DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES
BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
EDUCATION MUST BE BROADENED FOR ALL — BRAY........................ 1
CLOSE CHECK KEPT ON TEXTILE QUOTA SYSTEM ......................... 2
NEED FOR ’FLEXIBILITY’ STRESSED................................... 3
WASTE DISPOSAL PROBLEM EXAMINED................................... 4
ETHICS SEMINAR ARRANGED FOR JOURNALISTS .......................... 4
CORRECTIONAL SERVICES HOLDING FAIR ON SATURDAY.................... 5
STUDENTS’ SUPPORT SOUGHT FOR CHILDREN’S WARD ..................... 6
RACE DAY TRANSPORT CHANGES ANNOUNCED ............................. 6
NULLAH SILT TO BE CLEARED.........................,............... 7
DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED........................................... 7
MOVING OFFICE .................................................... 7
CENTRAL TAPS OFF ................................................. 8
SLIP ROAD TO BE REOPENED.......................................... 8
BANGLADESH PRESIDENT COMING .................................... 8
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1983
1
EDUCATION MUST BE BROADENED FOR ALL — BRAY
******
EDUCATION WHICH IN THE SIXTIES AND SEVENTIES WAS SUITABLE FOR THE ELITE MUST BE BROADENED TO GIVE THE MOST TO CHILDREN WITH ALL GRADES AND TYPES OF LEARNING ABILITY, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR DENIS BRAY, SAID TODAY.
SPEAKING AT THE SILVER JUBILEE THANKSGIVING SERVICE OF THE KTHODIST COLLEGE, MR BRAY SAID THIS IS AN EVEN GREATER CHALLENGE THAN THE EARLIER ACHIEVEMENT OF PROVIDING EDUCATION FOR ALL YOUNGSTERS.
♦THIS MW NOT ONLY BE RECOGNISED IN THE SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
♦THOSE IN THEIR LATE TEENS AND EARLY TWENTIES NEED EDUCATION WHICH IS MORE PROLIFIC IN QUANTITY AND MORE VARIED IN CONTENT TO FIT FUTURE GENERATIONS TO COMPETE FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH AND SOCIAL SAT ISFACT ION,♦ MR BRAY SAID.
MR BRAY SAID THAT THE METHODIST COLLEGE’S SERVICE WAS BEING CELEBRATED AT A TURNING POINT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF EDUCATION IN HONG KONG.
♦WHAT A TRANSFORMATION WE HAVE SEEN IN THE EDUCATION SCENE OVER THIS 25 YEARS,♦ HE SAID.
MR BRAY RECALLED THAT WHEN THE COLLEGE WAS OPENED IN 1958, THERE WERE 46 GOVERNMENT AIDED SECONDARY SCHOOLS WITH LESS THAN 2D DOO STUDENTS.
♦THERE WERE NOT EVEN ENOUGH PRIMARY SCHOOLS FOR EVERYBODY SO THAT SOME PEOPLE STILL STARTED LIFE WITH PRACTICALLY NO EDUCATION AT ALL,+ HE SAID.
TODAY, HE ADDED, THERE ARE 263 GOVERNMENT AND AIDED SECONDARY SCHOOLS WITH OVER 250 000 STUDENTS.
♦WHEN THE COLLEGE STARTED, SECONDARY EDUCATION WAS FOR THE ELITE. TODAY IT IS AVAILABLE FOR EVERYBODY.
♦INDEED ONLY A QUARTER OF THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN IN HONG KONG AGED 16 AND 17 ARE NOT STILL IN FULL-TIME EDUCATION,♦ BRAY SAID.
MR BRAY SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOW SPENDING SOME $5 BILLION A YEAR OF PUBLIC MONEY ON EDUCATION.
MR BRAY ALSO POINTED OUT THAT IN ADDITION TO LEARNING, A MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN HONG KONG WAS THE FREEDOM TO FOLLOW THE VARIETY OF SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS WHICH CHARACTERISE THE SYSTEM.
♦IT IS THIS FREEDOM WHICH DEVELOPS THE SPIRIT OF THE STUDENTS IN SCHOOL SO THAT IN ADULT LIFE THEY CAN ACCEPT VARIETY OF BELIEF, OPINION AND TRADITIONS.
♦ONLY THUS CAN THEY LIVE IN HARMONY WITH OTHERS WITHOUT FEELING THAT CONFORMITY WITH SOME STATE DOCTRINE HAS TO BE OBSERVED,♦ HE SAID.
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1983
2
CLOSE CHECK KEPT ON TEXTILE QUOTA SYSTEM *****
THE TRADE DEPARTMENT WILL GRADUALLY STEP UP THE ENFORCEMENT OF RULES GOVERNING THE QUOTA SYSTEM AND PUBLICISE THE PENALTIES IMPOSED ON QUOTA CIRCUMVENTION CASES TO DETER POSSIBLE FRAUDULENT ACTS IN TEXTILE TRADE.
THE MOVE IS IN PARALLEL WITH THE VARIOUS CHANGES BEING INTRODUCED INTO THE REVISED QUOTA SYSTEM OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE, MR HAMISH MACLEOD TOLD A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF HONG KONG TODAY.
HE POINTED OUT THAT A RANGE OF OFFENCES COULD BE REVEALED BY TEXTILE CONSIGNMENT CHECKS AND VETTING OF THE DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING TRANSHIPMENT, UNDERGROUND TRANSFER AND MISDESCRIPTION.
+THE NUMBER OF SERIOUS OFFENCES IS NOT GREAT, BUT WE ARE DETERMINED TO KEEP THIS SO. THE PENALTIES AVAILABLE ARE ADEQUATE, INCLUDING COURT FINES UP TO A MAXIMUM OF S5OO OOO AND IMPRISONMENT FOR TWO YEARS, FOFEITURE OF QUOTA, DEBARMENT FROM PARTICIPATION IN THE TEXTILES CONTROL SCHEME AND SUSPENSION OF ALL LICENSING FACILITIES FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME.
+WHAT I WISH TO MAKE CLEAR IS THAT WE SHALL BE MAKING EVEN GREATER EFFORTS TO ENSURE.THAT THE RULES ARE OBSERVED,+ MR MACLEOD EMPHASISED.
COMMENTING ON THE TEMPORARY RUSH A FEW WEEKS AGO BY SOME MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO BUY VARIOUS FOOD STUFFS - ESPECIALLY RICE - WHEN THE HONG KONG DOLLAR WAS PARTICULARLY WEAK, MR MACLEOD STRESSED THAT RICE STOCKHOLDERS WERE REQUIRED TO KEEP RESERVE STOCKS, AND THAT STOCKS WERE ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO MEET ABOUT TWO MONTHS CONSUMPTION.
♦FOR EXAMPLE, AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER, STOCKS WERE ABOUT 68 000 TONNES, COMPARED WITH AN AVERAGE DAILY CONSUMPTION OF ABOUT 1 000 TONNES. CLEARLY THIS IS MORE THAN ADEQUATE TO MEET FLUCTUATIONS IN DEMAND.♦
HE FURTHER POINTED OUT THAT WITH RISING LIVING STANDARDS AND CHANGING TASTES, OVERALL RICE CONSUMPTION HAD REMAINED STATIC FOR YEARS AND THE PER CAPITA RICE CONSUMPTION HAD BEEN STEADILY DECREASING.
♦NEVERTHELESS, WE RECOGNISE THAT RICE IS STILL A VITAL PART OF THE DIET AND HENCE WE SHALL CONTINUE TO ENSURE ADEQUATE RESERVES ARE MAINTAINED. FROZEN MEAT AND POULTRY ARE NOT SUBJECT TO SUCH TIGHT CONTROLS BUT AGAIN ADEQUATE STOCKS ARE MA INTA I NED,+ HE ADDED.
MR MACLEOD ALSO SAID THAT AS THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE, HE HAD THE POWER IF NECESSARY TO CONTROL THE PRICE OF THESE GOODS DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY.
♦HOWEVER, IT IS NOT THE POLICY TO SUBSIDISE, BUT ONLY TO INTERVENE TO ENSURE THERE ARE NO UNREASONABLE AND UNJUSTIFIED FLUCTUATIONS IN PR ICE.♦
* /TURNING TO.....
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1983
3
TURNING TO THE LOCAL INVESTMENT SCENE, MR MACLEOD SAID THE TRADE DEPARTMENT’S STATISTICS SHOWED THAT NEW FACTORIES CONTINUED TO BE ESTABLISHED IN HONG KONG DESPITE POLITICAL UNCERTAINTIES IN SEPTEMBER ALONE, 187 NEW FACTORIES WERE REGISTERED WITH THE DEPARTMENT FOR CERTIFICATE OF ORIGIN PURPOSES, INCLUDING 76 GARMENT FACTORIES, 19 ELECTRONIC FACTORIES AND NINE TOY FACTORIES.
IN THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, OVER 1 OOO EXPORTERS OR MANUFACTURERS WERE NEWLY REGISTERED WITH THE TRADE DEPARTMENT UNDER THE QUOTA SYSTEM — ALTHOUGH NOT ALL WERE NECESSARILY NEW COMPANIES.
+WHILE IN THE NORMAL COURSE OF EVENTS SOME COMPANIES WILL ALSO HAVE CEASED BUSINESS, FIGURES LIKE THESE, TOGETHER WITH THE ENCOURAGING TRADE FIGURES FOR THIS YEAR, UNDERLINE THE FACT THAT TRADE CONTINUES AND PROFITS ARE STILL THERE TO BE MADE,* MR MACLEOD CONCLUDED.
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NEED FOR ’FLEXIBILITY’ STRESSED
X X X M
LEGISLATION IS BY NO MEANS THE KEY TO SOLVING EVERY LABOUR RELATIONS PROBLEM, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR RON BRIDGE, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
HE ALSO STRESSED THAT FLEXIBILITY WAS NO LESS IMPORTANT.
MR BRIDGE WAS SPEAKING IN CANTONESE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF A TRAINING COURSE ON LABOUR RELATIONS ORGANISED BY THE LABOUR RELATIONS PROMOTION UNIT OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT FOR EMPLOYERS, MANAGEMENT STAFF AND TRADE UNION OFFICIALS.
THE COURSE CONCENTRATES ON THE PROVISIONS OF THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE.
MR BRIDGE SAID THAT LEGISLATION, WHICH SPECIFIED THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS, WAS OF COURSE IMPORTANT. HOWEVER, HE QUESTIONED WHETHER LEGISLATION COULD SOLVE ALL PROBLEMS IN HUMAN RELATIONS AND LABOUR-MANAGEMENT CO-OPERATION.
CITING AN EXAMPLE, HE SAID THAT IF A YOUNG COURTING COUPLE HAD A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION, THEY WOULD NOT RELY ON THE LAW TO SORT IT OUT. +CANNOT LABOUR RELATIONS SOMETIMES BE EQUALLY SENSITIVE?* HE ASKED.
MR BRIDGE SUGGESTED THAT ONE SHOULD EXERCISE FLEXIBILITY IN HANDLING PERSONNEL MATTERS.
+WHILE ONE HAS TO CONFORM WITH LEGISLATION, ONE HAS TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION OTHER FACTORS, SUCH AS EMPLOYEES’ LENGTH OF SERVICE AND THEIR DUTY PERFORMANCES. IN THE LONG TERM WILL THIS WIN THE CONFIDENCE OF EMPLOYEES AND ENHANCE LABOUR RELATIONS?*
DEMAND FOR PLACES ON THE COURSE WAS SO GREAT THAT SEVERAL HUNDRED APPLICANTS COULD NOT BE ACCEPTED THIS TIME. THEY WILL BE GIVEN PRIORITY FOR SIMILAR COURSES TO BE HELD NEXT YEAR.
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1983
WASTE DISPOSAL PROBLEM EXAMINED
X X X X
THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MR HENRY CHING, TODAY VISITED THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY TO LOOK AT THE LATEST METHODS ADOPTED TO TACKLE'THE WASTE DISPOSAL PROBLEM.
HE WAS BRIEFED BY CONSULTANTS ON THE +HONG KONG WASTE MANAGEMENT MODEL,+ A COMPUTER BASED PLANNING MODEL WHICH HAS JUST BEEN COMPLETED FOR USE IN PLANNING THE TERRITORY’S WASTE DISPOSAL SYSTEM.
LAST YEAR THE GOVERNMENT AND THE URBAN COUNCIL SPENT OVER $450 MILLION ON WASTE MANAGEMENT. THE DISPOSAL OF WASTES FROM HOUSEHOLDS, OFFICES AND INDUSTRY IS AN EVER-INCREASING PROBLEM AND MAJOR NEW CAPITAL INVESTMENTS WILL BE NEEDED IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO COPE WITH THE INCREASING QUANTITIES OF WASTE IN THE URBAN AREA AND THE NEWLY DEVELOPING NEW TOWNS. POTENTIAL SITES FOR WASTE DISPOSAL ARE SEVERELY LIMITED AND LIKELY TO BE REMOTE FROM THE URBAN AREAS.
FOR ALL THESE REASONS IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE GOVERNMENT CHOOSES THE BEST AVAILABLE PLAN FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT. A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH IS REQUIRED. THE +HONG KONG WASTE MANAGEMENT MODEL+ HAS BEEN PURPOSE-BUILT TO FULFILL THIS NEED.
BY CHANGING BASIC ASSUMPTIONS IN THE MODEL’S INPUT DATA, RADICALLY DIFFERENT STRATEGIES CAN BE PRODUCED AND COMPARED, AND THE MODEL PROVIDES SUMMARY COMPARATIVE INFORMATION TO HELP IN DECISION-MAKING. THESE ALTERNATIVE PLANS CAN THEN BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE BROADER ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CRITERIA WHICH FORM THE BACKGROUND FOR WASTE MANAGEMENT PLANNING.
THE WASTE MANAGEMENT MODEL IS ALREADY IN USE BY STAFF OF THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY. DECISIONS BASED UPON IT ARE EXPECTED TO BE TAKEN WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR.
ETHICS SEMINAR ARRANGED FOR JOURNALISTS
XXX
WORKING JOURNALISTS ARE BEING INVITED TO TAKE PART IN A SEMINAR ON PRESS ETHICS ORGANISED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION, HONG KONG BAPTIST COLLEGE.
THE SEMINAR WILL BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 14 TO 17, 21 TO 24, 28 AND 29, FROM 11 AM TO 1 PM, AT THE REQUEST OF THE JOURNALISM TRAINING BOARD OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL.
THE OBJECTIVE IS TO BROADEN PROFESSIONAL PERSPECTIVES OF LOCAL JOURNALISTS.
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION WILL INCLUDE THE OBSERVANCE AND BREAKING CF PROFESSIONAL PRINCIPLES, AND LECTURES WILL BE GIVEN ON CODES AND ENFORCIB ILITY OF ETHICS.
THE SEMINAR FEE IS $1 000 PER PERSON, WITH EACH PARTICIPANT PAYING A NOMINAL SUM OF $100 AND THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL BEARING THE BALANCE.
/THE SSMINAR
5
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1985
THE SEMINAR IS ONE OF SERIES OF PROGRAMMES LAUNCHED BY THE JOURNALISM TRAINING BOARD TO PROVIDE MORE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR JOURNALISTS.
THE APPLICATION DEADLINE IS NOVEMBER 8.
SH0ULD be DIRECTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION OF THE BAPTIST COLLEGE ON 3-374161.
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CORRECTIONAL SERVICES HOLDING FAIR ON SATURDAY * * *
THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL HOLD ITS 31ST AUTUMN FAIR AT THE FOOTBALL FIELD NEXT TO STANLEY PRISON ON SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 5) BETWEEN 12 NOON AND 5 PM.
THE FAIR WILL BE OPENED BY SIR SHIU-KIN TANG.
THERE WILL BE OVER 30 STALLS SELLING A WIDE VARIETY OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES INDUSTRIAL AND HOBBY CLASS PRODUCTS, INCLUDING STUFFED TOYS, HANDICRAFTS, RATTAN AND WOODEN FURNITURE.
THERE WILL ALSO BE SNACK, REFRESHMENT AND GAME STALLS.
AN ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMME HAS ALSO BEEN ARRANGED FOR VISITORS. THERE WILL BE PERFORMANCES BY THE TAI TAM GIRLS’ PIPERS AND PRECISION MARCHING TEAM, MARCHING DISPLAY BY THE CAPE COLLINSON MARCHING BAND, AS WELL AS FOLK DANCING BY THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE CHINESE DANCE TROUPE.
THE FAIR, A CHARITABLE EVENT, IS ORGANISED BY THE DEPARTMENT’S SPORTS ASSOCIATION, AND ALL THE PROCEEDS WILL BE DONATED TO VARIOUS DESERVING CHARITIES AS WELL AS THE DEPARTMENT’S WELFARE FUND.
ENTRY IS FREE AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND.
HOWEVER, AS PARKING SPACE IS LIMITED, VISITORS ARE ADVISED THAT BUS ROUTE NOS. 6 AND 260 STARTING FROM CENTRAL, NO. 73 FROM WAH FU ESTATE, NO. 63 FROM NORTH POINT AND NO. 14 FROM SAI WAN HO ARE CONVENIENT WAYS OF GETTING TO THE FAIR.
THE FAIR WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AFTER THE OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY AT 12 NOON. THE FAIR WILL CLOSE AT 5 PM.
NOTE TO EDITORS 1
THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AUTUMN FAIR WILL BE HELD ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD NEXT TO STANLEY PRISON ON SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 5) BETWEEN 12 NOON AND 5 PM.
SIR SHIU-KIN TANG WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY AT 12 NOON.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT. PRESS TRANSPORT WILL LEAVE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS IN GUARDIAN HOUSE, 32 01 KWAN ROAD, WAN CHAI, AT 10.45 AM SHARP, AND WILL LEAVE THE FAIR FOR HEADQUARTERS ABOUT 12.30 PM.
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1983
6
STUDENTS’ SUPPORT SOUGHT FOR CHILDREN’S WARD * * * *
AN APPEAL TO SCHOOL CHILDREN TO SUPPORT BY ANNUAL CONTRIBUTIONS THE +SCHOOL CHILDREN’S WARD* IN THE RUTTONJEE SANATORIUM WAS MADE BY THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR COLVYN HAYE, IN A GENERAL SCHOOL CIRCULAR.
THIS WARD OF 10 COTS IS THE ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND IN HONG KONG AND THE DONATIONS RECEIVED FROM SCHOOLS ENABLE THE CHILDREN THERE TO RECEIVE MEDICAL CARE AND ATTENTION WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE NOT BE AVAILABLE TO THEM.
+LAST YEAR, SCHOOLS CONTRIBUTED A SUM OF ABOUT $489 800, A SPLENDID ACHIEVEMENT AND A CREDIT TO ALL CONCERNED,* MR HAYE SAID.
HE EXPRESSED HOPE THAT SCHOOLS WOULD CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THIS WARD BY INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE EFFORT.
♦INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS SHOULD AGAIN BE LIMITED TO 50 CENTS AND MUST BE ENTIRELY VOLUNTARY, BUT SCHOOLS MAY CONSIDER VARIOUS OTHER WAYS AND MEANS OF RAISING MONEY TO SUPPORT THIS PRAISEWORTHY CAUSE,* MR HAYE SAID.
SCHOOL CONTRIBUTIONS SHOULD BE SENT, PREFERABLY BY CROSSED CHEQUES PAYABLE TO THE HONG KONG TUBERCULOSIS, CHEST AND HEART DISEASES ASSOCIATION, TO THE DEPUTY SECRETARY (GENERAL) OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, LEE GARDENS, CAUSEWAY BAY, HONG KONG FOR TRANSMISSION TO THE ASSOCIATION. ENVELOPES SHOULD BE MARKED ♦ANTI-T.B.+.
RACE DAY TRANSPORT CHANGES ANNOUNCED * * * *
PUNTERS ARE ADVISED TO NOTE CHANGES IN SHA TIN RACE COURSE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES, IN CONNECTION WITH THE CROSS BETTING AT SHA TIN RACE COURSE FOR EVERY RACE MEETING HELD AT HAPPY VALLEY.
FROM WEDNESDAY (NOVEMBER 2), DIRECT KCR TRAIN SERVICE TO SHA TIN RACE COURSE WILL BE RESUMED. AT THE SAME TIME, THE EXISTING SPECIAL SHUTTLE BUS SERVICE NO.888 OPERATING BETWEEN SHA TIN RAILWAY STATION AND SHA TIN RACE COURSE FOR CROSS BETTING EVENTS AT SHA TIN WILL BE WITHDRAWN.
PEOPLE GOING TO SHA TIN RACE COURSE FOR CROSS BETTING ARE ADVISED TO USE THE DIRECT KCR TRAIN SERVICE, DETAILS OF WHICH ARE AS FOLLOWS 1
DEPARTURES WEDNESDAYS SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS
KOWLOON STATION 6.09 PM, 6.24 PM, 6.42 PM 12.12 PM, 12.27 PM, 12.47 PM
SHEUNG SHUI STATION 6.07 PM, 6.22 PM, 6.42 PM 12.14 PM, 12.34 PM, 12.54 PM
SHA TIN RACE COURSE 10.10 PM, 10.50 PM, 11.10 PM, 11.30 PM. 5.26 PM, 5.42 PM, 5. 6.12 PM, 6.27 PM. 57 PM,
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1983
7
NULLAH SILT TO BE CLEARED
* * * *
TENDERS ARE BEING SOUGHT FOR THE REMOVAL OF SILT, MUD, DEBRIS AND ALL OTHER RUBBISH MATERIALS FROM THE TUEN MUN NULLAH.
THE TENDERS FOR THE WORK ARE BEING INVITED BY THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE OF THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
WORK ON THE PROJECT, WHICH WILL START IN MID-DECEMBER, WILL TAKE TWO MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
THE RESULT OF THE WORK WILL PROVIDE RESIDENTS OF TUEN MUN NEW TOWN, ESPECIALLY THOSE LIVING ALONG THE BANKS OF TUEN MUN NULLAH, WITH A MORE HYGIENIC AND PLEASANT ENVIRONMENT, A DEPARTMENT
SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.
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DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED * * * *
THE GOVERNOR. AFTER TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE ADVICE OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, HAS DECIDED THAT THE DEATH SENTENCE PASSED ON WONG TAK-LEUNG ON JULY 9, 1981 SHOULD BE COMMUTED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT.
WONG WAS FOUND GUILTY OF THE MURDER OF A 28-YEAR-OLD WOMAN TANG KWAI-YING IN JULY 1980.
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MOVING OFFICE * # # *
THE HEAD OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE (TSUEN WAN) WILL BE OPERATING FROM NEW ACCOMMODATION AT TSUEN WAN STATION MULTI-STOREY CARPARK BUILDING 10TH FLOOR, 174-208 CASTLE PEAK ROAD, TSUEN WAN FROM FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 4).
THE TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE (TSUEN WAN) WILL BE CHANGED TO 0-408502 AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO MAKE ENQUIRIES ON LAND MATTERS IN TSUEN WAN DISTRICT MAY CALL 0-407769.
OTHER SECTIONS OF THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE (TSUEN WAN) WHICH ARE NOW OPERATING ON THE 3RD AND 4TH FLOORS OF THE FAR EAST BANK BUILDING AT 135-143 CASTLE PEAK ROAD, WILL NOT BE AFFECTED BY THE MOVE.
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1983
8
CENTRAL TAPS OFF * * K
l FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO SOME PREMISES IN CENTRAL WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 11 PM ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 4) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR WASTE DETECTION LEAKAGE TESTS.
THE SUSPENSION WILL AFFECT GARDEN ROAD, HOUSE NO. 1, 2. 3 OF UPPER ALBERT ROAD, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, KENNEDY ROAD ODD NO. 1-7 AND EVEN NO. 2-42 INCLUDING THE HILTON HOTEL.
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SLIP ROAD TO BE REOPENED
X *
FROM 10 AM ON THURSDAY (NOVEMBER 3), THE SLIP ROAD LEADING FROM THE VICTORIA PARK ROAD FLYOVER TO GLOUCESTER ROAD SOUTHBOUND WILL BE REOPENED TO TRAFFIC FOLLOWING THE COMPLETION OF WORKS.
AT THE SAME TIME, KINGSTON STREET BETWEEN CLEVELAND STREET AND GLOUCESTER ROAD WILL BE REROUTED ONE-WAY WESTBOUND.
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NOTE TO EDITORS: «
I
BANGLADESH PRESIDENT COMING KO#
THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH, LT. GEN. H.M. ERSHAD, WILL ARRIVE IN HONG KONG TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) EVENING FOR A TWO-DAY VISIT.
THE PRESIDENT AND HIS PARTY WILL BE TRAVELLING ON FLIGHT NW 007 FROM TOKYO, ETA 9.55 PM.
A PHOTOGRAPHIC FACILITY HAS BEEN ARRANGED TO COVER GENERAL ERSHAD’S ARRIVAL. PHOTOGRAPHERS AND CAMERAMEN ASSIGNED TO COVER THE EVENT SHOULD ASSEMBLE AT THE AIRPORT PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM NOT LATER THAN 9 PM TOMORROW.
GIS OFFICERS WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 198?
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
RESPECT FOR ELDERLY COMMENDABLE - LADY YOUDE .................... 1
97-M PROJECT TO HELP EASE TRAFFIC ............................. 2
BANGLADESH PRESIDENT ARRIVES .................................... 2
ENGINEERING CONTRACT SIGNED ..................................... 3
+FIGHT CRIME* CALENDAR DESIGN COMPETITION ....................... 3
COMPUTER WEEK FOR TSUEN WAN STUDENTS .........................
VOLLEYBALL MATCH IN TSUEN WAN................................. **
DANCE CONTEST ORGANISED ......................................... 5
YOUNG GYMNASTS SOUGHT FOR CONTEST ............................... 6
URBAN CLEARWAYS FOR TIN WAN ..................................... 6
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1983
1
RESPECT FOR ELDERLY COMMENDABLE - LADY YOUDE M * *
THE SUCCESS OF HONG KONG IS DUE IN NO SMALL WAY TO THE HARD WORK CF THOSE WHO ARE NOW ELDERLY, LADY YOUDE SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE FOUNDATION STONE-LAYING CEREMONY OF THE MADAM WONG CHAN SOOK YING MEMORIAL HOME FOR THE AGED OF THE HONG KONG CHINESE WOMEN’S CLUB, LADY YOUDE SAID, + IT IS HEARTENING THEREFORE THAT THERE IS IN OUR COMMUNITY A TRADITIONAL AND COMMENDABLE RESPECT FOR THEM AND A DESIRE FOR THEM TO HAVE A DIGNIFIED OLD AGE.*
LADY YOUDE POINTED OUT THAT MUCH OF THE CARE OF THE ELDERLY IN RECENT YEARS HAD BEEN MADE POSSIBLE BY THE EFFORTS OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.
♦AS THE NEED IS INCREASING, YOUR CLUB’S DECISION TO EXPAND INTO THIS AREA COMES AT AN OPPORTUNE TIME,+ SHE ADDED.
LADY YOUDE CONGRATULATED THE CLUB FOR THE IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION THEY WERE MAKING IN PROVIDING SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY AND FOR THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS.
♦YOU HAVE DONE MUCH TO PROMOTE THE WELFARE OF WOMEN IN OUR COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS THE WELL BEING OF THE YOUNG AND THE OLD,* SHE SAID, AND WISHED THE CLUB CONTINUED SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE.
THE MEMORIAL HOME FOR THE AGED IS BUILT ON A 3 500 SQUARE METRE SITE AT KO CHIU ROAD, KOWLOON, AND ON LAND GRANTED BY THE GOVERNMENT FREE OF PREMIUM.
THE FOUR-STOREY BUILDING, WHEN COMPLETED IN EARLY 1985, WILL BE ABLE TO HOUSE 152 ELDERLY PERSONS AND ANOTHER 100 MORE HEALTHY ELDERLY PERSONS.
MRS GALLANT HO, CHAIRMAN OF THE CLUB, SAID THE HOME WAS THE FIRST MAJOR SOCIAL WELFARE PROJECT UNDERTAKEN BY THE CLUB IN ITS 45-YEAR HISTORY, THOUGH THE CLUB HAS BEEN OPERATING ONE SUBSIDISED GRAMMAR SCHOOL, ONE SUBSIDISED PRIMARY SCHOOL AND ONE PRIVATE NON-PROFIT MAKING EVENING SCHOOL.
SHE SAID THE CONSTRUCTION COST WAS $16 MILLION, OF WHICH $11 MILLION WAS DONATED BY THE LOTTERIES FUND AND THE BALANCE RAISED BY THE CLUB.
THE HOME IS NAMED AFTER THE LATE WIFE OF THE ARCHITECT IN CHARGE OF THE PROJECT, MR WONG CHO-TONG, WHO DONATED $3 MILLION TO IT.
WHEN IN OPERATION, THE HOME WILL BE SUBVERTED BY THE GOVERNMENT.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1983
2
S7-M PROJECT TO HELP EASE TRAFFIC
* * * * *
A SECTION OF TAI HANG ROAD BETWEEN KA NING PATH AND LAI TAK TSUEN ROAD WILL SOON BE WIDENED TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL UPHILL LANE.
THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE OF THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TODAY AWARDED A 17-MILLION CONTRACT FOR THE WORK TO SHUN SHING CONSTRUCTION AND ENGINEERING CO. LTD.
THE CONTRACT WAS SIGNED THIS MORNING BY MR K.K. TANG, GOVERNMENT HIGHWAY ENGINEER (WORKS), AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMPANY.
MR TANG SAID THAT INTENSIVE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREAS SERVED BY TAI HANG ROAD HAD GENERATED HIGH VOLUME OF TRAFFIC ON THIS ROAD NEAR ITS JUNCTION WITH LAI TAK TSUEN ROAD, RESULTING IN HEAVY CONGESTION DURING PEAK HOURS.
♦THE TAI HANG ROAD FLYOVER. WHICH WILL PROVIDE DIRECT TWO-WAY TRAFFIC BETWEEN TAI HANG ROAD AND GLOUCESTER ROAD, IS EXPECTED TO BE OPEN TO TRAFFIC ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF THIS MONTH,* MR TANG SAID.
♦IT IS HOPED THAT THE PRESENT CONGESTION AT THE JUNCTION CF TAI HANG ROAD AND TUNG LO WAN ROAD WILL THEN BE ALLEVIATED,* HE ADDED.
WORK ON THE PRESENT CONTRACT, WHICH FORMS PART OF THE PLAN TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS, WILL TAKE ABOUT 18 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
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BANGLADESH PRESIDENT ARRIVES
* * M
THE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH, LT. GEN. H.M. ERSHAD, ARRIVED IN HONG KONG THIS (WEDNESDAY) EVENING FOR A TWO-DAY VISIT.
GENERAL ERSHAD WAS MET AT THE AIRPORT BY THE GOVERNOR’S AIDE-DE-CAMP, MR PAUL CROFT, AND THE COMMISSIONER FOR BANGLADESH, W SHARIFUL HAQ.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1983
5
ENGINEERING CONTRACT SIGNED ft ft ft ft
THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TODAY (WEDNESDAY) AWARDED A $48.2-MILLION CONTRACT TO MCCONNELL DOWELL CONSTRUCTION LTD. FOR A CIVIL ENGINEERING PROJECT IN SHA TIN NEW TOWN.
THE CONTRACT WAS SIGNED AT THE SHA TIN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE BY THE CHIEF ENGINEER, MR B.B. JAYASEKERA, AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMPANY.
THE PROJECT, WHICH FORMS PART OF THE CONTINUING PROGRAMME FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SHA TIN NEW TOWN, INVOLVES THE FORMATION OF ABOUT 12 HECTARES OF LAND AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS IN SIU LEK YUEN VALLEY AND A BRIDGE OVER SIU LEK YUEN NULLAH.
THE LAND FORMED WILL BE USED FOR A PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE AND A HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME TO ACCOMMODATE ABOUT 30 000 PEOPLE PROPOSED
BY THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
WORK ON THE CONTRACT WILL TAKE ABOUT 22 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
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♦FIGHT CRIME* CALENDAR DESIGN COMPETITION ft ft ft
ENTRIES ARE BEING INVITED TO A CALENDAR DESIGN COMPETITION TO PUBLICISE THE FIGHT CRIME CAMPAIGN AND TO PROMOTE THE POTENTIAL IN DESIGN AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE.
THE COMPETITION IS ORGANISED BY THE MONG KOK DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE AND THE DISTRICT’S POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICE.
ENTRIES ARE DIVIDED INTO TWO GROUPS: ONE FOR PERSONS BELOW 18 YEARS OF AGE AND THE OTHER FOR THOSE BETWEEN 16 AND 35.
EACH DESIGN SHOULD BE IN POSTER SIZE (435MM X 59OMM) WITH A MAXIMUM OF FOUR COLOURS AND WITH +FIGHT CRIME+ AS THE THEME.
THREE WINNERS AND SEVEN RUNNERS-UP FROM EACH GROUP WILL BE SELECTED AND AWARDED TROPHIES.
ENTRY FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICE, THE MONG KOK POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICE OR THE MONG KOK RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE OFFICE.
ALL ENTRIES, TOGETHER WITH COMPLETED FORMS, MUST BE RETURNED TO THE MONG KOK DISTRICT OFFICE AT 157 PRINCE EDWARD ROAD BY NOVEMBER 11.
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/4........
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1983
4
COMPUTER WEEK FOR TSUEN WAN STUDENTS * * * *
A COMPUTER WEEK WILL BE HELD FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS IN TSUEN WAN BEGINNING SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 5).
THE EVENT, TO BE HELD AT THE EXHIBITION GALLERY AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES HALL OF THE TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL UNTIL NOVEMBER 13, IS BEING ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE DISTRICT BOARD.
THERE WILL BE DEMONSTRATIONS AND DISPLAYS OF DIFFERENT MICROCOMPUTERS, SLIDE AND FILM SHOWS, A FORUM ON +COMPUTER EDUCATION IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS+, AND TALKS ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF COMPUTER STUDY.
A DISTRICT OFFICE SPOKESMAN SAID THE AIM OF THE EVENT IS TO PROMOTE BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE USE OF COMPUTERS.
♦OUR TARGET GROUPS ARE THE SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS AS COMPUTER STUDY IS BEING INTRODUCED TO THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM,* HE SAID.
STUDENTS FROM LOCAL SCHOOLS AND FROM OTHER DISTRICTS ARE WELCOME TO TAKE PART IN THE ACTIVITIES HELD DURING COMPUTER WEEK. ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE AT 0-444484.
OTHER ORGANISATIONS TAKING PART INCLUDE THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC, THE COMPUTER EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT CENTRE, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND 15 COMPUTER FIRMS.
THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY AT 3 PM.
- - 0 -
NOTE TO EDITORSi
VOLLEYBALL MATCH IN TSUEN WAN M M M M
THE VISITING NEW ZEALAND NATIONAL WOMEN VOLLEYBALL TEAM WILL PLAY A MATCH WITH THE TSUEN WAN INVITATION TEAM AT 8 PM TOMORROW (THURSDAY) AT THE LAI CHI KOK PARK INDOOR GAMES HALL.
THE MATCH IS ONE OF THE ACTIVITIES IN THE MONTH-LONG TSUEN WAN SPORTS FESTIVAL WHICH WAS LAUNCHED IN THE DISTRICT LAST SATURDAY.
OTHER EVENTS TO BE HELD IN THE COMING WEEKEND INCLUDEi-
* A SWIMMING COMPETITION, AND DEMONSTRATIONS ON WATER POLO, CANOEING AND WIND-SURFING AT 2 PM ON SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 5) AT THE KWAI SHING SWIMMING POOL ;
WEDNESDAY, NOVJMBEH 2, 1983
- 5 -
* A BASKETBALL INVITATION MATCH BETWEEN THE MACAU WOMEN’S TEAM AND A LOCAL TEAM AT 7 PM ON SATURDAY AT THE PRINCESS ALEXANDRA COMMUNITY CENTRE ;
X AN INTER-DISTRICT-BOARD MEN’S BASKETBALL COMPETITION AT 10 AM ON SUNDAY AT THE PRINCESS ALEXANDRA COMMUNITY CENTRE; AND
X A GO-KART RACING AT 4 PM ON SUNDAY AT THE SHA TSUI ROAD PLAYGROUND.
FREE ADMISSION TICKETS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM ANY PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICES CENTRES OF THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICE ON A FIRST-COME-FIRST-SERVED BASIS.
YOU ARE WELCOMED TO COVER THE ABOVE EVENTS.
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DANCE CONTEST ORGANISED
XXX
ENTRIES ARE BEING INVITED FOR THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT DANCE COMPETITION, WHICH WILL BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 12 AND 13, AT THE PUI CHING COLLEGE IN WATERLOO ROAD.
THE COMPETITION IS OPEN TO THE DISTRICT’S RESIDENTS OF ALL AGES, AND THOSE WISHING TO PARTICIPATE SHOULD SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATION NOW.
IT WILL BE DIVIDED INTO THREE DIVISIONS : OPEN, JUNIOR AND KINDERGARTEN. COMPETITORS WILL HAVE TO PERFORM ORIENTAL AND WESTERN FOLK DANCES.
APPLICATION FORMS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE RECREATION AND SPORTS SERVICE OFFICE AT 1 MA TAU KOK ROAD, ROOM 13, FIRST FLOOR.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1983
6
YOUNG GYMNASTS SOUGHT FOR CONTEST * * * *
ALL PRIMARY SCHOOLS ARE INVITED TO JOIN THE 1983-84 GYMNASTIC COMPETITIONS FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS, WHICH WILL BE HELD ON MARCH 23 AND 24, NEXT YEAR AT THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE, SHA TIN.
THE COMPETITIONS ARE JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION SECTION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, THE HONG KONG SCHOOLS SPORTS ASSOCIATION AND THE NEW TERRITORIES SCHOOLS SPORTS ASSOCIATION.
EACH SCHOOL MAY ENTER ONE TEAM OF BOYS AND ONE TEAM OF GIRLS IN EACH DIVISION IN THE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS, AND NOT MORE THAN THREE BOYS AND THREE GIRLS IN EACH INDIVIDUAL EVENT. ALL COMPETITORS MUST BE UNDER 13 YEARS OF AGE ON SEPTEMBER 1, 1984.
EACH PARTICIPATING SCHOOL WILL HAVE TO NOMINATE ONE TEACHER TO SERVE AS JUDGE FOR THE COMPETITIONS, AND PAY AN ENTRY FEE OF S20 PER TEAM AND $5 PER HEAD IN EACH INDIVIDUAL EVENT.
ALL COMPLETED ENTRY FORMS, TOGETHER WITH THE CORRECT FEES MUST REACH THE PRINCIPAL INSPECTOR, PHYSICAL EDUCATION SECTION, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AT KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 6TH FLOOR, 435 NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON NOT LATER THAN DECEMBER 17.
ENQUIRIES CONCERNING THE COMPETITIONS CAN BE MADE WITH THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION SECTION AT 3-884111 EXTENSION 277.
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URBAN CLEARWAYS FOR TIN WAN M * *
FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 4), SHEK PAI WAN ROAD FROM A POINT ABOUT 20 METRES WEST OF ITS JUNCTION WITH TIN WAN HILL ROAD TO A POINT ABOUT 20 METRES EAST OF ITS JUNCTION WITH TIN WAN STREET, WILL BE DESIGNATED AN URBAN CLEARWAY FROM 7 AM TO 10 AM AND FROM 4 PM TO 7 PM DAILY.
THE SAME RESTRICTION WILL BE IMPOSED ON TIN WAN STREET FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH SHEK PAI WAN ROAD TO A POINT ABOUT 10 METRES SOUTH OF ITS JUNCTION WITH TIN WAN CLOSE.
WITHIN THESE ROAD SECTIONS, NO VEHICLES OTHER THAN FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS DURING THE RESTRICTED PERIODS.
_ o - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
SIR PHILIP VISITS NT SERVICES DEPARTMENT .......................... 1
GAINS SEEN FROM CIVIL SERVICE PRODUCTIVITY......................... 2
WATER TUNNEL BREAKTHROUGH CELEBRATED .............................. 3
ATHLETIC MEET TO LAUNCH ANTI-DRUGS CAMPAIGN ....................... 4
SCHOOLS’ FREEDOM OF IDEALS STRESSED ............................... 5
AUGUST SURVEY OF RETAIL SALES ..................................... 5
CAMP SITES AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS ................................ 9
TRANSPORT PLAN FOR SHA TIN RACE MEETINGS.......................... 11
VIEWS ON CONSTITUENCY BOUNDARIES SOUGHT .......................... 12
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS PREPARE FOR FESTIVAL........................... 14
SPORTS DAY FOR EX-MENTAL PATIENTS................................. 15
DEMAND LACKING.................................................... 15
CAR PARK SITE FOR LEASE........................................... 15
PAYMENTS AT NEW OFFICE............................................ 16
NORTH POINT TRAFFIC PLAN
16
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1983
1
SIR PHILIP VISITS NT SERVICES DEPARTMENT * M M *
THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, THIS AFTERNOON VISITED THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT IN TAI PO AND NORTH DISTRICTS.
ACCOMPANYING SIR PHILIP ON THE TOUR WERE THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF URBAN SERVICES, MR JOHN HEYWOOD; THE DIRECTOR CF NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES, MR BOWEN LEUNG; THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (OPERATIONS) OF NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES, MR ARTHUR JOHNSON; THE URBAN SERVICES OFFICER OF TAI PO, MR PONG KIN-HONG; AND THE URBAN SERVICES OFFICER OF NORTH DISTRICT, MR LAW WAI-MING.
SIR PHILIP FIRST VISITED THE CO-OPERATIVE FOR AMERICAN RELIEF EVERYWHERE (CARE) VILLAGE IN TAI PO TO INSPECT THE CLEANSING SERVICES CONTRACTED OUT TO THE LOCAL VILLAGE REPRESENTATIVE.
HE WAS TOLD THAT THIS SCHEME WAS BEING TRIED OUT IN SEVEN VILLAGES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, AS PART OF THE CLEAN HONG KONG CAMPAIGN. IT WAS AIMED AT PROMOTING COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AMONG RESIDENTS IN PROVIDING CLEANSING SERVICES FOR THEIR OWN VILLAGES.
SIR PHILIP WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CONTRACTOR WAS MONITORED BY AN INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT TEAM OF MEMBERS OF THE TAI PO DISTRICT BOARD, AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE (TAI PO) AND THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
SIR PHILIP, WHO IS CHAIRMAN OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE OF THE CLEAN HONG KONG CAMPAIGN, OBSERVED THAT THE GENERAL STANDARD OF CLEANLINESS IN THE VILLAS^ WAS HIGH AND THAT THE CLEANSING WORKERS, WHO WERE LOCAL VILLAGERS, CARRIED OUT THEIR DUTIES EFFICIENTLY.
SIR PHILIP NEXT VISITED THE NTSD VEHICLE DEPOT ON PLOVER COVE ROAD, TAI PO. HE NOTED THAT NTSD OPERATES A FLEET OF 389 Vehicles, 226 of which are specially for cleansing work, FROM SIX DEPOTS.
SIR PHILIP WAS ALSO BRIEFED ON THE COLLECTION OF REFUSE AND JUNK TOTALLING ABOUT 960 TONNES A DAY AND OTHER MECHANICAL SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE NTSD.
SIR PHILIP THEN WENT TO SEE THE TAI PO TEMPORARY MARKET.
THE MARKET WAS OPENED IN MAY THIS YEAR TO ACCOMMODATE 433
MARKET, MINI-STALL AND COOKED FOOD OPERATORS FORMERLY TRADING AT PO YICK HAWKER BAZAAR WHICH HAD TO BE DEMOLISHED TO MAKE WAY FOR NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT.
HE NEXT STOPPED AT A SECTION OF THE RIVER INDUS AT WANG SHAN KEUK VILLAGE IN NORTH DISTRICT FOR A BRIEFING ON WATER-COURSE CLEARANCE OPERATIONS.
/THE MAJOR ......
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER J, 148J
2
THE MAJOR SOURCE OF POLLUTION IN THE RIVER COURSES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WAS THE DISCHARGE OF PIG AND POULTRY WASTE BY FARMERS AND THE INDISCRIMINATE DUMPING OF REFUSE BY VILLAGERS.
SIR PHILIP SAW WORKERS ENGAGED IN THEIR DAILY JOB OF CLEARING AWAY LITTER FROM RIVER BANKS, AND CUTTING BACK VEGETATION BLOCKING THE FREE FLOW OF WATER.
BEFORE LEAVING, SIR PHILIP TOURED THE FIRST AIR CONDITIONED SQUASH COURTS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AT FANLING, WHICH HAVE HAD A USAGE RATE OF 98 PER CENT SINCE THEY WERE OPENED IN 1981.
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GAINS SEEN FROM CIVIL SERVICE PRODUCTIVITY * M * *
THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, MR MARTIN ROWLANDS SAID TODAY THAT IMPROVEMENTS IN CIVIL SERVICE PRODUCTIVITY, WHICH THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN ACHIEVING, SHOULD MAKE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE ECONOMY AS A WHOLE.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE 4TH ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE HONG KONG INSTITUTE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT, MR ROWLANDS POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT AIMED TO PERMIT NO GROWTH IN THE SIZE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE DURING 1984-85, EXCEPT WHERE IT WAS ESSENTIAL TO PROVIDE STAFF FOR NEW FACILITIES AND WHERE SUCH STAFF COULD NOT BE PROVIDED BY REDEPLOYMENT.
♦SINCE OUR WORKLOAD IS TENDING TO INCREASE ACROSS THE BOARD, IN SOME AREAS SIGNIFICANTLY SO, AND SINCE HONG KONG IS STILL IN A DEVELOPING STAGE WITH THE ARGUMENTS BEING ALL FOR EXTENDING EXISTING PUBLIC SERVICES OR PROVIDING NEW ONES, THE IMPLICATIONS OF CLOSE-TO-ZERO GROWTH IN STAFF WILL BE READILY APPARENT.
♦CLEARLY THE ONLY WAY WE SHALL BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE OUR AIM, AND AT THE SAME TIME MAINTAIN OUR ON-GOING PROGRAMMES, WILL BE FOR ALL OF US IN THE CIVIL SERVICE TO SIMPLIFY THE WAY WE DO OUR WORK AND IMPROVE OUR NET PERFORMANCE; IN OTHER WORDS TO IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY ACROSS THE BOARD.
♦WHILE TECHNICAL AIDS MAY MAKE SOME CONTRIBUTION, IT IS LARGELY TO IMPROVE STAFF MANAGEMENT THAT WE SHALL HAVE TO LOOK.+ ROWLANDS SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT IMPROVEMENTS IN CIVIL SERVICE PRODUCTIVITY WOULD MAKE A WELCOME CONTRIBUTION TO THE GOVERNMENT’S +BOTTOM LINE+. *AND SINCE, WITH 170 000 STAFF, WE FORM SUCH A SUBSTANTIAL COMPONENT OF THE ECONOMY, WE SHOULD MAKE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE ECONOMY AS A WHOLE,♦ HE SAID.
MR ROWLANDS ALSO NOTED THAT IN THE CIVIL SERVICE THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOW INSISTING THAT OFFICERS SHOULD DEMONSTRATE SOME TALENT FOR THE PEOPLE SIDE OF ITS BUSINESS BEFORE ADVANCING TO SENIOR POSTS CARRYING MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES.
- - o -
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1983
5
WATER TUNNEL BREAKTHROUGH CELEBRATED ft ft ft ft
CONSTRUCTION OF A WATER TUNNEL FROM TSI NG TAM TO YAU KOM TAU IN TSUEN WAN, THE LONGEST OF ITS TYPE SO FAR DRIVEN IN HONG KONG BY WORKING FROM ONLY TWO FACES, HAS REACHED AN IMPORTANT STATE WITH THE BREAKTHROUGH OF THE 5 2OO-METRE TUNNEL.
AT A CEREMONY HELD AT THE CONSTRUCTION SITE IN YAU KOM TAU TODAY, THE DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, MR TOM TOMLINSON, FIRED THE FINAL EXPLOSIVE CHARGE.
MR TOMLINSON PRAISED THE CONTRACTOR, PAUL Y CONSTRUCTION CO. LTD. FOR THEIR SPEED AND EFFICIENCY IN COMPLETING THE TUNNELLING WORK.
THE TUNNEL, WHICH WILL DELIVER WATER FROM CHINA TO A NEW TREATMENT WORKS AT YAU KOM TAU, IS PART OF A I1O5-MILLION CONTRACT AWARDED TO THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY IN SEPTEMBER 1981 WHICH ALSO INCLUDED THE SITE FORMATION FOR THE NEW TREATMENT WORKS.
THE TUNNEL IS 2.5 METRES IN DIAMETER, AND SOME 50 □□□ CUBIC METRES OF ROCK HAVE BEEN BLASTED AND REMOVED FROM IT, WORKING FROM THE TWO ENDS — ONE AT TSI NG TAM AND THE OTHER AT YAU KOM TAU. A TOTAL OF 930 000 CUBIC METRES OF SOIL HAS ALSO BEEN EXCAVATED FOR SITE FORMATION FOR THE TREATMENT WORKS.
WITH THE COMPLETION OF TUNNEL DRIVING, WORK WILL BEGIN ON THE CONCRETE LINING TO THE TUNNEL. A CONTRACT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TREATMENT WORKS WILL BE LET LATER THIS MONTH FOR COMPLETION BY MAY 1985, MR TOMLINSON SAID.
HE EXPLAINED THAT THE SCHEME IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL SUPPLY OF 250 000 CUBIC METRES PER DAY OF TREATED WATER TO THE TSUEN WAN AREA, TO MEET INCREASING DEMAND.
COMMENTING ON THE PRESENT WATER SITUATION, MR TOMLINSON SAID THAT THE TOTAL STORAGE IN THE 17 RESERVOIRS IS NOW 98 PER CENT OF CAPACITY.
♦IN VIEW OF THE FAVOURABLE STORAGE SITUATION AND WATER FROM CHINA, FULL SUPPLY WILL BE CONTINUED THROUGHOUT THE DRY SEASON,♦ HE ADDED.
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A....
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1983
- 4 -
ATHLETIC MEET TO LAUNCH ANT I-DRUGS CAMPAIGN * * * *
THE 1983 SHAM SHU I PO DISTRICT ANT I-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN WILL BE LAUNCHED WITH AN OPENING CEREMONY AND AN ATHLETIC FEET AT MONG KOK STADIUM ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 6).
SPEAKING AT THE CEREMONY WILL BE MR KARL STUMPF. CHAIRMAN (F THE PREVENTIVE EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS.
OTHER OFFICIATING GUESTS WILL INCLUDE MR HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL; MR M.J. WHITE, DISTRICT OFFICER (SHAM SHU I PO); MR RAYMOND CHAN, CHIEF RECREATION AND SPORT OFFICER; AND SIX COMMUNITY LEADERS.
THE MONTH-LONG CAMPAIGN IS AIMED AT DRAWING COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS AND AT PROMOTING HEALTHY RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AMONG YOUNG RESIDENTS.
IT IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS, THE URBAN COUNCIL, THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT AND THE SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT OFFICE, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF LOCAL VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS.
THE OPENING CEREMONY WILL START AT 9.30 AM AND THE ATHLETIC MEET WITH MORE THAN 950 PARTICIPANTS AT 10 AM.
THE FIRST EVENT WILL BE A MASS JOG ALONG THE RUNNING TRACK INVOLVING THE OFFICIATING GUESTS, PARTICIPATING ATHLETES, EX-DRUG ADDICTS AS WELL AS SPECTATORS. OTHER HIGHLIGHTS WILL INCLUDE AN INVITATION RELAY RACE AND A COMPETITION FOR THE CHEERING TEAMS.
A GRAND LUCKY DRAW WILL BRING THE DAY’S PROGRAMME TO AN END AT 5 PM.
NOTE TO EDITORS*
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE 1983 SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN OPENING CEREMONY AND THE ATHLETIC MEET TO BE HELD AT MONG KOK STADIUM IN FLOWER MARKET ROAD, KOWLOON ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 6), STARTING AT 9.30 AM.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1983
5
SCHOOLS’ FREEDOM OF IDEALS STRESSED ft ft ft ft
THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MRS ELIZABETH WONG. SAID TODAY THAT THE GOVERNMENT’S ROLE IN THE RUNNING OF SCHOOLS WAS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND TO REGULATE TO A CERTAIN EXTENT THE EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS AND CURRICULUM OF THE SCHOOLS.
♦THEY THEMSELVES HAVE ABSOLUTE FREEDOM TO INSTIL TRADITIONAL IDEALS OF SERVICE AND MORALITY IN THEIR STUDENTS,♦ SHE SAID.
SPEAKING AT THE JOINT COLLEGES SPEECH DAY OF THE HONG KONG BUDDHIST ASSOCIATION, MRS WONG SAID UNDER THE LIBERAL EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IN HONG KONG, ANY WELL-ESTABLISHED COMMUNITY ORGANISATION, IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR RELIGIOUS STAND, AND OTHER BODIES, CAN CONTRIBUTE IN THEIR OWN WAY TO THE EDUCATION OF THE NEXT GENERATION.
♦THE GOVERNMENT SPENDS A LARGE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC MONEY EACH YEAR ON EDUCATION. THE PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE MORE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE,♦ SHE NOTED.
MRS WONG SAID SHE HOPED THE GRADUATING STUDENTS WOULD BE PREPARED TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY IN FUTURE AND CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS THE PROSPERITY AND STABILITY OF HONG KONG.
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AUGUST SURVEY OF RETAIL SALES
ft ft ft ft
THE VALUE OF RETAIL SALES FOR THE RETAIL TRADE SECTOR IN AUGUST 1983 WAS ESTIMATED TO BE U 759 MILLION ACCORDING STAT^ST?CSVDFPARTMPNTRVEY RESULTS PREPARED BY THE'CENSUS AND oiMllollbo UtrArt IMtN I •
oner nJ OVERALL RETAIL SALES VALUE INDEX FOR THE MONTH
ROSE BY 2 POINTS OR 1 PER CENT OVER JULY 1983, AND BY 15 POINTS OR 12 PER CENT OVER AUGUST 1982. U
THE OVERALL RETAIL SALES VOLUME INDEX, OR 1 PER CENT HIGHER THAN THAT FOR JULY 1983 3 PER CENT HIGHER THAN THAT FOR AUGUST 1982.
AT 106, WAS 1 POINT , AND 3 POINTS OR
COMPARED WITH JULY 1983, RETAIL SALES OF GOODS AND FUELS ROSE BY 7 PER CENT AND 2 PER IN BOTH VALUE AND VOLUME TERMS.
OTHER CONSUMER CENT RESPECTIVELY
RETAIL SALES OF FOODSTUFFS, REMAINED UNCHANGED IN VALUE TERMS IN VOLUME TERMS.
ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO BUT DECLINED BY 1 PER CENT
/Retail sales .......
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER J, 198? ,
6
RETAIL SALES OF CONSUMER DURABLES DROPPED BY 4 PER CENT IN VALUE TERMS AND 6 PER CENT IN VOLUME TERMS, WHILE THOSE OF CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND ALLIED PRODUCTS DECREASED BY 4 PER CENT IN TERMS OF VALUE AND 2 PER CENT IN TERMS OF VOLUME.
COMPARED WITH AUGUST 1982, THE MOST SIGNIFICANT INCREASE % IN THE VALUE OF RETAIL SALES WAS RECORDED IN FUELS (20 PER CENT), FOLLOWED BY CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND ALLIED PRODUCTS; CONSUMER DURABLES; AND OTHER CONSUMER GOODS (EACH OF 12 PER CENT), AND FOODSTUFFS, ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO (11 PER CENT).
IN VOLUME TERMS, RETAIL SALES OF CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND ALLIED PRODUCTS AND CONSUMER DURABLES INCREASED AT THE SAME RATE OF 6 PER CENT, WHILE THOSE OF FOODSTUFFS, ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO; AND FUELS EACH RECORDED AN INCREASE OF 4 PER CENT. THE VOLUME OF RETAIL SALES OF OTHER CONSUMER GOODS WENT UP BY 3 PER CENT.
ANALYSED BY SELECTED TRADES, RETAIL SALES OF DEPARTMENT STORES INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY IN BOTH VALUE AND VOLUME TERMS OVER JULY 1983.
MOTOR VEHICLES ALSO SHOWED INCREASES IN BOTH THE VALUE AND VOLUME OF SALES.
SUPERMARKETS REMAINED UNCHANGED IN THE SALES VALUE BUT DECLINED MARGINALLY IN SALES VOLUME.
RECORDED
WHEN COMPARED WITH AUGUST 1982, SUPERMARKETS RECORDED SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN BOTH THE VALUE AND VOLUME OF RETAIL SALES. DEPARTMENT STORES RECORDED A LARGE INCREASE IN SALES VALUE BUT ONLY A SLIGHT RISE IN SALES VOLUME. RETAIL SALES OF MOTOR VEHICLES DROPPED IN BOTH VALUE AND VOLUME TERMS.
TABLES 1 AND 2 PRESENT THE REVISED FIGURES FOR JULY 1983 AND THE PROVISIONAL FIGURES FOR AUGUST 1983 OF TOTAL RETAIL SALES AND OF RETAIL SALES VALUE AND VOLUME INDEXES BY MAJOR TRADE’GROUPS AND SELECTED TRADES (WHICH FORM PART OF THE RELEVANT MAJOR TRADE GROUPS).
THE AVERAGE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES IN 1980 ARE TAKEN AS 100.
COMPARISONS OF THE AUGUST RESULTS WITH THOSE OF THE PRECEDING MONTH AND OF THE CORRESPONDING MONTH IN 1982 ARE ALSO GIVEN.
ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SURVEY RESULTS MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE WHOLESALE-RETAIL TRADE STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, TEL.3-7216024.
AABLE 1: .....
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER J, 1985
7
TABLE 11 VALUE INDEXES OF RETAIL SALES FOR JULY AND AUGUST 1983
(MONTHLY AVERAGE OF 1980 - : 100)
ITEM JULY 1983 AUGUST 1983 AUGUST COMPARED JULY 1983 WITH 1983 AUGUST : COMPARED AUGUST 1983 WITH 1982
(REVISED FIGURES) (PROVISIONAL FIGURES) POINTS % POINTS %
TOTAL RETAIL SALES (HK$ MILLION) 4 672 4 759
RETAIL SALES VALUE INDEXESi
(I) FOR ALL RETAIL TRADES 138 140 2 1 15 12
(II) BY MAJOR TRADE GROUPS
FOODSTUFFS, ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO 146 146 SAME SAME 15 / 11
FUELS 180 183 3 2 31 20
CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND ALLIED PRODUCTS 138 132 -6 -4 14 12
CONSUMER DURABLES 130 125 -5 -4 13 12
OTHER CONSUMER GOODS 131 140 9 7 15 12
(III) BY SELECTED TRADES
SUPERMARKETS 224 224 SAME SAME 40 22
MOTOR VEHICLES 56 60 4 7 -5 -8
DEPARTMENT STORES 120 141 21 18 15 12
/NOTES; .......
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER J, 198?
8
NOTES I
------ ♦FOODSTUFFS, ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO+ INCLUDES THOSE SOLD AT SUPERMARKETS.
♦CONSUMER DURABLES* INCLUDES MOTOR VEHICLES.
♦OTHER CONSUMER GOODS+ INCLUDES THOSE SOLD AT DEPARTMENT STORES.
TABLE 2i VOLUME INDEXES OF RETAIL SALES FOR JULY AND AUGUST 1983
(MONTHLY AVERAGE OF 1980 - 100)
ITEM JULY 1983 AUGUST 1983 AUGUST 1983 COMPARED WITH JULY 1983 AUGUST COMPARED AUGUST 1983 WITH 1982
(REVISED FIGURES) (PROVISIONAL FIGURES) POINTS % POINTS %
RETAIL SALES VOLUME INDEXESi
(1) FOR ALL RETAIL TRADES 105 106 1 1 3 3
(II) BY MAJOR TRADE GROUPS
FOODSTUFFS, ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO 105 104 -1 -1 4 4
FUELS 121 123 2 2 5 4
CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND ALLIED PRODUCTS 103 101 -2 -2 6 6
CONSUMER DURABLES 109 103 -6 -6 6 6
OTHER CONSUMER GOODS 102 109 7 7 3 3
(III) BY ........
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER J, 198)
- 9 -
(Ill) BY SELECTED TRADES
SUPERMARKETS 156 155 -1 -1 14 10
MOTOR VEHICLES 38 40 2 5 -7 -15
DEPARTMENT STORES 93 109 16 17 1 1
NOTES*
♦FOODSTUFFS, ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO* INCLUDES THOSE SOLD AT SUPERMARKETS.
♦CONSUMER DURABLES+ INCLUDES MOTOR VEHICLES.
♦OTHER CONSUMER GOODS+ INCLUDES THOSE SOLD AT DEPARTMENT STORES.
-----0------
CAMP SITES AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS
* * * *
SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO USE A NUMBER OF, CAMP SITES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES ON WEEKDAYS OR DURING WEEKENDS AND SCHOOL HOLIDAYS.
SECONDARY SCHOOL
stvde;^™ ™ ~™b6« eNv IROHMENT Xd TO ENABLE SCHOOLS TO EXTEND CLASSROOM THEORY INTO FIELDWORK IN CAMPING SITUATIONS,* AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE CAMPS CAN BE HELD ON WEEKDAYS AT GAMETE HOUSE, WU KWAI SHA YOUTH VILLAGE SILVERMINE BAY OUTDOOR RECREATION CAMP, Y.M.C.A. YOUTH SmP (LANTAUV MA WAN YOUTH CAMP, WONG YEE CHAU YOUTH CAMP AND PO LEUNG KUK HOLIDAY CAMP. THESE CAMPSITES ARE AVAILABLE FOR USE FROM NOW TO JULY NEXT YEAR, AND HAVE CAPACITIES RANGING FROM 45 TO 120 PLACES.
ALL WEEKDAY CAMPS ARE OF THREE DAYS’ DURATION AND SHOULD BE RUN EITHER FROM MONDAY TO WEDNESDAY OR FROM WEDNESDAY TO FRIDAY.
/PROGRAMMES WILL .......
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER J, 198?.
10
PROGRAMMES WILL INCLUDE INTEGRATED STUDIES IN GEOGRAPHY, BIOLOGY NATURE STUDY, BOTANY AND SURVEY IN THE MORNING EXCURSION, EDUCATIONAL VISITS, BALL GAMES AND SWIMMING IN THE AFTERNOON AND FOLK DANCING, RECREATIONAL GAMES, CAMP-FIRE AND FILMS IN THE FVFNINGS THE MORNING PROGRAMMES WILL BE ORGANISED BY THE ACCOMPANYING TEACHERS WHILE THE REST WILL BE CONDUCTED MAINLY BY THE CAMP STAFF.
TMF CAMP CHARGES WILL RANGE FROM $46 TO $66 FOR EACH PERSON DEPENDING ON THE CAMPSITE CHOSEN. HOWEVER, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL PAY BOARD AND LODGING CHARGES FOR THE ACCOMPANYING TEACHERS AND GIVE A SUBSIDY OF $15 PER HEAD TOWARDS THE CAMP CHARGES FOR ALL STUDENT-CAMPERS.
BUNKS BLANKETS, BED SHEETS AND PILLOWS WILL BE PROVIDED AT EACH OF THESE CAMPS, BUT SUITABLE CLOTHING, PERSONAL HYGIENE KIT AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION KIT SHOULD BE BROUGHT BY THE CAMPERS THEMSELVES.
AS FOR THE EDUCATION CAMPS DURING WEEKENDS AND SCHOOL HOLIDAYS, THEY WILL BE HELD AT TUNG CHUNG PUBLIC SCHOOL ON LANTAU ISLAND, KIAO LO WAN FISHERMEN’S SCHOOL IN SAI KUNG AND TAI MEI TUK PUBLIC SCHOOL IN TAI PO.
THESE CAMP SITES ARE DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE 30 CAMPERS. EACH CAMPSITE WILL HAVE TWO SEPARATE CLASSROOMS EQUIPPED WITH NYLON BEDS FOR USE AS DORMITORIES, A KITCHEN WITH ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF COOKING AND EATING UTENSILS, A STOREROOM AND TWO SHOWER ROOMS.
CAMPERS USING THESE CAMP SITES ARE EXPECTED TO PROVIDE THEIR FOOD, BUTANE-KEROSENE, WASHING DETERGENT, BEDDING AND TOILET
OWN
KIT.
THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT NO STUDENT WOULDBE ALLOWED TO ATTEND ANY CAMP WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THEIR PARENTS.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND RESERVATION, SCHOOLS MAY CONTACT FRANCIS CHIU OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S PHYSICAL EDUCATION SECTION ON 3-884111 EXT. 280, OR ENQUIRE AT THE OFFICE OF THE SECTION AT THE KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 6TH FLOOR, 405 NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON.
-------o---------
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1983
11
TRANSPORT PLAN FOR SHA TIN RACE MEETINGS * * * *
SPECIAL TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED FOR THE 1983-84 SHA TIN RACE MEETINGS, THE FIRST OF WHICH WILL BE l£LD ON SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 5).
SPECIAL DIRECT KCR TRAIN SERVICES TO SHA TIN RACECOURSE WILL RESUME FROM NOVEMBER 5.
DURING DAY RACE MEETINGS, THERE WILL BE 22 DEPARTURES FROM KOWLOON STATION AND EIGHT DEPARTURES FROM SHEUNG SHUI STATION. FOR THE RACECOURSE, WITH THE FIRST TRAINS LEAVING AT 11.57 AM AND 11.54 AM RESPECTIVELY.
AND THERE WILL BE 27 DEPARTURES FROM SHA TIN RACECOURSE TO KOWLOON STATION BETWEEN 4.30 PM AND 7.03 PM.
DURING NIGHT RACES, THERE WILL BE 25 DEPARTURES FROM KOWLOON STATION, EIGHT FROM SHEUNG SHUI AND 15 FROM TAI PO MARKET, WITH THE FIRST TRAINS LEAVING AT 6.02 PM, 6.07 PM AND 6.15 PM RESPECTIVELY.
AFTER THE RACES, THERE WILL BE 18 DEPARTURES FROM THE RACECOURSE TO KOWLOON BETWEEN 9.42 PM AND 11.42 PM. PASSENGERS READING FOR STATIONS NORTH OF THE RACECOURSE STATION SHOULD CHANGE FOR NORTHBOUND TRAINS AT SHA TIN STATION.
SPECIAL BUS SERVICES TO AND FROM SHA TIN RACECOURSE WILL ALSO BE REINTRODUCED FROM THE SAME DAY.
THESE SERVICES INCLUDE THOSE ON ROUTE 848 FROM TSUEN WAN FERRY, ROUTE 872 FROM TAI PO MARKET, ROUTE 887 FROM TAI KOK TSUI FERRY, ROUTE 888 FROM SHA TIN MARKET, ROUTE 889 FROM KWUN TONG FERRY AND ROUTE 891 FROM KOWLOON CITY FERRY.
THE CROSS-HARBOUR RACE COURSE BUS SERVICES ON ROUTE 881 TO KENNEDY TOWN, ROUTE 882 TO CHAI WAN (EAST) AND ROUTE 884 TO ABERDEEN WILL OPERATE ONLY FOR THE HOMEBOUND JOURNEYS FROM THE RACECOURSE.
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR FRANCHISED BUSES, OMNIBUSES, TAXIS, PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES AND PRIVATE CARS REMAIN UNCHANGED.
TAXI DRIVERS FROM KOWLOON TO THE RACECOURSE ARE REMINDED TO USE THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT ACCESS — THE FLYOVER (RAMP Al) ON TAI PO ROAD NEAR FO TAN KCR DEPOT.
THOSE APPROACHING THE RACECOURSE FROM TAI PO SHOULD USE THE SLIP ROAD OFF TAI PO ROAD OPPOSITE THE RACECOURSE RAILWAY STATION.
TAXIS AND PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES ARE PROHIBITED TO USE RAMP F ON THE EAST SIDE OF TAI PO ROAD LEADING TO THE MEMBERS’ MAIN ENTRANCE OF THE GRANDSTAND.
/TRAFFIC SIGNS .......
THURSDAY, NOVrMBEk J, 198?
12
TRAFFIC SIGNS HAVE BEEN ERECTED AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE ADVISED TO USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO GO TO THE SHA TIN RACE COURSE, AS PARKING SPACES IN THE VICINITY ARE EXTREMELY LIMITED.
VEHICLES PARKED ILLEGALLY ON THE ROAD OR PAVEMENT MAY BE TOWED AWAY WITHOUT WARNING.
------o ------
VIEWS ON CONSTITUENCY BOUNDARIES SOUGHT * * * * *
INCREASE
RESIDENTS’ VIEWS ARE BEING SOUGHT ON THE PROPOSED IN THENUMBER OF CONSTITUENCIES IN SHA TIN FROM FOUR TO EIGHT FOR THE 1985 DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS, THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR DONALD TSANG SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
SPEAKING AT A PRESS BRIEFING, HE SAID THE CHANGE WAS NECESSARY BECAUSE THE POPULATION IN SHA TIn’hAD DOUBLED SINCE THE LAST DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS IN MARCH 1982 FROM 120 □□□ TO 240 000.
BY EARLY 1985, THE POPULATION WILL REACH 410 000 AS COMPARED WITH 179 000 IN LATE 1982.
MR TSANG SAID THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION HAD BEEN REVIEWING DISTRICT AND CONSTITUENCY BOUNDARIES TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE OVERALL INCREASE IN POPULATION IN HONG KONG AND THE SHIFT IN POPULATION AMONG DISTRICTS.
+THIS IS A PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT TASK IN THE NEW TOWNS WHICH HAVE GROWN AND WILL CONTINUE TO GROW RAPIDLY OVER THE 1980S,+ HE SAID.
UNDER THE PROPOSAL, EACH NEW CONSTITUENCY WOULD HAVE ONE ELECTED MEMBER, AS AGAINST THE EXISTING PRACTICE OF HAVING TWO FOR EACH CONSTITUENCY.
♦ IN OTHER WORDS, THE NUMBER OF ELECTED SEATS ON THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED AT EIGHT, MR TSANG SAID.
♦ THE NEW CONSTITUENCIES ARE MORE COMPACT AND CONDUCIVE TO BETTER COMMUNITY BUILDING AND MOST OF THEM WILL NOT BE CHANGED AFTER 1985 AS THEY HAVE ACCOUNTED FOR THE ULTIMATE DEVELOPMENTS IN SHA TIN.
♦ THIS WILL ENABLE A STABLE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT IN SHA TIN AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL.♦
MR TSANG SAID THE DISTRICT OFFICE WILL CAREFULLY EXAMINE ALL COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS MADE, AND WILL SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT.
/THE PROPOSED .......
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1983
- 15 -
THE PROPOSED EIGHT CONSTITUENCIES FOR ELECTIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS 1
THE 1985 DISTRICT BOARD
NEW CONSTITUENCY
MAIN RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS
PROJECTED 1985 POPULATION
1. CHE KUNG MIU
2. SHA KOK
3. SHING MUN EAST
4. TAI WAI
5. TIN SUM
6. TOWN CENTRE
7. TSANG TAI UK
8. YUEN WO
SUN TIN WAI ESTATE 48 100
SUN CHUI ESTATE
SHA KOK ESTATE 50 600
YUEN CHAU KOK TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA
PRIVATE DEVELOPMENTS IN AREA 5A
SHA TIN CITY ONE 63 500
BELAIR GARDENS '/UE TIN COURT
TAI WAI VILLAGE 47 000
MEI LAM ESTATE
LUNG HANG ESTATE 32 400
TIN SUM VILLAGE
SHENG AND HA KENG HAU VILLAGES I .
HIN TIN VILLAGE
SUI WO COURT 52 000
SHA TIN CENTRE LUCKY PLAZA
JAT MIN ESTATE 56 400
CHUN SHEK ESTATE POK HONG ESTATE
LEK YUEN ESTATE 52 000
WO CHE ESTATE JOCKEY CLUB MAFOO QUARTERS 4 --------0-------
/14
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1983
14
SOUTHERN RESIDENTS PREPARE FOR FESTIVAL ******
A THREE-WEEK SOUTHERN DISTRICT FESTIVAL, FEATURING 18 ITEMS OF RECREATIONAL, CULTURAL AND SPORTS ACTIVITIES, WILL BE OPENED ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 6).
TO MARK THE OPENING, A WALKATHON AND A MARATHON RACE WILL BE HELD AT THE ABERDEEN COUNTRY PARK STARTING AT 9.30 AM. ABOUT 1 000 PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE PART.
THERE WILL ALSO BE A TELEMATCH FOR WORKERS AND A ONE-DAY TOUR OF THE DISTRICT FOR THE AGED AND THE HANDICAPPED.
OTHER PROGRAMMES IN THE FESTIVAL INCLUDE A BALLET SHOW, A DANCE MARATHON, CANTONESE OPERAS, A BOAT TRIP, A CONCERT, A FOLK DANCE SHOW, A CARNIVAL, AND MOVIE SHOWS.
HONG KONG TELEVISION BROADCASTS LIMITED WILL PRESENT A SPECIAL FEATURE ON THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT ON ITS +ENJOY YOURSELF TONIGHT* SHOW ON NOVEMBER 7.
ANNOUNCING DETAILS OF THE FESTIVAL TODAY (THURSDAY), THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR K.C. KWONG, SAID THE LOCAL DISTRICT BOARD HAD CONTRIBUTED 8150 000 TOWARDS THE FESTIVAL WHILE THE URBAN COUNCIL, THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICES, AND MANY LOCAL ORGANISATIONS HAD HELPED IN ORGANISING THE ACTIVITIES.
A SOUTHERN DISTRICT FESTIVAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE, COMPRISING REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE DISTRICT BOARD, GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, LOCAL ORGANISATIONS AND RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATIONS, HAD BEEN FORMED IN MAY.
♦THE FESTIVAL, THE FIRST IN THE DISTRICT, AIMS AT PROMOTING RESIDENTS’ SENSE OF BELONGING THROUGH ACTIVITIES,* HE SAID.
♦THE GREAT VARIETIES OF PROGRAMMES ARE SPECIALLY ORGANISED FOR DIFFERENT SECTORS OF THE COMMUNITY. ANYONE LIVING, WORKING OR STUDYING IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT IS WELCOME TO JOIN IN AND HAVE FUN IN THE FESTIVAL,* SAID MR KWONG.
ADMISSION TO MOST OF THE PROGRAMMES IS FREE AND FESTIVAL PROGRAMMES MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICE AND ITS SUB-OFFICES.
AN OPENING CEREMONY, AT WHICH THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM, WILL OFFICIATE, WILL BE HELD PRIOR TO THE WALKATHON AND MARATHON RACE ON SUNDAY.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT FESTIVAL AT 9.30 AM ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 6) AT THE SHEK PAI WAN PLAYGROUND, SHEK PAI WAN ESTATE, ABERDEEN. A GOVERNMENT 14-SEATER VAN, AM 5797, WILL LEAVE KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER FOR SHEK PAI WAN PLAYGROUND AT 8.30 AM.
-----o-------- /15.......
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1983
15
SPORTS DAY FOR EX-MENTAL PATIENTS x x x
THE NEW LIFE SECOND ANNUAL SPORTS DAY FOR EX-MENTAL PATIENTS -WILL BE HELD IN TANG SHIU KIN SPORTSGROUND IN TUEN MUN ON NOVEMBER 13 (SUNDAY).
SOME 300 PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE PART IN THE EVENTS, WHICH INCLUDE ATHLETICS, TELE-MATCHES AND A BASEBALL COMPETITION.
THERE WILL BE THREE SECTIONSi FOR MEN AGED BETWEEN 15 AND 30 AND BETWEEN 31 AND 41, AND FOR WOMEN OF ALL AGES.
THE SPORTS DAY IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE RECREATION AND SPORTS SERVICE OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT AND THE NEW LIFE PSYCHIATRIC REHABILITATION ASSOCIATION.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HEUNG YEE KUK, MR LAU WONG FAT WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY.
------o-------
DEMAND LACKING * * *
DUE TO INCREASED PRODUCTION COST AND LACK OF PUBLIC DEMAND, NO FURTHER SUPPLIES OF OFFICIAL REGISTERED ENVELOPES WILL BE ACQUIRED BY THE POST OFFICE, A SPOKESMAN ANNOUNCED TODAY.
HOWEVER EXISTING STOCKS OF REGISTERED ENVELOPES WILL STILL BE ON SALE AT THE GENERAL POST OFFICE, KOWLOON CENTRAL POST OFFICE AND TSIM SHA TSUI POST OFFICE, HE SAID.
0
CAR PARK SITE FOR LEASE X X X
THE LANDS DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE SHORT TERM TENANCY OF A PIECE OF CROWN LAND IN TUEN MUN NEW TOWN.
THE 5 450-SQUARE-METRE SITE IS TO BE USED AS A PUBLIC FEE-PAYING CAR PARK FOR PRIVATE CARS AND LIGHT VANS.
THE TENANCY IS INITIALLY FOR TWO YEARS AND MONTHLY THEREAFTER.
THE CLOSING DATE FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF TENDERS IS 12 NOON ON NOVEMBER 18.
TENDER FORMS, NOTICES AND CONDiTIONS, MAY BE OBTAINED FROM, AND TENDER PLAN INSPECTED AT, THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE TUEN MUN: THE LANDS DEPARTMENT, MURRAY BUILDING, 5TH FLOOR. GARDEN ROAD. HONG KONG ; AND THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE (KOWLOON WEST), KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 10TH FLOOR, 405 NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON.
o -
/16........
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1983
16
PAYMENTS AT NEW OFFICE
NN*
WAN DISTRICT OFFICE WILL BE
THE SHROFF’S OFF.CEW ™ MULT|.ST0RE¥
FLOOR, 194-208 CASTLE PEAK ROAD ON MONDAY
MOVED TO THE TSUEN WAN CARPARK BUILDING, 1OTH (NOVEMBER 7).
RESIDENTS CAN PAY TAX, FIXED PENALTY AND THEIR PENSIONS, PUBLIC IEW OFFICE.
THEIR WATER CHARGES, DEPOSITS, RATES, PROPERTY OTHER MISCELLANEOUS DEMAND NOTES, OR GET ASSISTANCE, AND REFUND OF DEPOSITS AT THE
OFFICE HOURS WILL BE FROM 9 AM TO ON WEEKDAYS, AND FROM 9 AM TO 11.30 AM
1 PM, AND FROM 2 PM TO 4 PM ON SATURDAYS.
NORTH POINT TRAFFIC PLAN
N N N
WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT, THE FOLLOWING TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED!
M THE EASTERN END OF WHARF ROAD AT ITS JUNCTION WITH TONG SHU I ROAD WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS FOR ROAD REPAIRS WORK.
* AT THE SAME TIME, WHARF ROAD AND THE SECTION OF NORTH POINT ROAD BETWEEN JAVA ROAD AND WHARF ROAD WILL BE RE-ROUTED TWO WAYS.
- - 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL 5-233191
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 198}
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
DOW'S PLANT SHOWS CONFIDENCE IN HK - GOVERNOR ............. 1
BUILDING A BETTER HONG KONG ................................ 1
MONETARY STATISTICS FOR SEPTEMBER......................... 3
CITY POLYTECHNIC BILL PUBLISHED .......................... 8
GOOD JOB PROSPECTS SEEN FOR GRADUATES ...................... 8
LOCAL INDUSTRY SUPPORTED ................................... 9
FEES EUR HONG KONG-REGISTERED VESSELS REVISED.............. 10
SPORTS FINALS SET FOR TOMORROW............................ 10
MONG KOK SPREADS THE HOME SAFETY MESSAGE ................ 12
DEMAND EXCEEDS TAXI LICENCE OFFER......................... 13
LANDING PLACE FOR CATTLE, PIGS AND SHEEP................... 13
ADVANCED LEVEL EXAMINATION 1985 ........................... 1^
+DANCE MARATHON+ IS A FESTIVAL FEATURE ................... lA-
LIGHTING DESIGNS SOUGHT FOR CONTEST ....................... 15
PHOTO CONTEST FOR WONG TAI SIN RESIDENTS................. 15
POP SHOW TO START OFF COURTESY DRIVE....................... 16
ROAD SECTION TO BE WIDENED................................. 17
SPECIAL TUEN MUN TRAFFIC PLAN .............,............... 17
150 TO CLIMB LION ROCK................................. 17
PLB BAN IN CAUSEWAY BAY ................................. 18
MID-LEVELS TAPS OFF....................................... 18
GUEST SPEAKER ............................................. 18
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1983
DOW’S PLANT SHOWS CONFIDENCE IN HK - GOVERNOR
*****
DOW CHEMICAL’S EXTENSION OF ITS PLANT ON TSING Yl ISLAND SHOWED THE COMPANY’S CONFIDENCE IN HONG KONG AND ITS CONVICTION THAT HONG KONG IS A PLACE IN WHICH MONEY, MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY CAN BE INVESTED PROFITABLY, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID TODAY.
HONG KONG WARMLY WELCOMES OVERSEAS INVESTMENT OF THIS KIND, THE GOVERNOR ADDED, IN OPENING THE COMPANY’S NEW PACIFIC PLANT, WHICH PRODUCES POLYSTYRENE FOAM SHEET, USED EXTENSIVELY FOR PACKAGING IN HONG KONG’S FAST FOOD AND PROCESSING INDUSTRIES.
SIR EDWARD SAID THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISED THE IMPORTANCE OF MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY IN HONG KONG, AND SOUGHT TO PROVIDE AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF INDUSTRIAL LAND, AN EFFICIENT INFRASTRUCTURE, A STABLE LOW TAX BASE, AND INDUSTRIAL AND TECHNICAL FACILITIES.
+WE ARE KEEN TO PROVIDE THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH PRIVATE ENTERPRISE, BOTH LOCAL AND FROM ABROAD, CAN PROSPER AND EXPAND,* HE SAID.
UNITED STATES COMPANIES, HE SAID, ARE THE LARGEST OVERSEAS INVESTORS IN THE LOCAL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY.
IN OCTOBER THIS YEAR, U.S. INVESTMENTS AMOUNTED TO $3.5 BILLION --- OR NEARLY HALF OF TOTAL DIRECT OVERSEAS INVESTMENTS IN HONG KONG.
THERE ARE 125 INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENTS WHOLLY OR PARTLY OWNED BY U.S. INTERESTS. TWELVE OF THESE WERE SET UP IN THE LAST TWO TO THREE YEARS WITH TOTAL INVESTMENT OF $640 MILLION, SIR EDWARD SAID.
+AMONG THEM, DOW CHEMICAL’S INVESTMENT IN HONG KONG IS A VIVID EXAMPLE OF THE MAXIM THAT NOTHING SUCCEEDS LIKE SUCCESS,* THE GOVERNOR SAID.
FROM ITS INITIAL OPERATION OF A REGIONAL MARKETING OFFICE HERE IN 1957, THE COMPANY MADE HONG KONG ITS PACIFIC AREA HEADQUARTERS IN 1966.
+A VERY SIGNIFICANT STEP WAS TAKEN IN 1976 WHEN ITS $160-MILLION POLYSTYRENE PLANT WAS OPENED ON TSING Yl ISLAND. THE PLANT HAS SINCE BEEN PROVIDING A VITAL SUPPLY OF HIGH QUALITY RAW MATERIALS FOR THE LOCAL PLASTICS INDUSTRY,* SIR EDWARD SAID.
------c ------
BUILDING A BETTER HONG KONG * * *
THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE THAT GRADUATES OF TODAY WILL LEAVE SCHOOL WITH A FIRM RESOLVE TO GO ON BUILDING +THIS GREAT CITY*
OF HONG KONG.
SPEAKING AT THE FIRST SPEECH DAY OF THE SHENG KUNG HUI HOLY TRINITY CHURCH SECONDARY SCHOOL TODAY, MR AKERS-JONES SAID: +FOR YOU GRADUATES, TOMORROW IS YOUR WORLD.*
IN HIS WORK, HE WAS REMINDED TIME AND AGAIN BY THE WORDS OF htNCIUS: +FROM THESE THINGS WE SEE HOW LIFE SPRINGS FROM SORRQW AND CALAMITY BUT DEATH FROM EASE AND PLEASURE,* HE SAID.
♦ SO IT HAS BEEN WITH YOUR SCHOOL WHOSE VIGOROUS LIFE WITH 1 200 STUDENTS, 40 TEACHERS AND MODERN FACILITIES SPRINGS FROM THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF THE PAST,* MR AKERS-JONES SAID.
♦ SO, TOO, WHEN WE LOOK BEYOND THE CONFINES OF YOUR SCHOOL, HOW MUCH OF OUR HARDWON LIFE IN HONG KONG SPRINGS FROM THE INGENUITY AND ENTERPRISE WITH WHICH WE HAVE TACKLED THE PROBLEMS OF THE PAST.
♦ IN HONG KONG WE HAVE BUILT, ARE BUILDING, AND WILL BUILD AN EVEN GREATER CITY THAN THAT OF TODAY.
♦ AND WE SHOULD VIEW THE FUTURE AS WE HAVE THE PAST, NOT IN TERMS OF HOW AND WHEN TO ESCAPE TO THE PURSUIT OF EASE AND PLEASURE OF WHICH MENCIUS WARNS US BUT HOW OUT OF OUR PRESENT PROBLEMS WE CAN BUILD LIFE FOR TOMORROW.+
MR AKERS-JONES SAID MANY TRANSCENDENT PHILOSOPHIES COULD BE TRANSLATED INTO QUITE SIMPLE TERMS TO GUIDE PEOPLE.
♦ FIRSTLY, CONCERN FOR YOUR FAMILY BEYOND THE FAMILY TO YOUR COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS BEYOND THEM TO THE COMMUNITY.
♦ SO WE CAN NEVER SAY ’THIS OR THAT IS NO CONCERN OF MINE’.
♦ EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS IS OUR CONCERN AND YOUR ATTITUDE TO THE SIMPLE PROBLEMS WHICH CONTINUALLY CONFRONT OUR COMMUNITY IS IMPORTANT.
♦ ’COURTESY’, ’CLEAN HONG KONG’, ’DEFEAT DRUGS’, ’FIGHT CRIME’, THESE ARE NOT MERELY SLOGANS AND EMPTY WORDS THEY SPEAK TO YOUi THEY INVOLVE US ALL.
♦ THE WAY WE FACE THESE PROBLEMS, WHICH DIRECTLY AFFECT OUR DAILY LIVES, ALSO INDICATES THE WAY IN WHICH WE FACE THE LESS CONCRETE PROBLEMS OF THE FUTURE.
♦ WE CAN BE CONFIDENT AND POSITIVE, OR WE CAN ESCAPE TO THAT WORLD OF EASE AND PLEASURE OF WHICH MENCIUS WARNS US,+ HE SAID.
MR AKERS-JONES SAID HE WAS ALSO HEARTENED BY THE WAY THE TRINITY SCHOOL IS JOINING WITH OTHER SCHOOLS IN KOWLOON CITY TO STRENGTHEN THE BONDS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
TO THIS END, A SCHOOL PRINCIPALS’ ASSOCIATION IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING ESTABLISHED IN THE DISTRICT.
♦ THIS ASSOCIATION WILL HELP MOBILISE THE TREMENDOUS RESOURCES OF THE TEACHING PROFESSION TO TACKLE PROBLEMS,+ HE ADDED.
FHIDhY, KC'v'J-iBEK 4, 1983
MONETARY STATISTICS FOR SEPTEMBER ft ft ft ft ft
DURING SEPTEMBER 1983 TOTAL MONEY SUPPLY INCREASED RAPIDLY, ACCORDING TO MONETARY STATISTICS PUBLISHED TODAY.
THE INCREASE IN THE BROADER MEASURES, M2 AND M3, WAS MADE UP OF SHARP INCREASES IN THE FOREIGN CURRENCY COMPONENTS WHICH WERE OFFSET TO A SLIGHT EXTENT BY SMALL DECREASES IN THE HONG KONG DOLLAR COMPONENTS.
BUT ALMOST THE ENTIRE INCREASE IN THE FOREIGN CURRENCY COMPONENTS WAS DUE TO THE VALUATION EFFECT ARISING FROM THE SUBSTANTIAL DEPRECIATION OF THE HONG KONG DOLLAR DURING THE MONTH.
FOR THE SECOND MONTH RUNNING, FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS WITH THE MONETARY SECTOR EXCEEDED HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS, BUT FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS INCLUDE SWAP DEPOSITS WHICH, FOR MOST ANALYTICAL PURPOSES, SHOULD BE REGARDED AS HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS.
TOTAL HONG KONG DOLLAR LOANS AND ADVANCES GREW MODERATELY IN SEPTEMBER.
WITHIN THIS TOTAL, THOSE FOR FINANCING VISIBLE TRADE GREW ONLY MARGINALLY BUT OTHER LOANS FOR USE IN HONG KONG GREW MORE SUBSTANTIALLY.
ALSO, EVEN AFTER DISCOUNTING FOR THE VALUATION EFFECT, THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN FOREIGN CURRENCY LOANS FOR THESE PURPOSES.
A SUMMARY OF THE MONETARY STATISTICS
TABLE 1 SETS OUT .. ...... ..
SEPTEMBER 1983 AND COMPARISONS WITH EARLIER MONTHS. TABLE SETS OUT SOME FIGURES FROM THE QUARTERLY ANALYSIS OF LOANS ADVANCES FOR USE IN HONG KONG BY SECTOR.
FOR 2 AND
HONG KONG DOLLAR MONEY SUPPLY
REFLECTING THE FALL IN HK$ DEPOSITS DURING THE MONTH. THE BROADER DEFINITIONS OF THE HK$ MONEY SUPPLY. HK$M2 AND HK»M3, FELL. THE FORMER FELL BY 0.3 PER CENT FOLLOWING A RISE OF 1.9 PER CENT IN AUGUST AND THE LATTER BY 0.5 PER CENT AFTER
AFTER
REMAINING UNCHANGED IN AUGUST.
HOWEVER, THE NARROWEST MEASURE, HK$M1, INCREASED BY 0.9 PER CENT, FOLLOWING A RISE OF 3.0 PER CENT IN AUGUST.
THE FALL IN HONG KONG DOLLAR DEMAND DEPOSITS WAS OFFSET BY A JUMP IN THE AMOUNT OF HONG KONG DOLLAR NOTES HELD BY THE PUBLIC, BOTH BEING COMPONENTS OF HK$M1.
IN THE THREE MONTHS TO SEPTEMBER, HK$M1 ROSE BY 3.3 PER CENT. H($M2 BY 4.4 PER CENT AND HK|M3 BY 2.3 PER CENT. OVER THE TWELVE MONTHS, THE CORRESPONDING GROWTH RATES WERE 8.8 PER CENT, 6.3 PER CENT AND 0.1 PER CENT.
IF FOREIGN CURRENCY +SWAP+ DEPOSITS ARE REGARDED AS HKS DEPOSITS, THE BROADER MEASURES OF THE MONEY SUPPLY, HK$M2 AND HK«M3, WOULD SHOW HIGHER GROWTH RATES.
/TOTAL I-iOLEY ......
FRIDAY, /OVJ.iizi 1983 4 -
TOTAL MONEY SUPPLY
TOTAL Ml GREW BY 0.9 PER CENT FOLLOWING A 3.4 PER CENT RISE IN AUGUST.
TOTAL M2 AND TOTAL M3 AGAIN INCREASED RAPIDLY, BY 3.8 PER CENT AND 3.7 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY. THE CORRESPONDING INCREASES IN AUGUST WERE 3.1 PER CENT AND 2.9 PER CENT.
AS NOTED ABOVE, THESE FIGURES WERE HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY THE VALUATION EFFECT OF THE HONG KONG DOLLAR’S DEPRECIATION.
IN THE THREE MONTHS TO SEPTEMBER, TOTAL Ml GREW BY A MARGINAL 0.2 PER CENT.
IN CONTRAST, TOTAL M2 AND TOTAL M3 GREW BY 10.0 PER CENT AND 9.9 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
OVER THE TWELVE MONTHS, TOTAL Ml GREW BY 6.6 PER CENT, TOTAL M2 BY 29.9 PER CENT AND TOTAL M3 BY 25.1 PER CENT.
DEPOSITS
FOLLOWING A FALL OF 0.1 PER CENT IN AUGUST, HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS FELL FURTHER BY 1.0 PER CENT.
IN THE THREE MONTHS TO SEPTEMBER, THEY ROSE BY 1.8 PER CENT BUT OVER THE TWELVE MONTHS, THEY FELL BY 0.9 PER CENT.
DURING THE MONTH THERE WAS A SMALL SHIFT OF BANK DEPOSITS FROM HONG KONG DOLLAR INTO FOREIGN CURRENCY, BUT MOST OF THE 8.2 PER CENT INCREASE IN FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS REFLECTED THE VALUATION EFFECT ARISING FROM THE SUBSTANTIAL DEPRECIATION OF THE HONG KONG DOLLAR DURING SEPTEMBER.
OVER THE THREE MONTHS TO SEPTEMBER, FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS ROSE BY 19.1 PER CENT AND OVER THE TWELVE MONTHS, BY 66.1 PER CENT.
LOANS AND ADVANCES
TOTAL LOANS AND ADVANCES EXTENDED BY BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES ROSE BY 5.5 PER CENT AFTER A RISE OF 2.2 PER CENT IN AUGUST.
PART OF THE RISE IN THE TOTAL REPRESENTED THE HIGHER HONG KONG DOLLAR VALUE OF THE FOREIGN CURRENCY COMPONENT, WHICH GREW BY 9.9 PER CENT.
HONG KONG DOLLAR LOANS, WHICH ACCOUNT FOR HALF OF THE TOTAL, GREW BY 1.4 PER CENT FOLLOWING A RISE OF 0.1 PER CENT IN AUGUST.
WHILE HONG KONG DOLLAR LOANS TO FINANCE VISIBLE TRADE GREW ONLY MARGINALLY. BY 0.5 PER CENT, FOREIGN CURRENCY LOANS FOR THIS PURPOSE GREW BY 12.2 PER CENT.
OTHER LOANS FOR USE IN HONG KONG WHICH ARE DENOMINATED IN HONG KONG DOLLARS GREW BY 1.5 PER CENT, WHILE THOSE DENOMINATED IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES GREW BY 12.5 PER CENT.
FRIDA 1', HOVil-.biiR 4, 5
QUARTERLY ANALYSIS OF LOANS FOR USE IN HONG KONG
IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1983, LOANS EXTENDED BY BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES TO THE WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADES GREW BY A SUBSTANTIAL 15.6 PER CENT, IN SHARP CONTRAST TO THE DECLINE OF 4.1 PER CENT IN THE SECOND QUARTER.
THE INCREASE WAS PARTLY SEASONAL BUT MAY ALSO BE INDICATIVE CF A POSSIBLE REVIVAL OF CONSUMER DEMAND.
LOANS TO THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR GREW BY ONLY 2.0 PER CENT FOLLOWING A 1.8 PER CENT GROWTH IN THE SECOND QUARTER.
LOANS TO FINANCE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION, AND PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT ROSE BY 4.6 PER CENT, AGAINST A FALL OF 2.1 PER CENT IN THE SECOND QUARTER.
GROWTH OF LOANS TO INDIVIDUALS FOR THE PURCHASE OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY, AT 6.3 PER CENT, CONTINUED TO BE SUBSTANTIAL, ALTHOUGH THIS IS SLIGHTLY LESS THAN THE CORRESPONDING GROWTH OF 7.4 PER CENT RECORDED IN THE SECOND QUARTER.
FOREIGN CURRENCY POSITION
THE SPOT FOREIGN CURRENCY POSITION OF THE MONETARY SECTOR SHOWED NET LIABILITIES OF $28.3 BILLION AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER, COMPARED WITH $25.0 BILLION AT THE END OF AUGUST.
BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES HAD NET LIABILITIES OF $20.5 BILLION AND $7.7 BILLION RESPECTIVELY.
STATISTICS COLLECTED (ON THE BASIS OF SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS) BY THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES SHOWED THAT AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER, THE MONETARY SECTOR HAD NET SPOT FOREIGN CURRENCY LIABILITIES OF $30.6 BILLION WHICH WAS MORE THAN COVERED BY NET FORWARD ASSETS OF $56.0 BILLION.
LIQUIDITY RATIOS
THE AVERAGE LIQUIDITY RATIO (AS DEFINED IN S.18 OF THE BANKING ORDINANCE) FOR ALL BANKS ROSE TO 49.7 PER CENT FROM 48.5 PER CENT IN AUGUST.
THE AVERAGE LIQUIDITY RATIO (AS DEFINED IN S.24A OF THE DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANY ORDINANCE) FOR ALL DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES ROSE TO 68.0 PER CENT FROM 66.2 PER CENT IN AUGUST.
NUMBER OF REPORTING INSTITUTIONS
THE NUMBER OF REPORTING LICENSED BANKS WAS UNCHANGED AT 133.
THE NUMBER OF LICENSED DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES INCREASED BY 1 TO 30 AND THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES FELL BY 1 TO 319.
/1’ABLiD 1 ....
F-ilDAf, NOVU’.BEH , 198?
6
Monetary Statistics - September 198j
Earlier months
(X change to September 1983)
Money Supply Aiir., June 19^3
M1 - HK$ 27,591 27,351 ( >0.9$ ) 26,698 ( ( + 3.3$ )
Foreign Currency 2,417 2,384 ( :+i.4,£ ) 3,247 ( (-25-6')
Total 30, )08 29,735 1 :+o.9S ) 29,945 ( [+0.2$ )
M2 - HK| 126,938 127,2*9 I ;-o.3^) 121,613 I (+4.4,4 )
Foreign Currency 126,446 116,876 1 (+8.24 ) 10£,680 I (+16.3/,)
Total >.53,3«4 244,176 I (+3.8^) 230,293 1 ( + 10.0;9
M3 - HKS 148,528 149.229 I (-0.5$) 146,211 I (+2.3$ )
Foreign Currency 150,922 139,415 1 (+8.3.-4 ) 127,274 I [ + 18.64)
Total 299,450 288,6.43 1 ( + 3-7$ ) 272,485 I (+9.9,4 )
Deposits Demand deposits 17,544 17,811 I (-1.5'4 ) 18,365 I (-4.54 )
Savings deposit 71,150 71,487 I (-0.5$ ) 69,502 i (+2.44 )
Time deposits with banks 146,941 138,051 1 [+6.4/, ) 125,584 I ( + 17.09
Time deposits with dtcs 44,776 43,220 1 (+3.6,4 ) 41,025 1 (+9.1,4 )
All HK| deposits 133,627 134,954 1 (-1.0$ ) 131,220 (+1.8* )
All foreign currency deposits 146,785 135,615 1 [+8.2/, ) 123,256 I (+19.10
Total 230,412 270,569 1 (+3.64 ) 251,476 ( + 10.2’.)
Loans and advances
To finance Hong Kong*s visible trade 29,276 23, >96 1 '+4.2; ) 28,287 ( ( + 3.5% )
To finance merchandising trade not 3,073 2,6 n ( >1'-8’) P.68.1 (7
touching Hong Kong
Other loans for use in Hong Kong 212,802 275,8’5 ( >3.4 ) 200,096 ( >6.34 )
Other loans for use outside Hong Kong 127,339 121,228 ( +5.9« ) 114,642 (+11.19
Other loans where the place of use is not known 21,818 17,149 ( +27.29 15,072 (+44.8,9
All loans in HK$ 1 >7,055 194,3'5 ( + 1.4$ ) 191,536 ( +2.94 )
All loans in foreign currencies 177,253 179,563 ( +'<.97' ) 169,240 ( +16.6,0)
Total 194,308 373, >2« ( *5*5£ ) 360,776 (+9-3$ )
/TABLE 2
TABLE 1 IIKJnn
Sept., 1982
25,369 (+8.8^ )
2,772 (-12.84)
28,141 (+6.6'^ )
1>%468 (+6.34 )
75,^19 (+67.2’0
195,087 (+29.99
148,331 (+o.i$ )
91,004 (+65.8JC)
239,335 (+25.1'0
17,177 (+2.1,4 )
63,623 ( + 11.89
99,310 (+48.0,4)
43, 138 (+3.8,4 )
134,896 (-O.9S ) 88,352 (+66.19
223,248 (+25.69
25,089 ( + 16.79
2,890 (+<.3< )
180,118 (+18.O<)
91,360 (+10.49
12,069 (+80.39
176,424 (+11.79
135,303 (+45.89
311,727 (+26.59 .
FRIDAY, NOVEl-IBER 4, 198?
- 7 - TABLE 2
HK$ ran
QUARTERLY ANALYSIS OF LOANS FOR USE IN HONG KONG BY SECTOR - Sept., 1983
Earlier quarters (% change to Sept., 83)
Ending Sept., 1983 Ending June 1983 Ending March 1983 Ending Sept., 1982
Manufacturing 18,698 18,340 (+2.0 ) 18,016 (+3.8 ) 16,512 (+13.2)
of which textile 3,215 3,057 (+5.2 ) 3,070 (+4.7 ) 3,111 (+3.3 )
Transport and transport equipment 20.438 17,979 (+13.5) 16,607 (+22.9) 14,192 (+43.8)
Building, construction and property 5b536 49,271 (+4.6 ) 50,307 (+2.4 ) 46.576 (+10.6)
development
Wholesale and retail trade 24,364 21,071 (+15.6) 21,980 (+10.8) 20,006 (+21.8)
Financial concerns* 14,151 13,553 (+4.4 ) 13,665 (+3.6 ) 13,298 (+6.4 )
Individuals!
to purchase flats in the 3,038 2,968 (+2.4 ) 2.762 (+10.0) 2.043 (+48.7)
Home Ownership Scheme and Private Sector Participation Scheme
to purchase other residential 21,331 20,068 (+6.3 ) 18,682 (+14.2) 15.938 (+33.8)
property
other purposes 25,524 24,642 (+3.6 ) 23,138 (+10.3) 22,878 (+11.6)
Others 33,752 32,203 (+4.8 ) 30,460 (+10.8) 28,876 (+16.9)
Total 212,802 200,096 (+6.3 ) 195,617 (+8.8 ) 180,318 (+18.0)
•This excludes funds advanced to banka
and deposit-taking companies
/8........
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1983
- 8 -
CITY POLYTECHNIC BILL PUBLISHED
*****
THE CITY POLYTECHNIC OF HONG KONG IS TO BE FORMALLY ESTABLISHED UNDER PROPOSED LEGISLATION PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY.
THE INSTITUTION WILL PROVIDE FOR STUDIES, TRAINING AND RESEARCH IN TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, SCIENCE, COMMERCE, ARTS AND OTHER SUBJECTS OF LEARNING.
THE CITY POLYTECHNIC OF HONG KONG BILL 1983 IS MODELLED ON THE EXISTING ORDINANCE FOR THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC BUT INCLUDES SOME CHANGES, SUCH AS THE INCLUSION OF SPECIFIC POWERS TO MAKE DEGREE AWARDS, AND PROVISION FOR A LARGER COUNCIL.
THE COUNCIL WILL BE THE SOLE GOVERNING AND EXECUTIVE BODY AND WILL COMPRISE MEMBERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE IN COMMERCE OR INDUSTRY IN HONG KONG, STAFF REPRESENTATIVES, PUBLIC OFFICERS, AND ACADEMICS FROM OTHER TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS.
THE BILL WILL BE INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY (NOVEMBER 9) AND IS EXPECTED TO RECEIVE ITS THIRD READING ON NOVEMBER 23.
ANYONE WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ON ITS PROVISIONS MAY WRITE TO UMELCO, AT SWIRE HOUSE, 12TH FLOOR, CHATER ROAD, HONG KONG, OR TO THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER AT PRINCE’S BUILDING, ROOM 1320-1322, CHATER ROAD, HONG KONG.
-------o----------
GOOD JOB PROSPECTS SEEN FOR GRADUATES
*****
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE TODAY EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE IN THE GROWING PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG.
SPEAKING AT THE SECOND GRADUATION CEREMONY OF THE HANG SENG SCHOOL OF COMMERCE. SIR JOHN SAID IT WAS NOT SURPRISING THAT MORE 96 PER CENT O^ THE SCHOOL’S FIRST BATCH OF GRADUATES IN 1982 NOW WORKING IN COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL AND GOVERNMENT SECTORS THE BALANCE STILL INVOLVED IN HIGHER EDUCATION.
THAN WERE WITH
♦I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THIS YEAR’S GRADUATES WILL HAVE SIMILARLY GOOD EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, FOR I AM CONFIDENT IN THE GROWING PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG,* HE SAID.
SIR JOHN NOTED THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HANG SENG SCHOOL OF COMMERCE IN 1980 HAD MEANT ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR FURTHER FORMAL FULL-TIME TRAINING FOR THOSE FIFTH FORM SCHOOL LEAVERS INTERESTED IN FOLLOWING A CAREER IN COMMERCE.
9 "
♦FOR THE GENEROUS AND FAR-SIGHTED FOUNDERS OF THE SCHOOL, IT HAS MEANT THE REALISATION OF THEIR EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF MEETING THE NEED FOR SKILLED MANPOWER. FOR THE COMMUNITY OF HONG KONG, IT PROVIDES ADDITIONAL TRAINED YOUNG PEOPLE EAGER TO WORK IN THE COMMERCIAL AND BUSINESS SECTORS, AND AN EXPANSION OF HUMAN RESOURCES TO COPE WITH THE EVER-CHANGING AND INCREASINGLY COMPLEX FINANCIAL WORLD,* HE SAID.
SIR JOHN SAID HE WAS MUCH IMPRESSED THAT, SINCE STARTING IN 1980, THE SCHOOL HAD INCREASED ITS ENROLMENT FROM AN INITIAL 210 TO THE PRESENT 680 AND ITS TEACHING STAFF FROM 15 TO 37. THE NUMBER OF GRADUATES HAD ALSO INCREASED FROM 149 LAST YEAR TO 219 THIS YEAR.
♦ALL THESE FIGURES ARE INDICATIVE OF TREMENDOUS WORK AND ACHIEVEMENT BY THOSE CONCERNED,♦ HE POINTED OUT.
-------o----------
LOCAL INDUSTRY SUPPORTED * X * X
THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE, SUPPORTS LOCAL INDUSTRY IN DEVELOPING PRODUCT FINISHING AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL FACILITIES.
THIS WAS STATED TODAY BY THE DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY, MR JOHN YAXLEY WHEN HE OPENED THE PRODUCT FINISHING AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL EXHIBITION HELD BY THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE AT HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC.
♦THE GOVERNMENT, IN ASSISTING THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE TO EXPAND ITS METAL FINISHING FACILITIES, SEEKS TO PROVIDE FOR LOCAL INDUSTRY THE NECESSARY SUPPORT FOR METAL FINISHING AND PROCESS CONTROL OF FINISHING SERVICES.
♦THE CENTRE NOW HAS TWO FULLY EQUIPPED LABORATOR IES OFFERING A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES IN THESE TECHNOLOGY FIELDS. I AM HAPPY TO LEARN THAT INDUSTRY’S RESPONSE TO THESE SERVICES IS GOOD AND THAT THE CENTRE IS NOW PLANNING TO EXPAND ITS FACILITIES TO CATER FOR SELECTIVE PLATING, VACUUM COATING AND GOLD ASSAY WORK.+ HE SAID.
TURNING TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL FACILITIES PROVIDED BY THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE, AS FEATURED IN THE EXHIBITION, » YAXLEY POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT’S ROLE IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WAS IN RESPECT OF POLICY MAKING, THE FORMULATION OF LEGISLATION AND, SUBSEQUENTLY, POLICING.
♦WE, IN THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT, ARE CONCERNED WITH STRIKING A BALANCE BETWEEN ATTAINING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT AND ALLOWING OUR INDUSTRY TO FUNCTION COMPETITIVELY.
♦THE PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE HAS BEEN FUNDED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO HELP INDUSTRY COMPLY WITH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION LEGISLATION IN THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE MANNER,♦ HE CONCLUDED.
0------- /10 .............
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1983
" 10 -
FEES FOR HONG KONG-REGISTERED VESSELS REVISED *****
THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED NEW REGULATIONS TO REVISE FEES FOR HONG KONG-REGISTERED VESSELS TO KEEP UP WITH INCREASED EXPENSES AND TO FOLLOW THE CURRENT UK PRACTICE OF RECOVERING FULL COSTS FOR SERVICES RENDERED.
♦THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY OF NOT SUBSIDISING COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES IN GENERAL,+ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MARINE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE MERCHANT SHIPPING (FEES) (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) REGULATIONS 1983, APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL, ARE PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY.
THE FEES COVER A BROAD RANGE OF SURVEYING SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE MARINE DEPARTMENT FOR VESSELS REGISTERED IN HONG KONG.
MOST OF THE FEES WERE LAST REVISED IN 1970 WHILE SOME HAVE REMAINED UNCHANGED SINCE 1965, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE NEW REGULATIONS ALSO INCORPORATE PROVISIONS TO ENABLE THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE TO RECOVER THE COSTS OF SERVICES NOT COVERED BY EXISTING LEGISLATION.
♦IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE REVISED FEES WILL GENERATE AN ADDITIONAL REVENUE OF SOME $13 MILLION A YEAR, WITH NO ADDITIONAL STAFF REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT THE AMENDMENTS,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
♦THE FEE INCREASES, ALTHOUGH LARGE IN PERCENTAGE TERMS IN SOME CASES, ARE INSIGNIFICANT IN ABSOLUTE TERMS WHEN COMPARED WITH THE VALUE OF THE AVERAGE VESSEL AND ITS VOLUME OF BUSINESS INVOLVED,♦ HE ADDED.
------c-------
SPORTS FINALS SET FOR TOMORROW * * * *
THE FINALS OF THE TERRITORY-WIDE INTER-SCHOOL OLYMPIAD WILL BE HELD TOMORROW (SATURDAY) AT THE WAN CHAI SPORTS GROUND, MARKING THE CLOSE OF THE TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETICS MEET IN WHICH MORE THAN 160 TEAMS FROM SECONDARY SCHOOLS ORIGINALLY TOOK PART.
THE ATHLETIC MEET IS ORGANISED BY THE GOVERNMENT’S ANTISMOKING PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN STEERING COMMITTEE AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE CURRENT PUBLICITY PHASE AIMED AT DISSUADING YOUNG PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY STUDENTS, FROM SMOKING.
CO-ORGANISERS OF THE PROJECT INCLUDE THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT,
THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES, THE HONG KONG SCHOOLS SPORTS ASSOCIATION, THE NEW TERRITORIES SCHOOLS SPORTS ASSOCIATION AND THE HONG KONG SCHOOLS SPORTS COUNCIL.
FRIDAY, NOVQIBEH *+, 1985
11
TWENTY-FOUR WINNING TEAMS - 12 EACH FROM THE BOYS AND GIRLS DIVISIONS - WHICH BEAT THEIR COMPETITORS LAST MONTH IN A SERIES OF REGIONAL HEATS AT THE HONG KONG STADIUM, MONGKOK STADIUM AND KWAI CHUNG SPORTS GROUND, WILL VIE FOR OVERALL CHAMPIONSHIP IN FOUR EVENTS TOMORROW.
IN THE BOYS DIVISION, THERE WILL BE A 100 METRE RACE, LONG JUMP, A 1 500 METRE RACE AND JAVELIN THROW, AND IN THE GIRLS SECTION THERE WILL BE A 100 METRE RACE, LONG JUMP, AN 800 METRE RACE AND SHOT PUT.
THE OVERALL CHAMPION, THE FIRST AND SECOND RUNNER-UP TEAMS WILL EACH RECEIVE TROPHIES AS WELL AS COUPONS FOR PHYSICAL EDUCATION EQUIPMENT. THE INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS OF THE BOYS AND GIRLS DIVISIONS WILL ALSO GAIN PRIZES.
THE DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SERVICES, MR PETER TSAO- THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MR GEOFFREY BARNES- AND THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR JOHN WINFIELD, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE PRIZE PRESENTATION IN THE AFTERNOON.
THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY’S PROGRAMME WILL BE A 400 METRE CELEBRITY INVITATION RELAY AT 3 PM, TO BE FOLLOWED BY A 100 bETRE CELEBRITY INVITATION RACE.
PARTICIPATING TEAMS WILL COME FROM THE TELEVISION BROADCASTS LIMITED, RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG, HONG KONG COMMERCIAL BROADCASTING COMPANY LIMITED, THE OUTSTANDING YOUNG PERSONS ASSOCIATION, CAPITAL ARTISTS LIMITED AND THE COMPOSERS AND AUTHORS SOCIETY OF HONG KONG LIMITED.
MEMBERS OF THE TEAMS WILL INCLUDE URBAN COUNCILLOR MR HOWARD YOUNG. DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER, MISS ALICE YUK AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICES, MR Y.F. HUI. OTHERS WILL BE POPULAR DISC JOCKEYS, SINGERS AND TV PERSONALITIES, INCLUDING ALBERT AU, CONNIE MAK, CHAN MAN-YEE, FEFE TANG, ANDERS NELSSON AND TEDDY ROBIN.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE SAID, +WE ARE DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF THESE ORGANISATIONS WHICH IN ITSELF DEMONSTRATES THE EXTENT OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR
THE ANT I-SMOKING CAUSE.+
THE GRAND FINAL OF THE ATHLETIC MEET WILL BE RECORDED BY THE TELEVISION BROADCASTS LIMITED AND SCREENED IN THE +SPORTS WORLD* PROGRAMME ON JADE CHANNEL FROM 9.30 PM TO 11 PM ON SUNDAY
(NOVEMBER 6).
/12........
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1983'
12
MONG KOK SPREADS THE HOME SAFETY MESSAGE *****
A HOME SAFETY CAMPAIGN, FEATURING TWO WEEKS OF EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES TO DRIVE HOME THE MESSAGE TO ALL HOUSEHOLDS IN MONG KOK, WILL BE HELD FROM SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 6).
FOLLOWING THE OPENING CEREMONY AT 2 PM, A CARNIVAL WITH 15 GAME STALLS, AN EXHIBITION, A STALL DESIGN COMPETITION, A FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT DISPLAY AND A VARIETY SHOW WILL BE STAGED AT THE MONG KOK MACPHERSON PLAYGROUND.
A DISTRICT OFFICE SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR RESIDENTS TO BETTER ACQUAINT THEMSELVES WITH THE BASIC KNOWLEDGE ON HOME SAFETY, ESPECIALLY IN MONG KOK WHERE MOST RESIDENTS LIVE IN SMALL COMPARTMENTS IN MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS.
♦ THE PRIMARY AIM IN ORGANISING THIS CAMPAIGN IS TO EQUIP THE GENERAL PUBLIC WITH SUCH KNOWLEDGE IN ORDER TO BRING DOWN THE DOMESTIC CASUALTY RATE,* HE SAID.
THROUGH THE ACTIVITIES, HE SAID, IT WAS HOPED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON FIRE HAZARD PRECAUTIONS, BURGLARY PREVENTIONS, SAFE USE OF ELECTRICAL HOME APPLIANCES, FIRST-AIDS, PREVENTION AGAINST SUCH ACCIDENTS AS FOOD POISONING AND ELECTRIC SHOCK, AND COMMON DISEASES AFFECTING BABIES.
OTHER ACTIVITIES IN THE CAMPAIGN INCLUDE i
- A QUIZ COMPETITION FOR THE +SAFEST HOME*;
- A MODEL FAMILY CONTEST IN WHICH EACH AREA COMMITTEE IN THE DISTRICT COULD NOMINATE TWO FAMILIES;
- A VISIT TO THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT’S TRAINING SCHOOL IN YUEN LONG;
- A HOME SAFETY SLIDE SHOW FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS; AND
- A SEMINAR ON HOME SAFETY
COSTING $80 000, THE CAMPAIGN IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD, AREA COMMITTEES AND MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES IN THE DISTRICTS AND OTHER LOCAL ORGANISATIONS.
THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR WILFRED WONG, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE MONG KOK HOME SAFETY CAMPAIGN AT 2 PM ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 6) AT THE MONG KOK MACPHERSON PLAYGROUND.
------o--------
/13 ......
FRIDAr, NOVEMBER 4, 1983"
- 15 -DEMAND EXCEEDS TAXI LICENCE OFFER K * * *
RESULTS OF THE LATEST TAXI LICENCE TENDER WERE GAZETTED TODAY (NOVEMBER 4).
NINE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-ONE TENDERS WERE SUBMITTED FOR THE 300 URBAN TAXI LICENCES PUT UP FOR BIDDING, WHICH CLOSED ON OCTOBER 7.
THE HIGHEST BID ACCEPTED WAS $145 500 AND THE LOWEST $130 500.
THIS GAVE AN AVERAGE PREMIUM OF $133 901.57, REPRESENTING A DECREASE OF SEVEN PER CENT COMPARED WITH THE LAST TENDER EXERCISE.
THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY-SEVEN TENDERS WERE SUBMITTED FOR THE 150 NEW TERRITORIES TAXI LICENCES OFFERED.
SUCCESSFUL BIDS RANGED FROM A HIGH OF $40 500 TO A LOW OF $20 188, GIVING AN AVERAGE PREMIUM OF $24 629.63.
THIS REPRESENTED A DECREASE OF 17.77 PER CENT ON THE PREVIOUS OFFER.
-------0---------
LANDING PLACE FOR CATTLE, PIGS AND SHEEP * X *
THE CHEUNG SHA WAN ABATTOIR PIER HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AN AUTHORISED LANDING PLACE FOR CATTLE, PIGS, SHEEP AND GOATS TO BE SLAUGHTERED FOR FOOD.
THE DESIGNATION IS MADE IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY, UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH (ANIMALS AND BIRDS)(AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1983.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT SAID THE LANDING OF SOME 3 000 LIVE ANIMALS A DAY AT CHEUNG SHA WAN WILL EASE THE PRESSURE AT THE MA TAU KOK PIER, WHICH WILL NOW BE USED SOLELY FOR THE LANDING OF CATTLE.
-------o - -
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1983'
14
ADVANCED LEVEL EXAMINATION 1985
* * *
SCHOOLS WISHING TO ENTER CANDIDATES FOR THE FIRST TIME TO SIT THE HONG KONG ADVANCED LEVEL EXAMINATION IN 1985 AND TO ENTER CANDIDATES FOR A PRACTICAL SUBJECT NOT PREVIOUSLY TAKEN MUST APPLY TO THE SECRETARY OF THE HONG KONG EXAMINATIONS AUTHORITY FOR APPROVAL BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 1983, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
APPLICATION FORMS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE EXAMINATIONS AUTHORITY AT CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 1O/F, 393 CANTON ROAD, KOWLOON.
COMPLETED FORMS SHOULD BE RETURNED TO THE SECRETARY OF THE HONG KONG EXAMINATIONS AUTHORITY BY DECEMBER 1 THIS YEAR, 16 MONTHS BEFORE THE DATE OF THE EXAMINATION FOR WHICH THEY WISH TO ENTER CANDIDATES.
THE HANDBOOK OF REGULATIONS AND SYLLABUSES FOR THE 1985 EXAMINATION IS NOW ON SALE AT THE PUBLICATION UNIT, HONG KONG EXAMINATIONS AUTHORITY, 17 TSEUK LUK STREET, SAN PO KONG, KOWLOON-THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, CONNAUGHT PLACE, HONG KONG OR ANY OF THE MAJOR BOOK STORES.
FURTHER INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM MR C.Y. WAN OF THE HONG KONG EXAMINATIONS AUTHORITY ON 3-698731.
-----o--------
♦DANCE MARATHON* IS A FESTIVAL FEATURE
X * X
DANCING ENTHUSIASTS IN SOUTHERN DISTRICT ARE INVITED TO TAKE PART IN AN EIGHT-HOUR DANCING MARATHON ON NOVEMBER 19.
THE EVENT IS OPEN TO ANYONE OVER 18 YEARS AND LIVING, WORKING OR STUDYING IN THE DISTRICT.
THE MARATHON, WHICH IS ONE OF THE ACTIVITIES IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT FESTIVAL, WILL BE HELD AT THE INDOOR GAMES HALL OF THE ABERDEEN MARKET COMPLEX.
STARTING AT 2.30 PM DIFFERENT TYPES OF MUSIC WILL BE PLAYED
FOR PARTICIPANTS TO DANCE NON-STOP UNTIL 10 PM.
PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED TO THE THREE BEST DANCERS AND THOSE WHO
COMPLETE THE MARATHON.
ENTRY FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OFFICE AND ITS WAH FU AND STANLEY SUB-OFFICE, AND ALL COMMUNITY CENTRES IN THE DISTRICT.
FURTHER ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE TO THE DISTRICT OFFICE AT 5-540271 EXT. 241. --------------------------------o--------
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1983
15
LIGHTING DESIGNS SOUGHT FOR CONTEST M M * * *
ENTRIES ARE BEING INVITED FOR A FESTIVE LIGHTING DESIGN COMPETITION AND THE WINNING DESIGN WILL BE USED FOR DECORATING THE TWO BRIDGES ALONG THE SHING MUN RIVER.
THE DESIGN CAN BE IN ANY SIZE, EXCEPT THAT NOT MORE THAN 10 000 LIGHT BULBS ARE TO BE USED FOR DECORATING THE TWO BRIDGES.
THE DECORATION ON P5 BRIDGE, A SECTION OF SHA TIN RURAL COMMITTEE ROAD WHICH CONNECTS LEK YUEN ESTATE AND SHA KOK ESTATE, WILL HAVE A CHRISTMAS MOTIF, WHILE P6 BRIDGE LINKING CITY ONE AND WO CHE ESTATE WILL CARRY THE CHINESE NEW YEAR MESSAGE.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SHA TIN FESTIVE LIGHTING ORGANISING COMMITTEE, MR CHAN WAY, SAID TODAY THE LIGHTING DISPLAY, COSTING $300 000, IS TO BEAUTIFY THE NEW TOWN AND CREATE A FESTIVE SPIRIT AMONG THE RESIDENTS.
♦THIS IS ALSO THE FIRST TIME WHEN LOCAL RESIDENTS ARE INVITED TO GIVE IDEAS ON HOW TO DECORATE PUBLIC ROADS,* HE SAID.
THE CLOSING DATE FOR THE COMPETITION, SPONSORED BY THE LOCAL DISTRICT BOARD, IS NOVEMBER 20.
THE WINNER WILL BE AWARDED A $1 000 CASH PRIZE AND A TROPHY.
A PAMPHLET ABOUT THE COMPETITION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM ALL DISTRICT OFFICES.
ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE AT 0-617111 EXT. 294 OR, FROM NOVEMBER 11, AT 0-6065489.
------o-------
PHOTO CONTEST FOR WONG TAI SIN RESIDENTS
******
RESIDENTS AND STUDENTS IN WONG TAI SIN ARE INVITED TO TAKE PART IN A PHOTOGRAPHIC CONTEST AND WIN VALUABLE PRIZES.
THE CONTEST, ORGANISED ACTIVITIES IN THE TWO-MONTH
BY THE DISTRICT BOARD, IS ONE OF THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT FESTIVAL.
THE THEME OF THE CONTEST IS ♦WONG TAI SIN IS MY HOME+.
ENTRIES FOR THE OPEN GROUP SHOULD BE MONOCHROME OR COLOUR PRINTS, SIZE 20.32 CM X 25.4 CM (8R ENLARGEMENTS), WHILE THOSE FOR THE STUDENT GROUP SHOULD BE 3R OR 4R ENLARGEMENTS.
CONTESTANTS ARE REQUESTED TO MARK AT THE BACK OF EACH PHOTOGRAPH THEIR NAMES, OCCUPATIONS, IDENTITY CARD NUMBERS, CONTACT ADDRESSES AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS, PLUS A DESCRIPTION OF THE THEME AND LOCATION WHERE THE PICTURE IS TAKEN.
/a maximum .......
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER U, 19bJ
- 16 -
A MAXIMUM OF 10 PHOTOGRAPHS MAY BE SUBMITTED BY EACH CONTESTANT AND SHOULD REACH THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT OFFICE OR SUB-OFFICES BEFORE NOVEMBER 25.
THIRTEEN WINNING ENTRIES IN EACH GROUP WILL BE SELECTED AND THE RESULTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON DECEMBER 5.
MEANWHILE, AN EXHIBITION ON MORE THAN 70 WORKS BY A LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER, WATER POON, WILL BE STAGED AT THE FUNG MING HALL OF SIK SIK YUEN FROM TOMORROW (SATURDAY).
THE EXHIBITION WILL BE OPENED FROM 2 PM TO 5 PM TOMORROW AND FROM 9 AM TO 5 PM ON SUNDAY.
-------o---------
POP SHOW TO START OFF COURTESY DRIVE * * * *
THE LARGE SCALE YAU MA TEI COURTESY CAMPAIGN WILL START OFF WITH A POP CONCERT FEATURING NINE LOCAL AND OVERSEAS SINGERS ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 6) EVENING AT THE HONG KONG COLISEUM.
THE CARTOON CHARACTER *B0 B0+ — A SYMBOL OF COURTESY AND L0VE — WILL ALSO APPEAR WITH THE SINGERS DURING THE PERFORMANCES. ALL 12 000 TICKETS TO THE CONCERT HAVE BEEN SOLD OUT.
ORGANISED BY THE YAU MA TEI DISTRICT BOARD, THE CONCERT IS PRODUCED BY COMMERCIAL RADIO II TO PROMOTE THE VIRTUE OF COURTESY.
THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, MR HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, WILL PERFORM THE SWITCH-ON CEREMONY.
NOTE TO EDITORS!
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY. MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD ASSEMBLE AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE (THE BROWN GATE ENTRANCE OPPOSITE THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY STATION) OF THE HONG KONG COLISEUM AT 7.15 PM ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 6).
PRESS IDENTITY CARDS MUST BE PRODUCED FOR ADMISSION INTO THE COLISEUM. BECAUSE OF THE LIMITED NUMBER OF SEATS, ADMISSION IS ON FIRST—COME-FIRST-SERVED BASIS.
THE USE OF FLASH OR SUN GUN WILL NOT BE PERMITTED DURING PERFORMANCES.
------0-------
/17......
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1983
17
ROAD SECTION TO BE WIDENED
* * * M *
A SECTION OF CASTLE PEAK ROAD, BETWEEN PUI TO ROAD AND SAM SHING HUI IN TUEN MUN NEW TOWN, WILL BE WIDENED TO A DUAL TWO-LANE CARRIAGEWAY.
A S26.4-MILLION CONTRACT FOR THE WORK WAS AWARDED TODAY BY THE TUEN MUN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE OF THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO SANG LEE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LIMITED.
IT WAS SIGNED BY MR YU KWOK-LEUNG, CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMPANY.
WORK ON THE CONTRACT WHICH FORMS PART OF A CONTINUING PROGRAMME TO DEVELOP THE NEW TOWN, WILL INCLUDE THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS AND DRAINS IN WONG KA WAI AREA AND THE PROVISION OF A ROOF-COVER FOR THE EXISTING FOOTBRIDGE ACROSS CASTLE PEAK ROAD AT SAM SHING HUI.
CONSTRUCTION WORK WILL TAKE ABOUT 24 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
-------o----------
SPECIAL TUEN MUN TRAFFIC PLAN
X * * *
TO FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROAD P3 STAGE II (EASTERN SECTION), SPECIAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED.
FROM 10 AM ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 6), THE ON TING TEMPORARY BUS TERMINUS FOR KMB ROUTES NO. 52, 59, 60, 60M, 63 AND 62 (TO CASTLE PEAK BAY AND SIU HONG COURT) WILL BE RE-SITED TO TUEN MUN AREA 16 TEMPORARY BUS TERMINUS.
FROM THE SAME DAY, ROAD P3 WILL BE OPEN TO TRAFFIC, PROVIDING AN ACCESS TO AND FROM TUEN MUN FERRY PIER.
THE EXISTING UNNAMED ACCESS ROAD TO TUEN MUN FERRY PIER WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM 10 AM ON THURSDAY (NOVEMBER 10). MOTORISTS HEADING FOR TUEN MUN FERRY PIER ARE ADVISED TO USE THE TEMPORARY ROAD P3.
------o-------
NOTE TO EDITORSi
150 TO CLIMB LION ROCK
* * *
ABOUT 150 CONTESTANTS WILL CLIMB THE LION ROCK MOUNTAIN STARTING AT 9 AM ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 6).
THF CONTEST COVERS 3 500 METRES FROM THE TSZ WAN SHAN PLAYGROUND TO A PAVILION ON THE HILL, PASSING ALONG TSZ WAN SHAN ROAD AND SHA TIN PASS ROAD.
/EPOKSORZD .....
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1985
- 18 -
SPONSORED BY THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT BOARD, THE EVENT IS BEING ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE AND KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT RECREATION AND SPORTS COUNCIL.
THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MR ROGER GARCIA, AND SENIOR RECREATION AND SPORT OFFICER (KOWLOON EAST), MR LIU WING-KWONG, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE START-OFF CEREMONY AT 9 AM.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT.
--------0----------
PLB BAN IN CAUSEWAY BAY * * *
FROM 10 AM TOMORROW (SATURDAY), PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING THE SECTION OF NORTHBOUND GLOUCESTER ROAD NORTH OF ITS JUNCTION WITH SUGAR STREET.
-----0------
MID-LEVELS TAPS OFF
MM*
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO SOME PREMISES IN MID-LEVELS WILL BE TURNED OFF FROM 11 PM ON MONDAY (NOVEMBER 7) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR LEAKAGE TESTS.
THE AFFECTED PREMISES ARE BOUNDED BY 5-49 AND 2-62 ROBINSON ROAD, 15-31 SHELLEY STREET, 18-102 CAINE ROAD, 3-11 AND 18-22 CASTLE ROAD, CASTLE LANE AND 1-13 SEYMOUR ROAD, INCLUDING ST. JOSEPH TERRACE, MOSQUE JUNCTION, MOSQUE STREET, PRINCE’S TERRACE, YING FAI TERRACE, LEUNG FAI TERRACE AND WOODLANDS TERRACE.
--------0----------
NOTE TO EDITORSi
GUEST SPEAKER
XXX
THE HON ANDREW SO KWOK-WING, WILL BE MARKETING ORGANISATION SCHOOLS JOINT (NOVEMBER 7) AT THE CITY HALL CONCERT
LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, THE GUEST SPEAKER AT THE FISH GRADUAT ION CEREMONY ON MONDAY
HALL, AT 11.30 AM.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT.
-----0------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
SUPPORT NEEDED TO PRODUCE NON-SMOKING GENERATION ............ 1
INTEREST ON TAX RESERVE CERTIFICATES ........................ 2
KEEPING PACE WITH COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY........................ 4
IMPORTANCE OF CLANSMEN'S ROLE STRESSED ...................... 5
CORRECTIONAL SERVICES FAIR DRAWS LARGE CROWD ................ 6
S6-MILLION PLAYGROUND IN TSUEN WAN READY SOON ............... 6
FUN DAY FOR CHILDREN ........................................ 7
TUEN MUN TO HOLD FESTIVAL ................................... 7
POSTER DESIGN CONTEST IN KWUN TONG........................... 8
DB MEMBERS COMPERE IN BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT ................. 9
FIRING PRACTICE.............................................. 10
TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE IN KOWLOON ........................... 1°
WATER MAINS WORKS ........................................... 't1
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1983
1
SUPPORT NEEDED TO PRODUCE NON-SMOKING GENERATION
* * *
PARENTS, TEACHERS AND YOUNG PEOPLE WERE TODAY (SATURDAY) URGED TO PLAY THEIR PART IN PRODUCING A NON-SMOKING GENERATION IN HONG KONG - A GENERATION TO WHOM THE CONCEPT OF SMOKING IS DISTASTEFUL AND UNTHINKABLE.
THE APPEAL CAME FROM THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MR GEOFFREY BARNES, WHEN HE WAS ADDRESSING MORE THAN 2 OOO YOUNG ATHLETES AND STUDENTS AT THE PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONY OF THE 1983 INTER-SCHOOL OLYMPIAD GRAND FINAL HELD AT THE WAN CHAI SPORTS GROUND.
THE TERRITORY-WIDE ATHLETIC MEET IS ORGANISED BY THE GOVERNMENT’S ANTI-SMOKING PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN STEERING COMMITTEE AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE CURRENT PUBLICITY PHASE AIMED AT DISSUADING YOUNG PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY THOSE AT SCHOOL, FROM SMOKING.
MR BARNES SAID, +THE CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL SO FAR: VIRTUALLY EVERYONE IS NOW AWARE OF THE GOVERNMENT’S ANTI-SMOKING PUBLICITY, AND FAR FEWER PEOPLE SMOKE NOW THAN THEY DID LAST YEAR.+
♦BUT PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE NOT TO START SMOKING IN THE FIRST PLACE. WE MUST AIM TO PRODUCE A NON-SMOKING GENERATION HERE IN HONG KONG,+ HE STRESSED.
MR BARNES POINTED OUT THAT THIS COULD NOT BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH ANTI-SMOKING CAMPAIGNS OR PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMMES ALONE.
♦I THEREFORE CALL ON PARENTS AND TEACHERS TO RECOGNISE THIS AIM AND TO DO ALL IN THEIR POWER BY ADVICE AND, MOST OF ALL BY EXAMPLE, TO HELP THE YOUNGER GENERATION TO ATTAIN IT,+ MR BARNES SAID.
♦AND I CALL ON THE YOUNGER GENERATION THEMSELVES TO PLAY THEIR PART BY BECOMING REPRESENTATIVES OF GOOD HEALTH AND COMMON SENSE AND SPREADING THE MESSAGE WHEREVER THEY G0.+
ALSO OFFICIATING AT THE PRIZE PRESENTATION WERE THE DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SERVICES, MR PETER TSAO AND THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR JOHN WINFIELD.
TODAY’S FUNCTION WAS ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 100 GUESTS FROM GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, SCHOOL SPORTS ASSOCIATIONS AND PARTICIPATING SECONDARY SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS EIGHT TEAMS OF CELEBRITIES FROM TELEVISION BROADCASTS LIMITED, RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG, HONG KONG COMMERCIAL BROADCASTING COMPANY LIMITED, CAPITAL ARTISTS LIMITED, HONG KONG OUTSTANDING YOUNG PERSONS ASSOCIATION AND THE COMPOSERS AND AUTHORS SOCIETY OF HONG KONG LIMITED.
THE CELEBRITIES EARLIER TOOK PART IN A 400-METRE INVITATION RELAY AND A 100-METRE INVITATION RACE WHICH WERE ORGANISED AS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY’S PROGRAMME.
/elaborating on .......
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5. 19? 3
- 2 -
ELABORATING ON THE HEALTH HAZARDS OF SMOKING, MR BARNES SAID, *WE ARE NOT MEANT TO SMOKE: WE ARE NOT EQUIPPED FOR IT AND OUR BODIES DO NOT TAKE KINDLY TO IT.*
+AS A RESULT,* HE CONTINUED, +THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN HONG KONG SUFFERING FROM LUNG CANCER, BRONCHITIS, ISCHEMIC HEART DISEASE, DISTRESS AND DISCOMFORT AS A RESULT OF CIGARETTE SMOKING.
♦BETWEEN TWO AND THREE THOUSAND OF THESE PEOPLE CAN EXPECT TO DIE THIS YEAR, MANY TIME MORE THAN ARE KILLED BY CRIME AND MANY TIMES MORE THAN ARE KILLED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS.
♦THAT IS WHY THE GOVERNMENT HAS COMMITTED ITSELF, EY ITS ANTI-SMOKING LEGISLATION AND PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMMES, TO COMBATTING THE HEALTH HAZARDS OF SMOKING,* HE ADDED.
AFTER A VIGOROUS COMPETITION IN FOUR TRACK-AND-FIELD EVENTS, ST. FRANCIS XAVIER’S SCHOOL (TSUEN WAN) TEAM FROM THE BOYS DIVISION AND THE DIOCESAN GIRLS’ SCHOOL TEAM FROM THE GIRLS DIVISION BEAT 22 OPPONENT TEAMS AND EMERGED AS THE OVERALL CHAMPIONS.
THE INDIVIDUAL WINNERS OF THE TWO DIVISIONS WERE MR CHAN YAM-WING, OF ST. FRANCIS XAVIER’S SCHOOL (TSUEN WAN) AND MISS CARLY CHUNG OF DIOCESAN GIRLS’ SCHOOL.
THE EVENTS WERE RECORDED BY TELEVISION BROADCASTS LIMITED AND WILL BE SCREENED IN THE +SPORTS WORLD* PROGRAMME ON JADE CHANNEL FROM 9.30 PM TO 11 PM TOMORROW (SUNDAY).
--------o ---------
INTEREST ON TAX RESERVE CERTIFICATES * * *
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY HAS AUTHORISED A DECREASE IN THE RATE OF INTEREST PAYABLE ON TAX RESERVE CERTIFICATES, ACCORDING TO A LEGAL NOTICE TO BE PUBLISHED ON MONDAY (NOVEMBER 7) IN A GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY.
FROM MONDAY (NOVEMBER 7, 1983), THE NEW ANNUAL RATE OF INTEREST WILL BE 9.6 PER CENT (TAX FREE) AS AGAINST THE CURRENT RATE OF 12 PER CENT (TAX FREE).
INTEREST ON TAX RESERVE CERTIFICATES IS CALCULATED IN MONTHLY STEPS AND THE NEW RATE WILL BE 80 CENTS PER MONTH PER S100. INTEREST WILL BE CREDITED AS BEFORE IN RESPECT OF COMPLETED MONTHS BETWEEN PURCHASE AND SURRENDER IN PAYMENT OF TAX.
INTEREST IS ONLY CREDITED WHEN CERTIFICATES ARE USED TO PAY TAX AND NO INTEREST IS DUE WHERE THE PRINCIPAL VALUE OF A CERTIFICATE IS REPAID BY A CHEQUE.
THE NEW RATE WILL APPLY TO ALL CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER MONDAY (NOVEMBER 7, 1983).
/CERTIFICATES iVHICH.......
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1963
3
CERTIFIACTES WHICH WERE ISSUED BEFORE NOVEMBER 7, 1983 WILL CONTINUE TO EARN INTEREST AS FOLLOWS :
6.24 % PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER JULY 30, 1980 AND BEFORE OCTOBER 16, 1980;
8.16 % PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER OCTOBER 16, 1980 AND BEFORE NOVEMBER 21, 1980;
9.84 % PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER NOVEMBER 21, 1980 AND BEFORE JULY 31, 1981;
13.2 % PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER JULY 31, 1981 AND BEFORE OCTOBER 16, 1981;
14.4 % PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER OCTOBER 16, 1981 AND BEFORE DECEMBER 4, 1981;
12 % PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER DECEMBER 4, 1981 AND BEFORE JUNE 4, 1982;
10.8 % PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER JUNE 4, 1982 AND BEFORE AUGUST 27, 1982;
9 % PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER AUGUST 27, 1982 AND BEFORE DECEMBER 3, 1982;
7.8 % PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER DECEMBER 3, 1982 AND BEFORE MAY 27, 1983;
10.2 % PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER MAY 27, 1983 AND BEFORE OCTOBER 28, 1983; AND
12 % PER ANNUM FOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED ON OR AFTER OCTOBER 28, 1983 AND BEFORE NOVEMBER 7, 1983
BUT ALWAYS SUBJECT TO THE GENERAL RULE THAT INTEREST CEASES TO ACCRUE AFTER 36 COMPLETED MONTHS WITHOUT SURRENDER FOR PAYMENT OF TAX.
EXAMPLE i $1 000 CERTIFICATES PURCHASED ON NOVEMBER 9, 1983, DECEMBER 9, 1983 AND JANUARY 9, 1984 RESPECTIVELY, SURRENDER IN PAYMENT OF TAX DUE ON FEBRUARY 9, 1984 WILL HAVE INTEREST CALCULATED AS FOLLOWS I
ON $1 000, NOVEMBER 9, 1983 TO FEBRUARY 9, 1984 THREE COMPLETE MONTHS AT $8 PER MONTH - $24
ON $1 000 DECEMBER 9, 1983 TO FEBRUARY 9, 1984, TWO COMPLETE MONTHS AT S8 PER MONTH - S16
ON $1 000, JANUARY 9, 1984 TO FEBRUARY 9, 1984, ONE COMPLETE MONTH AT $8 PER MONTH - S 8
S48 ■ ■ «
/4.......
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1983
4
KEEPING PACE WITH COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY * * * *
AN EDUCATIONAL COMPUTER WEEK IN TSUEN WAN FEATURING TALKS BY ACADEMICS, DEMONSTRATIONS AND AN EXHIBITION WAS OPENED TODAY, WITH THE AIM OF BROADENING PEOPLE’S KNOWLEDGE OF COMPUTERS.
THIS IS THE FIRST ACTIVITY OF ITS KIND EVER ORGANISED AND SPONSORED BY A DISTRICT BOARD.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID THAT THE EVENT REFLECTED THE CONCERN OF THE LOCAL DISTRICT BOARD IN THIS GREAT INDUSTRIAL CONURBATION OF TSUEN WAN, KWAI CHUNG AND TSING Yl ABOUT THE NEED TO KEEP ABREAST OF NEW TECHNOLOGY IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN AND ENHANCE HONG KONG’S EFFICIENCY AND PERFORMANCE.
+THE TSUEN WAN COMPUTER WEEK WILL PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TSUEN WAN RESIDENTS, FACTORY OWNERS, WORKERS AND SCHOOL CH LDREN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT COMPUTERS - THEIR TYPES, USES, ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES,+ HE ADDED.
ALSO ADDRESSING THE GATHERING WAS THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT COMMISSIONER, MR ADOLF HSU.
HE SAID THAT THE AIM OF THE FUNCTION WAS TO PROMOTE COMPUTER EFFICIENCY AND TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO AROUSE INTEREST OF TSUEN WAN’S GENERAL PUBLIC, SCHOOL STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND BUSINESSMEN IN COMPUTERS DURING THIS ERA OF COMPUTERISATION IN HONG KONG.
THE EVENT WILL BE DIVIDED INTO THREE PARTS; DEMONSTRATIONS AND DISPLAYS OF DIFFERENT MICRO-COMPUTERS BY 15 COMPUTER COMPANIES; AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMME INCLUDING DISPLAY MATERIALS PLUS SLIDE AND FILM SHOWS ON COMPUTER APPLICATIONS ORGANISED BY STUDENTS OF THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC; AND AN OPEN FORUM ON ♦COMPUTER EDUCATION IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS* AND TALKS ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF COMPUTER EDUCATION.
ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR SCHOOLS TO ORGANISE GROUP VISITS TO THE COMPUTER WEEK WHICH IS BEING HELD AT THE TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL UNTIL NOVEMBER 13. ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE BY TELEPHONING 0444484.
OTHER PARTICIPATING BODIES INCLUDE THE COMPUTER EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT CENTRE AND THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
THE COMPUTER EXHIBITION WILL BE OPEN DAILY FROM 10 AM TO 6 PM.
NOTE TO ED I TORSi
YOU ARE WELCOME TO COVER THE FOLLOWING FUNCTIONS OF THE COMPUTER WEEK AT THE TSUEN WAN TONW HALL:
/(i) an opa; .........
SATURDAY, N0VHZB3R 5, 19^3
- 5 -
(I) AN OPEN FORUM ON COMPUTER EDUCATION IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS BETWEEN 10.30 AM AND 12.30 PM TOMORROW (SUNDAY).
(II) SLIDE SHOWS AND COMPUTER DEMONSTRATIONS -- THREE SESSIONS DAILY AT 10.30 AM, 2 PM AND 4 PM FROM MONDAY (NOVEMBER 7) TO FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 11).
(Ill) TALKS ON *HOW TO MAKE COMPUTER A CAREER* AND *YOU CAN USE THE COMPUTER* AT 10.30 AM AND 3 PM RESPECTIVELY ON SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 12).
(IV) A TALK ON *EDUCATE YOUR COMPUTER* AT 10.30 AM ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 13).
-----o------
IMPORTANCE OF CLANSMEN’S ROLE STRESSED M M M M M
CLANSMEN ASSOCIATIONS PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND INVOLVEMENT, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
*IN THIS FAST MOVING, EFFICIENT, MULT I-CULTURAL AND YET COMPACT PLACE, WE NEED ORGANISATIONS TO BRING TOGETHER PEOPLE WITH A COMMON INTEREST,* HE SAID.
+CLANSMEN ASSOCIATIONS, WHICH BRING TOGETHER PEOPLE OF THE SAME CLAN AND RE-IDENTIFY THE TRADITIONAL CLANS IN THE MODERN SETTING OF HONG KONG, PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND INVOLVEMENT.*
MR AKERS-JONES WAS SPEAKING AT THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY
OF THE SEVENTH TERM OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE SIU CLANSMEN GENERAL ASSOCIATION.
HE SAID THAT THE WORK HAD BEEN FURTHER STRENGTHENED IN MONG KOK WITH THE SETTING UP OF THE FEDERATION OF THE MONG KOK DISTRI COUNTRYMEN AND CLANSMEN ASSOCIATIONS IN 1970.
CT
♦THE FEDERATION WHICH BRINGS TOGETHER 30 INDIVIDUAL ASSOCIATIONS, PLAYS A VERY ACTIVE ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES SPONSORED BY THE MONG KOK DISTRICT BOARD,* HE SAID.
MR AKERS-JONES NOTED THAT THE SIU CLANSMEN GENERAL ASSOCIATION WAS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE FEDERATIONS, AND HE WELCOMED THE DIRECT INVOLVEMENT OF THE ASSOCIATION’S CHAIRMAN IN THE WORK OF THE DISTRICT BOARD.
- 0 -
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1983
CORRECTIONAL SERVICES FAIR DRAWS LARGE CROWD
* * * X
THOUSANDS OF VISITORS FLOCKED TO STANLEY TODAY (SATURDAY) FOR THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT’S 31ST AUTUMN FAIR.
THE AUTUMN FAIR, HELD AT THE FOOTBALL GROUND NEXT TO STANLEY PRISON, WAS OPENED BY SIR SHIU-KIN TANG.
THERE WAS A WIDE SELECTION OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES INDUSTRIAL AND HOBBY CLASS PRODUCTS FOR SALE AT THE STALLS.
THESE GOODS INCLUDED STUFF TOYS, HANDICRAFT AND RATTAN AND WOODEN FURNITURE MADE BY PRISONERS OF VARIOUS CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
IN ADDITION, THERE WERE SNACK STALLS AND GAME STALLS PROVIDING A DAY OF FUN FOR VISITORS.
OTHER ENTERTAINMENTS INCLUDED PERFORMANCES BY THE TAI TAM GIRLS’ PIPERS AND PRECISION MARCHING TEAM, A MARCHING DISPLAY BY THE CAPE COLLINSON MARCHING BAND, AND FOLK DANCING BY THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE CHINESE DANCE TROUPE AS WELL AS A RAFFLE DRAW.
THE FAIR WAS ORGANISED BY THE DEPARTMENT’S SPORTS ASSOCIATION AND THE PROCEEDS WILL BE DONATED TO CHARITIES AND THE DEPARTMENT’S WELFARE FUNDS.
- - 0 - -
I6-MILLI0N PLAYGROUND IN TSUEN WAN READY SOON * * * *
A S6-MILLION MULTI-PURPOSE PLAYGROUND NOW NEARING COMPLETION IN TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC SHORTLY.
THE TSUEN KING CIRCUIT PLAYGROUND, LOCATED ON A 1.29-HECTARE SITE ADJACENT TO THE TSUEN WAN CENTRE, A LARGE PRIVATE HOUSING ESTATE, FEATURES FOUR TENNIS COURTS WITH CHANGING ROOMS AND SHOWERS, A CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND WITH SAFETY MATTINGS, A POOL FOR MODEL BOATS AND A LANDSCAPED GARDEN WITH ARBOURS AND BENCHES.
OF THE TOTAL COSTS, $5 MILLION HAD BEEN PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE BALANCE DONATED BY THE SUN HUNG KAI PROPERTIES GROUP, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID.
DESIGNED AND BUILT BY THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE OF THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, THE PLAYGROUND WILL BE HANDED OVER TO THE NTSD FOR MANAGEMENT.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1983
- 7 -
FUN DAY FOR CHILDREN * * *
THE ANNUAL DAO HENG FUN DAY AND RECREATION ^ND SPORTS SERVICE MOBILE EXHIBITION WILL START OFF THIS YEAR ON NOVEMBER 13 AT VICTORIA PARK, CAUSEWAY BAY.
THE EVENT, JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE RECREATION AND CULTURE ntDADTMCMT and dao HF NG BANK WILL THEN BE STAGED AT 13 OTHER PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS THROUHGOUT HONG KONG ON SATURDAYS OR SUNDAYS OVER A FOUR-MONTH PERIOD.
SOME 5OO CHILDREN ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE PART IN A DAY OF FUN ON NOVEMBER 13 WHICH WILL FEATURE VARIOUS gAMES, CYCLING DEMONSTRATIONS AND A BAND PERFORMANCE. THE EXHIBITION WILL INTRODUCE THE BROAD RANGE OF SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT S RECREATION AND SPORTS SERVICE.
THE EVENT HAS SO FAR DRAWN A TOTAL OF OVER 80 000 PEOPLE SINCE ITS INTRODUCTION IN 1980.
AS THE GAMES HAVE PROVEDJO ’^POPULAR .^HILDREN WHO W(SH
TO TAKE PART SHOULD SUBMIT SPOKESMAN SAID.
APPLICATION FORMS MAY
BE OBTAINED FROM ANY OF THE RSS OFFICES.
- - 0 -------
TUEN MUN TO HOLD FESTIVAL *****
THE THIRD TUEN MUN FESTIVAL, FEATURING TWO WEEKS OF RECREATIONAL, CULTURAL AND ENTERTAINING PROGRAMMES, WILL START ON SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 12).
ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE AN EXHIBITION, A DISTRICT RUN, AN INTER-SCHOOL CONCERT. VARIETY SHOWS, SOCCER MATCHES, BASKETBALL AND BOWLING TOURNAMENTS, AS WELL AS PAINTING, DRAWING, SINGING, PHOTOGRAPHY AND SLOGAN COMPETITIONS.
DETAILS OF THE FESTIVAL WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT A PRESS CONFERENCE AT 2.30 PM ON MONDAY (NOVEMBER 7) IN THE YAN 01 TONG COMMUNITY AND INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE.
THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR RICKY FUNG, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FESTIVAL’S ORGANISING COMMITTEE, MR LAU WONG-FAT, WILL EE PRESENT.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5. 1963
8
THE FESTIVAL WILL COST ABOUT $360 000, OF WHICH $300 000, WILL COME FROM THE DISTRICT BOARD.
NOTE TO ED ITORSi
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE TUEN MUN FESTIVAL PRESS CONFERENCE AT 2.30 PM ON MONDAY (NOVEMBER 7) IN THE DANCE STUDIO ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE YAN Ol TONG COMMUNITY AND INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE.
A GOVERNMENT VEHICLE WILL LEAVE KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER AT 1.20 PM FOR TUEN MUN.
-----o------
POSTER DESIGN CONTEST IN KWUN TONG
* * * *
FIFTY-SIX DISABLED AND ABLE-BODIED YOUTHS IN KWUN TONG WILL WORK IN PAIRS ON A POSTER DESIGN COMPETITION TOMORROW (SUNDAY) MORNING AT THE KWUN TONG COMMUNITY CENTRE.
THE THEME OF THE COMPETITION IS +FRI ENDSHIP - A WAY TO INTEGRATION*.
THE COMPETITION, ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD, AIMS AT PROMOTING FRIENDSHIP AND HELPING THE DISABLED PEOPLE INTEGRATE INTO SOCIETY.
LAST MONTH, JUDGING ON THE 136 ENTRIES FOR THE THREE OTHER SECTIONS OF THE COMPETITION -- FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC -- WAS MADE. THREE WINNING ENTRIES FROM EACH GROUP WERE SELECTED.
TOMORROW, THREE WINNING ENTRIES WILL BE SELECTED AND, TOGETHER WITH THOSE FROM OTHER SECTIONS, WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC EDUCATION IN REHABILITATION FOR A TERRITORY-WIDE COMPETITION.
ALL ENTRIES OF THE COMPETITION WILL BE PUT ON DISPLAY FROM 10 AM TO 4 PM TOMORROW AT THE CENTRE.
A PRIZE-PRESENTATION CEREMONY TO BE PRESIDED OVER BY THE REGIONAL SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER (EAST KOWLOON), MR KWOK KA-CHI, WILL START AT 12 NOON.
/9 .......
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1983
- 9 -
DB MEMBERS COMPETE IN BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT * * * *
DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS FROM NINE DISTRICTS WILL COMPETE IN A BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT BEGINNING TOMORROW (SUNDAY).
THE INTER-DISTRICT-BOARD MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT, ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FIFTH TSUEN WAN SPORTS FESTIVAL, WILL BE HELD AT THE PRINCESS ALEXANDRA COMMUNITY CENTRE UNTIL NOVEMBER 20.
FOLLOWING AN OPENING CEREMONY AT 10 AM TOMORROW, MATCHES BETWEEN TEAMS FROM WONG TAI SIN AND KOWLOON CITY- YAU MA TEI AND TSUEN WAN- YUEN LONG AND SHAM SHU I PO- SOUTHERN AND TAI PO, WILL BE STAGED.
THE TOURNAMENT SCHEDULES ARE :
MATCH DATE TIME COMPETING TEAMS
1 NOVEMBER 6 9.30 AM WONG TAI SIN VS KOWLOON CITY
2 9 9 TO YAU MA TEI VS TSUEN WAN
3 9 9 2 PM YUEN LONG VS SHAM SHUI PO
4 9 9 SOUTHERN VS TAI PO
5 NOVEMBER 9 7 PM KWUN TONG VS WINNER OF MATCH 4
6 NOVEMBER 12 7.30 PM WINNER OF MATCH 1 VS WINNER OF MATCH 2
7 NOVEMBER 12 8.30 PM WINNER OF MATCH 3 VS WINNER OF MATCH 5
8 NOVEMBER 20 7 PM LOSERS OF MATCHES 6 AND 7 TO COMPETE FOR THIRD AND FOURTH PLACES
9 9 9 8 PM WINNERS OF MATCHES 6 AND 7 TO COMPETE FOR FIRST AND SECOND PLACES
- - 0 -----------
/IO .......
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1983
10 -
FIRING PRACTICE * * * *
FIRING PRACTICE WILL TAKE PLACE AT TO SATURDAY (NOVEMBER
NOT TO ENTER
THE
RANGE FROM MONDAY THE PUBLIC ARE WARNED ARE FLYING.
THE DATES AND TIMES OF
DATE
NOVEMBER 7 (MONDAY)
NOVEMBER 8 (TUESDAY)
NOVEMBER 9 (WEDNESDAY)
NOVEMBER 10 (THURSDAY)
NOVEMBER 11 (FRIDAY)
NOVEMBER 12 (SATURDAY)
TEMPORARY ROAD
THE HA TSUEN-CASTLE PEAK 7 TO 12).
THE AREA WHEN RED FLAGS
PRACTICE AREi
TIME
8 AM - 5 PM
8 AM - 5 PM
8 AM - 11 PM
8 AM - 5 PM
8 AM - 11 PM
8 AM - 5 PM
- 0 -----
CLOSURE IN KOWLOON * * * *
FROM 10 AM ON MONDAY (NOVEMBER 7), LUNG TAK STREET AT ITS JUNCTION WITH CHI KIANG STREET WILL BE TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO THROUGH TRAFFIC FOR ABOUT SIX WEEKS TO FACILITATE THE RECONSTRUCTION OF CHI KIANG STREET.
DURING THE CLOSURE, MOTORISTS ON CHI KIANG STREET HEADING FOR NGAN HON STREET VIA LUNG TAK STREET SHOULD USE TO KWA WAN ROAD AND NGAN HON STREET.
AND MOTORISTS ON NGAN HON STREET HEADING FOR CHI KIANG STREET VIA LUNG TAK STREET SHOULD USE TO KWA WAN ROAD AND CHI KIANG STREET.
FROM 10 AM THE SAME DAY, THE EASTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF PRINCE EDWARD ROAD WEST BETWEEN SYCAMORE STREET AND TONG MEI ROAD wlLL BE DESIGNATED A 24-HOUR RESTRICTED ZONE.
/AITSI1C
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 19^3
WITHIN THE ZONE, ALL MOTOR AND THOSE AUTHORISED IN WRITING FROM PICKING UP OR SETTING DOWN GOODS.
11
VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES BY THE AUTHORITY WILL BE PROHIBITED PASSENGERS, OR LOADING OR UNLOADING
MEANWHILE, FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE NIGHTS ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY (NOVEMBER 7 AND 8), FROM 8.30 PM TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE FLYOVER CONNECTING ARGYLE STREET AND PRINCE EDWARD ROAD EAST WILL BE TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO TRAFFIC TO FACILITATE REPAIR WORK.
DURING THE CLOSURE, FLYOVER WILL BE DIVERTED
EASTBOUND AND WESTBOUND TRAFFIC ON THE VIA GROUND LEVEL ROADS.
--------u ---------
WATER MAINS WORKS ft ft ft ft
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO SOME AREAS IN YUEN LONG WILL BE TURNED FNtSH WAitK -pH On TUESDAY (NOVEMBER 8) FOR WATER MAINS
OFF FROM 10 AM TO 6 WORKS.
THE SUSPENSION WILL AFFECT THE WHOLE AREAS FROM KAM TIN TOWN TO SHEUNG TSUEN AND FROM WANG TOI SHAN TO THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT TRAINING SCHOOL.
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 198}
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GOVERNOR TO OPEN CAREERS EXHIBITION ............................ 1
AUGUST PRICE AND VOLUME MOVEMENTS OF EXTERNAL TRADE ............ 2
HONG KONG-AUSTRIA TEXTILE TALKS TO BEGIN TOMORROW ............ 5
FARMING PRODUCTIVITY ON THE RISE ............................... 5
YOU TOO CAN BECOME A TUTOR NURSE ............................... 7
FIRE SERVICES BUILDING FOR TSIM SHA TSUI EAST .................. 9
FIRST DISTRICT FESTIVAL IN SOUTHERN ............................ 9
FACILITIES FOR TRAINING TEACHERS BOOSTED ...................... 10
FUN DAY FOR LOK FU FAMILIES ................................... 11
GUIDING HELPS DEVELOP CHARACTERS — AKERS-JONES ................ 11
ROAD PROJECT PROPOSED ......................................... 12
TWO MORE SOCCER PITCHES FOR KWAI CHUNG ........................ 12
FREE TRIPS ABROAD FOR AWARD WINNERS ........................... 1?
TENDERS INVITED FOR SALE OF LIGHT REFRESHMENTS ................ 1?
NEW RESTRICTED ZONES .......................................... 14
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1983
1
GOVERNOR TO OPEN CAREERS EXHIBITION *****
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT’S ANNUAL CAREERS EXHIBITION, WHICH HAS BECOME A MAJOR FEATURE OF THE LOCAL CAREERS EDUCATION SCENE, WILL BE OPENED BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, IN THE CITY HALL EXHIBITION HALL ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 11).
THE OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE HELD IN THE CITY HALL CONCERT HALL AT 3 PM THAT DAY.
THE 1O-DAY EXHIBITION, JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE DEPARTMENT’S YOUTH EMPLOYMENT ADVISORY SERVICE AND THE URBAN COUNCIL, WILL THEN BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC DAILY FROM 9.30 AM TO 6.30 PM FROM THE FOLLOWING DAY UNTIL NOVEMBER 21.
SINCE 1972, THE SERVICE HAS BEEN STAGING THE EXHIBITION EACH YEAR TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE CHOOSE A CAREER BEST SUITED TO THEIR TALENT, ABILITY, INTEREST AND TEMPERAMENT.
♦CHOOSING A CAREER IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISIONS A YOUNG PERSON HAS TO MAKE IN LIFE. BY STAGING THE EXHIBITION ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, WE HOPE TO PROVIDE YOUNG PEOPLE WITH A STIMULUS TO SELECT A CAREER BEST SUITED TO THEIR PERSONALITY AND ABILITY,+ SAID A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT TODAY (SUNDAY).
TAKING PART IN THIS YEAR’S EXHIBITION ARE 23 EXHIBITORS, COMPRISING 15 PRIVATE FIRMS, INSTITUTIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS AS WELL AS EIGHT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
THE PRIVATE EXHIBITORS REPRESENT DIFFERENT FIELDS, INCLUDING INDUSTRY, BANKING, ENGINEERING, PUBLIC UTILITIES, PUBLIC TRANSPORT, MASS COMMUNICATION, HIGHER EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SERVICES.
AS IN PREVIOUS EXHIBITIONS, EACH EXHIBITOR WILL HAVE A DISPLAY STAND TO ILLUSTRATE, BY MEANS OF GRAPHS, PHOTOGRAPHS, MODELS AND OTHER AUDIO-VISUAL AIDS, THE NATURE OF THE JOBS, ENTRY QUALIFICATIONS, CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT, TRAINING, PROMOTION PROSPECTS AND OTHER RELATED INFORMATION IN ITS OWN SPHERE OF WORK.
LEAFLETS AND PAMPHLETS PREPARED BY THE EXHIBITORS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO VISITORS.
DURING THE EXHIBITION PERIOD, FOUR GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS --THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE, THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES AND THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT — WILL STAGE LIVE CAREERS SHOWS AT EDINBURGH PLACE TO ILLUSTRATE THEIR SPHERES OF WORK BY MEANS OF DISPLAYS AND DEMONSTRATIONS.
- o-----------
/2........
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1983
2
AUGUST PRICE AND VOLUME MOVEMENTS OF EXTERNAL TRADE * * X * * *
THE PRICES OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS IN AUGUST 1983 ROSE, ON AVERAGE, BY 9 PER CENT AND 10 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY OVER AUGUST 1982 SO THAT, FOR TOTAL EXPORTS, PRICES WERE UP BY 10 PER CENT, ACCORDING TO STATISTICS RELEASED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
MEANWHILE, THE PRICES OF IMPORTS ROSE BY 13 PER CENT.
AS A RESULT, THE TERMS OF TRADE INDEX (EXPRESSED AS A RATIO OF THE TOTAL EXPORT PRICE INDEX TO THE IMPORT PRICE INDEX) DROPPED BY 3 PER CENT.
THE VOLUME OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS ROSE BY 18 PER CENT AND THAT CF RE-EXPORTS ROSE BY 22 PER CENT SO THAT A 19 PER CENT INCREASE WAS RECORDED IN THE VOLUME OF TOTAL EXPORTS.
MEANWHILE, THE VOLUME OF IMPORTS INCREASED BY 15 PER CENT.
SINCE THE PRICES OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND OF RE-EXPORTS BOTH INCREASED BY 6 PER CENT IN THE FIRST EIGHT MONTHS OF 1983, COMPARED WITH THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR, DOMESTIC EXPORTS GREW BY 11 PER CENT AND RE-EXPORTS BY 10 PER CENT IN VOLUME TERMS.
AS THE PRICES OF IMPORTS WERE 8 PER CENT HIGHER OVER THE SAME PERIOD, IMPORTS RECORDED A 6 PER CENT GROWTH IN VOLUME TERMS.
COMPARISON OF THE 12 MONTHS ENDING AUGUST THIS YEAR WITH THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDING AUGUST 1982, SHOWS THAT THE PRICES OF IMPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS BOTH ROSE, ON AVERAGE, BY 6 PER CENT AND THOSE OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS BY 5 PER CENT.
THE VOLUME OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS INCREASED BY 6 PER CENT AND THAT OF RE-EXPORTS ROSE BY 5 PER CENT, THUS GIVING A 6 PER CENT INCREASE IN THE VOLUME OF TOTAL EXPORTS. A 4 PER CENT INCREASE WAS ALSO RECORDED IN THE VOLUME OF IMPORTS.
PRICES ARE BASED ON UNIT VALUES WHICH DO NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT CHANGES IN THE COMPOSITION OR QUALITY OF GOODS TRADED. CHANGES IN THE VOLUME OF TRADE ARE DERIVED FROM CHANGES IN TRADE VALUES, AFTER DISCOUNTING THE EFFECT OF PRICE CHANGES.
THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE, UNIT VALUE AND VOLUME OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS BY COMMODITY GROUP ARE SHOWN IN TABLE 1.
AS SEEN FROM TABLE 1, THE EXPORT PRICES OF ALL COMMODITY GROUPS INCREASED, FROM 2 PER CENT FOR RADIOS OF ALL KINDS TO 25 PER CENT FOR METAL ORES AND SCRAP.
DOMESTIC EXPORT VOLUME OF MOST COMMODITY GROUPS INCREASED, THE MORE SIGNIFICANT ONE BEING METAL ORES AND SCRAP (*399 PER CENT), ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS (+67 PER CENT). TEXTILE YARN AND THREAD (+49 PER CENT), AND TEXTILE FABRICS (+39 PER CENT).
/HO.,EV'S, ........
SUNDAY, NCVJ'IBEN 6, 198?
3
HOWEVER, MODERATE DECREASES IN EXPORT VOLUME WERE REGISTERED FOR TEXTILE MADE-UPS AND RELATED ARTICLES (-7 PER CENT) AND RADIOS CF ALL KINDS (-9 PER CENT).
THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE, UNIT VALUE AND VOLUME OF IMPORTS BY END-USE CATEGORY ARE SHOWN IN TABLE 2.
AS PRESENTED IN TABLE 2, IMPORT PRICES OF ALL END-USE CATEGORIES WERE UP, WITH INCREASES RANGING FROM 7 PER CENT FOR FUELS TO 15 PER CENT FOR CONSUMER GOODS.
MANY OF THE MAJOR IMPORTED FOODSTUFFS INCREASED IN VOLUME TERMS, THE MORE SIGNIFICANT ONE BEING SOYA BEAN OIL, PEANUT OIL AND LARD, TEA AND COFFEE, SUGAR, MEAT AND MEAT PREPARATIONS.
ON THE OTHER HAND, THE IMPORT VOLUME OF ANIMALS OF THE BOVINE SPECIES, CEREALS AND CEREAL PREPARATIONS INCLUDING RICE, WHEAT AND FLOUR DECLINED SIGNIFICANTLY.
IN THE CONSUMER GOODS CATEGORY, CONSIDERABLE INCREASES IN IMPORT VOLUME WERE REGISTERED FOR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, MISCELLANEOUS MADE-UP ARTICLES OF TEXTILE MATERIALS, HOUSEHOLD-TYPE ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND CAMERAS, FLASHLIGHT APPARATUS AND SUPPLIES FOR PHOTOGRAPHY.
HOWEVER, SIGNIFICANT FOR WATCHES AND PASSENGER
DECREASES IN IMPORT VOLUME WERE RECORDED MOTOR CARS.
THE IMPORT VOLUME OF MOST RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES ROSE, AMONG WHICH SILK FABRICS, RAW COTTON, WOOL AND OTHER ANIMAL HAIR, MAN-MADE FIBRES, THERMIONIC, CATHODE VALVES AND TUBES, DIODES, TRANSISTORS AND ELECTRICAL MICROCIRCUITS, PLASTIC MOULDING MATERIALS, DYEING, TANNING AND COLOURING MATERIALS AND WOVEN COTTON FABRICS INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY.
HOWEVER, THE IMPORT VOLUME OF PAPER AND PAPERBOARD AND CLAY AND REFRACTORY CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, BUILDING MATERIALS, ETC. EXCEPT GLASS DROPPED SLIGHTLY.
IMPORTS OF FUELS ROSE BY 3 PER CENT IN VOLUME TERMS.
IN THE CAPITAL GOODS CATEGORY, THE IMPORT VOLUME OF TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT AND INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY OTHER THAN THAT CF THE TEXTILE AND ELECTRICAL TYPE DECREASED MODERATELY. HOWEVER, SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN IMPORT VOLUME OF TEXTILE AND ELECTRICAL MACHINERY WERE RECORDED.
THE CHANGES IN THE VALUE, UNIT VALUE AND VOLUME OF RE-EXPORTS BY END-USE CATEGORY ARE SHOWN IN TABLE 3.
AS DEPICTED IN TABLE 3, RE-EXPORTS OF ALL END-USE CATEGORIES GREW IN VOLUME, WITH INCREASES RANGING FROM 16 PER CENT FOR BOTH CONSUMER AND CAPITAL GOODS TO 69 PER CENT FOR FUELS.
FURTHER DETAILS ARE CONTAINED IN THE AUGUST 1983 ISSUE OF THE +HONG KONG TRADE INDEX NUMBERS*, AVAILABLE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT HKS2 PER COPY.
/TABLE 1 .......
SUNDAY, l.’OVEMBZR 6, 1983
- k
TABLE 1 1 CHANGES COMPARING AUGUST 1983 WITH AUGUST 1932
COMMODITY GROUP EXPORT VALUE EXPORT UNIT VALUE EXPORT VOLUME
CLOTHING (EXCEPT FUR) + 21% ♦ 9% ♦ 11%
TEXTILE FABRICS + 49% ♦ 8% ♦ 39%
TEXTILE YARN AND THREAD * 63% + 9% ♦ 49%
TEXTILE MADE-UPS AND ♦ 5% ♦ 13% - 7%
RELATED ARTICLES
RADIOS OF ALL KINDS - 7% ♦ 2% - 9%
ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS ♦ 82% ♦ 9% ♦ 67%
FOOTWEAR ♦ 24% INSIGNIFICANT ♦ 24%
METAL MANUFACTURES + 26% ♦ 3% ♦ 22%
METAL ORES AND SCRAP ♦524% + 25% +399%
WATCHES AND CLOCKS ♦ 23% ♦ 7% + 14%
TRAVEL GOODS, HANDBAGS ♦ 26% + 16% + 9%
AND SIMILAR ARTICLES
DOMESTIC ELECTRICAL ♦ 49% ♦ 10% + 36%
APPLIANCES
ALL COMMODITIES ♦ 29% + 9% ♦ 18%
TABLE 2 1 CHANGES COMPARING AUGUST 1983 WITH AUGUST 1982
END-USE CATEGORY IMPORT VALUE IMPORT UNIT VALUE IMPORT VOLUME
FOODSTUFFS ♦ 15% ♦ 13% ♦ 2%
CONSUMER GOODS ♦ 26% + 15% ♦ 9%
RAW MATERIALS AND + 50% ♦ 13% ♦ 33%
SEMI-MANUFACTURES
FUELS ♦ 10% ♦ 7% + 3%
CAPITAL GOODS ♦ 10% ♦ 13% - 3%
ALL COMMODITIES ♦ 31% + 13% ♦ 15%
/TABLE J .......
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 198}
5
TABLE 3 « CHANGES COMPARING AUGUST 1983 WITH AUGUST 1982
END-USE CATEGORY RE-EXPORT VALUE RE-EXPORT UNIT VALUE RE-EXPORT VOLUME
FOODSTUFFS • ♦ 36% ♦ 11% 4- 23%
CONSUMER GOODS ♦ 28% + 11% ♦ 16%
RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES ♦ 43% + 10% ♦ 30%
FUELS + 98% ♦ 17% 4 69%
CAPITAL GOODS ♦ 27% + 10% ♦ 16%
ALL COMMODITIES ♦ 34% ♦ 10% ♦ 22%
- o - -
HONG KONG-AUSTRIA TEXTILE TALKS TO BEGIN TOMORROW
X X X X
CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND AUSTRIA ON THE FUTURE OF THE CURRENT TEXTILE AGREEMENT WILL BEGIN IN HONG KONG TOMORROW (NOVEMBER 7).
THE HONG KONG DELEGATION WILL BE LED BY THE ACTING DIRECTOR CF TRADE, MR JOHN CHAN, AND THE AUSTRIAN SIDE BY THE DIRECTOR, FEDERAL MINISTRY OF TRADE, COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, DR GERHARD WAAS.
THE CURRENT HONG KONG-AUSTRIA TEXTILE AGREEMENT IS DUE TO EXPIRE ON JANUARY 31, 1984.
-------0---------
FARMING PRODUCTIVITY ON THE RISE
X * X X
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN HONG KONG HAS INCREASED STEADILY OVER THE LAST DECADE, WITH THE USE OF MORE SCIENTIFIC FARMING METHODS.
THE GROWTH, AT AN ANNUAL RATE OF 1.7 PER CENT IN REAL TERMS, HAS BEEN ACHIEVED DESPITE THE DRASTIC LOSS OF AGRICULTURAL LAND AND MANPOWER TO OTHER SECTORS OF THE ECONOMY.
POPULATION CENSUSES SHOW THAT THE NUMBER OF FARMERS DECLINED FROM OVER 34 OOO IN 1971 TO LESS THAN 25 000 IN 1981, WHILE CULTIVATED LAND SHRANK BY HALF FROM 10 390 TO 5 590 HECTARES.
/STATISTICS .......
SUNDAY, NOVrMBSR 6, 19&3
6
STATISTICS AFTER 1981 ARE NOT AVAILABLE YET, BUT AN ECONOMICS OFFICER OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THE FARMING POPULATION AND THE CULTIVATED LAND AREA HAD DECLINED FURTHER OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.
♦PRODUCTIVITY, ON THE OTHER HAND, HAS CONTINUED TO RISE, EXERCISING A STABILISING EFFECT ON THE PRICES OF IMPORTED FOODSTUFF WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE BE CONSIDERABLY HIGHER TODAY,♦ THE DEPARTMENT’S AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS OFFICER, MR ANDREW TSE, SAID.
EVEN THOUGH FARMERS MAKE UP LESS THAN ONE PER CENT OF HONG KONG’S ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE POPULATION, LAST YEAR THEIR OUTPUT TOOK UP 29 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION OF FARM PRODUCTS, UP FROM 28 PER CENT A DECADE AGO.
TO ENCOURAGE THE USE OF SCIENTIFIC METHODS, THE DEPARTMENT PROVIDES TECHNICAL AND ADVISORY SERVICES TO LOCAL FARMERS THROUGH FARM VISITS AND ITS EIGHT AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OFFICES THROUGHOUT THE NEW TERRITORIES.
IT ALSO OFFERS LOW-INTEREST LOANS FOR FARM LAND FORMATION, JEW AGRICULTURAL PROJECTS AND THE PURCHASE OF MACHINERY AND FARMING MATERIALS GENERALLY.
SO FAR THIS YEAR, FOR INSTANCE, SOME $12 MILLION HAS BEEN LENT TO FARMERS UNDER THE THREE AGRICULTURAL FUNDS ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
OVER THE YEARS, MORE AND MORE FARMERS HERE HAVE ADOPTED LABOUR-SAVING DEVICES, SUCH AS MECHANICAL CULTIVATORS AND SPRINKLERS AND AUTOMATIC FEEDERS, PLUS IMPROVED METHODS OF CROP HUSBANDRY AND FARM MANAGEMENT.
CROPS AND LIVESTOCK PRODUCED IN HONG KONG NOW TOTAL MORE THAN $1.5 BILLION A YEAR, AFTER GROWING AT AN ANNUAL RATE OF ABOUT NINE PER CENT IN RECENT YEARS.
♦FARMERS HERE TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF LOCAL CONSUMERS’ PREFERENCE FOR FRESH FOOD, AS OPPOSED TO FROZEN AND CANNED FOOD. THIS PREFERENCE ENCOURAGES THE PRODUCTION OF HIGHLY PERISHABLE GOOD QUALITY AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS WHICH CAN BE TRANSPORTED AND MARKETED AT COMPARATIVELY LOW COST,+ MR TSE POINTED OUT.
HE CITED STRAW MUSHROOMS WHICH ARE IN STRONG DEMAND AND CAN BE KEPT FRESH FOR ONLY A FEW HOURS IN SUMMER.
THEIR OUTPUT HAS BEEN GROWING RAPIDLY SINCE 1977 WHEN MASS PRODUCTION WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE USE OF COTTON WASTE AS THE GROWING MEDIUM.
AT THE MOMENT, BECAUSE OF THE LIKELY SHORTAGE OF COTTON WASTE, THE DEPARTMENT IS CONDUCTING RESEARCH ON THE USE OF OTHER BIODEGRADABLE WASTE AS AN ALTERNATIVE MEDIUM FOR GROWING STRAW MUSHROOMS.
VEGETABLE CULTIVATION WITH ITS SIX TO SEVEN CROPPINGS A YEAR, YIELDS HIGH RETURNS AND HAS LONG REPLACED RICE GROWING.
/LOCAL FARMERS....
SUNDAY, NOVLKBER 6, 1985
7
LOCAL FARMERS NOW CATER FOR 32 PER CENT OF HONG KONG’S TOTAL VEGETABLE CONSUMPTION. LAST YEAR, 155 OOO TONNES OF DOMESTICALLY GROWN VEGETABLES, VALUED AT $468 MILLION, WERE SOLD IN HONG KONG.
THERE IS ALSO A STRONG DEMAND FOR LOCAL PORK BECAUSE OF ITS GENERALLY HIGHER QUALITY.
EACH YEAR, MORE THAN 750 000 PIGS ARE PRODUCED BY LOCAL FARMERS, ACCOUNTING FOR 20 PER CENT OF TOTAL CONSUMPTION.
ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT’S ESTIMATE, AGRICULTURE PLUS ITS ASSOCIATED INDUSTRIES SUPPORT THE LIVELIHOOD OF AT LEAST 250 000 PEOPLE.
APART FROM THE DECLINING FARMING POPULATION, THE AVERAGE AGE OF FARMERS INCREASED FROM 40 IN 1961 TO 45 IN 1971, AND TO 53 AT PRESENT.
♦HOWEVER, ABOUT 97 PER CENT OF THE FARMERS SURVEYED EXPRESSED WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE THEIR OCCUPATION.
♦WITH MECHANISATION AND MODERNISATION, FARMING IS MUCH MORE PROFITABLE NOWADAYS AND IS NO LONGER A BACKBREAKING JOB AS IT USED TO BE,+ MR TSE SAID.
♦ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT’S SURVEY, A FARMING FAMILY OF FIVE ONLY NEEDS TO GROW ONE THIRD OF A HECTARE OF VEGETABLES OR RAISE 250 HEAD OF PIGS OR 6 000 CHICKENS TO EARN A REASONABLY GOOD LIVING,+ MR TSE ADDED.
BUT ONE MAJOR PROBLEM FACED BY FARMERS IS THE ENCROACHMENT ON AGRICULTURAL LAND BY HOUSING AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.
AS A RESULT, ONLY ABOUT 9.2 PER CENT OF HONG KONG’S LAND AREA IS USED FOR FARMING, COMPARED WITH 12.8 PER CENT IN 1971.
TO COMPOUND THE PROBLEM, THERE ARE SOME 4 200 HECTARES OF UNUSED AGRICULTURAL LAND, MAINLY BECAUSE OF LANDOWNERS’ ANTICIPATION OF LAND RESUMPTION FOR URBAN DEVELOPMENT.
-------0 ---------
YOU TOO CAN BECOME A TUTOR NURSE
X X X M K
HELEN KWAN, WHO HAS DEVOTED 16 YEARS OF HER WORKING LIFE TOWARDS CARING FOR THE SICK AND THE INJURED, HAS TAKEN A FURTHER STEP IN THIS PROFESSION.
SO HAS TERRY LAI, A MALE NURSE WITH THE SAME LENGTH OF SERVICE AS HELEN’S.
THEY AND EIGHTEEN OTHERS WERE THE FIRST TO GRADUATE AS TUTOR NURSES AFTER TWO YEARS OF FULL-TIME TRAINING AT THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC.
/THEIR GRAJUATIGK .......
SUNDAY, NOVH-BEK 6, 1983
8
THEIR GRADUATION CAME AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME AS THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT’S PLAN TO BUILD FIVE MORE NURSING SCHOOLS BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, IN HIS OPENING ADDRESS AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 5, 1983.
ELEVEN OUT OF THE TWENTY GRADUATES, INCLUDING HELEN AND TERRY, ARE GOVERNMENT NURSES.
THE COURSE, THE FIRST TO BE CONDUCTED LOCALLY, WAS DESIGNED BY THREE NURSING EDUCATORS IN 1981. THE TWO-YEAR INTENSIVE PROGRAMME COVERS NURSING THEORY AND KNOWLEDGE, TEACHING THEORY AND METHODS, PSYCHOLOGY, SOCIOLOGY, PHYSIOLOGY AND MICRO-BIOLOGY.
HELEN AND TERRY ARE NOW TEACHING IN VARIOUS NURSING SCHOOLS IN THE EXISTING GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS.
♦THE TEACHING METHOD THAT I’VE LEARNT DURING THE COURSE AND THE FIELD EXERCISES ARE HELPING ME IN MY NEW ROLE,+ SAID HELEN.
SHE ADDED, + I’M NOW TEACHING MIDWIFERY STUDENTS IN THE OBSTETRIC®?DEPARTMENT AT QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL. I THINK I CAN APPLY MOST OF THE KNOWLEDGE THAT I’VE LEARNT IN TEACHING MY STUDENTS.
♦PERSONALLY, I GAIN MOST FROM THE PSYCHOLOGY AND SOCIOLOGY CLASSES BECAUSE THESE SUBJECTS ENLARGED MY SCOPE OF LIFE AND GAVE ME A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF MY FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS.*
TERRY, WHO IS NOW TEACHING FIRST-YEAR STUDENT NURSES IN THE SCHOOL OF GENERAL NURSING AT PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL, SAID THAT THE COURSE HAD GIVEN HIM CONFIDENCE IN GIVING LECTURES IN CLASS.
♦WE WERE GIVEN A LOT OF ASSIGNMENTS AND EXAMINATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COURSE AND IT WAS QUITE TOUGH AT THE BEGINNING TO GO THROUGH ALL THESE AS I HAD LEFT SCHOOL A LONG TIME AGO,+ HE SAID.
♦BUT THE EFFORTS THAT I PUT INTO THESE STUDIES NOW ENABLE ME TO HAVE A FIRM GRIP ON TEACHING, WHICH I THINK, IS A MOST VALUABLE TOOL IN DISSEMINATING THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE HAVE LEARNT.
♦AS A TUTOR NURSE, I ALWAYS HAVE TO IMPROVE AND REFRESH MY KNOWLEDGE BY READING BOOKS ON NURSING; PREPARING LECTURE NOTES, AND CHECKING STUDENTS’ ASSIGNMENTS.+
BUT TERRY FINDS HIS NEW PROFESSION MORE INTERESTING THAN THE WORK HE USED TO DO BECAUSE, HE ADDED, THE LONGER HE TEACHES, THE MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE HE WILL BECOME.
QUALIFIED NURSES WITH THREE YEARS OF WORKING EXPERIENCE AND WHO WANT TO PURSUE A TEACHING CAREER IN NURSING CAN APPLY FOR ENROLMENT IN THE TUTOR NURSE COURSE.
CANDIDATES WILL HAVE TO PASS A SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEW TO BE CONDUCTED BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1983
9
FIRE SERVICES BUILDING FOR TSIM SHA TSUI EAST v * * *
THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE OF THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SUPERSTRUCTURE FOR A FIRE SERVICES BUILDING AT TSIM SHA TSUI EAST.
WORKS WILL INCLUDE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A FOURTEEN-STOREY BUILDING AND AN EXTERNAL DRILL YARD ON A 2 6OO-SQUARE-METRE SITE BETWEEN HONG CHONG ROAD AND SCIENCE MUSEUM ROAD.
UPON COMPLETION, THE BUILDING WILL PROVIDE ABOUT 2 300 SQUARE btTRES OF BASEMENT FOR CAR-PARKING AND STORAGE, ABOUT 16 400 SQUARE METRES OF OFFICE ACCOMMODATION, MAINLY TO HOUSE THE FIRE SERVICES HEADQUARTERS, AND ABOUT 1 300 SQUARE METRES FOR AN INTERNALLY SEGREGATED SUB-DIVISIONAL FIRE STATION.
CONSTRUCTION WILL START TOWARDS THE END OF THE YEAR AND IS EXPECTED TO TAKE ABOUT 22 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
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FIRST DISTRICT FESTIVAL IN SOUTHERN if M
THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT FESTIVAL REFLECTS THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE’S EFFORTS IN OVERCOMING THE CONSTRAINTS THEY HAVE IN COMMUNITY BUILDING AND PROMOTION OF DISTRICT IDENTITY, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE FIRST SOUTHERN DISTRICT FESTIVAL, MR WIGGHAM SAID THE GEOGRAPHICAL SPREAD OF THE DISTRICT AND THE WIDELY DIFFERENT INTERESTS IN THE VARIOUS SECTORS OF THE LOCAL POPULATION HAD BEEN THE MAJOR DIFFICULTIES FACED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD IN COMMUNITY BUILDING.
♦THESE CONSTRAINTS HAVE BEEN WELL RECOGNISED BY THE CENTRAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE WHEN PLANNING THE DISTRICT FESTIVAL,♦ HE SAID.
♦TO OVERCOME THESE, THE PROGRAMMES FOR THE FOLLOWING THREE WEEKS HAVE BEEN PLANNED IN SUCH A WAY THAT PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE AND IN ALL SIX CONSTITUENCIES OF THE DISTRICT WILL FIND SOME OF THE RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL EVENTS OF INTEREST TO THEM,+ HE SAID.
PROGRAMMES IN THE FESTIVAL INCLUDE PERFORMANCES BY THE HONG KONC CHORUS AND THE HONG KONG ACADEMY OF BALLET FOR THE CULTURALLY iScLINED; CANTONESE OPERAS FOR THOSE WITH TRADITIONAL MUSICAL TASTES. A WALKATHON, A DANCING COMPETITION AND A CANOE COMPETITION for the healthy AND VIGOROUS; A TELEMATCH AND LAUNCH PICNIC FOR THE WORKERS; AND A DISTRICT YOUR FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE AND THE
HANDICAPPED.
/MR WIGGHAh; .......
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6,
- 10 -
MR WIGGHAM SAID THAT THE FESTIVAL WAS INTENDED TO HIGHLIGHT THE COMMUNITY BUILDING EFFORTS OF THE DISTRICT BOARD BY PROVIDING A WIDE RANGE OF RECREATIONAL, SPORT, ARTS AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES FOR THE RESIDENTS.
HE WAS ALSO PLEASED TO SEE THAT THE CENTRAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE HAD BEEN ABLE TO MOBILISE RESOURCES IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, WITH THE AREA COMMITTEES, VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND OTHER GRASSROOT ORGANISATIONS TAKING PART IN THE FESTIVAL.
♦I HAVE NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THE CLOSER RELATIONSHIP AND STRONG COMMUNITY SPIRIT THAT HAVE BEEN FOSTERED AMONG ALL THE PARTICIPATING BODIES WILL PROVIDE A GOOD FRAMEWORK FOR COMMUNITY BUILDING IN THE DISTRICT IN THE YEARS TO COME,+ HE SAID.
TODAY’S OPENING CEREMONY WAS FOLLOWED BY A WALKATHON AND A MARATHON RACE HELD AT THE ABERDEEN COUNTRY PARK.
FACILITIES FOR TRAINING TEACHERS BOOSTED
K * * *
HONG KONG’S CAPACITY TO TRAIN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY TEACHERS HAS BEEN GREATLY BOOSTED WITH THE COMPLETION OF A NEW ANNEXE OF THE SIR ROBERT BLACK COLLEGE OF EDUCATION IN YUEN CHAU KOK, SHA TIN.
THE COLLEGE, THE MAIN BUILDING OF WHICH STANDS AT CALDECOTT ROAD, PIPER’S HILL, KOWLOON, NOW OFFERS A LARGE VARIETY OF FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME COURSES.
THESE INCLUDE A THREE-YEAR FULL-TIME COURSE FOR FORM 5 GRADUATES AND A TWO-YEAR FULL-TIME COURSE FOR MATRICULANTS.
THE COLLEGE ALSO PROVIDES A VARIETY OF PART-TIME IN-SERVICE TRAINING FOR TEACHERS IN BOTH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
IN ADDITION, IT IS THE ONLY COLLEGE OF EDUCATION WHICH RUNS A TWO-YEAR PART-TIME IN-SERVICE TRAINING COURSE FOR TEACHERS OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS.
IT NOW OFFERS A TOTAL OF SEVEN ELECTIVES RANGING FROM THE EDUCATION OF SLOW LEARNING CHILDREN TO THE MANAGEMENT OF CHILDREN WITH SPEECH AND LANGUAGE PROBLEMS.
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/11 ........
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1983
11
FUN DAY FOR LOK FU FAMILIES * * * *
MORE THAN 100 FAMILIES TODAY (SUNDAY) PARTICIPATED IN A SERIES OF TELEMATCHES ORGANISED BY THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD.
THE EVENT MARKED THE OPENING OF A TWO-WEEK PROGRAMME
♦HAPPY FAMILIES IN LOK FU+ WHICH FEATURES A FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION DAY, A VARIETY SHOW, A COLOURING COMPETITION, A PHOTOGRAPHIC CONTEST, TELEMATCHES AND A CROSS-WORD PUZZLE.
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY, THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MR PAUL WONG, SAID THAT THE EVENT WAS AIMED AT PROVIDING MORE RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS AND AROUSING THEIR CONSCIOUSNESS TOWARDS THE IMPORTANT ROLE PLAYED BY FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY.
TODAY’S PROGRAMME ALSO INCLUDED A CHINESE FOLK DANCE AND A BRASS BAND PERFORMANCE.
IN THE AFTERNOON, A GAMES DAY FOR DISABLED AND ABLE-BODIED PERSONS WAS HELD AT THE PO LEUNG KUK CENTENARY SCHOOL IN CHOI WAN ESTATE AND ATTRACTED MORE THAN 1 000 VISITORS.
THE EVENT WAS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD, THE DISTRICT OFFICE, CHOI WAN AREA COMMITTEE AND THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES TO PROMOTE THE INTEGRATION OF THE DISABLED INTO THE COMMUNITY.
APART FROM A VARIETY SHOW, THERE WERE VARIOUS TELEGAMES WITH PARTICIPATING TEAMS MADE UP OF OVER 300 DISABLED AND ABLE-BODIED RESIDENTS IN THE DISTRICT.
PRIZES WERE ALSO AWARDED TO WINNERS IN A REHABILITATION POSTER DESIGN COMPETITION HELD IN THE DISTRICT EARLIER.
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GUIDING HELPS DEVELOP CHARACTERS — AKERS-JONES * * *
TODAY’S INAUGURATION CEREMONY OF THE HONG KONG GIRL GUIDES ISLAND REGIONAL ASSOCIATION WAS DESCRIBED BY THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, AS YET ANOTHER MILESTONE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF GUIDING IN HONG KONG.
ADDRESSING THE GATHERING AT THE CHATER ROAD PEDESTRIAN PRECINCT, HE SAID THAT THE PURPOSE OF A REGIONAL ASSOCIATION IS TO SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE GIRLS TO JOIN IN GUIDING AND TO CO-ORDINATE THE WORK OF THE DISTRICT ASSOCIATIONS WITHIN THE REGION.
♦WITH THE FORMATION OF THE REGIONAL ASSOCIATION, THE WORK AND ACTIVITIES OF THE VARIOUS DISTRICT ASSOCIATIONS ON THE ISLAND WILL BE STRENGTHENED WHICH IN TURN WILL BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE GUIDING ITSELF GIVES GIRLS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP THEIR CHARACTERS AND TO TRAIN SO THAT THEY WILL BE BETTER CITIZENS AND SERVE THE COMMUNITY,* HE ADDED.
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/12.......
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1983
12
ROAD PROJECT PROPOSED * * * *
THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO CARRY OUT A ROAD PROJECT AT SAM KA TSUEN TYPHOON SHELTER (TSAU WAN) AS PART OF THE STAGE FOUR DEVELOPMENT FOR SAM KA TSUEN, LEI YUE MUN.
THE PROJECT INVOLVES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 17O-METRE-LONG NEW ROAD AND A 150-METRE WATERFRONT PROMENADE ON RECLAIMED LAND.
THE ROAD WILL PROVIDE VEHICULAR ACCESS FROM SHUNG SHUN STREET TO THE ADJACENT FUTURE DEVELOPMENT WHILE THE PROMENADE WILL PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE WATERFRONT.
A NOTICE CONCERNING THE PROPOSED WORKS IS PUBLISHED IN THE LATEST GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
A PLAN SHOWING THE PROJECT CAN BE SEEN AT THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, CENTRAL ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING MAIN ENTRANCE; THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE (KOWLOON EAST), KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 9TH FLOOR, hO5 NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON; OR THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT OFFICE, KWUN TONG DISTRICT BRANCH OFFICES BUILDING, TUNG YAN STREET, 3RD AND 4TH FLOORS, KOWLOON.
OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSAL MUST REACH THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS BY JANUARY 3, 1984.
TWO MORE SOCCER PITCHES FOR KWAI CHUNG ft ft ft ft ft
TWO MORE MINI-SOCCER PITCHES IN KWAI CHUNG WILL BE READY SOON.
THESE PITCHES REPRESENT PHASE ONE OF THE S5.2-MILLION HING FONG ROAD PLAYGROUND LOCATED ON A 1.74-HECTARE SITE NEXT TO THE OSMAN RAMJU SADICK MEMORIAL GAMES HALL, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID.
THE TWO PITCHES ARE BEING GIVEN FINISHING TOUCHES AND WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
THEY WILL HAVE FLOODLIGHTS FOR NIGHT EVENTS PLUS A SPECTATOR STAND AND CHANGING ROOMS WITH HOT AND COLD SHOWERS.
MEANWHILE, WORK ON PHASE TWO OF THE PLAYGROUND HAS STARTED AND IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY MID-1984.
THIS PHASE CONSISTS OF A REST GARDEN WITH ARBOURS AND BENCHES, A REFRESHMENT KIOSK, A CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND AND A STOREROOM.
THE PLAYGROUND, DESIGNED AND BUILT BY THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE OF THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, WILL BE MANAGED BY THE
NTSD
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1983
15
FREE TRIPS ABROAD FOR AWARD WINNERS
* * * * *
MR SHEK SHING, AN EMPLOYEE OF GAMMON (HK) LTD., HAS WON THE ♦SAFETY EMPLOYEE AWARD* OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY SAFETY AWARD SCHEME ORGANISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION SAFETY SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD.
MR SHEK WILL BE AWARDED THE FIRST PRIZE OF AN ALL-EXPENSE PAID SIX-DAY TRIP TO JAPAN.
THE SECOND PRIZE, A FREE TRIP TO THAILAND GOES TO MR LEUNG WAH-PO OF LIDELL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LTD., AND THE THIRD PRIZE, A FREE TRIP TO THE PHILIPPINES, GOES TO MR HO FAT OF SHU I ON CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LTD.
THE PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY IS SCHEDULED TO BE HELD AT THE I CLUB IN THE BANK OF AMERICA TOWER, CENTRAL, ON DECEMBER 6, 1983.
THE AWARD, WHICH IS BASED ON AN EMPLOYEE’S PERFORMANCE ON WORK SAFETY, IS ONE OF THE THREE COMPETITIONS ORGANISED BY THE SUB-COMMITTEE.
THE SAFETY SLOGAN COMPETITION WAS COMPLETED EARLIER AND THE RESULTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN ANNOUNCED.
RESULTS OF THE THIRD COMPETITION - +SAFETY CONTRACTOR AWARD+ -WILL BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY.
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TENDERS INVITED FOR SALE OF LIGHT REFRESHMENTS
* M K * *
TENDERS ARE BEING INVITED FOR THE SALE OF LIGHT REFRESHMENTS AT THE NEWLY COMPLETED TSUEN KING CIRCUIT PLAYGROUND ADJACENT TO A PRIVATE HOUSING ESTATE, THE TSUEN WAN CENTRE, IN TSUEN WAN.
THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDER MAY START BUSINESS ON JANUARY 1 ON A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID.
TENDER FORMS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE TSUEN WAN URBAN SERVICES OFFICE ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF FAR EAST BANK BUILDING, 135 CASTLE PEAK ROAD, TSUEN WAN.
COMPLETED FORMS MUST BE PLACED IN THE TENDER BOX AT THE NTSD HEADQUARTERS ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF SWIRE AND MACLAINE HOUSE, AUSTIN CENTRE, 19-23 AUSTIN AVENUE, TSIM SHA TSUI, BEFORE DECEMBER 2.
ENQUIRIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE TSUEN WAN URBAN SERVICES OFFICE ON 0-444281, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
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/U*........
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1983
14
NEW RESTRICTED ZONES
* * *
FROM 10 AM ON TUESDAY (NOVEMBER 8), THE FOLLOWING ROADS WILL BE DESIGNATED RESTRICTED ZONES FROM 7 AM TO 10 AM AND FROM 4 PM TO 7 PM DAILYt-
* A 10-METRE SECTION OF LO TAK COURT NORTH OF ITS JUNCTION WITH HOI PA STREET.
* THE EASTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF HOI PA STREET FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH LO TAK COURT TO WING TAI HOUSE, FUK LOI ESTATE.
WITHIN THE RESTRICTED ZONES, ALL MOTOR VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES AND THOSE AUTHORISED IN WRITING BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM PICKING UP OR SETTING DOWN PASSENGERS- OR LOADING OR UNLOADING GOODS.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG TEL: 5-233191
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO,
GOVERNOR TO ATTEND ROAD SAFETY RALLY........................... 1
ENERGY SECRETARY ARRIVING WEDNESDAY ........................... 2
FI SHING INDUSTRY PLAYING IMPORTANT ROLE....................... 3
CHECK ON CHILD WITH A SQUINT, PARENTS TOLD .................... 4
STAMP ISSUE MARKS OBSERVATORY'S CENTENARY ..................... 5
TUEN MUN FESTIVAL STARTING SATURDAY ........................... 6
WINTER COURSES FOR TEACHERS ................................... 7
BEACH CARNIVAL AT CLEAR WATER BAY ............................. 8
MORE FOOD STALLS FOR WORKERS .................................. 8
WATER FIGURES ................................................. 9
WATER LEAKAGE TESTS
9
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1983
1
GOVERNOR TO ATTEND ROAD SAFETY RALLY ft ft ft ft
THE GOVERNOR AND LADY YOUDE WILL GIVE THEIR SUPPORT TO THE ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN BY OFFICIATING AT A ROAD SAFETY RALLY TO BE HELD AT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH STADIUM ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 11)
JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE ROAD SAFETY COUNCIL OF HONG KONG AND RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG AND SUPPORTED BY THE URBAN COUNCIL, THE RALLY IS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THIS YEAR’S CAMPAIGN.
ALMOST 1 500 PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN WILL ATTEND THE RALLY WHICH IS AIMED AT REDUCING TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS INVOLVING CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF SIX AND 11, WHO ARE THE GROUP MOST AT RISK IN HONG KONG.
THE RALLY, WHICH WILL BE RECORDED FOR BROADCASTING ON TELEVISION, WILL FEATURE +CAPTAIN SAFETY* - A NEW CHARACTER SPECIALLY CREATED FOR THE CAMPAIGN.
SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ATTENDING THE RALLY WILL INCLUDE THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, MR R. HENRY; THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR A. SCOTT; THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ROAD SAFETY COUNCIL AND DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, MR R. ANN I NG; AND THE DEPUTY COMMANDER, BRITISH FORCES, BRIGADIER A. CROWFOOT.
THE RALLY WILL BE TELEVISED BY RTHK ON TVB JADE ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, AT 4.30 PM.
IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE RALLY, THERE WILL BE A ROAD SAFETY DISPLAY IN THE EXHIBITION LOBBY OF THE QUEEN ELIZABETH STADIUM AND AT THE NEARBY MORRISON HILL TEMPORARY PLEASURE GROUND.
THE DISPLAY IN THE STADIUM WILL INCLUDE A NUMBER OF NEWLY-DESIGNED COMPUTER GAMES ON ROAD SAFETY THEMES WHILE A SEAT BELT CATAPULT WHICH DEMONSTRATES THE EFFECT OF WEARING AND NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT, WILL BE FEATURED IN THE OUTDOOR DISPLAY.
THE DISPLAYS WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC ON SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 12) FROM 10 AM TO 4 PM.
NOTE TO EDITORS!
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE ROAD SAFETY RALLY TO BE HELD ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 11) BETWEEN 4.30 PM AND 6.30 PM AT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH STADIUM.
OFFICIATING AT THE FUNCTION WILL BE THE GOVERNOR AND LADY YOUDE.
/a maximum.......
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1983
2
A MAXIMUM OF TWO PRESS PASSES FOR THE FUNCTION WILL BE ISSUED TO EACH NEWSPAPER, RADIO OR TV STATION AS SEATS ARE LIMITED AND PRE-ARRANGED. PLEASE TELEPHONE IN YOUR REQUIREMENT TO THE GIS DUTY OFFICER ON OR BEFORE 4 PM , WEDNESDAY (NOVEMBER 9), SO THAT PASSES CAN BE ISSUED FOR COLLECTION FROM THE NEWSROOM ON NOVEMBER 10.
YOU ARE ADVISED TO BRING TELEPHOTO LENSES AND FAST FILM TO USE IN THE ARENA WHICH WILL BE BRIGHTLY LIT FOR TV RECORDING PURPOSES, MAKING THE USE OF FLASH UNNECESSARY.
MEMBERS OF THE PRESS HOLDING THE PRESS PASSES ARE REQUESTED TO ASSEMBLE AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE Q.E. STADIUM AT 4.15 PM ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11.
GIS OFFICER WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST.
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ENERGY SECRETARY ARRIVING WEDNESDAY
UMM
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ENERGY, MR PETER WALKER, WILL ARRIVE FROM CANTON ON WEDNESDAY (NOVEMBER 9) FOR A TWO-DAY VISIT.
DURING HIS STAY, MR WALKER WILL MEET WITH THE GOVERNOR AND SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF THE BRITISH TRADE COMMISSION AND BRITISH CORPORATIONS IN HONG KONG.
HE WILL CALL ON THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS AND HAVE A HELICOPTER TOUR OF HONG KONG.
A VISIT TO THE CASTLE PEAK POWER STATION IS ALSO SCHEDULED.
MR WALKER WILL GIVE A PRESS CONFERENCE ON THURSDAY (NOVEMBER 10) BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE FOR THE UK LATER THAT DAY.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
MR PETER WALKER WILL ARRIVE BY CA 301, ETA 8.25 AM, ON WEDNESDAY (NOVEMBER 9), AND LEAVE BY BA20, ETD 9 PM, ON THURSDAY NOVEMBER 10).
THERE WILL BE A PHOTOGRAPHIC FACILITY FOR MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER BOTH HIS ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE.
THOSE WISHING TO MAKE USE OF THE FACILITY ARE REQUESTED TO ASSEMBLE IN THE AIRPORT PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE AIRPORT TERMINAL BUILDING NOT LATER THAN 7.25 AM ON WEDNESDAY (NOVEMBER 9) FOR HIS ARRIVAL AND NOT LATER THE 7.45 PM ON THURSDAY (NOVEMBER 10) FOR HIS DEPARTURE.
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE ALSO INVITED TO ATTEND THE PRESS CONFERENCE TO BE HELD AT 4.30 PM ON THURSDAY (NOVEMBER 10) IN THE GIS THEATRE, 5/F, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, CENTRAL.
0 -
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1983
FISHING INDUSTRY PLAYING IMPORTANT ROLE M * * *
THE FISHING INDUSTRY WOULD CONTINUE TO PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG’S ECONOMY BECAUSE OF THE TERRITORY’S GEOGRAPHICAL AND OTHER FACTORS, AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR ANDREW SO KWOK-WING, SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
NOTING THAT FISHERMEN HAD MADE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS, MR SO SAID HONG KONG HAD THE OBLIGATION TO LOOK AFTER THEM, HELP THEM INCREASE THEIR OPERATIONS, IMPROVE THEIR LIVING CONDITIONS AND PROVIDE FORMAL EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING TO THEIR CHILDREN.
MR SO WAS SPEAKING AT THE JOINT GRADUATION CEREMONY OF THE 13 PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND ONE SECONDARY TECHNICAL SCHOOL PROVIDED BY THE FISH MARKETING ORGANISATION (FMO), WHICH IS ADMINISTERED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT.
THE FMO STARTED TO PROVIDE SCHOOLS SPECIALLY FOR FISHERMEN’S CHILDREN IN THE LATE 19*0’S, AND GREAT DEVELOPMENTS HAVE TAKEN PLACE SINCE THEN.
AT PRESENT, THERE ARE SOME 3 800 STUDENTS STUDYING AT THE 13 FMO PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND ONE FIVE-YEAR SECONDARY TECHNICAL SCHOOL.
♦THE FIRST BATCH OF OVER 50 FORM FIVE STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE HONG KONG SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION IN 1983. ONE STUDENT OBTAINED FIVE DISTINCTIONS AND THREE CREDITS WHILE SIX OTHERS OBTAINED AT LEAST ONE CREDIT,* MR SO POINTED OUT.
HE FELT THAT AS MANY FISHERMEN’S CHILDREN WERE REQUIRED TO ACCOMPANY VESSELS ON FISHING OPERATIONS, THERE WAS A NEED FOR FMO SCHOOLS TO OPERATE MORE SPECIAL CLASSES TO ASSIST THESE CHILDREN.
HE ADDED THAT MORE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES COULD BE BROADCAST ON TELEVISION OR RADIO SO THAT FISHERMEN’S CHILDREN COULD LEARN FROM THEM.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF OVER 20 CHAPTERS OF THE LAWS OF HONG KONG AND ITS DUTIES BEAR SIGNIFICANT INFLUENCE ON THE LIVELIHOOD OF THE PUBLIC.
♦HOWEVER, ITS WORK IS OFTEN GONE UNNOTICED EXCEPT DURING TYPHOONS WHEN NEWSPAPERS, TELEVISION AND RADIO BROADCAST REPORT ON THE EFFORTS OF AFD STAFF IN TAKING PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES AND GRANTING EMERGENCY RELIEF TO THOSE AFFECTED.
♦THIS SHOWS THAT AFD OFFICERS ONLY AIM TO SERVE THE PUBLIC AND DISREGARD REWARDS. THEY REALLY DESERVE OUR APPRECIATION AND SUPPORT,* MR SO SAID.
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/4........
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1983
4
CHECK ON CHILD WITH A SQUINT, PARENTS TOLD ft ft ft ft
A CHILD WITH A SQUINT SHOULD BE TAKEN TO AN EYE CLINIC FOR EXAMINATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
IF FACT, ANY ^ABNORMALITY OF EYE POSTURE* SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF A DOCTOR, HE ADDED.
THE REASON IS BECAUSE HE MAY BE SUFFERING FROM AMBLYOPIA, KNOWN ALSO AS +LAZY EYE*.
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT WHEN PART OF THE CHILD'S BRAIN WHICH CONTROLS VISION FAILS TO RECEIVE NORMAL VISUAL SIGNALS, HIS EYESIGHT WILL BEGIN TO DETERIORATE AND FINALLY CEASE TO DEVELOP.
AMBLYOPIA OCCURS DURING THE FIRST FIVE YEARS OF LIFE. IN HONG KONG, IT AFFLICTS ABOUT SIX PER CENT OF CHILDREN.
♦IF THE DISEASE IS NOT DETECTED BEFORE THE AGE OF SEVEN, IT WILL CAUSE PERMANENT FUNCTIONAL IMPAIRMENT OF THE EYE,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
A CHILD WITH GOOD SIGHT IN ONE EYE WILL USUALLY NOT BE AWARE OF THE CONDITION, HE SAID.
AS FOR TREATMENT, THREE OVERSEAS-TRAINED EXPERTS ARE AMONG STAFF MANNING AN ORTHOPTIC UNIT SET UP IN 1981 IN THE EYE CLINIC AT THE YAU MA TEI JOCKEY CLUB POLYCLINIC, HE SAID.
TWO SETS OF MODERN EQUIPMENT TO TEST THE BINOCULAR VISION OF PATIENTS WITH THE +LAZY EYE* PROBLEM HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN THE UNIT.
SINCE THEN, SOME 1 2OO CHILDREN HAVE BEEN ATTENDED TO IN THE CLINIC.
THE USUAL TREATMENT IS TO COVER THE GOOD EYE FOR VARYING PERIODS, THUS FORCING THE CHILD TO USE THE AFFECTED EYE.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT CHILDREN SUFFERING FROM +LAZY EYE* CAN BE TAKEN TO THE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH CENTRES, OUTPATIENT DEPARTMENTS OF HOSPITALS, AND CLINICS. THE CHILDREN CAN ALSO BE REFERRED THROUGH THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SCHEME TO THE ORTHOPTIC UNIT FOR TREATMENT.
AS A FINAL WORD, THE SPOKESMAN REMINDED PARENTS THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR CHILDREN TO UNDERGO REGULAR EYE TESTS FOR EARLY DETECTION OF PROBLEMS.
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1983
5
STAMP ISSUE MARKS OBSERVATORY’S CENTENARY *****
THE HONG KONG POST OFFICE WILL BE ISSUING FOUR STAMPS TO COMMEMORATE THE CENTENARY OF THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY ON NOVEMBER 23.
THE COMMON THEME FOR ALL THE STAMPS IS THE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE IN THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY SINCE IT WAS FORMED IN 1883.
THE DESIGNS FEATURE THE ORIGINAL MAIN BUILDING AT THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY IN 1883 AND THE NINE-STOREY BUILDING COMPLETED IN 1982 (40 CENTS), A WIND VANE AND CUP ANEMOMETER AND THE DOPPLER ACOUSTIC RADAR SYSTEM ($1), THE THATCHED SHED USED TO HOUSE THERMOMETERS IN THE EARLY DAYS AND A GEOSTATIONARY METEROLOGICAL SATELLITE SYSTEM (SI.30), AND THE EARLIEST SEISMOMETER CONSTRUCTED BY ZHANG HENG. A CHINESE SCIENTIST, IN 132 A.D. AND A MODERN SEISMOMETER ($5).
DESIGNED BY CLIFFORD SHUN WAH, THE STAMPS WILL BE PUT ON DISPLAY ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE GENERAL POST OFFICE, CONNAUGHT PLACE AND IN THE TSIM SHA TSUI POST OFFICE DAILY FROM NOVEMBER 16-27 BETWEEN 9.30 AM AND 4.30 PM.
OFFICIAL FIRST DAY COVERS AT 50 CENTS EACH WILL BE ON SALE AT ALL POST OFFICES ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9.
EACH COVER WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN INSERT CARD CONTAINING INFORMATION ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY AND BRIEF STAMP PRINTING DETAILS. SUFFICIENT FIRST DAY COVERS HAVE BEEN PRINTED TO MEET ANTICIPATED DEMAND, AND THERE WILL BE NO RESTRICTION ON THE NUMBER PURCHASED BY EACH CUSTOMER.
ADVANCE ORDERS FOR SERVICING FIRST DAY COVERS WILL EE ACCEPTED FROM NOVEMBER 9-18 AT ALL POST OFFICES.
FOR THIS SERVICE, ADDRESSED FIRST DAY COVERS MUST BE HANDED IN WITH AN ORDER FORM WHICH IS AVAILABLE AT ALL POST OFFICES DURING THAT PERIOD TOGETHER WITH A REMITTANCE TO COVER THE COST.
THE CHARGE WILL BE S8.70 PER COVER, AND THIS INCLUDES THE COST OF THE STAMPS (S7.7O) TOGETHER WITH A SERVICE FEE OF SI.00.
THE COVERS MUST BE FULLY ADDRESSED BY THE APPLICANTS, AND NO FEWER THAN 10 COVERS WILL BE ACCEPTED WITH EACH ORDER.
ANY PERSON ORDERING SERVICED COVERS ADDRESSED TO A LOCAL DESTINATION MAY COLLECT THEM ON NOVEMBER 25 FROM THE POST OFFICE WHERE THE ORDER WAS PLACED.
COVERS ADDRESSED OVERSEAS WILL BE FORWARDED AS ADDRESSED.
A LIMITED NUMBER OF COLOURFUL POSTERS SHOWING ENLARGED VERSIONS OF THE STAMPS WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE FOR SALE AT $20 EACH AT THE PHILATELIC COUNTERS OF THE GENERAL POST OFFICE AND TSIM SHA TSUI POST OFFICE FROM WEDNESDAY.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1983
6
TUEN MUN FESTIVAL STARTING SATURDAY * * * *
WIDE-RANGING CULTURAL, SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES WILL BE STAGED IN TUEN MUN FROM SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 12) TO MARK THE THIRD DISTRICT FESTIVAL.
THE TWO-WEEK FESTIVAL WILL INCLUDE AN EXHIBITION, A DISTRICT RUN, AN INTER-SCHOOL CONCERT, VARIETY SHOWS, SOCCER MATCHES, AND BASKETBALL AND BOWLING TOURNAMENTS.
PAINTING, DRAWING, SINGING, PHOTOGRAPHY, AND SLOGAN COMPETITIONS WILL ALSO BE HELD.
SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY (MONDAY), THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR RICKY FUNG SAID THE FESTIVAL WAS AIMED AT PROMOTING THE NEW TOWN’S IDENTITY AND SENSE OF BELONGING AMONG RESIDENTS THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN THE ACTIVITIES.
♦ IT IS ALSO HOPED THAT PUBLICITY OF THE FESTIVAL WILL ENABLE THE PEOPLE IN HONG KONG TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENTS AND THE LIVELIHOOD OF THE RESIDENTS IN TUEN MUN,+ HE SAID.
AT PRESENT, TUEN MUN HAS A POPULATION OF 220 000, AND IT IS EXPECTED TO GROW BY 70 000 ANNUALLY OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS TO REACH HALF A MILLION BY THE END OF THE DECADE.
MR FUNG SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN PROVIDING THE NEW TOWN WITH ALL NECESSARY FACILITIES TO COPE WITH THE RAPID POPULATION GROWTH.
♦ MORE THAN $500 MILLION WERE SPENT ON BASIC DEVELOPMENT LAST YEAR, AND ANOTHER $720 MILLION WILL BE SPENT THIS FINANCIAL YEAR,+ HE SAID.
PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE INCLUDE A HOSPITAL, A TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, A SPORTS STADIUM, A TOWN PARK, A SWIMMING POOL COMPLEX AND OTHER ANCILLARY FACILITIES.
♦ WE CAN SAY THE NEW TOWN’S DEVELOPMENTS IN RECENT YEARS AND THE PURPOSE OF HOLDING A DISTRICT FESTIVAL ONCE EVERY TWO YEARS ARE BOTH VERY MEANINGFUL AS THEY SHOW THE EFFORTS MADE BY GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL ORGANISATIONS IN IMPROVING THE RESIDENTS’ LIVELIHOOD,* SAID MR FUNG.
THE FESTIVAL WILL COST ABOUT $360 000, OF WHICH $300 000 WILL COME FROM THE DISTRICT BOARD AND THE REST FROM LOCAL DONATIONS.
ADMISSION TO ALL THE PROGRAMMES IS FREE. TICKETS AND COPIES OF THE FESTIVAL’S PROGRAMMES WILL BE AVAILABLE ON A FIRST-COME-FIRST-SERVED BASIS AT THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICE AND ITS SUB-OFFICES.
THE FESTIVAL IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD, THE DISTRICT OFFICE, THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT, AND RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG.
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1983
- 7 -
WINTER COURSES FOR TEACHERS ft ft ft *
A SERIES OF WINTER COURSES AND A SEMINAR WILL BE HELD BETWEEN NEXT MONTH AND FEBRUARY NEXT YEAR FOR TEACHERS OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION.
THE COURSES, ORGANISED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S PHYSICAL EDUCATION SECTION, INCLUDE TEACHING OF ARCHERY, ORIENTEERING, TEACHING OF BASKETBALL, TEACHING OF GIRL’S GYMNASTICS, TEACHING CF WESTERN FOLK-NATIONAL DANCE, TEACHING OF MINOR GAMES, CAMP LEADERS’ COURSE AND TENNET COURSE.
THE FIRST FOUR COURSES ARE MAINLY FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHERS AND TEACHERS IN CHARGE OF THE RESPECTIVE ACTIVITIES, WHILE THE REST ARE FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS CONCERNED.
IN ADDITION, A COURSE ON DANCE THEATRE WILL BE ORGANISED FOR TEACHERS OF SECONDARY, PRIMARY AND SPECIAL SCHOOLS.
PARTICIPANTS IN THE VARIOUS COURSES WILL BE EXPECTED TO TAKE PART IN BOTH THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL SESSIONS.
A SEMINAR ON ’SPORTS INJURY’ WILL BE HELD IN THE MORNINGS OF DECEMBER 17 AND 24 AT THE FORMER LOK FU GOVERNMENT PRIMARY SCHOOL, JUNCTION ROAD, KOWLOON CITY.
DR CHAN YUEN-YEE OF THE ORTHOPAEDIC SECTION, UNITED CHRISTIAN HOSPITAL, WILL SPEAK IN PUTONGHUA ON THE PHYSIOLOGY AND ANATOMY CF THE HUMAN BODY, THE BONY FRAMEWORK AND STRUCTURE OF JOINTS AND THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF USUAL INJURIES IN SPORTS. SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION WILL BE GIVEN PRIORITY TO ATTEND THIS SEMINAR.
ONLY IN-SERVICE TEACHERS REGISTERED WITH THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY. A CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE WILL BE ISSUED TO TEACHERS WHO HAVE SATISFACTORILY COMPLETED THE COURSE.
TEACHERS WHO WISH TO ATTEND ANY OF THE COURSES OR THE SEMINAR SHOULD SEND THEIR APPLICATIONS ON OR BEFORE NOVEMBER 30 TO THE PRINCIPAL INSPECTOR, PHYSICAL EDUCATION SECTION, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 7/F, 405 NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON.
ENQUIRIES MAY BE MADE TO THE SECTION ON 3-884111 EXTENSION 278 OR 271.
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/6 .......
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1983
8
BEACH CARNIVAL AT CLEAR WATER BAY ft ft ft ft
A BEACH CARNIVAL WITH A MUSIC PROGRAMME AND A SAND SCULPTURING COMPETITION WILL BE HELD AT CLEAR WATER BAY (2ND BEACH) ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 13).
PHOTOGRAPHY ENTHUSIASTS ARE BEING INVITED TO THE CARNIVAL AND TO TAKE PICTURES OF THE SCULPTURING COMPETITION.
MEDALS AND SOUVENIRS, INCLUDING PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS AND SPORTS GOODS, WILL BE AWARDED FOR THE 80 BEST PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN, SAID A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THE CARNIVAL, JOINTLY ORGANISED BY RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG, THE CHAMPION CLUB AND THE NTSD, WILL TAKE PLACE BETWEEN 2 PM AND 5 PM.
THE PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST IS A JOINT VENTURE WITH THE UNITED ARTIST PHOTOGRAPHIC ASSOCIATION.
APPLICATION FORMS FOR THIS CONTEST ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT ALL OFFICES OF THE KINGSBURG COLOUR PHOTOFINISHING CENTRE LIMITED OR AT THE BEACH ON SUNDAY.
ENTRIES MUST BE 3R- OR 3S-SIZE COLOUR PRINTS AND SHOULD BE SENT TO ANY OF THE KINGSBURG COLOUR PHOTOFINISHING CENTRE’S OFFICES BEFORE NOVEMBER 24 (THURSDAY) OR TO THE EXECUTIVES OF THE UNITED ARTIST PHOTOGRAPHIC ASSOCIATION ON NOVEMBER 25.
SELECTED PHOTOGRAPHS WILL BE DISPLAYED AT AN EXHIBITION TO BE HELD AT THE KINGSBURG GALLERY AT LANDMARK LATER THIS YEAR OR EARLY NEXT YEAR.
SIX WELL-KNOWN SINGERS AND TWO DISC JOCKEYS WILL PRESENT A PROGRAMME AT THE CARNIVAL, AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO SHARE THE FUN.
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MORE FOOD STALLS FOR WORKERS ft ft ft
MORE LUNCHING FACILITIES ARE BEING PLANNED FOR KWUN TONG WORKERS.
TENDERS ARE BEING INVITED BY THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE OF THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A COOKED FOOD BAZAAR IN TSUN YIP STREET, KWUN TONG.
THE TWO-STOREY STRUCTURE IN THE INDUSTRIAL AREA WILL HAVE 56 COOKED FOOD STALLS.
OTHER FACILITIES WILL INCLUDE TOILETS, A REFUSE COLLECTION CHAMBER, STOREROOMS, OFFICE SPACES, AND A ROOF TOP SITTING-OUT AREA.
WORK WILL START IN JANUARY NEXT YEAR AND BE COMPLETED IN SEPTEMBER.
- 0 - -
/9
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1983
9
WATER FIGURES * * *
STORAGE IN HONG KONG’S RESERVOIRS AT 9 AM TODAY (MONDAY) STOOD AT 96.6 PER CENT OF CAPACITY OR 572.066 MILLION CUBIC KETRES.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR, THE RESERVOIRS CONTAINED 469.906 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF WATER, REPRESENTING 80.2 PER CENT OF CAPACITY.
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WATER LEAKAGE TESTS
XXX
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO SOME PREMISES IN KOWLOON CITY WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 11 PM ON THURSDAY (NOVEMBER 10) TO 6 AM THE NEXT DAY FOR WATER LEAKAGE TESTS.
THE AFFECTED PREMISES ARE BOUNDED BY PRINCE EDWARD ROAD, NGA TSIN LONG ROAD, NGA TSIN WAI ROAD AND TAK KU LING ROAD, INCLUDING NAM KOK ROAD, LUNG KONG ROAD AND SOUTH WALL ROAD.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GOVERNOR KEEPING BUSY PUBLIC COMMITMENTS ....................... 1
NEW BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO PEKING ............................... 1
CHIEF SECRETARY GOING ON LEAVE.................................. 2
OFFICIALS TO SPEAK AT RESUMED LEGCO DEBATE...................... 3
NEW TEXTILE ACCORD WITH AUSTRIA INITIALLED ..................... 3
INSURANCE TRAINEE SCHEME SEP UP ................................ 4
ROAD SAFETY DRIVE LAUNCHED ..................................... 5
HELP TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ............................... 6
HISTORICAL EXHIBITION TO HIGHLIGHT FESTIVAL .................... 6
TEACHERS INVITED TO DRUG ABUSE WORKSHOP ........................ 7
RESULTS OF CAREERS QUIZ ........................................ 8
YUEN LONG HOLDING TRANSPORT SEMINAR............................. 9
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1983
1
GOVERNOR KEEPING BUSY PUBLIC COMMITMENTS
* * * *
THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, HAS A BUSY SCHEDULE OF PUBLIC FUNCTIONS BEFORE HE LEAVES FOR PEKING TO CONTINUE WITH THE SI NO-BRITISH TALKS ON NOVEMBER 14 AND 15.
IT STARTS WITH TWO FUNCTIONS ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 11) WHEN SIR EDWARD WILL OPEN THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT’S ANNUAL CAREERS EXHIBITION AT THE CITY HALL CONCERT HALL AT 3 PM, AND THE ROAD SAFETY RALLY AT QUEEN ELIZABETH STADIUM AT 5.15 PM.
ON THE FOLLOWING DAY (NOVEMBER 12), THE GOVERNOR WILL OFFICIATE AT TWO OPENING CEREMONIES IN TUEN MUN. HE WILL FIRST OPEN THE YAN 01 TONG COMMUNITY AND INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE AT 4.45 PM AND THEN THE 1983 TUEN MUN FESTIVAL AT YAN 01 TOWN SQUARE AT 6.15 PM.
ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 13), THE GOVERNOR WILL ATTEND THE REMEMBRANCE DAY CEREMONY AT THE CENOTAPH IN CENTRAL, STARTING AT 10.30 AM. SIR EDWARD WILL LEAVE FOR PEKING AT 12.45 PM THE SAME DAY.
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NEW BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO PEKING X X X *
THE FOLLOWING ANNOUNCEMENT HAS JUST BEEN MADE IN LONDON:
THE QUEEN HAS BEEN PLEASED TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF
R M. EVANS, CMG, TO BE H.M. AMBASSADOR TO THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA IN SUCCESSION TO SIR PERCY CRADOCK, GCMG WHO, AFTER RETIRING FROM THE DIPLOMATIC SERVICE WILL BE TAKING UP FURTHER GOVERNMENTAL DUTIES, AS ALREADY ANNOUNCED ON 26 SEPTEMBER 1983.
THE FOLLOWING BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES ARE FOR YOUR REFERENCE :
MR RICHARD (MARK) EVANS WAS BORN ON 15 APRIL 1928 IN BELIZE (THEN BRITISH HONDURAS), WHILE HIS FATHER WAS SERVING THERE AS A MEMBER OF THE COLONIAL SERVICE. HE WAS EDUCATED AT THE DRAGON SCHOOL, OXFORD, REPTON SCHOOL AND MAGDALEN COLLEGE, OXFORD, WHERE HE GAINED AN HONOURS DEGREE IN MODERN HISTORY. FROM 1950 TO 1952 HE DID ARMY SERVICE, COMMISSIONED IN THE DUKE OF CORNWALL’S LIGHT INFANTRY.
1952 HE JOINED THE FOREIGN OFFICE RESEARCH DEPARTMENT AND TWO YEARS LATER BEGAN A FULL-TIME COURSE OF CHINESE LANGUAGE STUDY. HE FIRST HAD A YEAR AT THE SCHOOL OF ORIENTAL AND AFRICAN STUDIES IN LONDON AND THEN WENT TO PEKING, IN 1955, INITIALLY AS A LANGUAGE STUDENT AND LATER AS THIRD SECRETARY AT THE EMBASSY. HE WAS THEN APPOINTED TO ATOMIC ENERGY AND DISARMAMENT DEPARTMENT AND DURING THAT TOUR OF DUTY WAS ASSIGNED TO THE NUCLEAR TESTS CONFERENCE IN GENEVA. IN 1961 HE WAS MOVED TO SOUTH-EAST ASIA DEPARTMENT.
/K 1962, ..........
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1983
- 2 -
IN 1962, HE WAS POSTED TO PEKING AS FIRST SECRETARY AND HM CONSUL. FROM 1964 TO 1968 HE WAS FIRST SECRETARY (COMMERCIAL) AT BERNE AND THEN RETURNED TO LONDON TO WORK IN THE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE AS ASSISTANT HEAD OF NEAR EASTERN DEPARTMENT. IN 1970 HE WAS MADE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT.
IN 1972 HE BECAME HEAD OF FAR EASTERN DEPARTMENT IN THE FCO AND FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR 1974/75 HE WAS ON SABBATICAL AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY WITH A FELLOWSHIP AT THE CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS. FROM 1975 TO 1977 HE SERVED AS COUNSELLOR (COMMERCIAL) AT STOCKHOLM AND WAS THEN APPOINTED MINISTER (ECONOMIC) AT PARIS. IN SEPTEMBER 1979 HE RETURNED TO THE FCO AS ASSISTANT UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE (ECONOMIC) AND SINCE JULY 1982 HE HAS HELD HIS CURRENT APPOINTMENT IN THE FCO AS DEPUTY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE (ECONOMIC).
AT VARIOUS TIMES THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER HE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN NEGOTIATIONS AS MEMBER OR LEADER OF THE BRITISH TEAM. THESE INCLUDE NEGOTIATIONS ON NUCLEAR TESTS, UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY DISCUSSIONS ON RELATIONS BETWEEN THE DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND THE OECD’S COMMITTEE ON NORTH-SOUTH RELATIONS.
MR EVANS WAS MADE A CMC IN 1978.
MR EVANS IS MARRIED AND HAS TWO SONS.
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CHIEF SECRETARY GOING ON LEAVE M K M M
THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, WILL GO ON LEAVE FROM THURSDAY (NOVEMBER 10) AFTER WINDING UP THE DEBATE ON THE MOTION OF THANKS FOR THE GOVERNOR’S ADDRESS. HE WILL RETURN ON DECEMBER 4.
DURING HIS ABSENCE, MR DENIS BRAY WILL ACT AS CHIEF SECRETARY IN ADDITION TO HIS POST AS SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1983
3
OFFICIALS TO SPEAK AT RESUMED LEGCO DEBATE H * *
TWELVE OFFICIAL MEMBERS WILL BE SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) AND ON THURSDAY, DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE GOVERNOR’S POLICY ADDRESS.
THE DEBATE RESUMES AT 2.30 PM AND WILL BE BROADCAST LIVE ON RTHK’S CHINESE AND ENGLISH SERVICES RADIO 1 AND 3.
SPEAKING FIRST FOR THE OFFICIAL SIDE WILL BE THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON PIERS JACOBS.
OTHER SPEAKERS FOLLOWING WILL BE, THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR THE HON K.L. THONG; THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON HENRY CHING; THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, THE HON COLVYN HAYE; THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON NEIL HENDERSON, AND THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON DONALD LIAO.
SPEAKING ON THURSDAY, WILL BE THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON? THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, THE HON E.P. HO; THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON ALAN SCOTT, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, THE HON DAVID AKERS-JONES; THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON MICHAEL THOMAS AND THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE.
AT THE MEETING ALSO, FOUR BILLS WILL BE INTRODUCED AND READ A SECOND TIME, AND THREE OTHER BILLS WILL GO THROUGH THEIR COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD READINGS.
THE FOUR NEW BILLS AREi THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) (NO. 4) BILL 1983, THE ROAD TRAFFIC (DRIVING-OFFENCE POINTS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, THE CITY POLYTECHNIC OF HONG KONG BILL 1983, AND THE HOLIDAYS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983.
GOING THROUGH THEIR COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD READINGS WILL BEi PENSIONS (INCREASE) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, BUILDINGS (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1983, AND THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY (LAND RESUMPTION AND RELATED PROVISIONS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983.
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NEW TEXTILE ACCORD WITH AUSTRIA INITIALLED * * *
A THREE-YEAR TEXTILE AGREEMENT BETWEEN HONG KONG AND AUSTRIA WAS INITIALLED TODAY (TUESDAY).
THE HONG KONG AND AUSTRIAN DELEGATIONS BEGAN TALKS YESTERDAY TO NEGOTIATE A NEW TEXTILE AGREEMENT.
UNDER THE CURRENT AGREEMENT, WHICH IS DUE TO EXPIRE ON JANUARY 31, 1984, EXPORTS TO AUSTRIA OF FOUR CLOTHING ITEMS ARE SUBJECT TO QUANTITATIVE RESTRAINT AND OF ANOTHER 16 ITEMS TO SURVEILLANCE UNDER AN EXPORT AUTHORISATION ARRANGEMENT.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1983
- 4 -
THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF TRADE, MR JOHN CHAN, WHO LED THE HONG KONG DELEGATION, SAID THAT THE NEW AGREEMENT WAS BROADLY ON THE SAME TERMS AND COVERED THE SAME RANGE OF PRODUCTS AS THE CURRENT AGREEMENT.
THERE WOULD, HOWEVER, BE A HIGHER GROWTH RATE FOR ONE ITEM FOR WHICH THERE WAS CURRENTLY A STRONG DEMAND IN THE AUSTRIAN MARKET.
♦THIS IS THE FIRST TIME HONG KONG HAS CONCLUDED A TEXTILE AGREEMENT WITH AUSTRIA FOR LONGER THAN ONE YEAR,* MR CHAN ADDED.
FULL DETAILS OF THE NEW AGREEMENT WILL BE ANNOUNCED AFTER A REPORT HAS BEEN MADE TO THE TEXTILES ADVISORY BOARD.
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INSURANCE TRAINEE SCHEME SET UP
* M * N
A SCHEME TO INTRODUCE ORGANISED TRAINING TO THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY WILL BE LAUNCHED IN JANUARY BY THE INSURANCE TRAINING BOARD OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL.
INSURANCE FIRMS WILL BE INVITED TO JOIN THE SCHEME BY OFFERING A THREE-YEAR ON-THE-JOB TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR YOUNG EMPLOYEES WITH FORM-FIVE EDUCATION LEVEL.
THE TRAINEES WILL ALSO BE REQUIRED TO ATTEND RELATED THEORETICAL CLASSES ON A PART-TIME DAY RELEASE BASIS FOR TWO YEARS AT THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES.
♦ON COMPLETION OF THE COURSE, TRAINEES ARE EXPECTED TO BECOME WELL-TRAINED OPERATIONAL STAFF AND FIT FOR PROMOTION TO SUPERVISORY LEVEL,+ MR ANTHONY KAN, CHAIRMAN OF THE TRAINING BOARD SAID.
A WELL-TRAINED WORKFORCE IS ESSENTIAL FOR HONG KONG’S GROWTH INTO AN INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE CENTRE, HE ADDED.
TO ENCOURAGE EMPLOYERS TO JOIN THE SCHEME, REPRESENTATIVES OF OVER 100 INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE BEING INVITED TO ATTEND A SEMINAR CONDUCTED BY THE TRAINING BOARD ON NOVEMBER 29 (TUESDAY).
♦THE SCHEME IS ONE OF A SERIES OF TRAINING PROGRAMMES IN THE PIPELINE TO INCREASE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE SERVING IN THE INDUSTRY AND TO ATTRACT NEWCOMERS TO TAKE UP INSURANCE AS A CAREER,+ MR KAN SAID.
AS THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN EXPANDING RAPIDLY THE OUTPUT OF EXISTING TRAINING PROVISIONS HAS NOT BEEN SUFFICIENT TO MEET THE DEMAND FOR A WELL-TRAINED WORKFORCE, HE ADDED.
THE TRAINEESHIP SCHEME IS VOLUNTARY FOR BOTH EMPLOYERS AND TRAINEES.
/however, to .......
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1983
HOWEVER, TO JOIN THE SCHEME BOTH PARTIES ARE REQUIRED TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT AND TO HAVE IT REGISTERED WITH THE DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING TO ENSURE ORGANISED TRAINING IS CARRIED OUT, THE RIGHTS OF BOTH PARTIES ARE PROTECTED AND THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES FULFILLED, HE SAID.
FURTHER ENQUIRIES ON THE SCHEME OR THE SEMINAR CAN BE DIRECTED TO MR NELSON WONG, SECRETARY OF THE INSURANCE TRAINING BOARD ON 5-8932341 EXT. 254.
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ROAD SAFETY DRIVE LAUNCHED * * * *
A THREE-WEEK ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN IS BEING HELD FOR ISLANDS DISTRICT RESIDENTS, STARTING TODAY (TUESDAY).
JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE ISLANDS DISTRICT AND THE POLICE, THE CAMPAIGN FEATURES A SERIES OF EDUCATIONAL AND ENTERTAINING ACTIVITIES.
FROM TODAY TILL NOVEMBER 23, TALKS ON ROAD SAFETY RULES AND CODES WILL BE ARRANGED FOR BOTH PRIMARY AND SECONDARY STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT.
THE TALKS WILL BE DELIVERED BY POLICE OFFICERS WHO WILL VISIT SCHOOLS IN TAI 0, TUNG CHUNG, MUI WO, NORTH LAMMA, PENG CHAU, SOUTH LAMMA, PUI 0 AND CHEUNG CHAU.
THERE WILL ALSO BE AN ESSAY WRITING COMPETITION FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AND A PAINTING CONTEST AND A QUIZ ON ROAD SAFETY FOR PRIMARY STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT.
TO HIGHLIGHT THE CAMPAIGN, A ROAD SAFETY DAY WILL BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 27 AT THE NT HEUNG YEE KUK SOUTHERN DISTRICT SECONDARY SCHOOL IN MUI WO.
THE PROGRAMME FOR THE DAY WILL INCLUDE A CYCLING DEMONSTRATION BY THE ROAD SAFETY ASSOCIATION, A PHOTO EXHIBITION, AND A DISPLAY OF THE WINNING ENTRIES OF THE VARIOUS COMPETITIONS.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CAMPAIGN’S ORGANISING COMMITTEE, MR YU YUEN-HEI, SAID THE AIM WAS TO DRIVE HOME THE ROAD SAFETY MESSAGE TO ALL RESIDENTS AND WIDEN THEIR KNOWLEDGE ON ROAD SAFETY.
♦APART FROM EDUCATING PEDESTRIANS AND DRIVERS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF ROAD SAFETY, THE CAMPAIGN WILL REMIND CYCLISTS TO EXERCISE GREAT CARE AND OBSERVE THE CYCLING SAFETY REGULATIONS,* HE SAID.
THE CAMPAIGN IS BEING SPONSORED BY THE ISLANDS DISTRICT BOARD WITH 114 000.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1983
6
HELP TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS
* * *
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT PAID OUT $15 MILLION TO HELP TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS OR THEIR DEPENDANTS IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF THIS FINANCIAL YEAR.
THE PAYMENTS WERE MADE UNDER THE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE (TAVA) SCHEME ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
DURING THE APRIL-SEPTEMBER PERIOD, THE DEPARTMENT RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 3 414 APPLICATIONS UNDER THE TAVA SCHEME.
IN THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR, NEARLY $33 MILLION WAS PAID OUT AND 7 570 APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE WERE RECEIVED.
♦THERE HAS BEEN AN UPWARD TREND IN THE OVERALL APPLICATION RATE OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS BECAUSE OF PUBLICITY, RELAXATION OF THE SICK-LEAVE REQUIREMENT AND OUR OUTREACHING EFFORTS,♦ SAID THE HEAD OF THE TAVA SECTION, MR SIU KING-CHIU.
PAYMENT RATES FOR PERSONAL INJURIES AND DEATH UNDER THE SCHEME WERE INCREASED BY ABOUT 20 PER CENT IN JULY THIS YEAR.
THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT FOR DEATH GRANTS INVOLVING THE LOSS OF SOLE WAGE-EARNERS HAS BEEN RAISED FROM $26 700 TO $33 150 AND THE MINIMUM AMOUNT FOR INJURY GRANTS HAS BEEN INCREASED FROM $480 TO $570 FOR THREE DAYS OF SICK LEAVE.
THE TAVA SCHEME, WHICH REQUIRES NO MEANS TEST, PROVIDES QUICK CASH RELIEF FOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS OR THEIR DEPENDANTS REGARDLESS OF WHO WAS AT FAULT IN CAUSING THE ACCIDENT, BUT IT MUST HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO THE POLICE.
APPLICANTS MUST BE MADE WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF THE ACCIDENT AT THE SWD’S TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE SECTION AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTRE, 14TH FLOOR, 280 GLOUCESTER ROAD, CAUSEWAY BAY.
ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE BY DIALLING 5-779874 OR 5-7903650.
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HISTORICAL EXHIBITION TO HIGHLIGHT FESTIVAL * * * *
A $1 000 BANKNOTE, DESIGNED MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO BUT NEVER ISSUED, AND A TIME CAPSULE LAID IN 1934 BENEATH THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE NOW DEMOLISHED HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI BANK BUILDING WILL BE AMONG HUNDREDS OF HISTORICAL ITEMS ON DISPLAY IN AN EXHIBITION.
THE SIX-DAY EXHIBITION, WHICH WILL HIGHLIGHT THE MONTH-LONG CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT FESTIVAL, WILL OPEN ON THURSDAY (NOVEMBER 10) FROM 9 AM TO 8 PM DAILY AT THE CITY HALL EXHIBITION GALLERY.
/also on .......
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1983
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ALSO ON DISPLAY WILL BE OVER 200 RARE PICTURES ON THE DISTRICT’S HISTORY AND ABOUT 70 HISTORICAL ITEMS CONTRIBUTED BY LOCAL RESIDENTS AND COMMERCIAL OPERATORS.
THE EXHIBITION WILL INCLUDE A 15-MINUTE FILM SHOW ON THE DISTRICT’S DEVELOPMENT.
THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY AT 11 AM ON THURSDAY.
OTHER GUESTS WILL INCLUDE THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICER, MISS LOLLY CHIU, THE FESTIVAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, MR LIU LIT-FOR, AND DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS.
AS A PRELUDE, TWO MODELS DRESSED IN JENNY LEWIS’ CH INESE-STYLE COSTUMES WILL TOUR IN A VINTAGE CONVERTIBLE CAR ALONG QUEEN’S ROAD CENTRAL, DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL, CHATER ROAD AND CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL WHILE STAFF OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE WILL DISTRIBUTE EXHIBITION PAMPHLETS ALONG THE ROUTE.
THE JOURNEY WILL START AT 10 AM FROM EDINBURGH PLACE.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY AT 11 AM ON THURSDAY (NOVEMBER 10) ON THE SEVENTH FLOOR, HIGH BLOCK, EXHIBITION GALLERY, CITY HALL.
THOSE WISHING TO COVER THE VINTAGE CONVERTIBLE CAR RIDE SHOULD ASSEMBLE AT 10 AM AT EDINBURGH PLACE.
0 -------
TEACHERS INVITED TO DRUG ABUSE WORKSHOP
KM#
THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS INVITING HEADS OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS TO NOMINATE TEACHERS TO ATTEND A WORKSHOP ON DRUG ABUSE IN EARLY DECEMBER THIS YEAR.
A SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT NOMINATIONS SHOULD BE SENT TO THE SENIOR INSPECTOR (RELIGIOUS AND ETHICAL EDUCATION), EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, LEE GARDENS, 5TH FLOOR, HYSAN AVENUE, CAUSEWAY BAY, HONG KONG, NOT LATER THAN NOVEMBER 28.
OWING TO LIMITED CAPACITY, APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED ON A FIRST-COME-FIRST-SERVED BASIS, HE SAID.
/THE workshop .......
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1983
8
THE WORKSHOP IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE DEPARTMENT S RELIGIOUS-ETHICAL EDUCATION SECTION AND THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION CF THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY. IT WILL BE HELD IN THE AFTERNOON OF DECEMBER 9 (FRIDAY) AT THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE THEATRE, MAY HOUSE, ARSENAL STREET, WAN CHAI.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE PROGRAMME OF THE WORKSHOP WILL INCLUDE TALKS ABOUT THE LAW RELATING TO DRUG ABUSE AND THE POLICE’S ATTITUDE, PARTICULARLY TOWARDS YOUNG OFFENDERS} TEACHERS’ ROLE IN DRUG EDUCATION, AND THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRES. IT WILL END WITH A TOUR OF THE NARCOTICS BUREAU MUSEUM.
THE PROGRAMME WILL OFFER PARTICIPANTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE EFFECTIVE WAYS OF TEACHING CHILDREN ABOUT THE PROBLEM OF DRUG ABUSE AND TO EXCHANGE THEIR VIEWS ON THE ISSUE.
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RESULTS OF CAREERS QUIZ * * *
THE FIRST ROUND COMPETITION OF A CAREERS QUIZ ORGANISED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT CONCLUDED RECENTLY, AND MORE THAN 400 STUDENTS FROM 150 SECONDARY SCHOOLS WHO SCORED HIGH MARKS HAVE BEEN AWARDED SOUVENIRS.
THREE SCHOOLS WITH THE HIGHEST AVERAGE TOTAL MARKS WILL BE PRESENTED WITH TROPHIES. THEY ARE PENTECOSTAL HOLINESS CHURCH WING KWONG COLLEGE, CARITAS ST GODSREY PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOL AND TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS NO. 12 COLLEGE.
THE INTER-SCHOOL QUIZ IS BEING ORGANISED BY THE DEPARTMENT’S YOUTH EMPLOYMENT ADVISORY SERVICE WITH SPONSORSHIP BY WANG PACIFIC LTD., WHICH HAS DONATED THE PRIZES.
IN THE FIRST ROUND, PARTICIPANTS ANSWERED 30 QUESTIONS WITHIN 15 MINUTES ON GENERAL KNOWLEDGE OF CAREERS. THE ANSWER SHEETS WERE PROCESSED BY THE GOVERNMENT DATA PROCESSING AGENCY.
THE SECOND ROUND WILL BEGIN SOON IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DEPARTMENT’S 12TH ANNUAL CAREERS EXHIBITION SCHEDULED TO BE HELD IN THE CITY HALL EXHIBITION HALL FROM SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 12) TO NOVEMBER 21.
THE QUESTIONS FOR THIS ROUND WILL CONCERN MAINLY KNOWLEDGE CF CAREERS, VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND FURTHER STUDIES AS WELL AS LABOUR LEGISLATION, AND PARTICIPANTS ARE REQUIRED TO RETURN THEIR ANSWER SHEETS AT THE EXHIBITION.
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1983
9
YUEN LONG HOLDING TRANSPORT SEMINAR * * * *
A HALF-DAY SEMINAR ON TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT IN YUEN LONG WILL BE HELD BY THE LOCAL DISTRICT BOARD ON THURSDAY (NOVEMBER 10) TO PROVIDE A FORUM FOR BOTH OFFICIAL AND UNOFFICIAL BOARD MEMBERS TO EXCHANGE VIEWS.
THE SEMINAR IS MADE UP OF THREE PARTSi A GENERAL DISCUSSION ON DIVISION OF RESPONSIBILITIES AMONG GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS ON MATTERS RELATED TO TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT, OPEN QUESTION TIME, AND TWO CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS ON SPECIFIC TOPICS OF INTEREST.
SUBJECTS FOR DISCUSSION AT THE WORKSHOPS WILL INCLUDE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IN YUEN LONG TOWN AND THE PARTIAL OPENING OF THE YUEN LONG NORTHERN BYPASS IN APRIL NEXT YEAR.
THE SEMINAR WILL BE OPENED BY DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN, MR JAMES WILSON, AND THE SEMINAR CHAIRMAN, MR MAN FOR-TAI.
ALSO SPEAKING AT THE SEMINAR WILL BE THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT (NT), MR R.G. SCURFIELD; SENIOR TRANSPORT OFFICER (YUEN LONG), MR ALBERT YUEN} CHIEF ENGINEER OF NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT BRANCH, MR S.S. LEE; AND THE PRINCIPAL TECHNICAL OFFICER, TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT, MR Y.M. LEUNG.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
YOU ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT BOARD’S TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT SEMINAR TO BE HELD AT 9 AM ON THURSDAY (NOVEMBER 10) IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE AT 296 CASTLE PEAK ROAD, YUEN LONG.
A GOVERNMENT VEHICLE WILL LEAVE KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER AT 7.50 AM FOR YUEN LONG.
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES
BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING:
GOVERNMENT FIRM ON EXCHANGE RATE; SIR JOHN ............... 1
MEDICAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM REVIEW PLANNED ................. 3
USEFUL SUGGESTIONS WELCOMED: DR THONG .................... 4
BILL ON CITY POLYTECHNIC INTRODUCED ...................... 7
SCHOOL SYSTEM IN GOOD ORDER: HAYE......................... 8
GOOD PROGRESS ON HOUSING REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME......... 11
HOLIDAYS (AMENDMENT) BILL INTRODUCED .................... 12
COMMENTS ON EDUCATION REVIEW BEING ANALYSED ............. 13
BILL TO RECTIFY OMISSION ................................ 15
LEGCO PASSES THREE BILLS ................................ 15
NUCLEAR POWER STATION VENTURE WITH CHINA ENDORSED .......... 1&
+W0RKERS ARE HK'S MAJOR RESOURCE*- ......................... 17
PLAN FOR PRIVATE GARAGES TO EXAMINE CARS ................... 18
TRADE PROMOTION TALK FOR INDUSTRIALISTS ..................
ENERGY SECRETARY ARRIVES ................................... 21
COLLEGE ANNEXE OPENING ..................................... 21
DB TO TALK ABOUT PRIMARY SCHOOLS ........................... 22
VARIETY SHOW CARRIES CLEAN HK MESSAGE.....................
PROHIBITED ZONE IN SHA TIN ................................... 2 3
SPEED POST TO NETHERLANDS .................................. 23
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS FOR MARATHON RACE...................... 23
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1983
1
GOVERNMENT FIRM ON EXCHANGE RATE! SIR JOHN
******
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, REAFFIRMED TODAY THAT THE GOVERNMENT +DOES NOT INTEND THAT THE LOCAL CURRENCY WILL FALL BELOW AN EXCHANGE RATE ON THE OPEN MARKET OF ABOUT HK$7.8O TO THE U.S. DOLLAR.*
+WE MUST HAVE STABILITY. THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF OUR NEW POLICY IS TO IGNORE THE PAST AND TO PROVIDE NOW AND FOR THE FUTURE ABSOLUTE CONFIDENCE IN THE NEW LINK AT $7.80,+ SIR JOHN TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY WAS MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) (NO. 4) BILL 1983, DEALING WITH THE REMOVAL OF THE INTEREST TAX ON HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS WITH FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.
THE OCCASION, HE SAID, ALSO PROVIDED HIM WITH A SUITABLE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT BRIEFLY ON THE NEW CURRENCY STABILISATION SCHEME.
+1 SAY BRIEFLY, FOR IT SEEMS TO ME SENSIBLE TO ALLOW UNFOLDING FACTS TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES IN A TOTALLY NEW SITUATION, WHICH IS MORE SUBTLE THAN MANY COMMENTATORS EVEN NOW APPRECIATE,* SIR JOHN SAID.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY EXPLAINED THAT THE SCHEME ^PROVIDES NOT A PEGGED RATE, BUT A BANKNOTE SYSTEM WHICH ENSURES EQUILIBRIUM AT THE CHOSEN EXCHANGE RATE VIA AN AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM.*
NOTING THAT THINGS HAD GONE WELL, AS PLANNED, SIR JOHN ADDED, HOWEVER, THAT HE WAS BY NATURE +ALWAYS CAUTIOUS ABOUT ECONOMIC FORECASTS, WHICH MAY NOT ALLOW FOR UNPREDICTABLE PSYCHOLOGICAL OR OTHER FACTORS.*
+THIS IS,* HE SAID, +THEREFORE NO TIME FOR CONCEIT, THE PENALTIES FOR WHICH CAN BE CONSIDERABLE.*
SIR JOHN SAID THAT HONG KONG HAD NEVERTHELESS ENJOYED FOR THREE WEEKS A STABLE EXCHANGE RATE COUPLED WITH A SIGNIFICANT DOWNWARD MOVEMENT IN LENDING RATES.
THIS HAD BEEN HIGHLY BENEFICIAL TO THE COMMUNITY, HE SAID.
+THESE BENEFITS WILL CONTINUE, THOUGH I AM SURE THAT THE HKAB WILL SHARE MY VIEWS ON THE VIRTUES OF A CONSERVATIVE COURSE WITH REGARD TO INTEREST RATES,* HE SAID.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT HE WISHED TO SAY +AGAIN QUITE SIMPLY AND CLEARLY THAT GOVERNMENT DOES NOT INTEND THAT THE HONG KONG DOLLAR WILL FALL BELOW AN EXCHANGE RATE ON THE OPEN MARKET OF ABOUT $7.80 TO THE U.S. DOLLAR.*
/SIR JOHN .......
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER ?, 1983
- 2
SIR JOHN SAIDi + IT IS CONCEIVABLE IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE FUTURE THAT THE FIXED EXCHANGE FUND RATE MAY BE IMPROVED OR BE LINKED TO ANOTHER CRITERION, FOR EXAMPLE A BASKET OF CURRENCIES.
♦I DO NOT, HOWEVER, BELIEVE THAT ANY CHANGE AT ALL WILL BE APPROPRIATE FOR A LONG TIME AHEAD,* HE SAID, STRESSING THAT THERE MUST BE STABILITY.
ELABORATING, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID THAT EVEN AN IMPROVEMENT MUST MILITATE AGAINST STABILITY, FOR THERE WILL BE THOSE WHO SAY WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN.
HE ADDEDi + l WILL NOT THEREFORE EASILY BE PERSUADED TO CHANGE THE PRESENT LINK, AND I HOPE THAT CONFIDENCE IN OUR CURRENCY ON THE NEW BASIS WILL BE ENCOURAGED BY THIS FIRM ASSURANCE.*
REFERRING TO THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) (NO. 4) BILL, SIR JOHN EXPLAINED THAT ITS PROVISIONS WERE BROUGHT INTO FORCE BY A PUBLIC REVENUE PROTECTION ORDER SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR LAST MONTH, AND IT WAS NECESSARY FOR THE BILL TO BE ENACTED TO REPLACE THAT ORDER.
HE RECALLED THAT THE DEPRECIATION OF THE HONG KONG CURRENCY IN THE RECENT PAST HAD MADE IT NECESSARY FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO ANNOUNCE TWO COUNTER MEASURES.
ONE WAS TO REQUIRE THE NOTE-ISSUING BANKS TO PAY THE EXCHANGE FUND FOR ADDITIONAL CERTIFICATES OF INDEBTEDNESS, WHICH THEY ARE REQUIRED TO HOLD AS BACKING FOR ANY INCREASE IN THEIR NOTE ISSUES, IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE AT A FIXED RATE WITH REDEMPTION BEING TREATED SIMILARLY. THIS HAD BEEN FULLY IMPLEMENTED, HE SAID.
THE OTHER WAS THE REMOVAL OF INTEREST TAX ON HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS WITH FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, WHICH IS THE SUBJECT OF THE BILL.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY EXPLAINED ALSO THAT THE REMOVAL OF INTEREST TAX WITH EFFECT FROM OCTOBER 16 MEANT THAT APART FROM PROFITS TAX CONSIDERATIONS, THERE WAS NOW NO LONGER ANY TAX ADVANTAGE IN HOLDING FOREIGN CURRENCY DEPOSITS OR IN HOLDING HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS OFFSHORE.
THE LOSS OF REVENUE ARISING FROM THE REMOVAL OF INTERST TAX WAS ESTIMATED AT $250 MILLION FOR THE BALANCE OF THIS FINANCIAL YEAR, AND APPROXIMATELY $450 MILLION FOR THE FULL YEAR.
TO PRESERVE THE INTEGRITY OF THIS YEAR’S BUDGET, THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAD GIVEN APPROVAL UNDER SECTION 8 OF THE EXCHANGE FUND ORDINANCE FOR THE $250 MILLION DEFICIT TO BE MADE GOOD BY A TRANSFER FROM THE EXCHANGE FUND TO GENERAL REVENUE.
IN FUTURE, THE SITUATION WILL FORM PART OF NORMAL BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS, HE SAID.
SIR JOHN SAID THAT THE REMOVAL OF INTEREST TAX CARRIES WITH IT THE RISK OF EROSION OF THE YIELD FROM PROFITS TAX.
/THIS was .......
NOVEMBER 9, 1983
- 3 -
THIS WAS A COMPLEX ISSUE AND POSSIBLE WAYS OF PREVENTING ANY SERIOUS EROSION WERE BEING EXAMINED CAREFULLY.
+1 HOPE TO BE IN A POSITION TO ADDRESS THIS SUBJECT FURTHER AND TO PROPOSE MORE LASTING REFORMS IN THE BUDGET NEXT FEBRUARY,+ HE SAID.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED TO NOVEMBER 23.
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MEDICAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM REVIEW PLANNED ft ft ft ft
THE GOVERNMENT IS PLANNING TO REVIEW THE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OF HONG KONG’S MEDICAL SERVICES, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO HOSPITALS, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON HENRY CHING, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
♦DETAILED PROPOSALS ARE BEING WORKED OUT FOR SUCH A REVIEW, AND WE SHALL OF COURSE NEED TO CONSIDER CAREFULLY WHETHER IT WOULD BE MORE COST-EFFECTIVELY CONDUCTED IN-HOUSE OR BY SUITABLE EXTERNAL CONSULTANTS, OR BY A COMBINATION OF THE TWO,* HE SAID.
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE GOVERNOR SIR EDWARD YOUDE’S ANNUAL ADDRESS, MR CHING TOUCHED ON POINTS RAISED EARLIER BY VARIOUS UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS.
MR CHING EXPRESSED GRATITUDE TO DR THE HON HARRY FANG, THE HON ALEX WU AND THE HON CHARLES YEUNG FOR ACKNOWLEDGING HONG KONG’S ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH FIELD.
♦DESPITE OUR CROWDED CONDITIONS, AND THE DAILY COMINGS AND GOINGS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, HONG KONG REMAINS A REMARKABLY HEALTHY PLACE WHERE HIGH STANDARDS OF MEDICAL CARE ARE WITHIN THE REACH OF EVERYONE,♦ HE SAID.
BUT HE AGREED WITH DR HARRY FANG THAT THE GOVERNMENT COULD NOT BE COMPLACENT AND STRESSED THAT THERE WAS ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.
WHILE WELCOMING +CONSTRUCTIVE SUGGESTIONS*, MR CHING EXPRESSED DISAGREEMENT WITH DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP’S EARLIER ASSERTION THAT THE GOVERNMENT ♦WHILE TRYING TO PROVIDE EVERY TYPE OF MEDICAL SERVICE FOR TOO MANY ... HAS ENDED UP BY NOT PROVIDING ENOUGH AND SATISFACTORILY FOR ANYONE*.
♦THIS ILL-CONSIDERED REMARK IS PATENTLY NOT TRUE, AS THE MANY MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY WHO HAVE BENEFITED FROM OUR HEAVILY SUBSIDISED MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES WILL BE QUICK TO CONFIRM,* HE SAID.
♦THE GOVERNMENT’S AIM IS, AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN, TO PROVIDE TO THE BEST OF ITS ABILITY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES WHICH THE COMMUNITY REQUIRES. TO WITHDRAW ANY ONE OF THOSE SERVICES WOULD BE TO NEGLECT THOSE IN NEED OF THAT SERVICE,* HE STRESSED.
/ON DR FANG'S........
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1983
ON DR FANG’S CONCERN OVER THE SHARE OF EXPENDITURE ON MEDICAL SERVICES AND HIS PERCEIVED RESTRICTED RATE OF DEVELOPMENT, MR CHING SAID THAT THIS WAS NOT BORNE OUT BY FACTS.
♦ I MUST CONFESS THAT I FAIL TO UNDERSTAND HOW THE MEASUREMENTS OF PROGRESS IN THE HOUSING AND EDUCATION FIELDS QUOTED BY DR FANG CAN BE MEANINGFULLY APPLIED TO HOSPITAL BEDS; NOR INDEED CAN THE SHARE OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE DEVOTED TO THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES BY ITSELF REPRESENT SOME MAGIC MEASURE OF THE OVERALL HEALTH OF OUR POPULATION,* HE SAID.
♦ BUT, AS CHAIRMAN OF THE MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, DR FANG IS IDEALLY PLACED TO HAVE SUCH THEORIES DEVELOPED TO THE BENEFIT OF THE MEDICAL PLANNING PROCESS AS A WHOLE.
♦ AS IT IS, THE TARGETS TOWARDS WHICH WE ARE WORKING, IN TERMS OF SUCH THINGS AS NUMBER OF HOSPITAL BEDS AND CLINIC CONSULTING ROOMS, ARE THOSE ESTABLISHED ON THE ADVICE OF THAT COMMITTEE,♦ HE ADDED.
DISMISSING AS INCORRECT REMARKS THAT NO +BLUE-PRI! FOP THE DEVELOPMENT OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES HAD BEEN PRODUCED SINCE 1973,+ MR CHING POINTED OUT THAT THE COMMITTEE PRODUCES A FRESH PLAN ANNUALLY FOR A TEN-YEAR PERIOD.
TURNING TO PRIVATE HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY, MR CHING SAID THAT THEY MET A COMMUNITY NEED AND SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED PROVIDED THE WELFARE OF THEIR RESIDENTS WAS NOT PLACED AT RISK.
ON THE SUGGESTION THAT LEGISLATIVE CONTROLS WERE NEEDED ON THESE PRIVATE HOMES, HE SAID, ♦THERE IS NO CAUSE FOR IMMEDIATE CONCERN, BUT THE SITUATION WILL BE CLOSELY WATCHED AND CONTROLS WILL BE PROPOSED SHOULD DEVELOPMENTS INDICATE THAT THEY ARE NECESSARY.+
MR CHING ALSO REPORTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO MAINTAINING THE PURCHASING POWER OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE GRANTS.
AN INDEX OF PRICES PROVIDES THE BASIS FOR REVIEWING THE RATES OF SUCH GRANTS, AND THESE RATES HAVE BEEN INCREASED BY 310 PER CENT SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SCHEME IN 1972.
♦ THE LAST INCREASE, OF 29 PER CENT, WAS IN JUNE 1982 AND RECENT SHIFTS IN THE INDEX INDICATE THAT ANOTHER INCREASE IS DUE,* HE SAID.
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USEFUL SUGGESTIONS WELCOMEDi DR THONG
*****
THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR K.L. THONG SAID TODAY THAT HE ALWAYS WELCOMED AND APPRECIATED PRACTICAL AN1 USEFUL SUGGESTIONS FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF HIS DEPARTMENT’S SERVICES.
BUT IT WAS ESSENTIAL THAT SUCH COMMENTS SHOULD BE BALANCED AND BASED ON ADEQUATE RESEARCH AND ACCURATE INFORMATION SO THAT THEY MIGHT BE USEFUL TO THE DEPARTMENT IN ACHIEVING ITS OBJECTIVES, HE ADDED.
/dr thong
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1983
5
DR THONG WAS SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE MOTION OF THANKS FOR THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
REFERRING TO UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, DR HENRIETTA IP’S COMMENTS ABOUT HIS DEPARTMENT’S SERVICES, DR THONG SAID WHILE HE SHARED DR IP’S CONCERN FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES IN HONG KONG, HE HAD *TO CLARIFY AND PUT MATTERS IN THEIR TRUE PERSPECTIVE SO AS TO DISPEL ANY MISCONCEPTIONS WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN CREATED BY SOME OF HER REMARKS*.
IN REPLY TO DR IP’S CHARGE THAT THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAD FAILED TO IMPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM GOVERNMENT REVIEWS AND SURVEYS, DR THONG SAID THE SURVEY THAT DR IP REFERRED TO WAS MADE AT HIS PERSONAL REQUEST, AND WAS INTENDED PRIMARILY TO ADVISE ON THE NEXT PHASE OF THE REGIONALISATION OF HIS DEPARTMENT.
♦THUS, THIS IS BUT A NORMAL EXERCISE CARRIED OUT IN A NORMAL WAY AND WHOSE RESULTS WERE REPORTED NORMALLY TO US.
♦THERE IS CERTAINLY NOTHING SINISTER OR SECRETIVE ABOUT THE WHOLE EXERCISE AND ITS RECOMMENDATIONS,♦ DR THONG SAID.
HE SAID HE AND HIS SENIOR STAFF HAD FIRST TO SEE WHETHER THE PROPOSALS WERE FEASIBLE AND PRACTICABLE BEFORE IMPLEMENTING THEM.
ABOVE ALL, IT WAS NECESSARY TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY CONTRIBUTED TO THE SMOOTH OPERATION AND EFFICIENCY OF THE DEPARTMENT, HE ADDED.
IN THE EVENT, IT WAS FOUND THAT WHILE MOST OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE CONSIDERED WORKABLE AND WERE IMPLEMENTED, SOME COULD NOT, BECAUSE OF COGENT AND PRACTICAL REASONS, HE SAID.
♦CLEARLY THERE IS NO SUBSTANCE IN MY FRIEND’S SUGGESTION THAT ’IT IS THE HABIT OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO HAVE SURVEYS AND REVIEWS BUT NEVER TO IMPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THEM’,* HE ADDED.
REFERRING TO DR IP’S SUGGESTION OF A SINGLE DEPUTY DIRECTOR STRUCTURE, DR THONG SAID THAT AFTER DETAILED STUDY, IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT IT WAS ♦NEITHER FEASIBLE NOR PRACTICAL TO HAVE ONE SINGLE DEPUTY DIRECTOR TO REPLACE THE EXISTING MULTIPLE DEPUTY DIRECTORS STRUCTURE NO MATTER HOW ATTRACTIVE THE THEORETICAL POSSIBILITIES WERE FOR THE FORMER*.
♦FIRSTLY, TO CONCENTRATE THE FUNCTIONS OF THREE DEPUTY DIRECTORS INTO ONE WOULD SO OVERWHELMINGLY INCREASE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF A SINGLE DEPUTY DIRECTOR THAT THERE COULD ONLY BE UNFORTUNATE AND DETRIMENTAL CONSEQUENCES, NOT ONLY TO THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR HIMSELF, BUT ALSO TO THE SERVICE AS A WHOLE,♦ HE SAID.
/♦SECONDLY, IT........
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1983
f>
♦SECONDLY, IT MUST BE REALISED THAT THERE ARE STILL TWO MAJOR AND DISTINCT SPECIALTIES IN THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH FIELD, I E PUBLIC HEALTH AND PREVENTIVE MEDICINE ON THE ONE HAND, AND CLINICAL AND CURATIVE MEDICINE ON THE OTHER. WHILE THERE MAY BE SOME AREAS OF OVERLAP, THESE ARE RECOGNISED AND SEPARATE SPECIALTIES IN THEIR OWN RIGHTS.
♦THAT OUR HEALTH INDICES ARE AMONG SOME OF THE BEST IN THE WORLD AND THAT WE ARE RELATIVELY FREE FROM MAJOR EPIDEMICS ARE IN NO SMALL MEASURE DUE TO THE CORRECT EMPHASIS ON PREVENTIVE MEDICINE AND ARE VINDICATIONS OF OUR PREFERENCE FOR THE PRESENT STRUCTURE OF MULTIPLE DEPUTY DIRECTORS,+ DR THONG SAID.
ON THE PROPOSAL OF A SEPARATE PAEDIATRIC HOSPITAL FOR HONG KONG, DR THONG SAID THE SUBJECT HAD BEEN ♦THOROUGHLY VENTILATED AND DEBATED UPON AT DIFFERENT TIMES AND LEVELS IN PUBLIC OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.+
DR THONG SAID THAT ONE VIEW ADVOCATED THAT A SPECIALIST PAEDIATRIC HOSPITAL WITH MODERN FACILITIES BE BUILT AS A SEPARATE ENTITY IN ONE LOCATION IN HONG KONG, WHILE ANO'-iER VIEW FELT THAT MODERN PAEDIATRIC FACILITIES SHOULD BE PROVIDED IN ALL MAJOR HOSPITALS, EVENLY AND FAIRLY DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.
♦THUS IT IS CLEAR THAT THERE IS A UNIVERSAL AGREEMENT THAT THERE SHOULD BE PROVISIONS FOR MODERN PAEDIATRIC FACILITIES FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR CHILDREN.
♦HOWEVER, IT IS EQUALLY CLEAR THAT THE BASIC DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO VIEWS LIES ON HOW AND WHERE SUCH FACILITIES ARE TO BE DISTRIBUTED SO AS TO ACHIEVE THE MAXIMUM BENEFIT FOR THOSE IN NEED,+ HE SAID.
HE SAID THAT MODERN PAEDIATRIC FACILITIES WERE BY AND LARGE THE SAME, THOUGH THEY MIGHT BE KNOWN BY DIFFERENT TERMS, SUCH AS PAEDIATRIC HOSPITAL, PAEDIATRIC UNIT OR PAEDIATRIC BLOCK.
IT WAS NOT CORRECT TO CONCLUDE THAT ONLY A PURPOSE-BUILT PAEDIATRIC HOSPITAL COULD PROVIDE FOR THE PROPER CARE OF CHILDREN.
GOVERNMENT’S PLAN IS TO PROVIDE FOR FULLY-EQUIPPED, MODERN, UP-TO-DATE PAEDIATRIC FACILITIES WHICH WILL INCLUDE MOTHER-CHILD ROOMS, PAEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNITS, PLAY AREAS, ISOLATION ROOMS, AND SHORT-STAY WARDS, IN ALL THE DEPARTMENT’S APPROVED AND PLANNED PROJECTS IN MAJOR HOSPITALS, HE SAID.
♦IN FACT, EACH AND EVERY PAEDIATRIC PROJECT IN SUCH GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS WILL BE BUILT, STAFFED AND EQUIPPED SO THAT THEY MAY BE REGARDED AS CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE BY THEMSELVES.
♦I HOPE THAT WHAT I HAVE JUST SAID HAS CLARIFIED ANY DOUBTS ON THE WISDOM OF THE GOVERNMENT’S PREFERENCE ON THIS MATTER, AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN NOW CONCENTRATE ON THE MORE PRODUCTIVE AND CONCRETE ACTIVITIES IN OUR EFFORTS TO BRING ABOUT PAEDIATRIC FACILITIES WHICH ARE SO NECESSARY FOR THE WELL BEING OF OUR CHILDREN,♦ DR THONG SAID.
/referring to .......
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9. 1983
- 7 -
REFERRING TO MISS LYDIA DUNN’S SUGGESTION THAT THE SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS SHOULD BE REVIEWED AND UPDATED, DR THONG GAVE ASSURANCE THAT ♦CLEARLY DEFINED SYSTEMS DO EXIST AT CLINICAL LEVEL IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS.*
HE SAIDi +EACH CLINICAL UNIT UNDER ITS HEAD DRAWS ITS OWN GUIDELINES ON SPECIFIC SITUATION OR DISEASES WHICH ITS CLINICAL STAFF MAY OBSERVE.
♦THE FORMULATION OF GUIDELINES WHICH GOVERN WARD PRACTICES IS THE PREROGATIVE OF THE INDIVIDUAL HOSPITAL UNIT, WHICH SHOULD HAVE THE PROFESSIONAL FREEDOM TO PRESCRIBE THE MANNER IN WHICH ITS PATIENTS ARE TREATED. THIS IS BECAUSE THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN OR THE UNIT IS IN THE BEST POSITION TO MAKE JUDGEMENT ON THE INDIVIDUAL CONDITION OF THEIR PATIENTS,♦ HE SAID.
HE AGREED WITH MISS DUNN THAT SUCH GUIDELINES SHOULD BE UPDATED AND REVIEWED ON A REGULAR BASIS BY THOSE WORKING IN HOSPITALS, IN THE LIGHT OF THE ACTUAL SITUATION.
THIS WAS BEING DONE AND WOULD BE A CONTINUING PRACTICE, HE SAID.
♦HOWEVER, THE BEST SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES ARE NOT SUBSTITUTES FOR THE ASSESSMENTS AND JUDGMENT OF THE PROFESSIONALS WORKING IN THE FIELD WHICH ARE ALSO ESSENTIAL TO THE EFFICIENT WORKING OF THE SYSTEM ITSELF,♦ HE SAID.
-----o------
BILL ON CITY POLYTECHNIC INTRODUCED *****
A BILL INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY IS THE FINAL STEP REQUIRED TO BRING THE CITY POLYTECHNIC OF HONG KONG INTO BEING, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON NEIL HENDERSON, SAID IN THE COUNCIL TODAY.
THE GOVERNMENT HAD ACCEPTED THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY THE HON SIR S.Y. CHUNG, CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SECOND POLYTECHNIC, MR HENDERSON SAID, IN MOVING THE CITY POLYTECHNIC OF HONG KONG BILL 1983 THROUGH A SECOND READING.
AS RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMITTEE, THE NEW POLYTECHNIC WILL BEGIN ITS FIRST COURSES IN OCTOBER 1984 IN TEMPORARY PREMISES BEFORE ITS PERMANENT CAMPUS AT TAT CHEE AVENUE IS COMPLETED IN 1988.
♦THAT A NEW TERTIARY INSTITUTION CAN BE ESTABLISHED AND INCORPORATED IN LESS THAN ONE AND A HALF YEARS AFTER THE APPOINTMENT OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE SPEAKS FOR THE HARD WORK AND DEDICATION OF SIR S.Y. CHUNG AND HIS COLLEAGUES, FOR WHICH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ARE MOST GRATEFUL,+ MR HENDERSON SAID.
THE GOVERNANCE OF THE NEW INSTITUTION WILL BE MODELLED ON THAT OF THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC.
/ITS GOVERNING ......
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9. 1983'
8
ITS GOVERNING AND EXECUTIVE BODY WILL CONSIST OF 28 OFFICIAL AND UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, WITH SEVEN OF THE UNOFFICIALS TO BE DRAWN FROM COMMERCE OR INDUSTRY, MR HENDERSON SAID.
IN ADDITION, THE GOVERNOR MAY APPOINT THREE MORE UNOFFICIALS.
ALTHOUGH NOT SPECIFIED IN THE BILL, THE INTENTION IS TO FILL THESE THREE SEATS WITH ACADEMICS FROM THE OTHER TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN HONG KONG, HE SAID.
♦THE COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL AND EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS WILL, THEREFORE, BE ADEQUATELY REPRESENTED, PROVIDING A BALANCED INPUT INTO THE MANAGEMENT OF THE INSTITUTION,* MR HENDERSON SAID.
♦IT IS INTENDED THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS BILL, IF ENACTED, BE BROUGHT INTO FORCE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY POLYTECHNIC BE APPOINTED IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER TO TAKE OVER THE WORK OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE^ HE SAID.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED TO NOVEMBER 23.
- - 0 - -
SCHOOL SYSTEM IN GOOD ORDERt HAYE * * *
THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS IN GOOD ORDER, NOTWITHSTANDING AREAS OF CONCERN REQUIRING FURTHER ATTENTION INDICATED IN THE OVERALL REVIEW OF EDUCATION, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, THE HON COLVYN HAYE, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE MOTION OF THANKS FOR THE GOVERNOR’S ADDRESS, MR HAYE SAID THAT THE SYSTEM IS FLEXIBLE AND RESPONSIVE TO SUIT THE VARYING AND CHANGING ASPIRATIONS OF OUR POPULATION. IT ALSO HAS THE AIM OF DEVELOPING USEFUL AND CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, HE ADDED.
♦EVEN THE MOST CURSORY GLANCE AT WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR SCHOOLS WITH THE ACTIVE ENCOURAGEMENT OF MY DEPARTMENT WILL DEMONSTRATE THAT WHAT IS BEING CULTIVATED IS A SENSE OF BELONGING -HENCE RESPONSIBILITY - TO THE COMMUNITY, A POSITIVE AND PRAGMATIC ATTITUDE TOWARDS LIFE AND THE PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE WHICH MAKES THE PERSON USEFUL,♦ MR HAYE SAID.
COMMENDING THE HON RITA FAN’S APPRECIATION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION AND THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEMANDS FOR EDUCATION 'IN HONG KONG, MR HAYE SAID THAT THE HON PAULINE NG OBVIOUSLY SUBSCRIBED TO MRS FAN’S ENTHUSIASM FOR THE SCHOOL SYSTEM — BECAUSE SHE WANTED TO SEE EDUCATION EXTENDED TO FORM 5 FOR ALL WITH THE ABOLITION OF THE JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION ASSESSMENT SYSTEM AT FORM 3.
♦BUT IT IS HARD TO RECONCILE THE ABOLITION OF THE JSEA WITH THE POWERFUL PLEA OF THE HON S.L. CHEN TO RETAIN IT,+ MR HAYE SAID.
/HE said
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1963
9
HE SAID THAT HE SHARED MR CHEN’S WORRY THAT FORM 3 LEAVERS WERE NOT GOING TO TECHNICAL INSTITUTES FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AS INTENDED BY THE 1978 WHITE PAPER ON SENIOR SECONDARY AND TERTfARY EDUCATION. THE YOUTHS ^PREFERRED TO VOTE WITH THEIR FEET* BY GOING TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO ATTEMPT THE HONG KONG CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION.
♦THE SOLUTION IS OBVIOUSLY TO MAKE CRAFT EDUCATION IN THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES MORE ATTRACTIVE, WHILE REFORMING THE CURRICULA IN FORM 4 AND 5 SO AS TO MAKE IT MORE RELEVANT TO THE INTERESTS, NEEDS AND ABILITY OF THE LESS ACADEMIC,♦ MR HAYE DECLARED. HE SAID THAT HE HAD ALREADY MADE PROPOSALS ABOUT THIS TO THE DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING, AND THE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEES.
MR HAYE SAID THE VIEWS OF MR CHEN AND MRS NG, WERE +NOT UNTYPICAL OF THE DIVERSE VIEWS HELD BY RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE IN MANY COMMUNITIES AT THE TIME WHEN THEIR EDUCATION SYSTEMS REACHED THE SAME STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT AS OURS+.
♦ I KNOW OF NO COMMUNITY WHERE THERE IS MAJOR DISAGREEMENT ABOUT THE DESIRABILITY OF PROVIDING UNIVERSAL PRIMARY EDUCATION AND UNIVERSAL JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION,♦ MR HAYE SAID.
♦ I KNOW OF MANY COMMUNITIES WHERE THE QUESTION OF GENERAL EDUCATION VERSUS VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AT THE SENIOR SECONDARY LEVEL HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF HEATED DEBATE, CENTRAL TO WHICH ARE THE ISSUES OF WHAT THE COMMUNITY NEEDS, WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS AND WHAT THE COMMUNITY CAN AFFORD.
♦ I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE OVERALL REVIEW OF OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM, IT WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR HONG KONG TO ARRIVE AT A STRATEGY FOR FURTHER DEVELOPMENT WHICH WILL BE BEST SUITED TO OUR CIRCUMSTANCES.*
MR HAYE SAID THAT HE HAD TO CORRECT THE IMPRESSION MR CHEN MIGHT HAVE GIVEN THAT THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN HONG KONG HAD SUFFERED AS A RESULT OF ITS QUANTITATIVE EXPANSION.
♦ IT IS IMPORTANT TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN ’QUALITY’ AND ’ACADEMIC STANDARDS’,* MR HAYE SAID.
♦ COMPARED WITH 10 YEARS AGO, OUR SCHOOLS NOW HAVE MUCH BETTER FACILITIES, MORE AND BETTER-TRAINED TEACHERS, A BROADER AND MORE RELEVANT CURRICULUM AND MUCH GREATER FINANCIAL SUPPORT.*
SCHOOLS COULD NOW ALSO BENEFIT FROM AN EXPANDED EDUCATION . TELEVISION SERVICE, SYSTEMATIC RETRAINING PROGRAMMES FOR TEACHERS, THE SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK SCHEME AND THE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR LANGUAGE PACKAGE, TO NAME BUT A FEW OF THE MANY INITIATIVES TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT IN RECENT YEARS, HE SAID.
HE THEREFORE FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT THE VIEWS THAT THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN HONG KONG HAD BEEN DETERIORATING, HE SAID.
♦I DO AGREE HOWEVER THAT OVERALL ACADEMIC STANDARDS MAY APPEAR TO BE LOWER SIMPLY BECAUSE SOME CHILDREN WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN DENIED A JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL PLACE ARE NOW IN SCHOOL.
/+Eva: sc..........
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1963
10 -
♦ EVEN SO, LET ME ASSURE MR CHEN THAT THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE STANDARDS OF THE ACADEMICALLY MORE ABLE STUDENTS ARE NOW DETER IORAT I NG,♦ HE SAID.
MR HAYE SAID HE FULLY SHARED THE HON ALEX WU’S VIEWS ON THE NEED TO IMPROVE LANGUAGE TEACHING IN THE SCHOOLS AS A MATTER OF PRIORITY, PARTICULARLY THE NEED TO IMPROVE STANDARDS IN BOTH CHINESE AND ENGLISH.
MR HAYE SAIDi +AMONG THE VARIOUS MEASURES FOR QUALITY ENHANCEMENT WHICH I MENTIONED EARLIER IS OUR LANGUAGE PACKAGE. I AM PLEASED TO REPORT THAT MOST OF THE ELEMENTS OF THE PACKAGE HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED SUCCESSFULLY.♦
WITH ADDITIONAL TEACHERS PROVIDED TO PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN SEPTEMBER 1982, MR HAYE SAID REMEDIAL TEACHING IN THE LANGUAGES HAD STARTED AT BOTH LEVELS. ♦REACTION FROM THE SCHOOL HEADS HAD BEEN MOST FAVOURABLE,♦ HE SAID.
♦ADDITIONAL AUDIO-VISUAL TEACHING AIDS, INCLUDING A WIRE-FREE INDUCTION LOOP SYSTEM HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO THE SCHOOLS, AND AGAIN IT HAS BEEN REPORTED THAT THESE ARE VERY USEFUL IN LANGUAGE TEACHING.
♦ THE NEW INSTITUTE OF LANGUAGE IN EDUCATION RETRAINED 200 TEACHERS OF CHINESE AND ENGLISH IN 1982/83 AND IS DOUBLING ITS INTAKE THIS YEAR,* HE SAID.
IN ADDITION, THE BRITISH COUNCIL WAS CONTINUING TO HELP BY OFFERING COURSES OF ITS OWN FOR OTHER TEACHERS.
♦ I SHOULD LIKE THEREFORE TO ASSURE MR WU THAT A GOOD START HAS BEEN MADE AND THAT MY DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO KEEP UP THE MOMENTUM,♦ MR HAYE SAID.
REFERRING TO THE HON SELINA CHOW’S CONCERN OVER THE APPARENT INCREASE IN THE INVOLVEMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE 14 TO 20 YEAR AGE GROUP IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES, MR HAYE STRESSED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS RECOGNISED AND STEPS WERE BEING TAKEN TO SOLVE IT.
♦ RECENT YEARS HAVE SEEN A GREATER AWARENESS OF THE NEED FOR A MORE POSITIVE APPROACH IN THE INCULCATION OF MORAL PRINCIPLES AND SOCIAL ATTITUDES AMONG THE YOUNG.
♦ NOWHERE HAS THIS AWARENESS AND THE DESIRE FOR MORE POSITIVE ACTION BEEN GREATER THAN IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM,♦ HE SAID.
MR HAYE ANNOUNCED THAT THERE WAS NOW A DEFINITE PROGRAMME. WHICH COVERED MORAL EDUCATION, IMPROVED COUNSELLING AND GUIDANCE SERVICES TO MEET MORE ADEQUATELY THE REQUIREMENTS OF INDIVIDUAL CHILDREN, AND INCREASED OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUPILS TO PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES INVOLVING COMMUNITY SERVICES.
♦ ALL OF THESE HAVE BEEN WELL SUPPORTED BY THE SCHOOLS, TEACHERS AND PUP ILS,♦ MR HAYE SAID.
MR HAYE ALSO SAID THAT A STANDING COMMITTEE ON UNRULY AND DELINQUENT BEHAVIOUR IN SCHOOLS HAD BEEN SET UP TO ASSESS AND MONITOR THE SITUATION IN THE SCHOOLS AND TO ASSIST IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF MORE EFFECTIVE PROGRAMMES IN ALL SCHOOLS.
/THIS COMMITTES.....
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9. 1983
- 11 -
THIS COMMITTEE, AND THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AS A WHOLE, MAINTAINED CONSTANT LIAISON WITH THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY, TO ENSURE THAT SCHOOL-BASED ACTIVITIES ARE INTEGRATED INTO WIDER SCHEMES AND PROGRAMMES, HE EXPLAINED.
MR HAYE SAID HE HOPED THAT COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE REASSURED BY HIS REVIEW THAT A +POSITIVE PROGRAMME OF MORAL AND SOCIAL EDUCATION EXISTS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.*
HE SAID THE MANY PROGRAMME RUN BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG YOUTHS ALL ADDED UP TO THE ♦STRATEGY FOR YOUTH AT RISK+ DEMANDED BY THE HON MRS SELINA CHOW.
------o-------
GOOD PROGRESS ON HOUSING REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME K X X X
THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WILL CONSIDER SETTING ASIDE AN INCREASED NUMBER OF NEW FLATS EACH YEAR TO REHOUSE PEOPLE FROM OLD ESTATES IN ORDER TO SPEED UP THE REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME.
THIS WILL ALSO ENABLE MUCH LARGER AREAS TO BE REDEVELOPED AT ONE TIME THAN HAS BEEN POSSIBLE IN THE PAST.
THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON DONALD LIAO, SAID THIS TODAY AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE GOVERNOR’S ANNUAL ADDRESS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
REPLYING TO POINTS RAISED BY UNOFFICIALS, HE SAID GOOD PROGRESS WAS BEING MADE IN THE REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME WHICH INVOLVES NEARLY HALF A MILLION PEOPLE.
♦SINCE IT STARTED IN 1972, 48 OUT OF A TOTAL OF 240 BLOCKS IN THE 12 MARK l/lI ESTATES HAVE BEEN DEMOLISHED TO MAKE WAY FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT, AND A FURTHER 26 BLOCKS HAVE BEEN CONVERTED INTO SELF-CONTAINED LIVING UNITS.
♦THIS HAS ENTAILED THE REHOUSING OF ABOUT 150 000 PEOPLE,♦ HE POINTED OUT.
IN ADDITION, MR LIAO SAID WELL OVER 100 000 PEOPLE HAD IMPROVED THEIR LIVING CONDITIONS BY EITHER MOVING INTO OTHER ESTATES UNDER THE RELIEF-OF-OVERCROWD ING SCHEME, OR BY BUYING HOME OWNERSHIP OR PRIVATE FLATS.
♦THE POPULATION IN THESE ESTATES HAS BEEN REDUCED TO ABOUT 210 000, MANY OF WHOM ARE LIVING IN BLOCKS WITH IMPROVED FACILITIES AND GENERALLY IN VERY MUCH LESS OVERCROWDING CONDITIONS, AWAITING THEIR TURN TO BENEFIT FROM REDEVELOPMENT,♦ HE ADDED.
ON SQUATTER AREA IMPROVEMENTS, MR LIAO SAID A PRIORITY LIST HAD BEEN WORKED OUT FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAMME AS A WHOLE FOLLOWING THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THREE PILOT SCHEMES.
♦MUCH HAS BEEN LEARNED FROM THE PILOT SCHEMES AND I AM SURE WE WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE FASTER IN THE FUTURE.
/4* INDSELD > AS •••••••
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1983 ,
- 12 -
♦INDEED, AS MANY 25 OOO FAMILIES WOULD BENEFIT IN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS COVERED BY THIS PROGRAMME,♦ HE SAID.
REFERRING TO PUBLIC HOUSING OUTPUT, MR LIAO SAID THIS WOULD BE MAINTAINED AT THE LEVEL OF OVER 35 000 FLATS WHICH HAD BEEN ACHIEVED FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.
♦WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE ALERT TO THE DESIRABILITY OF ADJUSTING THE BALANCE BETWEEN FLATS FOR SALE AND FLATS FOR RENT IN THE LIGHT OF THE DEMONSTRATED DEMAND FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF HOUS I NG,♦ HE SAID.
AS REGARDS PRIVATE HOUSING, HE POINTED OUT THERE WAS NOW A GOOD SUPPLY OF LAND READILY AVAILABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO PRODUCE HOUSING AT PRICES WHICH WOULD BE GENERALLY AFFORDABLE.
♦IT IS HOPED THAT PRIVATE DEVELOPERS WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS SITUATION AND CONTINUE TO MAKE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS.
♦NOTWITHSTANDING OUR COMMITMENT TO A HIGH LEVEL OF PUBLIC HOUSING OUTPUT, THE GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS THAT A PRODUCTIVE AND STABLE PRIVATE PROPERTY SECTOR IS ESSENTIAL TO HELP MEET HONG KONG’S HOUSING NEEDS,♦ HE ADDED.
MR LIAO ALSO RESTATED THE REASON FOR HALTING THE MIDDLE INCOME HOUSING PROGRAMME, SAYING THAT WITH EASED PRICES, LOWER MORTGAGE INTEREST RATES AND LONGER MORTGAGE PERIODS, PEOPLE FOR WHOM THE PROGRAMME WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED COULD NOW AFFORD TO BUY THEIR OWN HOMES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR IF THEY WISHED.
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HOLIDAYS (AMENDMENT) BILL INTRODUCED ft * * *
THE HOLIDAYS (AMENDMENT) BILL 19S3 IS BASICALLY TO SIMPLIFY THE OPERATION OF THE ORDINANCE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION’S CONVENIENCE, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON NEIL HENDERSON, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
IN MOVING THE BILL THROUGH A SECOND READING, MR HENDERSON TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT THE BILL PROPOSES TO REPLACE THE LIST OF GENERAL HOLIDAYS IN SECTION 3 OF THE ORDINANCE BY A SCHEDULE.
AT PRESENT, THERE IS NO PROVISION FOR DIRECT AMENDMENT TO THE LIST OF HOLIDAYS, AND ALL ADDITIONS AND SUBSTITUTIONS TO THIS LIST MADE UNDER SECTION 6 OF THE ORDINANCE BY RESOLUTION ARE SEPARATELY RECORDED BY ADDITIONAL, SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION.
♦THE SCHEDULE WHICH WILL REPLACE THIS LIST CAN BE DIRECTLY AMENDED BY RESOLUTION, THUS AVOIDING AN ACCUMULATION OF SUBSIDIARY LEG I SLAT ION,♦ MR HENDERSON EXPLAINED.
ALSO, BECAUSE THE BIRTHDAY OF HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN IS NOT ALWAYS CELEBRATED ON THE SAME DAY EVERY YEAR IN THE UK, WHILE IN HONG KONG THE DATE HAS BEEN FIXED AS THE SECOND SATURDAY IN JUNE, THE BILL PROVIDES FOR THE GOVERNOR TO APPOINT AN ALTERNATIVE DATE BY GAZETTE NOTIFICATION, HE SAID.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED TO NOVEMBER 23.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1983
13
COMMENTS ON EDUCATION REVIEW BEING ANALYSED *****
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE REPORT +A PERSPECTIVE ON EDUCATION IN HONG KONG*, WERE BEING ANALYSED AND SHOULD BE READY FOR PRESENTATION TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL BY THE END OF THIS YEAR, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON NEIL HENDERSON, SAID TODAY.
THE 544 COMMENTS RECEIVED FROM 305 ORGANISATIONS OR INDIVIDUALS CONTAINED +PROBABLY MORE WORDS THAN IN THE BIBLE OR THE COMPLETE WORKS OF SHAKESPEARE,* MR HENDERSON SAID.
THESE INCLUDED 176 DIRECT WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS, 226 NEWS REPORTS OF COMMENTS MADE IN SEMINARS, AND PUBLIC SPEECHES AND 112 EDITORIALS-FEATURE ARTICLES IN ALL, TOTALLING 2 280 PAGES,* HE SAID.
THE SHEER VOLUME OF COMMENT THAT THE REPORT STIMULATED WOULD CONVINCE ANYONE WHO HAD ANY DOUBTS ABOUT THE OVER-RIDING INTEREST CF HONG KONG PEOPLE IN EDUCATION, MR HENDERSON SAID.
♦THE NEXT STEP,* MR HENDERSON CONTINUED, +IS SEEING OUR WAY AS TO HOW THE PLANNED IMPLEMENTATION OF THOSE STRATEGIES IN THE OVERALL REVIEW THAT PROVE ACCEPTABLE TO THE PUBLIC AND TO THE GOVERNMENT CAN BE ACHIEVED.*
MR HENDERSON SAID THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WOULD BE CONSULTED ON THE BEST MACHINERY TO FURTHER THIS AIM EXPEDITIOUSLY. THE TIMING, PRIORITY AND BUDGETING OF THE IMPLEMENTATION PLANS WERE ♦ABSOLUTELY VITAL*, MR HENDERSON SAID.
HOWEVER, THE VITAL MATTER OF FINANCING EDUCATION WOULD HAVE TO BE STUDIED IN DETAIL, AND HE WAS NOW CONSIDERING HOW THIS MIGHT BEST BE ACCOMPLISHED, MR HENDERSON SAID.
HE SAID THAT THE OVERALL REVIEW CONTAINED +A SWEET-SHOP FULL OF ’GOODIES’ FOR ALL -- EVEN INCLUDING A FEW ACID-DROPS FOR SOME.+
♦BUT GORGE THEM ALL AT ONE GO WE CANNOT, WITHOUT THE MOST DIRE CONSEQUENCES TO OUR DIGESTIVE SYSTEM.
♦AN ORDERLY CONSUMPTION PROGRAMME IS CALLED FOR, AND WE MUST HAVE THE BEST FRAMEWORK IN WHICH TO PREPARE THIS PROGRAMME,♦ HE SAID.
MR HENDERSON SAID HE SHARED THE HON FRANCIS TIEN’S CONCERN THAT IT COULD BE COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE TO HAVE AN EDUCATION COMMISSION WHOSE INTRODUCTION INTERFERED WITH COORDINATION RATHER THAN IMPROVED IT.
THE FEASIBILITY OF SMOOTHLY INTERFACING A COMMISSION WITH THE EXISTING CONSULTATIVE MACHINERY WAS BEING GIVEN MOST CAREFUL CONSIDERATION BY THE GOVERNMENT SO AS TO AVOID SUCH UNDESIRABLE CONSEQUENCES, HE SAID.
/HE also .......
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1983
- 14 -
HE ALSO THANKED MR TIEN FOR DRAWING THE GOVERNMENT’S ATTENTION TO THE IMPORTANCE OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND SAID THAT THE VOCATION TRAINING COUNCIL WHICH MR TIEN CHAIRED HAD MADE AN EXCELLENT START TO ITS WORK.
MR HENDERSON ALSO REASSURED THE HON ALEX WU THAT THE GOVERNMENT TOOK THE ARTS SERIOUSLY, AND SAID EVIDENCE OF THIS WAS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, AND THE PLANNED COMMISSIONING OF AN ACADEMY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS IN SEPTEMBER 1985, IN ADDITION TO OTHER ACTIVITIES.
DISCUSSING ANOTHER MATTER RAISED BY MR WU, HE SAID THAT THE REPORT OF THE WORKING PARTY ON THE PROPOSED CHINESE LANGUAGE FOUNDATION WOULD BE SUBMITTED SOON TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL FOR CONSIDERATION.
ON THE QUESTION OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, MR HENDERSON SAID HE WAS GLAD THAT THE HON PETER WONG SUPPORTED A THIRD UNIVERSITY WHICH WOULD BE ESSENTIAL IF HONG KONG WERE TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE A REASONABLE PROPORTION OF ITS YOUNG PEOPLE WITH FIRST DEGREE PLACES BEYOND THE MID 1990'S.
*1 SHOULD ADD THAT PROGRESS IS BEING MADE IN THE IDENTIFICATION OF POSSIBLE SITES, AND A SHORT-LIST SHOULD BE DETERMINED QUITE SOON,* HE SAID.
HE SAID ALSO THAT THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE HAD BEEN ASKED TO EXAMINE THE NEED FOR, AND THE FEASIBILITY OF, DEVELOPING SUCH OTHER FORMS OF EDUCATION AS AN OPEN UNIVERSITY AND THE EXTENSION OF EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION.
THE GOVERNMENT’S INTENTION IS, OF COURSE, TO PROVIDE OUR PEOPLE WITH MORE SECOND CHANCES, HE SAID.
MEANWHILE, CONSIDERATION WAS BEING GIVEN TO THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG’S PROPOSAL TO INTRODUCE AN EXTERNAL DEGREE PROGRAMME.
A SUGGESTION BY THE HON RITA FAN THAT AN EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT FUND BE SET UP WITH SUITABLE ENCOURAGEMENT FOR PRIVATE DONORS WAS ALSO WORTH CONSIDERING, HE SAID.
MR HENDERSON SAID HE ALSO SHARED THE VIEW EXPRESSED BY THE HON PETER POON THAT HONG KONG SHOULD MAKE AVAILABLE MORE HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES.
♦THIS IS PRECISELY WHY WE ARE PLANNING A CONSIDERABLE EXPANSION OF OUR TERTIARY EDUCATION SECTOR,♦ HE SAID.
REFERRING TO REHABILITATION, AS RAISED BY DR HO, MR HENDERSON SAID THAT PRESENT PLANNING TARGETS FOR HALF-WAY HOUSES FOR EX-MENTAL PATIENTS WOULD ENABLE GOVERNMENT TO MEET THE DEMAND FOR PLACES BY 1988.
DEALING WITH LABOUR MATTERS, MR HENDERSON SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD DO ITS BEST TO BRING THE PROPOSED FUND TO ASSIST WORKERS IN INSOLVENCY INTO THE STATUTE BOOK NEXT YEAR.
/HE REFERRED •••••••
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9. 1983
- 15 -
HE REFERRED TO THE HON STEPHEN CHEONG’S COMMENTS ABOUT CONCERN EXPRESSED BY MANUFACTURERS ABOUT THE COST EFFECT TO THE ECONOMY OF CERTAIN TYPES OF LABOUR LEGISLATION AND SAID THAT THE ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF LABOUR HAD ALWAYS BEEN TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN POLICY CONSIDERATION.
HIS EXPERIENCE IN THE LAST TEN YEARS WAS THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD THE GENERAL SUPPORT OF EMPLOYERS IN +OUR MEASURED PROGRESS* IN THE FIELD OF LABOUR LEGISLATION.
♦AND I WOULD INCLUDE IN THAT THE RECENT EXTENSION OF PAID SICK LEAVE, WHICH HAD THEIR GENERAL SUPPORT FROM AN EARLY STAGE,* FE SAID.
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BILL TO RECTIFY OMISSION
* * *
A BILL DEALING WITH TWO TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS OMITTED AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE OF WHAT IS NOW THE ROAD TRAFFIC (DRIVING-OFFENCE POINTS) ORDINANCE 1983 IN THE PREVIOUS SESSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, WAS READ A SECOND TIME IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
MOVING THE ROAD TRAFFIC (DRIVING-OFFENCE POINTS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON ALAN SCOTT SAID THE BILL WILL RECTIFY THE OVERSIGHT, BEFORE THE ORDINANCE IS IMPLEMENTED IN AUGUST 1984.
THE AMENDMENTS ARE CONSEQUENTIAL UPON THE CHANGE MOVED BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS TO REDUCE FROM THREE TO TWO YEARS THE PERIOD WITHIN WHICH OFFENCES HAD TO BE COMMITTED FOR A PERSON TO BE DISQUALIFIED FROM DRIVING.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED TO NOVEMBER 23.
--------o----------
LEGCO PASSES THREE BILLS
* * * *
THREE BILLS WERE APPROVED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THEY WERE THE PENSIONS (INCREASE) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, ‘ THE BUILDINGS (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1983 AND THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY (LAND RESUMPTION AND RELATED PROVISIONS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983.
FOUR BILLS WERE INTRODUCED AND READ A SECOND TIME, AND DEBATE ON THEM WAS ADJOURNED.
THEY AREi THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) (NO. 4) BILL 1983, THE ROAD TRAFFIC (DRIVING-OFFENCE POINTS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, THE CITY POLYTECHNIC OF HONG KONG BILL 1983 AND THE HOLIDAYS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983.
------o-------
/16......
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1983^
16
NUCLEAR POWER STATION VENTURE WITH CHINA ENDORSED * * * *
THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL HAS DECIDED IN PRINCIPLE TO ENDORSE PARTICIPATION BY A HONG KONG PARTNER IN A JOINT-VENTURE NUCLEAR POWER STATION WITH CHINA AT DAYA BAY, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
NOTING THAT THE DECISION WAS MADE YESTERDAY, MR JACOBS SAID, ♦AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE, STEPS SHOULD BE TAKEN WITH OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES TO FORM THE HONG KONG NUCLEAR INVESTMENT COMPANY, WHICH WILL BE THE HONG KONG PARTNER IN THE JOINT VENTURE WITH THE GUANGDONG POWER COMPANY, TO BUILD, COMMISSION AND OPERATE THE PROPOSED NUCLEAR POWER STATION AT DAYA BAY.*
HE REPORTED THAT THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CHINA LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE DECISION AND HAD ADVISED THAT THE COMPANY WAS IN A POSITION TO RESPOND WITHOUT DELAY.
HE SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN EVALUATING THE PROJECT FOR SOME MONTHS TO ESTABLISH THAT HONG KONG’S PARTICIPATION WOULD BE IN THE INTERESTS OF THE CONSUMERS.
♦THESE ISSUES CONCERN THE COMMERCIAL AND FISCAL ARRANGEMENTS THAT MUST BE AGREED PRIOR TO THE CONCLUSION OF AN OFFTAKE AGREEMENT.
♦THE GOVERNMENT IS CONFIDENT THAT SATISFACTORY ARRANGEMENTS CAN BE MADE SO THAT THE PURCHASE OF NUCLEAR POWER WILL, INDEED, PROVE TO BE AN ATTRACTIVE OPTION FOR HONG KONG,+ MR JACOBS STATED.
ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT, HE TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS CONSCIOUS OF THESE MATTERS AND A PRIME CONSIDERATION OF ALL PARTIES INVOLVED WOULD BE TO ENSURE THAT THE HIGHEST SAFETY STANDARDS WOULD BE ADOPTED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF THIS STATION.
THE PROJECT, HE SAID, ♦OFFERS HONG KONG AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEMONSTRATE OUR DESIRE TO CO-OPERATE FULLY WITH CHINA IN ITS FOUR MODERNISATIONS PROGRAMME.♦
♦FURTHERMORE, THE DECISION TAKEN YESTERDAY IS YET ANOTHER CLEAR INDICATION OF THE GOVERNMENT’S CONFIDENCE THAT ADDITIONAL ELECTRICAL ENERGY WILL BE REQUIRED TO MEET THE FUTURE REQUIREMENTS OF A GROWING AND PROSPEROUS HONG KONG,* HE SAID.
NOTING THAT THE LOCAL POWER COMPANIES WERE FREQUENTLY THE SUBJECT OF PUBLIC COMMENT, MR JACOBS SAID THAT NEVERTHELESS, WORKING WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE SCHEMES OF CONTROL, THEY HAD SUCCEEDED IN PROVIDING HONG KONG WITH A RELIABLE SERVICE AT A REASONABLE PRICE.
WHILE NO ONE WOULD DENY THAT THE COMPANIES HAD MADE LARGE PROFITS IN ABSOLUTE TERMS DURING RECENT YEARS, IT WAS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT A SUBSTANTIAL PROPORTION OF THE PROFITS DID NOT GO INTO THE POCKETS OF THE SHAREHOLDERS, HE STRESSED.
/♦MORE 'PHAN ......
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1983
- 17 -
♦MORE THAN ONE THIRD OF THE PROFIT IS RETAINED BY THE COMPANIES FOR INVESTMENT. FURTHERMORE, THE SHAREHOLDERS THEMSELVES CONTINUE TO PROVIDE NEW CAPITAL FOR INVESTMENT IN THE NECESSARY EXPANSION OF THE COMPANIES.
♦WITHOUT THIS NEW INVESTMENT, THE COMPANIES WOULD BE UNABLE TO bEET THE GROWING DEMAND FOR ELECTRICITY, A DEMAND THAT IS A MEASURE OF THE OVERALL PROSPERITY THAT HONG KONG HAS ENJOYED,+ MR JACOBS POINTED OUT.
DISCUSSING THE CONSULTANCY ON THE MONITORING OF THE POWER COMPANIES, HE SAID THAT WHAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS LOOKING FOR WERE RECOMMENDATIONS UPON WHICH IT COULD BUILD.
♦WHILE WE BELIEVE THAT OUR SYSTEM OF MONITORING IS EFFECTIVE, IT WOULD BE FOOLHARDY TO WORK ON THE BASIS THAT THERE IS NO ROOM WHATSOEVER FOR IMPROVEMENT,♦ HE SAID.
ANOTHER PURPOSE OF THE CONSULTANCY, HE STATED, WAS TO GIVE THE PUBLIC REASONABLE ASSURANCE CONCERNING THE SCHEMES OF CONTROL.
♦ I VERY MUCH HOPE THAT THE RESULTS OF THE CONSULTANCY AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ITS RECOMMENDATIONS WILL INDEED GIVE THAT ASSURANCE,+ HE ADDED.
IN REPLY TO THE HON ANDREW SO’S EARLIER SUGGESTION THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD INTERVENE TO STOP UTILITY CHARGE INCREASES AND TO FREEZE PRICE INCREASES IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, MR JACOBS POINTED OUT THAT HE HAD MENTIONED LAST OCTOBER THAT THE MOST LIKELY CAUSE OF AN INCREASE IN THE INFLATION RATE WAS THE DEPRECIATION IN THE EXCHANGE RATE OF THE HONG KONG DOLLAR.
NOTING THAT MEASURES HAD BEEN INTRODUCED CONCERNING THE EXCHANGE RATE, MR JACOBS SAID, +l FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT IN RELATION TO PRICES, WHETHER IN THE PUBLIC OR PRIVATE SECTOR, THOSE MEASURES MAKE PT UNNECESSARY EVEN TO CONTEMPLATE A PRICE FREEZE, WHICH IN ANY EVENT WOULD BE BOUND TO LEAD TO DISTORTIONS ELSEWHERE IN THE ECONOMY.♦
♦ I MIGHT ADD THAT PRICES DO NOT ALWAYS GO UP. FUEL PRICES HAVE COME DOWN TWICE OVER THE PAST THREE WEEKS, ONCE ON 19TH OCTOBER AND AGAIN YESTERDAY,♦ HE SAID.
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♦WORKERS ARE HK/S MAJOR RESOURCE*
WORKERS SHOULD BE PROTECTED AGAINST BEING INJURED AT WORK BECAUSE THEY ARE HONG KONG’S MOST IMPORTANT RESOURCE, MR ALLEN LEE, AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
♦ TO PROTECT WORKERS IS TO SAFEGUARD OUR RESOURCE. WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO EDUCATE THEM ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND TO MAKE THEM REALISE THE IMPORTANCE OF AVOIDING GETTING HURT AT WORK*, HE STRESSED.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1983
- 18 -
MR LEE WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF AN INDUSTRIAL SAFETY SEMINAR FOR SENIOR MANAGEMENT ORGANISED BY THE COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND ACCIDENT PREVENTION OF THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD.
HE ASKED THE PARTICIPANTS! +HAVE YOU EVER SPENT SOME TIME IN INDUSTRIAL SAFETY? HAVE YOU EVER REVIEWED THE SITUATION AFTER A WORKER GETS HURT AT WORK?-*-
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND THE FEDERATION CF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES HAVE BEEN PROMOTING INDUSTRIAL SAFETY WITH THE COMMON OBJECTIVE OF PROTECTING WORKERS.
♦I THINK THIS IS NOT ONLY NECESSARY BUT ALSO MEANINGFUL,* HE SAID.
MR LEE DISCLOSED THAT IN THE FIRST THREE QUARTERS OF THIS YEAR THERE WERE 30 678 INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS, INCLUDING 67 FATAL CASES, REPRESENTING AN IMPROVEMENT ON THE 32 033 ACCIDENTS (INCLUDING 00 FATAL CASES) IN THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.
HE URGED THE PARTICIPANTS TO REVIEW THE SAFETY MEASURES AT THEIR WORKPLACES AND TO EXCHANGE VIEWS ON THIS MATTER.
♦TO REDUCE INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS IS TO ENHANCE OUR PRODUCTIVITY, AND THIS WILL INDIRECTLY INCREASE OUR PRODUCTS’ COMPETITIVENESS IN OVERSEAS MARKETS,+ HE CONCLUDED.
------o-------
PLAN FOR PRIVATE GARAGES TO EXAMINE CARS HI MX
UP TO 40 000 PRIVATE CARS MAY BE EXAMINED NEXT YEAR, UNDER A SCHEME PLANNED TO UTILISE PRIVATE GARAGES, MR JAMES Y.C. SO, THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, SAID TODAY.
MR SO WAS ADDRESSING THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON WEST.
♦WHILE ALL PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES SUCH AS TAXIS, PLBS ETC. ARE INSPECTED ANNUALLY AND ALL FRANCHISED BUSES ARE INSPECTED AS FREQUENTLY AS REQUIRED, GOODS VEHICLES AND PRIVATE CARS ARE ONLY INSPECTED AT PRESENT IF THEY ARE 10 YEARS OLD OR OVER,+ MR SO SAID.
♦THERE IS AT PRESENT A PROGRAMME TO PROGRESSIVELY REDUCE THE AGE LEVEL FOR THE EXAMINATION OF PRIVATE CARS FROM THE PRESENT 12 YEARS TO 6 YEARS, AND ANNUALLY FOR ALL GOODS VEHICLES,* CONTINUED MR SO.
THIS PROGRAMME, HOWEVER, DEPENDS ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF MORE VEHICLE EXAMINATION CENTRES AND THE TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT OF MORE SUITABLE STAFF.
♦PLANS ARE IN HAND FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF TWO FULL-AUTOMATED COMPUTERISED VEHICLE EXAMINATION CENTRES AT TSUEN WAN AND YUEN LONG.
/+UNFOHTUNATELY, IN .......
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1983
- 19 -
♦UNFORTUNATELY, IN THE PRESENT FINANCIAL CLIMATE, IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THESE PROJECTS WILL BE GIVEN HIGH PRIORITY AND IT MAY BE MANY YEARS YET BEFORE THEY CAN BE REALISED,* MR SO EXPLAINED.
THUS THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT HAS TO CONSIDER OTHER ALTERNATIVES TO ACHIEVE THE STATED OBJECTIVE.
A PROPOSAL TO ALLOW AUTHORISED PRIVATE GARAGES TO UNDERTAKE THE ANNUAL EXAMINATION OF PRIVATE CARS HAS BEEN ENDORSED IN PRINCIPLE BY THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT IS NOW WORKING OUT THE DETAILS OF THE SCHEME IN CONSULTATION WITH THE MOTOR TRADERS ASSOCIATION.
♦IF EVERYTHING GOES WELL, IT IS HOPED THAT THE PLAN WILL BE APPROVED FOR IMPLEMENTATION BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR.
♦THIS WILL THEN ENABLE US TO REDUCE THE AGE LEVEL FOR ANNUAL EXAMINATION OF PRIVATE CARS FROM THE EXISTING 12 YEARS INITIALLY TO SEVEN YEARS AND GRADUALLY TO THE DESIRED LEVEL,+ MR SO REVEALED.
THE PROPOSED SCHEME, TO INVOLVE ABOUT 40 000 PRIVATE CARS, WOULD INVOLVE THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT AUTHORISING CERTAIN QUALIFIED PRIVATE GARAGES TO UNDERTAKE THE ANNUAL CHECK OF PRIVATE CARS AND TO ISSUE CERTIFICATES ON PASSING THE EXAMINATION.
ON THE SUPERVISION OF THE STANDARDS OF EXAMINATION DONE BY THESE PRIVATE GARAGES, MR SO SAID THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WOULD ACHIEVE THIS THROUGH PERIODIC SPOT CHECKS AND INSPECTION AND THROUGH APPROVING THE EQUIPMENT USED AND THE PERSONNEL EMPLOYED.
MR SO ADDED THAT THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WOULD *ACT AS AN ARBITRATOR SHOULD ANY PRIVATE CAR OWNERS FEEL AGGRIEVED OVER THE EXAMINATION DONE BY THE PRIVATE GARAGES AND WANT TO LODGE AN APPEAL.*
WITH THE EXAMINATION OF PRIVATE CARS BEING TAKEN OVER BY PRIVATE GARAGES, ADDITIONAL CAPACITY WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE IN THE EXISTING VEHICL^ EXAMINATION CENTRES. THIS WOULD IN TURN CONTRIBUTE TO THE REDUCTION OF AGE LEVEL FOR ANNUAL CHECK OF GOODS VEHICLES GRADUALLY.
AS PRIVATE GARAGES MAY NOT HAVE ADEQUATE FACILITIES AND QUALIFIED PERSONNEL TO HANDLE GOODS VEHICLES, +IT IS CONSIDERED PRUDENT TO START THE SCHEME ON A MANAGEABLE SCALE,* EXPLAINED bR SO, ADDING THAT +SHOULD EXPERIENCE PROVE THAT THE SCHEME HAS SCOPE FOR EXPANSION TO COVER THE EXAMINATION OF OTHER TYPES OF. VEHICLES, IT WOULD NOT BE DIFFICULT TO MAKE THE EXTENSION LATER+.
MR SO STRESSED THAT PERIODIC VEHICLE EXAMINATION WAS ESSENTIAL. IN 1982, A TOTAL OF NEARLY 70 000 EXAMINATIONS WERE CARRIED OUT AT THE THREE GOVERNMENT VEHICLE EXAMINATION CENTRES.
♦OF THESE VEHICLES, SOME 37 000 PASSED ON FIRST INSPECTION, WHILE THE OTHERS HAD TO RETURN FOR A SECOND OR EVEN MORE INSPECTIONS BEFORE THEY WERE PASSED FOR RELICENSING.
/+DUHEJG THE........
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1983
20
♦DURING THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 1983 A TOTAL OF 46 422 VEHICLES WERE EXAMINED OF WHICH 28 954 PASSED ON FIRST INSPECTION.♦
THE REGULAR ROADWORTHINESS CHECK OF FRANCHISED BUSES IS CONDUCTED AT THE TWO BUS COMPANIES’ PREMISES.
♦IN 1982, OVER 4 000 INSPECTIONS WERE CARRIED OUT ON THE BUSES OF BOTH KMB AND CMB. UP TO THE END OF SEPTEMBER 1983, A TOTAL OF 2 708 INSPECTIONS WERE MADE ON THE BUSES OF THESE TWO FRANCHISED BUS COMPANIES.*
BY ALLOWING PRIVATE GARAGES TO TAKE ON THE EXAMINATION OF PRIVATE CARS, BETTER VEHICLE MAINTENANCE STANDARDS CAN BE ENSURED AS THE AGE LEVEL FOR THE INSPECTION OF CARS WOULD BE REDUCED. THIS WOULD ALSO +HELP TO IMPROVE ROAD SAFETY, REDUCE ROAD CONGESTION AND MINIMISE POLLUTION*, HE SAID.
MR SO SAID PRIVATE CAR OWNERS WOULD FIND IT EASIER TO ARRANGE SAFETY CHECKS FOR THEIR CARS AS THERE WOULD BE MORE PRIVATE GARAGES AUTHORISED TO DO INSPECTION IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE TERRITORY.
-----o------
TRADE PROMOTION TALK FOR INDUSTRIALISTS *****
A SEMINAR ON ♦PROMOTION AND SUPPORT FOR HONG KONG INDUSTRIES* WILL BE HELD TOMORROW (THURSDAY) FOR MANUFACTURERS AND EXPORTERS IN KWUN TONG.
AT THE SEMINAR, OFFICERS FROM THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE (HKPC), THE HONG KONG TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL (HKTDC) AND THE HONG KONG EXPORT CREDIT INSURANCE CORPORATION (HKECIC) WILL TALK ON THEIR FUNCTIONS AND SERVICES PROVIDED IN PROMOTING TRADE.
ABOUT 80 MANUFACTURERS AND EXPORTERS HAVE BEEN INVITED TO THE SEMINAR JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE LOCAL DISTRICT BOARD, THE HONG KONG KWUN TONG INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCE ASSOCIATION AND THE KWUN TONG INDUSTRIAL AREA COMMITTEE.
A DISTRICT BOARD SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT THERE ARE ABOUT 5 000 FACTORIES IN KWUN TONG, PROVIDING JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE THAN 140 000 WORKERS.
♦THE DISTRICT HAS A HIGH PROPORTION OF SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED FACTORIES, MANY OF WHICH SELDOM USE OR SOMETIMES EVEN DO NOT REALISE THE FACILITIES AND SERVICES AVAILABLE FOR THE EXPANSION OF THEIR BUSINESS OVERSEAS AND FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE PRODUCTION PROCESS WITHIN THEIR FACTORIES,* HE SAID.
+AS BUSINESS PERFORMANCES OF THESE FACTORIES WILL HAVE A DIRECT EFFECT ON THE WELL-BEING OF A LARGE NUMBER OF WORKERS, IT IS FELT THAT WITH ECONOMIC RECOVERY, THERE IS A NEED TO ORGANISE A SEMINAR TO INTRODUCE THE SERVICES AVAILABLE,* HE SAID.
/THE TALKS.........
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1983
THE TALKS, TO BE SUPPLEMENTED BY SLIDES AND FILMS, WILL HIGHLIGHT HKPC’S ROLE IN PROMOTING THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY, HKTDC’S OVERSEAS AND LOCAL TRADE PROMOTION PROGRAMMES, AND HKECIC’S PROTECTION TO THE EXPORTERS BY OFFERING EXPORT FINANCING FACILITIES.
THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF TRADE, MR JOHN CHAN, WILL OFFICIATE AT AN OPENING CEREMONY AT 2 PM.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
YOU ARE WELCOME TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE SEMINAR ON ^PROMOTION AND SUPPORT FOR HONG KONG INDUSTRIES* AT 2 PM TOMORROW (THURSDAY) ON THE 16TH FLOOR OF THE AMBASSADOR HOTEL, 26 NATHAN ROAD, TSIM SHA TSUI.
0 - -
ENERGY SECRETARY ARRIVES UKI
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ENERGY, MR PETER WALKER, ARRIVED IN HONG KONG FROM CANTON TODAY (WEDNESDAY) FOR A TWO-DAY VISIT.
HE WAS MET AT THE AIRPORT BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE.
- - 0 - -
NOTE TO EDITORSi
COLLEGE ANNEXE OPENING * * * *
THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR COLVYN HAYE, WILL OPEN THE NEW ANNEXE OF THE SIR ROBERT BLACK COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AT YUEN CHAU KOK ROAD, SHA TIN, ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 11) AT 10 AM.
AN EXHIBITION ON THE TRAINING OF TEACHERS AT THE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION WILL BE HELD AFTER THE OPENING CEREMONY.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY AND THE EXHIBITION.
A GOVERNMENT VAN (AM 2923) WILL LEAVE KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER, TSIM SHA TSUI, FOR THE ANNEXE AT 9.15 AM ON THAT DAY (FRIDAY).
- 0 -
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1983
- 22 -
DB TO TALK ABOUT PRIMARY SCHOOLS * * * * *
THE FINDINGS OF A STUDY ON THE PROVISION OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN TUEN MUN WILL BE TABLED FOR DISCUSSION AT THE DISTRICT BOARD MEETING ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 11) MORNING.
THE STUDY WAS UNDERTAKEN BY THE PLANNING SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE TUEN MUN WORKS COMMITTEE.
BOARD MEMBERS WILL ALSO LOOK INTO THE EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY FOR FISHERMEN’S CHILDREN IN TUEN MUN.
AT THE MEETING, MEMBERS WILL BE BRIEFED ON THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR A SITE IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE TUEN MUN TOWN CENTRE.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA WILL INCLUDE A REVIEW OF THE TUEN MUN CONSTITUENCY BOUNDARIES, AND PROGRESS REPORTS OF THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND THE BOARD’S COMMITTEES.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE WELCOME TO COVER THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT BOARD MEETING AT 10 AM ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 11) IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE BOARD’S SECRETARIAT ON THE NINTH FLOOR OF FOO YICK COMMERCIAL BUILDING, SAN ON CIRCUIT.
A GOVERNMENT VEHICLE, AM 5797, WILL LEAVE KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER AT 8.50 AM FOR TUEN MUN.
------o-------
VARIETY SHOW CARRIES CLEAN HK MESSAGE X X X
A VARIETY SHOW WILL BE HELD TOMORROW EVENING, TO DRIVE HOME THE CLEAN HONG KONG MESSAGE TO SOUTHERN DISTRICT RESIDENTS.
FEATURING SINGING, DANCING, ACROBATICS AND A MAGIC DISPLAY, THE 90—MINUTE SHOW WILL START AT 8 PM AT THE COMPOUND OF THE ABERDEEN CENTRE.
THE COMPERES OF THE SHOW WILL BE TWO DISC JOCKEYS FROM COMMERCIAL RADIO.
THE EVENT IS ONE OF THE ACTIVITIES ORGANISED BY THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD’S CLEAN HONG KONG WORKING GROUP TO PROMOTE RESIDENTS’ AWARENESS IN KEEPING THEIR DISTRICT CLEAN.
OTHER ACTIVITIES HELD EARLIER IN THE YEAR INCLUDED A CLEAN HARBOUR PUBLICITY DRIVE, CLEANING OF BEACHES AND A CLEAN HAWKER STALL COMPETITION.
ADMISSION TO THE VARIETY SHOW IS FREE.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1983
23
PROHIBITED ZONE IN SHA TIN * * * *
FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 11), THE SECTION OF THE APPROACH ROAD FROM THE SOUTHERN EXTENSION OF SHA TIN RURAL COMMITTEE ROAD TO KCR HOUSE OF SHA TIN STATION, WILL BE MADE A PROHIBITED ZONE.
ALL MOTOR VEHICLES, EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES, GOODS VEHICLES AND TAXIS, WILL BE PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING THE ZONE WITHOUT WRITTEN AUTHORISATION BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT.
THE EXTENT OF THE PROHIBITED ZONE WILL BE INDICATED BY TRAFFIC SIGNS.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE EXISTING PROHIBITION TO GOODS VEHICLES AND TAXIS ON THE SAME SECTION OF THE APPROACH ROAD WILL BE LIFTED.
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SPEED POST TO NETHERLANDS XXX
SPEEDPOST SERVICE BETWEEN HONG KONG AND NETHERLANDS HAS BEEN SUSPENDED TEMPORARILY, DUE TO INDUSTRIAL ACTION BY SOME POSTAL STAFF THERE, THE POST-MASTER GENERAL ANNOUNCED TODAY.
OTHER POSTAL SERVICES TO THAT COUNTRY REMAIN AVAILABLE, « HE ADDED.
- 0 - -
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS FOR MARATHON RACE
M K * «
SPECIAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE INTRODUCED IN PLOVER COVE RESERVOIR ROAD AND ITS VICINITY DURING THE HALF MARATHON RACE ON SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 12).
ALL RECREATIONAL CYCLING ACTIVITIES WILL BE BANNED FROM THE SECTION OF TING KOK ROAD BETWEEN ITS JUNCTION WITH PLOVER COVE RESERVOIR ROAD AND WU KAN TANG, BETWEEN 7 AM AND 10 AM. LOCAL ESSENTIAL USERS OF BICYCLES WILL BE EXEMPTED FROM THE BAN.
AT THE START OF THE RACE AT 8 AM, IN ORDER TO GIVE CONTESTANTS TIME TO DISPERSE, VEHICULAR TRAFFIC ON TING KOK ROAD NEAR THE JUNCTION OF PLOVER COVE RESERVOIR ROAD WILL BE STOPPED FOR FIVE MINUTES.
PLOVER COVE RESERVOIR ROAD WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL VEHICULAR TRAFFIC DURING THE RACE BETWEEN 7 AM AND 10 AM.
TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE DISPLAYED AND POLICE WILL BE ON HAND TO GUIDE MOTORISTS WHO ARE REQUESTED TO DRIVE WITH CARE AND PATIENCE.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL 5-233191
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 19^3
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING:
TALKS ON HONG KONG’S FUTURE WILL TAKE TIME — SIR PHILIP .. 1
HK RATES HIGH IN CRIME DETECTION .......................... 3
PROPOSAL ON DISPLAY CENTRE PROJECT EXPECTED SOON .......... 5
CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR INDUSTRY PLEDGED..................... 6
BRIDGE STUDIES PUT IN BROAD CONTEXT ....................... 7
DISTRICT BOARDS DO SOLID WORK FOR PEOPLE .................. 8
VITAL FOR LEGAL SYSTEM TO BE PRESERVED: ATTORNEY GENERAL .. 11
GOVERNOR TO OPEN CAREERS EXHIBITION ’84 ..................... 14
GUEST SPEAKER ............................................... 14
DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS TO EXCHANGE VIEWS .................... 15
DISPLAY TELLS CENTRAL DISTRICT’S HISTORY .................... 15
FIRST ROAD SAFETY COMPUTER GAME ON DISPLAY................... 16
MOVING OFFICE................................................ 17
TRAFFIC CHANGES ON ISLAND................................... 17
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1983
1
TALKS ON HONG KONG’S FUTURE WILL TAKE TIME — SIR PHILIP *****
IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO MAKE ANY USEFUL PREDICTION AS TO HOW LONG THE SEARCH FOR ACCEPTABLE ARRANGEMENTS FOR HONG KONG’S FUTURE WOULD TAKE, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
♦THE PROBLEMS WHICH HAVE TO BE DISCUSSED AND RESOLVED ARE COMPLEX AND THE NEGOTIATIONS WILL, THEREFORE, TAKE TIME,+ HE SAID AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE GOVERNOR’S ANNUAL ADDRESS.
/ WHILE EXPRESSING SYMPATHY WITH DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI’S CALL
FOR PERIODIC ANNOUNCEMENTS TO REDUCE UNCERTAINTY AND SPECULATION, SIR PHILIP SAID THE PRESS AND THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO THINK OF THE NEGOTIATIONS AS AN ONGOING PROCESS.
SIR PHILIP SAID THAT IT WOULD BE EVIDENT FROM THE SCALE AND AMBITION OF THE PLANS OUTLINED BY THE GOVERNOR’S POLICY ADDRESS JUST HOW DETERMINED THE GOVERNMENT WAS TO BUILD FOR FURTHER PROSPERITY.
♦CLEARLY, IN THIS CONTEXT, IT MAY BE ASSUMED THAT THE SEARCH FOR ACCEPTABLE ARRANGEMENTS FOR OUR FUTURE IS BEING, AND WILL BE, PURSUED VIGOROUSLY,♦ HE SAID.
INTENSE SPECULATION ABOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS, WHILE UNDERSTANDABLE, WAS NOT A FRUITFUL PASTIME, HE SAID.
SIR PHILIP ALSO SPOKE ON POINTS RAISED BY THE HON LYDIA DUNN WHO HAD CALLED FOR A FUNDAMENTAL RE-APPRAISAL OF THE GOVERNMENT MACHINERY AND ITS MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE, FOR REFORM OF BUREAUCRATIC PROCEDURES AND FOR A CONTINUING REVIEW OF POLICIES.
♦THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR IS COMPLICATED, PARTICULARLY IN THE CASE OF MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURAL PROJECTS, BY THE NEED TO RECONCILE MANY CONFLICTING CONSIDERATIONS.
♦INEVITABLY, THEREFORE, THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR IS A SOMEWHAT ARGUMENTATIVE AND TIME-CONSUMING PROCESS,+ HE EXPLAINED.
SIR PHILIP SAID, +1 SEE NO NECESSITY FOR — AND EVEN LESS WISDOM IN -- WHAT MISS DUNN DESCRIBED AS ’A FUNDAMENTAL RE-APPRAISAL’ OF THE ORGANISATION OF GOVERNMENT, EVEN IF IT WAS UNDERTAKEN AS AN IN-HOUSE EXERCISE, RATHER THAN BY OUTSIDE MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS.
♦ORGANISATION (AND PROCEDURAL) REFORMS ARE BEST DEVISED AND INTRODUCED PROGRESSIVELY AND I THINK THE RECORD CLEARLY SHOWS THAT WE DO INTRODUCE ADAPTATIONS TO MEET CHANGING NEEDS.+
BESIDES CITING THE MANY ADAPTATIONS MADE OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS. SIR PHILIP TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD SOON BE SETTING UP A NEW SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OFFICE WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT.
♦PRESENTLY, AS PART AND PARCEL OF THE REVIEW OF LOCAL ADMINISTRATION, WE ARE LOOKING AT EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE VARIOUS BODIES IN THE RECREATION AND CULTURE FIELDS,♦ HE SAID.
/+N0W AS........
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1983
2
♦NOW AS REGARDS MISS DUNN’S TWO SPECIFIC CHARGES THAT OUR ADMINISTRATION IS OVER-CENTRALISED AND TOP-HEAVY, LET ME SAY STRAIGHTAWAY THAT THERE WILL ALWAYS BE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF CENTRAL CONTROL NECESSARY.
♦BUT A CERTAIN DEGREE OF CENTRAL CONTROL OVER DEPARTMENTAL POLICIES AND THE DEPLOYMENT OF RESOURCES IS ESSENTIAL TO DEVISE OVERALL POLICY OBJECTIVES AND, ONCE THEY HAVE BEEN APPROVED, TO SEE THAT THEY ARE ACHIEVED,♦ HE SAID.
HE SAID HE FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT THAT THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT OF 11 BRANCHES AND TWO RESOURCE BRANCHES, STAFFED BY JUST UNDER 2 000 OFFICERS OF ALL RANKS, COULD TRULY BE DESCRIBED AS OVER-CENTRALISED.
IT MUST BE REMEMBERED, SIR PHILIP ADDED, THAT THERE ARE SOME 55 EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS STAFFED BY ABOUT 166 000 CIVIL SERVANTS, MOST OF WHOM ARE IN VERY CLOSE AND REGULAR CONTACT WITH THE PEOPLE THEY SERVE.
♦NOR CAN THE CHARGE THAT THE GOVERNMENT’S BUREAUCRACY IS TOP-HEAVY BE SUBSTANTIATED BY THE FACTS« THE TOTAL STRENGTH OF THE CIVIL SERVICE AT 1ST OCTOBER THIS YEAR WAS JUST UNDER 168 000, COMPRISING 880 DIRECTORATE SCALE OFFICERS AND 1 400 OFFICERS AT SENIOR MANAGEMENT-PROFESSIONAL LEVEL AND 165 600 OFFICERS AT ALL OTHER LEVELS.
♦PUT SIMPLY, 2 280 SENIOR OFFICERS ARE IN CHARGE OF 165 600 STAFF OF ALL OTHER RANKS. I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT ANY REASONABLE PERSON WOULD REGARD THESE OVERHEADS AS THIN RATHER THAN THICK,+ HE STATED.
WITH REFERENCE TO THE HON W.C.L. BROWN’S REMARKS, SIR PHILIP SAID THAT HE WAS FULLY AWARE OF THE +STIFLING EFFECTS* OF COMPLEX REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES.
♦THOSE OF US WHO HAVE TO LIVE WITHIN THE SYSTEM, AND DO OUR BEST TO MAKE IT WORK EFFICIENTLY, ARE AS LIKELY TO BE CRITICAL OF THE SYSTEM AS PROFESSIONAL COMMENTATORS AND AS FRUSTRATED BY UNNECESSARY COMPLEXITY AS THOSE WHOM THE SYSTEM SEEKS TO SERVE.
♦WE BUREAUCRATS HAVE, THEREFORE, OR SO I WOULD LIKE TO THINK, A BUILT-IN INCENTIVE TO EFFECT REFORMS, QUITE APART FROM THE EXTERNAL PRESSURES BROUGHT TO BEAR UPON US BY, FOR EXAMPLE, THE AUDITOR’S SCRUTINY AND THE EXAMINATION OF HIS PUBLISHED ANNUAL REPORT BY THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE,♦ SIR PHILIP ADDED.
BUT THE SCOPE FOR REFORMS HAD TO BE INDICATED BY EXPERIENCE AND THE INTRODUCTION OF REFORMS HAD TO BE A CONTINUOUS PROCESS, HE SAID.
ON CIVIL SERVICE TRAINING, SIR PHILIP POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT OPERATES 41 TRAINING SCHOOLS AND INSTITUTIONS, PLUS 50 TRAINING UNITS OR DIVISIONS WHICH, TOGETHER, HAVE A FULL-TIME STAFF OF 700 AND PART-TIME STAFF OF 120.
SERVICE-WIDE, THE TRAINING FACILITIES CAN DEAL WITH 10 000 TRAINEES A YEAR.
/THIS YEAH, .......
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1983
- 3 -
THIS YEAR, OF THE $400 MILLION BEING SPENT ON TRAINING GENERALLY, $46 MILLION HAD BEEN ALLOCATED TO MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISORY TRAINING, INDICATING INCREASING EMPHASIS BEING PLACED ON MANAGEMENT TRAINING IN RECENT YEARS, HE SAID.
HE REPORTED THAT ALSO, MORE THAN 40 OFFICERS HAD BEEN SENT THIS YEAR TO OXFORD, HENLEY, HARVARD AND OTHER CENTRES OF MANAGEMENT EDUCATION WHILE 145 OFFICERS HAD BEEN SPONSORED ON MANAGEMENT COURSES AT LOCAL INSTITUTIONS.
♦THERE IS THUS NO QUESTION OF OUR LIMITING MANAGEMENT TRAINING TO ON-THE-JOB TRAINING, ALTHOUGH IT WOULD BE WRONG TO UNDER-RATE THE VALUE OF SUCH TRAINING,* SIR PHILIP SAID.
ON PUBLIC EXPENDITURE, SIR PHILIP NOTED THAT THE HON CHAN KAM-CHUEN HAD SUGGESTED THAT THE MAINTENANCE OF CAPITAL WORKS SPENDING HAD MADE AN IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION TO PROTECTING THE ECONOMY FROM SOME OF THE EFFECTS OF THE WORLD RECESSION.
♦THIS MAY BE SO BUT, IN FACT, THE MOTIVATION BEHIND THAT EXPENDITURE WAS NOT SO MUCH ANTI-CYCLICAL AS THE NEED TO SUSTAIN THE MOMENTUM OF INVESTMENT IN THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE SO NECESSARY TO HONG KONG’S DEVELOPMENT.
♦EVEN WHEN PRUDENT BUDGETARY POLICY DEMANDS THAT THE GROWTH RATE OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE BE TRIMMED, THE NATURE AND IMPORTANCE OF THE GOVERNMENT’S CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAMMES REQUIRE THAT COMMITMENTS ENTERED INTO BE ADHERED TO DESPITE ANY TEMPORARY DIFFICULTIES TO WHICH THE ECONOMY MAY BE SUBJECT,* SIR PHILIP SAID.
0
HK RATES HIGH IN CRIME DETECTION
X * * *
HONG KONG’S CRIME RATES SEEMED TO BE LOW COMPARED WITH THOSE IN OTHER DENSELY POPULATED CITIES, AND ITS DETECTION RATES WERE HIGH BY INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
MR JEAFFRESON CONCEDED THAT REPORTED CRIME PER 100 000 OF THE POPULATION HAD BEEN RISING, WITH THE RATE GOING UP FROM 452 IN 1962 TO 834 IN 1972 AND TO 1 671 IN 1982.
♦THIS YEAR IS NOT GOING TO SEE A REDUCTION IN THE RATE AND IT LOOKS TO ME AS IF THERE WILL BE AN INCREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME. BUT THE FACT IS THAT WE DO HAVE A WELL-RUN AND DEDICATED POLICE FORCE,♦ HE SAID.
MR JEAFFRESON ADDED THAT A SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE INCREASE IN REPORTED CRIME COULD POSSIBLY BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE FACT THAT, BECAUSE THE POLICE WERE MORE EFFECTIVE NOW, MORE PEOPLE WERE PREPARED TO REPORT CRIMES.
ON THE RECONSTITUTED FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE WITH A MORE REPRESENTATIVE AND HIGH-POWERED MEMBERSHIP AND WITH THE CHIEF SECRETARY IN THE CHAIR, MR JEAFFRESON SAID THAT ALREADY SOME INTERESTING IDEAS WERE COMING FORWARD.
/H3 SAID ........
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1983
- 4 . -
HE SAID THAT THE HON LYDIA DUNN RIGHTLY LINKED +VAST AND IMPERSONAL HOUSING ESTATES* WITH THE +DEPLORABLE INCREASE IN CRIME*.
+BUT I DON’T THINK THIS LINK IS JUST CAUSED BY THE BREAK UP CF LONG ESTABLISHED DISTRICT COMMUNITIES. I WOULD GUESS THAT AN EQUALLY TELLING FACTOR IS THAT MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS ARE EXTRAORDINARILY DIFFICULT TO POLICE,* HE SAID.
+THE HOUSING AUTHORITY IS ACUTELY CONSCIOUS OF THESE DIFFICULTIES AS FAR AS PUBLIC HOUSING IS CONCERNED,* HE POINTED OUT.
HE REPORTED THAT THE DEPARTMENT WAS CONSULTING THE POLICE ON THE LAYOUT OF ESTATES AND ITS ARCHITECTS NOW INCLUDED IN THE DESIGN OF INDIVIDUAL BLOCKS AS MANY MEASURES AS THEY COULD TO REDUCE THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CRIMINALS.
*FOR EXAMPLE, THEY PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE LIGHTING OF PUBLIC PLACES AND ARE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE IN PUBLIC AREAS ALCOVES WHERE CRIMINALS CAN HIDE.
+MAYBE THESE PRACTICES CAN BE DEVELOPED AND EXTENDED INTO, SAY, A CODE OF PRACTICE FOR ARCHITECTS GENERALLY. WE WILL BE ASKING THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER THIS POSSIBILITY,* MR JEAFFRESON SAID.
ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY SPIRIT, HE REPORTED THAT THE POLICE COMMISSIONER MADE EVERY EFFORT TO INTRODUCE NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICING INTO ESTATES AS SOON AS NEW TENANTS BEGAN TO MOVE IN.
+THERE ARE ALREADY SIGNS THAT THESE EFFORTS, COUPLED WITH THE GREATLY IMPROVED DESIGN OF OUR NEW ESTATES, INCORPORATING A MUCH WIDER RANGE OF COMMUNITY FACILITIES, ARE SUCCEEDING.
+OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS, OVERALL REPORTED CRIME PER 100 000 CF THE POPULATION WAS 40 PER CENT LESS IN OUR NEWER PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES THAN IN THE OLDER ONES. A SIMILAR COMPARISON FOR SERIOUS ASSAULTS SHOWED A DIFFERENCE OF 52 PER CENT,* HE POINTED OUT.
THE INTRODUCTION OF +CRIME INFORMATION FORMS*, WHICH ARE NOW EVEN AVAILABLE IN MANY BANKS AS WELL AS IN ALL DISTRICT OFFICES AND POST OFFICES, HAD ALSO HELPED, HE SAID.
MR JEAFFRESON TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT NEXT WEEK, THE POLICE WOULD START A SURVEY OF 2 000 CRIME VICTIMS TO FIND OUT WHETHER THEY HAD ANY CRITICISMS OF THE EXISTING SYSTEMS SO THAT FURTHER REFINEMENTS COULD BE INTRODUCED.
+EVEN IN THESE DAYS OF AUSTERITY, WE WILL BE FIGHTING TO GET ADDITIONAL POSTS FOR THE POLICE INTO NEXT YEAR’S ESTIMATES TO ENSURE THAT LEVELS OF POLICING APPROPRIATE TO THE CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES THE POLICE HAVE TO RESPOND TO ARE MAINTAINED,* HE SAID.
HE ADDED THAT THE POLICE WERE ALSO EMBARKING ON SEVERAL TECHNICAL INNOVATIONS TO IMPROVE THEIR EFFICIENCY.
ON CRIME PROBLEMS INVOLVING YOUNG PEOPLE, MR JEAFFRESON SAID THAT ONE EXAMPLE OF DEALING WITH THEM WAS THE LIAISON THE POLICE WAS MAINTAINING WITH THE MANY VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS THAT PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THE YOUNG.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1983
- 5 -
PROPOSAL ON DISPLAY CENTRE PROJECT EXPECTED SOON * * * *
THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR E.P. HO TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT A RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE MADE SHORTLY TO THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL AS TO HOW BEST THE PROPOSED EXHIBITION CENTRE PROJECT SHOULD BE FURTHER PURSUED.
HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON MOTION OF THANKS FOR GOVERNOR’S ANNUAL ADDRESS.
MR HO SAID THAT THE STAGE II CONSULTANTS - SELECTED BY THE GOVERNMENT APPOINTED NON-STATUTORY BOARD CHAIRED BY MR MICHAEL SANDBERG - COMPLETED THEIR REPORT IN APRIL THIS YEAR.
♦THEY PROPOSED A DESIGN FOR A MULTI-PURPOSE COMPLEX ON THE WAN CHAI SITE PROVIDING FOR EXHIBITION HALLS, CONFERENCE FACILITIES, CARPARKING, HOTEL, SHOPPING AND OFFICE SPACE.
♦THE CONSULTANTS ADVISED THAT NO MAJOR EXHIBITION CENTRE COULD OF ITSELF GENERATE SUFFICIENT DIRECT INCOME TO MEET THE FINANCING AND CAPITAL COSTS, AND THEREFORE RECOMMENDED THAT THE NON-EXH1BITION ELEMENTS, THAT IS, THE SHOPS, HOTEL AND OFFICES BE INCLUDED IN THE COMPLEX FOR SALE TO RECOVER THE CAPITAL COSTS INVOLVED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE EXHIBITION CENTRE.
♦THESE FINDINGS WERE SUBMITTED TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL IN JULY THIS YEAR. BECAUSE OF THE CHANGED VALUES IN THE PROPERTY MARKET SINCE THE STUDY WAS UNDERTAKEN A FURTHER FINANCIAL STUDY WAS REQUIRED WITH RESPECT TO VIABILITY BEFORE A DECISION COULD BE TAKEN.
♦THIS FURTHER TOUGH AND CLEARLY ESSENTIAL STUDY WHICH HAS NOW BEEN COMPLETED HAS COME TO A SOMEWHAT MORE CIRCUMSPECT CONCLUSION. A RECOMMENDATION WILL BE MADE SHORTLY TO YOUR EXCELLENCY IN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AS TO HOW BEST THE PROJECT SHOULD BE FURTHER PURSUED,♦ NR HO SAID.
RECOUNTING THE DEVELOPMENTS OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT, MR HO SAID THAT THE THEN SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, IN HIS REPLY TO MR ALEX WU’S SPEECH OF OCTOBER 1977, CONFIRMED THAT THE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT WAS GATHERING MATERIAL TO SUPPORT THE VIEW THAT AN EXHIBITION CENTRE WAS GREATLY NEEDED AND WOULD BE WIDELY USED. IT WAS NOTED THAT AN ADEQUATE EXHIBITION CENTRE WOULD NOT BE INEXPENSIVE AND THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE VIABLE.
♦THE GOVERNMENT’S VIEW THAT THE EXHIBITION CENTRE HAS TO BE VIABLE WAS ENDORSED BY THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DIVERSIFICATION (ACD). WHILE ACD WAS STILL ENGAGED ON ITS STUDIES THE THEN TRADE INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT WAS ALREADY AUTHORISED IN LATE 1978 TO EMBARK ON A TWO-STAGE CONSULTANCY TO ASCERTAIN THE DEMAND FOR AN EXHIBITION CENTRE IN HONG KONG, ITS VIABILITY, AND TO PROVIDE SPECIFICATIONS AND ESTIMATES.T
/+THE CONSULTANTS .......
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1983
- 6 -
♦THE CONSULTANTS FOR THE STAGE ONE STUDY WERE APPOINTED IN AUGUST 1979 AND REPORTED IN EARLY 1980 CONFIRMING THE DEMAND. IN NOVEMBER 1980 THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL ORDERED THAT CONSULTANTS BE APPOINTED TO UNDERTAKE STAGE TWO OF THE STUDY TO DRAW UP SPECIFICATIONS FOR AN EXHIBITION CENTRE AND TO PREPARE ESTIMATES OF CAPITAL AND RECURRENT COSTS, AND POTENITAL INCOME. A NON-STATUTORY BOARD UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF MR SANDBERG WAS APPOINTED IN MARCH 1981 TO SELECT THE CONSULTANTS FOR THE STAGE TWO STUDY AND TO OVERSEE THEIR WORK.
♦EARLY IN ITS DELIBERATIONS WITH THE PROSPECTIVE CONSULTANTS, THE NON-STATUTORY BOARD CONCLUDED THAT THE SITE ORIGINALLY EARMARKED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN TSIM SHA TSUI EAST WAS NOT SUITABLE AND STAGE TWO OF THE CONSULTANCY COULD NOT BE STARTED UNTIL JULY 1982 AFTER A VALUABLE SITE ON THE WAN CHAI WATERFRONT HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A MORE APPROPRIATE LOCATION.+
MR HO EMPHASISED THAT THE SYSTEMATIC ACTION BY THE GOVERNMENT IN THE CONSIDERATION OF THIS PROJECT WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE NEED TO ENSURE ITS VIABILITY.
+1 NOTE THAT THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT WHILE NOT UNAWARE OF THE VALUE OF EXPORTS HAVE REFUSED TO SUBSIDISE AN EXHIBITION CENTRE. IN THEIR ADVOCACY MY UNOFFICIAL COLLEAGUES WERE SEEMINGLY UNCONCERNED ABOUT VIABILITY. IF I MAY SAY SO, THIS IS NO WAY TO CONTROL PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE.
♦IN CONCLUSION, I MUST REPEAT THAT ANY EXHIBITION CENTRE MUST BE VIABLE. THIS IS THE ISSUE TO BE FACED,* MR HO ADDED.
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CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR INDUSTRY PLEDGED K * K * M
THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO ENSURE THE PROVISION OF AN EFFICIENT INFRASTRUCTURE AND SUPPORT SERVICE TO LOCAL INDUSTRY, THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR E.P. HO TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY (THURSDAY).
HE WAS COMMENTING ON THE POINTS MADE BY THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS REGARDING GOVERNMENT’S ROLE IN INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT DURING THE DEBATE ON THE GOVERNOR’S POLICY SPEECH.
+THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT WORKS CLOSELY WITH TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS, ESPECIALLY THE INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION, TO ENCOURAGE LOCAL AND OVERSEAS INDUSTRIALISTS TO INVEST IN INDUSTRY IN HONG KONG THROUGH ITS INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT PROMOTION ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED BY THE ONE-STOP UNIT IN HONG KONG AND FOUR OVERSEAS OFFICES IN LONDON, TOKYO, STUTTGART AND SAN FRANCISCO.
♦THE WIDE-RANGING INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT PROMOTION PROGRAMME,* SAID MR HO, +INCLUDES SUCH ACTIVITIES AS SEMINARS, ATTENDANCE AT TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL FAIRS AND INDUSTRIAL PROMOTION MISSIONS.
+1 SHOULD LIKE TO URGE OUR INDUSTRIALISTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN UPGRADING, DIVERSIFYING OR EXPANDING THEIR MANUFACTURING FACILITIES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS PROGRAMME,* HE REMARKED.
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/7 ......
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1983
7
BRIDGE STUDIES PUT IN BROAD CONTEXT K X *
THE GOVERNMENT COULD NOT MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR EVERYONE TO TAKE A VEHICLE THROUGH OR OVER THE HARBOUR, REGARDLESS OF COST AND THE EFFECT ON THE TRANSPORT PROGRAMME, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON ALAN SCOTT, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
♦HOWEVER CLEAR WHAT IS DESIRABLE MAY BE TO INTELLIGENT ANTICIPATORS, OUR RESOURCES DO NOT PERMIT US TO PROVIDE EVERYTHING THAT IS DESIRABLE, AT THE MOMENT IT IS DESIRED,+ MR SCOTT SAID.
HE WAS REPLYING TO THE HON LYDIA DUNN’S EARLIER ALLEGATION THAT THE CIVIL SERVICE FAILED TO USE REASONABLE ANTICIPATION IN THE LATTER PART OF THE 197O’S IN PURSUING STUDIES FOR WHAT SHE DESCRIBED AS THE >LEI YUE MUN NON-BRIDGE+.
♦THE FACT, HOWEVER, IS THAT STUDIES WERE CONTINUING, AT VARIOUS LEVELS, NOT ONLY OF SUCH A POSSIBLE BRIDGE BUT OF OTHER HARBOUR CROSSING OPTIONS,♦ HE SAID.
HE ADDED THAT EQUALLY IMPORTANT. THE PRIORITY FOR SUCH A BRIDGE, AS COMPARED WITH OTHER TRANSPORT PROJECTS, WAS BEING EXAMINED, AT A TIME WHEN PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE WAS EXPANDING SUBSTANTIALLY IN RESPONSE TO DEMANDS FROM ALL GOVERNMENT PROGRAMMES FOR INCREASING FUNDS.
♦IN REGARD TO A BRIDGE, IT WAS NOT ONLY A QUESTION OF COMMISSIONING STUDIES; ITS FEASIBILITY DEPENDED, AMONG OTHER THINGS, ON PRESERVING THE INTEGRITY OF THE AIRPORT INSTRUMENT LANDING SYSTEM (ILS).
♦THIS COULD NOT BE DETERMINED UNTIL DETAILED DESIGNS OF POSSIBLE BRIDGES WERE AVAILABLE, WHICH IN TURN DEPENDED ON UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION AND REQUIREMENTS IN MARINE AND TRANSPORT TERMS,♦ MR SCOTT EXPLAINED.
ON MISS DUNN’S REMARK THAT +THE LEI YUE MUN BRIDGE WAS ALWAYS A NON-STARTER+, MR SCOTT SAID THIS WAS SIMPLY NOT THE CASE.
♦THE PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANT WHO EXAMINED THE ILS ASPECT WAS INITIALLY OF THE VIEW THAT A DESIGN COULD BE FOUND WHICH WOULD BE COMPATIBLE WITH THE ILS. IT WAS NOT UNTIL EARLY THIS YEAR THAT IT BEGAN TO SEEM THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE,* HE POINTED OUT.
BUT WHATEVER THE INITIAL PROGNOSIS, HE SAID, THE STUDY HAD. TO BE DONE WITH A SCALE MODEL, USING SEVERAL SUCCESSIVE DESIGN TYPES OF BRIDGE.
THE LEI YUE MUN BRIDGE STUDY UNDERTAKEN CONCLUDED;
* THAT THE BENEFITS OF IMPROVED COMMUNICATIONS WERE GREATER THAN THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS DERIVING FROM THE DEVELOPMENT OF AREAS TO BE OPENED UP BY THE BRIDGE, AND
X THAT THE ABERDEEN TUNNEL SHOULD BE GIVEN PRIORITY BEFORE THE BRIDGE.
/THE study .......
THURSDAY, NOVEMBEH 10, 1983
- 8 -
THE STUDY ALSO NOTED THAT THE LEI YUE MUN BRIDGE TIMETABLE WOULD IN ANY CASE DEPEND ON THE COMPLETION DATE OF THE ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR IN THE MID-1980’S.
♦AT THIS STAGE, ATTENTION SWITCHED TO THE CENTRE OF THE HARBOUR, WHEN THE CROSS-HARBOUR TUNNEL COMPANY SUBMITTED PROPOSALS EITHER FOR PUTTING IN A MEZZANINE DECK IN THE EXISTING TWIN-TUBE TUNNEL? OR BUILDING A THIRD TUBE ALONGSIDE THE TWIN TUBES,* MR SCOTT RECALLED.
A STUDY OF THIS PROPOSAL INDICATED THAT THE MEZZANINE LEVEL WOULD CAUSE TOO MUCH DISRUPTION DURING CONSTRUCTION AND POSED CERTAIN SAFETY COMPLICATIONS; AND THAT BOTH PROPOSALS WOULD OVERLOAD THE APPROACH ROADS, HE POINTED OUT.
+ | WOULD DRAW MEMBERS’ ATTENTION TO THE PRESENT LEVEL OF CONGESTION AT PEAK HOURS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CROSS-HARBOUR TUNNEL, AND ASK THEM TO CONSIDER THE EFFECTS OF INCREASING THE THROUGHPUT BY 50 PER CENT,* MR SCOTT SAID.
VARIOUS PROPOSALS CAME FORWARD, AND THE EVIDENTLY VERY HIGH COST OF ANY NEW FIXED CROSSINGS LED TO THE CONCLUSION IN 1979 THAT IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY THE OPTIMUM NEXT CROSSING, WIDER ENGINEERING STUDIES WOULD BE NEEDED.
THE REPORT THAT FOLLOWED IN JUNE 1981 RECOMMENDED A BRIDGE AT LEI YUE MUN AS THE FIRST OPTION IN THE TRANSPORT, ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CONTEXT, MR SCOTT SAID, IN TRACING THE BACKGROUND TO THE PROPOSED BRIDGE PROJECT.
THE NECESSARY SCALE MODEL WAS THUS COMMISSIONED, REQUIRING MUCH DETAILED WORK, AND THE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS FOR AIRCRAFT COULD NOT BE OVER-EMPHASISED, HE SAID.
IN AUGUST 1983, THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED THAT A LEI YUE MUN BRIDGE OF SATISFACTORY HEIGHT FOR MARINE PURPOSES WAS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE ILS AND THAT IT WOULD CONTINUE TO STUDY OTHER BRIDGE AND TUNNEL CROSSING OPTIONS.
A FULL REPORT IS DUE TO THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL BY AUGUST 1984, AFTER AN INTERIM REPORT, MR SCOTT SAID.
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DISTRICT BOARDS DO SOLID WORK FOR PEOPLE *****
SOLID ACHIEVEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE BY DISTRICT BOARDS, WITHOUT HIGH DRAMA OR CONFRONTATION, IN MAKING LIFE FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE MORE TOLERABLE AND MORE PLEASURABLE, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, THE HON DAVID AKERS-JONES SAID TODAY.
+THEIRS IS A QUIET REVOLUTION,* HE SAID.
SPEAKING IN THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE GOVERNOR’S ADDRESS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR AKERS-JONES SAID THERE HAD BEEN SOLID ACHIEVEMENTS DURING THE YEAR ALTHOUGH THEY DID NOT MAKE HEADLINES.
/♦BUS TIMETABLES .......
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1983
3
♦BUS TIMETABLES BECOME MORE CONVENIENT, REFUSE COLLECTION CREATES LESS NUISANCE, FACTORY WORKERS FIND THEY CAN MORE EASILY FIND A PLACE TO EAT, FOOTBRIDGES ARE BUILT, CAR PARKS PROVIDED, MAXICAB AND FERRY SERVICES ARE RE-ARRANGED.
♦ALL THESE MATTERS AND MORE BESIDES COME UNDER THE QUIET SCRUTINY OF THE DISTRICT BOARD AND ITS COMMITTEES,* HE SAID.
CITING KWUN TONG AS AN EXAMPLE OF THIS QUIET APPLICATION TO PROBLEMS AFFECTING THE PEOPLE, HE SAIDi +THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD WAS THE FIRST TO BEGIN TO TACKLE THE ANARCHY INFECTING THE ENVIRONMENT, TO CLEAR AWAY OBSTRUCTIONS AND STRUCTURES AND TO RESTORE PAVEMENTS AND FOOTPATHS TO THEIR PROPER USE.
♦IT HAS HELPED FIND STUDY ROOMS FOR STUDENTS LIVING IN CRAMPED HOMES? IT HAS MADE SUCCESSFUL REPRESENTATIONS ON THE FERRY SERVICE; IT HAS WORKED OUT A NIGHT DOCTOR SERVICE! PRESSED SUCCESSFULLY FOR THE EARLY IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CHA KWO LING ROAD! IMPROVED SQUATTER AREAS AND ORGANISED FESTIVALS.
♦WHAT KWUN TONG HAS DONE HAS BEEN ECHOED IN DIFFERENT WAYS BY ALL THE DISTRICT BOARDS.+
MR AKERS-JONES CONTINUED THAT THE BOARDS HAD EXTENDED THEIR DISCUSSIONS TO TERRITORY-WIDE ISSUES SUCH AS METRICATION, FILM CLASSIFICATION, AMUSEMENT GAME CENTRES AND TAXI POLICY.
IN THE CASE OF THE REPORT ON EDUCATION, HE SAID INTENSIVE DISCUSSIONS WERE HELD BY ALL 18 BOARDS AND THEIR REPORTS WOULD PROVE A VALUABLE INDICATION OF PUBLIC REACTION TO THE NUMEROUS HIGHLY COMPLEX AND CONTROVERSIAL QUESTIONS WHICH WERE INVOLVED IN MODIFYING HONG KONG’S EDUCATION SYSTEM.
IN YAU MA TEI, THE DISTRICT BOARD HAD INITIATED THE PILOT SCHEME ON THE MANAGEMENT OF PRIVATE MULTI-STOREY RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS WHICH WOULD FORM THE BASIS FOR ACTION TO TACKLE THAT MOST INTRACTABLE OF PROBLEMS — BUILDING MANAGEMENT.
THE BOARDS HAD ALSO BECOME A FOCUS AND A CATALYST FOR DISTRICT RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL PROGRAMMES.
♦FUNDS DEVOTED BY DISTRICT BOARDS TO SUCH ACTIVITIES ARE BUT A SMALL PROPORTION OF THE RESOURCES THAT ARE GENERATED AS A RESULT OF THE INITIATIVE OF THE BOARDS,+ HE SAID.
♦AND, AS THEY DEVELOP EXPERIENCE, THESE ACTIVITIES ARE BECOMING MORE WIDE-RANGING AND SPREAD THEIR APPEAL.*
ON SQUATTER AREA IMPROVEMENT, MR AKERS-JONES SAID THIS WAS AN AREA WHERE THE DISTRICT BOARDS HAD MADE SOME PROGRESS IN DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCESI FOOTPATHS WERE REPAIRED, SHELTERS AND RECREATIONAL AREAS WERE BUILT AND SO FORTH.
NOTING THAT IT IS NOT EASY TO IMPROVE SOME OF THE SQUATTER AREAS ON THE STEEP HILLSIDES OF SHAU KEI WAN AND KWUN TONG, HE AGREED THAT THE BOARDS, WHERE POSSIBLE, SHOULD PLAY A MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN ASSISTING WITH THE IMPROVEMENT OF SQUATTER AREAS.
/TOUCHING UN .......
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1983
10 -
TOUCHING ON THE QUESTION OF ESTABLISHING STRONGER LINKS BETWEEN THE BOARDS AND OTHER COUNCILS OF GOVERNMENT, HE POINTED OUT THAT THERE HAD BEEN 68 APPOINTMENTS OF DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS TO GOVERNMENT BOARDS AND COMMITTEES SINCE MARCH LAST YEAR.
AND HE WELCOMED A PROPOSAL THAT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DISTRICT BOARDS AND AREA COMMITTEES SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED.
+INDEED, APART FROM AREA COMMITTEES, THERE IS ALREADY A STRONG CROSS-MEMBERSHIP BETWEEN THE BOARDS AND MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES AND NUMEROUS OTHER RESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATIONS AND COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS,* HE SAID.
MR AKERS-JONES ALSO REFERRED TO A FREQUENT CRITICISM THAT DISTRICT BOARDS HAD NO +EXECUTIVE POWERS*.
♦THE CRITICS DO NOT EXPLAIN EXACTLY WHAT THEY MEAN BY THIS,* HE SAID.
♦TO LOOK AT VARIOUS PRACTICAL EXAMPLES OF WHAT EXECUTIVE POWER AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL MIGHT MEAN, I SEE NO ADVANTAGE IN BURDENING THESE BUSY MEN AND WOMEN WITH THE DAY-TO-DAY WORK OF LICENSING.
♦SIMILARLY THE COLLECTION OF REFUSE, THE CONTROL OF HAWKERS AND THE SWEEPING OF STREETS ARE ALREADY IN THE EXECUTIVE CONTROL OF THE URBAN COUNCIL; OTHER EXECUTIVE POWERS, IN OUR CIRCUMSTANCES, ARE MORE EFFECTIVELY ADMINISTERED CENTRALLY.
♦’EXECUTIVE POWERS’ HAS BECOME A RALLYING CRY FOR SOME CRITICS, PERHAPS LOOKING FOR EXCITEMENT, WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE SOLID RECORD OF ACHIEVEMENT OF THE BOARDS.
♦NEVERTHELESS IT WAS IN A SPIRIT OF CRITICAL APPRAISAL THAT THE FIRST CONFERENCE ON DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION WAS ORGANISED IN MAY THIS YEAR.+
MR AKERS-JONES ADDED THAT THE CONSENSUS AFTER THE CONFERENCE WAS THAT IT PROVED TO BE A USEFUL AND STIMULATING EXPERIENCE FOR THOSE WHO TOOK PART.
ALTHOUGH DISCUSSION WAS SOMEWHAT GENERALISED HE HOPED THAT AT THE NEXT CONFERENCE, TO BE HELD IN THE FIRST HALF OF NEXT YEAR, A MORE CONCENTRATED EXAMINATION COULD BE GIVEN TO SPECIFIC PROBLEMS. +THIS TIME THE BOARDS THEMSELVES WILL PLAY AN ACTIVE PART IN THE ORGANISATION OF THE CONFERENCE.+
HE ALSO SAID THAT THERE WAS NO WEAKENING OF GOVERNMENT’S RESOLVE TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF THE +FORTHCOMING AND FORTHRIGHT+ DISTRICT BOARDS WHICH ARE NOT +A TALKING SHOP WITHOUT AIM OR ACH IEVEMENT+.
♦DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION WITH ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES IS HARDLY A YEAR OLD BUT IT IS ALREADY EVIDENT THAT THE INTERACTION AT DISTRICT LEVEL BETWEEN REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENT SERVANTS HAS CREATED NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT,♦ HE SAID.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1983
11
VITAL FOR LEGAL SYSTEM TO BE PRESERVEDi ATTORNEY GENERAL
* * * *
IT IS ESSENTIAL TO THE WELL-BEING OF THE COMMUNITY THAT THE CARDINAL FEATURES OF THE HONG KONG LEGAL SYSTEM BE PRESERVED, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON MICHAEL THOMAS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION OF THANKS FOR THE GOVERNOR’S ADDRESS, MR THOMAS SAID HE WHOLE-HEARTEDLY SUPPORTED THE REMARKS MADE EARLIER BY THE HON JOHN SWA I NE, +IN HIS MOST TELLING AND INCISIVE SPEECH.+
MR THOMAS SAID HE ALSO SUPPORTED THE REMARKS MADE BY THE GOVERNOR IN HIS ADDRESS, ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE TO HONG KONG’S REPUTATION AS A MAJOR COMMERCIAL AND TRADING CENTRE +THAT ALL WHO LIVE AND TRADE HERE SHOULD HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE RULE OF LAW*.
THIS MIGHT WELL HAVE BEEN THE FIRST DEBATE OF THIS KIND IN WHICH MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL HAD GONE OUT OF THEIR WAY TO FIND WORDS OF PRAISE FOR THE CONCEPT OF THE RULE OF LAW AND FOR THE LEGAL INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE ITS GUARDIANS IN HONG KONG, MR THOMAS SAID.
♦EVEN LAWYERS, USED TO COMPARISON WITH SCAVENGERS AND PARIAHS, HAVE FOR ONCE COME IN FOR COMPLIMENTARY REFERENCES,+ l£ SAID.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID HE HAD NO DOUBT THAT MEMBERS WERE RIGHT TO HAVE IN MIND IN THIS TIME OF HONG KONG HISTORY THOSE FEATURES OF ITS LEGAL SYSTEM THAT MAKE HONG KONG A FREE AND OPEN SOCIETY IN WHICH THOSE WHO ARE BUT INDIVIDUALS ARE GUARANTEED BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS, IN WHICH THOSE WHO ARE POWERFUL FIND THEMSELVES SUBJECT TO CONTROL AND CORRECTION, AND IN WHICH ALL ARE EQUAL BEFORE THE COURTS.
ON THE +CONTROVERSI AL TOPIC OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT* RAISED BY THE HON LYDIA DUNN, MR THOMAS SAIDi +HER BEGUILING LOGIC LIKE EVERY GOOD POLITICAL SPEECH CONTAINED SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.
♦CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IS POPULAR SHE SAYS, AND THE RECENT BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY VOTE WAS A DISAPPOINTMENT TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG. SO LET’S KEEP CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
♦ON THE OTHER HAND SHE SAYS IT MAKES A MOCKERY OF OUR SYSTEM TO RETAIN THE PROCEDURES OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT GIVEN THE PRESENT REALITIES. SO LET’S GET RID OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.♦
MR THOMAS SAID HE HAD PREVIOUSLY MADE KNOWN HIS PERSONAL CONVICTION THAT SOCIETY HAD NO RIGHT DELIBERATELY AND IN COLD BLOOD TO KILL ONE OF ITS MEMBERS UNLESS THERE WAS SOME NECESSITY TO DO SO.
SO LONG AS THERE WAS THE FEARFUL PROSPECT OF LIFE IMPRISONMENT, THERE WAS NO NEED TO KILL MERELY TO PUNISH, HE SAID.
/♦SQUALLY I .......
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1983
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♦EQUALLY I HAVE PREVIOUSLY MADE KNOWN THAT I SHARE MISS DUNN’S CONCERN THAT IN RETAINING CAPITAL PUNISHMENT, WE UNFAIRLY IMPOSE UPON JUDGES AND THOSE WHO GUARD PRISONERS UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH AWESOME AND MORBID RESPONSIBILITIES,* MR THOMAS SAID.
BUT GIVEN THE FEELINGS OF THE ORDINARY PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AND OF PARLIAMENT IN WESTMINSTER, HE SAW NO IMMEDIATE PROSPECT OF ACTION IN HONG KONG TO SATISFY EITHER OF MISS DUNN’S DEMANDS.
♦THE GOVERNMENT THEREFORE TAKES NOTE OF HER POINTS BUT THE POLITICAL REALITIES ARE WELL KNOWN TO HER AND INDEED TO ALL HONOURABLE MEMBERS,* HE SAID.
MR THOMAS REFERRED TO CALLS BY THE HON MARIA TAM FOR A SUPPLEMENTARY LEGAL AID SCHEME TO ASSIST PERSONS TOO POOR TO PURSUE LITIGATION WITHOUT CONSIDERABLE SACRIFICE, BUT TOO RICH TO QUALIFY FOR LEGAL AID AND SAID A SCHEME ALONG THE LINES SUGGESTED BY MISS TAM HAD BEEN PROPOSED BY A WORKING PARTY.
THE WORKING PARTY WAS MADE UP OF REPRESENTATIVES OF HIS CHAMBERS, THE LEGAL AID DEPARTMENT, THE JUDICIARY AND THE TWO LEGAL PROFESSIONS, MR THOMAS SAID.
HOWEVER, THE PROPOSALS HAD STILL TO BE APPROVED BY THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS AND THE NECESSARY FUNDS HAD STILL TO BE MADE AVAILABLE.
HE SAID THAT ALTHOUGH MISS TAM SUGGESTED THERE MIGHT BE AS MANY AS 1 700 APPLICANTS EACH YEAR WHOSE MEANS WERE ABOVE THE PRESENT LIMITS, THE WORKING COMMITTEE PROPOSED THAT THE SCHEME SHOULD BE RESTRICTED AS A START TO PLAINTIFFS IN PERSONAL INJURY ACTIONS BROUGHT IN THE HIGH COURT, AMOUNTING TO ABOUT 75 EACH YEAR.
EXPERIENCE GAINED FROM SUCH A PILOT SCHEME COULD THEN BE ASSESSED AND IN THE LIGHT OF IT, IT WOULD BE OPEN FOR CONSIDERATION WHETHER THE SCHEME COULD BE EXPANDED ON A CONSERVATIVE BASIS, HE SAID.
♦SINCE THERE IS NO PRECEDENT FOR THE SCHEME IT WOULD BE PREFERABLE IF IT WERE STARTED ON THE RELATIVELY SMALL SCALE PRESENTLY PROPOSED,* HE SAID.
HE SAID THE OBJECT OF THE SCHEME WAS TO BE SELF-FINANCING AND HE WAS CONVINCED THAT THERE WAS MUCH MERIT IN IT AND THAT IT WOULD FULFIL A WORTHWHILE SOCIAL PURPOSE.
MR THOMAS SAID FURTHER THOUGHT WAS BEING GIVEN TO THE SUMS OF MONEY REQUIRED TO MEET THE COSTS OF THE PILOT SCHEME FOR THE INITIAL TWO-YEAR PERIOD.
REFERRING TO THE COMMENTS BY THE HON PETER WONG THAT CIVIL DEBTORS SHOULD NOT BE COMMITTED TO PRISON, MR THOMAS NOTED THAT NR WONG +HAS WAGED AN IMPRESSIVE CAMPAIGN FOR REFORM AND HAS DEPLOYED POWERFUL ARGUMENTS TO SUPPORT HIS PLEA+.
/♦I HOPE.......
THudSJDAY, N0VS6BER 10,
- 13 -
♦ I HOPE AND BELIEVE THAT THE LAW WILL SOON BE CHANGED. IF THAT IS ACHIEVED, IT WILL BE A GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW ONE MEMBER OF THIS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CAN PRESS FOR LAW REFORM WITH SINGLE-MINDED DETERMINATION AND BY HIS PERSISTENCE, ACHIEVE CHANGE,+ MR THOMAS SAID.
MR THOMAS SAID THAT MR WONG WAS RIGHT IN THAT +POVERTY IS NOT A CRIME+.
♦ HOWEVER, THERE IS A POWERFUL LOBBY IN HONG KONG THAT IS STRONGLY OPPOSED TO CHANGE.
♦ SMALL TRADERS AND THEIR LAWYERS FIND THAT MANY DEBTORS PAY UP RATHER THAN GO TO PRISON. MANY DEBTORS ONLY GIVE DETAILS OF THEIR ASSETS IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF PRISON,* HE SAID.
MR THOMAS SAID THAT IT WAS ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THERE WOULD BE DIFFICULTIES IN TRACING JUDGMENT DEBTORS IF THEY HAD FIRST TO BE SUMMONED TO COURT BEFORE THEY COULD BE SENT TO PRISON.
HE SAID THAT WHILE HE ACKNOWLEDGED THE FORCE OF THESE ARGUMENTS HE COULD NOT ACCEPT THAT IT WAS RIGHT, OUTSIDE THE AMBIT OF CRIMINAL LAW, FOR ANY PERSON TO LOSE HIS LIBERTY WITHOUT AN ORDER OF THE COURT.
NOR COULD HE ACCEPT THAT IT WAS RIGHT THAT ANY PERSON SHOULD BE IMPRISONED MERELY BECAUSE HE COULD NOT PAY HIS DEBTS.
MR THOMAS EXPLAINED THAT ARTICLE II OF THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT OF CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS PROVIDES THAT:
♦ NO ONE SHALL BE IMPRISONED MERELY ON THE GROUND OF INABILITY TO FULFIL A CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION.+
♦ SO I INTEND TO BRING FORWARD PROPOSALS FOR CHANGE IN THE NEAR FUTURE,+ MR THOMAS SAID.
HE SAID HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE PROCEDURES ALTERED SO THAT IT IS PUT BEYOND DOUBT THAT IN ALL CASES IT IS NECESSARY FOR THE JUDGMENT CREDITOR TO OBTAIN AN ORDER FROM A JUDGE BEFORE A DEBTOR CAN BE IMPRISONED.
EVEN THEN, HE ADDED, HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE POWER OF THE COURT TO IMPRISON RESTRICTED TO THOSE CASES WHERE A DEBTOR OBSTRUCTED THE EXECUTION PROCESS, FOR EXAMPLE, BY DELIBERATELY HIDING HIS ASSETS OR REFUSING TO DISCLOSE HIS ASSETS OR REFUSING TO USE HIS ASSETS IN ORDER TO DISCHARGE HIS DEBT.
MR THOMAS SAID HE HOPED MR WONG WOULD BE ASSURED THAT HIS DETERMINED EFFORTS TO SEE THE LAW CHANGED IN THIS AREA HAD HIS FULL SUPPORT AND HE HOPED IT WOULD NOT BE TOO LONG BEFORE THEY SUCCEEDED.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1983
14
NOTE TO EDITORSi
GOVERNOR TO OPEN CAREERS EXHIBITION ’84 * * *
THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF CAREERS ’84 EXHIBITION IN THE CITY HALL CONCERT HALL AT 3 PM TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
AFTER DELIVERING HIS SPEECH, SIR EDWARD, ACCOMPANIED BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, MR HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, AND THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR RON BRIDGE, WILL PROCEED TO THE ENTRANCE TO THE CITY HALL EXHIBITION HALL TO PERFORM THE RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY. HE WILL THEN TOUR THE 23 EXHIBITION STALLS SET UP BY PRIVATE FIRMS, INSTITUTIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS AS WELL AS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
THE ANNUAL EXHIBITION, JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE COUNCIL AND THE DEPARTMENT, WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FROM 9.30 AM TO 6.30 PM FROM SATURDAY TO NOVEMBER 21.
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY.
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NOTE TO EDITORSi
GUEST SPEAKER
* * *
THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, MR NICKY CHAN WILL BE THE GUEST SPEAKER AT THE LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF HONG KONG WEST TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
THE MEETING WILL BE HELD AT THE HILTON HOTEL AT 1 PM.
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/15 .......
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1983
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NOTE TO EDITORSi
DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS TO EXCHANGE VIEWS * * *
FOURTEEN MEMBERS OF SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD WILL VISIT WAN CHAI, CENTRAL AND WESTERN ON SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 12) MORNING TO SEE DEVELOPMENTS THERE AND EXCHANGE VIEWS WITH THEIR COUNTERPARTS ON DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION.
THEY WILL FIRST CALL AT THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT OFFICE FOR A BRIEFING BY THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MISS LOLLY CHIU, AND WILL THEN HOLD A DISCUSSION SESSION.
THE PARTY WILL ALSO GO TO THE ROOF OF HOPEWELL CENTRE FOR A PANORAMIC VIEW OF WAN CHAI, AND VISIT THE WESTERN TEMPORARY WHOLESALE FRUIT MARKET AND THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT HISTORICAL EXHIBITION AT CITY HALL.
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES WISHING TO COVER THE BRIEFING AND VISIT SHOULD ASSEMBLE AT 9.30 AM IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT OFFICE AT 201 HENNESSY ROAD, HONG KONG.
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DISPLAY TELLS CENTRAL DISTRICT’S HISTORY
* * *
A SIX-DAY HISTORICAL EXHIBITION OF THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT, WHICH STARTED TODAY AT THE CITY HALL EXHIBITION GALLERY, COULD HELP LOCAL RESIDENTS BETTER UNDERSTAND THE DISTRICT AND ENHANCE THEIR INTEREST AND SENSE OF BELONGING, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM SAID.
HE SAID THAT WITH THE DISPLAY OF A COLLECTION OF PICTURES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WATERFRONT STAGE BY STAGE FROM QUEEN’S ROAD TO DES VOEUX ROAD AND THEN TO CONNAUGHT ROAD, THE EXHIBITION COULD HELP RESIDENTS APPRECIATE THE HISTORY OF THE DISTRICT IN THE LAST 100 YEARS.
MR WIGGHAM WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE EXHIBITION WHICH IS AMONG THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MONTH-LONG CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT FESTIVAL BEING HELD SINCE OCTOBER 30.
HE SAID THE DISTRICT HAD ALWAYS BEEN THE CENTRE OF BUSINESS ACTIVITIES IN HONG KONG AND SINCE THE 19TH CENTURY HAD UNDERGONE CONSIDERABLE CHANGES.
♦AMID ALL THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF THE BUSY LIVES IN MODERN OFFICE COMPLEXES AROUND US, IT IS PERHAPS DIFFICULT TO VISUALISE THE VERY PLACE WE ARE NOW STANDING WAS ONCE WATER IN THE VICTORIA HARBOUR, SOME DISTANCE FROM THE SHORELINE,* HE SAID.
/+F0S THS .......
THURSDAY. NCVEMBS 10, 19S3
16
♦FOR THE SENIOR RESIDENTS OF HONG KONG, I AM SURE THEY WOULD BE INTERESTED TO SEE PHOTOS OF LANDMARKS SUCH AS THE OLD HONG KONG HOTEL, THE QUEEN VICTORIA STATUE AT CHATER ROAD, THE PEDDER STREET CLOCK TOWER, THE OLD QUEEN’S COLLEGE AT HOLLYWOOD ROAD.
♦THESE WOULD NO DOUBT STIR UP SOME NOSTALGIC FEELINGS AMONG THOSE WHO HAVE SEEN HONG KONG GROW UP TO WHAT IT IS TODAY,+ HE SAID.
YOUNG PEOPLE, HE SAID, COULD HAVE AN INSIGHT INTO THE WAY OF LIFE OF THEIR GRANDPARENTS, AS A BEDROOM SETTING DATING BACK TO THE TURN OF THE CENTURY WAS RECREATED IN THE EXHIBITION GALLERY.
OTHER EXHIBITS ON DISPLAY INCLUDED THE TIME CAPSULE LAID IN 1934 BENEATH THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE NOW DEMOLISHED HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI BANK, THE BANK’S SHARE CERTIFICATES IN 1900, AND A $1 000 BANKNOTE BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED IN 1960 BUT NEVER ISSUED.
THE EXHIBITION IS OPEN DAILY FROM 9 AM TO 8 PM AT THE EXHIBITION GALLERY OF THE CITY HALL, SEVENTH FLOOR, HIGH BLOCK. ADMISSION IS FREE.
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FIRST ROAD SAFETY COMPUTER GAME ON DISPLAY * * * *
A PILOT COMPUTER PROGRAMME HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO ENABLE ITS USERS TO LEARN TRAFFIC SIGNS AND ROAD SAFETY MESSAGES WHILE PLAYING COMPUTER GAMES.
THIS PROGRAMME, DESIGNED BY A GROUP OF STUDENTS FROM ST. GEORGE’S SCHOOL, WILL BE ONE OF THE ATTRACTIONS AT A ROAD SAFETY DISPLAY TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 12) AT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH STADIUM AND IN THE NEARBY MORRISON HILL TEMPORARY PLEASURE GROUND.
MR ROGER BRACEY, HEAD OF MATHEMATICS AT ST. GEORGE’S SCHOOL, SAID THAT IT WAS DESIGNED BY A GROUP OF FORM 5 STUDENTS AS A CLASS PROJECT.
THE ORIGINAL AIM WAS TO PRODUCE A PROGRAMME WHICH WOULD ENABLE CHILDREN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TRAFFIC SIGNS, AND HE WAS GLAD THE IDEA COULD NOW BE ADOPTED AS A COMMUNITY SERVICE TO SPREAD THE ROAD SAFETY MESSAGE, HE SAID.
PLAYERS OF THE COMPUTER GAME HAVE FIRST TO IDENTIFY A NUMBER OF TRAFFIC SIGNS BEFORE THEY CAN PLAY A GAME, THE ESSENCE OF WHICH IS +SAFETY COMES FIRST ON THE ROAD+.
OTHER ITEMS ON DISPLAY AT THIS SATURDAY’S ROAD SAFETY DISPLAY WILL INCLUDE A SEAT BELT CATAPULT, CARTOON CARDS ON DRIVERS AND PEDESTRIANS’ RESPONSIBILITY ON THE ROAD, OUTSTANDING ENTRIES OF A ROAD SAFETY POSTER DESIGN COMPETITION AND EXHIBITS ON THE ANALYSIS OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS IN HONG KONG.
THE ROAD SAFETY DISPLAY WILL BE OPEN FREE TO THE PUBLIC FROM 10 AM TO 4 PM.
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/17 .....
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1983
17 -
MOVING OFFICE * * * *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT’S PUBLIC VEHICLES SECTION AND LAW IMPLEMENTATION TEAM ARE TO MOVE ON SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 12) TO NEW OFFICES AT 906-909, 9/F, HUTCHISON HOUSE, 10 HARCOURT ROAD, HONG KONG.
AS FROM REGISTRATION AND ISSUE OF
MONDAY (NOVEMBER 14), ALL APPLICATIONS FROM AND LICENSING OF OMNIBUSES, LIGHT BUSES, AND TAXIS, HIRE CAR PERMITS SHOULD BE MADE AT THE NEW OFFICES.
THE NEW ENQUIRIES TELEPHONE WILL BE 5-254958.
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TRAFFIC CHANGES ON ISLAND
K K K
FROM 4 PM TO 7 PM ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 11), 01 KWAN ROAD IN WAN CHAI WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE-WAY CLOCKWISE.
IN ADDITION, PARKING SPACES ON 01 KWAN ROAD AND SUNG TAK STREET WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 3 PM TO 7 PM ON THAT DAY TO FACILITATE THE ROAD SAFETY RALLY HELD AT QUEEN ELIZABETH STADIUM.
AND FROM 10 AM ON SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 12), THE SECTION OF HENNESSY ROAD EASTBOUND BETWEEN HOUSE NO. 53 AND 71 WILL BE DESIGNATED AS URBAN CLEARWAY FROM 7 AM TO 10 AM AND 4 PM TO 7 PM DAILY FOR ABOUT FIVE WEEKS FOR WORK ON THE MTR ISLAND LINE.
WITHIN THE ROAD SECTION, NO VEHICLES OTHER THAN FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS DURING THE RESTRICTED PERIODS.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN -SUPPLEMENT
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG TEL 5-233191
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1983
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ENERGY MEETS PRESS * * * *
THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE GIVEN BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ENERGY, MR PETER WALKER TODAY (NOVEMBER 10) IN THE GIS THEATRE. ALSO PRESENT WAS THE SENIOR BRITISH TRADE COMMISSIONER, MR CHRISTIAN ADAMS.
MR WALKERS WELL, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, CAN I FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU FOR COMING TO THIS PRESS CONFERENCE AND TO TELL YOU THAT OVER THE LAST WEEK EIGHT DAYS I HAVE CARRIED OUT A VISIT TO BOTH CHINA AND, OF COURSE, THE LAST TWO DAYS HERE IN HONG KONG. AND I THINK IT HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT VISIT FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS. I THINK THAT BRITAIN IS UNIQUELY SITUATED IN TERMS OF ENERGY TO BE OF CONSIDERABLE IMPORTANCE TO CHINA IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ENERGY RESOURCES. WE HAVE THE UNIQUE EXPERIENCE OF THE NORTH SEA DEVELOPMENT WHICH, OF COURSE, IS BY FAR THE BIGGEST OFFSHORE DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS EVER TAKEN PLACE IN DIFFICULT AND DANGEROUS SEAS. AND THAT HAS BEEN DONE RECENTLY, AND, OF COURSE, IS CONTINUING AND STILL GOING ON. AND THERE IS NOW A SITUATION WHERE THE POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS IN OFFSHORE CHINA ARE AS BIG, IF NOT BIGGER, THAN THE DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN THE NORTH SEAS OVER THIS PAST DECADE.
RECENTLY THE CHINESE MINISTER FOR PETROLEUM MR DENG KE CAME TO BRITAIN, VISITED MANY OF OUR INSTALLATIONS AND HAD TALKS WITH THE OIL INDUSTRY AND HAD TALKS IN DEPTH WITH MYSELF UPON THE PROBLEMS INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENTS OF OFFSHORE OIL INDUSTRY. AND AS A RESULT OF THOSE TALKS HE URGED ME TO COME IN THE NEAR FUTURE TO SPEAK AND TALK TO HIM AND HIS COLLEAGUES IN CHINA AND TO CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSIONS AND PREPARATIONS TO SEE WHAT COULD BE DONE. AND OBVIOUSLY I WAS DELIGHTED TO ACCEPT THAT INVITAT-ION AND HAD VERY GOOD TALKS IN CHINA ON THESE ISSUES. I HAD TALKS WITH THE VICE PREMIER, WITH THE STATE COUNCILLOR KANG XIAN, PRIMARILY RESPONSIBLE FOR ENERGY CO-ORDINATION, WITH ALL OF THE MINISTERS CONNECTED WITH THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF ENERGY: PETROLEUM, THE COAL MINING, THE MACHINERY: AND I ALSO HAD TALKS WITH THE LEADERS OF BOTH THE ECONOMIC AND PLANNING COMMISSIONS IN CHINA. AND CERTAINLY WE IDENTIFIED THAT THERE WAS A WIDE RANGE OF AREAS IN WHICH BRITAIN’S TECHNOLOGY AND EXPERTISE AND KNOW-HOW WOULD BE REQUIRED AND NEEDED. AND WE AGREED TO CONTINUE DISCUSSIONS AND PREPARATIONS AND TO STUDY METHODS HOW THAT CAN EFFECTIVELY BE DONE.
/AS YCU .......
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1983
2
AS YOU KNOW ALREADY A NUMBER OF BRITISH COMPANIES ARE OPERATING AND BEGINNING THEIR EXPLORATORY PROGRAMMES AND I WENT TO CANTON WHERE I HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH BOTH THE LEADERS OF THE CHINESE OIL COMPANIES THAT WERE INVOLVED, BOTH THE COMPANIES AND THE SERVICING COMPANIES, AND I ALSO OF COURSE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH B.P. AND OTHER BRITISH FIRMS SUCH AS CABLE AND WIRELESS THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THOSE DEVELOPMENTS. AND I HAVE NO DOUBT AT ALL THAT IN THE COMING DECADE A GREAT DEAL OF ACTIVITY WILL TAKE PLACE BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA AS FAR AS THESE DEVELOPMENTS ARE CONCERNED.
AND CAN I SAY THAT I HAVE NO DOUBT AT ALL THAT HONG KONG WILL HAVE A VERY SIGNIFICANT AND IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY IN THE DEVELOPMENTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT TAKE PLACE. WITH THE COMMERCIAL EXPERTISE, THE MANUFACTURING EXPERTISE, THE BANKING AND INSURANCE EXPERTISE THAT IS CONTAINED WITHIN HONG KONG AND THE CONNECTIONS WITH HONG KONG AND CHINA THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT A MULTITUDE OF BRITISH FIRMS WHO’LL BE ENDEAVOURING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ACTIVITIES THAT TAKE PLACE IN THE OFFSHORE DEVELOPMENTS WILL BE DOING SO IN COLLABORATION WITH HONG KONG BUSINESS INTERESTS AND I HAVE NO DOUBT AT ALL THAT HONG KONG WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT BENEFICIAL IMPACT FROM THE MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS GOING TO TAKE PLACE.
I MIGHT SAY WE ALSO DISCUSSED DEVELOPMENTS IN OTHER SPHERES OF ENERGY WHICH IN THE FUTURE WILL BE OF GREAT IMPORTANCE.
BRITAIN IS IN A UNIQUE POSITION BECAUSE APART FROM OUR KNOWLEDGE IN OFFSHORE TECHNOLOGY WE ARE THE BIGGEST COAL PRODUCING NATION IN EUROPE AND WE PROBABLY HAVE THE BEST TECHNOLOGY IN DEEP MINE COAL AND WE ARE INDEED COMPETING INTERNATIONALLY FOR OPEN CAST COAL WITH CONSIDERABLE SUCCESS. WE ALSO HAVE A CONSIDERABLE KNOWLEDGE IN THE SPHERE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY AND NUCLEAR DEVELOPMENT AND WE HAVE A TECHNOLOGY OF CONSIDERABLE DIMENSIONS AS FAR AS THE GAS INDUSTRY’S CONCERNED. AND I BELIEVE AS THE OIL EXPLORATION TAKES PLACE THERE’LL BE FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS OF NATURAL GAS IN CHINA AND I BELIEVE THAT CHINA IS ALSO DESTINED TO DO FAR MORE IN THE FUTURE IN USING COAL AS A PRODUCER OF GAS AND THERETO I BELIEVE THERE’S A CONSIDERABLE SCOPE FOR ACTIVITIES BETWEEN BRITAIN AND CHINA.
IN HONG KONG I’VE HAD A VERY FULL PROGRAMME INCLUDING MEETINGS WITH SENIOR OFFICIALS, MEMBERS OF UMELCO AND SENIOR BUSINESSMEN AND I’VE BEEN ABLE TO BRING MYSELF UP TO DATE WITH DEVELOPMENTS IN HONG KONG PARTICULARLY, OF COURSE, IN THE ENERGY AND ECONOMIC FIELDS. AND I’VE DISCUSSED FUTURE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND PLANS AND OBVIOUSLY I’M DELIGHTED THAT I’VE HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY OF DOING SO.
AND INDEED WHEN I WAS IN CANTON IT WAS INTERESTING THE NUMBER OF FIRMS THERE WHO I DISCUSSED AND MET WITH WHO IN FACT WERE OPERATING USING HONG KONG AS A BASE FOR THEIR ACTIVITIES. I MENTIONED CABLE AND WIRELESS AND MOULDER DRILLING AND STARR OFFSHORE SERVICES WERE SOME SUCH COMPANIES.
/I'VE ALSO, ......
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1983
- 3 -
I’VE ALSO, NATURALLY, BEEN INTERESTED TO BE HERE DURING THE FEW DAYS IN WHICH THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT HAVE MADE DECISIONS AS TO THE FUTURE POTENTIAL COLLABORATION ON THE MAJOR NUCLEAR PROJECT WHICH, OF COURSE, IS A MATTER OF CONSIDERABLE IMPORTANCE AND IMPACT BOTH ON CHINA AND ON HONG KONG. AND SO I LOOK UPON THIS LAST EIGHT DAYS AS BEING OF CONSIDERABLE SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPORTANCE AND I BELIEVE THAT IN THE COMING WEEKS, MONTHS AND YEARS THERE WILL BE A VERY CONSIDERABLE ACTIVITY RELATED TO THE MATTERS I’VE BEEN ABLE TO DISCUSS BOTH WITH THE LEADERS OF THE BUSINESS, DECISIONTAKING COMMUNITY HERE IN HONG KONG AND IN CHINA.
PERHAPS I COULD HAVE YOUR QUESTIONS.
Qi YOU MENTIONED THE BRITISH CONTRIBUTION TO CHINA’S ENERGY DEVELOPMENT. I WAS WONDERING IN RELATION TO THE DAYA BAY PROJECT WHAT IS THE LIKELIHOOD OF GEC BEING AWARDED THE CONTRACT FOR TURBINE GENERATORS, AND SECONDLY, WHAT WILL THE BRITISH INVOLVEMENT FINANCIALLY BE IN THE FORM OF EXPORT CREDITS AND LOANS TO THE DEVELOPMENT?
Ai WELL, OBVIOUSLY AT THIS STAGE THE DECISION IN PRINCIPLE TO PROCEED WITH THIS PROJECT HAS ONLY BEEN TAKEN WITHIN THE, YOU KNOW, LAST TWENTY-FOUR HOURS HERE IN HONG KONG, AND OF COURSE THE DECISION AS TO THE NATURE OF THOSE WHO’LL BE INVOLVED IN THE CONTRACT AND DEVELOPMENT AND THE NATURE OF THE CONTRACT AND THE NATURE OF THE EXPORT CREDIT FACILITIES AND THE CREDIT FACILITIES, THE FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS, ARE STILL TO BE NEGOTIATED AND SORTED OUT. BUT NATURALLY I WOULD VERY MUCH HOPE THAT GEC WILL HAVE A VERY SUBSTANTIAL AND IMPORTANT ROLE TO PLAY IN THIS CONTRACT BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY I CONSIDER THAT THEIR EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE AND KNOWLEDGE IN THIS SPHERE IS OF A NATURE THAT IT WILL MAKE THEM A VERY LIKELY CANDIDATE FOR A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE PROJECT AND WOULD BE DELIGHTED IF THAT DOES TAKE PLACE AND HAPPEN. AND OBVIOUSLY IN TERMS OF ECGD ARRANGEMENTS AND FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS THEY’RE ALL MATTERS THAT WILL HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE FUTURE.
Qi WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR ASSESSMENT OF RECENT INDUSTRY CRITICISMS OF CHINA IN RELATIONSHIP TO THEIR PROVISION OF RESCUE SERVICES AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO THE SOUTH CHINA SEA OIL EXPLORATION ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE GLOMAR CHINA SEA INCIDENT?
/A: WELL, 03VIUJSLY .......
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1983
4
*. WELL OBVIOUSLY I CAN’T COMMENT ON THAT PARTICULAR INCIDENT RECAUSE AS YET ALL OF THE INFORMATION IS NOT KNOWN AND UNTIL IT IS KNOWN ONE CANNOT COMMENT UPON EITHER, YOU KNOW, WHY IT HAPPENED AND THE NATURE OF THE RESCUE SERVICES. I CAN ONLY SAY THAT IN MY TALKS WITH THE LEADERS BOTH POLITICAL AND INDUSTRY IN CHINA THERE IS NO DOUBT AT ALL THAT THEY OF THE IMPORTANCE OF DEVELOPING HIGHLY SOPHISTICATED RESCUE SERVICES. AND WE HAVE HAD OUR OWN EXPERIENCES
SEA IN THIS SPHERE, THERE HAVE BEEN ACCIDENTS IN THE AND THERE HAVE BEEN LIVES LOST IN THE NORTH SEA. AND
IN THE OIL ARE AWARE AND SKILLED IN THE NORTH NORTH SEA IF YOU ARE
DEVELOPING A MAJOR OILFIELD IN DIFFICULT SEAS THERE ARE MANY DANGERS AND PROBLEMS AND THE ONLY WAY TO DEAL WITH THAT SITUATION IS TO HAVE THE MOST SOPHISTICATED AND EFFECTIVE RESCUE SERVICES YOU POSSIBLY CAN. AND THAT MEANS HAVING GOOD COMMUNICATIONS IN AN AREA? IT MEANS HAVING THE AVAILABILITY OF RESCUE AIRCRAFT AND SHIPS, IT MEANS HAVING ROUTES CLEARED VERY QUICKLY IN ORDER TO SEE THAT ACTION COULD BE TAKEN AND A PROPER CO-ORDINATION OF ANY URGENT RESCUE PLAN. AND I CAN ONLY SAY THAT I FOUND EVERYWHERE, I SPOKE TO, AS I SAY, THE MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE AND TO THE LEADERS IN THE OIL INDUSTRY, A GENUINE AND A DEEP DESIRE TO SEE THAT AT AN EARLY STAGE THE PROPER RESCUE FACILITIES WERE
ORGANISED AND PROVIDED AND A DESIRE TO SEEK OUR EXPERIENCE AND OUR ADVICE FROM OUR CONSIDERABLE EXPERIENCE IN THE NORTH SEA AS TO WHAT IS REQUIRED AND NEEDED.
Q: WE’VE BEEN TOLD THAT HONG KONG WON’T BE ABLE TO IMPOSE ITS OWN SAFEGUARDS AS TO THE SAFETY OF THE DAYA BAY NUCLEAR PLANT. DO YOU THINK CHINA WILL BE CAPABLE OF COPING WITH SUCH A COMPLEX BUILDING PROJECT?
As WELL, WHEN YOU SAY YOU’VE BEEN TOLD THAT HONG KONG WILL HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SAFEGUARDS ON THE PROJECT I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WILL DOUBTLESS BE DISCUSSED BY ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO’LL BE INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT IS THE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS. AND CAN I SAY THIS THAT WHOEVER THE MAJOR CONTRACTORS THAT WILL BE INVOLVED THERE IS NONE OF THEM OF INTERNATIONAL REPUTE THAT WOULD WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN A DEVELOPMENT THAT DID NOT CONTAIN THE BEST SAFETY STANDARDS. BECAUSE IF YOU TAKE FOR EXAMPLE A COMPANY SUCH AS GEC WHICH MIGHT HAVE A MAJOR INTEREST IN IT, THE IDEA OF GEC WANTING TO BE INVOLVED IN ANY PROJECT THAT DIDN’T MEET THE BEST SAFETY STANDARDS, AND THEREFORE ONE OF THEIR PROJECTS BEING ASSOCIATED WITH A BAD SAFETY STANDARD WOULD DO IMMENSE DAMAGE TO THEM IN THE WHOLE FUTURE WORLDWIDE PROSPECTS. LIKEWISE, CAN I SAY THIS, THAT AGAIN IN MY TALKS WITH LEADERS OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND INCLUDING THE VICE PREMIER WHO HAS A PARTICULAR PERSONAL AND CONSIDERABLE INTEREST IN THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT, THERE IS A TOTAL DESIRE OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT TO MEET WITH" THE HIGHEST SAFETY STANDARDS IN THIS PARTICULAR SPHERE, AND CHINA WOULD NOT LIKE TO BE INVOLVED IN A MAJOR NUCLEAR PROJECT WHICH PROVED TO NOT MEET THE HIGHEST SAFETY STANDARDS. AND I THINK I CAN ALSO SAY, AS OBVIOUSLY A COUNTRY THAT’S INTERESTED IN NUCLEAR DEVELOPMENT, HAS CARRIED OUT NUCLEAR DEVELOPMENT IN POWER STATIONS OURSELVES, WE ARE WELL AWARE OF THE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS; THEY ARE VERY CONSIDERABLE AND THE SAFETY RECORD IN NUCLEAR IS AN EXCEEDINGLY GOOD RECORD AND IF I MAY SAY SO A MUCH BETTER RECORD THAN THE SAFETY THAT’S BEEN SHOWN OVER THE DECADES SO FAR AS THE COAL INDUSTRY IS CONCERNED.
/Q: WHEN YOU........
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1983
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Q: WHEN YOU WERE SPEAKING WITH THE LEADERS IN CHINA ABOUT DAYA BAY PLAN WERE BRITISH GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS PART OF THE DISCUSSIONS? IN OTHER WORDS EXPORT CREDITS OR SOME OTHER KIND OF LOAN OR LOAN GUARANTEES?
A: NO, THERE WAS NO SUCH DISCUSSION AT ALL OF THAT DESCRIPTION AND THERE HAVEN’T BEEN ANY DISCUSSIONS OF THAT DESCRIPTION AND THE POSITION IN THE DISCUSSIONS I HAD ON THIS PROJECT IT WAS PURELY THE EXPRESSION BY THE CHINESE MINISTERS THAT THEY CONSIDERED IT, IT WAS A VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT, IT HAD A HIGH PRIORITY AS FAR AS THEY WERE CONCERNED AND THEY HOPED THAT IF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT MADE A POSITIVE DECISION IN THIS SPHERE NEGOTIATIONS ON THE CONTRACT AND THE DETAIL WITH THOSE PARTIES THAT WOULD BE INVOLVED CAN QUICKLY TAKE PLACE. BUT THERE WAS NO DISCUSSION OF ANY DESCRIPTION UPON FINANCIAL TERMS OR THE ROLE OF BRITISH GOVERNMENT OR ANYTHING OF THAT DESCRIPTION, JUST THE EXPRESSION THAT IN THEIR VIEW IT WAS A VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT AND ONE WHICH THEY PUT A HIGH PRIORITY TO. AND IT IS FOR THEM A REGION WHERE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ENERGY ARE VERY CONSIDERABLE AND, THEREFORE, THEY WERE PUTTING THE VIEW THAT THEY HOPED THAT HONG KONG WOULD MAKE A POSITIVE RESPONSE AND IF HONG KONG DID MAKE A POSITIVE RESPONSE THEY HOPED THE DETAILED NEGOTIATION WOULD QUICKLY TAKE PLACE.
Qs GIVEN THE SENSE OF URGENCY THAT THEY EXPRESSED ABOUT MOVING ON WITH IT AND SINCE THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG HAS MADE A DECISION, WHEN IS IT LIKELY THAT THERE WOULD BE CONTRACTS AS TO THE TURBINE GENERATORS AND SUCH?
As OBVIOUSLY I CAN’T VENTURE A GUESS AS TO THE SPEED WITH WHICH THOSE CONCERNED WILL ENTER THE CONTRACTS AND DECIDE ON THE CONTRACTS, THAT WILL BE A MATTER FOR THEM, THEY ARE THE CUSTOMERS AND IT’S NOT IN MY CONTROL. I CAN ONLY SAY THAT I THINK AS FAR AS ANY BRITISH FIRMS THAT ARE HOPING AND WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT CONTRACT CERTAINLY THEY WOULD NEGOTIATE SPEEDILY AND I HOPE EFFECTIVELY AND SUCCESSFULLY.
Q: IN YOUR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHINESE LEADERS ON CHINA’S NUCLEAR PROGRAMME WERE THERE ANY DISCUSSIONS AS TO SPECIFIC NUMBERS OF PLANTS PROPOSED OR LOCATIONS FOR THOSE PLANTS OTHER THAN THE DAYA BAY?
As NO, THERE WERE NO SUCH DISCUSSIONS.
Q: DO YOU KNOW WHETHER THE DAYA BAY PROJECT EVER SURFACED AS A BARGAINING POINT IN THE NEGOTIATIONS ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG?
As NO, I MEAN, I SAY, OBVIOUSLY I HAVEN’T ATTENDED EVERY DISCUSSION BUT I DO KNOW THAT IN THE DISCUSSIONS I HAD WITH ALL THE MINISTERS CONCERNED THIS WAS NOT A FACTOR THAT WAS MENTIONED AT ANY STAGE BY ANY PERSON SO QUITE CLEARLY IT WASN’T A FACTOR.
Qs YOU MENTIONED THAT HONG KONG WOULD HAVE A VITAL ROLE TO PLAY IN CHINA’S OFFSHORE OIL SEARCH. I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFIC ABOUT THE ACTUAL ROLE THAT HONG KONG MIGHT PLAY.
/A: WELL, I.........
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1983
6
A* WELL I CAN’T BE SPECIFIC. OBVIOUSLY THE CUSTOMER INVOLVED IS NOT BRITAIN IT’S CHINA AND IT IS CHINA THAT WILL MAKE THE DECISIONS AS TO WHAT JOINT VENTURES TO GO INTO AND WHOSE GOODS TO PURCHASE AND SO ON. I CAN ONLY SAY THAT IN MY ANALYSIS THE COUNTRY THAT HAS THE MOST TO OFFER IN EXPERTISE, KNOW-HOW AND TECHNOLOGY IS THE UNITED KINGDOM BECAUSE OF THE DEVELOPMENT IN THE LAST DECADE OF THE NORTH SEA. AND YOU KNOW IT HAS BEEN A VERY REMARKABLE DEVELOPMENT THAT FROM THE LAST TIME I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENERGY WHEN I WAS SECRETARY OF STATE FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY IN ’72 TO ’74 AND THE NORTH SEA WAS ALL COMMENCING, BRITAIN WAS HARDLY PRODUCING ANY OIL AT ALL, WE’RE NOW THE FIFTH BIGGEST OIL PRODUCER IN THE WORLD. AND SO THE EXPERTISE WE’VE DEVELOPED. AND I SAY THE MOST RECENT OILFIELD THAT’S BEEN OPENED IN BRITAIN, THE MAGNUS FIELD, A TOTAL INVESTMENT OF, WHAT, POUND STERLING 1 400 MILLION AND 87 PER CENT OF WHAT WENT INTO THAT INVESTMENT WAS PRODUCED BY BRITISH FIRMS. NOW, THEREFORE, WE HAVE A CONSIDERABLE CONTRIBUTION TO MAKE. AND IT IS QUITE OBVIOUS WITH THE RELATIONSHIP THAT BRITAIN HAS ALWAYS HAD WITH HONG KONG WITH THE ENORMOUS COMMERCIAL EXPERTISE AND MANUFACTURING EXPERTISE THAT EXISTS IN HONG KONG, A VERY SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF BRITISH FIRMS INTERESTED IN THE CHINA DEVELOPMENT WILL LINK UP AND HAVE REPRESENTATIVES AND ASSOCIATES AND PARTNERS IN HONG KONG. AND I CAN’T OBVIOUSLY MAKE DECISIONS FOR THEM, BUT CERTAINLY AS A DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY I WISH TO ENCOURAGE IN EVERY WAY THAT RELATIONSHIP AND I WISH TO MAKE SURE THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, THE HONG KONG PEOPLE ARE CONSTANTLY MADE AWARE OF ALL THE FACTS AND THE PROSPECTS THAT WE KNOW ABOUT. AND SO I’M ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT OF THE SIZE OF INVESTMENTS THAT’S GOING TO TAKE PLACE IT’S GOING TO BE OF CONSIDERABLE BENEFIT TO HONG KONG.
Q: AS YET THERE HASN’T BEEN A GREAT DEAL OF BENEFIT BECAUSE EVEN BRITISH PETROLEUM HAS SET UP ITS OFFICES IN GUANGZHOU.
As AS YET THERE HAS BEEN CONSIDERABLE BENEFIT IF I MAY SAY SO. THE CABLE AND WIRELESS IS OPERATING ON A VERY SUBSTANTIAL SCALE, HOULDER BROTHERS ARE WORKING ON A SUBSTANTIAL SCALE, STARR SERVICE COMPANY’S WORKING ON A SUBSTANTIAL SCALE, THE HELICOPTER CONTRACT WAS NEGOTIATED FROM HONG KONG AND SO, OF COURSE, THERE’S A WHOLE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES THAT’S ALREADY AT THIS EARLY STAGE BENEFITING HONG KONG. AS FAR AS A COMPANY OF THE SIZE OF B.P. AND OTHER COMPANIES IT MAY WELL BE THAT THEY DECIDE TO SET UP AN OPERATION DIRECT IN CHINA, OF COURSE, AND IN TERMS OF CHINA’S OWN AMBITIONS THEY WISH TO CREATE THEIR OWN INDUSTRIES IN CHINA IN THE SAME WAY AS BRITAIN WANTED TO CREATE ITS OWN INDUSTRY OUT OF THE NORTH SEA. AND I THINK THAT’S A PERFECTLY GOOD ASPIRATION AND ONE WHICH ANYBODY THAT’S GOING TO WORK WITH CHINA HAS GOT TO UNDERSTAND . AND COMPREHEND. BUT THE REALITY IS THAT WITH ALL OF THE EXPERTISE AND KNOWLEDGE AND BANKING AND INSURANCE SKILLS AND MANAGEMENT SKILLS WHICH EXIST IN HONG KONG BOTH CHINA AND BRITISH COMPANIES INVOLVED ARE GOING TO NEED AND REQUIRE MUCH OF WHAT EXISTS HERE IN HONG KONG. AND SO I THINK THERE WILL BE SOME COMPANIES THAT OPEN DIRECT, THERE’LL BE OTHER COMPANIES THAT WORK THROUGH HONG KONG, THERE’LL BE OTHER PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN HONG KONG COMPANIES AND BRITISH COMPANIES, THERE’LL BE ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT ARRANGEMENTS. BUT WHAT I’M ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN OF IS THAT THERE’S GOING TO BE A CONSIDERABLE BENEFIT TO HONG KONG.
/MR ADAMS: I .........
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1983
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YR ADAMSj I THINK IT’S WORTH ADDING, SINCE YOU SAY, THAT EVEN NOW AS BRITISH COMPANIES INTERESTED IN THIS SECTOR COME THROUGH HONG KONG WE IN THE TRADE COMMISSION INTRODUCE THEM TO HONG KONG PARTNERS AND THAT IS A VERY FIRM WAY FORWARD FOR THEM. SO ALTHOUGH YOU YAY NOT VISIBLY SEE ALL THAT IS GOING ON A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS ARE TAKING PLACE.
Q: ARE THERE ANY INFLUENCE FROM THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ON THE DECISION MADE BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DAYA BAY NUCLEAR PLANT?
A: NO, NOT AT ALL.
Qi DO YOU THINK THAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAVE A STRONG DESIRE THAT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT, THAT HONG KONG SHOULD TAKE PART IN THIS PLAN?
Ai THE DECISION WAS TAKEN, I MEAN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT DECIDED TO TAKE INDEPENDENT ADVICE AND TO LOOK AT THE PROJECT AND COME TO THEIR OWN DECISION AND THEY CAME TO THEIR OWN DECISION BASED UPON THE FACTS THAT THEY ASSESSED. IF YOU ASK ME WHAT THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT’S POSITION IS I CERTAINLY WELCOME THE FACT THAT THEY CAME TO THAT CONCLUSION BECAUSE I CONSIDER IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT PROJECT, I CONSIDER THAT IN THIS REGION AS A WHOLE THE ENERGY REQUIREMENTS OVER THE COMING PERIOD ARE GOING TO BE CONSIDERABLY INCREASED AND I DO THINK THE PRESENCE OF A MAJOR EFFECTIVE NUCLEAR POWER STATION WILL BE OF BENEFIT TO BOTH CHINA AND HONG KONG BUT THAT’S MY PERSONAL VIEW AND IT’S NOT A VIEW THAT I EXPRESSED AT ANY STAGE TO THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT. THEY MADE THEIR OWN DECISION ON INDEPENDENT ADVICE. I CAN ONLY SAY THAT IF I LOOK AT THE BRITISH SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE INVESTED A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT INTO NUCLEAR POWER AND ARE CONTINUING TO DO SO IN SPITE OF THE FACT THAT WE HAVE CONSIDERABLE COAL RESERVES, WE HAVE CONSIDERABLE GAS AND OIL FACILITIES, WE CONSIDER IT’S A VERY IMPORTANT ASPECT OF OUR ENERGY POLICY. AND IF I MAY SAY SO FRANCE HAD DECIDED TO GO IN FOR THE PWR’S RATHER EARLIER THAN OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES AND HAS GONE IN FOR THEM ON A MUCH BIGGER SCALE THAN ANY OF THE OTHER WESTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. I WITNESSED THE FACT THAT FRANCE NOW HAS CHEAPER ELECTRICITY THAN BRITAIN WHICH BENEFITS HER INDUSTRIES BECAUSE FRANCE WENT INTO THE PWR DEVELOPMENTS AHEAD OF BRITAIN. AND SO LOOKING AS AN ENERGY OBSERVER ROUND THE WORLD I DO SEE A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE FOR NUCLEAR ENERGY AND, THEREFORE, IF ON ALL OF THE EVIDENCE AVAILABLE TO THEM AND AFTER LOOKING AT AN INDEPENDENT ADVISER’S REPORT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THIS WAS SENSIBLE AND WISE IN TERMS OF THE FUTURE ENERGY STRATEGY OF HONG KONG I’M PLEASED THAT THEY CAME TO THAT DECISION AND WISH THEM EVERY SUCCESS.
/Q: IS THERE ......
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1983
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Q: IS THERE ANY INDICATION FROM THE CHINESE OFFICIALS YOU SPOKE WITH THAT CHINA MAY EVENTUALLY EXPORT SOME OF THE OIL FROM THE SOUTH CHINA SEA FIELDS?
Ai NO, I NEVER DISCUSSED IN ANY DETAIL WHAT THEY WOULD DO WITH THE OIL WHEN THEY OBTAIN IT, OF COURSE, IT DOES DEPEND HOW MUCH THEY OBTAIN AND HOW SOON THEY OBTAIN AND OVER WHAT PERIOD AND WHERE THEY OBTAIN IT. I DID DETECT A CONSIDERABLE INTEREST IN THE POTENTIALITY OF PETRO-CHEMICAL INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS THAT WOULD RESULT IF THEY HAD SUBSTANTIAL OIL RESOURCES AND SO I WOULD GUESS THAT IS ONE AREA THAT THEY’RE LOOKING AT BUT I DIDN’T DISCUSS IN ANY DETAIL. I MEAN AT THIS STAGE I WAS PRIMARILY CONCERNED IN DISCUSSIONS WITH FIRSTLY THE EXPLORATION AND THEN THE DEVELOPMENT, BUT THERE WILL BE CONSIDERATIONS TO BE TAKEN IN CHINA AND IT WILL DEPEND UPON THE BALANCE AND AVAILABILITY OF OTHER RESOURCES. IT WILL DEPEND HOW MUCH NATURAL GAS THEY GET, IT DEPEND WHAT THEY’RE DOING ABOUT THEIR COAL RESERVES AT THAT PARTICULAR MOMENT OF TIME. BUT I DIDN’T DISCUSS IN ANY SORT OF DETAIL AS TO WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO.
Qi COULD YOU BE MORE SPECIFIC IN THE WAY THAT YOU’VE BEEN ENCOURAGING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BRITISH COMPANIES AND SUPPORTING INDUSTRIES HERE IN HONG KONG WHILE YOU’VE BEEN HERE IN HONG KONG?
Ai WELL, PYE MET QUITE A FEW OF THE BUSINESS LEADERS AND I’VE MET A GROUP OF COMPANIES INVOLVED IN HONG KONG THAT HAVE AN INTEREST IN THE OFFSHORE BUSINESS AND I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE OFFICIALS OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND EXPRESSED A DESIRE WITH THEM FOR A CLOSER LIAISON SO THAT I CAN PROVIDE HONG KONG WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE BOTH FROM OUR NORTH SEA EXPERIENCE AND FROM OUR CONTINUING NEGOTIATIONS WITH CHINA. SO TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND TO THE GOVERNMENT I’VE EXPRESSED A VERY STRONG DESIRE TO SEE THAT WE WORK CLOSELY TOGETHER AND THAT BRITISH FIRMS BENEFIT FROM THE CONSIDERABLE CONTRIBUTION THAT HONG KONG COMMERCIALLY CAN OFFER. SO I THINK ONE OF THE RESULTS OF MY VISIT HAS BEEN TO IDENTIFY WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN HAVE A MORE EFFECTIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIP AS NOW ONE ENTERS THE EXCITING PHASE OF ALL THESE DEVELOPMENTS. AT THIS MOMENT OF TIME, YOU KNOW, DRILLING IS TAKING PLACE, DRILLING HAS STARTED BY B.P. FOR EXAMPLE. I DID TRY AND ARRANGE FOR THEM TO STRIKE VAST QUANTITIES OF OIL THE DAY I WAS IN CANTON BUT THEY FAILED ME MISERABLY AND DIDN’T DO ANY! BUT, I MEAN, IN THE COMING MONTHS THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME VERY MAJOR DISCOVERIES THERE AND FROM THEN ONWARDS A LOT OF BIG AND MAJOR DECISIONS WILL BE TAKEN AND I WANT A VERY GOOD RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BRITAIN AND HONG KONG TO BE OPERATING AT THAT TIME TO THE BENEFIT OF BOTH.
Qi I MEAN BECAUSE YOU’RE WANTING BRITISH COMPANIES TO BENEFIT, AND IN THE CASE OF DAYA BAY GEC IS GOING TO BENEFIT, I JUST DON’T SEE THAT THERE HASN’T BEEN ANY PRESSURE FROM THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT ON THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT FOR THE CONTRACT, WELL FOR THEM FIRSTLY TO TAKE ELECTRICITY FROM DAYA BAY BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY IT’S GOING TO DIRECTLY AFFECT A MAJOR BRITISH COMPANY.
/A: I THINK, ........
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1983
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Ai I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE FACT IS IT IS A DECISION WHERE THE MAJOR EFFECT IS ON HONG KONG AND AS FAR AS THAT MAJOR BRITISH COMPANY IS CONCERNED IT IS A COMPANY THAT’S INVOLVED IN MAJOR CONTRACTS ALL OVER THE WORLD ALL OF THE TIME. THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS DECISION IS PRIMARILY OF IMPORTANCE TO HONG KONG. HAVING MADE THE DECISION UNDERSTANDABLY BRITISH COMPANIES, AND NOT JUST GEC, WILL DOUBTLESS BE ENDEAVOURING TO BE INVOLVED IN THE CONTRACTS THAT TAKE PLACE. BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE WRONG FOR THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO TURN ROUND TO HONG KONG AND PUT PRESSURE ON TO SAY WE WANT YOU TO DO THIS BECAUSE THERE MIGHT BE A NICE CONTRACT FOR A BRITISH COMPANY AND THAT DIDN’T HAPPEN AND HASN'T HAPPENED. WHAT I THINK WILL BE GOOD OUT OF THIS PROJECT IS THAT IT WILL BE A PROJECT IN WHICH HONG KONG AND CHINA WILL WORK TOGETHER AND IF, AS I HOPE AND BELIEVE, THE BRITISH HAVE A MAJOR PART OF THE CONTRACT TOO THEN HONG KONG, BRITAIN AND CHINA WILL BE WORKING TOGETHER ON A MAJOR PROJECT AND THAT CAN ONLY BE A GOOD THING. BUT CERTAINLY THIS WAS A DECISION WHICH PRIMARILY AFFECTED THE INTERESTS OF HONG KONG, THE ENERGY CONSUMERS OF HONG KONG, THE FUTURE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN HONG KONG AND CHINA AND QUITE RIGHTLY IT WAS A HONG KONG DECISION.
Qi DID THE CHINESE OFFICIALS THAT YOU SPOKE WITH IN PEKING GIVE ANY INDICATION OF ANY FURTHER EXPLORATION CONTRACTS TO BRITISH OR OTHER FOREIGN FIRMS?
Ai NO, THEY’RE CONSIDERING THE NEXT ROUND OF LICENSING AND, OF COURSE, THEY’VE BEEN VERY INTERESTED IN HOW WE’VE HANDLED THE LICENSING IN THE NORTH SEA AND THE ARRANGEMENTS WE’VE OPERATED THERE. AND WE HAVE GIVEN THEM INFORMATION AS TO THE FACTORS WE TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN WE WERE AWARDING LICENCES IN THE NORTH SEA. BUT OBVIOUSLY IT IS DECISIONS THAT THEY WILL MAKE BOTH IN TERMS OF TIMING AND THE METHOD THEY WILL USE AS FAR AS DECISIONS ARE CONCERNED.
Qi FOR MR WALKERi SO FAR AS YOU KNOW APART FROM U.K. AND FRANCE ARE THERE ANY OTHER COUNTRIES BEING INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN DAYA BAY?
Ai WELL, I CAN’T SPEAK OBVIOUSLY WITH CERTAINTY, I’M NOT THE CUSTOMER. AND, I MEAN IT IS, CERTAINLY AS YOU KNOW BRITAIN AND FRANCE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN TALKS AND NEGOTIATIONS BUT WHETHER TALKS HAVE TAKEN PLACE WITH OTHER COMPANIES OR OTHER COUNTRIES YOU MUST ASK THE CUSTOMER NOT ME. IF IT WAS ME YOU WERE ASKING ONLY BRITISH COMPANIES WOULD BE INVOLVED!
(NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.)
MR WALKERi THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO,
GOVERNOR STRESSES NEED FOR SKILLED WORKERS .............. 1
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE STABILISES ............................ 2
LANDS AND WORKS' DEVELOPMENT STUDY READY SOON ........... 3
TSUEN WAN DEVELOPMENTS CONTINUING........................ 7
REVIEW BOARD MEMBERS VISIT PRISONS ...................... 7
GOVERNOR URGES CHILDREN TO FOLLOW ROAD SAFETY RULES...... 8
LABORATORY ACCREDITATION SCHEME FOR HONG. KONG .......... 10
REMEMBRANCE DAY CEREMONY ................................ 10
TRAFFIC CHANGES FOR REMEMBRANCE DAY...................... 11
YOUTH URGED TO PLAY COMMUNITY ROLE....................... 13
GOVERNOR TO OPEN TUIN MUN FESTIVAL ...................... 14
MORE TEACHERS BEING TRAINED ............................. 14
POSTER DESIGNS FOR DISPLAY .............................. 15
CARE AND CONCERN FOR ELDERLY............................. 16
PROMOTING CHILD COURTESY THROUGH PAINTING................ 17
CORRECTIONAL RECRUIT OFFICERS TO PARADE ................. 17
ELEVATED WALKWAY PLANNED FOR MONG KOK.................... 18
FIR1 APPLIANCES ON SHOW SUNDAY .......................... 18
BEST DANCE GROUPS BEING CHOSEN .......................... 19
TEMPORARY KAI TAK ROAD TRAFFIC PLAN ..................... 19
MAXICAB OPERATION HOURS EXTENDED ........................ 20
TRAFFIC DIVERSION FOR ROAD WORK ......................... 20
CAS HOLDING INTER-UNIT CONTEST .......................... 21
SAI KUNG WATER MAINS WORK................................ 21
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1983
GOVERNOR STRESSES NEED FOR SKILLED WORKERS
*****
HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE TO FIND THE RIGHT JOB WILL ENABLE THEM TO MAKE THEIR FULL CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF CAREERS '84 IN THE CITY HALL CONCERT HALL, SIR EDWARD POINTED OUT THAT IF HONG KONG IS TO CONTINUE TO SUCCEED IN THE COMPETITIVE WORLD, IT MUST MAINTAIN A HIGHLY MOTIVATED AND SKILLED WORK FORCE AND MANAGEMENT.
THE EXHIBITION IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND THE URBAN COUNCIL.
♦THIS MEANS HELPING OUR YOUNG TO FIND THE RIGHT JOB, ONE THAT WILL MATCH THEIR APTITUDE AND THEIR INTERESTS AND MAKE THE BEST USE OF THEIR TALENTS. THIS IN TURN WILL ENABLE THEM TO MAKE THEIR FULL CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY,+ HE ADDED.
CAREER ADVICE, SIR EDWARD SAID, WAS THE MORE NECESSARY BECAUSE THE CONTENT OF SO MANY JOBS WAS CHANGING.
NEW TECHNOLOGY AND NEW METHODS CALLED FOR NEW SKILLS AND PRACTICES, EVEN IN THE WELL-ESTABLISHED TRADES AND PROFESSIONS. THESE IN TURN CREATED NEW DIMENSIONS TO THE JOB TO BE DONE AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYMENT, HE ADDED.
SIR EDWARD FURTHER POINTED OUT THAT THE DEPARTMENT’S YOUTH EMPLOYMENT ADVISORY SERVICE HAD LONG BEEN ENGAGED IN THIS IMPORTANT TASK BY RUNNING THREE CAREERS INFORMATION CENTRES AND BY PROVIDING DIRECT GUIDANCE TO SECONDARY STUDENTS THROUGH TALKS, SEMINARS AND DISSEMINATION OF MATERIALS.
SPEAKING OF THE EXHIBITION, THE TWELFTH OF ITS KIND, SIR EDWARD SAID IT PROVIDED STUDENTS WITH A WIDE RANGE OF INFORMATION ON EMPLOYMENT AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK FACE TO FACE WITH PEOPLE WITH DIRECT EXPERIENCE IN THEIR FIELDS.
♦THIS EXHIBITION IS THE RESULT OF A COMBINED EFFORT ON THE PART OF GOVERNMENT, INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE, THE SERVICE INDUSTRIES AND PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS. I AM GRATEFUL TO ALL THOSE WHO ARE CONTRIBUTING THEIR TIME AND EFFORT TO MAKING THE EXHIBITION A SUCCESS,♦ HE SAID.
FOLLOWING THE SPEECH, SIR EDWARD DECLARED THE EXHIBITION OPEN BY PERFORMING A RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY IN THE CITY HALL EXHIBITION HALL.
EARLIER. THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR RON BRIDGE, POINTED OUT THAT THE EXHIBITION HAD BEEN STEADILY GAINING IN POPULARITY WITH STUDENTS, CAREERS TEACHERS AND YOUNG PEOPLE. HE ATTRIBUTED ITS SUCCESS TO THE EFFORTS BY EXHIBITORS IN MAKING THEIR DISPLAYS ATTRACTIVE AND INFORMATIVE.
♦THIS YEAR WE HAVE 23 EXHIBITORS IN THE MAIN EXHIBITION, AND FOUR GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS ARE TAKING PART IN THE OUTDOOR CAREERS
SHOWS IN EDINBURGH PLACE.
/♦WITHOUT THIS........
FRIMY, NOVEMBER 11, 1983
2
♦WITHOUT THIS ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE TO ORGANISE AN EXHIBITION ON THIS SCALE,+ HE ADDED.
IN HIS VOTE OF THANKS, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, W HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, SAID CHOOSING A CAREER WAS NOT A SIMPLE TASK, AND THE COUNCIL RECOGNISED THE IMPORTANCE OF PROVIDING YOUNG PEOPLE WITH CAREERS INFORMATION.
FOR ITS PART, THE COUNCIL WAS ALWAYS PREPARED TO GIVE SUPPORT IN PROVIDING FACILITIES AND RESOURCES FOR CAREERS-ORIENTED ACTIVITIES, AND LOOKED FORWARD TO CONTINUED CO-OPERATION WITH THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT IN THIS FIELD.
- - 0 -
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE STABILISES * * * *
THE UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT SITUATION STABILISED DURING THE THIRD QUARTER, ACCORDING TO LABOUR FORCE STATISTICS RELEASED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
THE SEASONALLY ADJUSTED UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR JULY -SEPTEMBER 1983 WAS 3.8 PER CENT, COMPARED WITH 3.7 PER CENT FOR THE QUARTER ENDING AUGUST 1983 AND 3.9 PER CENT FOR THE QUARTER ENDING JULY 1983. NEVERTHELESS, WHEN COMPARED WITH THE RATE OF 4.4 PER CENT FOR THE PREVIOUS QUARTER ENDING JUNE 1983, THERE WAS STILL AN IMPROVEMENT.
THE RATE FOR THE QUARTER ENDING SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR WAS 3.6 PER CENT.
THE NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS IN THE QUARTER ENDING SEPTEMBER 1983 WAS PROVISIONALLY ESTIMATED TO BE 97 OOO, AS COMPARED WITH 110 900 FOR THE PREVIOUS QUARTER ENDING JUNE 1983, AND 90 900 FOR THE SAME QUARTER LAST YEAR.
THE UNDEREMPLOYMENT RATE FOR THE QUARTER JULY - SEPTEMBER 1983 WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 1.6 PER CENT- THE RATE FOR APRIL - JUNE 1983 WAS 1.9 PER CENT. THE PROVISIONAL ESTIMATE OF THE NUMBER OF UNDEREMPLOYED PERSONS WAS 39 000 FOR THE QUARTER ENDING SEPTEMBER, AS COMPARED WITH 49 100 FOR THE PREVIOUS QUARTER ENDING JUNE 1983. 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 COMMENTING UPON THESE FIGURES, THE COMMISSIONER FOR CENSUS AND STATISTICS SAID THAT BECAUSE THE PROPORTION OF FIRST-TIME JOB-SEEKERS (E.G. PEOPLE WHO HAVE JUST LEFT SCHOOL) VARIES FROM MONTH TO MONTH, THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATES SEASONALLY ADJUSTED FOR THE VARIATION IN FIRST-TIME JOB-SEEKERS SHOULD BE USED IN MAKING COMPARISONS OVER TIME. THE UNADJUSTED UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR THE QUARTER ENDING SEPTEMBER 1983 WAS 4.1 PER CENT.
/THE UNEMPLOYMENT........
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1983
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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 OOO HOUSEHOLDS OR 55 000 PERSONS, SELECTED SCIENTIFICALLY TO REPRESENT THE LAND-BASED CIVILIAN NON-INSTITUTIONAL POPULATION IN HONG KONG.
PERSONAL AND LABOUR FORCE DATA WERE OBTAINED IN THE SURVEY BY INTERVIEWING EACH INDIVIDUAL MEMBER IN THE HOUSEHOLDS SAMPLED.
DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE LABOUR FORCE CHARACTERISTICS IS GIVEN IN THE REPORT ON THE GENERAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY WHICH IS PUBLISHED FOUR TIMES A YEAR. THE NEXT REPORT COVERING THE QUARTER ENDING SEPTEMBER 1983 SHOULD BE AVAILABLE FROM ™E GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AROUND DECEMBER 20, 1983. ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE LABOUR FORCE STATISTICS MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE GENERAL HOUSEHOLD THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, TEL. NO.
SURVEY SECTION OF 5-452586.
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LANDS AND WORKS’ DEVELOPMENT STUDY READY SOON *****
THE RESULTS OF INTENSIVE, LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT STUDIES CARRIED OUT OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, MR NICKY CHAN, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
MR CHAN TOLD MEMBERS OF HONG KONG WEST ROTARY CLUB THAT THE STUDIES WOULD LEAD TO FUNDAMENTAL DECISIONS AS TO THE SIZE AND BROAD THRUST OF GOVERNMENT’S FUTURE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME.
HE SAID AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE STUDIES HAD BEEN TO DEFINE THE PROBLEM.
IN SIMPLE TERMS, THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTION, WHAT WAS LIKELY TO BE REQUIRED IN THE 1990’S, COULD BE PROVIDED BY LOOKING AT FORECASTS OR PROJECTIONS OF POPULATION GROWTH.
HOWEVER, IT WAS OBVIOUSLY MUCH MORE COMPLICATED THAN THAT BECAUSE WHAT HAD TO BE LOOKED FOR BASICALLY WAS A RELIABLE INDICATION OF HOW MUCH LAND WOULD BE REQUIRED TO MEET THE NEEDS ARISING FROM POPULATION GROWTH AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.
AND ANY SUCH ASSESSMENT OF THE FUTURE DEMAND FOR LAND WOULD DEPEND ONt FORECASTS OF THE QUANTITY AND TYPE OF HOUSING REQUIRED, THE INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY WHICH COULD BE EXPECTED-TO PRODUCE JOBS FOR WORKERS, AND THE SCALE OF PROVISION FOR SCHOOLING AND TRAINING, RECREATIONAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES.
INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS AND TRANSPORTATION REQUIREMENTS ALSO NEEDED TO BE ASSESSED BECAUSE DISTANCES BETWEEN HOMES AND JOBS AND BETWEEN FACTORIES AND PORT FACILITIES PRODUCED TRAVEL AND TRANSPORT DEMANDS, AND IT WAS IMPERATIVE THAT LAND AND TRANSPORTATION PLANNING BE LOOKED AT TOGETHER FOR EFFECTIVE DEVELOPMENT.
*IN ALL THIS, WE HAVE ALSO TO BEAR IN MIND THE RELATIVE ROLES OF THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS IN THE FIELD OF DEVELOPMENT,* NR CHAN SAID.
/HE SAID ....
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1983
4
HE SAID THAT SINCE 1951 ABOUT ONE MILLION A DECADE. TO RESULT IN A POPULATION OF BY THE END OF THE CENTURY.
THE POPULATION HAD INCREASED BY THIS WAS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE AND ABOUT SEVEN MILLION IN HONG KONG
OF THIS TOTAL, ABOUT 6.2 MILLION WOULD PROBABLY BE ACCOMMODATED WITHIN AREAS EITHER ALREADY DEVELOPED OR ALREADY PLANNED FOR DEVELOPMENT.
FURTHER NEW DEVELOPMENT CAPACITY WOULD THEREFORE HAVE TO BE FOUND TO ACCOMMODATE ABOUT 800 000 PEOPLE DURING THE 1990’S.
AS FAR AS JOBS WERE CONCERNED, MR CHAN SAID, THE WORK FORCE WOULD PROBABLY INCREASE FROM ABOUT 2.4 MILLION IN 1981 TO 3.4 MILLION IN THE YEAR 2001. WHILE THERE MAY BE SOME SHIFT TOWARDS MORE EMPLOYMENT IN THE COMMERCIAL SECTOR, DEPENDENCE ON THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY SEEMED LIKELY TO CONTINUE.
MR CHAN SAID THE POTENTIAL SUPPLY, AS WELL AS POTENTIAL DEMAND FOR LAND, HAD ALSO TO BE CONSIDERED.
HE SAID FIVE DETAILED SUB-REGIONAL STUDIES HAD BEEN UNDERTAKEN, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF HIGHLY QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS, AND WERE NEARLY COMPLETED.
+IN SUCH A SMALL AND ALREADY HIGHLY DEVELOPED PLACE AS HONG KONG, THERE MIGHT APPEAR AT FIRST GLANCE TO BE LITTLE ROOM FOR FURTHER MAJOR DEVELOPMENT,* MR CHAN SAID.
AFTER ALL, WEREN’T HONG KONG ISLAND, KOWLOON AND NEW KOWLOON ALREADY REALLY FULL AND ALL THE OTHER EASILY DEVELOPABLE AREAS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES ALREADY BEING TURNED INTO NEW TOWNS?
+BUT A QUICK ROUND-UP OF THE PRINCIPAL FINDINGS OF THE FIVE SUB-REGIONAL STUDIES (NORTH-WEST NEW TERRITORIES, THE NORTH-EAST NEW TERRITORIES, THE MAIN URBAN AREAS AND HARBOUR, NORTH LANTAU AND JUNK BAY-SAI KUNG) SHOWED THIS WAS NOT S0,+ HE SAID.
MR CHAN SAID OF THE NORTH-WEST NEW TERRITORIES THE GENERAL CONCLUSION WAS THAT ABOUT 700 000 PEOPLE COULD BE ACCOMMODATED IN THE TIN SHUI WAI-DEEP BAY AREA WEST OF YUEN LONG. THERE WAS ALREADY A COMMITMENT TO AN INITIAL DEVELOPMENT FOR UP TO 135 000 PEOPLE IN THE AREA AND SOME GROWTH WAS ALSO EXPECTED TO OCCUR BETWEEN YUEN LONG AND TUEN MUN. TO MEET THE TRANSPORT NEEDS •RIAT MIGHT BE GENERATED, A NEW HIGHWAY BETWEEN YUEN LONG AND YUEN MUN AND NEW ROAD AND RAIL LINKS FROM AU TAU TO TSUEN WAN WOULD PROBABLY BE REQUIRED.
IN THE NORTH-EAST NEW TERRITORIES, UP TO 605 000 MORE PEOPLE COULD BE ACCOMMODATED IN EXTENSIONS TO TAI PO AND FANLING-SHEK WU HUI, AND IN FURTHER DEVELOPMENT AT MA ON SHAN AND THREE FATHOMS COVE. BECAUSE OF ITS NATURALLY BEAUTIFUL TOPOGRAPHY AND THE ENCLOSED AREA OF WATER AT TOLO, GREAT CARE HAD TO BE EXERCISED TO PREVENT THE SUB-REGION BEING ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY FURTHER URBANISATION AND UNCONTROLLED AGRICULTURE.
ADEQUATE TREATMENT OF SEWAGE AND OTHER EFFLUENTS WOULD BE REQUIRED IF FURTHER MAJOR DEVELOPMENT WERE TO TAKE PLACE. NEW TRANSPORT LINKS BETWEEN SHA TIN AND KOWLOON - WHICH WAS A BOTTLENECK IN THE TERRITORY’S TRANSPORT SYSTEM - WOULD ALSO BE NEEDED.
/l*3 CHAI', ...••••
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1983
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MR CHAN SAID THE MAIN URBAN AREAS AND HARBOUR HAD BEEN THE MOST DIFFICULT TO STUDY. BUT THE CONCLUSIONS WERE THAT, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE POTENTIAL FOR REDEVELOPMENT THAT REMAINED AND THE SCOPE FOR FORMING NEW LAND BY RECLAMATION AND TERRACING, ABOUT 4.55 MILLION PEOPLE COULD BE ADEQUATELY HOUSED IN THE AREA, COMPARED TO A CURRENT FIGURE OF ROUGHLY 3.6 MILLION, WHICH INCLUDED THE INADEQUATELY HOUSED. THIS ESTIMATE TOOK ACCOUNT OF LIMITATIONS IMPOSED BY THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE TRANSPORT SYSTEM COULD BE IMPROVED AND EXPANDED.
ASSUMING KAI TAK AIRPORT REMAINED IN OPERATION, THE PRINCIPAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE ON LARGE SCALE RECLAMATIONS OFF WEST KOWLOON, HUNG HOM BAY, CENTRAL AND KENNEDY TOWN. BUT IF THE AIRPORT WERE RELOCATED, AND THE LAND THERE COULD BE RE-USED, A SMALLER WEST KOWLOON RECLAMATION WOULD SUFFICE. IN BOTH CASES, EXTENSION OF THE KWAI CHUNG CONTAINER PORT WOULD BE NEEDED AND IT MIGHT BE CONNECTED BY RAIL VIA A TUNNEL TO SHA TIN TO LINK UP WITH THE KCR.
A WEST HARBOUR ROAD CROSSING AND EXTENSIONS TO THE MTR WOULD ALSO BE NEEDED.
IN THE LATE 197O’S, MR CHAN CONTINUED, IT WAS RECOGNISED, FROM AN AIRPORT OPERATIONAL POINT OF VIEW, THAT CHEK LAP KOK ON NORTH LANTAU OFFERED A SUITABLE LOCATION FOR A NEW INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WITH ASSOCIATED URBAN DEVELOPMENT FOR ABOUT 200 000 PEOPLE AT TUNG CHUNG. THERE WOULD ALSO BE FURTHER CAPACITY FOR ABOUT 500 000 PEOPLE. HOWEVER, NO COMMITMENT TO A NEW AIRPORT EXISTED AT PRESENT, ALTHOUGH THE OPTION REMAINED OPEN FOR THE FUTURE.
THE DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL OF NORTH LANTAU WITHOUT AN AIRPORT HAD ALSO BEEN EXAMINED AND THE STUDIES INDICATED THAT REASONABLE SCOPE EXISTED, LARGELY ON RECLAMATION BETWEEN PENG CHAU AND HEI LING CHAU. DEVELOPMENT THERE FOR UP TO 700 000 PEOPLE MIGHT ALSO BE LINKED EASTWARDS BY SUBMERGED ROAD AND RAIL CONNECTIONS ACROSS THE LAMMA CHANNEL TO KENNEDY TOWN AND WESTWARDS THROUGH TO MUI WO AND POSSIBLY CHEK LAP KOK. THE EASTERN TRANSPORT LINKS MIGHT BE BUILT IN CONJUNCTION WITH A BREAKWATER BETWEEN KAU Yl CHAU AND PENG CHAU WHICH COULD PROVIDE SHELTERED WATER TO THE NORTH INTO WHICH PORT FACILITIES MIGHT BE EXPANDED.
MR CHAN SAID, PLANS WERE WELL ADVANCED FOR THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW TOWN AT JUNK BAY WHICH COULD ULTIMATELY ACCOMMODATE ABOUT 330 000 PEOPLE.
EXTENSIVE FORMATION WORKS WERE ALREADY PROCEEDING FOR INITIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE AREA TO ACCOMMODATE ABOUT 175 000 PEOPLE, LINKED BY A NEW ROAD TUNNEL TO KWUN TONG. TO GO FURTHER WOULD REQUIRE AN EXTENSION OF THE MTR AT CONSIDERABLE COST.
♦AS YOY CAN SEE,* HE SAID, +FAR FROM BEING SHORT OF IDEAS AS TO HOW TO DEAL WITH THE POTENTIAL DEMANDS FOR DEVELOPMENT IN THE 199O’S WHICH WILL BE GENERATED BY A POPULATION QUANTUM OF ABOUT 800 000 PEOPLE, WE HAVE A CHOICE TO MAKE BETWEEN A QUITE CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF OPTIONS, WHICH PRODUCE A TOTAL THEORETICAL CAPACITY OF ABOUT THREE MILLION PEOPLE.
+OUR PROBLEM LIES, THEREFORE, IN MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE.
+IT IS INTO THIS DECISIVE PHASE OF OUR STUDY PROCESS THAT WE ARE NOW MOVING.*
/in duties ....
FRIDAY, 1J0VEL3ER 11, 19^3
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IN STUDIES OF THE SUB-REGIONS DETAILED STATISTICS ON THE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF EACH OPTION HAD BEEN PRODUCED, AS WELL AS BROAD INDICATIONS OF WHERE AND HOW MUCH GROWTH COULD BE ACCOMMODATED AND WHAT ACCOMPANYING TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE WOULD BE REQUIRED.
THESE NOW HAD TO BE ANALYSED AND COMPARED FOR GUIDANCE TOWARDS KEY DECISIONS.
GIVEN THE VAST QUANTITY OF STATISTICAL INFORMATION WHICH HAD TO BE PROCESSED, COMPUTER PROGRAMMES TO HELP OPTIMISE THE RESULTS WERE BEING USED.
♦ BUT, I HASTEN TO ADD, IT IS NOT A SIMPLE FINANCIAL COST/ BENEFIT ANALYSIS BY COMPUTER THAT IS INVOLVED,+ MR CHAN SAID. IT WAS AN ANALYSIS WHICH, WHILE TAKING THE FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS CAREFULLY INTO ACCOUNT, MUST HAVE REGARD TO MANY OTHER FACTORS, COLLECTIVELY ENCOMPASSED PERHAPS BY THE PHRASE +QUALITY OF LIFE*, AND RELYING HEAVILY ON THE APPLICATION OF COMMON SENSE AS WELL AS MATHEMATICAL TESTS.
+IN OTHER WORDS, WE WERE APPLYING UP TO DATE PLANNING STANDARDS AND VIEWING THE PROSPECT OF HAVING THE RESOURCES TO IMPLEMENT THEM OPTIMISTICALLY,* HE SAID.
A DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY WHICH COULD BE ADJUSTED TO MATCH THE AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES, WAS NEEDED.
MR CHAN SAID» +WHETHER THE STRATEGY WHICH WILL BEST SUIT US WILL BE ONE OF CONTINUING DECENTRALISATION, FOLLOWING THE MOST RECENT PATTERN OF NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT IN THE NEW TERRITORIES-OR, REVERSING THAT TREND, INVOLVES A DEGREE OF CONSOLIDATION WITHIN A RELATIVELY CLOSE RADIUS OF THE MAIN URBAN AREAS AND THE HARBOUR- OR STEER A MIDDLE COURSE BETWEEN THE TWO EXTREMES, I CANNOT YET PREDICT.
♦ THE NEXT FEW MONTHS’ WORK WOULD BE CRUCIAL IN SETTLING THIS GENERAL QUESTION OF DIRECTION,+ HE SAID.
BROAD INDICATIONS WERE, HOWEVER, THAT A STRATEGY WAS NEEDED WHICH ASSUMED THE RETENTION OF THE AIRPORT AT KAI TAK FOR THE GREATER PART OF THE 1990'S DECADE BUT KEPT OPEN THE OPTION OF ITS RELOCATION THEREAFTER.
IN ADDITION, THERE WERE LIKELY TO BE POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT COMPONENTS WHICH EMERGED AS BEING NECESSARY FOR THE FUTURE OF THE TERRITORY WHATEVER THE STRATEGY FINALLY SELECTED.
IDENTIFICATION OF ANY SUCH COMMON ELEMENTS WOULD ENABLE AN EARLY START TO BE MADE ON THE PLANNING AND DETAILED FEASIBILITY STUDIES WHICH WOULD LEAD TO A PROMPT CONTINUATION OF HONG KONG'S DEVELOPMENT INTO AND BEYOND THE 1990’S.
MR CHAN CONCLUDED I +THE NEXT SIX MONTHS OR SO ARE GOING TO BE EXCITING ONES IN THE FIELD OF DEVELOPMENT PLANNING FOR HONG KONG AND DURING THIS PERIOD THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE MAKING KNOWN THE PRINCIPAL FINDINGS OF ITS STUDIES IN THIS FIELD.
♦ I HAVE LITTLE DOUBT THAT THERE WILL BE CONSIDERABLE INTEREST IN WHATEVER EMERGES AND THAT FINAL DECISIONS ON OUR DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY WILL BE INFLUENCED BY A WIDE RANGE OF VIEWS.+
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/7 .....
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1983
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TSUEN WAN DEVELOPMENTS CONTINUING * * * *
ALTHOUGH TSUEN WAN HAS TRANSFORMED FROM A RURAL VILLAGE INTO A MODERN TOWNSHIP, VARIOUS DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ARE STILL FORGING AHEAD TO ENSURE THE PROVISION OF ADEQUATE FACILITIES, THE TSUEN WAN DISTRICT COMMISSIONER, MR ADOLF HSU, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
♦LARGE SCALE RECLAMATION WORK IS NOW GOING ON AT THE SEA FRONT OF TSUEN WAN AND THE NORTHERN PART OF TSI NG Yl TO PROVIDE MORE LAND FOR DEVELOPMENT TO COPE WITH THE PROJECTED POPULATION GROWTH TO ONE MILLION BY THE EARLY 199OS,+ HE SAID.
♦OTHER PROJECTS INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NORTH-WESTERN PART OF TSUEN WAN TOWN, THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TSI NG Yl NORTH BRIDGE, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF SHAM TSENG INTO A TOWNSHIP WITH 60 000 PEOPLE.+
ON TRANSPORT, MR HSU ADDED THAT CONSIDERATION WOULD ALSO BE GIVEN TO EXPANDING THE TSUEN WAN TRUNK ROAD NETWORK IN ORDER TO COPE WITH FUTURE NEEDS AND TO LINK UP WITH OTHER NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICTS.
MR HSU WAS SPEAKING AT A SWEARING-IN CEREMONY OF OFFICEBEARERS OF THE 6TH TERM OF THE TSUEN WAN TRADE ASSOCIATION. HE ALSO PRAISED THE ASSOCIATION’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DISTRICT.
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REVIEW BOARD MEMBERS VISIT PRISONS
KKK
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR MICHAEL THOMAS, AND SIX OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF REVIEW ON LONG TERM PRISON SENTENCES TODAY VISITED THREE INSTITUTIONS OF THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO LOOK OVER THE FACILITIES AND CORRECTIONAL PROGRAMMES PROVIDED FOR PRISONERS.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, ffi THOMAS GARNER, THE PARTY FIRST VISITED THE PIK UK CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION.
THERE THEY SAW SOME YOUNG MEN ATTENDING EDUCATIONAL CLASSES, AND OTHERS BEING GIVEN VOCATIONAL TRAINING IN VARIOUS TRADES, • INCLUDING TELEVISION AND RADIO REPAIR, CARPENTRY AND BOOK-BINDING.
THE INSTITUTION HAS A DUAL FUNCTION AS A PRISON AND A TRAINING CENTRE FOR THE MORE INTRACTABLE YOUNG MALE OFFENDERS. IT ALSO CATERS FOR YOUNG PRISONERS ON REMAND AWAITING TRIAL, OR THOSE REMANDED BY THE COURTS FOR REPORTS ON SUITABILITY FOR TRAINING AND DETENTION CENTRES.
THE PARTY THEN PROCEEDED TO THE ADJACENT PIK UK PRISON FOR ADULT MALES.
/JZEL3ERS OF....
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 19&3
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MEMBERS OF THE PARTY SHOWED GREAT INTEREST IN THE MULTISTOREY LAUNDRY MANNED BY PRISONERS. EQUIPPED WITH MODERN PLANT AND MACHINERY, THE LAUNDRY IS CAPABLE OF HANDLING 454 OOO KILOGRAMMES OF SOILED LINEN FROM GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS AND CLINICS A MONTH.
THE VISITORS WERE ALSO BRIEFED ON OTHER FACILITIES PROVIDED IN THE PRISON AND SAW PRISONERS AT WORK IN VARIOUS WORKSHOPS.
THE PARTY CONCLUDED THEIR VISIT AT THE LAI CHI KOK RECEPTION CENTRE, AND SAW VARIOUS FACILITIES, INCLUDING THE RECEPTION OFFICE, CONTROL ROOM WITH CLOSED CIRCUIT TV SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM, HOSPITAL, LABORATORY, DENTAL CLINIC, DINING HALL, CELLS AND DORMITORIES.
THE CENTRE IS ONE OF THE FEW HIGH RISE PENAL ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE WORLD, AND RECEIVES ALL MALE OFFENDERS OVER 21 YEARS OF AGE ON REMAND AND AFTER SENTENCING.
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GOVERNOR URGES CHILDREN TO FOLLOW ROAD SAFETY RULES * * * *
THE GOVERNOR TODAY TOLD CHILDREN IN HONG KONG THAT LIFE CAN BE FUN, REWARDING AND SAFE, IF THEY FOLLOW THE ROAD SAFETY RULES.
HE WAS ADDRESSING MORE THAN 1 500 PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN AT THE ROAD SAFETY RALLY HELD IN THE QUEEN ELIZABETH STADIUM TODAY.
THE RALLY WAS ORGANISED BY THE ROAD SAFETY COUNCIL OF HONG KONG AND RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG AND SUPPORTED BY THE URBAN COUNCIL, AS A PART OF THIS YEAR’S PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN DIRECTED TOWARDS YOUNG PEOPLE.
HIS ADVICE TO THEM WASi +WHENEVER YOU CROSS A ROAD, GET ON OR OFF THE SCHOOL BUS, DASH IN AND OUT OF THE PLAYGROUND, OR WHEN YOU RIDE YOUR BIKE, IN FACT WHEREVER THERE IS TRAFFIC, YOU MUST BE CAREFUL AND REMEMBER THE LESSONS OF ROAD SAFETY*.
THE GOVERNOR EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE VULNERABILITY OF YOUNG CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS.
♦ABOUT ONE FIFTH OF ALL PEDESTRIAN CASUALTIES LAST YEAR WERE YOUNG PEOPLE,* HE SAID, ADDING THAT IT WAS THOSE BETWEEN THE A.GE OF SIX AND 11 THAT WERE MOST AT RISK.
HE POINTED OUT THAT OVER HALF OF ALL TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS INVOLVING INJURY TO CHILDREN OCCURRED WHEN THEY WERE CROSSING THE ROAD.
♦AND THE TIME OF THE DAY WHEN CHILDREN ARE MOST AT RISK IS THE LUNCH-TIME CHANGEOVER PERIOD WHEN THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ON THEIR WAY TO AND FROM SCHOOL,* HE SAID.
/sir sdward .......
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1983
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SIR EDWARD POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD DONE WHAT IT COULD TO ENSURE THAT PEDESTRIANS CAN CROSS A ROAD IN SAFETY, INCLUDING THE SETTING UP OF 213 ZEBRA CROSSINGS, 652 SIGNAL CROSSINGS, 104 PEDESTRIAN SUBWAYS, 165 PEDESTRIAN FOOTBRIDGES THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.
♦THERE ARE PLANS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF 80 MORE SUBWAYS OR FOOTBRIDGES, OVER AND ABOVE THOSE ALREADY PLANNED AS PART OF THE NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT,♦ HE SAID.
WITH THE HELP OF THE ROAD SAFETY ASSOCIATION, ABOUT 500 SCHOOLS HAVE THEIR OWN CROSSING PATROLS.
BUT PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS, BRIDGES, AND SCHOOL PATROLS ARE ONLY PART OF THE ANSWER, THE GOVERNOR STRESSED.
THE GOVERNMENT HAD ALSO CONSTANTLY SOUGHT TO IMPRESS ON DRIVERS OF BUSES. CARS AND TRUCKS THE NEED TO PLAY THEIR PART BECAUSE THEY HAD A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY TOO.
APART FROM BEING URGED TO BE ALERT AND CAREFUL WHEN CROSSING THE ROAD, CHILDREN WERE ASKED TO HEED THE ADVICE OF ♦CAPTAIN SAFETY+, A CHARACTER SPECIALLY CREATED TO SPEARHEAD THE CAMPAIGN TARGETTED AT PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN.
♦HE IS BY NO MEANS SUPERHUMAN BUT IS CERTAINLY THE EXPERT ON ROAD SAFETY,♦ HE SAID.
ALSO ATTENDING THE RALLY WERE LADY YOUDE AND SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, INCLUDING THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, MR ROY HENRY; THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR ALAN SCOTT; THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ROAD SAFETY COUNCIL AND DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, MR R. ANN I NG; AND THE DEPUTY COMMANDER, BRITISH FORCES, BRIGADIER A. CROWFOOT.
ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PROGRAMME WAS WHEN 453 LIGHT STICKS WERE ILLUMINATED BY SCHOOL CHILDREN TO DENOTE THE NUMBER CF PEOPLE KILLED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS LAST YEAR.
TO COMPLEMENT THE EFFECT OF THE RALLY, A ROAD SAFETY DISPLAY WAS STAGED IN THE EXHIBITION LOBBY OF THE QUEEN ELIZABETH STADIUM AND IN THE ADJACENT MORRISON HILL TEMPORARY PLEASURE GROUND.
AMONG THE ATTRACTIONS INSIDE THE STADIUM WAS A NEWLY-DESIGNED COMPUTER GAME ON ROAD SAFETY THEMES. THE OUTDOOR DISPLAY FEATURED A SEAT BELT CATAPULT WHICH DEMONSTRATED THE CONSEQUENCE OF WEARING AND NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT.
THE DISPLAY WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC TOMORROW (SATURDAY) FROM 10 AM TO 4 PM.
THE ONE HOUR RALLY WAS RECORDED FOR BROADCAST ON TVB JADE ON NOVEMBER 26 AT 4.30 PM.
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/10 .......
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1983
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LABORATORY ACCREDITATION SCHEME FOR HONG KONG ******
HONG KONG IS TO SET UP A LABORATORY ACCREDITATION DEVELOPMENT SCHEME TO IMPROVE QUALITY CERTIFICATION SERVICES, WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON THE EXPORT SECTOR OF THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY.
+ONCE ESTABLISHED THE SCHEME WILL PROVIDE FOR THE ASSESSMENT AND MONITORING OF THE COMPETENCY OF LABORATORIES IN UNDERTAKING VARIOUS TYPES OF TESTING WORK IN AN ENDEAVOUR TO FACILITATE THE INTERNATIONAL ACCEPTANCE OF TEST CERTIFICATES ISSUED BY THESE LABORATORIES,* THE DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY, MR J.F. YAXLEY SAID TODAY.
MR YAXLEY ANNOUNCED THIS FOLLOWING THE SIGNING OF A CONSULTANCY CONTRACT BY HIM ON BEHALF OF THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT AND BY MR J.A. GILMOUR, REGISTRAR OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF TESTING AUTHORITIES, AUSTRALIA (NATA), ON BEHALF OF THE CONSULTANTS.
NATA WILL PROVIDE CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT CF THE SCHEME.
♦THE IMPLEMENTATION WORK, SPREAD OVER A PERIOD OF 18 MONTHS, WILL BE A JOINT EFFORT BY STAFF OF NATA AND THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT,* MR YAXLEY SAID.
NATA WILL DRAFT THE TECHNICAL AND POLICY CRITERIA, CODES OF PRACTICE AND WILL BE ADVISING GENERALLY AMONG OTHER THINGS, WHILE GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL WILL MAKE ALL PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE ACTUAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SCHEME.
A DISCUSSION OF THE SCHEME TOOK PLACE YESTERDAY AT THE INAUGURAL MEETING OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON LABORATORY ACCREDITATION.
THE COMMITTEE WILL OFFER ITS ADVICE DURING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SCHEME.
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REMEMBRANCE DAY CEREMONY
* * * *
A REMEMBRANCE DAY CEREMONY WILL BE HELD AT THE CENOTAPH IN STATUE SQUARE ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 13) IN HONOUR OF THOSE wHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES IN ACTIVE SERVICE.
THIS CEREMONY, LIKE THE ONE HELD LAST YEAR, WILL COMBINE THREE SEPARATE OBSERVANCES.
THERE WILL BE NO CEREMONY AT THE CHINESE MEMORIAL IN THE ZOOLOGICAL AND BOTANICAL GARDENS AND NO OFFICIAL REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVICE AT ST. JOHN’S CATHEDRAL.
/WRSA.THS WILL
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1983
11 -
WREATHS WILL BE LAID BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE; THE CHIEF JUSTICE, SIR DENYS ROBERTS; THE COMMANDER BRITISH FORCES, MAJOR GENERAL DEREK BOORMAN; REPRESENTATIVES OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS; COMMONWEALTH COMMISSIONERS; THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, MR ROY HENRY; THE CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, MR HILTON CHEONG-LEEN; SERVICE COMMANDERS, AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION, SERVICE UNITS, DISTRICT BOARDS, TRADITIONAL COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS AND EX-SERVICEMEN’S ASSOCIATIONS.
THE CEREMONY WILL BEGIN AT 10.45 AM AND WILL END ABOUT 11.30 AM, WHEN ALL WHO WISH TO LAY WREATHS AT THE CENOTAPH MAY DO SO.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
A PRESS STAND WILL BE SET UP ON CHATER ROAD OUTSIDE THE SUPREME COURT BUILDING (NEAR THE MTR CHATER STATION ENTRANCE). REPRESENTATIVES ASSIGNED TO COVER THE CEREMONY MUST BE IN POSITION BEFORE 10.30 AM. PRESS PHOTOGRAPHERS AND T.V. CAMERAMEN ARE REMINDED THAT TELE OR ZOOM LENSES MAY BE REQUIRED. GIS OFFICERS WILL BE PRESENT TO ASSIST.
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TRAFFIC CHANGES FOR REMEMBRANCE DAY * * *
SPECIAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN CENTRAL ON REMEMBRANCE DAY, SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 13), TO ALLOW FOR THE CEREMONY AT THE CENOTAPH IN STATUE SQUARE.
UNDER THE ARRANGEMENTS, JACKSON ROAD BETWEEN DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL AND CHATER ROAD WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM 9 AM TO NOON. THE SAME ROAD BETWEEN CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL AND CHATER ROAD WILL BE CLOSED FROM 10 AM TO NOON.
CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL WESTBOUND BETWEEN HARCOURT ROAD AND ICE HOUSE STREET, MURRAY ROAD NORTHBOUND BETWEEN CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL AND CHATER ROAD, ALONG WITH THE HARCOURT ROAD FLYOVER AND THE SECTION OF CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL WESTBOUND BETWEEN HARCOURT ROAD AND ICE HOUSE STREET, WILL BE CLOSED FROM 10.30 AM TO NOON.
CHATER ROAD BETWEEN PEDDER STREET AND JACKSON ROAD, ICE HOUSE STREET BETWEEN QUEEN’S ROAD CENTRAL AND CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL, ALONG WITH THE SECTION OF ICE HOUSE STREET BETWEEN CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL AND CHATER ROAD, WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM 7 AM TO MIDNIGHT.
/IK ADDITION,
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1983
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IN ADDITION, CLUB STREET WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE-WAY SOUTHBOUND FROM 10 AM TO NOON.
EASTBOUND TRAFFIC FROM REDDER STREET WILL BE DIVERTED VIA CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL FROM 7 AM TO MIDNIGHT, WHILE WESTBOUND TRAFFIC ON HARCOURT ROAD WILL BE DIVERTED SOUTH INTO COTTON TREE DRIVE FROM 10.30 AM TO NOON.
ALSO FROM 10.30 AM TO NOON, EASTBOUND TRAFFIC FROM ADMIRALTY MTR STATION WILL BE ALLOWED TO USE THE BUS-ONLY LANE WEST OF THE TAXI STANDS FOR ACCESS TO QUEENSWAY EASTBOUND.
THE FOLLOWING DIVERSIONS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT WILL BE EFFECTED FROM 9 AM TO NOON*
* BUSES ON CMB ROUTES 1, 24, 70 AND 80 WESTBOUND WILL BE DIVERTED VIA HARCOURT ROAD, COTTON TREE DRIVE, QUEENSWAY, DES VOEUX CENTRAL AND QUEEN VICTORIA STREET;
* BUSES ON CMB ROUTE 23B BOUND FOR CAUSEWAY BAY WILL TAKE GARDEN ROAD AND QUEENSWAY;
M BUSES ON CMB ROUTE 81M WESTBOUND WILL BE DIVERTED VIA HARCOURT ROAD, COTTON TREE DRIVE, QUEENSWAY, QUEEN’S ROAD CENTRAL, PEDDER STREET, CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL AND DOUGLAS STREET;
ft BUSES ON ROUTE 90M WESTBOUND WILL BE DIVERTED VIA QUEENSWAY, QUEEN’S ROAD CENTRAL, PEDDER STREET, CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL AND DOUGLAS STREET;
* BUSES ON CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL ROUTE 103 BOUND FOR POKFIELD ROAD WILL OPERATE VIA QUEENSWAY AND COTTON TREE DRIVE;
* BUSES ON CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL ROUTE 200 BOUND FOR CENTRAL WILL BE DIVERTED VIA QUEENSWAY, QUEEN’S ROAD CENTRAL, PEDDER STREET, CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL AND TERMINATE AT CENTRAL BUS STATION. ON THE RETURN JOURNEY, THEY WILL PROCEED VIA CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL EASTBOUND, CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL WESTBOUND, POTTINGER STREET, DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL AND QUEENSWAY;
* MAXICABS ON ROUTE 32 BOUND FOR CENTRAL WILL BE DIVERTED VIA MURRAY ROAD TO THE MAXICAB TERMINUS AT LAMBETH WALK.
ALL PARKING SPACES CENTRAL AND CHATER ROAD
IN JACKSON ROAD BETWEEN CONNAUGHT ROAD WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 0.01 AM TO NOON.
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1983
- 13 -
YOUTH URGED TO PLAY COMMUNITY ROLE * * * *
ACTUAL INVOLVEMENT IN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS TO UNDERSTAND THE TREND OF THE COMMUNITY WILL ENABLE YOUNG PEOPLE TO BETTER ADAPT THEMSELVES TO THE CHANGES OF SOCIETY, THE DEPUTY REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR ALBERT LAM, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE SIXTH GATHERING FOR SCOUT OFFICIALS, HE NOTED THAT UNDER THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME, THE TERM +COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT* WAS NO LONGER ABSTRACT OR BEYOND REACH.
♦THE YOUTHS MAY PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY BUILDING AND CONTRIBUTE THEIR CREATIVITY, DRIVE AND NEW IDEAS AT GRASS-ROOTS LEVEL,* HE SAID.
+THEY CAN ALSO PLAY THEIR ROLE IN DISTRICT AFFAIRS AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS DISTRICT-BASED PROJECTS, ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN AND OTHERS.
♦BESIDES OFFERING DIRECT CONTRIBUTION, THEY CAN ALSO GET A MORE THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE TERRITORY AS A WHOLE, AND TO FOSTER A SENSE OF BELONGING AND SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY THROUGH COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION.*
MR LAM SAID YOUNG PEOPLE, STUDENTS AND WORKERS ALIKE, SHOULD TRY TO BUILD UP SOCIAL SENSITIVITY AND HAVE BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND DEEPER CONCERN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
THE OPINIONS OF THE YOUTHS AND THEIR PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS WERE ALSO IMPORTANT, MR LAM SAID.
THE YOUTHS CAN HELP CREATE A STILL BETTER, MORE ADAPTABLE SOCIETY THROUGH THEIR CONTINUED PARTICIPATION IN VARIOUS ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES, HE SAID.
+IN THIS REGARD, SCOUTING IS A MAJOR AVENUE WHEREBY YOUTHS GET INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES.*
MR LAM ALSO CALLED ON YOUNG PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THE ^COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT* SCHEME TO CONTACT THE DISTRICT OFFICES FOR INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE.
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/14........
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1983
- 14 -NOTE TO EDITORS:
GOVERNOR TO OPEN TUEN MUN FESTIVAL
* * *
THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONIES OF THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT FESTIVAL AND THE YAN Ol TONG COMMUNITY AND INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE TOMORROW (SATURDAY) AFTERNOON.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CEREMONIES WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 4.45 PM AT THE YAN Ol TONG COMPLEX FACING LUK YUEN STREET AT ITS JUNCTION WITH TUEN MUN HEUNG SZE WUI ROAD.
GOVERNMENT TRANSPORT WILL LEAVE FOR TUEN MUN AT 3.15 PM SHARP FROM THE KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER IN TSIM SHA TSUI.
PHOTOGRAPHERS ARE ADVISED TO BRING ALONG TELELENSE.
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MORE TEACHERS BEING TRAINED * * * *
THE GOVERNMENT’S VARIOUS PLANS TO PROMOTE AND IMPROVE THE EDUCATION SYSTEM CAN ONLY BE SUCCESSFULLY PUT INTO OPERATION WITH THE PRESENCE OF A LARGE NUMBER OF DEDICATED AND PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED TEACHERS, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR COLVYN HAYE, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
IN THIS RESPECT, MR HAYE SAID, THE GOVERNMENT HAD TAKEN A NUMBER OF POSITIVE STEPS TO TRAIN MORE QUALIFIED TEACHERS.
+THESE STEPS INCLUDE THE LARGE INCREASE IN ENROLMENTS IN THE THREE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION AND THE TECHNICAL TEACHERS’ COLLEGE OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, A COMPLETE REVIEW OF THE COLLEGES’ CURRICULUM IN TEACHER EDUCATION AND AN EXTENSION OF THE PERIOD OF TRAINING FOR TEACHER TRAINEES,* HE SAID.
MR HAYE WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE SHA TIN ANNEXE OF SIR ROBERT BLACK COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AT YUEN CHAU KOK.
HE SAID THE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION NOW OFFERED A LARGE VARIETY OF FULL AND PART-TIME COURSES.
+THE PERIOD OF FULL-TIME TRAINING HAD BEEN EXTENDED FROM THE ORIGINAL ONE-YEAR FULL-TIME INITIAL TRAINING COURSES FOR FORM 5 GRADUATES TO THE PRESENT THREE-YEAR COURSES FOR FORM 5 GRADUATES AND TWO-YEAR FULL-TIME COURSES FOR MATRICULANTS,* HE NOTED.
MR HAYE ADDED THAT IN SEPTEMBER, 1981, A DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL EDUCATION WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE SIR ROBERT BLACK COLLEGE OF EDUCATION. THIS IS THE ONLY COLLEGE WHICH OFFERS A TWO-YEAR PART-TIME IN-SERVICE COURSE OF TRAINING FOR TEACHERS OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS.
/+THIS DEPARTtUNT........
FRIDAY, NOVJKBER 11, 1963
- 15 -
+THIS DEPARTMENT NOW OFFERS A TOTAL OF SEVEN ELECTIVES, RANGING FROM THE EDUCATION OF SLOW LEARNING CHILDREN TO THE MANAGEMENT OF CHILDREN WITH SPEECH AND LANGUAGE PROBLEMS,* HE SAID.
DURING TODAY’S CEREMONY, MR HAYE ALSO OPENED AN EXHIBITION DEPICTING THE TYPE OF TRAINING STUDENT TEACHERS NOW RECEIVED IN THE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION.
+IT IS HOPED THAT THIS EXHIBITION WILL PROVIDE THE PUBLIC WITH BETTER INSIGHT INTO THE WORK AND CURRICULUM OF THE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION AND BRING ABOUT A BETTER UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN TEACHERS, SCHOOL HEADS, PARENTS AND THE PUBLIC,* MR HAYE NOTED.
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POSTER DESIGNS FOR DISPLAY * * * *
ABOUT 80 ENTRIES OF A REHABILITATION POSTER DESIGN CONTEST, HELD RECENTLY IN MONG KOK, WILL BE PUT ON DISPLAY ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 13).
THE EXHIBITION, TO BE HELD FROM 9 AM TO 9 PM AT THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY ARGYLE STATION CONCOURSE, WILL INCLUDE 12 WINNING ENTRIES OF THE CONTEST.
ALTOGETHER 200 ENTRIES WERE RECEIVED FOR THE CONTEST ORGANISED BY THE MONG KOK DISTRICT BOARD TO HELP EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE REHABILITATION OF THE DISABLED.
A DISTRICT BOARD SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY : +THE GOOD RESPONSE TO THE DESIGN CONTEST REFLECTS THE PUBLIC’S AWARENESS OF THE HANDICAPPED’S NEED FOR INTEGRATION INTO THE COMMUNITY.*
THE CONTEST WAS DIVIDED INTO FOUR SECTIONS FOR PRIMARY, SECONDARY, POST-SECONDARY STUDENTS, ADULTS, AND A JOINT ENTRY BY THE ABLE-BODIED AND THE DISABLED.
THE 12 WINNING ENTRIES WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC EDUCATION IN REHABILITATION NEXT WEEK TO COMPETE WITH THOSE FROM THE OTHER 17 DISTRICTS.
ON SUNDAY, A PRIZE-PRESENTATION CEREMONY WILL ALSO BE HELD. THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MR STANLEY WONG, WILL PRESENT. PRIZES TO THE WINNERS.
NOTE TO EDITORS i-
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE PRIZE-PRESENTATION CEREMONY OF THE MONG KOK REHABILITATION POSTER DESIGN CONTEST AT 10.15 AMON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 13) AT THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY ARGYLE STATION CONCOURSE.
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/16 .......
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1983
16
CARE AND CONCERN FOR ELDERLY * * * *
FREE MEDICAL EXAMINATION WILL BE OFFERED TO WONG TAI SIN RESIDENTS AGED 60 AND ABOVE AS PART OF THE TUNG TAU ELDERLY FESTIVAL.
ADVANCE APPOINTMENTS CAN NOW BE MADE WITH THE DISTRICT OFFICE OR SUB-OFFICES FOR EXAMINATIONS UNDER THE SCHEME WHICH WILL OPERATE DAILY BETWEEN 10 AM AND 4.30 PM AT THE LOK SIN TONG WONG CHUNG MING SECONDARY SCHOOL FROM NOVEMBER 19 TO 20 AND AT THE WONG TAI SIN COMMUNITY CENTRE FROM DECEMBER 10 TO 11.
THE MEDICAL CHECK-UPS WILL INCLUDE BODY WEIGHT, BLOOD PRESSURE AND PULSE MEASUREMENT AS WELL AS BLOOD AND URINE TESTS.
THE ELDERLY PEOPLE WILL ALSO BE GIVEN SUBSEQUENT COUNSELLING BY DOCTORS ON DUTY OR REFERRED TO NEARBY MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS FOR TREATMENT IF AN ILLNESS IS DIAGNOSED.
IN ADDITION, AN EXHIBITION AND A SLIDE SHOW WILL ALSO BE PRESENTED AT THE SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY CENTRE TO PROVIDE BASIC KNOWLEDGE ON HEALTH AND HYGIENE FOR OLD PEOPLE.
THE TWO-WEEK ELDERLY FESTIVAL IS SPONSORED BY THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT BOARD AND JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE, THE TUNG TAU AREA COMMITTEE AND THE LOK SIN TONG BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.
THE FESTIVAL PROGRAMME WILL INCLUDE A CANTONESE OPERA, A PICNIC, A VEGETARIAN FEAST, A CROSS WORD PUZZLE, A COLOURING AND A PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITIONS.
THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR PHILIP CHOK, SAID THE EVENT WAS AIMED AT AROUSING PUBLIC CONCERN FOR THE CARE AND WELFARE OF OLD PEOPLE.
+WE HOPE THE ACTIVITIES WILL ALSO SERVE AS A PLATFORM FOR CLOSER COMMUNICATION AND HELP FOSTER NEIGHBOURLINESS AMONG ELDERLY RESIDENTS HERE,* HE ADDED.
TO MARK THE OCCASION, AN OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE HELD AT 7.30 PM TOMORROW (SATURDAY) AT THE SCHOOL HALL OF LOK SIN TONG WONG CHUNG MING SECONDARY SCHOOL.
MORE THAN 1 000 OLD PEOPLE WILL ATTEND THE CEREMONY WHICH WILL BE FOLLOWED BY A CANTONESE OPERA.
DETAILS OF THE FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE WONG TAI SIN DISTRICT OFFICE AND SUB-OFFICES AND ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE AT 3-832368 OR 3-222261.
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 19«J
- 17 -
PROMOTING CHILD COURTESY THROUGH PAINTING * * * *
YOUNG ARTISTS WILL BE ABLE TO SHOW THEIR PAINTING SKILL IN A COURTESY CHARACTER COLOURING COMPETITION STARTING AT 2 PM ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 13) AT THE TSIM SHA TSUI EAST PROMENADE.
CHILDREN UNDER 12 ARE WELCOME TO JOIN THE CONTEST, WHICH IS ORGANISED BY THE YAU MA TEI DISTRICT BOARD TO PROMOTE ITS CURRENT MONTH-LONG COURTESY CAMPAIGN.
ONE THOUSAND ENTRY FORMS PRINTED WITH THE CARTOON CHARACTER ♦COURTESY BO BO+ WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO PARTICIPANTS ON THE SPOT. OIL PASTEL COLOUR WILL ALSO BE PROVIDED.
WINNERS OF THE COMPETITION WILL BE AWARDED PRIZES ON THE SAME DAY.
THE COURTESY BO BO WILL ALSO BE PRESENT FOR PHOTOGRAPHS TOGETHER WITH THE YOUNG PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS.
NOTE TO EDITORS!
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE COURTESY CHARACTER CHILDREN COLOURING COMPETITION TO BE HELD AT 2 PM ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 13) AT THE EAST TSIM SHA TSUI PROMENADE NEXT TO THE NEW WORLD CENTRE.
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CORRECTIONAL RECRUIT OFFICERS TO PARADE * * * *
THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL HOLD A PASSING-OUT PARADE OF RECRUIT OFFICERS AT THE PARADE GROUND OF THE STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE IN STANLEY TOMORROW (SATURDAY).
MR MICHAEL SANDBERG, UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, WILL TAKE THE SALUTE AND PRESENT SILVER WHISTLES TO THE TWO BEST RECRUITS.
HE WILL ALSO ADDRESS THE PARADE OF 116 ASSISTANT OFFICERS AND 27 OFFICERS WHO HAVE RECENTLY COMPLETED SIX-MONTH BASIC TRAINING.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE PASSING-OUT PARADE AT THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT’S STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE AT 47 TUNG TAU WAN ROAD, STANLEY AT 9.45 AM TOMORROW (SATURDAY).
PRESS TRANSPORT WILL LEAVE THE DEPARTMENT’S HEADQUARTERS AT GUARDIAN HOUSE, 32 01 KWAN ROAD, WAN CHAI AT 9 AM SHARP.
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./18 .....
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1983
18
ELEVATED WALKWAY PLANNED FOR MONG KOK * * *
THE GOVERNMENT IS PLANNING TO BUILD AN ELEVATED WALKWAY, PROVIDING PEDESTRIAN ACCESS BETWEEN BUTE STREET AND THE FUTURE TRANSPORT INTERCHANGE AT MONG KOK KOWLOON CANTON RAILWAY STATION.
THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT PROJECT WILL INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION OF A GRADE-SEPARATED CROSSING AT THE JUNCTION OF SAI YEE STREET AND BUTE STREET.
THREE ELEVATORS WILL BE INSTALLED AND THE PROJECT WILL INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS AND DRAINS.
A NOTICE CONCERNING THE PROPOSED WORKS IS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY.
A PLAN CAN BE SEEN AT CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, CENTRAL ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING MAIN ENTRANCE, HONG KONG; DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE (KOWLOON WEST), 1OTH FLOOR, KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 405 NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON; AND AT MONGKOK DISTRICT OFFICE, TUNG PING BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, 157 PRINCE EDWARD ROAD, KOWLOON.
OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSAL MUST BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING TO THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS BEFORE JANUARY 10, 1984.
0 -------
FIRE APPLIANCES ON SHOW SUNDAY * * *
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO LOOK CLOSELY AT VARIOUS TYPES OF FIRE APPLIANCES AND RESCUE EQUIPMENT WHEN THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT STAGES A STATIC DISPLAY AT EDINBURGH PLACE, CENTRAL, ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 13).
THEY WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO SEE THE GIANT FIRE BOAT 6 WHICH WILL BE MOORED AT QUEEN’S PIER, AND BE ABLE TO GO ON GUIDED TOURS TO THE SPECIALLY DESIGNED VESSEL.
THE EXHIBITION WILL ALSO FEATURE FOR THE FIRST TIME THE MOBILE CASUALTY TREATMENT CENTRE WHICH IS EQUIPPED WITH FACILITIES TO HANDLE MAJOR ACCIDENTS AT THE SCENE.
THE EXHIBITION IS AIMED AT INTRODUCING THE IMPORTANT ROLE PLAYED BY THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT IN PROTECTING LIVES AND PROPERTY.
ON SHOW ALSO WILL BE THE WEST-GERMAN MADE 50-METRE TURNTABLE LADDER, ONE OF THE MOST MODERN FIRE APPLIANCES IN THE WORLD.
/OTHER APPLIANCES .......
FHIMY, NOVEMBER 11, 1983
- 19 -
OTHER APPLIANCES ON DISPLAY WILL INCLUDE AN AMBULANCE, A PUMP ESCAPE SNORKEL, AN EMERGENCY TENDER AND A MOBILE COMMAND UNIT (MCU), WHICH WILL BE MANNED BY SENIOR FIREWOMEN.
APART FROM THE STATIC DISPLAY, THE EXHIBITION WILL FEATURE A WIDE RANGE OF COLOUR AND BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHS SHOWING THE HISTORY OF THE DEPARTMENT, AND ALSO THE WORK OF THE OFFICERS AND MEN IN VARIOUS UNITS OF THE DEPARTMENT.
THE EXHIBITION WILL BE OPEN BETWEEN 10 AM AND 5 PM.
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NOTE TO EDITORS*
BEST DANCE GROUPS BEING CHOSEN M M M
THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT DANCING COMPETITION WILL BE HELD THIS WEEKEND TO SELECT A NUMBER OF OUTSTANDING DANCE GROUPS FOR A PERFORMANCE IN THE KO SHAN THEATRE NEXT MONTH.
TWELVE TEAMS IN THE ORIENTAL DANCE DIVISION AND CHILDREN FROM THREE KINDERGARTENS IN THE SONG AND DANCE DIVISION WILL COMPETE TOMORROW (SATURDAY) AFTERNOON.
THE WESTERN DANCE SESSION WILL TAKE PLACE ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENTS TO BE HELD AT 2.30 PM ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AT THE PUI CHING MIDDLE SCHOOL ON WATERLOO ROAD.
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TEMPORARY KAI TAK ROAD TRAFFIC PLAN
M M M
SPECIAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED TO FACILITATE THE REPAIR WORKS IN CONNECTION WITH THE BURSTING OF WATER MAINS AT THE JUNCTION OF KAI TAK ROAD AND CARPENTER ROAD.
M KAI TAK ROAD BETWEEN ITS JUNCTION WITH CARPENTER ROAD AND LOK SIN ROAD IS CLOSED TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC.
M RIGHT TURNS FROM TUNG TSI NG ROAD INTO LOK SIN ROAD SOUTHBOUND ARE NOT PERMITTED.
M NGA TSIN WAI ROAD BETWEEN TAK KU LING ROAD AND SA PO ROAD HAS BEEN RE-ROUTED TWO-WAY.
/* SA PO .........
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1983
- 20 -
M SA PO ROAD HAS ALSO BEEN RE-ROUTED TWO-WAY.
* KAI TAK ROAD BETWEEN CARPENTER ROAD AND NGA TSIN WAI ROAD HAS BEEN RE-ROUTED TWO-WAY.
MOTORISTS ON LOK SIN ROAD HEADING FOR KAI TAK ROAD AND SA PO ROAD ARE BEING DIVERTED TO USE TUNG LUNG ROAD, TUNG TAU TSUEN ROAD, JUNCTION ROAD AND NGA TSIN WAI ROAD.
KMB ROUTE CHAK ON ESTATE ROAD, JUNCTION WAI ROAD.
NO. 2D OPERATING BETWEEN TUNG TAU ESTATE AND HAS BEEN DIVERTED TO OPERATE VIA TUNG TAU TSUEN ROAD, DUMBARTON ROAD, GRAMPIAN ROAD AND NGA TSIN
MAXICAB OPERATION HOURS EXTENDED
* * * *
FROM SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 13), OPERATION HOURS ON MAXICAB ROUTE 24 BETWEEN MOUNT BUTLER AND ADMIRALTY MTR STATION WILL BE EXTENDED ON SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.
THE NEW OPERATING HOURS WILL BE 6.30 AM TO 10.30 PM FROM MOUNT BUTLER AND 7 AM TO 11 PM FROM ADMIRALTY MTR STATION.
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TRAFFIC DIVERSION FOR ROAD WORK
* * *
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC MEASURES WILL BE IN FORCE AT BONHAM ROAD FROM TOMORROW (SATURDAY) TO ALLOW ROAD RESURFACING WORK TO BE CARRIED OUT.
FROM MIDNIGHT TOMORROW TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE FLYOVER LINKING POKFULAM ROAD WITH BONHAM ROAD WILL BE CLOSED. TRAFFIC WILL BE DIVERTED VIA HIGH STREET AND WESTERN STREET DURING THE CLOSURE.
FROM 7 PM TO MIDNIGHT TOMORROW, AND 6 AM ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 13) TO 8 PM ON MONDAY (NOVEMBER 14), A SECTION OF BONHAM ROAD OUTSIDE HOUSE NO. 69 WILL BE RESTRICTED TO ONE LANE FOR TWO-WAY TRAFFIC.
MEANWHILE, IN CENTRAL, EDINBURGH PLACE EAST BETWEEN THE EASTERN END OF URBAN COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND QUEEN’S PIER WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FROM 8.30 AM TO 6 PM ON NOVEMBER 12, 13, 19 AND 20 TO ALLOW FOR ACTIVITIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE CAREERS ’84 EXHIBITION.
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1983
21
CAS HOLDING INTER-UNIT CONTEST * M * *
THE CIVIL AID SERVICES WILL HOLD AN INTER-UNIT FIRST AID AND CASUALTY HANDLING COMPETITION FOR ITS MEMBERS ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 13).
A TOTAL OF 17 CAS TEAMS WILL TAKE PART IN THE COMPETITION, WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 9.15 AM AT THE CAS HEADQUARTERS AT 1OO CAROLINE HILL ROAD.
THE PURPOSE IS TO RAISE CAS PROFICIENCY IN FIRST AID AND CASUALTY HANDLING IN THE FIELD.
AFTER THE COMPETITION, THE CAS CADET COMMANDANT, MR HOWARD YOUNG, WILL PRESENT THE ’C.Y. KWAN CUP’ TO THE WINNING TEAM AND PENNANTS TO OTHER TEAMS.
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SAI KUNG WATER MAINS WORK M M M
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO SOME PREMISES IN SAI KUNG WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM 10 PM ON MONDAY (NOVEMBER 14) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR MAINS WORK.
WATER BAY
ALONG CLEAR
THE SUSPENSION WILL AFFECT PREMISES ______ __ _
ROAD BETWEEN SHAW’S STUDIO AND HIRAM’S HIGHWAY. INCLUDING TAI PO TSAI TSUEN AND TAI PO TSAI; AND HIRAM’S HIGHWAY BETWEEN CLEAR WATER BAY ROAD AND SAI SHA WAN, INCLUDING NAM WAI. PAK WAI, HO CHUNG, PAK SHA WAN, TUI MIN HOI, PO LO CHE, SH& KOK MEI AND SAI KUNG MARKET.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
A TOWN WITH LIFE AND VITALITY ........................... 1
GOVERNOR STRESSES VALUE OF COMMUNITY CENTRE ............. 2
GOVERNOR LEAVES FOR PEKING TOMORROW ..................... 3
CORRECTIONAL SERVICES PLAYING IMPORTANT ROLE ............ 3
BUS STATION TO BE BUILT IN TUEN MUN ..................... 4
DB MEMBERS COMPARE NOTES ................................ 5
FIRST SAND SCULPTURING CONTEST IN HONG KONG ............. 5
INTER-DISTRICT SWIMMING GALA ............................ 6
LION DANCE ON WHEELCHAIRS ............................... 7
TWO NEW PEDESTRIAN SUBWAYS FOR KOWLOON .................. 7
NEW FOOTBRIDGE FOR KWUN TONG ............................ 8
'MOST COURTEOUS' HOTEL EMPLOYEES CHOSEN ................. 8
TRAFFIC BAN LIFTED ...................................... 8
SHAU KEI WAN TAPS OFF.................................... 9
NEW FEES FOR UK PASSPORTS ............................... 9
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1983
1
A TOWN WITH LIFE AND VITALITY * * * *
MUCH IS BEING DONE TO MAKE TUEN MUN +A TOWN WITH A LIFE AND VITALITY OF ITS OWN+ AND A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE IN, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
CITING EXAMPLES, HE SAID A LEISURE SWIMMING POOL WAS NOW SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE AND WAS TO OPEN BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
♦WORK STARTED ON TUEN MUN CENTRAL PARK IN SEPTEMBER AND THIS WILL PROVIDE A LARGE ORNAMENTAL LAKE FOR BOATING, AN AMPHITHEATRE FOR OUTDOOR PERFORMANCES AND CHILDREN’S PLAY AREAS,♦ SAID SIR EDWARD AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE TWO-WEEK TUEN MUN FESTIVAL.
♦THE TUEN MUN TOWN HALL, WITH A CAPACITY FOR 1 450 PEOPLE, IS ALSO UNDER CONSTRUCTION, AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED IN DECEMBER 1985.+
IN ADDITION, HE SAID HE HAD JUST OPENED THE TUEN MUN COMMUNITY AND INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE BEFORE OFFICIATING AT THE FESTIVAL OPENING.
THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT THAT TUEN MUN NOW HAD A POPULATION OF 220 000 AND THE NUMBER WAS EXPECTED TO GROW BY 70 000 ANNUALLY OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS TO REACH HALF A MILLION BY THE END OF THE DECADE.
♦THE TASK OF ENSURING THAT THERE ARE SUFFICIENT ESSENTIAL FACILITIES TO SERVE THIS GROWING POPULATION IS A FORMIDABLE ONE.
♦BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TOO THAT THE VITAL NEED FOR RECREATION AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES WHICH KNIT A COMMUNITY TOGETHER IS NOT FORGOTTEN.+
SIR EDWARD STRESSED THAT HAVING PROVIDED THE FACILITIES, WE MUST ENCOURAGE THE COMMUNITY TO USE THEM TO THE FULL.
♦IT IS HEARTENING TO SEE THE DISTRICT BOARD AND OTHER COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS DEEPENING THEIR INVOLVEMENT AND EXTENDING THE RANGE OF THEIR ACTIVITIES.♦
THE TUEN MUN FESTIVAL IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THIS WORK, THE GOVERNOR ADDED.
OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, THE PEOPLE OF TUEN MUN WILL BE ABLE TO ENJOY A WIDE VARIETY OF PROGRAMMES INCLUDING AN EXHIBITION, A DISTRICT RUN, AN INTER-SCHOOL CONCERT, VARIETY SHOWS, SOCCER MATCHES, AND BASKETBALL AND BOWLING TOURNAMENTS.
PAINTING, DRAWING, SINGING, PHOTOGRAPHY, AND SLOGAN COMPETITIONS WILL ALSO BE HELD.
- - o - -
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1983
2.
GOVERNOR STRESSES VALUE OF COMMUNITY CENTRE
******
THE YAN 01 TONG COMMUNITY AND INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE IS REMARKABLE IN PROVIDING A FULL RANGE OF RECREATION AND WELFARE SERVICES FOR ALL AGES UNDER ONE ROOF, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE CENTRE, SIR EDWARD SAID THERE COULD BE +N0 BETTER EVIDENCE OF THE CENTRE’S VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY OF TUEN MUN+, AS HE UNDERSTOOD IT ALREADY HAD 30 000 MEMBERS AND WAS IN USE DAY AND NIGHT.
BUILT WITH FUNDS FROM PRIVATE DONATIONS, THE GOVERNMENT, THE JOCKEY CLUB AND THE LOTTERIES FUND, THE CENTRE WOULD BE USING PROFITS GENERATED BY RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT ITS WELFARE AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, THE GOVERNOR SAID.
♦THE IDEA IS FOR THE HEALTHY TO SUPPORT THE NEEDY. THIS CONCEPT REFLECTS THE CREATIVITY AND IMAGINATION WHICH HAS GONE INTO THE PLANNING OF THIS PROJECT,* SIR EDWARD SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE YAN 01 TONG, FORMED OVER 50 YEARS AGO, +HAS RISEN MAGNIFICENTLY TO THE CHALLENGE PRESENTED BY THE GROWTH OF THE TUEN MUN NEW TOWN, AND HAS CONTRIBUTED TOWARDS THE PROVISION OF A POLYCLINIC, KINDERGARTENS, PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND NOW TO THIS COMMUNITY AND INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE.*
HE THEN CONGRATULATED ALL THOSE INVOLVED FOR THEIR DETERMINATION AND INSPIRATION TO BRING THE CENTRE INTO BEING.
THE YAN 01 TONG COMMUNITY AND INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE, WITH AN AREA OF ABOUT 4 360 SQUARE METRES, IS CENTRALLY LOCATED IN TUEN MUN NEW TOWN.
THE EIGHT-STOREY COMPLEX HAS FACILITIES WHICH INCLUDE AN INDOOR HEATED SWIMMING POOL, A SKATING RINK, A BOWLING ALLEY, BADMINTON COURTS, SQUASH COURTS AND A DANCE STUDIO FOR YOUTHS-A SERVICES CENTRE FOR THE ELDERLY, THE ONLY SUCH CENTRE IN TUEN MUN- AND A NURSERY.
AMONG OTHER FACILITIES ARE A LIBRARY WITH A STUDY ROOM, A RESTAURANT AND A SUPERMARKET.
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1983
5
NOTE TO EDITORS*
GOVERNOR LEAVES FOR PEKING TOMORROW * * * *
A FACILITY HAS BEEN ARRANGED FOR PRESS PHOTOGRAPHERS AND CAMERAMEN TO COVER THE DEPARTURE OF THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, FOR PEKING TOMORROW (SUNDAY).
SIR EDWARD, ACCOMPANIED BY THE POLITICAL ADVISER, MR ROBIN MCLAREN, WILL BE LEAVING ON FLIGHT CA 102, ETD 12.45 PM.
PLEASE ADVISE THOSE ASSIGNED TO COVER THE DEPARTURE TO ASSEMBLE IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE AIRPORT TERMINAL BUILDING NOT LATER THAN 11.30 AM TOMORROW. GIS OFFICERS WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST.
- - 0 - -
CORRECTIONAL SERVICES PLAYING IMPORTANT ROLE * * K M
HONG KONG’S CONTINUED WELL-BEING AS A SUCCESSFUL TRADING TERRITORY DEPENDS ON ITS STABILITY WHICH IN TURN DEPENDS ON ITS EFFECTIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT, MR MICHAEL SANDBERG, UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
SPEAKING AT A PASSING-OUT PARADE OF THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, MR SANDBERG SAID THAT THE DEPARTMENT WAS PLAYING AN INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT PART IN ENSURING THAT THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG COULD LIVE IN FREEDOM AND SECURITY.
HE POINTED OUT THAT OVER THE YEARS THE PRISON SYSTEM HAD IMPROVED GREATLY WITH THE EMPHASIS BEING CHANGED FROM CUSTODIAL TO REMEDIAL SENTENCING.
FURTHERMORE, MUCH MORE EMPHASIS WAS NOW PLACED ON AFTER-CARE AND A PRISONER’S RE-ESTABLISHMENT IN SOCIETY AFTER RELEASE, HE ADDED.
SUCH DEVELOPMENT COULD ALSO BE REFLECTED BY THE CHANGE OF NAME OF THE DEPARTMENT FROM PRISONS TO CORRECTIONAL SERVICES WHICH IMPLIED THAT SOMETHING COULD BE MADE CORRECT OR PUT RIGHT.
♦PUNISHMENT BY ITSELF IS NOT ENOUGH, AND IS NOT THE WHOLE OBJECT OF THE SENTENCE,+ HE EMPHASISED.
HE SAID THAT THESE CHANGES WERE ALL PART OF A MODERN THINKING AND CARING SOCIETY AND THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES OFFICERS WERE NOW PLAYING THEIR PART IN THE EVENTUAL REHABILITATION OF THE PRISONERS.
/HE POINTED
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1983
4
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE MEW APPROACHES WERE EFFECTIVE, AS SHOWN BY THE HIGH SUCCESS RATE OF THE TRAINING AND DETENTION CENTRE PROGRAMMES.
NEARLY 65 PER CENT OF PEOPLE DISCHARGED FROM THE TRAINING CENTRES ARE NOT RE-CONVICTED WITHIN A THREE-YEAR FOLLOW-UP PERIODWHILE FROM THE DETENTION CENTRE, AT THE END OF A ONE-YEAR AFTER-CARE PERIOD, IT IS AS HIGH AS 94.5 PER CENT.
HE SAID MEMBERS OF THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT COULD GET IMMENSE JOB SATISFACTION BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE CONTRIBUTING TO THIS EFFORT.
MR SANDBERG WAS THE INSPECTING OFFICER AT THE PASSING-OUT PARADE HELD AT THE DEPARTMENT’S STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE IN STANLEY.
ON PARADE WERE 27 OFFICERS AND 116 ASSISTANT OFFICERS WHO HAD JUST COMPLETED THEIR SIX-MONTH BASIC TRAINING.
HE ALSO PRESENTED SILVER WHISTLES TO THE TWO BEST ALL-ROUND RECRUITS, MR LAU CHUNG-YIN AND MR LUI SHIU-CHOY.
-------0---------
BUS STATION TO BE BUILT IN TUEN MUN * * * * *
THE CIVIC AND CULTURAL COMPLEX NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION IN THE CENTRAL AREA OF TUEN MUN NEW TOWN IS TO INCLUDE A NEW BUS STATION.
TENDERS FOR THE WORK ARE BEING INVITED NOW BY THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE OF THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THE COMPLEX INCLUDES AN AUDITORIUM, GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LAW COURTS, A MULTI-STOREY CARPARK, A LIBRARY, A POST OFFICE AND A MARRIAGE REGISTRY, ALL CF WHICH WILL SURROUND A LANDSCAPED GARDEN.
HE SAID ALL THESE BUILDINGS WERE AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT.
THE SIX-LANE BUS STATION, OCCUPYING ABOUT 8 250 SQUARE METRES, WILL BE COVERED WITH A LANDSCAPED PODIUM LINKED BY COVERED WALKWAYS TO BUILDINGS WITHIN THE COMPLEX AND ALSO TO TUEN MUN TOWN PARK AND THE SURROUNDING COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL BLOCKS. IT WILL INCLUDE A BUS CREW CANTEEN AND A REGULATOR’S OFFICE.
WORK IS EXPECTED TO START EARLY NEXT YEAR AND BE COMPLETED IN 18 MONTHS. THERE ARE ALREADY FOUR OTHER BUS STATIONS IN TUEN MUN.
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/5......
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1983
5
DB MEMBERS COMPARE NOTES * * * *
MEMBERS OF THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD TODAY MET THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN WAN CHAI, CENTRAL AND WESTERN TO EXCHANGE VIEWS AND SHARE EXPERIENCES ON SIMILAR PROBLEMS IN THEIR DISTRICTS.
ACCOMPANIED BY THEIR CHAIRMAN, MR DONALD TSANG, THE SHA TIN BOARD MEMBERS ALSO VISITED THE URBAN DISTRICTS TO LOOK AT DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
THE DISTRICT OFFICER AND CHAIRMAN OF THE TWO URBAN DISTRICT BOARDS, MISS LOLLY CHIU, DESCRIBED TODAY’S VISIT AS +MEANINGFUL+.
♦A SIMILAR VISIT WAS HOSTED BY THE SHA TIN BOARD TWO MONTHS AGO FOR OUR MEMBERS WHO FOUND IT MOST USEFUL AND IMPRESSIVE,* SHE SAID.
THE GROUP THEN PROCEEDED TO THE ROOFTOP OF THE HOPEWELL CENTRE FOR A PANORAMIC VIEW OF DEVELOPMENTS IN WAN CHAI.
THEY WERE BRIEFED ON AN URBAN REDEVELOPMENT SCHEME AND ITS RELATED PROBLEMS.
LATER AT THE WESTERN TEMPORARY WHOLESALE FRUIT MARKET, WHICH WAS MOVED FROM THE WESTERN MARKET IN SHEUNG WAN SINCE JULY LAST YEAR, THE VISITORS WERE TOLD THAT MORE THAN 100 000 TONNES OF FRUITS WERE HANDLED AT THE MARKET ANNUALLY FOR CONSUMPTION ON HONG KONG ISLAND, OUTLYING ISLANDS AND MACAU.
THE FINAL STOP WAS THE CITY HALL WHERE THE PARTY ATTENDED A HISTORICAL EXHIBITION WHICH IS PART OF THE CURRENT MONTH-LONG CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT FESTIVAL.
- - 0 - -
FIRST SAND SCULPTURING CONTEST IN HONG KONG * * M *
A BEACH CARNIVAL FEATURING HONG KONG’S FIRST SAND SCULPTURING CONTEST WILL BE HELD AT CLEAR WATER BAY (SECOND BEACH) TOMORROW (SUNDAY).
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE WELCOME TO THE CARNIVAL WHICH WILL BE STAGED BETWEEN 2 PM AND 5 PM.
MORE THAN 200 YOUNGSTERS ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE PART IN THE SAND SCULPTURING CONTEST, AND PHOTOGRAPHY ENTHUSIASTS ARE BEING INVITED TO TAKE COLOUR PICTURES OF THE COMPETITION.
/medals and
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1983
6
MEDALS AND SOUVENIRS, INCLUDING PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS AND SPORTS GOODS, WILL BE AWARDED FOR THE 80 BEST PICTURES TAKEN.
THE CARNIVAL, WITH THE SCULPTURING COMPETITION, IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG, THE CHAMPION CLUB AND THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT. THE PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST IS A JOINT EVENT WITH THE UNITED ARTIST PHOTOGRAPHIC ASSOCIATION.
THE RECORDS OF THE SAND SCULPTURING COMPETITION WILL BE SENT TO THE GUINNESS BOOK OF RECORDS FOR CONSIDERATION, AN NTSD SPOKESMAN SAID.
THESE RECORDS WILL INCLUDE THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS, THE NUMBER OF SAND MODELS BUILT AND THE SIZE OF THE LARGEST MODEL.
FOUR SCULPTORS AND ARTISTS WILL MAKE UP THE PANEL OF ADJUDICATORS. THEY ARE MR MAN LAU, MR KAN TEI-KEUNG, MR LEUNG KUI-TING AND MR LI CHIN-FAI.
THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (OPERATIONS) OF NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES, MR ARTHUR JOHNSON, WILL PRESENT PRIZES AND SOUVENIRS TO THE WINNERS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CONTEST.
ALSO ATTENDING THE CARNIVAL WILL BE THE CHAIRMAN OF CULTURE, RECREATION AND SPORT COMMITTEE OF SAI KUNG DISTRICT BOARD,MR CHAN KWAI-SANG; THE PRESIDENT OF CHAMPION CLUB, MR HO SAU-CHUN ; THE HEAD OF THE CULTURAL PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT OF RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG, M? CHUNG WAI-MING; THE PRESIDENT OF UNITED ARTIST PHOTOGRAPHIC ASSOCIATION, MR LAW CHI-KAN; AND THE URBAN SERVICES OFFICER OF SAI KUNG, MR MA IU-KI.
----0------
INTER-DISTRICT SWIMMING GALA *****
ABOUT 300 SWIMMERS REPRESENTING THE EIGHT NT DISTRICTS WILL COMPETE IN THE THIRD NEW TERRITORIES INTER-DISTRICT SWIMMING GALA TOMORROW (SUNDAY).
STARTING AT 10 AM AT THE SHA TIN JOCKEY CLUB PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL, THE CONTESTANTS WILL TAKE PART IN 70 RACES, INCLUDING FREE-STYLE, BACK-STROKE, BREAST-STROKE, BUTTERFLY AND RELAY EVENTS.
MEDALS WILL BE AWARDED TO THE CHAMPION AND THE FIRST AND SECOND RUNNERS-UP OF EACH RACE.
THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR NEW TERRITORIES, MR HAIDER BARMA, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY.
0--------
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1983
7
LION DANCE ON WHEELCHAIRS M * * *
THE TRADITIONAL CHINESE LION DANCE IS A DEMANDING FEAT EVEN FOR ABLE-BODIED PEOPLE.
BUT TWO PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED YOUNG MEN IN WHEELCHAIRS WILL DEMONSTRATE TOMORROW (SUNDAY) THAT THEY ARE ALSO CAPABLE OF PERFORMING THE DANCE.
THEIR PERFORMANCE WILL HIGHLIGHT THE EASTERN DISTRICT PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED AND ABLE-BODIED FESTIVAL AT THE LADY MACLEHOSE CENTRE IN POKFULAM.
MORE THAN 120 HANDICAPPED AND ABLE-BODIED YOUTHS WILL TAKE PART IN THE SPORTS-AND-GAMES DAY WHICH HAS BEEN ORGANISED TO PROMOTE THE PUBLIC’S AWARENESS OF THE NEED TO INTEGRATE THE HANDICAPPED INTO THE COMMUNITY.
THE PROGRAMME WILL ALSO INCLUDE SPORTS COMPETITIONS AND A VARIETY SHOW BY THE EASTERN DISTRICT CHILDREN CHOIR.
THE EVENT IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD, THE EASTERN DISTRICT YOUTH AND RECREATION CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE, AND THE HONG KONG PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED AND ABLE-BODIED ASSOCIATION.
-----o-------
TWO NEW PEDESTRIAN SUBWAYS FOR KOWLOON X M *
TWO PEDESTRIAN SUBWAYS ARE TO BE BUILT UNDER CHATHAM ROAD TO REPLACE AN EXISTING UNDERPASS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THE UNDERPASS WOULD BE CLOSED TO MAKE WAY FOR CONSTRUCTION OF AN ADDITIONAL RAIL TRACK IN CONJUNCTION WITH IMPROVEMENT WORKS FOR THE KOWLOON RAILWAY STATION.
THE NEW THREE-METRE WIDE SUBWAYS AND ASSOCIATED FOOTWAYS, WHICH WILL BE BUILT CLOSE TO THE UNDERPASS, WILL CONNECT 01 MAN ESTATE TO WINSLOW STREET, HUNG HOM.
A NOTICE CONCERNING THE PROPOSAL IS PUBLISHED IN THE LATEST GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
A PLAN SHOWING THE PROJECT MAY BE INSPECTED AT CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, CENTRAL ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING, MAIN ENTRANCE LOBBY, HONG KONG; DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE (KOWLOON WEST), 10TH FLOOR, KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 405 NATHAN ROAD; KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT OFFICE, 141 - 143 KAU PUI LUNG ROAD, 1ST FLOOR ; HUNG HOM SUB-OFFICE, 32 WUHU STREET. GROUND FLOOR. HUNG HOM; OR HOMANTIN SUBHJFFICE* BLOCK 8, HOMANflN ESTATE, 12$ - 126, SHEUN6 SHING STREET, KOWLOON.
-----0------
/8........
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1983
8
NEW FOOTBRIDGE FOR KWUN TONG
*****
A PEDESTRIAN FOOTBRIDGE WILL BE BUILT ACROSS KWUN TONG ROAD AT ITS JUNCTION WITH THE UNNAMED ROAD NEAR BLOCK 1 OF LOWER NGAU TAU KOK ESTATE.
TO FACILITATE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROJECT, A RESTRICTED HEIGHT OF 4.75 METRES WILL BE APPLIED UNDER THE FOOTBRIDGE FALSEWORKS FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS FOR TRAFFIC ON KWUN TONG ROAD.
THE PERIOD WILL START ON MONDAY (NOVEMBER 14) FOR EASTBOUND TRAFFIC AND ON DECEMBER 1 FOR WESTBOUND TRAFFIC.
DURING THIS PERIOD, HEAVY VEHICLES OVER 4.75 METRES IN IEIGHT TRAVELLING TO OR FROM KWUN TONG WILL BE DIVERTED VIA WAI YIP STREET OR NGAU TAU KOK ROAD.
-----0-------
’MOST COURTEOUS’ HOTEL EMPLOYEES CHOSEN
* * *
THIRTEEN COURTEOUS HOTEL EMPLOYEES WILL RECEIVE PRIZES AT A VARIETY SHOW TOMORROW (SUNDAY) AFTERNOON AT THE TSIM SHA TSUI CENTRE BASEMENT.
THEY ARE THE WINNERS OF THE MOST COURTEOUS HOTEL EMPLOYEES COMPETITION ORGANISED BY THE YAU MA TEI DISTRICT BOARD TO PROMOTE ITS CURRENT MONTH-LONG COURTESY CAMPAIGN.
A FASHION SHOW AND A POP CONCERT WILL PRECEDE THE PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY.
STARTING AT 3 PM, THE FASHION SHOW WILL FEATURE BOTH CASUAL AND SPORTSWEAR. ADMISSION IS FREE.
-----o-----
TRAFFIC BAN LIFTED * * *
FROM 10 AM ON MONDAY (NOVEMBER 14), THE
EXISTING TRAM-ONLY ROAD BETWEEN TAI
AND BUS-ONLY LANES ON EASTBOUND SHAU KEI WAN CHEONG STREET AND TAI HONG STREET WILL BE OPENED TO ALL VEHICLES
FOR ABOUT FIVE WEEKS.
DURING THE PERIOD, THE ROAD SECTION WILL BE DESIGNATED AS URBAN CLEARWAY WITHIN WHICH NO VEHICLES OTHER THAN FRANCHISED BUSES WILL BE ALLOWED TO STOP FOR PASSENGERS OR GOODS FROM 7 AM
TO MIDNIGHT DAILY.
-----0 - -
/9........
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1983
9
SHAU KEI WAN TAPS OFF * ft *
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO SOME AREAS IN SHAU KEI WAN WILL BE INTERRUPTED FROM 11 PM ON MONDAY (NOVEMBER 14) TO 6 AM ON TUESDAY (NOVEMBER 15) FOR WATER LEAKAGE TESTS.
THE SUSPENSION WILL AFFECT SHAU KEI WAN MAIN STREET EAST, KAM WAH STREET, MONG LUNG STREET, FACTORY STREET, BASEL ROAD AND CHURCH LANE.
_ - o -
NEW FEES FOR UK PASSPORTS ft * ft ft ft
THE UNITED KINGDOM GOVERNMENT HAS ANNOUNCED THAT FROM MONDAY (NOVEMBER 14), FEES FOR UK PASSPORTS WILL BE INCREASED FROM 11 POUND STERLING TO 15 POUND STERLING.
THIS INCREASE IN FEES WILL ONLY AFFECT BRITISH CITIZENS IN HONG KONG WHO APPLY FOR UK PASSPORTS TO THE PASSPORT OFFICE IN LONDON THROUGH THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
FEES FOR HONG KONG BRITISH PASSPORTS WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED, HE SAID.
OTHER NEW FEES ON UK PASSPORTS CHARGED BY THE PASSPORT OFFICE IN LONDON ARE i-
ft FOR ISSUING A PASSPORT OF 94 PAGES - 30.00 POUND STERLING
ft FOR ISSUING A PASSPORT WHICH INCLUDES THE PARTICULARS OF A SPOUSE i
(A) A PASSPORT OF NOT MORE THAN 32 PAGES -22.50 POUND STERLING
(B) A PASSPORT OF 94 PAGES - 45.00 POUND STERLING
ENQUIRIES MAY BE MADE BY DIALLING 3-7333111.
- - o - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL 5-233191
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1983
CONTENTS
PAGE NO.
IDJfilDflll
BRANCE DAY CEREMONY ....................................
1
GOVERNOR LEAVES FOR PEKING...................................... 1
HONG KONG'S JANUARY - SEPTEMBER EXTERNAL TRADE...............
NEW FISH HYBRID HOLDING GOOD PROMISE............................ 9
MORE NEW COMMUNITIES FORMED ................................... 11
STUDENTS INVITED TO INTER ESSAY COMPETITION ................... 12
ADOLESCENT HEALTH EXHIBITION .................................. 12
MANPOWER SURVEY ON MASS MEDIA TO START ........................ 13
INDUSTRIAL SAFETY POSTER DESIGN COMPETITION ................... 14
DIAL AN ENQUIRY ON TRANSPORT SERVICES ......................... 15
TENDERS CALLED FOR OPERATION OF RESTAURANT .................... 15
SHA TIN TO HOLD SQUASH COMPETITION ............................ 16
ILLEGAL STRUCTURES TO BE CLEARED ............................
PLB BAN ON MID-LEVELS ......................................... 1?
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1983
1
REMEMBRANCE DAY CEREMONY IM*
A REMEMBRANCE DAY CEREMONY WAS HELD AT THE CENOTAPH IN STATUE SQUARE TODAY (SUNDAY) IN HONOUR OF THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES IN ACTIVE SERVICE.
WREATHS WERE LAID BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE? THE CHIEF JUSTICE, SIR DENYS ROBERTS? THE COMMANDER BRITISH FORCES, MAJOR GENERAL DEREK BOORMAN? REPRESENTATIVES OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS? COMMONWEALTH COMMISSIONERS? THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, MR ROY HENRY? THE CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, MR HILTON CHEONG-LEEN? SERVICE COMMANDERS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION, SERVICE UNITS, DISTRICT BOARDS, TRADITIONAL COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS AND EX-SERVICEMEN’S ASSOCIATIONS.
MEANWHILE, THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT ALSO HELD AN OBSERVANCE OF THE REMEMBRANCE DAY IN THE MAIN HALL OF THE DEPARTMENT’S OFFICERS’ CLUB IN STANLEY TODAY.
THE SERVICE WAS ATTENDED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR THOMAS GARNER, AND STAFF AND FRIENDS OF THE DEPARTMENT.
FOLLOWING THE SERVICE, THE CONGREGATION LED BY THE CAPE COLLINSON BAND, MARCHED TO STANLEY MILITARY CEMETERY AND JOINED IN THE WREATH-LAYING CEREMONY IN REMEMBRANCE OF THOSE KILLED DURING THE TWO WARS AND THOSE WHO HAD DIED IN SERVICE.
. A CEREMONY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR MEMBERS THEIR LIVES DURING THE WORLD WARS I
OF PEACE WAS HELD IN THE FOYER OF MAY
ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 11) OF THE POLICE FORCE WHO LOST AND II AND ON DUTY IN TIMES
HOUSE, POLICE HEADQUARTERS.
THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, MR ROY HENRY LAID A WREATH ON BEHALF OF THE FORCE. DURING THE CEREMONY WREATHS WERE ALSO LAID BY MR NYLON TS’O, THE ACTING COMMANDANT OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY POLICE FORCE AND BY REPRESENTATIVES OF POLICE FORMATIONS
AND POLICE ASSOCIATIONS.
THE POLICE BAND WAS IN ATTENDANCE.
--------0----------
GOVERNOR LEAVES FOR PEKING
KHi
THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, LEFT FOR PEKING THIS (SUNDAY) AFTERNOON TO ATTEND THE SINO-BRITISH TALKS ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.
SEEING HIM OFF AT THE AIRPORT WERE THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY, hR DENIS BRAY, THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, SIR SZE-YUEN CHUNG, THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR ROGER LOBO, AND THE VICE-CHIEF EDITOR OF THE XINHUA NEWS AGENCY (HONG KONG BRANCH), MR TAN GAN.
0 --------
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1983
2
HONG KONG’S JANUARY - SEPTEMBER EXTERNAL TRADE * * * *
TOTAL MERCHANDISE TRADE FOR JANUARY - SEPTEMBER 1983, VALUED AT $233 121 MILLION, SHOWED AN INCREASE OF 18 PER CENT OVER THE SAME PERIOD OF 1982, ACCORDING TO FIGURES RELEASED TODAY (SUNDAY) BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
DOMESTIC EXPORTS ROSE BY 20 PER CENT TO $72 635 MILLION, IMPORTS BY 17 PER CENT TO $121 870 MILLION AND RE-EXPORTS BY 19 PER CENT TO $38 615 MILLION. DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS TOGETHER SHOWED AN INCREASE OF 20 PER CENT.
THE CHANGES IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO THE 10 MAJOR OVERSEAS MARKETS ARE SHOWN IN TABLE 1.
DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO THE U.S.A. ROSE BY 34 PER CENT IN VALUE.
SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN CLOTHING (BY $2 863 MILLION OR 34 PER CENT)} TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY $1 471 MILLION OR 99 PER CENT)j AND OFFICE MACHINES AND AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT (BY $1 180 MILLION OR 104 PER CENT).
ON THE OTHER HAND, DECREASES WERE RECORDED IN PLASTIC TOYS AND DOLLS (BY $272 MILLION OR 11 PER CENT) AND TRANSISTORS AND DIODES (BY $87 MILLION OR 50 PER CENT).
INCREASES IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO THE UNITED KINGDOM WERE REGISTERED FOR METALLIFEROUS ORES AND METAL SCARP (BY $601 MILLION OR 1 859 PER CENT)| OFFICE MACHINES AND AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT (BY $108 MILLION OR 206 PER CENT); AND TEXTILES (BY $80 MILLION OR 24 PER CENT).
HOWEVER, DECREASES WERE REGISTERED FOR CLOTHING (BY $86 MILLION OR FOUR PER CENT) AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT (BY $34 MILLION OR 11 PER CENT).
MOST COMMODITIES EXPORTED TO THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY INCREASED IN VALUE, INCLUDING OFFICE MACHINES AND AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT (BY $120 MILLION OR 338 PER CENT) AND CLOTHING (BY $109 MILLION OR FOUR PER CENT).
HOWEVER, DOMESTIC EXPORTS OF ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES, AND ELECTRICAL PARTS THEREOF DECREASED BY $27 MILLION OR 11 PER CENT.
SIGNIFICANT INCREASES WERE REGISTERED IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO CHINA OF TEXTILES (BY $443 MILLION OR 67 PER CENT) AND FEEDING STUFF FOR ANIMALS (BY $105 MILLION OR 296 PER CENT); AND IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS TO JAPAN OF METALLIFEROUS ORES AND METAL SCRAP (BY $75 MILLION OR 47 PER CENT).
THE CHANGES IN DOMESTIC EXPORTS BY MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS ARE PRESENTED IN TABLE 2.
/THE CHANGES .......
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1983
- 3 -
THE CHANGES IN IMPORTS FROM THE 10 MAJOR SOURCES ARE SUMMARISED IN TABLE 3.
DEMAND FOR IMPORTED GOODS FROM CHINA REMAINED STRONG. INCREASES WERE RECORDED MAINLY IN TEXTILES (BY $1 556 MILLION OR 37 PER CENT); CLOTHING (BY $1 006 MILLION OR 30 PER CENT); MEAT AND MEAT PREPARATIONS (BY $199 MILLION OR 23 PER CENT); VEGETABLES AND FRUIT (BY $193 MILLION OR 16 PER CENT), AND CRUDE ANIMAL AND VEGETABLE MATERIALS (BY $193 MILLION OR 33 PER CENT).
AS FOR IMPORTS FROM JAPAN, INCREASES WERE NOTED FOR ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES, AND ELECTRICAL PARTS THEREOF (BY $1 475 MILLION OR 63 PER CENT); AND TEXTILES (BY $969 MILLION OR 31 PER CENT).
HOWEVER, DECREASES WERE REGISTERED FOR ROAD VEHICLES (INCLUDING AIR CUSHION VEHICLES) (BY $425 MILLION OR 20 PER CENT). AND GENERAL INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT, AND MACHINE PARTS (BY $203 MILLION OR 16 PER CENT).
INCREASES IN IMPORTS FROM THE U.S.A. WERE MOSTLY OF ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES, AND ELECTRICAL PARTS THEREOF (BY $1 053 MILLION OR 86 PER CENT), PETROLEUM, PETROLEUM PRODUCTS AND RELATED MATERIALS (BY $579 MILLION OR 1 163 PER CENT) AND OFFICE MACHINES AND AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT (BY $282 MILLION OR 29 PER CENT).
ON THE OTHER HAND, DECREASES WERE REGISTERED IN IMPORTS OF GENERAL INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT, AND MACHINE PARTS (BY $176 MILLION OR 31 PER CENT) AND PEARLS, PRECIOUS AND SEMl-PRECIOUB STONES UNWORKED OR WORKED (BY $85 MILLION OR 14 PER CENT).
DECREASES WERE REGISTERED IN IMPORTS FROM TAIWAN OF IRON AND STEEL (BY $15 MILLION OR FIVE PER CENT) AND IN IMPORTS FROM SINGAPORE OF PETROLEUM. PETROLEUM PRODUCTS AND RELATED MATERIALS (BY $1 171 MILLION OR 22 PER CENT).
HOWEVER, IMPORTS OF ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES, AND ELECTRICAL PARTS THEREOF FROM TAIWAN INCREASED (BY $302 MILLION OR 25 PER CENT); AND IMPORTS OF ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES, AND ELECTRICAL PARTS THEREOF FROM SINGAPORE ALSO INCREASED (BY $288 MILLION OR 57 PER CENT).
TABLE 4 ILLUSTRATES THE MORE IMPORTANT CHANGES IN IMPORTS BY COMMODITY SECTIONS.
INCREASES WERE RECORDED IN RE-EXPORTS TO CHINA (BY $1 658 MILLION OR 28 PER CENT), U.S.A. (BY $1 348 MILLION OR 33 PER CENT), SINGAPORE (BY $636 MILLION OR 25 PER CENT), REPUBLIC OF KOREA (SOUTH KOREA) (BY$510 MILLION OR 41 PER CENT), TAIWAN (BY $394 MILLION OR 20 PER CENT), SAUDI ARABIA (BY $349 MILLION OR 51 PER CENT), THAILAND (BY $220 MILLION OR 38 PER CENT) AND CANADA (BY $216 MILLION OR 89 PER CENT).
ON THE OTHER HAND, DECLINES WERE REGISTERED IN RE-EXPORTS TO INDONESIA (BY $347 MILLION OR 11 PER CENT) AND NIGERIA (BY $254 MILLION OR 38 PER CENT).
/THE CHANGES........
SUNDAY, NOVSWBER 13, 1983
- 4 -
THE CHANGES IN RE-EXPORTS TO THE 10 MAJOR MARKETS ARE GIVEN IN TABLE 5.
MOST COMMODITIES RE-EXPORTED THROUGH HONG KONG EXHIBITED STRONG GROWTH, THE MORE SIGNIFICANT ONES BEING CLOTHING (BY $1 020 MILLION OR 47 PER CENT)! ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES, AND ELECTRICAL PARTS THEREOF (BY $774 MILLION OR 31 PER CENT); PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES, OPTICAL GOODS AND WATCHES AND CLOCKS (BY $666 MILLION OR 29 PER CENT); AND MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (BY $434 MILLION OR 26 PER CENT).
DECREASES WERE REGISTERED IN THE RE-EXPORTS OF ROAD VEHICLES (INCLUDING AIR CUSHION VEHICLES) (BY $282 MILLION OR 17 PER CENT), hETALLIFEROUS ORES AND METAL SCRAP (BY $123 MILLION OR 52 PER CENT); AND NON-METALLIC MINERAL MANUFACTURES (BY $60 MILLION OR THREE PER CENT).
THE CHANGES IN RE-EXPORTS BY MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS ARE GIVEN IN TABLE 6.
THE SEPTEMBER 1983 ISSUE OF +HONG KONG TRADE STATISTICS -SUMMARY* WILL BE AVAILABLE AROUND NOVEMBER 17 AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT HK$5 PER COPY.
A MORE COMPREHENSIVE REPORT, +HONG KONG EXTERNAL TRADE*, WITH A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF IMPORTS, EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS IN SEPTEMBER 1983 WILL BE AVAILABLE IN EARLY DECEMBER 1983 AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT HK$10 PER COPY.
ENQUIRIES CONCERNING SUBSCRIPTIONS TO THESE REPORTS MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES AT BASKERVILLE HOUSE, HONG KONG (TEL. NO. I 5-214375).
ENQUIRIES CONCERNING TRADE STATISTICS MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT (TEL. NO. i 5-444436).
TABLE 1 i DOMESTIC EXPORTS BY TEN MAJOR MARKETS
MAJOR MARKETS JAN.-SEPT. 1983 ($ MN) JAN.-SEPT. 1982 ($ MN) INCREASE/ DECREASE ($ MN) PERCENTAGE CHANGE (%)
U.S.A. 30 305 22 657 +7 648 *34
U.K. 5 932 5 140 + 792 *15
F.R. OF GERMANY 5 566 5 043 ♦ 524 +10
CHINA 4 156 2 758 +1 398 +51
JAPAN 2 677 2 339 * 338 *14
CANADA 2 648 1 904 + 744 *39
/AUSTRALIA
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1983
- 5 -
AUSTRALIA 1 897 2 095 — 198 - 9
SINGAPORE 1 567 1 411 ♦ 156 +11
NETHERLANDS 1 373 . 1 197 ♦ 175 +15
SAUDI ARABIA 1 178 989 ♦ 189 +19
TABLE 2 i DOMESTIC EXPORTS BY MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS
COMMODITY DIVISIONS JAN.-SEPT. 1983 ($ MN) JAN.-SEPT. 1982 (I MN) INCREASE/ DECREASE (S MN) PERCENTAGE CHANGE (%)
ARTICLES OF APPAREL AND CLOTHING ACCESSORIES 24 067 21 077 ♦2 989 +14
MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (MAINLY PLASTIC TOYS AND DOLLS, JEWELLERY, GOLDSMITHS’ AND SILVERSMITHS’ WARES, AND ARTIFICAL FLOWERS) 11 872 11 686 + 187 + 2
PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES AND OPTICAL GOODS, WATCHES AND CLOCKS 6 539 5 608 ♦ 931 +17
ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES (MAINLY TRANSISTORS AND DIODES AND HOUSEHOLD TYPE APPLIANCES) 5 684 4 430 +1 204 +27
/telecommjnicaticns and........
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1?83
- 6
TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND SOUND RECORDING AND REPRODUCING APPARATUS AND EQUIPMENT 5 676 4 175 +1 501 *36
TEXTILE YARN, FABRICS, MADE-UP ARTICLES AND RELATED PRODUCTS 4 874 3 626 ♦1 247 +34
TABLE 3 I IMPORTS FROM TEN MAJOR SOURCES
MAJOR SOURCES JAN.-SEPT. 1983 (S MN) JAN.-SEPT. 1982 (* MN) INCREASE/ DECREASE ($ MN) PERCENTAGE CHANGE (%)
CHINA 29 013 23 709 +5 304 +22
JAPAN 27 798 22 961 +4 837 +21
U.S.A. 13 725 11 398 +2 327 +20
TAIWAN 8 670 7 586 ♦1 084 ♦ 14
SINGAPORE 7 236 7 712 - 476 - 6
U.K. 5 393 5 018 + 375 + 7
REPUBLIC OF KOREA (SOUTH KOREA) 3 438 3 294 + 144 + 4
F.R. OF GERMANY 3 267 2 505 ♦ 762 +30
SWITZERLAND 2 253 1 931 + 322 +17
AUSTRALIA 1 942 1 715 + 228 +13
/TABLE 4 : ......
SUNDAY, NOVMBEH 13, 1983
- 7 -
TABLE 4 1 IMPORTS BY COMMODITY SECTIONS
JAN.-SEPT. JAN.-SEPT. INCREASE/ PERCENTAGE COMMODITY 1983 1982 DECREASE CHANGE
SECTIONS ($ MN) (S MN) ($ MN) (%)
MANUFACTURED GOODS CLASS IF IED CHIEFLY BY MATER I AL (MAINLY TEXTILE PRODUCTS, DIAMONDS, IRON AND STEEL,
AND PAPER) 34 057 29 275 +4 782 +16
MACHINERY AND TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT 27 507 23 700 +3 806 +16
MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES (MAINLY WATCHES AND CLOCKS, ARTICLES OF APPAREL) 22 013 17 775 +4 238 ♦24
FOOD AND LIVE ANIMALS CHIEFLY FOR FOOD 13 201 11 633 4-1 568 +13
CHEMICALS AND RELATED PRODUCTS, N.E.S. 9 056 6 986 +2 070 ♦30
MINERAL FUELS, LUBR1 CANTS AND RELATED MATER 1ALS 8 191 8 415 224 - 3
/TABLE 5 : .......
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1983
- 8
TABLE 5 » RE-EXPORTS BY TEN MAJOR MARKETS
MAJOR MARKETS JAN.-SEPT. 1983 ($ MN) JAN.-SEPT. 1982 (1 MN) INCREASE/ DECREASE (1 MN) PERCENTAGE CHANGE (%)
CHINA 7 637 5 980 +1 658 +28
U.S.A. 5 481 4 133 +1 348 +33
SINGAPORE 3 194 2 558 + 636 +25
INDONESIA 2 947 3 295 - 347 -11
TA IWAN 2 364 1 970 + 394 +20
JAPAN 2 104 1 893 + 211 +11
REPUBLIC OF KOREA (SOUTH KOREA) 1 749 1 239 + 510 +41
MACAU 1 342 1 139 + 203 +18
PHILIPPINES 1 204 1 076 + 128 ♦12
SAUDI ARABIA 1 030 681 + 349 +51
TABLE 6 i RE-EXPORTS BY MAJOR COMMODITY DIVISIONS
COMMODITY DIVISIONS
JAN.-SEPT 1983 (* MN)
JAN.-SEPT 1982 (S MN)
INCREASE/ DECREASE (I MN)
PERCENTAGE CHANGE (%)
TEXTILE YARN, FABRICS, MADE-UP ARTICLES AND RELATED PRODUCTS 5 317 4 924
ELECTRICAL MACHINERY APPARATUS AND APPLIANCES 3 265 2 491
ARTICLES OF APPAREL AND CLOTHING ACCESSORIES • 3 200 2 180
+ 393 +- 8
♦ 774 +31
+1 020
/PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, .......
SUNDAY, NOVJMBEB 13, 1983
- 9 -
PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, EQUIPMENT, SUPPLIES AND OPTICAL GOODS, WATCHES • •
AND CLOCKS 2 935 2 269 + 666 ♦29
MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURED ARTICLES 2 133 1 700 ♦ 434 +26
NON-METALLIC MINERAL MANUFACTURES 1 826 1 886 - 60 - 3
0 -------
NEW FISH HYBRID HOLDING GOOD PROMISE * * *
A FAST-GROWING COMMON CARP — A HYBRID BETWEEN THE LOCAL AND AN ISRAELI RACE — IS BEING REARED COMMERCIALLY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HONG KONG.
NINE FISH FARMS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED WITH 35 500 HYBRID BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT. HAS PRODUCED THEM THROUGH ARTIFICIAL PROPAGATION BY
FRY
OF THIS
LOCAL SCALY COMMON CARP FEMALE WITH THE ISRAELI MIRROR CARP ♦DOR-70+ MALE.
THE DEPARTMENT CROSSING THE
♦THE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN CONDUCTING SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS WITH THE HYBRIDISATION OF THE TWO RACES SINCE 1978 IN AN ATTEMPT TO IMPROVE THE STOCK OF THE LOCAL COMMON CARP AND TO HELP LOCAL FISH FARMS INCREASE THEIR PRODUCTIVITY,* SAID MR ALFRED SIN, FISH CULTURE RESEARCH OFFICER I OF THE DEPARTMENT’S FISHERIES RESEARCH DIVISION.
THE HYBRID FRY WERE SUPPLIED TO THE FISH FARMERS FOR COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION FOLLOWING THEIR REQUESTS EARLIER THIS YEAR, HE ADDED.
THE COMMON CARP, OR CYPRINUS CARPIO, IS A POND FISH CONSUMED IN HONG KONG MAINLY IN AUTUMN AND WINTER. IT CONTRIBUTES ABOUT 16 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL POND FISH PRODUCTION IN HONG KONG.
MR SIN POINTED OUT, HOWEVER, THAT BECAUSE OF THE SLOW GROWTH OF THE LOCAL RACE, IT WAS OFTEN NOT POSSIBLE TO MEET CONSUMERS’ DEMAND.
THE HYBRID, MR SIN SAID, EXHIBITS MANY DESIRABLE CHARACTERISTICS FOR COMMERCIAL BREEDING IN HONG KONG.
/fibst, it ........
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1983
10
FIRST, IT CAN GROW TO ABOUT 815 GRAMMES IN SIX MONTHS, TWICE THE RATE OF THE LOCAL SPECIES.
+THIS MEANS THAT IT CAN ATTAIN A PREFERRED MARKET SIZE BY AUTUMN AND WINTER WHEN CONSUMER DEMAND IS HIGHEST,* HE SAID.
THIS FASTER GROWTH RATE, MR SIN ADDED, SHOULD INCREASE THE YIELD OF FISH PONDS CONSIDERABLY. THIS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT FOR HONG KONG WHERE MORE AND MORE FISH PONDS ARE BEING LOST BECAUSE OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT.
SECOND, THE HYBRID IS SIMILAR TO THE LOCAL RACE IN SCALE COVER, BODY SHAPE AND COLOUR SO THAT IT SHOULD HAVE NO DIFFICULTY GAINING CONSUMER ACCEPTANCE, MR SIN SAID.
ANOTHER ADVANTAGE IS THAT THE HYBRIDS CAN BE MORE EASILY CAUGHT BY NET.
+IT IS DIFFICULT TO CATCH A LARGE NUMBER OF THE LOCAL RACE UNLESS THE PONDS ARE DRAINED — A PRACTICE THAT IS RARELY RESORTED TO BECAUSE OF THE NEED TO CONSERVE WATER IN HONG KONG,* W SIN EXPLAINED.
HE SAID THAT THE DEPARTMENT HAD GIVEN ADVICE TO THE FISH FARMERS ON HOW TO REAR THE HYBRID FRY, AND WOULD VISIT THEM PERIODICALLY TO ASCERTAIN THEIR PROGRESS AND ADVISE ON THEIR REQUIREMENTS.
MR SIN WAS OPTIMISTIC THAT THE FARMERS’ FIRST ATTEMPT WOULD BE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE THE ADVICE GIVEN WAS BASED ON PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE GAINED BY THE DEPARTMENT OVER THE YEARS.
ALSO, SIMILAR ATTEMPTS TO CROSS THE MIRROR CARP WITH THE SCALY COMMON CARP FROM TAIWAN HAD BEEN TESTED IN ISRAEL WITH SATISFACTORY RESULTS, HE ADDED.
MR SIN EXPECTED THAT MORE FISH FARMERS WOULD CHOOSE TO REAR THE HYBRID.
BUT HE SAID THAT THE DEPARTMENT MIGHT NOT BE PRODUCING SUFFICIENT FRY. FISH FARMERS WOULD BE ENCOURAGED TO LEARN THE TECHNIQUE AND PRODUCE THEIR OWN FRY.
WHEN THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT FIRST EXPRESSED INTEREST IN THE +D0R-70+ MIRROW CARP IN 1977, 600 LIVE MIRROR CARP FRY WERE PRESENTED TO HONG KONG IN AUGUST OF THE SAME YEAR AS GIFTS BY TH? AGRICULTURE RESEARCH ORGANISATION OF ISRAEL.
THE FRY WERE THEN ACCLIMATISED AND REARED IN HONG KONG. THEY TOOK ONE YEAR TO REACH SEXUAL MATURITY, AND HYBRIDS HAVE BEEN PRODUCED SINCE 1979 BY ARTIFICIAL AND NATURAL FERTILISATIONS.
MR SIN SAID THAT HYBRID FRY STOCKED IN SPRING WILL BE READY FOR THE MARKET BY AUTUMN AND WINTER. IN CAPTIVITY, THEY MATURE WITHIN ONE YEAR AND CAN REPRODUCE IF THE ENVIRONMENT IS FAVOURABLE.
HE ADDED THAT EXTREME CARE IS NEEDED TO MAINTAIN A PURE STOCK OF THE +D0R-70* FOR SUCCESFUL PRODUCTION OF THE HYBRID.
-----o--------
Z11 .....
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1983
- 11 -
MORE NEW COMMUNITIES FORMED ******
THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD HAD MADE GREAT EFFORTS IN ORGANISING COMMUNITY-BUILDING ACTIVITIES TO STRENGTHEN THE RELATIONS BETWEEN RESIDENTS AND LOCAL ORGANISATIONS SO THAT A MORE CARING AND HELPFUL COMMUNITY COULD BE ESTABLISHED, THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR KEVIN MAK, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE TWO-WEEK SECOND KWUN TONG SPORTS FESTIVAL, HE SAID THAT IN THE PAST THREE YEARS NEW COMMUNITIES HAD BEEN FORMED AT SEVERAL PUBLIC HOUSING AND HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME ESTATES.
AND HE ESTIMATED THAT IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS, 12 MORE NEW COMMUNITIES WOULD GRADUALLY BE FORMED WITH A TOTAL POPULATION OF MORE THAN 90 000.
ALTHOUGH RESIDENTS OF SOME OF THE NEW COMMUNITIES CAME FROM KWUN TONG ITSELF, THE MAJORITY MOVED IN FROM OTHER DISTR ICTS.
IN ADDITION, ACCORDING TO A SURVEY ON LOCAL SQUATTER AREAS, ABOUT 60 PER CENT OF THE SQUATTERS WERE NEW ARRIVALS WHO HAD LIVED IN HONG KONG FOR LESS THAN FIVE YEARS.
♦MOST OF THE NEW RESIDENTS KNOW VERY LITTLE OR NOTHING ABOUT KWUN TONG, AND THERE IS, THEREFORE, AN URGENT NEED FOR MORE COMMUNITY BUILDING ACTIVITIES TO HELP FOSTER A SENSE OF BELONGING AND TO INTEGRATE THESE NEW RESIDENTS INTO OUR COMMUNITY,* SAID MR MAK.
IN ADDITION TO COMMUNITY BUILDING PROGRAMMES, HE SAID THE DISTRICT BOARD WAS ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS.
♦THIS IS EVIDENT FROM THE FACT THAT DISTRICT BOARD FUNDS FOR IMPROVING THE ENVIRONMENT THIS YEAR HAS BEEN INCREASED TO S600 000 WHICH IS THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT OF LAST YEAR’S ALLOCATION,* HE ADDED.
ALSO OFFICIATING AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY WAS THE COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, MR PATRICK WILLIAMSON.
HE AND MR MAK KICKED OFF A FRIENDLY SOCCER MATCH BETWEEN THE DISTRICT BOARD CUM DISTRICT OFFICE TEAM AND THE NGAU TAU KOK (WEST) YOUTH TEAM.
MR WILLIAMSON ALSO PRESENTED PRIZES TO THE WINNING TEAMS OF A TELEMATCH IN WHICH MORE THAN 400 YOUNG PEOPLE PARTICIPATED.
-----o------
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1983
- 12 -
STUDENTS INVITED TO ENTER ESSAY COMPETITION *****
SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE BEING INVITED TO TAKE PART IN THE ESSAY COMPETITION 1983/84 ORGANISED BY THE ROYAL COMMONWEALTH SOCIETY.
THE AWARDS TO THE WINNERS OF THIS INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION, WHICH IS AIMED AT ENCOURAGING COMMONWEALTH STUDIES IN SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD, WILL INCLUDE TRAVEL, MONEY AND BOOK PRIZES.
THE SUCCESS ACHIEVED BY HONG KONG STUDENTS IN THIS COMPETITION IN PAST YEARS HAS REFLECTED THE HIGH ACADEMIC ABILITY OF LOCAL STUDENTS IN COMPETITION WITH OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE FROM ALL PARTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH.
LAST YEAR, THE ESSAYS OF SEVEN HONG KONG STUDENTS WERE HIGHLY COMMENDED IN THE COMPETITION.
IN ORDER TO GIVE STUDENTS ADDITIONAL ENCOURAGEMENT, THE HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS WILLING TO SPONSOR A LOCAL COMPETITION WITH BOOK PRIZES.
THE WINNERS OF THE LOCAL COMPETITION AS WELL AS OTHER GOOD ESSAYS WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE ROYAL COMMONWEALTH SOCIETY IN LONDON FOR THE MAIN COMPETITION.
THE ESSAYS FOR THE LOCAL COMPETITION MUST REACH THE INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS SECTION, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, LEE GARDENS, HYSAN AVENUE, CAUSEWAY BAY, HONG KONG, NOT LATER THAN JANUARY 31 NEXT YEAR, FOR THE PRELIMINARY ROUND OF JUDGING.
EACH ESSAY SHOULD BE CERTIFIED BY THE PRINCIPAL OR A SENIOR TEACHER AS BEING THE STUDENT’S OWN COMPOSITION.
ENQUIRIES CONCERNING THE COMPETITION SHOULD BE MADE TO THE INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS SECTION, ED, ON 5-8392274.
0 --------
ADOLESCENT HEALTH EXHIBITION *****
THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL HOLD AN EXHIBITION AND A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS TO PROMOTE ADOLESCENT HEALTH.
ORGANISED BY THE DEPARTMENT’S CENTRAL HEALTH EDUCATION UNIT, THE EXHIBITION WILL START ON TUESDAY (NOVEMBER 15) ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF SHA TIN LEK YUEN HEALTH CENTRE.
IT WILL BE OPEN DAILY FROM 10 AM TO 4 PM, EXCEPT SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS, AND WILL LAST UNTIL DECEMBER 17.
A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE AIM OF THE EXHIBITION IS TO DRAW PUBLIC ATTENTION TO THE IMPORTANCE OF ADOLESCENT HEALTH.
/the exhibition .......
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1983
- 13 -
THE EXHIBITION WILL COVER SEX EDUCATION, PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL CHANGES DURING ADOLESCENCE, CORRECT VALUES AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS SEX, HUMAN GROWTH AND THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF SMOKING, ALCOHOL AND DRUGS ON ADOLESCENCE.
IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE EXHIBITION, A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS WILL BE HELD AT THE SAME-TIME FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN SHA TIN, TAI PO AND NORTHERN DISTRICT.
+THE AIM OF ORGANISING THE WORKSHOPS IS TO EXPLORE THE PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT OF ADOLESCENCE THROUGH GROUP STUDIES AND DISCUSSIONS,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
HE ADDED THAT SCHOOL PRINCIPALS OR TEACHERS WHO WANT THEIR STUDENTS TO ATTEND THE WORKSHOPS COULD DIAL 0-633211, EXT. 213 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
- - 0 - -
MANPOWER SURVEY ON MASS MEDIA TO START ******
A SURVEY TO DETERMINE MANPOWER NEEDS OF LOCAL MASS MEDIA WILL BE CONDUCTED FROM NOVEMBER 25 TO DECEMBER 16 BY THE JOURNALISM TRAINING BOARD OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL.
A TOTAL OF 500 ESTABLISHMENTS FROM THE PRINTED AND ELECTRONIC MEDIA WILL BE COVERED IN THE SURVEY.
+BASED ON THE INFORMATION COLLECTED, THE TRAINING BOARD WILL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO DEVELOP MANPOWER PLANNING TO MEET THE TRAINING REQUIREMENTS OF THE JOURNALISM SECTOR,* MR SHUM CHOI-SANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE TRAINING BOARD, SAID.
THIS IS THE SECOND SURVEY ON THE MASS MEDIA ORGANISED BY THE TRAINING BOARD.
A SERIES OF TRAINING PROGRAMMES FOR WORKING JOURNALISTS HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT AND WELL RECEIVED.
♦UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION IS VITAL FOR THE TRAINING BOARD TO FORMULATE FURTHER TRAINING PROVISIONS. THUS EMPLOYERS ARE REQUESTED TO COOPERATE BY GIVING ACCURATE INFORMATION,* MR SHUM SAID.
HE STRESSED THAT THE DATA COLLECTED WOULD BE HANDLED IN STRICT CONFIDENCE AND PUBLISHED ONLY IN THE FORM OF STATISTICAL SUMMARIES WITHOUT REFERENCE TO INDIVIDUAL ESTABLISHMENTS.
QUESTIONNAIRES AND EXPLANATORY NOTES HAVE BEEN SENT TO EMPLOYERS COVERED BY THE SURVEY.
OFFICERS OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT WILL CALL AT EACH ORGANISATION DURING THE SURVEY PERIOD TO COLLECT AND HELP COMPLETE THE FORMS.
ALSO ASSISTING IN THE SURVEY ARE THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING DEPARTMENT AND THE GOVERNMENT DATA PROCESSING AGENCY.
---- - y -----
/14......
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1983 •
- 14 -
INDUSTRIAL SAFETY POSTER DESIGN COMPETITION ******
THE 16TH ANNUAL INDUSTRIAL SAFETY POSTER DESIGN COMPETITION, OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS BETWEEN 14 AND 22 YEARS OF AGE, WILL BE HELD AGAIN THIS YEAR.
ORGANISED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, THE COMPETITION IS AIMED AT PROMOTING THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY AT WORK.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT EFFECTIVELY DESIGNED POSTERS FORMED AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE ENTIRE ACCIDENT-PREVENTION PLAN TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS.
THE POSTERS SHOULD GENERATE AND SUSTAIN SAFETY CONSCIOUSNESS IN EVERYONE’S BEHAVIOUR, HE SAID.
THE COMPETITION WILL BE DIVIDED INTO DIVISION +A+ FOR STUDENTS CF SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND TECHNICAL SECONDARY SCHOOLS, AND DIVISION +B+ FOR POST-SECONDARY COLLEGES AND VOCATIONAL INSTITUTES.
DESIGNS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED ON A SHEET OF DRAWING PAPER OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS ORGANISATION, A2 SIZE (420 MM X 594 MM OR 16-1/2 INCHES X 23-3/4 INCHES).
THOSE WHO QUALIFY FOR +A+ DIVISION MAY ALSO SUBMIT ENTRIES FOR THE +B+ DIVISION.
A STUDENT MAY SUBMIT MORE THAN ONE ENTRY, BUT THE SAME ENTRY SHOULD NOT BE SUBMITTED FOR BOTH DIVISIONS, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
ENTRIES SHOULD BE SENT TO THE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY TRAINING CENTRE AT THE CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES IN KOWLOON BY JANUARY 31, 1984.
COPIES OF THE OBJECT AND RULES OF THE COMPETITION ARE AVAILABLE AT THE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY TRAINING CENTRE AND CULTURAL CRAFTS CENTRE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AT 4 PAK FUK ROAD, 5TH FLOOR, NORTH POINT.
THE WINNING ENTRIES WILL BE SELECTED BY A PANEL OF JUDGES COMPRISING REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF DESIGN OF THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC, THE CULTURAL CRAFTS CENTRE OF THE EDUCATION. DEPARTMENT, THE DEPARTMENT OF DESIGN OF LEE WAI LEE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES, CREATIVE SUB-DIVISION OF THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES, AND THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.
ADJUDICATION WILL TAKE PLACE IN MID-FEBRUARY 1984.
- - 0 - - - -
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1983
- 15 -
DIAL AN ENQUIRY ON TRANSPORT SERVICES
* * * *
A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN REMINDED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT ENQUIRIES ON TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT SERVICES MAY BE MADE ON THE DEPARTMENT’S'24-HOUR HOTLINE, 5-8933111.
INTRODUCED THIS MARCH, THE SERVICE HAS MADE IT EASIER FOR THE PUBLIC TO HAVE QUESTIONS ON TRANSPORT ANSWERED.
ENQUIRIES ON SUBJECTS RANGING FROM LICENSING AND TRAFFIC REGULATIONS TO PUBLIC TRANSPORT ROUTES, SCHEDULES AND FARES HAVE BEEN RECEIVED ON THE HOTLINE.
SUGGESTIONS ON ANY ASPECT OF THE DEPARTMENT’S RESPONSIBILITIES WILL ALSO BE WELCOME, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
THE LINE IS MANNED BY TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL DURING OFFICE HOURS, AFTER THEN IT BECOMES A RECORDED SERVICE.
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT, HOWEVER, THAT COMPLAINTS ABOUT TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT SERVICES SHOULD BE LODGED WITH THE TRANSPORT COMPLAINTS UNIT ON 5-776866.
- - - - 0 ---------
TENDERS CALLED FOR OPERATION OF RESTAURANT *****
TENDERS ARE BEING INVITED FOR THE OPERATION OF A GENERAL RESTAURANT AT THE KWAI SHING SWIMMING POOL IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE KWAI SHING SWIMMING POOL, A POPULAR RECREATIONAL VENUE FOR THE RESIDENTS OF KWAI CHUNG AND TSUEN WAN, HAS ATTRACTED MORE THAN 500 000 BATHERS SO FAR THIS YEAR.
THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDER MAY START BUSINESS ON MARCH 1, 1984 ON A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
TENDER FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE KWAI CHUNG URBAN SERVICES OFFICE ON THE FOURTH FLOOR OF SHING WAH BUILDING, 31 SHING FONG STREET, KWAI CHUNG.
COMPLETED FORMS MUST BE PLACED IN THE TENDER BOX LOCATED AT THE NTSD HEADQUARTERS ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF SWIRE AND MACLAINE HOUSE, AUSTIN CENTRE, 19-23 AUSTIN AVENUE, KOWLOON, BEFORE DECEMBER 9 (FRIDAY).
FURTHER DETAILS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE KWAI CHUNG URBAN SERVICE OFFICE ON TELEPHONE 0-209204.
------o-------
/16 .....
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1983 ‘
- 16 -
SHA TIN TO HOLD SQUASH COMPETITION * * * *
ENTRIES ARE BEING INVITED FOR A SHA TIN DISTRICT SQUASH COMPETITION DUE TO START LATER THIS MONTH.
THE CONTEST WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE SHA TIN JOCKEY CLUB PUBLIC SQUASH COURTS ON THREE CONSECUTIVE SUNDAYS, STARTING ON NOVEMBER 27.
THE COMPETITION, JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT, IS AIMED AT PROMOTING THE SPORT AND RAISING THE STANDARD OF PLAYERS.
IT IS DIVIDED INTO MEN’S SECTION, WOMEN’S SECTION, MEN’S NOVICE SECTION AND WOMEN’S NOVICE SECTION, AN NTSD SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE FIRST AND SECOND ROUNDS OF THE TOURNAMENT WILL BE BASED ON 'BEST OF THREE GAMES’, AND THE SEMI-FINALS AND FINALS ON ’BEST OF FIVE’.
APPLICATION FORMS FOR THE COMPETITION ARE AVAILABLE AT THE SHA TIN URBAN SERVICES OFFICE, THE SHA TIN OFFICE OF THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE, OR THE SHA TIN JOCKEY CLUB PUBLIC SQUASH COURTS.
COMPLETED FORMS SHOULD BE RETURNED TO THE SHA TIN OFFICE OF THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE BEFORE WEDNESDAY (NOVEMBER 16), THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
ILLEGAL STRUCTURES TO BE CLEARED
* M * M
AN OPERATION WILL BE LAUNCHED TOMORROW (MONDAY) TO CLEAR ILLEGAL STRUCTURES AND OBSTRUCTIONS ON FOUR REAR LANES IN TUEN MUN TO TIDY-UP THE ENVIRONMENT.
SUPPORTED BY THE LOCAL DISTRICT BOARD, THE CLEARANCE WILL- BE CONDUCTED BY THE DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AS PART OF A SERIES OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMMES FOR THE NEW TOWN.
THE REAR LANES ARE SITUATED BEHIND TUEN MUN HEUNG SZE WUI ROAD, YAN CHING CIRCUIT, TAK CHING COURT AND AT SAN HUI.
/AN ASSISTANT .......
SUNDAY, NOVaiiBiSB 13, 1983
- 17 -
AN ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MR GERALD CAVANAGH, AND OFFICIALS OF OTHER DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED WILL BE PRESENT AT TOMORROW’S CLEARANCE OPERATION.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
YOU ARE WELCOME TO COVER THE CLEARANCE OPERATION WHICH WILL BEGIN AT 9.30 AM TOMORROW (MONDAY) AT TAK CHING COURT IN TUEN MUN.
A GOVERNMENT VEHICLE WILL LEAVE KOWLOON PULBIC PIER AT 8.20 AM FOR TUEN MUN.
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PLB BAN ON MID-LEVELS * * * *
ROAD
pXlBITED TO ALL PUBLIC LTORT BUSES EXCEPT THOSE AUTHORISED IN WRITING BY THE AUTHORITY.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL 5-233191
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 1U, 198?
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GOVERNMENT TAKES GOOD WITH BAD FROM PRESS —TSAO ............. 1
AMBASSADOR ARRIVING TOMORROW ................................ 2
CHA THANKED FOR SUPPORTING EDUCATION ........................ 3
FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY LACKING YOUNG WORKERS ..................... 3
EXHIBITION ON DISEASES BEING HELD ...........................
SCHOLARSHIP FOR DISABLED .................................... 5
TAI PO HOLDING FIRST SPORTS FESTIVAL ........................ 5
ARTS FORTNIGHT ORGANISED .................................... 6
CONTRACT SIGNED FOR CHAI WAN ROAD WORKS .................... 6
TAI HANG MINI-ROUNDABOUT WORKING WELL ....................... 7
VEHICLE DEPOT TO BE EXPANDED ................................ 7
TRAFFIC PLAN FOR WANG TAU HOM ............................... 8
CAUSEWAY BAY TRAFFIC PLAN ...................................
ROAD TO BE WIDENED .......................................... 9
SALT WATER MAINS WORK ....................................... 9
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1983
1
GOVERNMENT TAKES GOOD WITH BAD FROM PRESS — TSAO * * * *
IT IS BECAUSE HONG KONG ENJOYS FREEDOM OF SPEECH THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO +TAKE THE GOOD WITH THE BAD,+ THE DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION SERVICES, MR PETER TSAO, SAID TODAY.
♦IT MAY GIVE ME CAUSE FOR CONCERN WHEN I COMB THE PAPERS EACH DAY AND SEE THE GOVERNMENT CRITICISED FOR THIS AND CASTIGATED FOR THAT.
♦BUT BELIEVE ME IT WOULD WORRY ME A GREAT DEAL MORE IF I WERE TO WAKE UP ONE DAY AND FIND THAT ALL CRITICAL FACULTY HAD SUDDENLY VANISHED FROM THE SPOKEN AND WRITTEN WORD AND THAT THE MEDIA HAD NOTHING BUT PRAISE FOR GOVERNMENT,+ MR TSAO SAID.
HE WOULD FIND THAT +A VERY UNNATURAL AND ALARMING STATE OF AFFAIRS*, HE ADDED.
SPEAKING ON THE SUBJECT, +GOVERNMENT AND THE MASS MEDIA+, IN A HONG KONG MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION SEMINAR THIS EVENING, MR TSAO SAID CYNICISM IN THE MASS MEDIA IS NOT ONLY HEALTHY BUT ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL FOR THE WORKINGS OF A FREE PRESS IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY.
♦ WE IN GOVERNMENT DEAL WITH A PRESS THAT HANGS ON EVERY WORD WE UTTER. BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE HAVE TO CONTEND WITH THE FACT THAT THEY ARE GOING TO TREAT EVERY SUCH WORD WITH THE UTMOST CAUTION,+ MR TSAO SAID.
MR TSAO REFERRED TO THE DEFINITION OF +MEDIA+ IN THE CONCISE OXFORD DICTIONARY AS +THE INTERVENING SUBSTANCE THROUGH WHICH IMPRESSIONS ARE CONVEYED.♦
BUT NOBODY TO HIS KNOWLEDGE — LEAST OF ALL HIMSELF — HAD EVER LOOKED UPON THE PRESS MERELY AS MEEK OR SUBMISSIVE CONVEYORS OF OTHER PEOPLE’S HANDOUTS.
♦ THEY ASSESS, THEY ANALYSE AND THEY INTERPRET,* HE SAID.
MR TSAO REITERATED GOVERNMENT’S EMPHASIS ON THE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS BY QUOTING THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE’S SPEECH AT THE OPENING OF THE NEW SING PAO BUILDING TWO MONTHS AGOi ♦THE GOVERNMENT TREASURES THIS FREEDOM AS MUCH AS YOU DO, AND WE VALUE THE ROLE PLAYED BY THE MEDIA IN FURTHERING TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PUBLIC.
♦ WE STUDY ALSO THE VIEWS OF THE PRESS, NO MATTER HOW OUTSPOKEN. PUBLIC OPINION AND THE VIEWS OF THE PRESS INFLUENCE THE GOVERNMENT’S DECISIONS, PARTICULARLY WHEN STRONGLY-HELD FEELINGS ARE SUPPORTED BY A FAIR REHEARSAL OF THE FACTS AND COGENT ARGUMENT.+
MR TSAO SAID, +NATURALLY WE ALL HAVE A PREFERENCE FOR CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM, BUT IT WOULD BE UNREALISTIC TO EXPECT, IN THE NORMAL GIVE AND TAKE OF OPEN DEBATE ON ANY ISSUE, THAT ALL CRITICISM IS GOING TO BE CONSTRUCTIVE OR EVEN WELL-INFORMED. WE MUST ALSO MAKE ALLOWANCE FOR THE HUMAN TENDENCY TO LEAP BEFORE WE LOOK, OR SHOULD I SAY SPEAK BEFORE WE LISTEN TO ALL THE FACTS.*
/HE WENT ....
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1983
2
HE WENT ON TO SAY, +WE RECOGNISE THAT IT IS IN THE NATURE OF
ALL ADMINISTRATIONS TO BE FALLIBLE JUST AS IT IS IN THE NATURE OF
ALL PEOPLE TO SUSPECT THIS FALLIBILITY AND TO DEMAND AN EVER
UNATTAINABLE PERFECTION.
+OF COURSE THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG ARE CRITICAL OF THEIR GOVERNMENT. IT IS THEIR LOVE FOR AND PRIDE IN THIS PLACE THAT GIVES THEM THE RIGHT TO CRITICISE AND TO LOOK PAST OUR ACHIEVEMENT TO THAT EVER HIGHER PLATEAU BEYOND.*
+WE MAY NOT ALWAYS LIKE WHAT WE READ. BUT IT DOES INFLUENCE OUR JUDGEMENT AND IT FREQUENTLY HAS A BEARING UPON OUR POLICIES,* HE SAID.
HE SAID THAT THE PEOPLE IN THE HONG KONG ADMINISTRATION THOUGH NOT DEPENDENT UPON AN ELECTORATE TO VOTE THEM INTO OFFICE, DID HAVE THEIR OWN SYSTEM OF *CHECKS AND BALANCES*.
MR TSAO SAID HE ALSO BELIEVED THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS IN CLOSER TOUCH WITH THE GRASSROOTS OF THIS COMMUNITY THAN ARE MOST OTHER GOVERNMENTS ADMINISTERING WITHIN MORE CONVENTIONAL POLITICAL FRAMEWORKS.
HE ADDED THAT AN OBVIOUS REASON IS THAT HONG KONG IS A RELATIVELY SMALL, COMPACT AND SELF-CONTAINED TERRITORY WHERE IT IS PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOVERNMENT TO DISTANCE ITSELF
FROM THE PEOPLE.
♦LESS OBVIOUS ARE THE MYRIAD CHANNELS OF CONSULTATION WHICH THIS GOVERNMENT EMPLOYS TO SOUND OUT OPINION ON EVERY ASPECT OF ITS POLICIES.
+BEYOND THE INCREASINGLY POWERFUL MACHINERY OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS, AND EVEN BEYOND THE RELATIVELY NEW BUT FAST DEVELOPING MACHINERY OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS, THESE CHANNELS EMBRACE A WHOLE RANGE OF COMMITTEES, SUB-COMMITTEES AND ADVISORY BODIES, REPRESENTING JUST ABOUT EVERY PROFESSION, OCCUPATION AND SHADE OF INTEREST IN HONG KONG,* HE SAID.
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AMBASSADOR ARRIVING TOMORROW * * *
THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO PEKING (DESIGNATE), MR RICHARD EVANS, WILL ARRIVE IN HONG KONG TOMORROW (TUESDAY) FOR A VISIT.
WHILE IN HONG KONG, MR EVANS WILL MEET MEMBERS OF UMELCO, THE URBAN COUNCIL, THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL AND THE BRITISH TRADE COMMISSION. HE WILL ALSO GO ON A HELICOPTER TOUR AND VISIT A NEw TOWN AND A FACTORY.
NOTE TO ED I TORSi
MR EVANS WILL BE ARRIVING BY FLIGHT BA 03 TOMORROW (TUESDAY), ETA 12.55 PM. A FACILITY HAS BEEN ARRANGED FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS AND CAMERAMEN. THOSE ASSIGNED TO COVER HIS ARRIVAL SHOULD ASSEMBLE AT THE AIRPORT PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM NOT LATER THAN 11.45 AM. GIS OFFICERS WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST.
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1983
3
CMA THANKED FOR SUPPORTING EDUCATION * * * * *
THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR COLVYN HAYE, TODAY (MONDAY) PRAISED THE CHINESE MANUFACTURERS’ ASSOCIATION FOR ITS UNSTINTING SUPPORT OF HONG KONG’S EDUCATION, PARTICULARLY IN THE FIELDS OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING.
SPEAKING AT THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY OF THE CMA AND DONORS SCHOLARSHIPS, MR HAYE SAID: +OLD FRIENDS WILL KNOW THAT THE GENEROSITY OF THE CMA GOES BACK VERY NEARLY 30 YEARS WHEN THE FIRST DONATION WAS MADE TO THE HONG KONG TECHNICAL COLLEGE.+
+SUBSEQUENTLY THE CMA AND DONORS SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDS SCHEME HAS COVERED STUDENTS IN TERTIARY, TECHNICAL INSTITUTES, TECHNICAL AND PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOLS WITH AN IMPRESSIVE GROWTH FROM $2 480 TO 20 STUDENTS IN FIVE INSTITUTIONS IN 1964, TO $206 000 DISTRIBUTED TO 292 STUDENTS FROM 23 EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS,* HE ADDED.
MR HAYE NOTED THAT THE CMA, IN ADDITION TO BEING A MEMBER OF A NUMBER OF EDUCATIONAL INDUSTRIAL TRAINING BODIES, SUCH AS THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL, WAS ALSO DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THE OPERATION OF AIDED PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOLS.
+WE ALREADY HAVE ONE CMA PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOL AND A NEW PREVOCATIONAL SCHOOL IS EXPECTED TO BE OPERATING IN SEPTEMBER NEXT YEAR,* HE SAID.
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FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY LACKING YOUNG WORKERS * * *
THE GROWTH OF THE FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY WOULD BE THWARTED UNLESS MORE YOUNG PEOPLE WERE PREPARED TO JOIN THE INDUSTRY, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CLOTHING TRAINING BOARD OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
THE WORKFORCE OF THE FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY HAD BEEN AGING AND IT WAS DIFFICULT FOR FOOTWEAR MANUFACTURERS TO RECRUIT YOUNGSTERS TO LEARN THE TRADE, HE ADDED.
♦IT MIGHT BE DUE TO THE LACK OF TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES IN THIS SECTOR, AS WAGES AND WORKING CONDITIONS OFFERED ARE NO LESS ATTRACTIVE THAN OTHER MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES,* HE SAID.
THE INDUSTRY WOULD FACE A SERIOUS LABOUR SHORTAGE UPON RETIREMENT OF SKILFUL WORKMEN, HE ADDED.
THE CLOTHING TRAINING BOARD FELT THAT A MANPOWER SURVEY, THEREFORE, WAS NECESSARY TO ASCERTAIN THE MANPOWER SITUATION AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS OF THE INDUSTRY.
/QUESTIONNAIRES
MOTOAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1983
QUESTIONNAIRES AND EXPLANATORY NOTES HAVE BEEN SENT OUT TO 250 EMPLOYERS SELECTED FROM RANDOM SAMPLING.
OFFICERS FROM THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT WILL VISIT THESE FOOTWEAR FACTORIES FROM NOVEMBER 28 TO DECEMBER 5 TO COLLECT AND HELP COMPLETE THE FORMS.
DATA SUPPLIED BY EMPLOYERS ARE VITAL IN FORMULATING TRAINING PLANS FOR THE INDUSTRY.
THE SPOKESMAN URGED EMPLOYERS TO COOPERATE BY GIVING ACCURATE INFORMATION.
HE ALSO STRESSED THAT ALL DATA COLLECTED WOULD BE HANDLED IN STRICT CONFIDENCE AND PUBLISHED ONLY IN A FORM OF STATISTICAL SUMMARIES WITHOUT REFERENCE TO INDIVIDUAL ESTABLISHMENTS.
ALSO ASSISTING IN THE SURVEY ARE THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING DEPARTMENT AND THE GOVERNMENT DATA PROCESSING AGENCY.
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EXHIBITION ON DISEASES BEING HELD
* K * K
THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL HOLD A FOUR-DAY EXHIBITION ON THE PREVENTION OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES IN TUEN MUN.
JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE DEPARTMENT’S CENTRAL HEALTH EDUCATION UNIT AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, THE EXHIBITION WILL BE STAGED AT THE TUEN MUN ON TING - YAU Ol COMMUNITY HALL FROM TOMORROW (TUESDAY) TO FRIDAY, BETWEEN 10 AM AND 9.30 PM DAILY.
THE EXHIBITION WILL COVER FOUR SESSIONS - INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICABLE DISEASES; HOW TO INCREASE IMMUNITY AGAINST THEM; THE MODE OF TRANSMISSION, SYMPTOMS, TREATMENT AND PREVENTION; AND THE GOVERNMENT’S EFFORTS AT CONTROL AND HOW THE PUBLIC CAN HELP.
A COLOURING COMPETITION FOR CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 10 WILL ALSO BE HELD DURING THE EXHIBITION PERIOD AND THE RESULTS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON DECEMBER 5 AT TUEN MUN ON TING - YAU 01 COMMUNITY HALL.
PICTURES FOR THE COLOURING COMPETITION WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE COMMUNITY HALL AND ENTRY FORMS SHOULD BE RETURNED BEFORE NOVEMBER 25.
DURING THE EXHIBITION, A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS ON THE PREVENTION OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES WILL BE HELD FOR STUDENTS.
THE TUEN MUN EXHIBITION WILL BE THE LAST OF THE SERIES OF DISTRICT EXHIBITIONS BEING HELD THIS YEAR. PREVIOUS EXHIBITIONS AND WORKSHOPS, WHICH WERE HELD IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS IN THE TERRITORY, ATTRACTED MORE THAN 45 000 PEOPLE.
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1983
5
NOTE TO EDITORS:
SCHOLARSHIP FOR DISABLED
X * *
THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR COLVYN HAYE, AND THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE SHELL COMPANY OF HONG KONG LTD., MR H. WEBB-PEPLOE, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE SECOND AWARD PRESENTATION CEREMONY FOR THE SHELL-ISLAND JAYCEES SCHOLARSHIP FOR THE DISABLED AT 3 PM TOMORROW (TUESDAY) AT SHELL HOUSE, 1O/F., 24 QUEEN’S ROAD CENTRAL.
THE AWARD IS TO ENCOURAGE PUPILS WITH HANDICAPS TO REALISE THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION AND TO DEVELOP THEIR CAPABILITIES AND POTENTIALS, TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND TO SHARE RESPONSIBILITIES, AND TO BE INTEGRATED INTO THE COMMUNITY. TEN STUDENTS WILL BE RECEIVING THE SCHLOARSHI PS.
YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THE CEREMONY.
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TAI PO HOLDING FIRST SPORTS FESTIVAL
* M * *
THE FIRST TAI PO DISTRICT SPORTS FESTIVAL WILL BE HELD FROM DECEMBER 10 TO 25, TO COINCIDE WITH THE OPENING OF THE DISTRICT’S FIRST PURPOSE-BUILT SPORTS GROUND, THE LI FOOK LAM INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE.
THE FESTIVAL WILL FEATURE COMPETITIONS INCLUDING SAILING, BASKETBALL, TABLE TENNIS, BOWLING, VOLLEY BALL, BADMINTON, HANDBALL, FIVE-A-SIDE SOCCER, LONG DISTANCE RUNNING AND ORIENTEERING. EXCEPT FOR THE SAILING CONTEST, WHICH IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, THE OTHER EVENTS ARE MAINLY FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS.
APPLICATION FORMS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE OFFICE, TAI PO, AND THE LI FOOK LAM INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE. ENQUIRIES CAN BE MADE AT 0-6577111 EXTENSION 137 OR 141.
THE FESTIVAL IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY TAI PO DISTRICT OFFICE, TAI PO SPORTS ASSOCIATION, NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT WITH AN ALLOCATION OF $50 000 FROM THE DISTRICT BOARD.
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/6......
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1983
- 6 -
NOTE TO EDITORS!
ARTS FORTNIGHT ORGANISED * * M *
A TOTAL OF $500 000 WILL BE SPENT ON NEXT MONTH’S SHA TIN ARTS FORTNIGHT WHICH WILL FEATURE PUPPETRY, MUSIC, DANCE, DRAMA AND EXHIBITIONS, AMONG OTHER ITEMS.
ORGANISED FOR THE THIRD TIME BY THE SHA TIN ARTS ASSOCIATION, WITH FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM THE DISTRICT BOARD, IN CONJUNCTION W TH THE CULTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, MUSIC OFFICE AND THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICES, THE FESTIVAL WILL BE HELD FROM DECEMBER 17 TO 31.
DETAILS OF THE ARTS FORTNIGHT WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT A PRESS CONFERENCE AT 11 AM ON WEDNESDAY (NOVEMBER 16), IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICE, SIXTH FLOOR, KCR HOUSE, SHA TIN STATION.
YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND.
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CONTACT SIGNED FOR CHAI WAN ROAD WORKS
4 * X *
THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE OF THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AWARDED A $41.8 MILLION CONTRACT TODAY (MONDAY) TO FRANKI CONTRACTORS LTD. FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW ROAD AND THREE FOOTBRIDGES IN CHAI WAN TO FORM PART OF THE THIRD STAGE OF ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR.
IT WAS SIGNED BY MR STEVEN BOWMAN, GOVERNMENT HIGHWAY ENGINEER (MANAGEMENT), FOR THE DEPARTMENT, AND BY MR JOHN JACKSON, GENERAL MANAGER (ENGINEERING), ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY.
WORK ON THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN 1985, WHEN THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY ISLAND LINE IS DUE TO START OPERATING.
THE CONTRACT COVERS CONSTRUCTION OF AN 800-METRE DUAL TWO-LANE CARRIAGEWAY BETWEEN WING TAI INTERCHANGE AND CHAI WAN ROUNDABOUT, EXTENSION OF WING TAI ROAD AND MODIFICATIONS TO CHAI WAN ROUNDABOUT.
THREE FOOTBRIDGES WILL BE CONSTRUCTED ACROSS ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR AT HING WAH TSUEN AND NEAR CHAI WAN ROUNDABOUT.
A SUBWAY ACROSS WING TAI ROAD WILL ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THE PROJECT.
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/7
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1983
7
TAI HANG MINI-ROUNDABOUT WORKING WELL ******
THE EXPERIMENTAL MINI-ROUNDABOUT INSTALLED AT THE JUNCTION OF BLUE POOL ROAD AND TAI HANG ROAD IS WORKING WELL.
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT HAD CONSIDERED THE FEASIBILITY OF A NEW CONTROL METHOD — AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS IN USE — TO IMPROVE THE CAPACITY OF THAT JUNCTION TO CATER FOR VARYING TRAFFIC DEMANDS THERE.
TWO WEEKS AGO, AN INTERIM IMPROVEMENT WAS CARRIED OUT BY SWITCHING OFF THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND REPLACING THEM WITH A MIN I-ROUNDABOUT.
IN ADDITION, RIGHT TURNS FROM TAI HANG ROAD INTO BLUE POOL ROAD AND LEF'T TURNS FROM BLUE POOL ROAD INTO TAI HANG ROAD WERE ALSO BANNED FOR VEHICLES OVER 2-1/2 TONS UNLADEN.
BY ALLOWING GREATER FLEXIBILITY AND CATERING FOR THE MANY TURNING MOVEMENTS OF VEHICLES AT THE JUNCTION, THE ROUNDABOUT HAS IMPROVED TRAFFIC FLOW CONSIDERABLY.
IMPRESSED WITH THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE NEW METHOD, THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE WITH THE USE OF THE NEW MIN I-ROUNDABOUT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, AND WILL DISCUSS THE SYSTEM WITH THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT BOARD’S TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT COMMITTEE.
MEANWHILE, PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE MINI-ROUNDABOUT WILL BE WELCOME, A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
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VEHICLE DEPOT TO BE EXPANDED * * *
THE GOVERNMENT IS TO EXPAND FACILITIES AT ITS VEHICLE DEPOT IN TUEN MUN.
THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE OF THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS FOR THE WORK WHICH INCLUDES CONSTRUCTION OF AN ANNEX TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SERVICING AND REPAIR FACILITIES FOR GOVERNMENT VEHICLES SERVING THE WESTERN NEW TERRITORIES.
FACILITIES TO BE PROVIDED ARE 12 SERVICING BAYS, A LUBRICATION PIT, INSPECTION AND REPAIR AREAS, STORAGE SPACE, OFFICES AND A VEHICLE PARKING AREA.
THE WORK WILL START IN JANUARY NEXT YEAR AND TAKE ABOUT FIVE MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
/8........
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1983.
8
TRAFFIC PLAN FOR WANG TAU HOM * * * *
SPECIAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IN FORCE IN WANG TAU HOM FROM WEDNESDAY TO SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 16 TO 19), TO FACILITATE CONSTRUCTION OF PEDESTRIAN FOOTBRIDGES.
DURING THE PERIOD, THE FOLLOWING WILL BE CLOSED BETWEEN 1.15 AM AND 5 AM i
M THE SECTION OF WANG TAU HOM EAST ROAD BETWEEN WANG TAU HOM CENTRAL ROAD AND FU MEI STREET EAST.
* THE SECTION OF FU MEI STREET EAST FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH WANG TAU HOM EAST ROAD TO A POINT ABOUT 40 METRES SOUTH OF THE JUNCTION.
* THE SECTION OF WANG TAU HOM SOUTH ROAD FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH WANG TAU HOM EAST ROAD TO A POINT ABOUT 70 METRES WEST OF THE JUNCTION.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED THAT «
* THE SECTION OF FU KEUNG STREET BETWEEN FU WAN STREET AND WANG TAU HOM SOUTH ROAD WILL BE RE-ROUTED FROM ONE-WAY NORTHBOUND TO TWO WAYS,
* WANG TAU HOM SOUTH ROAD WILL BE RE-ROUTED FROM ONE-WAY WESTBOUND TO TWO WAYS,
* TRAFFIC HEADING FOR FU MEI STREET EAST WILL BE DIVERTED VIA JUNCTION ROAD AND HENG LAM ROAD, AND
# TRAFFIC HEADING FOR WANG TAU HOM CENTRAL ROAD OR WANG TAU HOM SOUTH ROAD WILL BE DIVERTED VIA FU MEI STREET AND FU KEUNG STREET.
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CAUSEWAY BAY TRAFFIC PLAN # * * *
NEW TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE INTRODUCED IN CAUSEWAY BAY FROM 10 AM ON WEDNESDAY (NOVEMBER 16) TO COINCIDE WITH THE OPENING CF THE TAI HANG ROAD FLYOVER.
UNDER THE ARRANGEMENTS, THE SLIP ROAD LEADING FROM TAI HANG ROAD TO TUNG LO WAN ROAD WESTBOUND WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC.
TUNG LO WAN ROAD BETWEEN EASTERN HOSPITAL ROAD AND TAI HANG ROAD WILL BE REROUTED ONE-WAY EASTBOUND.
IN ADDITION, THE TAI HANG ROAD FLYOVER EXCEPT THE UP-RAMP LEADING FROM TUNG LO WAN ROAD TO TAI HANG ROAD WILL BE PROHIBITED TO LEARNER DRIVERS, WHILE THE FLYOVER’S NORTHBOUND CARRIAGEWAY WILL BE PROHIBITED TO ALL PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES EXCEPT THOSE AUTHORISED IN WRITING BY THE AUTHORITY.
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/9......
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1983
9
ROAD TO BE WIDENED
* * *
A SECTION OF WONG CHUK HANG ROAD BETWEEN NAM LONG SHAN ROAD AND THE WONG CHUK HANG INTERCHANGE IS TO BE WIDENED AND RECONSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL LANE FOR TRAFFIC IN EACH DIRECTION.
TENDERS FOR THE PROJECT ARE INVITED BY THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE OF THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
THE PROJECT WILL ALSO INCLUDE WIDENING AND EXTENDING A SECTION OF HEUNG YIP ROAD TO PROVIDE A CONNECTION TO OCEAN PARK ROAD AND BETTER ACCESS TO THE WONG CHUK HANG INDUSTRIAL AREA.
WORK ON THE PROJECT WILL START NEXT MONTH AND IS EXPECTED TO TAKE ABOUT NINE MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
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SALT WATER MAINS WORK
XXX
SALT WATER SUPPLY TO SOME PREMISES IN KWUN TONG WILL BE TURNED OFF FROM 8 AM TO 5 PM ON THURSDAY (NOVEMBER 17) FOR MAINS WORK.
THE AFFECTED PREMISES ARE BOUNDED BY HONG LEE ROAD, HONG NING ROAD AND KUNG LOK ROAD, INCLUDING SAU MAU PING, CHOI WAN, SHUN LEE, SHUN ON AND SHUN TIN ESTATES.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1?, 198}
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GOVERNOR RETURNS TOMORROW.................................... 1
GOVERNMENT PLANS TO REVISE ROLE OF +LETTERS OF COMFORT+...... 1
SEPTEMBER SURVEY OF EMPLOYMENT, PAYROLL AND ORDERS-ON-HAND .. 3
TAI RANG ROAD FLYOVER OPENING TOMORROW....................... 6
AMBASSADOR DESIGNATE HERE 1 TO SEE, LISTEN, LEARN’ .......... 7
YEAR-ROUND EFFORTS TO CLEAN UP RIVERS ....................... 8
TENDERS INVITED FOR CROWN LAND TENANCIES..................... 9
$50 M CONTRACT SIGNED FOR SAI KUNG DEVELOPMENT............... 9
PATH TO BE CLOSED IN SHA TIN
10
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1983
GOVERNOR RETURNS TOMORROW * * * *
THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, WILL RETURN FROM PEKING TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) AFTER ATTENDING ANOTHER TWO DAYS OF SI NOBRITISH TALKS ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.
HE WILL BE TRAVELLING ON FLIGHT CA 103, ETA 1.55 PM.
A FACILITY HAS BEEN ARRANGED FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS AND CAMERAMEN TO COVER SIR EDWARD’S RETURN. MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES WISHING TO MAKE USE OF THE FACILITY SHOULD ASSEMBLE AT THE AIRPORT PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM NOT LATER THAN 12.45 PM. GIS OFFICERS WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST.
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GOVERNMENT PLANS TO REVISE ROLE OF +LETTERS OF
******
COMFORT+
THE GOVERNMENT WILL PROPOSE CHANGES TO THE ROLE OF ^LETTERS OF COMFORT+ IN THE BANKING AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES ORDINANCES AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE OF THE BANKING (AMENDMENT) BILL AND DEPOSITTAKING COMPANIES (AMENDMENT) BILL, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON NOVEMBER 23.
LARGELY FOR HISTORICAL REASONS, THE COMMISSIONER OF BANKING AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES HAS ACCEPTED LETTERS OF COMFORT, IN RESPECT OF A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF DTCS AS WELL AS ONE OR TWO BANKS, AS A +FORM OF GUARANTEE* IN THE CONTEXT OF SECTION 23(1) (AA) OF THE BANKING ORDINANCE AND SECTION 22(1)(B) OF THE DTC ORDINANCE. THIS EFFECTIVELY PERMITTED THE RECIPIENT BANK OR DTC TO EXCEED THE LIMIT OF 25 PER CENT OF CAPITAL AND RESERVES THAT WOULD OTHERWISE APPLY TO LENDING TO A SINGLE CUSTOMER OR CUSTOMER GROUPING.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT SUCH LETTERS WERE ISSUED BY PARENT COMPANIES, MAINLY FOREIGN BANKS. THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE SHAREHOLDING LINK AND AN ASSOCIATED MORAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUPPORT BUT THEY FALL SHORT OF NECESSARILY BEING FORMAL, LEGALLY BINDING GUARANTEES.
AFTER A THOROUGH REVIEW OF THE ROLE PLAYED BY LETTERS OF COMFORT, THE FOLLOWING NEW ARRANGEMENTS ARE NOW BEING PROPOSED*
(A) ONLY LETTERS OF COMFORT FROM BANKS WILL IN FUTURE BE ACCEPTABLE;
(B) A LETTER OF COMFORT WILL NO LONGER BE ACCEPTED AS A
♦FORM OF GUARANTEE* IN THE CONTEXT DESCRIBED ABOVE;
(O
HOWEVER, THE COMMISSIONER WILL BE EMPOWERED TO PERMIT LENDING TO A SINGLE CUSTOMER OR GROUPING IN EXCESS OF THE 25 PER CENT LIMIT IF HE IS IN POSSESSION OF A LETTER OF COMFORT THAT CONFORMS TO THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS*
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1985
- 2
(I) IT IS GIVEN BY A BANK WHICH IS A SHAREHOLDER, OR THE ULTIMATE SHAREHOLDER OF (OR IS CONTROLLED BY THE SAME SHAREHOLDER OR ULTIMATE SHAREHOLDER AS) THE DTC (OR BANK) IN WHOSE FAVOUR THE LETTER IS GIVEN;
(II) THE BANK ISSUING THE LETTER IS ADEQUATELY SUPERVISED IN ITS COUNTRY OF INCORPORATION;
(III) THE LETTER IS ISSUED AS A RESULT OF A RESOLUTION BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE ISSUER, AND WITH THE FULL AWARENESS OF THE ISSUER’S BANKING SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY (THIS IS ALREADY A REQUIREMENT SET BY THE COMMISSIONER UNDER EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS).
WITH SUCH A LETTER IN PLACE, THE COMMISSIONER WILL SET A LIMIT ON LENDING TO A SINGLE CUSTOMER BY REFERENCE TO THE FOLLOWING FACTORS*
(A) THE CAPITAL AND RESERVES OF THE ISSUER OF THE LETTER;
(B) THE EXTENT OF THE SHAREHOLDING LINK BETWEEN ISSUER AND BENEFICIARY;
(C) THE LAWS OR PRACTICES (E.G. LENDING CEILINGS) APPLICABLE TO THE ISSUING BANK IN ITS COUNTRY;
(D) ANY DIRECTION WHICH THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY MAY GIVE THE COMMISSIONER.
TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE MADE TO ALLOW EXISTING LENDING WHICH MAY BE IN EXCESS OF ANY NEW LIMIT SET BY THE COMMISSIONER UNDER THESE REVISED ARRANGEMENTS TO RUN OFF NATURALLY.
THE PURPOSE OF THESE PROPOSALS IS TO ELIMINATE THE OPEN-ENDED NATURE OF THE EXISTING SYSTEM WHEREBY, ONCE AN ACCEPTABLE LETTER HAS BEEN LODGED, THERE IS NO LIMIT WHATSOEVER ON LENDING TO SINGLE CUSTOMERS. HOWEVER, THE LIMIT WHICH THE COMMISSIONER WILL SET ON A DTC’S (OR BANK’S) LENDING TO A SINGLE CUSTOMER MAY, IF A SUITABLE LETTER OF COMFORT IS IN PLACE, TURN OUT TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY IN EXCESS OF 25 PER CENT OF THE CAPITAL AND RESERVES OF THE DTC (OR BANK) ITSELF, WHICH WOULD OTHERWISE STILL BE THE LIMIT.
-------0----------
/3
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 19
3
SEPTEMBER SURVEY OF EMPLOYMENT, PAYROLL AND ORDERS-ON-HAND *****
THE AVERAGE VOLUME OF ORDERS-ON-HAND (IN TERMS OF MONTHS) IN THE MANUFACTURE SECTOR REMAINED STABLE, BUT STILL AT A RELATIVELY HIGH LEVEL, IN SEPTEMBER.
MORE ORDERS-ON-HAND WERE RECORDED FOR THE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS AND THE 'OTHERS’ CATEGORY OF INDUSTRIES AS SOME MANUFACTURERS RECEIVED MORE ORDERS FOR CHRISTMAS AND THE NEW YEAR. ON THE OTHER HAND, A MILD DECLINE IN ORDERS-ON-HAND WAS RECORDED IN THE WEARING APPAREL AND FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES.
THESE FIGURES WERE RELEASED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT FROM THE MONTHLY SURVEY OF EMPLOYMENT, PAYROLL AND ORDERS-ON-HAND FOR SEPTEMBER 1983.
AS SUMMER STUDENT WORKERS BEGAN LEAVING THE FACTORIES FROM AUGUST, A SLIGHT DECREASE IN EMPLOYMENT WAS REPORTED AGAIN IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR IN SEPTEMBER.
THE PLASTIC PRODUCTS INDUSTRY HAD A MORE NOTABLE DECREASE. IN THE CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES SURVEYED, THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES CONTINUED TO DECREASE BECAUSE SOME OPERATIVES WERE LAID OFF AFTER THE COMPLETION OF PROJECTS.
HOWEVER, EMPLOYMENT IN THE SERVICES SECTOR REMAINED STABLE.
PAYROLL AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS IN THE FOOD AND DRINKS INDUSTRY INCREASED AFTER SOME DECLINE IN THE PRECEDING MONTH.
IN THE PLASTIC PRODUCTS AND FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS INDUSTRIES, PER CAPITA EARNINGS INCREASED BECAUSE OF WAGE ADJUSTMENTS AND MORE OVERTIME ALLOWANCES. TOTAL PAYROLL FOR THESE TWO INDUSTRIES, HOWEVER, SHOWED A DECREASE.
IN THE SERVICES SECTOR, PAYROLL AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY IN PUBLIC UTILITIES DUE TO THE PAYMENT OF ANNUAL BONUS AND BACK-PAY BY SOME FIRMS.
THE PERCENTAGE CHANGES IN ORDERS-ON-HAND, EMPLOYMENT AND PER CAPITA EARNINGS FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS ARE SHOWN IN THE ACCOMPANYING TABLE.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT POINTED OUT THAT THE SURVEY COVERED A PANEL OF THE 200 LARGEST MANUFACTURING COMPANIES AND THE 53 LARGEST COMPANIES IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND SELECTED SERVICES SECTORS CHOSEN BY REFERENCE TO THEIR EMPLOYMENT IN MARCH 1983.
AS THE SAMPLE WAS NOT DRAWN ON A RANDOM BASIS, THE SPOKESMAN CAUTIONED THAT RESULTS ON MAGNITUDE OF CHANGE MIGHT NOT REFLECT THE EXPERIENCE OF THE ECONOMY AS A WHOLE, ALTHOUGH THEY SHOULD GIVE A USEFUL INDICATION OF THE DIRECTION OF CHANGE FOR A QUICK ASSESSMENT OF DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ECONOMY IN THE SHORT TERM.
/THE SURVEY .......
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1983
THE SURVEY REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 1983 IS NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE, AT $1,5 PER COPY ENQUIRIES ON THE SURVEY RESULTS MAY BE MADE TO THE INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT AT 3-7212832.
A. ORDERS-ON-HAND IN MANUFACTURING
INDUSTRY (PERCENTAGE CHANGE OVER THE PRECEDING MONTH) ORDERS-ON-HAND (IN TERMS OF MONTHS) FOR SEPTEMBER 1983
JULY 1983 AUG. 1983 SEP. 1983
WEARING APPAREL, EXCEPT FOOTWEAR -1 1 -2 4.90
TEXTILES, EXCEPT WEARING APPAREL X X * 2.40
PLASTIC PRODUCTS 1 -1 * 3.93
FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS 2 2 -1 3.03
ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS 4 -2 1 5.36
OTHERS 1 5 8 4.09
ALL ABOVE INDUSTRIES 3 X X 4.46
B. EMPLOYMENT AND EARNINGS
INDUSTRY/ SERVICE PERSONS ENGAGED BY THE COMPANIES SURVEYED PER CAPITA EARNINGS PER CAPITA EARNINGS FOR SEPTEMBER (HK$)
(PERCENTAGE CHANGE OVER THE PRECEDING MONTH) SEP. 1983
JULY 1983 AUG. 1983 SEP. 1983 JULY 1983 AUG. 1983
MANUFACTURING 3 -2 -3 -1 4 X 2 365
ate •• — —
FOOD AND DRINKS 2 -1 1 -1 2 3 453
WEARING APPAREL, EXCEPT FOOTWEAR 1 -2 -4 -1 5 -2 2 095
/TEXTILES, .......
TUESDAY, NOVJKBEH 15, I98J
5
TEXTILES, EXCEPT WEARING APPAREL PLASTIC PRODUCTS 2 11 -1 -3 -1 -15 1 -1 5 8 -5 5
2 332
2 166
FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS 6 -2 -3 -1 4 2 1 979
ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC 4 -3 -2 2 2 % 2 181
PRODUCTS OTHERS % -1 -1 2 -1 3 182
MM CONSTRUCTION M -3 —4 -3 1 1 3 671
SERVICES % 1 * 6 -3 6 4 623
— • • —— •
BANKS M % * 5 -3 M 3 955
HOTELS * % * -1 M -1 2 772
PUBLIC UTILITIES % % % 10 -5 15 5 023
OTHERS 1 5 % K -4 -4 5 429
M CHANGES WITHIN +0.5%
PERSONS ENGAGED COVER COMPANY EMPLOYEES ONLY- SITE WORKERS EMPLOYED BY LABOUR-ONLY SUB-CONTRACTORS NOT INCLUDED.
-----0-----
/6
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1983
6
TAI HANG ROAD FLYOVER OPENING TOMORROW
* * * * *
TRAFFIC PROBLEMS AT THE JUNCTION OF TAI HANG ROAD AND TUNG LO WAN ROAD SHOULQ EASE WITH THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF AN + IMAGI NAT IVE+ FLYOVER TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).
THE 'S’-SHAPED TAI HANG ROAD FLYOVER HAS BEEN BUILT BY THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT AT A COST OF S7O MILLION. INCLUDING SLIPROADS, IT IS 700 METRES LONG AND HAS TAKEN TWO-AND-A-HALF YEARS TO COMPLETE.
AT A CEREMONY TODAY (TUESDAY) MARKING THE OPENING OF THE PROJECT, UNOFFICIAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEMBER, MR OSWALD CHEUNG, SAID THOSE WHO LIVED IN THE LOCALITY AND THOSE WHO FREQUENTLY MADE USE OF TAI HANG ROAD HAD CERTAINLY BEEN AWARE OF THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION AT ITS JUNCTION WITH TUNG LO WAN ROAD.
IT HAD BEEN APPRECIATED THAT, BECAUSE OF THE TOPOGRAPHY, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO INCREASE THE JUNCTION CAPACITY MERELY BY AT-GRADE IMPROVEMENT, MR CHEUNG SAID.
+THE CONCEPT OF PROVIDING AN ELEVATED CONNECTION BETWEEN TAI HANG ROAD AND THE CAUSEWAY BAY AREA ALONG ITS PRESENT ALIGNMENT CERTAINLY IS IMAGINATIVE,* HE SAID.
AS FROM TOMORROW, MOTORISTS WOULD ENJOY THE CONVENIENCE THAT THE FLYOVER WOULD BRING TO THEM.
MR CHEUNG SAID THE GLOUCESTER ROAD FLYOVER, LINKING TAI HANG ROAD FLYOVER AND WATERFRONT ROAD, WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
WHEN COMPLETED IN OCTOBER NEXT YEAR IT WOULD, IN CONJUNCTION WITH TAI HANG ROAD FLYOVER, FORM AN EVEN MORE DIRECT LINK WITH WATERFRONT ROAD.
HE SAID COMPLETION OF TAI HANG ROAD FLYOVER WAS ONLY ONE OF SEVERAL ROAD PROJECTS, COMPLETION OF WHICH WAS ON STREAM.
THE ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR BETWEEN CAUSEWAY BAY AND TAIKOO SHING WOULD BE COMPLETED IN THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR AND THIS SHOULD BRING ABOUT GREAT IMPROVEMENT IN TRAFFIC CONDITIONS IN CAUSEWAY BAY AND EASTERN DISTRICT, MR CHEUNG SAID.
HE PRAISED THE EFFORT GIVEN TO AESTHETIC TREATMENT OF THE FLYOVER, WHICH HE SAID WAS MOST WARRANTED IN SUCH AN URBAN SETTING.
THE DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT, MR EDDIE SHORT, SAID THAT TO COPE WITH GROWTH IN DEVELOPMENT AND TRAFFIC DEMAND, THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE OF THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WAS MAKING A CONTINUOUS EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE TERRITORY’S ROAD NETWORK AND THE TAI HANG ROAD FLYOVER WAS ONE OF MANY IMPORTANT PROJECTS IN THE ROAD WORKS PROGRAMME.
/HE SAID .......
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1985
HE SAID GOVERNMENT WOULD BE SPENDING A CONSIDERABLE SUM OF MONEY ON NEW ROAD CONSTRUCTION WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS TO BUILD AN ESTIMATED 145 KILOMETRES OF ADDITIONAL ROADS, PLUS VARIOUS STRUCTURES FOFf PEDESTRIANS AND TRAFFIC.
♦FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR ALONE, ABOUT $1.15 BILLION WILL BE SPENT, AN INCREASE ON 28 PER CENT OVER SOME $900 MILLION SPENT THE PREVIOUS YEAR,* MR SHORT SAID.
AT THE MOMENT, HE REVEALED, ABOUT 120 SEPARATE ROAD PROJECTS WERE UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND SOME 80 WERE IN VARIOUS STAGES OF PLANNING.
MR SHORT SAID MAJOR PROJECTS TO BE COMPLETED WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS INCLUDED THE ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR, THE WEST KOWLOON CORRIDOR. STAGE II OF TSUEN WAN BY-PASS, TAI PO BY-PASS AND THE NEW TERRITORIES CIRCULAR ROAD SYSTEM FROM SHA TIN TO WO HOP SHEK.
THE $900-MILLI0N TRUNK ROAD BETWEEN SHA TIN AND NORTH TAI PO, ONE OF HONG KONG’S LARGEST ROAD PROJECTS, WAS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN 1985.
LOOKING FURTHER INTO THE FUTURE, MR SHORT SAID THE SIX-KILOMETRE DUAL TWO-LANE HIGHWAY LINKING SHA TIN AND TSUEN WAN, A $6QO-MILLION PROJECT, WAS IN AN ADVANCED STAGE OF PLANNING, WITH CONSTRUCTION EXPECTED TO START IN 1985.
HE SAID CONSTRUCTION OF THE NORTH TSI NG Yl BRIDGE COULD ALSO START IN 1985 TO LINK THE THRIVING INDUSTRIAL AREA ON THE ISLAND TO BUSTLING TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN.
MR SHORT SAID COMPLETION OF THE NEW FLYOVER WOULD NOT ONLY ELIMINATE THE CONGESTION WHICH HAD LONG EXISTED AT THE TAI HANG ROAD/TUNG LO WAN ROAD JUNCTION, BUT WOULD ALSO IMPROVE TRAFFIC CIRCULATION IN CAUSEWAY ROAD AND YEE WO STREET.
THE FLYOVER COMES INTO OPERATION AT 10 AM TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).
------0-------
AMBASSADOR DESIGNATE HERE ’TO SEE, LISTEN, LEARN' *****
THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO PEKING (DESIGNATE), MR RICHARD EVANS, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT HE HAD COME TO HONG KONG ♦TO .SEE, TO LISTEN AND TO LEARN*.
SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AT THE AIRPORT ON HIS ARRIVAL FROM LONDON, MR EVANS SAID HE WAS GREATLY HONOURED AND VERY PLEASED BY HIS APPOINTMENT AS BRITISH AMBASSADOR DESIGNATE TO CHINA.
*BUT I AM ALSO CONSCIOUS OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES I SHALL FACE WHEN I TAKE UP MY APPOINTMENT, ESPECIALLY IN RELATION TO THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CHINA ABOUT THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG,* HE SAID.
/♦GIVEN THEBE .......
TUESDAY, NOVtMBEB 15, 1985
8
♦GIVEN THESE RESPONSIBILITIES, IT SEEMED TO ME RIGHT THAT I SHOULD COME TO HONG KONG TO RENEW MY ACQUAINTANCE WITH HONG KONG AS SOON AS I FEASIBLY COULD, AND THAT IS WHY I AM HERE TODAY.+
MR EVANS NOTED THAT THE PRESENT VISIT WAS HIS NINTH IN 28 YEARS AND HOPfD THAT IT WOULD BE THE PREDECESSOR OF MANY MORE.
♦ I SHALL BE MEETING A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE, THE GOVERNOR AND OTHER OFFICIALS, SIR S.Y. CHUNG AND OTHER MEMBERS OF EXCO AND UMELCO, AND OTHER INHABITANTS OF HONG KONG FROM MANY DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE,+ HE SAID.
♦ I GREATLY LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT SIX DAYS.
♦ I HAVE READ A LOT ABOUT HONG KONG DURING RECENT YEARS, AND ESPECIALLY DURING RECENT MONTHS, BUT AS THE SAYING GOES -- BAI WEN BU RU Yl JIAN (TO SEE ONCE IS BETTER THAN TO LISTEN A HUNDRED TIMES),♦ HE SAID.
MR EVANS WAS MET AT THE AIRPORT BY THE DEPUTY POLITICAL ADVISER, MR RICHARD MARGOLIS, AND THE GOVERNOR’S AIDE-DE-CAMP, MR PAUL CROFT.
------o-------
YEAR-ROUND EFFORTS TO CLEAN UP RIVERS X * * *
KEEPING OPERATION BY DEPARTMENT.
RIVERS IN NORTH DISTRICT UNCLOGGED IS A YEAR-ROUND ---------------- -THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES
SEVEN WORK TEAMS OF
AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE OF THE CLEAN HONG KONG CAMPAIGN, DURING AN INSPECTION VISIT TODAY HANG TAU, TAI PO.
NEW TERRITORIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE MR LIU CHING-LEUNG, LEARNT THIS (TUESDAY) TO RIVER INDUS AT
ACCOMPANYING MR LIU ON THE VISIT WERE THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES, MR BOWEN LEUNG, AND THE URBAN SERVICES OFFICER OF NORTH DISTRICT, MR LAW WAI-MING.
SOME 50 WORKERS OF THE DEPARTMENT ARE EMPLOYED TO CLEAN UP RIVERS IN THE DISTRICT TO PREVENT THEM FROM OVERFLOWING, MR LIU WAS TOLD.
BUT CONSTANT DISCHARGES OF POULTRY WASTES AND INDISCRIMINATE DUMPING OF REFUSE HAVE MADE IT NECESSARY TO KEEP UP THE CLEARANCE OPERATION, MR LIU LEARNT.
HE URGED FARMERS AND VILLAGERS IN NORTH DISTRICT
TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE AND COOPERATE BY KEEPING THE RIVERS CLEAN.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1983
9
TENDERS INVITED FOR CROWN LAND TENANCIES
*****
TENDERS ARE BEING INVITED BY THE LANDS DEPARTMENT FOR SHORT-TERM TENANCIES ON FIVE PIECES OF CROWN LAND.
THREE OF THE SITES ARE FOR USE AS FEE-PAYING VEHICLE PARKS, THE LARGEST OF WHICH, MEASURING 7 7OO SQUARE METRES, IS BETWEEN TAI YIP STREET AND WAI YIP STREET, KWUN TONG.
THE TENANCY WILL BE FOR AN INITIAL PERIOD OF THREE YEARS, RENEWABLE QUARTERLY AFTERWARDS.
THE SECOND SITE, AT TUEN MUN NEW TOWN, COVERS ABOUT 5 610 SQUARE METRES, AND IS FOR NINE MONTHS INITIALLY AND MONTHLY AFTERWARDS.
THE REMAINING VEHICLE PARKING SITE IS AT THE JUNCTION OF NAM LONG SHAN ROAD AND POLICE SCHOOL ROAD, WONG CHUK HANG. IT HAS AN AREA OF ABOUT 1 990 SQUARE METRES. THE TENANCY IS INITIALLY FOR TWO YEARS, RENEWABLE QUARTERLY THEREAFTER.
A FURTHER SITE MEASURES ABOUT 3 900 SQUARE METRES AND IS AT HOI BUN ROAD, KWUN TONG. IT IS FOR OPEN STORAGE, EXCLUDING VEHICLES. THE TENANCY IS FOR ONE YEAR AND THEREAFTER QUARTERLY.
THE FINAL SITE IS AT TUNG TAU INDUSTRIAL AREA, YUEN LONG. IT IS ABOUT 400 SQUARE METRES, AND IS FOR STORING AND REPAIRING TENANT’S GOODS, AS WELL AS THE REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE, INCLUDING PAINT-SPRAYING, OF MOTOR VEHICLES.
THE CLOSING DATE FOR TENDERS ON ALL FIVE SITES IS NOVEMBER 25.
TENDER FORMS, NOTICES AND CONDITIONS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM AND TENDER PLANS INSPECTED AT THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE (TUEN MUN); THE LANDS DEPARTMENT, MURRAY BUILDING, 5TH FLOOR, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG; AND THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE (KOWLOON WEST), KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 10TH FLOOR, 405 NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON.
--------o----------
$50 M CONTRACT SIGNED FOR SAI KUNG DEVELOPMENT *****
THE DEVELOPMENT OF SAI KUNG MOVED A FURTHER STEP FORWARD . TODAY (TUESDAY) AS A RESULT OF THE AWARD OF A S50-MILLION CONTRACT TO KUMAGAI GUM I (HK) LTD.
THE CONTRACT INVOLVES RECLAMATION OF NINE HECTARES OF LAND, CONSTRUCTION OF 450 METRES OF A TWO-LANE, SINGLE CARRIAGEWAY ACCESS ROAD AND 840 METRES OF SEAWALL AND RETAINING WALL.
IT ALSO INCLUDES CONSTRUCTION OF A NUMBER OF INTERNAL ROADS, CAR AND LORRY PARKS AS WELL AS ASSOCIATED DRAINAGE AND LANDSCAPING WORK.
/THE RECLAIMED .......
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 198?
- 10 -
THE RECLAIMED LAND WILL BE HOUSING, GOVERNMENT FACILITIES, SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT TO SERVE
USED FOR VILLAGE AND PRIVATE LIGHT INDUSTRIES AND A PROPOSED SAI KUNG AND TUI MIN HOI AREAS.
WORK ON THE CONTRACT WILL TAKE ABOUT 30 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
THE CONTRACT WAS SIGNED ON BEHALF OF THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT BY THE CHIEF ENGINEER, JUNK BAY NEW TOWN JIvIlOPMENT OFFICE, MR IAN MILLER, AND MR C.P. YU, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN, FOR KUMAGAI GUMI (HK) LTD.
-------G --------
PATH TO BE CLOSED IN SHA TIN
* * *
THE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO CLOSE LOK KWAI PATH WHICH LINKS THE EXISTING HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC STAFF QUARTERS AND LOK LAM ROAD, SHA TIN.
THE PATH WILL BE INCLUDED WITHIN A NEW LOT WHICH WILL BE GRANTED TO THE POLYTECHNIC AS A SECOND STAFF QUARTERS SITE.
A PLAN PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE SHOWING THE PROPOSED CLOSURE, CAN BE SEEN AT CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, CENTRAL ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING, MAIN ENTRANCE LOBBY; SHA TIN DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, 2 TUNG LO WAN HILL ROAD, SHA TIN, NEW TERRITORIES; AND AT SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICE, 6TH FLOOR, KCR HOUSE, SHA TIN STATION, NEW TERRITORIES.
OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSAL MUST BE SENT IN WRITING TO THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS BY NOT LATER THAN JANUARY 10, 1984.
-------o
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 198?
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GOVERNOR RETURNS FROM PEKING .................................. 1
WATER TREMMENT CONTRACT SIGNED ............................ 1
SCHOOL LEAVERS URGED TO HELP BUILD COMMUNITY ................... 2
HK EDUCATION PRODUCES WORLD BEATERS: HAYE ...................... 4
SHIPPING STATISTICS SYSTEM EXPLAINED ........................... 5
TEACHERS TO HEAR LATEST ON SMOKING HEALTH HAZARD ............... 5
SHA TIN ARTS FORTNIGHT TO START NEXT MONTH ..................... 6
FIRST NT SLAUGHTER HOUSE TO BE OPENED .......................... 7
DB TO DISCUSS ELECTRONIC ROAD PRICING SYSTEM ................... 8
PUBLICITY DRIVE AGAINST FIRE HAZARDS ........................... 8
LABOUR SERVICES EXTENDED ....................................... 9
LARGE-SCALE CLEAN-UP OF ISLANDS STARTING ....................... 9
FLYOVER TO BE CLOSED FOR RESURFACING .......................... 10
TEMPORARY ROAD JUNCTION CLOSURE ............................... 10
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1983
1
GOVERNOR RETURNS FROM PEKING * * *
THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, RETURNED FROM PEKING THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON AFTER ATTENDING THE SIXTH ROUND OF THE SINO—BRITISH TALKS ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.
+1 THINK YOU WILL HAVE SEEN THE COMMUNIQUE — AGAIN BOTH SIDES AGREED THAT THE TALKS HAD BEEN USEFUL AND CONSTRUCT IVE,+ HE TOLD REPORTERS AT THE AIRPORT.
SIR EDWARD SAID HE WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING MR RICHARD EVANS, BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO PEKING (DESIGNATE), WHO ARRIVED IN HONG KONG YESTERDAY.
+HE WILL BE MEETING QUITE A LOT OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, AND OF COURSE I WILL TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO GO OVER THE SITUATION VERY FULLY WITH HIM,* HE SAID.
♦SIR PERCY CRADOCK COMES NEXT WEEK TO SAY HIS FAREWELLS, AND I AM SURE WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER TALK THEN.
♦THEN THERE IS ANOTHER WEEK BEFORE THE TALKS RESUME ON DECEMBER 7 AND 8, AND OF COURSE WE SHALL BE MAKING THE USUAL CAREFUL PREPARATION FOR THAT ROUND,♦ HE SAID.
SIR EDWARD WAS MET AT THE AIRPORT BY THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY, MR DENIS BRAY, THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, SIR SZE-YUEN CHUNG, THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL btMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR ROGER LOBO, AND THE VICE-CHIEF EDITOR OF THE XINHUA NEWS AGENCY (HONG KONG BRANCH), TAN GAN.
ACCOMPANYING THE GOVERNOR ON HIS RETURN TRIP WERE THE POLITICAL ADVISER, MR ROBIN MCLAREN, AND THE GOVERNMENT CHIEF INTERPRETER, MR Y.P. CHENG.
------o - - - -
S58M WATER TREATMENT * * *
CONTRACT SIGNED
WATER SUPPLY TO TSUEN WAN WILL BE
INCREASED BY UP TO 160 000
CUBIC METRES A DAY WHEN THE FIRST STAGE OF A TREATMENT WORKS CLOSE TO THE NEW TOWN IS COMPLETED IN 18 MONTHS, THE DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES, MR TOM TOMLINSON, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MR TOMLINSON WAS SPEAKING AT THE SIGNING OF A S56.8-MILL ION CONTRACT IN CONNECTION WITH THE WORKS WHICH WILL PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL 250 000 CUBIC METRES OF WATER DAILY WHEN THE SCHEME IS COMPLETED.
/THE CONTRACT, ........
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 198?
THE CONTRACT, THE SIXTH AND LARGEST, HAS BEEN AWARDED TO NISHIMATSU CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LTD. BESIDES BUILDING THE TREATMENT WORKS, THE COMPANY WILL ALSO CONSTRUCT A SERVICE RESERVOIR AND PUMPING STATION.
WORK WILL START NEXT MONTH AND BE COMPLETED IN MAY 1985.
THE FIRST CONTRACT FOR SITE FORMATION WORK WAS AWARDED JUST OVER TWO YEARS AGO.
MR TOMLINSON SAID THE NEW TREATMENT WORKS WOULD ENABLE A AO PER CENT INCREASE OVER CURRENT DEMAND TO BE MET.
ALSO PRESENT AT TODAY’S CEREMONY WERE MR Y. YANAGISAWA, WHO SIGNED THE CONTRACT ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY, AND MR ROBERT ARMISTEAD FROM BINNIE AND PARTNERS (HK), CONSULTING ENGINEERS FOR THE PROJECT.
------o-------
SCHOOL LEAVERS URGED TO HELP BUILD COMMUNITY
*****
THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) URGED SCHOOL LEAVERS TO SHARE AND SHOULDER THE BURDEN AND PRESSURE OF DAILY LIVING IN +THIS EXCITING CITY* OF HONG KONG.
SPEAKING AT THE SPEECH DAY OF DIOCESAN GIRLS’ SCHOOL, HE TOLD THE GRADUATES THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHOOSE WHETHER TO LEAD A MATERIALISTIC, SELF-CENTRED LIFE OR TO JOIN THOSE WHO ARE WORKING TO BUILD A NEW COMMUNITY.
+FOR YOU THERE IS NO QUESTION OF DEPARTURE, YOUR HOMES ARE HERE, YOUR FUTURE IS HERE,* HE SAID.
+WE MUST NOT, WE WILL NOT, FALTER IN OUR RESOLUTION TO CONTINUE TO BUILD A FULL AND HAPPY LIFE FOR OUR PEOPLE BY USING THE IMAGINATION, ENTERPRISE AND DETERMINATION WHICH HAS BROUGHT US TO THE PROMINENT POSITION WE ENJOY TODAY.
+WE WILL SUCCEED TOMORROW AS WE DID YESTERDAY.*
NOTING THAT HONG KONG IS NOT THE ONLY PLACE IN THE WORLD FACED WITH A POPULATION EXPLOSION, MR AKERS-JONES SAID; +WE MUST NOT LET THAT ASPECT OF CHANGE IN HONG KONG DOMINATE OUR THOUGHTS.
♦BUT I BELIEVE WE HAVE COPED WITH THE PRESSURES BETTER THAN MOST SOCIETIES.
/+WE HAVE .......
WEDNESDAY, N0VH4BER 16, 198j
3
♦ WE HAVE DONE SO DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE HAVE HAD TO ADAPT TO THE REPETITIVE PROCESS OF MASS PRODUCTION AND WORK IN INDUSTRY.
♦ WE HAVE SUCCEEDED BEYOND BELIEF, HAVE FOUND MARKETS FOR OUR PRODUCTS AND IN DOING SO, HAVE ACHIEVED A STANDARD OF LIVING WHICH IS HIGHER THAN MOST PLACES IN ASIA.
♦OUR COMMUNITY IS STRONG AND HAS WITHSTOOD THE IMPACT OF ACCELERATED, ALMOST VIOLENT CHANGE FOR A MIXTURE OF REASONS: THE STRENGTH OF TRADITION, ATTITUDES TO ONE ANOTHER, OUR METHOD OF CONFRONTING DIFFICULTIES AND RESOLVING PROBLEMS BY DISCUSSION RATHER THAN CONFRONTATION, OUR UNIQUE SYSTEMS OF CONSULTATION, A CONFIDENCE IN OUR ABILITY TO MASTER NEW SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES NECESSARY FOR SURVIVAL AND TO SUCCEED WHERE OTHERS HAVE FAILED, AND A THIRST ALMOST AN OBSESSION, FOR EDUCATION.*
LOOKING BACK AT THE COMMUNITY HONG KONG PEOPLE HAVE BUILT, HE ADDED: +WE HAVE PROVIDED HOMES FOR THE HOMELESS AND WORK FOR THE WORKLESS.
+WE HAVE FACED HARDSHIPS TOGETHER : HOUSING SHORTAGES, DROUGHT AND FLOOD, TYPHOON, FIRE AND SICKNESS.
♦ WITHOUT NATURAL RESOURCES WE HAVE CREATED WITH HUMAN INGENUITY AND ENTERPRISE A COMPLEX, MODERN SOCIETY AND ONE OF THE GREAT TRADING AND FINANCIAL CENTRES OF THE WORLD.*
MR AKERS-JONES ALSO REFERRED TO THE LLEWELLYN REPORT AND SAID: ♦I WOULD LIKE TO RE-ASSURE YOU ALL THAT IT IS NOT A REPORT WHICH WILL BE FORGOTTEN.*
♦ IT ASKS A SERIES OF QUESTIONS AND ERECTS SOME GUIDE POSTS, BUT WE, THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, HAVE TO FIND SENSIBLE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS AND FIND OUR WAY FROM GUIDE POST TO GUIDE POST.
♦ OUR TASK WHEN LOOKING AT THE LLEWELLYN REPORT IS TWO-FOLD: WE HAVE TO DECIDE HOW TO GIVE OUR YOUNG PEOPLE THE BEST EDUCATION WE CAN AND WE HAVE TO BUILD THE BRIDGE TO THE WORLD AS STRONGLY AS WE CAN.
♦ BY DOING SO, WE RETAIN AND STRENGTHEN THE CONTRIBUTION WE CAN MAKE AS A PLACE, AS A PEOPLE, AS A COMMUNITY, TO THE MEETING OF EAST AND WEST AND TO THE WIDER WORLD COMMUNITY,* HE SAID.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1983
u
HK EDUCATION PRODUCES WORLD BEATERS: HAYE * * * *
THERE CANNOT BE TOO MUCH WRONG WITH AN EDUCATION SYSTEM WHICH CONSTANTLY PRODUCES WORLD BEATERS, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, COLVYN HAYE, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE SPEECH DAY OF ST. MARK’S COLLEGE, MR HAYE ADDED THAT BY WORLD BEATERS HE MEANT BOYS AND GIRLS WHO COULD ♦HOLD THEIR OWN IN INTERNATIONAL COMPANY.+
♦THIS HAS NOT COME ABOUT THROUGH CHANCE OR LUCK,+ HE SAID. ♦IT HAS HAPPENED BECAUSE WE HAVE DEDICATED TEACHERS, LIVELY AND HARD-WORKING CHILDREN AND A FUNDAMENTALLY SOUND EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.♦
TALKING ABOUT THE EDUCATION SYSTEM, MR HAYE SAID THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG HAD DONE MUCH OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS OF WHICH THEY COULD BE PROUD.
NOTING THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WAS IN A SHAMBLES AFTER WORLD WAR II, MR HAYE SAID HONG KONG HAD TO START FROM SCRATCH TO BUILD IT UP AGAIN.
♦WE HAD HARDLY STARTED WHEN WE WERE SUBJECTED TO THE FIRST OF MANY GIANT WAVES OF IMMIGRATION.
♦EDUCATIONAL PLANNING BECAME A NIGHTMARE,+ HE RECALLED.
♦THE SHEER VOLUME OF YOUNG PEOPLE DEMANDING THE MOST ELEMENTARY EDUCATION LED TO MASSIVE SCHOOL BUILDING PROGRAMMES AND IT WAS TO OUR IMMENSE CREDIT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO SAY BY 1971 THAT EVERY PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILD WHO WANTED AT LEAST SIX YEARS’ EDUCATION COULD GET IT FREE.+
♦THEN BY 1978, WE WERE ABLE TO SAY THE SAME THING OF EVERY CHILD WHO WANTED JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCAT ION,+ MR HAYE SAID.
MR HAYE STRESSED THAT THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION WAS HOWEVER, NOT FORGOTTEN.
♦SCHOOLS TODAY HAVE MORE TEACHERS. BETTER TRAINED TEACHERS, A WIDE AND LIBERAL CURRICULUM, THE BENEFIT OF SPECIALIST ADVICE AND SERVICES, A VARIETY OF AUDIO-VISUAL AIDS INCLUDING A WORLD FAMOUS EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION SERVICE, AND THEY PRODUCE BOYS AND GIRLS WHO ARE WORLD BEATERS,♦ HE ADDED.
MR HAYE ALSO NOTED THAT MUCH OF THE SUCCESS ACHIEVED IN OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM HAD BEEN THE RESULT OF TRULY EFFECTIVE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE SCHOOLS, THEIR MANAGEMENT AND SPONSORING ORGANISATIONS, AND THE GOVERNMENT, IN PARTICULAR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
♦IT IS A SYSTEM WE BELIEVE MUST BE MAINTAINED AND WHEREVER POSSIBLE IMPROVED. WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT IT CAN BE, GIVEN CONTINUING UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION BY ALL OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND ROLES OF THE COMPONENTS OF THE SYSTEM.+
HE EMPHASISED THAT +THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL CERTAINLY CONTINUE TO PLAY ITS PART BY PROVIDING AS MUCH SUPPORT AS IT CAN, NOT ONLY TO ST. MARK’S BUT TO ALL THE SCHOOLS WITHIN THE AREA OF ITS RESPONSIBILITY^
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1983
5
SHIPPING STATISTICS SYSTEM EXPLAINED * * * *
A SPECIAL REVIEW ARTICLE ON ^SHIPPING, PORT AND CARGO STATISTICS OF HONG KONG+ IS PUBLISHED IN THE SEPTEMBER 1983 ISSUE CF THE HONG KONG MONTHLY DIGEST OF STATISTICS, NOW ON SALE.
IT DEALS WITH THE SYSTEM FOR COMPILING SHIPPING, PORT AND CARGO STATISTICS DEVELOPED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT EARLY THIS YEAR.
THE STATISTICS ARE COMPILED ON THE BASIS OF INFORMATION CONTAINED IN GENERAL DECLARATIONS SUBMITTED TO THE MARINE DEPARTMENT AND OCEAN CARGO MANIFESTS. THEY ARE USEFUL FOR ANALYSING VESSEL UTILISATION, PORT UTILISATION, MOVEMENT OF COMMODITIES BETWEEN HONG KONG AND OTHER PORTS, FREQUENCY OF SERVICES RENDERED BY VARIOUS SHIP TYPES, TYPES OF SHIPPING SERVICE, AS WELL AS TYPE AND VOLUME OF CARGO TRANSHIPPED IN HONG KONG.
THE SYSTEM CONTAINS THREE BASIC FILES TO STORE INFORMATION ON SHIP CHARACTERISTICS, VOYAGE AND COMMODITY MOVEMENT, LINKED TOGETHER BY SOME VOYAGE IDENTIFICATION KEYS. FOUR SERIES OF TABULATIONS ARE PRODUCED BY THIS SYSTEM, NAMELY, SHIPPING STATISTICS, PORT-BY-CARGO STATISTICS, CARGO-BY-PORT STATISTICS AND TRANSHIPMENT STATISTICS.
DETAILED SHIPPING, PORT AND CARGO STATISTICS ARE PUBLISHED IN THE +HONG KONG SHIPPING STATISTICS* QUARTERLY REPORT.
FURTHER DETAILS ON THE HONG KONG SHIPPING STATISTICS SYSTEM ARE CONTAINED IN THE REVIEW ARTICLE.
THE HONG KONG MONTHLY DIGEST OF STATISTICS MAY BE PURCHASED FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, CONNAUGHT PLACE, HONG KONG AT $25 PER COPY.
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TEACHERS TO HEAR LATEST ON SMOKING HEALTH HAZARD * * *
MORE THAN 380 TEACHERS FROM SECONDARY SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT HONG KONG WILL BE ATTENDING A SEMINAR ON THE HEALTH HAZARDS OF SMOKING AT THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC ON SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 19).
THE SEMINAR IS AMONG SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES ORGANISED BY THE ANT I-SMOKING PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN STEERING COMMITTEE TO DISCOURAGE YOUNG PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY SCHOOL CHILDREN, FROM SMOKING.
IT IS THE SECOND SEMINAR ORGANISED SPECIFICALLY FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS.
THE HALF-DAY SEMINAR AIMS AT IMPARTING THE LATEST ANTI-SMOKING INFORMATION TO TEACHERS TO HELP THEM COMMUNICATE MORE EFFECTIVELY WITH STUDENTS.
/IT WILL ....
WEMiESDAI, NOVEMBER 16, 1983
6
IT WILL BE OPENED BY THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MR GEOFFREY BARNES, IN HIS CAPACITY AS THE CHAIRMAN CF THE STEERING COMMITTEE.
AT THE SEMINAR, A NEW ANTI-SMOKING KIT WILL BE FORMALLY INTRODUCED TO THE TEACHERS AS AN IMPORTANT TEACHING AID.
THE SEMINAR WILL INCLUDE TALKS BY MEDICAL EXPERTS ON +SMOKING AND HEALTH*, +SMOKING AND WOMEN*, +SMOKING AND CANCER* AND *HOW TO TEACH CHILDREN ABOUT SMOKING AND HEALTH*. THE TALKS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY PANEL DISCUSSIONS.
AMONG THE SPEAKERS WILL BE DR S.M. KONG OF THE HONG KONG HEART FOUNDATION, DR JUDITH MACKAY OF THE UNITED CHRISTIAN HOSPITAL. DR RUDY KHOO OF THE HONG KONG ANT I-CANCER SOCIETY AND DR ANNE CHARLTON OF THE MANCHESTER REGIONAL COMMITTEE FOR CANCER EDUCATION.
DR CHARLTON HAS VAST EXPERIENCE IN WORKING WITH CHILDREN ON CANCER EDUCATION, AND IS COMING TO HONG KONG SPECIALLY FOR THE SEMINAR.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE ANT I-SMOKING SEMINAR FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS TO BE HELD AT KESWICK HALL, HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC AT 9 AM ON SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 19).
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD ASSEMBLE AT THE MAIN ENTRANCE CF KESWICK HALL AT 8.50 AM. GIS OFFICERS WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST.
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SHA TIN ARTS FORTNIGHT TO START NEXT MONTH *****
THIS YEAR’S SHA TIN ARTS FORTNIGHT, FEATURING 23 ITEMS OF CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, WILL BEGIN ON DECEMBER 17.
THE PROGRAMME WILL INCLUDE VARIETY SHOWS, DRAMAS, DANCES, CANTONESE OPERAS, PUPPET SHOWS, ORCHESTRAL CONCERTS, A CAROL PARADE, A CELEBRITY POP CONCERT AND AN EXHIBITION ON CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY.
THE ARTS FORTNIGHT, NOW IN ITS THIRD YEAR, WILL COST $500 000, OF WHICH $300 000 COMES FROM THE DISTRICT BOARD.
SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY (WEDNESDAY), THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ARTS FORTNIGHT’S ORGANISING COMMITTEE, MR BENJAMIN NG, SAID THE EVENT WAS TO PROVIDE ENTERTAINMENT FOR ALL GROUPS, PROMOTE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AMONG RESIDENTS AND LOCAL ORGANISATIONS, AND ENHANCE THE SENSE OF DISTRICT IDENTITY.
/LOCAL ORGANISATIONS .......
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 198?
7
LOCAL ORGANISATIONS TAKING PART WILL INCLUDE THE DISTRICT BOARD CHILDREN’S CHOIR, THE SHA TIN CHINESE ORCHESTRA, THE CANTONESE OPERA TRAINING CLASS AND DANCE AND DRAMA GROUPS.
OTHER PERFORMING GROUPS WILL BE THE POP ORCHESTRA, THE HONG KONG CHINESE ORCHESTRA, THE HONG KONG DANCE COMPANY, THE HONG KONG REPERTORY THEATRE, THE HONG KONG ACADEMY OF BALLET, AND THE PAN-ASIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
POSTAL BOOKING FORMS FOR SOME PROGRAMMES AND BROCHURES ARE AVAILABLE AT THE SHA TIN DISTRICT OFFICE AT THE KOWLOON CANTON RAILWAY HOUSE AND ITS SUB-OFFICE AT LEK YUEN ESTATE.
TICKETS RANGING FROM $8 TO |8O WILL BE ON SALE FROM DECEMBER 1.
ADMISSION TO MOST OF THE ARTS FORTNIGHT PROGRAMMES IS FREE AND TICKETS FOR EACH SHOW WILL BE AVAILABLE ON A FIRST-COME-FIRST-SERVED BASIS FROM DECEMBER 1 AT THE DISTRICT OFFICE AND THE SUB-OFFICE.
ENQUIRIES ON THE FESTIVAL CAN BE MADE AT 0-6065*56.
THE ARTS FORTNIGHT IS BEING ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD, THE SHA TIN ARTS ASSOCIATION, THE DISTRICT OFFICE, THE CULTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT. MUSIC OFFICE, RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE, AND SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.
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FIRST NT SLAUGHTER HOUSE TO BE OPENED
*****
THE DIRECTOR OF NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES, MR JOHN HEYWOOD, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING OF THE FIRST MODERN PRIVATE ABATTOIR IN THE NEW TERRITORIES ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 18).
THE TSUEN WAN SLAUGHTER HOUSE, LOCATED ON A 10 000 SQUARE-METRE SITE AT WING SHUN STREET, KWAI CHUNG, WILL BE OPERATIONAL SHORTLY AFTER THE OFFICIAL OPENING.
IT HAS AN INITIAL SLAUGHTERING CAPACITY OF 2 □□□ PIGS PER DAY, AND IS EXPECTED TO MEET IN FULL THE DEMAND OF THE RAPIDLY-GROWING POPULATION OF KWAI CHUNG, TSUEN WAN AND TUEN MUN.
MODERN MECHANISED EQUIPMENT WILL BE USED FOR THE HYGIENIC SLAUGHTERING AND DRESSING OF ANIMALS.
A TEAM OF SPECIALLY TRAINED NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT HEALTH INSPECTORS WILL BE PERMANENTLY STATIONED AT THE PRIVATE ABATTOIR AFTER THE OPENING.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING OF THE TSUEN WAN SLAUGHTER HOUSE AT 3 PM ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 18).
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1983
8
DB TO DISCUSS ELECTRONIC ROAD PRICING SYSTEM ******
KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WILL BE BRIEFED ON THE ELECTRONIC ROAD PRICING SYSTEM AT THEIR MEETING TOMORROW (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON.
A PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FROM THE TRANSPORT BRANCH MR M.J. CLANCY, WILL BRIEF MEMBERS ON THE OBJECTIVE, CHARACTERISTICS, ENFORCEMENT ASPECTS AND PROGRESS ON THE PILOT STAGE OF THE SYSTEM.
AT THE MEETING, MEMBERS WILL ENDORSE THE ALLOCATION OF $100 000 TO CONSTRUCT A TEMPORARY MULTI-PURPOSE PLAYGROUND ON THE VACANT SITE AT THE JUNCTION OF CHUNG HAU STREET AND CARMEL VILLAGE STREET.
MEMBERS WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE HAWKER CONTROL PROBLEMS AFTER THE COMPLETION OF THE NEW TO KWA WAN MARKET AND THE BUILDING OF A TEMPORARY PUBLIC CAR-PARK AT THE JUNCTION OF LOK SIN ROAD AND CARPENTER ROAD.
TEN SEATS HAVE BEEN RESERVED FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND THOSE INTERESTED SHOULD TELEPHONE 3-7110171 EXT 24 FOR SEATING ARRANGEMENTS.
ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 18), THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WILL DISCUSS THE DISTRICT STRATEGY AT THEIR MEETING.
THEY WILL ALSO REVIEW THE BOARD’S +MEET THE PUBLIC+ SCHEME.
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NOTE TO EDITORSi
PUBLICITY DRIVE AGAINST FIRE HAZARDS * * * *
A MAJOR PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN TO FIRE HAZARDS WILL BE LAUNCHED AT A (NOVEMBER 18) AT 11 AM, IN THE GIS HOUSE.
INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF PRESS CONFERENCE ON FRIDAY THEATRE, 5TH FLOOR, BEACONSFIELD
SPEAKERS AT THE CONFERENCE WILL BE DEPUTY CHIEF FIRE OFFICER OF THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, MR T.D.C. GARDINER- DEPUTY CHIEF FACTORY INSPECTOR OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, MR YIP YUK-LUN AND SENIOR HOUSING MANAGER OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, MR CHU CHAI-KUEN.
A DEMONSTRATION OF THE DANGERS OF FAULTY ELECTRICAL WIRING, WHICH IS THE THEME OF THIS YEAR’S CAMPAIGN, WILL BE STAGED.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CONFERENCE.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1983
9
LABOUR SERVICES EXTENDED
* X * *
THE WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS DIVISION OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAS SET UP A BRANCH OFFICE IN SHA TIN TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO INDUSTRIAL AND NON-INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS IN THE AREA AND THE ADJACENT AREAS.
SITUATED IN ROOM 212 KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY HOUSE, LEVEL 2, SHAT IN STATION, THE OFFICE WILL START OPERATION TOMORROW (THURSDAY). THE OFFICE’S TELEPHONES ARE O-6O65523 (FOR GENERAL ENQUIRIES) AND 0-6065564 (FOR SENIOR LABOUR INSPECTOR).
BESIDES SHA TIN, THE OFFICE ALSO SERVES TAI WAI, FO TAN, MA LIU SHU I, SIU LEK YUEN AND MA ON SHAN.
LARGE-SCALE CLEAN-UP OF ISLANDS STARTING * * * *
A LARGE-SCALE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT EXERCISE LASTING MORE THAN 18 MONTHS WILL BE LAUNCHED FOR THE FIRST TIME NEXT WEEK ON CHEUNG CHAU, PENG CHAU, LAMMA AND LANTAO ISLANDS.
INITIATED BY THE ISLANDS DISTRICT’S STREET MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND ENDORSED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD, THE OPERATION WILL INVOLVE THE REMOVAL OF ILLEGAL CANOPIES, DEBRIS, REFUSE, GOODS AND ARTICLES WHICH ARE CAUSING OBSTRUCTIONS ON THE STREETS.
THE ISLANDS DISTRICT STREET OBSTRUCTION CLEARANCE PROJECT IS AIMED AT IMPROVING THE OVERALL ENVIRONMENT ON THESE ISLANDS. IT WILL BE CO-ORDINATED BY THE ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICE AND INVOLVE VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
THE FIRST CLEARANCE WILL BE CONDUCTED NEXT WEEK ON THE FIRST SELECTED ZONE ON CHEUNG CHAU, FROM THE FERRY PIER UP TO TAI SHEK HAU.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
DETAILS OF THE PROJECT WILL BE ANNOUNCED BY THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MR RAYMOND WONG, DURING A PRESS VISIT TO CHEUNG CHAU TOMORROW (THURSDAY) TO SEE THE CLEARANCE SITE.
PRESS REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO THE VISIT. A MARINE LAUNCH WILL LEAVE FOR CHEUNG CHAU AT 9.30 AM SHARP FROM THE MARINE DEPARTMENT PIER ON CONNAUGHT ROAD CENTRAL, NEXT TO THE OUTLYING ISLANDS FERRY PIER.
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/1O......
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1933
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FLYOVER TO BE CLOSED FOR RESURFACING x X x
THE SLIP ROAD LEADING FROM THE CANAL ROAD WEST FLYOVER TO GLOUCESTER ROAD WESTBOUND WILL BE CLOSED BETWEEN 11.30 PM TOMORROW (NOVEMBER 17) AND 6.30 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR ROAD RESURFACING.
DURING THE CLOSURE, TRAFFIC WILL BE DIVERTED VIA THE SLIP ROAD LEADING TO NORTH POINT, GLOUCESTER ROAD EASTBOUND, THE VICTORIA PARK ROAD FLYOVER AND GLOUCESTER ROAD WESTBOUND.
THESE MEASURES WILL BE REPEATED ON THE EVENINGS OF NOVEMBER 13, 19, 20 AND 21.
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TEMPORARY ROAD JUNCTION CLOSURE
XXX
THE ROAD JUNCTION J-7 CONNECTING SOUTHBOUND TAI PO ROAD AND YUEN WO ROAD WILL BE CLOSED FROM 9.30 PM TO 5 AM DAILY FROM THURSDAY (NOVEMBER 17) FOR ABOUT THREE DAYS TO FACILITATE REPAIR WORK.
TRAFFIC HEADING FOR YUEN WO ROAD FROM TAI PO ROAD ARE ADVISED TO USE TAI PO ROAD AND SHA TIN RURAL COMMITTEE ROAD.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 198?
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GOVERNMENT ENCOURAGED BY EXCHANGE RATE ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM 1
Technical education pilot scheme proposed........................ 5
BLITZ CONTINUES AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ...................... 6
PROVISIONAL REGISTER OF ELECTORS EOR PUBLIC INSPECTION .......... 7
SECRETARY FOR SECURITY VISITS INSTITUTIONS ...................... 9
TWO RECEIVE GOVERNOR'S COMMENDATION ............................. 9
BOARD MEMBERS' VITAL PUBLIC ROLE STRESSED ...................... 10
HOTEL OWNERS PRAISED FOR IMPROVING SERVICE TRAINING ............ 11
NEW SCHOOL OPENED IN TUEN MUN .................................. 11
GERMAN GROUP MEETS TAB ......................................
HCME SAFETY TIPS FOR MONG KOK RESIDENTS......................... 13
CLEARANCE OPERATION FOR FOUR ISLANDS ........................... 1^
CARNIVAL TO START ROAD SAFETY DRIVE............................. 16
ONE-WAY TRAFFIC .............................................. 16
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1983
1
GOVERNMENT ENCOURAGED BY EXCHANGE RATE ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM * ft ft *
THE GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN ENCOURAGED BY THE EFFICIENCY OF THE ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM DURING THE FIRST MONTH OF THE BANKNOTE ARRANGEMENT SCHEME, THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS, M? TONY LATTER, SAID THIS (THURSDAY) EVENING.
♦BUT WE ARE BY NO MEANS COMPLACENT. WE SHALL KEEP A CLOSE WATCH ON DEVELOPMENTS,♦ MR LATTER SAID.
SPEAKING AT A DINNER FUNCTION HOSTED BY THE HONG KONG ECONOMIC ASSOCIATION, MR LATTER NOTED THERE HAD BEEN SUGGESTION THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD INTERVENE, IN EITHER TRADITIONAL OR NOVEL WAYS, TO ASSIST THE SCHEME’S OPERATION.
♦THIS IS NOT OUR GENERAL INTENTION, AND SHOULD NOT BE NECESSARY IF THE ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM IS WORKING SATISFACTORILY, BUT WE DO OF COURSE RESERVE OUR POSIT ION,♦ HE STATED.
♦I MIGHT ADD HERE THAT GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE AS A GENERAL RULE NOT TO DISCLOSE ANYTHING ABOUT ITS OWN MARKET OPERATIONS.
♦STORIES WHICH YOU HEAR, HOWEVER ASSERTIVE OR SEEMINGLY AUTHORITATIVE, WILL THEREFORE CONTINUE TO BE CONJECTURE,♦ HE STRESSED.
ON THE NEW MONETARY SCHEME, MR LATTER POINTED OUT THE NOTE ISSUING BANKS NOW SUPPLY HK$ BANKNOTES TO OTHER BANKS, AND TAKE NOTES BACK FROM THEM, ONLY AGAINST PAYMENTS IN US DOLLARS AT THE SAME 17.80 RATE AS APPLIES TO THE NOTE-ISSUING BANKS IN THEIR DEALINGS IN CERTIFICATES OF INDEBTEDNESS.
♦THE GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED THE INTRODUCTION OF THIS SECOND-STAGE MECHANISM ON THE GROUNDS THAT IT WOULD HELP THE $7.80 RATE FOR NOTES TO PERMEATE COMPETITIVELY THE MONETARY SYSTEM.
♦IT ALSO SEEMED THAT SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT WOULD PRE-EMPT, OR AT LEAST MINIMISE, ANY SUGGESTIONS THAT THE TWO NOTE-ISSUING BANKS WERE EITHER UNDULY FAVOURED OR UNDULY DISFAVOURED UNDER THE NEW SCHEME,♦ HE SAID.
IT MIGHT BE ARGUED THAT THIS STRIVING TO ESTABLISH THE BROADEST CONVERTIBILITY BETWEEN HK$ NOTES AND US DOLLARS WAS AT SOME COST IN TERMS OF +THE OTHER CORNERSTONE* OF THE ESSENTIAL ARBITRAGE PROCESS, HE NOTED.
THIS OTHER CORNERSTONE IS THE CONVERTIBILITY BETWEEN HK$ BALANCES AND NOTES, SINCE BANKS ARE NOW DENIED DIRECT CONVERTIBILITY OF THE BALANCES THEY HOLD WITH THE NOTE-ISSUING BANKS.
♦HOWEVER, I DO NOT CONSIDER THAT THIS SHOULD BE MUCH OF A PROBLEM AS REGARDS THE OVERALL EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SCHEME, SINCE BANK CUSTOMERS HAVE SHOWN THAT THEY, AS A GROUP, ARE HIGHLY ALERT TO THE ARBITRAGE OPPORTUNIT IES,♦ MR LATTER SAID.
/OK THE
THUBSDAY, NOVEMBER 17,1983
2
ON THE INTEREST RATE RULES OF THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF BANKS HE POINTED OUT THAT IN THE MACRO-ECONOMIC CONTEXT, THE GOVERNMENT HAS TO BE CONSULTED CONCERNING MAXIMUM DEPOSIT RATES WHICH ARE SET BY HKAB TO BE BINDING ON ITS MEMBERS.
♦NOTE THAT THE PROCESS IS ONE OF CONSULTATION ONLY, SO THAT THE FINAL DECISION HAS ALWAYS RESTED WITH THE COMMITTEE OF THE ASSOCIATION. BUT THE OBLIGATION TO CONSULT HAS ENSURED THAT THE COMMITTEE IS FULLY AWARE OF BROADER MONETARY POLICY CONSIDERATIONS, AS PERCEIVED BY GOVERNMENT,♦ HE STRESSED.
WHILE UNDER THE NEW MONETARY REGIME IT IS IN THEORY NO LONGER NECESSARY FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE THE LEVEL OF INTEREST RATES, IT DOES NOT FOLLOW THAT THE INTEREST RATE RULES MUST BE ABANDONED, HE SAID.
♦IT IS ARGUABLE THAT, SO LONG AS HKAB IS PREPARED TO ADJUST RATES MORE FREQUENTLY THAN IN THE PAST — AND IT HAS ALREADY DEMONSTRATED THAT IT IS — THE EXISTENCE OF A SYSTEM OF CARTELISED RATES NEED NOT NECESSARILY IMPEDE THE FUNCTIONING OF THE ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM WITHIN THE NEW EXCHANGE RATE REGIME,* MR LATTER STATED.
MEANWHILE, NOTHING HAD OCCURRED SUDDENLY TO SWEEP AWAY THE MICRO-ECONOMIC JUSTIFICATION BEHIND THE INTEREST RATE RULES, HE ADDED.
THIS JUSTIFICATION IS THE DESIRE TO PRESERVE AN ORDERLY BANKING SYSTEM AND TO AVOID THE SORT OF EXCESSIVE AND IMPRUDENT COMPETITION FOR DEPOSITS THAT MIGHT ENDANGER IN PARTICULAR SOME SMALLER AND OFTEN MORE CONSERVATIVE LOCAL BANKS.
HE ADDED, *l WOULD NOT DENY, HOWEVER, THAT SINCE THE PRINCIPLE OF THIS SORT OF SAFEGUARD TO THE INDIGENOUS BANKS WAS FIRST ESTABLISHED THROUGH THE INTEREST RATE AGREEMENT OF THE EXCHANGE BANKS ASSOCIATION IN THE MIDDLE 1960’S, THERE HAS BEEN A STEADY EVOLUTION OF FIRMER SUPERVISION OF BANKS, WHICH MAY ALLAY FEARS ABOUT POTENTIALLY IMPRUDENT BEHAVIOUR.*
HE POINTED OUT THAT MOREOVER, THERE ARE 1 388 BRANCH OFFICES CF BANKS IN HONG KONG TODAY — PLUS 135 HEAD OFFICES — WHICH, GIVEN THE GEOGRAPHIC CONCENTRATION OF THE CUSTOMER POPULATION, MIGHT SEEM SOMEWHAT EXCESSIVE.
AND THIS COULD BE INTERPRETED TO MEAN THAT BANKS, HAVING BEEN RESTRICTED FROM COMPETING FREELY VIA INTEREST RATES, HAVE BEEN DRIVEN TO COMPETE ONLY IN OTHER AREAS OF SERVICE - A SITUATION. WHICH MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY BE IN THE FULLEST INTERESTS OF CUSTOMERS, HE SAID.
♦BUT DO NOT BE DELUDED ABOUT THE POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF UNBRIDLED COMPETITION. AFTER AN INITIAL BOUT OF INTENSE COMPETITION, A MUCH MORE CONCENTRATED BANKING SECTOR MIGHT EMERGE, TO THE POINT WHERE THE VERY COMPETITION WHICH APPEARED TO BE FRUSTRATED BY THE EXPLICIT INTEREST-RATE CARTEL WAS INSTEAD BEING SUPPRESSED BY OLIGOPOLY.
/+! MIGHT ...
THURSDAY, NOVYMBER 17, 1983
3
+l MIGHT ADD THAT SOME MEASURE OF PROTECTION, IN ONE GUISE OR ANOTHER, FOR INDIGENOUS BANKS IS PRACTISED ACROSS MOST OF THE WORLD, EVEN IN THOSE ECONOMIES MOST FERVENTLY COMMITTED TO FREE ENTERPRISE,* MR LATTER SAID.
ON THE MONETARY SYSTEM UNDER THE NEW REGIME, HE SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT’S VIGILANCE EXTENDS TO THE BEHAVIOUR OF INTEREST RATES.
WHILE THE FLEXIBILITY DEMANDED OF INTEREST RATES MIGHT WELL BE CAPABLE OF ACCOMMODATION WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE EXISTING HCAB RULES, THERE COULD BE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH AN INDIVIDUAL BANK FACED PRESSURES NOT SHARED BY OTHERS, AND THEREFORE WANTED TO ADJUST RATES UNILATERALLY AND QUICKLY, HE SAID.
HKAB RULES, HE POINTED OUT, ALLOW FOR UNILATERAL DEPARTURE FROM AGREED DEPOSIT RATES DOWNWARDS, BUT NOT UPWARDS.
♦BUT DON’T LET US GET CARRIED AWAY. AS YET NO COMPELLING CASE FOR ABANDONING THE INTEREST RATE RULES HAS BECOME APPARENT.
♦AS I HAVE SAID, WE SHALL BE WATCHING. AS EVER WE STAND READY TO CONSULT QUICKLY IF CIRCUMSTANCES SO DEMAND, BUT WE ARE EQUALLY RELUCTANT TO MAKE RUSHED RESPONSES TO WHAT ARE FOR THE TIME BEING HYPOTHETICAL SITUATIONS,+ MR LATTER STATED.
HE NOTED THAT THE FINANCIAL SECTOR HAS BEEN FACED WITH MANY UNAVOIDABLE CHANGES OF LATE 1 THE TRANSITION TO THE THREE-TIER STRUCTURE IS JUST COMPLETED 5 FURTHER LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS FOR PRUDENTIAL REASONS ARE ALREADY IN THE PIPELINE; AND THE EXCHANGE RATE REGIME HAS JUST BEEN INTRODUCED.
♦WHILE COPING WITH ALL THIS, THE FINANCIAL SECTOR IS STILL BUSY NURSING A FAIR NUMBER OF FRAGILE CUSTOMERS. THIS MAY NOT BE THE MOMENT FOR FURTHER STRUCTURAL CHANGES, UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY,♦ MR LATTER SAID.
REFERRING TO CALLS TO AMEND THE LIQUIDITY REQUIREMENT ON BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES, HE NOTED THAT THIS HAD BEEN AN ISSUE SINCE LONG BEFORE THE RECENTLY INTRODUCED MEASURES ON THE EXCHANGE RATE.
HE SAID THAT HIS OWN PERSONAL VIEW HAD ALWAYS BEEN THATt
* FIRST, THE LIQUIDITY REQUIREMENT WAS DEVISED AS A PRUDENTIAL REQUIREMENT AND SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE REGARDED IN THAT CONTEXT AND NOT IN THE CONTEXT OF MACRO MONETARY POLICY; AND
* SECOND, THAT EVEN IF +WE HAD SOMEHOW ALTERED OR MANIPULATED THE LIQUIDITY REQUIREMENT FOR INTENDED MONETARY CONTROL PURPOSES, WE WOULD NOT HAVE FOUND IT CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A SUSTAINED EFFECT.♦
/ux peXjT •••••••
THURSDAY, NOVQffiER 17, I98J
4
HE FELT THAT THE ADVOCATES OF SO USING THE LIQUIDITY REQUIREMENT HAD BEEN SEDUCED BY WHAT MIGHT BROADLY BE DESCRIBED AS RESERVE RATIO CONTROLS OPERATED ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD, BUT HAD FAILED TO APPRECIATE CERTAIN IMPORTANT FEATURES OF HONG KONG.
THESE FEATURES INCLUDE THE ABSENCE OF A CENTRAL BANK, THE ABSENCE OF EXCHANGE CONTROLS, THE ABSENCE OF MARKETABLE GOVERNMENT DEBT AND LARGELY ARISING FROM THESE, THE LACK OF ANY CAPABILITY FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO CONTROL THE AVAILABLE SUPPLY OF SPECIFIED LIQUID ASSETS.
♦THESE FEATURES PROVIDE HONG KONG WITH A UNIQUE MONETARY ENVIRONMENT INTO WHICH OTHER SYSTEMS OF CONTROL CANNOT READILY BE TRANSPLANTED,♦ HE SAID.
♦I AM PARTICULARLY SURPRISED THAT CALLS FOR CHANGES TO THE LIQUIDITY ARRANGEMENTS AS A MEANS OF MONETARY CONTROL, AND INDEED MORE GENERAL CALLS FOR CREDIT CONTROL MEASURES, DO NOT APPEAR NOW TO HAVE ABATED AT ALL.
♦THEIR CONTINUANCE SEEMS, FROM A THEORETICAL STANDPOINT, TO BELIE A BASIC MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE NEW EXCHANGE RATE REGIME,* MR LATTER ADDED.
UNDER THIS REGIME, THE MONEY STOCK WILL AUTOMATICALLY ADJUST TO A LEVEL THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH THE EXCHANGE RATE, HE SAID.
♦THEREFORE, IF THE NEW SCHEME IS WORKING IN PRACTICE AS THE THEORY SUGGESTS IT SHOULD — AND SO FAR THIS SEEMS BROADLY TO HAVE BEEN THE CASE — THERE CAN BE NO PLACE FOR A SEPARATE POLICY DIRECTED AT CONTROLLING THE MONEY STOCK.
♦ONLY IF THE SCHEME WERE NOT WORKING SO WELL MIGHT THERE BE SOME JUSTIFICATION FOR ADOPTING A LESS NON-INTERVENTIONIST STANCE,♦ HE SAID.
MR LATTER ADDED THAT HE DID NOT, HOWEVER, WANT TO DISMISS THE LIQUIDITY DEBATE ENTIRELY.
♦WHILE I HOPE I HAVE DEMONSTRATED WHY I AM PERSONALLY SCEPTICAL OF THE MACRO-ARGUMENTS FOR REVISED LIQUIDITY ARRANGEMENTS, THE MICRO ARGUMENTS ARE AS VALID - SOME MAY SAY INVALID - AS THEY EVER WERE,* HE SAID.
THESE CONCERN THE RELATIVE COSTS AS BETWEEN DIFFERENT TYPES OF BANK OF MEETING THE LIQUIDITY REQUIREMENT, AND HENCE THE RELATIVE EASE OF CREDIT CREATION, HE STATED.
♦I DO NOT WISH TO VENTURE INTO THIS DEBATE IN PUBLIC AT THIS TIME, BUT I CAN SAY THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS UNDERTAKEN TO REVIEW THE MATTER,♦ HE ADDED.
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/5......
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1983
TECHNICAL EDUCATION
M *
PILOT SCHEME PROPOSED *
A PILOT SCHEME FOR 18 TO 24 MONTHS’, FULL-TIME TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING SHOULD BE DEVELOPED FOR FORM THREE LEAVERS, MR R.L. HELMORE, CONSULTANT TO THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL ON TECHNICAL EDUCATION, SAID TODAY.
SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE, MR HELMORE SAID THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT THE NUMBER OF APPRENTICESHIPS WAS LEVELLING OFF, MAINLY BECAUSE MORE PUPILS WERE CONTINUING IN SCHOOL FOR THE FOURTH AND FIFTH FORMS.
♦FOR MANY OF THEM, AS OTHER OBSERVERS HAVE NOTED, THE TRADITIONAL CURRICULUM IS QUITE UNSUITABLE AND THEY DO BADLY IN THE EXAMINATIONS AT FIFTH FORM LEVEL,♦ HE SAID.
IN MR HELMORE*S VIEW, THE DESIRE TO CONTINUE IN SOME FORM OF FULL-TIME EDUCATION BEYOND FORM THREE IS SUCH A STRONG SOCIAL TREND THAT IT IS BEST TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT BY PROVIDING AN ALTERNATIVE CURRICULUM OF A MORE VOCATIONAL KIND USING THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND THE TRAINING CENTRES NOW BEING CONSTRUCTED, TO PROVIDE INTEGRATED EDUCATION AND TRAINING.
HE EXPLAINED THAT THIS ALTERNATIVE CURRICULUM WOULD BE A BETTER PREPARATION FOR JOBS IN INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE THAN IS PROVIDED BY THE PRESENT ACADEMIC ROUTE, BUT WOULD AT THE SAME TIME KEEP THE DOOR OPEN TO FURTHER STUDY FOR THOSE CAPABLE OF UNDERTAKING IT.
A WELL-DESIGNED COURSE OF THIS KIND LASTING 18 MONTHS TO IWO YEARS SHOULD ENABLE APPRENTICESHIPS TO BE SHORTENED SINCE STUDENTS WOULD HAVE RECEIVED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF INITIAL SKILL TRAINING BEFORE ENTERING EMPOYMENT.
MR HELMORE ALSO SAID THAT THE WORK OF THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES WAS ONE OF SOUND ACHIEVEMENT AND HIGH STANDARD.
THE STRONG DEMAND FOR THE INSTITUTES COURSES INDICATED THAT THEY ARE HELD IN HIGH REGARD BY STUDENTS AND PARENTS, AND EMPLOYERS HE HAD MET SPOKE WELL OF THE PRODUCT OF THE INSTITUTES, HE SAID.
MR HELMORE SAID HE THOUGHT PRESENT APPRENTICESHIP SCHEMES NEEDED REVIEW, NOT ONLY BECAUSE THEY WERE DESIGNED FOR THE FORM THREE LEAVER, WHO WAS INCREASINGLY RARE BECAUSE OF THE TENDENCY TO STAY ON LONGER IN FULL-TIME EDUCATION, BUT ALSO BECAUSE THE RATE OF CHANGE IN INDUSTRY WAS SO RAPID THAT THE IDEA OF A SINGLE SKILL LASTING FOR A WORKING LIFE-TIME WAS NO LONGER TENABLE.
IT IS FOR THESE REASONS, MR HELMORE SAID, HE IS RECOMMENDING THAT AN URGENT REVIEW OF APPRENTICESHIP IN SELECTED INDUSTRIES SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1983
6
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS COVER THE PROMOTION OF SHORT COURSES AS AN AREA REQUIRING PARTICULAR ATTENTION, GREATER DELEGATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS TO THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES, IMPROVED ARRANGEMENTS FOR STAFF DEVELOPMENT, MORE EFFECTIVE STAFF PARTICIPATION AND WIDER DISTRIBUTION OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE WORK OF THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND TRAINING CENTRES IN SCHOOLS.
MR HELMORE, WHO IS THE PRINCIPAL OF CAMBRIDGESHIRE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY, WAS A MEMBER OF THE MANPOWER SERVICES COMMISSION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM FOR TEN YEARS UNTIL 1982. TRAINED AS AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER, HE HAS CONSIDERABLE EXPERIENCE IN INDUSTRIAL TRAINING AND IN EDUCATION. HE WAS AWARDED A CBE IN 1980.
THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF HIS CONSULTANCY INCLUDEDi
ASSESSING THE EFFECT IVENESS'OF THE SERVICE AT PRESENT OFFERED BY THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES;
IDENTIFYING AREAS WHICH REQUIRE STRENGTHENING WITH REFERENCE TO STAFFING, RESOURCES AND ADMINISTRATION;
COMMENTING ON THE PROBLEMS ARISING FROM THE SCHOOLS ON THE ONE HAND AND THE TERTIARY EDUCATION IN SYSTEM ON THE OTHER;
COMMENTING ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND THE PROPOSED INDUSTRIAL TRAINING CENTRES, AND
SUGGESTING FUTURE STRATEGIES AND PRIORITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT.
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BLITZ CONTINUES AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS *****
. EMIGRATION DEPARTMENTS ARE MOUNTING
* SERJES $F *’z operations against illegal immigrants as part OF THEIR CONTINUING EFFORTS TO PUT THE PROBLEM UNDER CHECK.
the persons$£uspected"of beingThere illegally"™ ,N
REFERRE,> T0 THE .
iM 0M identification were intensified by the police
a49!S4 AND SPECIAL operations were carried out in suspected areas throughout the territory.
*T THE SAME TIME, LABOUR INSPECTORS VISITED 3 626
?NTMn*MSrnS2TS T0 T,e^TEN THE NET ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS HIDING in nUma KUNS,
/or THX ......
THURSDAY, hOVMER 1?, 1983
- 7 -
OF THE 48 212 PEOPLE CHECKED BY THE POLICE, 11 WERE FOUND TO HAVE NO PROOF OF IDENTITY.
ANOTHER 126 PEOPLE WERE SUMMONED FOR FAILING TO PRODUCE PROPER PROOF OF IDENTITY AND A FURTHER 53 WERE WARNED IN RESPECT OF THE OFFENCE WHICH CARRIES A MAXIMUM FINE OF <1 DOO.
LABOUR INSPECTORS FOUND SEVEN PERSONS WORKING IN SEVEN ESTABLISHMENTS WITHOUT PROPER PROOF OF IDENTITY AND REFERRED THEM TO THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION.
ANOTHER THREE ESTABLISHMENTS WERE FOUND NOT TO BE KEEPING PROPER RECORDS OF EMPLOYEES. LABOUR INSPECTORS ALSO SUMMONED 36 ESTABLISHMENTS TO PRESENT THEIR EMPLOYEE RECORDS FOR INSPECTION AT THE DEPARTMENT.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT UNDER THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE, OWNERS OF ESTABLISHMENTS FOUND TO BE EMPLOYING ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS COULD BE FINED UP TO 150 000 AND BE JAILED FOR UP TO A YEAR.
HE ALSO REMINDED EMPLOYERS OF THEIR LEGAL OBLIGATION TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE RECORDS OF THEIR EMPLOYEES.
ON CONVICTION, THE MAXIMUM PENALTY IS A $10 000 FINE FOR FAILING TO RECORD THE PARTICULARS OF EACH EMPLOYEE INCLUDING NAME, TYPE OF IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENT AND THE NUMBER OF THE DOCUMENT.
PROVISIONAL REGISTER OF ELECTORS FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION ******
A PROVISIONAL REGISTER OF ELECTORS, COMPRISING ALL THE 18 DISTRICTS IN THE TERRITORY, WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION FROM TOMORROW UNTIL DECEMBER 5.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO INSPECT THE PROVISIONAL REGISTER CAN DO SO DURING OFFICE HOURS AT 1
(A) REGISTRATION AND ELECTORAL DIVISION, LOTH FLOOR, HARBOUR CENTRE, 25 HARBOUR ROAD, HONG KONG;
(B) CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION HEADQUARTERS, PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE CENTRE, 13TH FLOOR, WORLD SHIPPING CENTRE, HARBOUR CITY, 7 CANTON ROAD, KOWLOON.
AT THESE TWO OFFICES, A COMPLETE REGISTER IS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION. IN ADDITION, A RELEVANT PART OF THE REGISTER IS ALSO AVAILABLE AT THE RESPECTIVE DISTRICT OFFICE OR ITS SUB-OFFICE.
/THE REGISTRATION
THURSDAY, NOVJXBER 17, 198?
8
THE REGISTRATION OFFICER, MR C.W. WONG, SAID THE PROVISIONAL REGISTER OF ELECTORS WAS COMPILED FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION FOR TWO PURPOSES.
FIRSTLY, IT ENABLED ELIGIBLE PEOPLE WHO HAD NOT REGISTERED FOR VARIOUS REASONS, SUCH AS TEMPORARY ABSENCE FROM HONG KONG DURING THE LAST REGISTRATION PERIOD FROM AUGUST 31 TO OCTOBER 11, TO APPLY TO HAVE THEIR NAMES INCLUDED IN THE NEXT FINAL REGISTER OF ELECTORS DUE TO BE PUBLISHED IN JANUARY 1984.
SECONDLY, IT GAVE THE PUBLIC A CHANCE TO OBJECT TO THE INCLUSION IN THE NEXT FINAL REGISTER OF THOSE PERSONS CONSIDERED INELIGIBLE FOR REGISTRATION.
APPLICATIONS FOR LATE REGISTRATION CAN BE MADE FROM NOVEMBER 18 TO DECEMBER 5. THE PROCEDURE IS VERY SIMPLE. ALL AN ELIGIBLE APPLICANT HAS TO DO IS TO CALL AT THE REGISTRATION AND ELECTORAL DIVISION OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT ON THE 1OTH FLOOR OF HARBOUR CENTRE, 25 HARBOUR ROAD, HONG KONG DURING OFFICE HOURS, BRINGING WITH HIM HIS HONG KONG IDENTITY CARD. ON ARRIVAL, HE WILL FILL IN A REGISTRATION FORM OBTAINABLE FREE OF CHARGE FROM THE OFFICE AND LODGE IT IN PERSON WITH THE REGISTRATION OFFICER.
TO RAISE AN OBJECTION, A PERSON MUST ALSO CALL AT THE REGISTRATION AND ELECTORAL DIVISION DURING THE SAME PERIOD. HE WILL COMPLETE A SPECIFIED FORM OBTAINABLE FREE OF CHARGE FROM THE OFFICE AND LODGE IT IN PERSON WITH THE REGISTRATION OFFICER. THE OBJECTION WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE REVISING OFFICER (WHO IS THE REGISTRAR, SUPREME COURT) FOR DETERMINATION.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT SUCH OBJECTIONS, IF ANY, ARE RAISED IN THE PROPER MANNER FOR DECISION BY THE REVISING OFFICER, BECAUSE ACCORDING TO THE LAW, NO SUCH OBJECTION CAN BE ENTERTAINED OUTSIDE THE PRESCRIBED PERIOD FROM NOVEMBER 18 TO DECEMBER 5, MR WONG SAID.
HE ALSO REMINDED ALL REGISTERED ELECTORS OF THE NEED TO WRITE TO HIM TO REPORT ANY CHANGE OF THEIR RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS, QUOTING ONE’S HONG KONG IDENTITY CARD NUMBER, NAME AND NEW RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS.
ALTERNATIVELY, THEY CAN COMPLETE A FORM ENTITLED ’APPLICATION FOR CHANGE OF RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS IN A REGISTER OF ELECTORS,’ WHICH IS OBTAINABLE FREE OF CHARGE FROM ALL DISTRICT OFFICES AND POST OFFICES. THE COMPLETED FORMS CAN BE POSTED TO HIM, BUT HO POSTAGE IS REQUIRED.
THE CLOSING DATE FOR REPORTING OF RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS CHANGES IN THE 1983 REGISTRATION CYCLE IS DECEMBER 31. IF A CHANGE IS REPORTED IN TIME, THE RESULTING CHANGE IN CONSTITUENCY FOR THE ELECTOR WHERE APPROPRIATE WILL BE REFLECTED IN THE NEXT FINAL REGISTER OF ELECTORS, WHICH WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION AS FROM MID-JANUARY 1984.
....0---------
/9.......
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1983
9
SECRETARY FOR SECURITY VISITS ft ft ft ft ft
INSTITUTIONS
THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR DAVID JEAFFRESON, VISITED THREE INSTITUTIONS OF THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT ON HEI LING CHAU TODAY (THURSDAY) TO LOOK OVER VARIOUS PROGRAMMES AND FACILITIES FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS, DRUG DEPENDANTS AND REFUGEES.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, kR THOMAS GARNER, MR JEAFFRESON FIRST VISITED THE HEI LING CHAU ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTRE WHERE HE WAS BRIEFED ON THE TREATMENT PROGRAMME PROVIDED FOR ADULT MALE DRUG DEPENDANTS.
MR JEAFFRESON ALSO TOURED THE NEARBY LAI SUN CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION WHERE HE SAW YOUTHS UNDER VOCATIONAL TRAINING, COVERING CARPENTRY, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING AND TAILORING, AMONG OTHER TRADES.
HE THEN CALLED AT THE HEI LING CHAU CLOSED CENTRE, INSPECTING ITS VARIOUS FACILITIES INCLUDING A CLINIC, A DINING HALL, AND DORMITORIES. HE ALSO TALKED TO THE REFUGEES AND ENQUIRED ABOUT THEIR CONDITIONS. THE CENTRE ACCOMMODATES OVER 2 300 REFUGEES.
TWO RECEIVE GOVERNOR’S COMMENDATION ft ft ft ft
TWO RECIPIENTS OF THE GOVERNOR’S COMMENDATION FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE WERE TODAY PRESENTED WITH CERTIFICATES BY THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR DENIS BRAY. FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING AND VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY.
MR KWOK HOI-CHUEN JOINED THE CIVIL SERVICE IN 1959 AS AN ASSISTANT ELECTRICAL INSPECTOR OF THE THEN ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL OFFICE. HE HELPED IN THE SETTING UP OF THE DEPARTMENT’S STAFF CREDIT UNION IN 1970 AND HAD SINCE WORKED UNSTINTINGLY TO PROMOTE THE WELFARE OF HIS COLLEAGUES.
MR KWOK WAS ALSO A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF THE CREDIT UNION LEAGUE OF HONG KONG. HE GAVE UP MUCH OF HIS SPARE TIME TO ENCOURAGE THE GROWTH OF THE CREDIT UNION MOVEMENT SO THAT THE BENEFITS ENJOYED BY HIS COLLEAGUES COULD BE EXTENDED TO OTHERS.
AT A BRIEF CEREMONY AT QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL WHERE HE IS RECEIVING TREATMENT, MR KWOK WAS COMMENDED FOR HIS CONTINUED EFFORTS IN IMPROVING THE WELFARE OF HIS COLLEAGUES AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC THROUGH HIS ACTIVE PARTICIPATION AND VOLUNTARY SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY FOR OVER 13 YEARS.
AT ANOTHER CEREMONY IN THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, MR LAM TAK-MONG WAS RECOGNISED FOR HIS SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION IN HELPING THE VICTIMS OF THE ALDRICH BAY FIRE IN 1976 AND THE SHAU KEI WAN HILLSIDE VILLAGERS DURING THE PASSAGE OF TYPHOON ♦ELLEN+ IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR.
/MB UM
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1?, 198j
10
MR LAM HAD SHOWN SPECIAL EFFORTS AND ENTHUSIASM IN INVOLVING RESIDENTS OF THE SQUATTER VILLAGES IN VARIOUS COMMUNITY BUILDING PROJECTS AND CAMPAIGNS.
HE HAD SERVED AS MEMBER OF THE SHAU KEI WAN KAI FONG ASSOCIATION, CHAIRMAN OF THE SHAU KEI WAN HILLSIDE AREA COMMITTEE AND SHAU KEI WAN AGRICULTURAL, INDUSTRIAL AND MERCANTILE ASSOCIATION LTD. HE HAD ALSO BEEN CHAIRMAN OF THE NAM ON FONG MUTUAL AID COMMITTEE AND MEMBER OF THE EASTERN DISTRICT FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE.
MR LAM IS CURRENTLY AN APPOINTED MEMBER OF THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD.
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BOARD MEMBERS’ VITAL PUBLIC ROLE STRESSED *****
WITH THEIR EXPERT KNOWLEDGE OF DISTRICT AFFAIRS, DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE CONSTRUCTIVE IDEAS FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE BENEFICIAL DECISIONS FOR THE PEOPLE.
THIS WAS STATED TODAY BY THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM, AT THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT BOARD MEETING.
MR WIGGHAM SAID THE CONTINUED SUCCESS OF THE DISTRICT BOARD AND THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SYSTEM MUST RELY ON CO-OPERATION AND MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PUBLIC.
♦IN THIS CONNECTION, THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE DISTRICT BOARD, BOTH APPOINTED AND ELECTED, PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN PRESENTING THE VIEWS AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE RESIDENTS IN THE DISTRICT.
♦THERE CAN BE NO QUESTION ABOUT GOVERNMENT’S SINCERITY AND WILLINGNESS IN THIS PARTNERSHIP,* HE SAID.
ON THE WORK OF THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT BOARD, HE SAID MEMBERS HAD COME A LONG WAY IN IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN THE DISTRICT.
♦HOWEVER, I HASTEN TO ADD THAT WE SHOULD NOT FORGET THAT WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO.
♦AS A LARGE DISTRICT IN ONE OF THE OLDEST DEVELOPED URBAN AREAS, KOWLOON CITY HAS ITS FAIR SHARE OF MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS.
♦THE ILLEGAL OCCUPATION OF BACKLANES IS ONE SUCH PROBLEM AND WITH THE LAUNCHING OF THE ’RED ZONE OPERATIONS’ IN JULY 1982, HALF OF THE BACKLANES HAVE NOW BEEN CLEARED.
♦I AM ALSO AWARE THAT ANOTHER MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM BESETTING THIS DISTRICT IS THE QUESTION OF PRIVATE STREETS AND I AM HOPEFUL THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PILOT SCHEME TO IMPROVE THESE STREETS WILL ACHIEVE THE INTENDED RESULTS,♦ HE SAID.
MR WIGGHAM EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE THAT MEMBERS WOULD CONTINUE TO HELP IMPROVE THE DISTRICT.
- - - - 0 ---- /11.............
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1983
11
HOTEL OWNERS PRAISED FOR IMPROVING SERVICE TRAINING
KOK
HONG KONG, AS A TOURIST CENTRE, HAS A LOT TO GAIN IF EFFICIENT AND HIGH QUALITY HOTEL SERVICES COULD BE PROVIDED.
FOR THIS REASON, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES SAID, HE WAS ENCOURAGED TO LEARN THAT HOTEL OWNERS, THROUGH THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG HOTEL OWNERS, ARE UP-GRADING THE TRAINING AND EDUCATION FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES.
♦FOR WE ARE NOT SO MUCH COMPETING WITH ONE ANOTHER BUT COMPETING TO MAINTAIN AND EXPAND HONG KONG’S IMPORTANCE AS A TOURIST CENTRE AND TO MAINTAIN AND ENHANCE ITS WORLDWIDE REPUTATION,* HE ADDED.
SPEAKING AT THE FEDERATION’S INAUGURATION CEREMONY TODAY, HE SAID THAT BASED ON THE AVERAGE ROOM OCCUPANCY RATE OF 80 PER CENT, HONG KONG WOULD NEED ANOTHER 4 □□□ ROOMS BY 1987.
+1 AM PLEASED TO LEARN THAT OVER THE NEXT YEAR WE WILL HAVE AN ADDITIONAL NINE HOTELS OR HOSTELS, PROVIDING AN EXTRA 2 600 ROOMS.
♦THIS WILL GO SOME WAY TOWARDS MEETING THE PROJECTED SHORTFALL.*
MR AKERS-JONES POINTED OUT THAT OVER THE LAST DECADE, THE HOTEL TRADE HAD GROWN STEADILY IN TERMS OF ROOMS AND EMPLOYMENT.
+IN 1970, THERE WERE 8 000 HOTEL ROOMS IN HONG KONG, EMPLOYING 11 000 WORKERS. TODAY, WE HAVE 17 000 ROOMS WITH 22 000 EMPLOYEES, REPRESENTING A TWO-FOLD INCREASE IN THE SIZE OF THE TRADE.
+AND FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 1983, THE REVENUE DERIVED FROM THE TOURIST INDUSTRY WAS NEARLY $5 BILLION,* HE SAID.
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NEW SCHOOL OPENED IN TUEN MUN
* * *
THERE ARE 40 PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN TUEN MUN AND A FURTHER 15 SCHOOLS AND A TECHNICAL INSTITUTE ARE EITHER UNDER CONSTRUCTION OR ARE SCHEDULED FOR A START IN THE NEXT 12 MONTHS, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, MR NICKY CHAN, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY OF CARMEL BUNNAN TONG MEMORIAL SECONDARY SCHOOL AT WU KING ESTATE IN TUEN MUN, MR CHAN SAID THAT, WHILE THE DEMAND FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN THE NEW TOWN HAD BEEN HIGHER THAN ORIGINALLY THOUGHT, URGENT STEPS WERE BEING TAKEN TO REMEDY ANTICIPATED DEFICIENCIES.
/+THI COMPLETION .......
n koXJaY, NOVEMBER 17, 1983
- 12 -
♦THE COMPLETION OF THIS SCHOOL IS THEREFORE A PART OF THE CONTINUOUS PROCESS OF MATCHING SUPPLY AND DEMAND IN EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES,♦ HE SAID.
MR CHAN SAID, BEING A FORMER PROJECT MANAGER OF TUEN MUN, HE WAS INVOLVED IN THE EARLY STAGES OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW TOWN.
AND IT WAS WITH CONSIDERABLE SATISFACTION THAT HE SAW FOR HIMSELF THE PROGRESS MADE.
♦FOR TUEN MUN, THE LAST DECADE HAS BEEN A PERIOD OF VAST CHANGES, FROM LARGE-SCALE RECLAMATIONS IN CASTLE PEAK BAY TO COMPLETION OF TUEN MUN ROAD AND MASSIVE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS WHICH HAVE DRAMATICALLY ALTERED THE SKYLINE,♦ HE SAID.
THE POPULATION OF THE NEW TOWN HAD REACHED 230 000 AND NO FEWER THAN SEVEN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES HAD VIRTUALLY BEEN COMPLETED ALONG WITH MANY PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENTS.
BY THE EARLY 1990’S THE TOWN WAS EXPECTED TO BE FULLY DEVELOPED WITH A MAXIMUM POPULATION OF 480 000.
MR CHAN SAID THAT INDUSTRY, TOO. HAD EXPANDED SEVERAL-FOLD AND HAD CONTRIBUTED TO THE TERRITORY’S ECONOMY.
AT THE LAST COUNT, SOME 1 400 FACTORIES HAD BEEN ESTABLISHED PROVIDING JOBS FOR ABOUT 30 000 PEOPLE, HE SAID. TO ENSURE THAT AMPLE JOB OPPORTUNITIES WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR THE LOCAL POPULATION, THE PLANNERS HAD SET ASIDE ADDITIONAL AREAS OF LAND FOR INDUSTRY IN THE TOWN PLAN.
WITH THE GROWTH OF HOUSING AND INDUSTRY, THERE HAD BEEN AN INCREASING DEMAND FOR MORE COMMUNITY FACILITIES TO MEET THE NEEDS AND DESIRES OF RESIDENTS, MR CHAN SAID.
IN ADDITION TO MANY FACILITIES ALREADY COMPLETED OR BEING BUILT, INCLUDING SCHOOLS, POLICE AND FIRE STATIONS, CLINICS AND A MODERN COMMUNITY AND INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE IN SAN HUI, BUILT BY THE YAN 01 TONG, WORK HAD NOW STARTED ON SUCH MAJOR CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL PROJECTS AS THE CIVIC AND CULTURAL COMPLEX, THE TOWN PARK AND A SWIMMING POOL COMPLEX.
♦CONSTRUCTION OF THE 1 500-BED TUEN MUN DISTRICT HOSPITAL WILL ALSO BE STARTING VERY SHORTLY,♦ HE ADDED.
THE SCHOOL WAS DONATED BY THE WIDOW OF PHILANTHROPIST, MR BUNNAN TONG, WHO DIED IN 1976.
IT IS AN AIDED SECONDARY SCHOOL, WITH 24 CLASSROOMS AND THERE ARE AT PRESENT MORE THAN 700 STUDENTS.
CONSTRUCTION STARTED IN JANUARY, 1981, AND WAS COMPLETED IN JUNE, 1982, AT A COST OF *10.25 MILLION.
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/1J......
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1983
13
GERMAN GROUP MEETS TAB
* * M
A DELEGATION FROM THE GERMAN TEXTILES FEDERATION, IN TOWN TO PROMOTE SALES OF GERMAN TEXTILES, HELD A MEETING TODAY WITH MEMBERS OF THE TEXTILES ADVISORY BOARD CHAIRED BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR E.P. HO.
♦HONG KONG AS THE WORLD’S LARGEST NET IMPORTER IN TEXTILES, BOTH IN TERMS OF TOTAL QUANTITY AND ON A PER CAPITA BASIS, WOULD ALWAYS WELCOME VISITS BY DELEGATIONS OF THIS NATURE. SUCH PROMOTIONAL EFFORTS IN HONG KONG’S OPEN MARKET WOULD HELP ENSURE THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO BUY THE HIGHEST QUALITY PRODUCTS AT THE BEST PR ICE,♦ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRADE DEPARTMENT SAID.
- - 0 - -
HOME SAFETY TIPS FOR MONG KOK RESIDENTS
X X * X
EXPERT ADVICE ON WAYS TO PREVENT CRIMES AND FIRES AT HOME WILL BE GIVEN TO MORE THAN 200 MONG KOK RESIDENTS AT A SEMINAR ON SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 19).
THEY WILL ALSO RECEIVE GUIDANCE ON CHILD CARE AND CHILD SAFETY AT THE SEMINAR, WHICH WILL MARK THE END OF THE TWO-WEEK MONG KOK HOME SAFETY CAMPAIGN.
♦IT IS HOPED THAT THE LOCAL PEOPLE WILL MAKE GOOD USE OF WHAT THEY LEARN FROM THE SEMINAR AND TRY EVERY EFFORT TO MAKE THEIR HOMES SAFER PLACES TO LIVE IN,* SAID A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MONG KOK DISTRICT OFFICE WHICH ORGANISED THE CAMPAIGN.
HE ADDED i +ALTHOUGH THE DRIVE WILL OFFICIALLY END ON SATURDAY, WE HOPE PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO BEAR IN MIND THE IMPORTANCE OF HOME SAFETY, AND GUARD AGAINST ANY UNNECESSARY ACCIDENTS AT HOME.+
SPEAKERS AT THE SEMINAR WILL INCLUDE OFFICIALS FROM THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE MONG KOK DISTRICT POLICE COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICE, THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, AND A PRIVATE COMPANY SPECIALISING IN CHILD CARE PRODUCTS.
BETWEEN THE TALKS WILL BE A CLOSING CEREMONY DURING WHICH PRIZES WILL BE PRESENTED TO 10 FAMILIES WHO HAVE WON THE +MODEL FAMILY AWARD+ FOR THEIR HIGH HOME SAFETY STANDARD WHICH INCLUDE.S THE INSTALLATION OF CLOSED-CIRCUIT TELEVISION AND OTHER SAFETY DEVICE.
WINNERS OF A QUIZ COMPETITION WILL ALSO RECEIVE PRIZES AT THE CEREMONY WHICH WILL BE OFFICIATED BY THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER (MONG KOK), MR STANLEY WONG.
/NOTE TO .......
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 198?
- 14 -
NOTE TO EDITORS I
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE MONG KOK HOME SAFETY CAMPAIGN SEMINAR AND CLOSING CEREMONY TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 19) AT THE FUNCTION ROOM ON THE TOP FLOOR OF AMBASSADOR HOTEL ON NATHAN ROAD, TSIM SHA TSUI.
THE FIRST TWO TALKS +CHILD SAFETY AT HOME+ AND +CHILD CARE AT HOME* WILL START AT 3 PM. THE PRIZE-PRESENTATION AND CLOSING CEREMONY WILL BEGIN AROUND 4.15 PM, AFTER A SHORT TEA BREAK.
THE TALKS ON +CRIME PREVENTION AT HOME* AND +FIRE PREVENTION+ WILL BE GIVEN AFTERWARDS.
------0-------
CLEARANCE OPERATION FOR FOUR ISLANDS M M
A LARGE-SCALE STREET OBSTRUCTION CLEARANCE EXERCISE, WHICH WILL LAST MORE THAN 18 MONTHS, WILL'BE LAUNCHED IN THE ISLANDS DISTRICT ON MONDAY (NOVEMBER 21).
THE EXERCISE, INVOLVING THE REMOVAL OF ILLEGAL CANOPIES, DEBRIS. REFUSE, GOODS AND ARTICLES WHICH CAUSE OBSTRUCTION, WILL BE CONDUCTED ON CHEUNG CHAU, PENG CHAU, LAMMA AND LANTAO ON A ROTATION BASIS.
EXPLAINING DETAILS OF THE EXERCISE TODAY (THURSDAY), THE ASSISTANT DISTRICT OFFICER, MR RAYMOND WONG SAID THIS PROJECT WAS INITIATED BY THE ISLANDS DISTRICT’S STREET MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED IN OCTOBER 1982 UNDER THE ISLANDS DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.
♦IT AIMS AT IDENTIFYING CASES OF STREET OBSTRUCTION IN THE WHOLE DISTRICT AND CLEARING THEM STEP BY STEP,+ HE SAID.
♦THE ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE IS TO BRING ABOUT AN OVERALL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT IN THE DI STR I CT.♦
, THE FOUR ISLANDS WILL BE DIVIDED INTO EVEN DISTRIBUTION OF STREET OBSTRUCTION
FOR THE EXERCISE 17 ZONES BASED ON AN CASES IN EACH ZONE.
CLEARANCE WILL BE CONDUCTED IN PRIORITY OF HAZARDS AND OFFENS IVENESS, PROXIMITY AND THE EXTENT OF THE AREA.
TO ENSURE THAT THE CLEARANCE WILL NOT BE CENTRED ON ONE SINGLE AREA ALL THE TIME, THE FOLLOWING METHODS WILL BE ADOPTEDi-
(A) A PRIORITY SEQUENCE FOR THE FOUR ISLANDS WILL FIRST BE SET UP;
/(B) A
THURSDAY, NOVBffiER 17, 1983
15
(B) A PRIORITY SEQUENCE FOR THE ZONES WITHIN EACH OF THE ISLANDS WILL THEN BE DRAWN UP;
(C) THE FIRST PRIORITY ZONE OF THE ISLAND GIVEN THE HIGHEST PRIORITY WILL BE THE FIRST TARGET OF CLEARANCE, FOLLOWED BY THE FIRST PRIORITY ZONE OF THE ISLAND WITH THE SECOND PRIORITY, AND SO ON; AND
(D) WHEN THE FIRST ROUND OF CLEARANCE OPERATION FOR THE FOUR ISLANDS IS COMPLETED, THE TARGET WILL ROLL BACK CONSECUTIVELY TO THE SECOND PRIORITY ZONES AMONG THE FOUR ISLANDS.
THE FIRST PHASE OF THE CLEARANCE, WHICH WILL START ON MONDAY, WILL BE ON CHEUNG CHAU, FROM THE FERRY PIER UP TO TAI SHEK HAU, INCLUDING CHUNG HING STREET AND CHUNG HING BACK STREET.
♦FOR OPERATIONAL PURPOSES, THE FIRST SELECTED ZONE HAS BEEN SUB-DIVIDED INTO FIVE SECTIONS SO THAT STREET OBSTRUCTIONS IN EACH OF THE SECTIONS CAN BE CLEARED WITHIN ONE DAY,+ SAID MR WONG.
♦THERE WILL BE ONE OPERATION DAY IN EACH WEEK AND THE WHOLE CLEARANCE OPERATION FOR THE CHEUNG CHAU FIRST PRIORITY ZONE WILL BE COMPLETED IN FIVE WEEKS’ TIME.+
MR WONG URGED SHOP OWNERS AND VARIOUS PARTIES CONCERNED TO CO-OPERATE BY REMOVING THEIR ARTICLES AND GOODS THAT CAUSE OBSTRUCTION, AS WELL AS ILLEGAL CANOPIES IN THEIR VICINITY.
♦STRICT ENFORCEMENT WILL BE OBSERVED AND THE OBSTRUCTIONS IN QUESTION WILL BE REMOVED AGAIN IF THEY REAPPEAR,♦ HE ADDED.
THE CLEARANCE EXERCISE, ENDORSED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD, IS CO-ORDINATED BY THE ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICE AND JOINTLY CARRIED OUT BY THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1983
16
NOTE TO EDITORS*
CARNIVAL TO START ROAD SAFETY DRIVE KO#
A CARNIVAL TO MARK THE OPENING OF A MONTH-LONG WAN CHAI DISTRICT ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN WILL BE HELD AT SOUTHORN PLAYGROUND ON SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 19) AFTERNOON.
THE CARNIVAL WILL INCLUDE A MINIATURE ROAD SAFETY TOWN, A DISPLAY OF WRECKED VEHICLES, A SEAT BELT CATAPULT, GAMES STALLS AND A DRAWING COMPETITION.
THE CAMPAIGN IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE WAN CHAI DISTRICT ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN ORGANISING COMMITTEE, THE DISTRICT BOARD AND THE POLICE.
THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MISS LOLLY CHIU, THE DISTRICT POLICE COMMANDER, MR A.J. MULLINS, AND THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE’S CHAIRMAN, CHAM SIU-LEUN WILL OFFICIATE AT AN OPENING CEREMONY AT 2.30 PM.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY AND THE CARNIVAL.
0 - -
ONE-WAY TRAFFIC * * *
FROM 10 AM TOMORROW (NOVEMBER 18), A NEW SECTION OF SAI WAN HO STREET BETWEEN SUN SING STREET AND HOI FOO STREET WILL BE OPENED TO ONE-WAY WESTBOUND TRAFFIC.
_ _ o - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 198?
CONTENTS PAGE MO.
SURVEYORS' WORK PARTICULARLY RELEVANT TO HK - BRAY .............. 1
SAFETY IN USE OF ELECTRICITY URGED .............................. 2
SUCCESS SEEN FOR PRIVATELY-OPERATED ABATTOIR .................... 3
PLAN TO EXTRACT FILL FOR PROPOSED TOWN ......................
GATT'S IMPORTANCE TO HK STRESSED ................................ 5
BOWLS CLASSIC ATTRACTS TOP INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS ................ 6
SECOND BRIDGE AT MAN KAM TO ..................................... 6
TELECOMMUNICATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 198? ........................ 7
TAX ON CROSS-BETTING RACE MEETINGS .............................. 7
TAI WAI BACKLANES CLEARED ..........................-........
KUNG FU CONTEST STARTING TOMORROW ............................... 8
FESTIVAL FEATURES CARNIVAL FOR CHILDREN ......................... 9
FAMILY DAY TO PUBLICISE COURTESY MESSAGE ........................ 9
CHRISTMAS AEROGRAMMES ON SALE MONDAY ........................
CUSTOMS OFFICERS TO SHOW WORK ................................ 10
CLEAN HK CARNIVAL .............................................. 10
COMMUNITY WALK ................................................. 11
YUEN LONG CHARITY WALK TRAFFIC PLAN ............................ 11
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 198?
SURVEYORS’ WORK PARTICULARLY RELEVANT TO HK - BRAY ft ft ft ft ft ft
THE WORK OF CHARTERED SURVEYORS WAS PARTICULARLY RELEVANT TO HONG KONG WITH ITS MASSIVE PLANS FOR DEVELOPMENT STRETCHING INTO THE NEXT CENTURY, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR DENIS BRAY, SAID THIS EVENING.
SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL DINNER OF THE ROYAL INSTITUTION OF CHARTERED SURVEYORS, HONG KONG BRANCH, MR BRAY SAID ALSO THAT HONG KONG, IN ADDITION TO ITS PROSPERITY, PROVIDED THE INSTITUTIONS WHICH ENABLED THE PROFESSIONS TO REGULATE THEMSELVES, TO DEVELOP BY COMPETITION, AND TO KEEP THE PROFESSIONS ABREAST OF DEVELOPMENTS WORLDWIDE.
♦WE SEE THEN THAT IT IS NOT BY ACCIDENT THAT HONG KONG HAS SEEN SUCH A FRUITFUL GROWTH OF THE PROFESSIONS. THE CONDITIONS IN WHICH THE PROFESSIONS FLOURISH ARE FOUND HERE.+ BRAY SAID.
MR BRAY SUGGESTED THAT THERE WERE THREE FEATURES NECESSARY FOR A PROFESSION TODAY IF IT WERE TO GIVE OF ITS BEST TO THE COMMUNITY — PROFESSIONAL INTEGRITY AND STANDARDS, COMPETITION WITHIN THE PROFESSION AND ACCESSIBILITY TO NEW DEVELOPMENTS.
ON THE QUESTION OF MAINTENANCE OF PROFESSIONAL INTEGRITY AND STANDARDS, HE SAID IT WAS A MATTER THAT REQUIRED CLOSE COOPERATION +NOT ONLY AMONG COMPETITORS IN ONE PLACE BUT ACROSS INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARIES.+
♦HONG KONG STILL HAS MORE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION IN HAND THAN IN THE WHOLE OF BRITAIN BUT IT IS STILL NOT A LARGE PLACE. BECAUSE HONG KONG IS WITHIN THE COMMONWEALTH MANY PROFESSIONS HAVE DRAWN UP CODES AND STANDARDS WHICH ARE APPLICABLE THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH.
♦IT IS THESE STANDARDS THAT YOUR CLIENTS HAVE COME TO RELY ON,+ HE SAID.
ON THE QUESTION OF COMPETITION, HE SAID THAT HONG KONG’S MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMONWEALTH HAD MEANT THAT +OUR HOME GROWN PROFESSIONALS HAD OFTEN BEEN EXPOSED TO INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION.^
HE SAID THAT SO FAR AS THE GENERAL PUBLIC WERE CONCERNED, SUCH INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION MUST BE WELCOMED.
WITH REGARD TO ACCESSIBILITY TO NEW DEVELOPMENTS, MR BRAY SAID THE MOBILITY OF THE PROFESSIONS WAS SUPPLEMENTED BY THE SPREAD OF INFORMATION ON DEVELOPMENTS IN PROFESSIONAL FIELDS.
HONG KONG’S POSITION AS A CENTRE OF COMMUNICATIONS WAS AN ADVANTAGE, HE SAID.
------O-------
FRIDAY, N"'/EMBER 18, 1983
2
SAFETY IN USE OF ELECTRICITY URGED * * * *
AS MANY AS 2 OOO FIRES ARE CAUSED EACH YEAR BY ELECTRICAL FAULTS, MR THOMAS GARDINER, DEPUTY CHIEF FIRE OFFICER OF THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
SPEAKING AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TO LAUNCH THE 1983/84 FIRE PREVENTION CAMPAIGN, MR GARDINER EXPLAINED THAT ELECTRICAL SAFETY HAD, THEREFORE, BEEN CHOSEN AS THIS YEAR’S PUBLICITY THEME.
PUBLIC COOPERATION WAS NEEDED TO REDUCE THIS FIGURE, AS WAS THE CASE IN REDUCING THE INCIDENCE OF FIRE GENERALLY, HE SAID.
♦HOWEVER, WITH ELECTRICITY THERE IS SOMETHING OF A DIFFERENCE, AND IT IS NOT ONLY A MATTER OF APPLYING SIMPLE COMMON SENSE,* HE ADDED.
MR GARDINER POINTED OUT THAT THE WIDE USE OF ELECTRICITY WAS OPEN TO ABUSE, RANGING FROM ILLEGAL TAPPING TO FITTING OR CONNECTION OF WIRES BY PEOPLE WITH LITTLE REQUISITE KNOWLEDGE.
MANY FIRES ATTRIBUTED TO ELECTRICAL ORIGINS WERE CAUSED BY THE USE OF SUB-STANDARD APPLIANCES OR DEVICES AVAILABLE IN THE MARKET.
MR GARDINER ADVISED PURCHASERS TO GO TO REPUTABLE DEALERS ONLY AND TO BE SELECTIVE IN THE ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT THEY BUY.
HE TOLD THE PRESS CONFERENCE THAT THE DIRECTOR OF ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES WAS CONSIDERING INTRODUCING NEW LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF ELECTRICAL FITTINGS AND INSTALLATIONS.
♦MEANWHILE, THE PUBLIC IS URGED TO TAKE CARE AND IF UNSURE IN ANY WAY ON THE SUBJECT OF ELECTRICITY, TO TAKE ADVICE FROM A COMPETENT ELECTRIC IAN,+ HE SAID.
MR GARDINER REPORTED THAT THERE HAD BEEN AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR.
♦BOTH THE TOTALS OF FIRE HAZARD ABATEMENT NOTICES ISSUED AND THE NUMBER OF CASES GOING TO COURT FOR NON COMPLIANCE SHOW A DECREASE,♦ HE SAID.
HE ATTRIBUTED THE DECREASE TO THE INCREASED FIRE SERVICE PRESENCE IN BUILDINGS TO DEAL WITH OBSTRUCTIONS AND THE VERY BIG INCREASE IN MAXIMUM PENALTIES FOR FIRE HAZARD OFFENCES, AVERAGING ABOUT SI 800. ON ONE OCCASION A MAXIMUM FINE OF S50 000 WAS IMPOSED, HE SAID..
MR GARDINER ALSO REMINDED THE PUBLIC TO KEEP THE SMOKELOBBY DOORS OF THEIR BUILDINGS CLOSED AT ALL TIMES.
HE SAID FOUR PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND 48 HOSPITALISED IN A FIRE BROKE OUT IN KOWLOON EARLIER THIS YEAR.
/+THE PBOPLE .....
TOIDAI, OV'-MBZB 18, 1983
3
♦THE PEOPLE WERE TRAPPED IN SMOKE-FILLED STAIRCASES AND CORRIDORS BECAUSE SELF-CLOSING SMOKE-LOBBY DOORS THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING HAD BEEN FIXED IN THE OPEN POSITION, ALLOWING SMOKE AND HEAT FROM THE FIRE TO FILL THE ESCAPE ROUTES,+ HE EXPLAINED.
ALSO SPEAKING AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE WERE MR YIP YUK-LUN, DEPUTY CHIEF FACTORY INSPECTOR OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND NR CHU CHAI-KUEN, SENIOR HOUSING MANAGER OF THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT.
MR YIP POINTED OUT THAT OTHER COMMON CAUSES OF FACTORY FIRES INCLUDE THE OVERHEATING OF MOTORS AND MACHINERY DUE TO OVERLOADING CR BAD MAINTENANCE; MISHANDLING OF CIGARETTE ENDS AND HOT ASHES 1 IMPROPER USE OF NAKED FLAME; AND THE CARELESS HANDLING OF FLAMMABLE SUBSTANCES.
♦MOST OF THESE FIRES COULD BE PREVENTED IF FACTORY PROPRIETORS WOULD DO SOME FORWARD PLANNING ON FIRE SAFETY IN THEIR OWN FACTOR IES,♦ MR YIP SAID.
MR CHU SAID MANY SQUATTER FIRES ALSO RESULT FROM THE USE OF DEFECTIVE OR OVERLOADED ELECTRICAL APPARATUS.
------0-------
SUCCESS SEEN FOR PRIVATELY-OPERATED ABATTOIR
M M M M M
THE NEWLY-COMPLETED TSUEN WAN SLAUGHTERHOUSE WOULD SERVE TO SHOW TO OTHERS THAT PRIVATE ENTERPRISE COULD BUILD AND MANAGE A FINANCIALLY VIABLE MEAT-SLAUGHTERING FACILITY IN HONG KONG TO REQUISITE STANDARDS, THE DIRECTOR OF NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES, H? JOHN HEYWOOD, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE, W HEYWOOD TOLD THE DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS OFTEN UNDER PRESSURE TO HIVE OFF SOME OF ITS ACTIVITIES TO PRIVATE ENTERPRISE AND THIS WAS CLEARLY ONE AREA IN WHICH, IF THEY COULD SUCCEED, THERE WAS SCOPE FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW.
♦THIS WOULD MEAN A SAVING TO THE TAXPAYER AS IT WILL AVOID THE VERY EXPENSIVE CAPITAL COST OF BUILDING MORE GOVERNMENT ABATTOIRS AND HELPS TO CONTAIN THE GROWTH OF THE CIVIL SERVICE -A MATTER OF CONCERN TO ALL,* HE CONTINUED.
MR HEYWOOD SAID THERE HAD BEEN SOME CONCERN THAT PRIVATE ENTERPRISE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO OPERATE A MODERN SLAUGHTERING FACILITY AND MEET THE STRINGENT HEALTH AND HYGIENE STANDARDS.
HE SAID IT WAS A FACT THAT THESE STANDARDS WERE NOT BEING ►€T IN THE OLD SLAUGHTER HALLS IN THE PAST, AT MA TAU KOK AND KENNEDY TOWN, AND THIS WAS ONE REASON WHY THE GOVERNMENT HAD BUILT THE PRESENT-DAY ABATTOIRS IN THEIR PLACE.
/♦I AM .......
. X, NOVEMBER 18, 1983
4
♦I AM GLAD TO SAY THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO PERSUADE GOVERNMENT THAT YOU SHOULD TAKE UP THIS CHALLENGE,* HE TOLD THE DIRECTORS CF THE COMPANY.
THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE IS BUILT TO AN INITIAL CAPACITY OF 2 OOO PIGS PER DAY, AND WILL TAKE SOME OF THE PRESSURE OFF THE GOVERNMENT’S ABATTOIRS AT CHEUNG SHA WAN, MR HEYWOOD SAID.
REFERRING TO A FLEET OF THE COMPANY’S NEW VEHICLES WHICH HAVE BEEN DESIGNED TO MEET THE GOVERNMENT’S HEALTH STANDARDS, HEYWOOD SAID THE VEHICLES WOULD ENABLE THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE TO DELIVER THEIR PRODUCT QUICKLY AND HYGIENICALLY TO TSUEN WAN AND OTHER PARTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.
MR HEYWOOD SAID THE SLAUGHTERING FACILITIES WOULD HAVE TO WORK FROM ABOUT MIDNIGHT TO DAWN TO PROVIDE THE HOUSEWIFE WITH FRESHLY KILLED MEAT ON THE MARKET SLAB IN TIME FOR HER EARLY MORNING SHOPPING.
- - - - 0 ----
PLAN TO EXTRACT FILL FOR PROPOSED TOWN
******
CONTRACTORS ARE BEING INVITED TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS TO EXTRACT FILL FROM UNDER THE SEABED AND FORM THE SITE FOR A PLANNED NEW TOWN AT TIN SHU I WAI.
NOTING THAT THIS METHOD OF OBTAINING FILL HAD NEVER BEEN TRIED IN HONG KONG, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT CONTRACTORS WOULD NEED TO HAVE EXPERIENCE IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE WORK AND BE ABLE TO DEMONSTRATE ADEQUATE FINANCIAL RESOURCES.
AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY WOULD BE CARRIED OUT.
HE SAID THAT BETWEEN 13 AND 30 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF FILL WILL BE NEEDED TO FORM THE TIN SHUI WAI SITE. IT HAS BEEN DECIDED THE FILL WILL BE OBTAINED FROM SAND AND GRAVEL DEPOSITS BENEATH THE SEABED UP TO 37 KILOMETRES FROM THE PROJECT AREA.
BESIDES EXTRACTING THE FILL MATERIAL AND DELIVERING IT TO THE SITE AT THE RATE OF 750 000 CUBIC METRES PER MONTH, THE CONTRACTOR WILL ALSO HAVE TO DIG CHANNELS TO GIVE ACCESS TO DREDGING AND OTHER PLANT AND DUMP SPOIL AT SEA.
THE CONTRACT ALSO INCLUDES CONSTRUCTION OF DRAINAGE CHANNELS AND ANCILLARY WORKS AT TIN SHUI WAI.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE FEASIBILITY OF FORMING LAND FOR URBAN DEVELOPMENT AT TIN SHUI WAI IS AT PRESENT BEING STUDIED.
WHEN DECISION IS MADE TO GO AHEAD WITH THE PROJECT, TENDERS WILL BE INVITED IN THE LATTER HALF OF NEXT YEAR.
-----0-------
/5......
' I O 'EMBER 18, 1983
5
GATT’S IMPORTANCE TO HK STRESSED ft ft ft *
HONG KONG RELIED HEAVILY ON BOTH THE GENERAL AGREEMENT ON TARIFFS AND TRADE (GATT) AND THE MULTI-FIBRE ARRANGEMENT (MFA) IN ITS EXTERNAL COMMERCIAL RELATIONS, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF TRADE, MR JOHN CHAN, SAID TODAY.
SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF PO LEUNG KUK DIRECTORS, MR CHAN SAID THE GATT, WHICH DEALS WITH INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN GENERAL, WAS THE MORE IMPORTANT MULTILATERAL TREATY FROM HONG KONG’S POINT OF VIEW, THAN THE MFA, WHICH DEALS WITH TEXTILES AND CLOTHING IN PARTICULAR.
ONE OF THE GATT’S MAIN FUNCTIONS IS TO PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK FOR DISCUSSION AND SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES AND TRADE PROBLEMS BETWEEN MEMBERS, MR CHAN SAID.
MR CHAN SAID THE GATT - WHICH PROVIDES FOR FREE TRADE - COULD WORK TO PROTECT HONG KONG’S INTERESTS, AND EXPLAINED HOW IT HAD DONE SO IN HONG KONG’S DISPUTE WITH FRANCE OVER QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS ON HONG KONG PRODUCTS, INCLUDING QUARTZ WATCHES.
MR CHAN SAID THAT, DESPITE REPEATED BI-LATERAL NEGOTIATIONS, FRANCE HAD CONTINUED TO IMPOSE QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS ON A NUMBER OF HONG KONG PRODUCTS. HONG KONG THEN REFERRED THE MATTER IN SEPTEMBER 1982 TO THE GATT, WHICH DECIDED TO ESTABLISH A PANEL TO LOOK INTO THE COMPLAINT.
♦THE PANEL WAS ESTABLISHED IN DECEMBER 1982 AND, FOLLOWING DETAILED INVESTIGATIONS DURING WHICH THE PANEL HEARD PRESENTATIONS BOTH BY HONG KONG AND BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION ON BEHALF OF FRANCE, SUBMITTED ITS REPORT TO THE GATT COUNCIL IN JULY 1983.
♦IN ITS REPORT, THE PANEL CONCLUDED THAT THE QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS MAINTAINED BY FRANCE AGAINST HONG KONG WERE INCONSISTENT WITH THE RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF THE GATT. THE PANEL RECOMMENDED THAT FRANCE TERMINATE THESE QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS,* HE SAID.
THE GATT COUNCIL ADOPTED THE PANEL’S REPORT WITHOUT RESERVATION THAT SAME MONTH, MR CHAN SAID.
SINCE THEN, THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT HAS OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED THE TERMINATION OF THE RESTRICTIONS ON THREE PRODUCTS, HE SAID. IT WAS ALSO CONSIDERING WHAT ACTION TO TAKE TO COMPLY WITH THE GATT DECISION ON FIVE OTHER PRODUCTS, HE ADDED.
♦WE ARE WATCHING THE SITUATION CLOSELY AND INTEND TO KEEP UP THE PRESSURE TO ENSURE THAT THESE REMAINING QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS ARE EITHER LIFTED OR, AT LEAST, MADE FULLY CONSISTENT WITH THE GATT,+ MR CHAN STRESSED.
MR CHAN SAID THAT WITHOUT THE PROTECTION OF THE GATT, HE VERY MUCH DOUBTED IF HONG KONG COULD HAVE ATTAINED ITS PRESENT POSITION AS THE SEVENTEENTH LARGEST TRADING UNIT IN THE WORLD.
6
FRU ., OVEMBER 18, 1983
BOWLS CLASSIC ATTRACTS TOP INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS * * * * *
MAJOR INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS HAVE BEEN ATTRACTED TO THE SECOND CLASSIC LAWN BOWLS PAIRS COMPETITION WHICH GETS UNDER WAY IN THE COMING WEEK.
TAKING PART IN THE EVENT WILL BE TOP PLAYERS FROM AUSTRALIA, ENGLAND, IRELAND, NEW ZEALAND, SCOTLAND, WALES, THE NEWCASTLE DISTRICT OF NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA, AND HONG KONG.
THIS WEEKEND, PRIOR TO THE START OF THE MAIN TOURNAMENT, A SINGLES TOURNAMENT WILL BE PLAYED WITH 18 LOCAL BOWLERS FROM HONG KONG CLUBS MEETING FOURTEEN OF THE OVERSEAS STARS IN A KNOCK-OUT COMPETITION TO BE PLAYED AT CRAIGENGOWER CRICKET CLUB AND HONG KONG FOOTBALL CLUB.
AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY, MR KEN WALLIS, PRESIDENT OF THE HONG KONG LAWN BOWLS ASSOCIATION, SAID THAT HONG KONG HAD ALWAYS BEEN HAPPY TO HOST TOP INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION. THE STANDARD OF THE GAME WAS CONSTANTLY IMPROVING IN THE TERRITORY AND SEVERAL PLAYERS HAD ACHIEVED DISTINCTION OVERSEAS.
THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL CLASSIC PAIRS CONTEST WAS HELD IN 1981 AND IT PROVED SUCH A SUCCESS THAT IT WAS DECIDED TO STAGE THE SECOND EVENT THIS YEAR.
AT THE END OF A WEEK'S OUTSTANDING BOWLING, IN 1981, ROBBIE DOBBINS AND DARBY ROSS OF NEW SOUTH WALES BEAT TWO WORLD GOLD MEDALLISTS JIMMY HOBDAY AND TONY ALLCOCK OF ENGLAND IN THE FINAL. ROBBIE AND DARBY ARE BOTH BACK IN HONG KONG THIS YEAR, BUT ROBBIE WILL NOT PLAY BECAUSE OF A BACK INJURY AND HE WILL BE SUBSTITUTED BY KEN PORTER IN THE TITLE DEFENCE.
THE VENUE FOR THE CLASSIC PAIRS EVENT IS THE KOWLOON BOWLING GREEN CLUB AND ROUNDS WILL BE HELD THERE THROUGHOUT NEXT WEEK CULMINATING IN A FINAL TO BE PLAYED ON THE AFTERNOON OF SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27.
------ 0 -----
SECOND BRIDGE AT MAN KAM TO
* * *
WORK WILL START EARLY NEXT YEAR ON CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW BRIDGE ACROSS THE SHENZHEN RIVER AT MAN KAM TO.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (FRIDAY), A SPOKESMAN FOR THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THE MAN KAM TO BRIDGE IS THE ONLY ROAD LINK WITH CHINA AT PRESENT.
+TO COPE WITH THE ANTICIPATED INCREASE IN CROSS-BORDER TRAFFIC, IT HAS BECOME NECESSARY TO BUILD A SECOND BRIDGE,+ HE SAID.
/THE NEW
K JAI, JiOVBffiEB 18, 1983
7
THE NEW FOUR-SPAN BRIDGE, WITH A 7.5-METRE-WIDE CARRIAGEWAY AND A TWO-METRE-WIDE FOOTPATH ON EACH SIDE, WILL BE 52 METRES LONG.
THE TWO SPANS ON THE HONG KONG SIDE WILL BE BUILT BY THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE OF THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, AND THE TWO ON THE CHINESE SIDE BY THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES.
TENDERS FOR THE WORK ON THE HONG KONG SIDE ARE BEING INVITED BY THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE.
WORK ON THE CONTRACT, WHICH WILL TAKE ABOUT NINE MONTHS TO COMPLETE, WILL INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION OF A VEHICLE HOLDING AREA AND A NEW ACCESS ROAD BETWEEN MAN KAM TO ROAD AND THE NEW BRIDGE.
-----0-------
TELECOMMUNICATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983 * * * *
A BILL TO AMEND THE TELECOMMUNICATION ORDINANCE TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FIELD OF TELECOMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY WILL BE INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL NEXT WEDNESDAY (NOVEMBER 23).
THE TELECOMMUNICATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY, ALSO MAKES SOME MINOR CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS AND CLARIFIES A NUMBER OF AMBIGUITIES IN THE EXISTING LAW.
THE MAIN PROVISION IN THE BILL WILL ALLOW FOR THE USE ON BOARD VESSELS IN HONG KONG WATERS OF RECENTLY DEVELOPED FORMS OF MARITIME RADIOCOMMUNICATION, SUCH AS THE INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICE, INMARSAT.
IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE BILL WILL COMPLETE ITS LEGISLATIVE STAGES ON DECEMBER 7.
ANYONE WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ON THE PROVISIONS MAY WRITE TO UMELCO, SWIRE HOUSE, 12TH FLOOR, CHATER ROAD, CENTRAL OR TO THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, CENTRAL.
-----0-----
TAX ON CROSS-BETTING RACE MEETINGS
*****
^nueA W,LL BE INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON T0 MAKE IT CLEAR THAT ADMISSION TO A
RACE COURSE FOR CROSS BETTING IS SUBJECT TO TAX.
cUTCOT,?2ZfE5?E5T SPOKESMAN SAID THE EXISTING WORDING OF THE SptEId rucNJLIA\OnD,rANCE WAS 0PEN T0 INTERPRETATION AS TO ^!I?ER +A RACE MEETING* INCLUDED A CROSS-BETTING
rtETING AS WELL.
*T„WAS NEVER INTENDED THAT ADMISSION TO CROSS-BETTING SHdcc! S,22L$u?E SEATED DIFFERENTLY FROM ADMISSION TO RACE ™E ENTERTAINMENTS TAX (AMENDMENT AND VALIDATION) BILL 1983 IS AIMED AT REMOVING ANY DOUBT,* HE EXPLAINED.
/THE BILL........
, I'OVxJWliK 18, 1983
8
THE BILL IS EXPECTED TO COMPLETE ITS LEGISLATIVE STAGES ON DECEMBER 7.
ANYONE WHO WISHES TO COMMENT ON ITS PROVISIONS MAY WRITE TO UMELCO AT SWIRE HOUSE, 12TH FLOOR, CHATER ROAD, CENTRAL OR TO THE COMMISSIONER OF INLAND REVENUE, WINDSOR HOUSE, 311 GLOUCESTER ROAD, CAUSEWAY BAY.
------------0 - - - -TAI WAI BACKLANES CLEARED X X * *
A THREE-DAY OPERATION TO CLEAR SOME 50 ILLEGAL STRUCTURES ON BACKLANES AT TAI WAI, SHA TIN, WAS COMPLETED TODAY.
SUPPORTED BY THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD, A SECOND CLEARANCE WILL BE HELD NEXT MONTH TO COMPLETE AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMME.
THE STRUCTURES ALREADY CLEARED WERE MAINLY ILLEGAL CANOPIES, STORES AND SMALL WORKSHOPS WHICH HAD BEEN CAUSING AN ENVIRONMENTAL NUISANCE AND OBSTRUCTION AT CH IK CHUEN STREET, CH IK FUK STREET AND CH IK SHUN STREET.
THE TAI WAI CLEARANCE IS A JOINT OPERATION INVOLVING THE DISTRICT OFFICE, THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT, THE POLICE FORCE, THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE AND THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
------0-------
KUNG FU CONTEST STARTING TOMORROW
* * *
THE THIRD CHINESE MARTIAL ARTS SELF-ATTAINMENT AWARD CONTEST WILL BE HELD TOMORROW (SATURDAY) EVENING AT MACPHERSON STADIUM, MONG KOK.
THERE WILL BE DISPLAYS OF VARIOUS DISCIPLINES OF KUNG FU FROM 6 PM TO 10 PM.
THE CONTEST IN THE FORM OF A TWO-MINUTE DISPLAY OF MARTIAL ARTS SKILLS IS ORGANISED BY THE RECREATION AND SPORTS SERVICE OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT AND THE HONG KONG CHINESE MARTIAL ARTS ASSOCIATION.
MORE THAN 300 MEN AND WOMEN WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE CONTEST, WITH EACH PARTICIPANT DEMONSTRATING ONE FORM OF MARTIAL ARTS.
OUTSTANDING CONTESTANTS WILL ENTER THE FINALS TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 26 (SATURDAY) AT THE SAME VENUE.
THEY WILL BE PRESENTED WITH GOLD, SILVER OR BRONZE MEDALS DEPENDING ON THEIR PERFORMANCE IN THE FINALS.
THOSE WHO CANNOT ENTER THE FINALS WILL BE GIVEN A MEDAL AS A SOUVENIR.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE WELCOME TO COVER THE EVENT TO BE HELD IN MACPHERSON STADIUM, MONG KOK STARTING AT 6 PM TOMORROW.
------0-------- /9 .......
i uvtiocK 18, 1983
9
NOTE TO EDITORS!
FESTIVAL FEATURES CARNIVAL FOR CHILDREN ft ft ft ft *
A LONG DISTANCE RUN AT THE PEAK AND A CARNIVAL FOR 4 000 CHILDREN WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 20) AS PART OF THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT FESTIVAL.
THE RUN, COVERING 6 000 METRES, WILL START OFF AT 10 AM AT THE JUNCTION OF HARLECH ROAD AND HATTON ROAD.
ABOUT 400 PERSONS ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE PART.
AT 2 PM, A CARNIVAL FEATURING GAMES STALLS, TELEMATCH, FUN AND GAMES WITH CARTOON CHARACTER ’UNCLE MACDONALD’ AND A FREE PHOTO SERVICE FOR FAMILIES, WILL BE HELD AT THE CHATER ROAD PEDESTRIAN PRECINCT.
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE RUN AND THE CARNIVAL. A GOVERNMENT VEHICLE WILL LEAVE THE HILTON HOTEL PUBLIC CAR PARK AT 9.15 AM FOR THE PEAK.
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FAMILY DAY TO PUBLICISE COURTESY MESSAGE ft ft ft ft
A COURTESY FAMILY DAY FOR PARENTS AND CHILDREN TO SHARE THE FUN AND LEARN ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING COURTEOUS WILL BE HELD TOMORROW (SATURDAY) AFTERNOON.
THE FAMILY DAY, TO BE HELD AT THE OCEAN TERMINAL CONCOURSE STARTING AT 2.30 PM, IS ONE OF THE PROGRAMMES IN THE CURRENT YAU MA TEI COURTESY CAMPAIGN.
THERE WILL BE SPECIALLY-DESIGNED GAMES FOR THE PARTICIPANTS AND PERFORMANCES BY LOCAL SINGERS AND DISC JOCKEYS.
A PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY FOR THE MOST COURTEOUS COSMETIC SALESGIRLS WILL ALSO BE HELD. THE DEPUTY REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR ALBERT LAM, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE CEREMONY.
THE EVENT IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE LOCAL DISTRICT BOARD AND COMMERCIAL RADIO I.
NOTE TO EDITORS!
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE COURTESY FAMILY DAY STARTING AT 2.30 PM TOMORROW (SATURDAY) AT THE OCEAN TERMINAL CONCOURSE.
0
/10.........
Fh. . i, NOVEMBER 18, 1983
10
CHRISTMAS AEROGRAMMES ON SALE MONDAY * ft ft X
THE 1983 CHRISTMAS PICTORIAL AEROGRAMMES WILL BE PLACED ON SALE AT 30 CENTS EACH AT ALL POST OFFICES FROM MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, THE POSTMASTER GENERAL ANNOUNCED TODAY.
THE CHRISTMAS AEROGRAMME SHOWS A HOLLY GARLAND WITH BELLS AND COLOURFUL RIBBONS.
♦CHRISTMAS AEROGRAMMES ARE A CONVENIENT WAY OF SENDING CHRISTMAS GREETINGS ABROAD. THEY COMBINE BOTH A PERSONAL LETTER AND A GREET I NG,AND CAN BE POSTED TO ANY PART OF THE WORLD AS FIRST CLASS AIRMAIL FOR ONLY |1,+ HE SAID.
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NOTE TO ED I TORSt
CUSTOMS OFFICERS TO SHOW WORK ft ft ft
IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CAREERS ’84 EXHIBITION, THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DEPARTMENT WILL STAGE A SERIES OF OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AT EDINBURGH PLACE ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 20).
PROGRAMMES FOR THE DAY INCLUDE A DEMONSTRATION BY DRUG DETECTION DOG SHOWS, AND DEMONSTRATIONS OF DETECTION OF DECOLOURISED INDUSTRIAL DIESEL OIL, AND OF A WALK-THROUGH METAL DETECTOR.
VISITORS MAY ALSO GO ON A CUSTOMS LAUNCH AT QUEEN’S PIER.
THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE, MR DOUGLAS JORDAN WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY AT 10 AM.
YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO COVER THE EVENT.
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NOTE TO EDITORSi
CLEAN HK CARNIVAL ft ft ft
AN EASTERN DISTRICT CLEAN HONG KONG CARNIVAL AND EXHIBITION, FEATURING A VARIETY SHOW, A QUIZ, A PHOTO DISPLAY AND GAMES STALLS, WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 20) AFTERNOON.
AT THE CARNIVAL, TO BE HELD BETWEEN 2 PM AND 5 PM AT THE MADAM CHAN WAI CHOW MEMORIAL SCHOOL IN NORTH POINT, PRIZES WILL ALSO BE PRESENTED TO WINNERS OF AN ♦EASTERN DISTRICT CLEANEST BUILDING COMPETITION*.
THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR LUI HAU-TUEN; THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF URBAN SERVICES, MR CHEUNG MAN-SANG; AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE DISTRICT BOARD’S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE, W CHOI WING-ON; WILL OFFICIATE AT AN OPENING CEREMONY AT 2 PM.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CEREMONY AND THE CARNIVAL.
- _ _ _ z> _------------------ /n..............
rkI. lUVtMtotR 18, 1983
11
NOTE TO EDITORSi
COMMUNITY WALK * * * *
THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE START OF THE TUEN MUN/YUEN LONG JOINT DISTRICT COMMUNITY CHEST WALK ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 20) MORNING.
THIS WILL BE THE FIRST OF SEVEN COMMUNITY CHEST WALKS FOR 1983-84 THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.
YOU ARE WELCOME TO COVER THE START-OFF CEREMONY AT 9 AM AT SHEUNG TSUEN PLAYGROUND, SHEK KONG, YUEN LONG.
A GOVERNMENT VEHICLE, AM 5797, WILL LEAVE KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER AT 7.45 AM SHARP FOR YUEN LONG.
YUEN LONG CHARITY WALK TRAFFIC PLAN *****
TO FACILITATE THE YUEN LONG AND TUEN MUN JOINT DISTRICT WALK THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT ARRANGEMENTS ’ — IMPLEMENTED ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 20)I
WILL BE
*
*
*
*
*
*
TAI LAM CHUNG ROAD WILL BE TEMPORARILY CLOSED TO ALL VEHICLES BETWEEN 9.30 AM AND 5 PM EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES AND THOSE VEHICLES AUTHORISED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT.
THE CAR PARK OPPOSITE SHEK KONG BUS TERMINUS AND THE PARKING SPACES OFF KAM SHEUNG ROAD NEAR ITS EASTERN JUNCTION WITH KAM TIN ROAD WILL BE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED FROM 7 AM TO 12 NOON.
ROUTE 61S WILL OPERATE FROM 7.45 AM TO 10 AM AT A 12-MINUTE INTERVAL, FROM BUTTERFLY ESTATE TO SHEUNG TSUEN. A FARE OF $3.50 WILL BE CHARGED.
ROUTE 53S FROM CASTLE PEAK BAY TO SHEUNG TSUEN WILL ALSO OPERATE FROM 7.45 AM TO 10 AM AT EVERY 12 MINUTES, CHARGING $3.50.
ROUTE 52S FROM TAI LAM CHUNG TO TUEN MUN TOWN CENTRE WILL RUN FROM 1 PM TO 4 PM, AT EVERY 12 MINUTES, CHARGING $1.80.
ROUTE 50S FROM TAI LAM CHUNG TO YUEN LONG WILL RUN AT A 10—MINUTE INTERVAL FROM 1 PM TO 4 PM. A $3 FARE WILL BE CHARGED.
_ _ o - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL 5-233191
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GROWING DEMAND FOR AMBULANCE BRIGADE'S SERVICES ................. 1
YOUNG PEOPLE NEED HELP AND SUPPORT - CHAMBERS ................... 2
MEASURES TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF EDUCATION ........................ 3
FIRST CHINESE MUSIC FESTIVAL STARTS ............................. 4
NINE N.T. SITES FOR SALE ........................................ 5
PUBLIC URGED TO OBSERVE TRAFFIC RULES ........................... 6
OPERATION TO ERADICATE MOSQUITO-BREEDING GROUNDS ................ 7
LIFE-SAVING COMPETITION IN YUEN LONG .......................... 7
NEW FOOTBRIDGE SYSTEM FOR CAUSEWAY BAY ........................ 8
CLEARWAY RESTRICTED ZONE ........................................ 9
TRAFFIC CHANGES TO BE INTRODUCED
9
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1983
1
GROWING DEMAND FOR AMBULANCE BRIGADE’S SERVICES *******
THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, THIS (SATURDAY) EVENING URGED YOUNG PEOPLE TO JOIN THE ST JOHN AMBULANCE BRIGADE TO MEET THE INCREASING DEMAND OF ITS SERVICES.
THEY WOULD ALSO BE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM EXPERT TRAINING AND TO ENJOY THE FELLOWSHIP OF ST JOHN’S, HE SAID AT THE 3OTH ANNIVERSARY BALL OF THE BRIGADE’S MAINLAND AREA OFFICERS’ MESS.
WITH SO MANY TRAINED MEN AND WOMEN, HE SAID THAT THE BRIGADE HAD DEDICATED TO PROVIDING FIRST AID AND HOME NURSING FOR THE WELFARE OF THOSE IN NEED.
IT ALSO PROVIDES A 24-HOUR FREE AMBULANCE SERVICE.
+EARLY THIS YEAR THE BRIGADE COMPLETED ITS EXPANSION PROGRAMME IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WHERE SIX NEW TRAINING CENTRES AND DIVISIONAL HEADQUARTERS WERE ESTABLISHED.
+THE NEW FACILITIES HAVE ALSO HELPED TO BOOST THE STRENGTH CF THE BRIGADE TO CLOSE TO 3 000,+ HE SAID.
MR AKERS-JONES CONGRATULATED 14 OFFICERS OF THE MAINLAND AREA ON THEIR LONG SERVICES.
+EACH OF THEM HAS SERVED THE BRIGADE FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND TOGETHER THEY HAVE CHALKED UP 492 YEARS OF VOLUNTARY SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY,* HE SAID.
♦THE DEDICATION DISPLAYED BY THESE OFFICERS IS AN INSPIRATION TO THEIR COLLEAGUES AND I CONGRATULATE THEM ON THEIR ACHIEVEMENT,* HE ADDED.
0
SATURDAY, NO'.T'T.ZR 19, 1993
2
YOUNG PEOPLE NEED HELP AND SUPPORT - CHAMBERS *****
YOUNG PEOPLE IN HONG KONG NEED HELP FORMS IF THEY ARE TO DEVELOP INTO WELL-I CITIZENS OF THE FUTURE.
AND SUPPORT IN VARIOUS NTEGRATED AND RESPONSIBLE
THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID THIS TODAY (SATURDAY) WHEN HE OPENED THE CHINESE YMCA TUEN MUN CHILDREN AND YOUTH CENTRE.
HE SAID THE YOUNG PEOPLE HERE, GROWING UP IN THE VERY DENSELY POPULATED ENVIRONMENT, WERE CONSTANTLY UNDER GREAT PRESSURE AND STRESS.
ACADEMIC EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING, HE SAID, WERE NOT IN THEMSELVES SUFFICIENT TO SATISFY THEIR NEEDS.
♦THEY ALSO NEED RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND HELP TOWARDS THEIR SOCIAL AND MORAL DEVELOPMENT, SO THAT THEY CAN GROW UP TO BE BALANCED AND FULLY INTEGRATED MEMBERS OF SOCIETY.*
♦PROVIDING A VARIETY OF PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IS CLEARLY A VERY IMPORTANT TASK TO WHICH THE GOVERNMENT HAS DEVOTED A GREAT DEAL OF EFFORT IN RECENT YEARS, AND VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS HAVE MADE A MOST VALUABLE CONTRIBUTION TO THIS WORK,+ HE SAID.
MR CHAMBERS PRAISED THE CHINESE YMCA FOR ITS LONG HISTORY OF SERVICE WHICH BENEFITED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.
THE NEW CENTRE, LOCATED AT ON TING ESTATE, IS FULLY SUBVENTED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND HAS ALSO RECEIVED A LOTTERIES FUND GRANT OF $98 OOO FOR FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT.
0 - -
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1983
3
MEASURES TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF EDUCATION
X * *
THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAD SPENT CONSIDERABLE EFFORT AND RESOURCES IN THE PAST FEW YEARS IN IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF HONG KONG’S EDUCATION, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR MICHAEL LEUNG, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF A SEMINAR ON TEACHING METHODS ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION AT PUI CHING MIDDLE SCHOOL, MR LEUNG SAID THAT THE QUALITY ENHANCEMENT MEASURES FELL INTO THREE MAIN AREAS.
THESE AREAS ARE THE PROVISION OF A BETTER SCHOOLING ENVIRONMENT, THE ALLOCATION OF ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND THE UPGRADING OF THE QUALITY OF TEACHING.
HE SAID THAT WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF THE PRIMARY ONE ADMISSION SYSTEM THIS YEAR, THE MAXIMUM SIZE OF PRIMARY CLASSES HAD BEGUN TO BE REDUCED, LEVEL BY LEVEL, TO 40 IN THE CASE OF ORDINARY CLASSES AND 35 IN THE CASE OF CLASSES ADOPTING THE ACTIVITY APPROACH.
ALONG WITH THIS, THE TEACHER-TO-CLASS RATIO IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS HAS BEEN IMPROVED FROM 1.1 TO 1 TO 1.2 TO 1 IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR, MAINLY TO ENABLE TEACHERS IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS TO DEVOTE MORE TIME TO REMEDIAL TEACHING.
APART FROM MORE TEACHERS, PRIMARY SCHOOLS HAVE ALSO PROVIDED WITH MORE RESOURCES OF OTHER KINDS.
CAPITATION AND TEXTBOOK GRANTS HAD BEEN INCREASED, MORE AUDIO-VISUAL TEACHING AIDS PROVIDED AND A PILOT CLASS-LIBRARY SCHEME STARTED, MR LEUNG NOTED.
IN THE SECONDARY SECTOR, HE SAID THAT IN SEPTEMBER 1982, EACH STANDARD-SIZE SECONDARY SCHOOL IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR WAS PROVIDED WITH TWO ADDITIONAL GRADUATE TEACHERS IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN REMEDIAL TEACHING IN CHINESE AND ENGLISH.
A THIRD GRADUATE TEACHER HAS BEEN PROVIDED FROM SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR AND TWO OTHER NON-GRADUATE TEACHERS WILL BE ADDED AS SOON AS THE COLLEGES OF EDUCATION HAVE TRAINED ENOUGH TEACHERS.
♦THESE ADDITIONAL TEACHERS ARE INTENDED TO STRENGTHEN REMEDIAL TEACHING, COUNSELLING AND GUIDANCE AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR AND COMMUNITY-INVOLVEMENT ACTIVITIES,+ MR LEUNG SAID.
IN THE UPGRADING OF TEACHING QUALITY, HE SAID THAT BESIDES A SERIES OF SEMINARS AND REFRESHER COURSES FOR TEACHERS, THE INSTITUTE OF LANGUAGE IN EDUCATION, OPENED LAST YEAR, HAD RETRAINED 200 TEACHERS OF CHINESE AND ENGLISH IN 1982/83 AND WOULD DOUBLE ITS INTAKE THIS YEAR.
THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAD ALSO RUN A SERIES OF TRAINING COURSES FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL HEADS TO FAMILIARISE THEM WITH UP-TO-DATE TECHNIQUES ON SCHOOL MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION, HE SAID.
- - - - 0 -------
SATUR.,mY, NOVEMBER 19, 1983
4
FIRST CHINESE MUSIC FESTIVAL STARTS
* * * *
THE FIRST CHINESE MUSIC FESTIVAL, ORGANISED BY THE MUSIC OFFICE OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT, STARTED THIS (SATURDAY) EVENING WITH A CONCERT AT THE AUDITORIUM IN TSUEN WAN TOWNHALL.
THE NINE-DAY FESTIVAL WILL FEATURE SEMINARS AND MASTER CLASSES ON CHINESE MUSIC AND INSTRUMENTS TO BE CONDUCTED BY RENOWNED MUSICIANS.
THERE WILL ALSO BE AN ETHNIC CHINESE MUSIC DEMONSTRATION CONCERT ON NOVEMBER 24 AND A FINALE CONCERT ON NOVEMBER 27.
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY, DR HENRIETTA IP, AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, SAID THAT INCREASINGLY, HONG KONG WAS BECOMING A FOCUS OF CHINESE AND WESTERN CULTURE.
♦IN RECENT YEARS, CONSIDERABLE PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE IN THE MAKING OF MUSIC, BOTH CHINESE AND WESTERN, PARTICULARLY BY YOUNG PEOPLE.
♦THIS ENCOURAGING DEVELOPMENT, I AM GLAD TO SAY, IS PARTLY A RESULT OF THE MUSIC OFFICE’S WORK IN PROMOTING CHINESE MUSIC BY TEACHING CHINESE INSTRUMENTS THROUGH ITS INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC TRAINING SCHEME, BY MANAGING A NUMBER OF YOUTH CHINESE ORCHESTRAS AT BOTH DISTRICT AND REGIONAL LEVELS, AND BY GIVING REGULAR PERFORMANCES, PARTICULARLY TO PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS,+ SHE SAID.
DR IP POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS A GROWING NUMBER OF CHINESE ORCHESTRAS THROUGHOUT HONG KONG, WITH A CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN THE SIZE OF AUDIENCES.
IN A WELCOMING ADDRESS EARLIER, MR PATRICK WILLIAMSON, THE COMMISSIONER FOR RECREATION AND CULTURE, SAID THAT ONE OF THE MUSIC OFF ICE*S*vBJECTIVES WAS TO PROMOTE AN INTEREST IN MUSIC, ESPECIALLY AMONG THE YOUNGER GENERATION.
♦AS A MAJOR STEP FORWARD IN PROMOTING CHINESE MUSIC IN HONG KONG AND FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS OF THE CHINESE MUSIC WEEK WHICH WAS HELD BY THE MUSIC OFFICE IN MARCH LAST YEAR, WE HAVE, FOR THE FIRST TIME, ORGANISED A CHINESE MUSIC FESTIVAL OF THIS MAGNITUDE AND VARIETY WITH A VIEW TO STIMULATING IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STANDARD OF PERFORMANCE AND THE APPRECIATION OF CHINESE MUSIC,+ MR WILLIAMSON SAID.
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/5........
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1983
5
NINE N.T. SITES FOR SALE * K * *
THE LANDS DEPARTMENT IS OFFERING NINE NEW TERRITORIES LOTS TOTALLING NEARLY 33 OOO SQUARE METRES IN AREA FOR SALE BY LETTER A/B TENDER.
THREE OF THE SITES ARE IN SHA TIN, THREE IN YUEN LONG, TWO IN TUEN MUN AND ONE IN TAI PO.
THE THREE SITES IN SHA TIN MEASURE 5 893, 4 700 AND 3 270 SQUARE METRES RESPECTIVELY.
THE LARGEST IS FOR NON-1NDUSTRI AL OR HOTEL PURPOSES AND THE TWO SMALLER ONES ARE FOR PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL USE.
TWO OF THE YUEN LONG SITES ARE ALSO FOR NON-1NDUSTRI AL DEVELOPMENT AND COVER 894 AND 430 SQUARE METRES RESPECTIVELY.
THE THIRD YUEN LONG SITE MEASURES 2 300 SQUARE METRES AND IS FOR PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL PURPOSE.
BOTH SITES IN TUEN MUN ARE FOR NON-1NDUSTRI AL PURPOSES. THEIR AREAS ARE 8 980 AND 3 552 SQUARE METRES.
THE SITE IN TAI PO HAS AN AREA OF 2 890 SQUARE METRES AND IS FOR NON-1NDUSTRI AL USE.
THE CLOSING DATE FOR ACCEPTANCE OF TENDERS FOR THE NINE SITES IS 12 NOON ON DECEMBER 16.
TENDER FORMS, NOTICES AND CONDITIONS OF SALE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM, AND SALE PLANS INSPECTED AT, THE LANDS DEPARTMENT, MURRAY BUILDING, 5TH FLOOR, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG 5 THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE (KOWLOON WEST), KOWLOON GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 1QTH 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.
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iATUKUAY, . .^<'.BtR 19, 1983 •
6 -
PUBLIC URGED TO OBSERVE TRAFFIC RULES MH*
THE WANCHAI DISTRICT OFFICER, MISS LOLLY CHIU, TODAY
(SATURDAY) APPEALED TO DRIVERS AND PEDESTRIANS TO OBSERVE TRAFFIC RULES IN ORDER TO REDUCE ROAD ACCIDENTS.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE DISTRICT’S MONTH-LONG ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN, SHE POINTED OUT THAT OF THE 24 □□□ TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS IN HONG KONG LAST YEAR, 1 271 OCCURRED IN WAN CHAI.
♦ALTHOUGH OUR FIGURE IS ONLY A MERE FIVE PER CENT OF THE TOTAL, THERE IS NO ROOM FOR COMPLACENCY,♦ SHE SAID.
STRESSING THAT PEDESTRIANS ALSO HAVE AN IMPORTANT PART TO PLAY IN ROAD SAFETY, SHE URGED THEM, SPECIALLY CHILDREN, TO MAKE MORE USE OF SUCH FACILITIES AS TRAFFIC LIGHTS, ZEBRA CROSSINGS, FOOTBRIDGES AND SUBWAYS.
♦BY OBSERVING TRAFFIC RULES AND NEVER CROSSING THE ROAD IN HASTE WILL HELP SAVE LIVES, OF YOUR OWN AND THOSE OF OTHERS,+ MISS CHIU ADDED.
THE CAMPAIGN, WITH AN EDUCATIONAL AND AN ENFORCEMENT PHASE, IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN ORGANISING COMMITTEE, THE DISTRICT BOARD AND THE POLICE.
TODAY’S PROGRAMME FEATURED A MINIATURE ROAD SAFETY TOWN, A DISPLAY OF CRASHED VEHICLES, A SEAT BELT CATAPULT, GAMES STALLS, AND A DRAWING COMPETITION.
OTHER EVENTS FOR THE EDUCATIONAL PHASE WILL INCLUDE AN INTER-SCHOOL QUIZ AND A ROAD SAFETY EXHIBITION.
THE QUIZ, FOCUSING ON LOCAL TRAFFIC PROBLEMS, REGULATIONS FOR ROAD USERS, WILL BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 26 AT WAH YAN COLLEGE, WITH NINE LOCAL SCHOOL TEAMS TAKING PART.
THE EXHIBITION, TO BE HELD FROM DECEMBER 1 TO 4 AT THE LOBBY OF HENNESSY CENTRE, WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FROM 10 AM TO 9.30 PM DAILY.
DURING THE TWO-WEEK ENFORCEMENT PHASE BEGINNING FROM DECEMBER 5, POLICE WILL STEP UP ACTION AGAINST CARELESS DRIVERS AND JAYWALKERS IN THE DISTRICT.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1983
7
OPERATION TO ERADICATE MOSQUITO-BREEDING GROUNDS * ft * * *
THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS CARRYING OUT AN EXTENSIVE OPERATION IN SAI KUNG TO ERADICATE BREEDING GROUNDS FOR MALARIA-CARRYING MOSQUITOES.
SINCE EARLY THIS MONTH, TWO PEST CONTROL TEAMS OF THE SAI KUNG URBAN SERVICES OFFICE HAVE BEEN INSPECTING POTENTIAL BREEDING PLACES OF SUCH MOSQUITOES IN THE REGION.
PARTICULAR ATTENTION IS PAID TO STREAM COURSES AND HILLSIDES AS MOSQUITOES TEND TO BREED IN STAGNANT CLEAR WATER.
LARVICIDES ARE SPRAYED ON THE WATER SURFACE WHERE MOSQUITO BREEDING IS DETECTED.
ROCKS AND UNDERGROWTH BLOCKING UP RIVER COURSES ARE BEING CLEARED AWAY.
ABANDONED FIELDS IN SAI KUNG HAVE ALSO BEEN INSPECTED AND PUDDLES CLEARED UP.
MEANWHILE, SIMILAR OPERATIONS ARE BEING CARRIED OUT BY THE DEPARTMENT IN OTHER DISTRICTS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE PUBLIC ARE BEING URGED TO REPORT ANY SUSPECTED MOSQUITOBREEDING PLACES TO THEIR URBAN SERVICES OFFICES.
♦AS MOSQUITOES BREED ONLY IN STAGNANT WATER, THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND SIMPLE WAY TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM IS BY DENYING THEM ACCESS TO WATER,♦ AN NTSD SPOKESMAN SAID.
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LIFE-SAVING COMPETITION IN YUEN LONG ft ft ft ft
MORE THAN 200 PROFESSIONAL AND AMATEUR LIFE-SAVING EXPERTS WILL DEMONSTRATE THEIR TECHNIQUES AT THE NEW TERRITORIES LIFESAVING OPEN COMPETITION TO BE HELD AT THE YUEN LONG PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL TOMORROW (SUNDAY).
THE COMPETITION, ORGANISED BY THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND SPONSORED BY THE HONG KONG LIFE GUARD CLUB, WILL TAKE PLACE BETWEEN 9 AM AND 5 PM.
THERE WILL BE SEVEN EVENTS FOR BOTH THE MEN’S AND WOMEN’S’ SECTIONS.
THERE WILL BE SEPARATE SUB-SECTIONS FOR PROFESSIONALS AND AMATEURS IN THE MEN’S EVENTS.
/THE DIRECTOR .......
SATURDAY, NOVJXBER 19, 198?
8 -
THE DIRECTOR OF NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES, MR JOHN HEYWOOD, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONY AT ABOUT 4.30 PM THAT DAY.
ALSO PRESENT AT THE CEREMONY WILL BE THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (OPERATIONS) OF NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES, MR BOWEN LEUNG; THE DIRECTOR OF HONG KONG LIFE GUARD CLUB, MR KWOK HON-MING; THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF NEW TERRITORIES BRANCH OF HONG KONG LIFE GUARD CLUB, MR LAU HON-WAH ; AND THE URBAN SERVICES OFFICER OF YUEN LONG, MR WILLIAM KWONG.
NOTE TO EDITORS*
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE COMPETITION AT THE YUEN LONG PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL TOMORROW (SUNDAY) BETWEEN 9 AM AND 5 PM. THE PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONY WILL BE HELD AT ABOUT 4.30 PM.
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NEW FOOTBRIDGE SYSTEM FOR CAUSEWAY BAY
* * * *
PEDESTRIANS CAN LOOK FORWARD TO CROSSING THE JUNCTION OF YEE WO STREET, PENNINGTON STREET AND SUGAR STREET IN CAUSEWAY BAY IN GREATER SAFETY WHEN A COVERED FOOTBRIDGE SYSTEM IS BUILT IN THE AREA.
THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE OF THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS INVITING TENDERS TO BUILD THE CIRCULAR SYSTEM WHICH WILL SPAN THE JUNCTION.
UNDER THE SAME PROJECT, PARTS OF YEE WO STREET, PENNINGTON STREET AND SUGAR STREET WILL BE RE-ALIGNED AND WIDENED TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC CIRCULATION IN THE AREA.
WORK WILL START EARLY NEXT YEAR AND TAKE ABOUT 15 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
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/9.........
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1983
9
CLEARWAY RESTRICTED ZONE * * * * *
FROM 10 AM ON MONDAY (NOVEMBER 21), THE SECTION OF HONG NING ROAD BETWEEN KWUN TONG ROAD, AND A POINT ABOUT 20 METRES NORTH OF ITS JUNCTION WITH MUT WAH STREET, WILL BE DESIGNATED A RESTRICTED ZONE FROM 7 AM TO 7 PM DAILY.
WITHIN THE RESTRICTED ZONE, ALL MOTOR VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES AND THOSE AUTHORISED IN WRITING BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ARE PROHIBITED FROM PICKING UP OR SETTING DOWN PASSENGERS OR LOADING OR UNLOADING GOODS.
TRAFFIC CHANGES TO BE INTRODUCED * * * *
FROM 10 AM ON MONDAY (NOVEMBER 21), THE PUBLIC LIGHT BUS RESTRICTION ON HENNESSY ROAD WESTBOUND BETWEEN LANDALE STREET AND QUEEN’S ROAD EAST WILL BE LIFTED.
AT THE SAME TIME, TUNG CHUNG ROAD ON LANTAU ISLAND WILL BE SUBJECT TO A SPEED LIMIT OF 20 MILES PER HOUR.
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
I HAVE LEARNED AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT, SAYS EVANS .................. 1
AIRPORT EXPANSION WORK EXPECTED TO START NEXT YEAR ............. 2
HOSPITAL EXPANSION PROJECT IN PROGRESS .......................
MORE LhND TO BE RECLAIMED AT MA ON SHAN ......................
PART-TIME JOB EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES SUBJECT TO CONTROL ........... 5
CHANGES FOR GOODS VEHICLES LICENCE TESTS .....................
NEW I.D. CaRD APPLICATION REMINDER ............................. 7
ST. JOHN AMBULANCE BRIGADE PRAISED ............................. 7
MORE PUBLIC SYMPATHY FOR EX-DRUG ADDICTS URGED ...............
FORMATION OF MORE LIFE-SAVING CLUBS URGED ....................
EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS FOR FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS ............. 10
ASIAN BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP STARTS .......................... 11
INTERNATIONAL PAINTING COMPETITION ........................... 11
CUSTOMS AND EXCISE ACTIVITIES FEATURED AT EXHIBITION .......... 12
SUNDAY, NOVf'/r R 20, 1983
1
I HAVE LEARNED AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT, SAYS EVANS X * * * *
THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO PEKING (DESIGNATE), MR RICHARD EVANS, SAID HE HAD LEARNED AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT DURING HIS FIVE-DAY VISIT HERE.
SPEAKING TO NEWSMEN AT THE AIRPORT BEFORE HIS DEPARTURE FOR LONDON THIS (SUNDAY) EVENING, MR EVANS SAID HE HAD HAD VERY GOOD TALKS WITH THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, AND WITH hEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. HE HAD ALSO FORMALLY MET OVER 200 PEOPLE, FROM MANY OCCUPATIONS AND PROFESSIONS AND OF ALL AGES.
MR EVANS SAID HE WOULD GO TO PEKING IN THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY AND WOULD, IN THE MEANTIME, CONTINUE HIS PROGRAMME OF BRIEFING AND FAMILIARISATION IN LONDON.
THE FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF MR EVAN'S STATEMENT!
+1 JUST LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS BEFORE I LEAVE. AS I SAID
HERE AT KAI TAK 5 DAYS AGO - THOUGH IT SEEMS MUCH LONGER TO ME -
I CAME TO HONG KONG TO SEE, TO LISTEN AND TO LEARN. I HAVE SEEN A GREAT DEAL FROM THE AIR, FROM THE SEA AND, PERHAPS
MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, ON THE GROUND, A GOOD DEAL OF IT ON FOOT.
INDEED, I SHALL TAKE BACK AS SOUVENIR OF HONG KONG TO LONDON WITH ME IN THE FORM OF A BLISTER ON MY LEFT HEEL. I HAVE VERY GOOD TALKS INDEED WITH THE GOVERNOR AND WITH MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. I HAVE MET MANY OTHER PEOPLE, IN THE SENSE CF BEING FORMALLY INTRODUCED I HAVE MET OVER 200 PEOPLE, FROM MANY OCCUPATIONS, AND PROFESSIONS AND OF ALL AGES. I HAVE LEARNED AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT. IT IS NOW FOR ME TO ASSIMILATE WHAT I HAVE LEARNED AND I SHALL WORK HARD AT IT. I EXPECT TO GO TO PEKING IN THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY. I NOW GO BACK TO LONDON TO CONTINUE MY PROGRAMME OF BRIEFING AND FAMILIARISATION. WHEN IN LONDON, I EXPECT TO MEET MANY MORE PEOPLE INCLUDING IN PARTICULAR SIR PERCY CRADOCK, WITH WHOM I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING EXTREMELY GOOD TALKS. SO ENDS MY 9TH VISIT TO HONG KONG. I LOOK FORWARD TO MANY MORE IN THE FUTURE. IN THE MENATIME, I SHOULD LIKE TO THANK, THROUGH YOU, ALL THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR TIME TO ENTERTAIN AND TO ENLIGHTEN ME, AND THAT INCLUDES YOU, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE PRESS. ZAIJIAN (SEE YOU AGAIN).+
0
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1983
2
AIRPORT EXPANSION WORK EXPECTED TO START NEXT YEAR ******
DETAILED DRAWINGS ON HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT’S STAGE V DEVELOPMENT ARE BEING PREPARED TO ENSURE THAT MAJOR WORKS OF THE PROJECT WILL START IN THE LATTER HALF OF 1984.
MR TREVOR OLIVER, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR/TECHNICAL AND PLANNING, OF THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT, SAID THAT HE WAS CONFIDENT THE PROJECT WOULD BE CONSTRUCTED IN TIME TO MEET THE AIR PASSENGER TRAFFIC NEEDS OF THE MID TO LATE 1980’S.
MR OLIVER EXPRESSED THIS CONFIDENCE IN A PRESENTATION JUST MADE TO THE AIRPORT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE (ACC) OF THE INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION.
THE COMMITTEE, COMPRISING REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE HEAD OFFICES OF VARIOUS MAJOR AIRLINES, MEETS REGULARLY IN HONG KONG WITH THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT TO UPDATE -ITSELF AND TO COMMENT ON THE DEVELOPMENT AT KAI TAK.
+OUR AIM IS TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PASSENGER HANDLING FACILITIES FOR FORECAST TRAFFIC LEVELS UP TO THE EARLY 199O’S,+ MR OLIVER SAID.
+IN CONSULTATION WITH THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE OF THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, THE FORM AND EXTENT OF THE STAGE V DEVELOPMENT HAS NOW BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR AN EXPENDITURE OF THE ORDER OF $273 MILLION, AND THIS IS IN NO SMALL WAY DUE TO THE CONTINUING SUPPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE,* HE ADDED.
UNDER THE STAGE V SCHEME, THE TERMINAL BUILDING WILL BE EXTENDED EASTWARDS OVER THE EXISTING COACH PARK AND INTO THE AREA NOW OCCUPIED BY THE STORES BUILDINGS, WHICH WILL BE REPROVIDED ELSEWHERE AT THE AIRPORT.
AT DEPARTURES LEVEL, TWO NEW CHECK-IN ISLANDS WILL BE PROVIDED, RAISING THE NUMBER OF CHECK-IN DESKS BY 60 TO A TOTAL OF 176 IN THE ENTIRE BUILDING.
THE DEPARTURES LEVEL ROADWAY WILL ALSO BE EXTENDED TO PROVIDE INCREASED KERB LENGTH DIRECTLY SERVING THE EXTENSION.
THE NUMBER OF OUTWARD IMMIGRATION DESKS WILL ALSO BE INCREASED TO MATCH THE TRAFFIC FLOWS, AND THE AIRSIDE LOUNGE AREA WILL BE EXPANDED.
THROUGHOUT THE STAGE V DEPARTURES LEVEL, ADDITIONAL PREMISES FOR SHOPS, CAFES, MONEY CHANGERS AND OTHER FACILITIES WILL BE PROVIDED. IT IS ALSO HOPED THAT FURTHER RESTAURANT FACILITIES ON THE ROOF OF STAGE V WILL BE OFFERED.
AT ARRIVALS LEVEL, INBOUND IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS CHECKING FACILITIES WILL BE EXPANDED AND TWO NEW BAGGAGE RECLAIM UNITS WILL BE PROVIDED.
/STAGE V
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1983
5
STAGE V PLANNING INCORPORATES A STRUCTURAL DESIGN THAT WILL REQUIRE FEWER COLUMNS IN AREAS OF PASSENGER CIRCULATION, AND IN AREAS WHERE BAGGAGE HANDLING VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT w ILL NEED TO OPERATE.
THE PROJECT ALSO INCLUDES DEVELOPMENT OF THE WESTERN GROUND LEVEL CARPARK AS A PUBLIC TRANSPORT TERMINUS, WHICH WILL GIVE ARRIVING PASSENGERS ACCESS TO TAXIS, HIRE CARS AND AIRPORT COACHES IN A BRIGHTER ENVIRONMENT.
THE CHAIRMAN OF ACC AND GENERAL TRAFFIC MANAGER OF CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS, MR JERRY PENWARDEN, SAID THAT THE COMMITTEE HIGHLY APPRECIATED THE EFFORTS OF THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT IN CONSULTING ACC IN THE PLANNING FOR STAGE V.
HE SAID THAT MR OLIVER’S PRESENTATION HAD GREATLY ASSISTED THE COMMITTEE IN THE CONSIDERATION OF THE PROPOSALS.
ACC CONSIDERED THAT THE STAGE V DEVELOPMENT WOULD GREATLY ENHANCE BOTH PASSENGER AND BAGGAGE PROCESSING.
IT ADDED THAT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE BAGGAGE HANDLING SYSTEM IN THE SUCCESSFUL OPERATION OF THE TERMINAL COULD NOT BE UNDERESTIMATED.
SITE PREPARATION WORK FOR STAGE V IS SCHEDULED TO START IN LATE 1984 BUT WORK ON OTHER ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT INCLUDING THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT TERMINUS, WILL START EARLIER.
ALTHOUGH STAGE V WILL NOT BE COMMISSIONED IN ITS ENTIRETY UNTIL 1987, VARIOUS MEASURES ARE BEING EXAMINED, INCLUDING EARLY COMMISSIONING OF PARTS OF STAGE V, TO MINIMISE CONGESTION THAT MAY DEVELOP IN PEAK TIMES.
CURRENTLY KAI TAK IS HANDLING ABOUT 3 300 PASSENGERS PER HOUR (ONE-WAY) AND ABOUT 8.7 MILLION PASSENGERS (TWO-WAY) PER ANNUM. IT IS FORECAST THAT BY 1990, THE ONE-WAY HOURLY FLOW WILL BE ABOUT 5 300 PASSENGERS AND THE ANNUAL TWO-WAY FLOW WILL APPROACH 18 MILLION PASSENGERS.
IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE EXISTING TERMINAL BUILDING’S PROCESSING CAPACITY OF 3 400 PASSENGERS PER HOUR, ONE WAY, WILL BE FULLY UTILISED BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.
- - 0 -
/4
SUNDAY, '.OVEM 5 23, 1983
4
HOSPITAL EXPANSION PROJECT IN PROGRESS
X M * K
CONSTRUCTION WORK ON THE FIRST PHASE OF THE QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL EXTENSION PROJECT HAS JUST STARTED.
THE PROJECT — THE BIGGEST EXTENSION PROGRAMME UNDERTAKEN BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT — WILL PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL 675 BEDS TO THE REGIONAL HOSPITAL. ITS TOTAL COST WILL EXCEED $■750 MILLION.
A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT ARE TO RELIEVE OVERCROWDING, IMPROVE EXISTING SERVICES, UPGRADE THE TEACHING FACILITIES AND TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORTING SERVICES.
THE FIRST PHASE OF THE PROJECT INVOLVES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 23-STOREY BUILDING WITH EACH LEVEL HAVING A FLOOR AREA OF ABOUT 1 200 SQUARE METRES, ON TOP OF A FIVE-LEVEL PODIUM. wORK ON THIS PHASE IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN 1985.
IN THE SECOND PHASE, A TEN-STOREY STRUCTURE WILL BE BUILT OVER THE EXISTING HOSPITAL CANTEEN, WITH EACH FLOOR MEASURING ABOUT 600 SQUARE METRES. WORK WILL BEGIN IN 1985 AND IS EXPECTED TO BE FINISHED BY 1987.
THE TWO NEW BLOCKS WILL PROVIDE A LARGE NUMBER OF MEDICAL WARDS FOR VARIOUS MEDICAL UNITS, INCLUDING PAEDIATRICS, HAEMODIALYSIS, ORTHOPAEDICS, BURNS AND RECONSTRUCTIVE TREATMENT, MAXILLOFACIAL (DENTAL) SERVICES, OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, PROSTHETICS AND ORTHOTICS.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE THIRD PHASE OF THE PROJECT WILL NOT BEGIN UNTIL THE FIRST TWO STAGES ARE COMPLETED.
THIS LAST PHASE INVOLVES IMPROVING ANCILLARY FACILITIES IN THE EXISTING MAIN BLOCK OF THE HOSPITAL.
AS CONSTRUCTION WORK HAS ALREADY STARTED, THE CARPARK NEXT TO THE HOSPITAL BUILDING IS NOW CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC.
HE URGED VISITORS TO QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL TO TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORT WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
-----0------
/5........
‘ • VEr 2-3, 1933
- 5 -
MORE LAND TO BE RECLAIMED AT MA ON SHAN ft ft ft ft ft ft
WORK WILL START SHORTLY ON RECLAMATION OF ANOTHER 61 HECTARES OF LAND AT MA ON SHAN AS PART OF SHA TIN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT.
TENDERS FOR THE CONTRACT ARE BEING INVITED BY THE SHA TIN l£W TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE OF THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY WORK ON THE CONTRACT WOULD INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION OF A 2 1OO-METRE-LONG SEAWALL AND ASSOCIATED DRAINAGE.
HE SAID ABOUT FIVE MILLION CUBIC METRES OF FILL FOR THE RECLAMATION WOULD BE EXCAVATED FROM A BORROW AREA IN THE WAN TSAI PENINSULA AT THE NORTHERN ENTRANCE TO TOLO CHANNEL.
AT WAN TSAI, A SHORT SECTION OF SEAWALL, A SMALL RECLAMATION AREA FOR A LANDING PLACE AND AN EMERGENCY ACCESS ROAD TO HOI HA WILL BE BUILT TO FACILITATE THE WORK.
WORK ON THE CONTRACT WILL START IN MARCH NEXT YEAR AND TAKE FOUR YEARS TO COMPLETE.
------0-------
PART-TIME JOB EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES SUBJECT TO CONTROL ft ft ft ft ft ft
AN EMPLOYMENT AGENCY WHICH FINDS PART-TIME JOBS FOR JOB-SEEKERS IS ALSO SUBJECT TO CONTROL BY LAW, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED TODAY (SUNDAY).
ANY ESTABLISHMENT WHICH FINDS EMPLOYMENT FOR PEOPLE IS DEFINED UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE AS AN EMPLOYMENT AGENCY, NO MATTER WHETHER THE EMPLOYMENT IS OF A PART-TIME OR FULLTIME NATURE, HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT AN EMPLOYMENT AGENCY OPERATOR MUST OBTAIN A LICENCE FROM THE DEPARTMENT AND THAT THE LICENCE FEE IS $300 A YEAR.
THE AMOUNTS OF FEES OR COMMISSIONS THAT CAN BE CHARGED BY AN EMPLOYMENT AGENCY ARE PRESCRIBED BY THE EMPLOYMENT AGENCY REGULATIONS.
THE FEE TO BE PAID BY JOB-SEEKERS FOR FIRST REGISTRATION AND SUBSEQUENT RENEWAL AFTER THREE MONTHS IS LIMITED TO A MAXIMUM OF $3, AND THE COMMISSION FOR A SUCCESSFUL JOB PLACEMENT TO 10 PER CENT OF THE FIRST MONTH’S SALARY.
THE REGULATIONS ALSO LIMIT THE FEE THAT AN AGENCY TO AN EMPLOYER TO A MAXIMUM OF $10 VACANCY REGISTERED ON FIRST REGISTRATION AND SUCH REGISTRATION.
CAN BE CHARGED BY FOR EACH TYPE OF $5 FOR RENEWAL OF
/THE COMMISSION
, NC\. 20, 1983
THE COMMISSION TO BE PAID BY AN EMPLOYER TO AN AGE Y ON SUCCESSFULLY OBTAINING AN EMPLOYEE IS A MATTER OF AGREE ENT BETWEEN BOTH PARTIES.
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT AN OPERATOR MUST DISPLAY THE FEE SCHEDULES AND HIS LICENCE IN HIS PREMISES.
ANYONE WHO HAS ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE OPERATIONS OF EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES MAY CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT’S OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT SERVICE ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF SINCERE INSURANCE BUILDING AT 4 HENNESSY ROAD, WAN CHAI, OR DIAL 5-281035 OR 5-296670.
---------------------0------- CHANGES FOR GOODS VEHICLES LICENCE TESTS * * *
CANDIDATES APPLYING FOR GOODS VEHICLE DRIVING LICENCES WITH TEST APPOINTMENTS ON OR AFTER THE ENACTMENT DATE OF THE NEW ROAD TRAFFIC (DRIVING LICENCES) REGULATIONS, CHAPTER 374, WILL HAVE TO OPT EITHER FOR A TEST ON A MEDIUM GOODS VEHICLE OR FOR ONE ON A HEAVY GOODS VEHICLE.
IF CANDIDATES PASS THE HEAVY GOODS VEHICLE DRIVING TEST, THEY WILL HAVE THEIR LICENCES ENDORSED FOR BOTH MEDIUM AND HEAVY GOODS VEHICLES.
THE NEW LEGISLATION IS EXPECTED TO BE IMPLEMENTED SOME TIME IN AUGUST, 1984.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (NOVEMBER 20), A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT UNDER THE NEW SYSTEM, THERE WILL BE THREE CATEGORIES OF DRIVING LICENCES FOR GOODS VEHICLES.
THE THREE CATEGORIES WILL COVER MEDIUM GOODS VEHICLES WITH GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT BETWEEN 5.5 TONNES AND 24 TONNES, HEAVY GOODS VEHICLES WITH GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT OVER 24 TONNES BUT NOT EXCEEDING 38 TONNES- AND ARTICULATED VEHICLES.
PEOPLE WHO WISH TO APPLY FOR AN ARTICULATED VEHICLE DRIVING LICENCE MUST POSSESS A GOODS VEHICLE (RIGID) LICENCE.
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THE NEW ARRANGEMENT WILL NOT AFFECT THOSE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN GIVEN AN +ALL GOODS VEHICLE* TEST APPOINTMENTS AND WHOSE TESTS ARE TO BE CONDUCTED BEFORE THE ENACTMENT DATE.
+IF THEY PASS THEIR TESTS, THEY WILL HAVE THEIR DRIVING . LICENCES ENDORSED FOR ALL GOODS VEHICLES.
+AND THEY ARE ALSO PERMITTED TO DRIVE ARTICULATED VEHICLES FOR A PERIOD OF UP TO THREE YEARS FROM THE DATE OF ENACTMENT, DURING WHICH TIME THEY MUST TAKE AND PASS AN ARTICULATED VEHICLE DRIVING TEST IF THEY WISH TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE ARTICULATED VEHICLES,* HE SAID.
ALL HOLDERS OF +ALL GOODS VEHICLE* LICENCES VALID ON THE DATE OF ENACTMENT WILL HAVE THEIR LICENCES ENDORSED TO ENABLE THEM TO DRIVE MEDIUM AND HEAVY GOODS VEHICLE (RIGID) WHEN THEY RENEW THEIR LICENCES.
------0-------
•Y, 10 :BER 23, 1983
7
NEW I.D. CARD APPLICATION REM! DER *****
MEN BORN IN 1957 AND 1956 WERE REMINDED TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT THEY HAD ONLY TWO WEEKS LEFT TO APPLY FOR NEW IDENTITY CARDS.
THE SIXTH PHASE OF THE EXERCISE, TARGETED AT THESE TWO AGE GROUPS, WILL END ON DECEMBER 3, 1983.
AN IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID, +SINCETHE COMMENCEMENT OF THIS PHASE ON OCTOBER 31, 7* 500 APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. THE ESTIMATED TOTAL NUMBER OF MEN IN THIS AGE BRACKET IS 120 000. ♦
THE FIGURE REPRESENTS AN AVERAGE TURN-UP RATE OF 3 700 APPLICANTS A DAY IN THE LAST THREE WEEKS.
+WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE CO-OPERATION OF THESE APPLICANTS, BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO ADVISE THOSE WHO HAVE NOT YET APPLIED TO DO SO NOW, SO AS TO AVOID ANY LAST MINUTE RUSH,* HE SAID.
APPLICANTS SHOULD BRING ALONG THEIR OLD IDENTITY CARDS WHEN THEY REPORT TO ANY OF THE EIGHT ISSUE OFFICES BETWEEN 8 AM AND 9.30 PM MONDAY TO SATURDAY.
IT TAKES ABOUT HALF AN HOUR TO PROCESS AN APPLICATION, AND APPLICANTS WILL BE ASKED TO RETURN IN 18 WORKING DAYS TO COLLECT THEIR NEW CARDS AND SURRENDER THEIR OLD ONES.
♦THOSE WHO ARE AWAY FROM HONG KONG DURING THE SPECIFIED PERIOD SHOULD APPLY WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THEIR RETURN,* THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
----0--------
ST. JOHN AMBULANCE BRIGADE PRAISED
* * *
THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR DENIS BRAY, TODAY (SUNDAY) PRAISED THE ST. JOHN AMBULANCE BRIGADE FOR THEIR VOLUNTARY SERVICE WHICH, HE SAID, MEANS +YOU ARE FREE TO DO WHAT YOU WILL WITH YOUR TIME, YET YOU CHOOSE TO GIVE TIME AND ENERGY*.
+YOU ACCEPT DISCIPLINE FOR THE SERVICE OF OTHERS. IN HONG KONG NOBODY FORCES YOU TO DO THIS. YOU CHOOSE TO PARTICIPATE OF YOUR OWN FREE WILL. WE MUST ALL WISH THAT THIS WAY OF LIFE WHICH MAKES THIS POSSIBLE WILL CONTINUE FOREVER,* MR BRAY SAID.
SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL PARADE OF THE BRIGADE AT THE SOUTH. CHINA ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION STADIUM, HE ALSO PRAISED THEM FOR THEIR DEVOTION AND HARD WORK.
♦THE PUBLIC-SPIRITEDNESS, DEDICATION, ENTHUSIASM AND DETERMINATION OF THE PERSONNEL OF THE ST. JOHN AMBULANCE BRIGADE ARE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE,+ HE SAID.
/+IM ORDER.....
8
SU.
♦ IN ORDER TO SUSTAIN EFFICIENCY, ALL MEMBERS OF YOUR BRIGADE MUST RE-QUALIFY ANNUALLY. BECAUSE OF THIS THE PRESENCE OF ST. JOHN FIRST AID MEMBERS GIVES AN ASSURANCE OF TRAINED SUPPORT To’tHE PUBLIC,* HE ADDED.
MR BRAY POINTED OUT THAT THE BRIGADE HAD ESTABLISHED A FINE TRADITION OF COMMUNITY SERVICE.
♦ IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN HONG KONG SOME 68 YEARS AGO AND TRAINS MEN, WOMEN AND YOUNG PEOPLE TO UNDERTAKE FIRST AID, AND HOME NURSING, TO BE READY TO RENDER ASSISTANCE AT BEACHES, FOOTBALL MATCHES, ATHLETIC MEETINGS, WALKATHONS AND ALL SORTS OF PUBLIC GATHERINGS IN ALL KINDS OF WEATHER,* HE SAID.
AFTER INSPECTING THE PARADE, MR BRAY PRESENTED LONG SERVICE bEDALS AND TROPHIES TO VARIOUS MEMBERS OF THE BRIGADE.
-----0-----
MORE PUBLIC SYMPATHY FOR EX-DRUG ADDUCTS URGED #****#
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ANSON CHAN, TODAY (SUNDAY) CALLED FOR MORE PUBLIC SYMPATHY TOWARDS EX-DRUG ADDICTS TO HELP THEM QUIT THE +ANTI-SOCIAL AND SELF-DESTRUCTIVE* HABIT.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE CARITAS LOK HEEP
CLUB’S NEW HONG KONG CLUBHOUSE IN WAN CHAI, MRS CHAN SAID PUBLICITY AND PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS IN RECENT YEARS HAD INCREASED PUBLIC AWARENESS IN PREVENTING DRUG ABUSE, PARTICULARLY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE.
ALTHOUGH HONG KONG HAD SOME SUCCESS IN CONTAINING THE NUMBER OF DRUG ADDICTS, SHE STRESSED THERE COULD BE NO ROOM FOR COMPLACENCY.
+PREVENTION OF DRUG ABUSE MUST BE THE PARAMOUNT OBJECTIVE
OF THE GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES,* SHE SAID, ADDING THAT IT WAS ALSO VITAL FOR THE ADDICTED TO SEEK TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION.
* IT IS IN THIS AREA THAT THE ROLE OF SOCIAL WORKERS IS SO IMPORTANT AND WE MUST ENSURE THAT ALL WHO NEED TREATMENT AND AFTERCARE SERVICES ARE AWARE OF HOW TO SEEK HELP AND ARE ENCOURAGED TO DO SO,* SHE SAID.
TO ACHIEVE THESE OBJECTIVES, IT WAS ESSENTIAL THAT SOCIAL WORKERS AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS IN THE GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WORK CLOSELY IN THE REHABILITATION PROGRAMME, SHE SAID.
MRS CHAN ASSURED THE CLUB OF CONTINUING SUPPORT FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE ITS FACILITIES FOR MEMBERS.
FUND GRANT OF $181 000 HAD BEEN PROVIDED
FOR FITTING1 OUT ANDTFURN%hInG THE NEW CLUBHOUSE AND THE RECURRENT COST OF ITS OPERATION WAS FULLY MET BY GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION.
THE LOK HEEP CLUB, ESTABLISHED IN 1968, HAS BEEN HELPING EX-DRUG ADDICTS THROUGH COUNSELLING, THERAPEUTIC GROUP WORK AND JOB PLACEMENT.
SUNDAY, NOVE "R 20, 1983
9
FORMATION OF MORE LIFE-SAVING CLUBS URGED
* * * *
THERE IS ALWAYS A NEED FOR ABLE-BODIED, SKILLED LIFE-SAVERS TO BE ON HAND TO GO TO THE AID OF BATHERS IN DIFFICULTY, THE DIRECTOR OF NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES, MR JOHN HEYWOOD, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
THIS IS BECAUSE THERE IS ALWAYS AN ELEMENT OF RISK IN SWIMMING, WHETHER IN THE SWIMMING POOL OR AT THE BEACH, HE SAID.
SPEAKING AT THE PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONY OF THE SECOND NEW TERRITORIES LIFE-SAVING OPEN COMPETITION AT THE YUEN LONG PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL, MR HEYWOOD CALLED ON LIFE-SAVERS TO SET UP MORE DISTRICT LIFE-SAVING CLUBS TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
♦TODAY’S FUNCTION ALSO GIVES ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO ANNOUNCE THE RECENT FORMATION OF THE YUEN LONG PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL LIFE GUARD CLUB,* HE SAID.
AS A JOINT EFFORT BETWEEN THE HONG KONG LIFE GUARD CLUB AND THE GOVERNMENT, THIS NEW CLUB WILL PROVIDE LIFE-SAVING CLASSES TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN YUEN LONG AT THE YUEN LONG PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL.
♦IT IS HOPED THAT THE CLASSES TO BE HELD HERE WILL BE VERY POPULAR AND WE HOPE TO SEE SIMILAR CLUBS ESTABLISHED AT OTHER BATHING POOLS AND BEACHES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES,♦ HE SAID.
ON TODAY’S LIFE-SAVING COMPETITION, MR HEYWOOD SAID IT OFFERED A VERY MEANINGFUL OCCASION TO WIND UP THE 1983 SWIMMING SEASON.
IT ALSO GAVE BOTH THE PROFESSIONAL AND VOLUNTEER LIFE-SAVERS THE FUN AND EXCITEMENT OF AN OPEN TOURNAMENT, HE ADDED.
♦IN PARTICULAR, IT REMINDS US THERE IS A NEED TO MAINTAIN HIGH STANDARDS FOR AN IMPORTANT SKILL SUCH AS LIFE-SAVI NG,+ HE SAID.
MR HEYWOOD PAID TRIBUTE TO THE HONG KONG LIFE GUARD CLUB FOR ITS MAJOR CONTRIBUTION IN PROVIDING PUBLIC AWARENESS TO THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFE SWIMMING AND IN PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE LIFE-SAVING TRAINING PROGRAMMES FOR THE YOUNGER GENERATION.
HE ALSO EXPRESSED HOPE THAT THE SUCCESS OF TODAY’S COMPETITION WOULD DO MUCH TO ENCOURAGE MORE YOUNGSTERS TO ENLIST IN THE NEW YUEN LONG LIFE-SAVING CLUB AND TO ENCOURAGE SAFE SWIMMING.
THE GOVERNMENT, FOR ITS PART, PROVIDED A FULL-TIME TRAINED AND QUALIFIED LIFE-SAVING SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC AT ALL PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS AND GAZETTED BATHING BEACHES, MR HEYWOOD POINTED OUT.
/THE OOVERNMBfT
SUh 'A.., iMBER 20, 198?
- 10 -
THE GOVERNMENT ALSO ATTACHED EQUAL ATTENTION TO THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING THE LIFE-SAVING SKILLS OF ITS LIFE-GUARDS THROUGH REGULAR TRAINING AND REFRESHER COURSES, HE SAID.
EARLIER, MORE THAN 200 PROFESSIONAL AND AMATEUR LIFESAVERS TOOK PART IN VARIOUS EVENTS AND DEMONSTRATED THEIR TECHNIQUES AT THE OPEN COMPETITION.
AT THE PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONY, MR HEYWOOD PRESENTED WINNERS WITH TROPHIES.
ALSO PRESENT AT THE FUNCTION WERE THE DIRECTOR OF HONG KONG LIFE GUARD CLUB, MR KWOK HON-MING! THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE NEW TERRITORIES BRANCH OF THE HONG KONG LIFE GUARD CLUB, hfi LAU HON-WAH> AND THE URBAN SERVICES OFFICER OF YUEN LONG, MR WILLIAM KWONG.
----0--------
EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS FOR FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS
*****
THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION WILL NOT APPROVE THE ENTRY OF FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS UNLESS THEY ARE PAID THE CURRENT MARKET WAGE RANGE OF Si 650 TO Si 800 A MONTH, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (SUNDAY).
FROM NOVEMBER 28, 1983, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR WILL ONLY ATTEST EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS IF THE WAGES TO BE PAID ARE NOT BELOW THE NEW RANGE.
RE-ENGAGEMENT CONTRACTS AT THE OLD RATES (Si 350 - SI 500) CAN ALSO BE ATTESTED BEFORE NOVEMBER 28, 1983, PROVIDED THE RE-ENGAGEMENT CONTRACT WILL TAKE EFFECT ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 21, 1983.
IT WAS ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT THE POLICY AND PROCEDURE RELATING TO THE ADMISSION OF FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS HAD BEEN REVIEWED AND THAT IT HAD BEEN DECIDED THAT THE CURRENT ARRANGMENT SHOULD CONTINUE UNCHANGED.
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/11
SUKu v. NOVEMBER 20, 1983
11
ASIAN BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP STARTS * * * *
THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR DENIS BRAY, SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT THE STANDARD OF BASKETBALL IN ASIA WOULD IMPROVE AS THE 12TH ASIAN BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP WOULD PROVIDE AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR TOP PLAYERS TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR SKILLS AND MATCH THEIR DETERMINATION IN A COMPETITIVE BUT FRIENDLY ARENA.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP AT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH STADIUM, MR BRAY PRAISED THE HONG KONG AMATEUR BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION FOR ORGANISING THIS IMPORTANT INTERNATIONAL SPORTING EVENT.
♦ FOR MANY YEARS, THE ASSOCIATION HAS PROMOTED BASKETBALL WITH INITIATIVE AND GREAT ENTHUSIASM.
♦ THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS ALSO ANXIOUS TO PROMOTE SPORT IN HONG KONG THROUGH CLOSE CO-OPERATION WITH THE AMATEUR SPORTS BODIES CONCERNED,♦ HE SAID.
MR BRAY SAID THAT HE WAS DELIGHTED TO SEE HONG KONG HOSTING THIS REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.
♦ THIS WILL AROUSE FURTHER INTEREST AND GREATER PARTICIPATION IN BASKETBALL AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE HERE,* HE ADDED.
------o-------
INTERNATIONAL PAINTING COMPETITION ft ft ft ft ft ft
THE ARTS CENTRE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE, MAINTAINED BY THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND THE CITY OF HYVINKAS, FINLAND, IS INVITING HONG KONG PUPILS TO TAKE PART IN THE SIXTH INTERNATIONAL PAINTING COMPETITION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE.
THE COMPETITION IS DIVIDED INTO FOUR GROUPS CATERING FOR STUDENTS BETWEEN THE AGES OF THREE AND 19.
MEDALS, CERTIFICATES OF MERIT, BOOKS AND OTHER PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED TO THE WINNERS OF EACH GROUP IN THE COMPETITION, THE RESULTS OF WHICH WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN MAY, 1984.
THE THEME OF THIS YEAR’S COMPETITION IS +MY NEIGHBOURHOOD*. ENTRIES SHOULD NOT BE LARGER THAN 420 MM X 594 MM.
STUDENTS SHOULD INCLUDE ON THE BACK OF THEIR ENTRIES THEIR NAME, DATE OF BIRTH, NAME OF THEIR SCHOOL AND THE TITLE OF THEIR WORK.
ENTRIES SHOULD BE SUBMITTED VIA SCHOOL HEADS TO THE ART SECTION, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT BY DECEMBER 15 FOR LOCAL SELECTION.
UNSELECTED ENTRIES WILL BE RETURNED. BUT THOSE TO BE SENT TO FINLAND WILL BECOME THE PROPERTY OF THE ORGANISER.
ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE COMPETITION MAY BE MADE AT THE ART SECTION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ON 5-621967.
- - - - 0 -- /12.............
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1983
12
CUSTOMS AMD EXC.SE ACTIVITIES FEATURED AT EXHIB.T.ON
**
young people imterested IM S'^uSd”)6" se"eTHtheCwork"S 5?DTHECsOvtcE’'lTTHE CAREERS“8A EXHIBITION AT EDINBURGH PLACE.
FOLLOWING THE OPEN ING CEBEKONY^THE COMMAS .ONER^OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE, MR DOUGLAS JORDAN, { ACT|V|TtES WERE STAGED,
S^V’hOW AND DEMONSTRATIONS OF THE
CONTROL OF DIESEL OIL.
ic^MSPLAiM3FGTMEi'DUTiEBRoFESpp^c^®^ii^^
WAS ON SHOW. CAREERS ’84 EXHIBITION JOINTLY
and the URBAN COUNCIL.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1?83
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
ROYAL OBSERVATORY CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS ...................... 1
NEED TO IMPROVE NEUROLOGICAL SURGERY SERVICE SEEN ............. 2
SECOND TSING YI BRIDGE TO BE BUILT ............................ 3
SERVICES FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE TO BE REVIEWED .................... 4
MORE TRAINING NEEDED FOR BANKING STAFF......................... 4
ILLEGAL STRUCTURES TO BE CLEARED............................... 5
IMMIGRATION RECRUITS TO PARADE................................. 6
FAMILY LIFE PUBLICITY DRIVE STARTING .......................... 6
WEAK WATER PRESSURE FOR SOME................................... 7
ROAD WORKS ON KAM TIN ROAD .................................... 7
WATER FIGURES
7
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1983
1
ROYAL OBSERVATORY CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
* * *
THE CELEBRATIONS OF THE CENTENARY OF THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY WILL REACH A CLIMAX BETWEEN NOW AND THE MIDDLE OF NEXT MONTH WITH THE ISSUE OF COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS, AN INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON METEOROLOGY AND AN OPEN DAY.
THE PROGRAMME FOR CELEBRATING THE OCCASION COMMENCED WITH THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY’S NEW CENTENARY BUILDING BY HRH PRINCESS ANNE IN APRIL THIS YEAR.
ON WEDNESDAY (NOVEMBER 23), A SET OF COMMEMORATIVE STAMPS WILL BE ISSUED BY THE POST OFFICE. THE COMMON THEME OF THE STAMPS IS THE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE IN THE WORK OF THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY IN THE PAST ONE HUNDRED YEARS.
THE FOUR STAMPS SHOW; THE ORIGINAL MAIN BUILDING AT THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY HEADQUARTERS STANDING SIDE BY SIDE WITH THE NEW NINE-STOREY CENTENARY BUILDING WHICH HOUSES MODERN TECHNICAL FACILITIES; A CONVENTIONAL ANEMOMETER CONTRASTED WITH A DOPPLER ACOUSTIC RADAR WHICH IS A MODERN REMOTE-SENSING EQUIPMENT TO MEASURE WIND; A THATCHED SHED IN WHICH MEASUREMENTS OF LOCAL TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY CONDITIONS ARE MADE AND A BIRD’S EYE VIEW CF THE EARTH FROM A METEOROLOGICAL SATELLITE, AND OLD AND NEW VERSIONS OF SEISMOMETERS USED TO MONITOR EARTHQUAKES.
A LIMITED NUMBER OF COLOURFUL POSTERS SHOWING ENLARGED VERSIONS OF THE STAMPS ARE ALSO ON SALE AT THE PHILATELIC COUNTERS OF THE GENERAL POST OFFICE AT CONNAUGHT PLACE AND THE TSIM SHA TSUI POST OFFICE.
FROM WEDNESDAY (NOVEMBER 23) TO NOVEMBER 29, THERE WILL BE AN INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON ’’AUTOMATED MESSAGE SWITCHING SYSTEMS FOR REGIONAL AND NATIONAL CENTRES IN SOUTHEAST ASIA”, JOINTLY SPONSORED BY THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY AND THE WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION. PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES WILL INCLUDE CHINA, JAPAN, MALAYSIA, PHILIPPINES, INDONESIA, SINGAPORE AND THAILAND.
THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE SEMINAR WILL BE A SERIES OF LECTURES BY EXPERTS FROM THE WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION, CHINA, JAPAN, THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY OF HONG KONG, CABLE AND WIRELESS (HK) LTD AND THE HONG KONG CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT.
THE SEMINAR WILL BE OPENED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY AT 9.30 AM ON WEDNESDAY (NOVEMBER 23) AT THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY HEADQUARTERS CONFERENCE ROOM.
MEANWHILE, A SEMINAR ON DATA COMMUNICATION JOINTLY ORGANISED BY ROYAL OBSERVATORY AND THE HONG KONG INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS, WILL BE HELD AT THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY HEADQUARTERS ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 25)..
THE JOINT SEMINAR REPRESENTS A CONTINUATION OF THE LONG TRADITION OF CLOSE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY AND THE ENGINEERING COMMUNITY. SPEAKERS WILL PRESENT LECTURES ON SATELLITE AND CABLE SYSTEMS FOR DATA TRANSMISSION AND REAL-TIME DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEM FOR VERY SHORT RANGE WEATHER FORECASTING.
/OPEN DAYS .......
7 ?. 21, 1983
- 2 -
OPEN DAYS HAVE ALSO BEEN ORGANISED AT THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY ►EADQUARTERS IN DECEMBER FOR VOLUNTARY WEATHER OBSERVERS, INCLUDING RAINFALL OBSERVERS AND MARINERS, AND THOSE WHO HAVE ASSISTED THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY IN ITS WORK OVER THE PAST YEARS.
TO PLACE ON RECORD THE EARLY ACTIVITIES OF THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY AND THE PROGRESS WHICH HAS BEEN MADE, A BOOK IN THE ’’THIS IS HONG KONG” SERIES ENTITLED ’’FROM TIME BALL TO ATOMIC CLOCK - THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY, HONG KONG” WRITTEN BY MR ANTHONY DYSON OF THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT WILL BE PUT ON SALE SHORTLY.
NOTE TO EDITORS 1
YOU ARE INVITED TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO COVER THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR WHICH WILL BE HELD IN THE CONFERENCE HALL OF THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY CENTENARY BUILDING AT 9.30 AM ON WEDNESDAY (NOVEMBER 23).
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NEED TO IMPROVE NEUROLOGICAL SURGERY SERVICE SEEN * * * *
THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR K.L. THONG 2LL£M0NDAY) M0RNING TOLD SOME 400 DELEGATES TO A NEUROLOGICAL CONGRESS IN HONG KONG THAT HIS DEPARTMENT RECOGNISED THE NEED TO IMPROVE HONG KONG’S NEUROLOGICAL SURGERY SERVICE.
*APART FR0M 0UR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE TRAINING OF SURGEONS IN GENERAL AND NEUROSURGEONS IN PARTICULAR, WE HAVE TO MEET ™E CONSTANT AND INCREASING DEMAND FOR MORE SERVICE FACILITIES,* HE SA ID*
C?*GRESS’ ORGANISED BY THE ASIAN-AUSTRALASIAN SOCIETY OF NEUROLOGICAL SURGEONS, WILL END ON FRIDAY. THE CONGRESS HELD ONCE EVERY FOUR YEARS, IS A VENUE FOR THE EXCHANGE OF SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE IN NEUROLOGICAL SURGERY, WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON PROBLEMS IN THIS REGION.
THIS REGION
DR THONG SAID THAT FURTHER, THE DEPARTMENT
TO DEVELOP THIS NEUROLOGICAL SERVICE
WAS SEEK,NG CONSTANTLY TO ENCOURAGE YOUNG MEDICAL OFFICERS TO ACQUIRE MORE EXPERTISE IN THIS SPECIALTY BY MAKING AVAILABLE FELLOWSHIPS FOR HIGHER TRAINING OVERSEAS.
♦WHEN THEIR TRAINING IS COMPLETED, THEY ARE THEN IN A POSITION TO CONTRIBUTE THEIR EXPERT KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS WITHIN THE SURGICAL TEAM THAT THEY ARE ATTACHED T0,+ HE ADDED.
/the chairman .......
•WDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1983
- 3 -
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, MR HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, WHO WAS ALSO SPEAKING AT THE CONGRESS, SAID THAT THE COUNCIL AND THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN KEEPING HONG KONG HEALTHY BY MAKING SURE THAT THE STANDARD OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND FOOD HYGIENE WAS MAINTAINED THROUGH VIGOROUS DAILY INSPECTIONS IN THE URBAN AREAS.
+WE CARRY OUT CONSTANT CHECKS AND EXAMINATION OF MEAT AND POULTRY CONSIGNMENTS THAT ARE IMPORTED TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE FIT FOR CONSUMPTION BEFORE THEY ARE SOLD IN THE MARKET,* MR CHEONG-LEEN SAID.
0 - - - -
SECOND TSI NG Yl BRIDGE TO BE BUILT * * *
A SECOND BRIDGE LINKING TSI NG Yl ISLAND AND TSUEN WAN WILL SOON BE CONSTRUCTED BY THE TSUEN WAN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE OF THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO COPE WITH TRAFFIC DEMAND.
THE NEW BRIDGE, TOTALLING 1.5 KILOMETRES IN LENGTH INCLUDING APPROACHES, WILL SPAN RAMBLER CHANNEL BETWEEN NGA YING CHAU ON THE TSING Yl SIDE AND SAM PAK TSIN, TSUEN WAN. RECLAMATION IS NOW IN PROGRESS BETWEEN TSING Yl ISLAND AND NGA YING CHAU.
AS PART OF THE BRIDGE PROJECT, APPROACH ROADS WILL BE CONSTRUCTED TO LINK UP WITH THE FUTURE ROAD NETWORK IN NORTHEAST TSING Yl AND TEXACO ROAD ROUNDABOUT IN TSUEN WAN.
THE PROJECT ALSO INCLUDES CONSTRUCTING AN EXTENSION TO WING SHUN STREET, TOGETHER WITH A TEMPORARY ALTERNATIVE ACCESS ROAD TO THE TSUEN WAN CHINESE PERMANENT CEMETERY.
A PLAN SHOWING THE PROPOSED WORK IS PUBLISHED IN THE LATEST GOVERNMENT GAZETTE. IT CAN BE SEEN AT CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, CENTRAL ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING, MAIN ENTRANCE LOBBY; TSUEN WAN DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE, 1OTH FLOOR, TSUEN WAN MULTI-STORY CARPARK AND GOVERNMENT OFFICES, 174-208 CASTLE PEAK ROAD, TSUEN WAN; TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICE, 2ND FLOOR, FOU WAH CENTRE, 210 CASTLE PEAK ROAD, TSUEN WAN; AND AT TSUEN WAN DISTRICT OFFICE, TSING Yl SUB-OFFICE, 113 CHING WAI HOUSE, CHEUNG CHING ESTATE, TSING Yl.
ANY OBJECTION MUST BE SENT IN WRITING TO THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS BY JANUARY 17, 1984.
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/4........
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1983
SERVICES FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE TO BE REVIEWED
* * M
A WORKING GROUP TO REVIEW SERVICES FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE IN CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT HAS BEEN FORMED UNDER THE DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE, THE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, W LEUNG SIK-WAH SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
MR LEUNG SAID THERE WAS A GREAT NEED TO REVIEW THE EXISTING SERVICES, AS MORE THAN ONE-FIFTH OF THE DISTRICT’S POPULATION ARE OVER 50 YEARS OF AGE.
♦THE EFFORTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE ELDERY TOWARDS tup COMMUNITY IN THE PAST SHOULD BE REOGNISED AND LIKEWISE COMMUNITY CONCERN FOR THEM SHOULD BE PROMOTED,+ HE SAID.
TODAY. MEMBERS OF THE NEWLY-FORMED WORKING GROUP VISITED A NUMBER OF WELFARE CENTRES IN THE DISTRICT TO SEE FACILITIES THERE.
^nvsmra*-
TOWN CENTRE.
ASIDE FROM TODAY’S VISIT, MEMBERS WILL ATTEND A BRIEFING ON NOVEMBER 28 WHEN REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICES WILL TALK ON THE EXISTING SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY PEOPLE IN HONG KONG.
MR LEUNG SAID MEMBERS OF THE WORKING PARTY WOULD ALSO EXAMINE THE SERVICES AVAILABLE IN THE DISTRICT TO IDENTIFY ANY SHORTFALLS.
♦THIS WILL BE DONE THROUGH CONTACTS WITH LOCAL ELDERLY CENTRES, AREA COMMITTEES, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, OWNERS’ CORPORATIONS, AND KAIFONG ASSOC I AT IONS,♦ HE SAID.
♦A REPORT ON THE WORKING GROUP’S STUDY WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE DISTRICT BOARD’S COMMUNITY BUILDING COMMITTEE NEXT APRIL.♦
-----0 - -
MORE TRAINING NEEDED FOR BANKING STAFF
* * *
FINDINGS IN THE RECENTLY PUBLISHED BANKING MANPOWER SURVEY REPORT REFLECT THAT THERE HAS BEEN AN ENCOURAGING INCREASE IN TRAINING ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE INDUSTRY.
♦DESPITE THE IMPROVEMENT ON STAFF DEVELOPMENT, MUCH STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE IF THE INDUSTRY IS TO FACE THE FUTURE WITH CONFIDENCE,♦ MR DEREK WHARTON, CHAIRMAN OF THE BANKING TRAINING BOARD, SAID.
MONDAY, NOVEI ;;SR 21, 1983
- 5 -
COMMENTING ON THE SURVEY, WHICH WAS CONDUCTED LAST DECEMBER BY THE BANKING TRAINING BOARD OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAIN IM COUNCIL, NR WHARTON SAID ITS FINDINGS SHOULD HELP BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES WITH THE PLANNING OF FUTURE STAFFING.
THE MANPOWER PROJECTIONS, THE DATA AND EMPLOYERS’ PREFERENCE ON THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THEIR STAFF COMPILED IN THE REPORT WERE LIKELY TO BE OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO THE EDUCATIONAL SECTOR FOR SETTING GUIDELINES OF TRAINING REQUIREMENTS, HE ADDED.
THE 1982 MANPOWER SURVEY REPORT CONTAINS SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS, SOME OF WHICH HAVE ALREADY BEEN UNDERTAKEN BY THE BANKING TRAINING BOARD.
BEFORE THE REPORT WAS PUBLISHED, THE BOARD HAD BROUGHT THE ATTENTION OF MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG ASSOCIATION OF BANKS TO THE NEED FOR A GREATER COMMITMENT TO STAFF TRAINING.
DISCUSSIONS HAVE ALSO TAKEN PLACE WITH THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WITH A VIEW TO IMPROVE SCHOOL LEAVERS’ KNOWLEDGE OF THE BANKING INDUSTRY AND CAREERS IT OFFERS.
THE QUALITY OF TUITION FOR THE INSTITUTE OF BANKERS EXAMINATION IS VERY OFTEN SUBSTANDARD, AS A RESULT OF A SHORTAGE OF QUALIFIED TUTORS AND INADEQUATE STUDY FACILITIES.
AS ALL STUDENTS WHO SIT FOR THE EXAMINATION ARE EMPLOYEES OF BANKS, THE BOARD BELIEVES THAT EXPERIENCED BANK STAFF SHOULD HELP WITH TUITION.
THE REPORT, IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE, GIVES A COMPREHENSIVE PICTURE OF THE HONG KONG BANKING INDUSTRY’S MANPOWER AND TRAINING AND IS NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES CENTRE AT $29 A COPY.
------0-------
ILLEGAL STRUCTURES TO BE CLEARED * * *
ABOUT XI ILLEGAL STRUCTURES IN FOUR REAR LANES IN NOS. 46-114 LION ROCK ROAD AND 46-94 FUK LO TSUN ROAD IN KOWLOON CITY WILL BE PULLED DOWN TOMORROW (TUESDAY) MORNING.
IT WILL BE THE FIRST OF FOUR CLEARANCES IN THE ’OPERATION RED ZONE FIVE’ WHICH INVOLVES THE REMOVAL OF ABOUT 70 STRUCTURES IN 12 BACKLANES BOUNDED BY HAU WONG ROAD ON THE EAST, PRINCE ’ EDWARD ROAD ON THE SOUTH, JUNCTION ROAD ON THE WEST. AND CARPENTER ROAD ON THE NORTH.
UNDER THE ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE EXERCISE, WHICH WAS INITIATED BY THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE THE DISTRICT WAS DIVIDED INTO 15 ZONES AND CLEARANCES ARE BEING CONDUCTED ACCORDING TO PRIORITY.
/SINCE FEBRUARY .......
hiUhb.- , <11, 1^83
- 6 -
SINCE FEBRUARY LAST YEAR, NEARLY HALF OF THE 1 OOO ILLEGAL STRUCTURES IN THE DISTRICT HAVE BEEN REMOVED. THE CLEARANCE EXERCISE IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY MID 1985.
THE EXERCISE IS JOINTLY CONDUCTED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE, THE POLICE, HOUSING, FIRE SERVICES, LANDS AND URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENTS.
------0-------
NOTE TO EDITORSi
IMMIGRATION RECRUITS TO PARADE
* * * *
A PASSING-OUT PARADE OF 39 ASSISTANT IMMIGRATION OFFICERS AND 30 IMMIGRATION ASSISTANTS WILL BE HELD AT'THE ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT PARADE GROUND IN SPORTS ROAD, HAPPY VALLEY, AT 9 AM ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 25).
THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION, MR A.J. CARTER, WILL TAKE THE SALUTE.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE PARADE.
A PARADE PROGRAMME FOR THE EVENT ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 25) IS BEING BOXED FOR REFERENCE.
------0-------
NOTE TO EDITORSi
FAMILY LIFE PUBLICITY DRIVE STARTING
If K K X
A PRESS CONFERENCE TO ANNOUNCE THE +KICK-OFF+ CEREMONY AND DETAILS OF THIS YEAR’S TERRITORY-WIDE FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN WILL BE HELD IN THE KAPOK ROOM, UNITED RESTAURANT, UNITED CENTRE, SIXTH FLOOR, QUEENSWAY, AT 12.30 PM TOMORROW
« (TUESDAY).
ATTENDING THE PRESS CONFERENCE WILL BE MR SIMON LUN,
( ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF BROADCASTING (TELEVISION); MRS EVELYN DOE, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE (OPERATIONS); MISS LOLITA NG OF THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE; MRS BETTY SHUM OF THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES; AND MR CHIU YU-HEI, A DONOR.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT.
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/7 ........
MONDAY, ..C 2 :BER 21, 1983
7
WEAK WATER PRESSURE FOR SOME X X X
WATER PRESSURE IN SOME PREMISES AROUND BEACON HILL WILL BE WEAK FOR SIX HOURS, FROM 10 AM TO 4 PM ON THURSDAY (NOVEMBER 24), WHEN PRESSURE TESTS ARE CARRIED OUT IN THE AREA.
THE AFFECTED AREA IS BOUNDED BY BEACON HILL ROAD, RHONDDA ROAD, WATERLOO ROAD AND EDE ROAD, INCLUDING EASTBOURNE ROAD AND ALNWICK ROAD.
- - 0 - -
ROAD WORKS ON KAM TIN ROAD
TO FACILITATE THE LAYING OF WATER MAINS, ROAD WORKS ARE BEING CONDUCTED AT KAM TIN ROAD.
ONLY ONE LANE IS OPEN FOR TWO-WAY TRAFFIC AT EACH OF THE FIVE SECTIONS OF KAM TIN ROAD WHERE ROAD WORKS ARE IN PROGRESS. TRAFFIC SIGNS ARE PUT UP TO GUIDE MOTORISTS.
MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO ROUTE VIA KAM SHEUNG ROAD INSTEAD OF KAM TIN ROAD WHILE TRAVELLING BETWEEN YUEN LONG AND SHEK KONG.
0 - -
WATER FIGURES XXX
STORAGE IN HONG KONG’S RESERVIORS AT 9 AM TODAY (MONDAY) STOOD AT 95.9 PER CENT OF CAPACITY OR 562.129 MILLION CUBIC METRES.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR THE RESERVIORS CONTAINED 462.082 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF WATER, REPRESENTING 78.8 PER CENT OF CAPACITY.
- - u------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
KCRC ASKED TO TAKE ON TUEN MUN LRT .......................... 1
LEGCO TO DEAL WITH SEVEN BILLS, 13 QUESTIONS ................ 3
THIRD QUARTER BUSINESS SURVEY REPORT RELEASED ............... 4
HK BENEFITS FROM SINO-BRITISH TRUST FUND .................... 7
CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE FAMILY HAPPINESS......................... 8
SURVEY ON EDUCATION ATTAINMENT OF TECHNOLOGISTS ............. 8
YOUNG DELEGATES RETURNING ...................................
SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS TO BE AUCTIONED ......................... 10
PLAN TO EASE TRAFFIC AT HOSPITAL ............................ 10
SHORTER CLEARWAY HOURS AT HOI AN STREET ..................... 11
WATER LEAKAGE TEST
11
TUESL ., iGVi 1BER 22, 1983
1
KCRC ASKED TO TAKE ON TUEN MUN LRT *****
THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL HAS REAFFIRMED THE LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEM AS THE MOST SUITABLE PRINCIPAL MODE OF INTERNAL TRANSPORT FOR THE WESTERN NEW TERRITORIES.
IT WAS ALSO DECIDED THAT THE KOWLOON CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION SHOULD BE INVITED TO CONSIDER TAKING ON THE LRT AS OWNER AND OPERATOR, AND TO BEGIN DISCUSSIONS WITH THE SIX CONSORTIA WHICH HAVE SHOWN STRONG AND CONTINUING INTEREST IN THE PROJECT. THE KCRC WILL MAKE ITS OWN ASSESSMENT OF VIABILITY, BEFORE COMING TO ITS DECISION.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR ALAN SCOTT, SAID ANALYSIS OF THE PROPOSALS SUBMITTED BY THE CONSORTIA, BOTH FROM THE TRANSPORT AND ECONOMIC POINTS OF VIEW, INDICATED THAT PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN FUNDING THIS MAJOR PROJECT COULD BEST BE ACHIEVED BY COOPERATION WITH A PUBLIC CORPORATION.
THE DECISION BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL FOLLOWS A RE-EXAMINATION OF THE LRT AND BUS OPTIONS FOR THE CORE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM FOR TUEN MUN, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES AND CHANGING TRANSPORT NEEDS AND TRAFFIC PATTERNS.
THE ORIGINAL TUEN MUN TRANSPORT STUDY OF 1978 FORECAST THAT 37 PER CENT OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT TRIPS WOULD BE MADE TO OR FROM LOCALITIES OUTSIDE THE NEW TOWN, OF WHICH 22 PER CENT WOULD BE TRIPS WITHIN THE REGION AND 15 PER CENT WOULD BE MADE BY PEOPLE COMMUTING TO OR FROM THE METROPOLITAN AREA. BUT IT HAS BEEN FOUND THAT IN ALL THE NEW TOWNS, INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN SLOWER THAN FORECAST AND NEW RESIDENTS HAVE TENDED TO HOLD THEIR EXISTING JOBS, WITH THE RESULT THAT COMMUTING TO THE METROPOLITAN AREA IS AT A HIGHER LEVEL THAN FORECAST. WITH SMALLER HOUSEHOLDS AND THEREFORE SLOWER POPULATION GROWTH THAN PREDICTED, REVISED FORECASTS WERE MADE.
MR SCOTT SAID AS A RESULT, THE REVISED FORECASTS PREDICTED THAT BY THE MID-1990S, ABOUT 47 PER CENT OF TRIPS WOULD BE MADE TO AND FROM LOCALITIES OUTSIDE THE WESTERN NEW TERRITORIES REGION.
♦SUCH A MOVEMENT PATTERN WILL PLACE CONSIDERABLE DEMANDS ON BOTH THE REGIONAL TRANSPORT SYSTEM AND ON EXTERNAL SERVICES TO OTHER AREAS, AND RATHER THAN REDUCING THE VIABILITY OF THE LRT SYSTEM, THE REDISTRIBUTION OF THE PREDICTED POPULATION FROM A CONCENTRATION IN TUEN MUN TO A LARGER AREA MEANS THAT AMORE EXTENSIVE NETWORK WILL BE REQUIRED,♦ HE EXPLAINED.
THE 1977-78 STUDY FORECAST 651 OOO DAILY BOARDINGS IN 1991, OF WHICH 515 000 WOULD BE ON LRT SERVICES. THE LATEST PREDICTIONS (MADE IN AUGUST THIS YEAR) FORECAST THAT IN 1997, LOCAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT BOARDINGS WILL RANGE FROM 666 000 TO 703 000 DAILY, OF WHICH 478 000 TO 515 000 WOULD BE ON LRT SERVICES.
/THUS THE .......
TUKSLuY, NOVEMBER 22, 1983
2
THUS THE PREDICTED ULTIMATE RIDERSHIP OF THE SYSTEM HAD CHANGED VERY LITTLE, ALTHOUGH IT WOULD DEVELOP LATER THAN ORIGINALLY ANTICIPATED, MR SCOTT POINTED OUT.
♦THEREFORE, THE VIABILITY OF THE LRT IS ESSENTIALLY UNALTERED, EVEN IF THE TIMING HAS CHANGED,♦ HE EMPHASISED.
HE ADDED THAT THE CONSULTANTS WHO CONDUCTED THE NORTH WESTERN NEW TERRITORIES BASE STRATEGY STUDIES HAD NOTED THAT THE LRT SYSTEM HAD THE POTENTIAL TO PROVIDE THE BEST LOCAL PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM IN HONG KONG AND TO GIVE THE WESTERN NEW TERRITORIES A FIRM FOUNDATION FOR DEVELOPMENT.
HE SAID THAT BY THE MID-1990S, THE WESTERN NEW TERRITORIES WOULD BE A CONURBATION CONSISTING OF THE FOUR URBAN COMMUNITIES OF TUEN MUN, YUEN LONG, TIN SHU I WAI AND THE CASTLE PEAK ROAD CORRIDOR. THIS CONURBATION, WHICH WILL HOUSE 840 □□□ PEOPLE BY 1996, WOULD BE SERVED BY THE LRT SYSTEM.
MR SCOTT SAID CAREFUL CONSIDERATION HAD BEEN GIVEN TO THE BUS OPTION, AND WHILE IT HAD A SHORT-TERM ADVANTAGE, THE LRT WAS JUDGED MORE SUITABLE IN THE LONGER TERM.
♦THE CONSORTIA’S ANALYSES AND PROPOSALS SHOW THAT A HIGH QUALITY RAIL SERVICE WITH THE USER CONVENIENCE OF A TRAM, BUT THE PROTECTED TRACKS AND SERVICE QUALITY OF A CONVENTIONAL RAILWAY, CAN BE PROVIDED FOR A COST IMPLYING FARE LEVELS ACCEPTABLE TO PASSENGERS,♦ HE EXPLAINED.
♦THE BUS SYSTEM WOULD HAVE LOWER INITIAL USER COSTS, BUT WOULD BE MORE EXPENSIVE TO USE IN THE LONGER TERM. IT WOULD NOT HAVE THE SAME CAPACITY AS AN LRT TO EXPAND TO ABSORB ADDITIONAL DEMAND AS THE REGION EXPANDS, AND ITS QUALITY OF SERVICE WOULD EVENTUALLY BE SEVERELY AFFECTED BY CONGESTION.♦
COMMENTING ON THE PROPOSED INVOLVEMENT OF THE KCRC IN THE PROJECT, MR SCOTT SAID THE CORPORATION WAS A NATURAL CHOICE. IT HAS THE POWER TO RAISE LOANS; IT IS PROJECTED TO BE GENERATING A CASH FLOW SURPLUS BY THE LATE 1980S; ITS MANAGEMENT HAS BEEN STRENGTHENED AND DEVELOPED TO MANAGE A MODERN ELECTRIC RAILWAY; IT HAS THE CAPACITY TO EXPAND AND TAKE ON THE LRT AND PROFITS WOULD GO TO THE PUBLIC SECTOR, RATHER THAN TO A PRIVATE OPERATOR.
HE ESTIMATED THAT, SUBJECT TO THE KCRC’S OWN INVESTIGATION OF VIABILITY AND ITS ACCEPTANCE OF THE COMMITMENT, THE FIRST SERVICES OF THE LRT COULD BE COMMISSIONED LATE IN 1987, WHICH WAS IN GOOD TIME TO MATCH THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF TUEN MUN.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1983
3
LEGCO TO DEAL WITH SEVEN BILLS, 13 QUESTIONS * * * *
TWO NEW BILLS WILL BE INTRODUCED, AND DEBATE WILL THEN RESUME ON FIVE OTHER BILLS WHICH ARE TO GO THROUGH THEIR COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD READINGS AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY).
APART FROM THAT, 13 QUESTIONS WILL BE ASKED BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS ON A WIDE RANGE OF MATTERS.
THE TWO NEW BILLS ARE THE;
* ENTERTAINMENTS TAX (AMENDMENT AND VALIDATION) BILL 1983, WHICH WILL BE READ A SECOND TIME BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, MAKING CLEAR THAT ADMISSION TO A RACE COURSE FOR CROSS BETTING IS SUBJECT TO TAX AND,
M TELECOMMUNICATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, WHICH WILL BE READ BY THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY.
THE FIVE BILLS DUE FOR THEIR COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD READINGS AREl
* MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, CLARIFYING THE FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE MTRC AND THE GOVERNMENT;
M INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT)(NO. 4) BILL 1983, DEALING WITH THE REMOVAL OF INTEREST TAX ON HONG KONG DOLLAR DEPOSITS WITH FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS;
* ROAD TRAFFIC (DRIVING-OFFENCE POINTS)(AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, RECTIFYING THE OMISSION OF TWO TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS;
* INTERPRETATION AND GENERAL CLAUSES (AMENDMENT)(NO. 3) BILL 1983, ALLOWING COURTS TO IMPOSE THE SAME PUNISHMENT FOR ATTEMPTS, CONSPIRACIES AND INCITEMENTS AS FOR THE SUBSTANTIVE OFFENCE;
* CITY POLYTECHNIC OF HONG KONG BILL 1983, PROVIDING THE FINAL STEP TO BRING THE CITY POLYTECHNIC OF HONG KONG INTO BEING.
IN ADDITION, THERE WILL BE THREE STATEMENTS AND THREE MOTIONS AT THE MEETING.
THE STATEMENTS WILL BE MADE BY THE HON. LYDIA DUNN, ON THE HONG KONG TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT, BY THE HON. ALLEN LEE ON THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY COUNCIL AND CENTRE ANNUAL REPORT, AND BY THE HON. WONG PO YAN ON THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION ANNUAL REPORT.
THE MOTIONS WILL DEAL WITH THE MEDICAL CLINICS ORDINANCE, THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE AND THE MERCHANT SHIPPING ORDINANCE.
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/4........
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1983
- 4 -
THIRD QUARTER BUSINESS SURVEY REPORT RELEASED
******
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY RELEASED THE RESULTS OF THE QUARTERLY BUSINESS SURVEY CONDUCTED IN OCTOBER 1983.
ABOUT 800 FIRMS FROM VARIOUS INDUSTRIES AND BUSINESSES, FORMING A CROSS-SECTION OF THE ECONOMIC COMMUNITY, WERE ASKED ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS EXPERIENCE IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1983, AND THEIR BUSINESS EXPECTATIONS FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1983.
RESULTS OF THE SURVEY INDICATE THAT BUSINESS RECOVERY CONTINUED TO TAKE PLACE IN THE ’MANUFACTURING’ SECTOR IN THE THIRD QUARTER CF 1983.
ON THE WHOLE, FIRMS IN THE ’MANUFACTURING’ SECTOR ACHIEVED A MODERATE IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1983 WHICH LARGELY ACCORDS WITH THE EXPECTATIONS RECORDED IN THE LAST ROUND OF THE SURVEY.
HOWEVER, FIRMS IN THE ’CONSTRUCTION’ SECTOR EXPERIENCED A RATHER SIGNIFICANT DETERIORATION IN BUSINESS IN THE THIRD QUARTER WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE WORSE THAN THEY ANTICIPATED IN THE LAST ROUND.
FOR THE ’WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS’ SECTOR, RESPONDENTS REPORTED A GENERAL IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS WHICH WAS IN LINE WITH THEIR EARLIER EXPECTATIONS.
AS REGARDS THE ’OTHER SERVICES’ SECTOR, A MILD IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS WAS ATTAINED BY FIRMS ALTHOUGH THE EXTENT OF IMPROVEMENT TURNED OUT TO BE LESS SIGNIFICANT THAN THAT EXPECTED IN THE PREVIOUS SURVEY.
RESPONDENTS IN THE ’MANUFACTURING’, ’WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE, RESTAURANTS AND HOTELS’ AND 'OTHER SERVICES’ SECTORS ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1983.
SOME IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS IS ANTICIPATED BY FIRMS IN THE ’MANUFACTURING’ SECTOR WHILE FIRMS IN THE OTHER TWO SECTORS ARE ALSO CONFIDENT OF AN IMPROVED BUSINESS SITUATION.
IN CONTRAST, THE ’CONSTRUCTION’ SECTOR SHOWS NO SIGNS OF RECOVERY AND RESPONDENTS EXPECT THE DOWNTREND IN BUSINESS TO CONTINUE INTO THE FOURTH QUARTER.
WITHIN THE ’MANUFACTURING’ SECTOR, A FAVOURABLE BUSINESS SITUATION WAS EXPERIENCED BY FIRMS ACROSS INDUSTRIES IN THE THIRD QUARTER.
IN PARTICULAR, FIRMS IN THE ’FOOD, BEVERAGE AND TOBACCO’, ’PLASTICS’, ’ELECTRONICS’ AND ’ELECTRICAL MACHINERY, APPLIANCES AND SUPPLIES’ INDUSTRIES EXPERIENCED A MORE SUBSTANTIAL BUSINESS RECOVERY.
/fibms in .......
TOBSMY, TOVEMBTO 22, 1983
- 5 -
FIRMS IN THE OTHER INDUSTRIES ALSO EXPERIENCED AN IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS TO VARYING DEGREES. NOTABLY, THE BUSINESS UPTURN FOR THE 'TEXTILES’ INDUSTRY IN THE THIRD QUARTER TURNED OUT TO BE MORE SUBSTANTIAL THAN EARLIER EXPECTED.
FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER, FIRMS IN THE 'FOOD, BEVERAGE AND TOBACCO’ AND ’PLASTICS’ INDUSTRIES EXPECT A DECLINE IN BUSINESS WHICH IS MAINLY DUE TO SEASONAL FACTORS.
RESPONDENTS IN THE ’WEARING APPAREL’, 'TEXTILES’, ’FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS’ AND ’ELECTRONICS’ INDUSTRIES ANTICIPATE THE IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS TO CONTINUE INTO THE FOURTH QUARTER, WHEREAS LITTLE CHANGE IN BUSINESS OUTLOOK IS INDICATED BY RESPONDENTS IN THE OTHER INDUSTRIES.
FIRMS IN THE ’CONSTRUCTION’ SECTOR REPORTED A POORER PERFORMANCE IN THE THIRD QUARTER AND A CONTINUED DOWNTREND IS EXPECTED FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER.
FIRMS IN THE ’WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE’ AS WELL AS THE ’RESTAURANTS’ SECTORS EXPERIENCED AN UPTURN IN BUSINESS IN THE THIRD QUARTER AND ARE FAIRLY CONFIDENT ABOUT THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER.
BUSINESS IN THE ’HOTELS’ SECTOR WAS MAINTAINED AT THE SECOND QUARTER LEVEL DURING THE THIRD QUARTER.
THIS WAS A FAVOURABLE SITUATION SINCE ACCORDING TO HISTORICAL PATTERNS, THIRD QUARTER PERFORMANCE IS NORMALLY MUCH BELOW SECOND QUARTER PERFORMANCE. FURTHERMORE, A SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IS EXPECTED IN THE FOURTH QUARTER WHICH IS USUALLY THE SEASONAL PEAK.
THE ’OTHER SERVICES’ SECTOR ACHIEVED A MILD UPTURN IN BUSINESS IN THE THIRD QUARTER AND FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS IN BUSINESS ARE EXPECTED FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER, WITH FIRMS IN THE •TRANSPORTATION’ INDUSTRY PARTICULARLY OPTIMISTIC.
AS FOR BANKS, THE EARLIER EXPECTATION OF A SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT IN BUSINESS IN THE THIRD QUARTER DID NOT MATERIALISE ALTHOUGH THE BUSINESS CLIMATE, WHICH HAD BEEN UNFAVOURABLE FOR THREE OR FOUR QUARTERS, HAD IMPROVED. THEY ARE VERY CONSERVATIVE IN THEIR EXPECTATIONS FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER BUSINESS OUTLOOK.
UNCERTAINTIES THROUGH EXCHANGE RATE FLUCTUATIONS, HIGH MATERIAL PRICES AND HIGH INTEREST RATES WERE THE MAJOR PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED BY FIRMS IN THE ’MANUFACTURING’ SECTOR IN THE THIRD QUARTER.
THESE PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED BY A LARGE MAJORITY OF MANUFACTURING FIRMS AND ARE EXPECTED TO PERSIST IN THE FOURTH QUARTER.
AS REGARDS THE ’CONSTRUCTION’ SECTOR, INSUFFICIENT BUSINESS CONTRACTS AND PRICE COMPETITION FROM FIRMS IN HONG KONG CONTINUED TO BE THE MAJOR PROBLEMS, WITH LITTLE PROSPECT OF EASING IN THE COMING QUARTER. INCREASING CONCERN WAS INDICATED BY RESPONDENTS WITH REGARD TO THE PROBLEM OF UNCERTAINTIES OVER EXCHANGE RATE FLUCTUATIONS AND HIGH MATERIAL PRICES FOR THE THIRD AND FOURTH QUARTro°
TDEb^Y, NOVEMBER 22, 198-3
- 6
FIRMS IN THE ’WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE’ BUSINESS ALSO INDICATED UNCERTAINTIES OVER EXCHANGE RATE FLUCTUATIONS, HIGH INTEREST RATES AND PRICE COMPETITION AS PREDOMINANT PROBLEMS IN THE THIRD AND FOURTH QUARTERS.
INSUFFICIENT BUSINESS AND PRICE COMPETITION STILL REMAINED THE PREDOMINANT PROBLEMS FOR THE ’RESTAURANTS’ SECTOR.
RESPONDENTS IN THE ’HOTELS’ SECTOR CONTINUED TO INDICATE PRICE COMPETITION AS THE MAIN PROBLEM FOR BOTH THE THIRD AND FOURTH QUARTERS.
AS FOR BANKS, RESPONDENTS INDICATED EXCHANGE RATE UNCERTAINTIES AS THE MAJOR PROBLEM BOTH FOR THE THIRD AND FOURTH QUARTERS.
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THE SURVEY RESULTS. OBTAINED WITH A MINIMUM TIME LAG, WERE BASICALLY INTENDED TO PROVIDE ONE SOURCE OF REFERENCE FOR MAKING A QUICK ASSESSMENT OF THE CURRENT ECONOMIC SITUATION OF HONG KONG.
PARTICIPATING FIRMS WERE ASKED TO INDICATE WHETHER, IN THEIR OPINIONS. THE GENERAL BUSINESS SITUATION AND LEVEL OF CAPACITY UTILISATION HAD ’IMPROVED’, ’REMAINED THE SAME’ OR ’DETERIORATED’ IN THE IMMEDIATELY PAST QUARTER AS COMPARED WITH THE QUARTER BEFORE.
FOR THE FORTHCOMING QUARTER, THEY WERE ASKED TO INDICATE WHETHER THE SITUATION WILL ’IMPROVE’, ’REMAIN THE SAME’ OR ’DETER IORATE’.
THE BALANCE OF OPINIONS OF RESPONDENTS WERE TABULATED AND ANALYSED.
THE SURVEY REPORT ALSO CONTAINS A SECTION ON BUSINESS PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED AND EXPECTED BY FIRMS IN DIFFERENT ECONOMIC SECTORS AND A BREAKDOWN OF VIEWS OF FIRMS BY SIZE GROUPS.
THE DEPARTMENT CAUTIONED THAT FOR A SURVEY OF THIS NATURE, THE RESULTS SHOULD BE INTERPRETED WITH CARE AS IT WAS DIFFICULT TO ESTABLISH PRECISELY THE EXTENT TO WHICH RESPONDENTS’ PERCEPTION OF THE PAST AND THE FUTURE ACCORDS WITH THE UNDERLYING TRENDS.
COPIES OF THE REPORT, CONTAINING AN ANALYSIS OF THE SURVEY FINDINGS AND STATISTICAL TABLES, HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO FIRMS TAKING PART IN THE SURVEY AND TO OTHER BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY OBTAIN COPIES FROM THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS SALE CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, AT S3 PER COPY.
FURTHER DETAILS ON THE QUARTERLY BUSINESS SURVEY MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE NATIONAL INCOME BRANCH OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT AT 5-423401.
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/7 ........
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1983
7
HK BENEFITS FROM SI NO-BRITISH TRUST FUND MM**
HONG KONG HAD BENEFITED ENORMOUSLY FROM THE SINO-BRITISH FELLOWSHIP TRUST FOUNDED BY MAJOR CHARLES FRANKLAND MOORE IN 1947, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR COLVYN HAYE, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).
MR HAYE POINTED OUT THAT THE TRUST FUND AND ASSOCIATED SCHOLARSHIPS WERE SET UP TO FOSTER THE TIES BETWEEN THE PEOPLES CF CHINA AND BRITAIN AND TO HELP CHINESE STUDENTS WITH FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES IN BRITAIN TO COMPLETE THEIR STUDIES AND RETURN HOME TO HONG KONG TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
♦WITH THE PASSAGE OF TIME THE TRUST HAS GROWN TO ENABLE THE AWARD OF SCHOLARSHIPS TO POSTGRADUATES OF CHINESE ORIGIN TO FURTHER THEIR STUDIES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM.
♦HONG KONG HAS BENEFITED ENORMOUSLY FROM THE ESTABLISHMENT CF THE TRUST AND SINCE THE SETTING UP OF THE FUND MORE THAN 350 SCHOLARS IN HONG KONG HAVE BENEFITED,+ THE DIRECTOR SAID.
MR HAYE WAS SPEAKING AT THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY OF THE SINO-BRITISH FELLOWSHIP TRUST SCHOLARS’ ASSOCIATION AWARDS.
THE WIDOW OF MR MOORE, DR ELIZABETH MOORE, WAS ALSO PRESENT AT THE CEREMONY.
TO COMMEMORATE DR MOORE’S VISIT TO HONG KONG, THE SINO-BRITISH FELLOWSHIP TRUST SCHOLARS’ ASSOCIATION, IN ADDITION TO THE ANNUAL CHARLES FRANKLAND MOORE AWARD FOR THE MOST OUTSTANDING CANDIDATE IN THE HONG KONG CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION EXAMINATION, HAS GIVEN FIVE ADDITIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS THIS YEAR.
THEY ARE I
* A DONATION OF $4 000 TO SIR ROBERT BLACK COLLEGE OF EDUCATION FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BOOK AWARD TO BE GIVEN ANNUALLY TO THE BEST STUDENT IN THE COLLEGE’S SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT;
* AN AWARD OF >2 000 EACH TO THE BEST STUDENT IN THE CURRENT YEAR CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION WITH OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES IN BUDDHIST STUDIES AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES RESPECTIVELY;
* AN AWARD OF $2 000 TO THE BEST STUDENT RECOMMENDED BY THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL; AND
M AN AWARD OF $2 000 TO THE BEST STUDENT AMONG HANDICAPPED STUDENTS IN THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES.
MR HAYE ANNOUNCED THAT THIS YEAR’S CHARLES FRANKLAND MOORE AWARD WENT TO MISS KAM YEE TSUI OF YING WA GIRLS’ SCHOOL.
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/8 .......
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1983
8
CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE FAMILY HAPPINESS M * * *
THE FAMILY EDUCATION MESSAGE HAS GRADUALLY GOT ACROSS TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH YEARS OF WORK BY THE GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY WELFARE , AGENCIES.
THIS WAS SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) BY THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE (OPERATIONS), MRS EVELYN DOE, AT A PRESS CONFERENCE TO ANNOUNCE THIS YEAR’S FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN WHICH WILL START WITH A VARIETY SHOW NIGHT TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY (NOVEMBER 24) AT THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY HALL.
SHE SAID THE ANNUAL CAMPAIGN WAS ORGANISED TO RAISE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY LIFE AND TO ENCOURAGE THEIR PARTICIPATION IN EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
♦THROUGH THESE ACTIVITIES, THE PUBLIC MAY KNOW BETTER THE GROWTH AND BEHAVIOUR OF A PERSON AND HIS ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE FAMILY AND SOCIETY,* SHE SAID.
MRS DOE SAID +BUILDING A HAPPY FAMILY* HAD BEEN CHOSEN AS THIS YEAR’S CAMPAIGN THEME.
THE ONE-AND-A-HALF-HOUR SHOW, FEATURING SINGING, DANCING, A SONG OPERA AND OTHER PERFORMANCES, IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG AND THE CENTRAL GUIDING COMMITTEE ON FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION, WHICH COMPRISES A NUMBER OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND MEMBER AGENCIES OF THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE.
THE PROGRAMME WILL BE SCREENED ON HK-TVB’S JADE CHANNEL ON SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 26) BETWEEN 9.30 PM AND 10.30 PM.
APART FROM THE SHOW, A SERIES OF ACTIVITIES WILL BE ORGANISED BY DISTRICT WELFARE UNITS AND ORGANISATIONS AND SUPPORTED BY PUBLICITY MATERIALS, SUCH AS RADIO PROGRAMMES, A SHORT TELEVISION FILM, RADIO ANNOUNCEMENTS, POSTERS AND CALENDAR CARDS -- ALL BEARING CAMPAIGN MESSAGES AND SLOGANS.
ALSO ATTENDING THE PRESS CONFERENCE WERE MR SIMON LUN AND MISS MARIA WAN OF RTHK, MISS LOLITA NG OF THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE, MRS BETTY SHUM OF THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES, MR CHIU YU-HEI, A DONOR AND MR STEPHEN LAM OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.
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SURVEY ON EDUCATION ATTAINMENT OF TECHNOLOGISTS
* * * *
A SURVEY TO COLLECT INFORMATION ON EDUCATION ATTAINMENT OF TECHNOLOGISTS EMPLOYED IN MAJOR INDUSTRIES WILL BE HELD FROM DECEMBER 5 TO JANUARY 9.
THE FIVE-WEEK SURVEY, SUPPLEMENTARY TO EXISTING MANPOWER SURVEYS WILL BE CONDUCTED BY THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON MANPOWER ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY UNDER THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL (VTC).
/♦■FINDINGS OF.........
TUESDAY, NCVJKBEH 22, 1963
- 9 -
♦FINDINGS OF THE SURVEY WILL SERVE AS USEFUL REFERENCES FOR LOCAL HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN FORMULATING FUTURE EDUCATION PLANS FOR THE TRAINING OF TECHNOLOGISTS,* A COMMITTEE SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY.
EMPLOYERS WILL BE ASKED TO FURNISH INFORMATION ON THE NUMBER OF TECHNOLOGISTS EMPLOYED AND THEIR EDUCATION ATTAINMENTS INCLUDING DEGREES, ASSOCIATESHIP AND DIPLOMAS HELD.
LATEST STATISTICS SHOW THAT THERE ARE ABOUT 20 000 TECHNOLOGISTS EMPLOYED IN 34 000 ESTABLISHMENTS.
THE AD HOC COMMITTEE WAS SET UP TO REVIEW THE MANPOWER ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY CURRENTLY IN USE BY THE VTC, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
HE STRESSED THAT THE DATA COLLECTED WOULD BE HANDLED IN STRICT CONFIDENCE AND PUBLISHED ONLY IN THE FORM OF STATISTICS SUMMARY WITHOUT REFERENCE TO INDIVIDUAL ESTABLISHMENTS.
QUESTIONNAIRES AND EXPLANATORY NOTES HAVE BEEN SENT TO EMPLOYERS SELECTED FROM RANDOM SAMPLING.
OFFICERS OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT WILL VISIT THESE ESTABLISHMENTS DURING THE SURVEY PERIOD TO COLLECT AND HELP COMPLETE THE FORMS.
ALSO ASSISTING IN THE SURVEY ARE THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING DEPARTMENT AND THE GOVERNMENT DATA PROCESSING AGENCY.
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NOTE TO EDITORSi
YOUNG DELEGATES RETURNING * * *
A YOUTH DELEGATION WILL RETURN TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON AFTER AN 11-DAY TRIP IN THE SULTANATE OF OMAN.
THE NINE LOCAL YOUTHS ARE AMONG 50 DELEGATIONS INVITED BY THE OMAN I AN GOVERNMENT TO ATTEND THE COUNTRY’S NATIONAL CELEBRATIONS HELD ON NOVEMBER 19 AND 20.
THE YOUTHS WILL ARRIVE AT 3 PM TOMORROW BY FLIGHT CX 710. YOU ARE WELCOME TO COVER THEIR ARRIVAL.
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/w
TUESuAi, . jVEMBER 22, 1983
10 -
SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS TO BE AUCTIONED * * * *
THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT WILL HOLD ANOTHER AUCTION OF SPECIAL CAR REGISTRATION NUMBERS ON SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 26) AT 10 AM IN THE CITY HALL RECITAL HALL.
THIRTY FIVE SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS WILL BE OFFERED FOR BIDDING. THEY AREi-
DA 190 DA 928 CK 486 DA 8832 DA 8999
DA 7898 DA 288 XX 35 DA 8803 BB 33
CX 101 DA 662 DA 1328 AX 19 XX 3962
DA 218 BB 14 AS 686 DA 7228 CY 3388
CY 7 DA 2886 DA 760 CY 5 CB 1888
AK 486 CH 78 DA 1131 DA 6338 DA 738
DA 3882 DA 2188 HK 1234 CK 8833 CX 8
A TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN REMINDED BIDDERS THAT THE VEHICLE REGISTRATION NUMBER WOULD BE ASSIGNED ONLY TO A VEHICLE REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE SUCCESSFUL BIDDER WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF THE AUCTION.
PROCEEDS OF THE AUCTION WILL, AS USUAL, GO TO THE GOVERNMENT LOTTERIES FUND.
THE COMING AUCTION WILL BE THE 88TH ORGANISED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SINCE MAY 1973.
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PLAN TO EASE TRAFFIC AT HOSPITAL KKK
THE QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL WILL INTRODUCE NEW ARRANGEMENTS IN ITS COMPOUND NEXT WEEK TO EASE THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION THERE.
FROM NOVEMBER 30, ALL CARS, EXCEPT EMERGENCY VEHICLES AND THOSE WITH VALID PARKING PERMITS, WILL BE BANNED FROM THE PODIUM ON THE MAIN ENTRANCE LEVEL.
TAXIS ARRIVING FROM GASCOIGNE ROAD WILL HAVE TO LET OFF PASSENGERS AT THE ROUNDABOUT AREA. A TEMPORARY TAXI STAND WILL BE ERECTED AT A SITE ADJACENT TO THE TENNIS COURT.
/a hospital .......
NOVEMBirt 22, 19ij
11 -
A HOSPITAL SPOKESMAN SAID THAT CARS WILL HAVE TO Lot THE WYLIE ROAD ENTRANCE TO GET INTO THE HOSPITAL COMPOUND AND DRIVERS OF PRIVATE-CARS WILL HAVE TO USE THE BLOCK B ENTRANCE TO LET OFF PASSENGERS.
ALL ILLEGALLY PARKED CARS WILL BE TOWED AWAY AFTER NOVEMBER 30, HE SAID.
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SHORTER CLEARWAY HOURS AT HOI AN STREET * * *
FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 25), CLEARWAY HOURS FOR ALL VEHICLES EXCEPT FRANCHISED BUSES AT HOI AN STREET, BETWEEN ITS JUNCTION WITH SHAU KEI WAN ROAD AND A POINT ABOUT 24 METRES NORTH OF THE SAME JUNCTION, WILL BE SHORTENED TO COVER THE PERIODS FROM 7 AM TO 10 AM AND 4 PM TO 7 PM DAILY.
AT THE SAME TIME, CLEARWAY RESTRICTIONS AT HOI AN STREET BETWEEN HING MAN STREET AND A POINT ABOUT 24 METRES NORTH OF SHAU KEI WAN ROAD WILL BE RESCINDED.
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WATER LEAKAGE TEST
* * * X
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN PREMISES IN CAUSEWAY BAY WILL BE INTERRUPTED FROM 11 PM ON FRIDAY (NOVEMBER 25) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR LEAKAGE TESTS.
THE AFFECTED PREMISES ARE BOUNDED BY JARDINE’S BAZAAR, KAI CHIU ROAD, LEE GARDEN ROAD, LAN FONG ROAD, YUN PING ROAD AND PENNINGTON STREET.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE MO.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING;
TOO EARLY TOR STATEMENT ON HANG LUNG BANK ................... 1
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES ' STILL A PROBLEM' ...................
PLAN FOR NEW CITY POLYTECHNIC HAILED ........................ 2
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROVIDES BASIC NEEDS ...................... 5
OVER 900 000 ELECTORS REGISTERED ............................ 6
RED TIDES NO CAUSE FOR ALARM : CHING ........................ 7
WORDS REAFFIRMED ON PROPOSED EXHIBITION CENTRE............... 7
PLAN TO MAKE LIFE TOUGH FOR CRIMINALS ....................... 8
SYSTEM OF HANDLING COURT EXHIBITS SATISFACTORY .............. 9
REPORT ON + SPENT CONVICTION+ SCHEME EXPECTED .............. 10
+GANGES WATER NOT PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT+ .................... 11
CROSS-BETTING IS AN ENTERTaINMENT - SIR JOHN .............
COMPUTERS SEEN AS BEST FOR IMMIGRATION USE.................. 12
LEGISLATION TO CONTROL OPTICAL PROFESSION .................. 12
CLINICS WITHOUT MEDICAL PRACTITIONER STILL PERFORM USEFUL SERVICE..................................................... 13
TELECOMMUNICATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983 .................... 14
KCRC STAFF EMPOWERED TO ARREST PICKPOCKETS ................. 15
TDC MAINTAINS HIGH LEVEL OF PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES ......... 15
INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION MAKES PROGRESS .............. 18
PROMOTION OF INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION CONSIDERED .............. 19
FIVE BILLS PASSED .......................................... 20
WORK BEING DONE TO CLEAR KAI TAK SMELLS ....................... 21
LIONS CLUB THANKED FOR ANTI-DRUG EFFORT ....................... 21
NEW TYPHOON WARNING SIGNAL PROPOSED .......................... 22
variety show................................................... 22
NEW TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA FOR FANLING ........................ 23
METHADONE CLINIC TO ......................................... 23
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1983
1
TOO EARLY FOR STATEMENT ON HANG LUNG BANK
* * *
IT WAS TOO EARL. TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL STATEMENT ABOUT THE POSITION OF THE HANG LUNG BANK, WHICH THE GOVERNMENT HAD TAKEN OVER ONLY TWO MONTHS AGO, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, SAID TODAY.
♦ BUT ITS PROBLEMS HAVE TURNED OUT TO BE GREATER AND MORE DIFFICULT TO RESOLVE THAN FIRST SEEMED LIKELY. THIS IS, I FEAR, A NORMAL EXPERIENCE IN SUCH MATTERS.
♦ AS WE LIFT UP STONES, FURTHER BUGS CRAWL OUT,+ SIR JOHN SAID IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. RITA FAN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID HE WAS GRATEFUL TO MRS FAN FOR ASKING THE QUESTION, AS IT GAVE HIM AN OPPORTUNITY TO REPEAT PART OF WHAT HE HAD SAID ON SEPTEMBER 27 WHEN HE INTRODUCED THE HANG LUNG BANK (ACQUISITION) BILL, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
♦ I THEN SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT STANDS BEHIND THE BANK’S DEPOSITORS AND THAT THE HANG LUNG BANK UNDER SOUND MANAGEMENT WILL IN DUE COURSE REVERT TO PRIVATE OWNERSHIP.
♦ THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THIS POSITION,+ SIR JOHN SAID.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID THAT HE WANTED TO MAKE THE STATEMENT AGAIN BECAUSE HE HAD BEEN TOLD THAT IN SOME QUARTERS DOUBTS HAD BEEN EXPRESSED ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT’S INTENTIONS.
♦ I HOPE THAT THIS REAFFIRMATION OF THE GOVERNMENT’S STAND WILL DISPEL THOSE DOUBTS,+ SIR JOHN SAID.
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY ALSO TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS GOVERNMENT’S APPRECIATION TO THE BOARD, MANAGEMENT AND STAFF (F THE HANG LUNG BANK +FOR THEIR RECENT TOILS+.
HE WAS PARTICULARLY GRATEFUL TO THE ABLE MEMBERS OF THE NEW BOARD, SIR JOHN SAID.
------o-------
VIETNAMESE REFUGEES ’STILL A PROBLEM’
*****
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY PASSED TWO RESOLUTIONS TO EXTEND BY A FURTHER YEAR VARIOUS LEGISLATIVE POWERS TO DEAL WITH ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AND VIETNAMESE REFUGEES.
MOVING THE MOTIONS UNDER THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE AND THE MERCHANT SHIPPING ORDINANCE, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS STILL FACED WITH THE PROBLEMS OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES AND OF TRAFFICKING IN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ALTHOUGH THE ARRIVAL RATES OF BOTH CATEGORIES HAD FALLEN IN 1983.
/AMONG THE .......
WEDNESDAY, NO/tXBEB 2J, 1983
AMONG THE LEGISLATIVE POWERS EXTENDED BY TODAY’S RESOLUTIONS TO EXPIRE ON DECEMBER 31, 1984 AREi
M VIETNAMESE REFUGEES, HAVING BEEN REFUSED PERMISSION TO LAND IN HONG KONG, ARE SUBJECT TO REMOVAL FROM HONG KONG AT ANY TIME AND NOT JUST WITHIN TWO MONTHS AS APPLIES TO OTHERS REFUSED PERMISSION TO LAND.
* THE PROVISION OF PENALTIES FOR VARIOUS OFFENCES FOR PERSONS WHO AID ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO GET INTO HONG KONG, INCLUDING THE FORFEITURE OF THE PROPERTY INVOLVED.
* THE PROVISION FOR THE FORFEITURE OF A VESSEL IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES INVOLVING THE CARRIAGE OF EXCESS PASSENGERS.
MR JEAFFRESON POINTED OUT THAT THE PROSPECTS OF MASTERING THE PROBLEM OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION WERE REASONABLY GOOD, WITH THE ISSUE OF THE NEW IDENTITY CARDS GOING SO WELL.
BUT IN THE CASE OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES THE FUTURE REMAINED BLEAK, HE SAID.
♦ WE HAVE OVER 600 MORE VIETNAMESE REFUGEES THAN WE HAD AT THE START OF 1983, AND RESETTLEMENT PROSPECTS FOR NEWCOMERS ARE NOW VERY POOR.
♦ WHILE ARRIVALS SO FAR THIS YEAR ARE DOWN BY OVER 50 PER CENT ON ARRIVALS DURING THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR, DEPARTURES FOR RESETTLEMENT ARE DOWN BY TWO THIRDS.
♦ EVEN AT THE CURRENT RATE OF RESETTLEMENT, AND WITH NO FURTHER ARRIVALS HERE, IT WOULD TAKE FOUR YEARS TO RESETTLE THOSE ALREADY IN OUR OPEN AND CLOSED CENTRES, OVER 3 000 OF WHOM HAVE ALREADY BEEN HERE FOR OVER THREE YEARS,+ HE SAID.
AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND, THE GOVERNMENT WAS DETERMINED TO MAINTAIN ITS CURRENT FIRM POLICY TOWARDS ANY FURTHER UNINVITED ARRIVALS FROM VIETNAM AND TO MAINTAIN ALL THE LEGISLATIVE POWERS NECESSARY TO ENFORCE IT, HE ADDED.
-----o------
PLAN FOR NEW CITY POLYTECHNIC HAILED *****
THE PLANNED NEW CITY POLYTECHNIC WILL ASSURE HONG KONG INDUSTRIES OF AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF TECHNICALLY TRAINED AND EDUCATED MANPOWER, DR THE HON HARRY FANG SAID IN SUPPORT OF THE CITY POLYTECHNIC OF HONG KONG BILL 1983 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
♦IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE FOR OUR YOUNG PERSONS WISHING TO JOIN THE INDUSTRIAL/COMMERCI AL SECTOR WITH AN INCREASED OPPORTUNITY IN GETTING THE NECESSARY PREPARATION,+ HE ADDED.
DR FANG ADDED THAT HE BELIEVED THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT IMPLICATION OF ALL, IN UNDERTAKING THE HUGE EDUCATION PROJECT, WAS THE SHOW OF CONFIDENCE IN THE TERRITORY’S FUTURE.
/xTT shdws
ht-NESuAl, iiOvjjnisjSR 2J, 198?
5
♦IT SHOWS THAT WE ARE NOT LOOKING AHEAD FOR JUST 10 OR 20 YEARS. WE ARE INVESTING IN OUR PEOPLE AND WE ARE PLANNING ON MUCH LONGER TERMS,♦ HE SAID.
HE ADDED THAT THE LEGCO SOCIAL SERVICES GROUP OF UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WHO STUDIED THE BILL SUPPORTED ALL ITS PROVISIONS.
DR FANG IS THE CONVENER OF THE GROUP WHICH COMPRISES THE REV HON PATRICK MCGOVERN, HON WONG LAM, DR HON HO KAM-FAI, HON ANDREW SO, HON F.K. HU, HON K.C. CHAN, HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, HON MRS SELINA CHOW, DR HON HENRIETTA IP, HON CHAN YING-LUN, HON MRS RITA FAN, HON MRS PAULINE NG AND HON YEUNG PO-KWAN.
DR FANG MENTIONED THAT AT FIRST UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS WERE CONCERNED WITH CLAUSE 12 WHICH ALLOWS THE BUSINESS OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY POLYTECHNIC TO BE DEALT WITH BY CIRCULATION TO ITS MEMBERS.
♦AT FIRST WE FELT THAT THIS PROVISION MIGHT RESULT IN CERTAIN CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECTS BY-PASSING DISCUSSIONS AT FULL COUNCIL MEETINGS.
♦WE ARE SATISFIED AFTER BEING INFORMED BY THE ADMINISTRATION THAT THE PROVISION IS INTENDED TO ENABLE SIMPLE MATTERS TO BE TRANSACTED EFFICIENTLY, AND THAT ANY SUBJECT PROPOSED TO BE DEALT WITH BY CIRCULATION WILL BE BROUGHT BACK FOR DISCUSSION AT FULL COUNCIL MEETINGS IF ANY OF ITS MEMBERS SO SUGGESTS,+ DR FANG ADDED.
TURNING TO CLAUSE 7(F) WHICH EMPOWERS THE CITY POLYTECHNIC TO PROVIDE RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATION FOR STUDENTS, DR FANG SAID, +WE HOPE THIS PROVISION WILL NOT MERELY BE CONTINGENT, AND SERIOUS CONSIDERATIONS CAN BE GIVEN TO THE PROVISION OF STUDENTS’ HOSTELS, SAY FOR 20-30 PER CENT OF THE STUDENT POPULATION.
♦APART FROM FACILITATING SOCIAL INTERACTION AMONG STUDENTS, SUCH HOSTELS WILL ALSO PROVIDE THOSE WHO CAME FROM POOR FAMILIES AND REMOTE DISTRICTS WITH A BETTER PLACE FOR STUDY.♦
THE HON S.L. CHEN AND DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI ALSO SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL.
MR CHEN POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS CLEAR EVIDENCE OF AN INCREASING DEMAND BY THE YONNG PEOPLE OF HONG KONG FOR A POLYTECHNIC TYPE OF TERTIARY EDUCATION, AND AN INCREASING DEMAND ALSO BY LOCAL COMMERCE, INDUSTRY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR POLYTECHNIC-TRAINED GRADUATES.
♦ IT WAS, I BELIEVE, A TIMELY DECISION BY THE GOVERNMENT TO ESTABLISH A SECOND SUCH INSTITUTION, AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT WITH THE ENACTMENT OF THIS BILL, THE CITY POLYTECHNIC OF HONG KONG WILL BE OFF TO A GOOD START,♦ HE SAID.
SPEAKING IN HIS CAPACITY AS THE DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE FOR THE CITY POLYTECHNIC, MR CHEN THANKED THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER FOR HIS TRIBUTE TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE, SIR S.Y. CHUNG AND OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
/+! CAN ....
WEDNESDAY, NOVIXBER 23, .1983
4
♦I CAN PERSONALLY TESTIFY TO THE ACCURACY OF HIS ASSERTION THAT THIS WAS A HARD-WORKING COMMITTEE, LIKE ANY OTHER CHAIRED BY SIR S.Y. CHUNG, BUT IT WAS HARD WORK OF THE MOST REWARDING KIND,* HE SAID.
♦I AM PLEASED TO SAY THAT WE HAVE HAD THE FULLEST POSSIBLE CO-OPERATION AND SUPPORT FROM ALL LEVELS OF THE GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING THE UNIVERSITIES AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE, FOR WHICH WE ARE MOST GRATEFUL,* HE ADDED.
MR CHEN ALSO THANKED THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC WHICH PROVIDED THE COMMITTEE NOT ONLY WITH SECRETARIAL AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT, BUT ALSO WITH ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND DATA COMPUTERISED OVER THE PAST DECADE WHICH ENABLED THE COMMITTEE TO PREDICT FUTURE TRENDS AND ESTIMATE RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS WITH SPEED, ACCURACY AND CONFIDENCE.
♦WHILST THERE IS NO INTENTION THAT THE HONG KONG AND CITY POLYTECHNICS SHOULD BE IDENTICAL TWINS, OR THAT THE FIRST SHOULD IN ANY SENSE BE REGARDED AS THE PARENT OF THE SECOND, THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT THAT IN THE BIRTH OF THIS NEW POLYTECHNIC, THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC HAS PLAYED A COMPETENT AND SIGNIFICANT ROLE,* HE SAID.
DR HO SAID, +THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION WILL NOT ONLY LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN THE SUPPLY OF A TECHNOLOGICALLY COMPETENT MANPOWER TO MEET THE NEED OF OUR COMMUNITY FOR INDUSTRIAL DIVERSIFICATION, BUT WILL ALSO REFLECT THE GOVERNMENT’S CONFIDENCE AND VIGOROUS INVESTMENT IN THE TERRITORY’S FUTURE.+
HOWEVER, HE ADDED THAT A PROPER INDUSTRIAL INFRA-STRUCTURE AND A SOUND ECONOMY REQUIRED CONTRIBUTIONS FROM TECHNICAL PERSONNEL AT ALL LEVELS.
HE SAID IT WAS IMPERATIVE FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE A BALANCED DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNICAL MANPOWER AND AVOID A TOP-HEAVY STRATEGY IN TRAINING.
♦THE DANGERS OF AN EXCESSIVE SUPPLY OF TECHNOLOGISTS TRAINED AT UNIVERSITIES AND POLYTECHNICS ARE OBVIOUS.
♦A BALANCED MIX OF GENERALS AND RANK AND FILE, SO TO SPEAK, IS A MORE VIABLE PROPOSITION,* HE SAID.
POINTING OUT THAT THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL AND THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING DEPARTMENT HAD DONE EXCELLENT JOBS IN CO-ORDINATING, PROMOTING ANF ADMINISTERING TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING AT THE TECHNICIAN AND CRAFTSMAN LEVELS, DR HO SAID HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM GIVEN THE SAME STRONG SUPPORT, IF NOT MORE, BY THE GOVERNMENT.
THANKING DR FANG, MR CHEN AND DR HO FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF THIS BILL, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON NEIL HENDERSON SAID HE NOTED DR FANG’S REMARKS ABOUT HOSTELS.
+HOWEVER THE SITING OF THE CITY POLYTECHNIC WAS VERY CAREFULLY CONSIDERED TO GIVE MAXIMUM ACCESSIBILITY TO BOTH FULL-TIME AND PART-TIME STUDENTS,* HE ADDED.
/he agreed ....
.jflSSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1983
5
HE AGREED WITH DR HO THAT A BALANCED DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNICAL MANPOWER WAS IMPORTANT AND SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CERTAINLY AIM TO ACHIEVE THIS IN PLANNING TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING.
IT HAD GIVEN HIM PARTICULARLY PERSONAL PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE THE BILL AFTER HIS CLOSE ASSOCIATION WITH THE EARLY STAGES OF THE PROJECT, HE SAID.
♦AND I CAN READILY CONFIRM MR S.L. CHEN’S ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE VERY GREAT CONTRIBUTION MADE BY THE STAFF OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC.
♦SIR, TO-DAY A NEW EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION WILL HAVE BEEN FORMALLY LAUNCHED, MAY EVERY SUCCESS ATTEND ’ALL THOSE WHO SAIL IN HER*,+ HE CONCLUDED.
- - 0 -------
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROVIDES BASIC NEEDS
*****
THE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PAID IN ANY PARTICULAR CASE IS CALCULATED ON THE BASIS OF APPROVED RATES AND HAS REGARD TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE RECIPIENT AND HIS FAMILY, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON HENRY CHING SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE IS INTENDED TO BRING A FAMILY’S INCOME TO A LEVEL WHERE BASIC NEEDS, SUCH AS FOOD AND CLOTHING, CAN BE MET, HE EXPLAINED.
THE AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE THEREFORE TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE SIZE OF THE FAMILY AND THE FAMILY’S INCOME, HE ADDED.
THE COST OF ACCOMMODATION IS COVERED SEPARATELY BY A RENTAL ALLOWANCE, AND OTHER ALLOWANCES ARE PAID FOR SPECIAL EXPENSES.
SUPPLEMENTARY PAYMENTS ARE ALSO MADE FOR LONG TERM AND OLD AGE RECIPIENTS.
MR CHING PROVIDED THIS INFORMATION IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG.
♦THE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PAID IN ANY PARTICULAR CASE WILL THUS VARY FROM TIME TO TIME, DEPENDING UPON THE FAMILY’S CIRCUMSTANCES AS THEY CHANGE.
♦REVIEWS OF THE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PAID ARE CONDUCTED IN ALL CASES, AND THE FREQUENCY OF THESE REVIEWS DEPENDS ON THE NATURE OF THE CASE.
♦FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE BREADWINNER HAS LOW EARNINGS OR IS UNEMPLOYED, THE CASE MAY BE REVIEWED MONTHLY- IN CERTAIN FAMILY CASES, THE REVIEW MAY BE CONDUCTED EVERY THREE TO FOUR MONTHSAND IN CASES WHERE THE CIRCUMSTANCES TEND TO BE MORE STABLE, SUCH AS THOSE INVOLVING ELDERLY PERSONS, A REVIEW MAY BE CONDUCTED EVERY TWO YEARS,+ HE EXPLAINED.
/AS A.....
WEDNESDAY, NOVIMBEB 2J, 198?
AS A RESULT OF THESE REVIEWS, THE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE IS ADJUSTED, UPWARDS OR DOWNWARDS, AS NECESSARY TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THE CHANGED CIRCUMSTANCES, HE SAID.
IN THIS WAY, THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE IS DETERMINED SO THAT THE TOTAL INCOME RECEIVED IS NEITHER TOO LITTLE NOR TOO MUCH, HE ADDED.
BUT HE POINTED OUT THAT THE ADEQUACY OF THE ASSISTANCE GIVEN IS LARGELY DEPENDENT UPON THE APPROVED RATES WHICH ARE KEPT UP-TO-DATE BY REFERENCE TO AN INDEX OF PRICES.
♦THE LAST UP-DATING WAS IN JUNE 1982- PROPOSALS FOR A FURTHER UP-DATING ARE CURRENTLY BEING EXAMINED AND SHOULD SHORTLY BE PUT TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THIS COUNCIL,+ HE SAID.
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OVER 900 000 ELECTORS REGISTERED M M M
THE FINAL REGISTER OF ELECTORS NOW CONTAINS THE NAMES OF 904 916 REGISTERED VOTERS ALL OF WHOM ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE AT DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS, THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON DENIS BRAY TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
OF THIS TOTAL, 708 119 ARE RESIDENT IN THE URBAN AREAS AND ARE THEREFORE ALSO REGISTERED VOTERS FOR URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS, M? BRAY SAID, IN REPLY TO QUESTIONS BY THE HON ANDREW SO.
MR BRAY GAVE THE FOLLOWING TURNOUT RATES IN PERCENTAGE TERMS OF REGISTERED VOTERS AT THE DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS AND THE URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS IN 1982 AND 1983i
THE NEW TERRITORIES DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS IN MARCH 1982 - 51.3 %
THE URBAN AREAS DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS IN SEPTEMBER 1982 - 35.5 %
THE URBAN COUNCIL ELECTIONS IN MARCH 1983 “ 22.4 %
THE GOVERNMENT HAD DECIDED TO LAUNCH A MAJOR PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN ON ALL ASPECTS OF THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SCHEME IN 1984/85 WITH FULL SCALE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN ORDER TO ENHANCE PUBLIC INTEREST IN AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORK OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS, HE SAID.
VIGOROUS PUBLICITY PROGRAMMES ARE BEING PLANNED TO PROMOTE THE REGISTRATION OF ELECTORS IN 1984 AND TO ENCOURAGE REGISTERED ELECTORS TO VOTE IN THE NEXT GENERAL DISTRICT BOARD ELECTIONS TO BE HELD IN MARCH 1985, HE ADDED.
0 -------
WEDNESDAY, '■'C' 3ER 22, 1983
7
RED TIDES NO CAUSE FOR ALARM : CHING
* * * *
MOST RED TIDES IN HONG KONG CONTAIN NO TOXIC MATTER AT ALL THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON HENRY CHING, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
+AND WITH ONE RECENT EXCEPTION, EVEN WHERE SUCH MATTER HAS BEEN FOUND IT HAS BEEN IN SUCH MINUTE QUANTITIES AS TO GIVE NO CAUSE FOR ALARM,* MR CHING SAID, REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHEUNG YAN LUNG.
MR CHING EXPLAINED THAT WHEN FISH DIE AS A RESULT OF SUCH RED TIDES, THEY NORMALLY DIE FROM SUFFOCATION IN THE SAME MANNER AS IF PULLED FROM THE SEA IN A FISHERMAN’S NET.
IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE, IN THE PRESENT STATE OF KNOWLEDGE, TO PREVENT RED TIDES, WHICH ARE A WORLDWIDE PROBLEM AND, TO AN EXTENT, A NATURAL PHENOMENON, HE SAID.
MR CHING SAID ALSO THAT THERE ARE STANDING ARRANGEMENTS DESIGNED TO ENSURE THAT FISH RENDERED UNFIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION AS A RESULT OF RED TIDES DO NOT REACH THE MARKETS.
STAFF OF DEPARTMENTS WHOSE WORK HABITUALLY TAKES THEM INTO THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT REPORT INSTANCES OF RED TIDE TO THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, WHICH ACTS AS THE FOCAL-POINT FOR FOLLOW-UP ACTION.
THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT IS ALSO IMMEDIATELY ALERTED WHEN RED TIDES ARE SIGHTED.
♦SHOULD RED TIDE AFFECT ANY AREA OF FISH-FARMING, THE FARMER WOULD BE WARNED NOT TO SELL HIS FISH FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION PENDING TESTS. IF THE TESTS SHOWED THAT THE FISH WERE NOT FIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION, THEY WOULD BE DESTROYED,* MR CHING SAID.
HE SAID ALSO THAT SHELLFISH NEED TO BE WATCHED MORE CAREFULLY BECAUSE OF THEIR ABILITY TO ABSORB AND ACCUMULATE A HIGHER LEVEL OF TOXIN AND OTHER POLLUTANTS, AND ARE THEREFORE REGULARLY TESTED AS A SAFETY PRECAUTION.
------o-------
WORDS REAFFIRMED ON PROPOSED EXHIBITION CENTRE
* * *
THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, THE HON E.P. HO TODAY REAFFIRMED THE WORDS HE USED IN HIS REPLY TO THE PREVIOUS LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING REGARDING THE PROPOSED EXHIBITION CENTRE PROJECT.
MR HO MADE THE REAFFIRMATION IN RESPONSE TO A FOLLOw-UP QUESTION BY THE HON LYDIA DUNN IN THE COUNCIL.
/he pointed
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, '1983
8
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE WORDS HE USED WERE +A REVIEW INDICATES THAT THIS COUNCIL’S RE-KINDLED INTEREST IN THE EXHIBITION CENTRE PROJECT MAY BE DATED FROM MR ALEX WU’S SPEECH OF OCTOBER 26, 1977 ,...+
♦THIS IS MATERIALLY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT MISS DUNN ATTRIBUTED TO ME THAT THIS COUNCIL’S INTEREST IN THE EXHIBITION CENTRE DATED FROM 1977,+ HE SAID.
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PLAN TO MAKE LIFE TOUGH FOR CRIMINALS * X * * *
PROSPECTS FOR HAVING ENTRANCES AND COMMON AREAS OF FUTURE BUILDINGS DESIGNED SO AS TO MAKE LIFE DIFFICULT FOR CRIMINALS WERE ENCOURAGING, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THIS WOULD BE ONE OF THE LONGER TERM CRIME PREVENTION MEASURES TO DEAL WITH MASS ROBBERIES IN HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS, MR JEAFFRESON SAID, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HO KAM FAI.
MR JEAFFRESON RECALLED THAT AT THE PREVIOUS MEETING HE HAD MENTIONED THAT THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE WOULD BE EXAMINING THE POSSIBILITY OF DEVISING A CODE OF PRACTICE TO ENCOURAGE THIS POINT TO BE FULLY TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN THE DESIGN OF NEW BUILDINGS.
+THE COMMITTEE HAS SET UP A WORKING GROUP TO CONSIDER THIS POSSIBILITY. THE RESULTS SO FAR ARE ENCOURAGING — AND NOT JUST IN RESPECT OF NEW BUILDINGS,* HE SAID.
MR JEAFFRESON EXPLAINED THAT THE WORKING GROUP WAS ALSO DEVELOPING FOR THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE SOME IDEAS ON HOW TO HELP THE POLICE CRIME PREVENTION BUREAU MAKE OWNERS AND OCCUPIERS OF EXISTING BUILDINGS MORE CONSCIOUS OF WHAT THEY COULD DO TO MAKE CRIME MORE DIFFICULT.
MR JEAFFRESON SAID ALSO THAT, AS A MORE IMMEDIATE PREVENTIVE f-EASURE, AN EDUCATION PROGRAMME WAS BEING IMPLEMENTED FOR BUILDING MANAGERS AND TENANTS IN THE BASIC MEASURES THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN TO PREVENT CRIME ON THEIR PROPERTY.
HE SAID THAT TWO RECENT CASES OF ROBBERY IN HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS HAD SO FAR BEEN SUCCESSFULLY INVESTIGATED BY POLICE.
THESE WERE AMONG THE 31 CASES SINCE SEPTEMBER WHERE +TWO OR MORE ROBBERS HAVE ROBBED GROUPS OF PEOPLE ON THE LOWER FLOORS OF HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS,* HE SAID.
/THE SUCCESSFUL
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2J, 1983
9
THE SUCCESSFUL DETECTION OF SUCH CRIMES WAS ♦EXTREMcLY DIFFICULT*, AS THE ROBBERS LEAVE NO EVIDENCE, HE SAID.
+THEY INVARIABLY TIE UP THEIR VICTIMS SO THAT THEY CAN BE WELL AWAY FROM THE SCENE BY THE TIME THE VICTIMS HAVE FREED THEMSELVES AND RAISED THE ALARM.
MR JEAFFRESON SAID THE CASES INVOLVED A TOTAL OF 233 VICTIMS. POLICE WERE TAKING IMMEDIATE MEASURES TO STOP THESE ROBBERIES BY INCREASING PATROLLING WITHIN MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS IN THE AREAS THE ROBBERS ARE MOST LIKELY TO OPERATE.
-----0-----
SYSTEM OF HANDLING COURT EXHIBITS SATISFACTORY
* * * *
COURT EXHIBITS AND PROSPECTIVE COURT EXHIBITS IN CRIMINAL CASES ARE HANDLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE POLICE ORDERS GOVERNING THE HANDLING AND STORAGE OF ALL PROPERTY HELD IN POLICE CUSTODY, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
IN THE CASE OF CASH AND DRUGS, THERE ARE RULES DICTATING WHERE GIVEN AMOUNTS MAY BE STORED, MR JEAFFRESON SAID IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON K.C. CHAN.
+THE GREATER THE VALUE, THE MORE STORAGE IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MORE SENIOR OFFICERS ENDING, AS IT WERE, WITH LARGE AMOUNTS OF CASH BEING STORED IN THE TREASURY’S VAULTS AND LARGE QUANTITIES OF DRUGS IN A SPECIALLY DESIGNED STORE IN POLICE HEADQUARTERS,* HE SAID.
THE POLICE REVIEW THE PROCEDURES FROM TIME TO TIME, WITH THE LATEST REVIEW RESULTING IN THE INTRODUCTION OF A NUMBER OF MEASURES WITHIN THE LAST 18 MONTHS DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN THE SUPERVISION AND SECURITY OF ALL PROPERTY IN THEIR CARE, HE SAID.
♦ ON NOVEMBER 5, 1983, THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE OF THIS COUNCIL REVIEWED THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT’S REPORT FOR 1982/83 ON THE HANDLING OF PROPERTY BY THE POLICE AND EXPRESSED SATISFACTION WITH THE PRESENT PROCEDURES,* MR JEAFFRESON REPORTED.
IN ADDITION TO THE REVIEWS, TWO EXPERIMENTAL SCHEMES HAD BEEN INTRODUCED TO REFLECT THE MAJOR RESTRUCTURING OF COMMAND LEVELS AND GENERAL REORGANISATION OF THE POLICE AT REGIONAL AND DISTRICT LEVELS IN 1982, HE ADDED.
ONE SCHEME DEALS WITH THE SITUATION IN BUSY URBAN POLICE STATIONS AND THE OTHER IS APPLICABLE TO SMALLER STATIONS WITH LESS STAFF.
♦DETAILED EXAMINATION OF THESE EXPERIMENTAL SYSTEMS IN ACTION, INCLUDING A CORRUPTION PREVENTION STUDY UNDERTAKEN BY THE ICAC, HAS SHOWN THAT THEY ARE WORKABLE AND EFFECTIVE.
♦ A STUDY ON HOW TO IMPLEMENT A FULL SCHEME IS NOW IN HAND AND THE NEW SYSTEMS SHOULD BE INTRODUCED NEXT YEAR,+ HE SAID.
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’10
wEDNESDAi\OVEM.BER 23, 1983
10 -
REPORT ON *SPENT CONVICTION* SCHEME EXPECTED * * * *
THE ADMINISTRATION HOPES TO PUBLISH NEXT YEAR A SHORT REPORT AND A DRAFT BILL ON A POSSIBLE +SPENT CONVICTION* SCHEME FOR PUBLIC DISCUSSION, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON MICHAEL THOMAS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
DIFFERENT STATUTORY +SPENT CONVICTION* SCHEMES HAD BEEN INTRODUCED IN THE U.K., CANADA AND AUSTRALIA, MR THOMAS POINTED OUT, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION RAISED BY THE HON MARIA TAM ON THE SUBJECT.
THEIR COMMON FEATURE IS THAT A CONVICTED OFFENDER AFTER A SPECIFIED NUMBER OF YEARS IS PERMITTED TO SAY NOTHING ABOUT HIS PREVIOUS CONVICTION IN HIS BUSINESS AND SOCIAL DEALINGS, SUCH AS IN APPLICATIONS FOR JOBS, HIRE PURCHASE, INSURANCE AND THE LIKE, HE EXPLAINED.
♦ MEMBERS MAY THINK THAT IS AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO OFFENDERS WHO GO STRAIGHT TO LIVE DOWN THEIR PAST. BUT OBVIOUSLY THE FACT OF A CONVICTION CANNOT BE FORGOTTEN FOR ALL PURPOSES.
♦ IF AN OFFENDER IS RECONVICTED, IT IS GENERALLY THOUGHT THAT THE JUDGE OUGHT TO BE AWARE OF SPENT CONVICTIONS,* MR THOMAS SAID.
AND IT IS A FACT OF LIFE THAT FOREIGN COUNTRIES NOT SUBJECT TO HONG KONG LAWS MAY REQUIRE APPLICATIONS FOR VISAS TO BE FILLED IN CORRECTLY AND ACCURATELY, HOWEVER FAR BACK IN THE PAST THE INFORMATION ABOUT CONVICTIONS IS SOUGHT, HE POINTED OUT.
♦ SO OFFENDERS CANNOT EXPECT TOO MUCH FROM ANY STATUTORY SCHEME,♦ MR THOMAS ADDED.
HE TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT HIS CHAMBERS, TOGETHER WITH THE SECURITY BRANCH, WERE CONTINUING TO EXAMINE THE KIND OF SCHEME THAT MIGHT SUIT HONG KONG.
♦ THERE IS THE PROBLEM OF THE LINE TO BE DRAWN BETWEEN SERIOUS OFFENCES WHICH CANNOT BE OVERLOOKED AND LESS SERIOUS OFFENCES WHICH CAN PROPERLY BE WIPED OUT.
♦ THERE IS ALSO BALANCE TO BE STRUCK BETWEEN THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH OFFENCES CAN BE OVERLOOKED IN THE INTERESTS OF REHABILITATION AND THE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY FOR WHICH FULL DISCLOSURE IS PARAMOUNT.
♦ WE ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO RECEIVING THE REPORT WHICH THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF ’JUSTICE’ HOPE TO PUBLISH NEXT MONTH IN ORDER TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF THEIR PURPOSES AS WELL,+ MR THOMAS SAID.
HE ADDED THAT IT WAS RECOGNISED THIS WAS A TOPIC ON WHICH THE PUBLIC WOULD WISH TO EXPRESS VIEWS.
♦ THIS KIND OF MEASURE WILL ONLY SUCCEED IF ITS PURPOSES ARE WELL UNDERSTOOD AND THE PUBLIC HAS BEEN FULLY CONSULTED,* HE SAID.
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WEDNESDAY, >1BER 23, 1983
11
♦GANGES WATER NOT PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT+ M M M M
THE WATER QUALITY OF THE STREAM FEEDING THE PUMPHOUSE ON THE RIVER GANGES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH AS FAR AS ABSTRACTION FOR PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY IS CONCERNED, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, MR NICKY CHAN, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MR CHAN, REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM MR S.L. CHEN, SAID THE RIVER GANGES PUMPING STATION WAS PLANNED FOR THE ABSTRACTION OF FLOOD FLOWS IN THE RIVER GANGES TO AUGMENT OTHER WATER RESOURCES IN HONG KONG.
♦A WATER QUALITY SURVEY CARRIED OUT PRIOR TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SCHEME SHOWED THAT THE QUALITY OF WATER WAS SUITABLE FOR ABSTRACTION DURING PERIODS OF FLOOD FLOWS,♦ MR CHAN TOLD THE COUNCIL.
♦WHEN THE FIRST HEAVY SUMMER RAINSTORM OCCURS,+ HE ADDED, ♦THE WATER IN THE RIVER GANGES IS ALLOWED TO RUN DOWNSTREAM TO EFFECT FLUSHING, AND FLOOD PUMPING ONLY COMMENCES WHEN WATER QUALITY IS ACCEPTABLE,♦ HE SAID.
THE WATER WAS PUMPED TO PLOVER COVE RESERVOIR AND WAS DILUTED IN THIS LARGE BODY OF WATER PRIOR TO TREATMENT AT THE TREATMENT WORKS. THE FINAL WATER FROM THE TREATMENT WORKS WAS SUBJECT TO STRINGENT QUALITY CONTROL BEFORE IT WAS SUPPLIED TO CONSUMERS.
♦THE QUALITY OF SUPPLY CONFORMS IN ALL RESPECTS, BOTH CHEMICALLY AND BACTERIOLOGICALLY, TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS FOR DRINKING WATER RECOMMENDED BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION,+ M? CHAN STATED.
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CROSS-BETTING IS AN ENTERTAINMENT - SIR JOHN M M M
DOUBTS ON WHETHER A CROSS-BETTING MEETING WAS A RACE MEETING WITHIN THE DEFINITION OF ENTERTAINMENT UNDER THE ENTERTAINMENTS TAX ORDINANCE WERE CONFIRMED ON LEGAL ADVICE, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE ENTERTAINMENTS TAX (AMENDMENT AND VALIDATION) BILL 1983, SIR JOHN SAID ADMISSION TO CROSS BETTINGS AND RACE MEETINGS SHOULD NOT BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY AND THE AMENDMENT WAS AIMED AT REMOVING ANY DOUBT.
SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE CURRENT RACING SEASON, ENTERTAINMENT TAX IS NOT BEING COLLECTED ON PAYMENTS FOR ADMISSION TO CROSS-BETTING MEETINGS PENDING THE ENACTMENT OF THE AMENDMENT BILL.
/+THIS BILL
V NCV5MBER 2J, 1983
12 -
♦THIS BILL SEEKS FIRSTLY TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT A CROSS-BETTING MEETING IS AN ENTERTAINMENT, AND THUS REQUIRES TO BE TREATED IN THE SAME WAY AS A RACE MEETING FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE, AND SECONDLY TO BACK-DATE THIS PROVISION TO SEPTEMBER 17, 1983,+ SIR JOHN SAID.
THE BILL ALSO SEEKS TO VALIDATE THE COLLECTION OF TAX AT CROSS-BETTING MEETINGS PRIOR TO THAT DATE, HE ADDED.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED UNTIL DECEMBER 7.
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COMPUTERS SEEN AS BEST FOR IMMIGRATION USE X * * *
A COMPUTER BASED SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE THE BEST METHOD FOR CHECKING PROCEDURES AT ALL IMMIGRATION CONTROL POINTS, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, SAID TODAY.
THIS WAS THE CONCLUSION REACHED BY THE GOVERNMENT’S DATA PROCESSING AGENCY, WHICH HAS BEEN LOOKING INTO THE WORK OF THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT, MR JEAFFRESON SAID, REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON BILL BROWN, AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
THE AGENCY STUDIED THE METHODS IN THE CONTEXT OF ESTIMATES OF THE GROWTH IN PASSENGERS TO BE PROCESSED OVER THE COMING YEARS.
IT WAS NOW MOVING INTO A SECOND PART OF THE STUDY TO DETERMINE A SUITABLE COMPUTER CONFIGURATION AND ITS COST, M? JEAFFRESON SAID.
AS 500 TERMINALS AND 40 TERMINAL PRINTERS IN 15 LOCATIONS WILL BE INVOLVED, THIS TASK WILL NOT BE PARTICULARLY EASY, MR JEAFFRESON SAID.
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LEGISLATION TO CONTROL OPTICAL PROFESSION * * # *
LEGISLATION TO CONTROL THE OPTICAL PROFESSION COMPRISES, INITIALLY, SOME SIMPLE AMENDMENTS TO THE SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS ORDINANCE AND, SUBSEQUENTLY, NEW REGULATIONS TO GOVERN THE REGISTRATION AND DISCIPLINE OF PERSONS IN THE PROFESSION.
THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON HENRY CHING, SAID THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ANDREW SO.
♦IT IS INTENDED THAT THE BILL TO AMEND THE SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS ORDINANCE, WHICH WILL ALSO CONTAIN MATTERS RELATING TO OTHER SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS, WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THIS COUNCIL DURING THE CURRENT SESSION,+ MR CHING SA ID.
/IT WOULD ....
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 198?
13
IT WOULD THEN BE POSSIBLE FOR THE NECESSARY REGULA.IONS TO BE MADE, HE ADDED.
SOME DIFFICULT POLICY ISSUES WOULD, HOWEVER, HAVE TO BE RESOLVED BEFORE THE LEGISLATION COULD EFFECTIVELY BE IMPLEMENTED, HE EXPLAINED.
CHIEF AMONG THESE WAS THE QUESTION OF THE DESIRED STANDARDS THAT OPTOMETRISTS SHOULD REACH BEFORE THEY BECAME ELIGIBLE FOR REGISTRATION.
THESE ISSUES WOULD NORMALLY BE A MATTER FOR THE STATUTORY BOARD WHICH WOULD BE ESTABLISHED, UNDER THE SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS COUNCIL, IN RESPECT OF THE OPTICAL PROFESSION, HE SAID.
THIS BOARD COULD NOT, HOWEVER, BE ESTABLISHED UNTIL THE LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENTS WERE MADE, HE ADDED.
♦CONSIDERATION IS THEREFORE BEING GIVEN TO THE APPOINTMENT OF AN INTERIM ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO PROVIDE THE GOVERNMENT WITH EXPERT ADVICE PENDING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE STATUTORY BOARD.
♦IT IS HOPED THAT IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO APPOINT THIS ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHORTLY,♦ MR CHING SAID.
- - 0 - -
CLINICS WITHOUT MEDICAL PRACTITIONER STILL PERFORM USEFUL SERVICE ******
THE EXISTING 282 CLINICS EXEMPTED FROM THE REQUIREMENT TO HAVE A REGISTERED MEDICAL PRACTITIONER WILL BE GIVEN THE SAME EXEMPTION FOR ANOTHER THREE YEARS FROM JANUARY 1, 1984.
IN MOVING A RESOLUTION GRANTING THIS EXEMPTION, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON HENRY CHING, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT THESE CLINICS STILL PROVIDE A USEFUL SERVICE AT A REASONABLE COST.
♦THEIR ACTIVITIES ARE SUPERVISED BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THEIR STANDARDS ARE STILL SATISFACTORY, AND THEIR CLOSURE WOULD NOT BE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST,* MR CHING SAID.
HE EXPLAINED THAT THE MEDICAL CLINICS ORDINANCE, ENACTED IN 1963 TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF CLINICS OF DOUBTFUL STANDARDS, REQUIRES THAT A CLINIC MUST HAVE A REGISTERED MEDICAL PRACTITIONER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MEDICAL MANAGEMENT OF THE CLINIC AND THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE THERE.
IT WAS NOT, HOWEVER, THE INTENTION TO BRING TO AN ABRUPT CLOSE ALL CLINICS WHICH DID NOT MEET THIS REQUIREMENT, MANY OF WHICH WERE RUN BY CHARITABLE OR NON-PROFIT MAKING BODIES AND WERE PERFORMING A USEFUL FUNCTION.
/THE REGISTRAR
WEEKESDAY, NOVJMB&. 25, 198?
14
THE REGISTRAR OF CLINICS WAS THEREFORE GIVEN POWERS TO EXEMPT FROM THE REQUIREMENT ANY CLINIC WHICH WAS IN EXISTENCE BEFORE 1963, AND WHICH COULD SATISFY HIM OF CERTAIN MINIMUM STANDARDS, MR CHING SAID.
THESE POWERS WERE LIMITED TO A SPECIFIED PERIOD, BUT PROVISION WAS MADE IN THE ORDINANCE FOR THE PERIOD TO BE EXTENDED BY RESOLUTION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE EXPLAINED.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE PERIOD HAD BEEN EXTENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, WITH THE LAST THREE-YEAR EXTENSION MADE IN JANUARY 1981.
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TELECOMMUNICATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983 *****
THE DEVELOPMENT OF MARITIME COMMUNICATIONS HAS MADE IT NECESSARY TO REVISE THE EXISTING LEGISLATION TO ENSURE THAT ITS PROVISIONS ADEQUATELY COVER THE USE OF ALL EXISTING AND LIKELY NEW FORMS OF RADIOCOMMUNICATION, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON PIERS JACOBS TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
THESE FORMS INCLUDE THE MARITIME SATELLITE SERVICE AND THE PROSPECTIVE INTRODUCTION OF A PUBLIC MARITIME MOBILE RADIO TELEPHONE SERVICE.
MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE TELECOMMUNICATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, MR JACOBS POINTED OUT THAT THE BILL DOES NOT INTRODUCE ANY NEW PRINCIPLES BUT PROVIDES FOR A NUMBER OF MISCELLANEOUS CHANGES TO THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE.
♦THE FIRST OF THE PROPOSED SUBSTANTIVE AMENDMENTS (CLAUSE 3), CONCERNING THE USE OF RADIOCOMMUNICATION APPARATUS ON VESSELS IN HONG KONG WATERS, IS DESIGNED TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF PRESENT DAY CIRCUMSTANCES,♦ HE SAID.
MR JACOBS SAID CLAUSE 4 OF THE BILL DEALS WITH THE USE OF RADIOCOMMUNICATION APPARATUS ON BOARD A VESSEL OR AIRCRAFT AND PROVIDES THAT THIS USE MUST NOT CAUSE INTERFERENCE WITH OTHER TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES EXCEPT WHERE LIFE OR SAFETY IS AT RISK.
UNDER THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT, CHARGES FOR MESSAGES EXCHANGED WITH VESSELS AND AIRCRAFT WILL BE SPECIFIED IN THE SAME WAY AS OTHER TELECOMMUNICATION CHARGES.
THIS SPECIFICATION WILL BE MADE BY CABLE AND WIRELESS (HONG KONG) LIMITED, WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE COMPANY’S LICENCE OF OCTOBER 1, 1981, HE SAID.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED TO DECEMBER 7.
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/15......
&DNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1983
15
KCRC STAFF EMPOWERED TO ARREST PICKPOCKETS ******
SINCE THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY BECAME INCORPORATED ON FEBRUARY 1, 1983, THERE HAVE BEEN 229 REPORTED CASES OF PICKPOCKETING ON ITS TRAINS AND RAILWAY PREMISES.
ARRESTS WERE MADE IN 68 OF THESE CASES, 23 OF THEM ON TRAINS AND 45 ON OTHER RAILWAY PROPERTY.
THESE FIGURES WERE GIVEN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON WONG LAM.
MANAGEMENT HAD ISSUED CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS TO KCRC STAFF THAT THEY MUST ASSIST IN MAINTAINING LAW AND ORDER ON RAILWAY PROPERTY, MR JEAFFRESON TOLD THE COUNCIL.
+THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY ORDINANCE (CHAPTER 372) EMPOWERS A RAILWAY EMPLOYEE TO ARREST, WITHOUT WARRANT, ANY PERSON HE SUSPECTS OF COMMITTING AN OFFENCE UNDER THE ORDINANCE,* HE EXPLAINED.
THIS POWER RELATES PRIMARILY TO THE ENFORCEMENT OF REGULATIONS AND BY-LAWS MADE UNDER THE ORDINANCE AND CONCERNS SUCH MATTERS AS TREPASSING ON RAILWAY PROPERTY, NOT PAYING FARES AND HAWKING.
♦UNDER THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE ORDINANCE (CHAPTER 221) RAILWAY EMPLOYEES, LIKE ALL OTHER CITIZENS, ALSO HAVE THE POWER OF CITIZEN’S ARREST IN CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH THEY SUSPECT THAT AN OFFENCE, SUCH AS PICKPOCKETI NG, HAS BEEN COMMITTED,* HE EXPLAINED.
BUT HE ADDED THAT THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CORPORATION’S STAFF IS TO RUN THE RAILWAY SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY.
♦SOMETIMES THIS OBLIGATION MUST TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER SPENDING THE TIME REQUIRED TO APPREHEND A PERSON WHO APPEARS TO HAVE COMMITTED AN OFFENCE.
♦THIS CONFLICT BETWEEN OBLIGATIONS OCCURS PARTICULARLY AT SMALLER STATIONS WHERE FEW STAFF ARE AVAILABLE AND AT BUSY TIMES WHEN INNER SUBURBAN TRAINS MIGHT BE CARRYING ANYTHING UP TO 1 500 PASSENGERS AT THREE-AND-A-HALF-MINUTE INTERVALS,* MR JEAFFRESON POINTED OUT.
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TDC MAINTAINS HIGH LEVEL OF PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES
* * *
THE TRADE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL IS POISED AND READY TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE IMPROVED TRADING OUTLOOK WHILE REMAINING FLEXIBLE AND ALERT TO SHIFTS AND CHANGES IN DEMAND HERE AND ABROAD, THE HON LYDIA DUNN SAID TODAY.
MISS DUNN, WHO IS ALSO CHAIRMAN OF THE TDC, WAS TABLING ITS ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1982-83 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
Awhile the......
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2J, 198?
16
+WHILE THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC BACKGROUND TO THE TDC’S WORK LAST YEAR WAS CLEARLY UNFAVOURABLE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR POINT TO AN UPTURN IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE,+ SHE SAID.
MISS DUNN POINTED OUT THAT THIS HAD BEEN CLEARLY EVIDENT FROM HONG KONG’S TRADE FIGURES IN RECENT MONTHS.
SHE ADDED THAT AMONG HONG KONG’S MAJOR MARKETS, THE UNITED STATES ECONOMY HAD SHOWN SIGNS THAT THE RECOVERY IN DEMAND SHOULD BE SUSTAINED WHILE IN EUROPE, THIS TREND HAD BEEN LESS WELL DEFINED.
BUT SHE EXPRESSED THE BELIEF THAT THERE WERE GROUNDS FOR HOPE THAT THE RECOVERY IN EUROPE WOULD BE MORE PRONOUNCED IN 1984.
SHE SAID, +ALTHOUGH THE LOWER VALUE OF THE HONG KONG DOLLAR HAS PLACED SOME STRAINS ON OUR FINANCES, GIVEN THAT MOST OF OUR EXPENSES ARE OVERSEAS, WE ARE PLANNING FOR AN EXPANDED, DYNAMIC AND COST-EFFECTIVE PROGRAMME OF ACTIVITIES.*
REVIEWING 1982-83, MISS DUNN SAID THAT THE WORLDWIDE ECONOMIC RECESSION HAD AFFECTED THE DEMAND FOR CONSUMER MANUFACTURES IN HONG KONG’S MAJOR MARKETS BUT THE COUNCIL HAD CONTINUED TO MAINTAIN A HIGH LEVEL OF PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES.
+THESE INCLUDED ATTENDANCE AT 28 TRADE FAIRS AND EXHIBITIONS, 10 OUTWARD BUSINESS GROUPS, FOUR HIGH LEVEL ECONOMIC MISSIONS OVERSEAS, 11 RESEARCH PROJECTS AND 12 GENERAL PROMOTIONAL AND PUBLICITY EVENTS, AMONG A TOTAL OF SOME 80 MAJOR PROJECTS DURING THE YEAR,* SHE SAID.
FOR THE JAPANESE MARKET, THE TDC DEVELOPED A NUMBER OF HIGH PROFILE PROMOTIONS WITH WELL-KNOWN CHAIN STORE GROUPS IN A BID TO OVERCOME THE DIFFICULTIES IN PENETRATING THE COMPLEX JAPANESE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM.
TO TACKLE THE ♦I MAGE* PROBLEM CONNECTED WITH HONG KONG PRODUCTS, THE COUNCIL STAGED A MAJOR FASHION GALA OF TOP QUALITY HONG KONG GARMENTS IN TOKYO, DRAWING SOME 3 000 TRADE AND GOVERNMENT LEADERS AND THE MEDIA.
+1 AM GLAD TO SAY THAT WE ARE ALREADY BEGINNING TO SEE THE FRUITS OF THESE EFFORTS IN THIS CURRENT YEAR AND IT IS OUR AIM TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN A HIGH LEVEL OF PROMOTIONAL EFFORTS IN THIS MARKET,* MISS DUNN SAID.
SHE POINTED OUT THAT A SIGNIFICANT NEW INITIATIVE DURING THE YEAR HAD BEEN THE FIRST TDC HONG KONG ECONOMIC DELEGATION TO CHINA.
THE DELEGATION VISITED BEIJING, SHANGHAI, GUANGZHOU AND SHENZHEN.
THE VISIT HELPED TO OPEN NEW CHANNELS FOR HONG KONG’S FAST DEVELOPING TRADE WITH CHINA IN VARIOUS PROVINCES AND ESTABLISHED CONTACTS WITH THE CHINESE COMMITTEE FOR THE PROMOTION OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE (CCPIT), THE CHINESE COUNTERPART OF THE TDC.
/♦THESE CONTACTS
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1985
- 17 -
♦ THESE CONTACTS ARE BEING MAINTAINED AT THE WORKING LEVEL AND WE HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF RECEIVING SEVERAL OFFICIALS AND DELEGATIONS FROM THE CCPIT SINCE THEN,+ MISS DUNN SAID.
♦ AS A FOLLOW-UP, WE WILL BE HOLDING THE FIRST EVER TRADE FAIR DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO HONG KONG IN GUANGZHOU NEXT JANUARY,+ SHE REPORTED.
TURNING TO PROMOTIONAL EFFORTS IN HONG KONG’S TRADITIONAL MARKETS, MISS DUNN SAID THAT AN IMPORTANT PROMOTION IN NEW YORK HAD BEEN SCHEDULED FOR NEXT JANUARY AND THIS WOULD INCLUDE A GALA FASHION PRESENTATION AS WELL AS A MAJOR PRODUCT EXHIBITION.
♦ this is being arranged to coincide with the annual convention OF THE NATIONAL RETAIL MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION - A BODY REPRESENTING 45 300 TOP RETAIL OUTLETS THROUGHOUT THE USA,+ SHE EXPLAINED.
♦ IN ADDITION, AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REACHED WITH THE WORLD FAMOUS HARRODS’ DEPARTMENT STORE IN LONDON TO MOUNT, IN MARCH NEXT YEAR, A STORE-WIDE PROMOTION OF HONG KONG PRODUCTS,+ SHE SAID, ADDING THAT THIS WOULD BE HARRODS’ BIGGEST EVER PROMOTION DEVOTED TO OVERSEAS MERCHANDISE.
MISS DUNN EXPLAINED THAT WHILE STAGING LARGE-SCALE PROMOTIONS WAS NECESSARY AND INDEED VALUABLE IN PROMOTING THE IMAGE OF HONG KONG AS A PRODUCER OF HIGH QUALITY MERCHANDISE, THIS EFFORT ONLY REPRESENTED A SMALL FRACTION OF THE TDC’S WORK.
SHE SAID THAT A SIGNIFICANT ELEMENT OF THE WORK OF THE TDC’S 30 OFFICES AND CORRESPONDENTS AROUND THE WORLD WAS TAKEN UP BY THE PROCESSING OF THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUAL TRADE ENQUIRIES AND MAINTENANCE OF CLOSE LIAISON WITH OVERSEAS AUTHORITIES CHARGED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRADE AS WELL AS THE PROVISION OF CURRENT INFORMATION ABOUT HONG KONG TO THE OVERSEAS MEDIA.
♦ TO GIVE YOU SOME IDEA OF THE EXTENT OF THIS DAY TO DAY WORK, DURING THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW, THE TDC PROCESSED OVER 120 000 SPECIFIC TRADE ENQUIRIES. IT LOOKED AFTER 130 INCOMING TRADE MISSIONS TO HONG KONG FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD; AND HANDLED OVER FIVE AND A HALF THOUSAND RESEARCH ENQUIRIES FROM THE HONG KONG BUSINESS COMMUNITY THROUGH OUR ECONOMIC INFORMATION UNIT.
♦AT THE SAME TIME, THE TDC HEAD OFFICE PUBLISHED OVER ONE AND A HALF MILLION COPIES OF TRADE MAGAZINES, BROCHURES AND PAMPHLETS AND DISSEMINATED SEVERAL HUNDRED PRESS ARTICLES ABOUT HONG KONG TO THE INTERNATIONAL MEDIA.
♦SUCH ACTIVITIES ARE THE STAPLE OF SENSIBLE AND PRAGMATIC TRADE DEVELOPMENT - THE MEANS BY WHICH THE TDC PROVIDES EFFECTIVE AND RELEVANT SUPPORT FOR HONG KONG’S BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
♦INDEED, OVER THE YEARS, THE TDC HAS BECOME A MODEL WHICH MANY OTHER COUNTRIES STRIVE TO EMULATE,* MISS DUNN ADDED.
BEFORE CONCLUDING HER SPEECH, SHE PAID TRIBUTE TO HER PREDECESSOR, SIR Y.K. KAN, WHO RETIRED FROM THE COUNCIL LAST YEAR.
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/18........
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1983
18
INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION MAKES PROGRESS
******
THE INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION ACHIEVED SOME PROGRESS IN THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR DESPITE ADVERSE INVESTMENT AND REINVESTMENT CLIMATE COMMON TO ALL MAJOR MARKET ECONOMIES, THE HON WONG PO-YAN SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
MR WONG, A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF THE CORPORATION, WAS MAKING A STATEMENT ON THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CORPORATION FOR THE YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 1983 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
♦THERE ARE NOW 38 COMPANIES AT TAI PO AND ONE AT YUEN LONG. OF THESE, 21 HAVE COMMENCED MANUFACTURING. THESE 39 COMPANIES REPRESENT A TOTAL INVESTMENT OF HK$1 300 MILLION IN LAND, BUILDING, EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERY,+ HE SAID.
ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE TAI PO INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, MR WONG SAID THAT THE STANDARD FACTORY BLOCK ALREADY COMPLETED WOULD SOON BE LEASED TO A LOCAL MANUFACTURER AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE THIRD STAGE AT THE ESTATE WAS PROGRESSING SATISFACTORILY.
HE SAID THAT DURING THE YEAR, FOUR MORE COMPANIES WERE GRANTED SITES - THOMAS DE LA RUE (HONG KONG) LTD, HONG KONG
OXYGEN AND ACETYLENE CO LTD, THE WING ON FOODS CO LTD AND BUILDERS FEDERAL (HONG KONG) LTD.
♦WITH THE ADDITIONS OF THESE COMPANIES, THE LIST OF PRODUCTS TO BE MANUFACTURED ON THE ESTATE WOULD BE BROADENED TO INCLUDE BANKNOTES AND OTHER TYPES OF SECURITY DOCUMENTS, HIGH PURITY GASES, FOOD PROCESSING AND PACKAGING, AND STEEL AND ALUMINIUM CURTAIN WALL I NG,♦ HE SAID.
IN ADDITION, THREE COMPANIES STARTED PRODUCTION AT THE TAI PO ESTATE, NAMELY, DAIDO CONCRETE (HONG KONG) LTD, BBC BROWN BOVERI LTD AND THE WINNER FOOD PRODUCTS LTD.
MR WONG SAID, +THESE THREE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED PROJECTS ARE GOOD ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE CONFIDENCE SHARED BY LOCAL AND OVERSEAS INVESTORS IN THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.
♦JAPANESE, SWISS AND UNITED STATES INTERESTS ARE REPRESENTED IN THESE BUSINESS VENTURES RESPECTIVELY, AND THEY ARE SOLID EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORT THE FACT THAT HONG KONG HAS NOT FAILED TO ATTRACT OVERSEAS INVESTMENT EVEN DURING DIFFICULT TIMES.+
♦FURTHERMORE, IN TESTIMONY TO THE FAVOURABLE INFRASTRUCTURE PROVIDED BY THE ESTATE, DAIDO CONCRETE HAS APPLIED AND SUBSEQUENTLY BEEN GRANTED A SECOND SITE IN SEPTEMBER 1983 FOR THE EXPANSION OF THEIR OPERATION, AND CARLSBERG BREWERY HK LTD CELEBRATED THE EXPANSION OF THEIR BREWERY AT TAI PO IN OCTOBER 1983 WITH AN ADDITIONAL INVESTMENT OF $20 MILLION TO INCREASE PRODUCTION BY 90 PER CENT,* MR WONG SAID.
TURNING TO THE YUEN LONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, MR WONG POINTED OUT THAT ALTHOUGH CONSTRUCTION WORK HAD PROGRESSED MORE SLOWLY THAN PLANNED, THE ESTATE WAS DUE FOR COMPLETION BY THE END OF 1983.
/THE FIRST .......
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1983
- 19 -
THE FIRST FACTORY ON THE ESTATE, THAT OF MESSRS MODERN METAL AND REFINING LIMITED, HAD RECENTLY BEEN COMPLETED AND HAD COMMENCED OPERATIONS, HE SAID.
MR WONG ADDED, +THE COMING ON STREAM OF LARGE AREAS OF LAND AT YUEN LONG HAS CREATED A SHORT-TERM SURPLUS, AND NECESSITATED AN APPROACH TO GOVERNMENT FOR THE LOAN REPAYMENTS TO BE RESCHEDULED.+
FOLLOWING A REVIEW OF THE CORPORATION’S SELECTION AND LEASING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, THE BOARD DECIDED TO OFFER SITES AT YUEN LONG ESTATE BY TENDER TO COMPANIES WHICH SATISFY THE DEFINITIVE CRITERIA.
♦THIS LEASING OF LAND BY MEANS OF TENDER SUPPLEMENTS THE NORMAL APPLICATION METHOD AND IT IS HOPED THAT THIS DIRECT APPROACH WILL ENCOURAGE MORE PROGRESSIVE INDUSTRIALISTS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FACILITIES OFFERED BY THE ESTATE,* MR WONG SAID.
MEANWHILE, TO UTILISE THE RELATIVELY LARGE AREAS OF LAND BECOMING AVAILABLE AT YUEN LONG, THE GOVERNMENT HAS, BY AN AMENDMENT TO THE CORPORATION ORDINANCE AND CONDITIONS OF GRANT, AUTHORISED THE CORPORATION TO GRANT SHORT-TERM LEASES OF LAND FOR STORAGE PURPOSES, THUS ENABLING INCOME TO BE DERIVED FROM THE LAND IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE LONG TERM OBJECTIVES.
♦IN VIEW OF CURRENT MARKET CONDITIONS, THE CORPORATION HAS REVISED ITS PROGRAMME FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF STANDARD FACTORY BLOCKS BUT IS PROCEEDING WITH ONE BLOCK AT YUEN LONG ESTATE, WHICH IS DUE FOR COMPLETION EARLY IN 1984,+ MR WONG SAID.
TURNING TO LAND PREMIUM, MR WONG SAID THAT THIS HAD BEEN REDUCED FROM HKS925 TO HKS800 PER SQUARE METRE FROM JULY 1, 1983 TO REFLECT REALISTICALLY THE CURRENT MARKET RATE FOR LAND AND PROPERTY AND TO HELP STIMULATE INTEREST.
HOWEVER HE STRESSED THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF THESE PROCEDURAL MODIFICATIONS IN NO WAY CHANGED THE CORPORATION’S POLICY OF ENSURING THAT THE INDUSTRIAL ESTATES MET THE OBJECTIVE OF BROADENING HONG KONG’S INDUSTRIAL BASE.
MR WONG SAID, +1 WOULD LIKE TO ECHO THE CORPORATION CHAIRMAN’S CONCLUDING OBSERVATION THAT WE ARE BEGINNING TO SEE A TURNAROUND IN WORLD ECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND THAT THE YEAR FROM APRIL 1, 1983 WILL SEE THE SUSTAINED GROWTH OF INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG, TOWARDS WHICH I AM SURE THE CORPORATION WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE A VALUABLE CONTRI BUT ION.♦
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PROMOTION OF INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION CONSIDERED
* * *
THE HONG KONG PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE IS CONSIDERING A PROPOSAL TO PROMOTE INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION IN HONG KONG, THE HON ALLEN LEE SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
TABLING THE CENTRE'S ANNUAL REPORT ENDING MARCH 31, 1983, NR LEE SAID THERE HAD BEEN GOOD RESPONSE TO THE CENTRE’S FACILITIES.
/THESE FACILITIES
Ux.J'iESDAI, flOVSMBER 1983
- 20 -
THESE FACILITIES INCLUDE A MICROPROCESSOR APPLICATION LABORATORY, A HEAT TREATMENT UNIT, A METALS FINISHING LABORATORY AND AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SERVICE.
MR LEE SAID THAT THE CENTRE HAD MADE +SATISFACTORY PROGRESS* DURING FISCAL 1982-83 DESPITE A CONTINUED ECONOMIC DOWNTURN IN HONG KONG DUE TO THE GLOBAL RECESSION AND +OTHER ADVERSE FACTORS*.
FEE INCOME DERIVED FROM SERVICES ROSE BY 26 PER CENT OVER 1981-82 AND THE CENTRE’S STAFF ESTABLISHMENT INCREASED BY FOUR PER CENT, HE REPORTED.
♦THESE FIGURES DEMONSTRATE THE GROWING ACCEPTANCE OF THE WORK OF HKPC BY INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT, ACCOMPANIED BY A SUSTAINED IMPROVEMENT IN INTERNAL EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY,* HE SAID.
WITH THE CENTRALISATION OF MOST ACTIVITIES WITHIN ITS HEADQUARTERS, THE CENTRE WAS ABLE TO OPERATE MORE EFFECTIVELY AS A +UNITED AND COHESIVE ENTITY DEDICATED TO PROVIDING AN INTEGRATED RANGE OF SERVICES TO INDUSTRY,* MR LEE SAID.
HE EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE THAT THE CENTRE WOULD BE ABLE TO FURTHER EXPAND ITS ROLE IN THE IMPROVEMENT AND DIVERSIFICATION OF INDUSTRY IN HONG KONG.
BESIDES ASSISTING EXISTING INDUSTRIES, THE CENTRE UNDERTAKES DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS WHICH CREATE A GREATER IMPACT ON THE INDUSTRIAL COMMUNITY.
DURING THE YEAR, THE CENTRE COMPLETED A MAJOR TECHNO-ECONOMIC STUDY ON THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY, MR LEE SAID.
OTHER PROJECTS BEING UNDERTAKEN BY THE CENTRE INCLUDE A TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER STUDY AND A STUDY ON THE DESIGN OF MULTI-STOREY FACTORY BUILDINGS.
MR LEE SAID THAT THE CENTRE WAS IN A POSITION TO UNDERTAKE WORK CAPABLE OF GENERATING MULTIPLIER EFFECTS.
- - 0 --------
FIVE BILLS PASSED M * *
FIVE BILLS WERE PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY.
THEY ARE THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CORPORATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) (NO. 4) BILL 1983, THE ROAD TRAFFIC (DRIVING-OFFENCE POINTS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, THE INTERPRETATION AND GENERAL CLAUSES (AMENDMENT) (NO. 3) BILL 1983 AND THE CITY POLYTECHNIC OF HONG KONG BILL 1983.
TWO OTHER BILLS - THE ENTERTAINMENTS TAX (AMENDMENT AND VALIDATION) BILL 1983 AND THE TELECOMMUNICATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983 WERE READ A SECOND TIME. DEBATE ON THEM WAS ADJOURNED TILL THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING ON DECEMBER 7.
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/21 .....
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1983
21 -
WORK BEING DONE TO CLEAR KAI TAK SMELLS *****
WORK WAS BEING CARRIED OUT IN STAGES TO COMBAT THE POLLUTED STATE OF KAI TAK NULLAH, WHICH IS THE MAIN SOURCE OF SMELLS IN THE AREA, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON HENRY CHING SAID TODAY.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON T.S. LO, MR CHING EXPLAINED THAT THE FIRST PHASE OF WORK WAS BEGUN LAST YEAR TO PROVIDE FOR THE UP-RATING OF EXISTING PUMPING FACILITIES AND THE INSTALLATION OF NEW PUMPING STATIONS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO INTERCEPT THE POLLUTED DRY WEATHER FLOW IN THE UPPER STRETCHES OF KAI TAK NULLAH AND REDIRECT IT AWAY FROM THE NULLAH INTO THE SEWERAGE SYSTEM.
HE SAID THAT THE SECOND PHASE, WHICH IS BEING RECOMMENDED FOR UPGRADING TO CATEGORY A OF THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME AT THE FORTHCOMING ANNUAL REVIEW, PROVIDES FOR THE DREDGING OF THE ACCUMULATED SEDIMENT IN THE LOWER PART OF THE NULLAH AND IN THE CHANNEL RUNNING ALONGSIDE THE AIRPORT. IT ALSO PROVIDES FOR DIRECT OXYGEN INJECTION INTO THE WATER IN THE LOWER PART OF THE NULLAH TO ASSIST IN IMPROVING ITS QUALITY.
♦BOTH THESE PHASES, AT A TOTAL ESTIMATED COST OF SOME $50 MILLION, ARE EXPECTED TO BE LARGELY COMPLETED BY MID-1985,+ IE SAID.
MR CHING FURTHER SAID THAT SHOULD A SIGNIFICANT POLLUTION PROBLEM REMAIN AFTER COMPLETION OF THE TWO PHASES, PROPOSALS WILL BE PUT FORWARD FOR A THIRD PHASE COMPRISING THE DREDGING OF THE TYPHOON SHELTER AT THE SEAWARD END OF THE NULLAH, AND THE MECHANICAL AERATION OF THE WATER IN THE WHOLE OF THE CHANNEL ADJACENT TO THE AIRPORT.
THE NEED FOR THIS PHASE WILL BE JUDGED IN THE LIGHT OF RESULTS OF THE FIRST TWO PHASES, HE CONCLUDED.
. . . . 0 ----
LIONS CLUBS THANKED FOR ANTI-DRUG EFFORT *****
THE COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS. MR GORDON MORTIMER, PRAISED THE LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL, DISTRICT 303 MEMBERS LAST NIGHT (TUESDAY) FOR THEIR SPONSORSHIP AND PARTICIPATION IN THE FIGHT AGAINST NARCOTICS.
SPEAKING AT A DINNER HELD BY THE CLUBS IN HONOUR OF THEIR INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT, DR JAMES FOWLER, MR MORTIMER POINTED OUT THAT DRUG ABUSE IS ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS SOCIAL PROBLEMS FACING the world today AND that the increasing involvement of YOUNG PEOPLE IN DRUGS WAS MOST DISTURBING.
♦IN THE FACE OF THESE DANGERS, THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LIONS CLUBS HAS DECLARED A WORLDWIDE LIONS WAR ON DRUGS.♦ HE SAID. ’
MR MORTIMER RECEIVED, ON BEHALF OF THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS, A CHEQUE FOR $30 000 DONATED BY THE LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL, DISTRICT 303 TO HELP FINANCE THE ANTI-NARCOTICS YOUTH CAMP IN DECEMBER THIS YEAR, ORGANISED BY THE CIVIL AID SERVICES CADET CORPS.
-----------------------------0 - - - - /22...................
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1983
- 22 -
NEW TYPHOON WARNING SIGNAL PROPOSED M * * *
EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WILL DISCUSS A PROPOSAL TO HAVE AN EXTRA TYPHOON WARNING SIGNAL - THE NO. 5 SIGNAL - AT THEIR bEETING TOMORROW (THURSDAY).
THE PROPOSED NEW SIGNAL, RAISED BY AN UNOFFICIAL BOARD MEMBER, WOULD SERVE AS AN INDICATION OF +NO SCHOOL+ FOR STUDENTS.
THIS WOULD SAVE THE STUDENTS’ TROUBLE IN REVERTING HOME ON THEIR WAY TO SCHOOL AND FACING CHAOTIC TRAFFIC CONDITIONS WHEN THE WEATHER SITUATION DETERIORATES.
AT THE MEETING, MEMBERS WILL ALSO BE BRIEFED ON THE PROGRESS REPORTS OF THE BOARD’S COMMITTEES AND THE BOARD’S FINANCIAL SITUATION AS AT NOVEMBER 15.
OTHER TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED WILL INCLUDE AN INFORMATION GUIDE TO THE EASTERN DISTRICT AND BOARD MEMBERS’ OVERSEAS STUDY TRIP IN 1984.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE WELCOME TO COVER THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD MEETING AT 2.30 PM TOMORROW (THURSDAY) IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE’S CONFERENCE ROOM AT 880-886 KING’S ROAD.
-------o----------
NOTE TO EDITORSi
VARIETY SHOW
* * *
THIS YEAR’S FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN WILL START OFF WITH A VARIETY SHOW TO BE HELD AT THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY HALL TOMORROW (THURSDAY) AT 8 PM.
THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR JOHN CHAMBERS, AND THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF BROADCASTING, MR HAROLD KWOK, WILL JOINTLY OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT.
-----O'--------
/23........
WEDNESDAY, '.EMBER 23, 1983
2}
NEW TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA FOR FANLING * * * * *
SITE FORMATION, ROAD AND DRAINAGE WORK IN CONNECTION WITH CONSTRUCTION OF A TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA IN FANLING SOUTH WILL START SOON WITH THE AWARD OF A $30 MILLION CONTRACT TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO MCCONNELL DOWELL CONSTRUCTORS LTD.
THIS IS THE FIRST CONTRACT AWARDED IN CONNECTION WITH FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF FANLING SOUTH AND CALLS FOR FORMATION OF 12 HECTARES OF LAND, AS WELL AS CONSTRUCTION OF 1.5 KILOMETRES OF DISTRIBUTOR ROADS WITH ASSOCIATED FOOTPATHS AND CYCLETRACKS.
THE WHOLE AREA OF FANLING SOUTH WILL BE DEVELOPED TO ACCOMMODATE 60 000 PEOPLE AND PROVIDE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HOUSING, COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT, INDUSTRIAL AREAS, COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND RECREATIONAL SPACE.
THE PRESENT CONTRACT, WHICH WILL TAKE ABOUT 18 MONTHS TO COMPLETE, WAS SIGNED BY MR M.K. PAU, DEPUTY PROJECT MANAGER OF TAI PO/FANLING DEVELOPMENT OFFICE, AND MR W.J. NYE, GENERAL MANAGER OF MCCONNELL DOWELL CONSTRUCTORS LTD.
- - 0 - -
METHADONE CLINIC TO MOVE M M M
THE CHAI WAN METHADONE EVENING CLINIC, WILL MOVE FROM THE CHAI WAN HEALTH CENTRE TO THE SHAU KEI WAN JOCKEY CLUB CLINIC ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 27).
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY THAT THE EXISTING CLINIC WILL BE USED FOR THE INSTALLATION OF X-RAY FACILITIES URGENTLY NEEDED BY THE CHAI WAN ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY CENTRE.
THE NEW METHADONE CLINIC, SITUATED AT ROOM 6, 2ND FLOOR, SHAU KEI WAN JOCKEY CLUB CLINIC, WILL BE OPEN DAILY FROM 6 PM TO 10 PM, INCLUDING SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS.
_ _ 0 - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1?83
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
OCTOBER EXPORTS SHOW BIG RISE ...........................
EXPORT-LED RECOVERY CONTINUES INTO THIRD QUARTER ........ 3
SIR PERCY HERE FOR THREE-DAY VISIT ......................
CARE AND PROTECTION OF CHILDREN ......................... 7
EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES FOR NEW TOWNS UNDER REVIEW .......
JUBILEE STREET PTFR DEVELOPMENT APPROVED ................
BETTER ENVIRONMENT FOR WORKERS ..........................
PEOPLE URGED TO 'GET ON WITH JOB' ....................... 12
IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY UNIT STRESSED....................... 13
DB TO DISCUSS CONTAINER PORT EXTENSION .................. 14
COURSE FOR CAREERS MASTERS .............................' 15
CHILDREN'S BOOKS ON SHOW ................................
OLD FOLK IN FULL SWING ..................................
PUBLIC URGED TO PREVENT COUNTRY FIRES ...................
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN NORTH POINT .................. • • 17
LAWN BOWLS FINAL ROUND .................................. 17
SOCCER MATCH TO ROUND OFF FESTIVAL ......................
SPORTS MEET .............................................
PLB PROHIBITED ZONE AT SHAM SHUI PO ..................... 18
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1983
OCTOBER EXPORTS SHOW BIG RISE ******
DOMESTIC EXPORTS, AT $10 478 MILLION IN OCTOBER WERE 48 PER CENT OR $3 391 MILLION HIGHER THAN IN THE SAME MONTH A YEAR AGO, ACCORDING TO THE PROVISIONAL TRADE FIGURES PUBLISHED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
RE-EXPORTS, AT $5 715 MILLION, SHOWED AN INCREASE OF 58 PER CENT OR $2 100 MILLION OVER THIS PERIOD. THUS, TAKING DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS TOGETHER, TOTAL EXPORTS ROSE BY 51 PER CENT, CR $5 491 MILLION, TO REACH $16 193 MILLION IN OCTOBER.
WITH IMPORTS AT $17 618 MILLION, AN INCREASE OF 44 PER CENT OR $5 400 MILLION, THE VISIBLE TRADE DEFICIT FOR OCTOBER THIS YEAR WAS $1 425 MILLION.
THE VISIBLE TRADE GAP, THAT IS THE PROPORTION OF THE VALUE CF IMPORTS NOT COVERED BY THAT OF TOTAL EXPORTS, NARROWED SIGNIFICANTLY TO 8 PER CENT, FROM 12 PER CENT IN OCTOBER LAST YEAR.
A GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT, PUTTING LAST MONTH’S TRADE FIGURES INTO CONTEXT, THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS IN THE FIRST TEN MONTHS OF 1983 WAS 23 PER CENT HIGHER THAN IN THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD LAST YEAR.
BOTH DOMESTIC EXPORTS AND RE-EXPORTS, WHI CH MAKE UP TOTAL EXPORTS INCREASED BY 23 PER CENT. AS THE GROWTH RATE OF THE VALUE OF IMPORTS WAS LOWER, AT 20 PER CENT, THE VISIBLE TRADE GAP IN THE FIRST TEN MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, AT 9 PER CENT, WAS NARROWER THAN THAT IN THE SIMILAR PERIOD OF 1982, AT 11 PER CENT.
COMMENTING ON THESE IMPRESSIVE FIGURES ON DOMESTIC £XPORTS, RE-EXPORTS AND IMPORTS FOR OCTOBER, THE SPOKESMAN NOTED THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST MONTH THAT DOMESTIC EXPORTS HAD EVER EXCEEDED $10 000 MILLION.
HE ALSO SAID THAT THEIR INCREASES IN REAL TERMS (AFTER ALLOWING FOR THE EFFECTS OF PRICE INCREASES) SHOULD REMAIN VERY SUBSTANTIAL, AND INDICATED A CONTINUATION OF THE EXPORT-
LED ECONOMIC RECOVERY.
THE FOLLOWING TABLE GIVES THE PROVISIONAL FIGURES FOR OCTOBER 1983 I-
MERCHANDISE TRADE
MERCHANDISE i
DOMESTIC EXPORTS X $10 478 MILLION
RE-EXPORTS 1 $ 5 715 MILL ION
TOTAL EXPORTS 1 $16 193 MILLION
IMPORTS 1 $17 618 MILLION
TRADE BALANCE X $ 1 425 (IN DEF MILLION ■ IC 1T)
/comparative figures .......
THUhSjaY, NOVELESE 24, 1983 •
2
COMPARATIVE FIGURES
AUG.-OCT. AUG.-OCT. INCREASE OR
LATEST 3 MONTHS 1983 1982 DECREASE
$ MN. S MN. S MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 30 100 21 996 + 8 104 *36.8
RE-EXPORTS 15 638 10 927 ♦ 4 711 *43.1
TOTAL EXPORTS 45 738 32 923 +12 815 +38.9
IMPORTS 48 230 35 585 ♦12 645 +35.5
TRADE BALANCE - 2 492 - 2 662 ♦ 170
OCTOBER OCTOBER INCREASE OR
SAME MONTH LAST YEAR 1983 1982 DECREASE
S MN. S MN. S MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 10 478 .7 087. + 3 391 +47.8
(% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) (64.7%) (66.2%)
RE-EXPORTS 5 715 3 615 + 2 100 +58.1
TOTAL EXPORTS 16 193 10 702 + 5 491 +51.3
IMPORTS 17 618 12 218 + 5 400 +44.2
TRADE BALANCE - 1 425 - 1 516 ♦ 91
OCTOBER SEPTEMBER INCREASE OR
LAST MONTH 1983 1983 __ DECREASE
$ MN. $ MN. $ MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 10 478 9 665. + 813 + 8.4
(% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) (64.7%) (65.6%)
RE-EXPORTS 5 715 5 068 + 647 +12.8
TOTAL EXPORTS 16 193 14 733 ♦ 1 460 ♦ 9.9
IMPORTS 17 618 15 494 + 2 124 +13.7
TRADE BALANCE - 1 425 - 761 - 664
/CALENDAR year
THURSJAZ, NOVJUBER 24, 1963
- 3 -
CALENDAR YEAR TO-DATE JAN.-OCT. 1983 JAN.-OCT. 1982 INCREASE OR DECREASE
$ MN. $ MN. $ MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 83 114 67 493 ♦15 621 +23.1
(% OF TOTAL EXPORTS) RE-EXPORTS (65.2%) 44 330 (65.3%) 35 917 + 8 413 +23.4
TOTAL EXPORTS 127 444 103 410 +24 034 +23.2
IMPORTS 139 488 116 649 +22 839 +19.6
TRADE BALANCE -12 044 -13 239 + 1 195
NOV. 1982 TO NOV. 1981 TO INCREASE OR
LAST 12 MONTHS OCT. 1983 OCT. 1982 DECREASE
$ MN. ' $ MN. S MN. %
DOMESTIC EXPORTS 98 653 82 300 +16 353 +19.9
RE-EXPORTS 52 766 43 755 + 9 011 +20.6
TOTAL EXPORTS 151 419 126 055 ♦25 364 +20.1
IMPORTS 165 732 142 112 ♦23 620 +16.6
TRADE BALANCE -14 313 -16 057 + 1 744
0 - - EXPORT-LED RECOVERY CONTINUES INTO THIRD l QUARTER
*****
THE GOVERNMENT TODAY PUBLISHED THE THIRD QUARTER ECONOMIC REPORT 1983.
THE REPORT UPDATES THE ANALYSIS IN THE HALF-YEARLY ECONOMIC REPORT PUBLISHED IN AUGUST, AND REVIEWS DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ECONOMY IN THE THIRD QUARTER.
THE REPORT NOTES THAT THE EXPORT SECTOR HAS CLEARLY REBOUNDED SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR.
THE YEAR-ON-YEAR GROWTH RATE IN REAL TERMS OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS ACCELERATED TO ABOUT 19 PER CENT IN THE THIRD QUARTER, FROM 14 PER CENT IN THE SECOND QUARTER AND 3 PER CENT IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.
/SUCH IMPRESSIVE .......
novujbjr 14» 1?°3
SUCH IMPRESSIVE GROWTH RATES WERE LARGELY DUE TO THE RECOVERY IN THE US ECONOMY AND THE IMPROVEMENT IN ECONOMIC PERFORMANCES OF A NUMBER OF OTHER MAJOR EXPORT MARKETS.
THE DEPRECIATION OF THE HONG KONG DOLLAR HAS ALSO ENHANCED HONG KONG’S EXTERNAL COMPETITIVENESS.
DOMESTIC DEMAND, HOWEVER, REMAINED RELATIVELY WEAK IN THE THIRD QUARTER. WHILE THE STATISTICS ON RETAINED IMPORTS OF CONSUMER GOODS SUGGEST THAT CONSUMER DEMAND REVIVED SOMEWHAT, RETAINED IMPORTS OF CAPITAL GOODS CONTINUED TO FALL.
REFLECTING THE SIGNIFICANT RECOVERY OF THE EXPORT SECTOR, THE UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT SITUATION FOR THE LABOUR FORCE AS A WHOLE IMPROVED.
THE SEASONALLY ADJUSTED UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FELL TO 3.8 PER CENT IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1983, FROM 4.4 PER CENT IN THE SECOND QUARTER AND 5.1 PER CENT IN THE FIRST QUARTER.
THE UNDEREMPLOYMENT RATE ALSO FELL TO 1.6 PER CENT IN THE THIRD QUARTER, COMPARED WITH 1.9 PER CENT IN THE SECOND QUARTER AND 2.5 PER CENT IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.
THERE ARE SIGNS THAT, DURING THE THIRD QUARTER, THE UNEMPLOYMENT AND UNDEREMPLOYMENT SITUATION STABILISED.
THE RATE OF INFLATION REMAINED RELATIVELY STABLE AT ABOUT 9 PER CENT IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1983.
AS INDICATED BY THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A), THE YEAR-ON-YEAR RATE OF INCREASE IN CONSUMER PRICES AVERAGED ABOUT 9.1 PER CENT IN THE THIRD QUARTER, COMPARED WITH 9.4 PER CENT FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR.
FURTHER, THE REPORT COMMENTS THAT WHILE THE SHARP DEPRECIATION OF THE HONG KONG DOLLAR IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF THIS YEAR MAY PUSH UP THE RATE OF INFLATION IN EARLY 1984 WHEN THE INCREASE IN IMPORT PRICES GRADUALLY WORKS THROUGH TO THE RETAIL LEVEL THE CURRENCY STABILISATION MEASURES INTRODUCED IN OCTOBER ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE A DAMPENING EFFECT ON THE RATE OF INFLATION IN DUE COURSE.
APART FROM GIVING AN OVERALL VIEW, THE REPORT ALSO CONTAINS INDIVIDUAL CHAPTERS ON THE EXTERNAL SECTOR, THE FINANCIAL SECTOR, THE LABOUR SECTOR, ACTIVITY IN SELECTED SECTORS AND PRICES.
ON THE EXTERNAL SECTOR, THE YEAR-ON-YEAR GROWTH RATE IN REAL TERMS OF DOMESTIC EXPORTS INCREASED TO ABOUT 19 PER CENT IN THE THIRD QUARTER.
GIVEN THAT THE YEAR-ON-YEAR GROWTH RATE IN REAL TERMS OF RETAINED IMPORTS OF RAW MATERIALS AND SEMI-MANUFACTURES INCREASED RAPIDLY IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF THIS YEAR AND THAT THE VOLUME OF ORDERS HELD BY A SELECTION OF LARGE MANUFACTURERS CONTINUED TO BE ENCOURAGING, THE REPORT SAYS THAT IT IS LIKELY THAT DOMESTIC EXPORTS WILL REMAIN STRONG IN THE FOURTH QUARTER.
/IMPORTS AND .......
THUHSMY, NOVEMBER 24, 1983
- 5 -
IMPORTS AMD RE-EXPORTS ALSO INCREASED RAPIDLY IN THE THIRD QUARTER! IMPORTS SHOWED A YEAR-ON-YEAR GROWTH RATE IN REAL TERMS OF ABOUT 12 PER CENT, WHILE RE-EXPORTS SHOWED A YEAR-ON-YEAR GROWTH RATE IN REAL TERMS OF ABOUT 21 PER CENT.
THE REPORT POINTS OUT THAT SINCE THE GROWTH RATE OF THE VALUE OF TOTAL EXPORTS (DOMESTIC EXPORTS PLUS RE-EXPORTS), AT 32 PER CENT, WAS FASTER THAN THAT OF IMPORTS, AT 28 PER CENT, THE VISIBLE TRADE GAP NARROWED TO 4 PER CENT IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF THIS YEAR FROM 6 PER CENT IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 1982.
ON THE FINANCIAL SECTOR, THE REPORT NOTES THE FOLLOWING DEVELOPMENTS DURING THE THIRD QUARTER OF THIS YEARt
FIRST, NERVOUSNESS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG, ALONG WITH THE RENEWED STRENGTH OF THE US DOLLAR, CONTINUED TO DEPRESS THE EXCHANGE VALUE OF THE HONG KONG DOLLAR DURING THE THIRD QUARTER.
THIS WEAKNESS, PARTICULARLY IN THE MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER, WAS UNJUSTIFIED IN TERMS OF THE CURRENT STRENGTH OF THE ECONOMY.
HOWEVER, THE PERSISTENT AND ACCELERATING DEPRECIATION THAT IT CAUSED“FORCED THE GOVERNMENT TO CHANGE HONG KONG’S EXCHANGE RATE DETERMINATION SYSTEM IN OCTOBER TO ONE WHICH LINKED THE VALUE OF THE HONG KONG DOLLAR TO THAT OF THE US DOLLAR.
SECOND, BANK DEPOSIT RATES WERE ALTERED ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS DURING THE THIRD QUARTER IN THE LIGHT OF EXCHANGE RATE DEVELOPMENTS.
THIRD, ON SEPTEMBER 27, TO AVOID AN UNSTABLE SITUATION DEVELOPING IN THE BANKING SECTOR, THE GOVERNMENT PASSED URGENT LEGISLATION TO TAKE OVER THE HANG LUNG BANK WHICH, AFTER A YEAR OF MOUNTING PROBLEMS, FOUND ITSELF UNABLE TO MEET ITS OBLIGATIONS WITHOUT GOVERNMENT SUPPORT.
FOURTH, THE MONEY SUPPLY FIGURES CONTINUED TO BE DISTORTED BY THE EXISTENCE OF SWAP DEPOSITS AND BY THE VALUATION EFFECT OF THE WEAKER HONG KONG DOLLAR, THUS MAKING INTERPRETATION DIFFICULT.
NEVERTHELESS, THE FIGURES SUGGEST THAT THE UNDERLYING GROWTH RATE OF TOTAL MONEY SUPPLY DURING THE THIRD QUARTER WAS MODERATE.
DURING THIS PERIOD, TOTAL LOANS AND ADVANCES EXTENDED BY BANKS AND DEPOSIT-TAKING COMPANIES INCREASED SLIGHTLY.
ON THE LABOUR SECTOR, THE REPORT SAYS THAT BOTH THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AND THE UNDEREMPLOYMENT RATE FELL FURTHER IN THE THIRD QUARTER, FROM THE PEAKS RECORDED EARLIER THIS YEAR.
/WH5N JUNE........
THOTS’ Y, NOVE’"’“2? 24. 108? •
- 6 -
WHEN JUNE 1983 IS COMPARED WITH JUNE 1982, EMPLOYMENT IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR SHOWED NO CHANGE WHILE EMPLOYMENT IN THE TERTIARY SERVICES SECTORS INCREASED MODERATELY- BUT EMPLOYMENT ON BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION SITES CONTINUED TO SHOW A DECLINE.
NEVERTHELESS, EMPLOYMENT IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR INCREASED DURING THE SECOND QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.
THE REPORT FURTHER NOTES THAT IN THE 12 MONTHS ENDING JUNE 1983 EARNINGS IN THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, IN TERMS OF PAYROLL PER PERSON ENGAGED, INCREASED SLIGHTLY IN REAL TERMS, WHILE THOSE IN THE TERTIARY SERVICES SECTORS REMAINED RELATIVELY STABLE.
CONSTRUCTION WAGE RATES, HOWEVER, CONTINUED TO DECLINE IN REAL TERMS, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A SMALL INCREASE IN MONEY TERMS.
THE REPORT OBSERVES THAT ON THE BASIS OF THE FIGURES ON DOMESTIC EXPORTS, RETAINED IMPORTS OF RAW MATERIALS AND SEMIMANUFACTURES AND THE ENCOURAGING QUANTITY OF ELECTRICITY
*, CONSUMED BY THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, THERE IS CLEAR EVIDENCE OF A CONTINUED RECOVERY IN MANUFACTURING ACTIVITY IN THE THIRD QUARTER.
ON THE PROPERTY SECTOR, THE REPORT POINTS OUT THAT THE VACANCY POSITION FOR MOST TYPES OF PROPERTY WAS HIGH IN RELATION TO THE EXISTING STOCK.
WHILE TOTAL COMPLETIONS IN THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR WERE MORE THAN IN THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD LAST YEAR, DEMAND FOR PROPERTY REMAINED WEAK, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SMALL DOMESTIC UNITS.
PRICES AND RENTALS OF LARGE DOMESTIC UNITS IN GENERAL EASED FURTHER.
REFLECTING THE WEAK BUILDING INTENTIONS OF DEVELOPERS, THE TOTAL USABLE FLOOR AREA ON BUILDING PLANS WITH CONSENT TO COMMENCE WORK WAS SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER IN THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 1983 THAN IN THE SAME PERIOD LAST YEAR.
ON PRICES, THE REPORT COMMENTS THAT DESPITE THE DEPRECIATION OF THE HONG KONG DOLLAR SINCE THE END OF 1982, THE RATE OF INFLATION REMAINED RELATIVELY STABLE AT ABOUT 9 PER CENT.
THE REPORT ATTRIBUTES THIS TO SEVERAL FAVOURABLE FACTORS.
LOCALLY, AGGREGATE DEMAND WAS NOT IMPOSING EXCESSIVE PRESSURE ON AGGREGATE SUPPLY OF DOMESTIC RESOURCES AND THE UNDERLYING GROWTH RATE OF THE MONEY SUPPLY WAS MODERATE.
EXTERNALLY, THE RATE OF INFLATION IN HONG KONG’S MAJOR TRADING PARTNERS HAS SLOWED DOWN.
THE THIRD QUARTER ECONOMIC REPORT 1983 IS NOW ON SALE AT 110 A COPY.
-----0------
THURSDAY, NOVEMBtr. 24, 1983
- 7 -
SIR PERCY HERE FOR THREE-DAY VISIT * * * *
THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO PEKING, SIR PERCY CRADOCK, ARRIVED IN HONG KONG THIS (THURSDAY) MORNING FOR A THREE-DAY VISIT.
♦ IT’S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO COME TO HONG KONG,+ HE TOLD REPORTERS AT THE AIRPORT.
♦ YOU KNOW OF COURSE WHY I AM HERE THIS TIME. I AM SHORTLY LEAVING PEKING AND GOING BACK HOME TO TAKE UP SOME APPOINTMENTS S THERE, AND NATURALLY I DIDN’T WANT TO DO THAT BEFORE I HAVE COME ' DOWN HERE AND HAD A WORD WITH THE GOVERNOR AND OTHER OLD FRIENDS.
♦ SO I SHALL BE HERE UNTIL SUNDAY,♦ HE SAID.
SIR PERCY WAS MET AT THE AIRPORT BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE.
------o-------
CARE AND PROTECTION OF CHILDREN *****
THE PRIMARY OBJECT OF SOCIAL WORK WITH CHILDREN IS TO PROMOTE THEIR WELL-BEING, WITHIN THE NATURAL FAMILY OR WITHIN THE ADOPTIVE FAMILY ENVIRONMENT.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR JOHN CHAMBERS, AT THE LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF HONG KONG SOUTH TODAY (THURSDAY).
♦WHERE THIS GOAL CANNOT BE ATTAINED THEN WE TRY TO ENSURE THAT THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND EMOTIONAL DAMAGE TO THE CHILD WHO COMES INTO CARE IS KEPT TO A MINIMUM.
♦THIS REQUIRES CONSISTENT AND WELL CO-ORDINATED CASE PLANNING I AS WELL AS SENSITIVITY TO THE NEEDS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL CHILD,♦ i HE SAID.
SOCIAL WORKERS, HE ADDED, WERE ALWAYS AWARE THAT THE ACTION SELECTED AT THE TIME CHILDREN CAME INTO CARE WOULD HAVE A PROFOUND EFFECT ON THEIR FUTURE HAPPINESS AND WELL-BEING.
REFERRING TO A DEPARTMENT SURVEY ON STATUTORY CARE AND PROTECTION CASES CONDUCTED LAST YEAR, MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT SUCH CASES FELL INTO TWO MAIN GROUPS — CHILDREN WHO ARE FIRST AND FOREMOST IN NEED OF CARE, AND THOSE IN NEED OF SUPERVISION ,, BECAUSE THEY ARE BEYOND PARENTAL CONTROL OR IN MORAL DANGER. i
HE SAID THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND JUVENILES ORDINANCE EMPOWERED A JUVENILE COURT MAGISTRATE TO APPOINT THE DIRECTOR CF SOCIAL WELFARE AS THE LEGAL GUARDIAN OF A CHILD BROUGHT BEFORE THE COURT IF HE WAS SATISFIED THAT THE CHILD WAS IN NEED OF CARE AND PROTECTION.
/WHERE THE ....
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 19&3
- 8 -
WHERE THE CHILD HAS BEEN ORPHANED, ABANDONED OR GIVEN UP BY THE NATURAL PARENTS THE USUAL COURSE IS FOR HIM TO BE MADE A WARD OF THE DIRECTOR, WHICH HE WILL REMAIN EITHER UNTIL HE REACHES 21 OR UNTIL HE IS LEGALLY ADOPTED.
+1 HAVE NO LESS THAN 800 SUCH WARDS, WHICH I SUPPOSE MAKES ME THE GUARDIAN OF MORE CHILDREN THAN ANYONE ELSE IN HONG KONG,* MR CHAMBERS SAID.
SPEAKING OF CHILD ABUSE CASES, MR CHAMBERS SAID SUCH CASES WERE MUCH MORE COMPLICATED THAN THOSE OF ABANDONED OR ORPHANED CHILDREN.
PARENTS WOULD INVARIABLY DENY THEY HAD DELIBERATELY ABUSED THEIR CHILDREN AND WOULD RESENT OR OPPOSE INTERVENTION BY A SOCIAL WORKER.
THE SITUATION BECAME EVEN MORE DIFFICULT IN SERIOUS CASES WARRANTING CRIMINAL PROSECUTION, HE SAID.
THE MOST DIFFICULT DECISION IN THOSE CASES WAS WHETHER OR NOT TO ALLOW THE CHILD TO REMAIN WITH THE PARENT OR PARENTS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ABUSE, HE SAID.
THERE IS A SCHOOL OF THOUGHT THAT ARGUES IN FAVOUR OF IMMEDIATE REMOVAL OF THE CHILD AS BEING THE ONLY ABSOLUTE WAY OF GUARANTEEING HIS PERSONAL SAFETY.
AGAINST THIS ARGUMENT THE SOCIAL WORKER MUST WEIGH THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING AND NURTURING THE BOND BETWEEN THE PARENTS AND THE CHILD.
HE ALSO SAID THAT THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND JUVENILES ORDINANCE PROVIDED HIM WITH WIDE POWERS TO INTERVENE IN ANY SITUATION WHERE HE BELIEVED THAT A CHILD WAS LIKELY TO BE EXPOSED TO MORAL OR PHYSICAL DANGER.
TREATMENT OF CHILD ABUSE CASES REQUIRED INTENSIVE COUNSELLING AND FOLLOW-UP AS WELL AS CLOSE LIAISON WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND JUDICIARY.
SOCIAL WORKERS HANDLING SUCH CASES, HE SAID, HAD GREAT RESPONSIBILITIES AND REQUIRED DISTINCTIVE PERSONAL QUALITIES AS WELL AS EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING.
IT WAS FOR THIS REASON THAT EARLIER THIS YEAR THE DEPARTMENT ESTABLISHED A SPECIAL CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES UNIT CONSISTING OF CAREFULLY SELECTED STAFF WORKING EXCLUSIVELY ON CHILD ABUSE CASES.
AT THE END OF OCTOBER, THE UNIT WAS HANDLING 93 CASES INVOLVING 125 CHILDREN, INCLUDING ALL NEW CHILD ABUSE CASES AS WELL AS REFERRALS OF THE MORE DIFFICULT EXISTING CASES FROM FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES.
/HE SAID ........
1HUHSDAY, K0Vt,2BEtc 24, .983
9
HE SAID THAT THE DEPARTMENT’S CENTRAL FOSTER CARE UNIT IS NOW WELL ESTABLISHED AND OPEN TO ENQUIRIES FROM PROSPECTIVE FOSTER PARENTS.
WITH THE HELP OF SEVERAL VOLUNTARY SOCIAL WELFARE AGENCIES, THE NUMBER OF FOSTER CARE PLACES IS TO BE EXPANDED FROM THE PRESENT 40 TO 120 DURING THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.
♦I AM CONFIDENT,* MR CHAMBERS SAID, +THAT WE SHALL BE ABLE TO EXPAND THIS TYPE OF CARE STILL FURTHER AS THE CONCEPT OF FOSTER CARE BECOMES MORE WIDELY ACCEPTED IN THE COMMUNITY AS
A WHOLE.*
THE DIRECTOR SAID THAT WHERE A CHILD WAS OLDER AND THEREFORE LESS LIKELY TO BE ASSIMILATED WITHIN A NEW FAMILY, OR WHERE HE HAD ALREADY BEEN IN INSTITUTIONAL CARE FOR A LONG PERIOD, THE A SUCCESSFUL FOSTER PLACEMENT WERE REDUCED.
CHANCES OF
+THIS IS WHY THE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO EXPANDING SMALL GROUP HOMES,* HE SAID.
THESE PROVIDE FOR SMALL GROUPS OF CHILDREN TO BE CARED FOR BY HOUSE-PARENTS IN ORDINARY PUBLIC HOUSING OR RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATION WITH SUPERVISION AND CASEWORK SUPPORT PROVIDED BY TRAINED SOCIAL WORKERS.
♦THIS FORM OF CARE MINIMISES THE UNDESIRABLE EFFECTS OF LARGE CHILDREN’S HOMES WHILST NOT EXPOSING THE CHILD TO THE
PRESSURES TO ADAPT AND FIT IN AS HE WOULD FACE IF PLACED
SAME IN A
NEAR
FOSTER HOME,* HE SAID.
♦WE ARE PLANNING TO SET UP A NUMBER OF THESE HOMES IN THE FUTURE,* HE SAID.
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EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES FOR NEW TOWNS UNDER REVIEW * * X *
THE PACE OF NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG IS UNPARALLELLED IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD, WITH THE RESULT THAT PLANNERS HAVE NOT HAD MUCH OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM EXPERIENCE, THE SENIOR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT), MR Y.T. LI, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE SPEECH DAY OF WONG SHIU CHI MIDDLE SCHOOL IN TAI PO, MR LI CITED THE PROVISION OF SCHOOL PLACES AS AN EXAMPLE AND SAID IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO FORESEE THE PATTERN OF POPULATION MOVEMENT TO THE NEW TOWNS.
♦THE BUILDING OF A PRIMARY SCHOOL NORMALLY TOOK AS LONG AS FOUR YEARS FROM THE TIME OF PLANNING.
/♦IF THE .......
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1983
10 -
♦IF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAD PLANNED MORE THAN THE NORMAL NUMBER OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND IF THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE MOVING TO THE NEW TOWNS WERE NOT YOUNG FAMILIES, THEN A GREAT DEAL OF LAND AND MONEY WOULD HAVE BEEN WASTED,* HE NOTED.
MR LI SAID THAT THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, HAD DRAWN UP SHORT AND LONG-TERM MEASURES TO TACKLE THE SHORTAGE OF PRIMARY SCHOOL PLACES IN CERTAIN AREAS OF SOME NEW TOWNS.
♦WHERE PRIMARY SCHOOL SITES ARE AVAILABLE AND WHERE THERE IS LIKELY TO BE A LONG-TERM NEED FOR ADDITIONAL PRIMARY SCHOOLS, NEW SCHOOLS WILL BE BUILT.
♦OTHERWISE, ADDITIONAL CLASSROOMS WILL BE PROVIDED THROUGH THE CONVERSION OF THE COVERED PLAYGROUNDS OF EXISTING SCHOOLS. SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS AND SPACE, ALTERNATIVE COVERED PLAYGROUNDS WILL BE PROVIDED FOR THE SCHOOLS CONCERNED,*
« SAID.
MR LI SAID THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAD SINCE JUNE ADOPTED A NEW PLANNING STANDARD IN THE PROVISION OF PRIMARY SCHOOL PLACES.
♦IN FUTURE, THE NUMBER OF NEW PRIMARY SCHOOLS TO BE BUILT IN A DISTRICT WILL BE BASED ON THE ACTUAL ESTIMATED NUMBER OF CHILDREN AGED SIX TO 11 IN THE DISTRICT, RATHER THAN ON NINE TO 10 PER CENT OF THE ESTIMATED TOTAL POPULATION OF THE DISTRICT,*
HE EXPLAINED.
MR LI SAID THE DEPARTMENT WAS ALSO WORKING ON THE DESIGN OF ♦FLEXIBLE* SCHOOLS — THOSE WHICH COULD BE USED FIRST AS PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND LATER AS SECONDARY SCHOOLS TO COPE WITH THE POPULATION BULGE.
♦THE PRELIMINARY THINKING IS THAT IN FUTURE, PRIMARY SCHOOLS WILL BE BUILT BASICALLY TO THE DESIGN OF SECONDARY SCHOOLS, BUT WILL HAVE ONLY THE CLASSROOM BLOCK AND THE HALL BLOCK, LEAVING THE SPECIAL ROOM BLOCK TO BE ADDED LATER IF AND WHEN THE SCHOOL IS TURNED INTO A SECONDARY SCHOOL,+ HE REPORTED.
MR LI SAID A WORKING PARTY WITHIN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WAS ACTIVELY CONSIDERING THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY A VISITING SCHOOL BUILDING ARCHITECT FROM BRITAIN ON THE DESIGN OF SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
ADDITIONAL AND
♦THIS IS LIKELY TO RESULT IN THE PROVISION OF MANY FACILITIES IN THE SCHOOL BUILDING SUCH AS SPECIAL ROOMS REMEDIAL TEACHING ROOMS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF NEW SUBJECTS AND
NEW TEACHING STRATEGIES.
♦ALTHOUGH THE NEW DESIGN HAS YET TO BE FINALISED, I CAN SAY THAT IT WILL BE AN EXCITING ONE, AND APART FROM SOLVING THE PROBLEM OF SCHOOL PROVISION IN THE NEW TOWNS, IT WILL REPRESENT ANOTHER MAJOR STEP FORWARD IN OUR PLANS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN HONG KONG,+ MR LI REMARKED.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1983
11 -
JUBILEE STREET PIER DEVELOPMENT APPROVED
* * * *
THE GOVERNMENT HAS APPROVED A REVISED DEVELOPMENT SCHEME FOR THE JUBILEE STREET FERRY PIER.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE HONG KONG AND YAUMATEI FERRY COMPANY ORIGINALLY APPLIED FOR PERMISSION IN 1979 TO REPLACE THE EXISTING PIER WITH A THREE-STOREY DEVELOPMENT WHICH WOULD HAVE INCORPORATED COMMERCIAL PREMISES ON TOP OF FOUR NEW BERTHS.
FOLLOWING APPROVAL OF THIS APPLICATION, THE COMPANY SUBMITTED IN 1982 AN ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 32-STOREY COMMERCIAL BLOCK AT JUBILEE STREET.
DURING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE GOVERNMENT ABOUT THE PREMIUM, AND FOLLOWING THE DOWNTURN IN THE PROPERTY MARKET, HYF SUBMITTED ANOTHER REVISED DESIGN WHICH RETURNED THE PROJECT TO A LOW-RISE DEVELOPMENT OF FOUR STOREYS.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE APPLICATION WAS GRANTED WITH CERTAIN CONDITIONS.
THE PRINCIPAL ONE IS THAT THE SEABED ON WHICH THE PIER WOULD BE BUILT WILL REMAIN CROWN LAND AND OWNERSHIP OF THE ENTIRE STRUCTURE WILL BE VESTED IN THE GOVERNMENT.
THE USE AND OCCUPATION OF THE ENTIRE STRUCTURE WILL REVERT TO THE GOVERNMENT IF THE COMPANY’S FRANCHISE WAS TO CEASE OR BE REVOKED AT SOME STAGE IN THE FUTURE.
THE EXISTING JUBILEE STREET PIER WAS BUILT IN 1933 AND THE FACILITIES ARE INADEQUATE TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF THE FERRY SERVICES OPERATING FROM IT.
THE NEW PIER COMPLEX WILL INCLUDE BETTER WAITING AREAS AND PASSENGER FLOW FACILITIES AND WILL RESULT IN AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE STANDARD OF SERVICE.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO WAIVE THE PREMIUM FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT AS THIS IS IN THE BEST PUBLIC INTEREST.
AS THE PROPOSAL CALLS FOR HYF RATHER THAN THE GOVERNMENT TO hEET THE COST OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW PIER, IT REPRESENTS A SAVINGS TO PUBLIC FUNDS.
ANOTHER CONDITION OF THE ARRANGEMENT IS THAT REVENUES FROM THE DEVELOPMENT WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE INCOME DERIVED FROM FERRY OPERATIONS.
AS THIS IS TO ENABLE A REASONABLY STABLE FARE STRUCTURE TO BE MAINTAINED, THE TRAVELLING PUBLIC WILL ALSO BENEFIT.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE NEW PIER WAS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF 1985.
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/12 .......
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1983
12
BETTER ENVIRONMENT FOR WORKERS
******
WORKERS IN INDUSTRY ARE NOW ENJOYING A SAFER AND HEALTHIER WORKING ENVIRONMENT THANKS TO THE ENTHUSIASTIC EFFORTS IN ENFORCING SAFETY LEGISLATION BY THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, W NEIL HENDERSON, WHEN OPENING THE INSPECTORATE’S SIXTH RESIDENTIAL SEMINAR IN THE YMCA WU KAI SHA YOUTH VILLAGE TODAY.
HE SAID HE WAS ALSO IMPRESSED BY THE EXTENSIVE SAFETY PROMOTION CAMPAIGNS UNDERTAKEN AND THE FORMATION OF A NUMBER OF INDUSTRY-BASED SAFETY COMMITTEES FOR THE PURPOSE OF INSTILLING SAFETY CONSCIOUSNESS AMONG BOTH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES.
+1 AM SURE THAT ALL THESE EFFORTS WILL GO A LONG WAY IN REDUCING INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS,* HE NOTED.
WITH THE DIVERSIFICATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRY, MR HENDERSON CONTINUED, HIGHER TECHNOLOGY WAS EMERGING AND POSED DIFFERENT INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND HEALTH PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, THE SEMINAR PROVIDED AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY FOR MEMBERS OF THE INSPECTORATE TO EXCHANGE VIEWS AND EXPERIENCES ON DAY-TO-DAY PROBLEMS.
♦THE OPPORTUNITY OF DISCUSSING WITH AND LISTENING TO OTHERS WILL HELP TO DEVELOP AMONG YOURSELVES A COMMON POOL OF TECHNICAL EXPERTISE AND NEW IDEAS SO AS TO FACE FUTURE CHALLENGES,* HE TOLD THE PARTICIPANTS.
MR HENDERSON ADDED THAT HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT MEMBERS OF THE INSPECTORATE WOULD CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THEIR HIGH STANDARD CF PERFORMANCE, DESPITE A RESTRAINT ON GROWTH OF THE INSPECTORATE’S STAFF.
--------o
PEOPLE URGED TO 'GET ON WITH JOB’
* * * *
THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, SAID TODAY PEOPLE IN HONG KONG SHOULD HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THEMSELVES AND GET ON WITH THEIR JOB OF MAKING HONG KONG A BETTER PLACE IN WHICH THEY COULD BRING UP THEIR CHILDREN.
*1 FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT WE ALL TREASURE THE ESSENTIALS OF THE FREE SOCIETY WHICH HAVE MADE HONG KONG WHAT IT IS TODAY,* SHE SAID.
SPEAKING AT A LIONS CLUB DINNER MEETING ON THE SECRET OF SUCCESS TO AN AVERAGE MAN, MRS WONG SAID FROM THE POINT OF VIEW CF PERSONAL DISTINCTION AND HUMAN IMPROVEMENT, *HE MUST BE A MAN OF SUPREME COMMON SENSE*.
/+HE IS........
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1983
- 13 -
♦HE IS PATIENT AND MUST BESTIR HIMSELF TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF EVERY DAY. HE SHOULD BE EASY OF APPROACH, READY TO BE ALL THINGS TO ALL MEN. HE SHOULD HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF A HOST OF THINGS, A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE MAY BE A DANGEROUS THING, BUT LIKE MANY DANGEROUS THINGS, CAN BE EXTREMELY USEFUL,* SHE SAID.
+HE MUST BE QUICK AND ALERT TO NOTE THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHERS. HE SHOULD HAVE VISION, AND LOOK AHEAD AND BE PREPARED TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF THE FUTURE. HE IS THE DRIVING FORCE, INSPIRING US WITH HIS VITALITY AND ACTIVITY, REPLYING ON THE SPECIALIST GENIUS TO GIVE HIS SPECIALIST SUPPORT,* SHE ADDED.
MRS WONG SAID THAT THE OTHER FACTOR OF SUCCESS WAS *YEE HEI* WHICH DEFIED ACCURATE CHINESE TRANSLATION.
♦IT COVERS A HOST OF MEANINGS. IT CHALLENGES LOGIC. IT IS A SENTIMENT. IT IS AN EXPRESSION OF FAITH IN HUMANITY, IN SELF, AND IN FRIENDSHIP TO MANKIND AND IN INTEGRITY,* SHE SAID.
SHE ALSO NOTED THAT IT WAS RELATIONS WITH ONE’S COLLEAGUES
IMPORTANT TO ESTABLISH PERSONAL AT WORK.
♦THE GREATEST GENERALS ARE THOSE WHO ENDURE HARDSHIP AND SHARE WITH THEIR MEN THE HEAT AND BURDEN OF THE BATTLEFIELD,+ SHE SAID.
♦MANY OF US WITH OUR AVERAGE QUALITIES WOULD ACHIEVE GREATNESS, NOT THROUGH LUCK OF BIRTH, BUT THROUGH THE APPRECIATION OF OPPORTUNITIES AND SHEER HUMAN ENDEAVOUR.
♦GREATNESS OF PERSONALITY IS IMPORTANT AND MAY BE ACHIEVED BY PERSEVERANCE. GENIUS IS TWO PER CENT AND PERSPIRATION 98 PER CENT. IT IS BY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE MIND NECESSARY TO PERSEVERE THAT PERSONALITY IS FOUND,♦ SHE SAID.
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IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY UNIT STRESSED
* * * M
THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID THIS (THURSDAY) EVENING IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT THE TRADITIONAL FAMILY UNIT SHOULD BE ABLE TO EVOLVE TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF HONG KONG’S SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SITUATION.
SPEAKING AT A VARIETY SHOW AT THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY HALL TO MARK THE OPENING OF THIS YEAR’S FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN, HE SAID RAPID URBANISATION AND OTHER SOCIOLOGICAL CHANGES IN RECENT YEARS HAD LED TO MUCH STRAIN BEING PLACED ON THE TRADITIONAL FAMILY SYSTEM.
♦THE FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION PROGRAMME AIMS TO STIMULATE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE FAMILY, TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF FAMILY LIFE AND TO HELP PREVENT THE BREAK-UP OF FAM IL IES,♦ HE SAID, ADDING THAT IT WAS AN IMPORTANT PART OF HONG KONG’S WELFARE PROGRAMMES.
,rfnrF. TH Wff ••.••••
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1?&3
- 14 -
THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR’S CAMPAIGN IS +BUILDING A HAPPY FAMILY* AND TONIGHT’S VARIETY SHOW MARKED THE FIRST EVENT IN A SERIES OF ACTIVITIES TO BE HELD THROUGHOUT HONG KONG.
HE PAID TRIBUTE TO A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE FROM RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG, EDUCATION, GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES AND SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENTS, AND MEMBER AGENCIES OF THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE, WHO HAD SPENT MUCH TIME AND EFFORT DURING THE PAST SIX MONTHS IN PLANNING THIS CAMPAIGN.
IN ADDITION TO THIS SHOW, A SERIES OF EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES WILL BE HELD AT DISTRICT LEVEL, TO BE SUPPORTED BY OTHER PUBLICITY PROGRAMMES SUCH AS RADIO ANNOUNCEMENTS, A TELEVISION FILM, POSTERS AND CALENDAR CARDS.
DB TO DISCUSS CONTAINER PORT EXTENSION
* * * *
SHAM SHUI PO DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WILL BE BRIEFED ON THE PROPOSED EXTENSION TO THE KWAI CHUNG CONTAINER PORT AND ITS IMPLICATION ON THE DISTRICT AT A MEETING TOMORROW (FRIDAY) AFTERNOON.
A GOVERNMENT LAND AGENT OF THE LANDS DEPARTMENT, MR A.J. HARLAND WILL BRIEF MEMBERS ON THE PLANS TO EXTEND RECLAMATION OFF THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF MEI FOO SUN CHUEN TO PROVIDE LAND FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A TERMINAL NO. 6 AND ITS ASSOCIATED BACK-UP AREA.
AT THE MEETING MEMBERS WILL ALSO BE BRIEFED ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE THIRD STAGE OF THE WEST KOWLOON CORRIDOR ELEVATED ROAD WHICH WILL BEGIN NEXT YEAR.
THE PROJECT WILL COMPRISE A TWO-LANE ELEVATED CARRIAGEWAY RUNNING NORTHWARDS FROM YEN CHOW STREET TO LAI CHI KOK ROAD NEAR CHEUNG LAI STREET.
MEMBERS WILL GIVE THEIR VIEWS ON THE RESCHEDULING OF URBAN COUNCIL PROJECTS IN THE DISTRICT, AND EXPRESS THEIR CONCERN OVER THE DELAY OF BUILDING A TEMPORARY MARKET AND AN URBAN COUNCIL COMPLEX IN THE DISTRICT.
ALSO TABLED FOR DISCUSSION WILL BE A REPORT ON THE SETTING UP OF A +PROTECTION OF WAGES ON INSOLVENCY FUND* TO HELP EMPLOYEES OF BUSINESS FIRMS IN TROUBLE.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA WILL INCLUDE A PROPOSAL TO GIVE SIX MONTHS’ PRIOR NOTICE TO RESIDENTS ON RENTAL INCREASE FOR PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES IN SHAM SHUI PO AND THE SETTING UP OF A HOUSING COMMITTEE UNDER THE BOARD.
TEN SEATS HAVE BEEN RESERVED FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND THEY ARE REQUESTED TO TELEPHONE 3-704251 FOR SEATING ARRANGEMENTS.
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/15 ......
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1983
15
COURSE FOR CAREERS MASTERS
* * H
ABOUT 80 CAREERS MASTERS WILL TAKE PART IN A THREE-MONTH COURSE OFFERED BY THE GENERAL STUDIES DEPARTMENTS OF THE MORRISON HILL AND LEE WAI LEE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES.
THE PURPOSE OF THE COURSE WAS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON TECHNICAL EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES AND THEIR RELATED JOB PROSPECTS TO CAREERS MASTERS, A SPOKESMAN OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL (VTC) SAID TODAY.
THUS CAREERS MASTERS WOULD BE ABLE TO GIVE DETAILED COUNSEL AND GUIDANCE CONCERNING TECHNICAL EDUCATION AT TECHNICAL INSTITUTES TO SECONDARY SCHOOL LEAVERS, HE ADDED.
THE COURSE, CONSISTING OF 12 TWO-HOUR SESSIONS, WILL LAST FROM THIS WEEK TO EARLY FEBRUARY.
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES OF VTC IS HOLDING THE COURSE FOR CAREERS MASTERS.
♦WHEN IT WAS FIRST HELD LAST YEAR, THE RESPONSE WAS ENCOURAGING. PLACES FOR THE CURRENT COURSE HAVE BEEN FULLY FILLED.
♦THE COURSE WILL BECOME A CONTINUOUS ACTIVITY BECAUSE CAREERS MASTERS FIND IT MOST USEFUL TO THEIR COUNSEL WORK,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
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CHILDREN’S BOOKS ON SHOW * * * *
AN EXHIBITION ON CHILDREN’S BOOKS WILL BE HELD AT PUI CHING MIDDLE SCHOOL IN WATERLOO ROAD, KOWLOON, ON SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 26) BETWEEN 10 AM AND 4 PM.
THE EXHIBITION, JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE LIBRARY SECTION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE HONG KONG READING ASSOCIATION, IS DESIGNED TO ACQUAINT PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS AND PUPILS WITH A SELECTION OF BOOKS CONSIDERED SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN AND AVAILABLE IN THE MARKET.
♦TEACHERS SHOULD FIND THIS EXHIBITION HELPFUL IN BUILDING UP A BALANCED AND ATTRACTIVE STOCK FOR THEIR OWN CLASS LIBRARIES IN ORDER TO AROUSE STUDENTS’ INTEREST IN READING,+ AN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG READING ASSOCIATION, MR WILLIAM CHENG, AND THE ACTING DEPUTY CHIEF INSPECTOR OF SCHOOLS, MRS RUBY LAU, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE EXHIBITION.
/16 .......
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1983
16
NOTE TO EDITORS:
OLD FOLK IN FULL SWING * * * *
AN OPEN DANCE COMPETITION FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 26) IN THE KO SHAN THEATRE.
TWENTY TEAMS OF PEOPLE, 60 YEARS OF AGE AND ABOVE, WILL COMPETE IN CLASSICAL, FOLK, MODERN OR HEALTHY DANCE DIVISIONS.
THE COMPETITION IS SPONSORED BY THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT BOARD AND JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE, THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT COUNCIL FOR THE WELFARE AND RECREATION OF THE ELDERLY, AND THE HOLY CARPENTER CHURCH MULT I-SERVICE CENTRE FOR THE ELDERLY.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CONTEST WHICH WILL START AT 2 PM.
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PUBLIC URGED TO PREVENT COUNTRY FIRES
* * *
VISITORS TO THE COUNTRYSIDE, ESPECIALLY THE COUNTRY PARKS, ARE REMINDED ABOUT +THE ABSOLUTE NECESSITY TO PREVENT IT FROM BEING DAMAGED BY FIRES.*
THE DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS IN RECENT WEEKS HAVE RENDERED THE COUNTRYSIDE EXTREMELY VULNERABLE TO FIRES, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
HE REVEALED THAT MORE THAN 120 FIRES HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN COUNTRY PARKS SINCE THE MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER.
MORE THAN 32 000 TREES HAVE BEEN AFFECTED IN THE FIRES SO FAR THIS SEASON, AS AGAINST THE TOTAL OF 30 300 DURING THE LAST SEASON.
THE SPOKESMAN SAIDi *THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF THESE FIRES CANNOT BE OVER-EMPHASISED.*
PICNICKERS ARE URGED TO TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS WHILE VISITING THE COUNTRYSIDE, AND ARE ADVISED TO TAKE ALONG PRE-COOKED FOOD.
FOR THOSE WHO FANCY BARBECUING, THE CARDINAL RULE IS TO BARBECUE ONLY IN SITES DESIGNATED FOR THIS PURPOSE, HE SAID.
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/17 .......
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1983
- 17 -
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN NORTH POINT * * *
TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN NORTH POINT FROM 10.30 PM TOMORROW (FRIDAY) TO 6.30 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR ROAD WORKS AT KING’S ROAD.
THE ARRANGEMENTS ARE AS FOLLOWS I
M KING’S ROAD EASTBOUND BETWEEN NORTH POINT ROAD AND SHU KUK STREET WILL BE PROHIBITED TO ALL VEHICLES EXCEPT TRAMS;
M VEHICLES ON KING’S ROAD EASTBOUND WILL BE DIVERTED VIA NORTH POINT ROAD AND JAVA ROAD;
M BUSES HEADING FOR THE NORTH POINT BUS TERMINUS WILL BE DIVERTED VIA NORTH POINT ROAD, JAVA ROAD AND SHU KUK STREET;
M EASTBOUND BUSES ON ROUTE 121 WILL PROCEED VIA KING’S ROAD. NORTH POINT ROAD, JAVA ROAD, AND THEN TURN RIGHT INTO TIN CHIU STREET AND MARBLE ROAD; AND
* BUSES HEADING FOR QUARRY BAY WILL USE NORTH POINT ROAD AND JAVA ROAD, AT THE END OF WHICH THEY WILL ENTER KING’S ROAD.
THESE MEASURES WILL BE REPEATED FROM 10.30 PM ON SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 26) TO NOON ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 27).
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NOTE TO EDITORS I
LAWN BOWLS FINAL ROUND
M M M
THE FINAL ROUND OF THE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL CLASSIC PAIRS 1983 WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 27) AFTERNOON AT THE KOWLOON BOWLING GREEN CLUB, AND THE CLOSING CEREMONY WILL TAKE PLACE AT 5.15 PM.
CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, MR HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, WILL PRESENT TROPHIES TO THE WINNERS DURING THE CEREMONY.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT.
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/ie .......
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1983
18
SOCCER MATCH TO ROUND OFF FESTIVAL * * *
A FRIENDLY SOCCER MATCH BETWEEN SOUTH CHINA AND SEIKO FOOTBALL TEAMS WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 26) TO MARK THE CLOSING OF THE THIRD TUEN MUN DISTRICT FESTIVAL.
IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS, A TOTAL OF 26 ITEMS OF ACTIVITIES WERE HELD IN 15 VENUES IN THE DISTRICT AND ATTRACTED MORE THAN 150 000 PARTICIPANTS.
THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES WILL OFFICIATE AT THE CEREMONY AND PRESENT SOUVENIRS TO THE PARTICIPATING ORGANISATIONS AND PRIZES TO WINNERS OF THE VARIOUS COMPETITIONS.
NOTE TO EDITORS!
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE TUEN MUN DISTRICT FESTIVAL AT 3.30 PM ON SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 26) AT THE TANG SHIU KIN SPORTS GROUND IN TUEN MUN.
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NOTE TO EDITORS!
SPORTS MEET * * *
THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL HOLD ITS FIRST SPORTS MEET ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 27), AT THE JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE IN SHA
THE EVENTS WILL BE HELD BETWEEN 9 AM AND 4.30 PM.
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT, DR S.F. LAM, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE OPENING CEREMONY AT 2 PM AND PRESENT PRIZES TO WINNERS LATER IN THE AFTERNOON.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT.
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PLB PROHIBITED ZONE AT SHAM SHU I PO
* M * *
FROM 10 AM ON SATURDAY (NOVEMBER 26), THE SECTION OF WAI CHI STREET BETWEEN WAI CHI LANE AND PAK WAN STREET WILL BE PROHIBITED TO ALL PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES EXCEPT THOSE AUTHORISED IN WRITING BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT.
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL 5-233191
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
GOVERNOR PRAISES PEOPLE FOR HOSPITAL WORK................. 1
SEVENTH NEW I.D. CARD PHASE BEGINS DECEMBER .............. 2
8422-MILLION WATER PROJECT SIGNED ........................ 3
OCTOBER CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES ........................... 3
SITES CHOSEN FOR ERP PILOT STAGE.......................... 5
ROLE OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN SOCIETY STRESSED ................. 8
TWO NEW MEMBERS FOR KCRC BOARD ........................... 8
SCHOOLS URGED TO FOLLOW RAIMONDI MODEL ................... 9
SCOUT GROUPS PLANNED FOR HOUSING ESTATES ................. 9
NEED FOR CARE OF ELDERLY FOLK STRESSED ................... 10
KUNG FU CONTEST FINALS ................................... 11
INDUSTRIAL-GODOWN SITE SOLD .............................. 11
TRADE DEPARTMENT SATURDAY COUNTER HOURS EXTENDED ......... 12
NEW REFUSE COLLECTION POINT PLANNED ...................... 13
'TA CHIU' RITES SET FOR SUNDAY............................ 13
SCHOOL CHILDREN POTTED PLANT COMPETITION ................. 14
TWO SITES FOR TENDER...................................... 15
LIFT REGULATIONS BEING AMENDED ........................... 15
NEED FOR DISCIPLINE STRESSED ............................. 16
DB PRAISED FOR WORK ...................................... 17
VARIETY SHOW TO ROUND OFF COURTESY CAMPAIGN .............. 17
MASS MEDIA MANPOWER SURVEY STARTING ...................... 18
TEMPORARY ROAD SECTION CLOSURES .......................... 19
ROAD SAFETY DAY........................................... 19
NEW TRUNK ROAD FOR CIRCULAR ROUTE......................... 20
STREET ALTERATION FOR MTR WORK............................ 20
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF ROAD JUNCTION ....................... 21
FRESH AND SALT WATER MAINS WORK .......................... 21
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1983
1 -
GOVERNOR PRAISES PEOPLE FOR HOSPITAL WORK ******
YAN CHAI HOSPITAL FORMS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE REGIONAL PLAN FOR THE EXPANSION OF MEDICAL SERVICES TO SERVE THE NEW TOWNS, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
’ THE PLAN INCLUDES THE CONSTRUCTION OF A HOSPITAL AT TUEN KIN, THE EXPANSION OF THE POK Ol HOSPITAL IN YUEN LONG, AND THE OPENING OF THE PRINCE OF WALES HOSPITAL AT SHA TIN, THUS PROVIDING A RING OF MEDICAL FACILITIES AROUND THE TERRITORY WITHIN EASY REACH FOR THE PUBLIC, THE GOVERNOR SAID.
OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE NEW STAFF QUARTERS AND POLYCLINIC OF THE YAN CHAI HOSPITAL IN TSUEN WAN, SIR EDWARD SAID, ♦THE CEREMONY MARKS THE SECOND PHASE OF AN AMBITIOUS FOUR-STAGE EXPANSION PROGRAMME TO UPGRADE THE HOSPITAL INTO A DISTRICT HOSPITAL WITH 700 BEDS BY 1986.*
THE PRESENT PHASE, COSTING SOME |57 MILLION, OWED ITS SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION TO THE FORESIGHT, ENTHUSIASM AND FUND RAISING EFFORTS OF THE DIRECTORS, TO GENEROUS DONATIONS FROM CIVIC-SPIRTED INDIVIDUALS LIKE MR WU CHUNG AND FROM THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB, AND ALSO TO THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND PROFESSIONAL ADVICE FROM THE GOVERNMENT, HE SAID.
THE GOVERNOR SAID 20 YEARS AGO TSUEN WAN WAS AN INDUSTRIAL TOWN WITH VERY FEW FACILITIES AND AMENITIES. COMMUNITY LEADERS THEN GAVE THEIR TIME, MONEY AND ENERGY TO ESTABLISH YAN CHAI TO MEET ONE OF THE MOST VITAL NEEDS OF THIS FAST-GROWING AREA.
♦OVER THE YEARS, IT HAS GROWN IN IMPORTANCE AS A DISTRICT MEDICAL CENTRE SERVING A TOWN WHICH NOW HAS A POPULATION OF 650 000 AND SOME 10 000 FACTORIES. THE BOARD OF YAN CHAI ALSO PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL AND WELFARE FACILITIES AND PLAYS AN ACTIVE ROLE IN LOCAL COMMUNITY LIFE. IN TURN, THE PEOPLE OF TSUEN WAN GIVE STRONG SUPPORT TO THE HOSPITAL IN ITS FUND RAISING AND OTHER ACTIVITIES,* HE ADDED.
NOTING THAT THE OPENING CEREMONY COINCIDES WITH THE HOSPITAL’S 10TH ANNIVERSARY, SIR EDWARD CONGRATULATED THE DIRECTORS OF THE YAN CHAI HOSPITAL AND ALL THOSE WHO HAD BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH ITS WORK AND WISHED THE HOSPITAL EVERY SUCCESS IN THE YEARS TO COME.
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Ml
FRIDAY, nVEMPEF 25, lq83
2
SEVENTH NEW I.D. CARD ft ft
PHASE BEGINS DECEMBER *
THE NEW IDENTITY CARD SCHEME WILL ENTER ITS SEVENTH PHASE ON DECEMBER 5, THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY).
DURING THE FIVE-WEEK PERIOD ENDING JANUARY 7, 1984, MEN BORN IN 1955 AND 1954 WILL BE REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR NEW IDENTITY CARDS.
♦THE TOTAL ESTIMATED POPULATION WITHIN THIS AGE BRACKET IS 111 100,+ A DEPARTMENTAL SPOKESMAN SAID.
♦HOWEVER, ONLY 100 600 OUT OF THE ESTIMATED TOTAL ARE EXPECTED TO TURN UP FOR THEIR CARDS. THE REMAINING 9 500 HAVE ALREADY OBTAINED THEIR NEW CARDS EITHER BECAUSE THEIR OLD ONES WERE LOST OR DAMAGED OR BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO AMEND SOME DETAILS ON THEIR OLD CARDS,♦ HE SAID.
WITH THE COMMENCEMENT OF THIS PHASE,AN APPOINTMENT SYSTEM FOR THE PUBLIC WILL BE INTRODUCED.
♦THIS ARRANGEMENT IS TO ENABLE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS IN ADVANCE, SO THAT THEY CAN CALL AT THE ISSUE OFFICES AT PRE-ARRANGED TIMES TO EXCHANGE THEIR ID CARDS,♦ THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.
ANYONE WHO IS DUE TO REPLACE HIS CARD CAN USE THIS SYSTEM HE IS REQUIRED TO OBTAIN A FORM FROM ANY DISTRICT OFFICES AND IMMIGRATION OFFICES, FILL IT IN AND RETURN IT BY MAIL TO WHICHEVER NEW I.D. CARD ISSUE OFFICE HE CHOOSES TO GO TO.
♦APPOINTMENT TO EXCHANGE ONE’S ID CARD CAN BE MADE BETWEEN 10 AM AND 5.30 PM ON ANY NORMAL WORKING DAY EXCEPT MONDAYS,♦ THE SPOKESMAN SAID, *AND COMPLETED FORMS MUST REACH THE ISSUE OFFICES AT LEAST 10 DAYS BEFORE THE END OF THE PERIOD DURING WHICH HE IS REQUIRED TO EXCHANGE HIS CARD.*
MEANWHILE, THOSE WHO WANT TO APPLY HAVE THEIR OLD CARDS REPLACED DUE TO LOSS OR DAMAGE SHOULD GO TO THE REGULAR ISSUE OFFICES.
THE SPOKESMAN ALSO REMINDED THOSE WHO WILL BE AWAY FROM HONG KONG DURING THE SPECIFIED PERIOD TO APPLY FOR NEW CARDS WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THEIR RETURN.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1983
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I422-MILLI0N WATER PROJECT SIGNED ft * ft ft
THE DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES. MR TOM TOMLINSON, SIGNED A CONSULTANCY AGREEMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) FOR STAGE I OF A TREATMENT WORKS AND WATER TRANSFER FACILITIES PROJECT AT PAK KONG IN THE SAI KUNG PENINSULA WITH CONSULTING ENGINEERS, WATSON-HASWELL.
THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE WATER FOR JUNK BAY NEW TOWN AND ITS SURROUNDING AREAS, AND SUPPLEMENT SUPPLY TO KOWLOON EAST DISTRICT AND THE NORTH-EASTERN PART OF HONG KONG ISLAND.
IT IS ESTIMATED TO COST 1422 MILLION.
MR TOMLINSON SAID KOWLOON EAST AND THE NORTH-EASTERN PART OF HONG KONG ISLAND WOULD REQUIRE A SUPPLEMENTARY SOURCE OF TREATED WATER BY 1987 TO MEET INCREASED DEMAND AND THIS WOULD BE MET BY PROVIDING INCREASED TREATMENT AND TRANSFER FACILITIES UNDER THE NEW PROJECT.
HE SAID INITIAL PLANNING OF THE PROJECT HAD JUST BEEN COMPLETED AND IT WAS TIME TO APPOINT CONSULTING ENGINEERS WHO WOULD DEVELOP THE GENERAL PROPOSALS FOR THE WORKS AND THEN DESIGN AND SUPERVISE CONSTRUCTION.
STAGE I OF THE PROJECT WOULD BE COMMISSIONED BY MID-1987 IF EVERYTHING PROCEEDED AS SCHEDULED, MR TOMLINSON SAID.
SIGNING THE AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE CONSULTING ENGINEERS WERE MR A.D. BARRETT AND MR A.R. UMNEY.
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OCTOBER CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES
£ K X
THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY (FRIDAY) PUBLISHED THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES FOR OCTOBER 1983.
THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A) AND CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (B) FOR OCTOBER 1983 WERE 151 AND 150 RESPECTIVELY, EACH BEING FIVE POINTS OR 3.4 PER CENT HIGHER THAN THE PRECEDING MONTH.
COMPARED WITH THE SAME MONTH IN THE PRECEDING YEAR, CPI(A) ROSE BY 17 POINTS OR 12.7 PER CENT AND CP 1(B), BY 16 POINTS OR 11.9 PER CENT.
DURING THE THREE-MONTH PERIOD ENDING IN OCTOBER 1983, THE SEASONALLY ADJUSTED CP I(A) INCREASED AT AN AVERAGE RATE OF 1.9 PER CENT EACH MONTH AND THE SEASONALLY ADJUSTED CP 1(B), 1.7 PER CENT.
HIRING OCTOBER, FOOD PRICES, ESPECIALLY THOSE OF PORK AND EDIBLE OILS, WERE HIGHER. CHARGES FOR MEALS IN RESTAURANTS, SCHOOL "EES, PRIVATE DWELLING RENTALS AND PRICES OF CIGARETTES AND ELECTRIC*1 >'lp«fLES ALSO WF^T UP. __________
/the cpi(a) ....
raiBAY, Novaibsa 25, i>c j
THE CP I (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 CP 1(A) REFERRED TO HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN $1 000 AND 13 499 A MONTH, AND THE CP 1(B) TO HOUSEHOLDS SPENDING BETWEEN $3 500 AND $6 499 A MONTH AT THAT TIME.
THE INDEXES FOR OCTOBER 1983 IN RESPECT OF THE NINE COMMODITY/SERVICE SECTIONS IN THE TWO CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES ARE GIVEN BELOW, TOGETHER WITH THOSE FOR SEPTEMBER 1983 AND OCTOBER 1982.
SECTION (OCTOBER OCT.82 1979 TO SEPTEMBER 1980 AVERAGE- 100)
CP 1(A) SEP.83 OCT.83 OCT.82 CPI(B) SEP.83 OCT.83
FOODSTUFFS 139 151 155 139 150 155
HOUSING 129 138 140 129 138 139
FUEL AND LIGHT 138 148 154 138 149 154
ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND
TOBACCO (FOR HOME CONSUMPTION) 124 184 204 124 178 195
CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR 133 141 144 134 142 145
DURABLE GOODS 108 116 123 110 119 126
MISCELLANEOUS GOODS 125 135 139 123 134 138
TRANSPORT AND VEHICLES 142 158 158 143 160 161
SERVICES 140 154 160 139 152 158
ALL ITEMS 134 146 151 134 145 150
COMPARED WITH SEPTEMBER 1983, THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS INCREASED BY FOUR POINTS IN CP 1(A) AND BY FIVE POINTS IN CP 1(B).
THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF PORK, EDIBLE OILS AND RICE INCREASED AS A RESULT OF HIGHER IMPORT COSTS.
THE AVERAGE CHARGES FOR MEALS IN RESTAURANTS AND THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICE OF FRESH FRUITS ALSO WENT UP.
ON THE OTHER HAND. THE AVERAGE RETAIL PRICE OF FRESH VEGETABLES DECREASED. THE EFFECT OF MOVEMENTS IN THE RETAIL PRICES OF OTHER FOOD ITEMS ON THE INDEX FOR FOODSTUFFS WAS INSIGNIFICANT. ** *
THE INDEX FOR HOUSING INCREASED BY TWO POINTS IN CPI(A) AMD BY ONE POINT IN CP 1(B) OWING TO INCREASED RENTS FOR PRIVATE DWELLINGS.
, THE INDEX
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1983
- 5 -
THE INDEX FOR FUEL AND LIGHT INCREASED BY SIX POINTS IN CP I(A) AND BY FIVE POINTS IN CPI(B) DUE TO HIGHER PRICES OF KEROSENE AND LIQUEFIELD PETROLEUM GAS AS WELL AS HIGHER FUEL COST ADJUSTMENTS IN ELECTRICITY AND TOWNGAS CHARGES.
THE INDEX FOR ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO (FOR HOME CONSUMPTION) INCREASED BY 20 POINTS IN CPI(A) AND BY 17 POINTS IN CPI(B), REFLECTING THE FULL IMPACT OF RISES IN CIGARETTE PRICES.
HIGHER PRICES OF OUTERCLOTHING CAUSED THE INDEX FOR CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR TO INCREASE BY THREE POINTS IN BOTH CP I(A) AND CP 1(B).
THE SEVEN-POINT INCREASE IN THE INDEX FOR DURABLE GOODS IN BOTH CP 1(A) AND CP 1(B) WAS ATTRIBUTABLE TO HIGHER PRICES OF TELEVISION SETS, SOUND EQUIPMENT AND ELECTRICAL CONSUMER GOODS.
THE INDEX FOR IN BOTH CP 1(A) AND TOILET REQUISITES,
THE ONE-POINT VEHICLES IN CPI(B)
MISCELLANEOUS GOODS INCREASED BY FOUR POINTS CPI(B) BECAUSE OF HIGHER PRICES OF MEDICINES COSMETICS, JEWELLERY, TOYS AND HOBBIES.
INCREASE IN THE INDEX FOR TRANSPORT AND WAS MAINLY DUE TO HIGHER GASOLINE PRICES.
THE INDEX FOR SERVICES INCREASED BY SIX POINTS IN BOTH CP I(A) AND CPI(B) AS A RESULT OF HIGHER SCHOOL FEES, TEXTBOOK PRICES AND POSTAGE RATES AS WELL AS HIGHER CHARGES FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT, PACKAGE TOURS AND DINNER PARTIES.
(FIGURES PRESENTED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE REFER TO CPI SERIES NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED)
DETAILS OF THESE PRICE MOVEMENTS ARE GIVEN IN THE *CONSUMER PRICE INDEX REPORT* FOR OCTOBER 1983.
BOTH ENGLISH AND CHINESE VERSIONS OF THIS REPORT ARE AVAILABLE AT 13 PER COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, CONNAUGHT PLACE, HONG KONG.
ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEXES MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, TELEPHONE NO. 3-7216512.
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SITES CHOSEN FOR ERP PILOT STAGE M M M * *
THE CENTRAL AND ADMIRALTY DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN SELECTED AS THE TEST AREA FOR THE ELECTRONIC ROAD PRICING PILOT STAGE.
THE AREA COVERED IS BOUNDED ROUGHLY BY REDDER STREET IN THE WEST AND ARSENAL STREET IN THE EAST AND EXTENDS JO GARDEN ROAD AND COTTON TREE DRIVE AS FAR AS ST JOHN’S CATHEDRAL AND UP ICE HOUSE STREET.
” I TH IN THIS AREA ELECTRONIC LOOPS WILL BE BURIED IN THE ROADS AT 1 '’ITES TO F'RM A CORDON A«n SCREENLINE ARRANGEMENT.
/PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT
ERIDA.Y, NOVE'BSH 25, 1??3
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PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR MIKE CLANCY EXPLAINED TODAY THAT UNDER THE SELECTED ARRANGEMENT, A VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECORDED AS IT ENTERED, MOVED THROUGH AND LEFT THE ZONE. THIS WOULD PROVIDE A THOROUGH TEST OF THE RECORDING ACCURACY OF THE SYSTEM.
HE EMPHASISED THAT THE SITE HAD BEEN SELECTED TO GIVE THE EQUIPMENT AN EXTREMELY EXACTING TEST.
A NUMBER OF POSSIBLE SITE AREAS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE HARBOUR HAD BEEN EXAMINED.
IN THE KOWLOON PENINSULA THERE IS A MORE REGULAR GRID PATTERN OF ROADS ON FAIRLY LEVEL TERRAIN. THE CENTRAL AND ADMIRALTY AREA, ON THE OTHER HAND, OFFERED SITES ON UPHILL AND DOWNHILL GRADIENTS, SITES WHERE TRAFFIC WOULD CROSS IN MERGING MOVEMENTS OR AT SHARP ANGLES TO THE LOOPS, SITES WITH FASTER TRAFFIC AND SITES WITH BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC.
MR CLANCY SAID NO CHALLENGES HAD BEEN SHIRKED. IT WAS IMPORTANT TO TEST WHETHER THE 'COMMUNICATIONS* BETWEEN THE ELECTRONIC LOOP AND THE ELECTRONIC NUMBER PLATE (ENP) WOULD BE AFFECTED BY ELECTRICAL INTERFERENCE. THEREFORE, SITES WERE DELIBERATELY PLACED NEXT TO TRAM LINES AND ABOVE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY TUNNELS.
♦EVEN THOUGH THE SITES FOR THE PILOT STAGE HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED TO FORM A CORDONED ZONE, THERE IS NO COMMITMENT TO SUCH A ZONAL SYSTEM FOR CHARGING PURPOSES IF THE GOVERNMENT GOES AHEAD WITH A FULL SYSTEM,♦ HE STRESSED.
♦HOWEVER, THE FACT THAT ONLY 18 SITES ARE NEEDED TO FORM A LEAKAGE PROOF CORDON AROUND CENTRAL TENDS TO CONFIRM EARLIER ESTIMATES THAT MUCH OF THE URBAN AREA COULD BE COVERED BY 200 TO 300 ELECTRONIC LOOP SITES.*
HE ADDED THAT TRAFFIC CONGESTION EXISTED IN A NUMBER OF AREAS AND NOT JUST CENTRAL.
♦AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO PUNITIVE TAXATION ON ALL MOTORISTS, ERP OFFERS A MEANS OF CONTROLLING USAGE OF VEHICLES IN SUCH CONGESTED AREAS AT PEAK TIMES.♦
MR CLANCY SAID THE ERP EQUIPMENT WOULD BE BEST TESTED IF THERE WERE AN ADEQUATE NUMBER OF VEHICLES WITH ENPS PASSING REGULARLY OVER THE BURIED ELECTRONIC LOOPS.
♦IN THIS REGARD, THE GOVERNMENT IS VERY PLEASED WITH AND GRATEFUL FOR THE RESPONSE OF MANY ORGANISATIONS TO VOLUNTEER TO HAVE VEHICLES FITTED WITH ENPS.+
FROM THE OUTSET OF THE SCHEME IT HAD BEEN ENVISAGED THAT GOVERNMENT VEHICLES WOULD BE FITTED WITH ENPS, AND THE GOVERNMENT FLEET REMAINED A CORE ELEMENT OF THE 3 000 VEHICLES TO BE FITTED WITH ENPS. HOWEVER, THROUGH THE GOOD OFFICES OF THE HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, THE GOODS VEHICLE FLEET OWNERS ASSOCIATION AND THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES, MANY BANKS, MAJOR COMPANIES AND UTILITIES WITH BUSINESS IN THE TEST AREA OR A NEED TO PASS THROUGH IT HAD VOLUNTEERED VEHICLES FOR ENP FITTING.
/+THIS COOPERATION...-
TODAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1983
- 7 -
♦THIS COOPERATION IS VERY WELCOME BECAUSE IT PROVIDES A MUCH BROADER RANGE OF VEHICLES FOR THE PILOT STAGE TESTING,♦ MR CLANCY SAID.
THE MILITARY VEHICLES OF THE ROYAL CORPS OF TRANSPORT WOULD ALSO PARTICIPATE. CHINA MOTOR BUS, KOWLOON MOTOR BUS AND CITYBUS HAD ALSO AGREED TO HAVE ENPS FITTED TO THEIR BUSES.
♦THIS IS PARTICULARLY ADVANTAGEOUS BECAUSE ON CERTAIN ROUTES THROUGH THE CENTRAL/ADMIRALTY AREA BUSES WITH ENPS WILL PASS OVER LOOPS SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE COURSE OF THE DAY, AND IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO HELP VERIFY EQUIPMENT PERFORMANCE BY CHECKING OPERATORS LOGS AGAINST THE COMPUTER LOGS,* HE ADDED.
UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS HAD ALSO AGREED TO HAVE THEIR PRIVATE CARS FITTED WITH ENPS. MR CLANCY ALSO HOPED TO SEE PARTICIPATION FROM TAXIS, MAXICABS AND HKAA AMBERS. HE REITERATED THAT NO ONE WOULD BE CHARGED DURING THE PILOT STAGE.
♦THE COMPLETE SYSTEM THROUGH TO THE BILLING STAGE WILL BE TESTED, BUT NO BILLS WILL BE ISSUED,* HE SAID.
REPORTING FURTHER ON PROGRESS OF THE PILOT STAGE, MR CLANCY SAID THE SHAPE AND METHOD OF FITTING THE ENP TO VEHICLES HAD NOW BEEN DETERMINED.
♦IT NOW LOOKS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE PROTOTYPE ENP DESIGNED AND PRODUCED FOR TRIALS IN THE U.K. ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO.+
THE ENP HAS UNDERGONE AN IMPORTANT RE-THINK TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY AND HONG KONG CONDITIONS. AS ENVISAGED IN EARLIER ANNOUNCEMENTS, IT WILL BE ABOUT THE SAME SIZE AS A VIDEO CASSETTE AND THE CASING WILL BE AN IMPACT RESISTANT PLASTIC.
IT WILL BE FITTED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE FRONT PASSENGER WELL ON CARS. WHEREAS THE PROTOTYPE WAS FITTED WITH BOLTS, THE ENP FOR HONG KONG WILL COME SUPPLIED WITH AN H-SHAPED BRACKET TO BE FIXED SECURELY TO THE CAR BY INERT GAS WELDING.
LOCAL GARAGES WILL BE USED FOR THIS FITTING, WHICH FOR EACH ENP SHOULD TAKE UNDER 10 MINUTES. THIS FITTING METHOD DOES NOT INVOLVE ANY PROTRUSIONS ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR NOR ANY DAMAGE.
MR CLANCY CAUTIONED THAT THE GOOD PROGRESS MADE DID NOT MEAN THAT THE ELECTRONIC HARDWARE WOULD BE IN PLACE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. HE EXPECTED TO SEE INITIAL SHIPMENTS OF EQUIPMENT IN THE SUMMER OF 1984, BUT SAID FULL TESTING WOULD NOT BEGIN FOR A FURTHER SIX MONTHS.
♦THE HARDWARE DESIGN AND SITE AND FLEET SELECTION WHICH HAS BEEN ON THE CRITICAL PATH OF THE PROJECT IS EXACTLY ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE, AND NOTHING IS BEING RUSHED THROUGH,♦ HE POINTED OUT.
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/8........
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1983
8
ROLE OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN SOCIETY STRESSED * * *
YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD PARTICIPATE ACTIVELY IN, AND LEND FULL SUPPORT TO, DISTRICT COMMUNITY AFFAIRS TO MAKE HONG KONG A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE IN.
♦BOTH YOURSELVES AND THE SOCIETY WILL STAND TO BENEFIT IN THE LONG RUN,+ THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, W BARRIE WIGGHAM, SAID AT THE METHODIST COLLEGE'S SILVER JUBILEE VARIETY SHOW THIS (FRIDAY) EVENING.
AS FUTURE MASTERS OF SOCIETY, YOUNG PEOPLE HERE SHOULD MAKE GOOD USE OF THEIR LEISURE TO SERVE THEIR DISTRICTS, OR TAKE PART IN ACTIVITIES ORGANISED BY SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, HE SAID.
♦THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES LIKE THE CLEAN HONGKONG, ANTI-NARCOTICS OR ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGNS, OR OTHER ACTIVITIES SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, SUCH AS SCOUTING AND JUNIOR POLICE CALL, YOU WILL GAIN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF YOUR OWN DISTRICTS AND THE SOCIETY AS A WHOLE.+
♦NOT ONLY WILL IT STAND YOU IN GOOD STEAD WHEN YOU LEAVE SCHOOL, IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE YOU WITH USEFUL EXPERIENCE WHICH WILL ASSIST YOU IN CREATING A BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG,+ HE SAID.
MR WIGGHAM SAID THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION SYSTEM HAD, AFTER TWO YEARS OF HARD WORK AND SOLID ACHIEVEMENTS, PROVED ITS WORTH.
♦HOWEVER, THE SUCCESS AND FULL DEVELOPMENT OF THE SYSTEM STILL COUNT ON THE STAUNCH SUPPORT AND ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF THE PEOPLE,+ HE SAID.
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TWO NEW MEMBERS FOR KCRC BOARD K K K
TWO NEW MEMBERS HAVE BEEN APPOINTED TO THE BOARD OF THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY CORPORATION.
THEY ARE MR DAVID K.P. LI, CHIEF MANAGER OF THE BANK OF EAST ASIA LIMITED, AND MR J.A. RICHARDSON, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF HUTCHISON WHAMPOA LIMITED. THE APPOINTMENTS ARE FOR TWO YEARS FROM DECEMBER 1.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD IS MR H.M.G. FORSGATE AND THE OTHER MEMBERS ARE MR CHAN KAM-CHUEN, MR CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, MISS LYDIA DUNN, THE SECRETARY FOR MONETARY AFFAIRS, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT AND THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE CORPORATION.
/9........
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1983
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SCHOOLS URGED TO FOLLOW RAIMONDI MODEL ft ft ft ft
RAIMONDI COLLEGE IS TO BE ADMIRED FOR ITS EMPHASIS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENT MORAL CHARACTER WITHOUT OBTRUSIVE RELIGIOUS OVERTONES, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR COLVYN HAYE SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE SCHOOL’S ANNUAL GRADUATION CEREMONY, WHICH ALSO COINCIDED WITH RAIMONDI’S SILVER JUBILEE YEAR, MR HAYE SAID THE RAIMONDI PROGRAMME FOR DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENT CHARACTER SERVED AS A MODEL WHICH HE WOULD URGE MANY OTHER SCHOOLS TO STUDY AND FOLLOW.
♦WHAT RAIMONDI PUPILS LEARN HERE REMAINS WITH THEM AFTER THEY LEAVE SCHOOL, WHEN THEY ENTER THE ADULT WORLD AS WELL-COORDINATED YOUNG PEOPLE WITH A STRONG MORAL COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY,* HE SAID.
MR HAYE NOTED THAT RELIGION IN RAIMONDI IS LARGELY A MATTER OF EXAMPLE. SIMILARLY, MORALITY IS TAUGHT NOT CAUGHT AT EVERY POSSIBLE OPPORTUNITY.
♦MORAL EDUCATION PERMEATES THE CURRICULUM AND EVERY ACTIVITY AT RAIMONDI SO THAT THE BOYS WHO ARE LUCKY TO STUDY HERE ABSORB RESPECT FOR MORAL VALUES WHICH WILL SERVE THEM WELL THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES,* MR HAYE SAID.
THE DIRECTOR ALSO COMMENDED FATHER CARRA ON HIS METHOD IN DEALING WITH POTENTIAL DELINQUENTS.
♦HE TOLD ME THAT ONE OF THE EARLIEST LESSONS HE HAD LEARNED WAS THE NEED TO ESTABLISH CONTACT WITH PARENTS, AND SO ONE OF THE FIRST PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATIONS IN OUR EDUCATION SCENE CAME INTO KING IN 1966.
♦HERE AGAIN IS AN EXAMPLE I WISH MANY MORE SCHOOLS WOULD FOLLOW,♦ MR HAYE SAID.
CERTIFICATES AND PRIZES WERE PRESENTED TO STUDENTS BY *S GLORIA HAYE, WIFE OF THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION.
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SCOUT GROUPS PLANNED FOR HOUSING ESTATES ft ft ft ft ft
THE SCOUT ASSOCIATION IS PLANNING TO EXTEND ITS MOVEMENT TO DENSELY-POPULATED HOUSING ESTATES BY FORMING SIX NEW SCOUT GROUPS THERE EACH YEAR, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, » BARRIE WIGGHAM, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
MR WIGGHAM WAS SPEAKING AT THE HONG KONG SCOUT ASSOCIATION’S RAFFLE DRAW TO RAISE FUNDS FOR SCOUT ACTIVITIES.
/UHKBE ABB.......
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1983
- 10 -
THERE ARE ALSO PLANS TO HAVE A TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR LOCAL YOUTHS WHO WILL ASSIST IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT.
HE SAID THE SUCCESS IN THIS DEVELOPMENT SCHEME WOULD BENEFIT MANY MORE YOUNGSTERS IN THOSE POPULATED AREAS, WHERE SERVICES TO SCHOOL CHILDREN AND OTHER PEOPLE WERE STILL BADLY NEEDED.
HE SAID IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR SCOUTS TO RAISE FUNDS FOR THEIR OWN ACTIVITIES, ESPECIALLY WHEN HONG KONG IS ONLY BEGINNING TO RECOVER FROM THE WORLDWIDE ECONOMIC RECESSION.
♦ALTHOUGH THE UPTURN IS NOW APPARENT, RECENT APPEALS TO INDIVIDUAL BENEFACTORS FOR SUBSTANTIAL DONATIONS HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN FORTHCOMING,* HE SAID.
♦A RAFFLE SALE MOBILISES EVERY MEMBER OF YOUR REGION, AND GIVES EACH SCOUT AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INCOME FOR SCOUTING THROUGH HIS OWN EFFORTS,♦ HE SAID.
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NEED FOR CARE OF ELDERLY FOLK STRESSED
* * *
THE IMPORTANCE OF TREATING ELDER PEOPLE WITH RESPECT AND UNDERSTANDING WAS STRESSED TODAY BY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, NR JOHN CHAMBERS.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE ST. JAMES’ SETTLEMENT’S EXHIBITION ON THE ELDERLY AT HENNESSY CENTRE, MR CHAMBERS SAID IT WAS NOT SUFFICIENT TO PROVIDE ELDERLY FAMILY MEMBERS WITH FOOD AND SHELTER AND NOTHING MORE.
♦WHAT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE IS TO MAKE THEM FEEL WANTED, TO BE GENUINELY PART OF THE FAMILY.
♦IF WE CAN ACHIEVE THIS, THEN THE OLDER MEMBERS OF OUR FAMILIES WILL REALLY BE HAPPY,♦ HE SAID.
BUT, HE SAID, THIS WOULD NOT ALWAYS BE EASY, BECAUSE THE INTERESTS. RECREATION AND EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS OF THE ELDERLY MIGHT DIFFER FROM THOSE OF YOUNGER PEOPLE.
HE SAID PEOPLE REACHING RETIREMENT AGE, HAD SPECIAL CLAIM FOR SUPPORT AND SYMPATHY BECAUSE THE RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG SINCE 1945 WAS A RESULT VERY LARGELY OF THEIR EFFORTS.
HE SAID THE SUCCESS OF HONG KONG’S EFFORTS TO FOSTER THE WELL-BEING OF THE ELDERLY DEPENDED ON THE JOINT EFFORTS OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.
-------- o - - - -
/11.........
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1*83
11
KUNG FU CONTEST FINALS
* * *
THE FINALS OF THE THIRD CHINESE MARTIAL ARTS SELF-ATTAINMENT AWARD COMPETITION WILL BE HELD TOMORROW EVENING (SATURDAY) AT THE MACPHERSON STADIUM, MONG KOK.
THE EVENT IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE RECREATION AND SPORTS SERVICE OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT AND THE HONG KONG CHINESE MARTIAL ARTS ASSOCIATION.
OVER 60 MEN AND WOMEN FINALISTS WILL COMPETE IN FOUR DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES, AND SEVEN TEAMS WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE FINALS OF GROUP PERFORMANCE.
MEDALS WILL BE PRESENTED TO WINNERS AT THE PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY TO BE HELD AT 9.30 PM AT THE SAME PLACE.
LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, DR HO KAM-FAI WILL OFFICIATE AT THE CEREMONY AND THE CHIEF RECREATION AND SPORT OFFICER (RECREATION AND SPORTS SERVICE), MR DAVID MAK WILL MAKE A WELCOMING SPEECH.
IN ADDITION TO PROMOTING CHINESE MARTIAL ARTS, AROUSING PUBLIC INTEREST IN FITNESS AND ENCOURAGING COOPERATION WITHIN THE SPORT, THE AWARD IS ALSO AIMED AT RAISING THE STANDARD OF CHINESE MARTIAL ARTS.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT WHICH STARTS AT 6 PM TOMORROW (SATURDAY) AT MACPHERSON STADIUM, MONG KOK.
-----o------
INDUSTRIAL-GODOWN SITE SOLD ft ft ft ft
A 2 977 SQUARE-METRE INDUSTRIAL AND GODOWN SITE AT CHEUNG SHA WAN ROAD, LAI CHI KOK, WAS SOLD BY THE LANDS DEPARTMENT TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE SITE WAS BOUGHT BY HIGH-BORN INVESTMENT COMPANY LIMITED FOR $17.6 MILLION - $5 912 PER SQUARE METRE.
A RESIDENTIAL SITE AT RAZOR HILL, SAI KUNG, AND TWO OTHER INDUSTRIAL AND GODOWN SITES AT YUEN LONG AND SHA TIN WERE WITHDRAWN FROM SALE AS THERE WERE NO BIDS.
THE AUCTION TOOK PLACE AT THE CITY HALL THEATRE AND WAS CONDUCTED BY GOVERNMENT LAND AGENT, MR C.M. MO.
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/12 .......
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1983
- 12 -
TRADE DEPARTMENT SATURDAY COUNTER HOURS EXTENDED * * * ft
THE TRADE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT SATURDAY WORKING HOURS FOR PUBLIC COUNTERS, ORIGINALLY FROM 9 AM TO 12 NOON, WILL BE EXTENDED PERMANENTLY BY HALF AN HOUR TO 12.30 PM.
♦THIS MEASURE IS INTRODUCED FOLLOWING FAVOURABLE REACTION FROM THE TRADE TOWARDS A THREE-MONTH TRIAL SCHEME ON EXTENDED SATURDAY WORKING HOURS,♦ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID.
WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT, THE FOLLOWING BRANCHES AND DIVISIONS OF THE TRADE DEPARTMENT WILL WORK FROM 9 AM TO 12.30 PM EVERY
SATURDAYi
NORTH AMERICA*
TEXTILES CONTROLS BRANCH — (15/F, OCEAN CENTRE)
EEC i
TEXTILES CONTROLS BRANCH — ”
OTHER REGIONS!
TEXTILES CONTROLS BRANCH — ”
SYSTEMS!
SYSTEMS AND COMMON SERVICES BRANCH — (15/F, 13/F, G/F)
CERTIFICATION BRANCH — (13/F, 1/F, G/F)
RESERVED COMMODITIES AND TRADE
LICENSING (NON-TEXTILES) BRANCH — (13/F)
COMPUTERISED SYSTEMS BRANCH — (15/F)
ADMINISTRATION!
HONG KONG SUB-OFFICE, — (1/F, ASIAN HOUSE)
ENQUIRIES COUNTERS — 3-7222333
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1983
- 13 -
NOTE TO EDITORS*
NEW REFUSE COLLECTION POINT PLANNED * * * *
A REFUSE COLLECTION POINT AND A PUBLIC TOILET ARE BEING PLANNED ON A SITE AT LAN KWAI FONG IN CENTRAL.
TOMORROW, THE MEMBERS OF THE WAN CHAI, CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT BOARDS WILL VISIT THE SITE TO STUDY IF THE PROPOSAL WILL HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONMENT OF LAN KWAI FONG WHICH HAS RECENTLY BEEN DEVELOPED INTO A PLACE FOR SHOPPING AND EATING.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MISS LOLLY CHIU, AND THE DISTRICTS’ URBAN SERVICES OFFICERS, MEMBERS WILL ALSO TOUR THE NEWLY-COMPLETED OFF-STREET REFUSE COLLECTION POINTS AT SING WO ROAD AND PATERSON STREET IN WAN CHAI.
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE VISIT. A GOVERNMENT VEHICLE WILL LEAVE QUEEN’S PIER, EDINBURGH PLACE, AT 9.20 AM FOR LAN KWAI FONG.
-----0------
NOTE TO EDITORS:
’TA CHIU’ RITES SET FOR SUNDAY * * * *
YUEN LONG’S TRADITIONAL TA CHIU RITUAL, HELD ONCE EVERY 10 YEARS TO THANK GODS FOR BRINGING PEACE AND PROSPERITY TO THE COMMUNITY, WILL TAKE PLACE ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 27).
PERFORMING THE OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, WHO ALSO OFFICIATED ON THE LAST TWO OCCASIONS — FIRST IN 1963 IN HIS CAPACITY AS THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT OFFICER AND IN 1973 AS DISTRICT COMMISSIONER, NEW TERRITORIES.
SUNDAY’S TA CHIU CEREMONY — THE SEVENTH SINCE IT STARTED IN 1923 — WILL BEGIN AT 5.30 PM AT THE OPEN SPACE OF SAI CHING STREET, SAI YUE CHUNG, YUEN LONG.
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE WELCOME TO COVER THE EVENT.
A GOVERNMENT VEHICLE, AM 5797, WILL LEAVE THE KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER AT 4 PM SHARP FOR YUEN LONG.
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1983
14
SCHOOL CHILDREN POTTED PLANT COMPETITION * * * ft
STUDENTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES SCHOOLS ARE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE PART IN A STUDENT POTTED PLANT COMPETITION WHICH WILL BE FOLLOWED BY AN EXHIBITION OF THE ENTRIES TO BE HELD IN MARCH NEXT YEAR.
THE COMPETITION AND EXHIBITION, IN SUPPORT OF THE ’MEI FA’ PHASE OF THE CLEAN HONG KONG CAMPAIGN, IS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB SECTION, THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE ROTARY CLUB OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE COMPETITION AIMS AT PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT POTTED PLANTS AND WILL STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF BEAUTIFYING THE ENVIRONMENT. ALL PLANTING WORK SHOULD BE DONE BY STUDENTS UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF TEACHERS.
THE COMPETITION WILL BE OPEN TO STUDENTS FROM PRIMARY 4 TO FORM 7. IT WILL BE DIVIDED INTO PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL SECTIONS. EACH SECTION COMPRISES THE FOLLOWING GROUPSi AFRICAN VIOLETS, ANNUALS, CACTI, CHRYSANTHEMUMS, FERNS, FOLIAGE PLANTS AND SUCCULENT PLANTS WHILE THE SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS CAN ALSO SEND IN THEIR ENTRIES FOR THE GROUP NAMELY FLORAL ARTS.
EACH SCHOOL IS LIMITED TO SEND THREE ENTRIES FOR EACH GROUP. THERE WILL BE PRIZES FOR THE BEST ENTRIES FOR EACH GROUP AND ALSO FOR THE THREE SCHOOLS WITH THE HIGHEST MARKS IN EACH SECTION.
THE PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONY WILL BE HELD AT TSUEN WAN GOVERNMENT SECONDARY SCHOOL ON MARCH 9 NEXT YEAR AND, WILL BE FOLLOWED BY AN EXHIBITION OF ALL ENTRIES AT THE SAME PLACE FROM THE SAME DAY TO MARCH 11.
SCHOOLS WISHING TO TAKE PART IN THE COMPETITION SHOULD SEND THE ENTRY FORM TO THE COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB SECTION, EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, LEE GARDENS, 4/F., HYSAN AVENUE, CAUSEWAY BAY BEFORE DECEMBER 15.
ENQUIRIES CONCERNING THE COMPETITION AND EXHIBITION CAN BE MADE AT THE COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB SECTION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ON 5-8392380.
0 --------
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1983
- 15 -
TWO SITES FOR TENDER ft ft ft ft
THE LANDS DEPARTMENT IS OFFERING TWO LOTS OF CROWN LAND FOR SALE BY TENDER.
ONE SITE, MEASURING ABOUT 3 800 SQUARE METRES, IS IN WAI YIP STREET, KWUN TONG. IT IS FOR NON-INDUSTRI AL DEVELOPMENT TO INCLUDE A MULTI-STOREY CAR PARK, BUT EXCLUDING RESIDENTIAL, HOTEL OR GODOWN DEVELOPMENT.
THE SECOND SITE, IN TUEN MUN NEW TOWN. MEASURES 2 494 SQUARE METRES. IT IS ALSO FOR NON-INDUSTRI AL DEVELOPMENT TO INCLUDE A PUBLIC MULTI-STOREY CAR PARK, BUT EXCLUDING GODOWN AND PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
THE CLOSING DATE FOR ACCEPTANCE OF TENDERS IS NOON ON DECEMBER 30.
TENDER FORMS, NOTICES AND CONDITIONS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE SURVEY DIVISION OF THE LANDS DEPARTMENT, MURRAY BUILDING, 5TH FLOOR, GARDEN ROAD; DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE (KOWLOON WEST), KOWLOON GOVERNMENT 6FFICES, 10TH FLOOR, 405 NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON; AND THE DISTRICT LANDS OFFICES OF SHA TIN, TAI PO, NORTH, YUEN LONG, TSUEN WAN, TUEN MUN, SAI KUNG AND ISLANDS. TENDER PLANS MAY ALSO BE INSPECTED AT THESE LOCATIONS.
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LIFT REGULATIONS BEING AMENDED ft ft ft
LIFT REGULATIONS IN HONG KONG ARE BEING AMENDED TO IMPROVE SAFETY.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THE BUILDING (LIFTS) REGULATIONS WOULD BE UPDATED FROM JANUARY 1 NEXT YEAR TO CONFORM TO CURRENT BRITISH STANDARD CODES OF PRACTICE AND SPECIFICATIONS.
HE SAID ONE OF THE CHANGES WAS THAT A LIFT PIT SERVING MORE THAN ONE LIFT WOULD HAVE TO BE PHYSICALLY PARTITIONED IN FUTURE TO SEPARATE ADJACENT LIFT CARS AND EQUIPMENT. THIS IS TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS ARISING FROM WORKERS IN A LIFT PIT COMING INTO CONTACT WITH NEARBY LIFTS OR EQUIPMENT.
ANOTHER CHANGE IS THAT THE REGULATIONS WILL INCLUDE REQUIREMENTS PREVENTING LIFTS FROM BEING STOPPED BETWEEN FLOORS, TO INHIBIT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AND ANOTHER TO REDUCE THE RISK OF DANGER OR INJURY TO PASSENGERS BY ELIMINATING THE POSSIBILITY OF DOORS BEING OPENED WHILE THE LIFT IS MOVING.
A NEW REGULATION STIPULATES THAT ACCESS WILL BE PROVIDED INTO LIFT SHAFTS AT APPROPRIATE LEVELS FOR RESCUE PURPOSES.
/a further.......
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1983
- 16 -
A FURTHER NEW REGULATION TO BE INTRODUCED GIVES LEGAL SANCTION TO AN EXISTING REQUIREMENT ALREADY BEING IMPLEMENTED BY THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES TO PROVIDE FIREMEN’S LIFTS.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE AMENDMENTS AND NEW REGULATIONS GAZETTED TODAY, WERE RECOMMENDED BY AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL STUDY GROUP SEf UP IN I960 AS PART OF A BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT EXERCISE TO REVIEW THE BUILDING REGULATIONS.
HE SAID THAT INCLUDED IN THE STUDY GROUP WERE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DIRECTOR OF HOUSING, THE DIRECTOR OF ELECTRICAL AND KCHANICAL SERVICES, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES AND THE DIRECTOR OF BUILDING DEVELOPMENT.
THE PROPOSALS HAD BEEN DISCUSSED AND ENDORSED BY THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE REVIEW SUB-COMMITTEE, WHOSE MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES REPRESENTATIVES FROM PRIVATE PROFESSIONAL BODIES AND
THE
HAD
GOVERNMENT.
HE SAID THAT THE LIFT AND ESCALATOR CONTRACTORS’ ASSOCIATION HELPED TO FORM THE PROPOSALS.
------o-------
NEED FOR DISCIPLINE STRESSED
* * * *
IMMIGRATION OFFICERS WERE REMINDED TODAY BY THE DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRATION, MR ALAN CARTER, OF THE NEED TO EXERCISE THEIR POWERS* ONLY IN A CAREFULLY CONTROLLED WAY — A DISCIPLINED WAY.*
SPEAKING AT A PASSING-OUT PARADE OF 69 RECRUIT OFFICERS AT THE ROYAL HONG KONG REGIMENT PARADE GROUND, MR CARTER SAID THAT DISCIPLINE WAS NOT JUST A MATTER OF DRILL ON THE PARADE GROUND.
♦DISCIPLINE IS A SYSTEM OF RULES WHICH GOVERNS OUR CONDUCT, THE SMARTNESS OF OUR TURNOUT, AND THE WAY IN WHICH WE EXECUTE OUR DUTIES.
♦BUT IT IS ALSO A FORM OF MENTAL AND MORAL TRAINING, WHICH COMES ONLY FROM WITHIN US, WHICH GIVES US THE RIGHT ATTITUDE TO SERVE THE PUBLIC TO THE VERY BEST OF OUR ABILITY AND TO THE HIGHEST PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS,♦ HE SAID.
MR CARTER THEN CONGRATULATED THE OFFICERS ON THEIR SMART TURNOUT.
-----o------
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 19a.>
17
DB PRAISED FOR WORK * * * *
THE INTERACTION AT DISTRICT LEVEL BETWEEN REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS CREATES NEW EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM, AT THE SHAM SHU I PO DISTRICT BOARD MEETING TODAY (FRIDAY).
HE SAID THE INTRODUCTION OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION HAD BROUGHT ABOUT GREATER PARTICIPATION OF LOCAL PEOPLE IN THEIR DISTRICT AFFAIRS.
♦THROUGH THE HARD WORK AND CONTRIBUTION OF DEDICATED PEOPLE BOTH AT THE DISTRICT BOARD AND DISTRICT MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE, WE HAVE NOW AN EFFICIENT MACHINERY CAPABLE OF RESPONDING EFFECTIVELY TO LOCAL NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS THAT HONG KONG CAN BE JUSTIFIABLY PROUD OF,+ MR WIGGHAM SAID.
IN SHAM SHU I PO, HE SAID, THE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE LIVING CONDITIONS OF SQUATTER AREAS, THE VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS, THE SPORTS FESTIVALS AND OTHER PROJECTS MADE THE DISTRICT A BETTER AND HAPPIER PLACE TO LIVE IN.
♦I CONGRATULATE YOU FOR ALL THAT HAS BEEN DONE FOR THE DISTRICT AND I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL GIVE FULL SUPPORT TO YOUR FUTURE ENDEAVOURS,♦ MR WIGGHAM SAID.
------0-------
VARIETY SHOW TO ROUND OFF COURTESY CAMPAIGN ft ft ft
A GRAND FINALE OF SONGS AND DANCES WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 27) TO ROUND OFF THE MONTH-LONG COURTESY CAMPAIGN IN YAU MA TEI.
AT THE 90-MINUTE VARIETY SHOW, THREE +MOST COURTEOUS BUS CAPTAINS* WILL RECEIVE PRIZES FROM THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM.
THE SELECTION OF ♦MOST COURTEOUS BUS CAPTAINS* WAS ONE OF SEVERAL COMPETITIONS ORGANISED BY THE YAU MA TEI DISTRICT BOARD AND LOCAL ORGANISATIONS TO PUBLICISE THE COURTESY MESSAGE.
EARLIER THE MOST COURTEOUS COSMETIC SALESGIRLS AND HOTEL EMPLOYEES WERE SELECTED. A NUMBER OF SHOPS IN THE DISTRICT WERE ALSO GIVEN AWARDS FOR THEIR GOOD SERVICES.
/THE variety .......
FBIDA.Y, NOVEMBER 25, 1963
18
THE VARIETY SHOW TO BE HELD AT THE NEW WORLD PL*ZA, WILL BE BROADCAST LIVE ON COMMERCIAL RADIO I STARTING AT 2 PW.
NOTE TO EDITORS!
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE YAU MA TEI COURTESY CAMPAIGN CLOSING CEREMONY AND PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY FOR THE *MOST COURTEOUS BUS CAPTAINS* STARTING AT 2 PM ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 27) AT THE NEW WORLD PLAZA (NEXT TO THE TOKYU DEPARTMENT STORE).
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MASS MEDIA MANPOWER SURVEY STARTING ft ft ft ft
A MANPOWER SURVEY ON THE MASS MEDIA BEGINS TODAY (FRIDAY) AND WILL LAST TILL DECEMBER 16.
THE 19-DAY SURVEY IS CONDUCTED BY THE JOURNALISM TRAINING BOARD OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL.
♦BASED ON THE SURVEY FINDINGS, THE BOARD WILL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON MANPOWER PLANNING AND TRAINING TO THE GOVERNMENT AND THE MASS MEDIA INDUSTRY,♦ MR SHUM CHOI-SANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD SAID.
WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING DEPARTMENT, QUESTIONNAIRES AND EXPLANATORY NOTES HAVE BEEN SENT TO ABOUT 500 NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES, NEWS AGENCIES AND RADIO AND TELEVISION STATIONS TO BE COVERED IN THE SURVEY.
OFFICERS FROM THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT WILL VISIT THEM DURING THE SURVEY PERIOD TO COLLECT AND HELP COMPLETE THE FORMS.
MR SHUM STRESSED THAT INFORMATION COLLECTED WOULD BE HANDLED IN STRICT CONFIDENCE AND PUBLISHED ONLY IN THE FORM OF STATISTICAL SUMMARIES WITHOUT REFERENCE TO INDIVIDUAL ORGANISATIONS.
ALSO HELPING IN THE SURVEY IS THE GOVERNMENT DATA PROCESSING AGENCY.
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/19 .......
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1983
19
TEMPORARY ROAD SECTION CLOSURES * * * *
SPECIAL TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED HOM FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE MORNINGS FROM 1.15 AM TO 5 AM AND MONDAY (NOVEMBER 27 AND 28).
THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS OF ROADS WILL BE CLOSED:
*
THE SECTION OF WANG TAU HOM EAST ROAD BETWEEN HOM CENTRAL ROAD AND FU MEI STREET EAST.
IN WANG TAU ON SUNDAY
WANG TAU
ft
ft
THE SECTION OF FU MEI STREET EAST FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH WANG TAU HOM EAST ROAD TO A POINT ABOUT 40 METRES SOUTH OF THE JUNCTION.
THE SECTION OF WANG TAU HOM SOUTH ROAD FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH WANG TAU HOM EAST ROAD TO A POINT ABOUT 70 METRES WEST OF THE JUNCTION.
wahg be
south R04D w,ll “ »^uouyTENWND
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ROAD SAFETY DAY ft ft ft
A ROAD SAFETY DAY, FEATURING A CYCLING DEMONSTRATION BY THE ROAD SAFETY ASSOCIATION AND A PHOTO EXHIBITION, WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 27) IN MUI WO.
THE EVENT MARKS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE THREE-WEEK ISLANDS DISTRICT ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN. SPONSORED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD, AND JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICE, THE ISLANDS DISTRICT ROAD SAFETY CAMPAIGN ORGANISING COMMITTEE AND THE POLICE.
AT THE ROAD SAFETY DAY. WINNERS OF ESSAY-WRITING, PAINTING AND QUIZ COMPETITIONS WILL RECEIVE THEIR PRIZES, AND SEE THEIR ENTRIES PUT ON DISPLAY.
THE ISLANDS DISTRICT OFFICER, MR WILLIAM YAP! DIVISIONAL SUPERINTENDENT FOR ISLANDS, MR M.J. HARRIS; SENIOR EDUCATION OFFICER FOR TUEN MUN AND ISLANDS, MR NG KOON-CHI; COMMISSIONER OF ROAD SAFETY PATROLS, MR CECIL CHAN; AND THE CHAIRMEN OF THE ISLANDS DISTRICT’S EIGHT RURAL COMMITTEES, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE CEREMONY.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE ROAD SAFETY DAY STARTING AT 2 PM AT THE NEW TERRITORIES HEUNG YEE KUK SOUTHERN DISTRICT SECONDARY SCHOOL.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1983
20 -
NEW TRUNK ROAD FOR CIRCULAR ROUTE
* * M
A 12-KILOMETRE LONG TRUNK ROAD FROM AU TAU TO FAN KAM ROAD WILL BE CONSTRUCTED AS PART OF THE NEW TERRITORIES CIRCULAR ROUTE.
THE PROJECT WILL INCLUDE CONSTRUCTION OF SERVICE ROADS LINKING TO THE TRUNK ROAD BY GRADE-SEPARATED INTER-SECTIONS AT VARIOUS LOCATION TO CATER FOR LOCAL ACCESS TRAFFIC.
WORK ON THE DUAL THREE-LANE ROAD WILL BE CARRIED OUT IN PHASES BY THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE OF THE DEPARTMENT IS NOW INVITING TENDERS FOR THE FIRST PHASE OF THE PROJECT WHICH INVOLVES MAINLY CONSTRUCTING A DUAL TWO-LANE TRUNK ROAD FROM PAK SHEK AU TO FAN KAM ROAD.
IT WILL START LATE IN FEBRUARY NEXT YEAR AND BE COMPLETED IN 1986.
A PLAN SHOWING THE PROPOSED PROJECT CAN BE SEEN AT CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, CENTRAL ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING MAIN ENTRANCE LOBBY; DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE (NORTH) AND DISTRICT OFFICE (NORTH) OLD DISTRICT OFFICE BUILDING, TAI PO MARKET; YUEN LONG DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE AND YUEN LONG DISTRICT OFFICE, YUEN LONG DISTRICT BRANCH OFFICES, NEW TERRITORIES.
ANY CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION MUST BE IN WRITING TO THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS.
------o-------
STREET ALTERATION FOR MTR WORK * * *
A TEMPORARY STREET ALTERATION WILL BE INTRODUCED IN SAI YING PUN NEXT MONTH TO FACILITATE THE CONSTRUCTION OF A VENT SHAFT AND FAN CHAMBER FOR THE OVERRUN TUNNEL OF THE MTR ISLAND LINE’S SHEUNG WAN STATION.
THE AREA AFFECTED IS A SECTION OF KO SHING STREET BETWEEN THE JUNCTIONS OF DES VOEUX ROAD WEST AND LI SING STREET. BOTH THE CARRIAGEWAY AND THE NORTHERN FOOTPATH RUNNING ALONG THE SECTION WILL BE CLOSED, BUT AN ALTERNATIVE TEMPORARY CARRIAGEWAY AND FOOTPATH OF A MINIMUM WIDTH OF FOUR METRES AND 1.5 METRES RESPECTIVELY WILL BE PROVIDED. TRAFFIC SIGNS WILL BE ERECTED TO GUIDE MOTORISTS. THE EXACT EFFECTIVE DATE FOR THE STREET ALTERATION WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER.
/a notice ......
FHIBAY, NOVEMBER 25, _J
- 21 -
A NOTICE ABOUT THE STREET ALTERATION IS GAZETTED TODAY AND COPIES TOGETHER WITH THE STREET ALTERATION PLAN (NO. MT/G/241), MAY BE INSPECTED DURING NORMAL OFFICE HOURS AT THE ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE (CENTRAL AND WESTERN) AT CGO WEST WINGS OR THE LANDS DEPARTMENT, SURVEY DIVISION IN MURRAY BUILDING, COTTON TREE DRIVE.
CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION MUST BE MADE IN WRITING TO THE DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT AND MUST REACH HIS OFFICE WITHIN ONE YEAR AFTER THE ROAD IS REINSTATED.
-------o----------
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF ROAD JUNCTION * * *
FROM SUNDAY (NOVEMBER 27), THE JUNCTION OF TAI HANG SAI STREET AND TAI HANG TUNG ROAD, COVERING A 60-METRE SECTION OF TAI HANG TUNG ROAD AND A 3O-METRE SECTION OF TAI HANG STREET, WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL GENERAL TRAFFIC FROM 1 AM TO 5 AM FOR ABOUT TWO CONSECUTIVE NIGHTS.
DURING THE TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE, TRAFFIC TO OR FROM NAM SHAN ESTATE SHOULD USE WOH CHAI STREET. NAM CHEONG STREET AND TAI HANG SAI STREET. TRAFFIC TO AND FROM TAI HANG TUNG ROAD SHOULD USE THE TEMPORARY EMERGENCY ACCESS ROAD NEAR BLOCK 12 OF TAI HANG TUNG ESTATE.
-----o------
FRESH AND SALT WATER MAINS WORK
* * *
; FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO SOME PREMISES IN CAUSEWAY BAY WILL BE TURNED OFF FROM 11 PM ON MONDAY (NOVEMBER 28) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR LEAKAGE TESTS.
THE AFFECTED PREMISES ARE BOUNDED BY CANAL ROAD EAST, HENNESSY ROAD PRECIVAL STREET, LEIGHTON ROAD, INCLUDING LEIGHTON LANE, 42-64 LEIGHTON ROAD, PO LEUNG KUK AND DEFENCE FORCE HEADQUARTERS.
EARLIER THAT SAME DAY, SALT WATER SUPPLY TO SOME DISTRICT AND PUBLIC MOUSING ESTATES IN KOWLOON WILL BE INTERRUPTED - FROM 9.30 AM TO 4 PM - FOR REPAIR WORKS.
THE AFFECTED DISTRICTS INCLUDE HUNG HOM, TO KWA WAN, MA TAU WAI, KOWLOON CITY, MA TAU KOK, KOWLOON TONG, WANG TAU HOM, WONG TAI SIN AND SAN PO KONG, INCLUDING KAI TAK AIRPORT AND KOWLOON HOSPITAL.
SALT WATER SUPPLY TO THE FOLLOWING HOUSING ESTATES WILL ALSO BE SUSPENDED DURING THAT TlMEi TUNG TAU, LOWER AND UPPER WONG TAI SIN, FU SHAN, HUNG HOM, MA TAU WAI, MEI TUNG, LOK FU, LOK MAN AND WANG TAU HOM.
------- o - - - -
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO*
AMBASSADOR LEAVING TOMORROW ............................ 1
FEWER COMPLAINTS AGAINST PUBLIC TRANSPORT ....................... 1
♦NEW EYES+ LOOK AT NEW TOWNS .................................... 2
PROMOTING POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS DISABLED.................... *+
NEW ROAD IN TUEN MUN .........--.............................
INDUSTRIAL SAFETY BEING HELD ................................
DB TO DISCUSS FIRE PREVENTION IN SQUATTER AREAS ...........•
TUEN MUN’S FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE MAINTAINED....................
ELDERLY PEOPLE SHOW SKILL IN DANCE CONTEST ..................
HORTICULTURAL CLASSES IN KWAI CHUNG .........................
PRIMARY MATHS SYLLABUS ON SALE ..............................
SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS SOLD ....................................
PARKING METERS IN KWUN TONG ..............*....................
jaIURDAY, NUVcMficrs 1983
1
'NOTE TO EDITORSi
AMBASSADOR LEAVING TOMORROW
M * * M *
THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO PEKING, SIR PERCY CRADOCK, WILL LEAVE HONG KONG FOR PEKING TOMORROW (SUNDAY) ON FLIGHT CA 102, ETD. 12.45 PM.
A PHOTOGRAPHIC FACILITY HAS BEEN ARRANGED TO COVER SIR PERCY’S DEPARTURE. PHOTOGRAPHERS AND CAMERAMEN WISHING TO MAKE USE OF THE FACILITY SHOULD ASSEMBLE AT THE AIRPORT PRESS CONFERENCE ROOM NOT LATER THAN 11.30 AM. GIS OFFICERS WILL BE ON HAND TO ASSIST.
- - 0 - -
THE UNIT HAS
FEWER COMPLAINTS AGAINST PUBLIC TRANSPORT N X * * M
TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE’S TRANSPORT COMPLAINTS BEEN RECEIVING FEWER COMPLAINTS AGAINST PUBLIC
TRANSPORT SERVICES.
IN THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, THE TCU RECORDED A TOTAL OF 5 031 DIRECT COMPLAINTS. PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES ACCOUNTED FOR 2 351 COMPLAINTS (47 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL). ALTHOUGH CASES OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES CONTINUED TO BE PREDOMINANT, THE YEAR REGISTERED A DROP OF 21 PER CENT (628 COMPLAINTS) COMPARED WITH 2 979 COMPLAINTS IN 1981/82.
THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE UNIT, MR STEPHEN PANG, NOTED THAT FEWER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE MAJOR FRANCHISED BUS SERVICES WERE THE MAJOR REASON FOR THE DOWNWARD TREND. THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT CMB AND KMB DROPPED BY 27 PER CENT, FROM 2 019 IN 1981/82 TO 1 467 IN 1982/83.
♦THE DECREASE IN THESE COMPLAINTS CAN PROBABLY BE ATTRIBUTED TO A GENERAL IMPROVEMENT IN BUS AVAILABILITY AND THE CONTINUING IMPLEMENTATION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT PRIORITY MEASURES WHICH HAVE HELPED TO IMPROVE BUS OPERATIONS,♦ SAID MR PANG.
ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT FEATURE IS THAT MORE PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT OTHER TRANSPORT MATTERS, NOTABLY TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND ROAD CONDITIONS.
IN JUNE LAST YEAR, THE TRANSPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE SET UP A SUB-COMMITTEE TO OVERSEE THE ACTIVITIES OF THE TRANSPORT COMPLAINTS UNIT. THE TCU SUB-COMMITTEE COMPRISES THREE UNOFFICIAL TAC MEMBERSl MR STEPHEN CHEONG KAM-CHUEN (CHAIRMAN), M? STEPHEN W.Y. CHENG AND MISS ANNA WU.
/+THE effectiveness
SATURDAY, NOVIMBER 26, 1985
- 2 -
♦THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE TCU IN DEALING WITH COMPLAINTS SPENDS TO A LARGE EXTENT ON THE CO-OPERATION AND EFFICIENCY S TRANSPORT OPERATORS AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS. THE SETTING 5 OF THE TCU SUB-COMMITTEE HAS HELPED TO ENSURE, THROUGH ITS LINK WITH THE MAIN COMMITTEE, THAT DUE REGARD IS GIVEN TO THE COMPLA NTS LODGED WITH THE TCU AND THAT THE DEFICIENCIES THESE COMPLAINTS REFLECT ARE DRAWN TO THE ATTENTION OF THE AUTHORITIES CONCERNED,* SAID MR PANG.
THE UNIT’S ANNUAL REPORT 1982/83 IS BEING PRINTED AND WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO DISTRICT BOARDS, PUBLIC TRANSPORT OPERATORS AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS FOR INFORMATION.
------o - - - -
+NEW EYES* LOOK AT NEW TOWNS
* * * *
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW NEW TERRITORIES CHILDREN SEE THE NEW TOWNS WITH THEIR +NEW EYES*, GO TO AN EXHIBITION AT THE PRINCESS ALEXANDRA COMMUNITY CENTRE IN TSUEN WAN.
SELECTED PAINTINGS SUBMITTED IN A COMPETITION ORGANISED BY THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT TO COMMEMORATE ITS 1DTH ANNIVERSARY ARE ON DISPLAY THERE FROM TODAY (SATURDAY) UNTIL MONDAY (NOVEMBER 28).
THE THEME OF THE COMPETITION, WHICH ATTRACTED A TOTAL OF 458 ENTRIES, WAS +OUTLOOK ON NEW TOWNS.*
AT THE PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONY TODAY, MRS BRYAN O’RORKE, WIFE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT, PRESENTED PRIZES TO THE WINNERS WHO WERE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL CHILDREN AGED FROM SEVEN TO 17.
LEUNG KWAI-YUEN, A FORM THREE STUDENT OF THE NEW TERRITORIES HEUNG YEE KUK YUEN LONG DISTRICT SECONDARY SCHOOL, WAS THE WINNER IN THE SECONDARY SCHOOL SECTION. SHE RECEIVED A TROPHY AND A $150 .BOOK TOKEN.
THE FIRST AND SECOND RUNNERS-UP WERE 13-YEAR-OLD LEUNG CHIN-FAN AND 17-YEAR-OLD YUN OI-CHUN.
CHIN-FAN, A FORM TWO STUDENT OF TSUEN WAN GOVERNMENT SECONDARY TECHNICAL SCHOOL, RECEIVED A TROPHY AND A $100 BOOK TOKEN.
THE PRIZES FOR OI-CHUN, A FORM FIVE STUDENT AT POPE PAUL VI COLLEGE, WERE A TROPHY AND A $50 BOOK TOKEN.
/THE WINNER........
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 198?
THE WINNER IN THE PRIMARY SCHOOL SECTION WAS HAU KwOK-YUEN, WHO ATTENDS HO KAI SCHOOL.
THE FIRST AND SECOND RUNNERS-UP WERE 1O-YEAR-OLD KWONG KIT-BING FROM THE LITTLE FLOWERS SCHOOL AND 11-YEAR-OLD KWAN YUE-ON FROM LOK SIN TONG CHAN CHO CHAK PRIMARY SCHOOL.
THE DIRECTOR OF NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT, MR BRYAN O’RORKE, SAID THE STANDARD THROUGHOUT THE COMPETITION HAD BEEN VERY HIGH AND THE ADJUDICATORS HAD HAD A DIFFICULT TASK JUDGING THE ENTRIES.
♦WE HAVE BEEN STRUCK BY AND ENJOYED THE WAY THE CHILDREN HAVE SEEN THE NEW TOWNS WITH THEIR ’NEW EYES’.
♦I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THAT THE COMPETITION HAS MADE THE NEW TERRITORIES CHILDREN MORE AWARE OF THEIR SURROUND INGS,♦ HE SAID.
MR O’RORKE WELCOMED THE PARENTS AND CHILDREN LIVING IN THE NEW TOWNS AS PIONEERS AND SAID PEOPLE WHO HAD BEEN LIVING IN THEM FOR SOME TIME WOULD BE AWARE OF THE PROGRESS MADE IN THE LAST ID YEARS.
♦FROM SMALL BEGINNINGS YOU WILL ALREADY SEE SOME OF THE NEW TOWNS MATURING- NOT ONLY ARE SKYLINES CHANGING RAPIDLY BUT THE COMPLETION OF SUCH MAJOR PROJECTS AS THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY, THE TUEN MUN ROAD AND THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY HAVE HAD A DRAMATIC IMPACT,+ HE SAID.
♦PARENTS WILL PROBABLY APPRECIATE THAT THE CHANGES WHICH HAVE BEEN GOING ON DURING THEIR CHILDREN’S LIVES IN THE NEW TOWNS ARE THE RESULT OF AN ON-GOING MAJOR BUILDING PROGRAMME WITH FEW PARALLELS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. I SINCERELY HOPE THAT EVERYONE LIVING IN THE NEW TOWNS FINDS BENEFITS NOW AND IN THE FUTURE FROM DOING SO.*
THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING SEVEN NEW TOWNS AND A NUMBER OF RURAL TOWNSHIPS.
SINCE THE START OF THE NEW TOWNS PROGRAMME IN 1973, THE POPULATION IN THE NEW TERRITORIES HAS INCREASED FROM 680 000 TO 1.6 MILLION.
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A
oATUrw > ich 2b, 1983
4
PROMOTING POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS ^ISAdLc.
******
A SERIES OF MEANINGFUL ACTIVITIES WILL BE HELD BETWEEN NOW AND CHRISTMAS TO PROMOTE A POSITIVE PUBLIC ATTITUDE TOWARDS DISABLED PERSONS IN THE COMMUNITY.
THE ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE A CITY FORUM ON REHABILITATION CF EX-MENTAL PATIENTS, A SEMINAR ON MENTAL HEALTH FOR SCHOOL TEACHERS AND ANOTHER ONE ON ^INTEGRATION OF THE HANDICAPPED*, AND THE TERRITORY-WIDE REHABILITATION POSTER COMPETITION PRIZE-PRESENTATION CEREMONY.
THEY ARE CO-ORDINATED BY THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC EDUCATION IN REHABILITATION — COMPERE.
COMPERE WAS SET UP TO CO-ORDINATE EFFORTS OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IN RUNNING PUBLIC EDUCATION ACTIVITIES ON REHABILITATION FOR THE DISABLED IN HONG KONG.
THE CITY FORUM TO BE HELD AT VICTORIA PARK TOMORROW (SUNDAY) WILL PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR THE PUBLIC TO DISCUSS WITH GUEST SPEAKERS ON TOPICS SUCH AS +ARE EX-MENTAL PATIENTS BEING DISCRIMINATED?* AND *HOW TO INTEGRATE EX-MENTAL PATIENTS BACK INTO SOCIETY?*
ORGANISED BY RADIO TELEVISION HONG KONG, THE FORUM IS AIMED AT CLARIFYING PUBLIC MISCONCEPTION ABOUT EX-MENTAL PATIENTS.
SPEAKERS WILL INCLUDE MR HUI YIN-FAT OF THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE- DR Y.K. TAM OF THE PSYCHIATRIC DEPARTMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG- MRS DEBORAH CHAN OF THE NEW LIFE PSYCHIATRIC REHABILITATION ASSOCIATIONDR PAUL TAM OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT- AND MR PAUL CHEUNG OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.
THE FORUM WILL BE TELEVISED ON THE JADE CHANNEL OF HKTVB FROM NOON TO 1 PM.
ON DECEMBER 17, A SEMINAR ON MENTAL HEALTH WILL BE HELD AT THE GRANTHAM COLLEGE OF EDUCATION FOR ALL SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS, JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE CENTRAL HEALTH EDUCATION UNIT OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND THE SPECIAL EDUCATION SECTION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
DR HO KAM-FAI, AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE WORKING PARTY ON EX-MENTAL PATIENTS, WILL SPEAK AT THE OPENING CEREMONY.
ON THE SAME DAY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WILL BE ORGANISING A SEMINAR ON THE +INTEGRATION OF THE HANDICAPPED* AT THE KWUN TONG COMMUNITY CENTRE.
ON DECEMBER 18, WINNERS OF THE TERRITORY-WIDE REHABILITATION POSTER COMPETITION — WITH THE PUBLICITY THEME i *FRIENDSHIP -A WAY TO INTEGRATION* — WILL RECEIVE PRIZES AT A CEREMONY TO BE HELD AT THE HENRY G. LEONG YAUMATI COMMUNITY CENTRE.
/THE WINNERS........
SATURDAY, NOVDffiER 26, 198?
5
THE WINNERS WILL EACH RECEIVE A COUPON WORTH SI 500.
THREE OTHER PRIZES VALUED AT $1 500 EACH WILL BE PRESENTED TO JOINT ENTRIES BY ABLE-BODIED AND DISABLED PERSONS.
THE PRIZES ARE SPONSORED BY THE BANK OF CREDIT AND COMMERCE AS A COMMUNITY SERVICE.
OFFICIATING AT THE PRIZE-PRESENTATION CEREMONY WILL BE DR HARRY FANG, CHAIRMAN OF THE REHABILITATION DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE, A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BANK AND MRS HUNG LEUNG WAI CHING, A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DISABLED COMMUNITY.
THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES, AS A MEMBER OF COMPERE, HAS PRODUCED TWO TELEVISION ANNOUNCEMENTS OF PUBLIC INTEREST AND A POSTER FEATURING FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN ABLE-BODIED AND DISABLED PEOPLE.
ONE OF THE APIS, TARGETED AT CHILDREN IS NOW BEING SCREENED, AND THE OTHER TARGETED AT ADULTS WILL GO ON AIR IN JANUARY NEXT YEAR.
------o-------
NEW ROAD IN TUEN MUN * * * *
A NEW ROAD WILL BE CONSTRUCTED NEAR TSENG TAU TSUEN HA TSUEN IN THE NORTHERN PART OF TUEN MUN NEW TOWN TO SERVE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA.
WORK ON THE 470-METRE-L0NG ROAD, WHICH WILL START IN APRIL NEXT YEAR AND BE COMPLETED IN ABOUT ONE YEAR, WILL BE CARRIED OUT BY THE TUEN MUN NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT OFFICE OF THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
A PLAN SHOWING THE PROPOSED PROJECT, A NOTICE OF WHICH IS PUBLISHED IN THE LATEST GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, CAN BE SEEN AT CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, CENTRAL ENQUIRY SUB-OFFICE, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, WEST WING, MAIN ENTRANCE LOBBY- AND TUEN MUN DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE AND TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICE, TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICE BUILDING, CASTLE PEAK ROAD, TUEN MUN.
ANY OBJECTIONS MUST REACH THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS IN WRITING NOT LATER THAN JANUARY 24.
0
/6........
iATUR. I, <OV£MBER 26, 1983
INDUSTRIAL SAFETY SEMINAR BEING HELD HMM*
SUPERVISORS AND FOREMEN IN INDUSTRIAL CONCERNS WERE TODAY URGED TO ATTEND AN INDUSTRIAL SAFETY SEMINAR NEXT MONTH.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THE ONE-DAY SEMINAR IS BEING ORGANISED BY THE COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND ACCIDENT PREVENTION OF THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD WITH A VIEW TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF SAFETY AT WORK.
THE SEMINAR WILL BE HELD AT THE CHINESE Y.M.C.A., WATERLOO ROAD CENTRE, ON DECEMBER 8, AND WILL BE OPENED BY MR WONG LAM, AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
SAFETY PROFESSIONALS, ACADEMICS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN INVITED TO TALK ON VARIOUS TOPICS AT THE SEMINAR.
AMONG SPEAKERS ARE MR CHAN WING-KAI, SUPERINTENDENT, FACTORY INSPECTORATE AND DR CHAN KAI-MING, LECTURER, DEPARTMENT OF ORTHOPAEDIC AND TRAUMATIC SURGERY, WHO WILL SPEAK ON ■♦OCCUPATIONAL ACCIDENTS AND HAND INJURIES*.
OTHER SPEAKERS INCLUDE MR LAM TAI-HING, LECTURER, DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, DR MA PO-LING, SENIOR OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH OFFICER OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, MR LAM YUK-KEUNG, LABOUR OFFICER, LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND MR DOMINIC LAI WOON-SUM, CLAIMS AND STAFFING MANAGER OF THE TAIKOO ROYAL INSURANCE CO. LTD.
TWO FILMS FEATURING SAFETY AT WORK WILL ALSO BE SHOWN DURING THE SEMINAR, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
THE REGISTRATION FEE FOR THE SEMINAR IS $50 PER PERSON, WHICH INCLUDES TEA AND LUNCH.
THOSE WISHING TO JOIN THE SEMINAR SHOULD CONTACT THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE DIVISION OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT ON 3-688111 EXT. 401.
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DB TO DISCUSS FIRE PREVENTION IN SQUATTER AREAS
* * M
FIRE PREVENTION AND STRENGTHENING SAFETY MEASURES IN SQUATTER AREAS IN KWUN TONG WILL BE DISCUSSED BY THE DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS AT THEIR MEETING ON MONDAY (NOVEMBER 28).
A PAPER PREPARED BY AN UNOFFICIAL BOARD MEMBER NOTES THAT THREE THIRD-ALARM AND ONE SECOND-ALARM FIRES OCCURRED IN SQUATTER AREAS IN THE DISTRICT BETWEEN OCTOBER 28 AND NOVEMBER 16 THIS YEAR.
/IN VIEW
EATVHIMT, NOVEMBER 26, 198?
7
IN VIEW OF THE START OF THE DRY SEASON AND THE LARGE NUMBER OF SQUATTERS — 51 OOO PEOPLE LIVING IN 26 SQUATTER AREAS — BOARD MEMBERS WILL CONSIDER MEASURES TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM.
AT THE MEETING, MEMBERS WILL ALSO EXAMINE THE EXISTING ACTIVITIES, DEMANDS, SHORTFALLS AND PLANNED PROVISION OF MEDICAL SOCIAL SERVICE, FAMILY WELFARE, CHILD CARE AS WELL AS SERVICES FOR OFFENDERS AND THE DISABLED IN THE DISTRICT.
A REPORT ON THE VIEWS BY 150 AREA COMMITTEE MEMBERS ON THE DISTRICT’S DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME WILL ALSO BE TABLED FOR DISCUSSION.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA WILL INCLUDE PROGRESS REPORTS ON THE BOARD’S COMMITTEES AND THE LAUNCHING OF AN ANTI-NARCOTICS CAMPAIGN, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROJECTS IN THE DISTRICT.
NOTE TO EDITORS 1
YOU ARE WELCOME TO COVER THE KWUN TONG DISTRICT BOARD MEETING AT 2.30 PM ON MONDAY (NOVEMBER 28) IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE ON THE THIRD FLOOR OF KWUN TONG DISTRICT BRANCH OFFICES BUILDING, 6 TUNG YAN STREET.
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TUEN MUN’S FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE MAINTAINED ft ft ft ft
COMMUNITY LEADERS IN TUEN MUN HAVE ACCEPTED THE CHALLENGE POSED BY THE VAST DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE OVER THE PAST 15 YEARS, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, NR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID TODAY (SATURDAY).
♦THE COMMUNITY OF TUEN MUN, WHICH HAS GROWN TO MORE THAN 220 000 PEOPLE, IS WORKING TOGETHER TODAY TO MAINTAIN THE WARM AND FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE OF THE TUEN MUN OF YEARS AGO,+ HE SAID.
SPEAKING AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE TWO-WEEK TUEN MUN DISTRICT FESTIVAL, HE SAIDi +1 AM NOT EXAGGERATING WHEN I SAY THAT I ALWAYS FEEL AT HOME IN TUEN MUN, AND ALWAYS ASK FOR NEWS AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS IN TUEN MUN WHENEVER I AM AWAY.+
AT THE CEREMONY, MR AKERS-JONES KICKED OFF A FRIENDLY SOCCER MATCH BETWEEN THE SOUTH CHINA AND SEIKO TEAMS.
HE ALSO PRESENTED SOUVENIRS TO THE PARTICIPATING LOCAL ORGANISATIONS AND PRIZES TO WINNERS OF VARIOUS COMPETITIONS HELD DURING THE FESTIVAL.
OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS, A TOTAL OF 26 EVENTS HAVE BEEN l€LD AT 15 VENUES IN THE DISTRICT, WITH MORE THAN 150 000 PEOPLE ATTENDING.
ALSO PRESENT AT TODAY’S CEREMONY WERE THE DISTRICT OFFICER, KR RICKY FUNG, AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE '83 TUEN MUN FESTIVAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE, MR LAU WONG-FAT.
---- - O------ /8 .......
■TURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1983
£ -
ELDERLY PEOPLE SHOW SKILL IN DANuc CONTtoI A * *
ABOUT 200 ELDERLY PEOPLE, DRESSED IN STYLISH COSTUMES, PROVED THIS (SATURDAY) AFTERNOON THAT THEY ALSO HAD GOOD LEGS FOR DANCING.
PERFORMING IN FRONT OF 3 000 SPECTATORS IN THE KO SHAN THEATRE IN KOWLOON CITY, THEY DEMONSTRATED NOT ONLY HIGH SPIRITS CF CO-OPERATION BUT ALSO VITALITY AND CONFIDENCE IN THE THIRD DANCE COMPETITION FOR THE ELDERLY.
SPEAKING AT AN OPENING CEREMONY, THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT OFFICER MR GORDON JONES, SAID THE CONTEST AIMED AT CULTIVATING OLD PEOPLE’S INTEREST IN DANCING AND CORRECTING MISCONCEPTION ABOUT THEIR ABILITY.
♦THE CONTEST ALSO PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO SHOW THEIR ABILITY AND DEVELOP THEIR SELF-CONFIDENCE,* HE ADDED.
TODAY’S PARTICIPANTS, AGED 60 AND ABOVE AND WITH THE ELDEST BEING AN 83-YEAR-OLD WOMAN, CAME FROM 19 COMMUNITY CENTRES IN TUEN MUN, TSUEN WAN, SHA TIN AND THE URBAN DISTRICTS.
THE THREE-HOUR COMPETITION, WHICH BEGAN AT 2 PM, WAS DIVIDED INTO CHINESE CLASSICAL, MODERN, HEALTHY AND FOLK DANCE SECTIONS. THERE WAS ALSO A GUEST PERFORMANCE BY THE HONG KONG ACADEMY OF
BALLET.
THE EVENT WAS ORGANISED BY THE KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT BOARD, THE DISTRICT OFFICE, KOWLOON CITY DISTRICT COUNCIL FOR THE WELFARE AND RECREATION OF THE ELDERLY, THE URBAN COUNCIL AND THE HOLY CARPENTER CHURCH MULTI-SERVICE CENTRE FOR THE ELDERLY.
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HORTICULTURAL CLASSES IN KWAI CHUNG
K X X
TWO HORTICULTURAL CLASSES WILL BE HELD IN KWAI CHUNG FOLLOWING SUCCESS OF SIMILAR CLASSES THERE EARLIER THIS YEAR.
THE FIRST CLASS WILL BE HELD ON EIGHT CONSECUTIVE SATURDAY AFTERNOONS. STARTING ON DECEMBER 10, AND THE SECOND ON EIGHT CONSECUTIVE SUNDAY MORNINGS, STARTING ON JANUARY 8.
THE COURSE, ORGANISED BY THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT, WILL FOCUS ON SOIL SCIENCE, SHRUB CARE, INDOOR-PLANT CARE AND PLANT PROPAGATION.
BOTH CLASSES, WHICH ARE FREE OF CHARGE, WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE OSMAN RAMJU SADICK MEMORIAL GAMES HALL.
/PRACTICAL PLANTING
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 198?
PRACTICAL PLANTING AND FIELD VISITS WILL BE ARRANGED BY HORTICULTURISTS OF THE DEPARTMENT.
ENTRIES FOR THE CLASSES ARE BEING INVITED AND WILL BE ACCEPTED ON A FIRST-COME-FIRST-SERVED BASIS.
APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE OSMAN RAMJU SADICK NEMORIAL GAMES HALL AND THE KWAI CHUNG URBAN SERVICES OFFICE ON THE FOURTH FLOOR OF SHING WAH BUILDING, 31 SHING FONG STREET, KWAI CHUNG.
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PRIMARY MATHS SYLLABUS ON SALE * * * *
COPIES OF THE 1983 PRIMARY MATHEMATICS SYLLABUS (CHINESE VERSION) PREPARED BY THE MATHEMATICS SUBJECT COMMITTEE (PRIMARY) CF THE CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE ARE NOW ON SALE.
COPIES OF THE SYLLABUS MAY BE PURCHASED AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, AT GENERAL POST OFFICE BUILDING, GROUND FLOOR, CENTRAL, AT $14 EACH.
FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE SYLLABUS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE MATHEMATICS SECTION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT’S ADVISORY INSPECTORATE AT 4/F, LEE GARDENS, HYSAN AVENUE, CAUSEWAY BAY -(TEL NO. 5-8392488).
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SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS SOLD
* * *
THIRTY-TWO SPECIAL VEHICLE REGISTRATION NUMBERS WERE SOLD BY AUCTION THIS MORNING (SATURDAY) FOR A TOTAL OF $236 350 WHICH WILL GO INTO THE GOVERNMENT LOTTERIES FUND FOR CHARITY PURPOSES.
THESE EXCLUDED THE THREE REGISTRATION NUMBERS, CX101, BB14 AND XX35, WHICH WERE WITHDRAWN.
THE AUCTION HELD AT THE RECITAL HALL OF THE CITY HALL, 8TH FLOOR, SAW THE REGISTRATION NUMBER BB33 FETCH THE HIGHEST PRICE OF $64 000.
ANOTHER NUMBER CX8 WAS SOLD AT THE SECOND HIGHEST PRICE OF $30 000 WHILE THE LOWEST PRICE WAS $1 000 FOR AK486, DA76O, DA1131 AND DA8803.
/THE OTHER
10
THE OTHER SPECIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERS WERE SOLD AT THE FOLLOWING PRICESi
DA 190 1 2 750 AS 686 S 6 500
DA7898 1 500 HK1234 20 000
DA 218 2 500 DA8832 2 500
CY 7 15 000 AX 19 8 000
DA3882 1 750 DA7228 2 000
DA 928 4 000 CY 5 18 000
DA 288 7 000 DA6338 2 750
DA 662 2 000 CK8833 5 000
DA2886 2 400 DA8999 2 000
CH 78 10 000 XX3962 1 200
DA2188 1 500 CY3388 10 000
CK 486 1 500 CB1888 3 250
DA1328 2 500 DA 738 2 750
TODAY’S SALE WA6 THE 88TH ORGANISED BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT SINCE MAY 1973.
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PARKING METERS IN KWUN TONG * M *
FROM 9 METERS WILL
AM ON MONDAY (NOVEMBER 28), A TOTAL OF 109 PARKING BECOME OPERATIONAL AT CHONG YIP STREET, HOW M NG STREET TSUN YIP STREET AND HING YIP STREET IN KWUN TONG INDUSTRIAL CENTRE TO RATION THE USE OF ON-STREET PARKING SPACES.
THE CHARGE FOR THE TWO-HOUR PARKING METERS WILL BE $1 FOR 30 MINUTES.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
NEW COURSES OF ACTION AGAINST DRUG ABUSE................... 1
HONG KONG RED CROSS PRAISED FOR WORK ...................
SURVEY FINDS DA CONFERENCE A SUCCESS ...................... 3
YUEN LONG PEOPLE PRAISED FOR ACHIEVEMENT .................. 4
IMPORTANCE OF BEING COURTEOUS STRESSED .................
FIRST CHINESE MUSIC FESTIVAL CLOSES ....................
NT TO HAVE SEVEN LUNAR NEW YEAR FAIRS ..................
OPENING CEREMONY .......................................
CONTRACTORS TO GET SAFETY AWARDS .......................
TOWN HALL TO BE REOPENED ...............................
MONG KOK BOARD TO DISCUSS +ERPSi- ......................
PIER EXTENSION ON LANTAU PROPOSED ......................
TENDERS INVITED FOR WATER MAINS PROJECTS ................. 10
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN TSIM SHA TSUI .................... 10
FIRING PRACTICE AT HA TSUEN-CASTLE PEAK.................
SALT WATER MAINS WORK
12
SUNDAf, NOVEMBER 27, 1983
1
NEW COURSES OF ACTION AGAINST DRUG ABUSE
THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS PURSUING WITH DETERMINATION ITS DECLARED POLICY OF SEEKING THE ERADICATION OF DRUG ABUSE FROM THE COMMUNITY, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE SAID THIS (SUNDAY) EVENING.
TO COMBAT THE INCREASED INVOLVEMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN DRUG TAKING HERE, SEVERAL NEW COURSES OF ACTION RECOMMENDED BY THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS WOULD BE FOLLOWED, HE SAID.
SIR EDWARD WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE SECOND PAN PACIFIC CONFERENCE ON DRUGS AND ALCOHOL AT THE SHANGRI-LA HOTEL.
THE ONE-WEEK CONFERENCE IS BEING ATTENDED BY OVER 330 DELEGATES FROM 27 COUNTRIES AND HONG KONG.
FIRST, GREATER EMPHASIS WOULD BE GIVEN TO PREVENTIVE EDUCATION IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS, SIR EDWARD SAID.
SPECIAL ATTENTION WOULD BE PAID TO THE TREATMENT OF FIRST-TIME ADDICTS AND TO THEIR AFTER-CARE WHILE MORE HELP WOULD BE SOUGHT FROM PARENTS IN STEERING THEIR CHILDREN AWAY FROM DRUGS, HE SAID.
AT THE SAME TIME, EVERY ENCOURAGEMENT WOULD BE GIVEN TO YOUNG PEOPLE TO TAKE PART IN HEALTHY RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
ALTHOUGH ALCOHOLISM WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM IN ADVANCED COUNTRIES, IT HAD NOT REACHED SUCH PROPORTIONS IN HONG KONG, HE TOLD THE GATHER ING.
♦ BUT OUR POSITION AS A COMMUNICATIONS CENTRE MAKES US VERY VULNERABLE TO THE TRAFFICKING OF DRUGS.
♦ WE ARE PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE INCREASING INVOLVEMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN DRUG TAKING, WHICH HAS TAKEN PLACE AGAINST A BACKGROUND OF PLENTIFUL SUPPLY AND LOW STREET PR ICES.
♦ THIS INCREASED INVOLVEMENT HAS DEVELOPED IN SPITE OF OUR VIGOROUS DRUG PREVENTION PROGRAMMES WHICH ARE COORDINATED BY THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS,♦ SIR EDWARD SAID.
OVER 2 300 OFFICERS OF THE POLICE FORCE AND CUSTOMS AND EXCISE SERVICE ARE IN THE FOREFRONT OF THE BATTLE AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKING.
AT PRESENT, SOME 12 900 ADDICTS ARE IN TREATMENT OR AFTERCARE THROUGH TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES OPERATED BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IN WHICH OVER 800 TRAINED STAFF ARE EMPLOYED, SIR EDWARD POINTED OUT.
/THE VOLUNTARY .......
SUNDAY. NCVEMB5H 27, 1983
THE VOLUNTARY OUTPATIENTS METHADONE PROGRAMME OPERATED BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT NOW HAS 24 CLINICS TREATING OVER 6 400 PATIENTS A DAY, HE SAID.
♦THIS YEAR, INTENSIVE PREVENTIVE EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY CAMPAIGNS ARE BEING CONDUCTED THROUGHOUT HONG KONG WITH FULL COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT TO DRIVE HOME THE ANTI-DRUG MESSAGE.
♦THE GOVERNMENT WILL STRIVE TO MAINTAIN THE MOMENTUM OF THESE CAMPAIGNS AND IS PURSUING WITH DETERMINATION ITS DECLARED POLICY OF SEEKING THE ERADICATION OF DRUG ABUSE FROM THE COMMUNITY.^ SIR EDWARD SAID.
THE GATHERING OF SO MANY PROFESSIONALS AT THE CONFERENCE WAS TIMELY AND WOULD HELP HONG KONG TO FOCUS ATTENTION ON DRUGS AND TO AROUSE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND SUPPORT, SIR EDWARD SAID.
♦IN RETURN, I HOPE THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM OUR EXPERIENCE,+ HE ADDED.
♦I AM SURE THAT THIS CONFERENCE WILL RESULT IN A USEFUL EXCHANGE OF IDEAS AND EXPERIENCES AND WILL PROMOTE REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION IN THE BATTLE AGAINST NARCOTICS,♦ SIR EDWARD SAID.
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HONG KONG RED CROSS PRAISED FOR WORK * * *
THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR DENIS BRAY, TODAY (SUNDAY) PRAISED THE HONG KONG RED CROSS FOR ITS GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS IN HONG KONG, ESPECIALLY IN THE SUCCESSFUL INTRODUCTION OF ITS VOLUNTARY BLOOD DONATION SCHEME.
HAVING NEVER OFFERED ANY REWARD TO BLOOD DONORS SAVE THE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEIR CONTRIBUTION WOULD SAVE LIVES, MR BRAY SAID, THE RED CROSS +HAVE RELIED TOTALLY ON THE GROWTH OF UNDERSTANDING AND THE SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT THAT IS FOUND IN SO MANY FIELDS IN HONG KONG.+
MR BRAY, SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL PARADE OF THE HONG KONG RED CROSS AT THE SOUTH CHINA ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION STADIUM, ALSO PRAISED THEIR DEVOTION TO A GREAT VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES INCLUDING WELFARE RELIEF, COLLECTION OF BLOOD, THE OPERATION OF SPECIAL SCHOOLS AND EMERGENCY AID TRAINING.
♦THE HONG KONG RED CROSS HAS ALSO INVOLVED YOUNG PEOPLE IN COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES BY LAUNCHING A YOUTH MOVEMENT,+ HE SAID.
MR BRAY NOTED THAT THE MOVEMENT STARTED IN 1956 WITH ONE CADET UNIT OF 57 MEMBERS, BUT THAT THERE ARE NOW 128 CADET UNITS WITH 6 500 MEMBERS WHOSE MAIN FUNCTIONS ARE ORGANISING RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, PROVIDING FREE SCHOOLING TO UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN, VISITING ORPHANAGES AND HOSPITALS AND OFFERING ASSISTANCE IN EMERGENCY RELIEF TO VICTIMS OF NATURAL DISASTERS.
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1983
SURVEY FINDS DA CONFERENCE A SUCCESS * * * *
THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION CONFERENCE, HELD IN MAY THIS YEAR, WAS GENERALLY REGARDED AS A SUCCESS AND MOST BOARD MEMBERS SAID THEY WOULD PARTICIPATE IN SIMILAR SEMINARS IN FUTURE, ACCORDING TO A SURVEY PUBLISHED RECENTLY.
THE SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED BY THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION (CNTA) AMONG ALL THE 280 OFFICIAL AND UNOFFICIAL BOARD MEMBERS WHO ATTENDED THE CONFERENCE.
OF THE 238 BOARD MEMBERS WHO RESPONDED TO THE SURVEY, 232 (97 PER CENT) SAID THEY WOULD TAKE PART IN SIMILAR CONFERENCES IN FUTURE.
AND 102 MEMBERS (43 PER CENT) RATED THE CONFERENCE AS USEFUL AND INTERESTING, WHILE 94 (40 PER CENT) FELT THAT IT WAS A VALUABLE EXPERIENCE FOR THEM.
AT THE CONFERENCE, MEMBERS TOOK PART IN WORKSHOPS ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT, CULTURE, RECREATION AND SPORTS, TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT, SOCIAL SERVICES AND DISTRICT BOARDS AS CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION.
THE SURVEY INDICATED THAT 179 RESPONDENTS (75 PER CENT) CONSIDERED THESE WORKSHOPS RELEVANT TO THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AS DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS.
♦THE SPEECHES GIVEN WERE GENERALLY REGARDED AS INFORMATIVE AND THUS WELCOMED BY THE PARTICIPANTS,* IT SAID.
♦AND 201 PARTICIPANTS (84 PER CENT) WERE SATISFIED WITH THE DISCUSSIONS, WHILE 214 (90 PER CENT) THOUGHT THE WORKSHOP SESSIONS HAD COME OUT WITH USEFUL CONCLUSIONS.♦
A CNTA SPOKESMAN SAID PREPARATIONS FOR ANOTHER CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN THE FIRST PART OF NEXT YEAR WERE BEING MADE.
FOR THIS PURPOSE, AN ORGANISING COMMITTEE AND A PROGRAMME COMMITTEE COMPRISING UNO7FICIALS FROM THE 18 DISTRICT BOARDS HAD BEEN SET UP.
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1.983
4
YUEN LONG PEOPLE PRAISED FOR ACHIEVEMENT * * * *
YUEN LONG’S ACHIEVEMENT DURING THE PAST 10 YEARS WAS THE RESULT OF A FIRM PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN A RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT AND A LIVELY AND CIVIC-MINDED COMMUNITY, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
♦BUT IT IS THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT OF THE YUEN LONG PEOPLE WHICH HAS CONTRIBUTED MOST TO THE CONTINUED SUCCESS AND PROSPERITY OF YUEN LONG.*
+IT IS THE PEOPLE AND WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY THAT IS IMPORTANT, WHICH ATTRACTS ATTENTION AND CAPTURES THE IMAGINATION,* HE SAID.
HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE YUEN LONG KAI-FONG TA CHIU CEREMONY WHICH IS HELD EVERY 10 YEARS TO THANK GODS FOR BRINGING PEACE AND PROSPERITY TO THE DISTRICT.
MR AKERS-JONES ALSO OFFICIATED AT THE LAST TWO CEREMONIES IN 1963 IN HIS CAPACITY AS YUEN LONG DISTRICT OFFICER AND IN 1973 AS DISTRICT COMMISSIONER, NEW TERRITORIES.
HE SAID TODAY’S RITUAL MARKED ANOTHER MILESTONE OF 10 YEAR’S ACHIEVEMENT IN YUEN LONG’S HISTORY.
+THE TA CHIU ALSO OPENS A FRESH CHAPTER OF 10 YEARS IN YUEN LONG’S HISTORY, AND THERE ARE CHALLENGING TIMES AHEAD,* HE SAID.
♦DURING THIS TIME, THE POPULATION OF THE NORTH WEST WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND, TIN SUI WAI AND THE CORRIDOR BETWEEN YUEN LONG AND TUEN MUN WILL BECOME PART OF A GREAT NORTH WEST CONURBATION, TRANSPORT LINKS WITH KOWLOON AND THE REST OF THE NEW TERRITORIES, PERHAPS EVEN WITH GUANGZHOU, WILL BE STRENGTHENED.
♦YUEN LONG WILL CONTINUE ITS PROGRESS TOWARDS BECOMING, NOT A MARKET, NOT A TOWN, BUT A GREAT CITY.*
FOLLOWING TODAY’S OPENING, RITUAL CEREMONIES WILL BE PERFORMED FOR FOUR DAYS AND FIVE NIGHTS IN THE DISTRICT BY TAOIST PRIESTS FROM THE YUEN YUEN INSTITUTE.
AS A RESPECT FOR THE GODS, ALL SLAUGHTERING ACTIVITIES WILL BE STOPPED FOR ONE DAY ON TUESDAY (NOVEMBER 29) AND MOST RESTAURANTS IN THE DISTRICT WILL ONLY SERVE VEGETARIAN FOOD.
IN ADDITION, CANTONESE OPERAS BY THE CHOR FUNG MING OPERA TROUPE WILL BE STAGED FOR FIVE DAYS STARTING FROM DECEMBER 9.
MORE THAN $800 000 IS BEING SPENT ON THIS YEAR’S TA CHIU WHICH HAS BEEN HFLD SINCE 1923.
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1983
IMPORTANCE OF BEING COURTEOUS STRESSED * * *
COURTESY IS A WAY OF LIFE WHICH, IF RESPECTED BY EVERYBODY, MINIMISES CONFLICTS IN HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS AND DISRUPTIONS TO SOCIAL ORDER, THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG XONG AND KOWLOON, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM SAID TODAY (SUNDAY).
♦ AS HONG KONG DEVELOPS AND THE PACE OF LIFE QUICKENS, IT IS OFTEN EASY TO FORGET AMIDST THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING COURTEOUS TO ONE ANOTHER,+ HE SAID.
MR WIGGHAM WAS SPEAKING AT AN ’ALL STAR SHOW’ WHICH IS ONE OF THE PROGRAMMES IN THE MONTH-LONG COURTESY CAMPAIGN ORGANISED BY THE YAU MA TEI DISTRICT BOARD.
HE SAID ALTHOUGH MOST OF THE EVENTS IN THE CAMPAIGN HAD ALREADY BEEN CARRIED OUT SUCCESSFULLY, THIS DID NOT MEAN THAT THE CAMPAIGN WAS ENDING.
♦ ON THE CONTRARY, WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT WITH YOUR CO-OPERATION, THE MESSAGE OF COURTESY WILL BECOME MORE AND MORE WIDESPREAD,* HE SAID.
+ 1 HOPE THAT EVERYONE IN HONG KONG WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE AN EFFORT TO BEHAVE COURTEOUSLY AND KINDLY TO NEIGHBOURS, FRIENDS, EVEN TOTAL STRANGERS.
♦ THE ACT OF INDIVIDUALS MAY SEEM INSIGNIFICANT IN ISOLATION, BUT THE TOTAL MAY HAVE FAR-REACHING EFFECTS IN IMPROVING OUR QUALITY OF LIFE.*
HE REMARKED THAT IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL IF HONG KONG COULD ACHIEVE WHAT THE SLOGAN SAYS - ’A COURTEOUS HONG KONG, A BETTER HONG KONG’.
PRIOR TO THE ’ALL STAR SHOW’, WHICH WAS PRODUCED BY COMMERCIAL RADIO I, MR WIGGHAM ALSO PRESENTED PRIZES TO WINNERS OF THE +MOST COURTEOUS BUS CAPTAINS* COMPETITION.
DURING THE PAST MONTH, THE YAU MA TEI DISTRICT BOARD HAD ORGANISED A SERIES OF EVENTS, INCLUDING COMPETITIONS FOR DIFFERENT TARGET GROUPS, VARIETY SHOWS AND A COVENT FOR 12 OOO IN THE HONG KONG COLISEUM, TO PROMOTE THE COURTESY MESSAGE.
A CARTOON CHARACTER - THE ’COURTESY BO BO’ - WAS SPECIALLY CREATED FOR THE CAMPAIGN AND HAS BEEN VISITING PUBLIC PLACES TO PASS ON THE MESSAGE TO CHILDREN.
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SUND NOVEMBER 27, 1983
6
FIRST CHINESE MUSIC FESTIVAL CLOSES * * * *
THE FIRST CHINESE MUSIC FESTIVAL, ORGANISED BY THE MUSIC OFFICE OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT, ENDED TODAY (SUNDAY) FOLLOWING A SERIES OF CONCERTS, SEMINARS AND MASTER CLASSES DURING THE NINE-DAY FESTIVAL PERIOD.
MR CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, OFFICIATED AT A FINALE CONCERT HELD AT THE TSUEN WAN TOWNHALL THIS EVENING TO MARK THE CLOSE OF THE FESTIVAL.
MR CHEUNG SAID THE MUSIC OFFICE HAD, SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN 1977, BEEN PLAYING AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE PROMOTION OF BOTH CHINESE AND WESTERN MUSIC IN HONG KONG, ESPECIALLY AMONG THE YOUNGER GENERATION.
AS A RESULT, HE SAID, THERE HAD BEEN SIGNIFICANT INCREASES NOT ONLY IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE RECEIVING INSTRUMENTAL TRAINING FROM THE MUSIC OFFICE, BUT ALSO IN THE NUMBER OF ORCHESTRAS AND THE SIZE OF AUDIENCES.
♦THIS FIRST CHINESE MUSIC FESTIVAL MARKS A MAJOR STEP FORWARD IN PROMOTING CHINESE MUSIC IN HONG KONG, AND THE ACTIVE PARTICIPATION BY LOCAL CHINESE ORCHESTRAS AND MUSICIANS IN THE EVENTS ORGANISED IS TO BE WELCOMED. I AM SURE THAT THEY WILL ALL CONTINUE TO MAKE THE BEST USE OF THEIR TALENTS IN ENRICHING THE CULTURAL LIFE OF HONG KONG,+ MR CHEUNG SAID.
MR CLIVE OXLEY, MUSIC ADMINISTRATOR, THANKED THE MUSICIANS, VARIOUS CHINESE ORCHESTRAS AND MUSIC GROUPS FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATION IN THE FESTIVAL OF ♦THIS MAGNITUDE AND VARIETY.+
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NT TO HAVE SEVEN LUNAR NEW YEAR FAIRS
* * * *
A TOTAL OF 922 SITES FOR SELLING FLOWERS, DRY GOODS, SOFT DRINKS OR SNACKS AT SEVEN LUNAR NEW YEAR FAIRS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL BE PUT UP FOR PUBLIC BIDDING ON DIFFERENT DAYS IN DECEMBER AND JANUARY.
THE FAIRS WILL BE HELD BETWEEN JANUARY 26 AND FEBRUARY 2 NEXT YEAR IN YUEN LONG, TSUEN WAN, TUEN MUN, TAI PO, SHA TIN, SHEUNG SHU I AND KWAI CHUNG, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID.
THERE WILL BE 80 TO 209 STALLS AT THE DIFFERENT FAIRS, HE SAID.
/THE DATES .......
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2?, 1 ?£3
THE DATES AND LOCATIONS FOR THE PUBLIC BIDDING ARE
# DECEMBER 19 AT THE PING SHAN RURAL COMMITTEE AT ON NING ROAD FOR THE YUEN LONG FAIR.
M DECEMBER 20 AT THE TAI HING COMMUNITY HALL IN TAI HING ESTATE FOR THE TUEN MUN FAIR.
M DECEMBER 30 AT THE CULTURAL ACTIVITY HALL OF TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL FOR THE TSUEN WAN FAIR.
* JANUARY 4 AT THE TAI PO RURAL COMMITTEE AT HEUNG SZE WUI STREET FOR THE TAI PO FAIR.
* JANUARY 5 AT LEK YUEN COMMUNITY HALL IN LEK YUEN ESTATE FOR THE SHA TIN FAIR.
M JANUARY 6 AT THE NORTH DISTRICT COMMUNITY CENTRE AND TOWN HALL FOR THE SHEUNG SHU I FAIR.
* JANUARY 11 AT THE KWAI FONG COMMUNITY HALL AT LAI FONG STREET FOR THE KWAI CHUNG FAIR.
THE UPSET RENT FOR EACH STALL SITE WILL BE $100.
FROM ANY DISTR ICT
PLANS SHOWING THE SITES MAY BE OBTAINED
OFFICE OR URBAN SERVICES OFFICE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
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NOTE TO ED I TORSt
OPENING CEREMONY * * * *
THE DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY, MR JOHN YAXLEY WILL OFFICIATE AT
THE OPENING OF THE NEW OFFICE OF THE HONG KONG KWUN TONG INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCE ASSOCIATION AT UNIT 16, 10/F., CENTURY CENTRE, 44-46 HUNG TO ROAD, KWUN TONG, KOWLOON, ON TUESDAY (NOVEMBER 29) AT 12 NOON.
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/8 .......
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1983
8
CONTRACTORS TO GET SAFETY AWARDS * * *
THE TAIKOO SHING STAGE VIII CONSTRUCTION SITE OF THE GAMMON BUILD NG CONSTRUCTION LTD. HAS WON THE +SAFETY CONTRACTOR AWARD+ OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY SAFETY AWARD SCHEME ORGANISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY SAFETY SUB-COMMITTEE.
THE SECOND PRIZE GOES TO THE SAU MAU PING ESTATE PHASE I RECONSTRUCTION SITE OF THE YEU SHING CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LTD., WHILE THE KWAI CHUNG LOT 369 SITE OF THE MANFIELD CONSTRUCTION COMPANY LTD. HAS WON THE THIRD PRIZE.
THE PRIZE PRESENTATION CEREMONY OF THE AWARD SCHEME WILL BE HELD AT THE I CLUB IN THE BANK OF AMERICA TOWER, CENTRAL, ON DECEMBER 6, AT 4 PM WITH THE HON CHAN NAI-KEUNG, SECRETARY FOR LANCS AND WORKS, OFFICIATING.
THE AWARD, BASED ON THE ACCIDENT RATES OF SITES DURING THE DESIGNATED PERIOD OF ASSESSMENT, IS ONE OF THE THREE COMPETITIONS ORGANISED BY THE SUB-COMMITTEE.
RESULTS OF THE OTHER TWO COMPETITIONS, THE SAFETY SLOGAN AWARD AND THE SAFETY EMPLOYEE AWARD, WERE ANNOUNCED EARLIER.
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NOTE TO EDITORSi
TOWN HALL TO BE REOPENED * * *
THE NORTH DISTRICT TOWN HALL WILL BE RE-OPENED, ON COMPLETION OF REFURNISHING WORK, FOR MAJOR ACTIVITIES FOR THE COMING DISTRICT FESTIVAL.
ON THURSDAY (DECEMBER 1), MEMBERS OF THE FESTIVAL’S ORGANISING COMMITTEE WILL HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE TO ANNOUNCE DETAILS OF THE PROGRAMME. A GUIDED TOUR OF THE TOWN HALL WILL FOLLOW.
THE TOWN HALL WAS CLOSED IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR FOR INSTALLATION OF ACOUSTICS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT COSTING $4 MILLION. IT HAS A SEATING CAPACITY OF 800.
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO COVER THE PRESS CONFERENCE AT 11 AM IN ROOM 411 OF THE NORTH DISTRICT COMMUNITY CENTRE, NEXT TO THE SHEUNG SHU I RAILWAY STATION.
A GOVERNMENT VEHICLE WILL LEAVE KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER AT 9.45 AM FOR SHEUNG SHU I.
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SUNv«Y, NOVEMBER 21, 1983
NOTE TO EDITORSi
MONG KOK BOARD TO DISCUSS +ERPS+ * * *
THE FEASIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTING THE ELECTRONIC ROAD PRICING SYSTEM WILL BE DISCUSSED BY THE MONG KOK DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS AT THEIR MEETING ON TUESDAY (NOVEMBER 29) AFTERNOON.
MEMBERS WILL ALSO BE BRIEFED ON THE DISTRICT’S WELFARE SERVICES AND URBAN COUNCIL PROJECTS, AND ON THE WORK OF THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM, WILL ATTEND THE MEETING, AND WILL UNVEIL A PLAQUE TO OPEN THE NEW DISTRICT OFFICE.
YOU ARE WELCOME TO COVER THE DISTRICT BOARD MEETING AT 2 30 PM, AND THE FOLLOWING OPENING CEREMONY, IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE MONG KOK DISTRICT OFFICE ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF TUNG PING BUILDING, 157 PRINCE EDWARD ROAD.
PIER EXTENSION ON LANTAU PROPOSED * * *
A PIER AT TUNG WAN, LANTAU, USED BY THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORTING PRISONERS TO AND FROM THE NEW MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON AT SHEK PIK, IS TO BE EXTENDED.
THE PROJECT WILL INVOLVE RECLAMATION WITHIN A LIMIT OF 7 650 SQUARE METRES OF FORESHORE AND SEABED.
THE EXISTING PIER IS 50 METRES LONG AND THE EXTENSION WILL BE 204 METRES.
A PLAN SHOWING THE PROPOSED EXTENSION, WHICH HAS BEEN PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, CAN BE SEEN ON NOTICE BOARDS NEAR THE SITE; AT THE LANDS DEPARTMENT, MURRAY BUILDING 5TH FLOOR, GARDEN ROAD, HONG KONG; AND AT ISLAND DISTRICT OFFICE, SINCERE BUILDING, 16TH FLOOR, 173 DES VOEUX ROAD CENTRAL, HONG KONG.
OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSAL AND CLAIMS FOR COMPENSATION SHOULD REACH THE DIRECTOR OF LANDS WITHIN TWO MONTHS FROM NOVEMBER 25.
/10 .......
SUNDAY, NuvtMBEk 27, 1983
TENDERS INVITED FOR WATER MAINS PROJECTS * * *
TENDERS ARE BEING SOUGHT BY THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT FOR LAYING 4 670 METRES OF FRESH AND SALT WATER MAINS IN TUEN MUN.
THE MAINS WILL BE LAID ALONG CASTLE PEAK ROAD BETWEEN PUI TO ROAD AND SHAM SHING HUI AS PART OF A PROJECT TO INCREASE WATER SUPPLY TO THE EASTERN PART OF TUEN MUN NEW TOWN.
THE WORK WILL START NEXT MONTH AND TAKE 16 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
THE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO INVITING TENDERS FOR LAYING 7 600 METRES OF FRESH WATER MAINS ALONG SHA TAU KOK ROAD AND PING CHE ROAD IN THE NORTHERN NEW TERRITORIES.
THE PROJECT WILL BOOST FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO THE SHA TAU KOK AREA AND SURROUNDING VILLAGES.
WORK WILL START NEXT JANUARY AND BE COMPLETED IN 21 MONTHS.
THE CLOSING DATE FOR BOTH TENDERS IS DECEMBER 16.
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS IN TSIM SHA TSUI ******
FROM 10 AM ON TUESDAY (NOVEMBER 29), THE FOLLOWING TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN TSIM SHA TSUI TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC CIRCULATION IN THE AREAj
* THE LEFT-TURN MOVEMENT FROM THE EXIT OF THE NEW WORLD CENTRE CAR PARK INTO SALISBURY ROAD WESTBOUND WILL BE PROHIBITED. MOTORISTS HEADING FOR THE TSIM SHA TSUI FERRY CONCOURSE ARE ADVISED TO USE MIDDLE ROAD AND NATHAN ROAD.
* PEDESTRIAN SIGNALS WILL BE INSTALLED AT THE CROSSINGS ON SALISBURY ROAD NEAR ITS JUNCTION WITH MIDDLE ROAD.
* THE BUS STOP FOR KMB ROUTES, 5, 5A, 5C, 8, 15X AND 25 AND THE MAXICAB STOPS FOR ROUTES 1 AND 8 ON SALISBURY ROAD EASTBOUND OUTSIDE SHERATON HOTEL WILL BE RESITED EASTWARDS TO OUTSIDE THE MIDDLE ROAD CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND UNDERNEATH THE PEDESTRIAN FOOTBRIDGE.
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SUN ' i'IBER 27, 1983
11 -
FIRING PRACTICE AT HA TSUEN-CASTLE PEAK ******
FIRING PRACTICE WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE HA TSUEN-CASTLE PEAK RANGE FOR 14 DAYS IN DECEMBER.
THE PUBLIC ARE WARNED NOT TO ENTER THE AREA WHEN RED FLAGS ARE HOISTED.
THE FOLLOWING ARE THE DATES AND TIMES OF THE PRACTICES:
DATE TIME
DECEMBER 1 (THURSDAY/ 8 AM - 11 PM
DECEMBER 2 (FRIDAY) 8 AM - 11 PM
DECEMBER 3 (SATURDAY) 8 AM - 11 PM
DECEMBER 5 (MONDAY) 8 AM - 11 PM
DECEMBER 6 (TUESDAY) 8 AM - 11 PM
DECEMBER 7 (WEDNESDAY) 1 8 AM - 11 PM
DECEMBER 8 (THURSDAY) 8 AM - 6 PM
DECEMBER 9 (FRIDAY) 8 AM - 5 PM
DECEMBER 10 (SATURDAY) 8 AM - 6 PM
DECEMBER 12 (MONDAY) 8 AM - 5 PM
DECEMBER 14 (WEDNESDAY) 8 AM - 5 PM
DECEMBER 15 (THURSDAY) 8 AM - 5 PM
DECEMBER 16 (FRIDAY) 8 AM - 5 PM
DECEMBER 17 (SATURDAY) 8 AM - 5 PM
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1983
12
SALT WATER MAINS WORK * * * *
SALT WATER SUPPLY TO TWO AREAS ON HONG KONG ISLAND WILL BE Suspended for five hours — from 9 am to 2 pm — on Wednesday (NOVEMBER 30).
IN THE UPPER LEVEL AREA, THE SUSPENSION WILL AFFECT PREMISES ALONG THE SECTION OF ROBINSON ROAD, FROM CASTLE ROAD TO GARDEN ROAD, MACDONNELL ROAD, SEYMOUR ROAD, CASTLE ROAD, MOSQUE STREET, MOSQUE JUNCTION, CAINE ROAD, CONDUIT ROAD, KOTEWALL ROAD, LYTTELTON ROAD AND BONHAM ROAD.
IN THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN AREA, THE SUSPENSION WILL AFFECT PREMISES ALONG THE SECTIONS OF CONNAUGHT ROAD, QUEEN’S ROAD AND DES VOEUX ROAD FROM ICE HOUSE STREET TO HILL ROAD, HOLLYWOOD ROAD, FIRST STREET, SECOND STREET, THIRD STREET, HIGH STREET, WATER STREET, ABERDEEN STREET, PEEL STREET AND WYNDHAM STREET.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 198?
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
LAND EXCHANGE ENTITLEMENTS TO BE MONETISED ..................... 1
DRY SEASON MAKES COUNTRY PARKS VULNERABLE TO ETRE .............. 2
HUNDREDS OF HILL FIRES DEALT WITH .............................. 3
INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION REPORT NOW AVAILABLE ..................... 3
UK-US AIR SERVICES TALKS ....................................
THAI VISITORS IMPRESSED BY CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS ........... 4
MANPOWER SURVEY ON FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY BEGINS .................... 5
CENTRAL AND WESTERN FESTIVAL CLOSES ............................ 5
SAFETY-AT-WORK EXHIBITION IN CHAI WAN .......................... 6
CAMPING SPECIALLY ORGANISED FOR WORKING PEOPLE ................. 7
FESTIVE DECORATIONS IN SHA TIN ................................. 8
CLEAN VILLAGE COMPETITION IN PROGRESS .......................... 8
COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB'S ANNUAL PARADE ........................... 9
NEW FOOTBRIDGE TO BE BUILT AT QUARRY BAY ....................... 9
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS AT MONG KOK KCR STATION .................. 10
01 KWAN ROAD RE-ROUTED FOR PARADE ............................. 10
TRAFFIC DIVERSIONS PLANS POSTPONED ............................ 10
PARKING METERS IN KOWLOON CITY ................................ 11
WATER LEAKAGE TEST ............................................ 11
WATER FIGURES ................................................. 11
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1983
1
LAND EXCHANGE ENTITLEMENTS TO BE MONETISED ft ft ft ft ft
THE GOVERNMENT IS TO ♦MONETISE* LETTERS B (LAND EXCHANGE ENTITLEMENTS) IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE ITS COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE 15 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF BUILDING LAND FOR THEIR REDEMPTION.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LANDS DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (MONDAY) A CURRENCY VALUE WOULD BE ATTACHED TO LETTERS B FROM APRIL 1 NEXT YEAR SO THAT HOLDERS WOULD BE ABLE TO USE THEM IN A MUCH WIDER RANGE OF LAND TRANSACTION PAYMENTS THAN UNDER THE PRESENT SYSTEM.
THE GOVERNMENT WAS CONFIDENT SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT WOULD ALLOW FOR QUICKER REDEMPTION OF THE COMMITMENT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
HE SAID THAT IN THE NEW TERRITORIES HOLDERS WOULD BE ABLE TO USE MONETISED LETTERS B TO PAY PREMIUMS WHEN TENDERING FOR SITES. TO BUY LAND AT AUCTIONS AND TO PAY PREMIUMS WHEN A SITE WAS GRANTED BY PRIVATE TREATY.
THEY COULD ALSO BE USED TO PAY FOR LICENCES, EXTENSIONS AND BUILDING COVENANT PREMIUMS.
HE SAID THE +CASH+ VALUE OF A LETTER B WOULD DEPEND ON WHEN IT WAS ISSUED.
AN AVERAGE FIGURE HAD BEEN ARRIVED AT, BASED ON THE CURRENT PRICES OF VARIOUS TYPES OF LAND IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES, RANGING FROM A HIGH OF $290.60 PER SQUARE FOOT FOR LETTERS B ISSUED IN I960 TO A LOW OF $19.00 FOR THOSE ISSUED IN MARCH THIS YEAR.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THESE FIGURES WOULD BE MONTHS TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF CHANGING LAND VALUES.
REVISED EVERY SIX
THE SPOKESMAN SAID DEVELOPERS WOULD HAVE THE OPTION OF SUBMITTING TENDERS UNDER THE PRESENT SYSTEM, WHICH GIVES PREFERENCE TO OLDER LETTERS B, OR TENDERING WITH MONETISED EXCHANGE ENTITLEMENTS.
TENDERS WHERE OLDER LETTERS B WERE SUBMITTED WOULD CONTINUE TO BE GIVEN PRIORITY AND THE BEST TENDER WOULD WIN THE SITE.
WHERE THESE TENDERS WERE ACCEPTED THE PREMIUM COULD BE SETTLED IN CASH OR IN MONETISED LETTERS B.
IF THERE WERE NO TENDERS USING OLDER LETTERS B THE HIGHEST MONETISED LETTER B TENDER WOULD WIN.
PAYMENT WOULD BE MADE ENTIRELY IN MONETISED LETTERS B.
IF THERE WERE NO ACCEPTABLE MONETISED LETTER B TENDERS, THE LAND WOULD BE SOLD BY AUCTION.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID IN OTHER TRANSACTIONS THE LESSEE WOULD HAVE THE OPTION OF MEETING THE PAYMENT IN CASH OR IN MONETISED LETTERS B OR IN A COMBINATION OF BOTH.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE NEW SYSTEM HAD BEEN DISCUSSED WITH THE MAIN LETTER B HOLDERS AND WITH THE HEUNG YEE KUK.
/2......
0
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1983
2
DRY SEASON MAKES COUNTRY PARKS VULNERABLE TO FIRE ft ft ft ft ft
SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE COUNTRY PARKS WILL BE CLOSED NEXT WEEKEND (DECEMBER 3 AND 4) TO PROTECT THEM FROM FIRE IF THE PRESENT DRY AND WINDY WEATHER CONDITIONS PERSIST.
THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (CONSERVATION AND COUNTRY PARKS) OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, MR JOHN WHOLEY, SAID TODAY (MONDAY) THAT SO FAR THIS MONTH HILL FIRES HAD CAUSED DAMAGE TO MORE THAN 1 400 HECTARES OF COUNTRY PARKS.
AND TO AVOID ANY SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE HEAVILY WOODED PLANTATION AREAS, IT MIGHT BE NECESSARY TO CLOSE THE TAI LAM, SHING MUN AND TAI MO SHAN COUNTRY PARKS AND THE TAI PO KAU NATURE RESERVE, HE SAID.
IF THE CLOSURE ORDER IS MADE, VISITORS MAY STILL USE THE OTHER COUNTRY PARKS.
BUT MR WHOLEY ADVISED VISITORS THAT PRE-PACKED FOOD SHOULD BE USED IN PREFERENCE TO BARBECUE PICNICS, AND THAT THEY SHOULD BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL WITH CIGARETTE ENDS.
HE SAID THAT THE PAST TWO WINTER SEASONS HAD BEEN VERY WET, THUS KEEPING DOWN THE INCIDENCE OF FIRE AND AT THE SAME TIME ENCOURAGING THE LUSH GROWTH OF VEGETATION.
♦ALSO, TYPHOON ELLEN RIPPED UP A NUMBER OF TREES AND BROKE OFF BRANCHES WHICH HAVE ADDED TO THE FUEL NOW LYING IN THE COUNTRY PARKS.
♦WITH SOME 20 RAINLESS DAYS, LOW HUMIDITY AND PLENTY OF FUEL AVAILABLE, THE COUNTRYSIDE IS NOW PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO FIRE.+
♦SERIOUS LOSS OF COUNTRYSIDE AMENITY CAN ONLY BE PREVENTED BY A MORE RESPONSIBLE ATTITUDE TOWARDS FIRE BY PEOPLE WORKING ON CONTRACT IN THE COUNTRYSIDE, THOSE WHO USE THE COUNTRYSIDE FOR RECREATION, AND A CHANGE IN THE WEATHER,♦ MR WHOLEY SAID.
HE ADDED THAT MOST COUNTRYSIDE FIRES REPORTED THIS MONTH WERE SCRUB FIRES OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY PARKS.
♦NEVERTHELESS THERE IS A GREAT RISK OF THESE FIRES INVADING THE COUNTRY PARKS AND DESTROYING LARGE ESTABLISHED FORESTRY PLANTATION,♦ HE SAID.
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NOVEMBER 1983
HUNDREDS OF hiLL rlRES DEALT W < i o * * * *
THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT DEALT WITH NEARLY 650 HILL FIRE FROM THE BEGINNING OF THIS MONTH TILL YESTERDAY (SUNDAY), A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (MONDAY).
I
♦OVER THE WEEKEND, THERE WERE 163 HILL FIRES ON HONG KONG ISLAND AND IN KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES,* THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
♦SOME OF THE MAJOR HILL FIRES OCCURRED NEAR RESIDENTIAL AREAS AND AT ONE TIME THREATENED THE LIVES AND PROPERTY OF NEARBY RESIDENTS.
♦WITH THE START OF THE DRY SEASON, EXTRA PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO REDUCE THE DANGER OF FIRE EITHER AT HOME OR IN THE COUNTRYSIDE,♦ HE ADDED.
♦THE FIRE SERVICES TOGETHER WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS HAVE LAUNCHED A MAJOR FIRE PREVENTION CAMPAIGN, URGING THE PUBLIC TO BE SPECIALLY CAREFUL DURING THE CURRENT WINTER SEASON,♦ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
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INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION REPORT NOW AVAILABLE
X X X
A STATISTICAL REPORT, ENTITLED ♦1981 SURVEY OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION*, HAS BEEN PREPARED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT IN RECOGNITION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES TO THE HONG KONG ECONOMY.
PREVIOUS PUBLICATIONS IN THE SAME SERIES INCLUDE THE REPORT ON THE SURVEY OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION FOR 1973 AND REPORTS ON ANNUAL SURVEYS FROM 1976 TO 1980, A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE SURVEY COVERED ESSENTIALLY THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR.
BUT ESTABLISHMENTS ENGAGED IN MINING AND QUARRYING, AND IN THE SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY, GAS AND WATER WERE ALSO COVERED.
THE REPORT PRESENTS THE MAJOR FINDINGS FROM THE SURVEY, INCLUDING INFORMATION ON THE STRUCTURAL AND OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS OF VARIOUS INDUSTRIES.
BESIDES PROVIDING INFORMATION TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR POLICY MAKING, THE STATISTICS ARE USEFUL TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR FOR DECISION MAKING, ECONOMIC ANALYSIS AND MARKET RESEARCH, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THEY CAN BE USED FOR ASSESSING INDUSTRIAL PERFORMANCE, IDENTIFYING STRUCTURAL CHANGES AND DRAWING INTER-INDUSTRY COMPARISONS, HE ADDED.
THE REPORT FOR THE 1981 SURVEY IS NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE, GENERAL POST OFFICE, CONNAUGHT PLACE, AT S9 A COPY.
_ _ o - -
k • V KO' 2^. 1083
ua—JS AIR -nviv’ES TALKS ; k k
MR NORMAN LATHAM, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF CIVIL AVIATION, LEFT FOR LONDON TODAY (MONDAY TO REPRESENT THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IN AIR SERVICES ’«LKS BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND UNITED STATES AERONAUTICAL AUTHORITIES.
AT THE TALKS, WHICH WILL START ON WEDNESDAY (NOVEMBER 30), THE PARTIES WILL DISCUSS PROBLEMS RELATING TO TRANS-ATLANTIC SERVICES.
THEY WILL ALSO CONSIDER THE WORKING OF THE BILATERAL AIR SERVICES AGREEMENT AS IT RELATES TO SERVICES BETWEEN HONG KONG AND THE UNITED STATES.
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THAI VISITORS IMPRESSED BY CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS
THAILAND’S DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERIOR, MR CHALEO VAJARABUKKA, SAID HE WAS VERY IMPRESSED BY THE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS HE VISITED TODAY (MONDAY).
HE MADE THIS REMARK AFTER SEEING THE STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE AS WELL AS TWO PRISONS IN STANLEY WHICH HE CONSIDERED AS BEING ♦VERY WELL AND EFFECTIVELY MANAGED.+
THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THAILAND’S DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, MR DHAVEE CHOOSUP AND 13 OTHER SENIOR THAI OFFICIALS WERE ALSO ON THE TOUR.
ACCOMPANIED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF CORRECTIONAL SERVICES, MR THOMAS GARNER, THE PARTY FIRST VISITED THE STAFF TRAINING INSTITUTE WHERE THEY SAW CORRECTIONAL SERVICES OFFICERS UNDERGOING TRAINING AND LOOKED AT VARIOUS FACILITIES.
THE PARTY THEN PROCEEDED TO THE NEARBY MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON, STANLEY PRISON.
THEY TOURED ITS CELLS AND HOSPITAL AS WELL AS SAW PRISONERS AT WORK IN VARIOUS WORKSHOPS.
MR CHALEO VAJARABUKKA SAID HE WAS PARTICULARLY IMPRESSED WITH THE STANLEY PRISON WHICH HE DESCRIBED AS THE BEST HE HAD SEEN ANYWHERE.
THE VISITORS FINALLY CALLED AT THE ADJACENT TUNG TAU CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION WHERE THEY TOURED ITS DORMITORIES, CHAPEL, LIBRARY, WORKSHOPS AND OTHER FACILITIES.
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/5........
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1983
5
MANPOWER SURVEY ON FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY BEGINS *****
AN EIGHT-DAY MANPOWER SURVEY ON FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY STARTED TODAY (MONDAY).
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL SAID THE FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY WAS ALLOWED
^OrH|CI2O^?B?R§?T?vE‘RSSeNSs,2:^eT?s?ESTR,CT'ON peoPLeH?SELVI^N'lH!EKTHETHL!S?USTR¥ FAILS To mR,CT TOUNG
THEREFORE IT IS NECESSARY TO COLLECT UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON THE EMPLOYMENT SITUATION AND MANPOWER REQUIRED FOR THE INDUSTR Y.
THE SPOKESMAN URGED EMPLOYERS TO COOPERATE BY SUPPLY ACCURATE INFORMATION.
ALL DATA COLLECTED WILL BE HANDLED IN STRICT CONFIDENCE.
QUESTIONNAIRES AND EXPLANATORY NOTES HAVE BEEN SENT TO 250 EMPLOYERS SELECTED FROM RANDOM SAMPLING.
OFFICERS FROM THE CENSUS AND VISIT THEM FROM TODAY TO DECEMBER THE FORMS.
STATISTICS DEPARTMENT WILL 5 TO COLLECT AND HELP COMPLETE
ALSO ASSISTING IN THE SURVEY INDUSTRIAL TRAINING DEPARTMENT AND AGENCY.
ARE THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND THE GOVERNMENT DATA PROCESSING
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CENTRAL AND WESTERN FESTIVAL CLOSES * * *
THE MONTH-LONG CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT FESTIVAL, WHICH PROVIDED LOCAL RESIDENTS WITH A PROGRAMME OF CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES, CLOSED THIS (MONDAY) EVENING WITH A CELEBRITY CONCERT.
SPEAKING AT THE CLOSING CEREMONY, THE DEPUTY REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR ALBERT LAM, DESCRIBED THE CONCERT AS A +MOST FITTING FINALE* AND WAS ^PARTICULARLY MEANINGFUL* IN THAT THE PERFORMERS ALL CAME FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
THE PERFORMERS INCLUDED THE VICE-CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG, DR RAYSON HUANG, AND HIS STUDENTS, AND THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT YOUTH CHOIR.
THE CONCERT INCLUDED A VIOLIN SOLO BY DR HUANG; AND A KU-CHENG SOLO BY MR HON SEE-WAHI A PIANO SOLO BY MISS TERESITA BOTELHO; AND A TENOR SOLO BY MR WONG FANG; ALL OF THEM STUDENTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY.
/IT ALSO .......
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1983
6
IT ALSO FEATURED PERFORMANCES BY THE HONG KONG CHAMBER PLAYERS, THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG’S BAROQUE ENSEMBLE, AND THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT YOUTH CHOIR.
THE FESTIVAL, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND FOR THE DISTRICT, STARTED ON OCTOBER 30 AND HAS ATTRACTED MORE THAN 90 000 PARTICIPANTS.
♦THE SUCCESS OF THE FESTIVAL OWED VERY MUCH TO THE TIME AND EFFORT DEVOTED BY MEMBERS OF THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE AND ITS SUB-COMMITTEES, AS WELL AS THE SUPPORT GIVEN BY LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS.
♦THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT DISPLAYED IS HIGHLY COMMENDABLE,♦ W LAM SAID.
HE NOTED THAT THE PROGRAMME IN THE FESTIVAL HAD BEEN CAREFULLY DESIGNED TO CATER FOR PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE.
AMONG OTHER EVENTS, IT COVERED A LONG-DISTANCE RUN ON THE PEAK FOR THE YOUNG AND ENERGETIC; A COLOURFUL CARNIVAL FOR THE CHILDREN; AN EXCURSION TO CHEUNG CHAU FOR THE ELDERLY: AND A HISTORICAL EXHIBITION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DISTRICT IN THE LAST 100 YEARS.
♦THROUGH THESE ACTIVITIES, THE FESTIVAL AIMED AT ENHANCING OUR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE DISTRICT AND PROMOTING A GREATER SENSE OF BELONG I NG,+ HE SAID.
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SAFETY-AT-WORK EXHIBITION IN CHAI WAN
KK M I
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT HAS GONE TO GREAT LENGTHS TO PROMOTE SAFETY AT WORK AND IS ENCOURAGED BY THE FAVOURABLE RESPONSE FROM THOSE WHO HAVE ATTENDED EXHIBITIONS ON THE TOPIC, THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR YIU YAN-NANG, SAID IN CHAI WAN THIS (MONDAY) MORNING.
MR YIU WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF ♦SAFETY EXTRAVAGANZA*, AN INDUSTRIAL SAFETY EXHIBITION, AT THE CHAI WAN COMMUNITY CENTRE.
JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND THE EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD, THE 15-MINUTE SOUND-ON-SLIDE SHOW AND THE EXHIBITION OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY DISPLAY PANELS, WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FROM 11 AM TO 8.30 PM DAILY UNTIL DECEMBER 4, 1983.
MR YIU SAID THAT THE ORIGINAL AUDIO-VISUAL PRESENTATION ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY MADE ITS SUCCESSFUL DEBUT AT THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC IN FEBRUARY LAST YEAR. SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN RE-STAGED IN THE MAJOR INDUSTRIAL AREAS OF WONG CHUK HANG, TSUEN WAN, WONG TAI SIN AND TUEN MUN.
/-ENCOURAGED BY........
MONDAY, NOVJXBER 28, 1983
7
♦ENCOURAGED BY THE SUCCESS, WE HAVE COMPLETELY RE-PROGRAMMED AND UPDATED ITS CONTENTS, AND EXTENDED IT FROM 12 TO 15 MINUTES.*
*1 AM PLEASED TO NOTE THAT THIS UNIQUE PRESENTATION, WHICH COMBINES BOTH ENTERTAINMENT AND EDUCATION, HAS BEEN WELL RECEIVED BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, PARTICULARLY WORKERS,* HE ADDED.
MR YIU URGED RESIDENTS AND WORKERS IN CHAI WAN TO VISIT THE SHOW,'AND APPEALED TO EMPLOYERS TO ARRANGE FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES TO SEE IT.
THE DISTRICT OFFICER OF EASTERN DISTRICT OFFICE, MR LUI HAU-TUEN. LATER PERFORMED THE *SWITCH ING-ON* CEREMONY TO OFFICIALLY OPEN THE +SAFETY EXTRAVAGANZA*.
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CAMPING SPECIALLY ORGANISED FOR WORKING PEOPLE MH**
A TOTAL OF 12 CAMP OUTINGS WILL BE HELD AT THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT’S CHONG HING WATER SPORTS CENTRE IN SAI KUNG.
THE CENTRE, NEAR THE HIGH ISLAND RESERVOIR, HAS FACILITIES FOR CANOEING, SAILING, ROWING, CYCLING, KITE FLYING, ARCHERY AND LAND EXPEDITION.
EACH OF THE OUTINGS WILL LAST FOR TWO NIGHTS AND THREE DAYS, WITH THE FIRST DUE TO START ON DECEMBER 5 AND THE LAST ON FEBRUARY 22, NEXT YEAR.
THE ACTIVITIES ARE BEING JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE DEPARTMENT AND THE BRITISH FORCES.
PARTICIPANTS WILL FLY TO THE CAMP ON A ROYAL AIR FORCE HELICOPTER AND CRUISE HOME ON BOARD A MINESWEEPER.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT’S RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE SAID THE OUTINGS, KNOWN AS +FLY, CAMP, CRUISE*, ARE OPEN TO WORKING PEOPLE.
♦THIS IS NOT A FAMILY OUTING OR AN EVENT FOR STUDENTS AS THE CAMPS WILL BE HELD MOSTLY ON WEEKDAYS. WE FEEL THAT PEOPLE IN EMPLOYMENT CAN PARTICIPATE BY MAKING USE OF THEIR LEAVE,* HE SAID.
APPLICATION FOR THE ACTIVITIES ARE BEING INVITED FROM PERSON* AT THE AGE OF 18 OR ABOVE.
APPLICATION FORMS AND DETAILS OF THE CAMP ARE AVAILABLE FROM ANY OF THE IP DISTRICT OFFICES OF THE RECREATION A .D SPORT SERVICE.
EACH CAMP WILL ACCOMMODATE 48 PEOPLE AND. ACCEPTANCE WILL BE DECIDE® BY BALLOT.
THE FEE IS $30 PER PERSON, EXCLUDING FOOD AS CAMPERS ARE EXPECTED TO BRING OR COOK THEIR OWN MEALS.
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1983
8
FESTIVE DECORATIONS IN SHA TIN * * *
FESTIVE LIGHTINGS AND DECORATIONS WILL BE PUT UP ALONG THE TWO MAIN BRIDGES ON THE SHING MUN RIVER IN SHA TIN DURING THE COMING CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS.
ON WEDNESDAY (NOVEMBER 30) MORNING, THE DISTRICT BOARD AMBERS WILL ENDORSE THE ALLOCATION OF $300 000 FOR THE DECORATIONS AT THEIR MEETING.
AN AD HOC COMMITTEE WAS FORMED IN OCTOBER TO WORK OUT A DETAILED PROGRAMME FOR THE FESTIVE DECORATIONS, WHICH INCLUDED THE LAUNCHING OF AN OPEN CONTEST FOR THE LIGHTING DESIGN.
AT THE MEETING, MEMBERS WILL ALSO DISCUSS THE PROGRESS REPORTS OF THE BOARD’S COMMITTEES ON HEALTH, EDUCATION AND WELFARE, INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE, TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT, HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT, RECREATION AND SPORTS, CULTURAL AFFAIRS AND FINANCE.
NOTE TO EDITORS!
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE WELCOME TO COVER THE SHA TIN DISTRICT BOARD MEETING AT 9 AM ON WEDNESDAY (NOVEMBER 30) IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE ON THE SIXTH FLOOR OF KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY HOUSE, SHA TIN STATION.
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CLEAN VILLAGE COMPETITION IN PROGRESS
A FIVE-WEEK CLEAN VILLAGE COMPETITION IS BEING HELD AT EIGHT VILLAGES IN NORTH DISTRICT TO ENCOURAGE VILLAGERS TO HELP KEEP THEIR SURROUNDINGS CLEAN.
THE COMPETITION, JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE CLEAN HONG KONG WORKING GROUP OF THE NORTH DISTRICT BOARD AND THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT, IS AIMED AT FURTHER AROUSING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE.
THE VILLAGERS’ CLEAN-UP EFFORT WILL BE ASSESSED BY A PANEL OF ADJUDICATORS COMPRISING RURAL LEADERS OF NORTH DISTRICT, AN NTSD SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE EIGHT VILLAGES TAKING PART IN THE COMPETITION ARE MA CHO LUNG AND YIN KONG CHUEN IN SHEUNG SHU I, HUNG LENG AND TAN CHUK HANG IN FANLING, TAI LONG CHUEN AND YIM LIU HA IN SHA TAU KOK, KAN TAU WAI AND CHOW TIN CHUEN IN TA KWU LING.
MEANWHILE, TWO EDUCATION CAMPS WERE HELD AT THE BOY SCOUT CAMP SITE AT TUNG TZE OVER THE PAST TWO SUNDAYS.
MORE THAN 300 SCHOOL CHILDREN FROM NORTH DISTRICT ATTENDED THE CAMP WHICH FEATURED A SEMINAR, A FILM SHOW AND A SLOGAN DESIGN ‘ COMPETITION WITH THE CLEAN HONG KONG CAMPAIGN AS THE TOPIC.
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1983
9
NOTE TO EDITORS:
COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB’S ANNUAL PARADE S s X
THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR COLVYN HAYE, WILL OFFICIATE AT THE ANNUAL PARADE OF THE COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB AT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH STADIUM, WAN CHAI, ON WEDNESDAY (NOVEMBER 30) AT 2.30 PM.
MORE THAN 3 700 CYC MEMBERS WILL ATTEND THE PARADE WHICH WILL FEATURE BAND PERFORMANCES, DANCES AND TELEMATCHES.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE ANNUAL PARADE.
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NEW FOOTBRIDGE TO BE BUILT AT QUARRY BAY * * * *
CONSTRUCTION WORK WILL START EARLY NEXT YEAR ON A FOOTBRIDGE OVER SHAU KEI WAN ROAD AT ITS JUNCTION WITH TAI KOO SHING ROAD AND KING’S ROAD IN QUARRY BAY.
THE J1.5-MILLI0N PROJECT WILL INCLUDE A STAIRCASE GIVING ACCESS TO THE TRAM STOP NEAR THE SITE OF THE FOOTBRIDGE.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THE FOOTBRIDGE WOULD BE AN ESSENTIAL COMPONENT OF THE PROPOSED INTERIM TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE OPENING OF THE SECTION OF ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR FROM VICTORIA PARK TO TAI KOO SHING IN MID-1984.
HE SAID THE INCREASED VOLUME OF TRAFFIC EXPECTED WHEN THIS SECTION OF ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR OPENS WOULD WORSEN EXISTING TRAFFIC CONDITIONS IN THE AREA UNLESS ADDITIONAL CAPACITY WAS PROVIDED BY ABOLISHING THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING AT STREET LEVEL.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE FOOTBRIDGE, WHICH MUST BE COMPLETED WITHIN FIVE MONTHS BEFORE THE OPENING OF PART OF ISLAND EASTERN CORRIDOR, WILL START AT THE END “
OF JANUARY
IT WILL BE BUILT BY FRANKI SUPERVISION OF THE MASS TRANSIT
CONTRACTORS LTD. UNDER THE railway corporation.
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/10........
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1983
10
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS AT MONG KOK KCR STATION
FROM 10 AM ON WEDNESDAY (NOVEMBER 30), LUEN WAN STREET WILL “E CLOSED TO TRAFFIC FOR ABOUT 14 MONTHS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PERMANENT INTERCHANGE FACILITIES AT THE MONG KOK KCR STATION.
DURING THE CLOSURE, MOTORISTS HEADING FOR THE STATION ARE ADVISED TO USE BUTE STREET.
AT THE SAME TIME, BUTE STREET EAST OF SAI YEE STREET WILL BE PROHIBITED TO ALL PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES.
THE SECTION OF BUTE STREET BETWEEN SAI YEE STREET AND THE MONG KOK KCR STATION INTERCHANGE AREA WILL ALSO BE RE-ROUTED TWO WAYS.
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01 KWAN ROAD RE-ROUTED FOR PARADE *****
01 KWAN ROAD IN WAN CHAI WILL BE RE-ROUTED ONE-WAY CLOCKWISE BETWEEN 12.30 PM AND 4.30 PM ON WEDNESDAY (NOVEMBER 30) TO ALLOW FOR THE COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB ANNUAL PARADE.
ALL PARKING SPACES ON 01 KWAN ROAD WILL BE SUSPENDED DURING THIS PERIOD.
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TRAFFIC DIVERSIONS PLANS POSTPONED * * *
PLANS FOR NEW TRAFFIC DIVERSIONS FOR THE QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL COMPOUND, ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR IMPLEMENTATION ON WEDNESDAY (NOVEMBER 30), HAVE BEEN DEFERRED INDEFINITELY.
A HOSPITAL SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (MONDAY) THAT THE POSTPONEMENT WAS DUE TO TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES.
THE PRESENT TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL REMAIN IN FORCE.
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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1983
11
PARKING METERS IN KOWLOON CITY
* * *
A TOTAL OF 23 PARKING METERS WILL BE INSTALLED AT SHING TAK STREET IN KOWLOON CITY TO REGULATE THE USE OF PARKING SPACES.
THE CHARGE WILL BE SI FOR 30 MINUTES AT THESE TWO-HOUR METERS, WHICH WILL BE OPERATIONAL FROM 9 AM ON WEDNESDAY (NOVEMBER 30).
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WATER LEAKAGE TEST * * *
FRESH WATER SUPPLY TO CERTAIN PREMISES IN TSIM SHA TSUI wILL BE INTERRUPTED FROM 11 PM ON THURSDAY (DECEMBER 1) TO 6 AM THE FOLLOWING DAY FOR WATER LEAKAGE TESTS.
THE AREA AFFECTED IS BOUNDED BY NATHAN ROAD, PEKING ROAD, CANTON ROAD AND SALISBURY ROAD, AND * ILL INCLUDE HANKOa ROAD, MIDDLE ROAD, ASHLEY ROAD, THE NEW WORLD CENTRE AND STAR FERRY.
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WATER FIGURES * * *
STORAGE IN HONG KONG’S RESERVOIRS AT 9 AM TODAY (MONDAY) STOOD AT 94% PER CENT OF CAPACITY OR 555.725 MILLION CUBIC NE TRES.
THIS TIME LAST YEAR THE RESERVOIRS CONTAINED 459.111 MILLION CUBIC METRES OF WATER, REPRESENTING 78.3 PER CENT OF CA ACITY.
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DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE. HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 198?
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
VALUE OF INDUSTRIAL JOINT EFFORT STRESSED ............. 1
TEXTILE TALKS WITH NORWAY RESUMING ...................... 2
PUBLIC-SPIRITED PEOPLE THANKED FOR DONATIONS ............ 2
YEAR OF' THE RAT GOLD COIN OFFERED .................... 3
STUDENTS’ NEED FOR GUIDANCE STRESSED .................... 5
BOY SCOUTS CENTRE GETS 8500 000 DONATION ................ 6
DISTRICT BOARDS PRAISED FOR CONTRIBUTIONS ............. 7
NO LIFE GUARDS ON BEACHES DURING WINTER ................. 8
SPORTS CARNIVAL FOR RESIDENTS ........................... 8
NEW ACCESS ROAD ......................................... 9
PLB BAN IN ABERDEEN LIFTED .............................. 9
KING'S ROAD TRAFFIC PLAN ................................ 9
CLOSURE OF ROADS
9
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1983
1
VALUE OF INDUSTRIAL JOINT EFFORT STRESSED
******
HONG KONG INDUSTRIALISTS TOGETHER WITH THEIR OVERSEAS PARTNERS, AND THE GOVERNMENT HAVE AN IMPORTANT PART TO PLAY IN HONG KONG’S INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, I* JOHN YAXLEY SAID TODAY. V
HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE NEW OFFICE OF THE HONG KONG KWUN TONG INDUSTRIES AND COMMERCE ASSOCIATION AT HUNG TO ROAD, KWUN TONG.
MR YAXLEY SAID THAT MUCH OF THE SUCCESS OF HONG KONG’S MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY HAD BEEN DUE TO THE WILLINGNESS OF ENTREPRENEURS TO INVEST AND RE-INVEST, TO MODERNISE PRODUCTION FACILITIES AND TECHNIQUES, AND TO DIVERSIFY INTO NEW PRODUCTS.
♦THIS WILLINGNESS HAS BECOME ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT BECAUSE PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES CAN BECOME OBSOLETE IN A VERY SHORT TIME AND OUR COMPETITORS ARE HARD ON OUR HEELS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO REPLACE HONG KONG AS THE MOST EFFICIENT MANUFACTURING CENTRE IN THE WORLD,* HE SAID.
MR YAXLEY SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT BELIEVED CO-OPERATION BETWEEN HONG KONG MANUFACTURERS AND THEIR OVERSEAS PARTNERS PROVIDES A SHORT-CUT TO ACHIEVING THE OBJECTIVES OF MODERNISING AND DIVERSIFYING HONG HONG’S INDUSTRY.
♦TO THIS END, THE DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRY PROMOTES OVERSEAS INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT IN HONG KONG IN THE FORM OF WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARIES, JOINT-VENTURES, AND SUB-CONTRACTING OR LICENSING ARRANGEMENTS SO THAT LOCAL INDUSTRY MAY ACQUIRE THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY IN DESIGN, PRODUCTION AND QUALITY CONTROL.
♦AT THE SAME TIME, THE DEPARTMENT ARRANGES FOR MISSIONS OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIALISTS TO GO OVERSEAS. THESE MISSIONS, WHICH PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HONG KONG INDUSTRIALISTS TO MEET POTENTIAL PARTNERS AND DISCUSS POSSIBLE MANUFACTURING PROJECTS, AIM TO HELP LOCAL BUSINESSMEN FIND NEW PRODUCTION PROCESSES, AND TO DIVERSIFY AND IMPROVE THEIR TECHNOLOGY THROUGH CO-OPERATION WITH OVERSEAS COMPANIES,♦ HR YAXLEY SAID.
A TOTAL OF 30 LOCAL INDUSTRIALISTS PARTICIPATED IN THE INDUSTRIAL PROMOTION MISSIONS ORGANISED BY THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT EARLIER THIS YEAR TO THE UNITED STATES, JAPAN, SWEDEN AND GERMANY.
♦THEY ALL FOUND THE EXPERIENCE EXTREMELY USEFUL AND THEIR EXPOSURE TO ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY AND PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES PARTICULARLY INVALUABLE. THE DEPARTMENT IS THEREFORE ORGANISING ANOTHER SERIES OF MISSIONS TO VISIT JAPAN, THE U.S. AND THE U.K. EARLY NEXT YEAR. I VERY MUCH HOPE THAT MEMBERS OF THIS ASSOCIATION WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES,* HE CONCLUDED.
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/2........
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1983
2
TEXTILE TALKS WITH NORWAY RESUMING
* * *
HONG KONG AND NORWAY WILL RESUME TALKS IN HONG KONG TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) TO NEGOTIATE A BILATERAL TEXTILE AGREEMENT.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRADE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT SINCE THE PREVIOUS HONG KONG-NORWAY TEXTILE AGREEMENT EXPIRED AT THE END OF 1977, HONG KONG’S EXPORTS OF NINE TEXTILE AND GARMENT ITEMS TO NORWAY HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO IMPORT CONTROL.
♦DURING THE LAST TWO ROUNDS OF TALKS HELD IN APRIL AND JUNE THIS YEAR, SOME PROGRESS WAS MADE BUT THERE WAS STILL A WIDE GAP BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES ON A NUMBER OF IMPORTANT ISSUES,* THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
THE HONG KONG DELEGATION WILL BE LED BY THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE W HAMISH MACLEOD, AND THE NORWEGIAN SIDE BY THE DIRECTOR GENERAL, MINISTRY OF TRADE AND SHIPPING, MR BJORN OESTERN.
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PUBLIC-SPIRITED PEOPLE THANKED FOR DONATIONS
* * * *
THE ACTING CHIEF SECRETARY, MR DENIS BRAY, TODAY PAID TRIBUTE TO THE MANY PUBLIC-SPIRITED PEOPLE WHO WERE ALWAYS READY TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS PUBLIC PROJECTS, AND THANKED IN PARTICULAR THOSE WHO HAD GIVEN GENEROUSLY TO THE BUILDING OF THE QUEEN ELIZABETH STADIUM.
♦THEIR EXEMPLARY ACTS WILL SET A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW,♦ HE SAID.
SPEAKING AT THE UNVEILING OF A COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE AT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH STADIUM, MR BRAY SAID BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE URBAN COUNCIL HAD WORKED HARD TO PROMOTE SPORTING, RECREATIONAL, AND CULTURAL PURSUITS IN THE COMMUNITY.
THE PLAN FOR THE STADIUM WAS DRAWN UP IN 1975 BUT IT WAS THE ^MOVEMENT OF A LARGE NUMBER OF PUBLIC-SPIRITED CITIZENS AND ORGANISATIONS THAT ARE ALWAYS READY TO DEVOTE NOT ONLY THEIR TIME AND EFFORTS BUT ALSO THEIR RESOURCES TO MANY PUBLIC PROJECTS+ THAT A FIRM DECISION TO GO AHEAD WAS TAKEN, MR BRAY SAID
♦ONCE THE INITIATIVE WAS TAKEN THE GOVERNMENT, THE URBAN COUNCIL, OTHER PRIVATE DONORS CAME FORWARD AND THE SCHEME GOT UNDERWAY,♦ HE ADDED.
/MR BRAY ........
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1983
3
MR BRAY NOTED THAT THE ORIGINAL FUND WAS FOR A PERMANENT PROJECT TO MARK THE VISIT OF HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN TO HONG KONG, WHILE THE SUBSTANTIAL SURPLUS FROM THE SALE OF THE jOLD COINS STRUCK FOR THE ROYAL VISIT ALSO CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROJECT.
EARLIER, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, MR HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, POINTED OUT THAT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS INDOOR COMPLEX WAS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF STADIA IN HONG KONG.
♦TODAY, IT STILL IS THE ONLY FACILITY OF ITS KIND ON HONG KONG ISLAND AND IS USED FOR NUMEROUS SPECTATOR SPORTS AT BOTH INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL LEVELS,♦ HE SAID.
MR CHEONG-LEEN SAID SINCE ITS OPENING MORE THAN THREE AND A HALF YEARS AGO, THE 3 500 SEAT QUEEN ELIZABETH STADIUM HAD BEEN THE VENUE FOR MANY MAJOR INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL EVENTS THAT RANGED FROM SPORTS TO CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT.
WITH A MONTHLY AVERAGE OF 17 000 PEOPLE USING ITS RECREATIONAL SPORTS FACILITIES, MR CHEONG-LEEN SAID, THE HIGH USAGE OF ITS FACILITIES HAD REFLECTED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE STADIUM.
0
YEAR OF THE RAT GOLD COIN OFFERED * * * * *
THE GOVERNMENT TODAY (TUESDAY) ANNOUNCED THE ISSUE OF A LIMITED QUANTITY OF $1 000 GOLD COINS TO MARK THE COMING LUNAR NEW YEAR -THE YEAR OF THE RAT.
APPLICATION FORMS WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM TOMORROW (WEDNESDAY) AT ALL HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION OFFICES AND CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION DISTRICT OFFICES.
THE APPLICATION DEADLINE IS 4.30 PM ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE PROOF VERSION OF THE COIN IS PRICED AT S3 300 WHILE THE BRILLIANT UNCIRCULATED COIN COSTS S2 200. THESE ARE THE PRICES AT WHICH THE COCKEREL, THE D(Xr AND THE PIG COINS WERE SOLD.
♦THE APPLICATION PROCEDURE IS THE SAME AS THAT OF LAST YEAR IN that cheques on personal accounts are accepted as well as cashier’s CRI-RS,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
TO RESIDENTS WITH A HONG SUBSCRIPTION A BALLOT WILL
♦HOWEVER, APPLICATIONS ARE RESTRICTED KONG IDENTITY CARD. IN THE EVENT OF OVER BE HELD,* HE ADDED.
/THE YEAR .......
TUESDAY, NOVfXBER 29, 198?
THE YEAR OF THE RAT GOLD COIN IS THE NINTH IN A SERIES TO COMMEMORATE THE 12 LUNAR YEARS WHICH FALL IN THE WESTERN CALENDAR YEARS 1976-87.
WORLDWIDE MINTAGE FOR EACH COIN IN THE SERIES IS LIMITED, AND THE YEAR OF THE RAT COIN IS NO EXCEPTION.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT 8 OOO PROOF AND 12 000 UNCIRCULATED COINS HAVE BEEN SET ASIDE FOR HONG KONG RESIDENTS.
THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT PROFITS FROM THE SALE OF GOLD COINS ARE NOT TAKEN DIRECTLY TO THE GOVERNMENT’S GENERAL REVENUE, BUT ARE KEPT IN A SPECIAL ACCOUNT WHICH HAS BEEN USED TO HELP FINANCE CAREFULLY SELECTED PROJECTS.
TO DATE, A TOTAL OF *107 MILLION FROM GOLD COIN SALES HAVE BEEN USED TO FINANCE THE FOLLOWING PROJECTSi
* 15 MILLION FOR QUEEN ELIZABETH STADIUM;
* 57 MILLION FOR SILVER JUBILEE SPORTS CENTRE; AND
* 35 MILLION FOR THE PURCHASE OF FLATS TO PROVIDE HOMES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS.
THE SPOKESMAN ADVISED RESIDENTS TO HAND IN THEIR APPLICATIONS EARLY.
COMPLETED FORMS, TOGETHER WITH CASHIER’S ORDERS OR CROSSED CHEQUES DATED NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 14, 1983 AND MADE PAYABLE TO ♦HONG KONG GOVERNMENT 1984 SPECIAL COIN ACCOUNT*, MUST REACH ANY OF THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING
OF THE FOLLOWING BRANCHES
CORPORATION BY 4.30 PM OF THAT DAY:
40-50 DES VOEUX ROAD WEST, HONG KONG
7 QUEEN’S ROAD CENTRAL, HONG KONG 500 HENNESSY ROAD, CAUSEWAY BAY, HONG KONG
1 HYSAN AVENUE, CAUSEWAY BAY, HONG KONG 306 KING’S ROAD, NORTH POINT, HONG KONG
82-84 NATHAN ROAD, KOWLOON 673 NATHAN ROAD, MONG KOK
1 YUE MAN SQUARE, KWUN TONG
455-457 CASTLE PEAK ROAD, TSUEN WAN
192 CASTLE PEAK ROAD, YUEN LONG
/STRUCK Di
TUESDAY, NOVBXBER 29, 1983
5
STRUCK IN 22 CARAT GOLD, EACH COIN MEASURES 28.4 MM IN DIAMETER AND WEIGHS 15.976 GRAMMES.
EACH COIN WILL BE PACKAGED IN A PLASTIC SCREW TOP CAPSULE AND SUPPLIED WITH A PRESENTATION CASE AND A DESCRIPTIVE BOOKLET.
GOLD COINS WITH A FACE VALUE OF $1 OOO WERE MADE LEGAL TENDER ON MAY 5, 1975.
THE YEAR OF THE RAT BEGINS ON FEBRUARY 2, 1984 AND ENDS ON FEBRUARY 19, 1985.
THE RAT IS REGARDED AS THE BIRTHDAY ANIMAL FOR PEOPLE BORN BETWEEN THE FOLLOWING DATES AND FOR ANYONE BORN IN PREVIOUS YEARS OF THE RATj
1900 - 1901 (JANUARY 31, 1900 TO FEBRUARY 18, 1901)
1912 - 1913 (FEBRUARY 18, 1912 TO FEBRUARY 5, 1913)
1924 - 1925 (FEBRUARY 5, 1924 TO JANUARY 23, 1925)
1936 - 1937 (JANUARY 24, 1936 TO FEBRUARY 10, 1937)
1948 - 1949 (FEBRUARY 10, 1948 TO JANUARY 28, 1949)
1960 - 1961 (JANUARY 28, 1960 TO FEBRUARY 14, 1961)
1972 - 1973 (FEBRUARY 15, 1972 TO FEBRUARY 2, 1973)
------o-------
STUDENTS’ NEED FOR GUIDANCE STRESSED
* ft * ft ft
YOUNG STUDENTS NEED UNDERSTANDING, GUIDANCE, SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT FROM FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS FOR THEIR DEVELOPMENT INTO SUCCESSFUL ADULTS.
THIS WAS STATED TODAY BY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, NR .OHN CHAMBERS, AT THE GRADUATION CEREMONY OF PO KOK PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL AND BUDDHIST COLLEGE IN HAPPY VALLEY.
HE SAID HIGHER EXPECTATIONS FROM OTHER PEOPLE AND STIFFER COMFETITION WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM PARTICULARLY WHEN COMBINED WITH FAMILY PROBLEMS, COULD CAUSE YOUNG PEOPLE DIFFICULTIES.
IF THEIR DIFFICULTIES WERE NOT DETECTED AND REMEDIAL ACTIONS TAKEN, THEIR ACADEMIC, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT MIGHT BE AFFECTED, HE EMPHASISED.
HE SAID THAT SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK HELPED STUDENTS OVERCOME THESE DIFFICULTIES.
THIS SERVICE, INTRODUCED IN 1974, SUPPLEMENTS THE EFFORTS CF PARENTS AND TEACHERS.
/Mr chambers .......
TUESDAY, NOVJMBER 29, 198j
6
MR CHAMBERS SAID THE ROLE OF A SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER WAS TO IMPROVE UNDERSTANDING, CO-OPERATION AND COMMUNICATION BETWEEN STUDENTS, THEIR FAMILIES AND THE SCHOOLS, AND TO GIVE COUNSELLING AND PRACTICAL ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL PROBLEMS.
BUT THE WORKER WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO FUNCTION EFFECTIVELY WITHOUT THE UNDERSTANDING AND CO-OPERATION OF SCHOOL PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS, HE SAID.
THE CONCERN AND SUPPORT OF THE TEACHERS WAS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT AS THEY WERE OFTEN THE FIRST TO DETECT STUDENTS’ PROBLEMS, HE ADDED.
AT PRESENT, SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK SERVICE COVERS 473 SECONDARY SCHOOLS WITH ABOUT 500 000 STUDENTS.
PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE SERVED BY STUDENT GUIDANCE OFFICERS, WHO ARE TEACHERS WITH SPECIAL TRAINING IN COUNSELLING.
BOY SCOUTS CENTRE GETS $500 000 DONATION
*****
TWO LOCAL BUSINESSMEN HAVE DONATED $500 000 TOWARDS THE $1 200 000 REQUIRED TO BUILD A 6 650-SQUARE-METRE BOY SCOUTS AND GIRL GUIDES CENTRE IN SHA TJIN.
A CHEQUE FOR THAT SUM WAS RECEIVED TODAY BY THE DISTRICT OFFICER, MR DONALD TSANG, ON BEHALF OF THE PLANNING COMMITTEE FOR THE CENTRE.
MR TSANG SAID THE DONATION, BY MR CHAN KAM-BOR AND MR LEE KWONG, TOGETHER WITH $400 000 RECEIVED FROM THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB, WOULD MEET MOST OF THE CAPITAL COST OF THE $1.2-MILLION PROJECT.
THE CENTRE WILL BE BUILT NEAR TSOK POK HANG, FOR USE FOR CAMPING AND OTHER OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, AND AS A DISTRICT BASE FOR THE BOY SCOUTS AND GIRL GUIDES.
♦SCOUTING ACTIVITIES ARE EXPANDING IN SHA TINs THERE ARE 19 GROUPS OF GUIDES AND 26 GROUPS OF SCOUTS IN THE DISTRICT WITH 1 700 MEMBERS.
♦THE FORMER DOES NOT HAVE ANY PERMANENT GATHERING PLACE WHILE THE LATTER OCCUPIES A SMALL UNIT IN LEK YUEN ESTATE WHICH IS GROSSLY INADEQUATE FOR THEIR INDOOR ACTIVITIES,* MR TSANG SAID.
THE PLANNING COMMITTEE, CHAIRED BY MR TSANG, WAS SET UP IN SEPTEMBER AND ONE OF ITS TASKS WAS TO FIND A SUITABLE SITE FOR THE CENTRE.
THE $500 000 DONATION CAME FROM MR CHAN KAM-BOR AND MR LEE KWONG.
-----o--------
/7......
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1983
7
DISTRICT BOARDS PRAISED FOR CONTRIBUTIONS * * * *
MANY DISTRICT BOARD PROJECTS ARE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED BECAUSE OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND EFFORTS BY UNOFFICIAL DB MEMBERS.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE REGIONAL SECRETARY FOR HONG KONG AND KOWLOON, MR BARRIE WIGGHAM, AT THE MONG KOK DISTRICT BOARD MEETING TODAY (TUESDAY).
HE POINTED OUT THAT BETWEEN APRIL 1982 AND AUGUST THIS YEAR, THE 10 URBAN DISTRICT BOARDS UNDERTOOK OR SPONSORED NO LESS THAN 1 500 PROJECTS.
THEY RANGED FROM RESEARCH ON VICE-ESTABLISHMENTS, ARTS AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND COMMUNITY MEDICAL SERVICES TO REAR LANE CLEARANCES, BEAUT IFICATI )N PROJECTS AND PROVISION OF AMENITY AND STUDY ROOM FACILITIES.
♦MANY CHOIRS AND DA ICE TROUPES HAVE BEEN SET UP BECAUSE OF DISTRICT BOARD SUPPORT.
♦LOCAL COMMUNITIES IRE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN CAMPAIGNS PROMOTING THE VIRTUES OF COURTESY, RESPECT FOR THE ELDERLY, ROAD SAFETY AND HOME SAFETY.
♦REAR LANES ARE CLEARED OF OBSTRUCTION; SITTING OUT AREAS ARE PROVIDED; AND TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENT SCHEMES ARE IMPLEMENTED,♦ HE SAID.
HE NOTED THAT THE EXPENDITURE INCURRED ON THESE PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES BY THE 10 URBAN DISTRICT BOARDS IN THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR TOTALLED ABOUT 19.4 MILLION.
HE SAID THAT WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MORE LOCAL PARTICIPATION HAD BEEN GENERATED IN DISTRICT AFFAIRS.
HE SAID THE DISTR IC' BOARDS WOULD CONTINUE TO PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE MONG KOK DISTRICT BOl RD WOULD KEEP UP ITS GOOD WORK.
AFTER THE MEETING, / PLAQUE UNVEILING CEREMONY WAS HELD TO MARK THE OPENING OF THE JEW MONG KOK DISTRICT OFFICE.
-------v------_
/8........
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1983
8
NO LIFE GUARDS ON BEACHES DURING WINTER * * * * *
LIFE SAVING SERVICES AT ALL 29 GAZETTED PUBLIC BATHING BEACHES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND OUTLYING ISLANDS WILL BE SUSPENDED AS FROM THURSDAY (DECEMBER 1), DURING THE COLD SEASON.
THERE WILL BE NO LIFEGUARDS ON DUTY AT THESE PUBLIC BATHING BEACHES UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT SAID.
ALL POOLS AT THE SHA TIN JOCKEY CLUB PUBLIC SWIMMING POOL, THE KWAI SHING SWIMMING POOL AND YUEN LONG SWIMMING POOL WILL AT THE SAME TIME BE CLOSED FOR ANNUAL MAINTENANCE UNTIL NEXT SPRING, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
HOWEVER, THE HEATED-MAIN POOL AT THE FANLING SWIMMING POOL WILL SOON BE RE-OPENED ON COMPLETION OF ANNUAL MAINTENANCE WORK. AN AIR SUPPORT STRUCTURE IS BEING ERECTED OVER THE POOL TO KEEP OUT THE WINDS.
_ _ 0 - -
SPORTS CARNIVAL FOR RESIDENTS * * * *
THOUSANDS OF KOWLOON CITY, WONG TAI SIN AND KWUN TONG RESIDENTS WILL BE TAKING PART IN ACTIVITIES RANGING FROM DANCEIN SESSIONS TO THREE-A-SIDE BASKETBALL MATCHES AT THE KOWLOON EAST SPORTS CARNIVAL NEXT MONTH.
THERE WILL ALSO BE TELEMATCHES FOR CHILDREN AND OLDER FOLK, AND ARCHERY, ROLLER SKATING, REBOUND EXERCISES AND CART RACE AT THE CARNIVAL, TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 11 AT THE KWUN TONG RECREATION GROUND.
THE KOWLOON EAST SPORTS CARNIVAL IS CO-ORGANISED BY THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE OF THE RECREATION AND CULTURE DEPARTMENT AND THE URBAN COUNCIL, AND WILL BE OPENED BY URBAN COUNCILLOR, MR WALTER SULKE.
ITS AIM IS TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DISCOVER THE JOY OF SPORTS AND RECREATION THROUGH PARTICIPATION.
THE CARNIVAL IS OPE'I TO ALU FREE OF CHARGE. APPLICATION FORMS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE FOLLOWING RSS DISTRICT OFFICES:
KOWLOON CITY (3-7128500), WONG TAI SIN (3-377103) AND KWUN TONG (3-436123).
NOTE TO EDITORS:
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE KOWLOON EAST SPORTS CARNIVAL TO BE HELD AT KWUN TONG RECREATION GROUND FROM 1.45 PM TO 5 PM ON DECEMBER 11 (SUNDAY).
0 - -
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1983
9
NEW ACCESS ROAD
* * *
A NEW ACCESS ROAD WILL BE CONSTRUCTED ON AP LEI CHAU TO SERVE THE SHELL OIL DEPOT AND THE INDUSTRIAL AREA IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE ISLAND.
TENDERS FOR THE PROJECT ARE NOW BEING INVITED BY THE HIGHWAYS OFFICE OF THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT.
CONSTRUCTION WILL START IN FEBRUARY NEXT YEAR AND TAKE
12 MONTHS TO COMPLETE.
------0 - - - _
PLB BAN IN ABERDEEN LIFTED
X X M
THE EXISTING PROHIBITION FOR PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES AT OLD MAIN STREET IN ABERDEEN BETWEEN HOUSES NO.106 AND 118 WILL BE LIFTED FROM 10 AM ON THURSDAY (DECEMBER 1).
ALSO FROM THURSDAY, BUSES ON ROUTES 3, 4 AND 5 ON LANTAU, LINKING MUI WO WITH TUNG CHUNG, TONG FUK AND SHEK PIK RESPECTIVELY, WILL HAVE NO CONDUCTOR ON BOARD.
PASSENGERS ARE REQUESTED TO TENDER THE EXACT FARE.
----0---------
KING’S ROAD TRAFFIC PLAN
KXX
FROM 11.30 PM ON THURSDAY (DECEMBER 1) TO 6 AM NEXT MONDAY (DECEMBER 5), THE FOLLOWING TEMPORARY TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS WILL BE IMPLEMENTED AT KING’S ROAD FOR ROAD RESURFACING i
* THE BUS-ONLY LANE AND THE TRAM-ONLY LANE BETWEEN HOUSES NO.995 AND 1025 ON KING’S ROAD WILL BE SUSPENDED.
* THE PROHIBITION AGAINST RIGHT TURNS OF ALL VEHICLES EXCEPT BUSES FROM KING’S ROAD EASTBOUND INTO GREIG ROAD WILL BE LIFTED.
------o-------
CLOSURE OF ROADS
* * *
FROM 11 AM ON THURSDAY (DECEMBER 1), THE FOLLOWING ROADS IN YUEN LONG WILL BE CLOSED TO ALL VEHICULAR TRAFFIC EXCEPT THOSE AUTHORISED IN WRITING BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT:
* THE MAIN BORDER FENCE ROAD IN YUEN LONG BETWEEN TAI LONG KEI AND MAI PO.
M THE SECTION OF THE UNNAMED ROAD LINKING CASTLE PEAK ROAD AND THE MAIN BORDER FENCE ROAD NEAR PAK HOK CHAU POLICE POST, FROM ITS JUNCTION WITH THE MAIN BORDER FENCE ROAD TO A POINT ABOUT 45 METRES SOUTH OF THAT JUNCTION.
------o-------
DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN
ISSUED BY GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, HONG KONG. TEL: 5-233191
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1983
CONTENTS PAGE NO.
SEPTEMBER SURVEY OF RETAIL SALES ............................
RECORD HIGH DAILY MEAN TEMPERATURE FOR OCTOBER ..............
DB TO DISCUSS TIN SHUI WAI DEVELOPMENT ......................
MORE NEW BUILDING PLANS APPROVED ................................ 7
YOUTH CLUB SCHEME A POTENT FORCE : HAYE .....................
52M AVAILABLE FOR RECREATION EQUIPMENT ......................
TAI PO PLANS SPORTS FESTIVAL ................................
EARLY MORNING FLYOVER CLOSURE ...............................
ROADS PROHIBITED TO LIGHT BUSES ................................ 10
PART OF TAI PO ROAD TO BE CLOSED ............................
347M CONTRACT ...............................................
+MEET THE MEDIA+ ............................................
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1983
1
SEPTEMBER SURVEY OF RETAIL SALES * * * *
THE VALUE OF RETAIL SALES FOR THE RETAIL TRADE SECTOR IN SEPTEMBER 1983 WAS ESTIMATED TO BE $4 915 MILLION, ACCORDING TO THE PROVISIONAL SURVEY RESULTS PUBLISHED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.
AT 145, THE OVERALL RETAIL SALES VALUE INDEX INCREASED BY 5 POINTS OR 4 PER CENT WHEN COMPARED WITH AUGUST 1983, AND BY IB POINTS OR 14 PER CENT WHEN COMPARED WITH SEPTEMBER 1982.
THE OVERALL RETAIL SALES VOLUME INDEX, AT 107, WAS ONE POINT OR ONE PER CENT HIGHER THAN THAT FOR AUGUST 1983, AND 4 POINTS OR 4 PER CENT HIGHER THAN THAT FOR SEPTEMBER 1982.
COMPARED WITH AUGUST 1983, RETAIL SALES OF FOODSTUFFS, ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO INCREASED BY 10 PER CENT IN VALUE TERMS, WHILE THOSE OF CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND ALLIED PRODUCTS, AND CONSUMER DURABLES EACH INCREASED BY TWO PER CENT, AND OTHER CONSUMER GOODS BY ONE PER CENT. RETAIL SALES OF FUELS REMAINED UNCHANGED IN VALUE TERMS.
IN VOLUME TERMS, RETAIL SALES OF FOODSTUFFS, ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO ROSE BY 5 PER CENT, WHILE THOSE OF CONSUMER DURABLES AND OTHER CONSUMER GOODS WERE RELATIVELY STABLE. THE VOLUME OF RETAIL SALES OF FUELS AND CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND ALLIED PRODUCTS, HOWEVER, WENT DOWN BY TWO PER CENT AND ONE PER CENT RESPECTIVELY.
COMPARED WITH SEPTEMBER 1982, RETAIL SALES OF FOODSTUFFS, ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO ROSE BY 21 PER CENT IN VALUE TERMS, THOSE OF FUELS BY 20 PER CENT, CONSUMER DURABLES BY 14 PER CENT, AND CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND ALLIED PRODUCTS, AND OTHER CONSUMER GOODS EACH BY 10 PER CENT. IN TERMS OF VOLUME OF SALES, FOODSTUFFS, ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO SHOWED AN INCREASE OF 8 PER CENT, FOLLOWED BY CONSUMER DURABLES (7%), FUELS, AND CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND ALLIED PRODUCTS (EACH OF 3%), AND OTHER CONSUMER GOODS (1%).
ANALYSED BY SELECTED TRADES, RETAIL SALES OF SUPERMARKETS INCREASED BY 20 PER CENT AND 18 PER CENT RESPECTIVELY IN VALUE AND VOLUME TERMS WHEN COMPARED WITH AUGUST 1983.
RETAIL SALES OF MOTOR VEHICLES, HAVING BEEN STAGNANT FOR A LONG PERIOD, ALSO SHOWED SIGNIFICANT INCREASES IN BOTH THE VALUE AND VOLUME OF SALES. COMPARED WITH SEPTEMBER 1982, RETAIL SALES OF SUPERMARKETS INCREASED BY 51 PER CENT IN TERMS OF VALUE AND 33 PER CENT IN TERMS OF VOLUME.
DEPARTMENT STORES RECORDED A LARGE INCREASE IN SALES VALUE BUT ONLY A SLIGHT RISE IN SALES VOLUME. RETAIL SALES OF MOTOR VEHICLES DROPPED IN BOTH VALUE AND VOLUME TERMS.
TABLES 1 AND 2 PRESENT THE REVISED FIGURES FOR AUGUST 1983 AND THE PROVISIONAL FIGURES FOR SEPTEMBER 1983 OF TOTAL RETAIL SALES, AND OF RETAIL SALES VALUE AND VOLUME INDEXES BY MAJOR TRADE GROUPS AND SELECTED TRADES (WHICH FORM PART OF THE RELEVANT MAJOR TRADE GROUPS).
/TSE AVERAGE......
WEDNESDAY, N0VD4BER JO, 198j
- 2 -
THE AVERAGE MONTHLY RETAIL SALES IN 1980 ARE TAKEN AS 100. COMPARISONS OF THE SEPTEMBER RESULTS WITH THOSE OF THE PRECEDING MONTH AND OF THE CORRESPONDING MONTH IN 1982 ARE ALSO GIVEN. ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE SURVEY RESULTS MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE WHOLESALE/RETAIL TRADE STATISTICS SECTION OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT, TEL. NO. » 3-7216024.
TABLE 1 t VALUE INDEXES OF RETAIL SALES FOR AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER 1983
(MONTHLY AVERAGE OF 1980 - 100)
SEPT 1983 SEPT 1983
AUG SEPT COMPARED WITH COMPARED WITH
ITEM 1983 1983 AUG : 1983 SEPT 1982
(REVISED FIGURES) TOTAL RETAIL SALES (HKI MILLION) 4 752 RETAIL SALES VALUE INDEXESl (1) FOR ALL (PROVISIONAL FIGURES) 4 915 POINTS % PO1 NTS %
RETAIL TRADES .<H) , BY MAJOR TRADE GROUPS 140 • 145 5 4 18 14
FOODSTUFFS,
ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO 146 161 15 10 28 21
FUELS 164' ' ‘ 184 SAME SAME 31 20
CLOTHING,
FOOTWEAR AND ALLIED PRODUCTS 130 132 2 2 • 12 10
CONSUMER DURABLES 125 128 3 2 16 14
OTHER CONSUMER GOODS (HI) BY SELECTED TRADES 140 142 i 2 1 13 10
SUPERMARKETS 226 271 45 •f 20 91 51
MOTOR VEHICLES 60 67 7 12 X -7 —9
DEPARTMENT STORES 140 120 -20 -14 /TABLE 13 2 12
WEDNESDAY, NOVIMBER JO, 198?
3
TABLE 2 « VOLUME INDEXES OF RETAIL SALES FOR AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER 1983
(MONTHLY AVERAGE OF 1980 - 100)
ITEM AUG 1983 SEPT 1983 SEPT 1983 COMPARED WITH AUG 1983 SEPT 1983 COMPARED WITH SEPT 1982
(REVISED FIGURES) (PROVISIONAL FIGURES) POINTS % POINTS %
RETAIL SALES VOLUME INDEXES!
(1) FOR ALL RETAIL TRADES 106 107 1 1 4 4
(ID BY MAJOR YR/DE GROUPS
FOODSTUFFS, ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO 104 ’If**-109 5 5 8 8
FUELS 124 122 -2 -2 3 3
CLOTHING, FOOTWEAR AND ALLIED PRODUCTS 99 98 -1 -1 3 3
CONSUMER DURABLES 103 103 SAME SAME 7 7
OTHER CONSUMER GOODS 108 108 SAME SAME 1 1
(HI) BY SELECTED TRADES
SUPERMARKETS 156 184 28 18 46 33
MOTOR VEHICLES 40 44 4 10 -10 -19
DEPARTMENT STORES f 108 * j -16 -15 3 3
NOTES! (1) FOODSTUFFS, SUPERMARKETS . - ALCOHOLIC DRINKS AND TOBACCO • INCLUDES
(2) CONSUMER DURABLES INCLUDES MOTOR VEHICLES,
(3) OTHER CONSUMER GOODS INCLUDES DEPARTMENT STORES.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1983
4 -
RECORD HIGH DAILY MEAN TEMPERATURE FOR OCTOBER * * * *
THE DAILY MEAN TEMPERATURE OF 26.4 DEGREES CELSIUS LAST MONTH WAS THE HIGHEST FOR ANY OCTOBER ON RECORD, ACCORDING TO THE OCTOBER WEATHER REPORT PUBLISHED BY THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY.
AND THE MEAN DAILY MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 28.9 DEGREES CELSIUS WAS THE SECOND HIGHEST ON RECORD SINCE 1884.
OTHER NOTABLE FEATURES ABOUT OCTOBER WERE THATi
M IT WAS CLOUDIER AND WETTER THAN USUAL, WITH THE MEAN CLOUDINESS OF 71 PER CENT BEING THE SECOND HIGHEST FOR ANY OCTOBER, AND
* THE TOTAL MONTHLY RAINFALL OF 227.4 MM WAS NEARLY 90 PER CENT ABOVE/AVERAGE.
FOR MOST OF THE MONTH THE WEATHER WAS MIXED.
THERE WERE SUNNY PERIODS, BUT FOR MOST OF THE TIME IT WAS CLOUDY, WITH PATCHES OF LIGHT RAIN AND SHOWERS, AS WELL AS OCCASIONAL FRESH TO STRONG WINDS, IN ADDITION TO GALE FORCE WINDS CAUSED BY TYPHOON JOE.
TYPHOON JOE, WHICH HAD FORMED EAST OF THE PHILIPPINES ON OCTOBER 10, MOVED CLOSER ON OCTOBER 13 AND BROUGHT ABOUT A RAPID DETERIORATION IN THE WEATHER. THERE WAS WIDESPREAD RAIN, WHICH WAS HEAVY AT TIMES, OCCURRING THROUGHOUT THE DAY. AS WELL AS SERIOUS FLOODING AND MINOR LANDSLIPS IN VARIOUS PARTS OF HONG KONG.
TYPHOON JOE PASSED ABOUT 100 NAUTICAL MILES SOUTHWEST OF HONG KONG ON OCTOBER 13, AND DISSIPATED OVER GUANGDONG THE FOLLOWING DAY.
EIGHT TROPICAL CYCLONES OCCURRED OVER THE WESTERN NORTH PACIFIC AND THE SOUTH CHINA SEA DURING THE MONTH.
ALSO, DURING THE MONTH, 21 AIRCRAFT WERE DIVERTED FROM HONG KONG DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER. A THUNDERSTORM WARNING WAS ISSUED, AS WERE FLOOD AND LANDSLIP WARNINGS, AND THE YELLOW FIRE DANGER WARNING ON A NUMBER OF DAYS, AND A MORE SERIOUS RED FIRE WARNING EARLIER IN THE MONTH.
SIGNALS HOISTED DURING THE MONTH WERE AS FOLLOWS*
WEATHER SYSTEM SIGNAL DATE AND TIME OF HOISTING DATE AND TIME OF LOWERING
WINTER MONSOON STRONG MONSOON 1 OCTOBER 11.10 AM 2 OCTOBER 10.05 AM
WINTER MONSOON STRONG MONSOON 2 OCTOBER 5.00 PM 4 OCTOBER 8.00 AM
AT^TER MONSOON
WEDNESDAY, N0VQ4BEB JO, 1983
- 5 -
WINTER MONSOON STRONG MONSOON 9 OCTOBER 7.10 AM 10 OCTOBER 11.40 AM
TYPHOON JOE 1 11 OCTOBER 12 OCTOBER
• 10.40 PM 4.15 PM
. 3 12 OCTOBER 13 OCTOBER
4.15 PM 11.45 AM
8NE 13 OCTOBER 13 OCTOBER
11.45 AM 5.45 PM
8SE 13 OCTOBER 13 OCTOBER
5.45 PM 10.15 PM
3 13 OCTOBER 14 OCTOBER
10.15 PM 5.15 AM
SEVERE TROPICAL 1 23 OCTOBER 23 OCTOBER
STORM LEX 7.10 AM 7.00 PM
3 23 OCTOBER 24 OCTOBER
7.00 PM 6.15 AM
1 24 OCTOBER 25 OCTOBER
6.15 AM 2.30 PM
WINTER MONSOON STRONG 26 OCTOBER 26 OCTOBER
MONSOON 1.15 AM 7.30 AM
THE MONTH’S FIGURES AND DEPARTURES FROM NORMAL WEREi
SUNSHINE 150.7 HOURS - 59.2 HOURS BELOW NORMAL
RAINFALL
CLOUDINESS
RELATIVE HUMIDITY
KAN MAXIMUM
TEMPERATURE
KAN TEMPERATURE
KAN MINIMUM
TEMPERATURE
KAN DEW POINT
TOTAL EVAPORATION
227.4 MM - 106.2 MM ABOVE NORMAL 71 % - 19 % MORE THAN NORMAL 77 % - 5 % HIGHER THAN NORMAL
28.9 DEG C. -1.0 DEG C. ABOVE NORMAL
26.4 DEG C. - 1.4 DEG C. ABOVE NORMAL
24.7 DEG C. - 2.0 DEG C. ABOVE NORMAL
21.9 DEG C. - 2.6 DEG C. ABOVE NORMAL
121.0 MM - 44.4 MM BELOW NORMAL
MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 31.8
DEG C. WAS RECORDED ON 6 OCTOBER
MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 20.9 DEG C.
WAS RECORDED ON 29 OCTOBER
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1983
6 -
DB TO DISCUSS TIN SHU I WAI DEVELOPMENT * * * *
A MASTER PLAN FOR THE INITIAL STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT IN TIN SHU I WAI. INVOLVING THE BUILDING OF A NEW TOWN FOR 135 000 PEOPLE, WILL BE TABLED FOR DISCUSSION AT THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT BOARD MEETING TOMORROW (THURSDAY) MORNING.
THE PLAN GIVES DETAILS OF THE MAJOR ROAD NETWORK WITHIN THE NEW TOWN AND THE LAND TO BE USED FOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HOUSING ESTATES, INDUSTRIAL ESTATES, PARKS AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES.
THE PLAN ALSO SHOWS HOW THE TOWN COULD BE EXPANDED IF REQUIRED IN FUTURE.
A GOVERNMENT ENGINEER OF THE NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT BRANCH, MR GEORGE CHIEN, AND A SENIOR TOWN PLANNER, MR I.T. BROWNLEE, WILL BRIEF BOARD MEMBERS ON THE PROJECT.
AT THE MEETING, MEMBERS WILL ALSO REVIEW THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES IN LAU FAU SHAN, TSIM BE I TSUI AND PAK NAI, AND THE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME FOR THE NEW TOWN.
OTHER ITEMS ON THE AGENDA WILL INCLUDE A BRIEFING ON THE LONG PING PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE DEVELOPMENT, AN AGRICULTURAL SHOW TO BE HELD IN THE DISTRICT NEXT YEAR, AND PROGRESS REPORTS OF THE BOARD’S COMMITTEES.
ON FRIDAY (DECEMBER 2) MORNING, THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WILL GIVE THEIR VIEWS ON A NUMBER OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AT THEIR MEETING.
THE PROJECTS INCLUDE THE BUILDING OF A BASKETBALL COURT AND A REST GARDEN AT RENNIE’S MILL VILLAGE COTTAGE AREA AND REPAIR WORK TO THE FENCE AND GATE OF A FOOTBALL PITCH AT ST PETER’S VILLAGE IN TUI MIN HOI.
NOTE TO EDITORSi
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE WELCOME TO COVERt
(A) THE YUEN LONG DISTRICT BOARD MEETING AT 9.30 AM TOMORROW (THURSDAY) IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE ON THE FOURTH FLOOR OF YUEN LONG DISTRICT BRANCH OFFICES BUILDING; AND
(B) THE SAI KUNG DISTRICT BOARD MEETING AT 10 AM ON FRIDAY (DECEMBER 2) IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF THE DISTRICT BOARD’S SECRETARIAT ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF AMOY PLAZA, 77 NGAU TAU KOK ROAD.
A GOVERNMENT VEHICLE WILL LEAVE KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER AT 8.20 AM TOMORROW FOR YUEN LONG.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1983
7
MORE NEW BUILDING PLANS APPROVED
* * * *
THIRTY-FOUR NEW BUILDING PLANS WERE APPROVED BY THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE OF THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT LAST MONTH (OCTOBER).
OF THESE, 16 WERE FOR NEW BUILDINGS ON HONG KONG ISLAND, FIVE FOR THOSE IN KOWLOON AND 13 FOR THOSE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
AMONG THESE NEW BUILDINGS WILL BE A SCHOOL AT BRAEMAR HILL ROAD, A HOSTEL AT HARBOUR ROAD AND A VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE AT THE JUNCTION OF TAI LIN PAI ROAD AND SAN KWAI STREET IN KWAI CHUNG.
THE USABLE FLOOR AREAS OF THESE BUILDINGS WILL TOTAL 204 207.2 SQUARE METRES, COMPRISING 160 676.8 SQUARE METRES OF NON-DOMESTIC AND 43 530.4 SQUARE METRES OF DOMESTIC FLOOR AREA.
THE TOTAL DECLARED COST OF NEW BUILDINGS COMPLETED IN OCTOBER WAS 1839.3 MILLION.
IN THE SAME MONTH, THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE AGREED TO THE START OF WORK ON 27 NEW PROJECTS.
THESE PROJECTS INCLUDE A SEWAGE SCREENING PLANT AT TAI KOO SHING, A FERRY TERMINAL IN CENTRAL, A SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL CENTRE AT THE JUNCTION OF IVY STREET AND BEECH STREET IN TAI KOK TSUI, A SCHOOL BUILDING FOR THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC AND A FOOTBRIDGE IN SHA TIN.
A TOTAL OF 37 OCCUPATION PERMITS WERE ISSUED FOR NEWLY-COMPLETED BUILDINGS IN OCTOBER.
ALSO DURING THE MONTH, THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE GAVE PERMISSION FOR 32 BUILDINGS TO BE DEMOLISHED.
IN THE PREVIOUS MONTH (SEPTEMBER), 37 NEW BUILDING PLANS WERE APPROVED BY THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE.
IN THE FIRST 10 MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, 407 NEW BUILDING PLANS WERE APPROVED.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 57, 1983
8
YOUTH CLUB SCHEME A POTENT FORCE I HAYE * * * *
1
THE COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB SCHEME HAS DEVELOPED SIGNIFICANTLY DURING THE PAST FEW YEARS AND IS NOW A POTENT FORCE IN COMMUNITYBUILDING ACTIVITIES, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR COLVYN HAYE, SAID TODAY.
SPEAKING AT THE THIRD COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB ANNUAL PARADE AT THE QUEEN ELIZABETH STADIUM, MR HAYE RECALLED THAT THE CYC SCHEME IN ITS PRESENT FORM WAS INAUGURATED IN 1978 TO PROMOTE COMMUNITY SERVICE AMONG STUDENTS THROUGH A WIDE-RANGING PROGRAMME OF INFORMAL EDUCATIONAL AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES.
♦THE VALUE OF THIS WORK IN DEVELOPING RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP HAS STRUCK A WARM RESPONSIVE CHORD IN OUR SCHOOLS WITH THE RESULT THAT WITHIN FIVE YEARS MEMBERSHIP HAS RISEN FROM 16 OOO TO 95 000 PUPILS DRAWN FROM 720 PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS,♦ HE SAID.
MR HAYE ADDED THAT THIS ACHIEVEMENT AUGURED WELL FOR THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY-ORIENTATED PROJECTS.
♦I AM PLEASED TO NOTE THAT THESE ARE NOW BEING SUCCESSFULLY COORDINATED ON A DISTRICT BASIS THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CYC DISTRICT COMMITTEES,* HE ADDED.
♦THIS DEVELOPMENT OFFERS TERRITORY-WIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE. THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THAT THE CYC SCHEME IS NOW A POTENT FORCE IN COMMUNITY-BUILDING ACTIVITIES,♦ THE DIRECTOR REMARKS.
MR HAYE SAID WHILE SERVICE OF THIS KIND HAD ITS OWN REWARD IN TERMS OF PERSONAL PRIDE IN A WORTHY JOB WELL DONE, THE CYC MERIT AWARD SCHEME PROVIDED TANGIBLE RECOGNITION FOR THOSE WHO HAD GIVEN OUTSTANDING SERVICE.
THE SCHEME AWARDS BADGES OF MERIT IN PROGRESSIVE STAGES AND ffi STUDENTS HAVE ATTAINED THE HIGHEST LEVEL THIS YEAR.
IN ADDITION, 12 MEMBERS WHO HAVE GIVEN EXEMPLARY SERVICE DURING THE YEAR WILL ALSO BE AWARDED AN EDUCATIONAL MERIT TRIP TO THE UNITED KINGDOM NEXT MONTH.
IN THIS RESPECT MR HAYE THANKED THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB FOR THEIR ♦VERY GENEROUS ASSISTANCE IN MAKING THE U.K. VISIT AND PREVIOUS SUCH VISITS POSSIBLE*.
HE ALSO THANKED SCHOOL HEADS AND TEACHERS OF MEMBER SCHOOLS FOR THEIR ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT DURING THE SCHEME’S FORMATIVE YEARS.
♦WITH THEIR CONTINUED COOPERATION AND ASSISTANCE THE FUTURE OF THE COMMUNITY YOUTH CLUB SCHEME IS ASSURED,♦ MR HAYE SAID.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1983
9
|2M AVAILABLE FOR RECREATION EQUIPMENT * * * *
ABOUT $2 MILLION FROM THE SIR DAVID TRENCH FUND FOR RECREATION WILL BE ALLOCATED IN THE 1984-85 FINANCIAL YEAR FOR THE PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT.
CHARITABLE AND NON-PROFIT MAKING ORGANISATION NEEDING RECREATION EQUIPMENT MAY APPLY FOR FUNDS ANYTIME DURING THE YEAR.
THE FUND, ADMINISTERED BY THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT, IS FOR THE PURCHASE OF SPORTS OR RECREATION EQUIPMENT RANGING FROM CANOES, CHINESE BILLIARD TABLES TO CAMPING EQUIPMENT, A COUNCIL SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.
HE ALSO SAID THAT IT HAD RECENTLY BEEN DECIDED NOT TO SET A TIME LIMIT FOR THE APPLICATIONS.
♦THIS MEANS THAT AN ORGANISATION MAY APPLY ANYTIME DURING THE FINANCIAL YEAR, AND WE WILL CONSIDER IT ON AN AD HOC BASIS,♦ HE SAID.
PREFERENCE WOULD BE GIVEN TO NEW PROJECTS AND TO NEW AGENCIES WHICH HAVE DIFFICULTY IN OBTAINING GOVERNMENT SUBVENTIONS OR ASSISTANCE FROM OTHER SOURCES.
APPLICATIONS FROM VILLAGE OFFICES, RURAL COMMITTEES, RESIDENTS ASSOCIATIONS, MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES, OWNERS INCORPORATIONS AND ORGANISATIONS OF SIMILAR NATURE SHOULD BE SENT TO THE APPROPRIATE DISTRICT OFFICES. ALL OTHER APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT AT 10TH FLOOR, HARBOUR CENTRE, 25 HARBOUR ROAD, WAN CHAI, HONG KONG.
APPLICATION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE AT ALL DISTRICT OFFICES, THE VARIOUS OFFICES OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, THE RECREATION AND SPORTS SERVICE AND ALSO FROM THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT. APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE COMPLETED
IN DUPLICATE.
NOTE TO EDlTORSi
TAI PO PLANS SPORTS FESTIVAL * * *
THE FIRST TAI PO DISTRICT SPORTS FESTIVAL, FEATURING 16 DAYS OF ACTIVITIES, WILL BEGIN ON DECEMBER 10.
A PRESS CONFERENCE TO ANNOUNCE DETAILS OF THE SPORTS FESTIVAL WILL BE HELD AT 12 NOON ON FRIDAY (DECEMBER 2) IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM OF LI FOOK LAM INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE IN TAI PO.
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES ARE INVITED TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE. A GOVERNMENT VEHICLE WILL LEAVE KOWLOON PUBLIC PIER AT 10.45 AM FOR TAI PO ON FRIDAY.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1983
10
EARLY MORNING FLYOVER CLOSURE * * *
CANAL ROAD FLYOVER NORTHBOUND BETWEEN THE SLIP ROAD LEADING TO CENTRAL AND THE SLIP ROAD LEADING TO NORTH POINT WILL BE CLOSED FOR ROAD RESURFACING WORKS FROM 0.01 AM TO 6 AM ON FRIDAY (DECEMBER 2).
TRAFFIC HEADING FOR THE CROSS HARBOUR TUNNEL OR NORTH POINT WILL BE DIVERTED VIA THE SLIP ROAD LEADING TO CENTRAL, GLOUCESTER ROAD WESTBOUND, O’BRIEN ROAD, LOCKHART ROAD, FLEMING ROAD FLYOVER, FLEMING ROAD AND GLOUCESTER ROAD EASTBOUND.
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ROADS PROHIBITED TO LIGHT BUSES * * *
FROM 10 AM ON FRIDAY (DECEMBER 2), SEVERAL ROADS IN TSUEN WAN WILL BE PROHIBITED TO PUBLIC LIGHT BUSES EXCEPT THOSE AUTHORISED IN WRITING BY THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT.
THEY AREi ROAD 6/3, ROAD 6/6, THE SECTION OF WESTBOUND CARRIAGEWAY OF SAI LAU KOK ROAD BETWEEN ROAD 6/5 AND SHING MUN ROAD, AND THE LOADING-UNLOADING BAY AT TSO KUNG STREET EAST OF TSO KUNG SQUARE.
_ _ o - -
PART OF TAI PO ROAD TO BE CLOSED KO*
BETWEEN 12.30 AM AND 5 AM ON DECEMBER 2, 3, 16 AND 17, A 200-KETRE-SECTION OF TAI PO ROAD (FANLING SECTION) NEAR THE RAILWAY TRACK FOOTBRIDGE WILL BE CLOSED TO TRAFFIC.
DURING THE CLOSURE, EAST-BOUND MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO GO VIA ROAD DA, ROAD L6, SAN FUNG AVENUE, JOCKEY CLUB ROAD AND FANLING ROUNDABOUT.
AND VEHICLES FROM THE SOUTH CAN GO VIA JOCKEY CLUB ROAD, SAN FUNG AVENUE, ROAD L6, ROAD DA AND THE SHEUNG SHU I MINI ROUNDABOUT.
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 193?
11
NOTE TO EDITORSi
$47M CONTRACT * * * *
THE PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT HIGHWAY ENGINEER, MR HAROLD BEATON, WILL SIGN A $47-MILLI0N CONTRACT TOMORROW (THURSDAY) FOR A ROAD PROJECT IN ABERDEEN.
YOU ARE INVITED TO COVER THE SIGNING CEREMONY IN THE CONFERENCE ROOM ON THE 21ST FLOOR OF MURRAY BUILDING, GARDEN ROAD, AT 2.30 PM.
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NOTE TO EDITORSi
♦MEET THE MEDIA*
*****
THE DIRECTOR OF NEW TERRITORIES DEVELOPMENT, MR BRYAN O’RORKE, WILL MEET THE MEDIA IN THE GIS THEATRE, BEACONSFIELD HOUSE, 5TH FLOOR, AT 4 PM TOMORROW (THURSDAY).
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