DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
EMPLOYERS URGED TO EMPLOY MORE DISABL.D................ 1
ARRANGEMENTS POR GOVERNOR'S DEPARTURE ................. 2
APPEAL TO UC ELECTION VOTERS .......................... 3
MORE PEOPLE SEEK HEIR FROM TaVA SCHEME................. 4
SHA TIN TO SPEND $60 000 TO PROMOTE DRAMA ............. 5
PRINTING INDUSTRY MANUAL 0? TRADE TEST GUIDELINES PUBLISHED 6
COUNTRY PARK PHOTOGRAPHS ON EXHIBITlON ................ 6
NEW TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN WAN CHAI FOR PLB'S ........ 7
ZING'S COLLEGE OPEN DAY ............................... 8
YAN 01 MARKET STALLS FOR AUCTION ...................... 8
FRESH WATER CUT IN KWAI CHUNG
9
TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 1983
1
EMPLOYERS URGED TO EMPLOY MORE DISABLED *****
LOCAL EMPLOYERS WERE TODAY (TUESDAY) URGED TO EMPLOY MORE DISABLED PEOPLE SO THAT THEIR PRODUCTIVE ABILITY CAN BE TAPPED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT AS AN ADDITIONAL SOURCE OF MANPOWER.
THE PLEA WAS MADE BY MR JOHN SUNG, SENIOR LABOUR OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT’S SELECTIVE PLACEMENT SERVICE (SPS), AT A MEETING OF THE CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR INSTITUTE (HONG KONG BRANCH).
THE SPS WAS ESTABLISHED IN JULY 1980 TO PROVIDE FREE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE FOR THE BLIND, THE DEAF AND THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED SEEKING OPEN EMPLOYMENT.
MR SUNG TOLD THE MEETING THAT SOME OF THE DISABLED REGISTERED WITH THE SPS WERE INTERESTED IN TRAINEE POSTS SO THAT THEY CAN LEARN A SKILL.
+MY PLACEMENT OFFICERS ARE WILLING TO STUDY AND ADVISE YOU ON THE TYPE OF JOBS IN YOUR COMPANY THAT MAY BE PERFORMED BY THE DISABLED,+ HE ADDED.
LAST YEAR, MR SUNG CONTINUED, THE SPS RECORDED 505 PLACEMENTS.
THE STATISTICS MIGHT NOT LOOK IMPRESSIVE, BUT TO THE DISABLED, EACH PLACEMENT ALSO MEANT +PROOF OF HIS ABILITY, REGAINING OF CONFIDENCE AND HOPE AND ACCEPTANCE BY THE COMMUNITY*.
MR SUNG POINTED OUT THAT A MAJOR CRITERION FOR THE JOB-MATCHING PROCEDURE IS +PLACING THE RIGHT PERSON IN THE RIGHT JOB+, AND TO THIS END, PLACEMENT OFFICERS ATTACHED GREAT IMPORTANCE TO +KNOWING OUR CLIENTS*.
THE OFFICERS, DURING +FACE-TO-FACE+ INTERVIEWS WITH JOBSEEKERS, TRIED TO OBTAIN SUCH INFORMATION AS THE CAUSE OF DISABILITY, EDUCATION, TRAINING, WORKING EXPERIENCE, WORK PREFERENCES AND FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY, ETC.
IF NECESSARY, THE SPS WOULD SEEK ASSISTANCE FROM THE VOCATIONAL ASSESSMENT SERVICE OF THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING DEPARTMENT IN RESPECT OF PSYCHOLOGICAL APTITUDE AND TECHNICAL TESTS.
MR SUNG WENT ON TO SAY THAT IN 1982 PLACEMENT OFFICERS MADE 562 PROMOTIONAL VISITS TO EMPLOYERS IN COMMERCE, INDUSTRY AND THE SERVICE SECTOR TO IDENTIFY JOBS SUITABLE FOR THE DISABLED.
IF NECESSARY, THE OFFICERS WILL ADVISE THE EMPLOYER AND THE DISABLED JOB-SEEKER OF THE POSSIBILITY OF ADOPTING A TECHNICAL AID AT THE WORKPLACE OR MAKING AN ADAPTATION TO MACHINES OR WORK PREMISES.
/IN THii............
TU3SDAY, MUCH 1, 198 3
2
IN THE CASE OF A PARTIALLY-SIGHTED CLIENT FOR EXAMPLE, THE PLACEMENT OFFICER WOULD ASSESS WHETHER IT WOULD REQUIRE A MAGNIFIER OR CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION TO ENLARGE THE LETTERS OR OBJECTS THE CLIENT HAS TO HANDLE, OR AN AID TO MAKE USE OF HIS OTHER SENSES, SUCH AS HIS TOUCH OR HEARING, SO THAT HE CAN +SEE+ WITH HIS FINGERS OR EARS.
THE COMMON ADAPTATIONS TO EMPLOYER’S PREMISES ARE RAMPS, HAND RAILS, TOILET FACILITIES, WIDER DOORS AND DOOR HANDLES, FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS FOR THE DEAF, AND TACTILE INDICATORS FOR THE BLIND.
AN EMPLOYER WHO PROVIDES A DISABLED EMPLOYEE WITH SPECIAL AIDS OR MAKES ADAPTATION CAN APPLY FOR REIMBURSEMENTS FROM THE EMPLOYAID SCHEME.
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ARRANGEMENTS FOR GOVERNOR’S DEPARTURE * * * *
THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, WILL LEAVE FOR LONDON ON FLIGHT CX201, E.T.D. 10.40 PM, ON SATURDAY (MARCH 5).
THE GOVERNOR IS EXPECTED TO RETURN TO HONG KONG THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE MADE FOR PRESS PHOTOGRAPHERS AND CAMERAMEN TO COVER THE GOVERNOR’S DEPARTURE. THERE WILL BE NO BRIEFING OR PRESS CONFERENCE.
PLEASE ADVISE THOSE ASSIGNED BY YOU TO COVER THE EVENT TO ASSEMBLE IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE AIRPORT TERMINAL BY NOT LATER THAN 9.45 PM.
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TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 1983
APPEAL TO UC ELECTION VOTERS *****
THE EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR H.T. LUI, TODAY (TUESDAY) CALLED ON ALL REGISTERED ELECTORS TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS AND VOTE IN THE URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS ON MARCH 8.
IN AN APPEAL LETTER TO THE DISTRICT’S 100 000 VOTERS, MR LUI SAID THE SUCCESS OF THE URBAN DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR MARKED ONLY THE INTERMEDIATE STEP IN THE PROCESS OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION.
♦THE NEXT AND EQUALLY IMPORTANT STEP WILL BE THE NEW-STYLE URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS SCHEDULED FOR TUESDAY (MARCH 8),+ HE SAID.
FOR THE ELECTIONS ALL DISTRICT BOARD VOTERS AND ALL THOSE ON THE URBAN COUNCIL’S ELECTORAL ROLL ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE FOR A CANDIDATE FROM WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE CONSTITUENCIES.
THE SUCCESSFUL URBAN COUNCILLORS WILL AUTOMATICALLY SIT ON THE RESPECTIVE DISTRICT BOARD, IN ADDITION TO GAINING THEIR SEATS IN THE URBAN COUNCIL, MR LUI SAID.
♦IN THIS WAY, THESE ELECTED URBAN COUNCILLORS WILL NOT ONLY BE ABLE TO REPRESENT YOUR INTERESTS ON THE DISTRICT BOARDS BUT ALSO ENSURE THAT YOUR VOICE IS HEARD IN THE URBAN COUNCIL,+ HE ADDED.
HE NOTED THAT WELL OVER 30 PER CENT OF THE 100 000 REGISTERED ELECTORS IN THE DISTRICT VOTED IN LAST YEAR’S DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS.
♦THIS WAS REALLY AN ACHIEVEMENT BY ANY STANDARD AND REFLECTED THE PEOPLE’S INTEREST IN THE IMPROVEMENT OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES AND THE PROVISION OF FACILITIES IN THEIR OWN DISTR ICTS,+ HE SAID.
THE APPEAL LETTER. TOGETHER WITH A SIMPLE GUIDE ON VOTING, A SKETCH MAP SHOW ING THE POLLING STATIONS AND A SPECIAL PUBLICATION INTRODUCING ALL NOMINATED CANDIDATES IN THE DISTRICT, WERE SENT
TO THE VOTERS.
IN EASTERN DISTRICT THERE ARE TWO CONSTITUENCIES i NORTH POINT COVERING CAUSEWAY BAY, NORTH POINT AND QUARRY BAY} AND SHAU KEI WAN COVERING SHAU KEI WAN AND CHAI WAN.
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/4........
TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 1933
- 4 -
MORE PEOPLE SEEK HELP FROM TAVA SCHEME * * *
THE NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS FOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE (TAVA) LAST YEAR REACHED AN ALL-TIME RECORD OF 7 693.
THIS FIGURE WAS UP BY 2 043 APPLICATIONS OVER 1981 AND BY 2 922 APPLICATIONS OVER 1980.
+THE MAIN REASON COULD WELL BE THE INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENT CASUALTIES,* EXPLAINED MR SIU KING-CHIU, HEAD OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S TAVA SECTION.
+BUT IT MIGHT ALSO BE DUE TO THE GROWING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE ASSISTANCE SCHEME, TO THE REDUCTION OF THE SICK LEAVE REQUIREMENT FROM SEVEN DAYS TO THREE AND TO EFFORTS BY SWD STAFF TO CONTACT CASUALTIES OR THEIR RELATIVES,* HE SAID.
PAYMENTS TO ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS LAST YEAR TOTALLED $31.8 MILLION.
FROM THE START OF THE SCHEME IN MID-1979 TO THE END OF JANUARY 1983, THE DEPARTMENT HAD PAID OUT NEARLY $80.6 MILLION.
+AT PRESENT, ABOUT 300 APPLICATIONS ARE BEING PROCESSED AND THE APPLICANTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO RECEIVE PAYMENTS SHORTLY,* SAID MR SIU.
THE SCHEME, WHICH REQUIRES NO MEANS TEST, OFFERS QUICK CASH RELIEF FOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS OR THEIR DEPENDANTS REGARDLESS OF WHO WAS AT FAULT, PROVIDED THE ACCIDENT HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE POLICE.
APPLICATIONS MUST BE MADE WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF THE ACCIDENT AT THE SWD’S TAVA SECTION AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTRE, 14TH FLOOR, 280 GLOUCESTER ROAD, CAUSEWAY BAY. ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE BY CALLING 5-779421 OR 5-79O365O.
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TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 1>83
5
SHA TIN TO SPEND $60 000 TO PROMOTE DRAMA ******
A MONTH OF ACTIVITIES, FEATURING SEMINARS, A LECTURE, AN EXHIBITION, AND PERFORMANCES, TO PROMOTE DRAMA AMONG SHA TIN RESIDENTS WILL BEGIN ON SATURDAY (MARCH 5).
AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY (TUESDAY), CHAIRMAN OF THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE, MR HARDY TSOI, SAID ABOUT $60 000 WOULD BE SPENT ON THE DRAMA MONTH, THE FIRST SUCH EVENT BEING ORGANISED
IN THE DISTRICT.
THE PROGRAMME WILL INCLUDE PERFORMANCES BY THE RENOWNED CHUNG YING THEATRE COMPANY WHO WILL STAGE +WOLF-BOY+ AND +STRONGEn THAN SUPERMAN* IN THE LITTLE FLOWER SCHOOL AND HOLY SPIRIT SCHOOL FOR ABOUT 800 SCHOOL CHILDREN.
FOR THE GROWN-UPS, THE THESPIANS DRAMA SOCIETY AND STUDENTS FROM THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY WILL PRESENT A SHORTENED VERSION OF EUGENE O’NEILL’S NOBEL PRIZE WINNING PIECE +AH! WILDERNESS*.
THE PLAY WILL BE DIRECTED BY MR HARDY TSOI AND TO BE HELD AT THE SIR RUN RUN SHAW HALL OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY FOR THREE NIGHTS, BEGINNING MARCH 24.
THERE WILL ALSO BE SEMINARS AND A LECTURE FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN DRAMA.
TO MARK THE OPENING OF THE DRAMA MONTH A SEMINAR ON +FUNCTION OF DRAMA AS AN EXTRA-CURRICULUM ACTIVITY IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS* WILL BE HELD ON MARCH 5 AT THE SHA TIN KIANGSU-CHEKIANG COLLEGE AT 2.30 PM.
SPEAKERS ON THE PANEL WILL INCLUDE DR YAM PAK-KONG, LECTURER CF THE EDUCATION COLLEGE OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY; MR MAN TSE-FONG, SENIOR EDUCATION OFFICER (SHA TIN AND SAI KUNG)l MR TAO KWOK-WAI, TEACHER OF HO LAP COLLEGE AND MR CHAN KIN-BUN, SENIOR ASSISTANT MANAGER OF THE HONG KONG REPERTORY THEATRE.
AN EXHIBITION ON DRAMA ACTIVITIES IN SHA TIN WILL ALSO OPEN IN VARIOUS VENUES IN THE DISTRICT AND LAST FOR A WHOLE MONTH.
ADMISSION TO ALL SEMINARS AND LECTURE IS FREE WHILE TICKETS FOR THE PLAY +AHl WILDERNESS* WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM THE SIR RUN RUN SHAW HALL, THE SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE SHA TIN YOUTH CENTRE AS FROM SATURDAY (MARCH 5).
DETAILS OF THE PROGRAMME ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT ALL TICKET OFFICES.
CO-ORDINATED BY THE SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICE, THE SHA TIN DRAMA MONTH IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THIE SHA TIN ARTS ASSOCIATION. THE DISTRICT BOARD AND THE SIR RUN RUN SHAW HALL OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY.
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/6........
TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 1983.
6
PRINTING INDUSTRY MANUAL OF TRADE TEST GUIDELINES PUBLISHED * * *
A MANUAL OF TRADE TEST GUIDELINES FOR THE PRINCIPAL CRAFT JOBS IN THE PRINTING INDUSTRY WAS PUBLISHED TODAY.
THE MANUAL, PREPARED BY THE PRINTING INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD CF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL, WAS DESIGNED TO ASSIST EMPLOYERS WITH THE ASSESSMENT OF THEIR APPRENTICES’ AND WORKERS PRACTICAL SKILLS BY THE APPLICATION OF A TRADE TEST.
THE TEST IS RECOMMENDED AS A MEASURE TO ASCERTAIN THE SKILL STANDARD OF A CANDIDATE AND TO ENABLE HIM TO HAVE PROVEN EVIDENCE OF HIS ATTAINMENT.
THE TRAINING BOARD APPEALS TO EMPLOYERS TO GIVE PROPER RECOGNITION TO EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE ATTAINED A REQUIRED STANDARD AFTER PASSING THE TRADE TESTS.
THE MANUAL, IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE, IS ON SALE AT $22 A COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL.
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COUNTRY PARK PHOTOGRAPHS ON EXHIBITION X X X
THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR JOHN RIDDELL-SWAN, TODAY (TUESDAY) EXPRESSED HIS SYMPATHY TO THE PEOPLE OF AUSTRALIA IN THEIR LOSSES IN THE RECENT DEVASTATING BUSH FIRES.
HE SAID THE BUSH FIRES IN AUSTRALIA SERVE AS A REMINDER OF THE DESTRUCTIVE POWERS OF FIRES AND THE NEED TO BE PERPETUALLY ON GUARD.
DR RIDDELL-SWAN MADE THE COMMENT IN HIS CAPACITY AS THE COUNTRY PARKS AUTHORITY (CPA) DURING THE OPENING OF A SPECIAL EXHIBITION OF COUNTRY PARKS PHOTOGRAPHS AT THE LANDMARK.
THE EXHIBITION WHICH LASTS UNTIL WEDNESDAY NEXT WEEK (MARCH 9) IS BEING PRESENTED BY THE CPA, THE PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY OF HONG KONG AND A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER, MR HO KING-TONG.
DR RIDDELL-SWAN SAID: +THE COUNTRY PARKS PROVIDE A DRAMATIC CONTRAST TO THE BUSTLE OF CITY LIFE AND MORE THAN EIGHT MILLION VISITS WERE MADE LAST YEAR.
+SUCH HEAVY VISITOR LOADINGS BRING MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS OF WHICH LITTERING AND HILL FIRES ARE THE MOST SEVERE, REQUIRING ALLOCATIONS OF RESOURCES AND ATTENTION.
/+MarriON o?
TUESDAY, MABCH 1, 1983
♦MENTION OF HILL FIRES ENABLES ME TO EXPRESS MY DEEP SYMPATHY WITH THE PEOPLE OF AUSTRALIA, ESPECIALLY FORESTRY AND PARKS SERVICE COLLEAGUES, IN THEIR LOSSES IN THE RECENT DEVASTATING BUSH FIRES.+
HE SAID THE EXCELLENCE OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS ON DISPLAY WAS A CREDIT TO THE TECHNICAL SKILLS OF THE EXHIBITORS WHO FOUND THAT LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY WAS A CHALLENGING SUBJECT WORTHY OF SERIOUS ATTENTION BY PROFESSIONALS AND AMATEURS ALIKE.
TWO LOTS OF PHOTOGRAPHS ARE ON DISPLAY AT THE EXHIBITION, BEING HELD AT THE WESTERN FOOTBRIDGE OF THE LANDMARK LINKING WITH ALEXANDRA HOUSE.
ONE LOT COMPRISES PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN BY MR HO, WHO WAS COMMISSIONED BY THE CPA TO TAKE PICTURES FOR THE 1983 CALENDAR PRESENTED BY THE PUBLISHING FIRM, LONGMANS. THE OTHER PHOTOGRAPHS WERE TAKEN BY +SHUTTERBUGS+ WHO WENT ON EIGHT OUTINGS TO THE COUNTRY PARKS ORGANISED BY THE PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY OF HONG KONG LAST YEAR.
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NEW TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN WAN CHAI FOR PLB’S * * * *
FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (MARCH 4), ALL PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES WILL BE BANNED FROM ENTERING TAK YAN STREET AND WING CHEUNG STREET IN WAN CHAI.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE FOLLOWING ROAD SECTIONS WILL BE DESIGNATED AS 24-HOUR CLEARWAYS FOR PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES:
* WAN CHAI ROAD BETWEEN BOWRINGTON ROAD AND JOHNSTON ROAD; AND
K CROSS LANE.
WITHIN THE SECTIONS, PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS.
/8........
MONDAY, MARCH 1, 1983
8
KING’S COLLEGE OPEN DAY
* * *
KING’S COLLEGE WILL HOLD ITS OPEN DAY ON THURSDAY (MARCH 3) AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO VISIT THE SCHOOL BETWEEN 9 AM AND 5 PM.
IN ADDITION TO THE SCHOOL’S FACILITIES, VISITORS WILL BE ABLE TO SEE AN EXHIBITION OF THE WORK OF STUDENTS, INCLUDING PROJECTS IN SCIENCE, COMPUTER, GEOGRAPHY, HISTORY, ENGLISH, CHINESE, PRINCIPLES OF ACCOUNTS, ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY.
THE SCHOOL IS SITUATED AT 63A BONHAM ROAD, HONG KONG.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE KING’S COLLEGE OPEN DAY BETWEEN 9 AM AND 5 PM ON THURSDAY (MARCH 3).
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YAN 01 MARKET STALLS FOR AUCTION
* * * *
SEVENTEEN STALLS AT THE NEWLY COMPLETED YAN 01 MARKET IN TUEN MUN WILL BE PUT UP FOR LETTING BY PUBLIC AUCTION ON THURSDAY (MARCH 3).
THE AUCTION WILL BE HELD AT 10 AM ON THE ROOF OF THE MARKET BUILDING NEXT TO CHI LOK FA YUEN.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID, TWO OF THE STALLS ARE DESIGNATED FOR SELLING MEAT, SEVEN FOR DRY GOODS, SEVEN OTHERS FOR WET GOODS AND THE REMAINING ONE FOR ICE.
THE UPSET MONTHLY RENTAL FOR THE TWO MEAT STALLS IS $2 500 EACH WHILE THE PRICE FOR THE ICE STALL IS $900.
FOR THE DRY AND WET GOODS STALLS, THE UPSET MONTHLY RENTAL RANGES FROM $700 TO $750.
SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS FOR THE STALLS CAN START THEIR BUSINESS ON APRIL 1, FOR A CONTRACT PERIOD OF THREE YEARS. THEY ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO PAY THE RENTAL ON A QUARTERLY BASIS.
POTENTIAL BIDDERS WHO MUST BE OVER 21 YEARS OF AGE ARE REQUESTED TO BRING ALONG THEIR IDENTITY CARDS AND FIVE PHOTOGRAPHS TO THE AUCTION.
FURTHER DETAILS MAY BE OBTAINED AT THE HAWKERS AND MARKETS SECTION OF THE TUEN MUN URBAN SERVICES OFFICE ON TELEPHONE 0-820800 EXT. 231.
TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 1983
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FRESH WATER CUT IN KWAI CHUNG * * *
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN PREMISES IN KWAI CHUNG WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR SIX HOURS FROM MIDNIGHT TO 6 AM ON SATURDAY (MARCH 5) TO FACILITATE A LEAKAGE TEST.
THE PREMISES AFFECTED ARE BOUNDED BY HING SHING ROAD, KWAI SHING CIRCUIT AND KWAI LUEN ROAD, INCLUDING ELOCKS NO. 12 TO 14, KWAI SHING EAST ESTATE AND BLOCKS NO. 6 TO 10, KWAI SHING WEST ESTATE.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL. 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES FOR JANUARY .................... 1
LAND GRANT TO HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION.. 4
363 MILLION ROAD PROJECT IN TUEN MUN ..................... 5
TWO TUEN MUN SITES SOLD FOR DEVELOPMENT .................. 6
SURVEY OF RETAIL SALES FOR DECEMBER 1982 ................. 7
PUBLIC URGED TO DEMONSTRATE INTEREST IN UC ELECTIONS.... 11
IMPORTANCE OF CHILD CARE CENTRES STRESSED................ 13
LATEST EDITION OF BEST-SELLING YEARBOOK ON SALE TOMORROW .... 14
MANPOWER SURVEY FOR ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY.................. 15
BURMESE OFFICIALS VISIT DRUG ADDICT TREATMENT CENTRE .... 15
TUEN MUN DB MEMBERS TO VISIT JAPAN ...................... 16
OPENING OF AIRPORT 'WESTERN MULTI-STOREY CAR PARK ....... 17
SHA TIN RACE COURSE TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS ................ 17
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT IN WAN CHAI ............... 17
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1983
1
PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES FOR JANUARY
* * M *
THE VALUE OF HONG KONG’S TOTAL EXPORTS FOR JANUARY 1983 WAS 410 158 MILLION, MADE UP OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS AT $6 440 MILLION AND RE-EXPORTS AT $3 718 MILLION, ACCORDING TO THE PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES FOR THE MONTH PUBLISHED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
WITH IMPORTS AT >11 537 MILLION, THE VISIBLE TRADE DEFICIT FOR JANUARY WAS $1 379 MILLION.
COMPARED WITH THE SAME MONTH IN 1982, THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS INCREASED BY $600 MILLION OR SIX PER CENT, COMPRISING INCREASES OF *201 MILLION OR THREE PER CENT FOR DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND 4399 MILLION OR 12 PER CENT FOR RE-EXPORTS.
THE VALUE OF IMPORTS ALSO INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY BY |1 514 MILLION OR 15 PER CENT.
COMMENTING ON THE JANUARY TRADE FIGURES, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT TRADE FIGURES FOR THE BEGINNING MONTHS OF THE YEAR SHOULD BE INTERPRETED WITH CARE AS THEY ARE VERY MUCH INFLUENCED BY THE TIMING OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE VALUE OF IMPORTS IN JANUARY WAS IN PART SEASONAL, DUE TO ANTICIPATION OF HIGHER RETAIL SALES DURING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR FESTIVAL IN FEBRUARY.
BUT HE NOTED THAT IMPORTS OF RAW MATERIALS AND SEMIMANUFACTURES HAD ALSO SHOWN SOME SIGNS OF PICKING UP.
FURTHERMORE, IT WAS ENCOURAGING THAT THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS HAD RECORDED DOUBLE-DIGIT YEAR-ON-YEAR GROWTH RATES FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE MONTHS.
HOWEVER, THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT, BECAUSE OF THE SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE IMPORT BILL IN JANUARY, THE VISIBLE TRADE GAP (THAT IS THE PROPORTION OF THE VALUE OF IMPORTS NOT COVERED BY THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS) WIDENED TO 12 PER CENT FROM 4.6 PER CENT IN JANUARY 1982.
/PUTTING THIS .......
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1$83
2
PUTTING THIS MONTH’S TRADE FIGURES INTO CONTEXT, THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT COMPARISON OF TWELVE MONTHS ENDING IN JANUARY THIS YEAR WITH THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDING IN JANUARY 1982 SHOWS THE FOLLOWING PERCENTAGE INCREASES IN VALUE I FOUR PER CENT FOR DOMESTIC EXPORTS, SEVEN PER CENT FOR R|”EXPORTS, FIVE PER CENT FOR TOTAL EXPORTS AND FIVE PER CENT FOR IMPORTS.
THE RATE OF INCREASE IN THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS WAS THUS STILL IN LINE WITH THAT OF IMPORTS, HE SAID.
THE VISIBLE TRADE GAP FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDING IN JANUARY 1983, AT 11.4 PER CENT WAS THE SAME AS THAT FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDING IN JANUARY 1982.
THE FOLLOWING TABLE PROVIDES FURTHER STATISTICAL DETAILSi-
TRADE FIGURES FOR JANUARY, 1983
MERCHANDISE!
DOMESTIC EXPORTS
RE-EXPORTS
TOTAL EXPORTS
IMPORTS
TRADE BALANCE
I $ 6 440 MILLION
i I 3 718 MILLION
I $10 158 MILLION
i $11 537 MILLION
i $ 1 379 MILLION (IN DEFICIT)
COMPARATIVE FIGURES
NOVEMBER 1982 NOVEMBER 1981
TO TO INCREASE OR
LATEST 3 MONTHS JANUARY 1983 JANUARY 1982 DECREASE
S MN. $ MN. $ MN. *
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 21 978 21 047 ♦ 931 ♦ 4.4
RE-EXPORTS 12 154 11 157 ♦ 997 ♦ 8.9
TOTAL EXPORTS 34 132 32 204 ♦1 928 ♦ 6.0
IMPORTS 37 781 35 486 +2 295 *6.5
TRADE BALANCE - 3 649 - 3 282 - 367
/same month........
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1983
- 3 -
SAME MOUTH LAST YEAR JANUARY 1983 JANUARY 1982 INCREASE OR DECREASE
S MN. S MN. $ MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS (PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL EXPORTS) 6 440 (63.4%) 6 239 (65.3%) ♦ 201 ♦ 3.2
RE-EXPORTS 3 718 3 319 ♦ 399 +12.0
TOTAL EXPORTS 10 158 9 558 + 600 ♦ 6.3
IMPORTS 11 537 10 023 ♦1 514 *15.1
TRADE BALANCE - 1 379 - 465 - 914
LAST MONTH JANUARY 1983 DECEMBER 1982 INCREASE OR DECREASE
• $ MN. $ MN. $ MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS (PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL EXPORTS) 6 440 (63.4%) 8 391 (65.1%) -1 951 “23.3
RE-EXPORTS 3 718 4 496 - 778 -17.3
TOTAL EXPORTS 10 158 12 887 -2 729 -21.2
IMPORTS 11 537 14 045 -2 508 -17.9
TRADE BALANCE - 1 379 - 1 158 - 221
LAST 12 MONTHS FEBRUARY 1982 TO JANUARY 1983 FEBRUARY 1981 TO JANUARY 1982 INCREASE OR DECREASE
t MN. $ MN. $ MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 83 232 80 317 ♦2 915 +3.6
RE-EXPORTS 44 752 41 730 ♦3 022 +7.2
TOTAL EXPORTS 127 984 122 047 ♦5 937 +4.9
IMPORTS 144 407 137 712 ♦6 695 ♦ 4.9 •
TRADE BALANCE -16 423 -15 665 * - 758
o
/4........
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1983
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LAND GRANT TO HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION ******
PO INDUSTRIAL ESTATE TOOK ANOTHER STEP
SIGNED TODAY FOR THE GRANT OF AN
LAND TO THE NORTH OF TAI PO HOI TO THE CORPORATION.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE TAI FORWARD WHEN DOCUMENTS WERE ADDITIONAL 20.5 HECTARES OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATES
THIS MEANS THAT THE CORPORATION WILL NOW HAVE MORE LAND IN TAI PO AND BE ABLE TO SUB-LEASE INDIVIDUAL LOTS ADDITIONAL AREA TO SELECTED INDUSTRIALISTS.
INDUSTRIAL IN THIS
THE DOCUMENTS WERE SIGNED THIS AFTERNOON BETWEEN THE DIRECTOR CF LANDS, MR JOHN TODD, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CORPORATION, MR LI FOOK-WO.
MR TODD SAID THAT UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF THIS PRIVATE TREATY GRANT THE CORPORATION WAS REQUIRED TO FORM AND RECLAIM ANOTHER 15 HECTARES OF LAND WHICH WOULD THEN BE HANDED BACK TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE PURPOSES OF ROADS, A WATER TREATMENT PLANT, A PUMPING STATION AND OTHER USES.
♦THE FIRST PHASE OF THIS SITE FORMATION WORK BEGAN IN JANUARY LAST YEAR AND IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THIS MONTH WHILE THE REST WILL BE COMPLETED BY 1985,+ MR TODD SAID.
THE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE CATERS FOR INDUSTRIES WHICH CANNOT OPERATE IN ORDINARY MULTI-STOREY INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS AND WHICH INTRODUCE A HIGH LEVEL OF TECHNOLOGY.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION SAID THAT RECLAMATION OF STAGES 1 AND 2 OF THE TAI PO INDUSTRIAL ESTATE TOTALLING 46 HECTARES, HAD BEEN COMPLETED WITH ALL THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES INCLUDED. AT PRESENT, 37 FACTORIES HAD TAKEN UP SITES AND 20 OF THEM ALREADY IN OPERATION. ABOUT 18 HECTARES OF LAND WERE STILL AVAILABLE.
THE LATEST GRANT FORMS THE THIRD STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT OF THE TAI PO INDUSTRIAL ESTATE.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE YUEN LONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATE WOULD BE COMPLETED LATER THIS YEAR TO PROVIDE 67 HECTARES OF INDUSTRIAL SITES.
+AT PRESENT, 17 HECTARES ARE AVAILABLE FOR LEASING,* HE ADDED.
-----0-----
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1983
- 5 -
$63M ROAD PROJECT IN TUEN MUN *****
THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TODAY AWARDED A $63.3 MILLION CONTRACT TO KIN SHING CONSTRUCTION CO. FOR A ROAD PROJECT AS PART OF THE CONTINUING PROGRAMME TO DEVELOP TUEN MUN NEW TOWN.
THE CONTRACT WAS SIGNED THIS AFTERNOON AT THE TUEN MUN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE BY THE PROJECT MANAGER OF TUEN MUN, MR S.K. KWEI, AND MR K.K. CHEUNG, MANAGER OF THE COMPANY.
MR KWEI SAID THAT WORK ON THE CONTRACT INVOLVED THE WIDENING OF A SECTION OF CASTLE PEAK ROAD FROM THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICE BUILDING TO PUI TO ROAD INTO A DUAL TWO-LANE CARRIAGEWAY. AT THE SAME TIME, AN ELEVATED INTERCHANGE WOULD BE CONSTRUCTED TO REPLACE THE EXISTING ROUNDABOUT AT THE JUNCTION OF TUEN MUN ROAD AND PUI TO ROAD.
+THE PROJECT WILL ALSO INCLUDE THE EXTENSION OF AN EXISTING FOOTBRIDGE OVER CASTLEPEAK ROAD AND THE PROVISION OF ROOF COVERS FOR THREE EXISTING FOOTBRIDGES OVER TUEN MUN ROAD, TOGETHER WITH ANCILLARY DRAINAGE WORK.+ MR KWEI ADDED.
DURING THE CONSTRUCTION PERIOD, EXPECTED TO START NEXT WEEK AND LAST FOR ABOUT 22 MONTHS, COMPREHENSIVE TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED TO REGULATE TRAFFIC FLOW AND MAINTAIN ACCESS TO EXISTING DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CENTRAL PARTS OF TUEN MUN.
+THE PROJECT WILL CATER FOR INCREASED TRAFFIC VOLUMES ON CASTLE PEAK ROAD AND AT THE JUNCTION OF TUEN MUN ROAD AND PUI TO ROAD AND WILL COMPLETE THE NECESSARY VEHICULAR LINKS BETWEEN CASTLE PEAK ROAD, TUEN MUN ROAD AND HEUNG SZE WUI ROAD,+ MR KWEI SAID.
MEANWHILE, THE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO INVITING TENDERS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW ROAD NORTH OF TUEN MUN CLINIC TO LINK UP THE EXISTING SECTION OF HEUNG SZE WUI ROAD WITH THE SECTION TO BE CONSTRUCTED VIA A NEW FLYOVER AND FOOTBRIDGE OVER CASTLE PEAK ROAD, AND FOR THE WIDENING OF ANOTHER SECTION OF CASTLE PEAK ROAD FROM A DUAL TWO-LANE TO A DUAL THREE-LANE CARRIAGEWAY.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1983
6
TWO TUEN MUN SITES SOLD FOR DEVELOPMENT * * * *
THE LANDS DEPARTMENT TODAY (WEDNESDAY) ANNOUNCED THE AWARD OF TWO TENDERS TO ENTERTAINMENT CITY LIMITED AND GOOD IMPRESS LTD. FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TWO SITES IN TUEN MUN NEW TOWN.
ONE SITE, MEASURING 2.44 HECTARES AND LOCATED AT A FOCAL POINT IN THE FUTURE TOWN CENTRE, IS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MAJOR COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL COMPLEX, WHILE THE OTHER SITE, MEASURING 18 640 SQUARE METRES AND SITUATED JUST NORTH OF TUEN MUN SAN HUI, IS TO BE DEVELOPED UNDER THE PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME.
THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT LANDS OFFICER, MR RON CROSS, SAID THAT ENTERTAINMENT CITY LIMITED, A SUBSIDIARY OF FAR EAST ORGANISATION (SINGAPORE) AND SINO LAND, HAD PAID A PREMIUM OF $31.98 MILLION FOR THE 2.44-HECTARE SITE.
THE DEVELOPER IS REQUIRED, UNDER THE DEVELOPMENT CONDITIONS, TO CONSTRUCT A FIVE-LEVEL PODIUM INCLUDING SHOPS, A DEPARTMENT STORE, A MARKET, A GARDEN RESTAURANT TOGETHER WITH A PRIVATELY-RUN PUBLIC CAR PARK FOR 1 200 TO 1 650 VEHICLES.
+0N THE COMMERCIAL PODIUM, THREE CRUCIFORM-STYLE RESIDENTIAL TOWERS CONTAINING A MAXIMUM OF 1 398 FLATS WILL BE BUILT.
+THE SCHEME ALSO INCLUDES EXTENSIVE AREAS OF LANDSCAPING AND RECREATIONAL USES AT PODIUM AND GROUND LEVEL,+ MR CROSS SAID.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SITE, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN 56 MONTHS AT A MINIMUM COST OF $250 MILLION, WILL BE CONNECTED WITH OTHER TOWN CENTRE DEVELOPMENTS NOW AT VARIOUS STAGES OF CONSTRUCTION AT PODIUM LEVEL TO PROVIDE PEDESTRIANS WITH TRAFFIC-FREE ACCESS THROUGHOUT THE AREA.
TURNING TO THE TUEN MUN SAN HUI SITE, WHICH WAS SOLD TO GOOD IMPRESS LTD. FOR $63 MILLION, MR CROSS SAID THAT THE COMPANY, A SUBSIDIARY OF GOOD YEAR ESTATES LTD. WAS REQUIRED TO PROVIDE 1 450 TO 1 550 FLATS RANGING IN SIZE FROM 34 SQUARE METRES TO 47 SQUARE METRES IN A PEACEFUL AND ENJOYABLE LIVING ENVIRONMENT IN THE RESIDENTIAL AREA.
+THE LEASE CONDITIONS ALSO REQUIRE THE PROVISION OF NOT LESS THAN 10 000 SQUARE METRES OF LANDSCAPED OPEN SPACES AND CHILDREN’S PLAYING AREAS, CAR PARKING FACILITIES AND ANCILLARY USES SUCH AS NURSERY, KINDERGARTEN, MEDICAL CLINICS AND A NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE UNIT,+ MR CROSS SAID.
THE DEVELOPER HAD PROPOSED BUILDING FIVE RESIDENTIAL TOWERS OF 30 STOREYS EACH WITH 10 FLATS ON EACH FLOOR. A TWO-STOREY COMMERCIAL COMPLEX WILL ALSO BE CONSTRUCTED TO THE WEST OF THE RESIDENTIAL TOWERS AND A MULTI-STOREY CAR PARK FOR RESIDENTS WILL BE LOCATED AT THE NORTHERN CORNER OF THE SITE.
IT IS EXPECTED THAT THIS DEVELOPMENT WOULD PROVIDE HOUSING FOR ABOUT 6 200 PEOPLE WHEN IT IS COMPLETED IN ABOUT 28 MONTHS’ TIME.
------o-------
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1983
- 7 -
SURVEY OF RETAIL SALES FOR DECEMBER 1982 ******
THE VALUE OF RETAIL SALES FOR THE RETAIL TRADE SECTOR IN DECEMBER 1982 WAS ESTIMATED TO BE $4 734 MILLION, ACCORDING TO THE PROVISIONAL SURVEY RESULTS.
AT 139, THE OVERALL RETAIL SALES VALUE INDEX FOR DECEMBER 1982 ROSE BY SEVEN POINTS OR FIVE PER CENT WHEN COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1982, AND BY TWO POINTS OR ONE PER CENT WHEN COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1981.
THE OVERALL RETAIL SALES VOLUME INDEX FOR DECEMBER 1982, AT 111, WAS FIVE POINTS OR FIVE PER CENT HIGHER THAN THAT FOR NOVEMBER 1982, BUT IT WAS EIGHT POINTS OR SEVEN PER CENT LOWER THAN THAT FOR DECEMBER 1981.
COMPARED WITH NOVEMBER 1982, THE RETAIL SALES FOR MOST MAJOR TRADE GROUPS AND SELECTED TRADES INCREASED IN BOTH VALUE AND VOLUME TERMS.
THE MOST SIGNIFICANT INCREASE WAS FOUND IN DEPARTMENT STORES WHERE THE RETAIL SALES INCREASED BY 30 PER CENT IN VALUE TERMS AND 28 PER CENT IN VOLUME TERMS.
RETAIL SALES OF SUPERMARKETS INCREASED BY 12 PER CENT IN BOTH VALUE AND VOLUME TERMS AND THOSE OF CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND ALLIED PRODUCTS INCREASED BY NINE PER CENT IN VALUE TERMS AND 12
CENT IN VOLUME TERMS.
PER
THE VOLUME OF RETAIL SALES OF FOODSTUFFS, ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO, CONSUMER GOODS, AND FUELS ALSO INCREASED BY NINE PER CENT, FIVE PER CENT AND FOUR PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
ON THE OTHER HAND, RETAIL SALES OF MOTOR VEHICLES DECREASED BY 11 PER CENT IN VALUE TERMS AND 13 PER CENT IN VOLUME TERMS.
/the cobrespondihg
•ffSnURS'DAY, MARCH 2, 1983
8
THE CORRESPONDING DECREASES FOR CONSUMER DURABLES WERE TWO PER CENT AND ONE PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
COMPARED WITH DECEMBER 1981, RETAIL SALES OF SUPERMARKETS INCREASED BY 19 PER CENT IN VALUE TERMS AND EIGHT PER CENT IN VOLUME TERMS WHILE THOSE OF DEPARTMENT STORES INCREASED BY 12 PER CENT AND FOUR PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
THE VOLUME OF RETAIL SALES FOR THE OTHER MAJOR TRADE GROUPS AND SELECTED TRADES RECORDED DECREASES.
MOTOR VEHICLES SHOWED THE LARGEST REDUCTION OF 58 PER CENT IN VOLUME TERMS, FOLLOWED BY CONSUMER DURABLES OF 18 PER CENT. THE RESPECTIVE DECREASES IN THE VOLUME OF RETAIL SALES OF CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND ALLIED PRODUCTS, AND FUELS WERE EIGHT PER CENT AND FIVE PER CENT.
TWO STATISTICAL (ATTACHED) PRESENT THE REVISED FIGURES FOR NOVEMBER AND THE PROVISIONAL FIGURES FOR DECEMBER 1982 OF TOTAL RETAIL SALES, AND OF RETAIL SALES VALUE AND VOLUME INDEXES BY SELECTED TRADES AND MAJOR TRADE GROUPS.
THE AVERAGE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES IN 1980 ARE TAKEN AS 100.
COMPARISONS OF THE DECEMBER RESULTS WITH THOSE OF THE PRECEDING MONTH AND OF THE CORRESPONDING MONTH IN 1981 ARE ALSO GIVEN.
ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SURVEY RESULTS MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, TEL. NO. 3-7216024.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1983
- 9 -
Table 1 : Value indexes of retail sales for
November and December 1g82________
(Monthly average of 1980 » 100)
December 19&2 December 1^82
November December compared with compared with
Item 1932 1962 November 1?82 Points December 1$8l
Total retail sales (Revised figures) (Provisional figures) Points
(HKi million) Retail sales value indexes : 4 w 4 7^,
(I) for all retail
trades (II) by major trade Foods tuns, alcoholic drinks •134 13? ♦ 7 + 5 * 2 * 1
and tobacco 142 *12 *9 *10 * G
1 uels Clothingt footwear 15> * C *4 * 6 +
aiiw. allied products 133 17c *14 * 9 ~ L
Consumer goods 150 144 4 a> 4 c. ^7 * D
Consumer durables 10$, 107 - £ -2 -1o -14
(Ui) by selected trades
ho tor vehicles - 7 -11
Depart!, ent stores -X VI ' 1 *• r~ — +40 430 *1o *12
Supermarkets 167 187 ♦ r» 0 4 —X D ♦30 *19
t * / '10
MARCH 2, 1983
- 10 -
Table 2 : Volume indexes of retail sales for Boveaber and Deceaber 1?32
(Monthly average of 1930 • 100)
Item Moveaber 1982 December 1982 December 19^2 coopered with November 1982 December 19&2 coopered with December 1981
Batail sales toIbss isdsxss t (X) f*r *11 ntail (Beviced figures) (Provisional figures) PoiitB Points
(II) trades for aajor trade groups Foodstuffs* alcoholic drinks 106 111 ♦ 5 ♦ 5 - 8 - 7
and tobacco 98 107 ♦ 9 ♦ 9 - 4 - 4
Fuels Clothing* footwear and 116 121 ♦ 5 ♦ 4 - 7 - 5
allied products 118 132 ♦ 14 ♦ 12 - 12 . 8
Consuaer goods 111 117 ♦ 6 ♦ 5 - 3 - 3
(III) Consuaer durables by selected trades 95 94 - 1 - 1 - 20 - 18
Motor vehicles 47 41 - 6 -13 - 56 - 58
Department stores 109 140 ♦ 31 ♦ 28 ♦ 5 ♦ 4
Supermarkets 128 143 ♦ 15 ♦ 12 ♦ 10 ♦ 8
-----0------
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1983
- 11 -
PUBLIC URGED TO DEMONSTRATE INTEREST IN UC ELECTIONS
* * * *
THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG MUST WAKE UP AND VISIBLY DEMONSTRATE THEIR INTEREST IN THOSE THEY CHOOSE TO REPRESENT THEM ON THE URBAN COUNCIL WHICH EXERCISES SO MUCH INFLUENCE OVER THE COMMUNITY’S DAILY LIFE.
THIS WAS THE MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, TO THE 568 537 REGISTERED VOTERS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN THE URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS ON MARCH 8.
ADDRESSING A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE LIONS CLUB OF BAYVIEW TODAY (WEDNESDAY), MR AKERS-JONES SAID THE COUNCIL, AND THE URBAN SERVICES IT COMMANDS, EXERCISE SO MUCH INFLUENCE OVER OUR DAILY LIVES AND.ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SO MUCH WE ADMIRE OR DISLIKE IN OUR COMMUNITY +THAT AS A PEOPLE WE NEED TO WAKE UP AND TAKE MORE INTEREST IN THE PEOPLE WE CHOOSE TO REPRESENT US*.
AFTER ALL, HE SAID, THE COUNCIL AND USD SPEND A BILLION DOLLARS OF OUR MONEY EVERY YEAR.
IN PREVIOUS YEARS, HE NOTED, INTEREST AND SUPPORT FOR URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS HAD BEEN DISAPPOINTING AND VARIOUS REASONS HAD BEEN ADVANCED, INCLUDING THAT THE ELECTORATE WAS TOO SMALL AND THE COUNCIL TOO REMOTE. IT HAD ALSO BEEN ASKED WHAT PEOPLE COULD DO TO CHANGE THE SYSTEM OR MAKE IMPROVEMENTS.
THE LAST TEN YEARS HAD CHANGED ALL THIS, HE SAID, ADDING THAT NOW WAS THE TIME FOR EVERYONE WITH THE RIGHT TO VOTE TO SHOW HIS SUPPORT FOR THE CANDIDATE OF HIS CHOICE AND THE WORK OF THE COUNCIL.
EXERCISING THE RIGHT TO VOTE IS SO MUCH MORE THAN A VOTE FOR THE CANDIDATE OF YOUR CHOICE, SAID MR AKERS-JONES.
+IT IS A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN THE SYSTEM, A VOTE OF SUPPORT, A VOTE OF THANKS AND A VOTE OF ENCOURAGEMENT.*
MOREOVER, HE ADDED, THE COUNCILLORS ELECTED THIS TIME WILL ADD A FURTHER DEGREE OF REFINEMENT AND INTEREST TO THE WORK OF THE COUNCIL BECAUSE EACH COUNCILLOR WILL BRING TO THE COUNCIL SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY, KNOWLEDGE AND CONCERN FOR HIS OWN CONSTITUENCY AND DISTRICT. THIS MEANS THAT SHAU KEI WAN WILL SPEAK FOR AND BE ANSWERABLE TO SHAU KEI WAN, AND SHAM SHU I PO FOR SHAM SHU I PO.
THE URBAN COUNCIL IS BEHIND IT ALL, MR AKERS-JONES SAID, FROM SPACE MUSEUM TO STREET SWEEPING.
THE ’BIG BROOM’ OF THE COUNCIL, FOR INSTANCE, SWEPT CENTRAL DISTRICT FOUR TIMES A DAY AND TWICE THAT MANY TIMES IN CROWDED PLACES. EDINBURGH PLACE Ai ONE WAS SWEPT EIGHT TIMES A DAY, WHICH WAS UNMATCHED |N PLACES LIKE LONDON OR NEW YORK.
WBDNSSDAY, MA3CH 2, 1%3
12 -
THERE HAD ALSO BEEN A PERCEPTIBLE CHANGE IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF OUR CITY, HE SAID. FROM THE NEGLECTED, UNINTERESTING, GREY AND SHABBY STREETS OF THE PAST, TREES NOW LINE THE ROADS AND SHRUBS AND PLANTS DECORATE THE WASTE AND EMPTY SPACES - THANKS TO THE URBAN COUNCIL IN ITS ROLE AS +FA WONG* (GARDENER).
AND AS CITY MANAGER, THE URBAN COUNCIL WAS THERE BUILDING MARKETS, CLEARING OBSTRUCTIONS, HOLDING THE LINE BETWEEN FAIR COMPETITION AND ANTI-SOCIAL INVASION OF THE 31 OOO HAWKERS WHO THRUST THEIR WAY ONTO PAVEMENTS SELLING WHAT THEY WILL, WHERE THEY WILL.
THE COUNCIL ALSO PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN PROTECTING THE COMMUNITY’S HEALTH THROUGH LICENSING AND INSPECTING SOME 3 400 RESTAURANTS AND 1 300 COOKED FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS.
REFERRING TO THE COUNCIL’S EFFORTS IN RECREATION, ENTERTAINMENT AND LEISURE, MR AKERS-JONES NOTED THAT FOR THE QUIET AND THOUGHTFUL THERE WERE LIBRARIES THROUGHOUT THE CITY. FOR THOSE BURSTING WITH ENERGY THERE WERE 1 300 SPORTING AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, BASKETBALL COURTS, MINI-SOCCER PITCHES, TENNIS COURTS, VOLLEY BALL, SOCCER PITCHES, ROLLER SKATING RINKS AND INDOOR GAMES HALLS.
AND THERE WERE MORE TO COME.
+WITH 66 SWIMMING POOLS,+ HE SAID, +WE HAVE MORE SWIMMING POOLS THAN ANY CITY l-N THE WORLD. +
HE ALSO CITED THE QUEEN ELIZABETH STADIUM WHICH HAD GROWN FROM AN ORIGINAL IDEA AS A BUILDING TO PLAY PING PONG TO A MAJOR VENUE FOR SPORT EVENTS AS WELL AS MUSIC, BALLET AND ENTERTAINMENT. IN ADDITION, THE COLISEUM AT HUNG HOM WOULD OPEN IN APRIL WITH SEATS FOR 12 500 PEOPLE TO WATCH MASS SPECTACLES, SKATING, VARIETY SHOWS AND CONCERTS.
MR AKERS-JONES SAID THAT WHEREAS CULTURAL EVENTS IN THE SIXTIES WERE LOOKED FORWARD TO AND TALKED ABOUT AFTERWARDS, WE COULD NOW PICK AND CHOOSE AT ANY TIME OF THE YEAR AND ANY DAY OF THE WEEK.
HONG KONG NOW HAD ITS OWN WESTERN ORCHESTRA, CHINESE ORCHESTRA, BALLET TROUPE AND DRAMA COMPANY TAKING ARTISTIC LIFE TO THE PEOPLE IN DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. IN PARTICULAR, THE FESTIVAL OF ASIAN ARTS BRINGS A COLOURFUL STRAND OF DANCE MUSIC AND DRAMA FROM ALL OVER ASIA TO ENRICH AND INFLUENCE OUR LIVES.
MR AKERS-JONES SAID THE RISING LEVEL OF CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND THE HEAVY DEMAND ON EXISTING FACILITIES HAD STIRRED THE COUNCIL TO PLAN DISTRICT AND REGIONAL CULTURAL CENTRES TO PROVIDE IN EACH DISTRICT, AUDITORIUM, EXHIBITION HALLS, ROOMS FOR CONFERENCES, MUSICAL PRACTICE AND REHEARSALS.
+ALL THESE MANY AND VARIED MATTERS ARE DECIDED, ORGANISED AND ARRANGED BY THE COUNCILLORS WORKING MANY HOURS IN COMMITTEE ON YOUR BEHALF,+ MR AKERS-JONES SAID, APPEALING TO VOTERS TO DO THEIR PART BY CASTING THEIR BALLOT FOR THE CANDIDATE OF THEIR CHOICE ON POLLING DAY.
- 0---------
/13.........
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1983
- 13 -
IMPORTANCE OF CHILD CARE CENTRES STRESSED *****
wITH MORE WORKING MOTHERS AND NUCLEAR FAMILIES, THERE IS NOW A GREATER NEED IN HONG KONG FOR CHILD CARE CENTRES.
THIS WAS STATED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE NEW DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR JOHN CHAMBERS, AT THE RE-NAMING CEREMONY OF THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS LO WONG PIK SHAN DAY NURSERY AT Ol MAN ESTATE.
HE SAID CHILD CARE CENTRES WERE IMPORTANT NOT ONLY BECAUSE THEY PROVIDED A PLACE TO LOOK AFTER CHILDREN WHILE THEIR PARENTS WERE AT WORK, BUT ALSO BECAUSE THEY CONTRIBUTED TOWARDS THE PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF VERY YOUNG CHILDREN.
TO ENSURE THAT ALL THESE CENTRES FULFIL THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS AND PROVIDE A SATISFACTORY SERVICE, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT MAINTAINS AN INSPECTORATE TO ADVISE OPERATORS OF THE CENTRES.
THERE ARE NOW 222 REGISTERED CHILD CARE CENTRES, PROVIDING ABOUT 33 OOO PLACES.
MR CHAMBERS SAID THE FEE ASSISTANCE SCHEME, INTRODUCED LAST SEPTEMBER, HAD ENABLED MORE NEEDY FAMILIES TO MAKE USE OF THE CHILD CARE SERVICE AND SO FAR OVER 10 000 FAMILIES HAD BENEFITED.
THE FORMER 01 MAN DAY NURSERY, CATERING FOR 140 CHILDREN, HAS BEEN RE-NAMED FOLLOWING A GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION BY MR LO KAM-WING TO HONOUR HIS LATE GRANDMOTHER.
ONE SPECIAL FEATURE OF THE NURSERY, MR CHAMBERS SAID, WAS THAT IT INTEGRATED A SMALL NUMBER OF MILDLY DISABLED CHILDREN WITH THE NORMAL ONES.
+THIS HELPS TO STIMULATE THE DISABLED CHILDREN BY THEIR CONTACT WITH THEIR NORMAL COUNTERPARTS, WHICH ACCELERATES THE FORMER’S GROWTH AND ADJUSTMENT,+ HE ADDED.
THE TUNG WAH GROUP HAS RECENTLY DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF PLACES FOR DISABLED CHILDREN FROM SIX TO 12.
----o------
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1983
- 14 -
LATEST EDITION OF BEST-SELLING YEARBOOK ON SALE TOMORROW ******
THE OFFICIAL YEARBOOK, HONG KONG 1983, GIVING COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF ALL THE SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE TERRITORY DURING THE PAST YEAR, GOES ON SALE TOMORROW (THURSDAY).
AS WELL AS THOUSANDS OF FACTS, FIGURES AND STATISTICS, THIS LATEST EDITION CONTAINS 100 COLOUR PHOTOGRAPHS, AND A RECORD NUMBER OF PAGES.
PRICED AT 130 A COPY, THE YEARBOOK IS AVAILABLE IN CHINESE AND ENGLISH EDITIONS FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, G.P.O. BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL. WITHIN A FEW DAYS, SUPPLIES WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE THROUGH DISTRICT OFFICES AND LEADING BOOKSTORES.
THE COMBINED PRINT RUN FOR BOTH EDITIONS IS 46 000 IN ORDER TO SATISFY THE CONTINUING PUBLIC DEMAND WHICH MAKES THE BOOK A BEST SELLER FOR VIRTUALLY THE ENTIRE YEAR.
♦WITH STATISTICS AND COVERAGE WHICH MONITOR EVENTS UP TO AND INCLUDING THE END OF 1982, THE BOOK PROVIDES A COMPREHENSIVE RECORD OF VALUE TO ALL CLASSES OF PEOPLE, RANGING FROM BUSINESSMEN TO STUDENTS,+ A GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY.
♦AS AN INDISPENSABLE SOURCE OF INFORMATION ON HONG KONG, THE BOOK IS EQUALLY POPULAR WITH LOCAL RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS; COPIES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE OVERSEAS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE AN INTEREST IN HONG KONG.+
THE OPENING CHAPTER OF HONG KONG 1983 PRESENTS A PERSONAL VIEW OF THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF HONG KONG BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR JOHN GRIFFITHS. OTHER CHAPTERS CHRONICLE EVENTS AND GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES IN HONG KONG COVERING SUCH IMPORTANT SUBJECTS AS TRADE, THE FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC SITUATION, EMPLOYMENT, IMMIGRATION, EDUCATION, HOUSING, SOCIAL WELFARE, RECREATION AND THE ARTS, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC ORDER.
TOPICS COVERED BY THE COLOUR SECTIONS THIS YEAR INCLUDE A FASCINATING COMPARISON OF HISTORICAL AND CONTEMPORARY VIEWS OF HONG KONG, THE MAJOR EVENTS OF THE YEAR, ENERGY, TRANSPORT, SHA TIN NEW TOWN AND HONG KONG’S BLEND OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.
HONG KONG 1983 WAS PRODUCED IN ENGLISH BY THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES, TRANSLATED BY THE CHINESE LANGUAGE DIVISION OF THE HOME AFFAIRS BRANCH, AND PRINTED BY THE GOVERNMENT PRINTER.
/15 .......
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1983
- 15 -
MANPOWER SURVEY FOR ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY * * * * *
THE ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL WILL CONDUCT A MANPOWER SURVEY OF THE INDUSTRY FROM MARCH 15 TO 21 TO COLLECT UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON TRAINING REQUIREMENTS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COUNCIL ANNOUNCED TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THE LAST SUCH SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED TWO YEARS AGO AND THE NUMBER OF ESTABLISHMENTS HAS GROWN SLIGHTLY FROM 4 400 TO 4 500 AT PRESENT.
UNDER THE SURVEY, ESTABLISHMENTS WITHIN THE INDUSTRY WILL BE DIVIDED INTO TWO BRANCHES.
MANUFACTURERS OF ELECTRICAL AND ASSOCIATED PRODUCTS WILL FALL WITHIN THE FIRST BRANCH. THEY WILL INCLUDE MANUFACTURERS OF ELECTRICAL INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY AND APPARATUS, ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND HOUSEWARE, DRY BATTERIES AND TORCH BULBS ETC.
ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS RECORDED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT WILL FALL WITHIN THE SECOND BRANCH AND WILL COVER THOSE IN THE ELECTRICAL WIRING AND FITTING BUSINESS; LIFT AND ESCALATOR INSTALLATION; AIR-CONDITIONING AND VENTILATION SYSTEM INSTALLATION; FIRE ALARM AND FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT INSTALLATION ETC.
PUBLIC ELECTRICAL UTILITY COMPANIES, ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL CONSULTING ENGINEERING COMPANIES AND MAJOR ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS TRADING COMPANIES WILL ALSO COME WITHIN THIS BRANCH.
QUESTIONNAIRES AND EXPLANATORY DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN SENT OUT TO A STRATIFIED RANDOM SAMPLE OF ESTABLISHMENTS.
INFORMATION REQUIRED WILL INCLUDE THE NUMBER OF WORKERS EMPLOYED, THE NUMBER UNDER TRAINING, THE EXISTING VACANCIES AND A FORECAST OF WORKERS IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.
THE INFORMATION COLLECTED WILL BE HANDLED IN STRICT CONFIDENCE AND PUBLISHED ONLY IN THE FORM OF STATISTICAL SUMMARIES WITHOUT REFERENCE TO ANY INDIVIDUAL ESTABLISHMENT, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
--------0 ---------
BURMESE OFFICIALS VISIT DRUG ADDICT TREATMENT CENTRE
* * *
A GROUP OF NINE BURMESE OFFICIALS VISITED THE HEI LING CHAU DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRE TODAY (WEDNESDAY) TO LOOK OVER THE COMPULSORY PLACEMENT PROGRAMME FOR DRUG DEPENDANTS.
HEADED BY THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF BURMA’S SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, MR SOE THEIN, THE OFFICIALS WERE ACCOMPANIED ON THE VISIT BY THE SENIOR SUPER INTENDENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, bfi FRANCIS ONG.
/TH3Y .......
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2,
- 16 -
THEY TOURED THE CENTRE’S VARIOUS FACILITIES INCLUDING THE DORMITORY, HOSPITAL AND WORKSHOPS AND SAW A COMPREHENSIVE TREATMENT PROGRAMME FOR DRUG ADDICTS.
EARLIER THEY MET AND HAD TALKS WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR T.G. GARNER, ON HONG KONG’S VARIOUS CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMMES.
THE VISITORS ARE IN HONG KONG FOR A FIVE-DAY STUDY TOUR ARRANGED BY THE UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME.
THEY ARE UNDERTAKING THE TOUR UNDER THE SPONSORSHIP OF THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION.
-----0------
TUEN MUN DB MEMBERS TO VISIT JAPAN
* * * K
THIRTEEN TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WILL LEAVE FOR JAPAN ON FRIDAY (MARCH 4) FOR AN EIGHT-DAY VISIT TO STUDY THE COUNTRY’S POLICY ON NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT WORK, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND THE PROMOTION OF TOURISM.
THE PARTY WILL ALSO VISIT SOME FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL ZONES IN OSAKA.
ORGANISED BY THE DI STR ICT OFF ICE, THE VISIT IS TO BROADEN THE MEMBERS’ OUTLOOK ON NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT AND TO ENRICH THEIR KNOWLEDGE ON DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION.
THE PARTY, HEADED BY DISTRICT OFFICER, MR BILLY LAM, WILL INCLUDE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS LAU WONG-FAT, LAU CHI-YUEN, CHEUNG KAM-HUNG, TANG TUNG-CHIU, YIP HING-CHUNG, NG CHEUK-TAI, CHAN WU-CHING AND TSO SHIU-WAI.
OFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL INCLUDE DISTRICT LAND OFFICER, M? R.B.J. CROSS; ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (NORTH REGION), N.T. SERVICES DEPARTMENT, MR BOWEN LEUNG; CHIEF TOWN PLANNER, MR RICHARD CHENG; AND SENIOR LIAISON OFFICER, MR EDWARD TANG.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR BILLY LAM, WILL GIVE A BRIEFING ON THE BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE OF THE TRIP AT A PRESS CONFERENCE AT 10 AM ON FRIDAY AT THE KAI TAK AIRPORT PRESS ROOM.
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND.
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1983
- 17 -
OPENING OF AIRPORT WESTERN MULTI-STOREY CAR PARK
X * *
THE WESTERN PORTION OF KAI TAK AIRPORT’S MULTI-STOREY CAR PARK WITH OVER 400 PARKING SPACES WILL BE OPENED FOR PUBLIC USE TOMORROW (THURSDAY).
INTEGRATED INTO ONE COMPLEX WITH THE EXISTING EASTERN HALF, THE CAR PARK CAN NOW ACCOMMODATE UP TO NEARLY 900 VEHICLES.
FOUR LARGE LIFTS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED FOR THE MOVEMENT OF PASSENGERS AND THEIR BAGGAGE FROM THE CAR PARK TO THE DEPARTURE HALL OR THE GREETING AREA.
THE MULTI-STOREY CAR PARK WILL BE OPEN 24 HOURS WHILE THE OPEN AIR CAR PARK WILL OPERATE FROM 12 NOON TO 8 PM DAILY TO MEET PEAK HOUR TRAFFIC NEEDS.
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SHA TIN RACE COURSE TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS
* * X *
TAXIS WILL HAVE TO TAKE A NEW ROUTE WHEN ENTERING THE SHA TIN RACE COURSE FROM 10. AM ON SATURDAY (MARCH 5) TO FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PUBLIC GRANDSTAND.
UNDER THE NEW ARRANGEMENT, TAXIS FROM KOWLOON WILL HAVE TO ENTER THE RACE COURSE VIA THE FLYOVER AT TAI PO ROAD SOUTH OF THE FO TAN RAILWAY DEPOT, WHILE THOSE FROM TAI PO WILL ENTER VIA THE SLIP ROAD OFF TAI PO ROAD NEAR THE ABOVE-MENTIONED FLYOVER.
THIS ARRANGEMENT WILL LAST FOR ABOUT 18 MONTHS, COVERING ABOUT 39 RACE DAYS.
THE EXISTING ENTRY ARRANGEMENT FOR FRANCHISED BUSES, PUBLIC OMNIBUSES, PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES AND PRIVATE CARS WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED.
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TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT IN WAN CHAI
X X X
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENT WILL BE INTRODUCED IN WAN CHAI TO FACILITATE RESURFACING WORK ON A SECTION OF FLEMING ROAD.
FROM 9 AM TO 4 PM ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY (MARCH 4 AND 5), FLEMING ROAD BETWEEN LOCKHART ROAD AND JAFFE ROAD WILL BE CLOSED AT GROUND LEVEL.
AT THE SAME TIME, JAFFE ROAD BETWEEN O’BRIEN ROAD AND FLEMING ROAD WILL TEMPORARILY BE RE-ROUTED ONE WAY EASTBOUND.
FROM 9 AM TO 4 PM ON TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY (MARCH 8, 9 AND 10), FLEMING ROAD AT GROUND LEVEL BETWEEN JAFFE ROAD AND GLOUCESTER ROAD WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC.
DURING THE CLOSURE, JAFFE ROAD BETWEEN FLEMING ROAD AND STEWART ROAD WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE WAY WESTBOUND.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
THURSDAY, MARCH 3i 19&3
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GOVERNOR MEETS COMMUNITY LEADERS .............................. 1
SIR EDWARD TO OPEN NEW COMMUNITY CENTRE IN YAU MA TEI....... 1
COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR UC ELECTIONS PUBLICITY .................. 2
POLL CARDS ISSUED TO URBCO VOTERS ............................. 2
FORUM AND VARIETY SHOW FOR CENTRAL AND WESTERN VOTERS....... 3
FORUMS FOR UC ELECTION CANDIDATES........................... 3
MORE CAREERS CONVENTIONS TO BE HELD............................ 4
SCHOOL TEXTBOOK ASSISTANCE SCHEME............................ 4
CBF PRAISES FIRE SERVICES...................................... 5
SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT TO HOLD CHILDREN’S PARTY................... 6
TENDERS FOR TENANCY OF TWO YUEN LONG SITES .................... 6
TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BOARD TO MEET TOMORROW...................... 7
NEW TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR SPO .................................. 7
INSURANCE FIRM’S AUTHORISATION REVOKED......................... 8
TRADE TEST GUIDELINES FOR PRINCIPAL JOBS IN CLOTHING INDUSTRY ...................................................... 8
URBAN CLEARWAY RESTRICTION AT KING HONG STREET ................ 9
PARTIAL CLOSURE OF SAIGON STREET TO CONTINUE....................9
WATER CUT IN NORTH POINT
9
THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 1983
1
GOVERNOR MEETS COMMUNITY LEADERS * * *
THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, AND LADY YOUDE, TODAY MET MORE THAN 1 OOO PEOPLE FROM A WIDE CROSS SECTION OF THE COMMUNITY AT A SPRING RECEPTION HOSTED BY THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION.
ADDRESSING THE GUESTS IN PUTONGHUA, THE GOVERNOR SAID ALTHOUGH HE HAD BEEN IN OFFICE FOR ONLY 10 MONTHS, HE APPRECIATED THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WERE CAPABLE OF ADAPTING TO SITUATIONS IN A SPIRIT OF DILIGENCE, DETERMINATION AND COOPERATIVENESS.
♦I HOPE THAT THE PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK HARD FOR A MORE PROSPEROUS AND BETTER SOCIETY,* HE SAID.
GUESTS ATTENDING THE RECEPTION INCLUDED MEMBERS OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK AND DISTRICT BOARDS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, AND PEOPLE FROM VARIOUS ASSOCIATIONS AND THE MEDIA CIRCLES.
THEY WERE GREETED BY THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, bfl DAVID AKERS-JONES, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR NEW TERRITORIES, MR IAN MACPHERSON, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR GRAHAM BARNES, AND OTHER OFFICIALS FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICES.
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NOTE TO ED ITORSi
SIR EDWARD TO OPEN NEW COMMUNITY CENTRE IN YAU MA TEI *****
TMF GOVERNOR SIR EDWARD YOUDE, WILL OPEN THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S NEW HENRY 6. LEONG YAU MA TEI COMMUNITY CENTRE TwSrROT (FRIDA?) AFTERNOON. he WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY LADY YOUDE.
AFTER THE CEREMONY, SIR EDWARD WILL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TOUR PART OF THE YAU MA TEI DISTRICT.
HE WILL BE BRIEFED ON LOCAL MATTERS AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS BY OFFICIALS FROM VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS.
tup nPGNING OPRFMONY WILL BEGIN AT 2.15 PM IN THE COMMUNITY CENTRE AT 60 PUBLIC SQUARE STREET (AT THE JUNCTION WITH SHANGHAI STREET). YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CEREMONY AND THE GOVERNOR’S SUBSEQUENT TOUR OF YAU MA TEI.
-----0------
THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 1983
2
COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR UC ELECTIONS PUBLICITY
* * * *
THE DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SERVICES, MR PETER TSAO, TODAY (THURSDAY) RECEIVED A CHEQUE FOR $50 000 FROM LOCAL PUBLISHER AND BUSINESSMAN, MR LAW BUN, IN SUPPORT OF THE URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN.
AT A PRESENTATION CEREMONY HELD IN THE GIS THEATRE THIS AFTERNOON, MR TSAO THANKED MR LAW FOR HIS GENEROUS SPONSORSHIP WHICH WILL HELP TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE COMING ELECTIONS ON MARCH 8, AND BOOST THE TURN-OUT RATE OF VOTERS ON THE DAY.
THE CEREMONY WAS ATTENDED BY REPRESENTATIVES OF VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND THE URBAN COUNCIL, ALL OF WHOM ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN PUBLICISING THE ELECTIONS.
MR LAW IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SUNKY GROUP OF COMPANIES, DIRECTOR OF ULFERTS SERVICE CO. LTD. AND PRESIDENT OF A LEADING CHINESE LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER IN HONG KONG.
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POLL CARDS ISSUED TO URBCO VOTERS X X K
ALL THE 568 537 VOTERS FOR TUESDAY’S (MARCH 8) URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A POLL CARD INFORMING THEM OF THE LOCATION OF THEIR POLLING STATIONS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION SAID TODAY.
ANY ELECTOR WHO HAS NOT YET RECEIVED OR MISLAID HIS POLL CARD CAN TELEPHONE THE REGISTRATION OFFICER AT 5-270380 OR 5-270369, QUOTING HIS HONG KONG IDENTITY CARD NUMBER, TO ENQUIRE ABOUT HIS POLLING STATION.
HE STRESSED THAT AN ELECTOR COULD ONLY VOTE IN THE CONSTITUENCY WHERE HE HAD REGISTERED AND AT THE POLLING STATION SPECIFIED ON THE POLL CARD.
+THE POLL CARD IS NOT ESSENTIAL FOR ENTRY INTO A POLLING STATION. BUT A VOTER MUST BRING WITH HIM HIS IDENTITY CARD,+ THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
VOTING WILL BEGIN FROM 7 AM TO 11 PM AT 134 POLLING STATIONS ON TUESDAY, MARCH 8.
THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 1983
5
FORUM AND VARIETY SHOW FOR CENTRAL AND WESTERN VOTERS *****
A FORUM AND A VARIETY SHOW WILL BE HELD THIS WEEKEND FOR THE 50 000 URBAN COUNCIL ELECTION VOTERS IN CENTRAL AND WESTERN.
CHAIRED BY A COLUMNIST, DR MARGARET NG, THE FORUM WILL BE FELD AT 11 AM ON SATURDAY (MARCH 5) AT THE URBAN COUNCIL CHAMBER IN EDINBURGH PLACE.
ON SUNDAY, A TWO-HOUR VARIETY SHOW, FEATURING DANCES, SINGING, MAGIC AND ACROBATIC SHOWS, WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE COMMUNITY HALL OF CARITAS CENTRE IN CENTRAL FROM 2.30 PM.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THE FORUM AT THE URBAN COUNCIL CHAMBER, 3RD FLOOR, EDINBURGH PLACE ON SATURDAY (MARCH 5) AT 11 AM.
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FORUMS FOR UC ELECTION CANDIDATES XXX
ALL THE SEVEN URBAN COUNCIL ELECTION CANDIDATES FROM KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT WILL PRESENT THEIR PLATFORMS IN TWO FORUMS TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AND ON SATURDAY (MARCH 5).
IN THE TWO-HOUR SESSIONS STARTING FROM 7.30 PM, CANDIDATES WILL ALSO ANSWER QUESTIONS. THERE ARE 41 812 REGISTERED VOTERS IN KOWLOON CITY EAST AND 39 018 IN THE KOWLOON CITY WEST CONSTITUENCIES.
THE FORUM FOR KOWLOON CITY WEST CANDIDATES, MR PETER C.K. CHAN, MR CHIU KIN-HONG, MR HO JUN-NIN AND MR TO WAI-KEUNG, WILL BE HELD IN PUI CHING MIDDLE SCHOOL AT 20 PUI CHING ROAD TOMORROW.
THE FORUM FOR KOWLOON CITY EAST CANDIDATES, MR TSIN SAI-NIN, MR PAO PING-WING AND MR CHIU FONG-KONG WILL TAKE PLACE IN C.C.C. NIM TSI COLLEGE AT 170 KAU PUI LUNG ROAD ON SATURDAY.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE FORUMS FOR KOWLOON CITY WEST CANDIDATES IN PUI CHING MIDDLE SCHOOL AT 20 PUI CHING ROAD TOMORROW (MARCH 4) AT 7.30 PM AND FOR KOWLOON CITY EAST CANDIDATES IN C.C.C. NIM TSI COLLEGE AT 170 KAU PUI LUNG ROAD ON SATURDAY (MARCH 5) AT 7.30 PM.
------ 0 - - ' - /4 ......
THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 1983
4
MORE CAREERS CONVENTIONS TO BE HELD XM K
THE LAST THREE OF A SERIES OF SIX REGIONAL CAREERS CONVENTIONS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE YOUTH EMPLOYMENT ADVISORY SERVICE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF CAREERS MASTERS FOR SECONDARY STUDENTS WILL BE HELD THIS MONTH.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (THURSDAY), A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT POINTED OUT THAT THE FIRST THREE CONVENTIONS HAD ATTRACTED MORE THAN 10 000 STUDENTS.
THE FOURTH CONVENTION WILL BE HELD AT THE CNEC CHRISTIAN COLLEGE. 6 LEI PUI STREET, KWAI CHUNG, NEW TERRITORIES, TOMORROW (FRIDAY); THE FIFTH AT YU CHUN KEUNG MEMORIAL COLLEGE, 1 CHI FU CLOSE, POKFULAM, NEXT MONDAY (MARCH 7) 5 AND THE SIXTH AT THE HONG KONG AND SZE YAP COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION WONG TAI SHAN MEMORIAL COLLEGE, 250 NAM CHEONG STREET, KOWLOON, NEXT FRIDAY
EACH CONVENTION, LASTING TWO DAYS, WILL COMPRISE A CAREERS DISPLAY STAGED BY STUDENTS OF PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS, A SERIES OF SPECIALIST TALKS AND SHOWING OF FILMS AND SLIDE SHOWS ON CAREERS.
THE TALKS WILL BE GIVEN BY REPRESENTATIVES FROM COMMERCE, INDUSTRY, SERVICE SECTOR, PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS, TRAINING INSTITUTES AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, AND THE TOPICS WILL INCLUDE HOTEL AND TOURISM, FURTHER STUDIES, BANKING, MASS COMMUNICATION, THE LEGAL PROFESSION AND ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING.
♦IT IS HOPED THAT BY ATTENDING THE CONVENTIONS, THE STUDENTS CAN FREELY CHOOSE THE TOPIC THAT FITS THEIR INTEREST AND BE ENCOURAGED TO EXPLORE THE WORLD OF WORK BY TAKING PART IN THE COLLECTION OF CAREERS INFORMATION FOR THE DISPLAY.
♦IN ORGANISING THE CONVENTIONS, CAREERS TEACHERS CAN ALSO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXCHANGE VIEWS AND INFORMATION AND UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT THE NEEDS OF THEIR STUDENTS,+ THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
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SCHOOL TEXTBOOK ASSISTANCE SCHEME
*****
GOVERNMENT AND AIDED SCHOOLS WILL ADOPT A NEW PROCEDURE TO ENSURE THAT PARENTS TAKING PART IN THE SCHOOL TEXTBOOKS ASSISTANCE SCHEME RECEIVE THE GRANTS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID THERE WERE INSTANCES WHERE SOME SCHOOLS HAD FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO PAY THE TEXTBOOK AND STATIONERY GRANTS TO SOME PARENTS OR GUARDIANS BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS IN BANK TRANSFER.
♦IN MANY CASES THE TRANSFER HAS BEEN REJECTED DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE BANK ACCOUNT NUMBERS SUBMITTED WERE INCORRECT OR THE ACCOUNTS HAVE BEEN CLOSED,* HE SAID.
,/TO OVERCOME.......
5
TO OVERCOME THIS DIFFICULTY, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS AUTHORISED SCHOOLS TO ISSUE CHEQUES TO EFFECT PAYMENT TO PARENTS OR GUARDIANS IF THE ORIGINAL BANK TRANSFER WAS REJECTED.
IN DOING SO, THE SCHOOLS MUST ADOPT THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURES:
- THE CHEQUES MUST BE DRAWN PAYABLE ONLY TO THE RESPECTIVE PARENTS/GUARDI ANS AS SHOWN IN THE APPLICATION FORMS;
- THE CHEQUES MUST BE CROSSED AND MARKED +A/C PAYEE ONLY* ;
- THE CHEQUE NUMBERS WILL BE ENTERED AGAINST THE RESPECTIVE REJECTS IN THE BANK’S REJECTION LIST ;
- A RECEIPT FORM TOGETHER WITH THE CHEQUE WILL BE HANDED TO THE PUPIL CONCERNED WITH INSTRUCTION TO HAND OVER THE CHEQUE TO HIS PARENT/GUARDI AN AND TO RETURN THE RECEIPT TO THE SCHOOL, DULY SIGNED BY HIS PARENT/GUARDI AN;
- THE SCHOOL WILL ENSURE ALL RECEIPTS ARE RETURNED, DULY SIGNED AND SIGNATURES ARE CHECKED TO BE IDENTICAL TO THAT IN THE APPLICATION FORM. IF NOT IDENTICAL, FRESH SIGNATURES MUST BE OBTAINED; AND,
- THE RECEIPTS, DULY CHECKED TO BE IN ORDER, AND THE BANK’S REJECTION LIST SHOULD BE PROPERLY FILED TOGETHER WITH ALL OTHER BANK TRANSFER RECEIPTS FOR AUDITING PURPOSES.
AS A RESULT OF THESE ARRANGEMENTS REQUIRING SCHOOLS CONCERNED TO DEAL WITH THE BANK REJECTS, THE DEADLINE DATE FOR REFUND OF UNPAID BALANCES TO THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE EXTENDED TO MARCH 31, 1983, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
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CBF PRAISES FIRE SERVICES * * *
THE COMMANDER BRITISH FORCES, MAJOR-GENERAL DEREK BOORMAN, TODAY COMMENDED THE FIRE SERVICES FOR ITS HIGH INTERNATIONAL RECORD OF SERVICE AT A PASSING-OUT PARADE OF FIRE OFFICERS AND MEN AT THE FIRE SERVICES TRAINING SCHOOL AT PAT HEUNG, NEW TERRITORIES.
HE TOLD THE GRADUATING FIREMEN WHICH COMPRISED ONE SQUAD OF STATION OFFICERS AND THREE SQUADS OF FIREMEN THAT THE PROFESSION THEY HAD CHOSEN WAS A DEMANDING ONE AND THAT IT WAS ONE WHERE THEY WOULD BE REQUIRED, ON OCCASIONS, TO JEOPARDISE THEIR LIVES AND LIMBS IN THE SERVICES OF OTHERS.
HE SAID: +SOME TIME OR OTHER IN THE FUTURE, YOU WILL TAKE A RISK ON BEHALF OF OTHER CITIZENS OF THE TERRITORY.
♦THERE COULD BE NO GREATER DEMAND PLACED UPON A PERSON AND THE RECORD OF THE HONG KONG FIRE SERVICES IN THIS RESPECT IS SECOND TO NONE,+ HE SAID.
AT THE PARADE MAJOR-GENERAL BOORMAN ALSO PRESENTED THE BEST RECRUIT AWARDS TO STATION OFFICER NG HO-FUNG AND FIREMAN SEE CHUNG-KI. HE LATER WATCHED A FIRS DRILL STAGED BY NEWLY GRADUATED FIREMEN.
- o -
/6
THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 1983
6
SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT TO HOLD CHILDREN’S PARTY *****
THE GOVERNMENT SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT WILL HOLD A PARTY FOR MORE THAN 1 500 CHILDREN OF ITS STAFF ON SUNDAY (MARCH 6) AT THE COMPOUND OF THE DEPARTMENT’S HEADQUARTERS IN OIL STREET, NORTH POINT.
THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT SUPPLIES, MR A.H. HSU WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY AT 1 PM.
THE PARTY WILL FEATURE A VARIETY OF GAMES INCLUDING A MERRY-GO-ROUND, CHILDREN’S TRAIN RIDES AND AIR-RIFLE SHOOTING.
THERE WILL ALSO BE A MAGIC AND ACROBATIC SHOW, AND A PUPPET SHOW. MUSIC FOR THE DAY WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE AUXILIARY MEDICAL SERVICE BAND AND THE CAPE COLLINSON PIPE BAND.
THE ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT SUPPLIES, MR TONG YUK-LUN WILL PRESENT PRIZES TO WINNERS OF A GAME STALLS COMPETITION.
THE PARTY WILL END WITH A LUCKY DRAW AT 5 PM.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE ANNUAL CHILDREN’S PARTY OF THE GOVERNMENT SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT, WHICH WILL BE HELD AT THE GSD COMPOUND, OIL STREET, NORTH POINT, FROM 1 PM TO 5 PM ON SUNDAY (MARCH 6).
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TENDERS FOR TENANCY OF TWO YUEN LONG SITES * * * *
THE LANDS DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE SHORT-TERM TENANCIES OF TWO SITES IN YUEN LONG.
THE FIRST SITE, COVERING ABOUT 1 819 SQUARE METRES AT FUNG CHEUNG ROAD, IS TO BE USED FOR FEE PAYING PUBLIC CAR PARK ONLY.
THE TENANCY FOR THIS SITE QUARTERLY THEREAFTER.
IS FOR TWO YEARS INITIALLY, AND
THE OTHER SITE IN FUNG KAM STREET IS FOR THE PURPOSE OF OPEN STORAGE OF BUILDING MATERIALS, CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLES. IT HAS AN AREA OF ABOUT 600 SQUARE METRES.
THE TENANCY FOR THIS SITE THEREAFTER QUARTERLY.
IS FOR ONE YEAR INITIALLY,
AND
/ATHK DErtDLxNE ••••••.
1HURSDAY, MARCH 3,
- 7 -
™ MAJ™ ?!ADL,NE F0R THE ACCEPTANCE OF BOTH TENDERS IS 12 NOON UN MARCH lo.
Aun niTEKBER F0RMS» notices and conditions may be obtained from. ctE INSPECTED at the lands department, survey division, i5IuncL^^?URRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG; THE DISTRICT ^Dt?u* CnA1K0WL00N WEST' KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 1OTH FLOOR AO5 NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON; AND THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, YUEN brNG district BRANCH OFFICE, CASTLE PEAK ROAD,
YUEN LONG, NEW TERRITORIES.
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TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BOARD TO MEET TOMORROW ******
THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF WEST TSI NG Yl INDUSTRIAL AREA WILL BE OUTLINED AT TOMORROW’S (FRIDAY) TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BOARD MEETING.
THE BRIEFING WILL BE GIVEN BY THE PROJECT MANAGER OF TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, MR T.S. NG, WHO WILLALSO TALK ON THE ISLAND’S CHEUNG CHING AND CHEUNG HONG HOUSING ESTATES DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
A REPORT ON THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT IN KWAI SHING CIRCUIT ON FEBRUARY 7, KILLING THREE PERSONS AND INJURING ANOTHER THREE, WILL BE TABLED AT THE MEETING.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA WILL INCLUDE LICENSING GUIDELINES OF AMUSEMENT GAME CENTRES, AND PROGRESS REF°RTSONTHE DISPOSAL OF ABANDONED VEHICLES IN THE DISTRICT AND THE +MEET THE PUBLIC*
SCHEME.
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NOTE TO EDITORS:
NEW TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR SPO * * * *
WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF A NEW TELEPHONE SYSTEM, THE TELEPHONE NUMBER OF THE SECRETARiAT PRESS OFFICE WILL BE CHANGED FROM 5-951977 TO 5-951975 WITH EFFECT FROM MONDAY (MARCH 7).
THE ADDRESS OF THE SECRETARIAT PRESS OFFICE WILL BE UNCHANGED (ROOM U7, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES (EAST WING), 1ST FLOOR, LOWER AL'ERT ROAD, CENTRAL, HONG KONG).
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/&.......
THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 1983
8
INSURANCE FIRM’S AUTHORISATION REVOKED ******
THE REGISTRAR OF COMPANIES HAS REVOKED THE AUTHORISATION FOR CARRYING ON FIRE AND MARINE INSURANCE BUSINESS IN HONG KONG CF SCOTLAND INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED, A COMPANY INCORPORATED IN HONG KONG, WHICH WAS WOUND UP BY ORDER OF THE COURT ON FEBRUARY 24.
A NOTICE TO THIS EFFECT WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
THE ACTION IS BEING TAKEN UNDER SECTION 3A(5) OF THE FIRE AND MARINE INSURANCE COMPANIES DEPOSIT ORDINANCE (AS AMENDED BY THE FIRE AND MARINE INSURANCE COMPANIES DEPOSIT (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1981).
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TRADE TEST GUIDELINES FOR PRINCIPAL JOBS IN CLOTHING INDUSTRY * * * * *
THE PRINCIPAL JOBS IN
A MANUAL ON TRADE TEST GUIDELINES FOR
THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY HAS BEEN PUBLISHED AND IS NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE IN CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL.
THE MANUAL WAS COMPILED BY THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD OF THE FORMER HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL WHICH WAS REPLACED BY THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL.
IT PROVIDES GUIDELINES TO EMPLOYERS IN ASCERTAINING THE STANDARD OF SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE ATTAINED BY THEIR ApP^^,^TICES AND WORKERS AS WELL AS ASSESSING THE COMPETENCE OF A CANDIDATE
FOR JOB.
THE MANUAL, IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE, SELLS AT $7 A COPY.
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/9........
THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 1983
* - 9 -
URBAN CLEARWAY RESTRICTION AT KING HONG STREET * * * *
URBAN CLEARWAY RESTRICTION WILL BE IMPOSED ON THE SECTION OF KING HONG STREET BETWEEN KING FUK STREET AND PRINCE EDWARD ROAD EAST IN SAN PO KONG FROM 10 AM TOMORROW TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW.
THE CLEARWAY RESTRICTION WILL BE ON A 24-HOUR BASIS.
ALL MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM STOPPING FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS WITHIN THE ROAD SECTION.
AT THE SAME TIME, VEHICLES WITH AN UNLADEN WEIGHT OF MORE THAN 2-1/2 TONS WILL BE BANNED FROM THE SECTION OF KING HONG STREET BETWEEN PRINCE EDWARD ROAD EAST AND THE ACCESS ROAD TO THE SAN PO KONG FLATTED FACTORIES.
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PARTIAL CLOSURE OF SAIGON STREET TO CONTINUE
* * * *
SAIGON STREET BETWEEN BATTERY STREET AND RECLAMATION STREET WHICH HAS BEEN CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FOR THE LAYING OF A WATER MAIN WILL CONTINUE TO BE CLOSED FOR ABOUT TWO MORE WEEKS, A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
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WATER CUT IN NORTH POINT * * * *
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN PREMISES AT NORTH POINT WILL BE CUT OFF FOR SEVEN HOURS FROM 11 PM ON MONDAY (MARCH 7) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR A LEAKAGE TEST.
THE AREA TO BE AFFECTED IS BOUNDED BY KING’S ROAD, HEALTHY STREET WEST, PAK FUK ROAD AND MODEL LANE. THIS WILL INCLUDE MODEL HOUSING ESTATE, HEALTHY VILLAGE HOUSING ESTATE, TANNER ROAD POLICE QUARTERS AND BRAEMAR TERRACE.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
FRIDAY, MARCH k, 198?
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GOVERNOR URGES PEOPLE TO VOTE ................................... 1
COMPANIES BILL GOES FORWARD ..................................... 2
LAW TO STAMP OUT FALSE TRADE DESCRIPTION IN ADVERTISEMENT .. 3
SCHEDULE TO INDUSTRIAL TRAINING (CLOTHING INDUSTRY) ORDINANCE
AMENDED .......................................................... 4
MORE COMMUNITY CENTRES FOR OLDER URBAN DISTRICTS ................ 5
MTR RE-APPOINTMENT .............................................. 6
PRESS CONFERENCE ON URBAN COUNCIL ELECTION ...................... 6
NEW AREAS DESIGNATED FOR FISH CULTURE .......................... 7
CONSTRUCTION OF QUEENSWAY GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDING TO START SHORTLY ................................................... 8
ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN IN EASTERN .............................. 9
FULL-TIME TECHNICAL TEACHERS' COURSE ........................... 10
WORK OF TRADE CONTROLS INVESTIGATION BRANCH PRAISED ............ 11
AUCTION OF CROWN LAND AND THREE FLATS .......................... 11
SIX MORE CHILD CARE CENTRES IN TUEN MUN ........................ 12
SEMINAR Of NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT ................................ 13
STUDENTS AWARDED FOR VOLUNTARY SERVICES ........................ 14
VOLUNTEERS TO BE THANKED FOR PUBLIC-SPIRITED SERVICE ........... 14
WIDENING OF SHAU KEI WAN ROAD................................... 15
FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 1983
GOVERNOR URGES PEOPLE TO VOTE
*****
THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, TODAY URGED ALL 568 537 VOTERS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN TUESDAY’S URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS TO COME OUT AND CAST THEIR BALLOTS.
♦THAT IS A VERY DIRECT WAY OF EXPRESSING THEIR INTEREST IN THE COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE THAT THEIR VIEWS IN THE WELFARE OF THEIR COMMUNITY ARE DIRECTLY HEARD,* HE SAID.
SIR EDWARD HOPED THERE WOULD BE A VERY GOOD TURNOUT.
♦PEOPLE HAVE THE VOTE. IT IS UP TO THEM TO USE IT,+ HE TOLD NEWSMEN DURING A TOUR OF YAU MA TEI DISTRICT AFTER OPENING THE HENRY G. LEONG COMMUNITY CENTRE.
A TOTAL OF 134 POLLING STATIONS WILL BE OPEN FROM 7 AM TO 11 PM ON POLLING DAY.
ACCOMPANYING THE GOVERNOR AND LADY YOUDE ON THE TOUR WERE THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY (HONG KONG AND KOWLOON), MR GRAHAM BARNES, AND THE YAU MA TEI DISTRICT OFFICER, MR WILFRED WONG.
THE GOVERNOR AND LADY YOUDE FIRST HAD A GENERAL VIEW OF THE DISTRICT FROM A VANTAGE POINT ON THE ROOF OF A NEARBY BUILDING.
SIR EDWARD WAS BRIEFED ON CONDITIONS IN THE DISTRICT AND URBAN RENEWAL OPPORTUNITIES BY THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICER (KOWLOON WEST), MR D.G. DEAR, THE GOVERNMENT LAND AGENT/ESTATE MANAGEMENT, MR C.M. MO, AND THE CHIEF TOWN PLANNER, MR KERWIN YAN.
THERE ARE PLANS FOR FOUR COMMUNITY CENTRES IN THE DISTRICT, FOUR MARKETS AND ABOUT 46 HECTARES OF LOCAL AND DISTRICT OPEN SPACES.
LATER THE GOVERNOR AND LADY YOUDE WALKED THROUGH THE SHEK LUNG STREET WHOLESALE FRUIT MARKET AND WAS BRIEFED BY THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (KOWLOON WEST) OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, MR T.K. CHOY.
SIR EDWARD STOPPED TO TALK TO AN OPERATOR ENQUIRING ABOUT HIS FRUIT BUSINESS.
THE GOVERNOR AND LADY YOUDE ALSO TOURED THE YAU MA TEI TYPHOON SHELTER ON BOARD THE +TIN HAU+.
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/2 .......
FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 1983
2
COMPANIES BILL GOES FORWARD * * * *
PROPOSED MAJOR AMENDMENTS TO THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL NEXT WEDNESDAY (MARCH 9) AFTER A LONG PERIOD OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION.
AN AMENDMENT BILL SEEKING TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE BULK OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE SECOND REPORT OF THE COMPANIES LAW REVISION COMMITTEE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE IN JULY 1980 FOR GENERAL INFORMATION AND COMMENT.
REPRESENTATIONS WERE INVITED FROM THE PUBLIC AND A CONSIDERABLE VOLUME OF WRITTEN COMMENTS WAS RECEIVED FROM ORGANISATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS IN THE PROFESSIONAL, BUSINESS AND ACADEMIC SECTORS. IN ADDITION, A CONFERENCE ON COMPANY LAW REFORM WAS ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG LAW JOURNAL IN LATE 1980 TO DISCUSS THE BILL. THE REGISTRAR GENERAL ATTENDED THE CONFERENCE TO EXCHANGE VIEWS WITH THE SEVERAL HUNDRED PARTICIPANTS.
A WORKING GROUP OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS WAS ALSO FORMED TO CONSIDER THE DRAFT LEGISLATION. THE WORKING GROUP MET ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AND CONSIDERED IN DETAIL THE PROVISIONS OF THE BILL AND THE PUBLIC REPRESENTATIONS ON IT. THE GROUP ALSO DISCUSSED MANY ASPECTS OF THE BILL WITH THE ADMINISTRATION.
PUBLISHED lNSTH?G0VERNMENTNGHETTEET0DAYT?FR!ktY>983’ WHICH ,S A LARGE NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS TO THF iannYue£e PAY^’ ^CORPORATES K»VE BEEN DELETED IN THEIR ENTIRETY PEHDIJI I.JrTKER^cSs^Zns?''3
THE PURPOSE OF THE BILL IS TO UPDATE AND RATIONALISE COMPANY LAW IN HONG KONG TAKING INTO ACCOUNT BOTH DEVELOPMENTS IN BRITAIN AND ELSEWHERE AND LOCAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND NEEDS. THE BILL SEEKS TO BRING ABOUT BETTER PROTECTION OF SHAREHOLDERS AND OTHERS DEALING WITH COMPANIES, WITHOUT AT THE SAME TIME IMPOSING UNNECESSARY RESTRAINTS ON BONA FIDE COMMERCIAL BUSINESS.
THE BILL INTRODUCES AMENDMENTS TO VIRTUALLY ALL PARTS OF THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE, COVERING AREAS SUCH AS THE INCORPORATION OF COMPANIES, SHARE CAPITAL AND DEBENTURES, REGISTRATION OF CHARGES, MANAGEMENTS AND WINDING UP.
COMMENTING ON THE COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, MR PIERS JACOBS, SAID THE COMPANIES LAW REVISION COMMITTEE HAD DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB IN FORMULATING THE RECOMMENDATIONS WHICH DEALT WITH A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES IN COMPANY LAW. HE ADDED THAT THE PRESENT VERSION OF THE BILL WAS THE CULMINATION OF EFFORTS ON THE PART OF NOT ONLY THE ADMINISTRATION BUT ABOVE ALL THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND PERSONS IN THE BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY WHO HAVE ENGAGED IN DISCUSSIONS OR MADE REPRESENTATIONS ON THE BILL.
/THE PROPOSED
FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 198?
THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION WILL INTRODUCE A LARGE NUMBER OF CHANGES IN SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AREAS OF COMPANY LAW. FOR EXAMPLE PROVISIONS ON THE APPOINTMENT, REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF AUDITORS ARE BROUGHT INTO LINE WITH THE UK COMPANIES ACT OF $76 AND NEW RESTRICTIONS AND OBLIGATIONS ARE IMPOSED ON DIRECTORS IN THEIR MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS V IZ-A-VIZ BOTH THE COMPANY AND
SHAREHOLDERS.
FOLLOWING ARE SOME IMPORTANT CHANGES MADE TO THE 1980 BILL AS A RESULT OF CONSULTATION!
(A) THE PROHIBITION OF CORPORATE DIRECTORS IS NOW LIMITED TO PUBLIC COMPANIES AND PRIVATE COMPANIES WHICH FORM PART OF A GROUP CONTAINING A COMPANY LISTED ON A STOCK EXCHANGE IN HONG KONG. ALL OTHER PRIVATE COMPANIES ARE PERMITTED TO CONTINUE TO HAVE CORPORATE DIRECTORS;
(B) THE PROVISION ON THE GENERAL FIDUCIARY DUTY OF DIRECTORS HAS BEEN EXCISED ; AND
(C) THE PROVISION ON THE VALIDITY OF ULTRA VIRES TRANSACTIONS BETWEEN A COMPANY AND PERSONS WITHOUT ACTUAL NOTICE HAS ALSO BEEN EXCISED.
THE
EXAMPLES ARE FAR FROM BEING EXHAUSTIVE, AS THE BILL CONTAINS SOME 260 CLAUSES. MR JACOBS SAID TO UNDERSTAND THE FULL EFFECTS OF THE PROVISIONS IN THE PRESENT BILL AND THE DIFFERENCES FROM THE 1980 Bl' L, INTERESTED PARTIES WOULD BE ADVISED TO OBTAIN A COPY OF THE
BILL FOR REFERENCE.
TO ENSURE THAT COMPANY LEGISLATION IN HONG KONG IS CONSTANTLY UP-DATED IN THE LIGHT OF CHANGES ON THE COMMERCIAL SCENE, A STANDING COMMITTEE ON COMPANY LAW REFORM “‘LL BE FORMED. APART FROM GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES, IT IS EXPECTED TO INCLUDE PEOPLE FROM THE PROFESSIONAL AND BUSINESS SECTORS. ITS FIRST TASK WILL BE TO CONSIDER VARIOUS PROVISIONS EXCISED FROM THE 1980 BILL.
- o - -
LAW TO STAMP OUT FALSE TRADE DESCRIPTION IN ADVERTISEMENT ******
THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT’S MAIN CONCERN ON THE ADVERTISING ASPECTS OF THE TRADE DESCRIPTIONS ORDINANCE IS TO STAMP OUT THE POSITIVELY FRAUDULENT, AND IS LESS CONCERNED WITH THE HYPERBOLE THAT IS SOMETIMES A FEATURE OF THE ADVERTISING INDUSTRY.
THIS WAS STATED TODAY (FRIDAY) BY THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE, MR KEITH BROADBRIDGE, ADDRESSING THE FIRST ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE HONG KONG ADVERTISERS ASSOCIATION.
HE EXPLAINED THAT THE 1981 TRADE DESCRIPTIONS ORDINANCE HAD INTRODUCED THE OFFENCE OF A FALSE TRADE DESCRIPTION IN AN ADVERTISEMENT, BUT THAT THERE WERE STATUTORY DEFENCES AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO HAD TO RELY ON INFORMATION PROVIDED BY OTHERS.
/MB BBOADBRIDGE .......
FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 1985
4
MR BROADBRIDGE SAID THAT THE ADVERTISING SUB-COMMITTEE CF THE TRADING STANDARDS ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAD CONSIDERED IN SOME DEPTH THE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE INDUSTRY OF THIS NEW LAW. THE MEMBERS OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE COMPRISED PRACTISING ADVERTISING AGENTS, AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE CONSUMER COUNCIL, THE TV AND ENTERTAINMENT LICENSING AUTHORITY AND THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT.
♦ITS RECOMMENDATIONS WERE THAT AN ADVERTISING AGENT WOULD HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT INFORMATION PROVIDED BY ITS PRINCIPAL WAS ACCURATE ; THAT IT WAS APPROPRIATE FOR THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT TO CONCENTRATE ON THF FACTUALLY INCORRECT ADVERTISEMENT, AND THAT STANDARDS GENERALLY SHOULD BE CONTROLLED BY THE PROFESSION ITSELF, IDEALLY THROUGH A MEDIA COUNCIL.+ HE SAID HE WAS PLEASED THAT THE ADVERTISING INDUSTRY WAS LOOKING CLOSELY AT THE FORMATION OF A MEDIA COUNCIL.
MR BROADBRIDGE ADDED THAT THERE HAD BEEN 14 SPECIFIC INVESTIGATIONS OF POSSIBLE ADVERTISING OFFENCES - SUCH AS CLAIMS TO GOVERNMENT APPROVAL FOR HAIR CREAM, THE INCORRECT COUNTRY OF MANUFACTURE ON CLOTHING, AND THE AVAILABILITY OF DISCOUNTS FOR MOTOR CARS. NO CASE HAD YET REACHED THE COURTS.
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SCHEDULE TO INDUSTRIAL TRAINING (CLOTHING INDUSTRY) ORDINANCE AMENDED *****
AMENDMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE SCHEDULE OF THE INDUSTRI AL TRAINING (CLOTHING INDUSTRY) ORDINANCE WHICH COVERS CLOTHING ARTICLES AND ACCESSORIES SUBJECT TO TRAINING LEVY. IT WAS ANNOUNCED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE AMENDED SCHEDULE CONTAINS ALL ITEMS IN DIVISION 84 OF THE 1982 EDITION OF THE HONG KONG IMPORTS AND EXPORTS CLASSIFICATION ------------------ SUBSEQUENT AMENDMENTS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF
LIST TOGETHER WITH
THE FOLLOWING FIVE ITEMSi-
ITEM CODE
DESCRIPTION
848 101 WATCH STRAPS, LEATHER
848 217 WATCH STRAPS OF PLASTIC MATERIALS
(OTHER THAN OF PLASTIC COATED FABRICS)
848 221 GLOVES, OF UNHARDENED VULCANIZED RUBBER
848 491 HELMETS, STEEL
848 492 HELMETS, FIBRE, CRASH, PITH AND THE LIKE
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED THAT THE LEVY COLLECTED IS USED FOR FINANCING MANPOWER TRAINING SCHEMES IN THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY.
/UNDER THE .......
FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 1983
5
UNDER THE IMPORT AND EXPORT (REGISTRATION) REGULATIONS, TRADERS WHEN LODGING AN EXPORT DECLARATION FOR CLOTHING ITEMS, ARE REQUIRED TO PAY AN AD VALOREM CHARGE OF $2 FOR THE FIRST $4 OOO VALUE OF THE GOODS OR PART THEREOF, AND $0.50 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL $1 000 OR PART THEREOF.
ALSO, AN EXPORT LEVY OF 30 CENTS IS COLLECTED FOR EACH $1 000 VALUE OF THE GOODS OR PART THEREOF UNDER THE INDUSTRIAL TRAINING (CLOTHING INDUSTRY) ORDINANCE.
THE SPOKESMAN DISCLOSED THAT ABOUT $8.9 MILLION OF CLOTHING LEVY WAS COLLECTED IN 1982.
ANY ENQUIRIES REGARDING THE AMENDMENTS TO THE SCHEDULE CAN BE DIRECTED TO THE TRADE CLASSIFICATION SECTION OF THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT AT 5-444794.
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MORE COMMUNITY CENTRES FOR OLDER URBAN DISTRICTS *****
IN THE OLDER
ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY CENTRES WILL BE BUILT
IRRAN DISTRICTS OF SHAM SHU I PO, KOWLOON CITY, WAN CHAI AND SHAU KEI WAN AS MORE SITES BECOME AVAILABLE THROUGH REDEVELOPMENT in the NEXT FEW YEARS THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE SAID TODAY WHEN HE OPENED THE HENRY G. LEONG COMMUNITY CENTRE AT
YAU MA TEI.
SIR EDWARD SAID THAT IN THE PAST SUCH COMMUNITY FACILITIES HAD BEEN CONCENTRATED IN NEW TOWNS WHERE THERE WAS AN URGENT NEED TO PROVIDE A FOCUS FOR SOCIAL ACTIVITIES WHICH ARE SO ESSENTIAL TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY SPIRIT AND IDENTITY.
♦HOWEVER, THE OLDER URBAN AREAS MUST NOT BE OVERLOOKED,+ HE SAID.
HF ADDED THAT IT IS GOVERNMENT’S AIM TO ENSURE THE TIMELY PROVISION OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES SO THAT PEOPLE CAN GATHER TOGETHER TO LEARN NEW SKILLS, RECEIVE ADVICE AND HELP FROM TRAINED SOCIAL WORKERS, TAKE PART IN PROGRAMMES AND LOCAL ACTIVITIES AND PLAY THEIR PART IN COMMUNITY LIFE.
COMMENTING ON THE DISTRICT, SIR EDWARD SA ID: TE1
ic a 1 qtp I CT WITH ITS OWN UNIQUE CHARACTER. IT IS ONE OF THE OLDEST DISTRICTS IN URBAN KOWLOON AND ONE OF THE FEW WITHOUT PUBLIC HOUSING.
xPDF-WAR TENEMENT BLOCKS STAND SIDE BY SIDE WITH MODERN MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS. THERE ISA ^E FLOATING POPULApCN ilJTspM Ma H|&EURPS INTO A^COHESIVE^COMMUN^TY WILL BE GREATLY ASSISTED BY THIS NEW CENTRE.♦
/THE SEVEN-STOREY....
FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 198?
6
THE SEVEN-STOREY COMMUNITY CENTRE DONATION OF $8 MILLION FROM THE FAMILY LEONG, AFTER WHOM IT IS NAMED.
HAS BEEN BUILT WITH OF THE LATE MR HENRY G.
THE
BUILT TO SERVE
IT IS THE EIGHTH COMMUNITY CENTRE -----
nPVFlOPED PARTS OF HONG KONG AND IS SITUATED AT THE SITE FORMERLY OCCUPIED BY THE YAU MA TEI WELFARE CENTRE AT 60 PUBLI
SQUARE STREET.
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MTR RE-APPOINTMENT OK
THE GOVERNMENT HAS ANN0UNC^DuTH^J5^yE?pNIsEMEMBERSROFSTHED CMFHNG MISS LYDIA DUNN AND MR G.M. MACWHINNIE AS MEMBERS OF Inc Sard or THE mass transit railway corporation.
THE RE-APPOINTMENT WILL TAKE EFFECT FROM MAY 1, 1983 AND WILL BE FOR A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS.
-----o------
NOTE TO EDITORS*
PRESS CONFERENCE ON URBAN COUNCIL ELECTION * * *
THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR DENIS BRAY, WILL GIVE A PRESS CONFERENCE ON MONDAY (MARCH 7) ON THE URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS WHICH WILL BE HELD ON MARCH 8.
ALSO PRESENT AT THE CONFERENCE WILL BE THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR GRAHAM BARNES, AND THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ELECTORAL SERVICES, MR ANTHONY WOO.
YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE AT 3.30 PM IN GIS THEATRE, 5TH FLOOR, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE.
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FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 1983
7
NEW AREAS DESIGNATED FOR FISH CULTURE ******
TWO NEW AREAS HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED AS FISH CULTURE ZONES UNDER THE MARINE FISH CULTURE ORDINANCE.
ANOTHER ZONE ALREADY DESIGNATED WILL BE EXTENDED TO ACCOMMODATE MORE OPERATORS.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (FRIDAY), A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT SAID THE TWO NEW ZONES ARE SITUATED AT YIM TIN TSAI IN TAI PO AND CHEUNG SHA WAN ON LANTAU.
THE EXTENDED ZONE IS AT MA WAN.
THE TWO NEW ZONES BRING TO 26 THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ZONES GAZETTED FOR MARINE FISH CULTURE UNDER THE MARINE FISH CULTURE ORDINANCE WHICH WAS BROUGHT INTO FORCE IN JULY LAST YEAR.
THE ORDINANCE MAKES IT ILLEGAL FOR MARICULTURISTS TO OPERATE OUTSIDE DESIGNATED ZONES.
PLANS OF THE TWO NEW ZONES AND THE MA WAN EXTENSION MAY BE INSPECTED AT THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT IN CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES AND ITS FISHERIES OFFICES AT TAI PO KAU, SAI KUNG, ABERDEEN AND AU TAU, AND ALL DISTRICT OFFICES.
MARICULTURI STS HOLDING LAST YEAR’S SURVEY CHITS WHO WISH TO APPLY FOR LICENCES TO PRACTISE MARINE FISH CULTURE IN THESE NEW ZONES SHOULD OBTAIN APPLICATION FORMS FROM THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, ITS FISHERIES OFFICES OR ;THE FISH MARKETING ORGANIZATION OFFICES AT TAI PO, CHEUNG CHAU, CHEUNG SHA WAN IN KOWLOON AND CASTLE PEAK.
EARLIER APPLICANTS FOR LICENCES IN OTHER ZONES MAY ALSO AMEND THEIR ORIGINAL APPLICATIONS TO INCLUDE YIM TIN TSAI, CHEUNG SHA WAN OR MA WAN AS ONE OF THE CHOSEN ZONES.
COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS FOR THE NEW ZONES SHOULD REACH THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES NO LATER THAN MONDAY, MARCH 21. AMENDMENTS TO ORIGINAL APPLICATIONS RECEIVED BY THIS DATE WILL NOT AFFECT THE DATE OF THE ORIGINAL APPLICATION FOR BALLOTING PURPOSES.
FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 1983 8 -
CONSTRUCTION OF QUEENSWAY GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDING TO START SHORTLY
* * * *
THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WILL INVITE TENDERS SHORTLY FROM PRE-QUALIFIED CONTRACTORS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDING AT QUEENSWAY.
BUILDING WORK IS EXPECTED TO START IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS YEAR AND WILL BE COMPLETED IN ABOUT 40 MONTHS.
THE NEW GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDING WILL BE 47 STOREYS, WITH A FOUR-STOREY PODIUM. ADJACENT TO IT WILL BE A SEVEN-STOREY «L+ SHAPE BLOCK.
THE NEW BUILDING WILL PROVIDE ABOUT 54 000 SQUARE METRES OF OFFICE ACCOMMODATION AND CAR PARKING FACILITIES.
SITE FORMATION WORK AND CONSTRUCTION OF PART OF THE SUBSTRUCTURE, NOW IN PROGRESS, WILL BE COMPLETED IN MAY.
THE NEW WORKS WILL INCLUDE THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE REMAINING PART OF THE SUBSTRUCTURE, SUPERSTRUCTURES, FINISHES, SERVICES INSTALLATIONS, FITTING OUT AND EXTERNAL WORKS.
GROUP +C+ CONTRACTORS AND OVERSEAS CONTRACTORS IN THE BUILDING WORKS CATEGORY OF THE LANDS AND WORKS APPROVED CONTRACTORS LIST I AND II ARE INVITED TO APPLY FOR PREQUALIFICATION.
APPLICATIONS FOR INCLUSION ON THE LIST MUST REACH THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT ARCHITECT OF THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, 12TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD BEFORE 12 NOON ON FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 1983.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS CONTRACT MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT ARCHITECT.
0
/9........
FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 1983
9
ANT I-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN IN EASTERN * * * *
THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED THAT ANT I-NARCOTICS SHOULD BE ACCORDED TOP PRIORITY WITH FULL-SCALE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT THIS YEAR, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, W GRAHAM BARNES, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
HE SAID THE PROBLEM OF YOUNG PEOPLE TAKING DRUGS WAS INCREASING, WITH 22 PER CENT OF HONG KONG’S ESTIMATED 43 000 ADDICTS BEING BETWEEN THE AGES OF 15 AND 24 -- TWO PER CENT MORE THAN IN 1980.
MR BARNES WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF A THREE-WEEK EASTERN DISTRICT ANT I-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN HELD AT THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY HALL THIS (FRIDAY) EVENING.
+THIS THREE-WEEK LONG PREVENTIVE EDUCATIONAL EXERCISE HAS PRIMARILY GOT YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE 15 TO 24 AGE GROUP IN TARGET, THOUGH ITS ANTI-NARCOTICS MESSAGE IS MEANT FOR EVERYBODY,+ HE SAID.
HE SAID THE CAMPAIGN, ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD, THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS, RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG AND THE LIONS CLUB OF HONG KONG NORTH, PROVIDED A FITTING CURTAIN-RAISER TO A YEAR-LONG ANTI-NARCOTICS EXERCISE WHICH WOULD COVER ALL OF HONG KONG.
♦WE MUST PREVENT THE SPREAD OF DRUGS ; WE MUST AROUSE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AGAINST STARTING TO TAKE THEM. WE MUST HELP THOSE WHO HAVE STARTED TO BREAK AWAY FROM THEM,+ HE STRESSED.
AT TONIGHT’S OPENING, A VARIETY SHOW FEATURING OPERAS, SINGING AND DANCING PERFORMANCES BY WELL-KNOWN ARTISTES AND STUDENTS WAS ALSO STAGED.
OTHER EVENTS WILL INCLUDE TALKS, SEMINARS, FILM SHOWS, VISITS, ESSAY AND DRAWING COMPETITIONS, A SPORTS CARNIVAL, AND AN ANT I-NARCOTICS EXHIBITION TO BE HELD IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE DISTRICT.
ALSO PRESENT AT THE CEREMONY THIS EVENING WERE THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR H.T. LUI, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE, MADAM ANITA CHAN.
------o-------
/1O........
FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 1983
10
FULL-TIME TECHNICAL TEACHERS’ COURSE ******
THE HONG KONG TECHNICAL TEACHERS’ COLLEGE WILL ORGANISE A ONE-YEAR FULL-TIME TECHNICAL TEACHER TRAINING COURSE THIS SEPTEMBER FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE SOME YEARS OF INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE AND ARE INTERESTED IN TAKING UP TEACHING AS A PROFESSION.
SUBJECT BEING OFFERED INCLUDE TECHNICAL COURSES, HOTELKEEPING AND CATERING STUDIES, AND COMMERCIAL STUDIES. TUITION FEES IS $800 PAYABLE IN 10 MONTHLY INSTALMENTS.
INDUCEMENT GRANTS BETWEEN Si 650 AND $2 500 PER MONTH WILL BE GIVEN TO STUDENTS TAKING THE COURSE. GRANTS WILL BE CALCULATED ACCORDING TO THE NUMBER OF YEARS OF RELEVENT POST-QUALIFICATION INDUSTRIAL EXPERIENCE POSSESSED BY EACH STUDENT.
ON COMPLETION OF THE COURSE, GRADUATES MAY APPLY FOR TEACHING POSTS IN PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOLS, VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRES FOR THE DISABLED AND TECHNICAL INSTITUTES.
APPLICANTS FOR TECHNICAL COURSES MUST POSSESS EITHER A HIGHER DIPLOMA, ORDINARY DIPLOMA, HIGHER CERTIFICATE OR EQUIVALENT QUALIFICATION AWARDED BY THE TECHNICAL COLLEGE, POLYTECHNIC, TECHNICAL INSTITUTES OR AN EQUIVALENT EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENT IN ONE OF THE FOLLOWING DISCIPLINES! CLOTHING, CONSTRUCTION, ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING, KNITWEAR, MARINE FABRICATION, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING AND PRINTING.
APPLICANTS WHO WISH TO APPLY FOR THE HOTEL-KEEPING AND CATERING STUDIES COURSE MUST POSSESS A RECOGNISED DIPLOMA IN HOTEL AND CATERING, SUCH AS THE ORDINARY NATIONAL DIPLOMA, OR CITY AND GUILD OF LONDON INSTITUTE CERTIFICATES 707-1, 707-2, 707-3 OR EQUIVALENT.
HOLDERS OF HIGHER CERTIFICATE IN COMMERCIAL COURSE OR SECRETARIAL/COMMERCI AL CERTIFICATE OR EQUIVALENT QUALIFICATION MAY APPLY FOR THE COMMERCIAL COURSE.
APPLICATION FORMS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FROM THE HONG KONG TECHNICAL TEACHERS’ COLLEGE AT 373 QUEEN’S ROAD EAST, WAN CHAI, HONG KONG, AND THEY MUST BE RETURNED TO THE COLLEGE ON OR BEFORE MARCH 21.
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/11
FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 1983
11
WORK OF TRADE CONTROLS INVESTIGATION BRANCH PRAISED
XXX
THE LOCAL DISTRIBUTOR OF TWO WELL-KNOWN BRAND OF FASHIONWARE TODAY (FRIDAY) PRESENTED A BANNER TO THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT IN APPRECIATION OF THE DEPARTMENT’S EFFORTS AGAINST ILLICIT TRADERS WHO ATTEMPTED TO IMITATE THE COMPANY’S PRODUCTS.
AT A CEREMONY HELD AT THE TRADE CONTROLS INVESTIGATION BRANCH (TCIB) OFFICE AT HENNESSY CENTRE, CAUSEWAY BAY, MR JOHN HOWARD, THE PRINCIPAL INDUSTRY OFFICER, RECEIVED THE BANNER FROM MR JOHNNY MA, THE PRESIDENT OF EXCELSIOR SPORTS LTD.
THANKING MR MA AND HIS STAFF, OTHER BRAND NAME HOLDERS AND THEIR AGENTS FOR THEIR CO-OPERATION WITH THE TCIB IN THE INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE INSIDIOUS COUNTERFEITING BUSINESS, HOWARD SAID HE WAS PARTICULARLY PLEASED TO SEE THE FORMATION OF THE ASSOCIATION OF TRADE MARK OWNERS, MANUFACTURERS, AGENTS AND LICENCES (ATOMAL) WHICH AIMED TO TAKE JOINT ACTION AGAINST COUNTERFEITERS.
+WE, AS THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY RESPONSIBLE, WISH THE ASSOCIATION WELL AND HOPE IT WILL AUGUR EVEN MORE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE TRADE MARK OWNERS AND THE GOVERNMENT IN THE FUTURE,* M? HOWARD REMARKED.
IN 1982 THE TCIB CONDUCTED A TOTAL OF 70 OPERATIONS AGAINST COUNTERFEIT FASHIONWARE, OF WHICH 17 CASES INVOLVED BRAND NAMES HELD BY MR MA’S COMPANY.
DURING LAST YEAR 43 CASES WERE BROUGHT TO COURT AND FINES AMOUNTING TO $213 000 WERE IMPOSED. GOODS VALUED AT $1.2 MILLION WERE SEIZED BY THE INVESTIGATING OFFICERS, AND ABOUT $764 000 WORTH CF THEM WERE CONFISCATED. SEVENTY PERSONS, CONSISTING OF MANUFACTURERS, WHOLESALERS, RETAILERS AND HAWKERS WERE SUBJECT CF INVESTIGATION AND SUBSEQUENT PUNITIVE ACTION.
- - 0 - -
AUCTION OF CROWN LAND AND THREE FLATS
*****
THE LANDS DEPARTMENT WILL OFFER FOUR PIECES OF CROWN LAND AND THREE FLATS FOR SALE AT AN AUCTION TO BE HELD IN THE SHOUSON THEATRE OF THE HONG KONG ARTS CENTRE ON MARCH 31, AT 2.30 PM.
TWO OF THE SITES ARE IN THE YUEN LONG INDUSTRIAL AREA, WHILE THE REMAINING TWO SITES ARE IN ABERDEEN AND THE KOWLOON BAY RECLAMATION.
ONE OF THE YUEN LONG SITES IS FOR NON-1NDUSTRI AL (EXCLUDING RESIDENTIAL) PURPOSES. IT HAS AN AREA OF ABOUT 2 382 SQUARE METRES.
THE OTHER YUEN LONG SITE MEASURES ABOUT 911.6 SQUARE METRES.
IT IS FOR INDUSTRIAL AND GODOWN PURPOSES.
THE REMAINING TWO SITES ARE FOR INDUSTRIAL AND GODOWN PURPOSES. THE ABERDEEN SITE, AT TIN WAN PRAYA ROAD, IS OF ABOUT 2 300 SQUARE METRES WHILE THE LOT IN KOWLOON BAY IS OF ABOUT 6 009 SQUARE METRES.
/THE JHiiEE
FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 198?
12
THE THREE FLATS TO BE AUCTIONED ARE ALL IN PINE STREET. KOWLOON.
THE FIRST FLAT, ON THE FOURTH FLOOR OF 20 PINE STREET, HAS AN AREA OF ABOUT 42.1 SQUARE METRES.
THE OTHER TWO FLATS ARE AT 30 PINE STREET. THE FLAT ON THE SECOND FLOOR IS OF ABOUT 41.18 SQUARE METRES WHILE THE REMAINING FLAT ON THE THIRD FLOOR IS OF ABOUT 52.2 SQUARE METRES.
INSPECTION OF THE ABOVE THREE FLATS MAY BE MADE BY APPOINTMENT ON 5-26702184.
FULL PARTICULARS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE FOR THE FOUR SITES MAY BE OBTAINED FROM, AND SALE PLANS INSPECTED AT, THE LANDS DEPARTMENT, MURRAY BUILDING 5TH FLOOR, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG THE PUBLIC ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES (WEST WING), GROUND FLOOR, HONG KONG; THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE (KOWLOON WEST), KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 10TH FLOOR, 405 NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON AND THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICES OF SHA TIN, TUEN MUN, YUEN LONG, TSUEN WAN, TAI PO, NORTH, SAI KUNG AND ISLANDS.
------o-------
SIX MORE CHILD CARE CENTRES IN TUEN MUN * K * * *
SIX CHILD CARE CENTRES, PROVIDING A FURTHER 700 PLACES, WILL BE BUILT IN TUEN MUN WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR, THE WIFE OF THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MRS JANE AKERS-JONES,
TODAY (FRIDAY).
SAID
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE YAN CHAI HOSPITAL RITA LIU CHILD CARE CENTRE AT TAI HING ESTATE, MRS AKERS-JONES SAID CHILD CARE CENTRE WAS AN INDISPENSABLE FACILITY IN ANY MODERN TOWN.
+THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE IN OF THE POPULATION OF 200 000 ARE WHERE WOMEN WORKERS ARE IN GREAT INDUSTRIES,* SHE SAID.
TUEN MUN WHERE OVER 20 PER CENT UNDER THE AGE OF SIX, AND DEMAND IN THE LOCAL MANUFACTURING
VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, SHE NOTED, HAD ALREADY BEEN PROVIDING SOME 850 PLACES IN EIGHT CHILD CARE CENTRES AND THE RITA LIU CHILD CARE CENTRE WOULD PROVIDE ANOTHER 100 PLACES TO RESIDENTS
OF TUEN MUN.
♦THIS IS A WELCOME ADDITION TO THE LIFE OF THIS GREAT NEW ENCOURAGEMENT TO THE PEOPLE WHO ALREADY LIVE HERE AND SOON WANT TO LIVE HERE, WHERE THEIR CHILDREN CAN AND LEARN AND PLAY IN THESE PLEASANT SURROUNDINGS,* SHE
TOWN, AN WHO WILL FLOURISH SAID.
MRS AKERS-JONES ALSO PAID TRIBUTE TO THE CHAIRMAN AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE YAN CHAI HOSPITAL WHO HAD BEEN PROVIDING A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT, INCLUDING A HOSTEL FOR THE ELDERLY IN YAU 01 ESTATE.
/1J........
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FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 1983
13
SEMINAR ON NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT *****
THE ROLE OF THE GOVERNMENT, DISTRICT IN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT WILL BE THE TOPIC FULL-DAY SEMINAR FOR COMMUNITY LEADERS IN (MARCH 6).
BOARDS AND RESIDENTS FOR DISCUSSION AT A SHA TIN ON SUNDAY
THE CHIEF TOWN PLANNER OF THE SHA TIN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, MRS KWAN CHOW PO-WAN, AND THE OFFICE’S TECHNICAL SECRETARY, MR CHAN WAI-SUN, WILL TALK ON NEW TOWN PLANNING WHILE THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR DONALD TSANG, WILL SPEAK ON NEW TOWN MANAGEMENT.
TWO GUEST SPEAKERS FROM THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY’S GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT, DR KUAN HSIN-CHI AND DR JOSEPH CHENG, WILL ANALYSE THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, DISTRICT BOARDS, THE PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS IN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT.
IT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONS AMONG GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, MEMBERS OF SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD AREA COMMITTEES, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, THE SHA TIN RURAL COMMITTEE AND LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS. ABOUT 100 MEMBERS HAVE BEEN INVITED.
EACH GROUP WILL PRESENT ITS REPORTS AT AN OPEN FORUM IN THE AFTERNOON.
A CLOSING REMARK WILL BE MADE BY THE HEAD OF THE UNITED COLLEGE OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY, PROFESSOR CHEN TIEN-CHI.
THE SEMINAR, ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD’S SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE, WILL START AT 9 AM AT THE LECTURE THEATRE Cl OF THE UNITED COLLEGE OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SEMINAR TO BE HELD AT THE LECTURE THEATRE Cl OF THE UNITED COLLEGE OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY ON SUNDAY (MARCH 6). THE TALKS WILL START AT 9 AM AND THE OPEN FORUM AT 2.30 PM.
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FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 1983
14
STUDENTS AWARDED FOR VOLUNTARY SERVICES
*****
TWELVE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT WERE TODAY (FRIDAY) AWARDED PRIZES FOR RENDERING VOLUNTARY SERVICES IN THE DISTRICT.
THE WINNERS WERE NOMINATED BY THEIR SCHOOLS OR LOCAL ORGANISATIONS AND WERE TESTED ON THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF VOLUNTARY WORK, THEIR ENTHUSIASM AS WELL AS THEIR SCOPE OF SERVICE AND PARTICIPATION RATE.
ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE DISTRICT BOARD, THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT STUDENTS SOCIAL SERVICES AWARD SCHEME WAS HELD FOR THE FIRST TIME TO GIVE RECOGNITION TO LOCAL STUDENTS.
THE WINNERS WERE SELECTED FROM AMONG 14 CANDIDATES FROM THE SECONDARY SCHOOL SECTION AND 12 CANDIDATES FROM THE PRIMARY SECTION WHO ATTENDED INTERVIEWS LAST MONTH.
MR CHAN HEI-CHOI, A FORM SIX STUDENT OF ABERDEEN TECHNICAL SCHOOL, AND MISS LI YUK-WAH, A PRIMARY SIX STUDENT OF ST. PETER’S SHEK PAI WAN PM PRIMARY SCHOOL, WERE FIRST PRIZE WINNERS FOR THE SECONDARY AND PRIMARY SCHOOL SECTIONS RESPECTIVELY.
AT TODAY’S PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY WERE MR KEITH LAM, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE, AND MR KAN MAN-LEE, A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE.
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VOLUNTEERS TO BE THANKED FOR PUBLIC-SPIRITED SERVICE * * *
EIGHTEEN LOCAL RESIDENTS WILL BE THANKED FOR THEIR VOLUNTARY EFFORTS IN ASSISTING THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S PROBATION STAFF IN REHABILITATING PROBATIONERS AT A CEREMONY TO BE HELD AT THE NEW WORLD HOTEL TOMORROW (SATURDAY) AFTERNOON.
AT THE CEREMONY THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE (OPERATIONS), MRS EVELYN DOE, WILL PRESENT EACH OF THE VOLUNTEERS WITH A CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION.
THE VOLUNTEERS HAVE ALL COMPLETED A SIX-MONTH ASSIGNMENT TO HELP PEOPLE ON PROBATION UNDER THE DEPARTMENT’S VOLUNTEER SCHEME FOR PROBATIONERS.
ALSO ATTENDING THE CEREMONY WILL BE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG BAR ASSOCIATION, MR HENRY LITTON, WHO WILL SPEAK ON ♦THE ROLE OF PROBATION OFFICERS AS SEEN BY A PRACTISING COUNSEL*.
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/15......
FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 1983
15 *
WIDENING OF SHAU KEI WAN ROAD * * * *
THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT PROPOSES TO WIDEN TWO SECTIONS OF SHAU KEI WAN ROADTBETWEEN NAM ON LANE AMD NAM HONG STREET AND BETWEEN NAM HONG STREET AND SUN SHING STREET.
ACCORDING TO A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT, THESE SECTIONS ARE NARROWER AND HAVE BECOME BOTTLE NECKS FOR TRAFFIC CAUSING MERGING PROBLEMS TO THE EXTREMELY HEAVY WESTBOUND TRAFFIC ALONG SHAU KEI WAN ROAD DURING PEAK HOURS IN THE MORNING.
HOUSE NOSt 352-354 AND 382-384 SHAU KE I WAN ROAD WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE ROAD WIDENING WORK AND WILL BE RESUMED TO MAKE LAND AVAILABLE FOR TBE PROJECT.
A NOTICE CONCERNING THE PROPOSED WORKS WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
A PLAH SHOWING THE PROPOSED WORKS CAN BE SEEN AT THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE ENQUIRY SUB-OFFtGE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING, MAIN ENTRANCE LOBBY, THE HONG KONG DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, 3RD FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD AND THE EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, 884-886 KING’S ROAD, HONG KONG.
ANY PERSON OBJECTING TO THE PROPOSAL MUST SEND HIS OBJECTION IN WRITING TO THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS WITHIN SIXTY DAYS.
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PR 33
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
SUPPLEMENT
SP.EECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY THS GOVERNOR SIR EDWARD YOUDE, GCMG, MBS, AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE HENRY G LEONG YAUMATEI
COMMUNITY CENlTtE ON MARCH 4, 1^83.
Mr Chambers, Mr and Mrs Sydney Leong, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am pleased to be here today, in this busy and dynamic district of Yaumatei, for the opening of the Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre.
It is your Government’s aim to ensure the timely provision of community facilities so that people can gather together to learn new skills, receive advice and help from trained social workers, take i part in programmes and local activities and play their part in community life. In the past, these facilities have been concentrated in the new towns, where housing programmes have brought together large numbers of people with few natural ties or local connections. In these newly formed communities, there was an urgent need to provide a focus for social activities which are so essential to the development of community spirit and identity. However, the older urban areas must not be overlooked. The building which is being opened today is the eighth community centre built to serve the developed parts of Hong Kong. As more sites become available through redevelopment in the next few years, additional centres will be built in other urban districts such as Sham Shui Po, Kowloon City, Wanchai and Shaukiwan.
/This Centre .......
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House. Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191
2
This Centre has been built with a magnificent donation of $8 million from the family of the late Mr Henry G Leong, in memory of whom the Centre has been named. This fine air-conditioned hall is the first of its kind and will be particularly welcomed by local residents as facilities for public gatherings are in great demand in Yaumatei. Mr and Mrs Sydney Leong have taken a close personal interest in all aspects of the planning of the Centre and we are truly indebted to them.
Yaumatei is a district with its own unique character. It is one of the oldest districts in urban Kowloon and one of the few without public housing. Pre-war tenement blocks stand side by side with,modern multi-storey buildings. There is a large floating population living in the typhoon shelter. The task of welding such a wide spectrum of social groups into a cohesive community -will be greatly assisted by this new Centre.
Once again we express our warm thanks to the Leong family : and I now have much pleasure in declaring open the Henry G Leong. Yaumatei Community Centre.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SATURDAY, MARCH 5i 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
COMMUNITY CONCERN FOR PROBATIONERS........................... 1
GOVERNOR LEAVES FOR LONDON .................................... 1
APPRENTICE TRAINING SEMINAR FOR CAREERS MASTERS ............... 2
NEW MARKET COMPLEX PLANNED FOR KENNEDY TOWN WHOLESALERS...... 3
TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT NEW OFFICES............................
CLEAN HK CAMPAIGN BANNERS AT NT PICNIC SPOTS ................. 2+
BUS TERMINUS PROPOSED........................................
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE IN KOWLOON TONG ......................
HONG KONG PHILHARMONIC TO PLAY IN TSUEN WAN .................
FIRING PRACTICE .............................................
SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 1983
1
COMMUNITY CONCERN FOR PROBATIONERS
*****
VOLUNTEERS TAKING PART IN PROBATION WORK HELP TO SHOW TO THE PROBATIONERS THE COMMUNITY CONCERN FOR THEM AND ACCEPTANCE, WHICH IS PARAMOUNT TO THEIR REBUILDING OF CONFIDENCE IN THEIR ENDEAVOUR TO REFORM THEMSELVES.
THIS WAS STATED TODAY (SATURDAY) BY THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS EVELYN DOE, WHEN SHE PRESENTED CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION TO 18 PUBLIC-SPIRITED CITIZENS AT A CEREMONY HELD AT NEW WORLD HOTEL.
THE VOLUNTEERS, COMING FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, HAD HELPED REHABILITATE OFFENDERS UNDER THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S VOLUNTEER SCHEME FOR PROBATIONERS.
PAYING TRIBUTE TO THEM, MRS DOE SAID: + NOT ONLY HAVE THEY GIVEN THEIR TIME AND EFFORTS, THEY ARE ALSO A GREAT HELP IN DISPENSING WITH ANY MISUNDERSTANDING THE COMMUNITY MAY HAVE ABOUT OUR CURRENT APPROACH OF OFFERING COMMUNITY BASED TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS.+
SHE FELT IT IS WRONG TO SAY THAT PROBATION IS SOMETIMES TAKEN AS A +SOFT+ METHOD OF LETTING GO LAW-BREAKERS.
SHE SAID VOLUNTEER SERVICE, AS A COMMUNITY RESOURCE, WAS IN GREAT ABUNDANCE AS WITNESSED IN THE GREAT NUMBER OF PEOPLE COMING FORWARD TO JOIN THE SCHEME EVERY YEAR.
+ IT IS OUR EVERY WISH TO MAKE THE MOST PROFITABLE USE OF THIS RESOURCE FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF PROBATIONERS IN OUR CARE,* SHE ADDED.
TO THE PROBATION OFFICERS, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG BAR ASSOCIATION, MR HENRY LITTON, SAID THEY HAVE TO BE SYMPATHETIC, YET NOT LOSE THEIR PROFESSIONAL OBJECTIVITY.
+THIS IS A TALL ORDER,* HE SAID.
+THE FACT THAT THE PROBATION SERVICE WORKS, AND WORKS WELL, BEARS TESTIMONY TO THE HIGH PERSONAL QUALITIES OF THOSE INVOLVED IN THE SERVICE,* HE STRESSED.
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GOVERNOR LEAVES FOR LONDON * * * *
THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, LEFT FOR LONDON THIS (SATURDAY) EVENING. HE WAS SEEN OFF AT THE AIRPORT BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE; SENIOR UNOFFICIAL hEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, SIR S.Y. CHUNG AND SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR ROGER LOBO.
SIR PHILIP IS ACTING GOVERNOR DURING SIR EDWARD’S ABSENCE.
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/2 .....
SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 1983
2
APPRENTICE TRAINING SEMINAR FOR CAREERS MASTERS
* * * X *
SOME 120 SECONDARY SCHOOL CAREERS MASTERS WERE GIVEN FIRST HAND INFORMATION ON APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING THROUGH A SEMINAR ORGANISED BY THE COMMITTEE ON APPRENTICESHIP AND TRADE TESTING OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL TODAY (SATURDAY).
THE PURPOSE OF THE SEMINAR, HELD AT THE HAKING WONG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, IS TO ASSIST CAREERS MASTERS TO GATHER INFORMATION RELATING TO APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING WHICH COULD BE PASSED ONTO STUDENTS AS THEY CARRY OUT THEIR COUNSELLING WORK.
SPEAKING AT THE SEMINAR THE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN MR JACK HAYES SAID: +AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF WELL-TRAINED TECHNICAL MANPOWER, PARTICULARLY CRAFTSMEN AND TECHNICIANS, IS MOST IMPORTANT IF HONG KONG’S INDUSTRIES ARE TO EXPAND AND PROGRESS FURTHER INTO SOPHISTICATED PRODUCTS.+
HE REVEALED THAT OVER 26 000 CONTRACTS OF APPRENTICESHIP HAVE BEEN REGISTERED SINCE THE ENACTMENT OF THE APPRENTICESHIP ORDINANCE IN 1976 AND THAT THERE ARE OVER 10 000 VALID REGISTERED APPRENTICES RECEIVING TRAINING IN SOME 3 100 FIRMS PRESENTLY.
MR HAYES EMPHASISED THAT THE APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME INCORPORATES BOTH PLANNED ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND RELATED TECHNICAL EDUCATION, DURING WHICH THE APPRENTICES ARE EXPOSED TO INDUSTRIAL PRESSURE AND CONDITIONS, AND ARE MEANINGFULLY AND PRODUCTIVELY EMPLOYED.
HE TOLD THE SEMINAR THAT THERE ARE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO SCHOOL GRADUATES IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES INCLUDING BUILDING AND CIVIL ENGINEERING, ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS, MACHINE SHOP AND METAL WORKING AND PLASTICS.
APPRENTICES WILL RECEIVE PART-TIME DAY RELEASE COMPLEMENTARY TECHNICAL EDUCATION EITHER AT THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES OR THE POLYTECHNIC, HE SAID.
LAST YEAR GOVERNMENT SPENT THROUGH THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL WHICH MANAGES THE FIVE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES, ABOUT S40 MILLION ON RECURRENT COST ALONE TO RUN PART-TIME DAY RELEASE COURSES FOR APPRENTICES.
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SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 1983
5
NEW MARKET COMPLEX PLANNED FOR KENNEDY TOWN WHOLESALERS
OPERATORS AT THE KENNEDY TOWN WHOLESALE MARKET WHO SUPPLIED SOME 100 000 TONNES OF VEGETABLES WORTH $250 MILLION TO HONG KONG ISLAND WOULD BE ACCOMMODATED LATER AT A GOVERNMENT WHOLESALE MARKET COMPLEX PLANNED FOR THE WESTERN RECLAMATION, THE DIRECTOR CF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR JOHN RIDDELL-SWAN SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
DR RIDDELL-SWAN WAS SPEAKING AT THE INCEPTION CEREMONY OF THE ANGLO-CHINESE VEGETABLE WHOLESALE MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION WHOSE MEMBERS WERE MOSTLY VEGETABLE WHOLESALERS OPERATING AT THE MARKET.
DR RIDDELL-SWAN ALSO SAID THAT IN PLANNING THE PROJECT, DISCUSSION WITH THE KENNEDY TOWN WHOLESALERS HAD BEEN MOST HELPFUL AND ASSURED THEM THAT THEIR VIEWS WOULD BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN THE COMPLEX IS BEING BUILT.
WHILE OFFICIATING THE OATH-TAKING CEREMONY OF THE FIRST EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE ASSOCIATION, DR RIDDELL-SWAN ADDED: ♦THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ORGANISATION WITH ITS OBJECTIVE OF LOOKING AFTER THE INTERESTS OF ITS MEMBERS WOULD DEFINITELY HELP TO PROMOTE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT AND THE BUSINESS OF THE WHOLESALE VEGETABLE TRADE. IT WOULD ALSO BE OF GREAT BENEFIT TO THE CONSUMERS WHO HAVE BEEN RELYING ON YOU FOR THEIR FRESH VEGETABLES.*
- - G - -
TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT NEW OFFICES * * X *
FOUR REGIONAL DIVISIONS OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ARE BEING MOVED INTO NEW OFFICES ON THE 25TH FLOOR OF PARK-IN COMMERCIAL CENTRE IN DUNDAS STREET, KOWLOON, TODAY (MARCH 5).
THEY ARE THE TWO TRAFFIC ENGINEERING DIVISIONS AND TWO TRANSPORT OPERATIONS DIVISIONS FOR KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE FOUR DIVISIONS WILL OPERATE IN THE NEW OFFICES FROM MONDAY (MARCH 7) AND THEIR NEW TELEPHONE NUMBER WILL BE 3-309944.
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SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 1983
4
CLEAN HK CAMPAIGN BANNERS AT NT PICNIC SPOTS
* * * *
LARGE BANNERS WITH THE +EYES+ OF THE CLEAN HONG KONG CAMPAIGN IMPRINTED ON THEM HAVE BEEN PUT UP AT 12 POPULAR PICNIC SPOTS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND ON OUTLYING ISLANDS BY THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NTSD SAID THE BANNERS, WITH THE MESSAGE +DON’T SPOIL THE PICNIC SPOTS WITH RUBBISH+ ARE AIMED AT AROUSING PICNICKERS, HIKERS AND CAMPERS TO HELP KEEP THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE COUNTRYSIDE.
MEASURING NINE METRES BY ONE METRE, THE BANNERS ARE MOUNTED AT VANTAGE POINTS AT ACCESS ROADS LEADING TO SHING MUN RESERVOIR AT TSUEN WAN, TAI PO KAU REST GARDEN AND BRIDE’S POOL IN TAI PO, AND OTHER PICNIC SPOTS AT SHA TIN, TUEN MUN, YUEN LONG, SAI KUNG, NORTH DISTRICT, MUI WO ON LANTAU ISLAND AND CHEUNG CHAU ISLAND.
THE SPOKESMAN URGED HOLIDAY-MAKERS TO BRING ALONG WITH THEM A PLASTIC BAG TO KEEP ALL THEIR REFUSE AND DISPOSE OF THEM PROPERLY WHILE GOING ON THEIR OUTINGS.
HE WARNED THAT LITTERING OFFENDERS MIGHT BE FINED A MAXIMUM OF 35 OOO AND JAILED FOR SIX MONTHS.
BUS TERMINUS PROPOSED
* * * *
THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO CONSTRUCT A BUS TERMINUS AT THE JUNCTION OF NGAU TAU KOK ROAD AND CHUN WAH ROAD AND TWO FOOTBRIDGES ACROSS THESE ROADS AS PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS.
AS PART OF THE PROJECT, A CANTEEN AND A PUBLIC TOILET WILL ALSO BE BUILT.
TO FACILITATE THE WORK, IT IS NECESSARY TO RESITE A PLAYGROUND, TO REMOVE A PUBLIC LIGHT BUS LAY-BY AND TO DECK PART OF A NULLAH IN THE AREA.
A NOTICE CONCERNING THE PROPOSED PROJECT WAS PUBLISHED IN THE LATEST GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
A PLAN SHOWING THE AFFECTED AREAS CAN BE SEEN AT THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING, MAIN ENTRANCE LOBBY! THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT OFFICE, KWUN TONG DISTRICT BRANCH OFFICES BUILDING, TUNG YAN STREET, KWUN TONG! AND THE KOWLOON EAST DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, 405, NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON.
ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSAL MUST BE SENT TO THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS WITHIN 60 DAYS.
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/5 ......
SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 1983
5
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE IN KOWLOON TONG
*****
A SECTION OF DORSET CRESCENT IN KOWLOON TONG WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM 10 AM ON TUESDAY (MARCH 8) FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CORNWALL STREET-WATERLOO ROAD-JUNCTION ROAD INTERCHANGE.
THE SECTION IS BETWEEN CORNWALL STREET AND A POINT 60 METRES WEST OF THE JUNCTION OF DORSET CRESCENT WITH WATERLOO ROAD.
DURING THE CLOSURE, WHICH WILL LAST ABOUT TWO MONTHS, TRAFFIC ON SOMERSET ROAD BETV EEN WATERLOO ROAD AND DEVON ROAD WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE WAY WESTBOUND, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SAID TOI AY (SATURDAY).
TRAFFIC ON DEVON ROAD BETWEEN SOMERSET ROAD AND DORSET CRESCENT WILL BE RE-ROUTED OKE WAY NORTHBOUND.
KMB ROUTE NO. 7 WILL RUN VIA SOMERSET ROAD AND DEVON ROAD INSTEAD OF DORSET CRESCENT, AND ITS KOWLOON TONG TERMINUS WILL BE MOVED TO DEVON ROAD NEAR CORNWALL STREET.
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HONG KONG PHILHARMONIC TO PLAY IN TSUEN WAN
' * M *
MUSIC LOVERS IN TSUEN WAN WILL BE TREATED TO A CONCERT FEATURING THE HONG KONG PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA LATER THIS MONTH.
THE CONCERT IS A JOINT PRESENTATION BY THE CULTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE HONG KONG PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY AND SPONSORED BY THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT BOARD.
IT WILL BE HELD AT THE TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL ON MARCH 27 AT 8 PM.
THE CONDUCTOR WILL BE MR MAXIM SHOSTAKOVICH AND THE SOLOIST, NR RUBEN GONZALEZ.
PROGRAMME FOR THE CONCERT WILL INCLUDE OVERTURE: RIENZI BY WAGNER A VIOLIN CONCERTO BY KHATCHATURI AN; AND SYMPHONY NO. 9 IN E MINOR, OP. 95 (FROM THE NEW WORLD) BY DVORAK.
TICKETS AT $5, $10, $15 AND $20 ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL BOX OFFICE.
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FIRING PRACTICE * * * *
FIRING PRACTICE WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE HA TSUEN-CASTLE PEAK RANGE ON THURSDAY (MARCH 10).
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WARNED NOT TO ENTER THE AREA WHEN RED FLAGS ARE FLYING.
THE PRACTICE TIME IS FROM 8 AM TO 4.33 PM.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
• \
SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO,
STRATEGY TO ENHANCE ROAD SAFETY................................ 1
INDUSTRIAL MISSION TO CALIFORNIA A SUCCESS .................... 2
SAFETY MEASURES IN SCHOOL LABORATORIES......................... 3
TENDERS INVITED FOR OPERATING RESTAURANT ...................... 4
LAND FORMATION FOR FANLING TOWN CENTRE......................... 4
WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT LUNAR NEW YEAR FUN FAIR.............. 5
SPORTS FESTIVAL ENDS IN CARNIVAL .............................. 6
FUND-RAISING WALK IN SOUTHERN.................................. 6
URBAN CLEARWAYS IN HO MAN TIN ................................. 7
MORE PARKING METERS IN WONG TAI SIN ........................... 7
WATER CUT IN LAI CHI KOK....................................... 7
SUNDAY,/MARCH 6, 1983
1
STRATEGY TO ENHANCE ROAD SAFETY
*****
THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE ITS DRIVE TO IMPLEMENT A COMPREHENSIVE ROAD SAFETY STRATEGY TO FURTHER ENHANCE ROAD SAFETY, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR ALAN SCOTT, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE ROAD SAFETY PATROLS CF THE ROAD SAFETY ASSOCIATION AT VICTORIA PARK, MR SCOTT SAID A MAIN ELEMENT IN THE STRATEGY WAS TO TACKLE PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENTS.
♦FROM THE END OF THIS MONTH THERE WILL BE A PROGRAMME CONCENTRATING PARTICULARLY ON CHILDREN IN THE FIVE TO 11 AGE GROUP. PUBLICITY EFFORTS TO SHOW THE CORRECT, SAFE WAY TO CROSS A ROAD, WILL BE BACKED UP BY PROVIDING MORE ROAD SAFETY EDUCATION IN THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM, PARTICULARLY BY THE INTRODUCTION THIS YEAR OF ROAD SAFETY EDUCATION KITS AND A FILM.
♦THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN WHEN THEY ARE PASSENGERS IN SCHOOL BUSES MUST ALSO BE REMEMBERED AND THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS URGING OPERATORS OF KINDERGARTENS TO PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE SAFETY OF SCHOOL CHILDREN TRAVELLING TO AND FROM SCHOOL,♦ HE SAID.
MR SCOTT SAID THE GOVERNMENT ALSO PLANNED TO PROVIDE A SECOND ROAD SAFETY TOWN IN NORTH POINT FOLLOWING THE FIRST ONE IN SAU MAU PING.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, HE SAID, A PROGRAMME FOR MOBILE ROAD SAFETY TOWNS WOULD BE INTRODUCED NEXT MONTH FOR LARGE ESTATES TO ENABLE MORE CHILDREN TO LEARN AND UNDERSTAND ROAD SAFETY SKILLS.
MR SCOTT POINTED OUT THAT A USEFUL OPPORTUNITY WOULD ARISE NEXT MONTH WHEN THE ROAD SAFETY DIVISION OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WOULD BEGIN COMPUTER PLOTTING TO IDENTIFY ACCIDENT BLACK SPOTS FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN.
♦WHEN THE PROBLEM AREAS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED, THE ROAD SAFETY ASSOCIATION CAN REVIEW ITS DISTRIBUTION OF PATROLS AND CONCENTRATE ITS PROMOTIONAL EFFORTS ON AREAS WHERE CROSSING PATROLS ARE NEEDED MOST,+ HE SAID.
ON PROGRESS BEING MADE IN ROAD SAFETY, MR SCOTT SAID FATALITIES PER 1OO 000 POPULATION DECLINED FROM 9.3 IN 1981 TO 8.7 IN 1982.
ALTHOUGH TOTAL CASUALTIES AT 715 PER 10 000 VEHICLES REMAINED STEADY BETWEEN 1981 AND 1982, THIS WAS A CONSIDERABLE IMPROVEMENT OVER FIVE YEARS AGO WHEN THERE WERE 861 CASUALTIES FOR EVERY 10 000 VEHICLES, HE ADDED.
SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 1983
- 2 -
INDUSTRIAL MISSION TO CALIFORNIA A SUCCESS * * * *
SEVERAL INDUSTRIAL PROJECTS INVOLVING CO-OPERATICN BETWEEN
HONG KONG AND U.S. INTERESTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE CONCLUDED FOLLOWING RECENT VISIT TO CALIFORNIA BY AN INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT MISSION ORGANISED BY THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT.
THE INDUSTRIALISTS WHO HAVE RETURNED FROM THE MISSION ARE NOW DISCUSSING FURTHER WAYS OF COOPERATING WITH THEIR POTENTIAL PARTNERS WHOM THEY MET IN THE SILICON VALLEY OF CALIFORNIA.
A TOTAL OF NINE HONG KONG INDUSTRIALISTS TOGETHER WITH
DR ANDREW CHUANG, THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF CHUANGS’S (HOLDINGS) LTD? MR VIC MILLER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION; MR ROBERT ASHWORTH, PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT OF THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT’S SAN FRANCISCO INDUSTRIAL PROMOTION OFFICE, PARTICIPATED IN THE MISSION LED BY MR PAUL WONG, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY.
♦THIS WAS THE FIRST OF A SERIES OF MISSIONS WE HAVE PLANNED WITH PARTICIPATION BY LOCAL INDUSTRIALISTS. A MISSION HAS JUST RETURNED FROM JAPAN OVER THE WEEKEND AND OTHER MISSIONS HAVE BEEN SCHEDULED TO VISIT SWEDEN AND THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY,♦ hfi WONG SAID.
♦WE MADE KNOWN TO THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY IN THE SILICON VALLEY THE VALUE OF HONG KONG AS A BASE FOR OFFSHORE MANUFACTURING INVESTMENTS AND MET COMPANIES INTERESTED IN DISCUSSING JOINT OPERATIONS IN HONG KONG.+
AT A SEMINAR IN THE SILICON VALLEY, MR WONG, DR CHUANG AND MR MILLER DISCUSSED WITH MORE THAN THIRTY EXECUTIVES FROM U.S. ELECTRONICS FIRMS THE INVESTMENT CLIMATE AND OTHER FACTORS CONCERNING INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENTS IN HONG KONG.
A SERIES OF INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS WERE ALSO ORGANISED TO ENABLE THE MISSION MEMBERS TO DISCUSS WITH THEIR POTENTIAL PARTNERS JOINT VENTURE PRODUCTION OF HIGH TECHNOLOGY ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS IN HONG KONG.
THE MISSION ALSO VISITED THE STANFORD RESEARCH INSTITUTE (SRI) WHERE THEY WERE BRIEFED BY SEVERAL SPECIALISTS ON THE DEVELOPMENT CF THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY, ESPECIALLY OF SEMI-CONDUCTORS AND CABLE TV SYSTEMS.
THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIALISTS FOUND THAT THE SR I - A MAJOR NON-PROFIT MAKING RESEARCH ORGANISATION WITH SOME 3 OOO STAFF ENGAGED IN RESEARCH RELATING TO LIFE SCIENCES, ENGINEERING AND ECONOMICS - COULD BE AN EXCELLENT SOURCE OF SUPPORT FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN DEVELOPING NEW PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGIES.
/♦THE MISSION .......
SUNDAY, MUCH t>, iycj
- 3 -
♦THE MISSION WAS A SUCCESS. IT GAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL INDUSTRIALISTS INTERESTED IN SECURING NEW TECHNOLOGY TO MEET FACE TO FACE WITH POTENTIAL JOINT VENTURE PARTNERS AND STUDY THEIR FACILITIES, SO THAT THEY CAN GAIN FIRST-HAND INFORMATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE TYPE OF OPERATIONS THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT,+ DR CHUANG SAID.
+THESE COMPANIES INCLUDE MANUFACTURERS OF MINI-COMPUTERS, COMPUTER PERIPHERALS AS WELL AS TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT WHICH HAVE GREAT DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL IN HONG KONG,* DR CHUANG ADDED.
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SAFETY MEASURES IN SCHOOL LABORATORIES
* * * *
SUPERVISORS, SCHOOL HEADS, SCIENCE TEACHERS AND LABORATORY TECHNICIANS ARE URGED TO PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO SAFETY IN SCHOOL LABORATORIES.
IF A SCIENCE LABORATORY IS USED AS A CLASSROOM FOR NON-SCIENCE LESSONS DUE TO FLOATING CLASS ARRANGEMENTS, THE TEACHER INVOLVED SHOULD SEE TO IT THAT THE STUDENTS DO NOT ENTER THE LABORATORY UNLESS HE IS PRESENT AND THAT THEY DO NOT DISTURB OR REMOVE ANY OF THE SCIENCE MATERIALS IN THE LABORATORY.
EVERY LABORATORY SHOULD BE EQUIPPED WITH AT LEAST ONE APPROPRIATE FIRE EXTINGUISHER WHICH IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE, A FIRE BLANKET AND A BUCKET OF SAND, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
+WHENEVER A LABORATORY IS NOT IN USE, ITS GAS AND ELECTRICITY SUPPLIES SHOULD BE SWITCHED OFF AT THE MAINS,* HE ADDED.
THE SPOKESMAN ALSO SAID THAT STUDENTS SHOULD BE TAUGHT HOW TO EVACUATE A LABORATORY IN THE MOST EFFECTIVE MANNER IN THE EVENT OF FIRE. +IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT ANY SUCH EVACUATION SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT IN AN ORDERLY, CONTROLLED MANNER, AND THAT EVERYTHING BE DONE TO AVOID PANIC AMONGST STUDENTS,* HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN ADVISED SCHOOLS TO KEEP ONE OF THE TWO EXIT DOORS OF THE LABORATORY UNLOCKED WHILE PRACTICAL LESSONS ARE IN PROGRESS. ^FURTHERMORE, SCHOOLS ARE REMINDED THAT THE PASSAGES FOR THE LABORATORY EXITS SHOULD ALWAYS BE KEPT CLEAR OF OBSTACLES.*
THE ATTENTION OF SCIENCE TEACHERS AND LABORATORY TECHNICIANS IS DRAWN TO THE STORAGE OF POTASSIUM AND SODIUM METALS IN THEIR LABORATORIES. +THESE METALS SHOULD BE COVERED WITH PARAFFIN IN WELL-SEALED GLASS BOTTLES IN METAL CONTAINER AND STORED DRY,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
IN THIS CONNECTION, SCIENCE TEACHERS AND LABORATORY TECHNICIANS WERE ASKED TO TAKE NOTE OF THE +SAFETY IN THE LABORATORY* PAMPHLET WHICH WAS PUBLISHED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND DISTRIBUTED TO SCHOOLS PREVIOUSLY.
ENQUIRIES ON LABORATORY SAFETY AND REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE +SAFETY IN THE LABORATORY* PAMPHLET CAN BE MADE TO THE SCIENCE SUBJECT SECTION, ADVISORY INSPECTORATE, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, LEE GARDENS, HYSAN AVENUE, HONG KONG (TEL. 5-8392463 OR 5-8392469). _____0________
/4......
SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 1983
- 4 -
TENDERS INVITED FOR OPERATING RESTAURANT
* * * *
TENDERS ARE BEING INVITED FOR THE OPERATION OF A GENERAL RESTAURANT AT SHA TIN JOCKEY CLUB PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL IN THE NEW TERRITORIES. ' .
MORE THAN 300 000 BATHERS MADE USE OF THE POOL LAST YEAR, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
NEXT TO THE SWIMMING POOL COMPLEX ARE SQUASH COURTS, TENNIS COURTS AND VARIOUS RECREATIONAL FACILITIES WHICH REGULARLY ATTRACT LARGE NUMBERS OF SPORTSMEN AND PEOPLE ENJOYING THEIR LEISURE, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDER MAY OPERATE THE RESTAURANT FROM MAY 1 THIS YEAR TO FEBRUARY 28, 1986.
TENDER FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE SOUTH REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS OF THE NTSD ON THE 10TH FLOOR OF FOURSEAS BUILDING, 208-212 NATHAN ROAD, TSIM SHA TSUI.
COMPLETED FORMS MUST BE PLACED IN THE SECRETARIAT TENDER BOX LOCATED IN THE LIFT LOBBY ON THE LOWER GROUND FLOOR OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES (EAST WING), LOWER ALBERT ROAD, BEFORE NOON ON MARCH 18 (FRIDAY).
FURTHER DETAILS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE SOUTH REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS OF THE NTSD ON TELEPHONE 3-7211837.
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LAND FORMATION FOR FANLING TOWN CENTRE * * * *
THE TAI PO AND FANLING DEVELOPMENT OFFICE OF THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR A PROJECT WHICH FORMS PART OF THE CONTINUING PROGRAMME FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF FANLING NEW TOWN.
THE PROJECT INVOLVES THE FORMATION OF 19.5 HECTARES OF LAND NEAR THE SHEUNG SHU I RAILWAY STATION.
THE NEW LAND WILL BE DEVELOPED AS A TOWN CENTRE WHICH WILL INCLUDE COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, A PUBLIC TRANSPORT INTERCHANGE, SCHOOLS, A MARKET COMPLEX, COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND OPEN SPACES.
WORK ON THE PROJECT WILL START IN JUNE AND IS EXPECTED TO TAKE ABOUT 18 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
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SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 1983
- 5 -
WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT LUNAR NEW YEAR FUN FAIR *****
MORE THAN 4 500 CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS HAD AN AFTERNOON CF FUN AND GAMES AT THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT’S 21ST ANNUAL LUNAR NEW YEAR CHILDREN’S FUN FAIR TODAY (SUNDAY).
THE DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, MR TOM TOMLINSON, AND HIS WIFE MRS JUNE TOMLINSON OFFICIATED AT THE OPENING CEREMONY HELD AT WAH YAN COLLEGE, KOWLOON.
THE PROGRAMME INCLUDED SONGS AND DANCES, ACROBATIC AND MAGIC SHOWS, LION DANCES AND BAND PERFORMANCES.
THE +CANNON BALL EXPRESS* WAS THERE AS IN PREVIOUS YEARS TO TAKE CHILDREN ROUND THE FUN FAIR GROUNDS.
NINETEEN GAMES STALLS WERE ORGANISED BY VARIOUS DIVISIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT.
MR TOMLINSON PRESENTED THE HONG KONG WATERWORKS MERIT AWARDS TO FOUR STAFF MEMBERS OF THE DEPARTMENT.
THE AWARD TAKES THE FORM OF A SILVER MEDAL INCORPORATING THE WATERWORKS CREST AND IS PRESENTED ANNUALLY TO OFFICERS OF THE RANK OF WORKS SUPERVISOR AND BELOW WHO HAVE DURING THE PREVIOUS YEAR SHOWN THEMSELVES TO BE WORTHY OF SPECIAL RECOGNITION EITHER ON THE BASIS OF GENERAL MERIT AND ATTENTION TO DUTIES, OR ON THE BASIS OF NOTEWORTHY CONDUCT OR PERFORMANCE OF DUTIES IN A PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCE.
THE RECIPIENTS WERE MR NG MOO OF WASTE DETECTION (ISLAND DIVISION), MR CHIU SHING OF HEADWORKS (ISLAND DIVISION) AND M? YEUNG NAM-KWONG AND MR WONG BING OF MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL DIVISION (OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE).
MR TOMLINSON ALSO PRESENTED LONG SERVICE CERTIFICATES TO hR YEE CHIW-KEE AND MR HO CHI-KEUNG WHO WERE RETIRING AFTER A COMBINED SERVICE OF 59 YEARS WITH THE DEPARTMENT.
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, MR WONG KWOK-LAI, WHO IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE WATERWORKS WELFARE FUND COMMITTEE, ORGANISER OF THE FUN FAIR, AND HIS WIFE OFFICIATED AT THE CEREMONY.
MR CHAN PUI-WAH, SENIOR ENGINEER (DESIGN) OF THE DEPARTMENT, WAS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FUN FAIR ORGANISING COMMITTEE.
0
/6........
SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 1983
6
SPORTS FESTIVAL ENDS IN CARNIVAL
* * * *
THE JUST CONCLUDED TWO-WEEK SHAM SHU I PO SPORTS FESTIVAL HAD ATTRACTED MORE THAN 20 000 PEOPLE ATTENDING THE 20-PLUS EVENTS, CHAIRMAN OF THE FESTIVAL COMMITTEE, MR CHOW KWEN-LIM, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
SPEAKING AT A CLOSING CEREMONY AT THE FA HUI PARK, MR CHOW SAID: +THIS ATTENDANCE RATE DEMONSTRATES FULLY THE LOCAL RESIDENTS HIGH COMMUNITY SPIRIT AS WELL AS THEIR GREAT INTEREST IN SPORTS.♦
HE THANKED THE LOCAL DISTRICT BOARD, URBAN COUNCIL, RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT, SHAM SHU I PO SPORTS ASSOCIATION AND OTHER ASSOCIATIONS FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN ORGANISING THE DISTRICT’S FIRST SPORTS FESTIVAL.
HE ALSO APPEALED TO SHAM SHU I PO RESIDENTS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS ON MARCH 8 TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN THEIR DISTRICT IDENTITY BY CASTING THEIR VOTES.
THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR STEPHEN IP, TOGETHER WITH MR CHOW PRESENTED TROPHIES AND SOUVENIRS TO WINNERS AND PARTICIPANTS IN THE VARIOUS EVENTS OF THE SPORTS FESTIVAL.
THE CLOSING CEREMONY WAS FOLLOWED BY A THREE-HOUR CARNIVAL FEATURING A TELEMATCH, A WALK FOR THE ELDERLY, AND BOWLING AND BASKETBALL COMPETITIONS.
AN EXHIBITION ON THE URBAN COUNCIL’S FACILITIES IN THE DISTRICT WAS ALSO HELD.
0 --------
FUND-RAISING WALK IN SOUTHERN ******
A FUND-RAISING WALK FOR THE EBENEZER SCHOOL AND HOME FOR THE BLIND WILL BE HELD AT THE POKFULAM COUNTRY PARK ON SUNDAY (MARCH 13).
THE WALK WILL START AT 10 AM AT THE LADY MACLEHOSE POKFULAM PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED AND ABLE-BODIED (PHAB) CENTRE, PASS THE POKFULAM COUNTRY PARK ALONG POKFULAM RESERVOIR ROAD AND BACK TO THE PHAB CENTRE VIA CHI FU ROAD AND POKFULAM ROAD.
SPONSORS CARDS FOR THE WALK ARE AVAILABLE AT THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE POKFULAM AREA COMMITTEE WHO IS ORGANISING THE FUNCTION.
SUNDAY, MARCH 6, 1983
7
URBAN CLEARWAYS IN HO MAN TIN * * * *
CLEARWAY RESTRICTIONS WILL BE INTRODUCED IN HO MAN TIN FROM 10 AM ON TUESDAY (MARCH 8) TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW IN THE AREA, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
THE ARRANGEMENT COVERS THE WESTBOUND SECTION OF PUI CHING ROAD FROM SHEUNG HING STREET TO WATERLOO ROAD AND THE SOUTHBOUND SECTION OF WATERLOO ROAD NEAR ITS JUNCTION WITH PUI CHING ROAD.
THE RESTRICTION HOURS WILL BE FROM 7 AM TO 7 PM DAILY, WHEN NO VEHICLE WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS.
-----o------
MORE PARKING METERS IN WONG TAI SIN
X X X
A TOTAL OF 264 PARKING METERS WILL BE INSTALLED IN WONG TAI SIN TO REGULATE THE USE OF ON-STREET PARKING SPACES.
THE METERS ALONG WAN FUNG STREET, NGAN FUNG STREET, KAM FUNG STREET AND YUK WAH CRESCENT WILL BE IN OPERATION FROM 9 AM ON TUESDAY (MARCH 8) WHILE THOSE ON FEI FUNG STREET, MING FUNG STREET, TSUI FUNG STREET AND SHATIN PASS ROAD WILL START OPERATION FROM 9 AM ON WEDNESDAY (MARCH 9).
-----0------
WATER CUT IN LAI CHI KOK X X *
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO SOME PREMISES IN LAI CHI KOK WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR TEN HOURS FROM 9 PM ON THURSDAY (MARCH 10) TO 7 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR MAINS WORK.
THE AFFECTED AREA IS BOUNDED BY THE SOUTH SIDE OF LAI CHI KOK ROAD FROM HING WAH STREET TO MEI FOO SUN CHUEN, AND WILL INCLUDE CHEUNG SHA WAN TEMPORARY WHOLESALE POULTRY MARKET, LAI CHI KOK VEGETABLE WHOLESALE MARKET, CHEUNG SHA WAN RESITE SeA LAI CHI KOK ROAD SHIPYARD, LAI CHI KOK FIRE STATION, LAI CHI KOK BUS DEPOT, CHUI HING COMPANY CONSTRUCTION SITE OFFICE AND LAI CHI KOK TELEPHONE EXCHANGE STATION.
AN AREA OF MEI FOO SUN CHUEN BETWEEN MOUNT STERLING MALL AND THE SEA FRONT, INCLUDING KAM PIK, MEIDON, WORLD AND HARVEST RESTAURANTS WILL ALSO BE AFFECTED.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
MONDAY, MARCH 7, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
POLLING DAY TOMORROW ........................................... 1
REFORMS TO COPE WITH CHANGING SOCIETY........................... 2
PEOPLE URGED TO GO OUT AND VOTE................................. 3
JANUARY MONEY SUPPLY AND FINANCIAL STATISTICS .................. 4
LESS TRANSPORT COMPLAINTS DURING SCHOOL HOLIDAYS ............... 7
APPLICATIONS INVITED SOON FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS .................. 8
NEV FRESH WATER SERVICE RESERVOIR FOR NORTH POINT .............. 8
THAI CORRECTIONAL OFFICIALS VISIT HK ........................... 9
TECHNICAL INSTITUTE STUDENTS WIN AWARDS ........................ 9
YAU MA TEI WATER LEAKAGE TESTS ................................ 10
WATER FIGURES
10
MONDAY, MARCH 7, 1983
1
POLLING DAY TOMORROW * * *
THE BIGGEST EVER URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD TOMORROW (TUESDAY) WHEN MORE THAN 568 OOO REGISTERED ELECTORS wILL BE ABLE TO VOTE FOR A CANDIDATE OF THEIR CHOICE TO REPRESENT THEIR INDIVIDUAL CONSTITUENCY ON THE COUNCIL.
VOTING WILL LAST 16 HOURS, FROM 7 AM TO 11 PM, AT ALL THE 134 POLLING STATIONS IN THE 12 CONSTITUENCIES WHERE ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD.
THE 12 CONSTITUENCIES ARE CENTRAL AND WESTERN, NORTH POINT, SHAU KEI WAN, SOUTHERN, KOWLOON CITY WEST, KOWLOON CITY EAST, KWUN TONG EAST, MONG KOK, SHAM SHU I PO EAST, SHAM SHU I PO WEST, WONG TAI SIN NORTH AND YAU MA TEI.
AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, DENIS BRAY, URGED ALL REGISTERED VOTERS IN THE 12 CONSTITUENCIES TO CAST THEIR VOTES AT TOMORROW’S ELECTIONS.
VOTING WILL BE A SIMPLE PROCESS AND SHOULD NOT TAKE MORE THAN A FEW MINUTES.
♦ALL THAT AN ELECTOR NEEDS TO DO IS TO GO TO HIS POLLING STATION ANY TIME BETWEEN 7 AM AND 11 PM TOMORROW AND SHOW HIS IDENTITY CARD TO THE POLLING STAFF,+ HE SAID.
+AFTER VERIFICATION OF THE ELECTOR’S IDENTITY, HE WILL BE GIVEN A BALLOT PAPER ON WHICH TO RECORD HIS VOTE.
♦THE CORRECT WAY TO VOTE IS TO MARK A CROSS (X) ON THE BALLOT PAPER IN THE SPACE PROVIDED FOR THAT PURPOSE. ALL ELECTORS SHOULD NOTE THAT THEY CANNOT VOTE FOR MORE THAN ONE CANDIDATE.
♦IF A MISTAKE IS MADE ON A BALLOT PAPER, THE ELECTOR SHOULD RETURN IT TO THE PRESIDING OFFICER WHO WILL CANCEL IT AND GIVE HIM A FRESH BALLOT PAPER.
♦VOTING IS BY SECRET BALLOT. EXCEPT IN THE CASE OF HANDICAPPED ELECTORS WHO WILL BE ASSISTED BY PRESIDING OFFICERS, NO ONE WILL KNOW FOR wHICH CANDIDATE AN ELECTOR HAS GIVEN HIS VOTE.
♦THE PRESIDING OFFICER OF A POLLING STATION WILL ASSIST ELECTORS WHO ARE BLIND, ILLITERATE OR PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED. ALL PRESIDING OFFICERS ARE BOUND BY OATH TO MAINTAIN SECRECY OF VOTING.+
MR BRAY SAID ALL THE REGISTERED VOTERS IN THE 12 CONSTITUENCIES SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A POLL CARD FROM THE REGISTRATION OFFICER TELLING THEM WHERE THEIR POLLING STATIONS ARE.
/L? .uIY............
WNDAY, MAttCH 7, 198 3
2 -
IF ANY ELECTOR IN THESE 12 CONSTITUENCIES IS IN ANY DOUBT ABOUT HIS POLLING STATION, HE CAN TELEPHONE THE REGISTRATION OFFICER AT 5-270380 OR 5-270369 QUOTING HIS HONG KONG IDENTITY CARD NUMBER AND HE WILL BE ADVISED.
♦THE POLL CARD, WHICH SERVES TO INFORM THE ELECTOR OF THE LOCATION OF HIS POLLING STATION, IS NOT ESSENTIAL ALTHOUGH IT WILL CERTAINLY BE OF HELP TO POLLING STAFF.+
MR BRAY ALSO APPEALED TO CANDIDATES AND THEIR AGENTS TO AVOID EXCESSIVE LOBBYING OF ELECTORS AT THE ENTRANCE OF POLLING STATIONS TO AVOID OBSTRUCTION.
COUNTING OF VOTES WILL BEGIN AT EIGHT COUNTING CENTRES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER THE CLOSE OF POLL AT 11 PM.
FORTY-ONE CANDIDATES WERE NOMINATED TO CONTEST 15 SEATS --ONE FOR EACH OF THE 15 CONSTITUENCIES.
HOWEVER, MR BRAY POINTED OUT THERE WOULD BE NO ELECTIONS IN THREE CONSTITUENCIES, NAMELY WAN CHAI, KW'UN TONG WEST AND WONG TAI SIN SOUTH.
♦THIS IS BECAUSE ONLY ONE CANDIDATE wAS NOMINATED IN EACH OF THESE CONSTITUENCIES AND THE THREE HAVE BEEN DECLARED ELECTED UNOPPOSED,* HE SAID.
------j-------
REFORMS TO COPE WITH CHANGING SOCIETY * * * *
REFORMS OF GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION TO ADAPT TO THE CHANGING WORLD OF HONG KONG WILL HAVE BEEN COMPLETED WITH TOMORROW’S URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, NR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
BY THEN, HE SAID, NOT ONLY WOULD EVERYONE IN HONG KONG BE REPRESENTED BY A DISTRICT BOARD, BUT DISTRICT BOARDS IN THE URBAN AREA WOULD BE LINKED TO THE URBAN COUNCIL. DISTRICT BOARDS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES ON THE OTHER HAND WERE LINKED TO THE HEUNG YEE KUK THROUGH THE CHAIRMEN OF THE RURAL COMMITTEES.
SPEAKING AT THE MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF NEW TERRITORIES THIS EVENING, MR AKERS-JONES SAID THERE HAD BEEN CONSTANT CHANGEo IN THE LAST 40 YEARS, CAUSING A DISINTEGRATION OF THE COMMUNITY.
♦THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT BEEN INDIFFERENT TO THE NEED TO ADJUST GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION AND TO INTRODUCE NEW WAYS OF BRINGING OUR PEOPLE TOGETHER,+ HE SAID.
/IK 1968, .........
MONDAY, iuuiCH 7, 1?83
- 3 -
IN 1968, HE RECALLED, THE DISTRICT OFFICER SYSTEM OF THE RURAL AREAS WAS INTRODUCED TO THE URBAN DISTRICTS, MAKING THE GOVERNMENT MORE ACCESSIBLE TO THE MAN IN THE STREET AND MOBILISING THE PUBLIC TO CLEAN HONG KONG, FIGHT CRIME, CORRUPTION AND DRUGS.
+AND THIS IN TURN BEGAN TO REBUILD THE COMMUNITY AND TO USE OLD VIRTUES TO DEVELOP MORE COHERENT AND INTEGRATED RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ITS VARIOUS DISPARATE ELEMENTS,+ HE ADDED.
NOW ALL DISTRICT OFFICERS IN BOTH RURAL AND URBAN AREAS WERE COMBINED IN ONE DEPARTMENT AND WERE AELE TO DEVELOP A COMMON APPROACH TO THE PROBLEMS THAT AFFECTED THE DAILY LIVES, HE SAID.
+THUS THE COMMUNITY WHICH DISINTEGRATED 40 YEARS AGO HAS NOW KEN RE-INTEGRATED IN A DIFFERENT FORM.
*A FORM WHICH IS ADAPTED TO HIGH-RISE AND HIGH-DENSITY LIVING? A FORM WHICH RECOGNISES THE NEED FOR MUTUAL ASSISTANCE, UNITED EFFORT AND RESPECT FOR THE CONSENSUS IN FACING AND RESOLVING THE PROBLEMS OF TODAY AND TOMORROW,♦ HE SAID.
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PEOPLE URGED TO GO OUT AND VOTE * * * *
UNOFFICIAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, MR WONG LAM, TODAY (MONDAY) APPEALED TO ALL REGISTERED VOTERS TO EXERCISE THEIR CIVIC RIGHT ANu TO VOTE IN TOMORROW’S URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS.
IN A TELEVISED APPEAL THROUGH RTHK’S +ACCESS+ PROGRAMME THIS EVENING. MR WONG NOTED THAT ABOUT 568 300 PERSONS, INCLUDING THOSE REGISTERED FOR THE URBAN DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS LAST SEPTEMBER, WERE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN THE NEW-STYLE CONSTITUENCY-BASED ELECTION^.
THE MORE VOTERS THERE WERE, THE MORE REPRESENTATIVE THE ELECTED COUNCILLORS WOULD BE, HE SAID.
♦ IF YOU ARE SATISFIED WITH THE WORK OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, YOU WILL CERTAINLY SUPPORT THE ELECTIONS.
+AND IF YOU THINK THERE IS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT IN THE WORK OF THE COUNCIL, YOU MUST VOTE AND CHOOSE THE RIGHT PERSON TO UNDERTAKE THIS IMPORTANT TASK,* HE SAID.
MR WONG SAID THE COUNCIL’S WORK IS CLOSELY RELATED TO THE DAILY LIFE OF EVERYONE IN HONG KONG. IT PROVIDES A wI DE RANGE OF SERVICES RANGING FROM REFUSE COLLECTION, PROVISION OF RECREATIONAL AND SPORT FACILITIES, TO THE CONTROL OF HAWKERS AND FOOD HYGIENE.
ALL REGISTERED VOTERS CAN GO TO THEIR POLLING STATIONS BETWEEN 7 AM AND 11 PM TOMORROW TO CAST THEIR VOTES. THERE ARE ALTOGETHER 134 POLLING STATIONS.
MONDAY, MARCH 7, 1983
- 4 -
JANUARY MONEY SUPPLY AND FINANCIAL STATISTICS * * * * *
MONEY SUPPLY ON ALL DEFINITIONS GREW IN JANUARY 1983, ACCORDING TO MONEY SUPPLY AND FINANCIAL STATISTICS FOR THE MONTH PUBLISHED TODAY (MONDAY).
WITH DEMAND DEPOSITS AND THE CURRENCY CIRCULATION BOTH GROWING RAPIDLY, AS IS TYPICAL AHEAD OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR, THE NARROWEST DEFINITION OF MONEY SUPPLY, Ml, GREW FASTER THAN THE BROADER DEFINITIONS, M2 AND M3.
DEPOSITS IN BOTH HONG KONG DOLLARS AND FOREIGN CURRENCIES GREW FASTER IN JANUARY THAN IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR. FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS CONTINUED TO GROW FASTER THAN HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS. DEPOSITS WITH REGISTERED DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES DECREASED SUBSTANTIALLY IN JANUARY WHILE THOSE WITH BANKS AND LICENSED DEPOSITTAKING COMPANIES INCREASED.
TOTAL LOANS AND ADVANCES EXTENDED BY BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES CONTINUED TO GROW IN JANUARY AT A MODERATE RATE. AMONG THE VARIOUS TYPES OF LOANS DISTINGUISHED, THOSE FOR USE IN HONG KONG (OTHER THAN TO FINANCE HONG KONG’S VISIBLE TRADE) RECORDED THE HIGHEST GROWTH.
A STATISTICAL TABLE (ATTACHED) SETS OUT SUMMARY FIGURES FOR JANUARY 1983 AND COMPARISONS WITH EARLIER MONTHS.
HONG KONG DOLLAR MONEY SUPPLY
HK$ MONEY SUPPLY ON ALL DEFINITIONS ROSE IN JANUARY. FOR THE NARROWER DEFINITIONS, HKSM1 AND HKSM2, GROWTH RATES WERE HIGHER THAN THOSE IN DECEMBER. HKSM1 GREW RAPIDLY, BY 4.8 PER CENT, AND HKSM2 BY THREE PERCENT, COMPARED WITH CORRESPONDING RATES OF 3.9 PER CENT AND 2.6 PER CENT IN DECEMBER 1982. HKSM3 INCREASED BY 1.7 PER CENT, THE SAME AS THE INCREASE RECORDED IN DECEMBER.
IN THE THREE MONTHS TO JANUARY, HK3M1 ROSE BY 8.9 PER CENT, HK$M2 BY 4.6 PER CENT AND HK$M3 BY THREE PER CENT. IN THE 12 MONTHS TO JANUARY, THE CORRESPONDING GROWTH RATES WERE 6.1 PER CENT, 25.8 PER CENT AND 2.2 PER CENT.
TOTAL MONEY SUPPLY
TOTAL Ml GREW RAPIDLY, BY 5.3 PER CENT, IN JANUARY AFTER FALLING BY 2.2 PER CENT IN DECEMBER. TOTAL M2 AND TOTAL M3 GREW BY FOUR PER CENT AND 2.9 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY, COMPARED WITH THE CORRESPONDING RATES OF 2.8 PER CENT AND 2.1 PER CENT IN DECEMBtR.
IN THE THREE MONTHS TO JANUARY, TOTAL Ml GREW BY 1.5 PER CENT, TOTAL M2 BY 6.2 PER CENT AND TOTAL M3 BY 4.8 PER CENT. IN THE 12 MONTHS TO JANUARY, THE CORRESPONDING GROWTH RATES WERE 5.5 PER CENT, 78.6 PER CENT AND 43.1 PER CEN'.T.
/LOANS AND .......
iiiUiiljAY, KVuiCH 7> 1963
LOAMS AND ADVANCES
LOANS AND ADVANCES EXTENDED BY BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES GREW BY 1.4 PER CENT AFTER A GROWTH OF 1.3 PER CENT IN DECEMBER. OVER THE THREE MONTHS TO JANUARY, THE GROWTH RATE WAS 3.6 PER CENT AND OVER THE 12 MONTHS TO JANUARY 28.2 PER CENT. LOANS TO FINANCE HONG KONG’S VISIBLE TRADE GREW BY A MARGINAL 9.2 PER CENT AFTER A FOUR PER CENT INCREASE IN DECEMBER. OVER THE THREE MONTHS,
THE INCREASE WAS 3.7 PER CENT AND OVER THE 12 MONTHS 17.5 PER CEN’.
OTHER LOANS FOR USE IN HONG KONG GREW BY 1.8 PER CENT, COMPARED WITH THE ONE PER CENT RISE IN DECEMBER. OVER THE THREE MONTHS
THE INCREASE WAS 3.8 PER CENT AND OVER THE 12 MONTHS 29.7 PER CENT.
FOREIGN CURRENCY POSITIONS
THERE WERE INCREASES OF $5.8 BILLION TO $571.3 EILLION IN THE SPOT FOREIGN CURRENCY LIABILITIES OF THE MONETARY SECTOR AND $7.2 BILLION TO $553.5 BILLION IN THE SPOT FOREIGN CURRENCY ASSETS IN JANUARY. THUS, NET SPOT FOREIGN CURRENCY LIABILITIES OF THE MONETARY SECTOR DECREASED TO $17.8 BILLION AT THE END OF JANUARY FROM $19.3 BILLION AT THE END OF DECEMBER. BANKS HAD NET LIABILITIES OF $19.5 BILLION AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES HAD NET LIABILITIES OF $7.3 BILLION.
STATISTICS COLLECTED FOR PRUDENTIAL SUPERVISION PURPOSES BY THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING AND OF DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES SHOW THAT AT THE END OF JANUARY, THE MONETARY SECTOR HAD NET SPOT FOREIGN CURRENCY LIABILITIES OF $18.2 BILLION (THIS FIGURE DIFFERS FROM THAT IN THE PRECEDING PARAGRAPH BECAUSE OF MINOR DIFFERENCES IN DEFINITION). THIS WAS MORE THAN COVERED BY A NET FORWARD FOREIGN CURRENCY ASSET POSITION OF $37.1 BILLION.
LIQUIDITY RATIOS
THE AVERAGE LIQUIDITY RATIO (AS DEFINED IN S.18 OF THE BANKING ORDINANCE) FOR ALL BANKS IN JANUARY WAS 45.6 PER CENT, SLIGHTLY BELOW THE 47.2 PER CENT IN DECEMBER. THE AVERAGE LIQUIDITY RATIO (AS DEFINED IN S.24A OF THE DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES ORDINANCE) FOR ALL DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES DECLINED TO 55.5 PER CENT IN JANUARY FROM 57.3 PER CENT IN DECEMBER.
NUMBER OF REPORTING INSTITUTIONS
THE NUMBER OF REPORTING LICENSED BANKS REMAINED AT 128. THE NUMBER OF REPORTING LICENSED DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES INCREASED dY THREE TO 21 WHILE THE NUMBER OF REPORTING REGISTERED DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES DECREASED BY SEVEN TO 336.
- 6
Monet try Statistics •
Money Supply
M1 - HKS
Foreign Currency
Total
<42 - i£KS
Foreign Currency
Total
M3 - HKS
Foreign Currency
Total
peposits
Demand deposits
Savings deposits
Time deposits with banks
Time deposits with dtcs
All HKS deposits
All foreign currency deposits
Total
January 1983
27.3^6
1,598
28.9***4
12*4,605
90,*43**
215,039
131,828
106.919
258.7*47
17.232 70.*438
110.610
*42.582
137,68*4
103.178
2*40,863
Loans and advances
To finance Hong Kong’s visible trade 26,587
To finance merchandising trade not 2,182
touching Hong Kong 190,635
Other loans for use in Hong Kong
Other loans for use outside Hong Kong 102,580
Other loans where the place of use 14,427
ia not known
411 loans in HKti 183,769
All loana in foreign currencies 152,240
Total 336,008
WKDAY,
J a n ua r y 1983 Earlier months
(% change to January, 1983)
December 1982
26,086 (+9.8%)
1,399 ( + 19.?%)
27,985 (+5-3%)
120,956 (*3-0%)
85,73? (+5.5%)
206,688 (+9.0%)
199,259 (+1.7%)
102,293 (+9.5%)
251,597 (+2.9%)
16,093 (+7.9%)
69,590 (+1.2%)
109,626 (+5.7%)
93,813 (-2.8%)
135,389 (+1.7%)
98,688 (+9.5%)
239,072 (+2.9%)
26,339 (+0.2%)
2,292 (-9.8%)
187,321 (+1.8%)
100,951 (+1-9%)
19,330 (+0.7%)
182,095 (+0.9%)
199,138 (+2.1%)
331.233 (+1.9%)
October 1982
25,122 (+8.9%)
3,909 (-53-1%)
28,526 (+1.5%)
119,097 (+9.6%)
83,315 (+8.5%)
202,912 (+6.2%)
197,379 (+3-0%)
99,988 (+7.5%)
296,862 (+9.8%)
17,570 (-1.9%)
66,175 (+6.9%)
103,909 (+7-0%)
93,239 (-1.5%)
139,091 (+2.7%)
96,297 (+7-1%)
230,588 (+9.5%)
25,955 (+3-7%)
2,729 (-19.9%)
183,703 (+3-8%)
99,319 (+3.1%)
15,222 (+9.1%)
177,6'19 ( + 3-9%)
196,759 (+3.7%)
329,398 (+5-6%)
..'uUtCH 7, 198 3
HK$mn
January 1982
25,785 (+6.1%)
1,691 (-2.6%)
27,926 (+5-5%)
99,012 (+25.8%)
21,920 (+322.2%)
120,932 (+78.6%)
198,993 (+2.2%)
32.399 (+230.6%)
180,837 (+93-1%)
15,915 (+11.8%)
53’,279 (+32.2%)
37,217 (+197.2%)
59,532 (-28.5%)
139,759 (+2.2%)
30,689 (+236.3%)
165,938 (+95.6%)
22,962 (+17.5%)
2,959 (-11.1%)
196,997 (*29-7%)
78,516 (+30.9%)
11,725 (+23.0%)
198,903 (+23.8%)
113,751 (+33.8%)
262,159 (+28.2%)
MONDAY, MARCH 7, 1983
- 7 -
LESS TRANSPORT COMPLAINTS DURING SCHOOL HOLIDAYS *****
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS ARE APPARENTLY WELCOMED NOT JUST BY STUDENTS BUT ALSO BY PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO GO TO WORK, ACCORDING TO THE TRANSPORT COMPLAINTS UNIT’S LATEST QUARTERLY REPORT.
THE REPORT, COVERING THE PERIOD FROM OCTOBER 1 TO DECEMBER 31 LAST YEAR, REVEALS THAT WHILE THE NUMBER OF DIRECT COMPLAINTS TO THE TCU GREW STEADILY IN THE LAST TWO YEARS, MONTHLY STATISTICS INDICATE THAT IT FELL INTO A PATTERN.
THE TCU TENDS TO GET FAR FEWER COMPLAINTS DURING THE MAJOR SCHOOL HOLIDAYS. TYPES OF COMPLAINTS SENSITIVE TO THIS SEASONAL FACTOR ARE ABOUT INADEQUATE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES, THE STANDARD OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES AND ROAD CONGESTION.
THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE UNIT, MR JAMES KWAN, SAID TODAY THAT HE HAD DISTRIBUTED COPIES OF THE REPORT FOR THE INFORMATION OF TRANSPORT PLANNERS AND THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION.
THE REPORT ALSO DISCLOSES THAT COMPLAINTS INVOLVING THE TWO MAJOR BUS COMPANIES DURING THE PERIOD DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY WHEN COMPARED WITH THE PREVIOUS QUARTER: CHINA MOTOR BUS FROM 219 TO 171 AND KOWLOON MOTOR BUS FROM 232 TO 187.
A BETTER RECORD OF ADHERENCE TO SCHEDULED FREQUENCIES IN KOWLOON, AND THUS FEWER COMPLAINTS AGAINST KMB, WAS ATTRIBUTABLE TO PUBLIC TRANSPORT PRIORITY SCHEMES INTRODUCED IN MA TAU WEI ROAD/ WUHU STREET, UN CHAU STREET/CASTLE PEAK ROAD AND CHOI HUNG ROAD.
THIS IS NOT APPARENT, HOWEVER, ON HONG KONG ISLAND AS THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT CMB’S NON-ADHERENCEiTO FREQUENCIES REMAINED MORE OR LESS THE SAME, DESPITE THE SIGNIFICANT DROP IN THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT CONGESTION ON KING’S ROAD SINCE MID-NOVEMBER LAST YEAR.
THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST BUS DRIVERS REMAINED RELATIVELY HIGH DURING THE QUARTER: 78 OUT OF A TOTAL OF 171 COMPLAINTS AGAINST CMB AND 39 CASES OUT OF 187 COMPLAINTS AGAINST KMB.
-----0------
MONDAY, MARCH 7, 1983
- 8 -APPLICATIONS INVITED SOON FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS * * * *
APPLICATIONS FOR ADMISSION TO PRIMARY TWO TO SIX OF GOVERNMENT AND AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS WILL BE INVITED BETWEEN MARCH 15 AND 22, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
ALL PRIMARY ONE PLACES OF THESE SCHOOLS WILL BE ALLOCATED THROUGH THE NEW PRIMARY ONE ADMISSION SYSTEM, HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT APPLICANTS SHOULD NORMALLY BE FULLY SEVEN YEARS OF AGE ON ENTRY TO PRIMARY TWO ON SEPTEMBER 1. HOWEVER, CHILDREN WHO HAVE REACHED SIX YEARS EIGHT MONTHS BY THAT DATE MAY ALSO APPLY FOR ADMISSION.
ENQUIRIES ABOUT VACANCIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO INDIVIDUAL SCHOOLS, HE SAID.
APPLICATION FORMS WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM THOSE SCHOOLS WITH VACANCIES IN PRIMARY TWO TO SIX BETWEEN MARCH 15 AND 22 (EXCLUDING GENERAL HOLIDAYS) ON THE PRODUCTION OF BIRTH CERTIFICATES OR OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS.
COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS SHOULD BE RETURNED TO THE SCHOOL TO WHICH ADMISSION IS SOUGHT. SELECTION OF PUPILS WILL BE CONDUCTED ON MARCH 24.
CARE WILL BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT CHILDREN FROM THE SAME FAMILY ARE NOT SEPARATED, HE SAID.
-------o ---------
NEW FRESH WATER SERVICE RESERVOIR FOR NORTH POINT *****
A FRESH WATER SERVICE RESERVOIR WILL BE CONSTRUCTED IN NORTH POINT TO IMPROVE THE SUPPLY OF WATER TO LOW-LEVEL AREAS IN THE DISTRICT.
A CONTRACT FOR THE PROJECT WAS SIGNED TODAY AT THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT’S HEADQUARTERS BY THE CHIEF ENGINEER (CONSTRUCTION), MR LEE GUN-CHEUNG, AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF SANG LEE CONSTRUCTION CO. LTD.
THE SERVICE RESERVOIR WILL BE BUILT AT THE JUNCTION OF CLOUD VIEW ROAD AND YEE KING ROAD, AT A COST OF $9 MILLION.
IT WILL BE CONSTRUCTED IN REINFORCED CONCRETE AND WILL HAVE A STORAGE CAPACITY OF 30 000 CUBIC METRES.
WORK ON THE PROJECT WILL TAKE ABOUT 18 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
- - 0 _ _
MONDAY, MARCH 7, 1983
9
THAI CORRECTIONAL OFFICIALS VISIT HK * * * *
THAILAND’S DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, MR VICHITR THONGKAM AND ONE OF HIS SENIOR SUPERINTENDENTS TODAY (MONDAY) VISITED THE HEI LING CHAU DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRE TO LOOK OVER THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT’S COMPULSORY PLACEMENT PROGRAMME FOR DRUG DEPENDENTS.
ACCOMPANIED BY SENIOR SUPERINTENDENT OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR FRANCIS WONG, THE VISITORS TOURED THE CENTRE AND WERE BRIEFED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT IN CHARGE, MR TSUNG PUI-KWAN ON THE VARIOUS FACILITIES AND TREATMENT PROGRAMMES PROVIDED.
EARLIER TODAY, THEY MET AND DISCUSSED WITH THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR T.G. GARNER, ABOUT HONG KONG’S CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMMES.
THE VISITORS WILL BE SEEING THE NEWLY BUILT TUNG TAU CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION AND THE DEPARTMENT’S STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE IN STANLEY BEFORE RETURNING TO BANGKOK TOMORROW EVENING.
THEY ARE IN HONG KONG AS PART OF A VISIT TO SOUTH EAST ASIA, AND HAVE ALREADY BEEN TO THE PHILIPPINES, JAPAN AND KOREA.
------o-------
TECHNICAL INSTITUTE STUDENTS WIN AWARDS * * * * *
FORTY STUDENTS FROM THE FIVE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES HAVE WON AWARDS FOR THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS IN TECHNICAL EDUCATION, THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY.
TWENTY-FIVE OF THEM RECEIVED A S2 000 SCHOLARSHIP EACH WHILE THE REST SHARED A TOTAL OF 37 000 FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING ENTRIES IN A CRAFT SKILL COMPETITION FOR PART-TIME DAY RELEASE AND FULLTIME BASIC CRAFT STUDENTS FROM THE MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL DISCIPLINES.
IN A PRESENTATION CEREMONY HELD OVER THE WEEKEND AT THE LEE WAI LEE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING, MR JEFF DEVEREUX, THANKED THE SPONSOR OF THE SCHOLARSHIPS AND THE COMPETITION, CHEN HSONG MACHINERY CO. LTD.
/+THJ COMPETITION .......
MONDAY, MARCH 7, 1963
10 -
+THE COMPETITION HAS HELPED TO INSTIL A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND ACHIEVEMENT AMONG THE STUDENTS SINCE IT WAS FIRST HELD THREE YEARS AGO,+ SAID MR DEVEREUX.
HE STRESSED THAT THIS SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND ACHIEVEMENT WAS IMPORTANT AS THE STUDENTS WOULD BE FILLING TECHNICAL POSITIONS IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES AND WOULD HELP IMPROVE THEIR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES.
THE COMPETITION LASTED FOUR MONTHS AND THOSE SELECTED FOR THE FINAL ROUND, INCLUDING THE PRIZE WINNERS, WERE EACH GIVEN A CERTIFICATE OF MERIT.
------0-------
YAU MA TEI WATER LEAKAGE TESTS X * * *
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN PREMISES IN YAU MA TEI WILL BE CUT OFF FOR SEVEN HOURS FROM 11 PM ON THURSDAY (MARCH 10) FOR LEAKAGE TESTS.
THE AREA TO BE AFFECTED IS BOUNDED BY JORDAN ROAD, MAN WUI STREET, MAN CHEONG STREET, FERRY STREET, KANSU STREET, AND CANTON ROAD, INCLUDING THE JORDAN ROAD FERRY PIER.
- - - - 0---------
WATER FIGURES * * *
STORAGE IN HONG KONG’S RESERVOIRS AT 9 AM TODAY (MONDAY)
STOOD AT 76.0 PER CENT OF CAPACITY OR 438.952 MILLION CUBIC METRES.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR THE RESERVOIRS CONTAINED 239.438 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF WATER, REPRESENTING 41.5 PER CENT OF CAPACITY.
- - 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES
BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
HONG KONG A POTENTIAL MARKET FOR US FABRICS ................... 1
TSB CHAIRMAN MEETS TEXTAB MEMBERS ............................. 2
COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983 FOR LEGCO ..................... 3
INVESTIGATION INTO EDA INVESTMENTS LTD......................... 4
VEHICLE INSPECTION PROGRAMME EXTENDED ......................... 4
HONG KONG STAMPS FOR COMMONWEALTH FUND ........................ 5
BUILDING PLANS APPROVED IN JANUARY............................. 6
AWARDS FOR CAS CADETS.......................................... 6
JOURNALISM TRAINING BOARD VISITS NEWSPAPER..................... 7
BOOKLET ON STATISTICAL DEVELOPMENT ON SALE..................... 8
WATER MAINS WORK
8
TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 1983
HONG KONG A POTENTIAL MARKET FOR US FABRICS *****
THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR E.P. HO TODAY (TUESDAY) INVITED AMERICAN TEXTILES MANUFACTURERS TO TAKE A GREATER SHARE CF HONG KONG’S GROWING MARKET FOR FABRICS AND FURNISHINGS.
HE WAS OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE SECOND US HOME FURNISHINGS EXHIBITION, ORGANISED BY THE AMERICAN TEXTILE MANUFACTURERS INSTITUTE, AT THE HILTON HOTEL.
WELCOMING BACK LEADING MEMBERS OF THE INSTITUTE WHO VISITED HONG KONG IN FEBRUARY LAST YEAR TO ASSESS HOW BEST TO PROMOTE SALES OF US TEXTILE PRODUCTS IN HONG KONG, MR HO SAIDj +ALTHOUGH THE WORLD ECONOMIC RECESSION, FROM WHICH HONG KONG HAS ENJOYED NO IMMUNITY, COMBINED WITH THE EFFECTS OF A STRONG US DOLLAR, HAS SINCE PROVIDED A DIFFICULT CLIMATE FOR US EXPORTS TO HONG KONG, THE GROUNDWORK HAS BEEN LAID AND SHOULD YIELD POSITIVE RESULTS IN THE BETTER TIMES WHICH WE BELIEVE SHOULD LIE AHEAD.
+AS HONG KONG IS ONE OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST IMPORTERS OF YARNS AND FABRICS - TAKING US$2.6 BILLION WORTH IN 1982 - I FEEL SURE THAT ATMI MEMBERS WILL WISH TO PERSEVERE IN THEIR EFFORTS HERE.+
MR HO ASSURED THE MISSION MEMBERS, WHOSE EXHIBITION CONCENTRATED ON HOME FURNISHINGS AND FLOOR COVERINGS, THAT HONG KONG PROVIDED A SIZEABLE MARKET FOR THESE PRODUCTS, WITH 1982 IMPORTS VALUED Ai OVER US$219 MILLION.
+THE US MARKET SHARE IS SMALL BUT GROWING. TO ILLUSTRATE THE POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH, I WOULD MENTION THAT BETWEEN NOW AND THE END OF 1985 EIGHT NEW HOTELS ARE EXPECTED TO OPEN IN HONG KONG, PROVIDING 2 360 ADDITIONAL ROOMS.+
MR HO STRESSED THAT ALTHOUGH HONG KONG HAD AN IMPORTANT HOME FURNISHINGS INDUSTRY, THE GOVERNMENT AFFORDED IT NO PROTECTION OR SPECIAL ADVANTAGE WITHIN THE HONG KONG MARKET. +ALL OUR TRADING PARTNERS HAVE UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO OUR MARKET AS WELL AS EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN IT,+ HE ADDED.
TURNING TO HONG KONG’S TEXTILE TRADE HE NOTED THAT IT DID NOT ENJOY THE SAME UNRESTRICTED ACCESS TO ITS MAIN EXPORT MARKETS OVERSEAS.
+0F COURSE, WE ARE REALISTIC ENOUGH TO RECOGNISE THAT THE TYPE OF RESTRAINTS WE HAVE LIVED WITH FOR MANY YEARS ON OUR OWN EXPORTS OF TEXTILES AND GARMENTS ARE NOT LIKELY TO BE REMOVED OVERNIGHT.
♦WHAT IS OF CONCERN, HOWEVER, IS THAT THE CURRENT GENERATION OF BILATERAL RESTRAINT AGREEMENTS, NEGOTIATED IN THE DEPTHS OF ECONOMIC RECESSION, HAVE GREATLY REDUCED THE POTENTIAL FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THOSE HONG KONG INDUSTRIES WHICH ACCOUNT FOR ONE THIRD OF OUR DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND EMPLOY 40 PER CENT OF OUR INDUSTRIAL WORK
FORCE.
/+NATUJALLY, VIE.......
TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 1?83
2 -
♦NATURALLY, WE HOPE THAT 1983 WILL BRING THE PROSPECT OF AN IMPROVED ECONOMIC CLIMATE. WE ALSOHOPETHATTHiSWILLtNABLE BOTH THE US TEXTILE MANUFACTURERS AS WELL AS THE HONG ^G GARMEN MANUFACTURERS TO INCREASE THEIR PRODUCTION AND EXPORT PERFORMANCE.
FOR
♦FOR OUR PART, PROSPERITY LIES
CONTRACTION,* MR HO STRESSED.
WE REMAIN CONVINCED THAT THE SUREST FOUNDATION IN THE EXPANSION OF WORLD TRADE AND NOT IN ITS
-----0------
TSB CHAIRMAN MEETS TEXTAB MEMBERS * * *
AMBASSADOR MARCELO RAFFAELLI, CHAIRMAN OF THE GENEVA-BASED TEXTILES SURVEILLANCE BODY WHICH SUPERVISES THE OPERATION OF THE MULTI-FIBRE ARRANGEMENT (MFA), TODAY (TUESDAY) MET MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG TEXTILES ADVISORY BOARD (TEXTAB).
AT THE MEETING, CHAIRED BY MR E.P. HO, THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR RAFFAELL I WAS BRIEFED ON THE STATE OF HONG KONG’S TEXTILES AND GARMENT INDUSTRY. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED INCLUDED THE WORKINGS OF THE MFA AND HONG KONG’S VARIOUS BILATERAL
TEXTILES ARRANGEMENTS.
MR RAFFAELLI, WHO ARRIVED LAST WEEKEND (MARCH 5) FOR■ A WEEK-LONG VISIT TO HONG KONG, HAD EARLIER HELD DISCUSSIONS WITH bF E.P. HO AND THEN WITH THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE, MR HAMISH MACLEOD, AND SENIOR STAFF OF THE TRADE DEPARTMENT. HE ALSO VISITED SHA TIN NEW TOWN AND THE TAI PO INDUSTRIAL ESTATE YESTERDAY.
HE WILL MEET THE DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR <0F THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, MR GEORGE BLANEY TOMORROW FOLLOWED BY A LUNCH bEETING WITH THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE. IN THE AFTERNOON HE WILL VISIT SAN’S CLOTHING FACTORY LTD. AND LUKS ELECTRONICS CO. LTD. AT TO KWA WAN, KOWLOON.
ON THURSDAY, HE WILL CALL ON THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR JOHN BREMRIDGE. BEFORE DEPARTING ON FRIDAY, MR RAFFAELLI WILL MEET MEMBERS OF THE PRESS.
NOTE TO EDITORS i
AMBASSADOR MARCELO RAFFAELLI, WHO IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TEXTILES SURVEILLANCE BODY, WILL HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE AT 2.30 PM ON FRIDAY, MARCH 11 IN THE GIS THEATRE, 5TH FLOOR, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, CENTRAL.
YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO COVER THE EVENT.
TV AND RADIO STATION REPRESENTATIVES ARE REQUESTED TO SET UP THEIR EQUIPMENT BY 2.15 PM.
TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 1983
- 3 -
COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983 FOR LEGCO *****
THE COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, COMPLETING THE PROGRAMME OF LEGISLATION COMMENCED IN 1974 TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMPANIES LAW REVISION COMMITTEE (SECOND REPORT), WILL BE INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).
DEBATE ON THE BILL WILL RESUME ON A DATE TO BE NOTIFIED.
ANOTHER BILL, THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1983, WHICH AIMS TO EXCLUDE FROM THE CHARGE TO PROFIT TAX UNDER PART FOUR OF THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE THE PROFITS ON THE DISPOSAL OF SECURITIES BY TRUSTEES UNDER AN AUTHORISED UNIT TRUST, WILL ALSO BE INTRODUCED.
DEBATE ON THIS BILL IS EXPECTED TO RESUME ON APRIL 13 OR 14.
FOUR OTHER BILLS ARE DUE TO GO THROUGH SECOND AND FINAL READINGS, AND A NUMBER OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL WILL BE SPEAKING ON THEM.
THE BILLS ARE«
* INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, BASING PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT ON ACTUAL RENTS RECEIVED, INSTEAD OF ON VALUATION;
* PROTECTION OF INVESTORS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, PROVIDING SELECTIVE CONTROLS OVER PAPER GOLD TRADING SCHEMES, MAINLY AT RETAIL LEVEL;
* MATRIMONIAL CAUSES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, WHICH CLARIFIES THE DUTIES AND EXTENDS THE POWERS OF COURTS IN RELATION TO MAKING OF ORDERS FOR THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN OF A FAMILY INVOLVED IN MATRIMONIAL PROCEEDINGS; AND
* REGISTRATION OF PERSONS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, PROVIDING A STATUTORY FRAMEWORK FOR MORE SECURE IDENTITY CARDS TO BE ISSUED.
AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER’S BILL TO AMEND THE COUNCIL OF ST PAUL’S CO-EDUCATIONAL COLLEGE INCORPORATION ORDINANCE AND TO VALIDATE THE ACQUISITION BY THE CORPORATION OF CERTAIN PROPERTY, WILL BE MOVED THROUGH THE FIRST AND SECOND READINGS BY THE HON MARIA TAM. RESUMPTION OF THE READING IS EXPECTED TO TAKE PLACE ON APRIL 13 OR 14.
TWELVE QUESTIONS WILL BE ASKED BY UNOFFICIALS ON A WIDE RANGE CF MATTERS.
SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, THE HON ROGER LOBO, WILL ASK ABOUT ACTION BEING TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT TO DISCOURAGE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES FROM TRYING TO GET TO HONG KONG BY BOAT DURING THE COMING MONTHS.
/OTHEH QUESTIONS........
TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 1983
- 4 -
OTHER QUESTIONS BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL DEAL WITH SUCH MATTERS AS THE POSSIBILITY OF AN INSURANCE FUND TO PROTECT DEPOSITORS, THE WORK ON STABILISING DANGEROUS SLOPES, BICYCLISTS AND ROAD SAFETY, DENTAL TREATMENT FOR CHILDREN, AND THE TIME TAKEN FOR ASSESSMENT OF LAND PROPERTY VALUES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
QUESTIONS WILL ALSO BE ASKED ABOUT ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY WING MIRRORS OF GOODS VEHICLES, FIRE SAFETY IN RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS, THE CONSULTANTS STUDY ON THE KAI TAK INSTRUMENT LANDING SYSTEM, AND DEATHS FROM CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING.
------o-------
INVESTIGATION INTO EDA INVESTMENTS LTD * * *
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR JOHN BREMRIDGE, ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT THE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAD APPOINTED INSPECTORS TO INVESTIGATE THE AFFAIRS OF EDA INVESTMENTS LTD. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES AND ASSOCIATED COMPANIES.
THE INSPECTORS ARE MR ROBERT CHING TANG, BARRISTER-AT-LAW, AND MR MICHAEL J. JOHNSON, FELLOW OF THE HONG KONG SOCIETY OF ACCOUNTANTS AND OF THE INSTITUTE OF CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS OF ENGLAND AND WALES. THE INVESTIGATION WILL TAKE SOME MONTHS TO COMPLETE AND THE SECURITIES COMMISSION MAY PUBLISH THE REPORT OF THE INSPECTORS IN WHOLE OR IN PART.
MR BREMRIDGE WELCOMED THE APPOINTMENT, WHICH HE SAID WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REGULATORY STEPS IN THE FINANCIAL SECTORS FORESHADOWED IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH.
-----0------
VEHICLE INSPECTION PROGRAMME EXTENDED
*****
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT’S COMPULSORY VEHICLE INSPECTION PROGRAMME IS BEING EXTENDED TO INCLUDE ALL GOODS VEHICLES MANUFACTURED IN 1972 AND 1973, AND ALL PRIVATE CARS MANUFACTURED IN 1971.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (TUESDAY), A SPOKESMAN SAID VEHICLES IN THE ABOVE CATEGORIES WILL BE REQUIRED TO UNDERGO EXAMINATION ONLY IF THEIR NEW LICENCES COMMENCE ON OR AFTER JULY 1, 1983.
THE YEAR OF MANUFACTURE OF A VEHICLE IS STATED IN THE VEHICLE REGISTRATION DOCUMENT.
AS TO GOODS VEHICLES MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO 1972 WHICH HAD UNDERGONE INSPECTIONS PREVIOUSLY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THEY WOULD BE EXEMPTED FROM EXAMINATION FROM JULY 1, 1983 UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
/TEE kcsloon........
TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 1963
THE KOWLOON BAY VEHICLE EXAMINATION CENTRE AT 2 CHEUNG YIP STREET IS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR EXAMINATION APPOINTMENTS FROM APPROPRIATE VEHICLE OWNERS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
APPOINTMENT FORMS ARE AVAILABLE FROM ALL LICENSING OFFICES AND VEHICLE EXAMINATION CENTRES OF THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT.
BE MADE ON 3-7597505.
ENQUIRIES MAY
-----o-----
HONG KONG STAMPS FOR COMMONWEALTH FUND
* * * *
THE HONG KONG POST OFFICE WILL DONATE 23 000 SETS OF FOUR COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS ON MARCH 14 IN SUPPORT OF THE COMMONWEALTH FUND FOR TECHNICAL COOPERATION, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE POST OFFICE SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
THE FOUR STAMPS, IN DENOMINATIONS OF 30 CENTS, $1, $1.30 AND $5 WILL BE ISSUED THAT DAY TO MARK THIS YEAR’S COMMONWEALTH DAY.
BOTH THE STAMP ISSUE AND THE DONATION ARE IN RESPONSE TO A DECISION MADE BY THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT IN MELBOURNE IN 1981, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE COMMONWEALTH, WHICH COMPRISES 47 MEMBER COUNTRIES AND 11 ASSOCIATED STATES AND DEPENDENT TERRITORIES, HAS A QUARTER OF THE WORLD’S POPULATION.
ONE OF THE LONG-STANDING AIMS OF THE COMMONWEALTH IS TO PROMOTE DEVELOPMENT AMONG ITS MEMBER COUNTRIES WHO VOLUNTARILY SUBSCRIBE TO THE COMMONWEALTH FUND FOR TECHNICAL COOPERATION, HE POINTED OUT.
MEANWHILE, FIRST-DAY COVERS FOR THE STAMP ISSUE ARE NOW ON SALE AT ALL POST OFFICES AT 50 CENTS EACH, AND ADVANCE ORDERS FOR SERVICING THE COVERS ARE BEING ACCEPTED UNTIL 5 PM TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).
SPECIAL COUNTERS WILL BE SET UP AT A NUMBER OF POST OFFICES FOR NORMAL POSTAL BUSINESS ON THE DAY OF THE NEW ISSUE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
ON HONG KONG ISLAND, THEY ARE THE GENERAL POST OFFICE AND THE BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, CAUSEWAY BAY, HENNESSY ROAD, MORRISON HILL, NORTH POINT, QUEEN’S ROAD AND SHEUNG WAN POST OFFICES.
IN KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES, THEY ARE THE KOWLOON CENTRAL, CHEUNG SHA WAN, GILLIES AVENUE, KOWLOON CITY, KWUN TONG, MONG KOK, SHAM SHU I PO, TSIM SHA TSUI AND TSUEN WAN POST OFFICES.
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TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 1983
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BUILDING PLANS APPROVED IN JANUARY * * X *
THIRTY-SIX NEW BUILDING PLANS WERE APPROVED BY THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE OF THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IN JANUARY THIS YEAR, COMPARED WITH 84 IN THE SAME MONTH LAST YEAR.
OF THESE NEW PLANS, 15 WERE FOR NEW BUILDINGS ON HONG KONG ISLAND, FIVE FOR KOWLOON AND 16 FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THEY INCLUDE THREE SCHOOLS IN SASSOON ROAD, GUILDFORD ROAD AND SHA TIN AND A FOOTBRIDGE AT THE JUNCTION OF WATERLOO ROAD, JUNCTION ROAD AND KAM SHING ROAD.
THE DECLARED COST OF THE NEW BUILDINGS COMPLETED DURING THE MONTH WAS $501.2 MILLION COMPARED WITH $499.2 MILLION IN JANUARY LAST YEAR.
THE USABLE FLOOR AREA TOTALLED 150 713.9 SQUARE METRES, COMPRISING 113 293.8 SQUARE METRES OF NON-DOMESTIC AND 37 420.1 SQUARE METRES OF DOMESTIC FLOOR AREA.
IN THE SAME MONTH, THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE ALSO GAVE CONSENT FOR WORK TO COMMENCE 40 PROJECTS, INCLUDING FIVE RADIO TELEPHONE STATIONS AT MOUNT DAVIS, MOUNT PARKER, BEACON HILL, FEI NGO SHAN AND TUEN MUN, THREE SCHOOLS AT CLOUDVIEW ROAD, PRICE ROAD AND CLEARWATER BAY ROAD AND A SWIMMING POOL AND A PLANT ROOM IN SHEUNG SHU I.
ALTOGETHER, 51 OCCUPATION PERMITS WERE ISSUED FOR NEWLY-COMPLETED BUILDINGS IN JANUARY, INCLUDING A HOSPITAL EXTENSION IN NAM LONG SHAN ROAD, A WELFARE/HEALTH CENTRE IN JUNCTION ROAD, A HOME FOR THE AGED AT WAN TAU STREET IN TAI PO, AND A HOLIDAY CENTRE AT CASTLE PEAK ROAD IN PING SHAN.
THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE ALSO GAVE PERMISSION FOR 24 BUILDINGS TO BE DEMOLISHED.
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AWARDS FOR CAS CADETS
* * *
A TOTAL OF 103 CIVIL AID SERVICES CADETS WILL RECEIVE THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARDS AT A PARADE TO BE HELD AT THE CAS KOWLOON TRAINING CENTRE ON FRIDAY (MARCH 11).
ON PARADE WILL BE FOUR SQUADS FORMED BY THESE CADETS. THIRTY-ONE OF THEM WILL RECEIVE THE SILVER AWARDS AND 72 THE BRONZE AWARDS.
TAKING THE SALUTE AT THE PARADE WILL BE MR STEPHEN YOW MOK-SHING, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE PUBLICITY AND PROMOTIONS SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARDS SCHEME, WHO WILL ALSO PRESENT THE SILVER AWARDS.
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TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 1983
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WONG, MR NELSON RECREATION
THE BRONZE AWARDS WILL BE PRESENTED BY MR PHILLIP CHAIRMAN OF THE SCOUT ASSOCIATION OPERATING AUTHOR TY, LEE CHUEN-YAN, PANEL CONVENER OF THE SCHEME’S PHYSICAL SECTION, AND MRS MARIA LEUNG, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARDS SCHEME OFFICE.
THE BAND OF THE CIVIL AID SERVICES WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE DURING THE PARADE.
A DISPLAY OF EQUIPMENT AND PHOTOGRAPHS AS WELL AS DEMONSTRATIONS OF VARIOUS ACTIVITIES OF THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARDS SCHEME WILL ALSO BE HELD IN THE CLASSROOMS OF THE TRAINING CENTRE.
NOTE TO EDITORS »
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE PARADE AND AWARDS PRESENTATION WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE AT 8 PM ON FRIDAY (MARCH 11) AT THE CAS KOWLOON TRAINING CENTRE, 204 ARGYLE STREET.
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JOURNALISM TRAINING BOARD VISITS NEWSPAPER X X X X
MEMBERS OF THE JOURNALISM TRAINING BOARD OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL VISITED THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST TODAY (TUESDAY).
THEY WERE MET BY MR GERRY PILGRIM, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE SCM POST AND A MEMBER OF THE BOARD.
TAKING PART IN THE VISIT WERE MR SHUM CHOI-SANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD? MR CLIFF BALE, SECRETARY OF THE HONG KONG JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION; MR STEPHEN DAVIES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG; MISS EVELYN MAN OF THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC; DR JOSEPH WONG OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY; MR RAYMOND WONG, NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONTROLLER OF HK-TVB; MR PETER OLAES OF THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES AND MR WARREN ROOKE OF RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG.
MR MORRIS MORGAN, DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING, WHO IS ALSO EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COUNCIL, WAS AMONG THE VISITORS.
THE GROUP WENT ROUND THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND SAW THE LATEST FACILITIES IN NEWSPAPER PRODUCTION, INCLUDING THE COMPUTER TYPESETTING SYSTEM.
MEMBERS LATER STAYED ON FOR A DISCUSSION OF JOURNALISM TRAINING IN HONG KONG.
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TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 1983
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BOOKLET ON STATISTICAL DEVELOPMENT ON SALE * * * *
AN ANNUAL BOOKLET ENTITLED +AN OUTLINE OF STATISTICAL DEVELOPMENT, 1983+ IS NOW ON SALE.
THE BOOKLET, PUBLISHED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, CONTAINS TWO PARTS.
PART I DESCRIBES THE ORGANISATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT WHILE PART II DELINEATES THE MAIN LINES OF CURRENT STATISTICAL ACTIVITY AS WELL AS FORESEEN DEVELOPMENTS IN THE NEAR FUTURE. MATERIAL DESCRIPTIVE OF THE PAST AND THROUGH THE CONTINUING PRESENT IS ALSO INCLUDED.
THE DISPOSITION OF STATISTICAL STAFF AND A LIST OF STATISTICAL PUBLICATIONS ARE GIVEN IN THE ANNEXES.
THE PUBLICATION IS AVAILABLE AT $9 PER COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, CONNAUGHT PLACE, HONG KONG.
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WATER MAINS WORK
X X *
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN PREMISES IN HAPPY VALLEY WILL BE CUT OFF FOR SIX HOURS FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (MARCH 11) TO FACILITATE WATER MAINS WORK.
AFFECTED WILL BE NO. 1-43 HAPPY VIEW TERRACE AND NO. 12-20 EROADWOOD ROAD.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG TEL: 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING:
REVIEW OF INVESTOR PROTECTION SUGGESTED ...................... 1
INSURANCE DEPOSIT SCH134E NOT JUSTIFIED....................... 3
BOOST FOR EMPLOYEES’ COMPENSATION........................... 4
WELFARE OF CHILDREN SAFEGUARDED............................... 5
NEW PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT ’MORE EQUITABLE* ................. 10
COMPUTER BACK-UP FOR NEW ID CARDS ........................... 13
CAUSE OF GASSING INCIDENT EXPLAINED .......................... 14
FATAL ACCIDENTS FROM DOMESTIC CaRBON MONOXIDE POISONING DECLINE....................................................... 15
BENEFITS OF SCHOOL DENTAL PLAN RECOGNISED .................... 16
EXCO'S VIEW ON DRIVING LICENCE BEING CONSIDERED............... 17
BILL TO VALIDATE PROPERTY ACQUISITION ............ ........ 18
CONSULTANTS' STUDY READY IN JUNE............................ 18
PUBLICITY TO DISCOURAGE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES FROM COMING ... 19
WORK ON SQUaTTER AREA SLOPES.................................. 19
INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT)(NO. 2) BILL INTRODUCED............. 20
NO ALTERNATIVE TO SMOKE LOBBY DOORS ...................... 20
BICYCLISTS AND ROAD SAFETY.................................... 21
PROPOSALS BEING MADE TO DEAL WITH WING MIRROR ACCIDENTS ... 22
LAND PROPERTY VALUATION .................................. 22
FOUR BILLS PASSED............................................. 22
TWO POST-WAR BUILDINGS IN TSUEN WAN DECLARED DANGEROUS ......... 23
UN OFFICIALS VISIT CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS ................... 23
LECTURE : N BENJAMIN BRITTEN BY DR DONALD MITCHELL ............. 24
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1983
1
REVIEW OF INVESTOR PROTECTION SUGGESTED
* N * *
THERE WAS A NEED TO REVIEW THE WHOLE SUBJECT OF INVESTOR PROTECTION, THE HON BILL BROWN AND THE HON BENTON CHEUNG SAID AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THEY WERE SPEAKING DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE PROTECTION CF INVESTORS (AMENDMENT) BILL WHICH WAS APPROVED WITH AMENDMENTS.
THE BILL PROVIDES FOR ♦SELECTIVE CONTROLS* ON ADVERTISEMENTS FOR PAPER GOLD SCHEMES, MAKING THEM SUBJECT TO ADVANCE VETTING BY THE SECURITIES COMMISSION.
MR BROWN, CONVENER OF AN AD HOC GROUP OF UNOFFICIALS FORMED TO STUDY THE BILL, SAID ACHIEVEMENT OF THE BILL'S AIM WOULD DEPEND TO SOME EXTENT ON THE ABILITY OF THE AUTHORITIES TO ENFORCE ITS PROVISIONS.
♦IT MAY BE RELATIVELY EASY TO STOP UNAUTHORISED ADVERTISING IN THE MEDIA, BUT MANY OF THE SCHEMES WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO DISCOURAGE ARE SOLD TO THE PUBLIC BY HIGH PRESSURE SALESMEN MAKING CONTACT BY TELEPHONE AND PERSONAL VISITS.
♦THIS OF COURSE COMES WITHIN THE MEANING OF ’INVITATION TO INVEST’, AS DEFINED BY THE ORDINANCE, BUT IT IS DIFFICULT TO POLICE.
♦INDEED, I UNDERSTAND FROM THE COMMISSIONER FOR SECURITIES THAT NO ONE HAS EVER BEEN CHARGED UNDER THE PROTECTION OF INVESTORS ORDINANCE SINCE IT WAS ENACTED IN 1974, WHICH PERHAPS UNDERLINES THE POINT, FOR I WOULD FIND IT DIFFICULT TO BELIEVE THERE HAVE BEEN NO INFRINGEMENTS,* MR BROWN SAID.
WHILE SUPPORTING THE AMENDMENT BILL AS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, MR BROWN NEVERTHELESS EXPRESSED FEAR THAT THE PUBLIC WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY PROTECTED UNTIL THE COMMODITIES TRADING ORDINANCE WAS ALSO ♦GIVEN MORE TEETH+.
HE CALLED FOR AN ASSURANCE THAT THE WORKING PARTY'WAS EXAMINING THE COMMODITIES TRADING ORDINANCE +WITH A DEGREE OF URGENCY*.
MR CHEUNG SPOKE AT LENGTH ON CONTROLS ON PERMITTED ADVERTISING.
HE SAID JUST AS A PAPER GOLD SCHEME COULD BE CLEVERLY DESIGNED TO ESCAPE THE CLUTCHES OF THE LAW, SO COULD ADVERTISING BE CREATED TO DO THE SAME.
♦I THINK A LAYMAN READING THE PROTECTION OF INVESTORS ORDINANCE WOULD WONDER IF ’ADVERTISING’ COVERS ANYTHING MORE THAN PAID INSERTIONS IN THE EYES OF THE LAW?* HE SAID.
♦FOR EXAMPLE, IF A NEWSPAPER OR MAGAZINE REVIEWS AN INVESTMENT SCHEME, OR INTERVIEWS A MERCHANT? IF A CAREFULLY-WORDED SCHEME OFFER IS SENT TO HOUSEHOLDERS BY MAIL? IF SCHEME MERCHANTS HIRE A FUNCTION ROOM AND CONDUCT DIRECT SALES BY PRIVATE OFFER ONLY; DO TLESE METHODS CONSTITUTE ’ADVERTISING’?
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1983
4
2
♦I SEEK CLARIFICATION OF THIS POINT BECAUSE OF THE WIDESPREAD PUBLIC VIEWS OF THE DEFINITION OF ’ADVERTISING’,♦ HE SAID.
MR CHEUNG FELT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD EXERCISE MORE STRINGENT CONTROL OVER THE OPERATIONS OF COMPANIES, BY SPECIFYING K3RE EXPLICIT ACCOUNTING RESPONSIBILITIES, AND SHOULD SET RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THEIR OPERATION.
THANKING THE UNOFFICIALS FOR THEIR SUPPORT, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON P. JACOBS SAID A MORE COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM OF CONTROL ALONG THE LINES SUGGESTED BY MR CHEUNG.WOULD BE COSTLY TO ADMINISTER AND COULD PLACE A CONSIDERABLE BURDEN ON LEGITIMATE TRADERS.
BUT IF THERE WAS CLEAR EVIDENCE IN FUTURE THAT THE GOVERNMENT’S PROPOSALS WERE INADEQUATE, HE WOULD RECONSIDER THE APPROACH TAKEN.
REFERRING TO THE QUESTION OF ADVERTISING, HE SAID ♦ADVERTISEMENT* WAS DEFINED IN THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE AS INCLUDING EVERY FORM OF ADVERTISING, WHETHER NOTIFIED OR PUBLISHED, IN A NEWSPAPER, MAGAZINE, JOURNAL OR OTHER PERIODICAL.
♦THE DEFINITION ALSO INCLUDES DISPLAYS OF POSTERS OR NOTICES, AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF CIRCULARS OR BROCHURES AND SO ON.
♦IT EVEN INCLUDES EXHIBITIONS OF PHOTOGRAPHS OR CINEMATO-GRAPHIC FILMS. SO THE DEFINITION IS WIDE, AND I BELIEVE THAT IN PRACTICE IT SHOULD CATCH MOST SCHEMES THAT ARE LIKELY TO BE PUT TOGETHER EVEN THOUGH SOME OF THE EXAMPLES GIVEN BY MR CHEUNG MIGHT FALL OUTSIDE ITS AMBIT,♦ HE SAID.
THE COMMISSIONER FOR SECURITIES’ OFFICE, HE SAID, HAD THE RELEVANT AND QUALIFIED EXPERTISE TO VET ADVERTISEMENTS. AND, IN FACT, THE OFFICE HAD BEEN EXAMINING ADVERTISEMENTS UNDER THE EXISTING PROVISIONS OF THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE EVEN SINCE IT WAS FIRST ENACTED IN 1974. THE COMMISSIONER’S STAFF ALSO CAREFULLY SCRUTINISED ADVERTISEMENTS FOR UNIT TRUSTS AND MUTUAL FUNDS.
♦SO THE EXPERIENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE MACHINERY IS THERE? AND THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE ADOPTED THIS PARTICULAR ROUTE FOR CONTROLLING PAPER GOLD SCHEMES,♦ HE SAID.
WITH REFERENCE TO THE CALL BY MR BROWN AND MR CHEUNG FOR A REVIEW OF THE WHOLE SUBJECT OF PROTECTION OF INVESTORS, HE SAID THIS SUBJECT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON COMPANY LAW REFORM.
♦AS TO THE COMMODITIES TRADING ORDINANCE, MEMBERS WILL RECOLLECT THAT IN ANSWER TO MR PETER WONG’S QUESTION IN THIS COUNCIL ON DECEMBER 22 LAST YEAR, I SAID THAT A WORKING PARTY CHAIRED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR COMMODITIES TRADING HAD BEEN APPOINTED TO REVIEW THE COMMODITIES TRADING ORDINANCE GENERALLY.
♦THE REVIEW IS PROGRESSING AND I HAVE TAKEN DUE NOTE OF MR BROWN’S CALL FOR URGENCY,* HE SAID.
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1983
INSURANCE DEPOSIT SCHEME NOT JUSTIFIED ******
A DEPOSIT INSURANCE SCHEME IN HONG KONG WOULD NOT BE JUSTIFIED CR WORKABLE AND WOULD BE EXPENSIVE, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN BREMRIDGE, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
MR BREMRIDGE WAS REPLYING TO THE HON ANDREW SO WHO ASKED WHAT CONSIDERATION HAD BEEN GIVEN TO ESTABLISHING A DEPOSIT INSURANCE FUND TO PROTECT DEPOSITORS WITH BOTH BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES.
OTHER THAN IN THE UNITED STATES — WHERE THERE IS A LIMIT OF USflOO OOO — SCHEMES OF THIS NATURE WERE GENERALLY RESTRICTED TO COVERING SMALL DEPOSITS, MR BREMRIDGE POINTED OUT.
PREMIUMS FOR A SCHEME TO COVER ALL DEPOSITS WOULD BE PROHIBITIVE AND WOULD THUS RENDER IT UNWORKABLE, HE SAID.
MOREOVER, LEGISLATORS HAD TENDED TO HAVE THE INTERESTS OF SMALL DEPOSITORS IN MIND WHEN FRAMING SUCH SCHEMES, HE ADDED.
♦THE ESSENCE OF THE THREE-TIER STRUCTURE IN HONG KONG IS THAT ONLY BANKS ARE ALLOWED TO ACCEPT SMALL DEPOSITS. LARGER DEPOSITS WHICH HAVE BEEN LOST THROUGH RECENT DTC FAILURES WOULD PROBABLY NOT HAVE BEEN COVERED BY A DEPOSIT INSURANCE SCHEME,♦ MR BREMRIDGE SAID.
WHILE $50 000 MIGHT BE CONSIDERED SMALL NOWADAYS, IT WOULD UNDER HONG KONG'S SYSTEM BE A LOGICAL UPPER LIMIT IF ANY INSURANCE SCHEME WERE TO BE INTRODUCED, HE SAID.
♦ONE CONSIDERATION, WHICH IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED, IS THAT SUCH SCHEMES MUST INEVITABLY BE FOUNDED ON THE ACTUARIAL ASSUMPTION THAT THE MIGHTY ARE UNLIKELY TO FALL.
♦THE STRONGER INSTITUTIONS (OR THEIR DEPOSITORS) ARE, IN EFFECT, REQUIRED TO STAND READY TO PAY OFF THE DEPOSITORS WITH THE WEAK IN THE EVENT OF FAILURE,♦ MR BREMRIDGE STATED.
SUCH ARRANGEMENTS, HE ADDED, HAD PROVED ACCEPTABLE IN SOME COUNTRIES FOR VARIOUS REASONS, INCLUDING THE PRESERVATION OF A COMPETITIVE FINANCIAL SYSTEM.
BUT HE POINTED TO HONG KONG SITUATION BEING DISTINCT IN AT LEAST THREE RESPECTS I
* FIRST, HONG KONG'S VARIOUS STATUTORY ARRANGEMENTS ALREADY ENSURE AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF COMPETITION FOR DEPOSITS.
* SECOND, THE STRONG ARE ALREADY PREPARED TO STAND BEHIND THE WEAK IN A WAY WHICH DOES NOT SIMPLY HELP DEPOSITORS BUT MAY ALSO SAVE THE INSTITUTIONS. THIS SUPPORT HAS NOT GIVEN DEPOSITORS OF FAILED INSTITUTIONS THE COVER THAT INSURANCE MIGHT HAVE PROVIDED, BUT IT CAN HELP TO PROTECT THEM FROM IRRATIONAL MISFORTUNE.
/• THIRD, TO ........
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1983 '
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* THIRD, TO THE EXTENT THAT ONE IS THINKING IN CLEAR-CUT TERMS OF BANKS ON THE ONE HAND AND DTC’S ON THE OTHER, IT MUST BE RECALLED THAT THE DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES SECTOR OWES MUCH OF ITS GROWTH TO THE PRACTICE OF OFFERING HIGHER INTEREST RATES THAN THE BANKS.
IN THIS CONTEXT, MR BREMRIDGE SAID, IT WOULD SEEM UNACCEPTABLE TO ASK THE BANKS TO PROVIDE AT CONSIDERABLE COST INSURANCE COVER FOR THE DEPOSITS WHICH HAVE BEEN BID AWAY FROM THEM BY THE OFFER OF HIGHER INTEREST RATES MATCHING GREATER RISK.
EVEN LESS COULD THE TAXPAYER BE EXPECTED TO SUPPORT THE INTERESTS OF THOSE SEEKING RATES OF RETURN HIGHER THAN OFFERED BY THE BANKS, HE ADDED.
♦IN SUM, I CONSIDER THAT THE BALANCE OF THE ARGUMENT IS AGAINST THE ESTABLISHMENT IN HONG KONG OF SUCH A SCHEME WHOSE COST WOULD FALL ON THE PRUDENT IN THE INTERESTS OF THE IMPRUDENT.
♦I PREFER TO CONCENTRATE ON STRIVING TO ENSURE THAT INDIVIDUAL INSTITUTIONS ARE SOUNDLY MANAGED. A DEPOSIT INSURANCE SCHEME IS NOT THE BEST VEHICLE FOR INSTILLING IN MANAGEMENT A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY TO DEPOSITORS,♦ HE SAID.
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BOOST FOR EMPLOYEES’ COMPENSATION * * X *
THE LEVELS OF COMPENSATION FOR EMPLOYEES INJURED OR KILLED AT WORK WILL SOON BE INCREASED BY 44 PER CENT DUE TO A CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN THE OVERALL NOMINAL WAGE LEVEL SINCE MARCH 1980.
THE LEVELS OF COMPENSATION FOR PEOPLE SUFFERING FROM PNEUMOCONIOSIS WILL ALSO BE ADJUSTED BY THE SAME PERCENTAGE.
RESOLUTIONS TO RAISE THE COMPENSATION LEVELS PROVIDED UNDER THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ORDINANCE AND THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS (COMPENSATION) ORDINANCE WERE APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON.
MOVING THE RESOLUTIONS, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON J.N. HENDERSON, PROPOSED THAT THE NEW LEVELS BE BROUGHT INTO OPERATION ON JULY 1 THIS YEAR TO ALLOW BOTH EMPLOYERS AND .INSURANCE COMPANIES SUFFICIENT TIME TO MAKE THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS.
EARLIER, HE RECALLED THAT ON MOVING AN AMENDMENT BILL IN JUNE 1980 TO REVISE THE COMPENSATION LEVELS, HE HAD INFORMED THE COUNCIL QTHAT HE INTENDED TO REVIEW BIENNIALLY THE LEVELS OF COMPENSATION TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF CHANGES IN WAGE LEVELS AND THE COST OF LIVING.
/♦GIVEN THE .......
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9» 198?
5
♦GIVEN THE TIME LAPSE BETWEEN THE DATE OF INJURY AND THE DATE ON WHICH FINAL ASSESSMENTS ON INCAPACITY ARE MADE^ TH^NK IT WOULD BE MORE EQUITABLE TO ADOPT THE MAXIMUM APPLlGAEut THE UTTER DATE IN THE CALCUUTIOHS,* DR FANS SAID.
twaukINfi DR FANG FOR SUPPORTING THE MOTION, MR HENDERSON LATER pniu-JS Sjt THAT CHANGES IN THE NOMINAL WAGE LEVELS DID REFLECT TH* RATE OF INFLATION AMONG OTHER FACTORS. THE COMPENSATION ITSELF PAYABLE UNDER THE EMPLOYEES* COMPENSATION ORDINANCE WAS WAGE-. WLATED SO THAT THE NOMINAL WAGE INDEX WAS THE LOGICAL GUIDE. FURTHER IT WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO WORKERS TO RELATE THE FIGURES TO THE COST OF LIVING INDEX IN TIMES WHEN REAL WAGES RISE.
MR HENDERSON SAID HE TOOK DR BANG’S POINT ABOUT CASES WHERE PAYMENT COULD NOT BE MADE UNTIL A LONG PERIOD HAD ELAPSED.
♦I WILL BE INVESTIGATING WHETHER IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE MADE BUT TO RELATE THE COMPENSATION TO THE DATE OF AWARD RATHER THAN THE DATE OF ACCIDENT ITSELF WOULD SEEM TO PRESENT PROBLEM IN AN INSURANCE-BASED SCHEME SUCH AS OURS,* HE NOTED.
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WELFARE OF CHILDREN SAFEGUARDED * * * *
THE UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES OF THE MATRIMONIAL CAUSES (AMENDMENT) BILL WHICH AIMS TO SAFEGUARD THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN CAUGHT UP IN MATRIMONIAL PROCEEDINGS WERE DESCRIBED AS +WELL»INTENDED* BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, DR THE HON HARRY FANG, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL DURING ITS SECOND READING, DR FANG SAID IT HAD BEEN STUDIED CAREFULLY BY THE SOCIAL SERVICES WORKING GROUP OF UNOFFICIALS, ON WHICH HE SERVES AS CONVENER.
HE NOTED THAT EMPHASIS HAD BEEN PLACED ON WHETHER THE WISHES OF THE CHILD CONCERNED WOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION BY THE COURT IN DECIDING TO ISSUE A CARE ORDER, AND WHETHER THE DIRECTOR CF SOCIAL WELFARE, ON ACCEPTING THE CHILD INTO HIS CARE, HAD THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO PROVIDE A SATISFACTORY LEVEL OF CARE.
♦WE WERE SATISFIED THAT THE PROVISIONS LN'THE BILL AND THE PLANS WHICH THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE HAD IN HAND WERE ADEQUATE.*
ON THE PROPOSED LEVEL OF FINE FOR FAILURE TO NOTIFY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE OF ANY CHANGE OF ADDRESS, DR FANG SAID HIS GROUP HAD BEEN ASSURED THAT ACCEPTANCE OF THE PROPOSAL WOULD NOT LEAD AUTOMATICALLY TO A REVISION OF PENALTY PROVISIONS FOR SIMILAR OFFENCES .N OTHER LEGISLATIONS.
/ACCORDING TO ....
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1983
6
ACCORDING TO STATISTICS FROM THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, BETWEEN THE PERIOD FROM MARCH 1980 TO SEPTEMBER 1982, THERE HAD BEEN AN INCREASE OF 39.8 PER CENT IN THE OVERALL NOMINAL WAGE LEVEL. IT WAS ALSO PROJECTED THAT FROM SEPTEMBER 1982 TO MARCH 1983, THERE WOULD BE A FURTHER INCREASE OF THREE PER CENT IN THE WAGE LEVELS.
♦WHEN THIS INCREASE IS RELATED BACK TO THE ORIGINAL LEVEL IN MARCH 1980, THE OVERALL INCREASE BECOMES 44 PER CENT,* HE ADDED.
AFTER THE REVISION, MR HENDERSON CONTINUED. THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION FOR DEATH WILL BE INCREASED FROM 1168 000 TO >242 000, AND THAT FOR PERMANENT TOTAL INCAPACITY FROM >192 000 TO >276 000.
THE MINIMUM LEVELS FOR DEATH AND PERMANENT TOTAL INCAPACITY WILL BE INCREASED FROM >56 000 AND >64 000 TO >81 000 AND >92 000 RESPECTIVELY.
THE ALLOWANCE FOR CONSTANT ATTENTION PAYABLE UNDER THE EMPLOYEES* COMPENSATION ORDINANCE WILL ALSO BE ADJUSTED FROM >77 000 TO >111 OOO.
THE LEVELS OF COMPENSATION PROVIDED UNDER THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS (COMPENSATION) ORDINANCE, WHICH HAVE BEEN SET AT EXACTLY THE SAME LEVELS AS THOSE UNDER THE EMPLOYEES’ COMPENSATION ORDINANCE, WOULD BE ADJUSTED ACCORDINGLY, MR HENDERSON ADDED.
THE GOVERNMENT’S MOVE TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM COMPENSATION TO REFLECT CHANGES IN WAGE LEVELS OF WORKERS WAS WELCOMED BY DR THE HON HARRY FANG.
HOWEVER, HE SUGGESTED SUCH REVISIONS ALSO TAKE ACCOUNT GF CHANGES IN THE COST OF LIVING, HE SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
DR FANG NOTED THAT THE >3 000 ALLOWED FOR BURIAL AND MEDICAL ATTENDANCE EXPENSES IN RESPECT OF A DECEASED EMPLOYEE LEAVING NO DEPENDANT HAD NOT BEEN CHANGED SINCE I960.
♦JUDGING FROM THE INCREASE IN THE COST OF LIVING IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, A REVISION OF THIS COMPENSATION RATE IS DUE,+ DR FANG SAID.
DR FANG FELT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALSO LOOK INTO THE COMPENSATION PAYABLE TO WORKERS INJURED ON DUTY.
THESE COMPENSATION WERE SUBJECT TO MAXIMUM LEVELS IN FORCE ON THE DATE OF INJURY. BUT THEY HAD GIVEN RISE TO COMPLAINTS FROM SOME WORKERS, BECAUSE DURING THE TIME WHEN THEIR EXTENT OF INCAPACITY W^RE BEING ASSESSED, INCREASES ON THE MAXIMUM PAYMENTS WERE INTRODUCED, HE ADDED.
♦THE WORKERS CONCERNED, WHO COULD HAVE RECEIVED A BIGGER COMPENSATION HAD THE REVISED MAXIMUM BEEN APPLIED, WEREONLY AWARDED A SMALLER SUM BECAUSE THE FORMER CEILING WAS BEING USED.
/THE UNOFFICIALS .......
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 19&5
7
THE UNOFFICIALS ALSO NOTED THAT SINCE NO TIME LIMIT HAD BEEN STIPULATED IN THE BILL FOR THE NOTIFICATION OF CHANGE OF ADDRESS TO BE MADE, ITS ENFORCEMENT WOULD BE DIFFICULT.
ACCORDINGLY, DR FANG MOVED AN AMENDMENT DURING COMMITTEE STAGE TO IMPOSE A TIME LIMIT OF ONE MONTH TO THE PROVISIONS CONCERNED.
TWO OTHER UNOFFICIALS ALSO SPOKE ON THE BILL.
THE REV THE HON JOYCE M BENNETT SUPPORTED THE BILL WITH CONSIDERABLE RESERVATION ABOUT ITS IMPLEMENTATION.
♦I SUPPORT THE BILL IN THE HOPE THAT IT WILL PROVIDE A FURTHER INCENTIVE TO THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE TO TAKE MORE POSITIVE ACTION IN REGARD TO CHILDREN IN CARE AND THOSE IN NEED OF SOME KIND OF RESIDENTIAL OR FOSTER HOME.+ SHE EXPLAINED.
MISS BENNETT POINTED OUT THAT ABOUT 50 MORE PLACES WOULD BE DEEDED A YEAR IN RESIDENTIAL OR FOSTER HOMES TO MEET THE ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS RESULTING FROM THIS BILL.
♦CLEARLY WE DO NOT AT THE MOMENT HAVE ENOUGH PLACES FOR CHILDREN, WHO IN TIME OF CRISIS REQUIRE PLACEMENT IN CHILDREN’S HOMES.
♦ WE RECALL CASES IN RECENT TIMES WHERE CHILDREN ORPHANED BY THE SUDDEN DEATH OF THEIR PARENTS BY FIRE OR ACCIDENT, COULD NOT BE PLACED IN THE SAME CHILDREN’S HOME AND REMAIN UNITED TOGETHER.
♦SUCH TRAGEDIES SHOULD BELONG TO THE PAST WHEN THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING CHILDREN OF THE SAME FAMILY TOGETHER HAD NOT BEEN RECOGNISED,♦ SHE SAID.
PROVISION OF MORE FOSTER
HOMES WOULD BE BE TAKEN OUT OF
WHILE NOTING THAT THE ________
IDEAL, MISS BENNETT WARNED THAT CHILDREN SHOULD NOT ---- ---- ----------- AND SOCIAL BACKGROUND WHEN THEY WERE PLACED
THEIR OWN ENVIRONMENT
IN A FOSTER HOME.
SHE SAID SHE HAD RECENTLY BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE DANGERS THAT COULD ENSUE WHEN THIS OCCURRED.
SHE ASKED IF THE GOVERNMENT COULD UNDERTAKE A PUBLICITY DRIVE TO ENCOURAGE SUITABLE FAMILIES TO CONSIDER FOSTERING HOMELESS CHILDREN.
♦WHAT MORE IS THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE PLANNING TO ENSURE THE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS BILL?
♦WHAT POSITIVE ENCOURAGEMENT IS HE GIVING TO THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IN THESE MATTERS7+
DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI MAINTAINED THAT TWO CONSTRAINTS MUST BE OVERCOME IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE SMOOTH ENFORCEMENT OF THE PROVISIONS.
/THE FIRST .......
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 198}
8
THE FIRST RELATED TO THE CRITICAL SHORTAGE OF ACCOMMODATION, HE SAID.
DR HO POINTED OUT THAT ALTHOUGH IT WOULD BE PREFERABLE TO PLACE A CHILD IN NEED OF CARE AND PROTECTION IN FOSTER HOMES OR SMALL GROUP HOMES, THERE WERE ONLY 45 AND EIGHT SUCH PLACES RESPECTIVELY, CATERING FOR SIMILAR NEEDS IN A LARGE NUMBER OF CARE AND PROTECTION CASES OTHER THAN THOSE ARISING FROM THE BILL.
♦ I WAS INFORMED THAT THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IS ENCOURAGING VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS TO OPERATE FOUR MORE SMALL GROUP HOMES WITH AN ADDITIONAL 32 PLACES AND 60 MORE FOSTER CARE PLACES IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
♦ FOR THESE PLANS TO BE SUCCESSFUL, THE CO-OPERATION OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND CIVIC-MINDED CITIZENS ARE DESPARATELY NEEDED.
♦ IN ORDER TO MAKE THE RESPONSES MORE FORTHCOMING, THE DEPARTMENT SHOULD STEP UP ITS EFFORTS.♦
DR HO ALSO SUGGESTED THAT A LESS FAVOURABLE ALTERNATIVE WOULD BE TO PLACE A CHILD IN RESIDENTIAL INSTITUTIONS, SUCH AS CHILDREN’S HOMES, CRECHES AND BOYS’ AND GIRLS’ CENTRES.
THE SECOND CONSTRAINT RELATED TO THE PROVISION OF ADEQUATE SUPERVISION AND GUIDANCE TO THE CHILD ENTRUSTED TO THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE.
DR HO POINTED OUT THAT A CHILD FROM A BROKEN MARRIAGE TENDED TO DEMAND MORE ATTENTION, CARE AND AFFECTION THAN ONE FROM A NORMAL FAMILY.
HE NOTED, HOWEVER, THAT THE EXISTING WORKLOAD OF A FAMILY SERVICE WORKER WAS MORE THAN 100 CASES AND SAID THE NEW RESPONSIBILITY CREATED BY THE BILL NEEDED TO BE DISCHARGED WITH THE EQUAL DEGREE OF DILIGENCE AND ATTENTION.
THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, THE HON J.W. CHAMBERS THANKED DR FANG, MISS BENNETT AND DR HO KAM-FAI FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE BILL.
HE AGREED THAT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF A TIME LIMIT OF ONE MONTH WERE PRESCRIBED FOR THE NOTIFICATION OF CHANGE OF ADDRESS TO BE MADE TO THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, AND SUPPORTED THE AMENDMENT MOVED BY DR FANG AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE.
HE EXPLAINED THAT A CENTRAL PLANNING UNIT HAD RECENTLY BEEN ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT TO PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF FOSTER CARE AND SMALL GROUP HOMES.
♦ I AM GLAD TO SAY THAT WE ARE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS AND THAT IN ADDITION TO EXISTING AGENCIES WHICH ARE INTERESTED IN EXPANDING THEIR PLACEMENTS, A NEW AGENCY WILL BE TAKING UP THE FOSTER CARE SERVICE VERY SHORTLY.
/♦THE CENTRAL........
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1983
- 9 -
♦ THE CENTRAL PLANNING UNIT WILL PROVIDE THE NECESSARY STIMULUS TO VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO EXPAND IN THESE AREAS, AND A TERRITORY-WIDE PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE THE FOSTER CARE SERVICE IS PLANNED FOR THE NEAR FUTURE.
♦ THE UNIT WILL ALSO DETERMINE THE BEST STRATEGY FOR RECRUITING FOSTER PARENTS AND WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REGISTERING POTENTIAL FOSTER PARENTS AND FOR ASSESSING THEIR SUITABILITY.
♦ THOSE FOUND SUITABLE WILL BE REFERRED TO APPROPRIATE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES FOR MATCHING WITH CHILDREN,♦ HE SAID. MR CHAMBERS ASSURED MISS BENNETT THAT THE CHILD'S SOCIAL BACKGROUND AND ENVIRONMENT WOULD ALSO BE CONSIDERED, SO AS TO ENSURE COMPATIBILITY WITH THE FOSTER PARENTS.
♦ IF ALL GOES WELL, WE EXPECT IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS TO BE ABLE TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PLACES IN FOSTER HOMES FROM 45 TO 160, AND IN SMALL GROUP HOMES FROM 8 TO 72.
♦ THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTIAL PLACES IN ORDINARY HOMES WILL ALSO BE INCREASED FROM 1 171 TO 1 238, AND I SHALL CONSIDER THE PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL HOSTEL PLACES FOR THE OLDER AGE GROUP IF THIS APPEARS TO BE NECESSARY,♦ HE SAID.
MR CHAMBERS ALLAYED CONCERN ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY THAT CHILDREN COMMITTED TO HIS CARE UNDER THIS BILL MIGHT BE PLACED IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS OPERATED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
♦ SUCH PLACEMENTS WOULD BE QUITE INAPPROPRIATE SINCE THE CHILDREN OF BROKEN MARRIAGES ARE IN A QUITE DIFFERENT SITUATION FROM THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE COMMITTED TO A PERIOD OF STAY IN A CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION. I WISH THEREFORE TO STRESS THAT I HAVE NO INTENTION OF RESORTING TO THE USE OF SUCH FACILITIES IN THE CASE OF CHILDREN ENTRUSTED TO MY CARE UNDER THIS BILL.+ HE SAID.
THE DEGREE OF CARE AND SUPERVISION REQUIRED WOULD VARY IN EACH CASE, HE SAID. AS THIS WAS A NEW COMMITMENT, IT WAS DIFFICULT AT THIS STAGE TO PREDICT HOW MANY SUCH CASES WOULD ARISE AND THEIR AGE RANGE BUT HE DID NOT EXPECT THE NUMBER TO BE LARGE.
♦ GIVEN PRESENT PLANS TO EXPAND BOTH RESIDENTIAL AND NON-INSTITUTIONAL CARE SERVICES, I DO NOT EXPECT ANY INSURMOUNTABLE DIFFICULTIES IN PROVIDING ADEQUATE CARE AND SUPERVISION,* HE SAID.
-------0---------
/10........
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1983
10
NEW PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT ’MORE EQUITABLE’ X X X X X
MEMBERS OF THE MONETARY POLICY GROUP OF UNOFFICIALS EXAMINING THE PROPOSED NEW SYSTEM OF ASSESSMENT OF PROPERTY TAX UNDER THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, CONSIDERED IT MORE EQUITABLE
THAN THE EXISTING SYSTEM.
BUT, THE GROUP CONVENER, THE HON BILL BROWN, POINTED OUT« ♦IT IS ASSUMED THAT BY MAKING THE CHANGES DETAILED IN THIS BILL, THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED NOT TO IMPLEMENT, AT LEAST FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, THE RECOMMENDATION CONTAINED IN THE REPORT OF THE THIRD INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE REVIEW COMMITTEE, THAT ’THE EXPLOITATION OF THE OWNERSHIP OF PROPERTY SHOULD BE TREATED AS THE CARRYING ON OF A BUSINESS, CONSEQUENTLY SEPARATE PROPERTY TAX BE ABOLISHED’.*
HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THE BILL REPLACES THE EXISTING SYSTEM OF PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT - BASED ON VALUATIONS, WHICH NORMALLY REFLECT THE RENT AT WHICH THE PROPERTY MIGHT REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO BE LET - WITH A SYSTEM BASED ON ACTUAL RENTS RECEIVED.
MR BROWN SAID THAT AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, THE FOLLOWING POINTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE DEFINITION OF "♦CONSIDERATION* (WHICH INCLUDES THE SUM OF MONEY, OR MONEY’S WORTH, PAYABLE TO THE OWNER FOR THE RIGHT OF USE OF THE PREMISES) HAD BEEN CLARIFIEDi
M THE COST OF MANAGEMENT FORMS PART OF THE +CONSIDERAT ION* WHERE A TENANT PAYS THE MANAGEMENT FEES DIRECT TO THE LANDLORD FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE LANDLORD HIMSELF. HOWEVER, IT WILL NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE +CONS(DERATION* WHERE THE TENANT IS LIABLE TO PAY SUCH FEES TO, SAY, A MANAGEMENT COMPANY, BUT DOES SO VIA THE LANDLORDt
M WHERE THE LANDLORD IS CONTRACTUALLY LIABLE TO PAY THE MANAGEMENT FEES BUT BUILDS SUCH FEES INTO THE RENTAL STRUCTURE, THE GROSS SUM IS INCLUDED IN THE +CONS(DERATION*;
* +CONS(DERATION* DOES NOT INCLUDE RATES WHERE THE OWNER AGREES TO PAY THE RATES; AND
X AMOUNTS CHARGED TO TENANTS FOR THE USE OF FURNITURE WILL NOT BE INCLUDED IN THE +CONS(DERATION*.
HE ALSO NOTED THAT AS THE WORDING IN THE BILL HAD CAUSED DOUBT IN SOME MINDS AS TO HOW ITS PROVISIONS WOULD BE INTERPRETED IN PRACTICE, THE COMMISSIONER OF INLAND REVENUE HAD ASSURED THATi
X WHERE A PERSON IS ONLY THE OWNER OF A PROPERTY FOR PART OF A YEAR OF ASSESSMENT HE IS ONLY TAXABLE IN RESPECT OF THAT PART OF THE YEAR FOR WHICH HE IS THE OWNER? AND
/’ WHERE .......
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1983
11
* WHERE PROVISIONAL PROPERTY TAX IS PAID BY AN OWNER AND A REFUND BECOMES PAYABLE AFTER THE PROPERTY HAS PASSED INTO THE OWNERSHIP OF A SUBSEQUENT OWNER, SUCH REFUND WILL BE MADE TO THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND WILL NOT BE APPLIED AGAINST ANY LIABILITY TO TAX OF THE SUBSEQUENT OWNER.
OTHER POINTS WHICH EMERGED DURING THE COURSE OF EXAMINATION OF THE BILL, AND THE STUDY OF REPRESENTATIONS RECEIVED BY THE UNOFFICIALS, INCLUDED THE PROPOSAL THAT PREMIA FOR THE GRANT OF LEASES BE SPREAD OVER THE LIFE OF SUCH LEASES OR FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS WHICHEVER IS THE SHORTER.
♦WHILE SOME RESERVATIONS REMAIN REGARDING THE EQUITY OF THIS ARRANGEMENT,* MR BROWN SAID, +WE ACCEPT THAT LONG LEASES ARE UNUSUAL FOR DOMESTIC PREMISES OWNED BY PRIVATE LANDLORDS.
♦MOST LONG LEASES ARE FOUND IN THE CORPORATE SECTOR AND THERE IS OF COURSE NO PROVISION TO SPREAD SUCH BENEFITS RECEIVED WHEN HAVING REGARD TO PROFITS TAX.*
TURNING TO CLAIMS THAT THE BILL COULD CAUSE UNDUE HARDSHIP FOR LANDLORDS, MR BROWN SAID HIS GROUP HAD BEEN ASSURED THAT DEMAND NOTES FOR THE 1983/84 PROVISIONAL PROPERTY TAX WOULD BE ISSUED BETWEEN JULY AND MID-AUGUST THIS YEAR, WITH DUE DATES FOR PAYMENT FALLING BETWEEN NOVEMBER 1, 1983 AND FEBRUARY 29, 1984.
♦THIS CONFIRMS WITH THE DUE DATE PATTERN ADOPTED FOR 1982/83 AND EARLIER YEARS,♦ HE ADDED.
♦THE 1983/84 PROVISIONAL ASSESSMENTS WILL USE 1982/83 ASSESSABLE VALUES AND THERE IS A PROVISION IN THE BILL - CLAUSE 18 NEW SECTION 63(0) - FOR THE PROVISIONAL TAX TO BE HELD OVER WHERE THE FINAL 1983/84 LIABILITY IS LIKELY TO BE LESS THAN THE AMOUNT PROVISIONALLY ASSESSED.♦
DR THE HON HENRY HU AND THE HON K.C. CHAN ALSO SPOKE ON THE BILL.
DR HU EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THERE MIGHT BE CONFUSION IN ASCERTAINING +CONS IDERATION* BECAUSE IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, THE COST OF MANAGEMENT WAS INCLUDED IN THE ♦CONSIDERATION* WHILE IN OTHERS IT WAS NOT.
HE ALSO THOUGHT THAT THERE SHOULD BE NO CHARGE TO PROPERTY
-----------------------------------------THE USE 0{- FuRN(TURe,
TAX ON THE AMOUNT PAYABLE TO THE LANDLORD FOR
EXPLAINING THE TRADITIONAL DEFINITION OF +CONS(DERATION*, DR HU SAIDl *IT IS ’SOMETHING OF VALUE IN THE EYE OF THE LAW’ GIVEN OR ACCEPTED IN RETURN FOR A PROMISE.
♦IT FOLLOWS THAT IF THE MANAGEMENT FEE AND/OR THE FURNITURE ELEMENT FORM PART AND PARCEL OF THE TENANCY, IT WOULD BE BETTER NOT TO DESCRIBE AN AMOUNT AS ’CONSIDERATION’ FROM WHICH THE FURNITURE ELEMENT AND/OR THE MANAGEMENT FEE ARE DEDUCTED.♦
/IN VIEW .......
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1983
12
IN VIEW OF THIS RATHER NARROW AND PECULIAR MEANING OF ♦CONSIDERATION* USED IN THE BILL, HE SUGGESTED THAT A SEPARATE DEFINITION OF THE TERM SHOULD BE INSERTED UNDER THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE SPECIFYING THE SPECIAL MEANING OF +CONSIDERATION* FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROPERTY TAX EVALUATION SO THAT THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF A TAXPAYER COULD BE PLACED IN A MORE CLEAR PERSPECTIVE.
MR CHAN SAID THE BILL WOULD CHANGE THE CONCEPT OF +ASSESSABLE VALUE* OF PROPERTIES FOR PROPERTY TAX PURPOSES TO *ACTUAL RENTAL INCOME*.
THE INCREASED REVENUE FROM PROPERTY TAX WOULD ALSO HELP TO AUGMENT THE PUBLIC COFFERS IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR, HE ADDED.
HE DISMISSED THE DOUBTS THAT THERE WOULD BE ABUSE IN REPORTING A +FALSE* RENTAL WHICH WAS LOWER THAN THE ACTUAL RENTAL BY THE LANDLORD IN COLLABORATION WITH THE TENANT.
+l NOTE THAT BESIDES THE USUAL STIFF PENALTIES FOR THE EVASION OF TAX, THERE IS A BUILT-IN SAFEGUARD IN A LANDLORD AND TENANT RELATIONSHIP IN THAT ONCE A RENT RECEIPT ON THE LOWER RENTAL IS SIGNED, THE LANDLORD WOULD BE PENALISED BY THE TENANT WHO WILL THEREAFTER PAY THE FORMER THE LOWER ’FALSE’ RENTAL,* SAID MR CHAN.
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN BREMRIDGE THANKED MR BROWN, DR HU AND MR CHAN FOR THEIR THOUGHTFUL COMMENTS.
HE REFERRED TO DR HU’S SUGGESTION THAT THE TERM *CONSIDERATION* SHOULD BE DEFINED MORE PRECISELY, AND SAID HE WAS ADVISED THAT IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO PRODUCE A SATISFACTORILY EXHAUSTIVE DEFINITION.
♦ANY ATTEMPTED ONE WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY PRESENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR TAX AVOIDANCE,* HE ADDED.
MR BREMRIDGE LATER MOVED FOUR AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL IN THE COMMITTEE STAGE AS FOLLOWS 1
M CLAUSE 4 - AMENDED TO PROVIDE RELIEF TO A LANDLORD WHO PAYS THE RATES.
M CLAUSE 6 - AMENDED TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT MANAGEMENT FEES PAID BY THE TENANT TO THE LANDLORD ARE TAXABLE UNDER THE NEW SYSTEM.
X CLAUSE 18 - TO CORRECT A MINOR TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR. A NEW CLAUSE, NUMBER 18A, ADDED TO THE BILL TO MAKE IT AN OFFENCE LIABLE TO PENALTY IF A LANDLORD FAILS TO KEEP SUFFICIENT RECORD OF THE RENT HE RECEIVES FROM THE TENANT.
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1983
13
COMPUTER BACK-UP FOR NEW ID CARDS * * *
A COMPUTER BACK-UP FOR THE NEW FORGERY-PROOF IDENTITY CARDS WILL ENABLE POLICEMEN ON THE BEAT TO CHECK PARTICULARS ON SUCH CARDS IN HALF AN HOUR, THE HON PETER C. WONG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, MR WONG POINTED OUT THAT AN IMPORTANT FEATURE OF THE NEW ARRANGEMENT WAS THAT ALL RECORDS WOULD BE COMPUTERISED AND BE AVAILABLE TO THE POLICE THROUGH THE BEAT RADIO SCHEME.
THIS WOULD GREATLY ASSIST THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY IN COMBATING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, HE SAID.
THE BILL HAD BEEN CAREFULLY STUDIED BY AN AD HOC GROUP SET UP BY THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.
MR WONG SAID THAT THE GROUP’S WIDE-RANGING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE GOVERNMENT HAD RESULTED IN THE FOLLOWING CHANGES TO THE BILL MADE AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE TODAY i
* WHILE THE PROVISION OF A $3 OOO FINE AS PROPOSED IN THE NEW SECTION 7B(3) FOR FAILURE TO APPLY FOR A NEW CARD WAS CONSIDERED REASONABLE, A TERM OF ONE YEAR’S IMPRISONMENT APPEARED TO BE HARSH AND WOULD BE DELETED.
M POSSESSION OF AN INVALID ID CARD SHOULD NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFENCE CARRYING A PENALTY OF S3 000 AND A SENTENCE OF ONE YEAR’S IMPRISONMENT, AS OTHERWISE ANYONE WHO INADVERTENTLY RETAINS AN OLD CARD WOULD BE LIABLE TO PROSECUTION. THIS OFFENCE AND THE PENALTIES AS PROPOSED IN THE NEW SECTION 7C(3) WOULD BE DELETED AND THE MATTER WOULD BE DEALT WITH UNDER OTHER SECTIONS OF THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE.
THE HON CHAN KAM CHUEN, ALSO SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL, SUGGESTED THAT THE ^ASSEMBLY LINE CONCEPT* BE ADOPTED TO SAVE TIME IN DEALING WITH THE HUGE NUMBER OF CARDS INVOLVED.
IN HIS VIEW, THE OFFICERS ON THE WORK LINE SHOULD AIM AT SPEED WITH EFFICIENCY AND IN CASE OF A REJECT, TRANSFER HIS CASE IMMEDIATELY TO A RELIEF UNIT AND THE +QC* TO DECIDE WHETHER A NEW ID CARD SHOULD BE ISSUED. THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WERE THANKED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY THE HON D.G. JEAFFRESON, FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THE BILL.
o
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1983
14
CAUSE OF GASSING INCIDENT EXPLAINED
* X X * X
IN THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT’S VIEW, THE PRIMARY CAUSE OF THE GASSING INCIDENT IN A SAN PO KONG FACTORY IN JANUARY WAS FAILURE BY THE FACTORY PROPRIETOR TO OBSERVE EXISTING REGULATIONS REGARDING VENTILATION OF WORKROOMS.
HOWEVER, THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WILL BE EXAMINING THE ADEQUACY OF THE VARIOUS SAFETY REGULATIONS IN THE LIGHT OF THE INCIDENT TO SEE IF AMENDMENTS TO THE EXISTING REGULATIONS OR NEW REGULATIONS WOULD ASSIST IN THE PROTECTION OF EMPLOYEES FROM TOXIC SUBSTANCES.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON J.N. HENDERSON, AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON IN REPLY TO A QUESTION ON THE INCIDENT BY DR THE HON HARRY FANG.
THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, MR HENDERSON CONTINUED, WILL CONTINUE ITS EFFORTS IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE SAFETY REGULATIONS CONCERNING GENERAL VENTILATION OF WORKROOMS AND LOCAL EXHAUST SYSTEMS FOR SPECIAL PROCESSES.
AT THE SAME TIME, STAFF OF BOTH THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE AND THE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH DIVISION WILL CONTINUE TO ADVISE FACTORY PROPRIETORS ON THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ADEQUATE VENTILATION OF WORKROOMS. DURING THEIR VISITS TO FACTORIES, THEY WILL PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO PROCESSES WHICH MAY GENERATE TOXIC GASES WITHOUT ADEQUATE VENTILATION.
IN THE DEPARTMENT’S ON-GOING INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND HEALTH PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN PROGRAMME, SPECIAL EMPHASIS WILL BE GIVEN TO THE PREVENTION OF POISONING BY TOXIC GASES AND THE IMPORTANCE OF ADEQUATE VENTILATION IN THE WORKROOMS.
EARLIER, MR HENDERSON POINTED OUT THAT THE PROPRIETOR OF THE FACTORY CONCERNED FAILED TO INSTALL LOCAL EXHAUST SYSTEMS TO A NEW PRINTING PROCESS WHICH USED ULTRA-VIOLET LIGHT AND PERCHLOROETHYLENE. THE PROCESS GENERATED OZONE AND PHOSGENE WHICH, IN THE ABSENCE OF ■♦PROPER EXHAUST*, ACCUMULATED IN THE WORKROOMS.
DURING A VISIT TO THE FACTORY WITHIN AN HOUR OF RECEIVING A REPORT, MR HENDERSON CONTINUED, AN OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENIST FOUND A NEW PRINTING PROCESS HAD BEEN INSTALLED ON FIVE MACHINES WITHOUT CONNECTING THEM TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEMS.
ALL THESE MACHINES HAD STOPPED OPERATION SINCE THE PREVIOUS DAY. THE NEW PROCESS WAS NO LONGER IN OPERATION AND NO EVIDENCE OF ACTIVE TOXIC AGENT WAS FOUND IN THE ENVIRONMENT AT 'HE TIME OF THE VISIT.
FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS, STAFF OF THE OCCUPATIONAL < EALTH DIVISION AND THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE CONTINUED THEIR INVESTIGATIONS, AND EXAMINATION OF THE VENTILATION SYSTEM, THE NEW PRO ESS AND MATERIALS USED, AND A REVIEW OF THE FINDINGS SUGGESTED POSSIBLE TOXIC AGENTS FROM THE PROCESS AS OZONE, PHOSGENE OR OXIDES C NITROGFN.
Ao co'ii’ix- .............
WEDNESDAY, MA3CH 9, 1983
TO CONFIRM THIS, A SIMULATION TEST WAS CARRIED OUT IN THE AFTERNOON OF SATURDAY (JANUARY 29), WITHOUT THE PRESENCE OF WORKERS, AND AIR SAMPLES WERE TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT CHEMIST.
ANALYSIS OF THE AIR SAMPLES BY THE GOVERNMENT CHEMIST CONFIRMED THAT OZONE AND PHOSGENE WERE THE GASES RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TOXIC EFFECTS ON THE AFFECTED WORKERS.
MR HENDERSON POINTED OUT THAT A PROPERLY DESIGNED EXHAUST SYSTEM SHOULD CONTROL THE TOXIC GASES GENERATED IN THE PROCESS AND PREVENTED ANY ESCAPE TO THE GENERAL WORK PLACE ENVIRONMENT. HOWEVER, THE PROPRIETOR HAS INFORMED THE DEPARTMENT RECENTLY THAT HE HAS DECIDED TO CEASE OPERATING THE PROCESS AND TO RETURN THE MACHINERY TO JAPAN.
A REGISTER OF AFFECTED PERSONS IS BEING ESTABLISHED AND THEIR HEALTH PATTERN WILL BE KEPT UNDER REVIEW. ARRANGEMENTS HAVE ALSO BEEN MADE FOR THE OBSTETRIC UNIT AND PEDIATRIC UNIT OF THE QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL TO PROVIDE SPECIAL SURVEILLANCE FOR PREGNANT EMPLOYEES AND THEIR BABIES.
------o-------
FATAL ACCIDENTS FROM DOMESTIC CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING DECLINE
nvpn the LAST THREE YEARS THERE HAS BEEN A DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF FATAL ACCIDENTS FROM CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING CAUSED AS A RESULT OF THE USE OF DOMESTIC GAS WATER HEATERS, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON P. JACOBS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THERE WERE 10 DEATHS FROM SUCH ACCIDENTS IN 1980, EIGHT IN 1981 AND FOUR IN 1982, MR JACOBS SAID IN REPLY TO THE HON LYDIA DUNN.
the nROP REFLECTED NOT ONLY HEIGHTENED CONSUMER AWARENESS OF THE HEED “5<TuI PRECaSt^S? bJt ALSO THE FACT THAT THERE WAS HOW AVAILABLE A SUPPLY OF SAFE WATER HEATERS, HE SAID.
♦BUT THERE IS NO ROOM FOR COMPLACENCY. EVENTUALLY, IT WILL Be NECESSARY FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO INTRODUCE GAS SAFETY LEGISLATION TO REGULATE THE MANUFACTURE, STORAGE, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION AND UTILISATION OF GAS FUELS AND GAS APPLIANCES,* MR JACOBS SAID, ADDING THAT HE WOULD SHORTLY SUBMIT A REPORT ON GAS SAFETY TO THE
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
THE FINDINGS OF
THE GAS AND OPEN
SAFETY CONSULTANTS WERE BASIC -LY FLUE HEATERS WERE UNSAFE BECAUSE
THAT FUELESS HEATERS ..... . _
THEY HAD NOT BEEN CORRECTLY INSTALLED, HE SAID.
/THE 0 ' 7 TANTS.......
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9 , 19b?
- 16 -
THE CONSULTANTS RECOMMENDED THAT ALL SUCH UNSAFE WATER HEATERS 3E REPLACED BY SAFE HEATERS OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, AND THAT UNSAFE APPLIANCES SHOULD BE BANNED AND DISCONNECTED AFTER THIS PERIOD.
♦THIS RECOMMENDATION, DIFFICULT IN ANY EVENT TO IMPLEMENT, HAS BEEN EXAMINED BY THE ECONOMIC SERVICES BRANCH, THE GOVERNMENT’S OWN GAS ENGINEERS AND OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS DURING THE FIRST HALF OF 1982.
♦IT WAS DECIDED THAT INSTEAD OF AN EVENTUAL BAN, IT WOULD BE MORE PRACTICAL TO GIVE CONSUMERS A CHOICE,♦ MR JACOBS SAID.
THEY COULD CHOOSE SAFETY EITHER THROUGH VENTILATION OR BY REPLACING THEIR EXISTING UNSAFE HEATERS WITH IMPROVED, SAFER APPLIANCES, HE POINTED OUT.
THE NATURAL DRAUGHT BALANCED FLUE HEATER REQUIRES A SUFFICIENTLY LARGE APERTURE TO BE PROVIDED IN THE WALL OF THE BATHROOM.
WHILE THIS COULD BE DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE IN EXISTING BUILDINGS. THE BUILDING ORDINANCE OFFICE HAD ISSUED A BUILDING PRACTICE NOTE TO ALL AUTHORISED PERSONS, ADVISING THEM TO MAKE PROVISION FOR THESE APERTURES IN THEIR PLANS FOR NEW DOMESTIC BUILDINGS, MR JACOBS POINTED OUT.
HE SAID THAT IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE GOVERNMENT WAS SATISFIED THAT MUCH WAS BEING DONE TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF FATAL ACCIDENTS.
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BENEFITS OF SCHOOL DENTAL PLAN RECOGNISED
M * * *
A SCHOOL DENTAL CARE SERVICE WAS RECOGNISED AS A MOST APPROPRIATE AND COST EFFECTIVE SCHEME TO PROMOTE DENTAL HEALTH AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN, THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR THE HON K.L. THONG, SAID TODAY.
♦THE BENEFITS OF SUCH SCHEMES, DESIGNED TO PROVIDE ORAL »€ALTH EDUCATION AND BASIC CONSERVATIVE DENTAL TREATMENT, HAVE BEEN CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED IN OTHER COUNTRIES WITH SIMILAR PROGRAMMES,♦ HE TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP.
DR THONG SAID $3.93 MILLION WAS SPENT ON THE SCHOOL DE\TAL CARE SERVICE FOR 1981/82. WITH 75 842 PUPILS PARTICIPATING IN THE SCHEME, THIS WORKED OUT AT $52 EACH PUPIL.
♦THE SERVICE IS ESSENTIALLY PREVENTIVE IN NATURE >ND IS CARRIED OUT AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN WHERE IT WILL DO GOOD AND AT REASONABLE COST,* HE ADDED.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1985
17
IN REPLY TO ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT THE DELAY IN THE PLANNED DEVELOPMENT OF SCHOOL CHILDREN’S DENTAL CLINICS, DR THONG SAID THAT THE REASON FOR THE RE-SCHEDULING OF THE ARGYLE STREET DENTAL CLINIC, WAS BECAUSE THE PROJECT WAS NOT ACCEPTED AS A PRIORITY ITEM FOR IMMEDIATE UPGRADING IN THE PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING PROGRAMME.
THIS MEANT THAT THE PROJECT COULD NOW ONLY BE COMPLETED A YEAR BEHIND SCHEDULE, HE ADDED.
DP THONG SAID IT FOLLOWED THAT THE BUILDING SCHEDULES FOR OTHER SCHOOL CHILDREN DENTAL CLINIC PROJECTS WOULD BE AFFECTED TO SOME EXTENT.
HOWEVER, THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SCHOOL DENTAL CARE SERVICE WOULD NOT BE AFFECTED UP TO THE END OF THIS YEAR.
BUT THE STUDENT DENTAL THERAPISTS WHO WOULD QUALIFY AT THE END OF THIS YEAR AND 1984 WOULD HAVE TO BE ACCOMMODATED IN ALTERNATIVE FACILITIES FOR THEIR WORK, HE SAID.
♦ACTIVE CONSIDERATION IS NOW BEING GIVEN TO FIND SUCH ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION IN EXISTING DENTAL FACILITIES OF THE UNIVERSITY AS WELL AS THE GOVERNMENT,♦ HE SAID.
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EXCO’S VIEW ON DRIVING LICENCE BEING CONSIDERED ******
THE MOTION BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY FOR THE DELETION OF DRIVING LICENCE AS PROOF OF IDENTITY WOULD ENSURE THAT THt SECURITY ADVANTAGES OF THE NEW ID CARD SYSTEM WOULD NOT BE UNDERMINED, THE HON PETER WONG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
HOWEVER, UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS SHARED THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL’S CONCERN THAT THE PROPOSED DELETION WOULD CAUSE INCONVENIENCE TO THOSE WHO, WHEN DR IV ING, WOULD BE REQUIRED TO CARRY BOTH THEIR DRIVING LICENCE AND THEIR ID CARD.
HE THEREFORE WELCOMED THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON D G JEAFFRESON’S STATEMENT THAT THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL S SUGGESTION THAT DRIVERS SHOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO CARRY JHE DRIVING LICENCES IN ADDITION TO THEIR IDENTITY CARDS, WAS tEING
SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED.
+THERE WAS A TIME, NOT TOO LONG AGO, WHEN THE CARRYING OF A DRIVING LICENCE WHILE DRIVING WAS NOT MANDATORY. THAT WORKED ie°E FORurn ^DECADES. WITH COMPUTER back-up, the vLT SYS-h MAY WELL PROVE TO BE SATISFACTORY,* HE SAID.
MR WONG SAID SINCE THE NUMBER OF A DRIVING LjUcNCE SAME AS THE ID CARD NUMBER OF THE HOLDER, RELEVANT RECORDS ARE COMPUTERISED, HE FAILED TO SEt EXECUTIVE COUNCIL’S SUGGESTION MIGHT PROVE IMPRACTICAL, SUGGESTED BY MR JEAFFRESON WHEN MOVING THE MOTION.
ON THIS OPTIMISTIC NOTE, HE SAID, HE SUPPORTED THE
IS the
THE AS
MOTION.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1983
18
BILL TO VALIDATE PROPERTY ACQUISITION * * * *
A BILL WAS INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY TO VALIDATE THE ACQUISITION OF CERTAIN PROPERTY BY THE COUNCIL OF ST PAUL’S CO-EDUCATIONAL COLLEGE.
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE COUNCIL OF ST PAUL’S CO-EDUCATION COLLEGE INCORPORATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, THE HON MARIA TAM EXPLAINED ITS MAIN PURPOSE IS TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE COLLEGE COUNCIL SHALL OBTAIN THE PRIOR CONSENT OF THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL WHEN ACQUIRING IMMOVABLE PROPERTY IN HONG KONG.
IT ALSO AIMS TO VALIDATE THE ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY SPECIFIED IN THE SCHEDULE TO THE BILL WHICH HAD BEEN MADE WITHOUT SUCH PRIOR CONSENT.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED TILL APRIL 13 OR 14.
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CONSULTANTS’ STUDY READY IN JUNE M * * *
THE DEFINITIVE FINDINGS OF THE STUDY BY CONSULTANTS ON THE EFFECT OF THE PROPOSED LYEMUN BRIDGE ON THE KAI TAK INSTRUMENT LANDING SYSTEM ARE EXPECTED TO BE READY BY THE END OF JUNE, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, MR DAVID MCDONALD, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THE PRELIMINARY FINDINGS, HE SAID, WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN MAY.
ANSWERING A QUESTION BY THE HON LYDIA DUNN, MR MCDONALD SAID THAT THE STUDY WAS ORIGINALLY EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF 1982.
HOWEVER, MODELLING OF THE AREA OF THE GLIDEPATH PROVED TO BE MORE DIFFICULT AND TIME-CONSUMING THAN ANTICIPATED AND CONSEQUENTLY THE DEFINITIVE FINDINGS OF THE STUDY WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE, HE SAID.
♦ALTHOUGH FULL TESTING OF THE VARIOUS BRIDGE MODELS HAS NOT YET BEEN CARRIED OUT PRELIMINARY TESTS SHOW CLEARLY THAT IN THE ORIGINALLY PROPOSED LOCATIONS THE BRIDGE DESIGNS WOULD CAUSE UNACCEPTABLE LEVELS OF INTERFERENCE WITH THE INSTRUMENT LANDING SYSTEM,♦ HE SAID.
IT WAS NOW PROPOSED TO CONTINUE TESTING THE PREFERRED BRIDGE DESIGNS IN THE MOST EASTERLY LOCATION AT PROGRESSIVELY LOWERED HEIGHTS, HE ADDED.
♦AT THIS STAGE IT IS NOT KNOWN HOW LOW THE BRIDGE WOULD HAVE TO BE TO ACHIEVE AN ACCEPTABLE OPERATIONAL CONDITION BUT LOWERING OF THE LEVEL MIGHT MAKE FURTHER MARINE TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS INEVITABLE,♦ MR MCDONALD SAID.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1983
19
PUBLICITY TO DISCOURAGE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES FROM COMING * * * *
THE CENTRAL THEME OF GOVERNMENT PUBLICITY TO DISCOURAGE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES FROM COMING HERE IS THAT THEY WILL BE MUCH BETTER OFF STAYING WHERE THEY ARE, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON D.G. JEAFFRESON, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ROGER LOBO, MR JEAFFRESON SAID THE GOVERNMENT IS PUBLICISING THE FACT THAT VIETNAMESE REFUGEES WHO COME HERE WILL BE CONFINED IN CLOSED CENTRES AND WILL NOT BE ALLOWED OUT TO WORK.
PUBLICITY IS ALSO BEING GIVEN TO THE FACT THAT THEY WILL FIND THEMSELVES AT THE END OF A VERY LONG QUEUE FOR RESETTLEMENT, AND THAT IN PRACTICE THEIR HOPES FOR RESETTLEMENT ANYWHERE, PARTICULARLY IN THE UNITED STATES ARE NOW VERY SLENDER INDEED, HE SAID.
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WORK ON SQUATTER AREA SLOPES * * *
THE AREAS OR INDIVIDUAL SQUATTER HUTS IDENTIFIED AS BEING IN IMMEDIATE DANGER FOLLOWING THE HEAVY RAINS OF LAST SUMMER HAVE ALL BEEN CLEARED, THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON DONALD LIAO, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
MR LIAO WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HO KAM-FAI ON THE SUBJECT.
IN ADDITION TO THE GOVERNMENT’S MAJOR PROGRAMME OF LANDSLIP PREVENTIVE MEASURES WHICH HAS BEEN IN PROGRESS SINCE 1976, MINOR REMEDIAL WORKS TO SLOPES IN SQUATTER AREAS WILL BE CARRIED OUT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PROPOSED PROGRAMME OF IMPROVING BASIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES IN SQUATTER AREAS, MR LIAO EXPLAINED.
THESE MEASURES SHOULD REDUCE THE RISK OF SLOPE FAILURE, BUT THE RISK, PARTICULARLY IN SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS, CANNOT BE TOTALLY ELIMINATED,* HE SAID.
THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENCE FOR THESE AREAS MUST THEREFORE, FOR THE TIME BEING, REMAIN THAT OF TEMPORARILY EVACUATING THE OCCUPANTS WHEN HEAVY RAINFALL IS EXPECTED, HE ADDED.
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/2C........
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1983
20
INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT)(NO. 2) BILL INTRODUCED ft ft ft ft
THE PURPOSE OF THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT)(NO. 2) BILL 1983, INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY. IS TO REMOVE FROM PROFITS TAX LIABILITY GAINS ACCRUING TO UNIT TRUSTS FROM THE DISPOSAL OF SECURITIES, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN EREMRIDGE, SAID.
IT IS THE VIEW OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INLAND REVENUE THAT UNIT TRUSTS DO NOT ENGAGE IN TRADING IN SECURITIES TO ANY SIGNIFICANT EXTENT, MR BREMRIDGE SAID, IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL.
FOR THE MOST PART, TRANSACTIONS IN SECURITIES UNDERTAKEN BY UNIT TRUSTS ARE IN THE NATURE OF CAPITAL INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS.
THE THREAT OF LIABILITY TO PROFITS TAX IS, HOWEVER, SEEN BY THE INDUSTRY AS A REAL DISINCENTIVE TO THE FURTHER EXPANSION OF UNIT TRUSTS IN HONG KONG, HE SAID.
♦ACCORDINGLY, IN THE INTERESTS OF FOSTERING THE HEALTHY GROWTH CF THE UNIT TRUST MANAGEMENT INDUSTRY AS A USEFUL AND WORTHWHILE ANCILLARY TO THE FINANCIAL SECTOR. THE BILL PROVIDES FOR EXEMPTION FROM TAX OF PROFITS ARISING ON THE DISPOSAL OF SECURITIES BY TRUSTEES OF AN AUTHORISED UNIT TRUST,♦ MR BREMRIDGE SAID.
THE PROPOSED EXEMPTION IS TO BE RETROSPECTIVE, AS IT WOULD BE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR FUND MANAGERS TO RECOVER TAX FROM THOSE UNIT HOLDERS WHO WERE PROPRIETORS OF A TRUST AT THE TIME OF THE RELEVANT TRANSACTIONS, BUT WHO HAVE SINCE CEASED TO BE MEMBERS OF THE UNIT TRUST SCHEME, HE EXPLAINED.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED UNTIL APRIL 13 OR 14.
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NO ALTERNATIVE TO SMOKE LOBBY DOORS ft ft ft
IT IS IMPRACTICAL TO MAKE IT AN OFFENCE IN LAW TO JAM SMOKE LOBBY DOORS OPEN, NOT LEAST BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTY IN POLICING IT AND FINDING THE CULPRITS, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON D.G. JEAFFRESON, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THE PROPER USE OF THE DOORS MUST DEPEND ON THE VOLUNTARY CO-OPERATION OF THE USERS, MR JEAFFRESON SAID IN REPL'r TO ™E HON ANDREW SO WHO ASKED WHAT ACTION THE GOVERNMENT WAS TAKING <0 ENHANCE “5" SAFETY ARRANGEMENTS. CONSIDERING THAT TAMPERING WITH SMOKE LOBBY DOORS WAS COMMON.
/♦TO rMC . RAu£ ......
■fiMNSSDAY, MAHCH 9, 198)
21
♦TO ENCOURAGE SUCH CO-OPERATION WE HAVE BEEN RELYING ON IMPROVED BUILDING MANAGEMENT, AND THE REGIONAL SECRETARY (HONG KONG AND KOWLOON) HAS SET UP A STANDING COMMITTEE TO STUDY WAYS AND MEANS OF ACHIEVING THIS END.+ HE SAID.
THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ALSO CONTINUE USING PUBLICITY TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON FIRE SAFETY ARRANGEMENTS GENERALLY, STRESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF KEEPING FIRE DOORS SHUT, HE ADDED.
ONE IMPROVEMENT BEING PURSUED WAS TO MAKE IT COMPULSORY TO POST NOTICES ON THE DOORS, STATING THEY MUST BE KEPT CLOSED, HE SAID.
AFTER CONSIDERING AT LENGTH POSSIBLE MODIFICATIONS TO THE FIRE SAFETY CODES APPLICABLE TO BUILDING DESIGN, THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, PRIVATE ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS, CONCLUDED THERE WAS NO ALTERNATIVE TO SMOKE LOBBIES WITH SELF-CLOSING DOORS, MR JEAFFRESON POINTED OUT.
------o-------
BICYCLISTS AND ROAD SAFETY ft ft ft *
OVER 90 PER CENT OF PROSECUTIONS OF BICYCLISTS FOR TRAFFIC OFFENCES IN 1981 AND 1982 RESULTED IN CONVICTIONS, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON ALAN SCOTT, SAID TODAY.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON WONG LAM IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR SCOTT SAID 1 246 BICYCLISTS WERE CHARGED IN 1981 AND 1 691 LAST YEAR.
ABOUT 50 PER CENT OF THE CHARGES RELATED TO ENDANGERING THEIR OWN OR OTHERS’ SAFETY THROUGH NEGLIGENCE, 40 PER CENT INVOLVED RIDING A BICYCLE WITHOUT LIGHTS DURING THE HOURS OF DARKNESS, AND THE REMAINING 10 PER CENT RELATED TO CARRYING PASSENGERS OR OVERLOADING, MR SCOTT EXPLAINED.
HE SAID HE THOUGHT THAT THESE FIGURES INDICATED REASONABLE DETERMINATION BY THE GOVERNMENT IN REGARD TO THIS PARTICULAR ASPECT OF ROAD SAFETY.
MR SCOTT RECALLED THAT THE COUNCIL RECENTLY PASSED THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE 1982, WHICH AMONG OTHER THINGS, WILL REPLACE THE OFFENCE OF A CYCLIST ENDANGERING THE SAFETY OF OTHER ROAD USERS THROUGH NEGLIGENCE BY THE OFFENCES OF RECKLESS CYCLING AND CARELESS CYCLING. THE ORDINANCE WILL ALSO RAISE iHE A9-LIMIT FOR HIRING A BICYCLE FROM EIGHT TO 11 YEARS OF AGE, AND MAKE IT AN OFFENCE FOR A PERSON TO PERMIT A CHILD UND R 11 YEARS CF AGE TO RIDE A BICYCLE ON A ROAD WITHOUT ADULT SUPERVISION.
♦ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES ARE NOT, OF COURSE, T..E ONLY WAY TO PROMOTE SAFE BICYCLING. POLICE ROAD SAFETY OFFICERS WILL CONTINUE VISITING SCHOOLS TO INSTRUCT CHILDREN ON ROAD SAFETY BEHAVIOUR BOTH AS PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS. SEGREGATED CYCLE TRACKS ARE PROVIDED IN THE LAYOUT OF THE NEW TOWNS,♦ MR SCOTT SAID.
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/22........
22
PROPOSALS BEING MADE TO DEAL WITH WING MIRROR ACCIDENTS * * * *
FORTY-ONE PERSONS WERE INJURED BY WING MIRRORS ON VEHICLES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES LAST YEAR, AS AGAINST 30 IN 1981 AND 42 IN 1980, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON ALAN SCOTT, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THESE FIGURES WERE DERIVED FROM THE REPORTS OF POLICE OFFICERS SENT TO THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENTS, AND IT WAS OFTEN DIFFICULT TO DEFINE EXACTLY WHICH PART OF A VEHICLE HAD CAUSED INJURY, MR SCOTT, WHO WAS REPLYING TO THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, POINTED OUT.
PROPOSALS WERE BEING MADE WITH THE AIM OF REDUCING THE INCIDENCE OF SUCH ACCIDENTS, HE SAID.
♦IT IS PROPOSED THAT THE NEW CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE REGULATIONS, TO BE MADE UNDER THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE 1982, SHALL CONTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON THE PROJECTION OF EXTERIOR MIRRORS, WHEN THESE ARE FITTED LESS THAN TWO METRES ABOVE THE ROAD SURFACE.
♦THE REVISED HIGHWAY CODE WILL INCLUDE A REMINDER TO DRIVERS TO ALLOW AMPLE CLEARANCE WHEN PASSING PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS,* MR SCOTT SAID.
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LAND PROPERTY VALUATION
MX
THE TIME TAKEN TO VALUE LAND PROPERTY IN THE NEW TERRITORIES FOR ESTATE DUTY PURPOSES VARIES FROM CASE TO CASE DEPENDING UPON THE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN BREMRIDGE, SAID TODAY.
k
HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
♦SIMPLE CASES ARE COMPLETED WELL WITHIN A MONTH, BUT EXCEPTIONALLY COMPLEX CASES CAN TAKE UP TO SIX MONTHS OR MORE. IF CHEUNG HAS HAD A SPECIFIC COMPLAINT I WOULD BE PLEASED TO LOOK INTO IT,* HE SAID.
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FOUR BILLS PASSED * * *
FOUR BILLS — THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, THE PROTECTION OF INVESTORS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, THE MATRIMONIAL CAUSES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983 AND THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983 — WERE PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT)(NO. 2) BILL 1983 AND THE COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983 WERE INTRODUCED AND READ A SECOND TIME, WITH DEBATE ON THEM ADJOURNED.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1983
- 23 -
TWO POST-wAR BUILDINGS IN TSUEN WAN DECLARED DANGEROUS *****
THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TODAY DECLARED ROCK VILLA AND BUNGALOW C CN D.D. 399 LOT 417 TO BE LIABLE TO BECOME DANGEROUS.
THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR SAID THIS (WEDNESDAY) MORNING THAT THESE TWO POST-WAR BUILDINGS, ONE A SINGLE STOREY AND THE OTHER A TWO-STOREY BUILDING, HAD BEEN INSPECTED RECENTLY.
PART OF THE SLOPE BELOW AND THE RETAINING WALL SUPPORTING THE ACCESS ROAD LEADING UP TO ROCK VILLA HAD ALREADY COLLAPSED AND AS THERE WERE SIGNS THAT THE SITUATION WAS LIKELY TO FURTHER DETERIORATE THIS BUILDING WAS AT RISK.
BUNGALOW C SITUATED BELOW THE COLLAPSED SLOPE AND RETAINING WALL wAS ALSO AT RISK FROM FALLING DEBRIS.
IT WAS THEREFORE CONSIDERED NECESSARY TO CLOSE BOTH THESE BUILDINGS.
NOTICES OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR CLOSURE ORDERS IN KOWLOON DISTRICT COURT AT 9.30 AM ON APRIL 6 WERE POSTED ON THE BUILDINGS TODAY.
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UN OFFICIALS VISIT CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS * * *
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE UNITED NATIONS ASIA AND FAR EAST INSTITUTE FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRIME AND THE TREATMENT OF OFFENDERS (UNAFEI), MR MASAHARU HINO VISITED THE PIK UK CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION AND THE MINIMUM SECURITY PIK UK PRISON OF THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON.
MR HINO WHO WAS ACCOMPANIED BY TWO OF HIS SENIOR OFFICIALS WAS TAKEN ON A TOUR OF THE INSTITUTIONS BY THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR T.G. GARNER AND WAS SHOWN THE VARIOUS FACILITIES PROVIDED INCLUDING THE ACCOMMODATION FOR INMATES, CLASSROOMS, WORKSHOPS, HOSPITALS AND KITCHENS.
THEY ALSO TOURED THE MULTI-STOREY PIK UK LAUNDRY WHICH ARE OPERATED BY THE INMATES. THE LAUNDRY IS CAPABLE OF HANDLING 5.5 MILLION KILOGRAMMES OF CLOTHING AND LINEN FROM GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AND CLINICS EACH YEAR.
THE VISITORS ARE STOPPING OVER IN HONG KONG FOR HALF A DAY ON THEIR WAY TO PAPUA NEW GUINEA AND TOOK THE CHANCE TO SEE SOME OF HONG KONG’S CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMMES AND FACILITIES.
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1983
LECTURE ON BENJAMIN BRITTEN BY DR DONALD MITCHELL
* * * *
THE BRITISH COUNCIL AND THE MUSIC OFFICE OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT WILL PRESENT A LECTURE BY DR DONALD MITCHELL ON THE MUSIC AND LIFE OF BENJAMIN BRITTEN ON MONDAY (MARCH 14) AT 5.30 PM AT THE RECITAL HALL, HONG KONG ARTS CENTRE.
DR MITCHELL, WHO WILL BE IN HONG KONG ON SATURDAY, IS A RENOWNED ENGLISH MUSIC WRITER AND CRITIC. HE IDENTIFIES HIMSELF CLOSELY WITH THE MUSIC OF BENJAMIN BRITTEN.
HE HAD BEEN THE EDITOR OF MUSIC SURVEY AND TEMPO AND THE MUSIC CRITIC FOR MUSICAL TIMES AND THE LISTENER. BETWEEN 1979 AND 1982, HE CONDUCTED A SERIES OF LECTURES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENT AND SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY.
DR MITCHELL’S WRITINGS HAVE BEEN ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY CONCERNED WITH THE 20TH CENTURY MUSIC, HIS RESEARCH ON THE MUSIC OF MOZART, BRITTEN AND MAHLER ARE ESPECIALLY RECOGNISED BY HIS COLLEAGUES AS AN UNIQUE ACHIEVEMENT.
DR MITCHELL IS CURRENTLY VISITING CHINA AS A BRITISH COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE MEETING LEADING FIGURES OF THE CHINESE MUSICIANS’ ASSOCIATION. CENTRAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA. CENTRAL CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC IN BEIJING, SHANGHAI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND SHANGHAI CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC. HE WILL PRESENT THEM WITH COLLECTIONS OF SCORES OF THE MUSIC OF BENJAMIN BRITTEN.
THE LECTURE TO BE CONDUCTED BY DR MITCHELL ON MONDAY IS EXPECTED TO BE AN INTERESTING AND A THOUGHT-PROVOKING SESSION.
FREE ADMISSION TICKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING MUSIC CENTRES OF THE MUSIC OFFICEl-
(A) HONG KONG MUSIC CENTRE, 9/F., HONG KONG ARTS CENTRE, WAN CHAI, HONG KONG.
(B) YAU MA TEI MUSIC CENTRE.
TAU HA KI HUJIL
3/F., GOLDEN GATE COMMERCIAL BUILDING 138 AUSTIN ROAD, KOWLOON.
MONG KOK MUSIC CENTRE, 1/F., CAMBRIDGE COURT, 84 WATERLOO ROAD, KOWLOON.
FOR ENQUIRIES, PLEASE CALL 5-283257
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO,
53 LAND SITES OFFERED........................................ 1
LAND EXCHANGE SYSTEM ABOLISHED............................... 3
HONG KONG/SWEDEN TEXTILES TaLKS ADJOURNED.................... 3
1982 PRICE AND VOLUME MOVEMENTS OF EXTERNAL TRADE............ 4
APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR OPERATION OF CAR PARKS ............. 7
FOUR SHORT-TERM LAND TENANCIES AVAILABLE..................... 8
DEMAND IN MAINTENANCE WORK FOR COMMERCIAL VEHICLES TO GROW .. 9
AZALEAS ON SHOW TO PUBLIC ................................... 10
COLONIAL PRISON SERVICE MEDAL FOR 34 OFFICERS ............... 10
STUDENT CONCERT FOR KWUN TONG AND WONG TAI SIN DISTRICTS .... 11
MAXICAB SERVICE WITHDRAWAL .................................. 11
PLB PROHIBITED ZONE
11
THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 1983
1 -
53 LAND SITES OFFERED
* ft *
THE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO SELL 53 SITES IN THE URBAN AREA AND THE NEW TERRITORIES DURING THE SIX MONTHS FROM APRIL TO SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY, THE GOVERNMENT LAND AGENT, MR DUNCAN SCOTT-WILL, SAID THAT THE PROVISIONAL LAND SALES FORECAST COMPRISED A TOTAL OF ABOUT 24.7 HECTARES.
IN ADDITION, 22 HOUSES AT NGAU CHI WAN, NOT TAKEN UP BY VILLAGERS AFFECTED BY MTR WORKS AT CHOI HUNG, WILL ALSO BE PUT UP FOR SALE.
IN THE URBAN AREA, AN ITEM OF PARTICULAR INTEREST IS THE OLD MARKET SITE AT ABERDEEN WHICH CAN BE DEVELOPED FOR COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL PURPOSES. THIS SITE WILL BE SOLD BY AUCTION.
SITES TO BE OFFERED IN THE NEW TOWNS INCLUDE THREE IN TUEN MUN AND ONE EACH IN TSUEN WAN AND TAI PO FOR COMMERCIAL OR RESIDENTIAL USES.
FOUR SITES IN THE URBAN AREA AND ONE IN YUEN LONG WILL BE SOLD BY TENDER WITH A REQUIREMENT THAT THE PURCHASER PROVIDES PUBLIC PARKING FACILITIES IN THE DEVELOPMENT.
A TOTAL OF 13 SITES WILL BE OFFERED FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT, EIGHT OF WHICH ARE SITUATED IN YUEN LONG, FOUR IN SHA TIN AND ONE IN KOWLOON. IN GENERAL, MR SCOTT-WILL SAID, THESE SITES WERE RATHER SMALLER IN SIZE THAN THOSE MARKETED IN THE PAST.
♦A MORE FLEXIBLE RANGE OF PLOT RATIOS FOR INDUSTRIAL LOTS IS ALSO UNDER CONSIDERATION TO PROVIDE A GREATER SELECTION OF DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS TO DEVELOPERS AND, MORE PARTICULARLY, POTENTIAL OWNER-OCCUPIER INDUSTRIALISTS WHOSE NEEDS MAY BE FOR RELATIVELY LOW DENSITY BUILDINGS,+ HE SAID.
THE GOVERNMENT WILL ALSO INVITE TENDERS FORTHREE FURTHER SITES FOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEME. ONE OF THESE SITES IS IN SHA TIN, ONE IN NGAU CHI WAN AND THE OTHER, MEASURING FOUR AND A HALF HECTARES, IN KOWLOON BAY ADJACENT TO THE KAI YIP ESTATE.
♦THIS FORM OF SALE HAS PROVED POPULAR WITH DEVELOPERS DURING THE CURRENT PERIOD OF SLACK MARKET CONDITIONS,* MR SCOTT-WILL SAID.
WITH REGARD TO SITES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, HE ADDED, THERE WOULD BE EVEN MORE EMPHASIS ON SALES BY LETTER B TENDER IN LINE WITH THE GOVERNMENT’S INTENTION OF REDEEMING THE OUTSTANDING COMMITMENT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
/IN ADDITION
THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 1963
2
IN ADDITION TO THE PROVISIONAL SALES FORECAST, A NUMBER
OF AVAILABLE SITES ARE INCLUDED FOR THE FIRST TIME ON AN APPLICATION LIST.
♦GENERALLY SPEAKING, THESE ARE SITES WHICH ARE CONSIDERED SURPLUS TO DEMAND AT THE PRESENT TIME,+ MR SCOTT-WILL SAID.
♦ THE INTENTION IS TO MAKE THIS LIST AVAILABLE TO DEVELOPERS AND OTHER PARTIES WHO MAY BE INTERESTED IN A SITE FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE AT A CERTAIN LOCATION.+
THESE SITES INCLUDE THOSE PREVIOUSLY OFFERED FOR SALE BUT FOR WHICH NO BIDS, OR UNACCEPTABLE BIDS, HAD BEEN RECEIVED. THEY ALSO INCLUDE HIGH-CLASS HOUSING SITES WHICH ARE NOT IN DEMAND AT PRESENT.
PERSONS OR COMPANIES INTERESTED IN A SITE ON THE LIST SHOULD INITIALLY APPROACH THE LANDS DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS TO MAKE KNOWN THEIR INTEREST AND REQUIREMENTS.
♦ IF THESE CAN BE MET, AND THE PROSPECTIVE PURCHASER IS WILLING TO GUARANTEE A BID AT A LEVEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE GOVERNMENT, THE SITE WILL BE PROCESSED FOR SALE,+ MR SCOTT-WILL SAID.
♦ IT IS PROPOSED THAT FOR MORE VALUABLE SITES ONE REQUIREMENT WILL BE FOR THE PROSPECTIVE PURCHASER TO LODGE A DEPOSIT WITH THE GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE A SALE TO THE APPLICANT IF NO HIGHER BID IS RECEIVED.*
DETAILS OF THIS ARRANGEMENT ARE STILL BEING WORKED OUT. MEANWHILE, INTERESTED PARTIES SHOULD INITIALLY CONTACT THE CHIEF ESTATE SURVEYOR (DISPOSAL), MR PETER JENNINGS, IN THE LANDS DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS, SECOND FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING.
MR SCOTT-WILL SAIDi +T0 ENSURE THAT SITES ON THE LIST DO NOT LIE IDLE, IT IS INTENDED, WHERE PRACTICABLE, TO PUT SITES TO USE ON A TEMPORARY BASIS EITHER TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES OR TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR OPEN STORAGE OR OTHER SUITABLE USES ON SHORT TERM TENANCIES BY TENDER.+
HE EMPHASISED THAT THE SALES PROGRAMME WAS PROVISIONAL AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE. SALE DETAILS WOULD BE PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE AND MAJOR NEWSPAPERS IN THE USUAL WAY.
COPIES OF THE LAND SALES FORECAST MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE LANDS DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS, MURRAY BUILDING, THIRD FLOOR, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG OR AT ANY OF THE DISTRICT LAND OFFICES THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY. PLANS SHOWING THE LOCATION OF THE VARIOUS LOTS CAN ALSO BE INSPECTED AT THESE OFFICES.
THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 1983
3
LAND EXCHANGE SYSTEM ABOLISHED
X X * X
THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL HAS DECIDED TO ABOLISH THE LAND EXCHANGE SYSTEM, ALSO KNOWN AS LETTER B SYSTEM, WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE DECISION WAS REACHED AFTER NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND HEUNG YEE KUK.
HE SAID THAT NO MORE LETTER B WOULD BE OFFERED FOR FUTURE RESUMPTIONS ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT WOULD HONOUR ANY OFFERS OF LETTER B MADE IN RESPECT OF RESUMPTIONS ALREADY ORDERED.
IN NEW CASES, HE ADDED, THE BASIC EX-GRATIA COMPENSATION RATE FIXED BY THE Y.K. KAN REPORT WOULD BE ENHANCED BY 20 PER CENT TO COMPENSATE FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE LETTER B OFFER.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE NEW RATES FOR AGRICULTURAL LAND RESUMED IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WOULD ALSO APPLY TO AGRICULTURAL LAND RESUMED IN THE URBAN AREA.
HE SAID THAT PROPOSALS WERE BEING CONSIDERED TO AMEND THE CROWN LANDS RESUMPTION ORDINANCE TO ALLOW STATUTORY COMPENSATION TO BE ASSESSED ON THE BASIS OF WHAT A WILLING BUYER WOULD PAY TO A WILLING SELLER IN THE OPEN MARKET.
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HONG KONG/SWEDEN TEXTILES TALKS ADJOURNED
* *
THE TEXTILES NEGOTIATIONS FOR A NEW AGREEMENT BETWEEN HONG KONG AND SWEDEN WHICH BEGAN IN STOCKHOLM ON MARCH 2 WERE ADJOURNED ON TUESDAY (MARCH 8).
THIS WAS THE SECOND ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS. THE TWO SIDES DID NOT REACH A SETTLEMENT FOR A NEW AGREEMENT TO REPLACE THE CURRENT TWO-YEAR AGREEMENT DUE TO EXPIRE ON MARCH 31.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRADE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THE NEGOTIATIONS WERE EXPECTED TO RESUME IN MAY OR JUNE.
MEANWHILE, THE TWO SIDES HAVE AGREED TO EXTEND THE CURRENT AGREEMENT BY FIVE MONTHS TO AUGUST 31.
THE TRADE DEPARTMENT WILL SHORTLY ANNOUNCE THE DETAILS OF THE CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS REGARDING EXPORTS OF TEXTILES TO SWEDEN UNDER THE EXTENDED RESTRAINT PERIOD.
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/4........
THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 1983
4
1982 PRICE AND VOLUME MOVEMENTS OF EXTERNAL TRADE *****
PRICES OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND IMPORTS BOTH ROSE BY SIX PER CE4T IN 1982 OVER 1981, ACCORDING TO STATISTICS RELEASED TODAY (THURSDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
AS A RESULT, THE TERMS OF TRADE INDEX (EXPRESSED AS A RATIO OF THE DOMESTIC EXPORT PRICE INDEX TO THE IMPORT PRICE INDEX) REMAINED AT THE LEVEL OF 100.
THE VOLUME OF IMPORTS DROPPED BY TWO PER CENT WHILE THAT OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS DECREASED BY THREE PER CENT. THE PRICES OF RE-EXPORTS INCREASED BY 10 PER CENT, WITH VOLUME DOWN BY THREE PER CENT, SO THAT FOR TOTAL EXPORTS, PRICES ROSE BY SEVEN PER CENT AND VOLUME DROPPED BY THREE PER CENT.
PRICES ARE BASED ON UNIT VALUES WHICH DO NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT CHANGES IN THE COMPOSITION OR QUALITY OF GOODS TRADED. CHANGES IN THE VOLUME OF TRADE ARE DERIVED FROM CHANGES IN TRADE VALUES, AFTER DISCOUNTING THE EFFECT OF PRICE CHANGES.
THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE, UNIT EXPORTS BY MAIN COMMODITY GROUP ARE
VALUE AND VOLUME OF DOMESTIC SHOWN BELOWj-
PERCENTAGE CHANGES COMPARING 1982 WITH 1981
EXPORT VALUE EXPORT UNIT VALUE EXPORT VOLUME
CLOTHING (EXCEPT FUR) + 2 +10 - 7
TEXTILE FABRICS - 5 + 5 -10
TEXTILE YARN AND THREAD ♦ 6 - 6 ♦12
TEXTILE MADE-UPS AND RELATED ARTICLES -10 +14 -21
ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS -13 - 5 - 9
FOOTWEAR -10 ♦ 8 -17
METAL MANUFACTURES + 2 + 8 - 6
METAL ORES AND SCRAP -24 - 7 -18
WATCHES AND CLOCKS ♦ 1 -20 +26
ALL COMMODITIES + 3 + 6 - 3
/the expoht .......
THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 1983
THE EXPORT PRICES OF MOST COMMODITY GROUPS INCREASED, FROM FIVE PER CENT FOR TEXTILE FABRICS TO 14 PER CENT FOR TEXTILE MADE-UPS AND RELATED ARTICLES. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE EXPORT PRICES OF ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS, TEXTILE YARN AND THREAD, METAL ORES AND SCRAP, AS WELL AS WATCHES AND CLOCKS DECLINED BY FIVE PER CENT, SIX PER CENT, SEVEN PER CENT AND 20 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
CONSIDERABLE GROWTH IN THE VOLUME OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS WAS RECORDED FOR TEXTILE YARN AND THREAD (+12 PER CENT) AS WELL AS WATCHES AND CLOCKS (+26 PER CENT). HOWEVER, THE EXPORT VOLUME OF MOST COMMODITY GROUPS DECLINED, FROM SIX PER CENT FROM METAL MANUFACTURES TO 21 PER CENT FOR TEXTILE MADE-UPS AND RELATED ARTICLES.
THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE, UNIT VALUE AND VOLUME OF IMPORTS BY END-USE CATEGORY ARE SHOWN BELOWi-
PERCENTAGE CHANGES COMPARING 1982 WITH 1981
IMPORT VALUE IMPORT UNIT VALUE IMPORT VOLUME
FOODSTUFFS +14 + 7 + 7
CONSUMER GOODS ♦ 4 ♦ 5 INSIGNIFICANT
FUELS + 5 - 2 ♦ 7
RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES - 1 ♦ 5 - 6
CAPITAL GOODS + 6 +12 - 6
ALL COMMODITIES + 3 + 6 - 2
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FUELS, THE PRICES OF WHICH DROPPED BY TWO PER CENT, THE PRICES OF IMPORTS BY END-USE CATEGORY INCREASED MODERATELY, RANGING FROM FIVE PER CENT FOR CONSUMER GOODS AND FOR RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES TO 12 PER CENT FOR CAPITAL GOODS.
MOST OF THE IMPORTED FOODSTUFFS ROSE IN VOLUME TERMS, THE MORE SIGNIFICANT ONES BEING MEAT AND MEAT PREPARATIONS AND FISH AND FISH PREPARATIONS. ON THE OTHER HAND, THE IMPORT VOLUME OF FRUIT, AS WELL AS TEA AND COFFEE, DECLINED.
IN THE CONSUMER GOODS CATEGORY, SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN IMPORT VOLUME WERE REGISTERED FOR TOBACCO MANUFACTURES, CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR. THE IMPORT VOLUME OF PASSENGER MOTOR CARS FELL.
/IMPORTS OF .......
THURSDAY, MkitCH 10, 19&3
- 6 -
IMPORTS OF FUELS ROSE BY SEVEN PER CENT IN VOLUME TERMS.
THE IMPORT VOLUME OF MOST RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES DROPPED, AMONG WHICH THE PURCHASES OF YARN OF MAN-MADE FIBRES, WOOL AND OTHER ANIMAL HAIR, AND MAN-MADE FIBRES DECREASES SUBSTANTIALLY. HOWEVER, THE IMPORT VOLUME OF IRON AND STEEL, FABRICS AND WOOL AND MIXTURES, AND COTTON YARN AND THREAD INCREASED.
AS FOR CAPITAL GOODS, MAJOR INCREASES IN IMPORT VOLUME WERE RECORDED FOR TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT AND OFFICE MACHINES. HOWEVER, DECREASES IN IMPORT VOLUME WERE REGISTERED FOR SCIENTIFIC, MEDICAL, OPTICAL, MEASURING AND CONTROLLING INSTRUMENTS AND APPARATUS, ELECTRICAL MACHINERY AND TEXTILE MACHINERY SO THAT THE IMPORT VOLUME OF CAPITAL GOODS DECLINED BY SIX PER CENT.
THE CHANGES IN BY END-USE CATEGORY
THE VALUE, UNIT VALUE AND VOLUME OF RE-EXPORTS ARE SHOWN BELOWi-
PERCENTAGE CHANGES COMPARING 1982 WITH 1981
RE-EXPORT VALUE RE-EXPORT UNIT VALUE RE-EXPORT VOLUME
FOODSTUFFS +26 +13 +12
CONSUMER GOODS + 5 + 8 - 3
FUELS +24 + 6 +17
RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES 1 NSIGNIFICANT +10 - 8
CAPITAL GOODS +21 ♦15" + 6
ALL COMMODITIES + 6 +10 - 3
THE CHANGES IN RE-EXPORT VOLUME VARIED AMONG THE FIVE END-USE
CATEGORIES, RANGING FROM AN EIGHT PER CENT DECREASE FOR RAW
MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES TO A 17 PER CENT INCREASE FOR FUELS.
FURTHER DETAILS ARE CONTAINED IN THE DECEMBER 1982 ISSUE OF THE +HONG KONG TRADE INDEX NUMBERS*, AVAILABLE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT $2 PER COPY.
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THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 1983
- 7 -
APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR OPERATION OF CAR PARKS
* * * *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL BE INVITING APPLICATIONS FROM LOCAL AND OVERSEAS OPERATORS TO RUN AND MANAGE THE NINE GOVERNMENT-OWNED, MULTI-STOREY CAR PARKS.
THIS WILL BE GAZETTED TOMORROW (FRIDAY), A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
THE CAR PARKS HAVE A TOTAL OF 5 203 SPACES.
THE SPOKESMAN ALSO SAID THAT THIS WAS A FIRST STEP TO ENABLE THE DEPARTMENT TO SELECT A LIST OF QUALIFIED OPERATORS TO TENDER FOR THE MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS.
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL CONSIDER FOR INCLUSION IN THE LIST OF QUALIFIED OPERATORS ANY BUSINESS WITH A NUMBER OF YEARS’ EXPERIENCE IN CAR-PARK MANAGEMENT OR A TRANSPORT-RELATED OPERATION WHICH INVOLVES REVENUE COLLECTION OR TOLL PAYING.
APPLICATIONS SHOULD INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
* SUFFICIENT FINANCIAL AND MANAGEMENT INFORMATION TO ENABLE AN ASSESSMENT OF THE APPLICANT’S SUITABILITY;
* WHERE THE APPLICANT IS CURRENTLY MANAGING CAR PARKS, THE NUMBER OF PARKS, AND THE NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES AND EMPLOYEES INVOLVED SHOULD BE STATED;
M IN THE CASE OF A TRANSPORT-RELATED OPERATION, DETAILS OF HOW EXPERIENCE COULD BE APPLIED TO CAR PARK MANAGEMENT;
* THE PROPOSED MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE AND SIZE OF STAFF;
M THE PROPOSED METHOD OF OPERATION, INCLUDING OUTLINE ARRANGEMENT FOR CASH COLLECTION, SECURITY AND ENTRY/EXIT CONTROL EQUIPMENT;
* WHETHER THE APPLICANT WOULD ONLY BE INTERESTED IN MANAGING ALL THE CAR PARKS OR IS PREPARED TO CONSIDER MANAGING INDIVIDUAL CAR PARKS IF NECESSARY; AND,
X WHERE THE APPLICANT IS A SUBSIDIARY COMPANY, DETAILS OF THE PARENT COMPANY AND THE RELATIONSHIP.
THOSE WISHING TO BE LISTED AS QUALIFIED OPERATORS SHOULD APPLY IN WRITING IN ENGLISH TO THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, 32 01 KWAN ROAD, 5TH AND 6TH FLOORS, WAN CHAI BEFORE APRIL 15, 1983 BY REGISTERED POST.
/latb submissions........
THURSDAY, MARCH 10, _>
- 8 -
LATE SUBMISSIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
THE NINE GOVERNMENT MULTI-STOREY CAR PARKS TO BE PRIVATISED ARE STAR FERRY CAR PARK; MIDDLE ROAD CAR PARK; CITY HALL CAR PARK; GARDEN ROAD CAR PARK; RUMSEY STREET CAR PARK; YAU MA TEI CAR PARK; MURRAY ROAD CAR PARK; KWAI FONG CAR PARK; AND ABERDEEN CAR PARK.
A FURTHER GOVERNMENT MULTI-STOREY CAR PARK IN TSUEN WAN IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN MID-1983. THIS WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE PRIVATISATION PROPOSALS.
- - 0 -------
FOUR SHORT-TERM LAND TENANCIES AVAILABLE * * * *
TENDERS ARE BEING INVITED BY THE LANDS DEPARTMENT FOR THE SHORT-TERM TENANCIES OF FOUR PIECES OF LAND.
TWO OF THE SITES ARE IN TSIM SHA TSUI EAST, ONE IS ON HONG KONG ISLAND AND THE OTHER IN SHEUNG SHU I.
THE TSIM SHA TSUI EAST SITES ARE LOCATED AT THE JUNCTION CF SCIENCE MUSEUM ROAD AND MODY ROAD AND ARE OF ABOUT 5 192 SQUARE METRES AND 2 875 SQUARE METRES RESPECTIVELY.
THE LARGER SITE IS INTENDED FOR A FEE-PAYING PUBLIC CAR PARK FOR PRIVATE CARS AND TAXIS ONLY, WHILE THE SMALLER FOR A FEE-PAYING COACH AND GOODS VEHICLE PARK.
THE HONG KONG ISLAND SITE IS AT THE NEW TEMPORARY MACAU FERRY TERMINAL ON CENTRAL RECLAMATION AND HAS AN AREA OF ABOUT 3.75 SQUARE METRES.
IT IS USED FOR A KIOSK SELLING NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES, CONFECTIONERY AND SOFT DRINKS BUT EXCLUDING COOKED FOOD. SANDWICHES AND HOT DRINKS.
THE REMAINING SITE IS IN SHEUNG SHUI AND COVERS AN AREA OF ABOUT 6 500 SQUARE METRES. IT IS FOR CAR PARKING PURPOSES.
THE CLOSING DATE FOR TENDERS IS 12 NOON ON MARCH 25.
TENDER FORMS AND TENDER PLANS LANDS DEPARTMENT, HONG KONG.
, NOTICES AND CONDITIONS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM, INSPECTED AT THE SURVEY DIVISION OF THE MURRAY BUILDING, 5TH FLOOR, GARDEN ROAD,
THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 1983
9
DEMAND IN MAINTENANCE WORK FOR COMMERCIAL VEHICLES TO GROW ******
THE MAINTENANCE WORKFORCE OF THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY, PARTICULARLY THE COMMERCIAL, HEAVY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES SECTOR. WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN GREAT DEMAND IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
THIS IS THE CONCLUSION MADE BY THE AUTOMOBILE REPAIRS AND SERVICING INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL IN A MANPOWER SURVEY REPORT WHICH WAS PUBLISHED TODAY.
DESPITE THE ECONOMIC RECESSION AND THE MEASURES TAKEN TO CURB THE GROWTH OF PRIVATE CARS, THE DEMAND FOR MAINTENANCE WORK FOR COMMERCIAL, HEAVY AND PASSENGER VEHICLES WILL INCREASE DUE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TOWNS AND BETTER ROAD SYSTEMS, THE INCREASING USE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND THE INCREASE IN HONG KONG BASED COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES OVER THE BORDER, THE REPORT REVEALED.
THE LABOUR FORCE COUNT WAS 13 303 WHEN THE SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED IN JUNE, 1982, AS COMPARED TO 11 599 DURING THE PREVIOUS SURVEY HELD TWO YEARS EARLIER.
THE AVERAGE ANNUAL GROWTH RATE IS, THEREFORE, 7.1 PER CENT AND TO MEET FURTHER MANPOWER DEMAND, THE INDUSTRY WILL NEED A MINIMUM OF 542 ADDITIONAL SKILLED WORKERS TO FILL VARIOUS PRINCIPAL JOB VACANCIES IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
THE REPORT ALSO REVEALED THAT THE TRAINING BOARD HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ESTABLISH A TRAINING CENTRE.
THE PROPOSED TRAINING CENTRE, PLANNED TO BE FULLY OPERATIONAL IN 1985, WILL BE HOUSED IN A MULTI-DISCIPLINE TRAINING CENTRE COMPLEX IN KWAI CHUNG.
IT WILL PROVIDE ONE YEAR OFF-THE-JOB BASIC SKILL TRAINING TO 310 CRAFT AND 30 TECHNICIAN TRAINEES ANNUALLY.
THE REPORT, IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE, ALSO CONTAINED STATISTICAL INFORMATION ON THE MANPOWER STRUCTURE OF THE AUTOMOBILE REPAIRS AND SERVICING INDUSTRY, THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN EACH PRINCIPAL JOB, A FORECAST OF THE TRAINING NEEDS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON bEASURES NECESSARY TO COPE WITH THE NEEDS.
IT SELLS AT «12 A COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL.
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/10 ........
THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 1983
10
AZALEAS ON SHOW TO PUBLIC
* * *
THE GARDENS OF GOVERNMENT HOUSE WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON SUNDAY (MARCH 13) FROM 10 AM TO 5 PM FOR PEOPLE TO SEE THE AZALEAS IN BLOOM.
THIS IS THE TIME OF THE YEAR WHEN THE FLOWERS ARE AT THEIR COLOURFUL BEST.
THE ANNUAL OPEN DAY OF THE GARDENS OF GOVERNMENT HOUSE HAS BEEN HELD SINCE 1968.
VISITORS SHOULD ENTER BY THE MAIN GATE AND LEAVE BY THE SIDE GATES SO THAT ALL CAN ENJOY THE FLOWERS WITHOUT CAUSING INCONVENIENCE TO OTHERS.
THEY ARE ALSO REMINDED THAT ONLY THE GARDENS WILL BE OPEN, AND THEY SHOULD NOT ENTER THE HOUSE ITSELF.
SCOUTS AND POLICEMEN WILL BE PRESENT AND VISITORS ARE ASKED TO CO-OPERATE WITH THEM TO AVOID OVERCROWDING.
--------0----------
COLONIAL PRISON SERVICE MEDAL FOR 34 OFFICERS
* * *
THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR T.G. GARNER, WILL PRESENT FIRST AND SECOND CLASPS TO THE COLONIAL PRISON SERVICE MEDAL TO 34 OFFICERS FOR THEIR EXEMPLARY SERVICE, AT A PARADE TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
THE PARADE WILL BE HELD AT THE GROUND OF THE DEPARTMENT’S STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE IN STANLEY.
ON PARADE WILL BE SEVEN CONTINGENTS COMPRISING 205 OFFICERS FROM VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT, COMMANDED BY SENIOR SUPERINTENDENT, MR ALOYSIUS WONG.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE PARADE AND PRESENTATION OF CLASPS BY THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR T.G. GARNER, AT 4 PM TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AT THE PARADE GROUND OF THE STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE IN TUNG TAU WAN ROAD, STANLEY.
PRESS TRANSPORT WILL LEAVE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS AT GUARDIAN HOUSE, 32, 01 KWAN ROAD, WAN CHAI AT 3.15 PM SHARP.
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/11 ........
THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 1983
11
STUDENT CONCERT FOR KWUN TONG AND WONG TAI SIN DISTRICTS
M *
THE KWUN TONG MUSIC CENTRE OF THE MUSIC OFFICE, RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT WILL HOLD ITS ANNUAL STUDENT CONCERT FOR THE KWUN TONG AND WONG TAI SIN DISTRICTS ON SATURDAY (MARCH 12) AT 3.30 PM AT THE LEE KAU YAN MEMORIAL SCHOOL, 596, PRINCE EDWARD ROAD, SAN PO KONG, KOWLOON.
MRS NG CHU LIEN-FUN, A MEMBER OF THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD, MR ALBERT LI, A MEMBER OF THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD AND MR CLIVE OXLEY, MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR, WILL PRESENT SOUVENIRS TO THE PERFORMERS DURING THE CONCERT.
THIS STUDENT CONCERT IS AN ANNUAL EVENT OF THE KWUN TONG MUSIC CENTRE AIMED AT REVIEWING THE PROGRESS ACHIEVED BY ITS INSTRUMENTAL TRAINEES AND AT PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE TRAINEES TO PERFORM IN PUBLIC.
THE PROGRAMME WILL INCLUDE ER-HU ENSEMBLE, OBOE AND CELLO SOLOS, AND FLUTE AND VIOLA DUETS. THE WONG TAI SIN CHILDREN’S CHOIR HAS ALSO BEEN INVITED AS A GUEST PERFORMING GROUP TO ADD VARIETY TO THE FUNCTION.
THE CONCERT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND FREE ADMISSION TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE KWUN TONG MUSIC CENTRE, YAN HAU MANSION, SECOND FLOOR, 100, TING FU STREET, NGAU TAU KOK, KOWLOON. FOR ENQUIRIES, PLEASE CALL 3-7561328.
- 0 - -
MAX I CAB SERVICE WITHDRAWAL
HONG KONG ISLAND MAXICAB ROUTE 34 RUNNING BETWEEN HOLLAND STREET AND ROBINSON ROAD WILL BE WITHDRAWN FROM SUNDAY (MARCH 13) DUE TO LOW PATRONAGE.
NOTICES OF THE CANCELLATION WILL BE PUT UP AT THE TERMINAL POINTS.
- 0 - -
PLB PROHIBITED ZONE X K-X
FROM 10 AM TOMORROW (FRIDAY), PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES WILL NOT EE PERMITTED TO USE KING HONG STREET IN SAN PO KONG, BETWEEN KING FUK STREET AND PRINCE EDWARD ROAD EAST.
- 0 -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 1?83
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GUANGDONG NUCLEAR POWER STATION CONSULTANCY .................... 1
GOVERNOR RETURNING FROM LONDON ................................. 1
SOUTH LANTAU COAST OUTLINE ZONING PLAN AMENDED ................. 2
NEW POSTAL RATES FROM OCTOBER .................................. 3
ABERDEEN TUNNEL TO BE FULLY OPERATIONAL ........................ 4
SITE GRANTED FOR HOUSING PROJECT ............................. 5
FERRY PIER FOR TUEN MUN NEW TOWN ............................... 5
NEW SCHOOLS FOR SHA TIN ........................................ 6
FIRST COMMUNITY HALL IN TAI PO ................................. 6
OFFICERS ASSOCIATION FORMED .................................... 6
CONSTRUCTION OF SEAWALL AND BREAKWATER FOR CHAI WAN............. 7
ANTI-DRUGS DISPLAY AND ICE-SKATING PERFORMANCE.................. 8
POSTAL SERVICES TO LEBANON ..................................... 8
WATER CUT IN ABERDEEN .......................................... 8
FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 1983
1
GUANGDONG NUCLEAR POWER STATION CONSULTANCY ******
THE GOVERNMENT IS TO EMPLOY A FIRM OF MERCHANT BANKERS AS CONSULTANTS TO ADVISE IT ON THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE PROPOSAL THAT HONG KONG SHOULD PURCHASE ELECTRICITY FROM THE PROPOSED NUCLEAR POWER STATION IN GUANGDONG PROVINCE.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL APPROVED THE NECESSARY FUNDS FOR THE CONSULTANCY ON WEDNESDAY (MARCH 9), AND A SUITABLE CONSULTANT WOULD BE SELECTED AND APPOINTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
IN HIS OPENING ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 6, THE GOVERNOR SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD AGREED IN PRINCIPLE +TO HONG KONG TAKING POWER FROM CHINA PROVIDED THAT THE COST IS NO GREATER THAN IT WOULD BE IF WE PROVIDED THE NECESSARY FOSSIL FUEL BASED GENERATING PLANT IN HONG KONG.+
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WILL TAKE PART IN TALKS ON THE
GUANGDONG NUCLEAR PROJECT NEXT WEEK BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRY, CHINA LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY AND A DELEGATION FROM CHINA LED BY THE FIRST VICE MINISTER OF WATER CONSERVANCY AND ELECTRIC POWER IN BEIJING, MR LI PENG.
THE MERCHANT BANKERS WHO ARE TO BE APPOINTED AS CONSULTANTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO IDENTIFY AND PROVIDE ADVICE ON THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF ANY PROPOSALS THAT MAY BE MADE IN REGARD TO THE NUCLEAR PROJECT AFFECTING THE GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSIBILITIES AND INTERESTS. THIS WILL ASSIST THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE DECISIONS OF A FINANCIAL AND/OR ECONOMIC NATURE ON THE PROPOSALS REQUIRING A GOVERNMENT RESPONSE.
- - 0 - -
NOTE TO EDITORS!
GOVERNOR RETURNING FROM LONDON * * *
THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, WILL RETURN FROM LONDON ON FLIGHT CX 200, E.T.A. 9.15 AM TOMORROW (SATURDAY).
THERE WILL BE A FACILITY FOR PRESS PHOTOGRAPHERS AND CAMERAMEN TO COVER HIS RETURN. PLEASE ADVISE THOSE ASSIGNED BY YOU TO COVER THE EVENT TO ASSEMBLE IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE AIRPORT TERMINAL NOT LATER THAN 8.15 AM.
- - 0 - -
FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 1983
2
SOUTH LANTAU COAST OUTLINE ZONING PLAN AMENDED *****
AMENDMENTS TO THE DRAFT SOUTH LANTAU COAST OUTLINE ZONING PLAN WERE ANNOUNCED TODAY BY THE TOWN PLANNING BOARD.
THE AMENDMENTS WERE MADE AFTER THE BOARD HAD CONSIDERED OBJECTIONS TO THE PREVIOUS DRAFT PLAN, A SPOKESMAN SAID.
UNDER THE AMENDMENTS, PART OF THE SHU I HAU VALLEY HAS BEEN REZONED FROM GREEN BELT TO RESIDENTIAL (GROUP C) WHERE ONLY LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT WITH LOW-RISE BUILDINGS COMPATIBLE WITH THE ADJOINING RURAL ENVIRONMENT WOULD BE ALLOWED.
THE NORTHERN PART OF PUI 0 VILLAGE HAS ALSO BEEN REZONED FROM VILLAGE TYPE DEVELOPMENT TO GREEN BELT, TO AVOID THE STEEP SLOPES WHICH ARE FOUND TO BE UNSUITABLE FOR BUILDING HOUSES.
THE SCHEDULE OF NOTES ATTACHED TO THE PLAN HAS ALSO BEEN REVISED.
THE AMENDED PLAN MAY BE INSPECTED AT THE TOWN PLANNING DIVISION, 17TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD; THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICE (CENTRAL AND WESTERN) ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING ENTRANCE; AND THE DISTRICT OFFICE (ISLANDS), 16TH FLOOR, SINCERE BUILDING, 173 DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL, HONG KONG.
ANY PERSON AFFECTED BY THE AMENDMENTS TO THE PLAN MAY SUBMIT HIS OBJECTION IN WRITING TO THE SECRETARY, TOWN PLANNING BOARD, C/O LANDS DEPARTMENT, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD.
THE DRAFT AMENDMENT PLAN IS ON SALE AT THE SURVEY DIVISION, LANDS DEPARTMENT, 5TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG AT $10 FOR AN UNCOLOURED COPY AND $60 FOR A COLOURED COPY.
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FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 1983
- 3 -
NEW POSTAL RATES FROM OCTOBER * * * *
POSTAGE RATES FOR LOCAL LETTERS AND PARCELS AND FOR SURFACE MAIL TO CHINA, TAIWAN AND MACAU WILL BE INCREASED FROM OCTOBER 1 THIS YEAR, THE POST OFFICE ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE BASIC RATE FOR LOCAL LETTERS WILL BE RAISED FROM 30 CENTS TO 40 CENTS, BUT THE RATE FOR LOCAL PRINTED PAPERS WEIGHING UNDER 30 GRAMS WILL REMAIN AT 30 CENTS. AMONG OTHER ITEMS, THESE PRINTED PAPERS INCLUDE INVOICES AND GREETING CARDS.
+THE REVISION HAS BEEN MADE TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF INCREASED SERVICE COSTS WHILE ABOUT SIX MONTHS’ NOTICE IS BEING GIVEN FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF POSTAL USERS,+ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE POST OFFICE SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE REVISED RATES WOULD STILL COMPARE FAVOURABLY WITH THOSE IN OTHER AREAS IN THE REGION.
THE BASIC RATES FOR LETTERS AND PRINTED PAPERS TO CHINA WILL ALSO BE INCREASED BY 10 CENTS, BUT THERE WILL BE NO CHANGE IN THE POSTAGE RATES FOR SMALL PACKETS.
DETAILS OF THE PRESENT AND REVISED RATES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
INLAND POSTAGE RATES
LETTERS PRINTED PAPERS
PRESENT REVISED PRESENT REVISED
$ $ S $
30 G 0.30 0.40 0.30 0.30
50 G 0.60 0.70 0.30 0.40
100 G 0.80 1.00 0.50 0.60
250 G 1.30 1.60 0.80 1.00
500 G 2.50 3.00 1.30 1.60
1 KG 5.00 6.00 2.00 2.40
2 KG 7.50 9.00 — —
/SUHPAOB ilAIX.......
PRLDAY, MUCH 11, 1$83
- 4 -
SURFACE MAIL TO CHINA, TAIWAN AND MACAU
LETTERS PRINTED PAPERS
PRESENT REVISED PRESENT REVISED
’ $ $ s S
20 G 0.40 0.50 0.30 0.40
50 G 0.80 1.00 0.50 0.60
100 G 1.60 1.90 0.80 1.00
250 G 3.60 4.30 1.50 1.80
500 G 7.00 8.40 2.50 3.00
1 KG 12.00 14.40 4.50 5.40
2 KG 17.00 20.40 6.00 7.20
EXTRA 1 KG 3.00 3.60
LOCAL PARCEL SERVICE
PRESENT REVISED
$ S
FOR EACH KG 5 6
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ABERDEEN TUNNEL TO BE FULLY OPERATIONAL
*****
BOTH TUBES OF THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL WILL BE OPEN FROM 6.30 AM ON MONDAY (MARCH 14), A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY.
HOWEVER, IN THE EVENING ONE OF THE TUBES WILL BE CLOSED FOR NORMAL MAINTENANCE WHILE THE OTHER TUBE WILL BE USED FOR TWO-WAY TRAFFIC, HE SAID.
FOLLOWING THE FULL OPENING, CHINA MOTOR BUS ROUTES 38, 70, 72, 75, 90M, 92 AND CROSS-HARBOUR ROUTE 170 WILL OPERATE VIA ABERDEEN TUNNEL.
IN ADDITION, ROUTES 70 AND 75 WILL HAVE THEIR OPERATING HOURS EXTENDED TO 11.30 PM.
MAXICaB ROUTES 4 AND 35 WILL ALSO OPERATE VIA ABERDEEN TUNNEL ON ALL JOURNEYS.
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/5 .....
5
SITE GRANTED FOR HOUSING PROJECT *****
THE GOVERNMENT IS TO GRANT BY PRIVATE TREATY A SITE OF ABOUT 2 50 SQUARE METRES IN SYCAMORE STREET, KOWLOON, TO THE HONG KONG HOUSING SOCIETY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PROJECT UNDER ITS URBAN IMPROVEMENT SCHEME.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE rKHS PLANNED TO BUILD FOUR 15-STOREY BLOCKS OF RESIDENTIAL UNITS OVER A GROUND FLOOR PODIUM OF SHOPS AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES.
THE ROOF OF THE PODIUM WILL BE USED AS A GARDEN AND CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND. THE SCHEME WILL TAKE FOUR YEARS TO COMPLETE, AND PROVIDE ABOUT 470 FLATS FOR SOME 1 860 PEOPLE.
ABOUT 1 120 PEOPLE LIVING IN THREE FIVE-STOREY BUILDINGS '•'ILL BE AFFECTED BY THE PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT. ALSO AFFECTED WILL BE ONE SHOP AND FOUR WORKSHOPS.
♦ALL DOMESTIC OCCUPANTS WHO FULFIL THE NORMAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR PERMANENT HOUSING WILL BE OFFERED RENTED ACCOMMODATION IN EITHER HKHS OR HOUSING AUTHORITY ESTATES, WHILE THE OTHERS WILL BE ALLOCATED TEMPORARY HOUSING SPACE.
♦ELIGIBLE SHOP AND WORKSHOP OPERATORS WILL RECEIVE THE NORMAL EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES. IN THE CASE OF THE LATTER, THEY CAN OPT FOR GOVERNMENT FACTORY UNITS PROVIDED THEIR TRADE IS ADMISSIBLE,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
HE SAID THAT THE SCHEME, WHEN COMPLETED, WOULD PROVIDE MORE AND BETTER HOUSING THAN THAT EXISTED ON THE SITE AT PRESENT.
- 0 - -
FERRY PIER FOR TUEN MUN NEW TOWN *****
THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO BUILD A REINFORCED CONCRETE PASSENGER FERRY PIER OFF THE EXISTING RECLAMATION TO THE WEST OF THE TYPHOON SHELTER AT CASTLE PEAK BAY IN TUEN MUN NEW TOWN.
THE FERRY PIER IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES REQUIRED TO SERVE A FUTURE RESIDENT POPULATION OF OVER 500 000 IN THE NEW TOWN.
THE EXTENT OF THE AREA INVOLVED IS DESCRIBED IN A NOTIFICATION PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY.
THE NOTICE, IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE, WITH ITS RELATED PLAN CAN BE SEEN ON NOTICE BOARDS POSTED NEAR THE SITE.
THE PLAN MAY ALSO BE SEEN AT THE LANDS DEPARTMENT, 5TH FLOOR, MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, OR TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICE, TUEN MUN BUILDING, CASTLE PEAK ROAD, TUEN MUN, NEW TERRITORIES.
PEOPLE WHO HAVE OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSAL SHOULD SUBMIT THEM IN WRITING TO THE DIRECTOR OF LANDS WITHIN TWO MONTHS.
FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 1983
6
NEW SCHOOLS FOR SHA TIN * * *
THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE OF THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF TWO SECONDARY SCHOOLS H SHA TIN NEW TOWN.
THE SCHOOLS, TO BE BUILT ON A 1.35-HECTARE SITE TO THE WEST OF TAI WAI, WILL BE OF THE STANDARD 24-CLASSROOM TYPE.
IN ADDITION TO THE MAIN TEACHING BLOCK, EACH SCHOOL WILL HAVE ADMINISTRATION OFFICES AND CHANGING ROOMS, SPECIAL FACILITIES FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNICAL SUBJECTS AS WELL AS A LIBRARY.
WORK WILL START IN MAY AND IS EXPECTED TO TAKE ABOUT 20 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
- - 0 - -
FIRST COMMUNITY HALL IN TAI PO
K K * K H
THE FIRST COMMUNITY HALL OPERATED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IN TAI PO — THE TAI YUEN COMMUNITY HALL — WILL BE OFFICIALLY OPENED ON SUNDAY (MARCH 13).
THE NEW TERRITORIES REGIONAL SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER, Ml HENRY AU; TAI PO RURAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, MR CHEUNG WAI-LAM; ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MR ALEX FONG; AND TWO DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS, MR TANG PUI-TAT AND MR LEE PING-KWAI, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE CEREMONY.
MA AU WILL GIVE AN OPENING ADDRESS AND PRESENT APPOINTMENT CERTIFICATES TO MEMBERS OF THE HALL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.
- 0 - -
OFFICERS ASSOCIATION FORMED X * X
THE FORMATION OF A CORRECTIONAL SERVICES OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING ALL STAFF WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY BY THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, M? THOMAS GARNER.
MR GARNER SAID THE ASSOCIATION WOULD HAVE THREE BRANCHES; ONE FOR SENIOR OFFICERS, ONE FOR JUNIOR OFFICERS AND ONE FOR GENERAL AND COMMON GRADES.
WHEN NECESSARY, THE THREE BRANCHES WILL GET TOGETHER TO DISCUSS MATTERS OF COMMON INTEREST, HE SAID.
.'-1S ALSO
/HIDAY, JaAHCH 11, 1 b8 3
- 7 -
HE ALSO SAID THAT ONCE THE OFFICE-BEARERS OF THE NEW ASSOCIATION HAD BEEN APPOINTED, THE EXISTING JUNIOR AND SENIOR DEPARTMENTAL CONSULTATIVE COUNCILS WOULD BE DISSOLVED.
+1 AM SURE THAT THE ASSOCIATION WILL PLAY ITS FULL PART IN THE WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT AND WILL BE ABLE TO COMPETENTLY REPRESENT THE STAFF AT ALL LEVELS ON THE VARIOUS MATTERS WHICH COMF WITHIN THE AMBIT OF ITS CONSTITUTION,* HE REMARKED.
MR GARNER WAS SPEAKING AT THE PRESENTATION TO 34 OFFICERS OF FIRST AND SECOND CLASPS TO THE COLONIAL PRISON SERVICE MEDAL.
THE EVENT WAS HELD AT THE STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE IN STANLEY.
ON PARADE WERE 205 CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS IN SEVEN CONTINGENTS FROM VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT, COMMANDED BY SENIOR SUPERINTENDENT ALOYSIUS WONG.
MR GARNER ALSO SAID THAT THERE ARE OVER 350 VISITS BY JUSTICES OF THE PEACE TO THE VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS EACH YEAR.
THESE VISITS WERE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT AND IN PARTICULAR ENSURED THAT PRISONERS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOICE ANY COMPLAINT THEY MAY HAVE, HE SAID.
♦ IN EVERY INSTITUTION THERE ARE NOTICES PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED DRAWING THE ATTENTION OF PRISONERS TO THE FACT THAT THEY ARE ALLOWED, WITHOUT PRIOR NOTIFICATION, TO APPROACH THE VISITING JUSTICES OR THE COMMISSIONER TO MAKE ANY REQUEST OR COMPLAINT IF THEY WISH TO DO S0,+ HE SAID.
HE SAID ALSO THAT THE INSTITUTE PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE TRAINING OF STAFF AT ALL LEVELS IN MANY DIFFERENT SPHERES. PROFESSIONAL CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS TRAINED THERE COULD ATTAIN A STANDARD SECOND TO NONE IN COMPARISON TO THEIR COUNTERPARTS ANY WHERE IN THE WORLD, HE ADDED.
------0-------
CONSTRUCTION OF SEAWALL AND BREAKWATER FOR CHAI WAN *****
THE CIVIL ENGINEERING OFFICE OF THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SEAWALL AND A BREAKWATER IN CHAI WAN.
ON COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT, THE AREA BEHIND THE SEAWALL WILL BE RECLAIMED TO FORM ABOUT SEVEN HECTARES OF LAND FOR INDUSTRIAL USE.
THE 180-METRE-L0NG BREAKWATER WILL PROVIDE SHELTER FOR VESSELS ANCHORED INSIDE THE CHAI WAN CARGO HANDLING BASIN DURING TYPHOONS.
WORK ON THE PROJECT WILL START IN MAY AND IS EXPECTED TO TAKE ABOUT 26 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
0 -
/8........
FRIDAY, MAkCH 11, 1583
8
ANT I-DRUGS DISPLAY AND ICE-SKATING PERFORMANCE
# K K
AN EXHIBITION AND AN ICE-SKATING PERFORMANCE WILL BE HELD ON SirtDA* (MARCH 13) AT CITY PLAZA, TAI KOO SHING AS PART OF THE ANTI-ANTICS Mlvl BEING LAUNCHED In THE EASTERN DISTRICT.
tmp PXH1BITION JOINTLY PRESENTED BY THE NARCOTICS DIVISION rp COVFRNMFNT SECRETARIAT AND THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT, SlL BE O?In TO THETp5bUC FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM ON SUNDAY.
IN ADDITION AN ICE-SKATING PERFORMANCE ABOUT A DRUG ADDICT -HOW HE BECAME ADDICTED AND HOW HE WAS TREATED AND REHABILITATED -WILL BE HELD IN THE SKATING RINK IN CITY PLAZA AT 2 PM.
LEADING THE PERFORMANCE WILL BE MISS SHARON HUANG, A WELL-KNOWN FIGURE IN ICE-SKATING.
THE SHOW IS PRESENTED BY THE MANAGEMENT OF TAI KOO SHING.
THE THREE-WEEK-LONG EASTERN DISTRICT ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN, WHICH STARTED ON MARCH 4, IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS AND THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD, COORGANISED BY THE LIONS CLUB OF HONG KONG NORTH.
NOTE TO EDITORS!
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENTS. THE ICE-SKATING PERFORMANCE WILL BE HELD AT 2 PM IN THE SKATING RINK OF CITY PLAZA, TAI KOO SHING.
------0 ------ .
POSTAL SERVICES TO LEBANON * * *
POSTAL SERVICES TO LEBANON PREVIOUSLY RESTRICTED TO FIRST AND SECOND CLASS AIR LETTER MAIL ITEMS, HAVE NOW BEEN EXTENDED TO INCLUDE AIR PARCELS NOT EXCEEDING 3 KG, THE POSTMASTER GENERAL ANNOUNCED TODAY.
SURFACE LETTER AND PARCEL SERVICES REMAIN SUSPENDED. HE SAID.
------o-------
WATER CUT IN ABERDEEN X * * * *
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO SOME PREMISES IN ABERDEEN WILL BE SUSPENDED FOR SEVEN HOURS FROM 11 PM ON MONDAY (MARCH 14) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR A LEAKAGE TEST.
THE PREMISES TO BE AFFECTED ARE ALONG ABERDEEN MAIN ROAD, CHENGTU ROmD, WU NAM STREET, WU PAK STREET, SAI ON STREET, LOK YEUNG STREET, TUNG SING ROAD, OLD MAIN STREET, ABERDEEN AND TSUNG MAN LTREET.
0 -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL 5-233191
SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO,
♦VERY GOOD WEEK IN LONDON*, SAYS GOVERNOR ON RETURN........... 1
SIR PERCY CRADOCK SEES EXCO MEMBERS .......................... 1
BILL DORWARD SAYS FAREWELL TO CUSTOMS AND EXCISE.............. 2
WOMEN PRAISED FOR WORK IN INDUSTRY............................ 3
SECOND CLEAN-UP AT KAM TIN RIVER ............................. 4
NSW FOOTBRIDGE HELPS EASE FLOODING............................ 5
CONSTRUCTION OF NEW ROAD JUNCTION AT TSUEN WAN ............... 5
RARE SPECIES AT BIG FLOWER SHOW............................... 6
INDUSTRIAL SAFETY GRAND FINAL TOMORROW........................ 7
NE?/ MAXICAB ROUTES IN TSUJN WAN.............................. 8
PLB PROHIBITED ZONES IN TSUEN WAN AND TSING LUNG TAU ......... 9
WATER CUT IN SHAU KEI WAN AND ABERDEEN ....................... 9
FIRING PRACTICE WARNING....................................... 10
SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 1983
1
+VERY GOOD WEEK IN LONDON*, SAYS GOVERNOR ON RETURN * * * *
THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID ON HIS RETURN TO HONG KONG TODAY FROM LONDON THAT HE AND BRITAIN’S AMBASSADOR TO BEIJING, SIR PERCY CRADOCK, HAD HAD +A VERY GOOD WEEK IN LONDON.*
SIR EDWARD SAID IT WAS +VERY VALUABLE THAT SIR PERCY AND I COULD BE IN LONDON AT THE SAME TIME TO GO OVER THE SITUATION WITH MINISTERS, AND IT GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A VERY USEFUL REVIEW.*
WHILE OF COURSE HE COULD NOT GO INTO THE CONTENTS OF THE DISCUSSIONS, +THEY WERE A VERY USEFUL PREPARATION FOR SIR PERCY’S RETURN TO BEIJING,* THE GOVERNOR ADDED.
SIR PERCY ARRIVED ON THE SAME AIRCRAFT WITH SIR EDWARD AND IS SCHEDULED TO CATCH ANOTHER FLIGHT TO BEIJING THIS AFTERNOON.
SIR PERCY, ANSWERING QUESTIONS FROM PRESSMEN AT THE AIRPORT, SAID +THE TALKS WILL GO ON,* ADDING THAT THE DISCUSSIONS JUST CONCLUDED WERE +VERY, VERY SATISFACTORY; VERY USEFUL TALKS.*
THE GOVERNOR, ASKED IF HE WOULD BE GOING TO BEIJING AGAIN, SAID HE WOULD DO SO *AS SOON AS WE REACH A POINT AT WHICH MY PARTICIPATION WOULD BE USEFUL.*
ASKED TO COMMENT ON THE URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS, THE GOVERNOR SAID HE WAS PLEASED THAT THEY WENT SO WELL AND THAT SUCH A COMPARATIVELY LARGE NUMBER OF VOTERS TOOK PART.
AT THE AIRPORT TO GREET THE GOVERNOR THIS MORNING WERE THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, SIR S.Y. CHUNG AND THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR ROGER LOBO.
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SIR PERCY CRADOCK SEES EXCO MEMBERS X * * *
DURING HIS STOP OVER IN HONG THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO BEIJING (•EMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
KONG ON HIS WAY TO BEIJING, TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET IN GOVERNMENT HOUSE.
SIR PERCY CRADOCK LATER LEFT FOR KAI TAK TO CATCH HIS FLIGHT TO BEIJING.
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SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 1983
2
BILL DORWARD SAYS FAREWELL TO CUSTOMS AND EXCISE * * *
MR BILL DORWARD, WHO WILL SOON LEAVE FOR THE UNITED STATES TO TAKE UP HIS APPOINTMENT AS HONG KONG TRADE COMMISSIONER, BID FAREWELL THIS MORNING TO THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT WITH WHICH HE HAD BEEN CLOSELY ASSOCIATED FOR 30 YEARS.
+IN MY FUTURE POST IN THE UNITED STATES THERE IS NO DIRECT LINK TO THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE. BUT AFTER NEARLY 30 YEARS OF ASSOCIATION WITH THE SERVICE IN ITS VARIOUS FORMS AND UNDER ITS OTHER NAMES, IT WILL TAKE MORE THAN TIME, DISTANCE AND OTHER DUTIES TO ERASE MY INTEREST IN ALL OF YOU AND WHAT YOU ARE DOING,* MR DORWARD SAID, WHEN ADDRESSING A PASSING-OUT PARADE Or 16 INSPECTORS AND 191 CUSTOMS OFFICERS AT THE TAI LAM CHUNG TRAINING SCHOOL.
HE ASSURED THE SERVICE THAT HE WOULD BE HAPPY TO ASSIST IN HIGH LEVEL LIAISON WITH ITS COUNTERPART IN THE UNITED STATES.
CONGRATULATING THE NEW RECRUITS FOR HAVING CHOSEN A CAREER WHICH WOULD BE A CHALLENGE AND A SOURCE OF GREAT SATISFACTION TO THEM, MR DORWARD SAID: +YOU HAVE JOINED THE SERVICE AT AN EXCITING TIME. THE MAIN PART OF A RADICAL RE-ORGANISATION HAS RECENTLY BEEN COMPLETED. THIS NOT ONLY MAKES FOR A MUCH MORE EFFICIENT ORGANISATION, BUT IT ALSO PROVIDES ENHANCED CAREER PROSPECTS FOR EVERY MEMBER OF THE SERVICE AND PARTICULARLY FOR YOU NEWLY RECRUITED OFFICERS.
+THE CHALLENGE TO WHICH I REFERRED IS ONE THAT IS ALWAYS FACED BY CUSTOMS AND EXCISE OFFICIALS. SOME RESPONSIBILITIES BECOME NOTABLY HEAVIER, HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF DEVELOPMENTS ELSEWHERE. RECENT BUMPER OPIUM HARVESTS IN THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE, FOR EXAMPLE, HAVE ADDED TO THE BURDENS OF LAW-ENFORCEMENT IN THE FIGHT AGAINST NARCOTICS.
+THAT THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE IS PLAYING ITS FULL ROLE IN THIS FIELD IS DEMONSTRATED BY THE RESULTS IN 1982 -WHEN THE QUANTITIES OF DRUGS SEIZED AND THE RANGE OF CASES COMPLETED WAS AN OUTSTANDING RECORD FOR THE SERVICE,* NR DORWARD SAID.
HE REMINDED THE OFFICERS THAT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WITH WHOM THEY CAME INTO CONTACT WOULD ALWAYS BE HONEST AND DECENT.
+THEY CAN AND SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO BE ON YOUR SIDE. IT IS, AFTER ALL, THEIR INTERESTS YOU ARE PROTECTING.
+AS FOR THE OTHERS, YOUR QUARRY, THEY WILL RANGE FROM THE TOURIST WHO TRIES TO BRING IN THAT ONE BOTTLE TOO MANY, 70 THE DISGUSTING SCUM WHO DEAL IN HUMAN MISERY BY SMUGGLING NARCOTICS.
♦THAT IS A WIDE RANGE, AND YOU MUST LEARN DISCRETION AND TEMPERANCE IN YOUR DEALINGS WITH ALL OF THEM. IT IS FOR YOU TO CATCH THEM, BUT FOR THE COURTS TO PUNISH THEM,* MR DORWARD CONCLUDED.
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/5
SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 1983
3
WOMEN PRAISED FOR WORK IN INDUSTRY * * * *
WOMEN WORKERS HAVE CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO THE GROWTH AND EXPANSION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRY, THE HON WONG PO-YAN, UNOFFICIAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, SAID TODAY.
MR WONG WAS SPEAKING AT THE GRADUATION CEREMONY OF GOVERNMENT TECHNICIANS AND CRAFT APPRENTICES AT MORRISON HILL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE.
HE SAID THAT WOMEN PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE IN HONG KONG - NOT ONLY AS BENCH WORKERS BUT ALSO AS SUPERVISORS AND SENIOR DECISION MAKERS.
+IT IS OPPORTUNE, THEREFORE, THAT THEIR POTENTIAL AND CAPABILITIES BE RECOGNISED AND OPPORTUNITIES BE EXTENDED TO THEM TO JOIN THE TRADITIONALLY MALE-DOMINATED PROFESSIONS AND TO ADD STRENGTH TO OUR TECHNICAL AND SKILLED INDUSTRIAL WORK FORCE,+ MR WONG SAID.
HE NOTED THAT A WOMAN APPRENTICE WAS ACCEPTED IN THE 1980 COURSE AND A WOMAN CRAFT APPRENTICE IN THE 1982 COURSE.
PRACTICAL AND THEORETICAL TRAINING WERE PROVIDED IN THE ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL, AIR-CONDITIONING, ELECTRONIC AND VEHICLE COURSES OFFERED, HE SAID.
THIS ENSURED THAT AT THE END OF THE COURSES APPRENTICES WERE EQUIPPED WITH A HIGH STANDARD OF PRACTICAL SKILL AS WELL AS THEORETICAL KNOWLEDGE.
MR WONG THEN PRESENTED CERTIFICATES TO 32 TECHNICIANS AND 55 CRAFT APPRENTICES.
HE ALSO PRESENTED THE BROWN CUP TO THE BEST TECHNICIAN APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR, MR LEUNG KING-CHI AND THE LAISHLEY CUP TO THE TOP CRAFT APPRENTICE, MR KWOK KING-WAI, BOTH FROM THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
A TOTAL OF SOME 1 045 APPRENTICES GRADUATED FROM THE GOVERNMENT APPRENTICE TRAINING SCHEME IN THE PAST. MANY ARE NOW HOLDING RESPONSIBLE POSTS AS WORKS SUPERVISORS, INSPECTORS, OR ENGINEERS IN THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE.
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SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 1983
SECOND CLEAN-UP AT KAM TIN RIVER * * * *
A SECOND CLEAN-UP IS BEING CARRIED OUT ALONG THE MOST POLLUTED STREAM COURSE OF THE KAM TIN RIVER IN YUEN LONG, TO IMPROVE FURTHER ITS GENERAL ENVIRONMENT.
THE EFFORT HIGHLIGHTS THE CURRENT 1983 CLEAN HONG KONG CAMPAIGN, NOW IN FULL SWING IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS MOBILISED 40 WORKERS AND SEVERAL VEHICLES FOR THE SEVEN-WEEK OPERATION, WHICH BEGAN EARLY LAST MONTH.
WHO
THE YUEN LONG URBAN SERVICE OFFICER MR KWONG WAI-LIM, ASSUMED HIS OFFICE RECENTLY, AND THE DISTRICT SENIOR HEALTH INSPECTOR (CLEANSING), MR YIP CHUN-HEI, COMMANDED THE OPERATION.
MORE THAN 55 TONNES OF POLLUTANTS, INCLUDING SOLID FARM WASTE WERE CLEARED AWAY FROM THE RIVER COURSE BETWEEN KAM TSIN WAI AND NG KA TSUEN IN THE LAST FIVE WEEKS.
THIS IS THE SECOND MASSIVE CLEARANCE AT THE RIVER SINCE EARLY LAST YEAR, WHEN THE GOVERNMENT SPENT ABOUT $4 MILLION FOR A 'SCRUB-UP' OPERATION COINCIDING WITH THE 1982 CLEAN HONG KONG CAMPAIGN, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NTSD SAID.
DESPITE THE PREVIOUS CLEAN UP WORK, THE STREAM WAS AGAIN POLLUTED BY PIG AND DOMESTIC WASTE DISCHARGED BY FARMERS AND VILLAGERS.
A NUMBER OF FARMERS HAD BEEN CAUGHT HOSING FARM WASTE INTO THE RIVER COURSE. TWO OF THEM WERE FINED A RECORD SUM OF S2 000 EACH FOR THE OFFENCE BY COURTS LAST MAY.
THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR SUCH AN OFFENCE IS A $5 000 FINE AND JAIL SENTENCE OF SIX MONTHS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE SUCCESS OF THE CLEAN-UP WOULD DEPEND ON THE FARMERS AND VILLAGERS MAKING FULL USE OF THE COLLECTION SERVICES ESPECIALLY PROVIDED FOR THEM IN THE AREA.
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SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 1983
5
NEW FOOTBRIDGE HELPS EASE FLOODING * * * *
THE DESIGN OF A NEWLY-COMPLETED FOOTBRIDGE AT SHAM TSENG WAS A GREAT IMPROVEMENT OVER THE OLD BRIDGE, SAID THE DEPUTY REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR NEW TERRITORIES, MR HAIDER BARMA, WHEN HE INSPECTED THE BRIDGE TODAY.
♦AS THE FOOTBRIDGE HAS ONLY TWO MIDSTREAM PIERS, IT WILL «LP IMPROVE THE PROBLEM OF REFUSE JAMMING AGAINST THEM AND AGGRAVATING FLOODING IN HEAVY RAIN, AS HAPPENED PREVIOUSLY,* HE SAID.
+AND FUTURE MAINTENANCE COSTS WILL BE REDUCED,* HE ADDED.
THE BRIDGE, SPANNING THE OPEN NULLAH AT SHAM TSENG, PROVIDES A SHORT CUT BETWEEN SHAM TSENG RESITE VILLAGE AND THE OLD VILLAGE.
MEASURING 22.5 METRES LONG AND 1.6 METRES WIDE, THE NEW BRIDGE WAS BUILT TO REPLACE THE OLD ONE AT A COST OF $80 000 FROM THE LOCAL PUBLIC WORKS (LPW) PROGRAMME.
THE LPW PROGRAMME WAS STARTED IN 1919 WITH THE OBJECT OF IMPROVING FACILITIES AND PROVIDING SERVICES IN AREAS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES IN WHICH THERE ARE NO PLANS FOR FORESEEABLE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS.
PROJECTS BUILT UNDER THE PROGRAMME HAVE INCLUDED VAN TRACKS, FOOTPATHS, FOOTBRIDGES, JETTIES, DRAINS, RAIN SHELTERS AND OTHERS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF LIVING CONDITIONS OF N.T. RESIDENTS.
OVER THE YEARS, FUNDS FOR THIS PROGRAMME HAVE INCREASED FROM AN INITIAL SUM OF $5 000 TO $13 MILLION FOR 1983-84.
MR BARMA WAS ACCOMPANIED IN TODAY’S INSPECTION TOUR BY THE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY (DEVELOPMENT), MRS DORIS HO, AND OTHER OFFICIALS OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION.
HE WAS BRIEFED ON THE PROJECT BY THE CNTA ENGINEER, M? MARTIN DORE.
- - C - -
CONSTRUCTION OF NEW ROAD JUNCTION AT TSUEN WAN X * X
THF TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE OF THE NEW TFDOITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE COmJSSTION OF A NEW ROAD JuiiCT.ON AT TAI HO ROAD AND YEUNG UK ROAD IN TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN.
THE PROJECT, WHICH IS PART OF THE CONTINUING PROGRAMME FOR THE DEVEl OPMENT OF THE NEW TOWN, IS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE TSUEN WAN TRANSPORT COMPLEX NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION ON THE RECLAMATION IN TSUEN WAN BAY.
/THE WORKS .......
SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 19?-3
6
THE WORKS WILL FORM PART OF THE TSUEN WAN BYPASS PROJECT.
ALSO INCLUDED WILL BE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A TEMPORARY FOOTBRIDGE ACROSS TAI HO ROAD AND THE SURFACING OF AN AREA TO THE NEW CARGO WORKING AREA ALONG THE NEW RECLAMATION.
WORK ON THIS CONTRACT WILL COMMENCE IN MAY AND TAKE ABOUT 12 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
MEANWHILE, THE CONSTRUCTION OF STAGE TWO OF THE TSUEN WAN BYPASS IS PROGRESSING SMOOTHLY AND IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR.
THE WORK INVOLVES THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN ELEVATED ROAD FROM TEXACO ROAD TO CHAI WAN KOK IN TSUEN WAN. THE ELEVATED ROAD IS NOT ONLY AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT CF TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN BUT ALSO FORMS PART OF THE NEW TERRITORIES TRUNK ROAD SYSTEM.
STAGE ONE OF THE BYPASS, WHICH RUNS FROM KWAI CHUNG ROAD TO TEXACO ROAD, WAS OPENED IN JUNE 1981.
ON COMPLETION OF STAGE TWO, THE BYPASS WILL CONNECT KWAI CHUNG ROAD TO TUEN MUN ROAD TO PROVIDE A THROUGH-ROUTE FOR TRAFFIC TO TUEN MUN AND THE NORTH WEST NEW TERRITORIES, RELIEVING THE ALREADY HEAVILY CONGESTED ROADS IN TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN.
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RARE SPECIES AT BIG FLOWER SHOW * * * *
A LARGE-SCALE FLOWER SHOW FEATURING A VARIETY OF RARE LOCAL AND FOREIGN SPECIES WAS OPENED TODAY (SATURDAY) BY LADY YOUDE, WIFE OF THE GOVERNOR, AT THE FANLING RECREATION GROUND.
AMONG THE 3 OOO EXHIBITS AT THE SEVENTH NORTH DISTRICT FLOWER SHOW ARE SPECIAL NARCISSUSES FROM CHINA WHICH ARE ON DISPLAY IN HONG KONG FOR THE FIRST TIME, ORCHIDS FROM THAILAND AND OTHER FLOWERS FROM AUSTRALIA.
ALSO ON DISPLAY ARE ENTRIES OF A FLOWER CONTEST COVERING SEVEN CATEGORIES! CUT FLOWERS, SCENTED CUT FLOWERS, POT PLANTS, MINIATURE POT PLANTS, AFRICAN VIOLETS, ORCHIDS AND BONSAI TYPE PLANTS.
OTHER NON-COMPETITIVE EXHIBITS ARE PROVIDED BY 16 LOCAL ORGANISATIONS INCLUDING THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE KADOORIE EXPERIMENTAL AND EXTENSION FARM AND FLOWER FARMS.
SPONSORED BY THE NORTH DISTRICT BOARD, THE FOUR-DAY SHOW IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE NORTH DISTRICT OFFICE, AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT, TAI PO AND FANLING DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, NORTH DISTRICT ARTS ADVANCEMENT ASSOCIATION, HONG KONG BONSAI TYPE PLANTS ASSOCIATION AND HONG KONG AFRICAN VIOLETS SOCIETY.
/THE SHOW ....
SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 198?
7
THE SHOW IS OPEN DAILY FROM 10 AM TO 6 PM UNTIL TUESDAY (MARCH 15). ADMISSION IS FREE.
TALKS ON HORTICULTURE HAVE ALSO BEEN ARRANGED FOR THIS (SATURDAY) AFTERNOON AND TOMORROW AT THE SHOW GROUND.
ACCORDING TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FLOWER SHOW PREPARATORY COMMITTEE, MR LIU CHING-LEUNG, THE SPECTACULAR ANNUAL EVENT REGULARLY ATTRACTS LARGE CROWDS.
♦ THE FLOWER SHOW IS MAKING PROGRESS IN BOTH SCALE AND VARIETY OF EXHIBITS EVERY YEAR,+ HE SAID.
♦ ON THE OTHER HAND, THE PROMINENT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF VISITORS, INCLUDING TOURISTS FROM ABROAD, REFLECTS THE GROWING POPULARITY OF THE SHOW.
♦ IT IS HOPED THAT THIS ANNUAL ACTIVITY WILL NOT ONLY BEAUTIFY OUR LIVING ENVIRONMENT BUT ALSO HELP DEVELOP THE HONG KONG TOURIST INDUSTRY.
♦ LIVING IN A HIGHLY COMMERCIALISED AND INDUSTRIALISED CITY LIKE HONG KONG, ONE MAY FIND IT DIFFICULT TO KEEP A BALANCE BETWEEN ONE’S MATERIAL LIFE AND SPIRITUAL LIFE.
♦ THE MOTIVE OF THE SHOW ORGANISERS IS THEREFORE TO INSTILL IN THE VISITORS AN ADMIRATION FOR FLOWERS AND, SUBSEQUENTLY, AN INTEREST IN FLOWER CULTIVATION, WHICH INDEED HELPS TO ENRICH ONE’S SPIRITUAL LIFE.+
THE COMMITTEE HAS ALSO INVITED FLOWER ENTHUSIASTS FROM SEVERAL ASIAN COUNTRIES TO VISIT THE SHOW. RECEPTIONISTS SPEAKING ENGLISH, JAPANESE, MANDARIN AND CANTONESE WILL BE ON HAND TO ANSWER ANY ENQUIRIES.
LADY YOUDE AND MRS JANE AKERS-JONES, WIFE OF THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, PRESENTED PRIZES TO WINNERS OF THE FLOWER CONTEST.
- - c - -
INDUSTRIAL SAFETY GRAND FINAL TOMORROW
******
THE FINAL OF THE +SAFETY AT WORK+ TELEMATCH TELEVISION PROGRAMME AND AN +INDUSTRIAL SAFETY GALA NIGHT+ WILL BE SCREENED ON HK-TVB’S JADE CHANNEL AT 5 PM TOMORROW (SUNDAY).
AMONG TELEVISION SINGERS AND OTHER PERFORMERS AT THE +GALA NIGHT+ IS SINGER MISS ELISA CHAN.
COMPETING IN THE FINAL FOR THE GRAND PRIZE — AN EIGHT-DAY HOLIDAY IN ENGLAND WITH ALL EXPENSES PAID — ARE TEAMS FROM ELECTRONIC DEVICES LTD., MELITTA ELECTRIC COMPANY LTD AND NGO KEE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LTD. THEY HAVE DEFEATED 24 OTHER TEAMS IN PRELIMINARIES AND SEMI-FINALS SCREENED ON THE SAME CHANNEL IN THE PAST 12 WEEKS.
/THE WINNING
THE WINNING TEAM IS SCHEDULED TO LEAVE FOR ENGLAND BY AIR ON MARCH 17.
JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, RTHK AND THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES AND CO-SPONSORED BY SHU I ON CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LTD, THE TV PROGRAMME, COMPRISING 13 EPISODES, HAS BEEN EXCLUSIVELY DEVELOPED FOR WORKERS IN THE MANUFACTURING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES IN ORDER TO MAKE THEM MORE AWARE OF THE,IMPORTANCE OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY.
OVER $300 000 IN PRIZES, INCLUDING VIDEO CASSETTE RECORDERS, HI-FI SETS, SEWING MACHINES, CAMERAS, RADIO CASSETTES, SUMPTUOUS CHINESE DINNERS, ELECTRONIC TV GAMES, WRIST WATCHES AND COLOUR TV SETS, WERE AWARDED TO MEMBERS OF THE PARTICIPATING TEAMS DURING THE PRELIMINARIES AND SEMI-FINALS AND TO HOME VIEWERS SINCE THE FIRST EPISODE WAS SCREENED ON DECEMBER 19 LAST YEAR.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (SATURDAY) THAT RESPONSE TO THE TV PROGRAMME HAD BEEN FAVOURABLE.
FEED-BACK INFORMATION INDICATED THAT IT HAD NOT ONLY BEEN ENTERTAINING BUT HAD HELPED AROUSE SAFETY CONSCIOUSNESS AMONG THE PARTICIPANTS AND THE HOME VIEWERS, HE SAID.
- - C -
NEW MAXICAB ROUTES IN TSUEN WAN * * * *
THREE NEW MAX I CAB ROUTES WILL BE INTRODUCED EARLY NEXT WEEK IN TSUEN WAN.
MAXICAB ROUTES 95M AND 96M WILL START OPERATION FROM MONDAY (MARCH 14).
NO. 95M WILL TRAVEL BETWEEN TSUEN WAN MTR STATION AND TSUEN WAN CENTRE VIA SAI LAU KOK ROAD, CASTLE PEAK ROAD, TSUEN KING CIRCUIT AND TSUEN WAN CENTRE ESTATE ROAD.
THE MAXICABS WILL OPERATE DAILY FROM 6 AM UNTIL 12 MIDNIGHT WITH A PEAK HOUR FREQUENCY OF FOUR MINUTES. THE FARE WILL BE $1.
NO. 96M WILL TRAVEL BETWEEN TSUEN WAN MTR STATION AND TSI NG LUNG TAU VIA SAI LAU KOK ROAD, CASTLE PEAK ROAD AND LUNG YUE ROAD.
THE MAXICABS WILL OPERATE FROM 5.30 AM UNTIL 11.30 PM, WITH A PEAK PERIOD FREQUENCY OF TEN MINUTES. FARES WILL RANGE FROM $1 TO $2.
FROM TUESDAY (MARCH 15), NO. 94 WILL START OPERATING BETWEEN SHEK WAI KOK AND KWAI SHING. THE MAXICABS WILL TRAVEL VIA SHEK WAI KOK ROAD, CHEUNG PEI SHAN ROAD, WO Yl HOP ROAD, CHEUNG WING ROAD, CASTLE PEAK ROAD ROUNDABOUT, KWAI CHUNG ROAD, TAI LIN PAI ROAD, KWAI ON ROAD, HING FONG ROAD, KWAI FUK ROAD AND SHING FUK STREET TO REACH KWAI SHING CIRCUIT.
/RiTURTl URI?;
iAPU?JAY, MAiiCH 12, 1?8j
9
RETURN TRIPS WILL BE VIA KWAI SHING CIRCUIT, SHING FUK STREET, KWAI FUK ROAD, HING FONG ROAD, KWAI ON ROAD, KWAI CHUNG ROAD, CASTLE PEAK ROAD ROUNDABOUT, LEI MUK ROAD, WO Yl HOP ROAD, CHEUNG PEI SHAN ROAD AND SHEK WAI KOK ROAD.
THE MAXICABS WILL OPERATE FROM 6.30 AM TO 11.30 PM AT PEAK HOUR FREQUENCY OF EIGHT MINUTES. THE FARES WILL RANGE FROM SI TO SI.50.
------C--------
PLB PROHIBITED ZONES IN TSUEN WAN AND TSING LUNG TAU ******
PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER TSUEN KING CIRCUIT IN TSUEN WAN AND LUNG YUE ROAD IN TSING LUNG TAU FROM 10 AM NEXT MONDAY (MARCH 14), A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED TODAY.
TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE PUT UP IN THE TWO AREAS TO INDICATE THE PROHIBITION.
---------C-----------
WATER CUT IN SHAU KEI WAN AND ABERDEEN
*****
FRESH WATER SUPPLY FOR CERTAIN PREMISES IN SHAU KEI WAN AND ABERDEEN WILL BE SUSPENDED FOR SEVERAL HOURS NEXT WEEK FOR WATER MAINS CONNECTION.
IN SHAU KEI WAN, THE SUSPENSION IS FROM 10 AM TO 4 PM ON TUESDAY (MARCH 15) AND WILL AFFECT PREMISES AND SQUATTERS AT SHING ON VILLAGE, HOLY CROSS PATH VILLAGE, MA SHAN VILLAGE, WANG HANG TUNG VILLAGE, 8-46 SHING ON STREET, AND 2-16 TAI SHEK STREET.
IN ABERDEEN, THE SUSPENSION IS FROM 10 PM ON TUESDAY TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY. IT WILL AFFECT PREMISES ALONG SHOUSON HILL ROAD, SHOUSON HILL ROAD EAST, SHOUSON HILL ROAD WEST AND DEEP WATER BAY ROAD, AS WELL AS 2 ISLAND ROAD AND THE HONG KONG COUNTRY CLUB.
SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 1983
- 10 -
FIRING PRACTICE WARNING * * * *
FIRING PRACTICE WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE HA TSUEN-CASTLE PEAK RANGE FROM MONDAY (MARCH 14) TO FRIDAY.
THE PUBLIC ARE WARNED NOT TO ENTER THE AREA WHEN RED FLAGS ARE FLYING.
THE DATES AND TIMES
DATE
MARCH 14 (MONDAY)
MARCH 15 (TUESDAY)
MARCH 16 (WEDNESDAY)
MARCH 17 (THURSDAY)
MARCH 18 (FRIDAY)
OF THE PRACTICE ARE:
TIME
8 AM - 11 PM
8 AM - 5 PM
8 AM - 11 PM
8 AM - 11 PM
8 AM - 4 PM
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
HONG KONG AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT PLAN STUDIED .................... 1
QUEEN'S COWONWEALTH DAY MESSAGE ............................... 4
INDUSTRIALISTS LEARN FROM JAPAN MISSION ....................... 5
SAFETY SHOW OPENS AT TUEN MUN ................................. 6
POSTER CONTEST TO PROMOTE HEALTH EDUCATION .................... 7
MORE COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR TAI PO ............................ 7
LIFEGUARDS WANTED FOR WEEKENDS ................................ 8
SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 1983
1
HONG KONG AIRPORT DEVELOPMENT PLAN STUDIED * * * *
THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT IS SPEEDING UP ITS STUDIES TO DEFINE FURTHER THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF THE EXPANSION AND IMPROVEMENT WORK ON THE FACILITIES AT THE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
IN THE LIGHT OF THE RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT THAT NO FURTHER CONSIDERATION WILL BE GIVEN IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO A REPLACEMENT AIRPORT AT CHEK LAP KOK, IT IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT THE AIRPORT WILL HAVE THE CAPACITY TO ACCOMMODATE THE EXPECTED TRAFFIC DURING THE NEXT TEN YEARS, HE SAID.
THE CONCEPTUAL PLAN IN HAND IS TO INCREASE THE PASSENGER HANDLING CAPACITY FROM 10 MILLION PASSENGERS A YEAR TO ABOUT 18 MILLION PASSENGERS A YEAR.
THE PLAN CALLS FOR FURTHER EXPANSION (STAGE V) OF THE TERMINAL BUILDING -- A TWO-LEVEL EXTENSION TO THE EAST INCORPORATING NEW DEPARTURES CHECK-IN FACILITIES ON THE FIRST FLOOR AND EXPANDED ARRIVALS AND GROUP HANDLING AREAS ON THE GROUND LEVEL.
IT IS ENVISAGED THAT THE EXTENSION TO THE TERMINAL WILL TIE IN DIRECTLY WITH THE EXISTING BUILDING.
ON THE FIRST-FLOOR DEPARTURES LEVEL, THE ELEVATED ROAD ACCESS WILL BE EXTENDED TO SERVE THE ENTIRE FRONTAGE OF THE EXTENDED BUILDING.
TWO NEW CHECK-IN ISLANDS WILL BE SPACED FURTHER AWAY FROM THE EXISTING ISLANDS SO THAT A SIMPLIFIED DEPARTURES BAGGAGE HANDLING SYSTEM CAN BE INCORPORATED ON THE GROUND LEVEL OF THE NEW BUILDING. CURRENTLY, DEPARTURES BAGGAGE IS PROCESSED IN THE BASEMENT OF THE EXISTING TERMINAL WHICH HAS ALREADY BECOME CONGESTED.
THE DEPARTURES LEVEL EXTENSION WILL ALSO PROVIDE SPACE FOR NEW SHOPS, SEATING AREAS, TOILETS AND OFFICES.
EXPANSION OF OUTWARDS IMMIGRATION FACILITIES IS PLANNED TO CATER FOR THE INCREASED PASSENGER FLOW, AND THE AIRSIDE LOUNGE AREA ADJACENT TO THE AIRCRAFT GATES WILL BE INCREASED.
NO ADDITIONAL INNER-BAY AIRCRAFT PARKING POSITIONS SERVED BY AEROBRIDGES CAN BE ACCOMMODATED DUE TO LACK OF SPACE, BUT NEW HOLDING AREAS/BUS DOCKS FOR ACCESS TO AND FROM AIRCRAFT PARKED ON THE OUTER BAYS WILL BE PROVIDED.
IN THE GROUND-FLOOR ARRIVALS AREA, MORE BAGGAGE RECLAIM LOOPS WILL BE PROVIDED, IN ADDITION TO EXPANDED IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS CHECKING FACILITIES.
THE EXISTING GROUP HANDLING AND COACH LOADING AREA WILL BE RELOCATED FURTHER TO THE EAST AS A RESULT OF THIS EXPANSION, AND SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVED, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
2
oGNUiiY, "* j । 198 j
LAND AREA AVAILABLE AT KAI TAK IS SEVERELY LIMITED AND TO ACCOMMODATE THE SCALE OF DEVELOPMENTS REQUIRED, SEVERAL EXISTING BUILDINGS AND FACILITIES WILL HAVE TO BE REMOVED AND RELOCATED. THREE ELECTRICITY SUB-STATIONS, SEVERAL STORES BUILDINGS AND A STAFF CANTEEN HAVE ALREADY BEEN IDENTIFIED FOR RELOCATION, HE DISCLOSED.
CAR PARKING CAPACITY NEXT TO THE TERMINAL HAS BEEN DOUBLED WITH THE OPENING OF THE WEST MULTI-STOREY CAR PARK ON MARCH 3, 1983. THIS WILL ENABLE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PUBLIC TRANSPORT TERMINUS ON THE SITE OF THE EXISTING WESTERN OPEN-AIR CAR PARK, WHICH WILL NO LONGER BE REQUIRED FOR CAR PARKING PURPOSES.
THE TERMINUS WILL PROVIDE ARRIVAL PASSENGERS WITH READY ACCESS TO TAXIS, HIRE CARS AND AIRPORT COACHES AND RELIEVE THE PRESSURES ON THE EXISTING CONGESTED ARRIVALS KERB.
IT WILL BE COVERED AND CONNECTED DIRECTLY TO THE EXISTING ARRIVALS AREA.
THESE IMPROVEMENTS, AS WELL AS OTHER PROPOSALS, SUCH AS THE CONSTRUCTION OF FLYOVERS TO IMPROVE ROAD ACCESS, ARE BEING EXAMINED BY THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT PLANNERS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE SINGLE RUNWAY SETS A LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS (ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES) THAT CAN BE HANDLED IN ANY PERIOD OF TIME, AND IT IS MOST UNLIKELY THAT ANY SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT CAN BE MADE IN THIS AREA, HE SAID.
THE NUMBER OF AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS HAS STABILISED RECENTLY AS MORE AIRLINES HAVE REPLACED SMALLER AIRCRAFT WITH LARGER ONES. HOWEVER, RUNWAY MOVEMENT RATES WILL BEGIN TO GROW AGAIN WHEN THE EXTENT OF THIS INTRODUCTION OF LARGER AIRCRAFT HAS ITSELF STABILISED. INCREASES IN PASSENGER TRAFFIC CAN THEN ONLY BE ACCOMMODATED BY INCREASES IN THE NUMBERS OF AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS.
THE EXISTING TERMINAL BUILDING WAS DESIGNED TO HANDLE 10 MILLION PASSENGERS PER YEAR, A FIGURE WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE REACHED IN 1984.
ALTHOUGH IT WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE TO HAVE THE STAGE V DEVELOPMENT COMPLETED BY THAT TIME, IT IS PROPOSED THAT AD HOC MODIFICATIONS TO THE EXISTING BUILDING BE UNDERTAKEN TO EXTEND ITS LIFE UNTIL THE NEW FACILITIES ARE AVAILABLE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE TIME FRAME FOR THE NEW DEVELOPMENT DEPENDS ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS, INCLUDING THE TIME REQUIRED FOR DESIGN OF ALL OF THE FACILITIES, AND SITE CLEARANCE.
SINCE THE STAGE V DEVELOPMENT CONSISTS OF A LARGE NUMBER OF ELEMENTS, IT IS PROPOSED THAT THE WORK BE PHASED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THOSE FACILITIES THAT CAN BE BROUGHT INTO SERVICE EARLY WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR USE BEFORE THE COMPLETION OF THE MAIN TERMINAL DEVELOPMENT, WHICH COULD BE AVAILABLE BY THE END OF 1986, HE SAID.
SUKMY, KuHCH 13, 19^3
- 3 -
IN ADDITION TO THE LANDSIDE IMPROVEMENTS AND TERMINAL BUILDING EXPANSION, OTHER AIRPORT FACILITIES WILL NEED TO BE EXPANDED TO COPE WITH INCREASED TRAFFIC.
CARGO, LONG-TERM AND MAINTENANCE AIRCRAFT PARKING EXPANSION IS PROVIDED BY THE AVAILABILITY OF THE FORMER RAF LAND AT KAI TAK, AND INCREMENTAL APRON EXPANSION INTO THIS AREA CAN BE UNDERTAKEN WHEN NECESSARY.
FURTHER PASSENGER AIRCRAFT PARKING APRON SPACE CAN BE PROVIDED TO THE SOUTH OF THE EXISTING APRON. IT IS ENVISAGED THAT THREE NEW PARKING POSITIONS wILL BE CONSTRUCTED THERE BY 1987.
ADDITIONALLY, MAJOR CIVIL ENGINEERING WORKS TO REJUVENATE TAXIWAY AND APRON PAVEMENTS WILL BE REQUIRED OVER THE NEXT DECADE ALTHOUGH PROGRAMMES FOR THESE WORKS HAVE NOT YET BEEN ESTABLISHED, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE HONG KONG AIR CARGO TERMINAL BUILDING IS CURRENTLY
BEING SUBSTANTIALLY EXPANDED, AND ASSOCIATED CARGO AIRCRAFT PARKING APRON EXTENSIONS WILL START LATER THIS YEAR. THE EXTENDED CARGO APRON WILL BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE FIVE BOEING 747 CARGO AIRCRAFT SIMULTANEOUSLY.
THE APPROXIMATE COST OF THE STAGE V PACKAGE IS EXPECTED TO BE $400 MILLION, A SUM WHICH WILL BE SPENT FROM 1984 TO 1987.
THE COST OF FURTHER WORK ON THE AIRPORT RUNWAY, TAXIWAY AND APRON PAVEMENTS WILL BE AROUND 3200 MILLION, BUT THIS EXPENDITURE WILL BE SPREAD OVER A LONGER PERIOD, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
PROGRESSIVE REPLACEMENT OF AEROBRIDGES AND OTHER FEATURES, THE UPGRADING AND COMPUTERISATION OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL EQUIPMENT, AND THE PROVISION OF NEW VISUAL AND ELECTRONIC LANDING AIDS AND RADARS ARE EXPECTED TO COST A FURTHER $150 MILLION.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH ESTABLISHED GOVERNMENT PRACTICE, ALL PROPOSALS FOR THE KAI TAK DEVELOPMENT WILL BE PROCESSED ACCORDING TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME, HE SAID.
IT IS HOPED THAT FURTHER DETAILED DESIGN WORK ON STAGE V CAN PROCEED AT THE END OF THIS MONTH WHEN THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO BE UPGRADED IN STATUS IN THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME.
-----o------
a.CA.', MARCH 13, j.983
QUEEN’S COMMONWEALTH DAY MESSAGE
*****
THE QUEEN, IN HER COMMONWEALTH DAY MESSAGE THIS YEAR SAID THE COMMONWEALTH IS A WORLD-WIDE COMMUNITY AND IT WORKS FOR PEACE AND FOR THE ELIMINATION OF POVERTY.
+THE COMMONWEALTH CANNOT OF ITSELF SOLVE ALL THE PROBLEMS OF THE HUMAN RACE.*
HOWEVER, +IT DOES CARE ABOUT THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUAL MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN,* SHE ADDED.
+THROUGH ITS YOUTH PROGRAMME, ITS TECHNICAL AND PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMMES, AND ITS WORK IN THE FIELDS OF HEALTH AND EDUCATION, THE COMMONWEALTH HELPS TO TACKLE THE PROBLEMS OF UNDEREMPLOYMENT AND UNDERNOURISHMENT AND TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MILLIONS OF FAMILIES TO ACHIEVE THE FULFILMENT IN LIFE WHICH IS THEIR NATURAL RIGHT,* SHE SAID.
FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE QUEEN’S MESSAGE:
IN THE SEVEN YEARS SINCE THE SECOND MONDAY IN MARCH WAS ADOPTED AS COMMONWEALTH DAY BY ALL THE INDEPENDENT NATIONS OF THE COMMONWEALTH, THEIR NUMBER HAS GROWN FROM THIRTY-FIVE TO FORTY-SEVEN, AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE STARTED, AND INDEED COMPLETED, THEIR FORMAL EDUCATION.
IT IS WORTH REMINDING OURSELVES, THEREFORE, THAT THE DAY WAS CHOSEN BECAUSE IT WAS LIKELY TO EE A SCHOOL DAY IN EVERY COMMONWEALTH COUNTRY. THE CHOICE REFLECTED THE DESIRE OF GOVERNMENTS THAT THEIR YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD LEARN ABOUT THE COMMONWEALTH AND, ONCE A YEAR, SHOULD BE GIVEN A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY TO THINK WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, IT IS ABOUT PEOPLE, AND PARTICULARLY ABOUT THE YOUNG. IN MANY COUNTRIES THEY MAKE UP NEARLY HALF THE POPULATION. AT ITS MOST SPECTACULAR AND EXHILARATING IT IS ABOUT ATHLETES SUCH AS I SAW LAST YEAR COMPETING BRILLIANTLY IN THE UNIQUE ATMOSPHERE OF THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES; AT ITS MOST ENCHANTING IT IS ABOUT THE CHILDREN WHO GAVE ME SUCH A WELCOME ON MY FIRST VISITS TO SOME OF THE ISLAND NATIONS IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN; BUT FUNDAMENTALLY IT IS CONCERNED WITH ALL THOSE WHO IN THEIR EARLY YEARS HAVE TO LEARN HOW BEST TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF LIVING IN THE WORLD TODAY.
THIS IS WHY, THROUGH ITS YOUTH PROGRAMME, ITS TECHNICAL AND PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMMES, AND ITS WORK IN THE FIELDS OF HEALTH AND EDUCATION, THE COMMONWEALTH HELPS TO TACKLE THE PROBLEMS OF UNDEREMPLOYMENT AND UNDtRNOURISHMENT AND TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MILLIONS OF FAMILIES TO ACHIEVE THE FULFILMENT IN LIFE WHICH IS THEIR NATURAL RIGHT.
THE COMMONWEALTH CANNOT OF ITSELF SOLVE ALL THE PROBLEMS OF THE HUMAN RACE BUT AS A WORLD-WIDE COMMUNITY IT WORKS FOR PEACE AND FOR THE ELIMINATION OF POVERTY. IT DOES CARE ABOUT THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUAL MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN. THROUGH THE READY SHARING OF IDEAS, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS AND RESOURCES BETWEEN GOVERNMENTS AND BETWEEN PEOPLE IN ALL WALKS OF LIFE IT SEEKS YEAR BY YEAR TO ENRICH THE WORLD IN WHICH ITS YOUNG PEOPLE ARE GROWING UP.
SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 1983
- 3 -
INDUSTRIALISTS LEARN FROM JAPAN MISSION
* * *
LOCAL INDUSTRIALISTS WHO TOOK PART IN A RECENT INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT INDUSTRIAL MISSION TO JAPAN WERE ABLE TO DISCUSS PLANS FOR POSSIBLE INDUSTRIAL CO-OPERATION FACE TO FACE WITH THEIR JAPANESE COUNTERPARTS.
FIVE INDUSTRIALISTS REPRESENTING THREE COMPANIES JOINED THE MISSION, WHICH WAS SPONSORED BY THE HONG KONG JAPAN BUSINESS CO-OPERATION COMMITTEE.
LED BY THE DEPARTMENT’S PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT, MR C.L. CHU, MISSION MEMBERS VISITED TOKYO, OSAKA AND NAGOYA WHERE THEY HAD THE CHANCE OF STUDYING THEIR POTENTIAL PARTNERS’ FACILITIES. THEY ALSO DISCUSSED THE POSSIBILITIES OF SECURING NEW TECHNOLOGY OR ENTERING INTO JOINT VENTURES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF NEW PRODUCTS IN HONG KONG.
A MISSION MEMBER. MR F.C. LO, THE DIRECTOR AND GENERAL MANAGER CF M.C. PACKAGING (HK) LTD. S ID: +THE MISSION GAVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE MOST ADV.'"CED JAPANESE TECHNOLOGY IN THE PLASTIC MOULDING, METAL-.'ORK I. G AND PACKAGING FIELDS.
+WE WERE IMPRESSED BY THE INTEREST SHOWN BY THE JAPANESE COMPANIES AND I AM CO FIDENT THAT FURTHER COMMUNICATIONS WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.+
HE ALSO EXPRESSED APPRECIATION TO THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT FOR ARRANGING THE MISSION.
TO HELP MISSION MEMBERS OBTAIN EETTER UNDERSTANDING OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE IN JAPAN, THE DEPARTMENT’S INDUSTRIAL PROMOTION OFFICE IN TOKYO ARRANGED A NUMBER OF BRIEFINGS FOR THEM. SUBJECTS DISCUSSED INCLUDED HOW TO CONCLUDE CONTRACTS WITH JAPANESE COMPANIES, THE DEVELOPMENT CF PACKAGING, AND INTEGRATED CIRCUIT INDUSTRIES IN JAPAN.
THE MISSION ALSO VISITED HITACHI’S LSI FACTORY IN TOKYO.
SINCE 1980, THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT HAS SENT FIVE MISSIONS TO JAPAN. THIS WAS THE FIRST ONE IN WHICH INDUSTRIALISTS PARTICIPATED.
AN INDUSTRIALISTS MISSION TO CALIFORNIA RETURNED RECENTLY
WITH ENCOURAGING RESULTS, AND OTHER MISSIONS ARE SCHEDULED
to go to Sweden a o t e federal republic of Germany in may this year.
1j, 19t3
SAFETY SHOW OPENS AT TUEN MUN ******
THE SPECTACULAR SOUND-ON-SLIDE PRESENTATION, +SAFETY EXTRAVAGANZA*, IS ON THE MOVE AGAIN.
PRODUCED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, IT IS BEING HELD THIS TIME AT THE ON TING/YAU Ol COMMUNITY CENTRE IN TUEN MUN WITH SUPPORT BY THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD AND THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICE.
THE 12-MINUTE SHOW, WHICH FEATURES THE SHOWING OF MORE THAN 1 300 COLOUR TRAMSPARE XIES FROM 18 SLIDE PROJECTORS, WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED THIS (SUNDAY) MORNING BY THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, DR J.W. HAYES, THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICER, I BILLY LAM, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK, MR LAU WONG-FAT, AND THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER, MR STEPHEN LAM.
THE SHOW HAD BEEN STAGED EARLY LAST YEAR IN WONG CHUK HANG, TSUEN WAN AND WONG TAI SIN, FOLLOWING A SUCCESSFUL SHOWING AT THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY, DR HAYES URGED RESIDENTS IN THE DISTRICT, SPECIALLY STUDENTS AND WORKERS, TO VISIT THE SHOW TO LEARN MORE ABOUT INDUSTRIAL SAFETY.
HE ALSO CALLED ON COMMUNITY LEADERS AND SCHOOL PRINCIPALS TO ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS AND STUDENTS TO SEE THE EXHIBITION.
+WORKERS AND THEIR SUPERVISORS ARE, OF COURSE, THE MAIN TARGET OF THE SAFETY C'/3AIGN. I URGE EMPLOYERS TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THEM TO SEE THE EXHIBITION.
♦ IT IS HOPED THAT THOSE WHO VISIT THE EXHIBITION WILL NOT LOSE EARNINGS OR GOOD ATTENDANCE BONUSES BECAUSE IT IS UNFAIR AS WELL AS UNREALISTIC TO EXPECT WORKERS WITH FAMILIES TO TAKE TIME OFF AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE OR TO GO ALONG TO THE SHOW AFTER A HARD DAY’S WORK.+ HE SAID.
HE THANKED THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD, THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICE, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND MEMBERS OF THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE OF THE SHOW FOR HELPING WITH THE SHOW.
EARLIER, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE, MR YIP HING-CHUNG, SAID THE PRESENTATION WAS TIMELY BECAUSE TUEN MUN HAD BEEN DEVELOPING RAPIDLY IN THE PAST TwO YEARS.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE NUMBER OF INDUSTRIAL WORKERS IN TUEN MUN HAD INCREASED FROM 8 930 IN 1980 TO MORE THAN 20 003 IN 1982, HE SAID.
HE NOTED THAT, IN CONNECTION WITH THE SHOW, THERE WERE AN EXHIBITION OF PHOTOGRAPHS AND CHARTS, A GAME STALL AS WELL AS A QUIZ — ALL RELATING TO INDUSTRIAL SAFETY. AND THE PERFORMANCES BY TELEVISION ARTISTES AND SINGERS IN THE GIS MOBILE STREET THEATRE OUTSIDE THE COMMUNITY CENTRE PROVIDED ENTERTAINMENT, IN ADDITION TO THE SAFETY MESSAGE, TO THE LOCAL RESIDENTS, HE ADDED.
THE SHOW OPENS FROM 11 AM TO 8.30 PM DAILY UNTIL NEXT SUNDAY (MARCH 20).
0
SUNDAY, MARCH 13, 1983
POSTER CONTEST TO PROMOTE HEALTH EDUCATION * * *
YOUNGSTERS WITH CREATIVE POTENTIAL WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO SHOW THEIR TALENT IN A POSTER AND SLOGAN DESIGN COMPETITION AIMED AT ENCOURAGING CHILDREN TO DEVELOP GOOD HEALTH HABITS.
ORGANISED BY THE CENTRAL HEALTH EDUCATION UNIT OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE COMPETITION IS PART OF THE DEPARTMENT’S TERRITORY-WIDE CAMPAIGN ON PREVENTION OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES TO BE LAUNCHED LATER THIS YEAR.
THERE ARE THREE SECTIONS IN THE POSTER AND SLOGAN DESIGN CONTEST FOR PARTICIPANTS OF THREE DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS.
THE JUNIOR SECTION, THE THEME OF WHICH IS FOOD HYGIENE, IS FOR CHILDREN BETWEEN EIGHT AND 12 YEARS OF AGE.
CHILDREN AGED BETWEEN 13 AND 15 YEARS MAY TAKE PART IN THE INTERMEDIATE SECTION AND EMPHASIS SHOULD BE ON THE IMPORTANCE OF IMMUNISATION.
THOSE AGED BETWEEN 16 AND 18 YEARS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE SENIOR SECTION WITH THE THEME ON GASTRO-INTESTINAL DISEASES.
ENTRIES SHOULD SHOW THAT PERSONAL HYGIENE, ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE AND FOOD HYGIENE ARE ALL IMPORTANT ASPECTS IN THE PREVENTION OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES.
THERE WILL BE EIGHT PRIZES FOR EACH SECTION. THE PRIZES ARE BOOK COUPONS WORTH 3300, 3400 AND *500 AND THEY WILL BE AWARDED TO PARTICIPANTS WITH THE BEST ENTRY IN THE JUNIOR, INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR SECTIONS RESPECTIVELY.
ENTRIES SHOULD BE ON PAPER MEASURING 42 CM BY 60 CM AND THE PARTICIPANT’S NAME, AGE, TELEPHONE NUMBER, ADDRESS, NAME OF SCHOOL AND CLASS ATTENDED (IF ANY) SHOULD BE GIVEN.
ALL ENTRIES SHOULD BE SENT TO THE CENTRAL HEALTH EDUCATION UNIT AT 181-185 GLOUCESTER ROAD, 2ND FLOOR OR SHA TIN HEALTH EDUCATION UNIT AT LEK YUEN HEALTH CENTRE, SHA TIN BEFORE APRIL 30.
THOSE WHO WISH TO OBTAIN FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT THE CONTEST MAY CALL 5-720861.
MORE COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR TAI PO K n
MORE COMMUNITY SERVICES ARE BEING PLANNED FOR THE FAST DEVELOPING TAI PO NEW TOWN WITH AN ESTIMATED POPULATION 0" ">□ DC-' IN THE 1990’S.
THIS WAS DISCLOSED TODAY (SUNDAY) BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S NEW TERRITORIES REGION'- OFFICER, MR HCNPY AU THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE TOWN’S FIRST COMMUNITY HA^-L AT* 7 I YUEN ESTATE.
- S'id a commi'iity centre catering FOR a LARGER population ’•*’ '■.•7" TLY PEEN COMPLETED r.::J WOULD SOON BE PUT INTO FULL OPERATION.
DDITICN, TVO MORE COMMUNITY HALLS WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN THE NEXT TM YEARS.
lIKE OT-ERS, THE TAI YUEN COMMUNITY HALL H-S A MULTI-PURPOSE H _L WITH A STAGE AND DRESSING ROOMS, AND A CONFERENCE ROOM, FOR ORGANISING VARIOUS SOCIAL, CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
A MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, COMPRISING UNOFFICIAL AND OFFICIAL MEMBERS, HAD BEEN FORMED TO MONITOR A FULLER USAGE OF THE COMMUNITY HaLL AND ALSO TO ENCOURAGE MORE LOCAL PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMU ITY AFFAIRS.
MR AU SAID HE STRONGLY BELIEVED THAT THE COMMITTEE WOULD REFLECT THE COMMON INTERESTS MJ NEEDS OF THE LOCAL RESIDENTS AND HELP TO PROMOTE THE COMMUNITY SERVICES.
ALSO OFFICIATING AT TODAY’S CEREMONY WERE TAI PO RURAL COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, M.~; CHEUNG 'AI-LAM; ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MR ALEX FONG; AND TO DISTRICT BOARD EMEERS, MR TANG PUI-TAT AND HR LEE PING-KWAI.
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LIFEGUARDS —'.'TED FOR WEEKENDS M H
THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS NOW RECRUITING LIFEGUARDS FC'! EEKEND AND HOLIDAY DUTIES AT VARIOUS PUBLIC BEACHES AND S I MM I NG POOLS.
HOLDERS OF THE BRONZE MEDALLION OF THE ROYAL LIFE-SAVING SOCIETY WHO ARE BETWEEN 13 AND 35 YEARS OF AGE, ARE WELCOME TO APPLY.
THE PART-TIME LIFEGUARDS WILL BE PAID $93 A DAY.
PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO STUDENTS RECOM;-'E..DED BY THEIR SCHOOL HEADMASTERS, A NTSD SPOKESMAN SAID.
APPLICATION FORMS FOR THE POST ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT ALL CITY AND DISTRICT OFFICES IN THE URBAN AREAS A .D THE NEW TERRITORIES.
COMPLETED FORMS SHOULD EE RETURNED TO THE HTSD HEADQUARTERS AT AUSTIN CENTRE, THIRD FLOOR, 19-23 AUSTIN AVENUE, TSIM SHA TSUI, BEFORE APRIL 9 (SATURDAY).
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
MONDAY, MARCH 14, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
NEW OPHTHALMIC CENTRE FOR KOWLOON ........................... 1
HK'S WASTE RECOVERY SYSTEM MOST EFFECTIVE ..................... 2
•COMMUNITY SPIRIT' IN TSUEN WAN INCREASING .................... 3
ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY MANPOWER SURVEY STARTS..................... 4
CHANGES IN EARLY ROAD TESTS ................................
MORE TALKS ON EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE FOR DISABLED ............... 5
TWO DISTRICT BOARD MEETINGS THIS WEEK.......................... 6
NEW OFFICE FOR RURAL COMMITTEE ................................ 7
FREE OUTING FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE ................................ 7
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR TECHNICAL STUDENTS ......................... 8
WATER MAINS WORK ..........................................- 8
WATER FIGURES
8
MONDAY, MARCH 14, 1983
1
NEW OPHTHALMIC CENTRE FOR KOWLOON * * * *
THE GOVERNMENT OPHTHALMIC SERVICE WILL HAVE A NEW CENTRE IN KOWLOON PROVIDING A WIDE RANGE OF FACILITIES AND TREATMENT OF EYE DISEASES, THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR K.L. THONG SAID TODAY.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE NINTH CONGRESS OF THE ASIA PACIFIC ACADEMY OF OPHTHALMOLOGY, DR THONG SAID THAT AMONG THE MANY NEW FACILITIES FOR THE TREATMENT OF EYE DISEASES IN THIS DECADE, THE SETTING UP OF A CENTRALISED OPHTHALMIC CENTRE IN ARGYLE STREET IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE.
THE CENTRE WILL PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE ACCOMMODATION FOR THE NEW HEADQUARTERS OF THE OPHTHALMIC SERVICE, CLINICAL CONSULTING ROOMS, TREATMENT ROOMS, OPERATING THEATRES, DAY BEDS AND FACILITIES FOR HEALTH EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF OPHTHALMIC STAFF.
DR THONG ALSO GAVE AN OUTLINE OF THE GOVERNMENT’S PLANS FOR MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
♦OUR MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME ENVISAGES THE CONSTRUCTION OF FIVE MAJOR GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS OF OVER 1 300 BEDS EACH, MORE THAN 20 CLINICS AND POLYCLINICS, ADDITIONAL FACILITIES FOR THE MENTALLY ILL AND THE ELDERLY AND REHABILITATION FACILITIES FOR THE DISABLED,+ HE SAID.
WITHIN THE GENERAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME, PROVISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE TO INCORPORATE THE OPHTHALMIC SERVICE IN NEW CLINICS AND HOSPITALS.
♦WHEN COMPLETED, THE NEW OPHTHALMIC CENTRE WILL PLAY A VERY ACTIVE ROLE -IN PROVIDING PREVENTIVE AND CURATIVE CARE FOR EYE DISEASES AND ALSO SERVE AS A TRAINING CENTRE FOR THE STAFF IN OPHTHALMOLOGY,+ SAID DR THONG.
AN OPHTHALMIC UNIT WITH 50 EYE BEDS, OPERATING THEATRES AND CLINIC SERVICE WILL ALSO BE INCORPORATED IN A NEW BLOCK TO BE BUILT AT THE TUNG WAH EASTERN HOSPITAL.
FUTURE PLANS ALSO INCLUDE 23 ADDITIONAL CONSULTING ROOMS FOR EYE CLINIC SERVICES AND 150 ADDITIONAL HOSPITAL BEDS FOR EYE PATIENTS.
DR THONG SAID THAT APART FROM IMPROVING THE PREVENTIVE AND CURATIVE ASPECT OF THE EYE SERVICE, THE GOVERNMENT IN RECENT YEARS, HAS ALSO CONSIDERED THE VARIOUS LEVELS OF THE PRACTICE OF OPTOMETRY LOCALLY TO SAFEGUARD THE PUBLIC HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY.
♦IN THIS REGARD, LEGISLATIVE CONTROL IS BEING DRAFTED FOR THE PRACTISING OPTOMETRISTS AND THE TRAINING OF OPTOMETRISTS IS BEING PLANNED TOGETHER WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATIVE CONTROL,♦ HE SAID.
/A HUMBER .......
MONDAY, MARCH 14, 1983
2
A NUMBER OF VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS IN HONG KONG ALSO PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF EYE CARE, DR THONG SAID.
THE HONG KONG OPHTHALMOLOGI CAL SOCIETY AND THE HONG KONG FEDERATION OF SOCIETIES FOR PREVENTION OF BLINDNESS HAVE BEEN ACTIVE IN CO-ORDINATING LOCAL SOCIETIES CONCERNED WITH MEDICAL AND OPTICAL TREATMENT OF EYE DISEASES, PUBLIC OCULAR HEALTH, WELFARE AND REHABILITATION OF THE VISUALLY DISABLED.
♦WITH THE JOINT EFFORT OF THE GOVERNMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENT BODIES, WE ARE LIKELY TO SEE IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS A VERY MUCH IMPROVED AND EXPANDED OPHTHALMIC SERVICE FOR THE PREVENTIVE AND CURATIVE CARE OF EYE DISEASES FOR OUR COMMUNITY,* DR THONG SAID.
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HK’S WASTE RECOVERY SYSTEM MOST EFFECTIVE * * * *
POLLUTION CONTROL IN DENMARK HAS GENERATED ECONOMIC GROWTH RATHER THAN SUPPRESSED IT, AN EXPERIENCE ALSO FOUND IN OTHER DEVELOPED COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD, THE COMMISSIONER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DR STUART REED SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
DR REED WAS SPEAKING AT THE ENERGY AND POLLUTION CONTROL SYMPOSIUM IN HONG KONG ORGANISED BY THE FEDERATION OF DANISH INDUSTRIES.
HE NOTED THAT THERE WERE STRONG PARALLELS BETWEEN THE DANISH AND THE HONG KONG APPROACH TO POLLUTION CONTROL.
+THE EMPHASIS ON PREVENTION THROUGH PLANNING, THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF COOPERATION AND CONSULTATION BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AUTHORITIES AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND THE NEED TO BALANCE THE COSTS OF ANTIPOLLUTION MEASURES AGAINST THE BENEFIT DERIVED BY THE COMMUNITY FROM THE ACTIVITIES THAT GIVE RISE TO POLLUTION, ARE ALL VERY MUCH IN LINE WITH WHAT WE ARE DOING IN HONG KONG,* DR REED SAID.
BUT HE POINTED OUT THAT THE HONG KONG EPA WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1981, 10 YEARS AFTER ITS DANISH COUNTERPART, AND ADDED THAT +THE TASK WE FACE IS EVEN MORE DAUNTING THAN THE ONES FACED IN DENMARK OVER A DECADE AGO.*
AMONG THE DIFFICULTIES IN HONG KONG CITED BY DR REED ARE THE HIGH PROPORTION OF INDUSTRY IN FLATTED FACTORIES, THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF CARS PER KILOMETRE IN THE WORLD, AND A TOPOGRAPHY, METEOROLOGY AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT WHICH ALL CONSPIRE TO RESTRICT DISPERSION AND CAUSE POLLUTANTS TO ACCUMULATE.
+BUT ON THE PLUS SIDE, WE HAVE ALREADY PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WASTE RECOVERY SYSTEMS IN THE WORLD WITH SOMETHING LIKE 20 PER CENT OF WASTES CREATED EACH DAY BEING RECOVERED AND RECYCLED AT A NOT INCONSIDERABLE BENEFIT TO HONG KONG’S BALANCE OF PAYMENTS.
♦AND, ABOVE ALL, WE HAVE THE HONG KONG SPIRIT WHICH INSISTS THAT THE POSSIBLE IS DONE TODAY AND THE IMPOSSIBLE TOMORROW,* DR REED SAID.
/3........
MONDAY, MARCH 14, 1983
3
’COMMUNITY SPIRIT’ IN TSUEN WAN INCREASING
* * * *
THE WHOLE WATERFRONT AREA OF CENTRAL TSUEN WAN WILL IN A FEW YEARS BE GREATLY CHANGED FOR THE BETTER, THE OUT-GOING TSUEN WAN DISTRICT COMMISSIONER, MR HAMISH MACLEOD, SAID TONIGHT (MONDAY).
AT A DINNER PARTY GIVEN BY THE TSUEN WAN COMMUNITY TO BID HIM FAREWELL AND TO WELCOME THE NEW DISTRICT COMMISSIONER, MR ADOLF HSU, MR MACLEOD SAID TSUEN WAN SUFFERED FROM BEING AN +OLD* NEW TOWN, WITH ITS EARLY GROWTH BEING BEFORE TOWN PLANNING STANDARDS HELPED TO ENSURE A REASONABLE PROVISION OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES.
+PARTLY FOR THIS REASON, PERHAPS, THE ’MANAGEMENT’ OF THE TOWN STILL NEEDS IMPROVEMENT! SHORTAGE OF SPACE MAKES THE JOB OF THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS WHICH MANAGE TSUEN WAN - SUCH AS THE POLICE AND THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT - MUCH MORE DIFFICULT,* HE SAID.
ON THE OTHER HAND, HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT THAT PAST ENCOURAGEMENT OF ACTIVITIES AND ORGANISATIONS WHICH INCREASED ♦COMMUNITY SPIRIT* HAD ALREADY BORNE FRUIT.
♦THE WORK OF THE DISTRICT BOARD IN SPORT, RECREATION AND CULTURE IS WELL-KNOWN. ALSO OF GREAT IMPORTANCE ARE THE MANY ASSOCIATIONS AND MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES WHICH DRAW PEOPLE TOGETHER IN VARIOUS WAYS,* MR MACLEOD CONTINUED.
+NOR SHOULD WE FORGET THAT PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT CONTINUES AT SOME SPEED, TRANSFORMING SOME OLD FACTORY AREAS INTO MODERN PRIVATE COMMERCIAL/RESIDENTI AL AREAS, AND IN OTHER PARTS OF THE DISTRICT TRANSFORMING BARREN HILLSIDES INTO PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES.*
HE ADDED THAT IT WAS FOR THIS REASON THAT DURING HIS STAY IN TSUEN WAN HE HAD ENCOURAGED THE DISTRICT BOARD AND THE DISTRICT OFFICE TO GIVE MORE EMPHASIS ON MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS.
+WE HAVE ALSO BEGUN TO INVOLVE BOTH THE BOARD AND THE DISTRICT OFFICE MUCH MORE IN COMMENTING ON PLANNING MATTERS. NOR HAVE WE FORGOTTEN THE INTERESTS OF THE VILLAGERS WHO HAVE BEEN SO IMPORTANT TO THIS DISTRICT IN THE PAST, AND WHO ALSO STILL HAVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY,* HE SAID.
THE INCOMING DISTRICT COMMISSIONER, MR ADOLF HSU, SAID DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND OTHER DISTRICT AFFAIRS IN TSUEN WAN SUCH AS THE DISTRICT BOARD, THE SPORTS FESTIVAL AND THE ARTS FESTIVAL WERE NOW ALL ON THE TRACK.
+ALL THESE ACHIEVEMENTS ARE THE RESULT OF, APART FROM
THE EFFORTS OF GOVERNME’.T DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED, VIEWS AND SUPPORT AND DIRECT PARTICIPATION OF LOCAL LEADERS,* MR HSU SAID.
+1 HOPE YOU WILL CONTINUE TO GIVE ME AND THE DISTRICT OFFICE YOUR VALUABLE SUPPORT A'AD ASSISTANCE AS YOU HAVE BEEN GIVING.*
ABOUT 1 OOO GUESTS, INCLUDING GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AND LOrai LEADERS, ATTENDED THE PARTY.
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MONDAY, MARCH 14, 1983
4
ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY MANPOWER SURVEY STARTS
* * *
FIELD WORK FOR A SURVEY TO ASCERTAIN THE MANPOWER AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS OF THE ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY WILL START TOMORROW (TUESDAY).
THIS IS A BIENNIAL SURVEY, ORGANISED BY THE ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL AND ASSISTED BY THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING DEPARTMENT.
QUESTIONNAIRES AND EXPLANATORY NOTES WERE SENT OUT TWO WEEKS AGO TO THE SELECTED ESTABLISHMENTS COVERED IN THE SURVEY.
EMPLOYERS ARE BEING ASKED TO SUPPLY INFORMATION ON THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES, EXISTING VACANCIES, TRAINING FACILITIES AND A FORECAST OF MANPOWER DEMAND IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.
INTERVIEWERS FROM THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT WILL VISIT THESE ESTABLISHMENTS TO COLLECT THE COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRES
AND TO HELP IN ANSWERING THEM.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL STRESSED THAT THE INFORMATION COLLECTED WOULD BE HANDLED IN STRICT CONFIDENCE AND PUBLISHED ONLY IN THE FORM OF STATISTICAL SUMMARIES, WITHOUT REFERENCE TO INDIVIDUAL ESTABLISHMENTS.
AS THE SURVEY IS IMPORTANT IN FORMULATING MANPOWER TRAINING PLANS, THE SPOKESMAN APPEALED TO THESE ESTABLISHMENTS FOR COOPERATION.
THE SURVEY WILL END ON MARCH 21.
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CHANGES IN EARLY ROAD TESTS it it re
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL CEASE TO OFFER EARLY ROAD TEST APPOINTMENTS *? CANDIDATES WHO HAVE COMPLETED ITS INDOOR DRIVING INSTRUCTION COURSES AT PUI CHING ROAD AS FROM APRIL 1, A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
THIS ALSO APPLIES TO STUDENTS ATTENDING COURSES AT THE HONG KONG AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION.
HOWEVER, LEARNER DRIVERS WHO HAVE COMPLETED COURSES GIVEN BY THE HONG KONG SCHOOL OF MOTORING LIMITED AT WONG CHUK HANG WILL BE GRANTED EARLY PART AND PART ’C’ DRIVING TESTS.
/THE EASIC .......
MONDAY, MARCH 14, 10^3
5
THE BASIC REQUIREMENT FOR A LEARNER DRIVER TO BE ACCEPTED BY THE SCHOOL IS TO PASS A FILM TEST ON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF A 9-HOUR SIMULATOR COURSE ORGANISED EITHER BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT, THE HONG KONG AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION OR THE HONG KONG SCHOOL OF MOTORING.
DETAILS OF THE HONG KONG SCHOOL OF MOTORING ENROLMENT PROCEDURES WILL BE PUBLICISED BY THE SCHOOL IN MID-APRIL.
AS FROM TOMORROW (TUESDAY), NEW APPLICANTS WHO REGISTER FOR THE DEPARTMENT’S INDOOR INSTRUCTION COURSES WILL BE ENTITLED TO ENROL FOR THE FIRST COURSE ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG SCHOOL OF MOTORING LIMITED IN JUNE AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE SIMULATOR COURSE.
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MORE TALKS ON EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE FOR DISABLED * * * *
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT CONDUCTED THREE MORE TALKS ON THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE FOR PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED PEOPLE AT QUEEN ELIZABETH STADIUM, WAN CHAI, YESTERDAY (SUNDAY).
THE TALKS WERE GIVEN IN VIEW OF THE FAVOURABLE RESPONSE TO A SIMILAR FUNCTION HELD IN JANUARY.
ATTENDING THE TALKS WERE MORE THAN 300 PEOPLE WHO ARE EITHER MEMBERS OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES PROVIDING SERVICES FOR THE DISABLED OR REGISTRANTS WITH THE DEPARTMENT’S SELECTIVE PLACEMENT SERVICE.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (MONDAY) THAT THE TALKS, ORGANISED BY THE DEPARTMENT’S LABOUR RELATIONS PROMOTION UNIT, WERE SPECIALLY ORGANISED FOR THOSE WHO WERE NOT ABLE TO ATTEND THE FIRST TALK DUE TO OVER-SUBSCRIPTION.
DURING THE TALKS, OFFICERS FROM THE UNIT EXPLAINED THE VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE, INCLUDING CONTRACTS OF EMPLOYMENT, PAYMENT OF WAGES AND DEDUCTIONS FROM WAGES, TERMINATION OF CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT, SEVERANCE PAYMENTS, REST DAYS, STATUTORY HOLIDAYS, PAID ANNUAL LEAVE, SICKNESS ALLOWANCES AND MATERNITY LEAVE, ETC.
IT WAS HOPED THAT THE TALKS WOULD PROVIDE THEM WITH A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROVISIONS, HE SAID.
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE HONG KONG SOCIETY FOR THE DEAF PROVIDED A SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETER AT TWO SESSIONS.
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/o......
MONDAY, MARCH 14, 1983
- 6
TWO DISTRICT BOARD MEETINGS THIS WEEK * * * *
THE ADDITION OF THREE NEW COMMITTEES TO THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD TO CATER FOR THE CHANGING NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY WILL BE DISCUSSED AT THE BOARD’S MEETING ON WEDNESDAY (MARCH 16).
THE THREE COMMITTEES — DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING, INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE, AND LAW AND ORDER — WILL BRING TO EIGHT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF COMMITTEES UNDER THE DISTRICT BOARD.
INFORMATION PAPERS ON THE IMPACT OF THE NEW SUBVENTION SYSTEM ON WELFARE SERVICES FOR THE AGED IN THE DISTRICT, CLEARANCE AT AH KUNG KOK, PUBLIC COMPLAINTS ON TRANSPORT MATTERS, THE +MEET-THE-PUBLIC+ SCHEME AND NAMING OF NEW HOUSING BLOCKS IN LUNG HANG ESTATE WILL BE TABLED AT THE MEETING.
ON THURSDAY (MARCH 17), THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT BOARD WILL HOLD ITS THIRD MEETING WHEN MEMBERS WILL DISCUSS DETAILS OF THE DISTRICT’S FESTIVAL TO BE HELD IN NOVEMBER.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA WILL INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PICNIC SPOT IN MOUNT DAVIES, LICENSING GUIDELINES FOR AMUSEMENT GAME CENTRES, AND A BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF THE ORGANISATION AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE LANDS DEPARTMENT AND THE URBAN AREA DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION OF THE LANDS AND WORKS BRANCH.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THE TWO DISTRICT BOARD MEETINGS.
(A) THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD MEETING WILL BE HELD AT 9.30 AM ON WEDNESDAY AT THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE. A GOVERNMENT VAN, AM5797, TAKING PRESS REPRESENTATIVES TO SHA TIN WILL LEAVE KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER AT 8.30 AM.
(B) THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT BOARD MEETING WILL BE HELD AT 4 PM ON THURSDAY AT THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, THIRD FLOOR, 222-224 DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL.
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/7.........
MONDAY, MARCH 14, 1983
- 7 -
NEW OFFICE FOR RURAL COMMITTEE
* * * *
+A CENTRE OF ACTIVITIES FOR THE LIFE OF SHA TAU KOK VILLAGERS* WAS OPENED TODAY (MONDAY) BY THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR NEW TERRITORIES, MR IAN MACPHERSON.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY, MR MACPHERSON PRAISED MEMBERS OF THE SHA TAU KOK RURAL COMMITTEE AND A NUMBER OF GENEROUS DONORS WHOSE EFFORTS HAD MADE THE NEW BUILDING POSSIBLE.
HE SAIDi +THE RURAL COMMITTEE WILL CERTAINLY MAKE GOOD USE OF IT TO PROVIDE AN EVEN BETTER SERVICE TO THE LOCAL INHABITANTS.*
THE SHA TAU KOK RURAL COMMITTEE WAS ESTABLISHED 50 YEARS AGO. ITS OFFICE WAS MOVED TO THE PRESENT SITE IN 1962, BUT COLLAPSED IN 1979.
THE TWO-STOREY BUILDING WAS REBUILT AT A COST OF ABOUT $70 003, OF WHICH $20 000 CAME FROM THE NORTH DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE BALANCE WAS CONTRIBUTED BY LOCAL DIGNITARIES.
ITS ADMINISTRATION OFFICES ARE ON THE GROUND FLOOR AND THE UPPER FLOOR IS USED AS A CONFERENCE ROOM.
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FREE OUTING FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE * * * M
FOUR HUNDRED ELDERLY PEOPLE WILL JOIN A FREE ONE-DAY OUTING TO THE NEW TERRITORIES BEING ORGANISED BY THE WAN CHAI OFFICE OF THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE (RSS) AND THE MOUNT CAMERON LIONS’ CLUB.
THEY ARE AMONG THE MORE THAN 1 000 ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO APPLIED TO THE RSS OFFICE THIS MORNING FOR THE 400 VACANCIES AVAILABLE.
THEY WILL BE TAKEN ON A VISIT ON MARCH 23 TO FUNG YING SIN KOON, A MONASTERY IN FANLING, AND WILL BE ENTERTAINED TO A VEGETARIAN LUNCH AT CHUK LAM SIM YUEN, A MONASTERY IN TSUEN WAN.
THE OUTING IS AN ANNUAL EVENT ORGANISED FOR THE ELDERLY PEOPLE, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE RSS SAID.
♦DUE TO ITS POPULARITY, THE NUMBER OF PLACES HAS BEEN RAISED FROM 260 LAST YEAR TO 400 THIS YEAR,* HE SAID.
/8 .......
MONDAY, MARCH 14, 1983
8
NOTE TO ED ITORSi
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR TECHNICAL STUDENTS
SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALLING $200 000 WILL BE PRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR KENNETH TOPLEY TO 334 STUDENTS FROM HONG KONG’S FIVE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES ON WEDNESDAY (MARCH 16).
THE PRESENTATION WILL BE HELD AT THE HAKING WONG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, 702 LAI CHI KOK ROAD, CHEUNG SHA WAN, STARTING AT 4 PM.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT.
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WATER MAINS WORK XXX
IN TSUEN WAN WILL BE (MARCH 17) TO ALLOW
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN PREMISES CUT OFF FOR 12 HOURS FROM 8 PM ON THURSDAY WATER MAINS WORK TO BE CARRIED OUT.
PREMISES TO BE AFFECTED ARE BOUNDED BY ON YUK ROAD TSUEN KING CIRCUIT, CASTLE PEAK ROAD, WEST SIDE OF TAI CHUNG ROAD, CHAI WAN KOK STREET TO THE END OF 11-1/2 MILESTONE, TING KAU.
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WATER FIGURES M M M
STORAGE IN HONG KONG’S RESERVOIRS AT 9 AM TODAY (MONDAY) STOOD AT 75.8 PER CENT OF CAPACITY OR 437.729 MILLION CUBIC METRES.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR THE RESERVOIRS CONTAINED 232.140 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF WATER, REPRESENTING 40.2 PER CENT OF CAPACITY.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL 5-233191
TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
JANUARY SURVEY OF EMPLOYMENT, PAYROLL aND ORDERS-ON-HAND .... 1
HK HAS MUCH TO OFFER, VISITING U.S. MAYORS TOLD ............... 4
DEPARTMENT SEARCHING FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND SERVICES ... 5
TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS IN TSUEN WAN AND TUEN MUN................. 6
REFRESHER COURSES IN ENGLISH FOR PRIMARY TEACHERS ............. 7
CHILDREN'S PLAYS GEJT GOOD RESPONSE............................ 7
TEMPORARY WATER SUPPLY SUSPENSION IN NORTH POINT .............. 8
PARKING METERS ALONG AP LEI CHAU BRIDGE ROAD
8
TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 1983
JANUARY SURVEY OF EMPLOYMENT, PAYROLL AND ORDERS-ON-HAND * * K *
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY RELEASED STATISTICS FROM THE MONTHLY SURVEY FOR JANUARY 1983.
THE SURVEY COVERED A PANEL OF THE 200 LARGEST MANUFACTURING COMPANIES (CHOSEN BY REFERENCE TO THEIR EMPLOYMENT SIZE IN SEPTEMBER 1979) AS WELL AS THE 43 LARGEST COMPANIES IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND SELECTED SERVICES SECTORS.
AS THE SAMPLE WAS NOT DRAWN ON A RANDOM BASIS, THE RESULTS ON MAGNITUDE OF CHANGE MIGHT NOT REFLECT THE EXPERIENCE OF THE ECONOMY AS A WHOLE, BUT SHOULD GIVE A USEFUL INDICATION OF THE DIRECTION OF CHANGE FOR A QUICK ASSESSMENT OF DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ECONOMY IN THE SHORT TERM.
FOR ALL THE MANUFACTURERS SURVEYED TAKEN TOGETHER, EMPLOYMENT DECLINED SLIGHTLY IN JANUARY 1983, COMPARED WITH THE PRECEDING MONTH. THE DECLINE OCCURRED MAINLY IN THE PLASTIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRY AND THE ♦OTHERS* CATEGORY OF THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR ON ACCOUNT OF LABOUR TURNOVER.
PAYROLL AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY IN ALL THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES SURVEYED AS BONUSES AND DOUBLE PAY WERE GRANTED TO EMPLOYEES IN A NUMBER OF FACTORIES AT THE END OF JANUARY PRECEDING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR IN FEBRUARY.
IN THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR AND IN THE HOTELS SURVEYED, EMPLOYMENT DECREASED OWING TO THE RETRENCHMENT OF EMPLOYEES BY SEVERAL COMPANIES.
SIMILAR TO THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, PAYROLL AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND MOST OF THE SERVICES SECTORS ALSO ROSE SIGNIFICANTLY BECAUSE OF YEAR-END AWARDS. HOWEVER, PER CAPITA EARNINGS DROPPED SLIGHTLY IN THE BANKS SURVEYED BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF THEM HAD ALREADY ISSUED BONUSES AND DOUBLE PAY TO THEIR EMPLOYEES IN THE PRECEDING MONTH.
THE AVERAGE VOLUME OF ORDERS-ON-HAND (IN TERMS OF MONTHS), AS REPORTED BY THE MANUFACTURERS SURVEYED FOR JANUARY 1983, INCREASED SLIGHTLY AS COMPARED WITH THE PRECEDING MONTH. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT INCREASE WAS RECORDED IN THE PLASTIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRY WHEREAS THE FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS INDUSTRY WAS THE ONLY INDUSTRY WITH A DECLINE IN THE VOLUME OF ORDERS-ON-HAND.
/FOB ALL .......
TUESDAY, MAHCH 15, 1983
- 2 -
FOR ALL THE MANUFACTURERS SURVEYED TAKEN TOGETHER, THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF DAYS WORKED PER WEEK BY OPERATIVES REMAINED UNCHANGED IN JANUARY 1983, COMPARED WITH THE PRECEDING MONTH. HOWEVER, IT DECREASED IN THE PLASTIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRY ON ACCOUNT OF INSUFFICIENT ORDERS RECEIVED BY A FEW FACTORIES SURVEYED, EVEN THOUGH THE AVERAGE VOLUME OF ORDERS-ON-HAND FOR THE INDUSTRY SHOWED AN INCREASE. THOSE ESTABLISHMENTS REPORTING AN INCREASE IN ORDERS-ON-HAND IN THE PLASTIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRY DID NOT HAVE SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN EMPLOYMENT OR THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF DAYS WORKED PER WEEK.
THE PERCENTAGE CHANGES IN EMPLOYMENT, PER CAPITA EARNINGS AND ORDERS-ON-HAND FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS ARE SHOWN IN THE ACCOMPANYING TABLE.
THE SURVEY REPORT FOR JANUARY 1983 IS NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE, AT $1.50 PER COPY.
ENQUIRIES ON THE SURVEY RESULTS MAY BE MADE TO THE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT (AT 3-7212832).
(A) EMPLOYMENT AND EARNINGS
PERSONS ENGAGED
BY THE COMPANIES PER CAPITA
SURVEYED EARNINGS
INDUSTRY/SERVICE (PERCENTAGE CHANGE OVER THE PRECEDING MONTH) ' JAN 1983 PER CAPITA EARNINGS FOR JANUARY 1983 (HK$)
NOV 1982 DEC 1982 JAN 1983 NOV 1982 DEC 1982
MANUFACTURING -1 -1 -1 2 4 16 2 729
FOOD AND DRINKS -2 -1 2 5 54 4 914
WEARING APPAREL, EXCEPT FOOTWEAR * * * 5 4 12 2 335
TEXTILES, EXCEPT WEARING APPAREL -3 -1 12 21 2 816
PLASTIC PRODUCTS -3 -2 -2 -1 -6 22 2 069
FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS -1 * * 6 ■ -10 24 2 368
ELECTRICAL AND -3 -2 * 5 3 13 2 633
ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS
/Ol'HErtS..........
TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 19^3
- 3 -
OTHERS -1 ft -2 -1 6 5 3 328
CONSTRUCTION ftft -4 -3 —4 6 7 25 4 781
—— — “ -
SERVICES ft ft ft -3 27 28 6 335
BANKS ft ft ft * 64 -2 5 740
HOTELS -1 -1 -2 2 55 23 4 716
PUBLIC UTILITIES ft ft ft -5 9 51 6 357
OTHERS ft ft 2 -3 12 35 8 380
(B) ORDERS-ON-HAND IN MANUFACTURING
(PERCENTAGE CHANGE OVER THE PRECEDING MONTH) ORDERS-ON-HAND
(IN TERMS OF NOV DEC JAN MONTHS) FOR
INDUSTRY 1982
WEARING APPAREL, *
EXCEPT FOOTWEAR
TEXTILES, EXCEPT 9
WEARING APPAREL
PLASTIC PRODUCTS -7
FABRICATED METAL -16
PRODUCTS
ELECTRICAL AND X
ELECTRONIC
PRODUCTS
OTHERS -1
ALL ABOVE INDUSTRIES -1
1982 1983 JANUARY 1983
4 1 4.81
ft ft 2.30
ft 5 2.82
11 -2 2.05
1 ft 4.38
3 1 3.55
2 1 3.82
* CHANGES WITHIN ♦ OR - 0.5
PER CENT
ftft PERSONS ENGAGED COVER COMPANY EMPLOYEES ONLY? SITE WORKERS EMPLOYED BY LABOUR-ONLY SUB-CONTRACTORS NOT INCLUDED.
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TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 1983
- 4 -
HK HAS MUCH TO OFFER, VISITING U.S. MAYORS TOLD ******
HONG KONG HAS MUCH TO OFFER AS A MARKET IN ITSELF, AS AN ENTREPOT AND AS A BASE FOR INDUSTRIAL JOINT VENTURES OR LICENSING REQUIREMENTS, THE HONG KONG TRADE COMMISSIONER (DESIGNATE) TO THE UNITED STATES, MR BILL DORWARD, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE US CONFERENCE OF MAYORS CURRENTLY HELD IN HONG KONG, MR DORWARD ASKED THE DELEGATES NOT TO LOOK ON HONG KONG AS MERELY A SOURCE OF INVESTMENT.
♦LOOK ON IT AS A POTENTIAL PARTNER IN THE SPREAD OF YOUR BUSINESS INTERESTS IN THIS, THE MOST DYNAMIC PART OF THE WORLD,♦ HE SAID.
MR DORWARD SAID THAT BY THIS HE MEANT WAYS OF SHARING AND THEREFORE INCREASING PRODUCTION? AND IMPROVED CASH FLOWS, ALLOWING FOR INDUSTRIAL EXPANSION AT THE CUTTING EDGE OF HIGH TECHNOLOGY IN THE UNITED STATES, WHILE STILL MAINTAINING A WORLD POSITION IN FAR FROM OBSOLETE MODELS.
♦I SPEAK OF MARKETING POSSIBILITIES IN AREAS ALIEN TO SO MANY OF YOUR PRODUCERS WHO WILL FIND IN HONG KONG THE BRIDGE WHICH PERHAPS THEY NEED,* HE SAID.
MR DORWARD SAID HONG KONG WAS THE THIRD FINANCIAL CENTRE OF THE WORLD AFTER NEW YORK AND LONDON AND WAS ALSO THE WORLD’S LARGEST EXPORTER OF CLOTHING, TOYS AND WATCHES.
HONG KONG ALSO HAD ONE OF THE WORLD’S FINEST HARBOURS, AIRLINE COMMUNICATIONS OF A VERY HIGH ORDER, AND THE THIRD LARGEST CONTAINER PORT IN THE WORLD AFTER NEW YORK AND ROTTERDAM, HE SAID.
HONG KONG’S ECONOMY, MR DORWARD ADDED, HAD BEEN GROWING AT AN AVERAGE ANNUAL RATE OF 12 PER CENT IN REAL TERMS UNTIL THE WORLD RECESSION CAUGHT UP WITH IT IN 1982.
♦BUT THE COMMUNICATIONS HONG KONG PROVIDES ARE MORE THAN THE PHYSICAL - AIRLINES, SHIPS, CONTAINER PORT AND THE LIKE -OR INFRASTRUCTURAL. UNIQUELY, HONG KONG OFFERS A POINT OF CONTACT BETWEEN PEOPLES OF WIDELY VARYING INTERESTS AND PHILOSOPHIES AND CULTURES? AND BY VIRTUE OF ITS LONG COSMOPOLITAN EXPERIENCE, IT CAN INTERPRET ONE TO THE OTHER TO THE ADVANTAGE OF ALL.+
+1 DO NOT USE THE WORD INTERPRET IN THE NARROW LINGUISTIC SENSE - ALTHOUGH THERE IS THAT TOO - BUT IN THE SENSE OF ERIDGING THE COMPREHENSION GAP BETWEEN BUSINESSMEN AND TRADE OFFICIALS FROM OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE EARTH,* MR DORWARD SAID.
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TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 1983
5
DEPARTMENT SEARCHING FOR OPPORTUN(TIES TO EXPAND SERVICES * X X X X
THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND ITS SERVICE TO COPE WITH THE EVER RISING NEEDS FOR SPORT AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, THE DEPARTMENT’S DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, MR CHRIS WONG, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
MR WONG, WHO WAS SPEAKING TO MEMBERS OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK, STRESSED THAT THE PROVISION OF AN ADEQUATE LEVEL OF COMMUNITY RECREATION FACILITIES IN NEW TOWNS AND PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES HAD ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF THE DEPARTMENT’S MAJOR CONCERNS.
DURING THE TALK, MR WONG ALSO OUTLINED THE ROLE OF THE DEPARTMENT’S MUSIC OFFICE.
MR WONG SAID THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE STARTED ON A VERY MODEST FOOTING IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, AND, INDEED, IN THE WHOLE OF HONG KONG.
ACTING ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT, THE RSS WHICH WAS THEN A SMALL SECTION WITHIN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, STARTED OPERATION IN OCTOBER 1974 IN SIX DISTRICTS.
ONLY ONE OF THOSE DISTRICTS — YUEN LONG — FELL WITHIN THE NEW TERRITORIES, HE RECALLED.
MR WONG SAID THE RSS NOW OPERATES IN 19 OFFICES, WHICH INCLUDE NINE DISTRICT OFFICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, AS WELL AS THREE FITNESS CENTRES, TWO CAMPS AND ONE WATER SPORTS CENTRE IN THE HEW TERRITORIES.
♦UNTIL WE CAN REASONABLY CLAIM THAT WE ARE ABLE TO MEET THE MAIN THRUST OF PUBLIC DEMAND WE HAVE NO REASON TO BE COMPLACENT OVER OUR ACHIEVEMENTS SO FAR.+ HE SAID.
♦I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT WE ARE CONTINUING OUR SEARCH IN THE WAYS AND MEANS OF EXPANDING OUR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY TO COPE WITH THE EVER RISING NEEDS FOR RECREATION AND SPORT OPPORTUNITIES BOTH IN THE N.T. AND IN THE URBAN AREAS,+ HE SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE RCD’S TECHNICAL AND PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE WAS AVAILABLE NOT ONLY TO GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS BUT ALSO THE VARIOUS VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND COMMUNITY PROJECTS, PARTICULARLY IN THE FIELD OF RECREATION FACILITIES PLANNING.
ON THE WORK OF THE MUSIC OFFICE, MR WONG SAID IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1977 WITH THE AIMS OF RUNNING A FULL-SCALE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC •TRAINING PROGRAMME IN BOTH WESTERN AND CHINESE MUSIC; PROMOTING THE INTEREST AND STANDARD OF MUSIC, ESPECIALLY AMONG THE YOUNGER GENERATION; AND ENCOURAGING AND ASSISTING IN THE ORGANISATION OF MUSIC ACTIVITIES IN ALL DISTRICTS.
/TH3 MUSIC .......
TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 1983 ‘
6
THE MUSIC OFFICE NOW RUNS ABOUT 600 INSTRUMENTAL TRAINING CLASSES IN BOTH WESTERN AND CHINESE INSTRUMENTS FOR ABOUT 2 600 STUDENTS.
+WE HOPE TO OPEN MORE CLASSES IN THE COMING MONTHS AIMED AT ACHIEVING THE APPROVED TARGET OF 5 000 STUDENTS,♦ MR WONG SAID.
THE MUSIC OFFICE HAS FORMED AND MANAGES 23 ORCHESTRAS, BANDS AND CHOIRS, WITH A MEMBERSHIP OF OVER 1 200 PEOPLE.
IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE TSUEN WAN MUSIC CENTRE SERVES TSUEN WAN, SHA TIN, SAI KUNG AND ISLANDS WHILE THE NEW YUEN LONG MJSIC CENTRE WHICH WILL OPEN THIS WEEKEND WILL SERVE YUEN LONG, NORTH, TUEN MUN AND TAI PO DISTRICTS.
A TOTAL OF 206 INSTRUMENTAL TRAINING CLASSES IN BOTH CHINESE AND WESTERN INSTRUMENTS ARE BEING HELD IN THE NEW TERRITORIES FOR 439 PRIMARY AND 433 SECONDARY STUDENTS.
MAJOR FUNCTIONS BEING PLANNED IN THE NEW TERRITORIES IN 1983-84 INCLUDE THE YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (A) AND THE YOUTH CHINESE ORCHESTRA’S QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY CONCERT IN JUNE 1983, THE DISTRICT YOUTH CHINESE ORCHESTRAS’ COMBINED CONCERT WITH CHINESE FOLK SINGING CHILDREN ENSEMBLE IN JANUARY 1984, AND THE TRAINEES’ CHINESE ORCHESTRA CONCERT IN MARCH 1984.
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TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS IN TSUEN WAN AND TUEN MUN * * * M * M
TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS WILL BE INTRODUCED IN TSUEN WAN AND TUEN MUN ON THURSDAY (MARCH 17).
FROM 10'AM ON THAT DAY, A SECTION OF THE ACCESS ROAD LEADING TO SHEK WAI KOK ESTATE IN TSUEN WAN WILL BE DESIGNATED AN URBAN CLEARWAY.
THE SECTION IS BETWEEN THE ACCESS ROAD’S JUNCTION WITH CHEUNG PEI SHAN ROAD AND A POINT 60 METRES SOUTH OF THE BUS TERMINUS.
NO VEHICLE OTHER THAN FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS BETWEEN 7 AM AND 7 PM DAILY WITHIN THE ROAD SECTION.
MEANWHILE IN TUEN MUN, MING KUM ROAD WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM 10 PM ON THURSDAY (MARCH 17) TO 5 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR DRAINAGE WORKS.
DURING THE CLOSURE, TRAFFIC WILL BE DIVERTED VIA PUI TO ROAD, TSUN WEN ROAD AND SHEK PAI TAU ROAD.
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/7
TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 1983
7
REFRESHER COURSES IN ENGLISH FOR PRIMARY TEACHERS * * * *
TEACHERS OF ENGLISH IN GOVERNMENT AND AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS WILL BE GIVEN THE CHANCE TO ATTEND TWO REFRESHER COURSES AIMED AT HELPING THEM IMPROVE THEIR FLUENCY AND CONFIDENCE IN THE USE OF SPOKEN ENGLISH.
THE TWO COURSES WILL BE RUN BY THE BRITISH COUNCIL FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, AND WILL BE HELD FROM APRIL 11 TO JULY 7, COVERING 90 HOURS OF INSTRUCTION.
THE TEACHERS WILL BE INTRODUCED TO A RANGE OF COMMUNICATIVE TECHNIQUES, AND SPECIAL ATTENTION WILL BE GIVEN TO THE RECENTLY-REVISED CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE SYLLABUS IN ENGLISH (PRIMARY), A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
CLASSES WILL BE HELD ON MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND THURSDAYS. THE MORNING COURSE WILL BE FROM 9 AM TO 11.30 AM AND THE OTHER FROM 2 PM TO 4.30 PM.
THERE WILL BE 150 PLACES FOR THESE COURSES, AND PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO TEACHERS WHO ARE IN CHARGE OF THE ENGLISH SUBJECT IN THEIR SCHOOLS.
ALL CLASSES WILL BE HELD AT THE BRITISH COUNCIL, 253-261 IENNESSY ROAD, WAN CHAI.
SIMILAR COURSES WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR.
HEADS OF SCHOOLS ARE ASKED TO NOMINATE TEACHERS FOR THE COURSES AND TO SUBMIT THEIR NOMINATIONS NOT LATER THAN MARCH 23 TO THE PRINCIPAL INSPECTOR, ENGLISH SECTION, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, LEE GARDENS, FIFTH FLOOR, HYSAN AVENUE, HONG KONG.
ENQUIRIES MAY BE MADE AT THE ENGLISH SECTION OF THE ADVISORY INSPECTORATE.ON 5-8392442.
------o - -----
CHILDREN'S PLAYS GET GOOD RESPONSE K * K
CHILDREN’S LAUGHTER FILLED THE ASSEMBLY HALL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT SCHOOL IN SHA TIN THIS AFTERNOON AS THEY WATCHED TWO ENTERTAINING AND EDUCATIONAL PLAYS BY THE CHUNG YING THEATRE.
THE TWO CANTONESE PLAYS, +STRONGER THAN SUPERMAN* AND ■♦WOLF-BOY*, ARE PART OF THE SHA TIN DRAMA MONTH PROGRAMME TO PROMOTE DRAMA ART AMONG LOCAL RESIDENTS, INCLUDING YOUNG CHILDREN.
ABOUT 300 PUPILS, BETWEEN THE AGES OF NINE AND 12, WERE INVITED TO THE PLAY AND MOST OF THEM SAID IT WAS THEIR FIRST TIME THEY HAD SEEN A STAGE PERFORMANCE.
/the two ......
TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 1983«
- 8 -
THE TWO PLAYS WILL BE STAGED IN THE LITTLE FLOWER SCHOOL IN THE DISTRICT ON THURSDAY (MARCH 17) FOR ANOTHER 300 PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS.
THEY WILL BE PUT ON FOR THE PUBLIC ON APRIL 6 AND 7 AT THE SIR RUN RUN SHAW HALL OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY.
AN AMERICAN COMEDY, *AH! WILDERNESS* BY EUGENE O’NEILL WILL BE PERFORMED BY THE THESPIANS DRAMA SOCIETY AND STUDENTS FROM THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY EACH EVENING FROM MARCH 24 TO 26.
TICKETS AT $8 AND $12 ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE SIR RUN RUN SHAW HALL.
-----o------
TEMPORARY WATER SUPPLY SUSPENSION IN NORTH POINT * * * *
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO PREMISES IN TWO AREAS OF NORTH POINT WILL BE SUSPENDED FOR SEVERAL HOURS FROM FRIDAY EVENING (MARCH 18) UNTIL 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR WATER MAINS WORK.
IN THE FIRST AREA, THE SUSPENSION WILL LAST FROM 10 PM ON FRIDAY UNTIL 6 AM ON SATURDAY. THE AFFECTED PREMISES WILL BE NOS. 104-216 TIN HAU TEMPLE ROAD, AND THOSE IN YEE KING ROAD, CLOUD VIEW ROAD, BRAEMAR HILL ROAD, WAN TIN PATH AND NOS. 60-74 KAI YUEN STREET.
IN THE SECOND AREA, THE SUSPENSION WILL BE FROM 11 PM ON FRIDAY UNTIL-6 AM THE NEXT DAY AND THE AFFECTED PREMISES WILL BE THOSE BOUNDED BY THE EAST SIDE OF KING’S ROAD FROM TONG CHONG STREET TO JAVA ROAD, AND WILL INCLUDE TONG CHONG STREET, HOI WAN STREET, HOI TAI STREET, SEA FRONT AND THE SECTION OF JAVA ROAD FROM HEALTHY STREET EAST TO KING’S ROAD.
-------o----------
PARKING METERS ALONG AP LEI CHAU BRIDGE ROAD K * *
A TOTAL OF 33 PARKING METERS WILL BE IN OPERATION ALONG AP LEI CHAU BRIDGE ROAD FROM THURSDAY (MARCH 17), A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED TODAY.
AN HOURLY RATE OF $2 WILL BE CHARGED DURING THE OPERATING PERIOD FROM 8 AM TO 12 MIDNIGHT DAILY, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
- - 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 19^3
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
/ ■■■
FES CENTRES HANDLE 12 MILLION CALLS.............................. 1
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR TECHNICAL INSTITUTE STUDENTS ................... 2
SCHOOLS URGED TO APPLY FOR JSEA SYSTEM........................... 3
DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED ......................................... 3
TRAFFIC RE-ROUTING IN YUEN LONG ................................. 4
+COLOURED B0AT+ ROWING COURSE.................................... 4
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1983
1
PES CENTRES HANDLE 12 MILLION CALLS * * * *
ABOUT 12 MILLION CALLS SEEKING ADVICE AND INFORMATION WERE RECEIVED AT THE 57 PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE (PES) CENTRES OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION LAST YEAR.
A CNTA SPOKESMAN SAID THIS REPRESENTED AN INCREASE OF 26.5 PER CENT AS COMPARED WITH THE 9.1 MILLION CALLS HANDLED IN 1981.
THE CALLS COMPRISED FOUR MILLION ENQUIRIES, 430 000 REQUESTS MADE AND 7.5 MILLION FORMS AND INFORMATION LEAFLETS BEING DISTRIBUTED.
LOCATED IN ALL 18 DISTRICTS, THE PES CENTRES PROVIDE SUCH SERVICES AS ADMINISTERING STATUTORY DECLARATIONS, GIVING ADVICE ON GOVERNMENT SERVICES, DEALING WITH COMPLAINTS, DISTRIBUTION OF GOVERNMENT FORMS AND INFORMATION LEAFLETS, AND IN SOME CENTRES DEALING WITH LEGAL AND RENTAL PROBLEMS.
OF THE FOUR MILLION ENQUIRIES HANDLED DURING THE YEAR, SUBJECTS ASKED RANGED FROM JOB VACANCIES (191 000 OR 4.8 PER CENT), APPLICATION FOR PUBLIC HOUSING (152 000 OR 3.8 PER CENT), RECREATION AND SPORTS SERVICE (107 000 OR 2.7 PER CENT) TO PROBLEMS CONCERNING EDUCATION (103 000 OR 2.6 PER CENT).
MOST OF THE 430 000 REQUESTS HANDLED WERE FOR STATUTORY DECLARATION SERVICE, SUCH AS DECLARATION OF TRUE COPIES, APPLICATION FOR SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS AND EXAMINATIONS, PUBLIC
HOUSING AND EMIGRATION.
DURING THE SAME PERIOD, SOME 7.5 MILLION FORMS AND INFORMATION LEAFLETS WERE DISTRIBUTED. THESE INCLUDED REGISTRATION FORMS AS ELECTORS FOR THE URBAN AND NT DISTRICT BOARDS ELECTIONS (1.6 MILLION OR 22.4 PER CENT), APPLICATION FORMS FOR GOVERNMENT JOBS (635 000 OR 8.5 PER CENT). HOME OWNERSHIPS SCHEME APPLICATION FORMS (238 000 OR 3.2 PER CENT), AND SPONSOR FORMS FOR +WALK FOR MILLIONS* (176 000 OR 2.4 PER CENT).
THE CENTRES AT WAN CHAI, EASTERN, WONG TAI SIN, MONG KOK, TSUEN WAN AND SHA TIN HAD FREE LEGAL ADVICE SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE HONG KONG LAW SOCIETY AND DURING THE YEAR 3 249 CASES WERE DEALT WITH.
ANOTHER SERVICE AVAILABLE AT THOSE CENTRES IN THE 10 URBAN DISTRICT OFFICES AND IN TSUEN WAN WAS FOR THE LANDLORDS, TENANTS AND SUB-TENANTS TO DISCUSS THEIR TENANCY PROBLEMS WITH RENT OFFICERS. ABOUT 17 043 PEOPLE MADE USE OF THIS SERVICE DURING THE YEAR.
SINCE LAST NOVEMBER, THE CENTRE AT CNTA’S HEADQUARTERS HAS BEEN MOVED TO THE 13TH FLOOR, WORLD SHIPPING CENTRE, 7 CANTON ROAD IN TSIM SHA TSUI. SERVICES SUCH AS ANSWERING GENERAL ENQUIRIES, DISTRIBUTING FORMS AND ADMINISTERING STATUTORY DECLARATIONS ARE BEING PROVIDED AND THE TELEPHONE NUMBER IS >692255.
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1983
2
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR TECHNICAL INSTITUTE STUDENTS * * * *
THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR KENNETH TOPLEY TODAY (WEDNESDAY) PRESENTED SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALLING S2OO 000 TO 334 TECHNICAL INSTITUTE STUDENTS.
DURING THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY HELD AT HAKING WONG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, MR TOPLEY THANKED THE 21 COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS THAT HAD DONATED THE SCHOLARSHIPS.
MR TOPLEY SAID THAT HE WAS PLEASED TO PRESENT THE SCHOLARSHIPS TO WINNERS OF THE FIVE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES JOINTLY FOR THE FIRST TIME.
+OUT OF 99 000 QUALIFIED APPLICANTS, ONLY 23 000 WERE ADMITTED TO THE FIVE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES FOR THE CURRENT ACADEMIC SESSION FOR VARIOUS MODES OF STUDIES,* MR TOPLEY SAID.
+T0 MEET THE DEMAND FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION,* HE SAID, +THREE MORE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES ARE BEING PLANNED FOR COMPLETION BY 1986.+
MR TOPLEY RECALLED THAT IN 1979, WHEN HE WAS DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, HE RECOMMENDED THE SETTING UP OF A CRAFT SKILL COMPETITION AMONG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE STUDENTS.
THE SCHEME HAS SINCE BEEN SUPPORTED BY THE INDUSTRIES. M? TOPLEY CALLED FOR ITS FURTHER EXPANSION FOR THE BENEFIT OF MORE STUDENTS.
DURING THE CEREMONY, THE DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING, MR MORRIS MORGAN, ALSO PRAISED THE INDUSTRIALISTS FOR THEIR PART IN PROMOTING HONG KONG’S TECHNICAL EDUCATION.
+WITH THE SETTING UP OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL LAST YEAR,* MR MORGAN POINTED OUT, +CLOSER CONTACTS BETWEEN TECHNICAL EDUCATORS AND INDUSTRIALISTS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED.*
BOARDS FOR EACH OF THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES HAD BEEN SET UP AND INDUSTRIAL REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE APPROPRIATE TRAINING BOARDS WOULD SIT ON THEM, HE SAID.
♦THIS WILL HELP ENSURE THAT THERE ARE PROPER LINKS BETWEEN THE EDUCATORS AND THE EMPLOYERS OF STUDENTS,* THE DIRECTOR EXPLAINED.
MR MORGAN SAID THE RE-NAMING OF THE EDUCATION BRANCH AS THE EDUCATION AND MANPOWER BRANCH REFLECTED THE INCREASED EMPHASIS THE GOVERNMENT WAS PLACING ON MANPOWER TRAINING.
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/3........
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1983
SCHOOLS URGED TO APPLY FOR JSEA SYSTEM XXX
SCHOOLS WISHING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 1984 JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION ASSESSMENT (JSEA) SYSTEM SHOULD APPLY TO THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ON OR BEFORE APRIL 15 THIS YEAR, AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY.
♦THOSE PRIVATE INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS NOT IN THE BOUGHT PLACE SCHEME WHICH CHOOSE NOT TO PARTICIPATE ARE REMINDED THEY MUST NOTIFY PARENTS THAT THEIR CHILDREN WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR ALLOCATION TO SUBSIDISED FORM FOUR PLACES,+ HE SAID.
ALL GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS, AIDED SCHOOLS, NON-PROFIT-MAKING PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND INDEPENDENT PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN THE BOUGHT PLACE SCHEME WILL BE EXPECTED TO PARTICIPATE NEXT YEAR.
SCHOOLS WHICH PARTICIPATED THIS YEAR SHOULD REAFFIRM WITH THE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO IN 1984.
SINCE THE IDENTITY CARD NUMBER OF EACH PARTICIPATING STUDENT WILL BE PRINTED ON HIS CERTIFICATE, STUDENTS SHOULD ENSURE THEY HAVE THEIR PERSONAL IDENTITY CARD BEFORE THEY ENTER FOR THE SCALING TEST, THAT IS, BEFORE SEPTEMBER OF THE YEAR THEY ENTER FORM THREE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
SUCH IDENTITY CARDS SHOULD BE THE NEW TYPE WHICH BEARS THE PHOTOGRAPH OF THE HOLDER, AND CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS OFFICE.
- - 0 -
DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED XXX
THE GOVERNOR, AFTER TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, HAS DECIDED THAT THE DEATH SENTENCE PASSED ON IP MOU-YUEN ON MARCH 9, 1982 SHOULD BE COMMUTED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT.
IP WAS FOUND GUILTY OF THE MURDER OF A 68-YEAR-OLD MAN YUE CHOI-PUI IN JUNE 1981.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1983
- 4 -
TRAFFIC RE-ROUTING IN YUEN LONG
* * * *
FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (MARCH 18), FUNG NIN ROAD BETWEEN CASTLE PEAK ROAD AND KAU YUK ROAD IN YUEN LONG WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE WAY SOUTHBOUND TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC CIRCULATION IN THE AREA.
-----0------
+COLOURED BOAT+ ROWING COURSE
K K M
A +COLOURED BOAT+ ROWING COURSE WILL START IN CHEUNG CHAU NEXT MONTH FOR SOME 2 000 ROWING ENTHUSIASTS.
A COLOURED BOAT IS A ROWING VESSEL REQUIRING A CREW OF EIGHT TO 12 MEMBERS AND IS SHORTER THAN A DRAGON BOAT, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED.
THE COURSE, JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE DEPARTMENT’S RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE AND CHEUNG CHAU COLOURED BOAT ASSOCIATION, IS SPONSORED BY THE LIU CHONG HING BANK.
THE COURSE, COMPRISING SIX ELEMENTARY AND THREE INTERMEDIATE SESSIONS, WILL BE HELD EVERY SUNDAY AFTERNOON FROM APRIL TO AUGUST THIS YEAR.
APPLICATIONS ARE BEING INVITED FOR THE COURSE WHICH IS OPEN TO PEOPLE OVER 14 YEARS OF AGE AND ABLE TO SWIM 50 METRES.
PARTICIPANTS WHO COMPLETE THE COURSE MAY TAKE PART IN TWO CONTESTS TO BE HELD IN JUNE AND SEPTEMBER.
THE FEE FOR THE COURSE IS $5 PER PARTICIPANT AND THAT FOR THE CONTEST IS $5 PER GROUP.
APPLICATION FORMS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ISLANDS OFFICE OF THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE AT 55 CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL, SECOND FLOOR.
FURTHER DETAILS MAY BE OBTAINED BY DIALLING 5-423085 OR 5-423609.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
RESIDENTIAL PARKING STANDARDS REVISED ....................... 1
SIR PHILIP LOOKS OVER TAI PO SPORTS CENTRE . ............. 4
NEW DIRECTOR FOR PRINCE PHILIP DENTAL HOSPITAL .. ........... 5
WETTEST FEBRUARY SINCE 1884 - ....................... ....... 6
PRIMARY ONE CENTRAL ALLOCATION SYSTEM........................ 9
PHYSICAL EDUCATION COURSES FOR TEACHERS ..................... 9
NEW TERRITORIES RESIDENTS GIVEN LETTERS OF APPRECIATION...... 10
CLASSICAL GUITAR DEMON STRATI® CONCERT ...................... 11
KWAI YUE STREET CLOSED....................................... 11
CAS TO HOLD LARGEST ADULT RECRUIT PASSING-OUT PARADE ........ 12
THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1983
1
RESIDENTIAL PARKING STANDARDS REVISED * * * *
THE GOVERNMENT TODAY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS.
ANNOUNCED REVISED PARKING STANDARDS FOR
♦THESE REPRESENT A SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURE FROM PREVIOUS STANDARDS,* A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID, +AND FOR THE FIRST TIME DEVELOPERS MUST IN MOST CIRCUMSTANCES PROVIDE A MINIMUM LEVEL OF PARKING SPACES.* PREVIOUSLY THE NUMBER OF PARKING SPACES WHICH COULD BE PROVIDED HAD BEEN SUBJECTED TO CEILINGS.
THE REVISED STANDARDS, WHICH WILL FORM PART OF THE HONG KONG PLANNING STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES, WILL APPLY WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT TO ALL NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS.
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT IN THE PAST THERE HAD BEEN RIGID MAXIMUM LIMITS ON THE AMOUNT OF RESIDENTIAL PARKING, AND WITHIN THESE LIMITS ACTUAL PROVISION HAD BEEN DETERMINED ACCORDING TO THE LEVELS OF ROAD CONGESTION THAT COULD BE CAUSED BY NEW DEVELOPMENTS.
♦THE CONTROL ON PARKING SPACE PROVISION HAD HELPED TO CONTAIN CAR OWNERSHIP AND THUS REDUCED TRAFFIC CONGESTION. HOWEVER, THE DISADVANTAGE HAD BEEN THAT WHERE ACTUAL CAR OWNERSHIP EXCEEDED THE LIMITED PARKING ON SITE, THE RESULT WAS ILLEGAL ON-STREET PARKING.*
FOLLOWING THE INTRODUCTION OF FISCAL MEASURES IN MAY 1982, WHICH AFFECTED CAR OWNERSHIP MORE DIRECTLY, IT WAS POSSIBLE FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER THE RELAXATION OF THE RESTRICTIVE PARKING STANDARDS AND THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW STANDARDS TO ENSURE THAT IN FUTURE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS HAVE SUFFICIENT PARKING TO MATCH THE CURRENT AND ANTICIPATED CAR OWNERSHIP OF RESIDENTS.
THE REVISED STANDARDS WERE RECOMMENDED BY A WORKING GROUP WHICH FOLLOWED TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE GUIDELINES THAT AS REGARDS PRIVATE HOUSING*
(I) PROVISION SHOULD BE LIBERALISED;
(II) MINIMUM PROVISION SHOULD BE SPECIFIED?
(Ill) MAXIMUM PROVISION SHOULD NOT BE IMPOSED!
(IV) ZONE 1 (THE MOST DENSELY POPULATED AREAS) PROPOSALS WOULD STILL HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED ON THEIR MERITS.
ONE OF THE MAJOR CHANGES WILL BE IN THE FRINGES OF THE URBAN AREA OR IN THE NEW TOWNS, SUCH AS SHA TIN, WHERE THE STANDARD HAS BEEN ONLY ONE PARKING SPACE FOR EVERY 250 PERSONS. THE NEW STANDARD WILL REQUIRE PROVISION OF A MINIMUM OF ONE PARKING SPACE FOR FIVE FLATS.
/DEVEL0P33S WILL .......
THUBSDAY, MARCH 17, 1983
2 -
DEVELOPERS WILL BE FREE TO APPLY THEIR COMMERCIAL JUDGEMENT TO WHETHER EVEN GREATER PROVISION SHOULD BE MADE. +FOR INSTANCE, FOR A DEVELOPMENT AIMED AT THE HIGHER INCOME GROUP, THEY MAY CONSIDER THAT A HIGHER RATIO OF SPACES TO FLATS MAY HELP TO SELL THE HOUSING,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
IN AREAS LIKE HAPPY VALLEY AND HO MAN TIN THERE WILL BE PROGRESSION TOWARDS A STANDARD OF ONE SPACE FOR EVERY FLAT OR FOR EVERY 1OO SQUARE METRES OF GROSS FLOOR AREA, WHICHEVER IS THE LESSER.
IN THE MID-LEVELS AND ON THE PEAK, THE FORMER CEILING OF ONE-AND-A-HALF TO TWO SPACES PER FLAT WILL NOW BE MADE THE MINIMUM LEVEL OF PARKING PROVISION.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT AS REGARDS LOWER INCOME GROUPS, TOO, IT WAS RECOGNISED THAT CAR OWNERSHIP WAS BECOMING MORE WIDESPREAD. THUS, IN HOUSING AUTHORITY AND HOUSING SOCIETY RENTAL ESTATES, A MINIMUM LEVEL OF ONE SPACE FOR 14 FLATS IS NOW SET, AND ACTUAL PROVISION MAY BE AROUND ONE SPACE FOR 10 FLATS. PREVIOUSLY THE CEILING WAS ONE SPACE FOR 10 FLATS, AND THIS MAXIMUM LEVEL WAS NOT ALWAYS PROVIDED.
ACCOUNT IS ALSO TAKEN OF THE PARKING OF GOODS VEHICLES IN HOUSING AUTHORITY AND SOCIETY DEVELOPMENTS, WHERE FIVE TO 15 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL PARKING SPACES PROVIDED MUST NOW CATER FOR SUCH VEHICLES.
THE ONLY PARKING STANDARD WHICH REMAINS UNCHANGED IS THE ONE FOR THE MAIN URBAN AREAS, SUCH AS WAN CHAI.
+HERE, BECAUSE OF THE CONGESTION IN THE SURROUNDING ROAD TRAFFIC NETWORK, EACH CASE FOR PARKING PROVISION WILL NEED TO BE CONSIDERED ON ITS MERITS,* THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.
+IN DETERMINING THE PARKING PROVISION THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONSIDER, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE PROXIMITY OF HOUSING TO HIGH CAPACITY PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEMS, THE AVAILABILITY OF PUBLIC CAR PARKS IN THE LOCALITY, THE FEASIBILITY OF PROVIDING SAFE DRIVEWAYS AND THE ROAD CAPACITY AND TRAFFIC VOLUME.*
Thursday, March. 17, 1983
BSTISED RESIDENTIAL PARKING STANDARDS
Type of Development Existing Standards . Revised Standards
•
fl) Housing Authority and Society Rental Estates (including aided housing schemes) e.g. Lai Tak Tsuen Housing Lsiate Home Ownership Housing Gchcme Maximum 1 vehicle space for 10 flats 1) Generally 1 vehicle parking space for 10 flats and minimum provision of 1 space for 14 flats dependent on the geographical location of, and the adequacy of public transport serving the estate. 2) 5-15% of the spaces should be for goods vehicles.
(2) Private Residential Zone 1 Areas e*g. Wan Chai, Yaumati, Mongkok c.g. Sha Tin New Town 1) Main Urban Area: on merits 2) Rest of Territory: 1 car space for 250 persons 1) Metropolitan Area -As determined by the Authority. 2) Non-Metropolitan Area -Minimum prevision of 1 car parking space for 5 flats, or such other provision as shall be determined by the Authority.
(3) Private Residential Zone 2 Areas e.g. Happy Valley, Honantin Hill 1 to 1.5 car spaces for p each flat or every 110 m gross floor area,whichever is lesser Minimum 1 car parking SPcG^ ? for each flat or every 1Q0 gross floor erea, whichever is lesser.
( 4) Private Residential Zone 3 and 4 Areas Zone 3 Mid-level, Peek, Kowlosn Tong 'one 4. Detached-housein N.T. t 1*5 to 2 car spaces for each flat Minimum 1.5 car parking spaces for each flat, cr 2 spaces for e-»ch free-standing dwelling.
C5) Village Housing s.g. Tai Koi Chai Village Wong Chuk Rang Village Not specified ?rc-vision 'if it lei y»i by the .‘.□♦'■‘.nrity: inr-.rim -uiceline ? spaqc frr c.ich st".*; !*.;rd *<fEH (65 ^), vitr. 10 - 15% of prov'^ion fr. • overnight goods veh'rle parkin;.
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THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1983
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SIR PHILIP LOOKS OVER TAI PO SPORTS CENTRE * * * *
THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, TODAY (THURSDAY) VISITED THE FIRST PURPOSE-BUILT INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE IN TAI PO WHICH WILL BE READY LATER THIS MONTH.
HE WAS IMPRESSED WITH ITS VARIOUS FACILITIES, WHICH INCLUDE AN INDOOR SPORTS HALL CAPABLE OF ACCOMMODATING UP TO NINE BADMINTON COURTS, AN AIR-CONDITIONED AND FULLY-EQUIPPED DANCE STUDIO, AN AIR-CONDITIONED FITNESS CENTRE WITH THE LATEST EQUIPMENT, A 24-LANE BOWLING ALLEY, AND SAUNA FACILITIES.
THE SPORTS HALL WILL ALSO CATER FOR BASKETBALL AND VOLLEY BALL MATCHES.
THE SPORTS CENTRE IS BEING BUILT WITH $14 MILLION RAISED BY THE TAI PO SPORTS ASSOCIATION — A NON-PROFIT MAKING ORGANISATION FORMED IN 1980 UNDER THE ACTIVE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE TO PROMOTE SPORTS AND RECREATION IN THE DISTRICT.
THE 2 700 SQUARE-METRE SPORTS CENTRE SITE IN CENTRAL TAI PO WAS GRANTED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO THE ASSOCIATION TWO YEARS AGO AT NIL PREMIUM.
SIR PHILIP ALSO INSPECTED OTHER DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND FACILITIES IN TAI PO TO UPDATE HIMSELF SINCE HIS LAST VISIT TO THE DISTRICT IN MID-1981.
HE FLEW TO THE NEW TOWN BY HELICOPTER AND WAS MET BY THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR NEW TERRITORIES, MR IAN MACPHERSON, AND THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR NICKY LO.
THE PARTY FIRST CALLED AT THE SHUEN WAN TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA NOW BEING OCCUPIED BY SOME 2 800 FORMER FIRE VICTIMS.
SIR PHILIP WAS BRIEFED BY MR LO AND A CHIEF HOUSING MANAGER, SIT DOK-SHUEN ON THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT, FACILITIES WITHIN THE THA AND OTHER SUPPORTING DISTRICT FACILITIES.
FOLLOWING A DECISION EARLY LAST YEAR TO BUILD THIS THA FOR FIRE VICTIMS, THE TAI PO DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE FORMED A SPECIAL WORKING GROUP CHAIRED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICER TO CO-ORDINATE THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT.
THE PURPOSE WAS TO ENSURE THAT THE THA COULD BE BUILT QUICKLY, THAT IT WOULD INCLUDE THE NECESSARY COMMUNITY FACILITIES AS FAR AS POSSIBLE, AND THAT APPROPRIATE SUPPORTING TRANSPORT ARRANGEMENTS WERE MADE TO MINIMISE THE TRAVELLING PROBLEM.
SIR PHILIP LATER VISITED THE INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE AND THEN THE NEW KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY STATION WHICH WILL BE OPENED FOR USE BY DIESEL TRAINS BY THE END OF THIS MONTH. ELECTRIC TRAIN SERVICE WILL BE EXTENDED TO TAI PO AS FROM MAY 2.
/HS WAS .......
THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 19c 3
- 5 -
HE WAS BRIEFED ON THE DEVELOPMENT WORKS AT THE NEW STATION, THE INTERCHANGE AREA AND OTHER SUPPORTING FACILITIES BY THE PROJECT MANAGER OF TAI PO AND FANLING, MR JEFFREY THOMAS; MR LO; AND TWO SENIOR ENGINEERS OF THE RAILWAY DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, H.B. WILLIAMS AND MR N.T. CROSS.
THE INTERCHANGE FACILITIES INCLUDE A BUS TERMINUS, MAXI-CAB AND TAXI STANDS, RESIDENTIAL COACH WAITING AREA, CYCLE PARK, OPEN CARPARK, AND THE NECESSARY ROAD AND PEDESTRIAN CONNECTIONS TO THE TOWN AREA.
SIR PHILIP WAS HAPPY TO LEARN THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INTERCHANGE PROJECT HAD BEEN DISCUSSED AND CONSIDERED IN GREAT DETAIL BY BOTH THE TAI PO DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND THE DISTRICT BOARD.
THE PARTY THEN LEFT FOR A NEARBY LOOKOUT POINT WHERE MR THOMAS BRIEFED THE CHIEF SECRETARY ON THE UP-TO-DATE POSITION OF DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN THE DISTRICT.
THE TWO-HOUR TOUR ENDED AT 4.30 PM WHEN SIR PHILIP TOOK OFF FROM THE HELICOPTER PAD AT ISLAND HOUSE.
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NEW DIRECTOR FOR PRINCE PHILIP DENTAL HOSPITAL X X *
THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, HAS APPOINTED, ON THE NOMINATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, PROFESSOR W.I.R. DAVIES, DEAN OF THE FACULTY OF DENTISTRY AT THE UNIVERSITY, AS DIRECTOR OF THE PRINCE PHILIP DENTAL HOSPITAL FROM APRIL 6, 1983. PROFESSOR DAVIES SUCCEEDS PROFESSOR G.L. HOWE WHO HAS RESIGNED AS DIRECTOR OF THE HOSPITAL IN WHICH CAPACITY HE HAS SERVED SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT.
PROFESSOR DAVIES WAS RECENTLY ELECTED, IN SUCCESSION TO PROFESSOR HOWE, AS DEAN OF THE FACULTY OF DENTISTRY AT THE UNIVERSITY. THE CONCURRENT APPOINTMENT OF THE DEAN AS DIRECTOR IS SEEN AS FACILITATING ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS AT THE PRESENT TIME BETWEEN THE FACULTY AND THE HOSPITAL, AND MAINTAINS THE CLOSE INTER-RELATIONSHIP WHICH EXISTS BETWEEN THE TWO POSTS.
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THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1983
6
WETTEST FEBRUARY SINCE 1884
*****
LAST MONTH'S TOTAL RAINFALL WHICH AMOUNTED TO 241 MM, WAS SIX TIMES THE AVERAGE FIGURE OF 41.9 MM FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, MAKING IT THE WETTEST FEBRUARY SINCE 1884, ACCORDING TO THE MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW PUBLISHED BY THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THERE WAS MEASURABLE RAIN OVER 24 DAYS IN THE 28-DAY MONTH AND THIS WAS ALSO A RECORD.
AND, RAINFALL FROM JANUARY 1 TO FEBRUARY 28, TOTALLING 317.3 MM WAS YET ANOTHER RECORD FIGURE FOR A CORRESPONDING TWO-MONTH PERIOD.
FURTHERMORE, THE RAINFALL OF 121 MM RECORDED OVER THE SEVEN-DAY LUNAR NEW YEAR PERIOD MADE IT THE WETTEST LUNAR NEW YEAR IN HONG KONG SINCE 1947.
IN GENERAL, THE MONTH WAS COOLER, CLOUDIER AND MORE HUMID THAN USUAL, THE REVIEW SAID.
THE MONTH’S MEAN RELATIVE HUMIDITY OF 86 PER CENT WAS THE SIXTH HIGHEST ON RECORD AND THE TOTAL SUNSHINE DURATION OF 36.5 HOURS WAS THE EIGHTH LOWEST ON RECORD FOR FEBRUARY.
ON FEBRUARY 1, VERY HUMID CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND FOG WAS WIDESPREAD IN HONG KONG. THE LOWEST VISIBILITIES AT WAGLAN ISLAND AND AT CHEUNG CHAU WERE 100 AND 300 METRES RESPECTIVELY.
A TRIPLE-DECKER FERRY WITH MORE THAN 430 PASSENGERS ON BOARD RAN AGROUND OFF KAU Yl CHAU IN THE EVENING. TWO PERSONS WERE HOSPITALISED.
EARLIER IN THE AFTERNOON, THE TEMPERATURE RECORDED AT THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY REACHED 23.5 DEGREES CELSIUS, THE HIGHEST OF THE MONTH. A COLD FRONT PASSED THROUGH HONG KONG THE FOLLOWING MORNING, BRINGING STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS AND RAPID IMPROVEMENT IN VISIBILITY. GUSTS OF 40 KNOTS WERE RECORDED AT CHEUNG CHAU.
THE TEMPERATURE FELL DURING THE DAY ON FEBRUARY 2, AND ON THE MORNING OF FEBRUARY 3, A MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 10.3 DEGREES CELSIUS WAS RECORDED, THE LOWEST OF THE MONTH. THE WEATHER BECAME FINE AND SUNNY ON FEBRUARY 3.
/IT TUHNED........
THUESOAY, MARCH 17, 1983
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IT TURNED CLOUDY ON FEBRUARY 4 AND THERE WAS A TRACE OF RAIN IN THE EVENING. FROM FEBRUARY 5 TO 10, THE WEATHER WAS RAINY AND COOL. MISTY CONDITIONS PREVAILED DURING THE PERIOD AND THERE WAS SOME COASTAL FOG ON FEBRUARY 6 AND 7.
THE WEATHER DETERIORATED FURTHER ON FEBRUARY 11 AND 12 AND THERE WERE THUNDERSTORMS AND HEAVY SHOWERS. IT CONTINUED TO BE RAINY AND COOL DURING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS FROM FEBRUARY 12 TO 16, DURING WHICH PERIOD FRESH EASTERLY WINDS PREVAILED. THERE WERE ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ON THE EVENING OF FEBRUARY 15. WINDS TURNED NORTHERLY IN THE MORNING OF FEBRUARY 16. WEATHER BECAME FINE, SUNNY AND DRY ON FEBRUARY 17 AND 18. A TOTAL OF 121.0 MM OF RAINFALL WAS RECORDED BETWEEN FEBRUARY 10 AND FEBRUARY 16 AND THIS MADE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR THE WETTEST SINCE 1947.
FROM FEBRUARY 19 UNTIL THE END OF THE MONTH, THE WEATHER WAS CLOUDY WITH RAIN EVERY DAY.
EASTERLY WINDS FRESHENED ON FEBRUARY 19 AND THEY BECAME STRONG OFF SHORE ON THE NIGHT OF FEBRUARY 20. WINDS TURNED NORTHEASTERLY AND THE WEATHER BECAME COOLER ON FEBRUARY 21. WINDS REVERTED TO EASTERLY ON FEBRUARY 22.
MISTY CONDITIONS RETURNED ON FEBRUARY 23 AND FOG BECAME WIDESPREAD ON FEBRUARY 24. FERRY SERVICES WERE DISRUPTED. THE VISIBILITY AT THE HONG KONG AIRPORT WAS REDUCED TO A MINIMUM OF 300 METRES EARLY ON FEBRUARY 24.
A COLD FRONT ARRIVED IN THE AFTERNOON BRINGING NORTHERLY WINDS AND CLEARING THE FOG.
THERE WERE HEAVY SHOWERS ON FEBRUARY 25 AND SOME THUNDERSTORMS OCCURRED ON FEBRUARY 26.
RAIN BECAME LESS FREQUENT ON FEBRUARY 27 AND 28 AND THERE WERE SOME SUNNY PERIODS ON FEBRUARY 28.
SIX AIRCRAFT WERE DIVERTED FROM HONG KONG DUE TO FOG ON FEBRUARY 1 AND 7.
THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS WERE ISSUED ON FEBRUARY 11, 12, 13, 15. 16, 24, 25 AND 26. THE YELLOW FIRE DANGER WARNING WAS IN EFFECT ON FEBRUARY 3-4, 13-15, 17 AND 19 WHILE THE RED FIRE DANGER WARNING WAS IN EFFECT ON FEBRUARY 17-19.
/signals hoi sr el .......
THURSDAY, MARCH 1'/, 1983
8 -
SIGNALS HOISTED DURING THE MONTH WERE AS FOLLOWS*
WEATHER DATE AND TIME DATE AND TIME
SYSTEM MONSOON SIGNAL OF FEB HOI STING PM OF LOWERING AM
WINTER STRONG MONSOON 2 2.10 FEB 3 5.35
WINTER MONSOON STRONG MONSOON FEB 9 11.55 PM FEB 10 10.00 AM
WINTER MONSOON STRONG MONSOON FEB 12 10.00 PM FEB 13 7.00 AM
WINTER MONSOON STRONG MONSOON FEB 14 1.00 AM FEB 14 2.00 PM
WINTER MONSOON STRONG MONSOON FEB 15 12.15 AM FEB 15 11.45 AM
WINTER MONSOON STRONG MONSOON FEB 15 4.00 PM FEB 16 6.30 AM
WINTER MONSOON STRONG MONSOON FEB 20 10.15 PM FEB 21 7.00 AM
THE MONTH’S FIGURES AND DEPARTURES FROM NORMAL WERE*.
SUNSHINE 36.5 HOURS
RAINFALL 241.0 MM
CLOUDINESS 88 PER CENT
RELATIVE HUMIDITY 86 PER CENT
- 72.2 HOURS BELOW NORMAL
- 199.1 MM ABOVE NORMAL
- 17 PER CENT MORE THAN NORMAL
- 8 PER CENT HIGHER THAN NORMAL
FEAN MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE
MEAN TEMPERATURE
FEAN MINIMUM TEMPERATURE
FEAN DEW POINT
TOTAL EVAPORATION
16.4 DEG C - 2.4 DEG C BELOW NORMAL
14.8 DEG C - 1.1 DEG C BELOW NORMAL
13.1 DEG C - 0.6 DEG C BELOW NORMAL
12.3 DEG C - 0.6 DEG C ABOVE NORMAL
43.7 MM - 42.7 MM BELOW NORMAL
THE MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 23.5 DEGREES CELSIUS WAS RECORDED ON FEBRUARY 1 AND THE MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 10.3 DEGREES CElSIUS WAS RECORDED ON FEBRUARY 3.
THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1983
9
PRIMARY ONE CENTRAL ALLOCATION SYSTEM
*****
PARENTS OF CHILDREN WHO FAILED TO OBTAIN A DISCRETIONARY PLACE IN THE GOVERNMENT’S PRIMARY ONE ADMISSION SYSTEM THIS YEAR ARE NOW BEING INVITED TO TAKE PART IN THE CENTRAL ALLOCATION OF PLACES.
THE PARENTS ARE BEING ADVISED BY LETTER TO GO TO A SPECIFIED DISTRIBUTION-COLLECTION CENTRE BETWEEN MARCH 27 AND 30 TO COLLECT A +CHOICE OF SCHOOLS* FORM AND A LIST OF ALL GOVERNMENT AND AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN THEIR OWN DISTRICT.
THOSE WHO HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE LETTER BY MARCH 25 SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CONTACT THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S PRIMARY ONE ADMISSION UNIT (TEL. NO. 5-724383), A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
AND THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY MOVED HOUSE OR ARE PLANNING TO MOVE SOON, MUST INFORM THE PRIMARY ONE ADMISSION UNIT SO THAT ARRANGEMENT CAN BE MADE TO ALLOCATE PLACES FOR THEIR CHILDREN IN THEIR NEW HOME DISTRICT.
DETAILS OF THE CENTRAL ALLOCATION SYSTEM WILL BE ANNOUNCED NEXT WEEK.
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PHYSICAL EDUCATION COURSES FOR TEACHERS *****
A NUMBER OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION COURSES AND SEMINARS WILL BE IELD BETWEEN APRIL AND JUNE FOR TEACHERS IN SECONDARY AND PRIMARY SCHOOLS.
ORGANISED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S PHYSICAL EDUCATION SECTION, THE COURSES WILL INCLUDE THE COACHING OF ATHLETICS IN SECONDARY SCHOOL, TEACHING OF CANOEING, FENCING, HANDBALL, ROWING AND SOFTBALL, TEAM TACTICS IN BASKETBALL FOR GIRLS, TEACHING CF NEW GAMES, GYMNASTICS JUDGING AND A CERTIFICATE COURSE ON BASIC SOCCER TRAINING FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS.
TWO SEMINARS, ONE ON EXPLICATION OF SWIMMING RULES AND THE OTHER ON EXPLICATION OF ATHLETICS RULES, WILL ALSO BE HELD DURING THE SAME PERIOD.
ALL TEACHERS CAN APPuY FOR ANY OF THE COURSES OR SEMINARS, BUT PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO THOSE ENGAGED N PHYSICAL EDUCATION, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUC^IOI' DEPARTMENT SAD.
/PABTICXPaUTS TOLL........
THURSDAY, LIARCH 17, 1983
10 -
PARTICIPANTS WILL BE EXPECTED TO TAKE PART IN BO™ A THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL SESSIONS. A CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE WILL BE ISSUED TO TEACHERS WHO HAVE COMPLETED THE COURSE
SATISFACTORILY.
APPLICATION FORMS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FROM THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION SECTION, KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 7/F, 405 NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON. TEACHERS SHOULD RETURN THE COMPLETED FORMS TO THE SECTION ON MARCH 25.
ENQUIRIES MAY BE MADE TO THE SECTION ON TEL. NO. 3-884111 EXTENSIONS 278 AND 271.
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NEW TERRITORIES RESIDENTS GIVEN LETTERS OF APPRECIATION * * * *
EIGHT RESIDENTS OF TWO VILLAGES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WERE TODAY (THURSDAY) PRESENTED WITH LETTERS OF APPRECIATION BY THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR PUBLIC SPIRITED AND BRAVE ACTIONS IN TWO RECENT FIRES.
THE PRESENTATIONS WERE MADE BY THE CHIEF FIRE OFFICER, NEW TERRITORIES COMMAND, MR FRED JACKSON, AT THE FANLING FIRE STATION.
ONE OF THE RECIPIENTS, MR LAU SHUN-CHOI, WAS COMMENDED FOR HIS COURAGE AND DETERMINATION IN SAVING A 12-YEAR-OLD BOY FROM A BURNING HUT AT TIN PING SHAN TSUEN, SHEUNG SHUI ON FEBRUARY 10. THE BOY’S MOTHER AND HIS FOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS WERE KILLED IN THE FIRE.
THE OTHER RECIPIENTS, MESSRS YIP WONG-WING, LAM CHUN-KEE, LEE KWAI-WING, HO TIN-SANG, CHAN CHUN-HUNG, WONG YEE-WAH AND WONG YEE-CHUNG, WERE ALL MEMBERS OF A FIRE WATCH TEAM AT TZE TONG TSUEN, FANLING.
THEY WERE COMMENDED FOR THEIR HARD WORK IN BRINGING A FIRE WHICH BROKE OUT AT THEIR VILLAGE ON MARCH 3 UNDER CONTROL.
THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF FIRE SERVICES PERSONNEL.
- 0-----------
/11 .......
THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1983
11 -
CLASSICAL GUITAR DEMONSTRATION CONCERT * * * *
A CLASSICAL GUITAR DEMONSTRATION CONCERT ENTITLED +ALL IN THE NOTES* WILL BE HELD AT THE LAI KOK COMMUNITY HALL, LAI KOK ESTATE, SHAH SHU I PO, ON SATURDAY (MARCH 19) AT 8 PM.
THE CONCERT IS BEING JOINTLY PRESENTED BY THE MUSIC OFFICE OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT AND THE LAI KOK COMMUNITY HALL.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE RCD SAID THE DEMONSTRATION CONCERT IS AIMED AT INTRODUCING THE HISTORY OF GUITAR AS WELL AS ITS CLASSICAL REPERTOIRE.
+GUITAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN A POPULAR INSTRUMENT AMONG THE YOUNG AND IS EASY TO LEARN. APART FROM FOLK AND POP MUSIC, IT CAN ALSO PRODUCE BEAUTIFUL CLASSICAL MUS IC,+ HE SAID.
THE PROGRAMME WILL INCLUDE WORKS FROM COMPOSERS RANGING FROM BAROQUE TO MODERN ERA SUCH AS BACH OR VILLA-LOBOS.
IN ADDITION, THERE WILL BE WORKS ARRANGED FROM THE FOLK AND POP REPERTOIRE. THE GUITAR ENSEMBLE OF THE +BAROQUE GUITAR INSTITUTE* WILL DEMONSTRATE IN THIS CONCERT TOGETHER WITH MR SZETO CHI—CHIU, A LOCAL CLASSICAL GUITARIST, WHO WILL INTRODUCE THE PROGRAMME AND DEMONSTRATE A FEW ITEMS.
FREE ADMISSION TICKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE MONG KOK MUSIC CENTRE, CAMBRIDGE COURT, 84 WATERLOO ROAD, FIRST FLOOR; LAI KOK COMMUNITY HALL AND THE SHAM SHU I PO DISTRICT OFFICE AND ITS SUB-OFFICES. FOR ENQUIRIES, PLEASE CALL 3-7149255.
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KWAI YUE STREET CLOSED * * *
KWAI YUE STREET BETWEEN KWAI HEI STREET AND KWAI TAI ROAD IN KWAI CHUNG HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR DRAINAGE REPAIRS.
THE CLOSURE WILL LAST FOR ABOUT THREE MORE MONTHS.
THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 1983
12
CAS TO HOLD LARGEST ADUtjT RECRUIT PASSING-OUT PARADE
THE CIVIL AID SERVICES WILL HOLD A PASSING-OUT PARADE OF 280 ADULT RECRUITS ON SATURDAY EVENING (MARCH 19) AT THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY POLICE FORCE HEADQUARTERS.
THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR D.G. JEAFFRESON, WILL INSPECT THE RECRUITS AT THE LARGEST ADULT PASSING-OUT PARADE TO BE HELD BY THE CAS.
AFTER THE INSPECTION, MR JEAFFRESON WILL PRESENT THE GOVERNOR’S COMMENDATIONS TO FOUR CAS VOLUNTEERS FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AND COURAGE DISPLAYED ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS, INCLUDING A MUDSLIP AND A MOUNTAIN RESCUE OPERATION LAST YEAR.
HE WILL ALSO PRESENT CIVIL DEFENCE LONG SERVICE CLASPS, A CIVIL DEFENCE LONG SERVICE MEDAL AND SPECIAL CERTIFICATES TO A NUMBER OF CAS MEMBERS.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT WHICH WILL START AT 7 PM ON SATURDAY (MARCH 19) AT THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY POLICE FORCE HEADQUARTERS, HARBOUR ROAD, HONG KONG.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL 5-233191
FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
REGULATIONS FOR NEW ED CARD ............................. 1
HK PRESS PLAYING IMPORTANT ROLE.......................... 4
HONG KONG GOVERNED BY CONSENSUS -- BRAY ................. 5
GUANGDONG NUCLEAR POWER STATION PROJECT ................. 6
NEW RATES FOR EX-GRATIA COMPENSATION FOR RESUMED LAND. 7
TIME FOR DISTRICT BOARDS TO CONSOLIDATE ................. 8
NEW CAR PARKING CHARGES AT AIRPORT ...................... 9
TUEN MUN TRAIT, STAGE ONE OPENS TOMORROW ............... 10
STREET CABLE LAYING WORK.............................. 10
FARMERS ENCOURAGED TO CULTIVATE MORE LAND .............. 11
PLANTS FEATURED IN COUNTRY PARKS BADGES ................ 12
iDAY, MARCH 13, 1983
REGULATIONS FOR NEW ID CARD * * * *
REVISED LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE FOR THE ISSUE OF A NEW AND MORE SECURE IDENTITY CARD WILL COME INTO OPERATION ON MARCH 28.
ALSO FROM THAT DATE, DRIVING LICENCES WILL NO LONGER BE ACCEPTED AS PROOF OF IDENTITY.
THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1983, PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY, IMPOSE A DUTY ON THE HOLDER OF AN IDENTITY CARD TO APPLY FOR A NEW CARD WHEN NOTIFIED TO DO SO. IN THE CASE OF A HOLDER OF A JUVENILE CARD, THAT DUTY WILL FALL ON THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID APPLICANTS FOR FIRST REGISTRATION OR FOR REPLACEMENT OF DAMAGED OR LOST CARDS ON OR AFTER MARCH 28 WOULD BE ISSUED WITH THE NEW CARD.
STARTING ON MAY 2, EXISTING HOLDERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO OBTAIN A NEW CARD IN ACCORDANCE WITH A FOUR-YEAR PROGRAMME BASED ON THEIR SEX AND YEAR OF BIRTH. THE FIRST OF THE NEW CARDS WILL Be ISSUED TO MALES AGED 18 TO 35 BECAUSE IT IS IN THIS GROUP THAT MOST ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARE LIKELY TO BE FOUND.
FAILURE TO PRESENT AN OLD IDENTITY CARD WHEN APPLYING FOR A NEW ONE, OR TO SURRENDER IT WHEN COLLECTING THE NEW ONE, COULD RESULT IN A FINE OF $3 OOO.
THE REGULATIONS MAKE IT AN OFFENCE TO GIVE FALSE INFORMATION THAT AN IDENTITY CARD HAS BEEN LOST, DESTROYED, DAMAGED OR DEFACED. THE MAXIMUM PENALTY IS A FINE OF $20 000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR TWO YEARS.
THE EXISTING MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR TWO OFFENCES UNDER THE PRINCIPAL REGULATIONS IS RAISED FROM A FINE OF $3 000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR ONE YEAR TO A FINE OF $20 000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR TWO YEARS. THESE OFFENCES RELATE TO THE FURNISHING OF FALSE PARTICULARS WHEN APPLYING FOR AN IDENTITY CARD AND FOR THE UNLAWFUL APPLICATION FOR, OR POSSESSION OF, MORE THAN ONE IDENTITY CARD.
A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF A $3 000 FINE FOR ANYONE WHO FAILS TO APPLY FOR A NEW CARD IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SPECIFIED PROGRAMME IS PROVIDED FOR UNDER THE REGISTRATION OF PERSONS (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1983.
THE SIZE OF THE NEW IDENTITY CARD IS BETWEEN THAT OF THE EXISTING CARD AND THE STANDARD CREDIT CARD.
♦THE NEW CARD HAS BEEN MADE SMALLER FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND THE SIZE IS THE MINIMUM POSSIBLE TO ALLOW FOR THE INCORPORATION OF ADEQUATE SECURITY FEATURES,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
/+CNE OF .......
FBIDAY, MABCH 18, 1983
2
♦ONE OF THESE IS THAT THE PHOTOGRAPH WILL FORM PART OF THE CARD ITSELF, MAKING IT THAT MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO FORGE.+
THE SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED THAT THE INITIAL ISSUE OF THE NEW IDENTITY CARD AND ITS PERIODIC RENEWAL WOULD BE FREE OF CHARGE.
HOWEVER, EXISTING FEES FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF CARDS IN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES WILL BE INCREASED TO MEET THE FULL COSTS OF PROVIDING THE SERVICES, WITH ONE EXCEPTION. THE LAST REVISION CF FEES WAS SOME NINE YEARS AGO.
THE FEE FOR REPLACING A LOST OR DESTROYED CARD WILL BE RAISED FROM $15 TO $75. +THIS HOPEFULLY WILL BE A DISINCENTIVE TO PEOPLE WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE BE CARELESS WITH THEIR CARDS,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
REPLACING A CARD DUE TO ALTERATION OF PARTICULARS WILL COST $85 INSTEAD OF $10. HOWEVER , A WOMAN WHO WISHES TO AMEND l£R NAME ON CHANGE OF MARITAL STATUS WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR A REPLACEMENT CARD.
THE FEE FOR REPLACING A DAMAGED OR DEFACED CARD WILL BE INCREASED FROM $15 TO $30, OR LESS THAN HALF THE ADMINISTRATIVE COST. +THE REASON FOR NOT CHARGING THE FULL COST IS THAT WHILE THE NEW IDENTITY CARD IS DURABLE, IT WILL STILL BE SUBJECT TO SEVERE WEAR IN SOME CASES,+ THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.
THE FEE FOR THE ISSUE OF A CERTIFICATE OF REGISTERED PARTICULARS WILL BE RAISED FROM $15 TO $85.
THE REGULATIONS SPECIFY EIGHT NEW OFFICES AT WHICH THE NEW IDENTITY CARDS WILL BE ISSUED. THE LOCATIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS-.
(1) HONG KONG NEW IDENTITY CARD ISSUE OFFICE,
CARR I AN CENTRE, BASEMENT,
151 GLOUCESTER ROAD, WAN CHAI, HONG KONG.
(2) EAST KOWLOON NEW IDENTITY CARD ISSUE OFFICE,
AMOY GARDEN PLAZA, 2/F.,
77 NGAU TAU KOK ROAD,
NGAU TAU KOK, KOWLOON.
(3) WEST KOWLOON NEW IDENTITY CARD ISSUE OFFICE, CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 2/F., 393 CANTON ROAD, TSIM SHA TSUI, KOWLOON.
(4) TSUEN WAN NEW IDENTITY CARD ISSUE OFFICE, EAST ASIA COMMERCIAL CENTRE, G/F., 29-37, TSUEN FU STREET, TSUEN WAN, NEW TERRITORIES.
/(5) SEA. TIN.........
FRIDAY, IiARCH 18, 1?83
(5) SHA TIN NEW IDENTITY CARD ISSUE OFFICE,
SHA TIN CENTRE,
PODIUM FLOOR,
2-16 WANG POK STREET,
SHA TIN, NEW TERRITORIES.
(6) YUEN LONG NEW IDENTITY CARD ISSUE OFFICE,
HOP YICK CENTRE, 2/F.,
HOP YICK ROAD,
YUEN LONG, NEW TERRITORIES.
(7) SHEUNG SHUI NEW IDENTITY CARD ISSUE OFFICE,
TSUEN WO TAI LAU, G/F.,
82-84 SAN FUNG AVENUE,
SHEK WU HUI, SHEUNG SHUI, NEW TERRITORIES.
(8) TUEN MUN NEW IDENTITY CARD ISSUE OFFICE, CHI LOK COMMERCIAL CENTRE, G/F., CHI LOK FA YUEN, NEW TERRITORIES.
THE REGULATIONS ALSO REQUIRE HOLDERS OF THE NEW CARD TO APPLY FOR A FRESH CARD BY THE EXPIRY DATE SHOWN ON THE NEW CARD.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID IT WAS NECESSARY FOR THE NEW IDENTITY CARD TO BE RE-ISSUED PERIODICALLY IN ORDER TO UPDATE THE INFORMATION AND THE PHOTOGRAPH ON THE CARD.
+IN ORDER TO STAGGER THE WORK LOAD OF THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT THE FIRST SUBSEQUENT RE-ISSUE OF THE NEW CARDS WILL BE PHASED OVER A TEN-YEAR PERIOD BEGINNING IN 1989,+ THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED. ♦THIS MEANS THE VALIDITY OF INDIVIDUAL CARDS ISSUED FROM 1983 TO 1987 WILL VARY BETWEEN SIX AND TWELVE YEARS.+ THEREAFTER, ALL CARDS WILL NEED TO BE RENEWED EVERY TEN YEARS.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THERE WERE STILL RUMOURS THAT AN AMNESTY WOULD BE GRANTED TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE RE-ISSUE EXERCISE.
+AS HAS BEEN STATED MANY TIMES BEFORE, THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO INTENTION WHATSOEVER OF GRANTING AN AMNESTY EITHER ON THIS OCCASI CR AT ANY TIME IN THE FUTURE,* HE STRESSED.
ON
FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 1983
4
HK PRESS PLAYING IMPORTANT ROLE * * *
THE PRESS IN HONG KONG HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY THAT IS PROBABLY MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT OF THEIR COUNTERPARTS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, THE DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SERVICES, MR PETER TSAO, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
♦ IT IS NOT A CL I CHE,+ HE STRESSED. +HOWEVER MUCH YOU MAY STILL FIND AN APPARENT CONFLICT BETWEEN OUR STATED OPINION AND THE RESPONSE OF SOME INDIVIDUAL OFFICERS, WE IN THE ADMINISTRATION ARE DEPENDENT UPON THE FREE AND EFFICIENT WORKINGS OF A PERCEPTIVE, WELL INFORMED AND OUTSPOKEN PRESS.*
HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST NEWS PICTURES EXHIBITION - HIS FIRST PUBLIC FUNCTION AS DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SERVICES.
♦ WE NEED THE MIRROR THEY PROVIDE. WE ASK ONLY THAT THE MIRROR IS TRUTHFUL, THAT THE GLASS IS NOT DISTORTED, THAT THE OPINION REFLECTED IS TRANSMITTED WITH CLARITY AND PRECISION,♦ HE SAID.
♦ WE EXPECT THE MIRROR TO BE CRITICAL. IF WE DIDN’T THERE WOULD BE NO POINT IN CONSULTING IT. BUT WE ALSO LOOK FOR OBJECTIVITY.
♦ WE MAY NOT LIKE WHAT WE SEE. WE MAY NOT EVEN AGREE WITH IT. BUT THAT IS NOT THE POINT. THE POINT IS THAT WE DO SEE IT THAT WE TAKE THE CRITICAL COMMENT INTO ACCOUNT AND THAT IT SERVES TO CONDITION OUR RESPONSE,+ MR TSAO ADDED.
HE NOTED THAT HIS NEW APPOINTMENT HAD BEEN DESCRIBED BY THE MEDIA AS A MOVE TO CLEAR THE RUST FROM THE GOVERNMENT’S CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION.
♦ WHILE I WOULD NOT PRESUME TO ADVISE HOW THE PRESS CORPS IN HONG KONG SHOULD BEHAVE — THIS WOULD BE TEACHING GRANDMOTHER TO SUCK EGGS — MAY I NEVERTHELESS SUGGEST THAT IT WOULD DO NO HARM FOR YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE PRESS, EQUALLY TO APPLY A LITTLE EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE BRILLIANCE AND ACCURACY OF THE MIRROR7+ MR TSAO SAID.
HE SAID PHOTO JOURNALISM HAD BECOME A +WELL-ESTABLI SHED AND INFLUENTIAL MEANS OF COMMUNICATION IN OUR ACTIVE AND WIDELY-READ INFORMATION MEDIA WHERE THE ABUNDANCE OF THE WRITTEN WORD OFTEN DRIVES THE READER’S WEARY EYE TO MORE GRAPHIC AND IMMEDIATE FORMS OF EXPRESS ION.+
♦ I HAVE TO SCAN A LOT OF NEWSPRINT IN THE COURSE OF A DAY’S WORK AND I MUST SAY I FIND MY EYE NOT ONLY DRAWN, BUT FREQUENTLY HELD, BY SOME PARTICULARLY TELLING PHOTOGRAPH.
/+OJTKK SUCH........
FBIDAY, MAHOH 18, 1°83
- 5 -
♦ OFTEN SUCH A PICTURE CAN CATCH, IN A GESTURE, A MOOD OR EXPRESSION, THE OVERTONES THAT THE ACCOMPANYING TEXT CANNOT CONVEY,♦ HE SAID.
HE DESCRIBED THE PHOTOGRAPHERS OF THE SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST AS BEING AMONG THE BEST IN THE BUSINESS, ADDING THAT THE EXHIBITION TESTIFIED TO THE KEENNESS OF THEIR VISION.
♦ I CONGRATULATE THEM ON THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS. I ALSO COMMISERATE WITH THEM THAT, IN TRANSLATION TO THE NEWSPAPER PAGE, THE FINER DETAIL OF THEIR ART IS SOMETIMES LOST,+ HE SAID.
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HONG KONG GOVERNED BY CONSENSUS — BRAY M * * *
WHILE HONG KONG DOES NOT HAVE AN ELECTED GOVERNMENT, IT DOES HAVE A FREE PRESS AND FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET THROUGH THE BUSINESS OF GOVERNMENT IS TO REACH A CONSENSUS OF SOME SORT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR DENIS BRAY, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, MR BRAY NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT, NOT BEING AN ELECTED ONE, COULD NOT CALL AN ELECTION TO GET A MANDATE TO ♦RAM THROUGH* A POLICY OR LAW. NEITHER COULD IT DECIDE CONTROVERSIAL MATTERS. BY VOTING.
ANOTHER FEATURE OF OUR SYSTEM LEADING TO THE CONSENSUS POLITICS WAS OUR FREEDOMS IN THE PRESS, IN SPEECH AND IN ASSEMBLY.
♦ WE CANNOT STIFLE PROTEST SO WE SIMPLY HAVE TO COME TO ACCOMMODATION WITH IT,* MR BRAY SAID.
♦ IF WE DID NOT DO SO BUT RELIED ON THE THEORETICALLY ABSOLUTE POWERS IN OUR WRITTEN CONSTITUTION AND STILL RETAINED OUR FREEDOMS THE PLACE WOULD RAPIDLY BECOME UNGOVERNABLE.
♦HAPPILY I THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH SENSE BOTH IN THE GOVERNMENT AND AMONG OUR PEOPLE NOT TO LET THIS HAPPEN.♦
EXPLAINING THE PUBLIC CONSULTATIVE MACHINERY IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS, MR BRAY SAID WHEN A BILL HAD BEEN INTRODUCED TO LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THE DEBATE ON IT WAS ADJOURNED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE SPEECH OF THE MEMBER PROPOSING THE BILL, AND THEREAFTER EVERYONE COULD ♦HAVE A GO AT IT*.
HE SAID THE PUBLIC COULD EITHER TACKLE THE GOVERNMENT DIRECT OR THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS THROUGH THE UMELCO OFFICE.
/+THBS3 UNOFFICIAL .......
FRIDAY, MARCH 1b, 1983
- 6 -
♦THESE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL USUALLY FORM A COMMITTEE TO STUDY THE BILL AND INVITE OFFICIALS CONCERNED TO DISCUSSIONS ON IT,* HE SAID.
TURNING TO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND HONG KONG, MR BRAY SAID AMERICANS HAD BEEN IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD AS LONG AS THE BRITISH AND TODAY MUST RANK WITH THE BRITISH IN PROMOTING THE PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF HONG KONG.
♦CONSTITUTIONALLY IT IS BRITAIN WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ADMINISTRATION HERE. ECONOMICALLY IT IS AMERICA WHICH IS THE MORE SIGNIFICANT.^
MR BRAY SAID IN 1982 AMERICA TOOK $31 BILLION WORTH OF EXPORTS FROM HONG KONG OUT OF A TOTAL OF $83 BILLION - NEARLY AO PER CENT.
♦NO OTHER COUNTRY COMES ANYWHERE NEAR THIS. EVEN IF ALL THE EEC COUNTRIES ARE ADDED UP THEY TOOK ONLY $20 BILLION, WITH UK AND GERMANY TAKING $7 BILLION EACH.*
ON IMPORTS, MR BRAY SAID WE BOUGHT OVER $15 BILLION WORTH OF GOODS FROM AMERICA LAST YEAR, MAKING IT THIRD AMONG SUPPLIERS.
MR BRAY ALSO NOTED THAT NEARLY HALF THE FOREIGN INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT IN HONG KONG WAS AMERICAN. FOLLOWED BY JAPAN WITH 30 PER CENT AND THE UK WITH SIX PER CENT.
♦HONG KONG HAS MUCH TO OFFER AS A MARKET IN ITSELF, AS AN ENTREPOT AND AS A BASE FOR INDUSTRIAL JOINT VENTURES. IT SHOULD BE REGARDED AS A POTENTIAL PARTNER IN THE SPREAD OF AMERICAN BUSINESS INTERESTS IN ASIA,* HE SAID.
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GUANGDONG NUCLEAR POWER STATION PROJECT *****
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED KINGDOM DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRY AND THE PRC MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES AND ELECTRIC POWER MET IN HONG KONG THIS WEEK FOR DISCUSSIONS ON THE PROPOSED NUCLEAR POWER STATION IN GUANGDONG PROVINCE.
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATED IN CERTAIN OF THE DISCUSSIONS. THESE MEETINGS FOLLOWED PREVIOUS DISCUSSIONS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM IN GUANGZHOU, LONDON AND BEIJING.
THE DISCUSSIONS TOOK PLACE IN A FRIENDLY AND CO-OPERATIVE ATMOSPHERE, AND COVERED A NUMBER OF ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT INCLUDING FINANCE AND THE PROVISION OF ELECTRICITY FROM THE POWER STAilON TO HONG KONG.
7
IT WAS CLEAR FROM THE DISCUSSIONS THAT, ALTHOUGH THE FSIOJECT INVOLVES COMPLEX PROPOSALS, IT COULD OFFER A VALUABLE CPPGRTUNITY TO STRENGTHEN ECONOMIC TIES BETWEEN THE PRC AND THE UK, AND COULD BE BENEFICIAL TO THE STABILITY AND PROSPERITY HONG KONG.
THESE DISCUSSIONS, WHICH ARE PART OF A SERIES, WILL CONTINUE IN BEIJING NEXT WEEK.
THE DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRY DELEGATION WAS LED BY MR GORDON MANZ IE, DEPUTY SECRETARY. THE MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES AND ELECTRIC POWER DELEGATION WAS LED BY MR LI PENG, FIRST VICE-MINISTER.
MR JOHN BREMRIDGE, FINANCIAL SECRETARY, AND MR PIERS JACOBS, SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, EXPLAINED THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT’S POSITION. LORD KADOORIE ALSO PARTICIPATED ON EEHALF OF CHINA LIGHT AND POWER IN SOME OF THE DISCUSSIONS.
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NEW RATES FOR EX-GRATIA COMPENSATION FOR RESUMED LAND * * * M
THE GOVERNMENT HAS PUBLISHED THE LATEST RATES FOR EX-GRATIA COMPENSATION FOR RESUMED LAND IN TODAY’S (FRIDAY) GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
THESE RATES. WHICH WILL BE EFFECTIVE FROM APRIL 1, ARE $45.60 PER SQUARE FOOT FOR AGRICULTURAL LAND IN THE NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT AREAS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES AND IN THE URBAN AREAS OF HONG KONG AND KOWLOON AND $78 PER SQUARE FOOT FOR BUILDING LAND WITHIN THE NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT AREAS.
THE RATES APPLICABLE TO LAND OUTSIDE THE DEVELOPMENT AREAS WILL BE THE APPROPRIATE PERCENTAGE OF THE BASIC RATES OF $38 PER SQUARE FOOT FOR AGRICULTURAL LAND AND $65 PER SQUARE FOOT FOR BUILDING LAND ALSO PUBLISHED IN TODAY’S GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
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8
TIME FOR DISTRICT BOARDS TO CONSOLIDATE ******
THE GOVERNMENT HAS PROPOSED TO ALLOCATE $31.7 MILLION TO THE 18 DISTRICT BOARDS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND URBAN AREAS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROJECTS DURING THE 1983-84 FISCAL YEAR.
THIS WAS ANNOUNCED TODAY BY THE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY (DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION) OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, MRS REGINA IP.
SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE ALLOCATION WOULD REPRESENT AN INCREASE OF $2.08 MILLION, OR JUST OVER SEVEN PER CENT, COMPARED TO THE CURRENT YEAR’S FIGURE, SHE SAID.
MRS IP NOTED THAT THE RELATIVELY SMALL INCREASE OF FUNDS WAS TO BE EXPECTED IN VIEW OF THE GENERAL CONTRACTION OF EXPENDITURE BY THE PUBLIC SECTOR.
BUT SHE STRESSED THAT THE WORK OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS WOULD NOT BE AFFECTED.
+NOW IS THE TIME FOR THE 18 DISTRICT BOARDS TO CONSOLIDATE AND TO GET GOOD VALUE FOR MONEY,+ SHE ADDED.
SHE POINTED OUT THAT THE ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF $2.08 MILLION WOULD BE SHARED AMONG THE 10 URBAN DISTRICT BOARDS, RANGING FROM AN INCREASE OF $580 000 FOR KOWLOON CITY TO AN INCREASE OF $120 000 EACH FOR KWUN TONG AND WONG TAI SIN.
♦ALLOCATIONS TO THE EIGHT NT BOARDS REMAIN AT THE SAME LEVEL AS THE CURRENT YEAR BECAUSE OF THE NEED TO BRING ALLOCATIONS TO THE URBAN DISTRICT BOARDS PROGRESSIVELY MORE IN LINE WITH ALLOCATIONS TO THE NT BOARDS,+ SHE SAID.
♦ALTHOUGH NT BOARDS ARE RECEIVING NIL INCREASE IN FUNDS IN THE COMING FISCAL YEAR, THERE HAVE BEEN SPECTACULAR INCREASES OF 60 PER CENT AND 120 PER CENT OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR’S ALLOCATION IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, WHILE ALLOCATIONS TO THE URBAN DISTRICT BOARDS HAVE YET TO BE TOPPED UP.
♦ALSO URBAN DISTRICT BOARDS HAVE ACQUIRED GREATER EXPERIENCE IN SPENDING FUNDS ON WORTHWHILE PROJECTS AND THE DEMAND FOR ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS FUNDED BY THE BOARDS IS STEADILY INCREASING.
+0F COURSE THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT THERE IS ANY SLOWDOWN IN THE DEMAND FOR SUCH ACTIVITIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
♦BUT GIVEN THE LOWER LEVEL OF ALLOCATIONS TO THE URBAN DISTRICT BOARDS AT PRESENT, IT IS FELT THAT, ON BALANCE, PRIORITY OUGHT TO BE GIVEN TO THE URBAN DISTRICT BOARDS IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR.+ MRS IP SAID.
FRIDAY, ilARCH 18, 1983
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OF THE TOTAL, $18.84 MILLION WILL BE ALLOCATED TO THE EIGHT NT BOARDS, $12.15 MILLION TO THE 10 URBAN BOARDS, AND THE REMAINING $710 000 WILL BE KEPT IN CNTA HEADQUARTERS AS A RESERVE FUND.
FOR THE NT REGION, TSUEN WAN WILL GET THE LARGEST SHARE OF $5.3 MILLION, FOLLOWED BY YUEN LONG WITH $2.9 MILLION.
BOTH TUEN MUN AND SHA TIN WILL EACH HAVE $2.42 MILLION, WHILE ISLANDS, NORTH DISTRICT, SAI KUNG AND TAI PO WILL EACH GET $1.45 MILLION.
IN THE URBAN AREAS, KWUN TONG AND WONG TAI SIN WILL EACH RECEIVE $1.85 MILLION.
KOWLOON CITY, SHAM SHU I PO AND EASTERN ARE GETTING $1.45 MILLION EACH, FOLLOWED BY SOUTHERN WITH $1.2 MILLION.
THE REMAINING FOUR DISTRICTS - MONG KOK, YAU MA TEI, WAN CHAI AND CENTRAL AND WESTERN - WILL EACH HAVE $725 000.
REFERRING TO THE DIFFERENCES IN THE ALLOCATIONS BETWEEN THE DISTRICTS, MRS IP EXPLAINED THAT ALLOCATIONS WERE PARTLY DETERMINED BY THE SIZE OF THE POPULATION, THE DEMAND FOR ACTIVITIES IN GENERAL, AND SPECIFIC INCREASES IN DEMAND DUE TO THE TIMELY COMPLETION OF COMMUNITY CENTRES OR TOWN HALLS OR OTHER FACTORS.
+IN THE URBAN DISTRICTS, KWUN TONG HAS THE HIGHEST POPULATION OF OVER 600 000. WONG TAI SIN, KOWLOON CITY, SHAM SHU I PO AND EASTERN EACH HAS OVER 400 000 WHILE IN WONG TAI SIN THERE IS A TREMENDOUS DEMAND FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, ESPECIALLY IN THE SQUATTER AREAS,+ SHE SAID.
+IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, TSUEN WAN AND YUEN LONG HAVE BIGGER ALLOCATIONS THAN OTHER DISTRICTS BECAUSE OF THE EXISTENCE OF ONE OR MORE TOWN HALLS SERVING AS A NUCLEUS OF LOCAL COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES,* SHE EXPLAINED.
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NEW CAR PARKING CHARGES AT AIRPORT
* X X X
A NEW SCALE OF CHARGES WILL BE LEVIED ON PARKING AT THE MULTI-STOREY AND OPEN-AIR CAR PARKS AT HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT FROM APRIL 1 THIS YEAR.
THE REVISED PARKING FEES WILL BE $4 PER HOUR FOR THE FIRST TWO HOURS AND $8 PER HOUR THEREAFTER, AS AGAINST THE PRESENT RATE OF $2 AND $4 RESPECTIVELY.
THE PRESENT STRUCTURE OF PARKING FEES WAS BROUGHT INTO EFFECT IN 1979 AND HAS SINCE REMAINED UNCHANGtD.
/AN J2P0B3 .....
FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 19^3
10 -
AN AIRPORT MANAGEMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE FEES WERE ADJUSTED MAINLY TO OFFSET RISING OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE COSTS.
+THE PARKING FEES OF $4 PER HOUR WILL STILL BE BELOW THE FULL MARKET RATES,* HE SAID.
+THE PARKING FEES FROM THE THIRD HOUR ONWARDS ARE DOUBLED TO DISCOURAGE LONG-TERM PARKING AND TO MAKE AVAILABLE MORE PARKING SPACES FOR SHORT-TERM USERS,* THE SPOKESMAN ADDcD.
SURVEYS CONDUCTED BY THE AIRPORT MANAGEMENT SHOW THAT 92 PER CENT OF THE CAR PARK USERS PARK THEIR VEHICLES FOR TWO HOURS OR LESS.
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TUEH MUN TRAIL STAGE ONE OPENS TOMORROW
* * *
THE FIRST STAGE OF TUEN MUN TRAIL, WHICH WILL SERVE AS A WALKING AND JOGGING TRACK AS WELL AS A PICNIC SPOT, WILL BE OPENED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR BILLY LAM, TOMORROW (SATURDAY) MORNING.
WORK ON THE TRAIL BEGAN IN LATE 1981, AND WILL BE COMPLETED IN 1985.
UPON COMPLETION, THE 11-KILOMETRE TRAIL WILL ENCIRCLE THE TUEN MUN NEW TOWN, PASSING THROUGH GREEN BELT AREAS, PARKS AND A BEACH. LOOK-OUT PAVILIONS AND RAIN SHELTERS WILL ALSO EE BUILT AT VANTAGE POINTS ALONG THE TRAIL.
THE FIRST STAGE OF THE TRAIL ABOUT 1 200 METRES IN LENGTH, LIES BETWEEN THE ACCESS ROAD NEAR HO FUK TONG SCHOOL AND THE SERVICE RESERVOIR AT FU TEI.
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STREET CABLE LAYING WORK * * * *
ABERDEEN STREET IN CENTRAL BETWEEN GOUGH STREET AND WELLINGTON STREET WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL VEHICLES EXCEEDING 2-1/2 TONS IN UNLADEN WEIGHT FROM 3 PM ON SATURDAY (MARCH 19) TO 11 PM THE NEXT DAY.
THIS TEMPORARY ARRANGEMENT IS TO ALLOW FOR CABLE LAYING WORK.
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FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 1983
11
FARMERS ENCOURAGED TO CULTIVATE MORE LAND ft ft ft ft
HONG KONG’S FARMERS WERE URGED TODAY TO CULTIVATE MORE LAND TO MAKE UP FOR THE DECLINE IN VEGETABLE FARMING.
WHILE NOTING THAT THE LOSS RATE OF LAND UNDER VEGETABLE CULTIVATION WAS MUCH LOWER LAST YEAR THAN IN PREVIOUS YEARS, THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR J.M. RIDDELL-SWAN, TOLD THE FARMERS, NEVERTHELESS THAT +THE CONTINUED LOSS OF FARMING LAND MUST BE MADE UP FOR BY SPECIAL EFFORTS.♦
HE TOLD THEM TO BRING BACK INTO CULTIVATION AVAILABLE SUITABLE FALLOW LAND, AND TO USE MORE MODERN TECHNIQUES AND EQUIPMENT TO MAXIMISE PRODUCTIVITY.
DR RIDDELL-SWAN WAS SPEAKING THIS EVENING AT THE INAUGURATION CF THE 31ST TERM COMMITTEE OF THE FEDERATION OF VEGETABLE MARKETING COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES.
HE ALSO TOLD THE FARMERS THAT THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT WOULD HELP ANY FARMER INTERESTED IN LAND DEVELOPMENT AND IN INCREASING PRODUCTIVITY BY PROVIDING TECHNICAL HELP AND LOANS +WHERE NECESSARY FROM DEPARTMENTALLY-ADMINISTERED FUNDS*.
DR RIDDELL-SWAN POINTED OUT THAT LAST YEAR, 1 180 LOANS TOTALLING |12 028 300 WERE MADE TO FARMERS ON THE TECHNICAL SIDE, DEPARTMENTAL OFFICERS MADE 43 800 VISITS TO HELP FARMERS AND PROVIDE ADVICE.
HE SAID ALSO THAT THE WEATHER LAST YEAR WAS NOT ALL GOOD FOR VEGETABLE FARMING. THE HIGH RAINFALL, WHICH WAS ABOUT 46 PER CENT ABOVE AVERAGE, CAUSED A BIG REDUCTION IN VEGETABLE OUTPUT.
♦AND THE TWO SEVERE RAINSTORMS IN MAY AND AUGUST HAD A PARTICULARLY SERIOUS EFFECT,♦ HE ADDED.
HOWEVER, THESE SETBACKS WERE OFFSET, AT LEAST TO SOME EXTENT, BY HIGHER PRICES AND THE VALUE OF VEGETABLES MARKETED THROUGH THE VEGETABLE MARKETING ORGANISATION IN 1982 ROSE SOME SIX PER CENT AS COMPARED WITH 1981, HE SAID.
DR RIDDELL-SWAN THANKED THE OUT-GOING CHAIRMAN OF THE FEDERATION MR KO HOK AND HIS COMMITTEE FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND CO-OPERATION WITH HIS DEPARTMENT DURING THE PAST YEAR, AND CONGRATULATED THE INCOMING CHAIRMAN MR FUNG KWONG AND THEIR COMMITTEE ON THEIR ELECTION.
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FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 1963
12
PLANTS FEATURED IN COUNTRY PARKS BADGES tt * * *
TWO SPECIES OF PLANTS INDIGENOUS TO HONG KONG ARE FEATURED ON TWO NEWLY DESIGNED CLOTH BADGES PRODUCED BY THE COUNTRY PARKS AUTHORITY.
THE BADGES HERALD IN A NEW GENERATION OF SOUVENIR BADGES WHICH WILL HAVE DESIGNS OF SPECIAL PLANTS FOUND IN THE VARIOUS COUNTRY PARKS IN HONG KONG.
THE NEW BADGES. FOR THE SHING MUN AND THE ABERDEEN COUNTRY PARKS, WERE PUT ON SALE AT THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT’S COUNTRY PARKS DISPLAY AT THE URBAN COUNCIL FLOWER SHOW WHICH OPENED TODAY (FRIDAY) AT THE CITY HALL.
THEY ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT $1.50 EACH FROM THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT ON THE 12TH FLOOR OF THE CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES IN KOWLOON; THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES CENTRE ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE G.P.O. BUILDING IN CONNAUGHT PLACE ON HONG KONG ISLAND; AND AT THE MANAGEMENT CENTRES OF THE TWO COUNTRY PARKS.
THE DESIGN OF THE SHING MUN COUNTRY PARK BADGE FEATURES A FLOWER OF A BEAUTIFUL TREE. GRANTHAM’S CAMELLIA, WHICH WAS FIRST DISCOVERED IN THE WOODLANDS NEAR SHING MUN IN 1955. IT WAS NAMED IN HONOUR OF THE THEN GOVERNOR, SIR ALEXANDER GRANTHAM BY BOTANIST DR J.R, SEALY.
THE SQUARE-SHAPED BADGE HAS A MAROON-COLOURED BACKGROUND BORDERED IN YELLOW.
THE CAMELLIA FLOWERS IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER , AND IS SPECIALLY PROTECTED BECAUSE OF ITS RARITY.
THE ABERDEEN COUNTRY PARK BADGE DEPICTS THE POD AND SEEDS OF A SMALL DECIDUOUS TREE CALLED THE EMARGINATE-LEAVED ORMOSIA, AN INDIGENOUS SPECIES FIRST NOTED IN 1852 BY BOTANIST G. BENTHAM WHO WROTE *FLORA HONGKONGENSIS* PUBLISHED IN 1861.
THE ORMOSIA LEAVES ARE PINNATE WITH THREE TO FIVE LEATHERY LEAFLETS THE TIP OF WHICH HAVE A NOTCH.
THE LIKENESS OF THE PLANT IS SEWN ON A LIGHT GREY BACKGROUND ON THE BADGE.
EACH BADGE IS COUPLED WITH A DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT.
STOCKS OF SEVEN OTHER BADGES PRODUCED PREVIOUSLY FOR COUNTRY PARKS AND ANOTHER FOR THE MACLEHOSE TRAIL, AND COUNTRY PARKS PUBLICATIONS. VESTS AND T-SHIRTS ARE ALSO ON SALE AT THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT DISPLAY IN THE CITY HALL.
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
TAI PO ROAD PROJECT ................................... 1
NEW MUSIC CENTRE IN NT OPENED ......................... 1
THEN MUN TO HOLD SEVENTH DB MEETING ................. 2
+AC CIDENT-FREE CERTIFICATES!- FOR NTSD DRIVERS ....... 3
CORRECTIONAL SERVICES ANNUAL DINNER ................... 3
SHA TIN STALLS FOR LETTING............................. 4
URBAN CLEARWAYS IN CENTRAL ............................ 4
LEARNER DRIVER PROHIBITION IN HO MAN TIN .............. 4
SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 1983
TAI PO ROAD PROJECT * * *
WORK WILL START IN THE NORTHERN PART OF TAI PO IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR ON A MAJOR ROAD PROJECT WHICH FORMS A VITAL PART OF THE NEW TERRITORIES CIRCULAR ROUTE.
THE PROJECT COMPRISES THE CONSTRUCTION OF ONE KILOMETRE OF A DUAL THREE-LANE TRUNK ROAD BETWEEN NORTH TAI PO AND LAM KAM ROAD, A GRADE-SEPARATED INTERCHANGE AND A ROUNDABOUT WITH ASSOCIATED SLIP ROADS.
ALSO INCLUDED WILL BE THE CONSTRUCTION OF FOUR MAJOR VEHICULAR BRIDGES AND FOUR PEDESTRIAN SUBWAYS AND THE RETRAINING OF A SECTION OF LAM TSUEN RIVER.
TENDERS FOR THE PROJECT, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO TAKE ABOUT 33 MONTHS TO COMPLETE, ARE NOW BEING INVITED BY THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE OF THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
ON COMPLETION. THE NEW SECTION OF THE TRUNK ROAD WILL LINK UP WITH SHA TIN - TAI PO COASTAL TRUNK ROAD VIA THE TAI PO BYPASS, BOTH OF WHICH ARE NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION, TO FORM A MAJOR PART OF THE CIRCULAR ROUTE ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.
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NEW MUSIC CENTRE IN NT OPENED * * * *
THE OPENING OF A NEW MUSIC CENTRE IN YUEN LONG TODAY WILL FURTHER PROMOTE MUSIC IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT SAID.
THE YUEN LONG MUSIC CENTRE IS THE SECOND OF ITS KIND IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE FIRST — THE NEW TERRITORIES MUSIC CENTRE IN TSUEN WAN — WILL BE RENAMED TSUEN WAN MUSIC CENTRE AND WILL COVER THE TSUEN WAN, SHA TIN, SAI KUNG AND ISLANDS DISTRICTS.
♦WITH THE OPENING OF THE YUEN LONG MUSIC CENTRE, WE HOPE THAT THE INCREASING DEMAND IN THE YUEN LONG, TUEN MUN, TAI PO AND NORTH DISTRICTS FOR MUSIC ACTIVITIES AND TRAINING WILL BE CATERED FOR.
♦THE CENTRE WILL ALSO STRENGTHEN THE LINK BETWEEN THE MUSIC OFFICE AND DISTRICT BOARDS AS WELL AS AMONG LOCAL CULTURAL ORGANISATIONS, ESPECIALLY IN PROMOTING AND ORGANISING DISTRICT MUSIC ACTIVITIES,♦ HE SAID.
/located on .......
SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 1983
- 2 -
LOCATED ON THE SECOND AND THIRD FLOORS OF YUEN LONG CENTRE AT SAU FU STREET, THE MUSIC CENTRE CONSISTS OF SIX PRACTICE ROOMS, BAND AND ORCHESTRA REHEARSAL ROOM, A LIBRARY-CONFERENCE ROOM, A GENERAL OFFICE AND A COMMON ROOM FOR TEACHING STAFF.
MR LAU WONG-FAT, THE CHAIRMAN OF HEUNG YEE KUK; MR J.K. WILSON, THE DISTRICT OFFICER, YUEN LONG; MR LO KAR-CHUN, THE DISTRICT OFFICER, TAI PO, AND OTHER NEW TERRITORIES DIGNITARIES OFFICIATED AT TODAY’S OPENING CEREMONY HOSTED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM.
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TUEN MUN TO HOLD SEVENTH DB MEETING ft ft ft ft
ATTITUDES
RESULTS OF A SURVEY ON THE RESIDENTS’ AND WORKERS’ TOWARDS INDUSTRIAL JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN TUEN MUN WILL BE DISCUSSED AT THE DISTRICT BOARD MEETING ON MONDAY (MARCH 21).
THE SURVEY WAS JOINTLY CONDUCTED BY THE BOARD’S COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL COMMITTEE, THE DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE DISTRICT’S NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE LAST OCTOBER.
ANOTHER REPORT ON A SURVEY ON THE EMPLOYMENT AND OTHER PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE RESIDENTS IN THE NEW TOWN WILL ALSO BE TABLED.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA WILL INCLUDE FUNDS ALLOCATION AND THE PROPOSED MEMBERSHIPS FOR COMMITTEES IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR.
SOME SEATS WILL BE RESERVED FOR THE PUBLIC ON A FIRST-COME-FIRST-SERVED BASIS, AND PEOPLE WISHING TO ATTEND SHOULD TELEPHONE THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD SECRETARIAT AT 0-643801.
SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 1983
- 3 -
♦ACCIDENT-FREE CERTIFICATES* FOR NTSD DRIVERS ft ft ft
THIRTY-SIX DRIVERS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT WHO HAD A CLEAR RECORD WHILE ON DRIVING DUTY DURING THE LAST THREE TO FIVE YEARS WERE PRESENTED WITH ACCIDENT-FREE CERTIFICATES TODAY (SATURDAY).
TWENTY-EIGHT OF THEM RECEIVED CERTIFICATES FOR CAREFUL DRIVING FOR THREE YEARS WHILE THE REMAINING EIGHT WERE FOR FIVE YEARS.
THE DRIVERS WERE IN CHARGE OF VARIOUS NTSD VEHICLES, INCLUDING REFUSE COLLECTION VEHICLES, STREET WASHING VEHICLES, DESLUDGE VEHICLES AND MECHANICAL STREET SWEEPERS.
THEY WERE PRESENTED THEIR CERTIFICATES BY THE DIRECTOR OF NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES, MR JOHN HEYWOOD, AT A CEREMONY AT THE KOWLOON REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS OF THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AT SAI YEE STREET.
PRESENTING THE CERTIFICATES, MR HEYWOOD SAID HE HOPED THAT THE DRIVERS’ PERFORMANCES WOULD SERVE AS GOOD EXAMPLES TO THEIR COLLEAGUES AND HELP TO REDUCE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT.
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CORRECTIONAL SERVICES ANNUAL DINNER ft ft ft
EIGHTY-EIGHT CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT OFFICERS RECEIVED A WELCOMED SURPRISE FROM THEIR COMMISSIONER, MR T.G. GARNER AT AN ANNUAL STAFF DINNER LAST NIGHT WHEN THEY WERE TOLD THAT THEY WOULD BE PROMOTED ONE GRADE FROM ASSISTANT OFFICER II TO ASSISTANT OFFICER I.
MR GARNER WHO SAID THE PROMOTIONS WERE TO STAFF NEW INSTITUTIONS REVEALED THAT MORE PROMOTIONS WERE ANTICIPATED DURING THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
DURING THE DINNER, WHICH WAS ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 1 400 MEMBERS OF THE STAFF, MR GARNER PRESENTED A COMMENDATION CERTIFICATE TO ASSISTANT OFFICER, MISS WONG YIN-FUNG OF THE REFUGEE UNIT FOR EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE OF DUTY.
HE ALSO PRESENTED THE COMMISSIONER’S CUP TO THE DEPARTMENT’S STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE FOR BEST PERFORMANCE AT THE ANNUAL PARADE.
MRS BEVERLEY GARNER ALSO PRESENTED SOUVENIR CUPS TO STANLEY PRISON AND TAI TAM GAP CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION STAFF FOR ORGANISING THE BEST STALLS AT THE RECENT AUTUMN FAIR HELD AT STANLEY.
LAST NIGHT’S DINNER ALSO MARKED THE INAUGURATION OF THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION.
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SATURDAY, MARCH 19, 1983
4
SHA TIN STALLS FOR LETTING * * * *
TWENTY STALLS IN SHA TIN WILL BE PUT UP FOR LETTING AT A PUBLIC AUCTION ON TUESDAY (MARCH 22).
ONE OF THEM WILL BE AT SHA TIN MARKET, 11 AT TAI WAI TEMPORARY MARKET AND EIGHT AT FO TAN WEST COOKED FOOD BAZAAR.
THE AUCTION WILL START AT 10 AM AT THE LEK YUEN COMMUNITY HALL IN LEK YUEN ESTATE, SHA TIN, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
THE STALL AT SHA TIN MARKET IS FOR SELLING FISH AND THE UPSET MONTHLY RENTAL IS 15 000, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
OF THE 11 STALLS AT TAI WAI TEMPORARY MARKET, EIGHT ARE FOR SELLING WET GOODS, TWO FOR SELLING DRY GOODS AND ONE FOR SELLING ICE.
THE UPSET MONTHLY RENTALS FOR THE WET AND DRY GOODS STALLS RANGE FROM *1 300 TO 11 400 AND THAT FOR THE ICE STALL IS $1 500.
THE UPSET MONTHLY RENTAL FOR THE EIGHT STALLS AT FO TAN WEST COOKED FOOD BAZAAR IS S3 800 EACH.
SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS MUST PAY THE RENTAL QUARTERLY AND MAY START BUSINESS ON APRIL 1 ON A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
BIDDERS WHO MUST BE OVER 21 YEARS OF AGE SHOULD BRING ALONG THEIR IDENTITY CARDS AND FIVE PHOTOGRAPHS TO THE AUCTION.
FURTHER DETAILS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE HAWKERS AND MARKETS SECTION OF THE SHA TIN URBAN SERVICES OFFICE ON TELEPHONE 0-623467.
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URBAN CLEARWAYS IN CENTRAL
X X X
THE EASTBOUND SECTION OF DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL FROM GILMAN STREET TO JUBILEE STREET WILL BE DESIGNATED AS AN URBAN CLEARWAY FROM 4 PM NEXT MONDAY (MARCH 21), A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY.
WITHIN THE SECTION, ALL VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS FROM 7 AM TO 10 AM AND FROM 4 PM TO 7 PM DAILY.
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LEARNER DRIVER PROHIBITION IN HO MAN TIN * X * M
FROM 10 AM ON MONDAY (MARCH 21), LEARNER DRIVERS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO DRIVE IN CHUNG HAU STREET, CHUNG MAN STREET, HAU MAN STREET, GOOD SHEPHERD STREET AND CARMEL VILLAGE STREET IN HO MAN TIN, A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED TODAY (SATURDAY).
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
SUPPLEMENT
SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR SIR EDWARD YOUDE, GCMG, WE, AT THE OPENING OF THE 56TH GENERAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING OF THE ROYAL AUSTRALASIAN COLLEGE _ OF SURGEONS HELD ON 20 MARCH 1983
"HONG KONG - THE CITY WHICH CARES”
Mr President, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure to be present today at the 56th General Scientific Meeting of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. Hong Kong is indeed honoured to have been chosen to play host to such a distinguished group of delegates and overseas visitors, and I welcome you all. I hope this meeting will provide an opportunity for you to establish closer ties among fellow surgeons and anaesthetists throughout the Western Pacific and South East Asia region, and also to get to know more about our city.
Many of you will have come to Hong Kong for the first time. No doubt your concept of it has been conditioned by programmes you have seen on television, and by what you have read in newspapers about us. You may well have a picture of a crowded city largely composed of skyscrapers filled with people whose only interest is in making money. We do indeed take pride in the enterprise and hard work of our business community and our labour force who have between them transformed Hong Kong from a modest port and trading centre into an international city in its own right. Hong Kong is now a major manufacturer, a leading financial centre and, to show that we have not forgotten our origins, has one of the largest container terminals in the world.
/But that .......
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House. Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191
2
But that is at best a partial picture. Both the Government and the community are keenly concerned with the welfare of the people who live here. We seek to provide, within the resources available to us (because in spite of appearances we are not a rich community), services such as housing, social welfare, health and education which are essential to the well-being of our society.
As you move around Hong Kong, as I hope you will, you will see much that remains to be done. No one is more aware of that than we are. These are parts of this city of which we are not proud. But I hope that you will judge us, not only against the things we need to improve but against the siae of the task, against the record of what has been achieved here over the last three decades, and the magnitude of our programmes for’the future.
To set the scene let me remind you that at the end of the last war Hong Kong had a population of less than a million; today we number 5.3 million. If the same rate of increase had applied to Australia, its population today would be over 40 million, instead of only 15 million. Successive influxes of immigrants have dramatically increased our population, and have put an enormous strain on our social and economic infrastructure. To provide jobs, housing, education, medical services, and all the other things essential to a reasonable life, for such a large population in a territory which has no natural resources and very little space has been a mammoth task.
I could keep you here a long time this evening regaling you with statistics on what has been done to meet that challenge; on what we are now doing and what we plan to do. But the time allotted to me, and no doubt your patience, is limited so I will confine myself to a few examples in the fields of public housing, social welfare, education and medical and health services.
Housing
First, our public housing programme. This was launched in 1954, following a disastrous fire on Christmas Bay 1953 which left more than 50,000 people homeless. In its initial stage, a number of two-storey structures with very basic facilities were built to provide emergency housing for the fire victims. These soon gave way to six and seven-storey resettlement blocks, which in turn are now being replaced by modem housing estates.
/During the .......
3
During the first twenty years of the housing programme, 68 estates were constructed providing better hou'sing for about 1*7 million people who had previously lived in squatter huts and crowded tenements.
In 1973, a new phase of the programme was started, aimed at providing better quality flats in well planned self-contained communities, many of them in the new towns of the New Territories. Since then, 41 additional estates have been built, and today more than two and a quarter million people, or roughly 4^ of our population, live in public housing of one sort or another provided or subsidised by the government. This percentage will grow as the public housing progranme continues to develop.
A consequence of an improving standard of living has been the trend towards families wishing to buy homes of their ovzn rather than relying on rented accommodation. People can of course do this by buying through the private sector. But to meet the aspirations of those who can not manage this, a Home Ownership Scheme was introduced in 1977 to enable lower-income families to buy their own flats at reas’onable prices.
Nor are we concerned only with providing people with a place to live. In this modem age people must be made to feel that they belong. It is not enough simply to give people better accommodation than they had before. In consequence a prime task of all our district officers is to encourage the growth of the community spirit within our housing estates through the formation of Residents Associations, Mutual Aid Committees and other social groups. For our designers the challenge is not only to fit in large numbers of flats on the tiny areas of land available, but also to build in the environment and facilities on which a successful community can grow.
Hong Kong will continue with this public housing programme for so long as it is needed. There will be no pause in our efforts to make Hong Kong a better place in which to live.
Social Security & Social Welfare
Our social welfare services are based on the joint efforts and common concern of.the Government and the community in helping those least able to help themselves and in improving the quality of community life.
/The Government .......
4
The Government is responsible for directing and coordinating the development of social welfare services. It provides certain social welfare services itself.- For their part, the voluntary agencies, which have a proud record of community service, have long beeri involved in provi di ng essential basic services, and they have done this to a greater extent than in many other communities. In Hong Kong’s circumstances, there is an important role for a vigorous, progressive and responsible voluntary sector, working in close cooperation with the Government.
Our social security scheme is essentially a simple one,*- The mainstay is the public assistance scheme which is primarily an incomemaintenance scheme to ensure that individuals and families do not. live below a certain basic standard.
Services for the elderly are geared to promoting the well-being of those who have passed their 60th birthday by providing services that will enable them to retain their self-respect and, where necessary, residential care suited to their various needs. One recent development lias been a scheme to purchase flats in private housing developments to accommodate able-bodied elderly people who do not require daily care .or attention. • ,
Education
We have been equally busy in the educational field in ’Hong Kong. After World War II, our school system was in ruins and had to be Entirely rebuilt. Our first aim was to ensure primary education for all. By 1971, we had provided places for all children of primary
■‘• school age free of charge in purpose-built schools and with trained teachers.
Since then priority has been given to secondary education, with the result that we now provide free junior secondary education for all children up to the age of 15* We’have, in addition, markedly increased- the provision of senior secondary education. JNor have we neglected the needs of disabled children. By providing schools /with additional staff and facilities, we aim to integrate these children into normal schools. Furthezmore, we have built technical institutes which provide technical education on a part and full-time basis, both at the craft and the technician level. For some of you who come from countries where free primary and secondary education is taken for
/granted that .......
5
granted that record may not seem to be very impressive. But if you judge it against the enormous growth in our school population, which has more than matched the five fold rise in our population in general, the size of the achievement is more evident.
In spite of that achievement these remain a long way to go before- we can consider our education system satisfactory. We are much concerned to improve the quality of secondary education, and we are still sadly short of places in Hong Kong for students who wish to move on to higher education. Our two universities are now being expanded to provide both greater opportunity for students to study at this level and to provide the trained professionals which Hong Kong needs. The Hong Kong Polytechnic, founded in 1J772, has already expanded to the point where it accommodates 11,000 full-time and equivalent part-time students and this figure will shortly reach 13,500. We are now planning another polytechnic which may eventually reach the same size,, and I hope it will be possible to commence some courses next year.
We shall net of course stop there. Our aim is to expand our educational facilities and to improve them. With this in mind we recently commissioned, with the assistance of the O.E.C.D., a report by an international group of people highly qualified in these matters to advise us on the future of our education system. This report is now being studied and will I hope be published shortly for wider discussion.
Medical and Health Services
In the field of medicine and health, we aim at a balanced programme, which covers preventive, curative and rehabilitation services. Through improved sanitation, immunization programme, epidemiological surveillance and primary health coverage the Hong Kong health services have been able to contain the major communicable diseases. Bearing in mind the geographical location of Hong Kong, the speed and volume of international traffic and the fact that many of these conmunicable diseases are still present in a number of neighbouring countries, the task of keeping Hong Kong free from epidemics is enormous, and our achievement is something of which we are justifiably proud.
•The common childhood communicable diseases such as diptheria, measles, whooping cough and polioipyelitis have either been eradicated or brought under control. Tuberculosis among young children is now very
/rarely seen .......
6
rarely seen and the overall mortality rate for tuberculosis in 1982 was 8i7 per 100,000 population.
Our health indices compare very favourably with those of. the developed countries. Our infant mortality rate at 9*9 per 1,000 live births for 1982 and a maternal mortality rate at 0.01 per 1,000 for the same period are amongst the lowest in the world. And with the improvements in thb standard of living and medical care, life expectancy at birth is now 72 years for men and 78 for 'women.
A comprehensive health care programme for expectant mothers and children from birth to five years’ old is provided through a network of family health centres. Services provided include ante- and post-natal care, infant welfare, family planning and health education.
Most of our health services are provided free. Nominal charges are made for attendance at out-patient clinics in government and subvented hospitals, but these charges may be waived in cases of hardship.
The growth of our population requires a continuing expansion of our hospital and clinic services. Apart from extensions to existing hospitals, five new hospitals of over 1,300 beds each will be built over the next ten years. Plans are in hand for another 20 new clinics and polyclinics. We hope, by 1992, to provide 6.1 beds per 1,000 population (compared with 4*2 beds per 1,000 population now) and to increase clinic provision to 7.6 consulting rooms per 100,000 population (compared with the present 5-5 consulting rooms, per 100,WO population).
Concern with the welfare of the people is not confined to the government and voluntary agencies. It is the concern of a very wide part of out community both young and old. We have rich benefactors who have given generously to universities, hospitals and other charitable works. Por every rich benefactor there are thousands who give, within their modest means, of their time and money in community service. On six Sundays this winter 75,000 people have joined sponsored walks on the Island and in the New Territories to raise over 86 million for the Community Chest. The success of the Community Chest since its establishment in 1968, both in its ability to raise money and the growing number of its member agencies who receive financial assistance from it, exemplifies this spirit of community support and involvement which is one of the inner strengths of Hong Kong.
/Nor is .......
7
Nor is our concern only for material needs. We may be an arban city but we have some magnificent countryside which we are careful to preserve and make accessible through our Country Parks programme. You have just missed our Arts Festival but our cultural programmes are continuous. Our Philharmonic and Chinese orchestras have earned themselves a reputation regionally and not only in Hong Kong. Our youth groups are large and active both in community service and in providing enjoyment for their members.
Conclusion
There is, of course, much more to be done. Public demand, quite understandably, continues to grow for better social security schemes, more and better quality housing, schools, hospitals and clinics and social progress generally. But much as we would all like these expectations to be met, and quickly, we cannot escape the fact that the rate of which we can make progress depends on the rate of economic growth. We have to live on what we earn and given our dependence on exports, our economy is heavily dependent on external influences over which we have little control. We are not a rich territory - we get no financial support or subsidy from outside - so we can only have what we can pay for through our own efforts.
I hope that this brief analysis of some of our main social programmes will convince you that we are a community who think not about money but about people; and not only about the essentials but about those things which make for a better life. You will see, and I have no doubt admire, our skyscrapers. But enjoy too our country parks. You will be struck by the numbers who still lack good housing, but do not forget the two million already provided with homes in the public housing programme. You will wonder perhaps at the size of our housing estates; do not fail to notice the provision for community services within them. Note as I am sure you will the application of all in Hong Kong to the business of the day, but do not overlook that many of those who work so hard earning their living all week are spending large parts of their time on voluntary service^
In short I hope that whatever the impression you arrived with, you will as a result of your visit here take away with you a picture not only of a hard working business community but also of a city of which it can well be said "It is a city which cares".
- - 0 -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 198}
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
MIDDLE INCOME HOUSING PROGRAMME DISCONTINUED ................... 1
PUBLIC RELATIONS OBJECTIVES OUTLINED.......................... 2
HONG KONG REPRESENTATION IN US ............................... 3
ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY TO GROW DESPITE RECESSION ................. 4
EMPLOYERS URGED TO EMPLOY QUALIFIED DISABLED ................... 5
HIGH CALIBRE WOMEN VOLUNTEERS WANTED ........................... 7
NEED FOR SERVICES FOR ELDERLY INCREASING ....................... 8
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF REGISTRATION OF PERSONS OFFICES ........... 9
MARINE ENQUIRY COMPLETED ..................................... 9
COMMON JURORS LIST .......................................... 10
BUILDING DECLARED IN DANGEROUS CONDITION .................... 10
AIR PARCEL SERVICE TO CHINA STARTS APRIL 6 .................. 11
NEW SLAUGHTER HOUSE IN TSUEM WAN .............................. 11
CLEARANCE OPERATION IN KWUN TONG .............................. 12
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN MID-LEVELS AND TAI HANG................ 12
TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 1983
1
MIDDLE INCOME HOUSING PROGRAMME DISCONTINUED
* * * *
NO FURTHER PROJECTS WILL BE BUILT UNDER THE MIDDLE INCOME HOUSING PROGRAMME, WHICH WAS STARTED IN 1980 TO ASSIST TOWARDS HOME OWNERSHIP FAMILIES WHOSE INCOMES EXCEED THE LIMIT FOR THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME.
AS DISCLOSED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH, A REVIEW WAS CARRIED OUT RECENTLY TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER THERE WAS STILL A NEED FOR THE Ml HP IN TODAY’S CIRCUMSTANCES.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE PROGRAMME SHOULD BE DISCONTINUED IN VIEW OF THE CHANGES WHICH HAD TAKEN PLACE IN THE PROPERTY MARKET AND THE FINANCIAL SECTOR.
ONLY ONE PROJECT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED UNDER THE PROGRAMMEi MELODY GARDEN ESTATE, NOW NEARING COMPLETION, AT BUTTERFLY BEACH, TUEN MUN.
APPLICATIONS FOR FLATS IN THIS ESTATE, AT PRICES FROM $200 200 TO $370 200 WERE INVITED EARLIER THIS MONTH, AND THE CLOSING DATE FOR THE RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS IS NEXT MONDAY (MARCH 28).
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE PROGRAMME WAS STARTED AT A TIME WHEN HIGH AND RAPIDLY RISING PRIVATE PROPERTY PRICES MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR GENUINE HOME BUYERS IN THE MIDDLE INCOME BRACKET TO FINANCE THE PURCHASE OF A SUITABLE FLAT.
♦HOWEVER, PRIVATE FLATS ARE NO LONGER BEYOND THE MEANS OF THOSE FOR WHOM THE MIDDLE INCOME HOUSING PROGRAMME WAS INTRODUCED,* HE SAID.
♦THIS IS DUE TO SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER PRICES FOR PRIVATE FLATS, OF WHICH THERE WAS A RECORD NUMBER VACANT AT THE END OF 1982, AND AN AVERAGE MORTGAGE INTEREST RATE OF 12 PER CENT, COMPARED WITH THE PEAK OF 21 PER CENT IN OCTOBER 1981.+
A FURTHER FACTOR MAKING THE PURCHASE OF A FLAT MORE AFFORDABLE IS THE AVAILABILITY NOW OF MORTGAGE LOANS WITH PAYMENT PERIODS EXTENDING OVER AS LONG AS 20 YEARS, WHICH CAN REDUCE CONSIDERABLY THE SIZE OF MONTHLY PAYMENTS NECESSARY TO FINANCE HOME PURCHASE.
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TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 1983
- 2 -
PUBLIC RELATIONS OBJECTIVES OUTLINED KOKX
THE DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SERVICES, MR PETER TSAO, TODAY (TUESDAY) OUTLINED FOUR OBJECTIVES FOR HIS DEPARTMENT TO MEET THE NEW DEMANDS OF HONG KONG.
IN A SPEECH TO THE LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON EAST, HE LISTED THE FOLLOWING AS HIS AMBITIONS:
* THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS SEEN TO BE AN OPEN ONE’
* WHAT IS SAID IN THE MEDIA IS NOT ONLY NOTICED BY, BUT IS ALSO REFLECTED TO, THE GOVERNMENT AS A WHOLE AND THAT IT TAKES ACCOUNT OF THE VIEWS SO EXPRESSED IN FORMULATING ITS POLICY;
K THAT HIS COLLEAGUES IN THE CIVIL SERVICE WILL FEEL EVEN MORE WILLING TO BE EXPOSED TO THE MEDIA, THEREBY ENABLING THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND MORE FULLY THE THINGS THEY DC ; WHY THEY DO IT ; OR IN SOME CASES WHY THEY DO NOT BEHAVE IN THE WAY SOME MIGHT EXPECT THEM TO ACT; AND
* GENERALLY TO ASSURE THE PUBLIC THAT THIS IS A RESPONSIBLE AND RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT.
+SOME MIGHT SEE MORE TO IT THAN I INTENDED. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ENSURE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND MY COLLEAGUES IN THE MEDIA THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING NO MORE, AND HOPEFULLY NO LESS, THAN WHAT A LARGE COMMERCIAL CONCERN WOULD DO TO MAINTAIN ITS IMAGE,+ MR TSAO STATED.
PREVIOUSLY, THE DEPARTMENT HAD COMPRISED TWO DIVISIONS: THE NEWS AND PR DIVISION AND THE PUBLICITY DIVISION.
THIS SET-UP, MR TSAO SAID, WAS APPROPRIATE AND SERVED THE GOVERNMENT WELL IN THE SEVENTIES AND THE FIRST COUPLE OF YEARS OF THE EIGHTIES DURING WHICH HONG KONG ENJOYED UNPRECEDENTED GROWTH AND PEOPLE WERE GENERALLY CONTENT TO LEAVE THE GOVERNMENT TO ITS JOB.
BUT MORE RECENTLY, THE SITUATION HAD CHANGED, HE POINTED OUT.
+OUR ECONOMY HAS SUFFERED A DOWNTURN, ALTHOUGH OUR EXPERIENCES HAVE NOT BEEN AS BAD AS THOSE OF OTHER COUNTRIES ? AND WE ALSO HAVE THE QUESTION OF THE FUTURE TO CONTEND WITH,+ MR TSAO POINTED OUT.
/WITH THESE .......
TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 1985
- 3 -
WITH THESE PROBLEMS, HE SAID, IT WAS HIS CONCLUSION THAT WHILE THE DEPARTMENT WAS FUNCTIONING WELL, PARTICULARLY ON ROUTINE AND TRADITIONAL MATTERS, IT WAS NOT QUITE GEARED TO MEET THE NEW CIRCUMSTANCES.
HE EXPLAINED THAT THIS WAS SO BECAUSE PEOPLE IN DIFFICULT TIMES FELT LESS CONTENTED AND TENDED TO LOOK TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR DIRECTION AND HELP SO THAT ITS PART IN EVERYDAY LIFE ASSUMED RATHER DIFFERENT PROPORTIONS.
+THE EXPECTATION THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD HAVE ANSWERS TO ALL QUESTIONS IS, IN PRACTICE, AN IMPOSSIBLE ONE TO MEET. AS A RESULT, THE GOVERNMENT RECEIVES RATHER MORE FLAK THAN WAS THE CASE IN THE PAST,+ HE NOTED.
+WHAT WENT THROUGH MY MIND AT THAT TIME WAS WHAT SORT OF MACHINERY WE SHOULD HAVE TO ENSURE THAT THE PUBLIC, THROUGH THE MEDIA, WAS MADE AWARE OF HOW THE GOVERNMENT WAS PERFORMING ? AND WHERE THE RESULTS WERE NOT WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY ENVISAGED, WE SHOULD HAVE THE FACILITY, AND EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, THE COURAGE TO EXPLAIN TO THE PUBLIC WHY IT WAS NOT SO,* MR TSAO SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT TO HANDLE THE GOVERNMENT’S PUBLIC RELATIONS MORE EFFICIENTLY, THE FIRST THING HE DID WAS TO SET UP A NEW PR DIVISION IN ITS OWN RIGHT WHILE TAKING STEPS TO STRENGTHEN THE NEWS DIVISION.
+WHAT I AM AIMING AT IS AN EFFICIENT MACHINERY FOR GOVERNMENT TO COMMUNICATE WITH PEOPLE THROUGH THE MEDIA,* MR TSAO SAID.
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HONG KONG REPRESENTATION IN US * * M *
HONG KONG’S TRADE COMMISSIONER (DESIGNATE) TO THE
STATES MR BILL DORWARD, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT HE IS ASSUMING ANEW DIPLOMATIC POST WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY IS TO HELP CONVEY IN THE US AN ACCURATE AND FAVOURABLE IMPRESSION OF HONG KONG.
SPEAKING AT A LUNCH MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF HONG KONG, DORWARD SAID HONG KONG’S DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATIVES IN THE US WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING AND MAINTAINING RELATIONSHIPS, PERSONAL AND CORPORATE, OFFICIAL AND COMMERCIAL, IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING A MEANS OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE TWO GOVERNMENTS.
MR DORWARD SAID THE GOVERNMENT’S RECENT DECISION TO COMMIT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO HONG KONG REPRESENTATION IN THE US WAS TO RECOGNISE THAT AMERICA WAS OUR BIGGEST EXPORT MARKET, BIGGER EVEN THAN THE EEC TAKEN TOGETHER, OUR SECOND LARGEST SOURCE OF TOURISTS OUR FOURTH LARGEST SOURCE OF IMPORTS, OUR LARGEST SOURCE £ SifmAS INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT AND A VERY SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF COMMERCIAL INVESTMENT.
+AND, HAVING SAID ALL THAT, IT HAS A GREAT POTENTIAL FOR GROWTH IN EVERY ONE OF THESE SECTORS,* HE ADDED.
/HR DORWARD.....
TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 198?
4
MR DORWARD SAID THE PURPOSE OF REPRESENTATION BECAME MOST OBVIOUS IN A CRISIS OR AT THE POINT OF MAJOR DECISIONS, AND THE MOST EFFECTIVE REPRESENTATION WAS DONE BEFORE THESE AROSE.
♦CONTINUOUS REPRESENTATION PERMITS THE EXCHANGE OF VIEWS, PROMOTES MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND ENCOURAGES PEOPLE, NOTABLY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, TO TURN TO A REPRESENTATIVE FOR INFORMATION OR ADVICE AT THE CRITICAL TIME.
♦TO BE EFFECTIVE, REPRESENTATION MUST BE HONEST, CONTINUOUS, MADE BY PEOPLE WHO ARE KNOWN TO BE TECHNICALLY COMPETENT ON TRADE ISSUES AND, MOST IMPORTANT, MADE TO THE APPROPRIATE INDIVIDUALS,* HE SAID.
MR DORWARD SAID HIS OFFICE IN NEW YORK WOULD HAVE A PRESS SECTION SO THAT IT COULD DEVELOP PERSONAL CONTACTS IN KEY AREAS OF THE PRINT AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA TO CREATE AN AWARENESS OF THE SERVICE OFFERED AND ENCOURAGE REPORTERS AND EDITORS TO CALL FOR COMMENT AND CLARIFICATION WHEN A HONG KONG STORY CAME THEIR WAY.
HE SAID HIS OFFICE WOULD WORK CLOSELY WITH THE EXISTING HONG KONG REPRESENTATION IN THE US, NOTABLY THE OFFICES OF THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AND THE TOURIST ASSOCIATION.
+WE WILL SEEK TO COMPLEMENT AND ASSIST IN EACH OTHER’S ACTIVITIES TO THE COMMON PROMOTION OF A FAVOURABLE IMPRESSION OF HONG KONG AMONG THOSE WHO MAKE THE DECISIONS, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, INDUSTRIAL OR POLITICAL, WHICH CAN HAVE A BEARING ON HONG KONG’S ECONOMIC WELL-BEING.*
MR DORWARD SAID THERE WERE NO DOUBT OTHER AREAS WHERE SIMILAR EFFORTS COULD USEFULLY BE MADE - JAPAN AND AUSTRALASIA FOR EXAMPLE - BUT PRIORITIES MUST BE SET TO MATCH RESOURCES, AND THE US AND THE EEC COUNTRIES, INCLUDING OF COURSE THE UK, WERE CLEARLY THE PRIME TARGETS.
------o-------
ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY TO GROW DESPITE RECESSION
* * * *
DESPITE THE RECESSION PREVAILING IN SOME MAJOR WESTERN ECONOMIES, THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY WILL PICK UP MOMENTUM WITH THE EXPECTED ECONOMY UPTURN IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS AND CONTINUE TO GROW IN SIZE AND SOPHISTICATION.
THIS WAS REVEALED BY THE 1982 MANPOWER SURVEY REPORT ON THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY WHICH WAS PUBLISHED TODAY (TUESDAY).
THE SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED BY THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL.
ACCORDING TO THE REPORT MODERN PRODUCTION PROCESSES AND ADVANCED MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT HAD BEEN ADOPTED BY MANUFACTURERS TO BOOST THEIR PRODUCTION CAPACITY AND PRODUCTIVITY, INCREASE THEIR COMPETITJVENESS AS WELL AS TO MEET THE MARKET DEMAND.
/HOWEVER, .....
TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 1983
5
HOWEVER, THE INDUSTRY HAD TO INVEST NOT ONLY IN LATEST PLANT AND MACHINERY BUT ALSO IN MANPOWER TRAINING AT ALL LEVELS.
AND TO MEET THE FUTURE DEMAND FOR TECHNICAL MANPOWER IN THE INDUSTRY WHEN IT PICKS UP MOMENTUM AGAIN, THE TRAINING BOARD RECOMMENDED THAT OVER 450 TECHNOLOGISTS, 1 000 TECHNICIANS AND 500 CRAFTSMEN SHOULD BE TRAINED ANNUALLY IN THE COMING YEARS.
THE REPORT ALSO NOTED THAT BECAUSE OF THE TIGHTENING OF IMMIGRATION LEGISLATION IN MOST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES, A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF HONG KONG STUDENTS EDUCATED OVERSEAS ARE RETURNING TO HONG KONG AFTER GRADUATION.
EMPLOYERS SHOULD, THEREFORE, PROVIDE MORE PRACTICAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO BOTH LOCAL AND OVERSEAS ELECTRONICS GRADUATES TO ENABLE THEM TO BECOME FULLY-TRAINED TECHNOLOGISTS, THE TRAINING BOARD SAID.
THE REPORT SUGGESTED TO EMPLOYERS TO CONTACT THE INDUSTRIAL TRAINING DIVISION OF THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING DEPARTMENT FOR ASSISTANCE WHEN SETTING UP THE TECHNOLOGIST AND APPRENTICE TRAINING SCHEMES.
THE REPORT WHICH ALSO CONTAINS DETAILED STATISTICAL INFORMATION ON THE MANPOWER STRUCTURE OF THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY, THE*NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN EACH PRINCIPAL JOB, A FORECAST OF THE TRAINING NEEDS IS NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, CONNAUGHT PLACE, CENTRAL AT $14 A COPY.
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EMPLOYERS URGED TO EMPLOY QUALIFIED DISABLED
*****
HONG KONG EMPLOYERS WERE TODAY URGED TO CONSIDER EMPLOYING QUALIFIED DISABLED PERSONS APPLYING FOR WORK.
THE PLEA WAS MADE BY THE DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING, MR MORRIS MORGAN WHEN HE ADDRESSED A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE KIWAN IS CLUB OF HONG KONG.
+1 AM CONFIDENT THAT YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED IN THEIR PERFORMANCE,* HE SAID.
mr MORGAN SAID THAT GIVEN THE CORRECT TRAINING FACILITIES anti RFSOURCES PLUS SUFFICIENT WORK-CONDITIONING AND ADJUSTMENT, KtS2E“lh3:eD PERSONS COULD BE TAUGHT SKILLS WHICH UTILISE THEIR RESIDUAL POTENTIAL TO PERFORM SPECIFIC TASKS.
/•♦•EXPERIENCE....
TUESDAY, MAHCH 22, 198?
6
♦EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN THAT DISABLED PERSONS ARE RELIABLE WORKERS AND THEIR LABOUR TURNOVER RATE IS LESS THAN THEIR ABLE BODIED COUNTERPARTS,+ HE SAID.
MR MORGAN THEN OFFERED THE USE OF THE TECHNICAL AIDS AND RESOURCE CENTRE OF HIS DEPARTMENT FOR ADVICE ON DESIGN AND PRODUCTION OF ANY SPECIAL AID OR ADAPTATION IN THE EVENT OF ANY
BEING REQUIRED.
HE ALSO SAID THAT ANY EXPENDITURE INCURRED COULD BE RE-IMBURSED THROUGH APPLICATION TO THE +EMPLOYAID+ FUND.
TURNING TO VOCATIONAL TRAINING FACILITIES FOR THE DISABLED IN HONG KONG, MR MORGAN SAID, MANY COURSES IN THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES, THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC AND THE TWO UNIVERSITIES WERE NOW OPEN TO DISABLED PERSONS WHO MEET THE MINIMUM ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION.
♦FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT POSSESS THE REQUISITE EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT TO ENROL INTO THESE INSTITUTIONS, AND THOSE WHO HAVE MISSED THEIR CHANCE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION DURING CHILDHOOD, TRAINING PROGRAMMES AT OPERATIVE AND CRAFT LEVELS ARE AVAILABLE IN VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRES.+
MR MORGAN SAID THAT SO FAR 40 DISABLED STUDENTS HAVE • COMPLETED THEIR STUDIES IN THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND THE UNIVERSITIES.
♦CURRENTLY, 60 ARE ENROLLED IN VARIOUS COURSES IN THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND A SMALL NUMBER ARE STUDYING IN THE POLYTECHNIC AND THE UN I VERSITIES,+ HE ADDED.
AT PRESENT, THERE ARE SIX VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRES FOR THE DISABLED CATERING FOR ABOUT 650 TRAINEES. OF THESE THE WORLD REHABILITATION FUND DAY CENTRE IS THE LARGEST AND WHEN FULLY DEVELOPED WILL PROVIDE UP TO 336 PLACES. THE CENTRE OFFERS A WIDE VARIETY OF TRAINING COURSES RANGING FROM INDUSTRIAL MACHINE SEWING TO ELECTRONICS, METAL WORK TO DATA PROCESSING AND CLERICAL DUTIES.
MR MORGAN SAID THAT PLANS WERE IN HAND TO BUILD TWO MORE NEW TRAINING CENTRES, COMPLETE WITH RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES, IN TUEN MUN AND ABERDEEN.
o--------
TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 1983
7
HIGH CALIBRE WOMEN VOLUNTEERS WANTED * * * *
THE ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT (THE VOLUNTEERS) IS LOOKING FOR 15 INTELLIGENT AND MATURE GIRLS OF EXTREMELY HIGH CALIBRE, PARTICULARLY IN TERMS OF CHARACTER, INITIATIVE AND KNOWLEDGE CF BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE, TO JOIN THE REGIMENT.
THEY WILL BE TRAINED TO BECOME THE NUCLEUS OF A WOMEN’S TROOP ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE SUPPORTING SERVICES TO THE GURKHA FIELD FORCE IN INTERNAL SECURITY AND ANTI-ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT OPERATIONS.
THE WOMEN +VOLUNTEERS* RECRUITMENT DRIVE, WHICH STARTED TODAY (TUESDAY), IS THE FIRST SINCE THE LATE 196O’S WHEN THE FORMER WOMEN’S CORPS WAS DISBANDED FOLLOWING A CHANGE OF ROLE FOR THE REGIMENT.
APPLICATION FORMS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FROM ALL DISTRICT OFFICES AND THE REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS AT SPORTS ROAD, HAPPY VALLEY, HONG KONG. COMPLETED FORMS MUST BE RETURNED TO THE REGIMENTAL HEADQUARTERS BY APRIL 6, 1983 AT THE LATEST. ENQUIRIES MAY BE MADE BY TELEPHONING 5-7962038.
ANNOUNCING THE RECRUITMENT DRIVE AT A PRESS BRIEFING THIS AFTERNOON, THE REGIMENT’S COMMANDING OFFICER, LIEUTENANT COLONEL MIKE BARNEBY SAID I +THERE IS NOTHING NEW ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF HAVING FEMALE VOLUNTEERS. BEFORE THE STRUCTURE AND ROLE OF THE REGIMENT WAS ALTERED IN THE LATE 1960S, WE HAD GIRLS AS NURSES, CLERKS AND SWITCHBOARD OPERATORS.*
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE PRIMARY ROLE OF THE VOLUNTEERS IS TO SUPPORT THE POLICE IN THE EVENT OF ANY INTERNAL DISORDERS AND IN PREVENTING THE ENTRY OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
+IN BOTH THESE TASKS,* LT. COLONEL BARNEBY SAID, +SECURITY FORCES ARE LIABLE TO COME INTO DIRECT CONTACT WITH LARGE NUMBERS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND, BECAUSE OF THE LIMITED NUMBER OF POLICEWOMEN LIKELY TO BE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST IN SUCH CIRCUMSTANCES, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AN IMPORTANT ROLE FOR FEMALE VOLUNTEERS AS SEARCHERS AND INTERPRETERS.*
THE PROPOSAL TO RECRUIT A LIMITED NUMBER OF GIRLS INTO THE REGIMENT OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS HAS RECEIVED THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE HEADQUARTERS BRITISH FORCES AND THE APPROVAL OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.
FEMALE VOLUNTEERS MAY BE REQUIRED TO WORK INDEPENDENTLY OR IN SMALL GROUPS, PERFORMING SPECIALIST TASKS. BECAUSE OF SUCH REQUIREMENTS, THE SELECTION CRITERIA FOR FEMALE VOLUNTEERS ARE MORE STRINGENT THAN THOSE FOR THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS.
APPLICANTS MUST BASICALLY HAVE REGULAR EMPLOYMENT IN HONG KONG AND HAVE THEIR EMPLOYERS' CONSENT BEFORE JOINING THE REGIMENT.
/THEY SHOULD .......
TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 198?
8
THEY SHOULD PREFERRABLY BE AGED BETWEN 20 AND 30 YEARS, POSSESS A SECONDARY EDUCATION STANDARD, AND MUST BE PHYSICALLY FIT WITH A MINIMUM WEIGHT OF 42 KG AND HEIGHT OF 152 CM. THEY ARE REQUIRED TO PASS A GOVERNMENT MEDICAL EXAMINATION BEFORE ENLISTMENT.
CANDIDATES WITH AN ABILITY TO DRIVE AND PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE IN TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETATION WORK WILL BE GIVEN PREFERENTIAL CONSIDERATION.
AFTER ENLISTMENT, FEMALE VOLUNTEERS WILL BE ENGAGED FOR A SERVICE PERIOD OF FOUR YEARS WHICH IS RENEWABLE. THEY WILL RECEIVE PAY AND MEALS FOR ALL PERIODS OF TRAINING AND DUTY AS WELL AS AN ANNUAL BOUNTY FOR GOOD ATTENDANCE AND PERFORMANCE.
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NEED FOR SERVICES FOR ELDERLY INCREASING
* X X
THERE IS AN INCREASING NEED FOR WELFARE SERVICES FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE. THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
HE ATTRIBUTED THIS TO TWO MAIN REASONS - PEOPLE LIVING LONGER BECAUSE OF IMPROVEMENTS IN BOTH ECONOMIC CONDITION AND HEALTH SERVICES, AND THE SMALLER SIZE OF MODERN DOMESTIC ACCOMMODATION WHICH OFTEN MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE ELDERLY TO CONTINUE TO LIVE WITH THE FAMILY.
ADDRESSING THE FIFTH PARTY FOR A THOUSAND AGED ORGANISED BY THE SHUN TAK FRATERNAL ASSOCIATION AT THE CITY HALL CONCERT HALL TODAY, MR CHAMBERS SAID MUCH ATTENTION HAD BEEN PAID TO THE OLDER MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY IN THE PAST 10 YEARS OR SO.
HE OUTLINED DIFFERENT FORMS OF SERVICES BEING PROVIDED FOR THE ELDERLY WHICH INCLUDE RESIDENTIAL HOMES OF VARIOUS KINDS AND SOCIAL CENTRES.
+COUNSELLING FOR THE ELDERLY, AS FOR OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS, IS PROVIDED IN MANY FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES,* HE SAID.
HOME HELP SERVICES HAD BEEN EXPANDED TO NEW TOWNS AND PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES.
+MANY OF THESE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, WITH THE HELP OF GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION,* HE SAID.
FURTHERMORE, A SCHEME OF PRIORITY HOUSING FOR THE ELDERLY WAS I TRODUCED BY THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT IN 1981 AND THE
UAL I FYI NG AGE FOR THE OLD AGE ALLOWANCE WAS LOWERED FROM 75 TO 70 IN 1978.
♦THOSE WHOSE INCOME FALLS BELOW THE PRESCRIBED LEVEL CAN ALSO APPLY FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE,* HE ADDED.
------c ------
TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 1983
9
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF REGISTRATION OF PERSONS OFFICES
* ft M
ALL REGISTRATION OF PERSONS OFFICES OF THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT WILL BE CLOSED FOR ONE DAY ON SATURDAY (MARCH 26) TO PREPARE FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW IDENTITY CARD SYSTEM.
♦MEMBERS OF PUBLIC WHO APPLY FOR IDENTITY CARD FACILITIES ON OR AFTER MARCH 28, 1983 WILL BE ISSUED WITH THE NEW TYPE IDENTITY CARD. WE HAVE TO CLOSE BUSINESS ON MARCH 26 TO FACILITATE THE CUT OVER ARRANGEMENT,+ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED TODAY (TUESDAY).
♦NORMAL SERVICE WILL RESUME ON MONDAY, MARCH 28,+ THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO MAKE ENQUIRIES CAN TELEPHONE 3-7333111.
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MARINE ENQUIRY COMPLETED * * * *
A LOCAL MARINE ENQUIRY ORDERED ON FEBRUARY 3, BY THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE, MR P.E.J. DAVY, WAS COMPLETED TODAY, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MARINE DEPARTMENT SAID.
THE REPORT CONCLUDES THAT THE MASTER OF THE FERRY, MR FOK SUM WAS NOT GUILTY OF CULPA&LE NEGLIGENCE, ALTHOUGH HE WAS CRITICISED FOR AN ERROR OF JUDGEMENT, INSOFAR AS HE FAILED TO ALLOW FOR THE SET OF THE TIDE AND DID NOT ANCHOR. NO DISCIPLINARY ACTION WAS THEREFORE, RECOMMENDED, HE SAID.
THE REPORT MAKES THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONSi-
1) TO ENCOURAGE MASTERS TO STEER COMPASS COURSES AND TO USE ECHO SOUNDERS IN ALL WEATHERS
2) TO REVIEW AIDS TO NAVIGATION IN THE AREA
3) TO INTRODUCE SIMULATED FOG TRAINING-COURSES BY H.Y.F. FOR MASTERS AND ASSISTANT COXSWAINS
4) TO MODIFY THE STAIRCASE OF THE +MAN WAI+ IN ORDER TO PROVIDE MORE EFFECTIVE HAND RAILS.
-------o ---------
/1G........
TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 1983
- 10 -
COMMON JURORS LIST * * * *
A FURTHER LIST OF COMMON JURORS WILL BE POSTED ON THE NOTICE BOARD OF THE SUPREME COURT BUILDING AT JACKSON ROAD ON MARCH 29, THE REGISTRAR OF THE SUPREME COURT, MR NICHOLAS JOHN BARNETT, ANNOUNCED TODAY (TUESDAY).
THE LIST WILL REMAIN POSTED FOR 14 DAYS.
DURING THIS PERIOD ANY PERSON MAY APPLY BY NOTICE IN WRITING TO THE REGISTRAR REQUIRING THAT HIS NAME OR THE NAME OF SOME OTHER 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 SHALL IF NECESSARY ALTER THE LIST.
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BUILDING DECLARED IN DANGEROUS CONDITION
* * *
THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TODAY DECLARED NO. 23, WING WO STREET, HONG KONG TO BE IN A DANGEROUS CONDITION.
IN A STATEMENT ISSUED THIS MORNING, THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR SAID THAT THE FOUR STOREY PRE-WAR BUILDING, CONSTRUCTED WITH LOAD-BEARING BRICK WALLS AND TIMBER FLOORS AND ROOF, HAD BEEN UNDER OBSERVATION SINCE 1972.
A RECENT INSPECTION OF THIS BUILDING INDICATED THAT THERE WAS A CONTINUING MOVEMENT IN THE FRACTURED BRICKWORK TO THE NOW EXPOSED PARTY WALL.
♦IT IS THEREFORE CONSIDERED NECESSARY TO CLOSE AND DEMOLISH THIS BUILDING TO OBVIATE THE RISK OF A COLLAPSE,♦ HE SAID.
A NOTICE OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR A CLOSURE ORDER IN VICTORIA DISTRICT COURT AT 9.30 AM ON APRIL 19 WAS POSTED TODAY.
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TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 1983
11
AIR PARCEL SERVICE TO CHINA STARTS APRIL 6 * * * * *
■\\ \ 'v v
AN AIR PARCEL SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA WILL BE INTRODUCED ON APRIL 6, THE POSTMASTER GENERAL ANNOUNCED TODAY.
ITEMS SENT UNDER THIS SERVICE WILL BE FORWARDED BY TRAIN TO GUANGZHOU FOR ONWARD TRANSMISSION BY AIR, HE SAID.
THE POSTAGE RATE WILL BE |28 FOR THE FIRST 1/2 KG AND 17 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL 1/2 KG.
♦THE CONDITIONS OF ACCEPTANCE OF AIR PARCELS ARE THE SAME AS THOSE FOR SURFACE PARCELS, DETAILS OF WHICH ARE AVAILABLE AT ANY POST OFFICE OR FROM THE POST OFFICE ENQUIRY BUREAU -5-2671222,♦ HE SAID.
-----o------
NEW SLAUGHTER HOUSE IN TSUEN WAN *****
THE DIRECTOR OF NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES, MR JOHN HEYWOOD, TODAY VISITED THE WORK SITE OF THE FIRST MODERN PRIVATE ABATTOIR IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WHICH WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE FRESH PORK TO ABOUT 800 000 RESIDENTS LIVING IN KWAI CHUNG, TSUEN WAN AND TUEN MUN IN JULY THIS YEAR.
HE WAS WELCOMED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF SLAUGHTER HOUSE, MR PETER YEUNG, ON ARRIVAL AT THE $40 MILLION ABATTOIR WHICH IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT TEXACO ROAD IN KWAI CHUNG.
MR HEYWOOD WAS TOLD THAT THE SUPERSTRUCTURE OF THE SLAUGHTER HOUSE WAS IN AN ADVANCED STAGE OF WORK, AND INSTALLATION OF MECHANISED EQUIPMENT FOR SLAUGHTERING AND DRESSING OF PIGS WAS ALSO UNDERWAY.
THE SLAUGHTER HOUSE, WHICH IS BUILT ON A 10 OOO-SQUARE-METRE SITE ON THE WATERFRONT OF KWAI CHUNG, IS EXPECTED TO BE IN OPERATION FOUR MONTHS LATER.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE STAFF OFFICER (ABATTOIRS AND FOOD) OF THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT, MR CHUNG YIU-FAN, AND THE URBAN SERVICES OFFICER OF KWAI CHUNG, MR CHAN TAI-YIU, bR HEYWOOD TOURED THE MAIN BUILDING OF THE ABATTOIR WHERE ERECTION OF THE MECHANISED SLAUGHTERING SYSTEM IS IN FULL SWING.
THE NEW ABATTOIR WILL INITIALLY HAVE A SLAUGHTERING CAPACITY OF 2 000 PIGS PER DAY RISING TO 3 000 PIGS ULTIMATELY.
THE PRODUCTION OF FRESH MEAT FROM THE ABATTOIR WILL FULLY bEET WITH THE DEMAND OF THE RAPIDLY GROWING POPULATION OF KWAI CHUNG, TSUEN WAN AND TUEN MUN.
/WHILE TOUHIL'G ..
TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 198?
12
WHILE TOURING THE FACILITIES MR HEYWOOD TOLD MR YEUNG THAT A TEAM OF WELL TRAINED HEALTH INSPECTORS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL BE STATIONED.AT THE ABATTOIR ONCE IT IS OPERATIONAL TO ENSURE ALL PORK IS HYGENICALLY PREPARED BEFORE DELIVERY TO THE NEW TOWNS.
CARIY LATER LOURED A NEWLY COMPLETED 3-STOREY LAIRAGE ADJACENT TO THE SLAUGHTERING PLANT WHERE A TOTAL OF 7 3OO PIGS CAN BE HELD BEFORE SLAUGHTERING.
------0-------
CLEARANCE OPERATION IN KWUN TONG
*****
A TWO-DAY CLEARANCE OPERATION ON ILLEGAL STRUCTURES AT THE REAR LANES OF HUNG TO ROAD, WAI YIP STREET, HOI YUEN ROAD AND KING YIP STREET IN KWUN TONG COMMENCED THIS (TUESDAY) MORNING.
THE OPERATION, WHICH IS PART OF THE ■♦■OPERATION TORCH+, HAS BEEN INITIATED BY THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE FOLLOWING CONSULTATION WITH THE DISTRICT BOARD.
THE BOARD HAD DECIDED THAT ALL SUCH ILLEGAL STRUCTURF9 BE CLEARED BECAUSE OF SERIOUS OBSTRUCTION TO PEDESTRIANS AND FOR HYGIENE AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS. KtDtSTR,ANS AND
THE CLEARANCE WILL INVOLVE 36 ILLEGAL STRUCTURES USED AS STORAGE, CANTEENS, COOKED FOOD STALLS, AS WELL AS HAWKER STALLS. OPERATORS OF THESE STRUCTURES HAVE BEEN OCCUPYING THE REAR LANES FROM THREE TO 20 YEARS.
THE OPERATION IS A JOINT EFFORT OF THE SQUATTER CONTROL THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, THE DISTRICT OFFICE, THE SERVICES AND URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENTS.
DIVISION OF LANDS, FIRE
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TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN MID-LEVELS AND TAI HANG xxx
TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW IN THE MID-LEVELS, VEHICLES TRAVELLING ON PARK ROAD WILL BE BANNED FROM TURNING RIGHT INTO BONHAM ROAD FROM 10 AM ON THURSDAY (MARCH 24).
HOWEVER, THOSE HEADING FOR BONHAM ROAD EASTBOUND CAN TRAVEL VIA BREEZY PATH OR VIA BABINGTON PATH AND HONITON ROAD.
MEANWHILE, THE WESTBOUND SECTION OF TAI HANG ROAD NEAR NEW METHOD COLLEGE WILL BE TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO TRAFFIC BETWEEN 10 PM ON THURSDAY (MARCH 24) AND 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR ROAD WORKS.
THIS ARRANGEMENT WILL BE REPEATED ON FRIDAY (MARCH 25).
DURING THE CLOSURE, TWO-WAY TRAFFIC WILL BE MAINTAINED ON THE ADJACENT LANE.
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 198} CONTENTS PAGE NO.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING:
CALL FOR INCREASE OF HOME OWNERSHIP........................ 1
+SWINGEING TAX+ ON BRANDY BACKED........................... 3
DIAGNOSTIC CENTRE ON DELINQUENCY PROPOSED ................. 4
VITAL ROLE OF HEALTHY MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY STRESSED ..... 7
GOVERNMENT URGED TO CUT TAX ON HK DOLLAR DEPOSITS.......... 9
ONE PER CENT PROFITS TAX INCREASE SUGGESTED................ 10
CONCERN EXPRESSED ABOUT HOTEL AND DEPARTURE TAX PROPOSALS . 12
CALL FOR CONCESSION IN PROPERTY RATES...................... 14
INDIRECT TAX PROPOSALS CALLED ’DRASTIC* ................... 16
EXPEDITIOUS RESOLUTION ON HONG KONG’S FUTURE SEEN.......... 18
CALL FOR GREATER COST-EFFECTIVENESS........................ 19
REVISED CHARGES AT GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS...................... 22
MUCH PROGRESS MADE IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION .............. 23
AID-OFFER TO PRIVATE KINDERGARTENS .......................... 24
TREMENDOUS CHANGE IN TUEN MUN ............................... 25
CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES FOR FEBRUARY ......................... 25
MANPOWER SURVEY COVERING ALL CONSTRUCTION SITES AND FIRMS .. 28
EARLY PAYMENT OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE........................... 28
BUILDING IN TAI HO4 VILLAGE DECLARED DANGEROUS............... 29
SAI KUNG DB MEETS ON I’RIDAY................................. 29
WASHWATER RECOVERY SYSTEM FOR TSUEN WAN TREATMENT WORKS ..... 30
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1983
1
CALL FOR INCREASE OF HOME OWNERSHIP *****
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD GIVE SERIOUS THOUGHT TO INCREASING HOME OWNERSHIP BY ENCOURAGING THOSE IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES TO BUY THE UNITS THEY ARE NOW LIVING IN, DR THE HON HARRY FANG SAID.
HE TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DURING THE FIRST DAY OF THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE THAT ALTHOUGH HOME OWNERSHIP MADE SOUND SOCIAL POLICY, IT WAS CLEAR THAT ONLY LIMITED INROADS COULD BE MADE IF PRESENT STRATEGY WAS CONTINUED.
HE SAID ONLY 6 400 UNITS OUT OF A TOTAL ESTIMATED STOCK CF 36 600 UNITS IN THE 1983-84 HOUSING PROGRAMMES WOULD BE FOR SALE.
♦GREATER IMPACT COULD BE ACHIEVED AND MUCH NEEDED REVENUE RAISED IF WE WERE TO IMPOSE A MEANS-TEST ON THOSE WHO HAVE RESIDED IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES FOR TEN YEARS OR OVER, AND GIVE THEM AN OPTION TO BUY THEIR LIVING UNITS IF THEY ARE FOUND TO BE NOT ELIGIBLE TO RETAIN THEM ON A RENTAL BASIS,* HE SAID.
♦AS A START, THE CHOICE OF UNITS FOR SALE MIGHT BE LIMITED TO THOSE ESTATES THAT HAVE ALREADY ACHIEVED MAXIMUM DEVELOPMENT.
♦IF THE TERMS OF PURCHASE CAN BE MADE REASONABLY ATTRACTIVE, AND WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF 20-YEAR BANK MORTGAGES, I BELIEVE THAT THE CAPITAL OUTLAY AND MONTHLY INSTALMENT PAYMENTS WOULD BE WITHIN THE REACH OF A SIZEABLE NUMBER OF SITTING TENANTS,♦ HE SAID.
DR FANG NOTED THAT SOME LONG-TERM RESIDENTS IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES EARNED INCOMES WELL IN EXCESS OF THE ELIGIBILITY LIMIT FOR THEIR HIGHLY SUBSIDISED RENTAL ACCOMMODATION.
BY BUYING, SUCH FAMILIES COULD ESCAPE THE MEANS-TEST AND FREE THEMSELVES FROM THE EXISTING RESTRICTIVE TENANCY REGULATIONS, HE SAID.
♦I ESTIMATE THAT THIS FORM OF HOME OWNERSHIP WILL BRING IN SOME $3.5 BILLION EVEN ON A CONSERVATIVE RECKONING,♦ HE SAID.
♦THIS IS CALCULATED ON THE BASIS THAT AT LEAST SEVEN PER CENT OF THE EXISTING HOUSEHOLDS IN PUBLIC HOUSING, OR 35 000 UNITS OUT OF A TOTAL STOCK OF HALF A MILLION, WILL HAVE THE CAPACITY TO BUY AT AN AVERAGE COST OF $100 000 PER UNIT.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLEXITIES
BELIEVE THAT IF THERE IS THE
♦I DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE CF MOUNTING SUCH A SCHEME BUT I WILL, A WAY WILL BE FOUND.*
EARLIER DR FANG SOUGHT AN ASSURANCE FROM THE GOVERNMENT THAT LONG-TERM PLANNING IN THE SOCIAL SERVICES FIELD WOULD CONTINUE.
f iE U HG ED •••••••
WEDNESDAY, MA.-iCH 23, 1983
2
4
HE URGED THAT PROJECTS IN THE MEDICAL, REHABILITATION AND SOCIAL WELFARE FIELD SHOULD PROCEED AS PLANNED +FOR THESE NOT ONL* AFFECT THE WELL BEING OF LARGE SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY BUT ARE THE STUFF THAT DEMONSTRATES A CARING AND COMPASSIONATE GOVERNMENT*.
♦I DO NOT ADVOCATE RECKLESS SPENDING BUT I DO ASK THAT IN THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS, WE GET OUR PRIORITIES RIGHT, OR AS NEARLY RIGHT AS POSSIBLE, AND THAT WE AVOID A ’STOP-GO’ APPROACH IN PLANNING FOR PURPOSE BUILT FACILITIES.*
DR FANG ALSO TOUCHED ON THE PROPOSED SEPARATE TAXATION FOR MARRIED WOMEN.
WHILE WELCOMING THE MOVE TO GRANT MARRIED WOMEN THEIR OWN LEGAL IDENTITY, HE DOUBTED WHETHER THEY WOULD OPT VOLUNTARILY FOR JOINT TAX RETURNS AND ACCEPT A LIABILITY TO PAY TAX WHERE THERE WAS NO SUCH LIABILITY AT PRESENT.
♦NOTWITHSTANDING THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S STATEMENT THAT IE CANNOT SEE SEPARATE TAXATION AS RIGHT FOR THIS COMMUNITY, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT HAVING CONCEDED THE SOCIAL PRINCIPLE, THIS MUST COME SOONER OR LATER.
+PERHAPS THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY WOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THIS POSSIBILITY WHEN THE ECONOMY IMPROVES.*
ON THE TRAINING OF CIVIL SERVANTS, DR FANG SAID A NATJJRAL DEVELOPMENT TOWARDS MEETING THIS END WOULD BE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A +COMMAND AND MANAGEMENT COURSE* LOCALLY, AS REVEALED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY DURING THE LAST BUDGET DEBATE.
HOWEVER, HE THOUGHT THAT HONG KONG SHOULD ESTABLISH AN ASIAN MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT CENTRE, AIMED AT FULFILLING THE SAME FUNCTIONS OF THE HENLEY MANAGEMENT COLLEGE IN EUROPE AND HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL IN AMERICA.
DOMESTICALLY, HE EXPLAINED, THE MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT . CENTRE SHOULD BE ABLE TO CATER FOR THE TRAINING NEEDS OF THE CIVIL SERVICE AS WELL AS TO PROVIDE MANAGEMENT TRAINING TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
EXTERNALLY, AN INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED TRAINING INSTITUTION WOULD ENHANCE HONG KONG’S STATUS AS AN EDUCATIONAL CENTRE, BALANCING NICELY WITH OUR OTHER IMAGE PROJECTED BY OUR COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL SUCCESS, HE SAID.
+WITH OUR COSMOPOLITAN OUTLOOK AND ADVANCE SUPPORT FACILITIES, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO ATTRACT TRAINEES FROM MANY COUNTRIES IN THE REGION, INCLUDING CHINA WHICH SHOULD REQUIRE A LARGE CADRE OF TRAINED MANAGERS FOR THE MODERNISATION PROGRAMMES.
♦THE BENEFITS TO OUR ECONOMY FROM THIS CONSTANT FLOW OF TRAINEES FROM OTHER COUNTRIES ARE OBVIOUS.
♦THEY ARE WHAT WE NORMALLY CALL ’INVISIBLE’ GAINS,+ IE SAID.
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2}, 198}
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♦SWINGEING TAX+ ON BRANDY BACKED * * * *
THE PUBLIC WAS URGED TO FIND SOME SUBSTITUTE FOR BRANDYDRINKING, AND THE SOONER THE BETTER.
THE SUGGESTION CAME FROM DR THE HON FRANCIS TIEN WHEN HE SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF THE +SWINGEING+ TAX ON BRANDY DURING THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE TODAY.
DR TIEN NOTED THAT HONG KONG HAD THE WORLD’S HIGHEST PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION, WITH ONE-THIRD OF THE GROWN-UPS CONSUMING BRANDY IN ANY GIVEN MONTH.
IN VIEW OF HONG KONG’S LESS-THAN-PERFECT RELATIONS WITH THE FRENCH, HE SAID, IT WOULD +DO NO HARM IF THE HONG KONG PUBLIC RESTRICT ITS CONSUMPTION TO BRANDY AS USEFUL OR USELESS TO MANKIND AS FRENCH EXOCET MISSILES FOR WHATEVER REASON AND WHATEVER PRETEXT^.
BRANDY IN FRENCH IS TRANSLATED AS WATER OF LIFE, BUT DR TIEN SAID, HE DID NOT SEE MUCH LIFE IN FRENCH BRANDY PRODUCTION FOR HONG KONG PEOPLE.
THE FRENCH BRANDY INDUSTRY, HE POINTED OUT, REQUIRED A CONSTANT REMINDER OF ITS DISCRIMINATORY POLICIES VIS-A-VIS THE HONG KONG PRODUCERS. •
♦THE FRENCH INVENTED THE GUILLOTINE BUT THEY USE IT AGAINST US, DROWNING US IN A SEA OF LETHAL BRANDY BUT SEVERELY LIMITING THEIR IMPORTS OF OUR TIME-PIECES AND GARMENTS IN RETURN.
♦LET US HOPE THAT THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY HAS SUCCEEDED IN REDUCING OUR DISADVANTAGE BUT IT WILL NOT BE EASY.+
STRESSING THAT FRENCH DID NOT CAUSE PROBLEMS TO US ALONE WITH THEIR ♦PERNICIOUS* DRINK, DR TIEN RECALLED AN INCIDENT INVOLVING A BRITISH HIGH OFFICIAL WHO CAME TO HONG KONG 16 YEARS AGO TO NEGOTIATE RESTRICTIONS ON TEXTILE IMPORTS.
THE OFFICIAL CONSUMED A FAIR AMOUNT OF BRANDY SO MUCH SO THAT SHORTLY AFTER ARRIVAL AT THE DEPARTURE LOUNGE AT THE AIRPORT HE INADVERTENTLY LOCKED HIMSELF IN THE TOILET.
HE WAS LATER RESCUED FROM HIS PREDICAMENT BUT HONG KONG HAD A BAD TEXTILE AGREEMENT WITH THE UK THAT YEAR.
♦MAY BE BRANDY WAS TO BLAME,+ DR TIEN SAID.
IN HIS OPINION, DR TIEN SAID, NEITHER THE BRITISH WHO INVENTED THE SHIRT AND THE FRENCH WHO INVENTED THE RUFFLE WERE KEEN ON HONG KONG’S SHIRTS OR ITS RUFFLES.
♦LET THEM REMEMBER THAT WE TOO WISH TO HAVE A PLACE UNDER THE SUN AND TO A RIGHT TO FAIR TRADE AND DIGNITY.
♦I TRUST THE NEW SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY AND THE NEW HEAD OF THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL WILL BOTH LEND THEIR FULL SUPPORT TO THE WORTHY CAUSE OF FAIR TRADE AND FAIR PLAY,+ HE SAID.
A ......
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1983
J
DIAGNOSTIC CENTRE ON DELINQUENCY PROPOSED *****
AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CALLED TODAY FOR A CENTRALISED DIAGNOSTIC CENTRE TO CLASSIFY THE TRUE DELINQUENT ELEMENTS FROM THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN NEED OF CARE AND PROTECTION.
THE CENTRE SHOULD INCLUDE THE EXPERTISE OF THE EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGISTS IN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS IN THE SOCIAL WELFARE AND THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENTS, SAID THE REV. THE HON. JOYCE BENNETT.
MISS BENNETT WAS COMMENTING ON THE IMPORTANCE OF +USING THE EXISTING RESOURCES WISELY AND BEING SENSITIVE TO THE WASTAGE THAT OCCURS WHEN TWO INSTITUTIONS OR DEPARTMENTS OVERLAP IN THEIR SERVICES*.
MISS BENNETT SAID BOTH THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENTS RUN INSTITUTIONS FOR OFFENDERS UNDER THE AGE OF 18.
HOWEVER, SHE FELT THAT THERE WAS NEED FOR FAR CLOSER CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THESE TWO DEPARTMENTS AND THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO ENSURE THE PROPER USE OF MANPOWER AND THE OPTIMUM USE OF EXISTING RESOURCES IN THE REHABILITATION OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS.
EACH OF THESE DEPARTMENTS HAD THEIR OWN SPECIALIST STAFF WHICH INCLUDED PSYCHOLOGISTS WHO HAD SPECIAL AIMS IN ASSESSING THE YOUNG PEOPLE REFERRED TO THEM, SHE SAID.
BUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR WORK IN BOTH THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WAS STILL IN FAIRLY EARLY STAGES.
FOR EXAMPLE, SHE SAID, VERY LITTLE WAS BEING DONE TO ASSESS THE REASONS FOR CHILDREN BEING SLOW IN LEARNING AND BACKWARD AT THEIR LESSONS.
*TOO OFTEN THOSE CHILDREN CONSIDERED TO BE SLOW LEARNERS DEVELOP CRIMINAL TENDENCIES AND GET BROUGHT BEFORE THE JUVENILE COURTS,* SHE SAID.
+IN FACT THEIR INTELLIGENCE IS NOT BELOW AVERAGE AND THEY FAIL TO DEVOTE THEIR ENERGY TO THEIR SCHOOL WORK AND INSTEAD GET INTO MISCHIEF, SOMETIMES OF A VERY SERIOUS NATURE.
♦WE SEEM INDEED TO BE BREEDING CRIMINALS BY FAILING TO ASSESS ADEQUATELY THESE YOUNGSTERS AND THOSE ALREADY IN THE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.*
IN CALLING FOR A BETTER ASSESSMENT SYSTEM, MISS BENNETT SUGGESTED THAT THE PSYCHOLOGISTS IN THESE THREE DEPARTMENTS SHOULD LIAISE TOGETHER SC AS TO ASSESS THOSE YOUNGSTERS REFERRED BY THE COURTS, THE SCHOOLS AND WELFARE AGENCIES.
*ONCE ASSESSED EFFECTIVELY THE YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD BE FITTED I NIC THE CORRECT SPECIAL PROGRAMMES WHICH WILL BRING ABOUT THEIR DEVELOPMENT TO FULL MATURITY AND REHABILITATION.*
/MISS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2J, 198?
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^ISS BENNETT POINTED OUT THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC CENTRE, IF U.,BUSHED, WOULD MAKE FURTHER FINANCIAL SAVING BY COORDINATING '.-It COMPILING OF REPORTS ON SUITABILITY FOR THE DIFFERENT FORMS >' "RAINING AND TREATMENT.
♦IT COULD WELL BE USEFUL TO CALL UPON THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR TO PROVIDE SOME UNOFFICIAL INPUT, PERHAPS AT THE CHAIRMAN LEVEL, FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC CENTRE,♦ SHE ADDED.
♦THEN SCHOOLS RUNNING CLASSES FOR SLOW LEARNERS AND MALADJUSTED CHILDREN COULD BE ASSURED THAT THE BEST PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES WERE AVAILABLE TO THEM IN THE ASSESSING OF THEIR CHILDREN.+
MISS BENNETT ALSO CRITICISED THE GOVERNMENT FOR NOT TACKLING SERIOUSLY THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN ON PROBATION AND UNDER CARE AND PROTECTION ORDERS WHO WERE CONFINED IN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS RUN BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.
FOLLOWING THE JARMAN REPORT, SHE NOTED, UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS CF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WERE TOLD THAT AN EDUCATION ADVISER FROM THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WOULD BE SECONDED TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TO ADVISE ON THE SCHOOLING OF THE INMATES IN THEIR INSTITUTIONS.
HOWEVER, SHE WAS DISTRESSED TO FIND THAT THE ADVISER WAS ONLY ADVISING ON ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS AND WAS IN FACT NOT AN EXPERT IN SPECIAL EDUCATION.
SHE WONDERED WHY THE CLASSES IN THESE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT-RUN HOMES WERE NOT INSPECTED BY THE INSPECTORS FROM THE SPECIAL EDUCATION SECTION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WHO HAD A CERTAIN EXPERTISE TO DEAL WITH THE NEEDS OF SOCIALLY DEPRIVED AND EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED CHILDREN.
ON THE SUBJECT OF UNIVERSITY EDUCATION, MISS BENNETT URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO REDUCE THE EXAMINATION PRESSURE FOR STUDENTS BY ABOLISHING THE HIGHER LEVEL EXAMINATION AND BY CUTTING DOWN THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY COURSE BY ONE YEAR SO AS + TO HAVE A COMMON UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE POLICY+.
SHE POINTED OUT THAT IN THE 195O'S, ANGLO-CHINESE SECONDARY SCHOOLS HAD RELUCTANTLY AND VERY RAPIDLY TO ADD A SEVENTH YEAR TO THEIR SCHOOL COURSE AND TO DEVELOP TWO-YEAR ADVANCED LEVEL PREPARATORY COURSES OF THE HONG KONG UNIVERSITY ENTRANCE.
THE 198O’S SHOULD SEE A SIMILAR REVISION OF THE ENTRANCE TO AND LENGTH OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY COURSE, SHE SAID, ADDING THAT BOTH UNIVERSITIES SHOULD HAVE IN THE MAJORITY OF SUBJECTS A THREE-YEAR BACHELOR’S DEGREE COURSE.
♦AN ADDED ADVANTAGE IS THAT MORE STUDENTS CAN HAVE,A I^ANINGFUL TWO YEARS’ SIXTH FORM COURSE, INSTEAD OF TRYING TO CRAM A YEAR’S EXAMINATION COURSE INTO THE FEW MONTHS FROM SEPTEMBER TO APR IL.
♦SO MANY OVER THE YEARS HAVE NOT VALUED THAT COURSE, OPTING TO "TART THE TWO YEARS COURSE AND TAKE AND PASS THE HIGHER LEVEL EXAMINATION ON THE SIDE.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2J, 1985
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*IN THIS WAY THEY HAVE DEPRIVED A STUDENT OF A TWO YEARS’ ’IXE AND SHOWN THEIR SCORN OF AN EXAMINATION THAT CAN BE °AbSED SATISFACTORILY WITHOUT ANY SPECIFIC COURSE OF STUDY BEING PURSUED.*
TURNING TO THE CONDITIONS OF SCHOOLS WITH +BOUGHT PLACES*. MISS BENNETT SAID THAT THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAD THREE GRADES OF INDEPENDENT PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN WHICH IT BOUGHT PLACES TO ENABLE CHILDREN TO RECEIVE THEIR THREE YEARS FREE JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION.
+UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE STILL HAVING TO BUY PLACES IN MANY OF THESE SCHOOLS WHICH ARE SUB-STANDARD IN QUALITY,* SHE DEPLORED.
*THE MAJORITY OF THESE WORSE SCHOOLS ARE IN KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES.
"THEY DO NOT HAVE PROPER SCHOOL BUILDINGS- THEY HAVE LITTLE OR NG PLAY AREAS AND THEY DO NOT HAVE MANY TRAINED TEACHERS.*
SHE SAID SHE REALISED THAT THE LACK OF SCHOOL BUILDINGS WOULD EXIST FOR A FEW MORE YEARS, AND PLEADED THAT EVERY CONSIDERATION BE GIVEN TO OVERCOME THIS PROBLEM AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
WHILE ON THE SUBJECT OF EDUCATION, MISS BENNETT REVEALED, AS A MATTER OF RECORD, THAT THE EXTRA TEACHERS GRANTED TO SECONDARY SCHOOLS FOR REMEDIAL TEACHING IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE WERE ALREADY PROVING BENEFICIAL.
SHE EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE THAT THE EXTRA GRADUATE TEACHER TO BE GRANTED IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR AND THE TWO NON-GRADUATE TEACHERS TO BE PROVIDED IN 1984 WOULD CONSIDERABLY RAISE THE STANDARD OF EDUCATION.
SHE ALSO CALLED FOR THE EARLY PUBLICATION OF THE REPORT ON THE OVERALL REVIEW OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN HONG KONG.
+THE SLOWNESS OF ITS PUBLICATION WOULD AROUSE SUSPICIONS THAT THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO PIGEON-HOLE IT AWAY AND NOT MAKE PUBLIC ITS RECOMMENDATIONS.*
ANOTHER AREA OF CONCERN WAS THE +INSUFFIC I ENT BACK-UP* VOLUNTARY AGENCIES RECEIVED FROM GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
THE UNOFFICIALS, WHEN EXAMINING THE ESTIMATES, WERE PARTICULARLY STRUCK BY THE LARGE AMOUNT OF APPROVED COMMITMENTS FOR NEW PROJECTS IN THE CAPITAL ACCOUNT FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION SUBVENTIONS.
OVER 3140 MILLION APPROVED FOR SOME WORTHWHILE PROJECTS HAD, FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER, BEEN DELAYED, SHE SAID.
SHE NOTED THAT SCHOOLS, SUCH AS THE HONG KONG SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF, WHERE SQUATTERS HAD ENCROACHED ON THEIR PR IVATE' L'AND, WERE NOT GIVEN SUFFICIENT BACKUP BY THE GOVERNMENT.
MARCH 23, 1983
7
♦CONSEQUENTLY SCHOOL BUILDINGS CAN BE DELAYED AND CHILDREN DEPRIVED OF THEIR RIGHTFUL EDUCATION.
♦UNFORTUNATELY IT SEEMS THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT PAID SUFFICIENT HEED TO THOSE IN THE SPECIAL EDUCATION SECTION OF ’HE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE THESE CAPITAL PROJECTS BROUGHT RAPIDLY TO CONCLUSION.
♦THERE ARE SIMILAR DELAYS IN OTHER PROJECTS IN THE FIELD OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH,+ SHE SAID.
AT THE END OF THESE DELAYS, MISS BENNETT CAUTIONED, IT WAS THE PUBLIC PURSE THAT SUFFERED +AS IT HAS TO MEET THE HIGHER COSTS CAUSED BY THE DELAYS+.
VITAL ROLE OF HEALTHY MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY STRESSED * * * *
A SOUND AND HEALTHY INDUSTRY WAS THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD GUARANTEE HONG KONG’S ECONOMIC SURVIVAL AND INDEED ITS STABILITY AND PROSPERITY, THE HON S.L. CHEN SAID TODAY AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
HE SAID HONG KONG’S MAIN EXPORT MARKETS WERE EXPECTING A MILD BUT GROWING RECOVERY THIS YEAR AND, IF THIS MATERIALISED, HONG KONG SHOULD SEE A GROWTH IN ITS EXPORTS AGAIN.
HOWEVER, HE WARNED, THAT UNLESS HONG KONG’S PRODUCTS WERE COMPETITIVE AND MAINTAINED THEIR COMPETITIVENESS, HONG KONG WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM AN UPTURN OF THE WORLD’S ECONOMY.
♦IT IS THEREFORE VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT OUR INDUSTRIALISTS MUST BE ENCOURAGED TO CONTINUE WITH CONFIDENCE THEIR INVESTMENTS IN UPDATING THEIR PLANT AND EQUIPMENT AND IN IMPROVING THEIR PRODUCTION PROCESSES, WHILST AT THE SAME TIME THE GOVERNMENT MUST BE SEEN DOING ALL IT CAN WITHIN ESTABLISHED POLICY GUIDELINES TO ASSIST MAINTAINING INDUSTRY’S COMPETITIVE POSITION,+ HE SAID.
TO THIS END, MR CHEN NOTED THAT A NOTIONAL SUM OF $125 MILLION HAD BEEN SET ASIDE IN THE 1983-84 BUDGET FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING. IN ADDITION THERE WAS ALSO $1 300 MILLION EARMARKED FOR THE TWO UNIVERSITIES, THE BAPTIST COLLEGE, THE POLYTECHNIC AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SECOND POLYTECHNIC. VAST SUMS OF MONEY WOULD ALSO BE SPENT ON OTHER INDUSTRIAL SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS DEVELOPMENT OF ROAD, RAIL AND PORT FACILITIES, SPONSORSHIPS OF INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH PROJECTS, INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT PROMOTION AND TRADE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES.
♦ALL OF THESE MUST BE VIEWED AS EVIDENCE OF GOVERNMENT’S DETERMINATION TO MAINTAIN HONG KONG’S POSITION IN THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET.
,,'EDNESDAY, : ARCH 2J, 198?
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♦MOREOVER, THE RECENT OFFER FROM BANKS FOR SPECIAL LOAN AND T.'TDIT FACILITIES TO SMALL MANUFACTURERS, WHICH CONSTITUTE THE BACKBONE OF HONG KONG’S INDUSTRY, IS ALSO A TANGIBLE EXPRESSION OF CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG’S INDUSTRY,* HE ADDED.
REFERRING TO THE SIZE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE, MR CHEN CALLED FOR AN INCREASE IN ITS EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY INSTEAD OF FURTHER GROWTH IN ESTABLISHMENT.
HE CITED STATISTICS TO SHOW THAT PERSONAL EMOLUMENTS FOR 1983-84, AT $8 200 MILLION, ACCOUNTED FOR ABOUT 37 PER CENT OF TOTAL RECURRENT EXPENDITURE, COMPARED WITH THE AVERAGE OF 38 PER CENT OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS.
♦BUT IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THAT BECAUSE OF A LARGE GROWING BASE FIGURE, WE ARE ACHIEVING THE DESIRED ECONOMY IN THE UTILISATION OF MANPOWER RESOURCES, FOR DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN EXTRAVAGANCE.
♦THE IMPORTANCE OF IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITY IS VERY OBVIOUS FROM THE FACT THAT A ONE PER CENT SAVING IN MANPOWER RESOURCES BUDGETED FOR 1983-84 WOULD MEAN A SAVING OF $82 MILLION FOR THE COMING YEAR.*
ALTHOUGH HE WAS PLEASED TO NOTE THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS TRYING TO KEEP THE CIVIL SERVICE GROWTH TO BELOW FIVE PER CENT, RE WONDERED WHETHER THIS WAS ENOUGH.
ON THE SUBJECT OF CONTROL AND UTILISATION OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES, MR CHEN EXPRESSED MISGIVINGS THAT IN THE PAST VAST SUMS CF MONEY FROM THE PUBLIC PURSE HAD BEEN MIS-SPENT AS A RESULT OF BAD MANAGEMENT, INADEQUATE CONTROL, LACK OF SUPERVISION, OR SHEER CARELESSNESS ON THE PART OF THE CONTROLLING OFFICERS.
HE POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS NOT UNCOMMON TO HEAR CRITICISMS THAT WHEN GOVERNMENT DID A JOB, IT WAS ALMOST ALWAYS MORE COSTLY AND TOOK LONGER TO COMPLETE.
*1 AM AFRAID THAT THE CRITICISMS ARE NOT WITHOUT JUSTIFICATION BECAUSE THERE INDEED HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS WORKS UNDERTAKEN BY GOVERNMENT WHICH SUFFERED FROM DELAYS OR OVER-SPENDING OR BOTH.*
HE SAID MANAGERS IN THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE URGED TO HAVE A GREATER SENSE OF THE NEED FOR THRIFT AND BE CONSCIOUS OF THE FACT THAT *IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT FINANCIAL AND MATERIAL RESOURCES UNDER THEIR CONTROL ARE USED TO THE BEST EFFECT PARTICULARLY IN FINANCIALLY LEAN TIMES*.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1983
9
GOVERNMENT URGED TO CUT TAX ON HK DOLLAR DEPOSITS
* * * *
DR THE HON HENRY HU CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO RAISE INTEREST TAX ON FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS TO FIVE PER CENT AND REDUCE THAT ON HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS FROM TEN TO FIVE PER CENT IN THE HOPE CF BOOSTING THE VALUE OF THE LOCAL CURRENCY.
HE MAINTAINED THAT THIS CHANGE WOULD NOT CAUSE GREAT LOSS OF REVENUE OR OUTFLOW OF FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS FROM HONG KONG.
+1 SHOULD THINK THE MOVE WOULD BRING MORE REVENUE TO THE GOVERNMENT AND MORE BENEFIT TO OUR INDUSTRIES,* HE SAID.
DR HU NOTED THAT SINCE THE ABOLITION OF INTEREST TAX ON FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS IN HONG KONG, THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF SUCH DEPOSITS MORE THAN DOUBLED LAST YEAR.
BUT THE VALUE OF HONG KONG DOLLAR DENOMINATED TIME, CALL AND NOTICE DEPOSITS WITH BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES DECLINED FROM ABOUT $73 BILLION AT THE END OF FEBRUARY 1982 TO $59 BILLION AT THE END OF DECEMBER 1982.
SAVING DEPOSITS WHICH ARE NOT SUBJECT TO TAX, HOWEVER, HAVE INCREASED FROM $48.3 BILLION TO $61.9 BILLION.
♦IT WOULD BE REASONABLE TO ASSUME THAT THE GROWTH OF FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS IN HONG KONG HAS BEEN PARTLY AT THE EXPENSE OF HONG KONG CURRENCY DEPOSITS WHICH ARE BEING UNEQUALLY TREATED,* DR HU SAID.
♦THE UNEQUAL TREATMENT IS NOT WITHOUT SIDE EFFECTS.
+IT LEADS TO A WEAKENED LOCAL CURRENCY WHICH WILL JEOPARDISE HONG KONG DOLLAR’S POSITION AS A MEANS OF INTERNATIONAL PAYMENT AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT WILL REACTIVATE THE ONLY NEWLY HARNESSED INFLATION.*
TURNING TO THE MANUFACTURING AND EXPORT SECTOR, DR HU FELT THAT ONE OF THE KEYS TO HELP HONG KONG’S INDUSTRIES IS TO INCREASE THE COMPETITIVENESS OF THEIR PRODUCTS IN THE WORLD MARKET, BOTH IN TERMS OF QUALITY AND PRICES.
HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE INCREASE IN INITIAL DEPRECIATION ALLOWANCE AND THE DEDUCTION OF THE ACQUISITION COST OF PATENT RIGHTS TAX THIS YEAR SHOULD GO SOME WAY TOWARD ALLEVIATING THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF THOSE ENTERPRISING INDUSTRIALISTS.
HOWEVER, HE SAID, THIS IS NOT SUFFICIENT.
+1 HOPE THAT SOME MORE POSITIVE MEASURES SUCH AS RESEARCH CENTRES, GUIDANCE SERVICE AND INFORMATION FACILITIES, ETC. CAN BE PROVIDED TO THEM.
♦IT WOULD ALSO BE OF GREAT HELP IF GOVERNMENT COULD ENCOURAGE THE BANKING SECTOR TO PROVIDE LOANS OF LOW INTEREST RATE TO SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZE FACTORIES.*
/ON JHE
WEDNESDAY, MABCH 23, 1983
- 1C -
ON THE TERTIARY SERVICE AND RE-EXPORT TRADE, DR HU SAID THAT THIS SECTOR DEPENDS MAINLY ON HONG KONG’S ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION WITH CHINA, IN PARTICULAR WITH GUANGDONG PROVINCE.
DESPITE WORLD RECESSION, THEY PROVIDED A TOTAL OF 583 OOO JOB OPPORTUNITIES IN 1982.
HE EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD INITIATE MORE ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL CONTACTS AND JOINT ENTERPRISES WITH THE GUANGDONG PROVINCIAL AUTHORITIES, INCLUDING THE SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES, SO AS TO ENHANCE THE ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES ON BOTH SIDES CF THE BORDER.
REFERRING TO SOCIAL SERVICES, DR HU SAID HE WAS PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE INSTITUTIONS FOR SEVERELY HANDICAPPED PERSONS.
HE NOTED THAT HE HAD VISITED SEVERAL SUCH INSTITUTIONS DURING THE PAST YEARS.
+BOTH THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SERVING AND THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SERVED THEREIN DESERVE OUR GREAT SYMPATHY.
♦IT NEEDS A GREAT DEAL OF PERSEVERANCE AND PATIENCE TO SERVE THOSE SEVERELY HANDICAPPED PERSONS WHO ARE ENTIRELY HELPLESS.
+1 SHOULD THINK THE MANNING RATIO OF SUCH INSTITUTIONS SHOULD BE 1 TO 1 AND THE STAFF THERE SHOULD NOT BE WORKING LONG HOURS,* HE SAID.
HE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO BE GENEROUS IN DEALING WITH THOSE PEOPLE WHO CANNOT LOOK AFTER THEMSELVES BECAUSE OF OLD AGE, IMMATURITY, MENTAL OR PHYSICAL DISABILITY, AND OTHER SIMILAR FACTORS.
------0-------
ONE PER CENT PROFITS TAX INCREASE SUGGESTED * * * *
A SUGGESTION THAT PROFITS TAX BE INCREASED BY A +MODEST ONE PER CENT* NEXT YEAR WAS MADE BY THE REV THE HON PATRICK MCGOVERN.
SPEAKING AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE SAID H|S SUGGESTION COULD RAISE AN ADDITIONAL $417 MILLION BY ONE CALCULATION OR $466
MILLION BY ANOTHER.
FR MCGOVERN STRESSED THAT HIS SUGGESTION SERVED AS *AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE FURTHER PERSECUTION OF THE PRIVATE MOTORISTS* IF ADDITIONAL REVENUE WAS STILL NEEDED NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR.
EXPLAINING HIS REASON FOR OFFERING THIS SUGGESTION, HE SAID HE HAD NOTED ONE PECULIAR FEATURE IN ALL THE RECENT TALK ABOU. TIGHTENING BELTS.
BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAD BEEN LOUD AND CLEAR FOR QUITE SOME TIME THAT BELT TIGHTENING WAS NECESSARY.
+THE ODD THING I HAVE NOTED IS THAT THEY ALSO SEEM TO AGREE THAT THE BELT TIGHTENING SHOULD BE BY THEIR EMPLOYEES.
11
♦NOT A WORD ABOUT BELT TIGHTENING IN THE BOARD ROOM.
♦LET ME MAKE UP FOR THEIR SILENCE THIS YEAR, AND THEIR V- ICIPATED SILENCE NEXT YEAR, IF ADDITIONAL REVENUE IS STILL NEEDED THEN.
♦PERHAPS WE COULD ALL HOPE TO ANTICIPATE THAT BY THEN THERE WOULD BE AN UPTURN IN THE ECONOMY, A HOPE THAT MIGHT MAKE SUCH A T'X MORE PALATABLE TO THE TAX PAYER, AND MORE PROFITABLE TO REVENUE,+ HE SAID.
FR MCGOVERN ALSO OFFERED ANOTHER SUGGESTION AS TO A POSSIBLE SAVING OF WASTE.
HE NOTED THAT MANY OF THE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES IN THE CLOSED CAMPS WERE FROM FARMING DISTRICTS OF THEIR COUNTRY.
ON THE OTHER HAND, HONG KONG HAS HECTARES OF FALLOW LAND LYING IF MANY ALMOST DESERTED PARTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.
♦IT SHOULD NOT BE BEYOND THE INGENUITY OF HONG KONG’S FERTILE BRAINS TO PUT THE TWO FACTS TOGETHER AND DEVISE A METHOD BY WHICH THE LAND OWNERS COULD BE OFFERED A VERY MODEST RENT,+ HE SAID.
♦AND VOLUNTEER REFUGEES COULD GET A MODEST PROPORTION OF WHAT THEY COULD EARN BY PRODUCTIVE WORK, WORK WHICH WOULD ALSO SAVE SOME CF THEIR DIGNITY.
♦WE WOULD ALL BENEFIT FROM AN INCREASE IN, FOR EXAMPLE, THE AO OR SO PERCENTAGE OF HOME GROWN VEGETABLES, WITH THE CONSEQUENT SIDE EFFECT OF HELPING OUR BALANCE OF PAYMENTS.+
FR MCGOVERN SAID HE BELIEVED THAT IT WOULD TAKE QUITE A LONG TIME TO DEVISE AND IMPLEMENT SOME SUCH SCHEME.
BUT HE ADDEDi +TO BEGIN THINKING ABOUT IT NOW, ESPECIALLY IF IN GOVERNMENT STANDARD TIME, WOULD NOT IN ANY WAY DETRACT FROM THE HOPED FOR DETERRENT EFFECT OF THE PRESENT CLOSED CAMP POL ICY.+
HE ALSO COMMENTED ON A PARAGRAPH IN THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S BUDGET SPEECH WHICH STATED THAT ♦POOR PLANNING BY SPECULATORS HAD LED TO A CONSIDERABLE OVERSUPPLY OF ALL TYPES OF PROPERTY+.
IN THE STRICT CONTEXT OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND AND PROFIT, HE NOTED, THERE WAS A MEANING IN THAT SENTENCE.
HOWEVER, IN THE MORE REAL CONTEXT OF SUPPLY AND NEED, AS DISTINCT FROM DEMAND, HE THOUGHT THAT IT DID NOT MAKE SENSE.
SAID FR MCGOVERNt +WE STILL HAVE THOUSANDS OF SQUATTERS ON OUR HILLSIDES, OTHER THOUSANDS IN TEMPORARY HOUSING, STILL OTHER THOUSANDS IN ROOFTOP HUTS, NOT TO MENTION THE OLDER SLUMS AND THE NOT VERY HABITABLE MARK I AND I I ESTATES.
♦ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR JUST ONE THING, NAMELY, DECENT HOUSING AT A PRICE THEY CAN AFFORD.
♦THERE IS STILL AN ACUTE UNDERSUPPLY OF SUCH PROPERTY.+
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1983
12
CONCERN EXPRESSED ABOUT HOTEL AND DEPARTURE TAX PROPOSALS *******
THE HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION HAS CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO DEFER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE PROPOSED INCREASES IN HOTEL AND DEPARTURE TAXES, THE HON. PETER C. WONG TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
HE SAID THAT HE HAD RECEIVED REPRESENTATIONS FROM THE ASSOCIATION STATING THAT THE PROPOSALS WOULD HAVE ADVERSE EFFECTS ON THE TOURIST INDUSTRY.
THE ASSOCIATION ALSO SAID THAT, TOURISM HAD IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS CONTRIBUTED $9 BILLION TO HK’S ECONOMY, WHICH WAS ROUGHLY 25 PER CENT OF THAT CONTRIBUTED BY THE CLOTHING AND TEXTILES INDUSTRY.
♦WHILE IT DOES NOT OBJECT TO THE TAXES PER SE, IT HAS EXPRESSED CERTAIN RESERVATIONS,+ MR WONG SAID.
REGARDING THE $100 DEPARTURE TAX, IT WAS ARGUED THAT MANY TOUR OPERATORS AND TRAVEL AGENTS HAD CONTRACTUAL COMMITMENTS BASED ON THE EXISTING SERVICE CHARGE OF $20 AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO ACCEPT A LARGE PART OF THE BURDEN OF THE NEW TAX IN THE INITIAL PERIOD, HE SAID.
♦THE HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION THEREFORE SUGGESTS THAT IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, IT WOULD BE REASONABLE TO DEFER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE NEW TAX TO OCTOBER 1, 1983.+
AS FOR THE HOTEL TAX, THE HKTA SUGGESTED THAT THE PROPOSED INCREASE OF ONE PER CENT SHOULD BE INTRODUCED NOT EARLIER THAN OCTOBER 1, 1983, PREFERABLY ON APRIL 1, 1984.
♦THE REASON ADVANCED IS THAT THE MAJORITY OF HOTELS IN HONG KONG HAVE CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS, IN SOME CASES PROBABLY TWELVE MONTHS IN ADVANCE, WHICH INCLUDE THE HOTEL TAX AT A FIXED SUM,+ HE SAID.
♦ANY INCREASE WOULD THEREFORE HAVE TO BE ABSORBED BY THE HOTELS DURING THE PERIOD COVERED BY THE AGREEMENTS.*
MR WONG ALSO SAID THAT THE HKTA WAS JUSTIFIABLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT’S INTENTION TO ELIMINATE ITS CONTRIBUTION TO THE ASSOCIATION FROM GENERAL REVENUE OVER A PERIOD OF FOUR YEARS.
THE REDUCTION IN FUNDS WOULD NECESSARILY ENTAIL REDUCTION IN ACTIVITIES, HE ADDED.
/TOT.TNG TO ....
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 1985
- 15 -
TURNING TO THE $6.2 BILLION DEFICIT ESTIMATED FOR THE COMING YEAR, MR WONG NOTED THAT THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY PROPOSED TO MEET THE DEFICIT BY RAISING $3 BILLION IN INDIRECT TAXES, WITH THE BALANCE TO BE PAID OUT OF FISCAL RESERVES.
OF THE ELEVEN PROPOSALS FOR TAX INCREASES, THE FIRST THREE - INCREASES ON LIQUOR, TOBACCO AND HYDROCARBON OIL DUTIES, DRIVING LICENCE AND VEHICLE LICENCE FEES - AMOUNTED TO $2 BILLION WHILE THE REMAINING EIGHT PROPOSALS MAKE UP ANOTHER $1 BILLION.
+WHILE IN PRINCIPLE ENDORSING THE PROPOSED INCREASES, I CANNOT HELP FEELING THAT THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY MUST HAVE CONSIDERED AND REJECTED AN ALTERNATIVE MEANS OF MEETING THE $6.2 BILLION DEFICIT BY RAISING $2 BILLION IN INDIRECT TAXES AND THE BALANCE TO BE PAID OUT OF OUR FISCAL RESERVES,+ HE SAID.
♦ OBVIOUSLY, OUR RESERVES WOULD BE REDUCED BY A FURTHER $1 BILLION - FROM $15.5 BILLION TO $14.5 BILLION.
♦ BUT WOULD THAT REALLY MATTER IN THE CONTEXT OF OUR ECONOMY AND IN VIEW OF THE RECORD OF OUR PAST PERFORMANCE?* NR WONG ASKED.
HE THOUGHT THE BURDEN ON THE CONSUMER WOULD BE CONSIDERABLY LIGHTENED IF THE VERY HEAVY INCREASES IN REGARD TO THE FI8ST THREE PROPOSALS WERE TO BE CUT BY 50 PER CENT.
SPEAKING ON THE TWO CONCESSIONS AND THE TAX REFORM, MR WONG OPINED THAT THEY WERE NOT COSMETIC BUT RATHER A GENUINE AND SINCERE CONCERN ON THE PART OF THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO LESSEN THE BURDEN OF THE TAXPAYER AND TO IMPROVE THE TAX SYSTEM.
HE ALSO COMMENTED BRIEFLY ON THE EXCHANGE FUND WHICH, HE SAID, WAS ENTIRELY MANAGED FROM HONG KONG.
♦ OUR FISCAL RESERVES ARE LENT TO THIS FUND AGAINST INTEREST BEARING CERTIFICATES.
♦ THERE IS THEREFORE NO QUESTION THAT OUR FISCAL RESERVES ARE NOT MANAGED BY OURSELVES AND THEREFORE NOT REALLY AT OUR OWN DISPOSAL.*
ON THE ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE FOR 1983-84, MR WONG AGREED WITH THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S GUIDELINE IN IMPOSING A CASH LIMIT OF TEN PER CENT TO THE GROWTH RATE IN PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE AND IN AIMING TO KEEP CIVIL SERVICE GROWTH OVERALL TO BELOW FIVE PER CENT.
HE SAID IT WAS REASSURING THAT DESPITE ADVERSE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT CUT BACK ON COMMITTED PROGRAMMES OR ESSENTIAL SERVICES.
HOWEVER, HE EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT AT A TIME WHEN SERIOUS CRIMES WERE ON THE INCREASE, THE EXPANSION OF THE POLICE FORCx IN 1983-84 WOULD BE LIMITED.
/♦THE NUMBER .......
WjuUNESDAY, MARCH 25, 1985
14
♦THE NUMBER OF DISCIPLINED PERSONNEL IN THE REGULAR FORCE WILL INCREASE FROM 23 476 AT THE END OF 1982 TO ABOUT 24 420 AT THE END OF 1983, WHICH REPRESENTS ABOUT FOUR PER CENT.
+THIS IS BELOW THE FIVE PER CENT GROWTH RATE IMPOSED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY.
+PERHAPS SOME RE-CONSIDERATION MAY BE IN ORDER.*
MR WONG ALSO SPOKE OF THE POSSIBLE SALARY ADJUSTMENT FOR THE PUBLIC SECTOR WHICH, IF REQUIRED, WOULD BE TRANSFERRED FROM THE ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS VOTE OF $1.3 BILLION.
BUT HE CAUTIONED THAT ANY SALARY ADJUSTMENT IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR SHOULD NOT EXCEED FIVE PER CENT, WHICH WOULD AMOUNT TO SOME $700 MILLION.
*THIS WOULD LEAVE SOME $600 MILLION IN THE ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS VOTE FOR UNFORESEEN COMMITMENTS NOT PROVIDED FOR IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES,* HE SAID.
-------0----------
CALL FOR CONCESSION IN PROPERTY RATES
* * * *
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER SOME CONCESSION OVER THE PERCENTAGE TO BE CHARGED FOR PROPERTY RATES AND MAKE UP THE LOSS THROUGH INCREASED PROFIT TAX, THE HON WONG LAM SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
MANY OF THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S REVENUE-BOOSTING PROPOSALS REFLECTED THE SPIRIT OF HIS STATED TASK TO NARROW THE GAP BETWEEN THE SUCCESSFUL AND THE POOR BY IMPROVING THE LATTER’S LOT, M? WONG SAID.
BUT HE ADDED THAT THE PROPOSAL TO RAISE LEVIED FOR RATES TO 13-1/2 PER CENT +DEPARTS AND +DESERVES AN IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION*.
THE PERCENTAGE TO BE FROM THIS SPIRIT*
ACCORDING TO THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S ESTIMATE, THE CHANGE WOULD MEAN A 17.4 PER CENT INCREASE IN THE URBAN RATES, MR WONG NOTED.
ON THE SURFACE, THE RICH OWNERS ARE NOT LIKELY TO BE GREATLY AFFECTED BY THIS INCREASE, BUT NOT ALL THE OWNERS ARE RICH, HE SAID.
HE ADDED THAT WORSE STILL, RATE-PAYERS WERE OFTEN NOT EVEN QUALIFIED TO BE OWNERS BUT WERE ONLY TENANTS WITH AVERAGE INCOMES.
/M3 WONG ......
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1983
- 15 -
MR WONG POINTED OUT THAT IN RECENT MONTHS, THE AVERAGE INCOME GROUP HAD FACED INCREASED CHARGES FOR WATER, TRANSPORT, ELECTRICITY, TELEPHONE AND OTHER SERVICES.
♦VIEWED IN ISOLATION, THE INDIVIDUAL INCREASES MAY NOT BE GREAT, BUT TAKEN TOGETHER AS A WHOLE, THEY UNDOUBTEDLY DEAL A bEAVY BLOW TO THE LIVING STANDARD OF MANY SMALL OWNERS OR TENANTS,* HE SAID.
MR WONG EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT BEFORE DETERMINING THE NEW RATE PERCENTAGE, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD VIEW WITH SYMPATHY THE DIFFICULTIES CONFRONTING THESE PEOPLE AND TAKE APPROPRIATE MEASURES TO AVOID DEALING AN UNINTENDED BLOW AT THEM.
♦ADMITTEDLY, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT ’SQUEEZE’ THE RICH IN ORDER TO MAKE THEM SHOULDER THE RESPONSIBILITY COMPLETELY, BUT NEITHER SHOULD IT UNNECESSARILY REFRAIN FROM ASKING THE RICH TO MAKE A GREATER CONTRIBUTION THAN USUAL,+ HE SAID.
MR WONG RECALLED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD RAISED THE RATE CF PROFIT TAX IN THE MID-SEVENTIES AND SUBSEQUENTLY REDUCED IT WHEN THE ECONOMY IMPROVED.
AS THE REVENUE FROM PROFIT TAX FOR FISCAL 1983-84 IS ESTIMATED AT $7.7 BILLION, MR WONG RECKONED THAT AN INCREASE OF ONE PER CENT IN THE RATE FOR THIS TAX WOULD BOOST GOVERNMENT REVENUE BY OVER $460 MILLION.
HE DESCRIBED THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S PROPOSAL TO RAISE ALLOWANCES FOR DEPENDENT PARENTS AS +VERY APPROPRIATE AND WORTHY OF SUPPORT*.
BUT IN HIS VIEW, THE REQUIREMENT THAT TAXPAYERS MUST LIVE WITH THEIR PARENTS + IS OPEN TO QUESTION*.
+AS THE LOSS OF REVENUE IS NOT TOO GREAT, I AM OF THE OPINION THAT THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY MIGHT AS WELL CONSIDER CANCELLING THIS REQUIREMENT, SO THAT TAXPAYERS WHO REALLY SUPPORT THEIR PARENTS WILL BE BENEFITED,* MR WONG SAID.
HE ALSO QUESTIONED WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONTINUE TO OPERATE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
IN EDUCATION AS WELL AS IN SOME OTHER AREAS, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ONLY DETERMINE POLICIES AND LEAVE THE ACTUAL IMPLEMENTATION TO PRIVATE OR VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, HE ADDED.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1983
- 16 -
INDIRECT TAX PROPOSALS CALLED ’DRASTIC’
* * *
SOME OF THE INDIRECT TAX PROPOSALS INCORPORATED IN THE BUDGET WERE DESCRIBED AS +DRASTIC MEASURES* BY DR THE HON RAYSON HUANG.
+INCREASES OF OVER 50 PER CENT AND IN SOME CASES AS HIGH AS 300 PER CENT DEFY THE DESCRIPTION OF MODERATE, PARTICULARLY WHEN THEIR MAIN IMPACT WILL BE ON THE SANDWICH CLASS,* HE SAID, AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
+THE ONLY SMILING FACES FROM THIS BUDGET WILL BE THOSE ON THE AFFLUENT, AND I CONFESS THAT I WOULD PREFER TO SEE THEM, RATHER THAN THE MAN IN THE STREET, LOOKING A LITTLE GLUM.
+A PROGRESSIVE INCREASE IN DIRECT TAX AT THE HIGHER LEVELS CF INCOME MIGHT NOT PRODUCE SO MUCH REVENUE BUT IT WOULD AT LEAST PROVIDE THE CONSOLATION THAT THOSE WHO COULD AFFORD IT BEST WERE CONTRIBUTING SOMETHING EXTRA WHEN TIMES ARE HARD.*
HE POINTED OUT THAT IT WAS GENERALLY ACCEPTED THAT DIRECT TAX WAS MORE EQUITABLE AS IT WAS BASED MORE ON THE PRINCIPLE CF ABILITY TO PAY.
+IT IS CERTAINLY ARGUABLE THAT HONG KONG’S FINANCIAL SUCCESS IN THE PAST HAS HINGED ENTIRELY ON OUR LOW DIRECT TAX STRUCTURE, AND I AM INCLINED TO SUGGEST THAT IT IS DUE AS MUCH TO BOTH BUSINESS FINANCE AND LABOUR BEING ABLE TO RELY ON ANY CHANGES IN THE TAXATION LEVEL BEING GRADUAL RATHER THAN DRASTIC,* HE ADDED.
WITH REGARD TO INDIRECT TAX, DR HUANG STRESSED THAT HE HAD NO OBJECTION TO A STEADY INCREASE IN INDIRECT TAXATION, OR TO A HEFTY INCREASE WHICH CLEARLY AFFECTED ONLY THOSE WHO COULD WELL AFFORD TO PAY.
BUT HE EXPRESSED FEARS THAT THERE WAS A REAL DANGER OF THE DRASTIC INCREASES PROPOSED CAUSING SEVERE HARDSHIP TO SOME WHO REALLY COULD NOT AFFORD THEM.
HE QUOTED THE EXAMPLE OF THE 300 PER CENT INCREASE IN THE DRIVING LICENCE WHICH, HE MAINTAINED, WOULD AFFECT ALL THOSE WHO NEEDED SUCH A LICENCE FOR THEIR LIVELIHOOD AND PEOPLE OF THE LOW INCOME GROUPS RATHER MORE THAN EVEN THE MIDDLE CLASSES.
THE DRASTIC INCREASE IN VEHICLE LICENCE FEES, THE SECOND WITHIN A YEAR WAS ANOTHER AREA OF CONCERN.
STATING THAT THE INTENTION OF THIS YEAR’S INCREASE WAS DIFFERENT FROM LAST YEAR’S +HORRENDOUS+ INCREASES WHICH WERE MEANT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CARS ON THE ROAD, DR HUANG CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT +T0 MAKE THE INCREASE THIS TIME MUCH LESS SUBSTANTIAL OR NONE AT ALL FOR THE SMALL CAR WHILE TAXING HIGHLY THE OWNERS CF PRESTIGE CARS BOTH IN VEHICLE LICENCE COST AND IN PURCHASE TAX.*
HE EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY WOULD ADOPT, AS HE HAD PROMISED TO CONSIDER, AN AD VALOREM DUTY ON ALCOHOL RATHER THAN A UNITARY SYSTEM OF LEVY.
ON THE SUBJECT OF SUPPORT FOR THE BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE, DR HUANG SAID IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE THAT THE MARKET FORCES ON WHICH HONG KONG’S ECONOMY DEPENDED, OPERATED FAIRLY, EFFICIENTLY AND SPEEDILY.
/HE THOUGHT......
17
HE THOUGHT THAT THE IMMEDIATE CONCERN WAS TO CREATE A SUITABLE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT FOR INDUSTRY THROUGH THE PROVISION OF ADEQUATE TRAINING, RESEARCH, TRADE PROMOTION, LAND FORMATION, ADEQUATE TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION.
♦EXPENDITURE ON THESE SERVICES SHOULD NOT BE TREATED AS A KIND OF WELFARE OR RELIEF TO INDUSTRY BUT AS POSITIVE MEASURES TO SUPPLY THE MISSING LINKS EXISTING IN THE FREE MARKET.
♦WITHOUT THESE SERVICES, THE PRIVATE SECTOR WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO RESPOND CORRECTLY AND SPEEDILY TO THE RAPID CHANGES IN OUR ECONOMY.
♦ THUS, THE PROVISION OF THESE SERVICES SERVES PUBLIC AND NOT JUST INDIVIDUAL INTEREST.
♦ IT SEEMS TO ME THEREFORE VERY REASONABLE TO DRAW ON PUBLIC RESOURCES TO FINANCE THESE SERVICES.+
TURNING TO THE BANDS OF TAXABLE INCOME, DR HUANG QUESTIONED THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S ASSERTION THAT THE UNCHANGING WIDTH OF THE TAX BANDS +DOES NOT PUSH THE MIDDLE AND LOWER INCOME TAX PAYERS INTO HIGHER TAX BRACKETS THROUGH THE EFFECTS OF INFLATION, AND THUS CAUSE THEM A LOSS OF REAL PURCHASING POWER.*
HE NOTED THAT A COUPLE WITH A YEARLY INCOME RANGE OF $70 000 IN 1978 WILL HAVE THEIR TAX RATE INCREASED FROM 8.9 PER CENT TO 9.6 PER CENT.
THIS, HE EXPLAINED, WAS CALCULATED ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT $100 IN 1978 WAS EQUAL TO $176 IN 1982 AFTER ALLOWING FOR CHANGES IN CONSUMER PRICES.
EQUALLY, A SINGLE PERSON EARNING THE EQUIVALENT TODAY OF $40 000 A YEAR IN 1978 WOULD HAVE HIS EFFECTIVE TAX RATE INCREASED FROM 6.56 PER CENT TO 7.95 PER CENT.
♦ THESE INCREASES MAY BE RELATIVELY SLIGHT AND MAY NOT BITE DEEPLY BUT THEY COMPARE UNFAVOURABLY WITH THE RICH MAN WHOSE 15 PER CENT RATE HAS LONG REMAINED UNALTERED,+ HE SAID.
DR HUANG SAID THE AIRPORT LEVY IN SOUTHEAST ASIA WAS GENERALLY MUCH LOWER THAN THE $100 DEPARTURE TAX PROPOSED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY AND WARNED THAT THIS COULD BE COUNTERPRODUCTIVE.
♦ WE MAY GRADUALLY, IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL, LOSE OUR EDGE OF ATTRACTIVENESS.
♦ IT WOULD BE EASY FOR TOUR OPERATORS TO REPLACE HONG KONG IN SOME OF THEIR ITINERARIES BY ONE OF OUR NEIGHBOURS,+ HE SAID.
DR HUANG WONDERED WHETHER IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO TAX THE TRAVELLER ON ARRIVAL +WHEN HE IS EAGER AND EXPECTANT AND LIKELY TO MIND LESS+.
♦ SINCE IT IS REVENUE INTENDED FOR THE TOURIST ASSOCIATION I WONDER »F WE MIGHT ASK THE ASSOCIATION TO ECONOMISE A LITTLE BY BEING LESS GENEROUS IN ITS FREE HANDOUTS.
♦ IT WOULD BE LESS DAMAGING TO GOODWILL,* HE ADDED.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1983
18
EXPEDITIOUS RESOLUTION ON HONG KONG’S FUTURE SEEN * * * *
THE BELIEF WAS EXPRESSED BY THE HON CHARLES YEUNG TODAY THAT +A PRAGMATIC AND FLEXIBLE APPROACH WOULD BE ADOPTED BY ALL CONCERNED TO ACHIEVE AN EXPEDITIOUS AND MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL RESOLUTION ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.+
SUCH A RESOLUTION, HE ADDED, WOULD TAKE DUE REGARD OF THE WISHES OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
SPEAKING DURING THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR YEUNG SAID HE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF MEETING VARIOUS CHINESE LEADERS DURING A VISIT TO PEKING WITH SOME OF HIS COLLEAGUES FROM THE NEW TERRITORIES HEUNG YEE KUK TWO MONTHS AGO.
♦ TO MY UNDERSTANDING, BOTH LONDON AND PEKING ARE WELL AWARE OF THE ADVERSE EFFECTS AND THE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES OF A PROTRACTED PERIOD OF UNCERTAINTY,* HE SAID.
HE SAID THAT THE ATMOSPHERE OF POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY WAS ONE OF THE MANY FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE DISAPPOINTING PERFORMANCE OF THE ECONOMY.
ON THE GROWTH RATE OF PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE, MR YEUNG NOTED THAT PUBLIC SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT WOULD ONLY INCREASE BY 4.6 PER CENT IN 1983-84.
HE SAID THAT THIS WOULD INCONVENIENCE SOME NEW SERVICES, SUCH AS THOSE IN THE RECREATION AND CULTURE AND THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENTS.
HE EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE PROGRAMME OF REVIEWS OF DEPARTMENTAL ESTABLISHMENT BEING CARRIED OUT BY THE FINANCE BRANCH WOULD ENABLE THESE SERVICES TO BE DEVELOPED AND OTHER SERVICES TO BE MAINTAINED BY TRANSFER BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS WHERE PRACTICABLE THROUGH REGRADING AND RE-DEPLOYMENT OF STAFF.
♦ THIS COULD BE ACHIEVED WITH THE HELP OF OTHER CONTROLLING OFFICERS AND THEIR DEPARTMENTAL ESTABLISHMENT COMMITTEES AND THE RESULTING FLEXIBILITY COULD GREATLY IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY.
♦ GENUINELY URGENT REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL STAFF COULD THEN BE PROCESSED WITHOUT DELAY,+ HE SAID.
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/19........
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1983
19
CALL FOR GREATER COST-EFFECTIVENESS * * * * *
A CALL FOR REVIVAL OF THE DEPARTMENTAL COST REDUCTION COMMITTEE CONCEPT TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY OF CIVIL SERVANTS WAS MADE BY DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI.
HE SAID SUCH COMMITTEES WERE CONSIDERED VERY EFFECTIVE IN LOCATING AREAS WHERE SAVINGS IN EXPENDITURE COULD BE FOUND DURING THE ECONOMIC RECESSION IN THE EARLY 197O’S.
ALTHOUGH THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE AND THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT WERE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE IN REVEALING INADEQUACIES IN PUBLIC EXPENDITURE AND IN MAKING PUBLIC OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEM, THEIR FINDINGS WERE NEVERTHELESS +HISTORICAL+, DR HO SAID.
+WHAT WE NEED IN ADDITION IS AN ON-GOING MECHANISM WHEREBY DEPARTMENTS ARE CONSTANTLY REVIEWING THEIR EXPENDITURE, AND CONTROLLING OFFICERS CONSTANTLY REMINDED OF THE CONCEPT OF COST-EFFECTIVENESS,* HE SAID.
IN ADDITION TO EFFECTING POSSIBLE SAVINGS ON SUCH ITEMS AS FUEL, LIGHT AND POWER, STORES AND EQUIPMENT, TRANSPORT AND TRAVELLING, HE SAID, THE DEPARTMENTAL COST REDUCTION COMMITTEES SHOULD ALSO LOOK INTO:
* THE RATIONALISATION AND POSSIBLE MERGER OF FUNCTIONS TO OPTIMISE RESOURCES AND AVOID DUPLICATION ;
* THE EXISTING RANGE OF SERVICES TO CHECK, IN THE LIGHT OF CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES, THAT THEY ARE STILL SERVING THE INTENDED PURPOSES; AND
* THE MAJOR ITEMS OF EXPENDITURE, ESPECIALLY THOSE
INVOLVED PHASED IMPLEMENTATION, TO AVOID DELAY, SLIPPAGES AND THE INEVITABLE RESULT - INCREASE IN COST.
TURNING TO ADULT EDUCATION, DR HO MAINTAINED THAT THIS FORM OF ACADEMIC OR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION WAS ESPECIALLY USEFUL IN HONG KONG.
+A VERSATILE, ADAPTABLE MANPOWER IS ESSENTIAL FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH,* HE STATED.
+THE GOVERNMENT MUST THEREFORE NOT CEASE TO PROVIDE OR UPGRADE RESEARCH AND TRAINING FACILITIES IN A BID TO MODERNISE OUR TECHNOLOGY AND TO UPDATE OUR SKILLED MANPOWER, SO THAT OUR WORKFORCE IS EVER READY TO CAPITALISE ON THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC UPTURN, WHEN THE SLIGHTEST SIGNS OF RECOVERY BEGIN TO SURFACE.*
/although ........
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 1983
- 2C -
ALTHOUGH GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION TO VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS OFFERING ADULT EDUCATION COURSES HAD BEEN INCREASING - FROM $300 000 IN 1981-82, $434 000 IN 1982-83 TO $1.88 MILLION IN 1983-84, DR HO SAID, THERE WAS A LACK OF CO-ORDINATION BETWEEN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS CONCERNED TO ENABLE ITS FURTHER DEVELOPMENT.
+1 THEREFORE VENTURE TO SUGGEST THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ADULT EDUCATION, TO BE FORMED ALONG THE LINES OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WITH MEMBERSHIP COMPRISING BOTH GOVERNMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENT EXPERTS IN THIS SUBJECT,* HE SAID.
THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, DR HO ADDED, SHOULD CO-ORDINATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADULT EDUCATION AND ADVISE ON THE PRINCIPLES OF SUBVENTION APPLICABLE TO ELIGIBLE ORGANISATIONS. IT SHOULD ALSO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE TRAINING OF ADULT EDUCATION TEACHERS, DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHING MATERIALS AND OTHER FACILITIES FOR RUNNING ADULT EDUCATION AND CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES.
ON THE SUBJECT OF LABOUR AND MANAGEMENT RELATION, DR HO EMPHASISED THAT BOTH THE WORKERS AND THE MANAGEMENT SHOULD SHARE ONE COMMON GOAL - TO SECURE A HIGHER STANDARD OF LIVING FOR THEMSELVES, FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND FOR THE COMMUNITY OF WHICH THEY WERE AN INTEGRAL PART.
HE SAID THAT AT THIS TIME OF SHRINKING WORLD TRADE, MOUNTING PROTECTIONISM AND INCREASING UNILATERAL RESTRICTIONS, SECTORAL AIMS MUST BE RELEGATED AND CO-OPERATION INSTALLED IN A BID TO WEATHER THE ECONOMIC ADVERSITIES.
HE WAS THEREFORE PLEASED TO SEE THAT LABOUR DEPARTMENT’S LABOUR RELATIONS DIVISION WHICH WAS CHARGED WITH THE TASK OF PROMOTING A HARMONIOUS LABOUR AND MANAGEMENT RELATIONS, HAD BEGUN TO TAKE MORE INITIATIVE IN CREATING A CONGENIAL CLIMATE FOR THE NURTURING OF A POSITIVE LABOUR RELATIONS POLICIES AND PRACTICES.
WITH AN ADDITIONAL $1 MILLION BUDGETED FOR IN 1983-84, DR HO SAID, HE HOPED THAT THE DIVISION WOULD EXPAND ITS PROMOTION AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES IN TERMS OF BOTH SIZE OF AUDIENCE AND VARIETY AND REVIEW ITS CURRENT CONCILIATION STRATEGIES ON LABOUR DISPUTES.
THE DIVISION SHOULD ALSO INCULCATE IN MANAGEMENT AND LABOUR A NEW SOCIAL ATTITUDE AND ETHICAL COMMITMENT TOWARD THE COMMON GOOD CF THE WIDER COMMUNITY AND PROMOTE THE DESIRABILITY OF THE USE OF PEACEFUL AND NON-LITIGIOUS MEANS ON THE PART OF THE LABOUR TO PURSUE THEIR SECTORAL INTERESTS, HE ADDED.
DISCUSSING POLICE STRENGTH IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, HE NOTED THAT THE POPULATION IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WOULD INCREASE FROM 1.5 MILLION IN 1982 TO 1.6 MILLION THIS YEAR.
/CX TCP ........
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1983
21
ON TOP OF THIS PLANNED GROWTH, HE SAID, THE NEW TERRITORIES WOULD RECEIVE A CONTINUOUS INFLUX OF FIRE AND OTHER NATURAL DISASTER VICTIMS AND PEOPLE CLEARED FROM CROWN LAND RESUMPTIONS.
+THIS INCREASE IN POPULATION BRINGS IN ITS WAKE A SERIES OF CHANGES IN THE SOCIAL FABRIC OF THE REGION,+ HE SAID.
♦ AS A CONSEQUENCE, CRIMES AND PERVERSION OF ALL KINDS PREVAIL.*
CITING STATISTICS, DR HO SAID POLICE PERSONNEL DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE MAINTENANCE OF LAW AND ORDER DUTIES IN 1982-83 TOTALLED 6 032 IN THE KOWLOON REGION, 3 573 IN THE HONG KONG ISLAND REGION AND 3 863 IN THE NEW TERRITORIES REGION.
GIVING A RATIO OF POLICE STRENGTH TO EVERY 1 000 OF POPULATION AT 2.40 FOR KOWLOON, 2.86 FOR HONG KONG AND 2.62 FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE CORRESPONDING RATIOS FOR 1983 ARE 2.48, 2.89 AND 2.50 RESPECTIVELY.
♦ IT IS OBVIOUS FROM THESE STATISTICS THAT AMONG THE POLICE REGIONS, THE NEW TERRITORIES’ RELATIVE SHARE OF POLICE STRENGTH HAS ACTUALLY BEEN REDUCED IN SPITE OF THE PROBLEMS I MENTIONED EARLIER.
♦ AS I SEE IT, WITH DEPLOYMENT OF THE POLICE ON THE BASIS OF THE PREVALENT CRIME LEVEL, GEOGRAPHICAL SPREAD, THE RATE OF INCREASE IN POPULATION, AND THE CHANGING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DEMOGRAPHIC STRUCTURE, NEW TERRITORIES REGION DESERVES A BETTER DEAL.**
HE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO GIVE SYMPATHETIC AND FAIR CONSIDERATION WHEN PLANNING FOR EXPANSION OF THE POLICE FORCE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES REGION, IN PARTICULAR THE FAST GROWING NEW TOWNS CF SHA TIN, TAI PO AND TUEN MUN.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1983
22
REVISED CHARGES AT GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS * * * * *
CHARGES FOR STAYING IN A GENERAL WARD OR THIRD CLASS BED IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AND FOR MEDICAL CONSULTATIONS AT GOVERNMENT OUTPATIENT CLINICS WILL BE REVISED AS FROM APRIL 1, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THE INCREASED CHARGES HAVE BEEN ENDORSED BY THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
THE COST OF STAYING IN A THIRD CLASS BED IN A GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL WILL BE INCREASED FROM THE PRESENT $5 PER DAY TO $10. THE RATES FOR SPECIAL ASIAN DIET AND EUROPEAN DIET IN THE GENERAL wARDS WILL ALSO BE CORRESPONDINGLY INCREASED.
SIMILARLY, THE SAME SCALE WILL APPLY TO HOME VISITS BY COMMUNITY NURSES — FROM THE PRESENT $5 PER VISIT TO $10.
AT THE SAME TIME, CONSULTATIONS AT A GENERAL OUTPATIENT CLINIC WILL BE INCREASED FROM $3 TO $5 PER VISIT AND FROM $3 TO $6 PER CONSULTATION AT A SPECIALIST CLINIC.
COMMENTING ON THE INCREASES, THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE DAILY MAINTENANCE RATE FOR A THIRD CLASS BED IN THE GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS HAS REMAINED AT THE PRESENT LEVEL SINCE 1977 AND THAT THE CHARGES FOR ATTENDANCE AT THE GENERAL OUTPATIENT CLINICS WERE LAST REVISED IN 1983.
♦ EVEN WITH THE INCREASED RATE, IT IS BARELY SUFFICIENT TO COVER THE COST OF THE HOSPITAL MEAL,+ HE SAID.
HE SAID THAT THE REVISED CHARGES STILL REPRESENT A SUBSTANTIAL SUBSIDY FROM PUBLIC FUNDS AS THE OVERALL DAILY COST PER BED WORKS OUT TO $382 IN QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL, $441 IN PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL AND $583 IN QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL.
THE AVERAGE COST PER ATTENDANCE IN A GENERAL OUTPATIENT CLINIC IS ABOUT $33 WHILE THE COST OF A SPECIALIST ATTENDANCE AMOUNTS TO MORE THAN $83.
♦WHILE CHARGES FOR THIRD CLASS WARDS ARE PURELY NOMINAL AND IT HAS NEVER BEEN THE INTENTION OF THE GOVERNMENT TO RECOVER THE FULL COST, IT IS CONSIDERED THAT SOME INCREASE IS JUSTIFIED HAVING REGARD TO THE HIGH LEVEL OF SUBSIDY FROM PUBLIC FUNDS,+ HE ADDED.
THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT THERE ARE PROVISIONS TO REDUCE CR WAIVE THE CHARGES IN CASE OF GENUINE HARDSHIP.
THE PRESENT $1 PER VISIT TO FAMILY PLANNING CLINICS AND THE METHADONE CLINICS wILL REMAIN UNCHANGED.
and........
W3DN3SDAY, KARCH 23, 1°83
PREVENTIVE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES WILL ALSO CONTINUE TO REMAIN FREE AND THESE INCLUDE FAMILY HEALTH CENTRES WHICH PROVIDE ANTENATAL AND POST-NATAL EXAMINATIONS, IMMUNISATION AND ROUTINE DEVELOPMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR CHILDREN; TUBERCULOSIS AND CHEST CLINICS; SOCIAL HYGIENE CLINICS; LEPROSY CLINICS; FLOATING CLINICS AND TRAVELLING DISPENSARIES AND ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS IN MAJOR GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS.
HOWEVER, IN LINE WITH THE INCREASE IN SPECIALISTS OUTPATIENT CLINICS, CHARGES FOR PHYSIOTHERAPY AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ARE TO BE BROUGHT UP TO THE SAME LEVEL I.E. FROM THE PRESENT $3 PER TREATMENT TO $6. INJECTIONS AND DRESSINGS AT A GENERAL CLINIC wILL BE INCREASED FROM ®1 TO S2.
-----0------
MUCH PROGRESS MADE IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
*****
ACHIEVING THE RIGHT BALANCE IN PRIORITIES HAS BEEN THE CONSTANT BATTLE FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, THE COMMISSIONER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, DR STUART REED, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
ADDRESSING THE LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON WEST, DR REED SAID THE EPA MUST ALSO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE IN ALLOCATING LIMITED RESOURCES TO DEALING WITH THE BACKLOG OF EXISTING PROBLEMS AND TO SAFEGUARDING AGAINST THE CREATION OF NEW AND POTENTIALLY BIGGER PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE.
AT THE SAME TIME, HE POINTED OUT, THERE WAS THE SUBSTANTIAL TASK OF SETTING UP A NEW DEPARTMENT INVOLVING THE RECRUITMENT OF STAFF IN MANY DISCIPLINES, AND THE SELECTION, PURCHASE AND COMMISSIONING OF COMPLEX EQUIPMENT.
HE SAID, HOWEVER, THAT THE AGENCY HAD MADE GOOD PROGRESS ON MANY FRONTS SINCE ITS FORMAL ESTABLISHMENT JUST OVER TWO YEARS AGO.
HE POINTED TO THE CREATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK, WITH A WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AND WASTE DISPOSAL ORDINANCE ALREADY INTRODUCED, AN AIR POLLUTION CONTROL BILL CURRENTLY BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND A NOISE CONTROL BILL UNDER PREPARATION.
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS CITED BY DR REED WERE:
* THE INTRODUCTION OF CONTROLS ON A NUMBER OF LARGE NEW DEVELOPMENTS WHICH COULD OTHERWISE CAUSE WIDE-SPREAD AND SERIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE AND HAVE ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS;
* THE INTRODUCTION OF COST EFFECTIVE MONITORING NETWORKS AND SURVEY PROGRAMMES TO PROVIDE OBJECTIVE DATA ON LOCAL POLLUTION LEVELS SO THAT CONTROL MEASURES COULD BE ADOPTED FOR LOCAL NEEDS; AND
* MUCH IMPROVED COORDINATION WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT IN
DEALING WITH THE DISPOSAL OF TOXIC WASTES AND ENVIRONMENTAL EMERGENCIES GENERALLY.
'.73DN3S3AY, MARCH 2 3, <?83
- 24 -
+IT IS VERY ENCOURAGING THAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY IS INCREASINGLY BEING CONSULTED AT THE VERY EARLIEST PLANNING STAGE ON SUCH THINGS AS NEW TOWNS, NEW ROADS, OUTLINE ZONING PLANS, SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS AND SO ON,+ DR REED SAID.
BUT HE ADDED THAT THERE WAS ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.
HE EXPRESSED DISAPPOINTMENT THAT THERE HAD NOT BEEN GREATER IMPROVEMENT IN SUCH LONG-STANDING PROBLEMS AS SMOKE EMISSIONS FROM ROAD VEHICLES, PILING NOISE, THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF TRANSPORTATION NOISE ON SCHOOLS, THE KAI TAK NULLAH PROBLEM AND THE SEVERE POLLUTION CF STREAMS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
HE ADDED, HOWEVER, THAT PLANS WERE IN HAND +TO BRING EVEN THESE APPARENTLY INTRACTABLE PROBLEMS WITHIN ACCEPTABLE BOUNDS.+
------0 ------
AID-OFFER TO PRIVATE KINDERGARTENS * * * *
GUIDELINES ON HOW TO APPLY FOR CHANGE TO NON-PROFIT-MAKING STATUS HAVE BEEN CIRCULATED TO ALL PRIVATE KINDERGARTENS SO THAT THEY MAY BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE.
+ IT IS THE INTENTION OF THE GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO NON-PROFIT-MAKING KINDERGARTENS SO THAT THEIR STANDARDS CAN BE IMPROVED AND MAINTAINED.
+ALL KINDERGARTENS ARE THEREFORE ENCOURAGED TO CHANGE -TO NON-PROFIT-MAKING STATUS IN THE FIRST INSTANCE IN ORDER THAT THEY MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE,* AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY.
THE GUIDELINES ALSO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE CRITERIA FOR NON-PROFIT-MAKING STATUS, AND HOW PRIVATE KINDERGARTENS CAN CHANGE TO NON-PROFIT-MAKING STATUS.
HOWEVER, HE CAUTIONED THAT THE ACQUISITION OF NON-PROFIT-MAKING STATUS ALONE DID NOT GUARANTEE ASSISTANCE IN THE FORM OF RE-IMBURSEMENT OF RENTALS AND RATES.
INTERESTED PRIVATE KINDERGARTENS SHOULD APPLY TO THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT BEFORE TAKING LEGAL PROCEDURES FOR INCORPORATION AS NON-PROFIT-MAKING BODIES, HE SAID.
EACH APPLICATION WILL BE STUDIED BY A DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE, AND SINCE CIRCUMSTANCES WILL VARY FROM SCHOOL TO SCHOOL EACH CASE WILL BE CONSIDERED ON ITS OWN MERITS.
+A PRIVATE KINDERGARTEN CAN CHANGE TO NON-PROFIT-MAKING STATUS EITHER BY THE SCHOOL OPERATORS INCORPORATING THEMSELVES AS A NON-PROFIT-MAKING BODY, OR BY HANDING THE SCHOOL OVER TO AN ESTABLISHED NON-PROFIT-MAKING SPONSOR,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
IN APPLYING, THE PRIVATE KINDERGARTENS SHOULD PROVIDE THE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF THEIR SCHOOLS, THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES, DETAILS OF THE SCHOOL PREMISES, THEIR FINANCIAL STATUS AND OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION.
ENQUIRIES SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE SENIOR EDUCATION OFFICER (SCHOOLS), EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, LEE GARDENS, THIRD FLOOR, HYSAN AVENUE, HONG KONG, OR ON TELEPHONE 5-8392322.
------Q _ - _ _
____ /25 ......
25
ificuii luux/rk 1 , bitUU/H 1 J
TREMENDOUS CHANGE IN TUEN MUN
*****
TUEN MUN HAS UNDERGONE A TREMENDOUS CHANGE FROM A FISHING VILLAGE INTO A FAST DEVELOPING INDUSTRIAL NEW TOWN AND, OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, HAD A THREE-FOLD INCREASE IN POPULATION, THE OUTGOING DISTRICT OFFICER, MR BILLY LAM, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
+AN AVERAGE OF 50 000 TO 60 000 PEOPLE MOVED INTO THE TOWN EVERY YEAR, AND THE POPULATION IS EXPECTED TO REACH 350 000 BY 1985,+ HE SAID.
SPEAKING AT A FAREWELL PARTY ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 600 COMMUNITY LEADERS, MR LAM RECALLED THAT THERE WERE ONLY 70 000 RESIDENTS IN TUEN MUN WHEN HE BEGAN HIS WORK AS THE DISTRICT OFFICER THREE YEARS AGO.
+ IN ORDER TO COPE WITH THE FAST GROWING NEED, THE GOVERNMENT HAS PUT IN GREAT EFFORT IN BUILDING COMMUNITY FACILITIES IN THE DISTRICT,* HE SAID.
ON HOUSING, FOR INSTANCE, A NUMBER OF PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES HAVE BEEN COMPLETED DURING THE YEARS, AND THE SIU HONG COURT -HONG KONG’S LARGEST HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME - HAD RECEIVED GOOD RESPONSE WITH ALL UNITS IN THE PHASE I BEING SOLD OUT, HE SAID.
ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTS, HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD SPEND $400 MILLION TO BUILD A CULTURAL COMPLEX IN THE DISTRICT, AND THE PILING WORK FOR PHASE I HAD ALREADY BEEN COMPLETED.
+UPON COMPLETION, THE COMPLEX WILL HAVE A TOWN HALL, GOVERNMENT OFFICES, BUS TERMINUS AND A MULTI-STOREY CAR PARK, AND TOGETHER WITH THE NEW YAU 01 SPORTS CENTRE, RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL FACILITIES IN THE NEW TOWN WILL BE GREATLY IMPROVED,* HE SAID.
ON THE WORK OF THE DISTRICT BOARD, MR LAM SAID THROUGH AN INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE, THEY WOULD HELP PROMOTE INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENTS IN THE DISTRICT, AND CREATE JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS.
MR LAM WILL TAKE UP HIS NEW POST AS DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT TOMORROW. THE NEW DISTRICT OFFICER WILL BE MR RICKY FUNG.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES FOR FEBRUARY * * * *
THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A) AND CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (B) FOR FEBRUARY 1983 WERE BOTH 138, EACH BEING THREE POINTS OR 2.2 PER CENT HIGHER THAN THE PRECEDING MONTH, ACCORDING TO FIGURES PUBLISHED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
COMPARED WITH FEBRUARY 1982, CPI (A) ADVANCED BY 11 POINTS OR 8.7 PER CENT AND CPI (B) BY 12 POINTS OR 9.5 PER CENT. DURING THE THREE-MONTH PERIOD ENDING IN FEBRUARY 1983, BOTH THE SEASONALLY ADJUSTED CPI (A) AND CPI (B) ROSE AT AN AVERAGE RATE OF 0.7 PER CENT EACH MONTH.
flSDN’jJSDAY, ’4AHCH 23, 1983
- 26 -
DURING FEBRUARY, FOOD PRICES, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF FRESH VEGETABLES AND LIVE POULTRY, AND HAIRDRESSING CHARGES WERE HIGHER, REFLECTING A STRONG CONSUMER DEMAND DURING THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS AND AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FRESH VEGETABLES BECAUSE OF THE ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. RETAIL PRICES OF CIGARETTES AND ALCOHOLIC DRINKS ALSO WENT UP IN THE LATTER PART OF THE MONTH AS A RESULT OF INCREASED DUTIES.
THE CPI (A) AND CPI (B) ARE BASED ON THE EXPENDITURE PATTERNS CF 50 PER CENT AND 30 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY, OF URBAN HOUSEHOLDS IN HONG KONG, WHICH WERE DERIVED FROM THE 1979/80 HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE SURVEY. THE CPI (A) REFERRED TO HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN Si 000 AND $3 499 A MONTH AND THE CPI (B) TO HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN S3 500 AND $6 499 A MONTH AT THAT TIME.
THE INDEXES FOR FEBRUARY 1983 IN RESPECT OF THE NINE COMMODITY/ SERVICE SECTIONS IN THE TWO CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES ARE GIVEN BELOW, TOGETHER WITH THOSE FOR JANUARY 1983 AND FEBRUARY 1982.
(OCTOBER 1979 TO SEPTEMBER 1980 AVERAGE - 100)
CPI (A) CPI (B)
SECTION FEB 82 JAN 83 FEB 83 FEB 82 JAN 83 FEB 83
FOODSTUFFS 131 137 142 131 137 143
HOUSING 121 133 133 121 132 132
FUEL AND LIGHT 136 145 145 137 146 146
ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO (FOR HOME CONSUMPTION) 123 130 140 122 129 137
CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR 122 135 133 122 136 133
DURABLE GOODS 108 107 108 110 110 110
MISCELLANEOUS GOODS 120 128 130 117 127 130
TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES 137 145 147 134 147 148
SERVICES 129 144 148 129 142 147
ALL ITEMS 127 135 138 126 135 138
E.'OJX..........
WSDIJSSJAY, :.AKCH 23, 19&3
- 27 -
THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS INCREASED BY FIVE POINTS IN CPI (A) AND BY SIX POINTS IN CPI (B). THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF FRESH VEGETABLES, LIVE POULTRY, PORK, SALT-WATER FISH AND FRESH-WATER FISH INCREASED AS A RESULT OF STRONG DEMAND AROUND THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS. THE AVERAGE CHARGES FOR MEALS BOUGHT IN RESTAURANTS ALSO WENT UP. THE EFFECT OF THE MOVEMENTS IN THE RETAIL PRICES CF OTHER FOOD ITEMS ON THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS WAS INSIGNIFICANT.
OWING TO INCREASED DUTIES, RETAIL PRICES OF CIGARETTES AND ALCOHOLIC DRINKS WERE RAISED IN THE LATTER PART OF THE MONTH. CONSEQUENTLY, THE INDEX FOR ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO (FOR HOME CONSUMPTION) INCREASED BY 10 POINTS IN CPI (A) AND BY EIGHT POINTS IN CPI (B).
THE INDEX FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR DECREASED BY TWO POINTS IN CPI (A) AND BY THREE POINTS IN CPI (B) BECAUSE OF LOWER PRICES FOR OUTERCLOTHING.
THE INDEX FOR MISCELLANEOUS GOODS INCREASED BY TWO POINTS IN CPI (A) AND BY THREE POINTS IN CPI (B) AS A RESULT OF HIGHER PRICES FOR MEDICINES, JEWELLERY AND FRESH FLOWERS.
THE INDEX FOR TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES INCREASED BY TWO POINTS IN CPI (A) AND BY ONE POINT IN CP! (B) OWING TO HIGHER PRICES OF GASOLINE, HIGHER FEES FOR DRIVING AND VEHICLE LICENCES, AND HIGHER CHARGES FOR PUBLIC LIGHT BUS FARES.
THE INDEX FOR SERVICES INCREASED BY FOUR POINTS IN CPI (A) AND BY FIVE POINTS IN CPI (B) DUE TO HIGHER CHARGES FOR HAIRDRESSING BEFORE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR AND HIGHER CHARGES FOR PACKAGE TOURS AROUND THE LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS.
PRICE MOVEMENTS IN THE OTHER SECTIONS WERE INSIGNIFICANT.
DETAILS OF THESE PRICE MOVEMENTS ARE GIVEN IN THE +CONSUMER PRICE INDEX REPORT+ FOR FEBRUARY 1983. BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE VERSIONS OF THIS REPORT ARE AVAILABLE AT $3 PER COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, CONNAUGHT PLACE, HONG KONG.
FOR ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES, PLEASE CONTACT THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT AT TELEPHONE NO. 3-7216512.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED, FIGURES PRESENTED IN TH.S . ..u--RELEASE REFER TO CPI SERIES NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED.
/2t
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1983
- 28 -
MANPOWER SURVEY COVERING ALL CONSTRUCTION SITES AND FIRMS XXX
THE BUILDING AND CIVIL ENGINEERING TRAINING BOARD OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL IS CONDUCTING A SURVEY TO ASCERTAIN THE MANPOWER AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS IN THE INDUSTRY.
STARTING FROM TOMORROW (THURSDAY), INTERVIEWERS FROM THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT WILL GO ROUND TO ALL CONSULTING FIRMS AND WORK SITES TO COLLECT INFORMATION RELATING TO MANPOWER IN THE INDUSTRY.
THE SURVEY COVERS MORE THAN 1 500 PRIVATE CONSTRUCTION SITES AND 500 CONSULTING FIRMS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.
THESE CONSULTING FIRMS INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION, ARCHITECTURAL, SURVEYING AND ENGINEERING ESTABLISHMENTS.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TRAINING BOARD, MR HO SAI-CHU URGED EMPLOYERS IN THESE SITES AND FIRMS TO FULLY SUPPORT THE SURVEY.
HE STRESSED THAT THE INFORMATION WAS VITAL TO MANPOWER PLANNING AND THUS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE INDUSTRY.
EMPLOYERS ARE REQUESTED TO SUPPLY INFORMATION ON THE NUMBER CF THEIR EMPLOYEES, PRESENT VACANCIES AND WORKERS UNDER TR/INING.
AT THE SAME TIME, SIMILAR INFORMATION FROM THE PUBLIC SECTOR WILL ALSO BE GATHERED THROUGH THE HOUSING, BUILDING DEVELOPMENT, ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT AND WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENTS.
THE INFORMATION COLLECTED WILL BE HANDLED IN STRICT CONFIDENCE AND WILL BE PUBLISHED ONLY IN THE FORM OF STATISTICAL SUMMARIES WITHOUT REFERENCE TO INDIVIDUAL SITES OR FIRMS, MR HO SAID.
THE SURVEY WILL END ON APRIL 9.
------o-------
EARLY PAYMENT OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
X X X
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RECIPIENTS MAY BE PAID EARLIER IF THEIR PAYMENT DATES FALL ON THE EASTER AND CHING MING HOLIDAYS EARLY NEXT MONTH.
A SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THOSE WHO WERE TO RECEIVE PAYMENT ON APRIL 1, 2, 3, 4 AND 5 COULD CASH THEIR COUPONS ON OR AFTER MARCH 26, 28, 29, 30 AND 31 RESPECTIVELY AT THE DESIGNATED POST OFFICES, NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT OFFICES OR TREASURY SUB-OFFICES.
THE RECIPIENTS HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THE SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT THROUGH THEIR RESPECTIVE SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNITS.
------o-------
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1983
29
BUILDING IN TAI HOM VILLAGE DECLARED DANGEROUS * * * *
THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TODAY DECLARED NO. 7 MAN YUEN ROAD, TAI HOM VILLAGE, DIAMOND HILL TO BE IN A DANGEROUS CONDITION.
IN A STATEMENT ISSUED THIS MORNING THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT BUILDING SURVEYOR SAID THAT THIS TWO-STOREY PRE-WAR BUILDING, CONSTRUCTED WITH LOAD-BEARING GRANITE BLOCK WALLS AND REINFORCED CONCRETE 1ST FLOOR AND ROOF, HAD BEEN INSPECTED RECENTLY. PORTIONS OF THE EXTERNAL RENDERING HAD FALLEN REVEALING FRACTURED, POORLY BANDED AND JOINTED BLOCKWORK TO THE ENCLOSING LOAD-BEARING WALLS. IN ADDITION THE REINFORCEMENT TO THE ROOF SLAB AND BEAMS WAS SEVERELY CORRODED.
+IT IS THEREFORE CONSIDERED NECESSARY TO CLOSE AND, DEMOLISH THIS BUILDING AS THERE IS A SERIOUS RISK OF A COLLAPSE,* HE SAID.
A NOTICE OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR A CLOSURE ORDER IN KOWLOON DISTRICT COURT AT 9.30 AM ON APRIL 20 WAS POSTED TODAY.
--------o-----------
SAI KUNG DB MEETS ON FRIDAY * * * * *
THE PROPOSED ROADWORKS THE BUILDING OF A 450-METRE
IN TUI MIN HOI IN SAI KUNG, INCLUDING TWO-LANE CARRIAGEWAY AND AN ACCESS ROAD TO THE INDUSTRIAL SITES, WILL BE DISCUSSED AT THE DISTRICT BOARD’S MEETING ON FRIDAY (MARCH 25).
AT THE MEETING, MEMBERS WILL ALSO EXAM INc THt PROPOSED DISTRICT BOARD FUNDED PROJECTS IN THE COMING F ISCAL YEAR, AND DISCUSS THE DISTRICT'S RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, WATER WORKS, AND THE DISPOSAL OF PIG MANURt.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA WILL INCLUDE THE OPERATION_OF TAXIS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND THE NEW MEMBERSHIPS FOR iHE FOUR COMMITTEES UNDER THE BOARD.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SEVENTH SAI ><UNG DISTRICT BOARD MEETING TO BE HELD ON FRIDAY (MArtCri 25) AT 10 AM IN A,HT7, CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE DISTRICT BOARD SECRETARIAT Ai AM.. Pi ■ 7 ■. SECOND FLOOR, 77 NGAU TAU KOK ROAD, KOWLOON.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 1983
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WASHWATER RECOVERY SYSTEM FOR TSUEN WAN TREATMENT WORKS * * * * *
A WASHWATER RECOVERY SYSTEM WILL BE BUILT WITHIN THE COMPOUND
T THE TSUEN WAN TREATMENT WORKS AS PART OF A PROJECT TO RAISE THE
PLANT’S EXISTING CAPACITY TO 317 000 CUBIC METRES PER DAY.
A S2.3 MILLION CONTRACT FOR THE WORK WAS AWARDED BY THE WATER
SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT AND SIGNED THIS MORNING BY MR LEE GUN-CHEUNG, CHIEF ENGINEER (CONSTRUCTION) OF THE DEPARTMENT AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF KIN SHING CONSTRUCTION CO.
WORK ON THE CONTRACT COMPRISES THE CONSTRUCTION OF THREE WASHWATER RECOVERY TANKS, EACH WITH A CAPACITY OF 270 CUBIC METRES, A SMALL PUMP HOUSE, AND 500 METRES OF INLET AND DISCHARGE PIPES.
MR LEE SAID THAT ON COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT, FILTERED WASHWATER FORMERLY DISCHARGED AS WASTE WOULD BE RECOVERED AND UP TO 7 000 CUBIC METRES OF WATER COULD BE SAVED DAILY.
WORK ON THE CONTRACT WILL TAKE ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
- - 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING:
PUBLIC SHOULD KNOW ECONOMIC FACTS OF LIFE — LOBO.......... 1
MANPOWER TRAINING POLICY SUPPORTED .......................... 2
TIGHTER EXPENDITURE CONTROL CALLED FOR....................... 5
TIMING OF RATEABLE VALUE REVIEW GJJESTIONED ................. 7
GOVERNMENT SHOULD TRACE INCOME OF HK-REGISTERED COMPANIES 9
UNOFFICIAL HELP IN SETTING PRIORITIES PROPOSED.............. 10
IDEA OF MAN-MADE ISLAND FOR AIRPORT RAISED ................. 12
MORE FREgiENT REVIEW OF CHARGES NEEDED -DRIP ............... 14
GOVERNMENT TOLD TO SCRAP FLATTED FACTORY PROGRAMME........ 15
STUDY OF DEPOSIT INSURANCE SCHEME URGED..................... 17
GOVERNMENT URGED TO LEAD IN FIGHTING INFLATION ............. 18
BUDGET DEBATE ADJOURNED TILL APRIL 13-14 ...................... 20
1983 CIVIL SERVICE PAY AWARD ................................
STANDING COMMISSION'S REPORT NO 9 ............................. 21
DOMESTIC MERCHANDISE EXPORT STATISTICS FOR 1982 ............... 22
CONSULTANCY ON MONITORING OF POWER COMPANIES .................. 25
WORRIES OVER FEE ASSISTANCE SCHEME GROUNDLESS ................. 25
CENTRAL ALLOCATION OF PRIMARY ONE ADMISSION SYSTEM............. 26
NE?/ TEMPLE ON TSING YI OPENS ................................. 27
HEART HEALTH EXHIBITION IN YUEN LONG........................... 28
SOUTHERN DB MEMBERS TO VISIT ENVIRONMENTAL BLACKSPOTS........ 28
CLEARANCE OF ILLEGAL STRUCTURES IN SHAM SHUT PO................ 29
AMERICAN COMEDY FOR SHA TIN RESIDENTS ......................... 30
TENDERS INVITED FOR TENANCY OF CROWN LAND ..................... 30
EASTER HOLIDAYS POSTAL ARRANGEMENTS ........................... 31
WATER CUT IN EASTERN DISTRICT ................................. 31
1
PUBLIC SHOULD KNOW ECONOMIC FACTS OF LIFE -- LOBO *****
THERE WAS NEVER A TIME SO IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO APPRECIATE THE FACTS OF HONG KONG LIFE, IN PARTICULAR THE ECONOMIC FACTS OF HONG KONG LIFE, THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE HON ROGER LOBO, SAID TODAY.
HE SAID HE AGREED WITH THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY THAT +WE ARE NOT A RICH COMMUNITY; WE GET NO SUBSIDIES AND WE CAN ONLY HAVE WHAT WE CAN PAY FORt NO FREE LUNCHES AND NO PASSENGERS.
+THESE ARE THE FACTS OF LIFE TO WHICH ALL OUR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL AMBITIONS MUST BE RELATED AND GREATER EFFORTS MUST BE MADE TO HAVE THEM UNDERSTOOD.+
AS IT IS, MR LOBO NOTED, PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IS CONFUSED BY RUMOUR, BY THE VAGARIES OF THE YO-YO STOCK MARKET, AND THE ANTICS OF SPECULATORS.
IT IS HARD FOR ORDINARY PEOPLE TO KNOW WHAT MATTERS AND WHAT IS IRRELEVANT, HE SAID.
HE STRESSED THAT IT IS THE DUTY OF THE GOVERNMENT AND ALL PEOPLE OF INFLUENCE TO PROVIDE THE PUBLIC WITH CLEAR GUIDANCE.
BUT HE SAID: +IT IS A SHAME THAT IN HIS BUDGET ADDRESS THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SHOULD HAVE HAD TO DEVOTE SO MUCH ATTENTION TO THE REGULATION OF ACTIVITIES WHICH CONTRIBUTE LITTLE TO HONG KONG’S ECONOMIC HEALTH.
+TO ME THE MOST IMPORTANT THING HE HAD TO SAY WAS RELEGATED TO A FOOT NOTE WHICH MANY MAY HAVE MISSED ALTOGETHER.+
MR LOBO QUOTED THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY AS HAVING REITERATED HIS COMMITMENT TO PRONOUNCED AND GROWING GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR THE BASIC INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE CHANGING ECONOMY. AND IN A FOOTNOTE, MR BREMRIDGE HAD CITED FOR EXAMPLE, VOCATIONAL, TECHNICAL AND TERTIARY EDUCATION; AN INTELLIGENT APPROACH TO RESEARCH FUNDS; INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT PROMOTION AND TRAINING SCHEME, MR LOBO SAID.
♦OTHER EXAMPLES WERE GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS DESIGNED TO FACILITATE DIVERSIFICATION; ALL THE SUPPORT THAT THE GOVERNMENT CAN GIVE IN TRADE RELATIONS AND TRADE FACILITATION; TRANSPORT INCLUDING ROAD, RAIL, AIRPORT AND HARBOUR; LAND FORMATION; TELECOMMUNICATION; PRODUCTION OF PUBLIC HOUSING; OVERSIGHT OF MARKETS; AND NOT LEAST PROMOTION OF WISE MONETARY POLICIES.+
MR LOBO SAID: +THESE ARE COMMITMENTS OF VALUE, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS BUDGET IS THE ASSURANCE IT PROVIDES THAT IN SPITE OF HARD TIMES, OUR PRINCIPAL PUBLIC PROGRAMMES ARE BEING MAINTAINED AND IN SOME CASES INCREASED.*
♦I WAS ALSO PLEASED TO HEAR THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAY, 'THE GOVERNMENT WILL CARRY ON CALMLY AND STEADILY WITH ITS LONGTERM POLICIES, AND WE WILL REMAIN ALWAYS SYMPATHETIC TO THE REASONABl E REQUIREMENTS OF THE DISADVANTAGED AND THE POOR’.+
/.■iSFSHRILG 2C .........
THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1983
- 2 -
REFERRING TO THE WORK DONE BY UNOFFICIALS IN EXAMINING ~ £ DRAFT ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE, MR LOBO SAID THEY FORMED FOUR GROUPS TO LOOK INTO DIFFERENT AREAS - LAW AND ORDER, ECONOMIC AND COMMUNITY SERVICES, SOCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL SERVICES.
AFTER A SERIES OF MEETINGS AT WHICH EACH AND EVERY ONE CF THE 71 HEADS OF EXPENDITURE WAS CRITICALLY EXAMINED, MEMBERS FORMALLY RAISED A TOTAL OF SOME 366 POINTS OF QUERY.
HE SAID THESE POINTS WERE EITHER ANSWERED IN WRITING OR CLARIFIED BY THE CONTROLLING OFFICERS CONCERNED AT THE FOUR SPECIAL FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETINGS WHICH WERE CONVENED FOR THIS PURPOSE.
AND A TOTAL OF 25 CONTROLLING OFFICERS APPEARED BEFORE THE COMMITTEE AND WERE QUESTIONED CLOSELY BY MEMBERS.
HE SAID THAT WHILE THE PROMPT AND FULL REPLIES PROVIDED BY THE ADMINISTRATION WERE FULLY APPRECIATED, THERE INEVITABLY WERE +A NUMBER OF POINTS WHERE MEMBERS REMAINED UNEASY.+
+MANY OF THESE HAVE BEEN COVERED IN THE OBSERVATIONS OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE BUDGET AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN A C^OSE WATCH OVER EXPENDITURE TO ENSURE THAT THE GOVERNMENT GETS FULL VALUE FOR EVERY DOLLAR OF PUBLIC MONEY IT SPENDS,♦ HE SAID.
-----o--------
MANPOWER TRAINING POLICY SUPPORTED
* * *
IT WAS VITAL THAT EDUCATION AND MANPOWER TRAINING ACTIVITIES WERE EFFECTIVELY CO-ORDINATED AND INTEGRATED TO ACHIEVE INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, THE HON WONG PO-YAN SAID TODAY.
+IN THIS WAY, WE CAN IMPROVE ON IMPORTED TECHNOLOGY WHILE MAKING OPTIMUM USE OF OUR OWN RESOURCES,+ HE SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
MR WONG COMMENDED THE GOVERNMENT FOR HAVING UNDERTAKEN TO IMPROVE MANPOWER TRAINING BY PROVIDING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, VOCATIONAL, TECHNICAL AND TERTIARY EDUCATION, AN INTELLIGENT APPROACH TO RESEARCH FUNDS AND INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT PROMOTION AND TRAINING SCHEMES.
HE NOTED THAT $5.7 BILLION HAD BEEN INCLUDED IN 1983-84 FOR EDUCATION, INCLUDING $1.3 BILLION ON THE TWO UNIVERSITIES, THE 2APTIST COLLEGE AND THE POLYTECHNIC.
+THUS, ON THE ONE HAND, THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL, ESTABLISHED IN FEBRUARY 1982, AIMS TO DOUBLE THE CAPACITY OF THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES BY THE END OF THE DECADE AND TO DEVISE A COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING TO MEET THE NEEDS OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE .
THURSDAY, 2UBCH 24, 1963
- 3 -
♦ON THE OTHER HAND, THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL ’RAINING DEPARTMENT WAS SET UP IN APRIL, 1982 TO ASSIST THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ITS POLICY.
+MEANWHILE, THE PLANNING COMMITTEE FOR THE SECOND POLYTECHNIC WAS ESTABLISHED IN JUNE, 1982, AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE FORMULATION OF EDUCATION AND MANPOWER DEVELOPMENT POLICIES WERE MERGED IN FEBRUARY, THIS YEAR,* MR WONG SAID.
HE SAID THAT THE FULL IMPACT OF ALL THESE ORGANISATIONS WERE YET TO BE FELT AND THEIR EFFECTIVENESS TO BE GAUGED.
MR WONG STRESSED THE NEED TO ENSURE A CONSTRUCTIVE AND PARTICIPATIVE DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE INDUSTRIES AND THE INSTITUTIONS IN COURSE DESIGN AND TO ACHIEVE A PROPER BALANCE BETWEEN THESE ENTITIES.
+THE NEED TO ALLOCATE SENSIBLY RESOURCES AMONG THESE MANY SECTIONS AND DEPARTMENTS CAN THUS NEVER BE OVER EMPHASISED.
+MOREOVER, STAFF MEMBERS OF THESE INSTITUTIONS SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED AND GIVEN THE NECESSARY SUPPORT TO ENABLE THEM TO ANTICIPATE AND RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY AND TO INITIATE RESEARCH PROGRAMMES BASED ON LOCAL CONDITIONS AND PARTICULARITIES,* HE SAID.
MR WONG WAS SADDENED THAT THE GROWTH RATE OF LABOUR PRODUCTIVITY SHOULD HAVE DECLINED FROM 9 PER CENT IN 1977 TO 2 - 3 PER CENT IN 1980, WITH A SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT TO 3.5 PER CENT IN 1981, BUT ONLY TO DECLINE TO A DISAPPOINTING 2 PER CENT IN 1982.
PRODUCTIVITY RELATES DIRECTLY TO THE PLANT AND MACHINERY USED, THE TIME DEVOTED TO PRODUCTIVE WORK AND THE SKILLS CF THE WORKERS.
+LAST YEAR, I SPOKE OF THE INCREASED DEPRECIATION ALLOWANCE FOR NEW CAPITAL EQUIPMENT AND PLANT AND INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS AS BUT SMALL STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
+IT TURNED OUT THAT PRIVATE EXPENDITURE ON PLANT AND MACHINERY, IN FACT, REGISTERED A DECREASE OF 6 PER CENT IN 1982-83. GRANTED THAT IT COULD BE ARGUED THAT WITHOUT THESE CONCESSIONS, THE ACTUAL PERCENTAGE COULD HAVE BEEN EVEN MORE DISCOURAGING,* HE SAID.
MR WONG QUERIED THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PROPOSED EXEMPTION CF PATENT RIGHTS PAYMENTS FROM PROFITS TAX ASSESSMENTS IN UPGRADING EXISTING TECHNOLOGY.
+WHILE IT IS CERTAINLY TRUE THAT SUCH MEASURES WOULD PROVIDE THE INCENTIVE AND ENCOURAGEMENT FOR TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS, TH-Y ARE UNLIKELY TO BE OF ANY PRACTICAL INDUCEMENT TO THE SMALL O MEDIUM SIZED INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS WHICH MUST HAVE ACCOUNTcD ■ r. A SIGNIFICANT H0P0RTI0N OF OUR MANUFACTURING SECTOR.
+THIS IS BECAUSE THESE ’SMALL MEN’ HAVE LITTLE OR NO CAPACITY, NOR RESOURCES, FOR PRODUCT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT,* HE SAID.
THURSDAY, MABCH 24, 1983
4
HE CONSIDERED THAT IT WOULD BE OF MORE DIRECT RELEVANCE TO ’GRADE THE SKILL AND EFFICIENCY OF THE WORKERS.
MR WONG POINTED OUT THAT THE INITIATIVE OF VARIOUS FINANCIAL IISTITUTIONS IN PROVIDING SPECIAL CREDIT LINE/FACIL ITIES FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS WOULD PRESENT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM +TO RECOUP, CONSOLIDATE AND ADJUST TO FEET FUTURE CHALLENGES*.
TURNING TO PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE FOR THE COMING YEAR, FR WONG NOTED THAT CAPITAL EXPENDITURE WAS ENVISAGED AT 515.8 BILLION OR 37 PER CENT OF TOTAL PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE. THE ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE FROM THE CAPITAL WORKS RESERVE FUND ON THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME IN 1983-84 IS $7.6 BILLION, AN INCREASE OF $355 MILLION OR 5 PER CENT OVER THE REVISED ESTIMATE FOR 1982-83.
HE WAS GLAD THAT PRIORITY HAD BEEN ACCORDED TO LAND PRODUCTION, TRANSPORT AND HOUSING PROJECTS. +1 AM PARTICULARLY HEARTENED BY GOVERNMENT’S DETERMINATION IN KEEPING THE MOMENTUM FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PUBLIC HOUSING PROJECTS.
♦FOR THE COMING YEAR, $3.7 BILLION WILL BE SPENT ON THE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSING, WHILE FOR THE COMING FOUR YEARS, A TOTAL OF 164 228 FLATS, AN AVERAGE OF 41 OOO FLATS A YEAR WILL BE COMPLETED UNDER THE VARIOUS PUBLIC HOUSING PROGRAMMES AND SCHEMES,♦ HE SAID.
HOWEVER, HE WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT NO ANNOUNCEMENT HAD YET BEEN MADE ON THE LONG AWAITED EXHIBITION CENTRE BECAUSE +THE PROPOSED PROJECT HAS AN IMPORTANT PART TO PLAY IN THE PROMOTION OF HONG KONG AS A TRADE CENTRE*.
ON RECURRENT EXPENDITURE, HE NOTED THAT THE TOTAL FOR THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR IS ESTIMATED AT $23.8 BILLION, AN INCREASE CF $3 BILLION IN MONEY TERMS OR AN INCREASE OF 14.5 PER CENT ON THE REVISED ESTIMATES FOR 1982-83.
THE APPROVED ESTABLISHMENT OF CIVIL SERVICE POSTS SHOWN IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES IS 144 503, EXCLUSIVE OF 29 160 POSTS IN THE URBAN SERVICES AND HOUSING DEPARTMENTS AND THE GOVERNMENT HAS MADE ’CONSCIOUS EFFORT DURING THE YEAR TO RESTRAIN THE GROWTH OF THE CIVIL SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT’, THAT 6 665 NEW POSTS WERE CREATED DURING 1982-83 OUT OF A PROVISION FOR 16 500.
♦HOWEVER, ALTHOUGH ’THIS CONSTRAINT WILL CONTINUE IN 1983-84’, WE CAN EXPECT A FURTHER INCREASE OF 6 700 POSTS IN 1983-84.
♦I ACCEPT THAT EXPANSION OF GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS NECESSITATES A PROPORTIONATE INCREASE IN STAFF MANPOWER, BUT I DO NOT THINK ANYONE IN THIS CHAMBER TODAY WOULD DISPUTE THAT T-.'E CIVIL SERVICE COULD BE IMPROVED IN TERMS OF EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY. FURTHER, IMPROVEMENTS IN THESE AREAS COULD LEAD TO STAFF SA.INGS.
,+H KXCKPTIC’AI^Y ••••••»
'2HU3SDAY, ilAHCH 24, 19&3
- 5 -
+IN EXCEPTIONALLY BAD TIMES WHEN GOVERNMENT IS COMPELLED TO TRIM ITS EXPENDITURE, IT SHOULD LOGICALLY EXAMINE AREAS OF POSSIBLE SAVINGS; AND SHOULD THE SITUATION JUSTIFY IT, THE SIZE CF THE CIVIL SERVICE SHOULD NOT ONLY BE CONTAINED, BUT FROZEN,* HE SAID.
ON STAFF MANAGEMENT, MR WONG CALLED FOR MORE POSITIVE MEASURES TO BE ADOPTED. +l AM PLEASED TO NOTE, THEREFORE, THAT THE FINANCE BRANCH AND CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH HAVE DECIDED TO ESTABLISH A JOINT CO-ORDINATION MACHINERY TO OVERSEE THOSE ASPECTS OF PRODUCTIVITY WHICH PARTICULARLY AFFECT THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CIVIL SERVICE AND THAT A WORKSHOP TITLED ’ CONFERENCE ON STAFF MANAGEMENT IN THE CIVIL SERVICE’ WAS HELD IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR TO MOTIVATE SUBORDINATES AND TO SOLVE REAL PROBLEMS AND INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY.
+THESE ARE INDEED INDICATIONS TO BE WELCOMED AND I SHOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE CONSISTENT AND PERSISTENT EFFORTS IN THIS DIRECTION,* MR WONG SAID.
-----o------
TIGHTER EXPENDITURE CONTROL CALLED FOR X X X X X *
TO ENSURE THAT ALL PROPOSED EXPENDITURE IS UNAVOIDABLE, A TIGHTER DISCIPLINE NEEDS TO BE INSTILLED INTO OFFICERS TO MAKE REALISTIC SPENDING FORECASTS, THE HON STEPHEN CHEONG SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, M? CHEONG EXPRESSED AGREEMENT WITH THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY THAT IN VIEW OF ITS EXTERNALLY ORIENTED ECONOMY, HONG KONG COULD NOT EE MASTER OF ITS ECONOMIC FATE.
+BUT IN THE AREA OF EXPENDITURE CONTROL, WE ARE MASTERS CF, AND ENTIRELY RESPONSIBLE FOR, OUR DESTINY.
♦IF WE DO NOT CONSCIOUSLY AND CONTINUALLY SEEK TO EXERCISE ADEQUATE CONTROL OVER EXPENDITURE THE PUBLIC SECTOR WOULD TEND TO CROWD OUT THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN THEIR COMPETITION FOR RESOURCES, WITH ALL THAT WHICH ENTAILS FOR THE RECOVERY AND TOE LONG-TERM HEALTH OF THE ECONOMY,* MR CHEONG SAID.
HE SAID THAT HIS POINTS ABOUT CONTROLLING OFFICERS WITH REGARD TO EXPENDITURE OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS ALSO APPLIED TO THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR SUBVERTED ORGANISATIONS.
THE SUBVERTED SECTOR HAD BECOME SO LARGE THAT IT HAD VIRTUALLY BECOME AN EXTENSION OF THE GOVERNMENT IN THE PROVISION CF SOCIAL SERVICES UNDER WELL ESTABLISHED PROGRAMMES, MR CHEONG NOTED.
BUT SUBVERTED AGENCIES DID NOT COME UNDER THE SAME DEGREE CR EVEN THE SAME KIND OF CONTROL WHICH A CONTROLLING OFFICER COULD EXERCISE OVER HIS STAFF, HE SAID.
THUSSDAY, IOHCH 24, 1963
+l BELIEVE, THEREFORE, THAT THE TIME HAS COME TO REVIEW THE BASIC CONCEPT OF SUBVENTION, THE RULES GOVERNING THE ADMINISTRATION OF SUBVENTIONS, AND THE ADEQUACY OR OTHERWISE CF THE MEANS NOW AVAILABLE TO CONTROLLING OFFICERS TO ENSURE THAT SUBVENTED AGENCIES SUBJECT THEMSELVES TO A SIMILAR DEGREE OF FINANCIAL DISCIPLINE,* MR CHEONG SAID.
TURNING TO THE GROWTH RATE OF OVERALL EXPENDITURE, MR CHEONG NOTED THAT THE ALLOWANCE OF 10 PER CENT IN MONEY TERMS FOR 1983-84 IMPLIED CONSIDERABLE SLOWDOWN OVER PREVIOUS YEARS’ FIGURES.
BUT, HE ADDED, AN EXAMINATION OF THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S BUDGET SPEECH SUGGESTS THAT THE DEGREE OF BELT TIGHTENING INVOLVED IS PERHAPS +NOT AS ADEQUATE AS PRESENT AND FORESEEABLE CIRCUMSTANCES JUSTIFY.*
HE NOTED THAT ON RECURRENT ACCOUNT, A GROWTH RATE OF 14 PER CENT IN MONEY TERMS ON THE 1982-83 REVISED ESTIMATES IS ARGUABLY STILL TOO HIGH.
WHILE RECOGNISING THE DIFFICULTIES INVOLVED IN TRYING TO SLOW DOWN THE GROWTH RATE OF EXPENDITURE, MR CHEONG SAID A 14 PER CENT GROWTH RATE IS CLEARLY NOT AS EFFECTIVE AS THE SMALL GROWTH RATE CF 4.4 PER CENT FOR CAPITAL ACCOUNT EXPENDITURE.
+AFTER ALL,* HE ADDED, +IT IS RECURRENT AND NOT CAPITAL ACCOUNT EXPENDITURE THAT REPRESENTS ON-GOING COMMITMENTS,* HE SAID. +THE FACT THAT IT IS CAPITAL, OR NON-SALARY RELATED, EXPENDITURE THAT HAS BEEN SALVAGED RAISES THE IMPORTANT QUESTION OF THE NEED FOR MORE EFFECTIVE CONTROL OF RECURRENT EXPENDITURE.
EARLIER, MR CHEONG COMMENDED THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY FOR HIS OVERALL BUDGETARY APPROACH WHICH, HE SAID, IS ADMIRABLY SUITED TO HONG KONG’S PRESENT AND IMMEDIATELY FORESEEABLE CIRCUMSTANCES*.
IT IS SUITED TO HONG KONG’S PRESENT CIRCUMSTANCES BECAUSE IT HAS TO FACE THE FACT THAT LOOMING DEFICIT HAS TO BE FINANCED, HE SAID.
+THERE MAY WELL HAVE BEEN EQUALLY FORCEFUL ARGUMENTS FOR OR AGAINST EITHER METHODS OF RAISING REVENUE - THAT IS, THROUGH INCREASES IN DIRECT OR INDIRECT TAXATION - BUT ON MACRO ECONOMIC GROUNDS ESPECIALLY IN THE CONTEXT Or OUR EXTERNALLY ORIENTED ECONOMY AND THE FACT THAT WE ARE STILL IN A WORLD RECESSIONARY ATMOSPHERE, THE CHOICE OF RAISING INDIRECT TAXATION WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE LESS DAMAGING EFFECTS ON OUR ABILITY TO RECOVER.*
THE BUDGETARY APPROACH IS ALSO SUITED TO OUR IMMEDIATELY FORESEEABLE CIRCUMSTANCES +BECAUSE, GIVEN THE CURRENT INSTABILITY CF THE WORLD FINANCIAL SYSTEM PRECIPITATED BY HUGE TROUBLE THIRD WORLD LOANS, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY HAS PRUDENTLY PLANNED AHEAD 70 POSITION OURSELVES FAVOURABLY IF AND WHEN WE HAVE TO RESORT TO BORROWINGS IN FUTURE*.
+CAN ANYONE OF US IN HONG KONG SERIOUSLY DISPUTE THESE WORDS CF PRAGMATIC WISDOM WHEN E SAID, ’IT IS O'.'E THING TO BORROW WHEN YOU STILL HAVE MONEY IN THE BANK AND IT IS ANOTHER WHEN YOU DO NOT’?* HE,. ASKED.
THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1983
TIMING OF RATEABLE VALUE REVIEW QUESTIONED
* * * * *
THE TIMING FOR THE REVIEW OF RATEABLE VALUES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WAS QUESTIONED TODAY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BY AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, THE HONG BENTON CHEUNG.
♦ IT IS STATUTORY THAT THE OCCUPANT AND NOT THE OWNER MUST PAY THE RATES.
♦ AS IT IS, THE GENERAL RATE PERCENTAGE FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL BE INCREASED BY 2-1/2 PER CENT, FROM 11 PER CENT TO 13-1/2 PER CENT, WITH EFFECT FROM APRIL 1, THIS YEAR.
♦ ON TOP OF WHICH RENT MAY SOON BE FURTHER DECONTROLLED, THUS REDUCING AND EVENTUALLY REMOVING THAT LITTLE PROTECTION THERE IS FOR ’TENANTS’.
♦ IN ADDITION, RATES ARE TO BE CALCULATED ON NEW RATEABLE VALUES AS FROM APRIL 1984,+ HE SAID.
MR CHEUNG POINTED OUT THAT MOST NEWLY-SETTLED NEW TERRITORIES RESIDENTS COMMUTE TO THE URBAN AREAS DAILY FOR WORK AND, DUE TO INADEQUATE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, MANY RESIDENTS DRIVE - AND THIS TOO IS NOW MORE EXPENSIVE.
♦WHETHER THESE FACTORS WILL DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM SETTLING IN THE NEW TERRITORIES REMAINS TO BE SEEN, BUT THEY DO APPEAR TO RUN CONTRARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OBJECTIVE OF MOVING PEOPLE AWAY FROM URBAN CENTRES,+ HE SAID.
TURNING TO PUBLIC HOUSING, MR CHEUNG POINTED OUT THAT BY WORLD STANDARDS, HONG KONG HAD ACHIEVED WONDERS IN HOUSING MILLIONS CF PEOPLE. +WE HAVE BEEN GETTING THE JOB DONE FOR YEARS NOW, BUILDING AT LEAST 35 000 UNITS ANNUALLY.
♦ ABOUT 30 000 OF THESE UNITS FALL INTO THE CATEGORY OF LOW' COST PUBLIC HOUSING, THE REMAINDER BEING HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME FLATS,+ HE SAID.
HOWEVER, MR CHEUNG CALLED FOR A COMPLETE RE-EVALUATION OF THE HOUSING PRIORITIES WITH +THE PROVISION OF MORE HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE PEOPLE AND LESS EMPHASIS ON LOW COST RENTAL UNITS.+
♦ IN HONG KONG, WHERE MANY ARE TRANSIENT, I BELIEVE IT IS VITAL TO FOSTER A SENSE OF BELONGING. TO OWN A HOME, HOWEVER HUMBLE, IS TO BELONG SOMEWHERE. IT IS A SOURCE OF ACHIEVEMENT, CF -RIDE, AND MOST IMPORTANT, A SOURCE OF SECURITY AND COMMITMENT.
♦ TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITIES, WE MUST TRY TO ENSURE THAT 0 ONE WHO CONT-. ISUTES TO THE PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG IS DENIED THE RIGHT, NOT THE PRIVILEGE BUT THE RIGHT, OF OWNING A HOME.
♦ I r-EFER IN PARTICULAR TO THAT SECTOR OF THE POPULATION SO WELL DESCRIBED BY MY HON FRIEND, MR LOBO, AS TnE ’SANDWICHED SOCIETY’. THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NEITHER RICH NOR POOR, BUT I VENTURE TO SAY, THEY ARE INDEED TAXED.
/+F.- “ ” PS1S0NAL....
2EUHSBAY, MARCH 24, 1983
- 8 -
♦FROM PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE, BEING NEW TERRITORIES BORN AND HAVING BEEN INVOLVED ON THE BOARD OF THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION, I WOULD SAY THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF LAND IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, CONVENIENTLY CLOSE TO THE NEWLY-ELECTRIFIED RAILWAY, SUITABLE FOR BUILDING LOW-DENSITY, AFFORDABLE HOMES,* HE SAID.
TO BE WITHIN THE REACH OF THE SANDWICHED SOCIETY, SUCH UNITS WOULD HAVE TO BE SOLD AT PRICES THEY CAN AFFORD AFTER THEY HAVE PAID INCOME TAX, RATES, UTILITIES, TRANSPORTATION COSTS, MEDICAL AND DENTAL BILLS, SCHOOL FEES, AND HOUSEHOLD AND LIVING EXPENSES.
IN THE AREA OF GOVERNMENT ACCOMMODATION, MR CHEUNG NOTED THAT THE DRAFT ESTIMATES ALLOCATE $680 MILLION FOR OFFICE RENTS AND RATES. HE ASKED WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT HAD CONSIDERED BUYING BACK OFFICE BUILDINGS FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR AT THIS STAGE OF +LOW* PROPERTY MARKET.
ON THE SUBJECT OF REVENUE-RAISING ALTERNATIVES, HE SUGGESTED THAT CORPORATE PROFITS TAX SHOULD BE CHARGED ON CORPORATIONS WHOSE ANNUAL TURNOVER EXCEEDS A SET SUM.
+THE REVISED ESTIMATE FOR CORPORATE PROFITS TAX 1982-83, CALCULATED AT A RATE OF 16-1/2 PER CENT, COMES TO $7.1 BILLION. AN ADDITIONAL ONE PER CENT WOULD YIELD ROUGHLY $430 MILLION,* l£ SAID.
MR CHEUNG STRESSED THAT HONG KONG’S THIRD LARGEST SOURCE OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE WAS TOURISM - WHICH IS A +19 BILLION INDUSTRY*. +IS IT WISE THEN TO PENALISE OUR 2.6 MILLION VISITORS BY INCREASES IN HOTEL ACCOMMODATION TAX AND AIRPORT TAX?*
+THIS RAISES THE OVERALL COST OF THEIR STAY, FURTHER DECREASES THEIR SPENDING POWER AND REDUCES THE COMPETITIVE EDGE OF HONG KONG IN THE REGION,* HE SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE INCREASED AIRPORT TAX WAS ALSO A BLOW TO OUTBOUND TRAVELLERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE ON ECONOMY TOURS, WHO MUST NOW PAY QUITE A BIT MORE IN TERMS OF PERCENTAGE. FURTHERMORE, IT DOES NOT SEEM REASONABLE THAT SHORT HAUL TRAVELLERS SHOULD HAVE TO PAY SUCH A LARGE PERCENTAGE INCREASE IN AIRPORT TAX.
HE SUGGESTED THAT RATHER THAN AN ACROSS-THE-BOARD INCREASE IN AIRPORT TAX, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER A SLIDING SCALE CF INCREASES BASED ON THE VALUE OF THE AIRLINE TICKET.
+AS THE FORMER CHAIRMAN OF A LEADING AIRLINE AND OF THE HONG KONG TOURIST ASSOCIATION, MY HON FRIEND, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, IS NO DOUBT AWARE THAT THESE PARTICULAR TAX INCREASES MUST BE NEGATIVE FACTORS FOR THE TOURISM AND TRAVEL INDUSTRY,* HE SAID.
REGARDING THE TIMING FOR THE INCREASED DUTY RATES ON MOTOR SPIRITS, MR CHEUNG ASKED! +MR BREMRIDGE, ARE YOU PSYCHIC?*
THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1983
9
GOVERNMENT SHOULD TRACE INCOME OF HK-REGISTERED COMPANIES *****
THE HON MARIA TAM URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO TRACE THE INCOME OF COMPANIES REGISTERED IN HONG KONG AND OBTAIN PROPER CONTRIBUTIONS TO TAX REVENUE.
SHE SAID THAT THIS POSSIBILITY +SHOULD BE SERIOUSLY EXPLORED IN ORDER TO PROMOTE SOLVENCY, NOT SOFT-HEARTEDNESS.*
MISS TAM WAS COMMENTING ON THE FOOTNOTE TO A PARAGRAPH OF THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S SPEECH WHICH GIVES EXAMPLES WHERE SOME COMPANIES REGISTERED IN HONG KONG PAY LITTLE TAX.
THE FOOTNOTE STATES THAT AS A RESULT, *MANY PEOPLE WHO CARRY ON BUSINESS HAVE LITTLE OR NO OTHER CONTRIBUTION TO THE EXCHEQUER.*
IT MIGHT BE VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO ASSESS THE TAX ON THE INCOME OF A HAWKER OR A FREE-LANCING ELECTRICIAN, SHORT OF SHIFTING THE BURDEN OF PROOF OF THEIR ACTUAL INCOME TO THESE INDIVIDUALS, SHE SAID.
SHE NOTED FROM THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S SPEECH THAT 270 000 PERSONS PAID SALARIES TAX IN HONG KONG AND FROM AN ARTICLE IN THE 1983 HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT THAT THERE WERE ONLY ABOUT 218 000 PERSONS LIABLE TO SALARY TAX.
+BUT IT SEEMS CLEAR THAT THERE ARE PROBABLY A LOT OF INGENIOUS PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WHO MANAGE TO AVOID TAX AND BECOME TOTALLY INVISIBLE TO THE REVENUE DEPARTMENT,* SHE SAID.
ON THE INCREASE IN FEES FOR VEHICLE LICENCES, MISS TAM SAID: *1 AM UNCONVINCED THAT WE CAN REALLY DISTINGUISH THE REAL MOTIVE BEHIND THE INCREASES IN MAY 1982 AND MARCH 1983, AND I CANNOT SUPPORT THE FISCAL MEASURES NOW IMPOSED.
SHE EXPRESSED THE SAME VIEW ABOUT THE INCREASE IN THE DUTY ON HYDROCARBON OIL.
+IT IS DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT THAT THE FISCAL MEASURES NOW EFFECTED TO INCREASE THE DUTY RATES ON MOTOR SPIRIT FROM SI.20 TO S2 A LITRE AND ON DIESEL OIL FROM 35 CENTS TO SI A LITRE HAVE NO ULTERIOR PURPOSE AS A MEANS OF FURTHER RESTRAINING OWNERSHIP OF VEHICLES BY FISCAL MEASURES.
+WHILE THE MAY 1982 INCREASES REMAIN AN EFFECTIVE DETERRENT, I THINK IT IS FISCALLY INEQUITABLE TO IMPOSE FURTHER INCREASES AND I CANNOT SUPPORT SUCH MEASURES..
+THE INCREASE IN GOODS VEHICLE LICENCES AND DIESEL OIL DUTY WILL PROBABLY LEAD TO INCREASES IN FREIGHT TRANSPORTATION COSTS AND AX I FARES,* SHE S ID.
THE MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES - THOSE WHO CANNO'i ENJOY THE BENEFIT OF ANY PUBLIC OR HOME OWNERSHIP HOUSING SCHEME - WOULD HAVE TO GIVE UP THE IDEA OF OWNING A CAR OR CUT DOWN OH THEIR TAXI TRIPS IN ORDER TO SPEND THEIR SA |\3S ON HOME MORTGAGES, SHE SAID.
/ON S3PA3AT3........
THURSDAY, LSAHCR 24, 1983
10 -
ON SEPARATE TAXATION FOR MARRIED WOMEN, MISS TAM SAID THAT 'H 3 HAD ALWAYS BEEN DESCRIBED AS A +WOMEN’S ISSUE*.
+THIS IS, IN FACT, A NARROW INTERPRETATION OF THE LOGIC AND REASONS BEHIND THE REQUEST FOR REFORM IN THE INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE CAP 112 SECTION 15B AND SECTION 10,+ SHE ADDED.
SHE SAID THERE WAS NO REASON TO DENY A MARRIED WOMAN THE RECOGNITION OF HER IDENTITY AS AN INDIVIDUAL AND OF HER CONTRIBUTION TO THE FAMILY OR SOCIAL ECONOMY BY +DEEMING HER TO BE THE SAME PERSON AS HER HUSBAND* IN ANY LEGISLATION, ON TAXATION CR OTHERWISE.
MISS TAM SAID: *A BROADER VIEW OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SEPARATE TAXATION FOR MARRIED WOMEN IS THAT WHEN SHE CAN ELECT TO BE TAXED AS AN INDIVIDUAL, THE FAMILY OR THE HUSBAND CAN USUALLY GAIN A TAX SAVING ADVANTAGE WHICH BENEFITS THE WHOLE FAMILY.
+A SIMPLE EXAMPLE FOLLOWING THE UK PATTERN CAN ILLUSTRATE THIS, WHERE THE HUSBAND’S INCOME IS $8 000 PER MONTH AND THE WIFE’S $5 000 PER MONTH.
+THE DIFFERENCE TO THE FAMILY IS A SAVING OF $4 150 IN TAXATION AND TO MANY CHINESE FAMILIES THIS IS THE STRONGEST ARGUMENT IN FAVOUR OF SEPARATE TAXATION.*
MISS TAM POINTED OUT THAT THE PROPOSALS IN THE BUDGET SPEECH '-ERE WELCOMED BY THE MANY EDUCATED AND WESTERNIZED CHINESE COUPLES IN THE COMMUNITY, ALTHOUGH SOME OF THEM HAD RESERVATIONS THAT THE ’’ORE TRADITIONALLY-MINDED CHINESE FAMILIES WOULD NOT BOTHER TO PRESS FOR OR EVEN FAVOUR SEPARATE ASSESSMENT WITHOUT THE TAX SAVINGS.
+IN ORDER TO MOVE WITH THE TIMES AND GIVE CREDIT WHERE IT IS DUE THE AMENDMENTS TO BE PROPOSED TO THE INLAND REVENUE ORDINANCE ARE TIMELY AND THE REFORM IS WELCOMED,* SHE SAID.
------0-------
UNOFFICIAL HELP IN SETTING PRIORITIES PROPOSED
******
THE TIME WAS RIPE FOR MORE UNOFFICIAL PARTICIPATION IN THE SETTING OF PRIORITIES FOR GOVERNMENT PROJECTS, THE HON BILL BROWN S ID AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON.
HE WAS COMMENTING ON THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S REMARK (IN PRESENTING THE 1983-84 BUDGET) THAT +NOTHING WOULD BE LESS CALCULATED TO PROMOTE HONG KONG’S LONG-TERM GROWTH THAN
. 1RSPENDING OR WRONG PRIORITIES.*
REFERRING TO THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME, MR BROWN SAID ALSO THAT CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO WHETHER THE PROJECT STEERING GROUP COULD BENEFIT FROM DIRECT INPUT FROM UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS.
/TE GBCUP.........
THURSDAY, MAUCH 24, 1983
11 -
THE GROUP HAD A MEMBERSHIP OF 10 SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE DEPUTY FINANCIAL SECRETARY, HE SAID.
HE NOTED THAT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CONTROLLED PROJECTS IN THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME IN THE SENSE THAT NO PROJECT COULD BE PLACED IN CATEGORY A — AND THUS PROCEED TO TENDER AND CONSTRUCTION — WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
BEFORE THIS, HE EXPLAINED, CONTROL WAS EXERCISED THROUGH THE PUBLIC WORKS SUB-COMMITTEE IN RESPECT OF APPROVAL TO PLACE PROJECTS IM CATEGORY AB — AND THUS ENABLED SITE INVESTIGATION, DETAILED DESIGN AND THE PREPARATION OF TENDER DOCUMENTS TO PROCEED.
HE POINTED OUT THAT UNLESS A PROJECT WAS PLACED IN CATEGORY C BY THE PUBLIC WORKS VETTING COMMITTEE, OR INTO CATEGORY B BY THE PUBLIC WORKS PRIORITY COMMITTEE, IT COULD NOT RECEIVE ANY FORMAL CONSIDERATION BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS BECAUSE BOTH THE VETTING COMMITTEE AND THE PRIORITIES COMMITTEE HAD ONLY OFFICIAL MEMBERSHIP
+PROGRESS OF ALL PROJECTS THROUGH THE ENTIRE SYSTEM IS MONITORED BY THE PROJECT STEERING GROUP AND SOME UNOFFICIAL PARTICIPATION AT THIS LEVEL WOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THE ROLE CF THE UNOFFICIALS AS PERCEIVED BY YOURSELF, SIR, IN YOUR ADDRESS TO THIS COUNCIL AT THE OPENING OF THE CURRENT SESSION.
+IT WOULD PERHAPS ALSO ASSIST THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY IN HIS EFFORTS ’TO DO HIS BEST’ TO QUOTE HIM, PROBABLY UNFAIRLY, IN CONTEXT,+ MR BROWN SAID.
ON SUBVENTIONS TO THE PERFORMING ARTS, MR BROWN HIGHLIGHTED THE NEED TO ENSURE PUBLIC FUNDS WERE USED TO THE MAXIMUM EFFECT.
HE NOTED THAT THE BUDGET ESTIMATES INCLUDED A NUMBER OF SUBVENTIONS TO THE PERFORMING ARTS.
WITH THE FORMATION OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, HE SAID, IT SEEMED ONLY LOGICAL THAT IT SHOULD BE GIVEN A ONE-LINE VOTE TO ADMINISTER IN A SIMILAR MANNER AS THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE DOES FOR SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES.
♦ A ONE-LINE VOTE WOULD ENABLE THOSE BEST QUALIFIED TO JUDGE TO DISTRIBUTE AVAILABLE FUNDS TO DESERVING PROJECTS, INCLUDING PERHAPS SOME LESS PROMINENT ART FORMS WHICH THE COUNCIL NONETHELESS CONSIDERS WORTHY OF ENCOURAGEMENT,+ HE SAID.
+IT WOULD ALSO INCIDENTALLY MAKE IT EASIER TO SUPPORT THE HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL, WHICH RECEIVES SUPPORT ON AN ANNUAL SUBVENTED BASIS, NOT WITHSTANDING THE FACT THAT LOGISTICS DEMAND IT PLANS ITS ACTIVITIES AND PRESENTATIONS ON A LONGER TERM BASIS.+
MR BROWN EARLIER POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG’S SOCIO-ECONOMIC STRUCTURE HAD UNDERGONE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN RECENT YEARS.
HE FELT THAT IT ’ ’’S NO LONGER APPROPRIATE TO BASE BUDGETS ON +MAKING ENDS MEET WITH AS LITTLE TROUBLE AS POSSIBLE*.
THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1983
MR BROWN SA IDs +LIFE IS NOW MORE COMPLICATED AND IT IS
'SARY TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT LONG TERM TRENDS AND OUR BUDGETARY ’ES MUST BE BASED ON PROPER PLANNING FOR OUR LONG-TERM
FUTURE.+
HF ALSO STRESSED THAT THE DEMAND FOR MORE AND BETTER SERVICES Hl KEEPING WITH A HIGHER LIVING STANDARD OVERALL, AND THE NEED TO SAFEGUARD THAT RISING STANDARD IN YEARS TO COME, MADE IT INEVITABLE THAT THE ROLE OF THE GOVERNMENT MUST INCREASE IN RELATIVE TERMS.
+THE SPRAWL OF URBANISED AREAS INTO THE NEW TERRITORIES WITH THE NECESSARY, COSTLY INFRASTRUCTURE OF TRANSPORT, LAND AND CIVIL ENGINEERING AND WATER IS ONLY ONE ELEMENT IN THIS EQUATION,+
BROWN ADDED.
IDEA OF MAN-MADE ISLAND FOR AIRPORT RAISED * * * *
THE HON K.C. CHAN SUGGESTED THAT THE IDEAL LOCATION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A REPLACEMENT AIRPORT WOULD BE ON AN ISLAND MORE THAN TEN KILOMETRES EAST OF CAPE D’AGUILAR ON THE EAST OF HONG KONG ISLAND.
BUT HE WAS QUICK TO ADD THAT THIS WAS ONLY A DREAM AS NO ISLAND EXISTED ON THE TEN-FATHOM SEA THERE.
HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT, THAT HE LEARNED FROM AN ARTICLE IN THE CHINESE PRESS OF JAPAN’S MAN-MADE ISLANDS OUTSIDE TOKYO, KOBE AND OSAKA.
THESE MAN-MADE ISLANDS SERVED VARIOUS PURPOSES, SUCH AS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, CONTAINER AND OCEAN TERMINALS, INDUSTRIAL ESTATES, RECREATION AREAS, AND FOR ANTI-POLLUTION REASONS, POWER STATIONS AND COAL STORAGE.
♦ IF IT IS TECHNICALLY POSSIBLE IN HONG KONG, WE SHOULD LOOK INTO THE POSSIBILITY OF WANGLING FROM THE SEA SUFFICIENT LAND, NOT ONLY FOR THE REPLACEMENT AIRPORT AND ASSOCIATED INDUSTRIES, BUT ALSO TO FORM A BANK OF FLAT LAND.
♦DEPENDING ON HOW WE MAKE USE OF THIS SCARCE ITEM, IT MAY HELP TO MAKE THE NEW AIRPORT PROJECT VIABLE.+
HE PROPOSED +A CRASH PROGRAMME TO RECLAIM A THREE-KILOMETRE BAND OF LAND BOUNDED IN THE NORTH BY TAI TAU CHAU AND IN THE SOUTH BY KAU PEI CHAU ON THE EAST OF HONG KONG ISLAND+.
/THE LAJO
THU3SDAY, I.ABCH 24, 1983
- 13 -
THE LAND WOULD EXTEND ^STRAIGHT OUT TO THE EASTERN LIMITS
■>" THE TERRITORIAL WATERS, ABOUT 25 KILOMETRES, THUS CREATING A MAN-MADE PENINSULA OF FLAT LAND OF ABOUT 75 SQUARE KILOMETRES*.
*THE REPLACEMENT AIRPORT WILL BE AT ITS EASTERN TIP,* MR CHAN SAID.
+IT SHOULD BE CIRCULAR IN SHAPE TO ALLOW UNRESTRICTED ORIENTATION OF THE THREE RUNWAYS OF ABOUT 5.6 KILOMETRES.*
MR CHAN SAID HE UNDERSTOOD THAT ABOUT 90 PER CENT OF SHIPS COMING TO HONG KONG USE THE EAST LAMMA CHANNEL, AND ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE PASS THROUGH LEI YUE MUN.
THE SUGGESTED RECLAMATION WOULD LEAVE A TEN-FATHOM SEA LANE AT TATHONG POINT WHICH IS WIDER THAN LEI YUE MUN, HE SAID.
IF THE CONDITIONS OF THE SEA PERMITTED AND THIS RECLAMATION WAS POSSIBLE, +IT WOULD BOOST BY 74 PER CENT OF THE 100.64 SQUARE KILOMETRES OF BUILT-UP AREA OF THE WHOLE OF HONG KONG, ACHIEVED OVER 140 YEARS,* HE SAID.
+THIS INVESTMENT FOR THE FUTURE WOULD GO A LONG WAY TO MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF OUR INCREASE IN POPULATION AND INDUSTRIAL GROWTH IN THE NEXT CENTURY,* HE ADDED.
MR CHAN DESCRIBED THE GOVERNMENT’S DECISION AGAINST BUILDING A REPLACEMENT AIRPORT AT CHEK LAP KOK AS A PRUDENT ONE.
HE FELT THAT DUE TO THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN OF HONG KONG, EVEN THE CHOSEN SITE OF CHEK LAP KOK WAS FAR FROM PERFECT.
IT WAS RESTRICTED IN AIRSPACE, AND FLIGHT PATHS TO THE NORTH, EAST AND SOUTH WOULD ALSO CAUSE NOISE POLLUTION TO NEIGHBOURING AREAS, HE SAID.
HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT THAT AFTER SPENDING YEARS AND $185 MILLION OF CONSULTANCY FEES ETC. TO STUDY AND TO PLAN THE PROJECT, TO SHELVE IT WOULD BE TANTAMOUNT TO BUYING TWO TONNES CF GOLD AT TODAY’S PRICES AND BURY IT THERE.
+WE MUST TRY TO SALVAGE WHATEVER RESIDUAL VALUE FROM THIS EXPENSIVE REPORT WHICH MAY CONTAIN MANY GOOD POINTS,* HE SAID.
THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1983
14
MORE FREQUENT REVIEW OF CHARGES NEEDED - DR IP
*****
AN UNOFFICIAL, DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP, TODAY URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO REVIEW ITS +UNREALISTIC SCALE OF CHARGES IMPOSED FOR MEDICAL SERVICES* AND TO GO OVER THE COSTING FOR THESE SERVICES MORE FREQUENTLY.
+1 AM IN NO WAY DETERRED BY TUESDAY’S LEAK AND YESTERDAY’S PRESS RELEASE TO THE EFFECT THAT NOMINAL INCREASES, WHICH ESCAPED THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY’S ATTENTION ONLY TWO WEEKS AGO, WILL COME INTO FORCE IN ONE WEEK’S TIME.
+MY ANXIETIES ARE NOT EASED BY AN EXTRA DOLLAR FOR A BANDAGE OR FIVE DOLLARS FOR THE PRICE OF A HOSPITAL BED.
+RATHER, I AM CONCERNED WITH THE EXTENT TO WHICH PRIVATE PATIENTS WITH PRIVATE RESOURCES ARE SUBSIDISED IN THEIR USE OF PUBLIC SERVICES BY FURTHER SUBSTANTIAL PUBLIC FUNDS.
+AND I AM EQUALLY CONCERNED AT AN APPARENT FAILURE TO UPDATE CHARGES EVEN WHEN RECOSTING EXERCISES SHOW THEM TO BE SERIOUSLY INCORRECT,* DR IP SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
SHE STRESSED THAT IT WAS TIME TO CONSIDER HOW THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT COULD PARTLY FUND ITSELF, NOT BY ECONOMISING AT THE EXPENSE OF THE POOR BUT BY REALISTICALLY CHARGING THOSE ABLE TO PAY.
SHE NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT EXPECTED TO COLLECT ONLY $55.4 MILLION IN FEES AND CHARGES FOR SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT DURING FISCAL 1983-84, A FIGURE THAT WOULD REPRESENT ONLY 3.1 PER CENT OF THE DEPARTMENT’S ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE, COMPARED WITH 6.3 PER CENT IN 1979.
+THESE POINTS PROMPTED ME TO MAKE AN ANALYSIS OF THE FEES AND CHARGES REVIEW SYSTEM OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT REVENUE REGISTER, BASED ON A COMPUTER PRINT-OUT DATED MARCH 15, 1983.
+THE ANALYSIS BRINGS TO LIGHT THAT 80 PER CENT OF THE FEES AND CHARGES WERE LAST REVIEWED BEFORE 1974, 14 PER CENT BETWEEN 1975 AND 1979 AND ONLY SIX PER CENT IN THE 198O’S,+ DR IP POINTED OUT.
SHE ADDED THAT GIVEN THE ANNUAL INCREASES IN THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, THERE WAS LITTLE WONDER ABOUT THE DRAMATIC FALL IN THE REVENUE-TO-EXPENDITURE RATIO.
SHE SAID THAT UNDERCHARGED SERVICES WERE WELL PATRONISED BY PATIENTS REFERRED BY PRIVATE PRACTITIONERS BECAUSE THESE SERVICES WERE EITHER EXCELLENT OR PROVIDED EXCLUSIVELY IN HONG KONG.
+A COSTING EXERCISE IN ITSELF IS TIME CONSUMING AND CANNOT EE DONE ’ORE THAN ONCE EVERY FEW YEARS. HOWEVER, ALL MUST SURELY AGREE THmT THE MORE UP-TO-DATE IS OUR COSTING, THE LESS WILL GOVERNMENT LOSE OUT FINANCI'.LLY.
Thursday, ;.abch 24, 1983
*THIS IS PARTICULARLY TRUE FOR SERVICES IN WHICH PATIENTS CaN ,FFORD TO PAY MORE THAN THE SO-CALLED FULL COST,* DR IP SAID.
IN HER VIEW, THERE WAS NO EXCUSE FOR NOT REVIEWING CHARGES AFTER THE COSTING HAD BEEN DONE, EXCEPT WHERE THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY WAS NOT TO CHARGE THE FULL COST.
*1 HAVE FOUND 25 EXAMPLES IN WHICH THE FEES CHARGED TODAY ARE BASED ON 1972 COSTINGS DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE SERVICES WERE RECOSTED AS RECENTLY AS 1981,+ SHE SAID.
SHE URGED THAT A COSTING SYSTEM, EASY TO REVIEW, PRACTICAL TO IMPLEMENT, AND FINANCIALLY REWARDING IN THE OUTCOME, BE WORKED OUT BETWEEN SENIOR AND JUNIOR DOCTORS, AND ADMINISTRATORS AD ECONOMISTS.
SHE ALSO ASKED WHETHER MORE BEDS IN OVERSUBSCRIBED PRIVATE WARDS IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS COULD HELP MAKE THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICE MORE COST EFFECTIVE SO THAT IT COULD IN TURN REDRESS ITS DEFICIENCIES IN SERVING THE POOR AND THE UNDERPRIVILEGED WITHOUT THE NEED TO INCREASE TAX.
TURNING TO SEPARATE TAXATION FOR MARRIED WOMEN, DR IP SAID THERE WAS A VITAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A FAMILY WHERE ONLY ONE MEMBER NEEDED TO WORK AND ANOTHER WHERE BOTH HUSBAND AND WIFE HAD TO WORK TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
+ IN THE LATTER, WE HAVE TWO CONTRIBUTORY INDIVIDUALS TO SOCIETY’S WORK FORCE AND THE FAMILY’S POSSIBLE HUMAN RESOURCES ARE ALREADY MAXIMISED TO THE FULL, WITH NO FURTHER POTENTIAL TO OBTAIN OTHER CHANNELS FOR FINANCIAL REWARD,* SHE POINTED OUT.
SHE FELT THAT A MARRIED WOMAN SHOULD BE GIVEN THE RIGHT TO ELECT FOR SEPARATE TAXATION.
+IF THE UNITED KINGDOM, THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA AND SWEDEN ALLOW MARRIED WOMEN SEPARATE TAXATION AS INDIVIDUALS, I CAN’T SEE HOW HONG KONG CAN ESCAPE IT EVENTUALLY,* DR 1° SAID.
- 0 - -
GOVERNMENT TOLD TO SCRAP FLATTED FACTORY PROGRAMME
******
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD STOP ALL PLANS FOR GOVERNMENT FLATTED FACTORY BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION ALREADY STARTED BUT IN A FAIRLY EARLY STAGE SHOULD ALSO BE TERMINATED, THE HON F.K. HU TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (THURSDAY).
+IT WILL BE FAR BETTER TO WRITE OFF ABORTIVE WORK AND UTILISE TFE SITES FOR OTHER USEFUL PURPOSE,* HE SAID.
MR HU NOTED THAT UNDE- THE FLATTED FACTORY PROGRAMMES, THE ESTIMATE IN 1983-84 WAS $137 MILLION.
OHU.-tSMY, KARCH 24, 1?8j
- 16 -
BUT HE POINTED OUT THAT THE SUPPLY OF THESE UNITS SINCE THE ' 2PAMME RESTARTED IN 1978 WAS CONSIDERABLY MORE THAN THE ACTUAL DEMAND IN THE SAME PERIOD.
♦WITH ABUNDANT SUPPLY OF SMALL FACTORY UNITS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AT PRESENT AND DECLINING DEMAND ON PUBLIC ONES, THERE IS NO NEED FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO PROCEED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF FLATTED FACTORIES, WHICH WILL NOT ONLY INCUR CAPITAL EXPENDITURE BUT ALSO FURTHER INCREASE THE RECURRENT OPERATION DEFICIT OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT,* HE SAID.
CONSIDERATION SHOULD ALSO BE GIVEN TO RELAX THE CRITERIA FOR ASSESSING ELIGIBILITY FOR SUCH UNITS TO REDUCE VACANCIES AND RECURRENT DEFICIT, HE ADDED.
TURNING TO THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME, MR HU REITERATED HIS SUGGESTION GIVEN IN THE COUNCIL IN PREVIOUS YEARS THAT THE RATIO CF HOME OWNERSHIP UNITS TO RENTAL UNITS SHOULD BE INCREASED GRADUALLY TO 50 PER CENT, OR EVEN 70 PER CENT, IN FUTURE.
♦PRIORITY SHOULD BE GIVEN TO ENCOURAGE EXISTING TENANTS IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES TO TAKE UP HOME OWNERSHIP UNITS IN ORDER TO CREATE EQUIVALENT AMOUNT CF VACANT RENTAL UNITS FOR NEW ALLOCATION SO THAT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF RENTAL UNITS WILL NOT BE REDUCED BECAUSE OF THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME.
♦MANY PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE TENANTS NOW SPEND $20 000 OR MORE IN DECORATING THEIR UNITS, THIS SUM COULD EASILY COVER THE INITIAL DOWN PAYMENT OF HOME OWNERSHIP UNITS.+
HE ALSO EXPRESSED THE BELIEF THAT THIS WORTHWHILE AIM COULD EE ACHIEVED AND ADDITIONAL REVENUE GENERATED IF THE PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEME WERE FURTHER EXPANDED AS THE DEVELOPERS WERE COMMITTED TO SUPPLY THE ACCOMMODATION AT PRE-DETERMINED PRICES AND TO PAY FOR THE ANCILLARY COMMERCIAL FACILITIES.
REFERRING TO THE STUDENT TRAVEL SCHEME, MR HU SAID IT SHOULD AIM AT ASSISTING STUDENTS GOING TO SCHOOL FROM HOME AND RETURNING HOME FROM SCHOOL DURING NORMAL SCHOOL DAYS.
BUT HE QUERIED WHETHER THEIR TRAVEL FOR OTHER PURPOSES, SUCH AS SIGHTSEEING, LEISURE PURSUIT, VISITING FRIENDS, SHOULD BE SUBSIDISED BY PUBLIC FUNDS.
HE URGED THAT CONSIDERATION BE GIVEN TO GRANTING DIRECT SUBSIDY TO STUDENTS THROUGH THEIR SCHOOLS UPON APPLICATION SUCH A SUBSIDY WOULD BE BASED ON THE STUDENTS’ EXPENDITURE ON TRAVELLING.
THIS WOULD ENABLE THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT OPERATORS TO RECEIVE FULL "ARES FROM STUDENTS WITHOUT THE NECESSITY CF SURVEY, CHECKING C? EVEN ARBITRATION.
M= HU ALSO SPOKE ABOU’ THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW SOCIAL WELFARE SUBVENTION SYSTEM ND CONGRATULATED THE GOVERNMENT ON ITS SUCCESS.
thuhsdaY, : .4, w 3
BUT HE POINTED OUT THAT SOME SERVICES CLASSIFIED AS CATEGORY II ONLY RECEIVED EITHER A FIXED PERCENTAGE SUBVENTION DETERMINED ON THE AVERAGE LEVEL OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT PREVIOUSLY GIVEN OR A LUMP SUM GRANTED ARBITRARILY.
SUCH ARRANGEMENTS WERE CAUSING FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE DIFFICULTIES TO AGENCIES PROVIDING SERVICES CLASSIFIED AS CATEGORY II, SUCH AS THOSE OPERATING SOCIAL CENTRES AND MULTI-SERVICE CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY, HE SAID.
ANOTHER AREA WHERE AGENCIES ARE BEING HIT FINANCIALLY IS SUBVENTION GRANTED TOWARD ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES, MR HU SAID.
♦A MORE LIBERAL AND GENEROUS POLICY ON SUBVENTING THESE TWO SERVICES WILL GO A LONG WAY IN ACHIEVING MORE POSITIVE RESULTS OF OUR MOST ADMIRABLE NEW SUBVENTION SYSTEM ON WHICH WE ARE READY TO SPEND OVER $350 MILLION IN 1983/84.
*A LITTLE MORE MONEY ALLOCATED TO THESE AREAS WILL BE MONEY WELL SPENT,* HE ADDED.
STUDY OF DEPOSIT INSURANCE SCHEME URGED
* * * *
THE HON ANDREW SO CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE AN IN-DEPTH STUDY OF THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A DEPOSIT INSURANCE PROGRAMME IN HONG KONG.
HE SUGGESTED AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT HONG KONG SHOULD LEARN FROM THE PROGRAMMES OF OTHER COUNTRIES AND SET UP A PRUDENT SUPERVISORY SYSTEM CONGRUOUS TO HONG KONG TO PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
* IN FACT,* HE SAID, *IT IS NOT ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A SYSTEM.
+A ’DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION’ MAY BE ESTABLISHED IN HONG KONG, OR THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS THEMSELVES MAY DEVISE A STABILISATION SYSTEM TO PROVIDE SUCH SERVICES AS LOAN GRANTS, FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, COLLECTION OF BAD DEBTS, AMALGAMATION, LIQUIDATION AND REORGANISATION FOR THEIR MEMBERS WHO MAY HAVE FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES.*
HE NOTED THAT THE QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT SUCH A SYSTEM SHOULD BE SET UP IN HONG KONG HAD AROUSED SOME PUBLIC DEBATE, AFTER A FEW FINANCE COMPANIES HAD RUN INTO DIFFICULTIES.
IN HIS OPINION, INSURANCE WAS ONLY A METHOD OF RISK MANAGEMENT AND LOSS PREVENTION BUT IT HELPED A LOT TOWARDS ENSURING PRUDENT MANAGEMENT AND BOOSTING CONFIDENCE.
/- z; ....
THUKSJAY, I4AB0B 24, 1983
18
AS IN THE CASE CF FIRE AND THEFT INSURANCE, HE SAID, THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD TO BE ASSURED, BOTH BEFORE AND AFTER AN INSURANCE POLICY WAS TAKEN OUT, THAT THE CLIENT HAD TAKEN AND WOULD CONTINUE TO TAKE FIRE PREVENTION OR ANTI-BURGLARY MEASURES.
SIMILARLY, A FINANCIAL INSTITUTION WHICH IS NOT SOUNDLY MANAGED WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO OBTAIN A DEPOSIT INSURANCE, HE ADDED.
♦ IN OTHER WORDS, IF A DEPOSIT INSURANCE SYSTEM WERE TO BE SET UP, THE GOVERNMENT AND PERSONS CONCERNED WOULD NEED TO EXERCISE EVEN STRICTER CONTROL OVER THE MONETARY SECTOR.
♦ RISK MANAGEMENT AND LOSS PREVENTION ARE ESSENTIAL ASPECTS CF BUSINESS MANAGEMENT.
♦ THIS APPLIES TO ANY BUSINESS AND, IN PARTICULAR, TO THE MONETARY BUSINESS, IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR SIZE,+ HE SAID.
MR SO ALSO URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO RECONSIDER THE ESTABLISHMENT CF A CONTRIBUTORY SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEME.
THE MOST IMPORTANT MERIT OF SUCH A SCHEME, HE SAID, WAS THAT IT WOULD BOOST THE PEOPLE’S SENSE OF BELONGING TO HONG KONG.
HE AGREED THAT THE TAXATION POLICY, WHICH WAS AIMED AT ATTRACTING INVESTORS, WAS A CORRECT ONE IN THE LIGHT OF THE PRESENT ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CLIMATE.
BUT IN THE LONG RUN, HE STRESSED, THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAINTAINING THE PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF HONG KONG HAD TO BE SHOULDERED BY THE PEOPLE WHO HAD ALWAYS LIVED IN HONG KONG.
♦ THEREFORE, WHETHER A BUDGET IS A GOOD ONE OR NOT DEPENDS NOT ON ITS BEING IN THE BLACK OR IN THE RED, BUT ON WHETHER THE PEOPLE WILL RECEIVE LONG-TERM BENEFITS.
♦ IT IS FOR SUCH LONG-TERM BENEFITS THAT I ALSO SUGGEST THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER OPTIONS LIKE INCREASING CORPORATION TAX, SELLING PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS IN THE URBAN AREAS TO TENANTS WHO CAN AFFORD THEM, OR MANAGING THEM LIKE A CO-OP CITY.
♦ BY SO DOING, THE GOVERNMENT COULD GENERATE MORE RESOURCES FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN BASIC SERVICES IN THE FIELDS OF HOUSING, EDUCATION, MEDICAL CARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY,+ HE SAID.
GOVERNMENT URGED TO LEAD IN FIGHTING INFLATION X * * *
THE GOVERNMENT MUST TAKE THE LEAD IN FIGHTING INFLATION, THE HON ALLEN LEE SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
AT A TIME WHEN THE REST OF THE WORLD IS FIGHTING INFLATION, HONG KONG DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE DOING THE SAME, HE SAID.
THUrfSDAY, :.'aBCH 24, 1983
- 1? -
AS AN EXAMPLE, HE POINTED OUT THAT THE RATE OF INFLATION FOR 1982 IN HONG KONG WAS 10.6 PER CENT WHILE THAT IN THE UNITED STATES WAS 3,9 PER CENT.
♦POLICIES MUST BE FORMED AND VIGOROUSLY PURSUED TO CLAMP DOWN ON INFLATION,♦ HE URGED.
MR LEE OBSERVED THAT THERE HAD BEEN LITTLE IMPROVEMENT IN INFLATION FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
THIS WAS BECAUSE HONG KONG COULD NOT CONTROL IMPORTED INFLATION ON THE ONE HAND, WHILE IT WAS ON THE OTHER HAND, FACING REGULAR INCREASES IN CHARGES FOR PUBLIC UTILITIES, TRANSPORTATION AND MANY OTHER ESSENTIAL ASPECTS OF LIFE, HE NOTED.
♦NEEDLESS TO SAY, IF THIS TREND CONTINUES, THE COST-PUSH EFFECT WILL WEAKEN OUR ABILITY TO COMPETE AS WE WIL^ PRICE OURSELVES OUT QFrTHE MARKET. '
♦ I REALISE THAT THE TRANSITION TO A NQN-INFLATIONARY ENVIRONMENT IS DIFFICULT BUT LET Mg STRESS AGAIN THAT OUR GOVERNMENT MUST TAKE THE LEAD IN ALL FRONTS,♦ HE ADDED,
MR LEE ALSO CALLED FOR POSITIVE STEPS TO PRESERVE AND TO INCREASE HONG KONG*S COMPETITIVENESS IN WORLD MARKETS.
IN HIS VIEW THE GOVERNMENT COULD DO MUCH MORE, AS ALMOST EVERY GOVERNMENT WAS DOJNG EVERYTHING POSSIBLE, TO SUPPORT INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.
CITING THE AREA OF TECHNOLOGY, HE FOUND HONG KONG FALLING BEHIND ITS COMPETITORS BY A WIDE MARGIN,
KE SAID HE REALISED THAT THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE WAS CONDUCTING A RESEARCH PROJECT ON TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER. BUT HE STRESSED IT WAS A QUESTION OF TIMING.
MR LEE SUGGESTED THAT STEPS SHOULD ALSO BE TAKEN SWIFTLY TO INTRODUCE COMPUTER COURSES IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
CONCEDING THAT SUCH COURSES HAD BEEN INTRODUCED INTO 30 SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN HONG KONG SINCE LAST YEAR, HE SAID IT HAD TAKEN THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ONLY ONE YEAR TO INTRODUCE COMPUTER COURSES INTO ALL SECONDARY SCHOOLS,
♦ AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THE UNITED KINGDOM NOW HAS PLANS TO INTRODUCE THESE COURSES INTO PRIMARY SCHOOLS.
♦ OUR EXPERIMENTAL STAGE OF INTRODUCING COMPUTER COURSES IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IS FAR EEHIND THE NEED WHICH WE WILL EXPERIENCE IN THE FUTURE OF THE REQUIREMENT OF KNOWLEDGEABLE COMPUTER OPERATORS,.
♦ I URGE THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THIS POLICY,* MR LEE SAID.
THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1983
20
BUDGET DEBATE ADJOURNED TILL APRIL 13-14 R M M
DEBATE ON THE SECOND READING OF THE APPROPRIATION BILL 1983 WAS FURTHER ADJOURNED AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SITTING TODAY.
TWENTY-THREE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS SPOKE DURING THE TWO-DAY SITTING OF THE COUNCIL HELD YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY) AND TODAY.
THE THIRD BUDGET SITTING WILL BE HELD ON APRIL 13 AND 14, WHEN OFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL SPEAK.
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1983 CIVIL SERVICE PAY AWARD
* * * *
CIVIL SERVANTS HAVE BEEN AWARDED A PAY ADJUSTMENT AVERAGING FIVE PER CENT, WHICH IS LESS THAN THE PAY TREND INDICATORS.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS APPROVED A TAPERED PAY AWARD FOR THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR, PAYABLE FROM APRIL 1, WHEREBY JUNIOR OFFICERS WILL RECEIVE SLIGHTLY MORE AND SENIOR OFFICERS ON THE MASTER PAY SCALE SLIGHTLY LESS THAN FIVE PER CENT.
OFFICERS ON THE DIRECTORATE PAY SCALE WILL RECEIVE INCREASES RANGING FROM 4.05 PER CENT AT THE BOTTOM TO 2.35 PER CENT AT THE TOP.
THE ADJUSTMENTS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
PRESENT RANGE NEW RANGE
MASTER PAY SCALE
(POINTS 1-51) $1 605 - 320 685 51 700 - S21 613
DIRECTORATE PAY SCALE
(POINTS 1-3) $22 200 - $46 900 $23 100---- 348 000
THE MODEL SCALE I PAY SCALE, DISCIPLINED SERVICES (OFFICER) PAY SCALE, DISCIPLINED SERVICES (RANK AND FILE) PAY SCALE AND THE TRAINING PAY SCALE WILL EE ADJUSTED IN LINE WITH THEIR CORRESPONDING POINTS ON THE MASTER PAY SCALE.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT ACCOUNT WAS TAKEN OF THE RESULTS OF THE PAY TREND SURVEY WHICH SHOWED AVERAGE PAY'AWARDS RANGING FROM 7.24 TO 8.3 PEE. CENT I'.’ THE PRIVATE SECTS- IX THE LAST YEAR, AND GF THE COST OF LI VIS INCREASE OF PETwEEN 8 /.4 PER
CENT.
♦HOWEVER, THE OVERRIDING CONSIDERATIONS IN 4RRI .1% AT A LOWER CIVIL SERVICE PAY AWAF ‘IVE PER CENT WERE THE P .VAILING ECONOMIC CLIMATE AND THE ■ - AUSTERITY MEASURES I'.' T E LIGHT
(F . DEFICIT OF . LLION FOR 1983-84,+ HE SAID.
THURSDAY, ?.!ARCH 24, 19fi3
21
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT IF THE PAY TREND SURVEY INDICATORS HAD BEEN ADJUSTED TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE DIFFERENCE IN THE TOTAL PACKAGE OF PAY AND BENEFITS BETWEEN THE CIVIL SERVICE AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR, IN ACCORDANCE WITH A METHOD SUGGESTED BY THE STANDING COMMISSION ON CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE IN THE REPORT NO. 9 PUBLISHED TODAY, THE RESULTS WOULD STILL HAVE BEEN HIGHER THAN FIVE PER CENT.
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED THE ALLOCATION OF ABOUT $690 MILLION FOR THE PAY AWARD, INCLUDING $224 MILLION TO PROVIDE FOR APPROPRIATE INCREASES IN GRANTS TO SUBVENTED ORGANISATIONS.
--------0----------
STANDING COMMISSION’S REPORT NO 9 * * * #
THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY ITS ACCEPTANCE OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE STANDING COMMISSION ON CIVIL SERVICE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE IN ITS SECOND REPORT ON CIVIL SERVICE PAY POLICY (REPORT NO 9).
THE COMMISSION’S INTERIM (FIRST) REPORT ON CIVIL SERVICE PAY POLICY (REPORT NO 7) WAS PUBLISHED IN MARCH 1982. THIS SECOND REPORT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNMENT IN DECEMBER 1982.
THE COMMISSION’S REPORT IS CONCERNED MAINLY WITH THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR MAKING GENERAL CIVIL SERVICE PAY ADJUSTMENTS. IT RECOMMENDED THAT THE PAY TREND SURVEY SYSTEM, WITH CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SURVEY METHODOLOGY, SHOULD CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE BASIS FOR ADJUSTING GENERAL CIVIL SERVICE PAY.
THE COMMISSION HAS AGAIN EMPHASISED ITS PREVIOUS RECOMMENDATION (IN REPORT NO 7) THAT ACCOUNT SHOULD BE TAKEN OF THE TOTAL PACKAGE OF PAY AND OTHER BENEFITS IN BOTH THE CIVIL SERVICE AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN DETERMINING THE GENERAL LEVELS OF CIVIL SERVICE PAY. IN ORDER TO DEVELOP THIS POLICY FURTHER, THE COMMISSION INTENDS IN THE LONGER TERM TO CARRY OUT PAY LEVEL SURVEYS OF COMPARABLE JOBS IN BOTH SECTORS, AND TO UNDERTAKE REVIEWS OF INDIVIDUAL BENEFITS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.
HOWEVER, BEFORE ANY PROGRESS CAN BE MADE IN EITHER OF THESE TWO AREAS, THE COMMISSION HAS POINTED OUT THAT IT WOULD BE ESSENTIAL TO DETERMINE WHICH FRINGE BENEFITS SHOULD BE INCLUDED AND TO CONSTRUCT AN ACCEPTABLE BASIS FOR VALUING THE VARIOUS BENEFITS.
THE COMMISSION HAS ALSO RECOMMENDED TWO MEASURES FOR APPLICATION IN 1983 TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE DIFFERENCE IN TOTAL PAY PACKAGES BETWEEN THE CIVIL SERVICE AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR. THESE ARE THAT:
THURSDAY, .'.XiiGH 24, 1983
- TH-RE SHOULD BE NO FURTHER IMPROVEMENT IN 1933 IN THE REaL VALUE OF CIVIL SERVICE BENEFITS. THIS MEANS THAT NO NEW BENEFIT SHOULD BE INTRODUCED THIS YEAR, AND ADJUSTMENT TO EXISTING BENEFITS SHOULD BE LIMITED TO COVERING INCREASES IN COST DUE TO INFLATION; AND
* THE GAP, IN DOLLAR TERMS, BETWEEN THE CIVIL SERVICE AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR TOTAL PACKAGES SHOULD NOT WIDEN AS A RESULT OF ANY CIVIL SERVICE PAY ADJUSTMENT IN 1933. TO ACHIEVE THIS, AN ADJUSTED SET OF PAY TREND INDICATORS SHOULD BE PRODUCED AND USED BY THE GOVERNMENT AS A GUIDE IN ARRIVING AT AN APPROPRIATE PAY AWARD.
A METHOD OF MAKING THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENT IS CONTAINED IN THE COMMISSION’S REPORT.
THE COMMISSION STRESSED THAT CIVIL SERVICE PAY POLICY IS A HIGHLY COMPLEX SUBJECT AND IS TOO IMPORTANT, NOT ONLY TO CIVIL SERVANTS BUT TO THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG AS A WHOLE, FOR THE LATEST RECOMMENDATIONS TO BE THE LAST WORD ON THE MATTER. IT IS ESSENTIAL, IN THE COMMISSION’S VIEW, THAT ALL ASPECTS OF CIVIL SERVICE PAY POLICY SHOULD BE KEPT UNDER REVIEW IN THE LIGHT OF CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES. THE COMMISSION PROPOSES TO CONTINUE ITS STUDY OF THIS DIFFICULT SUBJECT AND TO SUBMIT FURTHER REPORTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT FROM TIME TO TIME.
THE COMMISSION’S REPORT NO 9 IS ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES CENTRE AT THE GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, AT $7 A COPY.
DOMESTIC MERCHANDISE EXPORT STATISTICS FOR 1982 * * * * *
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY RELEASED DOMESTIC EXPORTS STATISTICS ANALYSED BY INDUSTRIAL ORIGIN FOR THE YEAR 1982.
THIS SERIES IS DERIVED BY RE-GROUPING ALL SIX-DIGIT COMMODITY EXPORT ITEMS UNDER THE PRESENT EXTERNAL TRADE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM ACCORDING TO THE INDUSTRIES IN WHICH THESE COMMODITY ITEMS ARE NORMALLY PRODUCED.
SINCE ITS SCOPE IS CONFINED TO MERCHANDISE TRADE, TRANSACTIONS IN GOLD AND SPECIE ARE NOT INCLUDED.
THE CLASSIFICATION OF COMMODITY EXPORT ITEMS BY INDUSTRIAL ORIGIN IS STRUCTURED UPON THE UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL STANDARD CLASSIFICATION OF ALL ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES (ISIC), AS DISTINCT FROM THE UNITED NATIONS STANDARD INTERNATIONAL TRADE CLASSIFICATION (SITC) WHICH IS ADOPTED IN THE REGULAR TRADE STATISTICS REPORTS.
THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1?£3
- 23 -
WHEN INTERPRETING THESE RE-CLASSIFIED FIGURES, IT SHOULD EE NOTED THAT THE OVERALL EXPORT VALUE OF AN EXPORTED COMMODITY REQUIRING SEVERAL INTERMEDIATE PROCESSING STAGES IS WHOLLY ALLOCATED TO THE INDUSTRY IN WHICH IT IS FINALLY PRODUCED, ALTHOUGH THE INDUSTRY IS NOT REALLY THE SOLE CONTRIBUTOR TO THE VALUE.
BESIDES, THE CLASSIFICATION OF AN EXPORTED COMMODITY TO A PARTICULAR INDUSTRY DOES NOT IMPLY THAT THE ENTIRE AMOUNT OF THE COMMODITY IS ACTUALLY PRODUCED BY ESTABLISHMENTS OF THAT INDUSTRY, SINCE SOME MAY BE SECONDARY PRODUCTS PRODUCED BY ESTABLISHMENTS CLASSIFIED UNDER OTHER INDUSTRIES.
IN TERMS OF THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS, THE SIX MOST IMPORTANT INDUSTRY GROUPS WERE WEARING APPAREL, ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND ELECTRONICS, TEXTILES, PROFESSIONAL AND OPTICAL EQUIPMENT, PLASTIC PRODUCTS, AND METAL PRODUCTS.
THEY TOGETHER ACCOUNTED FOR 86 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL VALUE OF MERCHANDISE DOMESTIC EXPORTS IN 1982.
THE LARGEST INCREASES BY ABSOLUTE VALUE OVER 1981 OCCURRED IN ELECTRICAL MACHINERY AND APPLIANCES (INCLUDING ELECTRONICS) ($587 MILLION), WEARING APPAREL (5567 MILLION), AND PLASTIC PRODUCTS ($527 MILLION).
IN PERCENTAGE TERMS, INDUSTRIES WITH THE LARGEST INCREASES WERE: BEVERAGES (31 PER CENT), NON-ELECTRICAL MACHINERY (20 PER CENT), PAPER PRODUCTS (14 PER CENT),AND FOOD (12 PER CENT).
ON THE OTHER HAND, SUBSTANTIAL DECREASES IN THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS WERE RECORDED FOR METAL PRODUCTS (-$363 MILLION) AND TEXTILES (-$294 MILLION).
IN PERCENTAGE TERMS, THE MOST SIGNIFICANT DECREASES WERE OBSERVED IN PETROLEUM AND COAL PRODUCTS (-50 PER CENT), RUBBER PRODUCTS (-29 PER CENT), AND NON-METALLIC MINERAL PRODUCTS (-23 PER CENT).
FURTHER DETAILS OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS STATISTICS FOR MERCHANDISE RECLASSIFIED BY INDUSTRIAL ORIGIN MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT (TEL. NO. 3-7224504).
(A STATISTICAL TABLE FOR SELECTED INDUSTRIES IS ATTACHED).
THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1983
24
Value of domestic exports for merchandise, reclassified by industrial origin for 1981 and 1$#2
(Values in HK$ million)
Industrial origin of the commodities exported Merchandise domestic exports
1981 1982 % change
Agricultural, Forestry and Fishing
Agricultural, livestock and *3 39 -9
poultry production
Ocean and coastal fishing 132 -1
Mining and Quarrying 1 1 •
Manufac tuning
Food 957 1 071 12
Beverages 29 38 31
Tbbacco 162 154 -5
Textiles (including knitting) 14 587 14 093 -2
Wearing apparel, except 20 432 20 999
footwear and knitwear
Leather and leather products 521 484 -7
Footwear 424 382 -10
Wood and cork products, 582 493 -15
furniture and fixtures
Paper and paper products, 1 081 1 236 14
printing and publishing
Chemicals and chemical products 832 867 4
Products of petroleum and coal 2 1 -50
Rubber products 94 67 -29
Plastic products 6 713 7 240 8
Non-metallic mineral products 291 225 -23
Basic metals and fabricated 4 515 4 152 -8
metal products
Machinery, except electrical 741 886 20
Electrical machinery and 16 014 16 601 4
appliances (incl. electronics)
Transport equipment 194 158 -19
Professional and optical equipment 8 173 8 187
Other manufacturing industries 3 511 4 694 34
Elec trici ty 99 107 Q {J
Miscellaneous items I I
(e.g. small postal packages, 49? *r>1 47
developed photographic plates
and film, antiques, and works
of art)
Total 8C 423 83 C32 L 3
Individual entries of a column may not add up exactly to the correspcr r.g total due to rounding.
• a change of less than 0.5%
— *r — *r 0 —------
THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1983
- 25 -
CONSULTANCY ON MONITORING OF POWER COMPANIES x # K *
THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL HAS APPROVED A PROPOSAL THAT INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS SHOULD EE APPOINTED TO UNDERTAKE A REVIEW Or THE GOVERNMENT’S MONITORING ARRANGEMENTS CF THE POWER COMPANIES.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE OBJECT OF THE CONSULTANCY WAS TO REVIEW THE GOVERNMENT’S PRESENT MONITORING ARRANGEMENTS CF THE POWER COMPANIES, AND TO ADVISE WHETHER THESE ARRANGEMENTS ADEQUATELY ACCOMPLISH THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH THEY ARE DESIGNED.
THE COVER .EMT SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THE CONSULTANTS WOULD NOT BE REVIEWING THE SCHEMES OF CONTROL. THE GOVERNMENT’S POSITION I;' RESPECT TO THE SCHEMES Cc CONTROL WAS THAT THEY WERE CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENTS WHICH COULD NOT 3E CHANGED WITHOUT THE AGREEMENT OF THE PARTIES.
ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT THERE IS ANYTHING PARTICULARLY UNSATISFACTORY WITH THE PRESENT MONITORING ARRANGEMENTS, THE CONSULTANTS WILL BE ASKED TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER THERE ARE ANY MORE EFFICIENT METHODS BY WHICH THE GOVERNMENT MIGHT PERFORM THIS FUNCTION.
STEPS WILL BE TAKEN HOW TO APPOINT A FIRM OF CONSULTANTS WITH THE NECESSARY EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE. THIS INVOLVES THE SELECTION OF SUITABLE ACCOUNTING AND MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT FIRMS CAPABLE OF MOBILISING A MULT I-DI SC I PL I NE TEAM, FOP CONSIDERATION BY THE CENTRAL CONSULTANTS SELECTION BOARD.
- 0 -
WORRIES OVER FEE ASSISTANCE SCHEME GROUNDLESS * * * *
MUCH OF THE WORRIES AND PROBLEMS ANTICIPATED BY PARENTS AND NURSERY OPERATORS EARLIER OVER THE FEE ASSISTANCE SCHEME HAVE PROVED +QUITE UNWARRANTED*.
THIS WAS STATED TODAY (THURSDAY) BY THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ANSON CHAN, WHEN SHE OPENED THE PO LEUNG KUK’S WONG SIU CHING NURSERY AT CHOI WAN ESTATE COMMUNITY CENTRE, ITS 16TH DAY NURSERY.
SHE SAID THE CHANGE TO THE NEW SYSTEM FROM SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR WAS INITIALLY GREETED KITH CONSIDERABLE MISGIVINGS.
+AS WE ALL GAIN GREATER EXPERIENCE IN OPERATING THIS NEW SYSTEM AND WI TH CONTINUED CO-OPERATION BETWEEN VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND THE GOVERNMENT, I AM SURE .£ CAN IRON OUT ANY REMAINING OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS,* SHE -Al„.
STATISTICS SHOW THAT > HE THAN 10 030 CHILDREN ARE CURRENTLY ENROLLED I* AIDED AND NON--HOF IT MAKING DAY NURSERIES AND OVER 90 FER CE-” OF THEM ARE :ECF..;1NG SOf E LEVEL CF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
THURSDAY, KARCH 24, 1?83
- 26
“HEY ALSO REVEAL THAT OVER 76 PER CENT OF PARENTS ARE PAYING LESS THAN S203 A MONTH TO GET FULL DAY CARE OF A HIGH STANDARD FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND THAT 56 PER CENT OF THEM ARE IN FACT PAYING LESS THAN BEFORE.
+l NEED HARDLY REITERATE THAT THE FEE ASSISTANCE SCHEME IS INTENDED TO DEMONSTRATE CLEARLY GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT TO 'PROVING THE QUALITY OF DAY CARE AND MAKING SUCH FACILITIES AVAILABLE TO THOSE FAMILIES WHO NEED THE SERVICE,+ SHE SAID.
ENROLMENT HAS NOT BEEN ADVERSELY AFFECTED AND THE SCHEME IS CATER NG TO THE NEEDS OF FAMILIES IN BOTH THE LOWER AND MIDDLE INCOME GROUPS.
CHILD CARE SERVICES, MRS CHAN SAID, MUST CONTINUE TO RELY ON THE POSITIVE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.
SHE PAID TRIBUTE TO THE PO LEUNG KUK FOR ITS DEDICATION TO CHAR I"ABLE DEEDS AND CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE PROMOTION OF WELFARE SERVICES IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY IN THE FIELD OF CHILD CARE SERVICES.
THE NEW NURSERY, WITH A CAPACITY OF 100, HAS BEEN MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS DONATION GF $200 003 FROM bfiS CHEUNG WONG SIU-CHING TOWARDS THE CAPITAL COST OF THE r-OJECT.
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*
CENTRAL ALLOCATION OF PRIMARY ONE ADMISSION SYSTE;-. H * * *
CHILDREN WHO FAILED TO SECURE A DISCRETIONARY PLACE IN THE PRIMARY ONE ADMISSION SYSTEM a'LL EE CENTRALL ALLOCATED A PLACE IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR BY THE EDUCATION DEDARTMENT.
PARENTS OF THESE CHILDREN HAVE BEEN INFORMED BY LETTER OF THE VARIOUS PROCEDURES CONCERNING THE CENTRAL ALLOCATION OF P ACES.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID IF PARE .TS HAVE NOT RECEIVED THIS LETTER BY TOMORRC . (MARCH 25), THEY SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT’S PRIMARY ONE ADMISSION UNIT (TEL. NO. 5-724333).
THE LETTER ADVISES PARENTS TO COLLECTION CENTRE FROM MARCH 27 TO COLLECT A +CHOICE OF SCHOOLS-*- FORM AND AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN THEIR
GO TO : SPECIFIED DISTRIBUTION/ 33 BETwEE;. 9 AM AND 4 PM TO AND A LIST OF ALL GOVERNMENT OWN SCHOOL DISTRICT.
THE COMPLETED FORM SHOULD BE RETURNED TO THE SPECIFIED CENTRE DURING THE SAME PERIOD.
WHEN FILLING THE FORM, PARENTS SHOULD C'-Lv E'"TZ- TH" CODES OF THE SCHOOLS SERVING THEIR PARTICULAR HOME D ?TRIC7, " SPOKESMAN SAID.
IF A PARENT HAD PREVIOUSLY APPLIED UNSUCCESSFULLY FOR A DISCRETIONARY PLACE AT A SCHOOL IN HIS OWN DISTRICT £ C J STILL INCLUDE THAT SCHOOL IN HIS PREFERENCE LIST.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE CENTRAL ALLOCATION WILL BE BASED SOLELY ON PARENTS’ CHOICES.
THU32JAY, 24, 19Sj
♦WHEN A PART I CLLAR SCHOOL IS OVERSUBSCRIBED, A RANDOMISATION f^THOD WILL BE USED TO ENSURE FAIRNESS TO ALL CHILDREN LIVING IN THE DISTR ICT,* HE SAID.
DUE TO THE UNEVEN DISTRIBUTION OF PRIMARY ONE PUPILS, SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS '..HIGH DO NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT PUBLIC-SECTOR PRIMARY OLE ’LACES MAY HAVE TO INCORPORATE SOME SCHOOL PLACES FROM SCHOOLS IN NEIGHBOURING DISTRICTS TO MAKE UP FOR THE SHORTAGES.
THE SPOKESMAN ASSURED THAT SUCH MOVES ARE ESSENTIAL IN ORDER TO ENABLE CHILDREN TO EE ALLOCATED TO A SCHOOL NEAREST TO THEIR HOME ACCORDING TO THEIR PARENTS’ CHOICES.
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT PARENTS WHO HAVE MOVED HOUSE RECENTLY OR ARE PLANNING TO MOVE HOUSE IN THE NEAR FUTURE MUST INFORM THE PRIMARY ONE ADMISSION UNIT SO THAT ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE TO ALLOCATE A PLACE TO THEIR CHILDREN IN THEIR NEW HOME DISTRICT.
RESULTS OF THE CENTRAL ALLOCATION OF PLACES WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN LATE-JUNE. PARENTS WILL BE ASKED BY THE PRIMARY ONE ADMISSION UNIT TO COLLECT AN ALLOCATION SLIP ON A SPECIFIED DATE FROM THEIR OWN DISTR I BUTION/COLLECTION CENTRE AND REGISTER WITH THE SCHOOL ALLOCATED AT THE TIME AND DATE AS INDICATED ON THE SLIP.
- 0 - -
NEW TEMPLE ON TSI NG Yl OPENS * * *
A NEW +HOME+ FOR TIN HAU, THE GODDESS OF HEAVEN, ON TSING Yl ISLAND wAS OPENED BY THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, NR DAVID AKERS-JONES, TODAY (THURSDAY).
SITUATED ON CHUNG MEI ROAD, THE 65-SQUARE-METRE NEW TEMPLE HAS BEEN BUILT TO REPLACE THE OLD ONE WHICH WAS BUILT SOME 330 YEARS AGO, AND WILL BE DEMOLISHED TO MAKE WAY FOR DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES.
BEFORE THE OPENING, A TRADITIONAL CEREMONY WAS HELD IN WHICH THE GODDESS WAS CARRIED TO THE NEW TEMPLE IN A SEDAN CHAIR AND ESCORTED BY A UNICORN FROM THE TSING Yl RURAL COMMITTEE.
THE NEW TEMPLE WAS THEN OPENED WITH MR AKERS-JONES UNLOCKING THE DOOR AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE NEW TERRITORIES HEUNG YEE KUK, MR LAU WONG-FAT, UNVEILING THE GODDESS.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE THREE TEMPLE MANAGERS, MR AKERS-JONES THEN BURNT THE FIRST BUNDLE OF INCENSE STICKS AND BOWED TO TIN HAU, FOLLOWED BY MR LAU AND OTHER GUESTS.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEw TEMPLE BEGAN LATE LAST YEAR AND WAS COMPLETED RECENTLY. THE GOVERNMENT HAS CONTRIBUTED 8371 □□□ TO COVER PART OF THE BUILDING COST.
THE TIN HAU TEMPLE ON TSING YI IS ONE OF THE OLDEST BUILDINGS ON THE ISLAND AND IS THE ONLY FORMAL TEMPLE THERE.
APART FROM TSING Yl VILLAGERS AND LOCALLY-EASED FISHERMEN, THE TEMPLE IS ALSO VISITED BY PILGRIMS FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE TERR I TORY.
THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1983 •
- 28 -
HEART HEALTH EXHIBITION IN YUEN LONG
* * * *
THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL MOUNT AN EXHIBITION ON HEART DISEASES IN YUEN LONG THIS WEEKEND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE RESIDENTS IN THE DISTRICT.
THE EXHIBITION WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY (MARCH 26 AND 27) FROM 10.30 AM TO 4 PM AT THE YUEN LONG TOWN HALL IN TAI YUK ROAD.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE AIM OF THE EXHIBITION IS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE CAUSES, PREVENTION AND TREATMENT CF CARD I O-VASCULAR DISEASES.
HEART DISEASES (INCLUDING HYPERTENSIVE HEART DISEASES) AND CEREBRO-VASCULAR DISEASES CLAIMED MORE THAN 7 000 LIVES IN HONG KONG IN 1981.
HE URGED THE 210 000 RESIDENTS IN THE DISTRICT TO VISIT THE EXHIBITION.
♦IT IS HOPED THAT THROUGH THE VISIT TO THE EXHIBITION, THE POPULATION WILL KNOW HOW TO KEEP A HEALTHY HEART,* HE SAID.
AT THE EXHIBITION, MEDICAL AND NURSING STAFF WILL BE ON HAND TO ANSWER ENQUIRIES ABOUT HEART DISEASES.
VISITORS WILL SEE STATIC DISPLAYS, FILM SHOWS, AND SLIDE SHOWS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING EARLY PREVENTIVE MEASURES.
PAMPHLETS ABOUT HEART DISEASES WILL BE DISTRIBUTED T? MEMBERS CF THE PUBLIC.
-------o---------
SOUTHERN DB MEMBERS TO VISIT ENVIRONMENTAL BLACKSFOTS * * * * *
SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WILL VISIT ENVIRONMENTAL BLACKSPOTS IN SHEK 0 AND STANLEY ON SATURDAY (MARCH 26) MORNING AND SEE SOME PROJECTS FUNDED BY THE BOARD.
THE TOUR WILL, START AT 9 AM WITH A BRIEFING BY THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICER (SOUTH) ON THE PROBLEM OF ILLEGAL OCCUPATION OF CROWN LAND AND UNAUTHORISED STRUCTURES AT SHEK 0 VILLAGE.
THE PARTY WILL THEN PROCEED TO HOK TSUI VILLAGE 'ND INSPECT A WATER STORAGE TANK AND A FIRE HYDRANT BUILT LAST YE .. ITH DISTRICT BOARD FUNDS.
THE BOARD MEMBERS WILL TAKE A PANORAMIC VIE C- ’■ E . I.'.E
FISH CULTURE RAFTS IN STANLEY AT THE ACCESS RO, D 7. CCMPC ITE SIGNAL ORGANISATION STATION OFF CHUNG HOM KOK ROAD.
7H73S3./;', I.L.liCH 24, 19t3
AT MA HANG, THEY i ILL EE SHOWN THE VA- IOUS DISTRICT BOARD ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AND BRIEFED ON THE POLLUTION PROBLEM OF A NULLAH BROUGHT ABOUT BY PIGSTY 0 ER TIC.S.
THE VISIT WILL END AT 12.45 PM FOLLOW I <2 A MEETING WITH MEMBERS OF THE STANLEY KAIFONG WELFARE ASSOCIATION AT THEIR OFFICE.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES INTERESTED IN JOINING THE TOUR ARE REQUESTED TO ASSEMBLE AT THE COMPOUND OF ABERDEEN POLICE STATION AT 4 WONG CHUK HANG ROAD, ABERDEEN, BEFORE 9 AM.
CLEARANCE OF ILLEGAL STRUCTURES IN SHAM SHU I PO
* > *
MORE THAN 40 ILLEGAL STRUCTURES AT THE REAR LANES OF WONG CHUK STREET, TAI NAN STREET, SHEK KIP MEI STREET, BOUNDARY STREET AND YU CHAU STREET IN SHAM SHU I PO WERE DEMOLISHED IN A CLEARANCE THIS (THURSDAY) MORNING.
TODAY’S CLEARANCE, THE FIFTH LAUNCHED IN THE DISTRICT SO FAR THIS YEAR, IS PART OF A LONG-TERM ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT SCHEME INITIATED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD SINCE LATE 1981.
DURING THE PAST YEARS, ABOUT 50 REAR LANES IN THE DISTRICT HAD BEEN CLEARED, WITH 157 ILLEGAL STRUCTURES, 35 SHOP EXTENSIONS AND 40 CANOPIES BEING PULLED DOWN.
A DISTRICT OFFICE SPOKESMAN SAID THE ILLEGAL STRUCTURES, USED EITHER FOR STORAGE, WORKSHOPS, KITCHENS OR TEMPORARY HOMES, HAD BEEN A LONG-STANDING PROBLEM IN SHAM SHU I PO.
+NOT ONLY DO THESE MAKESHIFT EXTENSIONS POSE A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM, BUT THEY ALSO CAUSE ENVIRONMENTAL NUISANCE AND OBSTRUCT PUBLIC ACCESS,* HE SAID.
ASIDE FROM THE CLEARANCE, HE SAID, WARNING NOTICES HAD BEEN SENT TO SHOP OPERATORS FROM TIME TO TIME REQUESTING THEM TO PULL DOWN THE ILLEGAL EXTENSIONS THEMSELVES.
TODAY'S CLEARANCE WAS JOINTLY CARRIED OUT BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE, THE URBAN SERVICES, SOCIAL WELFARE AND LANDS DEPARTMENTS.
AN ELDERLY MAN WHO CLAIMED HOMELESS AFTER TODAY’S CLEARANCE OPERATION HAS NOW BEEN GIVEN TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION AT THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT’S TAI HANG TUNG COMMUNITY CENTRE.
HIS CASE a ILL EE REVIEWED AGAIN TOMORROW (FRIDAY) BY THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT TO ESTABLISH HIS ELIGIBILITY FOR REHOUSING.
THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1983
AMERICAN COMEDY FOR SHA TIN RESIDENTS
* * *
SHA TIN RESIDENTS wILL NOW BE AB<_E TO WATCH A CANTONESE-VERS ION CF AMERICAN PLAYWRIGHT EUGENE O’NEILL’S NOBEL PRIZE WINNING PLAY +AH! WILDERNESS*.
THE PLAY, TO BE PERFORMED BY THE THESPIANS DRAMA SOCIETY AND STUDENTS OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY, WILL BE STAGED AT THE UNIVERSITY’S SIR RUN RUN SHAw HALL FOR THREE NIGHTS STARTING AT 8 PM THIS (THURSDAY) EVENING.
THE PLAY IS PART OF THE SHA TIN DRAMA MONTH HELD SINCE EARLY THIS MONTH AND FEATURED SEMINARS, LECTURES, AN EXHIBITION AND °ERFORMANCES.
DIRECTOR OF THE PLAY +AHI WILDERNESS* IS MR HARDY TSOI, WHO IS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SHA TIN DRAMA MONTH ORGANISING COMMITTEE.
TICKETS AT 38 AND $12 ARE AVAILABLE AT THE SHA TIM DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE SIR RUN RUN SHAW HALL.
ABOUT $69 900 HAS BEEN ALLOCATED FOR THE DRAMA MONTH WHICH IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICE, THE SIR RUN RUN SHAW HALL AND THE SHA TIN ARTS ASSOCIATION.
TENDERS INVITED FOR TENANCY OF CROWN LAND
* m
THE LANDS DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE SHORT TERM TENANCIES FOR TWO PIECES OF CROWN LAND FOR PUBLIC CAR PARKS.
SITUATED
THE FIRST SITE, OF ABOUT 2 419 SQUARE METRES, IS L.
AT THE WESTERN RECLAMATION, NORTH OF QUEEN STREET ON HONG KONG
ISLAND.
THE TENANCY FOR THIS SITE THEREAFTER QUARTERLY.
IS FOR 18 MONTHS INITIALLY AND
THE OTHER SITE IS AT
COVERS AN AREA OF ABOUT 4
FUNG KAM STREET IN YUEN LONG. 330 SQUARE METRES.
THE TENANCY FOR THIS THEREAFTER QUARTERLY.
SITE IS FOR ONE YEAR INITIALLY
AND
KONG
THE DEADLINE FOR ACCEPTANCE OF TENDERS FOR THE HONG
ISLAND SITE IS APRIL 15, 1983 WHILE THAT FOR THE YUEN LONG SITE
IS APR IL 8, 1983.
TENDER FORMS, NOTICES AND CONDITIONS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM, AND TENDER PLANS INSPECTED AT THE LANDS DEPARTMENT, MURRAY BUILDING 5TH FLOOR GARDEN ROAD A ID THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICc, KOwLOuN wEST, KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 10TH FLOOR, 405 NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON.
THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1983
31
EASTER HOLIDAY: POSTAL ARRANGEMENTS * K * *
THE POST OFFICE ANNOUNCES TODA* (THURSDAY) THAT ALL POST OFFICES WILL EE CLOSED AND THAT THERE wILL EE NO DELIVERY OF MAIL ON GOOD FRIDAY (APRIL 1) AND CHING MING FESTIVAL (APRIL 5).
HOWEVER, THERE WILL EE ONE DELIVERY ON SATURDAY (APRIL 2) AND ONE ON EASTER MONDAY (APRIL 4). ON THESE TWO DAYS, 35 POST OFFICES, INCLUDING THE GENERAL POST OFFICE, THE KOWLOON CENTRAL POST OFFICE, THE TSIM SHA TSUI POST OFFICE, AND THE POST OFFICES IN TSUEN WAN AND TAI PO WILL EE OPEN FROM 9 AM TO 12 NOON.
ALL OTHER POST OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED.
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WATER CUT IN EASTERN DISTRICT * * * *
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN PREMISES IN EASTERN DJSJRJCT WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR SEVEN HOURS FROM 11 PM ON MONDAY (MARCH 28) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR A LEAKAGE TEST.
THE AFFECTED PREMISES WILL BE THOSE IN THE AREA BOUNDED BY LOCKHART ROAD, CANAL ROAD EAST, HENNESSY ROAD AND EAST POINT ROAD INCLUDING CHEE ON BUILDING.
- “ J
"" DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
ELECTRONIC^ ROAD PRICING TO BE TESTED ........................... 1
NO CUT-BACK IN PUBLIC WORKS SPENDING, GOVERNOR SAYS.............. 4
REFLECTING VEHICLE NUMBER PLATES TO BE REQUIRED ................. 6
URBAN COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS ...................................... 7
FIRST DB BY-ELECTIONS IN MAY..................................... 8
NUMBER OF TB CASES ABATING....................................... 9
SPONSORS PRAISED FOR CONTRIBUTION TO EDUCATION ................. 10
1983 HONG KONG YOUTH MUSIC CAMP ................................ 11
SURVEY OF EMPLOYMENT, VACANCIES AND PAYROLL .................... 13
GRAVE SWEEPERS URGED TO PREVENT HILL FIRES ..................... 13
LO WU STATION ROAD CLOSED FOR CHING MING FESTIVAL .............. 14
NT GRAVES DUE FOR EXHUMATION ................................... 14
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN TAI WO PING................... 15
NEW JUNK BAY LINK ROADS PLANNED ................................ 16
LAND RECLAMATION PLANNED AT THEN MUN ........................... 16
LABOUR LAW OFFENCES ............................................ 16
FIRING PRACTICE WARNING......................................... 17
FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 1983
1
ELECTRONIC ROAD PRICING TO BE TESTED *****
THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR ALAN SCOTT, TODAY ANNOUNCED THE GOVERNMENT’S DECISION TO TEST A SYSTEM OF ELECTRONIC ROAD PRICING THAT COULD CHANGE THE FACE OF TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT IN HONG KONG.
PROPOSALS FOR A PILOT STAGE TO BE SET UP WERE APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL LAST WEEK AND THE NECESSARY FUNDS WERE APPROVED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE TWO DAYS AGO.
IF A DECISION IS TAKEN SUBSEQUENTLY TO GO AHEAD WITH THE SYSTEM, HONG KONG WILL BE A WORLD PIONEER IN TACKLING ROAD CONGESTION BY THIS METHOD.
THE OBJECT OF ROAD PRICING IS, BY SETTING CHARGES FOR THE USE OF ROADS AT BUSY LOCATIONS AT PEAK HOURS, TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF TRIPS AND THUS TO REDUCE CONGESTION AND FACILITATE SATISFACTORY TRAFFIC FLOW. GOODS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT VEHICLES CAN REAP THE BENEFITS OF BEING ABLE TO TRAVEL WITHOUT ENCOUNTERING SERIOUS CONGESTION, AS CAN PRIVATE MOTORISTS ACCORDING TO THEIR WILLINGNESS TO PAY.
+CHARGING FOR THE USE OF A ROAD, THEREFORE, DOES NOT PREVENT AN INDIVIDUAL FROM OWNING A VEHICLE, NOR FROM USING IT.+ MR SCOTT POINTED OUT. + IT LEAVES HIM TO CHOOSE, ON A FINANCIAL BASIS, WHEN AND WHERE TO USE IT, AND TO COMPARE IT WITH OTHER MEANS OF TRAVELLING.*
THE SYSTEM INVOLVES THE FITTING OF ALL VEHICLES, INCLUDING THOSE WHICH MAY NOT BE CHARGED, WITH AN ELECTRONIC NUMBER PLATE (ENP) ABOUT THE SIZE OF A VIDEO CASSETTE TAPE. IT IS DESIGNED SO THAT IT IS SIMPLE TO FIT, ROBUST AND TAMPER-PROOF.
UNDER THE ROAD SURFACE AT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY, ELECTRONIC LOOPS ARE BURIED WHICH BROADCAST A BEAM AT THE ELECTRONIC NUMBER PLATE OF ANY VEHICLE PASSING OVER IT. THE ENP RETURNS TO THE LOOP ENCODED INFORMATION ABOUT THE VEHICLE WHICH IS TRANSMITTED TO A CENTRAL COMPUTER, TOGETHER WITH THE TIME AND DATE.
THE APPROPRIATE FEE IS RECORDED ON THE VEHICLE’S ACCOUNT AND BILLS ARE PRESENTED FOR PAYMENT MONTHLY. CHARGES CAN VARY FROM NIL UPWARDS DEPENDING ON WHERE AND WHEN A DRIVER USES HIS VEHICLE. THE SYSTEM IS SIMILAR TO THAT OPERATED BY UTILITY COMPANIES, AND IF A DRIVER WISHES TO QUERY HIS ACCOUNT HE MAY OBTAIN A DETAILED STATEMENT OF EVERY CHARGE.
AT EACH CHARGING POINT WHERE A LOOP IS LOCATED THERE IS A DISPLAY UNIT SHOWING THE CURRENT CHARGE FOR THAT POINT AND FOR PARTICULAR TYPES OF VEHICLES.
?HIDAY, KABCH 25, 1963
2
AT A SELECTED NUMBER OF KEY LOCATIONS, CAMERAS AUTOMATICALLY PHOTOGRAPH VEHICLES WITH DEFECTIVE OR IMPROPERLY OPERATING ENPS, AND APPROPRIATE ACTION IS TAKEN. THE SYSTEM CAN DETECT VEHICLES ON THE ROAD WITH OVERDUE ACCOUNTS AS WELL AS CASES OF FRAUD AND VANDALISM.
THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER IMPORTANT ADDED ADVANTAGES OF THIS MONITORING SYSTEM:
(A) IT PROVIDES MORE ACCURATE REAL-TIME INFORMATION ON THE MOVEMENTS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT VEHICLES, ALLOWING FOR THE EFFICIENCY OF THESE OPERATIONS TO BE IMPROVED;
(B) THE POLICE WILL BE ABLE TO REACH THE SCENE OF AN INCIDENT QUICKER AND BE BETTER ABLE TO LOCATE STOLEN CARS AND VEHICLES USED IN CRIMES;
(C) TRAFFIC SURVEYS CAN BE CARRIED OUT VIRTUALLY INSTANTLY AND IN GREATER DETAIL THAN IS NOW POSSIBLE;
(D) TRAFFIC INFORMATION BROADCASTS ON RADIO AND TELEVISION WILL BE RIGHT UP TO THE MINUTE; AND
(E) TRANSPORT PRIORITY SCHEMES AND TRAFFIC SIGNALLING CAN BE ADJUSTED AT SHORT NOTICE, FOR EXAMPLE WHEN PRIORITY FOR EMERGENCY VEHICLES IS REQUIRED.
MR SCOTT SAID THAT WHEN THE SEVERE FISCAL RESTRAINTS TO CURB VEHICLE GROWTH WERE ANNOUNCED LAST YEAR IT WAS MADE CLEAR THAT WHILE THE MEASURES WERE NECESSARY TO DEAL WITH A CRITICAL SITUATION, THEY WERE ONLY A SHORT-TERM ANSWER AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO FIND A MORE COMPREHENSIVE AND EQUITABLE SOLUTION TO THE URGENT PROBLEM OF ROAD CONGESTION.
+IT WAS AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND THAT THE GOVERNMENT CARRIED OUT AN EXHAUSTIVE EXAMINATION OF VARIOUS OPTIONS INCLUDING RESTRICTING THE IMPORT OF CARS AND CONTINUING TO INCREASE TAXES AND LICENCE FEES. HOWEVER, THE GOVERNMENT CONSIDERED THEM INADEQUATE AND GENERALLY UNFAIR, AS WELL AS NOT COMPLYING WITH THE POLICY OBJECTIVE.+
THE COMPREHENSIVE TRANSPORT STUDY REPORT OF 1976 DESCRIBED ROAD PRICING AS +POTENTIALLY PERHAPS THE MOST EFFECTIVE FORM CF RESTRAINT*, AND MR SCOTT SAID HIS PARTICULAR CONCERN DURING A RECENT FEASIBILITY STUDY WAS TO CONFIRM THAT THE NECESSARY TECHNOLOGY EXISTED AND THAT OTHER QUESTIONS SUCH AS ENFORCEMENT, ACCOUNTING, PRICING ASSESSMENT, LEGAL ISSUES AND INTEGRATION WITH OTHER SYSTEMS COULD BE ANSWERED SATISFACTORILY.
THE ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE OF EXPERTS FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT WAS INVALUABLE IN THE FEASIBILITY STUDY, HE SAID.
/Mti SCOTT.......
FBIBAY, MAHCH 25, 1983
- 3 -
MR SCOTT SAID IT WAS NECESSARY TO HAVE A PILOT STAGE BECAUSE THE DECISION TO INTRODUCE THE SYSTEM COULD BE TAKEN ONLY WHEN THE GOVERNMENT WAS ENTIRELY SATISFIED THAT THE TECHNOLOGICAL ELEMENTS HAD BEEN FULLY TESTED ON SITE, THAT THE TRANSPORT BENEFITS WERE PROVEN AND THAT THE SYSTEM COULD BE IMPLEMENTED AND OPERATED SATISFACTORILY.
AT PRESENT THE INTENTION IS TO CHARGE PRIVATE VEHICLES ONLY, BECAUSE THESE ARE THE LEAST EFFICIENT USERS OF ROAD SPACE. WHETHER ANY OTHER VEHICLES, SUCH AS GOODS VEHICLES, SHOULD PAY, AND WHAT THE LEVEL OF CHARGES GENERALLY SHOULD BE, WILL BE WORKED OUT DURING THE PILOT STAGE.
THE PILOT STAGE, WHICH WILL BE CARRIED OUT BY THE UNITED KINGDOM DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT, WILL TAKE ABOUT 21 MONTHS. THE DECISION ON WHETHER TO PROCEED WITH A FULL ELECTRONIC ROAD PRICING SYSTEM WILL BE TAKEN IN MID-1985, AND, IF APPROVED, ITS IMPLEMENTATION WILL TAKE ABOUT TWO YEARS.
THE PILOT STAGE WILL BE CARRIED OUT WITH ENPS FITTED TO ABOUT 5 009 VEHICLES, INCLUDING GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT VEHICLES. PRIVATE MOTORISTS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL NOT BE INCONVENIENCED.
THE FULL SYSTEM IS ESTIMATED TO COST APPROXIMATELY $309 TO $350 MILLION TO INSTAL.
+THE MINORITY IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO USE PRIVATE VEHICLES MAY INITIALLY SEE IT AS A FURTHER FINANCIAL RESTRAINT, BUT I HOPE ON REFLECTION THEY WILL ACCEPT THE FAIRNESS OF THE SYSTEM BECAUSE THOSE WHO ARE PREPARED TO PAY WILL TRAVEL MORE FREELY BECAUSE ALL TRAFFIC WILL TRAVEL MORE FREELY,+ MR SCOTT SAID.
HE ADDED THAT THE BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE WOULD BE VERY SIGNIFICANT. FOR INSTANCE:
(A) FUEL CONSUMPTION WOULD BE REDUCED;
(B) VEHICLE OPERATING COSTS WOULD DROP;
(C) POLLUTION WOULD BE REDUCED, PARTICULARLY AS MOST FUMES FROM MOTOR EXHAUSTS OCCUR IN SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC;
(D) THE ACCIDENT RATE, INVOLVING BOTH VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS, SHOULD DROP; AND
(E) DRIVERS WOULD SUFFER LESS FRUSTRATION.
IN THE LONG TERM, MR SCOTT SAID, FURTHER BENEFITS COULD /< = FROM THE OPPORTUNITY TO RE-ASSESS THE LEVEL AND PATTERNS ELCPMENT OF TH' ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE, WHEN TRAFFIC FLOWS „N) MIXES CAN BE CONTROLLED.
FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 1983
- 4 -
NO CUT-BACK IN PUBLIC WORKS SPENDING, GOVERNOR SAYS
H K M if X
THERE HAS BEEN NO CUT-BACK IN PUBLIC WORKS EXPENDITURE, ALTHOUGH THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A REDUCTION IN THE RATE OF INCREASE IN GOVERNMENT SPENDING, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID THIS EVENING.
SIR EDWARD SAID NEW ENGINEERING PROJECTS WHICH ARE EXPECTED TO START IN 1983-84 INCLUDE SUCH ITEMS AS PHASE ONE OF STAGE THREE OF THE ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR, THE NEW TERRITORIES CIRCULAR ROAD IMPROVEMENTS FROM FAN KAM ROAD TO LOK MA CHAU, FURTHER WORKS AT JUNK BAY AND THE TSING Yl NORTH BRIDGE AND ITS APPROACHES.
SIR EDWARD WAS SPEAKING AS PATRON AT THE ANNUAL DINNER OF THE HONG KONG INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS. HE SAID THIS MONEY WAS BEING SPENT ON PUBLIC WORKS EVEN THOUGH HONG KONG MIGHT BE GOING THROUGH HARD TIMES.
SIR EDWARD SAID VIRTUALLY ALL CF THE INDUSTRIES ON WHICH HONG KONG’S ECONOMY WAS BASED REQUIRED ENGINEERS, EITHER DIRECTLY IN CONNECTION WITH THE INDUSTRIAL PROCESS OR IN THE DISTRIBUTION AND MARKETING OF ITS PRODUCTS.
THE GOVERNMENT, HE SAID, WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ABOUT HALF OF THE ENGINEERING WORKS CARRIED OUT IN THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD AND EMPLOYED SEVERAL HUNDRED ENGINEERS.
+IT CAN THUS BE SAID THAT YOUR PROFESSION IS IMPORTANT TO THE LIVES OF ALL OF US,+ HE SAID.
SIR EDWARD SAID THE DEMAND FOR HIGH QUALITY ENGINEERING WOULD NOT SLACKEN, AND INDEED, OUGHT TO INCREASE, IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AS WELL.
ON ITS PART, THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISED THAT GOOD ENGINEERING STARTED IN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM, AND WOULD BE SPENDING $5.7 BILLION ON EDUCATION WITH $1.3 BILLION ON 'THE TWO UNIVERSITIES, THE POLYTECHNIC AND THE BAPTIST COLLEGE IN THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR.
+APART FROM INCREASING THE ENROLMENT OF ENGINEERING STUDENTS IN THE UNIVERSITY AND THE POLYTECHNIC — AND RE: EMBER THAT ABOUT 600 ENGINEERING STUDENTS WILL GRADUATE THIS SUMMER -- THERE ARE FLANS WELL ADVANCED FOR A SECOND POLYTECHNIC,+ SIR EDWARD SAID.
AS ESSENTIAL BACK-UP FOR ENGINEERS, THE POLYTECH IC AND THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES WOULD PRODUCE OVER 5 250 ENGINEERING TECHNICIANS AND CRAFTSMEN THIS YEAR.
THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL WAS IN FULL OPERATION AND THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TRAINING AUTHORITY J . “ OPENE! A SECOND TRAINING CENTRE, HE ADDED.
ZHIDAT', MARCH 25, 1963
- 5 -
THE GOVERNMENT WAS ALSO ANXIOUS TO ENCOURAGE YOUTH TO TAKE ’ ENGINEERING, AND ITS RELATED TECHNICAL SUPPORT OCCUPATIONS S A PROFESSION, BECAUSE HONG KONG WOULD NOT PROSPER IN THIS MODERN WORLD IF THEY DID NOT.
SIR EDWARD TOLD THE ENGINEERS THAT +NO PROFESSION IS COMPLETE UNTO ITSELF+.
+EACH PROFESSION MUST SERVE THE COMMUNITY OF WHICH IT FORMS PA°T. AND THAT COMMUNITY HAS A LEGITIMATE INTEREST IN WHAT YOU DO AND HOW YOU DO IT. IT IS THE COMMUNITY WHO PAY FOR OUR PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMMES AND IT IS THEY WHO WILL BENEFIT OR SUFFER FROM THE PRODUCTS OF THOSE PROGRAMMES.
♦THE COMMUNITY TOO WILL PURCHASE AND USE THE PRODUCTS WHICH YOU PLAN, DESIGN AND PRODUCE. I TRUST, THEREFORE THAT YOUR INSTITUTION WILL ALWAYS KEEP AN OPEN EAR TO THE VIEWS OF THAT COMMUNITY,* THE GOVERNOR SAID.
THE ENGINEERS HAD RESPONI BlLITlES IN OTHER DIRECTIONS AS WELL, SIR EDWARD SAID.
THERE WERE MANY ASPECTS OF ENGINEERING WHICH HAD THEIR DANGERS BOTH FOR THE WORKFORCE AND FOR THE PUBLIC, WHETHER IN THE USE OF MACHINERY ON THE FACTORY FLOOR, THE CONTROL OF SITES AN? THE ERECTION OF TEMPORARY STRUCTURES DURING CIVIL ENGINEERING WORKS OR DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF HIGH BUILDING.
WHILE LEGISLATION AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS COULD MEET PART OF THE PROBLEM, IN THE LAST RESORT IT WAS THE EXERCISE OF PRUDENCE AND GOOD MANAGEMENT DISCIPLINE, OFTEN ON THE PART OF ENGINEERS, WHICH COULD HELP KEEP SUCH OPERATIONS SAFE.
THERE WAS ALSO LEGISLATION EITHER IN FORCE OR UNDER CONSIDERATION TO COVER VARIOUS TYPES OF POLLUTION FROM DUST, CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES OR NOISE.
♦ENGINEERING SKILL, GOOD MANAGEMENT, AND IMAGINATIVE SELECTION OF EQUIPMENT CAN DO MUCH TO COMPLEMENT THAT LEGISLATION AND PREVENT POLLUTION FROM OCCURRING IN THE FIRST PLACE TO THE UNDOUBTED LONG-TERM BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE,* SIR EDWARD SAID.
THE GOVERNOR SAID THE GOVERNMENT ATTACHED GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE PROFESSION AND THE WORK OF THE INSTITUTION.
AND IT WAS CONFIDENT THAT THE ENGINEERS WOULD, ON THEIR “ART, RECOGN ISE THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES TO THE COMMUNITY AND THE ’ART THEY COULD PLAY IN MAKING HONG KONG A BETTER AND MORE PROSPEROUS PLACE FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL.
FR IDAY, MARCH 25, 1983
6
REFLECTING VEHICLE NUMBER PLATES TO BE REQUIRED * * * *
THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT BY JUNE 1, 1985 ALL VEHICLES IN THE TERRITORY WILL NEED TO BE FITTED WITH REFLEX-REFLECTING VEHICLE REGISTRATION NUMBER PLATES.
REGULATIONS TO GIVE EFFECT TO THIS REQUIREMENT ARE PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY.
SUCH PLATES, WHICH HAVE A BACKGROUND COMPOSED OF THOUSANDS OF MINIATURE LENSES, REFLECT LIGHT TO ITS SOURCE, AND ARE VERY CONSPICUOUS AT NIGHT OR IN POOR VISIBILITY WHEN MOTORISTS ARE DRIVING WITH THEIR HEADLAMPS ON.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THIS WAS ANOTHER PLANK IN THE ROAD SAFETY STRATEGY BEING COORDINATED BY THE ROAD SAFETY COUNCIL WITH THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
HE ANTICIPATED VERY WORTHWHILE ROAD SAFETY BENEFITS SINCE EVEN WITH HONG KONG’S GENERALLY WELL LIT URBAN AREAS, 25 PER CENT OF ALL TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS OCCURRED IN THE DARK WITH A FURTHER FIVE PER CENT HAPPENING AT DAWN OR DUSK.
THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHER COUNTRIES SUGGESTED THAT REFLECTING NUMBER PLATES COULD BE PARTICULARLY HELPFUL IN ACCIDENTS INVOLVING VEHICLES PARKED OR BROKEN DOWN ON POORLY LIT ROADS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE INTRODUCTION OF REFLECTING NUMBER PLATES WOULD BE PHASED, SAID.
IN THE FIRST PHASE ALL VEHICLES NEWLY REGISTERED ON OR AFTER JUNE 1, 1983 WILL NEED REFLECTING NUMBER PLATES. IN THE SECOND PHASE ALL CURRENTLY REGISTERED VEHICLES WILL BE REQUIRED TO MAKE THE SWITCH TO REFLECTING NUMBER PLATES BY JUNE 1, 1985.
THE RELATIVELY BRIEF GRACE PERIOD WILL ENSURE THAT THE MAXIMUM BENEFITS OF REFLECTING PLATES ARE OBTAINED AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE.
ON TUR OTHER HAND. THE SPOKESMAN SAID, HAVING A GRACE PERIOD OF OVER TWO YEARS SHOULD GIVE TRADERS PLENTY OF TIME TO STOCK UP ON REFLECTING NUMBER PLATES.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT FOLLOWING ENQUIRIES WITH THE MOTOR TRADE IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT A PAIR OF REFLEX-REFLECTING NUMBER PLATES WOULD COST BETwEEN 375 AND 390.
MF HOPED THAT MOTORISTS WOULD WOT WATT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO SWITCH TO REFLECTING PLATES, AND POINTED OUT THAT THE LEGISLATION ALLOWED MOTORISTS TO FIT REFLECTING NUMBER PLATES
EVEN BEFORE JUNE 1, 1983.
/HO7T3VHR, T.E3.........
Friday, jmch 25, 1983
- 7 -
HOWEVER, THE PLATES WILL NEED TO COMPLY WITH THE BRITISH SPECIFICATION FOR REFLEX-REFLECTING NUMBER PLATES, AND THE APPROPRIATE SPECIFICATION NUMBER MUST BE LEGIBLE AND PERMANENTLY MARKED ON EACH PLATE TOGETHER WITH THE NAME AND TRADE MARK OF THE PLATE’S MANUFACTURER. THE MOTOR TRADE WILL BE INFORMED OF THESE REQUIREMENTS.
THE SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED THAT THE REQUIREMENT APPLIED TO ALL VEHICLES, AND NOT JUST PRIVATE CARS.
HOWEVER, HE SAID, MOTOR CYCLES WOULD NEED ONLY A PLATE AT THE REAR. THE REQUIREMENT FOR A FRONT NUMBER PLATE, REFLECTING OR OTHERWISE, ON MOTOR CYCLES WAS NOW ABOLISHED SINCE THERE WAS A DANGER THAT THESE PLATES COULD ACT AS A BLADE IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT.
FRONT NUMBER PLATES WOULD HAVE A WHITE BACKGROUND AND REAR PLATES A YELLOW BACKGROUND, HE SAID.
THESE WERE THE MOST REFLECTIVE COLOURS, AND WOULD ENABLE A MOTORIST TO DISTINGUISH EASILY BETWEEN THE FRONT AND REAR OF A VEHICLE AT NIGHT, HE SAID.
THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENT WILL BE A FINE OF $1 000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR THREE MONTHS, AND IN THE CASE OF A SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT CONVICTION, A FINE OF $1 000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR SIX MONTHS.
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URBAN COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS
MMX*
THE GOVERNOR HAS REAPPOINTED ONE SERVING MEMBER AND APPOINTED THREE NEW MEMBERS TO THE URBAN COUNCIL FOR A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS FROM APRIL 1, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE THREE NEW MEMBERS ARE MRS FONG WONG KUT-MAN, A CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT, MR SAMUEL WONG, A CONSULTING ENGINEER AND MR TONG KAM-BIU, A CARPENTRY WORKSHOP OPERATOR. THEIR APPOINTMENTS WILL BE EFFECTIVE FROM APRIL 1, 1983 TO MARCH 31, 1986.
MRS FONG WAS PREVIOUSLY A MEMBER OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON CORRUPTION PREVENTION. SHE ISA MEMBER OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON LEGAL EDUCATION, PANEL OF ASSESSORS AND PERFORMING RIGHTS TRIBUNAL. SHE IS ALSO ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE WORK OF THE HONG KONG GIRL GUIDES (NEW TERRITORIES REGION), AGENCY FOR VOLUNTARY SERVICE AND HONG KONG SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN.
MR WONG, AGED 46, IS A MEMBER OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON NOISE AND THE IMMIGRATION TRIBUNAL AND CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON BUILDING SERVICES ENGINEERING.
F3IDAY, MARCH 25, 1983
- 8 -
MR TONG, AGED 36, IS CLOSELY CONNECTED WITH THE WORK OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT IN SHAM SHU I PO DISTRICT WHERE HE RESIDES AND WORKS. HE HAS BEEN SERVING ON THE SHAM SHU I PO DISTRICT BOARD SINCE 1981 AS AN APPOINTED MEMBER AND IS A MEMBER OF THE NAM SHAN AND YAU YAT CHUEN AREA COMMITTEE AND SECRETARY OF THE CHU KUO CHAI SQUATTER AREA MUTUAL AID COMMITTEE. MR TONG IS WELL KNOWN AMONG THE SQUATTER POPULATION IN SHAM SHUI PO BY VIRTUE OF HIS ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS.
MR WALTER M. SULKE, WHO HAS SERVED ON THE COUNCIL SINCE 1981 AND WHOSE TERM EXPIRES AT THE END OF THIS MONTH, HAS BEEN REAPPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR FOR THE PERIOD APRIL 1, 1983 TO MARCH 31. 1986. HE HAS BEEN CLOSELY CONNECTED WITH THE WORK OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ADVISORY COMMITTEE, INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD. SPECIAL COMMITTEE FOR LAND SUPPLY AND KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD.
THESE APPOINTMENTS AND REAPPOINTMENT WILL BRING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF APPOINTED MEMBERS TO 15.
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FIRST DB BY-ELECTIONS IN MAY * * * M
BY-ELECTIONS TO FILL TWO VACANT SEATS ON THE EASTERN AND SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARDS WILL BE HELD ON MAY 12, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION SAID TODAY
(FRIDAY).
THE TWO SEATS WERE LEFT VACANT FOLLOWING THE ELECTION OF TWO INCUMBENT DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS — MR KWAN LIM-HO OF QUARRY BAY CONSTITUENCY AND MR JOSEPH CHAN OF TIN WAN AND SHEK PAI WAN CONSTITUENCY — TO THE URBAN COUNCIL ON MARCH 8.
THE VACANCIES WERE PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY.
NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES FOR THE BY-ELECTIONS — THE FIRST SINCE DISTRICT BOARDS WERE FORMED — WILL BEGIN ON APRIL 8 FOR TWO WEEKS.
THERE ARE 22 155 REGISTERED VOTERS IN THE QUARRY BAY CONSTITUENCY AND 9 836 IN THE TIN WAN AND SHEK PAI WAN CONSTITUENCY.
/? ........
FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 1983
9
NUMBER OF TB CASES ABATING * * * *
CONCERTED EFFORTS BY THE GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES H-'/E .'-OUGHT A DRAMATIC DROP IN THE NOTIFICATION AND DEATH RATES OF 7U ERCULOSIS DURING THE PAST YEAR, SAID THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR K.L. THONG TODAY (FRIDAY).
IN HIS ADDRESS TO THE HONG KONG TUBERCULOSIS, CHEST AND HEART DISEASES ASSOCIATION, DR THONG, WHO IS ALSO THE PRESIDENT, SAID STATISTICS SHOWED THAT BOTH THE NOTIFICATION RATE AND THE DEATH RATE OF TUBERCULOSIS FOR 1982 ARE THE LOWEST RECORDED IN THE HISTORY OF HONG KONG.
HE SAID AN EARLIER SETBACK IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TUBERCULOSIS DUE TO THE INFLUX OF VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS HAS NOW BEEN OVERCOME, AND THAT EFFORTS TO CONTAIN THE DISEASE ARE BACK ON COURSE WITH THE INDICES FALLING AGAIN.
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF NOTIFICATIONS FELL FROM 7 729 IN 1981 TO 7 527 IN 1082, AND THE NOTIFICATION RATE AT 143.8 PER 130 COO POPULATION WAS THE LOWEST EVER RECORDED, HE SAID.
DEAT-S FROM TUBERCULOSIS ALSO FELL FROM 489 IN 1981 TO 454 IN 1982, WITH THE DEATH RATE DROPPING TO 8.7 PER 100 000 POPULATION, WHICH IS THE LOWEST IN THE HISTORY OF HONG KONG, HE ADDED.
DR THONG POINTED OUT THAT SINCE EARLY 1979 DURING THE INFLUX OF BOAT PEOPLE AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, SOME 5 500 CASES OF ACTIVE TUBERCULOSIS REQUIRING TREATMENT WERE IMPORTED INTO HONG KONG.
’.-I? INFLUX -a NOW BEEN REDUCED TO A TRICKLE, AND THE . T’D TEREST ON THE RESEARCH SIDE WAS BEING TURNED 7. - THE IMMUNOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF TUBERCULOSIS, HE SAID.
-WORKING !• HARMONY WITH THE MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL CF ' E UNITED KINGDOM, OUR RESEARCH IN THIS FIELD IS PROCEEDING ’.-RY -ELL AND HONG KONG CAN BE REGARDED AS BEING IN THE FCPEFSONT OF THIS EXCITING SUBJECT,+ HE ADDED.
HOWEVER, DR THONG SAID THAT 7 527 NEW TUBERCULOSIS CASES IN 1982 WITH 454 DEATHS STILL REPRESENTED A HEAVY TOLL BOTH Fl... FULLY AND WITH REGARD TO HUMAN SUFFERING.
£ OBVIOUSLY CANNOT RELAX OUR EFFORTS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST "TUBERCULOSIS,* HE SAID.
THONG SAID THE INCREASING POPULATION DENSITY COULD
-ATE THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE, BUT HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT, 'cr>ViDED THAT THERE WAS NO FURTHER INCREASE IN IMPORTED CASES, ST-.AD* OROGRESS WO'-LD CONTINUE TO BE MADE.
DR T-ONG TOLD THE ASSOCIATION THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD APPROVED FUNDS FOR AN EXTENSIVE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE RUTTONJEE SANATORIUM IN WAN CHAI, TO TURN THE TB INSTITUTION INTO A GENERAL HOSPITAL WITH ACUTE 5SDS.
rdxJAY, 25, I^t3
10
HE SAID THE PROJECT ENVISAGED THE UPGRADING OF THE 280-BED i.TORIUM TO A 432-BED GENERAL HOSPITAL WITH PROVISION FOR THE BED-CAPACITY TO BE INCREASED TO 600.
ULTIMATE
THE REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT WILL TAKE PLACE WITH THE TARGET DATE OF COMPLETION IN 1988.
IN THREE PHASES
AT S158-MILLI0N THE REMAINING
THE
CAPITAL COST OF THE PROJECT IS ESTIMATED
WITH THE GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTING &127-MILLI0N AND _ul-eT S31-MILLI0N TO BE RAISED BY THE HONG KONG TUBERCULOSIS, CHEST AND HEART DISEASES ASSOCIATION WHICH RUNS THE SANATORIUM.
TURNING TO THE SUBJECT OF LUNG CANCER, DR THONG SAID THE NUMBER OF DEATHS IN THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 1982 WAS 1 456 COMPARED WITH 1 362 IN THE SAME PERIOD IN 1981.
♦THIS DISEASE THUS CONTINUES THE NUMBER OF DEATHS INCREASING BY EVERY YEAR,* HE SAID.
TS INEXORABLE COURSE WITH APPROXIMATELY EIGHT PER CENT
DR THONG SAID THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING ACTIVE STEPS TO DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM SMOKING, BUT HE CAUTIONED THAT THESE MEASURES WERE LONG TERM AND NO EARLY AND DRAMATIC FALL IN THE NUMBER OF DEATHS COULD BE EXPECTED.
♦BRONCHOGENIC CARCINOMA IS LINKED TO SMOKING AND EVENTUALLY A REDUCTION IN THE LEVEL OF CIGARETTE SMOKING IN THE POPULATION OF HONG KONG WILL LEAD TO A REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF CASES DYING FROM CANCER OF THE LUNG.+ HE SAID.
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SPONSORS PRAISED FOR CONTRIBUTION TO EDUCATION OO
THC ACTING DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR MICHAEL LEUNG, TODAY (FRIDAY) PRAISED SPONSORING BODIES FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION IN DEVELOPING HONG KONG’S EDUCATION SERVICE.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE LOK SIN TONG WONG CHUNG MING SECONDARY SCHOOL IN SAN PO KONG, KOWLOON, MR LEUNG SAID SINCE 1965, THE GOVERNMENT HAD FOLLOWED ITS STATED POLICY OF EXPANDING EDUCATION THROUGH THE AIDED SCHOOL SYSTEM AS FAR AS POSSIBLE.
-‘■THIS POLICY HAD PROVED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN POOLING RESOURCES AND AT THE SAME TIME GIVING ENTHUSIASTIC AND EXPERIENCED COMMUNITY LEADERS AND BODIES A CHANCE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EDUCATION OF OUR YOUNGER GENERATION,* HE SAID.
OVER THE YEARS, THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN WORKING WELL WITH THE SPONSORING BODIES.
MR LEUNG SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN GRANTING FREE LAND AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO MANY OF THESE BODIES TO ENABLE THEM TO BUILD NON-PROFIT-MAKING SCHOOLS IN AREAS OUTSIDE PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES.
+ORGANISATIONS WHICH ARE OPERATING SCHOOLS BUILT BY THE GOVERNMENT INSIDE PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES ONLY HAVE TO PAY THE COST OF THE NECESSARY FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT AND A NOMINAL RENT.
/+at.jts and.........
PitLUAY, MArtUH C2,
- 11 -
♦RENTS AND RATES ARE ALSO REIMBURSED TO ALL ELIGIBLE NON-PROFIT-MAKING SCHOOLS.*
THE GOVERNMENT’S ASSISTANCE TO SPONSORING BODIES HAVE BEEN EXTENDED TO THE KINDERGARTEN SECTOR SINCE LAST YEAR. FOR INSTANCE, RENTS AND RATES WERE REFUNDED TO ELIGIBLE NON-PROFIT-MAKING KINDERGARTENS.
MR LEUNG SAIDi +FOR AIDED SCHOOLS, THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN FOOTING THE BILL FOR GENERAL RECURRENT COSTS AND MOST OF THE NONRECURRENT EXPENDITURE. FOR EXAMPLE, THE EXPENDITURE IN CARRYING OUT MAJOR REPAIRS OF SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND IN REPLACING TEACHING EQUIPMENT FOR AIDED SECONDARY SCHOOLS IS ALL FINANCED BY THE GOVERNMENT*.
+AS REGARDS THE SPONSORING BODIES THEMSELVES, THEIR MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES IN ADDITION TO THAT OF SHOULDERING PART OF THE COST IN ESTABLISHING THEIR SCHOOLS, ARE TO PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND TO PROVIDE A SERVICE IN KEEPING WITH OUR EDUCATION POLICY, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME RETAINING THEIR TRADITIONAL CHARACTERISTICS AND ADDING VARIETY TO OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM,* HE ADDED.
------o ------
1983 HONG KONG YOUTH MUSIC CAMP *****
THE MUSIC OFFICE OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT WILL HOLD ITS 4TH HONG KONG YOUTH MUSIC CAMP THIS YEAR FROM JULY 30 TO AUGUST 14 AT ST. STEPHEN’S COLLEGE IN STANLEY.
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN TO ALL YOUNG MUSIC LOVERS WHO WISH TO JOIN THE CAMP AND SHARE TWO WEEKS OF MUSIC MAKING WITH OTHER PROMISING YOUNG INSTRUMENTALISTS IN A BEAUTIFUL ENVIRONMENT.
A RCD SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT APART FROM INVITING LOCAL YOUNG MUSICIANS TO JOIN THE CAMP, INVITATIONS ARE ALSO EXTENDED TO OVERSEAS INSTRUMENTALISTS.
+IT IS HOPED THAT THROUGH INTENSIVE MUSIC TRAINING IN BOTH WESTERN AND CHINESE INSTRUMENTS IN A SUMMER CAMP ATMOSPHERE, THE MUSICAL CAPABILITIES OF YOUNG PEOPLE CAN BE DEVELOPED AND INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL EXCHANGE BE FOSTERED,* HE SAID.
MUSIC TRAINING IN THE FORM OF WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS, MASTERCLASSES, HI-FI MUSIC APPRECIATION, SECTIONAL AND ORCHESTRAL REHEARSALS, ETC. WILL BE CONDUCTED BY BOTH RENOWNED LOCAL AND OVERSEAS MUSICIANS.
FOR RELAXATION DURING THE CAMP PERIOD, THERE WILL BE SPORT ACTIVITIES SUCH AS SWIMMING, TRAMPOLINI NG, CANOEING, TENNIS, ARCHERY, FOLK DANCE, BALL GAMES AND THE LIKE.
CLIMAX OF THE MUSIC CAMP WILL BE A FINALE CONCERT SET TO BE HELD AT THE CITY HALL ON AUGUST 13.
CANDIDATES APPLYING TO JOIN THE SYMPHONY/CHINESE ORCHESTRA OF THE CAMP SHOULD BE UNDER 24 YEARS OF AGE WITH AN ATTAINED GRADE V OR ABOVE IN THE ROYAL SCHOOLS OF MUSIC EXAMINATION, OR EQUIVALENT, IN WESTERN ORCHESTRAL INSTRUMENTS; OR THOSE WHO HAVE REACHED AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE IN CHINESE MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS (ORCHESTRAL EXPERIENCE WOULD BE AN ADVANTAGE).
/CANDIDATES APPLYING ..
12
rtUJUAI, IMAttUn £-2, i;oj
CANDIDATES APPLYING TO JOIN THE JUNIOR STRING ORCHESTRA OF THE CAMP SHOULD BE UNDER 17 YEARS OLD WITH AN ATTAINED GRADE IV IN THE ROYAL SCHOOLS OF MUSIC EXAMINATION OR EQUIVALENT.
QUALIFIED CANDIDATES MAY BE INVITED TO ATTEND AN AUDITION TO BE HELD IN MAY. CAMP FEE WILL BE $200, INCLUSIVE OF TUITION FEES, THREE MEALS EACH DAY AND ACCOMMODATION.
APPLICATION FORMS ARE OBTAINABLE AT I
(A) MUSIC OFFICE
(I) HEAD OFFICE
(II) KWUN TONG MUSIC CENTRE
(III) YAU MA TEI MUSIC CENTRE
(IV) MONG KOK MUSIC CENTRE
(V) TSUEN WAN MUSIC CENTRE
(VI) YUEN LONG MUSIC CENTRE
9TH FLOOR, HONG KONG ARTS CENTRE, 2 HARBOUR ROAD, WAN CHAI, HONG KONG.
(TEL. i 5-283257)
3RD FLOOR, YAN HAU MANSION, 100 TING FU STREET, NGAU TAU KOK, KOWLOON.
(TEL. s 3-7561328)
2ND TO 3RD FLOORS, GOLDEN GATE COMMERCIAL BUILDING, 138 AUSTIN ROAD, KOWLOON. (TEL. s 3-7226240)
1ST FLOOR, CAMBRIDGE COURT, 84 WATERLOO ROAD, KOWLOON.
(TEL. : 3-7149255)
2ND TO 3RD FLOORS, CHEUNG YIU BUILDING, 167-173 CASTLE PEAK ROAD, TSUEN WAN, NEW TERRITORIES. (TEL. i 0-428127)
2ND TO 3RD FLOORS,
YUEN LONG CENTRE,
SAU FU STREET, YUEN LONG, NEW TERRITORIES.
(TEL. i 0-750465)
(B) HEADQUARTERS, RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICES, 11TH FLOOR, WING ON CENTRE, 111 CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL, HONG KONG AND ALL ITS DISTRICT OFFICES.
(C) ALL DISTRICT OFFICES OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION.
COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS SHOULD REACH THE MUSIC OFFICE,
FEAD OFFICE, 9TH FLOOR, HONG KONG ARTS CENTRE, 2 HARBOUR ROAD, WAN CHAI, HONG KONG ON OR BEFORE APRIL 15.
FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 1983
- 13 -
SURVEY OF EMPLOYMENT, VACANCIES AND PAYROLL \ * * * *
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT WILL NEXT MONTH BE CONDUCTING A SURVEY OF EMPLOYMENT, VACANCIES AND PAYROLL IN MAJOR SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY.
SUCH SURVEY RESULTS ARE USEFUL IN PROVIDING SHORT-TERM ECONOMIC INDICATORS AS WELL AS INFORMATION ON STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN THE LABOUR MARKET IN HONG KONG, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE SURVEY WILL COVER ABOUT 78 OOO-’ESTABLISHMENTS DRAWN FROM VARIOUS SECTORS INCLUDING THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR, THE WHOLESALE, RETAIL, IMPORT AND EXPORT TRADES, RESTAURANT AND HOTEL SECTOR AND SERVICE SECTOR.
INFORMATION WILL BE SOUGHT ON THE NUMBER OF PERSONS ENGAGED AND EXISTING VACANCIES IN EACH ESTABLISHMENT.
SOME 10 000 ESTABLISHMENTS WILL BE SELECTED FROM THE SAMPLE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO BE OBTAINED ON PAYROLL IN EACH OF THE THREE MONTHS DURING THE REFERENCE PERIOD OF JANUARY - MARCH.
QUESTIONNAIRES ARE NOW BEING MAILED TO INDIVIDUAL BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS ORDER 1982 (LEGAL NOTICE NO. 69 OF 1982, GAZETTED ON MARCH 5, 1982), ESTABLISHMENTS RECEIVING QUESTIONNAIRES ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THEM TO THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE SPECIFIED PERIOD.
RETURN ENVELOPES ARE PROVIDED TO ASSIST ESTABLISHMENTS IN MAILING BACK THEIR COMPLETED RETURNS.
RESPONDENTS WHO HAVE DIFFICULTY IN COMPLETING THE FORMS MAY CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT FOR ASSISTANCE AT TELEPHONE NUMBERS 5-436551, 5-444301, 5-455661, AND 5-455668.
-------o----------
GRAVE SWEEPERS URGED TO PREVENT HILL FIRES * * * *
WITH THE CHING MING FESTIVAL ONLY A WEEK AWAY, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY (FRIDAY) REMINDED PEOPLE GOING ON GRAVE SWEEPING TO TAKE SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS AGAINST HILL FIRES WHICH COULD BE SPARKED OFF EVEN IN DAMP WEATHER CONDITIONS.
STATISTICS SHOWED THAT MOST OF THE HILL FIRES DURING CHING MING AND CHUNG YEUNG FESTIVALS WERE CAUSED BY CARELESS PEOPLE WHO LEFT LIGHTED CANDLES, JOSS STICKS AND JOSS PAPERS UNATTENDED, THt SPOKESMAN SAID.
HE ONCE AGAIN URGED THE PUBLIC TO PLACE JOSS STICKS IN METAL CONTAINERS AND TO EXTINGUISH THEM BEFORE LEAVING.
/□USING ThJ .......
[This page is blank in the original document]
FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 1983
15
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN TAI WO PING * * * *
A NUMBER OF TEMPORARY TRAFFIC MEASURES WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN TAI WO PING BETWEEN 1 AM AND 5 AM ON SUNDAY (MARCH 27).
THE MEASURES ARE BEING MADE IN CONNECTION WITH THE CLOSURE CF NAM CHEONG STREET BETWEEN CORNWALL STREET AND LUNG CHEUNG ROAD FOR FOOTBRIDGE WORK.
THEY AREs
* TRAFFIC ON LUNG CHEUNG ROAD EASTBOUND WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO TURN LEFT INTO THE SLIP ROAD LEADING TO NAM CHEONG STREET SOUTHBOUND.
K TRAFFIC ON LUNG CHEUNG ROAD WESTBOUND WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING THE SLIP ROAD WHICH LEADS TO NAM CHEONG STREET SOUTHBOUND.
* SOUTHBOUND VEHICLES ALONG TA I PO ROAD HEADING FOR SHAM ShUI PO AND MONG KOK WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE ALONG TAI PO ROAD SOUTHBOUND AFTER PASSING THROUGH THE PIPER’S HILL INTERCHANGE. THEY z. ILL THEN ENTER NAM CHEONG STREET NEAR YIU TUNG STREET.
* EASTBCUND TRAFFIC ON CHING CHEUNG ROAD HEADING FOR SHAM SHUI PO AND MONG KOK WILL BE DIRECTED TO USE TAI PO ROAD SOUTHBOUND VIA THE PIPER’S HILL INTERCHANGE AND w ILL ENTER NAM CHEONG STREET NEAR YIU TUNG STREET.
A EASTBOUND TRAFFIC ON LUNG CHEUNG ROAD HEADING FOR KOWLOON TONG AND THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE ALONG LUNG CHEUNG ROAD EASTBOUND, AND THEN PROCEED VIA FUNG MO STREET, FU MEI STREET AND JUNCTION ROAD.
*
WESTBOUND TRAFFIC ON CORNWALL STREET HEADING FOR KWAI CHUNG WILL EE DIVERTED TO USE NAM CHEONG STREET SOUTHBOUND VIA THE NAM CHEONG STREET ROUNDABOUT, BERWICK STREET, SHEK KIP MEI STREET, TAI PO ROAD AND CHING CHEUNG ROAD.
• WESTBOUND TRAFFIC ON LUNG CHEUNG ROAD HEADING FOR SUAK‘ SHUI PO WILL EE DIVERTED TO USE TAI WOH CING ROAD, TAI PO ROAD AND NAM CHEONG STREET.
aopROPRIATt TRAFFIC SIGNS * ILL BE ERECTED TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
FRIDAY, MARCH 25, 1983
16
NEW JUNK BAY LINK ROADS PLANNED X K K
THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT PLANS TO CONSTRUCT A 1 42O-METRE-LONG NEW ROAD TO LINK AN EXISTING UNNAMED ROAD NEAR HONG KONG OXYGEN AND ACETYLENE COMPANY LIMITED TO SIU CH IK SHA TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE FUTURE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ON THE RECLAIMED LAND IN JUNK BAY NEW TOWN.
ALSO INCLUDED IN THE SCHEME, WHICH FORMS PART OF THE CONTINUING PROGRAMME FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF JUNK BAY NEW TOWN, WILL BE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW ACCESS ROAD AT SIU CH IK SHA.
THE TWO ROADS WILL BE COMPLETED IN PHASES TO COPE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TOWN.
A NOTICE CONCERNING THE PROPOSED WORKS IS PUBLISHED IN TODAY’S GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
A PLAN SHOWING THE PROPOSED WORKS CAN BE S^EN AT THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING MAIN EXTRANCE, AND THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE AND THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT OFFICE, SAN PO KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 692 PRINCE EDWARD ROAD, KOWLOON.
ANY OBJECTION MUST BE SENT IN WRITING TO THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS WITHIN 60 DAYS.
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LAND RECLAMATION PLANNED AT TUEN MUN
M M * M
THE TUEN MUN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE OF THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR ANOTHER CIVIL ENGINEERING PROJECT AS PART OF ITS CONTINUING PROGRAMME FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TOWN.
THE PROJECT INVOLVES THE RECLAMATION OF ABOUT 10.1 HECTARES OF LAND AT PILLAR POINT AND 1.4 HECTARES TO THE SOUTH-WEST OF THE TYPHOON SHELTER AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF SEA WALLS AND A BREAKWATER.
ALSO INCLUDED WILL BE THE WIDENING OF A SECTION OF LUNG MUN ROAD BETWEEN BUTTERFLY BEACH AND PILLAR POINT TO A DUAL TWO-LANE CARRIAGEWAY TO PROVIDE BETTER ACCESS TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND THE CASTLE PEAK POWER STATION IN THE SOUTH-WESTERN PART OF THE NEW TOWN.
WORK ON THE PROJECT WILL START IN JUNE AND TAKE ABOUT 18 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
------o-------
LABOUR LAW OFFENCES * * *
A TOTAL OF 487 PROSECUTION CASES FOR BREACHES OF LABOUR LAWS TAKEN OUT BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT RESULTED IN CONVICTIONS BY THE COURTS LAST (FEBRUARY) MONTH.
FINES IMPOSED AMOUNTED TO MORE THAN $566 150.
FBIDAY, MARCH 25, 1?£3
MOST OF THE CASES CONCERNED BREACHES OF THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE AND ITS VARIOUS SUBSIDIARY REGULATIONS, THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE AND THE WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS (INDUSTRY) REGULATIONS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SAID.
CASES CONCERNING VIOLATIONS OF SAFETY REGULATIONS TOTALLED-174, WITH $337 050 IN FINES. THESE INCLUDED 56 CASES (WITH $71 000 IN FINES) FOR BREACH OF THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (GUARDING AND OPERATION OF MACHINERY) REGULATIONS AND 83 CASES (WITH $221 500 IN FINES) FOR BREACH OF THE CONSTRUCTION SITES (SAFETY) REGULATIONS.
CASES RELATING TO BREACHES OF THE WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS (INDUSTRY) REGULATIONS ACCOUNTED FOR 271 WITH $201 650 IN FINES.
OF THE OTHER PROSECUTIONS, 12 CASES WERE RELATED TO FAILURE TO KEEP RECORDS OF EMPLOYEES, LEADING TO $6 850 IN FINES.
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FIRING PRACTICE WARNING * * *
FIRING PRACTICE WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE HA TSUEN-CASTLE PEAK RANGE FOR 10 DAYS IN APRIL.
THE PUBLIC ARE WARNED NOT TO ENTER THE AREA WHEN RED FLAGS ARE HOISTED.
THE FOLLOWING ARE THE DATES AND TIMES OF THE PRACTICESi
DATE
APRIL 8 (FRIDAY)
APRIL 13 (WEDNESDAY)
APRIL 14 (THURSDAY)
APRIL 15 (FRIDAY) APRIL 18 (MONDAY) APRIL 19 (TUESDAY)
APRIL 20 (WEDNESDAY) APRIL 21 (THURSDAY) APRIL 22 (FRIDAY)
APRIL 26 (TUESDAY)
TIME
8 AM - 4 PM
8 AM - 4 PM
8 AM - 5 PM
8 AM - 4 PM
8 AM - 11 PM
8 AM - 11 PM
8 AM - 11 PM
8 AM - 11 PM
8 AM - 4 PM
8 AM - 4 PM
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PR 33
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
SUPPLEMENT
SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR
SIR EDWARD YOUDE, GCMG, MBE, AT THE
EIGHTH ANNUAL DINNER OF THE HONG KONG INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS
________ON FRIDAY, 25 MARCH 1^83
Mr President, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I was very grateful to you for your invitation to attend this your Eighth Annual Dinner and I have listened with great interest to your speech this evening.
It also gave me great pleasure last year to accept your invitation to become your patron. I hope that my acceptance of that invitation will have indicated to you the importance which the Government attaches to a progressive, enterprising, and highly qualified Engineering profession in Hong Kong. Virtually all of the industries on which Hong Kong’s economy is based require engineers of one*sort or another, either directly in connection with the industrial process or in the distribution and marketing of its products. The Government itself is responsible for something like half of the engineering works carried out in the construction field here and employs several hundred engineers of several varieties within the. government service. It can thus be said that your profession is important to the lives of us all.
I would expect the opportunities for you to make your contribution to our eeonomy not only to continue but to increase. We may be going through hard times, but no-one who has studied Government announcements on this subject ought to be in any doubt that although there may have been a reduction in the rate of increase in Government spending there has been no "cut-back” in public works expenditure. New engineering projects which are expected to start in 1983/84 include such items as Phase 1 of Stage 3 of the Island Eastern Corridor; the New Territories Ci ran Tar Road improvements from Fan Kam Road to Lok Ma Chau,
V-, . /further works........
Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House. Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191
further works at Junk Bay, and the Tsing Yi North Bridge and its approaches. In the private sector too, if Hong Kong is to retain its place in the world, as I am sure it will, as a major manufacturer and exporter, as a communications hub for both sea and air traffic, and as a regional provider of special services, the demand for high quality engineering will not slacken and indeed ought to increase.
It will be for you, Mr President, as a profession and an institution to maintain and improve standards. For our part, we in Government recognise that good engineering starts in the educational system. In the next financial year we will be spending 5»7 billion dollars on education with 1.3 billion on the two Universities, the Polytechnic and the Baptist College. Apart from increasing the enrolment of Engineering students in the University and the Polytechnic - and remember that about 600 engineering students will graduate this summer - there are plans well advanced for a second Polytechnic. Nor have we neglected the essential back-up which engineers need. Between them, the Polytechnic and the Technical Institutes will produce over 5 250 engineering technicians and craftsmen this year. The Vocational Training Council is now in full operation and the Construction Industry Training Authority have just opened their second Training Centre. We, like the Institution, are anxious to encourage. the youth of Hong Kong to take up Engineering, and its related technical support occupations, as a profession because Hong Kong will not prosper in this modern world if they do not.
Mr President, it is not my intention this evening to lecture you on the professional aspects of engineering. There are many here this evening who are better qualified than I am to do that. But I trust you will not take it amiss if I remind you that no profession is complete unto itself. Each profession must serve the community of which it forms part. And that community has a legitimate interest in what you do and how you do it. It is the community who pay for our public works programmes and it is they who will benefit or suffer from the products of those programmes. The community too will purchase and use the products which you plan, design and produce. I trust, therefore, that your Institution will always keep an open ear to the views of that community.
3
You have responsibilities too in other directions. There are many aspects of engineering which have their dangers both for the workforce and for the public, whether it be in the use of machinery on the factory floor, the control of sites and the erection of temporary structures during civil engineering wozks or during the construction of high building. We have legislation and safety requirements which can meet part of the problem but in the last resort it is the exercise of prudence and good management discipline, often on the part of engineers, which can help to keep such operations safe. We have also legislation either in force or under consideration to cover various types of pollution from dust, chemical substances or noise. Ehgineering skill, good management, and imaginative selection of equipment can do much to complement that legislation and prevent the pollution from occurring-in the first place to the undoubted long term benefit of the community as a whole.
I will, therefore, Mr President, leave you with an assurance and an expression of confidence. The assurance is that the Government does indeed attach great importance to your profession and to the work of your Institution. The expression of confidence is that you for your part will recognise your responsibilities to the community and the part you can play in making Hong Kong a better and more prosperous place for the benefit of all.
- - 0 -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GRIP TIGHTENS ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION — RUMOURS OF AMNESTY QUASHED......................................................... 1
DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY PRAISES ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY .............. 2
NEW DIRECTOR APPOINTED ......................................... 3
NEW CHANNEL FOR PUBLIC OPINION ................................. 4
TWO NEW ROADS FOR SHA TIN NEW TOWN ............................. 4
IN-SERVICE COURSES FOR KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS ................... 5
SEABORNE REFUSE CLEARED FROM LANTAU BEACHES .................... 5
TV SET FOR YUEN LONG ELDERLY.................................... 6
CLOSED ROAD PERMITS FOR LANTAU ISLAND .......................... 7
SALT WATER CUT IN EAST KOWLOON ................................. 7
SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS SOLD BY AUCTION ............................ 8
SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 1983
GRIP TIGHTENS .N ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION — RUMOURS ’ AMNESTY QUASHED
W * 4 W
A JOINT OPERATION AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION MOUNTED THIS WEEK BY THE POLICE, LABOL- AND IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENTS NETTED 66 PEOPLE SUSPECTED OF BEING HERE ILLEGALLY.
DURING THE THREE-DAY OPERATION ENDED THIS (SATURDAY) MORNING, 102 16° PEOPLE WERE CHECKED -OR IDENTIFICATION AND 11 067 ESTABLISHMENTS VISITED.
SIXTY-SIX PERSONS SUSPECTED OF BEING HERE ILLEGALLY HAD BEEN REFERRED TO THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. THOSE FOUND TO BE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WILL EE REPATRIATED.
THE JOINT OPERATION IS PART OF THE GOVERNMENT’S ONGOING TERRITORY-WIDE EFFORT TO STAMP OUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN STRESSED ThAT THERE wOULD BE NO SLACKENING OF EFFORTS AGAINST ILuEGAL IMMIGRATION. *CN THE CONTRARY, THE SECURITY FORCES AND THE °OLICE wILL CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN A HIGH STATE O’7 VIGILANCE BOTH AT THE BORDER AND THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY,* HE SAID.
+THERE IS NO PLACE FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN HONG KONG. WHEREVER THEY ARE FOUND, THEY w ILL BE SENT BACK.*
THE SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED THAT RUMOURS OF AN AMNESTY wHEN THE NEw IDENTITY CARDS ARE ISSUED LATER THIS MONTH ARE ABSOLUTELY GROUNDLESS. +ANY RUMOURS OF AN AMNESTY ON SUCH AND OTHER OCCASIONS ARE SPREAD BY SNAKEHEADS wHC HAVE NO REGARD WHATSOEVER FOR HUMAN DECENCY AND wHOSE SOLE AIM IS TO MAKE A QUICK BUCK.*
+THE NEW IDENTITY CARDS WILL MAKE IT EVEN HARDER FOR ILLEbAL IMMIGRATION AS THEY ARE DIFFICULT TO FORGE. ANYONE FOOLISHLY HOPING FOR THE CONTRARY IS ONLY DELUDING HIMSELF,* THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
HE ALSO REMINDED THE PUBLIC THAT AS FROM MONDAY (MARCH 28), DRIVING LICENCES WILL NO LONGER BE ACCEPTED AS PROOF OF IDENTITY.
DURING THE SPECIAL OPERATION, POLICE STEPPED UP THEIR IDENTIFICATION SPOT CHECKS IN PUBLIC PLACES AND ALSO CARRIED OUT SPECIAL OPERATIONS IN SUSPECT AREAS AND LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.
THEY ARRESTED 16 SUSPECTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS wITH
FORGED IDENTITY CARDS. ANOTHER 242 PERSONS wERE SUMMONSED FOR FAILING TO PRODUCE PROPER PROOF OF IDENTITY, aND A FURTHER 134 WERE WARNED IN RESPECT OF THIS OFFENCE, wHICH CARRIES A MAXIMUM FINE OF SI ODO.
ON THE LABOUR FRONT, INSPECTORS OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT VISITED 11 367 ESTABLISHMENTS TO wEED OUT ANY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO MAY BE WORKING, AND TO CHECK THAT EMPLOYERS FULLFIl X HE IP LEGAL OBLIGATION OF KEEPING PROPER RECORDS OF TuEIR EMPLOYEES.
SAT&iDAY, IfiUiOH 2b, iyb3
TWENTY PERSONS IN 20 ESTABLISHMENTS WERE FOUND WITHOUT PROPER PROOF OF IDENTITY. THEY TOO HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT FOR INVESTIGATION.
SIXTEEN ESTABLISHMENTS WERE FOUND TO BE KEEPING EITHER NO RECORD OR IMPROPER RECORDS OF EMPLOYEES. THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT ALSO SUMMONED 138 ESTABLISHMENTS TO PRESENT THEIR EMPLOYEE RECORDS FOR INSPECTION AT THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.
THE SPOKESMAN REMINDED TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IS AN TO $50 000 AND IMPRISONMENT
EMPLOYERS THAT OFFERING EMPLOYMENT OFFENCE PUNISHABLE BY A FINE OF UP FOR ONE YEAR.
DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY PRAISES ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY
******
THE DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY, MR JOHN YAXLEY PAID TRIBUTE
TODAY (SATURDAY) TO THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY FOR ITS CONTRIBUTION TO HONG KONG’S INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.
HE WAS OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING OF THE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR MOTOROLA SEMICONDUCTORS PLANT IN KWAI FONG. THE COMPANY IS THE WORLD’S SECOND BIGGEST SUPPLIER OF SEMICONDUCTORS.
+THE STORY OF MOTOROLA SEMICONDUCTORS HONG KONG IS, IN A wAY, A PARALLEL TO THE STORY OF OUR ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY,* SAID MR YAXLEY.
+BEG INNING 15 YEARS AGO AS A SMALL TESTING AREA FOR TRANSISTORS AND AS A SALES OFFICE IN HONG KONG, THE ORGANISATION HAS GROWN RAPIDLY. THIS NEW FACILITY WHICH REPRESENTS A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT SIGNIFIES THE ORGANISATION’S DETERMINATION TO CONTINUE EXPANDING AND UPGRADING ITS OPERATIONS.
+IT IS A DEMONSTRATION OF HOW FAR THE HONG KONG ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY HAS COME, AND AN INDICATOR OF THE WAY FORWARD,* NR YAXLEY REMARKED.
HONG KONG’S ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY, CHARACTERISED BY A NUMBER OF FACTORIES ASSEMBLING TRANSISTOR RADIOS 15 YEARS AGO, HAS NOW DEVELOPED INTO PRODUCING HIGH-TECHNOLOGY ITEMS SUCH AS WAFER CHIPS, MICRO COMPUTERS AND TELECOMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT. MR YAXLEY NOTED THAT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY WAS NOT CONFINED TO ITSELF BECAUSE OF THE WIDESPREAD APPLICATION OF ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY TO CONSUMER PRODUCTS IN VARIOUS OTHER INDUSTRIES.
+ADVANCES IN ELECTRONICS HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR BRINGING ABOUT MASSIVE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ADJUSTMENTS. AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS RESPONSIBLE MEMBERS Or SOCIETY WE MUST BE PREPARED FOR THESE ADJUSTMENTS,* HE SAID.
SUMMARISING THE PROGRAMME OF ASSISTANCE BY THE GOVERNMENT TO HELP THE INDUSTRY TO DIVERSIFY, MR YAXLEY CALLED ON INDUSTRIALISTS TO MAKE USE OF THE INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT PROMOTION SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT.
+wE HAVE A SPECIALIST STAFF OF PROMOTION CONSULTANTS IN OUR HEAD OFFICE nERE IN HONG KONG, AND IN' FOUR OFFICES OVERSEAS -IN LONDON, TOKYO, STUTTGART AND SAN FRANCISCO. THEIR OBJECTIVE IS TO ENCOURAGE AND PROMOTE THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG, *IT- PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO HIGHER TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRIES.
+THEIR SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY THE TAXPAYER, AND WE HOPE THAT YOU IN THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY AND, INDEED, IN ANY OTHER INDUSTRY WILL CALL ON THEIR EXPERTISE IN YOUR FUTURE EXPANSION AND INVESTMENT PLANS. OUR SERVICE IS FREE AND YOU .ILL FIND THAT WE HAVE MUCH TO CFFER.+
MR YAXLEY ALSO INVITED INDUSTRI AL I STS SEEK I NG JOINT-VENTURES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT’S MISSIONS SCHEDULED TO VISIT NORTH AMERICA, WESTERN EUROPE AND JAPAN DURING THE NEXT TWELVE MONTHS.
+ ALL THESE ACTIVITIES AND MANY OTHERS ARE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT AND COMPLEMENT INDUSTRY’S Owl: -FFORTS SO AS TO SUSTAIN FUTURE GROWTH BY MOVING U° MARKET AND THUS MAINTAIN OUR COMPETITIVENESS,* MR YAXLEY CONCLUDED.
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NEW DIRECTOR APPOINTED fc * * *
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS HAS APPROVED THE APPOINTMENT OF MR G.B. O’RORKE AS DIRECTOR OF NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT.
A GRADUATE OF CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY, MR O’RORKE HAD SEVEN YEARS’ TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE WITH CIVIL ENGINEERING CONTRACTORS AND CONSULTANTS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM BEFORE BEING APPOINTED AS AN ENGINEER IN HONG KONG IN 1958.
AFTER A SERIES OF PROMOTIONS, HE WAS APPOINTED TO HIS PRESENT RANK OF PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT ENGINEER IN 1975.
MR O’RORKE HAS SERVED IN A WIDE VARIETY OF POSTS IN THE WATERWORKS AND CIVIL ENGINEERING OFFICES OF THE FORMER PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. HE HAS SERVED AS PROJECT MANAGER OF THREE OF THE NEW TOWNS AND WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SETTING UP AND INITIAL RUNNING OF THE GEOTECHNICAL CONTROL OFFICE IN 1977 AND THE URBAN AREA DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION IM 1980.
MR O’RORKE IS A FELLOW OF THE INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGINEERS AND DLAYED A LEADING ROLE IN THE FORMATION IN 1975 CF THE HONG KONG INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS AS THE QUALIFYING BODY FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS OF ALL DISCIPLINES IN.HONG KONG.
HE HAS ACTED AS DIRECTOR OF '.'E TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT SINCE FEBRUARY 21. 1933-
SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 1983
NEW CHANNEL FOR PUBLIC OPINION 3£ X X
A LETTER FORM - ♦MY SUGGESTIONS TO THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD* - HAS JUST BEEN INTRODUCED FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF LOCAL RESIDENTS TO PUT FORWARD ThEIR VIEWS AND SUGGESTIONS TO THE BOARD.
THE LETTER FORMS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE AT 43 GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOCAL ORGANISATIONS, BANKS, RESTAURANTS AND DEPARTMENT STORES THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN DISTRICT WHICH INCLUDES ABERDEEN, WONG CHUK HANG, AP LEI CHAU, POKFULAM, REPULSE BAY AND STANLEY.
+A PERSON HAD ONLY TO SET DOWN IN THE FORM HIS OPINIONS OR SUGGESTIONS CONCERNING THE WELL-BEING OF THE DISTRICT, AND MAIL IT. POSTAGE IS FREE,* A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DISTRICT OFFICE SAID TODAY.
♦THE FORM WILL REACH THE DISTRICT OFFICER WHO IS ALSO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DISTRICT BOARD.
♦THE INFORMANT MAY ALSO INDICATE IN THE FORM WHETHER HE WISHES TO HAVE A REPLY FROM THE BOARD OR NOT,+ HE ADDED.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE FORM WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN REMOTE AREAS OR WHO ARE TOO BUSY TO APPROACH BOARD MEMBERS IN PERSON TO AIR THEIR VIEWS.
TWO NEW ROADS FOR SHA TIN NEW TOWN * * * *
THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT PROPOSES TO CONSTRUCT TWO ROADS IN SHA TIN AS PART OF ITS CONTINUING PROGRAMME FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TOWN.
ONE OF THE NEW ROADS IS TO EE CONSTRUCTED BETWEEN SIU LEK YUEN ROAD AND WONG NAI TAU VILLAGE WHILE THE OTHER IS TO LINK THE FIRST ONE TO AN UNNAMED ROAD LEADING TO SIU LEK YUEN VILLAGE.
ON COMPLETION, THE ROADS WILL SERVE A HOUSING ESTATE TO BE BUILT IN SIU LEK YUEN VALLEY.
A NOTICE CONCERNING THE PROPOSED WORKS wAS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
A PLAN SHOWING THE PROPOSED WORKS CAN BE SEEN AT THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING MAIN ENTRANCE, THE SHA TIN DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE AND THE SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICE, 2 TUNG LO WAN HILL ROAD, SHA TIN, NEW TERRITORIES.
ANY PERSON OBJECTING TO THE PROPOSAL MUST SEND HIS OBJECTION IN WRITING TO THE SECRETARY -CR LANDS AND aOF.KS aiTh IN SIXTY DAYS.
SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 1983
IN-SERVICE C0UroE3 FOR KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS ■Jr W >
KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS -.IT- \u PROFESS IONAL TRAINING ARE INVITED TO TAKE PART IN ONE GF T.< PART-TIME IN-SERVICE TRAINING COURSES TO BE PROVIDED EY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IN THE 1Q83-84 SCHOOL YEAR.
THE COURSES, EACH OF .nICh .ILL LAST 12 WEEKS, ARE ORGANISED IN ACCORDANCE WITH A RECOMMENDATION OF ThE 1981 WHITE PAPER ON PRIMARY EDUCATION AND PRE-PRIMARY SERVICES.
THE FIRST COURSE WILL START IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR AND THE SECOND IN MARCH 1984. KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS * ILL BE DESIGNATED ■•QUALIFIED ASSISTANT KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS* ON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE COURSE.
APPLICATIONS ARE INVITEE FROM PRACTISING, PERMITTED OR REGISTERED KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS, INCLUDING HEAD-TEACriERo, *HC ARE PROFESSIONALLY UNTRAINED.
APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS AT LEE GARDENS, 3/F, HYSAN AVENUE, CAUSEWAY BAY AND FROM ITS KOWLOON SUB-OFFICE AT KOwLOCN GOVtRNMENT OFFICES, 6/F, 405 NATHAN ROAD.
COMPLETED FORMS SHOULD BE RETURNED TO THE PRINCIPAL INSPECTOR, KINDERGARTEN SECTION, ADVISORY INSPECTORATE, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, LEE GARDENS, HYaAN AVENUc, CAUSEWAY BAY, HONG KONG BY aPRIL 15.
ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE COURSES SHOULD EE MADE TO THE KINDERGARTEN SECTION ON 5-8392483 OR 5-8392486.
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SEABORNE REFUSE CLEARED FROM LANTAU BEACHES * * M K
THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS MOUNTED A SERIES OF CLEAN-UP OPERATIONS AT 15 REMOTE EEACricS ON LANTAU ISLAND WHICH ARE CONSTANTLY LITTERED BY SEABORNE REFUSE.
NINE OF THE BEACHES ARE LOCATED ON THE SOUTH OF THE ISLAND WHILE THE REMAINING SIX ARE-SITUATED EAST OF MUI wO.
niJP TO TH- PREVAILING EAST AND SOUTHEASTERLY WINDS AND COUPLED WITH STRONG TIDAL CURRENTS, rLOATSAM AND 0™cR jjtABORNE REFUSE ARE CONSTANTLY WASHED ASHORE AT THtSE BEACHES.
E URBAN SERVICES OFFICE, REFUSE-RIDDEN BEACHES TO CAMPAIGN.
DURING THE LAST T.-.l »EEKS, TH ISLANDS, HAS BEEN CLEAN IRS UP THE COINCIDE WITH THE CLEAN HCN3 *CNG
SATURDAY, I&33H 26, 1983
A SPECIAL CLEANSING SQUAD WAS BEEN SENT TO TIDY UP HAM TIN BEACH, CHEUNG SHA BEACH, PUI C BEACH, SWAP LONG BEACH, TAI LONG aAN, Yl LONG WAN, MONG TUNG WAN, TONG FUK BEACH AND KAM SHA WAN ON SOUTH LANTAU WHILE ANOTHER HAS BEEN DEPLOYED AT TUNG WAN TAU, CHEUNG SHA LAN, SHEK LAM CHAU, SHEK PIK TUNG wAN, MAN KOK TSUI AND PAK MONG WAN ON THE EASTERN PART OF THE ISLAND.
MORE THAN 2OO BASKETS OF REFUSE HAVE BEEN COLLECTED AT THESE BEACHES, RESTORING THEM TO THEIR NATURAL BEAUTY.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NTSD SAID THAT REFUSE DUMPED INTO THE SEA, PARTICULARLY OFF THE EASTERN AND SOUTHERN COAST OF LANTAU ISLAND, WOULD DRIFT ONTO THESE BEACHES.
HE URGED FISHERMEN AND PEOPLE CRUISING ON BOATS NOT TO DUMP THEIR REFUSE INTO THE WATER.
♦DUMPING RUBBISH INTO THE SEA MAY BRING A MAXIMUM FINE OF $5 030 AND A POSSIBLE JAIL SENTENCE OF SIX MONTHS TO THE OFFENDERS,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
TV SET FQR YUEN LONG ELDERLY
* * *
MORE THAN 103 ELDERLY PEOPLE AND OTHER REGULAR USERS OF THE KAM TIN SALVATION ARMY SOCIAL SERVICE CENTRE WILL BE ABLE TO ENJOY THEIR FAVOURITE TELEVISION PROGRAMMES.
AT A BRIEF CEREMONY TODAY, THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT OFFICER, MR JAMES WILSON, PRESENTED A TV SET TO THE CENTRE TO ENABLE THE PEOPLE TO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL CHOICE OF ENTERTAINMENT DURING THEIR LEISURE TIME.
THE COLOUR TV SET HAS BEEN DONATED BY THE LOCAL DISTRICT BOARD IN SUPPORT OF THE TERRITORY-WIDE SALVATION ARMY *EEK.
TO MATCH THE TV SET, MR aILSON ALSO PRESENTED TO THE CENTRE A VIDEO CASSETTE RECORDER WHICH KE WON IN A RAFFLE DURING A RECENT SPRING RECEPTION.
BESIDES RUNNING A CARE-AND-ATTENTION HOME FOR THE ELDERLY AND A NURSERY FOR 83 CHILDREN, THE SOCIAL SERVICE CENTRE ALSO ORGANISES VARIOUS ACTIVITIES FQR PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT AGES.
ALSO PRESENT AT TODAY’S CEREMONY wERE MR TANG Cnl-LEUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE KAM TIN RURAL COMMITTEE, AND MR TANG NAI-MAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE DISTRICT BOARD’S SOCIAL SERVICE COMMITTEE.
SATURDAY, KARCH 26, 1983
CLOSED RO-1 PERMITS FOR LANTAU ISLAND M * * *
STARTING FROM MONDAY (MARCH 23), THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT'S TRANSPORT OPERATIONS (HONG KONG AND ISLANDS) DIVISION WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FCh ISSUING AND RENEWING CLOSED ROAD PERMITS FOR LANTAU ISLAND.
APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO THE DIVISION AT 5/F, GUARDIAN HOUSE, 32 01 KWAN ROAD, WAN CHAI.
ENQUIRIES CAN EE MADE BY DIALLING 5-756541, EXT. 261.
SAL l ..ATER CUT 11. EAST KOWLOON' # * * #
SALT WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN PREMISES IN EAST KOwLOON WILL BE SUSPENDED FOR SEVEN HOURS FROM 9 AM ON TUESDAY (MARCH 29) FOR REPAIR WORK.
THE SUSPENSION wILL AFFECT CHOI WAN ESTATE, SHUN LEE ESTATE, SHUN TIN ESTATE, SHUN ON ESTATE, SAU MAU PING ESTATE AND LAM TIN ESTATE AS WELL AS PREMISES ALONG HONG LEE ROAD, HONG NING ROAD AND KUNG LOK ROAD.
- 0 - -
SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 1983
- 8 -
SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS SOLD BY AUCTION
K K # #
THiRty-three SPECIAL VEHICLE REGISTRATION NUMBERS WERE SOLD BY AUCTION THIS MORNING (SATURDAY) FOR A TOTAL OF $192 830 WHICH WILL GO INTO THE GOVERNMENT LOTTERIES FUND FOR CHARITY PURPOSES.
THE AUCTION HELD AT RECITAL HALL OF THE CITY HALL, 8TH FLOOR, SAW THE REGISTRATION NUMBER AW8 FETCH THE HIGHEST PRICE OF $37 000.
ANOTHER NUMBER CW 11 WAS SOLD AT THE SECOND HIGHEST PRICE OF $29 000 WHILE THE LOWEST PRICE WAS $1 000 FOR CX 2400, CX 5006, AD 5006, CY 277, BB 5121, CX 6686, CY 8885, BH 330 AND BJ 330.
THE OTHER SPECIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERS WERE SOLD AT THE FOLLOWING PRICES:
CY 1698 $ 1 530 CX 982 s 1 600 CX 213 $ 2 000
CX 983 2 600 1389 28 000 CX 995 2 100
CX 3282 1 600 CY 663 5 000 CY 500 2 000
AD 83 13 000 CY 162 2 200 CX 938 3 500
CY 118 3 100 CH 4664 2 000 5989 6 200
AL 178 1 800 CY 139 2 200 CX 966 2 000
AU 3 21 003 CT 603 3 800 AC 330 4 503
CX 19 4 100 •
THE NUMBERS AUCTIONED WILL BE ASSIGNED ONLY TO VEHICLES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF THE DATE OF AUCTION.
TODAY’S SALE, THE 83RD ORGANISED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SINCE MAY 1973, BROUGHT THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR CHARITY REALISED SO FAR TO $27 252 332.
0 -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
FOREIGN INVESTMENT DEFYING RECESSION .......................... 1
t
9
HONG KONG SHOULD FOLLOW UK'S EXAMPLES..............*.......... 3
CONFERENCE CW EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ....................
CROWN LAND FOR SALE .......................................... 5
DISTRICT BOARD TO DISCUSS FUND ALWCATION ..................... 6
STATUTORY HOLIDAY FOR CHING MING FESTIVAL..................... 6
URBAN CLEARWAYS ON DES VOEUX ROAD WEST ....................... 7
TENDERS FOR LAYING OF FRESH WATER MAINS IN FANLING ........... 8
STUDY ROOMS TO BE OPENED ...........•.........................
TINDERS INVITED FOR SALE OF LIGHT REFRESHMENTS ............... 9
MARINE DEPARTMENT HOLIDAY HOURS .............................. 10
WATER CUT
10
SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 1983
1
FOREIGN INVESTMENT DEFYING RECESSION ******
FOREIGN AND JOINT-VENTURE INVESTMENTS IN HONG KONG’S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY EXPANDED TO AN ALL-TIME RECORD LAST YEAR DESPITE WHAT MANY ECONOMISTS CONSIDER THE WORST GLOBAL RECESSION IN HALF A CENTURY.
STATISTICS GATHERED BY THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT SHOW THAT BY THE END OF LAST YEAR THE ACCUMULATED TOTAL OF THESE INVESTMENTS HAD REACHED $9.5 BILLION, UP BY 10 PER CENT OVER 1981 AND MORE THAN DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF THREE YEARS AGO.
THE TOTAL CONSISTS OF $7.5 BILLION INVESTED BY FOREIGN INTERESTS AND $2 BILLION BY LOCAL PARTNERS IN ABOUT 488 ESTABLISHMENTS, MANY OF WHICH EMPLOY HIGHLY SOPHISTICATED TECHNOLOGIES.
THIS EXPANSION IS IN MARKED CONTRAST TO THE LOW GROWTH EXPERIENCED BY THE REST OF THE INDUSTRIALISED WORLD LAST YEAR.
MR C.G. BERNARD, A PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT OF THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT, ATTRIBUTED THIS TO THE DIFFERENCE IN SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND MANY INDUSTRIALISED COUNTRIES.
OVER THE YEARS, HIGH LABOUR AND OTHER COSTS IN INDUSTRIALISED COUNTRIES HAVE MADE IT VITAL FOR MORE INDUSTRIALISTS THERE TO SHIFT SOME OF THEIR OPERATIONS OVERSEAS.
AND FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, HONG KONG IS CONTINUING TO BENEFIT FROM THIS SITUATION. THESE INCLUDE CONSISTENT ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL POLICIES, RELIANCE ON FREE TRADE AND FREE ENTERPRISE, A GROWING POOL OF EXPERIENCED LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS AND A COST EFFECTIVE, HIGHLY SKILLED LABOUR FORCE.
OTHER IMPORTANT FACTORS ARE THE GROWING DEPTH OF HONG KONG’S COMMERCIAL AND FINANCIAL FACILITIES, THE INCREASING SOPHISTICATION OF ITS INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNICATIONS, THE LOW PERSONAL AND CORPORATE TAX RATES OF 15 AND 16.5 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY, TOGETHER WITH GENEROUS DEPRECIATION ALLOWANCES, AND THE ABILITY TO CARRY LOSSES FORWARD INDEFINITELY.
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN HONG KONG HAS CONTINUED TO EXPAND IN THE FACE OF A RECESSION, MR BERNARD POINTED OUT. DURING THE PREVIOUS RECESSION IN 1974 AND 1975, 19 NEW FOREIGN AND 40 JOINT-VENTURE ESTABLISHMENTS WERE SET UP, INVOLVING INVESTMENTS OF $119 MILLION AND $1 031 MILLION, THE LATTER BEING THE HIGHEST FIGURE FOR THE DECADE.
UNIT COSTS OF PRODUCTION IN REAL TERMS ARE EVEN MORE FAVOURABLE TODAY BECAUSE OF STABLE WAGES AND A MARKED DECLINE IN INDUSTRIAL LAND PRICES WHICH ARE NOW COMPETITIVE WITH OTHER AREAS IN EAST ASIA.
ALSO, ABOUT ONE MILLION SQUARE METRES OF INDUSTRIAL FLOOR SPACE WERE AVAILABLE AT THE END OF 1982, A FIGURE WHICH COULD DOUBLE BY THE END OF 1983.
/+AS HONG KONG'S .......
SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 1983
2
+AS HONG KONG’S EXPORT GROWTH HAS BEEN SEVERAL PERCENTAGE POINTS ABOVE THE GROWTH RATE OF WORLD MERCHANDISE TRADE IN THE PAST, A MILD RECOVERY IN OUR MAJOR MARKETS COULD LEAD TO A CONSIDERABLE REBOUND FOR OUR EXPORT-LED ECONOMY,+ MR BERNARD SAID.
DESPITE THE RECESSION, EAST ASIA IS NOW THE FASTEST GROWING REGION IN THE WORLD: ITS AVERAGE ANNUAL GNP GROWTH RATE OF ABOUT EIGHT PER CENT IN THE LAST DECADE WAS TWICE THAT OF THE INDUSTRIALISED WEST. SOME ECONOMISTS FORECAST THAT THE COMBINED GNP OF EAST ASIA, EXCLUDING COMMUNIST COUNTRIES, WILL OUTSTRIP THAT OF EUROPE BEFORE THE END OF THE CENTURY.
THIS LONG-TERM POTENTIAL IS A STRONG DRAWING CARD, AND MORE INDUSTRIALISTS IN THE WEST, PARTICULARLY FROM THE UNITED STATES, HAVE IN RECENT YEARS SET UP OPERATIONS IN THE FAR EAST TO SERVICE THE REGION ITSELF, IN ADDITION TO THEIR HOME MARKETS. BECAUSE OF ITS CENTRAL GEOGRAPHIC POSITION AND OTHER ADVANTAGES, HONG KONG HAS ATTRACTED MANY OF THESE OPERATIONS.
LAST YEAR AT LEAST 22 WHOLLY-OWNED FOREIGN OR JOINT-VENTURE MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS INCLUDING US, JAPANESE, BRITISH AND OTHER EUROPEAN INTERESTS STARTED OPERATION IN HONG KONG, ACCORDING TO INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT. IN ADDITION, A NUMBER OF EXISTING ESTABLISHMENTS HAVE EITHER EXPANDED THEIR OPERATIONS OR ARE INVESTING FURTHER THIS YEAR. THE DEPARTMENT HAS ABOUT 800 +ACTIVE ENQUIRIES* ON ITS BOOKS, ABOUT 42 OF WHICH ARE REGARDED AS PROJECTS LIKELY TO BE IMPLEMENTED WITHIN THE NEAR FUTURE.
IT IS NOTICEABLE ALSO THAT DURING RECENT YEARS BOTH FOREIGN AND LOCAL INVESTORS HAVE MOVED INTO HIGHER TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRIES. THIS DEVELOPMENT IS ACTIVELY ENCOURAGED AND FACILITATED BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. FOR EXAMPLE, THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1977 TO ENCOURAGE INDUSTRIAL DIVERSIFICATION AND THE USE OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES. ITS BASIC AIM IS TO PROVIDE AND MANAGE SITES AT COST TO INDUSTRIES WITH A RELATIVELY HIGH LEVEL OF TECHNOLOGY WHICH CANNOT OPERATE IN ORDINARY MULTI-STOREY FACTORY BUILDINGS.
TO DATE, 37 COMPANIES HAVE TAKEN UP SITES IN THE TAI PO AND YUEN LONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATES, WITH COMMITTED INVESTMENTS SO FAR OF MORE THAN $1.3 BILLION, 30 PER CENT OF IT BY OVERSEAS INTERESTS.
FURTHER STEPS TAKEN RECENTLY TO BACK UP HONG KONG’S INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT INCLUDE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF LOCAL REFERENCE STANDARDS FOR INDUSTRY AND A STANDARD CALIBRATION LABORATORY, THE FACILITATION OF TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND THE DISSEMINATION OF TECHNICAL INFORMATION, QUALITY CERTIFICATION SERVICES AND TECHNICAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT WORK.
TECHNO-ECONOMIC STUDIES ON SOPHISTICATED INDUSTRIES ARE BEING CONDUCTED TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON FUTURE DEVELOPMENT NEEDS AND RESOURCES.
/THERE HAS .......
SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 1983
3
THERE HAS ALSO BEEN CONSIDERABLE EXPANSION IN SECONDARY TECHNICAL SCHOOLS AND TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS WHICH NOW PROVIDE VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL TRAINING FOR OVER 61 OOO PEOPLE A YEAR.
THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT, FOR ITS PART, HAS STEPPED UP ITS INVESTMENT PROMOTION PROGRAMMES AND ESTABLISHED FOUR OVERSEAS OFFICES IN TOKYO, LONDON, SAN FRANCISCO AND STUTTGART IN 1982.
NEW SOPHISTICATED PRODUCTS NOW BEING MADE IN HONG KONG INCLUDE TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT, INTEGRATED CIRCUITS, POLYSTYRENE, HIGH-GRADE DRILLING EQUIPMENT AND MACHINE TOOLS, PRECISION ENGINEERING COMPONENTS, MINIATURE LIGHT BULBS AND COMPUTER PARTS.
----o------
HONG KONG SHOULD FOLLOW UK’S EXAMPLES X X X X X *
HONG KONG HAS MUCH TO LEARN FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM IN THE PREVENTION OF ACCIDENTS AT WORK.
ON ONE HAND, LOCAL WORKERS SHOULD FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN UK TO ATTACH MORE IMPORTANCE TO WORK SAFETY.
ON THE OTHER HAND, LOCAL EMPLOYERS SHOULD PROVIDE MORE MODERN SAFETY EQUIPMENT FOR THEIR WORKERS, AS IT IS THE CASE IN UK.
THESE WERE THE VIEWS OF THE WINNING TEAM OF THE +SAFETY AT WORK+ TELEVISION PROGRAMME, WHICH RETURNED FROM UK THIS MORNING (SUNDAY) AFTER A 10-DAY PRIZE-WINNING TRIP.
THE TEAM LEADER, MR CHOU HAN-SHENG, SAID HE OBSERVED THAT BOTH THE MANAGEMENT AND WORKERS IN UK GAVE TOP PRIORITY TO WORK SAFETY.
♦WORKERS THERE TOOK EVERY NECESSARY STEP TO AVOID GETTING HURT AT WORK, EVEN THIS MIGHT AFFECT THE PACE OF PRODUCTION. AT THE SAME TIME, THE MANAGEMENT PROVIDED MODERN SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND STRICTLY COMPLIED WITH STATUTORY SAFETY REGULATIONS,+ HE ADDED.
CITING EXAMPLES OF THE MANAGEMENT GIVING TOP PRIORITY TO WORK SAFETY, MR CHOU POINTED OUT THAT MARS — THE WORLD FAMOUS CHOCOLATE FACTORY — HAS A CLINIC AS BIG AS A HOSPITAL MANNED BY FULL-TIME DOCTORS AND NURSES ON THREE SHIFTS. IT ALSO HAD A FULL-TIME SAFETY OFFICER WHO LOOKS AFTER ALL ASPECTS OF WORK SAFETY — AS IT IS THE CASE WITH OTHER FACTORIES.
THE MANAGEMENT HAS ESTABLISHED VERY GOOD COMMUNICATION CHANNELS FOR DISCUSSING OR EXCHANGING VIEWS ON SAFETY MATTERS WITH WORKERS,* HE ADDED.
/Mr chot ....
SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 198?
MR CHOU POINTED OUT UK AND THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT ARE ADOPTING THE SAME APPROACH IN PROMOTING INDUSTRIAL SAFETY, NAMELY PROVIDING TRAINING FOR WORKERS, LAUNCHING SPECIAL CAMPAIGNS AND CONDUCTING SPECIAL COMPETITIONS FOR WORKERS, ETC.
FOR EXAMPLE, A +MOST BEAUTIFUL EYES* CONTEST IS BEING CONDUCTED IN UK IN ORDER TO MAKE WORKERS MORE AWARE OF THE NEED OF PROTECTING THEIR EYES WHILE AT WORK.
THE CONTEST, WHICH WAS PROMPTED BY THE FACT THAT A TOTAL OF 36 WORKERS GOT BLIND LAST YEAR, WAS ALSO AIMED AT ENCOURAGING DISCUSSIONS ON EYE PROTECTION AMONG WORKERS.
♦WE’RE DOING THE RIGHT THINGS FOR PROMOTING INDUSTRIAL SAFETY. WHILE WE CAN HARDLY COMPARE WITH SUCH AN INDUSTRIALLY ADVANCED COUNTRY AS UK IN THIS RESPECT, WE CAN CERTAINLY IMPROVE THE PRESENT SITUATION FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL CONCERNED. THIS WILL RELY ON MORE CONCERTED EFFORTS AMONG THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES IN THE FUTURE,+ HE CONCLUDED.
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CONFERENCE ON EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES * * * *
ABOUT 200 SECONDARY SCHOOL HEADS WILL TAKE PART IN A TWO-DAY CONFERENCE AIMED AT PROMOTING EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ON MARCH 30 AND 31 AT GRANTHAM COLLEGE OF EDUCATION IN GASCOIGNE ROAD, KOWLOON.
THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR MICHAEL LEUNG, AND THE VICE-CHANCELLOR OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, DR MA LIN, WILL ATTEND THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE CONFERENCE, WHICH IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY’S SCHOOL OF EDUCATION.
A SPEECH ON +THE ROLE OF THE TEACHER OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM+ WILL BE DELIVERED BY MR LEUNG, WHILE PROFESSOR C.Y. TO OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY’S SCHOOL OF EDUCATION WILL ALSO PRESENT A SPEECH ON +THE EDUCATIONAL FUNCTIONS AND PRINCIPLES OF EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES*.
URBAN COUNCILLOR MRS SELINA CHOW AND THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE (RECREATION AND SPORT), MR DICKEN YUNG, WILL DELIVER SPEECHES AT SEMINARS FOLLOWING THE OPENING CEREMONY.
A SERIES OF SEMINARS WILL ALSO BE HELD ON THE SECOND DAY OF THE CONFERENCE DURING WHICH SPEECHES WILL BE DELIVERED BY THE DIRECTOR OF HK COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE, MR HUI YIN-FAT! DR PEDRO NG AND MR FUNG YEE-WANG OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY AND MR ANDY LIANG OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
/NOTE TO EDITORS: ........
SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 1983
5
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE TWO-DAY CONFERENCE ON ♦EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS+ ON MARCH 30 AND 31 AT GRANTHAM COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AT GASCOIGNE ROAD, KOWLOON.
THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR MICHAEL LEUNG, AND THE VICE-CHANCELLOR OF THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY, DR MA LIN, WILL ATTEND THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE CONFERENCE AT 9.15 AM.
A SERIES OF SEMINARS FEATURING TALKS BY COMMUNITY LEADERS, EDUCATIONISTS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WILL BE HELD DURING THE TWO-DAY CONFERENCE.
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CROWN LAND FOR SALE X X X X
THE LANDS DEPARTMENT IS OFFERING THREE PIECES OF CROWN LAND IN KOWLOON AND YUEN LONG FOR SALE BY TENDERS.
THE LARGEST SITE IS IN KOWLOON BAY, COVERING AN AREA OF ABOUT 4.548 HECTARES. IT IS FOR PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION SCHEME AND NON-INDUSTRI AL (EXCLUDING GODOWN) PURPOSES.
THE CLOSING DATE FOR ACCEPTING TENDERS FOR THIS SITE IS NOON ON MAY 20.
ANOTHER SITE, HAVING AN AREA OF ABOUT 2 881 SQUARE METRES AT THE JUNCTION OF WAI YIP STREET AND KEI YIP STREET IN KWUN TONG, IS FOR A MULTI-STOREY CAR/LORRY PARK. IT MAY ALSO COMPRISE ACCOMMODATION FOR NON-INDUSTRI AL PURPOSES, BUT EXCLUDING RESIDENTIAL, HOTEL AND GODOWN.
THE REMAINING SITE WITH AN AREA OF ABOUT 4 885 SQUARE METRES IS AT TUNG TAU INDUSTRIAL AREA IN YUEN LONG.
THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE BUILDING TO BE ERECTED ON THE SITE IS FOR MOTOR VEHICLE REPAIRING WORKSHOPS WHILE THE UPPER FLOORS MAY BE USED FOR INDUSTRIAL OR GODOWN PURPOSES OR BOTH, INCLUDING MOTOR VEHICLE REPAIRING WORKSHOPS AND CAR-BODY ASSEMBLY WORKSHOPS.
THE DEADLINE OF ACCEPTANCE OF TENDERS FOR BOTH THE KWUN TONG AND YUEN LONG SITES IS NOON ON APRIL 29.
TENDER FORMS, NOTICES AND SALES CONDITIONS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM, AND TENDER PLANS INSPECTED AT THE LANDS DEPARTMENT, MURRAY BUILDING, 5TH FLOOR, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG; THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE (KOWLOON WEST), KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 10TH FLOOR, 405 NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON ? AND THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICES OF SHA TIN, TAI PO, NORTH, YUEN LONG, TUEN MUN, TSUEN WAN, SAI KUNG AND ISLANDS.
SUNDAY, MARCH 21; 1983
6
DISTRICT BOARD TO DISCUSS FUND ALLOCATION X * X X X
A PROPOSED ALLOCATION OF $1.45 MILLION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROJECTS BY THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD DURING THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR WILL BE DISCUSSED AT THE BOARD’S FOURTH MEETING ON THURSDAY (MARCH 31).
THE NEW ALLOCATION REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF 11 PER CENT OVER THE $1.3 MILLION PROVISION FOR 1982/83.
PROJECTS PLANNED FOR NEXT YEAR INCLUDE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT WORKS IN SQUATTER VILLAGES AND TYPHOON SHELTERS, CLEARANCE EXERCISES, IMPROVEMENT OF AMENITY FACILITIES, A SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMME AND A SPORTS FESTIVAL.
AT THE MEETING, BOARD MEMBERS WILL ALSO DISCUSS A REPORT BY THE COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE AND THE SCHEDULE OF DB MEETINGS FOR THE COMING YEAR.
THE MEETING WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND PEOPLE WISHING TO ATTEND MAY CONTACT THE BOARD’S SECRETARY, MR CHRISTOPHER NG, AT 5-630181.
TEN SEATS WILL BE RESERVED AND ALLOCATED ON A FIRST-COME-FIRST-SERVED BASIS.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE FOURTH EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD MEETING AT 2.30 PM ON THURSDAY (MARCH 31) IN THE HALL OF THE HONG KONG FEDERATION OF YOUTH GROUPS, BRADBURY CENTRE, MODEL LANE, NORTH POINT.
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STATUTORY HOLIDAY FOR CHING MING FESTIVAL
X X X X X
A LABOUR DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY (SUNDAY) REMINDED EMPLOYERS THAT THE CHING MING FESTIVAL WHICH FALLS ON APRIL 5 (TUESDAY) IS ONE OF THE 11 STATUTORY HOLIDAYS APPOINTED UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE.
UNDER THE ORDINANCE, ALL MANUAL EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING DOMESTIC SERVANTS EMPLOYED LOCALLY OR FROM OVERSEAS, IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR EARNINGS, AND ALL NON-MANUAL EMPLOYEES EARNING NOT MORE THAN $7 500 A MONTH, ARE ENTITLED TO THE HOLIDAY.
/THE SPOKESMAN
SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 1983
- 7 -
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THEY MUST ALSO BE PAID FOR THE DAY OFF IF THEY HAVE WORKED CONTINUOUSLY FOR THREE MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE STATUTORY HOLIDAY.
HOLIDAY PAY SHOULD BE EQUIVALENT TO THE EMPLOYEE’S EARNINGS, INCLUDING WAGES AND ALLOWANCES BUT EXCLUDING OVERTIME PAY, ON A NORMAL WORKING DAY. WHERE THE EARNINGS VARY FROM DAY TO DAY, HOLIDAY PAY SHOULD BE THE AVERAGE OF THE DAILY EARNINGS DURING A PERIOD OF 28 DAYS PRECEDING THE HOLIDAY. PAYMENT SHOULD BE MADE ON THE NORMAL PAY DAY.
IF AN EMPLOYEE IS REQUIRED TO WORK ON A STATUTORY HOLIDAY, HE MUST BE GIVEN AN ALTERNATIVE DAY-OFF WITHIN 60 DAYS BEFORE OR AFTER THAT DAY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
IF THE ALTERNATIVE HOLIDAY IS TO BE GRANTED BEFORE THE STATUTORY HOLIDAY, THE EMPLOYER MUST NOTIFY THE EMPLOYEE 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE OF THE ALTERNATIVE HOLIDAY.
WHERE AN ALTERNATIVE HOLIDAY IS TO BE GIVEN AFTER THE STATUTORY HOLIDAY, THE EMPLOYEE MUST BE NOTIFIED OF THE ARRANGEMENT AT LEAST 48 HOURS BEFORE THE HOLIDAY.
IF BOTH THE EMPLOYER AND THE EMPLOYEE AGREE. ANY DAY WITHIN 30 DAYS OF A STATUTORY HOLIDAY OR ALTERNATIVE HOLIDAY MAY BE TAKEN BY THE EMPLOYEE AS A SUBSTITUTED HOLIDAY.
ENQUIRIES ABOUT STATUTORY HOLIDAYS MAY BE MADE TO THE NEAREST BRANCH OFFICE OF THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE.
THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS ARE 3-205638 FOR KOWLOON EAST, 3-201652 FOR KOWLOON WEST, 3-319454 FOR KOWLOON SOUTH, 3-898520 FOR KWUN TONG, 0-4980208 FOR TSUEN WAN, 0-6577111, EXT. 114 FOR TAI PO, 0-818443 FOR TUEN MUN, 5-268671 FOR HONG KONG ISLAND (WEST), AND 5-282523 FOR HONG KONG ISLAND (EAST).
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URBAN CLEARWAYS ON DES VOEUX ROAD WEST
K * * M
DES VOEUX ROAD WEST NEAR WATER STREET WILL BE DESIGNATED AS A 24-HOUR URBAN CLEARWAY FROM 10 AM ON TUESDAY (MARCH 29).
THIS ARRANGEMENT WILL ALSO APPLY TO ITS EASTBOUND SECTION NEAR WESTERN STREET.
WITHIN THE SECTIONS, VEHICLES OTHER THAN FRANCHISED BUSES WILL EE BANNED FROM STOPPING FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS.
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/8........
SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 1983
8
TENDERS FOR LAYING OF FRESH WATER MAINS IN FANLING
K K K K M
THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE LAYING OF A SYSTEM OF FRESH WATER MAINS IN FANLING/SHEK WU HUI NEW TOWN.
THE SYSTEM IS PART OF A PROJECT TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF THE EXISTING WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM TO THE NEW TOWN AND SURROUNDING VILLAGES.
WORK ON THE CONTRACT COMPRISES THE LAYING OF ABOUT 3 125 METRES OF MILD STEEL AND ASBESTOS CEMENT PIPES, RANGING FROM 150 MM TO 1 200 MM IN DIAMETERS.
WORK WILL COMMENCE IN JUNE AND IS EXPECTED TO TAKE ABOUT 16 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
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STUDY ROOMS TO BE OPENED * * *
TEMPORARY STUDY ROOMS WILL BE OPENED IN THE EVENING IN SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT HONG KONG FROM APRIL 1 TO JUNE 30 FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS.
+THEY WILL BE OPEN DURING THE EXAMINATION PERIOD TO PROVIDE STUDENTS LIVING IN CROWDED AND NOISY ENVIRONMENT WITH ALTERNATIVE FACILITIES TO DO THEIR HOMEWORK AND PRIVATE STUDY,+ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
A TOTAL OF 6 460 PLACES WILL BE PROVIDED IN 69 STUDY ROOM CENTRES, HE SAID.
STUDY ROOM FACILITIES IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS WILL BE OPEN FROM 6 PM TO 9 PM FROM MONDAY TO FRIDAY, FOR USE BY SECONDARY STUDENTS ONLY.
THOSE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS WILL BE OPEN FROM 7 PM TO 9 PM ON THE SAME DAYS FOR BOTH SECONDARY AND PRIMARY STUDENTS.
THESE FACILITIES WILL BE CLOSED ON PUBLIC HOLIDAYS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
POSTERS SHOWING THE DISTRIBUTION OF STUDY ROOM CENTRES HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO SCHOOLS. THEY WILL ALSO BE PUT UP IN PUBLIC PLACES THROUGHOUT HONG KONG.
SUPERVISORS WILL BE APPOINTED TO MAINTAIN ORDER IN STUDY ROOMS, BUT THEY WILL NOT BE GIVING TUITION TO THE STUDENTS.
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/9......
SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 1983
- 9
TENDERS INVITED FOR SALE OF LIGHT REFRESHMENTS *****
TENDERS ARE BEING INVITED FOR THE SALE OF LIGHT REFRESHMENTS AT SEVEN PUBLIC BEACHES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, AND AT THE YUEN WO ROAD PLAYGROUND IN SHA TIN AND SAI KUNG TANG SHIU KIN SPORTSGROUND.
THE SEVEN BEACHES ARE CHEUNG SHA BEACH (LOWER) ON LANTAU ISLAND? KIU TSUI BEACH, CAMPER’S BEACH AND PAK SHA CHAU BEACH IN SAI KUNG; GEMINI BEACH AND APPROACH BEACH AT CASTLE PEAK ROAD AND TUNG WAN BEACH ON CHEUNG CHAU.
THE TENDERS FOR THE CHEUNG SHA BEACH (LOWER), KIU TSUI BEACH, CAMPER’S BEACH AND PAK SHA CHAU OPERATIONS WILL INCLUDE THE PROVISION OF CHANGING FACILITIES.
THE ERECTION OF TENTS FOR HIRE TO THE PUBLIC WILL ALSO BE ILCLUDED IN THE OPERATIONS AT CHEUNG SHA BEACH (LOWER) AND KIU TSUI BEACH.
SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS FOR THE ABOVE TENDERS MAY OPERATE THEIR BUSINESS ON MAY 16, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID.
THE CONTRACTS FOR THE SEVEN BEACHES WILL EXPIRE ON NOVEMBER 30, 1985 WHILE THAT OF THE PLAYGROUND AND THE SPORTSGROUND WILL END ON APRIL 30, 1986.
INTERESTED OPERATORS MAY OBTAIN TENDER FORMS FROM THE NTSD HEADQUARTERS ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF AUSTIN CENTRE, 19-23 AUSTIN AVENUE, TSIM SHA TSUI.
COMPLETED TENDER FORMS MUST BE PLACED IN THE TENDER BOX OF THE NTSD HEADQUARTERS BEFORE APRIL 22.
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/1O........
SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 1983
10
MARINE DEPARTMENT HOLIDAY HOURS X * *
THE MARINE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT ITS PORT COMMUNICATION CENTRE, MACAU FERRY TERMINAL AND TSUEN WAN PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREA WILL REMAIN OPEN THROUGHOUT THE EASTER HOLIDAYS AND CHING MING FESTIVAL FROM APRIL 1 TO 5 (FRIDAY TO TUESDAY).
THE FOLLOWING ARE THE OPENING HOURS FOR THE DEPARTMENT’S OTHER OFFICES:
* THE ENTRY AND CLEARANCE OFFICE WILL BE OPEN FROM 9 AM TO 11 AM ON SATURDAY (APRIL 2) AND MONDAY (APRIL 4) ?
* THE VICTORIA MARINE OFFICE WILL BE OPEN FROM 9 AM TO 11 AM ON SATURDAY (APRIL 2) AND MONDAY (APRIL 4) FOR ENTRY AND OUTWARD CLEARANCE ONLY? AND
* THE FIVE PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREAS IN WAN CHAI, YAU MA TEI, KWUN TONG, WESTERN DISTRICT AND RAMBLER CHANNEL WILL BE OPEN FROM 7 AM TO 11 PM DAILY DURING THE HOLIDAYS.
ALL OTHER OFFICES OF THE DEPARTMENT WILL BE CLOSED.
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WATER CUT * * *
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN PREMISES IN SHAU KEI WAN WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR SEVEN HOURS FROM 11 PM ON WEDNESDAY (MARCH 30) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR LEAKAGE TEST.
THE PREMISES AFFECTED WILL BE THOSE BOUNDED BY TAI HONG STREET, SHAU KEI WAN ROAD, HOI AN STREET AND THE SEA FRONT.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL 5-233191
MONDAY, MARCH 28, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO,
GORDON MANZIE CALLS ON GOVERNOR ..................... 1
+SANDWICH CLASS PROBLEMS ARE REAU- ................ 1
PARENTS REMINDED ABOUT PRIMARY ONE PLACES ......«... 2
NEW AEROGRAMME ...................................... 3
MUSIC FESTIVAL DRAWS MORE NT STUDENTS ............... 4
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN TAI WO PING........ 4
WATER FIGURES
5
MONDAY, MARCH 28, 1983
1
GORDON MANZ IE CALLS ON GOVERNOR
* * M *
THE UNITED KINGDOM’S DEPUTY SECRETARY AT THE DEPARTMENT Cf INDUSTRY, MR GORDON MANZIE. MET THIS MORNING WITH THE GOVERNOR 'tO REPORT ON HIS DISCUSSIONS IN BEIJING CONCERNING THE PROPOSED WUCLEAR POWER STATION AT DAYA BAY. THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY AND THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES WERE ALSO PRESENT.
FOLLOWING LAST WEEK’S DISCUSSIONS, AT WHICH THE BRITISH DELEGATION MET WITH A CHINESE DELEGATION FROM THE MINISTRY OF idATFR RESOURCES AND ELECTRIC POWER, LED BY FIRST VICE-MINISTER LI PEH3, A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WAS SIGNED OH MARCH 26 EXPRESSING THE HlO SIDES' SUPPORT FOR THE PROJECT. DURING THEIR v•SIT TO BEIJING MR MANZIE AND THE BRITISH DELEGATION WERE ALSO RECEIVED BY STATE COUNCILLOR GU MU.
THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING COVERED VARIOUS ECONOMIC, FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT.A MAJOR ITEM COVERED WAS THE POSSIBILITY OF CONVENTIONAL EQUIPMENT FOR THE NUCLEAR POWER STATION BEING SUPPLIED BY GEC.
PROGRESS WAS MADE DURING KJCH DETAILED WORK TO BE DONE DISCUSSION WILL BE NEEDED.
NO DECISION HAS YET BEEN WILL TAKE PLACE.
THE DISCUSSIONS BUT THERE IS STILL BY BOTH SIDES AND FURTHER ROUNDS OF
TAKEN ON WHEN THE NEXT ROUND OF TALKS
- - 0 - -
♦SANDWICH CLASS PROBLEMS ARE REAL+ * * * *
THE PROBLEMS OF +SANDWICH CLASS+ FAMILIES ARE REAL AND IT IS RIGHT THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD SHOW THAT IT IS AWARE OF THEM, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, HR JOHN BREMRIDGE, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
IN A SPEECH TO THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WOMEN. MR BREMRIDGE SAID THE NUMBER OF THE REAL Sandwich class""ouseholds was relatively small, somewhere BETWEEN FOUR PER CENT AND 13 PER CENT OF ALL HOUSEHOLDS, BUT PROBABLY NEARER FOUR PER CENT.
HE SAID THESE WERE THOSE MIDDLE-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS WHO MAD EITHER PURCHASED THEIR OWN HOMES IN RECENT YEARS OR WERE PAYING THE FAIR MARKET RENT OR SOMETHING CLOSE TO IT FOR PRIVATE RENTED ACCOMMODATION.
MR BREMRIDGE SAID THAT ACCORDING TO THE 1981 POPULATION CENSUS, OUT OF A TOTAL OF SOME 1.2 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS THERE WERE A&CUT 218 000 HOUSEHOLDS WHOSE MONTHLY INCOMES RANGED BETWEEN $6 500 AND >13 000.
MONDAY, MARCH 28, 19&3
2
BUT HE ADDED THAT THESE HOUSEHOLDS WERE NOT ALL EQUALLY /- "ECTED BY THE RAPIDLY RISING PRICES OR RENTALS OF PRIVATE HOUSING IN RECENT YEARS.
♦THE 1981 POPULATION CENSUS TELLS US THAT ABOUT ONE THIRD OF THESE HOUSEHOLDS WERE ALREADY LIVING IN PUBLIC OR GOVERNMENT SUBSIDISED HOUSING. SOME 63 PER CENT WERE LIVING IN PRIVATE PERMANENT HOUSING AND ANOTHER FIVE PER CENT IN TEMPORARY HOUSING.
♦OF THE 136 OOO HOUSEHOLDS LIVING IN PRIVATL PERMANENT HOUSING. EIGHT PER CENT WERE LIVING IN FLATS PROVIDED FREE OR ON A SUBSIDISED BASIS BY THEIR EMPLOYERS, 57 PER CENT WERE OWNER-OCCUPIERS AND 35 PER CENT WERE IN PRIVATE RENTED HOUS I NG.♦
MR BREMRIDGE SAID IT WAS AMONG THE OWNER-OCCUPIERS AND THOSE RENTING PRIVATE ACCOMMODATION, THAT IS ABOUT 10 PER CENT OF ALL HOUSEHOLDS, THAT THOSE WHO WERE HARD PRESSED BY RISING PRICES AND RENTALS WOULD BE FOUND.
HOWEVER, HE SAID NOT ALL OF THE 126 000 HOUSEHOLDS WHICH THIS 10 PER CENT REPRESENTED WOULD HAVE BEEN EQUALLY AFFECTED.
♦AMONG THE OWNER-OCCUPIERS, ONLY THOSE WHO, BECAUSE THEY PURCHASED THEIR HOMES FAIRLY RECENTLY, ARE COMMITTED TO PAYING OUT A HIGHER PROPORTION OF THEIR MONTHLY INCOMES IN MORTGAGE PAYMENTS WILL HAVE BEEN REALLY HARD PRESSED. UNTIL RECENTLY, HIGHER MORTGAGE INTEREST RATES, TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY RESULTED IN HIGHER MONTHLY PAYMENTS, WILL HAVE MADE THEIR PLIGHT WORSE.
♦AMONG THOSE RENTING PRIVATELY, ABOUT 49 000 HOUSEHOLDS, OR FOUR PER CENT OF THE TOTAL, WILL HAVE BEEN PROTECTED BY RENT CONTROL BUT OTHERS. ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE BEGUN TO RENT THEIR FLATS IN RECENT YEARS, WILL HAVE BEEN HARD PRESSED,♦ HE SAID.
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PARENTS REMINDED ABOUT PRIMARY ONE PLACES * * * *
PARENTS OF CHILDREN TAKING PART IN THE PRIMARY ONE ADMISSION SYSTEM’S CENTRAL ALLOCATION OF PLACES WERE REMINDED TODAY THAT WEDNESDAY (MARCH 30) WILL BE THE LAST DAY FOR THEM TO RETURN THEIR COMPLETED ♦CHOICE OF SCHOOLS* FORMS.
THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S PRIMARY ONE ADMISSION UNIT HAD EARLIER ISSUED LETTERS TO THESE PARENTS ADVISING THEM TO GO TO SPECIFIED DISTRIBUTION/COLLECTION CENTRES BETWEEN MARCH 27 AND 30 TO COLLECT A +080106 OF SCHOOLS* FORM AND A LIST OF ALL GOVERNMENT AND AIDED PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN THEIR OWN DISTRICT.
/+JH£ COMPLJTHD .......
MONDAY, MAUCH 28, 1983
♦THE COMPLETED FORM SHOULD BE RETURNED TO THE SPECIFIED CENTRE DURING THE SAME PERIOD.+ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID.
HE ADDED THAT PARENTS WHO HAVE ANY PROBLEM FILLING THE FORM SHOULD CONTACT THE PRIMARY ONE ADMISSION UNIT AT TEL. NO. 5-724383.
PARENTS WHO HAVE MOVED HOUSE RECENTLY OR ARE PLANNING TO MOVE HOUSE IN THE NEAR FUTURE SHOULD ALSO INFORM THE UNIT SO THAT ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE TO ALLOCATE A PLACE TO THEIR CHILDREN IN THEIR NEW HOME DISTRICT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
RESULTS OF THE CENTRAL ALLOCATION OF PLACES WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN LATE-JUNE.
PARENTS WILL BE ASKED BY THE PRIMARY ONE ADMISSION UNIT TO COLLECT AN ALLOCATION SLIP ON A SPECIFIED DATE FROM THEIR OWN DISTRIBUTION/COLLECTION CENTRE AND REGISTER WITH THE SCHOOL ALLOCATED AT THE TIME AND DATE INDICATED.
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NEW AEROGRAMME M K M *
THE POST OFFICE WILL ISSUE AN A4-SIZE AEROGRAMME ON APRIL 7 TO REPLACE THE PRESENT TYPE OF AEROGRAMME WHICH WAS INTRODUCED ON JUNE 2, 1971.
THE NEW AEROGRAMME WILL PROVIDE MORE WRITING SPACE BUT ITS PRICE WILL REMAIN AT $1, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE POST OFFICE SAID.
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MONDAY, MARCH 28, 1983
- 4 -
MUSIC FESTIVAL DRAWS MORE NT STUDENTS ft ft ft ft
IT IS A VERY PROMISING TREND TO HAVE MORE SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS IN THE NEW TOWNS TAKING PART IN THE MUSIC AND SPEECH FESTIVALS, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR NEW TERRITORIES, MR IAN MACPHERSON, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
IN THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL, HE NOTED, THE NT SOLO ENTRIES REPRESENTED 25 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL WHILE NT GROUP ENTRIES ACCOUNTED FOR 30 PER CENT OF THIS CATEGORY.
THE NUMBER OF NT SCHOOLS JOINING THE HONG KONG SCHOOLS MUSIC AND SPEECH ASSOCIATION HAD ALSO BEEN STEADILY INCREASING, WITH 64 SECONDARY AND 156 PRIMARY MEMBER SCHOOLS.
MR MACPHERSON WAS SPEAKING THIS EVENING AT THE FESTIVAL’S NT PRIZE-WINNERS’ CONCERT HELD AT THE TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL.
♦ALTHOUGH THE NT SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE ASSOCIATION WAS ONLY SET UP TWO YEARS AGO, IT HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB IN PROMOTING STUDENTS’ INTEREST IN MUSIC AND SPEECH IN THE NEW TOWNS AND OTHER PARTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES,♦ HE SAID.
HE SAID THE FESTIVAL CENTRES IN THE NT HAD ALSO INCREASED FROM TWO TO FOUR AND THE SCOPE OF FESTIVAL CLASSES HAD ALSO BEEN VERY MUCH INTENSIFIED AND WIDENED.
♦BUT WHAT IS PARTICULARLY ENCOURAGING IS THE MARKED IMPROVEMENT IN THE STANDARD OF THE PARTICIPANTS IN THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL.
♦THEIR PERFORMANCE, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF THE YOUNGER PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS, HAVE EARNED HIGH PRAISE FROM THE ADJUDICATORS,+ HE SAID.
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TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN TAI WO PING ft ft ft ft
A NUMBER OF TEMPORARY TRAFFIC MEASURES WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN TAI WO PING BETWEEN 1 AM AND 5 AM ON WEDNESDAY (MARCH 30 IN CONNECTION WITH THE CLOSURE OF NAM CHEONG STREET BETWEEN CONNECT I ON^WRn Tnt ^UCHEUNG RQAD DUR|N6 THE SAME pER|0D.
CORNWALL
THE CLOSURE IS TO ALLOW FOR CONSTRUCTION WORK ON A FOOTBRIDGE.
THE FOLLOWING WILL BE THE TEMPORARY TRAFFIC MEASURES, SIMILAR TO THOSE IMPLEMENTED YESTERDAY (SUNDAY) IN THE AREAi
TRAFFIC ON LUNG CHEUNG ROAD EASTBOUND WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO TURN LEFT INTO THE SLIP ROAD LEADING TO NAM CHEONG STREET
SOUTHBOUND.
/♦ TiUFFIG GN ........
U01IMY, MAUCH 28, 1?83
*
*
*
*
M
- 5 -
TRAFFIC ON LUNG CHEUNG ROAD WESTBOUND WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING THE SLIP ROAD WHICH LEADS TO NAM CHEONG STREET SOUTHBOUND.
SOUTHBOUND VEHICLES ALONG TAI PO ROAD HEADING FOR SHAM SHU I PO AND MONG KOK WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE ALONG TAI PO ROAD SOUTHBOUND AFTER PASSING THROUGH THE PIPER’S HILL INTERCHANGE. THEY WILL THEN ENTER NAM CHEONG STREET NEAR YIU TUNG STREET.
EASTBOUND TRAFFIC ON CHING CHEUNG ROAD HEADING FOR SHAM SHU I PO AND MONG KOK WILL BE DIRECTED TO USE TAl PO ROAD SOUTHBOUND VIA THE PIPER’S HILL INTERCHANGE AND WILL ENTER NAM CHEONG STREET NEAR YIU TUNG STREET.
EASTBOUND TRAFFIC ON LUNG CHEUNG ROAD HEADING FOR KOWLOON TON^nS THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE ALONG UING CHEUNG ROAD EASTBOUND, AND THEN PROCEED VIA FUNG MO STREET. FU MEI STREET AND JUNCTION ROAD.
WESTBOUND TRAFFIC ON CORNWALL STREET HEADING FOR KWAI CHUNG Sill BE DIVERTED TO USE NAM CHEONG STREET SOUTHBOUND VIA THE NAM CHEONG STREET ROUNDABOUT. BERWICK STREET, SHEK KIP MEI STREET, TAI PO ROAD AND CHING CHEUNG ROAD.
WESTBOUND TRAFFIC ON LUNG CHEUNG ROAD HEADING FOR SHAM SHU I PO WILL BE DIVERTED TO USE TAI WOH PING ROAD, TAI PO ROAD AND NAM CHEONG STREET.
APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE ERECTED TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
_ _ 0 - -
WATER FIGURES
* * *
STORAGE IN HONG KONG'S RESERVOIRS AT 9 AM TODAY (MONDAY) STOOD AT 77.4 PER CENT OF CAPACITY OR 447.317 MILLION CUBIC METRES.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR THE RESERVOIRS CONTAINED 216.420 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF WATER, REPRESENTING 37.5 PER CENT OF CAPACITY.
- - 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
Tuesday, march 291 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO,
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS NOW FACE JAIL TERMS ...................... 1
LAND TENDER AWARDED FOR BILLION DOLLAR PROJECT .............. 3
PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES FOR FEBRUARY 1983.................. 5
SIR PHILIP OPENS S5O-MILLION THEATRE-PARK COMPLEX ........... 7
TEACHERS HOLD TALKS WITH EDUCATION OFFICIALS................. 9
FENCING CONTEST.............................................. 9
TENDERS FOR LAYING WATER MAINS IN NT......................... 10
SALT WATER SUPPLY SUSPENSION ................................ 10
PLB CLEARWAYS IN WAN CHAI AND SHAU KEI WAN .................. 10
TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1983
1
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS NOW FACE JAIL TERMS *****
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FROM CHINA FOUND IN HONG KONG NOW FACE THE THREAT OF GOING TO PRISON BEFORE BEING REPATRIATED.
IN A GET-TOUGH MOVE, THE GOVERNMENT IS BEGINNING TO PROSECUTE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FOR BEING IN HONG KONG ILLEGALLY.
THIS IS A MAJOR CHANGE FROM THE PREVIOUS POLICY UNDER WHICH ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, OTHER THAN THOSE WHO HAVE COMMITTED OTHER CRIMINAL OFFENCES SUCH AS POSSESSION OF FORGED IDENTITY CARDS OR OFFENSIVE WEAPONS, WERE MERELY ARRESTED AND REPATRIATED.
EXPLAINING THIS CHANGE TODAY, MR LAWRENCE LEUNG, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (CONTROL AND INVESTIGATION) OF THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT, SAID THE MOVE WAS NECESSARY BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS COMING TO HONG KONG, WHICH REGISTERED A DRASTIC FALL IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE SCRAPPING OF THE +TOUCH BASE* POLICY IN 1980, WAS NOW AGAIN ON THE RISE.
IN 1981, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRESTED AND REPATRIATED WAS 11 057. THIS WENT UP TO 13 479 IN 1982. UP TO MARCH 28 THIS YEAR, THE FIGURE WAS 2 673.
♦SINCE FEBRUARY 2 THIS YEAR WHEN THE FIRST CASE WAS BROUGHT TO COURT, WE HAVE SO FAR PROSECUTED 12 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS FOR BREAKING THE LAW BY REMAINING IN HONG KONG,+ HE SAID.
♦SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN ARRESTED BY THE POLICE AND OTHERS BY IMMIGRATION OFFICERS.*
THE OFFENCE CARRIES A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF A $5 000 FI NE AND IMPRISONMENT FOR THREE YEARS.
♦ ALL THE 12 DEFENDANTS, INCLUDING A WOMAN, WERE JAILED AND THE MAJORITY OF THE SENTENCES WERE BETWEEN 12 AND 15 MONTHS,* HE SAID.
♦ AND ALL OF THEM WILL BE REPATRIATED AFTER SERVING THEIR JAIL TERMS,* HE ADDED.
MR LEUNG POINTED OUT THAT EACH CASE HAS TO BE LOOKED AT INDIVIDUALLY BEFORE A DECISION TO PROSECUTE IS REACHED.
♦ BUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS MUST UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS AN OFFENCE IN ITSELF TO COME TO HONG KONG ILLEGALLY, AND THAT THEY MAY BE JAILED FOR IT,* HE STRESSED.
IN ONE RECENT CASE, A YOUNG ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WAS JAILED FOR 16 MONTHS FOR THE OFFENCE - THE LONGEST JAIL SENTENCE KTED OUT SO FAR.
/THE MAN ......
TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 198j
2
THE MAN HAD COME TO HONG KONG ILLEGALLY PREVIOUSLY AND MAD BEEN ARRESTED AND CHARGED FOR POSSESSION OF A FORGED IDENTITY CARD.
HE WAS JAILED FOR SIX MONTHS AND WAS REPATRIATED TO CHINA AFTER SERVING HIS JAIL TERM.
HOWEVER, HE SNEAKED BACK INTO HONG KONG AGAIN LATE LAST YEAR AND WAS AGAIN ARRESTED. THIS TIME HE DID NOT HAVE A FORGED IDENTITY CARD ON HIM.
AFTER TAKING THESE AND OTHER FACTORS INTO CONSIDERATION, IT WAS DECIDED THAT HE SHOULD BE PROSECUTED FOR REMAINING IN HONG KONG ILLEGALLY.
IN PASSING SENTENCE, THE MAGISTRATE TOLD THE DEFENDANT THAT HE HAD BEEN WARNED NOT TO RETURN TO HONG KONG ILLEGALLY.
THE FACT THAT HE WAS HERE AGAIN SHOWED THAT HE HAD DISREGARDED THE WARNING AND SHOULD RECEIVE A LONG JAIL SENTENCE, HE SAID.
♦ THERE IS ALREADY NO WAY FOR THEM TO SETTLE DOWN OR GET A JOB,+ HE SAID.
♦ AND NOW THE PRICE TO PAY FOR BEING DETECTED COULD BE A LONG JAIL TERM.+
MR LEUNG AGAIN DISPELLED RUMOURS THAT THERE WOULD BE AN AMNESTY FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW IDENTITY CARDS TO RESIDENTS.
♦ AS HAS BEEN STRESSED MANY TIMES BEFORE, THESE RUMOURS ARE SPREAD BY SNAKEHEADS WHO ARE MERELY TRYING TO CAPITALISE ON THE IGNORANCE OF WOULD-BE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO SQUEEZE WHATEVER MONEY THEY CAN OUT OF THEM,+ HE SAID.
♦ BUT NOW CHANCES ARE THEY WOULD NOT ONLY LOSE THEIR MONEY. THEY COULD ALSO END UP IN JAIL,+ HE SAID.
-------o---------
/3........
TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1983
5
LAND TENDER AWARDED FOR BILLION DOLLAR PROJECT
* M * * *
THE LANDS DEPARTMENT HAS AWARDED A TENDER TO BAYNARD LIMITED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A 40-HECTARE SITE IN SO KWUN WAT INTO A MAJOR MARINA AND HIGH-CLASS RESIDENTIAL AREA.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY, THE ACTING PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT LAND AGENT, MR DUNCAN SCOTT-WILL, SAID THAT THE DEVELOPER TENDERED JUST OVER $8.5 MILLION FOR THE SITE WHICH CALLED FOR A FURTHER CONSTRUCTION INVESTMENT OF ABOUT $1 BILLION.
COMMENTING ON THE AWARD OF THE TENDER, A SPOKESMAN FOR BAYNARD LIMITED SAIDi +WE ARE VERY PLEASED TO HAVE BEEN AWARDED THIS TENDER AND WE FEEL SURE THAT, WITH OUR EXPERIENCE IN DEVELOPING THE ABERDEEN MARINA, THIS PROJECT TOO WILL BE A MAJOR SUCCESS.
♦OUR INVOLVEMENT IS INDICATIVE OF OUR CONFIDENCE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF TUEN MUN AS A NEW TOWN. WE INTEND PRESSING AHEAD WITH THE DEVELOPMENT AT THE EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY AND ARE ALREADY WORKING ON PLANS FOR SUBMISSION TO GOVERNMENT.*
MR SCOTT-WILL SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD RECOUP SOME 15 HECTARES OF FORMED AND SERVICED LAND FOR FUTURE DISPOSAL FOR PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT AND A NEW BEACH FOR USE BY THE PUBLIC.
UNDER THE SALES CONDITIONS, THE DEVELOPER WILL BE REQUIRED TO DEVELOP A MARINA WITH MOORING OR BERTHING FACILITIES FOR A MINIMUM OF 300 BOATS, A YACHT CLUB AND A FULL RANGE OF ASSOCIATED MR INA FACILITIES, INCLUDING BOAT REPAIRING WORKSHOPS, CHANDLERY --------------------* ------AND THE LIKE.
BOAT STACKING AREAS
STORES,
TO PROTECT THE MARINA, THE DEVELOPER WILL BE REQUIRED TO BUILD A BREAKWATER.
ON THE SEAWARD SIDE OF THE BREAKWATER, THE DEVELOPER WILL BE REQUIRED TO FORM A NEW BEACH TO LINK UP WITH NEARBY CAFETERIA BEACH. THIS, TOGETHER WITH ASSOCIATED PARKING, CHANGING AND OTHER BEACH FACILITIES TO BE PROVIDED BY THE DEVELOPER, WILL BE HANDED OVER TO THE GOVERNMENT UPON SATISFACTORY COMPLETION FOR USE BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
MR SCOTT-WILL SAID THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE 40-HECTARE SITE GRANTED WAS SEABED AND ABOUT HALF WOULD HAVE TO BE RECLAIMED BY THE DEVELOPER FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MINIMUM OF 1 550 HIGH-CLASS RESIDENTIAL UNITS, WITH A TOTAL GROSS FLOOR AREA OF LOT MORE THAN 200 000 SQUARE METRES, A COMMERCIAL CENTRE TO INCLUDE SHOPS, A SUPERMARKET AND RESTAURANTS, AND THE YACHT CLUB.
♦THE RESIDENTIAL UNITS WHEN DEVELOPED WILL BE IN A PRIME LOCATION OVERLOOKING THE MARINA WITH READY ACCESS TO TUEN MUN TOWN CENTRE AND, BY WAY OF TUEN MUN HIGHWAY, TO THE URBAN AREAS,* HE SAID.
/♦ADEQUATE CAR .......
TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1985
♦ADEQUATE CAR PARKING FOR RESIDENTS AND THEIR VISITORS AND THE COMMERCIAL CENTRE TOGETHER WITH A MINIMUM OF ONE PARKING SPACE PER MARINA BERTH IS TO BE PROVIDED.♦
THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT IS TO BE UNDERTAKEN IN ACCORDANCE WITH A PROGRAMME OF WORK AGREED WITH THE LANDS DEPARTMENT AND THE WHOLE SCHEME IS TO BE COMPLETED WITHIN SIX YEARS, MR SCOTT-WILL SAID.
THE DEVELOPER IS REQUIRED TO FORWARD TO GOVERNMENT FOR APPROVAL WITHIN SIX MONTHS A MASTER PLAN SHOWING THE WHOLE SCHEME IN DETAIL.
♦MUCH EMPHASIS IS BEING PLACED ON LANDSCAPING OF THE OVERALL AREA AND THE DEVELOPER WILL ALSO HAVE TO SUBMIT WITHIN SIX MONTHS FOR GOVERNMENT APPROVAL A DETAILED LANDSCAPING SCHEME,♦ HE SAID.
♦THE DEVELOPER WILL SUBSEQUENTLY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTENANCE OF THE LANDSCAPING WHEN COMPLETED.♦
COMMENTING ON THE PREMIUM, MR SCOTT-WILL SAIDt WE ARE QUITE SATISFIED WITH IT HAVING REGARD TO THE SUBSTANTIAL ENGINEERING AND DEVELOPMENT WORKS WHICH THE DEVELOPER HAS TO UNDERTAKE.
♦THIS IS, IN FACT, A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE NOT ONLY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF TUEN MUN BUT ALSO THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.
♦THIS AMBITIOUS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE SOME MUCH NEEDED RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR THE REGION AND HIGH-CLASS RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT FOR TUEN MUN.
♦WE HOPE THAT THIS PROJECT WILL HELP ATTRACT FURTHER PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TOWN WHICH IS MOVING AT A RAPID PACE.+
TO PROVIDE FILL FOR THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF RECLAMATION INVOLVED, MR SCOTT-WILL SAID, BORROW AREAS HAD BEEN DESIGNATED IN THE NEARBY HILLS AND IN CARRYING OUT BORROWING OPERATIONS THE DEVELOPER WOULD BE REQUIRED TO FORM THE DESIGNATED AREAS TO SPECIFIED LEVELS AND TO BUILD ROADS GIVING PERMANENT ACCESS TO THE PLATFORMS WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY WOULD BE SOLD BY GOVERNMENT FOR PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT.
THESE SITES ARE REQUIRED TO BE FORMED WITHIN STIPULATED DATES TO TIE IN WITH GOVERNMENT’S DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOR THE AREA.
MR SCOTT-WILL SAID, +THE TENDER ACCEPTANCE TOGETHER WITH THE RECENT DISPOSAL OF A LARGE KEY SITE IN THE TUEN MUN TOWN CENTRE SCHEME REPRESENT TWO VERY IMPORTANT LAND DISPOSALS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF TUEN MUN NEW TOWN.+
0--------
TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1983
5
PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES FOR FEBRUARY 1983 *****
THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS FOR FEBRUARY WAS $9 004 MILLION, MADE UP OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS AT 15 569 MILLION AND RE-EXPORTS AT $3 435 MILLION ACCORDING TO PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES FOR THE MONTH PUBLISHED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
WITH IMPORTS AT $10 166 MILLION, THE VISIBLE TRADE DEFICIT FOR FEBRUARY WAS $1 162 MILLION.
COMPARED WITH FEBRUARY 1982, THE VALUE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS INCREASED BY 1875 MILLION OR 19 PER CENT, WHILE THE VALUE OF RE-EXPORTS DECREASED BY $161 MILLION OR FOUR PER CENT.
TAKING DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS TOGETHER, THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS INCREASED BY $714 MILLION OR NINE PER CENT. BUT THE VALUE OF IMPORTS FELL BY $1 054 MILLION OR NINE PER CENT. IN CONSEQUENCE, THE VISIBLE TRADE GAP, THAT IS THE PROPORTION OF THE VALUE OF IMPORTS NOT COVERED BY THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS, NARROWED SIGNIFICANTLY TO 11.4 PER CENT FROM 26.1 PER CENT IN FEBRUARY LAST YEAR.
COMMENTING ON THESE COMPARATIVE FIGURES, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN CAUTIONED THAT THEY WERE HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY THE TIMING OF THE CHINESE NEW YEAR, WHICH FELL IN MID-FEBRUARY THIS YEAR BUT IN LATE JANUARY LAST YEAR.
PUTTING FEBRUARY’S TRADE FIGURES INTO CONTEXT, THE GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE VALUES OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND OF REEXPORTS IN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF THIS YEAR WERE 10 PER CENT AND THREE PER CENT RESPECTIVELY HIGHER THAN IN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF 1982.
THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS WAS THUS SEVEN PER CENT HIGHER. AS THE VALUE OF IMPORTS INCREASED BY TWO PER CENT, THE VISIBLE TRADE GAP IN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF 1983, AT 11.7 PER CENT, WAS SMALLER THAN IN THE SAME PERIOD OF 1982, AT 16 PER CENT.
EXTENDING THE PERIOD OF COMPARISON TO THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDING FEBRUARY THIS YEAR WITH THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDING FEBRUARY 1982, THE INCREASES IN VALUE WERE FOUR PER CENT FOR DOMESTIC EXPORTS, FIVE PER CENT FOR RE-EXPORTS, FOUR PER CENT FOR TOTAL EXPORTS AND THREE PER CENT FOR IMPORTS.
THE FOLLOWING TABLE PROVIDES FURTHER STATISTICAL DETAILS:
MERCHANDISE: DOMESTIC EXPORTS i $ 5 569 MILLION
----------- RE-EXPORTS i $ 3 435 MILLION TOTAL EXPORTS : S 9 004 MILLION
IMPORTS S $10 166 MILLION
TRADE BALANCE : $ 1 162 MILLION
(IN DEFICIT)
/COMPARATIVE FIGURES........
TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 198?
COMPARATIVE FIGURES
DECEMBER 1982 TO LATEST 3 MONTHS FEBRUARY 1983
S MN.
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 20 399
RE-EXPORTS 11 650
TOTAL EXPORTS 32 049
IMPORTS 35 747
TRADE BALANCE - 3 698
FEBRUARY
SAME MONTH LAST YEAR 1983
$ MN.
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 5 569
(% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) (61.9%)
RE-EXPORTS 3 435
TOTAL EXPORTS 9 004
IMPORTS 10 166
TRADE BALANCE - 1 162
FEBRUARY
LAST MONTH 1983
$ MN.
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 5 569v
(% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) (61.9%)
RE-EXPORTS 3 435
TOTAL EXPORTS 9 004
IMPORTS 10 166
TRADE BALANCE - 1 162
CALENDAR YEAR JANUARY TO
TO-DATE FEBRUARY 1983
S MN.
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 12 009
(% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) (62.7%)
RE-EXPORTS 7 153
TOTAL EXPORTS 19 162
IMPORTS 21 703
TRADE BALANCE - 2 541
MARCH 1982
TO
LAST 12 MONTHS FEBRUARY 1983
S MN.
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 84 108
RE-EXPORTS 44 591
TOTAL EXPORTS 128 699
IMPORTS 143 353
TRADE BALANCE - 14 654
DECEMBER 1981 TO FEBRUARY 1982 INCREASE OR DECREASE
$ MN. I MN. %
18 715 +1 684 ♦9.0
10 814 ♦ 836 +7.7
29 529 +2 520 ♦8.5
34 240 ♦ 1 507 +4.4
- 4 711 +1 013
FEBRUARY INCREASE OR
1982 DECREASE
S MN. $ MN. %
4 694 + 875 +18.6
(56.6%)
3 596 - 161 - 4.5
8 290 + 714 + 8.6
11 220 -1 054 - 9.4
- 2 930 +1 768
JANUARY INCREASE OR
1983 DECREASE
$ MN. S MN. %
6 440 - 871 -13.5
(63.4%)
3 718 - 283 - 7.6
10 158 -1 154 -11.4
11 537 -1 371 -11.9
- 1 379 + 217
JANUARY TO INCREASE OR
FEBRUARY 1982 DECREASE
$ MN. $ MN. %
10 933 +1 076 *9.8
(61.3%)
6 915 * 238 +3.4
17 848 ♦ 1 314 +7.4
21 242 + 461 +2.2
- 3 394 ♦ 853
MARCH 1981
TO INCREASE OR
FEBRUARY 1982 DECREASE
$ MN. S MN. %
81 072 +3 036 +3.7
42 454 +2 137 *5.0
123 526 + 5 173 +4.2
139 842 +3 511 *2.5
- 16 316 +1 662
TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1983
7
SIR PHILIP OPENS S5O-MILLION THEATRE-PARK COMPLEX * * * *
THE I5O-MILLION KO SHAN THEATRE AND KO SHAN ROAD PARK, ONE OF THE MAJOR URBAN COUNCIL ENTERTAINMENT AND RECREATIONAL PROJECTS COMMISSIONED FOR PUBLIC USE DURING THE COUNCIL'S CENTENARY YEAR IN 1983, WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE TODAY (TUESDAY).
IN HIS OPENING SPEECH, SIR PHILIP CITED THIS THEATRE-PARK COMPLEX AS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF MAKING THE BEST USE OF HONG KONG’S LIMITED LAND RESOURCES.
HE SAID THE URBAN COUNCIL, WITH THE PROFESSIONAL HELP OF THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND THEIR CONSULTANTS, +HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MEET THE TECHNICAL AND CONCEPTUAL CHALLENGES OF A PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT SITE AND HAVE CREATED THIS FINE OPEN-AIR THEATRE AND PARK.*
♦ANY COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY A HARD-WORKING ONE, LIVING CONSTANTLY UNDER URBAN PRESSURES, MUST HAVE FACILITIES FOR LEISURE ACTIVITIES,* THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID. +SUCH FACILITIES ARE ESSENTIAL TO PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH.*
HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT, THE URBAN COUNCIL, THE DISTRICT BOARDS, AND THE PEOPLE ALL HAVE A PART TO PLAY IN PLANNING, DEVELOPING AND MANAGING THESE FACILITIES THROUGHOUT HONG KONG.
THE RECENTLY RE-CONSTITUTED SYSTEM OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ♦SHOULD ENABLE DISTRICT AND REGIONAL NEEDS TO BE IDENTIFIED MORE ACCURATELY AND CATERED FOR AS QUICKLY AS FINANCIAL RESOURCES PERMIT,+ SIR PHILIP ADDED.
ALSO SPEAKING AT THE OPENING, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, MR HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, SAID THE THEATRE-PARK COMPLEX ♦IS A DEMONSTRATION TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG OF THE COUNCIL’S COMMITMENT TO A FULLER LIFE BOTH IN HEALTHY ACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT AND HEALTHY ACTIVE SPORTS AND RECREATION+.
♦DUE TO VERY LIMITED SPACE, IN THE URBAN AREAS, HONG KONG HAS ALWAYS A TREMENDOUS DEMAND FOR MORE RECREATIONAL AND ENTERTAINMENT FACILITIES, AND THIS COMPLEX WHICH IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A GREAT VARIETY OF USAGES IS MOST WELCOME,♦ HE SAID.
THE KO SHAN THEATRE, THE FIRST PURPOSE BUILT SEMI-OPEN-AIR THEATRE IN HONG KONG, COVERS AN AREA OF 2 5OQ SQUARE METRES.
IT IS DESIGNED AND EQUIPPED FOR THE PRESENTATION OF HIGH QUALITY CULTURAL AND ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMMES, INCLUDING CANTONESE OPERA, ORCHESTRAL CONCERTS, POP AND VARIETY SHOWS, PLAYS AND DANCE PERFORMANCES.
/THE THEATRE .......
TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1983
8
THE THEATRE CONTAINS 3 OOO SEATS, OF WHICH 1 000 ARE UNDER COVER AND UPHOLSTERED AND 2 000 ARE IN THE OPEN AIR ON AN UPPER LEVEL.
THE SEATS ARE ARRANGED IN A FAN SHAPE TO ENSURE A GOOD VIEW OF THE STAGE AND THE COVERED PORTION OF THE THEATRE IS SERVED BY A MECHANICAL VENTILATION SYSTEM.
THE STAGE MEASURES ROUGHLY 15 X 10 METRES. IT IS EQUIPPED WITH THE LATEST AND MOST SOPHISTICATED LIGHTING, SOUND AND PROJECTION SYSTEMS TO GIVE IMPRESSIVE AUDIO AND VISUAL EFFECTS.
IN FRONT OF THE STAGE IS A SIZEABLE ORCHESTRA PIT FOR 7? TO 80 MUSICIANS WHICH CAN BE COVERED TO PROVIDE A FORESTAGE. THE STAGE IS NATURALLY VENTILATED BUT THE ORCHESTRA PIT HAS ITS OWN AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM.
THE TWO LEVEL BACKSTAGE AREA CONTAINS DRESSING AND STORE ROOMS, ALL OF WHICH ARE AIR-CONDITIONED. LIGHTING, SOUND AND PROJECTION CONTROL ROOMS ARE PROVIDED AT THE REAR OF THE COVERED SECTION AND THESE ARE ALSO AIR-CONDITIONED.
THE KO SHAN PARK ITSELF MAINLY CATERS FOR ACTIVE SPORTS AND IT ALSO HAS A CHILDREN’S PLAY AREA.
IT COMPRISES A MINI-SOCCER PITCH, FOUR TENNIS COURTS, A CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND, AND A LANDSCAPED REST GARDEN WITH FOUNTAINS AS WELL AS OTHER ASSOCIATED PUBLIC AMENITIES.
THE MINI-SOCCER PITCH IS SURFACED WITH TARMAC AND FLOODLIT AT NIGHT TO ALLOW FOR LONGER PLAYING TIME.
ALONGSIDE IT IS A CONCRETE STAND TO SEAT 800 SPECTATORS. THE TENNIS COURTS, WHICH ARE ALSO FLOODLIT, ARE PROVIDED WITH BENCHES FOR WAITING PLAYERS AND ONLOOKERS.
WITH AN EVER INCREASING NUMBER OF PEOPLE DEVOTING MORE OF THEIR LEISURE HOURS TO THE PURSUIT OF RECREATIONAL, CULTURAL AND SPORTING ACTIVITIES, THE KO SHAN THEATRE AND KO SHAN ROAD PARK WILL HELP MEET THIS DEMAND BY PROVIDING A VENUE IDEALLY SUITED TO A WIDE VARIETY OF THESE ACTIVITIES.
AFTER THE OPENING CEREMONY, SIR PHILIP, MR CHEONG-LEEN AND OTHER GUESTS WERE TREATED TO A PERFORMANCE BY THE COUNCIL’S HONG KONG DANCE COMPANY.
THE DANCE INCLUDED +FLOWER DRUM DANCE*, +PLUM BLOSSOM IN THE SNOW+, +SHEN+ AND +JOURNEYI FOUR SEASONS*; THE LAST THREE CF THE DANCES WERE CHOREOGRAPHIED BY THE COMPANY’S ARTISTIC DIRECTOR MADAM CHIANG CHING.
-----0 - -
/9.........
TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1983
9
TEACHERS HOLD TALKS WITH EDUCATION OFFICIALS ft ft ft ft ft
A TOTAL OF 1 048 AIDED SECONDARY, PRIMARY AND SPECIAL SCHOOL TEACHERS HELD DISCUSSIONS TODAY (TUESDAY) WITH OFFICIALS OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ON MATTERS CONCERNING THEIR WORK AND WELFARE.
THESE DISCUSSIONS ARE HELD EACH YEAR TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND TEACHERS OF AIDED SCHOOLS.
DURING TODAY’S MEETINGS. HELD IN 31 CENTRES THROUGHOUT
HONG KONG, KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE TEACHER REPRESENTATIVES TOUCHED ON A WIDE VARIETY OF TOPICS, INCLUDING MORAL EDUCATION, PROBLEMS ON TEACHING, TEACHING METHODS, THE PROVIDENT FUND, AND PROMOTION PROSPECTS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID THEIR VIEWS AND REQUESTS WOULD BE CONSIDERED AND NECESSARY ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN.
-------o - - - -
FENCING CONTEST ft ft ft
A BEGINNERS’ FENCING (FOIL) COMPETITION, JO IINTLY rccAuiccn RY THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE (RSS) OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT AND THE HONG KONG AMATEUR FENCING ASSOCIATION, WILL BE HELD ON MAY 1 AT THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE.
THOSE WHO ARE 16 YEARS OF AGE OR ABOVE AND WHO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN FENCING COURSES ARE WELCOME TO APPLY. APPLICANTS WHO HAVE TAKEN PART IN PREVIOUS COMPETITIONS ORGANISED BY HKAFA ARE NOT ELIGIBLE.
THE CONTEST WHICH IS LIMITED TO 100 APPLICATIONS, WILL CONSIST OF MEN AND WOMEN DIVISIONS.
AWARDS WILL BE PRESENTED RUNNERS-UP IN EACH DIVISION.
TO THE CHAMPION AND THE FIVE
APPLICATION FORMS CAN BE AND ITS DISTRICT OFFICES, AND
OBTAINED FROM THE RSS HEADQUARTERS PARTICIPATION IS FREE.
FURTHER ENQUIRIES MAY BE
MADE ON TELEPHONE 5-458511
-------o---------
/10........
TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1983
10
TENDERS FOR LAYING WATER MAINS IN NT
*****
THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE LAYING OF A SYSTEM OF FRESHWATER MAINS ALONG KAM TIN AND KAM SHEUNG ROADS.
THE SCHEME FORMS PART OF A PROJECT TO IMPROVE THE WATER SUPPLY TO KAM TIN, PAT HEUNG AND SHEK KONG.
WORK ON THE CONTRACT COMPRISES THE LAYING OF ABOUT 7 000 METRES OF MILD STEEL AND DUCTILE IRON MAINS RANGING FROM 150 MM TO 1 400 MM IN DIAMETERS.
WORK WILL START IN JUNE AND IS EXPECTED TO TAKE ABOUT 18 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
-----o ------
SALT WATER SUPPLY SUSPENSION * * *
SALT WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN PREMISES IN SOME AREAS IN KOWLOON WILL BE TURNED OFF FOR EIGHT HOURS FROM 9 AM TO 5 PM ON THURSDAY (MARCH 31) FOR MAINS CONNECTION.
THE ARRANGEMENT WILL AFFECT PREMISES IN SAN PO KONG, CHOI HUNG SHEK ESTATE, KAI YIP ESTATE, NGAU CHI WAN, AND LOWER ESTATE. THIS WILL ALSO INCLUDE THE KOWLOON BAY MTR
ESTATE, PING NGAU TAU KOK STATION.
-------o---------
PLB CLEARWAYS IN WAN CHAI AND SHAU KEI WAN *****
FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (APRIL 1), THE CLEARWAY RESTR ICT ION FOR PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES AT LANDALE STREET IN WAN CHAI WILL BE LIFTED.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE PLB CLEARWAY ON CHAI WAN ROAD NEAR SHAU KEI WAN ROAD WILL BE EXTENDED EASTWARD UP TO A POINT OUTSIDE SALES I AN SCHOOL.
WITHIN THE SECTION, PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS BETWEEN 7 AM AND 12 MIDNIGHT DAILY.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, MARCH JO, 198j
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
LABOUR FORCE STATISTICS FOR NOVEMBER - JANUARY QUARTER .......... 1
SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENTS TO EXCEED S1 OOO MILLICW ............... 2
OFFICE BLOCKS AND HOTEL FOR SHA TIN NEW TOWN .................... 4
NEW CHARGES AT MULTI-STOREY CAR PARKS ........................... 5
INDUSTRIAL PROMOTION LIAISON MEETING HELD ....................... 7
APPOINTMENT OF QUEEN'S COUNSEL .................................. 8
MAXICABS TO RUN IN YUEN LONG .................................... 8
'KAI TO' LICENCES GRANTED........................................ 9
TENDERS BEING INVITED FOR MORE TAXI LICENCES ................... 10
SCHOOLS URGED TO REVIEW EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ............ 10
TRAFFIC CHANGES FOR CHING MING FESTIVAL ........................ 12
22 HOUSES SOON FOR SALE ...................................... 12
FIRST-EVER CLASSICAL GUITAR ORCHESTRA CONCERT STAGED IN YUEN LONG ........................................................... 13
STATUTORY HOLIDAY PAY REMINDER ................................ 1J
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 1983
1
LABOUR FORCE STATISTICS FOR NOVEMBER - JANUARY QUARTER *****
THE SEASONALLY ADJUSTED UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR THE QUARTER NOVEMBER 1982 - JANUARY 1983 WAS 4.3 PER CENT COMPARED WITH 3.8 PER CENT FOR THE PREVIOUS QUARTER ENDING OCTOBER 1982, AND 1HREE PER CENT FOR THE QUARTER ENDING JANUARY LAST YEAR.
THE INCREASES OF 0.5 PERCENTAGE POINT AND 1.3 PERCENTAGE POINT RESPECTIVELY COMPARED WITH THE TWO PREVIOUS QUARTERS WERE STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT, THE COMMISSIONER FOR CENSUS AND STATISTICS, MR COLIN GREENFIELD, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
THE NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS IN THE QUARTER ENDING JANUARY 1983 WAS PROVISIONALLY ESTIMATED TO BE 107 000, AS COMPARED WITH 96 200 FOR THE PREVIOUS QUARTER, AND 74 400 FOR THE SAME QUARTER LAST YEAR.
THE UNDEREMPLOYMENT RATE WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 2.4 PER CENT FOR THE QUARTER ENDING JANUARY 1983, COMPARED WITH 1.7 PER CENT FOR THE QUARTER ENDING OCTOBER 1982. THE PROVISIONAL ESTIMATE CF THE NUMBER OF UNDEREMPLOYED PERSONS WAS 59 000 FOR THE QUARTER ENDING JANUARY 1983, COMPARED WITH 41 500 FOR THE PREVIOUS QUARTER.
MR GREENFIELD EXPLAINED THAT, CONSISTENT WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION, PERSONS WHO WORKED LESS THAN 35 HOURS A WEEK WERE REGARDED AS UNDEREMPLOYED ONLY IF THEY WERE SEEKING MORE WORK OR WERE NOT SEEKING MORE WORK BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED MORE WORK WAS NOT AVAILABLE. IN OTHER WORDS, PEOPLE SUCH AS PART-TIME WORKERS WHO CHOSE TO WORK LESS THAN 35 HOURS A WEEK AND WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR MORE WORK, WERE NOT UNDEREMPLOYED.
HE SAID THAT BECAUSE THE PROPORTION OF FIRST-TIME JOBSEEKERS (E.G. PEOPLE WHO HAVE JUST LEFT SCHOOL) VARIED FROM MONTH TO MONTH, THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATES SEASONALLY ADJUSTED FOR THE VARIATIONS IN FIRST-TIME JOB-SEEKERS SHOULD BE USED IN MAKING COMPARISONS OVER TIME.
THE SEASONALLY UNADJUSTED UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR THE QUARTER ENDING JANUARY 1983 WAS 4.4 PER CENT.
THE UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT STATISTICS WERE OBTAINED FROM A CONTINUOUS GENERAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT. THIS SURVEY COVERS A QUARTERLY SAMPLE OF SOME 15 000 HOUSEHOLDS OR 55 000 PERSONS, SELECTED SCIENTIFICALLY TO REPRESENT THE LAND-BASED POPULATION IN HONG KONG.
PERSONAL AND LABOUR FORCE DATA WERE OBTAINED IN THE SURVEY BY INTERVIEWING EACH INDIVIDUAL MEMBER IN THE HOUSEHOLDS SAMPLED.
MR GREENFIELD DREW ATTENTION TO THE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS USED IN THE GENERAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY FROM THOSE USED IN THE PREVIOUS LABOUR FORCE SURVEY.
/1HB .......
WEDNESDAY, MA3CH JO, 198?
2
THE EFFECT OF THIS DIFFERENCE ON THE ESTIMATE OF THE
: '.PLOYMENT RATE, HOWEVER, WAS VERY SMALL, HE SAID.
I S I NG THE DEFINITIONS ADOPTED IN THE LABOUR FORCE SURVEY, THE SEASONALLY ADJUSTED UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR THE QUARTER
.JING JANUARY 1983 WAS 4.4 PER CENT COMPARED WITH 4.3 PER CENT b SED ON THE GENERAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY DEFINITIONS.
HE SAID THAT BECAUSE OF THE LARGE AMOUNT OF WORK INVOLVED IN PROCESSING THE SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRES, IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT TWO TO THREE MONTHS TO PRODUCE DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE LABOUR FORCE CHARACTERISTICS.
THE DETAILED REPORT OF THE GENERAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY WILL EE PUBLISHED FOUR TIMES A YEAR. THE LAST REPORT FOR THE QUARTER AUGUST - OCTOBER 1982 MAY BE PURCHASED FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING.
THE REPORT COVERING THE QUARTER ENDING JANUARY 1983 SHOULD BE AVAILABLE AROUND APRIL 20, 1983.
THE COMMISSIONER ADDED THAT, BASED ON A SIMPLER METHOD OF ESTIMATION, UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT FIGURES COVERING A MOVING THREE-MONTH PERIOD COULD BE PUBLISHED EVERY MONTH.
AFTER TESTING THIS METHOD ON DATA FOR THE PAST 17 MONTHS, HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT THE FIGURES WERE SUFFICIENTLY RELIABLE FOR PUBLICATION AND SO THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE THE BENEFIT OF MORE FREQUENT AND EARLIER INFORMATION FROM NOW ON.
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SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENTS TO EXCEED 11 000 MILLION
* * * *
THE ESTIMATED TOTAL PROVISION FOR SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENTS IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE TO ABOUT $1 070 MILLION THIS YEAR, THE CHIEF SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICER OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, HRS DIANA LEE, SAID THIS (WEDNESDAY) MORNING.
SPEAKING AT A SEMINAR ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION, MRS LEE SAIDt +THE BULK OF THE EXPENDITURE WILL BE ON THE SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCE AND PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEMES.*
+ALTHOUGH MANY PEOPLE ARE ALREADY BENEFITING FROM THE SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEMES, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SOME WHO WOULD BE ELIGIBLE HAVE NOT YET COME FORWARD TO APPLY,* SHE SAID.
SHE HOPED THAT THROUGH THIS SEMINAR, MORE PEOPLE WOULD GET J KNOW ABOUT THESE SCHEMES.
MRS LEE SAID THAT THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE WAS TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE IN HONG KO* LIVE ABOVE A CERTAIN LEVEL.
THERE IS A ONE-YEAR RESIDENTIAL REQUIREMENT FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE APPLICANTS, MRS LEE SAID, BUT THIS CAN BE WAIVED FOR HARDSHIP CASES.
* ..i __
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FOR PEOPLE BELOW 15 OR ABOVE 60 YEARS OF AGE, IT IS NORMALLY CONSIDERED THAT THEY SHOULD NOT OR ARE NOT FIT TO WORK. IF THEY ARE NOT ENGAGED IN GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT OR THEIR INCOME IS BELOW THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE LEVEL, THEY ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE.
PEOPLE BETWEEN 15 AND 59 YEARS OF AGE, CAN APPLY FOR PUBLIC 3SI STANCE IF THEY HAVE TO GO TO SCHOOL, RECEIVE VOCATIONAL ■RAINING, OR STAY AT HOME TO LOOK AFTER YOUNG CHILDREN OR SICK OR DISABLED FAMILY MEMBERS.
THEY ARE ALSO ELIGIBLE IF THEY ARE CERTIFIED BY A GOVERNMENT DOCTOR TO BE UNABLE TO WORK BECAUSE OF ILLNESS.
THOSE WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED BUT WILLING TO WORK WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE IF THEY HAVE BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT FOR ONE MONTH AFTER DATE OF APPLICATION.
THOSE WHO ARE EMPLOYED BUT WHOSE INCOMES FALL BELOW THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE LEVEL CAN ALSO APPLY.
THE SAVINGS LIMIT UNDER THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME IS $5 700 FOR A SINGLE PERSON AND S3 800 FOR A PERSON IN A FAMILY.
♦ IN OTHER WORDS,* MRS LEE SAID, +A FOUR-MEMBER FAMILY WITH SAVINGS OF LESS THAN $15 200 WILL STILL QUALIFY FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE IF THEY HAVE INSUFFICIENT INCOME.*
APART FROM THE BASIC SCALE ALLOWANCE AND THE RENT SUBSIDY, OTHER DISCRETIONARY PAYMENTS ARE AVAILABLE TO MEET SPECIAL NEEDS SUCH AS SPECIAL DIETS, EDUCATION AND TRANSPORT.
♦SOME PEOPLE HAVE CALLED PUBLIC ASSISTANCE CHARITY,* MRS LEE SAID. +THIS IS NOT VERY APPROPRIATE BECAUSE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE IS NOT CHARITY BUT IS ONE OF THE COMMUNITY’S RESPONSIBILITIES TO ITS MEMBERS.*
WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE ARE RECEIVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE? AN ANALYSIS OF THE 50 456 ACTIVE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE CASES AT THE END OF JANUARY SHOWSi
ELDERLY 33 381
DISABLED 3 213
SICK 6 914
WIDOWS AND ORPHANS 2 357
UNEMPLOYED AND LOW EARNING 2 508
OTHERS 2 083
IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY, TOTAL PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS AMOUNTED TO SOME $36 MILLION. *THIS MEANS ON AVERAGE EACH CASE RECEIVES ABOUT $770,* MRS LEE SAID.
WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT’S SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM, ALL ASSISTANCE SCHEMES APART FROM PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ARE NON-MEANS-TESTED.
THESE INCLUDE THE SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCE SCHEME, THE CRIMINAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES COMPENSATION SCHEME, THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE SCHEME AND EMERGENCY RELIEF.
REFERRING TO THE SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCE, MRS LEE SAID THAT THIS COMPRISES THE OLD AGE ALLOWANCE AND THE DISABILITY ALLOWANCE. AS AT THE END OF JANUARY, THE CASELOAD FOR SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCE WAS 219 607 AND PAYMENTS FOR THAT MONTH AMOUNTED TO $55 MILLION.
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 1983
4
OFFICE BLOCKS AND HOTEL FOR SHA TIN NEW TOWN *****
THE LANDS DEPARTMENT HAS AWARDED TWO TENDERS TO THE SUN HUNG KAI GROUP FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TWO MAJOR SITES IN SHA TIN NEW TOWN.
ONE SITE, MEASURING 5 005 SQUARE METRES AND LOCATED AT PAK HOK TING STREET IN THE TOWN CENTRE, IS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN OFFICE COMPLEX.
THE OTHER SITE, WITH AN AREA OF 5 219 SQUARE METRES AND SITUATED AT THE JUNCTION OF SHA TIN CENTRE STREET AND PAK HO TING STREET, IS TO BE DEVELOPED INTO A MODERN HOTEL.
TENDER DOCUMENTS FOR THESE TWO SITES WERE OFFICIALLY SIGNED TODAY BETWEEN THE SHA TIN DISTRICT LANDS OFFICER, MR ROGER NISSIM, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SUN HUNG KAI PROPERTIES LIMITED, MR T.S. KWOK.
THE SIGNING CAME ONE DAY AFTER THE LANDS DEPARTMENT HAD AWARDED A TENDER WHICH CALLED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A $1 BILLION MARINA AND HIGH-CLASS RESIDENTIAL AREA IN SO KWAN WAT ADJOINING PEARL ISLAND IN TUEN MUN.
SPEAKING AT THE SIGNING CEREMONY TODAY, MR NISSIM SAID THE LATEST UNDERTAKINGS BY THE COMPANY WERE A FURTHER INDICATION OF THE CONFIDENCE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS HAD IN THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.
HE ADDED THAT ON THE OFFICE SITE THE DEVELOPER PLANNED TO BUILD THREE HIGH-QUALITY TOWER BLOCKS TO BE INTERCONNECTED BY FOOTBRIDGES AT THE SECOND FLOOR LEVEL.
THESE BUILDINGS WILL HAVE A TOTAL FLOOR AREA OF ABOUT 37 300 SQUARE METRES AND PARKING SPACES IN THE BASEMENT FOR NOT LESS THAN 150 CARS.
THEY WILL BE LINKED BY FOOTBRIDGES TO A COMMERCIAL COMPLEX, BEING BUILT ALSO BY THE SUN HUNG KAI GROUP, WHICH IN TURN CONNECTS TO THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY STATION.
MR NISSIM SA IDj +THE NEW OFFICES ARE EXPECTED TO MEET THE CHANGING NEED OF LARGE FIRMS INTENDING TO SET UP BRANCH OFFICES IN NEW TOWNS WHERE RENTAL IS EXPECTED TO BE CONSIDERABLY CHEAPER THAN IN COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS IN URBAN AREAS.*
TURNING TO THE HOTEL PROJECT, MR NISSIM SAID THAT IT WOULD EE A WELCOME ADDITION TO THE TOURIST INDUSTRY.
THE HOTEL WILL HAVE ABOUT 500 ROOMS FROM THE THIRD FLOOR UP AND A GROSS FLOOR AREA OF 26 000 SQUARE METRES.
THE FIRST TWO FLOORS WILL BE USED FOR OTHER ANCILLARY HOTEL OR COMMERCIAL FACILITIES WHILE THE EASEMENT WILL HAVE PARKING SPACES FOR 150 CARS.
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH JO, 1983
5
*-S A STANDARD REQUIREMENT OF ALL DEVELOPMENTS IN THE TOWN ...NTRE, ALL PODIUM ROOFS ARE PROPERLY LANDSCAPED AND INTERCONNECTED E'Y COVERED PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES THAT PROVIDE COMFORT AND SAFETY TO THE PUBLIC.
-BOTH THE HOTEL AND THE OFFICE BLOCKS ARE IDEALLY LOCATED AND HAVE A BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF THE SCENIC TOWN PARK AND THE SHING MUN RIVER,♦ MR NISSIM SAID.
+TOGETHER WITH THE COMMERCIAL COMPLEX NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION, THEY WILL FORM AN IMPORTANT SECTION OF THE TOWN CENTRE WHICH WILL BECOME A COMMERCIAL, CULTURAL, TOURIST AND RECREATION CENTRE SERVING NOT ONLY SHA TIN BUT ALSO NORTHEAST REGION OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.♦
THE TOTAL CONSTRUCTION COST OF THESE THREE SUN HUNG KAI PROJECTS IS ESTIMATED AT ABOUT $600 MILLION.
♦THE UNDERTAKINGS OF THESE PROJECTS REPRESENT A SUBSTANTIAL COMMITMENT BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO FUTURE SUCCESS OF SHA TIN NEW TOWN.+ MR NISSIM SAID.
♦IT WILL ALSO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE GOAL OF PROVIDING A BALANCED DEVELOPMENT.♦
WITH THE TWIN LION ROCK TUNNELS AND THE ELECTRIFICATION OF THE RAILWAY, HE SAID, SHA TIN NEW TOWN WAS JUST AS CONVENIENT AS ANY OTHER AREAS IN KOWLOON OR HONG KONG FROM A COMMUTER’S POINT OF VIEW.
♦TRAVELLING TIME WILL BE REDUCED FURTHER FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION NEXT YEAR OF THE SHA TIN"TA I PO COASTAL ROAD,+ MR NISSIM SAID.
♦IN ADDITION, THE PROPOSED ROAD LINK BETWEEN SHA TIN
AND TSUEN WAN IS EXPECTED TO BE READY FOR USE IN 1987 OR 1988.+
THE TOTAL PREMIUM FOR THE TWO SITES AMOUNTS TO $30 MILLION.
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NEW CHARGES AT MULTI-STOREY CAR PARKS *****
THE ORDINARY RATE CHARGES AT SEVEN WELL-USED GOVERNMENT MULTI-STOREY CAR PARKS WILL BE INCREASED BY $1 PER HOUR WITH EFFECT FROM FRIDAY (APRIL 1) BUT THE CHEAP RATES WILL NOT BE CHANGED, A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THE MONTHLY PASSES FOR THESE CAJR PARKS WILL ALSO BE INCREASED BY $200 TO REFLECT THE INCREASES IN HOURLY RATES, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
THE CAR PARKS ARE GARDEN ROAD,, MURRAY ROAD, RUMSEY STREET, STAR FERRY AND CITY HALL ON HONG KON’3 ISLAND AND MIDDLE ROAD AND YAU MA TEI IN KOWLOON.
/IN ADDITION,
WEDNESDAY, MARCH JO, 198?
6
IN ADDITION, THE COST OF MONTHLY PASSES FOR TAI KOK TSUI AD FUK TONG ROAD OPEN AIR CAR PARKS WILL BE RAISED BY $100 FhOM $300 TO $400.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE INCREASE WHICH WAS APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL YESTERDAY (TUESDAY), IS AIMED AT IMPROVING THE TURNOVER RATES IN THOSE MORE HEAVILY USED CAR PARKS WHERE IT WAS BECOMING VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND SPACES FOR SHORT-TERM PARKING DURING THE DAY.
NO INCREASES HAVE BEEN MADE IN OTHER CAR PARKS WHERE SPACES ARE MORE READILY AVAILABLE.
IN ORDER NOT TO DISCOURAGE OVERNIGHT OFF-STREET PARKING, THERE WILL BE NO INCREASE IN THE CHEAP RATES, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
THE NEW FEES AT THE AFFECTED CAR PARKS ARE AS FOLLOWSs-
CAR PARK AND PERIOD OF USE
EXISTING FEE PER HOUR
NEW FEE PER HOUR
1. GARDEN ROAD, MURRAY ROAD, RUMSEY STREET, STAR FERRY, CITY HALL
A) ANY DAY EXCEPT SUNDAYS AMD PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
I) 8 AM TO 6 PM $ 4 $ 5
I I) 6 PM TO 8 AM $ 1 $ 1
B) SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS (ALL DAY) $ 1 $ 1
C) MONTHLY PASS $600 $1 000
2. MIDDLE ROAD, YAU MA TEI
A) ANY DAY
I) 8 AM TO MIDNIGHT $ 3 $ 4
II) MIDNIGHT TO 8 AM $ 1 $ 1
B) MONTHLY PASS $600 $ 800
THE FEES FOR THE OTHER GOVERNMENT CAR PARKS NAMELY ABERDEEN, MURRAY BARRACKS, HARBOUR ROAD AND HO MAN TIN WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED.
THE HUNG HOM CAR PARK WILL BE UNDER KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION MANAGEMENT WITH EFFECT FROM APRIL 1.
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 1983
7
INDUSTRIAL PROMOTION LIAISON MEETING HELD * * * *
DESPITE THE WORLD-WIDE RECESSION AND ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES, OVERSEAS INVESTORS ARE SHOWING CONSIDERABLE INTEREST IN HONG KONG AS AN AREA FOR BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES AND INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT.
THIS WAS A POINT PUT FORWARD BY THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT’S FOUR OVERSEAS PRINCIPAL INDUSTRIAL PROMOTION CONSULTANTS AT THE 10-DAY LIAISON MEETING JUST CONCLUDED.
THE CONSULTANTS OBSERVED THAT THE RECESSION IN THE OVERSEAS COUNTRIES HAD FORCED PREVIOUSLY DOMESTICALLY ORIENTED COMPANIES TO SEARCH FOR INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND THIS SHOULD WORK TO HONG KONG’S BENEFIT.
*THE LIAISON MEETING WAS THE FIRST TO BE HELD AFTER THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INDUSTRIAL PROMOTION OFFICES IN TOKYO, LONDON, STUTTGART AND SAN FRANCISCO LAST YEAR AND WE HOPE TO MAKE IT AN ANNUAL EVENT,* THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY, NR PETER JOHNSON SAID TODAY .
+WE FOUND THE MEETING VERY USEFUL AS IT PROVIDED A VALUABLE CHANCE FOR THE OVERSEAS AND HEAD OFFICE STAFF TO DISCUSS FACE TO FACE THE PROGRESS SO FAR OF OUR INDUSTRIAL PROMOTION ACTIVITIES, AND FUTURE STRATEGY.
+THE OVERSEAS CONSULTANTS HAVE ALSO MADE USE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO UPDATE THEMSELVES OF THE INDUSTRIAL SCENE IN HONG KONG THROUGH MEETINGS WITH OFFICIALS OF THE MAJOR TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATIONS.*
THE FOUR CONSULTANTS, MR MICHAEL KIKUCHI (TOKYO), MR DONALD FLETCHER (LONDON), MR JOHN WHITE (STUTTGART) AND MR ROBERT ASHWORTH (SAN FRANCISCO) WILL LEAVE HONG KONG TODAY.
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 1983
8
APPOINTMENT OF QUEEN’S COUNSEL
* * * M
THE QUEEN HAS APPROVED THE APPOINTMENT OF MR KEMAL BOKHARY AND MR GILBERT RODWAY AS HER MAJESTY’S COUNSEL FOR HONG KONG.
MR BOKHARY WAS BORN IN HONG KONG IN 1947 AND EDUCATED AT KING GEORGE V SCHOOL. HE WAS CALLED TO THE ENGLISH BAR BY THE MIDDLE TEMPLE IN 1970 AND ADMITTED TO THE HONG KONG BAR IN 1971. HE HAS A SUBSTANTIAL PRACTICE IN COMMERCIAL AND COMPANY CASES. HE HAS SAT AS DEPUTY DISTRICT JUDGE, AND SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE BAR COMMITTEE FOR SIX YEARS.
MR RODWAY WAS BORN IN KENYA IN 1937. HE WAS EDUCATED AT SHREWSBURY SCHOOL AND CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY. HE WAS CALLED TO THE ENGLISH BAR BY LINCOLN’S INN IN 1962 AND PRACTISED IN ENGLAND BEFORE COMING TO HONG KONG WHERE HE WAS ADMITTED TO PRACTISE IN 1976. HE HAS A SUBSTANTIAL CIVIL PRACTICE, SPECIALISING IN DIVORCE AND ITS ANCILLARY WORK. WHILE IN ENGLAND, HE SERVED ON THE BAR COUNCIL FOR SIX YEARS AND ON THE FAMILY BAR ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE FOR 12 YEARS.
THEY WILL BE FORMALLY CALLED WITHIN THE BAR BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE ON APRIL 30 AT THE SUPREME COURT.
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MAX I CABS TO RUN IN YUEN LONG * * *
MAX ICAB SERVICES WILL BE INTRODUCED IN YUEN LONG FROM FRIDAY (APRIL 1).
THE FIRST TWO MAXICAB ROUTES WILL BE NOS 31 AND 32, LINKING YUEN LONG WITH TONG YAN SAN TSUEN AND TAN KWAI TSUEN RESPECTIVELY.
ROUTE 31, WHICH WILL BE CIRCULAR, WILL OPERATE VIA HONG KING STREET, YUEN LONG HONG LOK ROAD, CASTLE PEAK ROAD (YUEN LONG), CASTLE PEAK ROAD (PING SHAN), THE ACCESS ROAD TO TONG YAN SAN TSUEN, CASTLE PEAK ROAD (PING SHAN), YUEN LONG TAI YUK ROAD, KAU YUK ROAD, YUEN LONG HONG LOK ROAD AND HONG KING STREET.
IT WILL RUN FROM 6 AM TO 10 PM DAILY AT AN AVERAGE FREQUENCY OF 10 MINUTES. A FLAT FARE OF $1 WILL BE CHARGED.
ROUTE 32 WILL OPERATE VIA HONG KING STREET, YUEN LONG HONG lOK ROAD, CASTLE PEAK ROAD (YUEN LONG), CASTLE PEAK ROAD (PING SHAN) AND TAN KWAI TSUEN ROAD,
ITS RETURN JOURNEY WILL BE VIA TAN KWAI TSUEN ROAD, CASTLE PEAK ROAD (PING SHAN), YUEN LONG TAI YUK ROAD, KAU YUK ROAD, YUEN LONG HONG LOK ROAD AND HONG KING STREET.
/THE ROUTE ......
WEDNESDAY, MARCH JO, 198?
9
THE ROUTE WILL OPERATE EVERY 11 MINUTES FROM 6 AM TO 8 PM DAILY, CHARGING A FARE OF $1.50 PER JOURNEY.
IN CONNECTION WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THESE MAX I CAB ROUTES, SEVERAL ROADS IN YUEN LONG WILL BE PROHIBITED TO PLBS FROM 8 AM ON FRIDAY (APRIL 1).
THEY ARE TAN KWAI TSUEN ROAD, THE ACCESS ROAD TO TONG YAN SAN TSUEN AND THE SLIP ROAD OFF CASTLE PEAK ROAD LEADING TO TONG YAN SAN TSUEN.
MEANWHILE, THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT IS LOOKING FOR FURTHER ROUTES IN YUEN LONG WHICH MIGHT BE SUITABLE FOR FRANCHISED MU I CAB OPERATION.
OPERATORS WILL BE INVITED TO APPLY FOR ALLOCATION OF THE NEW ROUTES IN DUE COURSE.
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’KAI TO’ LICENCES GRANTED * * * * *
THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT (HONG KONG AND ISLANDS), MR RICHARD MEAKIN, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) GRANTED THE FIRST BATCH OF 16 ’KAI TO’ SERVICE LICENCES TO THE QUALIFIED OPERATORS.
A TOTAL OF 118 APPLICATIONS FOR THE LICENCES HAVE BEEN RECEIVED FROM ’KAI TO’ OPERATORS SINCE DECEMBER LAST YEAR.
IT IS EXPECTED ALL LICENCES WOULD BE GRANTED TO THE QUALIFIED OPERATORS BEFORE JULY 1983.
UNDER THE FERRY SERVICES ORDINANCE ENACTED ON JUNE 15 LAST YEAR, ’KAI TO’ OPERATORS WISHING TO CHARGE SEPARATE FARES FOR PASSENGERS AND FREIGHT ON THEIR SERVICES MUST HAVE A SERVICE LICENCE GRANTED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT IN ADDITION TO THE VESSEL LICENCE ISSUED BY THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS ’KAI TO’ LICENSING EXERCISE IS TO CLARIFY THE STATUS OF SUCH SERVICES AND TO ENABLE THE SERVICES GENERALLY TO BE REGULATED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
♦IT IS INTENDED THAT ALL ’KAI TO’ SERVICES SHOULD OPERATE UNDER A LICENCE BY JULY 1, 1983, AFTER WHICH ENFORCEMENT ACTION WILL BE TAKEN AGAINST THOSE OPERATING ILLEGALLY,♦ A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH JO, 198j
10
TENDERS BEING INVITED FOR MORE TAXI LICENCES * * *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL BE INVITING TENDERS FOR A । HER 301 URBAN TAXI LICENCES AND 150 NEW TERRITORIES TAXI LICENCES.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY, A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TENDER FORMS FOR THE 451 TAXI LICENCES WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION TOMORROW (THURSDAY), FROM EITHER THE HONG KONG LICENSING OFFICE ON THE MEZZANINE FLOOR OF THE MURRAY ROAD MULTI-STOREY CAR PARK, CENTRAL, OR THE KOWLOON LICENSING OFFICE AT DUNDAS STREET, MONG KOK.
BLUE TENDER FORMS WILL BE USED FOR URBAN TAXI LICENCES AND WHITE FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES.
♦PROSPECTIVE TENDERERS CANNOT USE ANY OTHER FORMS ISSUED PREVIOUSLY,* THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED.
TENDERERS MUST DEPOSIT $25 000 WITH THE DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING SERVICES FOR EACH URBAN TAXI LICENCE AND $15 000 FOR EACH NEW TERRITORIES TAXI LICENCE.
THE TENDERER MAY SUBMIT ONE TENDER FORM FOR ANY NUMBER OF TAXI LICENCES NOT EXCEEDING 301 FOR THE URBAN AREA AND 150 FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES.
A PUBLIC BALLOT MAY BE HELD TO DETERMINE THE ACCEPTANCE OF TENDERERS WHO OFFER THE SAME UNIT PREMIUM.
COMPLETED TENDER FORMS, TOGETHER WITH ORIGINAL DEPOSIT RECEIPTS, MUST BE SUBMITTED IN DUPLICATE IN SEALED ENVELOPES, ADDRESSED TO THE CHAIRMAN, CENTRAL TENDER BOARD, AND PLACED IN THE TENDER BOX ON THE LOWER GROUND FLOOR OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES (EAST WING), LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG, BEFORE NOON ON FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 1983.
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SCHOOLS URGED TO REVIEW EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ft ft * ft
THE ROLE OF EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IS COMPLEMENTARY TO CLASSROOM TEACHING AND BOTH CONTRIBUTE TO THE FULL DEVELOPMENT OF PUPILS’ PERSONALITY, THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR MICHAEL LEUNG, SAID TODAY.
MR LEUNG WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE. TWO-DAY CONFERENCE ON EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS AT THE -GRANTHAM COLLEGE OF EDUCATION. ABOUT 200 HEADS OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS ARE ATTENDING THE CONFERENCE WHICH IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY’S SCHOOL OF EDUCATION.
MANY SCHOOLS’ EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES HAD TENDED JUST TO GROW RATHER THAN TO BE INTRODUCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SOME OVERALL PLAN. HE SAID.
/♦I WOULD
WEDNESDAY, MARCH JO, 1985
11
, WOULD SUGGEST THAT IF THIS IS THE SITUATION, THE SCHOOL SHOULD CONDUCT A THOROUGH RE-EXAMINATION OF ITS OBJECTIVES IN EaTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND RECOGNISE THE NEED FOR WELL-.CORDINATED PLANNING. THIS WILL ENSURE REAL COMPLEMENTING OF THE CADEMIC CURRICULUM AND PURPOSEFUL ALLOCATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES \ND TASKS TO ALL STAFF,* HE SAID.
MR LEUNG ALSO URGED TEACHERS TO ATTACH MORE IMPORTANCE TO EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND TO SPEND MORE TIME IN LEADING AND ENCOURAGING THEIR STUDENTS TO TAKE PART IN THESE ACTIVITIES.
ALTHOUGH THERE WERE SO MANY DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES IN SCHOOLS AND THE INCREASING NUMBER OF PUPILS TAKING PART, IT WAS NECESSARY TO ASSESS IN EACH CASE WHETHER THE ROLE OF THE TEACHER OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM HAD ACHIEVED SIGNIFICANT RESULTS.
HE SAID, +IT IS TRUE THAT THE PRESENT DEVELOPMENT IS BOTH WELCOME AND HEALTHY, BUT THERE IS STILL A LOT TO BE DONE.
♦FIRST, THE TEACHER MUST ENSURE THAT THOSE PUPILS TAKING PART IN EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ARE NOT LIMITED'TO A MINORITY WHO ARE RELATIVELY MORE ACTIVE.
♦SHOULD THIS BE THE CASE, THE TEACHER SHOULD ENCOURAGE EVERY PUPIL TO CHOOSE AT LEAST ONE ACTIVITY SUITABLE TO HIS INTERESTS AND INCLINATION.+
THE SAME PRINCIPLE SHOULD ALSO APPLY TO TEACHERS THEMSELVES, HE SAID. THE ORGANISATION OF EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES iN EACH SCHOOL SHOULD NOT BE RESTRICTED TO A FEW TEACHERS. IT SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN BY ALL STAFF CONCERNED SO THAT EVERY TEACHER WOULD HAVE ADEQUATE OPPORTUNITY TO GET IN TOUCH WITH AND UNDERSTAND HIS PUPILS AND HELP THEM DEVELOP, HE SAID.
THE TEACHER SHOULD ENCOURAGE PUPILS TO PLAY AN ACTIVE PART IN THESE ACTIVITIES OR GROUPS, AND SHOULD GIVE THEM ADEQUATE GUIDANCE ON HOW TO ORGANISE AND RUN THEIR OWN GROUPS OR ORGANISATIONS.
THE TEACHER MUST ALSO PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE BEHIND THE SCENES AS AN ADVISER AND MUST PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTIVITIES.
♦IT IS OFTEN WITHIN THIS RELAXED AND AMICABLE ATMOSPHERE THAT THE PUPILS CAN BEST REVEAL AND DEVELOP THEMSELVES, DISPLAYING FREELY THEIR EMOTIONS AND THOUGHTS AND SHOWING ALL THEIR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES.
♦THE TEACHER WILL THEN BE IN THE BEST POSITION TO UNDERSTAND EACH PUPIL’S PERSONALITY AND, USING HIS POSITION AS A MEMBER OF SUCH ACTIVITY, ESTABLISH HIMSELF AS A MODEL FOR HIS PUPILS AND EDUCATE THEM THROUGH PERSONAL EXAMPLES,+ MR LEUNG SAID.
0
/12
12
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 198?
TRAFFIC CHANGES FOR CHING MING FESTIVAL *****
SPECIAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN WONG TAI SIN AND SHAM SHU I PO FOR THE FORTHCOMING CHING MING FESTIVAL.
IN SHAM SHU I PO, WING MING STREET WILL BE CLOSED BETWEEN 7 AM AND 7 PM FROM APRIL 1 TO 5.
THE GOODS VEHICLE PARKING SPACES IN KING LAM STREET, WING ONG STREET AND YU CHAU WEST STREET WILL BE SUSPENDED DURING THESE PERIODS.
ON CHING CHEUNG ROAD, THE 'NO WAITING’ RESTRICTION WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED THROUGHOUT THE FESTIVAL PERIOD.
ACCESS TO THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CEMETERY ABOVE CHING CHEUNG ROAD WILL BE VIA CASTLE PEAK ROAD AND YU CHAU WEST STREET, WHILE DEPARTURE WILL BE VIA KING LAM STREET AND YEE KUK WEST STREET.
PARKING FACILITIES AT THE CEMETERY IS LIMITED AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE ADVISED TO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT.
IN WONG TAI SIN, TRAFFIC AT THE JUNCTION OF HAMMER HILL ROAD WITH LUNG CHEUNG ROAD IS EXPECTED TO BE HEAVY. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC VISITING THE HAMMER HILL CEMETERY ARE ADVISED TO APPROACH IT VIA LUNG CHEUNG ROAD AND PO KONG VILLAGE ROAD.
------o-------
22 HOUSES SOON FOR SALE * * * *
TWENTY-TWO HOUSES, SITUATED ON TOP OF THE CHOI HUNG MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY STATION AND FORMING PART OF THE NEW NGAU CHI WAN VILLAGE, WILL SOON BE OFFERED FOR SALE BY THE LANDS DEPARTMENT.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY, THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICER FOR KOWLOON EAST, MR LYALL ALEXANDER-WEBBER, SAID THAT FOUR OF THESE TWO-STOREY HOUSES WOULD BE PUT UP FOR SALE NEXT MONTH.
+THE GROSS FLOOR AREA OF EACH OF THESE HOUSES IS ABOUT 110 SQUARE METRES, WITH TWO OF THEM SLIGHTLY LARGER AT 146 SQUARE METRES. THE CONDITIONS OF SALE ALLOW FOR THESE HOUSES TO BE USED FOR NON-INDUSTRI AL PURPOSES,+ MR ALEXANDER-WEBBER SAID.
+THE UPPER FLOOR HAS TWO BEDROOMS, A SITTING/DINI NG ROOM, KITCHEN, TOILET AND A COVERED BALCONY,+ HE ADDED.
THE NEW NGAU CHI WAN VILLAGE, WHICH COMPRISES A TOTAL CF 67 HOUSES, IS IDEALLY LOCATED NEXT TO PING SHEK AND CHOI HUNG ESTATES WHICH SHOULD PROVIDE SUBSTANTIAL CUSTOMERS IF THE AREA IS USED FOR SHOPPING AND RETAILING PURPOSES, W ALEXANDER-WEBBER SAID.
+IN ADDITION, AN URBAN COUNCIL MARKET COMPLEX WILL SOON BE BUILT NEXT TO THE VILLAGE,* HE SAID.
POTENTIAL BUYERS OF THE GROUP BATCH OF FOUR HOUSES, WHICH ARE TO BE SOLD ON APRIL 29, AT THE CHOI WAN ESTATE COMMUNITY CENTRE IN CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD STARTING AT 2.30 PM, ARE WELCOME TO INSPECT THE HOUSES BY APPROACHING THE GUARDS ON SITE.
SALES OF THE REMAINING 18 HOUSES WILL BE ANNOUNCED OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
-----0-------- /13................
15
• cukcoum । , riMnun ju,
FIRST-EVER CLASSICAL GUITAR ORCHESTRA CONCERT STAGED IN YUEN LONG
* * M
MORE THAN 800 YUEN LONG MUSIC LOVERS WERE GIVEN A SPECIAL TREAT THIS (WEDNESDAY) EVENING - THE FIRST CONCERT EVER TO BE STAGED IN HONG KONG BY A CLASSICAL GUITAR ORCHESTRA.
THE ORCHESTRA FROM KEENE STAGE COLLEGE IN THE UNITED STATES FLEW ALL THE WAY TO HONG KONG TO GIVE THE CONCERT. THE ORCHESTRA iS ALSO UNIQUE IN THE UNITED STATES AS THE ONLY CLASSICAL GUITAR ORCHESTRA OF ITS KIND.
SPEAKING BEFORE THE CONCERT HELD AT THE LUT SAU HALL, YUEN LONG, THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR JAMES WILSON, WELCOMED THE ORCHESTRA TO YUEN LONG AND SAID HE HOPED THAT THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST OF MANY SUCH VISITS.
HE SAID: +MANY YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT ARE INTERESTED IN GUITAR MUSIC, AND THIS CONCERT IS A MARVELOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO KEEP UP WITH INNOVATIVE IDEAS IN THE FIELD OF GUITAR MUSIC, AND A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION TO DEVELOP AND IMPROVE THEIR TECHNIQUES.*
WORLD FAMOUS CLASSICAL GUITARIST, MISS ALICE ARTZT, APPEARED AS A GUEST ARTIST WITH THE ORCHESTRA. THE ORCHESTRA WILL CONDUCT A MUSIC WORKSHOP AT TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL BEFORE LEAVING FOR THE NEXT LEG OF THEIR TOUR.
TONIGHT’S CONCERT WAS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT BOARD, THE DISTRICT OFFICE, THE MUSIC OFFICE, THE YUEN LONG TOWN HALL AND THE CULTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT (NT).
- - 0 -
STATUTORY HOLIDAY PAY REMINDER
X X * *
EMPLOYERS WERE REMINDED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT STATUTORY HOLIDAY PAY SHOULD INCLUDE ALLOWANCES PAYABLE TO EMPLOYEES UNDER A CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED THAT HOLIDAY PAY SHOULD BE EQUIVALENT TO AN EMPLOYEE’S EARNINGS ON A NORMAL WORKING DAY AND SHOULD INCLUDE BASIC WAGES AS WELL AS ALLOWANCES THAT CAN BE EXPRESSED IN MONEY TERMS SUCH AS MEAL AND COST OF LIVING ALLOWANCES.
WHERE THE EARNINGS VARY FROM DAY TO DAY, HOLIDAY PAY SHOULD BE THE AVERAGE DAILY EARNINGS DURING THE PERIOD OF 28 DAYS PRECEDING THE HOLIDAY, HE ADDED.
ENQUIRIES ABOUT STATUTORY HOLIDAY PAY MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE NEAREST BRANCH OFFICE OF THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE.
THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS ARE: FOR KOWLOON EAST 3-205638:
KOWLOON WEST 3-201652: KOWLOON SOUTH 3-319454: KWUN TONG 3-898520: TSUEN WAN 0-4980208: TAI PO 0-6577111 EXT. 114; TUEN MUN 0-818443? HONG KONG ISLAND (WEST) 5-268671 AND HONG KONG ISLAND (EAST) 5-282523.
- 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
SPAR FERRY GRANTED FRANCHISE................................. 1
HONG KONG/NORWAY TEXTILES NEGOTIATIONS ...................... 2
LABOUR MP TO VISIT HONG KONG ................................ 2
POINTS SYSTEM FOR DRIVERS PROPOSED........................... 3
BILLS OF EXCHANGE BILL ...................................... 6
NEW APPOINTMENTS AT AUXILIARY AIR FORCE...................... 7
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE AT CHAI WAN........................ 8
GREATER CONTROL OF NT PRIVATE SLAUGHTERHOUSES ............... 9
THREE LAND LOTS SOLD......................................... 10
BUILDINGS TO BE DEMOLISHED FOR MIR PROJECT .................. 10
NEW VISUAL AID TO HELP SPREAD MESSAGES ...................... 11
MORE BURIAL AND URN SITES FOR WO HOP SHEK.................... 11
NORTH DISTRICT ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN ...................... 13
HONG KONG YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA EASTER CONCERT............ 13
CHILDREN'S DAY FUN CONCERT .................................. 14
THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1983
STAR FERRY GRANTED FRANCHISE ******
THE STAR FERRY COMPANY HAS BEEN GRANTED A FRANCHISE FOR A PERIOD OF 15 YEARS FROM APRIL 1, 1983.
THE GRANTING OF A FRANCHISE IS PROVIDED FOR UNDER THE FERRY SERVICES ORDINANCE, ENACTED IN JUNE 1982, WHICH ALLOWS FOR GREATER GOVERNMENT CONTROL OVER THE OPERATION OF FERRY SERVICES.
THE FRANCHISE GIVES THE STAR FERRY COMPANY THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO OPERATE FERRY SERVICES BETWEEN EDINBURGH PLACE AND KOWLOON POINT AND BETWEEN EDINBURGH PLACE AND HUNG HOM.
THE COMPANY WILL BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT ANNUALLY TO THE - COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT A FORWARD PLAN INCLUDING THE LEVEL OF SERVICES, NUMBER OF VESSELS AND THE PIER FACILITIES TO BE PROVIDED IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
THE COMMISSIONER WILL COMMENT ON THE PROPOSALS AND DISCUSS POTENTIAL PROBLEMS WITH THE COMPANY. IF THE PLAN CANNOT BE AGREED BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT WILL ARBITRATE.
THE FRANCHISE, WHICH IS AN EXTENSION OF THE ORDINANCE, SETS OUT THE TERMS UNDER WHICH THE COMPANY MUST OPERATE ITS SERVICES, IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE RUN PROPERLY AND EFFICIENTLY.
ONE OF THE CONDITIONS IS THAT IF THE WHOLE OR ANY PART OF A PIER IS NOT REQUIRED BY THE COMPANY, ITS RIGHT OF USE CAN BE SUSPENDED, CANCELLED OR TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER FERRY OPERATOR.
THE OTHER TERMS OF THE FRANCHISE GOVERN MATTERS SUCH AS THE STRUCTURE OF THE COMPANY, THE MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF GOVERNMENT PIERS, THE PAYMENT OF RENT, THE PROVISION OF PASSENGER FACILITIES AND THE GRANTING OF COMMERCIAL CONCESSIONS.
- - 0 -
THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1983
2 -
HONG KONG/NORWAY TEXTILES NEGOTIATIONS * * *
NEGOTIATIONS FOR A BILATERAL TEXTILES AGREEMENT WITH NORWAY ALE SCHEDULED TO BEGIN ON APRIL 21 IN HONG KONG. THE HONG KONG 'ELEGATION WILL BE LED BY MR HAMISH MACLEOD, DIRECTOR OF TRADE.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRADE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT WHEN THE PREVIOUS BILATERAL TEXTILES AGREEMENT BETWEEN HONG KONG AND NORWAY EXPIRED AT THE END OF 1977, THE TWO SIDES FAILED TO CONCLUDE A NEW AGREEMENT. SINCE 1978 HONG KONG’S TEXTILES PRODUCTS IMPORTED INTO NORWAY HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO GLOBAL IMPORT RESTRICTIONS OPERATED BY THE NORWEGIAN AUTHORITIES.
NORWAY IS NOT AT PRESENT A MEMBER OF THE MULTI-FIBRE ARRANGEMENT. THE FORTHCOMING NEGOTIATIONS WILL HOWEVER BE HELD WITH A VIEW TO REACHING A BILATERAL AGREEMENT IN CONFORMITY WITH THE ARRANGEMENT.
-----o------
LABOUR MP TO VISIT HONG KONG * * * *
MR ROLAND MOYLE, LABOUR KONG FOR ABOUT A WEEK AT THE GOVERNMENT.
MP FOR LEWISHAM EAST, WILL VISIT HONG INVITATION OF THE HONG KONG
MR MOYLE, WHO IS THE LABOUR PARTY’S DEPUTY SPOKESMAN ON FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS, IS ARRIVING TOMORROW (APRIL 1) FOLLOWING A VISIT TO CHINA.
DURING HIS STAY HERE, MR MOYLE WILL MEET THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS, URBAN COUNCILLORS AND JOURNALISTS.
THE FOLLOWING IS A BIOGRAPHY OF MR MOYLE«
MR ROLAND MOYLE, LABOUR MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR LEWISHAM EAST, IS THE LABOUR PARTY’S DEPUTY FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS SPOKESMAN.
MR MOYLE, SON OF THE LATE LORD MOYLE OF LLANIDLOES (FORMER MP), WAS BORN IN 1928 AND EDUCATED AT LLANIDLOES COUNTY SCHOOL} UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF WALES; TRINITY HALL CAMBRIDGE (WHERE HE WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE UNIVERSITY’S LABOUR CLUB IN 1953)» AND GRAY’S INN. HE CARRIED OUT HIS NATIONAL SERVICE AS OFFICER OF THE ROYAL *ELCH FUSILIERS. HE WAS LEGAL ASSISTANT OF THE WALES GAS BOARD FRO 1953 TO 1956.
MR MOYLE WAS CALLED TO THE BAR IN 195* AND WAS THE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS EXECUTIVE OF THE GAS COUNCIL FROM 1956 TO 1962; AND THE ELECTRIC IT'/ COUNCIL FROM 1962 TO 1966.
/HE BECAME........
THURSDAY, MAKUU jT, 'IffT
- 3 -
HE BECAME COUNCILLOR, LONDON BOROUGH OF GREENWICH FROM 1964 TO 1966. BETWEEN 1968 AND 1972, HE WAS THE VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE PARLIAMENTARY LABOUR PARTY DEFENCE GROUP AND ALSO A MEMBER OF THE Si.-ECT COMMITTEE ON RACE RELATIONS AND IMMIGRATION. HE WAS ■.PPGINTED PARLIAMENTARY PRIVATE SECRETARY TO THE CHIEF SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY FROM 1966 TO 1969! AND TO THE HOME SECRETARY FROM 1969 TO 1970.
MR MOYLE WAS THE HON SECRETARY OF THE BRITISH-AMERICAN PARLIAMENTARY GROUP FROM 1971 TO 1974 AND THE OPPOSITION SPOKESMAN ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND SCIENCE FROM 1972 TO 1974.
HE WAS PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY TO THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD FROM MARCH TO JUNE, 1974 AND WAS APPOINTED MINISTER OF STATE NORTHERN IRELAND OFFICE WITH RESPONSIBILITIES FOR EDUCATION; ENVIRONMENT; HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES; AND COMMERCE AND MANPOWER SERVICES FROM 1974 TO 1976. HE WAS MINISTER OF STATE FOR HEALTH FROM 1976 TO 1979 AND BECAME THE OPPOSITION FRONT BENCH SPOKESMAN ON HEALTH FROM 1979 TO 1980. IN 1978 HE WAS MADE A PRIVY
COUNCILLOR.
MR MOYLE WAS MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR LEWISHAM NORTH FROM 1966 TO 1974, AND FOR LEWISHAM EAST FROM 1974.
MR MOYLE IS MARRIED.
------o-------
POINTS SYSTEM FOR * * *
DRIVERS PROPOSED
M * *
PROPOSED LEGISLATION DESIGNED TO IMPROVE ROAD SAFETY BY REMOVING IRRESPONSIBLE DRIVERS FROM THE ROAD TEMPORARILY IS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (THURSDAY).
THE ROAD TRAFFIC (DRIVING OFFENCE POINTS) BILL 1983 PROVIDES FOR THE RECORDING OF POINTS IN RELATION TO CONVICTIONS FOR VARIOUS ROAD TRAFFIC OFFENCES CONNECTED WITH ROAD SAFETY, AND FOR A DRIVER TO BE LIABLE FOR DISQUALIFICATION ON THE ACCUMULATION OF 15 OR MORE POINTS FOR OFFENCES COMMITTED WITHIN THREE YEARS OF EACH OTHER.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT’S INTENTION THAT THE BILL, IF ENACTED, SHOULD COME INTO OPERATION ON THE SAME DAY AS, OR SHORTLY AFTER, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REVISED ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE IN APRIL 1984.
EXPLAINING THE NEED TO INTRODUCE THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID RESEARCH HAD INDICATED THAT A MAJORITY OF ROAD ACCIDENTS COULD BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE SHORTCOMINGS OF THE DRIVER RATHER THAN TO DEFECTS IN THE VEHICLE OR IN HIGHWAY ENGINEERING.
+A DRIVING OFFENCE POINTS SCHEME PROVIDES AN EFFECTIVE METHOD OF DIRECTLY DISCOURAGING BAD DRIVING BEHAVIOUR AND, AS A LAST RESORT, REMOVING UNSAFE DRIVERS FROM THE ROAD FOR TEMPORARY PERIODS,* HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT THE PROPOSED POINTS SYSTEM SHOULD NOT BE A CAUSE FOR CONCERN FOR CAREFUL DRIVERS, PROFESSIONAL OR OTHERWISE.
THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1963
- 4 -
♦OVER A THREE-YEAR ACCUMULATION PERIOD, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT ABOUT 20 PER CENT OF THE DRIVERS MAY COLLECT SOME POINTS, BUT LESS THAN TWO PER CENT OF THE MOTORISTS ARE EXPECTED TO REACH THE 15 POINT LEVEL AT WHICH THEY WOULD BE LIABLE FOR DISQUALIFICATION.
♦THIS UNDERLINES THE TWIN OBJECTIVES OF TACKLING THE PERSISTENT OFFENDERS WHO CREATE PROBLEMS FOR THE MAJORITY OF RESPONSIBLE MOTORISTS, AND OF ENCOURAGING IMPROVEMENTS IN DRIVING STANDARDS MORE GENERALLY,+ HE SAID.
FOR PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS, SUCH AS THOSE OF TAXIS, BUSES AND PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES, THEIR SKILL AND EXPERIENCE SHOULD ENSURE THAT THEY ARE NO MORE PRONE TO COLLECTING PENALTY POINTS THAN PRIVATE MOTORISTS, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
A WIDE RANGE OF POSSIBLE OFFENCES HAS BEEN CAREFULLY CONSIDERED, BUT ONLY 16 TRAFFIC OFFENCES HAVE BEEN SELECTED FOR THE BILL ON THE BASIS OF THEIR DIRECT BEARING ON ROAD SAFETY. +THE BILL DOES NOT INTRODUCE ANY NEW OFFENCES, AND ALL THE OFFENCES HAVE BEEN DRAWN FROM THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE 1982,+ THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED.
♦MOTORISTS ARE FAMILIAR WITH MOST OF THESE SINCE IN A SIMILAR FORMAT THEY HAVE BEEN IN THE STATUTE BOOK FOR YEARS.
♦ IN ADD ITION, A MAGISTRATE ALREADY*HAS DISCRETIONAR Y POWER TO SUSPEND THE DRIVER’S LICENCE ON CONVICTION FOR A NUMBER OF THESE OFFENCES,♦ HE POINTED OUT.
THE BILL REQUIRES THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT TO ISSUE A WARNING NOTICE TO DRIVERS WHO HAVE INCURRED 10 OR MORE, BUT LESS THAN 15 POINTS, INFORMING THEM OF THE NUMBER OF POINTS INVOLVED AND WARNING THAT THEY ARE GETTING CLOSE TO THE DISQUALIFICATION LEVEL.
♦THE EMPHASIS IS ON PROMOTING SAFE DRIVING RATHER THAN ACHIEVING WIDESPREAD DISQUALIFICATIONS,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
WHEN A DRIVER HAS INCURRED 15 OR MORE POINTS, THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT WILL APPLY TO A MAGISTRATE FOR THE ISSUE OF A SUMMONS.
ON HEARING THE SUMMONS, A MAGISTRATE IS OBLIGED TO DISQUALIFY THE DRIVER, ON THE FIRST OCCASION, FOR THREE MONTHS AND, ON ANY SUBSEQUENT OCCASION WHEN 15 POINTS OR MORE HAVE BEEN ACCUMULATED, FOR SIX MONTHS UNLESS THERE ARE EXCEPTIONAL GROUNDS FOR ORDERING A SHORTER PERIOD OR NO DISQUALIFICATION.
THE SPOKESMAN EMPHASISED THAT ON DISQUALIFICATION EITHER UNDER THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE OR UNDER THE BILL, THE MOTORIST’S +POINTS SLATE+ WOULD BE WIPED CLEAN.
ANY DISQUALIFIED DRIVER WHO APPLIES FOR OR OBTAINS A DRIVING LICENCE OR DRIVES A MOTOR VEHICLE WILL EE COMMITTING AN OFFENCE AND BE LIABLE TO A FINE OF $10 000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR 12 MONTHS.
/FOLLOWING 13 .......
THUaSjUY, L^RCH 31, 19*3
FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF THE 16 PROPOSED TRAFFIC OFFENCES WILL ATTRACT PENALTY POINTS AND THE NUMBER OF POINTS
ACCO'DED TO THEMi
* CAUSING DEATH BY RECKLESS DRIVING (10)
* RECKLESS DRIVING (10)
* CARELESS DRIVING (5)
* DRIVING A MOTOR VEHICLE UNDER THE (10)
INFLUENCE OF DRINK OR DRUGS
* DRIVING IN EXCESS OF SPEED LIMIT BY (5)
MORE THAN 15 KILOMETRES AN HOUR
ft DRIVING IN A MOTOR RACE OR SPEED TRIAL (10)
ON A ROAD
ft FAILING TO STOP AFTER AN ACCIDENT (5)
* FAILING TO GIVE PARTICULARS AFTER AN (5)
ACCIDENT
* FAILING TO REPORT AN ACCIDENT (5)
* FAILING TO STOP WHEN REQUIRED BY POLICE (3)
OFFICER OR TRAFFIC WARDEN
* FAILING TO OBEY DIRECTIONS OF POLICE (3)
OFFICER OR TRAFFIC WARDEN
ft CROSSING DOUBLE WHITE LINES (3)
ft FAILING TO COMPLY WITH TRAFFIC SIGNALS (3)
ft FAILING TO GIVE PRECEDENCE TO (3)
PEDESTRIANS ON ZEBRA CROSSING
ft FAILING TO STOP FOR SCHOOL CROSSING (3)
PATROL
ft FAILING TO GIVE WAY TO EMERGENCY VEHICLES (3)
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/6
THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1983
6
BILLS OF EXCHANGE BILL
* * * *
tHE BILLS OF EXCHANGE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, WHICH IS SIGNED TO IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE REPORT OF -AW REFORM COMMISSION GOVERNING THE LIABILITY OF PERSONS GN ING CHEQUES FOR THEIR COMPANIES, IS PUBLISHED IN TODAY’S AZETTE.
THE BILL IS EXPECTED TO BE INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON APRIL 13.
THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION REVEALED IN ITS REPORT ON COMMERCIAL LAW GOVERNING BILLS OF EXCHANGE THAT MANY BUSINESSMEN IN Ot.'G KONG SIGN CHEQUES ON BEHALF OF THEIR COMPANIES BELIEVING T-IAT ONLY THE COMPANY, AND NOT THEY THEMSELVES PERSONALLY, ARE uI ABLE ON THE CHEQUE.
BUT THE REPORT SAID IF THE COMPANY FAILS TO MEET THE CHEQUE BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF FUNDS, THEN UNLESS THE PROPER WORDS ARE WRITTEN ON THE CHEQUE BY THE BUSINESSMAN, HE IN FACT BECOMES rjERSONALLY LIABLE.
THE REPORT SAID THE COMMISSION HAD DISCOVERED THAT THERE WERE SOME FOUR MILLION CHEQUES A YEAR IN HONG KONG WHERE THE SIGNERS MIGHT BECOME LIABLE IF THE COMPANIES FAILED TO PAY.
TO SOLVE THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM FOR BUSINESSMEN, THE COMMISSION RECOMMENDEDt
(1) THAT AS A MATTER OF PRUDENT BANKING PRACTICE, BANKERS SHOULD CONSIDER THE DESIRABILITY OF ADVISING COMPANIES WHO ARE THEIR CLIENTS THAT, AS THE LAW STANDS AT THE MOMENT, IT IS ONLY THE USE OF THE WORDS +FOR* OR +ON BEHALF OF+ OR +FOR AND ON BEHALF OF+ AND THEIR COMPANY’S NAME THAT WILL ASSUREDLY AVOID PERSONAL LIABILITY UNDER THE BILLS OF EXCHANGE ORDINANCE OF SIGNATORIES ON A DISHONOURED COMPANY CHEQUE;
(2) THAT THE BILLS OF EXCHANGE ORDINANCE SHOULD BE AMENDED TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT WHERE A PERSON’S SIGNATURE APPEARS ON A CHEQUE ONLY AS A COMPOSITE PART OF HIS COMPANY’S SIGNATURE, THAT PERSON SHOULD NOT BE PERSONALLY LIABLE; AND
(3) THAT NO AMENDMENT NEED BE MADE IN RESPECT OF THE TIME WITHIN WHICH NOTICE MUST BE GIVEN THAT A CHEQUE HAS BEEN DISHONOURED.
W Dt^RARH1 tv of THAT BANKERS SHOULD CONSIDER
CLIfSts JHE ATTENTION OF THEIR CORPORATE
Snf I2rJ° Tul cccc^ ^3-r2^^ECT,ON 93 0F TH£ COMPANIES
’NANCE. THE EFFEC। OF THESE PROVISIONS IS THAT FAiLUR- TO
^T OUT THE COMPANY’S NAME FULLY OR ACCURATELY, OR IF IN
M PERS0NALRL?ABKITYTo2UTMFHrk^illeEcAoCTARACTERS’ C0ULD RESULT in rcKbONAL LIABILITY ON THE CHEQUE FOR THE SIGNATORY.
- 0 - -
THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1983
- 7 -NEW APPOINTMENTS AT AUXILIARY AIR FORCE * * M M M
THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT THE COMMANDING “KER OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY AIR FORCE, WING COMMANDER iS PENLINGTON, HAS BEEN APPOINTED HONORARY AIR COMMODORE OF .'KAAF FROM TOMORROW (APRIL 1).
HE WILL BE SUCCEEDED AS COMMANDING OFFICER BY SQUADRON LEADER ALISTAIR ASPREY, WHO WILL BE PROMOTED TO WING COMMANDER WITH EFFECT FROM THE SAME DATE.
WING COMMANDER PENLINGTON JOINED THE RHKAAF IN 1965 AS A ILGT AND WAS APPOINTED COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE FORCE IN JUNE 1975.
DURING HIS TERM OF DESIGNED AND BUILT, AND MARCH 1979.
OFFICE, A NEW RHKAAF HEADQUARTERS WAS WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED BY THE GOVERNOR IN
INCLUDING TWO
ADDED TO THE FLEET,
A TWIN-ENGINED
MORE AIRCRAFT WERE ,
BRITISH-MADE BULLDOG TRAINING AIRCRAFT IN 1977, A TWIN-ENGINED FtXED-WING CESSNA 404 TITAN AIRCRAFT IN 1979 AND THREE TWIN-ENGINED
DAUPHIN HELICOPTERS IN 1980.
THE RHKAAF PLAYED AN IMPORTANT PART IN STEMMING ™E FLOW OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IN 1979-80 BY SUPPORTING ANTI-II OPERATIONS AND PROVIDING REGULAR LONG-RANGE FLIGHTS OVER THE SOUTH CHINA SEA FOR CRAFT SUSPECTED TO BE CARRYING VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
WING COMMANDER PENLINGTON WAS AWARDED THE AIR EFFICIENCY AWARD IN 1971, THE FIRST CLASP IN 1978, THE QUEEN’S SILVER JUBILE-fc€DAL IN 1977 AND OBE IN 1980.
APART FROM HIS APPOINTMENT AS HONORARY AIR COMMODORE OF THE RHKAAF, WING COMMANDER PENLINGTON WILL CONTINUE HIS PUBLIC SERVICE AS A HIGH COURT JUDGE AND AS CHAIRMAN OF THE AIR TRANSPORT LICENSING AUTHORITY.
THE NEW COMMANDING OFFICER, SQUADRON LEADER ASPREY, WAS ENROLLED IN 1967. AWARDED THE AIR EFFICIENCY AWARD IN 1974 AND THE FIRST CLASP IN 1981.
SQUADRON LEADER ASPREY, WHO IS A DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF HOUSING, IS CONFIDENT THAT THE UNIT WILL CONTINUE TO ADAPT TO HONG HONG’S CHANGING AND EXPANDING NEEDS FOR FLYING SERVICES WITH ETERMINATION AND PROFESSIONALISM.
MEANWHILE. FLIGHT LIEUTENANT DICKY YIP, WHO IS ALSO A HOLDER OF THE AIR EFFICIENCY AWARD, HAS BEEN PROMOTED TO SQUADRON LEADER. HE Jill BE THE NEW OFFICER IN CHARGE OF THE FLYING SQUADRON WHICH COMPRISES HELICOPTERS AND FIXED-WING AIRCRAFT.
FLIGHT LIEUTENANT YIP, WHO IS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION, HAS CHALKED UP MORE THAN 2 000 HOURS OF FLYING IN HIS 16 YEARS OF VOLUNTARY SERVICE IN THE AUXILIARY AIR FORCE.
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THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1983
8
EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE AT CHAI WAN
M * * *
AN EMERGENCY SERVICE WILL BEGIN OPERATION AT THE CHAI WAN HEALTH CENTRE TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL TREATMENT FOR EMERGENCY CASES IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT.
FROM APRIL 11, THE ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY SECTION WILL BE OPEN DAILY BETWEEN 8 AM AND 9.30 PM, AND WILL SERVE AS THE DISTRICT’S CASUALTY STATION UNTIL THE EASTERN HOSPITAL IS COMPLETED BY THE END OF THIS DECADE.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAID THE CLINIC WILL BE MANNED BY SIX DOCTORS AND 11 NURSES WORKING ON SHIFT DUTY TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN BOTH THE ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY SECTION AND THE GENERAL OUT-PATIENT DEPARTMENT.
FOUR OBSERVATION BEDS AS WELL AS LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT AND INSTRUMENTS, COMPARABLE TO THOSE OF OTHER ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS, HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN THE CLINIC.
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT WHILE ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY TREATMENT FACILITIES FOR THE ENTIRE HONG KONG REGION ARE MADE AVAILABLE AT QUEEN MARY AND TANG SHIU KIN HOSPITALS, THE CONGESTED TRAFFIC CONDITIONS IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT HAVE CAUSED PROBLEMS IN THE TRANSPORTATION OF CASUALTY CASES TO THE HOSPITALS.
♦THE ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY SECTION AT THE CHAI WAN HEALTH CENTRE IS INTENDED AS AN INTERIM MEASURE TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION DURING THE PEAK TRAFFIC HOURS,+ HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT ACCIDENT VICTIMS TAKEN TO THE CHAI WAN CLINIC WILL BE GIVEN PRIMARY TREATMENT AND THEIR CONDITIONS WILL BE STABILISED BEFORE SENDING THEM TO EITHER TANG SHIU KIN HOSPITAL OR QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION AND TREATMENT.
WHETHER THE EMERGENCY SERVICE WILL BE EXTENDED BEYOND 9.30 PM WILL DEPEND ON THE NEED AND RESPONSE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WHEN AN ASSESSMENT WILL BE MADE IN THE LIGHT OF THE EXPERIENCE GAINED, HE ADDED.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT A FULL ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT WILL BE PROVIDED AT THE 1 400-BED EASTERN HOSPITAL AT CHAI WAN WHICH IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF MEDICAL SERVICES FOR RESIDENTS IN THE DISTRICT.
THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1983
9
GREATER CONTROL OF NT PRIVATE SLAUGHTERHOUSES
* # * * M
NEW REGULATIONS ARE TO BE INTRODUCED TO STRENGTHEN CONTROL OF PRIVATE SLAUGHTERHOUSES AND IMPROVE THE HYGIENE STANDARDS OF VEHICLES USED TO TRANSPORT MEAT FROM THE ABATTOIRS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS APPROVED THE SLAUGHTERHOUSES (NEW TERRITORIES) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1983 UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES ORDINANCE WHICH WERE PUBLISHED IN TODAY’S GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
THESE WILL COME INTO FORCE ON MAY 1, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE !£W TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID.
THE NEW REGULATIONS ENABLE THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO EXERCISE GREATER CONTROL OVER PRIVATE SLAUGHTERHOUSES OPERATING IN THE NEW TERRITORIES TO SAFEGUARD PUBLIC HEALTH.
UNDER THE NEW LEGISLATION, THE LICENSEES OF PRIVATE SLAUGHTERHOUSES WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE IN KEEPING THEIR PREMISES IN A SANITARY CONDITION.
THE LICENSEES ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A SECURITY CONTROL SYSTEM TO STRICTLY PROHIBIT UNAUTHORISED ENTRY OF PERSONS INTO THEIR SLAUGHTERHOUSES.
IN THIS CONNECTION, THE NEW REGULATION ALSO PROVIDES THAT ONLY AUTHORISED VEHICLES ARE PERMITTED TO REMOVE MEAT AND OFFAL FROM LICENSED SLAUGHTERHOUSES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
MEANWHILE, THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO APPROVED AN INCREASE OF LICENCE FEE FOR PRIVATE SLAUGHTERHOUSES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE ANNUAL LICENCE FEE FOR OPERATING EACH PRIVATE SLAUGHTERHOUSE WILL BE INCREASED FROM $500 TO $2 500 WHILE THE LICENCE FEE FOR ERECTING A SLAUGHTERHOUSE INCREASES FROM $10 TO $1 200.
THE EXISTING FEES HAD NOT BEEN REVISED SINCE 1971, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
A RANGE OF NEW OFFENCES IS CONTAINED IN THE REGULATIONS AND PENALTIES ARE RAISED, THE SPOKESMAN SAID. THE MAXIMUM BEING A FINE OF $10 000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR SIX MONTHS.
ADDITIONAL PENALTY IS ALSO IMPOSED ON CONTINUING OFFENCE AT A MAXIMUM DAILY FINE OF $250.
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THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1983
10
THREE LAND LOTS SOLD * * *
THREE LOTS OF INDUSTRIAL AND GODOWN LAND AND THREE FLATS WERE SOLD AT AN AUCTION HELD IN THE SHOUSON THEATRE OF HONG KONG ARTS CENTRE TODAY (THURSDAY).
THE FIRST SITE, OF ABOUT 911.6 SQUARE METRES IN YUEN LONG INDUSTRIAL AREA, WAS SOLD TO TAI YUEN CO. LTD. FOR $1.5 MILLION, OR $1 645.46 PER SQUARE METRE.
THE SECOND LOT IS IN KOWLOON BAY AND HAS AN AREA OF ABOUT 6 009 SQUARE METRES.
IT WAS SOLD TO CITY-SPACE INVESTMENT LTD. FOR $15.5 MILLION, OR $2 579.46 PER SQUARE METRE.
THE REMAINING LOT, MEASURING ABOUT 2 300 SQUARE METRES, IS ON TIN WAN PRAYA ROAD IN ABERDEEN.
IT WAS SOLD TO WELL TAI CO. LTD. FOR $16.2 MILLION, OR $7 043.48 PER SQUARE METRE.
THE THREE FLATS SOLD ARE ALL IN PINE STREET, KOWLOON.
MEASURING ABOUT 42.1 SQUARE METRES, THE FIRST FLAT ON THE FOURTH FLOOR OF 20 PINE STREET WAS SOLD TO LUNG TIN WAN FOR $80 000.
THE SECOND FLAT OF ABOUT 41.18 SQUARE METRES ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF 30 PINE STREET WAS SOLD TO SHU FONG INVESTMENT CO. LTD. FOR $81 000.
THE LAST FLAT OF ABOUT 52.2 SQUARE METRES ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF 30 PINE STREET WAS ALSO SOLD TO LUNG TIN WAN FOR $90 000.
A 2 382 SQUARE-METRE NON-INDUSTRI AL SITE IN YUEN LONG INDUSTRIAL AREA WAS WITHDRAWN BECAUSE THERE WAS NO BIDDER.
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BUILDINGS TO BE DEMOLISHED FOR MTR PROJECT
* M * * *
SIX PRE-WAR BUILDINGS AT 129-139 HENNESSY ROAD, WAN CHAI WILL BE RESUMED UNDER THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY (LAND RESUMPTION AND RELATED PROVISIONS) ORDINANCE TO FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF MTR ISLAND LINE.
DEMOLITION OF THE BUILDINGS, WHICH ARE ALL FOUR-STOREY HIGH, WILL EE REQUIRED IN CONNECTION WITH THE MTR WORKS IN THE ADJACENT CONCOURSE.
ALTOGETHER 118 PEOPLE FROM 40 FAMILIES WILL BE AFFECTED. THEY WILL BE OFFERED PUBLIC HOUSING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT’S POLICY. THESE TEiNANTS TOGETHER WITH NON-DOMESTIC OCCUPIERS WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOH EX-GRATIA ALLOWANCES.
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THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1983
NEW VISUAL AID TO HELP SPREAD MESSAGES if K *
THREE VISIOMATIC MACHINES HAVE BEEN INSTALLED AT STRATEGIC LOCATIONS IN TSUEN WAN TO HELP SPREAD MESSAGES TO THE PUBLIC AND PUBLICISE LOCAL ACTIVITIES.
LOCATED OUTSIDE THE DISTRICT OFFICE AT FOU WAH CENTRE, IN THE TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL AND THE TSUEN WAN FERRY PIER, THE MACHINES ARE FUNDED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD AT A TOTAL COST OF $9 OOO.
THE NEW TSUEN WAN DISTRICT COMMISSIONER, MR ADOLF HSU, AFTER INSPECTING ONE OF THE MACHINES, SAID THEY WOULD BE OF GREAT HELP IN DISSEMINATING INFORMATION AND PROMOTING ACTIVITIES ORGANISED FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS.
♦ALTHOUGH VISIOMATIC MACHINES ARE QUITE COMMON IN THE URBAN AREAS, THEY ARE RELATIVELY NEW IN THE NEW TERRITORIES,* MR HSU SAID.
+ONE ADVANTAGE IS THAT THE MACHINE SAVES SPACE.
+IT CAN STORE SOME 20 POSTERS AND SHOW THEM IN TURN. THUS, ALL WE NEED TO DO IS TO INSTALL ONE SUCH MACHINE INSTEAD OF 20 BOXES EACH SHOWING A DIFFERENT POSTER.*
HE ADDED THAT AS THE VISIOMATIC MACHINES COULD CHANGE THE POSTER AUTOMATICALLY, THIS WOULD BE A NEW ATTRACTION TO LOCAL PEOPLE.
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MORE BURIAL AND URN SITES FOR WO HOP SHEK M M M
THE GOVERNMENT IS TO SPEND MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO PROVIDE MORE BURIAL AND URN SITES AS PART OF ANOTHER LARGE SCALE EXTENSION CF WO HOP SHEK PUBLIC CEMETERY. IN ADDITION, A NUMBER OF MODERN CREMATORIA ARE BEING PLANNED IN THE NEW TERRITORIES TO COPE WITH INCREASING DEMAND.
AT WO HOP SHEK, TWO EXTENSIONS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED DURING THE LAST TWO YEARS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID.
THESE COMPRISE A $6.7 MILLION EXTENSION FOR 6 700 COFFIN BURIAL SITES AND A $8 MILLION PROJECT FOR THE PROVISION OF 12 000 URN SPACES. PLANS FOR PROVIDING MORE NEW BURIAL SITES ARE AT AN ADVANCED STAGE.
THERE ARE NOW 53 871 COFFIN BURIALS AND 99 020 URN BURIAi_S AT WO HOP SHEK CEMETERY. LAST YEAR, COFFIN BURIALS TOOK UP 7 128 SITES WHILE URN BURIALS OCCUPIED 4 027 SPACES IN THE CEMETERY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1983
12 -
ON CREMATION, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT CONSTRUCTION OF THE $26.5 MILLION SHA TIN CREMATORIUM WOULD BE STARTED NEXT MONTH, WHILE PLANS FOR BUILDING MODERN CREMATORIA AT WO HOP SHEK, TUEN MIN, SAI KUNG, CHEUNG CHAU AND LANTAU ISLAND WERE ALSO IN HAND.
A TOTAL OF 7 967 CREMATIONS OF EXHUMED SKELETAL REMAINS WERE RECORDED AT WO HOP SHEK CREMATORIUM LAST YEAR.
THE KWAI CHUNG CREMATORIUM ALSO CARRIED OUT 5 789 BODY CREMATIONS IN 1982, SAID THE SPOKESMAN.
MEANWHILE, THE GOVERNMENT HAS APPROVED THE REVISION OF FEES FOR BURIAL, CREMATIONS AND OTHER SERVICES RELATED TO THE DISPOSAL OF THE DEAD IN THE NEW TERRITORIES TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF INCREASING WORKS IN PROVIDING THE SERVICES.
WITH EFFECT FROM TODAY (THURSDAY), THE FEE FOR A BURIAL SITE AT A PUBLIC CEMETERY IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL BE $800 FOR AN ADULT AND $400 FOR THE INTERMENT OF A CHILD UNDER 12 YEARS OF AGE, COMPARED WITH THE OLD FEES OF $250 AND $125 RESPECTIVELY.
ALL HUMAN REMAINS INTERRED IN PUBLIC CEMETERIES ARE REQUIRED TO BE EXHUMED AFTER /SIX YEARS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
AS FOR THE PERMANENT URN GRAVE SPACES IN THE PUBLIC CEMETERIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE NEW CHARGE WILL BE INCREASED FROM $430 TO $1 100.
IN THE CASE OF CREMATION OF AN ADULT AND A CHILD UNDER 12 YEARS OF AGE, THE FEES WILL BE £250 AND $125 RESPECTIVELY. THE OLD FEES WERE $120 AND $60 RESPECTIVELY. THIS WILL BRING THEM IN LINE WITH THE FEES FOR CREMATION IN THE URBAN AREA STARTING APRIL 1.
FOR THE PERMANENT PLACING OF CREMATED ASHES IN A COLUMBARIUM IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, A SUM OF $1 300 WILL BE CHARGED FOR EACH STANDARD NICHE AND $5 200 FOR EACH FAMILY NICHE CAPABLE OF HOLDING FOUR URNS. THIS COMPARED WITH THE OLD FEES OF $1 000 AND $4 000 RESPECTIVELY.
CHARGES FOR THE PLACING OF A MEMORIAL TABLET ON THE WALL OF A COLUMBARIUM IN THE NEW TERRITORIES OR A TREE PLANTED IN THE GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE OF A CREMATORIUM IS REMAINED UNCHANGED AT $50, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
FOR THE CREMATION OF THE SKELETAL REMAINS OF AN ADULT OR CHILD, A CHARGE OF $90 HAS BEEN INTRODUCED.
THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE REVISION OF FEES FOR BURIAL AND CREMATIONS IS TO REFLECT MORE REALISTICALLY GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE ON THESE SERVICES AS OPERATIONAL COSTS HAD SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED DURING THE LAST TWO YEARS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
NEVERTHELESS, A 20 PER CENT GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY ON BURIAL FEES IS RETAINED. THERE IS ALSO A 50 PER CENT SUBSIDY ON CREMATION FEES IN ORDER TO FURTHER ENCOURAGE THE USE OF CREMATION AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO BURIAL, HE ADDED.
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THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1983
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NORTH DISTRICT ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN * * * *
A LARGE SCALE POP CONCERT PRODUCED BY RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG WILL BE HELD ON APRIL 10 (SUNDAY) AT 3 PM AT THE FANLING PLAYGROUND TO KICK OFF THE NORTH DISTRICT ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN FOR THIS YEAR.
THE CAMPAIGN IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS AND THE NORTH DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE.
DETAILS OF THE CONCERT WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TO BE HELD TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AT 2.30 PM IN THE RECEPTION HALL OF RTHK, BROADCASTING HOUSE, BROADCAST DRIVE.
MR CHEUNG KUEN, CHAIRMAN OF THE NORTH DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE WILL CHAIR THE CONFERENCE TOGETHER WITH MR FRANCIS CHOI, INFORMATION OFFICER OF THE NARCOTICS DIVISION, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT AND MR RAYMOND NG, HEAD OF RADIO 2, RTHK.
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HONG KONG YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA EASTER CONCEPT * * * *
THE HONG KONG YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (A) OF THE MUSIC OFFICE OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT WILL PRESENT AN EASTER CONCERT ON SATURDAY (APRIL 2) AT 3 PM AT THE CONCERT HALL, CITY HALL.
FAMOUS WORKS LIKE JOHANNES BRAHMS’ ACADEMIC FESTIVAL OVERTURE, OP. 801 VARIATIONS ON A THEME BY HAYDN, OP. 56A; PETER ILYITCH TCHAIKOVSKY’S 'ROMEO AND JULIET’ FANTASY OVERTURE AND CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS’ PIANO CONCERTO NO. 2 IN G MINOR, OP. 22 WILL BE PERFORMED AT THIS CONCERT WtflCH WILL BE CONDUCTED BY MR THOMAS WANG, ASSISTANT MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR (PROFESSIONAL) OF THE MUSIC OFFICE WITH MISS SUM WAI-CHUNG AS SOLOIST.
THE HONG KONG YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA (A) HAS AT PRESENT ABOUT 80 MEMBERS WHO ARE MAINLY STUDENTS FROM 13 TO 23 YEARS OF AGE. IN AUGUST 1978, THE ORCHESTRA GAVE ITS FIRST LOCAL PERFORMANCE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE VISITING COUNTY OF AVON SCHOOLS ORCHESTRA. LATER IM THE SAME MONTH, IT GAVE ITS INAUGURAL CONCERT.
SINCE THEN THE ORCHESTRA HAS BEEN INVITED TO PERFORM ON VARIOUS MAJOR OCCASIONS INCLUDING THE FESTIVAL OF ASIAN ARTS, HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL AND THE CELEBRITY CONCERT OF THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS.
Thursday, men 31, 1^3
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DURING THE PAST FEW YEARS, THE ORCHESTRA HAS A_SO HAD THE ’fi'VILEGE TO PERFORM WITH WORLD RENOWNED MUSICIANS LIKE FOU TS’ONG, SHALOM RONLY-RIKLIS, SIR DAVID WILLCOCKS, AND EDEN AND TAMIR.
UNDER THE MUSIC OFFICE’S CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMME, THE ORCHESTRA HAS GIVEN JOINT PERFORMANCES WITH VISITING YOUTH CRCHE3TRAS SUCH AS THE PHILIPPINES YOUTH ORCHESTRA, THE LONG ISLAND YOUTH ORCHESTRA, AND THE SYDNEY CONSERVATOR I UM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
APART FROM LOCAL CONCERTS, A LARGE NUMBER OF THE MEMBERS OF THE ORCHESTRA HAS EXTENSIVE OVERSEAS PERFORMING EXPERIENCE INCLUDING CONCERT TOURS TO THE UNITED KINGDOM, FRANCE, CYPRUS, ISRAEL AND AUSTRALIA.
FREE ADMISSION TICKETS FOR THE FORTHCOMING CONCERT ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT ALL THE MUSIC CENTRES OF THE MUSIC OFFICE. FOR ENQUIRIES, PLEASE CALL 3-7226240-3.
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CHILDREN’S DAY FUN CONCERT MMX*
A CHILDREN’S DAY FUN CONCERT WILL BE ORGANISED BY THE MUSIC OFFICE OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT FOR THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT ON SATURDAY (APRIL 2) AT 2.30 PM AT THE OPEN-AIR THEATRE IN MORSE PARK.
TRAINEES OF THE MUSIC OFFICE, PO LEUNG KUK NO. 1 COLLEGE BAND AND YAU MA TEI CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL DANCE TEAM WILL TAKE PART IN THE CONCERT.
THE PROGRAMME WILL INCLUDE POPULAR CHINESE MELODIES, POPULAR BAND MUSIC, MEXICAN AND DUTCH DANCE AND PIPA AND ER-HU ENSEMBLE PLAYING.
CHILDREN SHOULD NOT MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR AN AFTERNOON OF FUN. FREE ADMISSION TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE AT ALL MUSIC CENTRES OF THE MUSIC OFFICE. FOR ENQUIRIES, CALL 3-7561328.
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