANCE, IS ONE OF THE NEW PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES IN TAI PO AND WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE A POPULATION OF 35 000 OF WHICH ONE THIRD WILL BE OF SCHOOL AGE.
MR MACPHERSON SAID THIS DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTIC WAS LIKELY TO BE TYPICAL FOR THE DISTRICT AS A WHOLE.
HE SAID THE ADDITIONAL SCHOOLS WOULD PROVIDE TAI PO’S CHILDREN WITH PROPER EDUCATIONAL PREMISES AND FACILITIES TO PREPARE THEM FOR A FULL ROLE IN SOCIETY.
HE SAID THAT THE RE-OPENING OF THE TAI PO PUBLIC SCHOOL -WHICH HAS A LONG HISTORY DATING BACK TO 1946 -- IN KWONG FUK ESTATE POPULATED MAINLY BY NEW RESIDENTS FROM OUTSIDE THE DISTRICT WAS ALL THE MORE MEANINGFUL.
THIS WAS BECAUSE A LOCAL TRADITIONAL ORGANISATION WAS TAKING THE LEAD IN PROMOTING SOCIAL INTEGRATION BETWEEN THE OLD AND NEW RESIDENTS HERE, HE SAID.
♦THIS SPIRIT IS MOST ESSENTIAL FOR A DEVELOPING NEW TOWN AS IT FOSTERS SOCIAL HARMONY AND A SENSE OF IDENTITY WHICH WOULD HELP DEVELOP THE SORT OF HAPPY COMMUNITY WE ALL AIM FOR,+ HE SAID.
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SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 1984
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ATHLETIC TRAINING SCHEME TO START SOON
*****
1O-MONTH ATHLETIC TRAINING SCHEME FOR RESIDENTS OF THE SOUTfrERN DISTRICT ON HONG KONG ISLAND WILL START NEXT MONTH.
SOME 3 000 YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN ARE EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SCHEME WHICH IS AIMED AT IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL TRACK AND FIELD STARS.
KNOWN AS THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OUTSTANDING ATHLETIC SCHEME, IT IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE RECREATION AND SPORTS SERVICE (RSS) OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT AND THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT RECREATION AND SPORTS COUNCIL, WITH SAN MIGUEL AS THE SPONSOR.
THE RECREATION AND SPORT OFFICER OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICE OF THE RSS, MR LEE SHEK-YUE, DESCRIBED THE SCHEME AS A MAJOR EVENT FOR THE DISTRICT.
♦IT IS A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMME WITH VARIOUS TRAINING SESSIONS AND PERSONAL EVALUATION OF PROGRESS AND RECORDS TO ENSURE THAT PARTICIPANTS HAVE UNDERGONE CONTINUOUS TRAINING BEFORE TAKING PART IN COMPETITIONS,* MR LEE SAID.
THOSE WITH GOOD RESULTS WILL BE AWARDED CERTIFICATES OF MERIT.
TRAINING WILL BE PROVIDED FOR 100- AND 800-METRE RUNS, LONG JUMP, HIGH JUMP, SHOT PUT AND AEROBIC EXERCISES.
PARTICIPANTS WILL BE DIVIDED INTO SIX GROUPS ACCORDING TO THEIR AGES AND SEX.
MR LEE SAID THAT FOLLOWING INTENSIVE TRAINING, THE TOP 10 FROM EACH GROUP WILL MEET IN OPEN COMPETITIONS EARLY NEXT YEAR FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT *IRON MAN* AND +IRON WOMAN* TITLES.
♦BESIDES GETTING A TROPHY, THE CHAMPION OF EACH GROUP WILL BE RECOMMENDED FOR ADVANCED TRAINING AT THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE,* SAID.
THE OPENING CEREMONY FOR THE TRAINING SCHEME WILL BE HELD ON APRIL 1 AT THE ABERDEEN SPORTS GROUND WHERE MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG AMATEUR ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION WILL GIVE A DEMONSTRATION CF VARIOUS TRACK-AND-FIELD EVENTS.
APPLICATION FORMS FOR THE SCHEME ARE AVAILABLE AT THE RSS ABERDEEN OFFICE ON THEi-GROUND FLOOR OF SHOP 3, SITE 5 OF ABERDEEN CENTRE, NAM NING STREET.
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/4........
SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 1984
4 -
268 CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS PROMOTED
HMM*
A TOTAL OF 268 CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT OFFICERS EIVED WELCOME NEWS LAST (FRIDAY) NIGHT WHEN THEY WERE TOLD OF >EIR PROMOTION FROM ASSISTANT OFFICERS II TO ASSISTANT OFFICERS I WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE BY THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR THOMAS GARNER, AT THE FIRST ANNUAL STAFF DINNER OF THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION HELD AT A CHINESE RESTAURANT IN CENTRAL.
ESTABLISHED LAST YEAR, THE ASSOCIATION NOW HAS OVER 4 200 AMBERS.
THE DINNER ALSO MARKED THE INAUGURATION OF THIS YEAR’S EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE ASSOCIATION.
NEWLY ELECTED COMMITTEE MEMBERS WERE PRESENTED WITH APPOINTMENT CERTIFICATES BY ITS HONORARY PRESIDENT, MR WILLIAM MONG, WHO HELPED SET UP AN EDUCATION TRUST-FUND FOR THE CHILDREN OF THE DEPARTMENT STAFF.
MR MONG ALSO PRESENTED THE COMMISSIONER’S CUP TO TAI LAM CENTRE FOR WOMEN FOR THE BEST PERFORMANCE AT THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT’S ANNUAL INSPECTION BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, IN JANUARY.
IN ADDITION, TWO OFFICERS WERE AWARDED THE COMMISSIONER'S COMMENDATION CERTIFICATES BY MR GARNER HIMSELF FOR THEIR OUTSTAND I NG PERFORMANCE.
SUPERINTENDENT G.A. EBRAHIM WAS COMMENDED FOR HIS INITIATIVE AND DILIGENCE IN HELPING TO QUELL A DISTURBANCE AMONG VIETNAMESE REFUGEES AT CHIMAWAN CLOSED CENTRE LAST MONTH ; AND CATERING INSTRUCTOR CHEUNG PET-WU FOR HIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE DEPARTMENT.
MRS BEVERLEY GARNER, WIFE OF THE COMMISSIONER, WAS ALSO INVITED TO PRESENT TROPHIES TO WINNERS OF THE BEST STALLS AND BEST PRODUCT FOR SALE AT THE LAST AUTUMN FAW HELD AT STANLEY.
THE DINNER WHICH WAS ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 1 500 MEMBERS OF THE STAFF AND THEIR SPOUSES CONCLUDED WITH A LUCKY DRAW WITH MANY ATTRACTIVE PRIZES.
o
/5........
SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 1984
- 5 -
VILLAGERS URGED TO BOIL WELL WATER BEFORE DRINKING * * * * M
VILLAGERS IN REMOTE AREAS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND OUTLYING ISL -NDS ARE BEING ADVISED TO BOIL ALL WATER DRAWN FROM WELLS AND AMS BEFORE DRINKING.
WELL AND STREAM WATER MIGHT CONTAIN BACTERIA HARMFUL TO HEALTH, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID.
HE ALSO WARNED PICNICKERS AND OTHER VISITORS TO THE AREAS ABOUT THE DANGER.
POLLUTION OF THE WATER HAD BEEN CAUSED BY CARELESS DUMPING CF AGRICULTURAL WASTE AND RUBBISH AND POOR SANITATION IN THE SURROUNDING AREA OF WELLS, HE SAID.
NTSD STAFF ARE CARRYING A DAILY CHLORINATION OF SOME 160 WELLS LIKELY TO BE USED BY VILLAGERS, HE ADDED.
WARNING SIGNS ARE ALSO BEING PUT UP NEAR WELLS WHERE NECESSARY, AND HEALTH INSPECTORS ARE CONSTANTLY VISITING VILLAGERS TO GIVE THEM ADVICE ABOUT-DR INKI NG WATER OTHER THAN MAINS WATER WHERE STANDPIPES ARE AVAILABLE.
COPIES OF INFORMATION LEAFLET ON THE SAFE USE OF WELL 4ATER ARE ALSO BEING DISTRIBUTED TO THE VILLAGERS DURING THE VISITS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
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DEAN OF MUSIC VISITS MUSIC CENTRES
» * *
THE NEWLY APPOINTED DEAN OF MUSIC OF THE HONG KONG ACADEMY FOR PERFORMING ARTS, MR ANGUS WATSON TODAY (SATURDAY) VISITED TWO MUSIC CENTRES IN KOWLOON TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WORK OF THE MUSIC OFFICE.
MR WATSON, WHO IS ALSO THE DIRECTOR OF THE HONG KONG CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC, FIRST VISITED THE MONG KOK MUSIC CENTRE WHERE HE SAW SEVERAL CHINESE INSTRUMENTAL CLASSES IN PROGRESS, AND LISTENED TO PRACTICES BY THE CHINESE FOLK SINGING CHILDREN’S ENSEMBLE AND THE MUSIC OFFICE YOUTH CHOIR.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR, MR BENJAMIN TANG, AND THE ASSISTANT MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR, MR THOMAS WANG, MR WATSON LATER CALLED AT THE YAU MA TEI MUSIC CENTRE WHERE HE WATCHED THE REHEARSAL OF THE HONG KONG YOUTH CHINESE ORCHESTRA.
HE WILL VISIT VARIOUS OTHER MUSIC CENTRES IN HONG KONG, KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS IN HIS CAPACITY AS THE ACADEMY’S DEAN OF MUSIC.
~-----o-------
/6.......
SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 1984
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NOTE TO ED ITORSi
DENTAL HEALTH WEEK IN TSUEN WAN * * *
A DENTAL HEALTH WEEK, FEATURING AN EXHIBITION, FREE -HECK-UPS, SLIDE SHOWS AND SEMINARS, WILL BE HELD FROM MARCH 24 (SATURDAY) AT THE TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL.
THE EVENT IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE LOCAL DISTRICT BOARD AND THE HONG KONG DENTAL ASSOCIATION.
DETAILS OF THE EVENT WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT A PRESS CONFERENCE AT 11 AM ON MONDAY (MARCH 19) AT THE MAXIM’S CHINESE RESTAURANT IN LUK YEUNG SUN CHUEN, TSUEN WAN.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DENTAL WEEK’S ORGANISING COMMITTEE, H? CHOW SUM; THE PRESIDENT OF THE HONG KONG DENTAL ASSOCIATION, DR LAW SAIGAKIT; AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DISTRICT BOARD’S SOCIAL SERVICES SUB-COMMITTEE, DR FRANK CHEUNG WILL BE PRESNT.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE PRESS CONFERENCE.
0
SEMINARS AND EXHIBITION ON PRIMARY SCIENCE * * * * *
THE PRIMARY SCIENCE SECTION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL HOLD AN EXHIBITION OF TEACHING RESOURCE MATERIALS AND FOUR IDENTICAL HALF-DAY SEMINARS FOR PRIMARY SCIENCE TEACHERS IN APRIL.
THE AIM IS TO FAMILIARISE TEACHERS WITH THE NEW PRIMARY SCIENCE SYLLABUS AND TO SHOW THEM MATERIALS WHICH CAN BE USED TO SUPPORT ITS IMPLEMENTATION.
THE SEMINARS AND EXHIBITION WILL BE HELD FROM APRIL 12 TO 14 AT THE ADVISORY INSPECTORATE TEACHING CENTRES, 4 PAK FUK ROAD, NORTH POINT.
TEACHERS WHO DO NOT WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SEMINARS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THE EXHIBITION DURING THIS PERIOD FROM 9.30 AM TO 4.30 PM.
THERE WILL BE PLACES FOR 60 TEACHERS AT EACH SEMINAR AND THE APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED ON A FIRST-COME-FIRST-SERVED BASIS.
HEADS OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS WISHING TO NOMINATE SCIENCE TEACHERS FOR THE SEMINARS ARE REQUESTED TO RETURN THEIR NOMINATIONS TO THE INSPECTOR, PRIMARY SCIENCE SECTION, ADVISORY INSPECTORATE, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, ROOM 509, LEE GARDENS, HYSAN AVENUE, HONG KONG BY MARCH 30.
ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE WITH THE SECTION ON TELEPHONE 5-8392466
SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 1984
7 -
NEW BUS TERMINUS FOR BRAEMAR HILL ROAD
*****
A BUS TERMINUS IS TO BE BUILT ON BRAEMAR HILL ROAD NEAR THE SHOPPING CENTRE AT BRAEMAR HILL MANSIONS.
IT WILL CONSIST OF THREE 1OO-METRE-LONG BAYS, TWO PASSENGER PLATFORMS, FOOTWAYS AND A REGULATOR’S KIOSK.
A 60-METRE-L0NG ACCESS ROAD FROM BRAEMAR HILL ROAD WILL ALSO BE BUILT.
THE TERMINUS WILL BE FOR THE USE OF RESIDENTS OF THE BRAEMAR HILL AND TIN HAU TEMPLE AREAS WHICH DO NOT HAVE ONE AT PRESENT.
THESE AREAS ARE SERVED BY TWO CIRCULAR BUS ROUTES FROM CENTRAL AND NORTH POINT.
WORK ON THE PROJECT WILL START IN AUGUST AND BE COMPLETED BY EARLY 1985.
A NOTICE CONCERNING THE PROPOSED BUS TERMINUS PROJECT IS PUBLISHED IN THE LATEST GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
A PLAN CAN BE SEEN AT i
* CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT.OFF ICE, CENTRAL ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING MAIN ENTRANCE I
* DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, HONG KONG NORTH, HARBOUR CENTRE, 12TH FLOOR, HARBOUR ROAD? AND
* EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, 884-886, KING’S ROAD, GROUND FLOOR, HONG KONG.
OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSAL SHOULD BE SENT TO THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS BEFORE MAY 15.
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SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 1984
8 -
SHORTER CLEARWAY HOURS AT MORETON TERRACE
ft X ft
FROM 10 AM ON MONDAY (MARCH 19), URBAN CLEARWAY HOURS AT MORETON TERRACE BETWEEN TUNG LO WAN ROAD AND CAUSEWAY ROAD WILL BE SHORTENED.
THE NEW RESTRICTED PERIODS WILL BE FROM 7 AM TO 10 AM AND FROM 4 PM TO 7 PM DAILY.
DURING THESE PERIODS, NO MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS IN THE ROAD SECTION.
MEANWHILE, THE FOLLOWING 24-HOUR PROHIBITED ZONES WILL BE CANCELLED FROM 10 AM THE SAME DAY i
* THE NORTHERN KERBSIDE LANE OF SAI LAU KOK ROAD FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH MEI WAN STREET TO A POINT EAST OF THAT JUNCTION FOR A DISTANCE OF 180 METRES.
* THE SOUTHERN KERBSIDE LANE OF SAI LAU KOK ROAD FROM A POINT 90 METRES EAST OF MEI WAN STREET, FOR A DISTANCE OF 250 METRES TO THE EAST.
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CONSTRUCTION WORK ON TAKU STREET ft ft ft ft
FROM 10 AM ON MONDAY (MARCH 19), TAKU STREET WILL BE CLOSED TO BUSES FOR ABOUT FOUR WEEKS TO FACILITATE CONSTRUCTION WORK.
KMB BUSES ON ROUTE NOS. IK, 3B, 5C, 5D, 5K, 7B, 8, 12K, 15, 25
AND 201 WILL BE DIVERTED VIA WUHU STREET, DOCK STREET AND BULKELEY STREET ON THEIR SOUTHBOUND JOURNEYS.
- - 0
RIGHT-TURN BAN ' ft X ft
FROM 10 AM ON MONDAY (MARCH 19), THE RIGHT-TURNING MOVEMENT FROM TONKIN STREET NORTHBOUND INTO CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD EASTBOUND WILL BE BANNED FOR ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS TO FACILITATE CONSTRUCTION WORK.
MOTORISTS HEADING FOR CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD EASTBOUND ADVISED TO USE TONKIN STREET, UN CHAU STREET AND WING LUNG STREET
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SUNDAY, MARCH 18, 1984
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GOVERNOR RETURNS FROM PEKING ................................... 1
BEST-SELLING YEARBOOK OUT IN NEW EDITION ....................... 1
FAST DEVELOPMENT FOR MUSIC TRAINING SCHEME...................
THE WOMAN WITH A TAXING JOB .................................... 3
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MATRICULATION COURSES OVERSEAS ................ 5
METRIC SCALE COUNTER MOVING TO HOUSING ESTATES ................. 6
AUXILIARY AIR FORCE LOOKING FOR RECRUITS ....................... 7
DB TO DISCUSS COMMUNITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES .................... 7
TENDERS INVITED FOR REFRESHMENTS KIOSK ......................... 8
FOOTBRIDGE FOR LAI KING HILL ROAD ...........................
ROAD CLOSURE IN WAN CHAI ....................................... 9
STORAGE SPACE IN KOWLOON BAY................................... 1°
SUNDAY, MARCH 18, 1984
1 -
NOTE TO EDITORS:
GOVERNOR RETURNS FROM PEKING ft ft ft ft
THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR’S COMMENTS THE AIRPORT TODAY ON HIS RETURN FROM PEKING WHERE HE HAD • TENDED THE LATEST ROUND OF TALKS ON HONG KONG’S FUTURE!
♦WELL GOOD MORNING LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. IT IS NICE TO BE HERE. I HAD HOPED FOR SOME SUNSHINE BUT IT SEEMS I HAVE TO BE DISAPPOINTED. I DON'T SUPPOSE THE STATEMENT WE ISSUED GAVE YOU ANY SURPRISES EXCEPT PERHAPS THAT WE SHALL BE RESUMING AGAIN ON THE 26TH AND 27TH. SO I SHALL BE GOING BACK TO PEKING NEXT SUNDAY. SOME OF YOUR COLLEAGUES HAVE DECIDED THAT IT'S NOT WORTH COMING BACK TO HONG KONG AND THEY'RE STAYING THERE FOR THE WEEK TO WAIT FOR US WHEN WE RETURN.
THERE'S NO GREAT SIGNIFICANCE TO BE ATTACHED TO THIS. THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN HERE FROM THE BEGINNING WILL KNOW THAT THE INTERVAL HAS CHANGED FROM TIME TO TIME DEPENDING ON THE REQUIREMENTS CF THE TALKS AND ON THE COMMITMENTS OF THOSE INVOLVED. AND THAT’S WHAT’S HAPPENED THIS TIME.
I UNDERSTAND IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT NEXT TIME WE MIGHT BE MEETING IN A DIFFERENT PLACE. BUT AGAIN THERE IS NO SIGNIFICANCE TO BE ATTACHED TO THAT EITHER, BECAUSE THAT, I BELIEVE, SIMPLY COMES BECAUSE THEY MAY BE REPAIRING AND REDECORATING THE PLACE WHERE WE NORMALLY MEET.
SO SINCE WE'VE ONLY GOT A LITTLE TIME OF THE WEEKEND LEFT I SUGGEST WE ALL HAVE THE REST OF IT OFF. I’LL SEE YOU NEXT SUNDAY.♦
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BEST-SELLING YEARBOOK OUT IN NEW EDITION III
HONG KONG’S OFFICIAL YEARBOOK, TRACING ALL THE SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE TERRITORY DURING THE PAST YEAR AND GIVING THOUSANDS OF INTERESTING NEW FACTS, FIGURES AND STATISTICS, IS NOW ON SALE.
PRICED AT $32 A COPY, THE YEARBOOK IS AVAILABLE IN CHINESE AND ENGLISH EDITIONS FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GPO BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL; LEADING BOOKSHOPS AND DISTRICT OFFICES.
TO MEET THE DEMAND, 32 OOO ENGLISH COPIES AND 11 000 CHINESE COPIES HAVE BEEN PRINTED.
/an established .......
SUNDAY, NABOB 18, 1984
2 -
AN ESTABLISHED BEST-SELLER, THE LATEST EDITION — HONG KONG 1984 — CONTAINS 325 PAGES OF TEXT, PLUS DETAILED APPENDICES AND A COMPREHENSIVE INDEX, AS WELL AS MORE THAN 100 COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHS.
♦THE YEARBOOK IS AN INDISPENSABLE SOURCE FOR ANYONE WANTING DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT HONG KONG,+ SAID A SPOKESMAN FOR THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES TODAY.
♦THE STATISTICS AND COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE MONITOR EVENTS TO THE END OF THE YEAR MAKING IT A VALUABLE REFERENCE BOOK FOR ALL WHO HAVE AN INTEREST IN THE TERRITORY, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND STUDENTS, AND AS A RECORD FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS. COPIES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE OVERSEAS,+ r£ SAID.
THE 22 CHAPTERS IN THE YEARBOOK CHRONICLE EVENTS AND GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES IN HONG KONG DURING THE YEAR, COVERING SUBJECTS SUCH AS THE FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC SITUATION, TRADE AND INDUSTRY, EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION, HOUSING, SOCIAL WELFARE, LAW AND ORDER AND A HOST OF OTHER TOPICS.
THIS YEAR THE REVIEW CHAPTER, UNDER THE HEADING +EDUCATION AT THE CROSSROADS*, HAS BEEN CONTRIBUTED BY HONG KONG’S EDUCATION EXPERTS.
THE FRONT COVER PICTURE TOO ECHOES THE THEME OF EDUCATION AS AN INVESTMENT FOR THE FUTURE, SHOWING HONG KONG’S YOUNGEST CITIZENS MASTERING COMPUTER INSTRUCTION.
PHOTOGRAPHIC SECTIONS IN THE BOOK INCLUDE TSIM SHA TSUI EAST, FASHION, FINANCE, THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY, TUEN MUN NEW TOWN, THE WEATHER, THE OUTLYING ISLANDS, VISITORS TO HONG KONG, THE ARTS AND LEISURE-TIME ACTIVITIES. THE NEW END-COVER MAP PROVIDES A DETAILED STUDY OF HONG KONG’S CLIMATE.
HONG KONG 1984 WAS PRODUCED BY THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES, ASSISTED BY THE CHINESE LANGUAGE DIVISION OF THE HOME AFFAIRS BRANCH, AND PRINTED BY THE GOVERNMENT PRINTER.
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FAST DEVELOPMENT FOR MUSIC TRAINING SCHEME
* * O
THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF THE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC TRAINING SCHEME OF THE MUSIC OFFICE IS REFLECTED EACH YEAR BY THE SCALE OF THE TRAINEES' GALA, MR ANGUS WATSON, DEAN OF MUSIC OF THE HONG KONG ACADEMY FOR PERFORMING ARTS, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE GALA CONCERT IN THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY HALL, WATSON SAID THAT THE OCCASION WAS AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR THE TRAINEES TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS AND TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE.
♦I AM SURE THEY WILL FIND THIS STIMULATING, AND LIKEWISE THEIR PARENTS AND INSTRUCTORS WILL BE VERY PROUD OF THEIR PERFORMANCE THIS AFTERNOON.
/♦IT IS .....
SUNDAY, MABCH l8, 1984
- 3 -
♦IT IS WONDERFUL TO SEE SO MUCH INSTRUMENTAL ACTIVITY IN HONG KONG, AND TO WITNESS THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF THE MUSIC TRAINING SCHEME ORGANISED BY THE MUSIC OFFICE,* HE SAID.
AFTER WISHING THEM SUCCESS IN THEIR MUSICAL CAREER, MR WATSON PRESENTED AWARDS TO THREE INSTRUMENTAL AND FOUR ORCHESTRAL TRAINEES FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS.
EARLIER IN A WELCOME SPEECH, THE COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR PATRICK WILLIAMSON SAID ONE OF THE OBJECTIVES OF THE MUSIC OFFICE WAS TO RUN A FULL-SCALE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC TRAINING SCHEME TO HELP FOSTER INTEREST IN MUSIC, PARTICULARLY AMONG THE YOUNGER GENERATION.
CURRENTLY, THE SCHEME PROVIDES SOME 650 INSTRUMENTAL TRAINING CLASSES WITH OVER 3 000 PARTICIPANTS IN VARIOUS DISTRICTS.
♦THE ANNUAL TRAINEES* GALA IS AN IMPORTANT ANNUAL EVENT AS IT IS HELD SPECIFICALLY FOR AND BY THE TRAINEES, WHO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY THIS AFTERNOON TO DISPLAY BEFORE THEIR PEERS AND CONTEMPORARIES THEIR MUSICAL TASTES AND ACHIEVEMENTS,* MR WILLIAMSON SAID.
HE THEN THANKED THE PARENTS OF THE TRAINEES FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT.
MRS WILLIAMSON ALSO PRESENTED CERTIFICATES OF MERIT TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE INSTRUMENTAL AND ORCHESTRAL TRAINEES.
THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR CLIVE OXLEY, AND THE MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR, MR BENJAMIN TANG, WERE AMONG 1 300 PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED THE GALA.
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THE WOMAN WITH A TAXING JOB * M * M
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SAID t *IN THIS WORLD NOTHING CAN BE SAID TO BE CERTAIN, EXCEPT DEATH AND TAXES.* INLAND REVENUE COMPLAINTS OFFICER MRS TANG CHAN WAI-YEE AND HER STAFF CAN’T DO MUCH ABOUT THE FORMER BUT THEY DO THEIR BEST TO EASE THE PAIN OF THE LATTER.
EVEN THOUGH THE DEPARTMENT HAS TO PROCESS NEARLY OVER 800 000 ASSESSMENTS A YEAR, FEWER AND FEWER PEOPLE ARE MAKING COMPLAINTS. LAST YEAR THE SPECIAL COMPLAINTS SECTION RECEIVED 1 183 COMPLAINTS OR ENQUIRIES, ALMOST 50 PER CENT DOWN ON THE 2 176 CASES DEALT WITH IN 1978 WHEN THE SECTION WAS SET UP.
THE DEPARTMENT HAS MADE A CONTINUING EFFORT TO IMPROVE .TS SERVICES AND TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS PROPER CO-ORDINATION BETWEEN ITS VARIOUS SECTIONS.
/trr phtmr.......
SUNDAY, MANCH 18, 1984
- 4 -
THE PRIME OBJECTIVE OF THE COMPLAINTS SECTION IS TO DEAL WITH CASES IN W.HICH TAXPAYERS’ INITIAL ENQUIRIES WITH THE DEPARTMENT HAVE NOT RECEIVED SATISFACTORY REPLIES. *WE ARE READY TO DEAL WITH ANY COMPLAINTS IN CONNECTION WITH INEFFICIENCY, DELAY OR INCIVILITY OF THE DEPARTMENT’S STAFF*, SHE SAID. +MATTERS SUCH AS THE CORRECTNESS OR OTHERWISE OF AN ASSESSMENT ARE BEYOND THE SECTION’S JURISDICTION. THE INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE ITSELF PROVIDES SUFFICIENT SAFEGUARDS FOR SUCH GRIEVANCES TO BE RESOLVED BY LAW.*
LAST YEAR ABOUT 80 PER CENT OF COMPLAINTS WERE RECEIVED BY TELEPHONE, ON 5-79595656, OR DURING A VISIT TO THE SECTION’S OFFICE ON THE 26TH FLOOR OF WINDSOR HOUSE. THE BALANCE CAME IN BY LETTERS.
OF THE 1 183 COMPLAINTS MADE LAST YEAR, ABOUT 60 PER CENT WERE RELATED TO SALARIES TAX, PERSONAL ASSESSMENT AND PROPERTY TAX MATTERS. OTHERS AROSE FROM PROFITS TAX, TAX COLLECTION AND OTHER RELATED AREAS.
REPORTS OF SUSPECTED TAX EVASION ARE ALSO RECEIVED AND THESE ARE REFERRED TO OTHER UNITS OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION.
♦WE SET OURSELVES A TARGET OF A MAXIMUM OF SEVEN DAYS TO COMPLETE EVEN THE MOST COMPLICATED CASE WHICH MIGHT INVOLVE CONSULTATION WITH SEVERAL OTHER SECTIONS,♦ SAID MRS TANG.
LESS COMPLICATED CASES, SUCH AS-THOSE ARISING FROM MISUNDERSTANDINGS OF PROCEDURES OR OF THE LAW, ARE DEALT WITH IMMEDIATELY.
♦BUT A COMPLAINT IS NOT REGARDED AS FINISHED WITH EVEN AFTER THE PERSON CONCERNED HAS SAID THAT HE OR SHE IS SATISFIED WITH OUR REPLY,♦ SHE SAID. +WE WILL LOOK INTO THE MATTER WITH CARE TO SEE WHETHER THERE ARE ANY RECOMMENDATIONS WE CAN MAKE TO THE MANAGEMENT TO IMPROVE THE DEPARTMENT’S WORKING PROCEDURES. IN THIS WAY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS IN THE FUTURE CAN HOPEFULLY BE MINIMISED.♦
PATIENCE IS THE VITAL INGREDIENT IN THE WORK OF THE SECTION : ♦COMPLAINTS COME FROM DIFFERENT SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY AND UNDERSTANDINGS OF TAX LAWS AND PROCEDURES DIFFER,♦ SAID MRS TANG. ♦PATIENCE IS EVERY BIT AS IMPORTANT AS EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE CF TAX MATTERS.*
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< ? ..............................
SUNDAY, MARCH 18, 1984
- 5 -
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MATRICULATION COURSES OVERSEAS
* * *
HONG KONG STUDENTS WITH GOOD ACADEMIC RECORDS ARE INVITED TO APPLY FOR A NUMBER OF SCHOLARSHIPS DONATED BY LEADING ORGANISATIONS FOR A TWO-YEAR MATRICULATION COURSE IN THE UNITED WORLD COLLEGES.
♦THE COURSE WILL LEAD TO THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE, tICH IS RECOGNISED FOR UNIVERSITY ENTRY PURPOSES IN HONG KOKG AND IN MOST OTHER COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THE UNITED KINGDOM AND CANADA,* AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE TENABLE THIS SEPTEMBER AT ATLANTIC COLLEGE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, PEARSON COLLEGE IN CANADA, AMERICAN WEST COLLEGE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND ADRIATIC COLLEGE IN ITALY.
THESE FOUR CO-EDUCATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL COLLEGES FORM THE UNITED WORLD COLLEGES WHICH HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED TO PROMOTE INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING THROUGH EDUCATION.
AN INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL AND AN INTERNATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING THE PROJECTS AND THE PLANNING AND CO-ORDINATION OF NEW COLLEGES.
ENTRY TO EACH COLLEGE IS HIGHLY COMPETITIVE AND IS BASED ON ACADEMIC ABILITY AND PERSONAL QUALITIES.
STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO RETURN TO HONG KONG ON COMPLETION OF THE COURSE.
APPLICATION FORMS MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE OVERSEAS STUDENTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS SECTION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, ROOM 1522, LEIGHTON CENTRE, 77 LEIGHTON ROAD, CAUSEWAY BAY, HONG KONG.
♦COMPLETED FORMS TOGETHER WITH RELEVANT TESTIMONIALS MUST BE RETURNED BY HEADS OF SCHOOLS TO THE OFFICE ON OR BEFORE APRIL 14,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
HE ADDED THAT APPLICANTS FOR THE SCHOLARSHIPS MUST BE OVER 16 AND UNDER 18 YEARS OF AGE ON SEPTEMBER 1, 1984, AND BE IN POSSESSION OF A HONG KONG CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION WITH AT LEAST FIVE SUBJECTS AT GRADE C OR ABOVE, INCLUDING GOOD RESULTS IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
APPLICANTS WHO WILL SIT THE 1984 HONG KONG CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION WILL ALSO BE CONSIDERED, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO HAVE OBTAINED EQUIVALENT QUALIFICATIONS.
SELECTION OF APPLICANTS WILL ALSO BE BASED ON PAST ACADEMIC RECORDS, EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, RECOMMENDATIONS OF SCHOOL HEADS, PERSONALITY AND PROFICIENCY IN ENGLISH.
SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WILL BE ADMITTED TO THE COLLEGES IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR, AND WILL TAKE THE FULL TWO-YEAR COURSE.
/the iciBoac ......
SUKDAT, MABCH 18, 1^4 - 6 -
THE ACADEMIC AND ACTIVITIES PROGRAMMES IN THE COLLEGES ARE INTERWOVEN AND JOINTLY FORM THE BASIS FOR STUDENTS’ DEVELOPMENT.
STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE PART IN PHYSICAL, INTELLECTUAL AND AESTHETIC ACTIVITIES, AND IN COMMUNITY SERVICES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
HE ADDED THAT THE SCHOLARSHIPS WILL COVER PART OF THE TUITION A*'"' BOARDING FEES DURING THE TWO YEARS.
BUT IT WILL NOT BE ADEQUATE TO COVER SUCH OTHER EXPENSES AS AIR FARES TO AND FROM THE COLLEGE, MAINTENANCE FOR LONG VACATIONS AND PERSONAL ALLOWANCE.
APPLICANTS ARE ADVISED TO ENSURE THAT THEY CAN PROVIDE THEMSELVES WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDS SUFFICIENT TO MEET THESE EXPENSES.
------o-------
METRIC SCALE COUNTER MOVING TO HOUSING ESTATES *****
RESIDENTS OF 01 MAN ESTATE WILL BECOME MORE FAMILIAR WITH METRIC UNITS NOW THAT THEY HAVE THE CHANCE TO USE A METRIC WEIGHING EQUIPMENT.
A METRIC SCALE COUNTER WILL BE SET UP IN THE ESTATE MARKET FOR A WEEK STARTING TOMORROW (MONDAY).
VISITORS TO THE MARKET WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO USE THE METRIC SCALE TO WEIGH THEIR PURCHASES.
THEY WILL ALSO RECEIVE GIVEAWAY ITEMS SUCH AS METRIC CONVERSION CARDS, STICKERS AND FACT SHEETS.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT SUCH A COUNTER IS BEING SET UP IN A HOUSING ESTATE SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE METRIC COUNTER SCHEME LAST NOVEMBER.
THE OBJECTIVE OF THE SCHEME IS TO PROMOTE METRICATION AT THE GRASS-ROOTS LEVEL.
METRIC COUNTERS HAVE BEEN SET UP IN SIX MARKETS ON A ROTATION BASIS, ATTRACTING A TOTAL OF MORE THAN 60 000 USERS CF THE METRIC WEIGHING MACHINE.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE METRICATION COMMITTEE SAID, +WHEREVER THE COUNTER WENT, IT WAS SURROUNDED BY LARGE CROWDS OF PEOPLE INCLUDING STUDENTS LINING UP TO HAVE THEIR BODY MEASUREMENTS TAKEN, HOUSEWIVES WAITING TO HAVE THEIR PURCHASES WEIGHED, AND HAWKERS WANTING TO EXAMINE THE SCALE AND TO FIND OUT WHERE THEY COULD GET ONE.*
♦IN VIEW OF ITS SUCCESS, WE DECIDED TO EXTEND THE SCHEME FOR ANOTHER THREE MONTHS TO COVER 13 MORE MARKETS,♦ HE ADDED.
AFTER MARCH 24, THE COUNTER WILL MOVE FROM 01 MAN ESTATE TO WAH FU, NAM SHAN, SHEK LEI, WONG TAI SIN, YAU 01 AND ON TING ESTATES, AND TO TWO NEWLY BUILT URBAN COUNCIL MARKETS IN SAI WAN HO AND TO KWA WAN.
SUNDAY, MARCH 18, 1984
- 7 -
AUXILIARY AIR FORCE LOOKING FOR RECRUITS * * * *
THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY AIR FORCE (RHKAAF) WILL SHORTLY BE LAUNCHING A RECRUITMENT EXERCISE FOR VOLUNTEERS TO BE TRAINED AS PILOTS AND CREWMAN ON ITS FLEET OF FIXED AND ROTARY WING AIRCRAFT.
THE RECRUITS WILL BE REQUIRED TO UNDERGO TRAINING ON THURSDAY EVENINGS AND AT WEEKENDS.
AS THE RHKAAF IS INVOLVED IN VARIOUS EMERGENCY OPERATIONS, VOLUNTEERS FOR THE UNIT ARE CAREFULLY SELECTED AND ONE OF THE PRIME CONSIDERATIONS IS WHETHER THEY CAN PUT IN THE NECESSARY TRAINING TIME TO ATTAIN THE HIGH STANDARD OF PROFICIENCY REQUIRED FOR THE DUTIES.
BASICALLY, ALL APPLICANTS MUST BE YOUNG MEN AGED BETWEEN 18 AND 35, MEDICALLY FIT AND HAVE NORMAL EYESIGHT WITHOUT THE AID CF SPECTACLES.
THOSE WHO APPLY TO BE PILOTS SHOULD POSSESS A MINIMUM OF FIVE GCE '0* LEVEL SUBJECTS (OR EQUIVALENT), INCLUDING MATHEMATICS, PHYSICS AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE.
CANDIDATES FOR CREWMEN ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE GRADE E OR ABOVE IN FIVE GCE ’O’ LEVEL SUBJECTS OR EQUIVALENT. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE OF FIRST AID, SOME MECHANICAL-TECHNICAL APTITUDE AND A STRONG SWIMMING CAPABILITY WOULD BE AN ADVANTAGE.
POTENTIAL RECRUITS SHOULD APPLY WITH FULL PERSONAL DETAILS AND PHOTOGRAPHS TO THE COMMANDING OFFICER. RHKAAF, HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, AIRPORT TUNNEL EAST EXIT, KOWLOON.
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DB TO DISCUSS COMMUNITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES
* X * X *
FINDINGS OF A SURVEY ON COMMUNITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES IN WONG TAI SIN WILL BE DISCUSSED BY DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS AT THEIR MEETING ON TUESDAY (MARCH 20).
THE SURVEY, CONDUCTED BY STUDENTS OF THE HONG KONG BAPTIST COLLEGE'S SOCIOLOGY DEPARTMENT, WAS AIMED AT IDENTIFYING RESIDENTS’ NEEDS AND FINDING OUT THE EXTENT OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES ORGANISED BY THE LOCAL DISTRICT BOARD DURING 1982-83.
AT THE MEETING, MEMBERS WILL COMMENT ON THE RECENT PROPOSALS FOR THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION.
A CONSULTANCY REPORT ON A TRAFFIC STUDY FOR NORTH KOwLOON, WHICH- OUTLINES THE OVERALL TRANSPORT DEVELOPMENT PLANS IN THE AREA FOR THE NEXT 15 YEARS, WILL ALSO BE TABLED FOR DISCUSSION.
/OTHffi ITBiS .........
SUNDAY, MABCH 18, 1984
- 8 -
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA WILL INCLUDE AN EVALUATION REPORT ON THE 1983 WONG TAI SIN FESTIVAL, THE ORGANISING OF LUNCH-HOUR CONCERTS IN SAN PO KONG AND THE ELECTRIFICATION OF SQUATTER AREAS
NOTE TO EDITORSi
YOU ARE WELCOME TO COVER THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD MEETING AT 2.30 PM ON TUESDAY (MARCH 20) AT THE FUNG MING HALL, SIK SIK YUEN, WONG TAI SIN TEMPLE.
--------0
TENDERS INVITED FOR REFRESHMENTS KIOSK X M * M *
THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR A LIGHT REFRESHMENTS KIOSK AT THE ROOF-TOP PLAYGROUND OF SAN HUI MARKET IN TUEN MUN.
TENDERS ARE ALSO BEING INVITED FOR THE PROVISION OF HIRE BOAT SERVICES AT CASTLE PEAK BEACH IN TUEN MUN.
SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS FOR THE KIOSK MAY START BUSINESS ON JUNE 1 AND THOSE FOR THE PROVISION OF HIRE BOAT SERVICES ON JUNE 18, BOTH FOR A TWO-YEAR PERIOD, AN NTSD SPOKESMAN SAID.
TENDER FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF SWIRE AND MACLAINE HOUSE (AUSTIN CENTRE), 19-23 AUSTIN AVENUE, KOWLOON OR AT THE TUEN MUN URBAN SERVICES OFFICE ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF ’TOP COURT’, 63-70 TAK CHING COURT, TUEN MUN.
TENDERS IN DUPLICATE MUST BE PLACED IN THE TENDER BOX LOCATED AT THE NTSD HEADQUARTERS BEFORE 9 AM ON APRIL 13 (FRIDAY).
FURTHER DETAILS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE NTSD HEADQUARTERS ON 3-678715 OR FROM THE TUEN MUN URBAN SERVICES OFFICE ON 0-820800, EXT. 301.
/•>
0
SUNDAY, MARCH 18, 1984
- 9 -
FOOTBRIDGE FOR LAI KING HILL ROAD ft ft ft ft
A COVERED FOOTBRIDGE WILL BE BUILT ACROSS LAI KING HILL ROAD NEAR LAI KING MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY STATION.
WORK WILL START IN MAY AND BE FINISHED IN SIX MONTHS.
THE FOOTBRIDGE WILL CONNECT TO AN EXISTING STAIRCASE AT YUET LAI COURT HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME ON ONE SIDE OF LAI KING HILL ROAD AND WILL BE SERVED BY A NEW STAIRCASE AND RAMP ON THE OTHER SIDE.
WHEN COMPLETED, PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AND VEHICULAR FLOW IN THE AREA WILL BE ENHANCED.
THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE PROJECT.
THEY SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE CHAIRMAN, CENTRAL TENDER BOARD, AND PLACED IN THE SECRETARIAT TENDER BOX IN THE LIFT LOBBY ON THE LOWER GROUND FLOOR OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, EAST WING, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, BEFORE 12 NOON ON FRIDAY, APRIL 6.
TENDER FORMS AND FURTHER PARTICULARS ARE AVAILABLE FROM FREEMAN FOX AND PARTNERS (FAR EAST), 16TH FLOOR, HARBOUR CENTRE, 25, HARBOUR ROAD, HONG KONG.
---Or-----
ROAD CLOSURE IN WAN CHAI ft ft ft
FROM 11 PM ON TUESDAY (MARCH 20) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE EXIT ROAD LEADING FROM THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL TO HAPPY VALLEY WILL BE CLOSED FOR ROAD RESURFACING WORK.
DURING THE CLOSURE, TRAFFIC WILL BE DIVERTED VIA THE EXIT ROAD LEADING TO CAUSEWAY BAY, VICTORIA PARK ROAD EASTBOUND, GLOUCESTER ROAD WESTBOUND AND CANAL ROAD FLYOVER.
THE MEASURES WILL BE REPEATED ON THE NIGHTS OF MARCH 21, 22 AND 24.
ALSO IN WAN CHAI, INNER GLOUCESTER ROAD WESTBOUND BETWEEN O’BRIEN ROAD AND ARSENAL STREET WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM 8 PM TO 11 PM ON TUESDAY (MARCH 20) AND FROM 8 PM ON WEDNESDAY (MARCH 21) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR ROAD REPAIR.
DURING THESE PERIODS, LUARD ROAD BETWEEN GLOUCESTER ROAD AND JAFFE ROAD, ALONG WITH FENWICK STREET BETWEEN GLOUCESTER ROAD AND JAFFE ROAD, WILL BE RESTRICTED ONLY TO VEHICLES REQUIRING LOCAL ACCESS.
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/10.......
SUNDAY, MARCH 18, 1984
- 10 -
STORAGE SPACE IN KOWLOON BAY * * *
AN AREA OF 8 400 SQUARE METRES ON THE KOWLOON BAY RECLAMATION IS TO BE TURNED INTO AN OPEN STORAGE SPACE FOR THE GOVERNMENT SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT.
THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE OF THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE PROJECT.
WORK WILL INVOLVE SURFACING THE SITE WITH BITUMEN, INSTALLING A THREE-METRE-HIGH FENCE AND GATES AND CARRYING OUT DRAINAGE AND PLUMBING WORK.
A WATCHMAN'S HUT WILL ALSO BE BUILT.
THE SITE WILL BE USED FOR STORING MATERIAL SUCH AS WATER PIPES AND HIGHWAY EQUIPMENT.
IT WILL REPLACE AN EXISTING STORAGE SITE IN CANTON ROAD WHICH WILL BE REQUIRED FOR THE CHINA PASSENGER FERRY TERMINAL.
WORK ON BUILDING THE STORAGE SPACE WILL START IN MAY AND BE COMPLETED IN AUGUST.
TENDERS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED BY APRIL 6.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
PAGE NO
CONTENTS
LIMITS ON WO GARMENT CATEGORIES
US IMPOSES RESTRAINT
STANDARD TO BE MAINTAINED
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
LEGISLATION INVITED
COMMENTS ON PROPOSED
GRANTS FOR MATRICULATION STUDENTS
STROKE REHABILITATION UNIT OPENED
FOOTBRIDGES PLANNED FOR WONG TAI SIN
TRANSPORT HISTORY BOOK OUT
BMX BICYCLE FAIR IN WAN CHAI
BE EXTENDED
WONG TAI SIN SEVER TO
STRATEGIES
SHA TIN DB TO DISCUSS
WAN AND LUEN WO MARKET
WATER CUT IN SHAU KEI
CAR PARK CLOSURE EXTENDED
CONSUMER COUNCIL TO OPEN ANOTHER CENTRE
RECLAMATION CONTRACT TO BE SIQJED
WATER FIGURE
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL 5-233191
MONDAY, MARCH 19, 1984
MONDAY, MARCH 19, 1984 - 1 -
US IMPOSES RESTRAINT LIMITS ON TWO GARMENT CATEGORIES * * * *
THE UNITED STATES, FOLLOWING INCONCLUSIVE CONSULTATIONS WITH HONG KONG IN WASHINGTON LAST WEEK, HAS IMPOSED RESTRAINT LIMITS ON TWO GARMENT CATEGORIES (CAT 652 AND 637) CALLED EARLIER THIS YEAR.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (MONDAY), A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRADE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT DURING THE CONSULTATIONS THE HONG KONG DELEGATION, LED BY THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF TRADE, MR NICHOLAS YEK, REQUESTED THE UNITED STATES TO LIFT THE TWO CALLS AS HONG KONG DID NOT AGREE THAT THE UNITED STATES HAD AN ACCEPTABLE CASE FOR IMPOSING RESTRAINT ON THE TWO CATEGORIES.
THE UNITED STATES ADMINISTRATION DISAGREED WITH HONG KONG’S ARGUMENT AND, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CURRENT HK-US TEXTILES AGREEMENT, IMPOSED THE FOLLOWING RESTRAINT LIMITS:
CAT. NO. BRIEF DESCRIPTION 1984 RESTRAINT LIMIT
652 MAN-MADE FIBRE UNDERWEAR 3 513 103 DOZEN
637 MAN-MADE FIBRE PLAYSUITS, 45 502 DOZEN
ETC.
THE HONG KONG DELEGATION ACCORDINGLY RESERVED HONG KONG’S RIGHTS OF APPEAL UNDER THE MULTI-FIBRE ARRANGEMENT AND THE HK-US BILATERAL AGREEMENT.
THESE RIGHTS INCLUDE POSSIBLE REFERRAL TO THE TEXTILES SURVEILLANCE BODY IN GENEVA.
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT IN 1984 EXPORTS IN THESE TWO CATEGORIES HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO THE EXPORT AUTHORISATION SYSTEM.
UNDER THIS SYSTEM THERE IS NO SPECIFIC RESTRAINT LIMIT.
HOWEVER. THE LEVEL OF EXPORTS IS MONITORED, AND THE UNITED STATES MAY AT ANY TIME SEEK CONSULTATIONS WITH A VIEW TO REACHING AGREEMENT ON A LEVEL OF RESTRAINT IN THE CURRENT YEAR.
+IN THE EVENT OF DISAGREEMENT DURING THE CONSULTATIONS, THE UNITED STATES MAY IMPOSE A RESTRAINT LIMIT WITH REFERENCE TO A SET OF FORMULAS WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT THE IMPOSED LIMIT MUST HAVE REGARD TO THE TRADE IN RECENT YEARS,+ HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THE TWO CALLS ARE THE ONLY CALLS MADE BY THE UNITED STATES SO FAR THIS YEAR.
0 --------
MONDAY, MARCH 19, 1984
- 2 -
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE STANDARD TO BE MAINTAINED * * * *
VARIOUS ARRANGEMENTS MADE BY THE GOVERNMENT WHEN MODIFYING THE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ASSISTANT SOCIAL WORK OFFICER (ASWO) GRADE SHOW THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS DETERMINED TO MAINTAIN THE PROFESSIONAL STATUS OF SOCIAL WORKERS AND THE STANDARD OF SERVICES PROVIDED IN THE FIELD OF SOCIAL WELFARE.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE ACTING ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE (SOCIAL SECURITY), MR K.C. KWOK, AT THE SECOND QUARTERLY MEETING OF THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE THIS (MONDAY) AFTERNOON.
TO TACKLE THE SHORTAGE OF TRAINED SOCIAL WORKERS, THE GOVERNMENT HAD ASKED HONG KONG UNIVERSITY, THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY AND THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC TO INCREASE THE INTAKE OF SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS, HE SAID.
+HOWEVER, IT WILL TAKE SEVERAL YEARS TO PRODUCE MORE TRAINED STAFF. IN THE MEANTIME, THE MORE IMMEDIATE STAFFING NEEDS REMAIN UNSOLVED,* MR KWOK SAID.
FOR THIS REASON, THE GOVERNMENT DECIDED TOWARDS THE END OF LAST YEAR TO MODIFY THE E^TRY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ASWO GRADE TO ALLOW THE RECRUITMENT OF GENERAL DEGREE HOLDERS WHO WERE INTERESTED IN TAKING UP SOCIAL WORK AND WHOSE CHARACTER AND ABILITIES WERE SUITED TO THIS TYPE OF WORK.
TO ENSURE THAT THE STANDARD OF SERVICE IS MAINTAINED, THE GOVERNMENT HAS ASKED THE TWO UNIVERSITIES TO PROVIDE IN-SERVICE TRAINING FOR GENERAL DEGREE HOLDERS AS SOON AS THEY ARE RECRUITED.
+IT IS EXPECTED THAT OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, THE UNIVERSITIES WILL EACH PROVIDE 30 PLACES FOR SUCH IN-SERVICE TRAINING EVERY YEAR,* MR KWOK SAID.
HE ADDED THAT THE PROFESSIONAL TRAINING WHICH THESE NON-SOCIAL WORK GRADUATES WERE TO RECEIVE WOULD BE NO DIFFERENT FROM THAT FOR SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS.
♦BECAUSE OF THEIR UNIVERSITY TRAINING AND BECAUSE SOME OF THEM HAVE HELD OTHER JOBS BEFORE, WE BELIEVE THAT THEY WILL BE AS GOOD AS SOCIAL WORK GRADUATES IN TERMS OF MATURITY AND EXPERIENCE,* HE ADDED.
MR KWOK NOTED THAT THE RESPONSE TO AN ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE LATEST RECRUITMENT OF. ASWOS WAS VERY ENCOURAGING, WITH MORE THAN 700 APPLICATIONS RECEIVED.
TO MAXIMISE THE USE OF TRAINED SOCIAL WORK MANPOWER, MR KWOK SAID THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAD IDENTIFIED A NUMBER OF JOBS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT WHICH COULD BE UNDERTAKEN BY STAFF WITHOUT PROFESSIONAL TRAINING.
/+THESE JOBS ......
MONDAY, MARCH 19, 1984
- 3 -
♦THESE JOBS DO NOT REQUIRE PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS AND UNDER APPROPRIATE PROFESSIONAL SUPERVISION, CAN BE PERFORMED BY PEOPLE WITH SECONDARY EDUCAT ION.+ HE SAID.
AS A RESULT, A NEW WELFARE WORKER GRADE, SIMILAR TO THAT WHICH EXISTS IN THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR, HAS BEEN CREATED FOR SUCH DUTIES, AND RECRUITMENT IS NOW UNDERWAY.
♦THESE WELFARE WORKERS WILL RECEIVE IN-SERVICE TRAINING WHEN THEY JOIN THE DEPARTMENT,♦ MR KWOK SAID.
- - - - 0 ----
COMMENTS ON PROPOSED LEGISLATION INVITED * * * * *
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR MICHAEL THOMAS, HAS CALLED FOR INFORMED COMMENTS AND CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM ON PROPOSED HIRE PURCHASE LEGISLATION WHICH IS BEING DRAFTED BY HIS CHAMBERS.
IN A SPEECH TO THE HONG KONG EQUIPMENT LEASING ASSOCIATION TODAY, MR THOMAS SAID ANOTHER DEVELOPMENT OF CLOSER CONCERN TO THE ASSOCIATION WAS THE CONSIDERATION CURRENTLY BEING GIVEN BY THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION TO UNFAIR CONTRACT TERMS LEGISLATION.
HE ALSO ASKED INTERESTED PARTIES TO STUDY ITS POSSIBLE IMPLICATIONS AND TO MAKE REPRESENTATIONS AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME TO THE SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE COMMISSION OR AT LATER STAGES.
♦I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE CONSULTATIVE PROCESS WHICH WORKED WELL IN RESPECT OF THE CIVIL DEBTORS QUESTION WILL SUCCEED AGAIN IN RESPECT OF OTHER MEASURES INVOLVING THE FINANCIAL SECTOR.
♦HONG KONG IS A CLOSE-KNIT PLACE AND COOPERATION AND CONSULTATION IS EFFECTIVE IN ENSURING THE COMMON AIM - GETTING THE LAWS OF HONG KONG 'RIGHT' FOR HONG KONG,+ HE SAID.
ON THE 'LEASING INDUSTRY’ IN HONG KONG, MR THOMAS SAID THAT THE SPECIALISED EXPERTISE IT INVOLVED HELPED TO DEVELOP HONG KONG’S ROLE AS A FINANCIAL CENTRE.
0
MONDAY, MARCH 19, 1984
- 4 -
GRANTS FOR MATRICULATION STUDENTS * * * *
THE GOVERNMENT HAS SET ASIDE MAINTENANCE GRANTS FOR NEEDY STUDENTS WISHING TO PURSUE FULL-TIME MATRICULATION COURSES.
THE GRANT AMOUNTS TO ABOUT S8OO PER STUDENT A YEAR.
NEEDY STUDENTS NOW ATTENDING FORM 5 OR 6 WHO WISH TO APPLY FOR THE GRANT CAN OBTAIN THE FORMS FROM THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S OVERSEAS STUDENTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS SECTION, 77 LEIGHTON ROAD, ROOM 1522, LEIGHTON CENTRE, 15TH FLOOR, HONG KONG FROM JUNE 1.
COMPLETED FORMS MUST BE RETURNED THROUGH HEADS OF SCHOOLS TO THE SECRETARY, MAINTENANCE GRANTS COMMITTEE, WITHIN 10 DAYS AFTER THE PUBLICATION OF THE CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION RESULTS FOR FORM 5 STUDENTS AND BY JULY 21 FOR FORM 6 STUDENTS.
♦GRANTS ARE AWARDED ON A YEARLY BASIS AND RENEWAL IS NOT AUTOMATIC. IF A RECIPIENT IN FORM 6 WISHES TO BE CONSIDERED FOR A GRANT ON PROMOTION TO FORM 7, HE MUST APPLY AGA IN,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
STUDENTS IN FORM 6 WHO ARE NOT RECEIVING GRANTS IN THE CURRENT ACADEMIC YEAR ARE ALSO ELIGIBLE TO APPLY, HE SAID.
GRANTS WILL BE PAID IN ARREARS AT THE END OF EACH MONTH FOR 10 MONTHS IN THE YEAR, AND THERE WILL BE NO PAYMENTS FOR JULY AND AUGUST.
- - - - 0------
STROKE REHABILITATION UNIT OPENED * * * *
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES (MEDICAL SERVICES), DR S.F. LAM, TODAY (MONDAY) OFFICIALLY OPENED THE PONG WING SHIU STROKE REHABILITATION UNIT OF THE TUNG WAH HOSPITAL.
THE UNIT WITH 46 BEDS IS SITUATED ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE MAIN BUILDING OF THE HOSPITAL.
THE INSTALLATION OF THE UNIT, AT A COST OF ABOUT $600 000, WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY A GENEROUS DONATION FROM MR PONG WING-SHIU AND A GRANT FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY, DR LAM SAID THAT STROKE UNITS LIKE THE ONE AT THE TUNG WAH HOSPITAL ENABLED PEOPLE WHO SUFFERED FROM STROKES TO GET BACK TO BEING ACTIVE INDIVIDUALS AGAIN.
THE OPENING OF THE STROKE REHABILITATION UNIT WAS THE LAST OFFICIAL FUNCTION PERFORMED BY DR LAM AS HE WILL BE ON LEAVE SOON PRIOR TO HIS RETIREMENT.
DURING THE CEREMONY, HE ALSO TALKED ABOUT HIS HAPPY ASSOC I AT I Jiv WITH THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS.
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/5 .....
MONDAY, MARCH 19, 1984
- 5 -
FOOTBRIDGES PLANNED FOR WONG TAI SIN * * * * *
THE GOVERNMENT IS PROPOSING TO BUILD THREE COVERED FOOTBRIDGES IN WONG TAI SIN TO LINK HOUSING ESTATES IN THE AREA.
THEY WILL EACH BE THREE METRES WIDE.
TWO WILL CROSS LUNG CHEUNG ROAD, WHILE THE THIRD WILL CROSS A NEW ROAD WHICH HAS NOT YET BEEN NAMED.
THE NEW FOOTBRIDGES WILL PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE NETWORK OF PEDESTRIAN CIRCULATION LINKING HOUSING ESTATES IN THE MA CHAI HANG, WANG TAU HOM AND CHUK YUEN AREAS.
THEY WILL ALSO BE LINKED TO THE RECREATION GROUND IN CHUK YUEN AND THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY STATION IN LOK FU ESTATE.
WHEN THE NEW FOOTBRIDGES ARE READY, THE TEMPORARY ONE ACROSS LUNG CHEUNG ROAD WILL BE DEMOLISHED.
A NOTICE CONCERNING THE FOOTBRIDGES IS PUBLISHED IN THE LATEST GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
THE PLAN AND SCHEME CAN BE SEEN AT CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, CENTRAL ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING, MAIN ENTRANCE LOBBY; THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, KOWLOON EAST, 1OTH FLOOR, YAU MA TEI CAR PARK BUILDING, 250, SHANGHAI STREET, KOWLOON; AND AT WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT OFFICE, SAN PO KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING, 4TH AND 5TH FLOORS, KING FUK STREET, SAN PO KONG, KOWLOON.
OBJECTIONS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING TO THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS BEFORE MAY 15.
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TRANSPORT HISTORY BOOK OUT
* * * *
DID YOU KNOW THAT THE CHINA MOTOR BUS COMPANY BEGAN ITS OPERATION IN KOWLOON AND THAT THE HONGKONG TRAMWAYS ALSO OPERATED BUS SERVICES IN THE 192OS?
DETAILS ABOUT THE TRANSPORT HISTORY CAN NOW BE TRACED IN A NEWLY-PUBLISHED GOVERNMENT PUBLICATION - +THE DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN HONG KONG+.
THE BOOK, WRITTEN BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, MR PETER LEEDS, FOLLOWING YEARS OF RESEARCH, REVIEWS HONG KONG’S TRANSPORT HISTORY DATING BACK TO THE 19TH CENTURY.
THE BOOK IS NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT $19 PER COPY.
- - - 0 ----
/b .....
MONDAY, MARCH 19, 1984
- 6 -
BMX BICYCLE FAIR IN WAN CHAI * * *
A THREE-HOUR BMX BICYCLE FAIR WILL BE STAGED AT THE PLAYGROUND CF THE SHENG KUNG HUI TANG SHIU KIN SECONDARY SCHOOL IN WAN CHAI ON SATURDAY (MARCH 24), STARTING AT 2.30 PM.
AT THF FAIR, THERE WILL BE A COMPETITION FOR CYCLISTS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 11 AND 18, AND A ROAD SAFETY EXHIBITION.
APPLICATION FORMS FOR THE COMPETITION, FREE ADMISSION TICKETS TO THE FAIR AND RAFFLE DRAW COUPONS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT OFFICE AT 201 HENNESSY ROAD.
THE FAIR IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT OFFICE, THE HONG KONG PLAYGROUND ASSOCIATION, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, THE ROYAL POLICE AND THE WAN CHAI EAST AREA COMMITTEE.
ATTENDING THE OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER MR FRANCIS HO; THE WAN CHAI EAST AREA COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, NR HO FOOK-CHU; THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HONG KONG PLAYGROUND ASSOCIATION, MRS ANN ANDRY; THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT COMMANDER, MR G.P.E. GUEST, AND THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER, MR TIN CHING-LUNG.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE BMX BICYCLE FAIR IN WAN CHAI AT 2.30 PM ON SATURDAY (MARCH 24) AT THE SHENG KUNG HUI TANG SHIU KIN SECONDARY SCHOOL, 9 01 KWAN ROAD, WAN CHAI
- 0-------------
WONG TAI SIN SEWER TO BE EXTENDED
* * M
A TRUNK SEWER IN WONG TAI SIN WILL BE EXTENDED TO IMPROVE THE EXISTING SEWER NETWORK IN THE AREA.
THE EXTENSION IS NECESSARY AS THE POPULATION IN THE AREA IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE WITH NEARBY DEVELOPMENTS.
THE WORK WILL INVOLVE CONSTRUCTING 700 METRES OF 900-MILLIMETER-DIAMETER SEWER FROM LUNG CHEUNG ROAD NEAR CHING TAK STREET TO CHOI HUNG ROAD.
IT WILL PASS THROUGH CHING TAK STREET, LOWER WONG TAI SIN REDEVELOPMENT PHASE IV, SHEUNG TAK STREET AND SHA TIN PASS ROAD TO LINK UP WITH THE EXISTING TRUNK SEWER IN CHOI HUNG ROAD.
/IN ADDITION.........
MONDAY, MARGE 19, 19&4
7 -
IN ADDITION, A SEWER OF 600 MILLIMETERS IN DIAMETER WILL BE LAID IN CHOI HUNG ROAD FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH PO KONG VILLAGE ROAD TO SHA TIN PASS ROAD.
TENDERS FOR THE PROJECT ARE BEING INVITED BY THE CIVIL ENGINEERING OFFICE OF THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, AND THE CLOSING DATE IS APRIL 6.
WORK IS TO START IN JUNE AND WILL TAKE A YEAR TO COMPLETE.
- - - - 0-----------
note to EDITORS:
SHA TIN DB TO DISCUSS STRATEGIES III
SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WILL DISCUSS THE BOARD’S STRATEGIES AND PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 1984-85 AT THEIR MEETING ON WEDNESDAY (MARCH 21) MORNING.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA WILL INCLUDE CHANGES TO COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIPS AND PROGRESS REPORTS OF VARIOUS COMMITTEES.
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE WELCOME TO COVER THE MEETING AT 9 AM IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICE ON THE SIXTH FLOOR OF KCR HOUSE, SHA TIN STATION.
-----0------
WATER CUT IN SHAU KEI WAN AND LUEN WO MARKET
* * *
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN AREAS IN SHAU KEI WAN WILL BE TURNED OFF FROM 11 PM ON THURSDAY (MARCH 22) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR LEAKAGE TESTS.
THE AFFECTED PREMISES ARE BOUNDED BY SHAU KEI WAN ROAD, SUN SHING STREET AND TAI ON STREET, INCLUDING TAI ON HOUSE.
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO ALL PREMISES IN LUEN WO MARKET IN FANLING WILL ALSO BE SUSPENDED FROM 9 PM THE SAME DAY TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR WATER MAINS WORK.
--------o----------
/8 ........
MONDAY, MARCH 19, 1984-
CAR PARK CLOSURE EXTENDED *****
THE FIRST FLOOR AND THE ROOF OF THE STAR FERRY MULTI-STOREY CAR PARK WILL REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL 8 AM ON FRIDAY (MARCH 23).
REPAIR WORK OF THE UNUSUALLY
NOTE TO EDITORS:
ON THE CAR PARK NOW REQUIRES MORE TIME BECAUSE HUMID WEATHER.
0 - -
CONSUMER COUNCIL TO OPEN ANOTHER CENTRE
THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR NEW TERRITORIES, MR IAN MACPHERSON, WILL OPEN THE CONSUMER COUNCIL’S ADVICE CENTRE IN YUEN LONG TOMORROW (TUESDAY).
THE CENTRE, THE 10TH TO BE OPERATED BY THE CONSUMER COUNCIL, IS LOCATED ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF YUEN LONG DISTRICT BRANCH OFFICES BUILDING AT 269 CASTLE PEAK ROAD.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY AT 11.30 AM.
- - 0 -
NOTE TO EDITORS:
RECLAMATION CONTRACT TO BE SIGNED
A CONTRACT VALUED AT $185 MILLION FOR THE RECLAMATION OF 61 HECTARES AT MA ON SHAN WILL BE SIGNED TOMORROW (TUESDAY) IN THE LANDS AND WORKS BRANCH CONFERENCE ROOM, MURRAY BUILDING, 21ST FLOOR, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SIGNING CE’REMONY WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE AT 2.30 PM.
- 0 - -
WATER FIGURE * * *
STORAGE IN HONG KONG’S RESERVOIRS AT 9 AM TODAY (MONDAY) STOOD AT 77.1 PER CENT OF CAPACITY OR 451.927 MILLION CUBIC METRES.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR THE RESERVOIRS CONTAINED 435.951 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF WATER, REPRESENTING 74.4 PER CENT OF CAPACITY.
------0-------
©
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1984
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
JANUARY ORDERS-ON-HAND RISE....................................... 1
CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES FOR FEBRU/LRY ............................. 4
28 BUILDING PLANS APPROVED IN JANUARY ............................ 6
SHORT-TERM TENANCIES OFFERED ..................................... 7
MORE CAS RECRUITS COMPLETE TRAINING .............................. 8
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE............................................ 8
FRESH WATER BREAK ................................................ 9
'WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1934
- 1 -
JANUARY ORDERS-ON-HAND RISE * * *
THE AVERAGE VOLUME OF ORDERS-ON-HAND (IN TERMS OF MONTHS) IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR AS A WHOLE INCREASED FURTHER IN JANUARY, ACCORDING TO FIGURES RELEASED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
IN ITS MONTHLY SURVEY OF EMPLOYMENT, PAYROLL AND ORDERS-ON-HAND FOR JANUARY, THE DEPARTMENT ALSO REPORTED THAT THE PLASTIC PRODUCTS, FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS, AND ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES RECORDED INCREASES IN THE VOLUME OF ORDERS AS COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS MONTH.
THE ORDERS POSITION OF THE WEARING APPAREL INDUSTRY REMAINED STRONG, ALTHOUGH A SLIGHT DECLINE WAS REPORTED.
THE LEVEL OF EMPLOYMENT IN MOST MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES AT THE END OF JANUARY DECLINED SLIGHTLY AS COMPARED WITH THAT AT THE END OF THE PREVIOUS MONTH BECAUSE OF LABOUR TURNOVER OCCURRING * I Th THE APPROACH OF THE CHINESE NEW YEAR. HOWEVER, EMPLOYMENT IN THE FOOD AND DRINKS, AND +OTHERS+ CATEGORY OF INDUSTRIES REMAINED STEELE EMPLOYMENT IN THE SERVICES SECTOR ALSO SHOWED NO CHANGE. IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR, THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES CONTINUED TO FALL ON COMPLETION OF SOME PROJECTS.
SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN BOTH PAYROLL AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS WERE REPORTED BY ALL THE MANUFACTURERS SURVEYED. THIS wAS DUE TO THE PAYMENT OF BONUSES AND DOUBLE PAY AT THE END OF THE LUNAR CALENDAR YEAR. PAYROLL AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS IN THE SERVICES AND CONSTRUCTION SECTORS ALSO INCREASED FOR THE SAME REASON. HOWEVER, THE BANKING SECTOR RECORDED A DECLINE IN BOTH PAYROLL AND PER CAP IT., EARNINGS BECAUSE MOST OF THE BANKS SURVEYED HAD DISTRIBUTED THEIR ANNUAL BONUS AND DOUBLE PAY IN DECEMBER.
THE PERCENTAGE CHANGES IN ORDERS-ON-HAND, EMPLOYMENT AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS ARE SHOWN IN THE ACCOMPANYING TABLES.
THE DEPARTMENT POINTED OUT THAT THE SURVEY COVERED A PANEL OF THE 200 LARGEST MANUFACTURING COMPANIES AND THE 50 LARGEST COMP AM IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND SELECTED SERVICES SECTORS CHOSEN BY REFERS .JO TO THEIR EMPLOYMENT IN MARCH LAST YEAR. THE DEPARTMENT CAUTIONED THAT AS THE SAMPLE WAS NOT DRAWN ON A RANDOM BASIS, RESULTS ON MAGNITUDE OF CHANGE MIGHT NOT REFLECT THE EXPERIENCE OF THE ECONOMY AS A WHOLE, ALTHOUGH THEY SHOULD GIVE A USEFUL INDICATION OF THE DIRECTION OF CHANGE FOR A QUICK ASSESSMENT OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE ECONOMY IN THE SHORT TERM.
THE SURVEY REPORT FOR JANUARY WILL BE ON SALE SOON AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE, AT SI.5 PEr COPY. ENQUIRIES ON THE SURVEY RESULTS MAY BE MADE TO THE INDUoThIhL PRODUCTION STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT (AT 3-7212832).
/A. ORDERS-Ort-HAND .........
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1984
- 2
A. ORDERS-ON-HAND IN MANUFACTURING
INDUSTRY (% CHANGE OVER THE PRECEDING MONTH) ORDERS-ON-HAND ( IN TERMS OF MONTHS) FOR JANUARY 1984
NOV. 1983 DEC. 1983 JAN. 1984
WEARING APPAREL, EXCEPT FOOTWEAR 1 3 -1 5.05
TEXTILES, EXCEPT WEARING APPAREL -3 5 * 2.54
PLASTIC PRODUCTS -3 2 1 3.75
FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS -1 3 2 3.26
ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS 1 1 1 5.44
OTHERS X 1 M 4.11
ALL ABOVE INDUSTRIES X 2 1 4.55
B. EMPLOYMENT AND EARNINGS
PERSONS ENGAGED BY THE COMPANIES SURVEYED PER CAP ITA EARN / INGS PER CAPITA C A D KI 1 M n c
(% INDUSTRY/ NOV. SERVICE 1983 CHANGE DEC. 1983 OVER THE JAN. 1984 PRECEDI NOV. 1983 NG MONTH DEC. 1983 ) JAN. 1984 1 • S* FOR JAN. 1984 (HK>)
MANUFACTURING * * I 71 2 8 37 3 584
FOOD AND DRINKS -3 * * -3 24 18 4 572
wEAR ING APPAREL, EXCEPT FOOTWEAR X -i 4 9 22 2 94-6
/TEXTILES.........
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1934 4 -
CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES FOR FEBRUARY * * * *
THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A) AND CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (B) FOR FEBRUARY 1984 WERE 154 AND 153 RESPECTIVELY, EACH BEING 2 POINTS OR 1 3 PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN JANUARY 1984, ACCORDING TO FIGURES RELEASED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
COMPARED WITH FEBRUARY 1983, CPI(A) ROSE BY 16 POINTS OR 11.6 PER CENT AND CPI(B), 15 POINTS OR IQ.9 PER CENT.
THE AVERAGE CPl(A) AND AVERAGE CP 1(B) FOR THE 12 MONTHS ENDING IN FEBRUARY 1984 WERE 146.0 AND 145.1 RESPECTIVELY, WHICH WERE 10.6 PER CENT AND 10.1 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY HIGHER THAN THE AVERAGES FOR THE PREVIOUS 12 MONTHS.
DURING THE THREE-MONTH PERIOD ENDING IN FEBRUARY 1984, THE SEASONALLY ADJUSTED CPI(A) INCREASED AT AN AVERAGE RATE OF 0.4 PER CENT EACH MONTH AND THE SEASONALLY ADJUSTED CP 1(B), 0.5 PER CENT.
DURING FEBRUARY, FOOD PRICES, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF FRESH VEGETABLES AND LIVE POULTRY, WERE HIGHER. CHARGES FOR MEALS IN RESTAURANTS AND TAXI FARES ALSO WENT UP.
THE CPI(A) AND CPI(B) ARE BASED ON 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.
THE CP I(A) REFERRED TO HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN 41 000 AND $3 499 A MONTH, AND THE CP 1(B) TO HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN $3 5JJ AND $6 499 A MONTH AT THAT TIME.
THE INDEXES FOR FEBRUARY 1984 IN RESPECT OF THE NINE COMMODITY/ SERVICE SECTIONS IN THE TWO CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES ARE GIVEN BELO*, TOGETHER WITH THOSE FOR JANUARY 1984 AND FEBRUARY 1983.
(OCTOBER 1979 TO SEPTEMBER 1980 AVERAGE - 100)
CPI(A) CPI(B)
SECTION FEB. 83 JAN. 84 FEB. 84 FEB. 83 JAN. 84 FEB. 84
FOODSTUFFS 142 152 156 143 153 156
HOUSING 133 142 142 132 142 143
FUEL AND LIGHT 145 151 151 146 151 151
/ALCOHOLIC DRIN:<S
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1984
- 5 -
ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO (FOR HOME CONSUMPTION) 143 237 208 137 200 233
CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR 133 149 149 133 150 149
DURABLE GOODS 138 123 124 110 126 127
MISCELLANEOUS GOODS 130 146 148 130 143 144
TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES 147 165 167 148 166 169
SERVICES 148 165 165 147 164 164
ALL ITEMS 138 152 154 138 151 153
COMPARED WITH JANUARY 1984, THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS INCREASED BY 4 POINTS IN CP I (A) AND 3 POINTS IN CP 1(B).
THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF FRESH VEGETABLES, LIVE POULTRY, SALT-WATER FISH, FRESH-WATER FISH AND PORK INCREASED AS A RESULT OF INCREASED DEMAND AROUND THE LUNAR NEW YEAR.
THE AVERAGE CHARGE FOR MEALS IN RESTAURANTS ALSO WENT UP.
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 1 POINT IN CPI(B) DUE TO HIGHER MULTI-STOREY BUILDING MAINTENANCE FEES.
HIGHER PRICES OF CHINESE AND FOREIGN-STYLE WINES CAUSED THE INDEX FOR ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO (FOR HOME CONSUMPTION) TO RISE BY 1 POINT IN CPl(A).
THE 1-POINT DECREASE IN THE INDEX FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTwEAR IN CPI(B) WAS ATTRIBUTABLE TO LOWER PRICES OF WOMEN’S OUTERCLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR.
THE INDEX FOR DURABLE GOODS ROSE BY 1 POINT IN BOTH C°I(A) ANJ CPI(B) AS A RESULT OF HIGHER PRICES OF FURNITURE, TELEVISION SETS AND SOUND EQUIPMENT.
THE INDEX FOR MISCELLANEOUS GOODS ROSE BY 2 POINTS IN CP I(a) AND 1 POINT IN CP 1(B) DUE TO HIGHER PRICES OF MEDICINES, JEWELLERY, TOILET REQUISITES AND COSMETICS.
THE INDEX FOR TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES INCREASED BY 2 POINTS IN CPI(A) AND 3 POINTS IN CPI(B) DUE TO HIGHER TAXI FARES AS *£LL AS HIGHER PUBLIC LIGHT BUS FARES DURING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS.
PRICE MOVEMENTS IN OTHER SECTIONS WERE INSIGNIFICANT.
/(FIGURES PRESENTED ...
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1^84
6 -
(FIGURES PRESENTED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE REFER TO CPI SERIES NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED)
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT ALSO ANNOUNCED TODAY THE PUBLICATION OF THE +ANNUAL REPORT ON THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR r>83+.
THIS REPORT GIVES A COMPREHENSIVE ACCOUNT OF THE MOVEMENT OF CONSUMER PRICES AND DETAILED ANALYSES OF THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES DURING 1983.
INCLUDED IN THE REPORT ARE 4 CHARTS AND 10 TABLES SHOWING MOVEMENTS OF BOTH CP I (A) AND CPl(B) BY SECTION AND GROUP OF COMMODITY/SERVICE AS WELL AS THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE OVERALL CHANGE.
THE +CONSUMER PRICE INDEX REPORT* FOR FEBRUARY 1984 AND THE +ANNUAL REPORT ON THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR 1983+ WILL SOON BE AVAILABLE AT S3 AND $5.50 PER COPY RESPECTIVELY FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, CONNAUGHT PLACE, HONG KONG.
ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE INDEXES MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT AT TELEPHONE NO. 3-7216512.
- - - - 0
28 BUILDING PLANS APPROVED IN JANUARY *****
THE YAN CHAI HOSPITAL EXTENSION PROJECT AT TSUEN WAN wAS AMONG 28 BUILDING PLANS APPROVED IN JANUARY BY THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFF ICE.
THE 22-STOREY EXTENSION WILL BE BUILT AT THE JUNCTION OF CASTLE PEAK ROAD AND TSUEN WAN MARKET STREET.
ALSO APPROVED WERE FACTORY BUILDINGS ON KOWLOON BAY AND AT SHA TIN, A PETROL FILLING STATION AT THE JUNCTION OF CANAL ROAD WEST AND LEIGHTON ROAD, CAUSEWAY BAY, TWO PAVILIONS AT CAPE COLLINSON ROAD, AND A ROAD LINKING TAIKOO WAN ROAD, QUARRY BAY, WITH THE ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR.
THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE AGREED TO WORK STARTING ON 43 NEW BUILDING PROJECTS DURING THE MONTH.
THEY INCLUDED A SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION BUILDING AT TUNG TAu WAN ROAD, STANLEY; TWO FACTORIES IN TUEN MUN; A MATRIX INDICATOR BOARD AT SHA TIN RACE COURSE ; AN OFFICE BLOCK AND ACADEMIC BUILDING FOR THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG; AND A TRAINING CENTRE AT TAI YIP STREET, KOWLOON BAY, FOR THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL.
FIFTEEN OF THESE PROJECTS ARE ON HONG KONG ISLAND, EIGHT ARE IN KOWLOON AND 20 ARE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
/THE FLOOR ........
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1984
- 7 -
THE FLOOR AREA OF THE 43 PROJECTS TOTALLED 189 688 SQUARE METRES, OF WHICH 96 384 SQUARE METRES ARE DOMESTIC AND THE REMAINDER NON-DOMESTIC.
THIRTY-FOUR OCCUPATION PERMITS WERE ISSUED BY THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE IN RESPECT OF NEWLY-COMPLETED BUILDINGS IN JANUARY.
TEN ARE ON HONG KONG ISLAND, 11 ARE IN KOWLOON AND 13 ARE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE TOTAL FLOOR AREA OF NEW BUILDINGS COMPLETED IN THE MONTH IS 68 422 SQUARE METRES, COMPRISING 49 581 SQUARE METRES FOR NON-DOMESTIC AND THE REMAINDER FOR DOMESTIC PURPOSES.
THE COST OF NEW BUILDINGS COMPLETED WAS ALMOST $233 MILLION
ALSO DURING THE MONTH, SEVEN DEMOLITION ORDERS WERE GRANTED FOR 13 BUILDINGS.
------o-------
SHORT-TERM TENANCIES OFFERED * * * *
THREE PIECES OF CROWN LAND ARE BEING OFFERED ON SHORT-TERM TENANCIES BY THE LANDS DEPARTMENT.
TWO OF THE SITES ARE AT WAI YIP STREET ON KOWLOON BAY RECLAMATION.
MEASURING 5 635 AND 4 120 SQUARE METRES, BOTH ARE FOR OPEN STORAGE.
THE REMAINING SITE OF 4 250 SQUARE METRES, LOCATED IN TUEN MUN NEW TOWN, IS FOR USE AS A PUBLIC FEE-PAYING CAR PARK.
ALL THREE SITES ARE FOR ONE YEAR’S TENANCY INITIALLY, RENEWABLE QUARTERLY AFTERWARDS.
THE CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMITTING TENDERS IS APRIL 6.
TENDER FORMS, NOTICES AND CONDITIONS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:
* LANDS DEPARTMENT, MURRAY BUILDING, 5TH FLOOR, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG;
* DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE KOWLOON WEST, YAU MA TEI CAR PARK building, 13Th floor, 25o shanghai street; and
* DISTRICT lands OFFICE TUEN MUN FOR THE TUEN MUN lOT.
TENDER PLANS CAN ALSO BE INSPECTED AT THE ABOVE LOCATIONS.
------0-------
/8......
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1984
MORE CAS RECRUITS COMPLETE TRAINING
*****
OVER 200 MAN AND WOMAN RECRUITS OF THE CIVIL AID SERVICES HAVE JUST COMPLETED BASIC TRAINING TO BECOME EFFICIENT VOLUNTEERS TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
THE RECRUITS WILL TAKE PART IN A PASSING-OUT PARADE AT THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY POLICE FORCE HEADQUARTERS, HARBOUR ROAD, AT 7.30 PM ON FRIDAY (MARCH 23).
MRS SELINA CHOW, AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, WILL TAKE THE SALUTE AT THE CEREMONY.
AFTER THE INSPECTION, SHE WILL PRESENT SPECIAL CERTIFICATES TO THE MOST OUTSTANDING RECRUITS AND CIVIL DEFENCE LONG SERVICE CLASPS TO A NUMBER OF SERVING CAS MEMBERS.
THE RECRUITS HAVE RECEIVED DISCIPLINE, RESCUE WORK, FOREST AND TYPHOON DUTIES.
THEY WILL BE POSTED TO CAS
TRAINING IN FOOTDRILL, FIRST AID, FIRE FIGHTING, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
UNITS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY
FOR ACTIVE DUTY AND FURTHER OPERATIONAL TRAINING.
NOTE TO EDITORS
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE PASSING-OUT PARADE OF CIVIL AID
SERVICES RECRUITS AT THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY POLICE FORCE -----------------------------------. ------ (MARCH 23).
HEADQUARTERS, HARBOUR ROAD, AT 7.30 PM ON FRIDAY
0 - -
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE * * ***
BETWEEN FRIDAY (MARCH 23) AND MARCH STREET BETWEEN NAM CHEONG STREET AND PAK ~ TAI PO ROAD AND
OF PEI HO STREET BETWEEN CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM 1 WORK.
30
THE
SECTION OF BERw ICr\
TIN STREET, AND THE SECTION BERWICK STREET W ILL EE
AM TO 5 AM, TO FACILITATE CONSTRUCTION
DURING THE CLOSURE, MOTORISTS ON TAI PO ROAD HEADING FOR NAM CHEONG STREET ARE ADVISED TO USE PAK TIN STREET AND aAI CHI STR_eT.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1984
9
ERESH «ATER SUPPLY TURNED OFF FROM 12 NOON FOLLOWING DAY FOR MAINS
FRESH WATER BREAK * * * *
TO SOME PREMISES IN TUEN MUN WILL BE ON SATURDAY (MARCH 24) TO 8 AM THE WORK.
tuc AFFECTED AREAS ARE ALONG LUNG MUN ROAD FROM TUEN MUN KAu HUI TO TAP SHEJ KOK INCLUDING PAK KOK TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA, AREA 4fc, BUTTERFLY ESTATE, WU KING ESTATE, MELODY GARDEN, SIU SHAN COURT, TAP SHEK KOK POWER STATION AND CHINA CEMENT CO (HK) LTD.
0 -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES
BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1?84
CONTENTS PAGE NO,
NEW POWER SYSTEM FOR CHEUNG CHAU RESIDENTS ..................... 1
PARENTS ASKED TO COLLECT SCHOOL FORMS .......................... 2
SHA VISITS CONSUMER COUNCIL .................................... 3
LADY YOUDE VISITS FAMILY PLANNING CENTRE........................ 4
INTEREST ON TAK RESERVE CERTIFICATES DECREASED ................. 5
RATE REVALUATION EXPLAINED ..................................... 6
MORE FACILITIES FOR HOLIDAY CAMP ............................... 9
LICENCE FORMS FOR PLB OPERATORS ................................ 9
CAR PARKS GOING PRIVATE FROM APRIL ............................ 10
PLANNING FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT ............................... 11
DB TO DISCUSS PRIVATE BUILDING PROBLEMS........................ 13
AWARDS FOR EXEMPLARY SERVICE .................................. 13
FAREWELL SALUTE................................................ 14
PRIVATE SUPPORT FOR COUNTRY PARKS URGED ....................... 15
STALLS IN SAI KUNG FOR BIDDING ................................ 16
SWIMMING POOL COMPLEX FOR TUEN MUN ............................ 16
MD RE CHLORINATION EQUIPMENT FOR TSUEN WAN WORKS............... 17
WAN CHAI AND CENTRAL ROAD WORKS ............................... 17
URBAN CLEARWAY................................................. 18
WORK STARTS ON NEW PLAYGROUND ................................. 18
FOOTBRIDGE FOR NSW CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD ....................... 19
CHINESE-STYLE PAVILION TO BE BUILT ............................ 19
REST GARDEN TO BE BUILT IN YAU TONG............................ 20
TRAM-ONLY LANE................................................. 2°
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1984
1 -
NEW POWER SYSTEM FOR CHEUNG CHAU RESIDENTS 111
ELECTRICITY AT LOWER TARIFFS AND SUPPLIED THROUGH A MODERNISED SYSTEM WAS SWITCHED ON FOR CHEUNG CHAU RESIDENTS TODAY BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE.
PERFORMING THE CEREMONY IN PLACE OF THE GOVERNOR, WHO WAS ILL, SIR PHILIP EXPLAINED THAT THE SWITCHING-ON REPRESENTED THE ♦CULMINATION OF THE GOOD EFFORTS OF THE CHINA LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY AND THE FORMER SUPPLIER, THE CHEUNG CHAU ELECTRIC COMPANY LIMITED,* AND CONGRATULATED THEM ON THE AGREEMENT REACHED.
AS A RESULT, SIR PHILIP SAID, THE PREVIOUS DISPARITY IN TARIFFS HAD BEEN ELIMINATED AND RESIDENTS WOULD BE ENJOYING THE LOWER TARIFFS APPLICABLE TO ALL OTHER CHINA LIGHT AND POWER CONSUMERS IN KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES.
FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF SIR PHILIP’S SPEECH:
♦THE GOVERNOR HAS ASKED ME TO SAY HOw MUCH HE REGRETS THAT ILLNESS HAS PREVENTED HIM FROM BEING HERE TODAY TO WITNESS THE COMPLETION OF A PROJECT IN WHICH HE HAS TAKEN A GREAT DEAL OF PERSONAL INTEREST. HE HAS. ASKED ME TO OFFICIATE IN HIS PLACE AND I AM DELIGHTED TO DO SO.
♦SIR EDWARD VISITED CHEUNG CHAU SHORTLY AFTER HIS ARRIVAL IN HONG KONG IN MAY 1982. DURING THAT VISIT, THE RURAL COMMITTEE EXPRESSED TO HIM ITS DEEP CONCERN THAT CHEUNG CHAU RESIDENTS WERE OBLIGED TO PAY MUCH HIGHER RATES FOR THEIR ELECTRICITY THAN RESIDENTS ELSEWHERE IN HONG KONG. IT WAS OBVIOUSLY NECESSARY TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THIS LONG-STANDING PROBLEM.
♦TODAY’S SWITCHING-ON CEREMONY REPRESENTS THE CULMINATION CF THE GOOD EFFORTS OF THE CHINA LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY AND THE FORMER SUPPLIER, THE CHEUNG CHAU ELECTRIC COMPANY LIMITED. I CONGRATULATE THEM ON THE AGREEMENT THEY HAVE REACHED. I CONGRATULATE TOO, YOUR RURAL COMMITTEE FOR THE PART IT HAS PLAYED IN REPRESENTING THE INTERESTS OF THE RESIDENTS OF CHEUNG CHAU.
♦AS A CONSEQUENCE OF CHINA LIGHT AND POWER TAKING OVER AS THE SUPPLIER OF ELECTRICITY TO CHEUNG CHAU, THE PREVIOUS DISPARITY IN TARIFFS HAS BEEN ELIMINATED. FROM NOW ON, RESIDENTS WILL ENJOY THE LOWER TARIFFS APPLICABLE TO ALL OTHER CHINA LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY CONSUMERS IN KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES. BUT, OF EQUAL IMPORTANCE, RESIDENTS ARE NOW BEING SERVED BY A MODERNISED SUPPLY SYSTEM WHICH IS KNOWN FOR ITS SOPHISTICATION AND EFFICIENCY AND WHICH CAN EASILY COPE WITH GROWTH IN DEMAND.
/+THE FINANCIAL .......
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1984
2
♦THE FINANCIAL INVESTMENT AND THE ENGINEERING WORKS INVOLVED IN SUPPLYING ELECTRICITY TO CHEUNG CHAU - WHICH REQUIRED, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE LAYING OF SUBMARINE CABLES FROM CHI MA WAN ON LANTAU TO CHEUNG CHAU - HAVE DEMONSTRATED YET AGAIN CHINA LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY’S COMMITMENT TO THE CONTINUING DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG. THE COMPANY HAS AN IMPRESSIVE PROGRAMME OF EXPANSION WHICH STRETCHES WELL INTO -------------------------------- THAT THE DEMAND FOR ITS
THE FUTURE AND WHICH WILL ENSURE SERVICES WILL CONTINUE TO BE MET
RELIABLE AND EFFICIENTLY
♦LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I AM
SURE YOU WILL ALL SHARE MY THE TWO COMPANIES AND ALL
PLEASURE AND JOIN ME IN THANKING
CONCERNED FOR BRINGING THIS PROJECT TO FRUITION, IT IS A PROJECT WHICH WILL BE WARMLY WELCOMED BY ALL THE R£S'$^TS CF CHEUNG CHAU AND THE MANY VISITORS WHO VISIT THIS ATTRACTIVE
ISLAND.♦
- - 0 - -
PARENTS ASKED TO COLLECT SCHOOL FORMS
*****
CHILDREN WHO FAILED TO SECURE A DISCRETIONARY PLACE IN THE PRIMARY ONE ADMISSION SYSTEM WILL BE CENTRALLY ALLOCATED A PLACE
IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR
BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
♦THE DEPARTMENT ASKING THEM TO GO TO BETWEEN MARCH 25 AND
HAS SENT LETTERS TO PARENTS OF THESE CHILDREN A SPECIFIED DISTRIBUTION-COLLECTION CENTRE 28 TO COLLECT A CHOICE OF SCHOOLS FORM AND
A LIST OF ALL GOVERNMENT AND AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN THEIR OWN
SCHOOL DI STR ICT,+ A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID
THE FORMS SHOULD THEN BE RETURNED TO THE WITHIN THE TWO DATES, HE ADDED.
TODAY
SPECIFIED CENTRE
PARENTS WHO HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE LETTER
BY TODAY (THURSDAY)
SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CONTACT THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S PRIMARY ONE ADMISSION UNIT (TEL. NO. 5-724383), HE NOTED.
A PARENT WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY APPLIED UNSUCCESSFULLY FOR A DISCRETIONARY PLACE AT A SCHOOL IN HIS OWN DISTRICT COULD STILL INCLUDE THAT SCHOOL IN HIS PREFERENCE LIST.
THE CENTRAL ALLOCATION WILL BE BASED SOLELY ON PARENTS’ CHOICE WITHOUT REFERENCE TO THE POINTS SYSTEM, THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED.
WHEN A PARTICULAR SCHOOL IS OVERSUBSCRIBED, A RANDOM SELECTION METHOD WILL BE USED TO ENSURE FAIRNESS TO ALL CHILDREN LIVING IN THE DISTRICT, HE SAID.
/due to
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1984
- 3 -
DUE TO THE UNEVEN DISTRIBUTION OF PRIMARY ONE PUPILS, SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS WHICH DO NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT PUBLIC-SECTOR PRIMARY ONE PLACES MAY HAVE TO INCORPORATE SOME SCHOOL PLACES FROM SCHOOLS IN NEIGHBOURING DISTRICTS TO MAKE UP FOR THE SHORTAGES.
THE SPOKESMAN ASSURED PARENTS THAT SUCH MOVES ARE ESSENTIAL AND WELL-PLANNED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE PARENTS CONCERNED SO AS TO ENABLE CHILDREN TO BE ALLOCATED TO A SCHOOL NEAREST TO THEIR HOME ACCORDING TO THEIR PARENTS’ CHOICES.
HE ADDED THAT PARENTS WHO HAVE MOVED HOUSE RECENTLY OR ARE PLANNING TO MOVE HOUSE SOON MUST INFORM THE PRIMARY ONE ADMISSION UNIT SO THAT ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE TO ALLOCATE PLACES TO THEIR CHILDREN IN THEIR NEW HOME DISTRICT.
RESULTS OF THE CENTRAL ALLOCATION OF PLACES WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN LATE JUNE.
-----0-----
SHA VISITS CONSUMER COUNCIL * * *
THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR DENIS BRAY, TODAY (THURSDAY) VISITED THE CONSUMER COUNCIL FOR A BRIEFING ON CONSUMER PROTECTION WORK UNDERTAKEN BY THE COUNCIL.
MR BRAY. WHO WAS TAKING THE PLACE OF THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, WAS BRIEFED ON THE PROGRESS OF THE FIRST EVER CONSUMER RIGHTS PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN. THE CAMPAIGN WAS LAUNCHED ON MARCH 15 AND MARKED 10 YEARS OF SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE COUNCIL SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN 1974.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE COUNCIL’S CHAIRMAN, MR GALLANT HO, AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MISS OPHELIA CHEUNG, MR BRAY SAW AT THE WAN CHAI ROAD SUB-OFFICE SOME POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS TOYS WHICH ARE VERY APPEALING TO YOUNG CHILDREN AND CAN DECEIVE EVEN THE MOST DISCERNING PARENT.
AMONG THESE ARE THE SO-CALLED +GROWING PETS+ — PLASTIC FROGS, FISH AND ANIMALS WHICH RAPIDLY EXPAND IN SIZE WHEN IN CONTACT WITH WATER.
IT WOULD BE DISASTROUS IF THEY WERE SWALLOWED BY YOUNG CHILDREN, MISS CHEUNG SAID.
OTHER POTENTIALLY UNSAFE PRODUCTS COLLECTED BY THE COUNCIL INCLUDE ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES SUCH AS HAIR DRYERS, COOKERS, EXTENSION CORDS AND POWER ADAPTORS.
MR BRAY WAS TOLD THAT EXTENSIVE TESTS HAVE TO BE CARRIED OUT TO ESTABLISH THEIR REAL DANGER.
/IB THIS .......
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1984
4
Ill THIS AREA OF WORK, THE COUNCIL RECEIVES VALUABLE ASSISTANCE FROM VARIOUS ORGANISATIONS SUCH AS THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES, THE CHINESE MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG, THE TWO UNIVERSITIES AND THE POLYTECHNIC.
THE WAN CHAI SUB-OFFICE, ONE OF 10 SUCH OFFICES RUN BY THE COUNCIL, ALSO PROVIDES A CONSUMER ADVICE AND COMPLAINTS SERVICE, MR BRAY WAS TOLD.
DURING THIS AFTERNOON’S VISIT, MR BRAY ALSO VISITED THE COUNCIL’S HEADQUARTERS IN HEARD STREET, WAN CHAI AND SAW A LARGE COLLECTION OF INTERNATIONAL CONSUMER PUBLICATIONS IN ITS SPECIALISED LIBRARY.
- - 0 - -
LADY YOUDE VISITS *
FAMILY PLANNING CENTRE
THE WIFE OF THE GOVERNOR, THE FAMILY PLANNING ASSOCIATION
FACILITIES AND SERVICES OFFERED THERE
LADY YOUDE, TODAY (THURSDAY) VISITED ’S MA TAU CHUNG CENTRE TO LOOK AT THE
THE CENTRE, WHICH WAS OPENED IN I960, HOUSES A OPERATION THEATRE, A SEMEN BANK AND A LABORATORY.
CLINIC, AN
LADY YOUDE WAS MET ON ARRIVAL BY THE PRESIDENT ASSOCIATION, PROFESSOR MA HO-KEI, AND ITS CHAIRMAN, NICHOLL.
OF THE MRS PATRIC I A
LADY YOUDE WAS SHOWN THE ASSOCIATION’S LATEST PRODUCTION •♦FAMILY PLANNING TODAY+ WHICH GIVES A COMPREHENSIVE ACCOUNT OF ITS DEVELOPMENT SINCE IT WAS SET UP IN 1950.
PATRON OF WS JOYCE ASSISTANT
SHE THEN TOURED THE CENTRE’S FACILITIES, ACCOMPANIED BY THE
THE ASSOCIATION, MRS LI FOOK-WO, THE VICE-CHAIRMAN, TAI, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MRS PEGGY LAM AND THE DIRECTOR (MEDICAL), DR MARGARET KWAN.
LADY
YOUDE WAS TOLD THAT THE ASSOCIATION OPERATES 17 CLINICS
THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY, INCLUDING THE ONE AT MA TAU CHUNG, AND TESTS FOR ALL THESE CLINICS ARE CARRIED OUT AT THE CENTRE’S LABORATORY.
FEMALE STERILISATION, VASECTOMY AND TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE CENTRE’S OPERATION THEATRE.
THE SEMEN BANK, IN EXISTENCE FOR NEARLY THREE YEARS, HAD BEEN USED IN 114 CASES OF ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION BY FEBRUARY THIS YEAR, WITH 46 REPORTED SUCCESSFUL PREGNANCIES.
0 - -
/5
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1984
- 5 -
INTEREST ON TAX RESERVE CERTIFICATES DECREASED * * * *
AS FROM TOMORROW (FRIDAY) THE NEW ANNUAL RATE OF INTEREST PAYABLE ON TAX RESERVE CERTIFICATES WILL BE 5.16 PER CENT (TAX FREE) AS AGAINST THE CURRENT RATE OF 7.8 PER CENT (TAX FREE).
NOTICE OF THIS WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TOMORROW.
INTEREST ON TAX RESERVE CERTIFICATES IS CALCULATED IN MONTHLY STEPS AND THE NEW RATE a ILL BE 43 CENTS PER MONTH PER $!OO. INJEREST WILL BE CREDITED AS BEFORE IN RESPECT OF COMPLETED MONTHS BETWEEN PURCHASE AND SURRENDER IN PAYMENT OF TAX, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED.
INTEREST IS ONLY CREDITED WHEN CERTIFICATES ARE USED TO PAY TAX AND NO INTEREST IS DUE WHERE THE PRINCIPAL VALUE OF A CERTIFICATE IS REPAID BY A CHEQUE.
THE NEW RATE WILL APPLY TO ALL CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER MARCH 23, 1984.
CERTIFICATES WHICH WERE ISSUED BEFORE MARCH 23, 1984 WILL CONTINUE TO EARN INTEREST AS FOLLOWS:
PER CENT
9.84 PER ANNUM FOR*CERT IFI CATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER NOVEMBER 21, 1980 AND' BEFORE JULY 31, 1981;
13.2 PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER JULY 31, 1981 AND BEFORE OCTOBER 16, 1981;
14.4 PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER OCTOBER 16, 1981 AND BEFORE DECEMBER 4, 1981;
12 PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER
DECEMBER 4, 1981 AND BEFORE JUNE 4, 1982;
10.8 PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER JUNE 4, 1982 AND BEFORE AUGUST 27, 1982;
9 PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER
AUGUST 27, 1982 AND BEFORE DECEMBER 3, 1982;
7.8 PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER
DECEMBER 3, 1982 AND BEFORE MAY 27, 1983;
10.2 PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER MAY 27, 1983 AND BEFORE OCTOBER 28, 1983;
12 PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER
OCTOBER 28, 1983 AND BEFORE NOVEMBER 7, 1983;
/9.6........
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1984
6 -
9 6 PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER
NOVEMBER 7, 1983 AND BEFORE FEBRUARY 10, 1984; AND
7 8 PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER
FEBRUARY 10, 1984 AND BEFORE MARCH 23, 1984
BUT ALWAYS SUBJECT TO THE GENERAL RULE THAT INTEREST CEASES TO ACCRUE AFTER 36 COMPLETED MONTHS WITHOUT SURRENDER FOR PAYMENT OF TAX.
EXAMPLE:
Si 000 CERTIFICATES PURCHASED ON MARCH 26, 1984, APRIL 26, 1984 AND MAY 26, 1984 RESPECTIVELY, SURRENDER IN PAYMENT OF TAX DUE ON JUNE 26, 1984 WILL HAVE INTEREST CALCULATED AS FOLLOWS:
ON $1 000, MARCH 26, 1984 TO JUNE 26, 1984
THREE COMPLETE MONTHS AT $4.30 PER MONTH
ON $1 000, APRIL 26, 1984 TO JUNE 26, 1984, TWO COMPLETE MONTHS AT $4.30 PER MONTH
ON $1 000, MAY 26, 1984 TO JUNE 26, 1984, ONE COMPLETE MONTH-AT $4.30 PER MONTH
$12.90
$8.60
$ 4.30
$25.80
-----0------
RATE REVALUATION EXPLAINED * * *
THE LATEST PROPERTY REVALUATION HAS RAISED OVERALL RATEABLE VALUES 3.6 TIMES, THE COMMISSIONER OF RATING AND VALUATION, MR RAYMOND FRY, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF HONG KONG SOUTH, MR FRY POINTED OUT THAT WHILE THESE VALUES HAD INCREASED, THE EFFECT FOR RATEPAYERS HAD LARGELY BEEN MITIGATED BY THE REDUCED PERCENTAGE RATE CHARGES.
IN THE URBAN AREAS, THESE PERCENTAGES HAVE BEEN LOWERED FROM 13.5 PER CENT TO 5.5 PER CENT, WITH THREE PERCENTAGE POINTS GOING TO GENERAL REVENUE AND 2.5 PER CENT TO THE URBAN COUNCIL.
AN AVERAGE SMALL DOMESTIC UNIT WILL FACE AN INCREASE OF ABOUT $18 A MONTH AND A LARGE UNIT ABOUT $80 A MONTH, WHILE FACTORY OR STORAGE UNITS COME OFF +FAIRLY LIGHTLY+, WITH INCREASES ALSO AVERAGING $18 A MONTH, MR FRY SAID.
/♦IT SHOULD .......
THUESDAY, MABCH 22, 1984
- 7 -
♦ IT SHOULD BE BORNE IN MIND THAT RATES IN 1984-85 WILL STILL, ON AVERAGE, REPRESENT LESS THAN 5.5 PER CENT OF PREVAILING MARKET RENTS, WHICH MUST COMPARE VERY FAVOURABLY WITH SIMILAR PROPERTY TAXES ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD,+ HE SAID.
FURTHERMORE, WITH THE PROPOSED LEVEL OF RATE RELIEF SET AT 2D PER CENT, FEW RATEPAYERS IN 1984-85 WILL PAY +MORE THAN THAT PAID IN 1983-84 PLUS 20 PER CENT+.
♦ I SAY FEW RATEPAYERS, SINCE THERE MAY BE SOME INSTANCES WHERE RATES IN 1984-85 WILL EXCEED THAT LIMIT WHERE, FOR EXAMPLE, ALTERATIONS OR ADDITIONS TAKE PLACE OR THE POSITION REGARDING THE SUPPLY OF GOVERNMENT WATER IS CHANGED.
♦ WHILE IT IS INTENDED THAT THESE RELIEF PROVISIONS SHOULD CONTINUE AS A PERMANENT FEATURE OF HONG KONG’S RATING SYSTEM, THE PERCENTAGE LIMIT CAN BE AMENDED BY RESOLUTION OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,♦ MR FRY EXPLAINED.
ABOUT 75 000 PREMISES, OR JUST OVER 10 PER CENT OF THE TENEMENTS ON THE ASSESSMENT LISTS, WILL PAY AN INCREASE OF LESS THAN 20 PER CENT AND, OF THESE, ABOUT 32 000 WILL PAY LESS RATES THAN IN THE 1983-84 FISCAL YEAR.
MR FRY SAID THAT RATES WILL YIELD OVER $2.5 BILLION IN REVENUE IN 1984-85, WITH $1.19 BILLION GOING TO THE URBAN COUNCIL AND $1.34 BILLION TO THE GOVERNMENT.
HE BELIEVED THAT RATES, WHICH HE DESCRIBED AS BEING +CERTAIN, REASONABLY FAIR IN APPLICATION, INEXPENSIVE TO ADMINISTER AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO EVADE+, WOULD CONTINUE TO SERVE HONG KONG wELL PROVIDED THAT REALISTIC RATEABLE VALUES WERE MAINTAINED THROUGH REGULAR REVALUATIONS.
HE SAID THAT HIS VIEWS WERE SHARED BY ONE LOCAL NEWSPAPER WHICH RECENTLY SUGGESTED REVALUATION SHOULD BE CONDUCTED EVERY TWO YEARS SO THAT INCREASES IN RATEABLE VALUES WOULD NOT BE SO PRONOUNCED.
♦ THIS, I HOPE, WOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR THE FUTURE, PARTICULARLY WITH THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF COMPUTER-ASSISTED TECHNIQUES FOR MASS APPRAISAL WORK,+ MR FRY ADDED.
BECAUSE OF THE LIKELIHOOD OF REDUCED PERCENTAGE RATE CHARGES IT WAS ALSO THOUGHT NECESSARY TO CHANGE THE WAY IN WHICH THE CONCESSIONS FOR WATER ARE APPLIED.
CURRENTLY A TWO PERCENTAGE POINT REDUCTION IS MADE WHERE THERE IS NO SUPPLY OF GOVERNMENT WATER AND ONE PERCENTAGE POINT REDUCTION WHERE THE SUPPLY IS FROM AN UNFILTERED SOURCE.
♦ WITH EFFECT FROM APRIL 1, THESE DEDUCTIONS WILL BE APPLIED TO THE GROSS RATE CHARGE AND IT IS PROPOSED THAT THEY BE 15 P-R CENT AND 7.5 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
/♦THUS THE........
THURSDAY, MAUCH 22, 1984
- 8 -
♦THUS THE VALUE OF THE CONCESSION WOULD BE MAINTAINED IN ABSOLUTE TERMS. HOWEVER, THESE PERCENTAGES CAN ALSO BE AMENDED BY RESOLUTION OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,+ MR FRY EXPLAINED.
ANOTHER MAJOR CHANGE IS THE PROPOSED INCREASE IN THE $200 MINIMUM RATEABLE VALUE DETERMINED IN 1961 TO $1 000.
+IN THIS cdNNECTION, I SHOULD EXPLAIN THAT THE MINIMUM RATEABLE VALUE IS NOT A SOCIAL EXEMPTION FOR SMALL PREMISES, BUT AN ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURE TO ENSURE THAT THE COST OF RAISING AND MAINTAINING AN ASSESSMENT DOES NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT RECOVERED IN RATES,+ HE SAID.
DURING THIS MONTH RATEPAYERS CAN LODGE OBJECTIONS WHICH WILL BE CONSIDERED BY SENIOR RATING AND VALUATION OFFICERS WHO MAY DECIDE TO REDUCE AN ASSESSMENT, INCREASE IT OR LEAVE IT UNCHANGED.
SO FAR THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT HAS REGISTERED SOME 15 000 VALID PROPOSALS, OR JUST OVER TWO PER CENT OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ASSESSMENTS. HOWEVER, MORE WERE BEING RECEIVED EVERY DAY, AND THERE WERE STILL NINE DAYS TO GO TO THE END OF THE MONTH.
+THIS MIGHT SEEM A LARGE NUMBER BUT IT DOES NOT IMPLY THAT THE NEW VALUES HAVE BEEN OVER-ASSESSED.
+IN SOME INSTANCES, I BELIEVE, PROPOSALS HAVE BEEN LODGED BECAUSE THE RATEPAYERS HAVE NOT FULL.Y UNDERSTOOD THE BASIS OF RATEABLE VALUE AND I HOPE THAT ONCE THE ASSESSMENTS HAVE BEEN EXPLAINED IN GREATER DETAIL MOST WILL NOT FIND IT NECESSARY TO PURSUE THE MATTER TO APPEAL.
♦MAY I ADD THAT I WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE WORRIED HAD THERE BEEN ONLY A SMALL NUMBER OF PROPOSALS, FOR THAT MIGHT INDICATE THAT THE NEW VALUES WERE UNDER-ASSESSED,+ MR FRY SAID.
HE STRESSED THAT WHATEVER THE RATEABLE VALUE, THE RATES MUST BE PAID BY APRIL 30.
IF THE RATEABLE VALUE IS SUBSEQUENTLY REDUCED, AN ADJUSTMENT WILL BE MADE FOR ANY RATES OVERPAID.
-----0------
/9 .......
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1984
- 9 -
MORE FACILITIES FOR HOLIDAY CAMP * * M X
THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, TODAY (THURSDAY) OPENED A STADIUM AND A SOCCER PITCH IN THE PO LEUNG KUK HOLIDAY CAMP AT PAK TAM CHUNG IN SAI KUNG.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY, HE SAID THE CAMP HAD DEVELOPED INTO AN IDEAL AND SCENIC SPOT WITH A WIDE RANGE OF FACILITIES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY TO SPEND A FEW DAYS AWAY FROM THE CROWDS AND BUSY ROUTINE OF CITY LIFE.
MR AKERS-JONES RECALLED THAT WHEN HE OPENED THE CAMP FIVE YEARS AGO, IT HAD SEVEN TWO-STOREY HOSTELS OFFERING DAY CAMPING FACILITIES AND OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATION FOR 224 PEOPLE.
+SINCE THEN, I HAVE WATCHED THIS RECREATIONAL PROJECT GROW WITH MORE AND MORE FACILITIES AND LANDSCAPING AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT ADDED IN EACH PHASE OF ITS DEVELOPMENT,* HE SAID.
+THE FREQUENT OVERSUBSCRIPTION FOR CAMPING FACILITIES EXPERIENCED BY THE CAMP, ESPECIALLY ON WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS, SPEAKS FOR ITSELF ON HOW POPULAR THE HOLIDAY CAMP IS WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC.+ •
MR AKERS-JONES ALSO PAID TRIBUTE TO THE PO LEUNG KUK’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ALL THE ORGANISATIONS WHICH HAD PROVIDED FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO THE BUILDING OF NEW FACILITIES IN THE CAMP.
- - - - 0 ---------
LICENCE FORMS FOR PLB OPERATORS * * * *
APPLICATION FORMS FOR A PASSENGER SERVICE LICENCE WILL BE MAILED TO ALL REGISTERED PUBLIC LIGHT BUS OPERATORS IN PHASES STARTING NEXT MONTH, THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (MARCH 22).
UNDER THE NEW PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES REGULATIONS, WHICH WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING ROAD TRAFFIC (PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES) AND (PUBLIC OMNIBUS, PUBLIC LIGHT BUS AND PUBLIC CAR) REGULATIONS, A PASSENGER SERVICE LICENCE AND A CERTIFICATE WILL BE REQUIRED FOR THE OPERATION OF NON-FRANCHISED PUBLIC BUSES, PRIVATE BUSES AND PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES INCLUDING MAXICABS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SAID THAT A LETTER ADVISING ALL PUBLIC LIGHT BUS OPERATORS OF THE NEW SYSTEM WAS OFFICIALLY ISSUED LAST WEEK.
/THE letter
THURSDAY, NABOB 22, 1984
- 10 -
THE LETTER GAVE ASSURANCE THAT REGISTERED OWNERS OF EXISTING LICENSED PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES WHO APPLY FOR PASSENGER SERVICE LICENCES WILL RECEIVED THEM. THE TRANSFER OF OWNERSHIP OF VEHICLE WILL NOT BE AFFECTED BY THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW LEGISLATION.
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE SYSTEM OF LICENCES AND CERTIFICATES WAS NECESSARY TO ENABLE THE DEPARTMENT TO ADMINISTER AND MONITOR PASSENGER SERVICES MORE EFFECTIVELY.
+IT IS NOT INTRODUCED TO RESTRICT THE NORMAL OPERATION OF PASSENGER CARRYING SERVICES BUT TO SIMPLIFY THE PROCEDURES IN RESPECT OF APPLICATIONS FOR PASSENGER SERVICE LICENCES,+ HE STRESSED.
UNDER THE NEW REGULATIONS, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN AUGUST, EACH OPERATOR WILL BE ISSUED WITH ONE PASSENGER SERVICE LICENCE AND A SEPARATE PASSENGER SERVICE LICENCE CERTIFICATE FOR EACH OF THE VEHICLES HE OPERATES. A CHARGE OF $150 FOR THE LICENCE AND $15 FOR EACH CERTIFICATE WILL BE APPLIED.
THE CERTIFICATE MUST BE DISPLAYED ON THE VEHICLE’S WINDSCREEN AND A PLATE SHOWING THE PASSENGER SERVICE LICENCE NUMBER ON THE REAR OF EACH VEHICLE.
----0--------
CAR PARKS GOING PRIVATE FROM APRIL
* * * *
THE GOVERNMENT MULTI-STOREY CAR PARKS AT GARDEN ROAD, MURRAY ROAD, RUMSEY STREET, STAR FERRY AND CITY HALL WILL BE PRIVATISED FROM APRIL 1, FOLLOWING THE PRIVATISATION OF THE MIDDLE ROAD AND YAU MA TEI CAR PARKS.
AS FROM MONDAY (MARCH 26), THE NEW OPERATOR, WILSON PARKING (HONG KONG) PTY. LTD., WILL BE ISSUING PASSES FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL FOR USE AT THE CAR PARKS.
THE COMPANY PLANS TO RESERVE THE STAR FERRY CAR PARK FOR CASUAL PARKING AND TO MAKE AVAILABLE THE CITY HALL OR MURRAY ROAD CAR PARK NEARBY FOR MONTHLY USE.
MEANWHILE, THE ROOF OF THE STAR FERRY MULTI-STOREY CAR PARK WILL REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL REPAIR WORK HAS BEEN COMPLETED.
-------0 - -
/11 .......
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1934
- 11 -
PLANNING FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT * * *
THE WAY IN WHICH THE EXPECTATIONS AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE PEOPLE HAVE CHANGED AND WILL CONTINUE TO CHANGE PLAYS A SIGNIFICANT YET SUBTLE ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF KWUN TONG AND THE TERRITORY AS A WHOLE, THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR KEVIN MAK, SAID THIS (THURSDAY) EVENING.
IN A DINNER SPEECH TO THE LIONS CLUB OF KWUN TONG, HE SAID: +THIS HAS RESULTED PRIMARILY FROM INCREASED LEVELS OF INCOME AND EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT AND HAS EXPRESSED ITSELF IN THE FORM OF DEMANDS FOR A BETTER ENVIRONMENT, NEW AND MORE COMPREHENSIVE FACILITIES AND PERHAPS MOST SIGNIFICANT OF ALL, A WISH TO INFLUENCE THE FUTURE PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE DISTRICT THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME.
+IT IS THEREFORE ESSENTIAL THAT WHEN WE DRAW UP GUIDELINES AND STANDARDS OF PROVISION OF FACILITIES, WE CONSIDER WHAT PEOPLE wANT RATHER THAN WHAT WE THINK THEY WANT.*
MR MAK ADDED THAT THE BUILDING OF A COMMUNITY LARGELY DEPENDED UPON THE FACILITIES TO BE PROVIDED AND +IT IS THEREFORE ONLY RIGHT THAT WE SHOULD NOT RELY ON PLANNING STANDARDS ALONE, BUT SHOULD INVITE COMMENT FROM THE DISTRICT BOARD AND ITS COMMITTEES AS wELL Ao OTHER LOCAL BODIES AND ORGANISATIONS.*
HE CITED THE UPGRADING OF THE CHA KWO LING ROAD PROJECT AND THE ADVANCING OF THE CONSTRUCTION DATE OF THE KOWLOON BAY RECREATION GROUND AS EXAMPLES OF THE DISTRICT BOARD’S SUCCESS IN EXERTING THE INFLUENCE OF THE LOCAL PEOPLE’S WISHES.
ANOTHER FACTOR ON THE DISTRICT’S DEVELOPMENT WAS THAT BETWEEN NOW AND 1988 MORE THAN 11 PER CENT OF THE HOUSING PROGRAMME FOR THE TERRITORY WOULD BE IN KWUN TONG. THESE WOULD INCLUDE PUBLIC RENTAL HOUSING, REDEVELOPMENT, PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEME AND HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME.
+THERE WILL BE MORE NEW PUBLIC RENTAL HOUSING IN KWUN TONG FROM NOW UNTIL 1988, THAN IN THE REST OF KOWLOON OR ON THE WHOLE OF HONG KONG ISLAND,* HE SAID.
THESE NEW ESTATES, PROVIDING OVER 20 000 FLATS FOR 100 000 PEOPLE, WOULD BE OF HIGH QUALITY AND SELF-CONTAINED IN TERMS OF COMMERCIAL, EDUCATIONAL, RECREATIONAL AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND REDUCE THE HIGH POPULATION CONCENTRATIONS IN EXISTING HOUSING ESTATES.
FOR EXAMPLE, HE SAID, THE SAU MAU PING IMPROVEMENT PHASE I SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION LATER THIS YEAR AND PHASE II OF THE LAM TIN EXTENSION IN 1987/88 WOULD DECANT OVER 3 800 AND 13 003 PEOPL-RESPECTIVELY FROM THE EXISTING ESTATES.
/+THERE IS........
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1984
- 12 -
+THERE IS ALSO AN URGENT NEED TO UPGRADE MANY OF THE OLD ESTATES IN THE DISTRICT BUILT IN THE 196O’S TO RELIEVE THE CRAMPED AND CONGESTED LIVING CONDITIONS, AND IN THIS RESPECT, IMPROVEMENT WORK HAS RECENTLY BEEN CARRIED OUT ON TSUI PING ROAD ESTATE AND JORDAN VALLEY ESTATE,+ HE SAID.
MR MAK SAID THE THIRD FACTOR, WHICH WAS MORE TANGIBLE AND CONCRETE, WAS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE JUNK BAY NEW TOWN AND THE POSSIBLE CONSTRUCTION OF AN EASTERN HARBOUR CROSSING.
BOTH PROJECTS WOULD GENERATE NEW TRAFFIC PATTERNS, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND HOUSING DEMANDS, AND PUT KWUN TONG IN NEW RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE REST OF THE TERRITORY.
BESIDES PROVIDING NEW FACILITIES, MR MAK ALSO RECOGNISED THE INFLUENCE OF THE PAST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE DISTRICT AND STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF UPGRADING AND MAKING THE BEST USE OF THOSE ALREADY EXISTED.
4 IN PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE, IT IS OF CONSIDERABLE IMPORTANCE THAT WE DO NOT FORGET THAT THE BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE OF KWUN TONG WAS BUILT DURING THE 196O’S,+ HE SAID.
+MUCH OF THE DISTRICT WAS CONSTRUCTED AT A TIME WHEN THE NEED TO PROVIDE LAND FOR HOUSING AND INDUSTRY MITIGATED AGAINST PROVIDING WHAT WOULD TODAY BE REGARDED AS A SENSIBLE BALANCE BETWEEN THE COMPETING DEMANDS FOR HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, TRANSPORT SERVICES, EDUCATION, MEDICAL, SOCIAL WELFARE AS WELL AS RECREATION AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES.
+THE RESULT HAS BEEN THAT THE SUPPLY OF SERVICES AND FACILITIES HAS NOT KEPT PACE WITH THE RAPID BUILD-UP OF POPULATION, AND ALTHOUGH SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WHICH WE NOW FACE SUCH AS SHORTAGES OF HOSPITAL BEDS AND SECONDARY SCHOOL PLACES CAN BE REMEDIED THROUGH THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW HOSPITALS AND SCHOOLS, WE ALSO HAVE TO BEAR IN MIND THE FACT THAT NEW DEVELOPMENTS CANNOT ALONE SOLVE ALL THE PROBLEMS.+
MR MAK SAID THESE FACTORS WERE OF COURSE NOT THE ONLY ONES THAT WOULD SHAPE THE CHARACTER OF KWUN TONG IN THE YEARS TO COME.
♦IT IS ONLY BY IDENTIFYING THESE AND OTHER INFLUENCES THAT WE CAN SUCCESSFULLY PLAN AND CO-ORDINATE THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DISTRICT,* HE SAID.
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/13.......
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1984
- 13 -
DB TO DISCUSS PRIVATE BUILDING PROBLEMS * * * *
SHAM SHU I PO DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WILL BE BRIEFED ON btASURES TO DEAL WITH ILLEGAL STRUCTURES IN PRIVATE BUILDINGS IN THE DISTRICT AT THEIR MEETING TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AFTERNOON.
A GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR WILL TALK ON PRIORITIES IN STEPPING UP CONTROL AND ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS AGAINST THESE ILLEGAL STRUCTURES.
MEMBERS WILL ALSO STUDY THE PROPOSED REVISION OF THE TERMS CF REFERENCE OF THE BOARD’S ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE TO EMPOWER THE COMMITTEE TO ADVISE THE GOVERNMENT ON HOW TO TACKLE PROBLEMS IN PRIVATE TENEMENTS, PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES AND SQUATTER AREAS IN THE DISTRICT.
AND THEY WILL EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS ON THE RECENT PROPOSALS FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION.
THE PROPOSED CLOSURE OF A PORTION OF PRATAS STREET, BETWEEN SHUNG NING ROAD AND PO ON ROAD, FOR USE AS A RECREATIONAL GROUND WILL ALSO BE DISCUSSED.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA WILL INCLUDE DISCUSSION ON PUBLIC HOUSING RENT POLICY, THE SETTING UP OF AN INDUSTRIAL COMMITTEE, AND THE ALLOCATION OF DISTRICT BOARD FUNDS FOR 1984-85.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
YOU ARE WELCOME TO COVER THE SHAM SHU I PO DISTRICT BOARD MEETING AT 2 PM TOMORROW (FRIDAY) IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE SHAM SHU I PO DISTRICT OFFICE AT 39 TONKIN STREET.
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AWARDS FOR EXEMPLARY SERVICE
*****
THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR THOMAS GARNER, WILL PRESENT FIRST AND SECOND CLASPS TO THE COLONIAL PRISON SERVICE MEDAL TO 29 CORRECTIONAL SERVICES STAFF FOR THEIR LONG EXEMPLARY SERVICE AT A PARADE TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
THE PARADE WILL BE HELD AT THE PARADE GROUND OF THE DEPARTMENT’S STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE IN STANLEY.
SEVEN CONTINGENTS COMPRISING 204 OFFICERS FROM VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT WILL TAKE PART IN THE PARADE UNDER THE COMMAND OF SENIOR SUPERINTENDENT FRANCIS WONG.
/thk parade.......
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1984
14
THE PARADE WILL ALSO MARK THE PASSING-OUT OF 91 RECRUIT OFFICERS WHO HAVE RECENTLY COMPLETED SIX MONTHS OF BASIC TRAINING
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE PARADE AND THE PRESENTATION OF CLASPS BY THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR THOMAS GARNER, AT 4 PM TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AT THE PARADE GROUND OF THE STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE AT 47 TUNG TAU WAN ROAD IN STANLEY.
PRESS TRANSPORT WILL LEAVE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS AT GUARDIAN HOUSE, 32 01 KWAN ROAD, WAN CHAI AT 3 PM
0 - -
NOTE TO EDITORS:
FAREWELL SALUTE * * *
THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE, MR DOUGLAS JORDAN, WILL INSPECT A PASSING OUT PARADE OF 27 INSPECTORS AND 71 CUSTOMS OFFICERS AT THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE TRAINING SCHOOL AT TAI LAM ON SATURDAY (MARCH 24).
CHUNG AT 10.30 AM
THIS WILL BE TO HIS RETIREMENT
THE LAST SALUTE TO BE TAKEN BY MR JORDAN PRIOR IN MAY.
A GOVERNMENT
COACH AM2988 WILL BE WAITING AT HUNG HOM FERRY AM AND 9 AM ON MARCH 24 TO TAKE GUESTS AND
PIER BETWEEN 8 45 — -
KDIA REPRESENTATIVES TO THE TRAINING SCHOOL AND LATER RETURN
THE PARTY TO KOWLOON.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT.
- - o
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1984
- 15 -
PRIVATE SUPPORT FOR COUNTRY PARKS URGED * * * *
PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS WERE URGED TODAY TO CONTINUE TO HELP PROTECT AND TO PROVIDE MORE FACILITIES FOR COUNTRY PARKS.
MAKING THE REQUEST, THE SENIOR COUNTRY PARKS OFFICER OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, MR K.C. IU, EXPLAINED THAT THEY WOULD BE CONTRIBUTING TO AREAS OF WORK FOR WHICH PUBLIC FUNDS WERE NOT READILY AVAILABLE.
MR IU, WHO WAS SPEAKING TO MEMBERS OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON, EXPLAINED THAT A NUMBER OF ORGANISATIONS HAD ALREADY BEEN PROVIDING HELP BY SPONSORING PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL IN THE FORM OF PAMPHLETS, SUCH AS +HOW TO GET TO COUNTRY PARKS*, AND CALENDARS.
POINTING OUT THAT 21 COUNTRY PARKS, COVERING 40 PER CENT OF THE SURFACE OF THE TERRITORY, HAD BEEN BUILT BY THE GOVERNMENT IN THE PAST DECADE, MR IU SAID THAT A SERIES OF VISITOR CENTRES WERE NOW ALSO BEING BUILT IN THE MORE HEAVILY USED PARKS.
THESE CENTRES WERE BUILDINGS WHERE PARK VISITORS COULD OBTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT THE FACILITIES AND THE NATURAL AND HUMAN HISTORY OF THE AREA, HE SAID.
RECALLING THAT +OVER EIGHT MILLION VISITS WERE MADE BY PEOPLE TO THE COUNTRY PARKS*, MR IU SAID ALSO THAT THE FIRST PURPOSE-DESIGNED VISITOR CENTRE WAS NOW BEING BUILT AT PAK TAM CHUNG, SAI KUNG.
*ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT HAS FUNDED THE BUILDING, CONSIDERABLE FUNDS WERE ALSO .NEEDED FOR'SPEC I AL ISED EQUIPMENT, SUCH AS SOUNDSLIDE PROJECTOR, THREE-DIMENSIONAL DISPLAYS,* HE ADDED.
THERE WAS ALSO SCOPE FOR SMALL BUILDINGS TO BE DEDICATED BY SERVICE CLUBS, SUCH AS THE ROTARY, IN THE PARKS AND IDEALLY THESE SHOULD BE FUNDED, DESIGNED, SUPERVISED AND CONSTRUCTED BY SPONSORS USING THE SKILLS AND CONSIDERABLE PROFESSIONAL TALENTS USUALLY AVAILABLE TO SUCH CLUBS, MR IU SAID.
SPONSORS COULD ALSO PROVIDE PLAY APPARATUS FOR PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED PEOPLE.
TWO PICNIC SITES FOR THESE PEOPLE WERE BEING CONSTRUCTED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT AT PAK TAM CHUNG IN SAI KUNG AND ABERDEEN RESERVOIR.
+WHILE SITE DEVELOPMENT AND THE BASIC FACILITIES WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT, THE PROVISION OF SPECIALLY DESIGNED PLAY APPARATUS WILL BE VERY WELCOME AMENITIES,* MR IU SAID.
HE ENCOURAGE!) MORE GROUPS OF PEOPLE TO TAKE PART IN ACTIVITIES SUCH AS +LITTER COLLECTION WALKS* AND +PATH CLEARING EXPEDITIONS* IN THE PARKS AS A PERSONAL SERVICE.
SUPPORT AND SPONSORSHIP WILL BE NEEDED FOR TRANSPORT, LUNCHES AND EQUIPMENT FOR THESE ACTIVITIES WHICH ARE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO PROVIDE FOR OUT OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS, HE ADDED.
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/16......
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1984
- 16 -
STALLS IN SAI KUNG FOR BIDDING
* * *
TWENTY-EIGHT VACANT STALLS AT THE TUI MIN HOI MARKET IN SAI KUNG WILL BE PUT UP FOR PUBLIC BIDDING ON MONDAY (MARCH 26).
THE BIDDING WILL BE HELD AT THE OFFICE OF THE SAI KUNG RURAL COMMITTEE ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF 1 PO TUNG ROAD, STARTING AT 10 AM, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID.
OF THE 28 STALLS, ONE IS FOR SELLING FRESH MEAT, ONE FOR SELLING ICE, THREE FOR SELLING FISH, EIGHT FOR SELLING DRY GOODS AND 15 FOR SELLING WET GOODS.
+THERE WILL BE NO FIXED UPSET RENTAL BUT THE NTSD WILL ACCEPT ANY BID WHICH EQUALS OR EXCEEDS THE RESERVED PRICE FOR EACH STALL,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS MAY START BUSINESS ON APRIL 1 ON A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT, AND MUST PAY THE RENT QUARTERLY.
BIDDERS SHOULD BRING ALONG THEIR IDENTITY CARDS AND FIVE PHOTOGRAPHS.
FURTHER DETAILS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE SAI KUNG URBAN SERVICES OFFICE OF THE NTSD ON TELEPHONE 3-2813707.
SWI MM I NG POOL COMPLEX FOR TUEN MUN
MM*
WORK HAS STARTED ON CONSTRUCTING A SWIMMING POOL COMPLEX AT TUEN MUN.
A CONTRACT, VALUED AT $20.38 MILLION, HAS BEEN AWARDED TO DICKSON CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LIMITED BY THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
THE WORK INCLUDES CONSTRUCTING ONE MAIN POOL, TWO PADDLING POOLS, AN ADMINISTRATION BUILDING WITH A SPECTATOR STAND, FOUR SQUASH COURTS, A TOILET BLOCK WITH PROVISION FOR THE HANDICAPPED AND OTHER FACILITIES INCLUDING A RESTAURANT.
THE COMPLEX, WHICH OCCUPIES A 3.5-HECTARE SITE NEAR THE TEMPORARY HOVERFERRY PIER, WILL BE READY FOR THE SUMMER OF 1986.
ON COMPLETION, IT WILL BE HANDED OVER TO THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR MANAGEMENT.
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/17........
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1984
- 17 -
MORE CHLORINATION EQUIPMENT FOR TSUEN WAN WORKS III
MORE CHLORINATION EQUIPMENT WILL BE INSTALLED AT TSUEN WAN WATER TREATMENT WORKS AS PART OF AN IMPROVEMENT SCHEME TO RAISE THE PLANT’S CAPACITY TO 317 OOO CUBIC METRES PER DAY.
A CONTRACT, VALUED AT $650 000, HAS BEEN AWARDED TO ECCO ENGINEERING COMPANY LIMITED BY THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT.
WORK ON THE CONTRACT INCLUDES MODIFYING THE CHLORINATION ROOMS AND INSTALLING MORE CHLORINATORS AND EVAPORATORS.
WORK WILL START NEXT WEEK AND TAKE ONE YEAR TO COMPLETE.
THE IMPROVEMENT WORK IS NECESSARY TO COPE WITH THE INCREASED DEMAND FOR WATER RESULTING FROM NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN TSUEN WAN.
TSUEN WAN TREATMENT WORKS, SITUATED AT SHING MUN ROAD NEAR LO WAI, STARTED OPERATION IN 1954 WITH A CAPACITY OF 182 000 CUBIC METRES PER DAY.
-----0------
WAN CHAI AND CENTRAL ROAD WORKS
M M M.
A NUMBER OF ROADS IN WAN CHAI AND CENTRAL WILL BE TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO ALLOW WORKS TO BE CARRIED OUT.
HARBOUR ROAD BETWEEN FLEMING ROAD AND THE ENTRANCE OF EAGLE HARBOUR PUBLIC CAR PARK IN WAN CHAI WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM MIDNIGHT TOMORROW (MARCH 23) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY.
THE CLOSURE WILL BE REPEATED FROM MIDNIGHT ON SATURDAY (MARCH 24) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY.
ALSO IN WAN CHAI, INNER GLOUCESTER ROAD WESTBOUND BETWEEN MARSH ROAD AND FLEMING ROAD WILL BE CLOSED FROM 8 PM TO 11 PM ON SATURDAY (MARCH 24), AND FROM 8 PM ON SUNDAY (MARCH 25) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY.
DURING THE PERIODS, TONNOCHY ROAD BETWEEN GLOUCESTER ROAD AND JAFFE ROAD WILL BE RESTRICTED TO VEHICLES REQUIRING LOCAL ACCESS.
MEANWHILE IN CENTRAL, HARBOUR VIEW STREET BETWEEN CONNAUGHT PLACE AND THE ENTRANCE OF THE PUBLIC LIGHT BUS TERMINUS WILL CONTINUE TO BE RESTRICTED TO ONE-WAY EASTBOUND TRAFFIC FOR A FURTHER SIX WEEKS, PENDING THE COMPLETION OF PIPE LAYING WORKS.
---------Q - - - -
,18 .......
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1984
- 18 -
URBAN CLEARWAY
MH*
FROM 10 AM ON SATURDAY (MARCH 24), THE SECTION OF CHEUNG wAH STREET BETWEEN SHUN NING ROAD AND CASTLE PEAK ROAD WILL BE DESIGNATED A RESTRICTED ZONE FROM 7 AM TO 10 AM AND FROM 4 PM TO 7 PM DAILY.
wITHIN THE RESTRICTED ZONE, ALL MOTOR VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES AND THOSE AUTHORISED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM PICKING UP OR SETTING DOWN PASSENGERS- OR LOADING OR UNLOADING GOODS.
AND FROM THE SAME DAY, THE 24-HOUR PROHIBITED ZONE ON THE UNNAMED ACCESS FROM CASTLE PEAK ROAD (SAN HUI) SOUTHBOUND TO ROAD 4B IN TUEN MUN WILL BE CANCELLED.
- 0 --------
WORK STARTS ON NEW PLAYGROUND
III
THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE OF THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS AWARDED A CONTRACT FOR SITE PREPARATION WORK AT CHOI HUNG ROAD PLAYGROUND.
THE WORK, COSTING MORE THAN $411’000, WILL BE COMPLETED IN THREE MONTHS.
THE PLAYGROUND WILL OCCUPY A 20 OOO-SQUARE-METRE SITE WHERE THE FORMER KAI TAK AMUSEMENT PARK STOOD.
WORK ON CONSTRUCTING THE PLAYGROUND IS EXPECTED TO START LATER THIS YEAR AND BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF 1986 AT A TOTAL COST OF $40 MILLION.
PHASE I OF THE WORK WILL INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION OF A 420-METRE LONG JOGGING TRACK, TWO MINI-SOCCER PITCHES, A CHINESE PAVILION AND SITTING-OUT AREAS.
WORK IN PHASE II INCLUDES CONSTRUCTING A FOUR-STOREY BUILDING WITH 82 COOKED FOOD STALLS ON THE LOWER FLOORS AND AN INDOOR GAMES HALL ON THE UPPER FLOORS.
IN ADDITION, THERE WILL BE A CHILDREN’S LIBRARY AND PLAY AREAS, SIX INDOOR BADMINTON COURTS, FIVE TENNIS COURTS, TWO BASKETBALL COURTS, A VOLLEY BALL COURT, A HAND BALL PITCH AND A REST GARDEN.
THE PLAYGROUND WILL BE LANDSCAPED.
0
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1984
- 19 -
FOOTBRIDGE FOR NEW CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD * * * /
THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS PLANNING TO BUILD A 26-METRE-LONG COVERED FOOTBRIDGE ACROSS NEW CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD NEAR CHOI WAN ESTATE.
IT WILL BE CONNECTED AT BOTH ENDS WITH STAIRS AND RAMPS, AND WILL LINK UP WITH THE EXISTING FOOTBRIDGE ADJOINING THE MULTI-STOREY CARPARK AT CHOI WAN ESTATE.
THE PROJECT WILL INCLUDE BUILDING BUS BAYS AND MINOR REALIGNMENT CF FOOTPATHS ON BOTH SIDES OF NEW CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD.
WORK WILL START IN LATE 1984 AND BE COMPLETED BY MID-1986.
A NOTICE CONCERNING THE PROPOSED WORKS WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE UNDER THE ROADS (WORKS, USE AND COMPENSATION) ORDINANCE.
A PLAN CAN BE SEEN AT :
* CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, CENTRAL ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING, MAIN ENTRANCE LOBBY, HONG KONG}
* DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, KOWLOON EAST, KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 9TH FLOOR, 405, NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOONj
M KWUN TONG DISTRICT OFFICE, KWUN TONG DISTRICT BRANCH OFFICES BUILDING, TUNG YAN STREET, GROUND FLOOR, KOWLOON.
OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSAL SHOULD BE IN WRITING TO THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS BEFORE MAY 22.
-----0------
CHINESE-STYLE PAVILION TO BE BUILT
* * *
A $450 000 CONTRACT FOR BUILDING A CHINESE-STYLE PAVILION AT THE POPULAR SILVERMINE WATERFALL AREA ON LANTAU ISLAND HAS BEEN AWARDED TO KIN MING AND COMPANY.
WORK WILL START LATER THIS MONTH AND BE COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER.
THE PAVILION, WHICH WILL PROVIDE SHELTER FOR VISITORS, IS TO BE BUILT ON A SITE WHERE THE NATURAL LANDSCAPE OF THE AREA WILL BE PRESERVED.
THE PROJECT WILL INCLUDE A PUBLIC TOILET.
THE CONTRACT WAS AWARDED BY THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE OF THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
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/20 .....
THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1984
- 20 -
REST GARDEN TO BE BUILT IN YAU TONG
* * * * *
A REST GARDEN IS TO BE BUILT IN YAU TONG ON A 2 503-SQUARE-METRE SITE OPPOSITE THE JUNIOR POLICE CALL CLUB HOUSE AT KO CHIU ROAD.
THE PROJECT WILL INCLUDE LANDSCAPED AREAS, A CHINESE PAVILION, ARBOURS, BENCHES, FLOWER BEDS, RETAINING WALLS AND STEPPED TERRACES.
A STOREROOM WILL ALSO BE BUILT.
WORK IS EXPECTED TO START IN MAY AND BE COMPLETED IN OCTOBER.
THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE OF THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE PROJECT WHICH MUST BE SUBMITTED BY APRIL 13.
- - - - 0 -----------
TRAM-ONLY LANE
* * *
FROM 10 AM ON SATURDAY (MARCH 24), THE TRAFFIC LANE ON THE WESTBOUND TRAM TRACK OF SHAU KEI WAN ROAD BETWEEN TAI NING STREET AND TAI LOK STREET WILL BE DESIGNATED AS TRAM-ONLY LANE FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS.
--------0 - -
©
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL 5-233191
FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 1984
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
STATEMENT ON HONG KONG AT COMMONS DEBATE........................ 1
GOVERNOR, EXCO UNOFFICIALS TO VISIT LONDON ..................... 2
VISITS STRENGTHEN HK-UK TRADE TIES ............................. 3
THREE NEW MEMBERS FOR URBCO..................................... 4
ELECTRICAL, ELECTRONICS GOODS EXPORTS RISE SHARPLY ............. 5
PRIVATE SECTOR ROLE IN SAFETY STRESSED ...................... 6
SECOND ROUTE OF TUEN MUN TRAIL READY ........................... 7
I .D. CARD SERVICE GOING TO VILLAGES ........................... 9
AFTER-CARE FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS NECESSARY - GARNER ............. 10
RUTTONJEE PROJECT WELL ON SCHEDULE .......................... 11
MORE TRAINING FACILITIES FOR MANAGERS NEEDED .................. 12
FIRE SERVICES TO HAVE OWN BUILDING ........................... 1A
ABERDEEN SITE TO BE OFFERED AGAIN ............................ 14
BUDGET FEE PROPOSALS ADOPTED ................................. 16
GOVERNMENT HOUSE GARDENS OPEN SUNDAY........................... 16
VITALITY FOR ISLANDERS ........................................ 17
SHAU KEI WAN TRAN TRACK WORK .................................. 1?
TENDERS INVITED FOR UNLOADING FACILITIES ...................... 18
C.H. TUNG NAMED TO MTRC BOARD ............................... 18
ANNUAL STATISTICAL BOOKLET PUBLISHED .......................... 19
DENTAL HEALTH EXHIBITION ...................................... 19
DB TO DISCUSS VARIOUS ISSUES .................................. 20
WATER MAINS WORK IN CENTRAL ................................... 20
FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 1984 1 -
STATEMENT ON HONG KONG AT COMMONS DEBATE * * * * *
THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE STATEMENT DEALING WITH HONG KONG, BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS, SIR GEOFFREY HOWE, DURING THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ON MARCH 22:
HONG KONG IS ONE OF THE MOST STRIKING EXAMPLES OF SUCCESSFUL ENTERPRISE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. ITS SUCCESS CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO A UNIQUE SYNTHESIS OF BRITISH AND CHINESE TALENT. WE ARE NOW ENGAGED WITH THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA IN NEGOTIATIONS OVER THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG WITH THE COMMON AIM OF ENABLING THIS ENTERPRISE TO CONTINUE AND TO FLOURISH.
THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ARE UNDERSTANDABLY CONCERNED TO BE ABLE TO PRESERVE THE VITAL ELEMENTS IN THEIR SOCIETY. WHAT THEY MOST WISH TO SEE IS THE PROSPECT OF CONTINUITY IN THE SYSTEMS AND THE FREEDOMS WHICH CHARACTERISE HONG KONG LIFE TODAY.
THEY WISH TO BE CERTAIN THAT THE ESSENTIAL FOUNDATIONS'OF THEIR WAY OF LIFE WILL BE MAINTAINED INTO THE FUTURE: THAT THE BASIS OF THE CURRENT LEGAL AND SOCIAL SYSTEMS WILL CONTINUE: THAT HONG KONG'S ECONOMY WILL REMAIN OPEN TO WORLD MARKETS: THAT THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SPEAK AND MEET AND TRAVEL AS THEY WISH.^ FUG FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT CONCERN.
WE MUST AND DO BEAR IN MIND THE REALITIES OF THE SITUATION AND THE UNIQUE HISTORICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG. AT PRESENT, CONTINUITY IS ASSURED BY BRITISH ADMINISTRATION.
BUT IN 1997, BRITAIN’S LEASE OF 92 PER CENT OF THE TERRITORY COMES TO AN END. IT IS IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT |T BECOMES POSSIBLE AND INDEED DESIRABLE TO VISUALISE OTHER WAYS IN WHICH CONTINUITY CAN BE ASSURED.
OUR TASK, IN THE LIGHT OF THESE REALITIES, IS TO ENSURE THE NECESSARY CONTINUITY IN HONG KONG'S SYSTEMS. THIS WILL PRESENT MANY CHALLENGES FOR US, FOR CHINA - AND, OF COURSE, FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG THEMSELVES. BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT WE ARE CONDUCTING THE NEGOTIATIONS AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF OUR FRIENDLY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA I AND WITH AN AGREED COMMON OBJECTIVE: TO ENSURE THE CONTINUING STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG.
IN THE SECOND MORE DETAILED PHASE OF NEGOTIATIONS THAT BEGAN IN JULY LAST YEAR, TEN ROUNDS OF INTENSIVE TALKS HAVE NOW BEEN HELD THE ELEVENTH WILL TAKE PLACE ON 26/27 OF THIS MONTH. THESE TALKS HAVE GONE AHEAD IN A USEFUL AND CONSTRUCTIVE MANNER, NEVERTHELESS, GREAT PATIENCE IS GOING TO BE NEEDED BY BOTH SIDES SO THAT WE -CAN REACH AN AGREEMENT WHICH IS SATISFACTORY TO ALL INVOLVED. OUR DETERMINATION TO PRESS AHEAD AND TO REACH THAT GOAL IS UNDIMINISHED. AND WE ARE GETTING ON WITH THE TALKS AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN. BUT I CANNOT PREDICT PRECISELY HOW LONG THEY WILL TAKE.
7VE SHALL.....
FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 1984
2
WE SHALL CONTINUE TO KEEP IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH HONG KONG OPINION, NOTABLY THROUGH THE GOVERNOR AND THROUGH HIS EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, WHO WILL BE VISITING LONDON AGAIN EARLY NEXT MONTH FOR FURTHER CONSULTATIONS WITH MINISTERS. MY HON FRIEND, THE MEMBER FOR SHOREHAM, PAID ANOTHER VERY USEFUL VISIT TO THE TERRITORY BETWEEN 25 AND 28 FEBRUARY, WHEN HE MET AGAIN REPRESENTATIVES OF A WIDE RANGE OF LOCAL OPINION. THESE, AMONG OTHERS, INCLUDED MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS, THE URBAN COUNCIL AND DISTRICT BOARDS AS WELL AS COMMUNITY LEADERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF A VARIETY OF SOCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL GROUPS. SUCH VISITS ARE AN IMPORTANT MEANS, OF KEEPING IN CLOSE PERSONAL TOUCH WITH OPINION IN HONG KONG. I MYSELF SHALL BE VISITING CHINA IN MID—APRIL FOR TALKS ON HONG KONG WITH THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER AND OTHER CHINESE LEADERS. FROM THERE I SHALL TRAVEL ON TO HONG KONG FOR FURTHER DISCUSSIONS. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO BOTH THESE VISITS.
OUR PRESENT TASK, IN SHORT, IS TO EXAMINE WITH THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT HOW THE NECESSARY CONTINUITY MAY BEST BE ASSURED. WE ARE, AND REMAIN, OPEN TO ANY PROPOSALS WHICH WILL ENSURE THE CONTINUING STABILITY AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONGj AND WHICH WILL BE ACCEPTABLE TO THIS HOUSE. TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. WE ARE STILL NEGOTIATING. THE SHAPE OF THE FINAL PACKAGE WHICH WE BRING TO THIS HOUSE FOR APPROVAL WILL BE CRUCIAL.HONG KONG HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN EVOLVING SOCIETY. IT WILL CONTINUE TO EVOLVE. OUR AIM IS TO REACH AN AGREEMENT WHICH WILL ASSURE GENUINE CONT INUITY.AND AUTONOMY FOR HONG KONG AND THE PRESERVATION OF ITS WAY OF LIFE.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
THE MEMBER FOR SHOREHAM IS MR RICHARD LUCE
- O
GOVERNOR, EXCO UNOFFICIALS TO VISIT LONDON
*****
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN CONFIRMED TODAY THAT THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE AND THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WILL MAKE ANOTHER VISIT TO LONDON FROM APRIL 3 TO APRIL 6.
WHILE IN LONDON THEY WILL CALL ON MINISTERS AS PART OF THE CONTINUING PROCESS OF CONSULTATIONS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.
THIS WILL BE THEIR FOURTH VISIT SINCE JULY 1983.
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/3........
FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 1994
- 3 -
VISITS STRENGTHEN HK-UK TRADE TIES * * * *
HONG KONG AND BRITISH TRADE CONTACTS HAVE BEEN STRENGTHENED FOLLOWING VISITS TO VARIOUS CITIES BY MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE, LONDON.
THE VISITS TO CARDIFF, NEWCASTLE AND GLASGOW WERE PART OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT’S LATEST PROMOTION IN BRITAIN, +PROJECT ’84+. HONG KONG COMMISSIONER, SIR JACK CATER, WAS THE MAIN SPEAKER AT TRADE SEMINARS IN CARDIFF AND GLASGOW ATTENDED BY MEMBERS OF THE CARDIFF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY AND THE SCOTTISH DEVELOPMENT AND INDUSTRY COUNCIL RESPECTIVELY. HE ALSO ATTENDED A BUSINESS LUNCH IN NEWCASTLE HOSTED BY THE NORTH EAST DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL.
ON HIS WAY TO GLASGOW, THE COMMISSIONER STOPPED OFF IN EDINBURGH WHERE HE ADDRESSED ANOTHER GROUP OF BUSINESSMEN FROM THE SCOTTISH COUNCIL AS GUEST SPEAKER AT A DINNER.
MORE THAN 100 INDUSTRIALISTS, EXPORTERS AND OTHER BUSINESSMEN, MANY WITH EXPERIENCE OF TRADE WITH HONG KONG ATTENDED THE FUNCTIONS. THEY WERE TOLD OF THE IMPORTANCE OF HONG KONG AS A TRADING PARTNER WITH BRITAIN, OF THE POTENTIAL FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT AND OF THE WAYS OF ACHIEVING IT.
THE GALA EVENING IN GLASGOW LAST NIGHT (THURSDAY) BROUGHT TO A CLOSE THE SERIES OF +PROJECT ‘84+ ACTIVITIES WHICH BEGAN IN LONDON ON MARCH 13. THE GALA EVENINGS IN THE FOUR CITIES WERE ATTENDED BY ABOUT 2 000 MINISTERS AND MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, LEADERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, CIVIC DIGNITARIES, SENIOR MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES AND OTHER COMMUNITY LEADERS.
THE PRESENTATION OF CHINESE DANCE AND MUSIC AND A MULTI-SCREEN AUDIO VISUAL SPECTACULAR SHOWING THE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG WAS WELL RECEIVED AND MANY FAVOURABLE COMMENTS WERE MADE TO THE GUESTS AFTERWARDS.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THE VISITS TO THE REGIONS WAS THE MEETINGS HELD WITH MEMBERS OF THE CHINESE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY IN NEWCASTLE WHERE ITS CHINATOWN AND CHINESE COMMUNITY CENTRE IS BARELY ONE YEAR OLD.
♦PROJECT '84+ IS PART OF THE ON-GOING EVENTS BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO PROMOTE HONG KONG IN BRITAIN, AND INDIVIDUAL EVENTS WILL CONTINUE TO BE HELD DURING THE YEAR.
FOR EXAMPLE, A SEMINAR TO ENCOURAGE TRADE BETWEEN HONG KONG AND BRITAIN WILL BE HELD IN MANCHESTER ON WEDNESDAY (MARCH 28) AND THE DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY WILL LEAD A GROUP OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIALISTS ON A MISSION TO LONDON, NEWCASTLE AND EDINBURGH NEXT MONTH.
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/4........
FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 1984
4 -
THREE NEW MEMBERS FOR URBCO * * X
THE GOVERNOR HAS REAPPOINTED THREE SERVING MEMBERS AND APPOINTED THREE NEW MEMBERS TO THE URBAN COUNCIL FOR A TERM OF THREE YEARS FROM APRIL 1, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE THREE NEW MEMBERS ARE DR RONALD LEUNG DING-BONG, A BANKER AND A MEDICAL DOCTOR, MRS MARGARET LI NG SUK-KAY, A STUDENT COUNSELLOR OF HONG KONG UNIVERSITY AND MR LO KING-MAN, AN ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC.
IN ANNOUNCING THE NEW APPOINTMENTS, THE GOVERNOR ALSO PAID TRIBUTE TO THE RETIRING MEMBERS, THE HON HU FA-KUANG, MRS GRACE HO AND THE HON SELINA CHOW, FOR THE TIME AND ENERGY THEY HAVE DEVOTED TO THE COUNCIL OVER THE YEARS AND THE EXPERIENCE THEY HAVE BROUGHT TO THE COUNCIL’S DELIBERATION.
TWO OF THE NEW URBAN COUNCILLORS ARE APPOINTED MEMBERS OF DISTRICT BOARDS AND THE OTHER IS A WELL-KNOWN FIGURE IN THE PERFORMING ARTS.
DR LEUNG, AGED 49, IS A MEDICAL PRACTITIONER BY PROFESSION BUT IS ALSO CHAIRMAN OF THE KWONG ON BANK LTD. HE IS AN APPOINTED MEMBER OF MONGKOK DI STR I CT-BOARD AND A MEMBER OF THE MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIANS BOARD. HE ALSO SERVES AS THE DIVISIONAL SURGEON OF ST JOHN’S AMBULANCE BRIGADE (NORTH POINT) AND A COMMITTtE ►EMBER OF SHUN TAK FRATERNITY ASSOCIATION.
MRS MARGARET LI HAS BEEN A MEMBER OF THE MID-LEVEL (WESTERN) AREA COMMITTEE SINCE 1980 AND AN APPOINTED MEMBER OF THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT BOARD SINCE 1982. SHE HAS BEEN CLOSELY INVOLVED IN THE FORMATION OF WOMEN’S ASSOCIATIONS IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES, BEING A TRUSTEE OF THE TRUST FUND FOR THE YIN NGA I SOCIETY.
SHE WAS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE CENTRAL COORDINATING COMMITTEE OF THE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH YEAR IN HONG KONG.
MR LO, AGED 46, IS THE DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OF HONG KONG CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC AND A MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, AND THE ACADEMIC COMMITTEE OF THE PROVISIONAL COUNCIL, HONG KONG ACADEMY FOR PERFORMING ARTS. APART FROM THAT HE ALSO SERVES AS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS AND THE COUNCIL OF HONG KONG BAPTIST COLLEGE AND A MEMBER OF THE HONG KONG EXAMINATIONS AUTHORITY.
MR LAWRENCE FUNG HING-LUN, DR KIM CHAM YAU-SUM AND DR PHILIP KWOK CHI-KUEN WHO HAVE SERVED ON THE COUNCIL SINCE 1974, 1976 AND 1980 RESPECTIVELY AND WHOSE TERMS EXPIRE AT THE END OF THIS MONTH, HAVE BEEN REAPPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR FOR THE PERIOD APRIL 1, 1984 TO MARCH 31, 1987.
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/5.......
FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 1984
- 5 -
ELECTRICAL, ELECTRONICS GOODS EXPORTS RISE SHARPLY * * * *
DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS GREW BY 45 PER CENT LAST YEAR TO REACH $24 027 MILLION, COMPARED WITH $16 601 MILLION FOR 1982, ACCORDING TO FIGURES RELEASED TODAY (FRIDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
THIS INCREASE OF $7 426 MILLION WAS THE LARGEST IN ABSOLUTE VALUE TERMS AMONG ALL INDUSTRY GROUPS, ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT’S DOMESTIC EXPORT STATISTICS ANALYSED BY INDUSTRIAL ORIGIN FOR THE WHOLE OF 1983.
TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT HEADED THE GROUPS IN TERMS OF PERCENTAGE GROWTH, INCREASING BY 170 PER CENT TO $427 MILLION, AGAINST THE 1982 FIGURE OF $158 MILLION.
IN TERMS OF THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS, THE SIX MOST IMPORTANT INDUSTRY GROUPS WERE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS, WEARING APPAREL, TEXTILES, PROFESSIONAL AND OPTICAL EQUIPMENT, PLASTIC PRODUCTS, AND METAL PRODUCTS. THESE ACCOUNTED FOR 86 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL VALUE OF MERCHANDISE DOMESTIC EXPORTS, WHICH CAME TO $104 405 MILLION IN 1983.
THE LARGEST INCREASES IN ABSOLUTE VALUE OVER 1982. IN ADDITION TO ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS (+$7 426 MILLION), OCCURRED IN TEXTILES (+$4 819 MILLION), WEARING APPAREL (+$2 909 MILLION), METAL PRODUCTS (+$1 469 MILLION), PROFESSIONAL AND OPTICAL EQUIPMENT (+$1 305 MILLION), AND PLASTIC PRODUCTS (+$872 MILLION).
IN RELATIVE TERMS, INDUSTRIES WITH THE LARGEST INCREASES WERE TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT, BEVERAGES AND TOBACCO, THE DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF WHICH IN 1983 WERE MORE THAN DOUBLE THOSE IN 1982. ON THE OTHER HAND, DECREASES IN THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS WERE RECORDED FOR AGRICULTURAL, LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY PRODUCTION (-$13 MILLION), RUBBER PRODUCTS (-$3 MILLION), AND PETROLEUM AND COAL PRODUCTS (-$1 MILLION).
IN PERCENTAGE TERMS, THE DECREASES IN THESE THREE INDUSTRY GROUPS WERE -33 PER CENT, -4 PER CENT AND -100 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY
A CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THIS SERIES IS DERIVED BY RE-GROUPING ALL SIX-DIGIT COMMODITY EXPORT ITEMS UNDER THE PRESENT EXTERNAL TRADE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM ACCORDING TO THE INDUSTRIES IN WHICH THESE COMMODITY ITEMS ARE NORMALLY PRODUCED. SINCE ITS SCOPE IS CONFINED TO MERCHANDISE TRADE, TRANSACTIONS IN GOLD AND SPECIE ARE NOT INCLUDED.
THE CLASSIFICATION OF COMMODITY EXPORT ITEMS BY INDUSTRIAL ORIGIN IS STRUCTURED UPON THE UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION OF ALL ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES (I.S.I.C.), AS DISTINCT FROM THE UNITED NATIONS STANDARD INTERNATIONAL TRADE CLASSIFICATION (S.l.T.C.) WHICH IS ADOPTED IN THE REGULAR TRADE STATISTICS REPORTS.
/WHEN INTERPRETING ...
FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 19^
6
WHEN INTERPRETING THESE RE-CLASSIFIED FIGURES, IT. SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE OVERALL EXPORT VALUE OF AN EXPORTED COMMODITY REQUIRING SEVERAL INTERMEDIATE PROCESSING STAGES IS WHOLLY ALLOCATED TO THE INDUSTRY IN WHICH IT IS FINALLY PRODUCED, ALTHOUGH THE INDUSTRY IS NOT REALLY THE SOLE CONTRIBUTOR TO THE VALUE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
BESIDES, THE CLASSIFICATION OF AN EXPORTED COMMODITY TO A PARTICULAR INDUSTRY DOES NOT IMPLY THAT THE ENTIRE AMOUNT OF THE COMMODITY IS ACTUALLY PRODUCED BY ESTABLISHMENTS OF THAT INDUSTRY, SINCE SOME MAY BE SECONDARY PRODUCTS PRODUCED BY ESTABLISHMENTS CLASSIFIED UNDER OTHER INDUSTRIES, HE ADDED.
FURTHER DETAILS OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS STATISTICS FOR MERCHANDISE RECLASSIFIED BY INDUSTRIAL ORIGIN MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT (AT TEL. NO. 3-7224504).
A TABLE ON THESE STATISTICS FOR SELECTED INDUSTRIES IS ALSO INCLUDED IN THE REPORT +HONG KONG EXTERNAL TRADE, DECEMBER, 1983+.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
A STATISTICAL TABLE IS BEING BOXED FOR COLLECTION.
--.-0--------
PRIVATE SECTOR ROLE IN SAFETY STRESSED * * * *
IT IS UNREALISTIC TO THINK THAT THE TASK OF MONITORING FOR SAFETY CAN BE ACHIEVED BY GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL WITHOUT THE INTEREST AND COOPERATION OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND PROFESSIONAL BODIES WORKING IN THE FIELD, THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, DR JAMES HAYES, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE SEVENTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE HONG KONG OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ASSOCIATION THIS EVENING, DR HAYES SAID*
♦ THE TASK OF MONITORING FOR SAFETY IS TOO BIG FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO ACHIEVE SINGLE-HANDED.
♦INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY IS CONTINUALLY CHANGING AND IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THERE TO BE UNDERSTANDING AND COOPERATION BETWEEN EMPLOYERS, CONCERNED ASSOCIATIONS LIKE YOUR OWN, AND THOSE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES WHICH HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY IN THE WORKPLACE.+
DR HAYES POINTED OUT THAT NOT ONLY MODERN INDUSTRY AND NEW PROCESSES HAD TO BE WATCHED.
/+WE MUST ....
FRIDAY, MARCH 25, *>984
- 7 -
♦WE MUST REMEMBER THAT MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY COMPRISES, FOR THE MOST PART, VERY MANY SMALL FIRMS OFTEN SERVICING OR ASSISTING THE LARGER CONCERNS.
♦MANY OF THEM OPERATE FROM 'UNSUITABLE PREMISES WITH A MINIMUM OF CAPITAL AND WITH THE MORE UNCERTAINTY BECAUSE THEIR BUSINESSES STAND ON CROWN LAND OR INDUSTRIAL LAND AWAITING DEVELOPMENT, OR IN RENTED NON-1NDUSTRI AL ACCOMMODATI ON.+
DR HAYES SAID ALTHOUGH NOT ALL OF THESE SMALL FIRMS WERE BACKWARD, ♦THEIR OPERATIONS ARE OFTEN VERY BASIC AND OLD-FASHIONED AND THE OWNERS LACK UP-TO-DATE SAFETY AND HEALTH KNOWLEDGE IN INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES.+
THERE WAS A NEED FOR THE ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS NOW A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND ACCIDENT PREVENTION, TO MAINTAIN A WIDE INTEREST AND TO PROVIDE WHATEVER ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE IT COULD TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.
HE CONGRATULATED THE ASSOCIATION ON ITS ENERGETIC PROGRAMME CF TALKS AND SEMINARS DURING THE PAST YEAR AND ON ITS PUBLICATION CF A NEW BI-LINGUAL MONTHLY SAFETY MAGAZINE.
HE FELT SURE THAT NOTHING BUT GOOD WOULD COME FROM A CONTINUING CLOSE LIAISON WITH HIS DEPARTMENT.
0
SECOND ROUTE OF TUEN MUN TRAIL READY
*****
PICNICKERS AND JOGGING ENTHUSIASTS WILL HAVE AN ADDITIONAL TRACK IN TUEN MUN WITH THE OPENING OF THE SECOND ROUTE OF THE 11-KILOMETRE TUEN MUN TRAIL ON SUNDAY (MARCH 25).
THE 1 450-METRE LONG ROUTE 2 OF THE TRAIL STARTS FROM HOH FUK TONG SCHOOL AT TSENG TAU TSUEN CHUNG TSUEN AND CLIMBS TO AN ALTITUDE OF 250 METRES TO THE HEAD OF A VALLEY.
IT STRETCHES NORTHWARD TO WONG FUNG LENG, AND DESCENDS TO THE SERVICE RESERVOIR ROAD BEFORE REACHING THE FINISHING POINT AT BOWRING CAMP IN FU TEI.
/AS PART.......
FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 1984
8 -
AS PART OF THE TUEN MUN TRAIL, ROUTE 2 LIES ON THE SOUTHEASTERN SIDE OF TUEN MUN TOWN CENTRE AND WAS BUILT AT A COST OF $400 000 BY THE NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES AND LANDS DEPARTMENTS.
THE ROUTE IS LONGER, MORE RUGGED AND SECLUDED THAN ROUTE 1 WHICH WAS OPENED A YEAR AGO.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE ENTIRE TUEN MUN TRAIL, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO TAKE ABOUT 10 YEARS, IS DIVIDED INTO 11 SECTIONS.
ON COMPLETION OF WORK, THE TRAIL WILL ENCIRCLE THE NEW TOWN PASSING THROUGH GREEN-BELT AREAS, PARKS, BEACHES, WOODLANDS AND BOTANICAL GARDENS.
LOOK-OUT PAVILIONS, RAIN SHELTERS, BARBECUE PITS AND SITTING-OUT AREAS WILL BE PROVIDED ALONG THE TRAIL.
INFORMATION BOARD, MAPS AND DIRECTIONAL SIGNS WILL BE ERECTED AT EACH END OF THE TRAIL AND AT THE JUNCTIONS WITH MACLEHOSE TRAIL AND OTHER SECTIONS.
A CEREMONY MARKING THE OPENING OF ROUTE 2 WILL BE HELD AT ID AM ON SUNDAY.
OFFICIATING GUESTS WILL INCLUDE THE TUEN MUN ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MR CHRISTOPHER WONG? AND THE FORESTRY OFFICER OF NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, MR N.J. BLANDFORD.
AFTER THE OPENING, ABOUT 200 JOGGERS WILL TAKE PART IN AN INAUGURAL WALK ORGANISED BY THE RECREATION AND SPORTS OFFICE.
NOTE TO EDITORS I
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE WELCOME TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY WHICH WILL BE HELD AT 10 AM ON SUNDAY (MARCH 25) AT AN OPEN SPACE AT THE ENTRANCE OF TSENG TAU HA TSUEN, TUEN MUN. A GOVERNMENT VEHICLE WILL LEAVE THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICE, 201 CASTLE PEAK ROAD, AT 9.30 AM FOR THE SITE OF THE CEREMONY.
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/9......-
FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 1984
I.D. CARD SERVICE GOING TO VILLAGES * * * *
A SERVICE FOR THE ISSUE OF NEW I.D. CARDS WILL BE BROUGHT TO RESIDENTS OF SAI KUNG, MUI WO, LAMMA AND CHEUNG CHAU BETWEEN MARCH 26 AND APRIL 7.
THE SERVICE WAS INTRODUCED BY THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT LAST OCTOBER, AND WAS VERY WELL RECEIVED BY RESIDENTS.
AN IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID ITS PURPOSE WAS TO SAVE THE RESIDENTS FROM THE TROUBLE OF HAVING TO TRAVEL LONG DISTANCES FOR THEIR I.D. CARDS.
ALTHOUGH INTENDED MAINLY FOR MEN BORN IN 1948, 1949 AND 1965, EITHER RESIDING OR WORKING IN THE AREAS, THE SERVICE IS ALSO FOR THOSE BORN BETWEEN 1950 AND 1959 WHO HAVE NOT YET OBTAINED NEW CARDS, HE SAID.
FOUR MOBILE TEAMS WILL OPERATE FROM THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS AT DIFFERENT PERIODS:
DATE
26.3.84 - 1.4.84
2.4.84 - 7.4.84
26.3.84 - 6.4.84
26.3.84 - 6.4.84
PLACE
MUI WO COMMUNITY AFFAIRS BRANCH OFFICE’, SOUTH LANTAO ROAD, MUI WO
NORTH LAMMA RURAL COMMITTEE OFFICE, YUNG SHU WAN MAIN STREET, NORTH LAMMA
CHEUNG CHAU FIELD OFFICE, KWAN YAM WAN ROAD, CHEUNG CHAU
SAI KUNG DISTRICT BRANCH OFFICE, MAN NIN STREET, SAI KUNG
THESE OFFICES WILL OPEN FROM 10 AM TO 1 PM AND FROM 2 PM TO 4 PM, DAILY.
APPLICANTS ARE ADVISED TO BRING ALONG THEIR OLD I.D. CARDS WHEN THEY VISIT THE OFFICES.
FOR ENQUIRIES, THEY MAY CONTACT THE RESPECTIVE DISTRICT OFF ICES.
- - 0 - -
FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 1984
10
AFTER-CARE FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS NECESSARY - GARNER
* * * *
MANDATORY AFTER-CARE, FOR THE YOUNG OFFENDERS IN PARTICULAR, IS ESSENTIAL IN THE CORRECTIONAL PROCESS, THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR THOMAS GARNER, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
MR GARNER SAID THE LEGISLATION WAS AMENDED IN I960 TO MAKE IT MANDATORY FOR ALL YOUNG PERSONS UNDER 21 WHO ARE SENTENCED TO IMPRISONMENT FOR THREE MONTHS OR MORE, TO BE SUBJECT TO 12 MONTHS* AFTER-CARE ON DISCHARGE.
SINCE THEN 451 YOUNG OFFENDERS HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED, AND 85 PER CENT OF THEM HAVE COMPLETED THE 12-MONTH SUPERVISION PERIOD WITHOUT RELAPSING TO CRIME, HE SAID.
HE DESCRIBED THE RESULT AS +MOST SAT ISFACTORY+ AND +FULLY JUSTIFY ING+ THE IMPORTANCE OF MANDATORY AFTER-CARE.
MR GARNER ALSO SAID THAT SOME 500 YOUNG OFFENDERS RELEASED FROM TRAINING AND DETENTION CENTRES HAD USED THE PHOENIX HOUSE, A NEW HALF-WAY HOUSE FACILITY OPENED ONLY IN JULY LAST. IT WAS A LARGE NUMBER FOR SUCH A SHORT TIME, HE SAID.
MR GARNER ALSO SPOKE ABOUT THE REORGANISATION OF THE HEADQUARTERS STRUCTURE, AND SAID THAT FROM APRIL, THE OPERATIONAL SIDE WOULD BE SPLIT INTO TWO SECTIONS. ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR ADULT OFFENDERS AND THE OTHER FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS.
LAST YEAR, HE SAID, THERE WERE 7 269 CASES OF BREACHES OF DISCIPLINE BY PRISONERS, AN INCREASE OF 3.9 PER CENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
♦DISCIPLINE MUST BE MAINTAINED TO A VERY HIGH STANDARD WITHIN PENAL INSTITUTIONS, IN LINE WITH THE AIMS OF GOOD CORRECTIONAL WORK,+ MR GARNER STRESSED.
♦FOR EXAMPLE, THE USE OF FOUL LANGUAGE IS NOT TOLERATED,+ HE SAID. A TOTAL OF 961 PRISONERS HAD BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF THE OFFENCE OF ’SWEARING, CURSING OR USING ANY ABUSIVE, INSOLENT, THREATENING OR OTHER IMPROPER LANGUAGE* LAST YEAR,+ HE SAID.
AS A RESULT OF THESE CONTROLS THERE HAS BEEN IN RECENT YEARS A MORE COURTEOUS AND POLITE ATMOSPHERE WITHIN PENAL INSTITUTIONS, HE SAID.
MR GARNER ALSO SAID THAT THE DAILY AVERAGE PENAL POPULATION ROSE BY 7.7 PER CENT LAST YEAR, AND THAT THE NUMBER OF PRISONERS SERVING A SENTENCE OF LIFE IMPRISONMENT HAD GONE UP TO 92.
HE SAID THAT SHEK PIK PRISON, WHICH IS BEING PREPARED FOR FULL OPERATIONAL USE AT THE END OF APRIL, HAS SPECIAL FACILITIES FOR PRISONERS SERVING LONG SENTENCES OR LIFE IMPRISONMENT.
WITH REGARD TO CIVIL DEBTORS, HE POINTED OUT THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MANY YEARS NO ONE WAS AT PRESENT BEING DETAINED IN CUSTODY FOR DEBTS, IN SHARP CONTRAST TO THE RECORD NUMBER OF 430 PERSONS ADMITTED LAST YEAR.
/MR GARNER ....
FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 1984
11
MR GARNER WAS SPEAKING AT THE PRESENTATION OF FIRST AND SECOND CLASPS TO THE COLONIAL PRISON SERVICE MEDAL TO 29 CORRECTIONAL SERVICES STAFF AT A CEREMONIAL PARADE HELD AT THE STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE IN STANLEY.
THE RECIPIENTS INCLUDED THREE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONERS, W GARTH HYDES, MR BARRY HIGGINBOTTOM AND MR ALAN HANDLEY.
MR GARNER TOLD THE 91 NEW RECRUITS ON PARADE AFTER COMPLETING OF THEIR SIX-MONTH BASIC TRAINING THEY FACED A +CHALLENGING+ CAREER.
SEVEN CONTINGENTS, COMPRISING 204 OFFICERS, INCLUDING THE NEW RECRUITS, TOOK PART IN THE PARADE, COMMANDED BY SENIOR SUPERINTENDENT FRANCIS WONG.
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RUTTONJEE PROJECT WELL ON SCHEDULE
X * * X
THE RE-DEVELOPMENT OF THE RUTTONJEE SANATORIUM HAS BEEN PROCEEDING SMOOTHLY AND ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE, THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR K.L. THONG SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
HE WAS ADDRESSING THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE HONG KONG TUBERCULOSIS, CHEST AND HEART DISEASES ASSOCIATION IN HIS CAPACITY AS ITS PRESIDENT.
DR THONG SAID THAT CONTRACT WORK FOR SITE INVESTIGATION STARTED IN NOVEMBER 1983 AND A GEOTECHNICAL REPORT WOULD BE DRAWN UP SHORTLY.
ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE CAISSON WALLING, WHICH WILL TAKE ABOUT FIVE MONTHS, IS EXPECTED TO COMMENCE IN JULY, HE SAID.
♦ SITE FORMATION WORK WILL FOLLOW IMMEDIATELY AND ABOUT TEN MONTHS WILL BE REQUIRED FOR ITS COMPLETION.+
PRELIMINARY BUILDING PLANS ARE NOW WELL IN HAND AND CONSTRUCTION CF THE NEW HOSPITAL AND STAFF QUARTERS IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1986.
DR THONG POINTED OUT THAT THE ASSOCIATION’S RE-DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME HAD BEEN TIGHTLY SCHEDULED AND THAT IT INVOLVED INTER-RELATING THE MANY PROFESSIONALS IN VARIOUS PHASES OF THE BUILDING.
+IT IS GRATIFYING TO NOTE THAT THE ASSOCIATION HAS SO FAR BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE TARGET DATE. OF COMPLETION IN 1988,+ HE SAID.
DISCUSSING TUBERCULOSIS, DR THONG SAID THAT THE COURSE OF THE DISEASE HAD REVERTED TO THE NORMAL AND EXPECTED TREND AND THE INDICES WERE FALLING.
/THE TOTAL ....
FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 1984
12 -
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF NOTIFICATIONS FELL FROM 7 527 IN 1982 TO 7 301 IN 1983.
+THE NOTIFICATION RATE AT 137.4 PER 100 000 POPULATION WAS THE LOWEST EVER.
♦ IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT DURING THE YEAR ABOUT 500 CASES OF ACTIVE TUBERCULOSIS REQUIRING TREATMENT WERE IMPORTED, OF WHICH ABOUT 70 WERE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
♦ DEATHS ALSO FELL FROM 454 IN 1982 TO 446 IN 1983 AND THE DEATH RATE TO 8.4 PER 100 000, THE LOWEST IN THE HISTORY OF HONG KONG.+
HOWEVER, DR THONG ADDED THAT DESPITE THE ENCOURAGING PROGRESS, HONG KONG WAS STILL FAR FROM ERADICATING THE DISEASE, AND THAT EFFORTS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TUBERCULOSIS SHOULD NOT BE RELAXED.
REFERRING TO LUNG CANCER, ANOTHER CHEST DISEASE REQUIRING PRIORITY ATTENTION AND MORE RESEARCH, DR THONG SAID THAT IN THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 1983, 1 468 PEOPLE DIED OF LUNG CANCER.
♦ THE NUMBER WAS 1 456 IN THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 1982, SHOWING THAT THE PROBLEM IS STILL INCREASING.♦
♦ THE LINK OF CIGARETTE SMOKING TO BRONCHOGENIC CARCINOMA, PARTICULARLY THE SQUAMOUS CELL TYPE, WAS STUDIED AND CONFIRMED IN HONG KONG,+ HE SAID.
ALTHOUGH THE IMMEDIATE EFFECT OF THE GOVERNMENT’S ANTI-SMOKING CAMPAIGN MIGHT NOT BE GREAT OR SPECTACULAR, DR THONG FELT THAT IN THE LONG RUN, THE BENEFICIAL EFFECTS WERE EXPECTED TO BE REFLECTED IN A REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE DYING FROM LUNG CANCER.
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MORE TRAINING FACILITIES FOR MANAGERS NEEDED *****
THERE IS A NEED TO IMPROVE AND EXPAND TRAINING FACILITIES FOR PRACTISING MANAGERS AND SUPERVISORS IN ALL SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY, A SURVEY HAS SHOWN.
THE NEED IS PARTICULARLY MARKED AMONG THE SMALLER ENTERPRISES WHERE INTERNAL RESOURCES ARE GENERALLY LACK I NG ACCORD I NG TO THE RECENTLY PUBLISHED SURVEY REPORT ON MANAGEMENT TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT OF OWNER-MANAGERS AND MANAGEMENT STAFF.
/THE SURVEY .......
FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 19&+
15 -
THE SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE COMMITTEE ON MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISORY TRAINING (CMST) OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL (VTC) COVERED ALL 714 CORPORATE ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE ECONOMY. IT ALSO SAMPLED 1 173 SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED COMPANIES IN SIX MAJOR SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY INCLUDING CLOTHING, ELECTRONICS, PLASTICS, TEXTILES, WHOLESALE-IMPORT-EXPORT, AND RETAIL TRADES.
THE SURVEY SHOWED THAT THE CONCEPT OF MANAGEMENT TRAINING IS UNKNOWN TO MANY ESTABLISHMENTS ESPECIALLY THE SMALLER ENTERPRISES, SAID MR PETER BARRETT, CHAIRMAN OF THE CMST.
IN-COMPANY TRAINING FACILITIES ARE ALSO GENERALLY UNDERDEVELOPED IN ALL TYPES OF ESTABLISHMENTS COVERED IN THE SURVEY, l£ ADDED.
+BUT THERE IS A STRONG INDICATION THAT OWNER-MANAGERS AND MANAGEMENT STAFF FROM SMALLER ENTERPRISES WOULD BE WILLING TO ATTEND RELEVANT MANAGEMENT COURSES,+ MR BARRETT SAID.
THE SURVEY FOUND THAT CORPORATE ESTABLISHMENTS RELY HEAVILY ON EXTERNAL COURSES TO TRAIN THEIR MANAGEMENT STAFF AS WELL.
♦EDUCATION AND TRAINING INSTITUTIONS, THEREFORE, SHOULD INTRODUCE MORE TAILOR-MADE*MANAGEMENT COURSES FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED COMPANIES,+ MR BARRETT SAID.
IN VIEW OF THE INCREASING DEMAND FOR POST-EXPERIENCED MANAGEMENT COURSES FROM PRACTISING MANAGERS AND SUPERVIORS OF CORPORATE ESTABLISHMENTS, THE CMST ALSO RECOMMENDED THAT EDUCATION AND TRAINING INSTITUTIONS SHOULD NOTE THE REQUIREMENTS AND TRY TO UPGRADE THE STANDARDS OF THEIR EXISTING COURSES TO MEET THE NEEDS.
IT REQUESTED THE VTC TO SEEK MORE FUNDS FOR INSTITUTIONS TO IMPLEMENT THESE TRAINING PROPOSALS.
THE HONG KONG MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT CENTRE TO BE ESTABLISHED AND MANAGED BY THE CMST WOULD ALSO HELP WITH THE AREAS OF RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, COORDINATION AND PROMOTION OF MANAGEMENT EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN HONG KONG, MR BARRETT SAID.
THE SURVEY REPORT CONTAINS SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO HELP ALLEVIATE OTHER PROBLEMS IN MANAGEMENT TRAINING, SUCH AS THE SHORTAGE OF QUALIFIED TRAINERS, SCARCITY OF INFORMATION ABOUT MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISORY TRAINING, FRAGMENTATION AND UNCOORDINATED EFFORTS OF EXISTING INSTITUTIONS.
THE REPORT PUBLISHED IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE IS ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT $39.5 A COPY.
-----o------
FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 1984
1U
FIRE SERVICES TO HAVE OWN BUILDING * * * *
CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW FIRE SERVICES HEADQUARTERS AT TSIM SHA TSUI EAST IS A MILESTONE IN THE HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE HONG KONG FIRE SERVICES, THE RETIRING DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES, W F.M. WATSON SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE FOUNDATION STONE-LAYING CEREMONY FOR THE $133 MILLION BUILDING COMPLEX WHICH WILL ALSO INCLUDE A SUB-DIVISIONAL FIRE STATION, MR WATSON SAID THAT THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT NEVER HAD ITS OWN HEADQUARTERS BUILDING.
HE SAID THAT WHEN HE JOINED THE HONG KONG FIRE BRIGADE IN 1955, THE HEADQUARTERS WERE HOUSED IN THE FIRE BRIGADE BUILDING. BUT THE BRIGADE NEVER OCCUPIED ALL OF IT.
AND WHEN THE HEADQUARTERS MOVED TO THE PRESENT BUILDING IN JAVA ROAD, NORTH POINT, THE DEPARTMENT HAD ALSO TO SHARE WITH MANY OTHER DEPARTMENTS FOR THE LAST 17 YEARS.
♦IT IS THEREFORE WITH GREAT PLEASURE THAT I AM ABLE TO OFFICIATE AT THIS STONE-LAYING CEREMONY OF OUR NEW AND OWN FCADQUARTERS BEFORE MY RETIREMENT,+ MR WATSON SAID.
♦AFTER MANY YEARS OF DISCUSSIONS AND PLANNING THE HONG KONG FIRE SERVICES IS HAVING A MODERN NEW BUILDING AS ITS HEADQUARTERS, BEFITTING ITS STATUS AS THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY FIRE SERVICES IN THE WORLD AFTER TOKYO, NEW YORK AND LONDON,+ MR WATSON SAID.
THE 14-STOREY HIGH HEADQUARTERS IS BEING BUILT AT THE JUNCTION OF HONG CHONG AND SCIENCE MUSEUM ROADS. WHEN COMPLETED IN EARLY 1986, THE BUILDING WILL ALSO SERVE AS THE HEADQUARTERS FOR THE FIRE PROTECTION BUREAU, THE KOWLOON REGIONAL OFFICE OF THE BUREAU, AMBULANCE COMMAND KOWLOON HEADQUARTERS, AND THE FIRE SERVICES COMMUNICATION CENTRE.
ALSO PRESENT AT THE CEREMONY WAS THE DIRECTOR OF BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, MR CHOW CHAM-SAN.
0
ABERDEEN SITE TO BE OFFERED AGAIN
* * * *
A SITE WHICH WAS WITHDRAWN FROM AUCTION ON FEBRUARY 28 DUE TO TECHNICAL REASONS, WILL BE PUT UP FOR SALE AGAIN BY THE LANDS DEPARTMENT ON APRIL 18.
THE SITE IS AT ABERDEEN MAIN ROAD BETWEEN SAI ON AND wU PAK STREETS.
IT MEASURES 1 579 SQUARE METRES AND IS FOR NON-INDUSTRI AL DEVELOPMENT.
UNDER SALE CONDITIONS, THE PURCHASER WILL BE REQUIRED TO BUILD A POST OFFICE OF NOT LESS THAN 1 009 SQUARE METRES ON THE GROUND AND FIRST FLOORS OF ANY BUILDING CONSTRUCTED ON THE SITE AND HAND IT OVER TO THE GOVERNMENT.
______________________________________________ /ALSO TO .........
FRIDAY, MARCH 2J, 1984
- 15 -
ALSO TO BE PROVIDED IS A MULTI-STOREY CAR PARK WITH AT LEAST 100 SPACES FOR PUBLIC USE, HALF OF WHICH ARE TO BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR SHORT-TERM PARKING.
THE LOT CARRIES A BUILDING COVENANT OF $26 MILLION TO BE COMPLETED BEFORE JUNE 30, 1988.
TWO OTHER SITES WILL ALSO BE OFFERED FOR SALE AT THE SAME AUCTION.
ONE IS FOR INDUSTRIAL OR GODOWN PURPOSES.
IT IS AT KUT SHING STREET, CHAI WAN, AND HAS AN AREA OF 3 690 SQUARE METRES.
THE BUILDING COVENANT ON THE SITE IS $38 MILLION TO BE COMPLETED BEFORE JUNE 30, 1988.
THE OTHER IS AT SHA TIN NEW TOWN.
IT MEASURES 1 462 SQUARE METRES AND IS FOR BUILDING TWO DETACHED TWO-STOREY HOUSES.
THE DEVELOPER IS REQUIRED TO FULFIL A BUILDING COVENANT OF $1.4 MILLION WITHIN 36 MONTHS.
FULL PARTICULARS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE FOR THE THREE SITES CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE:
* LANDS DEPARTMENT, MURRAY BUILDING, 5TH FLOOR, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG;
M PUBLIC ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES (WEST WING), GROUND FLOOR, HONG KONG ।
M DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, KOWLOON WEST,
YAU MA TEI CAR PARK BUILDING, 10TH FLOOR, 250 SHANGHAI STREET, KOWLOON । AND
* DISTRICT LANDS OFFICES OF SHA TIN, TUEN MUN, YUEN LONG, TSUEN WAN, TAI PO, NORTH, SAI KUNG AND ISLANDS.
TENDER PLANS MAY ALSO BE INSPECTED AT THE ABOVE LOCATIONS.
THE AUCTION WILL BE HELD AT THE SHOUSON THEATRE OF THE HONG KONG ARTS CENTRE AND START AT 2.30 PM.
------0-------
/ 16.....
FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 1984
16
BUDGET FEE PROPOSALS * * * *
ADOPTED
CHARGES HAVE BEEN ADOPTED THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL.
THREE BUDGET PROPOSALS ON FEES AND AFTER OBTAINING THE REQUIRED APPROVAL OF
THE PROPOSALS, EXPLAINED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY IN HIS SPEECH TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 29, WERE FOR INCREASES IN BUOY AND ANCHORAGE FEES, FEES FOR DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES AND FOR OVERSEAS BRANCHES AND REPRESENTATIVE OFFICES OF BANKS, AND LION ROCK TUNNEL TOLLS.
ANCHORAGE AND BUOY FEES WERE LAST REVISED IN 1979 AND 1983 RESPECTIVELY, WHILE FEES FOR REGISTERED DTCS’ HAVE NOT BEEN INCREASED SINCE 1978 AND THOSE FOR LICENSED DTCS’ NOT SINCE 1981. LICENCE FEES FOR AN OVERSEAS BRANCH OR REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE OF A BANK INCORPORATED IN HONG KONG AND FOR A LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE OF A BANK INCORPORATED OUTSIDE HONG KONG WERE NOT REVISED WHEN LlCtNcc. FEES FOR BANKS WERE INCREASED LAST YEAR.
TOLLS FOR THE LION ROCK TUNNEL, TO BE CHARGED AT A FLAT RATE OF $2 FOR ALL TYPES OF VEHICLES, WERE LAST REVISED IN 1975.
THE
AND WILL
NEW FEES AND CHARGES FOR THESE SERVICES ARE COME INTO EFFECT JON APRIL 1.
_ _ 0 -
GOVERNMENT HOUSE GARDENS OPEN SUNDAY * * * M
THE
GARDENS OF GOVERNMENT HOUSE WILL BE OPEN TO
SUNDAY (MARCH 25) FROM 10 AM TO 5 PM TO ENABLE LOCAL SEE THE AZALEAS IN BLOOM.
GAZETTED TODAY
THE PUBLIC ON RESIDENTS To
THE ANNUAL OPEN DAY HAS BEEN HELD SINCE 1968.
VISITORS ARE REQUESTED TO ENTER BY THE MAIN GATE AND LEAVE BY THE SIDE GATES SO THAT ALL CAN ENJOY THE FLOWERS WITHOUT CAUSING INCONVENIENCE TO OTHERS.
THEY ARE ALSO REMINDED THAT ONLY THE GARDENS WILL BE OPEN AND THEY SHOULD NOT ENTER THE HOUSE ITSELF.
SCOUTS AND POLICEMEN WILL BE PRESENT AND VISITORS ARE ASKED TO CO-OPERATE WITH THEM TO AVOID OVERCROWDING.
0
/ 17
FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 1984
- 17 -
VITALITY FOR ISLANDERS * * * *
A SPORTS DAY WILL BE HELD ON PENG CHAU ON SUNDAY (MARCH 25) ID ROUND OFF THE 1O-MONTH ^VITALITY FOR ALL ISLANDERS* PROGRAMME.
STARTING AT 11.30 AM, THE LAST OF A SERIES OF COMPETITIONS ON FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL, AND TABLE-TENNIS AMONG TEAMS IN THE ISLANDS DISTRICT WILL BE STAGED AT VARIOUS VENUES ON PENG CHAU.
A PRIZE-PRESENTATION CEREMONY WILL BE HELD AT 4.30 PM IN CHI YAN SCHOOL.
THE ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICER, MR WILLIAM YAP AND SENIOR RECREATION AND SPORTS OFFICER, MR TAM PAK-HANG; URBAN SERVICES OFFICER, MR IP KI-TIT; AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ISLANDS DISTRICT SPORTS ASSOCIATION, MR YOUNG WING-YAU WILL PRESENT THE PRIZES.
THE +VITALITY FOR ALL ISLANDERS* PROGRAMME, LAUNCHED IN MAY LAST YEAR, WAS SPONSORED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD AND JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE, THE RECREATION AND SPORTS SERVICE, THE hEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE ISLANDS DISTRICT SPORTS ASSOCIATION.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE +VITALITY FOR ALL ISLANDERS* PRIZE-PRESENTATION CEREMONY AT 4.30 PM ON SUNDAY (MARCH 25) IN CHI YAN SCHOOL ON PENG CHAU.
THE LAUNCH +CLEMENTI+ WILL LEAVE MARINE DEPARTMENT PIER AT CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL AT 3 PM SHARP FOR PENG CHAU.
-----0------
SHAU KEI WAN TRAM TRACK WORK
* * * *
TRAM SERVICES IN SHAU KEI WAN WILL START LATER THAN USUAL ON SUNDAY (MARCH 25) MORNING TO ALLOW FOR TRAM TRACK WORK AT SHAU KEI WAN ROAD.
THE FIRST TRAMS FROM SHAU KEI WAN WILL DEPART FOR WESTERN MARKET AND HAPPY VALLEY AT ABOUT 8.13 AM, WHILE THOSE FROM WESTERN MARKET AND HAPPY VALLEY WILL DEPART FOR SHAU KEI WAN AT ABOUT 7.35 AM.
UNTIL THEN, TRAM SERVICE FROM WESTERN MARKET WILL OPERATE UP TO QUARRY BAY ONLY.
- 0 -
/18 .......
FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 1984
- 18 -
TENDERS INVITED FOR UNLOADING FACILITIES
*****
TENDERS ARE BEING INVITED FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE UNLOADING, BERTHING AND HANDLING FACILITIES AT CHEUNG SHA WAN TEMPORARY FRESH WATER FISH MARKET, WHICH WILL HAVE TO MOVE TO A NEW WATERFRONT AREA AS A RESULT OF A RECLAMATION PROJECT.
PART OF THE RECLAIMED LAND IS REQUIRED FOR CONSTRUCTION OF STAGE I I I OF THE WEST KOWLOON CORRIDOR.
BESIDES BUILDING A SHELTERED AREA TO ACCOMMODATE THE UNLOADING FACILITIES, THE CONTRACTOR WILL ALSO BE REQUIRED TO CONSTRUCT A 280-METRE-LONG ACCESS ROAD TO THE FISH MARKET.
THE PROJECT INCLUDES PAVING A 3 500-SQUARE-METRE AREA OF THE RECLAMATION AND BUILDING AN EXTENSION OF FAT TSEUNG STREET TO THE NEW WATERFRONT. THIS WILL BE 270 METRES LONG.
IN ADDITION, ANCILLARY DRAINAGE WORK WILL BE CARRIED OUT.
WORK ON THE PROJECT WILL START IN MAY AND TAKE FOUR MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
IT FORMS PART OF STAGE II OF THE CHEUNG SHA WAN RECLAMATION PROGRAMME AND IS TO BE CARRIED OUT BY THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE OF THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
------o-------
C.H. TUNG NAMED TO MTRC BOARD * * * *
THE GOVERNOR HAS APPOINTED MR C.H. TUNG AND RE-APPOINTED W W.C.L. BROWN TO THE BOARD OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION FOR A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS FROM MAY 1, 1984.
MR TUNG IS REPLACING SIR Y.K. PAO, ONE OF THE FOUNDER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, WHO IS RETIRING AFTER NINE YEARS OF SERVICE.
N? TUNG IS A DIRECTOR OF THE ORIENT OVERSEAS SERVICE (HK) LTD, AND IS CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG SHIPOWNERS ASSOCIATION LTD.
HE IS ALSO A COUNCIL MEMBER OF THE HONG KONG MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION OF WHICH HE IS A PAST CHAIRMAN.
THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, WHICH IS CHAIRED BY MR WILFRID NEWTON, ARE MR OSWALD CHEUNG, MISS LYDIA DUNN, MR G.M. MACWHINNIE, W D.W.A. BLYE (SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS), THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT AND THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE CORPORATION.
-----o-------
/19........
FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 1984
- 19 -
ANNUAL STATISTICAL BOOKLET PUBLISHED * * * *
AN ANNUAL BOOKLET ENTITLED +AN OUTLINE OF STATISTICAL DEVELOPMENT, 1984+, HAS BEEN PUBLISHED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
IT CONTAINS TWO PARTS.
PART I DESCRIBES THE ORGANISATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT. PART II DELINEATES THE MAIN LINES OF CURRENT STATISTICAL ACTIVITY AS WELL AS FORESEEN DEVELOPMENTS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MATERIAL DESCRIPTIVE OF THE PAST AND THROUGH THE CONTINUING PRESENT IS ALSO INCLUDED.
THE DISPOSITION OF STATISTICAL STAFF, TOGETHER WITH A LIST OF STATISTICAL PUBLICATIONS IS GIVEN IN THE ANNEXES.
THE PUBLICATION IS NOW ON SALE AT $10 PER COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, CONNAUGHT PLACE, HONG KONG.
■ -----o--------
NOTE TO EDITORS:
DENTAL HEALTH EXHIBITION
* * * *
A WEEK-LONG DENTAL HEALTH EXHIBITION WILL BE HELD AT THE TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL FROM TOMORROW (SATURDAY).
THE EXHIBITION, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, WILL HAVE A DISPLAY OF PHOTOGRAPHS, VIDEO FILMS, SLIDE SHOWS, FREE CHECK-UPS AND SEMINARS.
IT WILL BE OPEN FROM 10 AM TO 8 PM DAILY.
SPONSORED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD AND JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE HONG KONG DENTAL ASSOCIATION, THE EXHIBITION IS AIMED AT PROMOTING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF DENTAL HEALTH.
THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER, MR ADOLF HSU, WILL OFFICIATE AT AN OPENING CEREMONY AT 10 AM TOMORROW.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CEREMONY.
-------0--------
/20
FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 1984’
- 20 -
NOTE TO EDITORS:
DB TO DISCUSS VARIOUS ISSUES * * * *
KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WILL DISCUSS THE RECENT PROPOSALS FOR THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION AT THEIR MEETING ON MONDAY (MARCH 26) AFTERNOON.
BOARD MEMBERS WILL ALSO BE BRIEFED ON LAW AND ORDER AND LITTER PROBLEM IN THE DISTRICT.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA WILL INCLUDE PROGRESS REPORTS OF THE SIX COMMITTEES UNDER THE DISTRICT BOARD.
YOU ARE WELCOME TO COVER THE MEETING AT 2.30 PM IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF KWUN TONG DISTRICT BRANCH OFFICES BUILDING, TUNG YAN STREET.
------o-------
WATER MAINS WORK IN CENTRAL
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO. CERTAIN PREMISES IN CENTRAL DISTRICT WILL BE TURNED OFF FROM 11 PM ON MARCH 26 (MONDAY) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR LEAKAGE TESTS.
THE PREMISES AFFECTED ARE BOUNDED BY ICE HOUSE STREET, DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL, JACKSON ROAD AND QUEEN'S ROAD CENTRAL.
- - 0
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG TEL: 5-233191
SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 1984
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
FARMERS WARNED OF DANGEROUS INSECTICIDE................... 1
GOOD CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR CUSTOMS AND EXCISE STAFF.. 2
SCHOOL LABORATORY SAFETY DISCUSSED ....................... 3
SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS AUCTIONED ............................ 4
POPULAR TRAIL FOR HIKERS ............................ 5
GOVERNOR LEAVING FOR PEKING............................... 6
BAND MJSIC '84 CONCERT WELL ATTENDED ..................... 6
STUDENTS HELP CLEAN UP BEACH ............................. 6
PRESS CONFERENCE ON WATER SPORTS ......................... 7
FACILITIES FOR TWO SAI KUNG BEACHES....................... 7
FLYOVER ROAD SKID-TEST ................................... 8
PARKING METERS ON KO SHAN ROAD ........................... 8
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN KOWLOON AND NT ................... 8
TRAFFIC PLAN FOR STUBBS ROAD WORK......................... 9
TSIM SHA TSUI WATER WORKS................................. 9
WATER CUT IN CHAI WAN .................................... 9
FIRING PRACTICE AT HA TSUEN-CASTLE PEAK................... 9
SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 1984
1 -
FARMERS WARNED OF DANGEROUS INSECTICIDE * * * * *
THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT TODAY CALLED ON FARMERS wHO ARE IN POSSESSION OF A DANGEROUS INSECTICIDE WHICH CARRIES THE CHINESE NAME +LUNG BO+ (FARMER’S TREASURE) AND A SQUARE-IN-A-CIRCLE TRADE MARK, TO SURRENDER IT IMMEDIATELY.
HOWEVER, WHILE THE INSECTICIDE CAN BE DANGEROUS TO THOSE WHO COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT WITH IT, THERE IS NO NEED FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE WORRIED.
THE INSECTICIDE DEGRADES VERY RAPIDLY AND ANY CROPS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN SPRAYED UNDERGO A THOROUGH WASHING PROCESS WHICH, ACCORDING TO AFD EXPERTS, REDUCES ANY POTENTIAL RISK FACTOR TO ONE OF +EXTREME REMOTENESS+.
THE INSECTICIDE IS PACKED IN 250-MILL ILITRE ALUMINIUM BOTTLES.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE BOTTLES CONTAIN PARATHION-METHYL, A DEADLY POISON, INSTEAD OF +ELSAN+ AS CLAIMED IN THE LABEL.
THIS TOXIC INSECTICIDE HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR A NUMBER OF DEATHS WORLDWIDE AND HAS BEEN BANNED IN HONG KONG SINCE 1955.
♦IT POSES A PARTICULARLY HIGH RISK TO THE FARMER AND HIS IMMEDIATE FAMILY WHO COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE INSECTICIDE IN THE COURSE OF THEIR WORK AS IT CAN CAUSE SICKNESS, OR DEATH IN SERIOUS CASES, WHEN ABSORBED THROUGH THE SKIN OR THROUGH INHALATION,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE UNREGISTERED INSECTICIDE CAME TO LIGHT DURING A RECENT INVESTIGATION IN WHICH SOME 200 BOTTLES CF THE INSECTICIDE WERE SEIZED IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
POSSESSION OF AN UNREGISTERED AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDE IS AN OFFENCE UNDER THE AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDE ORDINANCE AND CAwRIEo A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF A S50 000 FINE AND ONE YEAR’S IMPRISONMENT.
AS USERS MIGHT HAVE BEEN MISLED BY THE LABELLING ON THE INSECTICIDE, THEY ARE GIVEN TWO WEEKS WITHIN WHICH TO SURRENDER THEIR STOCKS TO THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
HE SAID THOSE POSSESSING THIS INSECTICIDE SOLELY FOR THEIR OWN USE WILL NOT BE PROSECUTED IF THEY SURRENDER IT BY APRIL 9 (MONDAY).
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD THE INSECTICIDE BE THROwN AWAY OR LEFT LYING AROUND THEIR FARMS OR PREMISES, HE ADDtD.
ALL FARMERS ARE ADVISED TO CHECK THEIR SUPPLIES OF PESTICIDE^ CAREFULLY AND TO SURRENDER THE UNREGISTERED INSECTICIDE, IF ANY, IMMEDIATELY TO THE NEAREST AFD FARM OR LIAISON OFFICE IN THE NEW TERR I TOR IES.
FOR ENQUIRIES, FARMERS MAY CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT rtE AiJ^UAh Tt Ro ON 3-688111, EXT. 239 OR 235. ----------------------------------o----
SATURDAY, MARCH ?4, 1984
- 2 -
GOOD CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR CUSTOMS AND EXCISE STAFF * * * *
THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE, MR DOUGLAS JORDAN, TODaY (SATURDAY) TOLD MEMBERS OF THE SERVICE THAT WITH THE MAJOR RE-ORGANISATION IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, THEY NOW HAD uOOD CAREER OPPORTUNITIES.
HE WAS ADDRESSING A PASSING-OUT PARADE OF 27 INSPECTORS AND 71 CUSTOMS OFFICERS AT THE SERVICE’S TRAINING SCHOOL IN TAI lAM CHUNG BEFORE HIS RETIREMENT IN MAY.
+MEMBERS OF THE CUSTOMS OFFICER GRADE NOW HAVE VERY MUCH MORE OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE THROUGH THEIR OWN RANKS UP TO CHIEF CUSTOMS OFFICERS. BUT MORE THAN THIS, THERE ARE MUCH BETTER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO BECOME MEMBERS OF THE INSPECTORATE,* HE SAID.
AS AN EXAMPLE, HE POINTED OUT THAT AMONG THE INSPECTORS AT THE PARADE WERE TWO LADIES WHO HAD BEEN FORMER MEMBERS OF THE CUSTOMS OFFICER GRADE.
+ FOR THE INSPECTORS LIKEWISE,* MR JORDAN SAID, +THE PROMOTION PYRAMID HAS SUBSTANTIALLY WIDENED AND PROSPECTS GREATLY INCREASED RIGHT UP TO THE MOST SENIOR LEVELS. IN THE COMING MONTHS WE HOPE TO SEE THE TOP OF THE PYRAMID WIDENED AND EXTENDED EVEN FURTHER BY THE CREATION OF THE THIRD ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER POST.*
BUT HE ADDED THAT PROMOTION WAS-ONLY PART OF WHAT MADE FOR JOB SATISFACTION.
+ IN THE CAREER YOU HAVE CHOSEN THE SPAN OF YOUR WORK IS VERY WIDE. THIS MAKES FOR VARIETY. IT WILL SUSTAIN YOUR INTEREST AND GIVE YOU GREAT SATISFACTION,* HE TOLD THE RECRUITS.
SPEAKING ON THE INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION GIVEN TO ThE HONG KONG CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE, MR JORDAN ASKED THE NEW RECRUITS TO UPHOLD THE SERVICE’S REPUTATION.
+ A SUCCESSFUL CUSTOMS SERVICE MUST BE THOROUGHLY PROFESSIONAL FROM TOP TO BOTTOM. OTHERWISE IT BECOMES JUST ANOTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT LOSING ITS UNIQUE IDENTITY AND WITH IT, ITS ABILITY TO MEET THE SPECIAL DEMANDS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE VARIOUS PARTICULAR RESPONSIBILITIES OF A CUSTOMS SERVICE,* HE SAID.
+THE REPUTATION OF A SERVICE ALSO RESTS ON ITS DISCIPLINE. WE ARE A SERVICE DISCIPLINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ORDINANCE WHICH AMONG OTHER THINGS GOVERNS OUR BEHAVIOUR.
+BUT THE BEST FORM OF DISCIPLINE IS MAINTAINED BY LOYALTY AND RESPECT FOR THE SERVICE AND FOR ONE ANOTHER AND NOT BY THE LAW ALONE.
+1 ASK YOU TO REMEMBER ALL THESE POINTS IN WHAT I REGARD AS THE IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION YOU MUST MAKE TO THE REPUTATION AND PROFESSIONALISM OF THE SERVICE,* MR JORDAN SAID.
------o - ----
SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 1964
- 3 -
SCHOOL LABORATORY SAFETY DISCUSSED * * * *
CHEMISTRY TEACHING IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS HAS UNDERGONE CHANGES IN RECENT YEARS, WITH GREATER EMPHASIS BEING PLACED ON THE EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH WHERE STUDENTS ENGAGE IN MORE PRACTICAL WORK.
THE CHANGES ALSO MEAN THERE IS A GREATER CHANCE OF LABORATORY ACCIDENTS, THE PRINCIPAL INSPECTOR (CHEMISTRY) OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, MR w.M. TANG, SAID THIS (SATURDAY) MORNING.
SPEAKING AT A SEMINAR ON LABORATORY SAFETY FOR CHEMISTRY TEACHERS HELD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, MR TANG NOTED THAT THERE HAD BEEN AN ANNUAL AVERAGE OF FOUR REPORTED ACCIDENTS IN SCHOOL LABORATORIES IN THE PAST FEW YEARS.
AGAINST THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ABOUT 500 SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN HONG KONG, THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS WAS RELATIVELY SMALL, HE SAID.
BUT MOST OF THESE ACCIDENTS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY PRECAUTIONS AND THOUGHTFUL PLANNING IN CONDUCTING EXPERIMENTS, BY MAKING ONESELF BETTER INFORMED OF HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS AND THEIR REACTIONS, AND BY PROPER LABORATORY MANAGEMENT, MR TANG ADDED.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS IN THE LABORATORY WAS THE DUTY OF ALL LABORATORY USERS, INCLUDING TEACHERS, TECHNICIANS AND PUPILS.
+EDUCATION IN SAFE PRACTICE IS BY NO MEANS A CLOSE-END SUBJECT. NEW LABORATORY PROCEDURES, NEW DEVICES AND NEW CHEMICALS ALL INVOLVE NEW POTENTIAL HAZARDS. SAFETY TRAINING MUST THEREFORE BE REGARDED AS A CONTINUING PROCESS, EVEN FOR EXPERIENCED *ORKtRS,+ HE SAID.
TO PROVIDE SCHOOL TEACHERS AND LABORATORY TECHNICIANS WITH UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON LABORATORY SAFETY, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS RECENTLY REVISED THE PAMPHLET +SAFETY IN THE LABORATORY*.
THERE ARE CONSIDERABLE CHANGES AND ADDITIONS IN THE NEW EDITION, WHICH SHOULD BE HELPFUL TO LABORATORY USERS.
THE REVISED PAMHPLET IS NOW BEING PRINTED AND a ILL BE AVAILABLE SOON.
-----o-----
SATURDAY, MARCH 2m, 1^84
SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS AUCTIONED * * *
TWENTY-FOUR SPECIAL VEHICLE REGISTRATION NUMBERS WERE SOLD BY AUCTION THIS MORNING (SATURDAY) FOR A TOTAL OF $366 000 WHICH wILL GO INTO THE GOVERNMENT LOTTERIES FUND FOR CHARITY PURPOSES.
SA a $60
$50
THE AUCTION HELD AT THE RECITAL HALL OF THE CITY HALL, THE REGISTRATION NUMBER 212 FETCH THE HIGHEST PRICE OF 000. ,
ANOTHER NUMBER Bw8 WAS SOLD AT THE SECOND HIGHEST PRICE OF 000 WHILE THE LOWEST PRICE WAS $1 000 FOR DB827, AG817 AND
DB8566
THE OTHER SPECIAL REGISTRATION FOLLOWING PRICES:
NUMBERS WERE
SOLD AT
THE
$ $ 3 000 CU 1 45 JOO
DB 635 3 800 DB1888
CN 89 15 000 DB8886 2 000 AS 125 -> OJO
AB 14 5 000 CX 3 30 000 CY7777 16 or
DA 707 10 000 XX 45 10 000 DB 1 mO DJ '
AB3773 6 000 AA 373 10 000 BB2828 42 000
AU 318 2 600 DB3222 3 200 AL 625 7 200
DB8813 3 200
THE NUMBERS AUCTIONED WILL BE , ASSIGNED ONLY TO VEHICLES
BIDDERS
W I
REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE SUCCESSFUL CF THE DATE OF AUCTION.
TODAY’S SALE, THE 90TH ORGANISED BY SINCE MAY 1973, BROUGHT THE TOTAL AMOUNT REALISED SO FAR TO $30 136 332.
- - 0 - -
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT OF MONEY FOR CHARITY
SATURDAY, 'MARCH 24, 1Q84
- 5 -
POPULAR TRAIL FOR HIKERS * * *
THE TAI PO COUNTRY TRAIL, A 25-KILOMETRE SYSTEM OF DISTRICT TRAILS AND FOOTPATHS, HAS PROVED TO BE A FAVOURITE WITH HIKERS.
A MAJOR RECREATIONAL FACILITY FUNDED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD, THE TRAIL RUNS FROM TAI PO KAU AND LAI CHI SHAN TO TAI PO VALLEY, GOING OVER THE HIGH RIDGES OVERLOOKING TAI PO AND DESCENDING TO MA WO AND PUN CHUNG YUEN.
IT ALSO LINKS UP WITH THE MACLEHOSE TRAIL AND THE TAI PO SHAN AND SHING MUN COUNTRY PARKS.
TOMORROW, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR NEW TERRITORIES, MR IAN MACPHERSON, WILL OFFICIALLY OPEN THE TRAIL AND A PANORAMIC VIEWSCAPE WHICH ILLUSTRATES AND NAMES THE MANY LANDMARKS OF TAI PO AND TOLO HARBOUR.
THE VIEWSCAPE ON AN ENGRAVED METAL PLATE AND SURROUNDING SEATING AT LAI CHI SHAN HILL WERE BUILT WITH A DONATION BY THE LIONS CLUB OF CASTLE PEAK.
THE SCENIC TRAIL IS A-JOINT EFFORT OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE, THE TAI PO AND FANLING DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, THE SURVEY OFFICE, THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES AND THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENTS.
ALONG THE TRAIL ARE A NUMBER OF INTERESTING SPOTS FOR PICNICKERS.
* THE LAI CHI SHAN HILL WHICH OFFERS A PANORAMIC VIE* OF THE VARIOUS LANDMARKS OF TAI PO AND TOLO HARBOUR;
* THE WUN YIU VILLAGE, FOUNDED IN 1650 AND ONCE FAMOUS FOR POTTERY MANUFACTURING;
* YUEN TUN HA, A DESERTED VILLAGE BUILT IN THE MID 17TH CENTURY;
* THE TAOIST FUNG WONG MONASTERY.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE WELCOME TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE TAI PO COUNTRY TRAIL AND ITS VIEWSCAPE TO BE HELD AT LAI Cnl ohaN HILL AT 11 AM ON SUNDAY (MARCH 25). A GOVERNMENT VAN *ILu LEAVE KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER AT 9.30 AM FOR TAI PO.
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/c .......
SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 1984
6
GOVERNOR LEAVING FOR PEKING
* * *
THE GOVERNOR WILL DEPART FOR PEKING ON FLIGHT CA 132 AT 12.45 PM TOMORROW (SUNDAY).
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES WISHING TO COVER THE DEPARTURE SHOUi_D ASSEMBLE AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM AT THE AIRPORT NO LATER THAN 11.30 AM.
------0 - . . .
BAND MUSIC '84 CONCERT WELL ATTENDED * * *
MORE THAN 1 000 PEOPLE ATTENDED A BAND MUSIC '84 CONCERT HELD BY THE MUSIC OFFICE OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT AT -.3 SHAN THEATRE THIS (SATURDAY) EVENING.
AMONG THEM WERE CAPTAIN F.A. COLLINS, CAPTAIN-IN-CHARGE OF THE ROYAL NAVY HONG KONG; CAPTAIN C.M. CHRISTIE, COMMANDER OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE HONG KONG; MR PETER TSAO, DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SERVICES; AND MR CLIVE OXLEY, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOK RECREATION AND CULTURE.
TAKING PART IN THE CONCERT WERE HONG KONG CHILDREN’S SYMPHONIC BAND, TSUEN WAN YOUTH SYMPHONIC BAND, KOwLOON EAST YOUTH SYMPHONIC BAND, MUSIC OFFICE STAGE BAND, ISLAND YOUTH SYMPHONIC BAND, KOWLOON WEST YOUTH SYMPHONIC BAND, MUSIC OFFICE SYMPHONIC BAND AND THE MASSED BAND.
THE PROGRAMME INCLUDED LIGHT CLASSICAL ITEMS AND POPULArt BAND MUSIC.
STUDENTS HELP CLEAN UP BEACH
IXI
SOME 30 STUDENTS OF THE ST BENEDICT’S TECHNICAL SECONDARY SCHOOL TODAY VOLUNTARILY MOUNTED A CLEAN-UP AT THE CLEAR a ATER BAY SECOND BEACH IN SAI KUNG.
THE EFFORT WAS PART OF A +CLEAN HONG KONG+ COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROGRAMME, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES -DEPARTMENT SAID.
THE BEACH IS THE MOST POPULAR PUBLIC BATHING BEAQh i. T< NEW TERRITORIES, AND ATTRACTED 1.8 MILLION BATHERS ^AST .
LED BY THEIR TEACHER, THE SCHOOL CHILDREN S~E\T -
MORNING COLLECTING 50 BASKETFULS OF RUBBISH LEFT .'C--BEACH-GOERS.
SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 1984
- 7 -
NOTE TO EDITORS:
PRESS CONFERENCE ON WATER SPORTS
DETAILS OF A WATER SPORTS EXTRAVAGANZA WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TO BE HELD ON MONDAY (MARCH 26) AFTERNOON.
THE EXTRAVAGANZA IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT AND THE BRITISH FORCES IN HONG KONG WITH SPONSORSHIP FROM THE LIU CHONG HING BANK.
IT WILL BE HELD AT THE CHONG HING WATER SPORTS CENTRE AT THE WEST COFFERDAM OF THE HIGH ISLAND RESERVOIR, SAI KUNG, ON APRIL 22, TO CELEBRATE THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE CENTRE.
THE VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE LIU CHONG HING BANK, MR LIU LIT-FOR, THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND SPORT, MR DICKEN YUNG AND THE DIRECTOR OF JOINT SERVICES PUBLIC RELATIONS OF THE BRITISH FORCES, MR TIM HUNT WILL BE PRESENT AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE TO GIVE DETAILS OF THE EXTRAVAGANZA.
YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE CONFERENCE TO BE HELD AT THE SICHUAN GARDEN RESTAURANT ON THc. 3RD FLOOR OF GLOUCESTER TOWER, CENTRAL, AT 3.30 PM ON MONDAY.
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FACILITIES FOR TWO SAI KUNG BEACHES * * *
SEPARATE TENDERS ARE BEING CALLED FOR THE SALE OF LIGHT REFRESHMENTS AND THE PROVISION OF CHANGING FACILITIES AT PAK SHA CHAU BEACH AND CAMPER’S BEACH IN SAI KUNG.
SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS MAY START BUSINESS ON JUNE 1 ON A T*0-AND-A-HALF-YEAR CONTRACT, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID.
TENDER FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE SAI KUNG URBAN SERVICES OFFICE, FIRST FLOOR, 69 MAN NIN STREET, SAI KUNG.
TENDERS IN DUPLICATE MUST BE PLACED IN THE TENDER BOX SITUATED AT THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF SWIRE AND MACLAINE HOUSE (AUSTIN CENTRE), 19-23 AUSTIN AVENUE, KOWLOON BEFORE 9 AM ON APRIL 27 (FRIDAY).
FURTHER DETAILS CAN ALSO BE OBTAINED FROM THE SAI kU*G URBAN SERVICES OFFICE ON TELEPHONE 3-2813635.
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/e .....
SATURDAY, MARCH 24. 1934
8 -
FLYOVER ROAD SKID-TEST M * * K
FROM 10.30 AM TO 12.30 PM ON MONDAY (MARCH 26), THE FLYOVER LEADING FROM MAGAZINE GAP ROAD TO GARDEN ROAD WILL BE CLOSED FOR SKID-RESISTANT SURFACE TESTS.
TRAFFIC WILL BE DIVERTED VIA THE ROAD BESIDE THE FLYOVER.
-----0
PARKING METERS ON KO SHAN ROAD XXI
A TOTAL OF 22 PARKING METERS WILL BE INSTALLED ALONG KO SHAN ROAD BETWEEN ITS JUNCTIONS WITH CHI KIANG STREET AND SHANSI STREET TO REGULATE THE USE OF ON-STREET PARKING SPACES.
THESE TWO-HOUR PARKING METERS, WHICH CHARGE $1 FOR EVERY 3D MINUTES, WILL BE OPERATIONAL FROM 10 AM ON MONDAY (MARCH 26).
--------o - - - -
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN KOWLOON AND NT
III
FROM 10 AM ON MONDAY (MARCH 26), NORTHBOUND VEHICLES FROM LA SALLE ROAD AT ITS JUNCTION WITH PRINCE EDWARD ROAD WEST a ILL ONLY BE ALLOWED TO TURN LEFT.
MOTORISTS FROM LA SALLE ROAD HEADING FOR PRINCE EDWARD ROAD EASTBOUND OR LA SALLE ROAD NORTHBOUND ARE ADVISED TO PROCEED VI a PRINCE EDWARD ROAD WEST, EMBANKMENT ROAD, BOUNDARY STREET AND LA SALLE ROAD.
FROM THE SAME TIME ON MONDAY, SAN KUNG STREET AND THE SECTION OF SAN HONG STREET BETWEEN TSUN FU STREET AND FU HING STREET IN SHEUNG SHU I IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL BE DESIGNATtD PROHIBITED ZONES TO ALL PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES.
FROM THE SAME DAY TO APRIL 4, BETWEEN 10 AM AND 4 PM, THE SECTION OF FEI NGO SHAN ROAD TO THE NORTH OF PAK KUNG AU * ILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC TO FACILITATE CONSTRUCTION WORK.
...... 0----
/9 .......
SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 1^84
TRAFFIC PLAN FOR * *
STUBBS ROAD WORK *
9
A 50-METRE SECTION OF STUBBS
, — ----------ROAD NEAR WONG NAI CHUNG GAP
ROAD, WILL BE RESTRICTED TO ONE LANE FOR TwO-WAY TRAFFIC BETwEEN AM AND 4 PM ON MONDAY, TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY (MARCH 26, 27 AND 28) FOR ROAD RESURFACING WORK.
10 AM 0N MONDAY, STANLEY LINK ROAD, FROM ITS JUNCTION STANL£Y BEACH ROAD TO A POINT ABOUT 70 METRES SOUTH OF THE
*,LL ALS0 BE RESTRICTED TO ONE LANE FOR TWO-wAY TRAFFIC FOR ABOUT 10 WEEKS FOR WORKS.
- 0
TSIM SHA TSUI WATER WORKS * * *
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO SOME PREMISES IN TSIM SHA TSUI WILL
BE TURNED OFF FROM 10 AM TO MAINS WORK.
4 PM ON WEDNESDAY (MARCH 28) FOR
THE AFFECTED AREAS ARE 13-17 OBSERVATORY ROAD, 1-9 25-77 KIMBERLEY ROAD AND THE
ALONG 1-14 KNUTSFORD TERRACE AND 2-12 OBSERVATORY COURT, ROYAL OBSERVATORY.
- 0 - -
WATER CUT IN CHAI WAN * * *
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN AREAS IN CHAI wAN wILL BE TURNED
OFF FROM 10 PM ON WATER WORKS.
TUESDAY (MARCH 27) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR
THE AFFECTED STREET, HONG PING
PREMISES ARE BOUNDED BY CHAI WAN ROAD, SAN HA STREET, SUN ON STREET, FUNG YIP STREET, SHEUNG
ON STREET, WING TAI ROAD AND YEE SHING STREET
THEY INCLUDE YUE WAN ESTATES, CHAI WAN ESTATES EAST, CHAI WAN EXTENSION LICENSED AREA AND CAPE COLLINSON.
- 0
FIRING PRACTICE AT HA TSUEN-CASTLE PEAK XXX
FIRING PRACTICE WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE HA TSUEN-CASTLE PEAK RANGE ON THREE DAYS NEXT WEEK.
THE PUBLIC ARE WARNED NOT TO ENTER THE AREA wHEN RED FlAGS ARE HOISTED.
THE PRACTICE WILL BE ON TUESDAY (MARCH 27), WEDNESDAY (MARCH 28) AND THURSDAY (MARCH 29) FROM 8 AM TO 5 PM.
0 -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 1984
CONTENTS PAGE NO,
GOVERNOR LEAVES FOR PEKING .................................. 1
INDUSTRIAL MISSION TO VISIT UK .............................. 1
OLD FOLK WANT MORE ATTENTION - SURVEY........................ 2
TWO FESTIVALS PLANNED FOR KOWLOON CITY....................... 3
COMMJNITY BUILDING WORK STRESSED ............................ 4
MORE TREATED WATER PLANNED FOR LANTaU ....................... 5
NEW COUNTRY TRAIL OPSNED .................................... 5
STUDY ROOMS FOR EXAMINATION PERIOD........................... 6
SHING MUN RIVER TO BE DESILTED............................... 7
MORE SQUASH COURTS FOR KWAI CHUNG............................ 7
RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR ABERDEEN ........................ 8
TENDERS CALLED FOR RUNNING SOUVENIR STALLS .................. 8
HORTICULTURE COURSE TC BE HELD IN SAI KUNG .................. 9
MORE REFUSE COLLECTION POINTS ............................... 9
TAILORING TRADE GOES METRIC ................................. 10
WORKSHOP TO IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY............................. 11
PARKING METERS FOR WONG TAI SIN ............................. 12
WATER MAINS WORK IN NORTH POINT ............................. 12
SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 1984
1
GOVERNOR LEAVES FOR PEKING
* * * *
THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, LEFT FOR PEKING THIS (SUNDAY) AFTERNOON TO TAKE PART IN THE 11TH ROUND OF SINO-BRITISH TALKS ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.
HE WAS SEEN OFF AT THE AIRPORT BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, SIR SZE-YUEN CHUNG, THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR ROGER LOBO, AND THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS SECRETARY OF THE XINHUA NEWS AGENCY (HONG KONG ERANCH), MR Ji SHAOXIANG.
ACCOMPANYING THE GOVERNOR WERE THE POLITICAL ADVISER, M? ROBIN MCLAREN, AND THE GOVERNMENT CHIEF INTERPRETER, Y.P. CHENG.
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INDUSTRIAL MISSION TO VISIT UK * * *
THE DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY, MR JOHN YAXLEY, WILL BE LEADING A MISSION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIALISTS TO THE UNITED KINGDOM FROM APRIL 9 TO 14.
THE 11 MISSION MEMBERS ARE DRAWN FROM NINE COMPANIES COVERING A WIDE RANGE OF INDUSTRIES, INCLUDING ELECTRONIC TELECOMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT, FOOD PACKAGING AND PROCESSING, ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, COMPUTER PERIPHERALS, PRECISION METAL STAMPINGS, SWITCHING POWER SUPPLIES AND STAINLESS STEEL PRODUCTS.
ACCOMPANYING THE MISSION WILL BE MR DONALD FLETCHER, PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT, MISS MABLE CHAN AND MR RAPHAEL NG, CONSULTANTS.
THE MISSION WILL SPEND TWO DAYS IN LONDON, ONE DAY IN NEWCASTLE AND TWO DAYS IN EDINBURGH.
SEMINARS WILL BE HELD IN EACH LOCATION, WHERE INDIVIDUAL APPOINTMENTS FOR MISSION MEMBERS ARE BEING ARRANGED BY THE DEPARTMENT’S LONDON OFFICE WITH COMPANY EXECUTIVES WHO COULD BE INTERESTED-IN DEVELOPING INDUSTRIAL COOPERATION WITH HONG KONG.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT SAID THE RESPONSE SO FAR FROM BRITISH COMPANIES HAD BEEN ENCOURAGING.
IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THE MISSION MEMBERS WILL HAVE FULL SCHEDULES.
SOME OF THE MISSION MEMBERS WILL ALSO VISIT THE HANOVER FAIR WHERE THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE A STAND IN THE INTERNATIONAL HALL.
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/2......
SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 1984
2
OLD FOLK WANT MORE ATTENTION - SURVEY I * * * MORE ATTENTION AND CARE FROM THE COMMUNITY ARE IMPORTANT TO A LARGE NUMBER OF OLD PEOPLE IN SAI KUNG, ACCORDING TO FINDINGS OF A SURVEY PUBLISHED TODAY (SUNDAY).
ABOUT HALF OF 2 255 PEOPLE, AGED BETWEEN 60 AND 105, WHO WERE INTERVIEWED DURING THE SURVEY FELT THAT FREQUENT HOME VISITS AND ORGANISED ACTIVITIES WOULD HELP ACHIEVE THIS GOAL.
THE SURVEY WAS FUNDED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD AT A COST OF S20 000 AND CONDUCTED BY 67 VOLUNTEERS AS PART OF THE SAI KUNG SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME LAST YEAR.
A DISTRICT BOARD SPOKESMAN SAID IT WAS INTENDED TO FIND OUT THE LIVING CONDITION OF THE ELDERLY AND THEIR SOCIAL NEEDS.
♦THE INFORMATION COLLECTED WILL BE A USEFUL REFERENCE IN THE FUTURE PLANNING OF SERVICES FOR ELDERLY IN THE DISTRICT,+ HE ADDED.
THE SURVEY FINDINGS WILL BE DISCUSSED AT THE BOARD’S SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING, ON TUESDAY.
OF THE PEOPLE INTERVIEWED, 1 003 (44.4 PER CENT) SAID THEY HOPED THEIR FRIENDS OR VOLUNTARY WORKERS COULD VISIT THEM MORE OFTEN SO THAT THEY WOULD NOT FEEL NEGLECTED BY, OR SEGREGATED FROM, THE SOCIETY.
ANOTHER 155 OF THEM (6.87 PER CENT) SAID THEY WERE IN NEED OF COMMUNITY NURSING SERVICES, 86(3.81 PER CENT) SAID THEY WANTED COMPANIONSHIP AND 84 (3.37 PER CENT) REQUIRED ASSISTANCE IN HOUSEWORK.
REGARDING THEIR LIVING CONDITION, THE SURVEY FOUND THAT 1 633 PEOPLE OR 72.42 PER CENT WERE LIVING WITH RELATIVES OR FRIENDS, 331 (14.68 PER CENT) LIVING ALONE AND 291 (12.9 PER CENT) IN HOMES FOR THE AGED.
THE SURVEY SHOWED THAT 1 662 PEOPLE (73 PER CENT) LIVED IN VILLAGE HOUSES, 130 (5.76 PER CENT) IN PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL FLATS, 124 (5.5 PER CENT) ON BUNK BEDS AND 48 (2.13 PER CENT) IN SQUATTER BOATS.
HOWEVER, MOST OF THE PEOPLE INTERVIEWED WERE FOUND TO BE LIVING IN LESS CONGESTED CONDITIONS, WITH 1 565 PEOPLE OR 69.4 PER CENT OCCUPYING MORE THAN 10 SQUARE METRES PER PERSON.
FINANCIALLY, 1 275 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN RECEIVING EITHER OLD AGE, PUBLIC ASSISTANCE OR DISABILITY ALLOWANCES FROM THE GOVERNMENT.
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/3.......
SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 1984
- 3 -
TWO FESTIVALS PLANNED FOR KOWLOON CITY * * * *
PLANS ARE IN HAND TO ORGANISE TWO FESTIVALS FOR RESIDENTS IN KOWLOON CITY THIS YEAR, THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MR ROGER GARCIA, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
THE RECREATION AND SPORTS AND COMMUNITY ARTS FESTIVALS, EACH LASTING ABOUT TWO WEEKS AND COSTING $200 000, WILL BE HELD IN SUMMER AND AROUND NOVEMBER RESPECTIVELY.
MR GARCIA SAID THE UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES OF THESE TWO FESTIVALS WERE DIRECT PARTICIPATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE DISTRICT AND COMMUNITY.
♦THESE TWO PRINCIPLES ARE IMPORTANT IF A FESTIVAL IS TO BE GENUINELY PART OF THE DISTRICT, RATHER THAN JUST A SERIES OF EVENTS ’IMPORTED’ INTO THE DISTRICT,+ HE SAID.
HE SAID WHILE DETAILS ON THE TWO FESTIVALS WERE YET TO BE FINALISED, SOME PROPOSALS HAD BEEN MADE.
FOR THE RECREATION AND SPORTS FESTIVAL, SOME SPECIAL EVENTS SUCH AS A MASS FITNESS RUN AROUND THE DISTRICT, A KITE FLYING DAY IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, AND A BICYCLE RELAY RACE WERE BEING PROPOSED.
♦ I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHILE SPECTATOR SPORTS, SUCH AS FOOTBALL AND TABLE-TENNIS, ENJOY A LARGE FOLLOWING IN HONG KONG, MANY MORE PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN ACTUALLY DOING SPORTS THEMSELVES,+ HE SAID.
♦ SO WE HAVE, IN A TYPICAL URBAN DISTRICT SUCH AS KOWLOON CITY, LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FROM THE DISTRICT PARTICIPATING IN RUNNING, SWIMMING, ATHLETIC COMPETITIONS- FOOTBALL, VOLLEYBALL, BASKETBALL MATCHES, AND MANY OTHER TOURNAMENTS AND EVENTS.
♦ I HOPE THE RECREATION AND SPORTS FESTIVAL WILL BE ABLE TO CONCENTRATE SOME OF THIS ENERGY INTO A SERIES OF INTENSIVE PROGRAMMES.♦
FOR THE COMMUNITY ARTS FESTIVAL, MR GARCIA SAID HE WAS THINKING OF A FESTIVAL IN WHICH PARTICIPATION BY THE PUBLIC WAS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE.
HE PROPOSED ORGANISING A LARGE-SCALE MURAL PAINTING ON DIFFERENT TRANSPORTABLE BOARDS - A KIND OF JIG-SAW PUZZLE PAINTING WITH DIFFERENT GROUPS ALL OVER THE DISTRICT PAINTING A SERIES OF PANELS ABOUT THEIR OWN PART OF THE DISTRICT.
♦ THE FINAL WORK WILL BE TO PUT ALL THESE PANELS TOGETHER SO AS TO END UP WITH A PANORAMIC PAINTING OF KOwLOON CITY DISTRICT,+ HE SAID.
/there would .......
SUNDAY, MAHGH 25, 1984
- 4 -
THERE WOULD ALSO BE A CHILDREN’S MUSIC DAY WORKSHOP IN WHICH CHILDREN MAKE THEIR OWN INSTRUMENTS IN THE MORNING AND THEN PLAY ONE PIECE ALTOGETHER IN AN OUTDOOR CONCERT IN THE AFTERNOON.
OTHER ACTIVITIES WOULD INCLUDE DANCE AND DRAMA PERFORMANCES ABOUT THE DISTRICT’S MANY LEGENDARY STORIES, AND POPULAR PRESENTATIONS SUCH AS CANTONESE OPERA, CHINESE CLASSICAL MUSIC AND DANCE, AND AN EVENING OF MUSIC AT THE KO SHAN THEATRE.
+OUR OVERALL AIM FOR BOTH FESTIVALS WILL BE ACHIEVED IF WE CAN MAKE PEOPLE REALISE THAT PARTICIPATION IS AN IMPORTANT WAY TO DEVELOP A SENSE OF COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY,* HE SAID.
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COMMUNITY BUILDING WORK STRESSED * * * *
THE YEAR-LONG +VITALITY FOR ALL ISLANDERS* SPORTS PROGRAMME HAS ENDED, BUT IT WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT BEARING ON THE RESIDENTS, THE ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICER, MR WILLIAM YAP, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
♦THE PROGRAMME NOT ONLY PROVIDED SOME FORM OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE YOUNG, BUT ALSO MOTIVATED LOCAL RESIDENTS TO TAKE PART IN COMMUNITY BUILDING WORK,* HE SAID.
MR YAP WAS SPEAKING AT THE PRIZE-PRESENTATION CEREMONY FOR WINNERS OF VARIOUS TOURNAMENTS IN BASKETBALL, FOOTBALL AND TABLETENNIS HELD DURING THE YEAR-LONG PROGRAMME.
ASIDE FROM RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, HE SAID COMMUNITY BUILDING WORK ALSO INCLUDED IMPROVEMENTS TO ENVIRONMENT AND TRAFFIC, AND ANY THING CONCERNING THE WELL-BEING OF THE RESIDENTS.
+THE SUCCESS OF COMMUNITY BUILDING IS AN HONOUR TO THE DISTRICT, AND RESIDENTS CAN CONTRIBUTE THROUGH TAKING PART IN DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION,* HE SAID.
+IN THIS RESPECT, DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS CANNOT BE NEGLECTED.
+EVERY VOTE IS AN INDICATION OF YOUR SUPPORT AND CONCERN TOWARDS THE COMMUNITY.
+1 HOPE ALL OF YOU WILL REGISTER AS VOTERS WHEN THE EXERCISE BEGINS IN AUGUST SO THAT YOU CAN VOTE IN NEXT YEAR’S ELECTIONS.*
THE *VITALITY FOR ALL ISLANDERS* PROGRAMME, SPONSORED BY THE LOCAL DISTRICT BOARD, TOOK THE FORM OF EIGHT FUN DAYS HELD ON CHEUNG CHAU, TAI 0, SOUTH LANTAO, SOUTH LAMMA, NORTH LAMMA, MUI WO, TUNG CHUNG AND PENG CHAU SINCE MAY LAST YEAR.
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A ...
SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 1984
- 5 -
MORE TREATED WATER PLANNED FOR LANTAU * * *
GOVERNMENT’S EFFORTS TO INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF TREATED WATER TO LANTAU WILL TAKE A MAJOR STEP FORWARD WHEN A TREATMENT PLANT IS BUILT AT CHEUNG SHA.
THE PLANT WILL BE READY EARLY IN 1986 AND HAVE A CAPACITY OF 6 OOO CUBIC METRES PER DAY.
WATER WILL BE DRAWN FROM SHEK PIK RESERVOIR AND AFTER BEING TREATED, WILL BE PIPED TO VILLAGES BETWEEN SHU I HAU IN THE WEST AND PUI 0 IN THE EAST.
THE FIRST MOVE IN BUILDING THE TREATMENT PLANT HAS BEEN TAKEN WITH THE AWARD OF A $3.16 MILLION CONTRACT TO PORTALS WATER TREATMENT (HONG KONG) LIMITED FOR SUPPLYING AND INSTALLING TREATMENT EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING FIVE PRESSURE FILTERS AND CHEMICAL DOSING APPLIANCES.
THE COMPANY IS NOW WORKING ON PROVIDING DRAWINGS OF THE EQUIPMENT WHICH WIlL BE READY IN A MONTH.
WHEN IT RECEIVES THESE, THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT WILL THEN BE ABLE TO START DESIGNING THE TREATMENT PLANT WHICH WILL BE BUILT ON A HILLSIDE ABOVE CHEUNG SHA.
THE TREATMENT EQUIPMENT WILL BE’DELIVERED AND INSTALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR.
TENDERS FOR THE CIVIL ENGINEERING CONTRACT FOR THE TREATMENT PLANT, WHICH WILL INCLUDE PILING AND BUILDING THE SUPERSTRUCTURE, WILL BE INVITED IN SIX MONTHS.
--.-0----
NEW COUNTRY TRAIL OPENED ft ft ft
WALKING ALONG THE TAI PO COUNTRY TRAIL WAS A DELIGHTFUL MEANS OF EXPLORING THE DISTRICT’S COUNTRYSIDE, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR NEW TERRITORIES, MR IAN MACPHERSON, SAID THIS (SUNDAY) MORNING.
THE WALKERS COULD DISCOVER THE SCENIC VIEWS OVER TOLO HARBOUR AND GAIN ACCESS TO THE NEIGHBOURING TAI PO KAU NATURE RESERVE.
MR MACPHERSON WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE COUNTRY TRAIL AND VIEWSCAPE.
HE SAID THAT THE SERIES OF TRAILS THROUGH THE COUNTRYSIDE PROVIDED A FITTING COMPLEMENT TO THE MORE FORMAL RECREATIONAL FACILITIES PLANNED FOR TAI PO WHICH WOULD INCLUDE A SWIMMING POOL, A SPORTS COMPLEX, AN INDOOR GAMES HALL, A FOOTBALL PITCH AND AN ATHLETIC STADIUM, ALL TO BE PROVIDED BY 1988.
/FUNDED BY .......
SUNDAY, MAUCH 25, 1984
6
FUNDED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD, THE TRAIL IS DEVELOPED JOINTLY BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE, THE TAI PO AND FANLING DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, THE SURVEY OFFICE AND THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THE VIEWSCAPE, WITH NAMES OF VARIOUS LANDMARKS ENGRAVED ON A METAL PLATE, AND SURROUNDING SEATS AT LAI CHI SHAN HILL WERE BUILT WITH A DONATION FROM THE LIONS CLUB OF CASTLE PEAK.
♦ALL THOSE WHO WIND THEIR WAY UP HERE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THAT THE LIONS CLUB AND DISTRICT BOARD SPIRIT OF CARING FOR THE COMMUNITY IS STILL VERY MUCH ALIVE AND WELL,+ MR MACPHERSON SAID.
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STUDY ROOMS FOR EXAMINATION PERIOD * * * *
TEMPORARY STUDY ROOMS WILL BE OPENED IN THE EVENING IN 73 SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT HONG KONG FROM APRIL 1 TO JUNE 30 FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS.
♦THESE STUDY ROOMS WILL BE OPEN DURING THE EXAMINATION PERIOD TO PROVIDE STUDENTS LIVING IN CROWDED AND NOISY ENVIRONMENT WITH ALTERNATIVE FACILITIES TO DO THEIR HOMEWORK AND PRIVATE STUDY,+ AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
STUDY ROOMS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS WILL BE OPEN FROM 7 PM TO 10 PM, FROM MONDAY TO FRIDAY, STRICTLY FOR THE USE OF SECONDARY STUDENTS.
THOSE LOCATED IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS WILL BE OPEN FROM 7 PM TO 9 PM FOR BOTH SECONDARY AND PRIMARY STUDENTS.
BUT THE STUDY ROOMS WILL BE CLOSED ON PUBLIC HOLIDAYS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
♦STUDY ROOM FACILITIES ARE ALSO PROVIDED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR BY THE CULTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES,+ HE ADDED.
POSTERS SHOWING THE DISTRIBUTION OF STUDY ROOMS HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO SCHOOLS.
STUDY ROOM SUPERVISORS WILL BE APPOINTED TO MAINTAIN ORDER BUT THEY WILL NOT BE GIVING TUITION TO STUDENTS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
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/7.........
SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 1984
- 7 -
SHING MUN RIVER TO BE DESILTED * * *
WORK WILL START IN MAY ON DESILTING THE SHING MUN RIVER AT SHA TIN.
SILT, MUD AND OTHER DEPOSITS WILL BE REMOVED FROM A TWO-KILOMETRE STRETCH OF THE CONCRETE-LI NED RIVER CHANNEL FROM THE LOWER SHING MUN DAM TO THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY BRIDGE NEAR TAI WAI.
THE PROJECT ALSO INCLUDES DIGGING A DRY-WEATHER CHANNEL OVER THE SAME LENGTH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RIVER.
THIS IS DESIGNED TO LEAD WATER AWAY IN THE DRY SEASON, WHEN THE LEVEL OF THE RIVER IS NORMALLY VERY LOW, AND TO PREVENT SILT FROM BEING DEPOSITED ON THE MAIN RIVER CHANNEL BED DUE TO SLOW WATER MOVEMENT.
THE CHANNEL WILL BE TWO-AND-A-HALF-METRE WIDE AND ONE METRE DEEP.
THE WORK, FOR WHICH THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT IS INVITING TENDERS BY APRIL 13, WILL .BE COMPLETED IN TIME FOR THE DRY WEATHER IN NOVEMBER.
TENDERS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE CHAIRMAN, CENTRAL TENDER BOARD, AND PLACED IN THE SECRETAR I AT'TENDER BOX IN THE LIFT LOBBY ON THE LOWER GROUND FLOOR OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, EAST WING, LOWER ALBERT ROAD.
TENDER FORMS AND FURTHER PARTICULARS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE CHIEF ENGINEER, HIGHWAYS (NT) DIVISION, SECOND FLOOR, FARM ROAD GOVERNMENT BRANCH OFFICES, 11 FARM ROAD, KOWLOON.
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MORE SQUASH COURTS FOR KWAI CHUNG
*****
CONSTRUCTION WORK WILL START IN MAY ON TWO ADDITIONAL SQUASH COURTS AT KWAI CHUNG.
THE COURTS ARE TO BE BUILT BENEATH THE CAR PARK DECK OF KWAI SHING SWIMMING POOL AT KWAI FUK ROAD.
WORK IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN SIX MONTHS AND THE CONSTRUCTION COST WILL BE MET BY A DONATION FROM THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB.
TENDERS FOR THE PROJECT ARE BEING INVITED BY THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE OF THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, AND MUST BE SUBMITTED BY APRIL 13.
THE NEW COURTS WILL BRING TO SIX THE NUMBER OF SQUASH COURTS IN KWAI CHUNG.
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SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 1984
- 8 -
RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR ABERDEEN
III
A SITTING-OUT AREA AND CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND ARE TO BE BUILT UNDERNEATH THE NORTHERN APPROACH OF AP LEI CHAU BRIDGE AT ABERDEEN.
FACILITIES TO BE PROVIDED ON THE 1 800-SQUARE-METRE SITE INCLUDE PLANTS, BENCHES, ARBOURS, PERGOLAS AND PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT
WORK WILL START IN JUNE AND BE COMPLETED IN FOUR MONTHS.
TENDERS FOR THE PROJECT ARE BEING INVITED BY THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE OF THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
THE FACILITIES ARE FOR USE BY FUTURE RESIDENTS OF AP LEI CHAU AND ABERDEEN HOUSING ESTATES NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
THE PRESENT POPULATION OF THE AREA IS 55 OOO AND IS EXPECTED TO RISE TO 98 000 BY 1990.
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TENDERS CALLED FOR RUNNING SOUVENIR STALLS * * * *
TENDERS ARE BEING INVITED FOR THE OPERATION OF TWO SOUVENIR STALLS AT CASTLE PEAK BEACH IN TUEN MUN.
THIS BEACH IS POPULAR WITH TOURISTS, AND ALSO PROVIDES BARBECUE PITS AND HIRE BOATS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID.
SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS MAY START BUSINESS ON JUNE 1 ON A TWO-YEAR CONTRACT. .
TENDER FORMS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE NTSD HEADQUARTERS ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF SWIRE AND MACLAINE HOUSE (AUSTIN CENTRE) 19-23 AUSTIN AVENUE, TSIM SHA TSUI, OR AT THE TUEN MUN URBAN SERVICES OFFICE ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF ’TOP COURT’, 60-70 TAK CHING COURT, TOEN MUN.
COMPLETED FORMS SHOULD BE PLACED IN THE TENDER BOX SITUATED AT THE NTSD HEADQUARTERS BEFORE 9 AM ON APRIL 19 (THURSDAY), THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
FURTHER INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE TUEN MUN URBAN SERVICES OFFICE ON TELEPHONE 0-820800, EXT. 301.
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SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 1984
- 9 -
HORTICULTURE COURSE TO BE HELD IN SAI KUNG * * * *
A FREE HORTICULTURE COURSE WILL BE OFFERED IN SAI KUNG LATER THIS YEAR.
THE COURSE, ORGANISED BY THE SAI KUNG URBAN SERVICES OFFICE, WILL BE HELD AT THE SAI KUNG TANG SHIU KIN SPORTS GROUND BETWEEN 9.30 AM AND 12 NOON ON EIGHT CONSECUTIVE SUNDAY MORNINGS, STARTING FROM APRIL 29.
SIMILAR COURSES HELD IN SAI KUNG LAST YEAR WERE WELL ATTENDED, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID.
LECTURES WILL FOCUS ON ADVANCED PLANTING TECHNIQUES, INCLUDING THE PROPAGATION AND MAINTENANCE OF VARIOUS INDOOR PLANTS AND LANDSCAPING.
PARTICIPANTS WILL ALSO MAKE FIELD VISITS UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF HORTICULTURAL EXPERTS OF THE DEPARTMENT.
APPLICATIONS ARE BEING INVITED FOR THE COURSE AND WILL BE ACCEPTED ON A FIRST-COME-FIRST-SERVED BASIS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
APPLICATION FORMS ARE-AVA ILABLE AT THE SAI KUNG URBAN SERVICES OFFICE ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF 69 MAN NIN STREET, SAI KUNG.
0 -
MORE REFUSE COLLECTION POINTS
*****
THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE OF THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR TWO REFUSE COLLECTION POINTS AT KWUN TONG AND TUEN MUN.
THE COLLECTION POINT AT KWUN TONG WILL BE BUILT ON A 305-SQUARE h€TRE SITE NEAR YUET WAH STREET PLAYGROUND AND REPLACE THE EXISTING TEMPORARY REFUSE COLLECTION POINT IN THE VICINITY.
THE TUEN MUN REFUSE COLLECTION POINT, OCCUPYING A SITE OF 168 SQUARE METRES, WILL BE SITUATED AT TUEN MUN ROAD NEAR CHI LOK GARDEN.
BOTH REFUSE COLLECTION POINTS WILL BE ONE-STOREY REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURES.
FACILITIES WILL INCLUDE REFUSE COLLECTION AREAS, HANDCART WASHING SPACES, TOILETS, ROLL-CALL ROOMS, OFFICES AND STOREROOMS.
WORK ON BOTH PROJECTS IS SCHEDULED TO START IN MAY AND BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
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/10........
SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 1984
- 10 -
TAILORING TRADE GOES METRIC X * X *
STARTING NEXT MONTH, METRIC MEASUREMENTS WILL BE IN FULL SWING IN THE PIECE GOODS AND TAILORING TRADES.
THE METRICATION COMMITTEE ANNOUNCED TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT FROM APRIL 1, LENGTH AND WIDTH OF FABRICS WILL BE MEASURED IN ’METRES’ AND 'CENTIMETRES’.
+THE PRICE OF CLOTH MATERIALS WILL BE QUOTED ONLY IN METRIC UNITS. 'PER YARD’ PRICE TAGS WILL DISAPPEAR FROM THE MARKET ALTOGETHER,+ SAID A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COMMITTEE.
HE EXPLAINED THAT SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE CHANGEOVER PROGRAMME IN NOVEMBER 1982, METRIC AND IMPERIAL UNITS HAVE BEEN USED CONCURRENTLY.
♦WITH THE ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT OF THE TRADESPEOPLE AND THE AVAILABI LITY OF METRIC MEASURING TOOLS, I.E. ’METRESTICKS’ AND ’HALF-METRE RULERS’ IN THE MARKET, THE CONVERSION PROGRAMME HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT VERY SMOOTHLY,* HE ADDED.
*
TALKING ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF METRICATION IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY, THE SPOKESMAN ANTICIPATED THAT METRIC UNITS WILL SOON BE FULLY ADOPTED BY RETAILERS AND MANUFACTURERS.
IMPORTED CLOTHING FROM EUROPEAN COUNTRIES AND JAPAN ARE ALREADY LABELLED IN METRIC UNITS AND THE MAJORITY OF LOCAL FASHION MANUFACTURERS HAVE BEEN USING THE DU AL-L ABELL I NG SYSTEM FOR SOME TIME.
+IN THE MEANTIME, WE ARE WORKING HARD TO ENCOURAGE CONSUMERS AND THE SALES STAFF OF FASHION SHOPS TO USE METRIC BODY MEASUREMENTS AND METRIC CLOTHING SIZES,* HE SAID.
TO FACILITATE THE CHANGEOVER, LARGE QUANTITIES OF AWARENESS POSTERS, CONVERSION CARDS AND LEAFLETS HAVE BEEN PRODUCED FOR FREE DISTRIBUTION TO DEPARTMENT STORES, FASHION HOUSES AND THE RELATED TRADE ASSOCIATIONS.
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/11 .......
SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 1984
11 -
WORKSHOP TO IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY * * * *
A THREE-DAY WORKSHOP ON +IMPROVEMENT OF PRODUCTIVITY IN THE CIVIL SERVICE+ WILL BE HELD LATER THIS WEEK FOR LABOUR DEPARTMENT OFFICERS WORKING IN REGIONAL AND DISTRICT OFFICES.
THE WORKSHOP WILL BE RUN JOINTLY BY THE STAFF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND THE STAFF MANAGEMENT AND DISCIPLINE DIVISION OF THE CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THE THREE-DAY WORKSHOP IS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT’S CONTINUING EFFORTS IN IMPROVING PRODUCTIVITY AND THE QUALITY OF SERVICE, PARTICULARLY AT THE POINT OF DELIVERY TO THE PUBLIC.
DURING THE FIRST TWO DAYS, OFFICERS ATTENDING THE WORKSHOP WILL BE BRIEFED ON THE EXPERIENCE GAINED FROM THE PILOT PROJECTS CONDUCTED BY THE CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH ON PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENT.
THEY WILL ALSO BE GIVEN A CHANCE TO DISCUSS WITH PARTICIPANTS OF PREVIOUS WORKSHOPS, AND TO LEARN FROM EXPERTS IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS THE GE'NERAL PRINCIPLES OF IMPROVING PRODUCTIVITY
THE PARTICIPANTS WILL THEN BE GIVEN AN ASSIGNMENT EACH TO CONDUCT IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS IN THEIR OWN OFFICES.
THE RESULTS OF THEIR EFFORTS WILL BE PRESENTED ON THE THIRD DAY OF THE WORKSHOP WHICH WILL BE HELD EIGHT WEEKS LATER.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT’S WORKSHOP ON PRODUCTIVITY IMPROVEMENT TO BE HELD AT 9 AM ON THURSDAY (MARCH 29) AT ROOM 614A, HENNESSY CENTRE, CAUSEWAY BAY.
THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, DR JAMES HAYES, WILL CFFICATE AT THE OPENING.
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SUNDAY, MARCH 25, 1984
12 -
PARKING METERS FOR WONG TAI SIN * * * *
ON TUESDAY (MARCH 27), A TOTAL OF 37 PARKING METERS WILL BE INSTALLED AT PO KONG VILLAGE ROAD AND YUK WAH STREET IN WONG TAI SIN, TO REGULATE THE USE OF ON-STREET PARKING SPACES.
THE TWO-HOUR METERS ARE OF TWO TYPES, ONE CHARGING 50 CENTS EVERY 30 MINUTES FOR GOODS VEHICLES AND THE OTHER CHARGING $1 EVERY 30 MINUTES FOR ALL OTHER VEHICLES.
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WATER MAINS WORK IN NORTH POINT * * * * *
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN PREMISES IN NORTH POINT WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 10 PM Ohk WEDNESDAY (MARCH 28) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR MAINS WORK.
THE PREMISES AFFECTED ARE AT 510-612 KING’S ROAD, 151-171 TIN HAU TEMPLE ROAD, 44-60 TANNER ROAD AND KAI YUEN TERRACE, INCLUDING UPPER KAI YUEN LANE AND LOWER KAI YUEN LANE.
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©
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
MONDAY, MARCH 26, 1984
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
SIR PHILIP SEES AGRICULTURE AND FISHERY WORK ................. 1
EARLIER RESETTLEMENT ASHORE FOR BOAT DWELLERS ................ 1
PARENTS REMINDED ABOUT SCHOOL FORMS ........................
IMPROVED BUS SERVICES FOR SAI WAN HO RESIDENTS................ 3
FRANCHISED BUSES MOST POPULAR IN 198“I> SURVEY SHOWS.......... 4
STUDY ROOM FOR SCATTERS ...................................... 5
BUSY YEAR AT ENQUIRY CENTRES ................................. 5
TUNNEL EXIT ROAD RESURFACING WORK............................. 6
HOSPITAL EXTENSION .........................................
WATER FIGURES................................................. 7
WATER MAINS TEST ............................................. 7
MONDAY, MARCH 26, 1984
1
SIR PHILIP SEES AGRICULTURE AND FISHERY WORK ft ft ft ft
THE DEPUTY TO THE GOVERNOR, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, TODAY (MONDAY) TOURED THE NEW TERRITORIES TO INSPECT THE WORK AND FACILITIES OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT.
SIR PHILIP, ACCOMPANIED BY THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR JOHN RIDDELL-SWAN, FLEW BY HELICOPTER TO THE FISHERIES RESEARCH SUB-STATION ON KAT 0 ISLAND IN MIRS BAY, WHERE HE SAW HATCHERY TANKS, MUSSELS UNDER CULTURE, AND MARINE FISH BEING REARED IN CAGES.
HE THEN FLEW TO THE TA KWU LING PIG BREEDING CENTRE WHERE HE INSPECTED PEDIGREE BOARS, THE ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION LABORATORY, AND THE PIG PRODUCTION UNIT FOR BREEDER PIGS.
AT THE TAI LUNG FARM, SIR PHILIP SAW MUSHROOM CULTIVATION TECHNIQUES, THE UTILISATION OF PLASTIC NETHOUSES AND A DEMONSTRATION OF PLANT PEST CONTROL.
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EARLIER RESETTLEMENT ASHORE FOR BOAT DWELLERS ft ft ft ft
BOAT DWELLERS IN TUEN MUN TYPHOON SHELTER ARE BEING RESETTLED ASHORE TWO YEARS EARLIER THAN EXPECTED DUE TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF A CLEARANCE OPERATION AIMED AT IMPROVING THEIR LIVING CONDITIONS.
ABOUT 3 OOO BOAT DWELLERS ARE INVOLVED IN THE CLEARANCE WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR 1986, WHEN RECLAMATION OF THE AREA IS PLANNED TO START.
THE CLEARANCE IS CURRENTLY BEING UNDERTAKEN BY TUEN MUN DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE AND THE MARINE DEPARTMENT.
THE OPERATION INVOLVES CLEARING ABOUT 500 BOATS, MOST OF WHICH ARE DILAPIDATED AND DO NOT HAVE WATER, ELECTRICITY OR OTHER SERVICES.
THE BOAT DWELLERS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR EITHER PUBLIC OR TEMPORARY HOUSING IN THE DISTRICT.
VACATED BOATS WILL BE DESTROYED, EXCEPT THOSE NOT USED FOR DOMESTIC PURPOSES WHICH HAVE BEEN LICENSED BY THE MARINE DEPARTMENT. THESE WILL BE ALLOWED TO REMAIN IN THE NEARBY PERMANENT SHELTER.
/ths tush .......
MONDAY, MAHCH 26, 1984
2 -
THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT LANDS OFFICER, MR RON CROSS, SAID IN VIEW OF THE POOR LIVING ENVIRONMENT OF THE BOAT DWELLERS AND THE AVAILABILITY IN TUEN MUN OF PUBLIC HOUSING FOR THE PEOPLE INVOLVED, THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE PROPOSED TO GO AHEAD IMMEDIATELY WITH THE CLEARANCE OPERATION.
♦THIS PROPOSAL WAS ENDORSED BY THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE,* HE SAID.
THE CLEARANCE SHOULD BE COMPLETED IN APRIL, BY WHICH TIME CROSS SAID THE ENVIRONMENT, BOTH FOR BOAT DWELLERS AND RESIDENTS IN NEARBY SAM SHING HUI AND ON TING ESTATES, AS WELL AS FOR ALL THOSE TRAVELLING THROUGH THIS AREA OF THE NEW TOWN, WOULD BE MUCH IMPROVED.
THE TOTAL COST OF THE CLEARANCE, INCLUDING DESTRUCTION OF BOATS, IS 11.8 MILLION.
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PARENTS REMINDED ABOUT SCHOOL FORMS
*****
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TODAY (MONDAY) REMINDED PARENTS OF CHILDREN TAKING PART IN THE PRIMARY ONE ADMISSION SYSTEM'S CENTRAL ALLOCATION OF PLACES THAT WEDNESDAY (MARCH 28) WILL BE THE LAST DAY FOR THEM TO RETURN THEIR COMPLETED ♦CHOICE OF SCHOOLS* FORMS.
THE PARENTS HAD EARLIER BEEN ASKED TO GO TO A SPECIFIED CENTRE BETWEEN MARCH 25 AND 28 TO COLLECT A ♦CHOICE OF SCHOOLS* FORM AND A LIST OF ALL GOVERNMENT AND AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN THEIR OWN DISTRICT.
♦THE COMPLETED FORM SHOULD BE RETURNED TO THE SPECIFIED CENTRE DURING THE SAME PERIOD,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
PARENTS WHO HAVE ANY PROBLEM IN FILLING THE FORM SHOULD CONTACT THE PRIMARY ONE ADMISSION UNIT AT TEL. NO. 5-724383.
PARENTS WHO HAVE MOVED HOUSE RECENTLY OR ARE PLANNING TO ►OVE HOUSE SOON SHOULD ALSO INFORM THE UNIT SO THAT ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE TO ALLOCATE A PLACE TO THEIR CHILDREN IN THEIR NEW HOME DISTRICT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
RESULTS OF THE CENTRAL ALLOCATION OF PLACES WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN LATE JUNE.
PARENTS WILL BE ASKED BY THE PRIMARY ONE ADMISSION UNIT TO COLLECT AN ALLOCATION SLIP ON A SPECIFIED DATE FROM THEIR OWN CENTRE AND TO REGISTER WITH THE SCHOOL ALLOCATED AT THE TIME AND DATE AS INDICATED ON THE SLIP.
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MONDAY, MARCH 26, 1984
- 3 -
IMPROVED BUS SERVICES FOR SAI WAN HO RESIDENTS * * * *
BUSES WILL BE RUNNING MORE FREQUENTLY BETWEEN SAI WAN HO AND CENTRAL, WHEN THE HONGKONG AND YAUMATI FERRY SERVICES OPERATING BETWEEN THE TWO DISTRICTS ARE WITHDRAWN FROM SUNDAY (APRIL 1).
THE PEAK-HOUR FREQUENCY OF CMB ROUTE 21 BETWEEN TAIKOO SHING AND CENTRAL WILL BE INCREASED FROM THE EXISTING 1O-MINUTE INTERVALS TO SEVEN MINUTES.
ROUTE 21 IS ONE OF SEVEN BUS SERVICES OPERATING BETWEEN THE TWO DISTRICTS. OTHER FORMS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT, SUCH AS PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES AND TRAMS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE TO TAIKOO SHING RESIDENTS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED THAT OPERATION OF THE TAIKOO SHING TO CENTRAL FERRY SERVICE HAD BEEN RENDERED HIGHLY UNECONOMICAL BY A CONTINUAL DECLINE IN PASSENGERS.
♦CANCELLATION OF THE FERRY SERVICE IS CONSIDERED A JUSTIFIABLE ECONOMY MEASURE AIMED AT TRIMMING COSTS AND MAINTAINING THE VIABILITY OF THE HYF FERRY NETWORK AS A WHOLE,♦ HE SAID.
THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS CARRIED ON THE FERRY SERVICE HAS DROPPED FROM A PEAK OF 4 619 A DAY IN SEPTEMBER 1982, TO LESS THAN 300 A DAY IN FEBRUARY 1984.
THE FERRY ROUTE EXPERIENCED A 30 PER CENT PATRONAGE REDUCTION IN DECEMBER 1982 FOLLOWING THE RELOCATION OF TRAM TRACKS NORTHWARDS IN THE KING'S ROAD PUBLIC TRANSPORT PRIORITY SCHEME, WHICH SHORTENED BUS JOURNEY TIMES ALONG KING'S ROAD AND REDUCED THE ATTRACTIVENESS OF THE FERRY ALTERNATIVE.
FERRY PATRONAGE FURTHER DECREASED AFTER OCTOBER 1983 WHEN THE ROUTE WAS OPERATED FROM THE NEW PERMANENT PIER ON THE RECLAMATION SOME DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE ORIGINAL TAIKOO SHING PIER.
THE SERVICE, SHOULD IT CONTINUE TO OPERATE, IS EXPECTED TO SUFFER FURTHER PASSENGER LOSSES WHEN THE SECTION OF THE ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR BETWEEN CAUSEWAY BAY AND TAIKOO SHING OPENS IN JUNE THIS YEAR.
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/4........
MONDAY, MARCH 26, 1984
- 4 -
FRANCHISED BUSES MOST POPULAR IN 1981, SURVEY SHOWS ******
FRANCHISED BUSES WERE IN 1981 THE MOST POPULAR FORM OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT, TAKING UP 34 PER CENT OF TRIPS BY PEOPLE, ACCORDING TO A SURVEY CARRIED OUT FOR THE YEAR.
OTHER FORMS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT MOST USED IN 1981 WERE PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES (14 PER CENT), PRIVATE OR SCHOOL BUSES OR COACHES (12 PER CENT), TAXIS (EIGHT PER CENT), AND THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY (7.9 PER CENT).
THESE FIGURES ARE SHOWN IN A ♦1981 SPECIAL SURVEY ON TRANSPORT CHARACTERISTICS+, WHICH USED A TWO PER CENT RANDOM SAMPLE OF HOUSEHOLDS.
IN THE SURVEY CARRIED OUT BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, DETAILED TRANSPORT INFORMATION WAS OBTAINED FROM ALL PERSONS AGED FOUR AND OVER IN THE SAMPLE, BUT DID NOT INCLUDE HOTEL TRANSIENTS, INMATES IN INSTITUTIONS AND PEOPLE LIVING IN THE OUTLYING ISLANDS AND SOME REMOTE AREAS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.
SOME 27 670 DOMESTIC HOUSEHOLDS WERE SELECTED FOR THE SURVEY, CF WHICH 22 904 — OR 83 PER CENT -- WERE SUCCESSFULLY INTERVIEWED.
DETAILS OF THE SURVEY ARE CONTAINED IN A SPECIAL REVIEW OF THE HONG KONG MONTHLY DIGEST OF STATISTICS FOR JANUARY 1984, JUST PUBLISHED AND ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, AT S25 A COPY.
THE REPORT STATES THAT TRANSPORTATION MODELS DEVELOPED FROM THE HONG KONG COMPREHENSIVE TRANSPORT STUDY — CTS — IN 1973-76 HAD BEEN USED EXTENSIVELY AS THE BASIS FOR TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND POLICY FORMULATION. BUT WITH THE MANY CHANGES OCCURRING IN TRANSPORT CHARACTERISTICS SINCE THEN, IN PARTICULAR, AS A RESULT CF THE AVAILABILITY OF THE MTR IN 1981, IT WAS FELT THAT A COMPREHENSIVE TRANSPORT SURVEY BE CARRIED OUT.
THE SPECIAL SURVEY ON TRANSPORT CHARACTERISTICS WAS CONCEIVED AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND, WITH THE OBJECT OF ESTABLISHING A COMPREHENSIVE DATA BASE FOR TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND FOR THE VALIDATION OF THE CTS MODELS.
THE SPECIAL REVIEW OUTLINES THE METHODOLOGY USED IN THE SURVEY AND ALSO PRESENTS A SUMMARY OF THE SURVEY FINDINGS.
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MONDAY, MARCH 26, 1984
- 5 -
STUDY ROOM FOR SQUATTERS M M M
A 7O-SEAT AIR-CONDITIONED STUDY ROOM WAS OPENED TODAY (MONDAY) FOR RESIDENTS IN THE DIAMOND HILL SQUATTER AREA IN WONG TAI SIN.
THE STUDY ROOM, SITUATED ON LUNG CHEUNG ROAD NEXT TO DIAMOND HILL MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY STATION, HAD BEEN CONVERTED FROM A PREVIOUS SITE OFFICE OF THE LUNG CHEUNG ROAD NORTHERN CARRIAGEWAY WIDENING PROJECT.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM, DESCRIBED THE STUDY ROOM AS A ^MEANINGFUL PROJECT* SPONSORED BY THE LOCAL DISTRICT BOARD.
THE STUDY ROOM COULD ALSO PROVIDE CONFERENCE ROOM FACILITIES FOR THE NGAU TSUEN AREA COMMITTEE AND OTHER LOCAL ORGANISATIONS, HE SAID.
THE BOARD HAD ALLOCATED MORE THAN $1 MILLION TO CO-ORGANISE OR SPONSOR COMMUNITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR.
♦IN VIEW OF THE CRITICAL SHORTAGE OF STUDY ROOM FACILITIES AND VENUES FOR COMMUNITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES IN THE DIAMOND HILL AREA, THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT OFFICE HAS ASSISTED THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT YOUTH RECREATION COORDINATING COMMITTEE TO DEVELOP THE SITE OFFICE INTO A STUDY ROOM.
♦FUNDS WERE ALSO GRANTED BY THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD AND THE LIONS CLUB (HONG KONG EAST) TO COVER THE RENOVATION COSTS,♦ t£ SAID.
THE RENOVATION COST OF THE STUDY ROOM WAS $47 000, OF WHICH $17 000 WAS PROVIDED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD.
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BUSY YEAR AT ENQUIRY CENTRES * * *
THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION’S 63 PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE CENTRES THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY LAST YEAR DISTRIBUTED 6.2 MILLION GOVERNMENT FORMS, PAMPHLETS AND OTHER INFORMATION MATERIAL, A CNTA SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY.
THE MOST POPULAR FORMS WERE THOSE CONCERNING GOVERNMENT VACANCIES, THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME, WALK FOR A MILLION, PUBLIC HOUSING AND PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS.
OTHER PAMPHLETS IN DEMAND DEALT WITH IMMIGRATION, URBAN SERVICES, HOUSING, TRANSPORT, AND THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT.
/and of........
MONDAY, MA2CH 26, 1984
6
AND OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO STUDENTS WERE FACT SHEETS ON VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND SERVICES.
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT ALMOST ALL TYPES OF GOVERNMENT FORMS AND INFORMATION MATERIAL MAY BE OBTAINED BY THE PUBLIC FROM THE 63 PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE CENTRES AT DISTRICT OFFICES AND THEIR BRANCH OFFICES.
+ENQUIRIES ON SERVICES AVAILABLE AT THE CENTRES OR THEIR ADDRESSES AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS CAN BE MADE AT THE PUBLIC ENuUIkY SERVICE SECTION IN CNTA HEADQUARTERS AT WORLD SHIPPING CENTRE, 7 CANTON ROAD, 13/F, OR BY TELEPHONING 3-692255-6,+ HE ADDED.
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TUNNEL EXIT ROAD RESURFACING WORK
*****
THE EXIT ROAD LEADING FROM THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL TO HAPPY VALLEY WILL BE CLOSED FROM 11 PM ON WEDNESDAY (MARCH 28) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR ROAD RESURFACING WORK.
THE MEASURES WILL BE REPEATED ON THE NIGHTS OF MARCH 29, 31, APRIL 1, 2, 4, 5 AND 7.
DURING THE CLOSURE, TRAFFIC WILL BE DIVERTED VIA THE EXIT ROAD LEADING TO CAUSEWAY BAY, VICTORIA PARK ROAD EASTBOUND, GLOUCESTER ROAD WESTBOUND AND CANAL ROAD FLYOVER.
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NOTE TO EDITORSi
HOSPITAL EXTENSION * * *
DR K.L. THONG, DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE PHASE HA EXTENSION PROGRAMME OF POK 01 HOSPITAL IN YUEN LONG TOMORROW (TUESDAY) AT 11 AM.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CEREMONY.
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/7 ........
MONDAY, MARCH 26, 1984
- 7
WATER FIGURES M M M
STORAGE IN HONG KONG'S RESERVOIRS AT 9 AM TODAY (MONDAY) STOOD AT 75.2 PER CENT OF CAPACITY OR 440.943 MILLION CUBIC METRES.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR THE RESERVOIRS CONTAINED 439.310 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF WATER, REPRESENTING 74.9 PER CENT OF CAPACITY.
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WATER MAINS TEST
* * *
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN PREMISES IN WONG CHUK HANG WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 11 PM ON THURSDAY (MARCH 29) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR LEAKAGE TESTS.
THE PREMISES AFFECTED ARE BOUNDED BY 44-66 WONG CHUK HANG ROAD, 1-12 YIP FAT STREET AND 2-10 HEUNG YIP ROAD.
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©
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 1984
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
25 UNOFFICIALS TO SPEAK ON BUDGET ............................. 1
PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES FOR FEBRUARY ........................ 1
LADY YOUDE PRESENTS AWARD TO SIR SEEU-KIN TANG................. 4
GOVERNOR RETURNING TOMORROW ................................... 5
MORE BEDS FOR POK 01 HOSPITAL IN YUEN LONG .................... 5
NW TECHNOLOGY FOR NOISE POLLUTION STUDY........................ 6
STUDY ROOMS TO OPIN ON WEEKENDS ............................. 8
NEW PRISON FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS ................................ 8
TAI 0 MAINS WORK............................................... 9
LUNCHEON SPEECH TOMORROW ...................................... 9
TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 1984
1 -
25 UNOFFICIALS TO SPEAK ON BUDGET
* * *
TWENTY-FIVE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL BE SPEAKING IN THE TWO DAYS OF THE BUDGET DEBATE WHICH RESUMES TOMORROW AND CONTINUES ON THURSDAY.
IN ADDITION, ONE QUESTION WILL BE ASKED BY THE HON ALLEN LEE, WHO WILL WANT TO KNOW IF THE GOVERNMENT WILL INVITE THE SECRETARY CF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS, SIR GEOFFREY HOWE, TO VISIT HONG KONG, BEFORE AS WELL AS AFTER HIS IMPENDING VISIT TO CHINA.
AND A MOTION WILL BE MOVED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, TO INCREASE THE BETTING DUTY BY AMENDING THE BETTING DUTY ORDINANCE.
SPEAKING TOMORROW WILL BE THE FOLLOWING 13 UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS:
DR THE HON HARRY FANG, DR THE HON FRANCIS TIEN, THE HON S.L. CHEN, THE HON LYDIA DUNN, THE REV THE HON PATRICK MCGOVERN, THE HON PETER C. WONG, THE HON WONG LAM, THE HON CHARLES YEUNG, DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI, THE HON ALLEN LEE, THE HON ANDREW SO, THE HON F.K. HU AND THE HON WONG PO-YAN.
THE FOLLOWING 12 UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL BE SPEAKING ON THURSDAYi
THE HON W.C.L. BROWN, THE HON CHAN KAM-CHUEN, THE HON J.J. SWA INE, THE HON STEPHEN CHEONG, THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, THE HON SELINA CHOW, DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP, THE HON CHAN YING-LUN, THE HON RITA FAN, THE HON PAULINE NG, THE HON PETER POON, AND THE HON YEUNG PO-KWAN.
- - - - 0 -----
PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES FOR FEBRUARY
* * * *
THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS IN FEBRUARY 1984 INCREASED BY 22 PER CENT, OR $1 253 MILLION, OVER FEBRUARY 1983 TO REACH $6 822 MILLION, ACCORDING TO THE PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES PUBLISHED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS ALSO INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY, BY 48 PER CENT, OR $1 658 MILLION, TO $5 093 MILLION.
THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS — DOMESTIC EXPORTS PLUS RE-EXPORTS — AT $11 915 MILLION, WAS 32 PER CENT, OR $2 911 MILLION, HIGHER THAN A YEAR AGO.
THE VALUE OF IMPORTS IN FEBRUARY WAS $14 748 MILLION, AN INCREASE OF 45 PER CENT OR $4 582 MILLION OVER FEBRUARY 1983.
/thus, the........
TUESDAY, MA.RCH 27, 1984
- 2 -
THUS, THE VISIBLE TRADE DEFICIT FOR FEBRUARY THIS YEAR WAS 12 833 MILLION.
THE VISIBLE TRADE GAP, THAT IS THE PROPORTION OF THE VALUE OF IMPORTS NOT COVERED BY THAT OF TOTAL EXPORTS, IN FEBRUARY 1984 WAS 19 PER CENT, COMPARED WITH 11 PER CENT IN FEBRUARY LAST YEAR.
PUTTING THE MONTH’S TRADE FIGURES INTO CONTEXT, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT BECAUSE OF THE EFFECT OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS ON FEBRUARY’S FIGURES, IT WAS PROBABLY MORE USEFUL TO CONSIDER THE FIGURES OF JANUARY AND FEBRUARY TOGETHER.
ON THIS BASIS, THE VALUES OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND OF RE-EXPORTS IN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF THIS YEAR WERE 47 PER CENT AND 55 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY OVER THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF 1983.
THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS WAS THUS 50 PER CENT HIGHER, INDICATING THAT THE STRONG EXPORT PERFORMANCE HAS CONTINUED.
THE VALUE OF IMPORTS, ON THE OTHER HAND, INCREASED BY 41 PER CENT OVER THE SAME PERIOD.
THE VISIBLE TRADE GAP IN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF 1984, AT SIX PER CENT, WAS SMALLER THAN THAT IN THE SAME PERIOD OF 1983, AT 12 PER CENT.
EXTENDING THE PERIOD OF COMPARISON TO THE 12 MONTHS ENDING IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR WITH THE 12 MONTHS ENDING IN FEBRUARY 1983, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE INCREASES IN VALUE WERE 31 PER CENT FOR DOMESTIC EXPORTS, 35 PER CENT FOR RE-EXPORTS, 32 PER CENT FOR TOTAL EXPORTS AND 29 PER CENT FOR IMPORTS.
TRADE FIGURES FOR
MERCHANDISE!
THE FOLLOWING TABLE PRESENTS THE PROVISIONAL MERCHANDISE FEBRUARY 1984i-
DOMESTIC EXPORTS I $ 6 822 MILLION
RE-EXPORTS I $ 5 093 MILLION
TOTAL EXPORTS i $11 915 MILLION
IMPORTS i $14 748 MILLION
TRADE BALANCE i $ 2 833 MILLION (IN DEFICIT)
/COMPARATIVE FIGURES........
1 - 3 - TUESDAY, MAHCH 27, 1964
I COMPARATIVE FIGURES
1 DECEMBER 1983 1 To LATEST 3 MONTHS FEBRUARY 1984 DECEMBER 1982 TO FEBRUARY 1983 INCREASE OR DECREASE |
$ MN. $ MN. S MN. % |
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 28 535 20 399 ♦ 8 136 *39.9
1 RE-EXPORTS 17 284 11 650 ♦ 5 634 ♦48.4 1
total exports 45 819 32 049 ♦13 770 +43.0
imports 49 570 35 747 ♦13 823 ♦38.7
TRADE BALANCE - 3 751 - 3 698 53
SAME MONTH LAST YEAR FEBRUARY 1984 FEBRUARY 1983 INCREASE OR DECREASE
$. MN. $ MN. $ MN. % I
DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF TOTAL EXPORTS) 6 822 (57.3*) 5 569 (61.9*) ♦ 1 253 *22.5 1
RE-EXPORTS 5 093 3 435 ♦ 1 658 +48.3 1
TOTAL EXPORTS 11 915 9 004 ♦ 2 911 *32.3 1
IMPORTS 14 748 10 166 ♦ 4 582 +45.1 1
TRADE BALANCE - 2 833 - 1 162 - 1 671 1
LAST month FEBRUARY 1984 JANUARY 1984 INCREASE OR 1 DECREASE
S MN. 1 MN. S MN. * I
DOMESTIC EXPORTS (% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) 6 822 (57.3*) 10 791 (64.4*) - 3 969 -36.8 1
RE-EXPORTS 5 093 5 976 883 -14.8 1
total exports 11 915 16 767 - 4 852 -28.9 1
IMPORTS 14 748 15 899 - 1 151 - 7.2 I
TRADE BALANCE - 2 833 + 868 - 3 701 1
/CALzNDAH YEAH 1
CALENDAR YEAR TO-DATE - 4 JAN.-FEB. 1984 TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 198;
JAN.-FEB. 1983 INCREASE OR DECREASE
$ MN. 1 MN. S MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 17 613 12 009 + 5 604 *46.7
OF TOTAL EXPORTS) (61. 4») (62.7%)
RE-EXPORTS 11 068 7 153 * 3 915 +54.7
TOTAL EXPORTS 28 681 19 162 * 9 519 +49.7
IMPORTS 30 647 21 703 ♦ 8 944 +41.2
TRADE BALANCE - 1 966 - 2 541 + 575
MARCH 1983 MARCH 1982
TO TO INCREASE OR
LAST 12 MONTHS FEBRUARY 1984 FEBRUARY 1983 DECREASE
$ MN. $ MN. $ MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 110 010 84 108 ♦25 902 +30.8
RE-EXPORTS 60 209 44 591 ♦15 618 +35.0
TOTAL EXPORTS 170 219 128 699 ♦41 520 +32-3
IMPORTS 184 386 143 353 +41 033 +28.6
TRADE BALANCE - 14 167 - 14 654 ♦ 487
- - 0
LADY YOUDE
PRESENTS AWARD
TO SIR
SHIU-KIN TANG
IN HER CAPACITY
AS
LADY YOUDE, WIFE OF THE ASSOCIATION'S GOLD CARP
PRESIDENT OF THE GIRL GUIDES ASSOCIATION GOVERNOR, TODAY (TUESDAY) PRESENTED THE AWARD TO ITS HONOURARY VICE-PRESIDENT,
SIR SHIU-KIN TANG, IN RECOGNITION OF HIS SERVICE TO THE MOVEMENT
* * * * *
THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY WAS HELD AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE WHERE OTHER GIRL GUIDES LEADERS AND REPRESENTATIVES ALSO ATTENDED.
SIR SHIU-KIN HAS SUPPORTED THE GIRL GUIDES FOR
OVER 50 YEARS
IN CENT" L
1932 WITH
THE FIRST GIRL GUIDES HEADQUARTERS WAS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM HIM AND SOME
BUILT IN OF HIS FRIENDS
HE
ALSO
HEADQUARTERS
DONATED TOWARDS THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE GUIDES’ NEW BUILDING IN GASCOIGNE ROAD, YAU MA TEI, IN 1982.
THE LATEST PROJECT BEING SET UP WITH HIS FINANCIAL SUPPORT IS THE TANG SHIU-KIN SCOUTS AND GUIDES CENTRE IN TSUEN WAN WHICH WILL BE READY TOWARDS THE END OF THIS YEAR.
THE CENTRE WILL PROVIDE LECTURE, RECREATIONAL AND TRAINING FACILITIES.
- 0
TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 1984 - 5 -NOTE TO EDITORS!
GOVERNOR RETURNING TOMORROW
X * * *
THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, WILL RETURN TO HONG KONG TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON AFTER ATTENDING ANOTHER TWO DAYS CF SINO-BRITISH TALKS ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.
SIR EDWARD WILL BE TRAVELLING ON FLIGHT CA 103, ETA 1.55 PM A FACILITY HAS BEEN ARRANGED FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS AND CAMERAMEN TO COVER SIR EDWARD’S RETURN.
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES WISHING TO MAKE USE OF THE FACILITY SHOULD ASSEMBLE IN THE AIRPORT PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM BY 12.55 PM
GIS OFFICERS WILL BE1 ON HAND TO ASSIST.
-----o---------
MORE BEDS FOR POK 01 HOSPITAL IN YUEN LONG * M * *
A FURTHER STAGE IN THE EXTENSION PROGRAMME OF POK 01 HOSPITAL IN YUEN LONG WAS COMPLETED TODAY WITH THE ADDITION OF FIVE STOREYS TO THE CENTRAL BLOCK, PROVIDING 113 NEW BEDS AND ANOTHER FULLY-EQUIPPED OPERATING THEATRE.
THE ADDITIONAL BEDS BRING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF BEDS IN THE HOSPITAL TO 331.
THE LATEST ADDITIONS FORM PART OF THE SECOND PHASE OF THE HOSPITAL’S EXTENSION PROGRAMME AND COST |21 MILLION. THE FULL FOUR-PHASE EXTENSION PROGRAMME WILL COST $100 MILLION.
PERFORMING THE OPENING CEREMONY TODAY, THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR K.L. THONG, SAID THAT THOUGH THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE PAYING MOST OF THE CONSTRUCTION COSTS, THE REMAINING SUM WOULD HAVE TO BE RAISED BY THE HOSPITAL’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OTHER PUBLIC SPIRITED CITIZENS.
HE PRAISED THE CHAIRMAN AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS AND URGED THEM TO CONTINUE THEIR EFFORTS IN RAISING MORE FUNDS FOR FUTURE EXTENSION PROJECTS.
- 0----------
/o .......
TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 1984
- 6 -
NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR NOISE POLLUTION STUDY
*****
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY IS NOW APPLYING A NEW TECHNOLOGY IN THEIR STUDY OF PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT PLANS INTENDED TO PROTECT RESIDENTS IN MEW HOUSING AND OTHER NOISE SENSITIVE BUILDINGS FROM UNACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF TRAFFIC NOISE.
THIS WORK WILL ASSIST THE EPA IN ADVISING PLANNERS ON THE NOISE EFFECTS OF NEW DEVELOPMENTS AND THE MEASURES WHICH CAN BE TAKEN TO REDUCE THEM.
SPECIAL INSTRUMENTS, DEVELOPED BY THE MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, HAVE BEEN IMPORTED FROM THE UNITED STATES TO BACK UP THE TECHNOLOGY, KNOWN AS ACOUSTICAL SCALE MODELLING (ASM).
♦THE USE OF THIS SOPHISTICATED SYSTEM MARKS A MAJOR STEP FORWARD IN THE EPA’S EFFORT TO CHANGE THE TRADITIONAL BELIEF THAT NOTHING MUCH CAN BE DONE IN HONG KONG TO PROTECT PEOPLE FROM ROAD TRAFFIC NOISE BECAUSE OF THE TERRITORY'S CROWDED CONDITION,* SAID DR LEX BROWN, SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OFFICER.
DR BROWN, AN EXPERT IN NOISE-CONTROL PLANNING, CAME TO HONG KONG OVER TWO YEARS AGO TO HEAD THE PROJECT SECTION OF THE EPA'S NOISE AND VIBRATION GROUP.
DR BROWN SPOKE OF THE WORK HE HAD DONE BEFORE HIS RETURN THE OTHER DAY TO THE AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITY FROM WHICH HE WAS SECONDED, TO CONTINUE HIS ACADEMIC CAREER.
DR BROWN COMMENCED A STUDY IN JUNE LAST YEAR USING A TECHNIQUE DEVELOPED BY THE EPA - KNOWN AS OPTICAL SCALE MODELLING (OSM) -TO PUT INTO PRACTICE THE USE OF BUILDING POSITIONING AND DESIGNS TO SOLVE NOISE POLLUTION.
THE NEW ASM SYSTEM WILL LEND GREAT IMPETUS TO THE EPA'S STUDY PROJECT OF THESE FACTORS WHICH IS BEING CONDUCTED BY A TEAM OF SPECIALISTS, DR BROWN SAID.
BOTH ASM AND OSM INVOLVE THE USE OF TOWN DEVELOPMENT MODELS FOR ASSESSING THE NOISE LEVEL AT THE FACADES OF BUILDINGS, USING ALTERNATIVE LAYOUT PLANS TO OBTAIN OPTIMUM SOLUTIONS.
DR BROWN EXPLAINED THAT WITH THE OSM SYSTEM, LIGHTING IS USED TO SIMULATE NOISE. WHEN LIGHTS ARE PLACED ON THE PROPOSED ROADWAYS IN A TOWN MODEL, THE NOISE IMPACT ON BUILDINGS BECOMES VISIBLE IN THE FORM OF DIFFERENT LIGHTING SHADES.
♦WITH THE MORE ADVANCED ASM SYSTEM, A SCALE NOISE SOURCE IS USED AND ITS IMPACT IS INDICATED BY A METER IN PRECISE FIGURES, THUS GIVING US ACCURATE DATA, TO COMPARE THE MERITS OF VARIOUS LAYOUTS AND DESIGNS.*
/USING OSi.........
TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 19t4
- 7 -
USING OSM, THE PROJECT SECTION OF THE EPA’S NOISE AND VIBRATION GROUP HAS SO FAR INVESTIGATED TWO PUBLIC HOUSING BLOCK LAYOUTS FOR PROJECTS IN JUNK BAY.
STAFF OF THE SECTION WILL TEST THE ASM SYSTEM FOR SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE APPLYING IT TO ACTUAL STUDIES.
DR BROWN’S WORK ON THE SUBJECT WAS INSPIRED BY A VISIT TO JAPAN IN MARCH OF LAST YEAR, WHERE HE WAS ABLE TO SEE THE MODELLING TECHNIQUES WHICH ENGINEERS WERE USING TO PREDICT THE NOISE IMPACT OF TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES.
IN COMMON WITH TOKYO AND OTHER JAPANESE CITIES, HONG KONG HAS A HIGH POPULATION DENSITY. BUT THE TERRITORY’S URBAN FORM IS DIFFERENT IN THAT MUCH OF ITS POPULATION HAVE DIRECT LINE OF SIGHT TO BUSY ROADWAYS.
ALSO, THE HIGHRISE DEVELOPMENT HERE DOES NOT PROVIDE THE URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE WHICH NORMALLY PROTECTS URBAN POPULATIONS FROM ROAD TRAFFIC NOISE IN OTHER CITIES SO THAT AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO NOISE CONTROL IS REQUIRED.
DR BROWN EXPLAINED THAT CREATING A +BUFFER ZONE* BETWEEN BUILDINGS AND ROADWAYS IS UNREALISTIC IN HONG KONG BECAUSE OF LAND SHORTAGES.
ON THE OTHER HAND, NOISE INSULATION SUCH AS DOUBLE GLAZING WIDELY ADOPTED FOR BUILDINGS IN COLDER COUNTRIES, IS OFTEN IMPRACTICAL IN HONG KONG’S TROPICAL CLIMATE, AS AIR-CONDITIONING OR VENTILATION SYSTEMS WILL BE REQUIRED TO ENSURE ADEQUATE AIR SUPPLY IN THE INNER ROOMS.
+FOR THESE REASONS, WE MUST ADOPT DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT SOLUTIONS,♦ DR BROWN STRESSED.
♦ON THE OTHER HAND, HONG KONG HAS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY THAT OTHER COUNTRIES LACK! WE HAVE COMPREHENSIVE NEW TOWN PLANNING IN WHICH THE LAYOUT OF BUILDINGS AND ROADWAYS CAN OFTEN BE DETERMINED simultaneously.
♦THIS MEANS THAT WE CAN INCORPORATE LARGE-SCALE NOISE CONTROL IN OUR NEW URBAN DESIGNS, RELYING ON THE FORMS AND POSITIONING OF BUILDINGS AND ROADWAY ENCLOSURE TO REDUCE RESIDENTS’ EXPOSURE TO TRAFFIC NOISE,♦ DR BROWN SAID.
0 --------
TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 1984
- 8 -
STUDY ROOMS TO OPEN ON WEEKENDS * * * *
TWO TEMPORARY STUDY ROOMS IN SOUTHERN DISTRICT WILL BE OPEN FOR STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK FOR THREE MONTHS STARTING NEXT MONTH.
PREVIOUSLY, ALL TEMPORARY STUDY ROOMS WERE ONLY OPEN ON WEEKDAYS DURING THE EXAMINATION PERIODS.
THE TWO 40-SEAT STUDY ROOMS ARE AT HOK SANG PRIMARY SCHOOL IN WAH FU ESTATE AND TANG SHIU KIN PRIMARY SCHOOL IN WONG CHUK HANG ESTATE.
UNDER THIS PILOT SCHEME, THE TWO STUDY ROOMS WILL BE OPEN FROM 1 PM TO 6 PM EVERY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY BETWEEN APRIL 1 AND JUNE 30.
THE WEEKEND OPENINGS ARE MADE POSSIBLE BY THE ASSISTANCE OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD, WHICH HAS CONTRIBUTED $10 000 TOWARDS THE ADMINISTRATIVE COST.
A DISTRICT BOARD SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THE SCHEME WILL GIVE SOME INDICATION OF THE NEED FOR SUCH WEEKEND STUDY ROOMS BY STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT.
THE TWO STUDY ROOMS HAVE BEEN CHOSEN FOR THE PILOT SCHEME BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE LARGEST NUMBER OF STUDENTS USING THEM, HE SAID.
DURING THE THREE-MONTH EXAMINATION PERIOD STARTING FROM APRIL, THE STUDY ROOM IN HOK SANG PRIMARY SCHOOL WILL ALSO OPEN FROM 7 PM TO 10 PM FROM MONDAY TO FRIDAY FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS.
THE ONE IN TANG SHIU KIN PRIMARY SCHOOL WILL OPEN FROM 7 PM TO 9 PM FROM MONDAY TO FRIDAY FOR BOTH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS.
------0-------
NOTE TO EDITORS:
NEW PRISON FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS
* * * *
LAI SUN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION ON HEI LING CHAU, A NEWLY-BUILT MEDIUM SECURITY PRISON FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS, WILL BE OFFICIALLY OPENED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR DAVID JEAFFRESON ON FRIDAY (MARCH 30) AT 3 PM.
YOU ARE INVITED TO NOMINATE A REPORTER OR PHOTOGRAPHER TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY.
FOLLOWING THE CEREMONY, A TOUR WILL BE CONDUCTED ROUND THE VARIOUS FACILITIES OF THE INSTITUTION.
/NO PHOTOGiUPSCiG .......
TUESDAY, MkECH 27, 1984
- 0 -
✓
NO PHOTOGRAPHING OF FACILITIES INSIDE THE INSTITUTION WILL BE ALLOWED. PHOTOGRAPHS WILL BE ISSUED BY THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
A LAUNCH WITH 25 AVAILABLE SEATS WILL TAKE MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES TO HEI LING CHAU TO COVER THE EVENT.
AND BECAUSE OF THE LIMITED SEATING, MEDIA ORGANISATIONS WISHING TO COVER THE EVENT SHOULD TELEPHONE THE NAME AND IDENTITY CARD NUMBER OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES TO THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT (5-757195 EXTENSION 24 OR 25) DURING OFFICE HOURS, BUT NOT LATER THAN 5 PM ON THURSDAY (MARCH 29). SEATS WILL BE RESERVED ON A FIRST-COME-FIRST-SERVED BASIS.
NOMINATED MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD ASSEMBLE AT QUEEN’S PIER ON FRIDAY BEFORE 1.30 PM WHEN THE LAUNCH WILL LEAVE FOR HEI LING CHAU.
SPECIAL LAPEL BADGES WILL BE ISSUED AT THE ASSEMBLY PLACE.
---------0 - -
TAI j0 MAINS WORK
* M *
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO SOME PREMISES IN TAI 0 WILL BE TURNED OFF FROM 10 AM TO 5 PM ON FRIDAY (MARCH 30) FOR MAINS WORK.
THE AREAS AFFECTED ARE ALONG SHEK TSAI PO STREET, INCLUDING TAI 0 POLICE STATION, TAI 0 FIRE STATION, TAI 0 JOCKEY CLUB CLINIC, TAI 0 SCHOOL AND TAI 0 PUBLIC SCHOOL.
--------0 ---------
NOTE TO EDITORSi
LUNCHEON SPEECH TOMORROW
XXX
THE DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY, MR JOHN YAXLEY, WILL ADDRESS THE LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ZONTA CLUB OF HONG KONG TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) AT 12.45 PM, 4TH FLOOR, FURAMA HOTEL, CENTRAL.
THE TOPIC OF MR YAXLEY’S SPEECH WILL BE *AN EVOLVING POLICY IN A CHANGING ERA*.
-----0------
©
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG TEL: 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1984
CONTENTS Page no.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING; GOVERNOR RUSHES TO LEGCO ON RETURN FROM PEKING............... 1
SIR GEOFFREY COMING AFTER CHINA VISIT - AG................... 2
NEED FOR 'REHABILITATION COMMISSIONER' STRESSED ............. 3
EARLY APPROVAL SOUGHT FOR VOCATIONAL PROJECTS ............... 5
CAPITAL INVESTMENT SLOWDOWN SERIOUS - S.L. CHEN ..........
PEOPLE WANT SAY IN SHAPING FUTURE: DUNN ..................... 9
PLANS FOR MORE SPENDING ON EDUCATION BACKED ................ 14
BUDGET DISPLAYS OPTIMISM AND CONFIDENCE - PETER WONG...... 15
GOVERNMENT PRAISED FOR LONG-TERM OUTLOOK.................... 17
UNCERTAINTY IS A THREAT - YEUNG............................. 19
CONCERN EXPRESSED ABOUT BURDEN ON MIDDLE CLASS ............. 21
CONFIDENCE IN FUTURE IS VITAL - LEE......................... 23
BETTER EFFORTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION URGED............ 24
SIGNS OF LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN FUTURE - HU ................. 26
GOVERNMENT'S GOODWILL BEYOND DOUBT - WONG PO-YAN ........... 28
MOTION TO INCREASE BETTING DUTY DEFERRED ................... 31
GOVERNMENT INDUSTRIAL POLICY EXPLAINED ........................ 32
TRANSPORT REQUIREMENT STUDY.................................... 34
MORE HOSTELS PLANNED FOR THE ELDERLY........................... 34
DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE VISITS INSTITUTIONS ............ 35
ILLEGAL STRUCTURES TO BE CLEARED .............................. 36
PLB PROHIBITED ZONES .......................................... 36
BAN ON LEARNER DRIVERS LIFTED ................................. 37
SPEED LIMIT ON KAM SHEUNG ROAD ................................ 37
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1984 1 -
GOVERNOR RUSHES TO LEGCO ON RETURN FROM PEKING ft ft ft ft
THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, THIS AFTERNOON CHAIRED THE MEETING OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER RETURNING FROM PEK ING.
♦SINCE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IS MEETING AND I DON’T WANT TO MISS THE SPEECHES, I’D BETTER GO OFF AND RELIEVE SIR PHILIP, WHO IS STANDING IN FOR ME,+ HE TOLD REPORTERS AT THE AIRPORT.
SIR EDWARD SAID HE AND THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WILL BE LEAVING FOR LONDON ON TUESDAY (APRIL 3) FOR CONSULTATIONS WITH MINISTERS.
♦ THAT WILL, OF COURSE, BE PARTICULARLY RELEVANT TO THE VISIT WHICH SIR GEOFFREY HOWE IS GOING TO MAKE TO PEKING AND THEN TO HONG KONG.
♦ WE WILL BE BACK AT THE WEEKEND — ABOUT THE SEVENTH — AND A FEW DAYS AFTER, I SHALL BE GOING BACK TO PEKING FOR THE 12TH ROUND WHICH, AS YOU KNOW, IS ON THE 11TH AND THE 12TH.
♦ AND THEN WE LOOK FORWARD TO SIR GEOFFREY’S VISIT AND TO WELCOMING HIM HERE.
♦ SO, ALL IN ALL,'WE LOOK LIKE HAVING A FAIRLY BUSY APRIL,+ F£ SAID.
ASKED BY A REPORTER WHAT WAS THE +METAL GADGET+ HE WAS CARRYING LAST NIGHT, SIR EDWARD REACHED INTO HIS POCKET AND PRODUCED A PAIR OF SPECTACLES.
IN REPLY TO A FURTHER QUESTION ON WHETHER THE +METAL GADGET WAS RELATED TO HIS HEALTH+, HE SAID, +MY HEALTH IS FINE.+
/
ACCOMPANYING. THE GOVERNOR ON THE RETURN TRIP WERE THE POLITICAL ADVISOR, MR ROBIN MCLAREN, AND THE GOVERNMENT CHIEF INTERPRETER, MR Y.P. CHENG.
THE PARTY WERE MET AT THE AIRPORT BY THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, SIR SZE-YUEN CHUNG, AND THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS SECRETARY OF THE XINHUA NEWS AGENCY (HONG KONG BRANCH), MR JI SHAOXIANG.
/2 .......
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1984
2
SIR GEOFFREY COMING AFTER CHINA VISIT - AG M * *
IT WAS UNDERSTOOD THAT OTHER COMMITMENTS WOULD NOT ALLOW THE SECRETARY OF STATE, SIR GEOFFREY HOWE, TO VISIT HONG KONG BEFORE VISITING CHINA IN MID-APRIL FOR TALKS ON HONG KONG WITH THE CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER AND OTHER CHINESE LEADERS, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON MICHAEL THOMAS, SAID TODAY.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ALLEN LEE AS TO WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WOULD INVITE SIR GEOFFREY TO VISIT HONG KONG BEFORE AS WELL AS AFTER HIS VISIT TO CHINA, MR THOMAS RECALLED THAT SIR GEOFFREY HAD ANNOUNCED IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS ON MARCH 22 THAT HE WOULD BE VISITING CHINA FOR THE DISCUSSIONS AND THAT HE WOULD TRAVEL ON FROM THERE TO HONG KONG FOR FURTHER DISCUSSIONS AND THAT HE WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO BOTH THESE VISITS.
SIR GEOFFREY WAS AWARE THAT HE WAS WELCOME IN HONG KONG AT ANY TIME, MR THOMAS SAID.
♦ NEVERTHELESS, HE STRESSED IN HIS STATEMENT ON MARCH 22 THE IMPORTANCE HE ATTACHES TO KEEPING IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH OPINION IN HONG KONG.
♦ HE REFERRED IN PARTICULAR TO THE VISIT WHICH THE MINISTER CF STATE HAD MADE TO HONG KONG ONLY A MONTH AGO AND TO THE WIDE RANGE OF OPINIONS THAT HAD BEEN CONVEYED TO HIM ON THAT VISIT,* MR THOMAS SAID.
+IN ADDITION, THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF VISITS TO LONDON BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL SINCE THE TALKS BEGAN,* MR THOMAS SAID.
THE UNOFFICIALS WILL VISIT LONDON AGAIN FOR TALKS WITH MINISTERS, AND S4R GEOFFREY BEFORE HE DEPARTS ON HIS FAR EAST TOUR.
♦ THIS WILL ENABLE THEM TO CONVEY TO MINISTERS AT FIRST HAND THE LATEST VIEW OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS GENERALLY,♦ W THOMAS SAID.
-------0 - - - -
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1984
- 3 -
NEED FOR ’REHABILITATION COMMISSIONER’ STRESSED * * * *
A CALL FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF A COMMISSIONER FOR REHABILITATION WAS MADE BY DR THE HON HARRY FANG, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
CONGRATULATING THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY ON +A VERY SENSIBLE AND CONSIDERATE BUDGET*, DR FANG SAID THAT HE WAS PLEASED TO NOTE THAT $831 MILLION WOULD BE PROVIDED FOR REHABILITATION SERVICES NEXT YEAR — 12.6 PER CENT OVER THE CURRENT YEAR’S REVISED ESTIMATES.
♦GIVEN THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S BUDGETING PRINCIPLE OF REFLECTING PRIORITY BY PATTERNS OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF REHABILITATION IN OUR PUBLIC SERVICES HAS BEEN FULLY RECOGNISED,* HE SAID.
HOWEVER, HE WAS CONCERNED THAT WHILE REHABILITATION HAD EXPANDED TREMENDOUSLY SINCE THE 1977 WHITE PAPER AND THE FORMATION CF THE REHABILITATION DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE (RDCC), IT HAD NO REAL CENTRAL IDENTITY WITHIN GOVERNMENT.
♦GOVERNMENT'S REHABILITATION DIVISION IS HEADED BY AN OFFICER WHOSE TITLE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH REHABILITATION.
+THERE IS NO VISIBLE LEADERSHIP, NO ONE WITH WHOM OUR MANY LOCAL AGENCIES, MEDIA, AND- VISITORS CAN PROPERLY IDENTIFY | NO ONE TO WHOM THE DISABLED THEMSELVES CAN TURN IF THEY FEEL THEY ARE GETTING A RAW DEAL I NO ONE TO CENTRALLY ACCOUNT FOR THE VAST SUMS OF REHABILITATION ALLOCATION, TO ENSURE THAT IT IS ALLOTTED ACCORDING TO AGREED PRIORITIES,* DR FANG OBSERVED.
HE ADDED THAT A CONTINUOUS SERIES OF NEW LEGISLATION, NEW SERVICES AND NEW CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR THE DISABLED WERE BEING FORMULATED, AND THEIR SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION DEPENDED ON THE CO-OPERATION OF AND CO-ORDINATION AMONG THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS.
*FROM MY PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT WITH THE RDCC, I FIND THAT THE RANKING OF THE EXISTING OFFICER IN THE EDUCATION AND MANPOWER BRANCH IS NOT COMMENSURATE WITH THE HEAVY RESPONSIBILITY ARISING FROM THE EFFICIENT EXECUTIVE CO-ORDINATION CONSTANTLY DEMANDED FROM HIM,* HE SAID.
HE STRESSED THAT TIME HAD NOW COME FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER APPOINTING A COMMISSIONER FOR REHABILITATION, A PROPOSAL WHICH HE FIRST MADE IN 1977.
+1 DO FEEL MOST STRONGLY THAT THESE PROBLEMS COULD BE OVERCOME IF WE HAD A COMMISSIONER FOR REHABILITATION. BUT I MUST STRESS THAT THE COMMISSIONER SHOULD NOT BE THE DEPUTY BRANCH SECRETARY. HIS BRIEF SHOULD BE SOLELY REHABILITATION,* DR FANG SAID.
HE BELIEVED THAT THE FUNCTION, RANK AND TITLE OF +COMMISSIONER+ SHOULD BE VERY MUCH IN LINE WITH THAT OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS WHOSE STRUCTURE AND OPERATIONS HAD DISTINCT SIMILARITIES, THOUGH THE COST OF REHABILITATION PROGRAMME AS WELL AS THE PEOPLE BEING SERVED WERE ALMOST THREE TIMES AS MUCH.
/DH FANG .......
WEDNESDAY, MABCE 28, 1?84
- 4 -
DR FANG ALSO SUGGESTED THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER SETTING UP A CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND.
HE POINTED OUT THAT ALTHOUGH A LARGE NUMBER OF BANKS, INSURANCE COMPANIES AND OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS WERE OFFERING A VARIETY OF PROVIDENT FUND SCHEMES, THEY HAD BY AND LARGE NOT KEN VERY POPULAR WITH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES.
IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT OUTSIDE GOVERNMENT, LESS THAN TEN PER CENT OF THE WORKERS IN HONG KONG PARTICIPATED IN ANY KIND OF PROTECTION SCHEMES COVERING RETIREMENT, SICKNESS, DISABILITY AND DEATH (NOT WORK RELATED), DR FANG OBSERVED.
NOTING THAT THE GOVERNMENT’S STANCE IS THAT IT WILL CONCENTRATE *ON THOSE LEAST ABLE TO HELP THEMSELVES*, DR FANG SAID, +1N MY OPINION THIS OBJECTIVE IS MORE EFFECTIVELY ACHIEVED IF THOSE PEOPLE WHO BECAUSE OF RETIREMENT, SICKNESS OR LOSS OF A CHIEF BREADWINNER COULD BE HELPED BY BEING ENCOURAGED TO INSURE AGAINST THEM BY CONTRIBUTING TO A CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND.*
HE POINTED OUT THAT ONE OF THE MAJOR BANKS IN HONG KONG HAD INDICATED THAT IT WAS WILLING AND ABLE TO DEVELOP AND ADMINISTER AN INDIVIDUAL ACCOUNT ORIENTED RETIREMENT SCHEME WHEREBY THE WORKER COULD CARRY THE BENEFITS WITH HIM WHEREVER HE GOES.
♦DEPENDING ON THE CONTRIBUTION FROM THE WORKER AND THE EMPLOYER THE SCHEME WOULD CARRY WITH IT AN INSURANCE ELEMENT SUCH THAT THERE WOULD BE BENEFITS PAYABLE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT DUE TO ILLNESS, DISABILITY OR DEATH.
♦SUCH A SCHEME WOULD BE OPERATED ON A COMMERCIAL BASIS AND INCOME FROM FEES AND INVESTMENT WOULD HOPEFULLY SUSTAIN THE OPERATION ON AN ON-GOING BASIS, THAT IS IF WORKERS IN SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS WOULD JOIN,* DR FANG EXPLAINED.
HIS OTHER ARGUMENT FOR SETTING UP SUCH A FUND WAS THAT A RESPONSIBLE ORGANISATION OF WORKERS’ UNION HAD INFORMED HIM THAT IT HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED BY A SURVEY AMONG OVER 100 WORKERS’ ORGANISATIONS THAT A CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND, WITH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM BOTH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES, WOULD BE ACCEPTED BY THE WORKERS.
♦WHAT WE NEED NOW IS THE INITIAL MOMENTUM,+ DR FANG SAID.
♦THE LONG TERM SUCCESS OF A CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND MUST DEPEND ON THE GOVERNMENT EITHER MAKING IT COMPULSORY, OR AT LEAST PROVIDING STRONG SUPPORT FOR SUCH SCHEMES BY OFFERING INCENTIVES SUCH AS TAX EXEMPTION FOR CONTRIBUTIONS FROM EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES,+ HE ADDED.
TURNING TO SALARIES TAX, DR FANG SUGGESTED THAT DIFFERENTIAL STANDARD TAX STRUCTURE, BASED ON HOUSEHOLD INCOME, SHOULD BE SET.
HE SAID, +1 AGREE ENTIRELY THAT THE MORE WELL-OFF SHOULD BE ASKED TO SHOULDER A LARGER SHARE OF THE TAX INCREASE IN THE LIGHT CF THE BUDGET DEFICIT AND THE OBJECTIVE OF MAINTAINING VIGOROUS INVESTMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT.+
/♦BUT I .......
IffiNKSDAY, MAJBCE 28, 1984
5
♦ BUT I DISAGREE THAT THOSE EARNING $500 000 P.A. OR MORE WILL ONLY BE REQUIRED TO PAY THE SAME 17 PER CENT TAX AS THOSE EARNING ONLY $250 000 P.A.,+ HE ADDED.
USING AS AN EXAMPLE A MARRIED COUPLE WITH NO CHILD AND NO DEPENDENT PARENT HE SAID, +1 PROPOSE THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO pay 1 p; PER C*NT STANDARD RATE IF THEIR INCOME IS $190 000 P.A. (I.E. THE EXISTING THRESHOLD), THEY WILL PAY 16 FERp^NJE^AQ^yD RATE IF THEIR INCOME RISES TO $237 500 P.A. AND 17 PER CENT ONL ON REACHING $290 000 P.A.+
tuqsc WITH HIGHER INCOME, I.E. ABOVE $340 000 P.A., DR FANG PROPOSED A* HIGHER STANDARD RATE OF 18 PER CENT, WHICH WOULD BE THc, MAXIMUM.
♦THESE PROGRESSIVE DIFFERENTIAL STANDARD RATES WHILL MORE EOHITABLY REFLECT THE OBJECTIVE OF 0BTAIRING TRE D |T,
additional REVENUE FROM THOSE WHO ARE BEST PL£CED TO AFFGRB JJ » AND i THINK IT WILL NOT RESULT IN ANY LOSS OF REVENUE,♦ DR FANG CONCLUDED.
- - 0 - -
EARLY APPROVAL SOUGHT FOR VOCATIONAL PROJECTS * * * * *
THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL WAS SEEKING EARLY APPROVAL OF THE COMMITMENTS NEEDED FOR THE SHA TIN AND TUEN MUN TECHNICAL INSTITUTES, DR THE HON FRANCIS TIEN SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ANNUAL BUDGET DEBATE TODAY.
NE POINTED OUT THAT THE PLANNING OF THE PROJECTS WAS AT A VERY ADVANCED STAGE IN THAT TENDERS HAD BEEN RECEIVED SOME TIME AGO FOR THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE INSTITUTES AND THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL'S CONSULTANT ARCHITECTS WERE AT A POINT WHERE THEY WERE READY TO INVITE TENDERS FOR THE SUPERSTRUCTURE.
THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL (VTC) HAD BEEN TOLD THAT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WOULD BE ASKED TO APPROVE INCREASED COMMITMENTS FOR THE TWO INSTITUTES ONCE THE GOVERNMENT HAD 'SATISFIED ITSELF THAT THE BUILDING COSTS WERE REASONABLE AND ACCEPTABLE.
THE VTC HAD THE JOB OF BRINGING THE INSTITUTES INTO BEING
EITHER PARTIALLY OR WHOLLY
u.Tnti rA~7i-uu. vn BY THE BEGINNING OF THE 1985-86
SESSION AND WAS GETTING VERY ANXIOUS THAT IT COULD NOT PROGRESS
THE PROJECTS FURTHER, DR TIEN OBSERVED
♦IT WANTS TO KNOW WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF AT THIS LATE STAGE THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT SATISFIED, FOR WHATEVER REASON, THAT THE BUILDING COSTS ARE REASONABLE AND ACCEPTABLE,* HE SAID.
/he said
WEDNESDAY, NIECE 28, 19&4
6 -
HE SAID THAT THE MOST UP-TO-DATE ESTIMATED COSTS BASED ON THE FINAL PLANS WERE HIGHER THAN THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATES WHICH WERE INCLUDED IN THE VTC’S ESTIMATES OF RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS FOR 1982-83-
♦THEY ARE. HOWEVER, ABOUT THE SAME AS THE UPDATED
ESTIMATES INCLUDED IN THE VTC’S ESTIMATES FOR 1984-85,* HE ADDED.
DR TIEN SAID, +WHAT IS WORRYING THE VTC I Si WHAT HAPPENS IF FACILITIES IT CONSIDERS NECESSARY AND WHICH ARE IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPROVED EDUCATIONAL POLICY FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN TECHNICAL INSTITUTES ARE THEN CONSIDERED AS UNNECESSARY BY GOVERNMENT?
♦FURTHER, WHAT IF, IN ORDER TO SATISFY THE GOVERNMENT, THE INSTITUTES HAVE TO BE TOTALLY RE-DESIGNED? SHOULD THE VTC GO BACK TO SQUARE ONE?*.
HE WARNED THAT IF THE LATTER WERE THE CASE, NOT ONLY WOULD THE SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY ALREADY PAID TO THE CONSULTANT ARCHITECTS AS FEES GO DOWN THE DRAIN, BUT ALSO MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE PROJECTS WOULD BE DELAYED BY AT LEAST AN ACADEMIC YEAR.
♦IF THIS SHOULD HAPPEN, THE VTC AND THE PUBLIC WOULD REGARD THIS AS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE,* HE SAID.
POINTING OUT THAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS THE INSTITUTES AND THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR CRIES OUT FOR THEM, DR TIEN STRESSED THAT GOVERNMENT MUST NOT FAIL BY OPTING FOR INFERIOR INSTITUTIONS AND DELAY.
DR TIEN WELCOMED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EDUCATION COMMISSION.
♦THE COMMISSION, WITH ITS MANDATE TO REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL WITHIN SIX MONTHS ITS VIEWS ON THE MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE LLEWELLYN REPORT, WILL HAVE TO WORK HARD TO ACHIEVE ITS IMMEDIATE OBJECTIVES,♦ HE SAID.
♦WITH THE WILLING SUPPORT OF ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION, OF WHICH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL IS ONE, I HAVE LITTLE DOUBT THAT THOSE OBJECTIVES WILL BE ACHIEVED,♦ « ADDED.
---0------
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1984
CAPITAL INVESTMENT SLOWDOWN SERIOUS - S.L. CHEN
*****
PRIVATE INVESTMENT EXPENDITURE WAS NOT MATCHING THE IMPROVEMENT IN EXPORT DEMAND, AND THIS WAS A +VERY SERIOUS SITUATION*, THE HON S.L. CHEN SAID TODAY.
SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL BUDGET DEBATE, HE WARNED THAT WITHOUT TIMELY AND ADEQUATE INVESTMENT IN NEW CAPITAL PLANT AND MACHINERY, AND IN ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY, HONG KONG’S INDUSTRIES WOULD SOON BOTH LOSE THEIR COMPETITIVE EDGE AND BECOME OBSOLETE.
+IN TIME, THEY WOULD BE UNABLE TO MAINTAIN A FOOTHOLD IN THE WORLD MARKET,* HE ADDED.
ON THE SUBJECT OF INFLATION, MR CHEN NOTED THAT THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY HAD SAID THAT INFLATION IN 1984, RUNNING AT ABOUT 12 PER CENT IN THE OPENING MONTHS OF THE YEAR, WAS EXPECTED TO TREND DOWN TO SEVEN PER CENT TOWARDS THE END.
+THE BASIS FOR THIS OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN HIS EXPECTATION THAT INFLATION WOULD FALL UNDER THE COMBINED INFLUENCE OF STABLE EXCHANGE RATE VIS-A-VIS THE US DOLLAR AND LOW INFLATION IN COUNTRIES WITH WHICH WE TRADE,* HE ANALYSED.
HOWEVER, HE HAD DIFFERENT VIEWS, MR CHEN SAID. HE POINTED OUT THAT THE DOLLAR LINK ESTABLISHED IN LAST OCTOBER, WHILE HELPING TO RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG CURRENCY, HAD MEANT
IN
REALITY NEARLY 17 PER CENT DEPRECIATION IN THE VALUE
OUR DOLLAR AND IMMEDIATE INFLATIONARY PRESSURE ON OUR ECONOMY.
+THE RESULT WAS MORE COSTLY IMPORT OF FOOD AND OTHER ITEMS
OF NECESSITY FOR OUR DAILY LIFE, AND FOR OUR INDUSTRIES,* HE OBSERVED.
+ IT WOULD BE A LONG TIME BEFORE CURRENCY DEPRECIATION WORK THEIR WAY
OF PLANT AND RAW MATERIALS
THE EFFECTS OF SUCH A HUGE THROUGH THE ECONOMY.
CONSEQUENTLY, I AM OF THE OPINION THAT IN THE ABSENCE OF A R.APID RECOVERY IN THE VALUE OF OUR DOLLAR, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S PREDICTION THAT INFLATION WOULD BE DOWN TO SEVEN PER CENT BY THE END OF THE YEAR WOULD APPEAR TO BE SOMEWHAT OPTIMISTIC,* HE SAID.
TURNING TO THE BUDGET PROPOSALS, MR CHEN NOTED THAT PUBLIC SPENDING WAS STILL ON THE INCREASE, THOUGH AT A SLOWER PACE THAN A FEW YEARS AGO.
*IN PARTICULAR, THE ALL IMPORTANT RECURRENT EXPENDITURE AS BUDGETED STANDS AT 15.7 PER CENT OVER THE PROVISION IN। JHE REVISED ESTIMATE FOR 1983/84, AND AT 72 PER CENT STILL UNCOMFORTABLY HIGH IN RELATION TO TOTAL EXPENDITURE,* HE SAID.
THE BUDGETARY GUIDELINE REQUIRED THIS RATIO TO BE NOT MORE THAN 65 PER CENT, HE ADDED.
/+JCHBOVEH, WITHOUT
WEDNESDAY, MARGE 28, 1?&4
- 8 -
♦MOREOVER, WITHOUT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE REVENUE PROPOSALS, IT REPRESENTS 93 PER CENT OF RECURRENT REVENUE AGAINST A NATIONAL GUIDELINE OF NO MORE THAN 85 PER CENT.
♦THE NEED FOR EXERCISING STRINGENT CONTROL ON EXPENDITURE IS ABUNDANTLY CLEAR,+ HE STRESSED.
COMMENTING ON THE PROVISION FOR PERSONAL EMOLUMENTS, MR CHEN NOTED THAT THE BUDGETED PROVISION DID NOT MAKE ALLLOWANCE FOR CIVIL SERVICE SALARY ADJUSTMENTS IN THE COMING YEAR AND HE EXPECTED THIS WOULD HAVE TO COME OUT OF THE SI.8 BILLION BUDGETED FOR ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS.
♦THE RECENT SALARY REVIEW PROPOSALS, IF APPROVED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THIS COUNCIL, WOULD ABSORB A VERY SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THIS Si.8 BILLION CONTINGENT PROVISION, THUS MAKING IT SO MUCH HARDER TO PROVIDE COVER FOR OTHER WORTHWHILE BUT UNFORESEEN COMM ITMENTS,+ HE SAID.
REGARDING THE REVENUE PROPOSALS, HE SAID THAT CONSIDERING THE UNFAVOURABLE FISCAL CLIMATE AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE TAXATION PROPOSALS AS A WHOLE APPEARED QUITE REASONABLE AND CONSISTENT WITH THE UNDERLYING THEME OF THE BUDGET, WHICH WAS REGARD FOR THE BURDEN ON THE LESS WELL-OFF.
HE ADDED, + l HAVE NO QUALMS AGAINST BEING KIND TO THE LESS WELL-OFF, BUT THEN THE FINANCIAL SECRETARTY’S WAY OF SKINNING THE CAT WAS PARTICULARLY HARSH ON THE SO-CALLED *SANDWICHED’CLASS WHO, BY VIRTUE OF THE PROPOSED INCREASE IN THE STANDARD RATE ON SALARIES TAX, WILL HAVE TO BEAR THE BRUNT OF THE ADDITIONAL TAX BURDEN.
♦IT IS HARDLY FAIR ON SALARY EARNERS WHO HAVE NO MEANS TO RECOVER THEIR LOSSES. A SALARY ADJUSTMENT IS THEIR ONLY HOPE BUT THAT WOULD NOT BE WITHOUT REPERCUSSIONS FOR THE ECONOMY,* HE OBSERVED.
HE SAID HE FAVOURED A DIFFERENT PACKAGE OF DIRECT AND INDIRECT TAX INCREASES WITH A HIGHER CONTRIBUTION FROM INDIRECT TAXATION.
♦IN THE LIGHT OF THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK ON INFLATION, I BELIEVE THIS TO BE BOTH POSSIBLE AND EQUITABLE AND IT WOULD RELIEVE SOME OF THE UNRELENTING PRESSURE TO WHICH THE ‘SANDWICHED’ CLASS IS SUBJECT,+ HE SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THERE WERE MANY OPTIONS FOR RAISING MORE INDIRECT TAXATION WITHOUT CAUSING UNDUE HARDSHIP TO THE MAN IN THE STREET.
HE SUGGESTED THAT ONE OPTION WAS TO LEVY HEAVY TAX ON THOSE COMMODITIES WHICH ONLY THE WELL-OFF COULD NORMALLY AFFORD, SUCH AS JEWELLERIES, PERFUMES, EXPENSIVE CLOTHES, LAVISH BANQUETS AND ENTERTAINMENTS, LICENCE FEE FOR LUXURIOUS PLEASURE CRAFTS.
/another was .......
WEDNESDAY, MABCH 28, 1984
9
ANOTHER WAS TO INCREASE THE TAX ON PETROL AFTER HAVING FIRST TAKEN CARE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT NEEDS, MR CHEN SAID.
CONCEDING THAT THIS WOULD INCREASE THE BURDEN ON MANY PEOPLE INCLUDING THE ’SANDWICHED’ CLASS, HE SAID, +BUT BE THAT AS IT MAY, AT LEAST THEY HAVE A CHOICE BETWEEN USING PUBLIC TRANSPORT OR PAYING MORE FOR THE PETROL IN ORDER TO USE THEIR OWN CARS.+
CONGESTION OF THE CROSS HARBOUR
♦SINCE TAXATION IS PROPOSED AS A FISCAL MEASURE TO RELIEVE CONtitbJlUN ur int bKuSo HARdOUR TUNNEL, I $EENO VALID ARGUMENT AGAINST ADDITIONAL TAX ON PETR0E AS A GENERAL MEANS ------------------------------- ROAD CONGESTION,* HE ADDED.
OF TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT TO REDUCE
HE SAID THAT THE FINANCIAL
SECRETARY COULD BE CONGRATULATED
OF THE
LESS WELL-OFF AND HIS
FOR HAVING LIGHTENED THE BURDEN tmp
ONLY COMPLAINT WAS THAT HE HAD DONE SO AT THE EXPENSE OF THE
’SANDWICHED’ CLASS
♦ HE WOULD HAD HE DONE SO
THE ROBIN HOOD IMAGE
HAVE ACHIEVED PERFECTLY ---------
AT THE EXPENSE OF THE WELL-OFF,+ MR CHEN CONCLUDED.
PEOPLE WANT SAY IN SHAPING FUTURE: DUNN * * * * *
HON LYDIA
DUNN CALLED FOR THE AGREEMENT NOW BEING NEGOTIATED
BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA TO TAKE FULLY INTO ACCOUNT THE VIEWS THE ASPIRATIONS AND THE FEARS OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE.
SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SHE OBSERVED THAT THOUGH THE GENERAL ECONOMIC PICTURE WAS ENCOURAGING, IT DID NOT MEAN THAT EVERYONE WAS RELAXED AND HAPPY ABOUT THE FUTURE.
SHE SAID, +OUR SOCIETY HAS CHANGED A GREAT DEAL IN RECENT YEARS, IT IS NOT JUST MORE PROSPEROUS. IT IS YOUNGER AND MORE EDUCATED. IT IS ONLY NATURAL (BUT A GREAT CHANGE FROM THE PAST)
THAT PEOPLE WANT TO ALSO WANT TO HAVE A
KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR THEM AND THEY SAY IN SHAPING THAT FUTURE.+
♦THE REASON IS
SELF-EVIDENT: THEY ARE SOMEWHAT FEARFUL OF
THE FUTURE. IN PARTICULAR, THEY ARE FEARFUL THAT THE FREEDOMS WHICH THEY HAVE, FOR SO LONG, BEEN ABLE TO ENJOY AND TAKE FOR GRANTED MAY BE ERODED.+
SHE SAID THAT PEOPLE VALUED THEIR FREEDOMS AND LIFE STYLE WHICH FLOWED FROM THOSE FREEDOMS AND THEREFORE SOUGHT CREDIBLE ASSURANCES AS TO THE MAINTENANCE OF THOSE FREEDOMS.
/+IF THESE
- - 0 - -
WEDNESDAY, MABCH 28, 1984
10
♦ IF THESE ASSURANCES ARE FORTHCOMING, BUT ONLY IF THEY ARE FORTHCOMING, WILL THE PEOPLE HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG,+ SHE SAID.
♦ IT IS ESSENTIAL, THEREFORE, AND IN THE INTERESTS OF BOTH CHINA AND BRITAIN TOO, THAT THE AGREEMENT NOW BEING NEGOTIATED SHOULD TAKE FULLY INTO ACCOUNT THE VIEWS, THE ASPIRATIONS AND THE FEARS OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE,+ SHE ADDED.
EARLIER MISS DUNN EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE BUDGET SPEECH DID NOT SET OUT A COHERENT STRATEGY FOR THE FUTURE, BASED ON OUR PRESENT AND LIKELY FUTURE SITUATION.
SHE WAS ALSO VERY DOUBTFUL AS TO WHETHER WE COULD AT PRESENT AFFORD THE LEVEL OF PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE PROPOSED IN THE ESTIMATES.
SHE SAID THAT WE COULD TAKE HEART FROM THE FACT THAT 1983-84 IN THE END HAD TURNED OUT BETTER THAN AT ONE TIME SEEMED POSSIBLE, BUT SHE WARNED THAT NOW, IN CONSIDERING THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR CF DEFICIT FINANCING, +WE MUST FACE THE FACT THAT, EVEN IF LAND SALES REVIVE, WE CANNOT EXPECT OUR CAPITAL REVENUE TO REACH AGAIN THE DIZZY HEIGHTS IT REACHED IN THE RECENT PAST*.
SHE BELIEVED THAT IT WAS UNLIKELY THAT IT WOULD BE EVER SO EASY AGAIN TO FINANCE THE DEFICIT ON CAPITAL ACCOUNT FROM LAND REVENUE BUT POINTED OUT THAT THIS WAS REALLY NO BAD THING.
♦ LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE GROWTH IN THE ECONOMY REQUIRES THAT LAND SHOULD NOT BE A SCARCE COMMODITY WHOSE PRICE IS CONSTANTLY DRIVEN UP BY AN EXTREME IMBALANCE BETWEEN SUPPLY AND DEMAND,+ SHE SAID.
TURNING TO FORECAST FOR FUTURE IN THE BUDGET, SHE SAID, ♦THERE ARE ONLY OCCASIONAL REFERENCES TO THE FUTURE, THE NEW ’FORECAST PERIOD’, THAT IS UP TO 31 MARCH, 1988, BY WHICH TIME OUR FORMAL CONTINGENT LIABILITIES WILL HAVE RISEN FROM THE PRESENT LEVEL OF ABOUT 14 BILLION DOLLARS TO 23 BILL ION.+
SHE QUERIED WHERE WERE THE FORECASTS OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE FOR THE +FORECAST PERIOD+ AND WHERE WAS THE BUDGETARY STRATEGY DESIGNED TO BRING THEM INTO LINE.
MISS DUNN SAID THAT HER CONCERN OF THESE OMISSIONS WAS HEIGHTENED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S STATEMENT THAT HIS INTENTION REMAINED TO BE +T0 ENSURE THAT THE GROWTH RATE IN REAL TERMS IN PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE DOES NOT OVER A PERIOD CF YEARS EXCEED THE GROWTH RATE OF GDP+.
♦ IN MY OPINION WE CANNOT AFFORD TO LET THE GROWTH RATE CF PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE COME ANYWHERE NEAR THE GROWTH RATE OF GDP UNTIL WE ARE OUT OF THE WOOD,+ SHE SAID.
SHE NOTED THAT THE GROWTH RATE OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE HAD ALMOST OVER ANY RECENT +PERIOD OF YEARS+ EXCEEDED THE GROWTH RATE OF GDP BY A CONSIDERABLE MARGIN AND SINCE 1979 BY 50 PER CENT
/this 37Tdei<ce, .........
WEDNESDAY, UABCH 28, 1?84
- 11 -
THIS EVIDENCE, SHE SAID, GAVE A +HOLLOW RING* TO THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S STATEMENT THAT +THE FIRST OF THE PRINCIPLES WE APPLY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF OUR PUBLIC FINANCES IS THAT THE GROWTH RATE CF PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE SHOULD HAVE REGARD TO THE GROWTH RATE OF THE ECONOMY*.
+ IN OUR PRESENT SITUATION, THE MORE IMPORTANT POINT IS THAT IT IS APPROPRIATE TO ALLOW THIS CRITERION — THE RATIO OF PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE TO GDP — TO SET THE LIMIT FOR THE GROWTH OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE WHEN, BUT ONLY WHEN, REVENUE IS SO ABUNDANT THAT THERE ARE NO BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS ON A HIGHER LEVEL OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE,* SHE SAID.
+WHEN THERE ARE BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS, AS THERE HAVE BEEN SINCE 1982-83, THEN THE OPERATIVE CRITERION MUST BE THE LEVEL OF REVENUE AVAILABLE TO FINANCE EXPENDITURE,* SHE ADDED.
SHE BELIEVED THAT DEFICIT FINANCING WAS ACCEPTABLE ONLY AS A SHORT-TERM EXPEDIENT.
+IN THE LONG RUN, WHETHER THE DEFICITS ARE FINANCED BY BORROWING OR BY INCREASED TAXATION, DEFICIT FINANCING INHIBITS GROWTH AND FUELS INFLATION, WHICH IS STILL TOO HIGH EVEN NOW,* SHE SAID.
SHE BELIEVED THAT WE SHOULD BE AIMING FOR A BALANCED BUDGET AND SHE WAS CONCERNED THAT THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY HAD NOT SAID, NOR HAD HE GIVEN ANY INDICATION THAT THAT WAS WHAT HE WAS AIMING FOR
REFERRING TO THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S DECLARED AIM TO GET BUDGET DEFICITS BELOW ONE PER CENT OF GDP, SHE POINTED OUT THAT THE FORECAST OF GDP FOR 1984 WAS $240 BILLION AND IT COULD BE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE IN FUTURE YEARS.
+ 1 DO NOT BELIEVE THAT DEFICITS OF THIS ORDER OF ONE PER CENT OF THIS SUM ARE ACCEPTABLE AND ’CAN BE HANDLED’ EVEN IF THEY ARE PARTLY COVERED BY BOND ISSUES.
* LET US REMEMBER, WITH THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THAT LOANS CARRY INTEREST AND PROVISION MUST BE MADE FOR THEIR REPAYMENT, PROVISION WHICH WILL FURTHER REDUCE OUR FREE FISCAL RESERVES,* SHE SAID.
SHE STRESSED THAT WE JUST COULD NOT DEPEND ON STEADILY INCREASING TAX RATES AND MORE AND MORE COMPLICATED REVENUE LAwS TO FINANCE STEADILY INCREASING PUBLIC EXPENDITURE.
SHE SAW THE NEED FOR +A CALM, STEADY, CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD AND BALANCED APPROACH* TOWARDS ELIMINATING OUR PRESENT CHRONIC TENDENCY FOR PUBLIC ACCOUNTS TO BE IN DEFICIT; AND CERTAINLY WITHIN THREE YEARS.
/+BUT I .......
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1984
12
♦BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD BE DONE BY RAISING TAX RATES ANY FURTHER IN THE NEAR FUTURE, IF EVER, LET ALONE BY ALTERING THE AMBIT OF THE CHARGE.
+OUR DIRECT TAX SYSTEM IS ALREADY BEGINNING TO LOSE MUCH OF ITS SIMPLICITY AND wE HAVE ALREADY HAD SOME UNHAPPY EXPERIENCE OF THE WORKING OF THE LAW OF DIMINISHING RETURNS,* SHE NOTED.
SHE MAINTAINED THAT WE MUST GET BACK TO CUTTING OUR COAT ACCORDING TO OUR CLOTH - WE MUST REDUCE EXPENDITURE.
+THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD PUT BEFORE THIS COUNCIL THE MEASURES NECESSARY TO START SUCH A PROCESS,* SHE SAID.
+l BELIEVE THAT WE CANNOT NOW AFFORD TO TREAT AS SACROSANCT PROGRAMMES THAT WERE DEVISED AND ACCEPTED IN MORE PROSPEROUS TIMES,* SHE ADDED.
SHE CITED THE TOTAL ESTIMATE FOR PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE ON BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION, INCLUDING CIVIL ENGINEERING, FOR 1984-85 AS AN EXAMPLE.
SHE NOTED THE ESTIMATE WAS WITHIN THREE PER CENT OF THE REVISED ESTIMATE FOR 1983-84, BUT SINCE THE TENDER PRICE INDEX WAS ESTIMATED TO HAVE FALLEN BY A FURTHER 12 PER CENT IN 1983-84, THIS IMPLIED AN INCREASE IN REAL TERMS FOR 1984-85.
SHE ASKEDs +IS IT SENSIBLE TO ACCELERATE EXPENDITURE WHEN WE ARE FACING ANOTHER DEFICIT? WOULD IT NOT BE MORE PRUDENT TO SLOW DOWN UNTIL OUR PROSPECTS IMPROVE AGAIN?*
ELABORATING ON THE IMPORTANCE OF REDUCING EXPENDITURE RATHER THAN INCREASING TAXATION, MISS DUNN SAID, +OUR RATES OF DIRECT TAX MAY STILL SEEM LOW, BUT I AM NOT SURE THAT, AT THE RATES NOW PROPOSED, THEY WOULD STILL SEEM SO WHEN COMPARED WITH EFFECTIVE RATES IN OTHER COUNTRIES.*
+IN MANY OF THEM THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEGAL TAX AVOIDANCE GREATLY REDUCE THE ACTUAL LIABILITIES OF CORPORATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS,* SHE OBSERVED.
SHE SAID THAT IF THE PROPOSED INCREASES IN DIRECT TAX RATES WERE PASSED, AN ASSURANCE WAS NEEDED FROM THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY THAT IF ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE FOR 1985-86 COULD NOT BE MET WITHOUT FURTHER TAX INCREASES, THE ESTIMATES WOULD BE CUT.
AS FOR WHICH PROJECT TO FORGO, SHE SAID THAT IT WAS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OFFICIALS CONCERNED TO DECIDE.
/+WH3I FINANCIAL .......
WfflNBSDAY, M1BCH 28, 1984
- 13 -
♦ WHEN FINANCIAL RESTRAINT IS NECESSARY IT IS THE DUTY OF THIS COUNCIL TO DETERMINE THE ACCEPTABLE LEVELS OF EXPENDITURE FOR THE COMING YEAR BY REFUSING TO PASS THE APPROPRIATION BILL AS PRINTED.
♦ WITHIN THE SUMS FINALLY MADE AVAILABLE IT IS UP TO HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS AND THE SECRETARIAT TO CONSIDER HOW BEST TO ALLOCATE THE REDUCED APPROPRIATIONS,* SHE SAID.
♦ ONLY THEY HAVE THE DETAILED INFORMATION NECESSARY TO DETERMINE THE LEAST PAINFUL WAY TO MAKE ANY CUTS THAT MAY BE NEEDED,+ SHE ADDED.
♦ IF AND WHEN UNOFFICIALS HAVE MINISTERIAL RESPONSIBILITY - AND AUTHORITY - IT WILL BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION TO ANSWER THE QUESTION OF WHICH SCHOOL SHOULD BE CUT BECAUSE WHEN THAT DAY COMES THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND HIS DEPARTMENT WILL ADVISE AND ANSWER TO THE MINISTER.
♦ BUT UNTIL THAT DAY COMES THE RESPONSIBILITY RESTS WITH THE OFFICIALS CONCERNED,+ SHE SAID.
SHE RECALLED THAT IN OCTOBER 1980 SHE RECOMMENDED THAT INDIVIDUAL UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS SHOULD BE INVITED TO EXERCISE A SUPERVISORY-CUM-MONITOR ING-ROLE OVER THE PERFORMANCE AND NEEDS OF INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS OR GROUPS OF DEPARTMENTS AND GOVERNMENT WAS AT THAT TIME UNWILLING TO CONSIDER ANY REAL CHANGE IN THE ROLE OF UNOFFICIALS.
SHE SAID THAT IT WAS NOW WIDELY ACCEPTED THAT WE MUST ADVANCE TOWARDS A MORE REPRESENTATIVE FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
STRESSING THAT THIS COULD NOT BE A PURELY COSMETIC CHANGE, SHE SAID, +IT MUST INVOLVE A GRADUAL TRANSFER OF REAL POWER FROM OFFICIALS TO THE UNOFFICIALS, SOMEHOW SELECTED AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE.+
♦ IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WE SHOULD BE CONSIDERING NOW ADAPTATION TO THE SYSTEM SO THAT THEY CAN BE WELL AND TRULY IMPLEMENTED BEFORE THE END OF THIS DECADE,+ SHE ADDED.
♦ THERE ARE MANY DIFFICULT QUESTIONS TO BE TACKLED AND THEY WON’T GET ANY EASIER TO ANSWER WITH THE PASSAGE OF TIME,+ SHE WARNED.
- 0 --------
/14........
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1934
- 14 -
PLANS FOR MORE SPENDING ON EDUCATION BACKED
* * *
REV THE HON PATRICK MCGOVERN EXPRESSED APPROBATION THAT THE EXPENDITURE ON EDUCATION IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR WAS ESTIMATED TO INCREASE BY ALMOST 18 PER CENT OVER 1983-84.
SPEAKING IN THE ANNUAL BUDGET DEBATE, HE SAID, +1 ALSO NOTE WITH APPROBATION THAT THE ADVICE OF SOME UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS AT LAST YEAR’S BUDGET DEBATE THAT IF TAX INCREASES WERE NECESSARY THIS YEAR THE INCREASE SHOULD BE BY DIRECT TAXATION RATHER THAN INDIRECT WAS HEEDED.+
COMMENTING ON THE PROPOSED EXPENDITURE ON EDUCATION, HE NOTED THAT THE INCREASE WAS IN KEEPING WITH A POINT PUT FORWARD BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS IN THE DEBATE ON THE LLEWELLYN REPORT ON JULY 13, 1983 THAT +MONEY SPENT ON EDUCATION IS MONEY WELL INVESTED IN THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG+.
♦ UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS ARE NO DOUBT PLEASED THAT SOMEONE WAS LISTENING AND THAT THE TREND OF THE EARLIER EIGHTIES OF A DECLINING PROPORTION OF CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNT FOR EDUCATION HAS BEEN REVERSED,+ HE SAID.
HE ALSO SAID THAT IN INDIRECT BUDGETARY MATTERS, A LITTLE PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE SINCE AUGUST IN THAT THE EDUCATION COMMISSION HAD BEEN PARTLY SET UP.
♦ A PLEASING FEATURE IS THAT THE ADVICE OF UNOFFICIALS HAS AGAIN BEEN HEEDED IN THAT THE NUMBER OF OFFICIALS ON THE COMMISSION HAS BEEN REDUCED AND THE NUMBER OF UNOFFICIALS IS TO BE INCREASED,+ HE SAID.
♦ UNTIL I HEAR MORE COMMENT I RESERVE MY POSITION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT IT IS A GOOD THING THAT THE COMMISSION SHOULD NOT BE A STATUTORY BODY AS RECOMMENDED IN THE REPORT,+ HE ADDED.
HOWEVER HE HOPED THAT IN ITS CO-ORDINATING ROLE, WHILE NOT USURPING THE POWERS OR ROLES OF OTHER BODIES, THE COMMISSION WOULD HAVE SUFFICIENT CLOUT TO KNOCK HEADS TOGETHER WHERE THEY NEED KNOCKING.
FATHER MCGOVERN ALSO NOTED THAT THE COMMISSION WOULD TAKE SIX MONTHS TO DIGEST THE REPORT AND THE COMMENTS ON IT BEFORE SELECTING PRIORITIES FOR ACTION.
HE SAID, +THE QUESTION ON MANY PEOPLE’S MINDS IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF IN SIX MONTHS’ TIME THE COMMISSION SELECTS PRIORITIES FOR ACTION WHICH ARE MORE COSTLY THAN THE PRESENT ’CONTINUING IMPROVEMENTS’, WILL THE ESTIMATED 16 PER CENT OF THE CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNT EXPENDITURE ASSIGNED TO EDUCATION BE ENOUGH TO PAY FOR WHAT NEEDS TO BE D0NE7+
♦ IT MAY BE THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT DRAGGING ITS FEET, BUT THE FEAR IS THAT WHEN THE TIME COMES THE COMMISSION MAY FIND ITS HANDS TIED FOR LACK OF FUNDS. I HOPE SUCH FEAR TURNS OUT TO BE UNFOUNDED,+ HE ADDED.
/IUHNING TO .......
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1984
- 15 -
TURNING TO THE PROPOSED CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL TAX, HE QUOTED THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S STATEMENT THAT IT WAS A TRANSPORT MEASURE THE PRIMARY FUNCTION OF WHICH WAS TO ALLEVIATE CONGESTION.
HE OBSERVED THAT IT WAS STATED IN THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL COMPANY LIMITED ANNUAL REPORT 1983 THAT THE GENERALLY DIFFICULT ECONOMIC CONDITIONS COMBINED WITH THE SEVERE FISCAL MEASURES INTRODUCED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN 1982 TO CURB THE GROWTH IN PRIVATE VEHICLE OWNERSHIP HAD RESULTED IN A DROP IN VEHICLES USING THE TUNNEL.
HE QUOTED THE REPORT AS SAYING THAT + IN THE MEDIUM TERM AT ANY RATE THE COMPANY IS NOT ANTICIPATING A MARKED INCREASE IN DEMAND AND THUS THE CONGESTION AT TUNNEL PORTALS IS NOT EXPECTED TO WORSEN S IGN IF ICANTLY+.
FATHER MCGOVERN SAID, +1 DO NOT INTEND TO DEBATE ON THE SUBJECT HERE, BUT IT IS CLEAR THAT THE TRANSPORT NATURE OF THE MEASURE DOES NOT EXIST AND THEREFORE THERE IS NO REASON FOR THIS TAX.+
♦ IF THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY IS SO UNWISE AS TO GO AHEAD WITH THE TUNNEL TAX PROPOSAL I NOW DECLARE MY INTENTION OF OPPOSING IT,-*- HE ADDED.
-----0------
BUDGET DISPLAYS OPTIMISM AND CONFIDENCE - PETER WONG * * * *
THE 1984-85 BUDGET HAS BEEN CAREFULLY DESIGNED TO REFLECT ALL THE THREE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF FISCAL POLICY - TO RAISE REVENUE, TO REDUCE INEQUALITIES OF WEALTH AND INCOME, AND TO ACHIEVE ITS EFFECT ON THE MANAGEMENT OF THE ECONOMY, THE HON PETER C. WONG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
♦ I WOULD LIKE TO PAY TRIBUTE TO THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY FOR THE VERY SKILFUL WAY IN WHICH HE HAS PROPOSED TO SKIN THE NOT SO LEAN AND YET NOT SO FAT HONG KONG CAT,+ HE SAID.
LOOKING AT THE ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE FOR 1984-85, MR WONG SAID THAT AT $37.3 BILLION, IT REPRESENTED ONLY A MODERATE INCREASE.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE DEFICIT OF $3.6 BILLION WAS UNCOMFORTABLY HIGH, ADDING, +A MAIN CONTRIBUTORY FACTOR FOR THE DEFICITS IS GOVERNMENT’S POLICY TO MAINTAIN GENERAL SERVICES AT ACCEPTABLE LEVELS, WHILE ON THE SOCIAL FRONT, MODERATE INCREASES ARE PROPOSED.♦
HE SHARED THE VIEW THAT THE BUDGET WAS A DEMONSTRATION OF GOVERNMENT’S OPTIMISM AND CONFIDENCE IN THE TERRITORY’S FUTURE.
Noting the.......
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1984
- 16 -
NOTING THE GREAT IMPORTANCE ATTACHED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO PROMOTE INCREASES IN PRODUCTIVITY AND VALUE FOR MONEY, >£ SAID THAT THE GREATER USE OF TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES WOULD ENHANCE PRODUCTIVITY.
HE ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THE PRIVATISATION AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC CORPORATIONS SHOULD CONTINUE.
♦ IT WILL RELIEVE THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT FROM RESPONSIBILITIES IN RESPECT OF SERVICES WHICH COULD BE MANAGED WITH EQUAL IF NOT IMPROVED EFFICIENCY UNDER PRIVATE OR INDEPENDENT MANAGEMENT,♦ « SAID.
ON THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, HE NOTED THAT AS A RESULT OF THE MCKINSEY RECOMMENDATIONS, A NUMBER OF SECRETARIES HAD BEEN APPOINTED TO ASSIST THE CHIEF SECRETARY IN FORMULATING AND CO-ORDINATING GOVERNMENT POLICIES IN RELATED FIELDS.
♦ AFTER ALMOST A DECADE, IT IS PERHAPS TIME TO SEE WHETHER IT IS NECESSARY TO REVAMP THE SYSTEM, PARTICULARLY WHEN HONG KONG HAS WITNESSED PHENOMENAL EXPANSION AND CHANGES IN ALMOST ALL SPHERES OF ACTIVITY,* HE SAID.
♦ IT IS ESSENTIAL TO ENSURE THAT NO DISCORD AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST EXIST, WHICH MAY RESULT IN UNDUE AND UNNECESSARY DELAYS IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF GOVERNMENT DECISIONS.
♦ HARMONY AND IDENTITY OF PURPOSE ARE PERHAPS THE BEST GUARANTEES TO BETTER EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY,* HE ADDED.
TURNING TO THE REVENUE PROPOSALS, MR WONG SAID THAT HE REGARDED THE TWO PER CENT INCREASE IN DIRECT TAXATION AS JUSTIFIABLE.
♦ ALTHOUGH THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE TAX BURDEN MAY NOT BE ENTIRELY EVEN, IT WOULD BE ABSURD TO SUGGEST THAT THE PROPOSED INCREASE WOULD POSE A THREAT TO OUR TRADE AND INVESTMENT,+ HE SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY HAD CATEGORICALLY STATED THAT LOW TAXES HAD LONG BEEN AND WOULD CONTINUE TO BE A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO HONG KONG'S GROWTH.
HE ALSO NOTED THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S PROMISE TO RECONSIDER SALARIES TAX THRESHOLDS CAREFULLY IN HIS NEXT BUDGET AND TO HAVE A LOOK AT INITIAL ALLOWANCES.
♦ THIS IS CLEAR EVIDENCE THAT THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY RECOGNISES THE NEED FOR CONCESSION IF CIRCUMSTANCES PERMIT,* MR WONG SAID.
MR WONG NEXT CALLED ON THE TRADE DEPARTMENT TO TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT THE +COMPLEX AND MUCH CRITICISED* QUOTA ALLOCATION SYSTEM.
/TURNING TC .......
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1?fi4
- 17 -
TURNING TO THE DOLLAR LINK AND INTEREST RATES, MR WONG SAID, ♦THE DOLLAR LINK HAS RESTORED CONFIDENCE AND RESULTED IN A STABLE EXCHANGE RATE WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO TRADERS AND MANUFACTURERS IN MAKING LONG TERM PLANNING.*
♦ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S DECISION TO HOLD THE DOLLAR PARITY IS A PRUDENT DECISION EVEN THOUGH IT HAS ITS 0* LIMITING FACTORS,♦ HE ADDED.
CONCEDING THAT FREQUENT CHANGES IN INTEREST RATES ARE UNDESIRABLE AND FRUSTRATING IF THE CHANGES MAKE BORROWING MORE COSTLY, MR WONG SAID, +OBVIOUSLY, THE SITUATION PRESENTS A DILEMMA, AND IT WARRANTS CLOSE MONITOR ING.♦
♦ PERHAPS TIGHTER MONEY CONTROL AND JUDICIOUS INTERVENTION IS THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE IN THE SHORT TERM,* HE SUGGESTED.
-----0------
GOVERNMENT PRAISED FOR LONG-TERM OUTLOOK * * * #
THE GOVERNMENT WAS TODAY COMMENDED BY THE HON WONG LAM FOR ITS +VERY RESPONSIBLE AND POSITIVE* ATTITUDE IN CONTINUING TO TREAT PROGRAMMES AND INFRASTRUCTURE WHICH ARE IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE’S LIVELIHOOD IN THE LONG-TERM PERSPECTIVE.
MR WONG SAID THAT IN RECENT MONTHS, MANY PEOPLE HAD BEEN TALKING ABOUT WAYS OF MAINTAINING PROSPERITY AND STABILITY AFTER 1997.
♦ TO MY MIND, THE MOST USEFUL WAY IS TO SHOW OUR DETERMINATION AND MAKE EARNEST EFFORT, EVEN IN THE INTERIM PERIOD BETWEEN NOW AND 1997, TO MAINTAIN THE PRESENT PROSPERITY AND STABILITY ON Trit ONE HAND, AND SOW THE SEEDS OF PROSPERITY AND STABILITY FOR THE POST-1997 YEARS ON THE OTHER, SO THAT BY THAT TIME HONG KONG WILL STILL HAVE ITS UNIQUE VALUE OF EXISTENCE,* HE SAID.
♦ THE BUDGET FOR THIS FISCAL YEAR FULLY REFLECTS THE GOVERNMENT’S EFFORTS IN THIS CONNECTION,* HE ADDED.
HE ALSO COMMENDED THE GOVERNMENT FOR ITS DETERMINATION TO CRACK DOWN ON INFLATION.
HE DESCRIBED GOVERNMENT’S MOVES TO TIGHTEN ITS CONTROL ON THE ESTABLISHMENT AND EXPENDITURE OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR AND TO AVOID AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, RAISING DIRECT TAXATION AS *UNDOUBTEDLY POSITIVE ANTI-INFLATIONARY MEASURES AIMED AT BETTERING THE LOT GF THE PEOPLE*.
HOWEVER, HE CONSIDERED THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL POINTS ABOUT T BUDGET WHICH CALLED FOR COMMENTS.
/THE FIRST ......
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 19&4
- 18 -
THE FIRST POINT HE MENTIONED WAS THAT +GOVERNMENT’S FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS HAVE INFLATED THE DEFICIT*.
♦ I HAVE RESERVATIONS ABOUT EXCESSIVE FUNDS BEING RESERVED UNDER INDIVIDUAL HEADS OF EXPENDITURE OR FUND,* HE SAIL.
♦ ONE OF THE IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT’S GENERAL FISCAL RESERVE IS ALREADY TO MEET UNFORESEEN NEEDS, AND IT IS REALLY NOT NECESSARY TO RETAIN EXCESSIVE RESERVE FUNDS AGAIN UNDER INDIVIDUAL HEADS OF EXPENDITURE OR FUNDS, FOR THIS WILL VIRTUALLY LEAD TO AN INFLATED DEFICIT, RESULTING IN THE NEED FOR RAISING OF FURTHER TAXES BY THE GOVERNMENT,* HE ADDED.
HE CITED AS AN EXAMPLE THE CAPITAL WORKS RESERVE FUND.
HE BELIEVED THAT THERE WAS NO NEED FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO TRANSFER AS MUCH AS $7.3 BILLION TO THE FUND EVEN THOUGH MONEY MUST BE RETAINED IN THE FUND TO OFFSET THE ADVANCE OF $1.45 BILLION TO THE CONSORTIUM FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TIN SHU I WAI.
HIS REASON WAS THAT THIS SUM OF SOME $1.4 BILLION WOULD ONLY BE PAID IN STAGES AND NOT IN ONE GO AND THEREFORE IT SEEMED UNNECESSARY TO TRANSFER THE FULL AMOUNT TO THE FUND IMMEDIATELY.
♦ THE PRESENT FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS RESULT IN A SUM OF ABOUT $2.2 BILLION OF PUBLIC MONEY LYING IDLE IN THE FUND WHICH IS UNLIKELY TO BE USED IN FULL EVEN IN CASE OF UNFORESEEN NEEDS.
♦ IF HALF OF THIS SUM WERE TRANSFERED BACK TO THE GENERAL REVENUE ACCOUNT, THE ESTIMATED DEFICIT OF SOME $3 BILLION FOR 1984-85 COULD BE REDUCED BY NEARLY ONE-THIRD,+ HE ARGUED.
HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT THE BUDGET HAD OVERLOOKED THE INTERESTS OF THE MIDDLE-INCOME CLASS.
HE SAID THAT MANY PEOPLE EARNING MORE THAN $10 000 A MONTH WERE REGARDED AS BELONGING TO THE MIDDLE-INCOME CLASS BUT IN FACT THEIR SO-CALLED +HIGH SALARIES* WERE THE RESULT OF HIGH INFLATION RATES IN RECENT YEARS.
♦ INFLATION HAS RAISED THEIR SALARIES, AS WELL AS THEIR EXPENDITURE. IT IS THEREFORE INAPPROPRIATE TO REGARD THEM AS REALLY WELL-PAID PEOPLE,+ HE SAID.
HE NOTED THAT SOME SUCH PEOPLE WOULD HAVE TO BEAR A HIGHER RATE OR EVEN THE HIGHER STANDARD RATE IN THE PAYMENT OF INCOME TAX.
♦ THEY ENJOY FEW DIRECT BENEFITS IN SOCIAL SERVICES, SUCH AS PUBLIC HOUSING OR WELFARE ALLOWANCES, BUT THEY HAVE TO PAY INCOME TAX AT THE SAME RATE AS THOSE WHOSE INCOMES ARE MULTIPLES OF THEIRS,+ HE SAID.
HE SAID THE SITUATION REFLECTED THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS IN THE PRESENT INCOME TAX SYSTEM IN THAT PEOPLE WHOSE INCOME ARE NOT GENUINELY HIGH ARE CAUGHT INTO THE NET OF STANDARD RATE.
/♦IN OTtlcJt.............
WEDNESDAY, MABCH 28, 1984
- 19 -
+ IN OTHER WORDS, THE PROGRESSION OF THE INCOME TAX IS SO RAPID THAT THOSE WHO EARN MORE BECAUSE OF INFLATION ARE REQUIRED TO BEAR MUCH HIGHER TAX RATES,* HE SAID.
♦ IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED IN THE PAST THAT THE PRESENT PROGRESSION SHOULD BE SLOWED DOwN, SO AS TO WIDEN EACH PLATFORM OF TAX RATES.
ALTHOUGH AT THAT TIME THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT AGREE TO THIS, IT IS NOW HIGH TIME TO SLOW DOWN THE PROGRESSION WITHOUT DELAY,+ HE SAID.
♦ I ALSO HOPE THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL APPRECIATE THAT THE MIDDLE-INCOME CLASS ARE ALSO THE ’PEOPLE’ OF HONG KONG. TO A LARGE EXTENT, THEY ARE ALSO THE 'LESS WELL-OFF’ AND THE STUFF OF THEIR LIVES ARE ALSO STRONGLY INFLUENCED BY GOVERNMENT’S POLICIES,* HE ADDED.
COMMENTING ON THE PROPOSAL TO LEVY TAX ON SOME USERS OF THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL, MR WONG SAID THAT THE PROPOSED TAX SHOULD NOT BE IMPOSED AT ALL TIMES OF THE DAY WITHOUT DISTINCTION.
HE FELT THAT ONLY PEAK HOUR USERS SHOULD PAY THIS TAX.
♦ THE DEFINING OF THE PEAK AND NON-PEAK HOURS MAY OR MAY NOT CHANGE THE PRESENT PATTERN-OF USAGE OF THE TUNNEL. HENCE THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT ARRIVE AT TOO HASTY A DECISION, AND SHOULD SPARE USERS WHO DO NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONGESTION OF THE TUNNEL OF THE TAX,* HE SAID.
- - - - 0 ---------
UNCERTAINTY IS A THREAT - YEUNG * * * *
AS THE OPTION OF EMIGRATION REMAINS OPEN TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, GUARANTEEING THEM THE CONTINUING RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHERE THEY WISH TO LIVE AND WORK, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO WORK CALMLY AND DILIGENTLY FOR THE CONTINUED PROSPERITY OF THE TERRITORY, THE HON CHARLES YEUNG SAID.
SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL BUDGET DEBATE, MR YEUNG SAID THAT UNCERTAINTY WAS POSSIBLY A LARGER THREAT THAN LACK OF CONFIDENCE.
♦UNCERTAINTY IS MANY-FACETED AND IT MAKES ITSELF FELT BY DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS AT DIFFERENT TIMES WITH DIFFERENT DEGREES OF IMPACT.
♦NO MATTER WHAT THE EVENTUAL OUTCOME, UNCERTAINTY LIKE WOODWORM IS EATING INTO THE FABRIC OF OUR SOCIETY AND ECONOMY AS HAS BEEN AMPLY MANIFESTED IN THESE LAST 18 MONTHS,♦ HE SAID.
HE DESCRIBED AS ♦BOTH SADDENING AND DEPRESSING* THE SEARCH BY SOME HONG KONG RESIDENTS DURING THIS PERIOD OF UNCERTAINTY FOR THE ASSURANCE OF EMIGRATION ABROAD.
/=nT._HK . ..
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1984
20 -
BUT HE POINTED OUT THAT AT THE SAME TIME, THERE HAD BEEN A VISIBLE UPWARD TREND OF HONG KONG OVERSEAS SETTLERS AND IMMIGRANTS RETURNING TO LIVE AND WORK IN HONG KONG.
♦THESE HIGHLY EDUCATED AND HIGHLY TRAINED PEOPLE HAVE MUCH TO OFFER IN UPHOLDING OUR FUTURE ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES, BOTH NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.
♦WE HOPE THAT THIS NEW EXPRESSION OF CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG'S PROSPECTS WILL BE REFLECTED BY THOSE IN HONG KONG WHO ARE NOW EXPERIENCING ANXIETIES ABOUT THEIR FUTURE AND ARE INVESTIGATING THE ALTERNATIVES OPEN TO THEM.+ MR YEUNG SAID.
♦THE CONTINUED PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG IS THE COMMON OBJECTIVE OF ALL CONCERNED IN THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG AND DEPENDS ON STABILITY AND NOT UNCERTAINTY. THE MERE EXISTENCE OF A POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE WILL CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE HONG KONG PEOPLE TO STRIVE AND DO THEIR BEST FOR THE PLACE BECAUSE IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS HONG KONG IS THEIR HDME AND WHERE THEY ULTIMATELY WISH TO STAY,+ HE SAID.
TURNING TO THE TAXATION MEASURES CONCERNING INTEREST PROPOSED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR YEUNG SAID THAT HE WAS CONCERNED AT THEIR WIDER IMPLICATIONS THOUGH HE COULD UNDERSTAND THE REASONING BEHIND THEIR INTRODUCTION.
HE SAID, ♦HONG KONG HAS ESTABLISHED ITSELF AS ONE OF THE WORLD'S MAJOR FINANCIAL CENTRES AND ALTHOUGH THIS HAS BEEN ACHIEVED THROUGH MANY FACTORS, NOT THE LEAST THE WISE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, ONE OF THE MAJOR REASONS FOR ITS SUCCESS HAS CLEARLY BEEN THE STABLE, LOW, SOURCE-BASED TAX SYSTEM.
♦IT IS NOW PROPOSED TO CHANGE THESE ADVANTAGES WITH FORESEEABLE UNCERTAINTIES IN ITS WAKE - NOT ONLY UNCERTAINTY IN THE INTERPRETATION OF THE LAW, BUT UNCERTAINTY IN WHAT THESE CHANGES PORTEND FOR THE FUTURE.♦
HE ADDED, ♦! MUST SAY THAT I DISLIKE THESE NEW TAXES AND UNDOUBTEDLY SO DOES THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY AS THEY WILL CREATE UNCERTAINTY AND CONFUSION, LEADING TO UNPRODUCTIVE EFFORT AND ENERGY OF THE COMMUNITY RESOURCES IN THE WAR OF ATTRITION BETWEEN THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT AND THE TAX AVOIDANCE INDUSTRY.♦
ADMITTING THAT REVENUE HAD TO BE FOUND SOMEWHERE AND THAT HE DID NOT HAVE OTHER BETTER SOLUTIONS, MR YEUNG SAID, ♦I THEREFORE APPEAL TO THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO TREAT THESE TAXES AS A MEASURE OF LAST RESORT AND TO REINSTATE THE POSITION AS SOON AS OUR FISCAL POSITION STABILISES.+
HE ENDORSED THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S REVENUE PROPOSALS, PARTICULARLY IN RAISING THE RATE OF DIRECT TAXATION TO SUPPORT RECURRENT EXPENDITURE AND BORROWING Si BILLION TO FINANCE PUBLIC CAPITAL EXPENDITURE WHILE MAINTAINING THE RATIO OF RECURRENT EXPENDITURE AGAINST RECURRENT REVENUE AT A DECENT LEVEL.
♦THE SUCCESSFUL RESTRAINT ON PUBLIC SECTOR DEMAND DESERVES SPECIAL RECOGNITION FOR OUR CIVIL SERVICE AND ALL CONCERNED, TO WHOM OUR COMMUNITY IS INDEBTED,+ HE ADDED.
------0-------
/21 .....
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1984 - 21 -
CONCERN EXPRESSED ABOUT BURDEN ON MIDDLE CLASS
* * * #
DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI PROPOSED SETTING THE TAX BANDS OF NET CHARGEABLE INCOME AT $15 OOO INTERVALS TO MITIGATE THE EFFECT OF INFLATION AND TO ACHIEVE A GREATER DEGREE OF EQUITY IN DIRECT TAXATION.
SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL BUDGET DEBATE, DR HO SAID HE SUPPORTED THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S BUDGETARY PROPOSALS IN GENERAL.
HE NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HOPED TO BE ABLE TO RAISE ENOUGH INCOME TO PERMIT ITSELF TO STEADILY SPEND ON GENERAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND LONG-TERM SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME THROUGH A THREE-PRONGED APPROACH-INCREASED TAXATION, USE OF THE FISCAL RESERVES AND ISSUE OF GOVERNMENT BONDS.
+THESE INVESTMENTS ARE VITAL, BECAUSE THEY WILL ENABLE OUR ECONOMY TO STAY VIABLE AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO SPEEDILY RESPOND TO THE ECONOMIC UPTURN OF OUR MAJOR TRADING PARTNERS,* DR HO SAID.
DR HO SAID THAT GIVEN THE BURGEONING DEMAND FOR PUBLIC SERVICES IN QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE TERMS, THE TWO PER CENT INCREASE IN THE STANDARD RATE OF SALARIES TAX AS PROPOSED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY WAS INEVITABLE.
HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT THAT THE SPIRALLING INFLATION IN RECENT YEARS HAD THE EFFECT OF INADVERTENTLY PUSHING THE SANDWICHED CLASSES INTO THE HIGHER TAX BRACKETS.
+AS A RESULT OF THE COMBINED EFFECT OF THE INCREASED TAX RATE AND INFLATION, OUR MIDDLE-CLASSES ARE SHOULDERING A RELATIVELY HEAVY TAX BURDEN,* HE SAID.
HE SUGGESTED SETTING THE TAX BANDS OF NET CHARGEABLE INCOME AT $15 000 INTERVALS.
THE REVISED TAX BANDS WOULD RESULT IN A SMALL REDUCTION IN THE ESTIMATED REVENUE, WHICH IS JUSTIFIED ON EQUITY GROUNDS, DR HO SAID.
ON THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE APPRENTICESHIP ORDINANCE, DR HO SAID HIS RECENT RESEARCH INDICATED THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE APPRENTICESHIP INSPECTORS HAD BEEN SHRINKING OVER THE YEARS, BUT THE NUMBER OF APPRENTICES LIKELY TO BE PUT UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE INSPECTORS WAS ESTIMATED TO EXCEED 11 000 IN 1984-85.
♦INADEQUATE ENFORCEMENT WOULD NOT ONLY LEAD TO ACCUSATION OF WINDOW-DRESSING, BUT ALSO HAS AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON THE CAREER PROSPECTS OF YOUNG PEOPLE AS WELL AS ON THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ECONOMY,* HE SAID.
♦HENCE, THERE IS CERTAINLY A STRONG CASE FOR EXPANDING CONSIDERABLY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE APPRENTICESHIP INSPECTORATE IN ORDER TO ENABLE IT TO CARRY OUT THE TASK FOR WHICH IT WAS SET UP,+ HE ADDED.
/WITH xtcDiu-uJ .
WEDNESDAY, UJiCE 26, 1964
- 22 -
WITH REGARD TO THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OF WORKERS, DR HO SAID THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS AT WORK-SITES, THOUGH REDUCED IN 1983, WAS STILL TOO HIGH.
THE UNSATISFACTORY LOW LEVEL OF ENFORCEMENT OF THE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY LEGISLATION AS A RESULT OF A SHORTAGE OF FACTORY INSPECTORS HAD CAUSED GRAVE CONCERN TO THE COMMUNITY, HE SAID.
DR HO NOTED THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE IN THE LAST TWO YEARS HAD REMAINED UNCHANGED AT 205, WHEREAS THE NUMBER OF ESTABLISHMENTS ENCOMPASSED BY THE LEGISLATION HAD BEEN STEADILY INCREASING FROM 73 000 IN 1982 TO ROUGHLY 77 000 IN 1983.
HE SAID THE APPROVED POSTS OF FACTORY INSPECTORS HAD NEVER BEEN FULLY FILLED AND THAT ONE FACTORY INSPECTOR HAD TO POLICE ON AVERAGE 39* FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS PER YEAR, A FIGURE FAR GREATER THAN THE OPTIMAL RATIO OF l»300 RECOMMENDED BY BRITISH EXPERTS.
♦ AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE PRESENT LEVEL OF ENFORCEMENT, THAT IS HOW OFTEN INSPECTION VISITS ARE MADE TO EACH ESTABLISHMENT, IS FAR FROM SATISFACTORY,+ HE SAID.
HE SAID THE INSPECTION CYCLE MIGHT RANGE FROM SIX MONTHS TO ABOUT ONE-AND-A-HALF YEARS; DEPENDING ON THE DEGREE OF POTENTIAL HAZARDS ASSOCIATED TO EACH INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKING.
DR HO POINTED OUT THAT THE INADEQUATE ENFORCEMENT OF THE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY LEGISLATIONS GENERATED CONSEQUENCES IN SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC TERMS.
♦INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS NOT ONLY BRING MUCH HUMAN SUFFERING TO THE INJURED WORKERS AND MISERIES TO THEIR FAMILIES, BUT ALSO DISRUPTION TO PRODUCTION AND FINANCIAL LOSS TO EMPLOYERS.
♦ I WOULD THEREFORE URGE THE GOVERNMENT TO REVIEW THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE IN THE LIGHT OF THE CURRENT HIGH LEVEL OF INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS,+ HE SAID.
HE NOTED THAT $1.5 MILLION HAD BEEN PROVIDED IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES FOR PROMOTION OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY BUT HE PERSONALLY BELIEVED THAT MORE STRINGENT POLICING BY FACTORY INSPECTORS WAS A SURER WAY TO BRING ABOUT MORE IMMEDIATE EFFECT.
COMMENTING ON VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR DISABLED PERSONS, DR HO SAW A NEED TO INTEGRATE THE TRAINING OF DISABLED PERSONS WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING CURRENTLY BEING DEVELOPED BY THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL.
HOWEVER, HE NOTED THAT THERE WAS A LACK OF REHABILITATION EXPERTS AMONG THE COUNCIL MEMBERS.
♦ I PROPOSE THEREFORE THAT THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE VTC SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE REHABILITATION DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE SO THAT THE NECESSARY ADVICE ON THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF DISABLED PERSONS IN TRAINING OR EMPLOYMENT COULD BE OBTAINED,+ HE SAID.
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/23......
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1984
CONFIDENCE IN FUTURE IS VITAL - LEE * * *
IT WOULD BE FOOLISH TO believe THAT the political uncertainty DID NOT DICTATE THE ECONOMIC AND MONETARY TRENDS AND IT WAS VITAL NOW FOR HONG KONG TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN ITS FUTURE, THE HON ALLEN LEE SAID AT THE ANNUAL BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
USING COMPUTER LANGUAGE TO ANALYSE WHAT MAKES THE HONG KONG SYSTEM WORK SO WELL, HE SAID, + IT IS NOT THE ’HARDWARE’ THAT IS IMPRESSIVE BUT THE ’SOFTWARE* WHICH TAKES MANY MAN-YEARS TO DEVELOP.+
HE SAID THE SOFTWARE COMPRISED EVERY HONG KONG PERSON WHO HAD HELPED TO MAKE THE TERRITORY ONE OF THE MOST WONDERFUL PLACES IN THE WORLD TO LIVE IN.
♦IF THE ’SOFTWARE’ IS DESTROYED, THEN THE SYSTEM WILL NOT OPERATE AND THERE WOULD BE NO HONG KONG.
♦THEREFORE, WE MUST MAINTAIN THE ’SOFTWARE* AND CONTINUE TO DEVELOP IT IN THE FUTURE SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A SOCIETY THAT WILL PROSPER FOR MANY, MANY GENERATIONS TO COME,+ HE ADDED.
COMMENTING ON THE BUDGET, HE DESCRIBED IT AS ’WELL-PREPARED AND CAUTIOUS.♦
HE AGREED THAT AT THIS POINT IN TIME, THE PROPOSED MEASURES WERE REASONABLE AND ACCEPTABLE WITHOUT CAUSING AN INTOLERABLE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY.
HE ALSO TALKED BRIEFLY ABOUT THE NEED TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR AND TO REVIEW FROM TIME TO TIME* OUR POLICIES TOWARDS ENHANCING THE GROWTH OF OUR MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.♦
ON THE CONTROL OF RECURRENT PUBLIC EXPENDITURE, MR LEE SAID,
♦I FEEL MUCH MORE CAN BE DONE PARTICULARLY WHEN GOVERNMENT FACES A DEFICIT SITUATION, AND AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE, WE CANNOT CONTINUE FOREVER IN DEFICIT FINANCING.♦
♦GOVERNMENT FINANCING IS NO DIFFERENT FROM COMMERCIAL FINANCING. WHEN A BUSINESS IS IN TROUBLE, THE FIRST THING A MANAGER ASKS HIMSELF IS WHICH CORNERS HE CAN CUT IN ORDER TO TURN THE BUSINESS AROUND,♦ HE SAID.
HE ASKED THE CIVIL SERVICE UNIONS WHO RECENTLY DEMANDED SALARY ADJUSTMENTS BEYOND WHAT THE GOVERNMENT CAN AFFORD *TO CALM DOWN AND REALISTICALLY REVIEW THE FINANCIAL SITUATION OF OUR GOVERNMENT^.
HE POINTED OUT THAT OVERALL SALARY INCREASES IN THE CIVIL SERVICE HAD BEEN BETTER THAN THOSE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
MR LEE SAID THAT HIS COLLEAGUES IN INDUSTRY HAD ASKED HIM TO PRESENT THEIR CONCERNS WITH REGARDS TO CIVIL SERVICE SALARY INCREASES IN THE BUDGET DEBATE.
/aS FOR .......
WEDNESDAY, MANCE 28, 1984
- 24 -
AS FOR THE TWO PER CENT INCREASE IN DIRECT TAXATION, HE SAID THAT THERE WAS NO ARGUMENT FROM HIS COLLEAGUES.
♦ WE UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTIES THAT OUR GOVERNMENT IS FACING, BUT THE PUBLIC SERVANTS MUST PLAY THEIR PART IN ENSURING THE CONTINUED VIABILITY OF OUR ECONOMY.+
♦ BY CONTROLLING GROWTH OF THE CIVIL SERVICE AND CONTROLLING THE RECURRENT GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE, WE WILL ALL HAVE A BETTER TOMORROW,♦ HE ADDED.
REFERRING TO STATEMENTS BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY THAT THE HONG KONG DOLLAR LINK TO THE US DOLLAR AT 7.8 TO 1 WOULD NOT CHANGE, MR LEE SUGGESTED THAT THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY REVIEW THE CURRENT SITUATION AND LIFT THIS LINK TO LET THE HONG KONG DOLLAR FLOAT FREELY AGAIN.
KE SAID HE BASED HIS SUGGESTION ON THE FOLLOWINGi
* LIFTING THE LINK AND LETTING THE HONG KONG DOLLAR FIND ITS VALUE VERSUS FOREIGN CURRENCIES IS IN LINE WITH THE GOVERNMENT’S PRIOR PHILOSOPHY AND POLICY.
* THE EXPORT PERFORMANCE OF 1983 AND THE NARROWING OF THE VISIBLE TRADE GAP DOES NOT REFLECT THE TURE VALUE OF THE HONG KONG DOLLAR. AS IT IS PREDICTED THAT THE EXPORT TREND OF 1984 WILL BE STRONGER THAN IN 1983, IT IS WRONG TO LINK THE HONG KONG DOLLAR TO THE US DOLLAR AT 7.8 TO 1.
* THE PERFORMANCE OF THE US DOLLAR VERSUS OTHER FOREIGN CURRENCIES HAS WEAKENED IN RECENT MONTHS AND IT HAS BEEN PREDICTED THAT IT WILL WEAKEN FURTHER IN THE FUTURE.
* THE GOVERNMENT ALWAYS HAS THE RIGHT TO ESTABLISH A LINK IN THE FUTURE IN CASE OF SPECULATION.
- - . - 0----------
BETTER EFFORTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION URGED *****
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD INTRODUCE RADICAL REFORMS IF IT IS TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY IN ITS EFFORTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, THE HON ANDREW SO SAID IN THE ANNUAL BUDGET DEBATE TODAY.
HE ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THE STRUCTURE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE BE REVIEWED IN THE LIGHT OF THE OPERATION OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, AND THE PROPOSED REGIONAL COUNCILS SO AS TO MEET THE PEOPLE’S ACTUAL NEEDS.
POINTING OUT THAT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WAS A TASK WHICH SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN WITH UNRELENTING EFFORT, MR SO STRESSED THAT IT MUST NOT BE AFFECTED BY THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE PREVAILING ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CLIMATE.
i HE L:OTED ........
■VKDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1984
- 25 -
HE NOTED THAT THE ESTIMATED CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNT EXPENDITURE ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION HAD INCREASED BY 12.7 PER CENT OVER LAST YEAR’S EXPENDITURE, SHOWING THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD STEADILY CARRIED OUT ITS COMMITMENTS TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT OF HONG KONG.
♦ HOWEVER, I THINK THAT THE WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT IN THIS AREA LACKS CO-ORD I NAT ION,♦ HE OBSERVED.
HE SAID SOME 10 GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, TOGETHER WITH GDVERNMENT-SUBVENTED ORGANISATIONS WERE INVOLVED IN THE WORK OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
SUCH BEING THE CASE, IT WAS DIFFICULT TO CO-ORDINATE THE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME UNDERTAKEN BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AND THE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED, HE SAID.
♦ AT TIMES IT IS ALSO DIFFICULT TO DRAW CLEAR DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS.
♦ ALSO, IT WOULD BE EASY FOR THE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS TO SHIRK RESPONSIBILITIES,♦ MR SO ADDED.
RECALLING THE EFFORTS OF THE GOVERNMENT IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, MR SO SAID THE TASK WAS NOT WITHOUT DIFFICULTIES.
♦ THIS CAN BE SEEN FROM THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, THE STEPPED-UP EFFORTS OF VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED IN THIS RESPECT, THE CHANGES IN THE ORGANISATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND THE TRANSFER OF THE TASK OF POLICY FORMULATION FROM THE SECRETARY FOR ENVIRONMENT AND SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS TO THE SECRETARY FOR ICALTH AND WELFARE,♦ HE SAID.
NOTING THAT THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF GOVERNMENT’S WASTE DISPOSAL WERE LOW COST, CONSERVATION OF ENVIRONMENT AND RECYCLING OF WASTE WHENEVER POSSIBLE, MR SO SAID, +HONG KONG HANDLES 6 530 TONNES OF WASTE PER DAY AND IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE FIGURE WILL RISE TO 10 000 TONNES IN 1989+.
HE SAID PROBLEMS AND CASES OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION COULD BE SEEN AND HEARD EVERY DAY AND THAT QUITE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS RAISED DURING THE FOUR-DAY PUBLIC SESSION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WERE ENVIRONMENT-RELATED.
WITH THE INCREASE IN POPULATION AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES, W SO SAID, WASTE DISPOSAL AND PREVENTION OF POLLUTION TO OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT WAS BECOMING A MORE DIFFICULT TASK.
♦AND THE PRESSURE IS FELT ALL THE MORE BECAUSE OF OUR LIMITED NATURAL RESOURCES, WHICH EXPLAINS WHY WE IN HONG KONG HAVE A GREATER DEMAND FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION THAN OTHER PLACES*, >€ ADDED.
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/2t .....
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1Q84
- 26 -
SIGNS OF LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN FUTURE - HU * * * *
THE SLOWDOWN IN CAPITAL INVESTMENT IN 1983 WAS A SIGN OF THE LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN OUR FUTURE AND THE PRESENT ATMOSPHERE OF POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY, THE HON F.K. HU SAID TODAY.
+THIS UNCERTAINTY IS LARGELY THE RESULT OF THE CONFIDENTIALITY SURROUNDING THE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE CHINESE AND BRITISH GOVERNMENTS AND PERSISTS DESPITE INDICATIONS THAT NEGOTIATIONS HAVE BEEN PROGRESSING SMOOTHLY,+ HE SAID, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BUDGET DEBATE.
MR HU ALSO SAID THAT SPARE PRODUCTION CAPACITY IN THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY HAD BEEN PRACTICALLY EXHAUSTED AND THE SALES OF FACTORY PREMISES WERE NOT ENCOURAGING.
HE WARNED THAT LACK OF INVESTMENT BY OUR OWN PEOPLE AT THIS CRUCIAL TIME COULD SERIOUSLY IMPAIR OUR PROSPERITY AND STABILITY IN FUTURE.
+WE HAVE NO NATURAL RESOURCES AT OUR DISPOSAL AND WE MUST HAVE CONFIDENCE IN OUR OWN ABILITY TO ADAPT TO CHANGING SITUATION^ AND TO RESOLVE OUR OWN PROBLEMS DURING DIFFICULT TIMES AS wE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST,+ HE STRESSED.
MR HU SAID THAT HE WAS PLEASED TO NOTE THAT THERE WAS NO CUTBACK ON CAPITAL PROGRAMMES ON AGREED TRANSPORT PROJECTS THAT WERE READY TO PROCEED.
+WE MUST KEEP ON IMPROVING OUR TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE mND ENCOURAGE THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT, FIRST BY IMPROVING ITS STANDARD OF SERVICE, SECONDLY BY ENSURING EFFICIENT OPERATION SO THAT FAIR AND REASONABLE FARES AR£ CHARGED.
+THEN THROUGH FISCAL MEASURES, THE GROWTH RATE OF INEFFICIENT ROAD USERS, SUCH AS PRIVATE CARS, SHOULD BE RESTRAINED,+ HE SUGGESTED.
HE SAID THAT IT WAS NOT NECESSARY TO ISSUE MORE TAXI LICENCES AS THE WAITING TIME FOR TAXIS HAD BEEN REDUCED CONSIDERABLY IN RECENT YEARS.
TAXI FARES SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO INCREASE, TOGETHER WITH SUITABLE FISCAL MEASURES, TO GIVE THE OPERATORS REASONABLE RETUR . EVEN WITH LESS USAGE, HE SAID.
HE SAID THAT FOR THE SAME REASON HE SUPPORTED THE INTRODUCT . CF A CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL TAX AS A FISCAL MEASURE T. DETER NO -ESSENTIAL USAGE OF THE TUNNEL ON TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT GROUNDo.
A POSITIVE SOLUTION TO THE CONGESTION PROBLEM wOULD r. T-_ CONSTRUCTION OF A SECOND CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL aHICh iriOUL. BE LOOKED INTO WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY, HE OBSERVED.
WEDNESDAY, ilARGH 2o, 1?84
ON HOUSING, MR HU SAID, + aE ARE ALL PROUD OF OUR PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME AS THE TOTAL PRODUCTION IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS INCLUDING HOUSING SOCIETY FLATS AND PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEME FLATS IS ESTIMATED TO BE AT AN AVERAGE COMPLETION RATE OF 44 OQ3 UNITS A YEAR.+
HE SAID THAT A BIG PERCENTAGE OF RENTAL PUBLIC HOUSING wAS STILL HEAVILY SUBSIDISED, AND SUGGESTED THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY SHOULD PURSUE A SOUND RENTAL POLICY TO REDUCE THE GAP BETWEEN ACTUAL COSTS AND RENTAL IMCOME, SO THAT GRADUALLY THE AUTHORITY COULD CONTRIBUTE MORE TOWARDS MEETING THE ACTUAL COST OF RENTAL HOUSING ESTATES AND THUS BE LESS DEPENDENT ON PUBLIC FUNDS.
+IT IS ENCOURAGING TO NOTE THAT THE AMOUNT REQUIRED FROM THE DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND TO FINANCE PUBLIC RENTED HOUSING WILL BE REDUCED FROM $2 030 MILLION IN 1983-84 TO SI 800 MILLION IN 1984-85,+ HE SAID.
MR HU NOTED THAT A BIG PROPORTION OF THE INCREASE IK EXPENDITURE WOULD GO TO DIRECT PAYMENTS IN PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCE DUE TO THE RECENT INCREASE IN VARIOUS PAYMENT RATES AND THE CONSEQUENT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF CASES BECOMING ELIGIBLE FOR ASSISTANCE UNDER THE MEANS TEST.
+1 SUGGEST THAT IT IS SOUND SOCIAL POLICY NOT TO OVERENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DEPEND ON SOCIAL SECURITY AND ASSISTANCE EXCEPT THOSE WHO REALLY CANNOT FEND FOR THEMSELVES,* HE SAID.
HE WAS PARTICULARLY CONCERNED THAT HOSTELS, HOMES AND HALF-WAY HOUSES HAD ANNOUNCED AN INCREASE IN FEES EFFECTIVE FRO>' MRACH 1 THIS YEAR, HE SAID.
+THIS INCREASE WILL AFFECT BOTH GROUPS OF CLIENTS WHETHER Oh NOT THEY ARE ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.
+FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, IT * ILL bi A PITY TO SEE THEM BRACKETED INTO THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE NET _
BECAUSE THEY HAVE BECOME ELIGIBLE SIMPLY DUE TO THE INCREASED FEEo THEY HAVE TO BEAR,+ HE SAID.
MR HU ALSO POINTED OUT THAT WE SHOULD MAINTAIN A BALANCE BETWEEN SOCIAL WORK AND SOCIAL SECURITY.
+1 URGED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT HOLD UP OR DELAY ANY OF ITS DEVELOPMENT PLANS ON SOCIAL WORK BECAUSE HONG KONb CANNOT AFFORD NOT TO STRIVE CONTINUOUSLY TOWARDS INPROVING THE QUALITY OF ITS SOCIAL WORK SERVICES,+ HE SAID.
COMMENTING ON THE PROPOSAL TO SET U3 A NEW REGIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR HU SAID THAT DISTRICT BOARDS HAD • z FIRMLY ESTABLISHED AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO ASSIST IN THE MANAGE ENT AND PROMOTION OF ACTIVITIES SPECIFICALLY FOR THE BENEFIT GF RESIDENTS IN THEIR DISTRICTS UNDER THE GUIDING POLICIES SET l BY THE URBAN COUNCIL IN THE URBAN AREA AND THE CE'.TRAL GOVERN--.' IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
/+ .. *. g .......
WEDNESDAY, MAECii 28, 1984
- 28 -
+THERE IS BASICALLY NO DIFFERENCE IN SUCH POLICIES IN URBAN AREAS AND THE NEW TERRITORIES AS THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT IS THE SAME URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT IN BOTH GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS,* HE ADDED.
+SHOULD THE FINAL DECISION BE MADE TO SET UP A NEW REGIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, THERE COULD BE CONFUSION IF THE TWO COUNCILS ADOPT DIFFERENT APPROACHES ON THE SAME POLICY MATTER.
+THEREFORE, ONE RE-CONSTITUTED, ENLARGED COUNCIL FOR THE WHOLE TERRITORY WOULD ENSURE UNIFORMITY AND CONSISTENCY IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF GUIDING POLICIES,* MR HU SAID.
HE ADDED THAT FINANCIALLY, THE COST FOR ONE COUNCIL WOULD BE LESS THAN THE COST FOR TWO COUNCILS DUE TO SAVINGS FOR INSTANCE IN ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES, AND THE TIME SPENT BY CIVIL SERVANTS IN ATTENDING TO COUNCIL MATTERS.
+WHETHER THE MONEY COMES FROM RATES OR GENERAL REVENUE IS IRRELEVANT AS BOTH SOURCES ARE PUBLIC MONEY FROM TAX-PAYERS,+ HE SAID.
♦WORRY ABOUT ONE ENLARGED COUNCIL BEING TOO LARGE AND UNWIELDLY IS JUST AN ASSESSMENT NOT YET PROVEN, BUT THE SAVING COST FOR ONE ENLARGED COUNCIL IS A CERTAIN ASSESSMENT,* HE ADDED.
HE URGED THAT ONE MUST BEAR IN MIND THAT CONTINUOUS URBANISATION OF THE NEW TERRITORIES WOULD MAKE HONG KONG MORE HOMOGENEOUS AND THERE WOULD BE EVENTUALLY NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE URBAN AREA AND THE NEW TERRITORIES.
+WITH THE CHANGE OF STATUS OF HONG KONG, THERE WILL BE ONLY ONE TERRITORY REQUIRING ONE COUNCIL ONLY.
+WE MUST HAVE AN OPEN MIND IN FINDING THE BEST SOLUTION TO THIS COMPLICATED PROBLEM,* MR HU SAID.
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GOVERNMENT’S GOODWILL BEYOND DOUBT - WONG PO-YAN
* * *
HON WONG PO-YAN WAS PLEASED TO NOTE THAT THERE HAD BEEN NO CUTBACKS IN THE PROGRAMME OF WORKS FOR 1984-85 IN RESPECT OF LAND PRODUCTION, TRANSPORT AND INSTITUTIONAL PROJECTS.
SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL BUDGET DEBATE, HE SAID THAT HE WAS ALSO PLEASED TO NOTE THE INCREASE IN EXPENDITURE BUDGETED FOR EDUCATION, MEDICAL SERVICES, SOCIAL WELFARE AND PUBLIC HOUSING.
+THE GOVERNMENT’S GOODWILL AND INTENTION FOR THE WELL-BEING CF THE CITIZENS ARE BEYOND ANY DOUBT,* MR WONG SAID.
/+H0W3VER, ALL ........
WEDNESDAY, JJAHCH ^c, 19&4
- 2? -
-HOWEVER, ALL THESE INCREASES ARE MADE POSSIBLE AGAINST A TIGHTLY HELD DOWN SPENDING IN OTHER AREAS; AND I AM CONVINCED THAT THERE wOULD BE DECISIVE AND CONSEQUENTIAL EFFECTS TO OUR FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS.
- I FEEL PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT: FIRSTLY, THE CONTINUING DEFICITS; SECONDLY, INFLATION AND THIRDLY, THE PROMOTION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TO ENSURE OUR FUTURE ECONOMIC VITALITY,- HE SAID.
COMMENTING ON THE CONTINUING DEFICITS, HE SAID THAT OUR FISCAL RESERVES COULD NOT BE CONTINUOUSLY DRAWN DOWN.
- AS AT 1ST APRIL 1981, OUR FREE FISCAL RESERVES STOOD AT $11.3 BILLION. ON 1ST APRIL 1982, THEY STOOD AT $16.1 BILLION. THEY FELL TO Sil.9 BILLION ON 1ST APRIL 1983| AND BY 1ST APRIL 1984, OUR FREE FISCAL RESERVES ARE ESTIMATED TO STAND AT $8.2 BILLION, WITH THE PROSPECT OF BEING DRAWN FURTHER DOWN BY THE ANTICIPATED CONTINUING DEFICIT OF 1985-86 AS A RESULT OF THE FALL IN LAND SALES REVENUE,- HE SAID.
POINTING OUT THAT BY END MARCH 1985, OUR FREE FISCAL RESERVES WILL BE ABOUT $7.1 BILLION, HE ASKED, -HOW MANY MORE YEARS CAN WE RELY ON OUR FISCAL RESERVES TO FINANCE OUR EXPENDITURE?
- FOR HONG KONG, THIS DIMINISHING BALANCE OF FISCAL RESERVES IS PARTICULARLY UNACCEPTABLE AS WE HAVE NO INHERENT NATURAL RESOURCES - NEITHER OIL NOR MINERAL WEALTH - TO WHICH WE COULD RESORT TO REPLENISH OUR FISCAL RESERVES,- HE SAID.
ON THE QUESTION OF BOND ISSUE OR BORROWING, HE SAID THAT -DEBT WITHOUT DISCIPLINE- WOULD LEAD HONG KONG TO JOIN RANKS WITH THE THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES IN THE GLOBAL DEBT CRISIS WHICH, IN THE UNIQUE SITUATION OF HONG KONG, ABSOLUTELY COULD NOT BE TOLERATED.
- THUS, THE ONLY SENSIBLE OPTION WOULD BE TO TRIM DOwN EXPENDITURE, TO PARE DOWN TO THE BONE IF NEED EE, AND TO MAKE OPTIMAL USE OF REVENUE RAISED,- HE SAID.
WHILE APPRECIATING GOVERNMENT’S EFFORTS TO CONTAIN AND CONSTRAIN PUBLIC EXPENDITURE, HE SUGGESTED THAT FURTHER EFFORT^ SHOULD BE MADE TO REDUCE THE RELATIVE SIZE OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR TO BELOW 15 PER CENT.
NOTING GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT IN THE PROVISION OF SOCIAL SERVICES, IN PARTICULAR IN MEDICAL AND SOCIAL WELFARE, MR wCKG SAID THAT THERE WAS AN URGENT NEED TO ENCOURAGE GROwTH IN GDP BY INCREASING EXPENDITURE ON SELECTED INFRASTRUCTURE PROJ^CTo, AND TO ACCELERATE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO SUSTAIN THESE SERvICEj I . THE LONG TERM AND, AT THE SAME TIME, TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT TC IMPROVE THESE SERVICES IN THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE aAY.
-FOR EXAMPLE, PROJECTS SUCH AS PUBLIC HOUS I .G, ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND CIVIL ENGINEERING wITH HIGH GDP '-'aLTlPLlER EFFECTS COULD FACILITATE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND DEVELOP ’ENT AN( ENSURE ADEQUATE REVENUE TO SUSTAIN AND IMPROVE THESE SOCIAL SERVICES,- HE ADDED.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 1964
- JO -
HE SAID, +THUS, IN ACCEPTING THE DESIRABILITY TO PROMOTE OUR STABILITY AND PROSPERITY BY GENEROUS OUTLAY IN MEDICAL AND WELFARE SERVICES, I ALSO URGE THAT PRIORITY BE ALLOCATED TO PROJECTS THAT WOULD EXERT MULTIPLIER EFFECTS ON OUR ECONOMIC GROWTH RATE.+
TURNING TO INFLATION, MR WONG SAID THAT HE CONCURRED WITH THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S VIEW AND SUPPORTED THE REVENUE PROPOSALS.
♦ BUT IN COMMENDING THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S ’WISH TO AVOID SUDDEN SHOCKS’ AT THIS CRUCIAL AND DIFFICULT PERIOD, I SINCERELY HOPE THIS INTENTION WILL BE TRANSLATED INTO POLICY AS THERE IS THE ’ON-GOING EXERCISE TO KEEP FEES AND CHARGES UP TO DATE’,+ HE ADDED.
+THIS EXERCISE, I UNDERSTAND, WILL CONTINUE DURING 1984-85, AND I WISH TO CAUTION THAT, UNLESS AN INCREASE IS JUSTIFIED AFTER_ THE STRICTEST SCRUTINY, RISES IN FEES AND CHARGES SHOULD BE AVOIDED DURING THE YEAR,+ HE SAID.
DISCUSSING INFLATION, MR WONG SAID, THE +INFLATION DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN HONG KONG - WHICH IS ESTIMATED AT SEVEN PER CENT FOR 1984-85 - AND ITS MAJOR TRADING PARTNERS AND COMPETITORS WOULD RENDER OUR EXPORTS LESS COMPETITIVE IN FOREIGN MARKETS.+
HE SAID IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR THE IMPROVEMENT IN EXPORT DEMAND TO BE MATCHED BY A RECOVERY IN PRIVATE INVESTMENT EXPENDITURE, OTHERWISE HONG KONG MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THE GROWTH IN OUR MAJOR TRADING PARTNERS.
+INVESTMENT AND REVESTMENT IN OUR INDUSTRY REPRESENT TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENT THAT AFFECT OUR EXPORT CAPABILITY AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENT. THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF THE CONTINUAL DECLINE IN RECENT YEARS MUST BE MINIMISED,+ HE SAID.
HE ALSO SAW AN URGENT NEED FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CENTRALISED CO-ORDINATING BODY THAT WOULD PROMOTE AND DISSEMINATE RELEVANT TECHNOLOGICAL INFORMATION TO OUR INDUSTRIALISTS.
+THIS BODY WILL COMPLEMENT OUR EXISTING EFFORTS IN
VOCATIONAL AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING, PROMOTE TECHNOLOGICAL TRANSFER FROM ABROAD, ENCOURAGE PRODUCT DESIGN AND INNOVATION, AND FACILITATE RESEARCH.
+ IN SHORT, THIS BODY WILL ESTABLISH AN EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE TECHNOLOGICAL INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WOULD ASSIST OUR INDUSTRIALISTS TO MEET THE CHALLENGE OF THE FUTURE COMPETENTLY,* HE SAID.
HE SAID THAT HE WAS AWARE THAT IN THE PRESENT CLIMATE, IT WOULD NOT BE FEASIBLE FOR GOVERNMENT TO OFFER DIRECT SUBSIDIES OR TAX CONCESSIONS, BUT HE ADDED THAT IT WOULD NOT BE ECONOMICAL IN TERMS OF APPLICATIONS OF RESOURCES TO CONTINUE a I TH Th£ PRESENT FRAGMENTED APPROACH OF LEAVING THE TASK TO INSTITUTIONS AND ORGAN I SAT IONS.
/M3ST IMPORTANTLY, ........
■VEENESDAY, MARCH 28, 19&4
- 31 -
MOST IMPORTANTLY, HE SAID, IT WOULD NOT BE VIABLE FOR THE MAJORITY OF OUR INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURERS, OVER 90 PER CENT OF WHOM EMPLOY LESS THAN 50 EMPLOYEES, TO UNDERTAKE THE TASK WITHOUT ASSISTANCE OR DIRECTION.
+1 ADVOCATE, THEREFORE, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INSTITUTE TO MEET SUCH OBJECTIVES. THE SETTING UP OF SUCH AN INSTITUTE WOULD, OF COURSE, INVOLVE SIZABLE INVESTMENT WHICH, I AM SURE, COULD BE FINANCED BY AN EXPORT LEVY,+ HE SAID.
-----0------
MOTION TO INCREASE BETTING DUTY DEFERRED
* M *
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY APPROVED THE DEFERMENT UNTIL TOMORROW OF A MOTION BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE TO INCREASE THE BETTING DUTY BY AMENDING THE BETTING DUTY ORDINANCE.
EXPLAINING HIS REQUEST FOR THE DEFERMENT, SIR JOHN SAID, ♦IN MY BUDGET SPEECH I SAID THAT I WOULD BE SEEKING YOUR EXCELLENCY’S AUTHORITY FOR THE ISSUE OF AN APPROPRIATE REVENUE PROTECTION ORDER TO GIVE EFFECT TO MY PROPOSAL FOR INCREASED BETTING DUTY.
♦I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT SUCH AN ORDER COULD BE TAKEN TO BE IN BREACH OF AN UNDERTAKING GIVEN TO UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS IN 1974 IN THE CONTEXT OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE PUBLIC REVENUE PROTECTION ORDINANCE,*.
SIR JOHN SAID WHILE THE SCOPE OF THE UNDERTAKING WAS FAR FROM CLEAR, HE DID NOT WISH TO SEEM TO BE BREACHING IT.
HE EXPLAINED THAT HE HAD THUS DECIDED TO PROCEED BY WAY CF A RESOLUTION UNDER THE BETTING DUTY ORDINANCE.
♦AT THE SAME TIME, HOWEVER, IT WOULD BE NEITHER COURTEOUS NOR RIGHT TO MOVE SUCH A RESOLUTION UNTIL UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS HAVE SPOKEN ON THE SECOND READING OF THE APPROPRIATION BILL,+ HE.SAID.
STANDING ORDERS 11 AND 12 AND THE PRACTICE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REQUIRE MOTIONS TO BE LISTED AND TO BE TAKEN BEFORE BILLS.
SIR JOHN SAID FOR THIS REASON, HE MOVED THAT STANDING ORDER 11(1) BE SUSPENDED SO THAT THE MOTION MIGHT BE DEALT WITH TOMORROW, AFTER UNOFFICIALS HAVE FINISHED SPEAKING ON THE SECOND READING OF THE APPROPRIATION BILL.
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->
I
5
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1Q84
- 32 -
GOVERNMENT INDUSTRIAL POLICY EXPLAINED * * *
THE DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY, MR JOHN YAXLEY, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD IN THE PAST MODIFIED ITS INDUSTRIAL POLICY AS CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE ECONOMY CHANGED.
MR YAXLEY WAS ADDRESSING THE LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ZONTA CLUB OF HONG KONG.
+OUR INDUSTRIAL POLICY IS NOT IMMUTABLE AND IN THE LAST TWO DECADES THERE HAS BEEN AN ON-GOING SERIES OF MODIFICATIONS AND EXTENSIONS TO THE POLICY, IN PARTICULAR SINCE 1977, WHICH HAVE BEEN CONSCIOUSLY INTRODUCED FOR THE BENEFIT OF INDUSTRY.
♦DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT MAKES VERY LITTLE PROVISION FOR PLANNING TO ACHIEVE CERTAIN OBJECTIVES, IT IS BY NO MEANS NEGATIVE,+ HE SAID.
HE MENTIONED THE SERIES OF SPECIFIC ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT FROM THE 196OS ONWARDS TO ENSURE THE PROVISION OF AN ADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE INDUSTRY AND THE SERIES OF MODIFICATIONS AND EXTENSIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICIES AS RECOMMENDED BY THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DIVERSIFICATION.
♦THE POINT ABOUT THESE EVOLVING ASPECTS OF OUR INDUSTRIAL POLICY IS THAT THEY REPRESENT A POSITIVE REACTION BY GOVERNMENT TO CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES,* HE SAID.
ON THE GOVERNMENT’S +POSITIVE NON-1NTERVENTI ON ISM+, MR YAXLEY STRESSED THAT THIS POLICY WAS NOT ONLY TOTALLY POSITIVE AND HIGHLY APPROPRIATE FOR HONG KONG’S ECONOMIC AND SOCIO-CULTURAL CIRCUMSTANCE BUT THAT IT WAS DYNAMIC.
+BY THIS I MEAN THAT THE POLICY IS RESPONSIVE AND ADJUSTS TO CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES.
♦OUR INDUSTRIAL POLICY HAS BEEN TO MAINTAIN A FAVOURABLE CLIMATE FOR BUSINESS GIVEN THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY CONSTRAINTS IMPOSED ON AND ACCEPTED BY A MODERN SOCIETY,* HE ADDED.
MR YAXLEY POINTED OUT THAT IN VIEW OF COMPETITION FROM NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES AND INCREASING PROTECTIONIST PRESSURE FROM HONG KONG’S MAJOR MARKETS, THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOW UNDER INCREASING PRESSURE TO PROVIDE AN EVER GROWING VARIETY OF SUPPORT SERVICE.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE 47 PROPOSALS RECOMMENDED BY THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DIVERSIFICATION AND ACCEPTED IN FULL BY THE GOVERNMENT, ARE NOW IN VARIOUS STAGES OF IMPLEMENTATION.
IN LINE WITH THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD PLAY A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN THE IMPROVEMENT OF INDUSTRIAL SUPPORT FACILITIES AND TECHNICAL BACK-UP SERVICES, MR YAXLEY SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD TAKEN THE FOLLOWING POSITIVE ACTION.
/♦ THE ESTABLISH?^’.........
WEDNESDAY, MABCH 28, 1?84
- J3 -
* THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A GOVERNMENT LABORATORY ACCREDITATION SYSTEM AS PART OF AN IMPROVED AND MORE CLEARLY INDEPENDENT RANGE OF QUALITY CERTIFICATION SERVICES. THE FIRST ACCREDITATION HOPEFULLY WILL TAKE PLACE NEXT YEAR;
* THE SETTING UP OF A GOVERNMENT STANDARDS AND CALIBRATION LABORATORY. THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT HAS TAKEN OVER THE PREMISES AND THE EQUIPMENT AT A COST OF $15 MILLION. THE LABORATORY SHOULD BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR THE CALIBRATION OF EQUIPMENT LATER THIS YEAR;
* THE ENLARGEMENT OF THE MICROPROCESSOR DEVELOPMENT LABORATORY IN THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE, THE FUNCTIONS OF WHICH ARE TO PROMOTE THE APPLICATION OF MICROPROCESSORS IN INDUSTRY;
* THE PROVISION OF FUNDS AMOUNTING TO $4 MILLION AT HONG KONG UNIVERSITY, THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY AND THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC FOR RESEARCH INTO VARIOUS PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FABRICATION AND USE OF INTEGRATED CIRCUITS AND INTO THE COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN OF ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE GOVERNMENT’S POSITIVE INVOLVEMENT WAS THE ESTABLISHMENT IN FEBRUARY 1982 OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL.
THIS COUNCIL IS VESTED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM OF INDUSTRIAL TRAINING FOR THE NEEDS OF INDUSTRY, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THREE NEW TECHNICAL INSTITUTIONS WITHIN THE NEXT FEW YEARS AND THE SETTING UP OF TWO INDUSTRIAL TRAINING CENTRE COMPLEXES.
ALSO, THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD WAS APPOINTED , WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PLAN, MONITOR AND ADVISE THE GOVERNMENT ON VARIOUS PROGRAMMES IN THE FIELD OF INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.
THE BOARD KEEPS THE GOVERNMENT AND IN PARTICULAR THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT ON ITS TOES SO AS TO ENSURE THAT THE IMPETUS GAINED BY SETTING UP THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DIVERSIFICATION IS NOT LOST IN WHAT MR YAXLEY DESCRIBED AS +A SOGGY MASS OF BUREAUCRATIC COTTON WOOL+.
HE SAID THAT THESE WERE ONLY A FEW EXAMPLES OF THE GOVERNMENT’i INCREASING SUPPORT FOR INDUSTRY.
+1 HAVE NOT MENTIONED, FOR EXAMPLE THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO FUNDED REPORTS ON THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY, ON THE FACILITATION OF TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OR ON THE LIGHT METALS INDUSTRY OR INDEED THE WHOLE RANGE OF SUPPORT FACILITIES PROVIDED BY THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL WHICH IN 1984-85 »ILL RECEIVE ASSISTANCE FROM PUBLIC FUNDS TO THE TUNE OF ALMOST $30 MILLION.
+WHILE WE REMAIN CONVINCED THAT INDUSTRY SHOULD NOT BE UNDULY INTERFERED WITH, WE ARE NOT BLIND TO THE FACT THAT AS AN INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY SUCH AS OURS CONTINUES TO DEVELOP AND TO BECOME MORE SOPHISTICATED, THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER INCREASING PRESSURE TO PROVIDE AN EVER GROWING VARIETY OF SUPPORT SERVICES,* W YAXLEY SAID.
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/34 .....
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1984
- 34 -
NOTE TO EDITORSi
TRANSPORT REQUIREMENT STUDY
* * * *
A PRESS CONFERENCE ON A CONSULTANCY STUDY INTO TRANSPORT REQUIREMENTS IN MID-LEVELS AND CENTRAL DISTRICT WILL BE HELD AT THE LANDS AND WORKS BRANCH CONFERENCE ROOM ON THE 21ST FLOOR CF MURRAY BUILDING TOMORROW (THURSDAY) AT 11 AM.
SENIOR OFFICERS OF THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE AND THE CONSULTANTS WILL GIVE DETAILS OF THE STUDY AND ANSWER PRESS QUESTIONS.
YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND.
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MORE HOSTELS PLANNED FOR THE ELDERLY
*****
TWENTY-THREE HOSTELS FOR THE ELDERLY WITH A TOTAL OF 3 8OO PLACES ARE PLANNED TO BE OPENED IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF SUCH PLACES TO 6 500 BY 1988.
THIS WAS STATED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ANSON CHAN, WHEN SHE OPENED THE TUNG WAH GROUP CF HOSPITALS’ TAI YUEN HOSTEL FOR THE ELDERLY AT TAI YUEN ESTATE, TAI PO.
♦FOLLOWING THE PUBLICATION OF THE WHITE PAPER ON ’SOCIAL WELFARE INTO THE 1980S’, THE GOVERNMENT HAS STEPPED UP ITS PLANS TO EXPAND VARIOUS TYPES OF RESIDENTIAL SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY,+ SHE SAID.
THESE SERVICES INCLUDE HOSTELS, OLD PEOPLE’S HOMES AND CARE-AND-ATTENTION HOMES.
♦IT IS IN THE PROVISION OF HOSTELS THAT WE HAVE ACHIEVED THE MOST SIGNIFICANT RESULTS.
♦THIS ACHIEVEMENT, IN TERMS OF QUANTITY AND QUALITY, WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES LIKE THE TUNG WAH GROUP,♦ SHE SAID.
MRS CHAN POINTED OUT THAT MOST OF THE HOSTELS WERE LOCATED IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES, WHERE THE ELDERLY RESIDENTS COULD MAINTAIN REGULAR CONTACT WITH OTHER PEOPLE AND THUS FEEL VERY MUCH A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
/3E£ SAIL .......
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 1984
- 35 -
SHE SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY WAS TO PROVIDE ONE HOSTEL WITH 160 PLACES IN EVERY NEW PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE WITH OVER 3 000 FLATS.
THE FIRST HOSTEL, OPENED IN 1969, WAS DESIGNED FOR THOSE ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO COULD DO THEIR OWN SHOPPING AND COOKING AND TAKE CARE CF THEMSELVES.
SINCE THEN, THE SCOPE OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED EXPANDED GREATLY SO THAT TODAY MEALS, PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLING, NURSING CARE AS WELL AS RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES WERE AVAILABLE, MRS CHAN SAID.
THERE ARE NOW 23 HOSTELS FOR THE ELDERLY WI TH A TOTAL CAPACITY OF 2 700 PLACES.
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DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE VISITS INSTITUTIONS * * M *
ELEVEN MEMBERS OF THE YAU MA TEI DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE VISITED THREE INSTITUTIONS OF THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT TODAY (WEDNESDAY) TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMMES AND FACILITIES FOR PRISONERS.
LED BY THE YAU MA TEI DISTRICT OFFICER, MR WILFRED WONG WHO IS ALSO CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE, THE PARTY FIRST ARRIVED AT THE STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE IN STANLEY WHERE THEY SAW MODERN TRAINING FACILITIES PROVIDED FOR CORRECTIONAL SERVICES STAFF.
THEY NEXT PROCEEDED TO THE MAXIMUM SECURITY STANLEY PRISON WHERE THEY TOURED THE CELLS, THE HOSPITAL AS WELL AS SAW PRISONERS AT WORK IN VARIOUS WORKSHOPS.
THEIR LAST STOP WAS THE ADJACENT TUNG TAU CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION WHERE THEY WERE SHOWN ITS DORMITORIES, CHAPEL, LIBRARY, WORKSHOPS AND OTHER FACILITIES.
AFTER THE VISIT, THEY HELD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE COMMISSIONER CF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR THOMAS GARNER, WHO IS ALSO AN OFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE GOVERNMENT’S MAIN FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE.
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/Jo •......
WErMCSDAY, MARCH 28, 1984
- 36 -
NOTE TO EDITORS!
ILLEGAL STRUCTURES TO BE CLEARED
* * * *
A CLEARANCE OPERATION INVOLVING SEVEN ILLEGAL STRUCTURES ON THE BACKLANES OF SUN CHUN STREET AND BROWN STREET IN WAN CHAI WILL BE CARRIED OUT ON FRIDAY (MARCH 30).
THE OPERATION IS THE FINAL PHASE OF THE TAI HANG CLEARANCE PROGRAMME WHICH STARTED LAST MAY.
SO FAR, 71 ILLEGAL STRUCTURES AND EXTENSIONS HAVE BEEN CLEARED IN THE AREA BOUNDED BY TUNG LO WAN ROAD, WAN SHA STREET AND TAI HANG ROAD.
CO-ORDINATED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE, THE CLEARANCE ON FRIDAY WILL BE JOINTLY CONDUCTED BY THE POLICE, THE URBAN AREA DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION AND THE LANDS, HOUSING, URBAN SERVICES, FIRE SERVICES AND SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENTS.
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES WISHING TO COVER THE CLEARANCE SHOULD ASSEMBLE OUTSIDE 25, SUN CHUN STREET AT 9.30 AM.
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PLB PROHIBITED ZONES M M M
FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (MARCH 30), PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES OTHER THAN THOSE AUTHORISED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING THE FOLLOWING ROADS 1
M THE SECTION OF ROAD P3 SOUTH-EAST OF ITS JUNCTION WITH ROAD L2.
M THE SECTION OF ROAD P3 NORTH-WEST OF ITS JUNCTION WITH TAI PO ROAD TAI WAI INTERCHANGE.
M ROAD L.
FROM THE SAME DAY, THE FOLLOWING ROADS IN SHA TIN WILL BE DESIGNATED RESTRICTED ZONES FROM 7 AM TO MIDNIGHT DAILY:
M THE SECTION OF ROAD P3 BETWEEN ITS JUNCTION WITH CHE KUNG MIU ROAD AND THE ACCESS ROAD TO MEI LAM ESTATE.
M THE SECTION OF ROAD Dll FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH ROAD P3 TO A POINT ABOUT 350 METRES SOUTH-WEST OF THE SAME JUNCTION.
/* THE SECTION .......
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2£, 1984
- 37 -
* THE SECTION OF TSUEN NAM ROAD FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH ROAD P3 TO A POINT ABOUT 800 METRES NORTH-EAST OF THE SAME JUNCTION.
* THE SECTION OF ROAD L FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH ROAD P3 TO A POINT ABOUT 600 METRES NORTH-EAST OF THE SAME JUNCTION.
WITHIN THE RESTRICTED ZONES, ALL MOTOR VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM PICKING UP OR SETTING DOWN PASSENGERS; OR FROM LOADING OR UNLOADING GOODS.
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BAN ON LEARNER DRIVERS LIFTED * *
FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (MARCH 30), THE EXISTING LEARNER DRIVERS PROHIBITION AT AP LEI CHAU MAIN STREET WILL BE LIFTED
- 0
SPEED LIMIT ON KAM SHEUNG ROAD
* M *
FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (MARCH 30), KAM SHEUNG ROAD IN
YUEN LONG SHALL BE A RESTRICTED ROAD SUBJECT TO A SPEED LIMIT OF 40 MILES PER HOUR.
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I
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG TEL: 5-233191
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1984
CONTENTS FAGS NO,
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING:
REASSURANCE SOUGHT ON TAXATION PRINCIPLE.............. 1
1983-84 SEEN AS ’ONE OF MOST TURBULENT YEARS’ ........ 3
THREE-PRONGED APPROACH SUPPORTED...................... 5
ECONOMY INSEPARABLE FROM 199? - CHEUNG YAN-LUNG....... 9
ABOLISH JUNIOR EDUCATION ASSESSMENT - SELINA CHOW..... 10
PRIORITIES IN EXPENDITURE ESTIMATES QUESTIONED ....... 13
WELL THOUGHT-OUT BUDGET - CHAN YING-LUN .............. 16
FURTHER THOUGHT URGED ON TAX PROPOSALS ............... 18
SPECIAL TAX DEDUCTION FOR WORKING WIVES PROPOSED...... 20
LESS IMPACT OK LESS-WELL-OFF - POON .................. 22
BENEFIT SEEN FOR LOWER MIDDLE INCOME GROUPS .......... 26
MOTION FOR MORE BETTING DUTY PASSED................... 2?
SIR GEOFFREY ARRIVING APRIL 18 .......................... 28
EDUCATION COMMISSION FULLY SET UP ....................... 29
STUDY OFFERS NEW WAYS TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC ................ 30
NEW FRANCHISE FOR HYF ................................... 32
/MASSIVE RECLAMATION .....
MASSIVE RECLAMATION PROJECT TO CONTINUE......................... 33
TENDERS INVITED FOR TAXI LICENCES .............................. 34
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS FOR CHING MING FESTIVAL ................... 35
NEED FOR HIGH QUALITY SERVICE STRESSED ......................... 35
CLANSMEN ASSOCIATION PRAISED FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE.............. 36
-DB-TO DISCUSS RECLAMATION WORKS ............................... 37
DRAGON BOATS TO RACE ON RIVER........................-.......... 37
NEW DB COMMITTEE TO MONITOR WELFARE SERVICES ................... 38
NO HOLIDAY MAIL................................................. 38
VOLLEYBALL REFEREE COURSE OFFERED .............................. 39
NEW TRAFFIC PLAN FOR HAPPY VALLEY .............................. 39
ROAD SECTION TO BE CLOSED....................................... 40
THURSDAY, MARCH 29,
1
REASSURANCE SOUGHT ON TAXATION PRINCIPLE
*****
IT WOULD BE REASSURING IF THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY COULD RECONFIRM THAT GOVERNMENT REMAINS WEDDED TO THE BASIC PRINCIPLE THAT TAXATION SHOULD ONLY BE APPLIED TO INCOME ARISING IN HONG KONG, HON W.C.L. BROWN SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ANNUAL BUDGET DEBATE TODAY.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE PROPOSAL TO MOVE FURTHER AWAY FROM THE TERRITORIAL CONCEPT OF NOT TAXING TRANSACTIONS MADE OUTSIDE HONG KONG WAS ONE OF A NUMBER OF ISSUES ARISING FROM THE BUDGET WHICH WERE OF FUNDAMENTAL IMPORTANCE TO THE FUTURE OF OUR ECONOMY.
THE OTHER ISSUES ARE THE POSSIBILITY OF DEFICIT BUDGETING BECOMING A PERMANENT FEATURE OF OUR FINANCIAL AFFAIRS AND MEASURES WHICH SOME BELIEVE WILL RESULT IN RETROACTIVE TAXATION.
ON THE PROPOSAL TO TAX TRANSACTIONS MADE OUTSIDE HONG KONG, BROWN SAID, +TO A LARGE EXTENT BUSINESS HAS BROUGHT THIS MODIFICATION OF THE TERRITORIAL CONCEPT ONTO ITS OWN HEAD BY THE DEGREE IT HAS USED THE PROVISION OF CREDIT TEST TO AVOID PAYMENT OF PROFITS TAX, AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO ARGUE AGAINST THE VIEW THAT THE NEW RULES ARE REASONABLE IN EQUITY AND WILL LEAD TO A FAIRER DISTRIBUTION OF THE OVERALL TAX BURDEN.+
HOWEVER, HE WONDERED WHETHER GOVERNMENT HAD SUFFICIENTLY ASSESSED THE LIKELY EFFECT OF TAX AVOIDANCE MEASURES ON ITS ESTIMATES OF THE $350 MILLION ADDITIONAL REVENUE TO BE DERIVED FROM THIS MEASURE AND WHETHER THE SIDE EFFECTS HAD BEEN FULLY TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT.
♦IN REGARD TO THE FORMER WE ARE ALREADY WITNESSING 'SMART ALECS’ DEVISING NEW AVOIDANCE SCHEMES, AND IN THE LATTER CONTEXT THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S WORDS, TAKEN AT THEIR FACE VALUE, COULD MEAN THAT COMPANIES INCORPORATED IN HONG KONG, REGARDLESS OF THE NATURE OF THEIR ACTIVITIES, COULD BE TAXABLE UPON INTEREST RECEIVED OVERSEAS,* HE OBSERVED.
♦IF SO, WE COULD WITNESS, AT BEST, INTERMINABLE ARGUMENTS WITH THE INLAND REVENUE AUTHORITIES AND AT WORST AN EXODUS OF MANY COMPANIES WHO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HONG KONG’S STATUS AS AN INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE TO REGISTER THEMSELVES HERE BUT WHO DO NOT CONDUCT A TRADE OR BUSINESS HERE IN THE NORMAL SENSE OF THESE WORDS,+ HE SAID.
IN REGARD TO THE TAXATION OF INTEREST EARNED BY COMPANIES CARRYING ON BUSINESS IN HONG KONG, HE HOPED THAT THE ENABLING LEGISLATION WOULD SPELL OUT IN CLEAR AND PRECISE TERMS THOSE COMPANIES DEEMED TO FALL WITHIN THIS DEFINITION FOR AS CURRENT EVENTS IN THE MARKET ILLUSTRATE OUR ENTREPRENEURS WILl. NOT HESITATE TO TAKE PREVENTIVE ACTION IF THEY BELIEVE THEIR COMMERCIAL INTERESTS TO BE THREATENED.
/MR BROWN ....
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1984
2
MR BROWN NOTED THAT THE MOVE AWAY FROM THE TERRITORIAL CONCEPT DID CAUSE LEGITIMATE CONCERN AND THAT ANY FURTHER ATTEMPT TO APPLY HONG KONG TAXATION TO ALL INCOME IRRESPECTIVE OF ITS SOURCE COULD CREATE SERIOUS REPERCUSSIONS FOR THE ECONOMY, THUS HIS CALL FOR A RECONFIRMATION FROM THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY.
TURNING TO THE BUDGET DEFICIT, MR BROWN SAID IT WAS A FAIR ASSUMPTION THAT CYCLICAL FACTORS RELATED TO THE DOWNTURN IN THE ECONOMY HAD PLAYED A PART IN FIRST PUSHING GOVERNMENT INTO THE RED.
HOWEVER, HE FELT THAT THE FORECAST THAT TOTAL EXPENDITURE WOULD STILL EXCEED TOTAL REVENUE IN A PERIOD WHEN THE RECOVERY IN THE ECONOMY ENTERED INTO ITS SECOND AND THIRD YEAR, OR EVEN FURTHER AHEAD, SUGGESTED THAT A CERTAIN PORTION OF THE DEFICIT MIGHT IN FACT BE STRUCTURAL.
POINTING OUT THAT STRUCTURAL DEFICITS OF COURSE ARE NOT EASY TO CURE, MR BROWN SAID, +THE CHOICE BETWEEN INCREASING TAX RATES TO ACHIEVE A HIGHER LEVEL OF REVENUE THAN THE GIVEN GROWTH RATE OF THE ECONOMY, OR THE REDUCTION IN THE RELATIVE SIZE OF PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE - AS A PERCENTAGE OF GDP -HAS SIGNIFICANT SOCIAL AND POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS.*
♦GIVEN OUR PRESENT AND FUTURE PLANS FOR PUBLIC WORKS, HOUSING, TRANSPORT AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES, AND THE NECESSITY NOT TO COMPROMISE OUR SUCCESS IN THESE AREAS, IT IS NOT REALLY FEASIBLE TO FREEZE THE LEVEL OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURE, AND TO REDUCE THE LEVEL OF RECURRENT EXPENDITURE WOULD BE DIFFICULT, NOT LEAST BECAUSE SUCH EXPENDITURE IS DIRECTED TO EMINENTLY DESIRABLE ENDS,* HE SAID.
+ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN, ACTION IS NECESSARY TO PREVENT THE ACCUMULATED DEFICIT REDUCING THE LEVEL OF OUR ’FREE’ FISCAL RESERVES TO AN UNACCEPTABLE LEVEL,+ HE ADDED.
IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, HE SUGGESTED THAT THE BEST COURSE TO FOLLOW WAS A MIX OF INCREASED EFFICIENCY-PRODUCTIVITY OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR, INCREASED TAXES AND FURTHER DEFICIT FINANCING MEASURES.
ON THE SUBJECT OF RETROACTIVE TAXATION, HE SAID, +THE POSSIBILITY OF TAX BEING IMPOSED RETROACTIVELY ARISES IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSALS TO COUNTER TAX AVOIDANCE DEVICES IN REGARD TO THE LIABILITY TO PAY PROFITS TAX, WHICH HAVE BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY THE REMOVAL OF INTEREST TAX ON DEPOSITS.*
HE SAID HE HAD STUDIED THE BUDGET SPEECH CAREFULLY IN REGARD TO THESE PROPOSALS AND FELT THAT IT WOULD BE PREMATURE TO JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS REGARDING THE POSSIBILITY OF TAX BEING LEVIED RETROACTIVELY UNTIL THE ENABLING LEGISLATION *AS LAID BEFORE US AND ONE COULD COMMENT ON FACTS RATHER THAN ASSUMPTIONS.
HE ADDED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO BELIEVE THAT TAX WOULD NOT BE IN FACT BE LEVIED RETROACTIVELY.
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1984
- 5 -
1983-84 SEEN AS ’ONE OF MOST TURBULENT YEARS’
*****
THE CONFIDENCE CRISIS HAS CAUSED PEOPLE TO TRANSFER THEIR MONEY TO SAFER PLACES AND THE MYTH THAT THIS IS ONLY THE ROUTINE WHEREBY MONEY FLOWS IN AND OUT REQUIRES MORE THOUGHT, THE HON K.C. CHAN SAID TODAY.
SPEAKING AT THE BUDGET DEBATE, HE SAID, +THERE IS A LOT OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOT MONEY COMING INTO SPECULATIVE MARKETS AWAITING A QUICK KILL AND INVESTMENT CAPITAL OF A MORE PERMANENT NATURE SUCH AS CAPITALS FOR MANUFACTURING.
♦HOT MONEY IS WATER, AS CAPITALS FOR MANUFACTURING AND PEOPLE’S LIFETIME SAVINGS ARE BLOOD TO OUR COMMUNITY. IF ONE INJECTS A LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER INTO ONE’S BODY AND TRANSFUSES ONE’S BLOOD OUT, ONE CAN IMAGINE THE RESULTS IN THE LONGER TERM.+
MR CHAN DESCRIBED THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1983-84 AS +ONE OF THE MOST TURBULENT YEARS BOTH POLITICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.+
+POLITICALLY, THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE FUTURE LOOMS LIKE A SHADOW ON THE HORIZON AND IS GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER EVERY DAY UNTIL IT COVERS ALL OTHER ISSUES AND BECOMES ’THE SUBJECT’ IN EVERYONE’S CONVERSATI ON,+'HE SAID.
BUSINESSMEN WERE HESITANT ABOUT INVESTING, AND SOME PEOPLE COULD NOT WAIT FOR THE FINAL ANNOUNCEMENT AND HAD PACKED UP AND EMIGRATED, HE SAID.
♦ONLY TIME WOULD TELL WHETHER THEY HAD MADE THE RIGHT DECISION,♦ HE ADDED.
HE OBSERVED THAT IT WAS +HUMAN NATURE AND QUITE UNDERSTANDABLE* FOR THOSE WHO CHOSE TO STAY BEHIND TO BE CLAMOURING FOR INFORMATION AND TALKING ABOUT THEIR WISHES ALOUD.
ECONOMICALLY, HE SAID, WE HAD SEEN A SUDDEN DEVALUATION OF OUR DOLLAR BY 20 PER CENT WITH A CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN PRICES CF ALL DAILY NECESSITIES.
HOWEVER, HE NOTED THAT ON THE BRIGHTER SIDE OF THINGS, THE DEVALUATION OF OUR DOLLAR HAD GIVEN US A TEMPORARY EDGE OVER COMPETING COUNTRIES.
OUR EXPORTS, ESPECIALLY TO THE UNITED STATES AND OUR REEXPORTS TO CHINA, AS WELL AS OUR TOURIST INDUSTRY HAD INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY, HE SAID.
+AS LONG AS THIS IMPROVEMENT HOLDS AND OUR UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES REMAINS LOW, OUR INTERNAL PROBLEMS ARE MANAGEABLE,+ HE ADDED.
/♦ANY REVALUATION .......
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 198U
4 .
♦ANY REVALUATION OF OUR DOLLAR SHOULD BE CAUTIOUS AND GRADUAL AND CALCULATED TO MAINTAINING A COMPETITIVE MARGIN FOR OUR INDUSTRIES,* HE STRESSED.
TURNING TO THE BUDGET, MR CHAN DREW ATTENTION TO THE TIME-TESTED CHINESE SAYING: +TO ADJUST ONE’S EXPENDITURE TO ONE’S INCOME* AND +ESTABLISH NEW SOURCES AND PREVENT WASTEFUL OUTFLOW.*
+FROM MY OWN DEPARTMENTAL DOCTORING EXPERIENCE, I HAVE FOUND THAT IT PAYS TO PAY YOUR STAFF WELL AND DEMAND MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY AT THE SAME TIME,* HE SAID.
HE ALSO WARNED THAT THE SETTING UP OF NEW DEPARTMENTS OR SECTIONS SHOULD BE TREATED WITH CARE.
+ONE MUST BE VERY CAREFUL IN STARTING NEW DEPARTMENTS OR SECTIONS, AS ONCE A DEPARTMENT IS ESTABLISHED, IT MULTIPLIES AS QUICKLY AS CELLS. IT TAKES A LOT OF HARD WORK TO MAINTAIN ZERO GROWTH,* HE SAID.
HE ALSO SUGGESTED THAT WE SHOULD TAKE A MORE CRITICAL LOOK AT THE EXPENDITURE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND POSTPONE SOME NEW PROJECTS TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.
COMMENTING ON THE DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED BY THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL (VTC) IN ITS PROJECT OF BUILDING TWO NEW TECHNICAL INSTITUTES, MR CHAN SAID, +THE PROBLEM IS NOT SOLELY CONFINED TO THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL AS I BELIEVE OTHER ORGANISATIONS ARE ALSO SUBJECTED BY GOVERNMENT TO A FRUSTRATING STOP-GO EXPERIENCE IN THEIR BUILDING PROJECTS.*
TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, HE SUGGESTED THAT THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL, AND ANY OTHER ORGANISATION IN A SIMILAR SITUATION, BE PERMITTED TO SET UP A DEVELOPMENT FUND FOR SAVINGS ACCRUED.
HE NOTED THAT AT PRESENT THESE SAVINGS HAD TO BE RETURNED TO THE GOVERNMENT ANNUALLY.
+AS MAJOR DEVELOPMENT PLANS OF THE VTC NOW AMOUNTS TO OVER $700 MILLION AT CURRENT COSTS, I THINK IT ESSENTIAL FOR SOME FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENT TO BE AGREED BETWEEN THE VTC AND THE GOVERNMENT TO AVOID ANY UNNECESSARY DELAY WHEN THE VTC HAS, IN FACT, FUNDS,* HE SAID.
MR CHAN SAID THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO INCREASE IN THE STANDARD RATE OF SALARIES TAX OF 15 PER CENT.
HE POINTED OUT THAT AN INCREASE TO 17 PERCENT NOW WOULD IMPAIR THE LOW TAX IMAGE OF HONG KONG.
+IT WOULD BE BETTER TO ADD ON A SMALL PERCENTAGE FOR THE VARIOUS TYPES OF TAXES AS A TEMPORARY MEASURE,* HE SUGGESTED.
DESCRIBING THE TWO PER CENT SALARIES TAX RISE AS HARSH, HE ADDED: +AS THE SUM OF ALL THE PARTS (WORKERS) CANNOT BE LARGER THAN THE WHOLE (THE BUSINESS ESTABLISHEMENT), WE HAVE ACCEPTE^ THAT BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS IS THE RICHER AND SHOULD BE TAXED MORE.*
/HR CHAN ....
THURSDAY, MARCH 29» 19&4
5
MR CHAN SAID THAT WHILE THE CORPORATE TAX RATE WOULD INCREASE FROM 16-1/2 PER CENT TO 18-1/2 PER CENT WHICH IS A 12.12 PER CENT INCREASE, THE WORKER’S SALARY TAX RATE WOULD INCREASE FROM 15 PER CENT TO 17 PER CENT OR 13.3 PER CENT INCREASE,* HE ARGUED.
HE SAID THAT AN ADDITIONAL TAX BURDEN OF $614 MILLION SPREAD OVER 152 065 BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS (ACCORDING TO THE HONG KONG ’ONTHLY DIGEST OF STATISTICS DECEMBER 1983) MEANT THAT AN AVERAGE CF ONLY $4 037.74 WOULD BE PAID BY EACH ESTABLISHMENT A YEAR.
HOWEVER, AN ADDITIONAL TAX BURDEN OF $162 MILLION ADDED ONTO THE SANDWICH CLASS OF 30 000 WOULD MEAN THAT EACH MEMBER CF THE CLASS WOULD HAVE TO PAY $5 400 MORE A YEAR, MR CHAN SAIL.
MR CHAN SAID ALSO THAT CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO ADJUSTING UPWARDS THE PERSONAL ALLOWANCES TO REFLECT INFLATION.
HE BELIEVED THAT THERE WERE OTHER SOURCES FROM WHICH MONEY.
HE WAS GLAD, HE SAID, TO HEAR THAT BETTING TAX WOULD $50 MILLION IN EXCESS OF THE 1983-84 ESTIMATES.
TO GET
BE SOME
BET, COFFEES
♦THIS TAX IS PAID VOLUNTARILY AS THE PUBLIC LIKES TO ’LEISURE MONEY’ DOES NOT COME INTO THE PUBLIC TO ILLEGAL ’TURF ACCOUNTANTS’ DOING NO GOOD TO THE
AND IF THIS
IT WOULD PUBLIC,*
GO
HE
SAID
----0 - -
THREE-PRONGED APPROACH SUPPORTED ft ft ft ft ft
HON
STEPHEN CHEONG SAID TODAY THAT THE COMMUNITY, BEING
WILLING TO INCREASE OUR SHARE OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO RECURRENT GENERAL REVENUE, WOULD HELP TO DEMONSTRATE TO THE WORLD THAT IT COULD BE RELIED UPON TO SHOULDER AND COUNTER EFFECTIVELY WITHIN REASON, ANY ADVERSE EFFECTS OF WHATEVER CRISIS FACING US
SPEAKING AT THE BUDGET DEBATE, HE SAID HE SUBSCRIBED FULLY TO THE THREE-PRONGED APPROACH WHICH THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY HAD ADOPTED IN DEALING WITH THE EXPECTED DEFICIT OF $3.6 BILLION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR OF 1984-85.
♦TO REDUCE OUR FISCAL RESERVE; AND TO FINANCE ONLY A PORTION OF THE DEFICIT THROUGH INCURRENCE OF PUBLIC DEBT COUPLED WITH A CONTINUED TIGHT REIN ON PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE WILL «LP TO DEMONSTRATE TO THE WORLD THAT WE HAVE. AS ALWAYS, A SENSIBLE, RESPONSIBLE AND RESPONSIVE ADMINISTRATION,* HE OBSERVED
HE SAID THAT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS BEHIND HONG KONG'S SUCCESS FOR THE PAST TWO DECADES HAD BEEN +THE GOVERNMENT'S STEADFAST ADHERENCE TO A SET OF ECONOMIC POLICIES WHICH HAVE TIME AND AGAIN ALLOWED BUSINESS TO PROSPER*.
/+HONG KONG
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1984
- 6 -
♦ HONG KONG OWES ITS SUCCESS NOT SO MUCH TO THE GENEROSITY OF OUR TRADING PARTNERS AS TO THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH WE LIVE AND DO BUSINESS,* HE SAID.
HE SAID THAT HONG KONG, BOTH POLITICALLY AND ECONOMICALLY, HAD REACHED A CROSSROAD AND THERE MIGHT BE CHANGES AHEAD AND WE WERE NATURALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE NATURE AND THE EXTENT OF SUCH CHANGES.
HE SHARED THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S VIEW THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH CHANGE AND WE MUST BE CAREFUL NOT TO CAST EXPERIENCE ASIDE.
♦ WE ARE WELL KNOWN TO THE WORLD AS A HARD NOSED PRAGMATIC COMMUNITY, AND NO PRAGMATIC COMMUNITY CAN CONTINUE TO FUNCTION OR PROSPER IF ANY IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW POLICIES OR IDEOLOGIES WAS UNDERTAKEN WITHOUT DUE CONSIDERATION BEING GIVEN TO EXPERIENCE,* HE SAID.
♦ IF, THEREFORE, WE ARE TO PROPEL OURSELVES TO GREATER KIGHTS, IT IS VITAL THAT WE MUST NOT ALLOW OURSELVES TO BE EASILY PERSUADED TO DEVIATE FROM POLICIES THAT HAVE PROVEN TO BE SO SUCCESSFUL IN THE MAINTENANCE OF STABILITY AND PROSPERITY,♦ HE ADDED.
IT WAS WITHIN THIS SPIRIT THAT HE MADE HIS OBSERVATIONS ON THE BUDGET, HE SAID.
HE SAID THAT THE IMPORTANT PRINCIPLE OF KEEPING THE GROWTH RATE OF CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNT EXPENDITURE BELOW THAT OF THE GDP HAD BEEN BREACHED CONTINUOUSLY FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS, MR CHEONG SAID THAT IT WAS ENCOURAGING TO NOTE A REVERSE TREND FOR 1904-85.
♦ I SINCERELY HOPE THIS REPRESENT, ONLY THE FIRST OF A CONTINUOUS ATTEMPT TO REVERSE THE TREND,♦ HE SAID.
HE ADDED THAT IN ORDER TO REDRESS THE IMBALANCE OF THE PAST FIVE YEARS AND FOR THE LONG TERM HEALTH OF OUR ECONOMY, THE GROWTH RATE OF CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNT EXPENDITURE SHOULD BE PITCHED WELL BELOW THAT OF GDP FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
♦ THE REASON IS SIMPLE. GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE ARE NOTORIOUSLY DIFFICULT TO CUT, WHILE THE GROWTH RATE OF THE GDP IS ALWAYS SUSCEPTIBLE TO FACTORS BEYOND OUR CONTROL,* HE SAID.
♦THERE CAN BE NO GUARANTEE THAT WE WILL ACHIEVE A POSITIVE GROWTH RATE FOR GDP YEAR AFTER YEAR, YET GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURES ARE SUBJECT TO UPWARD PRESSURES ALL THE TIME,* HE OBSERVED.
HE SAID THAT IN THE PAST YEAR, VISIBLE IMPROVEMENT HAD BEEN ACHIEVED IN BRINGING EXPENDITURE WITHIN CASH LIMITS. BUT ONE HAD THE IMPRESSION, WHEN EXAMINING THE DRAFT ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE, THAT NOT ENOUGH HAD BEEN DONE BY CONTROLLING OFFICERS TO REVIEW CRITICALLY AND REGULARLY, THE PUBLIC SERVICES THEY PROVIDE.
/♦THE TIME.....
THUKSDAI, 19»*
- 7 -
♦THE TIME IS PERHAPS RIPE FOR A DIFFERENT KIND OF FINANCIAL MECHANISM TO BE INTRODUCED, ONE THAT IS DESIGNED TO ASK CONTROLLING OFFICERS TO REVIEW, ON A REGULAR BASIS, THE RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF THE SERVICES THEY ARE EXPECTED TO PROVIDE,* HE SUGGESTED.
MR CHEONG QUERIED HOW SERIOUSLY THE CONCEPT OF INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY HAD BEEN APPLIED TO PUBLIC SECTOR ACTIVITIES.
♦TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE THE GOVERNMENT HAS TRIED TO DEMONSTRATE GROWTH IN PRODUCTIVITY IN THE CIVIL SERVICE ONLY IN SOMEWHAT MACRO TERMS, BUT ONE WONDERS WHETHER ANY HEAD OF DEPARTMENT OR DEPARTMENTAL ESTABLISHMENT COMMITTEE HAS INTRODUCED SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR THE SERVICES THEIR STAFF PROVIDE, AND KEPT THEM UNDER REGULAR REVIEW,* HE SAID.
HE SAID^PERHAPS THERE WERE LESSONS TO BE LEARNT FROM A RECENT EXERCISE IN UK WHEREBY ALL MINISTRIES WERE ASKED TO INTRODUCE PERFORMANCE MEASURES, AS A MEANS OF REQUIRING SENIOR MANAGEMENT FIRST TO KEEP PRODUCTIVITY UNDER REVIEW AND SECONDLY TO SEEK TO PROMOTE IT.
♦THESE ARE BUT TWO POSSIBLE IDEAS OUT OF MANY WHICH THE GOVERNMENT MIGHT EXPLORE, IN AN ENDEAVOUR TO GET CONTROLLING OFFICERS INTO THE HABIT OF CURTAILING SERVICES WHICH HAVE BECOME MORE DESIRABLE THAN' ESSENTIAL, AND OF MONITORING AND CONTROLLING THE GROWTH RATE OF RECURRENT EXPENDITURE,* HE SAID.
HE SAID THAT EVEN ALLOWING FOR THE LABOUR INTENSIVE NATURE OF MOST PUBLIC SERVICES, THE PROPORTION OF RECURRENT EXPENDITURE TO TOTAL EXPENDITURE HAD BECOME ALARMINGLY HIGH.
♦IN 1984-85 PERSONAL EMOLUMENTS PLUS SUBVENTIONS WILL ACCOUNT FOR OVER 70 PER CENT OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE, BUT IT IS PRECISELY THIS TYPE OF EXPENDITURE THAT IS MOST DIFFICULT TO SLOW DOWN OR CURTAIL IF WE ARE FORCED TO GO FOR RETRENCHMENT,♦ HE SAID.
HE THEN CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE STOCK OF CAPITAL WORKS EXPENDITURE AS MAJOR ITEMS WOULD BE NEARING COMPLETION IN THE COMING YEARS.
♦WE HAVE ALREADY SPENT A GREAT DEAL ON CAPITAL WORKS OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS, AND IT MAY PERHAPS BE USEFUL TO REVIEW WHAT HAS BEEN DONE SO FAR BEFORE ENTERING INTO FURTHER COMMITMENTS,♦ HE SAID.
HE CITED LAND PRODUCTION AS AN EXAMPLE AND WONDERED WHETHER THE PLANNING FOR MORE NEW TOWNS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF JUNK BAY WERE REALLY NECESSARY.
♦SHOULD WE NOT BE THINKING ABOUT IMPROVING TRANSPORT LINKS BETWEEN THE NEW TOWNS AND THE URBAN AREAS - NOTABLY TUEN MUN -SO AS TO MORE IMPORTANTLY REDRESS THE IMBALANCE OF HOUSING AND LOCAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE NEW TOWNS? SHOULD WE NOT REASSESS CRITICALLY OUR PRIORITIES?* HE ASKED.
/HR CHEONG ....
TSU.xSDAI, MARCH 29, 19&U
8 -
MR CHEONG SAID THAT HE SUPPORTED WHOLEHEARTEDLY THE PROPOSAL THAT FEES AND CHARGES MUST BE KEPT UNDER CONSTANT REVIEW AND MUST BE BROUGHT INTO LINE WITH COSTS.
♦JUST AS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS MUST GET INTO THE HABIT OF LOOKING FOR ECONOMIES, SO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MUST GET INTO THE HABIT OF PAYING THE COST, OR A FAIR PROPORTION OF IT, OF THE SERVICES RECEIVED,♦ HE SAID.
HE SUGGESTED THAT FEES AND CHARGES FOR THE FOLLOWING SHOULD BE REVIEWED FURTHER 1
AIR CARGO THROUGHPUT CHARGES, AIRCRAFT PEAK MOVEMENT SURCHARGE, RENT OF PRIVATE POST BOXES AND BAGS, HONG KONG-MACAU FERRY TERMINAL - BERTHING FEES, BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRATION FEES, MARRIAGE REGISTRATION FEES, PATENTS AND TRADE MARK REGISTRATION FEES, OFFICIAL RECEIVER’S FEES, IMPORT AND EXPORT DECLARATIONS, APPLICATION FEES FOR CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN. SUBSCRIPTION TO NOTICE TO EXPORTERS, APPLICATION FEES FOR TEXTILE EXPORT licences.
HE OBSERVED THAT MOST OF THESE FEES AND CHARGES HAD NOT BEEN INCREASED SINCE 1978 AND IF THEY WERE INCREASED BY 20 PER CENT TO ALLOW FOR COST INCREASES, THESE WOULD BRING IN AN ADDITIONAL S60 MILLION. -
♦THIS SUM MAY SEEM SMALL IN COMPARISON WITH THE TOTAL CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNT EXPENDITURE, BUT ONE MUST NOT FORGET THAT REGULAR REVISIONS WILL PROVIDE A MORE MEANINGFUL YIELD,♦ HE SAID.
COMMENTING ON THE TWIN PROPOSALS DESIGNED TO PROTECT THE YIELD FROM PROFITS TAX AS WELL AS TO CHARGE PROFITS TAX ON INTEREST RECEIVED, MR CHEONG SAID THAT HE COULD UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN OF THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY OVER THE LOSS TO REVENUE ARISING FROM THE ABOLITION OF THE INTEREST WITHOLDING TAX.
HE CONCEDED THAT SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE BUT ADDED, +IN EXAMINING THE PROPOSALS, I HAVE TO POINT OUT THAT THEY MAY BE UNNECESSARILY PUNITIVE TO EXPORT AND MANUFACTURING BUSINESSES.♦
THE NEW PROPOSAL TO CHARGE INTEREST RECEIVED ON FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS TO PROFITS TAX WOULD CORRECT THE LOSS TO GOVERNMENT’S REVENUE, HE OBSERVED.
♦BUT TO DISALLOW THE EXPENSES INCURRED ON HONG KONG DOLLAR BORROWINGS AT THE SAME TIME WOULD BE INEQUITABLE AND WOULD BEAR HARSHLY ON THE EXPORT SECTOR, AND IT IS THE STRENGTH OF THIS SECTOR ON WHICH THE GROWTH RATE OF THE ECONOMY IN 1984 IS MAINLY DEPENDENT,+ HE SAID.
HE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO LOOK CLOSELY AT THIS PROBLEM.
ON THE SUBJECT OF THE DOLLAR LINK, MR CHEONG SAID HE BELIEVED THAT A REFLOAT IN THE NEAR FUTURE WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE.
/admitting the ....
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1984
9
ADMITTING THE VALIDITY OF VARIOUS ARGUMENTS FOR A REFLOAT, HE WARNED THAT *A PREMATURE RESTORATION OF THE FLOATING RATE REGIME, AT A TIME WHEN THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG STILL REMAINS UNCERTAIN, WOULD UNNECESSARILY EXPOSE OUR ECONOMY TO A HIGH RISK OF DESTABILISATION*.
HE SAIDi +OUR VULNERABILITY HAS BEEN FULLY DEMONSTRATED AS OF YESTERDAY AFTERNOON WHEN OUR FINANCIAL MARKET EXPERIENCED HAVOC IN RESPONSE TO CERTAIN ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM JUST A COUPLE OF COMPANIES.*
♦DESPITE THE FACT THAT ONE MAY JUSTIFIABLY EXPRESS GREAT DISAPPOINTMENTS OVER THE DECISIONS TAKEN, THE DAMAGE TO THE DELICATE FLOWER OF CONFIDENCE HAS BEEN DONE.
♦THE LESSON WE SHOULD DRAW FROM SUCH EXPERIENCE IS THAT WE MUST ALL RECOGNISE OUR VULNERABILITY AND THAT WE SHOULD NOT MAKE ANY HASTY DECISIONS THAT WOULD HAVE A BEARING ON THE STABILITY OF OUR ECONOMY.*
MR CHEONG SAID HE FELT IT DUTY BOUND TO URGE THE GOVERNMENT NOT TO PREMATURELY CHANGE THE HONG KONG DOLLAR LINK.
HE CONCLUDED BY CONGRATULATING THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY FOR DEVISING AN APPROPRIATE MIX OF PROPOSALS FOR THE PROBLEMS FACING US NEXT YEAR.
0
ECONOMY INSEPARABLE FROM 1997 - CHEUNG YAN-LUNG * * # * *
THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG AT THE BUDGET DEBATE TODAY CALLED FOR AN EARLY ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE CURRENT STATE OF THE SINO-BRlTlSH TALKS ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.
MR CHEUNG SAID THAT IT WOULD BE UNREALISTIC TO DEBATE THE ECONOMIC PROSPECTS WITHOUT MENTIONING 1997.
NOTING THAT THERE WAS AS YET NO SUBSTANTIVE STATEMENT TO INDICATE WHAT HAD BEEN DISCUSSED AT THE TALKS, HE SAID, ♦HOW MANY ’USEFUL AND CONSTRUCTIVE’ ANNOUNCEMENTS MUST WE ENDURE?*
♦IT WOULD BE EVEN MORE USEFUL AND CONSTRUCTIVE IF THE ANNOUNCEMENT WOULD CONTAIN SOME FORM OF GUARANTEE ON MAINTAINING THE CAPITALIST SYSTEM IN THE POST-1997 HONG KONG.
♦THIS WOULD HELP TO ALLAY THE FEAR AND UNCERTAINTY WHICH HAVE LARGELY AFFECTED OUR ECONOMY FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS. SUCH AN ANNOUNCEMENT WILL GO A LONG WAY IN HELPING OUR ECONOMY TO A ROAD OF FULL RECOVERY.♦ MR CHEUNG SAID.
/TOUCHING BRIEFLY .......
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 198^
10 -
TOUCHING BRIEFLY ON HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE OVER THE PAST YEAR, HE POINTED TO THE SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES OF RE-EXPORTS TO AND FROM CHINA.
♦HOWEVER, I NOTICE INCREASINGLY, A FEW COUNTRIES HAVE APPOINTED THEIR OWN AGENTS TO TRADE DIRECTLY WITH CHINA, BY-PASSING HONG KONG.
♦NOW IS THE TIME FOR US TO EXPLORE WAYS AND MEANS TO MAINTAIN HONG KONG'S COMPETITIVE EDGE IN THIS AREA,* MR CHEUNG SAID.
ON PERSONAL TAXATION, HE SUPPORTED THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S STATEMENT THAT HE WOULD REVIEW INITIAL ALLOWANCES.
♦HOWEVER, I DO HOPE THAT WHEN HE DOES REVIEW THE INITIAL ALLOWANCES, HE WILL PLEASE SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO SEEM TO RECEIVE THE RAW END OF THE STICK ALL OF THE TIME, NAMELY THE SANDWICH CLASS. LET US HOPE THEY WILL BE TREATED MORE KINDLY IN FUTURE,♦ MR CHEUNG SAID.
HE ALSO EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSAL TO SET UP A NEW TERRITORIES REGIONAL COUNCIL WHICH HAD BEEN ENDORSED BY THE HEUNG YEE KUK AND THE DISTRICT BOARDS.
ON THE COMPOSITION OF THE COUNCIL, MR CHEUNG SAID, +AFTER WIDE CONSULTATION AND HAVING GIVEN THIS MATTER A LOT OF THOUGHT, I SUGGEST THAT INITIALLY, THE COUNCIL SHOULD INCLUDE A MAJORITY OF APPOINTED MEMBERS FROM ALL DISTRICTS, SO AS TO ENSURE THAT EVERY FIELD OF EXPERTISE IS REPRESENTED.
♦HOWEVER. IN THE LONG RUN, THE MAJORITY MAY COME FROM ELECTED MEMBERS. THEREFORE I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE PROPOSED REGIONAL COUNCIL WILL RECEIVE POPULAR SUPPORT AND WILL BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE FUTURE,♦ HE SAID.
------0-------
ABOLISH JUNIOR EDUCATION ASSESSMENT - SELINA CHOW * * * * *
THE HON MRS SELINA CHOW TODAY CALLED FOR THE ABOLITION OF THE JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION ASSESSMENT (jSEA).
SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL BUDGET DEBATE, SHE SAID, +1 AM GREATLY ENCOURAGED BY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EDUCATION COMMISSION, AND I HOPE THIS IS ONE OF THE AREAS TO WHICH THE COMMISSION WILL SEE FIT TO ALLOT PRIORITY.
♦PARENTS AND EDUCATORS ALIKE HAD AGREED WITH THE LLEWELLYN RECOMMENDATION THAT THE JSEA SHOULD BE ABOLISHED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
/♦ASSUMING THE .....
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 19^ 11
♦ASSUMING THE MAJORITY VIEW WILL HAVE CONSIDERABLE INFLUENCE IN BRINGING ABOUT THIS ABOLITION, THE NEXT STEP IS SURELY TO FIND A WAY WHICH IS ECONOMICALLY AND PRACTICALLY MOST VI ABLE,+ SHE SAID.
ONE WOULD BE TO BUILD ENOUGH GOVERNMENT OR AIDED SCHOOLS, TO PROVIDE ENOUGH PLACES FOR ALL THE 90 PER CENT OF FORM III STUDENTS WHO WISH TO GO ON TO FORM V, MRS CHOW SAID.
THIS OPTION WOULD REQUIRE THE BUILDING OF 106 SCHOOLS APART FROM FACILITATING THE ABOLITION OF JSEA, SHE ADDED.
♦ THIS WOULD ENABLE THE PHASING OUT OF BOUGHT PLACES AT JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL LEVEL WHICH AT PRESENT STILL STAND AT ALMOST 70 000,+ SHE SAID.
HOWEVER, SHE NOTED THAT THIS WAY WOULD BE FINANCIALLY PROHIBITIVE.
♦ ALSO, THIS DOES NOT FULLY CAPITALISE ON THE COMPLEMENTARY VALUE OF EXISTING FACILITIES, SUCH AS OUR BETTER RUN PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES.
♦ A WORKABLE ALTERNATIVE IS TO COMBINE A SLIGHTLY LESS AMBITIOUS BUILDING PROGRAMME WITH THE RECOGNITION OF THE NECESSARY CONTINUATION OF BOUGHT PLACES IN OUR BETTER PRIVATE SCHOOLS, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME TAKING UP THE HELMORE REPORT’S SUGGESTION OF INTRODUCING TWO-YEAR FULL-TIME COURSE IN THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AS ANOTHER OPTION FOR THE LESS ACADEMICALLY INCLINED FORM III STUDENTS,♦ SHE SUGGESTED.
SHE SAID THAT IF THIS WAS ACCEPTED AS A REALISTIC OPTION, THEN THREE MEASURES HAD TO BE ADOPTED TO DETERMINE A TARGET DATE FOR THE ABOLITION OF THE JSEAi
* TO PHASE DOWN THE NUMBER OF BOUGHT PLACES TO INCLUDE ONLY THOSE IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS WHICH ARE OF AN ACCEPTABLE STANDARD IN BOTH JUNIOR AND SENIOR SECONDARY LEVEL.
* TO INITIATE A BUILDING PROGRAMME WHICH WILL, TOGETHER WITH BOUGHT PLACES, MAKE UP 90 PER CENT OF THE REQUIRED SENIOR SECONDARY PLACES.
* TO MAKE UP THE 10 PER CENT SHORTFALL BY PROVIDING PLACES AT THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES, ASSUMING THAT THEY PROCEED WITH THE TWO-YEAR FULL-TIME COURSES RECOMMENDED BY HELMORE.
SHE BELIEVED THESE THREE MEASURES TAKEN AS A WHOLE COULD BRING ABOUT THE DISSOLUTION OF THE JSEA IN THE EARLY NINETIES.
MRS CHOW THEN LOOKED AT LANGUAGE AS A TOOL FOR COMMUNICATION, OR A MEANS OF VERBALISING THOUGHT AND REASON.
/SHE NOTED .......
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1984
12 -
SHE NOTED THAT IN RECENT YEARS ATTENTION HAD BEEN DRAWN TO A DROP IN THE STANDARD OF BOTH LANGUAGES IN SCHOOLS AND REMEDIAL MEASURES HAD BEEN TAKEN BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT RESULTING IN THE PROVISION OF IN-SERVICE TRAINING OFFERED TO TEACHERS, AS WELL AS THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE EMPLOYMENT OF NATIVE SPEAKERS IN SCHOOLS.
HOWEVER, SHE FELT THAT NOT ENOUGH ATTENTION WAS BEING PAID TO THE BROADCASTING MEDIA, WHICH HAD MUCH INFLUENCE OVER ITS AUDIENCE IN LANGUAGE MATTERS.
+NOW THAT THE BROADCASTING REVIEW IS UNDERWAY, IT MIGHT BE WORTHWHILE FOR ITS MEMBERS TO EXAMINE WHETHER OUR EXTREMELY INFLUENTIAL RADIO AND TELEVISION PROGRAMMES MAINTAIN AN ACCEPTABLE STANDARD OF THE LANGUAGE IN WHICH THEY ARE PRODUCED AND BROADCAST,* SHE SUGGESTED.
MRS CHOW ALSO SAID THAT THE CHIEF SECRETARY’S STATEMENT ON LOCAL ADMINISTRATION HAD CLEARLY INDICATED THAT, WITH THE EXPANSION OF THE ELECTED ELEMENT IN DISTRICT BOARDS AND THE FORMATION OF ANOTHER REGIONAL COUNCIL IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, THERE WOULD BE A RAPID INCREASE IN OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWING POLITICIAL ASPIRATIONS.
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALSO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT ELECTIONS, +NOT AS AN END -IN ITSELF, BUT AS A MEANS TO THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF DEMOCRACY,* SHE SAID.
♦ UP TILL NOW IT APPEARS THAT GOVERNMENT IS A LITTLE TOO CONCERNED WITH PROJECTING A GLAMOROUS IMAGE OF ELECTIONS, WITHOUT FULLY EXPLAINING TO THE PUBLIC THE EXISTING SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT WE HAVE, WHAT WE HOPE TO ACHIEVE BY EXPANDING THE REPRESENTATIVE ELEMENT IN THE SYSTEM AND WHAT ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY THAT REPRESENTATIVE ELEMENT IS TO ASSUME,+ SHE SAID.
SHE ADDED THAT THE TRANSITION FROM AN APATHETIC APPROACH TO POLITICS AND CIVIC MATTERS TO THE PRESENT AWAKENING TO A NEED TO ASSUME THE RESPONSBILITY OF ADMINISTERING OURSELVES AS *A SIGNIFICANT STEP*.
SHE WARNED THAT IF HANDLED CARELESSLY OR TAKEN ABRUPTLY WITHOUT FULL UNDERSTANDING OF ALL THE IMPLICATIONS AND COMPLEXITIES INVOLVED. IT WOULD NOT ONLY CAUSE UNCERTAINTY AND CONFUSION IN THE SHORT TERM, BUT JEOPARDISE THE STABILITY WHICH WAS ABSOLUTELY VITAL TO OUR CONTINUING SUCCESS IN THE LONG TERM.
♦ I CALL UPON GOVERNMENT TO COME UP WITH A PLAN TO PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING OF THE TRUE MEANING OF DEMOCRACY AND HOW IT CAN WORK IN THE HONG KONG CONTEXT.
♦ SIMULTANEOUSLY THERE MUST BE A CONSCIOUS EFFORT MADE TO EXPLAIN HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS,* SHE ADDED.
/SHE CONGRATULATED .......
THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 1984
- 13
SHE CONGRATULATED THE ADMINISTRATION FOR THE HIGHLY IMAGINATIVE INNOVATION OF OPENING THE EXAMINATION OF THE 1984-85 ESTIMATES TO PUBLIC SCRUTINY AND SAID SHE HOPED THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST OF A SERIES IN THE EDUCATION PROCESS ABOUT OUR SYSTEM.
COMMENTING ON THE REACTIONS OF DISTRICT BOARDS TO THE DEBATE ON THE LOBO MOTION, MRS CHOW SAID, *IN CASE ANY MEMBER OF ANY DISTRICT BOARD DOUBTS WHETHER HE IS CONSTITUTIONALLY CORRECT IN RAISING OR DISCUSSING THE SUBJECT OF THE FUTURE IN HIS BOARD, HE SHOULD BE ASSURED THAT HE HAS A DEFINITE ROLE TO PLAY IN REPRESENTING AND REFLECTING THE VIEWS OF HIS CONSTITUENCY ON ALL MATTERS CONCERNING THEIR WELFARE, INCLUDING MANY POLICIES OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT.*
THIS CONSULTATIVE ROLE SHOULD NOT STOP SHORT OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SINGLE ISSUE THAT AFFECTS OUR FUTURE, SHE STRESSED.
+HOWEVER, AS THE ISSUE IS SO VERY IMPORTANT, IT IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL THAT EVERYONE OF US APPROACH IT IN THE MOST CAUTIOUS AND RESPONSIBLE MANNER,* SHE SAID.
♦NEVERTHELESS CAUTION SHOULD NOT BE CONFUSED WITH TIMIDITY. WE MUST HAVE THE COURAGE TO SPEAK THE TRUTH. IT IS A DUTY THAT EACH LEADER AND REPRESENTATIVE OWES TO THE PEOPLE,* SHE ADDED.
- - - - 0 ----
PRIORITIES IN EXPENDITURE ESTIMATES QUESTIONED
*****
THE PRIORITIES IN THE ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE CAME INTO QUESTION BY DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP AT THE ANNUAL BUDGET DEBATE TODAY.
NOTING THAT THE BUDGET HAD BEEN DESCRIBED AS FAIR, BALANCED, ANALYTICAL, SYSTEMATIC AND BASED ON SOUND PRINCIPLES, DR IP MADE A STRING OF SUGGESTIONS ON HOW THE PRIORITIES COULD BE READJUSTED TO MAKE THE ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE MORE FAIR AND BALANCED.
+1 WOULD SET HIGH UP ON MY LIST OF PRIORITIES SERVICES PROVE TO BE DEFICIENT RATHER THAN THOSE WHICH ARE DUPLICATIVE.
+1 WOULD CHOOSE TO OFFER SMALLER BENEFITS TO THE GENERAL PUELlv AT LARGE RATHER THAN LARGER BENEFITS TO SOME PRIVILEGED FEW.
+1 WOULD PREFER TO IMPROVE FACILITIES SHOWN TO BE WORSE THAN THE AVERAGE RATHER THAN IMPROVING THE BETTER ONES TC f’AKE THe.-BETTER STILL,* SHE SAID.
SHE WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SEE SERVICES OFFERED TO PEOPLE WHO nAvE CONTRIBUTED MOST IN TIME AND EFFORT TO HONG KONG WHICH Io THEIR HOME THAN TO THOSE WHO COME AND GO.
/IN CUTTING.....
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1984
14
IN CUTTING EXPENDITURE, SHE SAID, THERE HAD TO BE A CONSTANT EVALUATION EXERCISE IN COST-EFFECTIVENESS, ASSESSING QUALITIES AND DEFICIENCIES OF SERVICES SO THAT CUTS WERE NOT MADE STRAIGHT ACROSS THE BOARD.
STRESSING THAT PROVISION OF SERVICES DID NOT MEAN PROVISION OF FREE SERVICES, SHE SAID, +ON THE CONTRARY, I SEE IT MORE IMPORTANT TO SUBSIDISE JUST ENOUGH TO OFFER IMPORTANT SERVICES OF GOOD QUALITY AT COMFORTABLY AFFORDABLE LEVELS, THAN TO OFFER PARTIALLY FREE OR RIDICULOUSLY CHEAP SERVICES WHERE TEMPTATION TO MISUSE THEM IS SO HIGH.+
♦AND IN DAYS WHEN SAVINGS HAVE TO BE MADE TO CUT PREVIOUS ESTABLISHED RECURRENT EXPENDITURES, SO AS TO MEET EXISTING PRIORITIES, I HOPE TO SEE SOME CUTBACK ON BENEFITS GIVEN TO THOSE WHO HAVE HAD COMPARATIVELY MORE THAN OTHERS,+ SHE ADDED.
DR IP FIRST CITED THE PROVISION OF SCHOOL PLACES FOR THE NT ALLY HADICAPPED AS ONE OF THE EXAMPLES OF WHERE SHE BELIEVED THE PRIORITIES MIGHT BE READJUSTED.
SHE POINTED OUT THAT BY THE END OF MARCH 1984, THERE WOULD STILL BE AN ESTIMATED 6 OOO MENTALLY HANDICAPPED CHILDREN WITHOUT A SCHOOL PLACE.
♦ WORSE STILL, BASED ON'THE TARGET DEMAND IN THE 1983 REHABILITATION PROGRAMME PLAN REVIEW OF 10 398 SCHOOL PLACES, AND THE PLANNED PROVISION IN 1984-85 DRAFT ESTIMATES OF ONLY 4 238, THERE WILL BE A SHORTFALL OF MORE THAN 6 000 SCHOOL PLACES AT THE END OF 1985,+ SHE ADDED.
♦ BY THE END OF 1984, ONLY 15 PER CENT AND BY THE END
OF 1985 EVEN WITH ANOTHER MISERLY SUM OF $6 MILLION, STILL ONLY 20 PER CENT OF THE APPROVED CAPITAL COMMITMENT TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SCHOOL PLACES FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED WILL HAVE BEEN OR WOULD BE REALISED,* SHE SAID.
♦ I KNOW IT WILL BE ARGUED THAT THE ESTIMATES DO NOT REPRESENT THE TURE PICTURE AND THAT THE TRUE DEMAND WOULD BE REVEALED SOON WHEN THE COMPUTERISED REGISTRY FOR THE DISABLED IS PUBLISHED, BUT DO NOT FORGET THAT SUCH REGISTRY IS NOT ENFORCED SO IT IS IN ITSELF ALSO INCOMPLETE,* SHE SAID.
SHE NOTED THAT VARIOUS REASONS HAD BEEN GIVEN AS TO WHY THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW SPECIAL SCHOOLS GENERALLY TOOK LONGER THAN ORDINARY SCHOOLS, SUCH AS THE LACK OF STANDARD DESIGNS, THE NEED TO REVISE SKETCH PLANS TO MEET VARIOUS REQUESTS, THE GEOTECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS AND THE HIGH COSTS.
♦ BUT THESE REASONS ARE NOT INSURMOUNTABLE IF OUR ABLE CIVIL SERVANTS PUT THEIR MIND TO IT,* SHE STRESSED.
SHE SAID, IN CONTRAST, CHILDREN WHOSE MOTHER TONGUE IS ENGLISH COULD MAKE ONE OF THREE CHOICES - TO ATTEND ANGLO-CHINESE GOVERNMENT OR AIDED SCHOOLS, TO STUDY ABROAD WITH EDUCATION AND TRAVEL ALLOWANCES IF THEIR PARENTS ARE CIVIL SERVANTS AND TO ATTEnm THE SCHOOLS OPERATED BY THE ENGLISH SCHOOL FOUNDATION WHlCrt IS SUBSIDISED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
/SHE SAID ....
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1984
- 15 -
SHE SAID THAT AS FAR AS SHE WAS AWARE, NO ENGLISH SPEAKING CHILD OVER THE AGE OF SIX WAS NOT ALREADY IN SCHOOL BECAUSE OF INADEQUATE SCHOOL PLACES.
+YET FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES, ANOTHER $13 MILLION IS TO BE SPENT IN 1984/85 IN BOOSTING UP TO 64 PER CENT COMPLETION OF THE APPROVED CAPITAL COMMITMENT OF $75 MILLION TO BUILD NEW SCHOOLS FOR THE ENGLISH SCHOOL FOUNDATION,* SHE POINTED OUT.
SHE STRESSED THAT EDUCATIONAL SERVICES WERE THE RESPONSIBILITY CF THE GOVERNMENT.
♦POSITIVE NON-INTERVENTION MAY BE RIGHT FOR THE FIELD OF COMMERCE, BUT IS CERTAINLY NOT APPROPRIATE HERE,* SHE SAID.
+AGAIN FOR COMPARATIVE INTEREST, SOME $28 MILLION OUT OF A TOTAL COMMITMENT OF $49 MILLION (58 PER CENT) WILL HAVE BEEN SPENT BY 1984/85 IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF 85 STAFF QUARTERS FOR THE ENGLISH SCHOOL FOUNDATION BY THE END OF 1985, WHEREAS ONLY A MEASLY SUM OF $6 MILLION IS ALLOCATED THIS YEAR FOR DEVELOPING SCHOOLS FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED,* SHE ADDED.
TURNING TO MEDICAL SERVICES, SHE SAID SHE NEEDED TO BE CONVINCED WHY GOVERNMENT SUBVENTED HOSPITALS SHOULD GET LESS FUNDING THAN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS OF THE SAME NATURE.
SHE NEXT QUESTIONED WHETHER THE SUM OF $2.1 BILLION TO BE SPENT ON PERSONNEL-RELATED EXPENDITURE FOR CIVIL SERVANTS WERE COST-EFFECTIVE AND WHETHER THERE WAS FAIRNESS TO THOSE WORKING IN THE SUBVENTED SECTOR.
COMMENTING ON INCENTIVES FOR CIVIL SERVANTS, DR IP SAID, +1 SEE NO REASONS WHY DOUBLE INCREMENTS CANNOT BE OFFERED TO THOSE WHO EXCEL, ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF, SAY THREE SENIOR OFFICES.*
♦ LIKEWISE, I SEE NO REASON WHY STOPPAGE OF ANNUAL INCREMENT IS NOT DONE MORE OFTEN WHEN FACED WITH AN INEFFICIENT STAFF, ON SIMILAR RECOMMENDATIONS,* SHE ADDED.
TURNING TO DENTAL SERVICE FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, DR IP SAID, ♦DENTAL SERVICES NEED NOT BE FREE, IT CAN BE LOW COST.*
+IF SO, WE CAN OFFER A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR OUR NEW DENTAL GRADUATES, A GOOD AND REASONABLE PRICED DENTAL SERVICES FOR THE THEN HEALTHY COMMUNITY, WITHOUT DRAINING OUR RESOURCES,* SHE OBSERVED.
ON THE SUBJECT OF RATES, SHE SAID, +JUST AS RATE CONCESSIONS ARE OFFERED TO PREMISES WHICH LACK POTABLE WATER SUPPLY, SIMILAR CONCESSIONS COULD BE CONSIDERED FOR PREMISES NOT CONNECTED TO REGIONAL SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS AND THEREFORE REQUIRE COSTLY MEANS OF SEWAGE DISPOSAL.
+THE NON-AVAILABILITY OF AN ACCESS ROAD FROM THE PUBLIC ROAD COULD LIKEWISE BE CONSIDERED FOR RATE CONCESSIONS.*
------0-------
/16......
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1984
16 -
w/ELL THOUGHT-OUT BUDGET - CHAN YING-LUN * * * *
THE HON CHAN YING-LUN SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT THE F INAffCI AL SECRETARY PRESENTED A GENERALLY WELL THOUGHT-OUT AND BALANCED BUDGET THIS, HE SAID, WAS NO EASY TASK, PARTICULARLY IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES.
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE, HE SAID HE HOPED THAT NEXT YEAR, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY WOULD LOOK TOWARDS +THE RICH, THE REAL RICH+, FOR MORE TAXATION.
MR CHAN ALSO REFERRED TO THE CIVIL SERVICE AND DISTRICT ACTIVITIES, TO ILLUSTRATE HOW RESOURCES COULD BE MORE EFFECTIVELY UTILISED.
HE SAID HE KNEW THAT MANY OF THE CIVIL SERVANTS +WERE AS CONCERNED AND WORRIED OVER THE FUTURE AS ANYBODY ELSE+, AND URGED THAT MEASURES BE TAKEN +TO ALLAY THEIR CONCERN* SO AS TO MAINTAIN A COHERENT SERVICE.
♦THIS WILL GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS STABILISING OUR SYSTEM. THE FAITH OF THE CIVIL SERVICE TO CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER FOR A BETTER HONG KONG IRRESPECTIVE OF FUTURE CHANGES IS ESSENTIAL TO THE CONTINUATION OF THE -SOCIO-ECONOMIC SYSTEM AS A WHOLE.
♦I, THEREFORE, URGE THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD ENSURE THAT APPROPRIATE STEPS BE TAKEN, IF THEY HAVE NOT YET BEEN TAKEN, TO ALLAY CIVIL SERVANTS’ CONCERN AND POSSIBLE FEARS OF THE FUTURE, AND TO REASSURE THE FUTURE PROSPECTS OF OUR CIVIL SERVICE,+ HE SAID.
MR CHAN AGREED WITH THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S PLAN TO KEEP ANNUAL CIVIL SERVICE GROWTH OVERALL TO BELOW 2-1/2 PER CENT FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE AND TO PROVIDE STAFF FOR NEW FACILITIES BY INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY AND REDELOYMENT.
HE SUGGESTED THAT IT SHOULD BE A CONTINUING PROCESS FOR EXISTING DEPARTMENTAL AND INTERDEPARTMENTAL PROCEDURES TO BE REVIEWED, UPDATED, SIMPLIFIED AND STREAMLINED, AND THAT A SPECIAL REVIEW TEAM BE ATTACHED TO THE CHIEF SECRETARY’S OFFICE TO IDENTIFY AREAS OF EXCESSIVELY COMPLICATED PROCEDURES REQUIRING URGENT ATTENTION AND TO CONDUCT ANNUAL REVIEW EXERCISES.
♦THIS TEAM SHOULD COMPRISE STAFF DEPLOYED FROM THE MANAGEMENT SERVICES DIVISION, THE CORRUPTION PREVENTION DEPARTMENT OF THE ICAC AND EXPERIENCED ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS. ALTERNATIVELY, CONTROLLING OFFICERS COULD BE DIRECTED TO REVIEW THEIR AREAS OF ACTIVITIES AND TO REPORT TO THIS COUNCIL MANPOWER SAVING PROCEDURES THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED DURING THE YEAR,+ HE SAID.
MR CHAN NOTED THE REDUCED SPENDING ON OVERSEAS TRAINING FOR PROFESSIONAL OFFICERS, AND SUGGESTED THAT A TRAINING PROGRAMME IN MANAGEMENT BE SET UP FOR CIVIL SERVANTS.
/•THli PYr .....
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 19&U
17 -
♦ THIS TYPE OF TRAINING WILL BE CONDUCIVE TO POSITIVE ATTITUDE BUILDING WITHIN THE CIVIL SERVICE, SO THAT CIVIL SERVANTS WOULD BE IN A BETTER FORM TO MEET THE FUTURE CHALLENGE,+ HE SAID.
HE ALSO CALLED FOR A GREATER USE OF THE TALENTS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.
HE SAID, +DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE MORE TRAINED PROFESSIONAL STAFF AND THAT WE HAVE ACCUMULATED PLENTY OF LOCAL EXPERTISE ON VARIOUS TECHNICAL SUBJECTS, A LARGE NUMBER OF STUDIES AND PROJECTS PARTICULARLY IN THE ENGINEERING AND PLANNING FIELDS ARE STILL BEING COMMISSIONED TO OVERSEAS CONSULTANTS. THIS IS EXTREMELY DISCOMFORTING.*
MR CHAN SUGGESTED THAT IN FUTURE, GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE MORE CRITICAL OF PROPOSALS TO EMPLOY OVERSEAS CONSULTANTS AND TO ENSURE THAT EXPERTISE WITHIN THE CIVIL SERVICE IS CALLED UPON AND CONSULTED BEFOREHAND.
ON THE HOME PURCHASE ALLOWANCE SCHEME, HE SAID HE FULLY SUPPORTED THE SCHEME ALTHOUGH IT WAS VERY COSTLY, AS IT IS HIGHLY CONDUCIVE TO MAINTENANCE OF MORALE. HE SUGGESTED THAT THIS SCHEME SHOULD GRADUALLY REPLACE THE ONE BASED ON PRIVATE TENANCY ALLOWANCE.
MR CHAN SAID EXPENDITURE IN DISTRICT COMMUNITY BUILDING PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE SPENT IN THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND PRODUCTIVE MANNER.
♦ VERY OFTEN, VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS ORGANISE FUNCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES SIMILAR TO THOSE ORGANISED BY THE LOCAL DISTRICT BOARDS, USING FUNDS PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENTAL HEADQUARTERS UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF COMMUNITY BUILDING OR DISTRICT WIDE CAMPAIGNS. THIS MAY BE USEFUL IF THE ACTIVITIES CAN REALLY COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER. BUT VERY OFTEN THEY DO NOT.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT, THEREFORE, THAT DISTRICT PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES MUST BE CRITICALLY REVIEWED TO ENSURE THAT ORGANISERS DO NOT SPEND FUNDS SIMPLY FOR THE SAKE OF SPENDING THEM AND THAT QUALITY WILL NOT BE OVERLOOKED OR SACRIFICED FOR STATISTICS ON PARTICIPANTS, HE SAID.
MR CHAN STRONGLY ECHOED AND SUPPORTED THE CHIEF SECRETARY’S CALL ON THE PROPOSED REGIONAL COUNCIL WHICH WOULD ENSURE THAT THE RECREATIONAL, CULTURAL AND AMENITY SERVICES CURRENTLY PROVIDED BY THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT ARE PROVIDED IN THE MOST EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE MANNER.
♦ THERE HAS BEEN FAR TOO MUCH DUPLICATION OF EFFORTS AND OVERLAPPING OF RESPONSIB ILITES AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL BETWEEN THESE TWO AGENCIES IN THE PAST FEW YEARS.
/HE SAID .......
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 198^
- 18 -
HE SAID THAT THIS HAD +FAR TOO OFTEN* RESULTED । N WASTE OF MANPOWER AND RESOURCES, EXCESSIVE AND UNHEALTHY COMPETITION FOR SPECTATORS AND PARTICIPANTS.
+NOT INFREQUENTLY, RIVALRY BETWEEN GOVERNMENT OFFICES HAS RESULTED IN UNDER UTILISATION OF DISTRICT AMENITIES AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES,* HE SAID.
SAVINGS COULD BE ACHIEVED IN RATIONALISING AND STREAMLINING THE ORGANISATION AND STAFFING OF THE CULTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT — PREFERABLY BY COMBINING THEM INTO ONE DEPARTMENT.
-----o------
FURTHER THOUGHT URGED ON TAX PROPOSALS *****
THE HON RITA FAN URGED THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO FURTHER CONSIDER THE PROS AND CONS OF TWO PROPOSALS REGARDING PROFITS TAX.
THE FIRST PROPOSAL IS THAT INTEREST EARNED OVERSEAS wILL BE TAXABLE AND THE SECOND IS THAT WHERE A HONG KONG COMPANY BORROWS FROM AN OVERSEAS COMPANY (OTHER THAN BORROWINGS FROM FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS), THE INTEREST AND RELATED EXPENSES PAID WILL NOT BE DEDUCTIBLE FOR TAXATION PURPOSES.
*WILL THE ABOVE PROPOSALS OF THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY BE MISUNDERSTOOD BY OVERSEAS INVESTORS AS TO MEAN THAT HONG KONG_ IS GOING TO LEVY TAX ON PROFITS ARISING IN OR DERIVED FROM OVERStAS AND THUS DAMPEN THEIR INTEREST IN INVESTING IN HONG KONG?* SHE ASKED.
+IF IT IS DECIDED TO IMPLEMENT THEM, APPROPRIATE EXPLANATIONS SHOULD BE GIVEN IN ORDER NOT TO CONFUSE FOREIGN INVESTORS,* SHE ADDED.
SHE FELT THE FIRST PROPOSAL TO MAKE INTEREST EARNED OVERSEA^ TAXABLE INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE HONG KONG TAX SYSTEr CF TAXING ONLY PROFITS ARISING IN OR DERIVED FROM HONG KONG.
SHE SAID THE SECOND PROPOSAL DIFFERED BASICALLY FROM THE PRESENT HONG KONG TAX LEGISLATION.
+IF THE ABOVE PROPOSALS OF THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY ARE IMPLEMENTED, IT WOULD ADD AN EXTRA BURDEN TO AN OVERSEAS COMPANY WHICH WISHES TO ASSIST ITS HONG KONG SUBSIDIARY TO DEVELOP THE HONG KONG BUSINESS.
+0N THE ONE HAND THE INTEREST PAID BY THE HONG KONG SUBSIDIARY TO ITS OVERSEAS PARENT COMPANY IS NOT DEDUCTIBLE FOR TAX PURPOSE^; AND ON THE OTHER HAND THE OVERSEAS PARENT COMPANY w I LL HAVE TO P«r TAX ON THE INTEREST RECEIVED IN ITS HOME COUNTRY,* SHE SAID.
/AS n .......
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, '984
19
AS A CONSEQUENCE, FOREIGN CORPORATIONS WITH THE INTENTION OF DEVELOPING BUSINESS IN HONG KONG MIGHT HAVE TO PAY DOUBLE TAX BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF ANY TAX ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND OTHER COUNTRIES, SHE ADDED.
ON SALARIES TAX, MRS FAN FELT THAT THE TWO PER CENT INCREASE IN THE STANDARD RATE WAS ACCEPTABLE BUT SHE RECOMMENDED THAT CONSIDERATION BE GIVEN TO INCREASING THE CURRENT PLATFORM OF $10 OOO TO, SAY $15 000-120 000, TO GIVE SOME RELIEF TO THE MIDDLE CLASS.
SHE CONCEDED THAT THE MIDDLE CLASS HAD THE OBLIGATION TO PAY TAX, BUT NOTED THAT MOST OF THEM DID NOT MEET THE CRITERIA FOR ENJOYING VARIOUS PROGRAMMES HEAVILY SUBSIDISED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
♦ WE MUST NOT FORGET THAT HONG KONG’S SANDWICH CLASS IN GENERAL HAVE TO ARRANGE THEIR OWN HOUSING, PAY RATES AND MEDICAL EXPENSES, ETC.
♦ THEIR ACTUAL QUALITY OF LIFE MAY NOT BE SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER THAN THOSE EARNING LESS, BUT LIVING IN PUBLIC HOUSING, AND OUTSIDE THE TAX NET,+ SHE SAID.
NOTING THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF HER PROPOSED INCREASE IN TAX PLATFORM WOULD REDUCE GOVERNMENT REVENUE, MRS FAN SUGGESTED THAT THE MAXIMUM STANDARD RATE OF THE SALARIES TAX BE PUT ON PAR WITH THE CORPORATE PROFITS TAX.
IN SO DOING, SHE ILLUSTRATED BY wAY OF EXAMPLES THAT THOSE EARNING LESS THAN $23 300 PER MONTH CAN PAY LESS, WHILE THOSE EARNING MORE THAN $42 000 PER MONTH WILL PAY MORE.
♦ THUS THE MIDDLE CLASS MAY DISCHARGE THEIR OBLIGATIONS, WHEREAS REALLY WELL-OFF PEOPLE MAY BEAR A GREATER SHARE OF TAX,+ SHE ADDED.
IN ADDITION, FURTHER INCREASES IN BETTING DUTY COULD BE CONSIDERED, SHE SUGGESTED.
♦ THESE INCREASES WOULD NOT ONLY PRODUCE ADDITIONAL REVENUE, BUT ALSO SERVE TO COOL DOWN THE BETTING CRAZE OF SOME OF THE ORDINARY FOLKS, THEREBY PROMOTING SOCIAL STABILITY,+ SHE SAID.
ON THE APPLICATION FOR AN INCREASE IN TOLL CHARGES BY THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL, MRS FAN SAID THAT IT WAS NOT JUSTIFIABLE AS THE COMPANY’S NET PROFITS IN 1983 TOTALLED $150 MILLION.
♦ MOREOVER, IN PROPOSING TAX ON PRIVATE CARS USING THE TUNNEL, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY HAS STATED THAT ’IT IS, HOWEVER, REASONABLE IF THESE NEW MEASURES REDUCE CROSS HARBOUR TRAFFIC, THE COMPANY SHOULD RECEIVE EQUITABLE COMPENSATION FOR REVENUE LOST,* SHE ADDED.
ON THE ALLOCATION FOR EDUCATION, SHE WELCOMED THE INCkEASE IN FUNDS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPPING OF NEW SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
/BUT SHE .....
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 19^
20 -
BUT SHE EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE SUM EARMARKED FOR IN-SERVICE TRAINING WAS $110 000 LESS THAN LAST YEAR’S PROVISION.
WITH THE PREVAILING FINANCIAL STRINGENCY, SHE FELT THAT NEW DEVELOPMENTS AND IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCAL EDUCATION SHOULD BE TAKEN STEP BY STEP.
SHE SAID TAHT THIS APPROACH WOULD BE BETTER THAN TRYING TO TACKLE ALL AREAS TOGETHER, WHICH COULD RESULT IN INSUFFICIENT IMPROVEMENT IN EVERY AREA.
STRESSING THE NEED TO PROVIDE FURTHER TRAINING TO IN-SERVICE TEACHERS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, SHE SAID, +THE IMMEDIATE TASK IS TO RAISE THE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS OF IN-SERVICE TEACHERS AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS WITH A VIEW TO AROUSING AND PRESERVING THEIR ZEAL AND DEVOTION TOWARDS EDUCATION, TO THE BENEFIT OF OUR YOUNGcR GENERATION.
♦ NO MATTER HOW MUCH THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS ALREADY DONE IN THIS RESPECT, I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS AND DEVOTE MORE RESOURCES IN IMPROVING THE QUALITY CF THE TEACHING STAFF AND PROMOTING THEIR INTEREST IN THEIR PROFESS ION.+
------o-------
SPECIAL TAX DEDUCTION FOR WORKING WIVES PROPOSED
*****
PART OF THE INCOME OF WORKING WIVES SHOULD BE EXEMPTED FROM TAXATION TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO WORK AND SERVE THE COMMUNITY, THE HON PAULINE NG SAID TODAY.
SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL BUDGET DEBATE, MRS NG EXPLAINED THAT WHEN WIVES ALSO GO OUT TO WORK, THEY HAVE TO EMPLOY OTHER PEOPLE ID DO THE HOUSEHOLD WORK AND TAKE CARE OF THE CHILDREN.
THE EXPENSES INCURRED FOR HOUSEHOLD WORK DONE, LIKE THE OVERHEAD EXPENSES OF A COMPANY, SHOULD BE DEDUCTED FROM THEIR TOTAL TAXABLE INCOME, SHE SAID.
♦ THE AMOUNT OF SUCH ALLOWANCE SHOULD BE DETERMINED BY WHAT THE GOVERNMENT COULD AFFORD IN TERMS OF REDUCTION IN REVENUE.
♦ IF SUCH A MEASURE WERE ADOPTED. WORKING WIVES COULD ENJOY THE ALLOWANCE THEY DESERVE AND AT THt SAME TIME, MARRIED WOMEN WOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO GO OUT TO WORK AND SERVE THE COMMUNITY WITH THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE,+ SHE SAID.
ON THE SUBJECT OF MORAL EDUCATION, SHE SAID THAT IT HAD AROUSED POPULAR CONCERN AFTER THE PUBLICATION OF THE +GENERAL GUIDELINES ON MORAL EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS* BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IN SEPTEMBER, 1981.
/Having been ...
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1984
21
HAVING BEEN IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION FOR 15 YEARS, MRS NG SAID THAT SHE COULD FULLY APPRECIATE THE MEANING OF THE CONCLUSION IN THE GUIDELINES WHICH OUTLINED THE BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATION IN EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.
SHE EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD PROMPTLY PROVIDE EVERY GOVERNMENT AND AIDED SECONDARY SCHOOL WITH THE PROMISED TWO ADDITIONAL NON-GRADUATE TEACHERS TO HELP ORGANISE EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND DEVELOP SUCH SCHEMES AS THE COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB, SO THAT PUPILS MIGHT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, THEREBY ACHIEVING THE AIMS OF MORAL TRAINING.
MRS NG ALSO SPOKE ON THE PROVISION OF STREET LIGHTING IN SQUATTER AREAS.
+STREET LIGHTING IS MOST IMPORTANT IN THE MAINTENANCE OF LAW AND ORDER IN SQUATTER AREAS. PROVISION OF SUCH LIGHTING TO SQUATTERS IS THEREFORE ESSENTIAL,* SHE SAID.
HOWEVER, NEITHER THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT NOR THE DISTRICT BOARDS HAD FUNDS SPECIFIED FOR INSTALLING STREET LIGHTS IN SQUATTER AREAS, SHE SAID.
+1 SUGGEST, THEREFORE,.THAT PROVISIONS UNDER HEAD 43 -ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, SUBHEAD 242 LIGHTING OF STREETS AND TRAFFIC SIGNALS SHOULD INCLUDE STREET LIGHTING IN SQUATTER AREAS LIKE PROVISIONS FOR LIGHTING IN OTHER STREETS AND PUBLIC PLACES,* MRS NG SAID.
TURNING TO THE PROVISION OF EVENING CLINICS, MRS NG POINTED OUT THAT THE TOTAL ATTENDANCE FIGURES AT GOVERNMENT OUT-PATIENT CLINICS CAME TO 15.1 MILLION, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 4.9 PER CENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
+THESE FIGURES SHOW THAT THERE IS A PRESSING DEMAND FOR OUT-PATIENT CLINIC SERVICES, ESPECIALLY,* SHE SAID.
SHE NOTED THAT EVENING CLINICS WERE OF SPECIAL IMPORTANCE TO FACTORY WORKERS WHO COULD ONLY SEEK MEDICAL TREATMENT AFTER WORK LEST THEY SHOULD LOSE A DAY’S WAGES AND THE WORK BONUS.
+THEREFORE, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD EXPAND EVENING OUT-PATIENT SERVICES IN THE INTERESTS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
+THIS WILL ALSO HAVE THE ADDITIONAL BENEFIT OF MAXIMISING THE USE OF EXISTING FACILITIES AT GOVERNMENT CLINICS,* SHE ADDED.
MRS NG SAID SHE SUPPORTED THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S PROPOSAL TO LEVY THE NEW TAX ON THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL FOR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT REASONS.
SHE REMINDED THE GOVERNMENT OF THE LIKELIHOOD OF MANY PRIVATE CAR OWNERS TURNING TO VEHICULAR FERRY OR OTHER MEANS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO CROSS THE HARBOUR.
/SHE URGED .......
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 19^
22
SHE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE THE NECESSARY PLANNING NOU BY STUDYING THE ADEQUACY OF THE EXISTING SERVICES TO MEET THE EXTRA DEMAND ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE TUNNEL TAX.
SHE SAID THAT MANY CAR-OWNERS WOULD HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO CONTINUE TO USE THEIR PRIVATE CARS AND PAY THE HIGH TUNNEL TOLLS IF THE SUPPLY OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT WAS INADEQUATE.
♦ IF SUCH IS THE CASE, NOT ONLY WILL THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE OF IMPROVING TRAFFIC FLOW BY TAXATION BE DEFEATED, BUT IT WOULD ALSO END UP IN A GREATER BURDEN BEING PLACED UPON THE MIDDLt-INCOME CLASS,* SHE WARNED.
------o -------
LESS IMPACT ON LESS-WELL-OFF - POON * * * *
THE BUDGET PROPOSALS WOULD HAVE LESS IMPACT ON THE LESS WELL-OFF AND WOULD SPREAD THE BURDEN ON THOSE MORE ABLE TO AFFORD THE INCREASES, THE HON PETER POON SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
DESCRIBING THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S BUDGETARY POLICY AS +SOUND AND WELL-BALANCED* , MR POON POINTED OUT THAT DESPITE THE ORIGINAL ESTIMATED DEFICIT OF $3.6 BILLION, NO CUTS WERE MADE ON EXPENDITURE FOR HOUSING, EDUCATION, SOCIAL SERVICES AND bEDICAL AND HEALTH.
IN FACT, THERE WERE INCREASES IN ALLOCATIONS IN REAL TERMS FOR SUCH ESSENTIAL PUBLIC EXPENDITURE, AND CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION WORKS WOULD ALSO BE MAINTAINED AT A STEADY LEVEL.
+THIS IS HIGHLY LAUDABLE AND SENSIBLE AS WE SHOULD STILL BE STRIVING FOR A BETTER SOCIETY IN HONG KONG DESPITE OUR TEMPORARY ECONOMIC SETBACK,* HE SAID.
COMMENTING ON DIRECT TAXATION, MR POON SAID THAT AT FIRST GLANCE, THE INCREASE OF TWO PER CENT ON THE STANDARD TAX RATE APPEARED TO BE A BIT TOO HIGH. BUT IT MUST BE CONSIDERED THAT, IN THE PAST YEARS, MANY BUSINESSES SUFFERED LOSSES ESPECIALLY IN ThE PROPERTY SECTOR AS A RESULT OF WHICH THERE WERE ALSO SUBSTANTIAL BAD DEBTS, MAINLY FOR BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, HE SAID.
THIS MEANT NO TAX OR REDUCED TAX REVENUE COULD BE EXPECTED FROM SUCH PROPERTY CONCERNS FOR 1984/85, AND THERE MIGHT EVEN BE REFUNDS OF PROVISIONAL TAX OR SET OFF OF SUCH LOSSES BY PROFITS FOR THAT YEAR OR PERHAPS SUBSEQUENT YEARS FOR SOME BUSINESSES IN THAT SECTOR, HE EXPLAINED.
/LUCKILY, MB POON ...
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1984
- 2} -
LUCKILY, MR POON SAID, THE EXPORT TRADE WAS BUOYANT BUT WHETHER TAX FROM THAT WOULD OFFSET THE POSSIBLE DROP IN TAX REVENUE REMAINED TO BE SEEN.
♦THEREFORE, A HIKE OF TWO PER CENT IS UNDERSTANDABLE AND ACCEPTABLE THOUGH THE BUSINESS SECTOR WILL FIND IT AN EXTRA BURDEN DURING A PERIOD OF GRADUAL RECOVERY AND MAY FEEL THAT 18-1/2 PER CENT IS AS MUCH AS THEY CAN BEAR,+ MR POON SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT AN ALTERNATIVE OF MORE BORROWING APPEARED NOT TO BE SENSIBLE BECAUSE INTEREST WOULD HAVE TO BE BORNE AND LOANS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPAID, AND A FURTHER DRAIN ON OUR FREE FISCAL RESERVES WOULD EQUALLY BE INADVISABLE.
TAXES THEREFORE HAD TO BE RAISED, HE STRESSED.
BUT WHEN TIMES WERE GOOD AND GOVERNMENT COFFERS WERE FULL, THERE WAS NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT OUR FINANCIAL SECRETARY WOULD NOT CONSIDER WHETHER A TAX CUT WAS JUSTIFIED, HE ADDED.
AS FOR THE ’SANDWICHED CLASS’, MR POON SAID UNDER THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S PROPOSAL THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN THE PRESENT SALARIES TAX PAYABLE UNTIL A BACHELOR’S SALARY EXCEEDED $120 000 P.A. AND THAT OF A MARRIED MAN WITH TWO CHILDREN EXCEEDED $223 700 P.A.
A BACHELOR'S SALARY EARNINGS, IF OVER $150 000 A YEAR, WOULD BE TAXED AT THE NEW STANDARD RATE OF 17 PER CENT, AND A MARRIED MAN WITH TWO CHILDREN WOULD BE SO TAXED IF HIS SALARY REACHED $279 600 A YEAR.
MR POON FELT THAT OUR RELATIVELY CHEAP TRANSPORT, MEDICAL AND EDUCATION FACILITIES WERE AVAILABLE TO ALL INCLUDING THE 'SANDWICHED CLASS’ AND THE TAX OF THE AVERAGE SALARY EARNERS, AT ABOUT EIGHT PER CENT ON THE AVERAGE, WAS STILL LOW COMPARED TO OTHER COUNTRIES.
HOWEVER, MR POON URGED THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO LOOK INTO THE CASE FOR SEPARATE TAXATION OF THE INCOMES OF THE HUSBAND AND THE WIFE NEXT YEAR.
♦ IF DUE TO THE COST OF IMPLEMENTATION OR THE RESULTANT LOSS OF REVENUE BEING TOO GREAT TO BE BORNE AND SEPARATE TAXATION CANNOT BE CONSIDERED, AN INTERIM MEASURE COULD BE THE RE INTRODUCTION OF THE WORKING WIFE’S ALLOWANCE AT A REALISTIC LEVEL SAY AT LEAST $10 000 P.A.+, HE SUGGESTED.
REGARDING THE TWO TAX PROPOSALS ON ANT I-AVOI DANCE WHICH AFFECT ONLY PROFITS TAX, MR POON SAID SUCH NEW TAX PROPOSALS, HOWEVER CAREFULLY THOUGHT OUT, MIGHT CAUSE SOME HARDSHIP TO OR PREJUDICE CERTAIN SECTORS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD GIVE ITS CAREFUL CONSIDERATION TO SUCH POSSIBILITIES AND GRANT RELIEF WHEREVER PRACTICABLE IN GENUINE AND DESERVING CASES.
/THE FIRST ........
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 19^4
24 -
THE FIRST PROPOSAL IS THAT THE DEDUCTION OF INTEREST AND RELATED EXPENSES IN RESPECT OF BORROWINGS FROM FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS (OTHER THAN BORROWINGS BY THE FINANCIAL INSTI TUTlONs) WILL BE PROHIBITED WHERE THE MONEYS BORROWED ARE SECURED OR GUARANTEED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, AGAINST A DEPOSIT MADE WITH A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION (WHETHER THE LENDING INSTITUTION OR ANY OTHER SUCH INSTITUTION) BY A CLOSELY CONNECTED PERSON.
MR POON EXPLAINED THAT THE AIM OF THIS PROPOSAL WAS TO PREVENT TAX AVOIDANCE BY BACK-TO-BACK ARRANGEMENTS, WHEREBY SURPLUS FUNDS WERE PLACED WITH A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION TO EARN NON-TAXABLE INTEREST BUT SIMILAR FUNDS WERE BORROWED, ON THE SECURITY OF THE SAME DEPOSITS, WITH THE INTEREST CHARGED TO THE COMPANY TO REDUCE PROFITS TAX LIABILITIES.
HE SAID, +PRESUMABLY, THE WORD ’DEPOSIT’ IN THE PHRASE ’DEPOSIT MADE WITH A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION’ REFERS TO CASH OR BANK DEPOSITS AND DOES NOT INCLUDE PROPERTIES, SHARES OR PERSONAL GUARANTEES GIVEN TO SECURE THE BORROWINGS OTHERWISE NORMAL COMMERCIAL ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE UNFAIRLY HINDERED.*
MR POON ALSO SAID IT WAS ALWAYS DIFFICULT TO DEFINE OR TO ENFORCE ANY LEGISLATION WHICH REFERRED TO ’A CLOSELY CONNECTED PERSON’, HOWEVER, UNLESS SUCH A PROVISION WAS PUT IN, THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION COULD BE EASILY AVOIDED.
THE SECOND PROPOSAL IS THAT THE DEDUCTION OF INTEREST AND RELATED EXPENSES IN RESPECT OF BORROWINGS (OTHER THAN BORROWINGS FROM FINANCIAL INSTITUTION) WILL BE PROHIBITED WHERE THE MONEY BORROWED, IN RESPECT OF WHICH THE INTEREST AND RELATED EXPENSES ARE PAID ARE MADE AVAILABLE OUTSIDE HONG KONG.
+THE PROPOSAL INTRODUCES PROFITS TAX ON INTEREST EARNED IN LOCAL OR FOREIGN CURRENCY BY BUSINESSES CARRIED ON IN HONG KONG, WHETHER THE INTEREST IS DERIVED FROM FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE TO BORROWERS IN OR OUTSIDE HONG KONG,* MR POON SAID.
♦ THE PROPOSAL HAS SOME SUPPORT IN THE THIRD INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE IN 1976,+ HE CONTINUED.
♦ THIS, HOWEVER, IS A MAJOR CHANGE BEING A RE-EXAMINATION THE ’PROVISION OF CREDIT’ TEST IN DETERMINING THE LOCATION OF INTEREST INCOME AND WILL BE QUITE CONTROVERSIAL.*
+IT MAY BE INTERPRETED BY SOME AS AN INDICATION OF DEPARTURE FROM THE ’TERRITORIAL’ CONCEPT OF TAXATION IN HONG KONG. GOVERNMENT SHOULD THEREFORE CLARIFY ITS INTENTION TO ALLAY THE FEAR OF FURTHER EXTENSION OF THE TAX NET TO OTHER INCOME Oh PROFITS EARNED OVERSEAS,* HE ADDED.
AS REGARD GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE TO BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRIE^, 14? POON URGED THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO REVIEW THE ’REBUILDING ALLOWANCE’ ON ’COMMERCIAL BUILDING* WHICH WAS AT PRESENT GRANTE^ ANNUALLY AT THE FLAT RATE THREE-FOURTHS OF ONE PER CE >IT WITHOUT ANY INITIAL ALLOWANCE AT ALL.
/THIS M&ANT ....
THURSDAY, MARCH 29* 1984
- 25 -
THIS MEANT THAT THE CAPITAL EXPENDITURE ON OFFICE OR SHOP PREMISES WERE NOT WRITTEN OFF FOR TAX PURPOSES UNTIL AFTER 133 YEARS AND THIS WAS HARDLY FAIR TO THE OWNERS OF SUCH BUILDINGS, MR POON SAID.
♦REALISTIC UPWARD REVISION OF THE REBUILDING ALLOWANCE PREFERABLY WITH A NEW INITIAL ALLOWANCE WILL HOPEFULLY GIVE A NEW INCENTIVE FOR BUSINESSES TO ACQUIRE SUCH PREMISES,+ HE SAID.
MR POON ALSO URGED THE GOVERNMENT AND THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR TO CO-OPERATE MORE FULLY IN THE FIELD OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
+APPROPRIATE INCENTIVES AND SUBSIDIES FOR EXPENSES IN THIS FIELD ARE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. OTHERWISE, WE WILL NEVER CATCH UP WITH OTHER COUNTRIES WHOSE TECHNOLOGY IS ADVANCING VERY QUICKLY AND HONG KONG WILL BE LEFT WAY BEHIND,+ HE SAID.
ON THE CONTROL OF PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE, MR POON SAID ONE WAS PARTICULARLY CONCERNED AT THE GROWTH OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE ESPECIALLY CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES AND PERSONNEL RELATED EXPENSES WHICH ACCOUNTED FOR ABOUT $11 BILLION, I.E. 44 PER CENT OF THE RECURRENT ACCOUNT.
THOUGH OUR CIVIL SERVICE WAS ONE OF THE FINEST IN THE WORLD, POON REMARKED, WITH THE-RAP ID GROWTH IN THE ECONOMY IN THE PAST YEARS, THE CONSEQUENT AND CONTINUED EXPANSION OF THE CIVIL SERVICE MIGHT ULTIMATELY MAKE IT UNWIELDY.
♦GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN THE RIGHT STEP IN THE PRIVATISATION OF CERTAIN SERVICES’ SECTORS SUCH AS THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY, AND NOW THE MULTI-STOREYED CAR PARKS. FURTHER IN-DEPTH REVIEW OF THE WHOLE CIVIL SERVICE STRUCTURE IS NECESSARY AT THIS STAGE OF OUR ECONOMICAL DEVELOPMENT WHICH WE HAVE A CONSIDERABLE DEFICIT FOR A FEW SUCCESSIVE YEARS,+ HE SAID.
MR POON POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG WAS WELL-PLACED TO REAP SUBSTANTIAL BENEFITS FROM THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY IN THE WORLD.
HOWEVER, HE ALSO NOTED THAT DESPITE MARKED IMPROVEMENT, THERE WAS STILL A LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG RESULTING IN A SLOW DOWN OF INVESTMENT AND RE-INVESTMENT AND THE POSSIBILITY CF FURTHER OUTFLOW OF FUNDS AND HUMAN RESOURCES.
HE, THEREFORE, URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO REVEAL THE GENERAL PLAN OR FRAMEWORK FOR HONG KONG’S FUTURE SOON AND HE ALSO CALLEl, UPON THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG TO ACT POSITIVELY AND HAVE CONFIDENCE IN OUR OWN FUTURE.
0 -------
/'26..........
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1984
26 -
BENEFIT SEEN FOR LOWER MIDDLE INCOME GROUPS * ft * *
THE HON YEUNG PO-KWAN TODAY DESCRIBED THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S PROPOSED BUDGET AS A +CALM, STEADY, CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD AND BALANCED APPROACH.*
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE, MR YEUNG SAID ALTHOUGH THE BUDGET WAS UNFAIR TO THE MIDDLE CLASS, IT SHOULD BE UNDERSTOOD THAT NO BUDGET HAD EVER BEEN ABLE TO BENEFIT ALL.
HE SAID THAT MOST MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CONSIDERED THE BUDGET TO BE ♦MODERATE AND ACCEPTABLE.*
ITS OUTSTANDING FEATURE IS THE CARE FOR THE LOWER MIDDLE AND ThE LOWER INCOME GROUPS SO THAT THEIR BURDENS WILL NOT BE UNDULY HEAVY, HE SAID.
BUT HE ADDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT COULD HAVE CONSIDERED RAISING TAX THRESHOLDS, LOWERING THE PROGRESSIVE RATES, AS WELL AS EXPANDING THE TAX BANDS.
HE SAID THAT THIS WOULD RELEASE MANY LOW-SALARIED PEOPLE FROM THE TAX NET AND MIGHT REDUCE THE BURDEN OF THE MIDDLE INCOME GROUP AS WELL AS REDUCE THE WORKLOAD PLUS ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES OF THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT.
♦ AS FOR PEOPLE IN THE HIGH-SALARY BRACKET, THE STANDARD RATE CAN STILL BE CORRESPONDINGLY RAISED TO ENSURE THERE WILL BE NO LOSS IN REVENUE YIELDS,* MR YEUNG SUGGESTED.
IN HIS VIEW, APART FROM PLANNING TO INCREASE REVENUE, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER WHETHER MOTORISTS OF THE +SANDWICHED CLASS* AND TAXI OPERATORS WOULD BE AFFECTED.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY PROPOSED TO LEVY A TAX ON VEHICLES USING THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL TO BOOST REVENUE ON THE ONE HAND AND TO RESTRAIN USAGE OF THE TUNNEL ON THE OTHER.
♦ IT STANDS TO REASON THAT AS THESE TWO OBJECTIVES CAN BE ACHIEVED, FURTHER APPLICATIONS FOR INCREASES IN THE TOLL CHARGES ON VEHICLES USING THE TUNNEL SHOULD NOT BE APPROVED MAINLY BECAUSE THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL COMPANY IS NOT SUFFERING ANY LOSS BUT ONLY EARNING LESS PROFITS,♦ MR YEUNG SAID.
HE SAID THAT THE PROPOSED BUDGET ALSO REFLECTED THE GOVERNMENT’S OPTIMISM AND CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG’S LONG-TERM FUTURE.
♦ EVEN WITH ECONOMIC RESTRAINTS, IT STILL MAINTAINS ITS COMMITMENTS TO SOCIAL WELFARE, MEDICAL AND HEALTH, EDUCATION SERVICES, PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMMES AND LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT,* k€ POINTED OUT.
/Ma INTA 2U ING HAT.........
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 19^
- 2? -
MAINTAINING THAT THE WAYS TO DEAL WITH A FISCAL DEFICIT HAD ALWAYS BEEN TO INCREASE REVENUE AND TO REDUCE EXPENSES, MR YEUNG SAID THE EMPHASIS SHOULD BE *TO CUT UNNECESSARY EXPENDITURE IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, WHILE STREAMLINING THE ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE AND IMPROVING EFFICIENCY AT THE SAME TIME.*
♦IN THIS RESPECT, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ACTIVELY EXAMINE AND IMPLEMENT THE POLICY OF ’LOCALISATION* OF CIVIL SERVANTS, REDUCE THE EXPENSES OF EMPLOYING EXPATRIATE STAFF, AND TIGHTEN UP ITS SUPERVISION AND MONITORING,* HE SAID.
0 --------
MOTION FOR MORE BETTING DUTY PASSED
* * * * *
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY PASSED THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE'S MOTION FOR INCREASES IN BETTING DUTY.
THE RESOLUTION RAISES THE DUTY ON STANDARD BETS FROM 8.5 TO NINE PER CENT, BUT THE POOL OF PRIZE MONEY WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED.
IT INCREASES THE DUTY ON EXOTIC BETS FROM 13.5 PER CENT TO 15 PER CENT, WITH ONE PER CENT OF THE INCREASE TO BE BORNE BY THE PUNTER SO THAT THE POOL OF PRIZE MONEY IS ALSO REDUCED ACCORDINGLY.
UNDER THE RESOLUTION, THE DUTIES PAYABLE ON LOTTERIES AND CASH SWEEPS ARE INCREASED FROM 27 TO 30 PER CENT. AS ONE PER CENT OF THIS INCREASE IS TO BE BORNE BY THE PUNTER, THE POOL OF PRIZE MONEY IS ALSO REDUCED.
♦AS I EXPLAINED IN MY BUDGET SPEECH, THE INCREASED DUTY SHOULD BRING IN $151 MILLION IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR. THE JOCKEY CLUB WILL BE SHOULDERING THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE INCREASE,* SIR JOHN SAID IN MOVING THE MOTION.
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/28........
Thursday, march 29, *984
28 -
SIR GEOFFREY ARRIVING APRIL 13 * * X X
AT TODAY’S PRESS BRIEFING AT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE IN LONDON, THE HEAD OF NEWS DEPARTMENT, MR JOHN GOULDEN, ANNOUNCED THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS, SIR GEOFFREY HOWE, WILL VISIT CHINA, HONG KONG, KOREA AND JAPAN FROM APRIL 15 TO 27. LADY HOWE WILL ACCOMPANY HIM.
SIR GEOFFREY WILL VISIT PEKING BETWEEN APRIL 15 AND 18 AT THE INVITATION OF CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTER, MR WU XUEQIAN. HE WILL HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH MR WU AND OTHER CHINESE LEADERS ON ALL ASPECTS OF HONG KONG’S FUTURE AS WELL AS OTHER INTERNATIONAL AND BILATERAL ISSUES. MR GOULDEN STRESSED THAT THE VISIT WAS NOT A ROUND IN THE CURRENT SERIES OF TALKS. HE SAID THE VISIT WAS SEPARATE FROM THIS PROCESS BUT WILL INVOLVE A COMPREHENSIVE PERSONAL REVIEW OF THE TALKS.
THE VISIT TO HONG KONG BETWEEN APRIL 18 AND 20 WILL PROVIDE SIR GEOFFREY THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET A FIRST HAND VIEW OF HONG KONG AND TO LISTEN TO THE VIEWS OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. HE WILL MEET WITH THE GOVERNOR AND MEMBERS OF EXCO AND LEGCO AS WELL AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, DISTRICT BOARDS (BOTH ELECTED AND APPOINTED) AND OF NUMEROUS PROFESSIONAL AND INTEREST GROUPS.
ASKED TO COMMENT ON THE JARDINES’ANNOUNCEMENT, MR GOULDEN SAID IT WAS OBVIOUSLY A COMMERCIAL DECISION. HE ADDED THAT HMG WAS AWARE OF HONG KONG’S CONCERN ABOUT ITS FUTURE- HMG’S CONCERN WAS TO SEEK AN AGREEMENT ACCEPTABLE TO PARLIAMENT, THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION ON WHY THE SECRETARY WAS GOING TO CHINA BEFORE HONG KONG, MR GOULDEN SAID HMG WAS AWARE OF SUGGESTION BY LEGCO BUT THERE WERE SERIOUS PRACTICAL CONSTRAINTS AFFECTING THE PROGRAMME AND THESE HAD BEEN EXPLAINED TO THE GOVERNOR’S ADVISERS. HE ADDED THAT THERE WOULD BE A FURTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR CONSULTATION DURING EXCO’S FOURTH VISIT TO LONDON NEXT WEEK, AND EXCO WAS WELL PLACED TO BRIEF SIR GEOFFREY BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE FOR PEKING.
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/29........
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1984
29
EDUCATION COMMISSION FULLY SET UP * * * *
THE EDUCATION COMMISSION IS NOW FULLY ESTABLISHED WITH THE APPOINTMENT OF THE REMAINING SEVEN UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS.
THEY ARE MISS MARIA TAM WAI-CHU, MR YEUNG PO-KWAN, DR RAYMOND WU WAI-YUNG, PROF. BRIAN LOFTS, MISS KATHLEEN BARKER, W PETER LEE SHUNG-TAK, AND MRS BETSY LEE WONG PING-SZE.
THEY HAVE BEEN APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR TO SERVE ON THE COMMISSION FOR TWO YEARS FROM APRIL 2, 1984.
MISS MARIA TAM, A BARRISTER, HAS HAD WIDE EXPERIENCE IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND SITS ON THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS AND MANY CONSULTATIVE BODIES. HER COMMUNITY SERVICE INCLUDES MEMBERSHIP OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY AND THE COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICES EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. SHE HAS ALSC BEEN A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
MR YEUNG PO-KWAN, LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, IS PRINCIPAL OF MING YIN COLLEGE. HE SITS ON THE BROADCASTING REVIEW BOARD, THE CRIMINAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES COMPENSATION BOARDS AND THE IMMIGRATION TRIBUNAL. HE HAS ALSO BEEN VICE-CHAIRMAN CF THE ASSOCIATION OF HEADS OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS, AN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER OF THE HK SUBSIDISED SECONDARY SCHOOLS COUNCIL, AND HONORARY ADVISER TO THE CAPUT SCHOOLS COUNCIL.
DR RAYMOND WU, A MEDICAL PRACTITIONER. HAS BEEN CONTRIBUTING TO THE PROMOTION OF MEDICAL AND REHABILITATION SERVICES IN HONG KONG. HE IS A MEMBER OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THE PHARMACY AND POISONS BOARD, AND THE COUNCIL OF THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC. HE IS VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE HK MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, AND CHAIRMAN OF THE NEW LIFE PSYCHIATRIC REHABILITATION ASSOCIATION.
PROF. BRIAN LOFTS IS THE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY AT HONG KONG UNIVERSITY. HE IS PRO VICE-CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY AND A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE PRINCE PHILIP DENTAL HOSPITAL, THE COUNCILS OF THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC AND THE CITY POLYTECHNIC, AND COURT OF HKU. HE HAS ALSO SERVED ON THE COMMITTEE FOR SCIENTIFIC CO-ORDINATION AND WAS FOR 1ANY YEARS CHAIRMAN OF THE ADVANCED LEVEL EXAMINATION BOARD.
MISS KATHLEEN BARKER IS PRINCIPAL OF ST. STEPHEN’S GIRLS’ COLLEGE. FOR HER SERVICES TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATION IN HONG KONG, SHE WAS AWARDED THE MBE IN 1981. SHE IS A MEMBER OF THE HK EXAMINATIONS AUTHORITY AND IS CHAIRMAN AND SUPERVISOR RESPECTIVELY OF THE HK SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF COUNCIL AND THE VICTORIA PARK SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF.
MR PETER LEE IS ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE PROMOTION OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AS CO-ORDINATOR OF THt CARITAS VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND EDUCATION SERVICE. HE IS CHAIRMAN OF THE PRE-vOCATIONAL SCHOOLS COUNCIL, A LAY ASSESSOR OF THE MAGISTRATES’ COURTs, AND A MEMBER OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL.
/HRS BETSY ....
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 198*4
- 30 -
MRS BETSY LEE HAS HAD LONG EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELD OF KINDERGARTEN EDUCATION AND IS AT PRESENT PRINCIPAL OF THE CHINESE CHILDREN’S INSTITUTE (KINDERGARTEN). FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, SHE HAS BEEN THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION OF THE METHODIST CHURCH IN HONG KONG.
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EDUCATION COMMISSION, CHAIRED BY MR Q.W. LEE, WAS ANNOUNCED EARLIER THIS MONTH. THE OTHER COMMISSION MEMBERS ARE THE CHAIRMEN OF THE THREE MAJOR ADVISORY BODIES ON EDUCATION, THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE, THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL, AND THE BOARD OF EDUCATION- THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER (VICE-CHAIRMAN) THE DEPUTY FINANCIAL SECRETARY, AND THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION.
THE FULL TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE COMMISSION ARE;
♦THE EDUCATION COMMISSION IS ESTABLISHED TO SUBMIT TO THE GOVERNOR CONSOLIDATED ADVICE ON THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AS A WHOLE IN THE LIGHT OF THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
FOR THIS PURPOSE THE COMMISSION WILL HAVE THE FOLLOWING TERMS OF REFERENCE -
(A) TO DEFINE OVERALL EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES, FORMULATE EDUCATION POLICY, AND RECOMMEND PRIORITIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION HAVING REGARD TO THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE;
(B) TO CO-ORDINATE AND MONITOR THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATION AT ALL LEVELS; AND
(C) TO INITIATE EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH.
IN CARRYING OUT THESE TASKS, THE COMMISSION SHOULD CO-ORDINATE BUT NOT SEEK TO DIRECT THE WORK OF THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL.
THE COMMISSION WILL BE SERVICED BY THE EDUCATION AND MANPOWER BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT.*
- - _ - 0 - -
STUDY OFFERS NEW WAYS TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC
*****
GOVERNMENT-APPOINTED CONSULTANTS HAVE UNDERTAKEN A COMPLETE RE-EXAMINATION OF TRANSPORTATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE MID-LEVELS AND CENTRAL DISTRICT.
THE STUDY, COMMISSIONED BY GOVERNMENT FOLLOWING OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSED ELEVATED ROAD ALONG CONNAUGHT ROAD IN CENTRAL, INCLUDED THE MID-LEVELS BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC PROBLEMS IN THAT AREA.
WAYS TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC CIRCULATION THROUGH AND BETWEEN CENTRAL AND MID-LEVELS AREAS WERE INVESTIGATED, WITH THE Al-OF DEVELOPING THE MOST APPROPRIATE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM.
/SEVERAL OPTIONS...
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 19$&
- 31 -
SEVERAL OPTIONS WERE CONSIDERED DURING THE STUDY.
THESE INCLUDED ELEVATED STRUCTURES AND TUNNELS THROUGH CENTRAL, TUNNELS UNDER MID-LEVELS BY-PASSING CENTRAL, AS WELL AS ELEVATED LIGHT RAIL SYSTEMS AND MASS PEDESTRIAN MOVERS BETWEEN CENTRAL AND MID-LEVELS.
A STRATEGY HAS BEEN DEVELOPED DURING THE STUDY, WHICH INVOLVES PROVISION OF SHORT, MEDIUM AND LONG-TERM TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT MEASURES.
IN THE SHORT TERM, A SERIES OF TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SCHEMES ARE RECOMMENDED.
THESE INVOLVE MODIFYING THE HARCOURT ROAD-COTTON TREE DRIVE AND QUEEN’S ROAD CENTRAL-PEDDER STREET JUNCTIONS, REVISING THE INTERNAL LAYOUT OF ADMIRALTY, CONVERTING CONNAUGHT ROAD WEST TO TWO-WAY TRAFFIC, REVERSAL OF TRAFFIC IN WING LOK STREET AND BONHAM STRAND; CONVERTING THE NORTHERN SECTION OF POKFULAM ROAD TO ONE-WAY SOUTHBOUND AND OF WATER STREET TO ONE-WAY NORTHBOUND, AND MODIFYING EXISTING AND INTRODUCING NEW TRAFFIC SIGNALS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS.
QUEENSWAY, WYNDHAM STREET AND BONHAM ROAD AT THE JUNCTION CF HOSPITAL ROAD WILL BE WIDENED AND THE WHITTY STREET TRAM TERMINUS WILL BE RELOCATED.
MEDIUM TERM MEASURES INCLUDE UPGRADING CONNAUGHT ROAD TO A DUAL TWO-LANE FREE FLOW ROUTE, A NEW WATERFRONT ROAD BETWEEN THE ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR AT VICTORIA PARK ROAD AND THE H.M.S. TAMAR AREA, SERVING AS A WAN CHAI BYPASS, AND A NEW ROAD LINK BETWEEN VICTORIA BARRACKS ROAD AND KENNEDY ROAD TO PROVIDE RELIEF TO GARDEN ROAD-COTTON TREE DRIVE.
VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS TO BUS ROUTES AND LEVELS OF SERVICE, INCLUDING CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW BUS TERMINUS ON THE CURRENT SITE CF CENTRAL MARKET, ARE ALSO RECOMMENDED AS MEDIUM-TERM MEASURES.
AS FOR PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES, THE CONSULTANTS HAVE SUGGESTED THAT THE EXISTING SEGREGATED PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY NETWORK IN CENTRAL BE EXTENDED AND A +PILOT+ ESCALATOR-ASSISTED PEDESTRIAN ROUTE BE DEVELOPED ALONG COCHRANE STREET AND SHELLEY STREET TO LINK MIDLEVELS WITH BOTH THE NEW BUS TERMINUS AT THE CENTRAL MARKET SITE AND THE EXISTING PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY SYSTEM IN CENTRAL.
THE UPGRADED CONNAUGHT ROAD SCHEME INVOLVES DEMOLISHING THE EXISTING FLYOVER AT THE HARCOURT ROAD-COTTON TREE DRIVE JUNCTION AND CONSTRUCTING A WIDER ONE IN ITS PLACE, CONSTRUCTING A VEHICULAR UNDERPASS AT THE CONNAUGHT ROAD-PEDDER STREET JUNCTION, CONSTRUCTING APPROXIMATELY ONE KILOMETRE OF ELEVATED ROAD BETWEEN SUTHERLAND STREET AND GILMAN STREET, AND MAKING CONNAUGHT ROAD WEST DUAL LANE AND CONVERTING IT INTO A TwG-wAY ROUTE.
/AS PART .......
HDRSDAY, MARCH 29, 1984
- 32
AS PART OF THE SCHEME, A NUMBER OF FOOTBRIDGES WILL BE BUILT TO IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING OF CONNAUGHT ROAD.
IN THE LONG TERM, A NEW WATERFRONT ROAD THROUGH CENTRAL IS RECOMMENDED, CONNECTING THE ELEVATED ROAD TO BE PROVIDED AS PART OF THE UPGRADED CONNAUGHT ROAD SCHEME WITH THE PROPOSED WAN CHAI BYPASS.
THIS WATERFRONT ROAD WOULD RUN BETWEEN RUMSEY STREET AND THE H.M.S. TAMAR AREA AND MOST OF ITS LENGTH WOULD BE IN SUBMERGED TUNNEL.
--------o - - - -
NEW FRANCHISE FOR HYF
* * *
THE GOVERNMENT HAS GRANTED THE HONGKONG AND YAUMATI FERRY COMPANY A NEW FRANCHISE UNDER THE FERRY SERVICES ORDINANCE.
ANNOUNCING THIS, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT THE FRANCHISE WOULD TAKE EFFECT FROM APRIL 1 AND ITS DETAILS WOULD BE PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
HYF’S PREVIOUS FRANCHISE EXPIRED ON JUNE 30, 1982. FROM JULY 1, 1983, THE HYF OPERATED UNDER A TEMPORARY LICENCE GRANTED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT TO ENABLE IT TO CONTINUE ITS FERRY OPERATION WHILE NEGOTIATIONS FOR A NEW FRANCHISE CONTINUED.
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT IN RETURN FOR THE FRANCHISE, THE HYF WOULD BE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS IN THE FRANCHISE, AND ALSO TO OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCE, INCLUDING PROVISIONS FORi
(A) THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL TO SET MAXIMUM FARE LEVELS;
(B) THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT TO SPECIFY FREQUENCY OF SERVICES, CARRYING CAPACITY AND TYPES OF VESSELS;
AND
(C) THE GOVERNOR TO APPOINT ADDITIONAL DIRECTORS TO THE BOARD OF THE HYF.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE FRANCHISE ALLOWED THE HYF TO USE SPECIFIED PIERS, TO HAVE ACCESS TO AND USE AREAS OF CROWN LAND ADJACENT TO THE PIERS, AND TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE PIERS AND THE CROWN LAND AREAS.
THE COMPANY WOULD HAVE TO PAY A MONTHLY RENTAL FOR USING THESE PIERS.
IF THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD AUTHORISE THE COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT CF ANY OF THESE PIERS, THE COMPANY WOULD HAVE FIRST OPTION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
/33........
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1984
- 33 -
MASSIVE RECLAMATION PROJECT TO CONTINUE
*****
EXTENSIVE RECLAMATION, WHICH HAS BEEN GOING ON ALONG THE NORTHERN PART OF ABERDEEN HARBOUR SINCE THE 196O’S AND ALONG THE SOUTHERN PART SINCE 1982, WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE EARLY 1990’S.
THE COST FOR THE WHOLE RECLAMATION PROJECT IS ESTIMATED AT $130 MILLION.
SPEAKING AT A ROTARY CLUB OF HONG KONG SOUTH LUNCHEON MEETING TODAY (THURSDAY), GOVERNMENT CIVIL ENGINEER MR SIU CHUEN, SAID THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS COMMENCED WITH PLANNING AND ENGINEERING STUDIES.
IT WAS FOLLOWED BY DEVELOPMENT PLANS, PROGRAMMES, POLICY APPROVAL AND ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLANS STARTED WITH CLEARANCE OF SQUATTERS, DWELLING BOATS, BOATYARDS AND MARINE ENGINE WORKSHOPS, A PROCESS WHICH DEPENDED VERY MUCH ON THE AVAILABILITY OF PUBLIC HOUSING AND REPROVISIONING SITES.
♦ IT IS A CHAIN LINK PROCESS AND EXPLAINS WHY RECLAMATION TAKES SO MANY YEARS TO COMPLETE,+ HE SAID.
THE UNIT COST OF RECLAMATION WAS AROUND $15 PER SQUARE METRE 15 YEARS AGO AND WAS NOW $50 PER SQUARE METRE, MR SIU SAID.
♦THE COSTLY PART OF RECLAMATION IS OF COURSE THE CONSTRUCTION OF SEAWALL WHICH AMOUNTS TO ABOUT $40 000 PER LINEAR METRE.
♦AND THE COST OF BREAKWATERS AMOUNTS TO ABOUT $72 000 PER LINEAR METRE.♦
MR SIU SAID, OF THE SIX SUB-DISTRICTS IN THE AREA, ABERDEEN AND AP LEI CHAU WOULD CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE THE HIGHEST INTENSITY OF DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES IN THE COMING DECADE.
♦THE EXISTING AND PLANNED DEVELOPMENTS WITHIN SOUTHERN DISTRICT AS A WHOLE HAVE BEEN PLANNED WITH THE AIM OF ACHIEVING, AS FAR AS IS PRACTICABLE, ADEQUATE AND TIMELY PROVISION OF ALL NECESSARY SUPPORTING FACILITIES FOR THE ULTIMATE DESIGNED POPULATION CAPACITY OF 350 000 PEOPLE FOR THIS PART OF THE ISLAND,+ HE SAID.
ABERDEEN AND AP LEI CHAU, WHICH HAD THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF PEOPLE, WAS TO BE THE MAIN URBAN CENTRE.
THE AREA OF LAND ZONED FOR DEVELOPMENT IN ABERDEEN AND AP LEI CHAU TOTALLED APPROXIMATELY 350 HECTARES, MR SIU SAID.
ABOUT 50 HECTARES, OR 14 PER CENT, OF THE DEVELOPABLE LAND WERE DESIGNATED FOR BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HOUSING AND THE REMAINING AREAS WERE FOR COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL PURPOSES, ROADS, OPEN SPACES AND GOVERNMENT, INSTITUTION AND COMMUNITY USES, HE SAID.
/TWO OTHER ....
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1984
TWO OTHER IMPORTANT TASKS NECESSARY IN THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE SUB-DISTRICT WERE THE NEED TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT OF THE AREA AND TO ALLEVIATE CONGESTION IN ABERDEEN HARBOUR.
+ALTHOUGH MUCH OF THE PLANNED DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHERN DISTRICT HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN THE PAST 10 YEARS, FULL DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA STILL HAS TO TAKE SOME YEARS TO COMPLETE,+ MR SIU SAID.
♦WITH CO-ORDINATED EFFORT FROM GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, THE DISTRICT WILL BE DEVELOPED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PLAN AND THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT WILL BE MUCH IMPROVED IN THE FUTURE,+ HE CONCLUDED.
TENDERS INVITED FOR TAXI LICENCES *****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL BE INVITING TENDERS FOR 300 URBAN, 181 NEW TERRITORIES AND 10 LANTAU TAXI LICENCES.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (THURSDAY), A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TENDER FORMS FOR THE NEW LICENCES WOULD BE AVAILAdux TOMORROW (FRIDAY) FROM THE DEPARTMENT’S PUBLIC VEHICLES SECTION AT ROOMS 906-909, HUTCHISON HOUSE, 10 HARCOURT ROAD, CENTRAL, OR FROM THE SECTION’S KOWLOON OFFICES-AT 9TH FLOOR, PARK-IN COMMERCIAL CENTRE, 56 DUNDAS STREET, MONG KOK.
TENDER FORMS FOR URBAN TAXI LICENCES WILL BE BLUE IN COLOUR WHILE THOSE FOR NT AND LANTAU TAXI LICENCES WILL BE WHITE AND GREEN RESPECTIVELY.
TENDERERS MUST DEPOSIT $25 000 WITH THE DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING SERVICES FOR EACH URBAN TAXI LICENCE AND $15 000 FOR EACH NT OR LANTAU TAXI LICENCE THEY SEEK.
ONE TENDER FORM MAY BE SUBMITTED FOR ANY NUMBER OF TAXI LICENCES NOT EXCEEDING 300 IN THE CASE OF URBAN TAXIS, AND 181 AND 10 RESPECTIVELY IN THE CASES OF NEW TERRITORIES AND LANTAU TAXIS.
A PUBLIC BALLOT MAY BE HELD TO DETERMINE THE ACCEPTANCE CF TENDERS WHICH OFFER THE SAME UNIT PREMIUM.
COMPLETED TENDER FORMS, TOGETHER WITH ORIGINAL DEPOSIT RECEIPTS, SHOULD BE SUBMITTED IN DUPLICATE IN SEALED ENVELOPES, ADDRESSED TO THE CHAIRMAN, CENTRAL TENDER BOARD, AND PLACED IN THE TENDER BOX ON THE LOWER GROUND FLOOR OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES (EAST WING), LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG, BEFORE NOON ON FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 1984.
•-----0-------
/55........
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1984
55 -
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS FOR CHING MING FESTIVAL * * * *
SPECIAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN KOWLOON FOR THE CHING MING FESTIVAL.
UNDER THE ARRANGEMENTSt
* THE ’NO WAITING’ RESTRICTION ON CHING CHEUNG ROAD WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED FROM SUNDAY (APRIL 1) TO THURSDAY (APRIL 5) |
* WING MING STREET WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL VEHICULAR TRAFFIC BETWEEN 7 AM AND 6 PM FROM SUNDAY (APRIL 1) TO WEDNESDAY (APRIL 4) ।
* PARKING FACILITIES IN YEE KUK WEST STREET, KING LAM STREET, WING HONG STREET AND TAI NAM WEST STREET WILL BE SUSPENDED BETWEEN 7 AM AND 7 PM FROM SUNDAY (APRIL 1) TO THURSDAY (APRIL 5) I AND
M YU CHAU WEST STREET BETWEEN CASTLE PEAK ROAD AND WING HONG STREET WILL BE DESIGNATED AS ’NO WAITING’ ZONE.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE ADVISED THAT ACCESS TO AND FROM THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CEMETERY ABOVE CHING CHEUNG ROAD WILL BE VIA CASTLE PEAK ROAD, YEE KUK WEST STREET AND KING LAM STREET. PARKING FACILITIES ARE LIMITED AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE ADVISED TO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT.
THOSE VISITING THE HAMMER HILL CEMETERY ARE ADVISED TO APPROACH VIA LUNG CHEUNG ROAD, THE PO KONG VILLAGE INTERCHANGE AND PO KONG VILLAGE ROAD AS TRAFFIC CONGESTION IS EXPECTED AT HAMMER HILL ROAD’S JUNCTION WITH LUNG CHEUNG ROAD.
- - 0
NEED FOR HIGH QUALITY SERVICE STRESSED MM*
THE NEED FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TO STRIVE FOR AND TO MAINTAIN A HIGH QUALITY OF PERFORMANCE WAS STRESSED TODAY BY THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, DR JAMES HAYES.
THIS WAS BECAUSE OF THE EVER INCREASING SCOPE OF ITS SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES AND HIGHER EXPECTATIONS FROM AN INCREASINGLY BETTER EDUCATED PUBLIC, HE SAID.
DR HAYES WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE WORKSHOP ON ♦IMPROVEMENT OF PRODUCTIVITY IN THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT+, JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH AND THE STAFF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT FOR OFFICERS WORKING IN REGIONAL AND DISTRICT OFFICES.
/THE THREE-DAY ....
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1984
56 -
THE THREE-DAY WORKSHOP AIMS AT ENABLING PARTICIPANTS TO CULTIVATE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS IMPROVING PRODUCTIVITY AND ALSO SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC, TO SHARE THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHERS IN TRYING OUT TOOLS FOR IMPROVEMENT, AND TO CONDUCT IMPROVEMENT " IFCTS IN THE PARTICIPANTS’ OWN OFFICES.
+PUT IN MORE SIMPLE LANGUAGE, THE WORKSHOP IS CONCERNED WITH BEING MORE EFFICIENT, IN AN ALL ROUND SENSE, AND WITH DOING YOUR BEST FOR THE PUBLIC,* DR HAYES SAID.
DURING THE FIRST TWO DAYS, PARTICIPANTS WILL BE BRIEFED ON EXPERIENCE GAINED FROM PREVIOUS PROJECTS AND ON THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF IMPROVING PRODUCTIVITY. THEY WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT PRIVATE SECTOR SERVICES TO CUSTOMERS.
DR HAYES URGED PARTICIPANTS TO VIEW THE WORKSHOP AS THE BEGINNING OF A NEW ENDEAVOUR TO IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.
♦WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL ACQUIRED THROUGH THIS WORKSHOP, I AM SURE, THROUGH YOUR INITIATIVE AND PERSEVERANCE, YOU WILL ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF MAKING THIS DEPARTMENT YET MORE PRODUCTIVE AND EFFICIENT,* HE SAID.
------0 - - - -
CLANSMEN ASSOCIATION PRAISED FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE
* * * * *
THE IMPORTANCE OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS AND OLD LOYALTIES FROM CLANSMEN ASSOCIATIONS MUST NOT BE FORGOTTEN, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
♦THESE ARE THE LINKS WHICH BIND OUR COMMUNITY AND ENABLE IT TO WITHSTAND CHANGE AND FACE OUR PROBLEMS TOGETHER,* HE SAID.
MR AKERS-JONES WAS SPEAKING AT THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY OF INE 1904-85 BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE SHUN TAK FRATERNAL ASSOCIATION.
*.N HONG KONG WE LIVE IN A WORLD OF CONSTANT CHANGE AND *E NEED NEW ORGANISATIONS AND NEW SYSTEMS TO MEET NEW SITUATIONS AND A NEW ENVIRONMENT.
•■BUT WE MUST NOT FORGET THE IMPORTANCE OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS AND OLD LOYALTIES,* HE SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT SINCE ITS FORMATION 34 YEARS AGO, THE ASSOCIATION HAD MADE AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE WELL BEING OF ITS MEMBERS AND TO THE UNITY AND HARMONY OF HONG i\ONG SOCIETY.
HE PAID TRIBUTE TO THE ASSOCIATION’S PAST DIRECTORS Ok THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS AND WISHED THE NEW BOARD EVERY SUCCESS IN THEIR SERVICE TO THEIR FELLOW CLANSMEN AND TO HONG KONG.
------0-------
/57......
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 198*
- 37 -
DB TO DISCUSS RECLAMATION WORKS
*****
EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WILL GIVE THEIR VIEWS ON A PROPOSAL TO BUILD A SEAWALL AND CARRY OUT RECLAMATION WORKS AT SIU CHAI WAN AT THEIR MEETING TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AFTERNOON.
UNDER THE PROPOSAL, AN 8OO-METRE LONG SEAWALL WILL BE BUILT AND ABOUT 15 HECTARES OF FORESHORE AND SEABED WILL BE RECLAIMED.
MEMBERS WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE DRAFT BUDGET OF THE BOARD’S VARIOUS COMMITTEES. FOR 1984-85, A SUM OF $1.65 MILLION WILL BE ALLOCATED TO THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD TO BE SPENT EQUALLY ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT AND COMMUNITY BUILDING PROJECTS.
MEMBERS WILL ALSO COMMENT ON A PAPER ON PROPOSED INCREASE IN RATES PREPARED BY AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER.
N^Tc TO EDITORSi
YOU ARE WELCOME TO COVER THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD MEETING AT 2.30 PM TOMORROW (FRIDAY) IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE ASTERN DISTRICT OFFICE ON THE FIRST FLOOR, 880-886 KING’S ROAD.
HOTE TO EDITORSi
DRAGON BOATS TO RACE ON RIVER
*****
DETAILS OF THE FIRST-EVER DRAGON BOAT RACE ALONG SHING MUN RIVER IN SHA TIN WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AFTERNOON.
THE RACE IS ORGANISED BY THE DRAGON BOAT CLUB OF THE SHA TIN SPORTS ASSOCIATION WITH SPONSORSHIP FROM THE LOCAL ORGANISATIONS.
IT WILL TAKE PLACE ON JUNE 3 - ONE DAY BEFORE THE TUEN NG FESTIVAL - AT THE EASTERN WATER COURSE OF SHING MUN RIVER FROM THE SHA TIN FLOATING RESTAURANT TO THE RIVER MOUTH.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SHA TIN SPORTS ASSOCIATION, MR LAU HON-KIT, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE RACING COMMITTEE OF THE DRAGON BOAT CLUB, W LI KWONG, AND THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MR PAUL TANG WILL BE PRESENT AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE PRESS CONFERENCE AT 2.33 PM IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICE ON THE SIXTH FLOOR OF KCR HOUSE, SHA TIN STATION.
0--------
/58........
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1984
58 -
NEW DB COMMITTEE TO MONITOR WELFARE SERVICES
*****
A SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE HAS RECENTLY BEEN SET UP UNDER THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT BOARD TO MONITOR THE PROVISION OF WELFARE SERVICES AND FACILITIES IN THE DISTRICT.
AT ITS FIRST MEETING TODAY (THURSDAY), THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MR FRANK YUE, WHO IS THE CONVENER, SAID THE COMMITTEE WOULD RELIEVE SOME OF THE WORK OF THE BOARD’S COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE.
+THE NEW COMMITTEE WILL ALSO TAKE OVER THE WORK OF TWO EXISTING WORKING GROUPS WHICH HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THE PROVISION CF CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRES AND SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY,+ HE SAID
+THESE TWO WORKING GROUPS ARE ON AN AD-HOC BASIS ONLY,+ HE ADDED.
CHAIRED BY AN UNOFFICIAL BOARD MEMBER, THE COMMITTEE WILL b£ET ONCE EVERY EIGHT WEEKS, AND WILL REPORT TO THE DISTRICT BOARD FROM TIME TO TIME AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS WHEN NECESSARY.
OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE COMPRISE SIX UNOFFICIALS, AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE, MEDICAL AND HEALTH, LABOUR AND EDUCATION DEPARTMENTS.
AT TODAY’S MEETING, MR CHOW WAI-KEUNG WAS ELECTED THE COMMITTEE’S FIRST CHAIRMAN.
-----0------
NO HOLIDAY MAIL * * * *
THERE WILL BE NO MAIL DELIVERY AND ALL POST OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED ON WEDNESDAY (APRIL 4) WHICH IS THE CHING MING FESTIVAL HOLIDAY, THE POSTMASTER GENERAL ANNOUNCED TODAY.
- 0 - -
/59........
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1984
- 39 -
VOLLEYBALL REFEREE COURSE OFFERED * * *
A TRAINING COURSE ON HOW TO REFEREE VOLLEYBALL GAMES WILL BE HELD NEXT MONTH.
JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE RECREATION AND SPORTS SERVICE OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT AND THE HONG KONG AND KOWLOON VOLLEYBALL ASSOCIATION, THE FOUR-DAY COURSE IS TO BE l€LD AT THE TUEN MUN YAN Ol TONG COMMUNITY AND INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE.
STARTING ON APRIL 20, THE COURSE OFFERS ELEMENTARY PRACTICAL AND THEORETICAL LESSONS.
IT IS LIMITED TO 40 STUDENTS WHO MUST BE AT LEAST 18 YEARS OLD. THE FEE IS $20 PER PERSON.
APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE FROM ALL THE 19 DISTRICT OFFICES OF THE RECREATION AND SPORTS SERVICE. FOR ENQUIRIES TELEPHONE 5-458511.
- - 0 --------
NEW TRAFFIC PLAN FOR HAPPY VALLEY
*****
NEW TRAFFIC MEASURES WILL BE IN FORCE IN HAPPY VALLEY FROM ID AM ON SATURDAY (MARCH 31).
THE MEASURES ARE i
* LEARNER DRIVERS WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING VILLAGE ROAD, PO SHIN STREET AND YUK SAN STREET.
* VEHICLES ON SHAN KWONG ROAD SOUTHBOUND BETWEEN WONG NAI CHUNG ROAD AND VILLAGE ROAD WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM TURNING RIGHT INTO VILLAGE ROAD.
* VEHICLES ON SHAN KWONG ROAD NORTHBOUND BETWEEN YIK YAM STREET AND VILLAGE ROAD WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM TURNING LEFT INTO VILLAGE ROAD.
* THE EXISTING TAXI STAND ON VILLAGE ROAD OUTSIDE THE HONG KONG SAN I TOR I UM AND HOSPITAL WILL BE RESITED OUTSIDE HOUSE NO. 2 VILLAGE ROAD.
* THE EXISTING TWO-HOUR PARKING METERS AT YUK SAU STREET, THE NORTHERN SIDE OF TSUI MAN STREET, YUEN YUEN STREET AND MIN FAT STREET WILL BE CONVERTED TO THE HALF-HOUR TYPE.
IN ADDITION, SPECIAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE DISTRICT ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY (MARCH 31 AND APRIL 1) TO ALLOW FOR THE RUGBY TOURNAMENT AT HONG KONG STADIUM. THE MATCHES WILL START AT 11 AM ON SATURDAY AND 10 AM ON SUNDAY.
/THE FOLLOWING ...
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1984
- 40 -
THE FOLLOWING MEASURES WILL COME INTO EFFECT TWO HOURS BEFORE THE START OF THE FIRST MATCH AND WILL REMAIN IN FORCE UNTIL THE CROWDS HAVE DISPERSED :
b
* CAROLINE HILL ROAD BETWEEN LINK ROAD AND STADIUM PATH WILL BE REROUTED ONE-WAY SOUTHBOUND.
* CAROLINE HILL ROAD BETWEEN EASTERN HOSPITAL ROAD AND PENNINGTON STREET WILL BE RESTRICTED TO VEHICLES REQUIRING LOCAL ACCESS.
* CAROLINE HILL ROAD BETWEEN COTTON PATH AND PENNINGTON STREET WILL BE REROUTED ONE-WAY NORTHBOUND.
* EASTERN HOSPITAL ROAD BETWEEN STADIUM PATH AND TUNG LO WAN ROAD WILL BE REROUTED ONE-WAY NORTHBOUND i BUT VEHICLES MAY STILL PROCEED TO THE ST. PAUL’S HOSPITAL CAR PARK FROM TUNG LO WAN ROAD.
* VEHICLES ON EASTERN HOSPITAL ROAD NORTHBOUND WILL BE PERMITTED TO TURN RIGHT INTO EASTBOUND TUNG LO WAN ROAD AT ITS JUNCTION WITH KA NING PATH.
* LINK ROAD BETWEEN CAROLINE HILL ROAD AND HAPPY VIEW TERRACE WILL BE REROUTED ONE-WAY UPHILL. VEHICLES LEAVING HAPPY VIEW TERRACE, LEIGHTON HILL AND THE UPPER SECTION OF BROADWOOD ROAD SHOULD PROCEED TO WONG NAI CHUNG ROAD VIA BROADWOOD ROAD.
AFTER THE BEGINNING OF'THE LAST MATCH, COACHES AND BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO ENTER THE SOUTHERN SECTION OF EASTERN HOSPITAL ROAD FOR STACKING PURPOSES.
MATHESON STREET, RUSSELL STREET AND SHARP STREET EAST WILL BE PROHIBITED TO LEARNER DRIVERS BETWEEN 8 AM AND 8 PM. LEARNER DRIVERS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO TURN LEFT FROM PERCIVAL STREET SOUTHBOUND INTO LEIGHTON ROAD EASTBOUND, OR TO ENTER TUNG LO WAN ROAD FROM CAUSEWAY ROAD.
ALL ON-STREET PARKING SPACES ON SUN WAI ROAD, STADIUM PATH AND THE UNNAMED SERVICE ROAD AROUND THE STADIUM WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 8 AM TO 8 PM.
-----o------
ROAD SECTION TO BE CLOSED
* * X
TH£ SECTION OF LO WAI ROAD BETWEEN LO WAI BUS TERMINUS AND YUEN YUEN HOK YUEN WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC EXCEPT EMERGENJY VEHICLES FROM 7 AM TO 4 PM ON APRIL 1, 4 AND 8.
Di RI NG CLOSURE, THE TERMINATING POINT OF MAX I CAB ROUTES NO. 81 AND 81> WILL BE RELOCATED TO THE LO WAI BUS TERMINUS.
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY .GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1984
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GOVERNOR TO JOIN DELEGATION IN PEKING ....................... 1
GOVERNMENT BOND TENDER FORMS OUT MONDAY...................... 1
INCREASED WATER CHARGES START SUNDAY ........................ 3
APRIL 1 REMINDER TO DRIVERS ................................. 4
TIGHTER CONTROL OVER 'LOAN SHARKS' PLANNED .................. 5
BILL REQUIRES REFUSE STORAGE CHAMBERS IN BUILDINGS........... 6
ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY TO BE CONSULTED ON FINDINGS OF REPORT .. 7
HK OFFERS GOOD OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT....... 10
* • • • • • • •
NEW CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION OPENED.......................... -|2
BUSES WILL CCNTINUE VITAL ROLEt SCOTT ....................... 13
HONG KONG SPARED 'RAVAGES OF DISEASES' ...................... 14
EYE CLINIC SESSIONS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY...................... 15
SECONDARY SCHOOL SYLLABUSES ON SALE.......................... 15
U.S. PREFERENCE SCHEME DETAILS ANNOUNCED .................... 16
RAILWAY AREA PLANS AMENDED................................... 17
NORTH POINT STREET CHANGES FOR MTR WORK ..................... 17
BILL SEEKS TO FACILITATE TRIBUNAL WORK ...................... 18
/GRAVES IN .......
GRAVES IN FIVE CEMETERIES TO BE EXHUMED ....................... 19
PUBLIC WARNED OF FIRE RISKS DURING CHING MING ................. 19
EMPLOYMENT, VACANCIES AND PAYROLL SURVEY FOR FIRST QUARTER .. 20
PRINCE OF WALES HOSPITAL BEING LANDSCAPED...................... 21
DRAGON BOAT ROWERS SOUGHT ..................................... 22
FIRE SERVICES FEES INCREASED .................................. 23
CONTEST TO WOO VOTERS WITH SONG ............................... 23
NEW COLLECTION OFFICE SET UP .................................. 24
TWO OUTLINE ZONING PLANS AMENDED .............................. 25
FOUR N.T. SITES FOR RENT....................................... 26
WAN CHAI CLEARANCE WORK STEPPED UP .............................. 2 7
FIRING PRACTICE DATES ......................................... 28
NO RIGHT TURN ................................................. 29
STATUTORY HOLIDAY REMINDER..................................... 29
COACH SERVICE WITHDRAWN ..................................... 29
FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1984
- 1 -
GOVERNOR TO JOIN DELEGATION IN PEKING * * * *
FOLLOWING THE FCO’S ANNOUNCEMENT ON SIR GEOFFREY HOWE’S FAR EAST TOUR, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN CONFIRMS THAT THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARE YOUDE, WILL REMAIN IN PEKING AFTER THE 12TH ROUND OF TALKS ON APRIL 11 AND 12, TO JOIN SIR GEOFFREY’S DELEGATION.
SIR EDWARD WILL RETURN TO HONG KONG WITH SIR GEOFFREY ON APRIL 18.
- - 0 ----------
GOVERNMENT BOND TENDER FORMS OUT MONDAY * * *
ONE BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF HONG KONG GOVERNMENT BONDS WILL BE OFFERED FOR SALE BY TENDER.
TENDER FORMS WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM MONDAY (APRIL 2) AND SHOULD BE RETURNED ON MONDAY (APRIL 9).
THESE HONG KONG DOLLAR DENOMINATED BEARER BONDS HAVE A FACE VALUE OF J50 000 AND A TERM OF FIVE YEARS AND WILL ATTRACT INTEREST AT 10 PER CENT PER ANNUM. THE MINIMUM PRICE AT WHICH TENDERS WILL BE CONSIDERED IS $49 000 FOR EACH BOND.
IT IS INTENDED THAT THE NET PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE BE TRANSFERRED TO THE CAPITAL WORKS RESERVE FUND FOR THE PURPOSE OF PRODUCTIVE CAPITAL INVESTMENT, SUCH AS THE BUILDING OF SCHOOLS, ROADS AND HOSPITALS.
THE PROPOSAL TO ISSUE THESE BONDS WAS ENDORSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON MARCH 14. IN MAKING THE PROPOSAL, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY NOTED THAT THE ISSUE WOULD PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT THE BONDS WOULD BE ATTRACTIVE TO THE DEPOSIT-TAKING INSTITUTIONS AS WELL AS THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
HE SAlDi +THEY RANK AS LIQUID ASSETS UNDER THE BANKING AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES ORDINANCES. INTEREST PAYMENTS, AS WELL AS PROFITS ON THE SALE OF THE BONDS, WILL BE EXEMPT FROM HONG KONG PROFITS TAX AND INTEREST TAX, PRESENT AND FUTURE.+
/IN CONSIDERING .......
FHIDAY, MABCH 30, 1984
2
IN CONSIDERING TENDERS, THE SPOKESMAN CONTINUED, THOSE OFFERING THE HIGHEST PRICES WILL BE ACCEPTED TO THE EXTENT REQUIRED TO ATTAIN THE AMOUNT REQUIRED. THE ISSUE PRICE OF THE BONDS WILL BE THE LOWEST OFFERED PRICE ACCEPTED BY GOVERNMENT. FOR EXAMPLE IF SO.5 BILLION WORTH OF BONDS WERE TENDERED AT S52 500, ANOTHER SO.5 BILLION AT $52 000 AND A FURTHER SO.5 BILLION AT $51 500, THE LOWEST OFFER ACCEPTED TO ATTAIN A TOTAL ISSUE OF Si BILLION OF BONDS WOULD BE $52 000 TENDERS AT S52 500 AND S52 000 WOULD THEREFORE RECEIVE ALLOCATION AND THOSE AT S51 500 WOULD BE REJECTED. ALL SUCCESSFUL TENDERERS WOULD PAY S52 000 FOR EACH BOND ALLOCATED TO THEM.
REFUNDS TO UNSUCCESSFUL TENDERERS AND THOSE WHO RECEIVE A PARTIAL ALLOCATION WILL BE BY CHEQUE. INTEREST PAYMENTS WILL BE MADE HALF-YEARLY ON APRIL 9 AND OCTOBER 9, AND THE BONDS WILL BE REPAID AT PAR ON APRIL 9, 1989.
TENDER FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE FOLLOWING ADDRESSES:
* CENTRAL COLLECTION AND PAYMENT OFFICE OF THE TREASURY, GRD FLOOR, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING, 11 ICE HOUSE STREET;
* CAUSEWAY BAY SUB-TREASURY, 2ND FLOOR, CAUSEWAY BAY MAGISTRACY BUILDING, 20 ELECTRIC ROAD;
ft YAU MA TEI SUB-TREASURY. 4TH FLOOR, 405 NATHAN ROAD (MARKET STREET ENTRANCE), KOWLOON;
ft KOWLOON CITY SUB-TREASURY, 1ST FLOOR, MAN SANG COMMERCIAL BUILD ING, 348-352 PRINCE EDWARD ROAD, KOWLOON;
ft TAI PO DISTRICT OFFICE, TAI PO GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING, 1 TING KOK ROAD, TAI PO MARKET, N.T.;
ft YUEN LONG DISTRICT OFFICE, YUEN LONG DISTRICT BRANCH OFFICES BUILDING, 269 CASTLE PEAK ROAD, YUEN LONG, N.T.;
ft TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICE, WEST SUB-OFFICE, 2ND FLOOR, TSUEN HOI KING BUILDING, 93 HOI PA STREET, TSUEN WAN, N.T.;
ft SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICE, 6TH FLOOR, KOWLOON CANTON RAILWAY HOUSE, SHA TIN STATION, SHA TIN, N.T.j
ft TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICE, 201 CASTLE PEAK ROAD, TUEN MUN, N.T.;
ft NORTH DISTRICT OFFICE, SHEUNG SHUI SUB-OFFICE, 24 SAN FUNG AVENUE, SHEUNG SHUI, N.T.j
ft TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICE, KWAI CHUNG SUB-DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS, 5/F KWAI HING GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING, 166-174 HING FONG ROAD, KWAI CHUNG, N.T.
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/3......
FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1984
3
INCREASD WATER CHARGES START SUNDAY * * * *
A NEW SCALE OF WATER CHARGES COMES INTO EFFECT ON SUNDAY (APRIL 1) - THE START OF THE 1984/85 FINANCIAL YEAR - WHICH WILL ADD NO MORE THAN $1 PER WEEK TO THE BILLS OF NINE OUT OF 10 DOMESTIC CONSUMERS.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (FRIDAY), THE DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, MR TOM TOMLINSON, SAID THE INCREASE WAS NECESSARY TO COVER HIGHER OPERATING COSTS ARISING FROM INFLATION, BUT HAD BEEN KEPT TO THE ♦BARE MINIMUM*.
AS FOR TRADE USERS, MR TOMLINSON SAID 66 PER CENT WOULD PAY
THE REMAINING 34 PER CENT, ONLY
LESS THAN $1 PER WEEK EXTRA. OF
0.5 PER CENT WOULD PAY MORE THAN $130 PER WEEK EXTRA.
MR TOMLINSON SAID ALMOST 20
PER CENT OF DOMESTIC CONSUMERS,
MOST OF WHOM WERE IN PUBLIC HOUSING, WOULD STILL NOT HAVE TO PAY ANYTHING FOR THEIR WATER UNDER THE FREE UNITS ARRANGEMENT.
♦OF CONSUMERS WHO ARE BILLED,♦ HE CENT WILL ONLY HAVE TO PAY AN EXTRA $1 OF THE INCREASE.*
SAID, +OVER NINETY ONE DER PER WEEK OR LESS AS A RESULT
NEED TO CONSERVE WATER,
HE SAID IN VIEW OF THE CONTINUING
LARGE USERS IN THE DOMESTIC FIELD WOULD BE OBLIGED TO PAY MORE BUT EVEN SO THIS WOULD ONLY AMOUNT TO SOME $2 A WEEK EXTRA IN
MOST CASES
MR TOMLINSON SAID THE INCREASE WAS SMALLER IN PERCENTAGE TERMS THAN THOSE OF PREVIOUS YEARS AND WOULD NOT C
SHOW UP UNTIL
BILLS PAYABLE IN AUGUST WERE ISSUED.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN SUMS EACH YEAR ON WATER PROJECTS.
SPENDING LARGER
SUPPLIES FROM
THE CAPITAL WORKS NEEDED TO BRING INCREASED CHINA ALONE WERE EXPECTED TO COST $1.75 BILLION OVER A 12-YEAR PERIOD AND THERE WERE MANY OTHER COSTLY PROJECTS IN PROGRESS OR
ABOUT TO START.
MR TOMLINSON SAID SOME CONNECTION CHARGES WOULD ALSO BE REVISED.
IN THESE CASES, HE SAID, THE AMOUNT CURRENTLY CHARGED WAS APPROXIMATELY ONE THIRD OF THE ACTUAL COST ONLY.
FROM APRIL 1, SMALL DIAMETER CONNECTIONS UNDER 30 METRES IN LENGTH WOULD COST $280, $400 AND $600, DEPENDING ON THE DIAMETER OF THE PIPING USED.
THERE WOULD ALSO BE REVISIONS TO THE CHARGE PER ADDITIONAL l*ETRE LENGTH IN EXCESS OF 30 METRES FOR ALL SIZES OF CONNECTION.
FRLMY, MARCH 30. 19M
4
IN THE CASE OF LARGER DIAMETER CONNECTIONS, CHARGES MORE CLOSELY REFLECTED ACTUAL COSTS AND WOULD THEREFORE REMAIN UNCHANGED.
MR TOMLINSON SAID THE WATER TARIFF AND CHARGES WOULD, IN LINE WITH GOVERNMENT POLICY, GO METRIC. INITIALLY, BILLING WOULD BE UNDERTAKEN BY PRECISE CONVERSIONS OF THE OLD IMPERIAL UNITS BECAUSE IT WOULD TAKE SOME CONSIDERABLE TIME TO REPLACE ALL THE 1.25 MILLION METERS IN USE.
MR TOMLINSON SAID SALT WATER FOR FLUSHING WOULD REMAIN FREE OF CHARGE AND, AS FAR AS THOSE PREMISES USING FRESH WATER FOR FLUSHING WERE CONCERNED, THEY WOULD BE ALLOWED, WITH METRICATION, VIRTUALLY THE SAME QUANTITY OF FREE WATER AS IN THE PAST.
SHIPPING SUPPLIES CURRENTLY BILLED AT $7.60 PER IMPERIAL UNIT FOR NON-OCEAN-GOING VESSELS AND $16.60 PER UNIT FOR OCEAN-GOING VESSELS WOULD RISE BY 10 PER CENT.
- - 0
APRIL 1 REMINDER TO DRIVERS * * *
THE FIXED PENALTY (TRAFFIC CONTRAVENTIONS) (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1981 AND THE FIXED PENALTY (CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS) (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1981 WILL COME INTO EFFECT FROM APRIL 1.
THESE AMENDMENT ORDINANCES, ANNOUNCED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY, ARE AIMED AT THE SMALL MINORITY OF PARKING OR TRAFFIC OFFENDERS WHO HAVE RECEIVED A FIXED PENALTY NOTICE, BUT NEITHER PAY THEIR FIXED PENALTY ON TIME NOR CONTEST THE OFFENCE.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF MOTORISTS WHO COMMIT OFFENCES RESULTING IN A FIXED PENALTY NOTICE WILL BE UNAFFECTED BY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AMENDMENT LEGISLATION.
THERE IS A VERY HIGH COMPLIANCE WITH THE FIXED PENALTY SYSTEM, AND MOST OFFENDERS PAY THE FINE ON TIME.
THE AMENDMENT ORDINANCES PROVIDE FOR AN ADDITIONAL PENALTY TO BE IMPOSED ON PERSONS WHO DO NOT PAY THE FIXED PENALTY WITHIN THE SPECIFIED PERIOD, AND FAIL TO NOTIFY THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE THAT THEY WISH TO DISPUTE THE OFFENCE. THE ADDITIONAL PENALTY WILL BE EQUAL TO THE ORIGINAL FIXED PENALTY. THUS FOR
PARKING OFFENCES, THE ADDITIONAL COULD BE AS HIGH AS $200 FOR THE OFFENCES.
PENALTY WILL BE $140, AND IT MORE SERIOUS MOVING TRAFFIC
THE ORDINANCES ALSO PROVIDE TRANSPORT MAY REFUSE TO ISSUE OR
THAT THE COMMISSIONER FOR RENEW THE DRIVING LICENCES
AND VEHICLE LICENCES OF APPLICANTS UNTIL THEY HAVE SETTLED ALL OUTSTANDING FIXED PENALTIES AND ADDITIONAL PENALTIES.
/ffiE SPOKESMAN
FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 19&4
- 5 -
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT GIVEN THE NEED FOR FIXED PENALTY SYSTEMS. THEY SHOULD BE ADMINISTERED AS FAIRLY AS POSSIBLE, AND THE AMENDMENT ORDINANCES SHOULD PROVIDE AN EFFECTIVE MEANS OF DEALING WITH THE MINORITY WHO TRY TO AVOID PAYING THEIR PENALTIES.
TO GIVE MOTORISTS A FAIR WARNING OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROVISIONS FOR COLLECTING ADDITIONAL PENALTIES FOR LATE PAYMENT, A WARNING IS INCLUDED IN THE APPROPRIATE STATUTORY FORMS, INCLUDING THE FIXED PENALTY NOTICES TO BE USED FROM APRIL 1.
THE AMENDMENT REGULATIONS INTRODUCING THESE REVISED FORMS WERE ALSO GAZETTED TODAY.
THE LEGISLATION WILL STILL CATER FOR THOSE PERSONS WHO GENUINELY DID NOT RECEIVE A FIXED PENALTY NOTICE OR SUBSEQUENT DEMAND NOTICE.
IF THEY CAN SATISFY A MAGISTRATE THAT THIS WAS THE CASE, THEY NEED PAY ONLY THE ORIGINAL FIXED PENALTY AND NOT ANY ADDITIONAL PENALTY.
------0-------
TIGHTER CONTROL OVER ’LOAN SHARKS’ PLANNED
*****
THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO STRENGTHEN CONTROL OVER +LOAN SHARKS* BY EXTENDING THE TIME LIMIT FOR INSTITUTING PROSECUTIONS FOR CHARGING EXCESSIVE INTEREST FROM THE PRESENT SIX MONTHS TO IWO YEARS.
THE PROPOSAL IS CONTAINED IN THE MONEY LENDERS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984 PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
EXPLAINING THE MOVE, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MONEY LENDERS REGISTRY OF THE REGISTRAR GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT POINTED OUT THAT UNDER THE MONEY LENDERS ORDINANCE IT IS AN OFFENCE FOR ANYONE TO LEND MONEY AT AN INTEREST RATE IN EXCESS OF 60 PER CENT PER ANNUM. AS NO TIME LIMIT FOR PROSECUTION IS LAID DOWN IN THE ORDINANCE, THE MAGISTRATES ORDINANCE APPLIES, AND THE TIME LIMIT FOR INSTITUTING PROCEEDINGS IS, THEREFORE, SIX MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF THE COMMISSION OF THE OFFENCE.
EXPERIENCE HAD SHOWN THAT NUMEROUS CASES OF THIS NATURE ONLY CAME TO LIGHT, THROUGH NO FAULT OF THE LAW ENFORCING AUTHORITIES, AFTER MORE THAN SIX MONTHS. OF THE CASES THAT HAD BEEN PROSECUTED WITHIN THE EXISTING STATUTORY PERIOD, IT aAS ESTIMATED THAT MORE THAN HALF HAD ONLY BEEN DETECTED BECAUSx THEY WERE CONNECTED WITH OTHER CRIMINAL CASES, SUCH AS BLACKMAIL AND ASSAULT.
/♦e; VIE..
FRIDAY, MARCH JO, 1984
6
+IN VIEW OF THE NATURE OF THE OFFENCE AND THE CIRSUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH IT IS OFTEN COMMITTED, TWO YEARS IS CONSIDERED TO BE A REASONABLE PERIOD FOR SUCH CASES TO BE DETECTED AND PROSECUTED,+ HE NOTED.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT IF THE AMENDMENT IS PASSED INTO LAW. IT WILL NOT AFFECT CASES WHERE THE SIX-MONTH LIMIT HAS ALREADY EXPIRED AND NO PROCEEDINGS HAVE BEEN COMMENCED PRIOR TO THE ENACTMENT OF THE BILL.
THE BILL IS SCHEDULED TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR FIRST AND SECOND READINGS ON APRIL 25 AND’TO PROCEED THROUGH THE REMAINING LEGISLATIVE STAGES ON MAY 2.
ANYONE WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ON THE PROVISIONS MAY WRITE TO UMELCO, IN SWIRE HOUSE, 12TH FLOOR, CHATER ROAD, OR TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, IN CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES (WEST WING), 1OTH FLOOR, CENTRAL.
------0-------
BILL REQUIRES REFUSE STORAGE CHAMBERS IN BUILDINGS *****
THE GOVERNMENT HAS PROPOSED, THROUGH AN AMENDMENT BILL, TO MAKE IT MANDATORY FOR REFUSE STORAGE CHAMBERS TO BE PROVIDED IN NEW BUILDINGS.
THE OBJECT OF THE BUILDINGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984, PUBLISHED IN TODAY'S GAZETTE, IS TO ENABLE THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL TO MAKE REGULATIONS, UNDER THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE, REQUIRING THIS PROVISION.
♦THE PROPOSAL IS AIMED AT IMPROVING THE HYGIENE CONDITIONS IN MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS,+ A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
EXPLAINING THE BACKGROUND TO THE PROPOSAL, THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT AT PRESENT THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT CAN ONLY COLLECT REFUSE DIRECTLY FROM BUILDINGS IF THERE ARE REFUSE STORAGE FACILITIES ACCESSIBLE TO REFUSE COLLECTION VEHICLES.
IN BUILDINGS WITHOUT SUCH FACILITIES, THE OCCUPANTS, USUALLY THROUGH AGENTS, REMOVE THEIR REFUSE TO THE USD COLLECTION POINTS FOR COLLECTION BY REFUSE COLLECTION VEHICLES.
ABOUT 27 240 CUBIC METRES OF REFUSE IS COLLECTED IN THIS WAY EACH DAY.
HOWEVER, BASKETS OF REFUSE ARE OFTEN LEFT IN ODD CORNERS WITHIN BUILDINGS BEFORE BEING REMOVED TO THE COLLECTION POINTS.
/+THIS IS .......
FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 19&4
7
♦THIS IS DETRIMENTAL TO PUBLIC HEALTH AND IS ENVIRONMENTALLY OFFENSIVE, AND THEREFORE IT IS PROPOSED THAT, WITH CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS SUCH AS CHURCHES, SCHOOLS AND INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS, THE PROVISION OF PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED REFUSE STORAGE CHAMBERS
SHOULD BE mandatory for all EXCEED A CERTAIN SIZE.
DEVELOPMENTS WHICH
NEW BUILDING
♦THE INTENTION IS THAT TEMPORARY STORAGE OF REFUSE
THE CHAMBERS BEFORE IT IS
POINTS,♦ THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT
WILL BE USED FOR THE TAKEN TO REFUSE COLLECTION
♦IT IS ALSO PROPOSED THAT IN THE CASE OF VERY LARGE BUILDING DEVELOPMENTS, PROVISION OF VEHICULAR ACCESS IS TO BE MANDATORY SO THAT REFUSE COLLECTION VEHICLES CAN GAIN ACCESS AND PROVIDE A DIRECT COLLECTION SERVICE,+ HE ADDED.
THE BILL WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON MAY 16 AND IS EXPECTED TO RECEIVE ITS THIRD READING ON MAY 30.
REGULATIONS REQUIRING MANDATORY PROVISION OF REFUSE STORAGE CHAMBERS WILL BE MADE IF THE BILL IS PASSED INTO LAW BUT WILL ONLY COME INTO OPERATION ON JANUARY 1, 1985.
ANYONE WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ON ITS PROVISIONS MAY WRITE TO UMELCO, AT SWIRE HOUSE, 12TH FLOOR, CHATER ROAD, OR TO THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, AT THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG.
- - 0
ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY TO BE CONSULTED ON FINDINGS OF REPORT
*****
THE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT BOARD (IDB), CHAIRED BY JHE F NANCIAL SECTARY, SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, DECIDED AT ITS MEETING TH S (FRIDAY) afternoon to consult the electronics industry and the major trade AND INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS ON THE FINDINGS OF TWO REPORTS.
TmF TWO REPORTS ARE: THE STUDY ON THE HONG KONG ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY PREPARED BY THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE AND 1 HE IR EXTERNAL CONSULTANT ARTHUR D. LITTLE INTERNATIONAL INC., AND ME REPOR? OF ?h! W HOCWORKING GROUP TO CONSIDER THE RECOMMENDATION, OF THAT STUDY.
IN AUGUST 1981, THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE WAS rnMMiqqinwpn RY THE THEN INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD TO ^ARRY Si 1 USdy ON hJw t he ELECTRON ICS I NDUSTR Y CAN D I VERS I FY I NTO HIGHER VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTS. TEN RECOMMENDATIONS WERE "ADE IN ThF STUDY WHICH WAS COMPLETED IN MAY 1983.
/THE STUDY
■ - .. FRIDAY, MARCH 3D, 19^4
’* --^ *'■>■■■ A.
THE STUDY WAS CONSIDERED BY THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD IN JULY 1983 FOLLOWING WHICH AN AD HOC WORKING GROUP, UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY WAS APPOINTED IN AUGUST 1983 TO EXAMINE IN DETAIL THE SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS of the study and the degree to which these recommendations can be given PRACTICAL EFFECT WITHIN EXISTING GOVERNMENT POLICY.
OF THE ten RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE STUDY, THREE ARE CONCERNED WHTH THE PROVISION OF INDUSTRIAL SUPPORT FACILITIES. THEY ARE:
* THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CENTRE (ETDC)J
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PRECISION METAL-WORKING ■^HUSTtfUTE- (PM 14 i AMO ■ ■■»■» n—.........—
* THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COMPUTER INTEGRATED MANUFACTURING INSTITUTE (CIMI).
THE AD HOC WORKING GROUP SUPPORTED THESE RECOMMENDATIONS IN PRINCIPLE BUT FELT THAT THE CIMI PROPOSAL SHOULD BE PURSUED IN THE / CONTEXT OF THE INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION PROPOSAL. THE WORKING GROUP RECOMMENDED THAT THE FUNDING OF THE ETDC AND THE PM I COULD BE DONE ON THE BASIS OF AN AD VALOREM LEVY ON ELECTRONICS EXPORTS WHICH COULD BE AT A RATE OF 0.03 PER CENT AS IN THE CASE OF THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY TRAINING LEVY.
THE WORKING GROUP FURTHER RECOMMENDED THAT THE VIEWS OF THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY AND THE MAJOR TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS SHOULD BE SOUGHT ON THE PROPOSED FACILITIES AND METHODS OF FINANCING.
OTHER MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE AD HOC WORKING GROUP ARE AS FOLLOWS:
ft THE PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT SHOULD OBTAIN FURTHER INFORMATION AND TO DEVELOP THE VARIOUS ASPECTS TO A PROPOSAL FOR A STUDY ON VENTURE CAPITAL.
ft THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL SHOULD BE INVITED TO WORK WITH THE PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE WITH A VIEW TO SUBSCRIBING TO OVERSEAS MARKET STUDIES AND LOCALIZING THE FINDINGS TO MAKE THEM DIGESTIBLE TO THE LOCAL INDUSTRY.
ft TO EXPEDITE FOREIGN CERTIFICATION: GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE LOGISTIC SUPPORT TO SPEED-UP APPROVAL PROCEDURE.
ft TO USE DOMESTIC DEMAND FOR THE STIMULATION OF TECHNOLOGYINTENSE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY.
ft TO MONITOR THE STATUS OF THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY ON A REGULAR BAS IS.
/the industry .......
FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1984
- 9 -
the industry department will therefore be sending copies of THE TWO REPORTS TO THE MAJOR TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS for their comments, they will have three months in which to submit their views, including their views on the proposed levy,to the secretariat of the idb.
IT IS INTENDED THAT The PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE’S STUDY TOGETHER with the ad hoc working group’s report on it will be available to THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN DUE COURSE.
BACKGROUND ON THE ETDC AND THE PROPOSED LEVY
THE FINDINGS OF THE STUDY ON THE HONG KONG ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY SUBMITTED IN MAY 1983 INDICATED THAT WHILST THE LOCAL ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY EXPERIENCED A COMPOUND ANNUAL EXPORT GROWTH RATE OF 25 PER CENT BETWEEN 1971 AND 1981, THE VALUE-ADDED PER UNIT SALE DROPPED FROM AN AVERAGE OF 30 PER CENT IN 1973 - 1977 TO 25 PER CENT IN 1980.
THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY IS HEAVILY BIASED TOWARDS PRODUCTION AND THERE IS VERY LITTLE ACTIVITY IN, FOR EXAMPLE, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCT ENGINEERING AND DESIGN, ETC. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE INDUSTRY NOT BEING ABLE TO ACCUMULATE FOR ITSELF THE EXPERIENCE AND CAPABILITY TO MOVE UP MARKET.
THE AD HOC WORKING GROUP THEREFORE ACCEPTED THAT AN ETDC, WHICH DIFFERED ONLY IN NAME FROM THE PROPOSAL FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LABORATORY BY THE PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE, +APPEARS THE MOST PRACTICAL AND FEASIBLE APPROACH* TO GIVE A STRONG IMPETUS FOR THE LOCAL INDUSTRY TO UPGRADE PRODUCTION AND TO EXPLOIT MARKET OPPORTUNITIES FOR ELECTRONICS PRODUCTS.
THE OBJECTIVE OF THE ETDC IS TO FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF ♦TECHNOLOGY-INTENSIVE* INDUSTRIES IN HONG KONG THROUGH A MECHANISM OF TECHNOLOGY SCREENING, SELECTION, ADAPTATION, DEMONSTRATION, CONSULTANCY AND TRAINING FOR THE DESIGN OF ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS AND UPGRADING OF PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY TO MEET INTERNATIONAL MARKET DEMANDS.
THE PROPOSED LEVY IS NEEDED TO PROVIDE THE INITIAL FUNDING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CENTRE (ETDC).
THE PROPOSED LEVY IS INTENDED TO COVER DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF ALL ITEMS WHICH ARE EITHER NORMALLY REGARDED AS ELECTRONICS PRODUCTS, OR ARE DEDICATED FOR USE IN ELECTRONICS PRODUCTS, OR CONTAIN AN ELECTRONICS CONTENT, HOWEVER SMALL. THIS COULD VIRTUALLY COVER ALL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY. A FUND CREATED on this basis might then be developed to cover industrial DEVELOPMENT GENERALLY, INCLUDING ALL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, RECOMMENDED BY THE IDB.
- 0 ----------
/10 ........
[Typographical errors in the original document]
•** I FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1984
•* HK OFFERS GOOD OPPORfUN IT IES FOR INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT *****
ELECTRONICS, LIGHT TO MEDIUM ENGINEERING AND METAL INDUSTRIES OFFER CONSIDERABLE OPPORTUNITIES FDR OVERSEAS COMPANIES WHICH INTEND TO PARTICIPATE IN HONG KONG INDUSTRY.
THIS WAS STATED TODAY (FRIDAY) BY MAJOR C.G. BERNARD, PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT OF THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT, WHEN HE ADDRESSED THE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME SEMINAR ORGANISED BY A SWEDISH COMPANY, MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME I LUND, FOR A GROUP OF SENIOR SWEDISH BUSINESS EXECUTIVES VISITING THE FAR EAST.
. -^WF RF4-IFWF THE FlFrTMHI4f.fr HWIIRTPY IS ONE OF THE MAIN KEY£. TO DIVERSIFICATION OF OUR INDUSTRIAL BASE, AND THUS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE FOR OUR FUTURE PROSPERITY,+ HE SAID.
HE SAID HONG KONG’S ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY WITH SKILLED ENGINEERING CAPABILITIES AND SOPHISTICATED QUALITY CONTROLS HAD SPREADED INTO SUCH AREAS AS TELECOMMUNICATIONS, CONTROLS FOR INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY, AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS, MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, EDUCATIONAL AIDS, AND BUSINESS SYSTEMS.
♦PERSONAL, MICRO AND MINI COMPUTERS AND MANY OF THEIR PERIPHERAL EQUIPMENTS ARE NOW MADE IN HONG KONG, AS WELL AS A WIDE RANGE OF SOPHISTICATED COMPONENTS, INCLUDING SILICON CHIP WAFERS AND INTEGRATED CIRCUITS AT THREE NEW PLANTS RECENTLY ESTABLISHED IN THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION ESTATES AT TAI P0.+
♦ANOTHER IMPORTANT FACTOR WITH REGARD TO THE ELECTRONICS AND COMPUTER INDUSTRIES IS THE NEED FOR ADVANCED SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION.
♦HONG KONG ALREADY HAS A NUMBER OF COMPANIES IN THIS FIELD AND IT APPEARS TO BE AN AREA AT WHICH OUR LOCAL PEOPLE ARE PARTICULARLY ADEPT, AND WHICH ALSO OFFERS TO THE SWEDISH ELECTRONICS, TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND ROBOTICS INDUSTRIES EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR CO-OPERATION IN BOTH PRODUCTION AND MARKETING,* HE SAID.
ON THE DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL IN THE LIGHT TO MEDIUM ENGINEERING AND METALS INDUSTRIES, MAJOR BERNARD POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG ALREADY HAD A STRONG BASE WITH ITS SHIP AND BOATYARDS.
♦DEVELOPMENT IN THESE AREAS HAS BEEN LIMITED IN THE PAST BY THE SCARCITY AND HIGH PRICE OF LAND, AND THE LACK OF, FOR EXAMPLE, AN AUTO INDUSTRY WHICH IN DEVELOPED COUNTRIES PROVIDES THE BASIC DEMAND FOR THE OUTPUT OF THEIR ENGINEERING INDUSTRIES.
♦HOWEVER, THE PROSPECTIVE DEVELOPMENT OF THE OFFSHORE OIL FIELDS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA, AND THE SKILLS ACQUIRED THROUGH OUR SHIP BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES IN ENGINEERING, WELDING AND STEEL FABRICATION, LEAD US TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS AN AREA WHICH HAS CONS I DEWABLE -ROlTE^T.I AW FQR EXPANSION,* HE SAID.
• - - r .
/HE CITED ....
FRIDAY-, KARCH 30, 1?84
11
HE CITED THAT THE OUTBOARD MARINE PLANT, MAKING EV INRUDE AND JOHNSON OUTBOARD ENGINES, AND THE EUROASIA SHIPYARDS NOW CONSTRUCTING, REPAIRING, AND FITTING OUT OFFSHORE OIL RIGS, ARE EXAMPLES OF ENGINEERING INDUSTRIES tfHICH HAVE SUCCESSFULLY ESTABLISHED THEMSELVES IN HONG KONG.
+BOTH THESE OPERATIONS ARE LOCATED ON LAND OBTAINED FROM THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. ONE OF THE FACTORS WORKING IN OUR FAVOUR HERE IS THE HIGH COST OF FREIGHT FOR THE DELIVERY OF LARGE FABRICATED METAL EQUIPMENT AND PRODUCTS FROM EUROPE AND THE UNITED STATES TO MARKETS IN THE FAR EAST.
+OUR ABILITIES IN THIS FIELD ALSO ENABLE US TO COOPERATE EFFECTIVELY WITH OVERSEAS COMPANIES IN THE FABRICATION AND ASSEMBLY OF THEIR EQUIPMENTS ENABLING THEM TO OVERCOME THEIR DISADVANTAGES OF HIGH LABOUR COSTS AND ONEROUS OCEAN FREIGHT CHARGES. *E ARE IN FACT NOW DEALING WITH A NUMBER OF SUCH PROPOSALS,* MAJOR BERNARD SAID.
OTHER INDUSTRIES WHICH HAVE SHOWN GOOD POSSIBILITIES FOR EXPANSION AND FOR WHICH THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT IS NOW ACTIVELY ASSISTING IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW INDUSTRIAL PROJECTS ARE PRINTING AND PUBLISHING, DOMESTIC ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES, FOOD AND DRINK PACKAGING AND PROCESSING.
THERE ARE ALSO GOOD PROSPECTS FOR PHARMACEUTICALS AND SPECIALTY CHEMICALS, WHILE OPPORTUNITIES ARE BEGINNING TO EMERGc FOR THE SUPPLY OF MACHINERY EQUIPMENT AND VESSELS TO THE OFFoHORE OIL INDUSTRY.
+WE ARE ALSO AWARE THAT THERE ARE SOME LINKAGE AND SUPPORT INDUSTRIES WHICH WE LACK AND WHICH ARE REQUIRED TO HELP US DEVELOP OTHER SECTORS OF INDUSTRY. FOR EXAMPLE, WE STILL DO NOT POSSESS ANY SOPHISTICATED HIGH QUALITY FOUNDRIES AND STILL HAVE TO IMPORT CASTINGS FROM OVERSEAS.
♦ONE SUCCESSFUL EXAMPLE OF A SUPPORT INDUSTRY PRODUCING BASIC MANUFACTURERS SUPPLIES, HOWEVER, IS THE DOW CHEMICAL PLANT ON TSING Yl WHICH ENSURES THAT WE ARE SUPPLIED WITH THE BASIC RA* MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGICAL SUPPORT FOR OUR PLASTICS INDUSTRY AT COMPETITIVE PRICES.
♦ WE WELCOME OTHER PROJECTS OF THIS NATURE TO HELP US ENSURE THE RELIABILITY OF SUPPLY OF MATERIALS AND COMPONENTS AND HELP REDUCE COSTS OF PRODUCTION,* HE SAID.
BESIDE THOSE WELL-KNOWN FACTORS WHICH MAKE HONG KONG AN I.EmL PLACE AS AN OFF-SHORE MANUFACTURING BASE, MAJOR BERNARD REMINDED OVERSEAS INDUSTRIALISTS NOT TO NEGLECT THE POTENTIAL ' Trie HCNb KONG MARKET.
+ A RECENT SURVEY OF OVERSEAS COMPANIES * I TH INVESTMENTS IN HONG KONG INDUSTRY SHOWED THAT LOCAL SALES FORM THE LARGE-1 SINGLE SECTOR BY VALUE AND ACCOUNT FOR A THIRD OF THEIR TOTAL SALES, EVEN EXCEEDING THOSE TO OUR LARGEST EXPORT MARKET - W UNITED STATES,* HE SAID.
-----0------
FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1984
- 12 -
NEW CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION OPENED *****
THE LAI SUN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION ON HEI LING CHAU WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR DAVID JEAFFRESON TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE NEWLY BUILT MEDIUM SECURITY PRISON PROVIDES ACCOMMODATION FOR 276 YOUNG MALE OFFENDERS BETWEEN 14 AND 21 YEARS OF AGE SERVING MEDIUM TO LONG SENTENCES.
SPEAKING AT THE CEREMONY, MR JEAFFRESON SAID THAT THE OPENING OF THE INSTITUTION WAS ANOTHER STEP FORWARD IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES IN HONG KONG WHICH ALSO MARKED AN IMPORTANT STAGE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF HEI LING CHAU AS AN OPERATIONAL CENTRE FOR THE TRAINING PROGRAMMES RUN BY THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
NOTING THAT THE NUMBERS OF YOUNG OFFENDERS ADMITTED TO CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS INCREASED FROM 1 200 IN 1980 TO 1 800 IN 1983, AND NOW REPRESENTED MORE THAN 18 PER CENT OF TOTAL ADMISSIONS, HE SAID THAT THE NEW INSTITUTION WOULD ENABLE THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO DEAL WITH THE TREND AND RELEASE MUCH-NEEDED ACCOMMODATION IN OTHER INSTITUTIONS AS WELL. .
THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR THOMAS GARNER, ALSO SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY, SAID THAT THE INSTITUTION WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT AS AN EXTENSION TO THE DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRE ON HEI LING CHAU, PROVIDING ADDITIONAL DORMITORY ACCOMMODATION WITH KITCHEN AND WORKSHOPS.
HE SAID THAT DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD, HOWEVER, THE DEPARTMENT WITNESSED A DROP IN THE NUMBER OF PERSONS IN ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRES BROUGHT ABOUT THROUGH A MORE INTENSIVE BUT SHORTENED TREATMENT PERIOD. MEANWHILE, THE DEMAND FOR ACCOMMODATION FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS INCREASED, AND WAS CAUSING IN PARTICULAR, OVERCROWDING IN THE MAXIMUM SECURITY FACILITY AT PIK UK.
♦ PLANS WERE THEREFORE CHANGED TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THIS SITUATION,* HE EXPLAINED.
HE SAID THAT THERE WERE AT PRESENT EIGHT INSTITUTIONS FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS, A SIZABLE PROPORTION OF DEPARTMENT’S TOTAL RESOURCES.
♦ FOR THIS REASON, WITH EFFECT FROM APRIL 1, THERE WILL BE AN ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER AT HEADQUARTERS WITH THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OVERSEEING THE PROGRAMMES CARRIED OUT IN THE INSTITUTIONS SET ASIDE FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS,* MR GARNER ANNOUNCED.
THIS ALSO ILLUSTRATED THE IMPORTANCE ATTACHED TO THE TRAINING OF YOUNG OFFENDERS, HE SAID.
/AT THE........
FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1984
- 13 -
AT THE INSTITUTION, YOUNG OFFENDERS ARE GIVEN SCHOOL COURSES. PHYSICAL TRAINING PROGRAMMES AS WELL AS VOCATIONAL TRAINING IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, TAILORING, CARPENTRY AND PRINTING. THEY WILL ALSO BE GIVEN REGULAR COUNSELLING AND THOSE WHO SERVED SENTENCES OF MORE THAN THREE MONTHS WILL ON DISCHARGE BE SUBJECT TO 12 MONTHS’ AFTERCARE.
ONE OF THE FEATURES OF THE INSTITUTION IS THE INSTALLATION CF THE SOLAR ENERGY PLANT ON THE ROOF OF ONE OF THE BUILDINGS, SUPPLYING HOT WATER FOR THE KITCHEN AND SHOWERS. IT ALSO PROVIDES HOT WATER TO THE SHOWER ROOM AND LAUNDRY OF THE ADJACENT HEI LING CHAU ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRE.
THE PLANT, COMPLETED AT A COST OF $1.7 MILLION, HAS A HEATABSORBING COLLECTOR WHICH HAS A SOLAR PANEL AREA OF 430 SQUARE METRES. AN OIL-FIRED BOILER IS ALSO USED ALONG WITH THE SYSTEM WHEN THERE IS INSUFFICIENT SUNSHINE.
IN ADDITION, ITS KITCHEN IS CAPABLE OF CATERING FOR 1 203 PERSONS AND NOW PROVIDES MEALS FOR THE INSTITUTION AND FOR THE ADJACENT ADDICTION CENTRE.
- - - - o
BUSES WILL‘CONTINUE VITAL ROLE: SCOTT * * * *
BUSES WOULD CONTINUE TO PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE LOCAL TRANSPORT SYSTEM BY BEING THE BIGGEST SINGLE CARRIER, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR ALAN SCOTT, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
MILLIONS OF PASSENGERS EVERY DAY WOULD CONTINUE TO EXPECT RELIABLE, FLEXIBLE AND REASONABLY PRICED TRAVEL BY BUS, AND THE KMB’S OVERHAUL CENTRE IN TUEN MUN WOULD HELP KMB TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SUCH SERVICE, HE ADDED.
SPEAKING AT THE CENTRE’S OPENING CEREMONY, MR SCOTT POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT AND THE KMB SHARED THE COMMON GOAL OF PROVIDING SATISFACTORY PUBLIC TRANSPORT FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN THE NEW TOWNS.
♦BUT THE IMPORTANT POINT IS THAT HONG KONG MUST HAVE AN INTEGRATED TRANSPORT SYSTEM- AND IN OUR SYSTEM, BUSES WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE BIGGEST SINGLE CARRIER, AND THUS TO PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE, AS FAR INTO THE FUTURE AS WE CAN SEE,+ MR SCOTT NOTED.
EARLIER, MR SCOTT SAID THAT THE KMB OVERHAUL CENTRE WAS PURPOSE-BUILT TO ENABLE 600 EMPLOYEES TO OVERHAUL SOME 200 BUSES A MONTH, REFLECTING GREAT CREDIT ON THE KMB AND ON HONG KONG.
HE ADDED: +THE CENTRE WILL PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN THE COMPANY’S POLICY OF CONTINUALLY IMPROVING THE QUALITY AND EFFICIENCY OF ITS SERVICE TO NEARLY THREE MILLION PASSENGERS EACH DAY. THE COMPANY WELL UNDERSTANDS THAT BETTER MAINTENANCE LEADS TO MORE RELIABLE SERVICE, AND IN THE LONG RUN HELPS TO REDUCE UPWARD PRESSURE ON FARES.+
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/14......
FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1984
,232 -j -14-
/ i m . . <,
HONG KONG SPARED ’RAVAGES OF DISEASES’ * * * *
HONG KONG HAS BEEN SPARED THE RAVAGES OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES CAUSED BY PARASITES, BACTERIA AND VIRUSES ALTHOUGH IN SOME PARTS CF THETwORLD THESE DISEASES CONTINUE TO BE A MAJOR HEALTH PROBLEM.
. -,0k ...IL- . , ■
;IL THIS WAS STATED TODAY BY THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES (MEDICAL SERVICES), DR S.F. LAM AT A LUNCHEON FETING OF THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY.
- : A
HE^SAID THAT THOUGH IMPROVEMENTS IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND NUTRITIONAL STANDARDS HAD REDUCED THE INCIDENCE OF ACUTE DIARRHOEAL DISEASES LIKE TYPHOID, PARATYPHOID AND GASTRO-INTESTINAL INFECTIONS, HONG KONG WAS EXPERIENCING A RESURGENCE OF MALARIA (A PARASITIC DISEASE) AND HEPATITIS (A VIRAL DISEASE).
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+THIS IS WITHOUT DOUBT DUE TO MORE LOCALS TRAVELLING ABOUT LN SOUTHEAST ASIA AND NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES,* DR LAM SAID.
ON THE CURATIVE SIDE, HE SAID, THERE HAD BEEN A PROGRESSIVE DECLINE IN THE PROPORTION OF DEATHS IN INFANCY, CHILDHOOD AND EARLY ADULT LIFE OVER THE LAST FIVE DECADES.
THE GREATEST NUMBER OF DEATHS WOULD NOW BE EXPECTED TO OCCUR EEJMEEN THE AGE OF 70 AND 80. THIS DRAMATIC IMPROVEMENT HAS LED MANY TO INQUIRE’WHETHER HUMANS MIGHT, UNDER IDEAL CONDITIONS, LIVE TO BE 10Qa HE §Aip.,
t + W THE PAST, 50 YEARS, SOME CHANGES OF IMPORTANCE IN THE INCipfNGE OF.piSEASE MAY BE RELATED TO SOCIAL CHANGES.
♦ftotfcE^AREi THE INCREASED USE OF ALCOHOL, ADDICTIVE DRUGS AND MOTORCYCLES BY BOTH SEXES AND OF CIGARETTES BY WOMEN, INCREASED OT INDUSTRIAL EXPOSURE TO ASBESTOS, PARTICULARLY IN MEN, AND A GREATER NUMBER OF SEXUAL PARTNERS OF OPPOSITE OR THE SAME GENDER,* THE DEPUTY PI RECTOR SAID. TUO
— - . . 'I • ‘ . f » ’ ■ j y r
TOUCHING ON THE EFFECT OF SMOKING ON PEOPLE’S HEALTH, DR LAM SAID AVOIDANCE OF SMOKING ALONE WOULD REDUCE THE MORTALITY FROM ALL CANCERS BY ABOUT A THIRD.
ON THE QUESTION OF DIET, DR LAM SAID WHETHER THE 20TH CENTURY DIET* WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR CERTAIN DISEASES WAS STILL A MATTER FOR DEBATE.
*HOWEVER, A HOST OF SUCH DISEASES LIKE GASTRIC AND INTESTINAL CANCERS, CORONARY HEART DISEASE, HYPERTENSION, DIABETES, DIVERTICULITIS, DUODENAL ULCER AND CONSTIPATION HAVE BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO IMPROPER DIET,* HE SAID.
DR L'AM ALSO SAID THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL WERE MUCH } MORE EXTENSIVE THAN THE PRODUCTION OF DISEASE IN THE DRINKER HIMSELF AS THEY INCLUDED INJURIES INFLICTED UNDER ITS INFLUENCE . INTENTIONALLY OR OTHERWISE ON OTHERS. )
/+QN THE........
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- 15 -
♦ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN, THERE IS NOW STRONG IF NOT QUITE CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE THAT A DAILY PINT OR TWO OF BEER OR A FEW GLASSES OF WINE WOULD REDUCE THE RISK OF DEATH FROM HEART AND HEART-VESSEL DISEASE.
♦THUS WE SHOULD AIM TO REDUCE HEAVY DRINKING AND ENCOURAGE LIGHT DRINKING,+ DR LAM SAID.
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EYE CLINIC SESSIONS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
* * * *
A NEW APPOINTMENT SYSTEM WILL BE INTRODUCED FOR THE EYE SESSIONS AT FOUR GOVERNMENT CLINICS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES FROM SUNDAY (APRIL 1).
ALTHOUGH THE CONSULTATION HOURS WILL REMAIN THE SAME, ALL PATIENTS WILL NOW BE SEEN BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
NEW CASES WILL BE ACCEPTED BY REFERRAL FROM PRIVATE MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS AND GOVERNMENT GENERAL OUT-PATIENT DEPARTMENTS.
THE FOUR CLINICS ARE THE YAN 01 CLINIC IN TUEN MUN, THE YUEN LONG JOCKEY CLUB CL IN It IN YUEN LONG, THE SHEK WU HUI JOCKEY CLUB CLINIC IN SHEUNG SHU I AND THE TAIPO JOCKEY CLUB CLINIC IN TAI PO.
ALL BOOKINGS ARE TO BE MADE IN ADVANCE. HOWEVER, CASES REQUIRING URGENT ATTENTION WILL BE REFERRED TO THE YAU MA TEI EYE CLINIC.
EMERGENCY CASES CAUSED BY INJURIES WILL BE SENT TO THE ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT OF QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL.
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SECONDARY SCHOOL SYLLABUSES ON SALE
MM*
THE LATEST EDITION OF SYLLABUSES FOR GEOGRAPHY, HISTORY AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION SUBJECTS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS ARE NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, CENTRAL.
THE SYLLABUSES ARE RECOMMENDED BY THE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE FOR GEOGRAPHY CLASSES (FORMS I TO III), HISTORY (FORMS I TO V), AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION (FORMS I TO V|).
FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE SYLLABUSES CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE GEOGRAPHY, HISTORY AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION SECTIONS OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S ADVISORY INSPECTORATE, AT 5-8392495, 5-0392497 AND 3-884111 EXT. 272 RESPECTIVELY.
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/16........
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U.S. PREFERENCE SCHEME DETAILS ANNOUNCED
* * * *
THE TRADE DEPARTMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) NOTIFIED THE TRADE OF DETAILS OF THE 1984 UNITED STATES GENERALISED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES (GSP) SCHEME ANNOUNCED BY THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE ON MARCH 27.
IN THE 1984 U.S. GSP SCHEME, 22 NEW ITEMS HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE LIST OF OVER 3 OOO PRODUCTS ELIGIBLE FOR U.S. DUTY-FREE TREATMENT. THREE PREVIOUSLY ELIGIBLE ITEMS (WATERBED MATTRESSES, WATERBED MATTRESS LINERS AND FISHING REELS) HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE ELIGIBLE LIST. THESE CHANGES APPLY TO ALL BENEFICIARIES INCLUDING HONG KONG. THE VALUE OF IMPORTS FROM HONG KONG IN THE THREE EXCLUDED ITEMS WAS US$1.3 M. IN 1983.
APART FROM THE ABOVE THREE ITEMS, HONG KONG HAS ALSO BEEN EXCLUDED FROM GSP DUTY-FREE TREATMENT IN 52 OTHER U.S. TARIFF SCHEDULE ITEMS. THE NEWLY EXCLUDED ITEMS INCLUDE FIXED-FOCUS CAMERAS, PORTABLE AIR-PURIFIERS, PLAYING CARDS, TOY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, SCALE MODEL RAILROAD EQUIPMENT, TELEPHONIC APPARATUS, CB RADIOS. IN 1983, HONG KONG WAS EXCLUDED IN 44 ITEMS.
ON THE OTHER HAND, HONG KONG IS REDESIGNATED ELIGIBLE FOR TWO ITEMS WHICH WERE EXCLUDED IN 1983. THESE ARE STUFFED TOY FIGURES AND SKINS FOR TOY FIGURES. THE VALUE OF U.S. IMPORTS FROM HONG KONG IN THESE TWO ITEMS WAS US$1.2 M IN 1983.
THESE CHANGES IN PRODUCT ELIGIBILITY FOR 1984 U.S. GSP WILL TAKE EFFECT ON MARCH 30, 1984.
THE VALUE OF U. S. IMPORTS FROM HONG KONG IN 1983 OF GSP ITEMS WAS US$3 036 M, OF WHICH US$1 934 M WAS EXCLUDED FROM GSP BENEFITS AND US$1 102 M WAS GRANTED DUTY-FREE TREATMENT. THE VALUE OF IMPORTS FROM HONG KONG IN THE 55 ITEMS INCLUDED NOW AMOUNTED TO US$ 2 011 M IN 1983.
A TRADE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE U.S. GSP PRODUCT LIST IS REVIEWED EVERY YEAR.
A PRODUCT MAY BE EXCLUDED FROM THE SCHEME UNDER EITHER A ♦COMPETITIVE NEED* CRITERION OR THE +GRADUATION+ CRITERION, OR AS A RESULT OF PETITIONS MADE TO THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT BY UNITED STATES PRODUCERS. HE ADDED THAT HONG KONG DOES NOT AGREE WITH THE GRADUATION POLICY ADOPTED BY THE UNITED STATES SINCE 1981, BECAUSE EXCLUSION UNDER THIS POLICY IS NOT BASED ON OBJECTIVE CRITERIA AND COULD LEAD TO DISCRIMINATORY APPLICATION. HONG KONG HAS EXPRESSED THIS VIEW ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS TO THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, HE SAID.
0 - - -
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RAILWAY AREA PLANS AMENDED * * *
RAILWAY AREA PLANS NOS. 12A AND 15B FOR THE ISLAND LINE OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY BETWEEN SHEUNG WAN AND SHAU KEI WAN HAVE BEEN AMENDED BY THE DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY (LAND RESUMPTION AND RELATED PROVISIONS) ORDINANCE.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT THE SUBSTITUTE RAILWAY AREA PLANS NOS. 12B AND 15C, WHICH REPLACE THE PREVIOUSLY GAZETTED RAILWAY AREA PLANS NOS. 12A AND 15B RESPECTIVELY FOR THIS SECTION CF THE ISLAND LINE, HAVE BEEN DEPOSITED IN THE LAND OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT AND COPIES OF THE SAID SUBSTITUTE PLANS MAY BE INSPECTED FREE OF CHARGE AT THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING, GROUND FLOOR, HONG KONG; AT THE LANDS DEPARTMENT OFFICES, MURRAY BUILDING (5TH FLOOR), GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG, AND AT ANY DISTRICT OFFICE.
RAILWAY AREA PLAN NO. 12B INCORPORATES ALL THE LAND SHOWN ON THE REPLACED RAILWAY AREA PLAN NO. 12A AND ADDITIONAL AREAS CF LAND KNOWN AS 258-262 DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL AND 541-543 HENNESSY ROAD. RAILWAY AREA PLAN NO. 15C INCORPORATES ALL THE LAND PREVIOUSLY SHOWN ON THE REPLACED RAILWAY AREA PLAN NO. 15B AND ADDITIONAL AREAS OF LAND ADJACENT TO THE PROPOSED NORTH POINT STATION AND AT NO. 6 MARBLE ROAD.
THE SUBSTITUTE PLANS WILL ASSIST PROPERTY OWNERS, WHOSE LAND MAY BE AFFECTED BY RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION, IN IDENTIFYING THE EXTENT CF THE LAND INCLUDED IN THE RAILWAY AREA.
IF LAND WITHIN THE RAILWAY AREA IS RESUMED OR EASEMENTS ARE CREATED FOR THE PURPOSES OF BUILDING AND OPERATING THE ISLAND LINE, COMPENSATION WILL BE PAID TO THOSE ELIGIBLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY (LAND RESUMPTION AND RELATED PROVISIONS) ORDINANCE.
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NORTH POINT STREET CHANGES FOR MTR WORK *****
A NUMBER OF STREET ALTERATIONS WILL BE INTRODUCED IN NORTH POINT TO FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN MTR ENTRANCE AND FOOTBRIDGE ALONG FUK YUEN STREET, ACROSS ELECTRIC ROAD AND KING’S ROAD FOR THE FORTRESS HILL STATION.
THE ENTRANCE AND FOOTBRIDGE WILL PROVIDE A GRADE-SEPARATED CROSSING FOR MTR COMMUTERS AND PEDESTRIANS FROM NORTH OF KING’S ROAD TO THE FORTRESS HILL STATION CONCOURSE.
NOTICE OF THIS IS PUBLISHED IN TODAY’S GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE EFFECTIVE DATE FOR THE STREET ALTERATIONS WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER, AND THAT ALTERNATIVE TRAFFIC AND PEDESTRIAN ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE MADE.
/DUHIUG construction ...
FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1984
- 18 -
DURING CONSTRUCTION WORK, THE EASTBOUND AND WESTBOUND CARRIAGEWAYS OF KING’S ROAD NEARBY AND THEIR ADJACENT FOOTPATHS WILL BE TEMPORARILY REDUCED IN WIDTH. THE WHOLE LENGTH OF FUK YUEN STREET WILL BE CLOSED TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC. THE CARRIAGEWAY AND THE FOOTPATHS OF ELECTRIC ROAD NEARBY WILL ALSO BE TEMPORARILY REDUCED IN WIDTH.
AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE WORK, PERMANENT ALTERATIONS WILL BE PUT INTO EFFECT. THESE INCLUDE THE WIDENING OF THE SECTION OF THE FOOTPATH OF KING’S ROAD ADJACENT TO THE FOOTBRIDGE, THE PEDESTRI AN I SAT I ON OF FUK YUEN STREET,AND THE PROVISION OF NEW FOOTPATHS OUTSIDE GOVERNMENT SUPPLIES STORE IN ELECTRIC ROAD, LEADING TO THE ACCESS STAIRS OF THE FOOTBRIDGE.
DETAILS OF THE AFFECTED AREA ARE SHOWN ON PLAN MT/G/279. COPIES OF THE PLAN AND THE GOVERNOR’S ORDER AUTHORISING THE STREET ALTERATIONS MAY BE INSPECTED BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 9.30 AM AND 4.30 PM ON ANY DAY OTHER THAN SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS AT THE ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE (CENTRAL AND WESTERN) AT CGO WEST WING; THE DISTRICT OFFICE (EASTERN) AT 884-886 KING’S ROAD; OR THE LANDS DEPARTMENT, SURVEY DIVISION IN MURRAY BUILDING, COTTON TREE DRIVE.
CLAIM FOR COMPENSATION IN RESPECT OF THE ALTERATIONS MUST BE MADE IN WRITING TO .THE DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT AND MUST REACH HIS OFFICE WITHIN ONE YEAR AFTER THE ROAD IS REINSTATED IN THE CASE OF THE TEMPORARY ALTERATION OR BEFORE THE EXPIRATION OF ONE YEAR FROM THE COMPLETION OF THE ALTERATION IN THE CASE OF PERMANENT ALTERATION.
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BILL SEEKS TO FACILITATE TRIBUNAL WORK
* * * *
MINOR AMENDMENTS TO THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE ARE PROPOSED IN A BILL PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE.
THE AMENDMENTS AIM AT INTRODUCING MEASURES TO FACILITATE THE WORK OF THE IMMIGRATION TRIBUNAL BY PROVIDING FOR
(A) THE APPOINTMENT OF A DEPUTY CHIEF ADJUDICATOR; AND
(B) THE MAKING OF REGULATIONS TO PROVIDE FOR THE PAYMENT OF ALLOWANCES TO WITNESSES APPEARING BEFORE THE TRIBUNAL.
THE IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1934 WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON APRIL 25 AND IS EXPECTED TC HAVE ITS THIRD READING ON MAY 2.
ANYONE WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ON ITS PROVISIONS MAY WRITE TO UMELCO, AT SWIRE HOUSE, 12/F., CHATER ROAD, HONG KONG OR TO THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY AT THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICec, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG.
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/19......
FRIDAY, MARCH 3Q, 1984
- 19 -
GRAVES IN FIVE CEMETERIES TO BE EXHUMED * * * *
ALL HUMAN REMAINS IN THE GRAVES OF FIVE PUBLIC CEMETERIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND AT OUTLYING ISLANDS IN 1977 ARE DUE FQR EXHUMATION.
A TOTAL OF 8 922 GRAVES AT THE PUBLIC CEMETERIES WILL BE AFFECTED, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID.
OF THE GRAVES, 7 326 ARE AT WO HOP SHEK CEMETERY, 647 AT SANDY RIDGE CEMETERY, 493 AT SANDY RIDGE URN CEMETERY, 402 AT CHEUNG CHAU CEMETERY AND 54 AT TA I 0 CEMETERY.
A NOTICE OF INTENTION TO REMOVE AND DISPOSE OF HUMAN REMAINS FROM THESE FIVE PUBLIC CEMETERIES IS PUBLISHED IN TODAY’S GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
THE ANNUAL RECYCLE OF RECOVERY OF GRAVE SPACE FROM THESE PUBLIC CEMETERIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES FOR RE-USE PURPOSE IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES ORDINANCE.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHOSE ANCESTORS WERE BURIED IN THESE GRAVES ARE ADVISED TO PROCEED WITH THE EXHUMATION BEFORE APRIL 33 (MONDAY), THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
THEY CAN APPLY FOR EXHUMATION AT THE CEMETERIES AND CREMATORIA OFFICE OF THE NTSD AT 6 CHEONG HANG ROAD, IN HUNG HOM.
REMAINS NOT REMOVED OR DISPOSED OF AFTER APRIL 30, WILL EE EXHUMED AND CREMATED AT A GOVERNMENT CREMATORIUM AND THE ASHES WILL BE REBURIED AT THE SANDY RIDGE URN CEMETERY OR OTHER URN CEMETERY.
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PUBLIC WARNED OF FIRE RISKS DURING CHING MING fc * * *
GRAVE-SWEEPERS AND PICNICKERS WERE TODAY (FRIDAY) REMINDED TO TAKE SPECIAL PRECAUTION AGAINST HILL FIRES DURING THE CHING MING FESTIVAL WHICH FALLS ON APRIL 4 (WEDNESDAY).
+IN VIEW OF THE RECENT SCARCITY OF RAINFALL, CARELESS HANDLING OF BURNING ITEMS COULD EASILY CAUSE FIRES,-*- A SPOKESMAN FOP ThE FIRE PREVENTION CAMPAIGN PUBLICITY WORKING GROUP *ARNED.
+FIRE RISKS CAN BE GREATLY REDUCED IF THE PUBLIC OBSERVE A FEW SIMPLE RULES,+ HE ADDED.
/THESE RULES ........
FRIDAY, MARCH 30» 1964
- 20 -
THESE RULES ARE :
* BURN WORSHIPPING ITEMS IN METAL CONTAINERS.
* DO NOT LEAVE LIGHTED CANDLES, JOSS STICKS AND PAPERS UNATTENDED.
* MAKE SURE ALL BURNING ITEMS ARE EXTINGUISHED BEFORE
, LEAVING THE GRAVE SITE.
ANYONE WHO CAUSES A FIRE IN THE COUNTRYSIDE IS LIABLE TO BE PROSECUTED.
+0N CONVICTION, HE COULD BE FINED A MAXIMUM OF $5 300 AND SENTENCED TO ONE YEAR’S IMPRISONMENT,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
A TOTAL OF 28 HILL FIRES WERE REPORTED DURING THE CHING MING FESTIVAL PERIOD LAST YEAR.
TO SPREAD THE FIRE PREVENTION MESSAGE, ANNOUNCEMENTS WILL BE MADE THROUGH TV AND RADIO AND AT THE KOWLOON CANTON RAILWAY STATIONS SHORTLY BEFORE AND DURING THE FESTIVAL PERIOD.
I
THE CIVILIAN INFORMATION TEAM OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION AND THE MOBILE UNIT OF THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES WILL ALSO VISIT MAJOR BUS TERMINALS AND COUNTRY PARK AREAS TO GIVE ON-THE-SPOT ADVICE.
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EMPLOYMENT, VACANCIES AND PAYROLL SURVEY FOR FIRST QUARTER ******
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT IS CONDUCTING IN APRIL 1984 A SURVEY OF EMPLOYMENT, VACANCIES AND PAYROLL IN MAJOR SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY.
THE SURVEY RESULTS WILL BE USEFUL IN PROVIDING SHORT-TERM ECONOMIC INDICATORS AS WELL AS INFORMATION ON STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN THE LABOUR MARKET IN HONG KONG, A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE SURVEY COVERS ABOUT 83 000 ESTABLISHMENTS DRAWN FROM VARIOUS SECTORS, INCLUDING THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR (MINING AND QUARRYING; MANUFACTURING; ELECTRICITY AND GAS) AND THE DISTRIBUTIVE TRADES SECTOR (WHOLESALE, RETAIL, IMPORT AND EXPORT, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS), WITH FULL ENUMERATION OF ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE SERVICES SECTOR (TRANSPORT, STORAGE AND COMMUNICATION; FINANCING, INSURANCE, REAL ESTATE AND BUSINESS SERVICES; COMMUNITY, SOCIAL AND PERSONAL SERVICES).
INFORMATION ON THE NUMBER OF PERSONS ENGAGED AND EXISTING VACANCIES ON MARCH 30, 1984 WILL BE SOUGHT FROM EACH ESTABLISHMENT.
SOME 10 000 ESTABLISHMENTS ARE SELECTED FROM THE SAMPLE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON PAYROLL IN EACH OF THE THREE MONTHS DURING THE REFERENCE PERIOD OF JANUARY - MARCH 1984.
/establishments engaged........
FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1984
- 21 -
establishments engaged in the services sector will also be ASKED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE MAJOR KIND OF BUSINESS ACTIVITIES DURING THE PAST 12 MONTHS.
QUESTIONNAIRES ARE NOW BEING MAILED TO INDIVIDUAL SAMPLE ESTABLISHMENTS.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS ORDER 1982 (LEGAL NOTICE NO. 69 OF 1982, GAZETTED ON MARCH 5, 82), ESTABLISHMENTS RECEIVING QUESTIONNAIRES ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THEM TO THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE SPECIFIED PERIOD.
IF RESPONDENTS FIND DIFFICULTIES IN COMPLETING THE FORMS, THEY ARE WELCOME TO CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT FOR ASSISTANCE AT THE FOLLOWING TELEPHONE NUMBERS (PRINTED AT THE BACK OF QUESTIONNAIRES) : 5-436551, 5-444301, 5-455661 AND 5-455668.
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PRINCE OF WALES HOSPITAL BEING LANDSCAPED * * * * *
WORK HAS STARTED ON LANDSCAPING THE PRINCE OF WALES HOSPITAL AND STAFF QUARTERS AT SHA TIN.
A $695 000 CONTRACT FOR THE PROJECT WAS AWARDED RECENTLY BY THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE OF THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO TARZAN LANDSCAPE CONTRACTORS LIMITED.
THE WORK INCLUDES PLANTING 1 000 TREE SEEDLINGS, SHRUBS AND PLANTS AND PROVIDING FLOWER BEDS IN OPEN AREAS SURROUNDING BUILDINGS IN THE HOSPITAL COMPLEX.
OVER 30 DIFFERENT SPECIES OF TREE SEEDLINGS WILL BE PLANTED AND MUCH OF THE PLANTING AREA WILL BE TURFED.
THE LANDSCAPING WORK WILL BE FINISHED IN ABOUT FOUR MONTHS,
THE 1 448-BED PRINCE OF WALES HOSPITAL WILL OPEN IN MAY AND WILL BE THE FIRST FULLY AIR-CONDITIONED REGIONAL GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL IN HONG KONG, PROVIDING A WIDE RANGE OF MEDICAL SERVICES FOR THE INCREASING POPULATION OF THE EASTERN PART OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.
FACILITIES INCLUDE A SPECIALIST CLINIC, STAFF QUARTERS AND A NURSE TRAINING SCHOOL.
THE COMPLEX, WITH A TOTAL AREA OF 10.22 HECTARES, wILL ALiC PROVIDE TEACHING FACILITIES FOR MEDICAL STUDENTS OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG.
IT COSTS $645 MILLION TO BUILD AND EQUIP.
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/22 .......
FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1984
- 22 -
DRAGON BOAT ROWERS SOUGHT * * * *
ROWERS ARE BEING INVITED TO TAKE PART IN THE FIRST-EVER DRAGON BOAT RACE ALONG SHING MUN RIVER TO CELEBRATE THE FORTHCOMING TUEN NG FESTIVAL.
THE RACE, TO BE HELD ON THE MORNING OF JUNE 3 - A DAY BEFORE THE FESTIVAL - WILL COVER 1 000 METRES, FROM THE SHING MUN RIVER MOUTH TO THE EASTERN COURSE OF THE RIVER NEAR THE SHA TIN FLOATING RESTAURANT.
THIRTEEN FIBRE-GLASS DRAGON BOATS, DONATED BY THE SUN HUNG KAI PROPERTIES COMPANY LIMITED, WILL BE USED IN THE RACE.
ANNOUNCING DETAILS OF THE RACE TODAY, THE ORGANISER AND CHAIRMAN CF THE SHA TIN SPORTS ASSOCIATION, MR ROGER LAU, SAID ABOUT $250 000 WOULD BE SPENT ON THE EVENT AND THE LOCAL DISTRICT BOARD HAD CONTRIBUTED $43 000 TOWARDS IT.
+THE SECTION OF THE 200-METRE-WI DE SHING MUN RIVER BETWEEN THE SHA TIN FLOATING RESTAURANT AND THE RIVER MOUTH HAS THE BEST WATER COURSE AND IS IDEAL FOR ROWING COMPETITIONS,* HE SAID.
+SINCE THIS IS THE FIRST EVENT OF ITS KIND IN THE DISTRICT, WE EXPECT A LARGE CROWD OF SPECTATORS WILL TURN UP ON THAT DAY.*
AS A RESULT, HE SAID, A VACANT SITE LOCATED NEXT TO SHA TIN CITY ONE AND OPPOSITE TO THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE, WOULD BE USED TO ACCOMMODATE THE SPECTATORS.
FOR THE RACE, APPLICANTS ARE REQUIRED TO FORM THEMSELVES INTO TEAMS OF 32 MEMBERS EACH.
APPLICATION FORMS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE SHA TIN RURAL COMMITTEE OFFICE FROM MONDAY (APRIL 2).
THE CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATION IS APRIL 14.
THE TEAMS SELECTED WILL EACH HAVE TO PAY AN APPLICATION FEE OF $500 AND A DEPOSIT OF $1 000.
+TRAINING SESSIONS WILL THEN BE ARRANGED FOR EVERY PARTICIPATING TEAM,* HE SAID.
ANY ENQUIRIES ON THE RACE CAN BE MADE TO THE SHA TIN RURAL COMMITTEE OFFICE AT 0-611465 AND 0-616871, OR THE DISTRICT OFFICE AT 0-6048087 EXT 331.
— o -
/23........
FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1984
- 23 -
FIRE SERVICES FEES INCREASED * * *
THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) ANNOUNCED AN INCREASE OF CHARGES FOR CERTIFICATES, REPORTS AND LICENCES ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
THE INCREASES ARE FOR DOCUMENTS REQUESTED IN CONNECTION WITH INSURANCE CLAIMS, FOR COMPLIANCE WITH THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OR FOR PERMISSION TO OPERATE A TIMBER STORE.
THE NEW CHARGES ARE PUBLISHED IN TODAY’S (FRIDAY) GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
♦ THE LAST REVISION FOR SUCH DOCUMENTS WAS EIGHT YEARS AGO,* A SPOKESMAN FOR THE FIRE SERVICES SAID.
INCLUDED AMONG THE INCREASES ARE FEES FOR FOUR TYPES OF REPORTS AND CERTIFICATES, FROM THE PRESENT $50 TO $120, AND THE FEE FOR THE TIMBER STORE LICENCE, FROM $300 TO $750.
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CONTEST TO WOO VOTERS WITH SONG * * * *
THE FIRST EVENT OF THE 18-DISTRICT AMATEUR SINGING CONTEST WILL BEGIN IN SHA TIN ON SUNDAY (APRIL 1) EVENING.
TWELVE YOUNG AMATEURS CHOSEN FROM AMONG 255 CONTESTANTS THROUGH A SERIES OF AUDITIONS, WILL COMPETE IN THE DISTRICT’S CONTEST AT THE SHA TIN CARITAS CENTRE STARTING AT 8 PM.
THE CHAMPION OF THE NIGHT WILL REPRESENT SHA TIN IN A SEMI’FINAL TO BE HELD AT THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY HALL ON AUGUST 11.
MORE THAN 5 000 PEOPLE HAVE ENTERED THE TERRITORY-WIDE SINGING CONTEST, WHICH IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG AND A LOCAL NEWSPAPER ORGANISATION AS PART OF A CAMPAIGN TO REGISTER MORE VOTERS FOR NEXT YEAR’S DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS.
RESPONSE HAS BEEN PARTICULARLY GOOD IN KWUN TONG, SHAM SHUI PO AND TSUEN WAN, EACH HAVING MORE THAN 500 CONTESTANTS.
IN THE NEXT FOUR MONTHS, SINGING COMPETITIONS WILL BE HELD IN ALL 18 DISTRICTS AND THE WINNER OF EACH DISTRICT WILL TAKE PART IN THE SEMI-FINAL.
NINE FINALISTS WILL BE SELECTED IN THE SEMI-FINAL FOR A GRAND FINAL TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 8 AT THE HONG KONG COLISEUM.
/THE 35 ST ......
FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1984
- 24 -
THE BEST PERFORMER IN THE GRAND FINAL WILL WIN A RECORDING CONTRACT WITH A LEADING LOCAL COMPANY, WHILE OTHER WINNERS WILL RECEIVE PRIZES WORTH MORE THAN $40 000.
A SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICE SPOKESMAN SAID 1 000 COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS HAD BEEN DISTRIBUTED FOR SUNDAY’S SHOW WHICH WILL BE RECORDED AND SHOWN ON ASIA TELEVISION AT 10.30 PM ON MAY 7. THE FIRST THREE WINNERS WILL APPEAR ON A RTHK SHOW ON CHANNEL TWO AT 5 PM ON APR IL 8.
THE SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR DONALD TSANG, AND MR RAYMOND NG AND MR CHU PUI-HING OF RTHK WILL BE OFFICIATING GUESTS FOR THE SHOW.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SHA TIN DISTRICT AMATEUR SINGING CONTEST TO BE HELD AT 8 PM ON SUNDAY (APRIL 1) IN THE SHA TIN CARITAS CENTRE ON MAN LAI ROAD, TAI wAl.
----0-------
NEW COLLECTION OFFICE SET UP * * *
THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) ANNOUNCED THAT A NEW LICENCE FEES COLLECTION OFFICE WILL BE SET UP AT THE SHA TIN EXCISE SUB-OFFICE IN KOWLOON CANTON RAILWAY (KCR) HOUSE ON MONDAY (APRIL 2).
THE COLLECTION OFFICE, LOCATED ON THE 5TH FLOOR OF THE KCR HOUSE, SHA TIN STATION, WILL COLLECT DUTIABLE LICENCE FEES FROM 9 AM TO 1 PM AND FROM 2 PM TO 4 PM, MONDAY TO FRIDAY.
SATURDAY HOURS ARE FROM 9 AM TO NOON.
ENQUIRIES MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE PAYMENT OFFICE AT TELEPHONE NO. 0-6065680 DURING OFFICE HOURS.
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/25 .......
FRIDAY, MARCH 33, 1Q84
25 -
TWO OUTLINE ZONING PLANS AMENDED * * * *
THE DRAFT OUTLINE ZONING PLANS FOR TSI NG Yl AND WANG TAU HOM AND TUNG TAU ARE BEING AMENDED.
THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT THE AMENDMENT TO THE WANG TAU HOM AND TUNG TAU PLAN INVOLVED DELETION CF A REFUSE COLLECTION POINT FROM A 1 6OO-SQUARE-METRE SITE AT FUK LO TSUN ROAD.
THE SITE, WHICH IS DESIGNATED FOR GOVERNMENT, INSTITUTION AND COMMUNITY USE, ALSO INCLUDES COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS A MULTI-STOREY CAR PARK.
THE REFUSE COLLECTION POINT WILL NOW BE INCLUDED IN THE PLANNED REDEVELOPMENT OF THE NEARBY KOWLOON CITY MARKET COMPLEX.
UNDER THE AMENDMENT TO THE TSING Yl PLAN, A PROPOSED RECLAMATION OF SEVEN HECTARES ON THE EAST COAST OF THE ISLAND IS TO BE DELETED DUE TO OBJECTIONS. THE RECLAMATION WAS DESIGNATED FOR INDUSTRIAL USE.
THE AMENDED PLANS CAN BE SEEN AT CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, PUBLIC ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING ENTRANCE, HONG KONG? THE TOWN PLANNING DIVISION, MURRAY BUILDING, 4TH FLOOR, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG? THE DISTRICT OFFICE, WONG TAI SIN, SAN PO KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING, 4TH AND 5TH FLOORS, KING FUK STREET, SAN PO KONG, KOWLOON? AND TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICE, FOU WAH CENTRE, 2ND FLOOR, 210, CASTLE PEAK ROAD, TSUEN WAN.
ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE AMENDMENTS SHOULD BE MADE IN WRITING TD THE SECRETARY, TOWN PLANNING BOARD, C/0 LANDS DEPARTMENT, MURRAY BUILDING.
COPIES OF THE DRAFT AMENDMENT PLANS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE SURVEY DIVISION, LANDS DEPARTMENT, MURRAY BUILDING, AND KOwLOON MAP SALES SECTION, 382, NATHAN ROAD, KOwLOON, AT $10 PER UNCOLOURED COPY AND $60 PER COLOURED COPY.
- 0 ----------
/26........
FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1984
26 -
FOUR N.T. SITES FOR RENT * * * *
FOUR NEW TERRITORIES SITES ARE BEING OFFERED ON SHORT-TERM TENANCIES BY THE LANDS DEPARTMENT.
THREE ARE IN SHA TIN NEW TOWN.
TWO OF THESE ARE FOR STORAGE AND MAINTENANCE OF PLANT OWNED BY BUILDING CONTRACTORS. THEY MEASURE 10 000 AND 2 100 SQUARE METRES.
THE OTHER SHA TIN SITE HAS AN AREA OF 2 017 SQUARE METRES AND IS FOR PARKING, AND FOR MINOR REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE OF GOODS VEHICLES.
THE REMAINING SITE IS AT TUNG TAU INDUSTRIAL AREA IN YUEN LONG AND COVERS 473 SQUARE METRES. IT IS FOR STORAGE AND REPAIR OF GOODS.
IT CAN ALSO BE USED FOR THE REPAIR, MAINTENANCE AND PAINT-SPRAYING OF MOTOR VEHICLES.
THE INITIAL TENANCIES FOR THE SHA TIN SITES ARE THREE YEARS AND FOR THE YUEN LONG SITE TWO YEARS, ALL RENEWABLE AT QUARTERLY INTERVALS.
THE CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMITTING TENDERS IS APRIL 13.
TENDER FORMS, NOTICES AND CONDITIONS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE:
M LANDS DEPARTMENT, MURRAY BUILDING, 5TH FLOOR, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG;
* DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE (KOWLOON WEST), YAU MA TEI CAR PARK BUILDING, 10TH FLOOR, 250 SHANGHAI STREET, KOWLOON;
* DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE (SHA TIN) FOR THE SHA TIN SITES; AND
* DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE (YUEN LONG) FOR THE YUEN LONG SITE.
TENDER PLANS CAN BE INSPECTED AT THE ABOVE LOCATIONS.
0 --------
/27 .......
FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1984
- 27 -
WAN CHAI CLEARANCE WORK STEPPED UP
*****
CLEARANCE WORK IN WAN CHAI DISTRICT WILL BE CARRIED OUT MORE FREQUENTLY FROM NEXT MONTH, THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR LAM KAM-KWONG, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
HE SAID CLEARANCE SCHEDULES FOR THE NEXT SIX MONTHS HAD ALREADY BEEN COMPILED AND OPERATIONS WOULD BE CARRIED OUT TWO TO THREE TIMES EACH MONTH, INSTEAD OF ONCE A MONTH.
♦THE TARGET AREA WILL COVER WAN CHAI EAST, WAN CHAI WEST, CAUSEWAY BAY AND HAPPY VALLEY AND 155 ILLEGAL STRUCTURES WILL BE CLEARED,+ HE SAID.
MR LAM SAID THAT SINCE THE MONTHLY STREET-BY-STREET CLEARANCE WORK WAS IMPLEMENTED LAST MAY, ABOUT 110 ILLEGAL STRUCTURES WERE PULLED DOWN IN 13 OPERATIONS - NINE IN TAI HANG AND FOUR IN WAN CHAI PROPER.
+THE MAJORITY OF THESE STRUCTURES ARE SHOP EXTENSIONS MAINLY FOR STORAGE AND COMMERCIAL PURPOSES, WITH ONLY 15 PER CENT OF THEM FOR DOMESTIC USE,+ HE SAID.
♦BEFORE TAKING ANY ACTION AGAINST THOSE ILLEGAL STRUCTURES IN QUESTION, SUFFICIENT TIME WILL BE ALLOWED FOR THE AFFECTED PERSONS TO RECTIFY ANY IRREGULARITIES OR MAKE NECESSARY ALTERNATIVE ARRANGEMENTS.
♦ALL CLEARANCES WERE CARRIED OUT SMOOTHLY.
♦THE FACT THAT MORE THAN 60 PER CENT OF THE ILLEGAL STRUCTURES WERE DEMOLISHED BY THE OWNERS THEMSELVES BEFORE THE CLEARANCE DAY CLEARLY DEMONSTRATES THE RESIDENTS’ WILLINGNESS TO CO-OPERATE,+ HE ADDED.
TODAY, THE FINAL PHASE OF THE TAI HANG CLEARANCE WAS CARRIED OUT, INVOLVING THE DEMOLITION OF SEVEN ILLEGAL STRUCTURES ON THE BACKLANES OF SUN CHUN STREET AND BROWN STREET.
THE STREET-BY-STREET CLEARANCE WAS CO-ORDINATED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE, AND JOINTLY CARRIED OUT BY THE POLICE, THE URBAN AREA DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION, THE LANDS, HOUSING, URBAN SERVICES, FIRE SERVICES AND SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENTS.
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/28........
AM - 11 PM
AM - 11 PM
AM - 11 PM
AM - 11 PM
FRIDAY, MARCH 30, 1984
- 28 -
FIRING PRACTICE DATES * * * *
FIRING PRACTICE WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE HA TSUEN-CASTLE PEAK RANGE ON 16 DAYS IN APRIL, AND THE PUBLIC ARE WARNED NOT TO ENTER THE AREA WHEN RED FLAGS ARE HOISTED.
THE FOLLOWING ARE THE DAYS AND TIMES OF THE PRACTICE :
DATE TIME
APRIL 2 (MONDAY) 8 AM - 11 PM
APRIL 3 (TUESDAY) 8 AM - 5 PM
APRIL 7 (SATURDAY) 8 AM - 5 PM
APRIL 9 (MONDAY) 8
APRIL 10 (TUESDAY) 8
APRIL 11 (WEDNESDAY) 8
APRIL 12 (THURSDAY) 8
APRIL 13 (FRIDAY) 8
APRIL 16 (MONDAY) 8
APRIL 17 (TUESDAY) 8
APRIL 18 (WEDNESDAY) 8
APRIL 19 (THURSDAY) 8
APRIL 24 (TUESDAY) 8
APRIL 25 (WEDNESDAY) 8
APRIL 26 (THURSDAY) 8
APRIL 27 (FRIDAY) 8
AM - 5 PM
AM —• 5 PM
AM — 11 . PM
AM — 5 PM
AM — 5 i PM
AM — 5 PM
AM — 5 PM
AM — 5 PM
AM — 5 PM
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG TEL 5-233191
SATURDAY, MARCH J1, 1984
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION NET TIGHTENS ............... 1
WOMEN'S TURN TO GET NEW I.D. CARDS .................. 2
LEGAL AID COVERING EXTRADITION PROCEEDINGS NOW AVAHABLE .... 3
LOW-COST MEDICAL SCHEME FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE ...................... 4
MORE URBAN CLEARWAYS TO BE INTRODUCED ........................... 4
LEAFLET ON TUEN MUN TRAIL NOW AVAILABLE ......................... 6
MORE CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRES PLANNED FOR NEW TOWNS ............ 7
COURSES TO TRAIN COMMUNITY LEADERS ............................... 7
LABOUR LAW OFFENDERS FINED ....................................... 8
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF FANLING SWIMMING POOL COMPLEX ............... 9
FUN DAY FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE........................................ a
OUTSTANDING ATHLETES SCHEME TO BE LAUNCHED ..................... 10
CORRECTIONAL SERVICES HOLDS SPORTS MEET ........................ 10
WATER MAINS WORK IN CHEUNG CHAU ............................
SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 1984
ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION NET TIGHTENS ft ft ft ft
THE ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION NET WAS PULLED TIGHTER THIS WEEK AS 34 SUSPECTED UNDERGROUND CITIZENS WERE ARRESTED IN STEPPED-UP OPERATIONS BY THE POLICE, LABOUR AND IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENTS.
THE BLITZ IS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT’S ONGOING EFFORTS TO FERRET OUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS HIDING IN HONG KONG.
ALL THE ARRESTED PERSONS HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. THOSE FOUND TO BE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WILL BE REPATRIATED.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN STRESSED TODAY THAT THERE WAS NO QUESTION OF ANY SLACKENING OF EFFORTS AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
+THE SECURITY FORCES AND THE POLICE WILL CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN A HIGH STATE OF VIGILANCE BOTH AT THE BORDER AND THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY,* HE SAID.
THERE HAS BEEN A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRESTED AT THE BORDER IN RECENT WEEKS.
♦IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE RUMOUR MONGERS ARE AT IT AGAIN,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
♦DEBRIEFINGS OF THOSE ARRESTED SHOW THAT SNAKEHEADS ARE AGAIN SPREADING RUMOURS THAT THERE WILL SOON BE AN AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
♦THIS IS OF COURSE ABSOLUTELY GROUNDLESS.
♦AS HAVE BEEN SHOWN TIME AND AGAIN, ALL THESE RUMOURS ARE SPREAD WITH THE SOLE AIM OF MAKING A FAST BUCK. ANYONE FOOLISH ENOUGH TO BELIEVE IN THEM IS ONLY CHEATING HIMSELF.+
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT GOVERNMENT POLICY ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IS VERY CLEAR.
♦THERE IS NO PLACE FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN HONG KONG. WHENEVER AND WHEREVER THEY ARE FOUND, THEY WILL BE SENT BACK,+ SAID.
DURING THIS WEEK’S SPECIAL OPERATION, POLICE INCREASED TH?{R IDENTIFICATION SPOT CHECKS IN PUBLIC PLACES AND ALSO CARRIED OUT SPECIAL OPERATIONS IN SUSPECT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY,
THEY ARRESTED TWO SUSPECTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FOR OFFENCES RELATING TO THE MISUSE OF IDENTITY CARDS. ANOTHER 117 PEOPLE wERf SUMMONSED FOR FAILING TO PRODUCE PROPER PROOF OF IDENTITY, AND A FURTHER 46 WERE WARNED IN RESPECT OF THIS OFFENCE, WHICH CARRIES A MAXIMUM FINE OF $1 OOO.
"*o*,F* a? tf*- w •
/ON THE......
SATURDAY, MARCH J1, 1984 - 2 -
ON THE LABOUR FRONT, INSPECTORS OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT VISITED 10 640 ESTABLISHMENTS TO WEED OUT ANY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO MAY BE WORKING, AND TO CHECK THAT EMPLOYERS FULFIL THEIR LEGAL OBLIGATION OF KEEPING PROPER RECORDS OF THEIR EMPLOYEES.
A TOTAL OF 12 PERSONS IN 12 ESTABLISHMENTS WERE FOUND WITHOUT PROPER PROOF OF IDENTITY AND HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION.
ANOTHER SEVEN ESTABLISHMENTS WERE FOUND TO BE KEEPING EITHER NO RECORD OR IMPROPER RECORDS OF EMPLOYEES. THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT ALSO SUMMONSED 66 ESTABLISHMENTS TO PRESENT THEIR EMPLOYEE RECORDS FOR INSPECTION AT THE DEPARTMENT.
THE SPOKESMAN REMINDED EMPLOYERS THAT THEY COULD BE FINED UP TO GQO AND JAILED-FOR UP T© A YEAR IF THEY WERE FOUND TO BE EMPLOYING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
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ISSUE
INTO FORWARD
WOMEN’S TURN TO GET NEW I.D. CARDS * * * *
OVER 950 000 WOMEN BORN BETWEEN 1947 AND 1965 WILL BE REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR NEW HONG KONG IDENTITY CARDS IN DIFFERENT PERIODS, STARTING FROM APRIL 24 THIS YEAR.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (SATURDAY), MISS JUDY WONG, PRINCIPAL IMMIGRATION OFFICER (REGISTRATION OF PERSONS) OF THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT, SAID, +THE SECOND CYCLE OF THE NEW I.D. CARD SCHEME, WHICH COVERS WOMEN, WILL LAST ABOUT ONE YEAR.+
''♦LIKE THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS, THEY WILL BE DIVIDED SEVERAL AGE GROUPS, AND EACH GROUP WILL BE ASKED TO COME DURING A SPECIFIED PERIOD,* SHE SAID.
♦ GREEN SEAL I.D. CARD HOLDERS MUST FOLLOW THE SAME APPLICATION SCHEDULE- THEY WILL NOT BE TREATED SEPARATELY,* SHE STRESSED.
THE FIRST GROUP TO BE CALLED FORWARD WILL BE WOMEN BORN IN 1963, 1964 AND 1965. THEY WILL BE GIVEN SIX WEEKS TO APPLY FOR NE* CARDS.
♦ APPLICANTS MAY GO TO ANY OF THE EIGHT NEW I.D. CARD ISSUE OFFICES FROM 8 AM TO 9.30 PM, MONDAYS TO SATURDAYS, BRINGING WlTn THEM THEIR OLD I.D. CARDS.+
THE ENTIRE PROCESS WILL TAKE ABOUT 30 MINUTES, AND APPLICANTS WILL BE ASKED TO COLLECT THEIR NEW CARDS AND SURRENDER THE OLD ONES 18 WORKING DAYS LATER.
♦ THOSE WHO WANT TO ALTER THEIR LAST NAMES AS A RESULT OF A CHANGE IN MARITAL STATUS SHOULD BRING ALONG RELEVANT DOCUMENTS, SUCH AS MARRIAGE OR DIVORCE CERTIFICATES, TO SUPPORT THEIR CASES,♦ SHE SAID.
HOWEVER, THOSE WHO WISH 70 WAVE THEIR DAMAGED CARDS REPLACED OR THEIR PERSONAL DATA CHANGED SHOULD GO TO ONE OF THE 11 REGULAR REGISTRATION OF PERSONS OFF W NOT TO THE ISSUE CENTRES.
/DETAILS OF ....
SATURDAY, MARCH J1, 1984
- 5 -
DETAILS OF THE SCHEME FOR WOMEN WILL BE PUBLICISED THROUGH RADIO, TELEVISION, NEWSPAPERS, WOMEN'S MAGAZINES AND POSTERS, AND EACH AGE GROUP WILL BE INFORMED OF ITS TURN IN ADVANCE THROUGH THE MEDIA.
MISS WONG POINTED OUT THAT HER DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE MAIL-IN APPOINTMENT SERVICE.
COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS MUST REACH THE ISSUE OFFICE CHOSEN BY THE APPLICANTS AT LEAST 10 DAYS BEFORE THE CLOSE OF THE RESPECTIVE ISSUE PERIODS.
FORMS AND COPIES OF A LEAFLET EXPLAINING THE APPLICATION PROCEDURE CAN BE OBTAINED FREE OF CHARGE FROM ANY DISTRICT OFFICE OR IMMIGRATION OFFICE.
------o-------
LEGAL AID COVERING EXTRADITION PROCEEDINGS NOW AVAILABLE
X * X X
HONG KONG RESIDENTS WHO FACE EXTRADITION PROCEEDINGS IN THE MAGISTRATES’ COURTS WILL NOW BE ABLE TO OBTAIN FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION UNDER THE LAW SOCIETY LEGAL ADVICE AND DUTY LAWYER SCHEME.
HOWEVER, IT IS NOT EXPECTED THAT THIS WILL BE REQUIRED IN OTHER THAN A FEW CASES PER YEAR AND THAT FOR THE MOST PART, IT WILL BE HONG KONG BELONGERS AND LONG-TERM RESIDENTS FACING SERIOUS CHARGES WHO WILL BENEFIT.
THE SCHEME, WHICH IS FUNDED BY THE GOVERNMENT, ALREADY OPERATES IN THE MAGISTRATES’ COURTS WHERE IT ADMINISTERS THE DUTY LAWYER SCHEME.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT EXTRADITION PROCEEDINGS, BY THEIR VERY NATURE, ARE COMPLEX AND INVOLVE CONSIDERABLE PREPARATORY WORK BEFORE BEING HEARD. ANOTHER FEATURE IS THAT THEY ARE USUALLY VERY SERIOUS CHARGES.
NOW THAT DEFENDANTS CAN BE LEGALLY AIDED IN COMMITTAL PROCEEDINGS, EXTRADITION WOULD HAVE BEEN THE ONLY AREA OF VERY SERIOUS CASES WHERE SOME FORM OF LEGAL AID IS NOT AVAILABLE IF THE PRESENT DECISION TO EXTEND THE SCHEME HAD NOT BEEN MADE.
♦ IN MANY CASES THE DEFENDANT WILL BE A HONG KONG BELONGER, AND THE MATTER COULD HAVE ARISEN IN THE COURSE OF HIS EMPLOYMENT OUTSIDE HONG KONG, FOR EXAMPLE AS A SEAMAN,+ HE SAID.
STATISTICS SHOW THAT SEVEN EXTRADITION CASES WERE HEARD IN THE MAGISTRACIES IN THE YEARS 1976 TO 1979, FIVE EACH IN 1980 AND 1982, AND 16 IN 1981. THEY RANGE FROM MURDER (12 CASES) TO INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION OF STOLEN PROPERTY.
IT WILL REMAIN OPEN TO DEFENDANTS IN THESE CASES TO OPT FOR PRIVATE REPRESENTATION BUT FOR THOSE (ESTIMATED AT ABOUT SIX PER YEAR) WHO CANNOT AFFORD THIS, THE NEW MOVE WILL OFFER A MEASURE OF LEGAL PROTECTION CONSISTENT WITH THE VIEW THAT IT IS ONLY PROPER FOR THERE TO BE LEGAL ADVICE AND REPRESENTATION WHEN VERY SERIOUS CHARGES OF COMPLEXITY ARE CONSIDERED IN HONG KONG COURT.
------0-------
A.......
SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 1984
4
LOW-COST MEDICAL
SCHEME FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE * * * *
ELDERLY PEOPLE IN SHAM REDUCED-COST MEDICAL SCHEME
SHUI
FROM
PO WILL BENEFIT FROM A TOMORROW (SUNDAY).
THE SCHEME WAS INITIATED BY PROMOTE GREATER CONCERN AND CARE
THE LOCAL DISTRICT BOARD TO FOR THE SENIOR CITIZENS WHO
CONSTITUTE A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF THE DISTRICT’S POPULATON OF ABOUT 500 000.
A DISTRICT BOARD SPOKESMAN SAID 26 REGISTERED DOCTORS HAD AGREED TO JOIN THE SCHEME.
ANY PERSON IN SHAM SHUI PO
AT THE AGE OF 60 OR ABOVE AND LIVING OR WORKING
IS ELIGIBLE FOR ASSISTANCE UNDER
THE SCHEME.
APPLICATIONS CAN BE MADE AT THE SHAM SHUI PO AND ITS SUB-OFFICES DURING OFFICE HOURS.
DISTRICT OFFICE
AN APPLICANT THE PARTICIPATING
MAY CHOOSE FROM A DOCTORS.
REGISTER LIST
ANY OF
HE WILL THEN
BE ISSUED WITH AN
IS VALID FOR AN UNLIMITED NUMBER OF THIS YEAR.
INTRODUCTION LETTER WHICH
VISITS UNTIL SEPTEMBER 30
THE LEVEL OF FEE REDUCTION IS AT THE DISCRETION OF EACH DOCTOR.
IDENTITY A RENTAL EMPLOYEE CARD.
APPLICANTS ARE REQUESTED TO BRING ALONG THEIR HONG KONG
CARD, TOGETHER WITH ONE OF THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS: RECEIPT, A TENANCY AGREEMENT, A TENANCY CARD, AN IDENTITY CARD, AN EMPLOYER LETTER OR A SOCIAL SECURITY
THE
SCHEME, TO
WILL BE REVIEWED BY
BE RUN FOR A TRIAL THE DISTRICT BOARD
PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS LATER THIS YEAR.
- - 0 - -
MORE
URBAN
CLEARWAYS TO * * * * *
BE INTRODUCED
FROM 10 AM ON MONDAY BAY WILL BE DESIGNATED AS FROM 4 PM TO 7 PM DAILY.
(APRIL 2), TWO ROAD SECTIONS IN QUARRY URBAN CLEARWAYS FROM 7 AM TO 13 AM AND
THFSE SECTIONS ARE WESTLANDS ROAD BETWEEN KING’S ROAD AND TAI KHA SHING ROAD AND TAI KOO SHING ROAD FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH Jestlands road to i point about 90 metres east of the same junction.
/WITHIN THE
SATURDAY, MARCH J1, 1984
- 5 -
WITHIN THE ZONES, NO MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS DURING THE RESTR I CT I ON PER IODS.
ALSO FROM 10 AM THE SAME DAY, HENNESSY ROAD WESTBOUND BETWEEN HOUSE NO. 422 AND BOWRINGTON ROAD WILL BE DESIGNATED AN URBAN CLEARWAY FROM 7 AM TO MIDNIGHT DAILY FOR ABOUT FIVE WEEKS.
VARIOUS ROADS IN TAI PO WILL ALSO BE MADE URBAN CLEARWAYS FROM 7 AM TO 7 PM DAILY, FROM 10 AM ON MONDAY.
THEY ARE:
* NAM SHING STREET,
* THE SECTION OF ON FU ROAD FROM A POINT ABOUT FIVE METRES NORTH OF THE JUNCTION WITH NAM SHING STREET, TO A POINT ABOUT FIVE METRES SOUTH OF THE SAME JUNCTION, AND
* THE SECTION OF THE UNNAMED LANE, CONNECTING WAI YIP STREET AND NAM SHING STREET, FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH NAM SHING STREET TO A POINT ABOUT FIVE METRES TO THE SOUTH OF THE SAME JUNCTION.
WITHIN THESE ZONES, DRIVERS OF ALL MOTOR VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES AND THOSE AUTHORISED IN WRITING BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM PICKING UP OR SETTING DOWN PASSENGERS; OR FROM LOADING OR UNLOADING GOODS.
ALSO FROM THE SAME DAY, THE SECTION OF HART AVENUE BETWEEN ITS JUNCTION WITH CHATHAM ROAD SOUTH AND A POINT ABOUT 30 METRES TO THE WEST OF THAT JUNCTION WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS TO FACILITATE ROAD REPAIR WORK.
AS PART OF THIS ARRANGEMENT, THE FOLLOWING MEASURES WILL BE INTRODUCED:
* HART AVENUE FROM HOUSE NOS. 4 TO 16 WILL BE TEMPORARILY RE-ROUTED FROM ONE-WAY WESTBOUND TO TWO-WAY TRAFFIC,
* TRAFFIC ON CHATHAM ROAD SOUTH HEADING FOR HART AVENUE WILL BE DIVERTED VIA CAMERON ROAD, CARNARVON ROAD, CORNWALL AVENUE, MODY ROAD AND HART AVENUE, AND
* PARKING SPACES ON THE NORTHERN SIDE OF HART AVENUE OUTSIDE HOUSE NOS. 10 TO 16 WILL BE SUSPENDED TO FACILITATE TWO-WAY TRAFFIC CIRCULATION.
------o - - - -
Z6.......
[Typographical errors in the original document]
SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 1984 6* -
LEAFLET ON TUEN MUN TRAIL NOW AVAILABLE * * * K *
A LEAFLET ON THE TUEN MUN TRAIL, SERVING AS A REFERENCE GUIDE TO PICNICKERS AND JOGGING ENTHUSIASTS, HAS JUST BEEN PUBL I SHED.
* PRINTED IN CHINESE AND ENGLISH AND ILLUSTRATED WITH COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHS AND A MAP, THE LEAFLET IS PRODUCED BY THE TUEN MUN SPORTS ASSOCIATION WITH SPONSORSHIP FROM THE LOCAL DISTRICT BOARD.
GIVES A DETAIL OF THE FIRST TWO STAGES OF
THE 11-KILOMETRE TRAIL WHICH WERE OPENED TO THE PUBLIC RECENTLY.
THE ENTIRE TRAIL IS DIVIDED INTO 11 SECTIONS, AND CONSTRUCTION CF THE WHOLE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO TAKE 10 YEARS.
ON COMPLETION, THE TRAIL WILL ENCIRCLE TUEN MUN NEW TOWN, PASSING THROUGH GREEN-BELT AREAS, PARKS, BEACHES, WOODLANDS AND BOTANICAL GARDENS.
THE TWO NEWLY COMPLETED SECTIONS COVERING A TOTAL LENGTH CF 2 650 METRES, START FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HOH FUK TONG SCHOOL BUILDING AND GO UPWARD ALONG THE PATH OF A VALLEY.
THE FIRST PART OF BOTH ROUTES FOLLOWS THE MACLEHOSE TRAIL LEADING THROUGH THE VILLAGE OF TSENG-TAU TSUEN SHEUNG TSUEN. IT FOLLOWS THE STREAM AND RISES UNTIL IT REACHES THE END OF THE CATCHWATER CHANNEL WHERE THE MACLEHOSE TRAIL GOES OFF TO THE RIGHT AND THE TUEN MUN TRAIL TURNS LEFT.
THE PATH THEN CONTINUES UPWARD UNTIL IT REACHES A JUNCTION WNERI IT SPLIT INTO TWO ROUTES.
ROUTE ONE STRETCHES NORTHWARD TO WONG FUNG LENG, RUNS DOWN A SERIES OF ’ZIG-ZAGS’ THROUGH THE PINE WOODS ABOVE TSENG TAU HA TSUEN, AND ENDS ON AN OPEN PLATFORM ADJACENT TO THE NEWLY-CONSTRUCTED ROAD D9.
ROUTE TWO IS LONGER, SECLUDED AND MORE RUGGED, AND INVOLVES CLIMBING TO AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 250 METRES.
AFTER SPLITTING FROM ROUTE ONE, IT TURNS EASTWARD AND FOLLOWS UPHILL ABOVE THE STREAM COURSE, CLIMBS TO THE HEAD OF A VALLEY AND THEN CONTINUES TO FU TEI SHEUNG TSUEN.
FROM THERE, IT DESCENDS TO THE SERVICE RESERVOIR ROAD ABOVE FU TEI AND REACHES THE FINISHING POINT NEAR BOWRING CAMP.
ABOUT 40 000 COPIES OF THE LEAFLET HAVE BEEN PRINTED AND ARE AVAILABLE AT THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICE AND ITS SUB-OFFICES.
COPIES HAVE ALSO BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO LOCAL ORGANISATIONS, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, OWNERS* ..g§RPORATIONS AND SCHOOLS.
-.■t T T- C “ “ “ -
/7......
SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 1984
7
MORE CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRES PLANNED FOR NEW TOWNS * * * *
PLANS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRES WILL BE INCLUDED IN
OF THE FIVE NEW PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES TO BE DISTRICT AND TAI PO TO MEET THE RECREATIONAL YOUNG POPULATION.
COMPLETED IN THE AND SOCIAL NEEDS
EACH NORTH OF THE
THIS WAS STATED TODAY (SATURDAY) BY THE
DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL
WELFARE, MR JOHN CHAMBERS, WHEN HE OPENED THE FINNISH MISSIONARY SOCIETY’S CHOI YUEN CHRISTIAN CHILDREN’S AND YOUTH SERVICE CENTRE AT CHOI YUEN ESTATE. THE CENTRE IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN SHEUNG SHU I.
+THERE ARE 127 CHILDREN’S CENTRES AND 136 YOUTH CENTRES IN
HONG KONG, NEARLY ALL GOVERNMENT,+ HE SAID.
OF WHICH ARE RECEIVING SUBVENTION FROM THE
THESE CENTRES WOULD HELP YOUNG PEOPLE DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS AND ACQUIRE A SENSE OF INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.
MR CHAMBERS SAID THE IR ABILITIES, TEST RESPONSIBILITY FOR AND
+THEY ARE PROVIDED TO MEET NEEDS ON A LOCAL BASIS AT A RATIO CF ONE CENTRE FOR EVERY 20 000 POPULATION,* HE ADDED.
MANY RURAL VILLAGES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WERE BECOMING DENSELY POPULATED NEW TOWNS AND THE NORTH DISTRICT AND TAI PO WOULD HAVE A POPULATION OF 340 000 BY 1989, HE SAID.
THE CHOI YUEN CENTRE WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY A LOTTERIES FUND ALLOCATION AND GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION.
MR CHAMBERS PAID TRIBUTE TO THE FINNISH MISSIONARY SOCIETY FOR ITS LONG HISTORY OF SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
+THE CONTINUING DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT OF THE MISSION TO THE SERVICE OF THE COMMUNITY IS NOW ONCE AGAIN WITNESSED BY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THIS CENTRE,+ HE SAID.
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COURSES TO TRAIN COMMUNITY LEADERS * * * *
COURSES PROVIDED AT THE OUTWARD BOUND I NING SCHOOL ARE. SPECIALLY DESIGNED TO DEVELOP THE CHARACTER OF YOUNG PEOPLE, THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND SPORT, MR DICKEN YUNG, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
HE SAID THE AIM WAS TO HELP YOUTHS TO BECOME FUTURE COMMUNITY LEADERS.
MR YUNG WAS SPEAKING TO A GROUP OF YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAD JUST^COMPLETED RIGOROUS TRAIN ING AT SEA ON BOARD THE SCHOOL’S
VESSEL JI FUNG
/HE ALSO
SATURDAY, MARCH J1, 1984
8 -
HE ALSO PRESENTED CERTIFICATES TO 32 YOUTHS WHO HAD TAKEN PART IN AN 18-DAY COURSE.
AMONG THEM, 15 WERE GIVEN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE BY THE GOVERNMENT.
THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SCHOOL INTRODUCED A SCHEME TO HELP DESERVING YOUNG PEOPLE TAKE PART IN OUTWARD BOUND COURSES BY PROVIDING AIDED PLACES.
SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SCHEME ABOUT A YEAR AGO, MORE THAN 1 OOO YOUTHS, INCLUDING HANDICAPPED PEOPLE, HAVE JOINED THE COURSES.
MR YUNG SAID THE SCHEME WOULD CONTINUE, WITH NEW TYPES OF COURSES TO SUIT THE NEEDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE.
THERE ARE 180 AIDED PLACES AVAILABLE FOR FIVE TYPES OF COURSES TO BE HELD AT THE SCHOOL BETWEEN NEXT MONTH (APRIL) AND JUNE.
PEOPLE ABOVE THE AGE OF 11 SHOULD SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATIONS TO THE RECREATION AND SPORTS SERVICE (RSS) ON THE 11TH FLOOR OF WING ON CENTRE, CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL.
APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE 19 DISTRICT OFFICES OF THE RSS.
0
LABOUR LAW OFFENDERS FINED * * * *
A TOTAL OF 627 PROSECUTIONS FOR BREACHES OF LABOUR LAWS TAKEN OUT BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT RESULTED IN CONVICTION BY THE COURTS LAST (FEBRUARY) MONTH, WITH FINES IMPOSED AMOUNTING TO MORE THAN $630 000.
MOST OF THE CASES RELATED TO 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 CONCERNING VIOLATIONS OF SAFETY REGULATIONS TOTALLED 271, WITH $415 800 IN FINES. THESE INCLUDED 122 CASES (WITH $150 000 IN FINES) FOR BREACH OF THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (GUARDING AND OPERATION OF MACHINERY) REGULATIONS AND 58 CASES (WITH $174 350 IN FINES) FOR BREACH OF THE CONSTRUCTION SITES (SAFETY) REGULATIONS.
CASES RELATING TO BREACHES OF THE WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS (INDUSTRY) REGULATIONS ACCOUNTED FOR 270, WITH $156 750 IN FINES.
OF THE OTHER PROSECUTIONS, THESE CASES WERE RELATED TO FAILURE TO KEEP RECORD OF EMPLOYEES, LEADING TO $1 550 IN FINES.
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/9.......
SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 1984
- 9 -
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF FANLING SWIMMING POOL COMPLEX
* * * *
THE HEATED MAIN POOL OF THE FANLING PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL COMPLEX WILL BE TEMPORARILY CLOSED FROM TOMORROW (SUNDAY) TO ALLOW FOR THE REMOVAL OF ITS AIR SUPPORT STRUCTURE.
TO FACILITATE THE WORK, THE OTHER POOLS AT THE COMPLEX WILL ALSO BE CLOSED FROM APRIL 9 (MONDAY), A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID.
THE WHOLE COMPLEX WILL RE-OPEN ON APRIL 15 (SUNDAY).
THE SUPPORT STRUCTURE, IN THE FORM OF AN INFLATED +AIR BUBBLE*, WAS PUT UP TO SHELTER SWIMMERS FROM WINTER COLD.
MORE THAN 10 000 BATHERS USED THE SHELTERED POOL FROM LAST DECEMBER TO MARCH.
THE STRUCTURE WILL BE PUT UP AGAIN NEXT WINTER.
FROM APRIL 15, ALL THE POOLS AT THE COMPLEX WILL BE OPEN FOR
THE SESSIONS DAILY: 7 AM TO 9.15 AM, 9.30 AM TO 11.45 AM, 12.45 PM
TO 3 PM, 3.30 PM TO 5.45 PM AND 6.45 PM TO 9 PM.
THE POOLS, OTHER THAN THE HEATED MAIN POOL, WILL ALSO OFFER THE SAME SESSIONS BETWEEN APRIL 1 AND 8 BEFORE THEIR TEMPORARY CLOSURE.
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NOTE TO EDITORS:
FUN DAY FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE
* * *
ABOUT 200 ELDERLY PEOPLE WILL TAKE PART IN THE +LUEN Yl FUN DAY FOR THE ELDERLY* SPONSORED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB AND THE LIONS CLUB OF HONG KONG SOUTH TOMORROW (SUNDAY).
THE ACTIVITY WILL START AT 9.15 AM AT V I CTOR IA .PEAK WHERE THE ELDERLY WILL HAVE A LEISURE WALK AND ENJOY THE SCENERY.
LUNCH WILL BE SERVED FOR THEM AT THE CARITAS RESTAURANT AT CAINE ROAD, FOLLOWED BY A LUCKY DRAW AND A VARIETY SHOW.
OFFICIATING AT THE EVENT WILL BE MRS RUBY LAU, DEPUTY CHIEF INSPECTOR OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT; MR HENRY S.F, WANG, PRESIDENT, LIONS CLUB OF HONG KONG SOUTH; AND MR Y.C. PI, DISTRICT GOVERNOR, THE LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT 303.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT.
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/10........
SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 1934
- 10 -
OUTSTANDING ATHLETES SCHEME TO BE LAUNCHED *****
THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OUTSTANDING ATHLETES SCHEME WILL BE LAUNCHED TOMORROW (SUNDAY) MORNING AT THE ABERDEEN SPORTS GROUND.
AS THE GUEST OF HONOUR, LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR MISS MARIA TAM WILL PERFORM THE OPENING CEREMONY. TOGETHER WITH THE COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR PATRICK WILLIAMSON; THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR KWONG KEI-CHI; THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT RECREATION AND SPORTS COUNCIL, MR YUNG CHEK-CHOW, AND THE PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER OF SAN MIGUEL AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, MR CHAN YING-LUN.
FOLLOWING THE CEREMONY THERE WILL BE AN INVITATIONAL TRACK-AND-FIELD COMPETITION AMONG ATHLETES FROM GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE ORGANISATIONS.
THE CEREMONY WILL HERALD A 10-M0NTH SERIES OF EVENTS DURING WHICH PARTICIPANTS WILL UNDERGO EXTENSIVE TRAINING TO PREPARE FOR THE GRAND FINALE EARLY NEXT YEAR.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY WHICH WILL START AT 9 AM TOMORROW AT THE INDOOR GAMES HALL COMPLEX OF THE ABERDEEN SPORTS GROUND.
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CORRECTIONAL SERVICES HOLDS SPORTS MEET
« **
THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT’S ANNUAL SPORTS MEET WAS HELD TODAY (SATURDAY) AT THE STANLEY FOOTBALL FIELD WITH SOME 300 PARTICIPANTS COMPETING IN VARIOUS TRACK-AND-FIELD EVENTS.
THE PROGRAMME FEATURED A SHOOTING COMPETITION, AN INTER-INSTITUTIONAL RELAY AS WELL AS AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL RELAY AT WHICH SIX OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS TOOK PART.
A GROUP OF DISABLED PEOPLE FROM THE MARGARET TRENCH MEDICAL REHABILITATION CENTRE WERE ALSO INVITED TO SHARE THE FUN WITH THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES STAFF. THEY PARTICIPATED IN A WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL MATCH AND A SLALOM RACE.
MRS BEVERLEY GARNER, WIFE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, PRESENTED PRIZES TO THE WINNERS.
DURING THE DAY, THE CAPE COLLINSON MARCHING BAND AND THE TAI TAM GIRLS’ PIPERS AND MARCHING TEAM ALSO GAVE A PERFORMANCE.
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/II .....
SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 1984
- 11 -
WATER MAINS WORK IN CHEUNG CHAU *****
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO SAN WAN AREA, CHEUNG CHAU WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 10 AM TO 5 PM ON TUESDAY (APRIL 3) FOR MAINS WORK.
THE AREA AFFECTED WILL INCLUDE ROUND TABLE STAGE II, ROUND TABLE STAGE III, YING SIN LEUNG CARE VILLAGE, CARE VILLAGE, TUNG KWUN SAN TSUEN, CHEUNG CHAU ELECTRIC SUB-STATION AND TREASURE BAY.
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