Daily Information Bulletin - 1970s - 1978 - APR - ENG





 PRH 7

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 1978

CONTENTS

PAGE NO.

PRESENTATION OF INSIGNIA ............................... 1

AMENDMENT TO PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE .................... 2

LAND RESUMPTION AT SHA TIN ............................. 3

KCR ADOPTS TRACK WELDING................................ 4

AN ADVICE FROM RETIRING CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SUPERINTENDENT ..(...................................... 5

GRAVE-SWEEPERS URGED TO KEEP COUNTRYSIDE CLEAN ......... 6

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CODE OF SAFETY PRACTICE .........  6

TWO NEW BUS ROUTES FOR SAI KUNG ........................ 7

TAI KOK TSUI AND TO KWA WAN TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS ....... 7

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

SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 1978

- 1 -

PRESENTATION OF INSIGNIA * * * * *

SIXTY-THREE LOCAL RESIDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN DECORATED BY THE QUEEN WILL RECEIVE THEIR AWARDS FROM THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, AT A CEREMONY IN GOVERNMENT HOUSE ON MONDAY (APRIL 3).

THE INSIGNIA TO BE PRESENTED INCLUDE TWO CMG’S, SEVEN OBE’S, TWO ISO’S, FOUR ISM’S AND NINE MBE’S.

SPECIAL PARKING ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE MADE FOR GUESTS ATTENDING THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY.

ALL CARS CARRYING GUESTS MAY ENTER BY THE MAIN GATE OF GOVERNMENT HOUSE. AFTER GUESTS HAVE ALIGHTED, VEHICLES BEARING G.H. LABELS MAY PARK IN THE FORECOURT OR TENNIS COURTS AS DIRECTED, OR, IF CHAUFFEUR DRIVEN, RETURN AT 6.50 P.M.

VEHICLES BEARING BLUE LABELS MUST EXIT BY THE EAST GATE AND THEN PARK AT UPPER ALBERT ROAD, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, THE SLIP ROAD TO THE SOUTH OF THE UNITED STATES CONSULATE BUILDING, THE METERED CAR PARK BETWEEN KENNEDY ROAD AND GARDEN ROAD AND THE CAR PARK AT CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOWER ALBERT ROAD.

ALL VEHICLES PARKED INSIDE GOVERNMENT HOUSE SHOULD LEAVE BY THE EAST GATE. OTHER GUESTS ARE REQUESTED TO WALK TO THEIR CARS AFTER THE CEREMONY.

PARKING FACILITIES IN METERED SPACES IN UPPER AND LOWER ALBERT ROADS AND THE METERED CAR PARK EETWEEN KENNEDY ROAD AND GARDEN ROAD WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 3 P.M. TO 7.30 P.M. ON THAT DAY.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

COPIES OF A LIST OF THE RECIPIENTS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION FROM THE GIS, PRESS ROOM. SIXTH FLOOR, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, AT 6 P.M. ON MONDAY (APRIL 3).

ONLY PRESS PHOTOGRAPHERS WITH SPECIAL PASSES WILL BE ADMITTED TO GOVERNMENT HOUSE. THEY SHOULD MEET G.I.S. OFFICERS IN THE GUARD ROOM OF GOVERNMENT HOUSE NOT LATER THAN 5.30 P.M.

NEWSPAPERS NOT RECEIVING PASSES WILL BE ABLE TO OBTAIN PHOTOGRAPHS BY MAKING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SUPPLY OF PRINTS IN THE ORDINARY WAY WITH MAINLAND PHOTO STUDIO, 44 CARNARVON . ROAD, KOWLOON, TELEPHONE NO. 3-670959 AND 3-671755.

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

/2 ....•

SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 197-S

- 2 -

AMENDMENT TO PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE

******

A BILL PROPOSING TO GIVE COURTS THE OPTION OF SENDING PERSONS AGED BETWEEN 14 AND 17 YEARS, WHO ARE CONVICTED OF UNLAWFULLY POSSESSING AN OFFENSIVE WEAPON IN A PUBLIC PLACE, TO A TRAINING CENTRE OR TO A DETENTION CENTRE HAS BEEN PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.

UNDER EXISTING LAW, SUCH OFFENDERS CAN ONLY BE SENT TO A TRAINING CENTRE IF THEY ARE SUITABLE FOR DETENTION IN A DETENTION CENTRE AND NO PLACE IS AVAILABLE.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID-THE PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) BILL WOULD REMOVE THIS RESTRICTION.

HE SAID DETENTION CENTRES PROVIDED A SHORT, SHARP PERIOD OF TREATMENT FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS AGED BETWEEN 14 AND 25, WHEREAS TRAINING CENTRES PROVIDED FOR LONGER TERM TRAINING AND REFORMATION OF YOUNG OFFENDERS AGED BETWEEN 14 AND 21.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID LAST YEAR A SUPREME COURT JUDGE HAD CALLED ATTENTION TO A CASE IN WHICH DETENTION IN EITHER- A TRAINING CENTRE OR A DETENTION CENTRE APPEARED APPROPRIATE BUT AS THE 16-YEAR-OLD OFFENDER WAS MEDICALLY UNFIT FOR A DETENTION CENTRE HE WAS CONSEQUENTLY ALSO PRECLUDED FROM BEING SENT TO A TRAINING CENTRE. THE JUDGE HAD SUGGESTED AT THE TIME THAT THE LAW BE , AMENDED.

THE BILL WILL ALSO ENABLE A PERSON CONVICTED OF UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF AN OFFENSIVE WEAPON IN A PUBLIC PLACE TO BE SENT FOR MENTAL TREATMENT. AT PRESENT, MENTAL TREATMENT CANNOT BE ORDERED, HOWEVER DESIRABLE IT MAY EE IN PARTICULAR CASES.

A FURTHER AMENDMENT TO THE PUBLIC ORDER ORDINANCE PROVIDES FOR CASES OF UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF AN OFFENSIVE WEAPON IN A PUBLIC PLACE TO BE TRIED IN THE DISTRICT AND HIGH COURTS, AS WELL AS IN A MAGISTRATE’S COURT.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID SUCH CASES COULD ONLY EE TRIED IN THE DISTRICT COURT AT PRESENT WITH LEAVE OF A MAGISTRATE AND COULD NOT BE TRIED AT ALL IN THE HIGH COURT.

+AS SERIOUS CASES OF THIS OFFENCE DO ARISE, IT IS DESIRABLE THAT THE PROSECUTION SHOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE PROCEEDINGS AGAINST OFFENDERS IN THE DISTRICT COURT AS OF RIGHT,* HE SAID.

+ALSO, IT IS SOMETIMES APPROPRIATE THAT SUCH AN OFFENCE SHOULD BE TRIED ALONG WITH OTHER RELATED OFFENCES IN THE HIGH COURT,* HE ADDED.

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

/3

SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 1978

3

LAND RESUMPTION AT SHA TIN * * * *

THE GOVERNMENT WILL SOON DEVELOP THE REMAINDER OF A LARGE AREA IN SHA TIN NEAR THE NEW TOWN CENTRE FOR GOVERNMENT, INSTITUTIONAL AND COMMUNITY USES.

WORK ON SITE FORMATION, ROADS AND DRAINAGE SYSTEM IS SCHEDULED TO COMMENCE IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR, AND IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY 1980.

PART OF THE AREA HAS ALREADY BEEN DEVELOPED FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS, A GOVERNMENT CLINIC, A CHURCH,.A COMMUNITY CENTRE, A TELEPHONE EXCHANGE AND TEMPORARY SPORTS AND TRANSPORT FACILITIES.

TO FACILITATE THE WORK, THE GOVERNMENT WILL RESUME ABOUT 13,120 SQUARE METRES OF PRIVATE AGRICULTURAL LAND NEAR TA I.WAI.

AS THE LAND TO BE RESUMED LIES WITHIN THE NEW TOWN BOUNDARIES, OWNERS OF THESE AGRICULTURAL LAND WILL EE OFFERED THE ALTERNATIVE OF LAND EXCHANGE ENTITLEMENTS AND CASH COMPENSATION. %

THREE MONTH’S NOTICE OF THE RESUMPTION WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE YESTERDAY (FRIDAY).

THE LAND RESUMPTION WILL INVOLVE THE CLEARANCE OF 30 TEMPORARY DOMESTIC STRUCTURES - TEN ARE ON CROWN LAND AND 20 ON PRIVATE LAND.

TWENTY-NINE FAMILIES OCCUPYING THESE STRUCTURES WILL BE OFFERED PUBLIC HOUSING IN SHA TIN, PROVIDED THEY ARE FOUND TO BE ELIGIBLE. FAMILIES NOT ELIGIBLE WILL BE OFFERED SPACE IN A TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA IN SHA TIN. EX-GRATIA DOMESTIC REMOVAL ALLOWANCE OF UP TO 01,000 PER FAMILY MAY EE PAYABLE TO THESE FAMILIES.

IN ADDITION, A TOTAL OF 114 TEMPORARY STRUCTURES WILL HAVE TO BE CLEARED. THESE INCLUDE WORKSHOPS, PIGSTIES, CHICKEN AND PIGEON SHEDS.

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

/4

SATURDAY, APRIL 1,

l?7o

4

KCR ■ADOPTS TRACK '.•.ELDING

******

THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY IS PRESSING AHEAD ..I TH ITS FIVE-YEAR IMPROVEMENT PLANS TO REPLACE EXISTING JOINTED TRACK BY WELDED TRACK.

THE FAMILIAR +CLICKtTY-CLACK+ OF TRAINS RUNNING OVER TRACK JOINTS WILL EE THUS ELIMINATED ARD PROVIDE PASSENGERS WITH A SMOOTHER AND QUIETER RIDE.

A SPOKESMAN FOR K.C.R. SAID TODAY THIS IS ONLY PART OF A GENERAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME FOR THE TRACK WHICH IS EE ING UPGRADED TO ACCOMMODATE THE EETTER, FASTER AND MORE FREQUENT TRAIN SERVICE THE K.C.R. PLANS TO PROVIDE IN THE FUTURE.

HE ADDED THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF THE TRACK WELDING SCHEME '..ILL ALSO REDUCE THE WEAR ON ROLLING STOCK AND THE COSTS OF TRACK MAINTENANCE. ANOTHER ADVANTAGE IS THAT IT ’..ILL INCREASE THE SAFETY AS MOST RAIL FAILURES OCCUR NEAR TO THE JOINTS.

TO ALLOW FOR THE EXPANSION IN HOT WEATHER, PREVIOUSLY ACCOMMODATED BY THE GAPS BETWEEN THE RAILS, THE NEW RAILS ARE STRETCHED SO THAT THEY ARE AT A LENGTH EQUIVALENT TO THE AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURE EXPERIENCED.

THE SYSTEM OF WELDING EE I NG ADOPTED IS THE THERMIT WELDING METHOD WHICH HAS BEEN IF.' USE FOR MANY YEARS ON TRAMWAYS AND HAS MORE RECENTLY BEEN APPLIED TO RAILWAYS ALL OVER THE WORLD.

WELDING OF K.C.R. TRACK INITIALLY ON SHORT LENGTHS AND SIDINGS STARTED A YEAR AGO. NOW IT IS BEING EXTENDED TO ALL NEW WORKS.

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

/5

SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 1973

AN ADVICE FROM RETIRING SUPERINTENDENT

OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE

******

SUPERINTENDENT OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE, MR. GRAHAM CROOKDAKE, TODAY CAUTIONED A GROUP OF 40 NEW CUSTOMS OFFICERS TO EE ON GUARD AGAINST ONE OF THE MAIN DANGERS THEY MIGHT COME ACROSS IN THE COURSE OF THEIR DUTIES — BRIBERY.

+YOUR CAREER AND YOUR FAMILIES’ RESPECT FOR YOU WILL ABRUPTLY END SHOULD YOU ACCEPT SUCH OFFERS,+ MR. CROOKDAKE SAID AT A PASSING-OUT PARADE AT THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE TRAINING SCHOOL IN TAI LAM CHUNG.

MR. CROOKDAKE WILL BE RETIRING SOON AFTER 30 YEARS SERVICE WITH THE GOVERNMENT.

ADDRESSING THE GROUP, HE SAID: +ONE OF THE MAIN DANGERS YOU WILL NO DOUBT COME ACROSS AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER WILL BE THE OFFERING OF BRIBES BY UNSCRUPULOUS PERSONS IN AN ENDEAVOUR TO DIVERT YOU FROM YOUR DUTIES.

+1 SINCERELY HOPE THAT NONE OF YOU WILL EVER COMPROMISE THE TRUST THAT HAS BEEN PLACED IN YOU AS CUSTOMS OFFICERS.

+ALWAYS REMEMBER THE CAREER YOU HAVE CHOSEN DEMANDS HARD WORK , COURAGE, PRESENCE OF MIND, PERSEVERANCE, A COOL TEMPER AND, ABOVE ALL, HONESTY WHEN DEALING WITH MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.

+THE REPUTATION OF THE SERVICE IS HELD IN HIGH REGARD AND IS RESPECTED BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND YOU MUST ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU ARE A PUBLIC SERVANT,+ HE SAID.

MR. CROOKDAKE POINTED OUT THAT THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE IS CHARGED WITH MANY IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITIES — PRINCIPALLY THE COLLECTION AND PROTECTION OF REVENUE FROM DUTIABLE COMMODITIES AND THE PREVE"TICT OF THE ILLEGAL IMPORT CF NARCOTIC DRUGS AND OTHER CONTROLLED ITEMS.

HE SAID REVENUE FR0KTHESE SOURCES FINANCES

ABOUT ONE-TENTH OF THE GOVERN" :EHT’3 ANNUALEXPEND I TURE, WHICH IS QUITE A SUBSTANTIAL FIGURE.

THE FIGHT AGAINST NARCOTICS IS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE NOT ONLY HERE BUT THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, + AS DRUG ABUSE IS A SOCIAL EVIL THAT ALL SELF-RESPECTING CITIZENS WOULD WISH TO SEE ERADICATED+.

- - 0 - -

SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 1973

6

GRAVE-SWEEPERS URGED TO KEEP COUNTRYSIDE CLEAN

* * * * * - S

THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT TODAY (SATURDAY) APPEALED TO GRAVE-SWEEPERS AND PICNICKERS VISITING THE NEW TERRITORIES DURING CHL.G N. IIIG .PER 103 TC KEEP THE COUNTRYSIDE CLEAN.

THE APPEAL WAS MADE AS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE PREPARE TO FLOCK TC THE COUNTRYSIDE DURING THIS PERIOD.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT POINTED OUT THAT MANY PICNICKERS AND VISITORS TO GRAVEYARDS STILL THROW LITTER OR LEAVE LEFTOVER FOOD ON THE GROUND, CAUSING IMMENSE LITTER PROBLEM.

+IF EVERYONE COULD BE MORE CONSIDERATE AND DO HIS BIT BY DISPOSING UNWANTED ITEMS INTO LITTER BINS OR CONTAINERS, WE WOULD HAVE A BETTER ENVIRONMENT,* HE SAID. ...

FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF VISITORS TO THE COUNTRYSIDE, THE USD WILL PLACE MORE BINS AND CONTAINERS AT ALL THE MAJOR CEMETERIES."

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

NOTE TO EDITORS!

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CODE OF SAFETY PRACTICE ******

A PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CODE OF SAFETY PRACTICE WILL BE HELD ON MONDAY (APRIL 3) AT 3 P.M. IN G. I.S. THEATRE, FIFTH FLOOR BEACONSFIELD HOUSE.

ATTENDING THE PRESS CONFERENCE WILL BE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DANGEROUS GOODS STANDING COMMITTEE, MR. W.D. LEIGHTON-CHIEF FIRE OFFICER OF THE FIRE SERVICES FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU, MR. B.G. FENDER- EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES, MR. C.S.O. CHAN AND MR. T.W. WONG- AND CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE CODE OF SAFETY PRACTICE FOR THE PLASTIC INDUSTRIES, MR. DENNIS TING.

MR. LEIGHTON WILL EXPLAIN AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE THE INTEREST TAKEN IN THE SUBJECT BY THE DANGEROUS GOODS STANDING COMMITTEE AND OTHER MATTERS THAT MAY ARISE FROM IT.

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE EVENT.

o - -

SATURDAY, APHIL 1, 1978

7

TWO NEW BUS ROUTES FOR SAI KUNG ******

TWO NEW BUS ROUTES FOR SAI KUNG WILL EE INTRODUCED ON NONDAY (APRIL 3).

THE' TWO ’ROUTESTARE NO. 94 FROM SA I KUNG TO WONG SHEK PIER, AND NO. 99 FROM SAI KUNG TO NAI CHUNG.

THESE NEW ROUTES WILL BRING A HIGHER STANDARD OF BUS SERVICE TO THE RURAL AREAS IN THIS PART OF SAI KUNG PENINSULA.

THEY ..ILL" OPERATE ON A EASIC HOURLY FREQUENCY, AND WILL REPLACE EXISTING BUS ROUTE NO. 93 WHICH OPERATES BETWEEN SAI KUNG AND TAI MONG TSAI. THIS ROUTE WILL BE DISCONTINUED WITH EFFECT FROM MONDAY, APRIL 3.

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

TAI KOK TSUI AND TO KWA WAN TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS * * * *

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TODAY ANNOUNCED SEVERAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN TAI KOK TSUI AND TO K’WA WAN WHICH WILL COME INTO EFFECT FROM TUESDAY (APRIL 4).

FROM 10 A.M. ON THAT DAY, THE SECTION OF MAPLE STREET BETWEEN SYCAMORE STREET AMD LAI CHI KOK ROAD WILL BE RE-ROUTED FROM ONE-WAY NORTHBOUND TO ONE-WAY SOUTHBOUND TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS ON LAI CHI KOK ROAD.

IN TO KWA WAN, THE RIGHT TURN MOVEMENT FROM LOK SHAN ROAD INTO TO KWA WAN ROAD WILL BE BANNED FROM 10 A.M. TO ALLOW THE 'PROVISION OF A PEDESTRIAN CROSSING ACROSS TO KWA WAN ROAD ON THE NORTHEAST SIDE OF LOK SHAN ROAD.

APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL DE SET UP TO ASSIST MOTORISTS.

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

PRH 7

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

SUNDAY, APRIL 2, 1978

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

TENDERS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF STAGE II TUEN MUN ROAD ... 1

CLAMP DOWN ON SMOKY VEHICLES .........................   2

EIGHTH YEAR FOR YOUTH LEADERSHIP CAMPS ................. 3

BANK NOTES ISSUE ORDINANCE AMENDED ..................... 4

WINNERS OF INTER-CENTRE CONTEST SHOW THEIR SKILLS .... 4

NO MAIL ON CHING MING DAY .............................. 5

MARINE DEPARTMENT OFFICES HOLIDAY ARRANGEMENT .......... 5

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

SUNDAY, APRIL 2, 1978

- 1-

TENDERS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF STAGE II TUEN MUN ROAD * * * * *

WORK WILL BEGIN SHORTLY ON THE SECOND STAGE OF THE $390 MILLION TUEN MUN ROAD UNDER FOUR SEPARATE CONTRACTS.

TENDERS FOR THE FIRST TWO CONTRACTS ARE BEING INVITED BY THE CONSULTANTS MANAGEMENT DIVISION OF THE P.W.D.’S HIGHWAYS OFFICE.

MR. T.S. NG, CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE CONSULTANTS MANAGEMENT DIVISION, SAID THAT WORK ON THESE TWO CONTRACTS WOULD BEGIN IN MAY AND TAKE ABOUT 26 MONTHS TO COMPLETE. . .

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE TOTAL LENGTH OF TUEN MUN ROAD WOULD BE ABOUT 17 KILOMETRES.

TUEN MUN ROAD STAGE I -- WHICH INCLUDES THE PROVISION OF A SINGLE CARRIAGEWAY FROM TSUEN WAN TO TUEN MUN, THE FORMATION OF EARTHWORKS FOR CERTAIN PARTS OF A SECOND CARRIAGEWAY AND GRADE SEPARATED INTERCHANGES AT SHAM TSENG AND SIU LAM --.IS NEARING COMPLETION AND IS DUE TO BE OPENED TO TRAFFIC IN ABOUT ONE.MONTH.

THE FIRST CONTRACT FOR TUEN MUN ROAD STAGE II WILL INVOLVE THE COMPLETION OF THE SECOND CARRIAGEWAY OF ABOUT 5.1.KILOMETRES ALONGSIDE THE STAGE I ROAD BETWEEN TSUEN WAN AND SHAM TSENG VILLAGE.

INCLUDED IN THIS LENGTH OF CARRIAGEWAY WOULD BE 1.2 KILOMETRES OF BRIDGE AND VIADUCT, SEVERAL DRAINAGE CULVERTS AND RETAINING WALLS.

THE SECOND CONTRACT WILL INVOLVE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 350 METRE-LONG VIADUCT AT SHAM TSENG VILLAGE AND ASSOCIATED EARTH AND DRAINAGE WORKS. THIS VIADUCT .'.'ILL EE EUI LT ALONGSIDE THE ONE CONSTRUCTED DURING THE FIRST STAGE OF THE ROAD PROJECT AND WOULD HAVE 11 SPANS OF 32 METRES.

+THE REMAINING 10.2 KILOMETRES OF ROAD WILL EE CONSTRUCTED UNDER TWO OTHER CONTRACTS FOR WHICH TENDERS WILL EE CALLED THIS SUMMER,+ MR. NG SAID.

WORK ON TUEN MUN ROAD STAGE II IS EXPECTED TO EE COMPLETED BY THE SPRING OF 1981.

ON COMPLETION OF THE WHOLE PROJECT, TUEN MUN ROAD WILL BECOME A DUAL THREE-LANE HIGH-CAPACITY ROAD.

IT WILL NOT ONLY IMPROVE THE TRAFFIC BETWEEN TSUEN WAN AND TUEN MUN BUT WILL ALSO CUT THE TRAVELLING TIME BETWEEN TUEN MUN AND ABERDEEN TO ABOUT 50 MINUTES WHEN THE CANAL ROAD FLYOVER EXTENSION AND THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL ARE COMPLETED.

/2

SUNDAY, APRIL 2, 1978

2

CLAMP DOWN ON SMOKY VEHICLES

* X * *

THERE HAS BEEN A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PROSECUTIONS AGAINST VEHICLES EMITTING EXCESSIVE EXHAUST SMOKE LAST YEAR SINCE STRICTER CONTROL ON SUCH VEHICLES WAS INTRODUCED IN MARCH 1977.

STATISTICS RELEASED BY THE POLICE SHOWED THAT A TOTAL OF 5,115 VEHICLE OWNERS WERE PROSECUTED IN 1977 AS COMPARED WITH ONLY 297 IN 1976.

ACCORDING TO TRAFFIC POLICE STAFF OFFICER, MR. A.J. FERRIGE, THE NUMBER OF PROSECUTIONS HAS INCREASED TREMENDOUSLY AFTER.THE POLICE HAVE PUT INTO USE THREE SMOKE METERS. IT HAS' NOW .BEEN.. DECIDED TO BUY TWO MORE METERS TO HELP THE POL ICE CARRY OUT THEIR DUTIES.

SPECIAL TEAMS OF POLICEMEN HAVE BEEN SET UP TO CARRY OUT TESTS ON SMOKY VEHICLES. THEY OPERATE AT VARIOUS ROADSIDE INSPECTION POINTS IN HONG KONG, KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES.

ANY VEHICLE FOUND EMITTING EXHAUST SMOKE HIGHER THAN THE PERMITTED LIMIT, WHICH IS 65 UNITS ON THE HARTRIDGE SMOKE METER, WILL BE ISSUED WITH A SUMMONS.

LAST YEAR, 6,0)49 VEHICLES WERE FLAGGED DOWN BY THE POLICE FOR TESTS.

THE INSPECTION ON VEHICLES WITH SMOKY EXHAUSTS IS AIMED AT SAFEGUARDING PUBLIC HEALTH AS PEOPLE EXPOSED TO EXHAUST FUMES FOR A PROLONGED TIME MAY SUFFER FROM COUGHING AND SMARTING EYES. +MOREOVER, EXCESSIVE EXHAUST SMOKE CAN BE DANGEROUS IF IT OBSCURES THE DRIVERS’ VISION,+ MR. FERR I GE. SA ID.

HE ALSO REMINDED CAR OWNERS THAT VEHICLES EMITTING EXCESSIVE FUMES WILL COST THEM MORE MONEY BECAUSE IT MEANS INCOMPLETE FUEL COMBUSTION. IT IS THEREFORE CHEAPER TO KEEP VEHICLES IN GOOD REPAIR.

0 -------

SUNDAY, APRIL 2, 1978

- 3 -

EIGHTH YEAR FOR LEADERSHIP CAMPS * * * *

THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND THE BRITISH FORCES ARE ORGANISING THE EIGHTH YOUTH LEADERSHIP CAMPS TO EE HELD THIS SUMMER.

THE PROJECT IS AIMED AT PRIMARILY DEVELOPING THE CHARACTER, SELF-RELIANCE AND LEADERSHIP QUALITIES OF YOUTHS.

TWO RESIDENTIAL CAMPS, EACH LASTING THREE WEEKS, WILL EE HELD AT ERSKINE CAMP, SAI KUNG, FROM JULY 2 TO JULY 23 AND FROM JULY 30 TO AUGUST 20.

THIS YEAR THE CAMPS ARE BEING RUN BY PERSONNEL FROM THE 7TH DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S OWN GURKHA RIFLES, WHO ARE RETURNING TO HONG KONG SHORTLY AFTER TWO YEARS IN BRUNEI.

THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WILL BE HANDLING RECRUITMENT, LIAISON WITH PARTICIPANTS AND FOLLOW-UP ACTION SUCH AS RESEARCH AND ASSESSMENT. THE CAMPS ARE FINANCED BY THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB.

COURSES IN MOUNTAIN HIKE, ORIENTEERING, ROCK CLIMBING, CAMPING, CANOEING AND PHYSICAL FITNESS WILL BE RUN BY INSTRUCTORS DRAWN FROM ALL THREE ARMED SERVICES AND FROM THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE.

THE 120 PARTICIPANTS IN EACH CAMP WILL BE CHOSEN FROM BOTH MALE AND FEMALE APPLICANTS AGED BETWEEN 18 AND 25. SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY A FEE OF $100 WHICH WILL COVER THE COSTS OF BOOTS, T-SHIRTS, FOOD AND ACCOMMODATION PROVIDED DURING THE CAMPING TRIP.

SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES WILL EE SELECTED BY AN INTERVIEW PANEL COMPRISING REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, THE BRITISH FORCES, AND THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE. THEY WILL ALSO EE EXPECTED TO PASS PHYSICAL FITNESS AND SWIMMING TESTS.

APPLICATION FORMS CAN EE DETAINED FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S YOUTH WORK UNIT, TOP FLOOR, GOVERNMENT OFFICES BUILDING, 405 NATHAN ROAD= FROM THE DEPARTMENT’S VARIOUS COMMUNITY AND YOUTH OFFICES® OR FROM CITY DISTRICT OFFICES AND THE NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT OFFICES.

THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS APRIL 28, 1978.

SUNDAY, APRIL 2, 1978

4 -

BANK NOTES ISSUE ORDINANCE AMENDED *****

A BILL, BANK NOTES ISSUE (AMENDMENT) BILL, PROPOSING TO REMOVE THE TIME LIMIT WITHIN WHICH THE NOTE ISSUING BANKS MAY MAKE, ISSUE, REISSUE AND CIRCULATE CURRENCY NOTES HAS BEEN PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE. .

THE NOTE ISSUING BANKS EXTENSION OF POWERS ORDINANCE WAS ENACTED IN 1939 AND AUTHORISED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO EXTEND THE NOTE ISSUING POWERS OF BANKS FOR ANY PERIOD NOT EXCEEDING 12 MONTHS. . .. .

THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGISLATION HAS BEEN THAT EVERY YEAR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAS TO BE INVITED TO EXTEND THE POWERS OF THE NOTE ISSUING BANKS FOR 12 MONTHS AT A TIME.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT, IN PRACTICE, THE COUNCIL HAD NO ALTERNATIVE TO AGREEING THE EXTENSION OR ELSE THERE WOULD BE NO BANK NOTE ISSUE.

HE SAID THE TIME LIMIT AND THE CONSEQUENT ANNUAL EXTENSIONS DID NOT SERVE ANY USEFUL PURPOSE AND THE TIME LIMIT WAS BEING REMOVED SO THAT THE NOTE ISSUING BANKS WOULD CONTINUE THIS FUNCTION UNTIL THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DECIDED OTHERWISE.

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

WINNERS OF INTER-CENTRE CONTEST SHOW THEIR SKILLS

*****

AND WESTERN FOLK

FASHION SHOW, FOLK SONGS, DRAMA, ORIENTAL ...

DANCES OF THE WINNERS PERFORMANCE STAGED THIS (SUNDAY) AFTERNOON AT CARITAS HOUSE, CAINE ROAD, HIGHLIGHTED THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S INTER-CENTRE COMPETITION.

TROPHIES AND SOUVENIRS FOR THE WINNING TEAMS AND INDIVIDUALS WERE PRESENTED AFTER THE SHOW BY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR THOMAS LEE, AND THE SENIOR PRINCIPAL SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER,

MR. HENRY AU.

THE CONTEST, AN ANNUAL FUNCTION ORGANISED BY THE DEPARTMENT S GROUP AND COMMUNITY WORK DIVISION, EEGAN TWO MONTHS AGO, AND S AIMED AT AROUSING INTEREST IN RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVIT Eo AS WELL AS FOSTERING FRIENDSHIP AMONG MEMBERS CF CLUBS AND oERVICc. GROUPS.

THE MATCHES, WHICH TOOK PLACE AT VARIOUS PLAYGROUNDS AND COMMUNITY CENTRES DURING THE LAST TWO MONTHS, INCLUDED ORIENTEERING, JUDO, BASKETBALL, FOLK DANCE, FOLK SONG, DRAMA, DRESS-MAKING, RIBBON FLOWER MAKING CRAFT ARD POSTS' DESIGN.

THERE WERE 460 PARTICIPANTS, RECRUITED FROM 26 UNITS OF THE DIVISION.

- - 0 -

/5

SUNDAY, APRIL 2, 1978

- 5 -

NO MAIL ON CHING MING DAY

H K * *

THE POST OFFICE ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THERE WILL BE NO MAIL DELIVERY ON CHING MING DAY, WEDNESDAY (APRIL 5), A GENERAL HOLIDAY.

ALL POST OFFICES WILL ALSO EE CLOSED FOR BUSINESS ON THAT DAY.

------0 - - - -

MARINE DEPARTMENT OFFICES HOLIDAY ARRANGEMENT

* * H

THE MARINE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THE PORT COMMUNICATION CENTRE AND THE DEPARTMENT’S PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREAS AT WAN CHAI, YAU MA TEI, KWUN TONG AND TSUEN WAN WILL EE OPEN DURING THE GENERAL HOLIDAY ON APRIL 5.

IN ADDITION, THE MACAU FERRY '..'HARF UNIT WILL EE OPEN FROM 9 A.M. ON THAT DAY TO 1.30 A.M. TEE FOLLOWING DAY.

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

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

% I -

MONDAY, APRIL 3, 1978

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

HONG KONG CONCERNED OVER PROTECTIONISM .......... 1

PRESENTATION OF INSIGNIA ........................ 4

BANKING STATISTICS FOR FEBRUARY ................. 7

WEST KOWLOON ROAD SYSTEM TO BE IMPROVED ......... 9

CYC THEME SONG CONTEST .......................   10

CLEARANCE OF ILLEGAL GRAVES IN FIRING RANGE .... 10

EXTENSION OF DOG LICENCE ....................... 11

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS ........................... 12

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

MONDAY, APRIL 3, 1978

-

HONG KONG ANXIOUS ABOUT GROWING TENDENCY TOWARDS PROTECTIONISM, SAYS SIR DENYS K KMX

HONG KONG MUST VIEW WITH ANXIETY A GROWING TENDENCY AMONG THE MORE ADVANCED NATIONS, WHO CONSTITUTE OUR PRINCIPAL MARKETS, TOWARDS PROTECTIONISM, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DENYS ROBERTS, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).

SIR DENYS WAS OPENING THE FINANCIAL TIMES ASIAN BUSINESS BRIEFING CONFERENCE AT THE CONVENTION CENTRE.

HE SAID OUR DOORS REMAINED OPEN TO ALL WHO WISHED TO DO BUSINESS WITH US AND WE WERE FIRM BELIEVERS IN UNRESTRICTED MULTILATERAL TRADE, UPON WHICH OUR PROSPERITY-MUST DEPEND.

♦FROM TIME TO TIME, NO DOUBT, A COUNTRY MAY BE FORCED,. BY -INTERNAL PRESSURES, TO ADOPT A DEGREE OF RESTRICTION ON FOREIGN TRADE TO GIVE TEMPORARY PROTECTION TO AN AILING INDUSTRY,* SIR DENYS SAID.

♦THIS IS PERHAPS DEFENSIBLE, IF IT PS A SHORT TERM MEASURE INTENDED TO PROVIDE ONLY A BREATHING SPACE FOR THE READJUSTMENT OF THE ECONOMY. BUT IF ADOPTED AS A POLICY OF WIDE APPLICATION, IT CAN ONLY BRING UNFORTUNATE CONSEQUENCES, BOTH WITHIN THE. COUNTRY WHICH ADOPTS PROTECTIVE MEASURES ON A LARGE SCALE.AND ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND STABILITY.*

BECAUSE PROTECTIONISM BORE HARDEST UPON THE POOR NATIONS, WHOSE WAGE STRUCTURE MADE THEM A THREAT TO THE HIGHER COST INDUSTRIES OF RICHER LANDS, IT WIDENED THE GAP BETWEEN RICH AND POOR AND WAS A POTENT FACTOR IN THE ECONOMIC UNREST WHICH ttAD SO OFTEN BECOME TRANSFORMED INTO POL ITI CAL ENMITY AND . SOMETIMES INTO MILITARY ENTERPRISE, SAID SIR DENYS.

♦AND IRONICALLY, PROTECTIONISM, BY INHIBITING THE RECOVERY OF WORLD TRADE IN LEAN TIMES, POSTPONES THAT VERY REVIVAL OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS UPON WHICH THE PROSPERITY OF A_HIGHLY INDUSTRIALISED RESTRICTING COUNTRY DEPENDS,* SIR DENYS SAID.

♦WHILE I AM CONFIDENT THAT, IN GENERAL AND IN THE LONGER TERM, WISER COUNSELS WILL PREVAIL AND THE SURGE OF PROTECTIONISM WILL TURN BACK, RESTRICTIVE AGREEMENTS OF THE KIND IMPOSED

I UPON US BY THE EEC LAST YEAR HAMPER THE GROWTH OF OUR ECONOMY AND ADD TO THE DIFFICULTIES OF OUR TRADERS, WHO ALREADY FACE STERN COMPETITION BUT ARE CONFIDENT THAT THEY CAN MEET IT WITH SUCCESS, PROVIDED THAT THEY ARE ALLOWED TO OPERATE ON EQUAL TERMS WITH OUR COMPETITORS AND THAT ARTIFICAL RESTRAINTS DO NOT IMPEDE THEIR ABILITY TO SWITCH PRODUCTS TO MEET CHANGING DEMANDS IN OVERSEAS MARKETS.*

/SIE DSJYS .....

MONDAY, APRIL 3, 1978

2

SIR DENYS SAID HONG KONG HAD MANAGED TO BECOME, IN SPITE OF FORMIDABLE OBSTACLES, ONE OF THE LEADING TRADERS IN THE WORLD. HE ASKED: +WHAT ARE THE REASONS FOR ITS REMARKABLE SUCCESS IN A COMPETITIVE AND UNCERTAIN WORLD?* HE SUGGESTED 10 REASONS:

+FIRST, A LABOUR FORCE AND MANAGEMENT OF INTELLIGENT ADAPTABLE AND HARD-WORKING PEOPLE, BRED IN A LONG TRADITION THAT LIFE IS A STRUGGLE, THAT NOBODY OWES YOU A LIVING AND THAT EFFORT SHOULD BE REWARDED. THIS OUTLOOK BRINGS WITH.IT THE ABILITY TO MOVE SWIFTLY INTO THE MANUFACTURE OF NEW PRODUCTS AS THE DEMANDS OF WORLD MARKETS CHANGE.

+SECOND, A HABIT OF ENERGY. IN 1945, HONG KONG WAS RUINED. RECONSTRUCTION BEGAN AT A FURIOUS PACE, WHICH HAS NEVER SLACKENED AS WE MOVED FROM RESTORING THE PLACE TO WORKING ORDER, TO INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT TO SUPPORT A HUGE POPULATION AND TO TRYING TO PROVIDE, BY AN EXPANSION OF PUBLIC HOUSING, TRANSPORT FACILITIES AND EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL WELFARE ADVANCES, A BETTER STANDARD OF LIFE FOR THOSE WHO LIVE HERE.

+THIRD, SELF RELIANCE. WE DO NOT BELONG TO ANY MULTI-NATIONAL ECONOMIC ALLIANCES OR TO ANY ECONOMIC COMMUNITY. WE HAVE HAD TO LEARN TO FIGHT FOR OURSELVES, THOUGH WE HAVE RECEIVED MUCH SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT FROM BRITAIN. HONG KONG IS ONE OF THE FEW AREAS OCCUPIED DURING WORLD WAR II WHICH HAS RECONSTRUCTED ITSELF WITH VIRTUALLY NO EXTERNAL AID.

+FOURTH, A SUPERB HARBOUR, WITH FIRST CLASS PORT FACILITIES, WHICH HAVE KEPT PACE WITH MODERN REQUIREMENTS.

+FIFTH, A GOVERNMENT WHICH IS RELIABLE AND PREDICTABLE, BECAUSE IT DOES NOT CHANGE NOR DO THE MAIN PRINCIPLES ON WHICH ITS POLICIES ARE BASED. IN MOST COUNTRIES, YOU EITHER HAVE A DICTATOR (WHO IS UNPREDICTABLE) OR FREQUENT CHANGES OF GOVERNMENTS, WHICH PURSUE DIFFERENT POLICIES.

+SIXTH, A BELIEF, RARE IN THE WORLD TODAY, THAT A GOVERNMENT SHOULD INTERFERE AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE WITH BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY, UPON WHICH OUR PROSPERITY DEPENDS, SAVE IN SO FAR AS REGULATION IS NECESSARY FOR THE REASONABLE PROTECTION OF THE SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL WELL BEING OF EMPLOYEES AND CONSUMERS.

THE HONG KONG ADMINISTRATION BELIEVES THAT TRADING SHOULD BE LEFT IN THE HANDS OF THE TRADERS AND MANUFACTUERES, WHO UNDERSTAND IT BEST. BUSINESS SHOULD NOT BE ENTRUSTED TO BUREAUCRATS, WHO ARE TRAINED TO HABITS OF MIND OF CAUTION AND OF PLANNED PROGRESSION WHICH ARE UNSUITABLE TO THE DYNAMIC QUALITY OF INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE, WHERE SPEED AND WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT RISKS ARE SO ESSENTIAL TO SUCCESS.

+SEVENTH, A CONVICTION THAT A GOVERNMENT SHOULD LIVE WITHIN ITS MEANS, THUS, WE HAVE ALMOST NO PUBLIC DEBT, AND OUR LIQUIDRESERVES AMOUNT TO ABOUT SIX MONTHS’ PUBLIC EXPENDITURE.

I+EIGHTH, .» • •.

MONDAY, APRIL 3, 1978

3

+EIGHTH, A SOCIETY WHICH IS STABLE, BECAUSE IT DOES NOT SUFFER FROM THE STRAINS OF INTERNAL PARTY POLITICAL CONFLICTS AND BECAUSE ITS GOVERNMENT ACCEPTS THE DUTY TO PROTECT ITS INHABITANTS AGAINST DISABILITY, AGE AND HARDSHIP.

+NINTH, OUR ABILITY TO ATTRACT CAPITAL. THIS IS FOUNDED UPON OUR LOW RATE OF TAXATION (17 PER CENT FOR CORPORATE PROFITS AND 15 PER CENT ON SALARIES): UPON THE ABSENCE OF EXCHANGE CONTROL, SO THAT ANYONE, RESIDENT OR NOT, CAN MOVE HIS MONEY INTO AND OUT OF HONG KONG TO ANY PART OF THE WORLD AS HE WISHES-AND TO THE MAINTENANCE OF A FREE PORT, SO THAT TRADERS CAN IMPORT AND EXPORT WITHOUT ANY RESTRICTION IMPOSED BY HONG KONG, EXCEPT FOR SUCH EXPORT CONTROLS AS WE ARE OBLIGED TO OPERATE AT THE BEHEST OF IMPORTING COUNTRIES.

+TENTH, THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SOUND INFRASTRUCTURE. I HAVE MENTIONED THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PORT, WHICH PROVIDES, FOR EXAMPLE, SUPERB CONTAINER FACILITIES. AIR FREIGHT SERVICES HAVE ALSO DEVELOPED TO A POINT AT WHICH UP TO 25 PER CENT BY VALUE OF OUR EXPORTS GO OUT BY AIR. THE FINANCIAL, BANKING AND INSURANCE FACILITIES, WHICH ARE INDISPENSABLE TO INTERNATIONAL TRADE, WERE WELL DEVELOPED TO SERVE THE ENTREPOT TRADE IN PRE-WAR DAYS AND HAVE EXPANDED TO MEET THE WIDER REQUIREMENTS OF A SUBSTANTIAL INDUSTRIAL AND TRADING CENTRE. INDEED, FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS SERVICES ACCOUNT FOR ABOUT 2D PER CENT OF HONG KONG’S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT.+

SIR DENYS SAID HE BELIEVED THAT THESE FACTORS SHOULD ENSURE THAT HONG KONG WOULD CONTINUE TO SUCCEED AS AN INTERNATIONAL TRADER IN THE YEARS AHEAD, +IN THE ABSENCE OF ARTIFICIAL RESTRAINTS UPON US.+

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

/4

MONDAY, APRIL 3, 1978

- 4 -

PRESENTATION OF INSIGNIA

******

SIXTY-THREE LOCAL RESIDENTS DECORATED BY THE QUEEN FOR SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY RECEIVED THEIR INSIGNIA FROM THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, AT A PRESENTATION CEREMONY IN GOVERNMENT HOUSE TODAY (MONDAY).

MOST OF THE RECIPIENTS WERE DECORATED IN THE NEW YEAR HONOURS.

THE AWARDS PRESENTED TODAY WERE :

C.M.G. (COMPANION OF THE ORDER OF ST. MICHAEL AND ST. GEORGE)

M — m.iii ■ ! ■ i —................

_ X. •.

THE HON. DAVID AKERS-JONES, J.P.

THE HON. DAVID WYLIE MCDONALD, J.P.

O.B.E. (OFFICER ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE)

MR J CHAM SIU-LEUN, M.B.E., J.P.

THE HON. LYDIA DUNN, J.P.

MR. HO SIN-HANG, M.B.E.

MR. DAVID SHERBROOKE WHITELEGGE, J.P.

4®. LEE MAN-CHIU

THE HON. WONG LAM, J.P.

LT. COL. K.R. MORGAN-JONES

I.S.O. (IMPERIAL SERVICE ORDER)

MR. DAV ID? HAMPTON

MR. LAO MOU-CHI, J.P.

I.S.M. (IMPERIAL SERVICE MEDAL)

MR. LI KI

Ml. LEUNG KAI

MR. WAN KIRN-TAI

MR. YEUNG SHIU-SHEE

MONDAY, APRIL 3, W - 5 -

M.B.E. (MEMBER ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE)

DR. CHARM HOI-SANG

MRS. FRANCES HSIUNG

MRS. MAXINE LI KWOK, J.P.

THE REV. CANON E.W.L. MARTIN

NR. J.A. WALLACE, J.P.

NR. WOO TING-SANG MR. PANG CHUN-HOI THE REV. SIK CHI-CHEUNG MR. TANG WING-CHEUNG

B.E.M. (BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL) * NR. CHAN YIU

MISS SERENA CHENG KAI-MING

MR. CHEUNG CHEI-CHEI

MRS. IP YUNG

MR. LAM KWOK-WAH

MR. LAU CHEONG-FAI

MR. LI WAN

MR. NG CH I-BUN

MR. TAM MAN-YIU

MR. WAN LEUNG

CORPORAL CHHUMBETSHERING LAMA

LANCE CORPORAL IMANHANG LIMBU MR. LI YUK

Q.P.M. (QUEEN’S POLICE MEDAL)

MR. D.A. CHAPMAN, C.P.M.

MR. M.W. CHENEY, C.P.M.

/C.P.M

* .■-“-MONDAY, APHIL 3, 1978

- 6 -

C.P.M. (COLONIAL POLICE MEDAL) .. -- „_, .।.■?

MR. D.J. EDWARDS

MR. PHILIP DAVIES

MR. LEUNG YIU-LUN

MR. NG CHEUK-YEE

MR. JACK TROTMAN

MR. FONG SANG

MR. LI KAM-WING

MR. LI KWOK-CHOI

MR. PONG HEE

MR. WONG BICK ■ ■ ' ....

BADGE OF HONOUR _______________

MRS. CHAN MA MAY-YORK

MR. CHO HUNG-THU

MRS. ANNA CHUI

MR. GEORGE HSUEH

MR. LAU KWUN-SANG

MR. LO CHUN-SING

MR. WONG CHUN-WAI

MR. YIU KAI-HANG

SILVER LAUREL LEAF EMBLEMS (QUEEN’S COMMENDATION FOR BRAVE CONDUCT)

CONSTABLE SIMON LAM SAI-KIT

CONSTABLE MIU WA-KEUNG

CONSTABLE LO WING-TAI

CONSTABLE LEE WAI-LUNG

NR. NG CHOI-LEUNG (FIRE)

NR. CHEUNG CHING (FIRE)

MONDAY, APRIL 3, 1978

- 7 -

BANKING STATISTICS FOR FEBRUARY * * * *

BANKING DEPOSITS AT THE END OF FEBRUARY THIS YEAR STOOD AT $55,246 MILLION, COMPRISING $12,305 MILLION IN DEMAND DEPOSITS, $21,494 MILLION IN TIME DEPOSITS AND $21,446 MILLION IN SAVINGS DEPOSITS, ACCORDING TO STATISTICS RELEASED TODAY BY THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING.

THE AVERAGE LIQUIDITY DURING THE MONTH WAS 45.35 PER CENT.

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

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

LIABILITIES $MILL ION

1. DEPOSITS 55,246

2. AMOUNT DUE TO BANKS ABROAD 38,507

3. OTHER LIABILITIES 10,644

TOTAL LIABILITIES: 104,397

ASSETS

1. CASH 1,180

2. AMOUNT DUE FROM BANKS ABROAD:

(1) DEMAND AND SHORT TERM CLAIMS 29,685

(II) TIME DEPOSITS 5,000 34,685

3. LOANS AND ADVANCES:

(1) HONG KONG 38,494

( 1 0 ABROAD 19,634 58,128

/4« INVESTMENTS:

MONDAY, APRIL 3, 1978

- 8 -

4. INVESTMENTS: * 1 2 3 4 5

(I) HONG KONG 3,892

(II) ABROAD 82

------- 3,974

5. OTHER ASSETS:

(I) HONG KONG 4,634

(II) ABROAD 1,796

----- 6 7 8'430

TOTAL ASSETS: 104,397

AVERAGE LIQUIDITY DURING MONTH 45.35%

MONEY SUPPLY

MONTH ENDED 28TH FEBRUARY 1978

^MILLION

1. LEGAL TENDER COINS AND NOTES IN CIRCULATION (A) (1) COMMERCIAL BANK ISSUES 6,225

(II) GOVERNMENT ISSUES 704

----- 6,929

2. LICENSED BANKS’ HOLDINGS OF LEGAL TENDER COINS AND NOTES (B) 1,180

3. LEGAL TENDER COINS AND NOTES IN HANDS OF

NON-BANK PUBLIC (A) - (B) - (C) 5,749

4. DEMAND DEPOSITS WITH LICENSED BANKS (D) 12,305

5. MONEY SUPPLY (DEFINITION 1) (C) + (D) - (E) 18,054

6. TIME DEPOSITS WITH LICENSED BANKS (F) 21,494

7. SAVINGS DEPOSITS WITH LICENSED BANKS (G) 21,446

8. MONEY SUPPLY (DEFINITION 2) (E) + (F) + (G) - (H) 60,994

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

MONDAY, APRIL 3, 1978

9

WEST KOWLOON ROAD SYSTEM TO BE IMPROVED ******

THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS TO IMPROVE AND MODIFY THE ROAD SYSTEM IN THE WEST KOWLOON AREA LATER THIS MONTH (APRIL) SO THAT A TRAFFIC DIVERSION SCHEME AIMED AT FACILITATING MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY WORK COULD BE IMPLEMENTED.

THE WORK, COSTING ABOUT $3 MILLION, WILL INVOLVE ROADWORKS AS WELL AS INSTALLATION OF TRAFFIC LIGHT SIGNALS.

MR. TOM ARMOUR, P.W.D.’S ACTING CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE HIGHWAYS (KOWLOON) DIVISION, SAID THAT THE WORK WOULD TAKE ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS TO COMPLETE.

ON COMPLETION, HE SAID, VEHICULAR TRAFFIC WOULD BE DIVERTED AWAY FROM CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD, THUS FACILITATING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY FROM PRINCE EDWARD STATION TO THE PROPOSED LAI WAN STATION AT MEI FOO SUN CHUEN.

MR. ARMOUR SAID THAT APART FROM THE NECESSARY WORKS FOR TRAFFIC RE-ROUTING ON A NUMBER OF STREETS, NEW TRAFFIC LIGHT SIGNALS WOULD EE INSTALLED AT 14 ROAD JUNCTIONS.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE EXISTING COMPUTERISED AREA TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM WOULD EE EXTENDED TO THE LAI CHI KOK AREA SO AS TO IMPROVE THE TRAFFIC FLOW IN THE NORTH-WESTERN PART OF KOWLOON.

THE PROJECT WOULD ALSO COVER THE CONSTRUCTION OF A HAWKER BAZAAR AREA TO ACCOMMODATE THOSE ON-STREET HAWKERS AFFECTED BY THE M.T.R. TSUEN WAN EXTENSION.

IN ADDITION, A 6,500-SQUARE METRE PLAYGROUND WITH GARDENS WOULD BE BUILT AT THE CORNER OF FORTUNE STREET AND FAT TSEUNG STREET AS PART OF THE REPROVISIONING WORKS OF CHEUNG SHA WAN PLAYGROUND WHICH WOULD BE AFFECTED BY THE M.T.R. WORKS.

MR. ARMOUR POINTED OUT THAT ALL ROAD WORKS UNDER THIS PROJECT WOULD BE COMPLETED IN ABOUT FOUR MONTHS’ TIME SO THAT THE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SCHEME FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE M.T.R. TSUEN WAN EXTENSION COULD BE FULLY IMPLEMENTED BY SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR TO MEET THE SCHEDULED COMMENCEMENT OF M.T.R. WORKS IN THIS AREA.

--------0 - -

/TO

MONDAY, APRIL 3, 1978

- 10

CYC THEME SONG CONTEST

* * * *

THE COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS INVITING SCHOOL CHILDREN IN HONG KONG TO COMPOSE A THEME SONG FOR ITS MOVEMENT.

ALL PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL CHILDREN ARE WELCOME TO TAKE PART IN THE SONG WRITING COMPETITION ORGANISED BY THE C.Y.C. SECRETARIAT IN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. THE WINNING SONG WILL BE CHOSEN AS THE THEME SONG FOR THE C.Y.C. MOVEMENT WHICH WAS LAUNCHED LAST YEAR.

+THE THEME OF THE SONG IS TO REFLECT THE OBJECTIVES OF THE CLUB WHICH ARE LAID DOWN IN ITS CHARTER, THE MAIN ONE BEING TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY,* A SPOKESMAN FOR THE C.Y.C. SECRETARIAT SAID.

ENTRIES MUST BE ORIGINAL SONGS FOR GROUP PERFORMANCES OF NOT MORE THAN THREE MINUTES DURATION AND THE LYRICS MUST BE IN CHINESE.

ALL ENTRY SONGS WILL BE SUNG IN CANTONESE BY STUDENTS OF PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS IN AN OPEN COMPETITION WHICH WILL BE HELD IN EARLY JUNE, 1978.

THREE PRIZES — ONE FOR THE BEST SONG, THE BEST PERFORMANCE IN SECONDARY SCHOOL SECTION AND THE BEST PERFORMANCE IN PRIMARY SCHOOL SECTION WILL BE AWARDED. THE PANEL OF ADJUDICATORS WILL CONSIST OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND WELL-KNOWN MUSICIANS.

A CASH PRIZE OF $2,000 AND AN AMPLIFIER SET DONATED BY TOM LEE PIANO COMPANY LTD. WILL BE AWARDED TO THE SCHOOL ENTERING THE BEST SONG. THE BEST PERFORMANCE OF THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL SECTIONS WILL EACH RECEIVE A $1,000 CASH AWARD.

SCHOOLS WISHING TO ENTER THE COMPETITION SHOULD RETURN THE +INTENTION TO ENTER* FORM SENT TO THEM EARLIER BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO THE COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB SECRETARIAT, ROOM 515G, LEE GARDEN, HYSAN AVENUE, HONG KONG NOT LATER THAN APRIL 15, 1978.

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

CLEARANCE OF ILLEGAL GRAVES IN CASTLE PEAK FIRING RANGE

* * * *

ILLEGAL GRAVES IN THE KWONG SHAN AREA IN TUEN MUN DISTRICT WILL BE CLEARED BY GOVERNMENT STAFF AFTER WEDNESDAY (APRIL 5), THE CHING MING FESTIVAL.

WHERE RELATIVES CAN BE TRACED BEFORE EXHUMATION THEY HAVE BEEN APPROACHED AND GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO REMOVE THE GRAVES THEMSELVES.

/under section .....

MONDAY, APRIL 3, 1978

- 11 -

UNDER SECTION 118 OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES ORDINANCE, BURIALS OUTSIDE AUTHORISED CEMETERIES ARE NOT PERMITTED AS THE PRACTICE IS CONTRARY TO THE PROPER DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRYSIDE AND COULD CONSTITUTE A HEALTH HAZARD.

ILLEGAL GRAVES IN THE KWONG SHAN AREA ALSO CAUSE DANGER TO LIFE BECAUSE RELATIVES AND VISITORS PUT THEIR LIVES AT RISK BY ENTERING THE DANGER AREA OF THE CASTLE PEAK FIRING RANGE.

EXHUMED REMAINS OF THESE BURIALS WILL BE RE-INTERRED IN SANDY RIDGE CEMETERY.

------o - - - -

EXTENSION OF DOG LICENCE

******

™ENDMENTS T0 THE D0SS AND CATS REGULATIONS EXTENDING THE VALIDITY OF A DOG LICENCE FROM ONE TO THREE YEARS HAVE COME INTO EFFECT FROM SATURDAY (APRIL 1).

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY THAT DOGS WHICH HAVE BEEN INOCULATED AGAINST RABIES DO NOT HAVE TO BE RELICENCED FOR THREE YEARS FROM THE DATE OF INOCULATION.

HE SAID THAT THE AMENDED REGULATIONS STIPULATE THAT NO PERSON SHALL KEEP A DOG OVER THE AGE OF FIVE MONTHS EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH A LICENCE FROM THE DEPARTMENT. ANY PERSON IN CONTROL OF A DOG IS REQUIRED TO HAVE IT INOCULATED AGAINST RABIES AT THE AGE OF FIVE MONTHS AND THEREAFTER AT INTERVALS NOT EXCEEDING THREE YEARS.

THE LICENCE FEE FOR EACH DOG HAS BEEN STANDARDISED AT $15 FOR THE THREE-YEAR PERIOD.

HE ADDED THAT WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT DOG INOCULATION AND LICENSING SERVICES WOULD BE PROVIDED AT SEVEN CENTRES ON HONG KONG ISLAND, SIX IN KOWLOON AND SEVEN IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

THE MAIN CENTRES AT VICTORIA ROAD GOVERNMENT KENNELS AT POKFULAM, THE SUNG WONG TOI GOVERNMENT KENNELS IN KOWLOON AND THE SHA TIN AND SHEK WU HUI GOVERNMENT KENNELS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES ARE OPEN FROM 9 A.M. TO 5 P.M. FROM MONDAYS TO FRIDAYS AND FROM 9 A.M. TO 12.30 P.M. ON SATURDAYS.

FURTHER ENQUIRIES COULD BE MADE BY CALLING THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, TELEPHONE : 3-688111.

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

/12

MONDAY, APRIL 3, 1973

- 12 -

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

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT HAS ANNOUNCED THAT SEVERAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN KWUN TONG AND SHA TIN THIS WEEK.

FROM 13 A.M. ON THURSDAY (APRIL 6), 24-HOUR URBAN CLEARWAY RESTRICTIONS WILL BE IMPOSED ON THE SECTION OF NORTH-WEST BOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF KWUN TONG ROAD FROM LAI YIP STREET TO A POINT OF ABOUT 558 FEET EAST OF THE WESTERN END OF THE FLYOVER LEADING FROM KWUN TONG ROAD TO WAI YIP STREET.

ALL MOTOR VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM PICKING UP OR SETTING DOWN PASSENGERS AND LOADING OR UNLOADING GOODS AT ANY TIME ON THIS ROAD.

WITH EFFECT FROM THE SAME TIME, TAI YIP STREET SECTION BETWEEN WAI YIP STREET AND HONG TAK ROAD WILL BE RE-ROUTED FROM TWO-WAY TRAFFIC TO ONE-WAY NORTH-WEST BOUND.

IN SHA TIN, THE SECTION OF SHA TIN BY-PASS BETWEEN THE

TWO ACCESS ROADS TO LEK YUEN ESTATE WILL EE CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC FOR FOUR CONSECUTIVE NIGHTS BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 5 A.M. WITH EFFECT FROM FRIDAY (APRIL 7) TO FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PEDESTRIAN FOOTBRIDGE.

TRAFFIC ALONG THIS SECTION OF SHA TIN BY-PASS WILL EE DIVERTED THROUGH THE LEK YUEN ESTATE ROADS DURING THE CLOSURE PERIODS.

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

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

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

4

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 1978 • '• ■ < ■ ■

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

--. , r T

GOVERNOR OPENS NEW BRITISH COUNCIL CENTRE ..... 1

GOVERNOR CONTINUES VISIT TO DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARDS .. 2

CHING MING FIRE WARNING ......................  3

TEXTILE QUOTA UTILISATION POSITION ............ 4

COMMENDATION OF PRISONS DEPARTMENT STAFF .....  6

TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE ........................ 6

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

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 1978

1

GOVERNOR OPENS NEW BRITISH COUNCIL CENTRE * * * M

THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID TODAY THAT THE NEED FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING HAS PUT +GREAT PRESSURE* ON THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN HONG KONG AS ELSEWHERE.

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE NEW BRITISH COUNCIL CENTRE, SIR MURRAY POINTED OUT THAT WITH THE RAPID ECONOMIC AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG, KNOWLEDGE OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE HAS BECOME EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

+THIRTY YEARS AGO ENGLISH WAS IMPORTANT TO VERY FEW OUTSIDE GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION AND A FEW PROFESSIONS. NOW WITH A POPULATION THAT HAS INCREASED NEARLY EIGHTFOLD IN THIS TIME, VIRTUALLY EVERY CHILD IN HONG KONG IS BEING TAUGHT ENGLISH,* HE SAID.

FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE NEW BRITISH COUNCIL CENTRE TODAY (TUESDAY)t-

+DR. TAHOURDIN HAS JUST POINTED OUT THAT THE BRITISH COUNCIL HAS BEEN IN HONG KONG SINCE 1948. THIS WAS ONLY EIGHT YEARS AFTER THE BRITISH COUNCIL RECEIVED ITS CHARTER IN 1940. FEW OF THE 78 COUNTRIES WHERE THE BRITISH COUNCIL NOW OPERATES CAN HAVE HAD SUCH A LONG CONNECTION. IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO COUNT ALL THOSE WHO HAVE BENEFITTED FROM THIS BRITISH COUNCIL PRESENCE — THOSE WHO HAVE USED THE BRITISH COUNCIL LIBRARY- THOSE HAVE FURTHERED THEIR STUDIES IN BRITAIN WITH BRITISH COUNCIL SCHOLARSHIPS- THOSE WHO HAVE BENEFITTED BY ADVICE FROM SPECIALISTS WHO THE BRITISH COUNCIL HAVE BROUGHT TO HONG KONG.

+THE BRITISH COUNCIL HAS MANY ROLES. ONE OF THESE IS GREAT EXPERTISE IN THE TEACHING OF ENGLISH.

+WITH THE RAPID ECONOMIC AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG, KNOWLEDGE OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE HAS BECOME EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

+THIRTY YEARS AGO ENGLISH WAS IMPORTANT TO VERY FEW OUTSIDE GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION AND A FEW PROFESSIONS. NOW WITH A POPULATION THAT HAS INCREASED NEARLY EIGHTFOLD IN THIS TIME, VIRTUALLY EVERY CHILD IN HONG KONG IS BEING TAUGHT ENGLISH.

+THIS PHENOMENON IS BEING REPEATED ALL OVER THE WORLD. THIS NEED FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING HAS PUT GREAT PRESSURE ON THE EDUCATION SYSTEM HERE AS ELSEWHERE.

+FOR THIS REASON I SEE THE IMPORTANCE OF WELL-RUN ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING INSTITUTES WHICH GIVE SCHOOL LEAVERS A SECOND CHANCE TO MASTER THE LANGUAGE. ALREADY NEARLY 5,090 YOUNG PEOPLE ARE COMING HERE AFTER WORK TO IMPROVE THEIR ABILITY IN THE USE OF ENGLISH.

+THE FUTURE OF AN INSTITUTE SUCH AS THIS DEPENDS ON THE QUALITY OF THE TEACHING. OVER 50 EXPATRIATES ARE EMPLOYED TEACHING THESE GENERAL ENGLISH COURSES.

/+OTR7R CCUHSES .....

WESDkX, kPBlL 4, 1978

2

♦OTHER COURSES HAVE ALREADY BEEN SET UP £OR SPECIAL GROUPS-AND THERE COULD BE AN IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SERVICE WITHIN SUCH AREAS AS COMMERCE, INDUSTRY, TOURISM, NURSING, OFTEN AS PART OF A BROADER STAFF TRAINING PROGRAMME. FOR INSTANCE, AS DR. TAHOURDIN MENTIONED. THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS ALREADY COMMISSIONED THE BRITISH COUNCIL TO RUN A SPECIAL INTENSIVE ENGLISH COURSE FOR A GROUP OF SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS.

+l CONGRATULATE THE BRITISH COUNCIL FOR SETTING UP THIS ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEACHING INSTITUTE AND I SHOULD NOW LIKE TO DECLARE IT OPEN.*

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

GOVERNOR CONTINUES VISIT TO DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARDS *****

THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, WILL CONTINUE HIS VISIT TO NEWLY-CREATED DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARDS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES ON THURSDAY (APRIL 6).

SIR MURRAY, WHO WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE JEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, WILL MEET MEMBERS OF THE SHA TIN AND TAI PO DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARDS AND HAVE GENERAL _ DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM ON THEIR PLANS AND PROBLEMS.

SIR MURRAY WILL ARRIVE AT LEK YUEN COMMUNITY CENTRE IN SHA TIN AT 2.50 P.M. FOR A MEETING WITH THE SHA TIN BOARD MEMBERS. HE WILL LEAVE SHA TIN AT 3.50 P.M. FOR TAI PO RURAL COMMITTEE OFFICE WHERE HE WILL MEET MEMBERS OF THE TAI PO BOARD.

IT WILL BE THE SECOND OF A SERIES OF FAMILIARISATION VISITS BY THE GOVERNOR TO THE DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARDS TO KEEP HIMSELF UP-TO-DATE WITH THE WORK OF THE BOARDS. THE FIRST VISIT - TO TSUEN WAN AND TUEN MUN - WAS MADE LATE LAST MONTH.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO COVER THE GOVERNOR’S VISIT ON THURSDAY. PRESS TRANSPORT WILL BE PROVIDED. A GOVERNMENT VAN, AM 2088, WILL LEAVE FROM BEHIND THE TSIM SHA TSUI POST OFFICE FOR SHA TIN AT 2 P.M.

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

/3

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 1978

3

CHING MING FIRE WARNING *****

PEOPLE ARE URGED TO TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTION AGAINST HILL FIRES WHEN GOING TO THE COUNTRYSIDE OR THE CEMETERIES TO PAY HOMAGE TO THEIR ANCESTORS DURING CHING MING FESTIVAL PERIOD.

STATISTICS SHOW THAT A TOTAL OF 155 HILL FIRES OCCURRED ON THE LAST CHING MING FESTIVAL DAY COMPARED WITH THE DAILY AVERAGE OF 8.5 HILL FIRES DURING THE YEAR. THE FIRES DESTROYED 350,000 TREES.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT ONE REASON FOR THE OUTBREAK OF FIRE IN THE HILLS IS THAT MANY PEOPLE BURN JOSS-STICKS AND PAPER OFFERINGS AT THE GRAVEYARDS.

+WE APPEAL TO THEM TO BE VERY CAUTIOUS WHEN- BURN I NG OFFERINGS.

THEY ARE ADVISED TO CLEAR WEEDS SURROUND 18G.-THE.

GRAVE BEFORE THEY START BURNING- TO BURN GRADUALLY AND IN SMALL QUANTITIES- TO WATCH OUT FOR SPARKS AND HOT ASHES- AND IF POSSIBLE TO USE A CONTAINER AS AN INCINERATOR TO CONTROL THE SPREAD OF FIRE,+ HE SAID.

ANOTHER REASON FOR THESE HILL FIRES, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED, IS THAT THE NUMBER OF PICNICKERS IN HONG KONG IS GROWING AND MANY OF THEM SPEND THEIR CHTNG MlNG HOLIDAY AT THE COUNTRYSIDE AND HOLD BARBECUE PARTIES THERE.

BECAUSE OF CARELESSNESS, SOME FORGET TO PUT OUT THE FIRE BEFORE THEY LEAVE,+ HE SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN GAVE THE FOLLOWING RULES TO HELP MINIMISE FIRE RISKSi

* BE CAREFUL WITH MATCHES AND CIGARETTE ENDS-

* LIGHT BARBECUE FIRE ONLY IN A DESIGNATED BARBECUE PLACE-

* DON’T LEAVE BURNING PAPER, CHARCOAL OR JOSS-STICKS UNATTENDED- AND

* WHEN GOING OUT FOR PICNIC, IT IS PREFERABLE TO BRING PRE-COOKED FOOD INSTEAD OF BARBECUE I NG.

EXTRA FIRE GUARDS WILL BE ON DUTY DURING THE CHING MING PERIOD TO ENSURE THAT WORSHIPPERS AND VISITORS TO THE COUNTRYSIDE RESPECT THE COUNTRY PARKS CODE.

/4

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 1978

- 4 -

TEXTILE QUOTA UTILISATION POSITION ft ft ft ft ft ft

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

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

USA

THE CURRENT 12-MONTH U.S. TEXTILE RESTRAINT PERIOD BEGAN ON JANUARY 1, 1978. QUOTA USED IN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS AMOUNTED TO 101.93 MILLION EQUIVALENT SQ. YDS. OR 10.64 PER CENT OF THE OVERALL RESTRAINT LIMIT. FIGURES SHOWING THE QUANTITIES LICENSED FOR EXPORT AND PERCENTAGES OF UTILISATION ON A GROUP.BAS IS ARE SET OUT BELOW:

GROUP DESCRIPTION

QUANTITY LICENSED PERCENTAGE

(IN MILLION UTILISATION

EQUIVALENT AGAINST ..

SQ. YDS.) GROUP LIMITS

I YARNS AND FABRICS OF 23.13 8.83

COTTON AND MAN-MADE FIBRES

II APPAREL OF COTTON AND 69.51 11.69

MAN-MADE FIBRES

III MADE-UPS AND MISCELLANEOUS 7.26 12.29

ARTICLES OF COTTON AND MAN-MADE FIBRES

IV WOOL TEXTILES AND 2.03 4.82

APPAREL

OF THE 24 CATEGORIES SUBJECT TO SPECIFIC LIMITS IN THE HONG KONG/U.S. TEXTILE AGREEMENT, THE RATE OF UTILISATION IN THREE OF THEM COULD BE DESCRIBED AS RELATIVELY HIGH. THESE THREE CATEGORIES WERE CATEGORY 331 (COTTON GLOVES), CATEGORY 347/348 (OUTER TROUSERS, SLACKS AND SHORTS) AND CATEGORY 649 (BRASSIERES, ETC.).

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 1978

- 5 -

EEC

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

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

UNITED KINGDOM 7.86 12.4

DENMARK 0.44 9.4

IRISH REPUBLIC 0.01 1.3

FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY 5.52 10.3

BENELUX 1.31 11.4

FRANCE 0.13 3.6

ITALY 0.16 5.1

OUT OF A TOTAL OF 288 CATEGORIES ON MEMBER STATE/CATEGORY BASIS. THE RATE OF UTILISATION IN 27 OF THEM WAS RELATIVELY HIGH. THESE POPULAR CATEGORIES INCLUDE CATEGORY 4 (KNITTED SHIRTS. ETC.), CATEGORY 6 (WOVEN TROUSERS AND MEN’S SHORTS), CATEGORY 7 (WOVEN/KNITTED BLOUSES), CATEGORY 8 (MEN’S WOVEN SHIRTS), CATEGORY 12 (KNITTED SOCKS AND STOCKINGS), CATEGORY 17 (MEN’S WOVEN JACKETS), CATEGORY 19/89 (COTTON HANDKERCHIEFS), CATEGORY 21 (PARKAS, ANORAKS AND WINDCHEATERS), CATEGORY 31 (BRASSIERES), CATEGORY 61 (NARROW WOVEN FABRICS), CATEGORY 72 (KNITTED SWIMWEAR), CATEGORY 74 (WOMEN’S KNITTED SUITS) AND CATEGORY 76 (WOVEN WORK GARMENTS).

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

/6

TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 1978

6

NOTE TO EDITORS:

COMMENDATION OF PRISONS DEPARTMENT STAFF

*****

THE COMMISSIONER OF PRISONS, MR. TOM GARNER, WILL PRESENT 16 COMMENDATION CERTIFICATES TO MEMBERS OF STAFF OF THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT FOR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE OF DUTIES.

THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY WILL TAKE PLACE AT 2.30 -P.M. ON THURSDAY (APRIL 6) AT THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE IN TUNG TAU WAN ROAD, STANLEY.

DETAILS OF THE COMMENDATIONS AND RECIPIENTS WILL BE RELEASED AT THE CEREMONY.

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE EVENT.

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

TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE

*****

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT HAS ANNOUNCED THAT THE SECTION OF KWAI CHUNG ROAD BETWEEN LAI KING HILL ROAD AND THE CONTAINER PORT FLYOVER WILL BE CLOSED FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE NIGHTS FROM MIDNIGHT ON THURSDAY (APRIL 6) TO 5.30 A.M. FRIDAY (APRIL 7) AND ON MIDNIGHT FRIDAY TO 5.30 A.M. ON SATURDAY (APRILS).

THE CLOSURE IS TO FACILITATE THE REMOVAL OF A TEMPORARY BRIDGE OVER KWAI CHUNG ROAD NEAR LAI KING ESTATE.

AS A RESULT, NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC TO TSUEN WAN WILL BE DIVERTED THROUGH CONTAINER PORT ROAD, HING FONG ROAD, KWAI FU ROAD AND BACK INTO KWAI CHUNG ROAD. SOUTHBOUND TRAFFIC TO KOWLOON WILL BE DIVERTED THROUGH LAI KING HILL ROAD AND BACK INTO KWAI CHUNG ROAD.

THE DEPARTMENT ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT THE SECTION OF SAN TSUEN ROAD ADJACENT TO LOTS 1248 AND 1249 IN D.D. 453 NORTH TSUEN WAN WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL VEHICULAR TRAFFIC FROM 10 A.M. ON THURSDAY (APRIL 6) TO FACILITATE REMEDIAL WORKS ON A RETAINING WALL THERE.

APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE SET UP IN BOTH PLACES TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.

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

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 1978

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

TRADE FIGURES FOR JANUARY ..................... 1

EDUCATION CAMPAIGN AGAINST HYPERTENSION ....... 5

COLOURFUL BOOKLET ON DESALTING PLANT ON SALE .. 7

NOTICE OF RATES PAYMENT ......................  8

TAI KOK TSUI TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT............... 8

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

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 1978

- 1 -

TRADE FIGURES FOR JANUARY

******

THE VALUE OF HONG KONG’S DOMESTIC EXPORTS FOR JANUARY THIS YEAR ROSE BY 1.2 PER CENT TO $2,721 MILLION COMPARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR, ACCORDING TO TRADE FIGURES RELEASED BY CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY.

THE FIGURES ALSO SHOWED THAT THE VALUE OF IMPORTS IN JANUARY THIS YEAR INCREASED BY 11.9 PER CENT TO $4,288 MILLION AND RE-EXPORTS UP BY 4.9 PER CENT TO $882 MILLION AS COMPARED WITH CORRESPONDING PER-IOD IN 1977.

THE FOLLOWING TABLE SHOWS HONG KONG’S DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO 10 MAJOR MARKETS:

JAN. 1977 (HK$ MN) JAN. 1978 (HK$ MN) INCREASE/ DECREASE (HK$ MN) PERCENTAGE CHANGE

U.S.A. 918 996 + 78 ' ♦ 8.5%

F.R. OF GERMANY 332 287 - 45 -13.5%

UNITED KINGDOM 226 214 - 12 - 5.2%

AUSTRALIA 123 135 + 12 + 9.4%

JAPAN 94 111 + 17 +17.7%

CANADA 94 84 - 10 -10.7%

SINGAPORE 71 82 + 11 ,.+15.6% ’A V

NETHERLANDS 67 62 - 4 - 6.7%

SWITZERLAND AND

LIECHTENSTEIN 60 62 + 2 .+ 3.9%

SWEDEN. 73 32 -41 -56.0%

EXPORTS TO FIVE OF THESE 10 MAJOR MARKETS SHOWED POSITIVE

GROWTH RATES. HOWEVER, THESE INCREASES WERE OFFSET BY THE

DECLINES IN EXPORTS TO THE OTHER FIVE MARKETS. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DROP WAS RECORDED IN EXPORTS TO SWEDEN. DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO THE U.S. SLOWED DOWN CONSIDERABLY, ONLY REGISTERING AN INCREASE OF 8.5 PER CENT IN CONTRAST WITH THE 20.6 PER CENT GROWTH RATE RECORDED FOR THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

/the continued

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5> 1978

2

THE CONTINUED DECLINE IN EXPORTS OF GARMENTS TO F.R. OF GERMANY ATTRIBUTED MAINLY TO THE SHARP DECLINE RECORDED IN JANUARY. HOWEVER, THE DROP IN EXPORTS TO U.K. AND CANADA HAD MODERATED AND A FAVOURABLE INCREASE WAS OBSERVED IN EXPORTS TO AUSTRALIA AND JAPAN.

AN ANALYSIS OF THE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS

BY MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS IS PRESENTED BELOW:

JAN. 1977 JAN. 1978 INCREASE/

DECREASE PERCENTAGE

(HK$ MN) (HK$ MN) (HK$ MN) CHANGE

ARTICLES OF APPAREL AND CLOTHING ACCESSORIES 1,082 964 -118 -10.9%

MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (MAINLY PLASTIC FLOWERS, TOYS AND DOLLS) 416 444 + 28 + 6.6%

TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (MAINLY TRANSISTORISED RADIOS) 218 205 - 13 - 5.8%

TEXTILE YARN, FABRICS, MADE-UP ARTICLES AND RELATED PRODUCTS 219 200 - 19 - 8.5%

PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES, OPTICAL GOODS, WATCHES AND CLOCKS 130 189 + 59 + 45.4%

ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES (MAINLY TRANSISTORS AND DIODES, HOUSEHOLD TYPE EQUIPMENT) 140 153 + 13 + 9.3%

DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF CLOTHING AND TEXTILES DECLINED IN THE FACE OF SLUGGISH OVERSEAS DEMAND. INCREASES WERE OBSERVED FOR WATCHES AND CLOCKS ($152 MILLION. +50.9 PER CENT), ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS AND PARTS FOR COMPUTERS ($67 MILLION, +32.9 PER CENT) AND MISCELLANEOUS HOUSEHOLD TYPE, ELECTRICAL AND NON-ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT ($54 MILLION, +37.9 PER CENT).

/the changes .....

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5» 1978

- 3 -

THE CHANGES IN IMPORTS FROM 10 MAJOR SOURCES ARE SUMMARISED BELOW:

JAN. 1977 (HK$ MN.) JAN. 1978 (HK$ MN.) INCREASE/ DECREASE (HK$ MN.) PERCENTAGE CHANGE

CHINA 659 821 + 162 + 24.6%

JAPAN 753 814 + 61 + 8.1%

U.S.A. 445 471 + 26 + 5.8%

TAIWAN 291 280 - 11 - 3.9%

SINGAPORE 208 251 + 44 + 20.9%

UNITED KINGDOM 171 193 + 22 + 12.8%

SOUTH KOREA 128 180 + 52 +41.0%

F.R. OF GERMANY 129 164 + 35 + 27.1%

SWITZERLAND AND LIECHTENSTEIN 112 118 + 6 + 5.6%

AUSTRALIA 69 96 + 28 + 40.6%

IMPORTS INCREASED FROM ALL MAJOR SUPPLIERS IN JANUARY EXCEPT FOR TAIWAN. THE INCREASE IN IMPORTS FROM CHINA WAS DUE MAINLY TO MORE IMPORTS OF PETROLEUM AND PETROLEUM PRODUCTS (S55 MILLION, + 166 PER CENT) AND TEXTILE FABRICS ($78 MILLION, +58.9 PER CENT),

IMPORTS FROM JAPAN RECORDED A MODEST INCREASE OF 8.1 PER CENT. THE MAJOR INCREASES OCCURRED IN TEXTILE YARN, FABRICS AND RELATED PRODUCTS ($134 MILLION, +24.6 PER CENT) AND VEHICLES ($62 MILLION, +65.5 PER CENT).

/the following .....

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 1978

4

THE FOLLOWING TABLE ILLUSTRATES IMPORTS BY COMMODITY SECT IONS!-

THE IMPORTANT CHANGES

IN

JAN. 1977 (HK$ MN.)

JAN. 1978 (HKS MN.)

INCREASE/ DECREASE (HK$ MN.)

PERCENTAGE CHANGE

MANUFACTURED GOODS CLASS IFIED CHIEFLY BY MATERIAL (MANILY TEXTILE YARN, FABRICS AND DIAMONDS) 1,064 1,234 • +170 +16.0%

MACHINERY AND TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT 734 796 + 62 + 8.4%

FOOD AND LIVE ANIMALS CHIEFLY FOR FOOD 634 693 + 59 + 9.3%

MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (MAINLY WATCHES AND CLOCKS) 438 505 + 67 +15.4%

CRUDE MATERIALS, INEDIBLE, EXCEPT FUELS (MAINLY TEXTILE FIBRES) 296 340 + 45 +15.1%

MISCELLANEOUS CHEMICALS AND RELATED PRODUCTS, (MAINLY ARTIFICIAL RESINS AND PLASTIC MATERIALS’ MEDICINAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS) 296 301 + 5 + 1.6%

MAJOR INCREASES IN IMPORTS WERE FOUND IN TEXTILE YARN, FABRICS AND RELATED PRODUCTS ($578 MILLION, +15.5 PER CENT)’ PHOTOGRAPHIC AND OPTICAL EQUIPMENT ($235 MILLION, +20.5 PER CENT)= MISCELLANEOUS NON-METALLIC MINERAL MANUFACTURES, MAINLY DIAMONDS ($251 MILLION, +17.1 PER CENT)’ TEXTILE FIBRE AND THEIR WASTE ($181 MILLION, +24.6 PER CENT) AND VEHICLES ($105 MILLION, +45.2 PER CENT).

RE-EXPORTS TO JAPAN REMAINED AT THE SAME LEVEL AS LAST YEAR’S JANUARY, INCREASING ONLY BY 0.5 PER CENT.

ON THE OTHER HAND, RE-EXPORTS TO SINGAPORE (AT $113 MILLION, INDONESIA (AT $114 MILLION) AND THE U.S. (AT $82 MILLION) GAINED IMPRESSIVE GROWTH RATE OF 14.4 PER CENT, 70.1 PER CENT AND 25.8 PER CENT RESPECT IVELY.

/these INCREASES

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 1978

5

THESE INCREASES WERE DUE TO MORE RE-EXPORTS OF PETROLEUM AND PETROLEUM RELATED PRODUCTS TO SINGAPORE, VEHICLES TO INDONESIA, AND MISCELLANEOUS NON-METALLIC MINERAL MANUFACTURES, MAINLY DIAMONDS TO THE U.S.

THE TRADE INDEX NUMBERS FOR DECEMBER 1977 WERE ALSO RELEASED AS FOLLOWS:

VALUE INDEX UNIT VALUE INDEX QUANTUM INDEX (1973=100)

DOMESTIC EXPORTS 220 131 168

IMPORTS 4- 203 135 150

THE TERM OF IMPORT UNIT VALUE TRADE INDEX INDEX) FOR ( 1 .E. EXPORT DECEMBER WAS UNIT VALUE INDEX/ 97.

NOTE: ALL VALUES WERE ROUNDED TO THE NEAREST MILLION DOLLAR.

- - - - 0 -----

EDUCATION CAMPAIGN AGAINST HYPERTENSION

******

A MASSIVE HEALTH EDUCATION CAMPAIGN, ASSISTED BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WILL BE LAUNCHED ON FRIDAY (APRIL 7) TO PROMOTE GREATER AWARENESS OF THE COMMUNITY IN THE CONTROL AND PREVENTION OF HYPERTENSION, THE +SILENT, SECRET THREAT TO THE HEALTH OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD.+

THE CAMPAIGN, DESIGNATED BY THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY AND FEDERATION OF CARDIOLOGY AS THE WORLD HYPERTENSION MONTH, WILL FEATURE A LARGE-SCALE EXHIBITION TO BE HELD AT THE OCEAN TERMINAL FROM APRIL 7.

THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH, DR. K.L. THONG, WILL OFFICIALLY OPEN THE EXHIBITION.

THIS IS THE FIRST EXHIBITION OF ITS KIND TO BE STAGED IN HONG KONG, AND IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG CARDIOLOGICAL SOCIETY, THE HONG KONG HEART FOUNDATION AND THE MEDICAL SOCIETY OF HONG KONG UNIVERSITY.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY THAT HYPERTENSION OFTEN PASSES UNNOTICED AS IT PRESENTS NO SYMPTOMS IN ITS EARLY STAGES, BUT ITS COMPLICATIONS ARE AMONG THE MOST IMPORTANT CAUSES OF DEATH AND INCAPACITY IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD.

/+AS BLOOD .....

WEDNESDAY, APHIL 5, 1978

6

+AS BLOOD PRESSURE RISES SO DOES THE RISK OF STROKE AND CORONARY HEART DISEASES, AND AS BLOOD PRESSURE GOES UP, LIFE EXPECTANCY GOES DOWN,* HE SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT HYPERTENSION IS THE SINGLE DISEASE THAT AFFECTED MORE PEOPLE THAN ANY OTHER ILLNESS.

IN A RECENT SURVEY OF EUROPEAN AND NORTH AMERICAN ADULTS, BETWEEN 10 AND 15 PER CENT WERE FOUND TO HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, YET ONLY HALF OF THESE CASES DISCOVERED WERE KNOWN BY THEIR DOCTORS TO HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. OF THESE, ONLY ABOUT 30 PER CENT WERE UNDER REGULAR TREATMENT.

+THIS IS THE SITUATION IN COUNTRIES WITH HIGHLY DEVELOPED MEDICAL RESOURCES. PREVALENCE OF HYPERTENSION MAY BE AS HIGH IN COUNTRIES LIKE HONG KONG,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE URGED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES ON WHAT HYPERTENSION IS ALL ABOUT BY ATTENDING THE WEEK-LONG • EXHIBITION.

BECAUSE THE PROBLEM OF HYPERTENSION IS WORLDWIDE, THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION HAS CHOSEN HYPERTENSION AS THE HEALTH THEME THIS YEAR WITH SLOGAN +DOWN WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.+

IN HIS MESSAGE TO WHO MEMBER COUNTRIES, THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL, DR. H. MAHLER, SAID THAT CONTROL OF THIS COMMUNITY HEALTH PROBLEM GOES BEYOND MEDICAL SERVICES.

+IT NEEDS THE CONTINUOUS SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC, OFTEN SPEARHEADED BY NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS. THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY — TEACHERS, PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND THE MASS MEDIA — MUST BE ENLISTED TO HELP DETECT THE LARGE NUMBER OF PERSONS AT RISK WHO ARE UNAWARE OF THEIR CONDITION,* HE SAID.

+NURSES, DOCTORS, MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY MUST ALL BE READY TO HELP THE PERSON AT RISK SEEK TREATMENT AND THEN TO ENCOURAGE HIM TO STICK TO IT. IN MANY CASES A BETTER LIFE-STYLE WITH A VIEW TO IMPROVING DIET AND INCREASING EXERCISE SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED,* HE ADDED.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

THE EXHIBITION ON HYPERTENSION WILL BE OFFICIALLY OPENED BY THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. K.L. THONG, AT 11 A.M. ON FRIDAY (APRIL 7) AT THE OCEAN TERMINAL, KOWLOON. YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE EVENT.

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

/7


WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 1978

- 7 -

COLOURFUL BOOKLET ON DESALTING PLANT ON SALE

******

A FULL COLOUR BOOKLET ON THE LOK ON PAI DESALTING PLANT IS ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE.

THE 2 WAGE BOOKLET, AT $6 EACH, IS THE SECOND OF A SERIES OF THREE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT’S BOOKLETS ON WATER PROJECTS..

THE FIRST BOOKLET IN THE SERIES — ON PLOVER COVE — WAS PUBLISHED IN JANUARY THIS YEAR, AND THE LAST ONE ON HIGH ISLAND WATER SCHEME IS EXPECTED TO BE OUT IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

THE LOK ON PAI DESALTER, ONE OF THE LARGEST OF ITS TYPE IN THE WORLD, NEAR TUEN MUN NEW TOWN, IS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING 181,800 CUBIC METRES OF FRESH WATER A DAY BY USING THE MULTI-STAGE FLASH DISTILLATION TECHNIQUE.

THE BOOKLET STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER AS A VITAL RESOURCE TO A COMMUNITY AND DESCRIBES THE GROWTH OF DESALINATION TECHNOLOGY IN THIS CENTURY. IT DESCRIBES IN SIMPLE TERMS HONG KONG’S EFFORTS IN THE FIELD OF DESALINATION AND THE GOVERNMENT’S DECISION TO BUILD THE PLANT. IT ALSO GIVES DETAILS OF CONSTRUCTION, AND THE PLANT AND EQUIPMENT INSTALLED.

THE PLANT HAS MODERN CONTROL AND COMPUTER FACILITIES AS WELL AS CLOSED-CIRCUIT T.V. SCANNING TO MINIMISE AIR POLLUTION. IT WAS OPENED BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, IN OCTOBER 1975.

/8

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 1978

8 —

NOTICE OF RATES PAYMENT * * * * *

RATEPAYERS WERE TODAY REMINDED THAT RATES FOR THE SECOND QUARTERS OF 1978 MUST BE SETTLED BY NOON, APRIL 29.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TREASURY NOT RECEIVED A DEMAND NOTE SHOULD TO THE RATES SECTION OF TREASURY CHONG BUILDING, SECOND FLOOR, 5

SAID ANY RATEPAYER WHO HAD APPLY IMMEDIATELY FOR A COPY REVENUE BRANCH, ROOM 203, HANG QUEEN’S ROAD CENTRAL.

+NON-RECEIPT OF THE DEMAND NOTE DOES NOT ALTER THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE RATES MUST BE PAID BY NOON ON APRIL 29,+ THE SPOKESMAN OA I D •

+AND UNLESS SO PAID IT MAY BE SUBJECT TO A SURCHARGE OF FIVE PER CENT IMPOSED UNDER THE RATING ORDINANCE. A FURTHER SURCHARGE OF 10 PER CENT MAY BE ADDED TO AMOUNTS, INCLUDING THE NORMAL FIVE PER CENT SURCHARGE, WHICH REMAIN UNPAID SIX MONTHS AFTER THE DUE DATE,+ HE ADDED.

WHEN MAKING PAYMENT, RATEPAYERS ARE REMINDED THAT THE AMOUNT TO BE PAID IS INDICATED ON THE DEMAND NOTE BY AN ARROW-HEAD IN THE +TOTAL AMOUNT NOW DUE+ BOX.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT +RATES ARE PAYABLE ON VACANT PROPERTIES BUT ARE REFUNDABLE UNDER CONDITIONS SPECIFIED IN THE ORDINANCE.+

HOWEVER NO REFUNDS WOULD BE PAYABLE IN THE CASE OF A VACANT TENEMENT LAST USED OR INTENDED TO BE USED WHOLLY OR PRIMARILY FOR DOMESTIC PURPOSES, UNLESS IT IS VACANT BY REASON OF AN ORDER OF THE GOVERNMENT.

RATEPAYERS ARE URGED TO PAY BY CHEQUE OR MONEY-ORDER THROUGH THE POST TO AVOID THE POSSIBLE INCONVENIENCE OF QUEUING. IF THEY ARE PAYING IN PERSON THEY ARE REQUESTED TO DO SO EARLY AT ANY OF THE OFFICES LISTED ON THE BACK OF THE DEMAND NOTE.

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

TAI KOK TSUI TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT

******

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT WILLOW. STREET AT ITS EASTERN JUNCTION WITH TUNG CHAU STREET IN TAI KOK TSUI WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC FROM 10 A.M. ON FRIDAY (APRIL 7) TO FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF WEST KOWLOON CORRIDOR.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE SECTION OF WILLOW STREET EAST OF MAPLE STREET WILL BE RE-ROUTED FROM ONE-WAY EASTBOUND TO TWO-WAY..

APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE SET UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.

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

PRH 7

IgisI Iffilfel

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 1978

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

GOVERNOR CONTINUES VISIT TO NT DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARDS .......................................... 1

PRISONS STAFF COMMENDED ......................... 2

HK FOURTH LARGEST CONSUMER OF FISH IN THE WORLD . 3

AWARDS FOR NT VOLUNTEER LIFE GUARDS ............. 4

i

ANT I-DRUG VARIETY SHOW ......................... 4

FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION DRAMA SERIES .............. 5

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

THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 1978

1

GOVERNOR CONTINUES VISIT TO NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARDS * * * *

THE SHA TIN DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD WILL MOVE TO ITS OWN PREMISES IN THE NEW TOWN LATER THIS YEAR.

BY TAKING OVER THE PREMISES IN LEK YUEN ESTATE PRESENTLY OCCUPIED BY LAND STAFF OF THE SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICE, THE BOARD IS CONFIDENT THAT IT COULD +MORE QUICKLY ESTABLISH A LOCAL IDENTITY IN SHA TIN.+

THIS WAS ONE OF THE POINTS RAISED TODAY (THURSDAY) WHEN THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, ATTENDED A MEETING OF THE SHA TIN BOARD TO LISTEN TO THEIR PLANS FOR THE COMING YEAR AND TO OFFER HIS HELP AND ADVICE. IT WAS PART OF HIS ROUND OF VISITS TO THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARDS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

SIR MURRAY, WHO WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES IN THE VISIT, WAS TOLD THAT THE SHA TIN BOARD IS ALREADY USING THE LEK YUEN PREMISES ON A TEMPORARY BASIS.

WHEN THE DISTRICT OFFICE STAFF MOVE OUT IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR, THE BOARD WILL HAVE A CONFERENCE ROOM AND WILL SET UP A PERMANENT EXHIBITION TO HELP KEEP LOCAL RESIDENTS IN TOUCH ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TOWN.

THE DISTRICT OFFICE WILL ALSO SET UP A PUBLIC ENQUIRY CENTRE IN THE SAME PREMISES WITH FULL-TIME TOWN LIAISON OFFICERS ON HAND TO ASSIST THE PUBLIC.

SIR MURRAY WAS TOLD THAT SUB-COMMITTEES DEALING WITH RECREATION, CULTURE AND SPORTS, MINOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS, AND PUBLICITY AND COMMUNICATIONS HAD BEEN SET UP TO DEVISE THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS OF SPENDING THE $303,030 ALLOCATED TO THE SHA TIN BOARD.

AFTER SPENDING AN HOUR WITH MEMBERS OF THE SHA TIN BOARD, SIR MURRAY CONTINUED HIS VISIT TO THE TAI PO DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD. HE ALSO SPENT AN HOUR WITH THE TAI PO BOARD.

SIR MURRAY WAS TOLD THAT THE TAI PO BOARD WAS IN THE PROGRESS OF ESTABLISHING THREE SUB-COMMITTEES - THE PUBLIC WORKS SUBCOMMITTEE, RECREATION, SPORTS AND CULTURAL SUB-COMMITTEE AND LOCAL PUBLIC WORKS AND MINOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS SUBCOMMITTEE.

LATER THIS MONTH THESE SUB-COMMITTEES WILL BEGIN TO CONSIDER WAYS OF SPEND I NG THE $500,000 ALLOCATED TO THE TAI PO BOARD..

/IN OCTOBER ....

THUBSDAY, APHIL 6, 1978


- 2 -

IN OCTOBER LAST YEAR, SIR MURRAY ANNOUNCED THE SETTING UP OF SEVEN DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARDS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES TO ADVISE THE GOVERNMENT ON THE WELL-BEING OF THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES. THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALLOCATED $3.7 MILLION TO THE BOARDS SO THAT THEY CAN CARRY OUT MINOR LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS AND PROMOTE THE ARTS, CULTURE AND RECREATION IN THEIR DISTRICTS.

THE BOARDS COMPRISE BOTH OFFICIAL AND UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS. THE SHA TIN BOARD HAS EIGHT UNOFFICIALS AND SIX OFFICIALS, WHILE THE TAI PO BOARD HAS 15 UNOFFICIALS AND FIVE OFFICIALS.

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

16 PRISONS STAFF COMMENDED M X M K

THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF PRISONS, MR. MAK PAK-LAM, TODAY (THURSDAY) PRESENTED CERTIFICATES OF COMMENDATION TO 16 STAFF OF THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT.

THE 16 RECIPIENTS WERE: MR. LEE HAK-KIU, MR. MAK SUN, MR. TSE SIK-KEE, MR. CHAN MING-CHEE, MR. MAN KAM-WAN, MR. CHAN PUI-YIN, MR. CHENG YAM-MAN, MR. TING TAK-LEUNG, MR. TANG KEI, MR. LAM KWONG, MR. HUNG KEI-NAM, MR. NG PING-CHIU, MR. WONG MING-HUNG, MR. WAN TAK-CHOI, MR. YUEN SIU-KUN AND MR. CHAN CHUNG-KAI.

THEY WERE COMMENDED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF PRISONS FOR THEIR ZEAL AND ENTHUSIASM IN WORK, FOR BRAVERY AND DILIGENCE IN DETECTING SMUGGLING, ALERTNESS AND PROFESSIONAL INTEGRITY IN THE FACE OF PERSONAL ATTACK.

AT THE PRESENTATION, MR. MAK SAID ALL OFFICERS SHOULD CARRY OUT THEIR DUTIES, BUT THOSE WHO EXCEED THEIR NORMAL BOUNDS OF DUTY SHOULD RECEIVE PUBLIC RECOGNITION.

THAT WITH

VERY

MR. MAK SAID PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE UNDERSTOOD THE WORK OF A PRISON OFFICER IS DIFFICULT, OFTEN ASSOCIATED PERSONAL RISK AND OCCASIONAL FRUSTRATION.

+T0 DO THIS TYPE OF WORK, YOU HAVE TO BE PROFESSIONAL, DEDICATED AND HUMANE,+ HE SAID.

+THE SUCCESSFUL REHABILITATION OF THOSE UNFORTUNE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY DEPENDS VERY LARGELY ON THE APPROACH AND ATTITUDE OF PRISON OFFICERS,+ HE ADDED.

THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 1978

3 -

HONG KONG FOURTH LARGEST CONSUMER OF FISH IN THE WORLD ******

HONG KONG IS THE WORLD’S FOURTH LARGEST CONSUMER OF FISH ON A PER CAPITA BASIS, THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, MR. TED NICHOLS STATED.

HE SAID THAT THE DOMESTIC DEMAND FOR FISHERY PRODUCTS, PARTICULARLY FRESH FISH, WAS SO STRONG IN MOST SOUTH EAST ASIAN AREAS THAT THE BULK OF FISH PRODUCED WAS CONSUMED WITHIN THE REGION .... ALTHOUGH EXPORTS OF HIGH VALUED SPECIES WAS INCREASING.

MR. NICHOLS MADE THE COMMENTS AT THE CITY LIONS CLUB LUNCHEON TODAY WHEN REFERRING TO THE INDO-PACIFIC FISHERY COMMISSION WHICH HE ATTENDED IN MANILA LAST MONTH.

HE WARNED HOWEVER, THAT THERE WAS MORE FISHING PRESSURE ON DEEP SEA (DEMERSAL) SPECIES THAN ON COASTAL AND OFFSHORE MID-WATER (PELAGIC) SPECIES WHERE +POTENTIAL EXPANSION COULD WELL LIE.+

+COMMERCIAL FISHING IS GENERALLY STILL INTENSIVE WITHIN COASTAL ZONES AND MARICULTURE IS PRACTISED ONLY IN INSHORE WATERS.

+YET, IT IS WITHIN THE COASTAL ZONES THAT SEA-BORNE TRAFFIC IS HEAVI EST-POLLUTION FROM WASTE DISPOSAL IS WORST- WHERE CONCENTRATIONS OF YOUNG LIVING ORGANISMS MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO POLLUTION OCCUR- WHERE SEAWATER IS TAKEN FOR COOLING POWER PLANTS OR FOR DESAL INISATION- AND FROM WHICH, INCREASINGLY, EXPLOITED MINERALS ARE TAKEN,+ SAID MR. NICHOLS.

ON THE +LAW OF THE SEA+ CONFERENCE, MR. NICHOLS SAID IT WAS MEETING TO CONSIDER AN INFORMAL COMPOSITE NEGOTIATING TEXT+ WHICH IT IS HOPED, WILL PROVIDE A BASIS FOR NEGOTIATION WITHOUT AFFECTING THE RIGHTS OF ANY STATE TO SUGGEST REVISIONS IN THE SEARCH FOR A CONCENSUS.+

+ALTHOUGH THE FINAL OUTCOME IS STILL TO BE DETERMINED, THE MAJORITY OF NATIONS NOW SUPPORT THE CONCEPT OF A BROAD ECONOMIC ZONE, ALTHOUGH DIFFERENT COUNTRIES MAY HAVE DIFFERENT VIEWS ON THE SUBSTANCE OF JURISDICTION WITHIN SUCH A ZONE.

+THE GENERAL TREND, HOWEVER, HAS BEEN FOR AN INCREASING NUMBER OF COUNTRIES TO EXTEND NATIONAL JURISDICTION OVER FISHING AND OTHER ACTIVITIES TO EXPLOIT NATIONAL RESOURCES.

+THE EFFECTS OF THIS GENERAL TREND OF EXTENSION OF JURISDICTION OVER FISHERIES ARE ALREADY APPARENT IN SOME REGIONS.

+DISTANT WATER FISHING FLEETS THAT HAVE BEEN OPERATING IN THE AREAS NEWLY CLAIMED FOR NATIONAL JURISDICTION MUST EITHER MOVE INTO OTHER AREAS OR REACH SOME LEVEL OF AGREEMENT WITH THE NATIONAL AUTHORITIES TO ALLOW THEIR CONTINUED FISHING WITHIN THE CLAIMED LIMITS,+ SAID MR. NICHOLS.

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

/4

•'THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 1978

- 4 -

AWARDS FOR NEW TERRITORIES VOLUNTEER LIFE GUARDS *******

MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG LIFE GUARD CLUB WHO WORKED 6,000 DUTY SHIFTS PROTECTING SWIMMERS AT NEW TERRITORIES BEACHES LAST SUMMER RECEIVED A SPECIAL PAT ON THE BACK THIS EVENING FROM THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES.

HE SAID THAT THE CLUB’S VOLUNTEER LIFE GUARDS DESERVED SPECIAL PRAISE BECAUSE NEW TERRITORIES BEACHES WERE MORE VULNERABLE TO THE DANGEROUS EFFECTS OF WIND AND CURRENTS, AND LIFEGUARDS VERY OFTEN HAD TO RISK THEIR OWN LIVES TO SAVE THOSE OF OTHERS.

MR. AKERS-JONES WAS OFFICIATING AT THE ANNUAL PRESENTATION OF MERITORIOUS RESCUE AND LIFE SAVING AWARDS TO CLUB MEMBERS.

HE SAID THAT THE CLUB WAS NOTED FOR ITS ACHIEVEMENTS -- AND LAST YEAR IT HAD MARKED UP ANOTHER BY SENDING A NUMBER OF COACHES TO THE UN I TED’STATES TO LEARN THE LATEST TECHNIQUES OF SAVING LIVES IN HEAVY SEAS.

+A HEAVY SEAS LIFE SAVING CLUB WAS FORMED UPON THE RETURN OF THESE YOUNG COACHES WHO HAVE IMPARTED THEIR SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE TO OTHERS SO THAT WE WILL ALL BE SAFER WHEN WE GO TO THE BEACH,+ HE SAID.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

ANTI-DRUG VARIETY SHOW * * * *

THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF AN ANT I-DRUG VARIETY SHOW TOMORROW (FRIDAY) EVENING AT MACPHERSON PLAYGROUND, KOWLOON.

THE SHOW, STARTING AT 7.30 P.M. AIMS AT PROMOTING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF HELPING REHABILITATED DRUG ADDICTS TO BE SELF-SUPPORTING BY OFFERING THEM EMPLOYMENT AND OTHER ASSISTANCE.

IT IS BEING JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE EMPLOYMENT GUIDANCE COMMITTEE FOR VOLUNTARILY REHABILITATED ADDICTS (SPONSORED BY LIONS INTERNATIONAL — DISTRICT 303), THE ENTERTAINMENT SECTION OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AND THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE AID AND REHABILITATION OF DRUG ADDICTS.

THE CEREMONY WILL START WITH A LION DANCE, WITH THE EYES DOTTED BY MR. LEE, TO BE FOLLOWED BY RIBBON-CUTTING. PROGRAMMES OF THE NIGHT WILL INCLUDE MAGIC AND ACROBATIC SHOWS, SINGING AND AN ANTI-DRUG DRAMA.

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND THE OPENING CEREMONY.

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

/5

THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 1978

- 5 -

+OLD COUPLE+ PORTRAYED IN FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION DRAMA * * * *

THE CHILDREN HAVE GROWN UP AND FOUND THEIR OWN WAYS OF LIVING. THE FATHER IS ONLY INTERESTED IN HIS WORK. THE MOTHER IS LEFT ALONE AT HOME MOST OF THE TIME. THIS FAMILY SITUATION IS PORTRAYED IN A TRUE-TO-LIFE TELEVISION DRAMA TO BE SCREENED ON THE THREE CHINESE CHANNELS STARTING TOMORROW (FRIDAY) EVENING.

IN +THE OLD COUPLE+, THE SIXTH EPISODE OF THE FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION DRAMA SERIES ENTITLED UNDER THE SAME ROOF PRODUCED BY RTHK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, THE AUDIENCE IS PRESENTED WITH A PROBLEM WHICH IS FOUND IN MANY FAMILIES IN HONG KONG.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SAID: +WE HAVE COME ACROSS MANY CASES IN WHICH MARITAL RELATIONSHIP IN THE MIDDLE-AGE GROUP CAN BECOME SOMETHING QUITE ROUTINE AND UNEVENTFUL. HAVING BEEN LIVING TOGETHER FOR OVER 20 OR 30 YEARS, A COUPLE MAY FIND THEIR MARRIED LIFE MONOTONOUS. THE HUSBAND MAY HAVE REACHED THE PEAK OF HIS CAREER, AND, WITH THE CHILDREN ALL GROWING UP, THE WIFE MAY ALSO FIND LIFE UNCHALLENGI NG.+

+YET IT WOULD NOT NECESSARILY BE TRAGIC. A SMALL GIFT, A WORD OF CONCERN, OR A HOLIDAY TOGETHER MAY REVITALISE THE MARRIAGE, AND THE RELATIONSHIP SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE A REWARDING ONE,+ HE SAID.

+WITH MORE UNDERSTANDING, THE RIGHT ATTITUDE AND CONCERN THE PROBLEM CAN BE OVERCOME AND FAMILY LIFE BECOMES HAPPIER.+

THE EPISODES IN THE UNDER THE SAME ROOF SERIES, AS WELL AS OTHER FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION ACTIVITIES ARE ALL AIMED AT EDUCATING THE PUBLIC TO LIVE A HAPPIER FAMILY LIFE.

THE +OLD COUPLE+ WILL EE SCREENED ON TVB JADE TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AT 8.30 P.M.- ON RTV CHANNEL 1 AT 7 P.M.= AND ON CTV ON SUNDAY AT 6 P.M.

- 0 -

PRH

gis| |f B|

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

1

FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 1978

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

GOVERNMENT ROLE IN FINANCIAL SERVICES ..................... 1

GOVERNMENT OFFICERS SUMMONSED ............................. 3

FOOTBRIDGE SYSTEM FOR CENTRAL ............................. 4

TRAINING COURSE FOR KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS ................. 5

EXHIBITION ON HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE ......................... 6

GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTS FOR JANUARY ........................... 7

JOB GUIDANCE FOR DRUG ADDICTS IMPORTANT ................... 8

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

FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 1973

1

GOVERNMENT ROLE I'! FINANCIAL SERVICES * * * * *

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID THERE WERE POSITIVE ADVANTAGES IM THE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG AS A FINANCIAL CENTRE AMD HE WELCOMED THE ESTABLISHMENT CF FOREIGN INSTITUTIONS HERE.

ADDRESSING THE FIRST ASIAN FOREIGN EXCHANGE AND MONEY DEALERS’ CONGRESS TODAY AT THE CONVENTION CENTRE, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID: +WE DC NOT, HOWEVER, OFFER SPECIFIC INCENTIVES TO ENCOURAGE THIS DEVELOPMENT. OUR POLICY IS SIMPLY TO SEEK TO ENSURE THAT, •..HERE POSSIBLE, ARTIFICIAL BARRIERS DO LOT IMPEDE THE DEVELOPMENT CF HONG KONG AS A FINANCIAL CENTRE.+

IT IS THE POLICY OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO LIMIT ITS INVOLVEMENT IN THE FINANCIAL SERVICES SECTOR OF OUR ECONOMY, MR. HADDON-CAVE ADDED.

THE GOVERNMENT ONLY SOUGHT TO ENSURE THAT USERS OF FCREIGi. EXCHANGE WERE PROTECTED WHEN THEY COULD NOT PROTECT THEMSELVES AND TO ENSURE THAT THE SECTOR PROVID I KG THESE SERVICES ADEQUATELY SERVED THE NEEDS OF THE OTHER SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY.

AS A RESULT OF THESE SELF-IMPOSED LIMITS ON THE GOVERNMENT’S ROLE, MR. HADDON-CAVE CONTINUED, THE GOLD AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKETS IN HONG KONG ..ERE A GOOD LEAL FREER THAN IN SOME OTHER PLACES AND A GOOD DEAL LESS SUPERVISED THAN, SAY, THE BANKING Ai.D OTHER DEPOSIT-TAKING INSTITUTIONS ..'HIGH CAME INTO DIRECT CONTACT WITH INDIVIDUALS.

+PROVIDED ..E CONTINUE TO BE SATISFIED THAT THESE MARKETS CONTINUE TO SERVE THE LEEDS OF THEIR. USERS, AND OF THE ECONOMY AS A WHOLE, THAT STATE CF AFFAIRS ..ILL CONTINUE,* HE ASSURED.

MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID IK HO’.’G XCTG, IT LAS MANAGEMENTS GF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ..HC ..EF.E PRIHCI.^LLY AESPC'JSIELE FOR DECISIONS AS TO THE RISKS THEY SHOULD TAKE WITH THEIR SHAREHOLDERS’ FUNDS.

+ THE ABSENCE OF GOVERI ■ .EXT CONST?. ICTS 0’ FOREIGN EXCHANGE POSITIONS SHOULD HAVE THE EFFECT OF STIMULATING MANAGEMENTS’ SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY.

+ 1 SUSPECT THAT, I. 3 . E CE'TFES, IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, FOREIGN EXCHANGE OPERATIC 3 HAVE TE’ .<_■ iC 'Ui? ... EXISTING SYSTEMS OF INTERNAL MA..AG"'E:~ CWT.".. IF I AD RIGFi, THE! TH I s HAS BEEN THE MAIK REASCi PCI SIC: ? .. L.0 S aS ->aVE A. ISEK.

/+!?. SC'.CE

FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 1978 - 2 -

+ IN SOME INSTANCES, EVEN THE STRICTEST OF CENTRAL BANK SUPERVISION HAS NOT PREVENTED PROBLEMS ARISING. MANY HAVE SINCE SAID THAT CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS BY MANAGEMENTS HAVE NOW BEEN ADEQUATELY STRENGTHENED. I HOPE SO AND, CERTAINLY, HERE IN HONG KONG, WE MUST-NOT BECOME COMPLACENT SIMPLY BECAUSE OUR RECORD SO FAR HAS BEEN GOOD. CONTINUED VIGILANCE IS CALLED FOR, AND WHILE THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT DOES NOT SEEK TO CONTROL, WE SHALL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE MARKET AS BEST WE CAN.+ MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID.

BUT RESPONSIBILITY DID NOT ONLY REST WITH MANAGEMENTS AND GOVERNMENTS, MR. HADDON-CAVE CONTINUED.

HE STRESSED THAT HIGH PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AMONG FOREIGN EXCHANGE DEALERS THEMSELVES ALSO HAD AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY.

HE ALSO BELIEVED THAT CODES OF PRACTICE WERE BEST ADMINISTERED BY THE DEALING PROFESSION ITSELF.

MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID HE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE HONG KONG FOREX CLUB, LIKE FOREX CLUBS IN SOME OTHER CENTRES, HAD BEGUN TO CONCERN ITSELF WITH THE IDEA OF SUCH A CODE.

♦THIS IS ENCOURAGING, PARTICULARLY AS THE FOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKET HAS BEEN GROWING SO RAPIDLY IN SOUTH EAST ASIA, INCLUDING HONG KONG.+

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE EXPANSION OF ANY ACTIVITY CAN LEAD TO AN EROSION OF STANDARDS UNLESS ATTENTION IS ALSO PAID TO TRAINING AND MANAGEMENT.

+THE GROWING INTERNATIONALISATION OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKETS HAS BEEN HELPFUL IN THIS REGARD AND SO I HOPE HAS OUR WILLINGNESS TO ALLOW THOSE WITH EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE ELSEWHERE TO COME TO HONG KONG.

+EECAUSE OF OUR GEOGRAPHICAL SITUATION, OUR COMMUNICATIONS, OUR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND SERVICES, AND NOT LEAST BECAUSE CF OUR ADAPTABLE WORK FORCE, I THINK IT ..OULD BE FAIR TO SAY THAT HONG KONG HAS RECENTLY EMERGED AS ONE OF THE MORE IMPORTANT FOREIGN EXCHANGE DEALING CENTRES IN ASIA.+

/3

FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 1978

3

GOVERNMENT OFFICERS SUMMONSED

* * * *

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT 20 POLICE OFFICERS, FOUR FORMER POLICE OFFICERS AND TWO INSPECTORS OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE WERE THIS MORNING SERVED WITH SUMMONSES TO APPEAR IN COURT ON CHARGES OF CONSPIRACY. A FURTHER 38 POLICE OFFICERS AND ONE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE INSPECTOR WHO WERE NOT COVERED BY THE AMNESTY, HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT NO ACTION IS TO BE TAKEN AGAINST THEM.

118 OTHER POLICE OFFICERS, AND ONE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE INSPECTOR, RECEIVED LETTERS FROM THE SECRETARY FOR CIVIL SERVICE INFORMING THEM THAT THEIR SERVICES WOULD BE TERMINATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH COLONIAL REGULATION 55.

THE OFFICERS RETIRED UNDER CR55 WILL BE PLACED IMMEDIATELY ON PRE-RETIREMENT LEAVE AND WILL CEASE TO BE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE WHEN THEIR LEAVE ENTITLEMENT IS EXHAUSTED. THEY WILL BE GRANTED SUCH PENSIONS OR GRATUITIES AS HAVE BEEN EARNED BY THEIR SERVICE.

CR55 STATES THAT +AN OFFICER HOLDS OFFICE SUBJECT TO THE PLEASURE OF THE CROWN, AND THE PLEASURE OF THE CROWN THAT HE SHOULD NO LONGER HOLD IT MAY BE SIGNIFIED THROUGH THE SECRETARY OF STATE IN WHICH CASE NO SPECIAL FORMALITIES ARE REQUIRED+.

CR55 HAS BEEN USED FROM TIME TO TIME IN THE PAST. AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF EACH CASE, BOTH IN THE CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND IN THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE, IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT IT WOULD BE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST TO USE CR55 IN ORDER TO DEAL WITH THESE PENDING CASES WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY.

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT CR55 HAS BEEN USED SPARINGLY IN THE PAST AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE SO USED IN THE FUTURE.

HE ALSO STATED THAT AN OFFICER WHOSE SERVICES ARE BEING TERMINATED, WILL BE PERMITTED TO REMAIN IN ANY GOVERNMENT QUARTERS WHICH HE NOW OCCUPIES FOR UP TO SIX MONTHS, SUBJECT TO THE PAYMENT OF RENT.

/4

FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 1978

- 4 -

/ v

FOOTBRIDGE SYSTEM FOR CENTRAL

*****

A MULT I-MILL I ON-DOLLAR COVERED FOOTBRIDGE SYSTEM IN CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL WILL BE BUILT SHORTLY TO PROVIDE A SAFE DIRECT PEDESTRIAN ACCESS BETWEEN CENTRAL BUSINESS AREA AND THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT TERMINALS.

TENDERS FOR THE WORK WERE INVITED TODAY BY THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

MR. CHOI YU-LEUK, ACTING CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE CONSULTANTS MANAGEMENT DIVISION OF THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE, SAID WORK ON THE 480 METRE-LONG FOOTBRIDGE, THE LONGEST IN HONG KONG, WOULD BEGIN IN JULY AND TAKE ABOUT TWO YEARS TO COMPLETE.

+THE PURPOSE OF THE FOOTBRIDGE, WHICH WILL RUN FROM GILMAN STREET TO REDDER STREET, IS TO PROVIDE AN ELEVATED WALKWAY TO SEPARATE PEDESTRIANS FROM VEHICULAR TRAFFIC IN CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL,+ HE SAID.

+IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE A SAFE AND DIRECT PEDESTRIAN ACCESS TO THE PUBLIC OPEN SPACE NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION ON THE NORTHERN SIDE OF THE CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL.+

MR. CHOI SAID THAT THE FOOTBRIDGE SYSTEM WOULD CONSIST OF A MAIN WALKWAY ALONG AND ABOVE THE NORTHERN FOOTPATH OF CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL.

THE EASTERN END OF THE FOOTBRIDGE AT PEDDER STREET WOULD BE CONNECTED TO AN EXISTING FOOTBRIDGE ADJACENT TO CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL.

THE MAIN WALKWAY WOULD BE LINKED TO THE EXISTING FOOTBRIDGE ABOVE THE CENTRAL BUS TERMINUS AND THE HIGH LEVEL PROMENADE.

MR. CHOI SAID: +THERE WILL BE TWO FOOTBRIDGES CONSTRUCTED ACROSS CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL WHICH WILL BE LINKED TO THE MAIN WALKWAY - ONE TO BE SITED NEAR THE FIRE BRIGADE BUILDING AND THE OTHER ABOUT 40 METRES EAST OF GILMAN STREET.

+T0 FACILITATE PEDESTRIAN MOVEMENT, A TOTAL OF SEVEN COVERED ESCALATORS AND COVERED STAIRWAYS WILL BE PROVIDED.+

THE SCHEME HAS BEEN DESIGNED AND CONSTRUCTION WILL BE SUPERVISED BY CONSULTANT ENGINEERS, MESSRS. PALMER AND TURNER, ON BEHALF OF THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE OF THE P.W.D.

0 --------

/5

FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 1978

5

TRAINING COURSE FOR KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS * * * * *

THE ADVISORY INSPECTORATE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS INVITING APPLICATIONS FOR ITS PART-TIME, TWO-YEAR TRAINING COURSE FOR KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS STARTING IN OCTOBER.

THE COURSE, THE 12TH IN THE SERIES STARTED IN 1956, IS REPEATED EVERY TWO YEARS BY THE ADVISORY INSPECTORATE.

IT IS INTENDED FOR IN-SERVICE KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS WHO HAVE NOT HAD ANY BASIC TRAINING IN TEACHING STUDENTS. ABOUT 500 TEACHERS HAVE BEEN TRAINED SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE COURSE.

APPLICANTS FOR THE OCTOBER COURSE MUST BE FULL-TIME TEACHERS WHO HAVE BEEN PERMITTED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO TEACH IN KINDERGARTENS AND HAVE TAUGHT FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS. THEY MUST HAVE THE HONG KONG CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION OR ITS EQUIVALENT. TUITION IS FREE AND CANTONESE WILL BE THE MEDIUM OF INSTRUCTION.

THE COURSE WILL ADMIT UP TO 50 TEACHERS FOR TRAINING. PRACTICAL TEACHING AND LECTURES ARE INCLUDED IN THE COURSE.

LECTURES IN THE FIRST YEAR WILL COVER PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF KINDERGARTEN EDUCATION, HEALTH EDUCATION, MUSIC, DEMONSTRATION AND CRITICISM LESSONS, AND NATURE EXPERIENCE FOR KINDERGARTEN CHILDREN.

SECOND-YEAR LECTURES WILL INCLUDE CHILD DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL STUDIES, PHYSICAL TRAINING AND ART AND CRAFT.

THE COURSE COMPRISES TWO OR THREE LECTURES A WEEK DURING SCHOOL TERM HELD AT THE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION OR OTHER GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS BETWEEN 4 P.M. AND 7 P.M. ON WEEKDAYS. DEMONSTRATION AND CRITICISM LESSONS WILL BE CONDUCTED IN THE MORNING IN KINDERGARTENS WITH ONE MEETING A WEEK FOR 20 WEEKS.

EACH TEACHER MUST ATTEND AT LEAST 80 PER CENT OF THE LECTURES BEFORE SITTING FOR THE FINAL EXAMINATION. ON PASSING, THE TEACHERS WILL BE AWARDED THE STATUS OF +QUALIFIED KINDERGARTEN TEACHER.+ THEY WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR ENTRY TO THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S REGISTER OF TEACHERS, IF THEY HAVE FIVE YEARS’ APPROVED TEACHING EXPERIENCE IN HONG KONG SCHOOLS.

APPLICATION FORMS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S ADVISORY INSPECTORATE AT LEE GARDENS, FIFTH FLOOR, HYSAN AVENUE, CAUSEWAY BAY OR THE DEPARTMENT’S KOWLOON SUBOFFICE IN THE KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, SIXTH FLOOR, NATHAN ROAD. COMPLETED FORMS MUST REACH THE ORGANISER OF THE TRAINING COURSE, MISS FRANCES HON, AT THE ADVISORY INSPECTORATE IN LEE GARDENS, NOT LATER THAN APRIL 29, 1978.

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

/6

FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 1978

6 -

DR. THONG OPENS EXHIBITION ON HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE ******

THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. K.L. THONG, SAID THAT HYPERTENSIVE DISEASES NOW RANK AMONG THE GREATEST KILLER DISEASES IN THE WORLD, PARTICULARLY IN THE ADVANCED AND HIGHLY INDUSTRIALISED COUNTRIES.

+IN HONG KONG THIS IS A PROBLEM WHICH IS VERY MUCH WITH US AS WE UNFORTUNATELY HAVE THE DUBIOUS HONOUR OF BEING IN THE BIG LEAGUE OF THE ADVANCED COUNTRIES. HYPERTENSION AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES ARE IN FACT THE SECOND LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH IN HONG KONG,+ HE SAID.

DR. THONG WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE EXHIBITION ON +YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE AND YOU+ AT THE OCEAN TERMINAL THIS MORNING.

THE EXHIBITION, WHICH WILL LAST UNTIL APRIL 13, IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG HEART FOUNDATION, THE HONG KONG CARDIOLOGICAL SOCIETY AND THE MEDICAL SOCIETY OF HONG KONG UNIVERSITY, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

DR. THONG SAID HYPERTENSION, OR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AS IT IS GENERALLY KNOWN, IS BY ITSELF NOT A DISEASE BUT A PHYSICAL CONDITION, BUT THOSE WITH THIS CONDITION ARE KNOWN TO BE MORE PRONE TO STROKES AND CORONARY HEART DISEASE.

+IT IS A SILENT THREAT TO PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM IT AND IT IS ALL THE MORE DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF THE ABSENCE OF SYMPTOMS IN THE EARLY STAGES OF THE CONDITION AND CAN GO UNNOTICED UNTIL COMPLICATIONS OCCUR,+ HE SAID.

SUCH COMPLICATIONS, HE POINTED OUT, ARE COMMON CAUSES OF DEATH AND INCAPACITY.

DR. THONG SAID ALTHOUGH THERE ARE MEANS TO CONTROL HYPERTENSION MANY INDIVIDUALS STILL DO NOT RECEIVE SUCH CARE BECAUSE +THEY ARE IGNORANT OF THE BASIC FACTS AND THE FACTORS THAT ARE CONNECTED WITH THIS CONDITION.+

+ I ND IV(DUALS SHOULD^THEREFORE BE ENCOURAGED TO OBTAIN MEDICAL ADVICE AND BE TREATED, IF NECESSARY, REGULARLY AND ON SCHEDULE. THEIR LIFE-STYLE, STRESSES AND DEMANDS, THEIR DIETS, LACK OF PROPER REST PERIODS MAY ALL BE FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THEIR CONDITION,* HE S^ID.

IT IS SIGNIFICANT TO NOTE THAT WHERE THE COMMUNITY HAS SHOWN A STRONG WILL TO COMBAT THE PROBLEM, THERE HAVE BEEN STRIKING SUCCESSES, AND THIS PRINCIPLE HAS EMERGED FROM STUDIES BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION, SAID DR. THONG.

/+THSHEFORE, .....

FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 1978

7

♦THEREFORE, THIS SHOULD BE REGARDED NOT JUST AN INDIVIDUAL MEDICAL PROBLEM BUT AS A COMMUNITY HEALTH PROBLEM WHICH GOES BEYOND MEDICAL CARE FOR THE INDIVIDUAL,+ HE ADDED.

TO TACKLE IT, HE STRESSED, THE CONTINUING SUPPORT OF

THE PUBLIC, OFTEN SPEAR-HEADED BY NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS SUCH AS THOSE INVOLVED IN THE CURRENT EXHIBITION, IS MOST IMPORTANT.

+IT IS IN THE SPHERE OF COMMUNITY EDUCATION THAT EXHIBITION OF THIS TYPE CAN PLAY AN IMPORTANT AND ESSENTIAL ROLE. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THIS WILL CONTRIBUTE SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC ON THIS IMPORTANT COMMUNITY HEALTH PROBLEM,+ HE SAID.

DR. THONG SAID THE EXHIBITION IS A TYPICAL EXAMPLE OF THE CLOSE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN PRIVATE ORGANISATIONS AND GOVERNMENTAL INSTITUTIONS WHICH +I3 THE MOST EFFECTIVE JAY OF TACKLING A COMMUNITY HEALTH PROBLEM SUCH AS HYPERTENSION.+

HE APPEALED TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES ABOUT HYPERTENSION WHICH MAY AFFECT THEIR OWN HEALTH.

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

GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTS FOR JANUARY

******

THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTS FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY, 1978, SHOW A SURPLUS OF $743.6 MILLION, COMPARED WITH A SURPLUS OF 3524.9 MILLION IN JANUARY, 1977.

THIS HAS RESULTED IN A SURPLUS OF $956.6 MILLION FOR THE FIRST 10 MONTHS OF LAST FINANCIAL YEAR, COMPARED WITH A SURPLUS OF $585.9 MILLION FOR THE SAME PERIOD OF THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR.

TOTAL EXPENDITURE, AT $833.6 MILLION, WAS $261.1 MILLION MORE THAN IN JANUARY, 1977.

TOTAL REVENUE AND RECEIPTS, AT $1,577.2 MILLION, WERE $479.8 MILLION MORE THAN FOR THE SAME MONTH IN 1977.

--------o

/8

FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 1978

JOB GUIDANCE IMPORTANT FOR DRUG ADDICTS

THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, THIS EVENING STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE FOR REHABILITATED DRUG ADDICTS IN RE-1NTEGRATI NG THEM INTO THE COMMUNITY.

ADDRESSING THE OPENING CEREMONY OF AN ANTI-DRUG CAMPAIGN VARIETY SHOW, MR. LEE SAID IT WAS MOST IMPORTANT THAT DRUG ADDICTS SHOULD BE HELPED IN EVERY POSSIBLE WAY TO BE SELF-SUPPORTING AND BECOME ONCE AGAIN A RESPONSIBLE MEMBER OF THE SOCIETY.

+THIS IN FACT FORMS THE MOST CRUCIAL PART OF THE REHABILITATION PROCESS FOR DRUG ADDICTS,* HE SAID.

THE VARIETY SHOW AT MACPHERSON PLAYGROUND, KOWLOON, WAS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE EMPLOYMENT GUIDANCE COMMITTEE FOR VOLUNTARILY REHABILITATED ADDICTS, THE ENTERTAINMENT SECTION OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE AID AND REHABILITATION OF DRUG ADDICTS.

MR. LEE NOTED THAT THE COMMITTEE HAD BEEN PROVIDING VALUABLE EMPLOYMENT GUIDANCE SERVICE FOR DRUG ADDICTS THROUGH THE INVOLVEMENT OF MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

+ IN THE SHORT PERIOD OF THE PAST TWO YEARS, MORE THAN 200 ADDICTS HAVE BEEN GIVEN EMPLOYMENT GUIDANCE, WHICH REFLECTS THE WIDESPREAD CONCERN AND SUPPORT BY THE COMMUNITY.

+1 AM SURE THAT WITH THE CONTINUING SUPPORT FROM THE PUBLIC AND THE HARD WORK BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, SUCH SERVICE WOULD BENEFIT MORE REHABILITATED ADDICTS,* HE SAID.

- - 0 -

PRH 7

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 1978

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

GOVERWMENT TAKES POSITIVE STEPS IN DENTAL HEALTH CARE OF COMMUNITY ................................................ 1

GOVERNOR TO OPEN YUEN LONG SPORTS CLUB ...................... 2

MAC’S CAN IMPROVE FIRE PREVENTION ........................... 3

FIRE SERVICES DIRECTOR PRESENTS DUKE OF EDINBURGH SILVER AWARD ....................................................... 4

PLOVER COVE COUNTRY PARK DESIGNATED ......................... 5

HAYE PRAISES SCHOOL AND STAFF ............................... 6

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

SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 1978

1

GOVERNMENT TAKES POSITIVE STEPS IN DENTAL HEALTH CARE OF COMMUNITY ******

THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING POSITIVE STEPS TO PROMOTE DENTAL HYGIENE AND PROPER DENTAL CARE IN THE COMMUNITY IN LINE WITH THE ACCEPTED RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE 10-YEAR MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. K.L. THONG, WHEN HE OFFICIATED AT THE OPENING OF THE WEEK-LONG DENTAL HEALTH EXHIBITION AT CITY HALL THIS AFTERNOON.

THE 1OTH BIENNIAL EVENT IS ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG DENTAL ASSOCIATION.

DR. THONG SAID THAT AS A FIRST STEP IN THE INTRODUCTION OF DENTAL CARE TO THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, IT IS GOVERNMENT’S INTENTION TO PROVIDE A SCHOOL DENTAL CARE SERVICE SCHEME FOR CHILDREN ENTERING PRIMARY ONE.

IN THIS CONNECTION, HE SAID, A DENTAL NURSES TRAINING SCHOOL WOULD SOON BE ESTABLISHED, WHICH IS TO BE ACCOMMODATED IN THE MACLEHOSE DENTAL CENTRE NOW IN AN ADVANCED STAGE OF CONSTRUCTION AT MORRISON HILL. THE DENTAL COMPLEX WILL ALSO INCORPORATE A SCHOOL DENTAL CLINIC.

DR. THONG SAID THESE FACILITIES WILL MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HONG KONG THE PROVISION OF A SCHOOL DENTAL HEALTH SERVICE WHICH COVERS BOTH THE PREVENTIVE AND BASIC TREATMENT ASPECTS OF DENTAL CARE FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN.

+THIS SERVICE IS MOST APPROPRIATE IN THAT IT IS AIMED AT A GROUP IN THE COMMUNITY WHO WILL BE ABLE TO DERIVE THE GREATEST BENEFIT, AS YOUNG RECEPTIVE MINDS COULD ALWAYS BE ABLE TO ABSORB DENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION MORE READILY AND AMONG WHOM GOOD DENTAL HABITS COULD BE INCULCATED AT AN EARLY STAGE,+ HE SAID.

DR. THONG SAID THE SCHEME WILL PROVIDE REGULAR DENTAL EXAMINATIONS AND SIMPLE CONSULTATIVE TREATMENT INCLUDING ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT AND THE SERVICE IS TO BE CARRIED OUT BY TRAINED DENTAL NURSES UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF DENTAL OFFICERS.

THE MACLEHOSE DENTAL CENTRE IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED LATER THIS YEAR AND THE FIRST INTAKE OF STUDENT NURSES SHOULD BEGIN IN THE AUTUMN. THE SCHOOL DENTAL SERVICE SHOULD THEREAFTER START OPERATION IN 1980 WHEN TRAINED DENTAL NURSES BECOME AVAILABLE ON GRADUATION FROM THE TRAINING SCHOOL.

/dh. thong .....

1 '

SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 1978

2

DR. THONG SAID IT WAS ENVISAGED THAT FOUR MORE SCHOOL DENTAL CLINICS WOULD BE BUILT, TWO EACH IN KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES, WITHIN THE NEXT SIX YEARS.

AT THE SAME TIME, PLANNING IS UNDERWAY FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A DENTAL SCHOOL FOR DENTISTS AT THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY.

DR. THONG SAID CONSTRUCTION WORK CLINIC AT SAI YING PUN IS EXPECTED TO

ON A DENTAL TEACHING BEGIN LATER THIS YEAR.

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

GOVERNOR TO OPEN YUEN LONG SPORTS CLUB * * * * *

THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING OF THE 34 MILLION YUEN LONG DISTRICT SPORTS ASSOCIATION CLUBHOUSE IN TAI YUK ROAD AT 11 A.M. ON MONDAY (APRIL 10).

THE NEW SIX-STOREY BUILDING HAS A CONFERENCE ROOM, OFFICES AND A CANTEEN ON THE GROUND FLOOR. THE FIRST AND SECOND FLOORS HOUSE A BOWLING CENTRE AND THE THIRD HAS TAELE TENNIS AND BILLIARD ROOMS. THE FOURTH FLOOR ACCOMMODATES A GYMNASIUM AND EADM INTON COURTS, WHILE THE FIFTH FLOOR IS OCCUPIED EY THE DORMITORY FOR THE ASSOCIATION’S FOOTBALL TEAM.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE EVENT. GOVERNMENT TRANSPORT WILL EE PROVIDED AND WILL LEAVE FROM BEHIND THE TSIM SHA TSUI POST OFFICE FOR YUEN LONG AT 9 A.M. ON MONDAY.

--------o

SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 1978

3

MAC’S CAN IMPROVE FIRE PREVENTION ******

MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES CAN SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE THE ATTITUDE TOWARDS FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION, MR. ALAN JONES, CHIEF FIRE OFFICER, NEW TERRITORIES, SAID THIS (SATURDAY) EVENING AT THE INAUGURAL CEREMONY OF THE MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES FOR TAI WO HAU INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS IN TSUEN WAN.

MR. JONES SAID ALTHOUGH THE FORMATION OF MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES CHIEFLY AROSE FROM A DESIRE FOR COLLECTIVE CONTROL OF PREMISES TO PREVENT CRIME AND IMPROVE THE MANAGEMENT CONTROL, THE FIRE SERVICES BELIEVED THAT MAC’S COULD SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVE THE ATTITUDE TOWARDS FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION.

+IN OUR VIEW THIS IS MOST DESIRABLE AND OF SPECIAL BENEFIT TO THE COMMUNITY,* HE STATED.

HE CALLED ON THE MANAGEMENT TO CO-OPERATE WITH THE FIRE SERVICES ANDTO AVOID OR MINIMISE FIRES AND OTHER INCIDENTS THAT MIGHT RESULT IN DISASTER TO THEIR BUSINESS. HE POINTED OUT THAT ABOUT 30 PER CENT OF BUSINESSES WHICH SUFFERED A SEVERE FIRE CLOSED DOWN WITHIN A YEAR.

+WHERE WE USUALLY COME INTO CONFLICT IS WHEN THE LAWS OF HONG KONG ARE CONTRAVENED, LAWS WHICH IN OUR CASE ARE ENACTED FOR THE SAFETY FROM FIRE OF ALL MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY,* MR. JONES EXPLAINED.

+IT IS NOT JUST FOR PEOPLE WORKING IN INDIVIDUAL FACTORIES, OFFICES OR SHOPS, IT IS FOR EVERYONE WHO MAY BE AT RISK IF CERTAIN PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES ARE NOT CARRIED OUT.*

HE NOTED THAT WHEN A SERIOUS FIRE OCCURRED IN A MULTI-STOREY BUILDING IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT THE COST OF DAMAGE TO SURROUNDING PREMISES COULD COLLECTIVELY EXCEED THAT OF THE UNIT INITIALLY INVOLVED.

+SUCH A PROSPECT IS NOT ONLY SELFISH, TOTALLY UNECONOMIC TO YOU AS BUSINESSMEN AND THE COMMUNITY, BUT DANGEROUS TO US ALL,* MR. JONES SAID.

AS A FIREMAN, HE ADDED, THE PROBLEM HE HAD TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WAS THE NEED TO GAIN ACCESS.

+WHEN WE ENTER A BUILDING WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY TO MEET A SITUATION WHICH CAN RANGE FROM SIMPLICITY TO HIGHLY COMPLICATED- LITTLE RISK TO EXTREMELY DANGEROUS- COMMON PLACE TO VERY DISTRESSING- AND BE READY AS MEMBERS OF A TEAM TO DO OUR JOB AND LOOK AFTER EACH OTHER,* MR. JONES SAID.

MR. JONES SAID FIREMEN TODAY ARE FACED WITH SO MANY RISKS THAT IT WOULD TAKE HIM HOURS TO LIST THEM. AS TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES, NEW MATERIALS, PROCESSES AND MACHINERY ARE INTRODUCED AND THE RESULTS AND EFFECTS OF FIRE GROW IN MANY WAYS, HE ADDED.

/he cited .....

SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 1978

4

HE CITED AS AN EXAMPLE A RECENT FIRE IN A MULTI-STOREY FACTORY BUILDING IN SHA TSUI ROAD WHERE 31 FIREMEN WERE TAKEN TO HOSPITAL SUFFERING FROM THE EFFECTS OF TOXIC FUMES.

+MY ADVICE TO YOU ALL IS BE KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT YOUR PRODUCTS AND THEIR PERFORMANCE UNDER HEAT- HAVE YOUR FIRE SERVICE EQUIPMENT PROPERLY MAINTAINED, AND INSTANTLY AVAILABLE- MAKE SURE YOUR STAFF KNOW HOW TO USE IT AND KNOW THEIR FIRE DRILL, HANDLE YOUR POWER SOURCES CORRECTLY, ESPECIALLY ELECTRICITY- AND AVOID OBSTRUCTING MEANS OF ESCAPE,+ HE SAID.

+REMEMBER THE MEANS OF ESCAPE IS USUALLY THE MEANS OF ENTRY FOR FIREMEN, AND ANY DELAY ALWAYS MEANS A BIGGER FIRE A GREATER LOSS TO YOU,* HE WARNED.

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

FIRE SERVICES DIRECTOR PRESENTS DUKE OF EDINBURGH SILVER AWARD * * * * *

YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY FORM A VERY LARGE AND ESSENTIAL PART OF HONG KONG’S SOCIETY AND ECONOMY, AS THEY WILL IN THE FUTURE.

THE REMARK WAS MADE BY THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES, MR. FRED WATSON, AT THE PRESENTATION OF THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH SILVER AWARDS TO 104 YOUNG PEOPLE AT THE KESWICK HALL OF HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC TODAY (SATURDAY).

MR. WATSON SAID THAT LIVING AND WORKING ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD TODAY WAS IN ITSELF A CHALLENGE BUT THERE COULD BE FEWER PLACES WHERE THIS APPLIED MORE THAN HONG KONG.

+AN IMPORTANT FACTOR FOR A REWARDING AND SUCCESSFUL LIFE AND FOR MAKING A VALUABLE AND PARTICIPATING MEMBER OF A VITAL AND DYNAMIC COMMUNITY IS EARLY OPPORTUNITY AND TRAINING TO DEVELOP THE ESSENTIAL QUALITIES WHICH MAKE UP A GOOD CITIZEN,* HE SAID.

+ONE ESSENTIAL QUALITY IS SELF CONFIDENCE AND THERE IS NO BETTER WAY OF DEVELOPING IT THAN BY SUCCESSFULLY ACHIEVING A GOAL OR TARGET BY PERSONAL DETERMINATION, PERSEVERANCE AND SELF DISCIPLINE.

+PEOPLE WHO BEGIN EARLY TO SET THEMSELVES TARGETS AND REACH THEM ONE BY ONE USUALLY END UP AS THE MOST SUCCESSFUL, RELIABLE AND VALUABLE MEMBERS OF A COMMUNITY,* MR. WATSON ADDED.

COMMENTING ON THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD SCHEME, M?. WATSON SAID IT OFFERED AN OPPORTUNITY AND A CHALLENGE FOR PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT AND A MEANS OF DEVELOPING MANY OF THE ESSENTIAL QUALITIES, INCLUDING SELF DISCIPLINE, INITIATIVE AND SELF CONFIDENCE.

HE NOTED THAT SINCE THE SCHEME BEGAN OPERATING IN HONG KONG IN 1961, MANY THOUSANDS OF HONG KONG CITIZENS HAD PARTICIPATED AND WERE THE BETTER FOR DOING SO.

/+IT HAS ....

SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 1978

5

♦IT HAS HELPED PREPARE THEM FOR THE CHALLENGES OF LIFE AHEAD AS IT WILL FOR YOU HERE TODAY WHO HAVE PERSEVERED AND QUALIFIED FOR THE SILVER AWARD, THE SECOND OF THE THREE AWARDS,+ MR.

WATSON SAID.

+l HAVE NO DOUBTS THAT YOU WILL STRIVE FURTHER FOR THE NEXT AND HIGHEST AWARD, THE GOLD, AND BY DOING SO FURTHER STRENGTHEN YOUR CHARACTER AND SELF CONFIDENCE.

+l ALSO HOPE THAT YOU WILL SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH OTHERS, EITHER THROUGH THE MANY ORGANISATIONS IN HONG KONG WHICH ARE INVOLVED WITH THE SCHEME OR BY SIMPLY POINTING THE WAY AND ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO PARTICIPATE,* HE SAID.

--------O - - - -

EIGHTH COUNTRY PARK DESIGNATED ******

THE PLOVER COVE PENINSULA, INCLUDING THE HUGE RESERVOIR AREA, HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS A COUNTRY PARK IN THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.

THIS BRINGS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PARKS DESIGNATED UNDER THE COUNTRY PARKS ORDINANCE TO EIGHT PLUS ONE SPECIAL NATURE RESERVE AT TAI PO KAU.

THE PLOVER COVE COUNTRY PARK IS THE LARGEST SO FAR DESIGNATED. COVERING AN AREA OF 4,594 HECTARES, IT IS SITUATED EAST OF TAI MEI TUK/LUK KENG ROAD, AND FROM YUNG SHUE AU ON STARLING INLET IN THE NORTH TO HARBOUR"'ISLAND IN THE SOUTH.

INCLUDED IN THE AREA IS 3,422 HECTARES OF GRASSY HILLS AND SCATTERED WOODLAND AND 1,172 HECTARES OF WATER SURFACE OF THE PLOVER COVE RESERVOIR.

MANAGEMENT OF THE COUNTRY PARK WILL BE AIMED PRIMARILY AT THE PROVISION FOR BARBECUE AND PICNIC ACTIVITIES FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC AS WELL AS MAKING THE AREA AVAILABLE FOR HIKERS AND CAMPERS.

VEGETATION AND WILD LIFE WILL BE PROTECTED AND SPECIAL ATTENTION WILL BE PAID TO CONSERVATION OF THE UNSPOILT LANDSCAPE AND SCENIC VALUES OF THE AREA.

RECREATIONAL ZONES WILL BE CONCENTRATED AROUND THE WEST SHORE OF THE RESERVOIR AND ALONG THE TAI MEI TUK/LUK KENG ROAD. BARBECUE FACILITIES WILL BE PROVIDED ALONG THESE ZONES AT SUITABLE LOCATIONS WHERE THE FIRE RISK CAN BE CONTAINED. ALL SITES WILL BE PROVIDED WITH PICNIC FACILITIES, CHILDREN’S PLAY EQUIPMENT AND SHELTERS, ALL DESIGNED TO CATER FOR BOTH LARGE AND SMALL PARTIES OF VISITORS.

WILDERNESS ZONES WILL BE THE HILLY AND LESS ACCESSIBLE AREAS OF THE PARK WHICH WILL PROVIDE AN ESSENTIAL SCENIC BACKGROUND TO THE RECREATIONAL ZONES. THE HILLY TERRAIN PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR QUIET WALKING ALONG THE FOOTPATH SYSTEM. NATURE TRAILS AND OTHER GUIDED WALKS WILL EVENTUALLY BE ESTABLISHED.

/A SPOKESMAN......

SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 1978

6

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES SAID TODAY THAT DURING THE LAST 12 MONTHS TO MARCH 31, ALMOST A MILLION VISITORS ENTERED THE PARK AREA THROUGH TAI MEI TUK.

HE SAID THE VISITOR FACILITIES, MANY ALREADY IN OPERATION, INCLUDES PICNIC TABLES, BARBECUE PITS, BENCHES AND LITTER BINS. SHELTERS, REFRESHMENT KIOSKS AND TOILETS ARE BEING PROVIDED IN KEY LOCATIONS.

INFORMATION BOARDS, VIEW COMPASSES AND DISPLAYS INDICATING THE LOCATION OF FACILITIES AND DESCRIBING FEATURES OF THE PARK, WILL BE ERECTED AT ENTRY POINTS, LOOKOUTS AND OTHER STRATEGIC LOCATIONS.

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

HAYE COMPLIMENTS SCHOOL AND STAFF ******

THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. COLVYN HAYE, TODAY PAID TRIBUTE TO THE MANAGEMENT AND STAFF OF RAIMONDI COLLEGE ON THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS IN EDUCATION OVER TWO DECADES.

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE COLLEGE’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY OPEN DAY AND EXHIBITION, MR. HAYE SPECIALLY COMPLIMENTED FATHER JOSEPH CARRA, THE FIRST SUPERVISOR AND PRINCIPAL, ON HIS ACHIEVEMENTS AND ALSO THE STAFF AND STUDENTS WHO HAD BUILT THE REPUTATION OF THE COLLEGE OVER THE YEARS.

REFERRING TO ITS RECORD OF HIGH ACADEMIC ATTAINMENT, MR. HAYE RECALLED THE TWO FIRSTS THE COLLEGE ACHIEVED THIS YEAR AND SAID RAIMONDI HAD AN ENVIABLE REPUTATION FOR A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES SUPPLEMENTING THE EDUCATION OF ITS STUDENTS.

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

_______ ______ __ PRH 7

■ -*--- — — —fl~TTTtWMCTn "

Gis| |me§|

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

SUNDAY, APRIL 9, 1978

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

i <

CONVERSION OF PUBLIC HIRE CARS TO TAXIS ......... 1

DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING TO VISIT PWD WORK SITES . 1

REGISTRATION TEAM TO OPERATE AT KENNEDY TOWN .... 2

JAFFE ROAD TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT .................. 2

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

SUNDAY, APRIL 9, 1978

CONVERSION OF PUBLIC HIRE CARS TO TAXIS

******

ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF THE PUBLIC HIRE CARS WERE CONVERTED INTO URBAN TAXIS AT THE END OF LAST YEAR UNDER A SCHEME TO PHASE OUT SUCH TRANSPORT BY MID-1978. ~~

'ACCORDING TO FIGURES RELEASED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TODAY , 411 OF THE TOTAL 1,329 PUBLIC HIRE CARS WERE RE-REGISTERED AS HONG KONG AND KOWLOON TAXIS ON PAYMENT OF A FIXED PREMIUM OF 575,000.

ALTHOUGH OWNERS OF THE PUBLIC HIRE CARS MAY CHOOSE TO CONVERT THEIR VEHICLES INTO PRIVATE CARS WITH A HIRE CAR PERMIT UNDER THE SCHEME, IT IS EXPECTED THAT ONLY 12 WILL BE SO CONVERTED.

THE DEPARTMENT FIGURES ALSO SHOW THAT DURING LAST YEAR, THE GOVERNMENT HAD TENDERED 300 HONG KONG AND KOWLOON TAXIS AT A PREMIUM RANGING FROM $181,000 TO 3196,005.

1

THESE BROUGHT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF REGISTERED URBAN TAXIS TO 5,465 AT THE END OF LAST YEAR, AN INCREASE OF 711 OVER 1976.

THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED NEW TERRITORIES TAXIS STOOD AT 738 AT THE END OF LAST YEAR.

0

DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING TO VISIT PWD WORK SITES * * * *

..... ^R’ DAVID STEAD, P.W.D.’S DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT (APO II N^C™AcecMcER °F S,TES 0N H0NG KONG ISLAND ON TUESDAY ’ T0 SEE F0R HIMSELF THE PROGRESS OF VARIOUS P.W.D.

• KUJtuTS•

HE WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY CHIEF CONCERNED.

ENGINEERS OF VARIOUS OFFICES

AMONG THE SITES TO BE VISITED WILL BE THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE INVITED

TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE VISIT.

PRESS TRANSPORT WHO WISH TO MAKE USE AT THE OPEN CAR PARK

WILL BE PROVIDED. MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES OF THE OFFICIAL TRANSPORT SHOULD ASSEMBLE OUTSIDE THE RECEPTION OFFICE. MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, AT 3.15 P.M. TWO NINE-SEATER VANS WILL LEAVE MURRAY BUILDING AT 3.20 P.M. SHARP?

TO ASSISTCTHE PRESSL P-W-D’’S PUELICITY UNIT WILL BE ON HAND

- - - 0 - -

/2

SUNDAY, APRIL 9, 1978

2 -

REGISTRATION TEAM TO OPERATE AT KENNEDY TOWN *****

A TEAM FROM THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS OFFICE WILL CONDUCT REGISTRATION AT KENNEDY TOWN IMMIGRATION OFFICE FOR RESIDENTS AND PERSONS LIVING NEARBY FOR FOUR DAYS FROM APRIL 17.

REGISTRATION WILL BE CONDUCTED BETWEEN 9.30 A.M. AND 4.30 P.M. DURING THESE DAYS.

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

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

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

RE-ROUTING OF THE SECTION OF JAFFE ROAD *****

WEDNESDAYT(APRILR12?EPt2JM^?tKm ANNOUNCED THAT FROM 10 A.M. ON

SSocAS? “ JoK?A^£S FTS0CHV

appropriate traffic signs will be set up to guide motorists.

0 - -

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

MONDAY, APRIL 10, 1978

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

GOVERNOR OPENS SPORTS CLUBHOUSE AT YUEN LONG .............. 1

RENT OFFICER SCHEME ....................................... 3

WEATHER SUMMARY FOR MARCH .............................. *

20 STAFF MEMBERS OF SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT RETIRING .......... 6

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

MONDAY, APRIL 10, 1978


GOVERNOR OPENS $4 MILLION YUEN LONG SPORTS CLUB ******

THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID TODAY THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY IN THE NEW TERRITORIES IS TO ENCOURAGE THROUGH PUBLIC EXPENDITURE AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT THE DEVELOPMENT OF SELF-CONTAINED TOWNS AND COMMUNITIES,-PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT, EDUCATION AND MEETING ALL OTHER SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL NEEDS.

SIR MURRAY WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE $4 MILLION YUEN LONG DISTRICT SPORTS ASSOCIATION CLUBHOUSE AT TAI YUK ROAD.

+YUEN LONG IS TYPICAL. WORK HAS STARTED ON THE SHU I PIN WAI ESTATE, WHICH WILL HOUSE 11,000 PEOPLE BY 1981.

+THE RUNNING TRACK AT THE STADIUM HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED AND THE YUEN LONG SWIMMING POOL WILL OPEN IN 1980.

+PLANS FOR ANOTHER PRIMARY SCHOOL, TWO SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND A MARKET ARE WELL ADVANCED- AN EXTENSIVE INDUSTRIAL AREA IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A FURTHER INDUSTRIAL ESTATE,* SIR MURRAY SAID.

SIR MURRAY ADDED THAT DEVELOPMENT ON THE SAME SCALE WAS ALSO UNDERWAY AT SHEUNG SHU I AND TAI PO. ....

SIR MURRAY EMPHASISED THE IMPORTANCE OF RESIDENTS BEING ASSOCIATED WITH THESE RAPID PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENTS BEING PUSHED FORWARD IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

+T0 THIS END THERE ARE NOW ADVISORY BOARDS IN EACH OF THE DISTRICTS, TO BRING TOGETHER AND BUILD ON THE COMBINED EXPERIENCE AND ENTHUSIASM OF LOCAL LEADERS, OLD AND NEW, REPRESENTATIVE ORGANISATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS,* SIR MURRAY SAID.

IN YUEN LONG, THE DISTRICT ADVISORY BOARD HAS ALREADY VOTED A TOTAL OF $415,000 FOR CULTURAL, RECREATIONAL AND SPORTS PROJECTS IN THIS FINANCIAL YEAR AND $85,000 FOR MINOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING RENOVATION OF LOCAL PLAYGROUNDS.

SIR MURRAY SAID: +THE INDICATION THAT ABOUT DOUBLE THIS YEAR’S ALLOCATION WILL BE REQUIRED TO REALISE THE AMBITIONS OF THE BOARD IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR IS IN ITSELF A TRIBUTE TO THE HIGHLY DEVELOPED SENSE OF LOCAL INVOLVEMENT AND COMMITMENT THAT IS CHARACTERISTIC OF YUEN LONG.*

/THE (XVERN0R......

MONDAY, APRIL 10, 1978

2

THE GOVERNOR SAID THE NEW TERRITORIES HAD ENTERED A PERIOD OF DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENT AND CHANGE, POSING A CHALLENGE TO BOTH PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENT. +l AM CONVINCED THAT THE RESIDENTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES THEMSELVES, BY THEIR COOPERATION, GOODWILL AND SOUND ADVICE, THEIR CAPACITY FOR INNOVATION AND ENTERPRISE, WILL ENABLE THE CHALLENGE TO BE MET IN THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY — THAT IS THROUGH PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN PEOPLE AND THEIR GOVERNMENT.+

SIR MURRAY, WHO FOUR YEARS AGO LAID THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE CLUBHOUSE, TODAY UNVEILED A PLAQUE OF.THE CLUBHOUSE TO OFFICIALLY OPEN IT.

SIR MURRAY POINTED OUT THAT THE CLUBHOUSE WAS THE FIRST FATUITY OF ITS KIND TO BE BUILT IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND PRAISED LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS FOR REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT.

EARLIER, THE ASSOCIATION’S CHAIRMAN, MR. WONG CHUNG-CHUEN, IN WELCOMING SIR MURRAY, SAID THE OPENING OF THE CLUBHOUSE WOULD FURTHER HELP TO DEVELOP AND PROMOTE SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN YUEN LONG.

HE STRESSED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF PROVIDING ADEQUATE FACILITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO CARRY OUT THEIR SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

MR. WONG THANKED THE GOVERNMENT FOR HAVING ALLOCATED 7,000 SQUARE FEET OF LAND FOR THE CLUBHOUSE AND A GRANT OF $500,000 TOWARDS ITS COSTS.

MR. WONG ALSO THANKED THE ASSOCIATION’S LATE PRESIDENT MR. CHIU LUT-SAU AND MRS. CHEUNG WONG SIU-CHING FOR THEIR DONATION OF $500,000 EACH.

HE SAID THE CLUBHOUSE WAS BUILT WITH DONATIONS FROM COMMUNITY LEADERS AND OFFICIALS OF THE ASSOCIATION.

THE NEW SIX-STOREY CLUBHOUSE HAS A CONFERENCE ROOM, OFFICES AND A CANTEEN ON THE GROUND FLOOR. THE FIRST AND SECOND FLOORS HOUSE A BOWLING CENTRE AND THE THIRD FLOOR HAS TABLE TENNIS AND BILLIARD ROOMS.

THE FOURTH FLOOR HAS A GYMNASIUM AND BADMINTON COURTS, WHILE THE FIFTH FLOOR HOUSES THE DORMITORY FOR THE ASSOCIATION’S FOOTBALL TEAM.

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

MONDAY, APRIL 10, 1978

3

RENT OFFICER SCHEME * * * *

THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT TODAY INTRODUCED A RENT OFFICER SCHEME TO HELP MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WITH MATTERS RELATED TO LANDLORD AND TENANT LEGISLATION.

A NUMBER OF PROFESS IONAL/TECHNI CAL OFFICERS HAVE BEEN APPOINTED AS RENT OFFICERS IN A RE-ORGANISATION OF THE DEPARTMENT’S RENT CONTROL DIVISION.

COMMENTING ON THE RENT OFFICER SCHEME,THE COMMISSIONER, MR. R.A. FRY, SAID THAT RENT OFFICERS ARE ABLE TO EXPLAIN THE PROVISIONS OF THE LEGISLATION TO THE PUBLIC AND WILL.ASSIST. THEM IN COMPLETING APPLICATION FORMS AND WITH PROBLEMS ARISING FROM THE LEGISLATION.

RENT OFFICERS ARE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR MEASURING PRE-WAR BUILDINGS AFFECTED BY EXCLUSION ORDER PROCEEDINGS AND HELP TO ENSURE THAT TENANTS’ RIGHTS TO COMPENSATION ARE PRESERVED. PRE-WAR BUILDINGS DECLARED DANGEROUS ARE ALSO MEASURED FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES AND RENT OFFICERS ARRANGE FOR THE OCCUPIERS TO RECEIVE ADVANCE PAYMENTS OF COMPENSATION.

MR. FRY EXPLAINED THAT RENT OFFICERS ARE NOT QUALIFIED TO GIVE LEGAL ADVICE, BUT WILL EXPLAIN PROCEDURES UNDER THE LEGISLATION AND WILL ASSIST WITH INDIVIDUAL PROBLEMS.

AN IMPORTANT FEATURE OF THE RENT OFFICER SCHEME IS THE EXTENSION OF THE SERVICE INTO CERTAIN CITY DISTRICT OFFICES AT FIXED TIMES EACH WEEK TO PROVIDE A PERSONAL SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC.

THE DIRECTOR OF HOME AFFAIRS HAS ARRANGED FOR RENT OFFICERS TO ATTEND CITY DISTRICT OFFICES ON THE FOLLOWING DAYS« CENTRAL. AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICES - TUESDAYS- SHAM SHU I PO DISTRICT OFFICE - WEDNESDAYS- EASTERN CITY DISTRICT OFFICE -THURSDAYS-WONG TAI SIN CITY DISTRICT OFFICE - FRIDAYS.

THIS SERVICE IS INTENDED TO MEET THE PARTICULAR NEEDS OF THE AGED AND INFIRM AND WILL GENERALLY PROVIDE AN IMPROVED SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC.

ARRANGEMENTS HAVE ALSO BEEN MADE FOR RENT OFFICERS TO ASSIST AT DISTRICT OFFICES AND TOWN MANAGEMENT OFFICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WHENEVER REQUIRED.

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

/4

MONDAY, APRIL 10, 1978

4

WEATHER SUMMARY FOR MARCH

******

LAST MONTH (MARCH) WAS DAMP AND GLOOMY WITH ONLY 21.7 HOURS OF SUNSHINE — THE LOWEST FIGURE EVER REGISTERED FOR MARCH SINCE RECORDS BEGAN 94 YEARS AGO.

ACCORDING TO THE MONTHLY WEATHER SUMMARY PUBLISHED BY THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY TODAY, IT WAS ALSO THE FOGGIEST MARCH SINCE 1958.

WAGLAN ISLAND REPORTED FOGGY CONDITIONS ON 14 DAYS AND THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY SIX, WHILE THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF DAYS WITH FOG IN MARCH OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS HAS BEEN 5.9 AND 1.7 RESPECTIVELY.

THE MONTH WAS ALSO MUCH WETTER AND CLOUDIER THAN USUAL.

DURING MARCH THERE WERE 20 DAYS WITH MEASURABLE RAIN AT THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY AND THE TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTED TO 143.8 MM, NEARLY THREE TIMES THE NORMAL AMOUNT.

THE ACCUMULATED RAINFALL SINCE JANUARY 1 THIS YEAR IS 182.9 MM OR 60.2 MM ABOVE AVERAGE.

THE MEAN CLOUDINESS OF 95 PER CENT IS THE FOURTH HIGHEST AND THE MEAN RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF 90 PER CENT THE SECOND HIGHEST ON RECORD FOR MARCH.

BECAUSE OF THE WET AND HUMID CONDITIONS ONLY ONE FIRE DANGER WARNING WAS ISSUED.

DURING THE MONTH 46 AIRCRAFT WERE DIVERTED FROM HONG KONG DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS.

THE BEGINNING OF MARCH WAS MILD AND CLOUDY WITH FOG EXPERIENCED AT SEA ON MARCH 4 BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF A COLD FRONT LATER IN THAT AFTERNOON.

THE PASSAGE OF THE COLD FRONT WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THUNDERSTORMS AND CONDITIONS BECAME RAINY AND SLIGHTLY COOLER.

HOWEVER, AS THE ANTICYCLONE OVER CHINA MOVED EASTWARD, A WARM AND HUMID AIRSTREAM BEGAN TO AFFECT HONG KONG AND CAUSED WIDESPREAD FOG FROM MARCH 7 UNTIL THE PASSAGE OF ANOTHER COLD FRONT TWO DAYS LATER.

THUNDERSTORMS WERE AGAIN REPORTED ON THE MORNINGS OF MARCH 9 AND 10 WITH WINDS FRESHENED RAPIDLY FROM THE EAST ON THE AFTERNOON OF MARCH 12.

CONDITIONS WERE COOL BUT LESS HUMID FROM MARCH 10 TO 19 BUT REMAINED CLOUDY WITH RAIN AT TIMES.

MIST, WITH FOG AT SEA, WAS AGAIN EXPERIENCED ON MARCH 20 AND 21. HOWEVER, THIS CLEARED WITH THE ARRIVAL OF AN INTENSE COLD FRONT ON THE EVENING OF MARCH 21.

/THkIPERATCHE

MONDAY, APRIL 10, 1978

- 5 -

TEMPERATURE DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY AND ON THE EARLY MORNING OF MARCH 24 A MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 11.2 DEGREES CELSIUS WAS RECORDED, THE LOWEST IN THE MONTH.

TEMPERATURE ROSE GRADUALLY AND CONDITIONS BECAME- INCREASINGLY HUMID WITH WIDESPREAD FOG FROM MARCH 26 UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH.

DURING THIS PERIOD VISIBILITY DROPPED TO A VERY LOW LEVEL AND SEA AND AIR TRAFFIC WERE SERIOUSLY AFFECTED.

TWO SHIP COLLISIONS WERE REPORTED ON THE EVENINGS OF MARCH 27 AND 28 WITH MANY FERRIES DELAYED. MANY SCHEDULED FLIGHTS WERE ALSO DELAYED OR DIVERTED.

ON THE AFTERNOON OF MARCH 31, TEMPERATURE ROSE TO A MAXIMUM OF 26.7 DEGREES CELSIUS WHICH WAS THE HIGHEST IN THE MONTH.

■-1X ’f'*

NOTE TO EDITORSi

RETIREMENT OF SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT STAFF

TWENTY STAFF OF THE GOVERNMENT SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT WILL SOON RETIRE AFTER SERVING AN AVERAGE OF 28 YEARS IN THE GOVERNMENT.

THEY INCLUDE ONE SENIOR FOREMAN, ONE CHARGEHAND AND 18 ARTISANS, WHOSE LENGTH OF SERVICES RANGE FROM 20 TO 44 YEARS.

TO MARK THEIR RETIREMENT, THE DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT SUPPLIES, MR. FREDERICK YOUNG, WILL PRESENT GIFTS TO THEM ON BEHALF OF HIS COLLEAGUES AT A CEREMONY TO BE HELD IN THE CANTEEN OF THE DEPARTMENT’S HEADQUARTERS, TOP FLOOR, OIL STREET, NORTH POINT, AT 4 P.M. ON THURSDAY (APRIL 13). -

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY.

- 0 - -

PR 33

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

SUPPLEMENT

Monday, April 10, 1978

GOVERNOR OPENS YUEN LONG DISTRICT SPORTS ASSOCIATION CLUBHOUSE ******

The following is the full text of speech by the Governor, Sir Murray MacLehose, at the official opening of the Yuen Long District Sports Association Clubhouse, today :

It gives me great pleasure to return here today to open your Association’s Clubhouse.

In many ways you, and your Association, are breaking new ground both for yourselves and for the New Territories - this is the largest project you have ever undertaken, and this is the first facility of its kind to be built in the New Territories. That such an achievement has been realized largely from within the resources of the Yuen Long community is remarkable. All those associated with this achievement deserve our congratulations.

Your Government’s policy here, and in the rest of the New Territories, is to encourage through public expenditure and through private investment the development of self-contained towns and communities, providing employment, education and meeting all other social and recreation needs.

/Yuen Long .....

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

2

Yuen Long is typical. Work has started on the Shui Pin Wai estate, which will house 11,000 people by 1981; the running track at the stadium has already been replaced and the Yuen Long swimming pool will . open in 1980; plans for another primary school, two secondary schools and a market are well advanced; an extensive industrial area is under construction and will be followed by a further Industrial Estate. Development on the same scale is also underway at Sheung Shui and Tai Po.

If these rapid physical development that are being pushed forward in the New Territories are to be acceptable to the residents, the residents must be associated with them. To this end there are novz Advisory Boards in each of the Districts, to bring together and build on the combined experience and enthusiasm of local leaders, old and new, representative organisations and government officials. In Yuen Long, I am gratified to hear that the District Advisory Board has already voted a total of $415,000 for cultural, recreational and sports projects in this financial year, and $85,000 for minor environmental improvements including renovation of local playgrounds. The indication that about double this year's allocation will be required to realize the ambitions of the Board in the coming financial year is in itself a tribute to the highly developed sense of local involvement and commitment that is characteristic of Yuen Long.

The New Territories have entered a period of dramatic development and change. This poses a challenge to both people and government. I am convinced that the residents of the New Territories themselves, by their cooperation, goodwill and sound advice, their capacity for innovation and enterprise, will enable the challenge to be met in the best possible way -that is through partnership between people and their government.

It is with great pleasure, Ladies and Gentlemen, that I declare the Yuen Long District Sports Association Clubhouse open.

— 0 —

(FKlfSI IgisI ksfel

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 1978

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS TO SOCIAL SECURITY INTRODUCED . 1

HONG KONG EXPORTS BY AIR RISE ......... 3

BUDGET DEBATE AT LEGCO RESUMES TOMORROW .......... 5

DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING VISITS PWD WORK SITES .... 6

PRH 7

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

TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 1978

- 1 -

MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS TO SOCIAL SECURITY * ft ft * * ft

FIVE MAJOR SOCIAL SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED THIS MONTH AND THREE OF THEM ALONE BENEFIT AN ESTIMATED 55,000 PEOPLE, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, SAID TODAY.

SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON EAST, MR. LEE SAID THE RECIPIENTS BENEFIT IN THE FORM OF LONG-TERM AND OLD-AGE SUPPLEMENTS, AND EXTENSION OF THE WELFARE ALLOWANCE SCHEME TO INCLUDE THOSE LIVING IN INSTITUTIONS.

THE OTHER TWO IMPROVEMENTS, HE SAID, ARE THE DISREGARDED INCOME PROVISION IN WORKING OUT THE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, AND THE SETTING UP OF AN INDEPENDENT BOARD TO HEAR APPEALS AGAINST OFFICIAL DECISIONS ON SOCIAL SECURITY APPLICATIONS.

MR. LEE DESCRIBED THESE INNOVATIONS AS +ANOTHER STRIDE FORWARD+ IN HELPING THOSE LEAST ABLE TO HELP THEMSELVES.

THEIR IMPLEMENTATION WOULD COST ABOUT $49 MILLION IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR, AND COVER MORE PEOPLE IN NEED OF WELFARE ASSISTANCE, HE SAID.

+THERE ARE OTHER DEVELOPMENTS WHICH ARE NOW UNDER STUDY, NOT ONLY FOR SOCIAL SECURITY, BUT FOR OTHER AREAS OF SOCIAL WELFARE AS WELL,+ HE SAID.

ALL THESE REPRESENT THE GOVERNMENT’S ENDEAVOUR TO SUSTAIN A VIGOROUS RATE OF PROGRESS IN THE FIELD OF SOCIAL WELFARE DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG, HE ADDED.

THE DIRECTOR NOTED THAT THE NEW PROVISIONS INEVITABLY INCREASED THE WORKLOAD OF THE STAFF WHO WERE ALREADY WORKING HARD TO PROCESS ELIGIBLE CASES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

OUTLINING DETAILS OF THE IMPROVEMENTS, HE SAID THE LONG-TERM SUPPLEMENT WAS AN ANNUAL PAYMENT OF $500 FOR A FAMILY OR $250 FOR AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAD BEEN RECEIVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FOR MORE THAN 12 MONTHS, IN ORDER TO HELP THEM REPLACE HOUSEHOLD AND DURABLE GOODS.

AN ESTIMATED 17,600 PUBLIC ASSISTANCE CASES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS SUPPLEMENT, HE SAID.

THE OLD-AGE SUPPLEMENT, MR. LEE EXPLAINED, AIMS AT HELPING NEEDY OLD PERSONS WHO ARE NOT YET ELIGIBLE FOR THE OLD AGE ALLOWANCE, FOR WHICH THE QUALIFYING AGE IS NOW 75, TO BE REDUCED EVENTUALLY TO 70 BY APRIL NEXT YEAR IF PROPOSALS ARE IMPLEMENTED.

/♦IT is......

TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 1978

2

+IT IS PAYABLE EACH MONTH TO THOSE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RECIPIENTS AGED 60 AND OVER UNLESS THEY ARE ALREADY RECEIVING A DISABILITY OR OLD AGE ALLOWANCE. THE AMOUNT IS EQUAL TO THE OLD AGE ALLOWANCE WHICH IS NOW $100 A MONTH,+ HE SAID.

AN ESTIMATED 35,000 PUBLIC ASSISTANCE CASES ARE ELIGIBLE, HE ADDED.

AS TO THE DISREGARDED INCOME PROVISION, MR. LEE SAID IT WAS INTENDED AS AN INCENTIVE TO ENCOURAGE SELF-HELP AMONG THE NEEDY BY UNDERTAKING SOME PART-TIME WORK.

+UNDER THIS NEW PROVISION, IN WORKING OUT THE AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE AGED 60 AND THOSE WHO ARE NOT REQUIRED TO REGISTER WITH THE LOCAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICE AS A CONDITION OF RECEIVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, THEIR FIRST $50 EARNINGS WILL BE DISREGARDED ENTIRELY AND HALF OF THEIR NEXT $200 EARNINGS WILL ALSO BE DISREGARDED.

+THIS ALLOWS A MAXIMUM TOTAL OF $150 IN DISREGARDED INCOME A MONTH. ANY EARNINGS ABOVE $250 WILL BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT AS ASSESSABLE INCOME,* HE EXPLAINED.

AS REGARDS THE WELFARE ALLOWANCE SCHEME, PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS THE DISABILITY AND INFIRMITY ALLOWANCE SCHEME, MR. LEE SAID IT WAS NOW EXTENDED TO INCLUDE THOSE ELIGIBLE WHO WERE LIVING IN INSTITUTIONS. THIS BENEFITS ABOUT 2,240 PEOPLE.

THE SETTING UP OF THE APPEAL BOARD AIMS AT PROVIDING A SPEEDY MEANS OF REDRESS FOR ANYONE WHO IS DISSATISFIED WITH THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S DECISIONS ON APPLICATIONS MADE FOR HELP UNDER THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE OR THE WELFARE ALLOWANCE SCHEME, HE SAID.

HEARINGS OF THE BOARD WILL BE INFORMAL AND CONDUCTED IN CHINESE, HE ADDED.

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

TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 1978

- 3 - .....

HONG KONG EXPORTS BY AIR RISE X * X X X *

MORE THAN ONE-FIFTH OR OVER $7,600 MILLION WORTH OF HONG KONG’S DOMESTIC EXPORTS WERE SHIPPED BY AIR LAST YEAR — AN INCREASE OF 5.5 PER CENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

ACCORDING TO TRADE FIGURES RELEASED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY, AIRBORNE IMPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS WERE VALUED AT $8,144 MILLION AND $2,902 MILLION RESPECTIVELY IN 1977. IN TERMS OF PERCENTAGE SHARES, ABOUT 17 PER CENT OF IMPORTS AND 30 PER CENT OF RE-EXPORTS WERE HANDLED BY AIR LAST YEAR.

ABOUT HALF OF THE- A IRBOfWE^XPORTS, OR $3,713 MILLION BY VALUE, WENT TO THE UNITED STATES.

AIRBORNE EXPORTS TO F.R. OF GERMANY AND CANADA DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY, WHILE CONSIDERABLE GROWTH RATES WERE RECORDED FOR JAPAN AND THE UNITED KINGDOM.

THE MAJOR COMMODITIES EXPORTED BY AIR WERE NON—FUR CLOTHING, WHICH SHOWED A CONSIDERABLE DROP FROM $2,990 MILLION IN 1976 TO $2,632 MILLION LAST YEAR AND WATCHES AND CLOCKS WHICH INCREASED TREMENDOUSLY BY 38 PER CENT TO $1,499 MILL ION.

OTHER MAJOR COMMODITIES EXPORTED BY AIR WERE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS AND PARTS FOR COMPUTERS ($676 MILLION, +46.3 PER CENT), JEWELLERY AND GOLDSMITHS’ AND SILVERSMITHS’ WARES ($449 MILLION, +10.6 PER CENT), TRANSISTORS AND DIODES ($378 MILLION, +8.9 PER CENT), SEMI-CONDUCTOR INTEGRATED CIRCUITS ($248 MILLION, -6.4 PER CENT), PERAMBULATORS, TOYS, GAMES AND SPORTING GOODS ($215 MILLION, +11.4 PER CENT), SCIENTIFIC, MEDICAL AND OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS ($203 MILLION, +59.8 PER CENT), AND FUR CLOTHING ($190 MILLION, +31.9 PER CENT).

FOLLOWING EXPORTS TO ITS

IS THE TABLE SHOWING HONG KONG’S AIRBORNE FIVE MAJOR MARKETS IN 1977 COMPARED WITH 1976x-

MAIN MARKETS AIRBORNE EXPORTS IN 1977 (HK$ MILLION) PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN VALUE 1977/1976

U.S.A. 3,713 + 9.5%

F.R. OF GERMANY 819 - 6.9%

JAPAN 444 + 8.8%

UNITED KINGDOM 403 +16.8%

CANADA 249 -28.1%

/iMPOBTS BY......

TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 1978

4

IMPORTS BY AIR IN 1977 INCREASED BY 26.9 PER CENT OVER 1976, HAVING REGISTERED A MUCH FASTER GROWTH THAN THAT OF TOTAL IMPORTS.

THE MAJOR COMMODITIES IMPORTED BY AIR INCLUDED WATCHES AND CLOCKS ($2,069 MILLION, +39.6 PER CENT), PEARLS AND PRECIOUS AND SEMI-PRECIOUS STONES ($656 MILLION, +26.4 PER CENT), ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS AND PARTS FOR COMPUTERS ($589 MILLION, +33.6 PER CENT), SCIENTIFIC, MEDICAL AND OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS ($350 MILLION, +40.6 PER CENT).

THE MAJOR SUPPLIES OF AIRBORNE IMPORTS ARE AS FOLLOWSs-

MAIN SUPPLIERS AIRBORNE IMPORTS IN 1977 (HK$ MILLION) PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN VALUE 1977/1976

U.S.A. 1,957 +22.1%

JAPAN 1,758 +30.0%

SWITZERLAND AND LIECHTENSTEIN 873 +21.3%

UNITED KINGDOM 409 +38.6%

REPUBLIC OF KOREA (SOUTH KOREA) 408 +38.8%

AIRBORNE RE-EXPORTS TO JAPAN DROPPED BY 8.6 PER CENT TO $732 MILLION IN 1977. THIS DECLINE WAS OFFSET BY GROWTH RATES RECORDED IN THE CASE OF TAIWAN ($410 MILLION, +22.0 PER CENT), SINGAPORE ($398 MILLION, +15.4 PER CENT), THE U.S. ($321 MILLION, +16.7 PER CENT) AND SOUTH KOREA ($129 MILLION, +59.3 PER CENT).

AMONG THE COMMODITIES RE-EXPORTED BY AIR, WATCHES AND CLOCKS ($717 MILLION. +19.3 PER CENT), SCIENTIFIC, MEDICAL, OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS ($163 MILLION, +31.5 PER CENT), AND ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS AND PARTS FOR ELECTRICAL MACHINERY ($153 MILLION, +29.7 PER CENT) REGISTERED THE MOST FAVOURABLE RATES OF GROWTH.

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

/5 ....

TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 1973

- 5 -

LEGCO MEETS TOMORROW

* * *

TEN OFFICIAL MEMBERS OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WILL REPLY TO POINTS RAISED BY THEIR UNOFFICIAL COLLEAGUES AT THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE TOMORROW AND ON THURSDAY.

TOMORROW’S SPEAKERS ARE THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING AND THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

BEFORE THE DEBATE ON THE APPROPRIATION BILL 1978, THE CHIEF SECRETARY WILL MAKE A STATEMENT ON THE REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE ON THE DRAFT ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE 1978/79.

AT THE SAME SESSION, TWELVE BILLS WILL ALSO BE INTRODUCED IN THE COUNCIL.

ON THURSDAY THE COUNCIL MEETS AGAIN TO CONTINUE THE BUDGET DEBATE. THE SPEAKERS WILL BE THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE CHIEF SECRETARY AND THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY WHO WILL WIND-UP THE DEBATE.

TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 1978

6

DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING VISITS PWD WORK SITES ******

THE DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, MR. DAVID STEAD, THIS AFTERNOON TOURED PWD WORK SITES ON HONG KONG ISLAND TO INSPECT THE PROGRESS OF VARIOUS PROJECTS.

HE WAS ACCOMPANIED BY CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE PORT WORKS DIVISION, MR. HOWARD CHAMBERLAIN- CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE HIGHWAYS (HK) DIVISION, MR. HO KWOK-YU' CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE DRAINAGE WORKS DIVISION, MR. CHAN YAN AND CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE CONSULTANT MANAGEMENT DIVISION OF THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE, MR. CHOI YU-LEUK.

ONE OF THE SITES MR. STEAD VISITED WAS THE $280 MILLION ABERDEEN TUNNEL, ONE OF THE BIGGEST AND MOST AMBITIOUS HIGHWAY PROJECTS EVER UNDERTAKEN BY THE P.W.D.

HE WAS PLEASED WITH THE PROGRESS OF WORK ON THE TWIN-TUBE TUNNEL, WHICH WILL RUN NEARLY TWO KILOMETRES THROUGH THE HEART OF MOUNT NICHOLSON TO PROVIDE A THREE-MINUTE EXPRESS LINK BETWEEN HAPPY VALLEY AND ABERDEEN.

+S0 FAR, TUNNELLING WORK HAS PROGRESSED 20 METRES FROM EACH OF THE NORTHERN PORTALS,* MR. DEREK BARTLETT, CHIEF RESIDENT ENGINEER, SAID.

+MEANWHILE, LARGE SCALE DRAINAGE AT THE SOUTHERN END OF THE TUNNEL HAS BEEN SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETED WHILE GROUND FORMATION AND EMBANKMENT CONSTRUCTION ARE PROCEEDING SATISFACTORILY.*

IN ADDITION, GROUT INJECTION WORK AT THE SOUTHERN PORTALS HAS JUST STARTED. IT WOULD TAKE SEVERAL MONTHS TO COMPLETE.

EARLIER, MR. STEAD VISITED THE FIRST STAGE OF WESTERN RECLAMATION NEAR WHITTY STREET TRAM TERMINUS.

THE PROJECT, WHEN COMPLETED, WOULD PROVIDE 10 HECTARES OF LAND FOR A CARGO-HANDLING AREA, THE WIDENING OF CONNAUGHT ROAD WEST AND FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PART OF THE POK FU LAM/CONNAUGHT ROAD WEST LINK ROAD AND THE REPROVISIONING OF THE KENNEDY TOWN WHOLESALE MARKET.

OTHER SITES VISITED INCLUDED POK FU LAM ROAD WIDENING, ABERDEEN SEWAGE SCREENING PLANT, ABERDEEN RECLAMATION AND DEEP WATER BAY/REPULSE BAY SEWAGE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL WORKS.

-------0

PRH 7

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1978

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

GOVERNMENT TO PROBE MEANS OF INCREASING WATER RESOURCES .................................................. 1

INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) BILL ........................... 4

FUND INCREASES ADEQUATE FOR SOCIAL WELFARE EXPANSION ... 6

JUSTIFICATION FOR FREE PUBLIC JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION .................................................. 8

REVIEW OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEVELOPMENT .................. 11

GROWTH OF PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME ........................ 14

CHIEF SECRETARY THANKS MEMBERS OF FINANCE COMMITTEE .... 15

BILLS TO GIVE LEGISLATIVE EFFECT TO STAMP DUTY PROPOSALS IN BUDGET.................................................. 16

URBAN COUNCIL (AMENDMENT) BILL ............................ 17

RECOVERY OF HOSPITAL CARE COST FROM INSURANCE COMPANIES ................................................. 13

EVIDENCE (AMENDMENT) BILL ................................. 19

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL ............... 19

HOUSING (AMENDMENT) BILL .................................. 20

LAW AMENDMENT AND REFORM (CONSOLIDATION) (AMENDMENT) BILL ...................................................... 20

TECHNICAL INSTITUTE HOLDS OPEN DAY .................... 21

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS ...................................... 22

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

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1973

1

GOVERNMENT TO PROEE MEANS OF INCREASING .-ATER RESOURCES

******

THE GOVERNMENT IS PLANNING A FULL SCALE INVESTIGATION OF ALL FEASIBLE METHODS OF OBTAINING WATER INTERNALLY WHICH ARE CHEAPER THAN BY DESALTING SEA WATER AND AT THE SAME TIME INTENDS TO SEEK DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES TO OBTAIN FURTHER WATER SUPPLIES.

THIS ..AS REVEALED BY THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES AT THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

MR. JONES SAID A SUBMISSION ON THESE INVESTIGATIONS WOULD SHORTLY BE MADE TO THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL AND IF APPROVED, THEY ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE SOME TWO YEARS TO COMPLETE.

HE SAID IT WOULD THEN EE POSSIBLE TO DETERMINE THE EEST SEQUENCE OF DEVELOPMENT TO MEET OUR FUTURE WATER REQUIREMENTS.

MR. JONES POINTED OUT THAT THE CURRENT LEVEL OF UNRESTRICTED DEMAND FOR WATER IS ABOUT 100,300 MILLION GALLONS A YEAR, AND IT IS ESTIMATED THAT IN TEN YEARS TIME UNRESTRICTED DEMAND WILL HAVE RISEN BY MORE THAN THREE QUARTERS TO 176,303 MILLION GALLONS.

HE AGREED WITH THE HON. SIR SZE-YUEN CHUNG’S SUGGEST I Cl THAT MORE WATER SUPPLY FROM CHINA WOULD EE A MOST VALUABLE SOURCE TO MEET OUR FUTURE ..ATER REQUIREMENT.

HOWEVER HE HESITATED THAT IT WOULD GO SC FAR AS TC SOLVE ALL OUR WATER PROBLEMS.

MR. JONES SAID THE GOVERNMENT HOPED TO INCREASE THE SUPPLY FROM CHINA TO 37,030 MILLION GALLONS A YEAR FROM OCTOBER 1, NEXT YEAR WHEN OUR INSTALLATIONS WOULD BE AELE TO RECEIVE THIS QUANTITY.

BUT HE SAID THAT TO ENABLE YET MORE TO EE SUPPLIED WOULD REQUIRE FURTHER MAJOR WORKS ON EOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER TO INSTALL NEW PIPES AND PUMPING STATIONS AND THIS WOULD OF COURSE TAKE TIME TC ARRANGE AND CARRY CUT.

HE ASSURED SIR SZE-YUEN THAT IT IS THE GOVERNMENT’S INTENTION TO SEEK DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES .. I TH A VIEW TC OBTAINING FURTHER SUPPLIES.

HOWEVER HE SAID EVEN IF ..E COULD DOUBLE OUR SUPPLIES FROM CHINA CVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS (AM EXTRA 37,333 MILLION GALLONS A YEAR) ,.E WOULD STILL NEED A FURTHER 43,033 MILLION GALLONS A YEAR - HALF OF .HAT ..E E DC 31 ING HC'.. A YEAR -TO MEET OUR DEMAND IN 1968.

/+S0 IT IS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1978

2

+S0 IT IS CLEAR THAT WE ALSO NEED TO INVESTIGATE URGENTLY THE DEVELOPMENT OF FURTHER INTERNAL SOURCES OF SUPPLY,+ HE SAID.

ON LAND POLICY, MR. JONES SAID THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES THAT IT IS ESSENTIAL TO HAVE A FORWARD PROGRAMME OF LAND PRODUCTION LOOKING SEVERAL YEARS INTO THE FUTURE.

+THE RECENT REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON LAND PRODUCTION SHOWS THAT THE EXTENSIVE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES THAT ARE NOW IN TRAIN, PARTICULARLY IM THE NEW TOWNS AND l-ARKET TOWNS, THE INDUSTRIAL ESTATES AND RECLAMATIONS IN THE URBAN AREA, WILL PRODUCE, 3Y PAST STANDARDS, QUITE A GOOD SUPPLY OF LAND FOR BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS OVER THE NEXT FIVE OR SIX YEARS.

+THE GOVERNMENT IS NOW EVALUATING POSSIBLE ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF SUPPLY FOR THE MID-EIGHTIES AND THE VIEWS CF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE WILL BE SOUGHT ON THESE.

HE SAID ALTHOUGH IT SEEMS PROBABLE THAT NEW DEVELOPMENTS ..ILL BECOME PROGRESSIVELY MORE EXPENSIVE, EVERY EFFORT WILL EE MADE TO KEEP UP THE MOMENTUM OF LAND PRODUCTION.

ON DEVELOPMENT IN NORTHERN LANTAU, MR. JONES SAID WORK KAS ALREADY STARTED ON INVESTIGATING THE GEOLOGICAL AND ENGINEERING FEASIBILITY OF LAND FORMATION II! THIS POTENTIALLY VERY LARGE DEVELOPMENT AREA AND PREPARATIONS ARE BEING MADE FOR LETTING A CONSULTANCY ON THE DESIGN OF A FIXED CROSSING TO THE MAINLAND.

♦ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS ON THE MEANS OF CONSTRUCT I NG THIS CROSSING WILL BE RECEIVED FROM A SHORT LIST OF CONSULTANTS IK THE MIDDLE OF MAY AND, ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT IT IS DECIDED TO PROCEED, CONSTRUCTION OF THE CROSSING AND THE NECESSARY SUPPORTING ROADS COULD BE COMPLETED BY THE EARLY EIGHTIES,* HE SAID.

MR. JONES ALSO REVEALED THAT WORK IS ALSO IN HAND ON INVESTIGATING OTHER AREAS, A PRIME EXAMPLE BEING JUNK EAY.

REFERRING TO POINTS RAISED BY THE UKGFFICIALS ON SHORTTERM SUPPLY OF LAND, MR. JONES SAID HE RECOGNISED THAT THE GOVERNMENT’S SALES PROGRAMME IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE IS MOT AS BIG AS IT SHOULD BE, BUT HE STRESSED THAT IT HAS '.EVER BEEN THE INTENTION TC RATION LAND TO HOLL UP THE PRICE. +RATHER IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO SELL LAND AS IT BECOMES AVAILABLE.*

TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION A'.D TIE M I TH THE LAND

PRODUCTION PROGRAMME, HE PROPOSED TO SEEK AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH SPECIFIC LAND SALES TARGETS FOE DIFFERENT USES WHICH DEPARTMENTS ,'ILL EE -ECUIREl TC MEET.

MR. JONES SAID HE HAD ALSO ASKED THE DIRECTOR GF PUBLIC WORKS TO REVIEW ALL POSSIBLE ..AYS CF SPEEDING UP THE SALES PROGRAMME IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE.

/ON THE SUGGESTION .....

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1978

3

CH THE SUGGESTION TO REVIEW DENSITY ZONING POLICY, HE PROMISED THAT A REVIEW OF THE VARIOUS POSSIBILITIES WOULD EE PUT II. HAND STRAIGHT A,. AY.

HOWEVER HE POINTED OUT THAT IT ,.OULD NOT BE POSSIBLE TO I .CREASE DENSITIES ALL ROUND AND SAID: +EY ANY STANDARDS THE URBAN AREAS GF HONG KONG ARE EXCEPTIONALLY OVERCROWDED, aLL TOC OFTEN TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE REASONABLE ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS, PARTICULARLY IN THE ZONE 1 AREAS.

+ AND IN OTHER AREAS, SUCH AS THE MID-LEVELS, THE EVER INCREASING FLEETS OF .'OTOR CARS LIMIT THE SCOPE OF ADDITIONAL DEVELOP.'E'.T.

♦NEVERTHELESS, THERE IS SOME POSSIBILITY FOR AN INCREASE IK PLOT RATIOS IN SOME SELECTED ZONE 2 AND 3 AREAS AND PERHAPS FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF ,' '.E. DENSITY ZONE SOMEWHERE BET..EEN ZONE 2 AND ZONE 3,+ HE SAID.

TURNING TO BUILDING i-.Ai.AGci ;’’T, MR. JONES SAID: +THc PROBLEM. OF MULTI-STOREY BUILDING 'MANAGEMENT IS VERY SERIOUS AND ONE WHICH, UNTIL NOW, HAS NOT EEEK FIRMLY ATTACKED.

+SO I THINK THAT WE WILL HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT MORE OFFICIAL INTERVENTION IS GOING TO EE NECESSARY IF THE GENERAL URBAN ENVIRONMENT IS TO BE SAVED FROM SERIOUS DETERIORATION.

+THE EXTENT OF THAT INTERVENTION AND THE OTHER MEASURES WHICH i'. ILL BE NECESSARY TO REINFORCE CANERS’ MANAGEMENT ARE BEING ASSESSED SYSTEMATICALLY, AND I HOPE TO MAKE DEFINITE PROPOSALS IN THE COMING YEAR,+ MR. JONES SAID.

CONCERNING HAWKER SITUATION I!.' THE NEL TERRITORIES, MR. JOKES SAID IT IS HOPED THAT THE PROELE.’ .v ILL BE CONTAINED BY A TWO-PRONGED ATTACK — THE PROVISION CF ADEQUATE CFF-STFEET FACILITIES IN THE FORM OF MARKETS AND COCKED FOOD CENTRES .- ,0 r.HE ESSENTIAL BACK UP OF AN EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT PRESENCE 0'1 THE GROUND.

HE NOTED THAT IN TSUEN UAL, FOR. EXAMPLE, A KE.. .MARKET

IS BEING BUILT AND ALL EXISTING HA..AEES .ILL EE ACCOMMODATED, INCLUDING OVER 330 UNLICENSED HA..KEF:3.

SIMILAR NEW MARKETS ARE BEING PROVIDED I'. SHA TIN AND TUEN MUN AND ARE BEING PLANKED FOR OTHER MARKET TOWNS . I TH THE AIM OF ACCOMMODATING THE GREAT 'AJCFITY OF HAWKERS ..HO ARE NOW OPERATING ON-STREET, HE SAID.

HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT AT PRESENT THE UREAI. SERVICES DEPARTMENT’S NEW TERRITORIES REGION IS OPERATING A GENERAL DUTIES TEAM IK TSUEK .-.'AN TC 'EGULATE HA'.-'KE-. ACTIVITIES THERE, AND THREE ADDITIONAL TEAKS HAVE ALSO DEE.' .APPROVED FOR K.-.AI CHUNG, TAI PC AND YUE" LONG.

+LATER, FUNDS ..'ILL BE SOUGHT FOR YET THREE MORE TEAMS TC OPERATE RESPECTIVELY IN SHA TIN, TUE MUN AND II THE SAI KUNG AND ISLANDS DI ST ICTS,+ MR. JOKES SAID.

0 - - - -

A

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1976 - A -

INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) E1LL ******

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, INTRODUCED THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

HE SAID THIS BILL IS A REFORM MEASURE WITH TWO OBJECTIVES: FIRST, TO AMEND THE CHARGE TO PROFITS TAX ON BANKS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, ..ITH A VIE.. TO PLACING THEN IN A BROADLY SIMILAR POSITION TO OTHER BUSINESSES- AND, SECONDLY, TC IMPROVE THE YIELD FROM THE CHARGE, SC AS TO HELP THE GOVERNHEN MAINTAIN THE RATE OF TAX ON CORPORATE PROFITS GENERALLY AT THE EXISTING RATE OF 17 PER CENT FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.

ACCORDINGLY, THE BILL SEEKS TO DEEM INTEREST ACCRUING TC A BANK OR A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION AS ARISING IN HONG KONG WHERE SUCH INTEREST ARISES DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY THROUGH, OR FROM, THE CARRYING ON BY A BANK OR OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTION OF ITS BUSINESS IN HONG KONG. CONSEQUENTLY, PROFITS FROM SUCH INTEREST ..ILL EE CHARGEABLE TC PROFITS TAX.

BACKGROUND

UNDER THE INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE, PAYMENTS OF INTEREST TO THOSE PERSONS (FOR EXAMPLE, BANKS) ..HO ARE REQUIRED TO RETURN INTEREST AS PART OF THEIR BUSINESS PROFITS ARE EXEMPT FROM INTEREST TAX AS SUCH, BUT SUCH PAYMENTS ARE CHARGEABLE TO PROFITS TAX WHERE THE SOURCE OF THE INTEREST IS HONG KONG AND WHERE THE INTEREST IS DERIVED FROM A TRADE OR BUSINESS

CARRIED ON IN HONG KONG.

THE ORDINANCE LAYS DOWN NO TEST FOR DETERMINING THE

SOURCE OF INTEREST, THAT IS TC SAY, ..'HERE THE INTEREST ARISES II.

OR IS DERIVED FROM. HOWEVER, CASE LAW HAS ESTABLISHED.-THAT, FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING THE SOURCE CF INTEREST, THE TEST TC BE USED IS THE PLACE ..HERE THE CREDIT IS DADE AVAILABLE TC THE EORRO..

AITH THE EMERGENCE OF HONG KONG AS A FINANCIAL CENTRE, AND -ITH MORE SOPHISTICATED TECHNIQUES NOW BECOMING AVAILABLE, THIS TEST HAS PROVED INCREASINGLY ARTIFICIAL AS A MEANS CF DETERMINING SOURCE.

FOR EXAMPLE, IT IS POSSIBLE TO CARRY CUT VIRTUALLY ALL ASPECTS OF BANKING OPERATIONS IN HONG KCI’G AMD YET, PROVIDED CREDIT IS ONLY MADE AVAILABLE OUTSIDE HONG KONG, NO TAX NEED BE PAID. AS A RESULT, THE YIELD FROM PROFITS TAX ON INTEREST HAS NOT, AND IS UNLIKELY IN THE FUTURE, TO KEEP PACE ..ITH THE GROWTH OF PROFITS.

/THE REVIEW......

i

1

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1978

THE REVIEW COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATION

THE THIRD INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED THAT, IN RESPECT OF BANKS AND F INANC I AL . INSTI TUT IONS ENGAGED IN DEPOSIT-TAKING AND RELATED BUSINESS, THE PROFITS CHARGEABLE TO TAX SHOULD INCLUDE PROFITS FROM INTEREST WHICH THESE BUSINESSES, ACTIVELY CARRIED ON IN HONG KONG OBTAIN WITHOUT THE SUBSTANTIAL INTERVENTION OF ANY BRANCH ELSEWHERE.

THE REVIEW COMMITTEE CONSIDERED THAT, WHERE FUNDS IN THE HANDS OF A BANK’S HONG KONG OFFICE, ARE MADE AVAILABLE OUTSIDE HONG KONG, THE RESULTANT PROFITS ON THE INTEREST DERIVED FROM SUCH LENDING OPERATIONS OUGHT TO EE BROUGHT TO CHARGE. THE COMMITTEE ARGUED THAT THE ORGANISATION •.'.HI CH A BANK POSSESSES IN HONG KONG IS BROUGHT INTO EXISTENCE, AND PUT TO WORK, FOR THE PURPOSE OF RAISING THE VERY FUNDS ..HICH ARE USED, INTER ALIA,

FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENTERING INTO TRANSACTIONS WHICH GIVE RISE TC THE SUBSEQUENT RECEIPT OF INTEREST. THUS, THE ACTIVITIES CF THE BANK’S ORGANISATION HERE AND THE USE WHICH THAT ORGANISATION MAKES OF HONG KONG ARE, IN ESSENCE, THE SOURCE OF THE PROFITS EARNED ON THESE TRANSACTIONS.

THE REVIEW COMMITTEE CONCLUDED, THEREFORE, THAT THE PROFITS TAX CHARGE SHOULD APPLY TC THE PROFITS WHICH ARISE FROM SUCH TRANSACTIONS. FOR THE SAME REASONS, THE REV IE/. COMMITTEE FURTHER RECOMMENDED THAT THE CHARGE SHOULD APPLY ALSO TC OTHER INSTITUTIONS WHICH ENGAGE IN DEPOSIT-TAKING AND RELATED BUSINESS.

THE GOVERNMENT’S DECISION

THE GOVERNMENT ACCEPTED THE REVIE.. COMMITTEE’S VIEW THAT IT IS A BANK’S ORGANISATION IN HONG KONG AND THE USE TO aHICH THAT ORGANISATION IS PUT TO RAISE FUNDS AND ON-LEND THEM WHICH ARE THE SOURCE OF ITS PROFITS FROM INTEREST. ACCORDINGLY, THE GOVERNMENT AGREED THAT SUCH PROFITS OUGHT TC EE CHARGEABLE TC TAX HERE IN THE SAME ;AY AS COMMISSIONS, FEES AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE DEALING PROFITS ARE CHARGED AT THE PRESENT TIME.

WITH THE RAPID EXPANSION CF OFFSHORE BUSINESS, AN INCREASING PROPORTION OF THE PROFITS SC EARNED WOULD OTHERWISE ESCAPE TAX. THERE IS NO JUSTIFICATION FCF THIS, INASMUCH AS THESE PROFITS ARE, AS A MATTER OF FACT, DERIVED FROM ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES CARRIED ON IN HONG KONG.

BASED ON PRESENT INFORMATION AVAILABLE IM THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT, THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE YIELDS, SHOULD THE DILL EE ENACTED, ..ILL EE AEOUT ,1^4 MILLION IN 1973-83 AND THEREAFTER ABOUT 580 MILLION PEP. nHNU: .

0

/6

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1978

6

FUND INCREASES ADEQUATE FOR SOCIAL WELFARE EXPANSION * * * * *

THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, THE HON. THOMAS LEE, TODAY DISPELLED DOUBTS AS TO THE ADEQUACY OF THE INCREASED PROVISIONS FOR RECURRENT EXPENDITURE ON SOCIAL WELFARE.,

REPLYING TO POINTS RAISED BY THE UNOFFICIALS AT THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR. LEE POINTED OUT THAT THE INCREASE WAS SUBSTANTIAL, BOTH IN ABSOLUTE TERMS AND AS A PERCENTAGE.

HE EMPHASISED THE PROVISIONS WOULD BE ADEQUATE TO MAINTAIN EXISTING SERVICES, TO MEET INCREASED COSTS AND TO CATER FOR NEW PROJECTS LIKELY TO EE IMPLEMENTED DURING THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR.

CITING FIGURES, HE SAID THE INCREASE IN SOCIAL WELFARE SUBVENTION WOULD EE 47 PER CENT OR 332 MILLION- THE GOVERNMENT’S SOCIAL SECURITY SERVICES z.OULD ATTRACT AN INCREASE OF 21 PER CENT OR 358.5 MILLION, AMD OTHER SERVICES, 15 PER CENT OR S1O.3 MILLION.

ON THE PROVISION OF FUNDS FOR SOCIAL WELFARE SUBVENTION, MR. LEE POINTED OUT THAT IN THE RECENTLY COMPLETED ALLOCATION EXERCISE FOR 1978/79, THERE HAD NOT BEEN A SINGLE CASE WHERE AN APPROVED NEW PROJECT WITHIN AGREED POLICY WAS DENIED SUPPORT BECAUSE OF INSUFF IC I ENT FUNDS.

HE GAVE THE ASSURANCE THAT IN APPROVING SUBVENTION TO A VOLUNTARY AGENCY, THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE CONSIDERED SUCH PERTINENT FACTORS AS SALARY INCREASE, INCREASE IN PROVIDENT FUND CONTRIBUTIONS, INCREASE IK RENT AND RATES AS WELL AS ANY JUSTIFIABLE INCREASE IN OTHER COSTS OF PROVIDING THE SERVICE.

+1 CONSIDER THE PRESENT PRACTICE IS SATISFACTORY AS LONG AS SUBVENTION REMAINS ON A DISCRETIONARY BASIS,+ HE ADDED.

AS USUAL, HE SAID, THERE WOULD EE SOME FUNES FOR +CONTINGEN'CIES+ DURING 1978/79, AND THE SOCIAL ..ELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE WOULD EE PLEASED TO CONSIDER, WHERE THIS COULD EE JUSTIFIED, THE REQUEST BY A VOLUNTARY AGENCY FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT EITHER FOR ITS EXISTING SERVICE OR FOR A NEW PROJECT.

WITH REGARD TO A SUGGESTION BY DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG ON THE ALTERNATIVE USE OF THE ,7 MILLION RESERVED FOR IMPLEMENTING PROPOSALS OF THE YOUTH AND ELDERLY GREEN PAPERS, MR. LEE SAID IT WOULD NOT BE NECESSARY.

HE EXPLAINED THAT THE 393 MILLION ALLOCATED FOR EXISTING SERVICES AND NE.. SOCIAL ..ELFARE PROJECTS UNDER PRESENT POLICIES, INCLUDING THOSE IN THE REHABILITATION PROGRAMME, WOULD EE SUFFICIENT TO MEET EXISTING SERVICES AND NE.. PROJECTS PLANNED FOR THE CURRENT YEAR.

/♦FURTHERMORE,

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1978

7

♦FURTHERMORE, THE $7 MILLION IS LIKELY TO EE REQUIRED FOR NEW PROJECTS FOR THE ELDERLY AND YOUNG PEOPLE,+ HE ADDED.

TURNING TO MANPOWER REQUIREMENTS IN RELATION TO THE EXPANSION OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. LEE SAID AN ASSESSMENT OF THE FORESEEABLE DEMAND FOR SOCIAL WORKERS, BOTH WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT AND IN THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR, WAS BEING PURSUED WITH URGENCY AND WOULD BE COMPLETED SOON.

♦WE WILL THEN HAVE A FIRM BASIS TO APPROACH THE VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS CONCERNED FOR AN INCREASED INTAKE OF SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS,+ HE SAID.

WHILE ENDORSING THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY DR. THE HON. RAYSON HUANG AND HON. MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH ON THE NEED FOR INCREASED CAPACITY IN SOCIAL WORK TRAINING, MR. LEE NOTED THAT THE EXPANSION, IF CARRIED OUT TOO DRAMATICALLY, WOULD INVOLVE PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES ESPECIALLY IN THE PROVISION OF FIELD.,ORK PLACEMENT FOR THE STUDENTS.

IN VIEW OF THIS, HE ADVOCATED THE ADOPTION OF A REALISTIC TARGET AND SAID PLANS WERE IN HAND TO ENSURE OPTIMUM USE OF TRAINED PERSONNEL WITHIN THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.

REFERRING TO THE PROPOSED SETTING UP OF A SUB-COMMITTEE UNDER THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO PLAN AND INITIATE RESEARCH WORK, MR. LEE SAID THIS ELEMENT HAD ALREADY BEEN INCLUDED IN THE OVERALL PLANNING, WITH A COMMITTEE COMPRISING REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR TO SUGGEST RESEARCH PROJECTS DURING THE ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE FIVE-YEAR PLAN.

IN ADDITION, HE SAID, THE PLANNING AND EVALUATION SUB-COMM ITTEE OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE CAN ALSO PROPOSE OTHER RESEARCH PROJECTS IN CONNECTION WITH ANY PLANNING BEING CONSIDERED.

♦FUNDS COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE FROM THE LOTTERIES FUND, WHERE NECESSARY, FOR INDEPENDENT BODIES TO UNDERTAKE SUCH PROJECTS,+ HE ADDED.

0

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1978

- 8 -

JUSTIFICATION FOR FREE PUBLIC JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION

THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, THE HON. KENNETH TOPLEY, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT AS THE FIRST SIX YEARS OF PRIMARY EDUCATION WERE FREE, SO SHOULD BE THE THREE YEARS OF JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.

MR. TOPLEY WAS REPLYING TO POINTS RAISED BY A NUMBER OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WHO DOUBTED THE NEED OR WISDOM OF ABOLISHING FEES IN FORMS 1-3 IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.

HE POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO JUSTIFY COMPULSORY JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION FOR WHICH PEOPLE HAD TO PAY.

+EVEN A FEE REMISSION SCHEME, NO MATTER HOW GENEROUS, DOES INVOLVE SOME FORM OF MEANS TESTING, RESISTANCE TO WHICH COULD LEAD TO DIFFICULTIES IN A SYSTEM OF COMPULSION.

+WE MUST REMOVE FROM OUR SYSTEM, TOO, ANYTHING WHICH ENCOURAGES OR CAN BE USED TO JUSTIFY UNDER-AGED CHILDREN SEEKING EMPLOYMENT,+ MR. TOPLEY EMPHASISED.

HE ADDED: +IT IS HIGH TIME THAT HONG KONG CAME INTO LINE WITH THE MAJORITY OF THE MORE SOCIALLY ADVANCED AND TECHNOLOGICALLY DEVELOPING COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING UNIVERSALLY A SOUND BASIC COURSE OF EDUCATION. IT IS OUR BELIEF THAT TO EE EFFECTIVE IN MEETING THE NEEDS OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND OUR COMMUNITY THIS BASIC COURSE CAN BE NO SHORTER THAN NINE YEARS.+

ON 'TONG FAI*, THE DIRECTOR SAID THAT FIRM PROPOSALS HAD BEEN FORMULATED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THESE HAD BEEN SUBMITTED RECENTLY TO THE VARIOUS SCHOOL COUNCILS FOR THEIR COMMENT.

HE SAID: +SUEJECT TO THE AGREEMENT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE COMMENTS OF SCHOOL COUNCILS, THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO ABOLISH ’TONG FAI’ IN FORMS 1-3 IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR UP TO THE LIMIT WHICH WE CAN REASONABLY JUSTIFY.

+TO ACHIEVE THIS IT PROPOSES TO INCREASE THE PRESENT CAPITATION GRANT TO AIDED SCHOOLS BY 3120 PER ANNUM WHICH SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO COVER THOSE ITEMS PREVIOUSLY MET FROM ’TONG FAI’.

+A SMALL NUMBER OF THE LONGER ESTABLISHED SCHOOLS WHICH HAVE ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS AS A RESULT OF EXTRA FACILITIES BUILT UP IN PAST YEARS WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO RETAIN AN ELEMENT OF ’TONG FAI’.+

THE LEVYING OF ’TONG FAI’ COULD CONTINUE IN FORMS 4-6 BUT IT WOULD BE REDUCED IN ALL LOAN-BEARING SCHOOLS BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT WAS PROPOSING TO WAIVE THE BALANCE OF ALL LOANS IN AIDED AND NON-PROFIT-MAKING SCHOOLS.

/REFERRING TO .....

IHMESDAT, APRIL 12, 1978

9

REFERRING TO THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS CONCERN ABOUT THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION, MR. TOPLEY SAID: +THERE IS A WORRY (AND I FULLY UNDERSTAND THE WORRY) THAT THE MEANS BY WHICH WE SHALL ACHIEVE UNIVERSAL JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION WITHIN THE TIME SCALE WE HAVE SET OURSELVES ARE SUCH THAT THE STANDARD ATTAINABLE IN MANY OF OUR SCHOOLS WILL BE INADEQUATE.

+TO PUT IT ANOTHER WAY, DIFFERENT STANDARDS OF PUBLIC SECTOR PLACES WILL RESULT FROM THE DIFFERING LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE TO THOSE PLACES. IN PARTICULAR, DIFFERING SALARY SCALES COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS STAFFING PROBLEMS IN SOME SCHOOLS WITH OBVIOUS EFFECTS ON THE TEACHING IN THESE SCHOOLS.+

MR. TOPLEY DREW ATTENTION TO TWO RELATED PROBLEMS OF EDUCATIONAL PLANNING - THE SETTING OF TARGETS FOR PROVISION AT VARIOUS LEVELS IN EDUCATION LEADING TO SPECIFIC CLASS STRUCTURES IN SPECIFIC SCHOOLS AND THE SETTING OF LEVELS OF AID.

+UNLESS WE COMMAND SUFFICIENT FUNDS TO MAKE ALL SCHOOLS FULLY AIDED, WE MUST EITHER BUILD FEWER SCHOOLS OR WE MUST OPEN NEW SCHOOLS AT LOWER.LEVELS OF AID.

+TAKING ACCOUNT OF THE ACTUAL SITUATION WE HAVE CREATED SCHOOLS ASYMMETRIC IN CLASS STRUCTURE AND SUPPORTED BY CAPUT GRANTS LOWER THAN THOSE GIVEN TO FULLY AIDED SCHOOLS,+ MR. TOPLEY SAID.

HE ADDED: +MEASURES OF THIS KIND HAVE BEEN USED AT LEAST SINCE 1971 AND WERE BUILT INTO THE PROPOSALS IN THE 1974 WHITE PAPER ON SECONDARY EDUCATION BECAUSE WE BELIEVED THAT PROVISION THROUGH A BUILDING PROGRAMME MADE UP ENTIRELY OF FULLY AIDED SCHOOLS WOULD BE TOO COSTLY AND THEREFORE TOO SLOW.+

THE DIRECTOR THEN REPLIED TO QUESTIONS RAISED BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS ABOUT THE IMBALANCE IN THE BUILDING PROGRAMME BETWEEN FULLY AIDED AND NON-PROFIT-MAKING SCHOOLS.

HE SAID: +IN THE CURRENT ACADEMIC YEAR THERE ARE 239 PUBLIC SECTOR SCHOOLS, 196 OF WHICH ARE GOVERNMENT OR AIDED AND 43 ARE NON-PROFIT-MAKING. BY 1981 THERE WILL BE A TOTAL OF 310 ~~ 224 GOVERNMENT OR AIDED AND 36 NON-PROFIT-MAKING SCHOOLS.

+IN THE NEW TERRITORIES THE PICTURE IS THAT THIS YEAR THERE ARE 39 GOVERNMENT OR AIDED SCHOOLS AND SEVEN NON-PROFIT-MAKING SCHOOLS^ IN 1981 THERE WILL BE 58 GOVERNMENT OR AIDED SCHOOLS AND 43 NON-PROFIT-MAKING SCHOOLS.

+THUS BY 1981 THERE WILL EE AN ADDITION OF 81 SCHOOLS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR LEADING TO A CORRESPONDING REDUCTION IN PLACES IN PRIVATE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS. THERE WILL ALSO BE A PREPONDERANCE OF GOVERNMENT AND AIDED SCHOOLS IN BOTH THE ESTABLISHED URBAN AREAS AND IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

/+S0 ALTHOUGH .....

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1978

10

+S0 ALTHOUGH IT IS TRUE THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE 55 SCHOOLS TO EE BUILT IN THE NEW TERRITORIES UP TO 1981 WILL BE NON-PROFIT-MAKING, THE END PRODUCT WILL BE 58 GOVERNMENT OR AIDED SCHOOLS AND 43 NON-PROFIT-MAKING SCHOOLS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES BY 1981, COMPARED WITH 39 GOVERNMENT OR AIDED AND SEVEN NON-PROFIT-MAKING SCHOOLS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR NOW.+

CONTRARY TO WHAT THE HON. CHARLES YEUNG HAD SAID, MR. TOPLEY EMPHASISED THAT +THIS WILL NOT BE A REDUCTION IN STANDARDS BUT A GREAT IMPROVEMENT.+

THE REV. THE HON. JOYCE M. BENNETT HAD EXPRESSED ALARM THAT THE +INTERLOCK ING+ SCHOOLS (AND BY THIS MR. TOPLEY WAS SURE SHE MEANT THE ASYMMETRICAL SCHOOLS) WOULD BE +CAPUT GRANT* SCHOOLS AND NOT, AS SHE CLAIMED WAS ENVISAGED, FULLY AIDED SCHOOLS.

MR. TOPLEY SAID: +THIS MISUNDERSTANDING PUZZLES ME. I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO SEE HOW IT COULD EVER HAVE BEEN THOUGHT THAT THESE ASYMMETRICAL SCHOOLS WERE TO BE FULLY AIDED.

+THE 1974 WHITE PAPER VERY CLEARLY DESCRIBED WHAT WAS MEANT BY ASYMMETRICAL SCHOOLS, HOW THEY WOULD BE ASSISTED, AND THE PART THEY WOULD PLAY IN ANY EXPANSION PROGRAMME.*

IT WAS CERTAINLY TRUE THAT FOR A TIME AT LEAST SOME UNEVENNESS OF PROVISION WOULD EXIST WITHIN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.

+HOWEVER, THE WHOLE QUESTION OF THE LEVELS OF ASSISTANCE TO THE NON-PROFIT-MAKING SCHOOLS MUST EE REVIEWED AND THIS WILL BE DONE.

+1 SHOULD ADD THAT THE NEW SYSTEM OF SCHOOL NETS WHICH AIMS TO EQUALISE OPPORTUNITIES BY REGION PLUS THE GREAT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF NEW PUBLIC SECTOR SCHOOLS WILL GIVE TO CHILDREN IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND OTHER DEVELOPING AREAS A MUCH BETTER OPPORTUNITY THAN THEY HAVE NOW OF OBTAINING A SECONDARY PLACE IN A MORE POPULAR SCHOOL.

+S0 THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION IS BEING RAISED NOT LOWERED AND CHILDREN IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND OTHER DEVELOPING AREAS WILL BENEFIT POSITIVELY AND CONSIDERABLY. I AGREE OF COURSE THAT THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR FURTHER IMPROVEMENT AS MORE FUNDS BECOME AVAILABLE,* MR. TOPLEY SAID.

0

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1978

11

REVIEW OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEVELOPMENT

******

THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCENE IS ON THE THRESHOLD OF A RARE COMBINATION OF STIRRING EVENTS -- THE IMPENDING BIRTH CF A NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL WITH ITS CONCOMITANT TEACHING HOSPITAL AT SHA TIN AND A NEW DENTAL SCHOOL AT THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY, AND THE INTRODUCTION OF A DENTAL HEALTH CARE SCHEME FOR THE SCHOOL-GOING POPULATION.

THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. THE HON. K.L. THONG, SAID THIS IN HIS REVIEW OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEVELOPMENT DURING THE BUDGET DEBATE AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

HE SAID THESE, TOGETHER WITH OTHER WIDE RANGING PLANS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, PRESENTED AN +EXCITING CHALLENGE* TO THOSE IN THE MEDICAL PROFESSION AND THE DEPARTMENT.

+IT IS OUR DUTY AND OBLIGATION TO TAKE UP THIS GAUNTLET. TO DO OTHERWISE WILL SURELY RESULT IN SOMETHING MUCH LESS THAN THAT IDEAL STATE OF PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND SOCIAL WELLBEING WHICH EVERY TERRITORY IN THE WORLD PROFESSES TO ACHIEVE BUT ONLY A COMPARATIVE FEW CAN HOPE TO ATTAIN,* HE SAID.

+HAPPILY FOR US IN HONG KONG, WE MAY PRIDE OURSELVES IN BEING INCLUDED AMONG THE SELECTED FEW JUDGING EY OUR HEALTH STATISTICS,* HE ADDED.

DR. THONG SAID SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE DURING THE YEAR IN THE VARIOUS AREAS OF THE MEDICAL SERVICES AS A RESULT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE DEVELOPMENT PLANS LAID DOWN IN THE 19-YEAR MEDICAL WHITE PAPER.

THE REGIONALISATION SCHEME, FOR INSTANCE, HAS ACHIEVED ITS MAIN OBJECTIVE OF RELIEVING THE PRESSURE ON THE TWO MAJOR REGIONAL HOSPITALS -- THE QUEEN MARY AND QUEEN ELIZABETH.

DR. THONG SAID FOR YEARS, A REGULAR FEATURE IN THESE TWO HOSPITALS HAD BEEN THE USE OF CAMP BEDS NUMBERING 100 AND 160 A DAY RESPECTIVELY.

+TODAY, I AM GLAD TO SAY THE PICTURE IS VISIBLY DIFFERENT,* HE SAID.

FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS ON AN AVERAGE DAY, ONLY A FEW OF SUCH BEDS, IF AT ALL,may BE SEEN IN USE AND ONLY AT ODD TIMES WHEN ADMISSIONS ARE PARTICULARLY HEAVY DUE TO EMERGENCIES SUCH AS MAJOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS.

/♦THIS RESULT .....

12

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1978

+THIS RESULT IS ALL THE MORE SIGNIFICANT WHEN IT IS REALISED THAT OUR POLICY IS TO ADMIT EVERY CASE THAT PRESENTS AT THE HOSPITALS AND WHICH NEEDS TO BE ADMITTED IRRESPECTIVE, AND THAT ADMISSIONS HAVE INCREASED BY SOME 11 PER CENT SINCE LAST YEAR,+ DR. THONG SAID.

FOLLOWING THE INTRODUCTION OF THE REGIONALISATION SCHEME, THE BED OCCUPANCY RATE OF THE SUBVENTED HOSPITALS HAS BEEN INCREASED TO THE SATISFACTORY LEVEL OF OVER 80 PER CENT.

DR. THONG STRESSED THAT THE EXERCISE IS NOT JUST AN ATTEMPT TO REDISTRIBUTE AND REDESIGNATE BEDS IN GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED HOSPITALS.

MORE RESOURCES HAVE, IN FACT, BEEN MADE AVAILABLE IN REAL TERMS WITH A TOTAL OF 440 ADDITIONAL BEDS BEING BROUGHT INTO USE IN THE VARIOUS DISTRICT HOSPITALS, HE ADDED.

IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE, HE SAID, THE CARITAS MEDICAL CENTRE EXTENSION WILL BE READY FOR USE, PROVIDING AN ADDITIONAL 600 BEDS.

IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, A NUMBER OF MAJOR PROJECTS WILL ALSO COME INTO BEING IN RAPID SUCCESSION.

THESE WOULD INCLUDE THE PSYCHIATRIC WING OF THE PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL, THE TEACHING HOSPITAL AT SHA TIN, THE DISTRICT HOSPITAL AT TUEN MUN AND NO LESS THAN 10 CLINICS AND POLYCLINICS WILL BE COMPLETED AND BROUGHT INTO USE ONE AFTER ANOTHER COMMENCING WITH THE SHA TIN GENERAL CLINIC IN 1979.

DR. THONG POINTED OUT THAT THE COMPLETION OF MAJOR HOSPITAL PROJECTS BOTH IN GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS THE PRIVATE SECTOR WILL SEE SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN THE HOSPITAL BED PROVISION FROM THE PRESENT FIGURE OF 19,300 TO 25,000 BY THE EARLY 1980S.

THE BED/POPULATION RATIO SHOULD THEN HAVE REACHED 5.2 PER 1,300 POPULATION WHICH +IS ONLY MARGINALLY BELOW OUR LONG TERM PLANNING TARGET OF 5.5 PER 1,000 POPULATION+, HE ADDED.

ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF CLINIC SERVICES, DR. THONG SAID BECAUSE THE OUT-PATIENT SYSTEM IS EFFECTIVE PROVIDING AS IT IS A PRACTICALLY FREE SERVICE WITH A FULL RANGE OF FACILITIES ON A +WALK-IN+ BASIS, IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE THAT OVER THE YEARS AN OVERWHELMING DEMAND AS OPPOSED TO THE ACTUAL NEED FOR THIS SERVICE HAS BEEN GENERATED.

/HE SAID

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1978

13

HE SAID THE MERE ADDITION OF MORE CLINICS WILL NOT RESULT IN A DECREASE IN THE DEMAND BUT MAY EVEN INCERASE IT.

HOWEVER, WITH THE INCREASE IN POPULATION THERE IS NEED FOR MORE INPUT INTO THE SERVICE, AND IT IS IN THE CONTEXT OF THIS NEED THAT THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS PRESENTED TO THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE BOTH LONG-TERM AND SHORT-TERM PLANS TO IMPROVE THE SERVICE, DR. THONG SAID.

THE SHORT-TERM MEASURE WHICH IS CONSIDERED MOST PRACTICAL AND EFFICIENT TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM IS THE PROVISION OF MORE CLINIC SESSIONS USING THE SAME CLINIC FACILITIES OUTSIDE NORMAL OFFICE HOURS, HE SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT AT PRESENT, A TOTAL OF 52 SUCH CLINIC SESSIONS PER WEEK — 31 IN THE EVENINGS AND 217 ON SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS — ARE IN OPERATION, WHICH CATERED FOR MORE THAN HALF A MILLION ATTENDANCES LAST YEAR.

THE LONG-TERM MEASURES INCLUDE THE REPROVISIONING OF OLD CLINICS AND THE BUILDING OF NEW CLINICS, DR. THONG SAID.

+THESE ARE PLANNED FOR AREAS OF ANTICIPATED NEED SUCH AS CENTRES OF POPULATION IN KOWLOON EAST, TSUEN WAN, SHA TIN, TUEN MUN, KOWLOON WEST AND SAI KUNG,+ HE SAID.

IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, MORE THAN 10 NEW CLINICS AND POLYCLINICS WILL EE IN OPERATION IN THESE AREAS, PROVIDING AN ADDITIONAL 97 CONSULTATION ROOMS FOR THE PUBLIC, HE ADDED.


/1A

EDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1978

14 -

GROWTH OF PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMME * * * *

HONG KONG’S PROGRAMME TO SUPPLY PUBLIC HOUSING IS +ENORMOUS+, AND WILL GROW FROM 13,300 FLATS LAST FINANCIAL YEAR TO 20,000 FLATS THIS YEAR AND MORE THAN 44,000 FLATS IN THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR.

THIS WAS STATED AT THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON. ALAN SCOTT, WHO MADE THESE OTHER POINTS ON PUBLIC HOUSING:

HOME OWNERSHIP:

---------------------THE .RESPONSE TO THE FIRST BATCH OF 8,303 FLATS WAS +MOST ENCOURAGI NG.+ THE BALLOT WILL BE HELD NEXT MONTH, AND SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS SCREENED IN JUNE. THE ONLY PRIORITY GIVEN WILL BE TO SUCCESSFUL TENANTS OF PUBLIC HOUSING, WHO FOR THEIR PART MUST SURRENDER THEIR RENTED FLATS.

ELDERLY AND DISABLED:

--------------------------- THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS AN EXISTING POLICY TO PROVIDE HOSTEL ACCOMMODATION FOR THE ELDERLY= ALSO IN ALLOCATING AND ALTERING FLATS IT TAKES CAREFUL ACCOUNT OF THE NEEDS OF THE DISABLED.

REDEVELOPMENT:

-------------------- WHERE PARTS OF OLD ESTATES HAVE BEEN REDEVELOPED, THE RESULTANT STANDARD IS EQUAL TO THAT OF NEW ESTATES.

URBAN IMPROVEMENT SCHEME:

SINCE 1974, 50 OLD BUILDINGS

HAVE BEEN CLEARED, INVOLVING THE REHOUSING OF 300 FAMILIES TOTALLING 930 PEOPLE. FIFTY MORE OLD PROPERTIES ARE TO BE CLEARED IN THE NEXT PHASE OF THE SCHEME.

FUTURE OF PUBLIC HOUSING: -------------------------- BETWEEN NOW AND 1984/85, THE

PROPORTION OF OUR POPULATION IN PUBLIC HOUSING SHOULD RISE FROM 45 PER CENT AT PRESENT TO MORE THAN 60 PER CENT. ADDITIONAL DEMANDS FOR PUBLIC HOUSING COULD EE EXPECTED FROM THE NATURAL INCREASE IN POPULATION, THE SPLITTING UP OF LARGE FAMILIES, THE DESIRE TO IMPROVE LIVING CONDITIONS AND THE NEED TO REDEVELOP OLDER ESTATES.

CONCERNING FUTURE HOUSING NEEDS, MR. SCOTT SAID: + THE POSITION HAS TO BE CONTINUALLY OBSERVED AND PERIODICALLY REANALYSED, AND WE MUST JUDGE OUR COURSE AND DECIDE CUR ACTIONS ACCORDINGLY.*

- - 0 - -

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1978

- 15 -

CHIEF SECRETARY THANKS MEMBERS OF

******

FINANCE COMMITTEE

THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HCN. SIR DENYS REBERTS TODAY THANKED MEMBERS OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND ASSURED THEM THAT THIS +IMPORTANT PUBLIC SERVICE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED BY THE GOVERNMENT.+

SPEAKING AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SIR DENYS SAID MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE DEVOTED MUCH OF THEIR TIME AND ENERGY TO THE SCRUTINY OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE, +EOTH AT THE SPECIAL MEETINGS AT .'/HIGH THEY EXAMINE THE DRAFT ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE AND AT REGULAR MEETINGS HELD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WHEN REQUESTS FOR SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION ARE CONSIDERED.*

A REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE ON THE DRAFT ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE 1978-79 WAS TABLED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

0 - -

/16

‘WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1978

16 -

BILLS TO GIVE LEGISLATIVE EFFECT TO STAMP DUTY PROPOSALS IN BUDGET ******

THREE BILLS SEEKING TO AMEND THE STAMP ORDINANCE TO LOWER STAMP DUTY ON SHARE TRANSACTIONS AND TO ABOLISH DUTIES ON CHEQUES AND BANK NOTES RECEIVED THEIR SECOND READING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

THEY ARE THE STAMP (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978- STAMP (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1978 AND STAMP (AMENDMENT) (NO. 3) BILL 1978.

MOVING THE BILLS, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE SAID THE STAMP (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978, IF ENACTED, WOULD GIVE LEGISLATIVE EFFECT TO AN ORDER MADE BY THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL UNDER THE PUBLIC REVENUE PROTECTION ORDINANCE TO ABOLISH STAMP DUTY ON BANK NOTES FROM MARCH 1 THIS YEAR.

BEFORE THAT DAY, THE ORDINANCE PROVIDED FOR STAMP DUTY TO BE PAID MONTHLY BY NOTE-1SSUI NG BANKS AT ONE AND A HALF PER CENT PER ANNUM ON THE AVERAGE VALUE OF BANK NOTES IN CIRCULATION.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY ESTIMATED THE COST TO THE REVENUE OF WAIVING SUCH DUTY IN 1978-79 IS 31.5 MILLION.

ON THE STAMP (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1978, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID ITS OBJECT WAS TO ABOLISH STAMP DUTY ON CHEQUES ISSUED BY LOCAL BANKS TO THEIR CUSTOMERS FROM MARCH 2, THIS YEAR.

HE SAID: +A BANK IS NOT RELIEVED OF ANY LIABILITY FOR THE PAYMENT OF DUTY ON CHEQUES ISSUED TO ITS CUSTOMERS PRIOR TO MARCH 2, 1978 EXCEPT WHERE THE COLLECTOR GF STAMP REVENUE IS SATISFIED THAT THE CHEQUES HAD BEEN RETURED BY THE CUSTOMERS TO THE BANK PRIOR TO MARCH 2, 1978 AS SPOILED OR UNUSED,+ HE SAID.

THE ESTIMATED COST TO THE REVENUE OF WAIVING THIS DUTY IN 1978-79 IS $21 MILLION.

THE STAMP (AMENDMENT) (NO. 3) BILL IS TO GIVE LEGISLATIVE EFFECT TO AN ORDER BY THE GOVERNOR-IN-CCUNCIL UNDER THE PUBLIC REVENUE PROTECTION ORDINANCE TO LOWER STAMP DUTY ON SHARE CONTRACT NOTES FROM $8 PER MILLE ON EACH TRANSACTION TO 06 PER MILLE FROM MARCH 6.

MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THE BILL ALSO AMENDS EXTENSIVELY THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE TO ACHIEVE ITS OBJECT. +CONSEQUENTI AL AMENDMENTS TO THE STAMP DUTIES MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE, COMPANIES ORDINANCE, STAMP AMD DENOTING OF DOCUMENTS REGULATIONS AND STAMP DUTIES MANAGEMENT (FRANKING MACHINES) REGULATIONS ARE SET CUT IN THE SCHEDULE TO THE BILL,+ HE SAID.

THE COST TO THE REVENUE OF LOWERING SUCH DUTY IN 1978-79 IS ESTIMATED AT $132.5 MILLION.

MR. HADDON-CAVE POINTED OUT THAT li FUTURE THE STAMP ORDINANCE SHOULD APPLY ONLY TO THREE MAJOR SOURCES OF DUTY: NAMELY, TRANSACTIONS IN SHARES AND MARKETABLE SECURITIES, ASSIGNMENTS OF IMMOVABLE PROPERTY AND LEASES AND AGREEMENTS FOR LEASES.

DEBATES ON THE THREE BILLS WERE ADJOURNED.

/17......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1973

- 17 -

URBAN COUNCIL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978 *****

A BILL TO REMOVE AN ANOMALY IN THE PROVISIONS OF THE URBAN COUNCIL ORDINANCE GOVERNING THE REGISTRATION OF URBAN COUNCIL ELECTORS AND TO UPDATE THE ORDINANCE IN THREE OTHER RESPECTS WAS INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

SPEAKING AT THE SECOND READING OF THE URBAN COUNCIL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON. SIR DENYS ROBERTS SAID : +THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THIS BILL IS TO REMOVE AN ANOMALY IN THE PRESENT PROVISIONS IN THE FIRST SCHEDULE TO THE ORDINANCE WHICH GOVERN THE REGISTRATION OF PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANTS AS URBAN COUNCIL ELECTORS BY VIRTUE OF THEIR PROFESS ION.+

SIR DENYS POINTED OUT THAT AT PRESENT, AN ACCOUNTANT HOLDING A PRACTISING CERTIFICATE ISSUED UNDER THE PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANTS ORDINANCE MAY REGISTER AS AN ELECTOR.

+HOWEVER,* HE SAID, +ONLY ABOUT HALF OF THE 950 OR SO PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANTS REGISTERED UNDER SECTION 22 OF THAT ORDINANCE HOLD PRACTISING CERTIFICATES WHICH ALLOW AN ACCOUNTANT TO UNDERTAKE PUBLIC AUDIT ENGAGEMENTS.

+THE REMAINDER, WHO ARE EMPLOYED BY NON-ACCOUNTANCY FIRMS, IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE OR BY OTHER ORGANISATIONS, ARE NOT THEREFORE ENFRANCHISED BY VIRTUE OF THEIR PROFESSION,* HE SAID.

SIR DENYS NOTED THAT THE BILL SEEKS TO AMEND THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE SO THAT ALL PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANTS REGISTERED UNDER THE PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANTS ORDINANCE ARE ENFRANCHISED.

THE THREE OTHER AMENDMENTS WHICH WILL UPDATE THE URBAN COUNCIL ORDINANCE ARE

* THE WORDS +BUSINESS PROFIT TAX* IN THE FIRST SCHEDULE OF THE ORDINANCE WHICH ENABLES SOME TAXPAYERS TO BECOME REGISTERED AS ELECTORS WILL EE REPLACED BY +PROFIT TAX* AS AMENDED IN THE INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE-

* THE WORDS +AUTHORISED ARCHITECT* IN THE SAME SCHEDULE WILL BE REPLACED BY +AUTHOR ISED PERSON* AS AMENDED IN THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE- AND

* A HOLDER OF THE HONG KONG CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION WHICH REPLACED THE HONG KONG CERTIFICATE CF EDUCATION (ENGLISH) AND (CHINESE) IN 1974 SHOULD EE ENTITLED TO REGISTER AS AN ELECTOR IF HIS CERTIFICATE IS OF THE SAME GRADE AND NUMBER OF SUBJECTS AS WERE REQUIRED OF HOLDERS OF THE ABOLISHED ENGLISH AND CHINESE CERTIFICATES.

THE DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

- - - - 0

/>8 ......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1973

18

RECOVERY OF HOSPITAL CARE COST FROM INSURANCE COMPANIES * * * *

THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE MOTOR VEHICLES INSURANCE (THIRD PARTY RISKS) AMENDMENT BILL 1978 IS TO STREAMLINE THE PROCEDURE BY WHICH THE GOVERNMENT WILL RECOVER FROM INSURANCE COMPANIES THE COST CF HOSPITAL CARE FOR VICTIMS OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. THE HON. K.L. THONG, WHEN HE PROPOSED THE AMENDMENTS AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

ONE OF THE AMENDMENTS SEEKS TO PROVIDE FOR THE DIRECTOR OR SUCH OTHER AGENCY AS HE MAY APPOINT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR COLLECTING FROM INSURANCE COMPANIES EXPENSES INCURRED IN TREATING VICTIMS OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS.

IN THE GOVERNMENT SUEVENTED HOSPITALS, THE SAME PROCEDURE WILL APPLY BUT THE COLLECTION CF EXPENSES WILL EE MADE THROUGH THEIR OWN HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT.

ANOTHER AMENDMENT WILL ENABLE THE DIRECTOR TO WAIVE, AT HIS DISCRETION, THE PAYMENT OF EXPENSES WHEN THE INJURED PATIENTS ARE TREATED AS OUT-PATIENTS IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS.

DR. THONG EXPLAINED THAT THIS IS BECAUSE AN ORGANISATION AND METHODS STUDY HAS SHOWN THAT IT WOULD BE UNECONOMICAL TO RECOVER SUCH TREATMENT COSTS.

A THIRD AMENDMENT SEEKS TO RAISE THE MAXIMUM LIABILITY OF INSURANCE COMPANIES IK RESPECT OF HOSPITAL EXPENSES FROM A LEVEL OF 34Q3, WHICH WAS SET IN 1951, TO 52,530.

THE ACCIDENT INSURANCE ASSOCIATION HAS AGREED TO THESE PROPOSALS WHICH, IN FACT, DO LOT INTRODUCE ANY NEW PRINCIPLES.

DR. THONG POINTED OUT THAT THE EXISTING ORDINANCE ALREADY REQUIRES INSURANCE COMPANIES TO MAKE PAYMENTS FOR THESE EXPENSES APPLICABLE AS IT IS WHEN NEGLIGENCE CF THE INSURED MOTORIST INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT IS ESTABLISHED.

+CLAUSE 2 OF THE BILL THEREFORE .'.AKES AMENDMENT TO SECTION 3 'OF THE EXISTING ORDINANCE TO ENABLE RE.. ARRANGEMENTS TO EE IMPLEMENTED, THE HAIN OBJECTIVE OF WHICH IS TO STREAMLINE THE PROCEDURE EY WHICH GOVERNMENT ..ILL RECOVER THE EXPENSES INCURRED IN TREATING VICTIMS OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS,+ HE SAID.

/19

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1973

- 19

EVIDENCE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978 * * * * *

A BILL WHICH SEEKS TO AMEND THE LAW TO EXTEND THE SECURITY GROUND OF EXEMPTION FROM GIVING EVIDENCE TO INCLUDE THE SECURITY OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OR ITS DEPENDENT TERRITORY WAS INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE EVIDENCE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1973, THE ACTING SOLICITOR GENERAL, THE HON DAVID BOY, SAID THE EVIDENCE ORDINANCE CONTAINS PROVISIONS FOR THE TAKING OF EVIDENCE IN HONG KONG FOR USE IN CIVIL OR COMMERCIAL PROCEEDINGS IN THE COURTS OF OTHER TERRITORIES.

A WITNESS MAY, HOWEVER, BE EXEMPTED FROM GIVING EVIDENCE CN SEVERAL GROUNDS, INCLUDING SECURITY GROUNDS.

+BUT THIS GROUND, AS THE ORDINANCE STANDS AT PRESENT,+ MR. BOY SAID, +IS LIMITED TO EVIDENCE PREJUDICIAL TC THE SECURITY OF HONG KONG.+

+IT IS CONSIDERED THAT THERE MIGHT BE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH THE SECURITY OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OR A DEPENDENT TERRITORY OTHER THAN HONG KONG COULD EE PREJUDICED EY EVIDENCE, EVEN THOUGH THE SECURITY OF HONG KONG ITSELF WAS NOT AFFECTED.+

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

- - 0 - -

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1978

******

A BILL RESTORING CERTAIN PROCEDURAL POWERS RELATING TO APPEALS IN CRIMINAL CASES TO SUPREME COURT JUDGES WHO ARE NOT JUDGES OF THE COURT OF APPEAL RECEIVED ITS SECOND READING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

MOVING THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1976, THE ACTING SOLICITOR GENERAL, THE HON. DAVID EOY SAID PRIOR TO THE CREATION OF THE COURT OF APPEAL IN 1976 AND THE APPOINTMENT OF JUDGES OF THE COURT OF APPEAL, THE FUNCTIONS NOW PERFORMED EY THAT COURT WERE PERFORMED BY THE FULL COURT.

MR. BOY EXPLAINED THAT ALL JUDGES OF THE SUPREME COURT WERE ALSO JUDGES OF THE FULL COURT AND, ACCORDINGLY, CERTAIN PROCEDURAL POWERS RELATING TO APPEALS IN CRIMINAL CASES, WHICH WERE VESTED IN THE FULL COURT, WERE EXERCISABLE BY ANY JUDGE.

HE ADDED, ON CREATION OF THE COURT OF APPEAL, REFERENCES IN LEGISLATION TO THE FULL COURT WERE REPLACED EY REFERENCES TC THE COURT OF APPEAL.

+THIS HAS, HOWEVER, MEANT THAT JUDGES OF THE SUPREME COURT WHO ARE NOT JUDGES OF THE COURT OF APPEAL MAY NO LONGER HAVE THESE POWERS. IT IS DESIRABLE THAT THEY SHOULD,+ MR. BOY SAID.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

- - 0 - -

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1978

HOUSING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978 *****

THE HOUSING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1973, WHICH ENABLES THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE CAR PARKS IN ESTATES, AND PARKING PLACES ON RESTRICTED ROADS, AND TO CHARGE PARKING FEES, RECEIVED ITS SECOND READING TODAY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

SPEAKING IN THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL, THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN SAID PARKING CHARGES IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES SHOULD EE THE SAME AS THOSE OUTSIDE THE ESTATES AND IN LINE WITH THE OVERALL GOVERNMENT POLICY FOR PARKING FEES.

HE SAID 45 PER CENT OF HONG KONG’S POPULATION WERE LIVING IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES AT PRESENT. THEREFORE THE RESIDENTS IN THESE ESTATES OUGHT NOT TO EE CONSIDERED AS A PRIVILEGED CLASS WHEN IT COMES TO CHARGING PARKING FEES.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN SOUGHT THE ASSURANCE FROM THE SECRETARY OF HOUSING THAT THERE WILL EE NO SPECIAL SUBSIDY GIVEN TO ESTATE RESIDENTS AS AGAINST RESIDENTS LIVING OUTSIDE THE ESTATES IN THE PARKING FEES CHARGED.

+1 WOULD FURTHERMORE LIKE TO HAVE THE ASSURANCE THAT PARKING FACILITIES FOR ALL HOUSING ESTATES SHOULD EE ON A REALISTIC BASIS AND TO BE NEITHER UNDER-PROVIDED NOR OVER-PROVIDED FOR,+ MR. CHEONG-LEEN SAID, POINTING THAT 60 PER CENT OF HONG KONG’S POPULATION WOULD BE LIVING IN HOUSING ESTATES IN ANOTHER 10 YEARS.

IN REPLY, SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON. ALAN SCOTT, REASSURED MR. CHEONG-LEEN THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS REALISTIC IN REGARD TO THE PROVISION OF PARKING FACILITIES AND THE DETERMINATION OF PARKING CHARGES ON PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES.

HE SAID: +LIKE OTHER DEVELOPERS IN HONG KONG, THE AUTHORITY IS REQUIRED TO CONFORM WITH THE TRANSPORT AND PARKING POLICIES OF GOVERNMENT.*

- - 0 - -

LAW AMENDMENT AND REFORM (CONSOLIDATION) (AMENDMENT) BILL

******

THE LAW AMENDMENT AND REFORM (CONSOLIDATION) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978 RECEIVED ITS SECOND READING TODAY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE OF THE BILL, DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG SAID HE WAS PLEASED TO NOTE THAT THE AMENDED LEGISLATION RECOGNISED THE EXISTENCE AND THE RIGHTS OF THE UNBORN CHILD.

HE ALSO HOPED THAT COUNCILLORS rtH0 VOTED IN FAVOUR OF THE BILL’S PROVISIONS WILL +EEAR THIS I’'1 MIND SHOULD THEY BE ASKED IN THE FUTURE TO RELAX FURTHER OUR PRESENT LAWS GOVERNING ABORTION.+

- - 0 - -

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1973

- 21 —

TECHNICAL INSTITUTE HOLDS OPEN DAY * * * *

THE KWUN TONG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE - NOW IN ITS THIRD YEAR CF OPERATION - WILL HOLD ITS OPEN DAY ON FRIDAY AND SUNDAY (APRIL 14 AND 16).

THE INSTITUTE WILL BE OPEN FROM 2 P.M. TO 6 P.M. ON BOTH DAYS. MEMBERS CF THE PUBLIC WILL BE ABLE TO SEE STUDENTS AT WORK IN THE WORKSHOPS. THERE WILL ALSO BE FASHION SHOWS BETWEEN 3 P.M. AND 5 P.M. ON THOSE DAYS.

THE INSTITUTE HAS AN ENROLMENT OF 3,000 STUDENTS IN FULLTIME DAY CLASSES, PART-TIME DAY-RELEASE CLASSES, AND EVENING CLASSES.

IT ALSO OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF SHORT COURSES TO UPGRADE SKILLS OF CRAFTSMEN AND TECHNICIANS 'WORKING IN INDUSTRY. IT HAS 60 FULL-TIME TEACHING STAFF.

THERE ARE FIVE TEACHING DEPARTMENTS IN THE INSTITUTE -CLOTHING INDUSTRIES, ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, PRINTING, AND TEXTILE INDUSTRIES.

COURSES RUN BY THESE DEPARTMENTS ARE DESIGNED TO MEET THE DEMAND OF LOCAL INDUSTRIES AT BOTH THE TECHNICIAN AND CRAFTSMAN LEVELS.

THE KWUN TONG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE IS ONE OF THE FOUR TECHNICAL INSTITUTES WHICH WERE PLANNED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WITH THE ADVICE OF THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL IN CLOSE LIAISON WITH THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC. THE INSTITUTE OPENED IN SEPTEMBER 1975.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND YOUR REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE OPE" DAY OF THE KWUN TONG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE FRO’’ 2 P.M. TO 6 AT 25 HIU ING STREET, KWUN TONG, KO /LOO'.' OP APRIL 14 AND 16.

/22

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 197S

- 22 -

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN KWUN TONG AND NORTH POINT * * * * *

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT FROM TOMORROW (THURSDAY) THE ROADS BETWEEN BLOCKS ONE AND TWO OF KWUN TONG FLATTED FACTORY OFF WAI YIP STREET WILL EE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC BETWEEN 8 P.M. TO 7 A.M. DAILY FOR ONE WEEK UNTIL APRIL 20.

THE TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT IS TO FACILITATE ROAD SURFACING WORKS IN THE AREA.

THE DEPARTMENT ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT NORTH POINT ROAD BETWEEN CHUN YEUNG STREET AND WHARF ROAD WILL EE RE-ROUTED ONE-WAY NORTHBOUND FROM 13 A.M. ON FRIDAY (APRIL 14) TO FACILITATE TRAFFIC FLOW.

APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS '..ILL EE SET UP IN THE TWO AREAS TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.

0

PRH 7

IgisI If isfel

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1978

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

PROPOSAL TO REINTRODUCE DEPENDENT PARENT’S ALLOWANCE ............................................... 1

NEED FOR REVISION OF WATER CHARGES EXPLAINED ............ 3

INCREASE IN SIZE OF PUBLIC SERVICE - JUSTIFIABLE AND ESSENTIAL ........................................... 5

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE COMES INTO BEING SOON .... 8

MASSIVE NT DEVELOPMENT CLEARS DOUBTS ABOUT GOVERNMENT’S INTENTIONS ................................ 10

STAFF RELATIONS AND MANAGEMENT IN CIVIL SERVICE .... 13

EXTENDING ’RELEASE UNDER SUPERVISION’ SCHEME TO INCLUDE PRISONERS ...................................... 16

CHANGING STRUCTURE OF HONG KONG’S ECONOMY .............. 18

PRIMARY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE .............................. 20

FINANCIAL SECRETARY WINDS UP BUDGET DEBATE ............. 21

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

CONFIDENCE IN TUEN MUN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT ............ 24

MORE YOUTHS TAKE UP APPRENTICESHIP ..................... 26

TELEVISION PROGRAMME ON FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION .......... 27

FIREMEN GRADUATION PARADE .............................. 28

PRISON OFFICERS PASSING-OUT PARADE ..................... 28

CERTIFICATES FOR SWIMMING TEACHERS ..................... 29

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS ................................... 29

/

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

THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1978

PROPOSAL TO REINTRODUCE DEPENDENT PARENT’S ALLOWANCE IN 1979-80

*******

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, TODAY PROPOSED TO REINTRODUCE THE DEPENDENT PARENT’S ALLOWANCE IN 1979-80 BUT REJECTED SUGGESTIONS TO FURTHER INCREASE THE PERSONAL ALLOWANCES OR TO INTRODUCE A WORKING WIFE’S ALLOWANCE.

WINDING UP THE BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID SUBJECT TO THE ADVICE OF THE GOVERNORIN-COUNCIL, HE WOULD INTRODUCE AN AMENDING BILL IN THE COUNCIL LATER THIS YEAR WHICH WOULD CONTAIN PROPOSALS FOR A DEPENDENT PARENT’S ALLOWANCE FROM THE YEAR OF ASSESSMENT 1979-80.

+1 HOPE HONOURABLE MEMBERS WILL READILY APPRECIATE THAT 1979-80 IS THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION. THERE CAN BE NO QUESTION OF OUR BEING ABLE TO WORK OUT A SCHEME, INTRODUCE LEGISLATION AND MOUNT ALL THE NECESSARY ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS IN TIME TO GRANT THE ALLOWANCE FOR THE CURRENT YEAR OF ASSESSMENT,+ HE SAID.

MR. HADDON-CAVE NOTED THAT WHILE NO ONE HAS DENIED HIS POINT THAT, IN GENERAL CONTEXT OF OUR SYSTEM OF PERSONAL TAXATION, THE ALLOWANCE IS OF LIMITED SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE TAXPAYER WITH DEPENDENT PARENTS, THE PRESSURE FOR THE ALLOWANCE TO BE REINTRODUCED IN SOME FORM APPARENTLY REMAINS.

+THE QUESTION IS WHY? I CAN ONLY PRESUME THAT IT IS THE CONCEPT OF AN ALLOWANCE FOR DEPENDENT PARENTS WHICH IS OF IMPORTANCE: THAT IS TO SAY, THE VIEW IS WIDELY HELD THAT IT IS WRONG FOR THE GOVERNMENT, VIA THE SYSTEM OF PERSONAL TAXATION, NOT TO RECOGNISE FILIAL DUTY.+

ON PERSONAL ALLOWANCES IN SALARIES TAX, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THE ALLOWANCE WHICH WAS REVIEWED ONLY LAST YEAR ARE GENEROUS ENOUGH TO KEEP A VERY LARGE PERCENTAGE OF THE SALARIED POPULATION COMPLETELY OUTSIDE THE DIRECT TAX NET.

HE SAID: +1 MUST ALSO REJECT THE VIEW THAT, WHEN I INCREASED THE TAX THRESHOLD TO $12,500 AND $25,000 FOR SINGLE AND MARRIED PERSONS RESPECTIVELY, I WAS OF THE OPINION THAT THESE WERE MINIMUM SUBSISTENCE COSTS.+

+NOT TO REJECT THIS VIEW WOULD BE TO IMPLY THAT A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN HONG KONG ARE LIVING BELOW SUBSISTENCE LEVEL.+

HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT OUR EFFECTIVE RATES OF TAX - THE AMOUNT OF TAX EXPRESSED AS A PERCENTAGE OF A PERSON’S INCOME, IN THEIR PROGRESSION TO THE STANDARD RATE OF 15 PER CENT OF GROSS INCOME - ARE EXTREMELY LJ...

/HE GAVE THE ....

THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1978

- 2 -

HE GAVE THE FOLLOWING COMPARATIVE FIGURES TO ILLUSTRATE HIS REMARKS.

EFFECTIVE RATE OF TAX (IN PERCENTAGE)

ANNUAL TOTAL INCOME OF A MARRIED COUPLE WITH TWO CHILDREN HONG KONG SINGAPORE MALAYSIA -UNITED KINGDOM

HK325,OOO 0 4.2 4.44 14.16

$35,000 0.64 6.71 8.06 19.83

$70,000 8.21 14.93 18.21 27.24

REFERRING TO THE WORKING WIFE ALLOWANCE, MR. HADDON-CAVE ARGUED THAT SUCH AN ALLOWANCE WAS NOT EQUITABLE +BECAUSE WHERE FAMILY CIRCUMSTANCES - INCLUDING INCOME - WERE THE SAME, A MARRIED MAN WITH A WORKING WIFE ENJOYED AN ADVANTAGE OVER THE MAN WHOSE WIFE DID NOT WORK, AND THIS ADVANTAGE REMAINED UNTIL BOTH WERE PAYING TAX AT THE STANDARD RATE.+

+l ARGUED, FURTHER, THAT TO BASE AN ALLOWANCE ON THE CONCEPT OF THE ADDITIONAL COST OF MAINTAINING THE HOME IN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF PERSONAL CHOICE OFFENDED THE PRINCIPLE, THAT, IN A SYSTEM OF TAXATION, ALLOWANCES SHOULD BE VARIED ACCORDING TO THE CONDITION OF, AND THE STANDARD OF LIVING EXPECTED OR ENJOYED BY DIFFERENT CLASSES OF TAXPAYERS.+

TO RECTIFY THIS INEQUITABLE SITUATION, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THE BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR ALL WIVES WAS INCREASED FROM $7,000 TO $10,000 IN 1973 AND THE SPECIAL $3,000 EXTRA ALLOWANCE FOR A WORKING WIFE WHICH WAS INTRODUCED IN 1970, WAS CANCELLED.

+THE WITHDRAWAL OF THIS SPECIAL EXTRA ALLOWANCE FOR A WORKING WIFE, ACCOMPANIED BY THE INCREASE IN THE BASIC ALLOWANCE FOR ALL WIVES, IN EFFECT MEANT THAT ALL WIVES WERE ASSUMED TO BE WORKING WIVES AND MANY WIVES WOULD CERTAINLY CONCUR WITH THIS VIEW,* HE SAID.

HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE REPEAL OF THE WORKING WIFE ALLOWANCE IN 1973 LED TO WIVES BEING DETERRED FROM WORKING DUE TO THE ABSENCE OF ANY FORM OF TAX RELIEF.

+0F A TOTAL OF OVER 200,000 DEMAND NOTES FOR SALARIES ISSUED IN 1977-78, ONLY 39,600 INVOLVED WORKING WIVES, OF WHOM ABOUT 34,500 WOULD HAVE DERIVED BENEFIT'FROM A WORKING WIFE ALLOWANCE.

/♦THE REMAINING .....

THURSDAY, APRIL 1J, 1978

- 3 -

+THE REMAINING 5,100 WOULD NOT HAVE BENEFITED BECAUSE THEY AND THEIR HUSBANDS WERE ALREADY ON THE STANDARD RATE OF TAX OF 15 PER CENT.

+THESE PROPORTIONS ARE NOT MATERIALLY DIFFERENT FROM THOSE DISCLOSED FOR 1972-73, THAT IS THE LAST YEAR FOR WHICH A WORKING WIFE ALLOWANCE WAS GRANTED,* HE SAID.

ON TAXATION TREATMENT OF INTEREST, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID HAVING REGARD TO THE POSSIBLE EFFECT ON THE COST OF BORROWINGS BY HONG KONG BUSINESS, THE GOVERNMENT DECIDED NOT TO ACCEPT THE THIRD INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE’S RECOMMENDATION RELATING TO SUCH TAXATION TREATMENT GENERALLY OR A VARIANT OF IT.

+THAT IS TO SAY, THE GOVERNMENT DECIDED NOT TO REINFORCE THE EXISTING CHARGE ON INTEREST AS SUCH BY EXTENDING THE TERRITORIAL SOURCE CRITERION SO AS TO TAX INTEREST RECEIVED ON FUNDS USED BY BORROWERS TO PRODUCE PROFITS CHARGED TO HONG KONG TAX (UNLESS, OF COURSE, THE INTEREST IS ALREADY BEING TAXED UNDER THE PROVISION OF CREDIT TEST).*

FINANCIAL SECRETARY EXPLAINS NEED FOR REVISION OF WATER CHARGES * * * * *

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, EXPLAINED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY WHY A REVISION OF WATER CHARGES IS INEVITABLE BY OUTLINING THE POSITION OF THE WATERWORKS ACCOUNTS WITH REGARD TO OPERATING COSTS, CURRENT WATER CHARGES AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM RATES AND GENERAL REVENUE.

SUMMING UP THE BUDGET DEBATE, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID ON PRESENT COSTS. OPERATING EXPENDITURES ARE ESTIMATED TO BE 5634 MILLION IN 1977-78. BASED 3705 MILLION IN 1978-79, AND TO TOTAL 32,207 MILLION OVER THE THREE YEAR FORECAST PERIOD, 1979-80 TO 1981-82.

BUT HE SAID THAT ON THE THE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM RATES ESTIMATED TO BE 5433 MILLION 1978-79, AND TO TOTAL $1,810

BASIS OF CURRENT WATER CHARGES AND AND GENERAL REVENUE, INCOME IS IN 1977-78, 3457 MILLION IN MILLION OVER THE FORECAST PERIOD.

THE CONTRIBUTION FROM RATES IS AT PRESENT SET AT TWO PER CENT OF THE RATEABLE VALUE AMD, FOR 1978-79, IS ESTIMATED TO BE 3201 MILLION.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY POINTtD OUT: +IF THE PP^ENT CHARGES ARE MAINTAINED, AND EVEN ON THE BASIS OF THE CONSERVATIVE CALCUATION OF COSTS, THE WATERWORKS ACCOUNTS WILL EE IN DcFICIT TO THE TUNE OF $200 MILLION IN 1977-78 AND $250 MILLION IN 1978-79, WITH DEFICITS OVER THE FORECAST PERIOD TOTALLING 3400 MILLION.*

/HE ADDED: ......

THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1978

4

HE ADDED: +IN ORDER TO BRING THE ACCOUNTS INTO BALANCE, WITH NO CHANGE IN THE RATES CONTRIBUTION, BUT WITH A PROPORTIONAL INCREASE IN THE CONTRIBUTION FROM THE GENERAL REVENUE, THE TOTAL DIRECT CONTRIBUTION BY CONSUMERS WOULD HAVE TO BE INCREASED BY AT LEAST 50 PER CENT. THE ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE A LARGE SUBSIDY.*

BUT MR. HADDON-CAVE OBJECTED TO SUBSIDISING PUBLIC UTILITIES AND EXPLAINED THAT NON-OESERVANCE OF THE NO-SUBSIDY PRINCIPLE MEANS:

* THAT PUBLIC UTILITIES ARE OPERATED AT A LOSS AND THIS IS LIKELY TO BE INFLATIONARY,

X NON-OBSERVANCE RESULTS IN THE TAXPAYER MAKING AN INDISCRIMINATE CONTRIBUTION TO THE PROFITS OF ALL FIRMS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR,

* TO CHARGE LESS THAN THE TRUE COST IS TO ENCOURAGE EXCESSIVE USE AND WASTE OF THE PRODUCT OR SERVICE SUPPLIED, AND

* IN TURN, EXCESSIVE USE (AND WASTE) DUE TO SUBSIDISATION, ACCELERATES THE NEED TO EXPAND PUBLIC UTILITIES.

+FOR THESE FOUR REASONS, THE NO-SUESIDY PRINCIPLE MUST APPLY UNLESS CONSCIOUS POLICY DECISIONS DICTATE OTHERWISE,* THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID.

ON DOMESTIC WATER CONSUMPTION, MR. HADDON-CAVE AGREED ENTIRELY WITH THE HON. S.L. CHEN THAT THERE SHOULD EE A STEEPLY RISING TARIFF FOR DOMESTIC CONSUMERS POSITIVELY TO DISCOURAGE EXTRAVAGANCE AND WASTE.

IN THE CASE OF NON-DOMESTIC SUPPLIES, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID: +THE NEED FOR WATER VARIES FROM INDUSTRY TO INDUSTRY AND FROM FACTORY TO FACTORY WITHIN EACH INDUSTRY" AND SOME ENTERPRISES ARE ECONOMICAL USERS OF WATER AND SOME ARE NOT.

THE PROVISION OF LOW PRICED WATER FOR INDUSTRY WOULD THUS BE AN EXTREMEMLY ARBITRARY, WASTEFUL AND INDISCRIMINATE ME^NS OF DISBURSING AID.*

HOWEVER, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID THERE ARE GROUNDS FOR ENCOURAGING INDUSTRY TO CONSERVE WATER THROUGH A MORE SOPHISTICATED PRICING SYSTEM.

+WE ARE LOOKING AT THIS AND DESPITE THE DIFFICULTIES OF THE EXERCISE, ARE SEEKING TO DEVISE A SYSTEM WHICH, ON THE ONE HAND, WILL ENCOURAGE CONSERVATION, INCLUDING RECYCLING BUT WHICH, ON THE OTHER HAND, WILL NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST LARGE SCALE ENTERPRISES.*

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY POINTED OUT: +T0 BALANCE THE WATERWORKS ACCOUNTS THE REVENUE FROM ..ATER CHARGE ..OULD ONLY NEED TO EE INCREASED BY APPROXIMATELY 35 PER CENT OVERALL.

+CHARGES FOR BOTH DOMESTIC AND NON-DOMESTIC SUPPLIES WILL HAVE TO BE INCREASED AS SOON AS A HEW PRICING SYSTEM HAS BEEN DEVISED AND WE HAVE ACQUIRED SUFFICIENT EXPERIENCE WITH CUR NEW COMPUTERISED BILLING SYSTEM,* THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID.

THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1978

- 5 -

INCREASE IN SIZE OF PUBLIC SERVICE —JUSTIFIABLE AND ESSENTIAL *****

THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON. SIR DENYS ROBERTS, TODAY ASSURED UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN THE SIZE OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE WILL BE BOTH +JUSTIFIABLE+ AND +ESSENTIAL+ DURING THE NEXT FEW YEARS.

REPLYING TO POINTS RAISED BY THE UNOFFICIALS AT THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE, THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID THE INCREASES WERE NECESSARY +IF WE ARE NOT TO LOSE THE MOMENTUM OF OUR VARIOUS PROGRAMMES+.

SIR DENYS SA IDs +OUR HOUSING, EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL WELFARE PLANS, AND OUR PROGRAMMES OF CONSTRUCTION OF OTHER FACILITIES, WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND DURING THE NEXT FEW YEARS. IT WOULD SURELY BE UNFORTUNATE IF THESE PLANS AND PROGRAMMES WERE DELAYED BECAUSE OF A LACK OF ADEQUATE STAFF IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE.*

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE SIZE OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE WAS FROZEN DURING THE PERIOD OF RECESSION AND SAID +THIS MEANT THAT, WHEN THE ECONOMY RECOVERED UNEXPECTEDLY SWIFTLY, WE WERE NOT IN A POSITION TO MAKE USE OF THE ADDITIONAL REVENUE AS QUICKLY AS WE WOULD HAVE LIKED.+

+IT ALSO OBLIGED US TO COMPRESS INTO TWO OR THREE YEARS THE NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL POSTS WHICH, HAD WE BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN A STEADY PROGRESSION, WOULD HAVE BEEN SPREAD OUT OVER FOUR OR FIVE,* HE ADDED.

ON THE SUGGESTION FOR MONITORING PUBLIC SERVICE SIR DENYS SAID THAT SO FAR AS THE CREATION OF POSTS WAS CONCERNED, THE RECORD OF THE FINANCE BRANCH, AS A GUARDIAN OF THE PUBLIC PURSE, WAS AN EXCELLENT ONE.

SIR DENYS NOTED THAT WHEN AN APPLICATION FOR ADDITIONAL STAFF GOES TO THE FINANCE BRANCH, IT MUST STILL SATISFY MEMBERS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT SUB-COMMITTEE AND THEN FINANCE COMMITTEE ITSELF.

+CONSEQUENTLY, MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL HAVE THE FINAL SAY IN THE APPROVAL OF ANY NEW POST IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE,* HE SAID.

+THEREFORE, I BELIEVE THAT ADEQUATE SAFEGUARDS EXIST FOR ENSURING THAT UNNECESSARY POSTS ARE NOT CREATED IN THE PUBLIC SERVICE,* HE ADDED.

SIR DENYS ALSO POINTED OUT THAT EXAMINATIONS OF THE DEPLOYMENT OF STAFF IN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WERE CARRIED OUT FROM TIME TO TIME BY THE CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH AND BY THE MANAGEMENT SERVICES DIVISION (WHICH INCLUDES THE ORGANISATION AND METHODS UNIT), WHOSE JOB WAS COMPLEMENTED BY THE FINANCE BRANCH.

/♦THIS INCLUDES .....

THURSDAY, APRIL 1J, 1978

- 6 -

+THIS INCLUDES THE DUTY OF EXAMINING WHETHER A DEPARTMENT’S ESTABLISHMENT IS APPROPRIATE TO THE DISCHARGE OF ITS APPROVED FUNCTIONS AND OF ENSURING THAT THERE ARE THE CORRECT NUMBERS OF POSTS AT ALL LEVELS,+ HE SAID.

ON THE SUGGESTION FOR AN EXAMINATION OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT’S STRUCTURE, SIR DENYS POINTED OUT THAT THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATION INITIATED LAST YEAR AN INVESTIGATION OF THE ROLE OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT AS A CENTRAL CO-ORDINATING BODY, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE VARIOUS SECRETARIES.

HE SAID MANAGEMENT SERVICES STAFF FROM THE ADMINISTRATION BRANCH OF THE SECRETARIAT HAVE ALSO UNDERTAKEN A PROGRAMME OF REVIEWING THE ORGANISATION OF DEPARTMENTS.

SUCH STUDIES HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT IN THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, THE PRINTING DEPARTMENT AND THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, AND WILL EE EXTENDED TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS AS SUITABLE STAFF BECOME AVAILABLE.

+THE HONG KONG CIVIL SERVICE AS A WHOLE IS SUBJECTED, UNDERSTANDABLY, TO MORE CRITICISM THAN PRAISE, BECAUSE GENERALLY THE DISGRUNTLED MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC IS MORE VOCAL THAN THOSE WHO ARE SATISFIED,* SIR DENYS SAID.

+BUT I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THE HONG KONG CIVIL SERVICE HAS MUCH MORE THAN ITS FAIR SHARE OF ABLE, DEVOTED AND INDUSTRIOUS OFFICERS, WITH A GENUINE SENSE OF DEDICATION TO THE COMMUNITY THEY SERVE.

+ l AM CONFIDENT THAT THEY WILL NOT LET HONG KONG DOWN IN THE EXCITING YEARS WHICH LIE AHEAD OF US.+

REFERRING TO THE SUGGESTION BY THE HON. F.W. LI ON THE REMOVAL OF SOME ENTERPRISES OF PUBLIC UTILITY NATURE FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE TO BECOME INDEPENDENT CORPORATION OPERATING ON A COMMERCIAL BASIS, SIR DENYS SAID THERE WAS NO SUCH NEED AT PRESENT.

+IF IT CAN BE DEMONSTRATED CLEARLY THAT ANY OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS WOULD BE RUN MORE ECONOMICALLY, MORE EFFICIENTLY AND PROVIDE A BETTER SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC, UNDER SOME OTHER REGIME, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE PREPARED TO CONSIDER IT,* HE SAID.

SPEAKING ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HONG KONG AND THE UNITED KINGDOM, SIR DENYS EXPRESSED DOUBT ON THE SUGGESTION THAT SUCH LINKS HAD BEEN WEAKENED IN RECENT YEARS.

HE SAID: +OF COURSE, HONG KONG HAS ITS ENEMIES AND CRITICS, BUT SURELY THEY ARE FEW COMPARED WITH THE LARGE NUMBER OF OUR FRIENDS IN BRITAIN.*

/SIR DENTS ALSO ......

THURSDAY, APRIL 1J, 1978

7

SIR DENYS ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE ADDITION OF A DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR THE LONDON OFFICE HAS BEEN RECENTLY APPROVED, +WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF RELIEVING THE COMMISSIONER OF MUCH OF HIS OTHER WORK, SO THAT HE CAN CONCENTRATE HIS ENERGIES UPON THE PROMOTION OF BETTER UNDERSTANDING IN THE UK OF HONG KONG+.

ON THE MEMBERSHIP OF ADVISORY BOARDS AND COMMITTEES IN OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT, HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT ATTACHED GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THESE COMMITTEES.

+THE GOVERNMENT DOES CARRY OUT PERIODICAL EXAMINATIONS OF THE STRUCTURE, PURPOSE AND MEMBERSHIP OF THESE COMMITTEES, TO SEE WHETHER THEIR EXISTENCE IS JUSTIFIED OR THEIR JURISDICTION SHOULD BE CHANGED,+ HE SAID.

SIR DENYS ALSO EXPRESSED DOUBT ON THE PRACTICABILITY OF A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, SUBSIDISED AND GENERALLY CONTROLLED BY THE GOVERNMENT, AS PROPOSED BY THE HON. CHARLES YEUNG.

+THERE REMAINS ROOM FOR SCHEMES WHICH SUPPLEMENT THE MEDICAL CARE PROVIDED FROM PUBLIC FUNDS, FOR THOSE WHO WANT THEM AND CAN AFFORD THEM. BUT I DO NOT THINK THAT IT WOULD BE A PROPER USE OF PUBLIC FUNDS FOR SUCH SCHEMES TO BE SUBSIDISED, OR ORGANISED, BY THE GOVERNMENT,+ HE SAID.

REFERRING TO THE SLIGHT DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF MAGISTRATES PROVIDED FOR IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE 1978/79, SIR DENYS SAID THIS REDUCTION IS DUE TO A SHIFT IN CRIMINAL CASES FROM MAGISTRATES COURTS TO DISTRICT COURTS. IN PARTICULAR MANY MORE ROBBERY CASES ARE TRIED IN THE DISTRICT COURTS THAN PREVIOUSLY.

TO MEET THIS CHANGED PATTERN, POSTS FOR THREE MORE DISTRICT JUDGES HAVE BEEN CREATED WITH A REDUCTION OF THREE IN THE NUMBER OF MAGISTRATES.

ON THE COMPLAINTS THAT DELAYS AND INCONVENIENCE HAVE BEEN CAUSED TO WITNESSES AND DEFENDANTS AWAITING THEIR APPEARANCE IN COURTS, SIR DENYS ASSURED THAT THE JUDICIARY IS FULLY AWARE OF THE NEED TO DO WHATEVER IT REASONABLY CAN TO REDUCE TO THE MINIMUM SUCH DELAYS AND INCONVENIENCE.

SIR DENYS ALSO POINTED OUT THAT PERHAPS AT THE START OF THE NEXT SESSION, THE EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM IN BILLS WOULD CONTAIN A PARAGRAPH INDICATING THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION.

ON THE SUGGESTION OF RELAXING IMMIGRATION LAWS TO ALLOW MORE FOREIGN WORKERS INTO HONG KONG TO ALLEVIATE MANPOWER SHORTAGE, SIR DENYS SAID SUCH RELAXATION WOULD POSE +GRAVE SOCIAL PROBLEMS*.

+WE SHOULD ALSO BEAR CAREFULLY IN MIND THE FACT THAT, ONCE YOU HAVE IMPORTED SUBSTANTIAL NUMBERS OF FOREIGN WORKERS, IT IS DIFFICULT, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE, TO GET RID OF THEM IF CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE AND YOU NO LONGER REQUIRE THEM,* SIR DENYS SAID.

0-------

THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1978

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE COMES INTO BEING SOON *******

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, TODAY ASSURED THAT THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE WILL SOON BE BROUGHT INTO BEING IN GOOD TIME FOR IT TO CONSIDER THE REPORT AND CERTIFICATE OF THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT ON THE ACCOUNTS FOR 1977-78.

IN WINDING UP THE BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS, SECRETARIES, AND REPRESENTATIVES OF ORGANISATIONS IN RECEIPT OF PUBLIC FUNDS WILL BE CALLED BEFORE THE COMMITTEE TO ANSWER ANY POINTS PUT TO THEM.

+THE COMMITTEE WILL BE CONCERNED WITH PRINCIPLES AND SYSTEM, NOT WITH DETAILS AND PERSONALITIES, AND WILL LOOK TO THE DEPUTY FINANCIAL SECRETARY, AS THE HEAD OF THE BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC FUNDS, TO SEE THAT APPROPRIATE ACTION IS TAKEN ON ITS REPORT,* HE SAID.

HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT A GREATER DEGREE OF DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY FROM BOTH THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND FINANCE BRANCH IS CALLED FOR TO RELIEVE THEIR WORKLOAD AND SAID THAT HE HAD ASKED THE DEPUTY FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO SET IN MOTION A REVIEW OF. DELEGATED AUTHORITIES.

MR. HADDON-CAVE NOTED THAT A LIGHTER WORKLOAD WOULD ENABLE MEMBERS OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE TO DIRECT THEIR ATTENTION, EVEN MORE THAN AT PRESENT, TO WHAT THE HON. LYDIA DUNN DESCRIBED AS +THE POLICIES AND PRINCIPLES UNDERLYING EXPENDITURE PROPOSALS.*

THE FINANCE BRANCH WOULD ALSO BE ABLE TO DEVOTE MUCH MORE OF THEIR TIME TOWARDS DETERMINING WHETHER DEPARTMENTS ARE ACHIEVING VALUE-FOR-MONEY IN THEIR EXPENDITURE PERFORMANCE, HE ADDED.

MR. HADDON-CAVE ALSO SAID THAT HE AND THE FINANCE BRANCH WERE EXTREMELY CONSCIOUS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT THE HON. S.L. CHEN DESCRIBED AS ’COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF PUBLIC SPENDING’ THOUGH, SOMETIMES, +WE ARE NOT ABLE TO BE AS EFFECTIVE AS WE WOULD LIKE TO BE.*

WITH REFERENCE TO MISS LYDIA DUNN’S REMARKS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION PRESENTED FINANCE COMMITTEE WITH +FAIT ACCOMPLI* SITUATIONS, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THAT AS THE CHIEF SECRETARY HAD EXPLAINED, FINANCE COMMITTEE COULD DECLINE TO SANCTION THE PROVISION SOUGHT.

/HZ SAID .....

THURSDAY, APRIL 1J, 1978

- 9 -

HE SAID: +l WOULD STRESS THAT IT IS FINANCE COMMITTEE WHICH SANCTIONS PROVISION, CONTRARY TO WHAT FATHER MCGOVERN SEEM TO SUGGEST WHEN HE RATHER FLATTERINGLY REFERRED TO MY PERSONAL GENEROSITY IN ’LAVISHLY LASHING OUT LIBERAL LUMPS OF MONEY TO DESTITUTE DEPARTMENTS’.^

ON THE GOVERNMENT’S SYSTEM OF FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION, MR.HADDON-CAVE SAID NOTWITHSTANDING CERTAIN IMPORTANT CHANGES INTRODUCED IN RECENT YEARS, IT +REMAINS THE SAME AS IT WAS 20 YEARS AGO, PARTICULARLY INSOFAR AS IT RELATES TO THE AUTHORISATION OF EXPENDITURE AND THE SANCTIONING OF ADDITIONAL PROVISION.+

HE POINTED OUT THAT IT WOULD BE SHORT-SIGHTED NOT TO RECOGNISE THAT THIS SYSTEM, THOUGH +HAS STOOD US IN GOOD STEAD OVER THE YEARS+, WAS DEVISED FOR AN EARLIER AGE AND MIGHT NOT BE ENTIRELY SUITABLE FOR PRESENT DAY CIRCUMSTANCES.

MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID AS A LOGICAL STEP IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF FINANCIAL DEVOLUTION WITHIN HONG KONG, +WE NEED TO DEFINE HOW AUTHORITY SHOULD BE CONFERRED AND AT WHAT LEVELS AUTHORITY CAN BEST BE EXERCISED.+

+THE GENERAL WARRANT SIGNED AFTER THE ENACTMENT OF THE APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE IS NO MORE THAN AUTHOIRSATION TO THE DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING SERVICES TO PAY OUT UP TO THE LIMIT REPRESENTED BY THE TOTAL PROVISION IN EACH HEAD OF EXPENDITURE.

+THE CONTROL OF EXPENDITURE IS SUBJECT ONLY TO ADMINISTRATIVE RULES.+

MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID ACCORDINGLY, HE HAD ASKED THE DEPUTY FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO HEAD A SMALL WORKING PARTY CONSISTING OF THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT AND THE DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING SERVICES TO CONSIDER WHETHER +WE SHOULD THINK IN TERMS OF A SYSTEM IF STATUTORY BACKING FOR OUR SYSTEM OF FINANCIAL CONTROL AND POSSIBLY INTRODUCE A FORMAL CONCEPT OF ACCOUNTING OFFICER.+

- - 0 - - - -

/10......

THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1978

10

MASSIVE NT DEVELOPMENT CLEARS DOUBTS ABOUT GOVERNMENT INTENTIONS AND ABILITY *****

DOUBTS ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT’S ABILITY AND INTENTION TO CARRY OUT MASSIVE BUILDING PROGRAMME IN THE NEW TERRITORIES HAD NOW BEEN DISPELLED BY ACHIEVEMENT OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE HON. DAVID AKERS-JONES SAID TODAY.

THE CENTRAL CORE OF THE DEVELOPMENT HAD NOW BEEN COMPLETED, HE SAID, WHICH WILL LEAD TO THE PROVISION OF HOMES FOR ONE AND A HALF MILLION PEOPLE.

SPEAKING IN THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR. AKERS-JONES SAID: +THERE MAY HAVE BEEN SOME PEOPLE IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS WHO WILL HAVE DOUBTED WHETHER WE REALLY MEANT WHAT WE SAID WHEN THE PLANS FOR THE NEW TOWNS, AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS WE SAID WE WERE GOING TO DO, WERE SPELT OUT. THERE WERE SOME WHO DOUBTED THE WISDOM OF TRYING TO DO SO MUCH AT ONE AND THE SAME TIME.

+TODAY THERE CAN BE NO MORE DOUBTING, WE HAVE NOT COLLAPSED UNDER THE STRAIN AND THE ESSENTIAL NUCLEUS OF DEVELOPMENT HAS ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED.

+NOW, ROUND THIS CENTRAL CORE IN EVERY PLACE RECLAMATION, ENGINEERING WORKS AND PILE DRIVING IS ALREADY UNDERWAY, WHICH WILL TAKE US WELL INTO THE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME AND TOWARDS THE TARGET OF PROVIDING NEW HOMES FOR ONE AND A HALF MILLION PEOPLE.+

ANSWERING A NUMBER OF POINTS RAISED BY THE UNOFFICIAL COUNCILLOR MR. CHARLES YEUNG, MR. AKERS-JONES SAID THE EXPENDITURE ON PUBLIC WORKS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES HAD CLIMBED FROM AN ACTUAL 1976-77 FIGURES OF $347 MILLION TO ALMOST DOUBLE THAT IN THE FORECAST FOR 1978-79 OF $675 MILLION.

HE ADDED THE FIGURES REPRESENTED AN INCREASE FROM 30 TO 42 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL EXPENDITURE ON PUBLIC WORKS IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.

MR. AKERS-JONES POINTED OUT THAT ACTUAL ITEMS OF EXPENDITURE SHOWED PROOF OF THE INCREASINGLY HIGH STANDARDS OF DEVELOPMENT BEING APPLIED THROUGHOUT THE NEW TERRITORIES.

+STANDARDS BEING APPLIED WILL BE FAR HIGHER THAN ANYTHING YET SEEN IN HONG KONG- EMPHASIS IS BEING PLACED ON BALANCED DEVELOPMENT, AND, ON RESTORING THE BALANCE WHERE FACILITIES ARE LACKING- AND ATTENTION IS BEING PAID, AS NEVER BEFORE IN HONG KONG, TO THE ENVIRONMENT, LANDSCAPING AND MANAGEMENT OF THESE COMMUNIT1CC +

/OK THE SUBJECT .....

THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1978

- 11 -

ON THE SUBJECT OF PROVIDING ACCESS TO MORE ISOLATED VILLAGES, MR. AKERS-JONES SAID THE GOVERNMENT’S RECORD WAS NOT BAD AND WORK WAS CONTINUING. ONLY LAST YEAR EIGHT NEW MOTORABLE ACCESS TRACKS WERE BUILT AND 13 REPAIRED.

THOSE VILLAGES WHICH STILL DID NOT HAVE VEHICULAR ACCESS, HE SAID, WERE USUALLY VERY REMOTE OR SPARSELY INHABITED, SAVE IN A FEW CASES WHERE PRIVATE LAND PREVENTED IT. +1 BELIEVE .WE HAVE NOW REACHED A POINT WHERE, IN CERTAIN CASES, WE SHOULD TACKLE THE PROBLEM, AS MR. YEUNG SUGGESTS, BY RESUMPTION OF THE LAND REQUIRED,* HE SAID.

ON WATER SUPPLY, MR. AKERS-JONES SAID THERE WERE PROJECTS IN THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME TO IMPROVE EXISTING SUPPLY ZONES AND TO EXTEND WATER SUPPLY TO NEW AREAS.

+THESE INCLUDE PROVISION OF SUPPLY TO MA WAN AND LAMMA, AND TO CHEUNG SHA ON LANTAU.

♦PROVISION OF A SUPPLY, AS I SAID IN 1976, IS ESSENTIAL TO DEVELOPMENT OF THESE PLACES. AND I AM PLEASED TO SEE THAT TARGET DATES HAVE BEEN SET FOR MA WAN AND CHEUNG SHA, AND THAT CONSULTANTS HAVE NOW BEEN APPOINTED TO INVESTIGATE AND ADVISE ABOUT THE SUPPLY FOR LAMMA ISLAND WITH A VIEW TO GETTING ON WITH IT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE,* HE SAID.

HE ADDED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD, WHERE POSSIBLE, ENTERTAINED REQUESTS FOR THE PROVISION OF INDIVIDUAL METRED WATER SUPPLY FOR VILLAGE HOUSES, IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING WATER FROM A PUBLIC STANDPIPE.

MR. AKERS-JONES SAID IT WAS A REGRETTABLE FACT THAT PART OF THE PRICE OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WAS THE ACQUISITION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY AND THE DISTURBANCE AND, IN SOME CASES, COMPLETE REMOVAL OF LONG-ESTABLISHED VILLAGES.

+EVERY EFFORT IS MADE TO REDUCE THIS TO THE MINIMUM AND CONSTANTLY TO REVIEW REMOVAL TERMS AND THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE. BUT THE OPTIONS ARE LIMITED BY THAT VERY PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT WHOSE AIM IS TO TURN A RURAL ENVIRONMENT INTO AN INDUSTRIALISED TOWN,* HE SAID.

MR. AKERS-JONES SPOKE ON REMOVAL TERMS FOR VILLAGE HOUSES AS WELL AS THE RESITING OF VILLAGES WHICH ARE BUILT TO MODERN STANDARDS AND PROPER LAYOUT AND WITH MODERN SERVICES.

HE SAID THERE WERE PLANS TO IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT OF VILLAGES WHICH COULD BE LEFT WHERE THEY WERE, AND PROVIDE THEM WITH VARIOUS FACILITIES NOW LACKING.

MR. AKERS-JONES CONTINUED TO SPEAK ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF COUNTRY PARKS AND MAINTAINING LAW AND ORDER IN THE HEW TERRITORIES.

/+THE GOVERNMENT

THURSDAY, APRIL 1J, 19?8

12

+THE GOVERNMENT BELIEVES, HOWEVER, THAT THIEVES AND ROBBERS IN COUNTRY PARKS AND ELSEWHERE ARE BEST TACKLED BY STRENGTHENING THE PRESENCE OF THE POLICE AND THEIR ABILITY TO RESPOND’TO CALLS FOR HELP.

+PART OF THE PROCESS OF IMPROVING POLICE EFFECTIVENESS IS THE EXTENSION OF BEAT RADIO TO THE NEW TERRITORIES.

+BEAT RADIO IS ALREADY USED IN KWAI CHUNG AND TSUEN WAN. THE SCHEME HAS PROVED VERY EFFECTIVE, BUT IT IS EXPENSIVE AND THERE ARE TECHNICAL PROBLEMS TO OVERCOME.

+NEVERTHELESS, IT IS THE INTENTION THAT THIS SYSTEM SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO SHA TIN AND TUEN MUN DUR'ING THIS AND THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR, AND LATER TO YUEN LONG AND SHEUNG SHUI,+ HE SAID.

MR. AKERS-JONES CONTINUED TO SPEAK ON PROPOSALS TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY AND INDIVIDUAL AWARENESS AND PARTICIPATION IN COUNTRYSIDE CONSERVATION, WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON YOUNG PEOPLE.

+l AM SURE THERE IS MUCH MORE THAT CAN BE DONE IN THIS DIRECTION AND WITH THIS IN VIEW, THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, WHO IS THE COUNTRY PARKS AUTHORITY, WILL PRESENT HIS PLANS ON CONSERVATION EDUCATION TO THE COUNTRY PARKS BOARD DURING THE SUMMER, AND WILL PUT FORWARD THE AUTHORITY’S INTENTIONS TO THIS FIELD,+ SAID MR. AKERS-JONES.

AS FOR THE POINT THAT THERE SHOULD BE A REVIEW OF FACILITIES BEING PROVIDED IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. AKERS-JONES SAID: +THE DIRECTOR OF URBAN SERVICES HAS JUST COMPLETED SUCH A REVIEW AND IT WILL SHORTLY BE EXAMINED BY THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT PROGRESS COMMITTEE, WHICH I CHAIR, SO THAT THE LONG-TERM IMPLICATIONS OF THE PROGRAMME CAN BE PROPERLY ASSESSED AND, EQUALLY IMPORTANT, SO AS TO ENSURE THE ADEQUACY OF THE MACHINERY TO IMPLEMENT AND MANAGE THE PROGRAMME OF WORKS INVOLVED.*

/13

THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1978

13 -

SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMENTS ON STAFF RELATIONS AND STAFF MANAGEMENT *****

GOOD STAFF RELATIONS BEGIN NOT WITH CONSULTATIVE OR NEGOTIATING MACHINERY BUT WITH GOOD STAFF MANAGEMENT, THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE HON. MARTIN ROWLANDS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

MR. ROWLANDS CITED FIVE ASPECTS OF STAFF MANAGEMENT WHICH AFFECT STAFF RELATIONS:

* DELEGATING RESPONSIBILITY AND MAKING IT STICK-

* ENCOURAGING INITIATIVE AND DELIBERATELY PROVIDING THE INDIVIDUAL OFFICER WITH A CHALLENGE"

* ENSURING THAT WORK IS BOTH PROPERLY ORGANISED AND SUPERVISED"

* DEVELOPING GOOD TWO-WAY ORAL COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN ALL LEVELS OF STAFF" AND

* ESTABLISHING THE CONCEPT OF ACCOUNTABILITY DOWNWARDS WITHIN THE ORGANISATION.

ELABORATING ON THE LAST POINT, MR. ROWLANDS SAID WE WERE ALL USED TO THE IDEA OF BEING ACCOUNTABLE UPWARDS TO OUR SUPERIORS. +EQUAL EMPHASIS SHOULD, IN MY VIEW, BE GIVEN AT ALL LEVELS TO AN OFFICER’S ACCOUNTABILITY TO HIS JUNIORS IN MATTERS WHICH AFFECT THEIR WELL-BEING,* HE SAID.

WHILE PROPER STAFF MANAGEMENT ALONG THESE LINES WAS A NECESSARY FOUNDATION FOR GOOD STAFF RELATIONS, ONE ALSO NEEDED A PROPERLY CONSTITUTED FORUM IN WHICH MANAGEMENT AND STAFF COULD TALK TO EACH OTHER ON AN EQUAL FOOTING AND IN WHICH THEY COULD RESOLVE THE DIFFERENCES WHICH WERE BOUND TO ARISE FROM TIME TO TIME IN ANY HUMAN ORGANISATION.

FORMAL STAFF CONSULTATIVE COUNCILS, OF WHICH THERE WERE NOW 19, SERVED THIS PURPOSE AT THE DEPARTMENTAL LEVEL. +HOWEVER, BEFORE EXPANDING THEIR NUMBER, I BELIEVE THE TIME IS RIPE TO REVIEW THEIR ROLE AND ’MODUS OPERAND I’, WITH THE AIM OF MAKING THEM MORE EFFECTIVE INSTRUMENTS FOR RESOLVING MATTERS WHICH ARE WITHIN THE HEAD OF DEPARTMENT’S AUTHORITY.*

MR. ROWLANDS SAID AT THE SAME TIME WE NEEDED TO REVIEW THE ROLE OF DEPARTMENTAL STAFF CONSULTATIVE COUNCILS IN RELATION TO PAY AND STRUCTURE MATTERS AFFECTING DEPARTMENTAL GRADES OF STAFF, FOR THESE NEARLY ALWAYS HAD IMPLICATIONS FOR SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS, AND THEREFORE NEEDED TO BE DETERMINED ON A SERVICE-WIDE BASIS.

/♦MT INITIAL,

THURSDAY, APRIL 1J, 1978

U -

+MY INITIAL, AND TENTATIVE, VIEW IS THAT SUCH PAY AND STRUCTURE MATTERS SHOULD CONTINUE, IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, TO BE REFERRED TO THE APPROPRIATE DEPARTMENTAL STAFF CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL FOR THE RESPECTIVE VIEWS OF BOTH THE MANAGEMENT AND STAFF SIDES, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT COINCIDE. THE MATTER SHOULD THEN BE CONSIDERED CENTRALLY, WITHOUT DELAY, USING NEW NEGOTIATING PROCEDURES TAILORED TO MEET OUR LOCAL REQUIREMENTS.*

IT WAS ESSENTIAL THAT ANY NEW PROCEDURES SHOULD, FROM THE OUTSET, ENJOY THE CONFIDENCE OF BOTH THE STAFF AND THE GOVERNMENT, AND THAT IT BE ACCEPTED BY ALL CONCERNED THAT THE PURPOSE WAS TO REACH AGREEMENT.

MR. ROWLANDS SAID MANY STAFF MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE STEMMED DIRECTLY FROM THE RAPID EXPANSION TO WHICH WE WERE COMMITTED IN ORDER TO DEVELOP PUBLIC SERVICES AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES AT THE DESIRED RATE.

+IT IS MY IMPRESSION THAT THE PACE OF DEVELOPMENT IS NOW SO FAST THAT MANY SENIOR OFFICERS SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE TIME TO DEAL ADEQUATELY WITH STAFF MANAGEMENT ON TOP OF THEIR. RESPONSIBILITIES FOR POLICY, PLANNING, OPERATIONS AND GENERAL ADMINISTRATION. URGENT STUDIES ARE NEEDED TO GET THE MEASURE OF THE PROBLEM, AND TO WORK OUT QUICK AND SIMPLE REMEDIES,* HE SAID.

+MY OWN TENTATIVE VIEW IS THAT IN MANY DEPARTMENTS WE SHALL FIND A NEED FOR SENIOR OFFICERS ABLE TO DEVOTE THEIR WHOLE TIME TO SUPERVISING RECRUITMENT, TRAINING, POSTINGS, CAREER DEVELOPMENT, WELFARE, STAFF RELATIONS AND RELATED MATTERS.*

HE SAID HE COULD TESTIFY FROM HIS OWN RECENT EXPERIENCE THAT AN INVESTMENT IN RESPONSIVE STAFF MANAGEMENT COULD LEAD QUICKLY TO VISIBLY BETTER MORALE, GREATER EFFICIENCY, AND TO ECONOMY IN THE USE OF SCARCE STAFF.

+IF IT SHOULD BE DECIDED TO APPOINT SENIOR STAFF MANAGERS IN THE LARGER DEPARTMENTS, PERHAPS AS PART OF A PLAN TO IMPROVE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT GENERALLY, I AM REASONABLY CONFIDENT THAT WE SHALL BE ABLE TO FIND SUITABLE CANDIDATES FROM AMONG SERVING OFFICERS IN PROFESSIONAL AND GENERAL GRADES.*

ON CAREER DEVELOPMENT, MR. ROWLANDS SAID THIS LAY AT THE HEART OF GOOD STAFF MANAGEMENT IN AN ORGANISATION THE SIZE OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.

+AN YET IT MUST BE ADMITTED,* HE SAID, +THAT THE APPLICATION OF THIS CONCEPT WITHIN THE CIVIL SERVICE IS STILL VERY MUCH IN. ITS INFANCY, PARTLY BECAUSE IT REQUIRES HIGHLY SKILLED, AND . THEREFORE SCARCE, STAFF IF IT IS TO BE EFFECTIVE.*

HE SAID A GREAT DEAL MORE NEEDED TO EE DONE BY WAY OF CAREER DEVELOPMENT FOR ALL SERVING OFFICERS, BOTH LOCAL AND OVERSEAS.

/ON LOCALISATION, ..

THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1978

15 -

ON LOCALISATION. MR. ROWLANDS SAID LOCAL OFFICERS NOW HELD 197 POSTS AT THE DIRECTORATE LEVEL, OR 35 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL. HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT THIS PROPORTION WOULD GROW STEADILY IN THt YEARS AHEAD.

+ INDEED, WE APPEAR TO BE ENTERING A PHASE WHERE IT WILL BE INCREASINGLY THE NORM FOR OVERSEAS OFFICERS TO Fl ND.LOCAL OFFICERS SENIOR TO THEM IN RANK.+

POL ICY TO PFCPU iT'ReGULARL^F^M^^E^^O^E^t^^CE.

nto ntltl ALMOST ALL OTHER CASES THE NEED TO RECRUIT FROM ovfrcfac

WAS PARTLY THE CONSEQUENCE OF AN OVERALL SHORTAGE OF PEOPI F IM HONG KONG HOLDING PARTICULAR QUALIFICATIONS (FOR fyampi f LE N sector o“^mS%Eg™nd ,n

im onur (FOR EXAMPLE ARCHITECTS) AND PARTLY BECAUSE

legal) therIT

I>eCLARATIONSLOF“lN?^? L0C4fYWENLIH«Jr DESPITE REPEATED

MORE AND MORE LOCAL OFF ICEM JwFln5?S??SP 1IE ™E FACT THAT

BGe°1oTNT'“ID’ THERE *“ ‘‘*«S *888 ^„EMATTER

TUA-r THIS OPPORTUNITY THEREFORE OF STATING UNEQU IVOCAI 1 Y

THAT I REGARD IT AS ONE OF MY PRINCIPAL TASKS TO IMPLEMENT thf *

GOVERNMENT'S LOCALISATION POLICY. TO DO SO FIRMLY AND WITH

"LT!SMRT? C0N6ERNED'

HE SAID HE ECHOED MISS DUNN’S REMARK THAT HONG KONG WAS TOO SOPHISTICATED A PLACE FOR IT TO BE WISE OR NECESSARY TO PURSUE A POLICY OF LOCALISATION FOR ITS OWN SAKE. +INDEED. IF WE WERE EVER TO FALL INTO THAT TRAP, THE CIVIL SERVICE COULD LOSE SOME OF ITS MOST DEDICATED AND TALENTED OFFICERS. HONG KONG AS A WHOLE WOULD THEN BE THE LOSER.+

ON CONDITIONS OF SERVICE FOR MARRIED WOMEN CIVIL SERVANTS. MR. ROWLANDS SAID HE WOULD ARRANGE A FURTHER SURVEY OF CURRENT PRACTICE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR CONSIDERING WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CHANGE ITS RULES.

REFERRING TO THE PROBLEM OF PRIVATE HOUSING FOR CIVIL SERVANTS, MR. ROWLANDS SAID IT WAS NOW EE I NG LOOKED AT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE FULL SCALE REVIEW OF EXISTING POLICIES, FOR HOUSING CIVIL SERVANTS.

+WHILE I CANNOT ANTICIPATE ITS OUTCOME, I SHALL NOT BE SURPRISED IF IT RECOMMENDS THAT OUR MAIN AIM IN FUTURE SHOULD BE TO ASSIST CIVIL SERVANTS TO OWN THEIR HOMES WHERE THEY WISH TO DO SO.+

/ON THE SUBJECT .....

THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1978

- 16

ON THE SUBJECT OF DISPUTES IN THE CIVIL SERVICE, MR. ROWLANDS SAID HE BELIEVED HE SPOKE FOR VIRTUALLY THE WHOLE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE WHEN HE SAID THAT THERE WAS NO DESIRE TO ENGAGE IN MILITANCY.

+NOR DO I BELIEVE THERE IS ANY GENERAL DISSATISFACTION THROUGHOUT THE SERVICE, THOUGH THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PROBLEM AREAS AND THESE ARE RECEIVING MY CLOSE ATTENTION.+

HE SAID IF THERE WERE MORE GROUPS OF STAFF WHO FELT AGGRIEVED OVER ONE ISSUE OR ANOTHER, +WE MUST SEEK OUT THE CAUSES AND TAKE STEPS TO REMEDY THEM, FOR, AS A GENERAL RULE, HONG KONG CIVIL SERVANTS DO NOT COMPLAIN UNLESS THEY BELIEVE THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT.+

------0 - - - -

EXTENDING RELEASE UNDER SUPERVISION SCHEME TO INCLUDE PRISONERS * * * *

THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON. LEWIS DAVIES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY HE WAS IN FAVOUR OF EXTENDING EXISTING SCHEMES OF RELEASE UNDER SUPERVISION TO INCLUDE PRISONERS. HE SAID THIS HAD BEEN UNDER CONSIDERATION FOR SOME TIME.

ANSWERING POINTS RAISED BY THE HON. CHARLES YEUNG AT THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE, MR. DAVIES SAID RELEASE OF PRISONERS UNDER SUPERV ISON WOULD BE TIMED TO TAKE EFFECT WHEN THE PRISONER’S RESPONSE TO HIS TREATMENT HAD REACHED THE HIGHEST POINT AND WHEN IN THEORY HIS RETURN TO SOCIETY UNDER SUPERVISION SHOULD THEREFORE ACHIEVE THE BEST RESULTS.

+BUT THERE ARE DIFF I CULT IES,+ HE SAID. +IN ANY EXTENSION OF THE SCHEME IT MAY NOT BE EASY TO REASSURE THE PUBLIC THAT THE AUTHORITIES COULD KEEP IN SUFFICIENTLY CLOSE AND REGULAR TOUCH WITH THOSE RELEASED TO SEE THAT THE CONDITIONS OF RELEASE ARE IMPOSED EFFECTIVELY.

+SECONDLY, IT IS A MATTER OF JUDGMENT WHETHER A PRISONER HAS REACHED THE POINT OF MAXIMUM RESPONSE. THIS PLACES A GREAT BURDEN ON THE PAROLE BOARD.

/♦THIRDLY, .....

THURSDAY, APRIL 1J, 1978

- 17 -

+THIRDLY, AND UNHAPPILY, EVEN WHERE SUCH SCHEMES HAVE BEEN IN OPERATION, THEY HAVE NOT ALWAYS HAD AN OBVIOUS INFLUENCE ON RECIDIVISM,+ HE SAID.

IN SOME COUNTRIES WHERE SUCH A SYSTEM EXISTED NATURAL LEVELS OF LAWLESSNESS HAD REACHED RECORD HEIGHTS. NOT UNNATURALLY THE -PUBLIC WAS APPREHENSIVE AND THE EXTENSION OF THE SYSTEM.TO PRISONERS IT MIGHT BE, COULD ONLY BE APPROACHED WITH CAUTION.

HERE, HUMANE AS

+PROBABLY, THE NEXT CATEGORY TO BE CONSIDERED SHOULD BE YOUNG OFFENDERS,* MR. DAVIES SAID.

MR. DAVIES SAID HE AGREED THAT PRISONERS SHOULD BE EMPLOYED MORE PRODUCTIVELY. HE SAID EXPERT ADVICE ON PRISON INDUSTRIES WAS OBTAINED LAST YEAR AND ACTION WAS IN TRAIN TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS.

+THE OBJECT IS TO DEVELOP OUTPUT TO THE MAXIMUM COMPATIBLE WITH THE LIMITATIONS IMPOSED BY PRISONS DISCIPLINE AND ROUTINE.* THIS WOULD REQUIRE ADDITIONAL TRAINING STAFF, SOME POSTS HAVING ALREADY BEEN APPROVED.

MR. DAVIES SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ALSO BE PROCEEDING WITH A PROGRAMME FOR IMPROVED AND ADDITIONAL WORKSHOP FACILITIES.

+THE IMMEDIATE AIM IS TO INCREASE THE ANNUAL OUTPUT TO ABOUT $26 MILLION AND IN THE LONG TERM TO ABOUT $50 MILLION ANNUALLY,* HE SAID.

+WE INTEND TO MAKE PROGRESS TOWARDS THESE TARGETS IN THIS FINANCIAL YEAR.*

MR. DAVIES TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT THERE WAS PROVISION IN THE 1978/79 ESTIMATES FOR ANOTHER 12 NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICING UNITS AND 37 REPORTING CENTRES.

HE SAID FUNDS WERE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET TO EXTEND THE BEAT RADIO SYSTEM TO SHA TIN AND CONSIDERATION WAS BEING GIVEN TO FURTHER EXTENSIONS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

MR. DAVIES SAID HE ENVISAGED SOME EXPANSION OF THE CIVIL AID SERVICES STRENGTH IN THE FOLLOWING FINANCIAL YEARS.

/18

THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1978

- 18 -

CHANGING STRUCTURE OF HK’S ECONOMY ******

THE GOVERNMENT IS AWARE OF THE DEVELOPING SHIFT IN EMPHASIS IN OUR ECONOMY FROM MANUFACTURING TO TERTIARY INDUSTRIES AND IS KEEPING +A CLOSE EYE+ ON SUCH DEVELOPMENT, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE SAID TODAY. .

WINDING UP THE BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID UNTIL THE GOVERNMENT HAS CLEAR EVIDENCE THAT SUCH DEVELOPING SHIFT IS UNDESIRABLE, IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE SYMPATHETIC TO THE GROWTH OF TERTIARY INDUSTRIES AND WILL DO ITS BEST TO FACILITATE THAT GROWTH OR, AT LEAST, NOT TO IMPEDE IT.

HE SAID: + THE MODIFICATIONS TO THE STAMP ORDINANCE, MOST OF WHICH ARE OF BENEFIT TO INDUSTRIES IN TERT IARY.SECTOR, AND THE RECENT LIFTING OF THE MORATORIUM ON THE GRANTING OF BANK LICENCES ARE POLICY DECISIONS REFLECTING THIS SYMPATHY.*

HE NOTED THAT MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES MAY EE DOMINANT IN TERMS OF EXPORTS, BUT THEY ARE ALSO RELATIVELY IMPORT-INTENSIVE, WHILE TERTIARY INDUSTRIES ARE ALMOST CERTAINLY LESS EXPORT-ORIENTED AND LESS IMPORT-INTENSIVE.

ON OUR POSITION IN THE WORLD ECONOMY, MR. HADDON-CAVE SHARED THE HON. Q.W. LEE’S REMARKS THAT CHANGES IN RECENT YEARS HAVE RESULTED IN HONG KONG BEING +MUCH MORE VULNERABLE TO INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS (THAN IN THE PAST).*

+FOR EXAMPLE,* HE SAID, +OUR INTERNAL PRICE LEVEL IS NOW MORE INFLUENCED BY THE MARKETING STRATEGY OF OUR MAIN SUPPLIERS-OUR INTEREST RATE STRUCTURE USED TO EE LARGELY DETERMINED BY INTERNAL DEMAND AND SUPPLY FACTORS, BUT THIS IS NO LONGER THE CASE- OUR STOCK MARKET IS NOW INFLUENCED BY THE STATE OF OTHER MARKETS- AND THE HONG KONG DOLLAR, WHICH USED TO HAVE A FIXED RELATIONSHIP FIRST WITH STERLING AND LATER WITH THE U.S. DOLLAR, IS NOW FLOATING.*

+THESE CHANGES, TAKEN TOGETHER WITH THE EMERGENCE OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES SECTOR OF OUR ECONOMY, INVOLVING GREATLY ENLARGED CAPITAL FLOWS ACROSS THE EXCHANGES, HAVE HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG, NOT JUST ON THE PART OF HONG KONG RESIDENTS, OR EVEN OF OVERSEAS INVESTORS IN OUR MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES, BUT ALSO OF THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL COMMUNITY.*

BUT HE SOUNDED A NOTE OF CAUTION AND SAID: +IF ITS CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG GENERALLY, AND IN THE GOVERNMENT’S MANAGEMENT OF OUR FISCAL, BUDGETARY, ECONOMIC AND MONETARY AFFAIRS WERE TO EE ERODED, THE EFFECT COULD EE QUITE DISASTROUS.

+IN OTHER WORDS, WE LIVE IN A MUCH RISKIER, BECAUSE IT IS A MUCH MORE EXPOSED, ENVIRONMENT AND SO PRUDENT MANAGEMENT.CE. OUR AFFAIRS IS MORE VITAL T EVER,* HE ADDED.

/REPLYING TO .....

THURSDAY, APRIL 1J, 1978

- 19 -

REPLYING TO POINTS RAISED BY THE UNOFFICIALS ON THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY TOWARDS INDUSTRY, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THE GOVERNMENT IS ALREADY INVOLVED, DIRECTLY AMD INDIRECTLY, IN ACTIVITIES WHICH FACILITATE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.

HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE VARIOUS PROPOSALS PUT FORWARD BY THE UNOFFICIALS FOR THE GOVERNMENT’S FURTHER INVOLVEMENT WILL BE CONSIDERED BY THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DIVERSIFICATION UNDER ITS TERMS OF REFERENCE.

REPLYING TO REMARKS BY THE HON. JAMES WU THAT SPECULATION IN PROPERTY, +FUELLED BY IDLE CASH+, IS PREVENTING THE UNDERLYING MARKET FORCES FROM OPERATING CORRECTLY, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID: +IT IS TRUE THAT SUCH SPECULATION, IF IT EXISTS, COULD TEMPORARILY --AND, I EMPHASISE, TEMPORARILY — PUSH UP LAND PRICES.*

+IF IT CAN BE PROVED THAT THIS IS HAVING DAMAGING EFFECT ON THE ECONOMY AND IS LIKELY TO CONTINUE, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CERTAINLY INTERVENE,* HE ADDED.

REFERRING TO THE HON. S.L. CHEN’S

SUGGESTION THAT THE

w vtKWHEN i onvuLxi, m me. miunuviw vi IHDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT, MAKE LAND AVAILABLE AT BELOW CURRENT MARKET PRICES TO CERTAIN LAND-INTENSIVE, HIGH TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRIES, HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT ALREADY PROVIDES LAND ON THIS BASIS TO A LIMITED EXTENT, BUT GREATER THE PROPORTION OF LAND FOR SUCH USE, THE HIGHER WILL BE THe OPEN MARKET PRICE OF THE REMAINING INDUSTRIAL LAND.

GOVERNMENT SHOULD

IN THE INTERESTS OF

IN REPLY TO UNOFFICIALS’ REMARKS ON ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF LABOUR SUPPLY, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID HE EXPECTED THE GROWTH RATE OF EMPLOYMENT IN THE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TO SLOW DOWN SUBSTANTIALLY THIS YEAR COMPARED WITH LAST YEAR SO THAT THE PRESSURE EXERTED BY THIS INDUSTRY ON THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR SHOULD ALREADY BE MODERATING.

HE POINTED OUT THAT ALTHOUGH 15,000 WORKERS JOINED THE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1976 AND SEPTEMBER 1977, AND 20,000 WORKERS LEFT MANUFACTURING SECTOR, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF WORKERS EMPLOYED IN THE ECONOMY GREW BY 41,000 IN THE SAME PERIOD.

MR. HADDON-CAVE ALSO NOTED THAT IN THE CONTEXT OF AN OVERALL GROWTH IN OUTPUT OF THE ECONOMY IN REAL TERMS EQUIVALENT TO ABOUT NINE PER CENT PER WORKER LAST YEAR, IT DOES HOT SEEM EXCESSIVE FOR REAL WAGES RATES IN MANUFACTURING TO HAVE GROWN AT JUST OVER SIX PER CENT.

BEFORE CONCLUDING HIS SPEECH, MR. HADDON-CAVE THANKED MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE +03VI0US CARE WITH HICH THEY HAVE STUDIED THE VARIOUS BUDGET DOCUMENTS LAID BEFORE THEM* AND THE UNOFFICIALS FOR THEIR KIND RE.'.’.iWG CH T E BUDGET SPEECH.

THE APPROPRIATION BILL 1973 WAS PASSED INTO LAW TODAY.

_______o---------

/20......

THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1978

- 20 -

PRIMARY SCHOOL ATTENDANCE * * * *

THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, THE HON. KENNETH TOPLEY, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY IT IS BELEIVED THAT SOME, PERHAPS THE MAJORITY, OF THE ONE PER CENT OF PRIMARY-AGE CHILDREN NOT AT SCHOOL AT A MOMENT OF TIME, ATTEND SCHOOL AT OTHER TIME.

MR. TOPLEY WAS REPLYING AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE OF THE APPROPRIATION BILL TO THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN WHO SAID HE UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS PERCENTAGE OF +PRIMARY SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN HAVE STILL TO SEE THE INSIDE OF A CLASS-ROOM, BUT THAT THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS STRENUOUSLY ATTEMPTING TO REDRESS THIS SOCIAL ANOMALY.+

MR. CHEONG-LEEN ALSO WANTED TO KNOW WHAT WAS'HAPPEN ING TO 3.000 OR MORE STUDENTS WHO HE CLAIMED WERE DROPPING OUT OF THEIR PRIMARY EDUCATION, AND HOW MANY OF THEM WERE BEING LURED INTO FACTORIES.

HE ALSO ASKED WHETHER CHILDREN UNDER 14 WILL EE BANNED FROM WORKING IN NON-INDUSTRIAL PLACES SUCH AS OFFICES AND RESTAURANTS AS FROM OCTOBER NEXT YEAR AND IF SO, WHAT FURTHER STEPS WOULD THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT BE TAKING THIS YEAR TO CLOSE THE GAP ON DROP-OUTS IN THE PRIMARY SCHOOL SYSTEM.

IN REPLY, MR. TOPLEY SAID: +SOME 5,000 STUDENTS MAY HAVE DISCONTINUED SCHOOLING DURING THEIR PRIMARY SCHOOL EDUCATION AND THIS FIGURE INCLUDES SOME 1,300 STUDENTS WHO HAVE EMIGRATED WITH THEIR PARENTS TO OVERSEAS COUNTRIES IN 1977.

+IT ALSO APPEARS THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE 5,000 ARE ALREADY OVER THE COMPULSORY SCHOOL AGE OF 11 WHEN THEY LEAVE.

+AS I HAVE PREVIOUSLY STATED IN THIS COUNCIL WE HAVE A SYSTEM BY WHICH HEADMASTERS INFORM US OF CASES WHERE THEY EEL I EVE THAT A CHILD HAS DISCONTINUED SCHOOLING. THESE CASES ARE FOLLOWED UP WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS, AND WHERE NECESSARY, THE CHILDREN ARE PLACED BACK IN SCHOOL.

+THE SYSTEM WORKS WELL BUT IT IS TRUE AS I HAVE PREVIOUSLY STATED, THAT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO TRACE ALL CHILDREN.

♦WHEN TRACED, NEARLY ALL THE PARENTS ACCEPT PERSUASION TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN BACK TO SCHOOL AND SO FAR IT HAS BEEN NECESSARY TO SERVE ONLY TWO ATTENDANCE ORDERS.

♦THE ORDERS WERE SERVED AFTER THE PARENT CONCERNED HAD REFUSED TO ACCEPT THE ADVICE OF OFFICERS OF THE EDUCATION AND SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENTS TO SEND HIS TWO CHILDREN TO SCHOOL,* MR. TOPLtY SAID.

/Wl. CHSONG-LEW

THURSDAY, APRIL 1J, 1978

21

MR. CHEONG-LEEN POINTED OUT THAT AS THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAD NO AUTHORITY AT PRESENT TO COMPEL PARENTS TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN BACK TO SCHOOL AFTER THE AGE OF 11, AND ASKED WHETHER ANY AMENDMENT TO EXISTING LEGISLATION WOULD BE REQUIRED UNTIL SUCH TIME THAT GOVERNMENT COULD PROVIDE FREE AND COMPULSORY EDUCATION., UP TO FORM 3 OR ON ATTAINMENT OF THE AGE OF 15.

■ IN REPLY MR. TOPLEY SA IDs +AS REGARDS LEGISLATION FOR THE RAISING OF THE COMPULSORY AGE OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AND THE CORRESPONDING PROHIBITION OF EMPLOYMENT, THE GOVERNMENT’S PROPOSALS ARE DESCRIBED IN YOUR EXCELLENCY’S SPEECH OF OCTOBER 5 LAST YEAR.

+SPEC IF ICALLY AS REGARDS NON-1NDUSTRI AL EMPLOYMENT, SIR, YOU STATED: 'THE INTENTION IS TO PROHIBIT EMPLOYMENT WHICH WOULD INTERFERE WITH A CHILD’S SCHOOLING, BUT FLEXIBILITY WILL BE MAINTAINED TO ALLOW FOR PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT PARTICULARLY IN FAMILY BUSINESS OR SUMMER JOBS’,+

LASTLY, MR. CHEONG-LEEN ASKED, IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF PRIMARY EDUCATION, AND DERIVE MAXIMUM BENEFIT FOR MONEY

SPENT, HOW SOON THE GOVERNMENT SESSIONS.

COULD REVERT BACK TO FULL-DAY

IN REPLY MR. TOPLEY SAID: BI-SESSIONAL PRIMARY EDUCATION PARTY ON PRIMARY EDUCAT ION.+

+THE QUESTION OF UN(SESSIONAL AND IS BEING EXAMINED BY THE.WORK ING

----o----

FINANCIAL SECRETARY WINDS UP BUDGET DEBATE * X X X

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY IT NOW LOOKS THAT THE.SURPLUS FOR THE YEAR 1977-78 WILL BE $1,080 MILLION COMPARED WITH HIS PREDICTION OF $1,150 MILLION.

BASED ON THE STATE OF THE TREASURY’S CASH BOOK AT THE END OF MARCH, HE EXPECTED REVENUE TO BE ABOUT $9,200 MILLION AND EXPENDITURE ABOUT $8,120 MILLION.

COMMENTING ON THE ACCURACY OF ESTIMATES, MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID HE HAS TO RELY ON PROFESSIONAL OPINION AND GUIDELINES BY HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS AND FINANCE BRANCH IN PREPARING THE BUDGET.

IN WINDING UP THE BUDGET DEBATE BY REPLYING TO POINTS RAISED BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID HE +CANNOT MANAGE THE PUBLIC FINANCES SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF STATISTICAL PROJECTIONS.*

MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID: +0N THE REVENUE SIDE, I HAVE TO TAKE A VIEW OF THE LIKELY COURSE OF THE ECONOMY AND GIVE DUE WEIGHT TO THE PROFESSIONAL OPINIONS OF SUCH COLLECTORS OF REVENUE AS THE COMMISSIONER OF INLAND REVENUE’ AND, ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, I HAVE TO BE GUIDED BY WHAT HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS AND FINANCE BRANCH SAY IS NEEDED BY WAY OF VOTE PROVISION TO IMPLEMENT APPROVED POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES.+

THURSDAY, APRIL 1J, 1978

22

ON FISCAL RESERVES, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY DISAGREED WITH THE HON. T.S. LO’S SUGGESTION THAT WE SHOULD RESIGN OURSELVES TO THE INEVITABILITY OF THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY NOT BEING VIABLE AND USE A SUBSTANTIAL PROPORTION OF OUR FISCAL RESERVES TO REDUCE THE LOAN GEARING OF THE CORPORATION.

+TO EARMARK A PROPORTION OF OUR FISCAL RESERVES TO SECURE THE LOANS RAISED BY THE CORPORATION AGAINST A GUARANTEE BY THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT IMPLY THAT THE CORPORATION WILL BE UNABLE TO SERVICE ITS DEBT.

+THESE LOANS ARE, IN THE OPINION OF THE CORPORATION’S CREDITORS, WELL SECURED BY THE PROJECTED CASH FLOW OF THE CORPORATION WHEN THE RAILWAY IS OPERATING. BUT THE TERMS UNDER WHICH THE LOANS ARE NEGOTIATED ARE, OF COURSE, GREATLY INFLUENCED BY THE VIEW TAKEN OF THE PARENT COMPANY’S FINANCIAL STRENGTH.

+l DO NOT AGREE, THEREFORE, THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE A LARGER EQUITY POSITION IN THE CORPORATION AND DEPRIVE ITSELF, MEANWHILE, OF THE USEFUL INCOME DERIVED FROM THE VARIOUS MONETARY INSTRUMENTS AND DEPOSITS IN WHICH OUR FISCAL RESERVES ARE HELD.+

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY POINTED OUT THAT IN 1978-79. EVEN AT CURRENT INTEREST RATES, WE SHOULD EARN AT LEAST $230 MILLION FROM THESE INVESTMENTS, OR TWO-AND-A-HALF PER CENT OF TOTAL RECURRENT REVENUE.

MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH’S SUGGESTION

REFERRING TO THE HON. ____

THAT AT LEAST PART OF OUR RESERVES SHOULD BE USED TO ACCELERATE THE GROWTH RATE OF EXPENDITURE ON SOCIAL SERVICES, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID: +1 AM AFRAID WE SIMPLY MUST MAINTAIN A CERTAIN RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OUR RESERVES, ON THE ONE HAND, AND OUR CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND THE CURRENT EXPENDITURE, ON THE OTHER.

+WITHOUT THE SURPLUS OF NEARLY $1,100 MILLION THROWN UP BY THE BUOYANCY OF REVENUE IN 1977-78, THE GUIDELINE RATIOS WHICH. I BELIEVE SHOULD DETERMINE THE LEVEL OF OUR FISCAL RESERVES WOULD BE SERIOUSLY BREACHED. THAT SURPLUS LIFTED THE LEVEL OF OUR FISCAL RESERVES FROM $3,713 MILLION A YEAR AGO TO ABOUT $4,800 MILLION TODAY.

+S0 WITHOUT IT, AFTER ALLOWING $3,200 MILLION AS SECURITY FOR OUR CONTINGENT LIABILITIES, THE BALANCE OF OUR RESERVES WOULD ONLY BE SUFFICIENT TO COVER FIVE PER CENT OF EXPENDITURE IN THE CURRENT YEAR INSTEAD OF THE AGREED GUIDELINE OF 15 PER CENT.

♦GIVEN THE UNCERTAINTIES OF THE INTERNATIONAL TRADING ECONOMY IN WHICH WE LIVE, AND OUR OBLIGATION TO MAINTAIN OUR RESERVES AND CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMMES INTACT IN THE FACE OF SHORT TERM DIFFICULTIES, I WOULD REGARD THIS AS DANGEROUS LIVING INDEED.+

MR. HADDON-CAVE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH WAS PAYING INSUFFICIENT ATTENTION TO THE GROWTH RATE OF EXPENDITURE ENVISAGED FOR 1978-79, COMPARED WITH 1977-78 (REVISED ESTIMATES)! OVERALL IT IS 26 PER CENT.

/ON SOCIAL WELFARE

THURSDAY, APRIL 1J, 19?8

- 25 -

ON SOCIAL WELFARE SUBVENTIONS, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY STRESSED THAT THE ALLOCATED SUM WOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO ENABLE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO PLAY THEIR PROGRAMMED ROLE IN THEIR DEVELOPING SERVICES IN 1979-79.

+IF I AM PROVED WRONG, AND CIRCUMSTANCES PERMIT, SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION WILL BE SOUGHT,+ HE SAID.

BUT HE ADDED: +THE PRESENT-DAY ROLE OF PARTICULAR VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IN OUR NETWORK OF SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES NEEDS TO BE DEFINED AND, IN APPROPRIATE CASES, PRESENT FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD THEN BE REVISED TO ENABLE THEM TO FULFILL THEIR DEFINED AGREED ROLES.

+IN RETURN, THEY WILL HAVE TO ACCEPT A LESSER DEGREE OF INDEPENDENCE, FOR WE CANNOT INTEGRATE THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE WITH THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND CONTINUE TO SUBVENT THEM ON THE PRESENT LUMP-SUM DISCRETIONARY GRANT BAS IS.+

AS REGARDS HOUSING AUTHORITY’S FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY NOTED THAT THERE IS A DIFFERENCE OF $296 MILLION BETWEEN THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT’S ESTIMATES OF WHAT IT WILL SPEND-AND THE AMOUNT WHICH WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE FROM THE DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND.

BUT HE POINTED OUT THAT THE DIFFERENCE WOULD BE MET FROM THE AUTHORITY’S OWN FUNDS AND ON-LENDING FROM THE DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND WILL BE INCREASED ACCORDINGLY IF, IN THE EVENT, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS ABLE TO SPEND AS FAST AS IT ENVISAGES.

ON LOTTERIES FUND, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID HE AGREED WITH THE HON. F.W. LI THAT THE RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING THE FUND SHOULD BE AMENDED TO ALLOW A WIDER RANGE OF NON-CAPITAL ITEMS OF EXPENDITURE TO BE FINANCED FROM THE FUND.

+ACCORDINGLY, I HAVE ASKED THE DEPUTY FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO SUGGEST A SUITABLE AMENDMENT TO THE RESOLUTION IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES.*

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

BILLS PASSED

* * *

THREE BILLS WERE PASSED INTO LAW TODAY AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THEY ARE THE APPROPRIATION BILL 1978, THE HOUSING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978 AND THE LAW AMENDMENT AND REFORM (CONSOLIDATION) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978.

------ 0 - - - -

/2A.....

THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1978

- 24 -

FACTORY OPENING MARKS CONFIDENCE IN TUEN MUN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT * * * * *

THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES SAID TODAY THE OPENING OF A S70-MILLI0N FACTORY IN TUEN MUN DEMONSTRATED THE CONFIDENCE BOTH HONG KONG AND OVERSEAS INVESTORS HAVE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TOWN.

MR. AKERS-JONES, TOGETHER WITH THE JAPANESE CONSUL-GENERAL IN HONG KONG, MR. EIJIRO NODA, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK, MR. CHAN YAT SAN AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TUEN MUN RURAL COMMITTEE, MR. LAU WONG FAT, PERFORMED A RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY TO OFFICIALLY OPEN THE SIX-STOREY YKK ZIPPER FACTORY IN SAN LIK STREET.

HE TOLD THE GATHERING THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF TUEN MUN WAS PROCEEDING AT A REMARKABLE PACE. *IN THE LAST THREE YEARS 16 FACTORY BUILDINGS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, AND THERE ARE NO FEWER THAN 20 FACTORIES NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION PROVIDING ANOTHER 2.8 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF FLOOR SPACE.

+FOUNDATION WORKS ARE IN PROGRESS ON HOUSING ESTATES FOR 100,000 PEOPLE,* HE SAID.

MR. AKERS-JONES ADDED THAT LAND FORMATION AND RECLAMATION WAS NOW PROCEEDING FOR THE SUCCEEDING STAGES OF THE TOWN AND NEXT MONTH THE NEW TUEN MUN HIGHWAY LINK WITH TUEN MUN AND KOWLOON WOULD BE OPENED.

+ IT IS NOW ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT THE GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT TO THE BUILDING OF THE NEW TOWN OF TUEN MUN IS ABSOLUTE, AND ANY DOUBTS THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN ABOUT THIS ARE FIRMLY DISPELLED BY THE INTENSE ACTIVITY THAT WE SEE ALL AROUND US,+ HE SAID.

MR. AKERS-JONES EMPHASISED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF PRIVATE INVESTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT IN TUEN MUN. +THE YKK INVESTMENT OF $70 MILLION IN THE TOWN IS A GREAT ENCOURAGEMENT.

+1 AM GLAD TOO, THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS BEEN ABLE TO ASSIST YOU BY PROVIDING FLATS FOR SOME OF YOUR KEY WORKERS, TO HELP YOU IN YOUR MOVE TO THE NEW TOWN.

+MAY I WISH YOUR COMPANY EVERY SUCCESS IN FUTURE OPERATIONS HERE IN TUEN MUN, AND MAY CO-OPERATION BETWEEN INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT CONTINUE FOR OUR FUTURE PROSPERITY AND THE BENEFIT OF OUR HARD-WORKING PEOPLE,* SAID MR. AKERS-JONES.

THE PRESIDENT OF YKK JAPAN, PARENT COMPANY OF YKK ZIPPER FACTORY IN HONG KONG, MR. TADAO YOSHIDA, FLEW TO HONG KONG SPECIALLY TO ATTEND THE FACTORY’S OPENING CEREMONY.

/Kt. YOSHIDA

THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1978

- 25 -

™T & ^‘^^Vh,8ho« 5^£&"fsCsE"«

DRAMATIC GROWTH OF HONG KONG’S GARMENT INDUSTRY.

KWN w

DEMAND FOR ZIP FASTENERS.

-rue- ucu vvtt wrrM IN TUEN MUN HAS BROUGHT TO HONG KONG

« xs™™”*

EXPECTED TO EXCEED $46 MILLION.

IT HAS A TOTAL FLOOR AREA OF 160,000 SQUARE FEET AND EMPLOYS A WORKFORCE OF ABOUT 250.

0

/26......

THURSDAY, APftlL 13, 1978

- 26

MORE YOUTHS TAKE UP APPRENTICESHIP *****

MORE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE TAKING UP EMPLOYMENT AS APPRENTICES IN VARIOUS MAJOR INDUSTRIES IN HONG KONG, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.

IN THE PAST YEAR SOME 1,900 FORM 3 AND FORM 5 SCHOOL LEAVERS HAVE ENTERED INTO MODERN CRAFT AND TECHNICIAN APPRENTICESHIP SCHEMES IN HONG KONG’S 10 MAJOR INDUSTRIES THROUGH THE TRAINING COUNCIL DIVISION OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT. THIS FIGURE REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF NEARLY 63 PER CENT OVER THE NUMBER RECORDED IN 1976.

THE 10 MAJOR INDUSTRIES IN HONG KONG ARE AUTOMOBILE REPAIRS AND SERVICING, BUILDING AND CIVIL ENGINEERING, CLOTHING, ELECTRICAL, ELECTRONICS, MACHINE SHOP AND METAL WORKING, PLASTIC, PRINTING, SHIP-BUILDING AND SHIP REPAIRS AND TEXTILES.

COMMENTING ON THE INCREASED NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE TAKING UP EMPLOYMENT AS APPRENTICES AND THE NUMBER OF FIRMS STARTING THEIR OWN APPRENTICESHIP SCHEMES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID: +THE FIGURES ARE MOST ENCOURAGING AS THEY INDICATE THAT YOUNGSTERS IN HONG KONG ARE BECOMING MORE INTERESTED IN JOBS IN INDUSTRY WHICH PROVIDE THEM WITH TRAINING AND PROSPECT, AND THAT MORE EMPLOYERS ARE RECOGNISING THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER MANPOWER TRAINING.+

HE URGED SCHOOL LEAVERS WHO WISH TO PURSUE A CAREER IN INDUSTRY THROUGH APPRENTICESHIP, AND EMPLOYERS WHO WISH TO START APPRENTICE TRAINING, TO CONTACT THE TRAINING COUNCIL DIVISION OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AT ASIAN HOUSE, 12TH FLOOR, NO. 1, HENNESSY ROAD, HONG KONG, OR TELEPHONE $-278760.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID: +IN ADDITION TO RECEIVING ON-THE-JOB TRAINING PROVIDED BY THEIR EMPLOYERS, THE APPRENTICES ALSO ATTEND RELATED PART-TIME TECHNICAL COURSES IN TECHNICAL INSTITUTES ON A ONE DAY AND TWO EVENINGS PER WEEK BAS IS.+

HE SAID OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOTH CRAFT AND TECHNICIAN APPRENTICESHIPS EXIST IN ALL THE 10 MAJOR INDUSTRIES.

ENTRY REQUIREMENT FOR CRAFT APPRENTICESHIP IS COMPLETION OF FORM 3 SCHOOLING AND FOR TECHNICIAN APPRENTICESHIP IS COMPLETION OF FORM 5 WITH PASSES IN FOUR APPROPRIATE SUBJECTS IN THE CERTIFICATION OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION.

REFERRING TO THE WORK OF THE TRAINING COUNCIL DIVISION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID: +OTHER THAN HELPING YOUNGSTERS TO FIND JOBS AS APPRENTICES, THE DIVISION ALSO ASSISTS EMPLOYERS TO START OR IMPROVE ORGANISED SCHEMES FOR APPRENTICE TRAINING.

♦INDUSTRIAL TRAINING OFFICERS OF THE DIVISION CAN ASSIST EMPLOYERS IN TRAINING MATTERS SUCH AS RECRUITMENT OF APPRENTICES AND DESIGNING TRAINING PROGRAMMES.

♦LAST YEAR,+ HE SAID, +THE DIVISION HELPED 180 FIRMS TO START THEIR OWN APPRENTICESHIP SCHEMES.+

- - 0 - -

I

THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1978 '

- 27 “

FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION DRAMA ON FRUSTRATIONS OF OLD AGE ******

THE RELUCTANCE OF LOSING ONE’S GRASP ON A HARD-EARNED CAREER, COUPLED WITH PHYSICAL FRAILTY THAT HERALDS THE START OF OLD AGE, COULD BE A MOST UNSETTLING EXPERIENCE FOR THOSE ON THE VERGE OF RETIREMENT.

TYPICAL FEELINGS AND REACTIONS SHARED BY MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE UNPREPARED TO ACCEPT AND ADJUST TO THIS LESS EVENTFUL STAGE OF LIFE ARE DEPICTED IN A FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION TELEVISION SPECIAL ’THE OBSTINATE GRANDPA’, SCREENING OF WHICH STARTS FROM TOMORROW (FRIDAY) NIGHT.

FROM THE CALM OPENING SCENES RIGHT UNTIL HIS FATAL FALL FROM HEIGHT, THE ATTITUDE OF A RETIRED SCAFFOLDING WORKER WAS GIVEN ADEQUATE EXPOSURE IN THIS HALF-HOUR EPISODE, PRODUCED BY THE RTHK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.

THE INABILITY TO CONVINCE HIS SON INTO FOLLOWING HIS FOOTSTEPS, THE SHIFTING OF ROLE FROM A BREADWINNER AND HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD TO A DEPENDANT PROVED TOO MUCH FOR THIS ’OBSTINATE GRANDPA’, WHO, DESPITE FAILING HEALTH, RESORTED TO TAKING UP HIS OLD JOB ONCE AGAIN.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY THAT THE DECISION WHICH LED TO THE TRAGIC ACCIDENT WAS BY NO MEANS ONE MADE AT THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT.

+THE OLD MAN’S STUBBORNNESS, OVER-CONFIDENCE, SUSPICION TOWARDS AND REFUSAL TO ACCEPT CHANGES OF THE MODERN WORLD 'WERE PARTLY BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE INDIFFERENT ATTITUDE OF THOSE AROUND HIM,+ HE SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT AT A TIME WHEN MATERIAL SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY WAS GIVEN DUE EMPHASIS, THEIR NEED FOR UNDERSTANDING AND CONCERN DURING THIS PERIOD OF TRANSITION COULD NOT BE OVEREMPHASISED.

+ASSISTANCE FROM MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY, RENDERED BY MEANS OF DAY-TO-DAY CONVERSATION, OR CONVEYED THROUGH GESTURES OF KINDNESS AND WARMTH, WOULD GO A LONG WAY IN FACILITATING THEIR ADJUSTMENT,+ THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

HE SAID THAT SUGGESTIONS OF SOME COMMON WAYS IN ACHIEVING THIS WAS BORNE OUT IN THE EPILOGUE OF THE PLAY, THROUGH A DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE SON AND THE POLICEWOMAN AFTER THE TRAGIC ACCIDENT.

HE ADDED THAT PROGRAMMES AIMING TO PREPARE INDIVIDUALS FOR LIFE AFTER RETIREMENT WERE ORGANISED AS PART OF.THE CURRENT FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN.

’THE OBSTINATE GRANDPA’, THE SEVENTH EPISODE OF THE SERIES ’UNDER THE SAME ROOF’, WILL EE SCREENED ON TVB JADE TOMORROW AT 8.30 P.M., ON RTV CHANNEL I ON SATURDAY AT 7 P.M. AND ON CTV ON SUNDAY AT 6 P.M.

THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1978 - 28 -

FIREMEN GRADUATION PARADE * * * *

THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL HOLD ITS 28TH PASSING OUT PARADE AT ITS TRAINING SCHOOL AT PAT HEUNG, NEW TERRITORIES, TOMORROW (FRIDAY).

THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES, MR. FED WATSON,-WILL INSPECT THE PARADE. THE PARADE WILL BE FORMED BY 99 FIREMEN AND 30 AMBULANCEMEN,-WHO HAD COMPLETED THEIR BASIC TRAINING. FIVE SQUADS OF FIRE OFFICERS, FIREMEN AND AMBULANCEMEN WHO ARE STILL UNDER TRAINING WILL ALSO BE ON PARADE.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE EVENT, WHICH WILL COMMENCE AT 10.15 A.M. A GOVERNMENT BUS HAS BEEN ARRANGED TO TAKE PRESS REPRESENTATIVES TO THE TRAINING SCHOOL. IT WILL LEAVE THE NORTH POINT FIRE STATION AT 8.30 A.M.

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

PRISON OFFICERS PASSING OUT PARADE *****

A PASSING OUT PARADE FOR PRISON RECRUIT OFFICERS WHO RECENTLY COMPLETED THEIR TRAINING WILL BE HELD AT 11 A.M. ON SATURDAY (APRIL 15) AT THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT TRAINING INSTITUTE AT STANELY.

JUDGE COLLIER WILL TAKE THE SALUTE.

A TOTAL OF 127 PRISON OFFICERS, INCLUDING SIX WOMEN OFFICERS, WILL TAKE PART IN THE PARADE.

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE EVENT.

A VAN WILL BE AVAILABLE TO TAKE MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES TO STANLEY AND BACK. IT WILL LEAVE THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS AT GUARDIAN HOUSE, 01 KWAN ROAD, HAPPY VALLEY AT 10 A.M. SHARP ON SATURDAY, MR. TANG CHUNG-YUEN WILL ON HAND TO ASSIST PRESS REPRESENTATIVES.

AS THERE WILL BE ONLY NINE SEATS AVAILABLE, MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES WISHING TO USE THIS FACILITY ARE REQUESTED TO CALL THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT P.R. SECTION ON 5-756521 EXT. 48 TO BOOK A SEAT AS-SOON AS POSSIBLE.

PARKING SPACES WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE TRAINING INSTITUTE FOR PRESS MEMBERS USING THEIR OWN TRANSPORT. THEY SHOULD CONTACT MR. LEUNG KWAI-HOI ON ARRIVAL.

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

/29

THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 1978

29 -

NOTE TO EDITORS:

CERTIFICATES FOR SWIMMING TEACHERS

*****

THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. KENNETH TOPLEY, WILL PRESENT TOMORROW (FRIDAY) EVENING CERTIFICATES OF ATTENDANCE TO 70 TEACHERS OF SWIMMING WHO RECENTLY ATTENDED A LIFE-SAVING REFRESHER COURSE.

THE CEREMONY WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE EAST AND WEST ROOM, 23RD FLOOR, MANDARIN HOTEL, AT 6 P.M.

MRS. TOPLEY AND MR. CHOW YAU, COUNCILLOR OF THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF THE ROYAL LIFE SAVING SOCIETY, WILL ALSO PRESENT CERTIFICATES.

THE COURSE WAS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF THE ROYAL LIFE SAVING SOCIETY AND THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT FOR TEACHERS OF SWIMMING TO PROMOTE WATER SAFETY AND TO ENCOURAGE SCHOOL TEACHERS WHO HAVE OBTAINED LIFE-SAVING AWARDS IN THE PAST YEARS, TO BRING THEIR LIFE-SAVING TECHNIQUES UP-TO-DATE.

YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE EVENT.

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

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS

*****

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT THE EXISTING PUBLIC LIGHT BUS RESTRICTED ZONE IN NGAU TAU KOK ROAD WILL BE EXTENDED TO A POINT ABOUT 110 FEET NORTH OF NGAU TAU KOK SECOND STREET FROM 10 A.M. ON SATURDAY (APRIL 15).

THE RESTRICTION WHICH APPLIES FROM 7 A.M. TO MIDNIGHT DAILY, IS INTENDED TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW ON NGAU TAU KOK ROAD.

THE DEPARTMENT ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT A SPEED LIMIT OF X M.P.H. WILL BE IMPOSED FROM SATURDAY AT 10 A.M. ON CASTLE PEAK ROAD BETWEEN LAMP POST U73 WHICH IS ABOUT 935 FEET WEST OF THE JUNCTION WITH MA MIU ROAD AND A POINT 787 FEET WEST OF THE JUNCTION WITH PING HA ROAD.

APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE SET UP IN BOTH PLACES TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.

- 0 - -

PRH 7

IgisI Imil

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 1978

CONTENTS PAGE nq.

TEMPORARY DRIVING LICENCES FOR PEOPLE TAKING UP RESIDENCE ...................................................... 1

SALARIES TAXPAYERS REMINDED OF SECOND INSTALMENT PAYMENT 1

CROWN LEASES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978 2

CALL FOR EARLY RETURN OF EMPLOYMENT SURVEY CARDS ........... 3

SPECIAL REVIEW ARTICLE IN MONTHLY DIGEST OF STATISTICS .. 4

PASSING-OUT PARADE OF FIREMEN AND AMBULANCEMEN 5

DOLLS FESTIVAL AT VICTORIA PARK ... ,

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

FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 1978

1

TEMPORARY DRIVING LICENCES FOR PEOPLE TAKING UP RESIDENCE IN HK * * * * *

NEW REGULATIONS WILL BE INTRODUCED SHORTLY TO ENABLE THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT TO ISSUE TEMPORARY DRIVING LICENCES TO PERSONS WHO TAKE UP RESIDENCE IN HONG KONG AND HOLD DRIVING LICENCES FROM OVERSEAS COUNTRIES NOT ON THE APPROVED LIST FOR DIRECT ISSUE OF A FULL HONG KONG DRIVING LICENCE.

THE AMENDING LEGISLATION, KNOWN AS THE ROAD TRAFFIC (DRIVING LICENCES) (AMENDMENT)(NO. 2) REGULATIONS 1978, IS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE PUBLIC.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SAID THAT AT PRESENT ANY PERSON ARRIVING IN HONG KONG TO TAKE UP RESIDENCE CANNOT OBTAIN A HONG KONG DRIVING LICENCE WITHOUT GOING THROUGH A TEST, UNLESS THAT PERSON ALREADY HOLDS A VALID DRIVING LICENCE-FROM A COUNTRY ON THE APPROVED LIST.

THE PRESENT WAITING TIME FOR A DRIVING TEST IS ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS, AND TO ENABLE THESE PEOPLE TO DRIVE WHILE THEY ARE WAITING FOR THEIR TESTS THE PROPOSED REGULATIONS WILL EMPOWER THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT TO ISSUE THEM WITH TEMPORARY DRIVING LICENCES VALID INITIALLY FOR TWELVE MONTHS.

HOWEVER, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, IF DURING THIS PERIOD THEY SIT AND FAIL THEIR DRIVING TEST, THEY WILL HAVE TO RETURN THE TEMPORARY DRIVING LICENCE TO THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT FOR CANCELLATION.

VISITORS WHO HAVE RESIDED IN HONG KONG FOR MORE THAN TWELVE MONTHS WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE ISSUE OF TEMPORARY DRIVING LICENCES.

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

SALARIES TAXPAYERS REMINDED OF SECOND INSTALMENT PAYMENT * * * *

THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT TODAY REMINDED SALARIES TAXPAYERS TO CHECK THE DUE DATE OF THEIR SECOND TAX INSTALMENT AND ENSURE THAT PAYMENT IS MADE BEFORE THAT DATE AS THESE PAYMENTS WILL BE DUE COMMENCING NEXT MONDAY (APRIL 17).

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT ALSO REMINDED TAXPAYERS THAT THEY CAN AVOID INCONVENIENCE BY PAYING THEIR TAX BY POST BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENT’S COLLECTION OFFICES, ESPECIALLY THOSE IN KOWLOON, WILL BE VERY CROWDED DURING THIS PERIOD.

HE POINTED OUT THAT OVER 40,000 TAXPAYERS PAID THEIR FIRST INSTALMENTS BY THIS METHOD THIS YEAR.

NO SURCHARGE WILL EE INCURRED WHERE THE ENVELOPE CONTAINING THE PAYMENT IS POSTMARKED NOT LATER THAN THE DUE DATE. RECEIPTS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PAYMENT -ILL EE RETURNED BY POST IN A FEW DAYS.

PAYMENT EY POST CAN EE MADE BY MAILING A CROSSED CHEQUE FOR THE AMOUNT DUE, PAYABLE TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, TOGETHER WITH THE DEMAND NOTE TO THE COMMISSIONER OF INLAND REVENUE, P.O. BOX 132, HONG KONG.

----0---.

/2... ......

FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 1978

2 -

CROWN LEASES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978 ' K * * *

A BILL, PUBLISHED IN TODAY’S GAZETTE AS THE CROWN LEASES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978, WILL SHORTLY BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO AMEND CERTAIN PROVISIONS IN THE CROWN LEASES ORDINANCE.

THE ORDINANCE, ENACTED IN 1973 TO DEFINE THE TERMS OF RENEWAL OF CERTAIN RENEWABLE CROWN LEASES, PROVIDES FOR AUTOMATIC RENEWAL OF SUCH LEASES AT AN ANNUAL CROWN RENT OF THREE PER CENT OF THE RATEABLE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY AT THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE RENEWAL.

THIS CROWN RENT WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED THROUGHOUT THE RENEWED TERM UNLESS THE PROPERTY IS ALTERED OR REDEVELOPED, IN WHICH CASE IT SHOULD INCREASE TO THREE PER CENT OF THE RATEABLE VALUE OF THE ALTERED OR REDEVELOPED PROPERTY.

COMMENTING ON THE AMENDING BILL„ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT SAID: +THE OBJECT IS TO CLARIFY THE EXISTING PROVISIONS.

+IT DOES NOT SEEK TO ALTER THE CROWN RENT DETERMINED UNDER THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE BUT INSTEAD EXPRESSLY ELIMINATES THE POSSIBILITY OF DOUBLE ACCOUNTING ON REDEVELOPMENT,* THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

HE SAID THAT THE OPPORTUNITY IS ALSO TAKEN TO AMEND THE EXISTING LAW TO PREVENT AN AGENT OR OCCUPIER, WHO IS REQUIRED TO PAY CROWN RENT IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, RECOVERING SUCH RENT FROM ANY PERSON OTHER THAN THE OWNER OF THE TENEMENT IN RESPECT CF WHICH THE MONEY WAS PAID.

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

Z5

FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 1978

3

CALL FOR EARLY RETURN OF EMPLOYMENT SURVEY CARDS

*****

MANArJMCMTEAeU!/^JIDoST«T,STICS APARTMENT TODAY URGED THE MANAGEMENT OF SOME 8,600 MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS WHICH HAVE NOT YET FURNISHED THEIR EMPLOYMENT RETURNS FOR THE FRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR, TO DO SO AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID REMINDERS HAVE BEEN SENT TO THESE ESTABLISHMENTS AND NOTED THAT PROMPT RETURN OF THE COMPLETED EMPLOYMENT ENQUIRY CARDS WOULD FACILITATE THE EARLY RELEASE OF SURVEY -------

RESULTS.

ENQUIRY CARDS WERE FIRST MAILED TO INDIVIDUAL MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS ON MARCH 23. MANAGEMENTS WERE REQUESTED TO COMPLETE THE CARDS WITH THE NUMBER OF PERSONS ENGAGED AND EXISTING VACANCIES AS AT MARCH 15, AND TO RETURN THEM TO THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT BY THE END OF MARCH.

THE FULL SCALE MANUFACTURING EMPLOYMENT SURVEY NOW IN PROGRESS COVERS SOME 14,000 MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS. INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM THE SURVEY WILL PROVIDE ESSENTIAL DATA FOR THE ANALYSIS OF EMPLOYMENT LEVELS AND TRENDS.

AT THE SAME TIME, ENQUIRIES ARE ALSO BE I NG MADE ABOUT EMPLOYMENT AND VACANCIES IN THE IMPORT/EXPORT, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADES, RESTAURANTS, HOTELS, BANKS, INSURANCE COMPANIES, AND OTHER SELECTED TRADES AND SERVICES.

THE COMMISSIONER FOR CENSUS AND STATISTICS APPEALED TO ALL SUCH ESTABLISHMENTS FOR CO-OPERATION IN THE EMPLOYMENT SURVEY.

HE STRESSED THAT INFORMATION FURNISHED BY INDIVIDUAL ESTABLISHMENTS WOULD BE TREATED IN STRICT CONFIDENCE AND WOULD BE USED SOLELY FOR COMPILING STATISTICAL TABLES.

FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 1978 n-t *■ X

SPECIAL REVIEW ARTICLE IN MONTHLY DIGEST OF STATISTICS ******

THE JANUARY 1978 ISSUE OF THE HONG KONG MONTHLY DIGEST OF STATISTICS ON'SALE TODAY CONTAINS A SPECIAL ARTICLE ENTITLED ’ESTABLISHMENTS AND EMPLOYMENT IN HONG KONG’S WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORT/EXPORT TRADES, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS’.

IT IS ONE IN A SERIES OF REVIEW ARTICLES ON SPECIAL TOPICS OF INTEREST TO THE PUBLIC PUBLISHED EVERY THREE MONTHS BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

THE ARTICLE DESCRIBES THE LEVELS, DISTRIBUTION AND TRENDS OF ESTABLISHMENTS AND EMPLOYMENT IN THE WHOLESALE, RETAIL AND IMPORT/EXPORT TRADES, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS- AND UP-DATES AN EARLIER ARTICLE ON THE SAME SUBJECT PUBLISHED IN THE JANUARY 1975 ISSUE OF THE MONTHLY DIGEST.

THE JANUARY 1978 ISSUE OF THE MONTHLY DIGEST IS OBTAINABLE AT $6 A COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE.

....0.---

FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 1978

- 5 -

PASSING-OUT PARADE OF FIREMEN AND AMBULANCEMEN

******

FIREMEN AND AMBULANCEMEN ARE REQUIRED TO BE PATIENT, FIRM, COMPASSIONATE AND SYMPATHETIC EVEN THOUGH ON OCCASIONS THEY MAY BE ABUSED, THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES, MR.. FRED WATSON SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE PASSING-OUT PARADE OF 99 FIREMEN AND 30 AMBULANCEMEN AT THE FIRE SERVICES TRAINING SCHOOL IN PAT HEUNG, THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. WATSON SAID THIS IS BECAUSE +OTHER PEOPLE’S MISFORTUNES ARE OUR BUSINESS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE SICK OR INJURED OR HAVE LOST THEIR HOME OR CHILD THROUGH FIRE OR OTHER CALAMITY ARE UNDER A GREAT STRAIN AND USUALLY EXCITED AND GRIEF STRICKEN.*

HE SAID: +YOU WILL ENTER PEOPLE’S HOMES OR WORK PLACES AS STRANGERS AND YOU MUST NEVER ABUSE, OR ALLOW OTHERS TO ABUSE, THAT PRIVILEGE.-*-

+OTHER PEOPLE’S PERSONAL BELONGINGS AND PROPERTY ARE SACRED AND IT IS YOUR DUTY TO DO ALL IN YOUR POWER TO PRESERVE THEM FOR THEIR OWNERS.*

MR. WATSON ALSO TOLD THE MEN ON PARADE THAT THEY ARE JOINING AN EMERGENCY SERVICE WHERE DISCIPLINE IS ESSENTIAL.

+BY YOUR DISCIPLINE, SKILL AND BEHAVIOUR YOU ARE JUDGED BY THE PUBLIC,* HE SAID.

+N0 MATTER WHAT THE PROVOCATION ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS AND UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES BRING THE SERVICE OR YOURSELVES INTO DISREPUTE,* HE ADDED.

THE PARADE WAS THE 28TH HELD AT THE FIRE SERVICES TRAINING SCHOOL.

ALSO TAKING PART IN THE PARADE WERE 22 ASSISTANT STATION OFFICERS, 60 FIREMEN AND 27 AMBULANCEMEN WHO ARE STILL UNDER TRAINING AT THE SCHOOL.

------o - - - -

/6.....

FRIDAY, APRIL 14, 1978

- 6 -

DOLLS FESTIVAL AT VICTORIA PARK •

******

ABOUT 1,000 DOLLS WILL EE DISPLAYED AT THE DOLLS FESTIVAL AT THE CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND IN VICTORIA PARK FROM 11 A.M. TO 4 P.M. ON SUNDAY (APRIL 16).

THE FESTIVAL IS ORGANISED BY RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG’S YOUTH CALL PROGRAMME AND SPONSORED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB AND CULTURAL CRAFTS CENTRE.

CHILDREN VISITING THE FESTIVAL WILL ALSO BE INVITED TO TAKE PART IN A NUMBER OF DOLL GAMES.

THE DOLLS ON DISPLAY ARE ALL ENTRIES FOR THE DOLLS COMPETITION HELD EARLIER IN CONNECTION WITH THE FESTIVAL. ALL TH? DOLLS IN THE COMPETITION ..ILL LATER BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE WELFARE AGENCIES BY C.Y.C. MEMBERS.

THE FESTIVAL WILL BE OFFICIALLY OPENED AT 11 A.M. ON SUNDAY BY THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EROADCASTING, MR. SIMON LUN-THE DEPUTY CHIEF INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS, MRS. LOUISE MOK= AND THE DEPUTY DISTRICT GOVERNOR, DISTRICT 303 LIONS INTERNATIONAL, MR. PETER HO. THE TWO CHILD STARS OF R.T.H.K.’S +WHEN WE ARE YOUNG+ PROGRAMME WILL ALSO TAKE PART IN THE CEREMONY.

AFTER THE OPENING THE ENTRIES WILL BE JUDGED BY THE INSPECTORS OF THE CULTURAL CRAFTS CENTRE, AND PRIZES WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE WINNERS.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE DOLLS FESTIVAL AT THE CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND IN VICTORIA PARK FROM 11 A.M. TO 4 P.M. THIS SUNDAY.

0

PRH 7

n-4-qram IgisI Iffiiil

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

I

SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 1978

contents page NO.

BRITISH ECONOMIC ADVISER TO VISIT HK ..... 1

I

51 BUILDING PLANS APPROVED IN FEBRUARY ... 2

MORE EVENING STUDY ROOMS ................. 3

FREE TUTORIAL SERVICE FOR STUDENTS IN SHEK 0 AND

STANLEY ................................ 4

PASSING-OUT PARADE OF PRISON OFFICERS .... 5

OPENING OF NURSERY IN CHA I WAN .......... 5

BUS RE-ROUTING ........................... 6

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT IN LAI CHI KOK ....... 6

FIRING PRACTICE .......................... 7

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

SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 1978

1

BRITISH ECONOMIC ADVISER TO VISIT HONG KONG * * * * *

MR. MICHAEL STEWART, SPECIAL ADVISER (ECONOMIC)' TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS, WILL ARRIVE ON MONDAY (APRIL 17) FOR A ONE-WEEK VISIT.

THIS WILL BE HIS FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT TO HONG KONG AND HE WILL BE BRIEFED BY SENIOR OFFICIALS ON HONG KONG’S ECONOMY.

HE WILL ALSO MEET UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS, PROMINENT BUSINESSMEN, ACADEMIC ECONOMISTS, AS WELL AS YOUNG MEMBERS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE AND INDUSTRY.

WHILE HERE, HE WILL ALSO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY OF SEEING SCME OF THE MASSIVE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS NOW UNDERWAY IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, AND VISIT THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC AND MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY SITES.

MR. STEWART HAS BEEN A READER IN POLITICAL ECONOMY AT UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON UNIVERSITY SINCE 1969 AND HAS PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS AN ECONOMIC ADVISER TO HER MAJESTY’S TREASURY, SENIOR ECONOMIC ADVISER TO THE KENYA TREASURY, ECONOMIC ADVISER TO THE MALTA LABOUR PARTY, AS WELL AS SPECIAL ADVISER TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRADE.

HE IS DUE TO LEAVE ON APRIL 23.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

MR. STEWART IS DUE TO ARRIVE ON MONDAY (APRIL 17) ON BA 003, ETA 1515 HOURS.

SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 1978

- 2 -

51 BUILDING PLANS APPROVED IN FEBRUARY ******

A TOTAL OF 51 NEW BUILDING PLANS WERE APPROVED BY THE P.W.D.’S BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE IN FEBRUARY, COMPARED WITH 54 FOR THE SAME MONTH LAST YEAR.

OF THE PLANS APPROVED, 14 WERE FOR BUILDINGS ON HONG KONG ISLAND, 10 FOR KOWLOON AND 27 FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES.

THEY INCLUDED PLANS FOR A COLD STORAGE EXTENSION AND AN ENGINEERING CENTRE AT KWUN TONG, A GREEN HOUSE AND AN ANIMAL HOUSE AT SHA TIN.

THE TOTAL DECLARED COST OF NEW BUILDINGS COMPLETED DURING THE MONTH WAS 5376.45 MILLION, COMPARED WITH $316.08 MILLION LAST YEAR.

THE TOTAL USABLE FLOOR AREA OF NEW BUILDINGS COMPLETED DURING FEBRUARY AMOUNTED TO 617,836.3 SQUARE METRES, COMPRISING 218,081.2 SQUARE METRES OF DOMESTIC FLOOR AREA AND 399,725.1 SQUARE METRES OF NCN-DOMESTIC FLOOR AREA.

DURING THE MONTH, THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE GAVE CONSENT FOR WORK TO START ON 47 NEW BUILDING PROJECTS, INCLUDING A PETROL SERVICE STATION AT CHAI WAN, A HOSPITAL EXTENSION AT SANDY BAY ROAD AND AN EXTENSION TO THE HEALTH CENTRE AT THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG.

A TOTAL OF 53 NEWLY COMPLETED BUILDINGS WERE CERTIFIED FOR OCCUPATION DURING THE MONTH, INCLUDING AN ELECTRIC SUBSTATION AT SAI KUNG, A PACKAGE FILLING SHED ON TSI NG Y1 ISLAND.

THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE ALSO ASSENTED TO THE DEMOLITION OF 24 BUILDINGS.

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

/3

SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 1978

- 3 -

MORE EVENING STUDY ROOMS

******

ANOTHER 16 MORE STUDY ROOMS WILL BE OPENED IN EIGHT PRIMARY SCHOOLS FROM NEXT MONDAY (APRIL 17) EVENING TO MEET INCREASING DEMAND FOR SUCH FACILITIES.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID THE ARRANGEMENT WAS MADE FOLLOWING REPORTS FROM SUPERVISORS OF EXISTING STUDY ROOMS REVEALED THAT THERE WAS DEMAND FOR MORE SUCH FACILITIES IN CERTAIN AREAS. . .

THE SCHOOLS WHERE THESE 16 ADDITIONAL STUDY ROOMS WILL BE AVAILABLE — TWO IN EACH ARE i - TANG SHIU KIN PRIMARY SCHOOL, HONG KONG- HONG KONG SZE YAP COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION SCHOOL, ST. JOHN BOSCO SCHOOL, LING TO PRIMARY SCHOOL AND MU KUANG PRIMARY SCHOOL IN KOWLOON- LAI CHACK TAM SHIU HONG MEMORIAL SCHOOL, CHUEN YUEN THIRD SCHOOL AND CHI YAN PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

WITH THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS, THE NUMBER OF STUDY ROOMS AVAILABLE IN THE EVENING WILL INCREASE FROM 86 TO 102 IN 18 GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND 25 AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT HONG KONG.

♦SEATS IN THESE STUDY ROOMS ARE ALLOCATED ON A FIRST-COME-FIRST-SERVED BASIS FROM 7 P.M. TO 9 P.M. MONDAY TO FRIDAY,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE POINTED OUT THAT IF THERE IS FURTHER DEMAND, MORE STUDY ROOMS IN SCHOOLS WILL BE OPENED AND THE SITUATION IS KEPT UNDER CONSTANT REVIEW.

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

/4

SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 1973

- 4 -

FREE TUTORIAL SERVICE FOR STUDENTS IN SHEK 0 AND STANLEY ******

STUDENTS IN SHEK 0 VILLAGE AND STANLEY ARE NOW ABLE TO ENJOY FREE TUTORIAL SERVICE IN STUDY ROOM IN THE EVENING - THANKS TO A COMMUNITY PROJECT JOINTLY ORGANISED BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS AND VOLUNTARY GROUPS.

UNDER THE PROJECT, MORE THAN 100 PRIMARY AND SECONDARY STUDENTS ARE USING THE CLASSROOM AT MAN SUN PRIMARY SCHOOL IN SHEK 0 AND SIMILAR FACILITIES IN STANLEY FOR PRIVATE STUDIES DURING WEEKDAY EVENINGS.

VOLUNTEERS FROM THE SHEK 0 YOUTH GROUP ARE ON HAND TO OFFER FREE TUTORIAL SERVICE TO STUDENTS IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE.

THE PROJECT AIMS AT PROVIDING SPACE AND TUTORIAL ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS WHO LIVE IN CROWDED CONDITIONS IN THE AREAS DURING THE MONTHS OF EXAMINATION UNTIL MID-JUNE.

THE PROJECT IS INITIATED BY THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT STUDENTS SERVICES COMMITTEE, WHICH COMPRISES REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, LOCAL KAIFONG ASSOCIATIONS AND VOLUNTARY GROUPS.

THE SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS IN THE TWO AREAS EVERY EVENING FROM MONDAY TO FRIDAY BETWEEN 7.30 P.M. AND 10 P.M.

NOTE TO EDITORS*

A CEREMONY WILL BE HELD AT 8 P.M. TONIGHT AT THE MAN SUN PRIMARY SCHOOL IN SHEK O-TO MARK THE OPENING OF THE TUTORIAL SERVICE FOR SHEK 0 STUDENTS. OFFICIATING AT THE CEREMONY WILL BE THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S COMMUNITY AND YOUTH OFFICER (SOUTHERN), MR. NORMAN Y.T. KAM, AND SOUTHERN DISTRICT KAIFONG LEADERS. YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO COVER THE CEREMONY.

- - 0 --------

/5

SATURDAY, APRIL 15,

1978

PASSING-OUT PARADE OF PRISON OFFICERS

******

JUDGE COLLIER TODAY TOCK THE SALUTE FROM 127 PRISON OFFICERS AT THEIR GRADUATION CEREMONY AND TOLD THEM THE SATISFACTION A PRISON OFFICER WILL GET FROM HIS WORK' IS +NEVER TO SEE ANY PRISONER BACK AGAIN*.

ADDRESSING THE GROUP AT THEIR PASSING-OUT PARADE AT THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT’S STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE AT STANLEY, JUDGE COLLIER SAID: +IF HE NEVER COMES BACK TO PRISON YOU WILL KNOW THAT YOU HAVE DONE YOUR JOB TO PERFECTION.+

HE SAID: +THE PROFESSION THAT YOU HAVE ENTERED IS ONE WHICH'WILL PROBABLY JBR I NO YOU JMQRE BR ICKBAT^giAN-J^RATSE.

+AS YOU KNOW, YOUR WORK IS CARRIED OUT BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AND BEHIND, MOSTLY, HIGH WALLS BEYOND WHICH THE PUBLIC NEVER SEES.*

JUDGE COLLIER ALSO TOLD THE OFFICERS THAT THEY HAVE BECOME MEMBERS OF WHAT IS, PROBABLY, THE BEST PRISON SERVICE IN THE WORLD AND IT IS UP TO THEM TO ENSURE THAT THE SERVICE MAINTAINS THAT STANDARD.

THE OFFICERS WHO TOOK PART AT TODAY’S PARADE COMPRISED 17 PRISON OFFICERS AND 110 ASSISTANT OFFICER IIS, INCLUDING SIX WOMEN OFFICERS, WHO HAVE COMPLETED SIX MONTHS OF BASIC TRAINING.

- - 0 - -

NOTE TO ED I TORS

OPENING OF NURSERY * * * *

THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE CARITAS DAY NURSERY IN CHAI WAN ON MONDAY (APRIL 17).

THE CEREMONY WILL BE HELD AT 10 A. M. AT YUE WAN COMMUNITY HALL, YUE WAN ESTATE. MR. LEE WILL TOUR THE NURSERY AFTER THE OPENING.

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND THE OPENING CEREMONY.

- 0 - -

SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 1973

- 6 -

BUS RE-ROUTING

*****

EASTBOUND JOURNEYS ON CMB ROUTE NO. 1 AND CROSS HARBOUR ROUTES 101, 111 AND 121 ON THEIR WAY TO KOWLOON WILL BE RE-ROUTED FOR ABOUT FOUR WEEKS FROM 10 A.M. ON MONDAY TO FACILITATE ROAD CONSTRUCTION AT THE JUNCTION OF WAN CHAI ROAD AND MORRISON HILL ROAD.

DURING THIS PERIOD BUSES OPERATING ON THESE ROUTES WILL BE RE-ROUTED FROM WAN CHAI ROAD TO HENNESSY ROAD BEFORE REJOINING TIN LOK LANE AND MORRISON HILL ROAD AND THE EXISTING BUS STOPS AT 133D THOMSON ROAD AND 176 WAN CHAI ROAD WILL BE TEMPORARILY REPLACED BY TOO NEW ONES AT 261 AND 327 HENNESSY ROAD.

A SPOKESMAN OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SAID THAT IN VIEW OF THE ANTICIPATED REDUCTION IN CARRIAGEWAY SPACE, MOTOR VEHICLES EXCEEDING TOO TONS IN UNLADEN WEIGHT SHOULD NOT TURN RIGHT FROM WAN CHAI ROAD INTO MORRISON HILL ROAD DURING THIS PERIOD.

THOSE WISHING TO GO ON TO HAPPY VALLEY MAY TRAVEL ALONG HENNESSY ROAD AND PERCIVAL STREET INSTEAD WHILE THOSE WISHING TO GO THROUGH THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL MAY PROCEED VIA LOCKHART ROAD TO CANAL ROAD WEST.

-----0-----

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT IN LAI CHI KOK

*****

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT THE EASTBOUND SLIP ROAD LEADING FROM KWAI CHUNG ROAD TO LAI CHI KOK BEACH ROAD AT MEI FOO SUN CHUEN WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL VEHICULAR TRAFFIC BETWEEN 1 A.M. AND 5.43 A.M. FROM MONDAY (APRIL 17) TC FRIDAY (APRIL 28).

THE ARRANGEMENT IS TO FACILITATE THE DIVERSION OF TELEPHONE CABLES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MTR STATION IN LAI WAN.

DURING THE CLOSURE PERIOD, EASTEOUND TRAFFIC ON KWAI CHUNG ROAD HEADING FOR LAI CHI KOK BEACH ROAD SHOULD USE LAI CHI KOK ROAD, CHEUNG LAI STREET, CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD TO REJOIN LAI CHI KOK BEACH ROAD VIA THE UNNAMED ROAD BETWEEN MEI FOG SUN CHUEN AND THE LAI CHI KOK (ERIDGE) BUS TERMINUS.

APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE SET UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.

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

/7

SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 1978

- 7 -

FIRING PRACTICE

******

FIRING PRACTICE WILL TAKE PLACE AT CASTLE PEAK RANGE ON THREE-DAYS NEXT WEEK.

THE PUBLIC ARE REMINDED THAT IT IS DANGEROUS TO ENTER THE AREA WHEN THE RED FLAGS ARE FLYING DURING THE TIME OF. FIRING PRACTICE.

THE PRACTICE TIMES ARE :

DATE HOURS

APRIL 17 (MONDAY) 8 A.M. - 5 P.M.

APRIL 18 (TUESDAY) 8 A.M. - 5 P.M.

APRIL 19 (WEDNESDAY) 8 A.M. - 5 P.M.

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

I

SUNDAY, APRIL 16, 1978

CONTENTS PAGE !i0*

YISSIONS TO ATTRACT INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT FROM OVERSEAS ...........................................

TRUNK SEWER FOR TUEN HUN NEW TOWN ...................... 4

P'JRLIC URGED TO REPORT CHANGE OF PARTICULARS IN

id’cards .............................................. J

PROMENADE IN CENTRAL WATERFRONT ....................

RE-OPENING OF SAI WAN HO STREET ....................

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

SUNDAY, APRIL 16, 1978

- 1

MISSIONS TO ATTRACT INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT FROM OVERSEAS ******

THE TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT IS ORGANISING AN INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT PROMOTION MISSION TO EUROPE IN APRIL AND WILL PARTICIPATE IN ANOTHER MISSION ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO THE UNITED STATES IN JUNE THIS YEAR TO ATTRACT MORE INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENTS TO HONG KONG.

THE MISSION TO EUROPE WILL BE HEADED BY MR. ROY PORTER, DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF INDUSTRY AND WILL VISIT BRITAIN, THE NETHERLANDS AND THE F.R. OF GERMANY FROM APRIL 19 TO MAY 23, 1978.

AS PART OF THE MISSION PROGRAMME, THE MISSION WILL HOLD THREE INVESTMENT SEMINARS, TWO IN BRITAIN AND ONE IN.THE NETHERLANDS. MR. CYRIL BERNARD, INDUSTRIAL PROMOTION PROJECT OFFICER, IS NOW IN EUROPE TO MAKE PREPARATORY ARRANGEMENTS.

THE MISSION TO THE UNITED STATES WILL BE HEADED BY MR. HERBERT MIN I CH, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN THE UNITED STATES. HE WILL BE ASSISTED BY MR. PAULUS CHAN, INDUSTRIAL PROMOTION PROJECT OFFICER OF THE TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT.

THE MISSION WILL VISIT THE NEW YORK AND PHILADELPHIA AREAS BETWEEN JUNE 5 AND EARLY JULY.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE INDUSTRIAL PROMOTION BRANCH OF THE TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT SAID, +THE MISSIONS HAVE BEEN TIMED TO COINCIDE WITH INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITIONS IN THESE COUNTRIES WHICH SHOULD PROVIDE MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO DISCUSS WITH TOP EXECUTIVES THE SPECIFIC ADVANTAGES WHICH WOULD ACCRUE TO THEIR COMPANIES FROM MANUFACTURING IN HONG KONG.

+THE PROMOTION WILL CONCENTRATE LARGELY ON COMPANIES IN THE LIGHT TO MEDIUM ENGINEERING FIELDS OR IN ELECTRONICS,* HE SAID.

THESE WILL BE THE DEPARTMENT’S SEVENTH MISSION TO EUROPE AND THE FIFTH IN A SERIES OF MISSIONS TO THE UNITED STATES WHICH HAVE EITHER BEEN CONDUCTED BY THE DEPARTMENT ON ITS OWN OR IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE GENERAL CHAMBER.

THE DEPARTMENT ALSO HOPES TO SEND MISSIONS TO JAPAN AND AUSTRALIA LATER THIS YEAR.

LAST YEAR, THE INDUSTRIAL PROMOTION BRANCH PROVIDED INFORMATION TO 355 COMPANIES SHOWING AN INTEREST IN INVESTING IN HONG KONG. OF THESE, 17 COMPANIES, WITH A TOTAL CAPITAL INVESTMENT OF ABOUT HK$57 MILLION, HAVE SINCE SET UP OPERATIONS IN HONG KONG OR ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING SO.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT SOME COMPANIES PREFER TO SUBCONTRACT THE MANUFACTURE OF COMPONENTS OR PRODUCT LINES IN HONG KONG. _______________________________________________

/♦THIS TYPE OF ....

SUNDAY, APRIL 16, 1978

- 2 -

+THIS TYPE OF ACTIVITY IS JUST AS WELCOME AS DIRECT INVESTMEN' IN SOME RESPECTS BECAUSE IT BRINGS NOT ONLY NEW BUSINESS TO HONG KONG BUT IT ALSO FREQUENTLY INVOLVES THE TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY-WHICH IS ALSO ONE OF THE OBJECTIVES OF INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT PROMOTION+.

AS WELL AS PROVIDING ASSISTANCE TO OVERSEAS COMPANIES, THE INDUSTRIAL PROMOTION BRANCH ALSO PROVIDES A SERVICE TO LOCAL COMPANIES INTERESTED IN JOINT VENTURES AND ENTERING INTO LICENSING ARRANGEMENT WITH OVERSEAS FIRMS.

AT THE END OF 1977, THERE WERE AT LEAST 339 FACTORIES IN HONG KONG EITHER FULLY OR PARTLY OWNED BY OVERSEAS INTERESTS, AN INCREASE OF 17 PER CENT WHEN COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS YEAR. THE TOTAL DIRECT INVESTMENT INVOLVED CLIMBED TO ALMOST $2,000 MILLION FROM $1,800 MILLION IN 1976.

THESE FACTORIES EMPLOYED ABOUT 75,000 WORKERS OR 9.8 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL WORKFORCE IN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY.

THE UNITED STATES IS THE LARGEST SINGLE INVESTOR IN HONG KONG WITH HK&920.4 MILLION WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR 46.5 PER CENT OF TOTAL OVERSEAS INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT. IT IS FOLLOWED BY JAPAN, BRITAIN AND AUSTRALIA.

ACCORDING TO THE SPOKESMAN, THE PRINCIPAL INDUSTRIES INVOLVED ARE ELECTRONICS AND TEXTILES. ______________________________________

______ 0 - - - -

TRUNK SEWER FOR TUEN MUN NEW TOWN ******

THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WILL SHORTLY LAY A TRUNK SEWER IN THE RECLAIMED AREA OF CASTLE PEAK BAY TO SERVE THE SOUTHEASTERN PART OF TUEN MUN NEW TOWN.

MR. K.K. TANG, ACTING CHE IF ENGINEER OF THE TUEN MUN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, SAID TODAY THAT THE TRUNK SEWER WAS DESIGNED TO CARRY THE SEWAGE PRODUCED BY THREE PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN SAM SHING HUI AND ON THE RECLAIMED LAND AT CASTLE PEAK BAY.

IT WOULD ALSO CARRY SEWAGE FROM INDUSTRIAL AND PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT AREAS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN PART OF TUEN MUN NEW TOWN.

WORK WOULD BEGIN SOME TIME IN JUNE AND WOULD TAKE ABOUT 12 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.

MR. TANG SAID THAT THE TOTAL LENGTH OF THE SEWER, WHICH FORMS THE MAJOR PART OF THE SEWERAGE NETWORK SERVING A POPULATION OF 140,000, WOULD BE ABOUT 1,500 METRES.

IT WOULD RUN FROM SAM SHING HUI ALONG THE TUEN MUN ROAD EXTENSION TO JOIN A TRUNK SEWER NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION ON THE WEST SIDE OF TUEN MUN.

/THE WOBK

SUNDAY, APRIL 16, 1978

3

W0RK F0RMS PART 0F THE OVERALL TUEN MUN NEW TOWN WHICH ls BEING HANDLED BY THE TUEN MUN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

W0RK ,S PROGRESSING SMOOTHLY ON THE COMPREHENSIVE SEWERAGE SYSTEM IN TUEN MUN NEW TOWN.

_ PROJECT, COSTING $16 MILLION, INVOLVES THE CONSTRUCTION OF ABOUT 6,000 METRES OF SEWERAGE PIP&S WITHIN THE NEW TOWN.

REPORT CHANGE OF PARTICULARS IN ID CARDS K * K « K X

THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF REGISTRATION, MR. KUO KET-CHEN TODAY REMINDED THE PUBLIC TO REPORT ANY CHANGE OF PARTICULARS WHICH THEY HAVE PROVIDED IN REGISTERING FOR THEIR IDENTITY CARDS TO THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS OFFICE.

MR. KUO SAID THAT IT IS BECOMING MORE DIFFICULT TO RETURN FOUND IDENTITY CARDS TO THEIR OWNERS BECAUSE THE HOLDERS FAIL TO REPORT CHANGES IN THEIR RESIDENTIAL OR OCCUPATIONAL ADDRESSES TO THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS OFFICE.

UPON RECEIPT OF THE FOUND STAFF OF THE OFFICE WOULD SEND LATEST KNOWN ADDRESSES SO THAT

IDENTITY CARDS, MR. KUO SAID, THE LETTERS TO THEIR HOLDERS AT THEIR THEY CAN COLLECT THEIR CARDS.

BUT VERY OFTEN THESE CARDS CANNOT BE RETURNED BECAUSE THE ADDRESSES ARE NOT UP-TO-DATE.

MR. KUO SAID: +1 WOULD LIKE TO DRAW THE ATTENTION OF THE PUBLIC TO THE FACT THAT THE EXISTING REGISTRATION OF PERSONS ORDINANCE REQUIRES THEM TO REPORT THESE CHANGES TO US AS SOON AS THEY OCCUR.+

SUCH CHANGES, INCLUDING THOSE OF MARITAL STATUS AND OTHER REGISTERED PARTICULARS, CAN BE REPORTED EITHER IN LETTER OR BY COMPLETING FORM ROP 18.

IF A HONG KONG RESIDENT IS GOING TO TAKE UP PERMANENT RESIDENCE ELSEWHERE, THEY TOO ARE OBLIGED TO INFORM THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS OFFICE BY COMPLETING FORM ROP 19 IN ORDER TO KEEP THEIR IDENTITY CARD RECORDS UP-TO-DATE.

FORMS ROP 18 AND 19 ARE OBTAINABLE FROM ALL CITY DISTRICT OFFICES, DISTRICT OFFICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, POST OFFICES AND THE HEADQUARTERS AND BRANCHES OF IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT AND REGISTRATION OF PERSONS OFFICE.

_ - 0 - -


1

SUNDAY, APRIL 16, 1978

_ 4 -

PROMENADE IN CENTRAL WATERFRONT

*****

OFFICE WORKERS IN CENTRAL DISTRICT WILL HAVE MORE OPEN SPACE TO STROLL, SIT AND RELAX DURING LUNCH HOURS WHEN THE CENTRAL PROMENADE COMPLETES TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR.

WORK ON THE $2.8 MILLION PROMENADE. SITUATED AT THE WATERFRONT BETWEEN BLAKE PIER AND VEHICULAR FERRY PIER, IS NOW UNDERWAY.

MR. K.M. TSENG, CHIEF ARCHITECT OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, SAID TODAY SITTING SPACE, COVERED WALKWAYS AND PAVILIONS WOULD BE PROVIDED IN THE PROMENADE.

IN ADDITION THERE WOULD BE FOUNTAINS, ELEVATED FLOWER BEDS, PAVED AREAS AND A FAST-FOOD KIOSK.

MR. TSENG SAID: +THE PROJECT AIMS TO CREATE A PLEASANT ENVIRONMENT ON THE CENTRAL RECLAMATION SIMILAR TO STATUE SQUARE, TO FIT IN WITH THE OVERALL SCHEME FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF OPEN SPACES IN CENTRAL DISTRICT.

RE-OPENING OF SAI WAN HO STREET *****

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THE SECTION OF SAI WAN HO STREET IN SHAU KEI WAN BETWEEN HOI NING STREET AND SHING ON STREET WILL BE RE-OPENED TO TRAFFIC IN A ONE-WAY WESTBOUND EM RECT I ON FROM 10 A.M. ON TUESDAY (APRIL 18) FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF CABLE LAYING WORKS THERE.

AT THE SAME TIME, ONE-WAY TRAFFIC WILL BE RESTORED IN THE SECTION OF HOLY CROSS PATH BETWEEN SAI WAN HO STREET AND SHAU KEI WAN ROAD.

APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE SET UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.

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

PRH 7

iGISl Iwl

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

MONDAY, APRIL 17, 1972

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

T.VO TORE AREAS IN SHA TIN TO 3E DEVELOPED .......• 1

CROWN LAND FOR SALE .................................. 2

INCREASED SUBVENTION FOR CHILD CARE SERVICE .......

SENIOR MARINE OFFICER LEAVING GOVERNMENT ............. 4

HOLIDAY POSTAL ARRANGEMENTS .......................

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

MONDAY, APRIL 17, 1978

1

TWO MORE AREAS IM SHA TIN TO EE DEVELOPED ******

THE GOVERNMENT WILL SOON DEVELOP TWO LARGE AREAS IN SHA TIN TO PROVIDE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HOUSING, MARKET FACILITIES, DISTRICT OPEN SPACE AND SITES FOR LIGHT INDUSTRY.

THE TWO DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS INCLUDE THE BUILDING OF SAN TIN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE - THE THIRD IN THE NEW TOWN -WHICH WILL ACCOMMODATE 29,000 PEOPLE.

WORK ON SITE FORMATION, ROADS AND DRAINAGE SYSTEMS FOR THE FIRST PROJECT IN AN AREA AROUND SAN TIN WAI AND TAI WAI IS SCHEDULED TO COMMENCE IN OCTOBER THIS YEAR. WORK FOR THE SECOND PROJECT AT THE MOUTH OF SHING MUN RIVER OPPOSITE THE NEW RACE COURSE IS SCHEDULED TO START II; JULY. THE PROJECTS ..ILL BE CARRIED OUT BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

THE SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR. GERRY HIGGINSON, TODAY (MONDAY) DESCRIBED THE PROJECTS AS +YET ANOTHER BIG STEP FORWARD IN THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT OF SHA TIN INTO A BALANCED. SELF-CONTAINED COMMUNITY OF HALF A MILLION PEOPLE BY MID 1980‘S.+

TO FACILITATE THE WORKS ON THE SAN TIN WAI PROJECT, MR. HIGGINSON SAID, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD RESUME 251,932 SQUARE METRES OF AGRICULTURAL LAND AND 242 SQUARE METRES OF BUILDING LAND.

THE LAND RESUMPTION ..ILL INVOLVE THE CLEARANCE CF 288 TEMPORARY DOMESTIC STRUCTURES. OF THESE 99 ARE ON CROWN LAND AND 189 ON PRIVATE LAND.

ABOUT 270 FAMILIES COMPRISING MORE THAN 1,303 PEOPLE OCCUPYING THESE DOMESTIC STRUCTURES ..ILL EE OFFERED PUBLIC HOUSING IN WO CHE ESTATE IN SHA TIN, IF THEY ARE ELIGIBLE. FAMILIES NOT ELIGIBLE WILL BE OFFERED TEMPORARY HOUSING IN SHA TIN.

IN ADD I TICK, A TOTAL OF 777 OTHER TEMPORARY STRUCTURES, INCLUDING SHOPS, WORKSHOPS AND PIGSTIES, WILL HAVE TO BE CLEARED. KUNG MIU VILLAGE WITH 11 VILLAGE HOUSES WILL EE RESITED IN THE DISTRICT UNDER THE VILLAGE REMOVAL SCHEME.

AS FOR THE SECOND PROJECT, HR. HIGGINSON SAID, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD RESUME 88,604 SQUARE METRES OF AGRICULTURAL LAND AND 145 SQUARE METRES CF BUILDING LAND NEAR THE VILLAGES OF SIU LEK YUEN, NGAU PEI SHA AND AH KUNG KOK.

THE LAND RESUMPTION WILL INVOLVE THE CLEARANCE OF 35 TEMPORARY DOMESTIC STRUCTURES OF .HICH, 16 APE ON CROWN LAND AND 19 ON PRIVATE LAND.

/TJENTY-SIX .....

MONDAY, APRIL 17, 1978

2

TWENTY-SIX FAMILIES OCCUPYING THESE TEMPORARY DOMESTIC STRUCTURES WILL BE OFFERED PUBLIC HOUSING IN SHA TIN, IF THEY ARE ELIGIBLE. FAMILIES NOT ELIGIBLE '..ILL BE OFFERED TEMPORARY HOUSING IN SHA TIN.

IN ADDITION, A TOTAL OF 123 OTHER TEMPORARY STRUCTURES, INCLUDING SHOPS, WORKSHOPS AND PIGSTIES, WILL HAVE TO BE CLEARED.

A FOUR-CLASSROOM SCHOOL AT SIU LEK YUEN WILL ALSO HAVE TO BE RESITED.

MR. HIGGINSON SAID A SCREENING SURVEY FOR THE SECOND PROJECT WAS CONDUCTED IN JANUARY THIS YEAR AND OCCUPIERS OF THE LAND HAD HAD FIVE MONTHS’ FORMAL NOTICE OF CLEARANCE.

THREE MONTHS’ NOTICE OF THE LAND RESUMPTION FOR BOTH PROJECTS WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EARLIER THIS MONTH.

AS THE LAND TO BE RESUMED LIES WITHIN THE NEW TOWN BOUNDARIES, OWNERS OF AGRICULTURAL AND BUILDING LAND WILL BE OFFERED THE ALTERNATIVE OF LAND EXCHANGE ENTITLEMENTS OR CASH COMPENSATION.

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

CROWN LAND FOR SALE H * *

THREE LOTS OF CROWN LAND WILL BE OFFERED FOR SALE BY THE P.W.D.’S CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE IN THE CITY HALL THEATRE ON MAY 26 AT 2.30 P.M.

THE FIRST LOT, MEASURING 4,403 SQUARE METRES, IS SITUATED AT TIN HAU TEMPLE ROAD, HONG KONG. IT IS FOR PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES.

ANOTHER SITE, INTENDED FOR RESIDENTIAL AND NON-1NDUSTRI AL PURPOSES, IS LOCATED AT PAK TIN, KOWLOON. IT MEASURES 530 SQUARE METRES.

THE LAST LOT, LOCATED AT 135 TEMPLE STREET, KOWLOON, WILL BE USED FOR NON-1NDUSTRI AL PURPOSES. IT HAS AN AREA OF 63.4 SQUARE METRES.

FULL PARTICULARS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE MAY EE OBTAINED FROM AND SALE PLANS INSPECTED AT THE PUBLIC ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES (WEST WING), GROUND FLOOR, HONG KONG AND AT THE CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE, KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 435 NATHAN ROAD, 13TH FLOOR.

--------0 -

/3

MONDAY, APRIL 17, 1970

INCREASED SUBVENTION FOR CHILD CARE SERVICE

*****

THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHILD CARE SERVICE IN HONG KONG IS TAKING ANOTHER STRIDE FORWARD THIS YEAR WITH A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE OF $7.7 MILLION IN GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION.

THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, DISCLOSED THIS TODAY AND SAID SUBVENTION PROVISION FOR CHILD CARE SERVICE THIS YEAR HAD GONE UP TO $24.7 MILLION FROM LAST YEAR’S $17 MILLION.

SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE CARITAS DAY NURSERY IN CHAI WAN, MR. LEE SAID THIS REPRESENTED THE GOVERNMENT’S CONTINUED SUPPORT TO VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IN MAINTAINING AND EXPANDING CHILD CARE SERVICE.

HE SAID THE INCREASED PROVISION, APART FROM FINANCING THE ADDITIONAL 1,000 SUBVENTED CHILD CARE PLACES TO BE MADE AVAILABLE THIS YEAR IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EXISTING POLICY, WOULD ALSO COVER THE COST FOR IMPROVING SERVICE QUALITY.

+0N TOP OF THAT, NOH-RECURRENT EXPENDITURE SUCH AS CAPITAL OUTLAY FOR THE SETTING UP OF NEW CENTRES, REPROVISIONING OF EXISTING ONES AND THE PURCHASE OF ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT, WILL BE PAID FOR BY THE LOTTERIES FUND,+ HE SAID.

MR. LEE RECALLED THAT IT HAD BEEN STRESSED TIME AND AGAIN THAT THE PROVISION OF COMPREHENSIVE .. ELF ARE SERVICES COULD ONLY BE ACHIEVED WITH CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR.

+WITH EXAMPLE-SETTING ORGANISATIONS SUCH AS THE CARITAS TAKING THE LEAD, ONE SHOULD EE CONFIDENT OF THE PROGRESS MADE BY THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IN THIS SPECIFIC FIELD,+ HE SAID.

MR. LEE PRAISED THE CARITAS FOR ITS OUTSTANDING SOCIAL SERVICE ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE LAST 25 YEARS, PARTICULARLY IN THE FIELD OF CHILD CARE SERVICE WITH 10 DAY NURSERIES ALREADY SET UP ALL OVER HONG KONG.

APART FROM THE EXPANSION IN CAPACITY TOTALLING 1,340 PLACES AT PRESENT, HE SAID IT WAS GRATIFYING TO LEARN THAT CARITAS WORKERS WERE CONSTANTLY AWARE OF THE NEED FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF SERVICE QUALITY.

THEIR IDEAL OF FOSTERING THE PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, INTELLECTUAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHILDREN PLACED UNDER CARE COINCIDED IN FULL WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF THE CHILD CARE CENTRES ORDINANCE ENFORCED LAST YEAR, HE SAID.

+WITH CONCERTED EFFORTS FROM ALL SECTORS, I AM SURE THAT THE COMING YEAR, WHICH ALSO HERALDS THE ADVENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S YEAR, WILL WITNESS CONSIDERABLE ADVANCEMENT IN THE CHILD CARE FIELD II. HONG KONG.+

MONDAY, APRIL 17, 1978

- 4 -

SENIOR MARINE OFFICER LEAVING GOVERNMENT

******

NOTE TO EDITORS:

THE SENIOR MARINE OFFICER OF THE MARINE DEPARTMENT, MR. D.A. SANDISON, WILL SOON LEAVE THE CIVIL SERVICE AFTER SERVING MORE THAN 12 YEARS IN THE DEPARTMENT.

TO MARK HIS DEPARTURE, THE ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MARINE, MR. W.D. LEIGHTON, WILL PRESENT FAREWELL GIFTS ON BEHALF OF HIS COLLEAGUES TO MR. SANDISON AT A CEREMONY IN ROOM 134 OF THE MARINE DEPARTMENT’S HEADQUARTERS, 132 CONNAUGHT ROAD, CENTRAL, AT 4 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY (APRIL 19).

MR. SANDISON FIRST JOINED THE MARINE DEPARTMENT AS A MARINE OFFICER IN 1966 AND WAS PROMOTED TO THE PRESENT POSITION IN 1972.

HE WILL LEAVE HONG KONG ON APRIL 30 ON LEAVE PRIOR TO COMPLETION OF SERVICES AGREEMENT.

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND YOUR REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY ON WEDNESDAY.

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

HOLIDAY POSTAL ARRANGEMENTS *****

THE POST OFFICE ANNOUNCED TODAY DELIVERY ON FRIDAY (APRIL 21) WHICH

THAT THERE WILL BE NO MA IS A GENERAL HOLIDAY.

IL

IN ADDITION, ALL POST OFFICES ..ILL BE CLOSED ON THAT DAY.

- - 0 - -

PRH 7

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 1978

CONTENTS

PAGE NO.

WATER RESTRICTIONS LIFTED .................................... 1

ABOLITION OF LIQUOR LICENCES FOR RESTAURANTS PLANNED ......... 2

GOVERNMENT MAINTENANCE GRANTS TO NEEDY STUDENTS .............. 3

TRANSPORT WHITE PAPER TO BE ISSUED LATER THIS YEAR ........... 4

NEW MARKET FOR TSUEN WAN ...................................   5

REGISTRATION TEAM TO OPERATE AT WAH FU ESTATE ................ 5

TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF LEE GARDEN ROAD ......................... 6

TUESDAY, APRIL IS, 1975

- 1 -

WATER RESTRICTIONS LIFTED WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT * * * * *

WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT ALL ..ATER RESTRICTIONS WILL BE LIFTED THROUGHOUT HONG KONG AND NORMAL SUPPLY RESUMED.

ANNOUNCING THIS DECISION TODAY THE DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, MR. W.D.A. TUCKER, SAID THAT TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE SATISFACTORY STORAGE SITUATION AT THE OUTSET OF THE WET SEASON THE PROSPECT OF AVERAGE RAINFALL FOR THE SUMMER MONTHS AND THE CONTINUED WATER SUPPLY FROM CHINA, THE GOVERNMENT FELT A REVERSION TO NORMAL SUPPLY WAS JUSTIFIED.

MR. TUCKER SAID: +WHEN THE WATER IS TURNED ON AT 4 P.M. IT WILL STAY ON.+

MR. TUCKER SAID THAT THE SITUATION WOULD EE KEPT UNDER REVIEW, BUT ADDED THAT UNLESS THERE WAS AN UNEXPECTED CHANGE IN FORECASTS A FULL WATER SUPPLY WOULD EE MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.

IN THE MEANTIME, OPERATION OF THE DESALTING PLANT AT LOK ON PAI WOULD CONTINUE.

MR. TUCKER ALSO STRESSED THAT ALTHOUGH THE RESTRICTIONS ..ERE BEING LIFTED THE NEED TO CONSERVE WATER SENSIBLY WAS STILL IMPORTANT.

....0....

/2

TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 1978

- 2 -

ABOLITION OF LIQUOR LICENCES FOR RESTAURANTS PLANNED * * * *

THE GOVERNMENT IS PLANNING TO ABOLISH LIQUOR LICENCES FOR RESTAURANTS, FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS TO THIS EFFECT BY A WORKING GROUP SET UP IN 1975.

THE MOVE IS PART OF GOVERNMENT’S POLICY OF ELIMINATING LICENCES WHICH SERVE NO PRACTICAL PURPOSE AND ARE A POTENTIAL SOURCE OF CORRUPTION.

ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (TUESDAY) A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT RESTAURANTS WOULD NO LONGER NEED LICENCES TO SELL LIQUOR WHICH IS TO EE CONSUMED ON THE PREMISES.

HE SAID THE RESTAURANT LICENSING PROCEDURE IS ADEQUATE TO ENSURE THAT STANDARDS OF HYGIENE AND STRUCTURAL AND FIRE SAFETY ARE MAINTAINED.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID CLUBS SELLING LIQUOR FOR CONSUMPTION ON THE PREMISES WOULD STILL HAVE TO HAVE A LIQUOR LICENCE. HE SAID THIS WAS BECAUSE CLUBS DID NOT NEED TO EE REGISTERED AS RESTAURANTS AND, IF THE LIQUOR LICENCE REQUIREMENTS WERE ABOLISHED THEY WOULD NOT EE SUBJECT TO ANY FORM OF CONTROL. +THIS WOULD OPEN THE WAY TO ALL SORTS OF PREMISES OPENING AS CLUBS TO SELL LIQUOR,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

+NEVERTHELESS,+ HE SAID, +ALTHOUGH THERE IS A CONTINUED NEED TO LICENSE CLUBS SELLING LIQUOR FOR CONSUMPTION ON THE PREMISES, THE EXISTING LICENSING SYSTEM IS BOTH SOCIALLY AND ADMINISTRATIVELY REDUNDANT. THE CONTROL OF HYGIENE, STRUCTURAL SAFETY AND SUCH LIKE FOR SOCIAL PURPOSE IS ALREADY LARGELY COVERED BY OTHER ORDINANCES.+

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE ABOLITION OF LIQUOR LICENSING WOULD NOT LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN DRUNKENNESS, WHICH IS RARE IN HONG KONG.

THE SPOKESMAN ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE ABOLITION OF LIQUOR LICENSING FOR RESTAURANTS WOULD NOT PERMIT WHOLESALE AND RETAIL SHOPS TO SELL LIQUOR FOR CONSUMPTION ON THE PREMISES. +THESE SHOPS ARE LICENSED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS AND WILL STILL BE FORBIDDEN TO DO THIS,+ HE SAID.

NO DECISION HAS YET BEEN TAKEN AS TO THE DATE ON WHICH ABOLITION SHOULD BECOME EFFECTIVE, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED. THIS DEPENDS ON WHEN THE NECESSARY LEGISLATION IS READY FOR PRESENTATION TO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THE WORKING GROUP WAS CHAIRED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS AND INCLUDED REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE URBAN COUNCIL, THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION AND THE POLICE. ITS REPORT WAS PREPARED IN CONSULTATION WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

0 ------

/>

TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 1978

GOVERNMENT MAINTENANCE GRANTS TO NEEDY STUDENTS K * K * H

NEEDY STUDENTS WHO OBTAIN GOOD RESULTS IN THIS YEAR’S HONG KONG CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION CAN APPLY FOR GOVERNMENT MAINTENANCE GRANTS TO ENABLE THEM TO TAKE MATRICULATION COURSES.

THE AMOUNT OF GRANT WILL BE GRANT COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY THE

DETERMINED BY A MAINTENANCE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION.

IN RECENT YEARS THE AMOUNT OF EACH GRANT AWARDED HAS BEEN ABOUT $50. A MONTH. THESE GRANTS ARE TENABLE FOR ONE YEAR AT ANY SCHOOL APPROVED BY THE DIRECTOR.

+A GRANT SHALL BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME IF IN THE OPINION OF THE DIRECTOR THE RECIPIENT FAILS TO MERIT THE AWARD BY REASON OF LACK OF PROGRESS OR UNSATISFACTORY CONDUCT,+ AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.

APPLICATION FORMS WILL BE OBTAINABLE FROM JUNE 1 AT THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT BRANCH OFFICE, 77 LEIGHTON ROAD, ROOM 1522, LEIGHTON CENTRE, CAUSEWAY BAY.

COMPLETED FORMS MUST BE RETURNED, 'THROUGH HEADS OF SCHOOLS, TO THE SECRETARY, MAINTENANCE GRANTS COMMITTEE, AT THE SAME ADDRESS NOT LATER THAN TEN DAYS AFTER THE PUBLICATION OF THE RESULTS OF THE CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION.

FOR STUDENTS TO ENTER UPPER 6 CLASSES (ENGLISH), IN THE ACADEMIC YEAR OF 1978-79 THE COMPLETED FORMS MUST REACH THE SECRETARY NOT LATER THAN JULY 29, 1978.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID: +HEADS OF SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN ASKED TO INFORM PUPILS IN UPPER FORMS AND MIDDLE 5 CLASSES ABOUT TWO EDUCATION DEPARTMENT CIRCULARS WHICH GIVE DETAILS ON HOW TO APPLY FOR THE GRANTS.+

DURING THE 1977-78 ACADEMIC YEAR, 139 STUDENTS IN CHINESE MIDDLE SCHOOLS APPLIED FOR MAINTENANCE GRANTS. OF THESE, 99 ..ERE AWARDED GRANTS AMOUNTING TO 35,730 A MONTH - AN AVERAGE OF 357.88 TO EACH STUDENT A MONTH.

IN THE SAME PERIOD, THERE WERE 688 APPLICATIONS FROM STUDENTS IN UPPER FORMS IN ANGLO-CHINESE SECONDARY SCHOOLS. GRANTS AMOUNTING TO 334,610 A MONTH WERE AWARDED TO 602 PUPILS (AN AVERAGE OF 357.49 PER STUDENT).

IN LOWER 6 FORMS, 938 APPLIED FOR GRANTS AND 661 RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 337,110 PER MONTH, (AN AVERAGE OF 356.14 PER STUDENT).

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

/4

TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 1978

TRANSPORT WHITE PAPER WILL BE ISSUED LATER THIS YEAR * * *

THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, MR. PETER LEEDS, SAID TODAY A ..'HITE PAPER OK TRANSPORT POLICY WILL BE PUBLISHED LATER THIS YEAR AND IT IS EXPECTED THE POLICY ON THE' ISSUE OF TAXI LICENCES WILL BE REVIEWED ABOUT THE SAME TIME.

SPEAKING AT THE MEETING OF THE WORKING PARTY FOR TAXI OPERATIONS HELD AT THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS, HE SAID THE LAST APPLICATION FOR A TAXI FARE INCREASE WAS CONSIDERED BY THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE LAST DECEMBER AND JANUARY ALONG WI TH A REPORT PREPARED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT.

HE SA IDs +ON THE INFORMATION PRESENT TO THEM,' THE COMMITTEE WAS UNABLE TO RECOMMEND A FARE INCREASE.*

MR. LEEDS SAID THAT THERE WERE TWO PARTICULAR ASPECTS WHICH THE COMMITTEE WAS WORRIED ABOUT.

+ONE WAS THE FACT THAT THE PREMIA OFFERED FOR TAXI LICENCES IN 1977 WAS EXTREMELY HIGH AND, IF PRESS REPORTS ARE CORRECT, THE VALUE OF TAXI LICENCE ON TRANSFER WAS ALSO VERY HIGH. THIS APPEARS TO MEAN THAT THE PROFITABILITY OF TAXIS WAS SOMEWHAT HIGHER THAN THE RESULTS OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT’S STUDY SUGGESTED.*

HE SAID THAT COMMITTEE MEMBERS WERE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONTINUING COMPLAINTS ABOUT TAXI DRIVERS REFUSING TO TAKE PASSENGERS TO THEIR DESTINATION AND COMPLAINTS OF OVERCHARGING.

SINCE THEN, HE ADDED, DISCUSSIONS HAD BEEN HELD BETWEEN THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT AND THE SOLICITORS REPRESENTING THE TAXI ASSOCIATIONS AND IT WAS EXPECTED THAT A FURTHER REPORT WOULD BE MADE TO THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE NEXT MONTH.

MR. LEEDS POINTED OUT THAT THE TOTAL TAXI FLEET WOULD EE 6,669 TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE PRESENT TENDERS FOR 300 TAXIS AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC CAR LICENCES WHICH HAVE BEEN EXCHANGED FOR TAXI LICENCES.

ON THE SUBJECT OF HIRE CAR PERMITS, THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER STRESSED THAT THE NEED FOR CAREFUL CONTROL IN ORDER TO PREVENT THESE VEHICLES COMPETING WITH TAXIS BY TOUTING ON THE STREETS WAS FULLY APPRECIATED AND THAT DISCUSSIONS WERE BEING CARRIED -OUT WITH THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE TO ENSURE THAT THESE MEASURES WERE EFFECTIVE.

HE SAID; +IF THERE IS ANY INDICATION THAT THE ENFORCEMENT MEASURES ARE LACKING IN EFFECTIVENESS THEN GOVERNMENT WILL REVIEW THE POSITION*.

0 - - - -

/5......

TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 1973

NEW MARKET FOR TSUEN WAN * * K *

THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IS TO BUILD A TWO-STOREY MARKET SHORTLY IN TSUEN WAN TO SERVE PEOPLE IN THE HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL AREAS OF THE NEW TOWN.

THE MARKET, OCCUPYING AN AREA OF ABOUT 3,130 SQUARE METRES, IS SITUATED AT THE CORKER OF CHUNG ON STREET AND HOI PA STREET.

MR. PETER CHUNG, CHIEF P.W.D. ARCHITECT, SAID THAT WORK WOULD BEGIN TOWARDS THE END OF NEXT MONTH AND TAKE ABOUT 15 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.

+THE NEW MARKET WILL HAVE A TOTAL OF 393 STALLS FOR THE RETAILING OF MEAT, FISH, POULTRY, VEGETABLES, FRUITS AND SUNDRY GOODS,+ HE SAID.

+THE ROOF WILL EE USED AS A PLAYGROUND FOR CHILDREN.+

THERE WOULD ALSO BE QUARTERS FOR JUNIOR MARRIED OFFICERS AND BARRACKS ACCOMMODATION FOR SINGLE STAFF, MR. CHUNG SAID.

ON HONG KONG ISLAND, WORK ON THE NEW BCWRINGTON ROAD MARKET IN WAN CHAI IS PROGRESSING SMOOTHLY.

WHEN COMPLETED AT THE END OF THE YEAR, IT WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING TEMPORARY MARKET WHICH HAS TO MAKE WAY FOR THE EXTENSION OF THE CANAL ROAD FLYOVER.

0 - -

REGISTRATION TEAM TO OPERATE AT WAH FU ESTATE * * * *

A TEAM FROM THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS OFFICE WILL CONDUCT REGISTRATION AT WAH FU ESTATE POST OFFICE FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN THE AREA FOR FIVE DAYS FROM NEXT MONDAY (APRIL 24).

REGISTRATION WILL BE CONDUCTED BETWEEN 9.30 A.M. AND 4.30 P.M. DURING THESE DAYS.

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

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

- o -

TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 1978

- 6 .

TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF LEE GARDEN ROAD *****

rADncMHLInAn^?nJ.1DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THE SECTION OF LEE wyDj iiROo? ?,EJo-rN-rHETNESSY R0AD AND KAI CHIU R0AD IN CAUSEWAY $AY j^L ?E CL0StC TO TRAFFIC BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 6 A.M ON AREA<5DAY (APRIL T0 FACILITATE CONSTRUCTION WORKS IN THE '

MnTnD^cTP0PRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL EE SET UP TO GUIDE rlU I UK I oTo •

. - - - 0 - -

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN * ! •; <• » -i .

i , • *■ •

s' WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 1978

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

HK’S RE-EXPORTS IN 1977 ............................ 1

CIVIL SERVICE DISPUTES NOT CAUSE FOR ALARM ......... A

PLAN TO IMPROVE BUS SERVICES IN KOWLOON ............ 6

INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT MISSION TO EUROPE ............ 7

FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO ATTEND ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK q

MEETING ............................................

CHIEF SECRETARY OPENS SWIMMING POOL AT POLYTECHNIC .

HOLIDAY ARRANGEMENTS FOR MARINE DEPARTMENT .........

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

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 1978

1

HONG KONG’S RE-EXPORT TRADE IN 1977 ******

HONG KONG’S RE-EXPORTS IN 1977 AMOUNTED TO $9,829 MILLION — AN INCREASE OF 10.1 PER CENT IN VALUE AND 2.3 PER CENT IN VOLUME COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

ACCORDING TO RE-EXPORT TRADE FIGURES RELEASED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY, THE INCREASE IN VALUE OF THIS TRADE WAS ATTRIBUTED MAINLY TO A SHARP RISE OF 7.7 PER CENT IN RE-EXPORT PRICES.

MOST OF THE RE-EXPORTS WERE DESTINED TO ASIAN COUNTRIES WHICH ALTOGETHER ACCOUNTED FOR 68 PER CENT OF TOTAL VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS.

COMPARED TO 1976, JAPAN, A LEADING MARKET FOR RE-EXPORTS, RECORDED A SHARP DECLINE OF 10.7 PER CENT TO $1,339 MILLION LAST YEAR. MAJOR DECLINES OF RE-EXPORTS TO JAPAN OCCURRED IN NON-hETALLIC MINERAL MANUFACTURES, COFFEE, TEA AND COCOA.

HOWEVER, SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN RE-EXPORTS WERE REGISTERED FOR OTHER MAJOR ASIAN MARKETS SUCH AS SINGAPORE (VALUED AT $1,063 MILLION +13.3 PER CENT), INDONESIA ($1,059 MILLION, +49.6 PER CENT), TAIWAN ($872 MILLION, +7 PER CENT) AND SOUTH KOREA ($456 MILLION, +18.3 PER CENT).

THE FOLLOWING TABLE SHOWS THE CHANGES IN RE-EXPORT END-USE CLASSIFICATION BETWEEN 1976 AND 1977.

TRADE BY

VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS IN % CHANGE IN VALUE 1977/1976

1976 1977

(HK$ MN.)

CONSUMER GOODS 4,076 4,296 + 5.4%

DIAMONDS 780 741 - 5.0%

WATCHES 554 623 +1-2.3%

JADE AND PRECIOUS STONES, IVORY, JEWELLERY, GOLDSMITHS’ AND SILVERSMITHS’ WARES 506 449 -11.3%

MEDICINAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS . 367 375 + 2.4%

TEXTILE MADE-UPS AND RELATED ARTICLES 324 350 + 8.1%

/RA'.T MATERIALS....

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 1978

2

RAW MATERIALS AND SEMIMANUFACTURES 2,904 3,404 +17.2%

INEDIBLE ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE CRUDE MATERIALS 493 482 - 2.2%

DYEING, TANNING AND COLOURING MATERIALS 339 323 - 4.8%

CHEMICAL ELEMENTS AND COMPOUNDS 151 197 ♦30.9%

FABRICS OF MAN-MADE FIBRES 155 182 +17.9%

WOVEN COTTON FABRICS 141 182 +28.8%

FOODSTUFFS 1,000 900 -10.0%

FISH AND FISH PREPARATIONS 220 220 - 0.2%

TEA AND COFFEE 316 206 -34.6%

VEGETABLES 123 124 + 1.2%

FRUIT 109 118 + 9.0%

MEAT AND MEAT PREPARATIONS 19 25 +37.1%

CAPITAL GOODS 887 1,140 +28.6%

TEXTILE MACHINERY 98 112 +13.7%

TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT 65 107 +65.1%

OTHER INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY (MAINLY METALWORKING AND CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY) 38 53 +42.1%

ELECTRICAL MACHINERY 41 53 +28.8%

SCIENTIFIC, MEDICAL, OPTICAL, MEASURING AND CONTROLLING INSTRUMENTS AND APPARATUS 46 52 +12.9%

FUELS 60 89 +47.4%

/he-expobts


'AY, APRIL 19, 1978

3

RE-EXPORTS OF CONSUMER GOODS, WHICH ACCOUNTED FOR 43.7 PER CENT OF TOTAL RE-EXPORTS IN 1977, SHOWED AN INCREASE OF 5.4 PER CENT IN VALUE.

SIGNIFICANT INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN RE-EXPORTS OF RAW MATERIALS, CAPITAL GOODS AND FUELS.

THE SHARP FALL IN RE-EXPORTS OF FOODSTUFFS WAS LARGELY ATTRIBUTED TO AN UPSURGE IN PRICES FOR TEA AND COFFEE WHICH HAD THE EFFECT OF DEPRESSING THE DEMAND FOR THESE COMMODITIES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

CHINA WAS THE PRINCIPAL SUPPLIER OF HONG KONG’S RE-EXPORTS IN THE PAST YEARS. RE-EXPORTS OF CHINA ORIGIN, COMPRISING MAINLY TEXTILE MAKE-UP ARTICLES, CRUDE VEGETABLE MATERIALS, CLOTHING AND TEXTILE YARN AND THREAD, WERE VALUED AT $2,492 MILLION (+ 3.7 PER CENT), OF WHICH $400 MILLION WERE DESTINED TO INDONESIA, $282 MILLION TO U.S.A., $275 MILLION TO SINGAPORE AND $243 MILLION TO JAPAN.

RE-EXPORTS OF JAPAN ORIGIN ROSE SIGNIFICANTLY FROM $1,225 MILLION IN 1976 TO $1,735 MILLION IN 1977, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 41.6 PER CENT. THE BULK OF INCREASES OCCURRED IN MOTOR VEHICLES, WATCHES AND CLOCKS.

THE RE-EXPORTS OF JAPAN ORIGIN WERE MAINLY CONSIGNED TO INDONESIA ($383 MILLION, + 291.4 PER CENT), SINGAPORE ($292 MILLION + 8.3 PER CENT) AND THE U.S. ($177 MILLION, + 30.2 PER CENT).

OTHER MAIN SOURCES OF SUPPLY OF HONG KONG RE-EXPORTS WERE, IN ORDER OF IMPORTANCE, U.S.A. ($1,249 MILLION, + 1 PER CENT), SWITZERLAND AND LIECHTENSTEIN ($415 MILLION, + 10.7%), TAIWAN ($362 MILLION, + 40.6 PER CENT) AND F.R. OF GERMANY ($257 MILLION, + 13.1 PER CENT).

0 --------

/4

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 1978

4

CIVIL SERVICE DISPUTES NOT CAUSE FOR ALARM *****

IT IS TRUE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN RATHER MORE DISPUTES IN THE CIVIL SERVICE LATELY THAN USED TO BE THE CASE, BUT THEY HAVE NOT NECESSARILY GROWN TO AN EXTENT WHICH SHOULD CAUSE ALARM.

MR. DEREK MACE, PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH, SAID THIS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) DURING A LUNCHTIME TALK TO THE ROTARY CLUB OF HONG KONG ISLAND EAST.

MR. MACE SAID IT MUST BE REMEMBERED THAT THE CIVIL SERVICE HAD GROWN SUBSTANTIALLY OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, AND NOW REPRESENTED ABOUT SIX PER CENT OF THE EMPLOYED POPULATION OF HONG KONG.

♦SIXTEEN DISPUTES IN THE PAST YEAR OR SO HAVE BEEN QUOTED RECENTLY. BUT THEY MUST BE SEEN IN THIS CONTEXT,+ MR. MACE SAID. ♦INEVITABLY, A CAREFUL ANALYSIS SUGGESTS A COMPLEX VARIETY OF CONTRIBUTORY CAUSES AND IT IS ALL TOO EASY TO JUMP TO THE CONCLUSION THAT POOR OR INADEQUATE MANAGEMENT IS THE PRINCIPLE ONE.

♦MY OWN, AND I EMPHASISE VERY PERSONAL, ASSESSMENT IS THAT, APART FROM A GENERAL WORLDWIDE TREND TOWARDS INSTABILITY WHICH HAS AFFECTED LABOUR RELATIONS LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE, THE SHEER SIZE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE AND THE UNDERLYING ASSUMPTIONS UPON WHICH EMPLOYMENT IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR ARE BASED MUST LEAD TO RATHER MORE DISPUTES AND OF A DIFFERENT TYPE THAN ARE LIKELY TO OCCUR IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

♦THE VAST MAJORITY OF BUSINESSES IN HONG KONG ARE RELATIVELY SMALL IN SCALE AND THERE ARE NOT THE SAME PROBLEMS OF COMMUNICATION WHICH COULD SO EASILY ARISE IN A LARGER ORGANISATION.

♦AND INCIDENTALLY, HOW I ENVY THE SMALL BUSINESS WHICH DOES NOT HAVE TO OPERATE ON THE BASIS OF EVERYONE KNOWING PRECISELY HOW MUCH EVERYONE ELSE IN THE ORGANISATION IS GETTING UP TO AND INCLUDING THE MANAGING DI RECTOR.+

MR. MACE SAID A FURTHER DIFFERENCE WHICH MIGHT BE SIGNIFICANT WAS THAT THE +BOSS+ IN THE CIVIL SERVICE WAS A MORE SENIOR OFFICER, BUT NECESSARILY AN EMPLOYEE JUST THE SAME. POSSIBLY HE LACKED THE AUTHORITY OR EVEN THE MOTIVATION TO REACT IN THE SAME WAY AS WOULD THE BUSINESSMAN.

THESE CONSIDERATIONS BROUGHT WITH THEM SPECIAL PROBLEMS OF FRONT LINE SUPERVISION AND MANAGEMENT WHICH, MR. MACE THOUGHT, WE ALL WOULD ACCEPT REQUIRED POSSIBLY GREATER ATTENTION THAN HAD BEEN GIVEN IN THE PAST.

HE ADDED: +BUT I THINK A THIRD FACTOR IS OF EVEN GREATER SIGNIFICANCE. THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE BUSINESS WORLD AND CIVIL SERVICE IN THE ESSENTIAL NATURE OF THE WORK CONTRACT.

♦ALTHOUGH THERE IS CERTAINLY A HIGHER DEGREE OF MOBILITY IN AND OUT OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE THAN WAS ONCE THE CASE IT IS STILL VERY TRUE TO SAY THAT GOVERNMENT SERVICE IMPLIES A COMMITMENT TO A FULL CAREER IN MOST CASES.+

/MR. MACE.......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 1978

- 5 -

MR. MACE SAID THE PENSION ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE NON-INDUSTRI AL CIVIL SERVANT HAD THE EFFECT OF DETERRING MOBILITY SINCE THEY PROVIDED FOR PAYMENT OF PENSION ONLY AFTER REACHING AGE 50 AND WITH A MINIMUM OF 10 YEARS’ SERVICE.

HE SAID BY AND LARGE THE PUBLIC SERVICE WANTED THE BULK OF ITS MIDDLE AND SENIOR STAFF TO STAY FOR A WORKING LIFE TIME. MOST DID SO, NOT ONLY BECAUSE THEY WERE LOCKED INTO THEIR PENSION ARRANGEMENTS BUT ALSO BECAUSE IN LARGE AREAS OF WORK THE EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE GAINED HAD LITTLE MARKET VALUE IN THE COMMERCIAL FIELD.

+S0, UNLIKE THE EMPLOYEES OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY WHO CAN ’VOTE WITH THEIR FEET’ — LEAVE THE COMPANY IF THEY CONSIDER THEY ARE NOT GETTING A FAIR DEAL — THIS IS NOT EQUALLY AN ALTERNATIVE FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE.

+1 SUGGEST TO YOU, THEREFORE, IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE THAT, ONCE HAVING IRRETRIEVABLY COMM I TED HIMSELF TO THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE PUBLIC SERVANT IS HIGHLY SENSITIVE TO HIS EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS.+

MR. MACE ALSO SUGGESTED IT WAS ONLY TO BE EXPECTED THAT CIVIL SERVANTS WERE MORE VOCAL THAN IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR BECAUSE THEY WERE BACKED BY A HIGH DEGREE OF JOB SECURITY AND IN A SITUATION WHERE DETAILS OF EVERY CIVIL SERVANT’S PAY AND CONDITIONS WERE PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE FOR THE PRICE OF A COPY OF THE PRINTED ESTIMATES. THE TWO SITUATIONS WERE REALLY VERY DIFFERENT, HE SAID.

♦HAVING SAID THIS I WOULD NOT HOWEVER LIKE YOU TO GAIN THE IMPRESSION THAT WE ARE AT ALL COMPLACENT. EVEN ONE SERIOUS DISPUTE IS TOO MANY AND I HAVE MADE THESE COMMENTS NOT IN EXCUSE, BUT SIMPLY TO HELP A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROBLEMS AND DIFFICULTIES WE FACE IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.*

HE SAID THERE WAS CERTAINLY MUCH TO BE DONE IN THE FIELD OF PAY MANAGEMENT WHICH, LIKE OTHER ASPECTS OF PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION, WAS DEMANDING MORE ATTENTION THAN HAD EVER BEEN NECESSARY IN THE PAST.

+1 CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THE CIVIL SERVICE IS VERY MUCH AWARE OF THE NEED FOR GREATER EFFORT IN THIS FIELD AND THAT WE ARE DOING ALL WE CAN TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEMS IN A CONSTRUCTIVE WAY,+ HE SAID.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 1978

- 6

PLAN TO IMPROVE BUS SERVICES IN KOWLOON * * * *

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT AND THE KOWLOON MOTOR BUS COMPANY HAVE AGREED ON A PROGRAMME TO IMPROVE EXISTING BUS SERVICES AND TO INTRODUCE NEW ROUTES IN KOWLOON THIS YEAR FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF AN ASSESSMENT ON THE ADEQUACY OF BUS SERVICES FOR URBAN AREAS OF KOWLOON.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SAID IMPROVEMENTS BY MEANS OF USING LARGER CAPACITY BUSES AND INCREASING FREQUENCIES WILL BE INTRODUCED ON EIGHT EXISTING ROUTES COVERING LAM TIN, SAU MAU PING, TSZ WAN SHAN, LOK FU, CHEUNG SHA WAN AND LAI CHI KOK.

SEVEN NEW ROUTES ARE ALSO PLANNED, SOME TO CATER FOR THE DEMAND GENERATED BY NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS IN TAI WOH PING, CHOI WAN ESTATE AND SHUN LEE ESTATE WHICH WILL BE OCCUPIED BY THE MIDDLE OF THIS YEAR.

OTHER NEW SERVICES WILL BE AVAILABLE TO AREAS NOT SERVED BY BUSES BEFORE AND WILL BE OPERATED WHEN NEW ROADS SUITABLE FOR THE OPERATION OF BUSES ARE COMPLETED.

THE EXPERIMENTAL BUS ROUTE 11A INTRODUCED LAST YEAR, WILL BE CANCELLED.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT DURING THE EXPERIMENTAL PERIOD, THE AVERAGE OCCUPANCY OF THIS PEAK-HOUR ONLY SERVICE HAS BEEN VERY LOW.

HE SAID THAT THE RESIDENTS OF AREA HAD EXPRESSED DISSATISFACTION OF ROUTE 15A WHICH THEY CONSIDERED

KOWLOON BAY TEMPORARY HOUSING WITH THE EXPERIMENTAL DIVERSION OF LIMITED USE ONLY.

A SURVEY CARRIED OUT LAST MONTH SHOWED THAT THE PATRONAGE ALONG WAI YIP STREET HAD INCREASED BY 16 PER CENT ON BOTH TZE WAN SHAN BOUND AND LAM TIN BOUND JOURNEYS SINCE THE DIVERSION OF THE BUS ROUTE IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR.

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT IN VIEW OF THE INCREASED DEMAND, ROUTE 15A WOULD CONTINUE OPERATING ALONG WAI YIP STREET.

HE SAID THAT IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO MEET THE REQUEST OF THE KOWLOON BAY 2ND, 3RD AND 4TH VILLAGE TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENT ACTION GROUP FOR A DIRECT BUS SERVICE TO JORDAN ROAD AND THEIR WORK PLACE AT HONG KONG TEXTILE FACTORY IN CASTLE PEAK ROAD.

HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT THAT A NEW BUS SERVICE BETWEEN KWUN TONG AND CHEUNG SHA WAN IS INCLUDED IN THE ROUTE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOR 1978. THIS ROUTE WILL OPERATE ALONG WAI YIP STREET AND WILL BE USEFUL FOR PASSENGERS WISHING TO GO TO CASTLE PEAK ROAD.

0 -

/7

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 1978

7

INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT MISSION TO EUROPE

******

DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF INDUSTRY, MR. ROY PORTER, LEAVES FOR EUROPE THIS EVENING TO SEEK MORE OVERSEAS INVESTMENT AS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT’S CONTINUING EFFORT TO DIVERSIFY OUR INDUSTRIAL BASE.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT SAID THAT MR. PORTER WOULD GO FIRST TO LONDON TO ATTEND A CONFEDERATION OF BRITISH INDUSTRIES SEMINAR ON APRIL 26 AT WHICH THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, WOULD BE THE MAIN SPEAKER.

MR. PORTER WILL MEET BRITISH INDUSTRIALISTS AND HAVE TALKS WITH OFFICIALS AT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE IN LONDON.

HE WILL ALSO HOLD A SEMINAR AT THE UTRECHT EXHIBITION CENTRE IN HOLLAND. THE SEMINAR WILL COINCIDE WITH TECH-TRANSFER ’78 — THE INTERNATIONAL FAIR FOR TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER.

THE SEMINAR WILL FEATURE A 15“MINUTE COLOUR FILM PRODUCED BY THE TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT TO SHOW HONG KONG’S ATTRACTIONS AS A MANUFACTURING CENTRE. ALSO GIVING A TALK AT THE SEMINAR WILL BE DR. JOHN WRIGHT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE.

FROM HOLLAND MR. PORTER WILL RETURN TO BRITAIN WHERE HE WILL PRESENT A SEMINAR IN BIRMINGHAM BEFORE RENEWING CONTACTS MADE ON PREVIOUS VISITS TO FACTORIES IN THE MIDLANDS.

THE DEPARTMENT’S SPOKESMAN SAID THAT AN INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT PROMOTION OFFICER OF THE INDUSTRIAL PROMOTION BRANCH, MR. CYRIL BERNARD, AND ASSISTANT TRADE OFFICER MR. EDMUND CHEUNG, ARE ALREADY IN EUROPE ORGANISING THIS LATEST SERIES OF SEMINARS.

AFTER THE UTRECHT AND BIRMINGHAM SEMINARS, THEY WILL SEPARATELY FOLLOW UP CONTACTS WITH MANUFACTURERS, MAINLY IN THE LIGHT AND MEDIUM HEAVY INDUSTRIES, BEFORE RETURNING TO HONG KONG.

THE DEPARTMENT’S PREVIOUS FULL-SCALE INDUSTRIAL PROMOTION MISSION TO EUROPE WAS IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER LAST YEAR WHEN MR. PORTER AND MR. CHEUNG VISITED BRITAIN, GERMANY AND SWITZERLAND.

ONE OF THE RESULTS OF THAT EARLIER MISSION WAS THE RECENTLY ANNOUNCED MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR POWDER METALLURGY PLANT WHICH IS BEING SET UP IN YAU TONG.

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

/8

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 1978

8

FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO ATTEND ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK MEETING IN VIENNA ******

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, LEAVES HONG KONG THIS (WEDNESDAY) EVENING TO ATTEND THE 11TH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK.

THE MEETING WILL BE HELD IN VIENNA FROM APRIL 24 TO 26.

ALSO IN HONG KONG’S DELEGATION WILL BE MR. DOUGLAS BLYE, SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS- AND MRS. STELLA HUNG, ASSISTANT SECRETARY IN THE MONETARY AFFAIRS BRANCH.

THE DELEGATION IS DUE BACK ON APRIL 30.

DURING MR. HADDON-CAVE’S ABSENCE, MR. HENRY CHING, DEPUTY FINANCIAL SECRETARY, WILL ACT AS FINANCIAL SECRETARY.

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

CHIEF SECRETARY OPENS SWIMMING POOL AT POLYTECHNIC * * * *

THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DENYS ROBERTS, TODAY OPENED THE SWIMMING POOL AT THE POLYTECHNIC, WHICH WAS NAMED IN MEMORY OF A FORMER DEPUTY COLONIAL SECRETARY, THE LATE MR. MICHAEL CLINTON.

SIR DENYS SAID MR. CLINTON WOULD HAVE BEEN GLAD BECAUSE THE POOL WOULD PROVIDE SPORTING FACILITIES FOR THE YOUTH OF HONG KONG +FOR WHOM HE HAD BOTH ADMIRATION AND LIKING+.

SIR DENYS THOUGHT THAT, ABOVE ALL, MR. CLINTON WOULD HAVE BEEN DELIGHTED THAT HIS NAME SHOULD BE RECORDED IN THIS PERMANENT FORM IN HONG KONG. '

+MICHAEL SPENT MORE THAN HALF HIS LIFE HERE,+ SIR DENYS SAID. +HONG KONG WAS FAR MORE TO HIM THAN JUST THE PLACE WHERE HE WORKED. IT WAS THE CORE OF HIS LIFE, THE MAGNET FOR HIS TALENT AND ENERGY AND THE PART OF THE WORLD WHICH HE LOVED BEST.

+WHAT BETTER MONUMENT COULD THERE BE, FOR SOMEONE WHO THOUGHT SO WELL OF HONG KONG AND OF ITS YOUTH, THAN THIS POOL, WHICH WILL BRING PLEASURE TO THOUSANDS OF YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN IN THE YEARS TO COME AND WILL REMIND US, WHO KNEW HIM, OF A FINE LIFE OF SERVICE TO HONG KONG?+

SIR DENYS SAID MR. CLINTON’S MANY FRIENDS REMEMBERED HIS WISDOM, BORN OF KEEN OBSERVATION AND WIDE EXPERIENCE OF HIS FELLOW MEN, AND TOLERANCE.

/♦THEY RECALL .....

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 1978

9

+THEY RECALL HIS QUIET FIRMNESS AND HIS MORAL PRINCIPLE, IN AN AGE OF EXPEDIENCY. THEY THINK OF HIS SUDDEN SMILE, OF HIS FRIENDLY EYES AND OF HIS FREQUENT LAUGHTER. THEY REMEMBER A MAN OF CHARITY, WHOM THEY MISS GREATLY AND FOR WHOSE FRIENDSHIP THEY ARE GRATEFUL.*

SIR DENYS SAID MR. CLINTON WOULD HAVE BEEN PLEASED HAD HE BEEN ABLE TO BE PRESENT THAT A GROUP OF HIS FRIENDS SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT SO MUCH OF HIM THAT THEY WERE PREPARED TO DONATE +THIS SUPERB POOL* TO HIS MEMORY.

+HE WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY,* SIR DENYS SAID, +BECAUSE HE BELIEVED FIRMLY IN THE POLYTECHNIC AND IN ITS VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY AND WAS ONE OF ITS EARLIEST PROPONENTS WITHIN OFFICIAL CIRCLES.*

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

HOLIDAY ARRANGEMENTS FOR MARINE DEPARTMENT

******

THE MARINE DEPARTMENT TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT NTS PORT COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE AND PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREAS CHAI YAU MA TEI, KWUN TONG AND TSUEN WAN DILL REMAIN ON FRIDAY (APRIL 21), WHICH IS A GENERAL HOLIDAY.

THE MACAU FERRY WHARF UNIT OFFICES ..ILL EE OPEN FROM A.M. ON THAT DAY TO 1.30 A.M. THE NEXT DAY.

AT OPEN

7.33

tu- u^L1Tn?IHER 0FF,CES 0F THE DEPARTMENT ./ILL BE CLOSED DURING I nt nULI DAY•

0 - -

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 197?

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

GOVERNOR SENDS BIRTHDAY GREETINGS TO QUEEN ............... 1

GOVERNOR TO VISIT UNITED KINGDOM ....................... 1

SPECIAL SPORTS PROGRAMME TO CELEBRATE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY ...............................................

GOVERNOR LAYS FOUNDATION STONE TO MARK HKU BUILDING REDEVELOPMENT PLAN ...................................

NEW POWERS FOR HOUSING AUTHORITY TO SELL AND MANAGE HOME OWNERSHIP FLATS ..................................... A

APPEAL TO URBAN COUNCIL ELECTION VOTERS ................

DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE TO ADDRESS JAYCEES ............ 5

SCHOOLS’ DANCE FESTIVAL WINNERS PERFORMANCES ............  6

FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION DRAMA ON PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP ............................................. 7

CENTURY-OLD PLANT ON DISPLAY ............................. 9

THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 1978

- 1 -

GOVERNOR SENDS BIRTHDAY GREETINGS TO QUEEN

* H * * * t

ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, THE GOVER-NOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, HAS SENT A TELEGRAM OF BIRTHDAY GREETINS AND CONGRATULATIONS TO THE QUEEN ON THE OCCASION OF THE OFFICIAL OBSERVANCE IN HONG KONG OF HER MAJESTY’S BIRTHDAY.

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

GOVERNOR TO VISIT UNITED KINGDOM

*****

THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, WILL LEAVE FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM TOMORROW (FRIDAY) FOR ROUTINE TALKS AT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE. HE WILL ALSO TAKE PART IN A SEMINAR AND GIVE A LECTURE AT OXFORD UNIVERSITY.

SIR MURRAY WILL MEET OFFICIALS AND MINISTERS AT THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE ON MONDAY (APRIL 24) AND DELIVER A LECTURE TO THE ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. ON WEDNESDAY (APRIL 26) HE WILL SPEAK AT A SEMINAR ORGANISED BY THE CONFEDERATION OF BRITISH INDUSTRIES ON THE POTENTIALITIES OF THE HONG KONG MARKETS.

HIS ENGAGEMENTS IN LONDON WILL INCLUDE A VISIT TO HONG KONG HOUSE.

ON APRIL 27, SIR MURRAY WILL GO TO OXFORD UNIVERSITY TO DELIVER A LECTURE TO THE ALISTAIR BUCHAN CLUB, AND MEET MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE ON THE OXFORD COURSE.

SIR MURRAY WILL LEAVE BY BA 020, ETD 2000 HOURS TOMORROW. HE IS EXPECTED TO RETURN TO HONG KONG ON MAY 3.

DURING HIS ABSENCE, SIR DENYS ROBERTS WILL ACT AS GOVERNOR.

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

/2

THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 1978

2 -

SPECIAL SPORTS PROGRAMME TO CELEBRATE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY

* X * *

THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS ORGANISED A SPECIAL SPORTS PROGRAMME FOR ALL TO CELEBRATE THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY TOMORROW (FRIDAY).

THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION SPORTS PROGRAMME WILL BE HELD AT VARIOUS PLACES THROUGHOUT HONG KONG INCLUDING MORSE PARK AND MACPHERSON PLAYGROUND IN KOWLOON, VICTORIA PARK AND FORBES STREET PLAYGROUND IN KENNEDY TOWN ON THE ISLAND.

OTHER VENUES ARE AT YUEN LONG, TUEN MUN, TSUEN WAN, TAI PO, SHA TIN AND SAI KUNG IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, AS WELL AS CHEUNG CHAU AND LANTAU ISLAND.

THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR. LI FOOK-KOW,WILL PERFORM A CEREMONY TO START THE PROGRAMME AT MORSE PARK AND THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, MR. E.P. HO,WILL START THE PROGRAMME AT VICTORIA PARK.

PROGRAMMES AT OTHER VENUES WILL BE OFFICIATED BY PROMINENT MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.

THE EVENTS WILL INCLUDE LION DANCES, MARTIAL ARTS DEMONSTRATIONS, MARCHING BANDS, AS WELL AS TRAMPOLINI NG, POTTED SPORTS, ATHLETICS AND SWIMMING GALAS.

APART FROM SOME OF THE SPORTS COMPETITIONS WHICH REQUIRE PRIOR REGISTRATION, EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO TAKE PART IN THE EVENTS.

THE SPECIAL SPORTS PROGRAMME HAS PROVED VERY POPULAR WITH THE PUBLIC OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS. ABOUT 70,000 PEOPLE TOOK PART IN ACTIVITIES ON THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HOLIDAY LAST YEAR WHICH WAS THE SILVER JUBILEE YEAR.

NOTE TO ED I TORS

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION SPORTS PROGRAMME TOMORROW. THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR. LI FOOK-KOW WILL START THE PROGRAMME AT THE MORSE PARK OPEN THEATRE AND THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, MR. E.P. HO AT THE NO. 1 FOOTBALL PITCH AT VICTORIA PARK BOTH AT 9 A.M.

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

/3

THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 1978

3

GOVERNOR LAYS FOUNDATION STONE TO MARK HKU BUILDING REDEVELOPMENT PLAN ******

THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID TODAY HE BELIEVED THAT HIGHER EDUCATION IN HONG KONG WITH ITS TWO UNIVERSITIES AND THE POLYTECHNIC, IS IN THE HANDS OF VERY SOUND INSTITUTIONS ON WHICH WE CAN CONFIDENTLY PLAN FUTURE EXPANSIONS AS OUR NEEDS INCREASE.

SPEAKING AT THE FOUNDATION STONE LAYING CEREMONY TO COMMEMORATE THE INAUGURATION OF THE BUILDING REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME OF THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY, SIR MURRAY ALSO PRAISED THE UNIVERSITY FOR ITS +ENVIABLE INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION FOR SOLID AND, IN SOME FIELDS, SPECTACULAR ACHIEVEMENTS+.

HE ALSO NOTED THE UNIVERSITY HAS BROKEN OUT OF ITS OLD BOUNDARIES AND HAS STARTED TO EXTEND SOUTH-WEST INTO THE AREA RESERVED FOR IT, AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS WILL TAKE PLACE AT VICTORIA ROAD AND SASSOON ROAD, AT A COST OF ABOUT $200 MILLION.

THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE GOVERNOR’S SPEECH AT THE FOUNDATION STONE LAYING CEREMONY AT THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY;.

+THE VICE-CHANCELLOR HAS DESCRIBED HOW A LONG-PLANNED MOVE TO EXTEND AND MODERNISE THE ESTATE AND BUILDINGS OF OUR UNIVERSITY HAS STARTED. PERHAPS THIS IS NOT BEFORE IT WAS DUE-AND PERHAPS IT MAY HAVE BEEN ASSISTED BY THE INSISTENCE OF THE HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT IN BUILDING POKFULAM ROAD THROUGH THE ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE BUILDINGS. BUT WHATEVER THE TIMING AND THE CAUSE, THE OUTCOME IS A VERY HAPPY ONE.

+THE UNIVERSITY HAS BROKEN OUT OF ITS OLD BOUNDARIES AND HAS STARTED TO EXTEND SOUTH-WEST INTO THE AREA ALWAYS RESERVED FOR IT, AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS WILL TAKE PLACE AT BOTH VICTORIA ROAD AND SASSOON ROAD, AT A TOTAL COST OF ABOUT $200 MILLION.

+THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY HAS A PROUD HISTORY OF OVER 90 YEARS AS A MEDICAL SCHOOL AND 76 AS A UNIVERSITY. IT HAS AN ENVIABLE INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION FOR SOLID AND, IN SOME FIELDS, SPECTACULAR ACHIEVEMENTS.

+AS A TEACHING INSTITUTION IT HAS DEEPLY INFLUENCED HONG KONG THROUGH THE CONTRIBUTION ITS ALUMNI HAVE MADE IN EVERY FIELD OF ADMINISTRATION, THE PROFESSIONS, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY. INDEED OUR UNIVERSITY CAN RIGHTLY SEE ITS OWN SUCCESS MIRRORED IN THE PROGRESS OF HONG KONG TO WHOSE SUCCESSIVE GENERATIONS IT HAS GIVEN OF ITS BEST.

+WITH ITS NEW SISTER UNIVERSITY IN SHA TIN,AND WITH THE STILL NEWER HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC, I BELIEVE THAT HIGHER EDUCATION IN HONG KONG IS IN THE HANDS OF VERY SOUND INSTITUTIONS ON WHICH WE CAN CONFIDENTLY PLAN FUTURE EXPANSION AS THE NEEDS OF HONG KONG INCREASE.

+IT IS NOW WITH GREAT PLEASURE THAT I LAY THIS FOUNDATION STONE TO COMMEMORATE OUR UNIVERSITY’S NEW STEP INTO THE FUTURE.+

--------o

/4

THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 1978

4

NEW POWERS FOR HOUSING AUTHORITY TO SELL AND MANAGE HOME OWNERSHIP FLATS ******

A BILL TO GIVE THE HOUSING AUTHORITY POWER TO SELL AND MANAGE HOME OWNERSHIP FLATS, CALLED THE HOUSING (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1978, WAS GAZETTED TODAY.

THE PROPOSALS, WHICH SEEK TO AMEND THE HOUSING ORDINANCE, WERE FRAMED BY A WORKING GROUP SPECIALLY SET UP UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING TO CONSIDER THE STATUTORY POWERS REQUIRED BY THE AUTHORITY TO EFFECTIVELY DISCHARGE ITS FUNCTIONS UNDER THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME.

UNDER THE BILL, THE AUTHORITY WOULD HAVE THE POWER TO DETERMINE THE PRICE OF HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME FLATS, AND TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PAYMENT, AND TO DETERMINE THE TERMS, COVENANTS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE AND THE ELIGIBILITY OF BUYERS.

A NEW SECTION OF THE BILL RESTRICTS HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME FLAT BUYERS FROM SELLING TO THIRD PARTIES WITHIN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS WITHOUT FIRST OFFERING THE FLAT TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AT THE ORIGINAL SALE PRICE LESS ANY DUES.

NEW SUB-SECTIONS OF THE BILL PROVIDE THAT THE BUILDING ORDINANCE DOES NOT APPLY TO H.O.S. BUILDINGS UNTIL AFTER THE FLATS ARE SOLD” AND IF AN OWNER, INCLUDING THE HOUSING AUTHORITY, WISHED TO CARRY OUT ALTERATIONS AFTER COMPLETION OF THE BUILDING, HE WOULD HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCE.

THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION WOULD MAKE IT AN OFFENCE FOR ANY PERSONS OR FAMILIES TO TRY TO OBTAIN A H.O.S. FLAT BY GIVING FALSE INFORMATION. THE MAXIMUM PENALTY WOULD EE RELATED TO THE MAXIMUM FINANCIAL ADVANTAGE THUS TO BE GAINED, ESTIMATED AT 353,000 AT TODAY’S VALUES.

THE BILL WILL BE TABLED SHORTLY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

/5

THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 1978

5

APPEAL TO URBAN COUNCIL ELECTION VOTERS

******

URBAN COUNCIL ELECTION VOTERS WHO WERE PREVIOUSLY REGISTERED BUT HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED ANY NOTICES OF SEXENNIAL INQUIRY ARE URGED TO CONTACT THE REGISTRATION OFFICER AT TEL: 5-765912 OR 5-769567.

MR. KUO KET-CHEN, REGISTRATION OFFICER FOR THE 1978 URBAN COUNCIL ELECTION REGISTRATION AND SEXENNIAL INQUIRY SAID: +THEY CAN ALSO WRITE TO US AT REGISTRATION OF PERSONS OFFICE, CAUSEWAY BAY MAGISTRACY BUILDING, FOURTH FLOOR, HONG KONG SO THAT A NOTICE MAY BE SENT TO THEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.+

THE APPEAL IS MADE BECAUSE OVER 6,000 OF THE 37,174 NOTICES OF INQUIRY SENT OUT BY REGISTERED POST IN THE PAST MONTH WERE CLASSIFIED AS +UNDELIVERABLE+ BY THE POST OFFICE.

+THIS IS PROBABLY BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE HAVE FORGOTTEN TO INFORM US OF THE CHANGES OF ADDRESSES,+ MR. KUO ADDED.

TO DATE, THE NUMBER OF VOTERS WHO HAVE RE-REGISTERED DURING THE CURRENT REGISTRATION CYCLE TOTALS 18,113 REPRESENTING LESS THAN HALF OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SENT NOTICES.

MR. KUO SAID: +1 WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAL TO THOSE WHO HAVE NOT YET RETURNED THEIR SEXENNIAL INQUIRY FORMS TO DO SO AS SOON AS POSSIBLE INSTEAD OF LEAVING IT TILL THE LAST MINUTE,+ HE.SAID. _. •

HE POINTED OUT THAT ANYONE WHO FAILS TO RE-REGISTER WILL NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE NEW ELECTORAL ROLL AND WILL LOSE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE IN THE NEXT URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

THE DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION IS JUNE 15, 1978, AND THAT FOR RE-REGISTRATION IS JUNE 30, 1978.

. ... t

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

NOTE TO'EDITORS:

DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE TO ADDRESS JAYCEES

*****

THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, WILL BE THE GUEST SPEAKER AT THE CHARTER NIGHT BALL OF THE NEWLY FORMED TAI PING SHAN JAYCEES TO BE HELD TOMORROW (FRIDAY) EVENING AT 7.30 P.M. AT THE FURAMA HOTEL.

THE CHARTER NIGHT BALL MARKS THE INAUGURATION OF THE TAI PING SHAN JAYCEES AS A PROVISIONAL CHAPTER OF THE HONG KONG JAYCEES, THE OBJECTIVE OF WHICH IS TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP TRAINING TO YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN SOCIAL WELFARE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES.

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO COVER MR. LEE’S SPEECH.

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

/6

THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 1978

6 -

SCHOOLS* DANCE FESTIVAL WINNERS PERFORMANCES * * * * *

WINNERS OF THE 14TH SCHOOLS’ DANCE FESTIVAL WILL GIVE PUBLIC PERFORMANCES AT THE CITY HALL CONCERT HALL FROM APRIL 23 TO 26.

THE PERFORMANCES WILL START AT 7 P.M. EACH EVENING. IN ADDITION THERE WILL BE A MATINEE SHOW AT 2.30 P.M. ON SUNDAY.

THE DANCE SHOWS ARE ORGANISED JOINTLY BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, THE URBAN COUNCIL, AND THE HONG KONG AND NEW TERRITORIES SCHOOLS SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS.

THEY WILL BE PERFORMED BY STUDENTS OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND WILL INCLUDE A VARIETY OF WESTERN, ORIENTAL, AND MODERN DANCES.

TROPHIES WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE WINNING TEAMS ON EACH DAY. A TOTAL OF 311 TEAMS FROM 203 SCHOOLS TOOK PART IN THE DANCE FESTIVAL THIS YEAR TO COMPETE FOR 210 AWARDS.

GUESTS OF HONOUR AT THE WINNERS PERFORMANCES ON APRIL 23

AT 2.30 P.M. WILL BE URBAN COUNCILLOR, MISS CECILIA YEUNG- URBAN COUNCILLOR, DR. DENNY HUANG, AND MRS. HUANG AT 7 P.M. ON THE SAME DAY- ON APRIL 24, CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, MR. A. DE 0. SALES, AND MRS. SALES- ON APRIL 25, MR. M.C. CASWELL, PRINCIPAL EDUCATION OFFICER, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE, AND MRS. CASWELL- ON APRIL 26, MR. DAVID AKERS-JONES, SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, AND MRS. AKERS-JONES.

ALL TICKETS FOR THE WINNERS PERFORMANCES HAVE BEEN SOLD OUT.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE PRIZE PRESENTATION AND DANCE PERFORMANCES ON EACH OF THE FOUR DAYS (APRIL 23-26) AT THE CITY HALL CONCERT HALL.

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

/7

THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 1978

7

FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION DRAMA ON PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP

* *. * * *

SLIGHT DEVIATIONS FROM PRINCIPLES OF CHILD REARING, ALONG WITH NEGLIGENCE AND FAULTS COMMITTED DUE TO MOMENTARY CARELESSNESS, COULD SHATTER COMPLETELY A CHILD’S SENSE OF BELONGING TO HIS FAMILY WHICH MANY MODERN PARENTS ARE AT PAINS TO CULTIVATE.

IN THIS WEEK’S EPISODE OF THE FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION SPECIAL ’UNDER THE SAME ROOF’, PRODUCED BY RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, THE INNER WORLD OF A ’MISUNDERSTOOD CHILD’ IS BROUGHT INTO FOCUS.

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE FLEXIBILITY OF A LYRICAL APPROACH, HAPPENINGS IN A WELL-TO-DO FAMILY ARE SEEN THROUGH THE EYES OF THE NEGLECTED CHILD, MAGNIFYING A SELECTIVE RENDITION OF RELEVANT EVENTS AS WELL AS REGISTERING THEIR IMPACT ON THE LEAD CHARACTER.

BEING THE SECOND SON IN A FAMILY OF FIVE, THE ’MISUNDERSTOOD CHILD’ RECEIVES A SMALLER PORTION OF CARE AND ATTENTION FROM HIS LENIENT FATHER, WHO SHARES COMMON INTERESTS WITH THE ELDEST SON, AND ALSO FROM HIS STRICT MOTHER, WHO IS ALWAYS PREOCCUPIED WITH THE WELFARE OF THE PETITE DAUGHTER.

WITH ALMOST EVERY ONE LOOKING UPON HIM AS A MELANCHOLIC ’SLOW-LINER’, THE REAL SELF OF THE EIGHT-YEAR-OLD BOY EMERGES IN THE OPENING SCENES WHEN HE PLAYED WITH HIS FRIEND, ALSO A NEGLECTED CHILD, IN jTHE AIRPORT FAR FROM THE PRESSURE OF HIS HOME.

THE VIVACITY AND LOVE FOR THE FAMILY SHINES THROUGH THAT BRIEF INTERLUDE, AND HIS REPERTORY ON AEROPLANES REVEALS HIS INTELLIGENCE, WHICH SHOULD GAIN A MUCH HIGHER RATING THAN THE ONE GIVEN BY THOSE AROUND HIM.

COMMENTING ON THE CHILD’S CONTRAST IN BEHAVIOUR, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT POINTED OUT TODAY THAT OCCASIONAL ACTS OF FAVOURITISM OR UNFAIR TREATMENT, AS PORTRAYED IN THE DRAMA, WOULD INSTIL IN THE TENDER MIND A SENSE OF INFERIORITY DETRIMENTAL TO HIS MENTAL DEVELOPMENT.

+TRIVIALIT IES SUCH AS CASUAL COMMENTS FROM A NEIGHBOUR ON HIS CHUBBY LOOKS AND CLUMSY BEHAVIOUR, AND REPROACH CONCERNING HIS NOT-TOO-BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE IN SCHOOL WERE ALL TAKEN TO HEART BY THE CHILD, WHO, AT HIS BEST, WOULD RESORT TO VARIOUS WAYS WITHIN HIS MEANS TO WIN BACK HIS LOST FAVOUR,+ HE SAID.

/he noted that .....

THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 1978

- 8

HE NOTED THAT THESE WELL-MEANING DEEDS WOULD MOST LIKELY BE OVERLOOKED BY PARENTS WHO WERE NOT EVEN AWARE OF THE SUBTLE EMOTIONAL TRANSFORMATION TAKING PLACE WITHIN THE CHILD.

+WHEN IT BECAME APPARENT THAT HIS EFFORTS TO ESTABLISH A CHANNEL OF COMMUNICATION WERE NOT RECIPROCATED, THE CHILD IN QUESTION WOULD BECOME MORE WITHDRAWN, AND THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP WOULD BE APPROACHING A STAGE OF FURTHER DETERIORATION,* HE SAID.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THIS VICIOUS CYCLE WOULD DISAPPEAR IF PARENTS GOT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT CHILDREN’S PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS AND APPLIED THE KNOWLEDGE WITH DISCRETION.

♦SEMINARS, ROLE-PLAY SESSIONS AND LECTURES HAVE BEEN ORGANISED AS PART OF THE FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PROGRAMME FOR PARENTS, SO THAT THEY MIGHT GRASP THE ESSENTIALS OF THIS IMPORTANT FACET OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIP,* HE ADDED.

THIS HALF-HOUR DRAMA, ’THE MISUNDERSTOOD CHILD’, WILL BE SCREENED ON TVB JADE TOMORROW AT 8.30 P.M., ON RTV CHANNEL I ON SATURDAY AT 7 P.M. AND ON CTV ON SUNDAY AT 6 P.M.

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

/9

THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 1978

9

CENTURY-OLD BONSAI PLANT ON DISPLAY * * *

A BONSAI PLANT BELIEVED TO HAVE GRACED EMPRESS DOWAGER TZ’U-HSI’S SUMMER PALACE (l-HO-YOAN) IN CHINA IN THE 1880S IS ON DISPLAY AT A FLOWER SHOW AT FANLING PARK.

THE PLANT - A THREE-FOOT HIGH ZELKOVA - IS AMONG SOME 900 ENTRIES FOR THIS YEAR’S TAI PO SIX DISTRICTS COMMITTEE FLOWER SHOW WHICH OPENS TODAY TILL SUNDAY (APRIL 23).

THE FOUR-DAY FLOWER SHOW IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, TAI PO DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE TAI PO SIX DISTRICTS ARTS ADVANCEMENT ASSOCIATION.

ADDRESSING THE GATHERING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE SHOW TODAY, THE DIRECTOR OF URBAN SERVICES, MR. BRIAN WILSON WELCOMED THE CLOSE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE TAI PO SIX DISTRICTS ARTS ADVANCEMENT ASSOCIATION AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED IN THE PREPARATIONS FOR THE FLOWER SHOW.

HE SAID: +IT IS TO BE HOPED THAT THIS PARTNERSHIP WILL CONTINU AS A STRONG BOND TO THE BENEFIT OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND GOVERNMENT. +

MR. WILSON ALONG WITH 17 OTHER SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND RURAL COMMITTEE LEADERS PERFORMED A RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY TO OFFICIALLY OPEN THE FLOWER SHOW.

THE FLOWER SHOW IS DIVIDED INTO COMPETITION AND DISPLAY SECTIONS.

THERE ARE 589 ENTRIES FOR THE COMPETITION SECTION WHICH IS SUB-DIVIDED INTO CUT FLOWERS, SCENTED CUT FLOWERS, ORCHIDS, POT PLANTS AND BONSAI PLANTS.

ANOTHER 340 ENTRIES HAVE BEEN RECEIVED FOR THE DISPLAY SECTION

IN ADDITION, AN EXHIBITION ON COUNTRY PARKS HAS BEEN ORGANISED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT IN THE FLOWER SHOW.

A WIDE VARIETY OF GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS, INCLUDING THOSE ON KAM SHAN AND SHING MUN COUNTRY PARKS, COUNTRYSIDE MAPS, MAJOR TRAIL BOOKS AND HONG KONG TEMPLES, ARE ON SALE AT THE SHOW.

THE FLOWER SHOW IS OPEN TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FROM 10 A.M. TO 6 P.M. DAILY TILL SUNDAY.

0 -------

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 1973

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

SIR DENYS JOINS VOLUNTEERS TO CLEAN UP BEACH . 1

SUCCESSFUL YEAR FOR JOB PLACEMENT UNIT ....... 2

JAYCEE MOVEMENT PRAISED ...................... 3

THOMAS LEE TO VISIT FAMILY CAMP .............. 4

PLB RESTRICTED ZONE IN CHAI WAN .............. 5

FIRING PRACTICE .............................. 5

Isuad by Gowmmem WrtornwDon Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191

FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 1978

1

NOTE TO EDITORS:

SIR DENYS JOINS VOLUNTEERS TO CLEAN UP BEACH *****

SIR DENYS ROBERTS WILL JOIN A PARTY OF 80 VOLUNTEERS COMPRISING 50 TAI PO SCHOOL CHILDREN AND 30 MEMBERS OF THE OUTWARD BOUND (ALUMNI) ASSOCIATION TO CLEAN UP NAI CHUNG BEACH IN SAI KUNG NORTH, THE NEW TERRITORIES ON SUNDAY (APRIL 23).

THE CLEAN-UP OPERATION, ORGANISED BY THE TAI PO DISTRICT OFFICE, WILL START AT 10.30 A.M. AND FINISH AT 2.30 P.M.

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND A REPORTER AND/OR PHOTOGRAPHER TO COVER THE OCCASION. PRESS TRANSPORT WILL BE PROVIDED. NEWSMEN COVERING THE EVENT SHOULD ASSEMBLE AT THE CAR PARK BEHIND THE TSIM SHA TSUI POST OFFICE AT 9 A.M. ON SUNDAY . WHERE A GOVERNMENT VAN, AM 2088, WILL TAKE THEM TO SAI KUNG. . THE VAN WILL RETURN TO TSIM SHA TSUI BY 1 P.M.

----o------

/2

FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 1978

2

SUCCESSFUL YEAR FOR JOB PLACEMENT UNIT *###*#

THE JOB PLACEMENT UNIT OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT FOUND JOBS FOR 461 DISABLED PEOPLE DURING THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR, BRINGING TO 3,094 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF JOBS SECURED FOR THE DISABLED BY THE UNIT SINCE IT WAS SET UP IN 1967.

THE OFF ICER-IN-CHARGE OF THE UNIT, MR. CHAN SIU-WING, TODAY POINTED OUT THAT THE 1977-78 FIGURE, WHICH SHOWS A SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT OVER THE PREVIOUS 10 YEARS’ ANNUAL AVERAGE OF 263, HELPS TO ILLUSTRATE LOCAL EMPLOYERS’ INCREASING ACCEPTANCE OF THE CAPABILITY OF THE DISABLED.

+MORE EMPLOYERS ARE REALISING THE FACT THAT HANDICAPPED PEOPLE ARE RELIABLE WORKERS IF PLACED AT JOBS MATCHING THEIR QUALIFICATIONS AND POTENTIAL, AND THIS HAS GREATLY FACILITATED OUR CONTINUOUS EFFORTS IN SECURING GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT FOR THEM,+ HE SAID.

APART FROM THIS, MR. CHAN NOTED THAT IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR THE UNIT FOUND 81 JOBS FOR THE DISABLED, THE HIGHEST MONTHLY FIGURE SINCE ITS INCEPTION.

HE SAID THAT AMONG THOSE PLACED TO WORK DURING THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW, WERE 64 BLIND, 178 PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED, 127 DEAF, 42 EX-MENTAL PATIENTS, 47 MENTAL RETARDATES AND THREE EX-TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS.

+MOST OF THEM ARE ENGAGED IN THE INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL FIELDS AS MACHINE SEWING WORKERS, ASSEMBLERS AND LIFT OPERATORS, WHILE OTHERS ARE EMPLOYED AS CLERKS, TYPISTS, MESSENGERS AND TELEPHONE OPERATORS,+ HE SAID.

AS FOR THEIR SALARY, MR. CHAN SAID THAT THEY WERE EITHER PAID WAGES AT A MONTHLY AVERAGE OF $653, OR AT A DAILY RATE RANGING FROM $18 TO $28, SOME EVEN RECEIVING WAGES AS HIGH AS $80 A DAY.

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

/3

FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 1978

3

JAYCEE MOVEMENT PRAISED

******

THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE. this FVFMiwr-PRAISED THE NEWLY-FORMED TAI PING SHAN JAYCEES FOR ITS cVEN,NG COMMENDABLE OBJECTIVE TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP TRAINING TO YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROJECTS•

SPEAKING AT ITS INAUGURATION CEREMONY, MR. LEE SAID HE UNDERSTOOD THE HONG KONG JAYCEES HAVE A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY PROJECTS IN MIND, AND THAT THROUGH THIS KIND OF MEANINGFUL ACTIVITIES, THE JAYCEES WOULD BRING FORTH ITS GOOD IMAGE AND TRUE SPIRIT.

MR. LEE NOTED THAT THE JAYCEE MOVEMENT IN HONG KONG. AS ELSEWHERE, WAS PRIMARILY CONCERNED WITH AND INVOLVED IN PROVIDING LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR THOSE WHO ASPIRED TO EE COMMUNITY LEADERS.

+THE JAYCEE MEMBERSHIP OFFERS AN EDUCATIONAL COURSE THAT ACTIVATES THE INTEREST OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND ENCOURAGES HIM TO UTILISE HIS TIME AND TALENT FOR SELF-DEVELOPMENT.

+AS A JAYCEE IMPROVES HIS OWN PERSONALITY, HE ALSO ENDEAVOURS TO IMPROVE THE LIFE OF THOSE AROUND HIM, AND SOON HE LEARNS THAT SERVICE TO HUMANITY IS THE BEST WORK OF LIFE.+ HE SAID.

A SERIES OF SOCIAL WELFARE ACTIVITIES IS BEING PLANNED BY THE TAI PING SHAN JAYCEES. THEY INCLUDE SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY, CARE PROGRAMME FOR THE DISABLED AND CHILDREN, EMPLOYMENT GUIDANCE FOR SECONDARY STUDENTS, LECTURES AND SEMINARS ON SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE TAI PING SHAN JAYCEES, MR. DAVID SIU SAID THAT APART FROM THESE ACTIVITIES, HIS JAYCEES WERE ALSO PLANNING SOME LONGER-TERM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES WITH THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

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

/4

FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 1978

THOMAS LEE TO VISIT FAMILY CAMP ******

THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE. MR. THOMAS LEE ANT) hfad^ OF FOUR VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, WILL VISIT THE HAPPY FAMILY CAMP AT WU KAI SHA YOUTH VILLAGE ON SUNDAY (APRIL 23) MORNING?

™E CAMP ls jointly ORGANISED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, THE CATHOLIC MARRIAGE ADVISORY COUNCIL, THE BOYS’ A^,®'PLS’ CLUSS ASSOCIATION, THE HONG KONG FAMILY WELFARE SOCIETY AND CARITAS HONG KONG TO PROMOTE THE CONCEPT OF THE FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION.

CAMPERS

DURING THE VISIT, MR. LEE WILL PARTICIPATE IN A SERIES OF FUN-FILLED EVENTS AT THE FAMILY CARNIVAL FOR THE 850 CAMPERS. APART FROM STALL GAMES, EXHIBITION, FASHION SHOW, SONGS AND DANCE, A HOT-AIR BALLON WILL MAKE REGULAR FLIGHTS TO TAKE ROUND THE CAMP SITE.

MR. LEE WILL ALSO OFFICIATE AT A PRESENTATION CEREMONY TO MARK THE CLOSING OF THE HAPPY FAMILY CAMP AT 11.45 A.M.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE CORDIALLY THE VISIT.

INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER

TRANSPORT FOR THE PRESS WILL LEAVE THE KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER ON SUNDAY AT 9 A.M. TO TAKE NEWSMEN TO TAI PO KAU PIER WHERE THEY WILL BOARD THE LAUNCH 'CLEMENTI’ FOR WU KAI SHA AT 9.45 A.M.

THOSE WHO WISH TO MAKE THEIR OWN WAY TO WU KAI SHA CAN ALSO ’ MAKE USE OF THE HONG KONG AND YAUMATI FERRIES DEPARTING FROM MA LIU SHUI AT 9.10 A.M., 10.10 A.M. AND 11 A.M..

FOR THE RETURN JOURNEY, ’CLEMENTI’ WILL LEAVE WU KAI SHA AT 12.15 P.M. FOR TAI PO KAU FROM WHERE SPECIAL COACHES WILL TAKE NEWSMEN BACK TO KOWLOO'. LUNCH 'ILL BE PROVIDED.

FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 1978

- 5 -

PLB RESTRICTED ZONE IN CHAI WAN *****

uni transport department announced today that public

PROHIBITED FROM TRAVELLING IN THE SECTION OF CHAI wan (*“lL 24)?F ““ TSUI ROi“ CHAI “A" oS ^MONDAY

LIGHT BUSES

WAN.

<FP-STReTE?U?eRSlWriEKfE0CHujr^^TfHAI “AN MAY USE AN

MEANWHILE, THE CHINA MOTOR BUS COMPANY HAS INTRnntircn a mew °N YIP STREEY ™ ‘™”cT0°Y STREET

n_^„.MORE .JOURNEYS ARE ALSO ADDED ON BUS ROUTES-8 AND ft?

BETWEEN CHAI WAN, WAN CHAI AND NORTH POINT. ' 82

DniI_ ™E ARRANGEMENTS ARE MADE AFTER A MAJOR EXTENSION OF BUS

CWA WAN AND ARE ,N L,NE W,TH THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT’S

R9!?'$I„0E CONTROLLING THE ACCESS OF PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES TO HOUSING ESTATtS TO PREVENT TRAFFIC OBSTRUCTION.

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

FIRING PRACTICE

* * * *

FIRING PRACTICE WILL BE HELD AT CASTLE PEAK RANGE ON TUESDAY (APRIL 25) BETWEEN 8 A.M. AND 5 P.M.

NEXT MONTH, IT WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE SAME RANGE ON THREE DAYS.

THE PUBLIC ARE REMINDED THAT IT IS DANGEROUS TO ENTER THE AREA WHEN THE RED FLAGS ARE FLYING DURING THE TIME OF FIRING PRACTICE.

THE PRACTICE TIMES FOR NEXT MONTH ARE: ’

DATE HOURS

MAY 18 (THURSDAY) 8 A.M. - 5 P.M.

MAY 30 (TUESDAY) 8 A.M. - 5 P.M.

MAT 31 (WEDNESDAY) 8 A.M. - 5 P.M.

--------0 - -

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

4

SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 1978

CONTENTS PA6E NC-

ACTING GOVERNOR ADDRESSES SCOUT RALLY .....................

2 W YORE COUNTRY PARKS GAZETTED .............................

o SPECIAL FERRY SERVICE FOR TIN HAU FESTIVAL ................

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

SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 1973

1

ACTING GOVERNOR ADDRESSES SCOUT RALLY K * H

THE IMPORTANCE OF SCOUTING TO A CROWDED URBAN COMMUNITY CANNOT EE CVER-ESTI MATED, THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DENYS ROBERTS, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).

SIR DENYS, ADDRESSING THE ST. GEORGE’S DAY RALLY OF THE HONG KONG SCOUT ASSOCIATION HELD AT THE DIOCESAN BOYS’ SCHOOL, SAID SCOUTING PROVIDED HEALTHY RECREATION FOR THOUSANDS WHO LIVED IN CRAMPED CONDITIONS.

+IT GIVES THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN NEW PHYSICAL AND RENTAL SKILLS. IT HAS AN IMPORTANT RCLE TO PLAY IN DEVELOPING THOSE QUALITIES OF SELF-RELIANCE, SELF-DISCIPLINE AND SELF-CONFIDENCE TO WHICH THE MOVEMENT ATTACHES SUCH IMPORTANCE.+

FURTHERMORE, SIR DENYS ADDED, SCOUTS DEVELOPED A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR OTHERS LESS FORTUNATE THAN THEMSELVES AND AN APPRECIATION OF THE NEED TO HELP THE! IN PRACTICAL WAYS. +IN ENCOURAGING THESE VIRTUES, THE MOVEMENT MAKES AN INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTION TO OUR COMMUNITY, WHERE THERE IS A LONG AND ADMIRABLE TRADITION OF VOLUNTARY HELP TO YOUR FELLOW MEN.+

SIR DENYS RECALLED THAT LAST YEAR THE CHIEF SCOUT HAD ANNOUNCED THAT THE ASSOCIATION HAD JUST EMBARKED ON A SCHEME TO PROVIDE PROPERLY EQUIPPED REGIONAL BUILDINGS, TRAINING CENTRES, AND CAMPSITES FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF ACTIVITIES, FOR USE NOT ONLY BY SCOUTS BUT BY OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE AS WELL. SINCE THEN, PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE — A NEW HEADQUARTERS FOR HONG KONG ISLAND WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND SHOULD BE READY FOR USE BY THE MIDDLE OF THIS YEAR.

SIR DENYS SAID IT HAD ONLY BEEN POSSIBLE TO CONSTRUCT THIS NEW BUILDING WITH ITS MANY MODERN FACILITIES AND AMENITIES BECAUSE OF THE GENEROSITY AND PUBLIC SPIRIT OF SIR SHIU-KIN TANG AND MR. LEO LEE, ADDING THAT THANKS WERE ALSO DUE TO THE MANY OTHER SUPPORTERS OF THE MOVEMENT WHO HAD CONTRIBUTED SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE PROJECT.

+IT IS HOPED THAT THE ADDITIONAL SITES, ON WHICH YOU ARE TO ESTABLISH TRAINING CENTRES, ..ILL BE MADE AVAILABLE BEFORE LONG, SO THAT YOUR ASSOCIATION' CAN ADAPT THEM FOR THIS PURPOSE, PROVIDING A MUCH NEEDED FACILITY FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE,+ SIR DENYS SAID.

+THE REMARKABLE EXPANSION OF YOUR SCOUT TRAINING PROGRAM. ES AND OF YOUR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, .<HICI THE EXTRA BUILDINGS, TRAINING CENTRES AND CAMPSITES -ILL "AKE POSSIBLE, -ILL MAKE SCOUTING AN EVEN MORE ' TT."ACTIVE OUTLET FC~ THE ENERGY, INITIATIVE AND SENSE OF ENJOYMENT CF OUF. YOUNG MEN ANL WOMEN. +

----o------

/2 ....

SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 197S

TWO MORE COUNTRY PARKS GAZETTED ******

THE GAZETTING CF TWO MORE COUNTRY PARKS AT PAT SIN LENG AND NORTH LANTAU HAS WIDENED THE PROTECTION AREA OF HONG KONG’S COUNTRYSIDE TO MORE THAN 106 SQUARE MILES.

THE PAT SIN LENG COUNTRY PARK IS WEST CF THE TAI MEI TUK/LUK KENG ROAD ADJOINING THE PLOVER COVE COUNTRY PARK. THE NORTH LANTAU PARK ADJOINS THE SOUTH LANTAU PARK, BUT EXCLUDES NGONG PING, KEUNG SHAN, TUNG CHUNG AND TA I C.

ACCORDING TO THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, MR. MARTIN LEWIS, THE GAZETTING AND DESIGNATION OF THE FIVE-YEAR COUNTRY PARKS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IS 66 PER CENT COMPLETE. SOUTH LANTAU IS EXPECTED TO EE DESIGNATED ON FRIDAY (APRIL 28).

MR. LEWIS EXPLAINED THAT PROTECTION OF A PROPOSED COUNTRY PARK TAKES EFFECT FROM THE DATE OF GAZETTING. AFTER 63 DAYS CF SUCH NOTICE, DEJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSED BOUNDARIES ARE HEARD AND AFTER MODIFICATIONS TO THE FLANS, THE AREA IS THEN DESIGNATED.

INCLUDING SOUTH LANTAU, DESIGNATED COUNTRY PARKS COVER A LAND MASS OF 22,233 HECTARES" NORTH LANTAU COUNTRY PARK HAS AN AREA CF 2,223 HECTARES AMD PAT SIN LENG 3,153 HECTARES.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME, AN ADDITIONAL SEVEN PARKS OR SPECIAL AREAS, COVER ING AN AREA OF ABOUT 15,333 HECTARES WILL BE DESIGNATED BEFORE THE END OF 1901 — THE TARGET DATE FOR THE PROGRAMME.

IN EACH CF THE COUNTRY PARKS, MANAGEMENT CENTRES WILL EE ESTABLISHED AND EACH ..ILL HAVE ITS O’.N STAFF RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPMENT, MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION. A UNIFORM PARK RANGER SERVICE IS BEING SET UP FOR THE ASSISTANCE AND CONTROL CF VISITORS.

SPECIAL FERRY SERVICE FOR TIN HAU FESTIVAL ******

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THE HONG KONG AND YAUMATI FERRY COMPANY ..ILL OPERATE A SPECIAL FERRY SERVICE FROM WAN CHAI TO JOSS HOUSE BAY ON APRIL 28'AND 29 FOR THE TH. HAU FESTIVAL.

THIS YEAR THE FESTIVAL FALLS ON SATURDAY (APRIL 29) AND LARGE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO GO TC JOSS HOUSE BAY TO PAY HOMAGE TC THE GODDESS TIN HAU, PATRON SAINT CF SEAFARERS.

TRIPLE-DECK FERRIES ..ILL BE USED 0‘ THE SPECIAL SERVICE. THE FIRST FERRY .ILL LEAVE WAN CHAI FERRY PIER T 13 A.". ON APRIL BE. AN ALL-NIGHT SERVICE ..ILL BE OPERATED EET..EEN 12.33 A.’ . AND 6.30 A.M. ON APRIL 2? AT 90- INUTE FREQUENCY.

THE LAST FERRY FROM JOSS HOUSE BAY ..ILL SAIL FOR ..AN CHAI AT 5 P.M. ON APRIL 29.

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

SUNDAY, APRIL 23, 1978

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

ACTING GOVERNOR HELPS CLEAN BEACH IN NT ................... 1

PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES FOR MARCH ....................... 2

COST OF LIVING FOR LAST MONTH DOWN ........................ 3

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS ...................................... 6

REGISTRATION TEAM TO OPERATE IN TIN WAN ................... 7

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

SUNDAY, APRIL 23, 1978

ACTING GOVERNOR HELPS CLEAN BEACH IN NEW TERRITORIES

******

THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DENYS ROBERTS, TODAY (SUNDAY) JOINED 80 STUDENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE OUTWARD BOUND (ALUMNI) ASSOCIATION IN CLEANING UP NAI CHUNG BEACH IN SAI KUNG (NORTH).

SIR DENYS ARRIVED AT THE UNGAZETTED BEACH AT 8.30 A.M. AND WAS MET BY THE DISTRICT OFFICER OF TAI PO, MR. CLIVE OXLEY AND THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR (NEW TERRITORIES) OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, MR. HARNAM GREWAL.

THE STUDENTS WERE FROM KOON HANG PUBLIC SCHOOL, KWOK WAH SCHOOL AND YAT SUN SCHOOL IN NORTH SAI KUNG.

AFTER A BRIEF CHAT WITH THE WELCOMING PARTY, WHO INCLUDED THE CHAIRMAN OF SAI KUNG (NORTH) RURAL COMMITTEE, MR. WONG CHUN-WAI AND OTHER LOCAL RURAL LEADERS AND VILLAGE REPRESENTATIVES, SIR DENYS GOT DOWN TO WORK. HE WAS JOINED BY THE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND RURAL LEADERS.

THE CLEANING UP OPERATION, ORGANISED BY THE TAI PO DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, LASTED FIVE HOURS.

A LARGE NUMBER OF BASKETS OF LITTER WERE BURNT AT SELECTED POINTS ON THE BEACH.

IN APPRECIATION OF THE ENTHUSIASM AND CIVIC MINDEDNESS OF THE STUDENTS, THE ASSOCIATION’S MEMBERS AND RURAL LEADERS, THE TAI PO DISTRICT OFFICE LATER TREATED THEM TO A PICNIC LUNCH IN THE PLAYGROUND OF ONE OF THE LOCAL SCHOOLS.

- - o - -

PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES FOR MARCH

*****

THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS FOR LAST‘MONTH (MARCH) WAS $2,860 MILLION, IMPORTS WERE WORTH $4,882 MILLION AND RE-EXPORTS $987 MILLION, ACCORDING TO THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT’S PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES PUBLISHED TODAY.

THE FIGURES FOR THE PERIOD JANUARY TO MARCH 1978 SHOWED INCREASES, BY VALUE, OF SIX FER CENT FOR DOMESTIC EXPORTS, 17.4 PER CENT FOR IMPORTS AND 16.9 PER CENT FOR RE-EXPORTS, COMPARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN 1977.

/COIXPAHED WITH ...

SUNDAY, APRIL 23, 1978

2

COMPARED WITH MARCH LAST YEAR, EXPORTS INCREASED, Bl VALUE, OF $533 MILLION OR 22.9 PER CENT, IMPORTS BY $950 MILLION OR 24.2 PER CENT AND RE-EXPORTS BY $224 MILLION OR 29.3 PER CENT.

THE SHORT TERM CHANGES, MARCH 1978 COMPARED WITH FEBRUARY 1978, SHOWED INCREASES OF $734 MILLION OR 34.5 PER CENT FOR DOMESTIC EXPORTS, $972 MILLION OR 24.9 PER CENT FOR IMPORTS AND $209 MILLION OR 26.9 PER CENT FOR RE-EXPORTS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT SAID THE REMARKABLE INCREASE IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS APPEARS TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THE INFLUENCE OF SEASONALITY.

THE FIGURES FOR THE 12-MONTH PERIOD FROM APRIL 1977 TO MARCH 1978 COMPARED WITH THOSE OF THE PREVIOUS CORRESPONDING 12 MONTHS SHOWED INCREASES, BY VALUE, OF 7.2 PER CENT FOR DOMESTIC EXPORTS, 13.2 PER CENT FOR IMPORTS AND 12.5 PER CENT FOR RE-EXPORTS.

FOLLOWING ARE COMPARATIVE TRADE FIGURES s-

LATEST 3 MONTHS JAN. - MAR. 1978 JAN. - MAR. 1977 INCREASE OR DECREASE

$ MN. $ MN. $ MN. %

DOMESTIC EXPORTS (% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) 7,706 (74.4%) 7,271 (76.3%) + 435 + 6.0

IMPORTS 13,079 11,142 +1,937 +17.4

RE-EXPORTS (% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) 2,647 (25.6%) 2,263 (25.7%) + 383 +16.9

SAME MONTH LAST YEAR MARCH 1978 MARCH 1977 INCREASE OR DECREASE

$ MN. $ MN. $ MN. %

DOMESTIC EXPORTS (% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) 2,860 (74.3%) 2,327 (•75.3%) + 533 +22.9

IMPORTS 4,882 3,932 + 950 +24.2

RE-EXPORTS (% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) 987 (25.7%) 763 (24.7%) + 224 +29.3

/last hodth......

SUNDAY, APRIL 23, 1978

3

LAST MONTH MARCH 1978 FEBRUARY 1978 INCREASE OR DECREASE

$ MN. $ MN. . $ MN. %

DOMESTIC EXPORTS (% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) 2,860 (74.3%) 2,125 (73.2%) + 734 +34.5

IMPORTS 4,882 3,910 + 972 +24.9

RE-EXPORTS (% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) 987 (25.7%) 778 (26.8%) + 209 +26.9

LAST 12 MONTHS APRIL 1977 TO MARCH 1978 APRIL 1976 TO MARCH 1977 INCREASE OR DECREASE

$ MN. $ MN. $ MN. %

DOMESTIC EXPORTS 35,439 33,056 +2,383 + 7.2

IMPORTS 50,638 44,717 +5,921 +13.2

RE-EXPORTS 10,213 9,079 +1,134 +12.5

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

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX FOR MARCH

*****

THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES (A) AND (B) FOR LAST MONTH (MARCH) WERE BOTH 122, EACH DOWN BY ONE POINT COMPARED WITH THOSE OF THE PREVIOUS MONTH.

THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS DECLINED BY ONE POINT IN C.P.I. (A) AND WAS UNCHANGED IN C.P.I. (B).

THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF FRESH VEGETABLES AND FRESH FRUITS FELL AS A RESULT OF LOWER PRICES FOR MOST VARIETIES OF LEAF VEGETABLES AND FOR APPLES, ORANGES AND BANANAS.

THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICE OF PORK DROPPED DUE TO LOWER WHOLESALE PRICES FOR LIVE SWINE, AND THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICE OF LIVE POULTRY ALSO FELL BECAUSE OF REDUCED DEMAND AFTER THE CHINESE NEW YEAR.

/HOWEVER.......

SUNDAY, APRIL 23, 1978

4

HOWEVER, THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICE OF FRESH-WATER FISH ROSE DUE TO REDUCED SUPPLIES. THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICE OF RICE ALSO ADVANCED FOLLOWING AN INCREASE IN ITS WHOLESALE PRICE.

PRICE OF MEALS BOUGHT AWAY FROM HOME ALSO ROSE AFTER SOME RESTAURANTS AND EATING-PLACES RAISED THEIR PRICES. MOVEMENTS IN RETAIL PRICES OF OTHER FOOD ITEMS WERE INSIGNIFICANT.

THE INDEX FOR TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES FELL BY TWO POINTS IN C.P.I. (A) AND BY ONE POINT IN C.P.I. (B) AS FARES CHARGED BY PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES RETURNED TO NORMAL AFTER THE CHINESE NEW YEAR.

LOWER PRICES FOR SOME ITEMS OF MEN’S AND WOMEN’S OUTERCLOTHING CAUSED THE INDEX FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR TO FALL BY ONE POINT IN BOTH C.P.I. (A) AND C.P.I. (B).

THE INDEX FOR SERVICES ALSO DECLINED BY ONE POINT EACH IN C.P.I. (A) AND C.P.I. (B) FOLLOWING REDUCED CHARGES FOR HAIRDRESSING AFTER THE CHINESE NEW YEAR.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE INDEX FOR ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO ADVANCED BY THREE POINTS AND THAT FOR MISCELLANEOUS GOODS BY TWO POINTS IN BOTH C.P.I. (A) AND C.P.I. (B) AS A RESULT OF HIGHER PRICES FOR AMERICAN AND BRITISH CIGARETTES, CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINES AND JEWELLERY.

THE INDEX FOR HOUSING ROSE BY ONE POINT EACH IN C.P.I. (A) AND C.P.I. (B) OWING TO AN INCREASE IN THE RENT OF SOME PRIVATE DWELLINGS.

HIGHER PRICES FOR SUITCASE AND UMBRELLAS PUSHED THE INDEX FOR DURABLE GOODS UP BY ONE POINT IN C.P.I. (B).

PRICE MOVEMENTS IN OTHER COMMODITY SECTIONS WERE INSIGNIFICANT.

THE C.P.I. (A) IS BASED ON THE WEIGHTS DERIVED FROM THE EXPENDITURE OF HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN $400 - $1,499 A MONTH AND THE C.P.I. (B), BETWEEN $1,500 - $2,999 A MONTH IN THE HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE SURVEY, 1973/74.

/THE SECTION .....

SUNDAY, APRIL 23, 1978

- 5 -

THE SECTION INDEXES FOR MARCH 1978 COMPARED WITH THE

PREVIOUS MONTH AND THE CORRESPONDING MONTH IN 1977 ARE INDICATED BELOW

SECTION C.P.1. (A) MAR. 77 C.P.1. (B) MAR. 77

MAR. 78 FEB. 78 MAR. 78 FEB. 78

FOODSTUFFS 119 120 113 120 120 114

HOUSING 128 127 123 127 126 121

FUEL AND LIGHT 135 ALCOHOLIC DRINKS 135 135 134 134 134

AND TOBACCO CLOTHING AND 140 137 131 136 133 128

FOOTWEAR 101 102 99 100 101 99

DURABLE GOODS MISCELLANEOUS 112 112 108 110 109 106

GOODS TRANSPORT AND 130 128 124 127 125 121

VEHICLES 119 121 114 123 124 119

SERVICES 135 136 128 136 137 128

ALL ITEMS 122 123 117 122 123 117

SUNDAY, APRIL 23, 1978

- 6 -

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN TAI KOK TSUI, SAI YING PUN AND TIN WAN * * * * ft *

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT HAS ANNOUNCED SEVERAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAI KOK TSUI, SAI YING PUN AND TIN WAN, WHICH WILL COME INTO EFFECT ON TUESDAY (APRIL 25).

FROM 10 A.M. ON THAT DAY, THE SOUTH BOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF TAI KOK TSUI ROAD BETWEEN ANCHOR STREET AND POK MAN STREET WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC IN ORDER TO FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE WEST KOWLOON CORRIDOR.

SOUTH BOUND TRAFFIC ALONG THIS SECTION OF TAI KOK TSUI ROAD WILL BE DIVERTED VIA ANCHOR STREET, BEECH STREET AND CHERRY STREET.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE SECTION OF BEECH STREET BETWEEN ANCHOR STREET AND CHERRY STREET WILL BE RE-ROUTED FROM ONE WAY NORTH BOUND TRAFFIC TO TWO WAY, AND A 24-HOUR URBAN CLEARWAY RESTRICTION WILL BE IMPOSED AT THIS SECTION OF BEECH STREET.

ALL MOTOR VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM PICKING UP OR SETTING DOWN PASSENGERS AND LOADING OR UNLOADING GOODS AT ANY TIME ON THIS ROAD.

IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRAFFIC RE-ROUTING ARRANGEMENTS, KMB ROUTES 10, 12, 13D, 16, 18, 37, 44A AND 51 WILL BE' TEMPORARILY DIVERTED TO OPERATE FROM TAI KOK TSUI BUS TERMINUS VIA POK MAN STREET, TAI KOK TSUI ROAD, CHERRY STREET, BEECH STREET AND ANCHOR STREET ON OUTWARD JOURNEYS.

KMB ROUTE 2E WILL BE DIVERTED TO OPERATE VIA ANCHOR STREET, BEECH STREET AND CHERRY STREET ON JOURNEYS TO KOWLOON CITY FERRY.

IN SAI YING PUN, CHUNG CHING STREET AND SAI YUEN LANE WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM 10 A.M. ON APRIL 25 FOR ABOUT ONE WEEK TO FACILITATE ROAD REPAIRS.

ON THE SAME DAY, IN TIN WAN, THE ACCESS ROAD LEADING TO THE CHINESE PERMANENT CEMETERY WILL ALSO BE CLOSED TO ALL MOTOR VEHICLES FROM 10 A.M. TO FACILITATE WORK ON A NEW ROAD. IT WILL BE READY IN ABOUT MID-JUNE.

IN THE MEANTIME, VISITORS TO THE CHINESE PERMANENT CEMETERY ARE ASKED TO USE THE NEW STAIRCASE EAST OF THE CLOSED ACCESS ROAD.

APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE SET UP IN ALL THESE PLACES TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.

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

/7

SUNDAY, APRIL 23, 1978

REGISTRATION TEAM TO OPERATE IN TIN WAN ESTATE OFFICE ******

THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS OFFICE WILL CONDUCT REGISTRATIONS IN TIN WAN ESTATE OFFICE FOR RESIDENTS AND PERSONS LIVING NEARBY ON MAY 1 AND 2.

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

REGISTRATIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED BETWEEN 9.30 A.M. AND 4.30 P.M. ON THE TWO DAYS.

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

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

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

MONDAY, APRIL 24, 1978

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

GOVERNMENT LABORATORY SEPARATED FROM MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT ......................................... 1

FLYOVER TO BE BUILT AT JUNCTION OF WONG NAI CHUNG GAP ROAD AND STUBBS ROAD ...................................... 2

TYPHOON SHELTERS AVAILABLE TO PUBLIC ...................... 3

TREE CLEARING TEAMS OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT ................................................ 4

TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF HOSPITAL ROAD ........................ 4

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

MONDAY, APRIL 24, 1978

GOVERNMENT LABORATORY SEPARATED FROM MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT ********

THE GOVERNMENT LABORATORY, FORMERLY UNDER THE WING OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, HAS BECOME INDEPENDENT FROM THIS MONTH.

IT IS NOW DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE TO THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATION.

COMMENTING ON THE CHANGE, DR. A.J. NUTTEN, THE GOVERNMENT CHEMIST SAID THE MOVE WAS TO KEEP PACE WITH THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT IN SCIENTIFIC AND LABORATORY TECHNIQUES.

+IT IS ALSO ADVANTAGEOUS TO BE SEPARATED FROM THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT AS WE PROVIDE DIFFERENT KINDS OF SERVICE. THE CHANGE ENABLES THE LABORATORY TO OPERATE MORE INDEPENDENTLY AND IS IN LINE WITH PRACTICE IN MANY COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES,* DR. NUTTEN POINTED OUT.

MEANWHILE, THE GOVERNMENT LABORATORY IS PLANNING TO EXPAND IN ORDER TO KEEP UP WITH THE INCREASING WORKLOAD BROUGHT ABOUT BY A NUMBER OF DEVELOPMENTS.

DR. NUTTEN SAID AN ADDITIONAL 6,000 SQ. FT. OF AREA NEXT TO THE EXISTING PREMISES AT NORTH POINT WOULD BE READY FOR OCCUPATION EY THE END OF THIS YEAR, BRINGING THE TOTAL WORKING AREA OF THE LABORATORY TO OVER 30,000 SQ. FT.

FUNDS HAVE ALSO BEEN EARMARKED FOR THE PURCHASE OF SOPHISTICATED SCIENTIFIC EQUIPMENT THIS FINANCIAL YEAR, AND MORE SCHOOL LEAVERS WILL BE RECRUITED INTO THE SERVICE AS LABORATORY ASSISTANTS.

DR. NUTTEN POINTED OUT THAT THE PROSPECTS OF LABORATORY ASSISTANTS TO FURTHER THEIR STUDIES RELATED TO THEIR CAREER ARE VERY GOOD AS ONE IN FOUR IS SENT OVERSEAS FOR SPECIALISED TRAINING AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE.

♦BESIDES A NUMBER OF CHEMISTS AND TECHNICAL PERSONNEL ARE ALSO SENT ABROAD EACH YEAR FOR TRAINING,* HE ADDED.

THE GOVERNMENT LABORATORY PRESENTLY HAS 120 STAFF, OF WHICH A LARGE PERCENTAGE IS PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL PERSONNEL AND ITS STRENGTH IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE TO 150 DURING THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR.

THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT LABORATORY INCLUDE ADMINISTERING THE CHEMICAL CONTROL OF STANDARD OF FOOD FOR SALE TO THE PUBLIC, ANALYSIS OF DUTIABLE COMMODITIES AND DANGEROUS GOODS, SURVEY OF AND INVESTIGATION INTO ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANTS IN GENERAL, TESTING OF MATERIAL PURCHASED BY GOVERNMENT FOR COMPLIANCE WITH SPECIFICATIONS, EXAMINATION OF PAINTS AND OTHER SUBSTANCES FOR TOXIC METAL CONTENTS AND PROVIDING TECHNICAL ADVISORY SERVICES TO GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

/its roarasic

MONDAY, APRIL 24, 1978

- 2 -

ITS FORENSIC DIVISION ADVISES AND WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE IN AREAS OF CRIMINOLOGY. THIS INCLUDES HOMICIDAL DEATHS, DEATHS UNDER SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES, CLINICAL EXAMINATIONS AND BLOOD GROUPING.

BESIDES. THE LABORATORY IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR TESTING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS PURCHASED AND DISPENSED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

LAST YEAR, THE LABORATORY CARRIED OUT MORE THAN 45,000 EXAMINATIONS OF VARIOUS KINDS.

.-..0.---

WONG NAI CHUNG GAP ROAD - STUBBS ROAD FLYOVER TO BE BUILT SOON

* * *

A FLYOVER IS TO BE BUILT SHORTLY AT THE JUNCTION OF WONG NAI CHUNG GAP ROAD AND STUBBS ROAD TO IMPROVE THE TRAFFIC FLOW IN THE AREA.

MR. CHOI YU-LEUK, ACTING CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE CONSULTANTS MANAGEMENT DIVISION OF THE P.W.D.’S HIGHWAYS OFFICE, SAID TODAY THAT WORK WOULD BEGIN IN JULY AND TAKE ABOUT 20 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.

HE SAID THAT THE FLYOVER WOULD PROVIDE A DIRECT LINK BETWEEN WONG NAI CHUNG GAP ROAD AND THE LOWER SECTION OF STUBBS ROAD.

+IT WILL ACCOMMODATE TWO TRAFFIC LANES TO ENABLE ALL NORTHBOUND AS WELL AS SOUTH-BOUND TRAFFIC TO BYPASS THE ROAD JUNCTION THEREBY RELIEVING THE PRESENT CONGESTION,+ MR. CHOI SAID.

+GROUND LEVEL ROADS WILL ALSO BE WIDENED.+

HOWEVER, HE POINTED CUT, THESE WORKS AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE FLYOVER ITSELF WOULD BE PLANNED AND PROGRAMMED IN SUCH A MANNER THAT DISTURBANCE TO TRAFFIC THROUGH THE ROAD JUNCTION WOULD BE KEPT TO THE MINIMUM DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD.

- - 0 - -

/3

MONDAY, APRIL 24, 1978

3

TEMPORARY SHELTERS AVAILABLE IN CASE OF STORM JU O

THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT HAS ARRANGED 131 TYPHOON SHELTERS TO BE OPEN TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SEEKING SAFER ACCOMMODATION DURING THE PASSAGE OF TROPICAL STORMS.,

THESE SHELTERS IN THE URBAN AREAS HAVE A TOTAL CAPACITY OF 19,946 AND WILL BE OPENED WHEN TYPHOON SIGNAL NO. 8 IS HOISTED.

THE PUBLIC CAN CONTACT THEIR NEAREST CITY DISTRICT OFFICE IF SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS ARE REQUIRED.

MEANWHILE, THE PUBLIC ENQUIRY COUNTER AT THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS WILL BE MANNED ROUND THE CLOCK AS TYPHOON SIGNAL NO. 1 IS HOISTED. FOR QUERIES ON THE TYPHOON SITUATION AND CONDITION OF BOTH LAND AND SEA TRANSPORT, THE PUBLIC MAY CALL TELEPHONE NUMBER 5-456381.

THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE TYPHOON SHELTERS IS AS FOLLOWS

DISTRICT NO. OF SHELTERS • CAPACITY TELEPHONE NUMBERS

EASTERN 14 1,760 MAIN OFFICE : 5-712658 SHAU KI WAN SUB-OFFICE : 5-690121 CHAI WAN SUB-OFFICE : 5-573265

WAN CHAI 13 2,530 5-752477 OR 5-742281

CENTRAL AND WESTERN 13 fe 1,510 MAIN OFFICE : 5-480127 C.G.O. ENQUIRY COUNTER : 5-220031

SOUTHERN 13 J 3,880 5-540271

KWUN TONG 23 1,720 MAIN OFFICE : 3-423431 NGAU TAU KOK SUB-OFFICE: 3-420843 YAU TONG SUB-OFFICE : 3-351135 SAU MAU PING SUB-OFFICE: 3-461247

WONG TAI SIN 19 2,160 MAIN OFFICE: 3-222261 OR 3-229701 TSZ WAN SHAN SUB-OFFICE: 3-241872

KOWLOON CITY 10 1,316 MAIN OFFICE : 3-010171 HUNG HOM SUB-OFFICE : 3-632215 OR 3-639449 HOMANTIN SUB-OFFICE : 3-029181 OR 3-028812

SHAM SHUI PO 7 2,240 MAIN OFFICE : 3-704251 CHEUNG SHA WAN SUB-OFFICE: 3-704033

MONG KOK 6 1,080 MAIN OFFICE: 3-SO2251 OR 3-809731 TAI KOK TSUI SUE-OFFICE: 3-932288

YAU MA TEI 8 1,750 3-686161

MONDAY, APRIL 24, 1978

- 4 -

TREE CLEARING TEAMS OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT

******

THE AGRICULTURE AMD FISHER IE.S DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE EIGHT TREE CLEARING TEAMS IN OPERATION IMMEDIATELY A TYPHOON SIGNAL NO. 3 IS HOISTED.

THE EIGHT CREWS FROM THE CONSERVATION DIVISION OPERATE AT THE DISTRICT OFFICES IN YUEN LONG, TSUEN WAN, AND TAI PO» AT SAI KUNG POLICE STATION- KOWLOON HILLS AND NAM SHAN (LANTAU) FORESTRY STATION- AND TWO AT P.W.D. HEADQUARTERS, MURRAY BUILDING. THESE CREWS WILL CUT DOWN AND MAKE SAFE ANY DANGEROUS TREES CAUSED BY A TYPHOON. THEY WILL ALSO BE ON STANDBY FOR ANY OTHER EMERGENCY.

AT THE SAME TIME THE DEPARTMENT ADVISES FISHERMEN TO RETURN. TO TYPHOON SHELTERS AND FARMERS TO CLEAR DRAINS AROUND THEIR PROPERTY TO EASE FLOODING.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY FtSHERMEN AND FARMERS SHOULD LISTEN TO TYPHOON WARNINGS ON THE RADIO.

+WHEN A TYPHOON REACHES NO. 3 SIGNAL, WE EXPECT FISHERMEN TO RETURN TO TYPHOON SHELTERS AND SECURE ALL LOOSE EQUIPMENT AND BELONGINGS ON DECK. DEEP SEA FISHERMEN NORMALLY RETURN TO HONG KONG IN THE EVENT OF THE NO. 1 SIGNAL,+ HE SAID.

HE ADDED THAT FISHERMEN AND FARMERS WERE GENERALLY WELL INFORMED ABOUT-PRECAUTIONS DURING A TYPHOON AS IT HAD DIRECT BEARING ON THEIR LIVELIHOOD.

FARMERS NOW PLANT HARDY CROPS, SUCH AS WATER SPINACH PRIOR TO WET SEASON AND CHINESE SPINACH, WHICH REAPS A QUICK HARVEST IMMEDIATELY AFTER A TYPHOON. THEY ALSO PLANT IN SUCH A WAY THAT FARM STRUCTURES ACT AS A WINDBREAK AROUND THE CROP.

HE ADDED THAT MOST DAMAGE TO CROP FROM A TYPHOON CAME FROM FLOODING AND NOT NECESSARILY FROM THE WIND.

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

TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF HOSPITAL ROAD

* * *

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT THE SECTION OF HOSPITAL ROAD BETWEEN THE SIR ELLIS KADOORIE SCHOOL AND THE TUNG WAH FUNERAL PARLOUR WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM 1 A.M. TO 3 A.M. ON WEDNESDAY (APRIL 26) TO FACILITATE WORK ON TUNNEL STABILISATION.

APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE SET UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.

0

IbKlIiS) |EIS| Rgfel

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 1978

contents page NO.

AecAoe0lJR commissioner outlines plans for labour ^°!T'C'ALS T° COMMENT ON SOCIAL SECURITY GREEN PAPER

TRADE FIGURES FOR JANUARY-FEBRUARY ....................... 4

DENTAL TEACHING CLINIC TO BE BUILT IN WESTERN 8

HONG KONG JURY LIST ............

••••••••••••a.. g

FIRE SERVICES TO INSPECT FACTORIES IN KWUN TONG 9

WATER CUT........

........................................ 9

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

TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 1978

NEW LABOUR COMMISSIONER OUTLINES PLANS FOR LABOUR AFFAIRS *****

IMPROVEMENTS TO THE WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION SCHEME, GREATER EMPHASIS ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND THE SETTING UP OF TRAINING BOARDS FOR THE COMMERCE AND SERVICES SECTOR WERE OUTLINED BY THE NEW COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR. NEIL HENDERSON, WHEN HE GAVE A LUNCHEON TALK TO THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES IN KOWLOON TODAY (TUESDAY).

IN HIS FIRST PUBLIC ADDRESS SINCE BECOMING COMMISSIONER, MR. HENDERSON SAID THAT MAIN THRUSTS WOULD BE MADE IN THE THREE AREAS OVER THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO, AND LABOUR DEPARTMENT STAFF WOULD BE CONSOLIDATED TO COPE ADEQUATELY WITH THE DEPARTMENT’S COMMITMENTS.

ON IMPROVEMENTS TO THE WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION SCHEME, THE COMMISSIONER SAID HE HOPED TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION IN MAY TO ENABLE SILICOSIS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE SCHEME.

HE SAID: +OF MORE GENERAL INTEREST, IS THE INTER-DEPARTMENTAL WORKING PARTY FOR CONSIDERING THE WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE IN WIDE TERMS.

+THEY ARE STUDYING IN PARTICULAR THE BASIS OF COMPENSATION, AS TO WHETHER IT SHOULD BE RELATED TO PERCENTAGE DISABILITY, AS NOW, OR TO COMPENSATION FOR LOSS OF OCCUPATIONAL EARNING CAPACITY,* MR. HENDERSON SAID.

HE ADDED: +A SIMPLE ILLUSTRATION OF THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT IF I LOSE A FINGER IT WOULD HAVE VIRTUALLY NO EFFECT ON MY EARNING CAPACITY, BUT IF A CONCERT PIANIST LOSES HIS IT WOULD MEAN A LOSS OF HIS LIVELIHOOD. YET UNDER THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF PERCENTAGE DISABILITY WE WOULD BOTH BE COMPENSATED ON THE SAME BASIS FOR LOSS OF ONE FINGER.*

IN THE FIELD OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY, THE COMMISSIONER CALLED FOR INCREASED AWARENESS ON THE PART OF WORKERS, MANAGEMENT AND THE PUBLIC AS A WHOLE.

HE SAID: +THERE IS A LIMIT TO WHAT THE GOVERNMENT ITSELF CAN DO IN THIS AREA. WE HAVE NOW LARGELY ERECTED OUR PROTECTIVE FENCE OF LEGISLATION AND WE ARE PLANNING TO INCREASE THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE TO 200 OR SO IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, SO THAT ADEQUATE COVERAGE OF ADVICE CAN BE GIVEN TO EMPLOYERS AND PROSECUTIONS TAKEN WHEN NECESSARY.

+BUT IN THE LAST ANALYSIS, OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY IS AN EVERYDAY THING — THE DAILY CARELESSNESS, THE LACK OF SAFETY CONSCIOUSNESS, THE INDISCIPLINE OF THE WORK-PLACE. INSPECTION CAN ONLY AIM AT IMPROVING STANDARDS AND CHECKING THE PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS. IT CANNOT CONSTANTLY BE PRESENT TO OBSERVE THE FAILINGS OF HUMAN BEHAVIOUR AND THE CASUAL WORK METHOD. THAT CAN ONLY BE STIMULATED BY MANAGEMENT AND WORKERS THEMSELVES IN THE WORK-PLACE.*

/MH. HENDERSON .....

TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 1978

2

MR. HENDERSON SAID THAT, TO EXAMINE WAYS AND MEANS OF ACHIEVING THIS MORE AT THE SHOP-FLOOR LEVEL, AN OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY COMMITTEE OF THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD HAD BEEN FORMED. IT WOULD PERHAPS FOSTER A VOLUNTARY SAFETY MOVEMENT OR WORK TOWARDS AN OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY COUNCIL WHICH WOULD RAISE PUBLIC CONSCIOUSNESS AND THE SAFETY AWARENESS OF WORKERS.

ON TRAINING FOR COMMERCE AND SERVICE INDUSTRIES^ MR. HENDERSON HOPED THAT, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL’S RECOMMENDATIONS, AN INITIAL SEVEN TRAINING BOARDS WOULD SOON BE SET UP. THEY WOULD COVER BANKING" INSURANCE- JOURNALISM- HOTELS, CATERING AND TOURISM- ACCOUNTANCY AND ALLIED FIELDS- WHOLESALE/ RETAIL AND IMPORT/EXPORT TRADES- AND MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISORY TRAINING.

HE SAID THAT DIVERSIFICATION HAD BROUGHT ABOUT A SHIFT OF EMPLOYMENT INTO THE TERTIARY OR SERVICE INDUSTRIES, AND THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT MUST TURN ITS ATTENTION INCREASINGLY TO THIS SECTOR.

+MUCH TRAINING OF COURSE ALREADY GOES ON IN THIS SECTOR,+ HE SAID, +BUT MUCH OF IT IS RATHER HAPHAZARD AND UNCOORDINATED. BELOW THE PROFESSIONAL LEVELS, TOO, IN THE TERTIARY SECTOR THERE IS A VAST INFRASTRUCTURE OF DIFFERENT OCCUPATIONS WHERE PERFORMANCE COULD BE GREATLY IMPROVED BY MORE SYSTEMATIC TRAINING.

HE ALSO SAID THAT THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WOULD BE CLOSELY EXAMINING EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS IN THE TERTIARY SECTOR, WHICH IS LESS STATUTORILY CONTROLLED THAN MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY.

+IN THIS FIELD,+ HE SAID, +OUR INTENTION TO REGULATE THE EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN IN THE NON-1NDUSTRI AL SECTOR HAS ALREADY BEEN ANNOUNCED AND IS TARGETED TO TAKE EFFECT AT THE END OF NEXT YEAR.+

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

UNOFFICIALS TO COMMENT ON SOCIAL SECURITY GREEN PAPER AT LEGCO X X * X

SIX UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WILL COMMENT ON THE SOCIAL SECURITY DEVELOPMENT GREEN PAPER TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) WHEN THE COUNCIL MEETS.

THE REV. THE HON. PATRICK MCGOVERN WILL MOVE AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER’S MOTION THAT +THIS COUNCIL TAKES NOTE OF THE PROPOSALS IN THE GREEN PAPER ON SOCIAL SECURITY DEVELOPMENT.+

DURING QUESTION TIME SENIOR UNOFFICIAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, THE HON. SIR SZE-YUEN CHUNG, WILL ASK WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT IS PLANNING TO BUILD AN AIRPORT ON LANTAU ISLAND OR ELSEWHERE TO REPLACE THE PRESENT ONE AT KAI TAK.

THE QUESTION IS ONE OF THE 29 TC BE RAISED BY THE UNOFFICIALS ON VARIOUS ISSUES OF PUBLIC INTEREST.

/THS HON. WONG LAM......

TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 1978

3

THE HON. WONG LAM WILL ASK IF THE GOVERNMENT AGREES THAT THE MAJORITY OF PARENTS STILL SHOW LITTLE INTEREST IN MOST GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND PREFER TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS, DESPITE THE FACT THAT FREE PRIMARY EDUCATION WAS INTRODUCED IN 1971.

HE ALSO WANTS TO KNOW WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT HAS LOOKED INTO THE REASON FOR THIS AND WHAT ITS PLANS ARE IN RECTIFYING THIS SITUATION.

THE HON. T.S. LO WILL QUERY THE GOVERNMENT ABOUT ITS METHOD USED TO ENSURE THAT LIKE OTHER MONOPOLISTIC UTILITIES THE CABLE AND WIRELESS DOES NOT OVERCHARGE.

MR. LO WILL ALSO ASK THE GOVERNMENT TO EXPLAIN WHY IT HAS PERMITTED THE CABLE AND WIRELESS COMPANY TO LEVY SUCH CHARGES ON TELEGRAMMES, TELEXES AND TELEPHONES THAT IT COSTS HONG KONG PEOPLE MORE TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE UNITED KINGDOM THAN VICE VERSA.

THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEON WILL RAISE A QUESTION ON THE EFFECTIVE STEPS BEING TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT TO STAMP OUT THE LONGTIME PRACTICE OF OVER-CHARGING OF FARES BY TAXIS OPERATING FROM KAI TAK AIRPORT.

THE HON. ALEX WU WILL ASK WHAT STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE THAT ADEQUATE MEDICAL ATTENTION IS AVAILABLE TO PATIENTS ADMITTED AT NIGHT TO THE CASUALTY WARDS OF HOSPITALS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.

THE HON. R.H. LOBO WANTS TO KNOW WHAT STEPS GOVERNMENT WILL ASK TO PREVENT THE STREETS OF HONG KONG FROM BEING TURNED INTO NOCTURNAL RACING TRACKS BY MOTOR-CYCLISTS IN SUMMER.

OTHER QUESTIONS TO BE RAISED BY THE UNOFFICIALS CONCERN THE APPLICATION FOR WATER SUPPLY IN HOUSING ESTATE UNITS- THE HOUSING AUTHORITY’S POLICY AND PRACTICE ON REPAIR AND REDECORATION OF THE EXTERNAL STRUCTURE AND COMMON PARTS OF ESTATE BUILDINGS- THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS INVOLVING MINI-BUSES AND THE METHODS USED TO TRACE MISSING TENNAGERS AND WOMEN.

SIX BILLS WILL EE INTRODUCED AT TOMORROW’S MEETING FOR FIRST READING. THEY ARE THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS BILL 1978, THE HOUSING (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1978, THE CROWN LEASES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1378, THE LAND REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978, THE DISCIPLINED SERVICES (WELFARE FUNDS) BILL 1978 AND THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978.

DEBATE WILL RESUME ON TEN BILLS, INCLUDING THE BANK-NOTES ISSUE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978, THE CRIMES (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1978 AND THE MOTOR VEHICLES INSURANCE (THIRD PARTY RISKS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1973.

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

/4

TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 1973

4 -

HK TRADE FIGURES FOR JANUARY - FEBRUARY

******

THE VALUE OF HONG KONG’S DOMESTIC EXPORTS FOR JANUARY-FEBRUARY THIS YEAR DROPPED BY TWO PER CENT TO $4,846 MILLION COMPARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR, ACCCRDIf.'G TC TRADE FIGURES RELEASED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED THAT THE LOW TRADING ACTIVITY WAS MAINLY DUE TO SEASONAL EFFECT, SUCH AS THE USUAL OCCURRENCE OF CHINESE NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS AND FEWER TRADING DAYS IN FEBRUARY.

THE FIGURES ALSO SHOWED THAT THE VALUE OF IMPORTS ROSE BY 13.7 PER CENT TC $8,197 MILLION AND RE-EXPORTS UP 10.6 PER CENT TO $1,660 MILLION AS COMPARED WITH THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD LAST YEAR.

THE FOLLOWING 10 MAJOR MARKETS IN TABLE SHOWS THE FIRST HONG KONG’ TWO MONTHS S DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO OF THIS YEAR:-

JAN.-FEB. 1977 (HK$ MN) JAN.-FEB. 1973 (HK$ MN) INCREASE/ DECREASE (HK$ MN) PERCENTAGE CHANGE

U.S.A. 1,712 1,742 + 30 + 1.7/

F.R. OF GERMANY 589 525 - 64 -10.8%

UNITED KINGDOM 414 381 - 33 - 8.0/

AUSTRALIA 231 212 - 19 - 8.1?-

JAPAN 174 190 + 16 + 9.0#

CANADA 173 153 - 21 -12.0/

SINGAPORE 124 139 + 16 +12.8/.

THE NETHERLANDS 122 109 - 13 -13.5/

SWITZERLAND AND LIECHTENSTEIN 106 100 - 6 - 5.8/

SWEDEN 118 71 - 47 -39.7/

OVERALL EXPORTS TO THE U.S. MARKET ROSE BY 1.7 PER CENT, WITH AN IMPRESSIVE GROWTH RATE RECORDED IN .ATCHES AND CLOCKS ($76 MILLION, +42 PER CENT) AND A STEEP DECLINE REGISTERED IN TEXTILE FABRICS ($39 MILLION, -37.3 ’ER CENT).

DELIVERIES TO F.R. OF GERMANY, CANADA, AUSTRALIA AND SWEDEN WERE AFFECTED BY THE SLUGGISH DEMAND FOR APPAREL AND TEXTILE ARTICLES.

/THS DROP......

TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 1978

5

THE DROP IN EXPORTS TO U.K. WERE MAINLY DUE TO REDUCED SALES OF PLASTIC TOYS AND DOLLS (523 MILLION, -23.7 PER CENT) AND TEXTILE YARN, FABRICS, MADE-UP ARTICLES AMD RELATED PRODUCTS (533 MILLION, -16.5 PER CENT).

EXPORT SALES TO JAPAN AND SINGAPORE ROSE BY NINE PER CENT AND 12.8 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.'

AN ANALYSIS OF THE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS BY MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS IS AS FOLLOWS:-

JAN.-FEB. 1977 (HKJ MN) JAN.-FEB. 1978 (HK3 MR) INCREASE/ DECREASE (HK3 MN) PERCENTA CHANGE

ARTICLES OF APPAREL AND CLOTHING ACCESSORIES 1,987 1,808 -179 - 9.3%

MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (MAINLY PLASTIC TOYS AND DOLLS) 769 a 744 - 25 - 3.2;:

PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, OPTICAL GOODS, WATCHES AND CLOCKS 241 372 +131 +54.2%

TEXTILE YARN, FABRICS, MADE-UP ARTICLES AND RELATED PRODUCTS 408 352 - 55 -13.6%

TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT 404 347 - 56 -13.9%

ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES (MAINLY TRANSISTORS AND DIODES AND HOUSEHOLD TYPE EQUIPMENT) 253 265 + 13 + 5.0%

THE IMPRESSIVE UPSURGE IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, OPTICAL GOODS AND WATCHES AND CLOCKS WAS MAINLY ATTRIBUTED TO INCREASED EXPORTS OF WATCHES AND CLOCKS (J3O4 MILLION, +64.4 PER CENT).

HOWEVER, EXPORTS OF OTHER MAJOR ITEMS FELL SI GN IFICANTLY= APPAREL ARTICLES (Q1,8O8 MILLION, -9 PER CENT) TEXTILE YARN, FABRICS, MADE UP AND RELATED PRODUCTS (3352 MILLION, -13.6 PER CENT) PLASTIC TOYS AND DOLLS (3259 MILLION, -14.1 PER CENT), RADIO BROADCAST RECEIVERS G188 MILLION, -33.6 PER CENT).

/THB CHANGES .....

TUESDAY, APRIL 2$, 1978

6

THE CHANGES IN IMPORTS FROM 10 MAJOR SOURCES ARE SUMMARISED AS FOLLOWS:-

JAN.-FEE. 1977 (HKO MN) JAN.-FEB. 1978 (HKV MN) INCREASE/ DECREASE (HK$ MN) PERCENTAGE CHANGE

JAPAN 1,514 1,766 +252 ' + 16.6;

CH 1 NA 1,198 1,391 +194 +16.2$.

U.S.A. 930 946 + 17 + 1.8%

TAIWAN 531 536 + 5 + 1.3%

SINGAPORE 404 456 + 52 +12.9%

UNITED KINGDOM 339 384 + 45 +13.4%

SOUTH KOREA 226 287 + 60 +26.7%

F.R. OF GERMANY 227 275 + 48 +21.3%

SWITZERLAND AND LIECHENSTEIN 199 • 248 + 48 +24.2%

AUSTRALIA 137 141 + 4 + 2.7%

IMPORTS FROM JANUARY-FEBRUARY CHINA WERE 1977, PARTLY 16.2 PER CENT HIGHER THAN REFLECTING MORE IMPORTS.OF TEXTILE

FABRICS (C128 MILLION, +33.6 PER CENT). LIVE ANIMALS (0173 MILLION, +16.1 PER CENT), VEGETABLES AND FRUIT (0115 MILLION, +22.4 PER CENT) AND PETROLEUM AND PETROLEUM PRODUCT (0104 MILLION, +108.9 PER CENT).

ON THE OTHER HAND, INCREASED ARRIVALS OF TEXTILE YARN, FABRICS, MADE-UP ARTICLES AND RELATED PRODUCTS (0315 MILLION, +31.2 PER CENT), WATCHES ARD CLOCKS (0154 MILLION, +48.3 PER CENT) AND ROAD VEHICLES (0132 MILLION, +73.8 PER CENT) ACCOUNTED MAINLY FOR A 16.6 PER CENT INCREASE IN IMPORTS FROM JAPAN.

THE FOLLOWING TABLE ILLUSTRATES THE IMPORTANT CHANGES IN IMPORTS BY COMMODITY SECTORS

JAN.-FEE. JAN.-FEE. INCREASE/

1977 1978 DECREASE PERCENTAGE

(HK3 MN) (HKO MN) (HK$ MN) CHANGE

MANUFACTURED GOODS CLASSIFIED CHIEFLY EY MATER I AL (MAINLY TEXTILE PRODUCTS AND DIAMONDS)

2,357

2,477

+421

+23.5%

/1IACHINEHY......

TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 1978

7

.MACHINERY AND

TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT 1,421 1,547 +126 + 8.8%

FOOD AND LIVE ANIMALS CHIEFLY FOR FOOD 1,113 • 1,187 + 74 + 6.6%

MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (MAINLY WYCHES AND CLOCKS, ARTICLES OF APPAREL) 836 1,034 +197 +23.6%

CHEMICALS AND RELATED PRODUCTS 562 571 + 10 + 1.7%

ALL COMMODITY SECTIONS REGISTERED INCREASES IN IMPORTS. REMARKABLE INCREASES OCCURRED IN TEXTILE FABRICS ($630 MILLION, +16.3 PER CENT), PETROLEUM AND PETROLEUM PRODUCTS ($509 MILLION, +18.5 PER CENT), PEARLS, PRECIOUS AND SEMI-PRECIOUS STONES ($450 MILLION, +49.3 PER CENT), TEXTILE YARN ($413 MILLION, +19 PER CENT), WATCHES AND CLOCKS ($377 MILLION, +42.5 PER CENT) AND ROAD VEHICLES ($214 MILLION, +46.4 PER CENT).

RE-EXPORTS TO JAPAN WERE VALUED AT $272 MILLION, REPRESENTING AN INCREASE OF 14.3 PER CENT. THE INCREASE WAS ASCRIBED TO MORE RE-EXPORTS OF PEARLS, PRECIOUS AND SEMI-PRECIOUS STONES ($99 MILLION, + 60.9 PER CENT) AND TEXTILE FIBRES ($27 MILLION, + 956.7 PER CENT).

RE-EXPORTS TO THE OTHER MAJOR MARKETS, INDONESIA ($213 MILLION, + 86.9 PER CENT), SINGAPORE ($205 MILLION, + 18.8 PER CENT) AND THE U.S. ($146 MILLION, + 17.2 PER CENT) ALSO INCREASED FAVOURABLY.

THE TRADE INDEX NUMBERS FOR JANUARY 1978 ARE AS FOLLOWS :-

(1973 = 100)

VALUE INDEX UNIT VALUE INDEX QUANTUM INDEX

DOMESTIC EXPORTS 168 133 126

IMPORTS 177 137 130

EXPORT UNIT VALUE INDEX

THE TERMS OF TRADE INDEX (I.E.

IMPORT UNIT VALUE INDEX

FOR JANUARY IS 97

TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 1978

8

DENTAL TEACHING CLINIC FOR WESTERN ******

THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE $86 MILLION DENTAL TEACHING CLINIC IN SAI YING PUN WILL BEGIN SHORTLY, THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY.

WORK WILL BE CARRIED OUT IN TWO STAGES AND TENDERS FOR THE FIRST PHASE OF THE PROJECT ARE BEING INVITED BY THE P.W.D.’S ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE.

MR. C.C. TAM, P.W.D.’S SENIOR ARCHITECT, SAID THAT WORK ON THE FIRST PHASE WOULD BEGIN IN JUNE AND TAKE ABOUT 30 WEEKS TO COMPLETE.

THE CONTRACT WOULD COMPRISE FOUNDATION WORK AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SUB-STRUCTURE UP TO GROUND FLOOR LEVEL.

WORK ON THE SECOND STAGE, INVOLVING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE MAIN BUILDING, WOULD BEGIN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE PHASE ONE, MR. TAM SAID.

HE ADDED THAT THE CLINIC, WHEN COMPLETED, WOULD PROVIDE DENTAL TEACHING FACILITIES FOR AN ANNUAL INTAKE OF 80 STUDENTS.

THE SITE IS ADJACENT TO THE TSAN YUK HOSPITAL IN SAI YING PUN AND THE CLINIC IS EXPECTED TO BE IN OPERATION BY SEPTEMBER 1980.

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

HONG KONG JURY LIST

******

THE REGISTRAR HAS ANNOUNCED THAT

OF THE SUPREME COURT, MR. SIMON HERBERT MAYO,

-ror- A FURTHER LIST OF COMMON JURORS WILL BE POSTED

°N Zur o?IICE B0ARD NEAR THE LIFT INSIDE the south-west entrance CF THE SUPREME COURT BUILDING NEXT MONDAY (MAY 1).

..... WILL REMAIN POSTED FOR 14 DAYS DURING WHICH PERIOD

ANY PcRSON MAY APPLY BY NOTICE IN WRITING TO THE REGISTRAR RE2iZIRING THAT HIS NAME 0R THE NAME 0F ANOTHER PERSON BE POSTED OR REMOVED UPON CAUSE DULY ASSIGNED IN SUCH NOTICE.

THE REGISTRAR SHALL IN HIS DISCRETION. POST OR REMOVE SUCH NAME ACCORDINGLY AND IF NECESSARY ALTER THE LIST.

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

/9

TUESDAY, APRIL 25, 1978

9

NOTE TC EDITORS:

FIRE SERVICE TO INSPECT KWUN TONG FACTORIES * * * *

THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL CARRY OUT INSPECTION ON INDUSTRIAL PREMISES IN KWUN TONG FOR TWO DAYS FROM TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).

THE OPERATION IS PART OF THE AREA INSPECTION SCHEME LAUNCHED LAST YEAR TO AROUSE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF FIRE SAFETY.

YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND A REPORTER/PHOTOGRAPHER TO COVER THE EVENT. THEY SHOULD ASSEMBLE AT THE KWUN TONG FIRE STATION IN KWUN TONG ROAD NOT LATER THAN 9 A. M. TOMORROW.

0 - -

WATER CUT * * * K

WATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN TIN WAN AND AP LEI CHAU WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR EIGHT HOURS FROM 10 P.M. ON THURSDAY (APRIL 27) TO FACILITATE THE CONNECTION OF A FRESH WATER MAIN AT SHEK PAI WAN ROAD NEAR ABERDEEN DOCKYARD.

AFFECTED ARE ALL PREMISES IN AP LEI CHAU INCLUDING THE HONG KONG ELECTRIC POWER STATION, THE TIN WAN ESTATE, THE TIN WAN TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA, TIN WAN DAIRY FARM, AND HING WAI COLD STORAGE.

- - 0 -

CIS

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1978

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

HK IS A MARKET WORTH CULTIVATING — SAYS GOVERNOR .......... 1

FINANCIAL SECRETARY SPEAKS AT ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK MEETING ................................................... 4

UNOFFICIALS COMMENT ON GREEN PAPER ON SOCIAL SECURITY .................................................. g

APPROACH TO BUILDING NEW AIRPORT EXPLAINED ............... 15

PROPERTY REVIEW 1978 ..................................... 17

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

RELATION OF EXCHANGE RATE AND AIR FREIGHT COSTS .......... 22

INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS CHARGES UNDER EXAMINATION .............................................. 24

’SERIOUS VIEW’ OF FALSE PRETENCES INVOLVING HOME OWNERSHIP FLATS .......................................... 25

CRIME (AMENDMENT)(N0.2) BILL BECOMES LAW.................. 26

NEW AIRPORT HIRE CAR SERVICE TO COMBAT TAXI OVERCHARGING ............................................. 27

ACCIDENTS INVOLVING PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES ................... 28

WHY PARENTS PREFER AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS ................. 30

STEPS TAKEN IN TRACING MISSING PERSONS ................... 31

FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (AMENDMENT) BILL ......................................... 32

LOWER SHEK KIP MEI ROOFTOP LEAKAGE INCIDENT EXPLAINED . 33

POLICY OF ADMITTING OVERSEAS WORKERS INTO HONG KONG ... 34

POLICE ROAD BLOCKS DETER NIGHT RACERS .................... 34

/IMPROVEMENT OF

&

IMPROVEMENT OF SALT WATER QUALITY IN KWUN TONG .......... 35

CONVERSION OF PARKING METERS TO ACCEPT NEW 50-CENTS COINS .................................................... 36

DISCIPLINED SERVICES (WELFARE FUNDS) BILL ................ 37

ARRANGEMENTS AT CASUALTY DEPARTMENTS IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS ................................................ 37

APPLICATION FOR WATER SUPPLY IN HOUSING ESTATES .......... 38

LEGCO APPROVES RESOLUTION ................................ 39

LAND REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL ....................... 40

BILLS PASSED ............................................. 41

FIRE SERVICES INSPECTION OF KWUN TONG FACTORIES .......... 41

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT IN CENTRAL ........................... 42

..EDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1978

1

HK IS A MARKET WCRTH CULTIVATING -- SAYS GOVERNOR

******

THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE TODAY EMPHASISED THE IMPORTANCE OF HOKG KONG AS A LONG TERM MARKET AND SAID ALL COUNTRIES ..ERE EQUALLY FREE AND .vELCOME TO PARTICIPATE IN ITS SUCCESS.

SPEAKING AT A MEETING ON +HONG KONG: BRITAIN’S SHOWCASE I;. ASIA* AT THE CONFEDERATION OF BRITISH INDUSTRY IN LONDON, SIR MURRAY ALSO DESCRIBED HCr.G KONG AS A +SHOP-.. INDO.. 07 A PRIME SITE* AND STRESSED THAT IT /AS P' THE INTEREST OF U.K. TO EXPAND ITS EXPORTS TO HONG KONG.

HE POINTED OUT THE FACT THAT +HONG KONG IS AT THE COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE OF DEVELOPING MARKETS OF EAST AND SOUTHEAST ASIA, AND HAS VERY CLOSE COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL LINKS WITH JAPAN.+

+EUT,+ HE SAID, +ITS BIGGEST COUNTRY IN WORLD, EXPANS ION.+

CLOSEST CONNECTION IS WITH CHINA, THE NOW POISED FOR A PERIOD OF RAPID ECONOMIC

SIR MURRAY ALSO TOLD BRITISH BUSINESSMEN AEOUT OTHER ADVANTAGES OF HONG KONG AS A MARKET. HE SAID: +BUS INESS CAN EE DONE QUICKLY BECAUSE HONG KONG BUSINESSMEN ARE E~ ISK -- IT IS A CITY IN A HURRY, BUSINESS CAN BE DONE IK ENGLISH AND ..HEM DONE IT IS GOVERNED BY BRITISH LA...+

BESIDES, HE ADDED, THE CCMUI’ITY CF HONG KONG ./AS AN ENVIABLY STABLE C.'.E POLITICALLY +IT IS HAPPILY FREE FROM LABOUR DIFFICULTIES, AND THE ADAPTABILITY, VIGOUR AND INVESTMENTS OF ITS ..ORK-FORCE AND MANAGEMENT ALIKE /.RE PROVERBIAL.+

HE ALSO GREATLY ..ELCOMEE THE I TEREST WHICH THE DEPARTI'E: T DF TRADE AND INDUSTRY IN U.K., THE CONFEDERATION CF BRITISH IHDUSTF.Y AND THE BRITISH OVERSEAS TRADE BOARD NOW TAKE IN THE DEVELOPMENT . F TRADE . ITH HONG KONG, AND SAID THEIR SUCCESS WOULD BE IN THE MUTUAL INTEREST OF BOTH THE UNITED KINGDOM AND HONG KONG.

HE SAID: +BRITISH SUPPORT IS AS VITAL TO HONG KONG AS THE GOODWILL OF CHINA ON THE ONE HAND, AND THE HARD WORK, ENTERPRISE, AND GOOD GOVERNMENT CF THE PEOPLE CF HOKG KOKG ON THE OTHER.

+ERITISH SUPPORT IS NOT AN ISSUE, BUT INEVITABLY COMMERCIAL SUCCESS AND THE EMPLCY’‘E"T IT ER'I'IGS IS HELPFUL TO BRITISH ATTITUDES TOWARDS A PLACE SC DISTANT AND SO LITTLE UNDERSTOOD.*

SIR MURRAY ALSO POINTED CUT THAT IT IS A STRIKING FACT THAT HONG KOKG ALONE SURVIVES AD P-CSPE'S AS A COLONY CF AMY ECCI C 10 SIGNIFICANCE FROM THE EARLY 1?TA CENTURY.

HE SAID: +IT HAS DONE SO BECAUSE CF VERY SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, INCLUDING THE ATTITUDE CF THE PC.PLE’S REPUBLIC OF CH HA AND T-E SUPPORT CF THE UNITED KIKGDC .

/♦BUT I THIKK.......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1978

- 2 -

+BUT I THINK, TOO, IT HAS SURVIVED EECAUSE THE COMBINATION OF THE PLACE, THE PEOPLE, AND THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN SO EXTRAORDINARILY SUCCESSFUL IN PRODUCING STABILITY AND STEADILY RISING LIVING STANDARDS, ALSO BECAUSE IT IS SO OPEN -- ALL ARE EQUALLY FREE AND WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS SUCCESS AND TO PROFIT FROM IT WHETHER FROM CHINA, AMERICA, BRITAIN OR ELSEWHERE.+

HE NOTED THAT HONG KONG HAS THE REPUTATION OF BEING THE LAST CUTPOST OF LAISSEZ FA IRE AND THE FACT IS THAT HONG KONG IS UNUSALLY DEPENDENT ON EXTERNAL ECONOMIC FORCES OVER WHICH IT HAS NO CONTROL.

HE SAID THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT DOES NOT INTERVENE IN THE NATURAL PLAY OF MARKET FORCES EXCEPT TO STOP ABUSE OR DISTRESS TO THE PUBLIC, OR TO ENSURE THE PROVISION OF THE ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE WITHOUT WHICH ACCEPTABLE SPEEDS OF SOCIAL ADVANCE AND ECONOMIC GROWTH WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE.

SIR MURRAY POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG HAS COMPARATIVELY LOW RATES OF TAX AND A COMPARATIVELY SIMPLE FISCAL SYSTEM: +THERE IS NO EXCHANGE CONTROL, AND THERE IS FREEDOM TO EMPLOY SUCH STAFF AS A FIRM SEES- FIT, AND FREEDOM TO REMIT PROFITS AND CAPITAL AT WILL, AND IN COMPARISON WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES, THERE IS A REFRESHING ABSENCE OF REGULATION AND RED TAPE.

+SO IN HONG KONG THE ENTREPRENEUR PROBABLY DOES ENJOY GREATER FREEDOM TO GET ON WITH HIS JOB THAN IN ANY COMPARABLE PLACE OF BUSINESS. WE HAVE EVERY INTENTION OF ADHERING TO THIS GENERAL APPROACH,+ HE SAID.

HE ALSO NOTED THAT U.K. EXPORTS TO HONG KONG LAST YEAR WERE WORTH ABOUT 270 MILLION POUNDS STERLING — ABOUT THE SAME AS BRITAIN’S EXPORTS TO INDIA, TWO-THIRDS OF HER EXPORTS TO JAPAN, AND FOUR TIMES HER EXPORTS TO CHINA.

+IT IS VERY MUCH A MARKET IN ITS OWN RIGHT, AND I BELIEVE THAT WITH ATTENTION BRITISH SALES WOULD BE MUCH BIGGER THAN THEY ARE.+ HE SAID.

SIR MURRAY ALSO POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG IS NOT JUST AM INDUSTRIAL COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTION. +IT IS A COMMUNITY OF ABOUT FOUR AND A HALF MILLION, INTENSELY SHREWD AND ACTIVE PEOPLE.+

+IT IS GOVERNED WITH MORE REAL FREEDOM THAN ANY OTHER COMMUNITY IN ASIA AND YET -- BECAUSE OF CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH ARE FORCED UPON IT — WITHOUT ELECTED GOVERNMENT.+

HE CITED A FEW EXAMPLES OF THE VARIOUS SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE THAT THE COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO GROW WITH STABILITY.

/ON HOUSING, ......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1978

HE SA,D THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALREADY HOUSED 46 PER vc*L0L™E<f^?'^*T,0N AT HEAVILY subsidised rent, in the four YEARS FROM 1978/79 TO 1981/82, THE GOVERNMENT WILL

E°^^JE RUBLIC HOUS,NG AT SUBSIDISED RATES FOR ABOUT ONE MILLION MORE PEOPLE.

-rUOrr0vr^UCAT10N» S,R MURRAY SAID: +THIS YEAR, FOR THE FIRST TIME, THREE YEARS SECONDARY AS WELL AS PRIMARY EDUCATION WILL BE AVAILABLE AND FREE FOR ALL CHILDREN. THIS PROGRAMME ALONE INVOLVES THE CONSTRUCTION OF 85 SCHOOLS. THE NUMBER OF PLACES IN HIGHER EDUCATION (THE TWO UNIVERSITIES AND POLYTECHNIC) IS INCREASING FROM 8,000 IN 1973 TO NEARLY 22,000 IN 1981.+

ON MEDICAL SERVICES, HE SAID THE INCREASE IN HOSPITAL BEDS IN THE SIX YEARS FROM 1978 TO 1984 WILL BE APPROXIMATELY 7,000 AND IN THE SAME TIME EIGHT NEW CLINICS AND POLYCLINICS WILL OPEN.

HE ALSO NOTED THAT THERE IS A MASSIVE PROGRAMME OF ENGINEERING WORKS TO GIVE ACCESS BY ROAD OR RAIL TO AREAS WHERE BUILDING LAND EXISTS OR CAN BE FORMED BY RECLAMATION OF THE SEA, SO THAT THREE NEW SELF-CONTAINED TOWNS AVERAGING 600,000 CAN BE BUILT BEFORE 1984 IN BETTER ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS.

HE SAID: +AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT THE EXPENDITURE OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT SHOULD HAVE INCREASED FROM NEARLY HK$3 BILLION IN 1971/72 TO OVER 510 BILLION IN 1978/79.

+IT IS MUCH MORE SURPRISING THAT THIS HAS BEEN ACHIEVED WITHOUT LARGE INCREASE IN TAXATION, AND WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A FEW SELFLIQUIDATING PROJECTS, HAS BEEN FINANCED FROM REVENUE NOT DEBT.+

+ THIS HAS ONLY B8iEN POSSIBLE THROUGH THE RAPID GROWTH OF THE ECONOMY. DOMESTIC EXPORTS GREW FROM HK$2.9 BILLION IN 1961 TO $35 BILLION IN 1977 AND THE GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT IN PER CAPITA REAL TERMS INCREASED BY AN AVERAGE OF 6.4 PER CENT A YEAR BETWEEN 1961 AND 1971 AND BY 7.1 PER CENT SINCE 1971,+ SIR MURRAY SAID.

--------0--------.

/4

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1978

4

FINANCIAL SECRETARY SPEAKS AT ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK MEETING * * * * *

THE +LURCH TO PROTECTIONISM* WHICH HAS BECOME SO ALARMINGLY APPARENT IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS OR SO WILL UNDOUBTEDLY SLOW DOWN THE GROWTH RATE OF WORLD TRADE IN MANUFACTURES, AND 'GENERALLY.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID THIS YESTERDAY (TUESDAY) DURING A SPEECH TO THE 11TH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK BEING HELD IN VIENNA.

MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THAT PROTECTIONISM WOULD THUS BE A SELF-DEFEATING PROCESS IN THE LONG RUN.

+CERTAINLY, PROTECTIONISM WILL PROVE TO BE NO CURE FOR UNEMPLOYMENT AND INFLATION,* HE SAID. +HOWEVER, IF CERTAIN DEVELOPED COUNTRIES IN EUROPE, NORTH AMERICA AND ELSEWHERE ARE DETERMINED, FOR THE TIME BEING, TO PLACE A DEGREE OF RELIANCE ON NATIONAL OR REGIONAL SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN PRODUCTS WHICH THEY WOULD OTHERWISE OBTAIN THROUGH THE MECHANISM OF WORLD TRADE, THEN I CAN SEE NO ALTERNATIVE BUT FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT BANKS TO STRESS REGIONAL SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN THEIR LENDING FOR DEVELOPMENT.*

THIS WOULD REQUIRE THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK TO MATCH ITS INVOLVEMENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS IN INDIVIDUAL MEMBER COUNTRIES WITH A STRATEGIC VIEW OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ASIAN AND PACIFIC REGION AS A WHOLE — THAT WAS TO SAY, IN ITS INNOVATIVE ROLE, THE BANK WOULD SEEK TO SUPPORT PROJECTS WHICH WERE DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY TO PROMOTE INTRA-REGIONAL TRADE, MR. HADDON-CAVE POINTED OUT.

+THIS IS NOT AN APPROACH WHICH WOULD BE DEFENSIBLE IN A MORE LIBERAL WORLD TRADING ENVIRONMENT,* MR. HADDON-CAVE CONTINUED, +BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN IMPLICATIONS OF PROTECTIONISM WHICH ARE INESCAPABLE (A SLOW DOWN IN THE GROWTH RATE OF EVEN DYNAMIC ECONOMIES, FOR INSTANCE) AND WHICH MUST HAVE AN INFLUENCE ON THE POLICIES PURSUED BY THOSE ADVERSELY AFFECTED.

+PERHAPS, WHEN IT IS REALISED BY PROTECTIONIST GOVERNMENTS THAT THERE IS AN UNPALATABLE REALITY ABOUT PROTECTIONISM, THAT IS TO SAY, WHEN THEY REALISE THAT PROTECTIONISM IS BOUND TO HAVE CONSEQUENCES WHICH DAMAGE ALL MEMBERS OF THE WORLD TRADING ECONOMY, MORE LIBERAL — AND HENCE MORE EFFECTIVE EVEN FROM A NATIONALISTIC POINT OF VIEW — TRADE POLICIES WILL BE FOLLOWED.*

COMMENTING ON THE BANK’S POSSIBLE ROLE OF PROGRAMME LENDING, MR. HADDON-CAVE SUGGESTED THAT FAMILY PLANNING MIGHT BE A SUITABLE FIELD FOR SUCH LOAN. HE SAID HE REALISED THAT, HITHERTO, SO FAR AS INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTIONS WERE CONCERNED, POPULATION CONTROL PROGRAMMES HAD BEEN THE SPECIAL PRESERVE OF THE WORLD BANK WHICH HAD BUILT UP A WEALTH OF COMPARATIVE EXPER IENCE.

/+BUT I DOUBT, ......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1978 - 5 -

+BUT I DOUBT,+ HE SAID, +WHETHER THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK CAN LEGITIMATELY LEAVE ALL EFFORTS IN THIS FIELD TO THE WORLD BANK, GIVEN THE HIGH PROPORTION OF THE WORLD’S POPULATION IN THE ASIAN REGION, AND GIVEN ALSO THE RELATIVELY HIGH POPULATION GROWTH RATES IN MANY MEMBER COUNTRIES WHICH ERODE THE IMPACT ON LIVING STANDARDS OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT.* .

MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THE TIME HAD COME FOR ALL INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTIONS TO HAVE CLEARLY DEFINED ROLES +TO AVOID OVERLAPPING OF ACTIVITIES AND SO AS TO ENSURE THE ACTIVITIES OF ALL INSTITUTIONS ARE COMPLEMENTARY ONE TO THE OTHER AND NOT COMPETITIVE.* HE SAID THE SOMEWHAT HAPHAZARD EMERGENCY OF THESE INSTITUTIONS SINCE THE SECOND WORLD WAR HAD MEANT THAT A NOT INSIGNIFICANT PROPORTION OF AVAILABLE FUNDS, EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE WAS NOT BEING UTILISED TO THE BEST ADVANTAGE.

+SPECIFICALLY,* HE SAID, +l WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT AN EXAMINATION SHOULD EE MADE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF THE WORLD BANK AND THE SEVERAL REGIONAL BANKS, AS APPROPRIATE, ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADMINISTERING SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENT FUNDS PRESENTLY CONTROLLED BY SPECIALISED AGENCIES.*

MR. HADDON-CAVE ALSO CALLED FOR A REVIEW OF THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK’S INTERNAL ADMINISTRATION AS A WHOLE, INCLUDING ALL QUESTIONS RELATING TO THE RECRUITMENT OF MANAGEMENT AND STAFF.

HE SAID: +WHILST I BELIEVE IN THE CONCEPT OF CAREER SERVICE IN THE BANK, I THINK THAT AN INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTION SHOULD DILUTE ITS ESTABLISHMENT OF CAREER STAFF WITH STAFF ON CONTRACT TERMS AND ON SHORT SECONDMENTS.*

MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THAT A CHART IN THE BANK’S ANNUAL REPORT IMPLIED THAT A DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE OF THE BANK’S STAFF RESOURCES WAS BEING DEVOTED TO NEW LOAN APPROVALS, +AS OPPOSED TO THE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECTS ALREADY APPROVED.* THIS WAS NOT THE BANK’S FAULT, BUT IT MUST BE OF CONCERN TO THE BANK.

+ONE WAY OF ACCELERATING DISBURSEMENTS ..OULD BE TO IMPROVE THE ABSORPTIVE CAPACITY OF BORROWING COUNTRIES THROUGH AN EXPANDING PROGRAMME OF TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN THE PLANNING AND EXECUTING CAPABILITY OF THE INSTITUTIONS CONCERNED IN THESE COUNTRIES. I NOTE WITH APPROVAL, THEREFORE, THE BANK’S PRESENT ACTIVITIES AND FUTURE INTENTIONS IN THIS FIELD. TO THIS END, MY GOVERNMENT IS PREPARED TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT, ON AN UNTIED BASIS, TO THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SPECIAL FUND.*

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

/6

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1978

6

UNOFFICIALS COMMENT ON GREEN PAPER ON SOCIAL SECURITY * * * *

AN AD HOC GROUP OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL UNOFFICIALS FORMED TO STUDY THE GREEN PAPER ON SOCIAL SECURITY DEVELOPMENT HAS ASKED THAT THE SICKNESS, INJURY AND DEATH'BENEFIT SCHEME EE INTRODUCED BY THE END OF 1980 FOR A TWO YEAR TRIAL PERIOD FOLLOWED BY A’DEC IS ION AS TO WHETHER IT SHOULD BE MADE COMPULSORY.

THE CONVENOR OF THE AD HOC GROUP, THE REV. THE HON. PATRICK MCGOVERN WHEN MOVING THE DEBATE ON THE GREEN PAPER IN THE COUNCIL TODAY, POINTED OUT THAT THE UNOFFICIALS SUPPORTED THE SCHEME IN PRINCIPLE BUT DID NOT ACCEPT THE CONDITION STATED IN THE GREEN PAPER THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE SCHEME ONLY IF THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL FAVOURABLE RESPONSE.

+AS A CONTRIBUTORY SCHEME IS A NEW IDEA IT WAS'FELT THAT IT WAS ONLY BY INTRODUCING THE SCHEME, AT LEAST ON AN EXPERIMENTAL BASIS, THAT THE PUBLIC COULD EXPERIENCE FOR THEMSELVES THE BENEFITS INVOLVED AND THUS REACH A DECISION,* HE SAID.

ON THE PROPOSED FEATURES OF THE SCHEME, THERE WERE SUGGESTIONS BY INDIVIDUAL UNOFFICTALS THAT THE AMOUNT OF CONTRIBUTION WAS TOO SMALL TO MAKE IT WORTHWHILE, THAT MORE ATTRACTION WAS NEEDED SUCH AS TAX INCENTIVES, EXTENDING BORROWINGS FROM THE FUND OF THE SCHEME TO NEEDS OTHER THAN HOME OWNERSHIP, AND REQUIRING EMPLOYERS TO MAKE A HIGHER CONTRIBUTION.

THEY AGREED THAT ITS BENEFITS SHOULD BE DISCOUNTED IF THE NEED AROSE TO ASSESS FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND NOTED THAT THERE WAS A NEED TO CLARIFY THE PRACTICE OF THE SCHEME IN ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PROVISIONS UNDER THE WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE.

FATHER MCGOVERN REFERRED TO A MISCALCULATION IN THE GREEN PAPER ON SICKNESS BENEFIT WHERE AN EMPLOYEE’S FIRST MONTH AWAY FROM WORK WAS REGARDED AS BEING COVERED BY SICKNESS ALLOWANCE PAYABLE UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE AND THUS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS UNDER THE SCHEME.

HE POINTED OUT THAT SICK PAY WAS ONLY 12 DAYS PER YEAR AND THE MAXIMUM OF 36 DAYS UNDER THE ORDINANCE WAS CULMULATIVE AND PRESUPPOSED A THREE YEAR PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT.

THE UNOFFICIALS THEREFORE SUGGESTED THAT THE BENEFIT SHOULD BE PROVIDED FROM THE DAY WHEN THE EMPLOYEE CEASES TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR PAID SICK LEAVE UNDER THE ORDINANCE, UP TO A MAXIMUM OF THREE MONTHS.

ALSO, WHILE THE AMOUNT OF SICKNESS BENEFIT SUGGESTED IN THE GREEN PAPER WAS ’ABOUT HALF NORMAL PAY’, SICKNESS PAY UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE WAS TWO-THIRDS OF NORMAL WAGES.

FATHER MCGOVERN NOTED PERSONALLY THAT HE COULD NOT SEE ANY WAY IN WHICH LEGISLATION COULD BE ENFORCED WHICH WOULD PREVENT DISCRIMINATION AGAINST A WORKER WHO CHANGES TO A JC3 UNDER ANOTHER EMPLOYER WHO DOES NOT APPROVE OF THE SCHEME.

/he predicted .....

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1978

7

HE PREDICTED THAT IT WOULD EE FOUND NECESSARY TO MAKE THE SCHEME COMPULSORY AND SUGGESTED THAT IT MIGHT, IN 1982, EE EASIER TO INTRODUCE A FULL CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND. +IT WOULD BE PROFITABLE TO USE THE TIME BETWEEN NOW AND 1982 TO EEGIN LOCKING AT PROVIDENT FUND SCHEMES AND MAKE A PRELIMINARY DECISION ON rtHICH TYPE MIGHT EEST SUIT HONG KONG,+ HE SAID.

FIVE OTHER UNOFFICIALS SPOKE ON THE SCHEME DURING DEBATE ON THE MOTION.

THE HON. JAMES WU NOTED THAT INDUSTRIAL AND EMPLOYERS’ ASSOCIATIONS AGREE IN PRINCIPLE ..’I TH THE TYPE OF BENEFITS PROPOSED BUT HAVE THE FOLLOWING RESERVATIONS AS TO ITS IMPLEMENTATION:

* THE PROPOSED SCHEME DOES NOT PROVIDE A RETURN EQUIVALENT TO CONTRIBUTIONS. THE SIX MONTHS SALARY ’RETIREMENT’ BENEFIT GIVEN TO A CONTRIBUTOR ..HO DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR SICKNESS, INJURY OR DEATH BENEFITS WOULD EE LESS THAN HIS TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND „OULD EE INSUFFICIENT TO RETIRE ON.

* IT IS DOUBTFUL WHETHER A VOLUNTARY SCHEME IS ACTUARIALLY VIABLE. AS THE SCHEME HCW STANDS, THE OLDER AGE GROUP .ILL TAKE ADVANTAGE /.HILE THE YOUNG WHO IN EFFECT WILL EE SUBSIDISING THE SCHEME, WILL STAY OUT.

* THERE IS SOME UNCERTAINTY AS TO WHETHER A GOVERNMENT ADMINISTERED SCHEME OF THIS NATURE WOULD OBTAIN A BETTER INVESTMENT RETURN ON MONEY ACCUMULATED THAN BY PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS.

* LIKE THE RETIREMENT BENEFIT, THE DEATH BENEFIT IS OF LITTLE SIGNIFICANCE. THE AMOUNT CONTRIBUTED WILL RESULT IN A LESSER RETURN UPON .MATURITY UNLESS ONE DIES EARLIER.

X SICKNESS BENEFIT WOULD ONLY EE PROVIDED IF A WORKER IS SICK OVER 36 DAYS. FROM EXPERIENCE HOWEVER, THE NUMBER OF PERSONS WHO ARE LIKELY TO BE SICK FOR LONG PERIODS OVER 36 DAYS ARE FEv. AND FAR BETWEEN.

* THE VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF ACTUAL BENEFITS TO EE DERIVED FROM. THE SCHEME UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES RAISES DCUETS AS TO ..HETHER IT WOULD BE CO. : ENSUA..ATE .. ITH POSSIBLY LARGE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.

* BY WAY OF COMPARISON, PRIVATE INSURANCE INSTITUTIONS ARE CAPABLE OF PROVIDING SUCH BENEFITS AT A MUCH MORE SUBSTANTIAL RATE.

THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEf; SUGGESTED•THAT THE WORDS +DEATH EENEFIT+ COULD EE MORE APPROPRIATELY AMENDED TO +SURV IVORS’ BENEFIT*.

HE THOUGHT THAT THE PROVISION PROPOSED FOR A SMALL RETIREMENT BENEFIT OF ABOUT 6 MONTHS PAY ON REACHING THE AGE OF 63 COULD WELL BE THE STARTING POINT FOR THE EXPANSION OF THE SCHEME AT A LATER DATE INTO A MONTHLY PENSION PLA'.

HE ALSO QUERIED WHETHER IT IS ADVISABLE TO ALLOW EMPLOYERS TC CONTRACT OUT, UNLESS THE BENEFITS OF THEIR OWN SCHEMES ARE CLEARLY BETTER.

/HE SAID .....

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1978

8

HE SAID THAT WHATEVER INITIAL LOANS TO BE MADE BY GOVERNMENT FOR THE FIRST TWO OR THREE YEARS SHOULD BE INTEREST-FREE TO GET THE SCHEME ESTABLISHED ON A SOUND FOOTING. THE GOVERNMENT COULD ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO ITS FUND AS AND WHEN REQUIRED TO PROTECT THE . VALUE OF THE BENEFITS AGAINST INFLATION. IT WOULD ALSO HAVE TO CONSIDER WHAT REGULATIONS ARE REQUIRED TO GOVERN THE OPERATION OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM.

DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG ALSO POINTED OUT THE DISCREPANCIES IN THE CALCULATION OF THE AMOUNT AND THE QUALIFYING PERIOD FOR SICKNESS BENEFIT.

HE EXPLAINED THAT WORKERS MIGHT HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED FOR LESS THAN THREE YEARS WITH THEIR EMPLOYER OR MIGHT HAVE ALREADY.USEE UP THEIR ACCUMULATED LEAVE EARLIER. WHERE THE WORKER IS THE SOLE BREAD-WINNER, WAITING FOR UP TO ONE MONTH TO QUALIFY FOR BENEFITS WOULD CAUSE HARDSHIP.

HE FURTHER EXPLAINED THAT A SICKNESS PAY OF TWO-THIRDS NORMAL WAGE IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE MINIMUM AMOUNT REQUIRED EOR A PPRSON TO LOOK AFTER HIS FAMILY DURING THE PERIOD THAT HE IS UNABLE TO WORK.

THE HON. MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH SUGGESTED THAT BEFORE THE SCHEME IS IMPLEMENTED PILOT PROJECTS SHOULD EE CARRIED OUT AMONG EMPLOYEES OF SELECTED TRADES SO AS TO OBTAIN INFORMATION AND EXPERIENCE. A WORKING PARTY SHOULD BE SET UP TO LOOK INTO THE DETAILS OF- THE SCHEME AND TO CONSULT VARIOUS CONCERNED PARTIES REGARDING ITS IMPLEMENTATION.

SHE DID NOT SUPPORT THE PROVISION FOR CONTRACTING. OUT OF THE SCHEME AS THIS MAY LEAD TO THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE BETTER-OFF AND HENCE LIMITATION OF THE SCHEME TO THE LOW INCOME GROUP.

SHE ALSO FOUND THE BENEFITS PROPOSED BY THE SCHEME GROSSLY INADEQUATE AND SUGGESTED THAT THE BENEFITS SHOULD BE WE GHTtD IN FAVOUR OF THOSE WHO EARN RELATIVELY LESS. THE INCOME CEILING COULD BE RAISED FROM $2,300 TO $4,000 AND CONTRIBUTION RAK. COULD EE RAISED TO FOUR OR EVEN FIVE PER CENT TO IMPROVE THE BENEFIT^. A MORE ADEQUATE COVERAGE FOR OLD AGE, IN THE FORM OF PENSION A rlvnc AUtyUAI------ QR ut.jEMpL0 yME NT C0ULD THEN

OR A LUMP SUM PAYMENT, BE CONTEMPLATED.

THE REV. THE HON. JOYCE M. BENNETT BELIEVED THAT MORE AND MORE WORKERS ARE WILLING TO PAY INTO SCHEMES WHICH WILL PROVIDE SICKNESS, INJURY AND OLD-AGE BENEFITS. SHE THOUGHT THEY BE ENCOURAGED DO THIS SINCE IT .ILL CREATE A MORc STABLE SOCIETY OF PEOPLE WITH A STAKE IN THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.

THE UNOFFICIALS ALSO COMMENTED ON OTHER ASPECTS OF THE GREEN PAPER WHICH THEY THOUGHT NEEDED TO EE IMPROVED.

/BOTF AI.TXCTAliCa..........

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1978

9

RENT ALLOWANCE FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RECIPIENTS

THE AD HOC GROUP OF UNOFFICIALS FELT THAT SINCE THERE WAS A SHORTAGE OF PUBLIC HOUSING, A. PERSON SHOULD NOT BE PENALISED FOR HAVING TO LIVE IN PRIVATE RENTED PREMISES. THEY THEREFORE SUGGESTED THAT INSTEAD OF BASING THE MAXIMUM RENT ALLOWANCE ON THE MAXIMUM CURRENT PUBLIC HOUSING RENT, IT WOULD BE MORE REALISTIC TO BASE- IT ON, SAY, 150 PER CENT OF THE MAXIMUM CURRENT RENT.

CHRONIC SICKNESS ALLOWANCE

THE GROUP DISAGREED WITH THE GREEN PAPER THAT THIS ALLOWANCE SHOULD NOT BE PAID TO THOSE RECEIVING AN OLD AGE OR DISABILITY ALLOWANCE. THEY THOUGHT THAT CHRONIC- SICKNESS IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT NEED AND IF A PERSON SUFFERS FROM BOTH OLD AGE ANI CHRONIC SICKNESS HE SHOULD GET BOTH FORMS OF HELP. THEY ALSO POINTED CUT THAT THERE WAS A NEED TO CLARIFY HOW THIS CHRONIC SICKNESS ALLOWANCE AND THE DISABILITY ALLOWANCE FITS IN WITH COMPENSATION UNDER THE WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE AND HOPED THAT THEY ARE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.

THEY SUGGESTED THAT THE ALLOWANCE SHOULD EE IMPLEMENTED THIS YEAR RATHER THAN IN OCTOBER 1979.

MRS. KWAN J£G SIU-WAH ADDED THAT 12 MONTHS AND NOT 18 MONTHS OF CHRONIC ILLNESS SHOULD ENTITLE A PERSON TO THE ALLOWANCE.

DISABILITY ALLOWANCE FOR THE PROFOUNDLY DEAF

FATHER MCGOVERN NOTED THAT THE AD HOC GROUP HAD EXAMINED THE ARGUMENTS FOR AMD AGAINST SUCH ALLOWANCE AND WAS UNANIMOUS IN STRONGLY RECOMMENDING THAT THE PROFOUNDLY DEAF'EE INCLUDED IN THE DISABILITY ALLOWANCE SCHEME.

DR. FANG POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS WRONG NOT TO CONSIDER PROFOUND DEAFNESS AS A SERIOUS DISABLEMENT. IT IS AS GRAVE AS LOSS OF SIGHT OR LOSS OF USE CF LEGS AND PERHAPS MORE SO IN PEOPLE WHO ARE BORN DEAF BECAUSE THEY CANNOT EVEN SPEAK.

THE ’ARGUMENT'THAT THE PROFOUNDLY DEAF LIKE THE

MEDIUM GRADE MENTALLY SUBNORMAL ARE ABLE TO RESPOND TO TRAINING IS UNCONVINCING. THE BLIND ARE SOMETIMES EVEN

MORE RECEPTIVE THAN THE PROFOUNDLY DEAF TO SPECIAL VOCATIONAL TRAINING, FOR EXAMPLE, OPERATING TELEPHONES.

MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH HOPED AS WELL THAT THE MEDIUM GRADE MENTALLY RETARDED WOULD BE GIVEN DISABILITY ALLOWANCE.

OLD AGE ALLOWANCE

THE AD HOC GROUP FELT THAT THE OLD AGE ALLOWANCE FOR THOSE AGED 70 TO 72 COULD EE INTRODUCED AT THE SAME TIME AS FOR THOSE AGED 73 TO 74 IN OCTOBER THIS YEAR. THEY SAW NO INSURMOUNTABLE ADMINISTRATIVE DIFFICULTY KI INTRODUCING THE ALLOWANCE IN ONE STEP.

Ft Ki:

•|3O)C|

BSDAY, APRIL 26, 1978

10

WHILE COMMENTING ON THIS ALLOWANCE, MR. CHEONG-LEEN THOUGHT TH.-THE GENERAL QUESTION OF RETIREMENT AGE AND THE RANGE OF BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE AS THEY GROW OLD SHOULD BE REVIEWED.

FOR EXAMPLE THERE IS THE- QUESTION OF THE EXTENT AND PACE GOVERNMENT WILL ENCOURAGE OR LEGISLATE FOR NARROW I NG-THE GAP IN RETIREMENT BENEFITS AS BETWEEN CIVIL SERVANTS WHICH ARE REASONABLY GOOD AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR, WITHOUT DETRIMENT TO CONTINUE ECONOMIC GROWTH.

PROTECTING THE VALUE OF BENEFITS

THE AD HOC GROUP AGREED THAT THE INDEX WEIGHTINGS PRESENTLY ADOPTED FOR DETERMINING THE LEVEL OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ARE UNSATISFACTORY.

FATHER MCGOVERN HOPED THE HEW INDEX WHICH IS BEING PREPARED WILL REFLECT REALISTICALLY THE IMPROVED LIVING STANDARDS OF THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH POINTED OUT THAT THE PRESENT WEIGHTING SYSTEM IS UNSATISFACTORY DESPITE THE GRANTING OF LONG-TERM SUPPLEMENTS BECAUSE IT ALLOCATES AS MUCH AS 79 PER CENT OF THE WEIGHTINGS TO FOOD, LEAVING LITTLE FOR OTHER ITEMS TO ENABLE A RECIPIENT TO LEAD A DIGNIFIED LIFE.

MISS BENNETT URGED THAT THE METHOD OF MONITORING PRICE FLUCTUATIONS AND ADJUSTING THE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE BE RE-EXAMINED. SHE SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT’S LOWLY PAID WORKERS HAD AS FROM APRIL LAST YEAR A SALARY REVISION WHICH INCORPORATED THE PREVIOUS COST OF LIVING ALLOWANCE. HOWEVER THE PRESENT COST OF LIVING ALLOWANCE FOR THESE WORKERS IS NOW $15 A MONTH.

SHE REALISED THAT PUBLIC ASSISTANCE CANNOT BE EQUATED WITH THE GOVERNMENT PAY SCALE EUT SHE SUGGESTED THAT CROSSREFERENCE MIGHT BE MADE TO IT FROM TIME TO TIME.

OCCUPATIONAL BENEFITS

THE AD HOC GROUP EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE POSSIBLE MEANING OF A PART OF THE GREEN PAPER WHICH SAYl +....... THE

GOVERNMENT DOES NOT EXPECT OCCUPATIONAL BENEFITS TO PLAY AN ENLARGED ROLE IN THE FORMAL STRUCTURE OF SOCIAL SECURITY NOR THAT EMPLOYERS WILL BE REQUIRED, BY LAW, TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER TYPE OF BENEFIT.*

FATHER MCGOVERN SAID THE GROUP TOOK IT THAT THE SENTENCE IS-STRICTLY IN THE CONTEXT OF FUTURE SOCIAL SECURITY LAWS AND WOULD LIKE AN ASSURANCE THAT IT .ILL IN NO WAY INTERFERE WITH BENEFITS WHICH MAY ARISE FROM FUTURE LABOUR LAW.

SOCIAL SECURITY APPEAL BOARD

DR, F'ANG ASKED THAT THE PANEL OF MEMBERS SERVING THE BOARD SROOUD-TNCLUDE AN APPROPRIATE NUMBER OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION WITH SUCH QUALIFICATIONS AS TO EE ABLE TO DEAL WITH ALL KINDS OF DISABILITY.

WEDHBSMX, APBXL 26, 1978

- 11 -

HE SAID THAT AT PRESENT, APPEALS FROM APPLICANTS DISSATISFIED WITH THEIR MEDICAL ASSESSMENT ARE OFTEN REVIEWED BY THE.SAME . BOARD OR MEDICAL OFFICER WHO MADE THE INITIAL UNFAVOURABLE DECISION.

OLD AGE AND LONG TERM SUPPLEMENTS ---------------------—---------------

MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH WELCOMED THE INTRODUCTION OF THESE Sy££bE£‘E5rrS BUT FEARED THAT THEY MAY CREATE INJUSTICE AMONG °'FFFPFNJ PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RECIPIENTS AS THEY ONLY CONSIDER PARTICULAR DEMONSTRATED NEEDS AND NOT OVERALL REQUIREMENTS.

SHE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE PLIGHT OF WIDOWS WITH DEPENDENT CHILDREN WHO ARE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST UNDER THE PRESENT INCREMENTAL SCALE OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE.

SHE REITERATED THAT THE WAITING PERIOD FOR'rECEIV ING THE LONG TERM SUPPLEMENT SHOULD EE REDUCED FROM 18 TQ 12 MONTHS. FATHER MCGOVERN NOTED THAT PAYING THE LONG TERM ALLOWANCE IN A LUMP .SUM RATHER THAN ON A MONTHLY BASIS REDUCES THE AMOUNT PAYABLE AND / HE URGED THAT ITS ADEQUACY BE LOOKED AT AGAIN. , .

DISREGARDED. INCOME

MISS4 BENNETT URGED THAT MORE THOUGHT BE GIVEN TO THE AMOUNT OF EARNINGS A WIDOW OR AN’ ELDERLY PERSON EE ALLOWED TO KEEP, AND SUGGESTED THAT THIS COULD BE UP TO $200 A MONTH.

SHE SUGGESTED THAT THE NIGGARDLY ATTITUDE HAS PERHAPS STEMMED FROM THE DIVORCE OF THE OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME FROM THAT OF*THE FAMILY SERVICES DIVISION. SHE THOUGHT THESE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RECIPIENTS WOULD BENEFIT FROM MORE COUNSELLING AND ADVICE FROM PERSONNEL TRAINED IN SOCIAL WELFARE WORK.

DISCRETIONARY POWERS

MISS BENNETT URGED THAT THE LOWER ECHELONS OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT BE GIVEN MORE TRAINING AND GUIDANCE ON HOW TO EXERCISE DISCRETIONARY POWERS. SHE SAID THAT TOO FREQUENTLY JUNIOR OFFICIALS, WHO, UNSURE OF THEMSELVES, ARE ONLY TOO HAPPY' TO EXERCISE THEIR AUTHORITY BY USING DELAYING TACTICS AND DEFERRING A DECISION.

SCHOOL EXPENSES COVERED BY PUBLIC ASSISTANCE

MISS BENNETT SAID SHE WAS AMAZED TO LEARN OF HIGH FEES

BEING-PAID FOR CHILDREN TO GO TO THE UPPER FORMS OF PRIVATE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS. SHE SUGGESTED THAT A WORKING PARTY BE FORMED TO LOOK INTO THE WHOLE QUESTION OF SCHOOL EXPENSES. ONCE IT HAS BEEN DECIDED TO SUPPORT A CHILD AT A CERTAIN.SCHOOL HOWEVER, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT MUST PROVIDE ADEQUATELY FOR THE EXPENSES AND NOT ARBITRARILY DtCIDE THAT ONLY SUCH AN AMOUNT OF MONEY IS TO BE ALLOWED FOR TEXTBOOKS AND STATIONERY.

Wednesday, April 26, 1978

12

PRE-EMPTIVE STATEMEN’* * IN GREEN PAPER

MEMBERS OF THE ).D HOC GROUP QUESTIONED THE WISDOM OF THE PRE-EMPTIVE STATEMEN*’ IN THE GREEN PAPER WHERE IT WAS SAID THAT ARRANGEMENT'S WERE BEING MADE TO IMPLEMENT THOSE IMPROVEMENTS PROPOSE! FOR APRIL 1978 ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT THEY WOULD COMMAND SUFFICIENT PUBLIC SUPPORT.

FATHER MCGOVERN POINTED OUT THAT THE PURPOSE OF A GREEN PAPER IS TO SEEK PUBL IC COMMENT ON GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS. SUCH A STATEMENT COULD BE A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT.

WORDINGS IN GREEN PAPER

THE MEMBERS ALSC SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENTS IN SOME WORDINGS IN THE GREEN PAPER. THEY SUGGESTED THAT +SOCIAL WAGE+, A PROFESSIONAL TERM, COULD BE AMEDNED TO +1 ND I RECT FINANCIAL

AID+ IN ORDINARY LANGUAGE. THE TERM +WELFARE ALLOWANCE+ IN THE GREEN PAPER ON SOCIAL SECURITY WAS CONFUSING AND COULD BE CHANGED TO +SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCE+.

IF IN FUTURE THE SCHEME SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO NEEDS OTHER THAN OLD AGE AND CHRONIC SICKNESS, THERE WILL BE NO NEED TO CHANGE THE GENERAL TITLE.

THERE WAS ALSO A NEED TO DETERMINE WHEN EXACTLY A PERSON IS OLD. A CIVIL SERVANT RETIRED AT 55, PRESUMABLY BECAUSE HE IS OLD, WHILE FOR THE OLD AGE SUPPLEMENT, ONE IS OLD AT 60 AND FOR THE OLD AGE ALLOWANCE, AT 75. THE PROPOSAL NOW IS THAT PROGRESSIVELY ONE ..ILL EE OLD AT 70.

THE MEMBERS ALSO SUGGESTED THAT IN FUTURE GREEN AND WHITE PAPERS, A GLOSSARY OF TERMS COULD EE USEFULLY ADDED.

APPROACH TO SOCIAL SECURITY IN HONG KONG

MR. JAMES WU PARTICULARLY APPRECIATED THE CONCEPTS ADVANCED IN THE GREEN PAPER IN RESPECT OF THE SICKNESS, INJURY AND DEATH BENEFIT SCHEME.

HE SAID ITS CONTRIBUTORY FEATURE WOULD TEST WHETHER EMPLOYEES IN HONG KONG WERE PREPARED TO CONTRIBUTE TO IMPROVED BENEFITS FOR THEMSELVES, '/HILE THOSE BENEFITTED ..OULD HAVE A STAKE IN THEIR FUTURE AND THAT OF HONG KONG.

MR. CHEONG-LEEN POINTED OUT THAT IN DEVELOPING A SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM FOR HONG KONG PEOPLE, A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT FACTORS MUST BE EMPHASISED:

* THE NATIVE CAPACITY OF HONG KONG PEOPLE FOR HARD WORK AND INDIVIDUAL INITIATIVE HAS TO EE FOSTERED,

* THE CHINESE TRADITION OF FAMILY LIFE, RESPECT AND CARE FOR THE ELDERLY SHOOLD BE PRESERVED,

/* THS SYSTEM


AY, APRIL 26, 1978

W1

13 -

* THE SYSTEM HAS TO BE EQUITABLE BUT SIMPLE, ECONOMICAL AND FLEXIBLE IN THE LIGHT OF THE POPULATION TREND AND THE IMMIGRATION INFLOW, AND

* THE SYSTEM HAS TO BE RELATED TO OUR ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES OR , OUR ECONOMIC GROWTH. _______. ______-

MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH SAID OUR EFFORTS NOW SHOULD BE CONCENTRATED ON HELPING THOSE WHOSE NEEDS ARE GREATEST, THOSE IN VULNERABLE POSITIONS LIKE THE ELDERLY, THE DISABLED AND THE DESTITUTE. THE APPROACH SHOULD THEN SHIFT GRADUALLY IN EMPHASIS, FROM THE GOVERNMENT HELPING THOSE UNABLE TO HELP THEMSELVES TO GOVERNMENT HELPING PEOPLE TO HELP THEMSELVES. SHE SAID THE SHIFT MAY TAKE YEARS TO ACHIEVE BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ADOPT A RIGHT APPROACH FROM THE BEGINNING.

ADMINISTRATION OF SOCIAL SECURITY

MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH SUGGESTED THAT AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE "EE SET UP EITHER SEPARATELY OR AS A SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, TO ADVISE THE GOVERNMENT ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION OF SOCIAL SECURITY.

SHE FURTHER SUGGESTED THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURES RESPONSIBLE FOR ADMINISTERING SOCIAL SECURITY AND OTHER SOCIAL ..ELFARE SERVICES BE SEPARATED SO AS TO BRING ABOUT GREATER EFFICIENCY AND A MORE RATIONAL DEPLOYMENT OF STAFF AMD THEREFORE A BETTER SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC.

“TiTREPLY, THE DIRECTOR OTSOC I AL WELFARE,’’THE HON. THOMAS~ LEE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONSIDER MOST CAREFULLY ALL THE COMMENTS MADE ON THE PROPOSALS CONTAINED IN THE GREEN PAPER ON SOCIAL SECURITY DEVELOPMENT IN REACHING POLICY DECISIONS OR IN SUBSEQUENT REVIEWS OF EXISTING POLICY.

MR. LEE SAID THE UNOFFICIALS’ VIEWS CONSTITUTED A MOST USEFUL ADDITION TO THE NUMEROUS COMMENTS WHICH HAD BEEN MADE BOTH IN WRITING AND VERBALLY, AND THAT SOME OF THESE COMMENTS WERE ALREADY BEING REACTED TO IN THE GOVERNMENT’S DELIBERATIONS.

FOR EXAMPLE, HE SAID, THE CALL FOR A NON-MEANS TESTED ALLOWANCE FOR THE DEAF AND THE POSSIBLE ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLICATIONS OF THE PROPOSED CHRONIC SICKNESS ALLOWANCE HAS LED TO THE SETTING UP OF A WORKING GROUP OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO RECOMMEND MODIFICATIONS TO THE GREEN PAPER’S PROPOSALS.

<

+l AM INVITING DR. FANG AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES TO TAKE PART IN THESE DISCUSSIONS,* HE’ADDED.

AS REGARDS THE PROPOSAL BY MP. CHEONG-LEEN TO SUBSTITUTE THE WORD ’DEATH’ BY ’SURVIVOR’ IN THE PROPOSED SICKNESS, INJURY AND DEATH BENEFIT SCHEME, MR. LEE SAID HE WOULD LIKE TC REACT TO IT FAVOURABLY.

/+H CERTAINLY.......


■ 1

AY, APRIL 26, 1978

- 14 -

Wl

+IT CERTAINLY SOUNDS MUCH MORE AUSPICIOUS AND APPROPRIATE AS THE ULTIMATE BENEFIT IS INTENDED FOR THOSE WHO SURVIVE US,+ HE SAID.

HE ALSO WELCOMED FATHER MCGOVERN’S SUGGESTION TO CALL THE WELFARE ALLOWANCE ’SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCE’ AND SAID BOTH SUGGESTIONS WOULD RECEIVE MOST CAREFUL CONSIDERATION.

IN ADDITION, MR. LEE POINTED OUT THAT COMMENTS RECEIVED ON THOSE PROPOSALS IN THE GREEN PAPER INTENDED FOR IMPLEMENTATION FROM THIS MONTH WERE GENERALLY FAVOURABLE, AND THEREFORE THESE PROPOSALS HAD BEEN ADOPTED AFTER CONSULTATION .. I TH THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

REFERRING TO THE PROPOSED SICKNESS, INJURY AND DEATH BENEFIT SCHEME ON WHICH MANY COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS HAD BEEN MADE, MR. LEt SAID +WE MUST MOVE CAUTIOUSLY AS WE ARE BREAKING NEW GROUND HERE.+

HE STRESSED THAT ANY SCHEME WHICH WAS TO BE INTRODUCED IK THE FIELD OF SOCIAL INSURANCE MUST EE SUITED TO HONG KONG’S PARTICULAR HEEDS AND MUST NOT DISTORT THE ESTABLISHED PUBLIC ASSISTANCE .SCHEME ./HICH HAD ALREADY BECOME THE CORNERSTONE OF HONG KONG’S SOCIAL SECURITY POLICY AND PRACTICE.

WHILE NOT CLAIMING THAT ^HEyPUELIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME WAS PERFECT WITHOUT COMPLAINTS, rR./'LEE PC I'.TED CUT THAT THE DISBURSEMENT OF MORE THAI.',,303 . ILL ION ANNUALLY COULD NOT BE CARRIED OUT CONSISTENTLY AND PRUDENTLY ,ITHOUT REQUIRING THE FRONT-LINE STAFF TO ACT ..I TH If THE CONFINES OF CERTAIN PROCEDURES.

+l HOPE THAT THE HARD WORK PUT I” BY MY STAFF CAN BE APPRECIATED AS THEY ^EAL ITr. 130,3 33 CASES RECEIVING AID AND THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE UNDOUBTEDLY SATIS IF IED I TH SERVICES RENDERED.+

MR. LEE NOTED THAT SOME HAD COMPLAINED AND WOULD CONTINUE TO DO SO, BUT IN FUTURE THEIR COMPLAINTS WOULD EE HEARD BY THE APPEAL BOARD.

HOWEVER, HE SAID, THE PROPOSED REGIONALISATION OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT ..ILL ERI'-.'G ORE CLOSELY TOGETHER THOSE OFFICERS DEALING WITH CLIENTS’ PERS./.AL WELFARE PROBLEMS AND THOSE WHO ADMINISTER CASH ASSISTANCE.

+THIS, 1 AM SURE, .ILL IMPROVE OUR APPROACH TO FAMILIES WHO REQUIRE MORE THAN ONE SERVICE FROM THE DEPARTMENT,+ HE SAID.

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

/15

WEDNESDAY, APRIL £6, 1978

- 15 -

I

APPROACH TO BUILDING OF NEW AIRPORT EXPLAINED

*****

THE GOVERNMENT HAS ADOPTED A +STAGE BY STAGE*' APPROACH IN LOOKING INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF BUILDING A NEW AIRPORT TO REPLACE THE PRESENT ONE AT KAI TAK.

THIS WAS STATED TODAY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BY THE ,[

SECRETARY-FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON. DAVID JEAFFRESON IN

REPLY TO. A QUESTION BY THE HON. SIR SZE-YUEN CHUNG. i

SUCH AN APPROACH WAS NECESSARY BECAUSE OF THE LONG LEAD

TIME (UP TO 10 YEARS) FOR THE PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION AND THE COMPLEXITY OF THE PROJECT, MR. JEAFFRESON SAID.

, r '

HE ADDED THAT A FINAL DECISION MUST DEPEND ON THE RESULTS OF ALL NECESSARY INVESTIGATIONS PLUS UP-DATED AIR TRAFFIC FORECASTS.

> i

SUMMARISING WHAT MAS HAPPENED SO FAR CONCERNING THE1 BUILDING PLAN OF THE NEW AIRPORT, MR. JEAFFRESON SAID THAT IN 1965, AIR TRAFFIC FORECASTS INDICATED THAT, AT SOME STAGE IN THE NEXT 15 j

' TO 20 YEARS, KAI TAK AIRPORT WOULD BE UNABLE TO MEET THE DEMANDS EXPECTED TO BE PLACED UPON IT.

CONSULTANTS WERE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNEMNT -IN 1973 TO UNDERTAKE A LONG TERM STUDY ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG’S AIR TRANSPORT SYSTEM AND A REPORT WAS SUBMITTED IN JANUARY 1975, HE SAID.

♦THEIR CONCLUSIONS WERE THAT KAI TAK COULD NOT SUSTAIN THE FUTURE DEMAND FOR AIR SERYKES- THAT THE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES OP TRAFFIC BEING DIVERTED TO ELSEWHERE WOULD BE SERIOUS- THAT A POTENTIALLY SUITABLE SITE FOR A REPLACEMENT AIRPORT WAS: AVAILABLE•= AND THAT PLANNING SHOULD BE CONTINUED TO DEVELOP A SPECIFIC COURSE OF ACTION TO PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT AIRPORT FOR HONG KONG,+ HE ADDED.

DURING 1975 AND 1976, MR. JEAFFRESON CONTINUED, THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT REVIEWED THE FORECAST OF DEMAND AND ESTABLISHED THE MOST PROBABLE GROWTH RATES OVER TWO CONSECUTIVE FIVE-YEAR PERIODS ENDING 1980 AND 1985.

♦THE REVIEW WAS UP-DATED EARLY IN 1977 AND CONFIRMED THAT MAXIMUM PRACTICAL CAPACITY OF KAI TAK WOULD PROBABLY BE REACHED IN 1985,+ MR. JEAFFRESON POINTED OUT. -■ <

♦EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HA£ ACCORD INGLY ADVISED THAT INVESTIGATIONS SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT TO EXAMINE WHETHER IT WOULD BE PRACTICABLE IN’ENGINEERING AND METEOROLOGICAL TERMS TO CONSTRUCT A REPLACEMENT AIRPORT AT CHEK LAP KOK — AN ISLAND OFF THE NORTH-WEST COAST OF LANTAU — WHICH IS THE SITE RECOMMENDED AS BEING THE MOST SUITABLE BY THE CONSULTANTS IN THEIR 1975 REPORT.

♦EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ALSO ADVISED THAT CONSULTANTS BE*APPOINTED TO DEVELOP A POSSIBLE AIRPORT LAYOUT PLAN, INCLUDING THE CONFIGURATION OF THE'RUNWAY, THE APPROACH ZONES AND BOUNDARIES,+ HE .SAID.


WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1978

- 16 -

HOWEVER, MR. JEAFFRESON EMPHASISED THAT THE DECISION, SUBJECT TO THE PROVISION OF THE NECESSARY FUNDS BY THE F I NANC-E COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, TO GO FORWARD TO THE NEXT STAGE OF THE PUNNING PROCESS DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS FINALLY DECIDED TO BUILD A NEW AIRPORT TO REPLACE KAI TAK.

+ONCE THIS NEXT STAGE OF THE PLANNING PROCESS HAS BEEN COMPLETED IN ABOUT 18 MONTHS’ TIME, THE ADVICE OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WILL AGAIN BE SOUGHT ON WHETHER OR NOT, IN THE LIGHT OF THE TRAFFIC FORECASTS THEN AVAILABLE, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD GO FORWARD TO THE FOLLOW TNG STAGE,+ HE EXPLAINED.

- - 0 - -

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1978

- 17 -

PROPERTY REVIEW 1978 * * *

OF FLOOR AREA OF BUILDINGS TO BE COMPLETED THIS TO INCREASE BY 20 PER CENT OVER LAST YEAR, RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT’S 1978 PROPERTY

THE AMOUNT YEAR IS EXPECTED ACCORDING TO THE

REVIEW PUBLISHED TODAY.

THE REVIEW, WHICH IS OBTAINABLE FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT 340 A COPY, ALSO REVEALED THAT LAST YEAR ABOUT 25 MILLION SQUARE FEET WERE COMPLETED, UP 60 PER CENT OVER 1976.

COMMENTING ON THE REVIEW, THE COMMISSIONER OF RATING AND VALUATION, MR. RAYMOND FRY, SAID THAT 1977 HAD BEEN A VERY ACTIVE YEAR FOR THE PROPERTY MARKET, AND HAD SET THE SCENE FOR AN UPSURGE OF DEVELOPMENT IN MOST AREAS FOR THE NEXT TWO OR THREE YEARS.

HE CAUTIONED, HOWEVER, THAT DEVELOPMENT ON SUCH AN UNPRECEDENTED SCALE WOULD NECESSITATE A FURTHER EXPANSION OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AND THIS COULD BE AN INHIBITING FACTOR.

THE SUPPLY OF PRIVATE DOMESTIC ACCOMMODATION IN 1977 AT 20,870 UNITS SHOWED A 35 PER CENT INCREASE ON THE 1976 FIGURE OF 15,425 UNITS. IN 1978 AND 1979, OVER 30,000 NEW UNITS ARE EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN EACH YEAR, THAT IS A FURTHER 50 PER CENT UP ON 1977 AND NEARLY DOUBLE THE 1976 FIGURE. MOREOVER, BASED ON KNOWN PROJECTS ONLY, THE PRELIMINARY FORECAST FOR 1980 IS FOR AT LEAST 20,000 UNITS.

+THIS PROSPECT,-ALONG WITH THE RAPIDLY EXPANDING PUBLIC SECTOR - INCLUDING FLATS BECOMING AVAILABLE UNDER THE GOVERNMENT’S HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME - CAN ONLY BE GOOD NEWS FOR FAMILIES SEEKING A HOME OF THEIR OWN,+ MR. FRY SAID.

+TOTAL DOMESTIC VACANCIES AT DECEMBER 1977 WERE AROUND 9,500 WHICH, SEEMINGLY, IS A SMALL INCREASE ON THE POSITION A YEAR PREVIOUSLY,+ HE ADDED. BUT, THE COMMISSIONER POINTED OUT, THESE ARE MAINLY "‘CASUAL’’ VACANCIES OR VACANCIES IN NEWLY COMPLETED BUILDINGS, AND PROVIDE NO MORE THAN THE NECESSARY WORKING MARGIN IF A DEGREE OF FLEXIBILITY IS TO BE MAINTAINED IN THE MARKET.

RENTALS IN ALL DOMESTIC CLASSES SHOWED A FURTHER UPWARD MOVEMENT DURING THE YEAR 1977, WITH AVERAGE INCREASES OF FROM 9 PER CENT TO 18 PER CENT ON 1976 FIGURES. +0F SOME CONCERN ARE THE FURTHER INCREASES RECORDED IN THE LAST QUARTER OF 1977, BUT THIS TREND SEEMS LIKELY TO BE CHECKED AT THE LOWER END OF THE MARKET BY THE LARGE SUPPLY COMING ON-STREAM IN 1978 AND 1979,+ MR. FRY SAID.

SALE PRICES ALSO SHOWED SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES, WITH AVERAGE PRICES AT 13 PER CENT TO 23 PER CENT ABOVE THOSE RECORDED IN 1976.

/the review .....

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1978

- 18 -

THE REVIEW ALSO REFERS TO A SHORTAGE OF ACCOMMODATION AT THE TOP END OF THE DOMESTIC MARKET, AND THE RESULTANT UPWARD TREND OF RENTS AND PURCHASE PRICES FOR SUCH ACCOMMODATION.

IN REGARD TO RETAIL SHOP SPACE, THE COMMISSIONER SAID THAT THE VACANCY POSITION, AT UNDER 1 MILLION SQUARE FEET, HAD NOW FALLEN TO ITS LOWEST LEVEL SINCE 1972, ACCOUNTING FOR ONLY SOME 4 PER CENT OF THE YEAR-END STOCK. THIS WAS DESPITE AN INCREASE IN SUPPLY IN 1977 OF 1.4 MILLION SQUARE FEET OR 21 PER CENT OVER 1976. AS WITH OTHER CLASSES, COMPLETIONS IN 1978 AND 1979 ARE LIKELY TO BE AT OR NEAR RECORD LEVELS.

A FEATURE OF THE YEAR HAS BEEN THE CONTINUING HIGH DEMAND FOR OFFICE ACCOMMODATION, PARTICULARLY FOR PREMISES PROVIDING A HIGH STANDARD OF FINISH AND SERVICES.

THE TAKE-UP OF THE ACCOMMODATION ESTABLISHED A RECORD AT 2.9 MILLION SQUARE FEET, AND EQUALLED THE AMOUNT OF NEW ACCOMMODATION COMPLETED IN THE YEAR WHICH, IN ITSELF, ESTABLISHED ANOTHER RECORD.

COMPLETIONS IN 1978 ARE FORECAST TO DROP TO ABOUT 2 MILLION SQUARE FEET, BUT THIS SEEMS LIKELY TO BE ONLY TEMPORARY, FOR THE RATE OF COMPLETION IN 1979 SHOULD SET NEW RECORDS AT OVER 3 MILLION SQUARE FEET.

NEVERTHELESS, VACANCIES CONTINUED AT A FAIRLY HIGH LEVEL AND, AT 2.6 MILLION SQUARE FEET, SHOWED LITTLE CHANGE ON THE POSITION AT THE END OF 1976. MUCH OF THIS SPACE IS IN POOR BUILDINGS OR UNATTRACTIVELY LOCATED. SOME 35 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL VACANCY FIGURE WAS IN THE SHEUNG WAN DISTRICT, WEST OF CENTRAL.

REGARDING OFFICE RENTS, MR. FRY NOTED THAT THE POSITION APPEARED TO HAVE REMAINED COMPARATIVELY STABLE, ALTHOUGH SOME INCREASES WERE RECORDED FOR GOOD QUALITY ACCOMMODATION IN THE MAIN BUSINESS CENTRES. ON THE OTHER HAND, RENTS FOR LOWER-GRADE ACCOMMODATION CAME UNDER PRESSURE IN CERTAIN DISTRICTS.

ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT FEATURES HIGHLIGHTED IN THE REVIEW CONCERNS FLATTED FACTORY ACCOMMODATION.

COMPLETIONS IN 1977 REACHED ALMOST 9 MILLION SQUARE FEET, THAT IS THREE TIMES THE 1976 SUPPLY. A FUTHER 10 MILLION SQUARE FEET IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN 1978 AND 13 MILLION SQUARE FEET IN 1979.

WHILE THE TAKE-UP OF FLATTED FACTORY ACCOMMODATION AT 6.5 MILLION SQUARE FEET WAS MORE THAN TWICE THE FIGURE FOR 1976, THE LARGE SUPPLY COMING ON-STREAM DURING THE YEAR INEVITABLY RESULTED IN A LARGE INCREASE IN THE VACANCY POSITION. AT 4.1 MILLION SQUARE FEET THIS IS THE HIGHEST VACANCY FIGURE EVER RECORDED FOR FLATTED FACTORY ACCOMMODATION. HOWEVER, A LARGE PROPORTION OF THE ACCOMMODATION RECORDED AS VACANT WAS, IN FACT, ONLY COMPLETED IN THE LATTER HALF OF THE YEAR.

MR. FRY OBSERVED THAT RENTS FOR SUCH PREMISES, WHICH CONTINUED TO INCREASE DURING 1977, WERE TENDING TO WEAKEN TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR AND SOME DOWNTURN WAS NOTED. WITH THE LARGE VACANCY POSITION AND AN INCREASED SUPPLY FOR THE YEAR, THERE SEEMS LITTLE DOUBT THAT RENTS IN THIS SECTOR WILL BE UNDER PRESSURE IN 1978.

.•r.'Mi

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1978

19

THE FOLLOWING ARE THE MAIN STATISTICS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR THE YEARS 1976 AND 1977, AND FORECAST FIGURES FOR 1978 AND 1979.

FORECAST

DOMESTIC 1976 1977 . 1978 1979

SUPPLY IN YEAR UNITS 15,425 20,870 30,510 30,240

BUILT IN YEAR AND VACANT AT DECEMBER OF YEAR 9 9 4,305 5,545

SHOPS THOUSAND SQ.FT.

SUPPLY IN YEAR 1,157 1,399 1,573 1,658

TOTAL VACANT AT DECEMBER 9 9 1,094 988*

OFFICES

SUPPLY IN YEAR 9 9 2,170 2,880 1,979 3,243

TOTAL VACANT .AT DECEMBER 9 9 2,548 2,571%%

MISCELLANEOUS COMMERCIAL

SUPPLY IN YEAR 9 9 1,122 1,409 860 1,199

TOTAL VACANT AT DECEMBER 9 9 1,600 1,477+

FLATTED FACTORIES

SUPPLY IN YEAR 9 9 2,871 8,892 9,946 13,152

TOTAL VACANT AT DECEMBER 9 9 1,680 4,133%+

STORAGE

SUPPLY IN YEAR 9 » 1,228 1,358 1,226 2,685

TOTAL VACANT AT DECEMBER 9 9 196 392++

NOTE: FIGURES RELATE TO ALL RATED AREAS.

K 65% RELATES TO SPACE COMPLETED IN 1977.

** 54% RELATES TO SPACE COMPLETED IN 1977.

+ 45% RELATES TO SPACE COMPLETED IN 1977.

%+ 79% RELATES TO SPACE COMPLETED IN 1977.

++ 91% RELATES TO SPACE COMPLETED IN 1977.

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

/20

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1978

20

CENSUS AND STATISTICS BILL 1978 * * * * *

A BILL DESIGNED TO PROVIDE AN APPROPRIATE FRAMEWORK FOR THE ORDERING OF STATISTICAL SURVEYS WHERE IT IS DESIRED TO MAKE THEM STATUTORY AND COMPULSORY.WAS INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

SPEAKING AT THE SECOND READING OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS BILL 1978, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON. DAVID JEAFFRESON SAID THE BILL DIFFERS FROM THE PRESENT STATISTICAL LEGISLATION -- THE CENSUS ORDINANCE -- LARGELY IN SMALL POINTS OF DETAIL DESIGNED TO MAKE THE LAW CLEARER AND TO ALLOW MORE READILY FOR SURVEYS OTHER THAN POPULATION CENSUSES.

HE SAID: +WHILE THE PRINCIPLES UPON WHICH THE PRESENT ORDINANCE ARE BASED ARE RIGHT AND APPLICABLE TO ANY AREA OF COMPULSORY STATISTICAL ENQUIRY, ITS DETAILED PROVISIONS ARE NOT ADEQUATELY GEARED TO THE EXPANDING WORK PROGRAMME THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT IS UNDERTAKING.

+THIS PROGRAMME GOES WELL BEYOND CENSUSES OF POPULATION. IT NOW ALSO INCLUDES, AS EXAMPLES SURVEYS OF VARIOUS SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY DESIGNED TO LEAD TO A BASIC DESCRIPTION OF EACH SECTOR AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO THE ECONOMY’S OUTPUT= AND SURVEYS DESIGNED TO OBTAIN LABOUR STATISTICS, FOR EXAMPLE ON EMPLOYMENT, UNEMPLOYMENT, AND UNDER-EMPLOYMENT, WAGES AND EARNINGS.+

AMENDMENTS PROPOSED IN THE BILL INCLUDE:

* A DEFINITION OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER OF CENSUS AND STATISTICS THEREBY DEFINING THE SCOPE OF THE STATISTICAL SURVEYS THAT MAY BE ORDERED UNDER THE BILL-

* PROVISION FOR +SAMPLING+ I.E. TO DERIVE INFORMATION RELATING TO A WHOLE FIELD OF INQUIRY FROM THE INFORMATION OBTAINED FROM PART OF IT-

* PROVISION FOR THE COMMISSIONER OF CENSUS AND STATISTICS TO DRAW UP AS ONE SUBMISSION TO THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL ALL THE DRAFT ORDERS NECESSARY FOR THE SURVEYS FOR THE CURRENT YEAR-

* PROVISION TO EMPOWER CENSUS OFFICERS TO ENTER PREMISES FOR CERTAIN SPECIFIED PURPOSES-

* PROVISION TO ALLOW FOR THE PUBLICATION OF NAMES, ADDRESSES, TYPE OF BUSINESS AND THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES DERIVED FROM SURVEYS WITH THE PURPOSE OF PERMITTING THE PUBLISHING OF DIRECTORIES, AND-

* PROVISION EXPRESSLY RELIEVING THE COMMISSIONER OF CENSUS AND STATISTICS FROM HAVING TO DISCLOSE INFORMATION DERIVING FROM SURVEYS FOR THE USE OF OTHER AUTHORITIES IN INVESTIGATING CRIME OR LEVYING TAXES.

COMMENTING ON THE LAST AMENDMENT, MR. JEAFRESSON SAID: +MAINTA IN I NG CONFIDENTIALITY OF INFORMATION ON INDIVIDUAL FIRMS AND PERSONS IS VITAL TO PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN CENSUSES AND SURVEYS.

/+THE COlEuIS SIGNER

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1978

- 21 -

+THE COMMISSIONER PAYS MUCH ATTENTION TO IT AND DOES EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO ENSURE THAT THE SPIRIT OF THE LAW IS MA INTA I NED.+

MR. JEAFFRESON REVEALED THAT AS A FURTHER PRECAUTION AGAINST BREACH OF CONFIDENTIALITY THE COMMISSIONER FOR CENSUS AND STATISTICS IS EXPLORING THE POSSIBILITIES OF SUBSTITUTING NUMBERS FOR NAMES AFTER A CERTAIN STAGE IN PROCESSING THE DATA WITH A VIEW TO REDUCING EVEN FURTHER THE SCOPE FOR UNAUTHORISED DISCLOSURE OF DETAILS.

HE ALSO DISCLOSED THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS DIRECTED THAT TWO UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS BE APPOINTED TO THE STATISTICAL ADVISORY BOARD.

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

/22

.■EDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1978

22

ADJUSTMENT TO EXCHANGE RATE

MAY CAUSE AIR FREIGHT COSTS TO RISE * * * *

THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON. DAVID JEAFFRESON, SAID TODAY THAT AN ADJUSTMENT OF THE HONG KONG AND U.S. DOLLARS EXCHANGE RATE IMPOSED BY THE INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION MIGHT RESULT IN INCREASES IN AIR FREIGHT COSTS.

MR. JEAFFRESON WAS REPLYING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO THE HON. JAMES WU WHO ASKED IF THE GOVERNMENT WAS AWARE OF THE PROLONGED DISPUTE THE LOCAL SHIPPERS AND FORWARDERS HAD WITH IATA AND OTHER AIR CARRIERS OVER THE LATTERS’ IMPOSITION OF A +HIGHLY UNREASONABLE AND DISCRIM INATORY+ EXCHANGE RATE OF THE U.S. DOLLARS WHEREBY HONG KONG SHIPPERS HAD BEEN MADE TO SUFFER A 21 PER CENT HIGHER AIRFREIGHT IN COMPARISON WITH OTHER EXPORTING COUNTRIES.

EXPLAINING THE SITUATION, MR. JEAFFRESON SAID THERE HAS BEEN NO INCREASE IN TRANS-PACIFIC AIR CARGO RATES SINCE 1973, ALTHOUGH AIRLINES HAVE REPEATEDLY FILED HIGHER TARIFF RATES FOR APPROVAL BY GOVERNMENTS, AND THE INCREASES IN FUEL PRICES AND OTHER COSTS SINCE THAT TIME WOULD ARGUE FOR INCREASED TARIFFS.

+SO I SUSPECT THAT IF THE IATA EXCHANGE RATE FOR THE HONG KONG AND U.S. DOLLARS WERE MORE REASONABLY ALIGNED, THEN THE GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE TO CONCEDE CORRESPONDING INCREASES IN TARIFF RATES,+ MR. JEAFFRESON SAID.

+MY GUESS IS THAT THE ACTUAL COST OF AIR FREIGHT TO SHIPPERS WOULD REMAIN MORE OR LESS AS IT IS AT PRESENT WHEN BOTH ADJUSTMENTS TO THE EXCHANGE RATES AND ADJUSTMENTS TO THE CARGO RATES HAVE WORKED THROUGH THE SYSTEM,+ HE ADDED.

MR. JEAFFRESON POINTED OUT THAT THE EXCHANGE RATE FIXED BY IATA IS US$1 TO HK$5.58161, WHICH WAS FIXED DURING 1972 WHEN THE MARKET RATE STOOD AT AROUND $5.70. IT IS 21 PER CENT HIGHER THAN THE CURRENT MARKET RATE.

+THE GOVERNMENT HAS FOR SOME TIME BEEN SEEKING A MORE REALISTIC ALIGNMENT, + MR. JEAFFRESON SAID. +T0 THIS END WE HAVE FIRST ASKED HER MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT, WHICH HAS A RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG IN AIR SERVICES WATTERS, TO PRESS FOR AN ADJUSTMENT.*

+SECONDLY, DURING THE RENEGOTIATION OF THE AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE U.S. AND THE UNITED KINGDOM LAST YEAR, THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN SECURING THE ACCEPTANCE BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT OF THE NEED TO HAVE REALISTIC EXCHANGE RATES APPLIED TO TARIFFS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND THE U.S.A.

+AND THIRDLY, LAST YEAR WE FORMALISED OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE U.K. CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY WHICH HAS THE POWER TO APPROVE OR TO DISALLOW ALL TARIFFS FIXED BY IATA, AS THEY AFFECT THE UNITED KINGDOM AND HONG KONG.

/+THIS FORMALISATION

23

+ THIS FORMALISATION HAS STRENGTHENED OUR ABILITY TO RESIST ALL PROPOSALS FOR INCREASES IN AIR CARGO RATES UNTIL THE ISSUE OF A MORE REALISTIC EXCHANGE RATE HAS BEEN SETTLED,+ MR. JEAFFRESON SAID.

MR. WU ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN IN HIS SECOND QUESTION ON WHAT STEPS THE GOVERNMENT CAN TAKE TO ASSIST LOCAL SHIPPERS AND AIRFREIGHT FORWARDERS IN VIEW OF THE SINGAPORE AND MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENTS’ REQUIRING THE AIRLINES TO ACCEPT LOCAL CURRENCIES AT MARKET EXCHANGE RATES FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF U.S. DOLLAR TARIFFS.

MR. JEAFFRESON REPLIED: +WE ARE MOT IN POSSESSION OF THE FULL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE MOVES OF THE SINGAPORE AND MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENTS.

+WE HAVE NOW ASKED FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND WE SHALL CONSIDER THE ISSUE IN THE LIGHT OF THE RESULTS.+

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

/24

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1978

24

POSTMASTER GENERAL TO EXAMINE INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS CHARGES

X * * * X X

THE POSTMASTER GENERAL HAS BEEN DISCUSSING WITH THE CABLE AND WIRELESS FOR SOME MONTHS WITH A VIEW TO EXAMINING IN DETAIL THE STRUCTURE OF HONG KONG’S INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS CHARGES.

THIS WAS DISCLOSED BY THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON. DAVID JEAFFRESON IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. T.S. LO.

MR. JEAFFRESON SAID IN EXAMINING SUCH CHARGES, THE POSTMASTER GENERAL, WHO IS THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY IN HONG KONG, WOULD LOOK FOR JUSTIFICATION FOR ANY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CHARGES FROM HONG KONG TO OTHER TERRITORIES AND VICE VERSA.

HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE CABLE AND WIRELESS MAY NOT CHARGE MORE THAN THE APPROPRIATE CHARGE IN A SCALE OF FEES APPROVED BY THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY AND THE POSTMASTER GENERAL IS SATISFIED THAT THE COMPANY’S PRESENT CHARGES IN HONG KONG COMPARE FAVOURABLY WITH THOSE ELSEWHERE IN THE REGION.

♦FOR EXAMPLE,+ MR. JEAFFRESON SAID, +THE COST OF A TELEX CALL FROM SINGAPORE TO THE U.K. IS 50 PER CENT HIGHER THAN A CALL FROM HONG KONG TO THE U.K. THE EQUIVALENT TELEPHONE CHARGES ARE 23 PER CENT HIGHER.+

HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE CABLE AND WIRELESS HAS NOT INCREASED INTERNATIONAL TELEX CHARGES FROM HONG KONG SINCE 1959 WHEN THE SERVICE STARTED AND IN FACT THE CHARGES HAVE BEEN REDUCED TWICE.

IN REPLY TO ANOTHER QUESTION FROM MR. LO, MR. JEAFFRESON SAID: +IN DETERMINING THE CHARGES TO BE LEVIED IN A PARTICULAR TERRITORY FOR INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES, THE ORGANISATIONS CONCERNED TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE COST OF THE INTERNATIONAL CIRCUITS, COSTS TO THE RECEIVING AGENCIES, AND THEIR OWN LOCAL SERVICE COSTS.+

THESE COSTS WOULD INEVITABLY VARY FROM COUNTRY TO COUNTRY HAVING REGARD TO SUCH FACTORS AS THE VOLUME OF TRAFFIC, THE INSTALLED COST OF EQUIPMENT, GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES AND TAXES, THE COST OF STAFF, LAND AND OTHER OVERHEADS, MR. JEAFFRESON POINTED OUT.

+SUCH VARIATIONS CAN BE ACCENTUATED BY MOVEMENTS IN EXCHANGE RATES. AND THIS HAS HAPPENED PARTICULARLY IN RECENT YEARS WHEN FLOATING EXCHANGE RATES HAVE BECOME GENERAL,+ MR. JEAFFRESON ADDED.

HE SAID WHILE IT IS TRUE THAT THE RATES FROM HONG KONG TO THE U.K. ARE HIGHER THAN IN THE REVERSE DIRECTION, THOSE TO COUNTRIES WHOSE CURRENCIES HAVE APPRECIATED MORE THAN THE HONG KONG DOLLAR ARE LOWER.

+FOR EXAMPLE, THE RATES FOR TELEX CALLS FROM HONG KONG TO GERMANY AND JAPAN ARE HALF THE RATES FOR CALLS IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS,+ MR. JEAFFRESON SAID.

- 0 -

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1978

25

’SERIOUS VIEW’ OF FALSE PRETENCES INVOLVING HOME OWNERSHIP FLATS

*****

ANYBODY WHO OBTAINS A HOME OWNERSHIP FLAT BY FALSE PRETENCES FACES A MAXIMUM FINE EQUIVALENT TO THE FINANCIAL ADVANTAGE HE WOULD GAIN, THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON. ALAN SCOTT, SAID TODAY.

MR. SCOTT WAS SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DURING THE SECOND READING OF THE HOUSING (AMENDMENT)(NO. 2) BILL.

♦HE SAID: +THE PURPOSE OF CLAUSE 8 IS TO DETER INELIGIBLE PERSONS OR FAMILIES WHO TRY TO OBTAIN, OR ’WHO DO OBTAIN, A HOME OWNERSHIP FLAT BY FALSE PRETENCES.

+THE MAXIMUM PENALTY IS RELATED TO THE FINANCIAL ADVANTAGE WHICH COULD BE GAINED BY SUCH A PERSON OR FAMILY.

+1 AM SURE THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC EXPECT BOTH GOVERNMENT AND THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO TAKE A VERY SERIOUS VIEW OF SUCH AN OFFENCE.+

MR. SCOTT SAID THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE BILL WAS TO GIVE THE HOUSING AUTHORITY POWERS TO DISCHARGE EFFECTIVELY THE RESPONSIBILITIES WHICH IT HAD ACCEPTED UNDER THE GOVERNMENT’S HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME TO BUILD, SELL AND MANAGE FLATS.

THE EXISTING ORDINANCE, UNDER WHICH THE AUTHORITY WAS SET UP IN 1973, DEALT WITH THE PROVISION OF FLATS FOR TENANCIES BUT NOT FLATS FOR SALE.

THE GENERAL INTENTION OF THE BILL WAS TO PLACE THE AUTHORITY IN THE SAME POSITION AS PRIVATE DEVELOPERS WHO RELY ON CONVEYANCING DOCUMENTS, DEEDS OF ASSIGNMENT AND DEEDS OF MUTUAL COVENANT FOR THE SALE AND MANAGEMENT OF THEIR PROPERTY.

HOWEVER, SOME STATUTORY POWERS WERE NECESSARY BECAUSE TWO MAIN FACTORS DISTINGUISHED THE H.O.S. SCHEME FROM PRIVATE-SECTOR SALES OF FLATS: FIRST, ITS SOCIAL PURPOSE’ AND SECOND, THE CAPITAL ADVANTAGE TO BE OBTAINED BY SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS FOR HOME OWNERSHIP FLATS.

THEREFORE THERE WAS A FIVE-YEAR RESTRICTION ON RESALE TO DISCOURAGE SPECULATION ON THE PART OF FLATS PURCHASERS.

ALSO, CLAUSE 4 MADE VOID ALL ASSIGNMENTS OR AGREEMENTS CONTRARY TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE AGREEMENT OF SALE AND PURCHASE AND THE DEED OF ASSIGNMENT, THUS PREVENTING ANY PERSON FROM OBTAINING A VALID TITLE IN SUCH A MANNER.

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

/26

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1978

26

CRIMES (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL BECOMES LAW

*****

THE CRIMES (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1978, WHICH AIMS AT PROTECTING RAPE VICTIMS BY PREVENTING THE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF THEIR NAMES AND THEIR PAST SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR, WAS PASSED INTO LAW AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL THE HON. MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH, COMMENDED THE GOVERNMENT FOR ITS PROMPT ACTION IN ENACTING THE BILL IN RESPONSE TO HER QUERY ON THE ISSUE IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN JULY LAST YEAR.

SHE SAID: +1 AM SURE THAT WHEN THIS BILL BECOMES LAW, MORE RAPE VICTIMS WOULD FEEL FREE TO REPORT RAPE CASES SO THAT MORE RAPE OFFENDERS CAN BE BROUGHT TO JUSTICE.

+1 ALSO HOPE THE FACT THAT RAPE CASES ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE REPORTED WILL ACT AS SOME SORT OF DETERRENT TO POTENTIAL RAPE OFFENDERS IN FUTURE,* SHE ADDED.

FURTHERMORE, SHE WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOON MORE WOMEN POLICE DEALING WITH SUCH RAPE REPORTS.

THE REV. THE HON. JOYCE M. BENNETT, WHO ALSO SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL, SAID LEGISLATION MUST BE +CLEAR AND PROVIDE NO LOOPHOLES*, AND +IT MUST GIVE THE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS EVERY ASSISTANCE IN PREVENTING CRIME AND IN BRINGING THE GUILTY TO COURT TO RECEIVE THE DUE PUNISHMENT FOR THEIR CRIME.*

+THE POLICE SHOULD NOT BE HAMPERED IN THEIR WORK BY AN INABILITY TO SECURE THE EVIDENCE OF THE WITNESSES OF THE CRIME.+ SHE ADDED.

MISS BENNETT NOTED THAT THERE HAS BEEN MUCH PUBLICITY IN RECENT MONTHS CONCERNING THE FAILURE OF RAPE VICTIMS TO REPORT TO THE POLICE AND THE CONSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE POLICE TO CATCH THE SUSPECTS.

MISS BENNETT SAID: +1 HOPE THAT WITH THE PASSING OF THIS BILL, THE PUBLIC WILL RECEIVE SUFFICIENT GUIDANCE AND EDUCATION ON THE HELP IT GIVES TO THE UNFORTUNATE WOMEN AND GIRLS WHO ARE TROUBLED IN THIS WAY.

+THE BILL GUARDS THE ANONYMITY OF THE VICTIMS. I HOPE SOCIAL WORKERS AND TEACHERS WILL NOT HESITATE TO MAKE THIS BILL KNOWN TO THOSE WITH WHOM THEY WORK.

♦THEY NEED TO HELP PARENTS TO UNDERSTAND THAT SILENCE IN THESE MATTERS WILL NOT HELP THEIR DAUGHTERS,* SHE SAID.

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

/27

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1978

- 27 -

NEW AIRPORT HIRE CAR SERVICE TO COMBAT TAXI OVERCHARGING ******

A NEW AIRPORT HIRE CAR SERVICE, WITH AN APPROVED AND REASONABLE SCHEDULE OF CHARGES, WILL SOON BE AUTHORISED TO START OPERATIONS, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN.

THIS WOULD BE IN ADDITION TO THE KMB LUXURY COACH SERVICES WHICH RAN FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE STAR FERRY AND TO CENTRAL DISTRICT EVERY 15MINUTES FROM 7 A.M. TO 11 P.M. DAILY, HE SAID IN EXPLAINING THE PROVISION OF OTHER COMPETITIVE TRANSPORT SERVICES FROM THE AIRPORT TO COMBAT OVERCHARGING

MR. JONES ADDED IN THE FUTURE, WHEN NEW LEGISLATION ALREADY APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IS BROUGHT INTO FORCE. TAXI DRIVERS AND OWNERS WHO ARE CONVICTED OF SUCH OFFENCES AS REFUSING OR NEGLECTING TO DRIVE A TAXI TO THE PLACE INDICATED BY THE PASSENGER, SOLICITING FARES IN ADVANCE, OR OTHERWISE DEMANDING FARES HIGHER THAN THOSE SHOWN ON THE METER. WILL RISK HAVING THEIR VEHICLES IMPOUNDED FOR PERIODS OF THREE OR SIX MONTHS BY ORDER OF A TRANSPORT TRIBUNAL.

IN THE MEANTIME PLAIN CLOTHES POLICE OFFICERS POSING AS PASSENGERS ARE USED TO COMBAT OVERCHARGING AND OTHER MALPRACTICES OF TAXI DRIVERS OPERATING FROM KAI TAK AIRPORT, MR. JONES SAID.

MR. JONES SAID THAT FOR A TAXI TO OVERCHARGE OR NOT TO TAKE A PASSENGER TO HIS STATED DESTINATION WAS A PROSECUTABLE OFFENCE.

BUT HE ADDED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS TO GET MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC NOT JUST TO COMPLAIN BUT TO GIVE EVIDENCE IN COURT- +AND THIS IS PARTICULARLY THE CASE WITH TOURISTS WHO ARE MOSTLY ONLY IN HONG KONG FOR A FEW DAYS.*

BECAUSE OF THESE DIFFICULTIES IN OBTAINING EVIDENCE FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, MR. JONES SAID THE POLICE HAD BEEN USING PLAIN CLOTHES PERSONNEL AS PASSENGERS IN AN ATTEMPT TO CATCH OFFENDERS.

♦HOWEVER,* HE SAID, + THE RELATIVELY FEW TAXI DRIVERS WHO REGULARLY OVERCHARGE TEND TO BE QUICK TO SPOT AN UNDERCOVER POLICE OFFICER AND THIS PROCESS CAN BE A RATHER FRUSTRATING AND ’HIT AND MISS’ AFFAIR.*

MR. JONES SAID THE POLICE ALSO USUALLY MAINTAINED A PRESENCE AT THE AIRPORT TAXI STAND TO PREVENT DRIVERS SOLICITING FARES OR REFUSING TO ACCEPT THE HIRE OF A TAXI, AND A +HOT LINE* WAS MAINTAINED FOR DEALING WITH PUBLIC COMPLAINTS ABOUT TAXI DRIVERS’ BEHAVIOUR.

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

/28

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1976

28

ACCIDENTS INVOLVING PLB’S * * H K *

ABOUT NINE PER CENT OF THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS OCCURRED SO FAR THIS YEAR INVOLVED PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS RAISED BY THE HON. PETER C. WONG, MR. JONES REVEALED THAT THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT TOLL FROM JANUARY 1 TO APRIL 21 THIS YEAR WAS 4,309, OF WHICH 390 INVOLVED PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES.

MR. JONES SAID THE CASUALTY FIGURES REGARDING THE 390 PLB ACCIDENTS WERE 16 FATAL, 164 SERIOUSLY INJURED AND 404 SLIGHTLY INJURED, MAKING A TOTAL OF 584.

+THIS WAS SOME 10.5 PER CENT OF THE 5,521 CASUALTIES FOR ALL ACCIDENTS OVER THE SAME PERIOD,* MR. JONES SAID.

+0F THE TOTAL OF 390 ACCIDENTS INVOLVING PLB’S 94, OR ABOUT 24 PER CENT, OCCURRED IN THE NEW TERRITORIES,* HE ADDED.

REFERRING TO OTHER QUESTIONS RAISED BY MR. WONG ON THE CAUSES OF ALL TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURIES INVOLVING MINI-BUSES SO FAR THIS YEAR AND THE SPEEDS AT WHICH THEY WERE TRAVELLING AT THE TIME OF SUCH ACCIDENTS, MR. JONES SAID SUCH INFORMATION IS NOT IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE.

MR. JONES SAID THE INFORMATION REQUIRED CAN ONLY BE OBTAINED BY MANUALLY CHECKING EVERY FILE DEALING WITH INVESTIGATIONS INTO ALL TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS INVOLVING SUCH VEHICLES.

+AS THERE WERE ALMOST 430 SUCH ACCIDENTS IN THE PERIOD INDICATED THIS WILL TAKE SOME TIME, BUT I WILL WRITE TO MR. WONG WHEN THE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE,* MR. JONES SAID.

IN REPLY TO A SEPARATE QUESTION BY THE HON. ROGER LOBO, MR. JONES SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS SEEKING ADVICE OF AN EXPERT FROM THE U.K. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT ON THE BEST POSSIBLE USE OF THE COMPUTERISED TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS STATISTICS SYSTEM NOW IN USE.

MR. LOBO ASKED IF THE GOVERNMENT WOULD TAKE EARLY STEPS TO IDENTIFY ACCIDENT ELACKSPOTS IN RESPECT OF EACH CLASS OF VEHICLES INSTEAD OF IDENTIFYING THEM FOR ALL CLASSES OF VEHICLES.

MR. JONES SAID: +THE DATA COLLECTED ON TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND STORED IN THE COMPUTER DOES NOT AT PRESENT INCLUDE THIS ASPECT.*

/BUT MB. JONES .....

WEDN2SDAY, APRIL 26, 1978

- 29 -

BUT MR. JONES ADDED THAT ADVICE IS BEING SOUGHT AND THE

MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY WILL EE:

* TO IDENTIFY HIGH ACCIDENT LOCATIONS AND THEIR CAUSES"

* TO DEVELOP A SYSTEM FOR FORECASTING THE LIKELY REDUCTIONS IN ACCIDENTS AND ACCIDENT SEVERITY WHICH COULD RESULT FROM VARIOUS ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AND ROAD SAFETY PROGRAMMES" AND

* TO DEVELOP AN ANALYSIS OF THE COST EFFECTIVENESS OF VARIOUS PROPOSED IMPROVEMENT SCHEMES.

TO ASSIST IN MEETING THESE OBJECTIVES THE ADVISER WOULD BE ASKED TO EXAMINE THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF COLLECTION OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENT DATA AND THE POINT RAISED BY MR. LOBO WOULD ALSO BE PUT TO HIM FOR CONSIDERATION, MR. JONES SAID.

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

/3O

ED’ESDAY,

APRIL 26, 1973

- 30 -

WHY PARENTS PREFER AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS * * * * *

THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, THE HON. KENNETH TOPLEY, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT PARENTS GENERALLY PREFERRED AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND THAT HE BELIEVED ATTEMPTS SHOULD BE MADE TO MAKE GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOLS MORE ATTRACTIVE.

MR. TOPLEY WAS REPLYING TC THE HON. WONG LAM WHO ASKED IF THE GOVERNMENT AGREED THAT THE MAJORITY OF PARENTS STILL SHOWED LITTLE INTEREST IN MOST GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND PREFERRED TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS DESPITE THE FACT THAT FREE PRIMARY EDUCATION HAD BEEN INTRODUCED SINCE 1971.

MR. WONG ALSO WANTED TO KNOW IF THE GOVERNMENT HAD LOOKED INTO THE REASONS FOR THIS AND HAD ANY PLANS TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION.

AGREEING WITH MR. WONG THAT PARENTS GENERALLY PREFERRED AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS, MR. TOPLEY SAID THAT PARENTS WERE FREE TO CHOOSE PRIMARY SCHOOLS FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND THEY TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION FACTORS LIKE LOCALITY, RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION AND THE ACADEMIC REPUTATION OF SCHOOLS.

+AS MOST GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOLS, UNLIKE AIDED SCHOOLS, ARE LOCATED IN THE OLDER RESIDENTIAL AREAS, THEIR CLIENTELE HAS DECREASED GRADUALLY BECAUSE OF POPULATION MOVEMENT TO THE NEW TOWNS AND ESTATES,+ HE SAID.

ON THE OTHER HAND, MR. TOPLEY POINTED OUT THAT A SMALL NUMBER OF AIDED SCHOOLS WERE FEE CHARGING AND THIS ADDED A CERTAIN GLAMOUR TO THEM. THERE ALSO APPEARED TC BE A GENERAL PREFERENCE FOR SCHOOLS WITH RELIGIOUS AFFILIATIONS BECAUSE IT WAS EtLIEVED THAT THESE PROVIDED A STIFFER MORAL EDUCATION.

THE DIRECTOR MENTIONED THAT THE AIDED SCHOOLS WERE MORE SUCCESSFUL IN MANY CASES IN BUILDING AN ACADEMIC REPUTATION WHICH INFLUENCED PARENTS. .'HILE GOVERN!’E"T PRIMARY SCHOOLS WERE REQUIRED TO ACCEPT ANY ELIGIBLE PUPIL, AIDED SCHOOLS COULD EE MORE CHCCSY AND SELECT THE ABLER PUPILS. THEY ALSO IN SOME CASES ASKED PUPILS TO LEAVE WHO WERE NOT MAKING GOOD PROGRESS.

MR. TOPLEY SAID THAT HE .AS DISCUSSING WITH THE STAFF CONCERNED SUITABLE WAYS CF MAKING THE GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOLS MORE ATTRACTIVE.

+CERTAINLY SOME DEMONSTRATION EY GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOL HEADMASTERS AND TEACHERS OF A RENE..ED DEDICATION TO THEIR TASK OF SERVING PUPILS AND THEIR PARENTS MUST BE PART OF THIS EFFORT,+ HE ADDED.

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

/31

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1973

- 31 -

STEPS TAKEN IN TRACING MISSING PERSONS *****

THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON. LEWIS DAVIES, TODAY SAID THAT THERE WERE 154 FEMALES MISSING BY APRIL 22 THIS YEAR AND OUTLINED STEPS TAKEN BY THE GOVERNEMENT IN TRACING MISSING PERSONS.

MR. DAVIES WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BY THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN WHO ASKED WHAT STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN TO TRACE THE 463 TEENAGERS AND ADULT WOMEN WHO WERE REPORTED AS STILL MISSING AS AT THE END OF LAST YEAR OUT OF A TOTAL OF 2,704 FEMALES REPORTED MISSING DURING THE YEAR.

MR. DAVIES SAID THE PARTICULARS OF EACH PERSON ARE CIRCULATED TO POLICE DIVISIONAL HEADQUARTERS FOR FOLLOW UP ACTION AND ALL UNITS ARE NOTIFIED IF THE MISSING PERSON IS UNDER 16 OR OVER 70 YEARS OF AGE OR IF THERE ARE SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES.

+IF THERE ARE SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES THE POSITION IS INVESTIGATED BY THE CID+, MR. DAVIES SAID.

+IF A PERSON IS UNDER 12 YEARS THE FAMILY SERVICES DIVISION OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IS INFORMED AFTER 24 HOURS AND THEIR ASSISTANCE REQUESTED.

♦IF A PERSON IS BETWEEN 12-16 YEARS THE SAME DIVISION OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IS INFORMED AFTER 48 HOURS.+

MR. DAVIES CONTINUED: +IN OTHER CASES ENQUIRIES ARE CONDUCTED BY THE UNIFORM BRANCH WHO REGULARLY CHECK BARS, MUSIC PARLOURS AND THE LIKE- ALSO OUTDOOR DUTIES AND OFFICERS ON CASE ENQUIRIES KEEP A LOOK OUT.

♦WITH THE CONSENT OF THE NEXT OF KIN, THE POLICE ARRANGE FOR DETAILS OF THE MISSING PERSON TO BE PUBLICISED THROUGH THE MASS MEDIA.

+OUTSTANDING CASES REMAIN ON RECORD AND ARE CHECKED WHENEVER YOUNG PERSONS COME TO THE ATTENTION OF POLICE IN SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES,* MR. DAVIES SAID.

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

/32

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1973

32

FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (AMENDMENT) BILL *****

A BILL' AMENDING THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE SO AS TO CLARIFY ITS LEGAL EFFECT WAS INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (AMENDMENT) EILL 1?78, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON. NEIL HENDERSON, SAID THAT THE AMENDMENT WAS CONSIDERED NECESSARY FOLLOWING A RECENT COURT DECISION WHICH CAST DOUBT ON WHETHER SAFETY REGULATIONS MADE UNDER SECTION 7 OF THE ORDINANCE COULD BE EXTENDED TO COVER SITES AND PREMISES WHERE ONLY A TYPE OF INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY, SUCH AS CONSTRUCTION WORK, IS REFERRED TO IN THE DEFINITION OF + INDUSTRI AL UNDERTAKINGS*.

MR. HENDERSON EXPLAINED THAT THE EILL WOULD EXTEND THE DEFINITION OF +INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS* TO EMBRACE VARIOUS SPECIFIED INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES AND ALSO THE PREMISES AND THE PLANT INVOLVED IN SUCH ACTIVITIES.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE AMENDMENT IS ONLY OF A TECHNICAL NATURE TO REFLECT THE REAL INTENT OF THE ORDINANCE-. +THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT MERELY SEEKS TO CLARIFY THE LEGAL EFFECT OF EXISTING REGULATIONS AND NO NEW OBLIGATIONS OR REQUIREMENTS ARE BEING PRESCRIBED.* HE SAID.

HE ALSO SAID THAT ONLY ABOUT FIVE OF THE EXISTING 19 SETS GF REGULATIONS, AND SOME ONLY IN VERY MINOR RESPECTS, WOULD HAVE TO BE AMENDED OR RE-ENACTED.

0 ---------

/33

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1°7

- 33 -

HOUSING DEPARTMENT ACTED QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY IN ROOFTOP LEAKAGE INCIDENT ******

THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT ACTED QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY TO HELP TOP FLOOR TENANTS OF BLOCK 15, LOWER SHEK KIP MEI. AFTER ROOFING REPAIRS COMBINED WITH STORMY WEATHER CAUSED LEAKAGES FROM CEILINGS.

THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON. ALAN SCOTT, SAID THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY WHEN REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. LYDIA DUNN ABOUT THE INCIDENT ON THE NIGHT OF APRIL 8.

HE SAID THAT THE ASPHALT LAYER OF THE ROOF WAS BEING REPLACED, BUT THE SHEETING USED AS A TEMPORARY COVER BY THE MAINTENANCE CONTRACTOR WAS LIFTED BY A VERY HEAVY WIND OVERNIGHT. THEN FOLLOWED RAIN, CAUSING THE WATER TO PENETRATE THE ROOF SLAB.

MR. SCOTT SAID: +WITHIN 12 HOURS, ADEQUATE TARPAULIN SHEETING WAS SET UP, AND THE TENANTS WERE ASSISTED IN CLEANING UP.

+ARRANGEMENTS WERE THEN MADE TO ADVANCE THEIR PLANNED DATE OF REHOUSING TO UPPER PAK TIN ESTATE, AND 57 OUT OF THE 62 FAMILIES INVOLVED HAVE AGREED TO MOVE.

+IN ADDITION THEY WILL NOT EE ASKED TO PAY RENT FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL.+

ON THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, MR. SCOTT SAID: +WITH MORE FORESIGHT ON THE PART OF THE CONTRACTOR, THE INCIDENT COULD UNDOUBTEDLY HAVE BEEN AVOIDED.+

ANSWERING ANOTHER QUESTION FROM MISS DUNN ABOUT THE REPAIR AND REDECORATION OF ESTATE BUILDINGS, AND PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE GENERALLY, MR. SCOTT SAID THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY’S MAINTENANCE BILL FOR ESTATES HAD GONE UP FROM C79.5 MILLION IN THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR TO AN ESTIMATED S1O8.6 MILLION IN THE CURRENT YEAR.

HE SAID THAT THE AUTHORITY HAD A REGULAR PROGRAMME OF MAINTENANCE AND REDECORATION FOR ALL PARTS OF ESTATE BUILDINGS.

REPAIRS WERE MADE AS NECESSARY, WHILE MECHANICAL SYSTEMS WERE SERVICED REGULARLY AS PART OF NORMAL PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE.

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

/34

'..'ED.NESDAY, APRIL 26, 1973

- 34 -

POLICY OF ADMITTING OVERSEAS WORKERS INTO HONG KONG ******

IT IS GOVERNMENT'S POLICY THAT IM DECIDING WHETHER TO ADMIT A NEW CLASS OF WORKERS, THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION CONSULTS THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF EXPERIENCED WORKERS . I TH SUCH SKILLS AVAILABLE AND SEEKING EMPLOYMENT.

THIS WAS STATED EY THE SECRETARY FCR SECURITY, THE HON. LEWIS DAVIES IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. FRANCIS TIEN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

MR. DAVIES ALSO SAID THAT EXPERIENCED DOMESTIC ‘WORKERS FROM THE PHILIPPINES AND ELSEWHERE WHO ARE SPONSORED EY A PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYER IN HONG KONG ARE ALLOWED EY THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT TO ENTER HONG KONG TO TAKE UP EMPLOYMENT WITH THE FAMILY IN QUESTION SUBJECT TO THEIR HOLDING A VALID TRAVEL DOCUMENT AND STRICT CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENTS.

HE SAID THAT THESE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE PROVISION OF PERSONAL SERVICE REQUIRE THAT THE E‘PLOYER HOUSES THE EMPLOYEE TO ENSURE THAT SUCH DOMESTIC WORKERS DC NOT BECOME A BURDEN ON THE COMMUNITY.

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

POLICE ROAD ELOCKS DETER HIGHT RACERS *****

THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT THE CYCLE AND CAR RACING AT NIGHT EY SETT IN SPEED TRAPS.

THE HON. DEREK JONES, TOLD POLICE DO TRY TO STOP MOTOR-G UP ROAD BLOCKS AND RADAR

£ EFFECT BUT * LOT_

93 twa?* *•dMES SAID IN i&Ww

LATE MH S ^R\HfNU|HHj^C^;|URErNSSTH0ECSV5HL^RA„%?HArw(l^ ™

SlT^lNDvedA &UBLIC C0HPLAINT' ™e n= *

BUT HE N0TED THAT THE RACERS ALSO SWITCH THEIR ACTIVITIES AT RANDOM FROM LOCATION TO LOCATION. mvuito Al

+FURTHERMORE, THEY USUALLY SEND OUT 'SCOUTS’ TO MAKE SURE THAT POLICE VEHICLES OR ROAD BLOCKS ARE NOT PRESENT ALONG THE ROUTES CHOSEN,+ HE ADDED.

MR. JONES POINTED SETTING UP A NUMBER OF SIMULTANEOUSLY, MOVING

OUT THAT THE POL ICE‘COUNTER SUCH TACTICS BY ROAD ELOCKS AND RADAR SPEED TRAPS THEM FREQUENTLY THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT.

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

/35

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1978

35

PLANS TO IMPROVE SALT WATER QUALITY IN KWUN TONG *****

THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT IS INVESTIGATING MEANS Of IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF WATER AT THE KWUN TONG SALT WATER INTAKE BY AERATION AND THE INSTALLATION OF MICRO-STRAINERS.

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

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE ONLY FILTERING SYSTEM USED AT THE SALT WATER INTAKES AT PRESENT WAS A COARSE SCREENING MEANT FOR PREVENTING LARGE SOLIDS AND DEBRIS FROM ENTERING THE SYSTEM WHEN WATER WAS BEING EXTRACTED FROM THE SEA.

THE SYSTEM, HE ADDED, WAS SUBJECT TO REGULAR EXAMINATION, MAINTENANCE AND CLEANING SO THAT IT FULFILLED ITS DESIGNED PURPOSE.

MR. MCDONALD SAID THAT DUE TO DEVELOPMENTS IN THE AREA, THE QUALITY OF THE SEA WATER AT THE KWUN TONG INTAKE HAD DETERIORATED SINCE ITS CONSTRUCTION NEARLY 20 YEARS AGO.

+MEANS OF IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF WATER TAKEN INTO SUPPLY, BY AERATION AND THE INSTALLATION OF MICRO-STRAINERS, ARE BEING INVESTIGATED AND IF FOUND TO BE FEASIBLE WILL BE ADOPTED,+ HE SAID.

+HOWEVER, IF NO PRACTICAL SOLUTION CAN BE FOUND, THE PUMPING STATION AND INTAKE WILL BE RESITED TO A LOCATION WHERE THE SEA WATER IS OF ACCEPTABLE QUALITY.*

IN ANSWER TO ANOTHER QUESTION BY MISS BENNETT, MR. MCDONALD SAID THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE RESERVOIR AT JORDAN VALLEY WAS TO STORE RAIN WATER FALLING IN THE CATCHMENT AREA ABOVE IT, IN ORDER TO AUGMENT THE SEA WATER SUPPLY PUMPED FROM KWUN TONG.

AS A RESULT OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE CATCHMENT AREA, HE SAID, EXTENSIVE SILTING HAD OCCURRED AND THE EFFLUENT DISCHARGED FROM THE DEVELOPMENT HAD CAUSED THE WATER QUALITY TO DETERIORATE.

+OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, THE QUALITY HAS DETERIORATED TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT WATER FROM THIS SOURCE CANNOT BE USED OTHER THAN AFTER VERY HEAVY RAINFALL WHEN DILUTION HAS IMPROVED THE WATER QUALITY TO AN ACCEPTABLE STANDARD,* MR. MCDONALD SAID.

+CONS(DERATION IS BEING GIVEN TO USING THIS VALLEY AS A CONTROLLED TIP FOR REFUSE AND, IF THIS PROCEEDS, THE RESERVOIR WILL BE RELINQUISHED AND A NEW SALT WATER RESERVOIR CONSTRUCTED TO REPLACE IT.*

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

/36

EDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1976

- 36 -

CONVERSION OF PARKING METERS TO ACCEPT NEW 5O-CENT COINS ******

THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT THERE IS A PROGRAMME WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY PROVIDE FOR ALL PARKING METERS TO OPERATE ON THE NEW 5O-CENT COINS.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. PETER C. WONG, MR. JONES POINTED OUT THAT AT PRESENT OUT OF A TOTAL OF 11,000-PARK ING METERS, ONLY 2,000 STILL ACCEPT THE OLD 50-CENT COINS AND NOT THE NEW PIECES.

HE ALSO NOTED THAT CHARGES FOR THE NEW METERS ARE HIGHER THAN FOR THE OLD ONES AND THAT THEY DO NOT ACCEPT 10-CENT COINS.

+EUT, AS THE OLD METERS ARE GENERALLY IN THE MORE PERIPHERAL URBAN DISTRICTS, NEW METERS ARE ONLY INTRODUCED IN THESE AREAS WHEN THE DEMAND FOR METERED PARKING SPACES JUSTIFIES THE HIGHER CHARGES,+ MR. JONES SAID.

+MOST OF THESE OLD METERS, HOWEVER, ALSO ACCEPT 10-CENT COINS. AND THEIR INSTRUCTION PLATES ARE NOW BEING CHANGED TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT ONLY 10-CENT COINS SHOULD EE USED,+ HE ADDED.

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

/37

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1978

37

DISCIPLINED SERVICES (WELFARE FUNDS) BILL

* * * * *

A BILL AMENDING THE ORDINANCES OF ALL THE DISCIPLINED SERVICES SO AS TO PERMIT GRANTS TO BE MADE FROM THEIR WELFARE FUNDS TO THE DEPENDENTS OF DECEASED SERVING OR FORMER MEMBERS WAS INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

THE DISCIPLINED SERVICES (WELFARE FUNDS) BILL 1978, IF PASSED, WILL ENABLE THE HEAD OF EACH DISCIPLINED SERVICE -- FIRE SERVICES, HAWKER CONTROL FORCE, POLICE FORCE, PRISONS, IMMIGRATION AND THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICES -- TO DETERMINE THE AMOUNTS OF GRANTS OR LOANS IN THE LIGHT OF CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES, INDIVIDUAL NEEDS, AND THE FUNDS AVAILABLE.

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE HON. MARTIN ROWLANDS, SAID HE BELIEVED THE BILL WOULD BE WELCOMED BY MEMBERS OF ALL THE DISCIPLINED SERVICES.

EXPLAINING THE BACKGROUND TO THE BILL, MR. ROWLANDS SAID A LONG TIME AGO, FOLLOWING THE ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF TWO IMMIGRATION OFFICERS, THE STAFF SIDE OF THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT STAFF CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL RECOMMENDED THAT THE IMMIGRATION SERVICE ORDINANCE AND THE IMMIGRATION SERVICE (WELFARE FUND) REGULATIONS BE AMENDED IN TWO RESPECTS.

THE FIRST WAS TO ENABLE OUTRIGHT GRANTS TO BE PAID TO THE DEPENDENTS OF DECEASED MEMBERS OF THE IMMIGRATION SERVICE. THE SECOND WAS TO RAISE THE MAXIMUM LIMIT ON LOANS TO SERVING MEMBERS.

MR. ROWLANDS SAID IT WAS FELT THAT THESE IMPROVEMENTS SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO ALL THE DISCIPLINED SERVICES.

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

ARRANGEMENTS AT CASUALTY DEPARTMENTS IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS * * * *

ALL CASUALTY DEPARTMENTS IN PUBLIC HOSPITALS ARE STAFFED AND EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH CASES ON A 24-HOUR BASIS, THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR. THE HON. K.L. THONG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. ALEX WU, DR. THONG SAID THE MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENTS AND MEDICAL OFFICERS IN-CHARGE OF SUCH DEPARTMENTS MONITORED, ON A REGULAR BASIS, THE STAFFING AND OTHER FACILITIES SO THAT THESE WERE CONSISTENT WITH ADEQUATE STANDARDS OF MEDICAL ATTENTION AND WERE AVAILABLE WITHOUT UNDUE DELAY.

DR. THONG ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THESE ARRANGEMENTS ARE KEPT UNDER REVIEW AND SUITABLE ADJUSTMENTS ARE MADE AS NECESSARY.

/38

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1978

38

APPLICATION FOR WATER SUPPLY IN HOUSING ESTATES WELL UNDERSTOOD * * * * *

THE GOVERNMENT IS SATISFIED THAT THE PROCEDURES FOR APPLYING FOR WATER SUPPLY IN HOUSING ESTATE ARE UNDERSTOOD BY ESTATE OFFICES AND THAT THEY ARE EXPLAINED TO AND UNDERSTOOD BY INCOMING TENANTS.

THE HON. DAVID MCDONALD, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, SAID THIS TODAY IN REPLY TO A QUESTION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BY THE HON. P.G. WILLIAMS.

DESCRIBING THE PROCEDURES, HE SAID: + IN APPLYING FOR WATER SUPPLY THE INCOMING TENANTS SIGNS FORM F, WHICH IS AN UNDERTAKING TO PAY WATER CHARGES AND TO PAY A DEPOSIT TO COVER THE COST OF SUBSEQUENT WATER CONSUMPTION, WHICH IS BILLED IN ARREARS.*

IN NEW ESTATES, MR. MCDONALD SAID, METERS WERE INSTALLED IN ADVANCE OF OCCUPATION WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY BEING THE INITIAL CONSUMER.

WHEN HOUSING UNITS HAD BEEN ALLOCATED THE ESTATES MANAGEMENT OFFICE UNDERTOOK THE ADMINISTRATIVE WORK OF COMPLETING THE FORM F ON BEHALF OF THE INDIVIDUAL TENANTS WHO WERE THEN REQUIRED TO SIGN THEM, HE ADDED.

THE COMPLETED FORMS WERE FORWARDED TO THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT FOR PROCESSING AND SUPPLY WAS MADE AVAILABLE ON THE DATES AGREED WITH THE HOUSING ESTATE OFFICE.

+IN CASES WHERE THE METER HAS BEEN REMOVED DUE TO NON-PAYMENT OF WATER CHARGES, A FORM I (WHICH IS A REQUEST FOR A METERED CONNECTION) IS ALSO REQUIRED AND IS FORWARDED BY THE HOUSING ESTATE OFFICE SIMULTANEOUSLY WITH THE FORM F,+ MR. MCDONALD SAID.

+HOWEVER, CONSIDERATION IS CURRENTLY BEING GIVEN TO DISPENSING WITH FORM I APPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES.*

MR. MCDONALD EMPHASISED THAT ALTHOUGH THERE HAD BEEN A FEW ISOLATED CASES IN THE PAST WHERE THERE WAS A LACK OF UNDERSTAN I NG OF THE PROCEDURES, THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOW SATISFIED THAT THE PROCEDURES WERE UNDERSTOOD BY ESTATE OFFICES AND THAT THEY WERE EXPLAINED TO AND UNDERSTOOD BY INCOMING TENANTS.

MR. WILLIAMS ALSO ASKED WHETHER IT WAS GOVERNMENT POLICY THAT WHERE A TENANT OF A PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE OCCUPIED MORE THAN ONE HOUSING UNIT THAT WATER SERVICE AND METER WOULD ONLY BE SUPPLIED TO ONE OF THE UNITS.

IN REPLY, MR. MCDONALD SAID THAT WHERE ALLOCATED HOUSING UNITS 'VERE COMBINED AND ADJACENT, ONE VATER METER WAS PROVIDED. THE TENANT THEREFORE RECEIVED ONE BASIC FREE ALLOWANCE IN RESPECT OF THE WATER CONSUMED.

+WHERE THE UNITS ARE SEPARATE, THE NEED FOR WATER SUPPLY IN EACH SEPARATE UNIT IS RECOGNISED AND A WATER METER IS PROVIDED TO EACH. IN SUCH CASES, THE CONSUMER GETS THE FREE ALLOWANCE ON EACH METER,* MR. MCDONALD SAID.

/39

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1978

- 39 -

LEGCO APPROVES RESOLUTION

******

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY APPROVED A RESOLUTION EXTENDING FOR THREE MONTHS THE PROVISIONS OF THE_ CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ORDINANCE WHICH ENABLE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO SEEK A REVIEW OF THE SENTENCE IMPOSED 3Y A COURT ON A CONVICTED PERSON.

MOVING THE MOTION, THE ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE

HON. GARTH THORNTON SAID THESE PROVISIONS HAD BEEN IN OPERATION FOR SIX YEARS NOW AND HE BELIEVED THAT THEIR USEFULNESS HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT TOOK THE VIEW, AND THE CHIEF JUSTICE AGREED, THAT THESE PROVISIONS SHOULD BE MADE PERMANENT AND A BILL TO THIS END WOULD BE INTRODUCED IN THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING.

+MEANTIME, IN ORDER TO GIVE SUFFICIENT TIME FOR THE BILL TO BE CONSIDERED BY COUNCIL, THIS RESOLUTION WOULD EXTEND THE PROVISIONS FOR THREE MONTHS,+ MR. THORNTON SAID.

--------o -

/4O......

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1978

LAND REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978 * * * * *

THE LAND REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978 WAS INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY TO BRING IN CERTAIN AMENDMENTS TO THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE IN RESPECT OF PRIORITY IN THE REGISTRATION OF DOCUMENTS.

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. DEREK JONES, SAID ONE OF THE AMENDMENTS PROVIDES A UNIFORM PERIOD OF ONE MONTH FROM THE TIME OF EXECUTION OF A DOCUMENT FOR REGISTRATION UNDER THE RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCE, WHETHER SUCH DOCUMENT IS EXECUTED IN HONG KONG OR ELSEWHERE.

HE SAID AT PRESENT DOCUMENTS EXECUTED OUTSIDE HONG KONG WERE GIVEN A PERIOD OF 12 MONTHS IN WHICH THEY SHOULD BE REGISTERED IF THEY WERE TO SECURE STATUTORY PRIORITY.

+THIS PROVISION DATES APPARENTLY FROM THE DAYS OF SAILING SHIPS AND THE CONTINUANCE OF THE DIFFERENTIAL IS CLEARLY UNNECESSARY IN THE AGE OF JET AIRCRAFT.+

ANOTHER AMENDMENT, MR. JONES SAID, PROVIDES FOR THE PRIORITY OF PENDING ACTIONS AND CHARGING ORDERS TO COMMENCE FROM THE DAY FOLLOWING THE DATE OF THEIR ACTUAL REGISTRATION RATHER THAN THE DATE OF THE DOCUMENT ITSELF.

+AT PRESENT, IF A PERSON RELIES UPON A CLEAR TITLE SHOWN ON THE REGISTER AND PURCHASES A PROPERTY ON THE STRENGTH OF THAT CLEAR TITLE, HE CAN STILL BE DEFEATED IF A WRIT IS ISSUED OR A CHARGING ORDER OBTAINED WHICH, ALTHOUGH NOT REGISTERED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLETION OF THE PURCHASE, IS STILL REGISTERED WITHIN THE STATUTORY PERIOD OF ONE MONTH,+ MR. JONES SAID.

+THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT, BY ACCORDING PRIORITY FROM THE DATE FOLLOWING ACTUAL REGISTRATION, ENSURES THAT, AS FAR AS THESE TWO CLASSES OF DOCUMENTS ARE CONCERNED, A PURCHASER OF PROPERTY WILL BE ABLE TO RELY UPON A CLEAR TITLE SHOWN ON THE REGISTER,* HE ADDED.

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

/41

ED^ESDAY, APRIL 26, 1978

- 41 -

BILLS .PASSED

*'* *

TEN BILLS WERE PASSED INTO LAW IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

THEY WERE THE BANK-NOTES ISSUE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978-STAMP (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978= STAMP (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1978-STAMP (AMENDMENT) (NO. 3) BILL 1978= CRIMES (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1978= YAN CHAI HOSPITAL (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978- PUBLIC ORDER (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978- MOTOR VEHICLES INSURANCE (THIRD PARTY RISKS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978- CRIMINAL PROCEDURE (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1978- AND EVIDENCE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1978.

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

FIRE SERVICES INSPECT FACTORIES IN KWUN TONG * * * *

OFFICERS FROM THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TODAY UNCOVERED A NUMBER OF FIRE HAZARDS DUF TG THEIR INSPECTIONS ON .ABOUT 5OO.UH4T# IK 26 INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS I!.' K/.UN TONG.

THEY INCLUDED BLOCKAGE TO EXITS AND LIFT LQBBIES, ILLEGAL STRUCTURES IN OPEN AREA, ILLEGAL INSTALLATIONS OF METAL GATES ON STAIRCASES AND REMOVAL OF SMOKE DOORS.

AS A RESULT OF THESE CHECKS, A TOTAL OF 84 FIRE HAZARD ABATEMENT NOTICES WERE SERVED AND SUMMONSES WILL BE ISSUED AGAINST THREE FACTORY OWNERS FOR VIOLATING FIRE PREVENTION REGULATIONS.

DURING THE INSPECTION 22 CASES OF ILLEGAL ROOFTOP STRUCTURES, UNAUTHORISED BUILDING ALTERATIONS AND UNLICENSED COOKcD FOOD STALLS WERE FOUND. THESE WILL BE REFERRED TO THE RELEVANT DEPARTMENTS FOR THEIR ATTENTION.

, A TOTAL OF 36 FIRE OFFICERS UNDER THE COMMAND OF DIVISIONAL OFFICER, MR. KEN HODGKINS TOOK PART IN TODAY’S OPERATION.

THE OFFICERS WILL RETUR’' FOR .'■■ORE TOMORROW (THURSDAY).

INSPECTIONS IN KWUN TONG

- - 0 - -

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1978

42

TRAFFIC BAN AT SECTION OF DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL * * * * *

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT HAS ANNOUNCED THAT FROM 10 A.M.

ON FRIDAY (APRIL 28), THE EASTEOUND SECTION OF DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL BETWEEN PEDDER STREET AND ICE HOUSE STREET WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES AND THOSE AUTHORISED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT IN WRITING.

APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE SET UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

SUPPLEMENT

Wednesday, April 26, 1978.

"HONG KCNG: BRITAIN'S SHC» .'CASE IN ASIA'1

Following is the full text of a speech given by the Governor, Sir Hurray MacLehose, at a meeting on "Hong Kong: Britain's Showcase in Asia", at the Confederate of British Industry in London, on Wednesday, April 26, 197?:

It is for Lord Nelsen and Mr. March and Mr. Porter and our cha-irman (Mr. John Browne) to explain in detail the opportunities that exist in Hong Kong for the British businessman looking for an export market, a base for exports to or investment in the S.E. Asia region -or a manufacturing base. My task is to tell you what sort of place and a market it is. We venture to commend it to you. But it is 8,000 miles away. Its territory is only 400 square miles and its population only 4# million. References tc it in the English media are usually highly coloured and often disparaging T1; should you bother? .That is there so special

about it? The short answer is that it is’ among the twenty largest trading units in the world.

I am no admirer of that early nineteenth century era in which the seizure of colonies by developed nations was the order of the day —— like so many British and other colonies, Hong Kong dates from that time. But it is a striking fact that of that era, Hong Kong alone survives and prospers as a colony of any economic significance.

/It has done ....

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

- 2 -

It has done so because of very special circumstances, including the attitude of the People’s Republic of China and the support of the United Kingdom. But I think, too, it has survived because the combination of the place, the people, and the Government has been so extraordinarily successful in producing stability and steadily rising living standards, also because it is so open — all are equally free and welcome to participate in this success and to profit from it, whether from China, America, Britain or elsev/here.

Hong Kong has the reputation of being the last outpost of laissez faire and on this account has both its panegyrists and its critics. The fact ir that Hong Kong is unusually dependent on external economic forces over which it has no ccntrol. Sooner or later it has no alternative but to adjust to them. Consequently the Government does not intervene in the natural play of market forces except to step abuse or distress to the public, or to ensure the provision of the essential infrastructure without which acceptable speeds of social advance and economic growth would not be possible. These are of course very large qualifications to laissez faire, and I shall describe some of the major programmes which these qualifications involve. Moreover as in any other civilised society, there is comprehensive legislation covering financial, commercial and industrial activity, and labour conditions and relations, and Hong Kong would be an insecure business partner or field for investment if there were not.

/But it is ......

-3 -

But it is true that Hong Kong does have comparatively low rates of tax and a comparatively simple fiscal system: there is no exchange control, and there is freedom to employ such staff as a firm sees fit, and freedom to remit profits and.capital at will, and in comparison with other communities there is a refreshing absence of regulation and red tape. So in Hong Kong the entrepreneur probably does enjoy greater freedom to get on with his job than in any comparable place of business. We have every intention of adhering to this general approach.

The prudently orthodox financial philosophy of the Government is consistent with this general approach. Hong Kong must be unusual amongst the major cities of the world in having debt of only negligible proportions and in maintaining at the same time very large fiscal reserves. Of course Hong Kong has never received aid of any significance, and suspects that none would help her if she failed, and I can assure you that this background can be a stern enforcer of financial discipline.

But Hong Kong is not just an industrial, commercial or financial institution. It is a community of about 4# million, intensely shrewd and active people. It is governed with more real freedom than any other community in Asia and yet — because of circumstances which are forced upon ilj — without elected government. It is a fascinating and constantly evolving story, how in these circumstances the Government seeks to achieve consent for its policies, tries to be responsive to the wishes of its people and aims to achieve their participation — because in these respects Hong Kong really is unique in the world. Nowhere else can the constitution be so authoritarian but the practice be so deeply imbued with liberal traditions and safeguards.

/ The major problem . ...

4

The major problem of Hong Kong is sheer weight of numbers and. the rapidity with which they have built up through immigration and natural increase since the 1950s. This has created great problems of providing housing, education and social welfare and the whole infrastructure that makes life in a community what it should be. But these things are being quickly provided.

For instance the Government already houses 4$ Per cent of the population at heavily subsidised rents. In the four years from 1978/79 to 1981/82 the Government will complete accommodation at subsidised rates for about one million more people (cr more than one-fifth of the population).

This year, for the first time, three years secondary as well as primary education will be available and free for all children. This programme alene involves the construction of 86 schools- The number of places in higher education (the two universities and polytechnic) is increasing from 8,000 in 1973 to nearly 22,000 in 1981.

There is a similar increase in medical facilities. The increase in hospital beds in the six years from 1978 to 1984 will be approximately 7>000 and in the same time eight new clinics and polyclinics will open.

There is a massive programme of engineering works to give access by road or rail to areas where building land exists or can be formed by reclamation *f the sea, so that three new self-contained towns averaging 600,000 can be built before 1984, and built in infinitely better environmental conditions than was possible in the old crowded urban areas and hut-covered hillsides for which Hong Kong is know. A similar onslaught on traffic conditions in the old urban areas is being conducted by the construction of an underground railway and a mass of flyovers and some major arterial roads.

/These are just .....

- 5 -

Those are ju; t some a cai lies of the scale of endeavour in the public sector, Against t'.i b• ekrre ’.no it is not surprising that the expenditure of the Hong Kong Government s'xoulc heve incre sed from nearly three billion HK dollars in 1971/7? to ovor 10 billion HK dollars in 1978/79, or that in the current budget social services account for 4?..6 per cent and community services (largely communications and water) for 20.4 per cent of total expenditure.

It i- much more surprising that this has been achieved without large increases in taxation, and wit the exception of a few self-liquidating projects, has been financed from revenue not debt.

Thi- has only be n ' or. tuo through the ra -id gro th of the economy. Domestic exports grew from -.r‘ b:]lion EE dollars in 1961 to 35 billion HK dollars in 1977, and the rm s done tic product in per capita real terms increase by an av .rage of 6.4 per cent a y-?.ar bet een 1961 and 1971 and by 7»1 per cent since 1971•

I quote these figures to sho what an unusually dynamic place Hong Kong is, and how much is happening there. It is a place on the move, and the sense of movement, energy and bustle hits the ne*ly arrived visitor Dike an electric shock. I submit that is is in such a live market as Hong Kong with rapid expansion in both private indur t: y and public sectors that export orders and business opportunities are -orth lookin', for.

In fact last year United Kingdom exports to Hong Kong were about 270 million Sterling, that is t say about the same as Britain’s exports to India, two-thirds of her exports to Japan, four times her exports to China. It is very much a market in its own right, and I believe that with attention Briti h sales would be much bigger th'n they are. But the first essential is to realise that r-.rket is there, then seriously to plan its exploitation.

/You may well ask

- 6 -

You may well ask ’’but will it continue?” ”Is it a sufficiently long-term market to be worth cultivating?”

My unequivocal answer is ”yes”. I have been involved in Sino-British relations for thirty years and they have never been better. Practical co-operation over Hong Kong is excellent, and Chinese trade with and in Hong Kong is important. The community of Hong Kong is an enviably stable one politically, it is happily free from labour difficulties, and the adaptability, vigour and inventiveness of its ork-force and management alike are proverbial. Increasingly capital intensive developments of industry and communications and increasing sophistication in banking, commerce and tourism, require large numbers of technicians, technologists and professionals of virtually all disciplines, but Hong Kong’s educational system can supply them.

Hong Kong is only vulnerable in that it is so unusually dependent for its prosperity on demand and economic activity in areas beyond its control — for instance in North America and Europe. So long as a modest growth in the economies of these areas can be maintained Hong Kong should prosper. A U.K. minister once said to me that the Hong Kong economy was so flexible and quick that a puff of demand anywhere would fill Hong Kong’s sails. There is of course the threat of nroteqtionism. About this we have no illusions. If carried to excess it could kill Hong Kong and the developing economies as equally it could kill the slow recovery of the developed countries from recession. But I am confident that this will not happen, that wiser counsels will prevail, that recession in the world will gradually lift, and with it the political pressures for protection that high levels of unemployment have generated.

/ Hong Kong is

- 7 -

Heng Kong is very conscious of the need to diversify its exports and sources of prosperity to reduce its reli nee on exporting a narrow range of products th'jt can becon.. a focus of wrotectionist pressures in its markets. We also need to continue to trade up — for our wages are relatively high for Asia — and we, no more th n you, cm continue to rely on manufacturing products that others can make just as well but more cheaply. This year we still expect a gro.th rate of over eight per cent and vze expect to be able to maintain an average rate of even per cent till the end of the deeade. You need have nc fear — the Hong Kong market will continue.

There is another reason why I suggest it is in the United Kingdom’s interest to expand its exports to Hong Kong. Hong Kong i an area of comparatively fast economic growth. Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand all consistently enjoy annual growth rates of between six and 10 per cent. Hong Kong is at the communication, eontre of these rapidly developing markets of Bast and South-East Asia. It has very close commercial and financial links with Japan. But its closest connection is with China, the biggest country in the world, now poised for a period of rapid economic expansion. Hong Kong is therefore a shop-window on a prime site. The equipment that is being ured or the goods that are being brought or offered for sale in Hong Kong ./ill be seen by the businessmen of the whole area who pass through it or maintain their representatives and correspondents in it — and remember it is both the financial and communications centre of the region. If what they see is British it may influence them to buy British. Conversely if British goods are noticeably absent from a market under British adrrn n i strati on adverse conclusions will be drawn throughout Bouth-East Asia to the detriment of British prospects. I realize that British exporters cannot supply every market in the world, even when opportunities exist they must be

selective.

/But I suggest ••.•

- 8 -

But I suggest that for tho e exporters for whom opportunities do $xist in Hong Kong, it is a market that merits high priority. It offers a nrtural centre from which to exploit the expanding markets of East and South East Asia.

There is a further general point worth making to you about the comparative advantages of Hong Kong as a market. Business can be done quickly because Hong Kong businessmen are brisk — it is a city in a hurry, business can be done in English and when done it is governed by British law.

• I have not liked to see the British share of the Hong KOng market decline and am delighted that the trend has at last reversed. British support is as vital to Hong Kong as the goodwill of China on the one hand, and the hard work, enterprise, and good government of the people of Hong Kong on the other. British support is not an issue, but ineviV bly commercial success and the employment it brings is helpful to British attitudes towards a place so distant an& so little undeivstood. I therefore greatly welcome the interest which the Department of Trade and Industry, the CBI and the British Overseas Trade Board now take in the development of trade ith Hong Kong. Their success would be in the mutual interest of both the United Kingdom and Hong Kong.

All who come to see the Hong Kong market will find a welcome, most will find both profit and friendship, none will be di/appointed by a visit to a place with so much beauty, energy and promise.

0 - -

9

STATEMENT BY FINANCIAL S3CRin?A5Y AT

11 TH ANNUAL MEETING OF ASIAN D3V3L0PK2IT SANK

*****

The following is the statement made by the Financial Secretary, Mr. Philip Haddon-Cave yesterday (Tuesday) at the 11th Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank in Vienna :

"Both you, Mr. Chairman, and the President, have effectively surveyed the Bank’s recent performance and have sought to take a view of the Bank’s role in the economic and social development of this immensely diverse region in the second decade of its existence. Your joint analysis deserves to provoke - and I am sure it will - a wide ranging debate for some time to come. I shall confine rayself this afternoon to making five disparate points.

’’The first one concerns the relatively low level of loan disbursements to date. Over the period 1968 to 1977, loan commitments have increased faster than both disbursements and contracts awarded and the implication of the chart on page 2^ of the annual report is that a disproportionate share of the Bank’s staff resources is being devoted to new loan approvals, as opposed to the effective implementation of projects already approved. This is not the Bank’s

/fault, but ......

10

fault, but it must be of concern to the Bank. One way of accelerating disbursements would be to improve the absorptive capacity of borrowing countries through an expanding programme of technical assistance designed to strengthen the planning and executing capability of the institutions concerned in these countries.

"I note with approval therefore the Bank’s present activities and future intentions in this field. To this end, my Government is prepared to continue to provide financial support, on an un-tied basis, to the technical assistance special fund. If the results of the proposed comparative research exercises into the social and cultural environments within which the development process must operate in borrowing countries are such that they can be put to practical use, then these studies should also help to improve the speed and effectiveness with which disbursements are made.

“I know that the President has recently re-structured the management of the Bank with a view to ensuring that it remains responsive to changing circumstances and capable of managing the Bank’s rapidly expanding lending programmes, and its increasingly complex financial affairs, with maximum efficiency. I hope that this will be followed up by a review of the organisation of the Bank’s internal administration as a whole, including all questions relating to the recruitment and management of staff.

“For my second point is this : whilst I believe in the concept of career service in the Bank, I think that an international development institution should dilute its establishment of career staff with staff

/on contract ......

11

on contract terms and on short-term secondments. Such a process of continuous interchange of staff would be to the mutual benefit of both the institution and member countries. Incidentally, I would like to note in passing that the newly established Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has contributed significantly to the efficient conduct of the Bank’s affairs and I am sure that it will play an increasingly important role in the future.

”1 understand that the Board of Director's has recently considered the possible role of programme lending in the Bank’s general loan strategy. In my view, and this is my third point, acceptance of the case for programme lending must be coupled with an acceptance of the need for meaningful evaluation techniques, applied exante and ex post facto. Having said that, I would suggest that family planning might be a suitable field for programme lending. I realise that hitherto so far as international development institutions are concerned, population control programmes have been the special preserve of the World Bank which has built up a wealth of comparative experience. But I doubt whether the Asian Development Bank can legitimately leave all efforts in this field to the Jorld Bank given the high proportion of the world’s population in the Asian region, and given also the relatively high population growth rates in many member countries, which erode the impact on living standards of private and public investment.

’’Tills leads me on to the question of the respective roles of • i

the VTorld Bank and the several regional banks and, indeed, of all specialised international agencies concerned with economic and social development and to the fourth point I wish to make, namely, that the

/time has .....

12

time has come for all international development institutions to have clearly defined roles to avoid overlapping of activities and so as to ensure the activities of all institutions are complementary one to the other and not competitive.

’’The some-what haphazard emergence of these institutions since the Second World /ar has meant that a not insignificant proportion of available funds, expertise and experience is not being utilised to the best advantage. Moreover, access to the limited resources of these institutions appears to be determined on an accidental rather than a fair and rational basis. Specifically, I would like to suggest that an examination should be made of the possibility of the World Bank and the several regional banks, as appropriate, accepting responsibility for administering some of the development funds presently controlled by specialised agencies. It would seem to be self evident that the totality of the overhead costs of all development institutions is now such that substantial resources could be released for productive investment purposes if there was a degree of rationalisation of present arrangements. I think it would be helpful, therefore, if the newly established International Commission on Development looked into the pi esent network of development and allied institutions and examined their respective roles critically.

"My final point concerns the lurch to protectionism which has become so alarmingly apparent in the last twelve months or so. Protectionism will undoubtedly slow down the growth rate of world trade in manufactures, and generally. It will thus be a self-defeating process in the long run.

/Certainly .....

13

Certainly protectionism will prove to be no cure for unemployment and inflation. However, if certain developed countries in Europe, North America and elsewhere are determined, for the time being, to place a degree of reliance on national or regional self-sufficiency in products which they would otherwise obtain through the mechanism of world trade, then I can see no alternative but for regional development banks to stress regional self-sufficiency in their lending for development.

"This would require the Asian Development Bank to match its involvement in the development process in individual member countries with a strategic view of the development of the Asian and Pacific regional as a whole. That is to say, in its innovative role, the Bank would seek to support projects which were designed specifically to promote intra-regional trade. This is not an approach which would be defensible in a more liberal world trading environment, but there are certain implications of protectionism which are inescapable (a slow-down in the growth rate of even dynamic economies, for instance) and which must have, an influence on the policies pursued by those adversely affected.

’•Perhaps when it is realised by protectionist Governments that there is an unpalatable reality about protectionism, that is to say, when they realise that protectionism is bound to have consequences which damage all members of the world trading economy, more liberal - and hence more effective even from a nationalistic point of view - trade policies will be followed.”

- 0 - -

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 1978

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

GOVERNMENT APPROVES 11 NEW POLICE POSTS .................... 1

PROMOTIONS IN POLICE FORCE ANNOUNCED ........................ 3

TIN HAU PROCESSION IN YUEN LONG .............................. 4

CROWN LAND FOR SALE ....................................... 5

TOURIST AND HOTEL INDUSTRIES URGED TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE MANPOWER TRAINING ............................................ 6

SEMINARS ON CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS SYLLABUSES ................. 7

LOCAL MASTER’S EXAMINATION DATES RE-SCHEDULED ................ 8

REGISTRATION TEAM TO OPERATE IN AP LEI CHAU .................. 8

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS FOR TIN HAU FESTIVAL .................... 9

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

THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 1978

1

GOVERNMENT APPROVES 11 NEW POLICE POSTS

******

THE GOVERNMENT HAS APPROVED 11 NEW POLICE POSTS RANGING FROM DEPUTY COMMISSIONER TO SENIOR SUPERINTENDENT. IT IS INTENDED THAT MOST WILL EE FILLED FROM OVERSEAS.

THE PROMOTIONS OF NINE SERVING POLICE OFFICERS TO FILL EXISTING VACANCIES IN THE RANKS OF CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT AND SENIOR SUPERINTENDENT ARE ALSO BEING ANNOUNCED TODAY.

THE CREATION OF NEW POSTS FOLLOWS RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE SPECIAL POLICE ADVISERS AND THE GOVERNMENT ON THE NEED TO STRENGTHEN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE POLICE FORCE, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREAS OF TRAINING, DISCIPLINE, MANAGEMENT SERVICES AND STAFF RELATIONS.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE NEW POSTS WHICH HAD BEEN APPROVED WERE AS FOLLOWS:

(A) FOR POLICE HEADQUARTERS

(I) SUPERNUMERARY POSTS

1 DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE

1 SENIOR ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF POLICE

(II) PERMANENT POSTS

2 ASSISTANT COMMISSIONERS OF POLICE

1 CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT

2 SENIOR SUPERINTENDENTS

(B) FOR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT

HEADQUARTERS

PERMANENT POST

1 CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT

/(C) FOR HONG KONG

THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 1978

2

(C) FOR HONG KONG ISLAND DISTRICT, KOWLOON DISTRICT, AND NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT,

UNIFORM BRANCH

SUPERNUMERARY POSTS

3 CHIEF SUPERINTENDENTS

FOUR OF THE PERMANENT POSTS AND ALL THE SUPERNUMERARY POSTS WILL BE FILLED IN THE FIRST INSTANCE BY RECRUITMENT FROM OVERSEAS.

THE EXISTING PERMANENT DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE POST WILL RETAIN RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL OPERATIONAL POLICE MATTERS INCLUDING CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT, SPECIAL BRANCH AND THE UNIFORM BRANCH.

THE NEW SUPERNUMERARY DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE WILL HAVE OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADMINISTRATION, INCLUDING PERSONNEL, TRAINING, CIVIL MANAGEMENT AND MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT MATTERS. THIS POST IS EXPECTED TO BE FILLED BY A RETIRED SENIOR ARMY OFFICER FROM THE U.K. THE SENIOR ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF POLICE POST IS EXPECTED TO BE FILLED BY A SENIOR U.K. POLICE OFFICER. A FURTHER ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THESE APPOINTMENTS WILL BE MADE SHORTLY.

COMMENTING ON THE NEW POSTS THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE FORCE HAD EXPANDED BY MORE THAN.-5,000 POSTS IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS. MOST OF THESE POSTS HAD BEEN OPERATIONAL AND IT WAS NOW ESSENTIAL TO STRENGTHEN THE ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE. TO ACHIEVE THIS, THE SPOKESMAN WENT ON, IT WAS IMPORTANT TO DRAW UPON EXPERIENCE FROM OUTSIDE THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE SO AS TO OBTAIN THE MOST HIGHLY QUALIFIED MEN AVAILABLE.

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT FOR THIS REASON, ALTHOUGH MOST SENIOR VACANCIES ARE FILLED FROM WITHIN THE FORCE, DURING THE LAST THREE YEARS EIGHT OFFICERS WITH POLICE SERVICE IN OTHER OVERSEAS TERRITORIES HAD BEEN APPOINTED TO FILL VACANCIES CAUSED BY RETIREMENT AND EXPANSION.

+THE NEW POSTS SHOULD BE VIEWED AS AN INFUSION OF NEw EXPERIENCE INTO THE SENIOR RANKS OF THE FORCE IN ORDER TO PLACE IT ON A SOUNDER ADMINISTRATIVE FOOTING,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

0--------

THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 1978

- 3 -

PROMOTIONS IN POLICE FORCE ANNOUNCED

* K * *

THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE TODAY ANNOUNCED THE FOLLOWING FORCE PROMOTIONS :-

SENIOR SUPERINTENDENT TO CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT l

MR. R.L. REDPATH

MR. C.D. MAYGER

MR. CHENG CH IK-SHIN

SUPERINTENDENT TO SENIOR SUPERINTENDENT

MR. R.E. DARK IN

MR. D.J. COLLINS

MR. LEE LAM-CHUEN

MR. HUI KI-ON

MR. G.A. STANLEY

MR. SO LAI-YIN

DURING THE PRESENT FINANCIAL YEAR IT IS LIKELY THAT SOME FURTHER FIVE PROMOTIONS TO CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT, SIX PROMOTIONS TO SENIOR SUPERINTENDENT AND FIFTEEN PROMOTIONS TO SUPERINTENDENT WILL BE ANNOUNCED, AS PREDICTED VACANCIES IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OCCUR.

/A

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

THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 1978

4 -

Tl‘. HAU PROCESSION IN YUE.',' LC'G TO EE HELD ON SATURDAY * * * *

?R_ THAL 3'3,33.’: PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED T l:g PRCCESSIO’ on Saturday (appil 2°) FESTIVAL.

YU

WATCH

THIS YEAR’S

TO MARK THE TIL' HAU

T.-.E SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, :,F.. LI ~FFICJ\TE AT THE OPENING OF THE PPOCESSIO' / • I • • * w •

FOCK-KO;., WILL I' YUEI. LONG STADIUM

THE ANNUAL PROCESSION IS IN HONOUR OF THE PATRON GODDESS OF •X...FARERS AND IS ORGANISED EY THE YUEN LONG SHAP PAT HEUNG RURAL

IT ..ILL FEATURE A .IDE VARIETY OF PERFORMANCES EY 30 LOCAL ORGANISATIONS AS WELL AS LIO" AND UNICORN DANCES, CHIU CHAU FOLK DANCES AUD FLAG PARADES.

THE PROCESSION ..ILL TAKE ONE AND A HALF HOURS TO PASS THROUGH THE STADIUM ..HERE IT LILL BE ..ATCHED EY SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, CIVIC AND RURAL COMMITTEE LEADERS AND THOUSANDS OF SPECTATORS. IT .ILL FORM UP AT THE EASTERN BUS TERMINUS.

AFTER LEAVING THE STADIUM, THE PROCESSION WILL MAKE ITS WAY TO TIN HAU TEMPLE AT TAI SHUE HAU ..'HERE .RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES ..ILL DE HELD.

PEOPLE I’TEN'DING TC WATCH THE PFCCESSIC" ARE \DVISED TO ARRIVE AT YUE.. LONG LOT LATER THAI 11.3-' A. .

LUTE TO' EDITORS:

YCU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TC COVER THE EVENT AT THE YUEN LONG STADIUM Cll SATURDAY (APRIL 29). SPECIAL BADGES FOR iEDIA .EPRESENTATIVES ARE NOU AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION FROM THE

0. I.S. PR_3S ROOM.

- . 0 - -

/5

THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 1978

5

CROWN LAND FOR SALE * * * * *

THE GOVERNMENT IS OFFERING FOR SALE BY TENDER TWO LOTS OF CROWN LAND TO PRIVATE DEVELOPERS WHO WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN BUILDING FLATS FCR THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME.

THE TWO SITES -- ONE AT YAU TONG IN KOWLOON AND THE OTHER AT TUEN MUN, THE NEW TERRITORIES — MEASURE 6,200 AND 16,100 SQUARE METRES RESPECTIVELY.

THE CLOSING DATE FOR ACCEPTANCE OF TENDERS FOR BOTH LOTS IS JULY 28, 1978 (BEFORE NOON).

THE SALE OF THE YAU TONG LOT IS ADMINISTERED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT’S LANDS AND SURVEY DEPARTMENT WHILE THE TUEN MUN LOT IS BY THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION.

FOR THE YAU TONG SITE, COPIES OF THE TENDER FORM, TENDER NOTICE AND CONDITIONS OF SALE ARE AVAILABLE AT THE CROWN LANDS AND SURVEY OFFICE, MURRAY BUILDING, 19TH FLOOR, GARDEN ROAD OR ITS KOWLOON OFFICE ON THE 10TH FLOOR OF KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 405 NATHAN ROAD.

FOR THE TUEN MUN LOT, THE COPIES ARE AVAILABLE AT HEADQUARTERS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, HOUSING AUTHORITY HEADQUARTERS BUILDING, STH FLOOR= OR AT ANY OF THE DISTRICT OFFICES OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION.

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

/6


THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 1978

6 -

TOURIST AND HOTEL INDUSTRIES URGED TO EXTEND AND IMPROVE MANPOWER TRAINING ******

THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR (INDUSTRIAL TRAINING) MR. HORACE KNIGHT. TODAY URGED THE TOURIST AND HOTEL INDUSTRIES TO MAKE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO EXTEND AND IMPROVE THEIR MANPOWER TRAINING.

MR. KNIGHT MADE THE APPEAL AT A COCKTAIL PARTY GIVEN BY STUDENTS ON THE CARITAS HOTEL AND TOURIST COURSE.

HE SAID THAT SURVEYS CONDUCTED BY THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON TRAINING IN COMMERCE AND SERVICES OF THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL ON THE TWO INDUSTRIES HAD REVEALED THAT EXISTING IN-COMPANY AND INSTITUTIONAL TRAINING FACILITIES WERE GROSSLY INADEQUATE.

MR. KNIGHT CALLED ON THOSE CONCERNED TO PROVIDE MORE ORGANISED PRACTICAL TRAINING FACILITIES TO COMPLEMENT THE HOTEL AND TOURISM COURSES PROVIDED BY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AND TO PLAY A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN THE PLANNING AND RUNNING OF SUCH COURSES.

MR. KNIGHT POINTED OUT THAT MANY HOTEL WORKERS COULD BEST BE TRAINED THROUGH ORGANISED APPRENTICESHIP, AS IS DONE IN MANY WESTERN COUNTRIES, DURING WHICH APPRENTICES RECEIVE BOTH ON-JOB TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE AS WELL AS RELATED TECHNICAL EDUCATION AT THE SAME TIME.

HE REFERRED TO THE ONE-YEAR FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME DAY-RELEASE COURSES PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HOTEL-KEEPING AND TOURISM OF THE HAKING WONG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE AS AN EXAMPLE OF THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AVAILABLE IN HONG KONG.

BUT MR. KNIGHT ADDED: +UNLESS THE HOTEL AND TOURIST INDUSTRIES FULFIL THEIR SHARE OF RESPONSIBILITY IN PROVIDING PRACTICAL TRAINING FOR THE MANPOWER THEY NEED -- THAT IS, TAKE ON SUITABLY QUALIFIED YOUNG PEOPLE FOR TRAINING AND SPONSOR THEM TO THESE AND SIMILAR COURSES -- THE RELATED TECHNICAL EDUCATION FACILITIES PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND OTHER ORGANISATIONS WILL BY AND LARGE BE WASTED.*

ON THE QUESTION OF STARTING AN APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME FOR TRAINING SKILLED MANPOWER FOR THE INDUSTRIES, MR. KNIGHT SUGGESTED THAT EMPLOYERS SHOULD CONTACT THE TRAINING COUNCIL DIVISION OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WHO, HE SAID, WOULD EE HAPPY TO ADVISE ON THE ORGANISATION OF AN APPRENCTICESHIP SCHEME AND TO HELP EMPLOYERS IN RECRUITING APPRENCTICES.

- - 0 - -

/7

THURSDAY, APR IL 27, 1978

7

SEMINARS ON CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE SYLLABUS FOR CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS *****

TWO SEMINARS ON THE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE SYLLABUS FOR CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY (APRIL 29) MORNING.

ORGANISED BY THE SCIENCE INSPECTORATE OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, THE SEMINARS AIM TO INTRODUCE TO SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS OF CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS THE IDEAS AND CONCEPTS IN TEACHING THE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE SYLLABUS.

SOME 170 TEACHERS WILL TAKE PART IN THE CHEMISTRY SEMINAR TO BE HELD AT DIOCESAN BOYS’ SCHOOL, ARGYLE STREET, KOWLOON.

PARTICIPATING TEACHERS, APART FROM ATTENDING LECTURES AND DISCUSSIONS, WILL HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO PERFORM SOME OF THE EXPERIMENTS SUGGESTED IN THE NEW SYLLABUS. THERE WILL ALSO BE A DISPLAY OF CHEMISTRY TEXTBOOKS AND REFERENCE BOOKS AT THE SEMINAR.

THE CHEMISTRY SEMINAR WILL START AT 9.30 A.M. AND MR. ARTHUR BROWN, CHIEF INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS, WILL DELIVER THE OPENING ADDRESS. THIS WILL BE FOLLOWED EY AN INTRODUCTORY TALK BY MR. W.M. TANG, SENIOR INSPECTOR (CHEMISTRY). MR. K.M. MOK, NEW TERRITORIES HEUNG YEE KUK YUEN LONG DISTRICT SECONDARY SCHOOL, WILL DELIVER A LECTURE ON +SYLLABUS OBJECTIVES AND CONTENTS*. DR. J.B. HOLBROOK, SCHOOL OF EDUCATION, UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, WILL OUTLINE THE +TEACHING METHOD — ILLUSTRATED BY THE TEACHING OF EQUATIONS*. THE SEMINAR WILL END BY 1 P.M. FOLLOWING AN EXHIBITION ON PRACTICAL WORK (LABORATORIES).

THE SEMINAR ON PHYSICS WILL ALSO TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY AT 9.30 A.M. AT THE WA YING COLLEGE, SHEUNG WO STREET, HO MAN TIN, KOWLOON. ABOUT 160 TEACHERS WILL ATTEND THIS SEMINAR.

TALKS, DISCUSSION AND DEMONSTRATION OF PRACTICAL WORK WILL INCLUDE SUCH SUBJECTS AS +WAVES AND OPTICS*, +MECHANICS AND HEAT*, +ATOMIC PHYSICS*, AND +ELECTR IC I TY*. THERE WILL ALSO BE AN EXHIBITION AND DEMONSTRATION OF HOME-MADE APPARATUS.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND YOUR REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE TWO SEMINARS ON SATURDAY, BOTH STARTING AT 9.30 A.M. THE CHEMISTRY SEMINAR WILL BE HELD AT DIOCESAN BOYS’ SCHOOL, ARGYLE STREET, AND THE PHYSICS SEMINAR AT WA YING COLLEGE, SHEUNG WO STREET, HO MAK TIN.

- - o - -

THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 1978

8

RE-SCHEDULE OF LOCAL MASTER’S EXAM DATES

******

THE MARINE DEPARTMENT TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT ALL EXAMINATION APPOINTMENTS AFTER MAY 1 FOR LOCAL CERTIFICATES OF COMPETENCY AS MASTER (ALL GRADES) ARE BEING RE-SCHEDULED.

NEW APPOINTMENTS ARE BEING ARRANGED FOR CANDIDATES, BUT GENERALLY MOST EXAMINATIONS FOR THE PLEASURE VESSEL MASTER CERTIFICATE WILL BE HELD IN THE EVENING AND OTHER GRADES DURING THE DAY.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MARINE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THE EVENING EXAMINATIONS ARE ARRANGED SO AS TO MINIMISE INCONVENIENCE TO CANDIDATES.

EXAMINATIONS FOR LOCAL ENGINEER CERTIFICATES ARE UNAFFECTED.

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

REGISTRATION TEAM TO OPERATE IN AP LEI CHAU

A TEAM FROM THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS OFFICE WILL CONDUCT REGISTRATION IN AP LEI CHAU KAIFONG ASSOCIATION PREMISES FOR TWO DAYS FROM MAY 4 (THURSDAY) FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN THE AREA.

REGISTRATION WILL BE CONDUCTED BETWEEN 9.30 A.M. AND 4.30 P.M. ON THE TWO DAYS.

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

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

- - - _ 0 ------

/9

THURSDAY, APRIL 27, 1978

9

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS FOR TIN HAU FESTIVAL ******

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT IN CONNECTION WITH THE TIN HAU FESTIVAL, THE SECTION OF CHA KWO LING ROAD BETWEEN THE SHELL DEPOT AND THE ENTRANCE TO THE ANDERSON QUARRY WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC FROM 8 A.M. TO 5 P.M. ON SATURDAY (APRIL 29).

APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE SET UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.

----0----

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

FRI PAY, APRIL PR, 1°7°

CONTENTS °AGE NO.

GOVERNOR SAYS HONG KONG’S FUTURE IS VERY 3RIGHT...... 1

SOCIAL SECURITY APPEAL BOARD MEMBERS APPOINTS77...... ?

PRIVATE DEVELOPERS INVITE" TO PARTICIPATE IN HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME................................... ?

REPORT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO SEK KONG ACCIDENT PUBLISHED ..................................... 6

WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION (AMENDMENT) (NO. ?' BILL .... 7

DIVERSIFICATION IS AN EVOLUTIONARY PROCESS......... ?

GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTS FOR FEBRUARY ...................... IP

WORK ON PHASE II OF LAI CHI KOK MENTAL HOSPITAL TO BEGIN SOON ............................................ 11

TEENAGE ROMANCE FEATURED IN FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION DRAMA................................................

RTHK TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE.......................... 1?

SAFETY APPEAL TO TIN HAU WORSHIPPERS .................. 1A

WATER CUTS............................................. 1A

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS .................................. 15

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

FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1978

GOVERNOR SAYS HONG KONG’S FUTURE IS VERY BRIGHT

*****

THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID THERE IS A VERY BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD FOR HONG KONG DURING A RECEPTION AT THE HONG KONG STUDENTS CENTRE IN LONDON LAST WEDNESDAY (APRIL 26).

SPEAKING TO GROUPS OF CHINESE STUDENTS AT THE CENTRE, SIR MURRAY SAID THAT HONG KONG NEEDED PROFESSIONALLY QUALIFIED PEOPLE FOR ITS FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.

SIR MURRAY ALSO OUTLINED SOME OF THE MEASURES INTRODUCED IN HONG KONG TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS — PARTICULARLY IN THE FIELD OF WELFARE SERVICES.

SIR MURRAY SPENT NEARLY TWO HOURS AT THE STUDENTS CENTRE DURING WHICH HE ALSO ANSWERED QUESTIONS RAISED BY THE STUDENTS. THE QUERIES INCLUDED THOSE ON HONG KONG’S FUTURE, JOB PROSPECTS AND THE STEPS THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING TO TACKLE VARIOUS PROBLEMS IN THE TERRITORY.

THE HONG KONG COMMISSIONER IN LONDON, MR. DENIS BRAY, THE WARDEN OF THE STUDENTS CENTRE, MR. RAY IRVINE- AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE STUDENTS MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE AT THE CENTRE, MR. F.C. CHAN ALSO ATTENDED THE RECEPTION.

0

SOCIAL SECURITY APPEAL BOARD MEMBERS APPOINTED

* * * *

THREE LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS HAVE BEEN APPOINTED TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY APPEAL BOARD WHICH IS TO PROVIDE A SPEEDY MEANS OF REDRESS FOR ANYONE DISSATISFIED WITH THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S DECISIONS ON THE ELIGIBILITY AND PAYMENT OF SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS.

APPOINTED AS CHAIRMAN OF THE APPEAL BOARD IS MRS. MAXINE KWOK, A HOSPITAL DIRECTOR, AND AS MEMBERS ARE MADAM POW SHUI-PING A NURSERY SUPERVISOR, AND MR. VICTOR FUNG KWOK-KING, A PROMINENT BUSINESSMAN.

THEIR APPOINTMENT, PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY, HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR.

THE BOARD’S TERMS OF REFERENCE ARE TO CONSIDER INDIVIDUAL APPEALS AGAINST THE DECISIONS OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT ON ELIGIBILITY AND PAYMENT OF SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS, AND TO PUBLISH A REPORT ANNUALLY ON THE WORK OF THE BOARD.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY ARRANGEMENTS WERE BEING MADE FOR THE APPEAL BOARD TO OPERATE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND DETAILS OF THE APPEAL SYSTEM WOULD BE ANNOUNCED BEFORE ITS OPERATION.

/THE SPOKESMAN .....

FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1978

2

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE SETTING UP OF THE APPEAL BOARD WAS PART OF THE MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEME ADOPTED FOR IMPLEMENTATION FROM THIS MONTH AS PROPOSED BY THE GREEN PAPER ON SOCIAL SECURITY DEVELOPMENT.

THE BOARD, HE SAID, WILL HEAR APPEALS AGAINST THE DEPARTMENT’S DECISIONS ON MATTERS CONCERNING APPLICATIONS FOR OR PAYMENTS OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE OR WELFARE ALLOWANCE.

+IT WILL EE AN INDEPENDENT BOARD WITH THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT PROVIDING THE NECESSARY SECRETARIAL SUPPORT,+ HE ADDED.

THE BOARD CHAIRMAN, MRS. KWOK, IS A DIRECTOR SANATORIUM. AND HOSPITAL ARE IS WIDELY INVOLVED IN SOCIAL SERVICES.

OF THE HONG KONG COMMUNITY AND

SHE IS ALSO THE FIRST DIRECTOR OF THE CHEUNG CHAU CHUNG SHEK-HEI HOME FOR THE AGED, A COMMITTEE MEMBER OF THE HONG KONG JUVENILE CARE CENTRE, VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE Y.W.C.A., VICE-CHAIRMA: OF THE HONG KONG CHINESE ..OMEN’S CLUE AND A MEMBER OF THE CONSUMER COUNCIL. SHE WAS THE CHAIRMAN OF PO LEUNG KUK IN 1976/77.

MADAM PC; IS THE SUPERVISOR OF THE CARITAS CENTRE NURSERY IN KWAI CHUNG. SHE HAS BEEN THE VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE LAM TIN AREA COMMITTEE SINCE 1975, AND IS A MEMBER OF THE DAY NURSERY COMMITTEE OF THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE.

MR. FUNG IS THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF LI AND FUNG (TRADING) LTD. HE IS AR ADVISORY BOARD MEMBER OF THE HONG KONG EXPORT CREDIT INSURANCE CORPORATION AND A MEMBER OF THE MARKETING MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OF THE HONG KONG MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION.

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

/3

FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1978

- 3

PRIVATE DEVELOPERS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME ******

PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPERS ARE BEING INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GOVERNMENT’S HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME, A SENIOR OFFICER IN THE HOUSING BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT REVEALED TODAY (FRIDAY).

MISS ELAINE CHUNG, PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, TOLD A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF HONG KONG ISLAND WEST THAT TENDER NOTICES APPEARED IN TODAY’S GOVERNMENT GAZETTE AND THE PRESS CALLING FOR PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT’S EFFORTS TO PROMOTE HOME OWNERSHIP AMONG LOWER MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES. SHE DESCRIBED THIS MOVE AS +A BIG STEP FORWARD.+

MISS CHUNG SAID IT WAS FORECAST EARLY IN 1977 THAT MORE THAN 30,000 ELIGIBLE FAMILIES WOULD APPLY FOR HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME FLATS AND THAT THE NUMBER OF FLATS TO BE BUILT BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY UNDER PHASE I OF THE SCHEME WOULD BE INSUFFICIENT TO MEET THIS DEMAND.

MISS CHUNG SAID THE ACTUAL DEMAND FOR HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME FLATS,- IN THE EVENT, HAD EXCEEDED THIS FIGURE BY 26 PER CENT.

+0N THE BASIS OF THIS 1977 FORECAST, IT WAS CONSIDERED DESIRABLE TO INCREASE THE STOCK OF SUITABLE FLATS TO MEET THE EFFECTIVE DEMAND,+ MHSS CHUNG SAID. +ONE POSSIBILITY IS TO ASK THE HOUSING AUTHORITY TO BUILD MORE, BUT THAT WOULD BE A FURTHER BURDEN ON THE ALREADY HARD-PRESSED CONSTRUCTION BRANCH OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT. AN ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE TO GET THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO BUILD THESE FLATS.+

MISS CHUNG SAID THE LATTER IDEA OFFERED CERTAIN ATTRACTIONS. FIRST, GOVERNMENT WOULD EE AELE TO MAKE USE OF THE EXPERTISE WHICH ALREADY EXISTED IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR- SECOND, HOME PURCHASERS WOULD BE OFFERED MORE VARIETY IN THE DESIGN, LAYOUT AND STANDARDS OF FLATS AND ASSOCIATED FACILITIES- AND THIRD, THE SCHEME WOULD ASSIST THE GOVERNMENT IN DECIDING THE MOST SUITABLE PRIVATE/PUBLIC MIX OF HOUSING IN HONG KONG.

+SUCH A SCHEME IS, PERHAPS, EASIER SAID THAN DONE,+ MISS CHUNG CONTINUED. +EVEN THOUGH MOST PRIVATE COMPANIES IN HCt.'G KONG ARE CIVIC MINDED AND CONSCIOUS OF THEIR SOCIAL OBLTGATIONS, THEY EXIST FIRST AND FOREMOST TO MAKE A PROFIT AND NOT TO SERVE A SOCIAL PURPOSE. CONFLICTING INTERESTS BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR WOULD HAVE TO BE RECONCILED SINCE THE SCHEME MUST SERVE THE PURPOSE OF PROMOTING HOME OWNERSHIP IN THE TARGET INCOME GROUP EARNING BELOW 33,500 PER MONTH, WHICH ALMOST BY DEFINITION CANNOT AFFORD PRIVATE SECTOR FLATS UNLESS THE FAMILY CONCERNED HAS SUBSTANTIAL SAV INGS.+

/IN ADDITION

FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1978

4

IN ADDITION, PISS CHUNG SAID, FOUR OTHER CRITERIA MUST BE SATISFIED:

(I) THE SCHEME MUST BE REASONABLY SIMPLE TO OPERATE-

(II) GOVERNMENT MUST BE ABLE TO SELECT DEVELOPERS ON A COMPETITIVE BASIS, EITHER THROUGH THE PUBLIC AUCTION OR TENDER SYSTEM-

(III) THE CHOSEN DEVELOPER SHOULD BE GIVEN A REASONABLE DEAL, BUT SHOULD NOT BE ENTIRELY ABSOLVED FROM NORMAL COMMERCIAL RISKS- AND

(IV) THE OPPORTUNITY COST TO GOVERNMENT OR LESS THAN MAXIMISATION OF REVENUE SHOULD NOT BE EXCESSIVE.

+l AM HAPPY TO SAY THAT A SCHEME MEETING THESE CRITERIA HAS BEEN WORKED OUT,+ MISS CHUNG SAID.

OUTLINING THE SCHEME, MISS CHUNG SAID GOVERNMENT WOULD PROVIDE LAND ON WHICH DEVELOPERS WOULD SUBMIT DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS AND TENDERS IN RESPECT OF THE RANGE AND SPECIFICATIONS OF FLATS TO BE BUILT AND THE LAND PREMIUM FOR THE SITE IN QUESTION.

THE SALE PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT OF THE FLATS WOULD BE FIXED AT THE OUTSET BY THE GOVERNMENT, WHICH WOULD ALSO GUARANTEE THAT ALL FLATS WILL BE SOLD.

+SALE PRICES MUST BE FIXED BEFOREHAND BECAUSE ANY ARRANGEMENT THAT ALLOWS PRICE FLUCTUATIONS EITHER TO MEET COST ESCALATION OR TO MAINTAIN A CERTAIN PROFIT MARGIN WOULD TEND TO FRUSTRATE THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF PRODUCING FLATS WITHIN THE DEBT SERVICING ABILITY OF THE TARGET INCOME GROUP,+ MISS CHUNG SAID.

+TO COMPENSATE FOR THE FACT THAT FLATS WILL BE SOLD AT PRICES FIXED BY GOVERNMENT, IT HAS BEEN DECIDED TO ABSOLVE THE DEVELOPER OF THE NEED TO FIND PURCHASERS FOR HIS FLATS.+

THIS WAS DONE BY WAY OF GUARANTEE THAT ALL FLATS WOULD BE BOUGHT EITHER BY ELIGIBLE BUYERS NOMINATED BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OR BY GOVERNMENT ITSELF.

+THIS GUARANTEE HAS OBVIOUS ATTRACTION TO DEVELOPERS, WHOSE MAIN HEADACHE IS THE CYCLICAL SWING OF THE MARKET, WHILE IT INVOLVES LITTLE RISK FOR GOVERNMENT IF IT IS FAIRLY CERTAIN OF THE DEMAND FROM ELIGIBLE BUYERS AND IF THE FLATS ARE SUITABLE IN ALL RESPECTS FOR SALE AND PURCHASE.+

MISS CHUNG SAID SAFEGUARDS AGAINST UNDER-DEVELOPMENT OF SITE, POOR STANDARD OF WORKMANSHIP AND MANAGEMENT AFTER COMPLETION WERE CONSIDERED NECESSARY. THESE WERE THAT:

(I) THE LAND AUTHORITIES WOULD DETERMINE THE MAXIMUM PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT IN RESPECT OF THE SITES AND THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT ADVISE ON A SCALE OF DESIRED ACCOMMODATION AND STANDARDS AGAINST WHICH TENDERS COULD BE ASSESSED-

/(II)

FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1978

5

(II) DEVELOPERS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO PRODUCE EVIDENCE OF THEIR FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL ABILITY TO COMPLETE THE DEVELOPMENT’

(III) GOVERNMENT WOULD EMPLOY, AT THE DEVELOPER’S EXPENSE, A QUANTITY SURVEYOR TO ENSURE THAT THE COMPLETED BUILDINGS COMPLIED WITH THE SPECIFICATIONS AND WERE STRUCTURALLY SAFE AND SOUND- AND

(IV) DEVELOPERS WOULD HAVE TO DEVISE A MANAGEMENT SCHEME TO ENSURE THAT THE FLATS WOULD BE WELL MANAGED AND MAINTAINED.

+IN ADDITION, BECAUSE OF THE SOCIAL PURPOSE OF THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME AND THE CAPITAL ADVANTAGE WHICH COULD EE DERIVED BY FLAT-PURCHASERS, THERE WILL BE RESTRICTIONS ON RESALE AND SUBLETTING,+ MISS CHUNG SAID.

+DURING A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE, ANY FLAT PURCHASER WISHING TO DISPOSE OF HIS FLAT WILL HAVE TO OFFER IT FIRST TO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AT THE ORIGINAL PRICE. THIS IS TO DISCOURAGE SPECULATION IN THESE FLATS. TO AVOID (SMART) PURCHASERS SELLING A SUBSTANTIAL INTEREST IN THEIR FLATS TO THIRD PARTIES WHILE RETAINING A MINORITY INTEREST, SUBLETTING OF THESE FLATS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.*

SHE SAID THAT ALTHOUGH AT PRESENT THE YAU TONG SITE WAS ON THE FRINGES OF THE URBAN AREA AND THE TUEN MUN SITE WAS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, THEY WERE BOTH LOCATED IN FAST DEVELOPING AREAS WHICH WOULD BE SERVED WITH FAST TRAFFIC ROUTES IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

EACH SITE SHOULD BE CAPABLE OF PROVIDING ITS OWN SHOPPING AND OTHER FACILITIES FOR RESIDENTS. THE YAU TONG SITE SHOULD PROVIDE NOT LESS THAN 500 FLATS AND THE TUEN MUN SITE NOT LESS THAN !,□□□ FLATS, RANGING IN COVERED AREA FROM 400 SQUARE FEET TO 600 SQUARE FEET, WITH THE AVERAGE FLAT-SELLING PRICE PRE-DETERMINED AT S220 PER SQUARE FOOT OR 32,368 PER SQUARE METRE.

MISS CHUNG SAID A SPECIAL BOARD CHAIRED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING WOULD BE CONVENED TO CONSIDER THE TENDERS. TENDERS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED BEFORE NOON ON JULY 28 AND THE SUCCESSFUL TENDERER WOULD BE ANNOUNCED IN SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER THIS YEAR.

+FROM DISCUSSIONS WHICH HAVE BEEN HELD WITH PRIVATE DEVELOPERS, IT SEEMS THAT THEY WOULD WELCOME THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE AGAINST ONE ANOTHER NOT ONLY BY DOLLARS AND CENTS BUT ALSO BY THEIR INGENUITY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP,* MISS CHUNG SAID.

+THE PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEME IS ATTRACTIVE TO DEVELOPERS AND SHOULD GENERATE CONSIDERABLE INTEREST. IT IS UNIQUE AND TAILOR-MADE TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HONG KONG AND SHOULD DEMONSTRATE HOW GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR CAN COOPERATE TO PROVIDE ANOTHER SOLUTION TO HONG KONG’S HOUSING SHORTAGE.*

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

/6

FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1978

- 6 -

SEK KONG COMMISSION OF INQUIRY REPORT PUBLISHED *****

THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO EXTEND THE SCOPE OF THE PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT ORDINANCE IN THE INTERESTS OF PUBLIC SAFETY. IT IS PROPOSED THAT A SINGLE LICENSING AUTHORITY SHOULD CONTROL THE ISSUE OF BOTH ENTERTAINMENT LICENCES AND PERMITS. THIS FOLLOWS A STUDY OF THE REPORT OF THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE ACCIDENT AT SEK KONG AIRSTRIP ON JULY 1, 1977 WHICH IS PUBLISHED FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION TODAY (FRIDAY). UNDER PRESENT LEGISLATION THE EVENT AT SEK KONG DID NOT REQUIRE A LICENCE OR A PERMIT.

THE ACCIDENT AT THE SEK KONG AIRSTRIP TOOK PLACE ON JULY 1, 1977, DURING AN OUTSIDE BROADCAST ORGANISED BY TVB LTD.

MR. JUSTICE ZIMMERN WAS APPOINTED TO CONDUCT A COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO THE EVENTS, IN WHICH TWO PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND OTHERS INJURED AS A RESULT OF THE COLLAPSE OF A BAMBOO STAND DURING A MOTOR-CYCLE SHOW.

IN HIS REPORT THE COMMISSIONER HELD THE ORGANISER OF THE EVENT ENTIRELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENTRY INTO THE AREA OF A LARGE CROWD BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. HE FOUND THAT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WERE ATTRACTED TO THE AIRSTRIP BY THE SUBSTANTIAL PRE-PUBLICITY GIVEN TO THE EVENT BY THE ORGANISERS.

THE COMMISSIONER DESCRIBED THE SITUATION BEFORE THE ACCIDENT AS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE WEIGHT OF THE CROWD ON THE SCAFFOLDINGS, WHICH HAD BEEN ERECTED ONLY FOR LIGHTING EQUIPMENT, CAMERAS AND CAMERAMEN, WAS MANY TIMES GREATER THAN IT HAD BEEN DESIGNED TO CARRY.

THE COMMISSIONER ALSO EXPRESSED THE OPINION THAT IT WAS DANGEROUS TO HAVE HELD THE LONG JUMP EVENT OF THE MOTOR-CYCLE SHOW SO CLOSE TO A CROWD OF SPECTATORS, WHO WERE UNPROTECTED AND UNCONTROLLED.

THE REPORT CRITICISED SOME ASPECTS OF THE POLICE ARRANGEMENTS MADE ON THAT OCCASION. THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE HAS SINCE INVESTIGATED THESE CRITICISMS AND WILL INTRODUCE SUCH CHANGES TO PAST PRACTICE AS ARE NECESSARY TO MEET THEM.

THE COMMISSIONER EMPHASIZED THAT THE AIRSTRIP SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE USED FOR RECREATIONAL EVENTS WHEN IT IS NOT REQUIRED FOR ANY MILITARY OR PUBLIC PURPOSE.

THE REPORT RECOMMENDED THAT AN INDEPENDENT CONTROLLING BODY SHOULD BE APPOINTED FOR MOTOR SPORTS TO ENSURE THAT HIGH STANDARDS OF SAFETY ARE MAINTAINED BY COMPETITORS.

THE COMMISSIONER ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD INITIATE DISCUSSIONS WITH THE TELEVISION COMPANIES AND OTHERS CONCERNED ON THE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN WHEN TELEVISION BROADCASTS ARE MADE OF EVENTS ATTENDED BY SUBSTANTIAL NUMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. THESE PROPOSALS WILL EE PURSUED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS AND THE COMMISSIONER FOR TELEVISION AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING.

. _ _ _ 0 ----- /?...................

FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1978

- 7 -

WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION (AMENDMENT)(NO. 2) BILL * * * * *

WORKERS WHO SUFFER CERTAIN LUNG DISEASES CONTRACTED IN THE COURSE OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT WILL IN FUTURE EE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION IF A PROPOSED BILL TO AMEND THE WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE BECOMES LAW.

THE WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION (AMENDMENT)(NO. 2) BILL 1978, WHICH IS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY, PROPOSES TO PROVIDE WORKERS OR THEIR DEPENDANTS WITH COMPENSATION IN CASE OF PERMANENT TOTAL OR PARTIAL INCAPACITY OR DEATH RESULTING FROM PNEUMOCONIOSIS WHILE ENGAGED IN ANY SPECIFIED TRADE, INDUSTRY OR PROCESS. IT ALSO PROPOSES TO ESTABLISH A PNEUMOCONIOSIS COMPENSATION FUND AND TO REQUIRE COMPULSORY INSURANCE.

THE MAIN PROVISIONS OF THE BILL INCLUDE THE ADDITION OF PNEUMOCONIOSIS TO THE SECOND SCHEDULE (OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES) TO THE WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE.

IF THE BILL IS ENACTED, WORKMEN ENGAGED IN SPECIFIED TRADES, INDUSTRIES OR PROCESSES ON AN APPOINTED DATE WILL BE REQUIRED TO UNDERGO AM INITIAL MEDICAL EXAMINATION AND X-RAY. THEY WILL ALSO EE REQUIRED TO UNDERGO RE-EXAMINATION AT REGULAR INTERVALS. ALL MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS WILL BE AT THE EMPLOYERS’ EXPENSE.

EMPLOYERS IN SPECIFIED INDUSTRIES WILL BE REQUIRED TO TAKE OUT INSURANCE FOR THEIR LIABILITY TO PAY COMPENSATION FOR PERMANENT INCAPACITY OR DEATH OF WORKMEN SUFFERING FROM PNEUMOCONIOSIS.

THE INSURANCE PREMIUM COLLECTED EY INSURANCE COMPANIES WILL EE PAID INTO A CENTRAL FUND TO BE ADMINISTERED BY A PNEUMOCONIOSIS COMPENSATION FUND BOARD APPOINTED EY THE GOVERNOR. ALL WORKMEN DIAGNOSED TO BE SUFFERING FROM PNEUMOCON IOS IS AFTER THE FUND IS SET UP WILL BE PAID COMPENSATION AND DAMAGES FROM THE FUND THROUGH THE INSURANCE COMPANIES.

THOSE WORKERS WHO ARE ALREADY KNOWN TO HAVE PNEUMOCONIOSIS WILL RECEIVE EX-GRATIA PAYMENTS FROM GOVERNMENT. THESE PAYMENTS WILL BE CALCULATED ON THE BASIS OF AN UP-DATED ASSESSMENT OF THE DISABILITY SUSTAINED.

GOVERNMENT WILL PAY, ON BEHALF OF EMPLOYERS, COMPENSATION AND DAMAGES TO WORKMEN DIAGNOSED AS PNEUMOCONIOTIC AT THE INITIAL EXAMINATION AND X-RAY. THIS MONEY WILL SUBSEQUENTLY BE RECOVERED WITH INTEREST BY THE GOVERNMENT FROM THE FUND EY WAY OF A LEVY IMPOSED ON EMPLOYERS IN SPECIFIC INDUSTRIES.

A SET OF REGULATIONS WILL EE MADE AFTER THE ENACTMENT OF THE EILL TO SPECIFY PNEUMOCONIOSIS-PRONE TRADES, INDUSTRIES OR PROCESSES, AND TC PRESCRIBE DETAILS OF INITIAL AND PERIODIC MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS FOR WORKMEN.

/A SECOND .....

FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1978

- 8

A SECOND SET OF REGULATIONS WILL EE MADE AT A LATER STAGE TO PROVIDE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS COMPENSATION FUND, AND THE CONSTITUTION, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE BOARD WHICH ADMINISTERS THE FUND.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TODAY EXPLAINED THAT PNEUMOCONIOSIS IS A COLLECTIVE TERM COVERING LUNG DISEASES NAMELY SILICOSIS AND ASBESTOSIS, WHICH ARE CAUSED THROUGH THE INHALATION OF DUST SUCH AS SILICA DUST OR ASBESTOS DUST.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID: +ONCE PRESENT, THE CONDITION CAUSED BY THESE DISEASES IS IRREVERSIBLE AND REMOVAL FROM EXPOSURE MAY ONLY SLOW DOWN PROGRESSION OF THE WORKER’S CONDITION.

+THESE DISEASES HAVE A LONG LATENT PERIOD WHICH RANGES FROM SIX MONTHS TO ID YEARS. AND BECAUSE OF THE TIME LAPSE BETWEEN CONTRACTION OF THE DISEASES AND THEIR DETECTION, IT WAS FELT THAT THIS HAD TO BE DEALT WITH BY SPECIAL LEGISLATION.*

ACCORDING TO THE SPOKESMAN, SILICOSIS IS MAINLY FOUND IN WORKERS IN QUARRIES, MINING, TUNNELLING, CONSTRUCTION AND MASONRY WORK, WHILE ASBESTOSIS IS NORMALLY FOUND IN WORKERS IN INDUSTRY OR PROCESSES IN WHICH ASBESTOS IS WIDELY USED FOR INSULATION OR FIREPROOFING PURPOSES.

THE SPOKESMAN GAVE A LIST OF THE INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES IN WHICH SILICA OR ASBESTOS DUST ARE LIKELY TO EE PRODUCED IN THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT.

THE LIST INCLUDES PROCESSES IN MINING AND QUARRYING" CONSTRUCTION WORK- MANUFACTURE OF ABRASIVES, GLASS OR VITREOUS ENAMEL- FOUNDRIES- THE CERAMIC INDUSTRY- PROCESSES WHICH INVOLVE THE USE OF SILICA FLOUR AS FILLERS- BLASTING BY MEANS OF COMPRESSED AIR AND ABRASIVE- WORKING PROCESSES WITH STONES- PROCESSES INVOLVING A GRINDSTONE- BOILER SCALING, ESPECIALLY COAL-FIRED BOILERS- AND PROCESSES WHICH CAM GIVE RISE TO DUST CONTAINING ASEESTCS, SUCH AS LAGGING AND DELAGGING OF BOILERS, AND REMOVING INSULATION MATERIAL CONTAC'IKG ASBESTOS DURING SH IPEREAK I NG.

ENQUIRIES CONCERNING THE SPECIFIED TRADES, INDUSTRIES AND PROCESSES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE INDUSTRIAL HEALTH DIVISION OR THE INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS UNIT OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AT THE CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES. TRE TELEPHONE NUMBERS ARE 3-688111, EXTENSION 492, 424, 425 OR 429.

-------0

/9

FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1978

9

DIVERSIFICATION IS AN EVOLUTIONARY PROCESS ******

THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS, MR. DAVID JORDAN SAID TODAY DIVERSIFICATION OF THE ECONOMY IS AN EVOLUTIONARY PROCESS THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MANY YEARS AND THE REAL QUESTION IS NOT WHETHER WE SHOULD DIVERSIFY BUT WHETHER NEW INITIATIVES ARE NEEDED TO ACCELERATE THE PROCESS.

HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF A SYMPOSIUM ON THE DIVERSIFICATION OF HONG KONG’S ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS INDUSTRIES ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG SECTIONS OF THE INSTITUTE OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS AND THE INSTITUTION OF ELECTRONIC AND RADIO ENGINEERS.

IN HIS ADDRESS, MR. JORDAN SAID THAT WHEN THE CRY OF DIVERSIFICATION WAS BEING AIRED SO MUCH TOWARDS THE END OF LAST YEAR IT WAS AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF AN UNCERTAIN AND APPARENTLY GLOOMY FUTURE FOR HONG KONG’S MAJOR INDUSTRY OF TEXTILES AND CLOTHING.

+THAT UNCERTAINTY HAS SINCE BEEN REMOVED BECAUSE ALL OUR MAJOR NEGOTIATING COMMITMENTS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND THE LIMITS AND GROWTH OF OUR EXPORTS OF TEXTILES AND GARMENTS TO OUR PRINCIPAL MARKETS HAVE BEEN SET FOR SEVERAL YEARS AHEAD.+

MR. JORDAN SAID THAT THE INDUSTRY IS NOW IN A CONFIDENT MOOD +AND ONE HEARS FAR MORE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SHORTAGE OF LABOUR THAN ABOUT RESTRICTIONS ON TRADE.+

+SHORT OF A MAJOR DOWNTURN IN THE WORLD ECONOMY IT MIGHT THEREFORE BE FAIR TO SAY THAT OUR THREE TRADITIONAL MAJOR INDUSTRIES — TEXTILES AND GARMENTS, ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS, AND TOYS AND PLASTIC PRODUCTS — SHOULD CONTINUE TO PROVIDE SUBSTANTIAL NUMBERS OF JOBS AND EXPORT EARNINGS FOR HONG KONG FOR SEVERAL YEARS AHEAD.+

THIS PERHAPS GIVES US A BREATHING SPACE IN WHICH TO LOOK AHEAD AND CONSIDER WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO SECURE OUR LONG-TERM ECONOMIC GROWTH, ON WHICH OUR SOCIAL PROGRESS DEPENDS.

TURNING TO THE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC INDUSTRIES, MR. JORDAN POINTED OUT THAT THEY HAD DIVERSIFIED WITHIN THEMSELVES EVEN MORE DRAMATICALLY THAN MOST OTHER LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

HE SAID THAT THIS DIVERSIFICATION TOOK PLACE WHILE THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR OF THE ECONOMY EVOLVED OVER THE PAST 25 YEARS FROM A FAIRLY RUDIMENTARY, UNSOPHISTICATED FORM TO THE MATURE, EFFECTIVE AND SKILLED OPERATION IT IS TODAY.

+THAT PROCESS OF EVOLUTION WILL CONTINUE,+ MR. JORDAN STRESSED. +ECONOMIC PRESSURES WILL OBLIGE HONG KONG TO CONTINUE TO MOVE UP-MARKET AND IN THE PROCESS NEW PRODUCTS WILL EMERGE WHICH WILL NEED EITHER NEW SKILLS OR THE UPGRADING OF EXISTING SKILLS IN THEIR PRODUCTION PROCESSES -- MANY OF WHICH WILL ALSO BE NEW.+

FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1978

10

HE TOLD THOSE TAKING PART IN THE SYMPOSIUM THAT BECAUSE THEY ARE ENGINEERS THEIR DISCIPLINES ARE ESSENTIAL TO HONG KONG INDUSTRY’S FURTHER EVOLUTION: FEW INDUSTRIES CAN OPERATE SUCCESSFULLY WITHOUT EMPLOYING THEIR SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE IN SOME FORM OR OTHER.

+YOU THEREFORE BRING TO A SYMPOSIUM SUCH AS THIS A WIDE KNOWLEDGE OF HONG KONG INDUSTRY AND, WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT, AN AWARENESS OF THE RESOURCES IT HAS, OR LACKS, TO KEEP GOING THE NATURAL PROCESS OF DIVERSIFICATION — WHICH IS REALLY ANOTHER .NAME FOR ECONOMIC OR INDUSTRIAL EVOLUTION.+

+l HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER NOT JUST THE POSSIBILITIES FOR FURTHER DIVERSIFICATION BUT WHAT, WITH YOUR SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE, YOU THINK IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN- WHETHER IT IS DESIRABLE OR NECESSARY THAT EXISTING POLICIES SHOULD BE MODIFIED OR NEW POLICIES INTRODUCED TO FACILITATE THE PROCESS- WHETHER, FOR INSTANCE, THE DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION IS ADEQUATE FOR THE FUTURE PATTERN YOU SEE EVOLVING, AND WHETHER THE SUPPORTING SERVICES ARE ADEQUATE OR NEED FURTHER EXPANSION OR DEVELOPMENT,+ HE SAID.

+IF YOU PROVIDE REASONED AND KNOWLEDGEABLE ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS SUCH AS THESE YOU WILL EE MAKING A VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION TO INFORMED DISCUSSION OF DIVERSIFICATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRY.+

------0 - - - -

GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTS FOR FEBRUARY

*****

TWF HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTS FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, 1978 SHOW 4 SURPLUS OF MW1 MILLION, COMPARED WITH A SURPLUS Jf Usi"° MILLION IN FEBRUARY, 1977. THIS HAS RESULTED INA SURPLUS OF Si 396.8 MILLION FOR THE rIRST 11 MONTHS OF THE 1977/78 FINANCIAL YEAR, COMPARED WITH A SURPLUS OF $>874.1 MILLION FOR THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.

TOTAL EXPENDITURE, AT $662.2 MILLION, WAS $120.4 MILLION MORE THAN IN FEBRUARY, 1977.

TOTAL REVENUE AND RECEIPTS, AT $1,102.3 MILLION, WERE $272.3 MILLION MORE THAN FOR THE SAME MONTH IN 1977.

_ - 0 - -

FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1978 ,

- 11 -

WORK ON PHASE II OF LAI CHI KOK MENTAL HOSPITAL TO BEGIN SOON

******

THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAS ANNOUNCED THAT WORK WILL START SCON ON PHASE TWO OF THE SECOND MENTAL HOSPITAL AT LAI CHI KOK.

TENDERS FOR THE WORK WERE INVITED TODAY BY THE P.W.D.’S ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE.

MR. KWAN SAI-CHUNG, CHIEF P.W.D. ARCHITECT, SAID THAT WORK WOULD BEGIN IN ABOUT THREE MONTHS TIME AND TAKE ABOUT TWO YEARS TO COMPLETE.

HE SAID THAT THE CONTRACT WOULD COVER THE CONSTRUCTION OF A FOUR-STOREY BLOCK FOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AND OTHER SERVICES, A SINGLE-STOREY ADMINISTRATION BLOCK, A KITCHEN BLOCK, STAFF QUARTERS AND A MULTI-PURPOSE HALL.

IT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE THE FITTING-OUT OF TWO MULTI-STOREY WARD BLOCKS BUILT UNDER THE STAGE ONE CONTRACT. ONE OF THESE BLOCKS WILL BE USED AS WARD FOR MALE PATIENTS AND THE OTHER FOR FEMALE.

MR. KWAN SAID THAT THE NEW MENTAL HOSPITAL, DESIGNED BY THE P.W.D.’S ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE, WAS BEING BUILT ON PART OF A 11-HECTARE SITE ON WHICH THE PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL NOW STANDS.

ON COMPLETION, IT WILL PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL 1,336 BEDS AND SHOULD GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS EASING THE PRESSURE ON EXISTING FACILITIES AT CASTLE PEAK HOSPITAL.

THE NEW MENTAL HOSPITAL WILL CATER MAINLY FOR PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS WHOSE CONDITION IS AMENABLE TO TREATMENT, AND FOR VOLUNTARY AND INFIRMARY PATIENTS.

MR. KWAN SAID THAT THE HOSPITAL WAS DESIGNED AS A MULTILEVEL PROJECT LEAVING AS MUCH SPACE AS POSSIBLE FOR RECREATIONAL, OCCUPATIONAL AND PHYSIOTHERAPY ACTIVITIES.

+GREATER PROVISION HAS TO BE MADE FOR THESE ACTIVITIES THAN IN A GENERAL HOSPITAL BECAUSE OF THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF MENTAL PATIENTS,* HE SAID.

RECREATIONAL FACILITIES WILL INCLUDE A ROOF GARDEN, A THEATRE FOR FILM SHOWS, CONCERTS OR INDOOR SPORTS, SHOP AND SOFT DRINKS BAR, HAIR DRESSING SALON, A LIBRARY, READING ROOMS, A FOOTBALL PITCH AND A BASKETBALL COURT.

/MR. KWAN .....

FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 19?8

12

MR. KWAN SAID THAT BOTH THE MALE AND FEMALE WARD BLOCKS WOULD BE LINKED TO A FOUR-STOREY CLINICAL AND SERVICE BLOCK BY A SYSTEM OF SUBWAYS.

+THIS AGAIN ENABLES US TO SAVE MORE SPACE AS THE UPPER GROUND AREAS CAN BE LANDSCAPED AS RECREATIONAL GARDENS,* HE ADDED.

IN ADDITION THE HOSPITAL WILL HAVE A COVERED LINK WITH AN ADJACENT NURSES’ AND TRAINING SCHOOL AND STAFF QUARTERS TO PROVIDE COVER FOR STAFF MOVING BETWEEN BLOCKS ESPECIALLY DURING BAD WEATHER.

• - 0 - - - -

TEENAGE ROMANCE FEATURED IK FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION DRAMA

******

IGNORANCE AND CURIOSITY ABOUT THE OPPOSITE SEX WHICH GOES WITH IT AN URGE FOR CONCERN AND COMPANIONSHIP ARE THE BASIC FACTORS LEADING TO SOME TEENAGE MISCONCEPTIONS ON LOVE AND COURTSHIP, MRS. HENRIETTA CHEN, PRINCIPAL SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER IN CHARGE OF FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION SAID TODAY.

INITIAL EXPERIENCES OF THIS KIND OF RELATIONSHIP, USUALLY OCCURRING AT A TIME WHEN MOST YOUNG PEOPLE ARE AT PAINS TO ADJUST TO THEIR OWN PHYSIOLOGICAL GROWTH AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT, COULD RESULT IN EMOTIONAL INSTABILITY, CONFUSION, AND, IF NOT HANDLED PROPERLY, EVEN DISSIPATION OF ONE’S DRIVE AND ENERGY, SHE SAID.

THE CORRECT ATTITUDE TOWARDS FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN MEMBERS GF THE OPPOSITE SEX IS BORNE OUT IN THE SECOND LAST EPISODE OF THE 'UNDER THE SAME ROOF’ SERIES PRODUCED BY RTHK WITH THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AS PART OF THE CURRENT FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN.

INSTEAD OF DEPICTING THE FOLLIES OF A REPINING LOVE-SICK TEENAGE TC WARN YOUNG MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE AGAINST THE DANGEROUS CONSEQUENCES OF ILL-HANDLED ROMANCE, THIS HALF-HOUR DRAMA SHOWS BY CONTRAST THE POSITIVE VALUE OF FRIENDSHIP WHEN ALLOWED TC DEVELOP I A HEALTHY WAY.

WITH THE TITLE ’15, IC’ SYMBOLISING THE AGE AND MENTAL STATE CF THE LEAD CHARACTER, THE PLAY FOCUSES ON THE REASONS BEHIND THE YOUNGSTER’S YEARNING FOR A GIRL FRIEND AND OTHER PEOPLE’S INFLUENCE ON HIS SUBSEQUENT BEHAVIOUR.

TORN BETWEEN THE PRESSURE FROM AN OBSTINATE FATHER WHO WAS MOST ADAMANT IN HIS BELIEF THAT LOVE WOULD HAMPER A YOUNGSTER’S FUTURE, AND THE ENCOURAGEMENT FRO:-: A CLASSMATE BROUGHT UP ON EPICUREAN VALUES TO SEEK PLEASURE EY PLAYING AROUND . ITH GIRLS, THE YOUNG MAN IN THE DRAMA MAKES A SERIES OF EMBARRASSING ' (STAKES SINCE THE ENCOUNTER WITH HIS GRADE-SCHOOL VALENTINE, AND NEARLY LOSE HER FR IENDSH IP.

/COMMENTING ON .....

FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1978

15

COMMENTING ON THE DRAMA, MRS. CHEN SAID THAT THE YOUTH WAS FORTUNATE IN THAT HE HAD MET A GIRL WITH SOUND KNOWLEDGE IN VARIOUS FORMS OF HUMAN RELATIONSHIP.

+BEWILDERED AND OVERCOME BY THE ROMANTIC AND DREAM-LIKE QUALITY ENSHROUDING THE 'SUBJECT OF AFFECTION', IT IS VERY EASY FOR THE RELATIONSHIP TO VERGE ON IDOL-WORSHIP,* SHE SAID. +THIS WOULD DEFINITELY END IN FRUSTRATION AND SORROW WHEN THE TRUTH IS FINALLY REVEALED.+

SHE POINTED OUT THAT YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD LEARN TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN LOVE, FRIENDSHIP AND INFATUATION, WHICH WHEN MISTAKEN FOR ONE ANOTHER WOULD FORM THE BASIS OF MANY SOCIAL PROBLEMS.

+MANY TRAGEDIES CAUSED BY UNREQUITED LOVE, MARITAL DISCORD AND PRE-MARITAL RELATIONSHIP HAD ITS ROOTS IN THE LACK OF KNOWLEDGE IN INTER-PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP,* SHE NOTED.

TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT LOVE AND SEX, MRS. CHEN SAID, ACTIVITIES HAVE BEEN ORGANISED AS PART OF THE CURRENT FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN.

THIS HALF-HOUR TELEVISION DR-AMA, '15, 16’, WILL BE SCREENED ON TVB JADE'TH IS EVENING AT 8.30, ON RTV CHANNEL I TOMORROW (SATURDAY) AT 7 P.M. AND ON CTV ON SUNDAY AT 6 P.M.

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

NOTE TO EDITORS:

RTHK TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE

* * K *

RTHK WILL HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE FOR AN EPISODE OF +THE COMMON SENSE*, WHICH DEALS WITH THE CRIME (AMENDMENT)(NO. 2) ORDINANCE FOR THE PROTECTION OF RAPE VICTIMS FROM CERTAIN EMBARRASSMENTS, IN STUDIO 1 OF TELEVISION PRODUCTION CENTRE, 79 BROADCAST DRIVE, AT 11 A.M. TOMORROW (SATURDAY).

THE PRESENTER OF THE EPISODE IS A RAPE VICTIM WHO WILL RECOUNT HER PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND FEELINGS.

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE PRESS CONFERENCE.

0 ••

/14......

FR IDAY, APRIL 28, 1978

14 -

SAFETY APPEAL TO WORSHIPPERS

* *

* * *

-r-K.r,. THAN PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO VISIT THE TIN HAU

IS' ?l77 'N HOUSE BAY TOMORROW (SATURDAY) TO MARK THE BIRTHDAY

. 1.1 HAU, Trie PATRCN GODDESS OF SEAFA-EES.

AS THE ONLY WAY OF GETTING THERE IS BY SEA, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN APPEALED TO BOAT OWNERS NOT TO OVERLOAD THEIR VESSELS £FAFlRRIESESNDEBoiTSTC PRECAUT,0N “HEN BOARDING AND GETTING

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT POLICE AND MARINE DEPARTMENT LAUNCHES WILL EE PATROLLING THE AREA TO ENSURE SAFETY.

THE SPOKESMAN ALSO GAVE THE FOLLOWING ADVICE:


*

MAKE SURE CIGARETTE ENDS AND MATCHES, CANDLES, JOSS-STICKS AND PAPER ARE PROPERLY PUT CUT BEFORE LEAVING’

DO NOT EXPOSE HELIUM GAS FILLED BALLOONS TO FIRE AS IT COULD CAUSE EXPLOSION’ AND

*

THROW LITTER AND RUBBISH IL' THE BINS PROVIDED.

0

WATER CUTS * * *

SALT WATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER OF PREMISES IN THE MID-LEVELS WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR SEVEN HOURS FROM 9 A.M. ON MONDAY (MAY 1) TO FACILITATE A WASTE DETECTION TEST.

PREMISES AFFECTED ARE 1 TO 27A HIGH STREET’ 1 TO 9 BONHAM ROAD’ 2 TO 10 HOSPITAL ROAD AND THE MID-LEVELS POLICE STATION.

ON TUESDAY FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER OF PREMISES

IN SHEUNG WAN AND HUNG HOM WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR SEVERAL HOURS.

IN SHEUNG WAN, THE SUPPLY TO THE AREA BOUNDED BY STAUNTON STREET, SHING WONG STREET, CAINE ROAD, LADDER STREET, TAI PING SHAN STREET INCLUDING U LAM TERRACE, ROZARIO STREET AND LADDER STREET TERRACE WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR SIX HOURS FROM MIDNIGHT ON TUESDAY TO FACILITATE A WASTE DETECTION TEST.

IN HUNG HOM, THE SUPPLY TO ALL PREMISES IN WUHU STREET AND STATION LANE WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR NINE HOURS FROM 9 P.M. ON TUESDAY TO FACILITATE THE CONNECTION OF A FRESH WATER MAIN IN WUHU STREET NEAR CHATHAM ROAD.

0 -------

/15

FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1973

SECTION OF HONG TAK ROAD TEMPORARILY CLOSED

*****

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT HONG TAK ROAD BETWEEN KWUN TONG ROAD AND TAI YIP STREET IN KWUN TONG 7. ILL EE CLOSED TO ALL VEHICULAR TRAFFIC BETWEEN 9 P.M. ON SUNDAY (APRIL 30) AND 6 A.M. THE FOLLOWING DAY TO FACILITATE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION WORKS.

DURING THE CLOSURE PERIOD, SOUTHBOUND TRAFFIC FROM KWUN TONG ROAD TO TAI YIP STREET WILL BE DIVERTED TO KWUN TONG ROAD, LUNG CHEUNG ROAD, CHOI HUNG ROUNDABOUT, KWUN TONG ROAD, WAI YIP STREET EXTENSION TO REJOIN TAI YIP STREET.

TRAFFIC FROM HONG TAK ROAD TO KWUN TONG ROAD SOUTHBOUND WILL BE DIVERTED TO TAI YIP STREET, .Al YIP STREET, LAI YIP STREET TO REJOIN KWUN TONG ROAD.

APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS ..ILL EE SET UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.

- - 0 - -

r-K 1W

Gisl km

PRH 7

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 1978

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

^I1977AND V0LUMES of hONG KONG’S EXTERNAL TRADE SEMINAR ON NEW CHEMISTRY SYLLABUS .................... 4

REMINDER TO PEOPLE LIABLE TO TAX ....................... 5

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN MID-LEVELS AND WAN CHAI 6

BUSINESS HOURS OF KAM TIN POST OFFICE

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

K

SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 197'

PRICE AND QUANTITY INDEXES OF HK EXTERNAL TRADE ******

THE PRICES AND VOLUMES CF HONG KONG’S DOMESTIC EXPORTS, IMPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS IN 1977 ALL REGISTERED INCREASES COMPARED -WITH 1976, ACCORDING TO TRADE' F IGURES RELEASED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY.

THE PRICES OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS IN 1977 ROSE EY TWO PER CENT, AND VOLUME UP EY FIVE PER CENT" WHILE THOSE FOR IMPORTS WERE UP BY FIVE PER CENT AND EIGHT PER CERT RESPECTIVELY. FOR RE-EXPORTS, THE INCREASES WERE EIGHT PER CENT IN PRICES AND TWO PER CENT IN VOLUME.

WITH PRICES OF IMPORTS RISING FASTER THAN EXPORTS, THE TRADE INDEX FELL FROM 103 IN 1976 TO 99 IN 1977.

THE PRICES ARE BASED ON UNIT VALUES= AND CHANGES IN VOLUME OF TRADE ARE DERIVED FROM TRADE VALUES, LESS THE EFFECT OF PRICE CHANGES.

THE FOLLOWING TAELE PROVIDES THE UNIT VALUES AND QUANTUM INDEXES FOR DOMESTIC EXPORTS BY PRINCIPAL COMMODITIES IN 1976 AND 1977:

(EASE YEAR 1973 = 100)

UNIT VALUE INDEX

QUANTUM INDEX

VALUE 11+ 1977 (HK3 MN) 1977 % CHANGE 1977/1976 1977 % CHANGE 1977/1976

ALL DOMESTIC MERCHANDISE 35,004 132 + 2% • 136 + 5%

EXPORTS CLOTHING (EXCEPT FUR) 13,679 140 + 1% 132 - 4%

TRANSISTORISED RADIOS OF 2,144 124 + 5% 149 + 9%

ALL KINDS TEXTILE FABRICS 1,931 115 UNCHANGED 97 -18f

WATCHES AND CLOCKS 1,694 146 • + 1% 396 +39%

ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS 1,411 109 -13% 139 +42%

- - 2 - SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 1978

METAL MANUFACTURES 1,096 136 + 3% 132 +17%

TEXTILE YARN AND THREAD 426 108 - 4% 95 + 9%

FOOTWEAR 365 121 UNCHANGED 113 + 7%

TEXTILE MADE-UPS AND RELATED ARTICLES 291 165 +16% 83 -14%

METAL ORES AND SCRAP 160 131 - 7% 108 -A +22%

THE PRICES OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS SHOWED A MIXED TREND WITH A MODERATE INCREASE IN PRICES FOR TRANSISTORISED RADIOS AND METAL MANUFACTURES AND A SIGNIFICANT DIP IN THOSE FOR ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS, METAL ORES AND SCRAP. PRICES FOR CLOTHING AND TEXTILE FABRICS WERE STABLE OVER THE YEAR BECAUSE OF REDUCED OVERSEAS DEMAND.

IN VOLUME TERMS, WATCHES AND CLOCKS AMD ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS SHOWED OUTSTANDING GROWTH RATES OF 39 PER CENT AND 42 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY IN CONTRAST TO THE FALLING RATES FOR CLOTHING, TEXTILE FABRICS AMD TEXTILE MADE-UPS AND RELATED ARTICLES.

EXPORT VOLUMES OF THE OTHER TYPES OF PRINCIPAL COMMODITIES INCREASED AT DIFFERENT PACES.

THE PRICE AND VOLUME MOVEMENTS OF IMPORTS CLASSIFIED BY

END-USE ARE AS FOLLOWS: UNIT (BASE YEAR 1973 “ 103 )

VALUE INDEX QUANTUM INDEX

VALUE IN 1977 (HKC MN) 1977 % CHANGE 1977/1976 1977 % CHANGE 1977/1976

ALL MERCHANDISE IMPORTS 48,701 134 + 5% 125 + 8%

RAW MATERIALS AND SEMIMANUFACTURES 20,391 128 + 3% » - . 129 + 3%

CONSUMER GOODS 11,436 123 + 7% 126 +15%

FOODSTUFFS 7,541 133 + 4% 112 + 5%

CAPITAL GOODS 6,500 147 + 5% 129 +13%

FUELS 2,834 314 + 3% 124 + 8%

/prices for .....

SATURDAY, APRIL 2?, 19?8

3

PRICES FOR RA',. MATERIALS '..ERE COMPARATIVELY STABLE, INCREASING EY THREE PER CENT.

THE VOLUME OF IMPORTS OF RAW MATERIALS ROSE EY THREE PER CENT IN THE YEAR BECAUSE OF DECLINING VOLUMES OF IMPORTS OF RAW COTTON, (-22 PER CENT), WOVEN COTTON FABRICS (-15 PER CENT), COTTON YARN AND THREAD (-34 PER CENT) AND DYEING, TANNING AND COLOURING MATERIALS (-17 PER CENT).

THE MORE CONSPICUOUS INCREASES IN IMPORTS OF RAW MATERIALS OCCURRED Hr YARN OF WOOL AND MIXTURES (+53 PER CENT), CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS (+34 PER CENT) AND FABRICS OF WOOL AND MIXTURES (+31 PER CENT).

BOTH THE PRICES AND VOLUME OF IMPORTS OF CONSUMER GOODS DISPLAYED AN UPTREND. DEMAND FOR CONSUMER GOODS WAS PARTICULARLY STRONG IN 1977, WITH REMARKABLE INCREASES REGISTERED FOR PASSENGER MOTOR CARS (+43 PER CERT), CAMERAS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS (+31 PER CENT) AND RADIOS, TELEVISION SETS, GRAMOPHONES, RECORDS AND TAPE RECORDERS (+24 PER CENT).

THE VOLUME OF IMPORTED FOODSTUFFS ROSE BY FIVE PER CENT WHILE THE UNIT VALUE INDEX ROSE EY FOUR PER CENT.

IMPORT PRICES OF SEVERAL ESSENTIAL FOOD ITEMS, INCLUDING FRUIT (+11 PER CENT), VEGETABLES (+16 PER CENT), FISH AND FISH PREPARATIONS (+15 PER CENT) SHOWED SIGNIFICANT ADVANCES.

ON THE OTHER HAND, PRICES FOR RICE (-6 PER CENT) WHEAT AND-FLOUR (-22 PER CENT) AND SUGAR (-32 PER CENT) DROPPED.

PRONOUNCED INCREASES IN THE VOLUME OF IMPORTED FOODSTUFFS OCCURRED IN SOYA BEAN OIL, PEANUT OIL AND LARD (+28 PER CENT), SUGAR (+15 PER CENT), CEREALS AND CEREAL PREPARATIONS (+14 PER CENT) AND MILK, BUTTER, CHEESE AMD EGGS (+10 PER CENT).

FUEL PRICES GAINED THREE PER CELT WITH VOLUME UP EY EIGHT PER CENT. IN VOLUME TERMS, THE IMPORTS OF LIQUID FUEL, COMPRISING 99 PER CENT OF FUEL IMPORTS, INCREASED EY EIGHT PER CENT.

REFLECTING BUOYANT DEMAND FOR CAPITAL GOODS, THE VOLUME OF IMPORTS OF CAPITAL GOODS ADVANCED EY 13 PER CENT .. ITH PRICES INCREASING ON THE AVERAGE EY FIVE PER CENT.

THE MOST REMARKABLE INCREASE TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT (+73 PER CELT) CF AIRCRAFT AND SHIPS AND PARTS.

N VOLUME WAS RECORDED IN MAINLY DUE TO THE IMPORTS

IMPORT VOLUMES CF ELECTRICAL MACHINERY SCIENTIFIC, MEDICAL AND OPTICAL INSTRUMENTS INCREASED AT A ERISK PACE. A DROP I’ VOLUME TEXTILE MACHINERY (-36 PER CERT).

(+28 PER CENT) AND (+26 PER CENT) WAS REGISTERED FOR

ON RE-EXPORTS, THE INCREASE IN THE VOLUME OF FUELS (+46 PEE CENT) TOOK THE LEAD, FOLLOWED EY CAPITAL GOODS (+26 PEP CENT) AND RAW MATERIALS (+12 PE" CELT). DEOL I ING RATES WERE RECORDED FOR THS VOLUMES OF CONSUMER GOODS RICH DROPPED EY TWO PER CENT AND FOODSTUFFS WHICH DIPPED BY 29 PER CENT.

(NOTE: PRICE INDEXES WHICH ARE BASED ON UNIT VALUES, HAVE NOT TAKE’ INTO ACCOUNT CHANGES II THE QUALITY OF GOODS TRADED.)

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

/4

SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 1978

V

TEACHERS’ SEMINAR ON NEW CHEMISTRY SYLLABUS

* * * *

THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR. ARTHUR BROWN, TODAY COMPLIMENTED TEACHERS ON THEIR WILLINGNESS TO ADOPT THE NEW CHEMISTRY SYLLABUS.

MR. BROWN WHO IS ALSO THE CHIEF INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF A SEMINAR AT THE DIOCESAN BOYS’ SCHOOL FOR TEACHERS ADOPTING THE NEW FORM 4-5 CURRICULUM IN CHEMISTRY.

HE SAID; +IT WAS ALWAYS HARD GOING CHANGING TO A NEW CURRICULUM ESPECIALLY- WHEN IT WAS AT.THE-FORM 4-5 LEVEL AND AN EXAMINATION SUBJECT. TEACHERS GOT USED TO AN EXAMINATION AND IT TOOK AN ACT OF FAITH AND COURAGE TO ABANDON THE KNOWN AND ENTER A NEW FIELD WITH A NEW EXAM I NAT ION.+

THE NEW SYLLABUS WAS DESIGNED FOR CLASSES WHICH- HAD BEEN FOLLOWING THE NOW POPULAR INTEGRATED SCIENCE SYLLABUS AT FORMS 1-3. ALTHOUGH THESE SCHOOLS COULD STILL PREPARE FOR THE STANDARD CHEMISTRY EXAMINATION, IT WAS FELT THAT THE NEW SYLLABUS GAVE MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR FOLLOWING THE ENQUIRY APPROACH THAN THE FORMER SYLLABUS AND THE CURRICULUM INCORPORATED GUIDES DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE THAT APPROACH.

WITH REGARD TO INTEGRATED SCIENCE IN THE LOWER FORMS, MR. BROWN SAID HE WAS MOST ENCOURAGED BY THE SPREAD OF THIS SUBJECT WHICH SEEMED MORE MEANINGFUL THAN THE OLD GENERAL SCIENCE OR THE THREE SEPARATE SUBJECTS OF PHYSICS, CHEMISTRY AND BIOLOGY.

HE SAID OVER 203 SCHOOLS ARE FOLLOWING THIS CURRICULUM IN THEIR LOWER FORMS.

+PERHAPS,+ HE SAID, +THE VALUE OF THIS NEW FORM 4-5 CURRICULUM. SHOULD BE JUDGED BY THE TIME IT '..ILL TAKE FOR 233 SCHOOLS TO FOLLOW IT.+

AT PRESENT 14 OF THE ORIGINAL 20 PILOT SCHOOLS FOR INTEGRATED SCIENCE ARE TAKING THE ALTERNATE CHEMISTRY SYLLABUS EASED ON THE NEW CHEMISTRY CURRICULUM.

MR. BROWN ALSO POINTED CUT THAT THE NEW SYLLABUS ALLOWS STUDENTS TO EXPERIMENT FREQUENTLY IM THE LABORATORY, TC OBSERVE AND RECORD RESULT, TO HANDLE APPARATUS AND MATERIALS AND TO COMMUNICATE WITH OTHERS USING THE BASIC CHEMISTRY LANGUAGE.

THE SEMINAR WAS DESIGNED TO GIVE TEACHERS A CHANCE TO COME TOGETHER TO DISCUSS THEIR COMMON PROBLEMS‘AND EXCHANGE THEIR VIEWS ON TEACHING APPROACHES IN CONNECTION WITH THE NEW SYLLABUS.

IN ADDITION TO TALKS AND DISCUSSIONS AT THE SEMINAR, AN EXHIBITION ON PRACTICAL WORK AND A BOCK EXHIBITION WERE HELD TODAY.

- - 0 ••

SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 1973

- 5 -

REMINDER TC PEOPLE LIABLE TO TAX

******

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE' REMINDED THAT IT IS THE RESPCNSIBILIT OF A PERSON LIABLE TO TAX TO INFOR?: THE COMMISSIONER OF INLAND REVENUE OF HIS INCOME.

UNDER THE INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE, A PERSON CHARGEABLE TO TAX FOR ANY YEAR OF ASSESSMENT MUST NOTIFY THE COMMISSIONER OF INLAND REVENUE IN WRITING NOT LATER THAN FOUR MONTHS AFTER THE END OF THAT ASSESSMENT YEAR UNLESS HE HAS ALREADY BEEN REQUIRED TO FURNISH A RETURN FOR THAT YEAR.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT ALSO POINTED OUT THAT ANY PERSON WHO CEASES TO CARRY ON A BUSINESS- TO HOLD AN OFFICE OR EMPLOYMENT IN RESPECT OF WHICH SALARIES TAX IS CHARGEABLE- OR TC HAVE A SOURCE OF INCOME IN RESPECT OF WHICH HE IS PERSONALLY ASSESSED, MUST ADVISE THE COMMISSIONER IN WRITING WITHIN ONE MONTH OF SUCH CESSATION.

THE SPOKESMAN ALSO REMINDED THE PUBLIC THAT ANY PERSON WHO IS CHARGEABLE TO SALARIES, PROFITS, OR PERSONAL TAX AND IS ABOUT TC LEAVE HONG KONG FOR MORE THAN ONE MONTH MUST NOTIFY THE COMMISSIONER IN WRITING AT LEAST ONE MONTH BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE.

+THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO PERSONS WHO ARE REQUIRED TO LEAVE HONG KONG FREQUENTLY IN THE COURSE OF BUSINESS OR EMPLOYMENT,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE ALSO REMINDED TAXPAYERS WHO HAVE CHANGED THEIR ADDRESS, TO NOTIFY THE COMMISSIONER OF INLAND REVENUE IN WRITING OF THE PARTICULARS OF THE CHANGE.

--------o -

/6

SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 1978

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN MID-LEVELS AND WAN CHAI

******

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT FROM 4 P.M. ON MONDAY (MAY 1), MID-LEVELS WILL BE CLOSED TO GOODS VEHICLES FROM 7 A.M. TO 13 A.M. AND 4 P'.M. TO 7 P.M. DAILY FROM MONDAYS TO SATURDAYS.

THE RESTRICTION IS DESIGNED TO FORESTALL TRAFFIC CONGESTION WHICH IS EXPECTED AS A RESULT OF THE LIFTING OF STATUTORY RESTRICTIONS ON BUILDING DEVELOPMENT IN MID-LEVELS.

SIGNS TO INDICATE THE RESTRICTION WILL EE SET UP IN BONHAM ROAD, WESTERN STREET, HOSPITAL ROAD, HIGH STREET, CAINE ROAD, ROBINSON ROAD, OLD PEAK ROAD AND COTTON TREE DRIVE.

MEANWHILE, IN WAN CHAI, VEHICLES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER LUN FAT STREET FROM QUEER’S ROAD EAST FROM 10 A.M. ON MONDAY TO FACILITATE ROAD WORKS.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE SECTION OF LUN FAT STREET BETWEEN HOUSE NO. 3 AND JOHNSTON ROAD WILL BECOME A CUL-DE-SAC WHICH WILL EE OPEN TO TWO-WAY TRAFFIC TO AND FROM JOHNSTON ROAD.

APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS JILL EE SET UP TO ASSIST MOTORISTS.

0 - -

BUSINESS HOURS OF KAL TIN POST OFFICE *****

THE POST OFFICE ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT FROM. MONDAY (MAY 1), THE BUSINESS HOURS OF KAN TIM POST OFFICE AT KAN TIN MAIN ROAD, THE NE'. TERRITORIES .’ILL BE FROM 9 A.M. TO 1 P.M. AND 2.30 P.M. TO 5 P.M. FROM MONDAYS TO FRIDAYS AND FROM 9 A..”;. TO 1 P.M. ON SATURDAYS.

THE EXISTING OFFICE HOURS OF THAT POST OFFICE ARE FROM 9 A.M. TO 1 P.N.. AND 2.15 ?.N. TO 5 .M. FROM MONDAYS TO FRIDAYS AND 9 A.. . TO 1 P.t • Ci1. SkTJRuaYo.

gisI laml

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

SUNDAY, APRIL 30, 1978

CONTENTS PAGE NO.

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HELPS STUDENTS PLAN OVERSEAS STUDIES .................................. 1

REMINDER TO EMPLOYERS .......................... 3

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN LAI CHI KOK AND HAPPY VALLEY ................................... 4

REGISTRATION TEAM TO OPERATE IN SHEK PEI vi/AN . 5

Issued iw Gcw^rKn^» ''■'frwmation Services. Mmuse. Hono Kong. Tel: 5-233191

SUNDAY, APRIL 30, 1978

1

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HELPS STUDENTS PLAN OVERSEAS C T! 1“* If’.”'

STUD IES H K * r

THE OVERSEAS STUDENTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS SECTION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS PRODUCED TWO CASSETTE TAPE RECORDINGS CONTAINING BASIC INFORMATION ABOUT FURTHER STUDIES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM FOR THE BENEFIT OF LOCAL STUDENTS INTENDING TO PURSUE THEIR EDUCATION THERE.

THE CASSETTE TAPES ARE AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS CALLING AT THE OFFICE OK THE 15TH FLOOR OF LEIGHTON CENTRE, LEIGHTON ROAD,' CAUSEWAY BAY.

THE FIRST TAPE WHICH RUNS FOR ABOUT 23 MINUTES CONTAINS PRELIMINARY INFORMATION ABOUT THE BACKGROUND OF THE U.K. EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, ENTRY QUALIFICATIONS AMD THE PROPER PROCEDURE FOR APPLYING FOR ADMISSION TO COLLEGES OF FURTHER EDUCATION, TECHNICAL COLLEGES, POLYTECHNICS AND COLLEGES OF EDUCATION FOR A VARIETY OF COURSES RANGING FROM G.C.E. AMD NATIONAL DIPLOMA/CERTIF I CATE TO DEGREE COURSES RECOGNISED BY THE COUNCIL FOR NATIONAL ACADEMIC AWARDS.

AFTER LISTENING TO THE FIRST TAPE, STUDENTS ARE GIVEN TIME TO ASK QUESTIONS AND DISCUSS WITH OFFICERS IN THE SECTION ANY MATTERS WHICH MAY ARISE ON U.K. STUDIES.

FOR STUDENTS WHO WISH TO SUBMIT THROUGH THE OVERSEAS STUDENTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS SECTION, THEIR APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION INTO AN EDUCATIONAL INST I TUT I OK IN THE U.K., THERE WILL EE A DISCUSSION ON THEIR ACADEMIC STANDING AND THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE U.K. INSTITUTES BEFORE THEY ARE GIVEN APPROPRIATE APPLICATION FORMS TO COMPLETE.

THE SECOND TAPE RECORDING WHICH LASTS FOR ABOUT 15 MIKTUES IS DESIGNED TO HELP STUDENTS FULLY UNDERSTAND THE APPLICATION PROCEDURE AND COMPLETE THE NECESSARY APPLICATION FORMS.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE OVERSEAS STUDENTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS SECTION SAID: +THE USE OF THEIR TAPES, THOUGH IN A PRELIMINARY STAGE, HAS PROVED VERY USEFUL TO STUDENTS WHO INTEND TO PURSUE THEIR STUDIES IN THE U.K.

+THESE TAPES ARE PLAYED HOURLY TO A LARGE NUMBER OF STUDENTS IK A ROOM WITH A SEATING CAPACITY FOR 30.

+WE COMPILED THESE TAPES THROUGH EXPERIENCE GAINED IN INTERVIEWING STUDENTS, AND THE TAPES INCLUDE ALL INFORMATION THAT STUDENTS WOULD NORMALLY WANT TO KNOW.+

THE SPOKESMAN SAID SIMILAR TAPES ON STUDYING IN OTHER COUNTRIES, NOTABLY, U.S.A., CANADA AND AUSTRALIA, WILL EE PREPARED IN FUTURE.

IT IS ALSO INTENDED TO EXTEND FACILITIES TO ENABLE INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS TO LISTEN TO THESE TAPES WHEN REQUIRED.

/FACILITIES

SUNDAY, APRIL 30, 1978

2 -

FACILITIES IN THE OFFICE OF THE OVERSEAS STUDENTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS SECTION INCLUDE AN INTERVIEW ROOM AND A READING AREA .I TH A LARGE COLLECT IC" OF PROSPECTUSES AND REFERENCE PUBLICATIONS ON UI IVERSITIES, COLLEGES, POLYTECHNICS, COLLEGES OF EDUCATICK, NURSING SCHOOLS AND OTHER INSTITUTES IN U.K. AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID: +LAST YEAR WE HANDLED 4,510 APPLICATIONS

ABOUT STUDYING IN THE U.K., AH INCREASE OF 642 OVER THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD IN 1976.+

HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT AT THE END OF 1977 THERE WERE 9,624 HONG KONG STUDENTS STUDYING IN THE U.K., AN INCREASE OF 1,977 OVER THE SAME PERIOD IN 1976.

OF THESE, 1,151 STUDENTS WERE STUDYING ENGINEERING. OTHER POPULAR COURSES INCLUDED NURSING, MANAGEMENT AND BUSINESS STUDIES, ENGLISH LANGUAGE, SCIENCE, SECRETARIAL AND SECONDARY SCHOOL COURSES.

APART FROM ASSISTING STUDENTS IN PLANNING STUDIES ABROAD, THE SECTION ALSO PROVIDES INFORMATION, ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE IN MAKING APPLICATION TO U.K. UNIVERSITIES AND DISTRIBUTE APPLICATION FORMS FOR THE UNIVERSITIES CENTRAL COUNCIL ON ADMISSIONS (U.C.C.A.).

THE SECTION HAS ALSO DESIGNED A STANDARD APPLICATION FCRM FOR DISTRIBUTION TO STUDENTS WHO WISH TO STUDY IN SCHOOLS AND OTHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTES IN U.K.

OTHER SERVICES AVAILABLE IN THE SECTION INCLUDE OFFICIAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION It: RESPECT OF CANDIDATES FROM HONG KONG FOR BOTH UNDERGRADUATE AND POSTGRADUATE PROGRAMMES UPON SPECIAL REQUEST FROM U.K. UK I VERS IT IES- ADMINISTRATION OF A NUMBER OF LOCAL AND OVERSEAS SCHOLARSHIPS- AND MAINTAINING CLOSE LIAISON WITH THE PROPER AUTHORITIES IN THE PROCESSING CF APPLICATIONS AND THE SELECTION CF SUITABLE CANDIDATES FCR THESE AWARDS.

IN ADDITION, THE SECTION ALSO PLAYS AN ACTIVE ROLE It THE PLANNING AND DISTRIBUTION CF LOCAL MAINTENANCE GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIP SCHEMES AND INTEREST-FREE LOAN PROVIDED DY THE GOVERN El T AND PRIVATE ORGANISATIONS TO NEEDY STUDENTS TO STUDY IN THE T..0 LOCAL UNIVERSITIES, SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND POST-SECONDARY COLLEGES AND INSTITUTES.

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

/3

SUNDAY, APRIL 30, 1978

- . 3 -

EMPLOYERS’ DUTY TO INFORM INLAND REVENUE COMMISSIONER OF NEW EMPLOYEES’ PARTICULARS

K H * K

EMPLOYERS ARE REMINDED OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO INFORM THE COMMISSIONER OF INLAND REVENUE IN WRITING OF THE PARTICULARS OF ANY NEW EMPLOYEE LIKELY TO BE CHARGEABLE TO SALARIES TAX WITHIN THREE MONTHS OF HIS EMPLOYMENT.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT ALSO POINTED OUT THAT AN EMPLOYER WHO IS ABOUT TO CEASE TO EMPLOY IN HONG KONG ANY PERSON LIKELY TO EE CHARGEABLE TO SALARIES TAX MUST ALSO ADV IS. THE COMMISSIONER IN WRITING AT LEAST ONE MONTH BEFORE THE TERMINATION OF SUCH AN EMPLOYMENT.

IT IS ALSO THE RESPONSIBILITY OF AN EMPLOYER TO NOTIFY

THE COMMISSIONER WHENEVER AN EMPLOYEE WHO IS CHARGEABLE TO SALARIE-. TAX IS ABOUT TO LEAVE HONG KONG FOR MORE THAN A MONTH AT LEAST ONE MONTH BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE.

+THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO AN EMPLOYEE WHO IS REQUIRED, IN THE COURSE OF HIS EMPLOYMENT, TO LEAVE THE COLONY AT FREQUENT INTERVALS,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT WHEN AN EMPLOYEE HAS INFORMED THE COMMISSIONER THAT HE IS ABOUT TO CEASE TO EMPLOY A PERSON CHARGEABLE TO SALARIES TAX, HE MUST NOT MAKE ANY PAYMENT TO THAT EMPLOYEE WITHIN A MONTH FROM. THE DATE OF GIVING SUCH NOTICE, EXCEPT WITH THE CONSENT IN WRITING OF THE COMMISSIONER.

+THE. EMPLOYER MAY HOWEVER, DURING THAT MONTH PAY TO THE COMMISSIONER CUT OF MONEY DUE TO THE EMPLOYEE SUCH SUM AS THE EMPLOYEE MAY DIRECT HIM TO PAY,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

FORMS FOR GIVING SUCH NOTICES MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE OFFICES OF INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT ON THE ?TH FLOOR, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFF ICES, WEST WING, ICE HOUSE STREET, HONG KONG.

-—i-----o  -----

/4

SUNDAY, APRIL 3'3, 1972

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN LAI CHI KOK AND HAPPY-VALLEY * * * *

THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THE EASTBCUND SLIP ROAD LEADING FRO.", KWAI CHUNG ROAD TO LAI CHI KOK BEACH ROAD AT MEI FOG SUN CHUEN ./ILL EE CLOSED TO ALL VEHICULAR' TRAFFIC FROM 8.33 A..'. ON TUESDAY (MAY 2) TO 5.40 A.M. ON THURSDAY (MAY 4) AND BETWEEN 1 A.M. AND 5.43 A.M. DAILY FROM MAY 5 TO 9.

THE ARRANGEMENTS ARE TO FACILITATE THE DIVERSION OF TELEPHONE CABLES PRIOR TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE LAI WAN MTR STATION.

DURING THE CLOSURE PERIODS, EASTBOUND TRAFFIC ON KWAI CHUNG ROAD HEADING FOR LAI CHI KOK BEACH ROAD SHOULD USE LAI CHI KOK ROAD, CHEUNG LAI STREET, CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD TO REJOIN LAI CHI KOK BEACH ROAD VIA THE UNNAMED ROAD BETWEEN MEI FOO SUN CHUEN AND THE LAI CHI KOK (ERIDGE) BUS TERMINUS.

THE BUS STOP I!' THE LAY-EYE AT THE ECTTOM OF THE SLIP ROAD USED BY KME ROUTES 33, 33, 33A, 33D, 33C, 35A, 36A, 37, 37A, 43, 44A, 45, 50 AND 253 JILL BE SUSPENDED DURING THE CLOSURE PERIODS. A TEMPORARY BUS STOP WILL EE PROVIDED ABOUT 153 METRES WEST OF THE EXISTING BUS STOP.

KME ROUTE NO.44 BUSES ON EASTEOUND JOURNEYS WILL EE DIVERTED VIA LAI CHI KOK ROAD, CHEUNG LAI STREET, CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD AND AN UNNMAED ROAD TO TERMINATE AT THE LAI CHI KOK (BRIDGE) BUS TERMINUS.

APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL

EE SET UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.

MEANWHILE, THE DEPARTMENT ALSO PLANS TO OPEN ELACK’S LINK AS A RELIEF ROUTE FOR PRIVATE CARS AND TAXIS TRAVELLING FROM WONG NAI CHUNG GAP TO WAN CHAI GAP TC ALLEVIATE TRAFFIC CONGESTION AT THE STUBBS ROAD ROUNDABOUT.

APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS ARE NOW EE I NG SET UP IN THE AREA AND ONCE THE WORK IS COMPLETED, SLACK’S LINK WILL EE OPENED TO RESTRICTED TRAFFIC FROM 7 A.M. TO 13 A.M. FROM MONDAYS TO SATURDAYS. VEHICLES OF OVER 2,503 C.C. -ILL MOT EE ALLOWED TO USE THIS ROUTE.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ADVISED MOTORISTS TO DRIVE .. ITH UTMOST CARE WHEN ELACK’S LANE IS OPEN TO TRAFFIC BECAUSE THE ROUTE IS STILL VERY HARRO’.. DESPITE THE COMPLETION OF RECENT IMPROVEMENT WORKS WHICH INCLUDED THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NUMBER OF PASSING BAYS AND CONCRETE MARGINS.

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

SUNDAY, APRIL 30, 1978

- 5 -

REGISTRATION TEAM TO OPERATE IK SHEK PEI WAN ' * * * *

A TEAM FROM THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS OFFICE WILL CONDUCT REGISTRATION IN SHEK PEI '..'AN ESTATE OFFICE FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN THE AREA FOR FIVE DAYS FRO;’ MAY E TO 12.

REGISTRATION WILL EE CONDUCTED BETWEEN 9.30 A.M. AND 4.30 P.M. DURING THESE FIVE DAYS.

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

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

0 ---------


本網站純為個人分享網站,不涉商業運作,如有版權持有人認為本站侵害你的知識版權,請來信告知(contact@histsyn.com),我們會盡快移除相關內容。

This website is purely for personal sharing and does not involve commercial operations. If any copyright holder believes that this site infringes on your intellectual property rights, please email us at contact@histsyn.com, and we will remove the relevant content as soon as possible.

文本純以 OCR 產出,僅供快速參考搜尋之用,切勿作正規研究引用。

The text is purely generated by OCR, and is only for quick reference and search purposes. Do not use it for formal research citations.


如未能 buy us a coffee,點擊一下 Google 廣告,也能協助我們長遠維持伺服器運作,甚至升級效能!

If you can't buy us a coffee, click on the Google ad, which can also help us maintain the server operation in the long run, and even upgrade the performance!